The car steadily drove towards the airport.

Cheng Zhirang put on a mask as soon as he left the house, but now it was off while driving.

Seeing her quietly holding her phone, he proactively asked, "Has your friend arrived?"

"About to land," Mu Qiu put down her phone, looked at the roadside, didn’t recognize it, and turned back to ask, "How far are we from the airport?"

"Fifteen minutes."

"Perfect, as she’s coming out of the airport, we’ll just arrive. She can get in as soon as the door opens, and then we’ll be off, no parking needed."

Cheng Zhirang was amused by her arrangement.

"We should arrive first, wouldn’t want to keep her waiting."

"I already told her you can’t stay long, she might not even need to see the car door open; some fans can recognize you just from a blurry silhouette. I initially said you didn’t need to come."

"But you rarely drive."

Mu Qiu smirked, "Then put on your mask. Once Assistant Liang gets in the car, you can sit in the back."

"Alright, listening to you."

She curled her lips up, leaned in, and gave him a kiss on the side of his face, "Put on your sunglasses too, the sun’s terribly bright."

Cheng Zhirang smiled in agreement, "Sure."

When the car stopped a few hundred meters outside the airport, Zhao Yu had just come out of the terminal.

Mu Qiu was on the phone directing her, scanning the outside through the car window.

Three minutes later, she tapped the window, pointing outside.

"That’s her."

Cheng Zhirang followed her gaze. Sunglasses, mask, hat — looking no different from the people around, though on the phone, just like others nearby.

"Is that her? I’ll open the trunk."

"That’s her," Mu Qiu pressed her face closer to the window, sounding very certain, "Her phone case has a photo of Su Yan, and there’s a Su Yan keychain on her suitcase."

"..." It was a bit far, how did she see that?

Mu Qiu had already rolled down the window a bit, waving her hand wildly outside.

"Zhao Yu!"

Fully equipped Zhao Yu looked up, eyes lighting up, dragging her suitcase as she ran towards them.

"First, put the luggage in the trunk; we’ll catch up in a bit."

Mu Qiu clung to the window frame, showing just her eyes, gesturing at the trunk.

Once she got in the car, the two of them cheered from front to back seats.

"My Yu’er! Have you gained weight again?"

"...Shut up."

"So heartless, just like a woman, clearer and more obvious."

"Can I at least say hi to Brother Cheng first?"

Cheng Zhirang politely turned back and greeted, "Hello, Miss Zhao."

"Hello, hello Brother Cheng~"

Zhao Yu changed her expression rather quickly, the person right in front, pretending like she was waving, so cheerful, probably focusing even underneath her sunglasses.

Since she got in, Mu Qiu remained turned around, her posture now observing Zhao Yu’s performance, sulking, "Didn’t see you this excited when you first saw me."

"It’s my first time seeing Brother Cheng in person. As for you, I know every strand of your hair like the back of my hand, no need."

"Then don’t look at him either, stare at Su Yan on your phone instead."

Cheng Zhirang smiled and turned back to drive away from the airport.

With Cheng Zhirang around, Zhao Yu was inevitably somewhat reserved, mostly responding to whatever Mu Qiu said, striving to appear ladylike, elegant, and sensible.

For instance—

Mu Qiu: "Did you sneak out early?"

Zhao Yu: "Nonsense, I took leave officially, my boss approved it."

Mu Qiu: "You’re fully equipped, face covered tight, worried I wouldn’t spot you in the crowd?"

Zhao Yu: "I’m just trying to avoid the sun lately."

Mu Qiu: "And that’s why you’re not taking off your sunglasses even in the car?"

Zhao Yu: "......"

She took off her sunglasses, revealing her puffy eyes.

Mu Qiu: "??? Were you crying tears of joy last night?"

Zhao Yu: "......I read a short story last night based on Su Yan and Lin Banyan."

Mu Qiu raised an eyebrow, "So heartbroken by love? Cried then decided to give up?"

Zhao Yu: "Just thinking about it, I couldn’t let go of my great achievement of a thousand days of fan activities, so I rolled right back into it."

Mu Qiu: "Tsk—"

Cheng Zhirang listened to their banter from the front, hearing Mu Qiu’s lively and cheerful chatter, and her friend’s eager yet restrained excitement, he smiled without interrupting.

At this time, it was only enough to stop by the villa for half an hour before regrouping with the production team.

Tomorrow morning would have also been an option, but since this episode involved inviting friends, everyone thought to introduce each other and mingle a bit first.

Even Li Yang, who was busy to the point of exhaustion, had already arrived, so they couldn’t leave it until tomorrow.

Upon returning to the villa, Mu Qiu dragged Zhao Yu upstairs, the sound of their feet clattering, clearly excited.

Cheng Zhirang stood by the car, looking up at the sudden flicker of lights upstairs, smiling gently before staying in the living room downstairs to call Assistant Liang.

Mu Qiu had already gone into the bedroom, quickly packing what she needed to bring.

Zhao Yu stood behind her, admiring the inside out, expressing her awe.

"This place is quite beautiful, like your style," though in time it couldn’t have just been renovated recently, "How did Brother Lin find this place?"

"With his eyes," Mu Qiu replied while stuffing small items into her bag, "Did you tell your parents you were coming here?"

"Of course I did, I even told your parents."

"...What did they say?"

"They told me to take good care of you. Wearing this dress, could you not squat, let me do it." 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

She crouched down to help, pushing Mu Qiu aside.

"I’ve worn this dress only twice, this is the third time..."

Zhao Yu looked up, giving her a meaningful look, "I can tell, it’s tight around the chest, quite revealing not often worn."

"..." Mu Qiu tried to keep a straight face, "A harmonious sex life, it’s normal."

"More than harmonious; managing to wear that dress isn’t simple. When Brother Cheng helps you, don’t you take advantage?"

"What do you mean I take advantage?!" Mu Qiu was indignant, "If anyone takes advantage, it’s him!"

"Doesn’t look like it," Zhao Yu, having finished, handed her the bag, adding, "But he really is very handsome!!!"

Those stunning eyebrows, that high nose, those rosy lips, that golden ratio, the excellent lines, especially that aura — who wouldn’t call it absolute beauty?

No wonder Mu Qiu had the nerve to make a move.

"Even more handsome than Su Yan?"

Zhao Yu felt slightly annoyed, "Must it always be this comparison? Can’t you use someone else? My conscience suffers greatly."

"Fine then, more handsome than me?"

"I don’t want to answer such nonsense."

"...Unfilial descendant!"