Chapter 68
The next morning, Yu Wenqian arrived promptly to pick up Li Mo for their flight to Shanghai. The four of them – Li Mo, Yu Wenqian, Ah Zhong, and Huizi – boarded the plane in Beijing and arrived in Shanghai a little after one in the afternoon. Yu Wenqian had arranged for a van to take them to their hotel to rest and unpack.
At the hotel lobby, Huizi, Li Mo’s assistant, collected the room keys from the front desk and distributed them to Li Mo, Yu Wenqian, and Ah Zhong.
“It’s still early. If you want to go out later, you can have Ah Zhong drive you, but remember that you have an early audition tomorrow morning. Don’t stay up too late, and make sure you’re well-rested. Okay?”
“Yes, Sister Qian. Don’t worry.”
After settling in, they each went to their respective rooms. Huizi helped Li Mo unpack her suitcase and then turned to her.
“Oh, right, Sister Mo, Sister Qian asked me to give you this phone. She said you left yours behind and might need it, so she had me buy you a new one to use for the next few days.”
“Oh, thank you, Huizi. I’m sorry for the trouble.”
“No trouble at all, Sister Mo. I’m happy to help. Is there anything else you need?”
“No, that’s all. You must be tired. Go and get some rest. Don’t worry about me. Thank you.”
“Okay, I’m going to take a nap. I woke up early today and I’m a bit sleepy. If you need anything, you can come find me. I’m sharing a room with Sister Qian.”
“Okay, thanks, Huizi.”
“Then I’ll go now. Bye, Sister Mo.”
Huizi left, her cheerful demeanor lifting Li Mo’s spirits. She examined the new phone Huizi had given her, noticing that Huizi had thoughtfully programmed in some important contact numbers and even logged into her Weibo account.
She opened Weibo and checked the trending topics, finding that her interview from yesterday was already in the top five. She clicked on the video and watched it, reading the comments. Most of them were positive, praising her performance and expressing their support for her future projects.
Li Mo smiled, enjoying the attention. It was the first time she had been in the public eye, and it was a novel experience. In the past, she had chosen to live a low-key life, her accumulated wealth allowing her to pursue her passions without worrying about financial security.
Her decision to become an actress stemmed from her curiosity about the entertainment industry. She wanted to experience the thrill of being in the spotlight. And after filming her first movie, she had discovered that she enjoyed acting. It allowed her to immerse herself in different roles and draw upon her vast life experience.
She loved the script for her next film. The story resonated with her own past experiences, although in real life, she had no desire to relive those days of constant fear and loss. However, exploring those emotions through acting was cathartic.
She wanted to portray the character authentically, conveying the raw emotions of fear, loss, and resilience, hoping to inspire the audience to appreciate the hard-won freedom and peace they now enjoyed. Although the world was at peace, there were still those who sought to disrupt it, committing crimes, stealing from others, and even taking lives.
Despite her immortality, she couldn’t single-handedly change the world. She hoped that through her acting, she could influence people, inspiring them to cherish their lives and strive for a better world.
After browsing Weibo for a while, she put down her phone and opened her suitcase, retrieving the script. She was determined to land this role and was diligently studying the script, analyzing every scene, even researching the other characters to understand their relationships and motivations.
Meanwhile, Song Ling had woken up shortly after Li Mo left the previous day. She looked around the empty room, remembering her reckless actions, and berated herself for losing control and sleeping with Li Mo before confirming her identity.
She spent the entire day trying to calm down, her mind racing with thoughts of Li Mo. She was convinced that Li Mo was Li Xinjun. Their appearance, their aura, their shared identity as vampires, the familiarity she felt when touching Li Mo’s body… It all pointed to one conclusion: Li Mo was Li Xinjun.
But she couldn’t understand why Li Xinjun had forgotten her past. She had to find her and uncover the truth, even if Li Xinjun never remembered their shared history. As long as they were together, everything else could be worked out.
But remembering her own rough behavior the previous night, she worried that she had angered Li Mo and pushed her away. She was furious with herself.
The next day, she tried to call Li Mo to apologize, but then she found Li Mo’s phone on the coffee table, forgotten.
She hung up and called Yu Wenqian instead, informing her that she had Li Mo’s phone and asking for her location so she could return it. Yu Wenqian told her that they were in Shanghai and would be staying there for a few days.
Song Ling hung up the phone, her mind racing. Should she go to Shanghai and see Li Mo? But knowing that Li Mo was busy with work, she dismissed the idea.
She knew how much Li Mo loved her work and didn’t want to distract her. Besides, they both needed time to process everything that had happened.
She decided to call Mark, whom she hadn’t seen in a while. Mark had been living in England since the Qing Dynasty. He was now a volunteer environmental activist, organizing events to clean up trash and promote recycling. He lived a simple and carefree life.
The call connected, and Mark’s bearded face appeared on the screen. Song Ling frowned, her expression disapproving.
“What have you done to yourself? You look like a homeless man!”
“Hahaha, I’m handsome, aren’t I? You wouldn’t understand. The young ladies love this look. Hahaha, so, what brings you to call me?”
“I found Jun’er.”
“WHAT?! Sigh… Song Ling, it’s been centuries. I thought you had moved on. Why are you obsessing over her again? We’re immortal. If we cling to one person for eternity, it will be a truly endless torment. Take my advice, go out, meet new people, enjoy a few decades with someone you like, or even change partners every day. Forget about the past.”
“I’m not joking, Mark. I really found her. She’s right here, in front of me.”
“… That’s impossible. You know that Jun’er died centuries ago. Even if you’ve met someone who looks like her, it’s not her. I won’t stop you from using her as a substitute, but you don’t have to pretend with me. I might start to think you’re losing your mind.”
“Mark, it’s really her! She has the same aura, the same scent. And she’s a jiangshi too!”
“WHAT? ARE YOU SERIOUS? Oh my god… But… That doesn’t make sense… No, I’m flying over there tomorrow. I have to see this for myself.”
“That’s actually what I wanted to ask you. I need your help.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Jun’er doesn’t recognize me. She doesn’t remember anything. I think she’s lost her memory, but I don’t understand why. I was hoping you might have some insight.”
“Song Ling, I have to remind you that, as far as I know, vampires can’t get amnesia. Our bodies have incredible regenerative abilities. Even brain injuries heal completely.”
“I know! That’s why I’m so confused! Why doesn’t she remember anything?”
“Are you sure you haven’t mistaken her for someone else?”
“Mark, our senses are enhanced. We can’t possibly mistake someone for someone else.”
“That’s true. Alright, I’ll fly over there tomorrow. We’ll talk then.”
“Okay, I’ll be waiting.”
“Bye.”
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