Chapter 112: Packing Up
Director Pan was meticulous, believing that filming should follow the script’s timeline for the actors to fully embody their roles. He disliked rearranging scenes due to scheduling or location constraints.
Because of this, the scene of the elderly Empress Dowager revisiting the estate was saved for the very end of filming, not filmed two months prior when they were at the estate location.
From beginning to end, just like a person’s life, starting with innocence, experiencing both prosperity and hardship, time leaving its mark, becoming a witness to the passage of time.
Compared to the earlier scenes, this scene was quiet and peaceful, even serene. But after the previous emotionally charged scenes, this serenity felt heavy.
This is the feeling I want, Director Pan thought.
But as Ji Junxin, dressed in dark clothing, her hair graying, slowly walked through the scene, a deep sense of weariness and the weight of years emanated from the screen, beyond the initial heaviness and sadness.
According to the script, Ji Junxin just had to walk through the estate, revisit the courtyard where Miao Qianye and the young Empress had lived, and touch a few familiar objects. It was a long scene, but only a few shots would be used in the final film. Ji Junxin followed the script, walking slowly, touching objects gently. This silent performance created a sense of oppressive stillness on set.
And when Ji Junxin, after wandering through the house, finally sat down on the steps, leaning against the door frame, her eyes slowly closing as she faced the setting sun, Director Pan felt… a sense of finality.
The script doesn’t say Miao Qianye dies here! Well, she was just sitting, she hadn’t collapsed… but it felt… like a peaceful passing. He wanted to comment, but this scene, capturing Ji Junxin’s serene expression, would be a perfect ending…
A perfect ending.
As a director, Director Pan had a keen eye for visuals. He knew that the spot where Ji Junxin sat was almost exactly where the young Empress used to sit, holding the baby. The original ending included a flashback to that time, and now… this unintentional mirroring was perfect. Well, perhaps not unintentional.
These actors, they’re practically directing themselves.
The setting sun bathed Ji Junxin’s silver hair in a warm, orange glow, a comforting warmth.
This was the final shot of “Imperial Secrets.”
Months of filming, from autumn to spring, this moment, when Director Pan called “cut” and announced that filming had wrapped, should have been filled with joy and excitement.
But it wasn’t.
The day’s scenes had been too emotionally charged, too heavy. Even the crew was still feeling the weight of the story.
Only after packing up the equipment and chatting with each other did they finally feel a sense of closure, the atmosphere on set shifting from quiet solemnity to lively chatter.
Ji Junxin, who had been basking in the setting sun with her eyes closed, finally opened them.
Her expression was serene, almost melancholic, her gaze distant, as if oblivious to the people around her.
Until a hand shielded her eyes from the sun.
“Looking directly at the sun will hurt your eyes.”
Ji Junxin heard Mi Hongdou’s familiar voice. She didn’t move, and neither did Mi Hongdou’s hand.
They hadn’t brought much equipment for this one scene at the estate, and now, with the crew and equipment gone, the set was quiet again.
After a while, when almost everyone had left, Ji Junxin turned to Mi Hongdou and asked, her head tilted slightly upwards, “Can we have plain porridge and boiled eggs for dinner?”
Her earlier solemnity and weariness seemed to have vanished with the departing crew. Now, with her silver hair and her earnest request for food, she looked… strangely cute.
I hope that when she’s old, I can still be by her side, making her whatever she wants to eat, Mi Hongdou thought, her eyes softening. She couldn’t refuse. Although she had been thinking about celebrating the wrap-up with a feast at Jiang Lingling’s restaurant, Ji Junxin’s wishes were more important.
So, Jiang Lingling, who had called Mi Hongdou excitedly, hoping for a celebratory dinner… was a step too late.
After being gently rejected by Mi Hongdou, Jiang Lingling was dejected. She had stayed in Shudian for three days, without any scenes of her own, just for this celebratory meal! And now… what was the point?
No matter how gently Mi Hongdou phrased it, to Jiang Lingling, it was a devastating blow! Cold and heartless!
The filming was over, but Jiang Lingling was incredibly unhappy.
And… so was Mi Hongdou.
The end of filming meant the end of “Imperial Secrets,” the end of their shared life. Even if they had the opportunity to work together again… they wouldn’t be living together anymore. Mi Hongdou felt a deep sense of sadness at their impending separation, a growing anxiety about the future of their friendship.
The future seemed bleak, all she could do now was cherish this last night together.
Mi Hongdou thought that even if Ji Junxin didn’t share her intense feelings, she would at least feel some sadness at their parting. But when they arrived at the hotel, and Ji Junxin asked Zhong Yin to help them pack, Mi Hongdou was stunned.
It was their last night at the hotel, they were leaving tomorrow. They had accumulated quite a bit of stuff after months of living there, starting to pack early was reasonable… but seeing Ji Junxin so casually ask Zhong Yin to pack, Mi Hongdou felt a pang of sadness. I want to freeze time, but she’s eager to leave…
But since Ji Junxin had asked, Mi Hongdou couldn’t object. She had to hide her own emotions and appear just as casual!
Her carefully constructed facade crumbled when Ji Junxin spoke again.
After asking Zhong Yin, Ji Junxin called out to Bai Tang, “Bai Tang, come help too.”
Bai Tang was Mi Hongdou’s assistant. Ji Junxin asking her to help meant… helping Mi Hongdou pack!
Bai Tang, having received some subtle guidance from Jiang Lingling’s assistant, instinctively looked at Mi Hongdou.
“Come on then,” Mi Hongdou said, forcing a cheerful tone, her heart sinking.
So she really can’t wait to leave! Mi Hongdou was heartbroken and blamed Qiao Rubai for Ji Junxin’s coldness. It must be because she hadn’t told her about their conversation!
Qiao Rubai, who had spent ten hours traveling, finally returned to the company just as the sun was setting, and before she could even get through a few documents, she started sneezing uncontrollably.
Had she caught a cold in spring? Qiao Rubai looked up at the sky, dejected…
Regardless of Mi Hongdou’s attempts to appear indifferent, Zhong Yin and Bai Tang went upstairs. While Mi Hongdou started cooking porridge in the kitchen, they started packing.
Mi Hongdou, while washing the rice, could hear Ji Junxin in the living room, directing Zhong Yin, “Pack this, pack that,” and her heart felt like it was shattering into even smaller pieces than the rice grains.
In the time it took her to wash the rice, Ji Junxin and Zhong Yin had already filled two suitcases. Mi Hongdou glared at Bai Tang. She had only filled half a suitcase. Her own assistant was still the best!
Zhong Yin’s efficiency was incredible. Before Mi Hongdou even finished the porridge and boiled the eggs, almost all of Ji Junxin’s belongings in the living room were gone. Mi Hongdou took an egg from the refrigerator and casually walked through the living room, noticing the empty spaces where Ji Junxin’s things used to be. The suite felt bare, the earlier warmth gone.
The impending separation… it was sad.
Before she could fully process it, Ji Junxin said, pushing the suitcases together, “Zhong Yin, let’s take these downstairs and put them in the car, so we don’t have to carry them down tomorrow.”
You’re so eager to leave! Why not just go back to Jiang City tonight! Mi Hongdou thought, her grip on the egg tightening. If it were Jiang Lingling, the egg would have cracked.
Ji Junxin, seeing no reaction from Mi Hongdou, also enlisted Bai Tang to help carry the suitcases downstairs. With the suitcases gone, the room felt even emptier. Mi Hongdou sat on the sofa, feeling defeated… so her hopes of remaining friends with Ji Junxin after the film… were just wishful thinking. Ji Junxin couldn’t wait to leave.
As expected, after taking the suitcases down, Ji Junxin returned and asked Mi Hongdou, her voice seemingly concerned, “Should I help you pack? We’re leaving tomorrow morning, just leave out the things you need for tonight.”
Mi Hongdou was certain that her face, after all the emotional turmoil today, must look terrible. Even Bai Tang didn’t dare to approach her… She didn’t think Ji Junxin couldn’t see it, but Ji Junxin still asked, her expression sincere, waiting for an answer.
And the worst part was, Mi Hongdou, knowing all this, couldn’t refuse.
“Okay,” she agreed, her voice sounding strange even to her own ears.
Ji Junxin, seemingly oblivious, took Mi Hongdou’s luggage and, with Bai Tang’s help, continued packing, not even glancing at Mi Hongdou.
What a terrible day, Mi Hongdou thought, looking at the darkening sky outside.
Why did Qiao Rubai have to come today, of all days? Mi Hongdou felt that Ji Junxin’s coldness was because she hadn’t told her about their conversation. But she couldn’t tell her the truth, and she couldn’t lie to Ji Junxin either, so she could only endure this silent treatment, watching as they packed, first the living room, then the bedroom.
Zhong Yin was incredibly efficient, her plump figure moving swiftly through the small suite, carrying armfuls of clothes from the bedroom, sorting and packing them neatly into the suitcases with practiced ease.
Mi Hongdou watched, thinking that even she herself couldn’t pack that quickly. Zhong Yin… wasn’t endearing at all! Hmph!
Bai Tang, seeing Mi Hongdou’s gloomy expression, and Ji Junxin, who was so engrossed in packing that she was sweating, kindly stopped Zhong Yin as she was about to grab another armful of clothes.
Zhong Yin’s round face was full of confusion.
Bai Tang subtly hinted that there was no need to rush.
Zhong Yin said that her employer was Ji Junxin, who seemed to be in a hurry, and then continued packing.
Bai Tang paused. So, not everyone was as perceptive as her.
Zhong Yin was perceptive, but she had been sent by Qiao Rubai to take care of Ji Junxin. Before, when Ji Junxin didn’t want her around, she stayed away. Today, Ji Junxin asked for her help, so she helped. She had to build a good relationship with the crew, but her loyalty was to her employer, and she had to prioritize Ji Junxin’s needs, not Mi Hongdou’s feelings. Although Mi Hongdou didn’t seem like an outsider, Ji Junxin’s urgency was evident. Why she was in such a hurry, Zhong Yin didn’t care, she just had to follow her instructions.
With Zhong Yin’s efficiency, Mi Hongdou’s luggage was also quickly packed.
Ji Junxin then suggested taking the suitcases down to Mengguan’s chauffeured car, which was there to pick up Mi Hongdou.
By now, Mi Hongdou had no energy to protest Ji Junxin’s obvious desire for them to travel separately.
The suitcases were gone, and the room felt truly empty.
The porridge was almost done, time to boil the eggs. Mi Hongdou composed herself, she still had to cook, after all. Who knew if she would still have the chance to cook for Ji Junxin if she continued to be angry? She had to make Qiao Rubai take responsibility for this… Mi Hongdou thought. If Ji Junxin didn’t forgive her, she would have to ask Qiao Rubai for help in explaining what had happened behind the curtains.
Ji Junxin returned alone.
The empty room, the two of them, it was like when they first met…
Even the meal was the same as their first night together.
Mi Hongdou, smelling the porridge, was lost in thought, then suddenly realized, could Ji Junxin’s request for porridge and boiled eggs be… a symbolic gesture of ending things? If so… the situation was even worse than she thought.
Just as Mi Hongdou was about to confront Ji Junxin, her phone rang.
It was Director Pan, inviting them to a wrap-up dinner at Jiang Lingling’s restaurant.
Thanks to Jiang Lingling’s efforts, that once mediocre restaurant had become quite popular. Every crew in Shudian had received free samples, and the food was good, so it had gained a good reputation. Having the wrap-up dinner at Jiang Lingling’s restaurant was only natural.
But Mi Hongdou was stunned. She had completely forgotten… about the wrap-up dinner. Why had she been making porridge then? Had she lost her mind?
Of course… if they didn’t want to go, they didn’t have to.
Mi Hongdou told Ji Junxin, secretly hoping that she wouldn’t want to go, so they could have dinner together at the suite.
But Ji Junxin, after a moment of thought, agreed readily, another disappointment for Mi Hongdou.
Jiang Lingling’s restaurant’s food was now quite good. The wrap-up dinner was a feast, and both Mi Hongdou and Ji Junxin, after trying a little of everything, were full when they returned.
The porridge she had made earlier was untouched, the eggs unboiled.
Mi Hongdou figured Ji Junxin would probably return to Jiang City tomorrow morning.
“Are we having breakfast tomorrow?” she asked, looking at the porridge.
“No,” Ji Junxin answered curtly, then, seeing Mi Hongdou’s gaze on the porridge, changed her mind. “Put it in the refrigerator…”
Not eating it, but putting it in the refrigerator… Mi Hongdou complained inwardly, but she still did as Ji Junxin asked.
After today’s events, Mi Hongdou realized that she didn’t quite understand Ji Junxin. Even after two lifetimes, did she really know her? Their interactions in her previous life had been limited to food, and although they were much closer in this life, she had thought she understood Ji Junxin. But… the Ji Junxin today was a stranger, so distant that she didn’t even dare to ask about the reason for her change.
The usually gentle and soft Ji Junxin seemed to have become more assertive, her warmth replaced by a certain coldness.
And this Ji Junxin had skillfully deflected her attempts at conversation.
Having been emotionally battered by Qiao Rubai and then repeatedly rejected by Ji Junxin, Mi Hongdou, exhausted, went to shower, feeling defeated.
But when she came out, she saw Ji Junxin sitting on her bed, properly dressed in her pajamas. Yes, on her bed.
So she’s finally ready to talk? But I don’t want to talk anymore, hmph!
Although that was her thought, Mi Hongdou slowly approached.
“I accidentally spilled some cola on my bed earlier,” Ji Junxin said, pointing at her bed. “Right in the middle, the sheets and blanket are all wet. It’s too late to ask for new ones, and I don’t like using the hotel’s bedding. Our spare set is packed in the car, I don’t know which suitcase it’s in, it’s too much trouble to unpack. Since it’s just for one night, can I sleep with you tonight?”
Mi Hongdou, hearing the long explanation, was stunned.
“Wh… what?” she stammered.
“…” Ji Junxin omitted her earlier explanation and asked again, “Can I sleep with you tonight?”
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