The Amnesiac Drama Queen Is Crashing the Live Stream - Chapter 27.1

“Xiao Xing, are you even capable? Can’t even climb such a small slope?”

“Give me your hand, I’ll pull you up.”

“Are you a water buffalo? Why carry so much water? Might as well let it weigh you down.”

Familiar voices echoed in her ears, and the blurry scenery before her gradually sharpened into focus.

Yu Feifei was dressed in an unusually thick cotton coat, wrapping her entire body snugly. She held a trekking pole in one hand, and her thickly gloved hand reached down from above.

The gray sky sprinkled fine snowflakes, and a biting cold wind carried a piercing chill. The vegetation underfoot was blanketed in thick, white snow, and only when stepping on it could one faintly hear the soft crunch of dried twigs breaking.

Xia Xingtang glanced down, feeling the weight of the heavy backpack on her shoulders and her own body, bundled up like a ball, just like Yu Feifei.

She heard herself say, “What’s all the yelling about? Just because you’ve been filming here for two months, you think you can bully someone like me who’s not acclimated?”

Yu Feifei took a few steps down to pull her up, then affectionately linked arms with her as they stood on the nearest high slope. “Look, I told you it’s beautiful here, didn’t I?”

Xia Xingtang felt herself exhale a breath, the warm air turning into a wisp of white mist before quickly vanishing.

“Yeah, not bad.”

“You finally come to visit me on set, and you look so listless. If your sister saw you, she’d probably think I’m mistreating you.” Yu Feifei reached out and pinched Xia Xingtang’s cheek. “You’ve been married for two months now, and you still haven’t learned to take proper care of yourself.”

Xia Xingtang frowned in annoyance. “The altitude is so high; I’m just not acclimated.”

“Then let’s not climb any higher. It just so happens I’m here.” Yu Feifei tugged Xia Xingtang to turn in another direction. “In the movie I filmed, they say that shouting here can convey your longing, ease your worries, and even grant wishes.”

Xia Xingtang froze for a moment before mumbling, “You’ve acted in so many scripts, and you still fall for such nonsense?”

The two chatted idly for a while, with Yu Feifei earnestly trying to persuade Xia Xingtang to vent her feelings.

Finally unable to withstand Yu Feifei’s gaze, Xia Xingtang shouted, “Then, I want to attain the Great Dao! I want to ascend to immortality in broad daylight!”

“You might as well try jumping from here and see if you stumble upon some immortal’s legacy and gain some opportunities.”

After saying this, both of them burst into laughter.

Yu Feifei reached out and brushed the snow off Xia Xingtang’s shoulder. “Xiao Xing, there’s actually another line in my movie. Do you want to hear it?”

“What is it?”

Yu Feifei looked at Xia Xingtang, her gaze turning serious as she slowly said, “Before loving someone else, you must first learn to love yourself.”

In an instant, the snow falling from the sky seemed to quicken.

Flake after flake, they vanished into the snowy ground, disappearing without a trace.

Suddenly, Yu Feifei cupped her hands around her mouth like a megaphone and shouted, “Xia Xingtang!”

Xia Xingtang snapped back to reality, her first instinct to glance around.

Having her name shouted like that was utterly embarrassing.

They had chosen a time when there were few people, and with such dreadful weather, the surroundings were nothing but a vast expanse of white, devoid of any other tourists.

She breathed a slight sigh of relief, then snapped angrily, “Shut up, Yu Feifei!”

Yu Feifei urged her on, “Xiao Xingxing, give it a try. Even though calling my name might attract fans, for your sake, I’ll reluctantly let you shout it.”

Xia Xingtang felt nothing but awkwardness. “No, it’s too embarrassing.”

“It’s fine. If fans show up, I’ll be the one embarrassed.” Yu Feifei cupped her hands around her mouth again. “Shout with me! Be happy!”

Pushed by Yu Feifei, Xia Xingtang felt as if she were bewitched. She too looked up at the sky, which seemed almost within reach. “Hey! Are you happy?”

Once the first shout was out, the ones that followed came much more easily. “Are… you… okay?”

Her words, wrapped in the drifting snow, settled on the mountain peaks, burying her longing deep within the snow.

“Are… you… happy…?”

Shout after shout, until even Xia Xingtang herself didn’t notice the choked sobs creeping into her voice.

Her face grew damp, perhaps from snowflakes landing on her eyelashes and melting into teardrops.

After her final, desperate cry, she felt her brain growing oxygen-deprived. Staggering a few steps, she collapsed into the snow.

Unable to hold back any longer, she covered her face with both hands and cried without restraint.

“Wah…” The dream abruptly ended there. Xia Xingtang jolted awake.

The lingering sorrow from the dream made her chest heave violently, and even her back was damp with sweat.

The sound of snow drifting through the canyon still seemed to echo in her ears, vast and boundless.

She grabbed her phone from the bedside table and glanced at the time, nearly 3 a.m. Letting out a sigh, she sat for a few seconds before swinging her legs out of bed.

In the mirror, tear tracks still glistened on her face. She splashed cold water on her face a few times, and the nightmare finally faded.

Thirsty after waking, she dragged her slippers and stumbled downstairs in search of water.

As she opened the refrigerator door, she hesitated for a moment, then set aside the cold drink and mixed herself a glass of honey water instead.

For some reason, fragments of the dream flashed through her mind again.

After waking, dreams always faded quickly. All she remembered was the vast snowy landscape and the overwhelming sadness she had felt.

They say dreams are the opposite of reality. Could it be that her current life was too blissful, and extreme joy had summoned sorrow?

Her hands moved faster than her thoughts. Before she realized it, she had prepared another glass of honey water.

Well, she just wanted to check on someone to ground herself in reality. She swore she’d only take one look, just one, and then leave.

Holding the glass, she walked toward Pei Luoqing’s bedroom door. Just as she was about to open it, she noticed a faint glow coming from the study next door.

After a moment’s hesitation, she gently pushed the study door open and stepped inside.

Only the desk lamp was on in the study, casting a dim light as she entered. Someone was slumped over the desk, emitting faint, muffled groans.

The warm glow of the lamp spilled over Pei Luoqing, enveloping her in a soft radiance.

Like a contented cat, she had shed all the pretenses of the day, revealing the vulnerable side she kept hidden from others.

A side only someone like Xia Xingtang, a member of the family, could ever see.

Xia Xingtang tiptoed closer, placed the honey water on the desk, and gave her a gentle nudge. “Pei Luoqing? Pei Luoqing?”

The only response was a slight tremble in her shoulders and the sound of her breathing.

If Xia Xingtang had leaned in a little closer, she might have noticed how abnormal Pei Luoqing’s breathing sounded, heavy and uneasy, as if she were enduring something.

Xia Xingtang continued to poke her arm. “Go back to your room to sleep. Who sleeps in the study at this hour? Since you’re working so hard to earn money, I made you a cup of honey water. No need to thank me too much.”

After saying this, she felt she had been a bit too eager.

So, guiltily, she added, “Drink it or not, it’s up to you. Hurry back to your room to sleep. If you freeze to death, I’m not taking responsibility.”

Though she claimed she wouldn’t take responsibility, after turning away, she resignedly turned back.

For some reason, she just wanted Pei Luoqing to acknowledge her. But as her hand rested on Pei Luoqing’s shoulders, her fingertips brushed against her neck and detected an unusual warmth.

Xia Xingtang paused, instinctively reaching to check Pei Luoqing’s forehead.

It was frighteningly hot.

Just then, the person slumped over the desk suddenly woke up and grabbed her wrist. Xia Xingtang reflexively leaned forward, barely managing to brace herself against the edge of the desk to avoid falling into Pei Luoqing’s embrace.

Pei Luoqing’s face finally emerged from the shadows. Her lips were pale, her face unnaturally flushed, and fine beads of sweat dotted her forehead, as if she were enduring something.

Xia Xingtang quickly bent down to check on her. “Pei Luoqing?”

After a long moment, Pei Luoqing responded, her voice thick with exhaustion.

Xia Xingtang asked softly, “Are you running a fever again?”

By this time, Pei Luoqing had already leaned back in her office chair, her eyes lightly closed, as she pinched the space between her furrowed brows.

Instead of answering directly, she asked in a slightly hoarse voice, “Why are you here?”

“I saw your light was still on, so I came to check,” Xia Xingtang ventured. “Did you forget to take the fever medicine the doctor gave you this afternoon?”

Even though Pei Luoqing was usually pale, she looked excessively pallid now. A wave of guilt washed over Xia Xingtang. “It’s all my fault. I didn’t want to go back to the car by the shore earlier, and I ended up making you catch a cold.”

“It’s fine,” Pei Luoqing said indifferently, as if discussing something trivial. “I probably had some alcohol at the banquet earlier. My body was already weak, and it just triggered the illness again.”

“What do you mean, ‘it’s fine’?” Xia Xingtang grabbed Pei Luoqing’s phone. “I’m calling the family doctor to come over right now.”

Pei Luoqing’s hand covered hers. “Don’t bother. It’s so late, no need to trouble anyone. I’ll just take some medicine and tough it out.”

“How can you just tough it out when you’re feeling unwell? Won’t that make it worse?” Xia Xingtang bit her lower lip in frustration. “It’s all my fault. I made you jump into the lake to save me, made you drink on my behalf, and then dragged you around the university district all evening.”

Pei Luoqing’s indifferent attitude toward her own health was something Xia Xingtang couldn’t understand. An inexplicable anger surged within her, mingled with self-reproach and distress.

“Don’t overthink it. It has nothing to do with you.”

Xia Xingtang unconsciously tightened her grip on the edge of the desk, her emotions in turmoil.

She had no idea how long Pei Luoqing had been suffering here alone, too weak to even return to her room, just slumped over the desk like that.

“Don’t worry.” Perhaps because Xia Xingtang had been silent for too long, Pei Luoqing added this softly.

“Who’s worried about you?” Xia Xingtang retorted stubbornly. “I’ve only just realized I married into wealth. If something happens to you, who’s going to support me in the future?”

After a moment’s thought, she added sullenly, “I’m very expensive to maintain, you know. It takes a lot of money to keep me.”

Pei Luoqing raised an eyebrow at Xia Xingtang’s self-awareness, surprised to learn that the little princess had such insight.

Feeling both helpless and amused, she couldn’t resist teasing, “If something happens to me, all my assets will be yours. Isn’t that enough for you to spend?”

Xia Xingtang pursed her lips. “I don’t care. You have to keep earning money for me.”

Pei Luoqing chuckled softly, her voice unconsciously softening. “Alright, I’ll do my best.”

After a moment of silence, Pei Luoqing glanced at the extra glass of water on the table. “Is that for me?”

“That’s for myself. I just brought it along,” Xia Xingtang instinctively retorted, but upon seeing Pei Luoqing’s expression, she added, “But I can make another one. You can have this one.”

Pei Luoqing let out a low laugh. “Mm, thank you.”

The honey water soothed her parched throat, making her feel a little better. She let out a deep sigh, her voice clearer now. “It’s already very late. You should go back to sleep.”

“Wait here. I’ll go make some medicine for you.”

“I’m fine. It’s just that my temperature is a bit high after waking up.”

“Let me help you back to your room first.”