it was supposed to be a quiet night. No filming, no scripts, no schedules. Just the rare kind of evening where everyone from "falling silence" ended up in the same place. A small private lounge the producer Chen Wei had booked in the outskirt of the city. Low music, warm lighting, bottles they didn't even finish opening yet.
For once, no one was performing anything. Wen Jinhai leaned back on the couch, laughing at something Jian had just said. While Liu Wen complained softly about how loud everyone was being. Everyone was together, it felt normal to be loud the director chipped in. Lin Su sat on the far end on the three seater couch just observing everyone. Just being in the midst of these strangers that have somehow crept their way into her heart unbeknownst to them, she felt alive again. All the painful memories from her past was slowly washing away and she, herself find it hard to admit. Everything felt normal, almost too normal. Like life hadn't changed them yet.
Suddenly, Wen Jinhai's phone buzzed.
Once.
Then again.
He glanced at it casually at first. Unknown number. He opened the message.
The smile on his face faded slightly as he read.
" I think I'm falling in love with you." He blinked. Another message came immediately. " No.. I don't think, I know it."
Wen Jinhai exhaled through his nose, half amused. " Aiyo.." he muttered quietly. "Another one" he was long used to these type of text now. Since he became locally recognized, he has bad numerous messages from fan girls expressively telling him how much they loved him and wished to marry him. One even commented on offering off her virginity to him. "Funny." These past weeks has been crazy for him. His phone keeps buzzing nonstop.
He tilted the phone showing Jian
"Fan messages", he said. " The usual dramatic type" he added.
Jian glanced at it and laughed " Atleast you're getting love confessions now. Level up bro".
Wen Jinhai scoffed and locked his screen. He didn't think about it again.
Later that night after everyone else returned to their respective homes, Wen Jinhai received a notification. Then another. And another. The incessant ringing of the phone made him snap finally then curious, he opened the message.
"Do you think I'm weird for feeling this strongly?"
" I think you're the only real thing I've seen in a long time."
Wen Jinhai frowned lightly because it was late deep into the night and the tone of the sender had shifted, though still fan-like but heavier, more personal. He still didn't see anything wrong with the text. He simply locked the phone again and tossed it unto the sofa.
The next day, he woke up to something unexpected. A picture, it was him. Not from the show, not from the agency but from his home. Right outside his home. A candid photo of him walking, head slightly lowered. The picture was taken from a distance.
Wen Jinhai stared at it for a long time, then slowly sat up. " This is.... weird ", he said quietly to himself. But even though the other party finally got his attention, he still wasn't fully alarmed. Just uncomfortable. While he was still pondering on what to do, another message came in again
"You looked tired yesterday"
" You shouldn't stay out late"
That was the moment something in his expression shifted. He hadn't posted his location yesterday. And they had all gone outskirt of the city so how did this person know about such private information?
He opened the chat again without hesitation this time and asked directly
" Who are you?".