She frowned, "Bo Yan, you’re acting like my mom."

Bo Yan had heard Xia Siyu talk about her mom before, but she never spoke in this tone.

Xia Siyu explained, "Back then, my mom was strict. If I didn’t practice dancing seriously, she’d hit my palm with a ruler. But besides that, she was very kind to me. When I went to school, she’d always be helping me with something, whether it was packing my bag or reminding me not to bully classmates or get into fights. Just like you."

This analogy made Bo Yan laugh silently. Was she praising his concern for her or complaining he was nagging?

But one thing was clear, Xia Siyu felt close to him. Moreover, she gradually let go of her issues with her mom, not completely, as she wasn’t qualified to replace her mom in forgiving those who wronged her. Yet, she was able to calmly talk about her mom and seriously face life.

Bo Yan smiled and said, "As long as you know. Take good care of yourself."

"I know." Actually, even when Bo Yan wasn’t around Xia Siyu, she lived well on her own. But when he was around, she habitually relied on him, and now she’s just returning to her normal state.

The two talked for quite a while, and Wei Jingjing finally couldn’t help urging, "Siyu, it’s almost time."

After all, it’s an international flight, and going through customs takes extra time.

Bo Yan nodded, "Won’t you give me a farewell kiss?" He leaned in to kiss her, but Xia Siyu turned her face away in disgust, "No. There’s so much bacteria on your mask!"

Considering the pandemic, if it weren’t for the epidemic, even at the risk of being recognized, Bo Yan would have kissed her before letting her go.

He spread his arms, "Then a hug."

Xia Siyu again turned away with a "tsk," and just when Bo Yan thought Xia Siyu didn’t want to, as he lowered his arms, she suddenly leapt forward and hugged him tightly, "You take care too."

Bo Yan felt nothing when he previously spoke a lot, but Xia Siyu’s simple words nearly broke through his defenses. He nodded, hugged her back, patting her on the back, then let go and nodded, "Good luck!"

"I don’t need you to tell me; I will." Although Xia Siyu verbally argued, her body language showed her feelings. She walked step by step towards the security checkpoint, looking back every few steps until she passed through and could no longer see Bo Yan, then she strode ahead.

Bo Yan also looked on until he couldn’t see her figure anymore; he then turned back, heading firmly in the opposite direction.

Separation, for them, was already a common thing. Both were career-minded. He wouldn’t force Xia Siyu to leave the industry and be a homemaker, and she wouldn’t be content to be an idle rich wife.

Since their goals aligned, the brief separation was nothing serious.

** 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Upon arriving in Los Angeles, Xia Siyu had a fourteen-day preparation period. Her English was perfectly fluent for communication. Although a translator was hired, they weren’t for her but for Little Tang and Wei Jingjing—both had attended university, but after years of graduation, their English had been forgotten. Even if they hadn’t forgotten, domestic English education mostly resulted in ’mute English,’ where comprehension skills are good but speaking skills are lacking.

Language wasn’t an issue. Eating habits weren’t a problem either, as Xia Siyu had grown up in Sicily and didn’t reject Western food. But considering Wei Jingjing, Little Tang, and other staff, she hired a Chinese chef for her team’s meals every day.

Bo Yan had reminded her to contact a lawyer upon her arrival, which she did. She also contacted a bodyguard company; she couldn’t carry a gun, but a bodyguard could. Health insurance was also bought—not for lack of money for medical treatment but if anyone accompanying her needed hospitalization, well, then getting insurance was a prudent choice.

Apart from these personal concerns, work-wise, the director knew of her martial prowess but didn’t expect her to handle a heavy motorcycle. For the scene where she needed to ride one out, initially, they planned to use a stunt double, but knowing Xia Siyu could do it was a pleasant surprise.

As for firearms, she handled them well too. Many actors in China didn’t have firearm environments, thus most couldn’t use them, but Xia Siyu somehow could.

The director initially thought he picked a pretty actress with decent acting skills, only to find out she was multitalented.

After preparations by the film crew, they went to Quebec. Here, a studio set was built, with most of the shooting done there besides a few outdoor scenes. John Scott was as flamboyant as rumored; during the filming, he changed girlfriends twice. Still, besides his personal life, the collaboration was enjoyable.

During filming, Xia Siyu also encountered one thing: her thirtieth birthday.

Actually, it’s not a big deal; birthdays happen every year, and turning thirty is just a round number.

But in China, there’s an ancient saying "Thirty stands firm," meaning by thirty, one is usually finished with their studies and established in society. By thirty, some have married and even had children, a new life Chapter begins. Thirty strips away much youthful exuberance, leaving not dreams, but reality.

For Xia Siyu, thirty meant the biggest fact: she failed; her mom had won two Best Actress awards before turning thirty, retired to marry, and at that time, Xia Siyu was already in her mother’s belly.

But she hadn’t won a lead actress award yet, still striving. Though she has a husband now, she’s not thinking about quitting the industry or prioritizing family.

Moreover, Bo Yan couldn’t come.

The film crew knew her birthday and held a small birthday party. John Scott smeared cake on her face, to which she retaliated by smearing cream back at him. But after the noise, back at the hotel, chatting with Bo Yan, looking at his familiar face on the video call, only then did she vaguely feel what turning thirty meant.

Although the year-long competition with Shang Feifei wasn’t over, unless she won all three remaining awards or at least two, hoping to win over Shang Feifei single-handedly was a pipe dream.

Yet, she was now calm, the sole hope being to reunite with Bo Yan at the Venice Film Festival.

Yes, the long-dormant "Spring Light" made it to the main competition at the Venice Film Festival. Both she and Bo Yan, the lead actors, would attend. And even though her solar calendar thirtieth birthday was today, her lunar birthday would be celebrated then.

Anyway, with other crew members attending the Venice Film Festival too, taking leave occasionally was absolutely fine. Anyway, with other crew members attending the Venice Film Festival too, taking leave occasionally was absolutely fine.