The next morning.
Around 9 – 10 o’clock.
Zhang Ye mockingly laughed, “You’re awake?”
“Yes.” the Heavenly Queen answered coldly.
“You didn’t sleep well? I can see your dark eye circles.” Zhang Ye said.
“I will make do with it.” the Heavenly Queen commanded, “Go see if there are still people downstairs.”
Zhang Ye got off the bed and he went over, pulling the curtain slightly apart. He said impatiently, “There are still several dozens of people. It looks like the reporters have changed shifts. Looks like we won’t be leaving today either?”
“Let’s eat first,” Zhang Yuanqi said.
Zhang Ye was hungry too, “Order take away? Sure, let me see.”
He checked online and made a few calls. In the end, none of the eateries were willing to deliver take away as the area was too isolated. Even fast food restaurants were not willing to deliver here. Out of desperation, Zhang Ye called the motel front desk, “Hello, what can we eat over here? Bread? Instant noodles? Biscuits? OK, please give me 2 sets of everything. I want a bottle of cola and a bottle of mineral water too… please deliver it to my room, thank you.”
The Heavenly Queen put on her sunglasses, “Don’t let anyone come in.”
“I know.” Zhang Ye put on his coat and walked to the door to wait.
Momentarily, the cleaning lady came to deliver the food. When the door was opened, she handed the things over, “The money will be deducted from the deposit. Oh yes, are you checking out today?”
Zhang Ye messed up his hair on purpose so that no one would recognize him. But it was obviously unnecessary, as even if his face was not covered, the cleaning lady would still not be able to recognize him. Zhang Ye thought for a while, then said, “I won’t be checking out today, I will stay another day.”
The cleaning lady said, “Then you need to go downstairs to hand over the money.”
Zhang Ye said quickly said, “I’m too lazy to go down, I will hand the money to you.”
“Alright then.” the cleaning took the money and counted it, “Do you need housekeeping?”
“No need, no need.” Zhang Ye did not dare to let anyone into the room, “Oh yes, why is the thermostat turned off? It’s pretty cold and rather gloomy. The temperature’s turning cold.”
The cleaning lady explained, “The thermostat is externally controlled. There’s only electricity after 9PM.” It was obviously to save power and after explaining, the cleaner went downstairs.
Back in the room, Zhang Ye put the food onto the bed, “What do you want to eat?”
Zhang Yuanqi took a look and pointed to the instant noodles. She did not even say a word.
Zhang Ye glanced at her, then went to boil some water. He prepared the instant noodles and placed them at the dressing table in front of the bed. He took some bread for himself and he had some hot water to go along with, “I think today won’t be the day too, we won’t be able to find a chance to slip away. If you have something on today, you can call your manager with my phone?”
The Heavenly Queen was eating her instant noodles with a not too happy expression. She still ate it anyway, “Use your phone to call? And tell her that I am with you at the motel?”
Zhang Ye realized that her manager had his number. A call would reveal everything. This was not something that they could let anyone know even if there was nothing between the two of them.
……
After the meal.
It was almost noon.
The two of them were doing nothing, there was basically nothing to do at all.
Zhang Ye switched the old CRT television on. There were only about 20 channels, but every channel was only showing static. The reception was probably terrible, so there was no way to watch anything. The Heavenly Queen lay in bed under her blanket. She had already read Zhang Ye’s compilation twice. There weren’t many words to begin with anyway, so she didn’t bother to read it again. Zhang Ye switched the television off. It was getting cold as it looked to be almost raining outside. He rubbed his hands together to keep warm. He did not wear much as he came out in a rush last night.
“Phone.” the Heavenly Queen said.
“What’s the matter?” Zhang Ye blinked.
Zhang Yuanqi did not explain, but repeated, “Phone.”
“Here.” Zhang Ye uttered as he threw it to her.
Zhang Yuanqi began dialing some numbers, after recalling for a long while, the call finally connected. The expression on her face changed to one of a smiling one, “Hello, is this Director Jiang?”