Online, the fans of Louis and Elisa were at odds. Louis’s fans commented that Elisa was not worthy of Louis’s status. Elisa’s fans retorted that it wasn’t their place to decide and that only Louis himself could determine worthiness. However, these debates were of no concern to the parties involved. With time, the production of the film progressed smoothly.
In less than two months, the entire movie was filmed at a remarkably fast pace, thanks mainly to the seamless acting between Elisa and Louis. The swift completion of the movie took netizens by surprise. It seemed like just the other day that the fans of both stars were arguing, and now suddenly, the movie was finished.
Despite concerns about the production team and the rushed schedule, the completion of the film had disappointed many of Louis’s fans. Nevertheless, with Louis’s star power, the film was likely to draw an audience, regardless of its production quality.
Some film critics and marketing accounts began to speak ill of the movie, suggesting that it might be a significant blow to Louis’s reputation. The two months of shooting was indeed the shortest period for a film in history. Unlike regular films, horror movies presented significant challenges during filming, testing the actors’ imagination. Previously released horror films in China had typically taken two to three years to film. Setting aside makeup and location arrangements, the filming itself lasted a mere forty days.
Elisa had just finished “Revenge and Love” and seamlessly transitioned into “The Ghost.” Could the scripts be that well-coordinated? In truth, they were. Elisa’s acting was exceptional, and while she had initially worried about being overshadowed during her time on the set of “Revenge and Love,” she had no such concerns when acting alongside Louis. Their performances drove everyone on the set, leading to swift progress. After all, both leads nailed their scenes in one take, and the supporting roles were also strong.
On the day of the film’s completion, the production team held a celebration at a hotel. December was already quite cold, and Elisa, feeling chilly, found that Louis had brought plenty of hand warmers in his bag. Whenever she felt cold, he would affix them to her or tuck her hands into his coat pockets.
Louis’s hands were always warm, much larger than Elisa’s, capable of enveloping her hands entirely, providing quick warmth.
The two directors were unfazed, quietly reminding the staff in the group chat not to spread rumors and to treat Louis and Elisa’s behavior as simply being deeply immersed in their roles. Mr. Rook was hospitable, urging everyone to drink and eat. In winter, a little alcohol could warm the body, and after all, they were only drinking wine, so the effects weren’t too strong.
Louis, however, sat by the side, staring at the glass in front of him. He only started drinking after Elisa had taken a sip. By the time Elisa noticed that something was wrong with Louis, it was already too late. She hadn’t expected him to get drunk after just one drink.
Drunk Louis was even quieter than usual, his head down, eyes unfocused, his ears tinged with a drunken flush. His eyes seemed to be covered in a mist, his thoughts inscrutable, his brow furrowed slightly.
Elisa hadn’t noticed that he was drunk when she called out to him. When she received no response, she felt a sudden pang of surprise. Did Louis really have such a low alcohol tolerance?
“Why isn’t Louis, the movie star, moving?” she asked.
“He seems to be drunk,” Elisa said softly, tapping him on the back. Louis looked up, his gaze unfocused. Elisa held up her finger and playfully teased him, “How many fingers do you see?”
Louis grabbed her hand, which was fidgeting, and lightly bit it, as if playing with a bone like a puppy.
The bite wasn’t painful, just a bit ticklish. Elisa tried to pull her hand away, but Louis held her wrist tightly, his damp eyes looking at her, still attempting to nibble on her fingers, all the while saying, “Don’t move.”
When Louis was drunk, he turned into a clingy person. Elisa wanted to laugh, but she held it in. Suddenly, she sensed that something was off. She looked up and saw the dumbfounded expressions of the two directors. She felt too embarrassed to continue laughing.
“He’s drunk. I’ll take him back first,” Elisa said.
“Louis, the movie star, has such a low alcohol tolerance?” Mr. Rook couldn’t help but express his astonishment.
Not only Mr. Rook, but Elisa was also surprised. Such a big man, and yet, he was already drunk after just one drink. The two directors didn’t insist on keeping Elisa back. They stood up to see her off.
“Miss Powell… Oh, sorry, Elisa, it’s not good for you to help him alone. We’ll do it,” one of the directors said. Louis was tall and a challenge for one person to support, let alone Elisa, a woman.
As the directors approached, Louis pushed them away. “Go away. Don’t touch me.”
His angry look was like that of a snarling golden retriever-overall, not very threatening, but enough to stop anyone from approaching him.
Elisa stood up, and Louis held onto her hand, following her as she walked. Every step Elisa took, Louis followed, turning the drunk Louis into a clingy person.
Once Elisa was sure that Louis could walk, she said to the directors, “You continue with your meal. He can walk by himself; I’ll take him back now.”
Elisa helped Autumn put on a mask, buttoned up her coat, and wrapped a scarf around her. Louis remained still, allowing her to assist him.
The evening light shone on Louis’s face, accentuating his three-dimensional handsomeness. His deep eyes resembled black gems, bright and exuding a gentle warmth. Elisa couldn’t help but want to rub his face, but she resisted, aware of the others around her.
“Let’s go,” she said.
Louis instinctively grabbed her hand and obediently followed her. His steps were unsteady, but he managed to walk. When they stepped outside, the wind was strong. Elisa shivered, and the mist in Louis’s eyes dispersed. He took off his coat and draped it over Elisa.
“I’m not cold. You should wear it back; you might catch a cold,” Elisa said hurriedly.
“You’re cold,” Louis ignored her and insisted on covering her with the coat. He bent down and patiently buttoned it up, his manner firm.
Elisa was speechless, but fortunately, the car she had called arrived. She lowered her head and buried it in the coat. The scent of Louis surrounded her.
After helping Elisa into the coat, Louis fumbled for her arm to find her hand.
His coat was large, and Elisa’s hands were hidden inside the sleeves. Louis took a while to find her hand, his brow furrowing as he struggled. “Hold my hand, hold my hand,” he murmured.
A video she had watched a few days ago suddenly flashed through Elisa’s mind. It was of a child walking a dog, oblivious to the fact that the leash was loose, causing the dog to chase after the untethered rope. Elisa found this image amusing, but she managed to contain her laughter. She withdrew her hand from the sleeve, and Louis, upon finding it, held it tightly, a silly grin forming on his face.
The car arrived, and Elisa struggled to get Louis into the car. The heating was on inside the car, and on this cold winter night, the warmth made her feel drowsy.
Louis leaned against her as soon as he got in, and Elisa had to hold him, sweating in the two layers of coats she was wearing. Eventually, they arrived at Vaquita Bay, and Elisa woke Louis up.
“Wake up, Louis. It’s time to get off,” she said.
Louis opened his eyes and obediently followed Elisa out of the car. Once they reached his house, Elisa used her fingerprint to unlock the door.
She first made sure Louis was settled before she left. It was only 9:00 p. m., and it wasn’t too late for her to take a car back. Elisa was completely oblivious to the fact that since she left the hotel and got into the car, a vehicle had been following her from a distance.
Even after she entered her house, the car remained parked not far from her villa.
When they arrived at Louis’s home and he saw the familiar layout, he paused for a moment. Elisa, feeling extremely warm, let go of Louis’s hand and removed her coat. As she did so, her phone vibrated in the pocket. She found Louis’s phone in the coat and saw a message from his agent, reminding him not to drink. Unfortunately, it was already too late. Elisa responded to the message, letting the agent know that she had arrived home to ease any worries.
Louis stumbled all the way inside, opened a drawer, took out a can of candy, and brought it to Elisa. “Have some candy,” he said.
Elisa’s eyes softened. Louis knew that she liked candy, so he always had some on hand for her. Whenever she wanted some, he would present her with a handful. “For me?” she asked.
Louis nodded vigorously and pulled Elisa over to the sofa, pressing the can of candy into her arms. “Eat!”
It seemed that drunk Louis always had unfinished business. After finding the candy, he unsteadily searched for a basin and went to the bathroom to fetch water without knowing what he intended to do.
Elisa had initially planned to settle Louis in and then leave, but seeing Louis so restless, she feared she might not be able to leave for a while. “What are you doing?” she asked as she approached Louis, who was squatting on the floor, filling the basin with hot water.
Louis turned his head, his tone serious and resolute. “I’m filling it with hot water.”
“Why are you filling it with water?”
“To wash your feet.”
“I don’t want to. I need to go back.”
Hearing that Elisa wanted to leave, Louis’s eyes instantly darkened, even in the light. The basin quickly overflowed with hot water, and Louis remained crouched on the ground, looking forlorn, as if abandoned. Seeing him in such a pitiable state, Elisa’s heart softened, and she felt an indescribable emotion rising within her.
In the end, she relented. “Should I wash them now?”
Louis gazed blankly at her. Once he realized that Elisa would stay and let him wash her feet, he picked up the basin. As he lifted it, water splashed all over him, leaving marks on his face.
He placed the basin in front of the sofa and told Elisa to sit down, instructing her not to move. He then patiently took off her shoes and socks, took her feet, and placed them in the warm water.
Elisa seemed to understand why Louis was so insistent on soaking her feet in hot water. Her feet tended to get cold in winter, and every night after filming, she would spend half an hour soaking them. Louis knew this routine.
So, upon arriving home, he had gone to find candy to mollify her and then proceeded to prepare hot water for her feet.
“I’m starting to suspect whether you’re really drunk,” Elisa said.
Louis lifted his head and stared at her blankly.
Opening the candy can in his gaze, Elisa casually took out a piece of candy, unwrapped it, and put it in her mouth, savoring the rich milky flavor.
“Is it sweet?” Louis asked.
“Mmm…” Elisa seriously considered it for a moment, then reached out to touch Louis’s chin, brought her lips close to his, and after a moment, pulled back, unable to contain her mischief. “Is it sweet?”
Louis was slow to react. At first, his mind didn’t catch up, but after staring at Elisa’s lips for a few seconds, his face turned red, and he slowly replied, “Sweet.”
Unable to resist, Elisa touched Louis’s burning face, ruffled his hair, and continued until it was disheveled.
After soaking her feet, Elisa managed to persuade Louis to go to bed. He obediently went to the bedroom, but he kept holding onto Elisa all the way, like a cuddly bear sack.
Despite her efforts to keep her wits about her after being pushed onto the bed, Elisa found herself laughing. Louis fell asleep as soon as he lay down, and she found it unnecessary to worry further. She tried to get up to help Louis dry off, but she found it impossible to free herself from his grip.
It seemed as though Louis was deliberately keeping Elisa from leaving. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pressed his leg against hers. Men’s body temperatures were naturally higher than women’s, so there was no need for a blanket. He was like a small heater beside her.
Wrapped in this warmth, Elisa tried to hold out for a while, but eventually succumbed to sleep. As for the car that had been parked outside all along…