novellhall Chapter 370 I Miss You
Chapter 370 I Miss You
Chapter 369 I Miss You
A late night in Kentucky.
The town was so quiet that only the sound of the wind outside the window and the occasional barking of dogs in the distance could be heard.
The wooden floors of the old house make a slight creaking sound when you step on them.
Jennifer, barefoot, gripped the doorknob, took a deep breath, and gently pushed open the door to Chen Xun's room.
A sliver of warm light from the living room nightlight peeked through the crack in the door, landing squarely on her face.
The Oscar-winning actress, who is usually carefree and fearless in front of the camera and at premieres, had her ears burning red and was breathing very softly, like a little girl afraid of being caught by her parents.
Chen Xun was still awake in the room, leaning against the headboard and flipping through the final script of "Joker." Hearing the noise, he looked up and met Jennifer's anxious gaze. He couldn't help but laugh: "Why aren't you asleep yet? Didn't you say you were going to watch the New Year's Eve football game with your dad tomorrow morning?"
Jennifer gently closed the door behind her, stood against the door for a few seconds, then forced herself to walk over, sat on the edge of the bed, and stubbornly changed the subject: "My mom's cookies were too sweet, they were so cloying I couldn't sleep, so I came to see if you were asleep."
She deflated as soon as she finished speaking.
This excuse was so convincing that even she herself didn't believe it, let alone Chen Xun.
Chen Xun put down the script, looked at her reddened ear tips, and understood.
These past few days in the small town, Jennifer has always been the cheerful and lively hostess, taking him to every corner of the town, greeting the neighbors with a smile, playing with her younger brothers, and acting spoiled in front of her parents, displaying all her dignity and liveliness openly. But only when they are alone does she reveal such a rare, slightly helpless shyness.
"You just came to see me?"
Chen Xun leaned slightly closer, speaking in a low voice so as not to disturb his family members sleeping in the next room.
His warm breath brushed against Jennifer's cheek, making her face flush even more. Instead of backing away, she looked up at him.
The moonlight streamed in through the gaps in the blinds, falling into her eyes with a startling brightness.
Having spent so many years in Hollywood, she has seen the hypocrisy and flattery of the industry, and has witnessed countless attempts to win an Oscar for Best Actress.
Only in this small town, in this house where she grew up, is she Jennifer, not an actress, not a big star, but just an ordinary girl who gets scolded by her mother for being lazy, fights with her brother over game controllers, and joins in the fun when her father watches sports.
And this is exactly the kind of person she wants Chen Xun to see.
"Chen Xun~"
She spoke, her voice lower than usual, with a rare softness: "I brought you here not to show you the scenery of Kentucky, but to let you see what I really am like."
She reached out and gently stroked Chen Xun's cheek, her palm slightly cool: "In Los Angeles, everyone fawns over you and me. Everything we say and do seems to be filtered through a lens. But it's different here. There are no Golden Globe winners or Oscar winners here, only you and me."
She leaned forward, almost pressed against his chest, her nose touching his: "My parents have known for a long time, but they haven't said anything or interfered with us. I just want to be with you in this place where I grew up."
It seems only in this way do I feel that you truly belong to me, not to Hollywood, not to Kristen.
Those shots belong solely to me, Jennifer.
As soon as she finished speaking, she kissed him.
This kiss wasn't as flamboyant and passionate as her personality; instead, it was filled with caution and an unconcealed joy.
Stripped of all her glamour, the girl, in her most familiar room, revealed her most authentic self to him without reservation.
Chen Xun reached out and put his arm around her waist, pulling her steadily into his embrace, and returned her kiss.
The wind rustled softly outside the window, and the old house was quiet, save for the sound of their intertwined breaths spreading through the small room.
Jennifer's body stiffened slightly. After all, she was in the house where she had grown up, with her parents' and brother's room right next door.
Even knowing they wouldn't come, she still couldn't help feeling flustered, yet she couldn't bear to push him away.
This secret and intimate feeling was something she had never experienced before; it was like stolen candy, always sweeter than store-bought candy.
After a gentle night, as dawn broke outside her window, Jennifer tiptoed back to her room.
As the door closed, I leaned against it and couldn't help but chuckle to myself.
Time flies, and it's New Year's Eve.
Jennifer's living room was bustling with activity, with the coffee table piled high with potato chips, nuts, cola, and leftover Christmas ham and cookies.
The TV was showing "Dick Clark's New Year's Eve Show".
The countdown display on the Crystal Ball in Times Square, New York, has been shown.
The crowd was full of people.
The two younger brothers had already moved small stools and sat in front of the TV, holding color printers in their hands, their eyes fixed on the screen.
Gary sat in the middle of the sofa, beer in hand, occasionally swaying his legs to the music on TV. Kane ran back and forth between the kitchen and living room, carrying freshly baked cookies, muttering, "Don't forget to clink glasses after the countdown. Also, don't spray paint on the walls. Last year, you three siblings made a complete mess of the walls, and it took me three whole days to clean them!"
"Okay, Mom!"
Jennifer smiled and responded, moving closer to Chen Xun and secretly pinching his palm, her eyes full of undisguised joy.
Spending these past few days together has given her a relaxed and sweet aura, and even her usual carefree nature has softened a bit.
Chen Xun took her hand in his own, his fingertips tracing her fingertips, and shook his head with a smile.
The fireplace in the living room was burning, its warmth enveloping him. The lights on the Christmas tree twinkled, Christmas music played softly, and the laughter of the family mingled together. It was the most comforting and down-to-earth feeling he had never experienced in all the years since he had transmigrated here.
The TV presenter started to liven up the atmosphere, and the camera cut to the bustling crowds in Times Square, where the New Year's countdown was about to begin.
Gary suddenly stood up, cleared his throat, turned the TV volume down, and shouted at the top of his lungs at the countdown screen:
"10！9！8！7！6！"
Jennifer jumped up instantly, grabbed Chen Xun's hand and shouted along. Kane smiled and leaned against her husband, counting along with him. The two younger brothers held up confetti cannons, jumping and shouting numbers. The entire living room was instantly filled with lively shouts.
「5！4！3！2！1！新年快乐！」
The moment the last number was counted, the whole family raised their Coke cans and slammed them together with a loud bang, the crisp sound of the cans colliding mingling with cheers.
The two younger brothers pressed the confetti cannon, and colorful ribbons flew all over the room.
Jennifer turned and threw herself into Chen Xun's arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. She stood on tiptoe and shouted in his ear, "Chen Xun! Happy New Year!"
Chen Xun smiled, tightened his arms around her, picked her up, spun her around, and whispered in her ear, "Happy New Year, Jennifer."
.
Gary whistled beside him and shouted with a laugh, "Alright, alright, stop being so mushy! Hurry up and drink your Coke!"
Kane patted her husband with a smile, but also looked at the two of them with her eyes full of laughter.
Amidst the lively cheers, Chen Xun's phone in his pocket began vibrating incessantly, with message notifications coming in one after another.
He carried Jennifer to the ground, took out his phone and unlocked it. The screen was instantly flooded with unread messages, all New Year's greetings from friends, one after another, he couldn't scroll through them all.
At the very top were messages from Christine, several in a row, with a touch of her characteristic stubborn reproach:
Happy New Year! Where are you having fun celebrating the New Year? You're not replying to messages or answering calls.
Marvel just released their promotional schedule; they'll be heading to premieres after the New Year.
The last message was a lonely "I miss you," sent ten seconds ago, right at the turn of the new year.
The noise was too loud, so he didn't hear his phone vibrate.
A complex emotion welled up in Chen Xun's heart. Just as he was about to reply, Dakota's message popped up. It was a gentle voice message, with Ellie's chattering voice in the background: "Chen Xun, Happy New Year! I hope everything goes smoothly for you in the new year, and that you are safe and happy. Ellie recorded a New Year's greeting for you, and I'm sending it to you along with the message. Remember to come back to Los Angeles to see us after you finish your work."
Clicking on Ellie's voice message, the little girl's clear voice immediately came through: "Brother Chen Xun! Happy New Year! I've prepared a New Year's gift for you! Come back soon! I'm still waiting to learn the new coin trick!"
Scrolling down further, you'll find messages from Kate and Beth, a birthday greeting from the entire cast and crew of "2 Broke Girls," with Kate even sending a playful emoji:
Happy New Year, Boss Han Li! We're looking forward to your script reading after the New Year, hoping you'll come back and help us make money!
And then there were Marvel friends like Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Hemsworth, all sending New Year's greetings with jokes and references. Downey's message read:
Happy New Year, Peter Parker. Meet at Avengers Headquarters after the New Year, and don't forget your web-shooters!
Chris Hemsworth posted a photo of himself holding a beer: "Happy New Year, bro! Looking forward to seeing you back in LA, let's go surfing!"
Shen Man and his friends from the "Wandering Earth" crew in China also sent their blessings, asking when he would return to China so they could get together.
In just a few minutes, his phone was flooded with hundreds of unread messages from all over the country, from every friend he had made in Hollywood and in China over the past few years.
Jennifer leaned closer for a glance, raised an eyebrow, and poked his cheek, her tone teasing but not at all angry: "Wow, Mr. Chen, you've been flooding my phone with New Year's greetings. What's wrong? So many girls are messaging you, you can't keep up?"
Chen Xun smiled, locked the screen, tossed the phone aside, and reached out to pinch her cheek: "No matter how many people send blessings, I'm here with you now, aren't I?"
Jennifer's cheeks flushed instantly. She reached out and punched him, but he grabbed her hand and pulled her back into his arms.