Chapter 5: Take Eleven

"Visiting hours are at the discretion of the family," Wenxin said.

Her voice came out level. She had not known she could do that off a stage.

The doctor's smile slipped. "Madam's instructions are that only immediate family..."

"I'm his wife." She stood and took the thermos from the table. "Miss Shi is my guest. She stays as long as she likes."

Anqi did not say a word, and her hand did not leave Mingxuan's.

The doctor looked at the night nurse.

The nurse looked at the tray.

"I'll note it for Madam," the doctor said at last, and left.

Anqi let out a long, slow breath. "Thank you."

"Stay until nine," Wenxin said. "I'll sit in the hall and watch who comes."

At nine the nurse came back with the injection.

Wenxin stood in the doorway with her arms folded and asked to see the chart.

The nurse showed her the chart and offered nothing else.

It was a start.

Three days later Wenxin stood on a sound stage in a thin silk dress, in falling paper snow, waiting for a kiss.

Letters Under Snow was a spy story set in Shanghai in 1934.

The Captain loved Su Min, and Su Min was selling his secrets.

In this scene she came to confess, and he stopped her mouth before she could.

Haoran stood three feet away in a long dark coat, with snow in his hair.

On set he was not Mr. Lu and not the man at the dinner table.

He was the Captain, and he looked at her with nothing held back.

"Again," said the director.

The first take was too polite.

By take four the crew had stopped checking their phones.

By take seven the director said she looked scared of him.

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