Chapter 351: Reunion

Chapter 351: Chapter 350: Reunion

“You’ll join the crew for the roadshow after the New Year.” Quentin Simmons changed the subject and looked at Joanna Kennedy. “Jennings, you especially need a good rest. It’s not easy for a young woman like you. Go home, recharge, and eat some good food.”

“Director Simmons, you’re embarrassing me,” Joanna Kennedy said with a shy smile. “We were all in it together—filming, eating, the works. It wasn’t any harder for me than for anyone else.”

“That’s different. We’re all veterans; we came up the hard way. For someone as young as you to persevere through this, Jennings, is truly impressive.”

“That’s right. Even I was having a hard time with the conditions. Jennings had so many scenes, spending hours on end outdoors…” The speaker, a veteran actor and an old colleague of Quentin Simmons, spoke with blunt familiarity. “Old Simmons, you’d better give Jennings an extra-thick red envelope for wrapping up!”

Joanna Kennedy was visibly thinner, and her skin was no longer as dewy as it had been in the beginning. For any actress in the prime of her youth, this was a major blow.

Beautiful, humble, and not afraid of hardship—who wouldn’t like a junior colleague like that?

Besides, Joanna Kennedy had just starred in a Quentin Simmons film; her future prospects were boundless. Everyone was in the same industry, and it never hurt to build good relationships.

The others started clamoring for thick red envelopes too, and the private room erupted in a lively buzz. With filming finally wrapped, Quentin Simmons let out a sigh of relief. Seeing the boisterous scene, he laughed, and for once abandoning his usual stingy ways, he waved his hand magnanimously. “Alright!”

Boarding the flight home, Joanna Kennedy was buzzing with excitement the entire way. The combination of late nights and early mornings hadn’t knocked her out; on the contrary, as soon as she was on the plane, she was wide awake and full of energy.

Her assistant and Mindy Morgan dozed off for a bit, but when they woke up mid-flight, they found Joanna Kennedy looking as bright and energetic as ever.

Mindy Morgan: “………”

“I’m giving you a few days off. Go home and get some proper rest,” Mindy Morgan said.

Joanna Kennedy touched her cheek. She didn’t complain about the hassle, but instead nodded obediently. “Okay, I’ll go.”

“It’s an arthouse film, but no matter how acclaimed the director is, they can’t just run people into the ground like this.” The more Mindy Morgan studied Joanna Kennedy’s face, the more frustrated she became, unable to stop herself from complaining, “Just look at you! Look what a toll it’s taken!”

Mindy Morgan wore an expression that screamed, ‘My prize-winning rose has been battered by the elements.’ Anyone who didn’t know better might have thought Joanna Kennedy had been disfigured.

Feeling a dagger twist in her heart, Joanna Kennedy’s voice turned plaintive. “Mindy, can we please not talk about this anymore…”

‘I know I don’t look my best, but does she have to keep bringing it up? It’s making me want to cry.’

She pulled a small mirror from her bag. Perhaps Mindy Morgan’s words were having a psychological effect, because the more Joanna Kennedy looked, the less confident she felt.

‘It’s not even summer, so how did I get so tan? My skin doesn’t feel as smooth as it used to, and my complexion is terrible. I look so haggard.’

‘Will I ever get my looks back?’

Joanna Kennedy was in a funk all the way until they deplaned. They took a private channel, so it didn’t take long to get through the airport.

Before she had even exited the airport terminal, she spotted a familiar car parked by the curb. Joanna Kennedy’s eyes lit up and she started to run, but then a thought made her stop dead in her tracks.

To the indescribable look of both Mindy Morgan and her assistant, Joanna Kennedy turned around, pulled a cushion foundation from her pocket, and began dabbing it on her face. She even touched up her lipstick, her focus more intense than if she were preparing for the red carpet.

Mindy Morgan nearly rolled her eyes hard enough to cause a cramp. ‘For a second,’ she thought, ‘I’d swear she’s been possessed. How else could she be this obsessed with a man?’

She was roasting her internally, but Joanna Kennedy just blinked her innocent, peach-blossom eyes and asked, “Mindy, how do I look?”

Mindy Morgan was speechless for a few seconds. “…It’s fine. You look great. If you put half the effort you put into your love life into anything else, you’d conquer the world.”

“Hehehe,” Joanna Kennedy giggled, taking the sarcastic comment as a point of pride. “I think so too.”

A response like that was enough to leave even the “Iron Lady” Mindy Morgan stunned. She grabbed the snickering assistant, Tina, and turned to leave. They hadn’t taken two steps before they heard Joanna Kennedy call out from behind them, “Mindy! Tina! Happy New Year in advance!”

Mindy Morgan paused. A few seconds later, she turned back. “Happy New Year.”

“Jojo.” Seeing Joanna Kennedy’s brilliant smile, Mindy Morgan’s expression softened. “Don’t order takeout this year. Remember to eat some dumplings.”

It was unclear if Joanna Kennedy had even heard her clearly, as she called back distractedly, “I know, I know!”

Joanna Kennedy pulled her suitcase and ran toward the curb, her retreating figure like a bird returning to its nest. This New Year’s Eve and Spring Festival, she would no longer be alone.

There were plenty of people bustling along the curb, but Simon Lockwood couldn’t wait any longer and got out of the car. The moment Joanna Kennedy saw him, she ran even faster, throwing herself into a warm, wonderful-smelling embrace. Simon caught her securely. Joanna couldn’t help but nuzzle against him, and before she’d even caught her breath, she was already murmuring sweet words. “Simon, I missed you so much…”

“Did you miss me?” Joanna asked.

“…I did.” Simon Lockwood hugged her tighter, his heart feeling full to bursting. He couldn’t stop himself from leaning down to kiss her, only just managing to hold back when he remembered they were in public.

Once they were in the car, before they even had a chance to buckle their seatbelts, Simon impatiently turned sideways and pulled her into another embrace. Only after burying his face in the warm, pale curve of her neck did Simon feel his racing heart begin to slow.

“Are you exhausted?” Simon’s voice was a little hoarse.

“Not exhausted,” Joanna Kennedy said honestly. “Just… weary.”

‘Is there a difference?’ Simon didn’t debate the point with her. He carefully took her hand, his expression tightening. “How did your frostbite get this bad? Weren’t you wearing gloves?”

Her fingers were bright red, with several scratches where Joanna had unconsciously clawed at the itching. The sight was alarming. Simon’s heart ached with a helpless pang. He held her hands, unsure of what to do.

Joanna, on the other hand, didn’t seem too concerned. “It’s fine. It’s already much better. The frostbite ointment from the set works really well. It’ll be completely healed after a few more uses.”

Simon didn’t say anything, just kept staring at her hands as if they were afflicted with some terminal disease.

When they arrived at Sinclair Gardens, a blast of wonderful warmth hit them the moment they opened the door. Joanna immediately moved to shed her down jacket, but Simon stopped her. “The temperature difference is too big. Let your body adjust for a minute before you take it off.”

Joanna obediently agreed and scooped up the little cat that was winding around her legs. Meanwhile, Simon took her suitcase into the bedroom and deftly began to unpack, putting her things back where they belonged.

He tossed a few heavy coats into the washing machine and separated the lighter clothes, moving with a practiced ease that made Joanna feel embarrassed. “I can do that myself…”

“There are cupcakes in the kitchen. I just made them,” Simon said in a gentle voice as he continued to sort her clothes. “Don’t eat too many; we’re having dinner soon.”

“Mhm, mhm, mhm!” Joanna’s mind was already on the cupcakes. Barely hearing his warning, she went PITTER-PATTER to the kitchen, where she did indeed find strawberry cupcakes waiting for her.