《Easily Set Aflame》 Prologue This story was translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. All forms of reproduction, redistribution, or reposting are not authorized. If you are not reading this from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the copy is unauthorized and has been taken without consent of the translator. It was three oclock in the morning. Jia He bought her plane ticket and then shut down her computer. She had worked with this story editor for three screenplays, and it had finally been her turn with this drama to do the overall outline. From the act breaks to the actual script, their entire team had worked hard and pushed through for three months, and now it had passed the directors review without a hitch. Naturally, then, she could breathe out in relief, and she had booked a ticket to Sanya, planning on letting herself have a thorough rest for a few days. After all, when filming commenced in a week, she would need to stay in frigid Hengdian[1] for three months. If she didnt let herself slack now, she would not get the chance later. All of a sudden, her mobile phone began vibrating with all its might, interrupting her yawn. I have one piece of good news and two pieces of bad news. Which do you want to hear first? the producer, Qiao Qiao, excitedly cried. The bad news. Jia He turned on her computer again and began swiftly searching for the folder that contained the screenplay. A phone call at this hour from the producer, needless to say, must have to do with the script. All right, then, this time you have to listen to the good news first. Evidently, Qiao Qiao was treating her as thin air. The lead actor is set. Its your idol. The words slipped unthinkingly from Jia Hes mouth. Nicholas Cage? Please! Were filming a Chinese ancient period drama, O great screenwriter! Ive been totally into him lately. Ive watched his Lord of War countless times already. Jia Hes eyes shone brightly as she thought of that uncle-age man, and she began to gush, You dont even know. I already liked him back when he was popular on YouTube Yi Wenze. Two words only, but they successfully managed to choke everything off in her throat. <>This translation actual site of release is on hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Please support the translation by reading it there. Thank you. Yi Wenze? Jia He had just clicked open the screenplay, but now she was completely stunned. Youre not joking, are you? Such a silly drama? Congratulations, you have finally realized this drama is silly. Qiao Qiao was chortling merrily on her end of the line. Jia He let her little bit of teasing slide and, feeling lightheaded, pressed, Its really Yi Wenze? Of course. We just settled that. Qiao Qiao continued, Its now time for the bad news. He has some opinions on the script, and just now he gave the director his thoughts on how it should be changed. And so, the first piece of bad news is that your vacation time has come to an end. The second piece of bad news is, you must be done making all the changes before shooting begins. While Im at it, Im throwing in an extra sentence for you: hes really professional and also really picky, so youre going to have some wicked suffering in the three months that youre on location with the cast and crew. The Yi Wenze on her computer desktop was smiling his signature smile at Jia He. Her eyes glued to that desktop, Jia He completely did not pay attention to that last sentence from Qiao Qiao, nor was she aware that Qiao Qiao had already hung up. She merely stared fixedly at that idol whom she had liked since middle school, her mind utterly blank. She had an entire folder of celebrity photographs, all of them shots of Yi Wenze. She also had another folder filled completely with Microsoft Word documents, all of them news related to Yi Wenze since he began his career in the entertainment industry. Regardless of good or bad press, she had saved them all. Of course, she was not crazy to the extent of young girls nowadays who will chase after a celebrity all the way to the airport to meet his flight or the film set to try to visit him. Furthermore, owing to her occupation, most of the time she would present herself as being uninterested in celebrities so as to demonstrate her professionalism The reality, though, was that, apart from Yi Wenze, every celebrity in her eyes was but an unimportant passerby whose appearance was as short as the blooming of an epiphyllum flower, which flowers only once and briefly. In the bottom right corner of the computer screen, a window suddenly popped out. It was a notification that a new email had come in. Jia He clicked it open in passing. And then she saw the email that had been forwarded by the director. The forward was the feedback that Yi Wenze had given for the script. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only [1] Hengdian World Studios is a film studio located in the town of Hengdian, and is the largest outdoor film studio in the world, with replicas, not facades, of both the Forbidden City and the Old Summer Palace, as well as themed areas such as streets of Hong Kong and Guangzhou, grottoes, riverside town, etc. Movies and television dramas alike are filmed in this place. CH .18.2 Qiao Qiao had commissioned the seamstress of her company to make her evening gowns for her. From the Internet, she downloaded more than ten different designs, and fussily she discussed them with the seamstress for a long time. Jia He, her chin resting on her hand, waited for her. The two were both exhausted by the time Qiao Qiao suddenly remembered her. Should we make yours along with all the other ones, too? Facing toward the heat that was blowing, Jia He warmed her hands. No need. A certain someone said hes already bought mine for me. Having adjusted to the indoor heating of Beijing, now that she was back in Shanghai, she was unable to stand these temperatures. Qiao Qiao shot an envious glare at her. Why do I feel like youve already gone from being a motivated young woman striving to advance herself, to being a leech. That certain someone of yours, is there anything that he doesnt do or prepare for you? Im guessing that other than having babies, he takes care of absolutely everything. Burrowed in a corner of the couch, Jia He grinned smugly. Jealous, eh? Youre just being cocky. See, thats whats called being cocky. Qiao Qiao lifted her arms while holding the edge of the fabric, letting the seamstress bend over beside her and take measurements. Even Im getting married. What about you? Dont tell me youre going to just keep the relationship in the shadows for the long term. Jia He blinked and looked at her. Hey, married woman, why are you so smug? Those two words successfully enflamed Qiao Qiao into pouncing on her, and the two became entangled in a wrestling match. The truth was there was a persistent feeling in her that he was making preparations. But, this was just a feeling she had. When the courier service delivered her dress, she was in the process of boxing away the smaller decorative items in her apartment so as to not have to wipe them again the next time she came back. It was a very large, wide box that was delivered. Very carefully, she took some scissors and cut the plastic tape on the outside as well as the plastic wrapping. Opening the white box revealed layer after layer of translucent tissue paper, and with the removal of each layer, there was a light rustling sound. A pale-mauve dress with a white ribbon knotted loosely around it. On the ribbon was the signature of the designer. Lifting the gown out from the box, she spread it on the bed and stared for a lengthy time at it, all the while feeling that if she wore this, Qiao Qiao undoubtedly would straight-up murder her just to do away with her Hence, to give the bride-to-be a heads-up, she brought the gown with her when they went out for Japanese food in the evening. Qiao Qiao gawped at it, thoroughly floored. Ill say, is that Yi Wenze of yours doing it on purpose? Hes treating my wedding as the dress rehearsal for your wedding? Jia He took small sips from her soup, wearing an Im so innocent in this look. I honestly didnt know that he ordered it from this shop. Thats why I brought it for you to have a look The lights were very low. The sashimi was very fresh. While speaking, she picked up a piece of salmon and dipped it in some soy sauce, her conscience feeling uneasy. Alas, because she had been too preoccupied with gazing at Qiao Qiao, she dabbed on too much wasabi and ended up with tears streaming down her face from the sharp, pungent burning in her sinuses after eating the fish. Therefore, when the server pulled open the door to come change out their plates, what she saw was a tearful Jia He opposite a scowling, frosty person. Throwing a very sympathetic look at Jia He, she speedily retreated from there. That night, the rain was pouring down when Yi Wenze hurriedly arrived in Shanghai. She held her phone, listening to the rumble of thunder outside, and discussed with him whether he should come pick her up and bring her over to his place. This apartment of hers was small, after all, and did not have changes of clothing for him either, so there more or less would be some inconveniences if he were to stay here. He, though, was unconcerned. No need for all the trouble. Ill stay at your place. With an okay, Jia He instructed, Well, then, when you come up here in a bit, have A-Qing go to the convenience store for you and buy some food to bring back here. I have nothing here. Ive been eating out these last couple of days, too, and dont have anything I can make for you for breakfast tomorrow morning. She had only been thinking about foodstuffs for breakfast, but Yi Wenze carried a full two bags of items up with him. Such a huge amountthree days would not be enough to eat it all Opening the refrigerator door, she put everything inside and sorted it neatly. While she was at it, she stared at all those ingredients, mulling over what she should make for him to eat tomorrow. Her attention had been diverted to her ponderings, and very soon her hands were ice-cold from the chilly air. Why are you staring at the fridge, lost in thought? Behind her, Yi Wenze shut the door behind himself with one hand while the other arm slipped around her. Do you need to shower? There was a very faint aroma of shower gel on him. It was her favourite smell, watermelon. As she inhaled this scent, there was a remarkable feeling in her, like something was out of place. This was his first time staying in her home. She had bought this apartment for five years already, and now that she seriously counted, no man had actually ever stepped foot in here before She leaned herself backwards, letting herself become enfolded in front of him in the circle of his arms. Because he had just had a shower, this embrace was particularly warm and also carried a slight dampness. Youve put me in a miserable pickle. She looked back at him. Its not like Im the bride, but you made such a beautiful dress for me. Qiao Qiao is going to hack me to pieces. With a little laugh, he nuzzled his face against her cheek and did not answer her directly, posing a question to her instead. Do you like it? Breathing in his scent, Jia He purposely misconstrued his meaning. A lot. You smell sweet whenever I inhale. He was momentarily taken aback by her response, but then chuckled. Closing the refrigerator door, he picked her straight up into his arms. This was a small apartment, and the kitchen was a very tight space as well. Hence, this very romantic action managed to cause her to kick over the bottle of soy sauce on the counter. Clunk, thunk! She was given a shock. With one hand still holding her, Yi Wenze uprighted the bottle with the other hand and remarked quietly, It looks like this apartment is wary of strangers. Yup. Twining her arms around his neck, she grinned and replied, This place could be considered a maidens boudoir in the truest sense of the word. No man has ever come in before. He smiled and did not speak, only very carefully carrying her the whole way to the bedroom. Because she liked to read on the carpet, back then she had only bought an extra-wide single bed. Now as she stared at that bed, she truly felt a little embarrassed The result was that for the entire night she did not dare move about, not even so much as turn over. When she stirred in the morning, her back and waist were so sore she almost passed out. As she tried to get up on this early morning, she was barely able to shift herself even slightly. Next time, well just sleep on the floor. This is too torturing. Closing his arms around her, Yi Wenze lifted her right onto himself, then brought his hand over and began kneading her waist for her. His motions were slow, his palm warmtruly, it felt so good. Exceptionally satisfied, she sprawled on his chest and straightaway switched her tune. Ive changed my mind; well still sleep on the bed. How does this feel? Sliding his hand into her pajamas, he wordlessly, calmly continued massaging her. Her eyes narrowing in great enjoyment, she mumbled that with this five-star service, it was all worth it. He smiled, not speaking. But when she was gasping lightly and wanting to get off from him to flee, he finally peeled everything off of her and gave her a full package service. The most direct outcome of this was that she could not be bothered to even get off the bed afterwards. Stretched out beneath the blankets, she gave some humphs as she watched him rise easily to his feet, and she ground her teeth in jealousy. You dont feel uncomfortable at all after sleeping like this for a whole night? Geez, such physical strength Chuckling, he bent down, but right as he was about to say something, there was an unexpected knock on the door. The voice of Auntie Zhao, the next-door neighbour, asked loudly, Jia He, are you there? Jia He was about to command Yi Wenze to go open the door, but then her mind abruptly caught up. At once throwing on her clothes, she jogged out and opened the door. As she had just clambered out from the bed and had also exerted herself during her morning workout, there was still perspiration on her. When she pulled open the door, the frosty air chilled her, sending a shiver through her. Auntie Zhao stood outside the door, a broom raised above her in a posture that looked as if she was prepared to do battle, and only when she saw Jia He did she lower it back down and exhale noisily. Scared me to death, Jia He. I thought a thief got into your home. Bemused, Jia He looked at her. Why? Auntie Zhao very dutifully explained, You disappeared without a word and havent been around for months, and then you suddenly came back yesterday but didnt even let me know. I heard a huge sound in the middle of the night and was terrified. Huge sound? It would seem it was just a bottle of soy sauce falling over Auntie Zhao, though, had always been like this. When it came to zany, loony antics, she absolutely was on par with the master, Chow Sing-Sing[1]. Jia He gave a rub to her eyes, roughly able to guess the purpose of this visit. Auntie, is the community charging some sort of fee again? Just let me know. Ill give you the money. Auntie Zhao hastily wagged her hands. Oh, no, no. The community gave each household 10 kuai [RMB]. I helped you collect yours for the time being, and now Im giving it back to you. As she spoke, she pulled out an RMB20 note from her pocket. I dont have change in my home. Can you break this? Dont worry about it. Jia He joked, Well consider it your compensation payment to help you get over your scare. No, that wouldnt be right, Auntie Zhao stated with utter seriousness. Ive had the money in my place for almost two months already, and its been on my mind every day. I cant even get a good sleep because of it. Seeing that she was insistent, Jia He could only tell her, Please wait, then. When she was about to turn around, however, she felt warmth envelop hera coat had been draped around her. Ill go get it. Behind her, Yi Wenze, after saying this, went into the bedroom. Another gust of cold wind blew past. The entire time, Auntie Zhao remained frozen in the middle of an unfinished smile, speechless with shock, two fingers still pinching that RMB20 note. It was not until Yi Wenze had already stepped back out and handed an RMB10 note to her that she was finally able to twitch the corner of her lips up ever so slightly. Pleased to meet you Yi Wenze gave a polite smile, his voice warm as he replied, Thank you for looking after Jia He all this time. Thats something I should do, I should Auntie Zhao took the RMB10 note from him, tremblingly handed the RMB20 over, and then floated back to her own home. Jia He gave a wry look to Yi Wenze. I think Ill have to sell this apartment for sure Otherwise, by the next time she came back, everyone would undoubtedly know that he had stayed here. As Qiao Qiaos wedding drew nearer and nearer, Jia He was worn to a frazzle from all the busyness. In the afternoon, after seeing Yi Wenze off again, she decisively put in her name with a real estate agency and then headed to the hotel where the wedding would be held. She was very curious as to how Weibo Dude had figured out what Qiao Qiaos wedding dreams were, for his plans were wholly, seamlessly in line with them and not off the mark in the slightest. The hotels entire lawn had been reserved. It did not seem like a wedding venue and, rather, was more like the site for an all-night revelry. Simply thinking about the fact that this one wedding was going to go on for twelve hours evoked such despair in Jia He that she wanted to kill someone The emcee for the wedding rambled on nonstop with his explanations. Qiao Qiao was listening with extreme earnestness, inquiring in detail about each sequence and step. Three hours into this planning meeting, they finally finished talking through the entire sequence of events for the ceremony. Holding a notebook, Jia He continually jotted down what she needed to do at each step, until in the end there were more than ten pages of densely-written notes. Eventually, she bewailed, Just kill me. I havent taken notes since I graduated from uni Qiao Qiao was even in the middle of applying a facial sheet mask, not caring at all whether this was a public setting, looking just like a big star taking a rest on a film set. But the thing every woman looks forward to most is merely that on the day of her wedding, she has her own stage and all attention is fixed solely on her. Out of the blue, Jia He wondered, what would it be like on the day of her own wedding? While she was letting her imagination run free, Qiao Qiao cleared her throat and brought her voice down, saying, Normally the maid of honour is paired with the best man. I dont dare invite your man to be the best man, though, because Im scared Ill be hacked to death the instant I step out the door. But Im also scared that if I find some other guy to be the best man, your Yi Wenze will hack me to death. How about you help me ask Wu Zhilun? Even though hes not quite at the standard of Yi Wenze, hell still absolutely be a best man whom everyone will be jealous about. Jia He closed her notebook. Youre not scared hes going to overshadow the groom? Peeling off her sheet mask, Qiao Qiao asserted, Dont you think Cheng Hao very much carries his own sort of aura? His looks keep growing on you, and you want to come back to them again and again, much more so than Wu Zhiluns. Jia Hes lips twitched. Aura was such a useful, all-purpose, all-encompassing word [1]What I have translated as zany, loony antics, in the original text is actually ͷ wu li tou. This term is usually transliterated as mo lei tau as it originally was a Cantonese term from Hong Kong popular culture. The term itself means makes no sense or meaningless and is describing a unique type of humour based on wordplay, slapstick comedy, and puns. Stephen Chow Sing Chi and his films are known to be representative of this type of humour. In his Fight Back to School film series, which very much uses this zany, loony, mo lei tau humour, Stephen Chow plays a character named Chow Sing-Sing (also known in English as Star Chow). CH 1.1 This story was translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only. All forms of reproduction, redistribution, or reposting are not authorized. If you are not reading this from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the copy is unauthorized and has been taken without consent of the translator. Jia He stared glumly at the time on her mobile phone, her heart beating faster and faster. The press conference for filming kickoff had long since begun, but she was still here stuck on the road with her destination as good as light years away. But what could she do about it, since, after all, it was Valentines Day? Couples sat in every taxi in Shanghai. It had taken her an entire hour to simply hail a taxi, and now adding traffic congestion on top of that, by the time she arrived at the site, the people remaining would likely only be the workers. The driver seemed to sense the atmosphere she was emitting, and kept smiling and consoling her that they would soon be there. Dont worry. Men should wait, especially on such a day as today. Jia He looked out the window in dismay. How awesome it would be if things really would wait for me. Press conferences never needed the screenwriter. It was not as if she was an actress or director; who would wait for her? Youve even brought your luggage. How could he not wait for you? In the rearview mirror, Jia He saw the drivers keen, sparkling eyes. At first she wanted to explain, but she really was not in the mood to speak. Once the press conference finished, she would be going with the cast and crew to Hengdian, so of course she had brought her luggage. However, every person, even if you switched in a hundred different people, seeing a woman towing along her suitcase to a Hilton Hotel on Valentines Day would think the same thing The traffic light changed from red to green, from green to red. It basically was changing for the air to see, for not a single car could move. So, when the taxi finally crawled like this to the hotel, it was nearly six oclock. Jia He dragged her suitcase behind her and strode towards the downstairs level of the hotel. When she saw a few groups of young girls there in the chilly wind, all of them lovely and adorable-looking, waiting for their idol, she could not help wondering which group was Yi Wenzes fans. Thinking about the fact that she would be seeing him in person very soon, she actually grew a little bashful herself, and it was only when she caught sight of the hotel doormans assessing gaze on her that she recovered herself. These last two years working as a screenwriter were like a waste. She, someone who had always had a way of being able to put on a calm and collected appearance, had completely failed in her pretense this time. Ill say, you really are something. When the elevator doors slid open, Qiao Qiao almost threw her mobile phone at her. Its half over already, and now you finally show up. As she spoke, she grabbed Jia Hes luggage from her and then strode swiftly into the press conference venue. A backdrop board that stood as high as a wall. More than ten rows of seats. A hall illuminated with splendid lights. At this time, the conference had already moved into the part for individual interviews. The casts several main leads were in various places around the venue, surrounded by cameras and long lenses while being interviewed. The lead actress was a new, rising idol in Mainland China, and she had snagged the prettiest background, the media backdrop board. Her smile was still stiff and inexperienced as she struck a perfect pose. Back when the cast and roles had been confirmed, Jia He had not even known her name and had had to specifically search up her information and profile on the Internet. All this time, she had been unable to imagine how this actress would be able to play the part of a noblewoman of the Tang dynasty[1]. Now it did appear, at least from the standpoint of that figure[2] of hers, that she did fit the role. Qiao Qiao all of a sudden gave her a tug and pointed towards the right of the stage. In that spot was, naturally, Yi Wenze. <>It would be sincerely appreciated if you would support this translation by reading it on hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, its actual site of posting, instead. Thank you. The backdrop behind him was picture of a brilliantly-lit Daming Palace[3] in the night. Despite being surrounded by a dozen or so reporters, due to his height advantage, she still had a clear view of his side profile through the crisscrossing lenses of cameras and video cameras. His short, black hair and his gaze that was extremely incisive were so real they left Jia He in a daze. At this moment, a young journalist was presenting a question, but possibly because she was anxious, or perhaps for other reasons, her words came out falteringly and her face was actually slightly tinged with red. He, though, merely listened patiently with a smile until the journalist had finished asking her question, and then immediately, his demeanour very polite, he provided his answer. At this distance from him, Jia He could faintly make out his voice with its Mandarin pronunciation that was not very standard, so familiar to her, yet at the same time, so unfamiliar as well. When interviews are finished, Ill have the director introduce the two of you. Qiao Qiao threw a sideways glance at her. If I, just a little ol producer, make the introductions, he might not end up remembering you. The director is the hot shot. Jia He tried with all her might to maintain her poise. But as her mind drifted away, she suddenly realized that she should have worn high heels today. She was already half a head shorter than Qiao Qiao to begin with, and now with Qiao Qiao standing in heels next to her, she ended up looking like the assistant to a supermodel. Stay cool, stay cool. Qiao Qiao handed her a cup of water. We need to just look past him, like hes not there. If you show any adoring, worshiping look in your eyes, youve lost. I swear, every day, hell definitely be making you change the script or add scenes Isnt it like that every time anyway? Taking a sip of water, Jia He said dolefully, Whether its the male lead or the female lead, a supporting actor or supporting actress, the first thing anyone says the instant the script is in hand is, Theres something wrong with this script. Its like, for the entire scene, everyone else has to be just a block of wood and theyre the only one constantly with lines to say, and then thats a good script. Eh? Why are you telling this stuff to me? Go say it to the director. Qiao Qiao snatched her cup away from her and took a drink from it as well. Im between the devil and the deep blue sea. Dont make things difficult for me. Qiao Qiao batted the lashes of her big eyes, looking with innocence at Jia He. Grinding her teeth, Jia He shot a glare back at her. Qiao Qiao nearly sprayed the water from her mouth. Fine, then. If youre so good, dont budge on anything when Yi Wenze tells you to make changes. Right as Jia He was about to fire back a retort, Director Jiang had already sent away a reporter, and spotting the two of them, he waved. Qiao Qiao hastily gave her a nudge, saying in a quiet voice, Im going to go check in on the lead actress. That woman is a drama queen; she likes to be valued. Once she finished saying this, she did not wait for Jia Hes response and, plastering a wide smile on her face, squeezed her way into the mass of people from the media. Jia He watched as Director Jiang made his way over to Yi Wenzes side. Yi Wenze was in the midst of continually getting his photograph taken with various reporters. Seeing the director approaching him, he at last politely sent the media along on their way and then began conversing in low tones with the director. Simply gazing upon the side profile of Yi Wenzes face left Jia He unable even to move her feet. Until the director lifted his head once more and called to her. At the same time, Yi Wenze also turned his head to cast a glance at her. <>This is a copy taken from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Please support the translation by reading it there. Thank you. Like a special effect specified in the script, a slow motion shot did a close up of his smile and the expression in his eyes, and his gaze landed only on Jia He, forcing embarrassment and disquiet to rise in her. But this lasted for only a moment. She very quickly put on an appropriate smile and walked up beside Director Jiang. Director Jiang gave a pat to Jia Hes shoulder. This is our screenwriter, Jia He. Hello. Yi Wenze gave a nod, a smile filling his deep, black eyes. Unlike the polite, distant manner he had held towards the media, there was presently an added touch of warmth and geniality to him. Extending a hand, he grasped Jia Hes lightly in greeting. Hello. Because Jia He had just stepped indoors, her palm was still icy-cold, and when his warm hand took hers, her heart began beating even more furiously. How are the revisions to the script coming along? After the two had released one anothers hands, Director Jiang immediately began to extort her to pay her debt. Almost done. Ill give you a copy tonight. Jia He hastily pulled herself together and jumped straight into her battle-ready work mode. But there are a few scenes that still have some issues Okay. Director Jiang interrupted her with a smile. Well talk about it more when we get to Hengdian. Jia He nodded with embarrassment, discovering that she had been so nervous she had forgotten this was currently a press conference and there were still reporters waiting nearby to ask questions. However, with this sudden halt in the conversation, she actually did not know what she should say and could only stand gloomily beside the two others and pretend she was watching the lead actresss interview. Yi Wenze and the director began chatting casually in Cantonese. She could roughly understand bits and pieces of what they were saying, the general gist being things about the script. While she was trying to figure out how she could subtly escape from there unnoticed, a reporter had already jumped first at this opportunity and come over to interview the director. Yi Wenze looked at her. Lets go get a drink. Jia He had no excuse she could use to run away and could only anxiously follow him over to the long table and take the orange juice he handed to her. He, too, took a glass of orange juice. His fingers clasping the wall of the glass were long and slender, and his joints were extremely well cared for. His palms, though, were like all other actors, with small injuries and roughness that had accumulated over the years. Is there a problem? he unexpectedly asked. It was not until Jia He lifted her head and met his puzzled look that she realized she had actually been staring fixedly at his hands. She hurriedly smiled. Oh, no, nothing really. I was just sighing over how hard it is for all you actors. Understanding what she was referring to, Yi Wenze gave a chuckle. Its actually not a big deal. However, actresses do get a bit of the short end of the stick. No matter how well taken care of the backs of their hands are, its unavoidable that their palms will become rough, especially when acting in period dramas. Jia He laughed. Yeah. If your hands are brutalized every day by swords, reins, and wires, even the best hand cream is useless. Modest and courteous in the way he treated everyone, and low-keythis was the evaluation of him given by many of the people who had previously worked with him. And now, based on what she could see, it truly was what the actual person was like. Jia He chatted with him in this way, a sentence or two here and there, as she held her orange juice with feigned composure. After taking half a sip, she dared not continue. This feeling was just like being in your first job interview after graduating from university, where on the surface you are calm and collected, but inside you have long since been in a state of turmoil, afraid that any look from your eyes or any subtle action may leave a bad impression on people. Moreover, the person in front of her was her idol of more than ten years. Back when Yi Wenze made his debut in the entertainment industry, she had only just graduated from middle school. The Yi Wenze of her girlhood was an idol to young people. In that era when not many movies were being produced in Mainland China, he had received some unexpected opportunities and since been popular for many years in the Mainland, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Nowadays, though, the number of onscreen works he put out was a lot less. However, despite having half-withdrawn himself into the background to work behind the screen, he was still doing extremely well. All of a sudden, Qiao Qiaos voice resonated, the general idea of her message being a reminder to everyone that they should hurry and make use of this opportunity to conduct their interviews, for the cast and production team would be leaving soon. As a result of these words, many reporters who had been watching them from a distance now moved in closer and kindly interrupted the two of them, wanting to separately ask some more questions. Jia He very astutely made way for them and, stepping out of that function hall, she got some light snacks from the long refreshment table. After hastily appeasing her stomach, she sat in a discreet corner to wait for Qiao Qiaos assistant to bring her to the vehicle. After some time, her mobile phone suddenly vibrated. When she answered the call, Qiao Qioas voice surprisingly came at her. Help me find Yi Wenze. His assistant is by my side and is so ridiculously dense. She doesnt even know where he is. The blowing wind muffled her voice. She seemed to be outdoors and in an extremely surly mood. That wife of his whom he just divorced is in the middle of being interviewed right at this moment. Lets hurry up and get him into the van before the media gets wind of this news. My boss hates it the most when people use gossip to gain hype. This is such a darn bother! Listening to this, Jia He fell into a fluster, and it was only after she hung up the phone that she realized she, the screenwriter, was being ordered around like an assistant by Qiao Qiao. However, she, too, knew that at this time, they had better find Yi Wenze. It was not only Qiao Qiaos boss who hated hype created by gossip; Yi Wenze had always avoided this type of news as well. Even she, the hardcore fan of his that she was, had only learned in this last half a month, when she read the news story of the breakup, that he and that woman had been married for two years. She had come here several times previously and was therefore relatively familiar with the surroundings. Setting down her glass, she inconspicuously slipped amongst the actors and reporters, surveying each nook and corner, but no trace of him was found. After circling through the venue approximately two or three times, Jia He at last remembered that this place had a stairwell that very few people passed through. When she pushed open the door of the stairwell, there was only the white glow of the lights inside. It was very quiet. Yi Wenze was standing at the spot where the staircase turned a corner. As he completely shut off his mobile phone, the white light in his palm blinked and then disappeared. A cigarette pinched between two of his fingers, he was silent for a while, and only after the cigarette was lit did he glance at Jia He, who was at the foot of the stairs. Jia He felt an inexplicable sense of guilty discomfiture from the look he gave her. Qiao Qiao told me to take you downstairs. He nodded. All right. Thank you. Yi Wenze, who for the entire press conference had been smiling politely, was presently not showing even hints of a smile. He simply smoked quietly and did not look at Jia He again. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only [1] The Tang dynasty was the ruling imperial dynasty in China from 618 to 907 CE. [2] By approximately the eighth century, the preference for beauty in the Tang dynasty tended towards women who had more full, voluptuous, buxom figures. [3] Daming Palace (Daming Gong) was the imperial palace of the Tang dynasty and was located in the city of Changan, which is present-day Xian. Ruins still remain of some of the imperial complex, and its site is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. CH 1.2 Since Yi Wenze was not speaking, Jia He could only stand there beside the door. In contrast to the function hall with its warm, amber lights, here it was actually a little brighter, but because the lighting was stark white, this place seemed especially cold and bleak. Jia He suddenly remembered how one time during their university days, in order to see Wang Leehom, Qiao Qiao had followed some television reporters to the airport late at night to meet his flight. However, when she came back, she had heaved sighs and moans, saying, when she truly did get to meet him, she had actually not even dared to say to him that she had liked him for many years. At the time, Jia He had scorned her, yet now wasnt she doing the same? It would seem that idols are still more suitable for coming into contact with through television or the Internet Her mobile phone in her pocket all of a sudden began vibrating. Hurriedly, she covered it with her hand. After a short while, Yi Wenze appeared to have heard the noise, and turning his head, he brought his gaze onto her, his eyes carrying a slight look of polite inquiring. She quickly pulled out her phone. On the other end of the line was Qiao Qiaos voice, and there was obvious edginess in it. Have you found him? Jia He answered in a low voice, I found him. Hes right by my side. It was evident Qiao Qiao was already at the point where she could not handle things anymore on her side. Forget it. Come down in the elevator. The vans in front of the hotel doors. Jia He gave an mm-hmm, then looked at him. The vans downstairs already. He stubbed out his cigarette and walked over to Jia He. Its going to be almost four hours on the road. Do you need to bring some light refreshments along? The tone he used was inquiring, but he was already opening the door for her first. Gazing puzzledly at him, Jia He was motionless with surprise for three or four seconds before comprehending his intention. That would be good. From what I could see, everybody didnt really eat much this evening. Ill go pack some food. What do you want to eat? There were countless cameras out there already, lying in waiting, and it would be best now for them to split up to leave, so as to not bring about any trouble. He smiled. Anything will be fine. Not daring to say anymore, she left that stairwell first. Sometimes, merely a single photograph is enough for a news story, one so ridiculous you are beyond laughter or tears, to be fabricated. In particular, during this last half a month since the divorce news broke, Yi Wenzes ex-wife, Tian Chu, had time and again gone on various programs and wept heartbrokenly, like all the land should be grief-stricken with her. Yi Wenze, on the other hand, had all along not accepted any questions that directly addressed the matter. If he were to be photographed at this time with a woman, it would basically be equivalent to throwing himself into the line of fire. She had someone pack up two boxes of refreshments and then went into the elevator with a few staff members. <>Please support this translation by reading it at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. It would be sincerely appreciated. Thank you. When they arrived downstairs, the blazing hotel lobby was filled with the shrieks of fans and shouts of questions from the reporters. Yi Wenze was again surrounded by the media downstairs. However, unlike the earlier, routine interviews for the start of a new drama project, currently each of these people was more excited than the previous, and each persons voice was crying out louder than the one before. Relentlessly, they repeated the words that Tian Chu had said ten minutes ago on a television talk show, and they continuously pressed to know whether Yi Wenze had been the one to first propose divorce and whether they had been living apart for a long time already. Qiao Qiao was beside him, her hands extended outwards to block any person who got too close, the smile on her face obviously already forced and stiff. Even the hotel security guards were nosily taking a few extra looks at Yi Wenze as they shielded the several of them. The entire time, however, Yi Wenze wore a very well-mannered smile on his lips, and repeatedly he urged the people all around him to watch their steps. Other than this, towards any questions thrown at him, he maintained the proper silence that he should. After they were inside the van, Qiao Qiao at last slid the door shut forcefully, cutting off from them all the flashes of the cameras outside and leaving them with only the silence in the interior of the car. Yi Wenze took a seat beside Jia He. Jia He gave a sniffle of her nose, not daring to utter a word. Qiao Qiao picked up her own mobile phone and sent a text message to her: Hey, missy, I just told you to go find a person, but it still ended up being so difficult. And here I was saying that I was giving you a chance to get close to your idol. All it did was cause me trouble. Jia He was indeed in the wrong in the first place. She sent back a reply: He wanted to have a smoke and just some quiet time, and I didnt dare just drag him away. Qiao Qiao suddenly turned around and shot a look of contempt at her. The tall buildings rising on either side of them crowded against the heavens until only a narrow line of sky remained. The decorative streetscape lighting was changing, flashing through various city-type slogans, obscuring the glow of the moon and stars. Qiao Qiao was making phone call after phone call, quietly talking about work-related matters. Jia He could do nothing but self-consciously stare out the window. Here, on the streets of Shanghai on Valentines Day, it was as if everyone ought to be hand in hand with someone else, ought to be like a docile, little woman leaning against a man, and ought to be holding roses. But all these ought to bes happening and piling up right before her eyes actually caused the atmosphere to become even more awkward. Yi Wenze was sitting right next to her, not moving in the slightest, and even after the vehicle had driven out of Shanghai, he still maintained the same posture. Call from Mai Jie[1] [Big Sister Mai]. His assistant, A-Qing, suddenly answered a phone call and then immediately handed the mobile phone over to him. Mai Jie was Yi Wenzes agent. There was no need to guess what she was calling about. He took the phone. As a result of the overly quiet atmosphere in the van, the rises and falls of that female voice on the other end of the line were very obvious, and with a rapid rhythm to her words, she repeated what Tian Chu had said on the talk show. Jia He was so close and, in discomfiture, heard it all clearly. From beginning to end, Yi Wenze only gave two sounds of mm, not showing much other reaction. After the call went on for ten minutes, he finally switched the phone from his left ear to his right one and said in a low voice, Phones out of battery. Well talk again when I get to Hengdian. With those words, he unhesitatingly hung up. I just charged my phone. A-Qing muttered this one sentence, taking her mobile phone back. When a mountain range, swathed in the curtain of night, could be seen, Qiao Qiao at last grumbled out a sentence of Im hungry. Instantly, as if she had been set free, Jia He stuffed one box of refreshments over to her. Here, eat. I purposely got it for you. Qiao Qiao looked at her with astonishment. Since when did you become so thoughtful? Having no words to say to that, Jia He continued looking out the window. For the entire four-hour drive, she did not dare doze off for even half a minute, bearing through with nerves stretched taut the whole way until they arrived in Hengdian. Only when they had all gotten off the van did she slip over beside Qiao Qiao. You and I are staying in one room? Qiao Qiao jeered at her, You wish. Youre staying next door to Director Jiang. The story editor didnt come, so you can just await the torture from Director Jiang. Jia He had more to say, but Qiao Qiao was already lowering her voice to inform her, Ill tell you, that Taiwanese guy is coming. Dont disturb me. Jia He looked in surprise at her. Just the mention of Qiao Qiaos Taiwanese boyfriend immediately brought on a headache for her. She had no idea where Qiao Qiao had met this nearly forty-year-old fellow who claimed to be one of the leading bass players in Taiwan. However, the very first time Jia He saw him, she had already been given quite the scare. She could still remember that first meeting with him at Lippo Plaza[2]. When the black car door opened, two stick-thin legs wrapped in snake-skin pants had stretched out from inside, followed by a face covered in wrinkles and a head of long hair that was not at all light and flowing For the entire dinnertime, that great bass-playing talent had repeated incessantly that people should eat nutritiously. Then, he had very cautiously ordered one order of rice, one order of flat rice noodles, and one order of rice porridge for the three of them to share. A leading bass player of Taiwan, when treating people to dinner, was only willing to spend enough to order dishes of staple foods. Would you believe that? Qiao Qiao believed it Jia He had no intention of hearing more about Qiao Qiaos life of sweetness in which she was being duped but still enjoying herself. Pulling her suitcase, she strode into the hotel. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only It was not until after she had taken a quick shower that she discovered a note had been stuck on the hair dryer: Out of order. Do not use. Hengdians temperatures were frightfully low. A hair dryer was basically a necessity. She immediately gave a few haphazard rubs to herself with the towel and then went back into the bedroom to call the hotels customer service desk. However, right when the hotel reception answered with a hello, there was an unexpected knock on her room door, and she could only hastily state her room number to the person on the other end of the phone before straightaway jogging over to open the door. The person knocking was, surprisingly, Liao Jing, that female lead who, as mentioned by Qiao Qiao, liked to be valued. Two steps behind her stood Yi Wenze, garbed completely in casual clothing. When he saw Jia He step out, he gave a slight nod of his head, which could be considered his greeting to her. Liao Jing was leaning sideways against the doorframe, looking at her with a smile. A-Ze[3] and I are going to talk through the script with Director Jiang. Want to come with us? Jia He, in fact, very much wanted to tell her that she would go after she had blown her hair dry, but when the words came to her lips, they became, Sure, just wait for me to put on a coat. Because the door was open, the air, which was near freezing temperatures, sent shivers through her, and she gave a sniffle of her nose. Just as she was about to turn around to go grab a coat, a room attendant bearing a hair dryer in hand had already appeared behind Yi Wenze. Who wanted a hair dryer? Having seen many celebrities here, this room attendant was much more composed than the average person and still spoke with a gruff voice. You can give it to me. She awkwardly extended her hand forward. Oh, my! Your hair is still wet. Seeming as if she had just noticed that Jia He had finished having a shower only a short while ago, Liao Jing at once turned her gaze to Yi Wenze and smiled. Well go first. Let Screenwriter first dry her hair. Jia He grew even more abashed. Its okay Before she had finished what she was going to say, Yi Wenze spoke up, interrupting her. Go in first and dry it. No need to rush. The white hair dryer was wrapped carelessly with its black power cord. He casually took it from the room attendants hand, said a thank you, and then handed it to her. Reflexively, she took it from him. Only when they had left did she recall that she had not even said thank you She shut the door, feeling terribly downcast, and pressed her forehead against the wall, silently berating herself for half a minute. <>This is a copy, taken from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Please support the translation of this story by reading it there instead. Thank you. Very soon, she had taken care of everything with herself. When she arrived at Director Jiangs room, Liao Jing was smiling and saying how she was new and inexperienced, so since hearing that she would be acting alongside Teacher Yi[4], every day she had been so excited that she was unable to get a good sleep Going along with her words, Director Jiang took the opportunity to throw a few teasing sentences at Yi Wenze. Yi Wenze, however, merely shook his head and gave a light laugh, not saying anything. In reality, despite calling this a discussion about the script, it was simply an informal conversation between the several of them, and they only arbitrarily brushed over the script. Jia He made herself a cup of coffee. When she heard Liao Jing casually mention that the emotions for her in a certain scene were not there and there was not enough substance to act out, she tried hard to listen carefully, but as it was Cantonese that she was speaking, Jia He could only approximately grasp what was being said. However, because Director Jiang and Yi Wenze were both from Hong Kong[5] and she also did not feel right interrupting, she could only force herself to try to understand, and only when she truly did not would she raise her hand and ask a few questions. Jia He even began to admire Liao Jing. A Mainland actress who had just risen into popularity had actually been able to learn to speak Cantonese so well In that palace coup scene, I feel the emotional undercurrent isnt quite there either. Yi Wenze suddenly spoke, but he was using Mandarin. Li Chengqi plotted for so many years, but in the final moment, first his control of the military power is seized from him by his younger brother, Li Longji, by way of trickery, and then later Empress Wei is killed as a result of the coup. Yet, Li Chengqi only ends up taking Li Longjis woman away with him and does not contend for power anymore. I feel like this climax just comes to an abrupt end. With a cup in his hand, he sat quietly in his chair and enunciated each word, each sentence. When he got to the phrase comes to an abrupt end, he even paused and thought for a moment over whether he had used the saying accurately. However, a few days ago, I did read through this particular piece of history. The script is generally more of a dramatic and loose interpretation of historical events, so I could only just turn it over and read the actual records on Li Chengqi Jia He listened attentively and waited until he had finished speaking before setting down her own cup. This particular production was a historical drama on Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang dynasty. The world and womenthe drama plotline basically consisted only of these. Most actors and actresses, after receiving the script, will try to understand the parts by, at most, reading through the overall character outline and descriptions. She had not expected that Yi Wenze would be so professional and devoted to his work that he would read up on that period of history. A seldom-experienced urge to debate arose in her, a compulsion to state her thoughts aloud. Actually,she mulled carefully for a momentthe point at which his emotions reach a peak and burst forth is at the very end. Director Jiang listened with a smile to the debate between these two, the whole time not interrupting them. And so the discussion progressed along like this until eleven oclock, when it at last came to a close. The cast would be going through makeup and costuming the following day. She could only jot down tonight all the things that were to be revised and then one by one make the changes tomorrow. When they were about to leave the room, Director Jiang finally remembered the several scenes that he had previously asked her to first make changes to. Jia He hurried back to her own room, brought her laptop back with her, and, with the other three peoples gazes on her, pressed the power button. But the next second, she completely froze. There will always be some habits that, when you are not expecting it, will bring sheer disaster upon you. A password was not required to unlock the computer. The screen was black for half a second and then slowly the desktop appeared. Overlaid on a light-blue background was a collage of all the magazine covers Yi Wenze had modeled for in the last three yearsone where his head was bowed taciturnly, one where his head was tilted slightly while a faint smile touched his lips, one where only his lone backside remained. In short they were all him, and only him. And scrawled across the top right corner were words written in a cursive font: You smile, I smile. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only [1] Often Chinese will address someone older but in the same generation as them with whom they are relatively acquainted as Jie big sister or Ge big brother. Here, the Jie also contains tones of respect, for Mai Jie has a certain level of authority. [2] 㳡 Lippo Plaza in Shanghai is located in the busy Huangpu business district in downtown Shanghai and consists of an office tower and shopping mall. [3] The prefix A in general is more commonly used in southern dialects of China. It can be placed in front of a name to express familiarity, endearment, or intimacy with someone. Generally, it is placed in front of a single character. With Yi Wenze, it is placed in front of the last character of his given name; hence, those better acquainted with him call him A-Ze. [4] ʦ teacher nowadays is used to respectfully address someone who is knowledgeable or has expertise or a certain status in a field. [5] In Hong Kong, the most common dialect spoken is Cantonese, which also explains Jia Hes observation previously that Yi Wenzes Mandarin pronunciation is not standard. This story was translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only. All forms of reproduction, redistribution, or reposting are not authorized. If you are not reading this from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the copy is unauthorized and has been taken without consent of the translator. The drama that is mentioned here is actually based on Mo Bao Fei Baos novel, Tune of Yongan. I mentioned it in my introductory words, that MBFB started writing Aflame because she needed sweetness to help her get through Yongan. And as you can see, she wrote Yongan into the story of Aflame. (Kind of like how Life: A Black and White Film became the movie that Jian Bianlin starred in in My Darling, or how Toupai in Really, Really Miss You ended up voicing Zhousheng Chen from Beautiful Bones.) Very quick summary of Tune of Yongan: The story is set in the Tang dynasty. Wu Yongan is of a noble family, the House of Wu and is related to THE famous Empress Wu. She and Li Chengqi fall in love and had all intentions of marrying, but instead, Yongans hand is betrothed to Li Chengqis younger brother, Li Longji and has no choice but to marry him. Its a romance story set against a backdrop of power struggle and political maneuvering. If you know this part of history, you will know that Li Longji is the winner and becomes Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang dynasty. The ending of the novel is as it is written here in Jia Hes script, that Li Chengqi backs out, giving up all power and only taking Yongan away with him. CH 1.3 The surroundings fell into a moment of silence. Yi Wenze was standing to her right, a cup of tea raised in his hand as he wordlessly looked at her computer screen. Jia He forced a stiff smile. Right as she was about to double-click on the file folder, he unexpectedly stretched out his arm and pointed at a spot, asking, Is this the 2007 cover for Vogue? Mm-hmm. She gripped the white mouse, her palms tingling. A-Qing all this time has been trying to find this particular issue. He paused briefly, then continued, If you have time, give a copy to her. Jia He gave another mm-hmm and then at once double-clicked on the folder and plugged in her USB flash drive. A red light continuously blinked on the USB drive, indicating that it had been successfully recognized. Liao Jing suddenly let out a laugh, and picking up the teapot, she reached over and refilled Director Jiangs teacup for him. Didnt expect that Jia He is actually A-Zes fan. Taking a sip from his tea, Director Jiang appeared to all of a sudden think of something. I had forgotten until you brought it up. The first time I met Jia He, her story editor had already mentioned that Jia Hes reason for becoming a screenwriter was that one day she could write a script for A-Ze. I said that?! Jia He had a sudden urge to plunk a boulder on her chest and have someone swing a sledgehammer onto it Yi Wenze gave a smile, then switched to Cantonese and began chatting with Director Jiang about Jia Hes story editor. Everyone here was smart. This was no more than a case of the screenwriter happening to be a hardcore fan of the dramas male lead. Before long, he had moved the conversation past this topic. Jia He swiftly saved a copy of the revised script. Then, making up an excuse, she fled from that room. It was not until she was out in the hallway that she finally sensed that her face was so hot she felt dizzy. Seriously, that was utterly humiliating. In the space of the ten steps it took to walk from Director Jiangs room to her own, she ran through a dozen or more hypothetical situations about how she could weasel her way out of this and get a different screenwriter to be here on location for filming Only when she saw Qiao Qiao curled up on her bed did she somewhat regain her soul. Why are you here? Wheres your O great bass-playing talent? Through gritted teeth, Qiao Qiao answered, He said he has a performance, so hes not coming. Saying this, she wiped her nose with a tissue. Theyre being so nice, releasing you to come back first? Jia He threw a resenting look at her and quickly recounted her mortifying situation of not too long ago. Qiao Qiaos tears instantly turned to chortles. Patting the bed, she had Jia He sit down beside her and then slipped an arm around her shoulders. Bring him onto your casting couch. Just think, Yi Wenzes emotional pain from being hurt by love is very intense at this time. Now is the best time to exploit that. Jia He instantaneously flew off the handle. You werent able to put your own raunchy thoughts into action and now youre not resigned to that or something? Qiao Qiao let out a wail of anguish. Squeezing a pillow against herself, she fell back onto the bed. Hey, missy, Im in depression right now. Please be careful with your word choice. Since that time in second-year uni when you had your breakup and made me climb a wall to get out, youve had no hope of hearing any more nice words from me in your entire lifetime. Laughingly snapping some words back at her, Qiao Qiao hugged the pillow in her arms, felt for her mobile phone, and began madly firing off text messages. With those few sentences of hers, Jia He finally recovered all the pieces of her soul again. There are some things that will never change, even all the way to eternity. For example, there are always romantic rumours or scandals involving the male and female lead of a film. Or for example, every love relationship Qiao Qiao had was guaranteed to come to an end. Or for example, Jia He had a super ability when it came to comforting herself. She even gradually began to sigh feelingly over Yi Wenzes very gentlemanly and gracious reaction. Sure enough, he was her idol! He could even defuse such an awkward situation Hes been popular for a dozen-ish years already. Even my mom is his fan. Dont think that just because youve become a screenwriter, you understand the whole showbiz industry. If you throw a radish into the vat, it gets pickled; if you throw a person into the great dye vat of his surroundings for twenty years, hes going to really early on be pickled through and through by all the bad waters around him. After stating this, Qiao Qiao flopped down and went to sleep. A screenwriters hours of rest are from three oclock in the middle of the night to ten oclock in the morning. Qiao Qiao, though, needed to tear herself out of bed at seven in the morning for the wardrobe and makeup trials. She could not afford to drag things out. <>The actual site of posting for this translation is hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Please support the translation by reading it there instead. Thank you. The next morning at seven oclock, Jia He was still passed out in slumber when Xiao Ous [Little Ous] phone call woke her. When she answered it, the person on the other end was already near tears. Is Qiao Qiao over there where you are? Her mobile is shut off. She tossed the phone onto Qiao Qiaos face, then carried on sleeping with the covers pulled over her head. For ten minutes, she listened to the jingling sounds of Qiao Qiao busying about, before things finally fell back into quiet. Just as the Duke of Zhou[1] was about to let bygones be bygones and take her in again, her mobile phone once more abruptly began buzzing. Dont call me before nine. Jia He could not even open her eyes. I will die from lack of sleep This is crazy. Guess who I saw. Caring not for her own life, Qiao Qiao kept jabbering away noisily. Gu Yu. You know, the one who was originally just some little reporter but later, after by stupid luck managing to crawl to the role of editor-in-chief of a magazine, dumped youthat Gu Yu! I know. Was there really a need to recap things in such detail? He personally brought his journalist along to do a special interview with Liao Jing. I swear, theres definitely something fishy there! And then? Liao Jing mentioned your name, and then he actually wanted you to come be part of the interview. I turned it down for you. Jia He felt at her laptop that was by her hand and began playing music from it, helping herself to completely waken from the land of dreams. Just let it be. If he wants to give out favours, well take them. The song that was slowly coming out from the computer was While its Still Early, and Phil Changs cover of it particularly brought out a feeling of bleakness. After asking for the room number, Jia He hung up the phone and curled herself up under the covers. Struggling with herself for a long time, she finally felt around for her clothes and slipped each item on. Still feeling as if in a trance, she sighed over the surprising coincidence, while also automatically filing away this completely cheesy plot element into her minds vault of potential material: a former love had somehow struck up a relationship of some sort with a female celebritysuch a meaty piece that could be used. Viewers would definitely be waiting eagerly with clenched fists to see how the female lead would explode at that. Explode? As she faced the bathroom mirror, she recalled that she and that Friend Gu had not seen one another for five years already. The notion that a love relationship should only be between individuals of equal social status is something that is applicable in any era. Back then, she had just been a little, unknown reporter; it was not as if she could expect a magazine editor-in-chiefs heart to be devoted to her and her only, right? Actually, she truly had not been that hurt at the time of the breakup, likely because she was well aware of who and what she was. Her views on relationships had always followed the principle of Be astute and know your place, that If he takes one step forward, Ill take half a step forward, and if he withdraws by one step, Ill withdraw by three steps. Therefore, when Gu Yu wanted to withdraw, she had already withdrawn to the point that there was no more room to retreat, and she could only wholly remove herself from that particular industry. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only The owner of the Wanhao Hotel very much knew how to do business. The central heating in the lobby and hallways were shut off all year round, and it was so cold you were left shivering. Rubbing her palms together, she wound her scarf around her neck three times before following the hallway to that room and giving a few light knocks on its door. Wanhao Hotel, which is near Hengdian World Studios. Credit: hengdianworld.com As a result of feeling too abashed last night, she had not completely fallen asleep until four-thirty in the morning. Now, as she left her room, she truly was exhausted from head to toe and, on top of that, owing to the icy bite of February weather, chilled to her very insides. The person who opened the door was Qiao Qiao. She flashed her teeth at Jia He, then made way to let her into the room. As this suite was specifically for doing makeup, its heating was very adequate. The people inside were all busily doing their things. The dramas lead actress, though, sat in the outside room, waiting to be interviewed. She had put on her makeup and costume very early on. With her hair piled high on her head and garbed in Tang dynasty attire, she was very pleasing to look at, holding a microphone in her hand and, with bowed head, reading through the draft interview that had already been prepared. A young reporter stood to one side. The person sitting beside Liao Jing wore a fitting suit with no tie, and his side profile was elegantly handsome. At this moment, he was quietly discussing with Liao Jing the details of the interview. Teacher Gu, Qiao Qiao said with a smile that was only skin deep, our screenwriter has arrived. Right when Gu Yu lifted his head, Liao Jing also set down the draft interview write-up. Jia He, I heard Teacher Gu mention that the two of you used to be colleagues. We were, a long time ago. Jia Hes eyes were on Gu Yu. I wasnt as good as Teacher Gu, when it came to being a journalist, so I had no choice but to switch careers in order to earn a living. Gu Yu returned her gaze, but he merely smiled and did not speak. Thats perfect, then. In just a bit, you and I will take a photo with A-Ze. Well release it at the same time as the official character stills for the drama. After saying this, she gave a soft smile to Gu Yu, one that was lovely, yet not coquettish; it was just right. Jia He has always been besotted with Yi Wenze. Clearing his throat, Gu Yu remarked with a smile, This time could be considered fate. So you know, too? Liao Jing laughed aloud. Director Jiang also mentioned this yesterday, saying it was for A-Ze that Jia He came into this line of work. Gu Yu looked up with interest and cast a glance at Jia He. You know it; Ive liked him since I was thirteen years old. Jia He very honestly stated this truth, but it was also as if she was using this one sentence to tell him, If you really want to start talking about who came first and who came later, you, Gu Yu, absolutely were not the first person in my life. Qiao Qiao, pressing a hand to her forehead, did not know whether she should cringe or laugh at this as she signaled at Jia He with her eyes. Sensing something subtle in the atmosphere, Jia He whipped her head around and looked in the direction of the dressing room. At some point in time, Yi Wenze, clothed in a historical period costume that was white as the moons glow, had stepped out from there and was watching them, a smile in his eyes. A light robe with a loosely fastened belt, and facial features so handsome they seemed as if from a painting. Jia Hes thoughts were actually pulled away for a moment as she gazed upon him, her mind filled only with that sentence that was written in the screenplay: Though so young and elegantly charming he could be of a painting, he also exudes his own aura that a brush cannot capture. At this moment, she was bundled in a heavy down coat, and a scarf concealed more than half her face. Because she had been speaking this entire time, she had forgotten to remove her outer clothing, and her face was already a little flushed from being hot. However, in the eyes of other people, this red tinge, naturally, carried another meaning. Liao Jing was someone who was astute, and immediately she began to chortle. A-Ze, how does it feel to get at such a close distance a love profession from a fan? Yi Wenzes smile gradually deepened. I am very honoured. <>Please support this translation by reading it at its actual site of posting, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, instead. It would be sincerely appreciated. Thank you. This type of interview was very simple. The draft write-up, in fact, had already been done beforehand. The discussion between Gu Yu and Liao Jing just now was merely to make slight adjustments. If he were a slightly lazier journalist, he could have just directly asked the dramas production team for some photographs and then published the article; there was no need at all to make this trip. These were all things that Jia He certainly understood, so it was no wonder that Qiao Qiao said there was something fishy in all of this. Of course, to the production team, any sort of promotional help from mainstream media was something they were more than willing to have. Who, therefore, would even bother to care about the various associations and interactions within it? At the end, when photographs were to be taken, Liao Jing really did not forget to bring Jia He in, and it was only with Jia Hes repeated insistence that this was against normal practice that she finally let the idea go. Jia He sat off to the side, her head bowed sleepily. While she was pondering over whether she should go back and make up her missed sleep, over on that other side, photographs were already finished. Out of the blue, however, Yi Wenze stood, walked over, and took a seat beside Jia He. Qiao Qiao, could I trouble you to take a picture of me and Jia He together? Everyone was startled for a moment. Yi Wenze extended an arm and, with natural motions, slipped it around Jia Hes shoulder, a smile on his lips, unperturbed like there was no one else present. Her brain exploded. There was only one thought left in it: Sure enough, he totally deserved to be called her idol. He even took on the task of helping a fan give a blow to her former love <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only [1] ܹ Zhou Gong. The Duke of Zhou was a statesman of the Zhou dynasty, a man of significant political achievements and influence on the Chinese culture. He is credited with writing the I Ching and the Book of Poetry. There is also a well-known dream interpretation dictionary ܹΡZhou Gongs Book of Auspicious and Inauspicious Dreams, to which he is attributed. He is known sometimes as the god of dreams and, according to folklore, the Duke of Zhou will visit your dreams to tell you of anything significant that will be happening to you. Hence, there is a saying that you will dream of the Duke of Zhou. If you say the Duke of Zhou is finally willing to take you in, that means you are finally able to fall asleep. 硷While its Still Early was composed by Phil Chang and originally sung by A-Mei. Phil Chang later sang his own cover of this, which was released in 2005. Below are a translation of the lyrics. ŷְһϰ Only later did I discover that loving you is a habit ѧ˵һĻ I learned to tell the same lies as you Ҫ You always want me by your side ˵Ҹʲôģ And youll tell me what happiness should look like ҵ ʵһƬ The heaven you give me is, in reality, a stretch of bleakness # ҪԺһ If I could have cleanly cut the ties between us earlier ǾͲڰǿ We would not have had to force ourselves and struggle so much in our love IJ¸ But I truly am not brave enough Ϊ Ϊ Always apprehensive because of you, always giving in to you Ͼమһ After all, we had once been in love Ҫ˭ Lets not have anyone carry hurts in the heart * ҿԶЦŰ I can forever smile and be a supporting cast member for you ıԼ尾 While agonizing alone behind you 㲻Ҫ ˳Ҫ If you dont want this, want to back out, do it while its still early ûзҪһ Im not adamant that we must grow old together ҿԲʸоΪֺ I can disregard my feelings and continue, for love, to simply please you ۵ĿĽ Detachedly watching you in your pride ̫ Ҫ If being in love is too hard and you dont want to anymore, then do it while its still early ӵ Even if I am besotted with your embraces ˾ͺ Once I have forgotten, everything will be fine Repeat # * ˣ˵ ܳΪ Our love has come to this point; any words can become a reason İ￴ In this sort of love, what I see ǵ Is our cowardice Repeat * CH 2.1 Ever since the dramas official character stills were released, they were madly forwarded and discussed online. When Jia He was busy, she would be revising the script, and when she was free, she would browse through websites and read through comments left by Yi Wenzes fans. She had actually always felt that screenwriting is a good profession. There is no need to work regular office hours. You only need to sit around with the story editor and other screenwriters and idly chat until you have worked out together the scene breakdown for the overall outline. Then, each person gets assigned episodes to work on, takes them away, and starts writing, and thats all. Even if you have to be with the cast and crew for production, you only have to sit in your own room and do not need to endure the intense heat or bitter cold of the filming site. Its the perfect career choice for homebody-type girls. Currently, as she fixed her attention on the several hundred comments under Yi Wenzes Weibo[1], she had one more self-gratifying reason that she could add. The scene being filmed today was her favourite. The male and female lead, as well as a group of younger-generation nobility, were competing in calligraphy in front of Wu Zetian[2]. She had specifically asked for the filming schedule and then requested Qiao Qiao to bring her over to watch when the time came. The result, of course, was that she had gotten a look of disdain in exchange, plus, without the slightest hesitation, agreement to her request. While she was thinking this, she was also pondering that she should change into that black down coat so that she could completely blend into and disappear in the film site and avoid getting herself into any more embarrassing predicaments. Fortunately, the director and assistant director doing this scene had never seen her before, having only gone through Director Jiang whenever they had any opinions on the script. Therefore, she only needed to stand in a corner somewhere and then absolutely no one would take notice of her. Right when she was lost in thought, a news window popped up in her MSN account, which had automatically logged in for her. A glaring headline immediately caught her eye: Source reveals that Tian Chu had an extramarital affair first. A certain popular Taiwanese singer declines to respond. The words were not in a big font, but they were enough to bring shock. Jia Hes heart skipped several beats, and she nearly was unable to breathe. She was even more shocked than when, back then, she saw Gu Yus arm around the shoulder of her own department manager. Swiftly, she linked up the recent gossip news and filled in in her mind the causes and resulting sequence of events. Before her eyes now was the image of the stairwell at the press conference and how, leaning against the wall, Yi Wenze had finished off his cigarette in only a few drags and then the first thing he said after was that the two of them should leave separately from there, lest she be dragged into everything and people made mistaken assumptions about her. A fire of anger seemed to ignite in her heart, burning and burning. She was burning to the point she was dizzy, when Xiao Ou knocked on the door and told her she could go now. She slipped on her coat. The car she was riding was Qiao Qiaos. The cast had already long since arrived at the filming site to prepare, so naturally only the driver and Qiao Qiao were in the vehicle. Qiao Qiao, her head lowered, was text messaging and did not even look up. Hey, net junkie, have you seen the news? Giving an uh-huh in answer, Jia He continued fueling that fire in her heart. Your idol sure gets enough grievance to suffer through. Qiao Qiao licked her lips. Right as she was about to lift her head, another text message alert sounded and she hastily clicked the message open, all the while carrying on, Tian Chu started in the entertainment industry very early on, but she never made it big in Hong Kong with her singing. Then when she went over to Taiwan, her agent conned her, and she couldnt even afford to feed herself. Had she not relied on Yi Wenze, she absolutely would not have become popular. But now, thats great; shes done with using him, so shes gone and hooked up with someone whos more popular. Whoosh! A whole bucket of oil had been thrown right into Jia Hes face, igniting her so that she now burned with True Samadhi Fire[3]. Hey, you say, Qiao Qiao said with seriousness, finally finding a moment to take a glimpse of Jia He, what sort of abilities does that woman have? How did she manage to beguile the guy into marrying her? Youre a screenwriter, so doing character personality profiles is your strong point. Help me analyze this. Because Qiao Qiaos track record showed that every relationship she was in was guaranteed to come to an end, she was already at a whole level of her own when it came to longing for marriage, and so her mind completely filtered out Jia Hes mood in this moment and she jumped straight into discussing the games and tactics that Tian Chu used. Jia Hes eyes were glinting and penetrating as they fixed on her, and she stated with sharp finality, Because Yi Wenze is a good person with good character. Sweating with chagrin, Qiao Qiao raised her mobile phone and carried on texting. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only When Jia He and Qiao Qiao arrived, the director was in the midst of staring at the monitor and carrying out a discussion, while Liao Jing was there on the side with a down coat draped over her shoulders. On the set, the gaffer and best boy were setting up the lighting arrangements. There were the sounds of crew members speaking in low tones, the noise of equipment being moved, the excited voice of the assistant director as he ran through a scene with the actors With all this chaotic hustle and bustle, her anxiety that she had barely managed to repress was now dredged up once more. Jia He unconsciously swept her gaze over the entire film set, trying to find a place to sit down. But unexpectedly, she caught sight of Yi Wenze. The spot he was in was very dim. From her particular angle, she could only see that his head was slightly lowered and he was standing behind a desk, a brush in hand and writing with it. As it had rained last night, the ambient temperature had dropped several degrees. This film set had no measures to provide heat, and everybodys shoulders were draped with down jackets. He, though, wore only a casual button-up shirt, its sleeves rolled up to his elbows in such a way that even the folds were very neat and tidy. The black tip of the writing brush was brought to the snow-white xuan paper[4], and instantly the ink stained the paper and spread, flowingly creating a line of characters. Jia He absolutely knew Yi Wenzes celebrity profile by heart, to the extent that she could recite it backwards, from the songs he liked to the animal he hated, but she had never known that he knew how to do traditional Chinese calligraphy. Slight curiosity arose in her, and she wanted to see what his writing was like. It so happened that at this moment, the costumer called Yi Wenze to change into his costume, so she took advantage of this opportunity to quietly slip up beside the writing desk and swiftly have a glance at his calligraphy. Her heart gave a fierce leap. Each character carried a force and strength in its writing, its every brush stroke penetrating and deep. They were the words in the drama with which the male lead expressed his feelings for the female lead. And, they were also the sentences she was most proud of: I fear not that these feelings have arisen; I fear only that too late have I become aware of them. But as I have pledged to forever take your hand in mine, thus shall I never forsake you. Thats some nice calligraphy. Qiao Qiao moseyed up beside her and also poked her head over for a look. Naturally, Jia He softly replied. It really is quite good. Qiao Qiao darted a glance at Yi Wenze, who was conferring with the director about the scene. Even after being soaked in the great dye vat for twenty years, hes still a very cultured pickle. Can you not describe my idol as a pickle? Jia He shot her a look of contempt. I was out of descriptive words. Its not like Im a screenwriter. Picking up that sheet of xuan paper, Qiao Qiao beamed at Yi Wenze and asked him, Teacher Yi, would it be all right if you gave this to me? Hearing her call him, Yi Wenze lifted his eyes, looked towards where they were, and gave a nod to the two of them, which could be considered his greeting to them. I just arbitrarily wrote that. If you like it, go ahead and take it. A grin spread across Qiao Qiaos face, and she purposely used Cantonese to say thank you to him. Then, she immediately folded the paper in half and handed it over to Jia He. This action was done in full view of everyone. Jia He froze. While Jia He was still wrestling with herself, thinking it would be inappropriate to take it, but also inappropriate to not take it, Qiao Qiao had already grabbed Jia Hes bag and stuffed the paper into it. The assistant director was sitting off to the side, mirthfully watching all of this, and nonchalantly he commented, Qiao Qiao, youre using your position for personal gain, eh. Youve even brought a fan in with you. Qiao Qiao gave an ah and patted Jia He on the shoulder. Assistant Director, this is our screenwriter. Her reputation was completely ruined Resigning herself to this, Jia He greeted the two directors. She felt as if her bag contained a time bomb, and she could not stay here for even one moment longer With a fake smile plastered to her face, she gave Qiao Qiaos coat a vicious yank and shot her a glower that declared she was absolutely going to kill her. Qiao Qiao very sensibly chose to put a stop to her original intention of giving an extravagant introduction of Jia He. Giving a couple of laughs, she said that she was heading over to the other set for a look and then, bringing Jia He with her, walked out from there. <>Please show your support for this translation by reading it at its actual site of posting, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, instead. Thank you. Only after the black curtain had been set back down did Jia He lift her face to the blue sky and let out a sigh of misery. Just from every once in a while coming and joining in on the fun, she should have realized that, from the press conference onward, this whole drama filming had become the stage for the destruction of her image. However, since she had come out with Qiao Qiao already, she needed to at least take a token jaunt around everywhere. The two of them sent the driver away and drove themselves, checking out the shooting of the other scene as well. To avoid the awkwardness she would feel if she went back to the other film set, she refused to leave here no matter what. So, the two stayed at this other scenes film site for the entire afternoon. When evening arrived and a winter rain began sprinkling from the gloomy, overcast sky, Qiao Qiao received a phone call informing her that filming today had gone very well and work had wrapped up earlier than planned, and telling her to go have dinner with everyone. Since coming on site for production, this was actually Jia Hes first time eating with the cast and crew. Qiao Qiao purposely selected a larger restaurant. Before they had even gotten out of their vehicle, they could see that in the lobby there was a large group of people in the midst of enthusiastic discussion, every once in a while pointing here and there on a row of photographs of different dishes. Judging from the equally high quality faces of the beautiful girls and handsome guys who were present, they knew that this was the cast of another production that was also currently filming in Hengdian. Yi Wenze had removed his filming costume and was garbed merely in simple athletic wear. Since stepping out of the vehicle, he had easily become the focal point of attention of the masses. As if they had radars, the eyes of the relatively younger actresses in the lobby immediately looked through the glass and homed in on him. Showing expressions of excitement, those actresses brought their heads down and talked amongst themselves. Jia Hes mood, which had been down for the whole afternoon, at last was pulled back up by all these undisguised stares of idolization. See, Yi Wenzes fans were everywhere. She wasnt considered that extreme Yi Wenze, however, looked completely at ease, talking on the phone with his agent while also, in passing, pulling open the glass door for Jia He. Thank you, she said. He gave a smile and very quickly hung up his call. Behind him, his assistant, A-Qing, was already holding open the door for him, and he and Jia He walked one after the other into the lobby. What would you like to eat? Stopping in front of a row of photographs of actual dishes, he looked over it carefully a couple of times. Cooked pork sandwiched in mantou[5]. In a moment of nervousness, Jia He blurted out this specialty local dish of Hengdian. Actually, she did not like eating meat Yi Wenze nodded, then ordered two orders of the dish. <>It would be sincerely appreciated if you would support the translation by reading it at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, its actual site of posting, instead. Thank you. Teacher Yi,Qiao Qiao ran over and pointed to the upstairs levelIll order. You guys head up first. Once she finished saying this, she even used her shoulder to bump Jia He. Jia He threw her a glare as she took in her grin. That absolutely was an expression that a toxic friend would wear. When the two stepped into the private room, everyone was in the midst of laughing and chatting. Occasionally, the topic of candidates for roles that still had not been confirmed would be brought up. Jia He deliberately went over and took a seat beside Xiao Ou. Seeing that Yi Wenze had sat down on the opposite side, she at last could relax. For actors or actresses who will only have one or two lines to say, the best plan is simply to go to the actors guild to find one when you need one. Even Xiao Ou could not be bothered to listen to this conversation, but Jia He actually listened attentively for a while with quite some interest. This was, after all, a story of her creation, and she held great affection for everyone in it, even the maidservant who only carried a tray. Those several people who had been speaking away all of a sudden stopped. The assistant director put on a solemn manner and looked Jia He over carefully. In all seriousness, this screenwriter of ours is actually quite suitable. There are only two scenes. There shouldnt be any problems. Jia He had been in mid-sip of her tea, and now at once she swallowed it down with a gulping sound. I cant do it. My whole face goes stiff when Im just facing a photo camera, much less the lens of a video camera. Her mind wandered ever so slightly. How did she somehow get dragged into the topic? The actors guild had several thousand fair maidens on standby. Why were they tormenting her for no reason? Jia He threw a look of innocent suffering at Qiao Qiao, who had just taken a seat beside her. I didnt order too much. Well make do and just eat what there is. Qiao Qiao smoothed her own hair. Just as she was about to feel for her mobile phone, she finally noticed the plea for help in Jia Hes eyes. Dropping her voice, she asked, Whats wrong? Theres one role that all this while still hasnt been decided on. They want to put Screenwriter in to do the cameo. Xiao Ou turned a pitying gaze on Jia He. To someone who had no natural talent for performance, this was practically a form of cruel torture. Qiao Qiao was grinning so widely her eyes had narrowed into slits, and for once she actually ignored her phones text messages. Not bad, not bad. What role is this? One of the concubines of the male lead. The assistant director emphatically supplemented them with this piece of information. Qiao Qiaos smile was one of gloating over someones misfortune. I remember the male lead is bestowed N number of women in marriage, but he gives the cold shoulder to all of them because his heart is only for the female lead, yes? The roles got a lot of challenge to it. She had beseeched the wrong person for help. Jia He once more fell into despair. At this time, the server was already beginning to bring out the dishes. Before Jia Hes eyes, the lazy Susan glass turntable, carrying steaming hot dishes on it, was continuously spinning dish after dish past her. The assistant director fished out a lighter, lit up a cigarette for himself with it, and then, cupping the flame with one hand, held it up to Yi Wenze. Casually, he asked, Teacher Yi, whats your thought on this? Yi Wenze gave a push to the turntable. When the dish of mantou paired with cooked pork came to a perfect stop right in front of Jia He, he finally lit up a cigarette with the assistant directors lighter and pondered briefly. I think its quite a good idea. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only [1] ΢. This literally means microblog. Weibo is often compared to Twitter but with other features such as threaded comments, etc. The biggest microblogging service in China is offered by Sina, and its full name is actually Sina Weibo, although due to its popularity, Weibo usually directly refers to Sina Weibo. [2] Wu Zetian (also known as Wuhou, Wu Zhao, Wu Meiniang, Empress Consort Wu, or simply Empress Wu, 624 C 705) is famous for being the first and only female to rule China as emperor (empress regnant). She originally was the concubine of Emperor Taizong of the Tang dynasty, and then later, after Taizongs death, she married his son, Emperor Gaozong and eventually became empress consort. She ended up deposing her own son, Emperor Ruizong, from the throne and proclaiming herself as emperor. [3] san mei zhen huo. The True Samadhi Fire is a fire of legends that is said to be inextinguishable, most known for having been cultivated by the Red Child in the story of Journey to the West. [4] ֽ xuan zhi. Also called rice paper. A special type of white paper known for its softness, fine texture, strength, and absorption. Used since ancient times in China for brush calligraphy and painting, it is resistant to aging and decay. [5] ͷ mantou. One of the traditional staples of ethnic Han Chinese food, it is a yeast-based type of bun that is steamed and contains no filling. In the city of Dongyang (in which Hengdian World Studios is located), ͷ, which is mantou paired with cooked pork cut into small pieces, is a dish often served in grand feasts. The mantou is formed into a round shape with a flat bottom. To eat this dish, the mantou is stuffed with the pork and eaten together, like a sandwich. CH 2.2 There are two people that every woman cannot bear to turn down: one is her lover; the other of course, is her idol. Throughout the course of the dinner, as a result of being unable to decline the care that her idol showed her, she ate half of that plate of mantou with cooked pork. She thus made a name for herself in this one battle, and the consequence of that was, from that time onward, she was taken care of for three entire months and ate mantou with cooked pork every day. Naturally, also as a result of Yi Wenzes one statement of I think its quite a good idea, she did not dare say any more and accepted the role of that character who was hated by everyone who laid eyes on her. That night, as she stared at the script that she had written with her own hand, she began to spurn herself. Why in the world had she written such a resentful, evil woman? In fact, it was a very simple task. There were only two scenes in total. The first scene: a shot of a woman staring resentfully from a distance at the male and female lead. The second scene: the woman wanted to poison the precious son of the female lead but was found out by the male lead, and at once, tears rolled down her face like raindrops caressing a pear blossom. Back when she was writing it, she clearly had been exhilarated and flying high, but now that it was time for her to act it out herself, it became a whole new matter. The next morning, when she, sporting a fashionable, all-natural smokey-eye look, was in the dressing room, she was so sleepy her brain was like a puddle of paste. The makeup artist was continually assessing her face. After, in a serious tone, giving a praising remark of, Your skin is naturally a good base to work with, she took all sorts of brushes and began applying makeup on her, up and down, left and right. You sure give yourself favoured treatment. Sitting beside her, Qiao Qiao flipped through the script. Both scenes are on the same set. One day is enough to finish filming both of them. Jia He was unable to turn her head as she complained, When I wrote it, I didnt know it would be me. Dont be so discontent with what you have. Qiao Qiao put on a pretense of comforting her. This type of role thats just oozing with evilness is the type that viewers remember most easily. Who knows? You might be catapulted to fame. Hey, remember to come find me to be your agent. You cant let the good stuff go to other people[1]. Jia He held her silence. Cheerfully, the makeup artist soothed her, Dont be nervous. Doing cameos is a really normal thing. Back when I was doing makeup on the set of The Myth, I even cameoed as a palace maidservant and stood behind Kim Hee-Seon. Jia He gave her a polite smile, then carried on having internal injuries over this whole situation. Im staying in Hengdian an extra day just for you. Wagging her mobile phone, Qiao Qiao leaned over beside Jia Hes ear and whispered, Im not even paying attention to my Taiwanese boy. Its all because I was worried youd be nervous. Hes stood you up more than twenty times already. Youre still not willing to give up? Qiao Qiao typed a row of words on her mobile phone, then handed the phone over to Jia He to read: On his Weibo last night, he wrote, By myself and feeling lonesome. The meaning of that is so obvious. He misses me. Taking the phone from her, Jia He deleted those words and typed a row of new ones in their place: You sure know how to let your imagination fill in details. Qiao Qiao gave a shrug and typed another row: If I can somehow happen upon a guy whos hot and devoted and a yu choy[2] [talented, outstanding person], then Ill give up on this one. Blinking, Jia He silently mouthed two words back to her: Yi Wenze. Qiao Qiao let out a guffaw. Just forget that, you. I very much have principles and never let me claws reach for anything that belongs to my good friends. Jia He rolled her eyes, which nearly ended up smearing her still-wet mascara onto her eyelids. <>Please support this translation by reading it at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, its actual site of posting. Thank you. In this scene, she would be acting opposite the dramas two main leads. When Liao Jing saw her get into the vehicle, she immediately gave her a big round of praise on her appearance today. Looking into that lead-actress face that Liao Jing sported and remembering that she needed to glare with bitter resentfulness at her and also kill her child today, Jia He felt especially weirded out. She could not help feeling more and more admiration for those in the acting profession and how they could slip in and out of role at will. One minute, they were sitting in front of the monitors, sipping their milk tea, and the next minute, they could face the cameras and deliver a heartfelt confession of love. Honestly, it was not a job that the average Joe could do. Yi Wenze was resting with his eyes closed. Qiao Qiao was carrying on with her frequent texting and, in passing, also updating her Weibo. Her actions served as a reminder to Jia He, and she also pulled out her mobile phone and began carrying out her usual practice of looking through the news. While she was at it, she also secretly went to Yi Wenzes Weibo page for a look. It was still the same as before. Since the story about Tian Chu had exploded into the public eye, no updates had been made to Yi Wenzes Weibo. However, the number of comments on it was increasing exponentially, all comments left by fans. Her fire of rage, which had been extinguished for a few days already, was now incited again by these thousands of fellow sisters who had banded together in anger against a common enemy, and she again began feeling indignation on behalf of Yi Wenze. For reasons unknown, as if a supernatural presence was directing her, she swiftly registered a new Weibo account and then left a comment: Idol, Im backing you all the way! After writing this, she even guiltily stole a peek at Yi Wenze. But she was caught in the act by Qiao Qiao. Before long, Qiao Qiaos message was sent over: Theres no crime in being a peeping Tom! Firing her a glare, Jia He closed her text-messaging window. All of a sudden, curiosity sprouted in her, and she input Tian Chus name in and then found her way onto her Weibo. Unlike the united voices found in the comments in Yi Wenzes Weibo, mayhem that could overturn the heavens had broken out here. There were words of support from Tian Chus fans, name-calling and revile from Yi Wenzes fans, and demanding questioning from fans of that popular Taiwanese singer. Tian Chu appeared to be indifferent to all of this and still would, as normal, talk about the content of her new album or post some personal photos from when she was recording, and occasionally, she would even sigh rather ambiguously about lonesomeness. As Jia He read through all of this, she would repeatedly sigh feelingly over how Sina[3] was truly a good platform for sensationalism and how Tian Chus team also really was skilled at exploiting gossip and rumored scandals. Yi Wenze, in contrast, maintained a passive stance in all of this, being very manly and not bringing any shame or embarrassment onto Tian Chu. So shameless. A-Qing had just finished saying something to Qiao Qiao, and when she turned around and her eyes happened to glance over Jia Hes mobile phone, she snapped out these words quietly. Yi Wenze opened his eyes and looked at her. With a humph, A-Qing explained, Im referring to a certain well-known singer whos still trying to generate hype for herself on Weibo. While she spoke, she pointed at Jia Hes mobile phone. Oh, Heaven, please just strike me with a lightning bolt With absolute composure, Jia He shut off her mobile phone, closed her eyes, and, tilting her head to the side, feigned sleep. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only When they arrived at the film set, the assistant director rather dutifully began to talk through the scene with Jia He. However, only a few sentences in, he realized something. I forgot. Youre the screenwriter. Youre fine; you dont need me to explain this stuff. With that, he immediately went back over in front of the monitors, feeling that it was only natural that Jia He would have no problems at all. Jia He felt too awkward to say that the two things, screenwriting and acting, were not the same, so she could only stand holding a tray of tea beside the decorative screen and gloomily begin to practice her look of bitter resentfulness. Yi Wenze did a simple rehearsal through the lines with Liao Jing and then glanced over at Jia He. With this one look from him, the bitter resentfulness that Jia He had just managed to build up with her practicing now all crumbled again And so, she carried on with keeping her head down. Head down and practice hard. Fortunately, in this scene, she only needed to carry a tray and briefly show half her face. Most of the scenes action was with the male and female lead. Naturally, then, it was quite a bit easier than she had imagined. Once the director pronounced an Okay! she breathed out in relief, set the tray aside, and turned her eyes fixedly onto Qiao Qiao to check with her. Qiao Qiao was not at all about to let pass by this chance to poke fun at her. Not bad, not bad. The love was intense, and the jealousy even more so. Your acting brought it all to life. Through gritted teeth, Jia He bit back, Thank you. The next scene very easily caused her to become dejected and frustrated. When Yi Wenze saw that she, facing the little boy, her hand raised with a cake in it, had gone blank in the mind for the fourth time, he motioned to his assistant, signaling that he wanted to have some water. In reality, everyone could tell that this was to allow Jia He to ease her tension a bit. The director understood, and turning his head, he began speaking to Liao Jing. Qiao Qiao also went along with him, saying that milk tea had been delivered and telling everyone to take a break. Taking in the sight of all this, Jia He felt even more remorseful. Who knew how long they would have to keep at it like this today? As Yi Wenze drank his water, he instructed his assistant to bring a paper cup over. He poured a warm drink for Jia He as well. Have something to drink. Theres no rush. Filled with guilt, Jia He took the water from him. Thank you. The liquid was a faint, warm-brown colour, and when she took a sip, it was sweet in flavour and tasted like malva nuts. This is your first cameo? Yi Wenze drank very slowly. Jia He gave a firm nod of her head. It truly was her first one. Yi Wenze was not surprised in the least, and he began to slowly talk through and very meticulously and carefully explain the scene to her. Jia He listened as he spoke each sentence. As he and she were both in ancient-period costumes, she actually was caught in a daze for a moment. It truly seemed as if they had gone back to ancient times, and inexplicably, she began to somewhat get into her role. Detecting that her frame of mind had changed, she once more feelingly sighed to herself, it was no wonder he was her idol; he understood this scene even better than she did Everyone rested for another while. When Qiao Qiao saw that Yi Wenze had moved away, she stepped over and, with a grin, said quietly, Youre just awesome. With other people, its the screenwriter who talks through the scenes with the actors, but when its you, you get this exception. This is my first time ever seeing an actor explaining the scene to the screenwriter. One sentence completely transformed her infinite admiration for her idol into deep disdain for herself. Actually, this scene of yours is really simple, Qiao Qiao suddenly remarked. Jia He scoffed, Its easy for you to say. You want to take my place? With a glance at Liao Jing, Qiao Qiao murmured to her, Just think of Liao Jing as Tian Chu. I guarantee youll get into the role then. Jia He wholly believed Qiao Qiao had come to watch her make a fool of herself, plus throw some mocking jabs at her. <>It would be greatly appreciated if you would kindly support this translation by reading it at its actual site of posting, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, instead. Thank you. After Yi Wenzes help, when they were acting out the scene with everyone again, Jia He noticeably was much better. She fed the little boy the cake without a hitch, smiling so very much like a woman who was virtuous, kind, and understanding, and then after Yi Wenze strode in and she was discovered, she displayed her panic. Then, when she was faced with his silent aggression her mind went blank. Those raindrops-caressing-a pear-blossom tears wouldnt come out. Using eye drops would look too fake. No matter what, for this drama that was her own creation, she would persist and force herself to make it more realistic. But as a little cameo actress who had no formal training and who simply sat in front of her computer every day, pounding words out on it, how could she just cry whenever she felt like it? And so, Qiao Qiao once more began inviting everyone to have milk tea. Yi Wenze was not anxious and, in fact, started talking to his cameo son. Liao Jing, on the other hand, was somewhat impatient and annoyed and began making calls on her mobile phone. Jia He was vaguely able to make out the voice on the other end of the call and whom it belonged to. Actually, Liao Jing had already been very cautious, but Jia He and Gu Yu had been together for such a long time that she had long become so familiar with him that it was as if they were one person. She was simply too familiar with the way he spoke, such that even though Liao Jing had merely given a few sentences in answer, she was already able to guess who was asking the questions. She suddenly remembered, back then, when Gu Yu was travelling for work, in order to save on mobile phone fees, she would pretend that she needed to work overtime, and then when there was no one left in the office, she would finally call him using the landline telephone. It was not until later, when they had broken up, that she learned that in that period when Gu Yus business trips had been most frequent, he had actually been together with her department manager. It might very well have been that such late phone calls from her had spoiled their fun. There was a tingly, aching feeling in her heart. Jia He all of a sudden spoke up. Im good now, Director. Lets just hurry and get acting, hurry and get acting. My moods going to pass soon. Though everyone was somewhat bemused, filming nonetheless started once more. This time, the take went smoothly. Discovered in the middle of her attempt to poison the child, she turned her head and then, seeing Yi Wenze, instantly began to weep like she had been wronged. Tears flooded over unabatedly, to the extent that even if she were to try, she would not be able to stem them. And Yi Wenzes stony expression that was facing her only served to intensify her feelings of misery and abjection. Holding himself tall as he stood where he was, Yi Wenze watched her wordlessly for a long time. Then, suddenly, he reached forth a hand and brushed away her tears. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only [1] ˮ. Literally, this translates as the fertile waters should not be allowed to flow into other peoples fields, which basically means you should keep the good stuff within your own inner circle and not give outsiders the opportunity. [2] This originated as Internet slang. Ͳ you cai is the name of a Chinese green vegetable that is commonly transliterated in English as yu choy or, sometimes, choy sum. Its pronunciation, you cai, is homophonic with в, which means a person has talents or is capable. [3] Sina Corporation is the company that created the currently most popular microblogging service in China, Weibo, which actually has the full name of Sina Weibo. CH 3.1 The door of their private room was still open. The woman in the opposite room had stopped her howling of Even in Death I will Love, and had begun her next battle, One Night in Beijing. In this room of theirs, more than half the chorus had already passed and on the screen the karaoke subtitles were slowly going from white to green, but nobody had sung a single note. A bucket of popcorn clasped in her left hand, a red microphone in her right, Jia He actually forgot how this song should be sung. After several seconds, she at last managed to stumblingly hum along with a few lines. The effect, though, was equally matched with the woman in the opposite room. Even if you ignored for now whether the melody was being sung on key, it still took talent to be able to sing the wrong words while staring at the screen Give me the microphone. Stepping into the room, Yi Wenze suddenly directed this request at Qiao Qiao. Qiao Qiao stared vacantly for a moment before noticing that the black microphone was by her hand, and hastily she handed it to him. Although Yi Wenze did not look at the big screen, he still seemed to know exactly where each word and note was to come in. His singing was effortless, the timbre of his voice low, with traces of fatigue in it that was a result of travelling. Jia He dared not make any more mistakes, and carefully and nervously she sang. Their voices harmonized very well, and the effect was surprisingly good. The door of their private room had not been shut yet. Someone passing by outside saw Yi Wenze and instantly stopped in excitement to listen to the song. More people came, one after the other, until before long a crowd three layers deep had gathered outside. This household-name celebrity was actually in a KTV, singing with another woman a duet of his ex-wifes song, and moreover, he was doing it in full view of everyone. This was a type of gossip that, of course, no one wanted to let slip by. Not until the song was nearly done did A-Qing catch on that something was amiss with the situation. Hurriedly putting a smile on her face, she closed the door and also leaned her body against it to obstruct the doors transparent glass window, shutting out the pack of fans and other people trying to spectate the action. The MV reached its end. In the radiance of the golden sunlight, Tian Chu lifted her face and shouted, I love you! Still hugging that bucket of popcorn, Jia He stared at this ending, her mind blank. Only when the screen had switched over to an advertisement for the KTV did she set the microphone down on the table and carry on, head bowed, eating her popcorn. Who had been the one to request that song, Sunlight, was no longer something to be probed into. Of those two people who had sung the duet, one was sitting in the corner of the couch by the door, holding a bucket of popcorn and munching away furiously, while the other was standing by her side and handing his microphone to someone else. Teacher Yi, you should honestly release an album. Itll definitely sell like crazy. In a buttering-up manner, Qiao Qiao grabbed a bottle of beer and handed it to Yi Wenze. As she spoke, she gave a kick to Jia He as a signal that she should make room for Yi Wenze to sit. It was not that Jia He did not understand her meaning, but with so many people here, she truly was too embarrassed to blatantly have Yi Wenze sit down beside her. However, seeing Yi Wenze standing there holding a bottle of beer, she also felt rather bad. After a back and forth battle within herself, at last, her idol triumphed over everything else. She dragged her feet somewhat but nevertheless squeezed herself closer to Qiao Qiao and then tilted her head up, saying with a smile, Teacher Yi, have a seat here. Yi Wenze stated thank you and then, without any signs whatsoever of wanting to decline her offer, took a seat by Jia Hes side. Many people had come tonight; this private room was obviously not large enough. On the couch, everyone was huddled together in a heap. Jia He was actually not a very fussy person. It was not as if this was some sort of feudal age that emphasized that it was improper for men and women to have physical contact. However, the instant Yi Wenze sat down beside her, every part of her began to feel on edge. Her neck remained stiffly in one position as she fixed her eyes on the screen, but she actually did not know what she was watching A-Qing had long since slipped over to the song-selection counter. Yi Wenze sat by the door. On the other side of the door, there was still a scattering of people deliberately walking by, likely having heard that Yi Wenzi was inside, and every now and then someone would cast some glances in through the glass. He, however, was unobtrusively drinking beer, and as he was wearing a brimmed cap and also sitting, it was only natural that no one outside of the door could recognize him, so after a few looks, the people outside would give up. Due to the effects of alcohol and other beverages, from time to time, people would get up and go in and out of the room, either going for a smoke or heading to the bathroom. Yi Wenzes particular position was obviously blocking the door slightly, and so he naturally moved in a little closer again to where Jia He was. Instantly, it was as if Jia He had received an electric shock, and she once more squished over in Qiao Qiaos direction. Qiao Qiao, youre about to sit right onto my lap. Assistant Director Cheng Hao gave a cough. Qiao Qiao shot a resentful look at Jia He, and then, deciding to simply stand right up, she remarked in a meaningful tone, Its so cramped here. Im going to go out and stand for a bit. Thinking that she was referring to him, Cheng Hao rather sheepishly stood as well. You sit, you sit. Ill go out and stand. As the two went back and forth over this, each trying to give up the spot on the couch for the other person, neither ended up sitting back down again, and a very large space was opened up for Jia He and Yi Wenze. Due to the awkwardness earlier from the song selection, the remainder of the people all did not dare come over to sit on this side. Thus, an unusual scene formed: on one-third of that long couch, there sat only two people, and moreover, they had extravagantly left an empty space between them that could fit an entire person; on the remaining two-thirds, though, everyone was jammed together like sardines in a can Have you been writing any new dramas? Staring at the screen, Yi Wenzi unexpectedly asked this. Jia He replied with an mm-hmm, but then suddenly finding that the way she answered was rather pretentious, she hurriedly added, Im already doing the overall character outline and descriptions. Its another ancient period one. The corner of one side of Yi Wenzes lips lifted, his smile very faint. You really like ancient period dramas? Jia He gave a little laugh. When I was young, I was obsessed with a line from a poem: Feathered fan in hand and hair bound in silk, he conversed leisurely and laughed while the enemys fleet went up in smoke and ashes[1]. Since then Ive liked dramas set in ancient times. Yi Wenze took a drink of his beer. The 330-mL bottle was just the right size in his hand. That dark-green Heineken bottle with the light of the karaoke screen shining through it was so clear and sparkling it seemed like liuli[2]. As Jia He quietly watched him, she remembered how, when she was in middle school, she would point her finger at the television and cry Yi Wenze! and now for some reason, a blush crept into her cheeks. Luckily, it was dim in here. No one would be able to tell that she was blushing. My mind revisits these ancient scenes. Surely my sentimentality should be mocked, for my hair has early gone gray. Life is a dream. I shall offer up a drink to the moon over the river.[3] In a low voice, he uttered the lines that followed the one she had spoken. Shaking his head lightly, he gave a half-self-mocking chuckle. I recited this poem in a movie that I acted in. Mo Shaoan? She had watched every film of Yi Wenzes, so naturally she also knew each role he had acted. The film with the character, Mo Shaoan, was one set in the Republican Era[4]. Amidst the wanton atmosphere of luxury and dissipation of the Shanghai Bund, there was a young man, born of a respected family, who held a dream of being a hero. She could even remember in which scene and its details Yi Wenze had recited that poem. Yi Wenze turned his head to look at her. Those deep-black eyes were filled with glimmering fragments of light, so beautiful that you could not help staring into them. Do you like the character of Mo Shaoan? I do. I like characters who have a certain degree of moral purity. Men who have self-restraint tend to be more compelling to people. Jia He analyzed this in seriousness. It was this very sense of moral purity that, in that type of greater environment, led to Mo Shaoans defeat. The contrast and conflict are very distinct. Yi Wenze let out a little chuckle, then unhurriedly clarified, What I mean is, as a viewer, do you like him? It was only with this question of his that Jia He realized that her occupational habits had risen up again. Sorry about that. I fell into the habit that comes with my profession. As a viewer Her gaze collided with his. In her mind, she silently declared, since it was her idol who had acted the role, of course everything was good about it. At the same time, she put on a fa?ade of composure and picked up a glass of red wine, treating that as her way of quenching her thirst and easing her embarrassment. I really like him, especially in that scene where he boards the ship to leave China. It was in that scene that Yi Wenze, garbed in a Zhongshan suit[5], had looked out upon the great ocean and recited Reminiscence of Red Cliff. The deep-felt resentments and hatreds of his country, the romance and love in his heart all died away with that one poem That night when they were back in the hotel, Qiao Qiao bummed her way into Jia Hes room to sleep for the night. With the smell of booze on her, she muddleheadedly sprawled on the bed and watched Jia He, who was hard at work typing again. Your idol is truly high calibre. He treats his fans so well. Jia He stared at the screen, not even turning her head. Of course. My boss doesnt like hype thats created from gossip; otherwise, tonights little scene would have been a great news story. Qiao Qiaos lips pouted out, and her head spinning, she analyzed for her, Just see how, for that Qing-dynasty drama that started airing recently, the whole gossip about the romance between the director and the actress has been so popular. Jia He did not reply. The casual conversation with Yi Wenze tonight had given her inspiration for a script. If she did not hurry and jot it down, it would be too late. As Qiao Qiao needed to sleep, she had only turned on the desk lamp. Her eyes remained glued unblinkingly to the screen until she, after typing out nearly two thousand characters, could finally be considered done. She did not realize until she at last lifted her head that her neck was already aching terribly. Giving a big stretch, she glanced at the time. Not even one oclock yet. It was perfect; she could go get a massage. This particular production team was quite nice. It had hired three massage therapists to stay on location at the hotel with the cast and crew, and as long as you went to find them before two in the morning, it would be fine. There was filming tomorrow, so most people should be sleeping at this hour already and the massage therapists should be free. Thinking this, Jia He rose and gave a poke to Qiao Qiao, who was wrapped up under the comforter. Im going out for a massage. Open the door for me later. Qiao Qiao gave a couple of grunts, which could be considered her way of saying that she heard her. Jia He also took Qiao Qiaos mobile phone and switched it from vibrate mode to the loudest ring volume possible before she was at ease enough about this and left the room. Since she was just walking through the hotel anyway, she was not particular about herself and simply wore a jogging suit and slippers, striding swiftly to the massage room and knocking on its door. Moments later, someone opened the door. The curtains in this room had been drawn open, and as you stood in the room, there was a clear view of the crescent moon with its haloed glow, as well as the large, continuous stretch of white snow against the black night. It turned out that snow was falling already. It was not until she pulled her gaze back that she discovered that there was actually another person on the innermost massage table, a coat and a brimmed cap tossed beside it. Hearing the noise, he lifted his head, flashed a slight smile, and signaled to her that she should not say anything. All three therapists were male, blind massage therapists[6], so other than Jia He, no one saw his gesture. Jia He stared blankly at him for a moment, not really understanding his intent, but nonetheless she cooperatively held her silence. I heard the lead actor this time is Yi Wenze. The person who was going to massage Jia He motioned to her to lie on her stomach on the massage table and then carried on speaking to the man massaging Yi Wenze. Isnt he your idol? The man beside Yi Wenze laughed and answered, Not mine, my daughters. So, when filmings done, you can ask the crew to help you get an autograph? Forget it. With a simple, guileless smile, the man explained in a low voice, From what I heard from my daughter, her idol is in the middle of a divorce right now. Thats definitely going to affect his mood. Well see next time, if theres the chance. Finished with talking about this, the two carried on in quiet with their work. Oh, so they were discussing him Seeing that she comprehended, Yi Wenze laid his head back down and continued resting. At this time, Jia Hes massage therapist also carefully laid a long towel over her and began quietly inquiring where she required the massage to be focused on. Jia He told him, her neck, and then buried her head down. This feeling was so remarkable. There plainly were many people inside this room, yet the interaction between her and him had occurred as if there were no others present, so natural that it was like they were ordinary friends. A sweet feeling flooded Jia Hes heart as she sighed, So it turns out, Im already friends with my idol. Amid the waves of soreness that came from being massaged, she hazily felt as if she had returned to that summer night in her teenage years, where, on Beijings Dongdan Street, she had held her skateboard under her arm and chatted with a group of friends, accompanied by the cool, gentle late-night breeze. So comfortable and pleasant. Very dimly in her awareness, it seemed that someone patted her on the arm and asked her whether she wanted to go back to her room to sleep. In a lazy tone, she declined and then slipped even deeper into her dreams [1]ڽ̸Ц䡢ֻҷ. This is a line from Su Shis poem, ūڻš Reminiscence of Red Cliff (to the tune of Niannujiao) [2] liu li. Liuli, sometimes called liuli glass or liuli crystal is the ancient Chinese art form , with roots stretching back thousands of years, that creates art similar to colored glass or crystal. However, it is neither, and in general, is more valuable than both. In ancient times, the art form was considered very sophisticated and would not have been found in common households. [3] ʹΣӦЦңΣһ. This is taken from the same poem that Jia He had just been quoting, ūڻš Reminiscence of Red Cliff (to the tune of Niannujiao) [4] The period of the Republic of China, sometimes referred to as the Minguo period, lasted from 1912 to 1949. It is the era after the fall of the Qing dynasty but prior to the establishment of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). [5] ɽװ. The Zhongshan suit was named such as it was introduced by Sun Yat-Sen, also known as Sun Zhongshan, shortly after the Republic of China was formed. The style of suit is also known by Westerners as the Mao suit. Zhongshan suit (image credit) [6] There is a form of Chinese massage therapy called blind massage. All therapists are truly blind, and it is believed that this gives them a heightened awareness through their sense of touch. CH 3.2 When Jia He awoke again, she found that she had been sleeping inside the massage room, a comforter covering her. Feeling rather awkward and unsure, she sat up and, gazing out onto the snowy-white world outside, began trying with all her might to recollect how she had fallen asleep last night and also how she had gotten from the massage table to the large bed. But, it was to no avail. She had faint inklings of a speculation. Those three massage therapists were all blind, so they certainly would not have been able to pick her up and carry her onto the bed. Could it have been She gave a forceful slap to her head, silently rebuking herself for letting her smitten mind take over her imagination. And so, she stayed for a while in a daze like this until at last, getting off the bed, she stepped out in her slippers into the outer sitting area of the suite. The three massage tables were vacant. The massage therapists had all gone back to their own rooms to sleep, and work had not started yet for them at this hour. She was alone in this room, which felt large and empty. She glanced at her mobile phone. It was not even eight oclock. While she was wondering what time Yi Wenze had left, the door behind her unexpectedly opened. Turning, she saw Yi Wenze closing the door behind him. Good morning. Yi Wenze gave this simple greeting. Good morning Jia He gaped at him. You dont have any scenes to film today? These were rather ordinary words of greeting, but at this time of day, in this particular place, it felt a little bit too much like a fantasy Yi Wenze set the room key card on the bar-height counter. Because I came back earlier than originally planned. You can say I managed to snatch a day of leisure. <>This translation was taken from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Please support it by reading it there instead. Thank you. Jia He smiled. She did not know what she said afterwards, but somehow she ended up going back to her room, changing into some warm clothes, and then sitting into the empty vehicle that the production team had left behind. Yi Wenzes driving skills were excellent and he was also very familiar with Hengdian, so soon, he had brought her to a Hong Kong-style cha chaan teng[1] [tea restaurant]. The restaurant was on a street that was currently undergoing repairs, so the vehicle was unable to drive in and could only be parked by the nearby intersection. Following him out of the car, Jia He stepped over the light layer of snow, carefully trying to avoid puddles, but, alas, she still ended up dirtying her shoes. When they arrived at the door, she deliberately rubbed the bottom of her shoes repeatedly on the doormat, very worried that the slushy mud on her feet would make the floors dirty. Only after her shoes were completely clean did she push open the door and step inside. Yi Wenze was chatting in Cantonese with the restaurant owner. When he, a smile on his face, saw Jia He walk in, he gave a nod to the owner and then led Jia He to the innermost table, where they took a seat. At this time, only a sparse few other tables were occupied. Yi Wenze was dressed ordinarily and also wearing a brimmed cap and therefore did not attract too much notice. Cart noodles[2]? Yi Wenze asked. Sure. She was starving, and it was also a snowy day; a bowl of cart noodles would be perfect. Char siu [Chinese barbecue pork] noodles. Yi Wenze ordered first. Smiling, the owner took down his order while laughing at him that he sure was loyal in his affections, never changing which noodles he ordered. Why was his taste preference the same as hers? Jia He was stuck on what to do. Char siu had always been her taste of choice, but if she were to order the same thing as him, would it seem too deliberate? She began furiously looking over the menu, for the first time discovering that there were disadvantages to getting close to ones idol, that even eating a breakfast could be so much like walking on thin ice. Char siu, Chinese barbecue pork. (Image credit: Char Siu by Lewi Hirvela, original posted in https://www.flickr.com/photos/ephix/, image used under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) The char siu noodles here are pretty good. Looking at her, Yi Wenze offered a suggestion. You can give it a try. Jia He hastily nodded her head, relieved. What would you like to drink? Coffee. Espresso. She jumped in to speak first. It seems you really are very sleepy. Yi Wenze looked down at his own menu. Its not good on the stomach to drink that so early in the morning. People who drink espresso probably think breves and mochas are too light. Con panna is more fitting. Thats just too thoughtful Tears nearly rained down Jia Hes cheeks. Just as their noodles were being brought out, her mobile phone suddenly began ringing. The caller ID showed that it was Qiao Qiao. Her heart dropped, for she only now remembered her instructions to Qiao Qiao last night, and she hurriedly answered the call. On the other end, Qiao Qiaos yawns came ceaselessly. Ill say, where have you and Yi Wenze gone off to? Im having breakfast. Ill talk to you about the character outline and descriptions when Im back at the hotel. Jia He put on this little act. Qiao Qiao laughed. Stop pretending. You guys even drove the car away. Making a couple sounds of mm, Jia He took her chopsticks and stirred her noodles while stealing a glance at Yi Wenze. He had just picked up his glass of lemon tea and was taking a sip. All right, all right. Qiao Qiao jokingly mocked her, What are you nervous about? I was going to tell you to bring back a hot drink for me. Just look at how panicked you are. Forget it. Ill just make myself some Nescaf. With those words, she very shrewdly chose to hang up the phone. Jia He set her mobile phone on the table and began to eat her noodles. Observing that Yi Wenze, his head slightly lowered to look at his mobile phone, seemed in no rush to go back, she did not dare eat too quickly. When she at last set down her chopsticks, there were only two or three customers left in the restaurant. Less than half remained of her cup of coffee. Yi Wenzes eyes were still on his mobile phone. From her position, she had a clear view of his eyelashes. The sunlight beyond the window, coupled with this very suitable angle, caused the image of this person before her to actually seem to exude a poster-like texture, and it made her want to abandon herself and sink into it. She sighed feelingly. But then, she realized that she had been too brazen, and hurriedly she bowed her head and stirred her now-cold coffee. My apologies. I have a new script that was waiting on feedback. When Yi Wenze lifted his head, he noticed that Jia He was still stirring her coffee, so he beckoned to the restaurant owner and asked for another cup. Pushing the fresh cup of coffee in front of her, he motioned to her that she should switch to drink this new one. Minute by minute, second by second. This way of interaction was more torturous than actual acting. Yet, she did not dare be the first to say that they should go back. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only While she was muttering silently to herself, her mobile phone rang once again. At first she thought it must be Qiao Qiao, but it turned out to be another devil who wanted to snatch her life from her early. The instant she answered the call, Xiao Yus languid voice echoed out from the other end of the line. No way. I just thought Id give it a try and call. Youre actually picking up the phone at this time of day Jia He sullenly stated, Im eating breakfast. Its snowing in Beijing. Is there snow in Shanghai? The surliness that was stifled in Jia Hes chest grew worse. Im in Hengdian, on filming site for production. For whose drama? Jia He glanced with guilty self-consciousness at Yi Wenze. She dared not give his name and only stated the name of the female lead. The gorgeous girl whos been hooking up with your ex? Xiao Yu was also in the middle of eating breakfast, and her speech was a little muffled. Is she good-looking in real life? Lovely. The gossip had travelled 1,400 kilometres already. Jia He sighed. Yes, good-looking. Very good-looking. Cut to the chase. Why are you calling me? Fine, fine, O great screenwriter. On that side, Xiao Yu let out a little chuckle. Ive just picked up a client in cosmetics, and I want to find an A-list female celebrity to be the endorser of the line. But guess what. I asked countless agencies. Lets not even talk about A-list female celebrities, there arent even any C-list ones. As long as shes a female celebrity, shes already completely signed from neck up, regardless of whether its makeup or skincare. Clamping her phone between her shoulder and ear, Jia He began pouring milk and adding sugar to her coffee. And so? And so Im finding you to see if you know of any faces of beautiful maidens that still have vacancy that I can use. For example, you can inquire around about whose contract is expiring soon, and I can hurry and sign her. You should find Qiao Qiao for stuff like this. Theres no use asking me. Shes a producer; she knows lots of celebrities. She told me to come find you. The person on the other end was immediately able to separate herself from one topic and jump into another. I just hung up with her. She said youve struck up a thing with Yi Wenze lately, so this sort of request is basically childs play for you. Whoa, hey, if we hadnt mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten. Howd you hook up with your idol? This sounds just like a Taiwanese romance novel On that end, the heartfelt sighs were pouring out like floodwaters, but on Jia Hes face, the expressions were like a motley of colours. Flicking a quick look in Yi Wenzes direction, she could not help letting out a few coughs. Hold it there. If theres anything, we can talk about it when I get back. With that, she straightaway hung up the call and then decisively shut off her phone in order to get some peace and quiet. While her heart was still churning, Yi Wenze had already lifted his eyes to look at her. Whats the matter? Jia He blurted, A friend of mine wants to find a female celebrity to be the spokesperson of a cosmetics line, but she wasnt able to find anyone who doesnt currently have an endorsement contract. She had originally said this simply as a casual sentence of chitchat, but to her surprise, the person opposite her actually picked up his mobile phone and called his management agency. The general gist of his instructions was to look into whether there were any artistes in the company whose contract was expiring soon and then let him know. He held his black iPhone, gently tapping his middle finger against its body, producing a light, rhythmic sound. Her head held low, Jia He took two consecutive sips of her coffee. Gradually, her heart followed the light rhythm coming from his finger and began to beat slowly and with strength. Looking down, she read the menu that was laid out on the table. The glass top covering it had some faint scuff marks on it, but it was very clean. Silently she recited each of the dish names, but in reality, her brain was blank. She wanted to say, Forget it. You dont need to take it so seriously, but she simply was unable to produce any sound from her lips. It was some time later before Yi Wenze finally said thank you and hung up. Tian Chus contract is about to expire. If your friend is interested, you can have her agent come discuss. Jia He nearly dropped her spoon. She had actually forgotten that Yi Wenze and Tian Chu belonged to the same agency. But there are several parties already in the midst of discussions. Her image tends toward the relatively higher-end, luxury side. If your friends cosmetic brand is an international one, itll be better. If its a domestic one, then she can rely only on the endorsement fee offered to beat out everyone. Yi Wenze calmly stated all of this. From his expressions to his voice, not even a trace of abnormality could be detected. Jia He gave a few mm-hmms, a slight sense of tightness in her voice. All right. Ill ask her. Done eating? Yi Wenze put away his mobile phone. Nodding her head, Jia He speedily set down her cup and put on a look that showed she could leave at any time. Yi Wenzes smile gradually deepened a little. When he rose and went to the counter to pay, two young people sitting near the door recognized him. After the two brought their heads down and exchanged a few words, the girl immediately stood and, in exhilaration, asked him to take a photograph with them. However, to their surprise, he smiled and turned down their request, explaining as he pulled out some bills that he was here having breakfast with a friend and it was not a good time for him to take pictures with other people. As he said this, Jia He happened to walk up to his side, and the woman at once fixed a burning gaze on Jia He for a full three seconds. <>Please show your support for this translation by reading it at its actual site of posting, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, instead. Thank you. When Jia He arrived back at the hotel, Qiao Qiao was still swaddled in the comforter and slumbering away. Seeing her with her face completely covered caused a fire to flare up in Jia He, and lifting up a corner of the comforter, she, with a whoosh, gave it a big shake. All the warmth that had been contained within instantly flew out. The person on the bed gave a shiver and jumped to her feet. You crazy?! Today, I actually for once got a chance to sleep in, aaaah! The funny business that you guys, the loud-mouthed duo, pulled on me put me in a such a wretched state, and here youre still sleeping? Gone was the reserved manner of this morning, and all that remained was a Jia He who was half pushed over the edge. That was to create an opportunity for you. Snatching the comforter back from her, Qiao Qiao swiftly cocooned herself in it. So, howd it go? Did he help you? Tian Chu, Jia He snapped through clenched teeth. Tian Chus endorsement contract is expiring soon. Qiao Qiao was startled for a moment, then muttered, Tian Chu? Youre not mistaken, are you? You heard it, and now just forget it. Dont tell Xiao Yu. Jia He tossed her down coat onto the bed and, squishing in next to Qiao Qiao, also slipped herself under the covers. Are you daft? Of course we need to tell her, and whats more, we have to do everything we can to get the deal to go through. Qiao Qiao gave her a sideways look. Its a situation of youre willing and so am I, so what are you worried about? Yi Wenzes willingness to talk about Tian Chu because of you is absolutely a type of special treatment. But if you then keep your silence and be a mute when it should be time to say something, what would that be? This is your idol were talking about! Jia He closed her eyes to go to sleep, not even bothering to pay attention to her. Only now did Qiao Qaos mind catch up a bit, and immediately she yanked down the comforter that covered Jia Hes head. It was just one night, but now, for you, hes willing to find Tian Chu to do advertising shoots. So tell me, what did you two do? I fell asleep in the massage roomall by myself! Jia Hes anger flared. She was nearly at her breaking point. Oh, whatever. I woke up in the middle of the night last nightQiao Qiao made a show of giving her a serious lookand saw that you hadnt come back yet, so I went to find you. Have a guess at what I saw. With these words of hers, an inexplicable sense of guilt, like she was afraid of being found out, rose in Jia He. While she was planning out her words in her mind, intending on fighting back against all rumours and slander, her mobile phone once more rang. Riled, she picked up her phone and said a Hello? The other end of the line appeared to be very quiet. There was only a very familiar-sounding voice saying, Hello, this is Tian Chu. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only [1] ʽ. This literally means Hong Kong style tea restaurant. Cha chaan teng is the transliteration of the Cantonese pronunciation of the characters , which, if translated literally, mean tea restaurant. These can be thought of as Hong Kong-style diners, serving everyday Hong Kong fare as well as Western food with a Hong Kong influence. [2] che zai mian. Cart noodle began as a street food in Hong Kong, often served in carts by the street side. Carts would contain various noodles and toppings and customers would select from them to build their own bowl of noodles, which would then be served up in soup. Nowadays, the noodles no longer are served from street-side carts, but cart noodles can still be found in restaurants or shops. CH 3.3 Really, each of these phone calls that she was getting today was more ludicrous than the last. Gripping her phone, Jia He paused for several seconds before saying, Hello. Qiao Qiao used large, exaggerated gestures and facial expressions to silently ask her who it was. Jia He set her index finger on her lips, then got off the bed. You didnt say anything the whole time; I thought I dialed the wrong number. Tian Chus tone was relaxed as she told her, This call is a little obtrusive. I should have let my agent contact you, but since you are A-Zes friend, I was thinking it would be better if I made the call myself. Her voice was very pleasant to listen to. Jia He had originally thought she was like some other singers and could never leave the recording studio. However, through this one phone call, she understood now that Tian Chus sudden upshot to popularity was not only because she had very intelligently made use of connections and the hype from rumours; she did, herself, have talent as an asset. Im truly sorry. Jia He went into the bathroom and quickly locked the door. Teacher Yi might have told you already, my friend is trying to find a cosmetics spokesperson for her client and asked me to help. I didnt expect that we would actually be able to contact such a big-name celebrity like you, and thats why my mind wasnt able to process and react for a moment. Actually, the most unexpected piece was that, after having breakfast with her idol, she would receive a phone call from his ex-wife. Unlike the fuming rage through gritted teeth that she had shown when she was in front of Weibo, Jia He was actually extremely calm. It would seem that these several years as a screenwriter were not a waste. Apart from acting relatively abnormally in front of her own idol, all celebrities, no matter how big a name they were, were just random passersby to her. Tian Chu pondered for a moment. Ill give your contact details to my agent. If we can, I hope we will have the opportunity to work together. She suddenly said a sorry, and then stopped. It appeared there was someone beside her speaking to her in a low voice, but as the phone was covered up, Jia He could not really hear what was being said. Jia He waited patiently, looking into the large bathroom mirror, attempting to clear her mind. The plot line that was playing out was just too absurdly clich. Even she, a screenwriter who prided herself on writing absurd and melodramatically clich plots, was unable to accept this It took some time before Tian Chu loosened her hand that covered the phone and carried on speaking. Originally, Mai Jie was the one who came and asked me, but then, unexpectedly, A-Ze personally gave me a phone call, too. She did not keep on going with this point, merely giving a little laugh instead and continuing to say, Ill be making a trip to Hengdian this week. Lets have a meal together. Jia He answered, Sure, and also thanked her several times. There seemed to be some sort of urgent matter on the other end, so they did not talk anymore. When the call was hung up, she finally blew out a long breath. However, while she was pressing a hand to her chest to calm herself, she suddenly thought of a question: She was coming to Hengdian this week? Was it to see Idol? Could it be they were going to reconcile and get back together? Question marks filled her brain, which was rather sluggish after this explosive type of conjecture. The person outside the door was already at the point where she would not wait anymore and began lazily rapping knock after knock on the door. Open up, open up. Once Jia He opened the door, Qiao Qiaos face immediately moved in close and, grinning, stared at her. Who was that? You even purposely hid away in the bathroom to answer. Tian Chu, Jia He reported honestly. Qiao Qiao blinked, then blinked some more. Shes pursuing and attack you over a thousand miles? With you two, just whos whose love rival here? Jia He nearly vomited blood at that. Its for the endorsement thing. Also, she said shell be coming to Hengdian this week. Hengdian? Qiao Qiaos eyes narrowed. For a film shoot? Ill ask Xiao Ou this afternoon to look into it. Not taking this seriously, Jia He pulled out her mobile phone and called Xiao Yu. On that end, when the news was heard, a performance of a Mainland-China version of an astonished, ear-piercing scream was instantly given, and along with it came a relentless interrogation of Jia He, asking whether she really did have a thing going with her idol. Without even waiting for Jia He to finish speaking, though, she straightaway came to her own conclusion, telling Jia He to make use of her beauty to help her get a stack of signed photographs and mail them to her. That way, she could save those and in the future, if she lost her job, she could auction them off for huge amounts of money Not knowing whether she should find this funny or annoying, Jia He cut her off and told her to wait for further news. Then, decisively hanging up the phone, she collapsed onto the bed. The comforter still carried warmth in it. With her head buried, she listened as Qiao Qiao fired question after question at her. All the while, Jia He tried to maintain her state of pretending to be dead to the world. Fine! Qiao Qiao glowered hatefully at her. Youre not going to say anything, right? Well, then, I wont tell you what I saw last night either. Pulling on her clothes as she spoke, she picked up todays schedule from the crack beneath the door and looked it over carefully. Dont come begging me. Jia He pulled in a deep breath and carried on the pretense of being dead. <>Please support this translation by reading it at its actual site of posting, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, instead. It would be sincerely appreciated. Thank you. Qiao Qiao soon told her, Tian Chu was indeed coming here for a film shoot. Finally, after rapidly soaring to popularity, Tian Chu was beginning to cross over to another field. Jia He only needed to think about this particularl matter and then she would be unable to restrain the urge to search Yi Wenzes face for traces of anything. In the end, though, she could do nothing but sigh with feeling that, sure enough, her idol was an idol, so composed it was extraordinary. Due to having taken three days to return to Hong Kong, in the several days that followed, Yi Wenzes schedule was basically packed full, from morning to night. Inside the hotel, Jia Ye took advantage of this idle time where there were no changes to be made to the script and began chatting with Director Jiang about the next screenplay. Sometimes, once the conversation started, it would last for four to five hours, and then only when she had tired would she go along in the vehicle to where the cast and crew were filming and rove around there. She would always stand behind a crowd of people and watch Yi Wenze in his acting, or else she would listen to the director explain a scene. At times, they would give their greetings to one another, but because work was so busy, there was not much interaction. Yi Wenze would occasionally post some filming pictures on his Weibo, but most had no accompanying text. There was only one particular instance that was relatively special. He took a photograph of one of the food items of a boxed, takeout meal, then sighed over how the chicken drumstick was the best dish of the day. As Jia He riveted her eyes on that chicken drumstick, there was constantly a feeling in her that it looked awfully familiar. She had to think for a long while before she finally remembered. That day, everyone had sat around the table together to eat that meal And she, this fan of his, had had an advantageous position. At the time, she had been sitting in a spot 45 degrees east of that box of food and had also been munching on a chicken drumstick. While she was thinking this, she began to right click with the mouse to save. Feeling a little elated, she saved the photo into a folder and even solemnly named it, The chicken drumsticks that me and Idol gnawed on together. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only Jia Hes star-chasing journey thus gradually returned to what it had been during the initial period, where she would spend more time on his Weibo than seeing him in person. One night, she and Director Jiang discussed the script until seven or eight oclock when Director Jiang all of a sudden took a glance out the window. Its snowing again. Holding a cup, Jia He also twisted her head around to look outside. Indeed, it was snowing again. The weather this year really was bizarre. It was the end of February already, but it was still exceptionally cold and there was even snow falling. Todays shooting is at an outdoor location. Director Jiang lifted his wrist and looked at his watch. They didnt start until two in the afternoon today, so filming shouldnt be done yet at this time. Lets go. Well go have a look. Not daring to delay, Jia He speedily wrapped herself in her clothing and rode Director Jiangs car to the filming location. The snow was not coming down hard, but it was extremely cold. When she arrived at the filming location, there were quite a few people gathered together, drinking hot water. Since she had come out from the hotel and the car had also had heat, when she got out of the vehicle, she merely felt that it was cold. Stepping closer, however, she discovered that the props were all covered in a thin layer of frost, and only then did she have some grasp of what the temperatures actually were. As she began to search repeatedly through her memory for what was being filmed in this particular scene, wondering whether it might be so cold that it would not be good for her idol, a pair of black boots had already appeared in front of her eyes. You still came on location even though its so cold? Yi Wenze asked. With this one sentence from her idol, her brain was successfully reformatted, and she could not remember a thing. Jia Hes hands were stuffed in her pockets, and her scarf swathed her such that only her eyes were showing, deep-black and staring at Yi Wenze for half a minute before she at last answered, Director Jiang saw that its snowing and said to come see how the progress is. Would you like to drink some hot water? he inquired, his voice warm and gentle. He still wore his period costume, a heavy brocade gown, and looked so ridiculously suave and elegant. Jia He hurriedly shook her head. I drank a lot just earlier in the hotel. No, thank you. Here, hurry and come in to take some shelter from the wind. After saying this, she took two backward steps to make room for Yi Wenze and, in the process, nearly kicked over a chair and did successfully kick a lantern, sending it flying She let out an anguished wail in her heart. She had humiliated herselfagain. In reality, the place where she stood was not warm, but at least the wind was blocked out. When Yi Wenze stepped in closer to her, Qiao Qiao by chance caught sight of Jia He as well. Right as she was about to come over to say hi, though, she noticed Yi Wenze, and immediately her steps stopped. Taking advantage of this moment when his back was towards her, she made a Go for it, girl! motion at Jia He. Jia He gave a tearless sob, but she still needed to keep her face under tight control, not daring to let her idol see Qiao Qiao behind him. Of course, since the world had the astute Qiao Qiao in it, it also definitely had to have the obtuse A-Qing. Yi Wenze had only just stood still in one spot before A-Qing came running over, carrying a thermal flask. As if it was only right to do, she pulled out two paper cups and gave one to each of them. Jia He wanted to tell her there was no need, but it was already too late. She could only take that cup of Idol-brand malva-nut water, so nice and warm, that was handed to her and, looking silly, stand there with him. The snow was coming down harder and harder, truly seeming as if it was trying to hold on to this tail end of winter and completely and extravagantly expend itself. I never got the chance to ask you, how did it go with your friends matter? Yi Wenze was a full head taller than her and was standing in the location that could perfectly block out the wind, so he isolated Jia He from the bitingly frigid streams of air. Ive already connected her with the agent. Next will just be how the discussions go. Jia He brimmed with gratitude, but still she carefully avoided the name Tian Chu. She said, Thank you. Dont mention it. Its all for the agencys business anyway. If I can help out a friend in the process, naturally thats even better. Once Yi Wenze finished saying this, he gave a few words of instruction to A-Qing, telling her to pour some hot water and give it to the fans who had come to visit the set. Only now, after he said that, did Jia He notice that, because today was a hard-to-come-by outside-location shooting, there were a dozen or so fans off in the distance, and, of course, Yi Wenzes fans made up more than half of them. As they were about to carry on shooting again, he did not go over to say hi, unlike the a male support actor who even went over and made a few funny faces at the fans, but just from this action alone of giving them water, you could tell that he still cherished his fans dearly. <>This translations actual site of posting is hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. It would be greatly appreciated if you would support the translation by reading it there. Thank you. By this time, the director had called out that filming was to continue. Handing his cup to A-Qing, he strode over into the centre of the lighting and, quietly rehearsing the scene with Liao Jing, he began to to warm-up and get into the mood. While Jia He was watching with close attention, beside her, A-Qing reached over and refilled her water for her. However, halfway through pouring, she suddenly let out a light Ah! and hissed, Holy smokes, why is she here? Startled at this, Jia He, out of reflex, turned her gaze in the same direction as A-Qings, towards the other side. A woman wearing a long, down coat had just come to a standstill. Behind her followed a female assistant, who was talking incessantly on the phone. Because the woman wore a surgical-style mask and a scarf around her neck and was also standing in an inconspicuous corner, for a moment, no one took notice of her. But Jia He recognized her in one glance. After all, she had sung her songs for so long, so that figure and those eyes were still very easy for her to recognize. CH 4.1 A-Qing kept on with her rambling, first using Mandarin to express her grievances, and then when she had something she truly did not know how to convey, she would switch to Cantonese. The main gist of her words was merely to gripe that their agent, Mai Jie, had not informed them ahead of time, and if the media caught the two meeting up here in Hengdian, it would be another explosive story. Jia He brought her hands together and blew a breath of warm air on them, not really listening to what she was saying. The snow was falling even more fiercely. Every person on site was about to freeze to death, but the directors emotions were riding on a crazy high. This particular scene, in the first place, was supposed to be a snowy one, so to be able to authentically capture that on camera was, of course, the best-case scenario. Furthermore, Yi Wenze and Liao Jings mood and emotions were very much hitting the right spot, and hence, this heaven-sent beautiful weather was not for naught and they soon wrapped up work for the day. Tian Chu waited until the fans who came to the site had left, and then she strolled up to Yi Wenze, removed her mask, and greeted him. Her appearance here was tantamount to a huge bomb. For a moment, the minds of all the staff and crew were unable to catch up. Looks were tossed between them as they pretended that nothing was out of the ordinary, but they were still unable to resist stealing glimpses of those two people. Only Yi Wenze appeared as if he had known that Tian Chu would be coming, not showing any expression of surprise. Seeing this scene, Jia He at last could breathe a sigh of relief, and pulling out her mobile phone, she began fighting monsters on it. Only a moment ago, she had been concerned about her idols reaction to this, but now that she thought about it, she had just been over-worrying. The splitting-up and reconciling that occurs in the entertainment circle were things everyone should be long accustomed to. Perhaps the divorce story that had suddenly burst onto the scene was merely a type of warm-up promotion for Tian Chus crossover into acting. As these thoughts crossed her mind, she tapped her phones screen too early. Whoosh! The little yellow bird flew out. Yet another time that she had failed to pass the level What are you playing? Her idols voice was suddenly heard above her head. Jia He hesitated briefly. Angry Birds. After stating the name in Chinese, she even specifically searched through her memory for the English name so that, if Idol did not understand the translated, Chinese name, she could quickly supplement with an explanation. There was mirth in Yi Wenzes expression, though he did not actually smile. Which level are you on? By now, he had already removed his costume and was simply wearing a black down jacket, his head lowered to look at the screen of Jia Hes mobile phone. Owing to his close distance to her, she could even feel his warm breath when he spoke. For some reason, this made her feel restless and jumpy. She hurriedly adjusted her smile and replied embarrassedly, Im just at the beginning of the third episode. I dont play very well at all. With a chuckle, Yi Wenze comforted, Just play a few more times and youll get better. Before he had finished what he was saying, A-Qing, who was beside them tidying and gathering things, was already adding in a voice brimming with pride, A-Ze plays really well. Hes one of those awesome players who can clear entire levels with just one bird. Immediately, Jia He turned a worshipful look on him. How many levels in a row can you pass using just one bird? This game was not hard, but to clear entire levels using just one bird was a matter of skill and technique. To date, the highest record on the Internet was fifteen consecutive levels, and that was enough to shame Jia He to the point that she wanted to go back and do her reincarnation into this life all over again. Yi Wenze smiled. If no surprises happen, I can get through forty-three levels in a row. Jia He could not help sighing to herself, sure enough, her idol was an idol. Without even batting an eye, he had crushed that record of fifteen levels that she had revered <>The actual site of posting for this translation is at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. It would be greatly appreciated if you support the translation by reading it there instead. Thank you. Beaming, A-Qing made a victory sign and then, proudly carrying all the items that she had gathered up, walked out from there first. By this time, Tian Chu happened to have finished her conversation with Director Jiang, and striding over, she stretched out her right hand to Jia He. Hello. Her every motion and expression radiated grace. Hello. Jia He gave her hand a light squeeze. Different from actresses who filmed through the entire year, Tian Chus hands were delicate and smooth, with a slight warmth to them. This person before Jia He had clean, defined facial features that exuded a feeling very similar to that of someone of mixed blood. She gave a silent sigh. While she was thinking that she should say something to dispel this feeling of unacquaintedness, Tian Chu had already released her hold. Jia He, you look really familiar. Looking at her in puzzlement, Jia He searched carefully through her memories but in the end came up with nothing Back when she was a journalist, she had been responsible for the finance column, and then later when she switched careers and became a screenwriter, the people she met were all actors and actresses. She truly had never had much interaction with singers. She had seen Tian Chu on television countless times, but Tian Chu saying that she had seen her before was probably just a mistaken perception. Seeing that she did not reply to this, Tian Chu turned her head slightly and glanced at Yi Wenze, her eyes conveying an inexplicable feeling. The location in which the three of them were standing at this moment was a covered walkway with a row of warm, yellow lanterns lit down it. Yi Wenze was leaning his side against one of the walkway columns, a paper lantern by chance behind him, lightly tracing out the outline of his figure. He seemed as if he did not see the look from Tian Chu, and rather, his eyes were on Jia He as he said, Lets go eat first. Even if there are things to say, theres no hurry to say them all at this time. Besides the fatigue that came from seven continuous hours of filming, his voice also still carried the appropriate warmth. Ah, okay, Jia He agreed straightaway, while in passing stuffing her mobile phone into her coat pocket. She nearly forgot; her idol had been worked hard all the way until now and still had not eaten dinner yet. But as Jia He brushed a glance over Tian Chu, who had a displeased expression, she became aware of a serious problem: no matter how you put it, she was an outsider, and to tag along with them like this to bum some food was not really right to do. While she thought this, she swiftly searched for Qiao Qiaos whereabouts. However, she discovered that on the entire set, apart from the three of them, there remained only the people who, in the snow, were busily tidying away the equipment You two, go ahead. I had already arranged to have dinner with the other cast and production team. Theyve been waiting for a long time already, too, Tian Chu suddenly said, putting on her face mask again as she spoke. She then took one more look at Jia He. Im going to be in Hengdian for the next two to three months anyway. There will always be other chances. Jia He could not see her expression, but she could perceive the dour air of her words. She took a peek at Yi Wenze. Her idols demeanour was still lukewarm as he leaned against the column and in Cantonese stated one sentence to Tian Chu. The day after tomorrow, three oclock in the afternoon. There was a brief moment of hesitation from Tian Chu. Replying, All right, she turned and walked out of the covered walkway. Her high heels stepping across the layer of accumulated snow left behind two lines of fine, delicate shoe prints, stamped into the stretch of snowy-white, perfect, and also hurried. As Jia He gazed after her backside, she was somewhat perplexed. The fact that Tian Chu just now had waited for so long meant she absolutely had not planned to simply say two or three sentences and then leave. So then, why did she suddenly go? Throughout the entire dinner, Jia He secretly observed Yi Wenze but was unable to find an answer. However, thanks to the care that he would every now and then show her, she managed to destroy half a plate of mantouwith cooked pork <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only When she was back in her hotel room, the first thing Jia He did was pull up all the news surrounding Yi Wenzes divorce and carefully investigate her idols true reason for the divorce. This divorce case had caused such an uproar, but the two involved parties actually were very amicable in their interactions. That truly did not make any sense. With the way the world worked now, even Vivian Chow[1], in order to make her showbiz comeback, had had a scandal about a third wheel in her relationship. Tian Chu and Yi Wenze both had new dramas coming out. Could it be this was all just fake, sensationalized news for publicity? While she was facing the screen, meticulously reading, her phone, out of the blue, began vibrating furiously. She picked it up without really looking. It was, unexpectedly, Gu Yus voice. Jia He, have you gone to sleep yet? The voice on that end seemed somewhat floaty and gave off a slight feeling of drunkenness. Jia He was briefly startled, and it was a long while before she replied, No. Clamping her phone between her ear and shoulder, she began one by one shutting down the more than thirty news windows. Both of them paused; neither spoke first. Inside the room, there was only the clear, clicking sound of the mouse, occasionally interspersed with the noise of tapping on the keyboard. In this first personal phone call after five years, all that remained between two people who had once been deeply in love but had experienced betrayal were these. After some time, Gu Yu at last let out a sigh. Youre looking at your computer? Jia He gave an mm-hmm, answering, Im reading some news. Why arent you sleeping yet? Habit. Nonchalantly, she said, For me, at this hour of the day, I have just finished dinner and am getting into my nightlife. Gu Yus voice had always been very magnetic, and now, coupled with a touch of drunkenness, it sounded very much like that of a host of a late-night radio program, carrying with it an ever so faint sense of seduction. Jia He had once been terribly smitten with his voice, but in this moment, somehow, she all of a sudden remembered Yi Wenzes Mandarin that was spoken with a slight Hong Kong accent, warm and gentle and not showy as it, sentence by sentence, analyzed which type of coffee was suitable for her. She could not restrain her heart from wafting slightly, and her mind wandered a little. Your dad and moms health is still good? Gu Yu interrupted her thoughts. Not bad. Dad goes fishing every day. Mom just learned how to play Happy Lord[2], and several times a day, she reports to me her battle results. What about Grandpa and Grandma? [Paternal] Grandpas health is still okay. [Paternal] Grandma passed away last year. Standing, she went over to the window and looked out at the buildings, some taller, some shorter, in the distance. She began mulling over what the purpose of this phone call might be. Yes, at the time of their breakup they had agreed they were still friends, but those were textbook farewell words spoken by every couple when they were parting ways. Here, in the middle of the night, this phone call that she had answered was both long-distance and roaming, and so this sort of aimless chatter was actually really expensive You need to make sure you pay attention to your own rest. Gu Yu carried on talking. That day, I saw that you didnt have much energy at all. That day? If he hadnt suddenly appeared, she would not have been forced to crawl out of bed at seven in the morning, which therefore caused her whole day to be spent in a state of muddleheadedness and dizziness. In the face of this exhortation that had slight tones of closeness and familiarity, Jia He did not know for the moment how she should reply, and hence she decided to simply keep silent. Seeming as if he realized he had spoken some words that were not very appropriate, Gu Yu gave a light chuckle. Dont mind that. I drank a bit too much and now Im a bit longwinded. Just now when I was having dinner with some friends, I remembered that youre a screenwriter, so I recommended you a bit to them. By chance, one of them wants to do some investing in television dramas, so he might want to ask for a list of your works to take a look at. Maybe there will be a chance for collaboration. Jia He was quiet for a short time before putting on a smile and saying, Thank you. When I get a chance another day, Ill send it to you in an email. Sure, Gu Yu replied. Its still the same email as before. You know it. It was a Yahoo account; the ID was jiahemyever. That account was one she had forced Gu Yu to register. That had still been back in her young, immature days. Now that she thought back on it, it was so cheesy it was enough to get a persons hackles up <>Please support this translation by reading it at its actual site of posting, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Thank you. A few cars drove by outside the window. Due to the snow, the shine of their lights was very hazy Jia He did not really know what she should do; she only wanted to quickly end this topic. So, her mouth actually acted quicker than her brain, blurting, Oh, right, while were here, there is one thing I can get the gossip on from you. Its about Yi Wenze. There was a slight hesitation on the other end of the line. Go ahead, ask. My idols Yi Wenzes divorce news, is it true? Before she had even finished saying this, she was already so embarrassed she wanted to bang her forehead into the glass. That was just too low. She actually used her idols gossip news to shift the topic. After a terribly long silence, Gu Yu slowly countered, Why dont you just ask Yi Wenze directly? She was just a fan; how could she even dare ask her idol such a sensitive question? Awkwardly, Jia He responded, Im not acquainted with him to that degree. Sorry about that. I only remembered that you work in news media but actually forgot that youre the editor-in-chief of a fashion magazine, not some sort of weekly entertainment news publication. Just as she was about to tell him to forget it, on his end, he had already given a couple of chuckles. I had thought that after you became a screenwriter, youd become indifferent to celebrities and idols. Jia He had no words to respond to that. Gu Yu seemed to have just gotten into a taxi, and he stated an address to the driver before he carried on, This issues interview feature is on Tian Chu. I only heard a few sentences from the people working for me. Even though she made her debut in Hong Kong, her family is actually from Zhejiang. The two have had a mutual agreement of divorce for half a year already. Theyll be making use of a spare moment in their schedules during filming in Hengdian to complete the formalities. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only [1] Hong Kong singer and actress, Vivian Chow, has been known for her sweet, graceful, ladylike demeanour and personality. In 2008, she and her longtime boyfriend, Joe Nieh, announced their breakup after Nieh was photographed kissing another woman at a club. However, within a week, they were back together, and very, very shortly after, they registered their marriage. (Side note: as of 2019, the two are still married and celebrated their 10-year anniversary.) [2] . Dou Dizhu, which literally means fighting the landlord, is a very popular card game in China. There are many different video-game versions of Dou Dizhu, with Tencents Happy Lord being the most popular. Happy Lord was released in 2008. In the game, you can earn happy beans, which are a form of game currency. CH 4.2 Gu Yus words caused Jia He to remember Yi Wenzes instructions. It turned out that one sentence of The day after tomorrow, three oclock in the afternoon, was referring to this matter. While everyone was still speculating over the secret reason for their marriage breakup, the two were already taking advantage of breaks in their filming schedules to complete the formal procedures. Then, they would do a public statement about it, and that would be considered enough of an explanation for all the fans. But, would that be enough of an explanation for themselves? Who would know? Who would care about this? Gu Yu said some more pointless words before they at last ended the call. As a result of the huge news that she had unintentionally learned from her question, Jia He also ended up tossing and turning for the entire night, and only when the sky was hazily lit did she fall asleep. At ten oclock, however, she climbed out of bed right on time, asked Xiao Ou for the schedule, and checked to see which scene Yi Wenze was filming today. Xiao Ou thought she wanted to go to the filming location, and beaming ecstatically, she specially explained that the director, considering that it had snowed so hard yesterday, had made some last-minute changes and scheduled the horse-riding-and-rescue scene to be shot today. The group that was doing the filming of that scene had gone out very early in the morning. If Jia He wanted to go see, she would need to call and get a taxi. Hurriedly interrupting her, Jia He told her that she was merely asking. In fact, she was simply worried that if Yi Wenze had too much idle time today, he would inevitably think about the matter that would be taking place tomorrow. Though she had no personal experience in divorce, she had written quite a few scripts on love and marriage and had also once lost her love and fallen into despair. Just thinking about the idea that her idol would feel dejection brought a sense of emptiness and a dull ache into her own heart, and she wanted to do something. Screenwriter, do you need to call a cab? Xiao Ou had already pulled out her mobile phone. No thanks. Jia He smiled. Wheres the motorhome? With a Huh? Xiao Ou stared bewilderedly at Jia He, not understanding what she meant. Jia He contemplated for a moment. Its snowing, and filming today is also outside. Everybody definitely is really cold. If they could have hot pot, that would be awesome. Afraid that Xiao Ou might get some mistaken ideas, she hastily added, Qiao Qiao and Director Jiang both quite like to eat that. Cluing in, Xiao Ou beamed and answered her, Great idea! The motorhomes here anyway, so itll be easy to get the stuff. Seeing that she had agreed to the idea so readily, Jia He could at last breathe out in relief. Xiao Ou called over two assistants who had stayed behind, and they began discussing what things they should buy. While they were at it, they gave Qiao Qiao a call to ask for permission to carry out the plan. Qiao Qiao was currently being tormented by the godawful frigid weather, so when she received this call, she instantly became extremely exhilarated and declared that she needed to personally review the menu. Right before the call was ended, Qiao Qiao finally told Xiao Ou to hand the phone to Jia He. Oh yeah, youre good. Inside the phone, there was the whistling of the whipping wind. Sniffling, Qiao Qiao commented in a quiet voice, Youre thoughtful enough and certainly put in enough effort. Alas, I once more have become your excuse. After laughingly shooting back a couple sentences of retort, Jia He hung up the phone and with Xiao Ou began carefully drawing up the list of food. In that period, she would every so often receive text messages from Qiao Qiao, one moment saying she wanted to eat tripe and yanpi dumplings[1], another moment saying she wanted wood ear mushrooms and winter melon. It was not until Jia He sent back a text, berating her to consider the hardships of the people doing all the legwork and to stop being so picky, that some restraint was shown on that other end. After some time, Qiao Qiao sent a text message to Jia He individually: You dont need me to tell you what Yi Wenze likes to eat, right? In outrage, Jia He fired back her own message: Shut your trap. Jia He, of course, knew very clearly what Yi Wenze liked to eat. This knowledge came not simply from his celebrity profile; there were also all these years of entertainment news on him, so there were bound to be pictures of him eating. Jia He had long ago committed his taste preferences to heart, to the extent that sometimes, as she thought about the fact that her idol liked to eat a certain thing, she would end up eating a little more of it, too, until gradually she had developed the same taste preferences as him. The remainder of the work, she handed off to the assistants to prepare. Jia He merely went with Xiao Ou to personally select the soup base for the hot pot. Yi Wenze liked spicy foods, but his preference was for the sour-spicy flavours of the Yunnan and Guizhou regions, and he did not really eat the numbingly spicy flavours of the Sichuan area. As a result of this, the two of them ran around to several different places before they were able to find this type of soup base. Screenwriter. Xiao Ou finished paying, then stuffed the soup base into her bag. I heard Qiao Qiao mention that youre from Beijing. How come you like spicy foods this much? Actually, its okay to me. I just thought a spicy pot of soup would help dispel the chilliness. Jia He gave this offhanded answer to brush over the question. <>Please read this translation at its actual site of posting, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, only. Your support is greatly appreciated. By the time they had finished all this busy work, it was already the afternoon. Jia He and Xiao Ou arbitrarily ordered a few boxed meals, and after eating them with the assistants, they brought the various ingredients into the motorhome and then drove to the outdoor shooting location. Overnight snow brings the most frigidness. The vehicle had only just come to a stop before Jia He saw Qiao Qiao, who was all wrapped up like she was some wanted criminal, those large eyes that showed from beneath the layers staring in through the motorhomes window and madly blinking and blinking at Jia He. When the engine was shut off, Qiao Qiao jumped over to open the door for her first. A warm welcome to our leader who is here to do her inspection visit. Its so cold. Before Jia He had the chance to even respond to her, she was first given such a chill that she shrugged her shoulders up to hide her neck. Yup. Qiao Qiaos lips were covered by her scarf, so her words came out muffled. Im almost frozen to death. The horse isnt being obedient either. Weve had countless NG takes. Even I wish I can eat that animals flesh alive, but your idol is actually still able to smile in all this. Ive figured it out now. You must have created this character just for him. A disposition so refined and warm it is like that of the lustre of jade. A man who remains unperturbed even if the seas are billowing and crashing around him He fits all those descriptions. Jia He reached over and gave her a pinch, a hint that there were still people following behind them. Qiao Qiao originally had merely been trying to get some amusement. Seeing that Jia He was vexed, she hurriedly asked what soup base they had bought, hoping to change the subject. Jia He could not be bothered to even pay her any attention. Roughly sweeping her eyes over the surroundings, she very soon spotted Yi Wenze in that white expanse. He was sitting on a horse, leaning forward, gently stroking the horses neck in an attempt to appease this animal that was cross because of the cold. That horse seemed to truly understand his intent and was not at all disobedient like Qiao Qiao had described. Rather, it was over and over rubbing itself against Yi Wenzes hand, acting so terribly friendly and cozy. Watching from a distance as that horse behaved so docilely, Jia He said with a smile, See, isnt that horse being good? Qiao Qiao stood there by the vehicle door, rummaging through all the ingredients they had bought, not even lifting her head as she answered, A horse is unlike the grass or the trees[2]; naturally, then, it likes the good-looking ones. Her idol was just complimented. Jia Hes mood, naturally, became quite good. With a sunny smile, Jia He gave her a pat. Its time for you to do some hard labour. Start moving things. Right as she was speaking and about to turn around, over on the other side, the person on the horse seemed to hear the noise here and, straightening back up, took a glance in their direction. Through the fluttering, light snow flurries, only a vague glimpse of his face could be seen, yet his gaze seemed so tangible that a brief stupor came over Jia He. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only Without really being aware of the passage of time, everyone had endured all the way until work wrapped up for the day. The main and supporting actors and actresses, as well as the directors and producers, all got into the motorhome. When they spotted the hot pot, they evidently received quite the shock, and loud, elated cheers of Who was so thoughtful? over and over rang out. Pressing forward together, they took the bowls and chopsticks that Xiao Ou had prepared, and without even taking off their winter coats, they all crowded around the steaming hot pot. After an entire day of bitter cold, a hot pot had suddenly descended from heaven. Who would care now whether you were a man or a woman, big star or not? Everybody was simply crazily delighted. Around that rectangular, six-person table were crammed more than ten people on both sides, and there were still quite a few people standing. Because Jia He was slender, she was squished into the corner near the window. It so happened that opposite her was Yi Wenze. You really like spicy foods? When everyones mouths were open wide because of the burning spiciness, he seemed very much to be enjoying it, leisurely eating away. Nodding, Jia He buried her head down and ate her wood ear mushroom. She had personally mixed the condiments for Yi Wenzes dipping sauce, but she wasnt certain whether they suited his tastes Well, no point in thinking too much about it. If worst came to worst, there was still the soup base to hold down the fort. This particular flavour should be pretty good. While she was still musing on this, someone called out, The shrimp are ready! At once, numerous pairs of chopsticks all reached towards the pot. Jia He was wedged around until she could not even see the pot and could only sit there and salivate enviously. Right as she was feeling glum, out of nowhere, someone placed a shrimp into her bowl. The cooked river shrimp was already a pink hue to begin with, and then with the chili oil coating it and dripping from it, it looked even more flushed and especially tasty. As she lifted her head in surprise, she was in time to see Yi Wenze pulling his chopsticks back. In his bowl, though, there was not even the shadow of half a shrimp. Was this considered a fan benefit? Lowering her head, Jia He took a bite, carefully using her teeth to pull away that thin layer of shell. All she could sense was that sour and spicy flavour gradually permeating from her mouth all the way to her stomach And then, in an instant, crimson flooded her cheeks. The people surrounding them were all utterly focused on that hot pot and busy snatching food for themselves. No one had noticed this little corner near the window or what had just occurred. Screenwriter, it turns out you actually cant take spicy foods? Her bowl cupped in one hand, Xiao Ou pointed at Jia He with her chopsticks and announced in seriousness, We ran around to a bunch of places this afternoon to buy the soup base, so I thought youre really able to take spiciness. Tears from the spicy heat had long sprung into Assistant Director Cheng Haos eyes. He at last knew who the true culprit was. Jia He, are you getting revenge on me for making you take a little, supporting role? You should have said something earlier. I guarantee, next time Ill give you the lead actress role. As these two played off one another, everyone eventually noticed that Jia Hes face was redder than a cooked shrimp, and they all echoed their mirthful agreement, saying that Jia He wasnt here to reward everybody; she was basically taking this chance to exact her revenge. But despite the gripes coming from their lips, they were still each more rushed and eager than the next, and in the blink of an eye, the food, which had actually been double the portion for their numbers, was completely demolished. <>This is a copy, taken from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Please support the translation by reading it there instead. Thank you. After they had eaten until they were basically full, their bodies also felt warmer. This group that during the day had longed to wrap up work and head back to their rooms to sleep, now actually grew animated. Cheng Hao had recently become obsessed with Sanguosha[3], and grinning, he pulled out a set of the cards from his pocket. Straightaway, the people in the vehicle all gathered around him. Jia He did not know how to play and could only watch from the sidelines. When she became tired from watching, she stepped out of the motorhome, wanting to stand beside it and take in some fresh air. The ruckus inside the vehicle faded further and further. The light around her also became dimmer and dimmer. Without even noticing, she had actually strolled quite far. She remembered that she should go back to keep working, so she turned around, thinking that she would first admire the footprints she had made. To her surprise, she saw Yi Wenze standing not far from her, cloaked in the shroud of night. He had one hand in his pocket while pinched between the fingers of his right hand was a cigarette, which was giving off a faint, flickering glow. He merely tranquilly watched her, not uttering anything. Because everything was blanketed in white, their surroundings appeared especially vast and empty. It was as if, in this space between heaven and earth, there were only the two of them, gazing at one another. What flashed across her mind in that instant was how foolish she must have looked earlier when she was stepping in the snow. Terribly embarrassed, Jia He self-consciously asked, Teacher Yi, how come you came out, too? I saw that you kept walking towards where its dark, so I followed along just to keep an eye on things. Smiling, Yi Wenze stubbed out the cigarette. Its about time to go back now. Work will be starting up very early tomorrow. With this simple sentence from him, Jia He very quickly remembered the reason work needed to start early tomorrow. What kind of reason would it have to be in order for anyone to choose to forsake such a man? Jia Hes heart suddenly twinged. Back when she first found out about Gu Yus betrayal, she had only been able to use not good enough to comfort herself. She had been working for three, four years but was still only a little reporter who had to run around everywhere while he was already soaring up the ladder in his career and rising rapidly to success. But now, as she looked at Yi Wenze, she simply could not imagine why such a man would also be betrayed and forsaken. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only [1] Yanpi dumplings, also known as pork skin dumplings, are a snack food originating from Fuzhou. The yanpi is the skin of the dumpling. Lean pork that has been pounded into a paste and mixed with tapioca flour or glutinous rice flour is formed into thin slices, which serve as a wrapper for the dumpling filling. [2] Qiao Qiao changed this from ˷Dzľ man is unlike the grass and the trees. Man is unlike the grass and trees, which feel nothing and hold no emotions. Here, Qiao Qiao is jesting that horses have feelings, too, and what they feel is that they like the good-looking people. [3] ɱ. A role playing card game based on the classic story, Romance of the Three Kingdoms. This card game is known in English by various names, including Sanguosha, Killers of the Three Kingdoms, Legend of the Three Kingdoms, and Three Kingdoms Kill. CH 4.3 She did not know what everyone was doing for amusement inside the vehicle. It was only when Jia He drew closer that she heard someone inside the motorhome strumming the guitar and singing. The voice was quite pleasant to listen to, and there were also two or three female voices singing along. She was easily able to distinguish the voice of tone-deaf Qiao Qiao. While she was gloating over Qiao Qiaos misfortune, Yi Wenze, who had been walking ahead of her, suddenly ceased his steps and turned around. Caught off guard, she nearly walked right into him. Thank you. Yi Wenze finally spoke up. The hot pot was delicious. Oh, that. Jia He gave a little laugh. Its no big deal. Gazing at Yi Wenze, she wavered for a moment, but in the end, she still did not offer any words of comfort. To be at this distance, neither too close nor too far, and to be able to eat at the same table as him were already very nice. As for his love relationship and his life, she would just secretly have her silent criticisms when she read the news on the web. Next song, next song. Qiao Qiaos voice drifted out from the motorhome. Who got the the 2? It seemed Cheng Hao was the one who admitted to it, along with an attempt to explain that he truly was tone deaf. This brought about a wicked tongue-lashing from Qiao Qiao, who said she, the model of tone deafness, was standing right here, so who dared still to declare that he was tone deaf? Yi Wenze leaned against the back of the vehicle. You go in first. Ill come into the RV a little later. Understanding his intention, Jia He stepped into the vehicle first. The cards had been tossed aside. Beverage cans were littered about. Everyone seemed to be in extremely high spirits, not caring in the least about tomorrows early rise for work. By now, Cheng Hao had already been forced by Qiao Qiao to the extent that he was clearing his throat. Holding a guitar, her one leg propped on the other, Qiao Qiao gave an arbitrary couple of strums. What are you going to sing? Cheng Hao rubbed a hand across his forehead, heaving a deep sigh and resignedly answering, Im an old man. Ill pick one that I have a deep impression of. Springs Soil[1]. Qiao Qiao flicked him a sideways glance. Isnt this song about the love between him and his wife? Theyre divorced already. So inauspicious. But though her lips said this, she still responsibly and dutifully gave him a musical introduction. Cheng Haos voice actually very much had potential. The familiar lyrics and melody of the song, Springs Soil came forth: Words that fill the sky swirl down to land in our ears But you and I remain silent and do not give a response I am holding your hand, yet your eyes are reddened from weeping She still remembered what the gossip reports had documented on how this gifted musician and his wife had met: a dream-like talent show, love at first sight, and then together for decades But still, it had merely come to an extramarital affair being exposed and a lusterless ending. For reasons unknown, she once more thought of Yi Wenze. Only when the song gradually came to its final notes did Yi Wenze come back into the motorhome, taking the beer that Xiao Ou handed to him. The exuberance inside the vehicle did not subside because he had stepped in and, rather, intensified when he made his appearance. Qiao Qiao cast a sly look at Jia He. Then, handing over the guitar, she grinned and said to Yi Wenze, Teacher Yi, youre the grand finale. The instant she spoke this, everyone, with some crashing and banging, made room for him. Yi Wenze smiled lightly, not refusing. Taking the guitar, he plucked out a few notes to test the sound, then began playing a low tune. Jia He squeezed herself in beside Qiao Qiao and took a seat. With no trouble, she recognized this song to be Dont Cry. An old song. His throaty, low-pitched, quiet singing very easily conjured up many thoughts in everyone. Though no one said anything aloud, they all thought of that marriage of his that had brought about much discussion, and so, of their own accord, they held their silence. This song first rose to fame because of the guitarists powerful accompaniment and the lead singers voice quality. And now, before them, Yi Wenze, leaning back in his seat, holding the guitar, very easily took these two factors and melded them together into the perfect performance, the way he was carrying himself seeming as if no one else was present here. Jia He took in the side view of his face as well as the posture in which he held the guitar in his arms, and his fingers that strummed the strings. Such a song, with such lyrics, did indeed cause people to think of many things. Afterwards, how she returned to the hotel or how Qiao Qiao used every possible means to grill her about what they did when they were outside of the motorhome, she did not really have much recollection of. She merely finished her shower and then immediately flopped onto the bed, raising her mobile phone above her and randomly surfing the web. By the time her mind processed what she was doing, she had already, out of habit, gone onto Yi Wenzes Weibo. He had updated his Weibo with a post of a photo: a line of footprints stretching into the snowy night. Thump, thump. Her heart thundered wildly. Dropping her phone and getting off the bed, she picked up the kettle, went into the bathroom, filled the kettle with water, and then, walking back, pressed the switch to boil the water. Straightaway, the kettle began rattling noisily, stirring her heart into even greater confusion. Fixing her eyes on the mirror over the little bar counter in front of her, she inexplicably began focusing on her own face, trying to divert her attention. Hmm, there was a small brown spot below her eye; it was time to do something with her skin careWhile she was thinking this, a text message alert sounded from her mobile phone. She picked it up. It was a text from Gu Yu: Five years isnt enough time for you to forgive me? Click. The kettles power switch automatically snapped back up. The water had come to a boil. She was so utterly shocked that she extended a hand to grab the kettle, instantly burning that hand. Grimacing, with her phone raised high, she dashed to the bathroom and stuck her hand under running water. And then her iPhone successfully managed to get a thorough bathblack screen of death. As she stared at that phone, not knowing whether she should laugh or cry, she realized that she was in a ridiculously sorry state. She had not even had a chance to reply to the message and draw the clear boundary between the two of them before, just like that, her mobile phone became a write-off. In the first one or two years after their breakup, she had imagined, what sort of tone of disdain she would use to reject Gu Yu when he came back to find her and then how she would give him a vicious slap to the face. However, with the passage of time, as she looked back on that now, she only felt that she had been silly, and the only thing she wanted was for that person to not appear before her anymore, for that reminded her of her foolish love of that time and how it had not been worth it. Because the shock she received had been too much, she had very early buried herself in her comforter vand gone to sleep, and it was not until some unknown hour that she was woken by furious pounding on her door. Crawling off the bed, she shuffled over to the door. The instant she opened it, Qiao Qiao burst into her room. O great and honourable screenwriter, why is your mobile turned off? Its broken. Jia He looked at her with narrowed eyes, still not adjusted to having been woken. It sure broke at a good time. Wagging her own mobile phone, Qiao Qiao let her have a look. Do you know what time it is? Past twelve oclock. Its not like theres anything to take care of today. I was even thinking that its time for me to head back to Shanghai. If any changes need to be made to the script, they can just email me. As Jia He mumbled on, she turned around and returned to the bed, sliding herself back under the covers to continue keeping warm. It was better to go backno pleasant surprises, and no frightening ones either. Qiao Qiao scrutinized her in astonishment. Youre still going back to Shanghai even with such a situation? Flabbergasted, Jia He gazed back at her. What situation? Climbing up onto the bed, Qiao Qiao looked down at her. Im going to tell you something. You need to stay calm, one hundred percent calm. Jia He was given a scare with these words of hers. Youre fearmongering first thing in the morning. If you have something to say, just say it An accident happened this morning. Your idol was sent to the hospital. Though Qiao Qiao had completely broken apart your idol was in an accident to explain the situation, it was apparent there was not much use in that. A tremor rushed through Jia He, and she shot out of the comforter. What accident? Is it really serious? This morning, the horse suddenly went crazy. He was thrown off and then trampled a coupled of times by the horse. His leg is broken. Qiao Qiao gave a simple, clear explanation. Hes in the Dongyang Peoples Hospital. Ive been busy for the entire morning before finally getting a break, but when I called you, your phone was shut off. I was about to die of frustration. Do you want to go? Come on, hurry and tell me. Ill get a car ready for you. Jia He first nodded, but then she haphazardly shook her head. Ill be no use anyway if I go. Itll be really awkward. Why wouldnt you go? Qiao Qiao looked at her in bafflement. Are you daft? Liao Jing and the others are all going. Whats the issue with you going? Youre there purely to visit a friend. Dont tell me youre not willing. The final outcome of their discussion was, still, that she would go. Qiao Qiao did not even give her a chance whatsoever to argue otherwise. She had been on location for production many times, but never had she visited an actor or actress who was injured at work. The basic reason behind that was that she could not even remember the names of those actors and actresses; they had practically had no association with her, so she was not going to join in on the excitement. Now, as she stood in front of the main entrance of the hospital, she still vacillated for a long while before at last stepping into the entrance hall, its air thick with the smell of disinfectant. Not far away was Xiao Ou, and spotting Jia He, she immediately waved. Screenwriter, over here. When she arrived at the floor of his inpatient room, there were already many people gathered around outside. A-Qing was crouched in a corner, making a phone call, her eyes red as she spoke some words that were indiscernible from where Jia He was. With a pat to Jia He, Xiao Ou said that she was going downstairs to wait for people and then ran off again. Retreating to the head of the staircase, Jia He once more began to waver, and for quite some time, she did not move. After a while, many reporters suddenly rushed up. At the same time, there also stepped out from the hospital room a person wearing sunglasses and a surgical-style mask, her head lowered as she, under the protective escort of her assistant, squeezed in amongst the reporters and, inch by difficult inch, headed outside. When she reached the elevator, she at last removed her mask and, with a smile, addressed the media, A-Zes injury is not serious. Thank you, everyone, for your concern. This one statement was like a tossed pebble, inducing thousands of layers of waves, and immediately aroused even more noisy questioning. Did you come here today specifically to visit him? Do the two of you intend on getting back together? Reportedly, the drama you are in this time is a result of Yi Wenze pulling connections for you. Is that considered an invitation for you to get back together with him? Tian Chu once more resumed a stance of silence, and with her assistant, she strode into the elevator. The reporters seemed as if they had planned everything in advance. Their forces split into two groups, with half chasing after Tian Chu and the other half remaining camped out by the stairwell of this floor, where, in low voices, they exchanged amongst themselves the information they had obtained. Jia He, seeing that there were so many reporters at the doorway, mused that it would be best if she did not get involved in any way. She would hang out downstairs for a while and wait for the excitement to pass before coming back up. Because the elevator was currently being obstructed, she decided to simply take the stairs all the way down. However, at the second floor, where the staircase turned a corner, she saw Tian Chu. Jia He. Tian Chu appeared as if she had been waiting for her. Do you have time for a few words? Jia He walked over. Sure. Tian Chus assistant was standing guard at the entrance to the stairs, purposely maintaining a distance from them. Pulling out her mobile phone, Tian Chu held it up in front of Jia He. A friend sent me this a few days ago. Jia He gave her a puzzled look. Tian Chu tapped her index finger against the screen, indicating that Jia He should have a look herself. On the opened webpage was an entertainment news story, and a photograph could be seen. In it, through the side window of a white minivan, Yi Wenze was seen driving the vehicle, his right hand casually resting on the steering wheel. And the person in the front passenger seat was Jia He. Im not the only one whos seen this; Mai Jie has, too. Tian Chu looked at her with a smile, her eyes bright and clear. So, I would believe that Mai Jie has already shown it to A-Ze. Tian Chu put away her phone. I really dont have any other intention in this. Judging from the look on your face, A-Ze probably hasnt told you about this matter. I trust that, being in the showbiz circle, you would know that now is a rather inappropriate time for the appearance of such a photograph. An unforeseen calamitythis was the only thought that popped into Jia Hes mind. [1]ࡷChun Ni which can be translated as Springs Soil was composed and sung by Harlem Yu while lyrics were written by Annie Yi. The song was released in 2003, and at the time, the two were still married. In story time, it is currently 2011, so this song would be relatively old already. Harlem Yu and Annie Yi dated for fourteen years before marrying in 2000, but in 2009, they divorced. The catalyst for the divorce allegedly was Annie Yis extramarital affair with Taiwanese actor and singer, Victor Huang. CH 5.1 Two nurses were coming down the stairs, and one stole several extra peeks at them. She probably had connected them in her mind to Yi Wenze, currently an inpatient here. In quiet tones, she conversed with the person beside her as she brushed past Jia He. Actually, theres no need to deliberately explain these things. Waiting until there was no one around them, Jia He turned a smiling gaze on Tian Chu. It could be that Teacher Yi didnt tell me about it because he felt that there isnt any need to pay attention to this type of thing. It was just a simple, ordinary breakfast. Screenwriting truly was such a good profession. She could easily find words like these and pick some to use without any effort. No longer was she like back then, only knowing to stupidly listen to other people as they spoke down haughtily to her and then, after listening for half an hour, feel like she had internal injuries so serious she could just die Wearing a flawless smile, Tian Chu patted her shoulder. You dont need to take it so seriously. Once youve encountered more of this type of thing, youll get used to it. I used to be like this, too, where I had no clue even that someone had photographed me, and then when an issue did arise, Id be thrown into a huge confusion and in a terribly wretched state. Tian Chus words were spoken like needles hidden within silk floss[1], each needle stabbing into just the right places but leaving behind no trace. Jia He smiled. Nevertheless, thank you. Tian Chu said a few more words of exhortation, so close and kindly in her manner it was as if they were old friends. Before she left, she also remembered that endorsement opportunity and specifically told Jia He that if the chance arose, she would certainly give priority to friends. Jia He also put on a cheery countenance and repeatedly expressed her thanks, but in her heart, she was secretly raking Xiao Yu, who was still in faraway Beijing, over the coals. Likely out of worry about being besieged by the media, Tian Chu soon left. <>Please support this translation by reading it at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the actual site of posting, instead. Thank you. Jia He had no watch and her mobile phone was mere scrap now, so she could only estimate the time based on her degree of hunger and then judge whether she should first have lunch and then go see her idol, or see her idol first and then have lunch. So, in this state, she once more made her way to the third floor, thinking to see where Xiao Ou might be. By now, the nurses had chased away the reporters until not even one remained. Outside the hospital room, there was only A-Qing talking on the phone, and it could be indistinctly heard that she seemed to be trying to re-juggle work schedules. Screenwriter. A-Qing happened to catch sight of her, and covering her phone with a hand, she gave this greeting. Its perfect. Theres no one right now. Hurry, come on over. She beckoned to her with a wave and opened the door all in one smooth movement. It would not be appropriate if Jia He said anything else to object, so she hurriedly walked into the hospital room. The room was very clean. There were only two beds, with many bouquets set on the unoccupied one, flowers of brilliant colours, a beautiful sight to behold. Yi Wenze sat on the bed by the window, all of him enveloped in the warm, spring sunshine, and lifting his head, he gave a wordless glance at Jia He. A simple white, button-up shirt garbed him, its sleeves rolled up to his elbows. To guard against all the cameras of the media, a plain, thin, white blanket covered his legs. Beside him was the hospital monitoring equipment, while before him lay, surprisingly, an opened laptop computer. Observing that he was wearing a Bluetooth headset over his ear, she could guess that he was in the middle of a phone call, and so she mouthed her silent greeting: Teacher Yi. He gave her a slight smile. Have a seat. Just wait for me to finish up this call. Jia He obediently sat down, setting her backpack onto her thighs, and waited quietly for him as he had his phone conversation, not daring to make the slightest sound. The other end seemed to be a phone conference, speaking wholly about some sort of report. From the looks of things, these were Yi Wenzes companys matters. Being an artiste is an arduous occupation, and those who have earned money from it will naturally use that money to make more money. The best case would be that they can amass enough wealth that their account is overflowing and they do not need anymore to be out working in the blowing wind, the beating sun, or the pouring rain. As a hardcore fan of more than ten years, she did very much pay attention to her idols career and businesses. Though he was not at the level of the artistes one generation older who had several listed companies in their hands, he had made quite a bit of wealth. As Jia He sighed secretly in admiration over her idols professionalism and dedication to his work, she, without even being aware of it, ended up staring at him for quite a while, and it was not until Yi Wenze cast a quick look at her when he was picking up his drinking glass that she hurriedly moved her gaze elsewhere. After taking a small sip of water to moisten his throat, Yi Wenze set down his glass and continued with the telephone conference. Most of the time, he listened attentively, and only occasionally would he say a few words. <>This translations actual site of posting is at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. It would be greatly appreciated if you read it from there instead. Thank you. What are you thinking? At some time, he had already hung up the phone, though he was still staring at his computer screen and typing. Nothing really, Jia He hastily answered. Have you eaten yet? Jia He hesitated for a moment but nevertheless gave an honest answer of no. He slid his eyes over to the bottom right corner of his screen. Its one-thirty already. You still havent eaten? Jia He wanted to say that she had not had a chance at all to eat. But, when the words came to her lips, she swallowed them back down and merely found a random excuse. I forgot to eat. Forgot? His hands pausing for a moment, Yi Wenze calmly reiterated the one word. I woke up too late, Jia He sheepishly added. And then I heard Qiao Qiao say you were injured, so I didnt have time to eat and just ran over here.And then I saw a bunch of reporters, and then Tian Chu goaded me a bit, and thenThis was plainly just a simple question. How come once it had to do with her idol, it would become really complicated?! Yi Wenze did not press further. Calling A-Qing in, he instructed her to buy a boxed meal and bring it back. Then, right as A-Qing was about to step out the door, he casually added, See if theres a restaurant nearby that serves fresh-ground coffee, and bring back a cup of con panna. If theres no con panna, then buy a mocha. A-Qing was taken aback. Teacher, didnt you stop drinking coffee a long time ago? Yi Wenze answered nonchalantly, Its for Jia He. With an Oh, okay, A-Qing shut the door and jogged off. Yet again, silence that left you feeling restless whether you were standing or sitting. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only Jia He began thinking in anguish, how did she even seem like she was visiting someone in the hospital? She hadnt even said any polite words of comfort and instead, for some reason, ended up being taken care of and given a meal Fixing her eyes on the hospital monitoring equipment, she all of a sudden recalled the matter of that photograph. Earlier, she had spoken with such boldness to Tian Chu because, towards the cheating Tian Chu who had had the extramarital affair, she more or less held some animosity. However, Tian Chus words were not unjustified. If that photograph, at this time, in this place, were to be distributed around, she could not even fathom what the outcome might be. There is one thing, she began, deciding it would still be better if she asked and was clear on this, that I want to know if it will have any effect on you. The matter of that photograph? Yi Wenze clicked his mouse. His email was successfully sent out. Answering with an mm-hmm, Jia He was indecisive over whether she should tell him what Tian Chu had said to her. Yi Wenze had already closed his laptop, arbitrarily setting it on the table to his right. Tian Chu told you? Jia He nodded her head, feeling a sort of urge in her to venerate her idol as a prophet. You dont need to really take what Tian Chu said to heart. This matter is not serious. That night, Ti Teacher Tian Chu said I look familiar. Was it because of this photo? Since they were already talking about it to this extent, she might as well clear up everything. Probably. Then why didnt you tell me? The words slipped from Jia Hes mouth. Suddenly feeling that this question was very inappropriate, though, she immediately supplemented with another sentence. What I mean is, in the case that this photo really does bring about trouble, if I know about it, I can at least think up an appropriate statement in advance Her word choice was really crossing the line now. What was this so-called appropriate statement? That made it seem like there really was something going on between them. Forget it, she should just straight out apologize. It was her carelessness that had allowed someone to get such a clear photo of her face. My apologies. Yi Wenzes voice was very warm and gentle. Its just a small matter, so I didnt purposely tell you about it. Jia He looked at him in surprise. She had even been beat when it came to saying words of apology The door was suddenly pushed open. A young nurse strode in, checked the data on the monitoring equipment, and then asked a few questions in a low tone, her voice so tender you could practically squeeze droplets of water from it. Wickedly, Jia He began reasoning that the nurse responsible for this room must have gotten the job by drawing straws When the nurse was done all her busy work and Jia He finally had an opening that she was hoping to use to continue the earlier topic, several knocks resounded on the door. Seriously, so bustling with excitement. Screenwriter, Xiao Ou reported, poking her head in, Qiao Qiao said shes not going to wait for you to eat and told you to solve the issue of lunch yourself. Filled with bitterness, Jia He answered, Okay. Need me to buy something and bring it up for you? Xiao Ou offered. No thanks. Its almost two oclock already. No matter what, you should at least eat a little, right? Xiao Ou dutifully tried to convince her. Xiao Ou. Yi Wenze interrupted this drawn-out, see-saw battle between the two. A-Qing has already gone down to buy food. Could I trouble you to go take a look? Shes not very familiar with the streets here. Oh, yeah, sure. At last understanding, Xiao Ou gave a little sheepish shrug of her shoulders and astutely chose to leave. Yi Wenze had already picked up his drinking glass before he realized he had already drunk most of his water. Jia He, her motions natural, took his glass from him. Ill fill some water for you. She walked up in front of the water dispenser, then stopped again. Do you want it a little hotter or just tending more to the warm side? Behind her, there was a brief moment of quiet. A little hotter. Jia He pressed the button to dispense the water. This dispenser was not that user-friendly, and the stream of water that flowed out was very small. However, as a result of the rooms stillness, even this sound of water filling a glass was so clear it was creepy. Holding her arm rigidly in place, Jia He silently urged, Hurry up, hurry up. But that water dispenser just had to let her down even more, so slow that practically even her hair was ready to stand on end in anger. Wheres your mobile phone? He suddenly asked this question. Qiao Qiao had been looking for her but had sent someone to deliver a message. It was evident something had happened to her mobile phone. I accidentally dropped it in water yesterday. Its a write-off. Jia He pressed the button to stop the water, turned around, and handed the glass back to Yi Wenze, explaining sheepishly, Good thing Im heading back to Shanghai straightaway; otherwise, I really would be worried it would cause delays in my work. The one pity is my progress in Angry Birds Youre heading back to Shanghai? Taking the glass from her, Yi Wenze held it in his hand and took a drink. Yup. As she smiled and looked at him, her gaze happened to lock with his, and an unexplainable nervousness hit her for an instant. My next drama is in Beijing. I need to do some prep work first, and there are always several meetings in the early stage, so itll be more convenient if I stay in Shanghai. You know it; Director Jiang tends to take good of his screenwriters and for any sort of communication, you just usually need to go through him, but others dont give such good treatment. Just thinking about needing to work on location during production with other companies would cause her head to swell. She wished with all her might that she could just stay at home the whole day, and that way she would not need to come into contact with those actors and actresses. Yi Wenze laughed. Youre still not used to it? Jia He gave an embarrassed smile. Its my personality issue. If I really do become better acquainted with people and they ask me to add a few extra lines or something for them, I wouldnt know how to refuse. The world has a type of person called Mr. Nice Guy or Ms. Nice Girl, and that absolutely was referring to her. Once she thought about how, whenever she was on location for production, it was like she owed people money and was hiding all the time from her creditors, she would get wicked internal injuries. Other people could unperturbedly eat, drink, and be merry, unperturbedly sidestep and dance around with their words, so why was she unable to learn how to do it? Seeming to ponder on something, Yi Wenze looked at her. If thats the case, next time if we do get an opportunity to work together again, I should have a few more dinners with you to try to win Screenwriters favour? Though he spoke as if he was serious, a smile had already spread into his eyes and was mixed with hints of jesting. Umm I actually just said that for fun. If I really did have such power, what would you need story editors and directors for? Putting on a relaxed front, Jia He cleared her throat. Yi Wenze was still smiling at her, merely smiling and no longer speaking. <>It would be sincerely appreciated if you would read this translation at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the actual site of posting. Thank you very much. A-Qing truly was unfamiliar with the streets around the hospital. It took her a long time to buy just one meal, and by the time the coffee was in Jia Hes hands, it was already a little cold. Ever since A-Qing stepped into the room, Yi Wenze did not say anything more and only nonchalantly opened his computer. His fingers slowly tapped a few times on the keyboard, and he began unhurriedly looking through web pages. There was a sense that his mind was occupied with other things. Taking in the sight of his slightly furrowed brows, Jia He finally somewhat clued in that she must be disturbing her idol from doing his actual work. Sensitive to this, she hastily scooped a couple more mouthfuls of food, and then, without even drinking her coffee and simply holding it in her hand, she quickly bade goodbye and stepped out the door. The anxiousness she had felt when she came here had long since dissipated, but she could not rid her mind of the preoccupied expression that Yi Wenze had worn just earlier. Only when a ding resonated from the elevator did she suddenly remember she had no way of contacting Xiao Ou. And so, she could only return to the third floor, thinking to borrow A-Qings mobile phone. She had only just arrived at the door of the hospital room when she saw a doctor, as well as the young nurse from earlier on, walking out, saying in low tones, See, not everyone can be a big celebrity. If it were the average person, he would have been flat on the bed in pain a long time ago and unable to get up. Jia He listened to this in alarm. When A-Qing came out of the room, she asked her, Whats wrong? A-Qing gave a Huh? and said, Screenwriter, whyd you come back? Jia He motioned to her to lower her voice. I came back to borrow your mobile to use. What happened just now? Is there some sort of problem? A-Qing immediately brought her voice down. This morning, they did quite a few pre-op checks and tests, and then originally they had arranged for surgery this afternoon, but Teacher Yi insisted on scheduling it for the evening. With an expression of heartache, she looked at Jia He and sighed, Just now, he said there was still another half a phone conference that he needed to continue having, and then he asked the doctor for some painkillers. It was only then that I found out that his shirt is actually completely soaked with sweat. [1] . This idiom, needles hidden within silk floss are describing something that appears kind and gentle on the outside, but hidden within is ruthlessness and an intent to hurt, and what is more, the hurt caused leaves no trace. From the comments last update, I sense mixed thoughts on Tian Chu, even confusion. Some get a bad niggling from her, some think that theres nothing wrong with what she said. Both are correct. On the surface, Tian Chus words are harmless and even seem kindthe silk floss. But the bad niggling some are getting is the needles, even before the text explicitly told you they were there. Observing two things from the last update: First, after visiting Yi Wenze, she came out and said oneand only onesentence to the media: A-Zes injury is not serious. Thank you, everyone, for your concern. This is practically like a statement on behalf of Yi Wenze, spoken like someone who has the authority to represent him. But aside from his agent, Mai Jie, or someone from the company, only family would usually have the right to do that. Usually, unless commissioned by the involved person, not even a close friend would give such a statement. She is his ex-wife; the whole world knows this. So why would she think she can still represent him to say that? Its been said in the text that Tian Chu is talented, thats no question, but she also knows how to use hype and gossip to rise up. Seem like a deliberate blurring of the lines to keep the media guessing, to keep her and her relationship with Yi Wenze in the headlines a little longer? Second, at first glance, Tian Chus words to Jia He seem kindly, but I personally feel that if you are trying to be kind to someone, you would also consider that persons feelings. Showing the photo to Jia He, telling her its an inappropriate time for it to appear (implying it would bring bad speculations about Yi Wenze) shows she is worried about Yi Wenze, yes, but it also naturally should plant a feeling of guilt in Jia He, even if Jia He is a mere fan. Thats logical. What would a natural outcome of that be? Perhaps it would successfully cause Jia He to keep her distance from Yi Wenze? Perhaps its a reminder that Jia He is incapable of handling the gossip that comes with being in close contact with a celebrity? We dont know for sure, but we do know that Tian Chu never directly addresses any of Jia Hes feeling. Im thinking, if it were me and I truly had kind intentions, even if I didnt know Jia He well, even if I didnt try to analyze what Jia Hes reaction would be, its natural to say, Dont panic; its not your fault. But in this update, what, instead, does Tian Chu say? You dont need to take it so seriously. Once youve encountered more of this type of thing, youll get used to it. I used to be like this, too, where I had no clue even that someone had photographed me, and then when an issue did arise, Id be thrown into a huge confusion and in a terribly wretched state. Subtext: Youve caused an issue. You cant help. Youre just going to cause more confusion and be in a wretched state. And maybe further subtext: If you dont want to get used to it, get far away, NOW. Haha, that last bit had some creative liberties in my interpretation, but you know what Im trying to say. On the surface, Tian Chu is kind, but she is pointing out Jia Hes inadequacies and not truly offering any advice, help, or genuine sympathy. Needles in silk floss. CH 5.2 At this time, the nurse came back with a tray in hand, and they both hurriedly moved out of the way for her. When the door was pushed open, Jia Hes position just happened to have a view of the window, and with a troubled, rattled heart, she stole a glimpse. He was still in that same posture, but his complexion looked a lot worse. When he saw the nurse walk in, he only stretched out an arm, his attention focused on listening to the phone conversation. What kind of meeting is it that its so important? The question had already slipped from Jia Hes mouth when she realized it was inappropriate of her to ask. I dont know either. A-Qing whispered, But from what I heard in the phone call between Teacher Yi and the lawyer, this particular company is in the middle of a handover. It might be that after the divorce, its going to be given to Tian Chu. Her tone was sombre, and the sense of grievance in her eyes was plain to see. She was still okay when she had not heard that; the instant she did, things were just awkward. Jia He forced a smile. Thats a private matter. Absolutely do not say anymore. She only learned when she made her phone call that Xiao Ou had actually been called back to site at the last minute. Therefore she had no choice but to dial another call to Qiao Qiao. With an air of Im a big enough person that Im not going to hold a grudge, the person on the other end of the line told her to take in some sun downstairs and that she would be there really soon. So, Jia He could only go downstairs and roam around. As she watched a few camera-toting reporters smoking downstairs, she could vaguely make out that they had mentioned Yi Wenze and Tian Chus names The main entrance of the hospital was bustling with people. Afraid that Qiao Qiao would not be able to see her, she stood outside the main doors, on the ten-centimetre-high concrete rim of a flowerbed. Her hands in her pockets, she in boredom surveyed person after person or, sometimes, pairs of people, examining their expressions and then fashioning a backstory to go with those, treating this as a practice exercise for her line of work. Jia He. Qiao Qiao called to her in Shanghainese and honked her horn. For a moment, Jia Hes mind had not caught up, and she stared at Qiao Qiao for half a second before she was able to react, hurriedly running over and getting into the car. I was calling you for a long time, Qiao Qiao grumbled. What were you thinking about? You caused people to start staring at me. I was thinking about my new screenplay, Jia He arbitrarily said something to take care of her questioning. Taking out the already-cold coffee from its plastic bag, she took a sip. Because the production companys sign was on the front windshield of the car, the reporters at the main entrance all specifically aimed their gazes at it. With cameras in hand, they took a couple of glances, and only after confirming that these were merely two women whom they did not know did they set down their cameras and continue conversing in low tones. Letting out a laugh, Qiao Qiao said, if she had known earlier, she would have brought Liao Jing along to fuel a dramatic story where feelings had developed between the lead actor and actress during filming, but the old flame, unwilling to accept this, was frequently coming to the hospital to visit. The investors for both dramas would definitely be delighted with that. While she was enthusiastically describing all this, a security guard had already come over and knocked on the car door, warning them that their vehicle was blocking the main entrance. With this, she finally started the car and drove away from the hospital. The entire way, traffic was smooth and unimpeded. Help me buy a train ticket. I need to go back to Shanghai. Jia He gazed out at the houses whipping backwards on either side, recalling again each sentence of senseless dialogue that she had had with Yi Wenze in the hospital earlier Your idol is having his surgery tonight, and then he still has twenty-four hours in the ICU. You honestly can bear to leave? Qiao Qiao, speedily passing two vehicles, teased her. My phones not working. I need to go back and buy a new one. Theres a whole pile of stuff from the Beijing side that needs taking care of, too. Seeing that her driving really was too aggressive, Jia He yanked down the seat belt and, after fiddling for a long time, was finally able to buckle it in. It is good if you go back. With a turn of the steering wheel, Qiao Qiao drove onto a small street. Shootings pretty close to being done anyway. When Yi Wenze is able to get out of bed in two months, hell just need to do a few pick-up shots. Your staying here will just be a waste of your time. Qiao Qiao chattered on for a few more sentences, telling Jia He to, after getting back to Shanghai, help her look for an apartment. Jia He absentmindedly listened to her, her eyes glued to this small road ahead of them, a feeling in her that it looked familiar. It was when she spotted the cha chaan tengs sign that she realized, wasnt this the place where she and Idol were photographed when they went to have breakfast together? As it was close to the Qingming Festival[1], train tickets were rather hard to book, and it was already the following day when Jia He had her ticket in hand. Her train was departing at six in the evening. When she had tossed her luggage into the car and was getting into the front passenger seat, A-Qing coincidentally was stepping out from another vehicle and heading for the hotel lobby. A-Qing. Qiao Qiao stopped what she was doing and called to her. How is Teacher Yi doing? Turning around, A-Qing searched for quite a while before she discovered that Qiao Qiao was inside the car. A radiant smile at once broke across her face. Hes been transferred to an ordinary ward now. His physical state is really good. Right after he came out, he was already starting to have discussions on his new script. Qiao Qiao told her, You can go ahead and go, before saying softly to Jia He, Youre not going to give him a call and ask how hes doing? Firing a scowl at her, Jia He immediately picked up the mobile phone that she had borrowed from Qiao Qiao, dialed the number of the people on the Beijing side, and began quietly informing them of her schedule and setting a meeting time. The car jaunted and jolted all the way to the Yiwu Railway Station. Pulling her suitcase with her, Jia He strode into the station. However, she had already squeezed her way with the jam-packed flow of people into the waiting hall before she saw the notice that her train was delayed, so she could do nothing but find a place to first take a seat. People were everywhere before her, if not on the phone, then chatting quietly, and the sounds of all different sorts of dialects that she could not understand joined together. It was when she, for the third time, had looked in boredom at her train ticket and checked it against the train numbers on the display screen that she at last felt she should make a phone call and ask how he was doing. After all, she had visited him yesterday, and he had also helped her out quite a bit. Her mobile phone was already pulled out before she remembered that she actually did not have Yi Wenzes phone number. She hesitated for a moment, but in the end, she did send a text message to Qiao Qiao. A text came back very shortly, a string of numbers, plus a sentence of teasing from Qiao Qiao. Those green digits joined together to form a row on her screen. As she pressed the dial button, she could not help taking a deep inhale. A series of beeping sounds. The other partys phone was busy. Jia He blew out a long breath, unable to say whether she was disappointed or glad. When she hung up the phone, she noticed that the stream of people had suddenly started to move, and the message on the display screen had gone from saying Waiting for train arrival to Checking tickets. Hurriedly dragging her suitcase with her, she followed the flow of people and began stepping forward. The ticket-check entrance was very narrow and clearly should only have fit a single line of people through, but somehow three lines had forcefully made their way into that space. She had finally managed to make it to the ticket-check point when, just as she was pulling out her ticket, her phone unexpectedly rang. Hurry up, will you? Behind her, someone impatiently tossed out this sentence to rush her. Jia He swiftly handed her ticket over and then charged past the ticket-check point. The tide of people was heading completely in one direction, but she, towing her suitcase, moved against the flow. Hiding herself into a corner, she quickly pressed the phone up to her ear. Hello. On the other end, it was Yi Wenzes voice. Teacher Yi, its me. Jia He covered up her other ear so she could hear more clearly. He seemed to be chuckling. Youve arrived at the train station? Mm-hmm. I was going through ticket check just now. Still havent gotten on the train yet? Uh-huh. Just one moment, please. There appeared to be someone speaking on Yi Wenzes end. In a quiet voice, he stated a My apologies in Cantonese, then once more addressed her side. You can talk while you walk. Jia He was terribly embarrassed, answering, All right. Then, noticing that the stream of people was already beginning to die out, she at once grabbed her suitcase and chased after the main throng. Are there many people at the train station? Very many. And the train was late, too. I waited for a long time. Jia He had originally wanted to up the word count of what she said to him, lest he discern her nervousness, but she discovered that everything she said was useless drivel that had nothing to do with him The wheels on the bottom of her suitcase were making sounds of clunk, clunk. There were less and less people in front of her. She had no choice but to lift her head and search for the location of her train car, only to discover that she was unlucky enough to be in the very last car and needed to walk the furthest distance. The train attendants were standing to the side in small groups of twos or threes, and some were even so kind as to urge Jia He to quicken her steps. Over on his end, Yi Wenze seemed to hear this, and he did not speak the entire time until Jia He had stepped into the train car and blown out a light breath. Then only did he ask, Youre on the train now? Mm-hmm. Phone in hand, Jia He skirted around people. Sorry, Teacher Yi. Im just going to find my seat first. Because she had gotten on later, the train was already slowly starting to move. Sure. She walked over to her seat. A grown boy in the adjacent seat, seeing her petite physique that obviously would be unable to lift her suitcase, at once rose and lent a helping hand. She said a thank you to him and then sat down by the window. Im good now. How long is the train ride? Two hours, I think. Around that. I have a friend here who just came from Shanghai. The voice on the other end of the line became a little fuzzy and cut in and out. Jia He pressed the phone hard against her ear before she could make out, with difficulty, what he was saying. This afternoon Silence. The call had completely cut off. Dumbfounded, Jia He stared at her mobile phone. It was fully charged Noticing the look on her face, the grown boy next to her immediately laughed. Little girl, once the high-speed train gets going, mobile reception becomes really bad. Jia He glanced at him. He was obviously a newly-graduated university student, but now, just because her build was small, he was actually calling her little girl. Because its speed is so fast? That person nodded, picking up the magazine in front of him and beginning to thumb through it. Itll be no problem. Once you get off the train, you can just call back. Your boyfriend will definitely understand. Jia He had no words she could say. Seriously, the ills of high technology. The speed had not gone up by all that much, but the price had, and with it, even mobile phone reception went out the window and flew to outer space. Setting her phone on her leg, she began speculating what Yi Wenze had wanted to say, but in the end she simply had no idea. When the train had been travelling for nearly half an hour, most of the people had dozed off and only some younger people were talking in quiet tones. She wanted to sleep but was unable to actually fall asleep, so she decided to simply buy a cup of Nescaf instant coffee and completely refresh her mind. And so, with a piping hot cup between her palms, she turned her head sideways and looked out at the nighttime scenes. A text message all of a sudden came in on her phone. She offhandedly tapped it open. There was only a simple row of words: Probably reception isnt very good. My calls havent been able to get through this whole time. Ill call you when youre off the train. She read it over three times in a row before her mind was able to somewhat catch up and process. The boy next to her was already asleep, and his magazine lay to one side, haphazardly spread open. Jia He picked it up and began browsing through page by page, all the while, as she read, sighing that truly this was a university new grad, for he had even brought a tabloid magazine. She was flipping and flipping through when her attention was drawn to a large photograph on one of the pages. It was a photograph of Tian Chu with that Taiwanese singer. As before, the headline was eye-grabbing and shocking: K Ge[Big Brother K]has for the first time broken his silence. Claims that his relationship with Tian Chu is only an ordinary working one. She looked it over carefully, then turned to the next page. It was the standard gossip news format, chronologically listing out the history of the romance between Tian Chu and Yi Wenze. The Hong Kong paparazzi truly showed the spirit of delving into the heart of things, digging up each and every detail of these last two years and then, at the very end, even stating those things that Gu Yu had told her, that according to friends, the two had already signed an agreement of divorce half a year ago but still had not completed the formal process yet. The few times she ran into Tian Chu and also her high-profile appearance at the hospital perhaps truly were signals that the two were getting back together Hey, little girl, you like Yi Wenze, too? That grown boy had suddenly woken, and catching sight of her staring at that piece of news on Yi Wenze, he could not help remarking with a laugh, Based on your age, you should like Super Boys[2] or guys like that. Your taste sure is unique. When he became famous, I was still only in primary school. Who would have thought that hed be popular all the way to now? Too bad he doesnt have the momentum that he used to and has to rely on scandals and gossip to fight for a spot in the public eye. Jia He wordlessly flicked him a look. When he became famous, I was already graduating from middle school. A sheepish ah slipped from the boys lips, and disconcertedly he raked his fingers through his hair. Sorry about that, big sister. Fine, she did admit that his one address of big sister gave her a huffy feeling that made her feel stifled in her chest, but she had brought it on herself <>This is a copy, taken from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Please read the story from there instead. Thank you. And so, all the way to Shanghai, her phone was in her hand like this, never once leaving it. She was considering whether she should call him back but was also worried that Yi Wenze would already be asleep. Hence, she could only comfort herself, he definitely needed rest after having just undergone a surgery. She did not have any matter that was proper business either, so it would be best to just not ask for rejection. Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station did not really have any people in it at night, feeling cold and forlorn. Most of the fast food restaurants in the main hall were already closed. Jia He was truly famished, so she simply chose a shop that had hot soups and ordered a meatball soup and a zongzi[3][sticky rice dumpling]. When she sat down to eat, a call from Yi Wenze suddenly came in on her phone. My apologies. The doctor came in just earlier to do some check-ups. No worries, no worries. She was in the middle of chewing half a meatball, caught in this awkward moment where it was neither up nor down in her mouth, and the words she spoke came out muffled. Youre eating? Mm-hmm. I didnt realize until I got off the train that I was really hungry, so I just found a random place to eat. Jia He speedily swallowed her meatball. Teacher Yi, why dont you hurry and get some rest? I actually didnt really have anything; I just wanted to ask how you were doing. And then who would have thought that, thanks to the high-speed rail, one question of How are you doing? ended up being dragged out from Yiwu to Shanghai before it was officially asked. Its no problem. I still have friends with me here. Friends? Then all the more she should not disturb him Jia He very sensibly chose to fib. Actually, its because my phones out of battery. Well chat another time. Wishing you a speedy recovery. All right. All of a sudden, Jia He remembered that half a sentence. Oh, right What did you want to say to me earlier? You know, right before I lost reception? [1] Qingming Jie literally means Festival of Pure Brightness, and is also sometimes called Tomb-Sweeping Day. It occurs 15 days after spring equinox, which puts this festival on a day somewhere between April 4 C 6, usually. Qingming Festival is a traditional festival of China in which a day is taken to pay respect to ancestors and sweep their tombs. [2] Super Boy was a talent show program produced by Hunan TV, first airing in 2007, with subsequent seasons in 2010 and 2013. Contestants were generally young men, most just barely into adulthood. [3]A zongzi is a sticky rice dumpling. Glutinous rice is stuffed with filling, then wrapped in leaves, generally bamboo or reed, and steamed or boiled. CH 5.3 It was raining this afternoon in Shanghai. I had just wanted to confirm whether you had anyone to pick you up. The soup scalded her tongue. Jia He lightly sucked some air into her mouth, not saying anything. On his end, Yi Wenze seemed in no hurry. Vaguely, in the phone, A-Qing could be heard saying something, and there also seemed to be Qiao Qiaos and Cheng Haos voices The liveliness of that side served even more to highlight the quiet and loneliness of this one. By now, it was already approaching the eaterys closing time. When she first came in, there had still been two or three other customers, but she was the only one left now. The four shop employees were already cleaning the floors and were continually shuffling by her, clearly demonstrating the hint that it was closing time. With a spoon, Jia He gave a few stirs to her soup, watching as that one remaining meatball merrily somersaulted around inside. Actually, its pretty easy to catch a cab here at Hongqiao Railway Station, and my home isnt very far away either. Teacher, rest earlier. My mobile is going to be out of battery right away, so I wont talk anymore. All right, then. Take care and be safe. His voice was warm and gentle, as it always was, and seemed to have been lowered by several notches. Jia He was silent for quite a long moment before finally hanging up the phone first. While she was rapidly destroying the rest of the food, her mobile phone all of a sudden vibrated again. It was a text message from Qiao Qiao: You go, girl. You had a roomful of people listening to the two of you talk about how its raining in Shanghai. Jia He nearly bit her tongue. Good thing she had been smart and hung up the phone. Whos there? Qiao Qiao: Its been quite theatrical. When you were getting on the train, Yi Wenzes agent came, and then later there were Liao Jing and Cheng Hao. Then just now when the doctor was doing the check-up, Tian Chu arrived. Anyhow, currently Im the person whos watching all the excitement Those two rows of tiny words listed out what felt like a countless number of heavyweight names. Jia He quickly typed out a line of words, but then she immediately erased it and started over, switching to write a completely different sentence. After repeating this process another two or three times, she was still staring dully at that blank reply box. What exactly she wanted to ask, even she herself did not know. Miss, a shop employee addressed her, holding a white cleaning rag and wiping down the railing next to her, sorry, but we actually need to close up now. She thought for a moment but in the end still did not reply to the text. Putting away her mobile phone, she left the eatery. Torrential rain was indeed pouring down during the drive to her home, and traffic was ridiculously congested on the elevated roadway. The worst part was that a rear end collision had occurred on that road. As Jia He sat in the taxi, listening to a song request program on the radio, her head against the glass of the window, she held her mobile phone and surfed online, flipping through webpage after webpage, from international news to forum posts and webcasts, but not daring to touch any entertainment news Tian Chus new album had hit the charts and hence had caused even her old song, Sunlight, to be requested by someone. In this small, narrow space, that melody was extravagantly amplified, and even the driver began humming along with it. She rolled the window down by a crack, drawing in a deep breath. <>It would be greatly appreciated if you would read this translation from its actual site of posting, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Thank you. In the month that followed, Jia He was extremely busy. Her new script went through all sorts of trials and tribulations, and she had revised it to the point that she was even feeling psychological resistance to it. Sometimes, when she opened up Microsoft Word, she could not even remember what the names of the male and female lead were Her new mobile phone was the exact same model as her previous one, and her Angry Birds record had risen back to the original stage that she had been at. Except for Qiao Qiaos phone calls that would come every now and then to harass her and report to her the state of Yi Wenzes recovery, everything was as it had always been. One time, at three in the morning, Qiao Qiao had once more gotten into a huge tiff with her O great bass-playing talent and called her to vent her grievances. Out of the blue, she asked, Youre honestly not curious about what I saw that night, you know, in the massage room? Jia He was taken aback for a moment, evidently having already forgotten about the matter. Forget it. For once, Qiao Qiaos lips were remaining tightly sealed about something. Ive decided that Im going to keep this inside me and let it rot away in my stomach. My bass-playing talent said that women shouldnt be too nosy and gossipy, so Ive decided Ill start that with this matter of yours and turn over a new leaf. Unhesitantly hanging up the phone, Jia He buried her head down and continued cooking up the fourth melodramatic misunderstanding between the male and female lead One month later, as she spun her car keys and walked out of the underground parking garage of Raffles City[1], a car came to a stop right in front of her. Gu Yus face appeared from behind its half-open window. Jia He. He made a little gesture. Wait for me here. Ill be right up. With those words, he did not wait for Jia Hes response and drove down into the parking garage. Watching as the back of his car disappeared into the entrance, she was caught in a bind, for it was not appropriate to leave, but neither did she want to stay. All of a sudden, a car came driving straight towards her and, its driver not braking early enough, nearly rammed into her. Luckily, someone behind her yanked her away. It was Gu Yu, who had just walked up from the parking garage. The novice driver inside the car hastily stuck her head out and said sorry. Jia He wagged her hand and did not say anything, discreetly pulling her arm back. In contrast, the expression of the woman in the front passenger seat shifted greatly, and opening her door, she got out of the car and gave a subdued greeting of Editor-In-Chief. A very brief look of perplexity crossed Gu Yus face, but then an easy smile replaced it, like this was his old acquaintance. The woman hurriedly took a look at Jia He, who should have been the near-victim but was now standing off to the side like a random bystander who had nothing to do with all this. Sorry, Editor-In-Chief. My friend just learned how to drive. Your friend is fine, right? Jia He jumped in to answer first. No worries. Its also my bad. I shouldnt have stood by the entrance to wait for someone. Nevertheless, the woman continued gingerly giving her apologies. It was quite a while later before she, still filled with anxiety, got back into the car and left, leaving the remaining two people there to stare at each other. Gu Yu lowered his head to look at her. You really are fine? Jia He tried her best to smile. Im fine. Just now, that was your colleague? Might be someone new. She doesnt really look familiar. He was wearing glasses today, a pure-black metal frame, and looked cultured and sophisticated. She could still remember, when she had just started university, Gu Yu was already in his fourth year and was the emcee of that years Welcome Gala. At the time, he had been so at ease as he dialogued and laughed with female emcee, who had been wearing seven-inch heels, and had enchanted all those younger female schoolmates who had only recently taken their first steps through the university gates. Later, by fortune and accident, she had become his girlfriend, and her greatest pleasure each day had been to snatch his glasses off of him and see how those eyes behind the glasses could only look resignedly at her. Gu Yu asked, Youre here to buy something? Nodding, Jia He replied, Qiao Qiao said iPads have come down in price. I came to take a look. The little shop behind Raffles City? Jia He answered with an mm-hmm, planning on making up an excuse that would allow her to leave. Do you remember that friend I mentioned to you last time? Gu Yu pointed in the direction of Fuzhou Road. He and I are meeting up to grab something to eat together. But its still early. Ill go look at iPads with you first. Raffles City in Shanghais Huangpu District. The location of the parking garage has been annotated. <>This translations site of posting is hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. It would be sincerely appreciated if you would read it there instead. Thank you. These few sentences from him completely upset her plans. Back when the two of them were dating, their days and nights had been so busy with work that they would not even get to see each other during the week. At the time, day and night Jia He had hoped that they could have a surprise chance meeting somewhere, but never once did this wish come true. Now, though, this was just great. This was originally just an arbitrary decision to go strolling and shopping that she made after waking up, but for some reason, it had gone from being a casual shopping trip to an awkward occasion of her old love coming along with her. Gu Yu, the strolling companion, fulfilled his duties conscientiously and, when it was time to pay, even very naturally fished out his wallet and pulled out his card. Hastily putting a stop to his actions, Jia He took out her own wallet and gave it a waggle. Its not New Years, nor is it a festival or holiday. Absolutely do not give me anything as a gift. I dont want to be constantly thinking about what gift I should give you in return. With a shake of his head and a smile, Gu Yu put away his wallet. Telling Jia He to first inspect the product to make sure everything was okay, he stepped out the door. The shop owner had already become well acquainted with Jia He by now, and casually he teased, This ones a good guy. Really, he is quite good. Jia He smiled. Dont speak blindly. Were just ordinary friends. After saying this, she looked down and wordlessly inspected the item. The white box, when opened, held a pretty silver tablet as well as, as usual, Apples standard charger, simple and clean-looking. Going through layer by layer, she carefully opened up everything and picked up each accessory, giving the impression that she was very seriously inspecting it. However, though she spent a long time examining things, she actually did not even know what she was looking at. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only When Gu Yu returned with two bottles of water, the shop owner had just finished wrapping up the tablet computer for Jia He, and putting it into a paper bag, he handed it to her with natural motions. By the time she finished her purchase, it was already past six oclock and the sky was fading into hazy darkness. Countless cars were stuck in traffic on the road, stretching along and forming a river of lights. Jia He wanted to say that it was time for her to go home, but Gu Yu was already making a phone call. When he hung up, he informed her that the other person was already waiting and they might need to move a little quicker to head over there. Without even getting a chance to decline, she was taken to that restaurant. Inside the private dining room sat seven or eight people, and when the two of them stepped inside, without any exceptions, every one of those people fixed his eyes on Jia He, grinningly telling Gu Yu to make the introductions. He directed Jia He to sit on the inside. This is my junior schoolmate from university, Jia He. Saying this, he turned to look at a middle-aged man within the group. Shes the one I told you about last time, the screenwriter I wanted to introduce you to for you to collaborate with. The middle-aged man gave him a meaningful look. I remember thats not how you introduced her to me last time. Fine, Ill re-do the introductions. With a laugh, Gu Yu took a seat and had a sip of tea. This is Jia He, my very first girlfriend and also the one whom, to this day, I cannot forget. My mission still is not accomplished, though, and I am still working hard on it. The men all burst out in guffaws and commended him, Laddie, you sure are frank enough. At this moment, a server suddenly pushed the door open and set several bamboo steamers of xiaolongbao[2][soup dumpling] filled with crab meat and pork onto the table. Their piping hot steam served as a curtain, isolating everybodys knowing and hinting gazes from her. Gripping a teacup, Jia He managed to force a joking tone and say, Dont say such silly nonsense. Arent you trying to woo Liao Jing? Someone could not hold back a couple of chortles. Gu Yu, as well, had an expression that was somewhere between tears and laughter as he looked at her without speaking. Rather, it was that middle-aged man who spoke first. Thats weird. How come I didnt know youre trying to woo my sister? Gu Yu was unfazed. Your one request of look after her for me has brought a lot of trouble on me. So it was actually a misunderstanding. The conversation and laughter carried on as before, and those assessing gazes on her gradually subsided. She secretly took out her phone, intending on setting an alarm to create an excuse for her to leave this place. Just as she was pressing the confirm button, her mobile phone unexpectedly began ringing. It was a call from a number not in her contacts list, but that string of digits was familiar to her. She stared at it for quite some time, stunned, before finally answering the call. Jia He, is this a convenient time for you? Through the phone, Yi Wenzes voice had a lot of texture, and it still caused her heart to throb uncontrollably when she heard it. <>Please support this translation by reading it from its actual site of posting hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. This would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. She had originally wanted to greet him with Teacher Yi, but with so many people present, it was not really a good place to do so. In the end, she merely uttered a neutral mm-hmm and motioned to Gu Yu to make way for her so she could get out. Out of worry that Yi Wenze would be waiting too long, she did not even have time to say pardon me before she left behind her the unfamiliar laughter and cheerful chatter and also the veiled teasing and heckling. It was very lively both inside and outside of the restaurant, and she had to step out of its front doors before she finally found a quiet spot without other people. The entire time, Yi Wenze quietly waited, just as he had that time when she was at the train station, so patient it was somewhat unfathomable. Jia He steadied her breathing. Teacher Yi, sorry about that. I was having dinner with my friend just now, and it wasnt convenient to talk. Its all right. Next time, if things are inconvenient, you can call me A-Ze. Okay. Leaning against a wooden railing and watching the people coming and going on the escalators, she continued, Are you better now? Actually, Qiao Qiao was very conscientious. In order to be able to explain the situation of his medical treatments to Jia He, she practically wished she could photocopy Yi Wenzes X-rays and give them to her. Jia He knew that his recovery was going very well, but in such a time, if she did not ask about this, she honestly did not know what she could say. I was just discharged from the hospital today and am currently in the car. So soon? She abruptly grew anxious. Injuries to sinew and bone require at least three months of recuperation. The doctor didnt say anything? But while she was still speaking, she realized that she had overstepped her bounds a little with her worry. Automatically, she shut her mouth. My recovery has been going very well but I still cant start walking too early, so this trip to Shanghai is for me to recuperate a bit. It was as if the situation had been reversed, for his tone was like he was comforting her instead. All of a sudden processing the meaning of his words, Jia He unconsciously reiterated, Youre in Shanghai? About another half an hour and then Ill be there. There was a pause on his end. Then he suddenly asked, Youre having dinner? Jia He had only just said an mm-hmm when she heard A-Qing declare with a raised voice that Jia He needed to be a host and take them to have some good eats. However, only two or three sentences came from her before silence at once took over again. Only now did Jia He catch on. I actually havent started to eat yet. Originally, I just wanted to buy something, but then I happened to run into someone I know and thats how I got pulled here to have dinner. Words like these sounded like she was deliberately making up justifications so that she could invite him to dinner. For a moment, Jia Hes words stuck in her throat, and she falteringly explained, The food here isnt very good, and aside from that one friend, theyre all people I dont know. Luckily, thanks to your one sentence, I was finally able to escape from there In the end, even she did not know what she should say next and could only stop and reorganize her words in her mind . Now that there were no more words coming from her, he finally spoke up on his end. Well, then, would you like me to rescue you one more time? Ill take you to eat something that you do like? <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only [1]Raffles City is a large, high-end shopping centre. In Shanghai, it is in the bustling heart of the city. [2]Xiaolongbao is a Shanghainese specialty, a pork dumpling steamed in a bamboo basket. Its standout feature is that contained within the dumpling is a soup, which is actually the broth from the meat produced from steaming. The one being served in the story is crab meat xiaolongbao, which is a variation on the traditional plain pork ones, adding orange crab roe on top of the meat filling. CH 6.1 Twenty minutes later, Jia He arrived at a place near Xujiahui[1]. This was a prime area, and all the outdoor parking spots were long taken. She therefore could only roll down her window and ask the doorman which communities nearby had places that allowed people to park. The handsome boy took a glimpse at her license plate, then all of a sudden, with a rather furtive manner, cast a couple extra glances at her and inquired whether her name was Jia He. Puzzled, Jia He nodded in response. That person at once said, Miss Jia He, come out of the vehicle, please. I will help you look for a spot. Only after, when she had stepped into that private room and A-Qing had explained with a smile that this place was relatively safer, did she learn that Yi Wenze owned shares in this luxury club. She had previously been here two or three times. Those were several years ago, when she was still a financial columnist, and the opportunities had only come about because she had come here to interview several real estate tycoons. She recalled how the people who wrote the food column had salivated countless times over this restaurant but had been powerless because, from a membership perspective, this place had no need at all for them to do any articles on it for public relations and promotional purposes. As a result, that group whose taste buds had always been blessed could only envy Jia He, someone who worked on the finance side. Screenwriter, A-Qing said, holding up the menu, if theres anything you want to eat, dont feel shy. Treat it like its your own home. Because she knew that Jia He was from Beijing, on the final word, she had purposely turned her tone up to add the r sound of erhuayin[2]to the end of it. So crazily adorable. Unfortunately for A-Qing, though, immediately after making this statement, her fated affinity with this dinner was cut off. Despite their being extremely careful, some reporters had still found out that Yi Wenze had come to Shanghai. The good thing was, this was his own turf, but to prevent any disturbance to the customers here, A-Qing still had the tough work of performing a little act of luring the tigers away from the mountain[3]. It had been one month since Jia He had last seen him. Now, facing him again, she returned once more to the state of mind she had had when she first met him, nervous and only drinking her tea. As before, he was dressed simply, a light-gray button-up shirt paired with silver cufflinks and a black watch that, beneath the lights, reflected a haloed glow off of itno matter how you looked, everything was just right. He handed the menu to her. What would you like to eat? She thought for a moment. Youre the boss here. Any recommendations? He smiled. I actually havent been here even a few times and might be even less familiar with it than you are. Seeing that Jia He was drinking quickly, he helped her refill her tea. Cradling the tea cup between her hands, Jia He sighed with a smile, Back then, I only got a chance to come in here for a look because I happened to have the opportunity of interviewing a few real estate developers. She counted the times up carefully. Just three times or so, and those times were always interview first, so I didnt even know what I actually ate. She could still remember, during her first time here, that real estate developer, wearing a solemn, dignified air, had said that just the interior decorating of this place alone had cost several hundred million [RMB]. The subtext of that: this place was very upscale and posh. At the time, she had merely retorted in her mind, Gaudy! Later, when she had seen and experienced more, she understood that just the words by membership only alone required this type of intense capital as the basis. In those few years as a financial columnist, she had always been following wealthy people to the many places they went, and so she truly was now immune to all delectable foods. However, once she thought about the fact that this was a restaurant that her idol had invested in, she felt that she had truly committed a terrible sin back then by not having a proper taste of the food here. He took a drink of iced water. In the future, when you come, you can just use my name. If you dont feel comfortable about that, you can call A-Qing and have her reserve the table for you. Jia He shook her head. I dont need to do any sort of business entertaining or stuff like that, so it wont be necessary. He did not say any more and only motioned to her to continue looking at the menu. The pendant light above the table hung very low, and enclosed in a deep-red paper lampshade, the light it emitted was incredibly soft. Casually, she looked through the menu, starting with crab meat and bamboo shoots, moving to foie gras poached in sake, and continuing onwards. With each, she needed to consider whether the dish would make her look unsightly when she ate it, and at the same time she also needed to take into account what Yi Wenzes tastes were. Hence, when she reached the very end of the menu, she still had not suggested a single dish. In the end, she could only turn back to the first page and continue on with this homework. The entire time, Yi Wenze was quietly leaning back in his chair, a cigarette arbitrarily pinched between two fingers, but left unlit. Whats wrong? She examined that cigarette but was unable to find anything unusual. He smiled. Nothing. This is a non-smoking area. Jia He found these words rather strange. This place was structured into individual private rooms. Why would there even be the idea of having non-smoking areas? However, since he had said so, it would not be right for her to keep pressing about it, so she could only bow her head and continue poring over the menu. Observing Jia Hes indecision, he asked, Theres nothing that you want to eat? She was disheartened. Its actually because there are so many things that Im going dizzy just looking at them. Everything I see, I want to eat. Ordering food is an art, especially when you are with your idol of more than ten years and there are just too many things that you need to take into consideration, so it actually becomes a burden. Eventually, he was the one who selected a few specialty dishes, all of them ones suited to Jia Hes tastes. In between, he had even specifically inquired with her whether she was very fond of eating roast duck. Not knowing whether she should cry or laugh at the question, Jia He explained the misconception, saying that while roast duck was a specialty of Beijing[4], this did not mean that every Beijinger loved eating it. For herself, since she spent a lot of time inland, she preferred seafood a bit more. She had not expected that, to their dinner menu that had already been set, a dish of shrimp dewdrops on rose blossoms was immediately added. Deep crimson roses cupped exquisite, little, pale-pink shrimp. She carefully picked up a shrimp with her chopsticks and bit into it. The fragrant taste of roses permeated everywhere through her mouth. <>This translations actual site of posting is hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Please support the translation by reading it there instead. Thank you. When they were just about finished eating, Yi Wenze took a phone call. Jia He listened to him say a few sentences. It seemed the person on the other end of the call was a friend who was presently heading over here. At once, she set down her chopsticks. However, right when she was about to say that she would not hold him up from seeing his friend, the door was already being pushed open with a whoosh. The person who strode in was still holding his mobile phone in his left hand, and offhandedly he took a seat beside Yi Wenze. Ive been waiting for you for half an hour already. He finished saying this, then turned to Jia He and gave a nod. Hello, Im A-Zes friend, Wu Zhilun. For a moment, as Jia He looked into this sunny, handsome face and listened to him introduce himself, she wanted to laugh. Just in the lineup of movies released for the Valentines Day period alone, there were two in which this person was the lead actor. This person who, when simply walking down the street, would get mobbed and surrounded to the point that it would be difficult to even take a single step was now, in a serious tone, giving this self-introduction. She really wondered if this was because of his personality or he was actually joking around with her. Finally, unable to restrain herself, she let out a laugh. Hello, Im Jia He. With an oh, Wu Zhilun asked, Jia he wan shi xing[5] [A harmonious family prospers in all things]? Jia He felt a headache coming on, and she began explaining in detail how her name should be written. Alas, due to the language difference between them, even after she and Wu Zhilun had discussed these two simple characters for two minutes, he still seemed only to half-understand. In the end, even Jia He herself felt too awkward to keep explaining and decided simply to give up. Just treat it like its the jia he in a harmonious family prospers in all things. Yi Wenze had been watching with a smile as the two of them tried to communicate, and only when Jia He had thrown in her towel did he leisurely explain to Wu Zhilun, Shes a Beijinger. She doesnt really understand Cantonese and cannot speak it either. Wu Zhilun flicked him a look, seeming to blame him for not taking the initiative to introduce the two of them himself and thus making things awkward for Wu Zhilun. Jia He hastily explained that she could understand seventy to eighty percent and it was no big deal. She did not expect that this would attract a teasing question from him. Oh, seventy to eighty percent, eh? So when you guys interact, is it in Mandarin or Cantonese? It was a very simple sentence, but his tone made it seem extremely suggestive of other things. Jia He answered, Mandarin, and then lowered her head and began to slowly suck at her slush drink through her straw, trying hard to make herself turn into air. Before long, someone opened a bottle of wine and brought it in. As she stared at that bottle in the servers hand, she suddenly remembered that Yi Wenze was still in his recovery period and it would not be good for him to consume alcohol. However, it was not fitting for her to say anything in front of Wu Zhilun either. As a result, she could only secretly steal a glance at the person opposite her. To her surprise, her gaze intersected with his. He pulled his eyes back, saying to Wu Zhilun, I cant drink alcohol for the time being. Thats a pity. I specially brought it here with me. Wu Zhilun obviously had not noticed that he had completely become just a piece of the background, and swirling his wine glass, he remarked offhandedly, I was just saying earlier, the viewership and reception for this television drama of yours are probably going to be pretty good. Congratulations, you very well might be completely getting out of the market of television dramas. Jia He could understand the words within his words. Television serials are very exhausting to film, the pay is not high, and any fame from it is limited to within the country. Consequently, most actors or actresses will only do them when their popularity is declining or when they are first starting out and want their face to become familiar to the general populace. But even though she understood that statement to be this, she still could not help getting a slight internal injury from it Yi Wenze did not really seem to care. Being in television dramas is quite good, too. Wu Zhilun laughed. Oh, whatever, you. This time it was an old friends production company; otherwise I would have advised you to not touch television dramas. The two seemed to have a very good relationship, talking and laughing the whole time. Simply listening to them felt to Jia He like she was watching a modern-setting television drama; there was eye candy, and it was interesting and amusing. When it was nearly ten oclock, Yi Wenze glanced at his watch. Do you live far from here? Jia He worked it out in her mind. Not bad. Theres about a one-hour drive and then Ill be home. Listening to them up to this point, Wu Zhilun at last understood that Yi Wenze was letting Jia He leave first. Immediately, he expressed his displeasure at that. Its seldom that Im here. We cant just go to your house and watch DVDs again, right? He looked at Jia He. Lets go to A-Zes house together. Hes a workaholic. You and me plus the two assistants will be just enough to form a mahjong table. Put in a hard spot with this, Jia He looked at him and declined, I dont know how to play Hong Kong mahjong. It was apparent that Wu Zhiluns enthusiasm was soaring. No problem. I can teach you. Yi Wenze did not seem to really consider his feelings and only carried on asking, Should I arrange for a car to take you home? Jia He took a quick glimpse of Wu Zhilun, then decided that Idol still took precedence. Theres no need, thanks. I drove over here myself. And so, that sunny, handsome mans invitiation to play mahjong, just like that, was ignored <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only Jia He was stepping out the front doors before she realized that rain was already hammering down, and she could not help sighing over how Shanghais rain was so abundant during the season of plum rains[6] that it made people gawk. Simply by observing the strength of the rain, she knew the extent to which the traffic on the elevated roadways would be congested, so she decided that she might as well, driving her little MINI Cooper, just inch and squeeze her way into the sea of cars on Huaihai Road[7]. In boredom, she was looking down and adjusting the radio when her car lurched. Immediately, her body slammed into her steering wheel. In the pouring rain, on bustling West Huaihai Road, tragedy had befallen her: her car was rear-ended. Heavy rain, traffic jam, and a car accident. Having brought no umbrella, Jia He had no choice but to hide out in her car for a while and then run out again for another while to cooperatively assist the traffic police with whatever they needed from her. By the time everything was dealt with, she was already totally drenched and in a horribly wretched state. She was a new driver in the first place, and after all this kerfuffle, even more so did she not dare get back on the road again. Pulling out her mobile phone, she planned on having someone come to pick her up so she could first change into some clean, dry clothes and then worry about other things after that. To her surprise, in just this short while, the display on her phone was already showing three missed calls. Two were from Gu Yu and one from Yi Wenze. Hesitating for a moment, in the end, she still decided to first resolve this predicament of hers. However, Qiao Qiaos phone number was constantly returning a busy signal. After dialing it seven or eight times, she could do nothing except silently curse Qiao Qiao for putting loveship before friendship and then toss down her phone. The front windshield wipers had come to a stop for a long time already. Rain continuously flowed down, encasing the car within a curtain of water and making the pedestrians outside appear blurry. The radio was giving traffic reports, stating that traffic was backed up at this location or a car accident had occurred at that location. Even more vexed from listening to all this, Jia He flipped through the radio, from love and relationship talk shows to song-request programs, changing channels several times but still not finding one that satisfied her. Therefore, she could only go back and continue listening to traffic reports. It was quite some time later before she once again pulled up those missed calls and tapped Yi Wenzes number to call it back. On his end, the phone was answered very quickly. Even the sound of Wu Zhiluns laughter could be heard. Youre home now? She replied, No, Im still on the road. After a slight silence, he unexpectedly asked, Did something happen? Jia He paused briefly in surprise, not expecting that he would so easily deduce that this accident had occurred. Its raining hard outside. I was rear-ended just now. My homes too far from here and I dont dare drive back, so I can only wait for Qiao Qiao to come pick me up. She did not dare tell him about her sorry plight of being completely sodden from head to toe. Honestly, such bad luck. About how long until she gets there? Jia He did not know whether she should cry or find this funny. I dont know yet. Shes been doing a marathon phone call this whole time. All I can do is pull over to the side of the road and wait for her. When she finished saying this, she remembered that she still had not asked Yi Wenze what he had called her for. Did you call me for something? Not answering her, Yi Wenze carried on asking, Which intersection are you at? Jia He took a look out the window and stated a location. Then, she heard him speaking in Cantonese, but his words were not directed at her and rather were to Wu Zhilun beside him. In a laughing tone, Wu Zhilun berated him, saying something along the lines of, if he got photographed, she might become his rumoured girlfriend. Very soon, though, things became quiet again on that end of the call. Only now did her mind catch up enough to react, and she hurriedly said, You guys dont need to go to the trouble. Ill just wait for a bit. Ill be fine. His tone was completely unbothered. Its no problem. Hes just chitchatting here anyway and doesnt have any real, proper business. Jia Hes words were choked back into her throat. This was her first time discovering that her idol seemed very unreasonable <>Please support this translation by reading it at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, its actual site of posting. Thank you very much. The radio continued talking about the horrible traffic. He appeared in no hurry to hang up the phone, and the two of them conversed idly about this and that and did not hang up until Wu Zhilun arrived. Tossing his umbrella into the back seat, Wu Zhilun pulled up the hood of his hoodie and looked at her with a broad grin. Lets go. Where is your friends house? Jia He handed a box of tissues to him, motioning to him to first wipe the water off of himself. Let me make a phone call first and ask. With such traffic, it would have taken at least half an hour to get here from Xujiahui. She had actually, just like that, chatted with Yi Wenze for half an hour and not even had a chance to call Qiao Qiao Fortunately, the phone only rang a few times before Qiao Qiao answered it. The instant Qiao Qiao heard about her situation, she began firing question after question but did not give Jia He a chance at all to get a word in. While Jia He was feeling stifled with frustration, the person beside her had already taken her mobile phone out of her hand. Squeezing the phone between his ear and shoulder, Wu Zhilun started the car. Beautiful lady, how about you please tell us the address first? When we get there, you can keep asking. Qiao Qiao was given a shock at this, and her address blurted from her mouth. And then he hung up the call on her. Actually, I really shouldnt have troubled you to come. If you get photographed by the media, that will definitely cause problems. Jia He truly was overflowing with guilt. Thats true. Im guessing that, in order to lose the reporters, my assistant is going to be stuck in traffic on the elevated freeway for an hour. Wu Zhilun joked, Since A-Ze is ordering me around like Im his lackey, I should purposely let the media follow me. Think about it; if you and I get photographed together, hell still be the one with the most troubles. Jia He was speechless. This was truly the same Wu Zhilun who had always been reticent when facing the media? Only when they were driving onto the main road did he finally show a more serious expression. Actually, he just signed the divorce papers, so its better to be a little more careful. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only [1] һ. Xujiahui is a commercial area and business centre in Shanghai and is known as one of the shopping destinations of the city with its several large, modern shopping malls. The area also contains many restaurants. [2] Erhuayin refers to adding an , spoken as an -r sound, to the end of certain words when speaking Mandarin. Erhuayin is particularly prominent in the Beijing dialect. [3] ɽ. The idiom luring the tiger away from the mountain/away from its lair means to create a diversion and lure the enemy away. [4] Often returned to as Peking duck or Peking roast duck. [5] Һ. This saying translates to a harmonious family prospers in all things. In Mandarin, the first two characters of the saying Һ jia he, are homophonic with the characters of Jia Hes name, Ѻ. However, they are not the same. (Note: In Cantonese, Jia Hes name Ѻ is pronounced as gaai wo and is not quite homophonic with the first two characters of the saying, Һ, which in Cantonese is gaa wo. Only the second characters sound the same. Hence, if they were speaking in Cantonese, Wu Zhilun would not be so confused.) [6] ÷꼾ڡmei yu ji jie. This term literally translates as plum rain season and is also the term used in English to refer to the rainy season in China. They are so named because they occur between late spring and early summer, which, in the areas south of the Yangtze River, are also when the plums ripen. This season is also called the ù mould rain season (÷ plum and ù mould are homophones) as the long period of moisture more easily induces mould. [7] Huaihai Road is a major road in Shanghai. It is actually divided into West, Middle, and East Huahai Road. It is not an elevated roadway. CH 6.2 Chapter 6.2 Development Period While Staying in Shanghai (2) The car turned at an intersection and drove onto West Nanjing Road[1]. Jia He replied with an oh and then did not speak anymore, merely turning her head to look out the window. How did you meet A-Ze? Wu Zhilun inquired, out of the blue. She answered honestly, Im one of the screenwriters for this current drama of his. Screenwriter? Tapping his index finger rhythmically against the steering wheel, he asked nonchalantly, You guys havent known each other for very long? Jia He uttered an mm-hmm, saying, Almost two months. He gave a little chuckle that carried certain feelings difficult to discern. When they arrived at Qiao Qiaos home, they both purposely stayed downstairs for a while until they had verified that it was safe. Then, they got out of the car separately. Jia He went ahead of him and pressed the elevator button. After some time had passed, Wu Zhilun, his face concealed by his hoodie, his hands in his pockets, ambled over to the elevator with the suspicious gaze of this apartment buildings security guard on him, and winked at Jia He. That expression was exactly the same as that suavely romantic, handsome bukuai[2] [constable] in last years lineup of New Years movies. Jia He suddenly remembered that back during their university days, when they were chatting in bed, Qiao Qiao had extensively praised the veiled gay film that Wu Zhilun had acted in. I think my friend has always rather liked you. Smiling, Wu Zhilun was about to say something, but a ding had already resounded from the elevator, and its two doors slid open. However, before the two of them could step out, someone had already darted inside. At the same time, a womans hand held the elevator door open. All I said was that my friend is coming here to stay. Do you really have to have such a reaction? Youre leaving just because of that? Qiao Qiaos unadorned face was extremely pale with rage, and it was not until she had fired out all of these words that she noticed Jia He and Wu Zhilun. Jia He, gnawing on her lip, looked at her, then at that bass-playing talent. Now this was just melodramatically cheesy. Qiao Qiaos gaze halted on Wu Zhiluns face for three seconds. Then, immediately releasing the hold of her hand, she beamed and said to the bass-playing talent, Goodbye. From flying off in extreme fury to a polite bidding of farewell, the transition had been flawless. <>The actual site of posting for this translation is at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Please support the translation by reading it there instead. And so, that elevator carried away the O great bass-playing talent, whose face was dark with surliness, and left the other three people there, smiling at one another. Before Jia He could make the introductions, Qiao Qiao, showing her good breeding, had already extended her arm out. Hello, Im Qiao Qiao. Wu Zhilun was all gentleman as well. Hello. Wu Zhilun. Qiao Qiao smiled lightly and gave a nod. Im sorry. You two should have called before you arrived, so I could go down to meet the two of you. Wu Zhilun shrugged. Its no big deal. Im just here to drop Jia He off. Im leaving right away. Qiao Qiao was surprised. Youre not going to come in and sit for a bit? If it were not so chilly in this corridor, if Qiao Qiao were not wearing her home loungewear, Jia He honestly would have suspected she was actually at some sort of high-class cocktail party. On and on they exchanged social niceties, from expressing how they had hoped for a long time already that they could collaborate, all the way to discussing the box-office reception of the Valentines Day films. The final outcome was that Wu Zhilun was unable to turn down this effusive hospitality and followed the two of them to the door of the apartment. There, he watched Qiao Qiao stare at her own tightly-closed door, having completely lost her ability of speech. She had actually, dressed like this, in slippers and pajamas, locked herself out of her own home. How aboutJia He wanted to just slam her head into something and diewe go to my home? If she had known, she would not have bothered with all the trouble. This was practically the great migration of the century. Originally, this was a traffic accident that affected only her. Somehow, Wu Zhilun had been pulled in to become her driver, and now she had spread the trouble onto Qiao Qiao by causing her to be locked out of her home. Wu Zhilun was actually very calm. Glancing first at that locked door and then at Jia He, who was completely soaked, and Qiao Qiao, whose feet were clad in slippers, he decisively strode over to the other side of the corridor and, with a grin, dialed a number. Needless to say, the one he was calling undoubtedly was Yi Wenze. Hes gorgeous in real life. Qiao Qiao was still in the mood to sigh over a handsome fellow. Jia He did not know if she should find this annoying or amusing. And here I thought you didnt feel anything. Qiao Qiao gave her a sideways look. Im very professional, okay? Face to face with him, of course I need to put on a good front that makes me seem like a normal human being. Not bothering to even mock her, Jia He said quickly, In just a bit, you drive. Well go to my place? Qiao Qiao moved her lips to point them at that backside. What about him? Hes going back, of course. Jia He had not thought at all that when her plan, which she believed to be a matter of course, was switched over to come from Wu Zhiluns lips, it would become something that was absolutely out of the question. She had only just reiterated her request for Qiao Qiao to drive her to her home and then immediately Wu Zhilun was stating that, with the way the two of them were and also how they looked now, they would definitely be unsafe on the roads. While Jia He was trying to come up with a counteraction, Qiao Qiao actually began adding fuel to the fire, saying things such as, there was a lot of crime in the neighbourhood where Jia He lived, her own parents were in Hangzhou tonight so she had no key, etc. And so, with these two going back and forth, one person speaking and the other echoing the same tune, the final decision was that they would collectively head over to Yi Wenzes home. The entire way, the two people in the front seats conversed quite cheerily. When they passed the Yangpu Bridge, Qiao Qiao even pointed into the distance at the site of the 2010 World Expo and, in a manner of seriousness, explained the municipal governments future plans for it. Wu Zhilun was also listening with interest. Qiao Qiaos spoken Cantonese had always been quite good, and now this was a time in which that skill could be exhibited. Absent-mindedly, Jia He listened to them, but it was only when she heard Tian Chus song on the charts that she showed any sort of different reaction. Yangpu Bridge in Shanghai (image credit: Pixabay) Have you heard this song? Wu Zhilun looked at Jia He from the rearview mirror. Jia He shook her head. A new song? It actually isnt. It was written two years ago. Jia He gave an oh. A-Ze composed the song, I wrote the lyrics. Seeing that he was still looking at her, Jia He could only nod her head. What was surprising was that he did not continue speaking. The length after length of steel cables on the bridge spanned between the lights, and though they emitted no illumination themselves, they could still be clearly seen. This weird atmosphere caused Qiao Qiao to cease talking as well. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only Pudong districts roads are very wide, as if it and the other side of the river are two different cities[3]. They drove for some period of time before turning into a neighbourhood of community compounds. As they drove along here, following the waters shore, it was quite a bit more tranquil. The three of them got out of the car and, with Wu Zhilun in the lead, went into the house. He showed no unnecessary politeness and, immediately after stepping through the door, instructed his assistant to lay out the mahjong table. In fact, it was that young boy, when he noticed Jia He with her sodden hair and Qiao Qiao wearing her slippers, who could not quite process the situation. Likely, no one would have expected that there would be women in the world who would show up in this type of place with such appearances In the spill of the entryways wall light, Jia He stood in embarrassment, and only when A-Qing took her arm and quietly asked her whether she needed a shower and a change of clothing was she finally able to escape from there. She used the downstairs bathroom. Warm water. Steam suffusing everywhere. Only halfway through her shower, she could already faintly hear the sound of shuffling mahjong tiles outside. She had originally worried that she was overstepping her bounds, actually coming to her idols home to freeload a place to stay, but from the looks of things now, she was obviously the one showing the most restraint. She swiftly finished up her shower and slipped on A-Qings sweatsuit. While she was wondering how she could dry her hair, someone was already knocking on the door. A-Qing poked her head in and handed a hair dryer in to her. Jia He looked at her in surprise but still said thank you. A-Qing smiled. You do need to give me a good thank you. I have short hair and never use a hair dryer. This, I went out and bought just now. Feeling even more apologetic, Jia He at once expressed a couple more thank yous. A-Qing hastily wagged her hand. I just said that for fun. Dont thank me; it was Teacher Yi who told me to go out and buy it Before she could finish what she was going to say, Wu Zhilun had already ahemmed a couple of times from where he was, meaning that she should hurry back so they could continue. Taking the hair dryer from her, Jia He shut the door and plugged it into the power outlet. Instantly, the whole bathroom was filled with a humming sound. The bathroom had one entire wall that was a mirror, now coated with a thick layer of condensation. As she blew her hair, she reached out a hand and wiped a small section dry, revealing the reflection of her face, ruddied by the heat. This all felt unreal. A simple hot shower. A boisterous mahjong battlefield. This felt like an ordinary gathering of friends. But the location was just too dumbfounding. She gave a few pats to her face and squeezed out a slightly more natural-looking smile before tidying up everything and walking out of the bathroom. The living room downstairs had become a mahjong and chess room. Wu Zhilun deliberately gave a little reminder. A-Ze is upstairs. Going along with his words[4], Qiao Qiao said, Friend Jia He, could I trouble you to please go upstairs and say a thank you for me? And say that next time Ill treat everyone to dinner. A-Qing immediately added, Screenwriter, Teacher Yi still hasnt gone to bed yet. Only Wu Zhiluns assistant did not say anything, evidently having suffered a blow from his mahjong hand and not even willing to give any attention to anything else. In this brightly illuminated living room, against the liveliness of the mahjong game, just like that, she had become the target that everyone was evicting. Feeling sullen for a while, Jia He dawdlingly watched some mahjong. No one paid any attention to her. Fine. Since she had come here, no matter what, she should say hi to the master of the place. Giving herself a shot of courage, she rose and headed upstairs. <>It would be sincerely appreciated if you would support this translation by reading it at its actual site of posting, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Thank you for your consideration. The flooring was hardwood, and as her soft slippers walked up the stairs, not a sound was made. However, this served only to make the space seem more stifling. Fortunately, the layout of the second floor was open and airy. Only one rooms door was half-closed, and Yi Wenzes voice could faintly be heard coming from it, eliminating the awkwardness she would have felt if she needed to search for him. As she stood in front of the door, her position happened to offer views of the balcony outside. The rain had not slackened. She knocked on the door and greeted, Teacher Yi. Yi Wenze seemed to be on the phone, and after stating, Come in, he immediately carried on speaking in low tones to the person on the other end. After a moments hesitation, she pushed open the door. In that spacious study, there were several wall lights, all of them turned on, and the entire room was bright. Half of the wall to the right was covered by a bookcase while shelves of CDs filled the other half. He was sitting next to the balcony, his body sunken into a black couch, and as his fingers massaged between his brows, he lifted his head and glanced at Jia He. At this moment, the music jumped to the song Forever, and the low voice of the lead singer pervaded into every alcove of the study. Tian Chu, Yi Wenze all of a sudden said into the phone, My new song is not very suitable for you. Of course, this is just my opinion. If you insist that you want it, you can discuss it with Mai Jie. Theres no need to specially make a call to me. After saying this, he listened wordlessly again for a while, still massaging between his brows. A tinge of resignation had been added to his expression. Ive already said what I should say. I still have guests here, so I cant talk anymore. In awkwardness, Jia He sat on a separate single sofa chair, concentrating on listening to that song, trying to distract herself from everything else. When Yi Wenze had at last hung up the phone, she smiled and asked, Do you like Stratovarius a lot? She had racked her brain for a long time before she had come up with this topic to divert their attention. I started listening to their music really early on, and gradually it became a habit. Setting his mobile phone on the coffee table, he picked up a teapot and poured a cup of tea for Jia He. Finland is a place with a dreary climate, but it is also that type of atmosphere that created such pure, unadulterated metal music. Jia He inquired, Youve been to Finland before? Yi Wenze nodded. Jia He broke out in a slight awkward sweat. The suicide rate there is really high. He was quiet for a moment. Yes. Usually, the highest incidence is during springtime because the winters are so hard to get through. After that long wait, many people develop deep depression. It seemed there was something kind of wrong with this topic. Jia He thought about the phone call that he had just ended and also this dialogue right now. Amid such bleak, despairing background music, a not-so-good feeling all of a sudden arose in her. Clutching her teacup, she was silent for a long time. Actually, being betrayed is not such a big deal. Ive been through it, too. Of course, hers could not compare with divorce, but with the showbiz circle being so open and non-conservative, likely the natures of the two matters were about the same. Yi Wenzes brows lifted slightly. Editor-In-Chief Gu? Jia He looked down at her teacup. Mm-hmm. This was honestly a case of sacrificing herself to console her idol. Her intention was to say some comforting words, but when they were actually at her lips, they were all the type that was rotten from overuse, stuff like, Time will take the edge off everything. Saying them out would not have any true, practical effect. Right when she was unsure what she should say next, Yi Wenze suddenly spoke up. Jia He. She lifted her head, looking at him in puzzlement. In those eyes, there were only little glimmers of a smile as they gazed warmly at her. Are you trying to comfort me? Jia He could hear her own breathing. Feeling a little flustered, she swept her eyes haphazardly over the teapot and then immediately reached over, picked it up, and strode over to the water dispenser to add some water into it. No, I just suddenly thought of that. Yi Wenze smiled, not speaking. She set the teapot back over the tealight candle and helped him refill some tea into his cup. When she turned around to give it to him, she discovered that they were actually very close to one another a little too close. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only [1]Nanjing Road is a major road in Shanghai, about six kilometres long, and is well-known as a shopping street. It is divided between East and West Nanjing Road. West Nanjing Road has many large, modern, and, generally, upscale malls. [2]. In pre-modern China, a bukuais role was similar to that of current-day police officers, and hence the position is often translated as constable. [3]Shanghais district of Pudong, whose name literally means east bank, is on the east side of the Huangpu River. It is now considered Shanghais financial hub and is very modern, filled with skyscrapers. Directly across from it, on the west side of the river, is the historic centre of Shanghai, including the famous Bund, with the small, narrow streets of Old Shanghai. [4]˳ˮۡshun shui tui zhou. This idiom literally translates as pushing the boat with the current. It is used to describe someone who makes use of something that is working favorably for him to easily move, without much effort, what he wants done forward. CH 6.3 Chapter 6.3 Development Period While Staying in Shanghai (3) Because he was going to take the teacup from her, he had moved forward slightly, and she, in the process of handing the tea to him, very naturally happened also to be leaning a little closer towards him The two of them were thus separated by only the width of a teacup, gazing at each other. She was wearing a round-necked sweatshirt, and at such a distance, her delicate collarbone could be cleary seen. Yi Wenze discreetly lifted his gaze. But whoosh! Just this slight change was already enough to cause heat to rush into Jia Hes face. The scent of tobacco, intermixed with the aroma of lemon tea, invaded every inch of her awareness After a silence of several seconds, Jia He cleared her throat. It might be a little hot He took the teacup from her and had a small sip. It does seem a little hot. Her eyes were inquiring. Would you like me to add some cool water? No, its okay. Perhaps because they were so close, both their voices were rather light. He took another sip, his motion very slow. His gaze, though, never left her. That song finished playing and then automatically cycled back to the beginning, as if the singing of it would never come to an end. Downstairs, someone, she was unsure who, had won the game, and a din had arisen. Somebody seemed to be calling Jia Hes name, but she could not really make it out. Wavering for a long time, she finally faltered, There might be someone calling me. Ill go downstairs and see. He was quiet for a while before giving a light smile. Go ahead. The result, naturally, was that she fled from there. The rug beneath her feet too soft, she nearly tripped over herself. <>This is a copy and was taken from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Please support the translation by reading it there instead. Thank you. Once she arrived downstairs, she saw Qiao Qiao looking at her with wide eyes and waggling brows, appearing as if she had something to say. So, Jia He moved a chair over and sat down. With a mahjong tile pinched between her fingers, Qiao Qiao leaned her head to the side and whispered, Your mobile rang just earlier. I took a look for you. It was Gu Yu. Jia Hes heart thunked in her chest. You picked it up? Qiao Qiao looked sideways at her. I couldnt be bothered to pick it up. I straight out shut off your phone for you. Jia He was put in a little panic with that. You shut it off? You still want to answer his calls? Not at all. People over on the Beijing side said that in these next two days theyll be setting the meeting time. Ive been waiting this whole time for their call. Qiao Qiao shrugged. Then you turn on your phone. Just be careful that the Big Bad Wolf doesnt scoop you into his mouth and take you away. Exasperated and amused at the same time, Jia He dug out her mobile phone from her bag and powered it back on. Five or six text messages all rushed in together, overwhelming her eyes. She tapped open each one. Many were just promotional messages from the bank or a shopping centre. Only one was from Gu Yu. A single straightforward row of words: Im downstairs of your home. She stared at her phone, silent for a long while, vacillating over the simple question of whether she should reply or not. Qiao Qiao had already finished her round of drawing a tile and turned to look at her by the time she finally made up her mind, speedily typing off a line of words: Im at Hongqiao Airport. Going to Beijing for a meeting. Only ten seconds after she sent it out, he sent back a reply: May the wind be at your back the whole way[1]. Jia He still remembered, countless times in the past, she had complained, you cannot wish a person wind at her back when she is going on a plane, because it is very unlucky. He, though, had always laughed that off, making fun of her for being superstitious. She sniffled. Her nose seemed a little congested, likely a result of her getting soaked in the rain. This time, it was Wu Zhiluns turn to look at her. Whats wrong? Did A-Ze pick on you? She had no words to respond to that. Standing, she asked, A-Qing, sorry to bother you, but would I be able to trouble you to first bring me to a room that I can sleep in? A-Qing hurriedly left her tiles where they were and, amid the background noise of a bunch of people urging her to come back quickly, led Jia He into a guest room, telling her that though it was not often that people stayed here, the items in the room had all been changed right before they came here and were new and clean, so she could rest assured and sleep easy. Her words, though, made Jia He feel even more ill at ease, and hastily she explained that she was not that picky. Only after the room door had shut did Jia He breathe out in relief. The style of dcor here was very similar to upstairs, with light-coloured hardwood floors and furniture that was all black. Spread beside the bed was an identical white area rug. After a night of upheaval, now could she at last truly relax. Accompanied by the indistinct sounds of boisterous commotion coming from outside the room, she wrapped herself in the blanket and fell asleep. In the middle of the night, she woke from thirst and felt her way out to get some water to drink, discovering that everyone was asleep already. The door of that room upstairs was still half-open, and a faint glow of light seeped from it. A cup in her hand, she stood downstairs and took sip after sip, returning to her room only after she had drunk all her water. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only When she awoke the next day, she picked up her mobile phone and took a glance. It was already one oclock in the afternoon. Taped to the bedside table was a white note, and after pulling it down and seeing the handwriting scrawled on it, she knew Qiao Qiao was the one who wrote it. Ive taken your car to my parents place to grab my house key. Be back in the evening to pick you up. The evening? Her head feeling stuffed, Jia He sat up. Her throat hurt so much it felt like a fire had been lit in it. She reached a hand up and touched her forehead. It seemed really hot. Seriously, all the bad things had come together. She got dressed quickly. When she stepped out of the room, she saw that Wu Zhilun and Yi Wenze were sitting by the small bar counter, appearing to be discussing some matters, while outside, a housekeeper was tidying the yard and the sun shone brilliantly. Hearing the noise, the two men simultaneously turned their eyes and looked at her. Yi Wenze stubbed out his cigarette, his motions natural. Sleep well? Taking a quick glimpse at Wu Zhilun, who was plainly displaying a knowing, suggestive look, Jia He struggled at length to get some words out from her throat and finally answered, Quite well. Wu Zhilun made an exaggerated show of looking at his watch. They say that women dont sleep well in strange beds, but I guess whats that saying? He put on a musing look, though Jia He did not know whether he truly had forgotten or was simply saying this intentionally. Oh, right, its things vary from person to person. She swore, the image this box office star had held in her mind was now completely crumbled However, though she had grievances, she still remembered her purpose for coming out of the room. Wheres A-Qing? Getting drenched in rain and then having a fever were in fact not a big deal. She could very well drive herself to get some medication, then go home, throw her comforter over her head, and have a sleep, and everything would be fine. But now Qiao Qiao had taken her car, and this place was also in a villa community outside of the Outer Ring Road. What was even more woeful was that this was her idols home; she did not want to trouble him too much. Hence, unable to come up with any other plan, she could do nothing except first ask A-Qing to secretly help her buy some medication. She went out with Qiao Qiao. Yi Wenze asked, Do you have something that youre looking for her for? Pondering briefly, Jia He told him, No, nothing. Her voice was already a little hoarse. Afraid that the two might catch clues that something was amiss, she walked to the bar counter, picked up a glass, and went to get herself some water, thinking all the while that when she went back to her room, she would give Qiao Qiao a call. She should be able to last until the evening, when Qiao Qiao would buy the medication and bring it back for her. Wu Zhilun very judiciously did not tease her any further and resumed with the previous topic. Her back to them, the glass held between her hands, Jia He felt as if an entire century had passed before the glass was filled. Right as she was turning around, Yi Wenze addressed her. Your complexion doesnt look very good. Are you sick? She tried hard to force a smile. No. Im guessing its because I slept in too late. When he was about to ask further, the housekeeper who had been sweeping the yard was already walking back in through the door, and she asked Yi Wenze whether she should prepare some lunch for this young lady. Yi Wenze gave a natural nod of his head, instructing her that it would be fine to make something simple. As Jia He stood beside him, listening to all this, she began to cry silently in anguish, the heavens and the earth seeming to spin dizzily around her. But at such an hour of the day, she had no excuse to decline and could only sit, wooden and dazed, beside the dining table. The housekeepers motions were very nimble. From the refrigerator, she pulled out some dumplings and fried them to a bright golden colour. This was a very Northern style of cooking dumplings, and served with some vinegar, they were set on the glass dining table. Mr. Yi said youre a Northerner. You probably like to eat foods made from wheat[2], right? Its been a long time since anyone has stayed here, and I didnt have any noodles on hand. This morning, I specially asked my husband to knead some dough to make these dumplings. The housekeeper was very conversational, and she carried on, saying that her husband was a Northerner as well and the dumplings that he wrapped were simply special, his wrap having a nice, chewy texture. Scrumptious dumplings had always been Jia Hes favourite, but currently, she felt that the air she was exhaling was fast becoming hotter than the heat emitted from the dumplings She practically was counting each one as she stuffed it into her mouth. Due to the fever, she could not taste anything she ate. All she could think about in this moment was that she needed to hurry and call Qiao Qiao to have her come back. With such greasy food hitting her stomach, she felt even worse. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only After she was done eating, she very diligently began to tidy up everything herself. Jia He. Halting her motions, she looked at him, her hands still holding her bowl and chopsticks. Without warning, he extended an arm over, touching the back of his hand to her forehead. It was a very polite action, simply to test her condition, but it caused her heart to race. Youre running a fever. Swiftly drawing this conclusion, Yi Wenze looked at Wu Zhilun. Go ask the housekeeper where the fever medication is. After stating this, he reached over and took the bowl and chopsticks from Jia He and set them to the side. Go back to the room first and lie down. Ill be there shortly. Jia He wanted to say that she was fine, but then her legs all of a sudden gave out beneath her, catching her off guard, and she nearly collapsed to the floor. In the end, he managed to grab ahold of her first, but losing his own centre of gravity, he crashed into the bar counter. Bang! The impact knocked the chopsticks to the floor. His arms, though, were propped on the bar counters surface and had completely prevented her from colliding into anything. The scare that Jia He received was significant, and she hurriedly struggled to pull herself upright. Are you okay? With those words, she began to check him over, from his arms down to his legs. Only when she had confirmed that she had not bumped into his injured leg did her chest loosen in relief. But she felt even guiltier, and her heart ached even more. Im sorry. I didnt mean to do that Its okay, Yi Wenze soothed her. Turning his head, he addressed Wu Zhilun, who had only just risen to his feet and had not fully processed what had just happened. Could you please help me support her into the room? Everything that followed became particularly like something out of a television drama. She was not sure whether it was because her nerves had loosened after being found out, but once she lay down on the bed, her fever burned with absurd ferocity, and every joint in her body ached terribly. All she saw was Wu Zhilun bringing in some water and medication while his young assistant was off to the side, utterly unable to provide any help. And Yi Wenze was by her bedside. Every time she was patted awake, she would be able to see his face. The expression on it, however, was a blur in her gaze. <>It would be greatly appreciated if you would show your support for the translation by reading it at its actual site of posting, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Thank you. By nighttime, her fever finally subsided somewhat. Only the two of them were left in the room. So that she could sleep, the table lamp had already been turned to the lowest brightness setting. He sat on a chair, a computer set on his lap, his face illuminated by the white light of the screen such that his facial features were very distinct. Jia He fixed her eyes on him for some time, her brain for a moment unable to catch up. After a lengthy while, she at last asked, Did you bump into anything and get hurt? He lifted his head and looked at her, in passing closing the lid of his laptop. Hungry? Having eaten nothing for an entire day, she indeed was hungry. At this instant, however, she unexpectedly received an incoming phone call, and rather embarrassedly she looked at Yi Wenze. His manner, on the other hand, was very natural as he handed her mobile phone to her. She answered the call, which turned out to be from the director of her next television drama. Jia He, it sure is hard to get through on your phone. So how about it? Will you be able to make it over here tomorrow? Jia Hes voice was still a little feeble. Im sorry about that, Director Liu. Tomorrow tomorrow should be okay for me. She would sleep until tomorrow morning, and by then the fever should more or less have broken. Attending a meeting was not any sort of physical labour anyway; she should be able to handle it. The most important point was she finally had an excuse to escape from here. It was not like she could keep staying here in Yi Wenzes home. Thats good. Well hurry up and finish the discussions, and then you can hurry up and make any revisions. Im waiting for the scene divisions for the first and second episodes, and then we can line up the times. The person on the other end did not seem to have noticed that there was anything peculiar with Jia Hes voice. We want to rush to, in early May, set Yi Wenze suddenly made a gesture, signaling to Jia He that she should give him the phone. Jia He was taken aback, and even after she had handed it to him, she still did not understand his intent. Director Liu, hello. Yi Wenze took the phone. This is Yi Wenze. Jia He stared in confusion at him. It was only when she heard him say that she was ill and might need to postpone her arrival in Beijing by a little that she understood what exactly he was doing. Immediately, she was thoroughly stupefied. Only one thought went through her mind: Oh no, Im done for. What is Director Liu going to think? The person on the other end of the call seemed to agree heartily to Yi Wenzes request, his keen friendliness at an extremely high level. Yi Wenze listened for another little while before answering, Sure. If theres a good script, I hope we do get a chance to work together. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only [1]һ·˳硰yi lu shun feng. The literal translation is May you have a tailwind the whole way, or May the wind be at your back the whole way. This saying generally is used to mean, Have a pleasant journey, Have a good trip, Safe travels, etc. The literal meaning was used in the body of the translation to fit with Jia Hes thoughts that you should not wish a tailwind on someone who is taking a plane (because airplanes take off and land into the wind). [2]In general, in China, people in the south tend more to eat rice, while those in the north often eat more noodles and foods made from wheat. CH 7 At this point, the call was hung up. Jia He still felt as if in a fog. Yi Wenze set her mobile phone to the side, picked up his telephone, and dialed an internal line. A-Qing, would you please bring some food in? Thank you. Plain rice porridge served with a few other small, simple dishes. She was not certain whether it was because she was sick or because he was watching her the whole time as she ate, but the food was bland in her mouth. With difficulty, she managed to finish everything before putting down her bowl. What time is it? Yi Wenze lifted his wrist. Nine oclock. Nine oclock? She had actually slept all the way into the middle of the night. Im so sorry. Ive troubled you for such a long time. He did not reply to that. Do you want to sleep for another little while? Sleep His one sentence wholly exposed to her what the situation was, and she all of a sudden realized that she truly, right in front of him, had just blatantly slept for a really long time. In the past, she had watched his television serials in her own room and, hugging her blankets, her mind hazy, drifted off into slumber. She had even felt that being able to fall asleep while listening to her idols voice was truly such a happy thing. But it was apparent the current situation was a whole other matter. In this very dim room, there were only the two of them, one lying on the bed, one sitting at the bedside. I slept too much. I want to go out and watch some TV. Jia He wrestled inside herself for a long time before managing to squeeze out this sentence that had no value whatsoever. After a lengthy quiet, he finally answered with a chuckle, How about we watch a DVD? Her mind was dull for a moment, then caught on. Yi Wenzes home likely did not have cable television Her original intent had been to avoid the awkwardness of being alone with him, but in the end, they merely changed locations, from the guest room to the study, and continued being together. Compared with the liveliness of last night, tonight was quite a bit quieter. A-Qing offhandedly explained that Wu Zhilun was attending an event tonight and would probably be coming back in the middle of the night to sleep. Then she began informing Jia He of where the herbal teas and teapot were kept and even specifically brought Jia He to have a look at the place where the tealight candles were stored Her fever had actually broken a long time ago; she simply felt a little faint now. However, in comparison to Yi Wenze, she would still be considered a healthy person. And hence, from the moment A-Qing closed the door, she instantly took on the role of taking care of him. She steeped some tea, lit a candle, and placed the transparent teapot above the flame. Only then did she stop to look at Yi Wenze, who was sitting behind the desk. Would you like to go downstairs and get something to eat? Yi Wenze smiled, No, its okay. The DVDs are on the shelf. Go ahead and choose one. Since Jia He was the one who made the suggestion, it would not be right for her to continue being overly polite, and she therefore could only face the shelf after shelf of discs and carefully look through them. There was a generous variety of types of films. In particular, one shelf was devoted to recently-released ones. In a glance, she spotted Gillian Chungs new film, Ex[1]. The word-of-mouth reviews on this movie were pretty good, so without thinking too much about it, she stuck the DVD into the player. In the beginning, the movie was still rather fun and amusing, but the further along it progressed, the more it became scenes of suggestive, yet still ambiguous, interaction between Gillian and her ex-boyfriend. And the more she watched, the more she felt this was not quite right. Jia He inconspicuously lowered the volume a little and peeked at Yi Wenze. Observing that he was still reading through some documents and did not seem to have noticed the movie picture, she secretly breathed out in relief. But when she was in the middle of changing out the disc, he suddenly spoke up. Whats wrong? Its not a good movie? Jia He hemmed and hawed for a bit, answering equivocally, No, I just suddenly realized that Ive watched it before. Of the recent Hong Kong films, there are several smaller productions that are pretty good. Yi Wenze was holding a stack of documents, signing as he spoke. That film, Love in a Puff[2], is quite good. Its a rather close portrayal of real life. The words spilled off Jia Hes lips before she had even thought them through. That movie about a romance in seven days? She had watched this movie, starring Shawn Yue and Miriam Yeung, completely from beginning to end, and the impression it left with her was merely like that of a romantic love song that lasted for seven days, very in line with the fast-food-type love prevalent in current culture. But regardless of how she evaluated it, she still felt that the basic foundation itself of the film was weak. Seeming very much in a leisurely mood, Yi Wenze set down his pen. The reviews for both of these movies are quite good. Which one do you prefer? Why was it that, no matter how she heard these words, they sounded like he was asking her, Which do you prefer, an ambiguously intimate relationship with an ex or a fast-food style romance with a new love? The flame of the tealight candle was unhurriedly warming the tea. Jia He hesitated briefly. To be honest, I dont really like modern movies with an urban setting. I prefer Ashes of Time[3]. A very old film. Back in her university days, she was already able to recite almost all the lines in it. Go take a look at the tenth disc on the third shelf. It should be the disc for that movie, he unexpectedly said. The old version or the new one? The old one. Following his instructions, she went over and pulled out the disc. Sure enough, it was the right one. When the film was released in 1994, its initial box-office reception was terrible, but because it received a lot of awards, it suddenly became popular. He stopped, looking at Jia He with a smile. At the time, you should have only been in your teens. Jia He quickly calculated in her mind. Not even ten years old. Seeing how well the disc was kept, she asked offhandedly, You really like this film, too? He replied, From a cinematography and editing standpoint, I very much like it. But I dont really appreciate the protagonists character. Jia He thought about Gege, Leslie Cheung[4], and could not contain a sigh. How he let himself live a self-indulgent, unchecked life? Yi Wenze smiled. His attitude of hiding from his own feelings. Not expecting that the conversation would develop to this topic, Jia He for a moment did not know what to say and could only give a cursory laugh. Then, while remarking on how good Geges acting skills were, she set that disc into the player and carried on whittling away the time. It was some time past eleven oclock and the movie was nearing its end, when A-Qing at last knocked on the door and told them that Qiao Qiao was back. When Jia He heard these words, it was like she had received a special pardon, and, practically fleeing, she sped downstairs. Qiao Qiao had carried in two boxes of Demae Ramen instant noodles and was now downstairs drinking water. Seeing Jia He, she immediately winked and signaled with her eyes. One box is for you to butter up your idol and one box is for me to butter up my bass-playing talent. How about it? Im such a good friend, right? A-Qing snorted out giggles when she heard this, making Jia He terribly embarrassed. She helped Qiao Qiao bring a box into the kitchen, while the other one was moved into the guest room. Will I be able to sleep with you? Qiao Qiao asked out of the blue. Looking at her in bewilderment, Jia He countered, Why wouldnt you? Qiao Qiao immediately flopped onto the bed, answering with a grin, Will I get in the way of your happy activities? Jia He finally understood what she meant. Cut the jokes. If you hadnt driven my car away, I wouldnt still be staying here tonight. From top to bottom, left to right, Qiao Qiao swept her eyes over Jia He. When you were passed out in sleep this afternoon, I was already back. How come I didnt see you driving it away then? You came back this afternoon? Of course. You had a high fever that wouldnt go down. You think Id dare to not come back? Qiao Qiao laughed. Sadly, though, it was obvious my presence was redundant. Wu Zhilun is so able to act, but even he didnt dare be an atmosphere-spoiling light bulb[5], let alone me. Jia He had no words to say to that. This afternoon, she had been dead to the world when she slept, so Qiao Qiao could fabricate things however she wanted and Jia He would not be able to expose her. Therefore, she decided simply to hold her silence. Qiao Qiao fussed about for another little while before falling into a deep sleep, a pillow nestled in her arms. Jia He, on the other hand, having slept too much during the day, tossed and turned on the bed, and at one in the morning, she still had not fallen asleep yet. When she stepped out to get herself some water, she unconsciously glanced towards the study. The lights inside were still on. After wavering for half a minute, she slowly treaded upstairs and gave a knock on the door. Come in. Yi Wenzes voice was slightly deeper than before, and weariness could be heard in it. Pushing the door half open, she saw that he was still sitting behind his desk, looking at his computer. The tealight candle had long burned out, and all that remained was a thin layer of tea at the bottom of the pot. On the television screen was still the picture at which she had paused the movie, with Maggie Cheung, dressed in a bright red gown, frozen in an action. He typed out his last word, then lifted his head to look at her. Why arent you sleeping yet? Fortunately, Jia He had come up with an excuse before coming upstairs, and now she only smiled and replied, I was in bed and then felt hungry. It so happens that Qiao Qiao brought a box of Demae Ramen back with her. Im going to be making some anyway, so if you want some, I can make yours together with mine. Ah, sure enough, she was calmer if she first drafted up in her mind what she was going to say. More and more, she admired her own composure. Sure. Want to add an egg to it? She was not really clear on what Hong Kong peoples tastes were. If Qiao Qiao had not exposed her to it, she would not have even known about this brand, Demae Ramen. From her own common knowledge, she just believed that when you cook noodles, you need to add an egg in before it will be tasty. He nodded again, his smile deepening. Sure. Jia He had originally wanted to ask a few more questions, but remembering that he might not even know what the refrigerator contained, she decided it would be better to simply go herself to have a look, and whatever was good to eat, she would just add into the noodles. Seeing that Yi Wenze truly did seem interested, she hurriedly went downstairs, found her way to the kitchen, and began rummaging around. She suspected that that Shanghainese housekeeper would have brought a lot of things here today. Very soon, she had dug out some luncheon meat and eggs, and pulling out a pot, she boiled some water. Only now did she notice that the box of noodles had not yet been opened. There was a wide strip of tape across the box. Squatting on the floor, she slowly tore at its edge with her fingers. The sound of boiling water was heard a short while later, but right as she was about to stand, a hand was already reaching from behind her and turning down the stove. She turned around. Yi Wenze, leaning against the edge of the marble counter, told her, The scissors should be in the cupboard to the right. Hastily crouching down again, Jia He grabbed the scissors, opened the box, and pulled out two packs of noodles. Package of sesame-flavoured Damae Ramen. Packaging may vary in design and colour, depending on flavour and region. (Image credit) Steam rose relentlessly from the roiling water, which emitted very light noises. When she ripped open the package and pulled out a dried cake of noodles, Yi Wenze had already cut open the pack of luncheon meat, and taking out a clean plastic cutting board, he began cutting it into slices. His knife work was pleasant to watch and skilled and made Jia He, a smatterer when it came to working with a knife, sweat profusely with embarrassment at her own skills. Boil the noodles, crack the eggs, put in the meat. He practically did everything. Jia He, standing to one side, gradually became the person who merely helped hand things over to him. Not until he was holding a pair of chopsticks and starting to stir things together did she recall, wasnt she the one who said just earlier that she wanted to make noodles for him to eat? Feeling a little sheepish, she began randomly searching for things to talk about. What a coincidence. The two movies that we talked about today both have scenes with cooking noodles. It seems you Hong Kong people really like to eat this stuff. His lips turned up ever so slightly, and he took a glance at her. Bring over two empty bowls. Hurrying again to rifle through the dish cupboard, she brought out two large, white, porcelain bowls. Before long, one bowl was filled. He got some more cold water and began to heat it. How about you eat first? She helped him rip open the other package of noodles. He told her, Its okay. Itll be ready really soon. She was a little embarrassed. I was the one who said Id make noodles for you You coming downstairs like this, will your leg be okay? Calmly, he replied, It should be fine. As long as you have no need for me to play ball or go running, there should be no problems. Jia He was glum for a moment. If she really did make any sort of request for him to play ball or run, she reckoned that everyone, from his talent agency down to his fans, would hack her to death, then grind up her bones into ashes and scatter them to the wind. Tiny bubbles climbed up from the bottom of the pot. Slowly, the water began to boil again. All the things that needed to be handed had been handed to him already. There was nothing else for her to do, and she was unable to find anything to converse about either. She could therefore only stand beside him, staring at those bubbles on the bottom of the pot to try to distract herself. After he poured out the noodles into the other bowl, she hastily stretched out her arm to take the pot from him, wanting to first bring it away to wash. And then, completely catching herself by surprise, her hand bumped into his. [1]ǰȡ Ex (2010) is a Hong Kong film starring Gillian Chung and William Chan. [2]־봺Love in a Puff (2010) is a Hong Kong romantic comedy starring Miriam Yeung and Shawn Yue. It is about two smokers who fall in love over a one-week period, after meeting outside while having a smoke. [3]аAshes of Time is a Hong Kong wuxia movie that was first released in September 1994. It is a loose prequel to Jin Yongs Legend of the Condor Heroes (also known as The Eagle-Shooting Hero). In 2008, it was re-edited and released as Ashes of Time Redux. Ashes of Time stars big names: from left to right, Leslie Cheung, Brigette Lin, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Jacky Cheung, Carina Lau, Charlie Yeung, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai. Maggie Cheung was also in the movie, though she is not shown here on this poster. [4] The extremely-loved Hong Kong actor and singer, Leslie Cheung, is also fondly referred to by the nickname Gege, which literally means Big Brother. He suffered from depression, which ultimately led to his death by suicide in 2003, hence Jia Hes sigh as she suddenly thought of him. Leslie Cheung played the role of the main character, Ouyang Feng, in Ashes of Time. [5] In Chinese slang, being a light bulb is like being a third wheel when you are with a couple. A person who is hanging out with a couple is like a light bulb, shining brightly on them and spoiling the atmosphere. Sorry. She hastened to apologize. The next instant, her hand slipped against the side of the pot and she burned herself, drawing a sharp hiss through her teeth. Seriously, the more anxious she was, the more she messed things up. Out of reflex, she pinched her earlobe. Teacher Yi, let me wash it. Before her words had completely left her lips, though, Yi Wenze had already twisted on the faucet and put her hand under the stream. Water flowed along his fingers and down onto her hand. As he was blocking most of the light, Jia He could only see the running water before her and her own hand. She was utterly unable to control the waves of scorching heat already coursing through her body. It seemed like it was a very long time before he shut off the water and, gently pulling her, turned her around. Jia He dared not make any movement. Only her gaze flitted around, from the button of his shirt to the two bowls of noodles on the counter. Just a tiny package of sesame oil, about the size of a thumb, had been poured into each bowl, but its aroma suffused through the entire room. Simply looking at those bowls made her stomach rumble in hunger. If we dont hurry and eat the noodles, theyre not going to taste good anymore She spoke up, wanting to turn to grab the noodles. His back against the marble counter, with one hand, he drew her into the circle of his arms. Her frame was tiny and was nearly engulfed within his embrace. She did not dare move. The heat of her body rose incessantly, so hot it could sear. His voice lowered. Jia He. Hmm? She lifted her head. If you dont want to, just let me know. Merely nine words. But before she had pieced them together into a cohesive sentence in her mind, he had already brought his face down and was kissing her. In the beginning, he simply tested tentatively, his kisses sometimes light, sometimes firmer, inch by inch caressing her with his lips, waiting for her to adjust to this. After quite some time, he finally gently teased open her lips and kissed her deeply. This was their first kiss, yet surprisingly they merged together so easily, so deeply. He was not hurried in the least. They had this suitable time, this suitable place, and this long night in which no one would disturb them Until the tip of his tongue ever so lightly feathered across the roof of her mouth. A quiver raced through Jia He, and a faint moan escaped from her, so light it was barely perceptible. But what this brought in exchange was his even more thorough assailment. At first, it was not clear who was trying to escape and who was giving chase. In the end, though, there was nothing but surrender, to utterly submit and fall into this moment Only when he finally released her did she slowly open her eyes, the view before her going from stark white to the deep black of his eyes, but she merely stared blankly. Extending an arm, he lightly flicked Jia Hes forehead with his finger. Lets have noodles. And then he was the one to pick up the two bowls of noodles and stroll out to the dining room first, turning on the lights. She, however, still stood in the same spot, watching as he stepped out, her mind filled only with that scene from a moment agothe scent on him of cigarettes, that embrace that nearly squeezed the breath out of her, and also that very ungenerous sentence of his. Her lips had already been sealed. Even if she hadnt wanted to, how was she supposed to tell him? And then Jia He decided, that sentence had to be written into a script somewhereit couldnt be wasted. It doesnt taste good? Seeing that she was practically eating one noodle at a time, Yi Wenze could not help chuckling. Jia He picked up another single noodle with her chopsticks and carefully put it between her teeth. It tastes really good. This absolutely was not a lie; it really was delicious. He watched her with a smile, not saying anything. Finally, when she grew abashed beneath his gaze, he asked, So, just how many noodles are in that bowl, Miss Jia He? Jia He gave an Ah? Hearing him laugh aloud, she slowly, half a beat behind, caught on that she was being poked fun at. The hanging light in the dining room, brand-new, was enclosed in a deep-red paper lamp shade. Seriously, it tinged the atmosphere with absolutely the most suggestiveness possible. Cradling her bowl between her hands, Jia He took a sip of the noodles soup. She was about to say something when a sound was heard coming from the entryway of the home. Straightaway, like she had just been a thief, she plopped down her bowl and rushed to get some words in before Wu Zhilun could open his mouth. Why are you so late? Giving a start, Wu Zhilun looked at her with a bemused expression. You guys are waiting for me? After asking this, he took in the current appearance of those two people and also the noodles in front of them and added, Youre waiting for me to have a late-night snack with you? Embarrassed, Jia He at once stood. Theres still a box of noodles. If you want to eat, Ill cook some now. Wu Zhilun looked at her, then looked at Yi Wenze, then looked back at her again. Did the fever burn your fans brain and now shes gone silly? Or did she suddenly discover that shes actually more my fan? You can just forget that. Jia He doesnt like men whose looks are too girly. Appearing like a wraith out of nowhere, Qiao Qiao, a glass in hand, walked over to the bar counter and poured some water. Im hungry, too. Just make both of ours together. Why was everyone suddenly popping out? Rattled, her scalp feeling like it was tingling, Jia He jogged into the kitchen, made two bowls of noodles for them, and carried those back out. Seeing that Yi Wenze had finished eating, she straightaway began tidying away his bowl and chopsticks as well and took them to wash, not daring to look anymore at any of the expressions on those several peoples faces. At last completely done with waiting on those two obtruders who had suddenly bounded into the scene, she returned to her room. Feeling terribly confused and twisted inside herself, she bunched the blanket into a mound, hugged it against herself, and stared with glazed eyes at nothing in particular. What could that be considered as? An instance of being unable to restrain their emotions? In the right place, at the right time, there was a stirring of feelings, so they had filled some of their loneliness? Her heart was beating fast one moment, slow the next, and she was increasingly agitated. So, she decided simply to pick up her mobile phone and look at the calendar, planning on calling tomorrow to book a plane ticket to Beijing. Cant sleep? Qiao Qiao walked in and closed the door, the smile on her face suggestive. I cant sleep either. How about we chat? Jia He glowered at her, a persistent feeling eating at her that Qiao Qiao had seen something but was just not saying anything. It was not as if she could outright ask her, though, so she responded only with a sullen Humph! and snapped, I slept for the whole day. Of course I cant fall asleep. Kicking off her slippers, Qiao Qiao clambered onto the bed and yanked the blanket from her arms. Ask me! How come youre not asking me? Jia He turned her back to Qiao Qiao, holding her silence. But in reality, her heart was flip-flopping rapidly, and she wished with all her might she could burrow herself beneath the bed. Were you the one who initiated it or was he? Qiao Qiao shuffled up beside her. Jia He almost tumbled off the bed. You saw it all? I saw the beginning and then put my ear against the door and listened for sounds and movement. It was a long time, eh I waited for more than ten minutes. Jia He was even more mortified. After a long moment of quiet, Qiao Qiao at last remarked unhurriedly, Youre just too awesome. That day in the massage room, I saw him pick you up and put you on the bed, and I thought that you had already savoured him. Never thought this! Gosh, I totally never thought! Progress is sloooow here. Click. Shutting off the wall lamp, Jia He only managed to grit out one word: Sleep. Jia He earlier had already set an alarm on her mobile phone. The next day, she changed into her own garments, gathered up her bag, and prepared to leave. Qiao Qiao, seeing this seldom show of seriousness from her, did not dare say anything and only immediately pulled on her clothes to go out and refuel the car, hence leaving the house first. Alone in the room, Jia He dallied this way and that for a long time, all the while deliberating silently how she should say goodbye to Yi Wenze. However, no matter what she came up with, she still felt her manner would not seem sincere enough. Forget it. Her arrival here and bumming a place to stay had been unexpected in the first place. Now that she was not sick anymore, of course she should leave. And so, brainwashing herself like this, she pulled her bag onto her back and left the room. To her surprise, aside from the housekeeper, who was wiping the floors, there did not appear to be anyone inside the house. The housekeeper smiled and greeted her, Youre up now? Would you like to have breakfast? Jia He shook her head. No thanks. Ill eat when I get home. Thank you, though. Saying, Oh, all right, the housekeeper bowed her head and continued scrubbing the floor, but then she seemed to think of something. Youre going out now? Mr. Yi isnt here. With this one sentence, it was as if the stone encumbering her heart had been removed. Finally, she no longer needed to come up with an excuse. She needed to take advantage of this opportunity and leave quickly. In the entryway, though, as she put on her shoes, she felt she was being too impolite. No matter what, she should say farewell. However, when she pulled out her mobile phone, she only looked dazedly at it for a long while before, in the end, putting it away again. Asking the housekeeper for paper and a pen, she wrote a row of words: Im going now. Thank you for everything in these last couple of days. In the future, when I get the chance, Ill treat you to dinner. But after she was done the note, she felt it was not very appropriate. Ripping that sheet off, she wrote another one: Things are really urgent on the Beijing end. I need to leave first. If we get a chance to see each other again in the future, Ill treat you to dinner. Jia He. She gave the note to the housekeeper and then, crumpling the other useless, spent sheet into a ball and stuffing it into her pocket, left the house. She had stayed here for two days, but this was actually her first time stepping outside during daytime. Crossing over the front entryway, she turned and took a look at the house. Many plants were placed on the balcony, a lush display of rich green. Jia He. Qiao Qiao had pulled the car to a stop outside the door, and grinning, she called to her. Hastily, Jia He pulled her gaze back, getting into the car in a slight fluster. Look. Qiao Qiao handed her mobile phone over for her to see something. It was a snapshot of the previous moment. Just look at that little expression of yours. Thats totally one of brokenheartedness at having to leave. Taking the phone from her, Jia He first, as if prodded by an unseen presence, sent the photograph to her own mobile phone before pressing delete. The car drove onto Yangpu Bridge. Sunlight streamed through the front windshield, landing on her. She felt a little hot. Why did Shanghai just suddenly get hot? She was wearing her clothes from only two days ago, but looking at the people in the cars beside them, Jia He felt as if she was from Mars. Qiao Qiao did not answer, asking questions of her own instead. Did you tell Yi Wenze? What did he say? Jia He lowered her window halfway. He wasnt home. A gust of wind suddenly blew in, whisking her hair so that her gaze was slightly obscured. When she was offhandedly smoothing her hair away, she noticed that, inside a vehicle driving in the opposite direction to them, there was a figure who appeared to be A-Qing. Her heart lurched. If they saw her at this moment, it would be too awkward She buried her head down, hoping to hide, but ended up whacking her head on something in front of her and crying out in pain. What are you doing? Qiao Qiao gaped at her. Their car had already sped past that other vehicle. Jia He gave an arbitrary, perfunctory answer. Looking for my mobile. Booking a plane ticket. So long as it is not a working day, the Beijing-Shanghai route has the most available flights. Soon, she had booked her ticket on Ctrip[1], a flight for nine oclock tonight, and after taking Qiao Qiao to her company office, she immediately went home to pack. There were still some items in the refrigerator, but she threw them all into the garbage. Every time she returned to Beijing, she would stay there for a lengthy period, so even if she kept these items for now, by the time she got back, they would not be edible anymore. It was already one-thirty in the afternoon when she was done packing. Taking a few nibbles of a bun, she then sat on the couch and, once more, began to do nothing. As long as she was not occupied with any sort of task, the memory of what happened yesterday would once again begin continuously replaying through her mind. Unable to settle her heart, she fished out her mobile phone, but her mind was flooded entirely with the words he had said, the expressions he had shown, and that kiss from him After fiddling with her phone for half an hour, she still did not know what exactly she wanted to do. Eventually, she simply opened up a webpage and began randomly perusing the news. Login to her QQ[2] account was automatic, so the instant she was online, she saw Xiao Yus avatar flashing nonstop. When she clicked on it, Xiao Yu had already typed a chunk of words: Im in a meeting and not available to talk on the phone. Hurry and look at Wu Zhiluns Weibo. Given a scare at this, Jia He did as she had directed, doing a search and finding her way to Wu Zhiluns Weibo. She brushed her gaze over the number of comments on it. Very high. However, other than this, she was unable to make out any hints of anything peculiar. She typed back a question: Whats wrong? Xiao Yus reply: Check out the very last comment. Look for someone called PurelyForBeingAGossip. Following her instructions, Jia He found that persons Weibo page. On it, there was only one photograph. It was as if this account had been created specifically for posting and commenting about it. Inside the photo, Jia He was getting out of her own car, her head turned to the side, talking to Wu Zhilun. The location was very obvious: outside of Yi Wenzes home. [1] Я Ctrip.com is a Chinese-based travel agency and is the largest online travel agency in China. [2] Tencent QQ, otherwise known as QQ, is an instant messaging service in China with features such as text messaging, file transfers, voice and video chats. The number of reposts had already soared to more than thirty thousand. Following beneath that photo was a simple line of words: The night before last, I couldnt sleep and was taking in some air on the balcony, and then, totally surprisingly, I saw Wu Zhiluns girlfriend whos been keeping invisible! Oh, and also, the owner of that house is no ordinary Joe either. But hes my idol, so I wont give the gossip on that. A line of small words that was so frightful to behold. Jia He was frozen in shock for a long time before finally speedily sending Xiao Yu a question: How did you manage to see this? Xiao Yu sent over an animated sticker of a rabbit that was continually wagging its bottom, then her reply: Just look at the number of reposts. Thats just the number of times the original post was reposted. There are also countless second-hand and third-hand reposts. My co-workers Weibo had this on there too. I got such a scare I nearly went into cardiac arrest. Jia Hes chest felt tight as she sent her message: Im going to go into cardiac arrest soon, too And then nothing more came from Xiao Yu. She did seem to truly be in a meeting. All that remained now was that chubby, white bunny happily wagging and wagging this way and that. Jia He chucked aside her mobile phone. Less than half a second later, though, she was hastily picking it back up again and staring at that photograph, examining it carefully. Despite being taken from a very far distance, the side view of her face could be seen in it. This absolutely was not something a mobile phone camera could do. It very much appeared to be the work of an SLR camera. Jia Hes smile was wry. Nowadays, even the gossip scoop sourced from common folk was so professional. Before she had the chance to come up with words to comfort herself, her phone was already ringing with all its might. Go online. Qiao Qiaos words fired tersely and rapidly. Go look at the entertainment news. Jia He was dumbstruck. Are you online yet? Qiao Qiao continued hurrying her. It has nothing to do with me, right? Jia He desperately prayed. Qiao Qiao gave an Ah? and asked, You know already? Weibo is honestly so scary. Im looking at a post thats exposing dug-up info on you. Basically, its pretty darn close to the mark. Its a good thing the people who actually know you are showing bit of mercy when it comes to their tongues. There are only some persons in the know who are trying to colour the situation and add some spice. Jia He cried a tearless cry. Have they dug up my real name yet? Dont panic. Wu Zhilun just clarified things on his Weibo, saying that youre just friends. Everyones already starting to try to get the scoop on whom that villa belongs to. Thank goodness. Jia He exhaled with relief. Yet when she heard the last half of Qiao Qiaos words, she unexplainably grew uptight again. Qiao Qiao snorted. Dont be happy too soon. Theres already someone saying she saw Wu Zhilun on Huaihai Road with a girl. She even took a picture with her mobile. Even though we cant see your face, the car and clothes are the same. Just think, Wu Zhilun came here to Shanghai all low-key, and then from Huaihai Road all the way to Pudong hes with a woman. And whats more, theyre driving a toy-looking MINI Cooper. Youre going to have enough trouble with just the things filled in by peoples imaginations. Hes got a movie hitting theatres soon, so it may be that in just a bit hes going to start zipping his lips and not replying to media. If thats the case, itll get even more interesting. Jia He was in no mood to joke. After shooting back a retort, she hung up. Fortunately, it was only a side shot of her face. It was not like she was a celebrity. People wouldnt readily remember her face. There are differences between a photo and the real, live person, and whats more, the differences are really big. Jia He continuously brainwashed herself. Back when Qiao Qiao was photographed having dinner with one of the artistes under her management, she had only been teased with a couple of sentences here and there by a few good friends; there had been no impact to her. Jia He could only pray now that there would not be any busybody people acquainted with her, coming out to join in on the excitement. As a journalist, she had never read the articles she wrote, fearful she would find them shallow only after they were printed. As a screenwriter, she never watched the dramas she wrote, fearful she would not discover how corny they were until they had aired. Therefore, when she was the subject of gossip, naturally she also did not dare go to any forums to read those posts exposing her personal details. One moment she was thinking this was no big deal, the next moment she was terrified that this really would turn into an ordeal of some sort. Feeling conflicted and torn like this, she walked from the bathroom to the bedroom, then looked in the closet, checking item by item to see whether she had packed everything. A long while later, she once more pulled out her mobile phone, took a look at the text message Ctrip had sent her, and verified her flight time. There were still more than five hours. But since there was nothing to do at home anyway, it was perfect; she had enough time to have a decent dinner. Thinking this, she straightaway, towing her luggage with her, strode out of her home and locked the door behind her. While she was waiting for the elevator, Auntie Zhao, her next-door neighbour, happened to come out to throw out the garbage, and seeing Jia He, she at once came over and greeted her. Jia He, youre home? Jia He nodded. I just got back, but Im leaving again to go to Beijing on business. Ding. The elevator doors opened. Jia He was about to say goodbye, but Auntie Zhao was already following her into the elevator. Such nice sunshine. Ill go downstairs to walk around. Jia He was puzzled by this. It was not until she had pressed the button for the first floor that Auntie Zhao whisperingly asked, Youre going to Beijing to register your marriage? Huh? Jia He jumped with shock. Just now my daughter was playing on the computer and she showed me a picture. Auntie Zhaos smile was enigmatic. With such a boyfriend, does that mean from now on you dont have to pay whenever you go watch a movie? Jia He did not even know how she should react to this. So, to these aunties, the benefits of being an actor were actually that simple Auntie, people are just joking around about that. You absolutely cannot believe whats said on the Internet. Its all fake. Auntie Zhaos response was an Uh-huh, uh-huh, as well as a nod. I get it. My daughter already told me. We have to seal our lips. Even when reporters come asking, we cant say anything. Jia He fell into utter silence. Managing to bear through until they finally reached the first floor, she carried her suitcase down a set of stairs and yanked out its handle. Auntie, Im going now. Oh my, Jia He, is that Yi Wenze? That absolutely was a tremor in her voice from being overwhelmed by this wonderful surprise that was beyond all her expectations. And hence, she basically did not hear what Jia He had said. Jia Hes heart gave a little skip, and for a long moment she was unmoving until she finally turned to look in that direction. In her heart, she secretly prayed that Auntie Zhao was mistaken. Alas, this place was awash with Yi Wenzes strong presence and had long turned into an outdoor shooting location. A black car was parked beside the reflecting pool, its door half open. And he, beside the door, was leaning against the car. He wore merely a simple, understated black jacket and held a casual posture, his hands in his pockets. But these were already enough to give her the feeling that at any moment, someone would shout, Action! and then a heartrending, melodramatic, feeling-infused, urban-setting love drama would begin playing out. Right now these were still regular working hours for people and this was also a standalone apartment building, so there were only two or three people coming and going here. However, they all stopped to look, their giddiness brimming over in their speech and expressions Her heart was racing one moment, slowing the next, and she stood rooted to the spot. Auntie Zhao beside her seemed to be lamenting in mutters that she had forgotten to bring her mobile phone out with her. Otherwise, she could have taken a photo and given it to her daughter to upload onto Weibo, and surely then she would become an instant Internet celebrity or something like that All of a sudden, as if he could sense something, Yi Wenze turned his head to look towards where Jia He was and then beckoned very obviously to her. It was a very natural gesture of greeting but it left her in a slight fluster. Auntie, Im going now. Resigning herself to this situation, she dragged her suitcase and once more bade a farewell. Having observed everything to this point, the truth suddenly dawned on Auntie Zhao. Dont tell me Yi Wenze is actually the one who is your boyfriend, and Wu Zhilun is just a random person who has nothing to do with this at all? Jia He wanted to cry. Gosh, just what in the world was all this? Did knowing a celebrity automatically equate to a secret romance?! In her chest, she felt as if there were tens of thousands of horses stampeding about, but on her face, she still tugged up a smile. No, no. Im his screenwriter. Its purely a work relationship. Were heading to the office right now to have a meeting. With that, she did not wait for Auntie Zhao to throw out any more questions, immediately wheeling her suitcase and escaping with brisk strides from this place. Handing her suitcase to the driver, she pulled the car door shut herself and then expelled a long breath. The next second, though, she discovered she was snug against Yi Wenze, her leg against his leg, with not so much as a gap between them, to the extent that she could even feel the warmth of his body She wanted to move away but was also worried that doing so would make them both feel awkward. She could only arbitrarily search for something to say, asking, You came looking for me? Once she finished saying this, she stealthily shifted herself away a few inches. The car at this instant happened to be driving over the speed bump at the front gate and jolted abruptly, so, once more, she bumped against him. It was still leg against leg, but now even their bodies were touching Yi Wenze could not restrain his smile. Well go have dinner first? In the front seats, A-Qings ears were stuffed with earphones and the driver was watching the road intently. It was as if, without even any prior discussion, they were both giving Jia He and Yi Wenze this space to talk. But the more things were like this, the more discomfiture Jia He felt. I booked a flight to Beijing. Its at nine. I know. Qiao Qiao told me already. He lifted his wrist and glanced at his watch. Its six right now. Theres still time to have dinner together. His tone was natural and his suggestion was not at all unreasonable. Jia He wanted to be able to answer in a natural tone as well, but after being stuck for words for a long time, she only said one: Okay. After some time, A-Qing began talking on the phone, and every so often the name of a restaurant would show up in the dialogue. It seemed to be the place to which they were heading. The name sounded familiar and Jia He had a vague recollection of where it was. Although it was quiet and secluded, it was still a public setting Lets just go to that club of yours, she gingerly suggested. Yi Wenze brought his gaze onto her. Whats wrong? Thats a public place. That wont be really good, Jia He explained. Its okay. Words were on the tip of her tongue but she swallowed them. She could not well tell him that she was afraid of being photographed again. Yi Wenze did not say any more, offhandedly picking up a magazine and leafing through it. And so, the two of them sat like this, close against each other such that she could even clearly sense his subtle movements as he flipped the pages. However, in view of the lesson she had learned from her earlier attempt, the entire the way until it was time to get out of the car, she did not dare move again. After the car was parked, A-Qing unexpectedly called out, Director Jiang. Looking in the direction to which her voice was addressing, Jia He saw Director Jiang and Assistant Director Cheng Hao chatting at the doorway. Oh, so this was a dinner gathering of the dramas production team. She at last relaxed in relief. When she stepped into the private dining room, though, she received a slight surprise. Not only were there the production team members of Tune of Yongan, there were also many unfamiliar faces. The most unexpected part to her was that Wu Zhilun was present as well. When he spotted Jia He, he immediately covered up his mobile phone, which was still connected in a call. Hey, my rumoured girlfriend, long time no see. Though everyone here was in the entertainment circle and would not gossip carelessly or be nosy, this type of quipping still caused the people at several tables to turn their heads and take extra glances at her. Wu Zhilun wanted to continue saying more, but Yi Wenze had already nonchalantly swept a look at him, quite successfully sealing that mouth of his. Six tables had been set up in this private room. Jia He had originally planned to sit with Qiao Qiao, but discovering that Qiao Qiao was actually not in attendance, she could only blindly follow Yi Wenze around. Waiting until he had finished talking to a few people and was preparing to head over to the head table, she finally halted her steps abruptly. Yi Wenze looked down at her. Whats wrong? May I sit with A-Qing? she softly requested. He contemplated for a moment but eventually nodded, telling her, Go ahead. He had only just finished saying this before someone was already coming over to greet him. Jia He took advantage of this opportunity to steal away from there. The table at which A-Qing sat was in the corner and more than half of its seats were empty, so it was very quiet. Jia He pulled out a chair and was already sitting when A-Qing noticed her. Astounded, she asked at once, Screenwriter, why are you sitting here? Its nice here. Jia He brushed over this question with a laugh. Just look, its a tableful of food but only half a table of people to eat it. Such a good deal. A-Qing answered, Oh, seeming to think that this was reasonable, yet also finding it unreasonable. But after mulling on it at length, she did not continue inquiring. Surrounding Jia He was lively, enthusiastic conversation, but none of it had anything to do with her. Only when people from the production team occasionally came over to say hello would she smile and respond with a couple of sentences. Before long, she was already viewing herself as thin air and had begun to eat in silence. Someone, she was not certain who, mentioned that Yi Wenze and Wu Zhilun were partnering to start up a film production company and had already begun engaging in discussions with many companies regarding collaborations. Once this topic commenced, many people began teasing those two, saying that they were the entertainment circles two most handsome bosses of a production company and in the future there would be no way they would be able to stop the influx of admirers even if they wanted to. She could not resist peeking at the head table before continuing with mechanically eating her food. When she was almost full, out of nowhere, someone clapped a hand onto her shoulder. Beside her, Wu Zhilun leaned down and grinningly remarked, Hey, Harmonious Family Prospers! For you, A-Ze, the one who most dislikes having to do social engagements, was actually willing to treat people to dinner. Jia He was mystified. You and me plus so many other peoplehe swept his gaze around the roomand also this public setting. Today, therell be who-knows-how-many-photos that end up leaking out from here. Add on top of that the news of the production company, and whos still going to pay attention to that Weibo post? Jia He suddenly comprehended. She took a drink of tea. Her heart should actually have settled with this news, but surprisingly, she felt even uneasier, antsier. Wu Zhilun gave her a rather meaningful pat on her shoulder, then, holding his wine glass, sauntered away. So that was the plan. Tilting her head slightly, she looked once more at the head table. Yi Wenze was speaking to someone. Right as she was about to shift her eyes away, he cast an inadvertent glance at this spot where she was. Alarmed, Jia He instantly picked up her glass and, pretending to be looking around, evaded his gaze. At around seven-thirty, Yi Wenze finally took Jia He from the restaurant. Seeming pre-arranged, the car was already waiting at the front entrance, and after the two sat into the vehicle, it immediately drove onto the elevated freeway, heading straight for the airport. Thank you. It was very quiet inside the vehicle, so she could only drop her voice low to avoid being heard by the driver. Wu Zhilun said this dinner was to defuse the effects of that photo. Its nothing. This dinner has always been in the plan. It was just moved up a little earlier. Replying with an mm-hmm, Jia He thought, in any case, she could not go wrong with apologizing. It was quiet for a while, and then he suddenly spoke up. That day, I didnt drive you, because, with my leg, Im still unable to drive. Jia He carried on as before, making another sound of mm-hmm. She did not understand what he was trying to say. Calmly, he added another sentence. So, regarding the whole romance rumour, I do not intend on having him take my place for it. Jia Hes paused in blank surprise. As she lifted her head, he happened to turn his gaze towards her. But just as he was bringing his face down slightly, her mobile phone unexpectedly vibrated. Hastily burying her head, she began hunting through her bag. The spot that normally took only three seconds for her hand to find, this time needed a full minute. When she saw it was a text message from Gu Yu, she even more so felt an unexplainable guilt, as if she had been found out, and she simply deleted it with a tap, not daring even to look at it. But, at such a distance It was such a giant screen, and he was so close to her, too. Hesitating for a long time, Jia He eventually explained, That was a text from Gu Yu. He uttered a light, impassive mm, asking, Hes still contacting you? CH 8 Jia He wanted to deny this, but when the words came to her lips, she felt that doing so would not be right. In the end, she answered honestly, Mm-hmm, and then offhandedly picked up that magazine that Yi Wenze had read this afternoon. He did not continue asking and merely turned on the reading light for her. You bought an economy class ticket? Then he handed her a bottle of water, twisting open the cap for her. Taking the bottle from him, Jia He had a drink. Yes, economy. Its not even a two-hour flight. You take a doze and then youre there. It was not as if this was an international flight, where you were tortured for a very lengthy time, nor did she need to avoid the public eye like a celebrity, so naturally there was no need to waste money. Yi Wenze nodded. As long as youre used to it. She took a sip of water and casually thumbed through the magazine, but eventually, unaccustomed to reading large blocks of English at a time, she could only set it back in its original place. Do you have any Chinese magazines? You know, the kind where you dont really have to read any text. Actually, she did not really like looking at magazines, but sitting like this, side by side with him without anything to distract herself, would just make her feel constantly disconcerted. Before Yi Wenze could answer, the driver was already pointing at the front passenger seat. A-Qing left these here earlier. She likes reading that kind of stuff. Leaning forward, Jia He saw that, sure enough, there was a stack of tabloid magazines as well as quite a few fashion magazines. She noticed that several had Yi Wenze on the cover, but feeling too awkward to take those, she could only continue bending forward and picking through the pile. All of a sudden, the brakes were hit. Jia He did not even have a chance to react before Yi Wenze had taken ahold of her waist and pulled her back. Thanks. Not daring to look at him, she could only bring her head down and allow her eyes to take in the magazine she had arbitrarily grabbed. By fluke, the cover of this one was a photograph of Yi Wenze and Tian Chu together, and a tearing effect had even intentionally been placed between the two of them. Such a coincidence. Jia He inconspicuously flipped past the cover. Once more topping the new-songs chart was Tian Chus newly released song. She was about to turn the page again, but Yi Wenzes eyes had already slid over it. Instantly, she pointed to that song at the top of the list and, merely to make conversation, said, Wu Zhilun told me that day that the two of you wrote this song two years ago? Regret hit her the instant the question came out. Seriously, she just had to pick his sore spot and then give it a nudge, too. Yi Wenze glanced at the spot at which she was pointing. The song itself was composed a long time ago. The lyrics, he wrote two years ago. His voice was unperturbed; his expression was unperturbed. In any case, everything seemed fine. Jia He gave an oh and was about to change the topic, but he added another sentence. I wrote this for a fan of mine, some time around 1999. Jia He immediately sighed with feeling. Such a lucky fan. He smiled, not saying anything. When the car arrived at the airport, it was not even eight oclock. The road that was usually very congested was exceptionally smooth and unimpeded today. Jia He took a look at the vehicle drop-off and pick-up area. It was brightly lit and travellers, as normal, were swarming about like the tides. Very cautiously, she turned her head and looked at Yi Wenze. They must still be waiting for you to go back. Ill just go in myself now. He did not refute this and instead only summarized his schedule for her. Ill be in Shanghai for this next while. If there are no surprises, Ill be going to Beijing next month. Going to Beijing next month? She was a little surprised. Is it for your new film? If she remembered correctly, the whole time back when they were in Hengdian, he had been providing feedback for a new screenplay. The driver got out of the car and opened the trunk to retrieve her luggage. Only the two of them remained in the vehicle. Yi Wenzes lips curved upwards. Didnt you say you would treat me to dinner if you got the chance? Remembering that note, Jia He at once smiled and nodded. I have a lot of freedom with my time in Beijing. As long as youre free, just give me a call. Ill take you to have some good eats. After saying this, she added, Some very different stuff. All right, he agreed simply. Jia He wanted to say goodbye but also felt she should say something more as a farewell. The atmosphere became subtly different with the sudden quietness. She cleared her throat. As she reflexively tilted her face up to look at him, he had already lowered his head with a smile, and he brushed his lips quickly against hers. Take care, and always be safe. It was a very light kiss, just a brief touch and then he had moved away again. So gentle. And also very polite. Jia He stared dazedly at him for three seconds. Then after mechanically uttering bye, she swiftly scrambled out of the car like she was making a getaway. Taking her luggage, she bade a goodbye in a low voice and then left. Everything was smoothly continuing as it should, but even as she was checking in, Jia Hes heart felt like the overturning waters of a stormy river or a billowing sea, and clutching her identity card, she was lost in thought. Miss, do you have any luggage to check in? The airline staff had to inquire with her about this before Jia He hastily set her suitcase onto the conveyor belt. As it was not a weekend, there was quite a number of empty seats on the airplane. In this particular row, there were only four or five people, all quietly waiting for takeoff. Behind her, though, a man and two women were laughing and chatting and were rather noisy. Seeing that it was almost time for departure, she took out her mobile phone and was going to power it off. However, the flight attendant all of a sudden announced over the speakers that the plane was still waiting in line for takeoff. The underlying meaning of that was that, yet again, the flight was delayed and furthermore, it was not known when it would be able to take off. The man and two women behind her muttered some complaints and then switched into a conversation about Mango TVs[1] talent show program for this year. After listening on and off to them for a very long time, she eventually still chose to dial Yi Wenzes number. You still havent taken off? Yi Wenze picked up very quickly. His surroundings were a little noisy. He was likely already back at the restaurant. I want to explain some things to you, Jia He told him quietly. Sure. His voice was just as warm as it normally was. Jia He was very worried that after she spoke, they would both feel awkward when they saw each other again. But if she did not say it her heart would feel like something was stifling it. I feel like you might have some misunderstandings about a few things. She finally mustered her courage. My stay at your house a couple of days ago was honestly completely unexpected. I didnt have any special motive behind it. It may be that Qiao Qiao likes to joke around, so now things between us have been made so awkward. On the other end, he had not said anything the entire time, appearing to be listening, yet also seeming like he was not seriously listening. All she could feel was her heartbeat getting slower and slower. She paused for a long moment before resuming, What happened last night actually really isnt that serious, but if we continue on like this, Im scared I really will fall for you. After spilling out all the words in one breath, she immediately loosened with relief. But then she tensely pressed her phone to her ear, as if she was prepared at any time to hear him say, Youre overthinking things. That was just a goodbye kiss between friends, or similar words. Utterly unexpectedly, though, he merely asked in a warm tone, Anything else? No. He stated, Just a moment, and then spoke no more. His surroundings went from being raucous to quiet. Behind her was still the discussion of the contestant selections and each candidates strengths and shortcomings. Staring out the window at the brightly illuminated terminal building, Jia He waited for him. She, in fact, truly was not smart at all. Relationships of this sort could be found all around her, merely ones of a man and a woman playing ambiguous games with one another, and if handled properly, the woman became a close friend. But she knew herself too well. If she allowed things to continue developing in this way, in the end, she would completely fall in head over heels and then she was bound to get hurt to her very core. Quite some time passed before his voice was heard on the other end. Jia He, do you feel really insecure about being in a relationship with me? No, thats not it For a moment, she was stuck for words. Because things just started between us, I dont want to put too much pressure on you. He also had brought his voice down slightly, but it was very clear. I know that for most couples, making their relationship known to everyone is what is normal. However, too much attention is very likely to hurt you. Bit by bit, his words trickled into her ears, and she listened to them as if in a dream. She pressed her head into the seat in front of her, her cheeks so hot they were almost aflame. Jia He. He seemed to detect that something was not quite right with her, so he addressed her. Actually Jia Hes voice was a little scratchy. She did not know at all what she wanted to say with this actually. Without warning, the airplane started to move. After a ding echoed out, the flight attendant began carrying out the routine procedure of informing everyone that the plane was soon to take off and requesting passengers to fasten their seat belts and turn off all of their electronic devices. Yi Wenze seemed to hear the voice as well. Youre taking off now? Jia Hes answer was a light mm-hmm. Shut off your phone first. When you get to Beijing, let me know. She answered with another mm-hmm, still maintaining the same posture, waiting for him to hang up first. Time seemed as if it had come to a standstill. No one ended the call first, nor did either of them speak again. After some time, Yi Wenze at last chuckled and asked, Why arent you hanging up? Struggling for words for a long time, too embarrassed to say she was waiting for him to first hang up, she finally had no choice but to be the one to end the call. Even when the flight attendant was serving drinks, she was still in a stupor, and asking for a glass of orange juice, she downed half of it in one go. Cold, sweet, sour. Very tasty. By her ear was the flight attendants voice, which was very patiently inquiring with each person. Behind her, those three young people were still merrily chitchatting away, but she no longer thought they were strident, for their conversation basically did not register in her ears anyway Xiao Yu was the one who came to meet her flight when she landed in Beijing. Amongst their university friends, only she and Xiao Yu were Beijingers, so naturally they were very close. Were it not so, there would not have been that telephone call that had coerced and cajoled her into helping to find an actress to be a celebrity endorser. Xiao Yu had parked the car at the exit, and despite being clothed in an ankle-length, purple dress, she still leaned against the side of her SUVvery eye-catching. Only after Jia He had stepped outside did she walk over, take her luggage from her, and look her over with a grin. Why is your face all rosy? Seems like the weather in Shanghai is pretty good. The colour staining Jia Hes cheeks deepened a little more. Her heart felt as if it was bursting and she had a persistent urge to share the news with someone. However, she also felt that this matter was something even she had still not accepted yet. Therefore, she could only give Xiao Yu a look, then pull out her mobile phone and wordlessly send off a text message: Ive arrived in Beijing. Very soon, he was calling her. Terribly embarrassed, Jia He stared at her mobile phone, not daring to answer it. As Xiao Yu tossed the luggage into the trunk, she gave Jia He a puzzled look. Why arent you answering? Only then did Jia He pick up the call, softly saying, Hello? About what time will you get home? Im staying at a friends home today. After saying this, she quickly supplemented, A female friend. But once she finished adding that piece of information, she felt like such an idiot. On the other end of the call, he seemed to be chuckling. Even more abashed, she hastily said a few words and then bade him good night. Once she had truly hung up, though, she began to regret it. She had waited the entire flight, wanting only to say a couple more words to him By the time they drove into the urban core, it was already approaching midnight. The two could therefore only find a restaurant somewhere on the East Second Ring Road to have a late-night meal. When they sat down, Jia He discovered that the world truly was awash with coincidences. At the table beside them were the one man and two women from the flight. She actually had not really gotten a look at their faces but the mans voice was very distinctive, and now as she glimpsed the two young girls, she observed that they were attractive as well and appeared as if they might be students or graduates of a performing arts college. Xiao Yus glance glided over the sunglasses on that young mans face, and in a lowered voice, she asked, A little celebrity? Jia He shrugged. Dont know. He might have acted in a couple of dramas. Because of the mans noisy blabbering tendencies, she rather unkindly added, Who knows? He may have played the part of something like a chief eunuch, the kind who has less than twenty lines. Both comprehending, they said no more and simply exchanged a grin. I met Wu Zhilun last time. The young mans voice was still very loud. In reality, in private settings those big stars are no different from ordinary people. I even had a smoke with him. Do you guys know about that whole thing that was on his Weibo recently? Theres actually an inside story to that. Jia He had just taken a drink of water, and now she almost sprayed it back out. [1]Hunan Television is nicknamed Mango TV because of its logo. Its online video-streaming platform is called Mango TV. With her head down, Xiao Yu calmly picked up a har gow with her chopsticks and tossed it over to Jia He, her eyes sparkling. Har gow, also known as shrimp dumplings or crystal shrimp dumplings. (Image credit: Har Gow, by Foodista, original posted in https://www.flickr.com/photos/foodista/ , image used under CC BY 2.0) Dont judge based on how he clarified so quickly. According to my many years of experience in this entertainment circle, there is absolutely something between those two. He fished out a box of matches, pinched a matchstick between his fingers, and took it out. Bastard! Xiao Yu cursed in a low voice. Quiet. Shooting her a glare, Jia He carried on eavesdropping with ears pricked. Those two female performing arts students were obviously very interested as well. One of them even elatedly said that she had always liked Wu Zhilun and had already watched three or four times his film that was released during the Valentines Day period. The young man cupped the flame of the match behind his palm and took a deep drag of a cigarette before resuming what he had been saying. You know about Yi Wenzes new drama? The trailer was finished today. A buddy of mine who works on that drama shared it with me. That woman is in it, and from the looks of things, her part isnt all that small. Now, you say, if there really were no connections, how could a newcomer who has never shown her face before manage to play a role opposite Yi Wenze? He purposely wanted to keep them in suspense. One of the girls immediately jumped in and continued for him, Thats true! Wu Zhilun and Yi Wenze have been friends for more than a decade. It must be that Wu Zhilun asked Yi Wenze to say a few words to the production team so that his girlfriend could get her shot at fame, right? A tremor shook Jia Hes hand and she ended up missing her target, pouring vinegar outside of the little sauce dish. Too amazingWith such deductive abilities, this girl shouldnt act. She was absolutely suited for being a screenwriter. Quickly yanking out a napkin, Xiao Yu helped her clean up her mess while chortling quietly. When you listen to it, it does sound quite real. Youre listening to him spout nonsense. Jia He did not even have words to respond. Qiao Qiao and all of them ganged up together and forced me. My role has all of a few minutes and three lines And whats more, because Im the screenwriter, they said I had to invisibly support the production, so they didnt even pay me for it. Xiao Yu snickered. That does have Qiao Qiaos style in it: kick em while theyre down plus penny-pinching. Jia He shoved an entire har gow into her mouth. When she got back home, she definitely had to take a look at that trailer. How did her face manage to get in there? Over at the other table, those people were still blathering on noisily. She and Xiao Yu scarfed down their food. While Xiao Yu was paying, one of the young girls was still talking about this matter. From reading the gossip on the forum posts, that woman is already twenty-six, twenty-seven years old. How is it that Wu Zhilun likes someone so old? Jia He gave an indignant sniff. Was that really old? Wu Zhilun was thirty-five already Ah, just forget it. Its all about a persons lot in life. The other girl sighed, saying, Im going for a screen test in a couple of days. Who knows if such good fate will fall on me and I can run into some big celebrity. Xiao Yu did not show much of a reaction. After taking her card and the receipt that the server handed back to her and stuffing them into her bag, she turned around and, flashing a smile that was only skin deep, addressed that girl, who was currently using her mobile phone as a mirror to examine her own face. Oh, a screen test, eh? I suggest you first go get a jaw or chin reduction or something like that. Being old is actually nothing to worry about. You can just put on some makeup and that covers it up. But if your face is even just a little too big, in the camera lens, it becomes a pancake. Her voice was neither loud nor soft, just enough for everyone at the two tables to hear. The people at the other table were evidently confounded by this interruption. By the time they were able to react and ready to open their mouths to start bellowing back retorts, though, they spotted Jia He. There was an obvious pause in their actions, and not a sound came from them. With those tens of thousands of horses stampeding once more in her heart, Jia He grabbed Xiao Yu and strode out from there. Not until they were in the car did she begin whacking Xiao Yu with her purse. The subject of her beating cackled while blocking her assailment. I was wrong for getting even for you? Drive. Having vented enough, Jia He hugged her bag to herself and stared sullenly ahead, deciding that she would ignore her. The car drove onto the Third Ring Road and soon reached Xiao Yus home. After a quick shower, Jia He stretched out on her belly on the bed and, clutching her mobile phone, began to stare with glazed eyes at it, pondering seriously over whether she should make a phone call to say that she was going to bed. In the end, after vacillating for a long while, she went online instead and contacted Qiao Qiao, asking her for the trailer. On the other end, Qiao Qiao, seeing this request, instantly sought credit for her wonderful contribution, boasting that she had spent a long time specially keeping an eye on things from the side and had expended a lot of effort to get a scene with Jia He in it added into the trailer. Jia He did not know whether she should cry or laugh at this and could not be bothered to explain to Qiao Qiao the embarrassing predicament she had been in tonight. Once she received the trailer, she immediately went offline. She watched that three-minute trailer from beginning to end four or five times. And the darn thing about it was, she was devastated by the angst and actually ended up crying for a long time after. Just as she was nonstop tugging tissues out of the box, a text message came in on her phone. Her heart gave a leap. Roughly able to guess whom it was from, she picked up her phone, her heart in a flurry. Sure enough, it was Yi Wenze. Asleep yet? She straightaway tapped the button to call him back but then at once hung up again. Oh no. She had just cried. Her voice must sound awful Very soon, there was an incoming call. She gave a couple of coughs with all her might, trying to make her voice sound normal again before picking up. Assuming a relaxed tone, she spoke first. How did you know Im not asleep yet? On his end, he seemed to take a drink of water before leisurely answering, Im very familiar with your daily schedule already. The sounds of Xiao Yus shower echoed in from outside. Rather guiltily, as if she was nervous she would be found out doing something forbidden, Jia He stepped to the side of the window and gazed down at the road on which cars were still coming and going. Her finger unthinkingly drew random scribbles on the glass. How come youre not sleeping yet? He chuckled. I was waiting for your call. She gave an oh, suddenly not knowing what to say. Normally when she was on the phone, she would simply talk casually about whatever she saw or anything that came to mind. But when talking to him, what should she say? While she wrestled with this question, Yi Wenze all of a sudden asked, Did you cry just now? Mm-hmm. Whats wrong? She could only be honest. I just watched the trailer. Cried from all the agony and angst. His side was momentarily quiet. Then, with mirth in his voice, he said, Next time, write something thats a little happier. Hearing his laughter, her heart dropped and she tentatively probed, You find it too sad, too? Its all right. What did you feel when you watched the trailer? His tone nonchalant, he analyzed, There are no domestic dramas of late that are sad and tragic. If the marketing and publicity are done well, the reception should be quite good. Jia He was silent. Why was his answer so official-sounding? What I mean is, werent you touched? He seemed to mull this over with seriousness. Not bad. As long as the ending is good, thats good enough. She was not certain why but she somehow felt as if she had taken a blow. I cried for a long time when I saw you and Liao Jing, you know, that. What she wanted to say was that kiss scene between you and Liao Jing, but when the words came to her lips, she felt awkward and also a teensy bit of discomfort in her heart, so she did not let them come out. Yi Wenzes kiss scenes used to be what she most loved to watch For any film of his that had a kiss scene, she was able to immediately find the exact time at which it occurred. Sure enough, now that her status had changed, she was starting to mind. He suddenly told her, Kiss scenes are simply necessary for the portrayal of the roles and story. You dont really need to mind. Jia Hes face grew hot. He had actually caught the undertone of her words. She was a screenwriter. She had seen so much of this, but here she actually needed someone to straighten out her thinking. She must seem so petty. Before she could come up with some words to respond, over on his end of the call, someone was already sniggering. Hey, Harmonious Family Prospers, Ill teach you a method. From now on, every time he does a kiss scene, you have him make up for it at home. If another person gets one kiss, you go and get yourself a hundred kisses. Youll definitely become desensitized in the end. It was Wu Zhilun. Jia He was instantly stupefied. Someone was actually listening in At once not daring to say anything else on that subject, she hurriedly asked, You still have someone with you there? Mm. He informed her in a mild tone, Im at the office having a meeting. A meeting? He was in the middle of a meeting, too?! Then Ill go to bed first. After swiftly throwing out these words, she hung up the call. Back and forth she wandered through the room. The more she thought about it, the more embarrassed she felt and hence sent another text over to him: I actually dont mind Ding. A text message had been sent back: Its all right. Its normal to mind. Rest earlier. If he was in a meeting, then there surely was more than one person with him. But that meant, the instant people heard those words of Wu Zhiluns, they would have known that Yi Wenze was on the phone with his girlfriend. Girlfriend Jia He gave a shake of her head. She still felt it was unreal. In the days that followed, Jia He was swamped with work. Normally meetings would take place for half a day and the remaining half a day would be used to organize the information, but because she had arrived a few days late, this entire week was filled with full-day meetings followed by sorting and organizing all the information until three or four in the morning. Consequently, she could only phone Yi Wenze during brief breaks or merely send him a few text messages. However, this steady, gradual progress in the interaction between them was a good thing. Jia He was finally beginning to slowly accept this reality: she and he truly were together. Occasionally, when she was feeling rather bad, she would ask, Do you mind that Im so busy? He was not bothered. Its actually quite seldom that I am so free. When I truly do start working, my schedule will be very full. You need to be prepared for that. Jia He mused on this. No wonder it was so hard for actors to date someone. Dating required actually having dates and interaction in order for the relationship to be maintained, right? Leaning against the wall of the hallway, she assured him quietly, No worries. When the time comes, Ill just accept more script projects and day and night, Ill just write. That way, I wont miss you too much. It was only after the words had rolled from her lips that she felt a little bashful. Once you really do get busy, just let me know. I wont bother you. Someone walked by Jia He in the hallway and gave her a smiling nod and greeting. Jia He hurriedly returned the smile, a little nervous that her words a moment ago had been heard. When you go back, check your inbox. Yi Wenzes words voice for a moment, and then he said, I have guests here. Well talk again tonight. Okay. When Jia He ended the call and went back into the conference room, laughter and jokes were flowing amongst the group. Wordlessly, she poured herself a glass of water, walked over to her seat, and sat down. Just as she clicked open her inbox, an email showed up in it. There was only a simple row of words: This is the latest. She was a little bewildered. After she opened up the attachment, though, she instantly paused in surprise. It was as if something had caressed the softest depths of her heart. Touchedthat was the only feeling she had right now. He had sent over his work schedule, all of his plans and arrangements for the latter half of this year. The noise in the background was still lively, but it was as if she was removed from all of it and not even a part of this world. She did not even notice that everyone had started to shift the subject over to the new drama serial and discuss the details of the next stage. Jia He. Director Liu all of a sudden addressed her. Dazedly, she lifted her head. It took a while for her mind to clear a little and recover some awareness. Whats the matter, Director Liu? Director Liu smiled. I saw the trailer of your last drama project. Its definitely going to be a hit. Jia He smiled self-consciously. I hope so. That role of Yi Wenzes is definitely going to bring him another huge wave of popularity. Director Liu continued, Yesterday, I was even thinking if I should hurry and find a script, send it over, and then ride on the momentum of Tune of Yongan to make another period drama. Giving a dry laugh, Jia He prayed ceaselessly in her mind, Director Liu, please dont say any more. Fortunately, he only laughed and nodded, bringing an end to this topic. After a week of intense, tightly-packed meetings, she finally had time to go home that evening. With great difficulty, amidst her moms accusations that she was heartless, she managed to unpack her bag, and then once she had successfully convinced her mom to carry on playing Happy Lord, she slipped into her own room. Taped up behind her computer was a poster of Yi Wenze, one she had bought from the Beijing Books Building[1] back when he had just risen into popularity. At the time, she had only been fifteen, sixteen years old. Never had she expected that more than a decade later, their lives would intersect in such a way. Without even really being aware of it, two weeks had glided by already and the two of them had communicated by phone like this. Sometimes when she thought about it, she found this really did seem similar to having a cyber romance Her phone in her hand, an idea suddenly came to her. Does your computer have a webcam? There was a brief silence on his end before he replied, Wait a minute. Ill have A-Qing set it up. While she was answering, Mm-hmm, A-Qing had already taken the phone. Screenwriter, do you use MSN? Jia He stated her MSN ID. Before long, someone had added her as an MSN contact. He had actually outright used Yi Wenze as his ID. The two women fiddled for some time until they at last got a picture. From his side, the picture showed his study, and on the screen A-Qings head was wagging to and fro, scrutinizing something for an extensive time before finally remarking into the computer, Screenwriter, your room is so cute and girly Jia He laughed. I havent been back for a long time. Its still decorated the way it was when I was in high school. A-Qing very wisely moved out of the way and the view in the video opened up. Then, that familiar face appeared before her. Jia He suddenly felt a little bashful. Why hadnt she change into a different outfit first? Right as she was about to speak, however, her door was thrown open without any warning. Her mom, carrying a platter of fruit in her hands, was nagging on about eating more strawberries to combat aging, while also sweeping her eyes over the computer screen. At once, she commented, Yi Wenze again? How come you still havent changed idols yet? Jia He was stunned, motionless. Before she had a chance to shut down the window, her mom was already leaning in close and studying it. Is this a video? Its not a concert? It looks quite like normal, daily life. Jia He wanted to cry. In a moment of anxiousness, she blurted, Its a video that was taken in secret [1] The Beijing Books Building in the Xidan commercial area of Beijing is one of the largest bookstores in Beijing, its selection spread over five floors. On his side, Yi Wenze was in the middle of lighting up a cigarette. When he heard her words, his hand obviously paused a moment and he gave a slight smile. Huh? Didnt you say your idol is top quality? Why are there scandals like this about him, too? Hearing that it was a secret video, her mom instantly became invigorated and pulled over a chair to take a seat. Its not that type of video Dont secret recordings just record that type of thing? Her mom had an I get it look on her face. Of course not! He has great moral character! Jia Hes head started to spin and nonsense began gushing from her mouth. This type of video is called insight into real life. Dont you know that this is the in thing right now? Fans like to watch their idols real, daily life. You know that talent show on Mango TV? This year arent they going to have it where the contestants are followed around and filmed for seventy-two hours? Its that type. As she spoke, she was desperately kicking her foot around beneath the table. Where was the plug? Where was the plug?! All of a sudden, Yi Wenze lifted his head and directed a sentence to a nearby spot, somewhere, it seemed, by the doorway. Her mother immediately asked, Is it starting? Whos your idol talking to? She felt like something was being smothered in her chest. How would I know? For the life of her, she could not find the power outlet. Surely it couldnt have changed positions How come when I look at it, it doesnt seem like a secret recording, eh, daughter? Before Jia Hes mom was finished speaking, another person had already appeared in the picture. Holding a cup in his hand, he strolled up behind Yi Wenze and took a deliberate glance at the webcam. Eh? Whats that lad looking at? her mom wondered. As Jia He stared at that exquisite face, she wanted to cry, but no tears would come. The next time she ran into Wu Zhilun, she was definitely going to bust his head off Luckily, the next second, the video screen went black. Afterward, most of the words her mom spoke did not even register in her ears. She only gave cursory responses and then forcefully pushed her mom out the door. Prior to leaving, her mom even specifically gave some instructions. In the future, if you have this type of secretly-recorded video, use QQ to send it to me. Arent you a screenwriter? If you have any of Kris Phillips[1], that will be best. I like him. Okay, okay. Locking her door, Jia He blew out a long exhale and fell back against the wall. After a long while, she finally dialed his number, apologizing in a small voice, Im sorry. I didnt expect my mom to suddenly come in. Giving a very placid mm, Yi Wenze asked, Do you still want to have a video call? No, its okay Is your door locked? She answered only with mm-hmm. His voice suddenly lowered. I miss you a lot. Jia He did not speak. She ran this sentence through her mind, then ran it through again. This was his first time saying that. His voice was still mild and gentle as before and held a low, magnetic quality. In the past, every time she watched him give a love profession in his movies, her blood would roil and surge and she would be even more emotionally charged than the female lead of the movie. But now, this was his first time saying such words to her. Over the phone, with 1400 kilometres between them, he had said to her, I miss you a lot. Merely five words. As if under some nameless compulsion, she once more opened up MSN. The webcam seemed to have moved to a different location. From this angle, she had a view of more than half of his study. Yi Wenze filled a glass of water, walked over, and sat down, only looking at her quietly and in no hurry to speak. Jia He sat in awkwardness while her gaze incessantly flitted about randomly. Eventually, truly feeling self-conscious, she took a quick look at him, but the instant she saw those features that seemed so unreal, she felt even more awkward. Is it hot in Beijing? He all of a sudden spoke. Not too hot. Jia He was honestly too embarrassed to look straight at him and could only bow her head and fix her eyes on the keyboard. What plans do you have for tomorrow? Nothing at the moment. Im taking this weekend off. She continued counting the keys on her keyboard. My flight is in the morning. I should be in Beijing by noon. Jia He replied with an oh and carried on counting keys. Counting and counting. And then her head whipped up. She looked straight at him. Youre coming to Beijing? He did not give a direct answer. Have you decided what youre going to take me to eat? It was evident that in the dialogue that followed, her responses were all given from a state of shock. Only when they finally ended their video chat did her mind catch up, and she realized she knew only that he was arriving in Terminal 3 at noon but had not even asked for his flight number. Ah, forget it. Just sleep first. She set an alarm for eight oclock on her mobile phone, supposing that she would need one hour to get dressed, one hour to At any rate, she needed to get up early. And so, carrying with her that desire to rise early, she hugged her comforter and tossed and turned in bed until three in the morning. Still wired and energized, she stared wide-eyed at the ceiling, so vexed she wanted to slam her head into the wall. Couldnt sleep. No matter how she tried, she couldnt sleep The direct result of this was, the next day, she slept and slept in the taxi. It was not even eleven oclock when the taxi arrived at the airport. She went to the first level, bought a large cup of coffee, and sat in a corner to kill time. Should she wait at the arrivals gate or in the parking garage? Or maybe watch him from afar and follow him? For a very long time, she deliberated over this, but still she came to no conclusion. She glanced at the time. Six minutes had passed. Her hands encircling the paper cup, she began mulling over the next issue. In the first sentence she spoke to him, how should she address him? Teacher Yi? Obviously that wasnt appropriate. A-Ze? That felt really weird, too. By chance, behind her was a young girl holding a phone and speaking with soft, tender tones into it. Jia He could tell straightaway that the girl was chatting with her boyfriend, for she had the same habit as Qiao Qiao, saying Hubby this in one sentence and Hubby that in anotherso very sweet. Jia He wasnt even sure when it happened but at some point in time, the people around her had all begun addressing their boyfriends this way But simply imagining this form of address applied to Yi Wenze was already something she was unable to accept. She could not contain her rising agitation. She glanced at the time again. Only three minutes had gone by. All of a sudden, her phone rang. A name written very distinctly in black and white was flashing on the screen. Startled, she immediately answered the call. The background was a little noisy on the other end of the line. Youre up now? Im up. Your flights delayed? He should have been on the plane at this hour, so her first reaction was that his flight was delayed. A flight delay wasnt a bad thing; that gave her more time to mentally prepare herself. No delay. Things suddenly became clamorous on his end. There seemed to be the voices of reporters and also fans who had come to meet his flight. His voice, though, was warm and gentle as always and settled her heart as it fell on her ears. Ill wait for you in the underground parking garage. Call me when you get here. Immediately after saying this, he hung up the phone. Jia He ran these words through her mind, reflecting on them. Could it be that he had arrived already? Wasnt it supposed to be twelve oclock? She called him back at once. Im here already. Yi Wenze was a little surprised. So early? Sheepish, Jia He told him, I woke up early. There was nothing for me to do at home, so I came out. Why are you here so soon? What was up with Civil Aviation Administration? Normally when she took a plane, there was a hundred percent guarantee her flight would be delayed. Did they see there was a celebrity on the plane, so they sped up? Even so, it still shouldnt be one whole hour early On his side, Yi Wenze seemed to be walking towards the exit, and some time passed before he replied, The flights scheduled time of arrival at the airport was 11:10. I added some time to account for delay. I was worried you would have to wait for too long. His voice as he spoke was not loud, but it was very clear. An arrival time of 11:10. That meant he had left fifty minutes for potential delay. She did not know how she should respond and could only clutch her phone with one hand while the other one unconsciously clamped her paper cup until there was a pop! Only then did she notice that the cup was already misshapen from her squeezing. At last, she said softly, When youre in the car, just let me know which parking zone youre in. Ill go find you. Okay. Theres no hurry. It may take some time. No worries. Ill wait for you.. It was twenty minutes later before his text message finally arrived and she grasped the true meaning of It may take some time. Terminal 3s parking garage was always able to make her lose her bearings. This time, though, her head was exceptionally clear as she found her way to the correct location. A-Qing had come out of the vehicle and was craning her neck, peering this way and that. Catching sight of Jia He, she immediately waved. When Jia He drew near, she told her, Teacher Yi is over there. Im going to leave first. With that, she truly did stride away. Dazed, Jia He made her way along a row of cars until she spotted Yi Wenze sitting in a car on the furthermost end. He was in the drivers seat and appeared to have noticed her as well. Now, with only ten paces between them, she actually paused in hesitation. This was utterly different from talking on the phone. The real, live person was waiting for her in a car just ten steps away, but she had not even come up with what her first sentence to him would be. In the end, though, he was the one who snatched the first sentence. As she sat into the car and was about to very considerately ask him something along the lines of whether he was tired, he was already very naturally asking her, Would you like to go eat first or go to the office first? His manner was still so natural, his tone the same as it was every day when they were on the phone. Only now did she have a sense that this was real. How about we go eat? Were there a lot of people from the media meeting your flight just now? He started the car. Quite a few, but theyve all been led away by Wu Zhilun. Exhaling in relief, she thought for a moment. How about we go to your office to eat? Itll be a little more relaxed. Sure. He suddenly threw a glance at her. A little puzzled, Jia He was going to ask him what was the matter, but he was already leaning towards her and, reaching out his arm, helping her to buckle her seat belt. On her way here, she had actually still been worried about his leg. Although all along on the phone he had told her that his recovery was going very well, she had still not felt assured. Now, though, seeing the way he was driving, her heart was finally set at ease. The weather these days was warm, and as the breeze blew in through the half-open window, she felt only comfort. It was only a short while before she unwittingly started to doze off. Over and over, her head would bob, but still she forced herself to hang in there, not daring to let herself fall asleep. Amused as he watched her, Yi Wenze asked, What time did you sleep? Jia He answered honestly that, actually, she had not really slept much the entire night. You havent adjusted to being home? Maybe. Jia He was glum. I dont know why, but I was tossing and turning and couldnt fall asleep. I actually saw the sky start to light up before I finally managed to get a bit of shut-eye. Does my complexion look really dull? Tilting his head for a glimpse at her, Yi Wenze answered, A little pale. When were in my office, you can sleep for a bit. Jia He gave an mm-hmm. Those words began echoing continuously in her mind: Sleep for a bit, sleep for a bit And then, she blushed. After another little while, she was completely unable to hold up anymore and hazily drifted off to sleep. When she woke again, the car was already stopped in front of a three-storey building. Yi Wenze was leaning back in his seat, resting with his eyes closed. Not daring to make any noise that might disturb him, she merely blinked her eyes, trying to restore the moisture in her contact lenses. Suddenly, though, the view before her right eye became a blur. Her lens had fallen out What lousy luck. Gloomily, she gave a rub to her eye before discovering that Yi Wenze had already woken. Your contact lens fell out? It normally doesnt come out so easily. It might be because I didnt sleep well last night. Its all right. I have some here. Jia He stared, flabbergasted, at him. He smiled. I brought some along for you and kept them on hand. That way, its a lot easier if you suddenly need one. Jia He made a sound of oh. Those words began echoing continuously in her mind: Suddenly need one, suddenly need one And then, she once again blushed. [1] Fei Xiang, whose English name is Kris Phillips, is a Taiwanese-American singer (his father is American, his mother Chinese) who was hugely popular in China in the 1980s. CH 9 They were already getting out of the car when Wu Zhiluns vehicle finally drove in. His vehicle appeared to have quite a few others in it, and as those people followed Wu Zhilun out, they all greeted Yi Wenze with a smile. Jia He stood wordlessly to the side, attempting as best as she could to turn herself invisible. Thank goodness that in front of outsiders, Wu Zhilun retained a very reticent and refined demeanour, absolutely no different from that melancholy idol image he portrayed to the public. Only while he was giving a nod in greeting did he flash a cryptic smile at Jia He, and then another cryptic smile Since one of her eyes was blurry, Jia He could only unsteadily, carefully follow Yi Wenze in through the doors and up the stairs. The flooring and stairs were both made of grated steel plates. At first she had admired the contemporary feel, but as she walked higher and higher up, she discovered that, because the design was too clean and simple, she actually felt as if she was walking on a tightrope. Unfortunately, she had a fear of heights By the time they reached the second level, her legs were already starting to grow weak. Yi Wenze, though, was still continuing upwards. With a silent howl of anguish, Jia He summoned her courage and continued the climb, unconsciously gripping tight to the terribly thin handrail, her palm drenched in cold sweat. She had had this fear of heights since she was a child. Back when the carnival was in Shanghai, she had gone there originally filled with excitement but had ultimately only been able to be a random Jane Doe spectator, standing at the bottom and looking up at those tall thrill rides and equipment while Qiao Qiao ridiculed her countless times. Then, the most pathetic thing was that the following year in Beijing, when Xiao Yu called her to go hang out and pass the time, it was again at the carnival The view before her eyes was unclear. With each step, her heartbeat sped up rapidly. A boy happened to run down from the third floor at that moment, and this staircase that was already narrow to begin with felt even more cramped. Gingerly, she shifted over half a step and leaned against the railing, trying hard to divert her attention. Hi, Boss. The boy nodded in greeting. Giving an mm, Yi Wenze asked, Preparing for the screen tests? Yup. Theyre starting at two this afternoon. When the boy finished saying this, he took a look at Jia He. Instantly, he became extremely keen and enthusiastic. Hi, Bosss wife. Receiving a shock at this, Jia He reflexively turned her eyes to Yi Wenze. He, however, merely smiled and did not say anything. Seeing the boys effusive friendliness she had no choice but to respond with an mm. And then, she felt even dizzier. As the boy ran downstairs with a grin, Yi Wenze at last noticed her complexion. Youre not feeling well? No She just needed to get upstairs. Once she was on the third floor, she would definitely be fine. Yi Wenze turned around and carefully observed her. Clutching the handrail, Jia He continuously prayed, Dont look anymore. Lets just hurry up and go I forgot. Youre scared of heights. Rather apologetic, Yi Wenze reached his arm over and circled it around her, holding her against him as they walked up the stairs. The first floor is all workrooms. Tomorrow, Ill have someone move my office down to the second floor. Jia He was somewhat astounded. How did he know everything? Probably it was Qiao Qiao again who had told him. Because she was in his embrace and also purposely avoiding looking at her feet, her fear gradually subsided by quite a bit. Ultimately, though, that psychological barrier was difficult to overcome, and unable to even care that they were out in full view of everyone and that she should be embarrassed, she of her own accord tucked herself even tighter against him. As they stepped up to the third floor, A-Qing was just coming out of a room, and her jaw actually fell open before she immediately shifted her eyes away. The smile on her lips was very apparent. Teacher Yi, I saw the name list for the screen tests. Three days probably wont be enough. Yi Wenze was somewhat surprised. After giving her a few general instructions, he asked her to help find menus of some nearby restaurants. A-Qing very astutely left straightaway. Jia He was evidently still caught in the aftershock from her fear of heights, for she simply remained as she was and listened to them, and it was not until they were inside the room that she realized she was still buried in his arms She swiftly tried to think up an excuse. At last, she had a flash of brilliance. Werent you going to get some contact lenses for me? Then, she successfully escaped. Lunch did not have many dishes, just enough for two people to finish without any leftovers. Immediately after she set down her chopsticks, Yi Wenze was already casually tidying them away. He wrapped everything up in newspaper, then put it all into a plastic bag and placed the bag outside the door. As she watched him do all this with easy, fluid motions, a sense of pride continually gushed up in her. See how top quality, how down-to-earth and easy to get along with her idol was! So worthy of being her idol! Then he picked up a little green bottle and poured out a piece of gum. Would you like some water? Coffee. Once the word came out, though, she felt she had committed a heinous crimeshe had actually ordered her idol around like he was some page boy. Hence, before he could even move, she was already rushing into the coffee station. On the shelf were seven or eight different kinds of coffee. There were simple, easy-brew ones and ones that required you to set the brew ratio yourself, and there were also coffee powder and coffee beans. She stared at all of these for a while, but in the end she still grabbed a package of the simplest type, Nescaf. Turning her head, she asked him, What are you going to drink? Iced water will be fine. Stepping into the room, he glanced at the bag in her hand. Why arent you brewing some? This is easy and convenient. She ripped the package open. I drink coffee just to boost my energy. After drinking it for a while, it eventually just became a habit. Im actually not picky about it at all. As long as I get that taste, its good enough. He took the package from her hand. Instant coffee is very convenient. After saying that, though, he tossed the package into the garbage. Bringing down the coffee pot from high up on the shelf, he rinsed it clean with cool water and then with very practiced motions began to brew some coffee for her. I used to like coffee, too, but later, because of filming, I developed stomach issues and had to force myself to give it up. The water slowly began to boil, producing gurgling sounds. His right hand casually resting on the glass table, he simply waited patiently. Jia Hes gaze moved from the collar of his shirt to his hand and finally glided to the tips of his fingers. As the aroma gradually began to permeate outwards, his fingertips made a slight, sudden movement, yanking her back to awareness. When she lifted her head, his face was already right by hers. And then, he finally brought it down and covered her lips in a gentle kiss. The scent of coffee and also the taste of mint on the tip of his tongue instantly flooded all her senses. Unlike the abruptness of the first time, with their current relationship, everything now could not be any more natural. However, she still felt lightheaded, as if the heavens and earth were spinning around her, and had a hard time catching her breath. After a long time, a thought finally managed to charge into her previously blank mind. Oh no. She hadnt had any gum. Yi Wenze was holding her snugly against him, but when he tilted his head to deepen this kiss, she unexpectedly gave him a little shove. With his lips against hers, he softly asked, Whats the matter? Um, well It was not as if she could blame him for not giving her a piece of gum. She hesitated. The time has passed. Forty seconds. Good thing she knew how to brew coffee. After letting the coffee stand and infuse for forty seconds, you need to move to the next step. He was silent for a moment before giving her another light kiss. Then releasing her, he began to pour the coffee, a faint but obvious smile on his lips. Pretending she did not see it, Jia He shuffled away a bit. Sure enough, the power of knowledge was amazing! When they stepped out of the coffee station, they found a few sheets of paper had already been slipped under his door. Yi Wenze picked them up and skimmed through them. They were the work schedule for the next two days. As Jia Hes eyes scanned over them, she remembered the screen tests mentioned earlier. Youre starting to look for actors for your new film? He nodded. There will be screen tests over these next couple of days. What sort of theme is it? Republican period[1]. Yi Wenze set the papers on his desk. Other than the leading actresss part, the female roles are not very big. I didnt expect there would be so many people trying out for the screen tests. Thats because theres you and Wu Zhilun, Jia He muttered silently. He all of a sudden asked her, Screen tests are on the first floor. Its open viewing. Would you like to watch? Remembering how high up they currently were, Jia He replied glumly, Forget it. At this type of height, I dont dare even to look down. If her blood pressure soared at that time and caused a little scene of an object plummeting from on high, things would get even livelier Its okay. Ill be with you. The film production company had only just been established but had already immediately started on a large collaboration project with one of Mainland Chinas leading corporations, Yi Hua. Consequently, Yi Wenze very quickly slipped into working mode. Jia He sat in the wicker chair by the window, holding a newspaper and casually flipping through it. Sunlight streamed through the glass, which infinitely magnified its warmth. And then, drowsiness began to creep onto her until there was a light rustle. Starting awake, she discovered that the newspaper had slid down off of her knees. Yi Wenze looked at her with a smile. Go inside and sleep for a bit. She hurriedly answered, Its okay. What a crime she had committed. He was so busy and bogged down in work, but here she was dozing off. At this time, voices suddenly started up downstairs. The screen tests seemed to have begun. Finally, she had an excuse to escape from this awkward situation, so quickly cutting in and changing the subject, she said, Screen tests have started? Lets go out and have a look. Lightly moving and stretching his fingers, he rose. Its a good time to take a break. The two of them walked out the door. On the first floor, the seats were already filled with people. Sure enough, it was open viewing. Jia He took only a little downward glance but her legs immediately went limp. When she was about to back away, however, she felt warmth surrounding all of her. Yi Wenzes two hands were resting on the railing, enfolding her against his chest. Is it a little better this way? Much better, she softly replied. Though she knew this was the best way to overcome her fear of heights, there were so many people downstairs Plus there were people watching the screen tests from the second and third floors, too. This wasnt very appropriate, was it? While she was wavering over whether they should go back, it was already the next candidates turn. From her vantage point, Jia He could not see that young girls face, but judging from the figure, she was certain the girl was a beauty. To her surprise, when the girl spoke, her voice sounded very familiar. Hello, teachers. I am candidate number thirteen, Jiang Xing. Why was the voice so familiar? Jia He carefully searched through her mind. She should not know this person; she had never heard the name before. Jia He did not ponder on this anymore, reckoning it was just coincidentally similar to the voice of someone she knew. Sweeping a look over the people sitting downstairs, she saw that Wu Zhilun was in a seat on the rightmost side, wearing a very solemn, melancholy expression. She could not help giggling and remarking quietly, The image that Wu Zhilun portrays is definitely wrong. He obviously has a very sunny, cheerful face, yet hes always acting in roles that are very psychologically complex and dark. Yi Wenze also spoke in lowered tones. It has to do with his own experiences. He used to live in a public housing estate[2], and his familys financial situation then wasnt very good. Later on, he did lots of auditions for modeling but with no success and could not get into an artiste training program either. He could only hang out on film sets and wait for roles as an extra or a minor character. Jia He only knew that Wu Zhilun had been famous for seven or eight years now, but as he was not her type, she of course had not really paid much attention to his career. Now that she truly thought about it, he and Yi Wenze were the same age but he had not risen to popularity until many years after Yi Wenze. It had probably been very difficult for him. In Hong Kong, its not easy to get a start in the entertainment business, is it? It seemed that those who managed to bear through and make a name for themselves had spent many years in minor roles. Yi Wenze gave a very mild mm. All of a sudden, she recalled what Qiao Qiao had said, that Tian Chu had struggled for many years as well. But asking now on topics about his ex was definitely inappropriate. Jia He very wisely restrained herself and turned her gaze back downstairs. That young girl had already, as requested, acted out a scene of reuniting with long-lost family and was currently being asked to act alongside someone else and play the role of a virtuous, filial child. She watched carefully for a short while. That girl honestly was quite good. Her voice, though, still really did sound familiar. Near the end of that girls audition, Wu Zhilun appeared quite satisfied with her performance as well. Answer me very quickly: what is the thing that has left the deepest impression on you lately? Daring not to delay, the young girl blurted, When I saw your rumoured girlfriend. When these words were tossed out, everyone was taken aback. The look on Wu Zhiluns face went from puzzlement to comprehension, and then finally, with a wry expression, he flicked a barely perceptible glance at the third floor. Stupefaction had long since possessed Jia He, and it was only with this look from him that she abruptly realized why this girls voice was so familiar. Wasnt she that person in the restaurant that night who had said she was going to be going for a screen test? While a tempest sea was still raging inside her, she felt a warmth on her ear. Youve seen her before? [1] . The Republican era (1912-1949), also known as the Minguo era, in Mainland China is the era immediately after the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1912, in which the Republic of China was established. [2] Hong Kong has a significant public housing program. The government has built many public housing estates of apartment buildings to provide affordable housing to those with low incomes, and due to government subsidization, these are rented out at significantly lower rates than private housing. She forced a dry laugh. Yes. What a coincidence. Then, in a few words, she explained that days incident to him. When she was finished, downstairs, Wu Zhilun still had not spoken, as if he was considering something. After what felt like an endless wait, he gave a specious reply. If we do have the opportunity to work together, you will see her again. With that, he exchanged a few words in a low tone with the person beside him and then, moving on to the next candidate, continued with the screen tests. Will Wu Zhilun take her? That young girl was quite good. This film of theirs was considered a relatively large production and, coupled with the fame of the two bosses, promoting it would not be a difficult task. If someone wanted to catch some eyes, this was a good opportunity. He shook his head. Based on his personality, he likely wont. Jia He was surprised. Just because she mentioned the thing about the rumoured girlfriend? Yi Wenze smiled. Yes, but not for the reason that youre thinking. With so many people auditioning today, saying those words allows people to very easily remember her. That is a very clever topic to choose. I have quite a few friends who are more easygoing and like this type of actor or actress who can jump out and draw attention onto himself or herself. But unfortunately, A-Lun is not that type of person. Oh, right. Jia He agreed, He went through a lot of hardships to reach this point. He should prefer people who are grounded and take the steady route. Yi Wenze did not express anything in reply. Suddenly recalling the remarks a bunch of Joe Blows had made in jest at a dinner the other day, Jia He turned on him a grinning look with much implied meaning. You say, Wu Zhilun is both a celebrity and the boss of a production company. Does he have beautiful women knocking on his door in the middle of every night? As soon as the words came out, she regretted them. Why was it that in her ears they sounded like she was just using Wu Zhilun to allude to him? Yi Wenze was smiling, a very veiled type of smile, but because they were so close, it was infinitely enlarged before her. I cant really say for sure with him, he answered in a very solemn manner, his voice purposely lowered, but I have a good habit: I lock my door before I go to bed. She forced a laugh. Indeed, a good habit. Downstairs, things were still continuing. The two of them watched for a while and then went back into his office. Jia He could see that he was very busy, and she could not simply sit here idly the whole time either, so tentatively she asked him, Do you have any extra computers here? She had nothing to do anyway; she might as well write up the character descriptions that had been discussed in the previous two days meetings. When Yi Wenze looked at her, she immediately pulled out her flash drive. My work habit. I carry the things around with me, and when I find the time, Ill write. He made a phone call, and soon A-Qing delivered a laptop computer over. Right as she plugged in her flash drive, Wu Zhilun strode into the room, and there were even several people following him. From the looks of things, they were likely going to be talking business. Jia He was vacillating over whether or not she should step outside, lest she end up not participating and just becoming a live piece of backdrop, when Yi Wenze suddenly pointed at another room. Its a little noisy here. You can go inside to write. Jia He said an mm-hmm and picked up the laptop. As she walked past Wu Zhilun, the latter gave an obvious lift of his brow, and there was much to be construed in his smile. She returned a bewildered gaze at him, but as there were many people and many pairs of observing eyes, she felt too awkward to ask him what in the world was up with him. But the next moment, when she pushed open the door to that room, embarrassment struck her. This room was a bedroom. The people behind her had slipped into working mode already, and it was not fitting for her to say anything either; hence, she could only brazen it out and step inside. Her eyes went from that large bed, to the sofa, then back to the bed, then With deliberate decorum, she took a seat on the sofa, bowed her head, and looked at the computer. However, once she powered it on and went to switch the keyboard input method, she uncovered an even more awkward problem: this computer only had one Chinese-character input methodJyutping input for Cantonese[1]. In other words, there was nothing for her to do. In the end, she could only walk over to the window and stare out vacantly. Through the one door, she could indistinctly hear those voices outside. The discussion seemed to be in full swing. While amusedly trying to recognize which was Yi Wenzes voice, she also carefully recollected their itinerary and what they had done today, until she ultimately realized that she had not done a single thing of value. Yi Wenze appeared not to have any plans. But this was their first official date. Should it be a little more special? Go watch a movie? But that was equivalent to throwing themselves into the gunfire of the media. Go out to eat? It seemed, their lunch today had actually been pretty good. Ah, forget it. If they were going to watch a movie, they might as well just watch DVDs; if they were going to go out to eat, they might as well just order takeout. She was in the middle of talking herself around when, behind her, there was the sound of the opening door. She turned her head. Yi Wenze, holding a cup of coffee, was closing the door behind him. What are you looking at? Quickly spinning around, she leaned her back against the windowsill. Not looking at anything. Whyd you come in? He smiled. Were done talking. Saying this, he placed the coffee onto the coffee table and walked over to Jia He. As she watched him drawing closer and closer, Jia He all of a sudden became a little flustered. This was an honest-to-goodness bedroom. To her left was that huge bed and to her right was a loveseat sofa. This honestly was not her overthinking things This space just put too much pressure on a person. Eventually, he stopped in a spot three steps away from her and pulled out a few DVDs from a metal rack. I need to go to Yi Hua. Would you like A-Qing to go out and stroll around with you? Jia He secretly gave a sigh of relief. No, its okay. Ill wait for you here. With a mild mm, he took out a disc from its case. If youre hungry, there are sandwiches in the fridge. She answered, Mm-hmm. If you dont like the ones I picked, go ahead and choose some yourself to pass the time. As he spoke, he played the DVD for her. Seeing that she was only nodding her head, he finally instructed, If youre tired, have a sleep on the bed for a bit. Jia He nodded self-consciously. He was already gone before Jia He remembered that she had not asked him a very important question: when would he be coming back? But if she were to run out after him now to ask, without a doubt, Wu Zhilun would laugh at her. Waffling indecisively for a long while, she eventually decided that she would just let it be and wait blindly for him. After all, it wouldnt be tomorrow that he came back, right? While she was comforting herself, it was as if an invisible hand was drawing her back over to the window, and secretly she peered out at that car down below. This particular angle happened to have a view of the main entrance. Only a moment later, Yi Wenze walked out. Waiting until he reached the car before pulling out a cigarette, he quietly smoked there, seemingly waiting for someone. And so, beside the window, Jia He watched him, watched as those young girls waiting and standing watch outside pointed with glee and carried out whispered discussions amongst themselves. He, though, appeared not to notice any of this and merely stood alone, in silence. No matter how she looked at it, Jia He felt that the sunshine today was so beautiful and radiant Wu Zhilun did not come out until two or three minutes later. The two exchanged a few words, but just as they were about to get into the vehicle, Yi Wenze suddenly lifted his head and cast a very natural glance at the third floor. Oh no. She had been caught in her peeking. Jia He immediately gave a sheepish wave. And then she hightailed from there. It was a long while before she poked her head back over and snuck another glimpse. Confirming that the car had driven away, she at last loosened with relief. Opening the bedroom door, with the DVD playing in the background, she ran out to tidy things up, washing all the drinking glasses that everyone had used. The chilly stream of water rinsed over those translucent glasses. From inside the bedroom came strains of a very melodious movie soundtrack. Everything felt so ridiculously harmonious. After things were thoroughly cleaned and tidied away, she looked around, very satisfied, and then returned to the bedroom and watched the movie, a throw pillow in her arms. The scenes flashed past on the screen, frame by frame. Despite fixing her eyes on it for a full ten minutes, she did not actually know what she was watching. With a restless heart, she merely stared at the various furnishings inside this room This was her first time staying in Yi Wenzes bedroom. A light, distinctive scent of a man pervaded every part of this room. Burying her face into the throw pillow, she took a deep inhale. Then, squinting her eyes, she very contentedly released a long breath. Mm-hmm. There were no traces at all of any womans scent. Both inside and outside the room were very quiet, with only the sounds of the several male leads in the movie fighting over this and contesting for that. Jia He watched with absorbed attention until the end but then discovered that her head was beginning to buzz and relentlessly cry to her, Im so sleepy I could die, so sleepy I could die! After her whole body had slid down onto the sofa cushions for the third time, she, though conflicted, finally went over and shut the door. Gingerly carrying over the pillow and comforter from the bed, she flopped onto the sofa and dropped into sleep. In that long, deep slumber, the faint scent of cigarettes filled her dreams. She did not know how much time had passed by the time she blearily roused, her throat feeling rather dry. Lifting a hand, she wanted to pull open the comforter to go pour herself some water to drink, but when she shifted slightly, she perceived that she was clasped in an embrace. Her entire body instantly stiffened and she dared not make any other movement. Even, steady breaths grazed warmly against her face. The reason she had woken in the first place was that she had felt hot, and now, in such a situation, her body seemed to burn up even more. In no time, she was covered in a layer of perspiration. She allowed a lengthy while to pass before finally furtively cracking open her eyes and gazing upon his face, which was so very near. He seemed to be deep in sleep, lying still fully clothed outside of the covers. With the pure-white comforter between them, he encircled her in his arms. At such a distance, she could clearly see his chin, the tip of his nose, and, if she lifted her gaze a little higher, his closed eyes. In such a quiet, still place, he was simply sleeping by her side Luckily only she had woken. His eyelashes had not so much as quivered this entire time; he appeared truly exhausted. Their surroundings were actually very dark, though she was not certain whether it was because it was late in the day or he had drawn the curtains shut. Since Jia He did not dare to move, she naturally was unable to get an answer to this question. She only riveted her eyes unblinkingly on Yi Wenze while a flame continuously leaped in her heart. Just look, they had been together for two weeks and three days already, but she still had not initiated a kiss. As she stared at the gorgeous shape of his lips, she tried to cheer herself on. Back in high school, because she had idolized him too much, she had used him as a blueprint for selecting a boyfriend and hence had decisively chosen to miss any opportunities for having a pure, innocent underage romance[2]. During university, she had finally lowered her standards, but because her room was filled with posters of him, she had even gotten into a huge quarrel with Gu Yu. Now she should at least collect back on all of that, principle and interest included! Over and over, she brainwashed herself, Youre his real-deal girlfriend! Whats there to be scared about?! Finally, she started to move. As she was curled up against his chest, she could only slowly slide herself upwards a little bit. Seeing that Yi Wenze showed no reaction, she, with great satisfaction, slithered up a little more. The contours of that face were just too gorgeous, indistinct in this dim room, such that they seemed as if from a picture in an old black and white film. It was this feeling. Back when he first shot to fame, on the television, he had looked clean and untarnished like this, his smile so very polite-looking. He clearly had been purposely curbing himself and maintaining a reserved and taciturn manner, but he had still caused her to instantly fallhardfor him. Jia He stared at him for a while, rapt. At last, steeling her heart, she ever so swiftly touched her lips to the corner of his mouth. And then, holding her breath, she contentedly slid herself back to her original position. The hand at her waist seemed to tighten its hold slightly. She, though, was still immersed in her exhilaration and did not really pay attention as she shifted herself a couple of times. Dont move. A light voice was heard from above her head, very supple and still heavy with sleep. A boom! went off in her mind. Jia He was stunned silly. After a long time, she finally put on a pretense of just awakening, groggily looking at him. Youre awake? Ive been awake for a while. He gazed at her in amusement. Would you still like to continue? Jia Hes mind lost all awareness of everything [1]Computers have various input methods to type Chinese characters (e.g. by stroke order, by standardized pinyin, etc.). The most common method, especially in Mainland China, is to input based on standardized Mandarin-based pinyin. However, as Yi Wenze speaks Cantonese and is from Hong Kong, he uses a Cantonese-based keyboard instead, the LSHK Jyutping keyboard. LSHK Jyutping is a method of romanisation of Cantonese and is recommended by the Linguistic Society of Hong Kong. Alas, Jia He does not speak Cantonese and hence does not know how to use it to type Chinese characters. [2]zao lian. In China, dating under the age of 18, especially when still in school, is generally highly frowned upon and usually prohibited within the school. His arm tightened a little, bringing the two of them even closer. This was going too fast! Jia He shut her eyes for a moment, then opened them again. Um, well They were too close. His breaths, one after the other, caressed her cheek. So hot. From her face, to her palms, to her body Jia He felt that even his hand on her waist was searing. What should she say? What should she say? Who could tell her what she should say? Do you want to keep sleeping? He brought his face very near, practically touching the tip of her nose when he spoke. This was a very delicate sentenceBut good thing sleep was finally the main topic. Forcing her voice as much as possible to appear composed, Jia He tried hard to change the subject. Are you still sleepy? Im awake already. His words were concise. Then no more sleeping? She tentatively asked for his approval. He seemed to have no objections to this. What would you like to do tonight? The question had been tossed back to her. Her entire brain was swarming with words that were not at all pure or innocent. Why was it that no matter which direction their topic wound, it was still so suggestive and open to a certain interpretation? If it wasnt sleeping, it was Luckily, her mobile phone suddenly began merrily chirping away. The custom ringtone she used for her mom had saved her life. She moved her arm, hoping to take advantage of this opportunity to get up. However, Yi Wenze had already casually picked up her phone from the coffee table and handed it to her, thus successfully shattering her plan to flee from there. Jia He could only give an awkward smile, and then telling him, My mom, she immediately answered the call and said hello. Where are you? What time are you coming back? Jia He arbitrarily replied, Im not coming back tonight. But after the words came out, she realized there was something wrong with them and straightaway added, Wait, no. I mean, Ill be coming back a little later tonight. Why didnt you say something? Ive cooked all the food already. Her mom complained, Whats up with this times director? Sure, for weekdays we can let it be, but even on weekends he wants you to go for meetings. Jia He made a sound of mm, feeling guilty. Its my fault. I got here two days late. Go tell that whatever director of yours that you have something going on at home today. Her moms voice suddenly dropped. Gu Yus here. Jia Hes heart gave a thud. Whats he doing there? Her mom seemed to be extremely excited. He said he came to see me and your dad. Just see how good that boy is. Back then you dumped him, but he never held any grudges. From the looks of things, hes still got you in his heart. Your old mom deliberately kept him for dinner. Im buying time for you. You need to hurry back Jia He was speechless. The retribution for lying was now catching up to her. Back when she broke up with him, she had been afraid her mom would be heartbroken for her, so she had merely said that the problem lay with her, that she had suddenly found that the feelings had faded, or something like that. Her mom had hounded and berated her for several months. At the time, she had actually felt that she had been quite wise; in any case, it was better than her mom learning that her precious baby girl had been dumped, and then having heartache for months. But now she realized that, truly, a person must not lie. The crucial problem was, at such close proximity, it was unquestionable that Yi Wenze had heard everything clearly. He was extremely close to her, so close she did not even dare say anything else. Not until she heard her mom on the other end of the line call out, Jia He, did she finally woefully answer, Well talk But she only managed to say these two words. The remaining when I get home did not even have a chance to come out before her lips were covered in a kiss that caught her completely off guard. Hooking his arm around her waist, Yi Wenze rolled over and pinned her beneath him. Sometimes lightly, sometimes harder, he brought his lips to hers, brushing over them inch by inch. His motions were not rushed, but they were very focused and intent on what they were doing Inside the phone, her mom called Hello? a couple of times and then muttered about why there was suddenly no reception. Over on this side, there was already no sound whatsoever from Jia He. The room was too dark; she practically could not see anything. She could only sense that they were both sunken deeply into the sofa. From her heart to her body, she was wholly in his control, and naturally there was no opening for her to even say anything. She did not know when the call was hung up, cluing in only when the glow of her mobile phones screen extinguished, completely swallowing the last bit of light. Her breathing was ragged, and her mind was completely occupied with contemplating how she should explain this to him. Was he angry? It was only when the heat of his palm glided over the skin at her waist that her head cleared slightly. Squirming, she pushed him up from her and panted a couple of times. So, um, about this thing with Gu Yu, Im requesting a chance to explain. He lowered his head to gaze at her. That angle, that look in his eyes Oh, God, itd be better if she just passed out in a coma. This isnt a film set. This isnt an idol drama. Idol, why are you showing such professional dedication? Back then, I didnt tell my mom the truth. Jia He gasped in another light breath, but her brain still felt a little oxygen deprived. I was worried my mom would be sad. Some guy so readily picked on the daughter she had babied and treated like a treasure for so long So I told her that I was the one who didnt want him. My mom has since felt that I did wrong to him. This was so humiliating. She had been dumped but had still had to go stick a feather in her cap. Yi Wenze chuckled. But wasnt that the truth? Jia Hes words were choked off in her throat with his question. After carefully recollecting for a moment, she protested under her breath, Actually, I really was the one who said first that we should break up. But the nature of it was totally different. And so, Yi Wenze said, his smile deepening, what does this have to do with what were doing right now? Silence. She fell into embarrassed silence. Okay, fine, even if I was being sneaky and found an excuse to interrupt you, Idol, theres still no need for you to so straight-out expose me, you know? The sofa once again sank in slightly. Out of reflex, Jia He shut her eyes, but then she discovered that he had already sat up. Her heart dropping, she immediately, hugging the comforter against herself, clambered up from the sofa. What are you getting up for? He shouldnt be mad, right? This whole matter has crossed the line a bit. Gu Yu, that guy, does he not have anything better to do? Why in the world did he have to go to my house? Now hes made my idol misunderstand me Didnt you say no more sleeping? He glanced at his watch. Jia He was glum for a moment. It seemed she had indeed said that. Turning, Yi Wenze took a glance at her. Or could it be you want to continue? Of course not. The denial jumped from her mouth. But once the words were out, she regretted them. Fearful that he would assume she did not want to because she had heard mention of Gu Yu, she hurriedly explained, Actually, its not that I dont want to Yi Wenzes eyes were on her, and he motioned to her to continue what she was saying. Jia He wanted to cry. No matter what she said, it would still sound wrong. How was she supposed to continue? In the end, he let her off the hook first, asking with a smile, Are you hungry? As if she had been given the greatest of pardons, Jia He quickly bobbed her head. Starving. Im about to starve to death. Standing, he handed her coat to her. Mai Jie is in Tianjin. Well drive over there tonight. That rushed? Jia He looked at him, startled. He had just arrived in Beijing and now he was heading to Tianjin? Yi Wenze straightened himself up, walked over to the wardrobe, and began selecting clothing. Pulling out a casual top, he answered, I suddenly really want to have Tianjins snack foods. Beijing actually sells Tianjin snacks, too Halfway through what she was saying, Jia He was suddenly hit with a not-so-good thought. Could it be that her idol was purposely taking her away from here? She snuck a look at Yi Wenze. But when she saw him removing his suit jacket, his motions natural and at ease, she almost blacked out for a moment and she leapt up from the sofa. Im going to go have some water. With that, she did not wait for his response and, slipping on her flats, bolted out of the room. When she reached the coffee station, her heart was still thumping hard. The light of the water dispenser was flashing in the darkness. She groped around for a long time until she found the light switch and turned on the wall lights. Outside in the corridor, someone seemed to be talking. It was a very loud voice, commenting on the actors and actresses who had come for the screen tests today and also talking about the upcoming new film project. As Jia He grabbed a glass and dispensed some water, she realized the very serious error she had made: He had only been changing his jacket Why did she run? Why in the world did she run, aaah?! She was completely in a state of chaos. Here she was, twenty-six, twenty-seven years old but still acting like an innocent little girl newly dating someone. Did she humiliate herself? Or did she humiliate herself? Yes, she humiliated herself Before long, Yi Wenze was changed and groomed. When the two arrived downstairs, Wu Zhilun was leaning against the windowsill, talking on the phone. Seeing them heading outside, he called to Yi Wenze. Where are you going, eh? If youre going to eat, bring me along. Yi Wenze lifted his eyes to look at him. Were going to Tianjin. Wu Zhilun nearly dropped his mobile phone. Wasnt it tomorrow that you were heading there? Its the year 2011 already; you guys are still playing elopement? Making a shut-your-mouth gesture at him, Yi Wenze opened the car door and sat into the vehicle first. Jia He also got into the car. Just as she was about to pull the door shut, Wu Zhilun cried to them again, Wait ten minutes for me! While Jia He hesitated, Yi Wenze was already motioning to her to shut the door, and then, without a second thought, he started the car and drove off. This was the season of blooming willow trees and drifting white catkins[1]. Jia He had only just opened her window before her head was covered with white fluff that had blown in. Closing the window again in chagrin, she dawdlingly pulled out her mobile phone, thinking to give her mom a call. However, realizing that she did not actually know what specifically their itinerary and plans were, she could only turn her eyes first to Yi Wenze. When approximately will we be coming back? When do you want to? You have no plans? Jia He gaped at him. Just a little event. Itll take about half a day. For now there are no plans for the rest of the time. Dont you have work to do in Beijing? Jia He kept on guiding his thinking. Today is Saturday, tomorrow is Sunday. On Monday, I have to keep going with my meetings I more or less took care of most of it today. I can take a couple of days off. Jia He was speechless. This really did seem like they were eloping, bringing nothing along, having no plans. Oh, wait, that wasnt right either. He just said that he could rest for a couple of days. This plainly was premediated and planned. After quite some time, she was still not yet willing to give up and carried on asking, Well, you at least have to have some sort of actual business purpose for going to Tianjin to see Mai Jie, right? At least give her some timing or a schedule. Her moms wait for this hard-to-come-by chance for her to come to Beijing on business had finally come to fruition, but now she was playing a game of disappear off the face of this earth without providing any explanation whatsoever. When she was back, she was indubitably going to be flayed alive and have her tendons yanked out. Whats more her mom had her heart set on Gu Yu, so with Jia He not in Beijing, the old lady just might possibly do something. Its the promotional event for my movie. An Ah? slipped from Jia He. Then what am I going there for? Yi Wenzes one hand was on the steering wheel while his other hand reached over and helped her pick off a piece of willow fluff from her bangs. Eventually Im going to be very busy, so if we can be together, I will as much as possible try to bring you along. Because he was wearing a brimmed cap, faint shadows were cast on the upper half of his face, emphasizing the brooding intensity of those eyes of his. Jia He had originally wanted to say that she had not brought a change of clothing, but then she saw the smile he gave her, saw him waiting for her reaction, saw him discover with satisfaction that she had no objections and then turn back to continue driving. The entire process flowed smoothly, so smoothly that she had not even been able to squeeze out a word from herself. Stress. The stress was just too much. Even heroes cannot resist the charms of a beauty[2], never mind she was just a little screenwriter. Things were already like this; how was she going to get through all the future days? Oh man, how was she going to get through them? In the end, when their car had driven beyond the Third Ring Road, she resigned herself to this fate and took out her mobile phone, deciding that she would tell her mom she had a last-minute business trip, then also find an excuse to ask for this time off from Director Liu. While she wrestled over what reason she could use for this time-off request, she at last noticed that this route was very familiar. No matter how she examined it, it still looked like they were heading in the direction of her home. After carefully scrutinizing for a long time, she finally asked in a small voice, Arent we going to Tianjin? Yi Wenze made a very placid mm in answer before saying, Well go to your home first to grab a few changes of clothes. Go to my. home?! Jia He immediately received a jolt. No, theres no need. I have my credit card with me. If worst comes to worst, Ill just buy some stuff when we get to Tianjin. Im not that picky. Im really, really easygoing. He smiled. Its no problem. It happens to be on the way. Clutching her mobile phone, Jia He began seeing stars. One was to the southeast, the other in the northwest. Was it really on the way? Really, was it on the way? [1] Poplar and willow trees were planted in Beijing beginning in the 1960s and continuing onwards for a few decades to increase the greenery in the city. Over the years, millions were planted. However, in the spring, mature willows will bloom and release what appear to be white fluff, their catkins. As more of the female willows reach maturity, the mass of catkins floating in the air has become a phenomenon in Beijings springs, when the white fluff seems to invade the city. [2] This idiom is generally referring to a man, that no matter how great he is, how remarkable his abilities and achievements, he is still unable to escape being entrapped by love or unable to resist the charms of a beautiful woman. However, here the beauty is referring to Yi Wenzes incredible good looks and Jia He, not even a hero, just a little screenwriter, most certainly cannot resist him. CH 10.1 The car headed northward the entire way. Jia He arbitrarily turned on the radio. Someone had just requested Jay Chous Heading Straight North All the Way. Really, so comical. When they arrived at the gate of her community compound, the security guard, an older man, stretched out his arm to halt them and then came up to their car. Yi Wenze was about to lower his window to speak, but Jia He had already thrown herself at him and was holding down his arm. Let me do the talking. This was the era where everyone in the whole country was on Weibo. It was safer if Idols face was kept hidden. Saying that, she did not wait for Yi Wenzes reaction, and getting out of the car, she gave her greetings to the security guard. Jia He. The uncle-like older man had a rather swaggering grin. Your household is already occupying two parking spots today. Why are you still bringing in another car? Jia He gave a dry, little laugh. Todays my birthday If thats the case The older man let out an Oh! and slapped a hand to his forehead. Just wait a sec. I happen to have a bag of wife cakes[1] here in the gatehouse. Someone brought it back from Guangzhou. Falling silent, Jia He could only wait for this enthusiastically friendly uncle to bring out the wife cakes. During that time, she shot a couple looks at the car window, and after confirming that Yi Wenzes face could not be seen, she relaxed somewhat. When she was back in the car, Yi Wenze glanced at what she was holding. What did he give you? Wife cakes, Jia He reported honestly. Do you like them? Yi Wenzes eyes slid from her face to the wife cakes in her arms. Im okay with them. If you like them, Ill bring you back to Hong Kong with me in the future to have some. Jia He answered him with an okay, feeling only that the word back was very profound. Where do we go from here? Only now did Jia Hes mind catch up. Pointing to the left side, she instructed, Follow that road on the left, take it all the way to the end, then take a right. Its the third building after that. After stating all this, she suddenly realized a very important question. How do you know my home address? Even if Qiao Qiao was an even bigger busybody, she still should not be getting down to that level of detail, right? I asked Qiao Qiao ahead of time. Yi Wenze nonchalantly told her, Im not very familiar with Beijings roads and was worried that if I needed to come last minute, I wouldnt be able to find it. Jia He gave an oh, her heart seeming as if it was rocking continuously in her chest. She only felt that she was going to be intoxicated by him. With a turn of the steering wheel, the car drove along the road on the left. There were not many street lamps in the community, so they could only see things in the immediate surroundings of the vehicle. They had just passed two or three buildings when a car came driving towards them. Since the street was very narrow, Yi Wenze pulled their car over slightly to make room for it. As that other vehicle drove past, Jia He finally made out that inside it was Gu Yu. He seemed to notice Jia He as well and very quickly he stopped the car. Jia Hes heart dropped with a thunk. Just as she was about to say something, their vehicle was already coming to a steady stop. May I get out and have a few words with him? Jia He asked uneasily. Yi Wenze smiled. Do you need me to get out of the car? Um Jia He was hesitant. She actually simply wanted to get out and make things clear with Gu Yu so as to avoid any misunderstandings in the future. Do you want to hear what my thoughts are? Go ahead. Jia He pricked up her ears. You wait for me here. One minute. Reaching his hand to unfasten his seat belt, he turned his eyes on Jia He, as if seeking her consent. Jia He felt as if in a trance from his gaze and her mind immediately went blank. Obliging the look in his eyes, she gave a tentative nod. It was only after the door had banged shut that she heard her heart beatingfuriously beating. Back when she had been so heartbroken that even her insides had hurt, she had sworn that she would find someone better than Gu Yu. She had even fantasized countless times about how she would hold her new boyfriends arm and walk right in front of Gu Yu, her head held high and chest out, provoking him so much he would vomit three litres of blood. Of course, that had just been her fantasy. But now, downstairs of her own home, that fantasy remarkably had come true, except the re-encounter she had planned out in her mind seemed to have become a showdown Jia He, stay calm, stay calm After taking several seconds to gather herself, Jia He hastily spun around and leaned herself through the space between the two front seats, trying hard to get a clear view of the situation behind the car. At this angle, she could see Yi Wenzes backside. Very soon, he had stepped up beside Gu Yus vehicle, and bending down, he directed a sentence into the car. It was too dark; his expression could not be seen. Regret for agreeing to this hit Jia He, for she was afraid that Gu Yu would say something that would cause Yi Wenze to misunderstand and become angry. Fortunately, he only spoke that one sentence before straightening back up and giving a casual pat to the roof of the car. Jia Hes heart at once flew into her throat, and she stared unblinkingly at him, waiting. In that instant, numerous scenes flashed across her mind. If Gu Yu got out of the car, she would definitely need to rush out, throw herself between her idol and Gu Yu, and then say something to make things absolutely clear. But what should she say? This was a question but it was not the most important question. Just rush out first, and then shed take it from there. At any rate, she definitely could not just sit around and wait. This thought had only just been established before Gu Yus vehicle all of a sudden shifted slightly and then drove away?! His hands in his pockets, Yi Wenze very composedly strode back over, got into the car, and began driving. His expression and motions were utterly like he had just gotten off the car to pay for the gas that he had refueled, nothing even the least bit peculiar about them. Jia He only felt that those eyes beneath the brim of his cap seemed even more unreal. What did he say to you? she asked in trepidation. He didnt say anything. He was focused on driving. Oh no. He must have said something that should not have been said. Jia He looked tensely at him. Anything he said, just dont take it seriously. Honest. Theres been nothing at all between the two of us for a long time already. Yi Wenze glanced at her, his face placid. Honest. She felt only rattled and unable to think. She wanted to say many things to explain, but ultimately she did not even know what Gu Yu had said and even more so did not know what she should explain Seeing that Yi Wenze still had not spoken, she grew more anxious. I know we just started our relationship not long ago, but I hate the fickle types who constantly change their affections, or people who are already eating from their own bowl but still keeping an eye in the pot[2]. You know, having basic morals is really important The car suddenly halted. Even more panicked now, Jia He fixed her eyes on him. He gave a light smile. Were there. Huh?! Only now did Jia He turn her head to the side for a look. Sure enough, they were downstairs of the apartment building of her home. Her whole soul still wound up, she turned back and continued staring at Yi Wenze. Are you still mad? Unable to contain himself any longer, a laugh slipped from Yi Wenze. He really did not say a single word. He just left without saying a single word? She still could not make herself believe this. If she had seen correctly just now, Yi Wenze should only have lowered his head and said one sentence and then that car had driven away. As she watched Yi Wenze nod his head, only one word, scrawled in blood-red letters, popped up in her mind: SECKILL[3]. A smile on his lips, Yi Wenze shook his head. Lets go now. With that, he opened his door and stepped out of the car. For three seconds, Jia He still sat dazedly inside, and then immediately she jumped out and circled in front of the car to stand before him. Ill just go up by myself. If he were to make an appearance at the front door of her home, there was a hundred and twenty percent chance her mom would have a heart attack Yi Wenze looked down at her. Whats wrong? The light cast from the outdated street lamps was as faint as moonlight. Her entire face was enveloped in that soft glow, her eyes riveted on him, as if she had words to say but was also wavering and weighing out the matter. All around, it was were very tranquil. Indistinct sounds could be heard of a family on the first floor making dinner and discussing the rising cost of green, leafy vegetables. A real atmosphere of normal, everday life imbued their surroundings. Except the person in front of her. He was too unreal. After faltering over her words, she finally ended up saying that same sentence again. Ill just go up by myself. His voice lowered. What is it thats the matter? We just started our relationship. She finally mustered up the bravery to state her thoughts aloud. I dont think I should let my mom see you too early Ill just go up by myself this time to get the stuff, okay? With an expression somewhere between tears and laughter, Yi Wenze asked, I cant be brought out to show people? Jia He hastily clarified, No I just feel its too soon. And who you are is so special, too. She gazed at him, and gazed at him some more, gazing at him in seriousness. Finally, Yi Wenze nodded, agreeing to this, and motioned to her to go upstairs. At last able to release a long breath of relief, Jia He turned around and took two steps. But then, she very tentatively turned back again to look at him. How about you wait for me in the car? If he stood downstairs so eye-catchingly alone like this, it could very well be that by the time she came back down, her mom might not know but everyone else in the entire community compound would. This time, it was Yi Wenzes turn to be silent. In the end, he could only pull open the car door and sit into the vehicle. Through the front windshield, he could even see that Jia He was examining the car, seeming to feel that this still was not safe enough. It was not until Yi Wenze had turned off the engine and the car lights were completely extinguished that she, satisfied, stepped into the stairwell. Jia He raced up, taking two steps for what would normally be three, until by the time she climbed to the fifth floor, she was already panting. The instant she opened the door, her mom came over, rambling nonstop about how Gu Yu had just left, whether she had seen him, etc. Eventually, her mom became more excited with each word, until she actually started to dial Gu Yus number to tell him to come back. It was then that Jia He felt that this situation was serious, and straightaway she stated that she had already run into him downstairs but he had things to tend to and needed to leave first. Only then did her mom finally give up, turning around and heading into the kitchen to cut up a plate of fruit. It was only yesterday that she had towed her suitcase back here, so, worried that Yi Wenze would be waiting for too long, she only quickly checked through it. Then, bringing the suitcase out with her to the living room, she explained that she needed to go to Tianjin on business and would not be home until a few days later. Hearing this, her mom immediately stuck her head out from the kitchen. Ill say, Gu Yu just said hes going to be in Beijing for this next week. Can you not just stay at home for a couple of days? Apparently, if she did not explain and clear things up, her mom really was going to treat Gu Yu as her future son-in-law For the sake of being able to have a peaceful life in the future, shereluctantly went up beside the door of the kitchen and very gingerly told her mom, Mom, from now on, dont talk about Gu Yu. I also made things clear with him just earlier. Pausing the motions of her hand for a moment, her mom carefully tried to entice and guide Jia Hes thinking. He really is quite good, a lot more mature than he used to be. Jia He looked self-consciously at her mom. I have a boyfriend. Huh? Her mom nearly smashed the strawberries into mush. Since when? Why didnt you tell me? Things just started between us. Surveying that poor plate of fruit, Jia He was even more certain about the correctness of her earlier decision. When our relationship is stable, Ill bring him for you to see. And at that time, dont go scaring him away What does he do? Hes an actor. Her mom swept a chilly glance at her, an expression of I get it on her face. The show-business circle is a very messy place. Thats not a very good choice. Jia He felt awkward. Im part of that circle, too. In any case, its not a grounded, reliable choice. Brandishing a fruit knife, her mom added, Dont tell me its because youre obsessed every day with Yi Wenze, to the point that you only care about good looks, is it? Daughter, we need to wake up a bit. Do you really think you can marry the likes of Yi Wenze? Stewing in awkwardness, Jia He stayed silent. The one word of boyfriend had basically ignited all of her moms parenting potential. Perceiving that her mom, wielding that fruit knife and cutting up some watermelon, had already readied herself into a stance of carrying out a long dialogue, Jia He immediately picked up her suitcase, opened the door, and hightailed out of there. She had only just reached the fourth floor before she heard the shout resounding behind her: Im still not done talking! Gu Yu really is quite good. Hes an editor-in-chief already Not giving even a sound in reply, Jia He sprinted downstairs, and only after she had handed her luggage to Yi Wenze and both of them were in the car did her relief rush out in a huge exhale. But before she could say even half a word, a phone call came in pursuit of her. My mom. With a wry smile at Yi Wenze, she answered the phone. I really have to go. Well talk about it again when I get back next week, okay? A snicker that contained volumes of meaning echoed from the other end of the line. I saw him just now. Hes pretty tall. Didnt see his face, but how come no matter how I looked, it still feels like you chose the boy based on your idol? From what I can see, hes pretty young? He wouldnt be one of the young, little actors in a production cast of yours, right? Jia He was not sure whether she should be amused or vexed by the question. She took a glance at how he was dressed today. Indeed, it did look that way No. My phones out of juice, its out of juice, she hissed, then speedily hung up the call. When she looked up again, the car had already driven out of the community compound. With guilty discomfiture, she took a glimpse at Yi Wenze. After a rather long internal wrestle, she finally came up with an opening topic that she could use. What did you say to Gu Yu earlier on? [1]űlao po bing. Wife cakes, also known as sweetheart cakes or, from their Cantonese transliteration, lo por beng, are a Cantonese pastry. A flaky pastry is filled with a sweet winter-melon filling that is soft and chewy. It is very popular in Hong Kong. [2] ee. When someone is said to be keeping an eye in the pot despite already eating from his own bowl, it means he is not satisfied with what he has. In terms of dating relationships then, it means that person is already dating someone but is still keeping his eyes peeled and looking for other options. [3] ɱ Seckill, which combines second and kill, is a slang that originated from online gaming and is used to describe someone who killed an opponent in a matter of seconds. (Nowadays, in China it is also associated with online shopping, when an item is sold out extremely quickly because buyers swooped in to purchase it.) CH 10.2 By chance, they were coming up to a red traffic light. Yi Wenze brought the car to a steady stop and then, tilting his head to the side, looked at her in silence for a while. The year that Jia He was fifteen years old, I saw her. So, you are the one who is too late. This sentence should be too easy to understand. Every word was spoken clearly, but when they were all linked up together, she did not understand them. The year she was fifteen years old, she was still in her first year in Beijing No. 4 High School[1], day and night taking supplementary and remedial classes, and did not even really know anyone from other schools. And plus, she had never once left Beijing before that, so of course it was not possible that she had previously been to Hong Kong either. How, then, could she possibly have seen him? Could it be? Jia He looked at him. It was a line from some sort of film? Touching and sentimental enough, suitable for a seckill. <>It would be sincerely appreciated if you would only read this story from its actual site of posting, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Thank you. A phone call happened to come in at this time. Jia He could only stare at the traffic light as it changed from red to green, tugging at his sleeve to signal that he could keep driving. With one hand on the steering wheel, Yi Wenze put on his headset and began speaking. Based on the content of the conversation, it should be Wu Zhilun, who, from the sound of things, was driving now and chasing after them. In the space of a few words, the name Tian Chu also popped up. Those two words quietly slipped into her ear. She truly did not want to listen in, but Yi Wenze actually was not trying at all to keep anything from her. Once he hung up, she immediately put on a look of great interest and continued with the question from earlier. Why did you say that? Suddenly thought of it. Yi Wenze appeared as if he had no intentions of explaining anything and instead very nonchalantly changed the subject. It has already been confirmed that Tian Chu will sing the theme song for that film of mine. You may see her on this trip to Tianjin. Jia He had not expected that he would switch the topic over to this, and she paused in surprise for a moment before answering with a smile, Shes currently really hot. The two of you can be considered a collaboration of two strong forces. From a promotional perspective, there should be some pretty good results. Way more than just pretty good. Two people who had just divorced were collaborating againa tidal wave of news stories was once more going to be sweeping in. Thinking about the fact that she would be seeing Tian Chu suddenly made her a little uncomfortable. The incident from two, three months ago in Hengdian was still fresh in her mind. At the time, she had emphatically declared that there was absolutely nothing between her and him. But now While she was not scared of Tian Chu, there was an inexplicable feeling in her, like she had lied. She could roughly guess what Tian Chu had been thinking at the time: She still had feelings and could not let go of them? She wanted to restore the love they once had and continue where they left off? She stole a peek at Yi Wenze. Should she ask or not? If she asked, to what extent would it be appropriate? Yi Wenze started again taking phone call after phone call and hence did not even give her an opportunity to ask. It was only after they had driven onto the expressway that he finally was free to talk. Were on the expressway now. Buckle your seat belt. Oh, okay, Jia He answered, reaching behind her and pulling on the seat belt. As it fastened with a click, he spoke again. Tian Chu is someone who has too strong a sense of pride. If she says anything to you, you dont really need to pay too much attention to it. Jia He nodded, but realizing that he was driving and should not be able to see her, she hastily also added an mm-hmm. She and I signed the papers one year ago to divorce. That whole matter has nothing to do with anyone and was simply because of the friction in our relationship. His words were succinct. If you see anything written in the news, just treat it like youre reading a story. Theres no need to take it too seriously. Yi Wenze was too forthright, to the point that she actually felt a little sheepish. I understand. Thats all in the past. I wont be so petty as to fuss over it. She paused, then tentatively probed, I sense that she seems to want to get back together. Once she said this, she felt even her teeth ache with the bitterness of jealousy. Between boyfriend and girlfriend, it didnt cross the line to ask this, right? She observed Yi Wenze apprehensively. Seeing that he did not appear to show any expression of being turned off, her mind was somewhat set at ease. Yi Wenze seemed to be contemplating how he should express what he wanted to say, and after a while he finally replied, She mentioned it in Hengdian. Their cars driving speed would not be considered fast; there continually were vehicles flying past them. For a moment, both of them were rather quiet. When they stopped to refuel, he at last, before getting out of the car, supplemented with another sentence. She should know that I presently have a girlfriend. Jia He gave an oh. Although she still had many more questions and things puzzling her, she still held them back. If she continued asking, it truly would seem as if she was grilling him. In reality, all this time he had done everything so well already. Their relationship was still in its infancy; she must not make herself seem too petty. Traffic was quite good today. It took only a little more than an hour for the two of them to arrive in Tianjin. As they entered Tianjins urban core, she finally started feeling hungry. Looking out at the various restaurants and fast-food eateries whizzing by from time to time on either side of the road, she instinctively wanted to suggest that they find a place to have dinner. However, when the words were at her lips, she remembered that he could not just so casually show his face in public, and so she could only console herself that there would have to be sacrifices in order to be with her idol, for example, right now. Hungry. So hungry her stomach was cramping. She secretly massaged it, silently praying that they would get to the hotel soon. Hungry? She quickly pulled her hand away. Im okay. Well be there really soon. He stretched a hand over and gave Jia Hes head a little rub, telling her with a smile, Hold out for just a bit longer. Yi Wenzes words were on the mark, for, sure enough, within five minutes they were in a tall building. When the two were in the underground parking garage waiting for the elevator, there were five or six other young people beside them, also waiting. The instant they saw Yi Wenze, they began whispering amongst themselves, and a few braver ones even pulled out their mobile phones, intending on snapping a few photos. He merely smiled, telling them it was okay to take photographs with him but they could not secretly snap any pictures. Jia He hurriedly put on a guise of not knowing him and stood in a corner off to the side, watching as he took photographs with those people. After they stepped into the elevator, she still deliberately chose to stand in the furthermost spot from him. Fortunately, they were going up to a high floor, and before long the last person had exited the elevator. When the doors slid closed, she suddenly felt her hand being enveloped into another oneone that was very warm and full of strength. She turned her head. Yi Wenze, looking down and smiling at her, asked in a slightly apologetic tone, Is it awkward having a boyfriend like me? Jia He intentionally pondered for a brief moment, then suddenly broke into a grin. Is it inconvenient having a girlfriend like me? His smile was resigned. Indeed. Huh? Jia He looked at him, downcast. Leaning in close to her ear, he said, I always need to think about what I need to do in order to give you assurance. The warmth by her ear stirred a slight restlessness in her heart. All of a sudden, there was a light ding, and then the elevator doors were already sliding open. Hastily yanking her hand back, she motioned to him to go first. After they stepped into the restaurant, the hostess, spotting Yi Wenze, at once very keenly led the way. Mr. Yi, this way, please. When they arrived at the door of the private dining room and he was about to extend his arm to push it open, Jia He unexpectedly tugged on his sleeve cuff. Bemused, he turned to her. Her expression was solemn as she gazed at him. Every person who is just beginning a relationship will worry, worry about whether what she has is real and worry that she will lose it. Itll slowly get better. You dont need be too concerned about it. She halted for a moment before stating the central thought of what she really wanted to express. No matter what, you have my total trust. It was very lively inside the private dining room, and based on the sounds that could be heard, there were a lot of people. Once the words were out, she felt that she was being overly corny and melodramatic; on top of that, Yi Wenze was not saying anything either. Right when things were feeling awkward, the door was pulled open from the inside and Wu Zhilun, his head bowed while he talked on the phone, strode out swiftly, nearly running into her. Jia He was given a shock at this. Wu Zhilun, as well, reflexively took half a step backwards, but then the next instant a smug grin of Aha! I caught you guys! spread across his face. How is it that I got here first? Saying that, he quickly hung up the phone and lifted his head to look at his watch. You guys were held up for half an hour. He brushed his eyes over Jia He, then swept them over to Yi Wenze, then back to Jia He, as if he was afraid they would not understand the connotation of his words. Yi Wenze gave his shoulder a pat, his tone calm. Trust me, half an hour is too short. Its not enough to do anything. His voice was neither loud nor soft, but it was just enough for the three of them to clearly hear. Then, taking the hand of an utterly dumbstruck Jia He, he walked in the door. There were many people inside that private room. She took a quick scan around and instantly spotted Tian Chu as well as the woman beside her. Over these years, though she had never seen her in person before, Jia He had watched many of her interviews and quickly recognized that woman to be Mai Jie. Because Yi Wenze was holding her hand, Jia He was a little bashful. She gave a light nod. Mai Jie. Mai Jies smile was very amicable. You must be Jia He, right? Tune of Yongans press conference is in a couple of days. I watched the trailer. If I havent misjudged, your worth and price tag are going to be going way up. In such a setting, this was considered a very suitable conversation starter. Jia Hes heart warmed slightly, and her nervousness eased somewhat. Thank you, Mai Jie. Mai Jie smiled and patted her on the shoulder. Then, she finally turned slightly to look at Yi Wenze. When I called you the day before yesterday, no matter what you would not come here today. Now youve suddenly changed your mind? Yi Wenze had Jia He take a seat by his side before he removed his cap and offhandedly set it on the table. Something came up at the last minute, so I came here earlier than originally planned. This was a routine business dinner. As Yi Wenze had shown up hand in hand with her, everyone, regardless of whether she knew the person or not, immediately became well aware of their relationship. Despite the purposely put on natural smiles and casual conversation, Jia He could clearly see the prying curiosity in each and every pair of eyes. By the second half of the dinner, Tian Chu had already had quite a bit to drink, having downed glass after glass. Jia He watched this somewhat disconcertedly. She had seen this type of situation many times before, but once she became the protagonist of such a sceneand with so many people intently watching at thatshe still felt a little discomfited. Moreover, the people here were from the company that Yi Wenze was a part of and had worked with Tian Chu for many years. No matter how Jia He looked at it, she seemed more like the outsider. However, she appeared to be the only one who held these sorts of sentiments. Yi Wenze, in contrast, was very much unruffled. Before long, dinner was finished and he asked her in a low voice, Would you like to go back to the hotel to rest? At once feeling as if a burden had been lifted from her, Jia He softly asked, You dont need to be here? How about you tell me the name of the hotel and Ill just take a taxi there myself? He did not seem concerned. No, its okay. Im really tired, too. Deliberating for a moment, Jia He felt as well that the longer they sat here, the more awkward things would be, and so she was honest and stated her desire. Then lets go. After the two reached this consensus, Yi Wenze began tokenly clinking his glass with several people, saying that he had arrived from Shanghai and had not had a chance to get a good rest yet so was tired and would not stay to keep them company. No one tried to make things difficult for him; they only smiled and exchanged a couple of sentences of social niceties with him. There were also a few people who had had too much to drink and, with tactless looks at Jia He, tossed out a few jabs and heckling words at him. Lisening to them, Jia He felt even more self-conscious, but as it was not fitting to let herself be bothered by drunkards, she only gave the excuse that she needed to use the washroom and then, getting up, fled from there. Just outside of the private room was a separate, dedicated washroom for the room, and naturally it was very quiet. Pulling out her phone, she sent a text message to Yi Wenze: When youre ready, just let me know. Ill wait for you at the door. His reply arrived shortly: All right. Dont worry, it will be very quick. She had only just set down her phone when a hand pushed open the washroom door. Tian Chu, slightly tipsy, stepped inside. When she saw Jia He, she was somewhat taken aback. Youre leaving now? Jia He watched as she locked the door behind her. Somewhat unable to figure out what this was about, Jia He merely smiled. We drove all the way here and are a little tired now, so we want to head back to get some rest. Tian Chus eyes were shrouded slightly by a mist of drunkenness and also something else. She was quiet for amoment before finally asking, How long have you and him been together? Jia He originally had not wanted to say anything, but seeing her like this, her heart softened a little. Not very long. Smirking, Tian Chu turned to look at herself in the mirror and wiped at a smudge beneath her eye. The prince and Cinderella? The distance between you two is pretty significant. At last, with this random comment that had come so abruptly, Jia He sniffed out the smell of gunpowder that came with a battle declaration. It seemed it was inevitable that they would cross paths again, and then she would once more have to deal with such a situation A bit of frustration rose in her from feeling like her hands were tied, but still she replied, In a certain sense, he is indeed like a prince to me. But I dont think I am a Cinderella who comes from an ordinary background and has only a kind heart to speak of. She tried as much as possible to keep her tone gentle and mild so as to not provoke this person who was more than half drunk. If you judge based on normal standards, I have a harmonious family and also a pretty good career, and I also have the ability to pay a house mortgage and buy a car. Perhaps we will have differences in our family environments or differences in our cultures, and certainly friction and conflicts will arise, but none of those are big problems. These words were simply too serious and proper. After saying them, even she could herself could not keep to the mood, so instead she simply heaved a sigh and said in a half-joking tone, Life is full of uncertainties and ups and downs. Just look at those couple of years when Hong Kong had its financial crisis. A lot of artistes took a loss in the properties they bought. If one day in the future he, too, goes bankrupt from investment failure, I might even need to support the family and pay back the debts. This has always been the case, you know. A screenwriter is a career where you will still be sought after even when you are old. That is not the case for actors; too many have ended up poor and in abject straits in their older age. Jia He filled in these words in her mind. And then, she gave herself a score of ninety for her performance here Still facing the mirror, Tian Chu did not speak again. Jia He also felt that there was no point to staying here any longer, so shortly after, she opened the door and escaped from there. Only when the door had shut did she let out a lengthy breath. As she pulled out her phone, ready to send a text to Yi Wenze, she saw Wu Zhilun leaning against the side of the sink, his smile cryptic. Theres no soundproofing here. I didnt listen in on purpose. [1] Beijing No. 4 High School (Beijing Shi Disi Zhongxue) is commonly referred to as Sizhong. It was founded in 1907 as Shuntian Secondary School, and its current name has been used since 1949. It is considered a prestigious school, with many graduates being accepted into key universities. CH 10.3 Chapter 10.3 The Ex and the Ex (3) While she was still staring stupidly, Yi Wenze walked out and addressed her. Jia He. She turned her head to look at him. The door had not yet closed behind him. The people chitchatting and toasting one another inside the room were like a noisy backdrop. And he, in front of that backdrop, was gazing at her. Because he had consumed alcohol, his eyes seemed cloaked in a floating layer of light, and they were riveted like this on her. In this instant, she finally realized why she liked him. It was because his eyes were always so very focused. So long as he was looking at you, there would be nothing else, not even any other shadows, inside them. Going now? Wu Zhilun looked at him in surprise. Yi Wenze stepped over. You go ahead and continue. Im going to bring Jia He back. And then, his motions natural, he took her hand. Jia He suddenly remembered that Tian Chu was still in the washroom and if she came out and ran into them like this, it would be even more awkward. Hence, Jia He, tilting her face up to look at him, simply stated, Lets go now. Before Yi Wenze could speak, Wu Zhilun lifted his lips into a broad smile and asked him in a low voice, Do you know what Harmonious Family Prospers said? Jia Hes head was buzzing. She honestly just wanted to stuff this guy back through the door, burn his corpse, and completely destroy all the evidence. Luckily for her, Yi Wenze did not show any interest, merely smiling and slapping his cap onto Wu Zhiluns head. Dont drink too much. Grinning, Wu Zhilun gave him a light shove and then looked down at Jia He. Even though A-Ze graduated from architecture school, he actually has a good brain for financial management. You can rest assured that you absolutely wont need to support the family and pay back debts. With that, he reached a hand up, twisted the cap to the side so that the brim was at an angle, and then very suavely sauntered past Yi Wenze into the room. <>The actual and only authorized site of posting is hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Please support the translation by only reading it from there. Much thanks. Even when they were in the car, Yi Wenze did not follow up and ask her the meaning of Wu Zhiluns words. It was actually Jia He who was rather preoccupied, Tian Chus remark continuously running through her head. Inside the washroom she had spoken out of self-defense, so of course she had needed to make up a bunch of reasons to make herself seem strong. However, was that remark not the same thought that would occasionally pop up in her own mind? When all was said and done, she still had questions and things that she did not understand, still had misgivings and fears. She suddenly very pathetically discovered that, actually, all this time she had been preparing herself for being broken up with. Some sort of accident had occurred up ahead. Traffic was a mess, jammed up like a pot of rice porridge. There were constantly drivers stepping out to have a look and also people honking their horns furiously, impatiently trying to rush others. Finding this all very strident, Jia He tried turning up the volume of the music, but still this was unable to drown out the din outside. Time passed like this for a while until Yi Wenze spoke up first, asking a question. Is something troubling you? All right, its time to lay things out in the open. If you have any questions, just ask them. Though she wrestled with herself about it, she still spoke what was on her mind. I was thinking, why do you like me? She reckoned that in some corner of this city, someone else was definitely asking this same question. The frequency of these words playing out is second only to I love you and Lets break up. Most people, in order to verify how much they are loved, will constantly ask things like What about me is so good? Why did you fall in love with me? But she genuinely wanted to know why Yi Wenze, someone who had been surrounded by all sorts of excellent, outstanding women for more than a decade, would fall for her? This circle that they were in was simply too florid and ostentatious. Jia He had thought he would mull over this with seriousness for a bit, but to her surprise, he actually chuckled and glanced at her. Very slowly, he stated, If we judge based on normal standards, you have a harmonious family and also a pretty good career, and you also have the ability to pay a house mortgage and buy a car. Jia Hes jaw fell open and she gaped at him, wishing with all her might that she could throw open the door and run from there. What kind of darned restaurant was that? Its soundproofing couldnt be that bad, right? So did that mean everyone in the room had heard her?! Unfortunately for her, he soon added the last sentence: If one day in the future I go bankrupt from investment failure, I might be able to rely on you to support the family and pay back the debts. The racket outside and the silence inside the car were like fire and ice, two extremes. She suddenly felt hot, then the next second was cold, and she dared not look at him anymore. She only felt that she had humiliated herself all the way to Siberia. Tian Chu called my mobile and deliberately let me listen in. So that meant he was the only one who heard? She exhaled a pent-up breath. Her heart, though, felt no relief and actually grew heavier. It turned out they still had such a good relationship. The road ahead had cleared already. One after the other, cars began moving. It seemed that this was not any sort of good time to talk. Her gaze floated from the side of his face to the steering wheel, and then she completely pulled it back. In the end, however, she still could not restrain herself and softly said one sentence: I think I might be jealous. Quiet. Very quiet. He did not speak. The seat belt was a bit tight and made her a little uncomfortable. Jia He reached a hand over to loosen it slightly. Then, sitting herself up straight and facing forward, she fixed her eyes on the flow of vehicles in front of them. Had she been too frank? To actually even state that she was jealous After they turned onto a different road, Yi Wenze finally picked up his mobile phone, tapped around on it a couple of times, and casually handed it to her. He isnt joking, is he? Hes letting me go through and check up on him? Jia He gazed blankly at him, not expecting that this would be his reaction, and did not dare take it. At last giving a chuckle, Yi Wenze told her, Go ahead and look. That smile was very warm. Outside, a light happened to flash by, shining a beam of white between them. She wavered for a moment before taking the phone from him, lowering her head, and looking at it. Displayed on that light-blue screen was the outgoing call log. It was a long, long name list, but there were only the same two words: Jia He. I dont really like making personal phone calls. If there is work, I still just mainly take phone calls. His gaze on her was earnest. Does this make you feel a little better? How can I feel good about this? she thought gloomily. He was so open and forthright. That just made her seem too small-minded and petty And then that very gracious and forthright person continued, Workwise, she and I dont really have any interaction. If you truly do mind, I will forward her calls directly to A-Qings mobile. That would be too unreasonable She had not even taken things to such an extreme with Gu Yu. If she really did request things to be that way, wouldnt that mean she had double standards, like a magistrate who sets houses on fire[1]? No, thats okay. Thats too hurtful. To me, you are very important. He stated this as a certainty, like it was a definition. He did not use more important, meaning there was no intent at all to even compare. Four simple words, but they immediately caused her to completely lay down her arms in surrender. Theres honestly no need. I She wanted to say, Im not that petty, but she did not even have the conviction to say those words aloud. She could only give a sniffle and let herself fall into silence. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only The hotel was not far. The two of them purposely walked in at staggered times. As it was late already, there were only a handful of people inside. When Jia He was seated and handing over her identity card, Yi Wenze sat down in the chair next to hers. The hotel desk clerk who was checking Jia He in stole a glance at the adjacent computer and then whispered to Jia He, Youre next door to Yi Wenze. So lucky. Exhilaration glimmered in her eyes. Jia He could only put on a look of astonishment and murmur back, Really? That young girl nodded emphatically. Then speedily finishing the check-in process for her, she slid the identity card and a room key card over to Jia He. Wait until you see him stand up and then you can leave. That way youll definitely be able to go up in the same elevator as him. So keen and friendly Jia He sheepishly said a thank you. Both their rooms had been booked by A-Qing, so of course they were next door to one another. <>It would sincerely be appreciated if you would support this translation by reading it from its actual site of posting, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, only. Thank you. I still have some things to do tonight. He helped her put away her luggage. Thats perfect. Jia He hastily pulled out her laptop computer from her bag. I have stuff to do, too. We can be busy with our own stuff. Then she immediately took out the charger and mouse and swiftly plugged them in to show that she really was not lying. Watching as she pressed the power button, he remarked musingly, Who would have thought? My girlfriend is workaholic. She turned a doleful look on him. Its all because of you. We just suddenly came here to Tianjin. I havent even come up with how Im going to explain this to Director Liu. Its no problem. Ill talk to him. With an Ah? Jia He turned him down. No, dont. Im very professional. I cant always just pull you out as an excuse to be lazy. He sent a script over to me and has been saying all this time that he wants to have a face-to-face meeting. Yi Wenze drew the curtains closed for her. Ill just call him and have him come over here and that will solve things. Oh, right A look of reverence instantly flooded Jia Hes face. If that was the case, then this Mondays meeting would definitely be cancelled Lets agree now; youre not allowed to say that Im your girlfriend. In reality, there really was no problem mentioning it to those within the entertainment circle itself, but she just felt weird thinking about the fact that she and Director Liu would be collaborating for several months. Yi Wenze sighed in resignation, Youre planning on keeping me underground and completely hidden away? Jia Hes eyes shone. When one episode of mine commands more than ten thousand [RMB], Ill make you known to the public. With a smiling shake of his head, he said, Ill have A-Lun sign you for the next film. Strolling back over from beside the window, he scanned his eyes over Jia Hes computer desktop, a faint grin on his face. Ill use that to buy an above-ground, made-known-to-the-public status. Jia He let her eyes follow his gaze. At once, heat rushed into her cheeks, and hastily slapping her laptop shut, she began striding forward and shoving him. Forget it. Im just going to put in the effort myself. Hurry and go now. Its really late already. He walked to the door but all of a sudden stopped, quietly gazing at her for a moment. Then, bending down, he gave her a good-night kiss. It was just a light touch. Because he had had some drinks, his lips were rather warm and carried the rich aroma of alcohol. She had always disliked it when people were drunk, but yet because it was him, she only felt that the scent was so fragrant. Thump, thump, thump. Her heart pranced wildly. Closing her eyes, she very naturally moved in to meet his kiss. Love is such a peculiar thing. When it first begins, there is always endless passion and impulsive desire. You will continuously try to draw nearer to the other person, continuously try to feel things out. You want only to be closer by just a little bit more, to know whether you can be even closer still and what extent of closeness will finally satisfy you The central air-conditioning system was producing a faint hum. And she was encircled in his arms, her back against the wall, until finally he released her first and murmured, Rest earlier. Her eyes, slightly dazed, were riveted on him, and softly she asked, You still havent told me, why do you like me? Fine, she admitted that her memory really was too good She truly was too curious, and also genuinely uneasy. She dared not let him show his face, dared not tell the people around her about him, because she was afraid this was just an impulse of his that had suddenly arisen and once the novelty wore off, he would disappear from her life without a trace. She was not someone suited for spontaneously entering into a romantic relationship. Only because it was him, she had muddleheadedly thrown herself into this. But she truly had no confidence No confidence that she could hold on securely to this type of man. <>It would sincerely be appreciated if you would support this translation by reading it from its actual site of posting, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, only. Thank you. Those eyes that were so close, that were right before her, gradually grew tender. He told her, I actually am not really good with words. She looked at him, puzzled. Lowering his head, he brought his forehead to hers. So, dont ask everything all at once. Leave some for me to say. She was still confused and was even beginning to become baffled. Leave them for me to tell you when I ask you to marry me. His voice was very light, but so clear. This was the first time in her life that someone had said to her the words ask you to marry me. And moreover, this man was the person she had always liked, a person with whom she should have had no connection whatsoever It was only a short dialogue, but it succeeded in sealing her ability to think. Even when the room door had shut completely with a light click, Jia He was still leaning against the wall, not daring even to breathe. [1]There is a saying, ֻݹٷŻյ the magistrates are allowed to set houses on fires, but the common folk arent even allowed to light their lamps. Basically this means that the powerful people can have double standards and do whatever they like, whereas the weak and powerless are not allowed to do anything. Jia He means, if she requests Yi Wenze to screen out Tian Chus calls but she herself does not do that to her own ex, Gu Yu, she is having double standards. CH 11.1 Chapter 11.1 An Uncontainable Arousing of the Heart (1) His film premiere event was at seven-thirty in the evening. Jia He had thought Yi Wenze would be going out for a work-related dinner, but contrary to her expectations, at five-thirty he still looked as if he was not heading out yet. Although she was surfing online, she still constantly snuck peeks at him, until he ended up spotting her little actions. Finally, clearing her throat, she said, If you dont go out now, you wont make it to dinner. He glanced at the time. Hungry? Not yet. Am I a pig? Why are you always asking me whether Im hungry? As she brought her head back down and carried on looking at her computer, she all of a sudden discovered that there were a lot of typos in her Word document. Oh no. She needed to start over yet again. Sure enough, when she was sitting beside him, her work efficiency was pathetic. Her face puckered in an exasperated frown. Taking another look at her, Yi Wenze smiled and told her that A-Qing had already ordered dinner and it would be delivered soon. Rather puzzled, Jia He asked, why was he not going out for the work dinner? He was surprised. You have plans? Of course not. She had come here to Tianjin completely unexpectedly; what plans could she have? You dont need to go for dinner with them? No. Standing, Yi Wenze took out some clean clothing from the closet. Ill have dinner with you and then go over there. And then, very openly and unperturbedly, he stepped into the bathroom. Very distinct sounds of running water were heard before Jia He dazedly pulled her gaze back. Lowering her head once more, she began correcting typos. There were the click-clacks of the keyboard and the rushing sounds of water, and gradually they all amalgamated together. Her eyes glued to the screen, she made several rounds of corrections, but still the character outline remained littered with typos. Her heart seemed to drip blood. This efficiency was basically at the level of a primary school student. In one day, she had not even been able to get three hundred words out It was not that her mind was filled with adult, x-rated play; this hotel honestly had too much ambiance. The bathrooms walls were floor-to-ceiling glass. Even though Yi Wenze had drawn the shower curtain closed, that shadow sashaying around inside genuinely was a great test on a persons willpower! She shook her head. Ah, just let it be. She would just make the best use of thisshe would write a passionate love scene. There was still a love scene in her computer over which she had had writers block for three days. There was no better time than now to write it, right? Biting down on her lip, she shot a glance at the bathroom. Then, she swiftly started working. <>Please support this novel by only reading it at its actual site of posting, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Thank you. Outside the hotel; scenery shot. Inside the room. M, ill at ease, is reading a magazine. S quickly removes his jacket and takes out a shirt from the closet. He walks to the door of the bathroom, stops, and, with his hand on the door, looks at M. S: (smiles) How about you shower first? M: (nervous) Im waiting for a phone call. You go ahead and shower first. S, smiling and not saying anything, walks into the bathroom. The sound of water is faint in the beginning and slowly gets louder. Ss silhouette is vaguely discernible behind the shower curtain. Thump, thump, thump. Someone was knocking on the door. Jia He nearly flipped off the bed. Hastily tossing her laptop onto the bed, she tore to the door, took a deep breath, and asked, Who is it? Screenwriter, its me. It was A-Qings cheerful voice. Jia He opened the door. Hurry and come on in. A-Qing, holding a large paper bag, in high, animated spirits, took one step in, but then the next moment her face turned bright red and she leapt back two steps in retreat. I just randomly bought this. Not sure if you like it or not. Saying that, she flung out her arms and stuffed the bag over to Jia He. Eat it quick. Its still warm. Jia He wordlessly took the bag, a despairing feeling in her that even if she had a hundred mouths, she would not be able to explain this misunderstanding. Because of her own principles, it was not as if she could tell Yi Wenzes assistant, Nothing happened. Dont read too much into this, right? Awkwardly, she said thank you and was about to resign herself to this fate and shut the door when, behind her, someone instructed, Have the car wait downstairs at seven oclock. A-Qing responded first with an Oh, okay but then hurriedly added, Its still early, still early. And then with that, she was gone, dashing off so quickly it was like she was a wisp of smoke. To step out nowhe sure had good timing. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only As Jia He woodenly turned around, he was already taking the bag from her arms. Water dripped from the ends of the hair of this person in front of her, and he had not gotten to fastening all the buttons of his shirt, so it lay half openhe looked utterly like he was shooting a bathroom commercial And now with such an appearance, he, holding a paper bag, a very light smile touching his lips, was asking her, Do you want to take a shower? On one side was the bathroom, tendrils of white steam emanating from it; on the other was a floor-length mirror, which infinitely magnified the space, and also his smile. Jia He felt only that every drop of blood in her body was boiling and in next to no time would cook her through and through. Tongue-tied for a long time, she finally managed to squeeze out some brief words. Eat first. Itll be a problem if you dont have enough time to get there. Flying by in front of her eyes was the love scene she had just written. Vivid pictures were popping out, frame by frame, from her mind. Instantly, her face burned in a fierce shade of crimson, and even the tips of her fingers were beginning to grow hot. Jia He quickly snapped her gaze away. Do you want some water to drink? After tossing out these words, she headed straight to the bar counter, squatted down, and opened the minibar, waiting for his reply. Say something, say something. This is just too awkward. She slid her fingers unthinkingly over all the cans and plastic bottles. So cold. Still, though, this was unable to suppress the embarrassment of a moment ago. From the corner of her eye, she watched as he strolled over, bent at the waist, and propped one hand on the bar counter while the other reached into the minibar to grab some purified water. Such a posture was just right to enclose her against his chest. The water on his hair skimmed against the top of her ear. Instantly she stiffened. Fortunately, he simply took out two bottles of water. Help me choose a set of clothes, he requested. Its to wear tonight. Hearing these words, Jia He was a little dumbfounded. I dont really know how to choose mens clothing. I dont really have good taste. Yi Wenze straightened, then grabbed two drinking glasses. Its no problem. My clothes are all very simple colours, and at public events I just wear a dress shirt and suit. It will be really easy to choose. Jia He gave an oh and watched as he began pouring the water and motioning to her to go to the closet to make her selection. Thus, she could only drag her feet over there to do this task that she was totally unversed in, like a duck being forced to climb up and sit on a perch. Actually, Yi Wenzes style of dress and taste in clothing were absolutely excellent, and over these years, simply from following his news stories and seeing candid shots of him, she was already thoroughly familiar with them. But to actually have her choose for him She still felt apprehensive. However, after opening the closet and seeing that row of black, white, and gray, she immediately calmed down. With these types of colour combinations, she could not go wrong no matter what she picked. I remember, at Tune of Yongans press conference, you were wearing this one? she asked, holding up a garment. It was impressed too deeply on her mind. This was what he had worn the very first time she saw him. In the future, she definitely needed to store it away carefully. The couch was beside the window. By now the sky had already dimmed, and looking out at it from where she stood, it seemed like a clean stage curtain stippled near and far with glowing lights. A very small bottle of water was in his palm. As he offhandedly twisted open its cap, he gave a very light mm. The tinkling of pouring water became very clear. She turned back to the closet, flipping through his button-up shirts one at a time. There in fact were not many, but she still looked over them for a long time. How about you wear a more casual button-up shirt? I like it when you wear white. Sure. You actually look even nicer when youre dressed in more casual outfits, but for this type of event, well forget that. She pulled out two shirts. Which one is better? There were merely subtle differences in the styles, but still she remained undecided. Yi Wenze took a drink of water. Which one do you like? Jia He waffled back and forth for a while before raising the one in her right hand. This one. Then well go with that one. After receiving this initial nod of endorsement, she became increasingly at ease and began discussing each item with him. However, she eventually discovered that regardless of what she said, he would always nod his head and say sure. In the end, even she felt a little sheepish. Are you intentionally just going along with whatever I say? He smiled. For this kind of thing, you be the one to decide; itll be fine. His tone was very placid, the look in his eyes gentle. And it was in such a way that he had said to her, You be the one to decide. <>It would be sincerely appreciated if you would read this translation only from its actual site of posting, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Thank you. She walked back over to him at last, but she still seemed worried. Do you need accessories or anything? Only now did Yi Wenze begin one by one pulling out the takeout boxes of food. We dont need to be so particular. Its just a film premiere. Jia He wanted to ask more questions, but he was already handing a pair of chopsticks to her. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. Lets eat first. With an oh, Jia He reached over to take the chopsticks, but capitalizing on her motions, he captured her hand in his and pulled her over to sit on his lap. That day, you were wearing this blouse that youre wearing now, and on top you wore a pink down coat. You were very pretty. A very ordinary comment. How come, though, anything that came from him was always so stirring and sentimental-sounding? Her gaze flitting around haphazardly, Jia He compelled herself to not look at his opened collar. But very unfortunately, the frame upon frame of pictures instantly jumped into her mind again. This was practically a live rehearsal of it. Next time, she could not write that type of thing again, and she especially was not going to use him as the source and inspiration Her last shreds of levelheadedness were crying to her, Calm down, calm down! Theres no time. At last, she wiggled out of his embrace. Your leg just healed up. Sitting like this will cause issues. And then she stuffed some iced water to him. Calm down, calm down. Everyone needs to calm down. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only Yi Wenze was taking a vehicle that had been pre-arranged for him, so Jia He simply drove his car and arrived at the cinema herself. As this was the films premiere, the parking spots in the nearby vicinity had all been snatched up already. She circled around for a long time before finally finding a place in a residential area to park. Then she sadly had to walk for another ten minutes before she was at the cinema. Everywhere there were people, and all around there was discussion, excited discussion. As her eyes took in all these people, her heart suddenly began pounding as well. Such a good response, so many fansit was impossible for her to not feel pride. She swung the car keys, her lips all the while forming an upward curve. After surveying around with her eyes, in the end she chose a corner on the second level from which she had a wide field of view. She had just settled herself in and stood still when someone at the door squealed, Yi Wenze! Quickly, she poked her head over for a look, but out of nowhere a pat landed on her shoulder. Jia He? The person behind her was a little uncertain. Jia He turned her head. It was a very handsome face, one that seemed very familiar. She hunted briefly through her memory before finally remembering. Zhou Jun? Someone who had played a small supporting role in her previous drama serial. She truly would not have expected to see him here. Zhou Jun pulled off his sunglasses. It really is you. I thought I was mistaken. Such a coincidence? Yeah, such a coincidence. Jia He gave a perfunctory response. By now, excited commotion had broken out downstairs. She hurriedly whipped her head back to get a look. Yi Wenze had already entered the main entrance hall, a smile on his face the entire way as he strode over to the elevator lobby. The woman beside him wore a cocktail dress and was smiling sweetly. While Jia He was trying to recall the name of this leading actress, Zhou Jun quietly spoke up again beside her. You came here to accept a new script project? Jia He shook her head and smiled, No, Im here to hang out with a friend. Boyfriend? His question certainly was direct. Jia He was taken aback. Seriously, do we know each other really well? Why are you asking about absolutely anything? However, out of courtesy, she still answered, Mm-hmm. Seeing that Zhou Jun had intentions to continue inquiring, she hastened to speak up first. Its starting now. I need to go in. Zhou Jun looked at her in delight. Youre here to watch City of Darkness, too? When Jia He nodded, he pulled out his ticket. Me too. Someone gave me a ticket. I just came to have a look; maybe I would run into some old friends. Jia He merely gave an oh. He continued, Lets have a look at your ticket. We can see if were together. This guy sure was a natural socializer. Jia He fished out her ticket and handed it to him. Right after he took it from her, he gave an admiring sigh. Wow, nice ticket. These sorts of seats are all for people on the production side, right? With the ticket still in his hand, he gave a few more sighing words of wonder. Jia He listened to all of this in great awkwardness. Given that she had such a ticket, she could not very well say that she was not well-acquainted with the people from the production team. Therefore, she had no choice but to find A-Qing and ask for one more ticket. Her original intention was merely to deal with him and then let him go on his way. She had not expected that, after hearing it was Jia He who made the request, A-Qing would straightaway treat this as a task of utmost importance and insist on getting a ticket directly beside Jia He. When the two took their seats, Zhou Jun was still prattling away in a low voice, deliberately being amusing and witty with everything he said. Jia He felt somewhat discomfited. All of a sudden, she remembered the rumors that had gone around about this person. She actually was never really able to remember actors or actresses names. The reason she could remember this little-known actor was that his girlfriend happened to be one of the several screenwriters of her previous drama project. At the time, she had heard people secretly criticize that his favourite thing to say on the filming site was, My girlfriend is the screenwriter. If she wants to give more screen time to someone, she will; if she wants someone to die, shell kill that person off As she thought of this, she was disconcerted. It wouldnt be that It shouldnt be, right? There were the routine introductions, speeches about feelings and reflections, and interactions with the speakers. And then, when Yi Wenze stepped onto the stage, the atmosphere completely kicked into high gear. The emcee was vivacious, but no matter what questions were asked, Yi Wenze would merely respond with a few words spoken in a mild tone, touching just enough on the matters, his answers ample but not overly so. In the past, every time Jia He watched his news interviews, she would feel that her idol was very urbane and sophisticated. Now, though, as she listened to him, she found this very amusing Even when the lights had dimmed at the end, there were still people shouting his name. Beside her, Zhou Jun was still jabbering on and on, trying to make conversation. Truly unable to take it anymore, Jia He hissed a Shhh! at him. Its starting now. Lets watch the movie first. Before the sound of her voice had even faded away, someone sat down in the empty seat next to her. It was Yi Wenze. Giving Jia Hes hand a light squeeze, he was just about to speak, but Zhou Jun immediately poked his head over and cried in surprise, Teacher Yi? CH 11.2 Chapter 11.2 An Uncontainable Arousing of the Heart (2) Out of instinct Jia He wanted to pull her hand back, but the grip around it unexpectedly tightened. The next second, Yi Wenze relaxed his hold again. However, as a result of this one action, she did not dare try to remove her hand from his anymore. Gathering her courage, she made herself stay calm, and stay calm some more. Yi Wenze took a glance at Zhou Jun and nodded, saying, Hello. Zhou Jun quickly patted around on himself in search of his mobile phone, and then finding it, he at once leaned half his body over and flashed a fervent smile. Teacher Yi, Ive always been your fan. Ive watched your movies since I was a kid. Yi Wenze gave a nod, indicating that he could continue speaking. But such an insipid expression actually put greater pressure on a person. Simply from watching the two of them, Jia He felt her palms grow clammy on behalf of Zhou Jun. The film had already begun. The sounds reverberating from the sound system immediately buried all noise. All around, the people fell quiet. Because there was now some illumination, Zhou Jun noticed, rather late, that the two were holding hands, and he was somewhat stunned. Then a broad grin immediately spread across his face again. Jia He and I are good friends. I heard that, Teacher Yi, you have started up your own production company. I wonder if we will have a chance to work together in the future. Jia He secretly ground her teeth in irritation. Zhou Jun snugged himself closer toward Yi Wenze. Gosh darn it! He was almost sprawled on top of him. Yi Wenze continued nodding politely. I hope there will be an opportunity to work together. Very much officialese. He completely disregarded Zhou Juns action of pulling out his phone to try to ask for a phone number. Zhou Jun still seemed to be vacillating, but Jia He was already giving a light cough and kept nestling herself against Yi Wenze. Her actions were too obvious. Zhou Jun at last caught the signal that he was being shunned, but gritting his teeth, he still asked, Would it be convenient for you to leave a number? If you have a chance to come to Tianjin again, Ill treat you to dinner. Jia He glared resentfully at him. Good thing youre a man. If you were a woman, Id bust your head off. Hmm Even a man could pose to be a problem; people nowadays were relatively liberal about certain things She swept a look at Zhou Juns tapered chin, which appeared as if it had gone through cosmetic surgery, then surreptitiously looked at Yi Wenzes overly gorgeous eyes and his face, which, in her heart, never grew old. Actually, he honestly wasnt old. Who told you to become famous so early? Youre just thirty-something, but everyone who runs into you makes that comment about having watched your movies since childhood, so it sounds like youre in your fifties Yi Wenze smiled. Im not accustomed to giving out my personal phone number. After giving this answer, he finally met Jia Hes eyes, which seemed to be glimmering with countless words. Jia He at once twisted her head away in self-consciousness, as if her thoughts had been seen into, and composedly watched the movie. Finally grasping the meaning of tactfulness, Zhou Jun tamely sat back into his seat and turned his gaze to the screen. A short while later, Jia He murmured in Yi Wenzes ear, I totally idolize you. How come I just cant seem to learn how to refuse people? He picked up a bottle of water from beside him and, unscrewing the cap, handed it to her. Youll slowly learn. Jia He took the water from him and had a sip. When she was about to ask him for the cap to cover it back up, Yi Wenze also set a large bucket of popcorn on her lap Jia He stared blankly at the popcorn. When did he buy this? Did the cinema give it out to the actors and actresses? Due to the shifting picture on the screen, light and shadow were continuously interchanging. Jia He downed another mouthful of water. Can you not be so wonderful? I feel like this is too unreal. I keep having a feeling like Im acting in a movie A smile filled Yi Wenzes eyes, and quietly he said, I have a lot of faults. Theyll slowly come to light. Then he took the bottle from her and folded his hand around hers again before turning his head to continue watching the movie. Just where were the faults? He was obviously the tall, noble, and all-round perfect type Gazing at the continually flickering light in his eyes, Jia He picked up a flake of popcorn, but just as she was about to stuff it into her mouth, she felt this wasnt very right of her. Timidly, she held the popcorn up in front of his face. He smiled and took it between his teeth, then ate it. Her fingertips brushed against warmth. A tremor shot through Jia Hes heart. Hastily, she grabbed another flake and shoved it into her mouth to calm herself down. <>Please support this translation by reading it only from its actual site of posting, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. This would be very sincerely appreciated by the translator. Thank you. Seriously, this should have been such a good film. However, after staring at the screen for the whole two hours, she did not even know what she had watched. The reason was simple. In those two hours, Yi Wenze had shifted three separate times with her hand still in his, from lightly holding it, to interlacing their ten fingers together, to eventually pulling her hand over and setting it on his thigh. Though Jia He had never gathered up enough courage to go on a rollercoaster, she swore, this entire process absolutely was in no way inferior in terms of stimulation on ones nerves. Countless times she had peeked at Yi Wenze, but seeing him watching with such focus, she had not dared to withdraw her hand. The film was nearing its ending when Yi Wenze asked her softly, Would you like to leave with me? Jia He was about to nod, but then remembering his car that she had parked in a certain community compound, she could only glumly lower her voice and answer, I need to go get the car. The place I parked is too complicated to describe. Im guessing that apart from me, no one will be able to find it. All right. Ill go back to the hotel first. When you arrive, come find me. He finished saying this before finally letting go of her hand, standing, and leaving his seat first. To avoid obstructing the view of the people in the rows behind, he politely bent at the waist. However, his silhouette was simply too eye-catching, and despite leaving the venue so swiftly, he still caused quite a stir. When the film had completely come to its end, Jia He, holding the bucket of popcorn in her arms, rose to her feet. Immediately, Zhou Jun beamed and asked her whether she needed him to help her hold it. The tone he used sounded as if he was offering to help her carry a natural gas cylinder. Giving him a look that showed she found him beyond comprehension, she uttered a goodbye and then was about to go on her way. You and Teacher Yi are? Zhou Jun, slipping on his sunglasses, purposely assumed an enigmatic tone to ask this. Jia He smiled at him, not giving any reply. What a waste of words! Werent we holding hands already? What, do you think he really needs to hop on my casting couch before he can get a part in a film? She deliberated for a long time even after leaving the cinema, but ultimately she could not bear to throw away the popcorn and simply carried it in her arms to go get the car. Twenty minutes later, having circled through that community compound three times already but still not finding the vehicle, she very pathetically realized that she was lost. In the end, she could do nothing except dial Yi Wenzes number. Whats your cars license plate number? Yi Wenze stated a string of digits. Whats the matter? Jia He was unable to hide her dejection. I cant find the car. I was planning on asking the security guard to help me look for it after I got the license plate number. On his end, he held his silence. Jia He hurriedly hung up. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only When she was back at the hotel and had just come through the revolving door, she saw walking towards her several hotel staff members who were getting off their shift. One of them was the desk clerk who had checked her in, and spotting Jia He, she immediately smiled and asked, So howd it go? Did you see Yi Wenze? It was his films premiere today, but I couldnt make it. Hemming and hawing, Jia He replied that she had gone out for a meeting and did not get to see it either. Right as she strode out of the elevator, her mobile phone began trilling with all its might. Surprisingly, it was Friend Qiao Qiao, from whom there had been no news for a long time. There was no talking on the other end of the line at first, only a while of sobbing. Jia He instantly knew what was going on: Friend Qiao Qiao was once again recovering from a broken heart. Jia He waited wordlessly for some time until Qiao Qiao, with sniffles and chokes, gave a whimper, and then she asked, What was the reason this time for the breakup? How did you know? The heavy nasal tone did not at all mask Qiao Qiaos astonishment. I guessed. The way she was crying, besides getting broken up with, what else could it be? I know right now youre in the honeymoon phase of your relationship, Qiao Qiao said, extremely sincere in admitting her wrong, but I called Xiao Yu and she only said five sentences before swatting me away. Thats the only reason I came to find you to seek some comfort. Jia He immediately grew invigorated. Toxic-Tongue Xiao Yu was not an undeserved, exaggerated title. Only five sentences to get her KO? What did she say? Qiao Qiao hatefully repeated, She said, You break up seven or eight times with every man, to the point Im sick of just listening to you talk about it, so next time, until youve broken up for six months, dont even tell me. Jia He stifled a guffaw. That is the absolute truth. Qiao Qiao kept complaining, I know shes got a toxic tongue, but I need her toxicity. And then, I was really humble and submissive and told her, I just want to hear you tell me off. Just berate me until I wake up and then itll be good. And what did she say? She said, Get lost! Ive scorned and raked that guy over the coals three times already and have no new words to use on him. Next time, just record and play back. What was the fifth sentence? Goodbye Ohhh. Jia He understood now. So thats why you came to harass me? I must tell someone. Its just too suffocating, Qiao Qiao rushed to explain, worried that Jia He would hang up on her also. Do you know? Hes just too scary. He asked me today, if we were to get married, what would I want? I was keeping in mind that his career is just starting off, so I was really considerate and said that just a little diamond ring is enough. Like, a really small one is enough. Thats a very reasonable request. Jia He was puzzled. Isnt he the number one bass player in Taiwan? He cant even afford to buy a little diamond ring? Exactly. Qiao Qiao was indignant. He actually had the nerve to get really mad right away and say that Im marrying him just for the diamond ring. Then guess what he said! Jia He grimaced. That boyfriend of yours is one-of-a-kind. I cant guess. He actually said, Fine, Ill give you a diamond ring but you have to give me something, too. I want a 100,000-RMB watch. Use your artsy words to comfort me a bit. Jia He had just stepped up to Yi Wenzes room door, and she gave a few light knocks on it. When Yi Wenze appeared, she mouthed the words Qiao Qiao to him, then carried on talking on the phone while she walked into the room. Well Resigning herself to this task, Jia He pondered for a moment. You need to think about this from the perspective of overall history, like really big-picture thinking. Think, this thing of losing a love and getting broken up with happens every day to people. To put it bluntly, life still goes on, and at most youre just going to change out one of the people by your side. Its not a big deal. Hey, not bad. Qiao Qiao mulled this over. Ill post it on my Weibo for my next update and be artsy for once. If you say a couple more sentences, Ill have my QQ signature for the next half a month, too. Jia He fell silent, then was silent some more. Youve gotten used to using me as your ghostwriter, havent you? Qiao Qiao gave a hee hee, her unspoken admission to this. On her end, Qiao Qiao sniffled and sobbed and talked for another lengthy period before finally hanging up. <>This translations actual site of posting is hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only. Please support it by reading it from there instead. Thank you. Only a wall light was turned on inside the room. Yi Wenze had sat back down on the couch and was smoking, his smile very profound. Feeling an uneasy guilt from his smile, Jia He reflected on her own words from just earlier. They were indeed a teeny bit inappropriate. So, smiling sheepishly, she set the popcorn onto the glass table and grabbed a can of cola. Qiao Qiao just got broken up with. I was comforting her. The subtext: Anything I said is not what I really believe, absolutely not what I believe! That guy is just too one-of-a-kind. He was the one who asked Qiao Qiao what she wanted if they were going to get married. Qiao Qiao only said that she wanted a really small diamond ring, but he actually threw a fit at that and said that Qiao Qiaos reason for marriage was just to get his money. With a crack, Jia He opened the cola and took a small sip. Empathizing with Qiao Qiao, she denounced, He actually even went so far as to say, since Qiao Qiao wants him to give her a diamond ring, Qiao Qiao needs to give him a 100,000-RMB watch. Giving an mm, Yi Wenze remarked, Tell her, the next time she goes to get glasses, she needs to find a better shop. Jia He had to run these words through her mind once before she caught the underlying meaning, and then she could not help giggling. All of a sudden remembering that tomorrow was Monday, she asked, Have you arranged things with Director Liu yet? Yi Wenze stubbed out his cigarette. Hes coming to Tianjin tomorrow for about two days. Jia He blew out a long breath of relief, her mind only now set at ease. Walking over to the window, she gazed at the lights outside. She was about to ask when they would be returning to Beijing when, from behind, Yi Wenze completely enclosed her in his embrace. His one arm circled around her waist while he tilted her face up with his other hand. His touch was light, but it caused her heart to quiver furiously. Her face tilted upwards, she was pulled from the bustling magnificence below, where the street lamps dimly cast their glow, to those intense black eyes, wholly falling into them as she allowed his kiss to come down on her. His hand was scorching. Their breathing slowly became ragged, and they were long since unable to distinguish themselves from the other person. Jia Hes only feeling was that she was lightheaded and faint. Yet, there was a nagging sense in her that something was not right. What was it? <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only Oh, yes, that was it: all this time, music had been playing in the room. But why did it sound so familiar? Only when she was practically about to lose her awareness of everything did she abruptly rememberthis was the music from her computer. When she left, she had not shut off her computer, so it had been playing this song on repeat the whole time. Her Microsoft Word had not been shut down either. And her computer was not set to go to sleep after a period of inactivity Oh no. The love scene That love scene inside her Word document He saw it all?! CH 11.3 Chapter 11.3 An Uncontainable Arousing of the Heart (3) She swore, he must have seen it He wouldnt be thinking that she purposely left it open, would he? If it was because of that that he then this honestly was a huge price to pay! But such a tender, loving kiss that showed such longing, she ultimately was unable to resist and could only toss down all defenses in surrender. She liked him; she liked his gentle tenderness, liked the reasonless good that he gave her. Was it enough? Was it enough for them to continue on together to the end? She felt somewhat short of oxygen and gradually transitioned into a state of being unable to think. Push him away? Or yield to him? This was a struggle that had no answer at all. Until that warmth glided from her lips to her face, her neck, and finally came to a stop by her ear. You dont often write love scenes? Huh? The rhythm of this was moving a bit too quickly, wasnt it? She gave a very miserable mm-hmm. Who would constantly write love scenes for no reason? Sometimes, you dont need to have too much dialogue. By her ear he spoke in low tones, his voice tinged with hints of huskiness. If you love someone, you will be unable to control yourself and want to be close to her. To touch her hand. To kiss her face. To see her flustered and not knowing what she should do with her hands and feet. Repeatedly touching her is just so that you can repeatedly confirm, repeatedly prove that We really are together, that She really is mine. Thats why the best love scene should begin with very slight physical contact and then slowly build up the atmosphere from there. These words sounded very proper. But still, there was no need to do a live demonstration, you know On the glass of the window, their two shadows overlaid, one upon the other. The glow of the city lights was too brilliant, actually overwhelming the starlight, dimming it. Its like right now. I cant help paying attention to you. Every subtle little detail, I want to have a closer look at. It is not simply for getting to that final step. His five fingers slid between hers and very lightly caressed her. When youre nervous, all five of your fingers will half-close and curl into a little ball. I will always think, how can I help them to unfold so I can hold them in my hand and look at them closely? His gaze fell onto her hand. Your fingernails are really small and trimmed very neatly. Very slender, your fingers, and very long. His hands were gorgeous. The first time she saw them at the press conference, she had already sighed feelingly about them. But now, here, he was carefully studying her hand, setting it on his palm. Her eyes unconsciously followed his gaze to land on her own hand. Because she was thin, the joints appeared a little obtrusive and the veins were very prominent, too It was obviously really ugly. She felt weak. Disquieted, she tried to pull her hand back. Then, she very perceptively discovered that she was a little anxious and her fingers were indeed maintaining a half-closed position. They were both very hot. The air conditioning clearly was on, but a layer of perspiration already covered their bodies. On the glass, she could see his silhouette and also the room behind them. Jia He watched as he brought his face down again. Instantanly, her nerves grew taut. The warmth on the back of her neck was like a fuse, setting alight all of her blood. In her chest, something was ready to burst forth. With each inch that they drew closer to one another, she only felt that it was still not close enough Without warning, her phone began ringing again. She started, nearly crashing through the glass and flying out. <>This translations only authorized site of posting is hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. It would be greatly appreciated if you would support it by reading it only from there. Thank you. Feeling limp, she pulled out her mobile phone. It wasonce againQiao Qiao. This is no good. I cant sleep. I need to vent. It was apparent the person on the other end did not know what role she had just played, still pouting plaintively. Wait a sec. Jia Hes eyes welled with warm tears, for the first time discovering that this breakup of hers had occurred at a very opportune time. Covering up her mobile phone, she turned to Yi Wenze and feigned a look of resignation. Its still Qiao Qiao. Yi Wenze gave a resigned smile as well and kissed the tip of her nose. Tell her, theres no next time. From now on, ten oclock onwards is the period when all phone calls will be rejected. Her chest hammered and the corners of her lips turned up into a stiff smile. You go to bed first. Ill go back to my room to talk on the phone. He helped her pack up her computer and handed it to her. Rest earlier. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only When she was back in her room, she pressed her back against the door, hugging her computer and calming herself. Did I interrupt some sort of exciting scene? Screenwriter? Qiao Qiao at last was being sensitive. A certain Mr. Yi said that youre not to call me after ten oclock. Jia He repeated every part of his instructions and then threw herself belly-down onto the bed. Ohhh. Qiao Qiao gave a meaningful sigh. Thats too early. Your bedroom activity starts too early. You guys sure are able get down to things. She suddenly discovered that everybody around her very much had a natural talent for writing dialogue, except her. Start talking. Didnt you want to pour out your heart? I just wanted to tell you in this last half an hour, everyone in the entire country has sent me a congratulatory message, congratulating me on my breakup. And so youre just missing this one congratulatory message from Tianjin? Qiao Qiao sniggered. Honestly, hows the relationship between you two developing? Youve done the deed already? Hold it right there. Flipping over, Jia He stared up at the ceiling and mumbled, It just feels unreal. Then she began rattling on about the many various, complicated things of this past little while. At the very end, Qiao Qiao summarized it all into one sentence: So what youre saying is, youre taking a boyfriend whose one of the most-coveted guys out there, treating him like some sort of scandal that people cant know about, and hiding him away underground? What are you talking about? only Jia He did some self-reflection. This is still okay, right? Dont those people who win five million in a lottery all wear face masks and sunglasses, for fear that others will know that good luck dropped from the sky and smacked them in the head? This feeling should be about the same, right? Actually, I get what youre feeling. The person on the other end of the line began very dutifully counselling her and trying to talk her around, evidently having forgotten her original intent in making this phone call. When youre in a relationship with such a person, you cant do any of the stuff that normal people can. It sounds like this great fantasy, but youre actually quite stifled when youre living it. Right now you guys are just starting out. In the future, once he starts filming, therell be months at a time where you wont see him. And then at every turn, there are going to be rumoured romances and scandals flying about. If you have any headaches or fevers, he cant even give you the most basic thing of being there by your side Hold it right there. Jia Hes mind was a little preoccupied. Talk about your stuff. I dont need your counsel. Afterwards, regardless of what words were said on that end, she would only give responses of mm-hmm, mm-hmm and uh-huh, uh-huh. In fact, all people who are recovering from a broken heart just need a listening ear. Giving counsel and consolation or not will not help the matter, for grieving will still occur for things that should be grieved over and anything you say will not have the slightest effect. And plus her whole mind was awash with Yi Wenzes words from earlier. Tune of Yongans press conference has been set for next week in Beijing. Will you still be around then? I should be. The next dramas work is about done. Its just the original author whos a little harder to deal with. As Jia He thought about this, she began to worry and feel uptight. I actually didnt want to accept this type of drama adaptation project. Supposedly, the author is a pretty girl whose books havent really sold well but temper is pretty bad. Qiao Qiao chortled at her misfortune. I told you a long time ago, if the adaptation goes well, all the credit goes to the author; if the adaptation is no good, the screenwriter is the one who takes all the heat. Jia He was a little dispirited. How is it the screenwriters fault? If the one holding the purse strings is some overbearing, high-handed person, the screenwriter is just a typing machine who has no control whatsoever over the plot. Since getting the book in her hands, there had been a feeling in her that this drama would not go peacefully and smoothly. <>Please support this translation by reading it only from its actual site of posting, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Thank you. This one phone call lasted until the first hazy glimmers of daybreak appeared in the sky, and hence Jia He had no choice but to tote along dark circles beneath her eyes to have breakfast with Yi Wenze. While she was eating, she even thought, it actually wasnt that bad. See? A normal boyfriend definitely would not be able to handle her routine and sleep schedule. If she really did find herself a guy who sat in an office or something like that and every day, when he woke up there was no breakfast and when he went to bed it was empty beside him, likely within half a year there would be a mutiny in the household She held her chopsticks, staring blankly, lost in her own thoughts. Didnt sleep well last night? Mm-hmm. Jia He at last put the fish that she had been holding with her chopsticks into her mouth. As she chewed, she ladled out some soup for him, a small, white porcelain bowl clasped in her hand. As it was hot, her fingerstips unwittingly curled in slightly, and swiftly she set the bowl down in front of him. Whew, that was hot! Pinching her earlobes with her fingers, she watched as he drank the soup spoonful by spoonful. In the hustle and bustle of this city, irrespective of whether your face is recognizable to any random passerby, we all live the same type of life as everyone else. We need to eat, and we get sick, too. See? Its so real! While her heart was stirring as she reflected on this, she abruptly felt something hot in her nose. She swiped her hand at itand her hand became covered in blood. A jolt of shock hit her. Yi Wenze had already set down his bowl, and swiftly he pulled her into the bathroom. Cupping water in his palm, he used it to help her wash her nose clean. Why did you suddenly get a nosebleed? Jia He stared into the mirror in misery. Yi Wenze was already pinching the bridge of her nose. Such a funny-looking action. I dont know. Probably because the air is too dry. Spring dryness. Oh darn, the dry spring weather. Luckily it wasnt last night that she had the nosebleed Wash your hands clean yourself, he reminded her. With an oh, Jia He hastily turned on the faucet again and washed her hands quickly. He pinched her nose like this for two minutes, before the bleeding finally stopped, and then he took out some complimentary cotton balls provided by the hotel. When he was about to stuff one into her nostril, though, Jia Hes gaze landed on those soft-pink cotton balls and, sheer mortification sweeping over her, she refused over her dead body to let him. To have her walk around to and fro in front of him with a pink cotton ball stuffed in her nose? So hideous! Smiling, Yi Wenze bent down and very carefully helped her put the cotton ball in. It looks very nice. Suits you well. Jia Hes eyes were about to spurt fire. Who looks good with a cotton ball stuffed up the nostril? My girlfriend, he answered naturally. Jia He wanted to lift a hand to yank it out, but he had already caught it in his palm before she could do anything. Jia He, I need to very seriously say some words to you. From the corner of his mouth to the look in his eyes, an absolutely stern expression had been drawn onto his face, one that showed he was not to be challenged. She gawked at him, dumbfounded. No way! Just for a cotton ball, we need to get so serious? One second. Two seconds. She was so tense another nosebleed was going to burst forth from her. But then, to her surprise, he suddenly gave a chuckle and gently tweaked the end of her nose. You will get sick in the future, and at that time your face will definitely be all pale and your hair will be a mess. Youll look even worse than you do now. Does that mean you wont see me then? Jia He became a mute. But as she thought about it, she realized he was right. Only now did he lead her over to the couch to take a seat. One day in the future, if youre pregnant, youre going to lose your figure and your legs will swell. Does that mean you wont see me for the entire ten months? Boom! Something exploded in her mind. She was burning up now and feeling cooked through and through. From her face to the very top of her head, it was as if steam was rising out of her. Yet, that person who had done the talking was even smiling as he looked her. Nibbling on the corner of her lip, Jia He willed herself, Keep calm, keep calm. But this topic was just too inciting! From just a single cotton ball, it had rapidly upgraded to her being pregnant She swore, Yi Wenze was absolutely a master of romance. Why hadnt she discovered this earlier? <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only Since the cotton ball incident, there was a persistent feeling in Jia He that something had changed between the two of them. It was as if he had stepped down from the big screen and was no longer playing the role of the prince who kissed the princess awake. He gave her not only hugs and kisses, movies and popcorn, but also cotton balls Ugh, why did she always manage to think about cotton balls? She had only ever had two or three nosebleeds in her entire lifetime, and he just had to see one of them. Biting on some chocolate, Jia He glanced wordlessly at that person who was standing by the window, talking on the phone. She felt something hot in her nose She swiped at it with her hand. And then immediately, as blackness flashed before her eyes, she sprinted into the bathroom. CH 12.1 Chapter 12.1 Insuppressible Pounding of the Heart (1) Three days later, they headed back to Beijing. In Tianjin they had stayed in a hotel and so could have two rooms, but if they were back in Beijing she could neither stay in his bedroom, nor blatantly go stay in his companys office. She snuck a look at Yi Wenze. He was very focused on driving. They would be entering Beijing very shortly, and her longing to be home was boundlessly amplified, like hundreds of hands were scratching at her heart. After contemplating for a long while, she still eventually stretched a hand over and waved it in front of his eyes. Right when she was about to speak, though, her entire body was thrown forward. But then at once, it was yanked back by the seat belt again. The car had come to an abrupt stop, and the jolting and jerking had left her head feeling heavy. It was not until she dazedly turned her eyes on Yi Wenze that she realized that one of his hands was pressed against the front of her body. Anger could faintly be seen rippling in his eyes, and his smile was wholly absent from his face. As Jia He looked out at the vehicles changing lanes around them, she realized she had just committed a wrong. A dangerous glint was in those eyes. Her chest felt as if there was a bunny hopping jitterishly inside. Thump, thump. There was no need to mention how panicked she felt I forgot were on the highway She flashed a sheepish smile. Lets drive first. Its too dangerous to be stopped here like this. His middle finger knocked lightly a few times against the steering wheel. In the end, he did not utter a single word and simply continued driving. The half of his face that was visible beneath his cap carried no expression whatsoever. In silence, his eyes looked out at the road ahead. His lips were pressed togetheryes, they were pressed together. Jia He was being stifled into depression. That facial expression was just too familiar. From watching so many of his movies, she ascertained that this subtle signal represented two words: extremely angry. Yes, extremely angry, not just an average type of anger Jia He swept an imperceptible look over the dashboard and its gaugeseverything was very steady. His psychological composure was just too amazing. There was actually no change of any sort. If it were herself, she reckoned she could floor the gas pedal when she was angry. Would you like a smoke? she asked tentatively. No, he replied impassively, Im quitting smoking. Uh Why? Once she finished asking, the three words preparing for pregnancy popped up in her mind. He wouldnt be quitting smoking so early in preparation, would he? As soon as this thought arose, she cut it off herself first. What in the world was that? Wholesome and pure. You need to be wholesome and pure. Yi Wenze remained unspeaking and only carried on driving. Yell at me. Its better to just yell a few words at me! Jia He gazed at him, then gazed at him some more. Actually, she began, very composedly attempting to butter him up. Ive always thought that youre really handsome when youre angry. Yi Wenze flicked a look at her. Such a deep, intense black. Even if she wore cosmetic contact lenses, shed never be able to achieve this effect. She could not help lamenting, This is whats meant by God is not fair. This is the definition of comparison brings misery Its true. In that New Years movie of yours last year, you looked so cold and aloof when you were mad. My heart felt like it was all twisted together when I was watching, and I could totally put myself in the other persons shoes. I was all tense and breaking out in cold sweat for the female lead. Just like right now, oh gosh Her eyes were fixed on him. There was a slight shift in the lines of his chin; slowly, they softened and spread into a smile. At last, he resignedly instructed, Next time, no fooling around on the highway. If anything were to happen, it would be a big thing. Jia He nodded docilely. She could finally relax in relief. So, what this showed was that pretty people always have an advantage. She silently reflected on the tactic that she had used. Why did it seem so much like that of a rich playboy coaxing smiles out of his girlfriend? While she was once more sighing over how even heroes cannot resist the charms of a beauty, Yi Wenze had already removed his cap and put it on her head. The brim was just right for blocking out the light in front of her. Sleep a bit by yourself first. Dont disturb me while I drive. Mm-hmm, she answered, in the end still not putting forth the request to go home. <>This translation is only to be posted on hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Please support it by only reading it from there. Thank you. Fortunately for her, once the car entered Beijing, she noticed it was heading in the direction of her home. They were nearly at her community before she asked him, You have work tonight? Very pathetically, she discovered that when he took her home without mentioning a word about it, she actually felt even more torn. I need to make a last-minute trip to Hong Kong. It will be three days at the earliest before Im back. Seeming to be mulling over something, he then asked her, Would you like to come with me? Out of instinct, Jia He felt that this trip had something to do with Tian Chu, so shaking her head, she replied, In these next two weeks, I absolutely cannot leave Beijing, or else that really would be irresponsible and not keeping my word. He was not insistent about this, telling her in a tranquil tone, During the divorce process, certain procedures regarding some assets werent completed. After I go back this time, everything should be about done. Jia He gave an mm-hmm. Her heart was itching. She wanted to ask but was unable to get the question out of her mouth. <>It would be sincerely appreciated by the translator if you would only read this translation at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the actual and only site of posting. Thank you for your support. When Jia He stepped through the door of her home, her mom was in the study stealing crops in a video game, but after catching a glimpse of the door, she immediately ran out from the room and very eagerly and attentively poured some tea for Jia He. Jia He was somewhat taken by surprise at this unexpected special treatment. She had thought she would be getting an interrogation session, but it actually turned out to be a warm cup of tea. The next second, she understood. Daughter, give me your identity card number[1]. Jia Hes suspicions were roused. For what? To sign up for QQ Happy Farm[2]. Her mom very patiently explained, One identity card is only allowed to register two different accounts. Your dad and I have registered four altogether, but thats not enough. Jia He was stunned. Four farms arent enough for you to play with? Do you think Mom is like you and has so many schoolmates who have QQ? On my accounts, in total I just have your uncle, your aunt, and you. Oh right, and your farm never has anything on it. Jia He pressed her hand against her forehead. When do I have the free time to grow stuff so it can be stolen? Even if I include your nephew in there, thats not enough for ten minutes of crop stealing for me. Her mom carried on explaining, And also, Happy Lord has a daily limit on happy beans[3] Jia He waved her white flag. Dont explain; I wouldnt understand anyway. Saying this, in order to have some peace, she straightaway stated her identity card number. To her surprise, even after giving it out, her mom still kept staring at her with eyes that gleamed, as if she was looking at a piece of red-braised pork belly[4] that had just come out of the pot Once more, Jia He went on alert. Didnt I just give it to you? And also your boyfriends, her mom very kindly reminded. That way there can be two more accounts. Take Yi Wenzes identity card number and use it to sign up for Happy Farm? Why dont you just kill me and let it be at that? She suddenly remembered that Yi Wenze did not have a Resident Identity Card. Finally, she had an excuse. Hes from Hong Kong. He doesnt have an identity card. Her eyes dimming, her mom muttered, Why did you find some Hong Kong guy? Made-in-China is better. She all of a sudden discovered that her mom was actually not interested in knowing about her boyfriend. Finding this a rather fascinating phenomenon, she asked, Mom, somethings not right about you today, eh. How come youre not chasing after me and lecturing me? Her mom poured a cup of tea for herself. What else can I do? You can be classified as a higher up there in age type of young woman. If its time to marry, just go get married. Ill be broad-minded this once. With that, she immediately picked up her tea and went back to register some new accounts. She had tossed her suitcase to the side and was about to head to the shower when her mom popped her head out again. By the way, there was a talent show these last couple of days. Someone was impersonating your idol. It was actually a lot like him. Watching as her mom once more went back to steal crops, she gloomily realized that casually making her relationship with Yi Wenze known to everyone was not going to be very easy. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only The days that followed were truly ones of stress and chaos. The detailed character outline, which had already been written, was completely overruled by the original author, and the feedback provided left people caught between amusement and annoyance. For scenes that clearly had a lot of conflict, she was constantly insisting that elements that showed inner thoughts and emotions be added in. Inner thoughts and emotions, inner thoughts and emotions Did she really think this was a novel, where you can dilly-dally out thousands of words of mental activity? On the phone with Yi Wenze, Jia He, wearing her earbuds, moaned, You say, what viewer has the patience to sit in front of the TV for ten minutes to listen only to a voice-over monologue about someones inner thoughts and emotions? If it were me, Id just straight-out pick up the TV and huck it. Hints of fatigue were in Yi Wenzes voice, but still it was very warm and gentle. Why dont you think of it this way? Adaptations have the original story as a foundation, so theyre a lot easier in terms of amount of work. Now that she thought about it, that was true. Forget it. Its not like I can get all the benefits. When the money is easy to make, there will be other places or things that wont be easy. She did not want sleep at the production companys office but her home was too far as well, so she could only continue to bum a place to stay at Xiao Yus home. It was past midnight already, but she was still the only one in the house. The surroundings were exceptionally quiet. Neither of them spoke very frequently, yet they also did not hang up, merely saying a few words whenever they thought of something. Much time had already passed when she finally took a quick glance at the bottom right corner of her screen, and then she unconsciously softened her voice. You go to bed first. Its so late already. Over on his side, he did not really seem to care and only said, Its all right. I have a lot of things, too, that I need to take care of. It was the deep hours of the night, when all was quiet. In this time when she was most tired, there was someone keeping her company. Even though they could not do anything, simply his presence keeping her company like this made her heart feel warm, and even her vexation dissipated by quite a bit. With an mm, she asked, Still havent finished dealing with all of it? Were both adults. There wont be too much trouble. There are just a few issues on some formalities regarding the company. He paused for a moment before continuing, With both myself and Tian Chu returning to Hong Kong this time, there likely will be a lot of media attention on us. Tomorrow there happens to be an event, and some people might ask some sensitive questions. Mm-hmm. Jia He answered in a relaxed tone, You dont need to tell me everything. There are so many chances of you getting pursued and surrounded. If you have to declare every potential thing ahead of time to me, I wont be able to remember it all either. Picking up her cup, she took a drink of water. The two exchanged a few more sentences of chitchat, and then Jia He, worried that Yi Wenze would want to continue keeping her company like this, could only fib that she had made all her revisions already and was going to bed. Only then did they hang up, and she carried on with her valiant battle. <>Please support this translation by only reading it at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the actual site of posting. It would be very sincerely appreciated. Thank you. It was noon the next day when she finally crawled out of bed and saw Xiao Yu nestled on the couch in the living room, her legs crisscrossed, surfing online. Seeing Jia He emerge from the room, Xiao Yu threw a sideways look at her. I didnt get back until the morning. How come you didnt even think to call and ask how Im doing? Looking at her, Jia He shot back in resignation, Your nightlife is too exciting. I didnt want to get myself in trouble. Xiao You fell backwards and lay face-up on the couch, smiling through half-closed eyes and looking truly so coquettish and gorgeous, all forms of coquettish and gorgeous. While Jia He was still trying to make heads or tails of what this was about, Xiao Yu was already extending an arm to hand her laptop to her. Take a look. Its news on your boyfriend. Jia He took the computer from her. Multiple tabs were open in Internet Explorer. The one currently displayed was a webpage showing a series of photographs from some sort of event. The handful of sentences below were a standard news write-up for a celebrity event. The words themselves were very simple, but they were extremely eye-grabbing: According to insider information, after their divorce, Yi Wenze and Tian Chu have both begun new relationships. This insider had also revealed with certainty that Yi Wenze had met his new girlfriend through a film project. Some speculated that it was the female lead of his new drama, Mainland Chinas new budding actress, Liao Jing. After the event ended, the Hong Kong media people present had all rushed back stage and bombarded Yi Wenze with questions. At first, Yi Wenze had merely expressed that he had been in this entertainment circle for more than ten years, but never did he publicly discuss any matters pertaining to his love life and relationship. However, when someone continued pressing him about whether it was Liao Jing, he surprisingly actually spoke up to set the facts straight, stating with a smile that that was utterly groundless. Up to the time when the news was released, Tian Chu had not given any response to this matter. There was a weird feeling in Jia Hes heart, one that she could not put words to. This was her first time actually not feeling excited at all when reading news about him. While she was lost in thought, Xiao Yu had already extracted the computer from her hands and patted her on the shoulder. Feeling low, arent you? If youre feeling low, treat me to a meal of instant-boiled mutton hot pot. Once your wallet is skinnier, your attention will be diverted. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only [1]In China, all citizens are to apply for a Resident Identity Card at the age of 16. On each card is a unique, 18-digit code, which is assigned to the citizen and serves as that persons identification number for his or her entire lifetime. [2]QQũ. Happy Farm is an online, social networking game hosted by Tencent QQ. In the game, players own a farm, grow vegetables, and harvest them. The vegetables can be traded or sold, and players can even steal crops from friends. In later levels, players can raise animals and take care of them. The game was released in late 2008 and was extremely popular for a period of time. At the height of its popularity, there was a daily cap on newly-registered players. [3]See footnote [2] in chapter 4.1 [4]աred-cooking, red-braised, or braised in brown sauce cooking is a technique where the meat is pan-fried and then stewed in soy sauce that is flavoured heavily with seasoning. The meat comes out tender and takes on a distinctive red-brown color. CH 12.2 Chapter 12.2 Insuppressible Pounding of the Heart (2) She was famished, and on top of that her mood was low. They did end up driving to have instant-boiled mutton hot pot. As it was a weekday, there were not many people at the restaurant during lunchtime. The two decided simply to get a private room, and then without even really looking at the menu, Xiao Yu just one by one placed a checkmark beside each food item. Watching her, Jia He felt as if hundreds of hands were clawing at her heart, while the server in contrast could not even contain her wide grin. When eventually the entire table was laden and could not even fit everything, Jia He, not knowing whether to be irritated or find this funny, asked, Just How many meals did you order for? Instant-boiled mutton hot pot (Image credit: Old Beijing Hotpot by Nan Jiang, original posted in https://www.flickr.com/photos/cristina317/16154316166/, image used under CC BY-SA 2.0) Xiao Yu picked up some meat with her chopsticks, tossed it into the boiling water in the copper hot pot, and stirred a couple of times. Lunch plus dinner. You sure feel no need to be polite Xiao Yu lifted her arm and looked at her watch. From twelve noon all the way to twelve midnightIll give this period to you for free. Based on my pay as an accounts director, with a daily fee of 833 a day, I should be able to have two meals of this type, right? Those things that could be seen continuously running through that pair of eyesthey were definitely red bills of money In truth, Jia He understood that Xiao Yu merely wanted to keep her company. As the two each buried their heads and ate, there was a persistent feeling in Jia He that she had forgotten something, and it was not until her belly was absurdly stuffed that she remembered: today was the press conference for Tune of Yongan. Qiao Qiao and Yi Wenze had both mentioned it previously, but she had been so upset by the news that she had forgotten. She had even arranged with Yi Wenze to have dinner with him after it was over The start time was three oclock, and right now it was already two-thirty. Hastily, she yanked out a napkin and wiped her mouth. I forgot, theres the press conference this afternoon. Youre neither a director nor an actress. What are you all anxious about? I remember that screenwriters dont need to go to this sort of event. Jia He discovered that, without a doubt, Xiao Yu had done this on purpose, and so she decided to simply be frank and lay it straight with her. I want to go see Yi Wenze. And then? She still hadnt thought through that part yet. Neither did she know what plans he had after he got back. I knew it. Xiao Yu gave a wag of her phone. Qiao Qiao called me this morning. Todays news was just too explosive; there will definitely be people asking about it at the press conference. Qiao Qiao said to not let you go join in on the excitement. Ah, so this was a planned confinement? Jia He at last understood. She could do nothing except put on a token show of continuing to eat. After quite some time, she finally murmured, Its not like Ive never heard romantic rumours before. You guys dont need to freak out and treat it like every tree or blade of grass is an enemy soldier, you know. Whatever. Xiao Yu laughed. Qiao Qiao is just doing it for your own good. Theres still a big difference between listening to it live and hearing about it after the fact. Just look at those people who have had a third party butting into their relationships. When they were only spectating other people in such situations, they were able to logically lay things out like one, two, three, but once it happened to them, they turned hysterical. Jia He was unable to outdebate her on this, but she felt even worse from hearing Xiao Yus words. Hey, who has a third party butting into the relationship here? Your situation here is even worse. Have you ever used a magnifying glass to play with fire? Xiao Yu dropped some tripe into Jia Hes bowl. If theres ample sunlight, once the magnifying glass focuses it, youll immediately get a fire going. Its the same principle here. Any little thing, once it becomes the focus of the masses, will immediately ignite. You saw Yi Wenze unexpectedly clarify things about him and Liao Jing, and you think hes doing it for your good, right? But if I were an entertainment reporter, I would write, Just look at how in these last ten-plus years he has never talked about anything related to his love relationships, but yet for this starlet hes deliberately trying to clarify things. Theres definitely something fishy here. Little specks of chili peppers clung to the white tripe. But when Jia He tossed it into her mouth, it tasted like wax. I only said a few sentences and youre already unable to take it? If at the press conference site there are a heap of people asking about this and youre watching him skirt around the issue, you think your hearts not going to shatter into little pieces? Xiao Yu reached for her handbag and fished out a package of cigarettes, but then, seeming as if she thought of something, she tossed it back into her bag again. I forgot. You have chronic sore throats. <>This translations actual site of posting is hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only. The translator would sincerely appreciate it if you would support the translation by only reading it from there. Thank you. The time ticked past three oclock. Then four oclock. And then five oclock The entire room was warm and steamy and infused with the aroma of mutton. The two had long become so stuffed that they could not move, so now, their chins propped on their hands, they were simply chatting. Jia He was obviously preoccupied with her own thoughts as she poked at the television remote control and continually changed the channel. She felt as if she had not watched television for an entire lifetime already, for she actually discovered that playing on every channel was a drama that she did not understand; the crying was completely without rhyme or reason and the laughing looked so fake and exaggerated. All of a sudden, an entertainment news report flashed onto the screen. When she was about to change the channel, a picture of Yi Wenze being interviewed was already flashing past. Her heart thudded. She listened as the hosts, a man and a woman, talked about the gossip news and quickly recapped the story that Jia He had read at midday. Then they switched the direction of their discussion over to todays press conference. Usually, unless there is big news, such television drama press conferences do not make it onto this type of entertainment program. As she thought of this point, there was a slight urge in her to change channels. Nevertheless, she retrained herself. Just watch it, just watch it. Theres nothing to be scared of. Its just a romantic rumour, right? Jia He took a bite of a small shaobing, a baked, unleavened flatbread, thinking, And besides, Im the one who first wanted to keep him hidden away underground. No matter how you work it out, Im not getting the short end of any stick. The editing had been done very well. The whole press conference was utterly a mere backdrop and the clip cut straight into the true topic of interest. Numerous people surrounded him, firing questions at him and relentlessly mentioning Liao Jings name. Sure enough, just like Xiao Yu had described, someone asked him whether this time, given that he had been tightlipped for so many years, he was actually purposely protecting Liao Jing Yi Wenze turned a glance on that reporter. His pause was only for one second but it felt as if it was stretched out infinitely The door was suddenly pushed open and a restaurant server walked in, speedily collecting their plates. On the television, Yi Wenze was already speaking. I do not like to take marriage and make it into news, and I also do not like to joke about my relationship. He gave a very placid smile. I have indeed met that very important person in my life. The server let out a quiet cry of Ah! Xiao Yu dropped her chopsticks. Our female lead, though, had already completely lost her soul. Her eyes rapt on the screen, she was utterly unable to believe her ears. From inside to out, she began, layer by layer, to burn up. Even her eyes felt a little hot. She is an ordinary person. Yi Wenze was very calm as he swiftly made his concluding statement. For me to have been able to come upon her in the vast multitudes of people very much so was not an easy thing. But for me to lose her will be a very easy thing. So, I hope that all of you will not continue asking about this anymore. Hopefully the next announcement will be one of happy news[1]. After saying these words, he lowered his head and spoke no more, his figure gradually disappearing out of that throng of people. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only The picture on the screen cut again very quickly, jumping to a clip showing what he had said this morning when he was interviewed in Hong Kong. The female host began making the concluding remarks for this story, even closing her hand into a fist and joking, It would seem that this matter has been confirmedmy love rival has made her appearance. Grinning, the male host teased, This new drama of Yi Wenzes is currently in the promotional phase. Do you need to go do some news gathering and an interview? The twos laughing banters and jests seemed to filter to Jia He through a layer of mist. She was no longer able to hear anything clearly. The server sighed in a low voice, So touching. Then, carrying the plates and dishes, she left the room. Xiao Yu threw a look at Jia He. I just basically invited condemnation on myself here, didnt I? Jia He was hugging her half a glass of cola, but her soul had long since drifted away somewhere beyond the heavens. Only after Xiao Yu had spoken these words did she snap back to awareness, and she rushed to rummage madly through her bag for her mobile phone. She had stood him up. They had originally agreed that she would have dinner with him But when she pulled out her phone, she was once more torn. How could she explain why she had not been at the press conference? Just state the reason directly or find a suitable excuse? Right as she was waffling back and forth, her phone began to vibrate, making a buzzing noise. Yi Wenzes name flashed incessantly. There was a slight tremble in her fingers. Finally, under Xiao Yus penetrating gaze, she answered the phone. Things are done? On the other end of the call, there was only very light music. Yi Wenze first said a sentence to someone before answering her, Done. Did you go to bed too late last night? You just got up now? Gazing out at the setting sun beyond the window, Jia He felt that his image of her must truly be very much like that of a piglet. She gnawed on her lip, not daring to tell him that, due to that romance rumour, she had been placed into confinement to protect her. However, she was unable to find a good excuse either. He waited on his end for a while before asking again, Whats wrong? Finally, she managed to regain herself and, in a quiet voice, uttered a fib. Something came up last minute. My friend just got broken up with, and she dragged me along to be her eating and drinking companion. Xiao Yu rolled her eyes. Do you think Im Qiao Qiao? Relationship breakups seem to happen very easily with all your friends, Yi Wenze summarized with a laugh. Her conscience feeling a twinge of guilt, Jia He sighed, They just keep meeting the wrong guys, I guess. Xiao Yu picked up the half-full bottle of cola and brandished it. The meaning of that was very clear: Yo, chick! If you keep spouting nonsense, Im going to bust your head. After asking for the detailed address, Yi Wenze told her to take her time eating and that he would be there soon. No matter how Jia He stared at the tableful of leftovers and crumbs, she still felt this didnt look very good, so she pulled out her wallet to go pay. Xiao Yu had already risen to her feet first and patted her on the shoulder. This meals my treat. Well treat it as the red-packet money[2] Im giving you for your wedding. Jia He was both irked and amused by her words and was also too lazy to fight for the bill. When they came out of the restaurant, she spotted Yi Wenzes car at once. It was stopped very far away. All around, there constantly were people backing their cars out, then driving away. Amid the shine of the interlacing headlights, that black vehicle quietly remained parked in its spot. Only his silhouette could be seen through the front windshield, but she was already unable to restrain her heart and wanted to immediately sprint over to him. Theres no problem in letting me have a look and admire the big, famous celebrity, right? Her bag held tightly in her hands, Jia He gave a hesitant nod. It shouldnt be a problem, right? <>Please support this translation by only reading it at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, its actual site of posting. Your support would be sincerely appreciated. Thank you. As they walked down the steps, a car by chance drove past in front of them. From inside the vehicle, Yi Wenzes field of view was very confined, like a very narrow shot of a scene, and on the dim filming set, a beam of light swept through. Jia He extended an arm in front of the woman beside her, seemingly to motion to her that she should be careful. The headlights had already moved far off into the distance before they carefully came over. On Jia Hes back was a very large backpack. He knew there must be a computer insidetruly, such a workaholic. The dress she wore was plainly very short, yet while she spoke with the person beside her, she would very carefully tug at the skirt. More than ten years had passed. She should have been simply a minor role in one specific little scene of his life. Tilting his head back and leaning into the seat, he gazed out at her, there at the restaurant entrance. So many people. So many years. For him to have been able to come upon her again was, indeed, very much so not an easy thing. Before his eyes right now, there were many pictures interweaving, superimposing. In the radiant sunshine, she, wearing a school uniform that was slightly too big and a little baggy, was laboredly treading forward,. She wore a very large backpack stuffed full with books, and protruding from one corner of the backpack was the top of a rolled-up poster. Back then, as he watched her, he had not known how far her home was and only knew that in order to buy a poster of him, she had spent all of her money there at the Beijing Books Building. In the years that followed, whenever he thought back on this, he would always regret that he had not run out after her to give her the fare she would need to get home. And then, also say a thank you to her. But when he truly did encounter her again, he had not wanted to just simply say thank you anymore. <>It would be sincerely appreciated by the translator if you would read this translation at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, its actual site of translation, only. Thank you. He did not lower the window until she had run over and reached the vehicle. Leaning in to look at him, Jia He quietly requested, My friend wants to meet you. He stepped out of the car, in passing also opening the back door. Since its your friend, lets have dinner together. Jia He felt too sheepish to tell him that they had been eating for an entire afternoon already. Xiao Yu was already flashing a polite smile at Yi Wenze. Hello, Im Xiao Yu. Yi Wenze nodded in greeting. Hello. Such normal opening salutations. However, the next second, Xiao Yu cleared her throat and brought her voice down. Your words today were very manly. Youve passed the test on my end, so I am placing Jia He into your care from now on. She used to be the belle of her faculty; youre very lucky. But for the record, Im just a commoner, so for the red packet[3] stuff , I can at most give five thousand. Jia He was completely struck stupid. Oh no. How could she just say everything like that? Yi Wenzes smile was polite and respectful, his tone also solemn and proper. It likely will be held in New Zealand. No need for a red packet. Ill also throw in round-trip plane tickets and three nights of accommodations, how about that? Xiao Yu first paused in surprise, and then a smile spread across her face. Patting Jia He on the shoulder, she said, Little Red Riding Hood, go home now. Im not going to join in on the fun. Even when Jia He was sitting in the car, she still had not found a topic to talk about to dissolve what she thought to be a very awkward atmosphere. After deliberating for a long time, she decided she should still break through the awkwardness by starting with some casual chitchat. Is my friend pretty? Not bad. She used to be the belle of the faculty. Jia He was very proud. Yi Wenze was wryly amused. How many girls were there in your faculty? Jia He was abashed. She was the real-deal belle of the Faculty of Foreign Languages. My Faculty of Naval Architecture only had three girls, and my belle of the faculty title was purely tongue-in-cheek. He seemed to be musing about something. I think my first love was called the belle of her faculty, too. Pretending to be not the least bit bothered, Jia He responded with an oh. Humph! First love. I hate first loves! All that stuff about pure feelings and how you cant forget it While she was hatefully grinding away at her teeth, Yi Wenze added, I was six years old at the time. She would come over to teach me violin. I remember, a boy would always come to pick her up. I even got really angry and held onto her skirt and wouldnt let her leave. Splash! A basin of ice-cold water came pouring down, completely extinguishing that fire that had been roaring in her heart. You call that first love? Well then, I even had a crush on my primary school gym teacher <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only [1]ϲӍ literally means happy news or joyous tidings. It is often used to describe news like announcements of engagement, wedding, or pregnancy. [2] hong bao. The red packets or red envelopes refer to monetary gifts put in a red envelope. [3]As mentioned above, red packets are monetary gifts given in red envelopes. They are very commonly given in weddings, and this is what Xiao Yu is implying here. CH 12.3 Before the two had even gotten to discussing what they were going to eat, Wu Zhilun called them, declaring that he had prepared steak and wine but, alas, there were no companions with whom he could eat that steak and drink that wine. Thus, with Friend Wu Zhiluns selfless offerings, a simple meal became a candlelight dinner. The only pity was that it was not a dinner of two people gazing into one anothers eyes and rather was of three people merrily downing drinks together. Id be considered the lightest-weight drinker in my family. My younger cousins who are still in middle school have a glass with every meal. Worried that Wu Zhilun would not understand, she even purposely picked up the glass by her hand and used her hands to indicate a size. Like, a glass like this one. Baijiu[1],56% alcohol. They all just treat it like a little beverage. Last time I had a classmate gathering and it happened to be when my little cousins were getting off school. When they saw the people trying to stuff alcohol into me, they jumped into the battle right away and made an entire table of people pass out from drinking. Before Wu Zhilun was dead drunk to the world, Jia He uttered the above concluding remarks. Whew! Good thing he was gone. Wu Zhilun was just too strong a drinker. His wine was such a treasure for the cellar, but he had poured cup after cup for her. Guaranteed, he did it on purpose Jia He watched as his poor, little assistant lugged him away. When the door thudded closed, she finally, swaying and lurching, stood up from the rug. Drinking competitions are basically done in one charge, and once the outcome has been decided, the defeat is as thorough as a mountain collapsing into a landslide. Due to the effects of alchol, her vision was shaky and she searched for a long time before she was finally able to spot Yi Wenze sitting on the couch. Oh no, Im drunk, too. Offhandedly setting his wine glass onto the coffee table to the side, Yi Wenze extended his arm, a gesture indicating that Jia He should walk over to him. Come here and sit for a while. Jia He tottered over, sat down next to him, and then very docilely lay down on his lap. She tried hard to retain her last bit of sobriety, but in front of her eyes a tsunami was already charging towards her. He was wearing casual pants, its material very soft, and as she nuzzled her cheek against it a few times, she woozily felt only that she wanted to sleep. The view before her eyes had been infinitely blurred and made unreal. Everything, from the rug, to the coffee table, and then to the floor-length window, seemed bathed in a strong light. From her angle, a wine glass could be seen on the coffee table. At the bottom of the glass was still a little bit of wine, about a small mouthful. Light fell diagonally through the glass and cast a very faint shadow on the coffee table. How much had he had to drink? Probably not much. From the time the first bottle was finished being poured out, Wu Zhilun had kept duping her into drinking. Honestly, such a waste of good stuffLook how good he was, how much self-control he had. She blew out a breath. Pillowing her head on his thigh, she lay face up, gazing at him . How much did you drink? Your complexion looks no different. She seemed to hear him laugh, and then a voice said, Almost two and a half bottles. A voice that drifted over from a faraway place. She listened carefully. It took some effort. Oh, two and a half bottles Hmm, he could really drink Wait, two and a half bottles?! She looked at him, earnestly looked at him. Quite some time passed before she abruptly shoved herself up on her arms and poked her head over to count the bottles on the table. No more, no less, six empty bottles. He had consumed nearly double the amount she and Wu Zhilun each drank? Sure enough, he was her idol! With great reverence, she turned back to face him. Are you dizzy? Do we need to make some strong tea to drink? But after saying this, she quickly added, Or do you need to go lie down for a bit first? While she spoke, she reached her hand over and waved it in front of his eyes, trying to determine his degree of sobriety. Instead, though, she almost ended up sliding down herself. He held on to her, supporting her. I was worried the two of you were going at it a bit too hard in your little competition, so I drank a bit more. My alcohol tolerance is okay. He truly had not wanted to disrupt their high spirits, but the delayed effects of red wine are very strong and those two people had not been restraining themselves either; hence, he had had no choice but to take advantage of when they were happily absorbed in their drinking to help them destroy almost half the alcohol. Actually, if he really were to count, it was almost three bottles. Jia He very pitifully discovered that the true god of drinking was right here. Its good to be a strong drinker. Being a strong drinker is really the best thing Wait, thats not right either. You cant tell people youre a strong drinker. Her words slurred as she sighed feelingly about this, and her manner was actually terribly serious. In the future when you go to my home, my family members are definitely going to make you drink until you pass out. You know, Northerners have that custom, especially when the future son-in-law comes to visit for the first time Her voice cut off abruptly. Yi Wenze, however, chuckled. When its time to drink, then you need to do it. A simple, easy-to-understand sentence, but it caused heat to rush into her face. Jia He stared at him, her eyes unblinking as they remained riveted on him. Oh no, Im done for, Im done for. Dont make me feel so touched that I cry. Im drunk. Once I start crying, I wont be able to stop Because of her tipsiness, those searing-hot hands of hers were clutching his button-up shirt, and nearly all of her was buried in his embrace In reality, there was bound to be some effect on him after drinking that much, but it was a perfect amount of drunkenness that basically magnified for him her every subtle movement. Her soft, feather-like breaths carrying the fragrance of wine were right before him. He finally gave an inward sigh. Do you want to go inside to sleep? Huh? Jia Hes eyes widened. With you like this, Id be a little worried taking you back to your home. Thats my home; whats there to worry about? she silently countered. But in her heart, there was constantly another voice crying, Just stay, just stay! Its no big deal. You guys stayed together when you were in Tianjin. Its no big deal Feeling utterly torn, she shut her eyes. But, just because of this half a second of darkness, she ended up completely falling into the vortex created by the effects of alcohol. The ceiling and floor spun about her, and it was hard for her to open her eyes again. Outside the door, there was the sound of someone walking past. All the while feeling guilty, like she was doing something naughty, she made up an excuse for herself. Just look, youre so drunk like this. If you go out, youre just going to embarrass him. That would be bad. They call you Bosss wifeThanks to the two words Bosss wife, she very successfully managed to fall into another round of dizziness. Wrestling over this for a long time, she finally said in a small voice, Ill sleep on the couch. His voice floated into her ear. Ill carry you inside. I still have some things to do tonight. Ill sleep on the couch. Jia He uttered a sound of oh. Then, she felt her body curl up into a little bundle as he picked her up and held her in front of his chest. His footsteps were very steady, nearly not pausing at all until her body sank into softness, and only then did she sense that she was lying on a bed. Alarmed, she reflexively clenched her hands into balls and waited anxiously for him to leave. However, she did not realize that her fingers were entwined in his shirt, practically about to rip his buttons off Seeing that she was so nervous that her breaths were already coming in large gasps, Yi Wenze found this amusing. He gave a pat to her hand. Hurry and go to sleep. I am going to sleep. Why arent you leaving yet? Her heartbeat was being amplified to the extreme, amplified to the absolute loudest volume possible. This stalemate carried on for a lengthy time before she at last, somewhere between drifting off to sleep and still holding on to awareness, pried open her eyes. She finally noticed that she was still gripping his button-up shirt and he, therefore, could only prop one hand beside her and bend down to accommodate her action. Because he had carried her in, he had not had a chance to turn on the lights yet. Moonlight. There was only moonlight. Never before had she felt that Beijings moon was so radiant. It was actually able to illuminate half the room. That moonlight had traced out a very vague, suggestive silhouette of him. And he was right there before her, so very near. Do you want to turn on the light? he asked. Jia He shifted her fingers slightly. By chance, they slipped in through the gaps between the buttons of his shirt and grazed against his skin. Just one little action, but she had already frightened herself and dared not make any more hasty movements. She only, with much effort, gave a blink of her eyes. I forgot to take out my contacts. My eyes are really dry. She was grasping for things to talk about. Look at me. Dont blink. He stretched his hand forward and, under the moons glow, carefully scrutinized her. In her gaze, his fingers became infinitely larger. Jia He tried hard to hold her breath and control her eyes reflexive urge to resist this, until the strange sensation of contact passed and the view before her eyes became blurry and nothing could be seen clearly. Hurry and go to bed. He brought his face down and kissed her forehead. Im going out now. Giving an mm-hmm, Jia He turned over and hugged the comforter against herself. Thank you for what you said today. This truly was a case of alcohol emboldening a wimps heart. Words she had choked over the entire night had at last been spoken aloud. I actually had already mentally prepared myself. I just needed a few days to get used to it and then I would have been fine. It was so hard to make her thoughts coherent. It was only one sentence, but she had stumbled over the words and in the end was still unable to completely express everything she wanted to say. She buried her face into the comforter, sensing that he was still maintaining that same position and had not moved. Anything else? Yi Wenzes voice was suddenly heard. No. Jia He bit down on her lip. She could feel his breath very near. But she simply waited like this, scared, flustered, and not knowing what to do. The entire time, however, Yi Wenze made no movement to take things one step further. Jia Hes heart throbbed, sometimes rapidly, other times slowly. She drew breath after ragged breath, until eventually even he was affected by her. His uneven breathing was right by her ear, seducing her, whittling away at her awareness. Still he made not a single movement. Jia He wanted to cry. Finally, she poked her head out from the comforter. Do I stink? No. He paused for a moment before giving a very low chuckle. The room was extremely quiet, yet his words, his laughter seemed to come through a curtain of fog. Ah, yeah, Im still drunk. Closing her eyes and reluctantly accepting her fate, she thought, Youre just turned off that Im drunk. It was a long while later when she, unable to reconcile herself to this, asked in a barely perceptible voice, Then why wont you kiss me? Quiet. Very quiet. She was practically unable to breathe. But still she did not hear his voice. Oh no, oh no. Sure enough, drunkenness was just plain harmful. Her image was completely destroyed She dared not make any movement. But then, she suddenly felt a warmth touch her face. Slowly, it shifted downwards until it caressed the corner of her lips, and there it halted for a moment. Because youre drunk. Perplexed, she wanted to determine the amount of truth in those words, but his kiss was already thoroughly claiming her. Her entire body was sunken into the comforter. He left her no room to escape, a constricting feeling of suffocation causing her to cling to him as if she were drowning. The very soft material in her palm wrinkled and formed creases . This was long, deep kiss. A mobile phone began ringing out in the sitting area. Only then did she dazedly open her eyes, patting him lightly on his back. Its A-Luns phone, he explained, his voice low. Do you need to bring it to him? No. With this, he used an even deeper kiss to repress any other words she might have. Layer after layer was removed from her. His motions were slow and focused. His hand smoothed over her supple skin, and it was then that he discovered that the entire body of the one beneath him was blazing hot. Owing to this more intimate contact, she was like a frightened bird who would start at the mere hints of anything approaching. She suddenly opened her eyes, trying hard to look at him. Yi Wenze halted slightly, allowing his eyes to take in her face, veiled in the dimness. Those glistening lips were pressed together tightly. Her eyes were filled with utter confusion, disconcertment, fluster Tell me, he said, sighing secretly, moving to gently kiss her neck, stroking her to help her relax, would you like a boy, or would you prefer a girl? I like both. As he advanced on her step by step, she lost nearly all her ability to resist. Then we will have one of each. Very slowly, he undid the tie belt of her dress, continuously caressing her soft, delicate neck and ear, tenderly saying, My younger sister and I are fraternal twins. Maybe we can get it done in one go, too. Already utterly unable to see anything clearly, she simply shut her eyes and gave a very light mm. Those kisses felt as if they would never come to an end, as if they would continue the whole night. Until he took her hand very lightly into his and set it on his chest. The hard object beneath her hand was very smallthe button of his shirt. This should have been a very simple action, but she tried a total of four times before she was at last able to unfasten the first one. His patience was ample to wait for her. When he lifted her and brought her with him under the cover of the comforter, drawing near to her with no longer anything between them, he noticed the slight furrow in her brow. He tried gently touching her face, but the woman in his arms pinched her brows together again. Completely burrowing herself into his embrace, she encircled her arms tightly around his firm upper body, then quietened down. Utterly motionlessshe was completely asleep. Yi Wenze looked down at her. After a long while, he finally could not help laughing. She really was drunk Through this long night, she was in such a drunken state that her sleep was dreamless. Jia He only felt that when she was about to burn up, water was poured into her mouth. Very cool and refreshing. And then, very content now, she hugged that warmth tightly and once more sunk into deep slumber. Very shortly, there was yet again the sound of a ringing phone. Shifting uncomfortably a couple of times, she opened her eyes to the unbearable splitting pain of a headache. The view that suddenly appeared before her was that of his face. Still in a daze, she could sense that she basically was not wearing very much for clothing and furthermore, in such a state, was clinging tightly to him Her arm resting on his waist was already terribly sore and numb, as if she had been holding this position for a long time already. Everything that happened yesterday was fragmented in her memory. She only remembered something about boy and girl and fraternal twins. She seemed to have helped him undo his shirt, and thenand then she fell asleep?! Her whole body was sweaty, a sticky feeling that conjured a vexed restlessness in her. But still she dared not so much as shift. Hang in there, just hang in there. Eventually, though, she actually started feeling sleepy again. So hot. Its really so hot. Youre awake? His voice was very light and contained the languidness that comes after a deep sleep. Mm-hmm She did not have the courage to open her eyes. Did you have a comfortable sleep? Mm-hmm Yes, it was comfortable. In fact, too comfortable Would you like to have a shower? Sitting up, he swathed her in the comforter and picked her up onto his lap. With this, she was finally forced to open her eyes. I still want to sleep for a bit longer. He picked up his watch from beside the pillow. Its almost eleven. Do you want to eat something first? Okay. Feeling ridiculously guilty, like she had done something wrong, she could only nod docilely. She truly was kicking herself. That should have been such a romantic moment. A public love confession, a candelight dinner, just the right amount of drunkenness, and then The problem lay in the fact that she was just not suited for getting hammered with alcohol. Strewn on the gray rug were their clothes, large and small items, messy yet exuding a warm, comforting feeling. Holding her in his arms, he gathered up their clothing from beside the bed. When he had picked up his button-up shirt and was about to put it on, Jia He grabbed his hand and, like a hero facing death for a righteous cause, proposed, How about we do it over again? [1]׾ơbai jiu. Baijiu literally means white alcohol. This traditional Chinese alcoholic beverage is technically classified as a spirit and is made from sorghum and other grains. Those who did not grow up exposed to baijiu will often, on their first taste of it, describe it with adjectives such as strong, fiery, harsh, biting, etc. It has a high alcohol by volume (ABV), typically in the range of 40-60%. (For comparison, a typical wine is ~9-15%, vodka is 40%.) CH 13.1 Those fingers, so small, were clutching his palm. That look of solemnness did not seem at all as if she was making a suggestive proposal to engage in certain pleasures together; it was wholly an expression of wanting to provide recompense after causing a mishap. Jia He did not clue in to what exactly she had just said until she saw his gaze shift downwards. Then, abruptly, she yanked her arm back. The comforter still wrapped around her, she began with all her might to regret her words. That, that, that was just too impulsive! What in the world was that? Yesterday, it was only because there had been the three great elements of romancealcohol, moonlight, and the late hoursthat she had had the courage. But nowshe fastened her gaze on Yi Wenzes shadowthis was in broad daylight, you know, under the brazen sun, aaaah Yi Wenze unexpectedly set down his shirt. Immediately, a jolt shot through her. Oh no, oh no. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to hang in there. Her mind was filled only with thoughts of whether he might have gotten an erroneous impression of her, that he might mistakenly think she was the type who casually indulged in carnal pleasures and did not take any of that to heart. The room was too bright and they were also facing one another in such a state, so even more so she could feel every ounce of blood in her body surging upwards with all its might. She wanted only to explain that she actually truly did not have any experience yet. The words had not even left her lips, however, before he, catching her by surprise, encircled her in his arms. She nearly jumped off the bed, but wrapped up like in a cocoon, there was absolutely no possible way she could make any movement. Ah, forget it. She was doomed either way; she might as well just go for it. She steeled her heart. Could you take things a little slower in just a bit? I actually might not be like how you think I am. Why did it feel like, here, at such a close distance, with the sun shining on them like this, they were doing the verbal run-through before filming an adult movie? He smoothed her hair with his hand. What do you think I think? Jia He wanted to cry. She was already being so blunt. He still needed to ask? I mean, maybe, perhaps Just whats up with you? Its just, Ive only had one boyfriend. Is it that hard to explain?! Who said that if youve had a boyfriend, you must have done the deed? She shrank down into the comforter a little bit. Actually, um, well, yesterday I had a bit too much to drink. Otherwise, I wouldnt take the initiative like that. This should have been something said in a happy tone while feeling all sweet about it. Why then did she actually feel as if she had committed a heinous crime? I know, Yi Wenze said by her ear. With those words, one persons face blazed brighter and brighter red while the other persons smile deepened and deepened some more. Do you really know? Theres a subtext to what I said She wanted to keep explaining, but he had already set her down so that she lay on the bed. At once, she clutched the comforter, convincing herself with all her might, Youre not anxious, youre not anxious. Even when Yi Wenzes had taken her into his arms and lowered his lips onto hers, she, as if in a trance, was still reciting, Youre not anxious, youre not anxious In reality, she did not know that because she was squeezing her eyes shut from anxiety, her entire face had puckered together into a little bundle and she looked like a fish on a chopping block waiting for its fate. The air conditioning had not been turned on. Her body temperature was climbing rapidly. Gradually, their breaths commingled. It was not certain who caused whose breathing to become ragged and uneven. A thin layer of sweat glazed her whole body, clammy and sticky. At some point in time, she had grabbed onto his wrist, and beneath the touch of her fingertips, his faint pulse became so very clear to her. I need to go out at twelve. He finally pushed himself up onto his elbows and away from her body, saying with a smile, An hour is too tight. It was an unsuitable time and an unsuitable occasion. He did not want it to be so rushed. Neither did it need to be so rushed. At last, Jia He seemed to startle out of her slumber-like state. She ran his words back and forth through her mind. Thenwhoosh!her face turned into a red-hot tomato. She did not make a peep, nor did she open her eyes. She felt the bed sink slightly before finally cluing in that the weight covering her body had lifted, and her mind felt as if awakening from a dream. When she at last dared to open her eyes for a look, he had already stepped into the bathroom. Whew. Glad, or disappointed? Seriously, so conflicted There was merely a door separating them. When the sounds of water echoed out, she instantly crawled out from the comforter and pulled on her clothes at lightning speed. After sitting tall and in a solemn manner for one minute, she felt that something was not right. Hurriedly, she made up the bed so that it looked proper, then also tidied his clothes. After everything had been dealt with so that there were no hints of any sort of hanky-panky, her heart was finally set at ease. And then she carried on sitting tall and solemnly. He suddenly called to her. Fawningly jogging over, she asked, Yes? Help me grab a clean button-up shirt and pants. He made this very ordinary request. Button-up shirt and pants she repeated. The question of Do you need me to grab some underwear? very logically popped up into her mind, but fortunately she was able to catch it before it spilled out, and she only gave him the garments he had requested. It was not until that evening during dinnertime that he mentioned that he needed to be at filming site the following day to begin shooting his newest movie, and therefore he would be leaving Beijing tonight. Jia He stared stupidly at him, not quite able to process this. Her eyes blinked and blinked. The words caught in her throat for a long time before she finally asked, Why didnt you tell me earlier? Once he was on filming site, it would be a long time before they would get to see each other, but she had not even known about this. The work schedule that I sent you, you didnt really look through it? An Ah? slipped from Jia He. Immediately she realized her negligence: she had only felt sweet inside for a moment when he first sent it over but indeed had not carefully looked through and checked the actual dates and timing. With her head bowed, she cut up some vegetables, the beat of the thunk, thunksounds practically catching up to the rhythm of her heartbeat. Im sorry. The vegetables were almost done cooking when she of her own accord admitted her mistake. I didnt look it over closely. Then picking up a jar of seasoning, she scooped out a spoonful and was about to dump it into the skillet. You grabbed the wrong one. Thats sugar, Yi Wenze thoughtfully pointed out. He watched as she scrambled to look for the salt, finding her amusing. In fact, he purposely had not mentioned it, lest she would have been thinking about it from last night onwards. How long will it be this time? Finally finding the jar of salt, Jia He scooped out a large spoonful and was about to sprinkle it in. Once more, though, he covered her hand with his. He poured more than half of the spoons salt back into the jar before sprinkling the rest into the skillet for her. About two months. Two months. Oh. Jia He gave a somewhat absent-minded okay, stirred the vegetables a couple of times, turned off the stove, and then removed the food from the skillet. She carefully recalled that work schedule. Indeed, he was going to be very busy. He had always been very conscientious, taking his work seriously, which meant she definitely would not be able to frequently visit him on the set and bring about criticism from other people. Her mind was hard at work figuring out the dates. By the time two months passed, it should be autumn. People had always complimented her on her slender legs, which made her look especially nice when she wore skirts, and these last few months, whenever she went shopping, she would always automatically buy a lot of dresses and skirts, long ones, short ones, various styles and colours. Xiao Yu had been so shocked at this she had even teased that Jia He was going to open an online shop on Taobao. In truth, Jia He had merely been planning that, for the entire upcoming summer, she would have dresses to wear when she was with him and she could wear them for him to see. Two dishes and a soup. Her cooking was actually very good, but the last dish had obviously been stir-fried for too long and tasted a little overcooked. This was the meal before he was to leave and it had turned out like this. She was somewhat dejected. This afternoon when he was not around, she had specially gone out and bought three days worth of groceries. From the looks of things, it was all going to go to waste. They had finished dinner before she asked him whether he wanted her to see him off. In the sitting area, where he was grabbing his luggage, Yi Wenze answered, Sure. Since you dont have a car in Beijing, you can drive mine. As Jia He watched him carrying over his luggage, only now did she perceive that the suitcase should have already been set there last night and not even been opened. She, though, had not even noticed it this entire time. After seeing him off and returning home, she at last carefully studied that work schedule. To her surprise, she discovered that he had even thoughtfully made an annotation in red letters beside these next two months, informing her that he had relatively more night scenes. Usually at least one-third of a movie consists of night scenes. Since he had specially notated this, then there likely would be even more than that. However, as she spent half the day repeatedly mulling over these four words, she inexplicably came up with lots of thoughts. For instance, he had just recovered from his injury; with such a filming schedule, would he physically be able to hold up? Or for instance, would this mean that it would be more problematic if she wanted to go to the filming site to visit him? Tune of Yongan began broadcasting on satellite television, and the response it was receiving seemed quite good. It happened that that drama being adapted from a novel was very pressed for time, so she completely fell into crazy, round-the-clock workaholic mode. One day, Xiao Yu truly reached her wits end and was totally fed up. Carrying in the clothes that had been hanging out on the balcony, she asked Jia He, Ill say, have you sold off all those skirt and dresses that you bought? How come this whole month youve just been going back and forth wearing the same two outfits? Even Ive gotten aesthetic fatigue. Since prying open her eyes today, Jia He had been typing away, and only when she heard these words did she spare a glance at Xiao Yu. See how a good line from a drama or movie can have a huge influence? The words aesthetic fatigue are soon going to be added into the Cihai Dictionary[1]. Then she turned her head back and continued typing. Xiao Yu felt that trying to talk to Jia He was like a chicken trying to talk to a duck. She could do nothing but dump the clean clothes onto the couch. That drama of yours is doing pretty good. Every day when Im at work, I hear people discussing the plot, to the extent that Im going to be schizophrenic soon. I honestly want to stick a note on my head that says,she ripped open a bag of potato chipsI dont watch corny, melodramatic TV dramas. Dont talk to me about some Yi Wenze guy. The two large words Yi Wenze flashed in front of Jia Hes eyes. With this brief break in her thought process, she completely forgot what she had been writing. I havent seen you talk on the phone more than a handful of times. Dont tell me that because of all these restrictions from your professions, youve forgotten how to date and be in a relationship? Xiao Yu took out a whole watermelon from the refrigerator, cut it in half, and plopped one of the halves by Jia Hes hand. I wish. Gloomily, Jia He picked up a spoon, traced a circle with it into the watermelon, and then neatly scooped out that entire circular piece. Most of what hes filming are night scenes. He sleeps during the day and then has to film at night. With an oh, Xiao Yu pointed out, Then just phone in the afternoon. But I cant figure out for sure which day hes filming during daytime. Jia He took a bite of watermelon, an icy-coldness permeating through her mouth, but instantly the chill caused pain to shoot through her teeth. Oh no, she needed to see the dentist again. There was one time I called him in the afternoon but he was on the set. Lets not even mention how embarrassing that was. Giving her a pat on the shoulder, Xiao Yu commented with grave sincerity, Its not easy being the wife of a celeb, so not easy. Actually, she had been counting the days and was now deliberating that it was time to go visit him on the set. However, to be on location with the cast and crew on location for work reasons and to visit the set were two completely different things. Once she thought about the fact that, if she showed up on the film set, there were no guarantees on whether she might run into people with whom she was acquainted, or she might see him shooting all sorts of dangerous stunts or scenes of passion, she started to get cold feet. In the end, though, after destroying half a watermelon, she still sent him a text: Are you still in Sichuan? After sending it off, she waited rather nervously, but even after a long, long time she received no reply. Disappointment flashed through her before she helped herself find a reasonable explanation: Hes filming, hes filming. He must be filming. Thanks to that half a watermelon, she successfully ended up sending herself to Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Actually, the dental department here was just average, but this was the closest one to her. After registering for an appointment, she sat down in the waiting room. The hospital was bustling and very noisy. She felt restless, unable to settle her heart, which made her tooth ache even more. All this time she had been holding her mobile phone, worried that when he had the time to return her message, she would not see it and end up missing his break time. Even when the dentist was examining her, the phone was still in her hand. The dentist looked at her, annoyed but also finding her comical. Lass, are you waiting for a call for a telephone interview? Hastily answering no, Jia He finally put her mobile phone into her bag and lay down on the examination bed. After a series of checks, it was determined that the tooth that had steadfastly held its ground for three years at last needed to be completely extracted. When the dentist said that he was fully booked for today and asked whether she wanted to book something for tomorrow, a text message alert happened to ring out. She hurriedly told the dentist, Sorry, this is really urgent, and then pulled out her phone from her bag. Three very simple words: Yes, still here. Jia He vacillated briefly. I want to go see you. She waited for a long time, but there still was no reply. The dentist, taking a look out the door, reminded her that there were still other patients and instructed her to make an appointment with the nurse to extract the tooth tomorrow. Not having received a reply from Yi Wenze, Jia He dared not make any promises and hence could only ask whether it would be all right if she waited a few days. This dentist likely had never seen this type of patient who kept changing what she wanted, and he was not really able to keep a smile anymore. His face stony, he told her to go to the nurse to book an appointment, in passing also warning her that if she did not extract the tooth, these next several days most certainly would be painful. Of course they would be painful. Right now it was already so painful she could die. As it was the afternoon, the number of people in the clinic had dwindled until, apart from herself and a few elderly ladies, there were no others. Seeing that the dentist would be getting off work soon, the nurse walked over and inquired about the situation for each of them. Jia He considered for a moment but in the end did not book an appointment. It was the time when people were getting off work, and the roads were absurdly congested. With great difficulty, she shifted her way a little at a time into a gas station. Just as she was poking her head out to speak to an attendant, her mobile phone began to ring, but when she was, out of reflex, about to answer the call, the boy attendant quickly said, Mobile phones cant be used here. With this reminder, she finally remembered this safety point. Hesitantly, she rejected the call. A short while later, a text message came in: Ill be in Chengdu tomorrow. Press conference. Tomorrow, hmm Hissing noises came from Jia He as she sucked air through her teeth. Honestly, this was hurting to death. She sent her reply: Okay, Ill go to Chengdu tomorrow. [1]Ǻ. Cihai, which literally means sea of words, is an authoritative Chinese dictionary and encyclopedia. CH 13.2 He did not enjoy boisterous settings. However, there were times when it was necessary to attend some social engagements, such as the present. A friend had come from Hong Kong and was at Chengdus Muse Club[1]. As chance would have it, the films cast and production team had returned to Chengdu in preparation for a press conference, so naturally he had been unable to escape the fate of being dragged here. Fortunately, the owner of the club was with them the entire time and the booth selected was in a good location. Still, it was inevitable that they would attract some shrieks of surprised excitement. As soon as he sat down, the owner asked whether they wanted to call some girls over. The partiers in their group of course were happy with such an arrangement, inducing stony expressions on the faces of the several actresses with them Teacher Yi, would it be all right if I sit beside you? An actress who had only recently joined the cast on filming site had been crammed to the extent she was left without a spot, and so she could only turn a pitiful look on him. He shifted over and made some room. Have a seat. And then, he sat with his entire body balanced only on the very edge of the seat. Truly such a gentleman. The man holding a guitar on the stage lowered his voice, his tone suggestive as he complimented that the beautiful ladies in Chengdu certainly lived up to their reputation. Instantly, a wave of squeals rose up from the audience off the stage. Yi Wenze could not help shaking his head and chuckling. That fellow still loved to flirt and tease wherever he went. The woman next to him asked, Teacher Yi, you didnt use a stuntman in your place today. I heard your arm was injured? Yi Wenze gave a smile. Its not too serious. His mobile phone unexpectedly vibrated. Picking it up, he saw it was a message from Jia He: Im booking my plane ticket. When will be a good time? The press conference was at three oclock. Working out the timing in his mind, he went online and found the best flight, then sent the flight number directly to her. Before long, another text came back: So touched! That one it is, then! In that dim, evocative lighting, an emoji with tears streaming down its face blinked on his phones screen. A picture from more than a month ago flashed in front of his eyes, how she, holding a pair of chopsticks, had tentatively asked whether she should make another dish instead since the vegetables were overcooked. That morning, beneath the blanket, she had been almost completely naked when she volunteered herself up for the deed. Truly always only knowing how to ignite things but never knowing how to put out the fire. A faint smile brimmed from the corner of his lips as he returned a text to her: No need to feel touched. Tomorrow, just offer all of yourself to me[2]. After the text was successfully sent out, a long time passed without any response. She must have gotten quite the scare from that. He offhandedly picked up his wine and took a sip. The wine was quite good, its palate full-bodied and smooth. Actually, the wine that night had been better, except the entire time A-Lun had had too much fun teasing her until in the end things had gotten out of hand. Teacher Yi, is it your girlfriend? the person beside him inquired. He did not provide an answer. That young woman carried on, sighing enviously, I watched your interview from that day. If I were your girlfriend, I definitely would have died of happiness. He smiled slightly. She didnt really seem to have much of a reaction. Or perhaps he should say, she only dared to state it aloud when she was drunk. The young woman gave an exclamation of Ah? Those large, circle-lense-wearing eyes shone an even deeper black. Teacher Yi, Im going to be a bit nosy and ask, what sort of person is your girlfriend? How could she stay so calm? Shes a screenwriter. He set his wine glass on the table. Oh, a girl of skill and talent. The woman feelingly expressed this remark and was about to say something else, but the man who had been performing onstage had already darted over and casually removed the hat from Yi Wenzes head. How was I just now? Yi Wenze made an Awesome! sign and then let out a low chuckle. Your voice cracked. That person was terribly abashed. Wanting to sit down, he cast a glance at that young woman, who at once astutely rose and said, You guys sit. Thanks. Taking a seat, he threw an arm around Yi Wenzes shoulders. I honestly dont know why Tian Chu wanted to get a divorce. Youre so epic. From what I could see, that girl there was practically plastering herself on you, but you still had the mind to play with your phone. This person was a Northerner and spoke in crisp sentences. All of a sudden he remembered how, when Jia He occasionally talked on the phone with her family, she would rapidly rattle away in the Beijing dialect, and he felt that her little tongue was so amazing. Someone, he was not certain who, discovered that the group adjacent to them was also a cast from a current film project and straightaway suggested that they bring their groups together to make things even livelier. Yesterday when his young sister phoned him, on the other end of the line, someone had babblingly called him, Uncle. The soft, sweet chimes of a childs voice are always able to cause a person to completely relax, until the little boy, in words that were still enunciated unclearly, began asking for Aunt. Yi Wenze, feeling a little helpless, had had no choice but to gently tell him, Aunt is busy with work in Beijing, but when she has time, she will go to New Zealand to see you. Without a doubt, it must have been Wenrun who taught him that. Since knowing about his relationship with Jia He, she would phone all the time, grilling him with questions about the Loli he was raising for himself[3]. From the looks of things, she truly had been doted on and spoiled rotten by her husband, staying at home the entire day but only learning stuff like this. But maybe she and Jia He would have common topics to talk about He swirled his wine glass gently, then glanced again at his mobile phone. She wouldnt have dropped her phone and broken it, would she? A text message suddenly came in: Just now I dropped my phone. Sure enough. He stood, wanting to find a quiet place to call her back. However, without warning, there was a shattering crash behind him. Turning, he saw the floor covered in debris. The young woman who had sat beside him earlier had smashed a mirror with a wine bottle. All around, everyone was a little stupefied. In contrast, by the mirror, a man whose face was scarlet and who appeared to have consumed quite a few drinks took a couple of staggering steps forward. What? I just said a couple of things to you and now youre not giving me face? For a moment, the atmosphere was as if daggers were drawn, and all the people in the nearby booths flocked over to spectate. Yi Wenzes brows creased together as he watched this. He did not know this person; it should be someone who came over when the booths were brought together. The several people around that man hurriedly stepped forward and pulled him back, all speaking at once, saying, why bother squabbling with a young girl? The more they tried to soothe him, though, the more enraged that man became, and he was about to yank up his sleeves and charge forward. All right now. What is a man picking bones with a woman for? At last, Yi Wenze spoke up. And then, utter silence. It honestly was because just now he had been sitting in a corner with a cap on and also the bars lighting was dim. Only now, when he spoke, did the people who had joined from the other booth see that over here there actually was Yi Wenze. That man basically did everything but pour a glass of wine to apologize. With a smile, Yi Wenze patted him on the shoulder. The man immediately fell back into his original seat. This is to compensate your damages. Yi Wenze pulled out three thousand RMB from his wallet and handed it to the relieved club owner. My apologies. Everyone has drunk too much and lost the sense of what is appropriate. The club owner hastily refused, pushing his hand away, but the money still ended up getting stuffed into his palm. The people at the nearby surrounding tables were still ogling this scene, their eyes gleaming. Yi Wenze, though, had already bowed his head and was looking at his mobile phone. It had powered off by itself. Ive got matters to attend to and need to leave first. Everyone, please continue. He gave these words as an explanation. His friend, who had been sitting to the side watching the excitement, quickly stood and also flashed him an Awesome! sign with his hands, commenting, My voice cracks, whereas you, guy, you hold down the scene. Giving a faint smile, Yi Wenze looked at him, tilted his chin to indicate that actress, and stated, Take care of her a bit. That person gave him a grin that contained much veiled meaning. Youre finally enlightened to certain things? Not even bothering to say more, Yi Wenze simply tossed out the sentence, This spoken-for guy needs to go back to get some sleep. You just deal with things as you see fit. And then he left. Yi Wenze had not returned her text. The matter seemed quite serious. Jia He sat on the windowsill, sucking in air furiously, her tooth aching so much she was in a ratty mood. Her mobile phone in her hand, she deliberated, should she send another text? Wasnt he already back in Chengdu today? He shouldnt be filming right now. He wouldnt be mad because she did not reply to that one statement of offering all of herself to him, right? Out of the blue, she recalled the image of Yi Wenzes well-proportioned, perfect backside as he walked into the bathroom that morning She felt a slight feeling of something hot in her nose. Oh no, this didnt turned into a chronic illness after being with him, did it? As she pressed a hand against her cheek, one of his fan clubs sayings suddenly came to mind: If I can have Yi Wenze as my own, I shall certainly keep him and his beauty hidden away in a golden house[4]. Immediately, she quietened. Hence, when Xiao Yu returned, the scene she saw was one of Jia He, half her face slightly swollen, grimacing in pain and also grinning stupidly while staring at her mobile phone Xiao Yu sauntered over and surveyed her face. Didnt you go to get your tooth checked? When are you getting it pulled? Im going to Chengdu tomorrow. Ill see when I get back. It felt difficult even to talk. Xiao Yu was taken aback briefly, then shook her head and laughed. Its not easy being the wife of a celeb, so not easy. Her flights arrival time in Chengdu was originally scheduled for seven oclock, but it was delayed all the way until nearly midnight. When she strode out, rain was coming down in torrents in Chengdu. The crowd of people waiting for checked baggage formed a large stretch. As Jia He took the elevator down, she silently rejoiced that she had not brought any luggage. Due to the heavy rain, there were lots of people in the main hall, most holding mobile phones, either talking or texting on them, and all waiting for someone. Pulling out her mobile phone and checking the license plate number that Yi Wenze had sent her, she began secretly praying in earnest that the vehicle would not be too conspicuous. To her surprise, when she found it, she saw it was one of the production crews minivans. Minivan? Yi Wenze? No matter how she looked at it, these two did not go together. This is too amazing. You actually know how to drive this type of vehicle. She mumbled this quietly as she closed the door. Whats wrong with your face? Leaning over, he took her chin between his fingers and made her turn towards him. Jia He had not expected that the cat would be out of the bag so soon and could only wince and lightly slap away his hand. Gentler. My tooth hurts. It is said that the reunion between lovers after a short separation is better than even a honeymoon[5], and once the plane had landed, she had already started feeling a little speeding up of her heart, a little bit of anxiousness, and a little bit of excitement. This, though, was truly not what she had anticipatted, that the first thing he said to her when he saw her would be so everyday life. That saying of keeping the beauty hidden away in a golden house flashed, umprompted, through her mind again, making Jia He even more flustered. She was about to say some of the things she had rehearsed ahead of time to set the atmosphere, but then she saw him frown. Its swollen so badly. Lets go to the hospital first to have it checked. Is it okay if we dont go? I didnt come to Chengdu to go to the hospital The result, of course, was that her request had no effect and was rejected And so, her trip to visit him on the film set first became a one-night tour of a Chengdu hospital. The on-duty dentist, shaking his head, stated that her wisdom tooth was growing in. Jia He paused dully in surprise for a moment, then pointed at that bad tooth of hers. Its not this one? The dentist examined it again and continued shaking his head. Its just the wisdom tooth. Its growing in behind this one. Go get an IV first. Jia He rolled her eyes. That unscrupulous dentist yesterday had merely gone along with what she had said and then told her she needed to extract that tooth. Extract the tooth, extract the toothwhat, does he get commission for it? But if she got an IV what was Yi Wenze going to do? She contemplated briefly. Could I first just get some medication? Its so severe. Arent you in pain? The dentist crossed one leg over the other, finding this girl rather amusing. In the end, she still only filled a prescription for some medication. After she was back in the minivan, she, with unclear articulation, described her indignation at yesterdays dentist and praised the ethics of the one today. Yi Wenze took her medical record, carefully skimmed through it, and also asked a couple of questions about what the dentists recommendations and orders were. Making use of the excuse that it was inadvisable for her to talk too much in her current condition, Jie He only gave an arbitrary, vague answer and brushed over this topic. By the time they were back at the hotel, it was already into the latter half of the night. Following him into his room, Jia He, her palm against her cheek, asked whether her room was next door. Yi Wenze picked up a bottle of mineral water, unscrewed the cap, and poured the water into the kettle. There are no rooms available tonight. Tears nearly sprang into her eyes. Much time passed before she finally shuffled over and gave a little tug on his button-up shirt. Whats wrong? Unhurriedly, he pressed the switch on the kettle and then began picking up each of those several boxes of medication, reading over the dosage instructions. Tooth hurts. She had wrestled for a lengthy while with getting the words out, but still she did not end up saying what she wanted to. He gave an mm, saying, Im heating up some water for you. In a little bit, youll take the medicine and then go to bed. Take medicine and go to bed It turned out, she very glumly discovered, that her long trip all the way here was merely a change of location for her to take medicine and go to bed. She hadnt even gotten a hug since getting off the plane Her heart was in a muddle when, out of the blue, two light knocks resounded on the door. She received such a fright at this that her hand gave a quiver and ended up bumping against her tooth. Her face screwed up in pain, she looked at Yi Wenze. Its two in the morning already. What, is this a ghost haunting? Teacher Yi, are you asleep? From the other side of the door a womans voice was heard. A very gentle one. The room grew quiet. There was only the sound of boiling water, so distinct it vexed the heart. With one hand pressed to her face, Jia He poked Yi Wenzes arm, signaling to him to go open the door. [1]Muse Club is a well-known club in Chengdu on Jiuyanqiao Bar Street. [2]yi shen xiang xu. The literal meaning of this is pledging your body to someone. The underlying meaning is that you will devote your body and heart to a person for a lifetime, promising your life to that person. Oftentimes, this means to present yourself and be willing to marry someone. However, the marriage is not necessary; it is more the willingness to engage in the act of consummation if the pledgee so desires. Yi Wenzes response on the surface can be taken as that meaning, where he is requesting Jia He to love him and be with him for the rest of her life, but it can also have the mature interpretation of Tomorrow, offer your body to me. [3]Loli, short for Lolita, is simply referring to a young, innocent girl. Loli , which means to raise and groom and Loli is describing someone who finds a girl when she is still in childhood and raises and grooms her to become his ideal girlfriend.Yi Wenzes sister, Yi Wenrun, here is making a jab at her brother for finding a girlfriend quite a bit younger than him. [4]ݲ؋ jin wu cang jiao. This idiom literally translates as a golden house to hide away a beauty and is describing a man who has built a resplendent house and settled his beloved in there. It usually refers to a man who has hidden a mistress away in a love nest, or who is keeping a beautiful woman hidden away in his home. The female fans are using this idiom on Yi Wenze, who is the beauty whom they want to hide away. [5]Сʤ». This saying the reunion after a short separation is better than even a honeymoon, carries similar meaning to the English saying, absence makes the heart grow fonder. However, the more literal translation emphasizes the excitement more of the reunion, which is what Jia He is feeling, and hence that is what was used in the translation. CH 13.3 Yi Wenze did not even lift his head and only continued reading through the medication instructions. Jia He poked him again. Finally, he looked up at her. In a small voice, she asked, Whos that? Clack. The kettles switch happened to pop back up at this particular instant. He poured half a glass of water. The voice isnt really familiar. It might be someone from the cast or production team. Oh, Jia He uttered. She might have come to find you because of something important. Go see. The words were out before she realized her tone oozed the sourness of jealousy. The door sounded with another two knocks. Seriously, she just wont give up. Go. Jia He used her lips to motion towards the door. She wont be able to fall asleep if she doesnt see you. Saying this, she strode through the hallway, sat down on the bed, picked up the remote control, and turned on the television. Immediately after she finished speaking, he truly did head over and open the door. Darn it! Treating me like Im dead Jia He secretly gnashed her teeth. The hallway was dimly lit. Standing outside the door was the young woman whom Yi Wenze had helped the previous night. She seemed to have just taken a shower, her waist-length hair emitting a slight sheen. Teacher Yi, you still havent gone to bed? What a waste of words. Even if he had, he would have been woken up with your knocking.As Jia He muttered this in her mind, she furtively treaded over to a spot off to the side and silently declared, If you dare get one step closer, Ill Ill What should I do? She could not be too violent. If they somehow attracted some nosy onlookers, that would just damage Yi Wenzes image. But she could not hold back too much and seem cowering. If she were too reasonable to talk to, that would just mean that after she left Chengdu there would be knocking on the door every night. Yi Wenze did not answer the question and instead cut straight to the chase. Is there something you need? No, nothing really. The woman smiled, I just wanted to ask you, Teacher Yi, hows the injury on your arm? Injury? Jia Hes heart plummeted with a thud. She slunk another step closer, not daring to even blink her eyes, for fear she might listen in to something she should not and learn that she had fallen into the same blunder as many years ago. Before her eyes flashed the scene she had once witnessed: in the magazines office building, in the coffee station, that silent kiss. All of a sudden, at the bottom of her heart, there was small voice crying to her. Jia He, protect your happiness. You need to protect your happiness! Thank you. Yi Wenze gave a polite smile. If there are no other matters, my girl Before he had finished speaking, he suddenly felt something warm on his waist. Someone was embracing him from behind. A very gentle voice cooed, Hubby, my tooth hurts He looked down, watching as she poked her head out from beneath his arm, smiled, greeted that young woman. Would you like to come in and sit? We havent gone to bed yet. He had originally wanted to reject that woman right in front of her, but sometimes she would do things even he was unable to imagine. The muted lighting of the corridor was like that of a night scene of din and bustle. The warm yellow illumination behind him, though, was like that cast by wall lamps of home. That woman completely froze, watching as Yi Wenze lowered his head to look at the person in his arms, his smile teeming with extreme tenderness. He gave a light cough. Unexpectedly, he felt an urge rise inside of him, but what it was he wanted to do, he could not really say. In the end, he took her hand in his and offhandedly shut the door. Dont you have a toothache? Go take your medicine first. When Jia He saw that he had not even spoken a single superfluous word and simply, just like that, closed the door, she actually was a little stunned. Whats up with him? Thats not like him He picked up the package of medication and placed the glass of water into her hand. There was a very light sound as the foil was peeled open. Jia He very naturally extended a hand to take the medicine from him, but he picked up a pill between his fingers and very gently fed it into her mouth. From opening the medicine package to feeding her the pill, everything been done in one smooth go. She had initially intended on putting on an icy look and asking why this woman would come here in the middle of the night, but very pathetically, owing to this one action, more than half of the fire burning in her was extinguished. Where are you hurt? Why didnt you tell me? Yanking up Yi Wenzes right sleeve, she examined that arm, but finding no injuries, she moved over to the left side. Only then did she see a very deep cut. Judging from its colour, this wound was only a day or two old. Its a cut from a prop. Its not very serious. He began lowering his sleeve, but she held it down. Yi Wenze. This was her first time addressing him by his full name, and it truly did startle him for a moment. Then, smiling, he picked her up and set her, sitting, onto the counter. So serious. What is it you want to say? I must tell you very seriously. She held her breath. Being seated in such a spot put her at the perfect height to gaze him directly in the eyes. You made a very grave mistake. He smiled wordlessly, his manner open and unruffled as he looked at her. I feel like youre not really looking squarely at our relationship. Were not acting out some sort of idol drama, where we only need to share the great joys and great sorrows. When you see I have a toothache, youll go with me to the dentist. But you got hurtlets not even talk about whether its a big injury or a smalland you didnt tell me straightaway. That is the biggest mistake. The more Jia He spoke, the more wounded and wronged she felt. Only now noticing the bitter taste in her mouth, she realized that she was still sucking on the pill. Immediately her brows creased in a grimace, and she gulped three large mouthfuls of water before she was able to swallow down that pill that had already melted in her mouth. So bitter Honestly, so bitter and so painful. This was so awful she could die. While she was still composing in her mind the words she would say in the negotiation talk that was to follow, he suddenly folded her into his arms and covered her lips with his. An intense bitterness still clung to the tip of her tongue. He, though, seemed as if he could not taste it at all, completely entwining his tongue with hers and burrowing it in deep. How, how did things suddenly become this? This question echoed ceaselessly through the last shreds of her awareness. Her back was against a mirror and one of her hands was pressing down on the countertop, that foil package of pills by chance beneath her palm. Reflexively, her fingers tightened into a fist, causing crackling sounds to come from the foil package. It had been just a little more than a month, thirty-four dayssuch a short timebut why did it feel like they had not seen each other for an entire lifetime already? Even this entangling kiss had become unfamiliar and scorching. Her eyes tightly shut, that pain that had been tormenting her forgotten, she tried to return his kiss. He, however, suddenly pulled away from her. With one arm propped against the mirror behind her, he subdued the impulse that was roiling in him. Yi Wenze could not even count how many times in the past he had been injured on the set while filming, but never before had he felt the way he did this time. While the wound was being bandaged, he had actually received her text message, and all of a sudden he had waveredshould he wait until the injury was healed before letting her come? He had not expected her reaction to this to be so big. Is it still bitter? he asked. Dazedly, Jia He answered, Mm-hmm. Once more, he pressed his lips onto hers and continued, very slowly, to brush the tip of his tongue over her lips and teeth. As he drew deeper and deeper on her, she heard him say that it was time to go to bed. The entire way, from the bar counter to the bed, he carried her in his arms. Her anger had long since been doused out by him, and in the end she only lay docilely on his arm, making one last struggling attempt. I still havent finished talking. Go ahead. From the bottom of her garment, his hand at her back slid inside. Every inch of movement was filled with tenderness, attentiveness. With you doing this How can I possibly even talk? She glared plaintively at him. Whats wrong? Bringing his head down, he nibbled the tip of her ear. His warm breath pervaded over her ear, her neck, silently crumbling her resistance, silently moving in deeper. Closing her eyes, she attempted to gather her focus. In the future, if you so much as nip your hand with a nail clipper, you must still report it to me. That likely wont happen. He feathered kisses all the way down the curvature of her neck until he reached her collarbone. Thats something that youre more likely to do. She nearly choked to death on that. I was just giving an example Mm, Yi Wenze responded. Got it. And then yanking over the taupe blanket, he covered both of them and began methodically carrying on with the work his hands had been doing. The television screen flickered with some sort of ridiculous drama serial that was about nothing other than romance and love and extramarital affairs and homewreckers. This kind of melodramatic, clich family drama sure was a never-changing popular theme. Accompanied by the sounds of choked sobs, the shows lead was tearfully demanding, How come you couldnt withstand temptation? Do our five years of marriage not even compare to someone you met for just a few days? Well, that certainly was quite fitting. Striving to hang on to the remnants of her clarity of mind, Jia He grabbed his wrist. I never said Im not mad. I just wanted to take care of the external threat first before dealing with our internal issues. He closed her into the circle of his arms. Wheres the external threat? She bit down on her lip, practically able to sense the urgency in him. A blush searing her cheeks and ears, she shut her eyes, murmuring, Youre so nice to everyone; youre just purposely trying to attract the attention of all the pretty ladies. You treat me no different from other people. Chuckling, Yi Wenze asked in low tones, Do you think I would do this to other people? Maybe. Her words were still unrelenting, but she did limpen a few more notches. Finally feeling somewhat helpless against her, he began trying to help her to relax. I do not, for any person, interrupt my work phone calls; I do not volunteer my home up for anyone to stay in; and I do not face the media for other people. And I especially dont ever bring along any other person to be with me at all times, all moments, not wanting at all to let her leave Their bodies were locked together tightly, skin upon skin. They could not discern who first became scorching as fire, for in the end they merely wholly, thoroughly melded together. She was afraid. She was nervous. Yet, still, she did not refuse him. Her arms gradually slid around his back. She could sense the dampness and soldering heat beneath her palm. By her ear were the distinct rises and falls of breathhing. There was some pain, but even more, there was a feeling of unbearable restlessness. This was very tender, yet it was also torture. Each second was torment that dragged on endlessly. He suddenly grew still, gazing unblinkingly at her. Jia He dazedly opened her eyes. Honey[1], take a trip back to New Zealand with me, how about that? His voice was indescribably deep and low, bewitching and seductive. She felt as if someone had squeezed the very tip of her heart. Her breaths choked in her throat. Very slowly, she uttered an mm. But right as she was about to say something, she abruptly gripped the skin beneath her hands, nearly digging into it It was very deep in the night. She was almost completely tucked into the enclosure of his arms. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that he was sly and treacherous, and she gave a vicious pinch to his arm. He shifted ever so lightly, not trying to evade this. It looks like this wound is going to need a few extra days to heal. As if electrocuted, she swiftly pulled her hand back. Where did I hurt you? Yi Wenze did not answer and only gave a low chuckle, a gorgeous, intoxicating sound. The television was still on. She was not certain what type of program it was playing. There was not much for dialogue, but the background sound was very loud. Listening to it, Jia He was perplexed. However, she would rather be completely bathed in sweat and remain burrowed in his embrace than dare to poke her head out and look at his face. So, she could only curiously inquire, her voice muffled, Whats playing on TV? The noises are so weird. He cast a bland look at the television, tightening his hands hold on her waist. Rolling over and once more pinning her beneath his body, he answered in a low voice, A late-night adult program. What, what do you want to do? A moan almost slipped from Jia Hes lips, and her entire body began trembling uncontrollably. That slight bit of clarity of mind that she had recovered was once more completely shattered by him, and she was wholly swallowed away, sinking into oblivion. At the very end of the very end, she finally forced herself to stick her head out and take a quick glimpse at the television. Instantly, she burst out with wrath. It was just a concert of Chinese orchestral music! Giving an mm, Yi Wenze pulled her completely against himself such that even their arms and legs were pressed together. A program that adults will watch late at night. Youre just too much Her eyelids felt terribly heavy, though, and hence she could only nestle herself in his arms and secretly condemn him with a couple of grumbled sentences in her mind before falling into a deep slumber. She had only slept for a short period, however, when her entire body felt chilled. Struggling to wake from her dreams, Jia He heard the sound of the door being opened lightly. She asked groggily, What time is it? Behind her, a voice moved in close to her, very close. Six. So early Jia Hes head throbbed and felt stuffed. Her entire body was so sore she was about to die. What was more, he just had to ask by her ear, Does it still hurt? How how can it not hurt? Her eyes tightly shut, Jia He answered him, Mm-hmm. Do you want to take some medicine? He seemed to step away from the bed. Then she heard the sound of water being poured and boiled. At last, Jia He clued in to what he had actually been asking. From head to toe, she roasted with embarrassment. [1] The words Yi Wenze used are actually , which literally means wife. As men dont usually straight out address their girlfriend or wife as Wife in English, I did not want to use the literal translation here, especially in this intimate scene as it would break immersion. This term of endearment will be used very frequently from now on, and generally, I will usually just consistently translate it as honey. Somehow, wifey does not seem appropriate coming from the lips Yi Wenze, with a few exceptions. (However, just keep in mind that the status change has become verbal.) CH 14.1 Yi Wenze was filming in the daytime today. After discussing with him, Jia He booked her return plane ticket for tonight. He left very early. Her head still woozy, Jia He slipped back into sleep again for a while. It was nearly twelve oclock when she finally went and completed the check-out procedure. Taking the room key card from her, the desk clerk input the information. At once, the clerk nonchalantly shot a discreet glance at her. Jia He could only pretend to be clueless, burying her head and keeping her eyes fixed on her mobile phone. Miss, the bill is ready for you to sign. When the itemized bill slid into her view, she finally set down her phone and picked up the pen. She discovered, though, that the other partys previous discreetness had become a blatant expression of nosiness. Bemused, Jia He picked up that itemized bill, quickly scanned her eyes over itand instantly understood. Listed eye-catchingly under items consumed by hotel guest was a box of those. With her eyes glued to the bill, she moped for a full three seconds before eventually the pen and signing a random letter as her signature <>Please support this translation by only reading it at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, its actual site of posting. This would be greatly appreciated by the translator. Thank you. Her flight was at eight oclock at night, so she had nothing to do for the entire afternoon. In the end, she went to Jinli Ancient Street[1] to do some eating. She would walk for a bit, then stop for a bit, eating and looking around. Every time she came to Chengdu for work, she would always come here. Xiao Yu always ridiculed her for going only to those commercial streets that locals did not go to. But this place was awesome. One circle through and you could eat most of the Sichuanese snacks that you had been eyeing and drooling over. It was perfect for ridiculously lazy people like her. You saved time, saved money, and even saved on all the transportation costs. When she at last could not get any more food down, she found a caf, sat down in a corner, and, opening up her computer, aimlessly looked at webpages. The sunlight did not reach her but the scent of sun still pervaded everywhere, and despite being slicked with sweat, she still found enjoyment in this. She read some international news stories for a while, but her heart simply would not settle, and before long something compelled her to find her way to his Weibo page. The human mind is so bizarre. Since becoming a couple with him, she even more so had not dared to look at his Weibo or read news related to him. There was a persistent unease in her; she feared she would somehow spy into something. There were very few updates to his Weibo. She reckoned it was likely because he was too busy with the shooting of his new film. The newest post was from this morning at six oclock. A very simple sentence: All these years, I had always thought reality would be inferior to what I dreamed. But, it turns out reality is even more perfect and fulfilling. She silently read this post from beginning to end more than ten times. Because it was simply too obvious what he was implying, the comments exploded and reached a record high number. In only one morning, the number of replies had already surpassed three thousand. Yi Wenze had risen to fame simply too long ago, so his fans were mostly adults. Rather than comments showing prying nosiness or professing love for him, there actually were more heart-warming well wishes. There were all varieties of simple words, but really, they were all asking things along the lines of whether there was happy news around the corner, when he would announce it, etc. After only skimming her eyes a few times over the comments, Jia He already did not dare to keep reading. Completely burrowing herself into the couch, she gnawed on her fingernail while her gaze drifted around vacantly. Soon, redness suddenly climbed into her cheeks. She immediately clapped her hands over them, trying to calm herself. Oh no, oh no. This is broad daylight. What are you even thinking? Aaaaaah A server happened to be bringing her coffee over and was startled by Jia Hes actions. Hey, pretty girl, are you unwell? Jia He actually got a shock from his sudden question and momentarily froze. Only then did she realize that she had been acting smitten and love-crazy out in public. At once sitting herself up straight, she cleared her throat. Im okay, thanks. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only As a result of that one simple statement of his, her entire afternoon became a write-off. After four hours of writing the same scene of parting, she finally wholly gave up on the possibility of doing any work and simply closed her computer and went to pay her tab. By the time she walked out the door of the caf, the sky had already dimmed a little. On either side of the street swayed a long line of red lanterns, and every now and then two or three people would brush past her. While she was roving and mulling over whether she should simply head to the airport first, her phone suddenly rang with the call she had been waiting the whole day for. Works done for the day? She tried hard to repress the elation in her, her voice so tender it was as if you could squeeze water from it. He gave an mm, then asked, Have you eaten? I still havent had a proper meal, but Im pretty much already full. Rambling around arbitrarily, she sniffed at the aromas drifting at her from all directions and was unable to resist taking a look around to see if there was something else she could eat. It was like this every time she came to Sichuan; if she didnt stuff herself silly, she would not stop. How about you? Have you had dinner yet? Not yet. Ill be getting into Chengdu very soon. Where are you? Jia He came to an abrupt halt where she was. Werent you somewhere out of the city? Why are you coming back again? I wanted to see you, so I came back. Yi Wenzes voice was neither loud nor soft, but it was just enough to tug at her and render her unable to put up any resistance. Jia He clutched her phone, not really knowing what to say. After some time, she finally answered softly, Im at Jinli. On his end, A-Qing was asking where they needed to go. When Yi Wenze told her, Jinli, A-Qing instantly whooped, Yes, awesome! I can eat my fill in one go! Jia He was silent. She and A-Qing sure did have commonalities. Itll be about fifteen minutes. Find a place first and then wait there for me. After saying this, he also added, Ive got quite a few people on this end. Jia He asked, Ah? Who? A smile in his voice, he answered, Theyre all people from the cast or production crew. Jia He thought for a moment. Then Ill go find a bigger restaurant first. Sure enough, when he arrived, there were a dozen or so people with him. Seeing him walk in, Jia He quickly stood. It was not until he took her hand and, with a smile, told the director beside him, This is my girlfriend, that she at last loosened up somewhat. The director looked like Maitreya Buddha as he beamed at her, and shaking her hand, he expressed with a melodramatic sigh, Just for you, the rest of us are all getting this chance to be acting extras. Jia He smiled bashfully while giving a fierce pinch to Yi Wenzes hand. Whyd you come back? When everyone had started eating, she finally asked him this. Will this hold up any of your work? Yi Wenzes professionalism was not merely a one or two-day rumour. Previous reports had all been about how on filming sites he threw himself wholly into his work, or how he had exhausted himself going from place to place for publicity events that he had ended up getting internal stomach bleeding. He smiled, For some special days, exceptions need to be made. As she bit into the bamboo-skewered meat, she remembered again that Weibo post. And then, she very decisively bowed her head and played dead. <>It would be sincerely appreciated if you would support this translation by only reading it from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, its actual site of posting. Thank you. Sichuanese food is always able to induce a big appetite in people. At the end, when the people in the group were in high spirits after eating, they began jesting with Jia He. One man, a producer, put on a solemn face and, looking at her, said jokingly, Before I came to join the team on site, my wife heard that Teacher Yi would be here, and almost every night she was unable to sleep. She wanted me to get her an autographed picture and also told me that I absolutely have to find out who the love rival of the masses is. That way, her teenage fantasy will finally burst and can be completely put to bed. Tossing a bamboo skewer onto the table, he rubbed his hand on his chest and heaved a long sigh. Today, I have finally accomplished my mission. Another person also joined in on the teasing, remarking with a grin, Thats weird, my girlfriend said those same words. It was not often that Jia He was the target of such teasing, and for a moment she did not know how to handle it. By chance it was about time for her to leave, so she simply told Yi Wenze that she needed to go first. Once everyone heard this, heckles instantly rose up. The group cried out that she might as well just stay the night. Yi Wenze was shooting night scenes tomorrow, so it was perfect; he could stay in Chengdu tonight. Jia He rushed to explain, Its precisely because hell be filming at night that he needs to get some good rest today. The words came out before she realized they could be interpreted the wrong way, and straightaway she added Tomorrow, Ill be joining a cast and crew on filming location, too, so Im not able to spend more time with all of you either. If chance allows, Ill see you all again some other time. That male producer instantly grinned, Come visit on the set often, Screenwriter. Thats how your mind can be set at ease. When he finished saying this, there at last was a shift in expression on the face of that young woman who had been sitting in the corner all this time. Jia He, though, simply smiled and cracked a joke that was apt for this moment. No matter what, its never completely safe to leave him out and about. My ultimate goal is to keep the beauty hidden away in my golden house. Everyone burst out into loud chortles, complimenting her that indeed she lived up to her job as a screenwriter. Yi Wenze, on the other hand, gave a very light smile, fixing a meaningful look on her. Ill be respectfully awaiting this at all times. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only In order to stay longer with him, Jia He had waited almost until the very last minute to call the taxi, but when she arrived at the airport, she depressingly found out that the plane was once again late, as per habit. Taking a seat in the departure lounge, she saw that the space beside the jet bridge on which she would be boarding was still empty, and she grew even more aggrieved. Her airplane had not even arrived yet Right as she fished out her mobile phone and was about to send a text message to gripe about this, someone sat down beside her. Such a coincidence? A voice she could not be any more familiar with. She turned her head to the side. Such a coincidence. Youre heading back to Shanghai? There was bound to be some awkwardness. That day downstairs of her home, she had not even gotten out of the car to say hi, and now in the blink of an eye, several months had already passed. Gu Yu only gave a nod. Youre going back to Shanghai as well? No. Jia He shook her head. Back to Beijing. I still have work there to do. After she stated this, the two did not speak again. Coincidentally, Yi Wenze called her at this time, so saying, Excuse me, she rose and stepped a little distance away. On Yi Wenzes end, it was no longer rowdy; he likely was in the vehicle. As there were simply too many people on his side, Jia He only said a few words before telling him, If its not a good time to talk, we can talk more when Im back in Beijing. When she hung up, Gu Yu still had not left. It would not be appropriate for her to be too blatant in her actions, so she had no choice but to go back to her original seat and sit down. She scanned her eyes over the tarmac. Her plane had already arrived, and a large stream of people was walking out from the jet bridge. At last, she saw hope of being able to board. Secretly she prayed that they would hurry and board the plane, so she would not have to continue waiting here in this awkwardness. The ratings for your drama are really good. Gu Yu suddenly spoke up. I was looking through some proposed article topics the other day. Someone wants to interview you. Jia He paused for a moment, then answered with a laugh, No way, that crazy? Im not worth that much money yet. Professional screenwriters in Mainland China are actually a weak minority group. Apart from the few who are skilled in hyping and promoting themselves or the ones who catapulted into overnight fame, it is very rare for them to frequently get interviews like actors do that allow them to increase their presence in the public eye. Before Gu Yu could reply, a boarding announcement abruptly rang out. It was for the flight to Shanghai. Yes! Jia He immediately pointed at the boarding gate that was some distance away. Thats yours, right? With an mm, Gu Yu stood. But I cancelled that interview. I figured, if it were you from before, you probably wouldnt really like being in the limelight. Uncomfortably, Jia He tugged her lips into a smile. Thanks. I really am like that. He had already started to tow his luggage when, as if only now suddenly thinking of something, he turned back again to look at her. I think my friend has a movie that he wants to make. He asked me about you a few days ago. How about it? Interested? My schedule is full for the next half a year. She gave a decisive shake of her head. If theres a need, I can introduce him to someone even better. Such an obvious rejection; any smart person person would understand its meaning. Gu Yu very tranquilly gave her another look, not saying anything more. <>This translations actual and only authorized site of posting is hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Please support the translation by reading it from there only. Jia He continued doing nothing but sitting. While she was watching the meal cart deliver food onto the plane, her phone unexpectedly rang. Flashing on the screen was Yi Wenzes name. A little surprised, she picked it up, saying, Hello? It was quiet on the other end of the call. Anxiousness hit her for a moment, and thinking that something might have happened, she hastened to ask, Whats wrong? Did something happen? No. His voice was very peaceful as it echoed over. I was closing the door just now. Giving an oh, Jia He muttered in a sour voice dripping with jealousy, It wouldnt be that another someone came knocking on your door, right? My dear wifey, Yi Wenze said, his tone laidback, I deliberately brought so many people to dinner today just so that you could return to Beijing with an assured heart. The instant that one word of address came out, any temper she might have had deflated. Who let you call me that? Her head bowed, her eyes fastened on the Monchhichi on her bag, she began in this untimely moment to bemoan the fact that not only had she toted her half-swollen face to see him, that entire cast and production team had seen her in this wretched state, too. When those people went back, they would surely comment secretly that, after seeing Yi Wenzes girlfriend, she really was just so-so Monchhichi His voice was fading in and out somewhat; his reception seemed quite poor. It was a short while later before his voice was finally clear again, but with an echoey quality, like he was outdoors. Jia He? Hmm? she absentmindedly responded, still eating her heart out over her little swollen face. His voice, though, had already softened. Some things, I should be the one to do them. Next time, dont fight me for it. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only [1] Jinli is a busy pedestrian street in the city of Chengdu and one of the most visited tourist areas in the city. It has been maintained as an ancient street, with dozens of stalls and vendors of food and various little items to purchase. In particular, it is known for having many traditional Sichuanese snacks. At night, the street is lit with red lanterns. CH 14.2 How many times? Come on, hurry up! Tell me! You know me. As long as Im not satisfied, Ill never drop the issue. Jia He finally lifted her head from where it had been buried in a plate of French fries and bashfully raised three fingers. Whoa, amazing! Qiao Qiao, her eyes glowing, shuffled up against Jia He and then carefully calculated again. Actually that performance seems just okay. It was a whole night after all. Firing a glower at her, Jia He admitted softly, Actually its because at the end, we were out of that. Her idols reputation had to be preservedespecially when it came to this important matter. She absolutely could not be vague There was a loud slap as Qiao Qiao indignantly struck her palm onto the table. Thats so not right. No matter what, thats a five-star hotel, but they only give the smallest size box? How come you didnt ask for another one from the front desk? Jia He nearly smacked the plate of French fries onto her head. Do you want me on Tianya[1] forums tomorrow?! Oh, thats true. Qiao Qiao was enlightened. She picked up a French fry between her fingers and dipped it in some ketchup. Thats why dating this sort of guy is no good either. At all times, you need to restrain yourself. Her very last tone turned up ever so slightly, and instantly her words became rich in meaning. All sorts of expressions flashed across Jia Hes face. Just as she was about to shoot back a retort, she saw, across from her, Xiao Yu bend her pointer finger and knock it against the table. Thats enough from you two. A single sentence successfully rendered those other two silent, and they tucked their heads down and only ate French fries. To try to pacify Xiao Yus soul, Jia He purposely lifted her head back up and flattered, That sentence of yours, coupled with that action, was just so suave. If there were a man like that, hed be totally up my alley and I definitely would not even look at my idol. Xiao Yu threw her a sideways look, not saying anything. Qiao Qiao immediately grabbed Jia Hes arm and reminded her, That suaveness, dont you know whose its similar to? Youd dare try to snatch her guy? You dont want to live? Jia He blinked. And then, she continued keeping her head low and scarfing down French fries. I actually just wanted to lick her boots a bit <>Please support this translation by only reading it at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, its actual site of posting. Thank you. The three finished eating and then were going to head out on their separate ways. It was not until they were about to leave that Jia He clued in to something strange. Grabbing Xiao Yu by the arm, she inquired, How did you guys know I did it? Wearing a faint smirk, Xiao Yu looked at her. The pairs of eyes constantly watching your mans Weibo is uncountable. With the two words perfect and fulfilling, did you really think we wouldnt able to guess? Being able to guess from just that is whats not normal, you know? She uttered an oh and turned around to take her leave, holding herself with great composure, but Xiao Yu called to her. I remembered something. I just finished the shooting for Tian Chus ad few days ago. Tian Chu is very pretty in real life. The corner of Jia Hes lips turned down slightly. Patting her on the shoulder, Xiao Yu abruptly shifted the direction of her words. Now do you have confidence in yourself? You beat out even someone like that. That means all the other vixens and minxes cant even be counted as anything substantial. Only then did Jia He comprehend her meaning. She gave Xiao Yu a feigned kick, then, her heart practically bursting with joy, hightailed from there. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only Work at last officially kicked off for her new drama, and with less to do, she could temporarily slow down. Fortunately, she did not have the habit of writing the script in parallel with principal photography; she made sure everything was completed and settled before filming commenced. During this period, she had been driving Yi Wenzes car to get around. However, as it was too expensive a vehicle and she felt awkward driving it directly to the production company, every time, she would park it in a faraway spot and then walk over to the company office. Each time, her face would be bathed in sweat, and each time, it drew the directors teasing. Gee, Jia He, the pay we give you isnt low. Why is it you cant even bring yourself to spend the money to call a cab? Dolefully, as the air-conditioning blew on her, she would always incessantly speculate, Hes doing it on purpose, doing it on purpose, or just doing it on purpose Also due to having this car that had replaced walking as her way of getting around, on the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival[2], she finally was reduced to the role of being the driver for the entire family. Her moms understanding of good cars was limited to the brands of BMW and Mercedes-Benz, and she only felt that this car was comfortable to sit in. Hey, Daughter, this car seems pretty good to me. Its not inferior to a BMW. That toy car of yours that I sat in when I went to Shanghai last time, you even have to move the front seat just to be able to climb into the back. Thats just too much work. In the rearview mirror, she gave a very magnanimous look to Jia He. Just buy this car for me in the future. I wont snub it. You sure have good taste Jia He looked with tear-filled eyes at her mom, having taken a silent blow. <>It would be sincerely appreciated if you would read this translation only at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the actual site of posting. Thank you. She drove her mom back to the downstairs of their apartment building before moving on to her next battle site, China University of Political Science and Law. High-end vehicles were everywhere at the main gates of the university, so naturally there were more people here who knew their stuff about cars. She had only stood outside for a short while before she had a certain feeling that people were eyeing her like she was someones mistress. Hence, she was forced to gloomily clamber back into the car to wait Her younger girl cousin finally, more than ten minutes late, ran over with a backpack on her back. Once she had checked and confirmed that it was the correct license plate number, she straightaway pulled out her mobile phone and began enthusiastically snapping photos of the car. Eventually, she even slapped the car window. Jia He rolled it down and looked at her. Hey, Big Sis[3], help take a picture of me with your car. This younger cousins eyes were sparkling, and basically the only things she had not done were dance and wave her arms in excitement. Jia He was embarrassed. Hurry and get in the car. What are you taking pictures for? Just one, kay? The kid began pouting and acting cute. Powerless, Jia He had no choice but to get out of the vehicle and take an Nnumber of pictures for her before managing to coax her into the car. Who would have thought? The instant this girl cousin sat into the vehicle, she lowered her voice and made a show of heaving a big sigh. Ol Sis, youve finally upgraded your mistress car from a little shotgun to a cannon. Have you become someones mistress? Jia He jolted and gawked at her, baffled. What are you talking about? With very much an aching heart, her cousin carried on declaring her stance on this. I wont support it. Wait, no, its Im adamantly against it. This is a path of no return. Even if we never marry, we still must not take this path! Your little sis here, I study law. Yes, present-day societys morality has degenerated to the point that it actually tacitly approves of this type of phenomenon, but, she paused for a bit, her manner as one who was upholding justice, then continued, I, as a future expert in marriage law who supports and protects a system of monogamy, absolutely will not condone this type of behaviour of yours. This huge chunk of words was actually well-reasoned and well-supported. Irked, but also finding her funny, Jia He replied, This car is your bro-in-laws. Her cheeks warmed a little with that statement. Clearing her throat, she explained, Ill be honest and lay it all out in the open: although he has had a divorce, he is now a clean-and-clear, unwed man. Huh? You found yourself a second-hand good? Dubious, her cousin carefully examined her expression. Hasnt it been five years where no ones wanted you? Why is there now suddenly someone who does? Seriously, you think Ive had five years where no ones wanted me?! Im the one who didnt want anyone, okay?! And plus, Yi Wenze is no second-hand good either Jia He glowered hatefully at her. Its because I have high standards, not because no one wanted me. You? Her cousin mused on this briefly. That is true. You like Yi Wenze so much and you also love to dream, so yeah, your standards are high. That successfully managed to choke off any retorts from Jia He. Jia He suddenly thought of a question: If she learns that her cousin-in-law is Yi Wenze, will she faint? But kids nowadays are highly capable of accepting things. Should I try to probe her out a bit first? While this younger cousin carried on sighing over how Jia Hes daydreaming abilities were even greater than hers, Jia He all of a sudden gave her a serious look. What if I really did find a guy whos as good as Yi Wenze, one who, from his looks to his character, is not in any way inferior to him? Soft music drifted through the car. Other than that, there was no other noise. On the face of the person before her, the expression went from one of foolish stupor to shock and then transitioned all the way to utter heartache that seeped into the very bone, but still she did not speak In the end, she extended her hand and actually touched it to Jia Hes forehead. Hey, Big Sis, do you have a fever? Or has the fever already burned your brain silly? She tested Jia Hes temperature. Normal. Chasing after a celebrity to your extent is just too scary. Oh, right, last time Second [Maternal] Aunt even said you found yourself a young actor who looks quite a bit like Yi Wenze. You wouldnt have abused your authority as screenwriter and did somethingto the guy, right? Wordlessly, Jia He turned her head away. Reality had just proven that this attempt at communication had failed. She absolutely needed to come up with a way for everyone to be able to accept her relationship But after thinking for a while, she felt that something was not right Why was she already starting to prepare for bringing him home? She was dazed for a moment. Right when she was about to begin driving, Yi Wenzes phone call came in. Casting a guilty glance at her younger cousin, she answered it with a very low Hello? The lass at first had not really concerned herself with this call, but the instant she heard Jia He using such a cooing voice, she understood. Only forming the words with her mouth, she asked silently, The divorced guy? Shooting her a glare, Jia He heard him say on the other end of the line, Honey, what are you doing? In a small voice, she replied, Im picking up my younger cousin from school and then were going to my [maternal] granddads house for Mid-Autumn Festival. Yi Wenze gave an mm, then told her, My plane ticket is booked already. Ill be taking off at eleven oclock tonight and arriving in Beijing around one-thirty. Booked a late-night flight again Giving a little jump for joy on the inside, Jia He was in the midst of a moment of sweetness when, all of a sudden, her hand was emptyher younger cousin had snatched her mobile phone right out of it. Directing her words into the phone, the little lass greeted merrily, This is Brother-In-Law, right? Im your little sister-in-law, Mumu. Jia He wanted to grab the phone back, so Mumu quickly added, Everyones going to be there for Mid-Autumn Festival. Its the perfect time to do a meet-the-parents. Come! Ill put in a few good words for you. Your future mother-in-law is really good-natured and easy to deal with. Straight after saying this, she commented to Jia He, Brother-In-Laws voice is so nice. Jia He was not certain whether she should cry or laugh at this and momentarily did not know what she should do. But next, she saw Mumus eyes grow glassy and fix on her while her mouth bobbed open and opened some more. Thenshe let out a shriek and hurled the mobile phone onto Jia Hes lap. Uh-oh Jia He hurriedly picked up the phone. What did you say to her? In the phone, his voice stated serenely, Nothing really. I just said that my flight wouldnt be getting in until really late tonight and I would invite her to the premiere of Age of Flourish. Yes, it did sound like he had not really said anything. But those words absolutely were spoken deliberately to cause shock Age of Flourish featured an all-star cast, and what it touted was that he was the leading actor. Even an idiot would understand. Telling him, Well talk later, Jia He speedily hung up and turned her eyes onto Mumu. Dont freak me out Its not that scary, is it? Oh no, Im done for. Even shes already like this. That means if I really do let Mom know about it, itll be even worse. With one hand pressed against her chest, Mumu made a sign to her to shut her mouth. She mollified herself for a full half a minute before finally blowing out a light breath. Tell me, did I hear wrong? Jia He shook her head, pained. You didnt hear wrong Clutching at her own chest, Mumu stared bitterly at her. You and are born of the same roots, so why is it that youre the one who ended up with all the dumb luck? <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only Sheepish, Jia He began driving, deciding that she would just completely hold her silence. The entire way, Mumu did not cease grilling her. Jia He was overwhelmed by her many and varied, strange and fantastical questions. Only when Mumu asked, How did things start between you two? did Jia He seriously look back in her memory and answer, It seems, things began between us when one time I got rear-ended and he sent Wu Zhilun over to be my driver Wait! Pull over quickly! Mumu bellowed. Jia He hurriedly found an empty spot and pulled over to the side of the road, nearly dying from the shock she just got. I remember now! Your rotten driving skills are plain for all to see. Decisively, Mumu got out of the car and changed seats with Jia He. Its better if I drive. I dont want to be unable to go home on Mid-Autumn. After fastening her seat belt, she turned an intense gaze onto Jia He. Thats just too crazy! Just like that and then you hooked up with a big celebrity. Big Sis, why dont you like Wu Zhilun? That guy is obviously even a little further along on the handsome scale. Jia He turned her nose up at that. That boozer? How can he even compare to your brother-in-law? <>This translations actual site of posting is hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Please support it by only reading it from there. Thank you. In the end, when they stepped through the door of the family home, Jia He very sternly gave her the warning that she had better keep her lips sealed. Mumu readily agreed to this. No problem. Gift your iPad to me. Thus, there in broad daylight, Jia He lost an iPad For the entire evening, including even when she was cutting up some fruit, her heart was quaking in her throat and she kept staring at Mumu, terrified this girl cousin might slip and say something. Not until they had divided up the moon cakes and she was preparing to go home did she feel like she could breathe. When she was leaving, her granddad suddenly gave a little slap to the back of his own head and said, I forgot. The drama serial! With that, he scurried over to switch channels on the television. Jia He only swept a glimpse at the screen, but then she was utterly dumbstruckit was Tune of Yongan. Oh, hey, her mom remarked, plopping her rear end onto a seat, youre watching this? Im watching it, too. Jia He wrote it. I told her to give me spoilers, but she wont. For a moment, all eyes turned to her. A younger boy cousin[4] pointed at Yi Wenze and proclaimed, Hey, Big Sis, youve gotten somewhere in life. Youve finally managed to hug your idols thigh[5]. Jia He bared her teeth threateningly at him. Mumu, however, gave a meaningful pat on this boy cousins shoulder. Big Siss beauty is unparalleled in this generation. Shes not just simply hugging his thigh. Everybody had been huddled together watching television, but as a result of this one sentence, every gaze, bright and piercing, landed on Jia He again. Jia He shot a look of daggers at Mumu, pointing towards the table at the iPad on it that she had just lost. Sticking out her tongue, Mumu admitted defeat. However, out of the blue, Jia Hes mom jumped in and declared with a show of seriousness, Oh, the authentic version of the man is much more pleasing on the eye. Pained, she summarized for own father, Jia Hes granddad, Your granddaughter found herself a knock-off, someone who looks a lot like Yi Wenze. Jia He was already speechless Her granddad gave an Ah? He was about to ask more, but then he suddenly pointed at the television and cried, Oh my, that lass really looks a lot like Jia He. And shes crying, too. Jia He thoroughly froze at that <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only [1]Tianya Community/Club/Forums, or simply Tianya, is an online forum and one of the earliest social networking sites in China. In 2011, when this story takes place, it was Chinas biggest online forum. [2]The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, takes place on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. It is a major Chinese festival. On this day of the year, the moon is at its roundest and brightest. [3]Jia He and this girl are biao cousins. A biao cousin relationship is one in which the cousins fathers are not brothers. Jia He is this girls biao jie, older female (biao) cousin, or literally biao-older sister, while the girl is Jia Hes biao mei, younger female (biao) cousin, or literally biao-younger sister. Sometimes, the biao prefix is dropped, and cousins will address one another as simply sister and brother. Hence, this younger cousin addresses Jia He as Big Sis. [4]Refer to footnote [3]. This boy cousin is a biao cousin; he is Jia Hes biao-young brother. Hence he, too, addresses Jia He as Big Sis. [5] literally translates as hugging a thigh, where the thigh is referring to a big shot person of some sort. To hug a thigh means to suck up to a big shot or use a big shots fame to move yourself up the ladder. CH 14.3 She was tormented like this until eleven oclock, when she at last succeeded in making her escape from the interrogation of the masses. When she took Mumu back to her school, she drove directly to the dormitory building. Just as Mumu got off the car, Jia He heard someone calling her. Turning, Jia He saw one of her old high school classmates, but she had to briefly search hard through her memory for the name before she was able to address him. Seriously, such a memory like a dogs and a brain like a pigs. A few years ago, she even went to this guys wedding and chipped in for a group gift. The man strode over and greeted her with a smile. Youve already forgotten me? Smiling sheepishly, Jia He opened the door, stepped out of the car, and replied, How could I? That man was about to say something else when a pretty girl popped out from the dormitory building, rushed over, and wrapped herself around his arm. Whos this? After saying this, she eyed Jia He over, then also eyed her car over. As she stared at the young girls slender arms entwined around him, Jia Hes mind seemed to swim for a moment. Then she comprehended. Mumu, on the other hand, hugged her schoolbag against herself and said nothing. Only after those two people had left did she let out a humph and state, Thats my classmate. Very calmly, Jia He nodded and said to her as well, That was also my classmate. Mumu threw her a very contemptuous look. Just what kind of person is your classmate? Morally degenerate. Jia He gazed silently at her. Your classmate doesnt seem to be any sort of good girl either. With this sort of thing, you do not really feel anything when you simply hear about it happening. However, once Jia He thought about the fact that dangling off the arm of her old schoolmate was a girl the same age as Mumu, she felt so uncomfortable it was as if hundreds of claws were scratching at her heart. Mumu made another disdainful comment. But your classmate is quite loaded. He just randomly gives gifts that have the double Clogo. Instantly, Jia He grew wary. Dont you go doing something like that. If Granddad found out, hed definitely have a heart attack. Mumu nodded. If I wanted stuff like that, Id just go find you. Why would I find some uncle dude? Its not like Im a sugar daddy. Jia Hes heart was dripping blood, but she still needed to force herself to hold up and give her cousin a good teaching. Also, your mom told me just now to pass the message on to you: its okay to have a boyfriend, but dont so easily have you know, it. Feeling that these words carried no strength, she added something from her own experiences. Out of all my friends, every one that was conservative in that aspect ended up marrying well. Not lying to you. You need to hang tight. Mumu gave her a pat on the shoulder. Ol Sis, are you hinting to me that this was how you caught Yi Wenze? Next time, just be a bit more blunt. You dont need to say it in such a veiled way. Sure enough, a five-year age difference creates a generation gap and ten years makes a natural chasm. Decisively abandoning the idea of giving any teaching, Jia He sped away from there. Not many people were taking late-night flights, so the parking garage was very quiet. It was not until Yi Wenze had gotten into the car that she suddenly realized something: such an hour of the day was very awkward. Was she going to have to stay at his place again? When she thought of the word stay, her mind instantly associated it with that night Every partof her felt a little weird. After a long silence, she finally turned her head and asked him, Are you hungry? Is there anything to eat at the office? If there wasnt, they really would need to go to a convenience store and buy some stuff to bring back with them. Yi Wenze did not say anything, only looking at her and smiling. Um, what did that mean? And then and then The car was already driving into an unfamiliar community compound before she started being able to process any thoughts through her mind. Gingerly, she asked him. This is another home of yours? Truly, the wily rabbit has three burrows; the sly person has more than one hideout. But yet, from the look of that bedroom suite in his office, it should be that he intended to stay there frequently, so even if he did have a place in Beijing, it should not be for him to live in, right? Giving an mm, he turned off the engine, got out of the car, grabbed his luggage, and went upstairs. Jia He followed him through the door. The entire living room was so empty it felt like an auditorium. The reason for this was that there was not a single piece of furniture inside it. The light shone on the mahogany-coloured floors. It was too clean, as if no one had ever stepped foot in here before. She pulled open the entryway shoe closet. No slippers inside. Youre sure you want to stay here tonight? There was the sound of a suitcase being set down behind her. Then she felt her feet lift off the groundYi Wenze had swept her up into his arms. Do you like it? Do you like it? Jia Hes gaze landed on his collar. In her heart, there was a little angel flapping its wings and asking her over and over, Do you like it, do you like it? And then, touching his finger to her lip, Yi Wenze repeated the question. Do you like it? With just this one action, her entire sense of touch focused onto his finger and her own lip. Her heart was overcome with waves of weakness, her mm-hmm seemingly only ringing silently in it. In reality, though, her answer had been audible. His finger was still caressing her lip. Jia He felt that this action was simply too evocative, and bracing her heart for an instant, she nipped his finger. Forcing herself to hang in there, she joked, Dont tell me youre giving this to me. She did not notice until after she said this that her throat was tight. Then, he was carrying her through the living room, past the dining room and quite a few tightly-shut room doors, and into the master bedroom. I am giving it to you, but its for us to live in together. Live in together, aaaah Jia He heard buzzing by her ears, and romantic pink bubbles were dancing and floating nonstop before her eyes. She still did not forget to retain her levelheadedness, though. Then what should I do about my apartment in Shanghai? How about I sell it and then you and I can each pay for half of this? The question was already asked before she realized just how silly it was. All she had was just the one little property, and she reckoned that after selling it, she would only be able to pay for one-third of this one. While her brain was rapidly totalling up her assets, he spoke up. The traditional teaching that Chinese men have received since ancient times is to buy a house, marry a wife, and have children. Honey, you only need to focus on doing a good job of the last one, and that will be good enough. Oh, she answered him, then completely ceased her side of the discussion on this topic. The bedroom did have a bed in itand that was it. Setting her down on the bed, he lowered himself into a crouch and asked her, Would you like to take a shower first? Her eyes were flitting this way and that, looking everywhere. Your place here has nothing. Can we even shower? It was two-thirty in the middle of the night. Were they really going to have go to the convenience store to buy some daily necessities? All the necessary bathroom items should be there. He stood. I have a change of clothes for you in my suitcase, and also contact lenses. Jia He was a little stunned. Uttering an oh, she shuffled woodenly into the bathroom. Indeed, everything that might be needed was available. As she gazed at all the unopened bottles of body wash and shampoo as well as towels, etc., she was even more dazed. She turned on the water. Before long, white steam rose up in the bathroom. Yi Wenze knocked on the door and handed some clothing in to her, and through the cracked-open doorway, Jia He took them from him. After one glance, however, she lost it. Who could tell her just who had been the one to go buy all this underwear that still had the tags on them? The little white bunny had hopped herself right up to the door, the water was already boiling in the pot, the seasonings were all prepared, and the fork and knife were in placethis was what Jia He was feeling at this moment. Facing that door, she wavered back and forth for half a minute over even whether she should lock it or not. She felt that she was about to go crazy from all this torture. Finally, steeling herself, she swiftly washed herself clean. When she came out, she very primly and properly removed the tags of the garments and even buttoned her top to the very last button before dawdlingly stepping back outside. There were no slippers, so she could only walk barefoot across the floor, leaving behind a damp trail of footprints. She lifted her head, wanting to say somethingbut then saw that Yi Wenze was in the midst of disrobing. The glorious sights of his upper body were completely visible, and his jeans, its waistband already unbuttoned, hung loosely on his hips. The lights were neither too bright nor too dim; they were just right. He took a look at Jia He. Are you really cold? Jia He blinked, and blinked some more. Very self-consciously, she replied, A little. Then, solemnly, she walked over to the one and only solid object in the roomthat large bed. Youre absolutely doing this on purpose. On purpose! Could you not wait until you were in the bathroom before you undressed? Click. Behind her, he had already shut the bathroom door. Only now did Jia He tearfully sit down on the bed. Such a big room. Such a big bed. But apart from these, there was nothing. She was not even given the opportunity to watch TV to try to distract herself. Even when Yi Wenze had finished showering and come back out, she was still sitting there, well-behaved, her head bowed, her feet over and over brushing back and forth against the floor. In truth, her entire body was so tense she was about to die from exhaustion. This was utterly unlike their first time. That time had absolutely been an ambush, where he had taken advantage of her toothache and made his move. This time, though, beginning with her shower, she had very methodically um, waited for it. She watched Yi Wenzes feet draw nearer and come to a stop in front of her. Tomorrow well go buy furniture? Buy furniture? Jia He finally lifted her head. She saw him rubbing his hair with his towel, and then and then she felt so bashful she was about to faint. She was dressed so properly she could not get any more proper. He, on the other hand, basically was not wearing anything that did not need to be worn Well talk on the bed. Its really late. With an okay, Jia He brought her head down and very, very slowly began to undress. She had only just removed the cardigan she had been wearing, but she was already sweating. Silently, she lamented that her shower had basically been a wasteYi Wenze took in her expression, which was like that of a lamb to the slaughter; even her ears had grown crimson. The corner of his lips lifting ever so slightly, he picked her up into his arms, set her directly onto the bed, and helped remove each article of clothing from her. Ill do it myself Jia He felt that he was not simply undressing her; he was also subtly, unperturbedly doing other things as well. Youre too slow, honey. He seemed to be grinning. Im really tired. Did this look like he was tired? Resigning herself to her fate, she held on to him. Once more, she could not control herself as quivers came over her, from the tips of her fingers to the very tip of her heart. It was autumn, yet she soon became terribly hot, practically feeling drops of perspiration trailing down from her. Until his palm covered her nape and he lowered his body onto hers. At last, Jia He blinked her eyes. That. You forgot that. He purposely chuckled. What? Jia He pulled back, trying to evade him. Dont tell me you prepared everything but forgot the most important thing. Honey, I have a very cute nephew. Gently, he fondled her earlobe with his fingers. Hes almost two. Jia He gave an mm, a slight tremor her voice. Oh gosh, you cant divert my attention like that, aaaah Just look at me. Im in my thirties already. Bringing his face down, he completely enclosed her lips in his. Her jaw tingled, but still her mind dwelled on what his words to come might be. Only when he was deeply, thoroughly inside did he finish the second half of what he was saying. Its time to have a child. Eventually, when he finally carried her to have a bath, even Jia Hes eyelids were glued together, unable to open. Curled up inside the bathtub, she mumbled that she needed to visit him more when he was filming and could not let them go so long without seeing one another. It was too scary The next day, the sun was already high in the sky when she finally crawled out of bed. Because her eyes were tired, they were constantly watering when she put on her contact lenses, and were so red they looked like a rabbits eyes. Perplexed, Yi Wenze asked her what was wrong. Jia He immediately glared at him. She had not slept the whole night and was almost unable to even put in her contacts. When they were buying furniture, the two deliberately split up to look around. If she saw something she liked, she would call him and tell him where to go to find it and what brand it was, and then she would move her battle to the next location. At first, she had wanted to discuss the choices a little bit with him, but she eventually discovered that he would simply, without any questions, buy everything she mentioned. Hence, she could only very carefully recollect what she had selected and hope that the effect would not be a mish-mashed one. After buying a bottle of water, she was standing in the mall atrium taking a rest when Xiao Yus phone call suddenly came in. What are you doing? Buying furniture, Jia He reported honestly. You guys sure are moving fast. Xiao Yu sighed, Dont tell me the next time I call, youre already going to be doing a prenatal check. Jia He nearly lost her hold on her bottle of water. Out of the blue, she remembered last night, and her heart thumped and thumped. She really was feeling a bit nervous. Just this morning, I heard about a celebrity couple who are divorcing. Our client is furious, saying that the commercial only just started airing but now theyre divorcing. The clients in discussions with their management agency and demanding compensation. A faint sigh came through from the other end of the line. Everything was still harmonious in the household when we shot the commercial half a year ago, but now things are like this. Im sweating in nervousness for you. Her hands on the railing, Jia He gazed down the atrium at the people walking down below. She saw, in the distance, Yi Wenze walk into a shop on the second level. He appeared to be looking at the furniture she had selected. To avoid arousing suspicions, he had purposely brought along A-Qing and a few others with him. The several sales associates were secretly delighted and eagerly stepped forward to introduce the items to him while even leaving a responsible person to stand guard at the entrance and prevent people from taking photographs. As she merely watched from afar like this, it felt quite like she was detached from all this, that she had nothing to do with any of it. Jia He shook her head, shattering away that little bit of unsettledness in her. Even when dating or marrying an ordinary person, youll encounter breakups and divorces everywhere. Just recently, I ran into a high school classmate whos married; hes found himself a university student. Xiao Yu laughed. Then they hung up. Here in this main atrium, one of Jay Chous old songs was playing. She sprawled her upper body on the railing, nibbling on the mouth of the water bottle. In the end, only one line of lyrics drifted into her ear: I like this picture in which you, in the tides of people, belong only to me[1]. [1]A line from the song ԪǰLove in the B.C. Era. CH 15.1 Tune of Yongans success was somewhat beyond expectations. Jia He had just submitted the script for the final episode of that drama adaptation from the novel, and then Director Jiang was already calling her. The general tenor of the conversation was simply that he wanted to film a sequel for Tune of Yongan. Sprawled on the bed, still a little groggy, Jia He responded with mm-hmm, mm-hmms and uh-huh, uh-huhs. Then, tossing the phone aside, she flopped back into Yi Wenzes embrace and carried on sleeping. It was a full minute later before she was finally able to link those few sentences together. And then, she clutched Yi Wenzes arm and began swinging it. A sequel! The thing I hate most is sequels. The eyelashes of the person in front of her fluttered, but he did not open his eyes, instead reaching his arms out and circling her tightly in them. Good morning, my wife. His breath brushed against her ear. Practically without making a sound, he sealed away her voice behind his lips. However, before long, her mobile phone started ringing again. Pulling one arm out from the covers, she groped around for quite some time before she was able to answer the call. On the other end, Qiao Qiao was chortling. Congratulations. The discussions for a sequel have started, and you can start the ones about your price, too. Im totally relying on you to make me a famous producer. Jia He was nearly unable to gasp in a breath. With all her might, she tried to make her voice sound normal. Ill call you in a bit. Qiao Qiao was astonished. Its so early, but youre busy already? Thats not like your normal schedule. Jia He clenched her teeth together tightly, already unable to utter anything. Very soon, the person on top of her took her phone from her. Yi Wenzes voice was mild and polite, carrying a slight apologetic tone in it as he stated, My wife is doing some morning exercise. Shell call you in a little bit. Right as the call was being hung up, Jia Hes ears were nearly deafened by Qiao Qiao When they had completed their morning exercise and Jia He wanted to fall right back into a slumber where she was dead to the world, she at last remembered that she had a meeting to attend today. Therefore, she could only grit her teeth and drag herself out of bed. What am I going to do? How am I going to write this sequel? Weve already gotten to marriage and having babies and political stability has been achieved in the land. What, am I going to have to write in a homewrecker of some sort? Rapidly, she organized and sorted through in her mind the most frequently used plotline patterns of the highly popular domestic dramas. And then she cringed. If Im really going to have to write something like that, you must as well just kill me. How much for one episode now? He grabbed some clean clothing. While he turned on the faucet, he lowered his face and kissed her. Around eight or nine thousand [RMB], I guess. We still havent formally talked about it. Jia He nudged him away slightly, her face so red it could dye cloth. Were talking about something serious and proper here. Amid the sound of gushing water, the water level in the bathtub slowly rose, layer after layer of waves slapping against the white porcelain, steam suffusing outward. He bent at the waist and looked at her, smiling tranquilly. Honey, this is an extremely serious and proper matter. He was practically forcing her to her doom here. Terribly bashful, Jia He shoved him into the bathtub. Didnt we just finish morning exercise? Once the words came out, though, she ended up choking herself on them. Immediately, she threw open the door and fled from there, lest she be pulled into trouble. After he returned to Beijing, there was a period in which Yi Wenze was actually quite idle, and every day he very dutifully cameod as Jia Hes personal chauffeur. The only thing was that every time, she would force him to pull over at a spot far away from her destination and not allow him to show his face. Eventually, even Wu Zhilun mocked Yi Wenze that a very thorough job was being done of keeping his beauty hidden away in a golden house. In fact, the person feeling most suffocated was Jia He. Every day Yi Wenze was like a shadow that followed her, such that this entire time she had been unable to do the things she wanted to Not until Yi Wenze went to do a studio photoshoot for a magazine interview was Jia He freed to have a genuine shopping excursion. When Yi Wenze came home in the evening, she was sitting on the couch, her eyes blinking, and beside her was a large pile of bags. He was still standing in the front entryway changing his shoes, but Jia He was already eagerly pulling out a selection of big and small boxer shorts and socks. I bought a ton of stuff for you. While prattling away, she even mentioned the sizes. Quietly watching her until she had finished spreading everything out in display, Yi Wenze finally asked with a smile, You were busy the whole day with buying this stuff? Obviously. Im so tired. With a pair of scissors, Jia He removed the tags from each item. I know you always just wear antibacterial underwear, but no matter how I look at it, I just find it weird. In my whole family, only my uncle has the same habit, because hes a surgeon. For him, though, its because hes worried about getting dirty during surgeries. For you, its better to just be a little more normal. Unexpectedly, he bowed his head and let out a chuckle. Then ambling over, he sat down next to her, slipped an arm around her, and pulled her against his side. How do you know my size so well? Weve lived together for such a long time already. Of course, she did not state these words aloud and only folded everything up neatly. Every day after you shower, just toss your dirty clothes into the baskets beside the washing machine. Remember to sort and separate them first. Ill wash them in batches for you. She broke out of his embrace and, hugging that mound of shorts and socks, ran into the bedroom. Sitting there on the couch, he unconsciously reached for his cigarettes, but after thinking briefly, he abandoned that idea and picked up the remote control to turn on the television instead. When Jia He stepped back out, she saw him intently watching the television screen. Simply from hearing the lines that were being spoken, she already knew what it was. Walking over, she took a seat beside him. This was actually her first time seriously watching something that she had written You dont find it weird? You know, watching something you acted in? She was very curious. Didnt Yi Wenze feel awkward? She was the person who wrote this, and just listening to these lines that were oozing cheesiness left and right already made her feel like blushing. He was the one who had had to actually act it out. When he saw himself acting out a totally corny plot point here and another totally cheesy one there, wouldnt he feel weird? Im thinking, what were you feeling when you wrote this? He was absorbed in his ruminations. On the screen, he was holding Liao Jing in his arms, his voice tender as he delivered a long chunk of arousing, touching lines Hugging a throw pillow, Jia He hemmed and hawed for some time before finally answering, I dont know. The plot needed it. Oh no, oh no. She was able to recite it all. The kiss scene was coming All of a sudden, the screen went completely black. Because the lights had just turned off, Jia Hes eyes were momentarily unadjusted to the darkness. And then he was already wholly seizing her in his kiss. Still occupied with thinking about that kiss scene that was to follow, though, her heart felt a little uncomfortable. However, when she tried to push him away, he had already very naturally locked her in his embrace. Jia He gave a humph. Dont try to bribe me with your beauty. There will be no love scenes in the sequel. So mad, so mad! You just had to act that so tenderly and lovingly She heard him say, My friend is having a concert. Hes invited me to be a special guest in it. You just go ahead and change the topic now, you.Jia He continued in her resentment. A sequel, a sequel. I dont want to write a sequelJust thinking of Yi Wenzes kiss scenes made her heart sour with jealousy. She felt so awful she wanted to die. This will be his premiere performance in the Mainland. Yi Wenze spoke in a low voice. Would you like to go watch it? Nestled wordlessly in his arms, Jia He silently chanted,Humph. I dont care at all. Dont even think about trying to use a concert ticket to try to bribe me. But a little ripple of excitement still went through her. It had been so very long. He had released a couple of albums when he first started in the entertainment industry, but had not sung since then. After a long moment, the tickle in her heart was unbearable and she finally, of her own accord, wagged her tail at him. Give me three tickets. Then, catching him off guard, she planted a kiss on him. She reflected on that for a bit. Nope, that still wasnt enough to help her vent. So she kissed him another two times. Wu Zhilun was right. If outside of the home he kissed someone one time, she would seek compensation by helping herself to a hundred times. Eventually, that discomfort in her heart would stop. Yi Wenze gave a slight lift of his brow. Can we consider those as your invitation to me? What was meant by lighting a fire and burning yourself in it? This! She absolutely asked for it! It was only when the tickets were in her hand that Jia He realized whom Yi Wenze had been talking about. Qiao Qiao gave her a big thumbs-up. Man, youre good. Do you know what kind of price these tickets have rocketed to now? And you actually got three. Pursing her lips out, Jia He purposely played dumb and only tossed a glance at her. Well, look who my man is. Xiao Yu gave a very mournful pat to her shoulder. Finding yourself a celebrity has a whole pile of drawbacks and just a teeny bit of benefit. And here youre still all happy and enjoying yourself. As Qiao Qiao and Xiao Yu had arrived a little late, the three did not have time to have dinner first. From the takeout window of the Starbucks near the entrance, they bought coffee and cake, and then holding those in their hands, they mixed in with all the pretty girls, young ones and old ones, and shuffled into the concert venue. They had already taken their seats when Jia He saw that all around were people waving glow sticks, and she realized that the three of them, the old people that they were, had forgotten all the must-have gear for going to a concert. She elbowed Qiao Qiao. Go out and buy a few of the biggest glow sticks and bring them back. Qiao Qiao was in the middle of drinking her coffee. Why are you always ordering me around? I provided the tickets; of course youre going to do all the hard labour. Jia He took a glimpse at Xiao Yu, who was calm and poised. If youre able to persuade Xiao Xiao to do it for you, then you do as you want. Qiao Qiao was depressed. I cant afford to cross someone who drives a car with a white license plate[1]. Its better for me to just order myself around. After Qiao Qiao stepped outside, Jia He finally noticed the new tattoo on Xiao Yus back. Gaping in astonishment, she exclaimed, You really went and got the tattoo? Xiao Yu only gave an mm and did not speak. Very wisely, Jia He chose to bury her head and drink her coffee in silence. Behind them, there were a few fans chattering away about their speculations on whom the special guest tonight might be. As Jia He listened on and off to them, she looked at Xiao Yu. Ill say, its been twelve years, but that guy of yours still isnt giving you any sort of response? Xiao Yu lowered her head, tore open the plastic packaging of a bun, and took a bite. My love for him is given willingly and voluntarily. He is under no obligation to return it. How aboutJia He blinked her eyesI matchmake you with Wu Zhilun? Didnt you say his looks are like a womans and hes a boozer? Xiao Yu had a look of Youre basically forcing things. Fuming, Jia He ripped open her own plastic packaging. I honestly want to write an anonymous letter to your guy. If the prince doesnt hurry up and kiss her, Sleeping Beauty is going to become a vegetable from excessive sleep. Xiao Yu had just taken a sip of coffee and nearly sprayed it right back out. When Qiao Qiao returned, the band on the stage had already started the warm-up act. Stuffing glow sticks into her two friends hands, she immediately joined in with the crowd, standing and shouting a name. Jia He watched her in embarrassment. Prior to coming, Qiao Qiao had still been saying that she did not like this singer, but now so quickly she had gotten herself into the mood. However, in this sort of atmosphere and also because, with everyone standing, the two of them really could not see anything if they stayed in their seats, Jia He and Xiao Yu had no choice but to follow suit and rise to their feet as well. They listened to five songs in a row before things settled down and people took their seats again. The person on the stage gave a little cough into the microphone. All of you must have been guessing for a long time who the special guest this time is. If it werent for the fact that hes currently in Beijing, I really would have had a hard time getting him here. The tip of Jia Hes heart gave a quiver. Her arm received a jab from Qiao Qiao. The whole venue is going to shake. Just how many years has Yi Wenze not sung? Jia He answered absentmindedly, Many years. I practically cant remember. In the space of these few sentences between them, someone walked out from one side of the stage carrying a guitar. Because that person had stepped out from a shadowy area and there purposely was no spotlight on him, besides the frontmost few rows of the floor seating, everyone further back did not have a clear view of him. For a moment, all that could be heard was a scream from someone in the front. The stands, though, were quiet, for, unable to clearly hear what that voice in the front had said, all the people were holding their breaths as they speculated. Until he stepped into the spotlight. Before he had even picked up the microphone, the venue was flooded with ceaseless shrieks and completely erupted into roiling excitement. Countless glow sticks accompanied countless people as they yelled, Yi Wenze, I love you! He picked up the microphone. I love all of you, too. Saying this, he finally gave a faint smile. I havent stood on this type of stage for a long time. It seems Im not really used to it. Screams. And more screams. Even Jia He felt a bit as if her blood was boiling with exhilaration. She had wholly transformed into a delirious fan. Beneath the spotlight were those two figures. On the big screens on either side was a close-up shot of him. Grinning, the headliner of this concert put an arm around Yi Wenzes shoulder and humorously worked the crowd, the general gist of his words being about Beijings local culture, sights, and customs, or some interesting and fun things he had encountered on his way here. While Jia He was merrily listening away, the conversation on the stage had already shifted directions and become good-natured teasing of Yi Wenze. Did your girlfriend come today? Yi Wenze sat down, lowering his head to tune the guitar, and answered in a warm voice, Shes here. After a brief, but profound silence, what exploded out were even louder screams. Even Qiao Qiao threw her hands over her ears and shouted in protest, This is insane, just insane! In this instant, it was as if something had slid into the very deepest reaches of Jia Hes heart. She was rooted to her spot, gripping her glow sticks, nearly unable to hear Qiao Qiaos teasing. This song wasnt written by me, but its very suitable for tonight. Im giving it to all of you, and to her. He bowed his head. There was only the pure accompaniment of his guitar, no other sounds. If we will not see the sun tomorrow, What will this world become? In this very last moment, Let me hold you tight. Hold you, hold you, Ill hold you. If life truly is ever changing, I am willing to face it openly and unperturbedly, With you by my side, With you giving me strength. Hold you, hold you, Ill hold you[2] His voice was very mild and also very clean, but still it held down the atmosphere of the entire stadium, containing it. This was a concert, yet it was too quiet, so quiet it was like he was sitting directly in front of you, very casually singing this song. [1] In China, license plates with a white background are reserved for those in the police force, military, or armed police. [2] This song is called㡷Hold You. CH 15.2 Chapter 15.2 To Dote Even a Bit More (2) Regarding the drama sequel, the story editor still had not formally signed any contracts yet, but over on Qiao Qiaos end, news had already been released. There was an inundation of news stories, with both truth and untruth mixed in, hyping things and stirring up excitement. When Jia He asked him whether he would accept the project of filming the sequel, Yi Wenze answered with seriousness that he likely would not have room in his schedule for it. Hearing this, Jia He could not say whether she was overjoyed or disappointed. If he did film it, she would feel weird about it; if he didnt, then without him starring in it, there really was nothing about this drama worth watching. Downstairs of the production company office, Jia He stood by a newsstand, staring at the magazine for which half a month ago Yi Wenze had shown his face. While she was groaning over how she was making a fuss over something so small, someone nearby called her name. She turned and saw that it was Director Lius assistant. Smiling at her, that young assistant said to the newsstand owner, That one. The item handed to her was the magazine with Yi Wenzes photograph splashed across the cover. On that cover, his head was bowed slightly, a faint smile on his lips, as if he had just finished speaking and was now patiently listening to someones question. Jia He blinked. She had bought a copy of it, too. That young assistants eyes instantly lit up. Screenwriter, you like him, too? Yup, I like him. In fact, its way more than just like She nodded. Ive liked him for many years. That little assistant fondly slipped an arm through Jia Hes. Me too. Only after she said this did she suddenly recall something. Oh, I forgot. Screenwriter, didnt he star in your last drama? And theyre even saying a sequels going to be filmed? With an mm-hmm, Jia He self-consciously tried to cover up for herself, superfluously adding, Hes very professional, and also very polite and courteous. Even she cringed after speaking these words. The entire way, this young girl spoke in a soft, sweet voice, but for the full ten minutes that they walked, she merely sighed over things like how she had missed the concert, or how his girlfriend was truly so lucky, etc., and did not hound Jia He with a lot of questions. She was completely unlike the usual fans who, when they encounter such a chance, will continuously throw out questions such as What is he like in real life? or What type of gossipy stuff did you see when you were with the cast and crew? But now that she thought carefully about it, all these years, he was accustomed to being low-key and his fans also all held their silence. Other than that one time with his divorce, there practically had not been any romance-related gossip news about him. Even this time, he had resolved everything in one go and then would not answer any other questions on the matter. She remembered that afterwards, when she scanned through his official Tieba[1]page, all the fans on there had been very protective of him and when newcomers or media people barged in and tried to probe and ask questions, most would respond by saying that their idol did not like discussing his personal affairs. Someone had even politely given the reminder that the past was in the past and to please cease the pointless probing. Truly like attracts like; the type of person you are is the type of fans you attract. <>Please support this translation by only reading it at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, its true site of posting. Thank you. When she was back in the room, the group still had not fallen into discussion mode yet, so she opened her magazine and casually thumbed through it. Actually, the content of his interviews was generally all pretty similar, and it was unavoidable that there would always be some mention or questions concerning his love life and relationship. The writer of this particular article was very playful, brushing over this topic with a single remark: He says the relationship is really stable. Oh gosh, as soon as I saw his smile, I didnt feel right asking any further questions. Hey, Screenwriter, someone nearby all of a sudden addressed her, my wife and my mom are both faithfully watching your drama. Give me a spoiler: whats the sequel going to be about? That way, when I go home, I can use this info to make my wife happy. Jia He looked cheerlessly at him. To be honest, I dont know. Even though her O respected story editor had turned over all authority of this sequel to her she had stewed on this for many days with still no progress. Her creativity was thoroughly dried up. That person teased Jia He for keeping her lips so tightly zipped, then offhandedly commented, Liao Jing, that starlet, truly is not to be taken lightly. In just her second film project, she was already acting across Yi Wenze, and there are even romance rumours about the two of them. Someone forwarded her Weibo post yesterday. Holy, it certainly is allusive: Thank you for giving me this moment of happiness. The whole Internet has exploded in mad gossip. A lot of people are saying that there were several times in Hengdian when the two of them partied crazily together the whole night through. A tremor went through Jia Hes heart. That young assistant was in the middle of handing out printouts of notes on the suggestions for script revisions, and very solemnly she spoke up to set things straight. Thats impossible. Thats just her trying to sensationalize things. If she really were Yi Wenzes girlfriend, she definitely wouldnt have such moral character. Sure enough, this was a hardcore fan. Jia He felt even her bones tingle from listening to her. True love born out of onscreen love. This analysis is very well done and convincing. That person turned his computer around to show the two of them. It was generally an outline of when the schedules of the two artistes had coincided. The big coincidence was that on the day of the concert, Liao Jing had happened to be in Beijing. And the real killer was, someone had managed to dig up that gong show that had occurred in the KTV in Hengdian, claiming to have witnessed Liao Jing singing Tian Chus song and that Yi Wenze had been present. Jia He roughly scanned through everything. All sorts of inside scoops had been divulged. She clicked through more than ten pages The further that young assistant read, the quieter she became until eventually she actually turned her eyes onto Jia He, as if hoping to seek confirmation. Jia He originally had not even wanted to respond to this, but that person just had to add another remark. See? Even you believe it now, dont you? After the young girl heard this, she was in such a state of fret that her eyes grew red. Not having the heart to see her like this, Jia He cleared her throat and spoke up nonchalantly, As far as I know, its not likely to be true. This one sentence that she tossed out caused a ripple. Every person lifted his or her head and looked at her. So it turns out they were actually all listening in Bringing her eyes down, she flipped through the three thin, insubstantial sheets of A4-size papers in her hands, forcing herself to hold up under the pressure and strengthen the plausibility of her fib. One time, we were all eating together and he jokingly mentioned that he doesnt really like women who are really tall. When she finished saying this, she hastily added, Dont trust me. Im just randomly spouting nonsense. Those three sheets of paper in her hand were flipped through, back and forth, over and over, as she looked through them. At the end, she even put on a show of picking up her pen and underlining a couple of things. However, everyones burning gazes still stayed on her, and they were unwilling to let her off the hook. Luckily, that young assistant came to her rescue. Screenwriter, our idol doesnt like talking about his personal matters. Truth will eventually speak for itself. Just ignore them. Jia He nodded vehemently. The inside info I gave out because of you was not a waste. Good child <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only As a consequence of her one sentence, for the whole afternoon, people were chasing after her and intercepting her, and it was evening before she finally was able to escape from them. Because his production companys first film had moved into the post-production phase, Yi Wenze had worked overtime for a dozen or so days in a row already. He, as the boss, was being so dedicated, so of course the young people working for him were pumped and gung ho. When she drove over, Jia He was right on time for dinnertime. His employees had long since become acquainted with her, and once they saw her park the car and get out, they, of their own accord, greeted her, Bosss Wife, and even did not forget to helpfully mention that Boss was in the dining hall. All the while as Jia He walked inside, she would repeatedly say, Thanks for all your hard work. Right as she stepped into the dining hall, she saw the chef behind the window hand some food over to Yi Wenze as well as say a few words to him. As she was still a distance away, Jia He naturally was unable to hear what was said, but she particularly enjoyed this picture before her. She liked watching him treat everyone with such friendliness and also enjoyed gazing at his backside from afar. Never did he have any unnecessary little accessories. He would wear a simple, clean button-up shirt. If it was cold, he would add a jacket on top. Most of the time, he would choose the low-key colour of black. He never viewed himself as an idol and could always make the people around him feel at ease. Yet, when it came time to work, his speech and manner would truly be that of a public figure and he held himself to very strict standards. On the tray was a plate loaded with a dozen or so deep-fried mantis shrimp seasoned in chilli, spiced salt, and garlic. Sitting on her chair, her chin propped on one hand, she stared at him while he brought dinner and juice over for her. Out of the blue, she asked him, In the past, was there anyone who was extra attentive to you or extra keen in trying to please you? Dont say no; I wont believe it. Yi Wenze ripped open the plastic film around a straw and stabbed the straw into her cup. Is this considered a background check on me? Jia He bit down on the straw. I just suddenly thought of it. When I was filming, there would be people who would prepare a lot of disposable hand warmers for me ahead of time, he recounted musingly, or send some warm foods to me. Sometimes I was a little slow on the uptake and would even send something back to reciprocate the gift. Giving an oh, Jia He took a suck of juice. So not original. Anything else? He smiled. There were also people who would specify that they wanted to act opposite me in certain types of scenes. You sure are honest.Nibbling on her straw, Jia He continued drinking and drinking. Still want to hear more? He smiled a warm, harmless smile. Of course. Watching as he smiled and seemed to carefully ponder, all Jia He could feel was the blood dripping from her heart. Sure enough, everyone has masochistic tendencies. You say, just why did I have to ask? Just why? Why in the world did I have to? Yi Wenze took out a moist towelette and wiped his hands. Hastily, Jia He set down her chopsticks and, in a bootlicking manner, helped him roll up his sleeves. She watched as his gorgeous fingers nimbly peeled the shrimp, relishing in the sight. When she was in the midst of waiting for yummy food while watching her yummy guy, Yi Wenze finally spoke up again, his tone laidback. There was someone, too, who put a dozen or so photographs of me on her computer as a hint to me. She also, on a snowy day, prepared a hot pot for me at the outdoor filming location. Now that I think about it, these last two left the deepest impression on me. She had just picked up a shrimp with her chopsticks and tossed it into her mouth. Immediately choking on the spiced-salt seasoning, she fell into a fit of coughing. Back then, I really didnt have any wolfish intentions <>The translator would sincerely appreciate it if you would read this story from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com instead. Thank you for your support and consideration. Film post-production schedules are always very tight. It was already late at night when Yi Wenze brought her with him to the recording studio, which was not far from his companys office. In the first place, this was normally not a lively place, and now with the hour being so late, other than some people who had stayed behind to do overtime work, there was no one really moving about in the break room anymore. While Yi Wenze was in the workroom expressing his greetings and care to the masses, Jia He was outside meandering around, playing and fiddling with all sorts of things. Beginning with the Wi-Fi, she worked her way along, amusing herself until she reached the pool table. Discussions were still in full swing inside, with no hints that a break was in sight. She truly was bored. So, she could do nothing but fish out the billiards balls from each of the pockets and set them up. Picking up a pool cue, she began to position herself as if she knew what she was doing, and then she made a move. After a sound of thunk, the various coloured balls were still huddled tightly togetherher break shot had failed. That sucked so bad She stared in depression at those balls. Just as she was about to give up, someone embraced her from behind, holding her in front of himself and correcting her hand positioning on the pool cue. Youre not holding it steady enough. When you make a stroke, you have to keep the cue straight. His hand holding hers, he took a shot and pocketed on it. Jia He was even more dispirited. You guys are all masters at this. Xiao Xiao is the same. She claims shes played pool since first-year middle school, and every time shell play with only one hand the entire game and still beat me. It seems Im just more suited to typing on a keyboard and watching DVDs. His lips against her ear, Yi Wenze chuckled, commenting, I already discovered that a few days ago when we were playing tennis. She nearly vomited blood at that. Setting down the cue in chagrin, she strode over to the bar counter, made herself a cup of coffee, and then indignantly plopped herself down on a faraway couch. But when she lifted her head again, Yi Wenze, his hands still propped on the edge of the pool table, was watching her with a smile. Forget it. A great person does not hold grievances for the faults of little men. Giving a sigh of lament, she pulled out her mobile phone and said, Friend Yi Wenze, to comfort this heart of mine which you hurt, strike a pose for me thats so handsome itll amaze the heavens and earth and make even the gods weep. With a smiling look at her, Yi Wenze lowered his body and put himself in a stance like he was about to take a shot. Everything about his posture, from the look in his eyes, to the positioning of his hands, to even the arm that would make the stroke, was spot on and impeccable. It was a perfectly-composed picture. And the most important part was, that personso perfectbelonged only to her. After taking the photo, she even specially added a heart sticker onto it before bringing it over for him to see. Youre not going to still be this handsome when youre eighty, right? How am I even going to live? Chuckling, he swept a glance over the photograph. Happy now? Mm-hmm, she answered. Happy. I have forgiven your offense. <>This translations actual site of posting is hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Please support it by reading it from there instead. Thank you. By the time the work was finally considered done, it was the middle of the night. When Jia He stepped with him into the workroom, someone straightaway stood and said with a grin, Teacher Yi, have a look. We just redid it. Upon saying this, that person walked straight out and tactfully left only the two of them in the room. Yi Wenze listened through the dubbing work very carefully while Jia He sat docilely off to the side and played with her mobile phone. I met a hardcore fan of yours today. People said just a few slightly bad words about you, and then she got so upset she was about to cry. I used to be like that, too. I couldnt stand hearing anyone saying anything, even half a word, bad about you. The thing I hated most was when people would talk about any romance gossip about you. He played the clip back another time, only listening to her with a smile and not speaking. Recollecting the celebrity-chasing days of her past, she sighingly added, The silliest thing I did was to assign your name to 10086[2] in my phone address book. The instant I got a text message saying I had to top up my phone, the words Yi Wenze would show up on the screen. Every time I saw that, my heart would speed up. Was I a crazy fangirl or what? The voices being played back were still as clear as before. She was still reminiscing with great feeling when, all of a sudden, he tranquilly, noiselessly covered her lips with his, preventing her voice from escaping. The way he pressed in on her was somewhat suffocating and practically left her no room to move. This was his first time doing this out in public Out of reflex, her arms reached up and slid around his neck, and she tilted her head back to oblige himuntil a noise was heard at the door. She gave a jolt. But then, immediately, she heard the sound of the door being pulled shut. Not until he had released her did Jia He finally stammer, S-s-someone saw. She had dropped her voice very low, as if she had just done some sort of atrocious act. With all her might, she tried to guess who might have stepped in just now. If it was the publicity assistant from Yi Wenzes company or someone like that, things would be a little better, but if it was some random, unrelated person, that would be trouble. He was very close to her, but for a long time he remained silent, watching her as she gradually calmed down and brought a bewildered gaze onto him. Then, at last, he smiled. That smile spread from his lips into his eyes, so warm it sent her heart into a flurry. He said, Honey, I love you. [1]ɡTieba, which literally means Post Bar is a Chinese key word-based forum provided by the search engine, Baidu. It is a massive online communication platform, and keyword searches will bring a user into a group discussion site or bar in which one can start or join posts on that topic. [2]10086 is the customer service number of the mobile telecommunications provider, China Mobile. CH 16.1 He, though, merely smiled and then continued finishing off his remaining half a glass of water. That was it? A slight sense of disappointment formed secretly in the bottom of her heart. Just when she was ready to say something else to fill in the silence, she saw him come close to her, extend his arms, and gently enclose them around her. Jia He gave him a puzzled look. Suddenly, she felt a coolness on her neck, like something had been placed around it. Standing in front of her, practically snug against her, he had circled his arms behind her and was fastening a clasp, his motions very slow. It seemed, because he was doing this by the light of the moon, he could not see very clearly and therefore was even slower. What is it? She reached her hand up to feel the shape of the necklace pendant. A little gold pig. Unable to see it, she was only able to feel its lines and curvy contours. It seemed to be a very odd shape. Its not my zodiac year[1]yet. Today was his birthday, yet he had given her a gift first. The glow from the lights in the sitting area spilled into where they were, and in this faint illumination, he filled another glass of water and took a couple more drinks. I saw it this afternoon and thought it was really suitable for you, so I bought it. With an oh, Jia He, lightheaded, walked out of the kitchen and put on the act of going to the bathroom. In reality, she went to look in the mirror and scrutinize the pendant lying against her chest. A very cartoonish pig held a lollipop up high. Even the spiral pattern of the lollipop was detailed and properly done. This is the image I project?She finally felt embarrassed. She had originally thought he did not have much of a reaction to those words she had spoken, until she was sprawled in the bathtub, her entire body lathered in soap bubbles formed as a result of his kneading. There she groaned, Serves me right for this fate Ive brought on myself. His smile was very light, but yet in the steamy air it was infinitely magnified. By the time he had wrapped her from head to toe in a thick, cashmere blanket and carried her back to the bed, she was so sleepy her temples felt leadened. Her forehead seemed to be given a gentle caress by a pair of soft lips, and then she heard him say, Sleep now. Only now did she abruptly realize that she had forgotten to tell him about his birthday present. I have a gift for you, too. She wanted to drag herself up again, but one of his arms pulled her back. Well have it tomorrow. She answered with an okay. All of sudden, she remembered that gift from Tian Chu. I forgot to tell you, out on the table theres a gift for you from Tian Chu. You can look at it yourself tomorrow. When she turned on the electric blanket earlier, she had still felt cold, but now, pressed against him, she was warm and cozy. As she tucked herself even further into his embrace, she heard him merely give an mm and answer her, A-Lun mentioned it to me. He ran into Tian Chu when he was having a meeting this afternoon, and she asked him to help bring a gift to me. As she was not accustomed to wearing a necklace when she slept, her neck felt itchy and she gave a light tug at the little pig around her neck. It was just a small movement, but Yi Wenze still detected it. He lowered his head to look at her neck. Whats wrong? Its not comfortable? No. She murmured, Yi Wenze, why arent you the least bit curious about my birthday gift to you? That was too much of a failure on her part, wasnt it? Amused, he laughed. Ive already received the most important birthday gift. A very simple sentence, yet it was as if someone had lightly tickled the very tip of her heart. Such an indescribable feeling. Jia He finally reflected on those earlier words she had said. Her heart giving a little tremor, she very bashfully shifted her body a little, but then was instantly enfolded tightly in his arms. And then she heard his voice say, Honey, I love you. This was not her first time hearing this or his first time saying it, but it still caused her heart to beat erratically. Her voice soft, she maintained, I really did prepare a birthday present for you, but its not anything valuable. Clutching that little gold pig, she was silent for quite some time. I got my travel visa. Its for New Zealand. For a long moment, there was no sound behind her. Her heart was nearly about to stop beating from the wait. Then, she at last heard him say by her ear, Honey, thank you. Three words. She silently repeated them in her heart seven or eight times. Smiling in secret, she snugged herself backwards and, nestled very peacefully in his arms, fell asleep. It was already approaching noon when she awoke the next day. He had left very early. When Jia He jogged into the kitchen to see what there was to eat, she discovered a sandwich in the refrigerator and saw from the date written on it that it was bought yesterday. Why hadnt she noticed before that he had even bought lunch? She was in the middle of ripping off the plastic wrap and tossing the sandwich into the microwave when she heard someone knocking on the door. Wu Zhiluns face, with its wide grin and sunglasses still on it, caused her to jump in surprise. Theres absolutely nothing in my room. Here, here, make me lunch. Jia He looked wryly at him. You sure arent worried about being too polite. As she moved out of the way of the doorway, she heard the microwave crying wildly, and quickly she yanked out two tissues to put under the sandwich as she pulled it out. Taking a knife, she cut the sandwich in two and handed the slightly larger half to this man who was like a hungry wolf. How did you know I have food here? I guessed it. Wu Zhilun took the sandwich from her and poured himself a glass of water. Since you tend to sleep until noon every day, hell definitely have food ready for you to eat. Is that right? There are some things that should be very apparent, yet it is only after they have been spoken from the mouth of someone else that they become clear to you. She brought her face down briefly as a smile came onto her lips. Then with relish, she took a bite of her sandwich and asked muffledly, When did you get here? Yesterday, when I had my assistant bring the gift over. I was afraid Id disturb you guys, so I didnt personally come over. As he drank his water, he explained, Actually, its because I hadnt sleep for more than thirty hours, so once I arrived, I just couldnt hold up anymore. Jia He gave an mm-hmm, but, really, she knew perfectly well the true reason. Tian Chu had specially asked him to pass on that gift. He definitely would not dare to secretly keep it, but he was also scared that if he delivered it, he would end up becoming the evildoer, so of course he had let his assistant be the cannon fodder. Last night Jia He had been the one to take delivery of the gift. When that boy went back, he undoubtedly would have reported everything to Wu Zhilun She took another bite of the sandwich. The rich taste of bacon melded with the lettuce and filled her mouth. Such a delicious food that could appease a hungry belly. As her thoughts reached this point, she finally started speculating, just what was that gift? While she was aimlessly pondering on this, Wu Zhilun suddenly received a phone call. Chewing his sandwich, he mumbled some mm-hmm, mm-hmms and uh-huh, uh-huhs, and it was only at the end that he asked in surprise, For how long? After another few seconds, he hung up the phone. From top to bottom, he swept his eyes several times over Jia He, his smile faint at first but slowly deepening. Jia He was completely baffled by the look she was receiving. Harmonious Family Prospers, he began, finally bringing his gaze to land on her abdomen, is there some happy news? She paused in astonishment, nearly choking to death on that. What are you talking about? The call just now was from A-Ze. He wore an I get it expression. Once the post-production work is finished for this film, hes going back to New Zealand. Do you know how much promotional work was waiting for him to do? This is the companys first film, and its also a collaboration with Yi Hua. Whats more, his name is next to the title of producer. But hes actually completely letting go and giving it all to me to handle. Instantly, Jia He was staggered. He had made such a quick decision? Once Wu Zhilun finished saying all this, he left the kitchen. It was not really fitting, though, for Jia He to outright press him with further questions. Glancing at that couch that was heaped with gifts, she was about to clear off some space for him to sit, but then she heard an Eh? behind her. The punk isnt even going to look at it? Turning around, she realized what Wu Zhilun was referring to. The gift from Tian Chu was sitting, still in its original packaging, on the table and appeared to truly have not been opened. Normally gifts from fans were eventually handed over to A-Qing to sort through and then put away. He had not made an effort to even open itthe meaning of that was already very evident. Setting the box back into its original place, Wu Zhilun feelingly remarked, A-Ze is much clearer than me on what should be done and what should not be done. Jia He smiled, not replying. Even if he did open it for a look, she actually would not think anything of it. She was not certain when it had developed, but a wholehearted trust already existed between her and him. That feeling was similar to how one would view and treat ones own family. When she finally managed to coax Wu Zhilun to leave, she pulled out her mobile phone and called Yi Wenze. He seemed to be busy at the moment. Holding her phone, she roved from the kitchen to the bedroom, then over to the bathroom, drifting aimlessly through the entire suite. Unexpectedly, the phone was picked up on the other end, giving her a little shock. Are you busy? I was taking another call just now. As the two words New Zealand rose up in her mind, it was as if, layer by layer, from inside to out, she was burning up. She had been the one to first secretly get her visa as a surprise for him, but she still had not expected everything to happen so fast Although Yi Wenze had not given any concrete dates, he was both explicitly and implicitly telling her that she would be seeing his family very soon. Not hearing any reply from her, Yi Wenze called, Jia He. She at last recovered herself. Wu Zhilun came by just now to scrounge for some food. He mentioned that you plan on going back to New Zealand after post-production work is done. Giving a very mild mm, he stated, Itll take about a week. From the tone he was using, it sounded like she was the one rushing him. Jia Hes finger unconsciously drew little circles on the bathroom counter, and she faltered for quite a while. You actually dont need to be that rushed. The visa I got is for three months. The subtext: I still am not prepared yet. Theres really no rush. He, though, chuckled. Its okay. It just so happens that my little nephew is going to be having his third birthday. Hes mentioned a lot of times on the phone that he wants you to go see him. My parents would also love to meet you. These words of his made Jia He even more anxious, but unable at this moment to come up with a good excuse, she could only say a few random sentences and then hang up. For a full minute, she stared into the mirror. Oh no, oh no. At the time, she had only been thinking about doing a nice, little romantic gesture. Now, though, she truly was like a duck being driven onto a perch[2]. The direct result of this was that that afternoon, taking a taxi straight over to Xiao Yus office, she forced Xiao Yu to play hooky from work and come out to have afternoon tea. But Xiao Yus response after listening to less than three sentences from her was to leisurely take a sip of tea and ask, Youre pregnant? Jia He nearly rammed her own head into something to just kill herself. Why are you all interpreting it that way? Xiao Yus lips gave a twitch. Picking up her phone, she dialed Qiao Qiaos number. Yi Wenze is bringing Jia He to New Zealand next week. Once she finished declaring this, she shoved the phone up beside Jia Hes ear. The person on the other end of the line squealed in astonishment, Shes knocked up?! The volume was loud enough that even Xiao Yu, who was merely holding the phone, could hear that question. Her eyes on Jia Hes face, which was caught somewhere between tears and hilarity, she took her phone back. All right. Ill call you back in a bit. Then ignoring Qiao Qiaos questions that were firing in succession, she hung up. See? Its not that Im thinking dirty. Thats the normal thought process of any person. All responses that Jia He might have had were completely cut off in her throat, nearly choking her to death. She bowed her head, sipped her tea, and then sipped some more. One week is pretty tight. Xiao Yu actually seriously worked through the timing for her. Go do a week of intensive spa and beauty treatments, and also think about what gifts to bring. Youll need gifts for the adults and the children. All the etiquette will definitely need to be amply done for this first time that youre meeting your father-in-law, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law. She spoke all this as if it was only proper and a matter of course. Jia Hes thoughts were also being led along by Xiao Yu, and she nodded her head viciously. Simply seeing her expression of complete trust and Ill listen to everything you say induced a headache in Xiao Yu. Grinding her teeth, Xiao Yu dug her spoon into her chestnut cake and popped it in her mouth. I have a spa card here. Just go to the one that I normally go to. That way, well avoid having you go to some random, shoddy place that just cheats you of your money. As for what youre going to give as gifts, youll need to put some good thought into that. She mulled for a moment. I can give you a gift. Ill have my granddad write a piece of calligraphy[3] for you to bring there. Jia Hes eyes immediately lit up. The calligraphy of any one of Elder Xiaos students already could absolutely command a high price, let alone the calligraphy of Elder Xiao himself Reportedly, in these last few years, apart from writing calligraphy to give as gifts to long-time friends, the elderly one had practically half-retired his writing brush already. Though his works could not quite compare to antiques, they still were certainly modern-day treasured pieces of art. Jia He fawningly wagged her tail and beamed, Ah, to have such a friend. What more could I ask for? Carrying on with eating her cake, Xiao Yu plastered on a fake smile and replied, Its no big deal. Just consider it my contribution in exchange for my three-day trip to New Zealand. Her spoon between her teeth, she seemed to suddenly remember something, and in muffled words, she reminded, Oh, right, ask your Yi Wenze when you guys will be having the wedding banquet. That way I can go apply for my travel visa ahead of time. As Jia He gnawed on the edge of her tea cup, her face blazed bright red. [1] ben ming nian. The Chinese zodiac is a repeating twelve-year cycle. In Chinese superstition, your ben ming nian, the year of your zodiac sign (sometimes referred to in English as ones year of fate), is an inauspicious year for you, and unlucky events will occur in it. Traditionally, one of the ways to offset the negative impacts is to be gifted something fashioned in gold, jade, or crystal and then wear it. [2]The saying sϼ driving a duck onto a perch is describing a person who is being made to do something that is completely beyond her capabilities. [3]Referring to traditional Chinese brush calligraphy. CH 16.2 Chapter 16.2 The Unexpected (2) Also, Xiao Yu, pulling off from her wrist a black string that had been wrapped more than ten times around it and tying up her hair with it, asked, are you positive youre not preggers? A shudder racked through Jia He, and the tea cup knocked into her, leaving her teeth sore. In no rush, Xiao Yu methodically twisted the string around her hair. When she had finally finished tying a slip knot, she resumed, You havent been using any sort of birth control, have you? Only Miss Xiao Yu would ask so directly. Uttering a mumbled mm-hmm, Jia He continued to dig at her cake with a spoon, digging and digging nonstop. Xiao Yu pulled out her wallet and called, The check, please. Afterwards, she led Jia He all the way to a pharmacy. It was past three in the afternoon, and there were not many people in the pharmacy, only a few older women clustered together, chatting. Jia He, feeling extremely jumpy at absolutely everything, roved her eyes around. The supermarket should have them, too, right? And its also self check-out. Yes, they have them, but then youd worry that quality isnt guaranteed. After saying this, Xiao Yu turned a question to that group of people. Excuse me, do you have any home pregnancy tests? Jia He had not expected that she would be so unperturbed and direct about this, and the thought instantly crossed her mind to turn and flee from there. Luckily, those several older women had never seen someone so brazen about this sort of thing either, and they all fell quiet for several seconds before immediately scattering. Only one old woman remained. Clearing her throat, she put on a serious manner and asked, Yes, we do. What brand would you like? Xiao Yu smiled, I have no experience in this. Auntie, how about you recommend one? Utterly calm and collected, that old auntie told them, Please wait a moment, and then she stepped over to a counter on the other side and pulled out three boxes. Walking back to them, she set the boxes in front of Xiao Yu and informed her, Price is actually about the same for all of them, but if you buy this one, youll get a few more. Saying that, she pushed out one box to spotlight it. With an mm-hmm, Xiao Yu picked it up, glanced it over a couple of times, and straight out decided, This one, then. Give me five boxes. The look in that old aunties eyes faltered momentarily, but she nevertheless pulled over a notepad and began writing up the receipt. Hence, when the two stepped out from the pharmacy, there was an extra bag in Jia Hes hand. Jia He, however, had only a very small backpack-style purse that was just large enough to hold a wallet, mobile phone, and keys, so even if she wanted to hide that bag, she was unable to. In the brilliant sunshine, she watched as Xiao Yu sashayed away while she, holding that semitransparent bag, had no place she could go. <>Your support by reading this translation only from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the actual site of posting, would be greatly appreciated by the translator. Thank you. In the end, she bought a non-transparent cloth bag, cased it around the other bag, and tied it up securely. Only then was her feeling of guilt placated. At home there would be her mom watching over her, and if her mom discovered this bundle of stuff, she very likely would deliver the ultimatum that she had to see this knockoff Yi Wenze. Should she go to Xiao Yus home? Xiao Yu had said just now that she would not be home tonight. Go home? Despondently, Jia He discovered that in Beijing, her true home was the one she had with Yi Wenze. The last place she could go was the production company, but that was his turf, too. She was still at an intersection, wavering back and forth and not knowing where she should go, when she suddenly came up with an idea: she could go watch a movie! And then, in the washroom And then after that thought of and then, her phone rang. Youre not at the office? he asked. She answered, Mm-hmm, and made up an arbitrary fib. Some stuff needs to be revised in my new drama. I had a little meeting with Director Liu. There was a rare moment of silence on his end before he asked, Where are you? Ill go pick you up. Tilting her head to look up at Xiao Yus office skyrise, she continued fabricating her story. I went to find Xiao Yu after the meeting. Im on the downstairs level of Oriental Plaza. Right as she finished speaking, she heard a familiar voice on the other end of the call. A mans voice. For a moment, she froze. Then, tears instantly sprang to her eyes. Sure enough, there are always gods above you watching everything It was Director Liu. How could she have forgotten? Those two had work collaborations as well, and they had even specifically met up in Tianjin. A smile could be heard in Yi Wenzes voice as he responded with a few sentences to the other party before saying to her, Ill be there really soon. Ill make a reservation somewhere. You can go straight there and wait for me inside. She was exposedutterly, thoroughly exposed. He definitely did it on purpose The restaurant was one she had been to previously for a post-project celebratory dinner, so before Yi Wenze got there, she estimated the timing of his arrival and then ordered an entire tables worth of dishes, gnashing her teeth as she helped him waste his money. His text message came in just as she set down the menu: Ill be there right away. Three minutes after this statement of right away, the door truly was pushed open. The hostess leading the way was obviously a little too keen. Before the man of the moment had even made his appearance in the room, she was already incessantly rambling on, saying Mr. Yi this and Mr. Yi that. Jia He quickly bowed her head, keeping her eyes on the menu, until she sensed that two people had taken a seat. All of a sudden, a hand took the menu away from her. Youve ordered already? Feeling awkward, Jia He looked up and, through the glow of interlacing lights, answered, Mm-hmm. Next, she turned to Director Liu and tugged her lips up into a smile. Director Liu. Ah, its Jia He? Director Liu smiled very deliberately, then informed her, I knew a long time ago. You dont need to be uptight. Jia He was genuinely struck stupid with this, and twisting her head to the side, she stared at Yi Wenze. He was unhurriedly flipping through the menu. With a very placid smile, he told her, When we were in Tianjin, I accidentally let it slip while I was talking. So, all along, she basically had been trying to fool everyone but had only been fooling herself? Like she was covering her ears to steal a bell[1]? Obstructing her eyes with a leaf and not seeing the obvious[2]? So, yes, he did do it on purpose The dish of spinach stirred with a mustard sauce truly brought tears to her eyes when she ate it, and she reached for an orange juice. When her hand contacted the glass, though, she realized it was ice-cold. She hesitated, for she remembered those items in the black, non-transparent bag beside her, and then in guilty discomfiture she asked the female server to add a cup of warmed coconut milk to their order. After making this request, she received a glance from Yi Wenze. All right, she did admit that she had always liked drinking iced orange juice with her meals. <>It would be sincerely appreciated if you would only read this translation at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, its actual site of posting. Thank you very much. It was after they were already in the car and she had very carefully thrown that bag to the backseat that he finally asked her, Where did you go today? Jia He remembered that she still owed him an explanation. However, no matter how she racked her brain, she was unable to come up with a more decent, presentable excuse. So, she could only reply with unruffled composure, Xiao Yu broke up with a guy. I went to keep her company. Xiao Xiao, Ive done you wrong. She said this in her mind. Yi Wenze could only let out a resigned chuckle. Your friends have relationship breakups so easily? She gave a firm, confident mm-hmm and even explained in a pained voice, She, too, finds this too humiliating, so she told me over and over again that I was not allowed to tell anyone. He finally let her off the hook. Youre feeling unwell today? So perceptive, she glumly sighed in her mind before answering, Uh-huh. Guilt ate at her from simply holding that black bag in her hand. Thus, in such a state, she got out of the car, went upstairs, and walked into the suite with him. She watched as he changed out of his clothes, had a shower, and, finally, sat behind the desk, where he started to read through the documents that were piled on it. Only now, having at last found the best opportunity, did she slip into the bathroom. She had just taken out one box and was carefully reading through the instructions when she heard him walk into the bedroom. Next, there was the sound of his voice as he answered a phone call, neither too soft nor too loud and seeming to hover by her ear, causing her to take a long time to simply read a few lines. This was plainly a very straightforward set of instructions and there were even pictures to go with it, but she simply could not process it. Such a long phone call. Who had so much to say? Worried that he might think she was staying in here too long, she turned on the shower. With the sounds of rushing water surrounding her, she at last relaxed. Without warning, a knock echoed on the door, giving her such a shock that she nearly dropped the paper from her hand. You didnt bring in any clothes with you? Uh. Oh, yeah, I forgot. After a little while, he knocked again on the door. With no other choice, she poked her head out, her conscience guilty, and she saw in his hands her underwear and pajamas. Temperatures have been dropping these last several days. Dont come out with only a towel wrapped around you. Taking everything from him, she smiled, then speedily shut the door. Under immense pressure, she tossed her clothes onto the rack, reached over, and finally ripped open that package. One second. Two seconds. Each second seemed as long as an entire century. She felt only that her throat was tight and so dry that she wanted to drink some water. The result: a very distinct, red line. Only one line. What does one line mean?She picked up the sheet of instructions and carefully skimmed through it again.Oh, negative. Not pregnant. Still uncertain, she used up all five boxes. Only then was her heart wholly set at ease. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only After tidying away everything, showering, and dressing herself at lightning speed, she stepped back outside. By now, she was totally cool and composed, for her mind had been assured. When she came out from the bathroom, she saw Yi Wenze leaning back in his chair, gently massaging himself between his brows while reading through a document. Walking over, she cast a quick look over it as well. It was the schedule for the promotional events of his film that would be released during the New Year period. Densely listed on the paper were a dozen or so cities. Wordlessly, she glanced at the very last date on the list: two weeks from now, in Kuala Lumpur. Two weeks Her heart fluttered a bit and her mood, which had been taut for an entire day, at last completely unwound and relaxed. As he turned to look at her, he was met face-on with her dazzling smile, and he could not contain the upward curve of his own lips either. Whats caused you to smile so happily? For some reason, this question from him actually induced guilt in her. How could she say it? Hesitating, she took hold of his hand and very solemnly walked over to the couch to take a seat. With each step, she was able to come up with a line that she could say, but once she actually sat down, she once more became a mute and still did not know how she could tell him. He seemed a little tired and only sank back into the couch. Extending an arm, he pulled her down to lie on his thighs and then lowered his gaze to her. You still havent come up with how youre going to say it? His words sounded as if he had guessed everything already. Jia He blinked. If I say it, you cant get mad. His smile was warm as he reached down and helped her to fasten the top button of her pajamas. Why would I be mad? Thats true. Only now, as he turned this question back on her, did Jia He feel that, oh right, it wasnt her fault. You know, if there really is nothing, then were each half responsible for that. While she nonsensically mused and mused away like this, spots of pink tinged her cheeks. What was she even thinking? Why was it that after just a couple of looks from him, there was this feeling of guilt in her, like they had prayed and tried for a child for many years but her belly only brought disappointment She turned over so that she was facing away from him, mumbling, Xiao Xiao reminded me today that I might want to check whether Im, you know, that. She paused briefly, but did not hear him speak. He should understand what she meant, right? And then I tested and discovered that Im not that. Sigh. Her years as a screenwriter had basically been for nothing. All the important words in the dialogue had been replaced with that. He still isnt saying anything. He wouldnt really be mad, would he? Its not my fault. Hey, wait, thats not right either. Were still not married yet. Of course I cant be that Terribly conflicted, she turned back over and looked up into his face. And then she suddenly perceived that the button that he had done up for her only a moment ago had been openly and unabashedly unfastened once again by him. One button. Another button. Steadily. Unhurriedly. And also his low voice, imbued with mirth, asking her, And so you washed yourself nice and clean in preparation for us to keep working hard at it? Huh? I did? This was the sitting area, and this suite was also on the second floor, near the stairwell. Although the suite itself was very quiet, outside, there were sounds everywhere of people talking and moving about. Even when her arms were wrapped around his neck, she was still trying to put up a struggle, suggesting softly, Lets go into the bedroom. His voice was right against her ear. No, just right here. The lightheadedness was more intense this time than any of the other times. Her arms as they clung to him began to grow weak. His burning kisses scalded her skin, and even the air he breathed out was scorching. The couch was very soft. It had practically reached its limit with the weight of two people bearing into it. <>Please support this translation by reading it only from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, its actual site of posting. Sincere thanks. A sudden banging on the door gave her such a fright that a cry almost slipped from her. As she bit down on her lip with all her might, she heard Wu Zhiluns voice shouting, Im hungry! She did not even know whether she should cry about this or laugh. And then, the sound of his breathing thoroughly caused her mind to grow blurry. Heat. Daze. She felt that her face was so flushed it must look like it was dripping blood. That determined, tireless knocking finally came to a stop. But then, someone yelled, Yi Wenze, you care only about your woman and not your bro! <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only [1]This idiom ڶ塰to cover your eyes while stealing a bell illustrates that, in a futile attempt to cover up something that is plainly obvious, you are unable to deceive anyone and deceive only yourself with your actions, like an ostrich burying its head in the sand. [2]һҶĿ. The full idiom is һҶĿ̩ɽ a leaf in front of the eyes obstructs your view of Mount Tai. This describes a situation in which a small, trivial thing prevents you from seeing what is important, or the big picture has been overshadowed by something trivial. CH 16.3 The heater in the room was turned to a very warm setting in the first place and he had also switched on the central heating, so the two both ended up bathed in perspiration. She was so hot that she only grabbed a spaghetti-strap dress before rushing off to take a shower. When she came back out again, drying her hair with a bath towel, he grabbed her, tugged her onto the bed, and made her sit down. Digging out a round-necked sweatshirt that she normally wore in the winter, he pulled it over her head for her. Next was a pair of jogging pants. His motions as he dressed her were extremely deft. Jia He practically could only gape in awe as he moved and positioned her this way and that. This was five-star superior treatment! At the end, when he saw that the sweatshirt sleeves were a little too long, he even helped her to roll them up one fold. Sniffling, she said softly, Its good now. Then, she watched as he straightened back up, stepped up beside the desk, and dialed an internal number on the phone. A-Lun, you can come on over now. Huh?Jia He nearly toppled off the couch. Wasnt that basically just admitting, without even needing to be grilled, that the two of them had been in the room but just didnt open the door? Because she had put on such warm clothing immediately after showering, she was starting to sweat again. Hearing knocking on the door, she jumped straight up and declared, Im going to go get you guys something to drink. With that, she dashed to the coffee station. Her eyes swept this way and that. Floral tea, black tea, Puer teawhich one would be good? Eventually, she decided to brew coffee; that way it would take a little longer Outside, they were already laughing and talking. When the coffee was done brewing and she was carrying out two cups of it as well as a cup of tea, Wu Zhilun finally ceased the conversation. Holding a bag in his hand, he said to her, I originally came here to deliver something and then, in passing, see if there are any good eats here. Is this it? Is this how youre going to treat me? At first Jia Hes conscience had been terribly uneasy, but with these words from him, she was a little baffled. What does that have to do with me? Flashing his teeth, Wu Zhilun looked at Yi Wenze. The latter merely took the glass cup that Jia He handed to him, smiling but holding his silence. Jia He also handed a cup of coffee to Wu Zhilun before taking from him the paper bag that he had been holding. She saw that written on it were a few simple words: Yi Wenze, With You. Somewhat uncertainly, she looked again at Yi Wenze, but still he did not say anything. Wu Zhilun, on the other hand, gave a couple of coughs. You two still arent done being mushy? How does that saying go? Oh right! Making eyes at one another. After knowing him for so long, Jia He had learned already that his Mandarin was actually very good. Each time he said things like this, he was definitely making fun of her Jia He set the paper bag onto the table. Purposely ignoring Wu Zhilun, she tugged on Yi Wenzes sleeve, her eyes shining as she asked, Youre going to release a single? This was huge news, aaaah! He hadnt sung for so many years. Smiling, Yi Wenze gave a nod. Happy? She swiftly nodded. Of course. With a grin, Wu Zhilun told her, I took time out of my extremely busy schedule to write the lyrics. He picked up the paper bag again and wagged it in front of Jia He. Harmonious Family Prospers, let me tell you, Yi Wenze truly has a lot of huge shortcomings. For example, he only cares about his woman and not his bro, or for example, hes incredibly lazy and likes to toss everything to me to do. The words cares about his woman and not his bro were emphasized particularly forcefully and caused Jia He to bow her head once more and take a fierce drink of her coffee, nearly scalding her tongue off. Finally, she heard Yi Wenze speak up, but his words were directed at Wu Zhilun. How do you feel about it? Beaming broadly until his eyes became slits, Wu Zhilun answered, Very good. Extremely good. The song you wrote with the lyrics I penned. And also, youre willing to sing. I bet we wont even need any real marketing and PR and itll still be a big hit. Their conversation that followed was all about the publicity work for the single. Jia Hes head felt like it was in a fog as she listened to them. While she was completely unaware, the song had already been recorded and gone through post-production, and very soon such substantial publicity work for it would be starting up. After Wu Zhilun left, she, while washing the cups, casually asked him, After this single, are you going to be releasing a new album? He took the cup that she was handing to him and set it on the shelf. There are no plans for that yet. Giving an oh, Jia He sighed, What a pity. She did not even need to listen to it to know that this song would become a hit, and riding the momentum to release a new album would be the way to go. Although she did not really know much about the music recording market, that day at the concert, when Yi Wenze began singing, she had instantly known that he was born to be a star. Even just singing someone elses song, he was so able to While these thoughts were running through her mind, she also remembered those words that he had said at the concert. Her reaction time now finally catching up, she retrospectively felt so much happiness in her that it was going to bubble over. Back and forth, over and over, she washed the same cup for a long, long time. When she at last pulled her mind back to the present, she noticed that he was leaning against the edge of the counter, watching her with great amusement. Only then did she shut off the water and stuff the cup into his hands. Lets sleep. In the subsequent three days, Yi Wenze flew to four or five cities back-to-back. Jia He would have her mobile phone in hand, occasionally checking her text messages. As she was treating the trip to New Zealand as a matter of highest priority, she had practically pushed all her work to the next month. When Xiao Yu brought over the piece of calligraphy, which had already been mounted, Jia He unrolled it and admired it for a long time. Even though she was not well-versed in this artform, she still raised her thumb and sighingly praised, Its so good, over and over more than ten times. Xiao Yu sat in the living room, looking around at all the furniture. Rather pained, she asked, You were the one who picked out all of this? Jia He gave her a very wary look. Youre not allowed to say it doesnt look nice. Leaning back into the couch, Xiao Yu heaved a long sigh. I remember someone once made the assessment that, if you compared amongst all the celebrities, Yi Wenzes taste and style are considered extremely good. Such a pity, such a pity. Jia He was wiping the glass balcony door, but when she encountered some high spots, she had to hop to reach them. Even so, Xiao Yu still ended up taking the cloth from her and helping her to wipe a couple of places. Since when did you become so diligent? With that little place of yours in Shanghai, you had a cleaning lady comepart-time to do the cleaning for you. Now that youve returned to Beijing, youve immediately adopted such good, womanly virtues? Seeing how she was able to wipe every corner clean with just a bend of her arm, Jia He was terribly jealous. I cant hire anyone now. Im afraid people will gossip or make irresponsible remarks. Xiao Yu glanced at her. Itll be better once youre married. With an mm-hmm, Jia He took the rag back from her, tossed it into the sink on the balcony, and began washing it. Right when she was wringing it out, she heard the forever-unflappable Xiao Yu let out a shriek, giving her such a fright that she immediately dashed back into the living room. Whats wrong, whats wrong? Holding her laptop computer, Xiao Yu slowly lifted her eyes to look at Jia He. Explosive news. Jia Hes heart dropped, and because of the scare she had just gotten, apprehension flooded her. Dont scare me. It has nothing to do with you. Very slowly, Xiao Yu turned the computer around to face Jia He. How big do you think the diamond in this ring looks to be? Jia He took a seat beside her. It was a screenshot taken from a video. Due to this question, Jia He brought her gaze directly onto the diamond ring inside the picture. She tried hard to make an estimation based on the size of the box and hand, guessing, More than two carats, probably? Its bling enough. Do you know this guy? Xiao Yu pointed at the man inside the video. Only now did Jia He look at that man. So familiar-looking I remember now. Thats Cheng Hao. Back when Tune of Yonganwas being filmed, he was one of the assistant directors on the team. Since finishing up and leaving that production back in March, she had not seen him for half a year already. Does he know Qiao Qiao? Xiao Yu continued to guide her words. Yeah. Back then when we went out to eat or went singing or stuff, theyd frequently be together. Jia He continued, But they shouldnt be that well acquainted, I think? I dont really hear Qiao Qiao mentioning him. Xiao Yu gave an mm, her calm restored. Qiao Qiaos been proposed to. This boy is truly so sincere. He actually did it on Weibo Just look at the number of reposts Huh? No way! With a quivering finger, Jia He tapped the play button on the video. In the picture, Chen Hao was holding up the ring box and staring into the camera as he said, Qiao Qiao, happy birthday. For the time being, I cant afford a 10.25-carat diamond. This diamond ring is only 2.25 carats. I searched around for it for a long time. Taking the diamond ring out from the box, he cleared his throat and reported, Im at the Tokyo International Film Festival right now. Im not sure whether this time Ill come out successful, but regardless of whether I win or not, I hope that you will marry me. The scene in the video appeared to be by the seaside. There was even the noise of the wind. As Jia He watched this, her nose unwittingly began to tingle. So touching. But She looked over at Xiao Yu, then looked at video, then looked back at Xiao Yu. Shes always been a must-inform-you-that-Im-dating fanatic. Theres no way she wouldnt have told me if she and Cheng Hao were dating. Xiao Yu nearly sprayed out a mouthful of water. So that means they werent even dating and hes proposing? The two exchanged a crafty look. Then, simultaneously, each reached for her own mobile phone, and simultaneously each dialed Qiao Qiaos number. In the end, it was Jia He who succeeded in getting through first. On the other end, Qiao Qiao picked up and, sniffling, said, Hello? Jia Hes eyes immediately gleamed. Youre so touched youre crying? Decisively pressing the speakerphone button, Jia He set her phone onto the table. Huh, what? There was a heavy nasal tone to Qiao Qiaos voice. Im freezing to death here. At an outdoor shoot. You still dont know?! Jia He skimmed her eyes over the number of reposts. Very good. In only twenty minutes, it had already broken nine thousand, yet the person actually on the receiving end of the proposal still didnt even know. The person on the other end of the line resignedly gave in. If you have anything, just hurry up and say it. I have another call coming in. Well Jia He decided she would first take this gradually, step by step. Have you gotten a new boyfriend lately? Since that bass-playing jerk? Qiao Qiao was silent for a moment. Are you too happily in love that youre now coming to comfort the dumped and jilted one? Jia He felt sheepish. What does this have to do with me?You honestly dont have one? Or maybe a little budding thing of something, you know, a little ambiguous relationship where the only thing missing is for someone to say something? There had to be some sort of signs, right? Otherwise, wasnt this bro just committing suicide? Of course not. What, are you going to introduce someone to me? Qiao Qiao was about to go crazy here. Theres one thing I need to tell you, but you have to stay calm. Jia He shot a look at Xiao Yu. The meaning was very clear: Here, you be the one to give her the shock. Xiao Yu cleared her throat. Hey, you, dating fanatic, Im going to tell you something unfortunate. Get yourself a little further away from people, and find yourself a quiet, secluded place. Qiao Qiao gave a Huh? and asked, The two of you are together right now? There was a momentary quiet before she cried out again,I know! The two of you are finally feeling bad that its my birthday today but you guys actually didnt even send me a text giving me well wishes. Do you know, since twelve oclock yesterday, just how many artistes have sent me texts? Theyre so busy and they still remembered, while you guys, two people who are basically sitting around and doing nothing but waiting to die, actually forgot to give me a text. Jia He looked shamefacedly at Xiao Yu. Xiao Yu spoke up, interrupting her. Do you know Cheng Hao? Yeah, I do, Qiao Qiao promptly answered. Jia He does, too. We worked on Tune of Yongantogether. Later, he wasnt with our company anymore. What? Youve taken a fancy to him? Xiao Yu felt awkward as well. She threw a glance at Jia He before calmly stating into the mobile phone, Hes asked you to marry him. Quiet. Extremely quiet. Jia Hes heart was clenched and dangling in her throat when the person on the other side finally spoke. Todays my birthday, not April Fools Day. I havent seen him for half a year already. Ive even lost his mobile number. Go onto your Weibo. Its been forwarded over to you for ages already. The 2.25 carat is really dazzling, especially in the natural light. After Xiao Yu finished swiftly summing things up, the person on the other end of the line immediately hung up. A few minutes later, the phone was vibrating again on the table. Jia He took a deep inhale, more exuberant than if she were being proposed to. When she pressed the answer button, all that could be heard were sobs and sniffles. The female lead of this whole thing was already unable to speak. You say is this a practical joke? Xiao Yu replied very collectedly, Based on how the number of reposts has broken ten thousand now, I think there shouldnt be anyone who would play this sort of joke on himself. The two listened to Qiao Qiaos bawlng for a long while. At last, Jia He could no longer restrain herself and asked, Hey, what do you plan on doing then? She contemplated seriously on this for a moment. But, gee, that Chen Hao. You and he havent even dated, but hes already first proposing. Thats just putting you on the spot. Even though it was very romantic, you still needed to see if person on the receiving end wanted this or not, right? I think The person on the other end of the call hesitantly uttered a sentence that was even more shocking: Ive fallen in love with him. Jia He felt that her brain had already exceeded its capacity. Xiao Yu, though, merely remarked, Uh-huh. If you apply now for a visa, it should still be approved in time for you to make it for the tail end of the film festival. Those two action-taking doers rapidly exchanged a few more words. The call was already hung up before Jia He clued in to what Qiao Qiao was going to do. At once, she gaped at Xiao Yu. No way. Shes being rash and hot-headed and youre encouraging her? Shes going to Tokyo? If a man, under no certainty of success, is willing to gamble his own pride and face to do this, then marrying him should be a pretty good thing, Xiao Yu opined neutrally. Not every woman will encounter such a situation. With anyone youre with, theres a chance of splitting up anyway, so why not choose this guy who is so foolhardy but also a man of talent? You know, if he does win an award, then its not going to be just ten thousand something people witnessing this. Dully, Jia He nodded her head, then nodded it again. Why did everything Xiao Xiao say always make so much sense? Even after Xiao Xiao left, Jia He was still exhilarated when she thought about this turn of events, and so she decided to give Yi Wenze a call. Very excitedly, she described those highlights of how that silly man had not even dated the girl before he proposed and how Qiao Qiao had instantly fallen in love after she was proposed to. On his side, Yi Wenze merely smiled as he listened, commenting at the very end, There are indeed two Chinese films that have been nominated this time. I hope that he will come out successful. Very mild, very coolheaded. Immediately, Jia He lowered her banners and ceased her hurrahs. Oh. CH 17.1 By the time he was returning from Harbin, temperatures in Beijing had dropped yet again. She had actually left the house one hour early but ended up being two hours late. It boiled down to only one reason for this situation: Friend Jia He, once more, had had a little incident of scraping the car while she was driving. When she arrived at the parking garage, Yi Wenze was, unexpectedly, in the midst of an interview. A-Qing, seeing the car driving over, helped her to back the car into a parking spot and then took her by the arm, instructing, Wait for a bit. There are people from the media in the vehicle. Knowing that she was in the wrong, Jia He nodded. Why is he doing an interview in the parking garage? We had originally arranged to do it in an hour, near the China World Trade CenterA-Qing hintingly waggled her browsbut since we need to head over to the television station very soon to do an interview on a TV talk show, we didnt have enough time. The reporter therefore drove here to the airport instead. Jia He felt even more that the wrong she had committed was atrocious. Looking at her watch, she asked, So is there enough time now? A-Qing also glanced at her own watch. We need to go now. Ill go hurry them. Saying this, she straightaway went into the vehicle. Before long, two people came out. Just as Jia He was about to go over and climb in, someone hesitantly called her name. Turning around, she saw that it was the journalist who had just gotten off the vehicle, and what was more, this person surprisingly was an old high school schoolmate of hers. That woman, while putting away her voice recorder, strode over to say hello. Youre here picking someone up? Jia He wanted to shake her head, but then the thought came to her that that if she hadnt come to pick someone up, why would she even be here? Therefore, she nodded. Yes. What about you? Taking a couple more quickened steps over, that woman took ahold of Jia Hes arm. I came to interview Yi Wenze. After Jia He gave an oh in reply, the woman pointed at a person behind herself and introduced, This is my colleague. Hey, yeah, so where are you working nowadays? Im a screenwriter. Jia He shot a glance at the front of her car where she had scraped it, then also peeked at that other vehicle. A-Qing had just gotten out, but catching sight of the situation here, she turned back around and said something into the vehicle. A screenwriter? The person before Jia He smiled. The best would be if your films make it big and then one day I can interview you. Jia He brushed over this with a cursory response. Sure. When you write about me, remember to make me sound like Im Wenquxing[1]descended into the world. The person in front of her grinned and gave her a pat on the shoulder. Forget that. Thats not in nowadays. The best would be if I write that you were a little gangster girl when you were a teen, every day hanging out and making your way on the streets, but then after a jaunt abroad somewhere, you had a heaven-sent encounter when you came back and a famous director gave you some advice. Jia He looked at her with an embarrassed expression. Remembering that Yi Wenze had a program that he needed to head to, she hurriedly put an arm around that womans shoulder and interrupted, I cant talk anymore. When I get the chance, Ill come find you and we can go have a meal. Im in a hurry to go pick someone up now. With those words, she locked the car, turned, and strode in the direction of the elevators. Only when she saw that they had driven away did she exhale in relief and then double back. A-Qing was standing at the back of the car, signaling madly at her with facial expressions, but though A-Qings face was already contorted into a lump, Jia He still did not noticeuntil she came around from the cars back end and saw Yi Wenze, bent at the waist, examining the car Uh-oh. She made a hand signal at A-Qing to step away for a moment. Then slinking over, she slid her arms around his waist from behind him and fawningly nuzzled her face against his back. Welcome home, my love. Ugh, so cheesy. But there was no better time than now to use a beauty trap[2]. Before she even got to see his face, he had taken the car key away from her and towed her into the car. When the key was stabbed into the ignition, he finally turned a look on her. How many years has it been since you learned to drive? I learned back when I was in university. She counted. A lot of years. From now on, just dont drive. With a glance at his watch, he said, If you need to go out, Ill drive you. If Im not in Beijing, you can just take a taxi, or if you really find that inconvenient, well hire a driver. The corner of Jia Hes lips slowly turned downward. What was meant by one sentence shall pronounce your life or your death? This. While she was still racking her brain, trying to redeem the situation, Yi Wenze unexpectedly leaned sideways, covered the back of her neck with his palm, very easily closing the distance between them, and gave her an extremely long, lingering kiss. Because they had just been outdoors for a little while, their lips were cold. This kiss, though, was infused with heat. The whir of the cars heat was rather noisy. He had somewhat caught her off guard, and she could only oblige and try to keep up with him. When his hand eventually released her, she was at last able to murmur, Youre not scared that someone might see us. But before the words had completely left her lips, she sensed him drawing himself right up to her. This time from directly in front of her, he sealed her lips once more, his position perfectly obstructing the lights that were sweeping past in front of their car. In the end, while he was helping her to fasten her seat belt, he stated, Give me your drivers license. What was a beauty trap?! Thiswas a real-deal beauty trap! So, to his success, Jia He handed over that hard-earned drivers license of hers. Watching as Yi Wenze offhandedly slipped it into his pocket, she could not help secretly mourning a bit for it. Yi Wenze or drivingshe could not have them both. Let it be, let it be. When the car drove out of the parking garage, finally, the corner of his lips slowly turned into a smile. As a result of her mistake, there really was not enough time to go home first, and she could only accompany Yi Wenze to the downstairs level of the television station. She had initially said she would wait in the car, but A-Qing informed her that this talk show program would be very long, and so she still ended up being dragged upstairs with them. The talk shows host happened to be inside the dressing room, and when she saw Yi Wenze she immediately stepped up and shook his hand. Teacher Yi, its been two or three years since we last saw each other. Giving her hand a light shake, Yi Wenze smiled. My apologies. Traffic was a bit congested on the way here. With a smile, the female host stepped aside to let him into the dressing room. Your single this time is simply amazing. Its been only a few days, but all the young girls here at the station have already made it their ringtone, either the Cantonese version or the Mandarin one. Im about to go nuts here. It doesnt matter whose mobile phone I call, itll still be that song. She certainly was deserving of being a celebrity talk show host. Though Yi Wenze did not like making small talk, he still could not avoid obliging her and saying a few words himself. Eventually, when Yi Wenze took a seat, Jia He stood beside him and watched the makeup artist give a token fix-up to his hair and style it. Prior to this, she had only ever seen the final product when Yi Wenze stepped out after having his hair and makeup done, and had never watched the actual process. She had thought it would be very interesting, but she discovered that there really was nothing worth watching. While that female talk-show host was still in front of the mirror making minor adjustments to her hair and makeup, he was already drinking water and waiting. What did it mean to be endowed with natural beauty too hard to conceal[3]? This. Thar evening when they were back home, Jia He personally cooked some noodles for him. As she rested her chin on her palm, watching him eat the noodles, she tried as best as she could to use the warmest, gentlest voice to ask, Does it taste good? Leisurely pulling her over and sitting her down beside himself, Yi Wenze picked up some noodles and brought them right up to her lips. The sauce had a very strong aroma and flavour. Jia He moved in close and had a bite. When she lifted her head again, about to say something, Yi Wenze spoke first, asking in a nonchalant voice, Does it taste good? Jia He answered, Mm-hmm, the matter of wanting to drive tossed to the back of her mind and forgotten. When he went to shower, Jia He at last opened up her computer, put on headphones, and began taking care of her work-related emails. It was the middle of the night, but she had unexpectedly received more than ten emails. She read through all of them one by one until, at the end, she felt a bit like she might go crazy with frustration. With Tune of Yongans high ratings, many scripts that she had completed and handed off two or three years ago but had never been filmed, were now coming back to her with requests for revisions, as they were in preparation to kick-off shooting. These were all works of her creation, so she could only carry through to the very end on her responsibility for them. But there were a lot and a lot of scripts, aaaah. Jia Hes eyes were red from looking through all of these, when she heard the ring of her mobile phone. To her surprise, at this late-night hour, it was her mom calling. Given a fright at this, she quickly picked up the call. In the phone, her mom was freaking out and crying, Oh no, Daughter, your dads brain is all confused. All he knows is to call your name. Huh? Jia He pressed a hand against her chest. Dont be anxious. Can he still walk? Still move? Have you called 120[4]yet? Ive called already. On that end, her mom was nervously jabbering away nonstop. Old man, dont be anxious. If theres anything, we can just say it. Dont be anxious. Jia Hes heart was quaking in panic simply from listening to this. When the ambulance arrives, get into it first and then text me the name of the hospital. Im going to drive over right now. She hung up the call right as Yi Wenze stepped out after finishing his shower. Seeing her frenziedly throwing on her clothes and, after snatching up her mobile phone, frantically dashing for the door, he immediately grabbed her and pulled her back. Wait for me to get dressed. Well go together. Jia Hes mind was in a state of turbulence. With these words of his, she jumped in shock. Why are you going? Yi Wenze swiftly pulled out a button-up shirt. While he was fastening it up, he had her grab his wallet and car key. Scurrying busily about with his instructions, Jia He did not give her mother another call until they were inside the car. Unexpectedly, though, the one who answered was not her mother and instead was Mumu. Big Sis, mobiles with me. When 120 emergency response gets here, Ill send you a text to let you know where were going. With those words, she immediately hung up. Her heart hammering violently, Jia He turned a vacant gaze on Yi Wenze. Yi Wenze was starting the engine and was about to begin driving, but sensing her eyes on him, he immediately pulled her over to him and gave her a hug. Itll be okay. After saying this, he placed a kiss on her forehead. The heat had only just been turned on and the car interior was frightfully cold, but this one action from him warmed her. Her icy hands of just a moment ago now actually had some feeling in them. Her phone suddenly vibrated. It was Mumus text message. By reflex, she stated the name of the hospital to him, but then she abruptly hesitated. How about I just drive myself there? That kind of public place, she felt, was not suitable for him to show up in. Yi Wenze merely smiled. Even though its not exactly the best time to meet them, you still cant deprive me of my right as a boyfriend, right? Jia He gave an mm-hmm, seeming as if, as a result of this one sentence from him, her heart was finally able to settle a little. By the time they arrived at the hospital, it was deep in the night, but the main hall was still teeming with people and there was also the strong odour of disinfectant. Jia He could not be bothered to concern herself with anything else right now, on the phone asking for the floor and then, following Mumus instructions, running to the emergency department. The entire way, Yi Wenze kept pace with her, heading in with large strides. Around them, there continually were people stopping and whipping their heads around to peer at them, practically all gawking stupidly in utter disbelief. Not until they were right outside the door of the emergency department did she suddenly halt her steps, turning her head to look at Yi Wenze. Yi Wenze did not speak. Lightly taking hold of her hand, he pushed open the door for her. That hospital room had been originally been filled with a din of voices, but because the two had stepped into it, it instantly quieted down. Jia Hes eyes scanned around, spotting at once a bed surrounded by people three layers deep, all of them her various uncles and aunts from both her moms and dads side. She was just about to stride over when she heard a shriek, startling her so much that she nearly fell onto her rump. Mumu made a mad dash over and clutched Jia Hes arms. Why is my brother-in-law here? Panting, Jia He cried, Whats wrong with my dad?! Before her question had finished echoing out, every person around every bed had already turned his or her head toward her, every face wearing the same expression, like a sticky rice dumpling was stuck in the throat but no water could be found. Even Mumu was rattled from all the stares, and she stammered, N-Nothing Just, just low blood sugar Low blood sugar?! Jia He felt as if blood was rushing to her head. Isnt my dad high in all three, A,B, and C[5]? Jia Hes mom had just come back from somewhere and was now actually standing behind Jia He and Yi Wenze. She supplemented with a bit more explanation. I was scared to death, Daughter. Its okay now. Dont be anxious. We had a CT scan done, too. Theres nothing at all the matter with his brain. The doctor said your dad just took too much of the medicine thats used to reduce his blood sugar. Only now was Jia Hes heart set at ease, and she turned to glance at Yi Wenze. Before she even knew what she should say, though, she saw her mom come closer to them. Likely having guessed that this man whose back was to her was the knock-off Yi Wenze her daughter had been keeping hidden away, Jia Hes mom assumed a dignified air and carefully swept an assessing look over him. And then, she fell completely silent. His manner earnest, Yi Wenze inclined his head and greeted, Auntie, hello. I am Yi Wenze. Jia Hes mom stared blankly for a full five seconds. Finally, she cleared her throat and patted him on the shoulder. Xiao Yi [Little Yi], we gave you a scare. Oh my, our first time meeting you and it turns out to be so embarrassing. After she said all this, she even gave a couple of laughs. So gracious in bearing and incredibly natural and poised. All her uncles and aunts immediately went along with this, laughing as well, and then they stepped away from the bedside. Hurry, come over and see your dad. Hes much more energized now after getting an IV. Space was made at the bedside for them. As Second [Maternal] Aunt helped her dad sit up, it was evident he had just been patted awake, and blearily he leaned against the head of the bed. A feeling suddenly hit Jia He, like she had been caught in the act of an affair, and she did not dare even to shift her feet. Eventually, it was Yi Wenze who first stepped up to the bed, and only then did she tag along behind. Beside the bed, Yi Wenze leaned over. Uncle, hello. How are you feeling now? When he finished asking this, he even very naturally reached over and helped to put a pillow behind her dads back. Groggily, her dad lifted his eyes to look at him, not saying a word. Rather, it was Jia Hes mom who came over in a few strides, pinched Jia Hes dads arm between her fingers, giving it a little twist, and snapped, Someones talking to you! Huh? Jia Hes dad was at last pinched awake. Not bad. Really, not bad. He even stretched and moved his arms around a little bit. Dont worry. My body is strong and sturdy. Still, after saying this, he was unable to resist turning his head and murmuring to Jia Hes mom, Now, this resemblance really is too much, isnt it? This one sentence nearly caused tears to stream down Jia Hes face. Gee, what in the world? A resemblance cant be to this extent, you know [1]Wenquxing is a Taoist deity. In Chinese legends, he is believed to control academic luck. Extremely accomplished scholars were sometimes referred to as Wenquxing descended into the mortal world. [2]In the Thirty-Six Stratagems, an ancient essay containing numerous stratagems to be used in politics, diplomacy, and war, one of the stratagems is the ˼ơmei ren ji, which literally means trap of the beautiful maiden, otherwise known as the beauty trap: to bring down the enemy, send a beautiful maiden to (usually) the ruler or a senior leader of the enemy side so he becomes so enthralled by her that he neglects his duties. A beauty trap, therefore, is basically describing someone who uses her beauty to make things work to her advantage. [3]. This line comes from Bai Juyis famous poem ޸衷Song of Everlasting Regretand, in the poem, describes the beauty of Imperial Consort Yang (also known as Yang Guifei) of the Tang dynasty. [4]In China, 120 is the emergency number for an ambulance and first-aid assistance. [5]ABC is short for A1C (a blood test that measures average blood sugar level), blood pressure, and cholesterol. When you have high levels in all three of these, it is referred to as , which literally means three highs. CH 17.2 This is the actual person! Jia Hes moms eyes were about to spurt fire. However, the instant she lifted her head, she switched modes and put on the most proper of smiles. Oh, this has been such a bother. Just look, youre such a busy person. Really, oh dear The more she thought about this, the more peeved she became, and her fingers once more pinched Jia Hes dad and gave another twist. Smiling, Yi Wenze replied simply, This is something I should do. My mother also specially exhorted me that before Jia He goes to New Zealand, I must, according to custom, first pay a visit to the two of you. This one sentence once more succeeded in drawing everyones attention onto the two of them. Holding his hand, Jia He fumbled over her words in awkward bashfulness for a long time before finally saying, By chance, the next little while, we do have some time that were free Holy crud! Its the middle of the night and theres still a celebrity charity event going on? A shout of surprise from the door interrupted her. Everyone turned to see one of Jia Hes younger guy cousins, the oldest one, bent over at the waist, seemingly having sprinted here in a rush, panting and waving at the youngest guy cousin behind him and instructing, Hurry! Hurry and call Big Sis! Its Yi Wenze! Hes at the hospital. Seriously Her expression deeply pained, she looked at Yi Wenze. This seriously was a meeting they would never forget for the rest of their lives Fortunately, her mom was there to take control of the situation. Soon, her family left the hospital and went home. When Yi Wenze drove the car with Jia Hes family in it into the community compound, her mom even coordinated well with him and rushed to get out of the car first, afraid the security guard would see who was driving. Even on the way upstairs, she was tense and jumpy. As Jia He watched this elder who was her mother nimbly bound upstairs, as well as how she carefully peered left and right after opening the door, she finally genuflected to her moms adaptive ability. In a mere hour, her mom had already completely accepted the reality that Yi Wenze was her boyfriend. After they stepped into the home, Jia He took advantage of the time when her mom was steeping some tea to follow her into the kitchen, where she eyed her over. Mom, are you okay? So, how was I? Lifting her brow, her mom beamed proudly, Your ol mom didnt embarrass you, right? With an mm-hmm, mm-hmm, uh-huh, uh-huh in agreement, Jia He commended her, So incredibly stately and poised and genteel. You carry this in. Mom stuffed the entire platter of fruit to her. The time for you to demonstrate your virtuous, gracious, cultured self has come. Ill interrogate you later. Poking out her tongue impishly, Jia He obediently brought the platter into her own bedroom. The instant she stepped in the door, she saw the five huge photo albums piled beside Yi Wenze, who was enjoying himself as he looked through them. To showcase, any time anyone came to visit, the results of her efforts in raising her daughterseriously, this was her moms custom that had not changed in a million years. Fearful that he might see some photos that were so humiliatingly idiotic she could die, Jia He hastily set the fruit platter down to one side, pulled off a few grapes, and, stretching her hand over, fed one to him. Her moms favouritechilled grapes. In the middle of winter, holding one in the mouth while in a heated room provided a nice sweet and sour flavour on the palate and also lowered internal heat[1]. She shot a quick, furtive glance at the page at which he had been looking. It was a photograph of her performing a Xinjiang dance at the Childrens Palace[2]in Jingshan Park. Back then, her build had been slight. The costumes bought for everyone had all been a uniform size, and on other people they had fit just fine. On her, though, it had suddenly become a costume for a water-sleeve dance[3], the sleeves dangling past her fingertips. As her gaze landed on that photo, on the eye-catching, bright red dot placed by lipstick in the centre of her brow, Jia He was thoroughly embarrassed. Dont look at these anymore. Lets watch TV. Biting down on the grape, he smiled and looked at her. You learned dance before? With an mm-hmm, Jia He seized this opportunity to take the album away from him. I learned it when I was a kid. Not just dance. Back then, it took two hours to get from my home to Jingshan Childrens Palace, so my mom thought, since we needed to be there anyway, I might as well register for three or four different classes. But there wasnt really any defined goal to these, so in the end I had no real results to show for them. As she lifted her head to heave a lengthy sigh, she finally noticed the scads of posters plastering her walls. Instantly, she froze. Oh no! Why didnt I take those down ahead of time?! Darting a peek at Yi Wenze, she saw that he had picked up a different photo album and was paging through that one. Shuffling up beside him, she suggested quietly, How about you go into the study to look at these? When Yi Wenze flicked his eyes over to her, she added with guilty evasiveness, I need to change. And while Im changing, Ill take down all the posters Yi Wenze seemed to be smiling, but also seemed to think this was not a big deal. Go ahead and change. Fine, that excuse was a sucky one. Her neck stiff, Jia He continued desperately struggling against the odds. I havent been back for a long time. You should at least let me first tidy up my room a bit, right? At last, he nonchalantly closed up that album. Lifting his head, he took a glance at the posterthe biggest onenear the balcony door. That one is out of print already. Lets bring it home. One sentence completely scattered any hopes she might have had of being lucky enough that he would not notice those. Mumbling some mms and uhs, Jia He tossed out, If you want. Then, gripping that cup of tea from which she had only taken one sip, she dashed out of there and went back to pouring tea for him. The end result was that he not only took with him that poster but also more than forty photographs. Her mom was extremely generous with him. With a broad wave of her hand, she told him, Take them all. If we keep them here in the home, theyll just take up space anyway. Jia He turned a tearful look on her mom, not daring to refute her. Heaven knew just how much she wished her mom would have feelings of deep attachment to her daughter right now Late into the night, Jia He carried a fresh comforter and pillow set into her room, instructing him in low tones, You sleep here tonight. Im sleeping in the guest room. Her mother had insisted, no matter what, on having him stay for the night, and with it being so late already, Jia He could not really say anything to the contrary. Moreover, Yi Wenze had so naturally agreed to the invitation. After she made up the bed for him, she was about to turn around, but he swept her up into his arms and carried her onto the bed. This was her own room. The lights and bed were familiar to her, as was the writing desk. The plants out on the balcony were all ones she had kept since her high school days. On this bed, she used to lie and memorize her lessons, watch television, and, early in the morning, get her blankets yanked off of her by her mom and be hurried to get up. And now, all of her was completely sunken into the comforter, lying on his arm as he noiselessly kissed her. The door was closed, but not latched. The sound of her mom quietly urging her dad to go to sleep could be heard. Vaguely, there was also her dads voice softly asking whether they should cook a late-night snack, but her mom completely shut down that idea with a one sentence retort before closing the master bedroom door. The entire home abruptly became quiet. Jia He had just taken a shower, and her hair was still wet. Before long, a patch of dampness had spread on the comforter. Never before had his kisses been so tender. They moved from her lips and slid over to her ear. Lightly, he nibbled on her earlobe, his voice soft as he called her, Honey? Jia He could not control the urge to shirk away from him, but he successfully held her in place. Able only to grasp onto the last shreds of her cognitive ability, she uttered a light mm. He, though, was in no hurry to speak and began to follow the contours of her extremely slender neck to trail kisses all the way to her collarbone. With his teeth, he undid one of her buttons. Didnt he have something to say? Jia Hes brain was still trying with all its might to figure out what it was that he wanted to say, and it was not until the third button had been unfastened that her mind finally caught up and reacted. Immediately, she rolled out of his arms to the other side of the bed. Well talk about it when we get home. She shuffled backwards a little bit more but then lurched, nearly tumbling off the bed. Luckily, he reacted quickly and pulled her back. Talk about what? Jia He was struck dumb by his question, too embarrassed to continue with this topic. She could feel her bodys heat rising rapidly. Pressed against his body, which was just as scalding hot, she wrestled with herself for a long while before murmuring, Didnt we already just before we left the house? Though she tried hard to put on a solemn expression, her conscience was guilty and afraid of being found out, and she pricked her ears up, listening with intense attention for any activity or movement in the living room. He suddenly gave a low chuckle. What? Such a quiet space. And it just had to be her own room, too. This evocative atmosphere that was so out of place here made her heart race a little. Her ragged breathing was due to that body with which she was too familiar. As if there was a balance scale in her heart that was incessantly swaying back and forth, she wavered and struggled. But finally, when he pressed his lips against hers in the most tantalizing way, she closed her eyes and, submitting to this fate, mourned that after all these years, her virtue was now tainted. A very long, very deep kiss. Honey. The voice by her ear was extremely low and also contained a sense of doting. Hurry and go to bed. Huh? Jia He opened her eyes to look up at him, staring at her own reflection within those deep-black eyes of his. In this quietness, dazedly she gazed at him. Quite some time passed. And then a flush surged into her cheeks. Scampering off the bed, she made a rapid escape from the scene of the crime. The entire way as she passed through the still living room and darted into the guest bedroom, the colour did not fade from her face and, in fact, became an even deeper shade of red. That was on purpose! He absolutely did that on purpose! She slept until her mouth and tongue felt parched before she finally opened her eyes. The sun was already high in the sky. Yet again she had slept until noon. Blearily crawling out of bed, she was about to go knock on Yi Wenzes bedroom door, but her mom, in the kitchen cooking, was already informing her, Hes long gone. Just look at how diligent he is. He was already up at just a little past five in the morning and then left. Now look at you. Oh dear. Sure enough, its the early bird who catches the worm. No wonder he became famous so early. Jia He paused briefly in surprise before remembering that he had to go to Shanghai today for some promotional work. At this, her heart was set at ease. Our professions are different. Your daughter is very diligent, too. Her mom trained a long, ruminative look on her. When Jia He was starting to get the willies from it, she at last let out a slow sigh, remarking, You say, with this huge difference in your rest and wake schedules, what are you two going to do in the future when you want to have babies? Jia He had a toothbrush clamped between her teeth at this moment, about to send off a text message, but when she heard this sentence, she immediately whipped her head around. Gaping at this extremely worried mom of hers, she could only utterly concede defeat to her. After an hour of intense interrogation from her mom, Jia He pretended to take a phone call and thus was finally able to free herself from there. Getting into the taxi, she untied her scarf and took a deep inhale. The driver asked her for an address, and after she told him, he gave her an approving look. Thats a good piece of real estate there. Smiling, Jia He was about to speak, but then she heard the entertainment news report on the radio mention Tian Chu and her whirlwind engagement. The other party was a certain wealthy familys son who had never appeared before in the public eye. Such news stories were very commonplace these last several years, but because she was Yi Wenzes ex-wife, it was inevitable that his name was also brought up. The DJs report was vivacious and colourful. Jia He, though, did not really listen with much attention, offhandedly sending a text to Yi Wenze instead: Have you arrived yet? Very soon, he texted back: Arrived already. In a meeting. Are you home yet? Jia He sent off another text in reply. When she put away her mobile phone, the driver casually commented, These last couple of years have been the years of marriage for the entertainment circle. Ones who are up in age, women who previously hadnt been able to marry themselves out, and also this one here whos going for her second marriagetheyre all rushing to marry themselves off before 2012. Jia He gave some arbitrary words of agreement. The driver carried on, This Tian Chu sure has had a lot of news about her over these last two days. The other day, I drove a customer who claimed to know the inside scoop. Jia He gave a very obliging Oh! Seriously, nowadays everyone was claiming the title of King of Inside Scoops! You dont know just how good the celebrity effect is. A lot of business tycoons in our country will just directly state a price and have the talent agency provide a female celebrity to be their girlfriend. Its not so he can be her sugar daddy, though; its purely for creating the hype in the media that he has this girlfriend. Thats even more useful than actual advertising. The exposure he gets from that is not just average or above average. This Tian Chu was hyped up so much when she had her divorce, so now she commands the highest price when it comes to dating her. Jia He kept her silence. What, was this considered a new age and new way of endorsement? After this, the driver launched into full swing on this topic, growing more and more exuberant as he spoke. When Jia He was nearing her and Yi Wenzes home, she unexpectedly received a phone call from an unfamiliar number. To her surprise, it was someone from Yi Wenzes production company. This person seemed to be waiting for her downstairs of the home but would not tell her for what reason. After she got off the taxi, a boy standing outside of the stairwell, so cold he was hopping up and down, spotted her and grinningly jogged over. Dear Bosss Wife, if you had taken any longer to show up, I would have frozen to death. Feeling bad, Jia He fished out the key card. Well go up to talk. No need, no need. Im just delivering something. The boy stuffed a box into her hands. Ive completed my assignment from Boss ahead of schedule! Once he finished saying this, he ran off, so fast he seemed like he was flying. Jia He carried that box upstairs and opened it as she walked in the door. Inside were a dozen or so photo frames. With one glance, she could tell that they were the type for creating a photo wall. Closing the door behind her, she pulled them out, one at a time, until before long they covered the entire couch. Big ones, small ones, they were all photographs of her taken throughout the years, from her childhood onward Sitting on the carpet, she leaned back against the couch and slowly looked through them. The photos had all been specially edited, and in the warm lighting, there was a sense from them that the passage of time had left its traces. The feeling they gave, though, was a very warm one. While she was staring at them, absorbed, her mobile phone on the coffee table suddenly began vibrating. Surprisingly, it was Mumu. On the other end of the call, Mumu was completely fired up as she rambled over and over, Stay calm, stay calm. Jia He was not sure whether she should laugh or be annoyed. Hey, did you accidentally dial the wrong number? Why do you just keep talking to yourself? Big Sis, I need to calm down. In utter seriousness, Mumu told her, You wont be able to watch it on TV anymore. Hurry up and get online to Tudou, Youku[4], or whatever. As long as its a video-sharing website, youll definitely be able to download itmy brother-in-laws interview on that talk show. [1]In traditional Chinese medicine, there is the concept of internal heat. If a person has excessive internal heat, it can result in various symptoms, for example, rashes, sore throat, coughing, acne, etc. The idea of lowering internal heat is to do this from the inside out. [2]깬shao nian gong. Childrens Palace locations in China are facilities where children may go to take part and receive training in extracurricular activities, such as music, arts, sports, etc. Jingshan Park is directly north of the Forbidden City in Beijing and was once an imperial park. The Beijing Childrens Palace occupied ٻʵ Hall of Imperial Longevity (Shouhuang Dian) within Jingshan Park from 1956 until December 2013, when it relocated out of the park. Note: The Hall of Imperial Longevity was built during the Ming dynasty. Historically, it was for the emperor to worship his ancestors and contained portraits of past emperors. The Hall of Imperial Longevity (Shouhuang Dian) in Jingshan Park and also the site of the Beijing Childrens Palace until 2013. In this photograph, the sign over the door reads Beijing Childrens Palace. (Image credit: Baidu Baike) [3]ˮ. Water sleeves, in Chinese classical dance, are long sleeves of silk that significantly extend past the sleeve cuff. In the dance, these long sleeves are incorporated, their flowing, ribbon-like movements used as a form of expression. [4]In 2011 (the current time in the story), the Chinese video-sharing websites, Tudou and Youku, were both still completely separate entities. In 2012, Youku acquired Tudou, merging the two to become Youku Tudou. The two individual sites were still retained, however. CH 17.3 Chapter 17.3 To Love (3) Be more clear on what youre trying to say. As Jia He clutched her mobile phone, her heart rate inexplicably began to speed up. Inside the phone, there was only a sigh, then another sigh. Suddenly, the tone changed. You go watch it yourself. Remember to go to the freezer and grab some ice cubes. Keep cool, keep cool. With that, Mumu immediately hung up. She deliberated a bit, and deliberated some more before finally going into the bedroom, bringing her computer out, and doing a search on Yi Wenzes latest interview. Astoundingly, dozens of pages of results showed up, all of them about the talk show program that she had gone that day with him to. The titles that came up were a wide variety. Scanning through them, she clicked on one that said, Shocking Secret: Yi Wenze Reveals His Romantic History. Her eyes fixed on the progress bar on the screen, she took a deep breath. Please, please dont be too romantic. I really will be jealous. The opening of the program was very normal. The host was even more conversational than that day in the dressing room, smiling profusely and professing to be a fan of his acting for many years. Yi Wenze simply sat very leisurely on the couch, a smile on his lips as he continually nodded his head. An occasional few words from him were already enough to evoke shrieks from the fans sitting down below, off the stage. Clips and pictures interwove on a video that looked back on times past, all scenes of him since he rose to fame. Even she, as she watched, was stirred into exhilaration. Then the host smiled and asked, I wonder if today Ill be able to make you break from your normal practice. Yi Wenze chuckled. I know what you want to ask. Beaming, the host heaved three or four consecutive sighs, then turned and actually first addressed the people off the stage. Do all of you want to know? Mirth rolled through the audience, and several girls shouted back in unison, No! A giggle burst past Jia Hes lips. This poor host. Likely, she had never seen fans who would defend their idol like so. The host wore an easy smile and, in relaxed tone, said that she had prepared herself in advance for facing not just the silence of one person, but also the guarding and protection provided by several dozen fans. The fans echoed their agreement, shouting, No asking about personal matters, no talking about personal matters! For a moment, the scene was terribly hilarious. Yi Wenze merely smiled. When this all died out, he finally remarked, You and I are old friends of more than ten years. Yup. The host was extremely grateful that he actually said something, relieving the awkwardness. Thats why Ive decided that Im going to hold out under the pressure the directors putting on me and let you off the hook. He smiled, adjusting his sitting position. From beneath the coffee table, Jia He pulled out a box of cookies, opened it, and began searching for the flavour she liked. The first time I saw my fiance was also here in Beijing, more than ten years ago. <>The translator would sincerely appreciate it if you would support this translation by only reading it at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, its actual site of posting. Thank you. In the video, silence fell. And then, the next moment, there were waves of squeals. She was only halfway through ripping open the cookie packaging, but her fingers were already so stiff she did not even know how to bend them. In Beijing? More than ten years ago? How is that possible? Wait Since when did I become his fiance? The host also dramatically clapped a hand over her own mouth. Abruptly rising from her seat, she spoke directly into the camera, Director, I want a raise. This is Yi Wenzes first time speaking outhis first time speaking out about his love relationship. After saying this, she slapped a hand on her chest and brought her gaze on Yi Wenze. A-Ze, let me adjust to this for a bit. My whole mind is blank right now. I dont even know at all what I should ask. The fans in the audience screamed all the louder. He chuckled. You dont need to ask. Ill be open and honest and just tell you. Then, with natural motions, he picked up a bottle of mineral water and had a small sip. Unblinking, Jia He riveted her eyes to the computer, discovering that she had crushed the cookie between her fingers. I would be considered a relatively lucky person. My entrance into this career was very smooth, and there seemed to be no real hurdles or storms that I had to experience. He paused momentarily, then continued, Actually, before I came into the entertainment industry, I was a very shy person, so with suddenly having to face the media and public every day, there was bound to be a bit of difficulty acclimatizing. Good thing Mai Jieis a very understanding and forbearing person, and without asking for anything in return, she let me have a whole two months off. His words seemed to carry a warm, placid strength and instilled tranquility into every person. At the time, I was in Beijing and had been here for about a month. I remember, it was shortly after Beijing Books Building over in Xidan[1]opened its doors for business. I had arranged to meet up with a friend somewhere nearby to have tea. When I arrived, he had already been sitting there for a long time. He pointed at something outside the window and said, Ive never gotten the sense from you that youre an idol, but today Ive been made fully aware of it. In order to buy posters of you, that young girl over there used up all of the money that should have been for her return ride home. The camera was doing a close-up shot of him. The entire time, there was a faint smile on his lips. So unreal. Jia He practically forgot to breathe. She vaguely remembered that she seemed to have done such a thing many years ago. But that was so far back that even she did not have any clear recollection of it. That time was actually somehow connected to him? More than a decade ago, with only a pane of glass between them, she had seen him? Or perhaps it should be said, he had seen her. The talk shows production team was very good at assessing the situation. Very slowly, his new single, With You, began playing. Its gentle melody even more so brought out the warmth and tenderness of his voice. At the time, I looked through the window and saw a young girl with a huge backpack on her back, probably stuffed with books. There was a really long paper tube of something sticking out from one corner of that backpack. It looked to be a rolled-up poster. I asked my friend, How do you know she doesnt have money to get home? He said, when he went to choose some books, he saw that young girl talking under her breath to herself and calculating out how much her transportation money could buy, and then she very happily discovered that she actually had enough to buy three posters. What happened after? After. He gave a little chuckle. Do you mean that day or further out in the future? Jia He got to her feet, then sat back down again. Another three seconds passed, and then she immediately stood again. That day she had been right there in the sitting lounge while he actually said all these things, but she had not known anything about it. What happened after? What happened after? Off the set, numerous fans were pressing to know. With a smile, he shook his head. That day, there was no after. I owed her the money for one trip home. When I ran into her again many years later, I calculated up what I would owe in interest and also accounted for current commodity prices, and it appeared that my debt was just too much. So, I could only use the way that we Chinese people often use to repay our debts. An obvious joke. A light joke. It took a long time for her to be able to even react to this, her mind processing the meaning amidst the cries of You pledged yourself to her[2]! The layer after layer of happiness that, from inside to out, was teeming from her nearly obscured her vision. The host first was moved to speechlessness. Then, in the end, after not knowing for the longest time what to say, she sighed feelingly, Ah, it was all fated. Likely every fan here was willing to walk home in exchange for a few of Yi Wenzes posters, but in the vast sea of people, he only noticed her. Moreover, it was when she was still only a young girl. And the part that made people gnash their teeth in jealousy was that after many years, they met again. <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only The video came to an abrupt stop right here. It appeared this particular clip had been specially made by one of Yi Wenzes hardcore fans just for this specific part of the interview. Without even remembering to shut down the window, Jia He rambled into the kitchen. It was the deep of winter, but she actually dug out a bottle of mineral water and took several guzzles. Alas, the flame in her heart was still leaping and leaping, and every part of her body felt as if it was on fire, so scorching it was frightful. After she downed the whole bottle, she tossed the empty container into the garbage and, leaning against the wall, carried on being lost in thought. Never had she imagined that there could be such a coincidence. He had seen her before, and it was even here in Beijing. Disjointed snippets of recollections of when he might have given hints of this flashed through her mind. The pictures in her mind came to a stop on his second meeting with Gu Yu. He had very clearly stated that he had seen her in the year she was fifteen years old. Ah, she was just too mortifying! She had actually even thought that he had been reciting a line from some sort of film Her hands were thrown over her face and she was still sighing and groaning about this when, suddenly, a sound was heard from the front door. Oh no! Yi Wenze was back. After taking just one step, though, she grew very bashful, and it was only when she heard his footfall draw near that she gave a rub to her face and left the kitchen. He had stepped over to the water dispenser and filled a cup with warm water. Seeing her walking out, he asked in passing, Did you get the photo frames yet? A blush coloring her cheeks, Jia He stammered, Yup, got them. No, this was not good. Just thinking about the fact that he had seen her ugly appearance back in her pubescent days left her chagrinned. She feigned poise. As she walked by him, however, Yi Wenze reached over and pulled her into his arms. Whats wrong? Nothing. She smiled sweetly. A faint smile on his lips as well, he brought his face down and took the corner of her lips into his own. Very naturally, the two became entwined in kisses. As she had just drunk an entire bottle of chilled water, the tip of Jia Hes tongue was icy, but his was warm and comforting. They kissed like this, again and again. By the time her breathing grew unsteady, she found he had already lifted her into his arms and carried her into the living room. The entire couch was strewn with photo frames. Sweeping his eyes over it, he decided simply to sit down, with her still in his embrace, on the carpet beside the coffee table. Nestling herself against him, Jia He was about to ask if she should make him something to eat. But the next moment, her gaze skimmed over her computer, which was still open on the coffee table and turned on. At once, she threw her arms around his neck and shifted herself to obstruct his view. Tired? Oh no, oh no. The video had been shut down, but the entire screen was still filled with the search results. If he saw those, that would be ridiculously embarrassing! Yi Wenze rested against the couch behind him. Not bad. I had dinner before I got on the plane. Sitting even straighter, she tried with all her might to come up with a reason to get him far away from that computer. Yi Wenze, taking in her expression as she racked her brain, unexpectedly let out a laugh. Right when he was about to say something, she voluntarily planted a kiss on him. Her little tongue slid hesitantly into his mouth, a little evasive, yet also proceeding determinedly and thoroughly igniting a fire in him. He, however, purposely did not give any response, allowing himself to enjoy this hard-to-come by moment of her taking the lead. Hey. At last unable to contain herself, she looked at him, though with eyes that flitted about. Why arent you showing any reaction? He returned a question to her. What sort of reaction? Im already to this extent Jia He wanted to cry. Are you keeping another woman outside somewhere? The instant this thought sprouted, she forgot what her main purpose had been, and sprawling herself on him, she began to sniff him from top to bottom. The moment she brought her head down, Yi Wenze caught sight of the computer screen, and he understood at once what she had been attempting to do. Lifting her head back up, Jia He eyed him over suspiciously. Could it be that youre too tired lately? Thats why you dont want to do that? It must be. Otherwise, she was too much of a failure. For once she had taken the lead and offered herself up, and he, and he he was showing no reaction! Picking her up, he flipped over and pressed her beneath himself, his head propped on one hand as he stared at her at this very close distance. A delighted smile spread across Jia Hes face. You are aroused? The question had already come out before she realized just how explicit she was being. Instantly, she turned into a mute. He broke into amused laughter. Reporting to my O great and honourable wife: very much aroused. Once he finished saying this, he proceeded to shower kisses on her, first on her face and then slowly gliding over to her ear. In a very light voice, he said, I told you about that matter a long time ago. Why are you only remembering it now? Ah? But then straightaway Jia He understood his meaning. That day, I thought you were joking. Ohhh, he murmured, his voice barely audible. When have I ever used you as a joke? It seemed, and did appear, that roughly, generally he never had. <>Please support this translation by only reading it from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, its actual site of posting. Thank you. The whole time, he had still been methodically continuing with his work, his hand sliding into her clothing at her back and undoing her clasp before he finally asked another question. Here, or in the bedroom? This one simple sentence dispelled every last bit of the valour she had had just earlier when she was offering herself up. Waffling for a long time, she replied, The bedroom Yi Wenze murmured, All right. However, just as he was about to pick her up into his arms, she remembered that there was a very significant problem. Her eyes at once widened to stare at him. How about you just sleep? You spent the day travelling between Beijing and Shanghai and must be exhausted. Ill go make the bed for you. Unsure whether to laugh or cry, he asked, Honey, now whats wrong? Fumbling for words for a lengthy time, she finally, feeling terribly guilty, gave him a kiss. I forgot. Todays, um, an inconvenient day for me <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only [1]Xidan is a bustling commercial area in Beijing. The Beijing Book Building opened in May 1998. [2]yi shen xiang xu. Refer to footnote [1] in chapter 13.2. Usually, this is a phrase that a woman would use, and in clich plot lines, when a woman is indebted to a man but the kindness is so great she has no way to repay it, she may say this line, offering all of herself in repayment. CH 18.1 The calendar on her computer showed that there was only one week left. Prior to this, she had used a full week to repeatedly confirm with him what his parents and sister liked. Even for simply selecting a toy, she had shopped for three days. In this last week, after everything was all ready, she had actually begun to feel uneasy and could not even sit or stand in peace. Such anxiety directly affected her quality of sleep. At only just past seven oclock, she was already greeting the freshly risen sun. Struggling, she pulled herself up and blearily groped her way into the kitchen to fry an egg for him. But eventually, when she caught the whiff of something burning, the person behind her took the metal spatula from her hand. Well fry a new one? Thus she had yet again successfully managed to turn an opportunity to butter him up into one of putting her idol through cruel suffering. A delicious smelling egg was served up on the table and even paired with plain rice congee that was mild and delicate in flavour. He handed her a pair of chopsticks. You have work today? Mustering her focus to think about this question, she answered, No, I dont have any work this entire month. Yi Wenze put a spoon into her bowl. Why are you up so early? Again, she tried her best to think. Couldnt sleep. Kept having dreams, one after the other. He smiled, not saying anything. Jia He took a sip of her rice congee, then looked very nervously at him. Will your mom ask me any sort of questions? My English isnt very good; my skills are limited to listening only. And it seems my Cantonese is about the same Fine, she admitted it. Just now she had dreamt that she was meeting his mother, a very gentle, cultured woman, but one who spoke to her only in languages she did not understand. She had known it was a dream, but the more anxious she was, the more she had been unable to wake from it. With languages and the type of beast that they are, frantic cramming will not make you proficient in them. He selected a CD of classical music, then walked back amid its strains and sat down in front of her. My parents were the ones who taught me my Chinese. There should be no issues in terms of communication between you and them. Secretly relieved, Jia He very quickly ate her egg and congee and, content now, went back to the room to catch up on shut-eye. She slept all the way until noon, when a phone call came in. Having not gotten any good sleep for an entire night, she was too lazy to answer it and allowed the ringtone to sing over and over again until Yi Wenze answered it. After saying a sentence of some sort, he placed his hands beside her, propping himself on them, and told her softly, Honey, its a call from your friend. Jia He gave a couple of mmphs and turned over. Wait until after I wake up. Then Ill talk. Resignedly, Yi Wenze encircled an arm around her, helping her up, while the other hand placed her mobile phone by her ear. She said she wants to ask you to be her maid of honour. Maid of honour Maid of honour?! Her eyes flew open. Her heart was spasming from shock. Then, wrapped in the comforter, sitting on Yi Wenzes thigh, she quavered into the phone, Who whos asking me to be her maid of honour? Me! Me, your bestie! Qiao Qiaos voice was charged with excitement. Taking some deep breaths, Jia He asked tentatively, Is it that Weibo dude of yours? Ever since Xiao Xiao began calling him that, she had followed suit and had been referring to him like so for a long time already. However, this question momentarily struck Qiao Qiao wordless. And then, Jia He heard her say on that end of the line to the person beside her, Hey, your names been changed for you, Weibo Dude. After these words, Qiao Qiao continued speaking to Jia He. Weibo Dude got an award. To celebrate, we plan on getting married. Jia He fell into a long silence. She tilted her head up and looked at Yi Wenze, wanting to say something, but her brain was utterly blank. To have a flash marriage[1]to this extentthis certainly was shocking enough. Only you and Xiao Xiao are qualified enough to be my maid of honour. Xiao Xiao, though, is taller than me and also prettier than me, so shes definitely the one being eliminated. Ecstatically, Qiao Qiao gushed, So, congratulations, you have risen to the honour of being my maid of honour. Jia He first gave a reflexive mm-hmm, but then very quickly her mind caught up. When? This weekend. This weekend? Her sleepiness completely cleared. Is there enough time to book a hotel and get a wedding dress and all that stuff? Qiao Qiao laughed. Before he came to Japan, he prepared everything. Its all just waiting for me to go back and be a bride. Every single word was spoken like all this was only natural and right, yet linked together, they formed something that a normal person absolutely would never do! Before Cheng Hao went to Japan That was a case of proposing before even dating the girl. And now it turned out that not only had he bought the diamond ring, even the hotel and gown and formalwear had all been prepared, ready when needed. Jia Hes brain was basically a muddled mess, but the actual involved party felt like this was all perfectly normal. Im heading back to China today. When Im back, well talk in detail. With that, Qiao Qiao hung up the phone. Yi Wenze set her mobile phone off to the side. Do you still want to sleep? How could she sleep anymore? She nuzzled her cheek against his chest a couple of times, trying hard to find a feeling of reality in which she could ground herself. Then she murmured, Qiao Qiaos getting married and wants me to be her maid of honour. Its this weekend. A smile could be heard in his voice. Do you want me to go buy a dress with you? Or should we just go directly to the companys seamstress and have her make one. Dress? That wasnt the main issue at all! Werent we supposed to go to New Zealand? She struggled over the words for a long time before finally stating the key point. Well go after the weekend. Theres no rush. She worked out the schedule. Arent you in KL this weekend? He was not all that concerned. As he pulled open the comforter and helped her put on her loungewear, he replied, Ill try my best to hurry back. She beamed. Qiao Qiao and Cheng Hao both belonged to the entertainment circle. If he could attend their wedding, that lass would be so delighted she would burst. In the space of just this thought, he had already slipped her into a jogging suit. Very happily, she snugged in close and planted a kiss on the corner of his lips. Thank you. He had not expected that she would be this happy. It seems I really will need to hurry back. Qiao Qiaos one sentence completely uprooted Jia Hes entire week and transplanted it over to Shanghai. It was only when she arrived at her own home in Shanghai that she realized, since becoming a couple with Yi Wenze, it had been a long time since she last came back here. Dust coated all the furniture. After taking a whole day to clean the apartment, she gave him a call. What do you think? Should I sell or keep my apartment here in Shanghai? If I keep it, should I rent it out or just leave it empty? Itll be a lot of trouble if I rent it out, but if its left empty, itll just get really dirty and Ill have to hire someone to come clean it regularly. She had rattled off a long string of words, but in reality she was merely giving him options A, B, C, and D from which to select. Smiling, Yi Wenze listened to her until she had finished speaking, and then he answered, I have a house in Shanghai, so there are no problems with where to stay if we want to go back. As for this place of yours, just do with it as you would like. She knew it, knew that if she asked him, he would certainly give this answer. After a long moment of silence, she purposely gave a long sigh. Ill just keep it. If in the future we divorce, Ill still have some property of my own. How about we sign a prenup? A prenup? She had actually thought about this particular matter as well. It would be a little fairer to him that way. Sure. Her answer was given with seriousness. Should we find a lawyer? Or just have the law department in your company help us draft up the agreement? After an even longer silence, he had a drink of water and stated, his tone warm, No need. I can do it. One sentence and that will be enough. His voice became gentle. In the event of divorce, Yi Wenze shall leave the marriage with nothing. Stunned, Jia He sat on the couch and listened to the sound of her heartbeat, each thump becoming more and more apparent. In the end, she finally gave a little laugh. Im not signing that even if you beat me to death. If you end up on the streets, therell be tens of thousands of fans who will hack me to death. He chuckled, then told her softly, Honey, I need to board the plane now. The matter of what to do with the apartment could be set aside for the time being, but the car did need to be sold. When she bought the MINI cooper, she had had to ask Xiao Yu to specially order it in for her, for it was a limited edition. At the time, she actually had not wanted to spend the money on it and Xiao Yu had spent a long time persuading her, but now that she was having someone sell it for her, she discovered that there actually was an advantage to it being a limited edition. She had initially thought that it would not be sold and off her hands until she came back from New Zealand, but to her surprise, two days later there was already someone wanting to test the car. She had not driven it very much, so though she had had the car for two years, the number of kilometres on it was less than that of other peoples cars that had been bought for two months. The potential buyer, a young girl, was thrilled as she tested it, sighing over and over again that buying this car was worth it. She asked in passing, This is such a hard car to even order in. Why would you want to sell it? You havent put very much mileage on it either. While Jia He was still pondering on what good explanation she could give, Qiao Qiao, spooning out some ice cream and feeding it into Jia Hes mouth, grinned at the girl, She found herself an impossible-to-get, so this limited edition is not valuable to her anymore. That young girl was very envious. An impossible-to-get? In the future when you sell that one, remember to come find me first. Holding her silence, Jia He tossed a glance at Qiao Qiao. The latter, though, had already thoroughly dissolved into a fit of laughter that was about to give her internal injuries. At the end, when they were doing the car inspection, Qiao Qiao finally gave a light sigh. It was just during the early spring of this year that I said that if I could somehow happen upon a guy whos hot and devoted and a yu choy, Id give up on that bass player. Never had I thought, oh, never had I thought. I really did give up on him, but Ol Man Heaven gave that type of guy to you instead. Her comment brought out giggles of amusement from Jia He. How about we switch? Qiao Qiao mulled on this briefly, then put on an expression of Oh, please, let me off the hook! She said, Forget it. To kiss the idol of the whole nation and then do some for-mature-audiences-only stuff with him? Forgive me, this little woman that I am, for being unable to accept that. In reality, Jia He had once had these same thoughts. But that person just had to be Yi Wenze. He was too smart. He had practically swept away all the obstacles and shattered every bit of her worry and uneasiness. During their phone call that night, she casually mentioned Qiao Qiaos musings, and then she suddenly asked him, You wouldnt have some sort of weird child fetish, right? When I was in middle school, I really was not pretty. My hair was short, and I didnt like to wear skirts either. Yi Wenze was currently waiting for a connecting flight, and there was a faint sense of fatigue in his voice. Are you trying to say that I wanted to raise a Loli for myself? Jia He laughed. It actually does seem like it. Yi Wenze seemed to sigh. My younger sister is definitely going to like you a lot. Jia He asked him, Why is that? She explained that concept to me for a long time and told me that I had to tell it to you. Jia He was unable to hold back her chortles. Tell her, I get it, and I also have grasped the essence of it. The two spoke a few more sentences about some arbitrary things, before she remembered that he still had not told her the true reason yet. She, in fact, just wanted to ask him, why? Why me? Why not someone else? Over these many years, of the people with whom he had worked, just the number of screenwriters alone was probably too great to count. If she really were to judge, out of all of his fans, she was absolutely the most introverted and reserved type, and there really was nothing about her or that she had done that was very touching. She lay on the window seat, both her feet resting on the windowpane. Before long, due to the temperature difference between the interior of the home and the outdoors, two wet prints were stamped on the glass. This entire time, Yi Wenze had been discussing work matters with someone beside him. She waited for a long while before he finally asked, Youre still not going to bed? In a rare expression of displeasure, she countered, Im still not done asking. He chuckled. Go ahead, ask. Why did you choose me? On his end, there was a momentary silence, as if he was contemplating. A little voice at the bottom of her heart grumbled, Do you really need to think about it for so long? Youve asked me this before. He gave a light laugh. If I posed this same question to you, how would you answer it? Jia He had not expected that he would toss the question back to her. Many reasons popped up in her mind, but eventually they were all dismissed and she could only respond vaguely, Actually, its honestly not because youre my idol. As for why I cant say either. He seemed to have already predicted that this would be her answer. This question needs to be talked about face to face. But when we do see each other, theres no need anymore to talk about it. Jia He gave an oh. The underlying meaning of that sentence was very obvious: she would have to burn away in her curiosity. [1]顰shan hun. A flash marriage or blitz marriage is a relatively recent term in China describing couples who have dated each other for a very short period of time or even just met before quickly getting married. The phenomenon is becoming more and more common in China as couples feel pressured to get married for financial reasons, such as rising housing costs, or, sometimes, due to age (and pressure from parents). CH 18.3 As it turned out, after just one phone call, Wu Zhilun very readily agreed to the request and was even awfully excited, saying he had never been asked to be a best man before, probably because he was too handsome and the groom would feel stressed from the pressure that brought. Jia He was quite speechless at this, but still she echoed his words. Yup. I reckon if youre the best man, the bride will feel a lot of stress, too. The person on the other end of the call was very much of the same opinion. That is true. I need to discuss that with A-Ze. For your wedding, I should stay away from the spotlight to avoid putting too much stress and pressure on you. Her heart gave a little skip. She wanted to ask if Yi Wenze had mentioned anything. However, after thinking about it, she swallowed those words back down. Fortunately, Heaven bestowed its favour and the radiant sun shone high in the sky on the wedding day. The only pity was that it was deep in the winter and frightfully cold. As Jia He, sitting in the dressing room, took in Qiao Qiaos stunning appearance, she remarked with feeling, If you were willing to shave your jaw and chin down so you have a nice, sharp chin, you could definitely go into acting. Qiao Qiao glowered at her. On this day that Im most psyched, can you not say words that I dont like hearing? Jia He laughed. The other day, I read a saying on Weibo that I really wanted to forward to you: Usually, the person in your life whose words are the harshest and most callous is the person who cares for you the most. Qiao Qiao scowled. Then you can only rank second. No one can compare to Xiao Yu. Jia He very much concurred. Walking over, she helped Qiao Qiao straighten her wedding gown. In a bit, there are going to be six flower girls. Walk slower. If youre not careful and trip, that will be a problem. Jia He had only arbitrarily mentioned this, but Qiao Qiao instantly became paranoid and began discussing with her how things should be handled in the event that she did trip, even practicing the elegant postures she would assume when she fell and when she rose back to her feet. In the end, the makeup artist was overcome with chortles, probably having never come across such a zany bride before. Except, what she had not considered was that surprises are everywhere. When the priest announced that the couple could exchange rings, the elegantly-attired best man standing to the side suddenly, in very light voice, called, Qiao Qiao. Qiao Qiao paused in surprise. The groom was utterly stupefied. With everyones stares on him, Wu Zhilun stated words that were imbued with deep feelings. Ive actually always liked you. When I agreed to be the best man, I had thought I would be able to give you my sincere well wishesbut I cant do it. Very slowly, he extended his hand to her. You still have a chance to make a choice. For a moment, stillness enshrouded the entire wedding site. Even the priest was round-eyed, likely only having seen such a scene in movies and never having thought that he, too, would have such luck to be part of one. One was a director who had just received an award. One was a celebrity and idol who had been popular for more than a decade. Qiao Qiaos life had finally, on her wedding day, made a complete comeback She was quiet for a long time, seemingly mulling this over At the head table, Xiao Yu very wickedly looked at Jia He. Are you the one directing this production? An Ah? slipping from her, Jia He asked, Howd you know? Xiao Yu was somewhere between tears and laughter. That buddy of Yi Wenzes actually dared to act it out, too. But the actual words of the monologue really sucked. You must not have put much effort into writing that. Her face falling, Jia He was about to say something, but Qiao Qiao was already speaking. She first gave a little peck to the groom. Darling, Im sorry. Then she brought her gaze, which teemed with deep love, onto Wu Zhilun. There was a sense that she truly was going to leave with him. But to everyones surprise, the next instant, as if she could not hold herself in any longer, she burst out in mirth. All right, just say it: how much was the appearance fee that Jia He paid you? I had originally wanted to act along with you, but alas, the most amazing man in the entire world is by my side and he totally beats you. Like, crushes you. Out of reflex, Wu Zhilun rubbed his nose. Now that you mention it, she never did discuss with me what my appearance fee would be Forget it, then. Im quitting this production. With this dialogue between the two, everyone else clued in, and noisy laughter resounded. Only now did Qiao Qiao again smile tenderly at the groom, whose face had gone through a series of expressions, and finish the second half of what she had been saying. Darling, Im sorry. I have kept some bad company and gave you a bad scare. Cheng Hao pulled at the knot of his tie, his face still not having recovered its colour yet A grand wedding was thus kicked off. In the warm sunshine of winter, when Qiao Qiao placed her hand into the grooms and began this first dance that she had dreamed about for twenty years, it was almost instantaneously that she dissolved into tears. Deeply moved, as if this was all happening to her personally, Jia He felt her nose tingle. She watched as Cheng Hao held Qiao Qiao close, speaking continually in her ear with soft tones, but Qiao Qiaos sobs only came ever fiercer until she basically became a blubbering mess of tears and forgot all her dance steps. In order to fulfill this first-dance dream of Qiao Qiaos, Cheng Hao had practiced for nearly a full week, and everyone had believed he would be so nervous he would end up making a mistake. Contrary to all those expectations, he now merely adeptly held Qiao Qiao in his arms and perfectly drew everyone into the atmosphere of this first dance. As Jia He, her hands resting on the tabletop, admired this picture, she suddenly felt extremely envious. Would you like to dance? A voice unexpectedly caressed over her ear. Startled, she turned her head around and was met face to face with Yi Wenzes smile. Her heart began racing crazily. Didnt you say you wouldnt be able to make it back on time? Yi Wenze only smiled. You dont want to dance? Jia He gave him a plaintive look. I dont dance very well. The result of this, sure enough, was that he pulled her out onto the floor. She gazed at him with slight apprehension. There were lots of people here; even though they were well acquainted with many of them, there were also a lot of strangers and outsiders. This was his first time appearing with her in public. Her eyes had been fixed on him for too long, and, finally, he brought his face down and returned her gaze. Its your friends wedding today. Are you wanting to be the star and centre of attention? Jia Hes mind still had not caught up yet, and she looked at him in bewilderment. He moved in a little closer to her. I havent seen you for many days. If you have that thought, I wont really mind either. That expression in his eyes, and also this particular angle She fell into complete gloominess. Im the maid of honour. I need to have integrity in my role. We cannot wreck the event Qiao Qiao would hack me to death. The entire wedding lasted for twelve hours. At the end, when everyone was partying away in drunken revelry, Jia He finally gave a tug to Qiao Qiao and told her, Im leaving first. I cant hold up anymore. Qiao Qiao knew very well what she was thinking. You go. Youre just scared that your Yi Wenze is going to be destroyed by all the gazes on him, arent you? Jia He mumbled some sort of response, not daring to say that Yi Wenze had actually flown two back-to-back legs today to get here on time and she was afraid he was too worn out. When they arrived back at his home at night, she straightaway went inside and began nonstop packing. From upstairs to downstairs, she over and over carefully opened up bags, asking him if the contents were okay, and then painstakingly sealed them back up again and put them into the suitcases. Yi Wenze sat beside the bar counter and drank water. Seeing her staring anxiously at him, he beckoned to her. Theres no need to be so rushed. Were not flying out until tomorrow afternoon. Well pack in the morning. It was only with these words of his that she realized it was already the middle of the night. Poor him. Hed been exhausted for a whole day and had still stayed with her for another dozen or so hours at Qiao Qiaos wedding Stepping over to him, she took a drink of water from his glass, then softened her voice to ask, Tired? How about we go to bed? He pulled her away slightly, filling some hot water into the glass. Dont drink too much cold water in the winter. Uttering an mm, she took the cup from him, clasped it between her hands, and, following after his every footstep, went upstairs with him. Once she stepped into the bedroom, a very remarkable feeling struck her. Their relationship had begun in Shanghai, but they lived in Beijing. She was familiar with every room in this place, with the exception of his bedroom, which she had never stepped foot in. However, even with her eyes closed, she could guess what it looked like. It was the layout and interior colour scheme that he was accustomed to. Barefooted, the drinking glass cupped in her hands, she very contentedly evaluated his bedroom. She gave a deliberate sniff. There seems to be a womans scent in here. Yi Wenze took exception to that. One just walked in. Very pleased, she held the glass near its mouth and set it down on the table. Then, of her own accord, she sidled up to him and took his face between her hands. Pursing her lips in a smile, she flirted, Well, hello there, handsome fella. At the wedding earlier, Id actually had my eyes on you for a long time. Seeing this seldom show of exuberance from her, he reckoned that she had been influenced by the atmosphere of her friends happy occasion. Very cooperatively, he played along with her, slipping one arm around her waist and bending himself down closer to her, but he only gazed at her. After some time, he finally breathed, Men should be the ones to do the hitting on. When he finished saying this, he gave a faint smile, successfully sending her heart into overdrive. One should not so readily provoke real, skilled actors The next day, rain fell in a deluge. While packing away the last of the stuff, Jia He gave Qiao Qiao a phone call. You are just too lucky. The weather you had yesterday was so good. Qiao Qiao made some moans and groans before, after some time, asking, Do you know what day it is today? Jia He closed her suitcase. Sunday. There was silence on Qiao Qiaos end of the line. Finally, she snapped aggrievedly, Its the day after I got married! The day after I had my wedding night! Commonly known as the honeymoon period, you know? Do you get it?! Oh shoot Jia He knew that the person on the other end had completely erupted. Just as she was about to say something and then rapidly hang up the phone, Qiao Qiao unexpectedly added, Whatever. Considering that you are flying out this afternoon and are just too excited, Ill forgive you. O wonderful maid of honour, Ive given you an awesome vacation gift. Remember to wear sunglasses, a face mask, and a hat when you go to the airport. Dropping her voice, she continued, The best is if its one of those wide-brimmed sun hats for the beach. It needs to be big enough. Its not that serious, right? It was not as if Yi Wenzes travel plans were completely transparent to the public eye. Who told the two of you to dance out in the open yesterday? Its a Weibo society nowadays, get it? Oh no, she was thoroughly done for She hung up the call. Flusteredly watching as Yi Wenze came down the stairs, she shuffled over one little step at a time. Im done for. He looked at her in wry amusement. Done for for what? Jia He anxiously clutched his arm. In a bit, we must split up to go to the airport. From the moment we leave here, well go in two separate cars. Why? Im scared of the media she explained honestly. For sure there would have been people at the wedding yesterday who took pictures and uploaded them onto Weibo. Im scared that if I go with you, well be chased and surrounded. Itll just cause you trouble. He gave a little laugh. You need to get used to it. Used to it? As Jia He took in his rather unconcerned expression, she grew even more tense. She had always been someone accustomed to hiding outside of the spotlight. The best would be if no one paid any attention to her. That way, she could be relaxed and do whatever she pleased. But now for this New Zealand trip, which she had already been nervous about to begin with, her heart was already shuddering in panic from simply thinking about how she would even get out the door. Seeing her gazing at him, wanting to say something but then swallowing her words, Yi Wenze smoothed her hair with his hands. Because this is the first time, everybody really wants to know what you look like. Just be confident and open and let them take their pictures. Then the next time, it will be more natural. She understood the logic, but it wasnt that simple What would follow was all the close scrutiny, things like Photos of Yi Wenzes Girlfriend Out and About Unkempt, The Two have not Seen Each Other for a Long Time, Suspicions of Breakup, etc. Even imagining this was enough to stress her to her wits end. No wonder so many people chose to keep things underground. There were positives to each, but for her personality type, she just might be more suited to staying hidden away While her thoughts were in this mad helter-skelter, Yi Wenze had already made the decision. Honey, youre marrying a popular idol. We have to provide some sort of explanation. My fans are all very reasonable and sensible; they should protect you. He was starting to use a beauty trap again Jia He sighed secretly, giving in to her fate. Ah, forget it, forget it. Doomed if I do and doomed if I dont. Her teeth clenched together, she mumbled, Just whos marrying you? His smile was very light and his response brimmed with profound meaning. Isnt your goal to keep the beauty hidden away in your golden house? Ive been respectfully awaiting this for several months already. Jia Hes mouth open and closed wordlessly. Then, she thoroughly wilted. Hes not going to have me be the one to propose, is he? This question swirled about in her head. Even when they had arrived at the airport, she was still pondering on what he had meant. But she also remembered what he had once said, that some things, he should be the one to do them Ah, forget it, forget it. She was not going to overthink anymore. She was just overly excited after seeing Qiao Qiao get married. They hadnt even been together for a year yet. Things shouldnt be moving to the marriage stage that quickly. Prior to getting off the car, she, in great seriousness, even asked A-Qing for a face mask. A-Qing stared back with wide-eyed perplexity at her. Bosss Wife, why would you want that? You just need to stand by Bosss side and youll be like the female lead of a young idol drama. Nearly choking to death on that, Jia He pleaded softly, Let me off the hook, please? Hurry, just hand over everything you have that can be used to cover the face. Beside her, Yi Wenze took a look at her and, finding this all very comical, pointed out, Youre not scared that people will write, Yi Wenzes fiance is still recovering from plastic surgery and wore a face mask to hide from cameras? CH 19.1 Jia Hes mouth bobbed open. She became a mute. Eventually, A-Qing first got out of the car, reporting shortly, There shouldnt be too many people. Well just walk a bit faster. If worst comes to worst, when other travellers take pictures of you guys, if you feel awkward, just look down and stare at the floor and muddle your way through that way. Silently chanting Amituofo a few times, Jia He gritted her teeth and stepped out of the vehicle. At first no one really took notice of them, but when the two came back out from the VIP check-in room, reporters were already rushing over and swarming around them. Reciting in her mind A-Qings instructions, she grasped Yi Wenzes arm tightly. The expression on her face was ridiculously stiff, and she did not know at all whether she was smiling or unable to smile anymore There were unabated squeals of Yi Wenze! and also reporters throwing nonstop questions at them. Simply brushing past all the camera lenses pointed at her was enough to make her dizzy. A-Qing and other staff of the company were politely obstructing the media, but the numerous and varied questions assailing them could not be blocked. This trip youre taking out of the country, is the purpose to get married? Or have you already secretly registered your marriage? Teacher Yi, would you be able to say a few words? Is this the fiance you spoke of on the talk show? Excuse me, Teacher Yi! Have the two of you seen one anothers parents yet? She honestly just wanted to find a shell, enclose herself inside it, and let things be at that The entire time, Yi Wenze wordlessly cradled her around her shoulders, practically half-carrying her in his embrace. Someone, it was not known who, grabbed her hand, and a fingernail scratched over the back of it, giving her such a scare that she yanked her arm back. Yi Wenze lowered his head and gently took her hand into his. Then, he abruptly ceased walking. This short, several-second pause was already enough to cause the entire place to grow still. Right when everyone was feeling a little discomfited, he finally, in an amicable tone, made a joke. Everyone, if you keep asking like this, she might very well run away and not want to marry me anymore. If that happens, thats blameless suffering for me. He was actually cracking a joke in publicsuch a seldom-seen occurrenceand the reporters were all a little stunned after hearing it. Very courteously, they took two steps back before continuing to repeat their questions from a moment ago. Their volume now, though, was quite a bit lower. Jia He kept in close step with him, not daring to delay any longer, and hastened all the way until they were through the security checkpoint entrance. Even when they had boarded the airplane, her brain still felt a little dazed. Despite having seen a lot of such scenes, when it actually happened to her, she still had difficulty adapting to it. Only after the flight attendant had drawn the curtain closed and blocked out those gazes that were paying too much notice to them did her chest loosen in relief. Turning her head to the side, she rested her cheek against the seat back and looked at him. I kind of understand why you got depression back then. If it were me, I reckon Id just jump straight to having a nervous breakdown. He returned her gaze with a smile. Thank you, honey, for your understanding. His voice was very light, but there were still a few other passengers in this space as well as the flight attendantall of them basically viewers who didnt even need to pay for a ticket to watch this show. She gave him a disconsolate look. Ive decided Im going to sleep. Dont talk to me. Absolutely do not say anything else to me You plan on sleeping for eleven hours? In amusement, he gave her forehead a little stroke. Itll be better when we get to New Zealand. Over there, Im not an actor or a singer. No one will really pay attention to us. Yi Wenze had already ordered her meal for her in advance, all foods that she liked. After eating and drinking her fill, Jia He pictured the scenes that would occur after they disembarked the plane. All of a sudden, she began to somewhat look forward to those. Since they became a couple, this was their first time openly going on any sort of outing together in broad daylight. In China, that face of his was like a ticking time bomb, and apart from the company office or home, the two of them had never really gone to too many places together. Occasionally accompanying him on a work trip and having a meal together was already the greatest form of fun. Musing on this, she lamentingly murmured by his ear, I actually really got the short end of the stick. Since dating you, there are a lot of things I havent gotten to do. His lips curled in a smile as he gazed at her, he was about to say something, but Jia He added, But I really dislike exercise and going out. If you look at things that way, I truly am the most suited for you. He very much concurred with this. Then this time, Ill burden you a bit and have you walk around a little more with me in New Zealand? Playing along with him, Jia He deliberately heaved a long sigh. Oh, all right. I will sufferingly set aside myself and take a stroll with you down the memory lane of your youth. Yi Wenze turned his head sideways and placed a light kiss on her cheek, signalling that she could sleep now. During that long flight, when she hazily awoke from thirst, Yi Wenze was still asleep. A very serene expression. So gorgeous. Sighing with great feeling over the favouritism God had shown him, she turned and asked the flight attendant for a cup of iced water. When the flight attendant brought it over, she gave a very friendly smile to Jia He. Jia He immediately understood: she must be one of Yi Wenzes fans. Smiling as well, Jia He quietly told her, Thank you. The flight attendants eyes curved into crescents as she noiselessly mouthed, You can do it, and then took the cup back. Tilting her head to the side, Jia He gazed upon Yi Wenze. On his chest still lay a half-open book, its cover a very simplistic design with merely a plain, deep-blue background. His hand rested on it, fingers curved in slight arcs. Even just this picture was enough for Jia He to watch him for a long time. Lying on her side, she fixed her eyes on him until her mind grew cloudy and she slid into slumber again. It was raining here as well, but this place was suffused with the scent of summer. Coming from bitterly cold Shanghai to here, it truly did seem like their purpose for this trip was merely to holiday. Of course, if there werent that beautiful womanwho looked practically like a replica of Yi Wenzebeaming widely at her, she would feel a little more at ease. Jia He. Yi Wenrun strode over and gave her a firm bear hug. You look so cute. Youre tiny. Okay, then. She would take that as a compliment. Smiling, she returned Yi Wenruns hug. He said I would like you for sure. I now believe him. Yi Wenrun released her and whispered, Actually, hes really scared that Ill pick on you. Her Mandarin was very out of practice, but the way she articulated her words was also very cute, especially when paired with this face that truly had a seventy-percent likeness to Yi Wenzes. Being face to face with her like this made Jia Hes cheeks unwittingly grow warm. Youre blushing? Yi Wenrun turned her eyes onto Yi Wenze. I really did scare your wife? The word wife, which had come out so naturally, once more threw Jia Hes heart into overdrive. Yi Wenze only smiled as he looked at his sister. Its because seeing your face makes her think of me. This blow that had been made without even batting an eye caused the face of the person before him to fall. Unreconciled to this, Yi Wenrun continued asking Jia He, Dont you think that this face looks even better when its on a woman? Dont you think my big brother isnt as good-looking as me? With an extra show of earnestness, Jia He nodded, agreeing, At first I didnt think so. Its only after I saw you that I discovered that, surely, those facial features are much more suited to a woman. A look passed between these two women, and then they immediately dissolved into giggles. Yi Wenrun had driven herself. They had already entered Auckland before Jia He seemed to remember that his parents lived in the capital city of Wellington, not here. Were not going to go see your dad and mom first? She had leaned in close to his ear to softly ask this. Theyre still away travelling. Yi Wenze let out a little chuckle. And also, they were afraid youd be too nervous, so they told us to stay at Wenruns place for a few days and then go to see them. So thoughtful Jia He suddenly felt a little more at ease, lightly releasing a breath of relief. You didnt even tell me earlier and just let me be nervous for half a day. It would seem that when it came to being considerate about other peoples feelings, his family members were all like this. She suddenly thought of all the love and marriage dramas that she had written, in which grudges developed between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law even over the matter of what the duration of a shower should be. She supposed that she probably really had written too many of these, such that fear of the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship had become deeply rooted in her. What are you thinking? He handed her a bottle of milk. Taking it from him and having a sip, she answered, Im thinking about mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationships. A half-smile on his lips, he handed her a moist towelette. When Jia He took it from him and wiped her mouth, she heard a laugh come from Yi Wenrun, who was driving. If my mom heard you say that, shed definitely be over the moon. In her whole life, she still hasnt gotten to truly experience what a mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship is, and shes always said to me that her life is not complete. While Jia He cast a glance at Yi Wenze, she heard Wenrun, abruptly cluing in to what she had just said, cry, Oh no! I just said the wrong thing. No worries. Jia He gave a small laugh. This had merely been a little thought that she had had, but now things had become somewhat awkward with Wenruns words. I havent experienced one either. I actually do get really scared about it. After saying this, she tucked herself close to Yi Wenze and breathed in his ear, Hey, this friend here who has had a past marriage, I have a pure, untouched past. You need to cherish me. Yi Wenze gazed at her in amusement. How do you want me to cherish you? Her eyes remained on him for a long time until she at last pulled her gaze away to stare at the views outside the window. Wenruns husband was a high school teacher and hence should be someone who gave class lectures every day; yet, he was incredibly incapable with words and at making conversation. The entire dinner, other than saying in English, Feel free to eat a little more, he had not spoken a word. Afterwards, when she and Yi Wenze were sitting on the swing in the yard, cuddled close together and chatting, she commented pensively, Wenrun loves to talk, but shes paired with someone who is so inept with words. Doesnt she get really lonely? My dearest wifey. Yi Wenze took a leisurely glimpse at her. He and I were schoolmates. He was in the Faculty of Law. Astonished, Jia He stared at him and pointed out, And hes still so taciturn? Wenrun wouldnt let him say too much. He revealed the secret. He doesnt know how to speak Chinese, so she was worried that if he spoke too much, youd feel uncomfortable. Oh. Jia He very embarrassedly mumbled, My English actually isnt that bad The two big dogs by her feet were rubbing and rolling around, not shy at all around strangers. One had even stretched out its tongue and was licking her foot. So tickly was the sensation that she pulled her feet up and plopped them directly on Yi Wenzes thighs. Yi Wenze said a command in English to the dogs, and those dogs very obediently lay down. Jia He looked reverently at him, then glanced at the dogs. I suddenly really idolize these dogs. They can understand any English. They probably are at least at a CET-4[1]proficiency level Utterly amused by her, Yi Wenze was about to say something, but then they heard someone far away calling in a babyish voice, Aunt. His two-year-old little nephew unsteadily waddled barefooted across the lawn to them. Simply watching him made Jia He tremble as well, and she wanted to get down to go pick him up. Yi Wenze, however, held her back. Its okay. Hes known how to walk for a long time already. So hardhearted With her eyes fixed on that little one, Jia He waited nervously until he had very slowly toddled over, and then she finally reached out and lifted him into her arms She was already in Yi Wenzes embrace to start with, and now with her own arms holding a child, the three of them were snugged tightly together. This feeling suddenly caused her heart to melt. Still not really knowing how to talk yet, the child only over and over jabbered, Aunt, and then touched her face, nose, and chin. As she allowed him to touch her as he pleased, she unconsciously lifted her gaze to Yi Wenze. To her surprise, he seemed to also have thought of something and, in that same moment, had tilted his face down to look at her. Their two faces were extremely close, so close they could practically feel one anothers every breath. Hey, be careful what example youre setting. Jia He blinked, trying to shift back a bit. She was about to say something else, but all of a sudden she let out a cry of Ah! Whats wrong? Embarrassed, she looked at him, then also glanced at the little nephew in her arms, explaining plaintively, He just touched my She extended a finger and pointed it at her chest. This little guy was just too naughty. He even stuck his hand inside to touch it Yi Wenze gave a little laugh. Taking hold of the little boys hand, he stressed with great seriousness, That is Uncles. You cannot just touch it whenever you want, understand? Jia He was torn between being annoyed or laughing. Who teaches a kid like that? His head was lowered to look at her. I am teaching him that a man must know to protect what belongs to him. [1]ļliterally means fourth level and refers to the CET-4, which stands for College English Test Band 4. The CET are nationwide English proficiency tests for non-English major college/university students in China. The CET-4 is a criterion of most universities in obtaining an undergraduate degree. CH 19.2 The two were still conversing, sometimes a sentence from him, sometimes one from her, when his little nephew fell asleep sprawled in her arms, one hand still very naturally touching the front of her chest. Yi Wenze noiselessly took him from her and carried the soundly slumbering child back into the house. Watching him step back out, Jia He was just about to ask if he wanted to go out for a walk when she saw him stroll up in front of her and lower himself into a half-crouch. Ill take you out for a walk. Seeing him like this, Jia He was completely stunned. What for? He made a gesture with his hand, his voice so mild and gentle it enthralled her heart. There are a lot of things that I cant do when were in China, but no matter what, I should give you some memories here. Beneath the night sky, the lights of the backyard elongated his shadow. Jia He was quiet for quite some time before stretching her arms out and circling them around his neck. He hooked his arms under her legs, effortlessly lifting her up onto his back. In such hot weather, their two bodies, tight against one another, soon began to perspire. She brought her hand forward and touched his face. Where are we going? To the seaside. His words were concise. He was not even breathless. O great Idol, are you practicing hiking while weight-bearing? She felt hot, but she could not bear to end this moment and get down either, so she simply set her chin on his shoulder. If it were me in the past and I saw you piggybacking a woman like this, Im guessing my heart would ache so badly Id want to bite my computer screen. This comparison was one that only she, someone who stared at a computer every day, could come up with. The street was very long, but few people were on it. Beside them, a very young couple rode past on a bicycle. The girl turned her head to look back and seemed to say something. After receiving just this one glance, Jia He rather bashfully buried her head on his shoulder, uttering softly, Why do I feel like you and I are acting out one of those young idol dramas? Mm-hmm. Yi Wenze told her, True Love, a short film that provides positive social influence. She let out a giggle. She was suddenly struck with the feeling that he was presently very different from when he was in China. She surmised that it was because he was back in the place where he had grown up, and with his celebrity halo all of a sudden gone, he had become an ordinary person. Of course, he was still an ordinary person who was so handsome he made people green with envy Originally she had thought his words had just been in jest, but before long she saw the ocean. Wenruns house is near the ocean. Its really convenient every time to walk over here. Finally setting her down, he explained, Shes someone who very much knows how to enjoy life. Back then, Mai Jiehad really wanted to pull her into modelling, but she had not been interested whatsoever. Laughing, Jia He poked his arm with her pointer finger. Youre really envious, arent you? You took one wrong step and caused a lifetimes regret for yourself. By her ear was the sound of rolling waves, and not far away, a group of young people was having a gathering. Such a lovely, relaxed atmosphere. A smile was on his lips as he looked at her. He did not speak, only cupping the back of her neck with his palm. As he drew in closer, though, she shifted her face away, saying softly, Even without reporters around, Ill still feel embarrassed. Saying this, she quickly took half a backward step, but small rocks jabbed her foot. Because of his spur-of-the-moment idea, she actually had not put on any shoes and had left the house in bare feet. Gingerly, she observed the sand, whose grains would not be considered fine, and also the many bits of broken seashells. Simply standing here like this was already a little uncomfortable on the soles of her feet. Taking in her conflicted expression, Yi Wenze, his motions natural, embraced her waist and, raising the volume of his voice slightly, told her, Step on the backs of my feet. Mm, Jia He replied, and then followed his instructions to put her feet on the backs of his, while her arms slid around his waist. Yi Wenze. She unexpectedly called his name. He gave an mm. How about Ill just propose? She tried hard to pump herself up. That could be considered a heaven-shaking act that would move even the gods to tears. Who said only men are allowed to propose? It was just registering a marriage and then living their lives together, right? In reality, in her heart, she felt that the two of them seemed like they had been married for a long time already. Their life together was very peaceful, and even the smallest things, each little detail, were all so real. But what should I say?How should I say it? I honestly have no experience, aaaah Would you like to listen to a song? he unexpectedly asked. All the courage that she had summoned up a moment ago was, with this one, short question from him, shattered and melted away into the air. Her cheek resting against his chest, she listened to his steady, rhythmic heartbeat, believing firmly and with pride that even the frequency of her hubbys heartbeat was the most perfect Come with me. He set her down on the sand. Taking her hand in his, he walked with her over to that group of young people and very politely asked in English, Would I be able to borrow your guitar? At once, the person holding the guitar rose and, with heartfelt friendliness, handed the instrument to him. Several of those people seated in a circle appeared to have recognized him, and they quietly exchanged a few words. One of the girls amongst them, a blush colouring her face, asked, Are you Yi Wenze? Giving a smile, Yi Wenze nodded and answered, Yes. His hand holding Jia Hes, he pulled her down to take a seat with him. This is my fiance. Jia He had not expected him to be so open and relaxed, and feeling a little dazed, she could only smile at everyone. For a moment, excitement rushed through this gathering of young people, and incessantly they asked, did they come back here to get married? Or had they secretly gotten married already? Although their questions were identical to the ones from the media, such surroundings and the warmth and effusiveness of these people all allowed Jia He to relax, and she simply sat bashfully by his side, watching as his fingers made a few strums. This melody was too familiar. Everybody grew quiet. His eyes were on her as he began casually humming the song With You, that single that had held the top spot on the charts for two months. This was her first time hearing him singing it right in front of her. His tranquil gaze held only her. At first he sang the song in Mandarin. Someone beside them then asked, was there an English version? He smiled and, surprisingly, very quickly switched into English. When this song was released, there had only been two versions, Mandarin and Cantonese. She had not expected that there was an English version as well. Tilting his head to the side slightly, Yi Wenze suddenly broke off his singing at the very last line of the song and very tenderly covered her lips with his. He let this kiss go to the deepest reaches before swiftly pulling away again. Jia He had been caught completely unprepared, and when he released her, she stared speechlessly at him, her heart altogether nearly ceasing to beat When the two of them were leaving, those young people were very reluctant to part with them and continuously gave their blessings and well wishes. However, not one person took out a mobile phone to try to secretly take photographs or requested a photo with them. After they arrived back at the house, Jia He followed him inside, in passing shutting off the lights behind her. He turned around and looked at her. Why do you think they didnt ask for a photo together? From the looks of things, there were two who seem to be your fans. She stepped over and reached up to help him unfasten the first button of his shirt, the touch of her fingers soft. Smiling knowingly, he told her in a hushed tone, They really like you and were scared youd feel uncomfortable. As she undid the second button, her hands gave an inexplicable little quiver. Seriously. They had already been living together for a long time, but this was still a rare time in which she was taking the lead. She heaved a secret sigh. Sure enough, vacationing can cause people to act impetuously. On top of that, he had done so many things; these several hours, it was as if he wanted to do everything with her that he was able to. His every motion, every action, every subtle detail seemed to tug at the very tip of her heart. Yet, he had not said anything. He definitely did it on purpose. Breathing another silent sigh, Jia He lifted her hands and cupped them around his face. Yi Wenze. All right, Im ready now. I dont believe that you dont want to His head was bowed to look at her, and he seemed to be smiling. All of a sudden, there was a barrage of knocking on their door. You guys are back? It was Wenrun. Jia He gave him a look like that of an innocent victim. Yi Wenze, too, could only be grudgingly resigned to this, and directing his voice at the door, he replied, Were back. Were going to sleep now. Outside the door, there was a brief silence, and then Wenruns very plaintive voice was heard. My son wont sleep. He insists he must sleep with his aunt, and hes tortured me for a few hours already. Big Bro, please do a good deed and help me coax him to sleep Once she finished saying this, she began making indistinguishable little murmurs, sounding as if she was gently soothing the little child. Lightly tweaking the tip of Jia Hes nose, Yi Wenze told her softly, For some things, let me be the one to do them. Jia Hes cheeks heated momentarily. She watched as he went to open the door. Wenrun, holding that little nephew in her arms, was so exhausted her eyes could barely open as she very apologetically looked at Jia He and explained, Mrs. Yi, you have an enchantment over children. He wont even have his mummy. Reaching over and taking that half-asleep little nephew from her, Jia He quietly replied, No worries. I really like him. Wenrun said a few more things and then swayingly shuffled back to her own room. As Jia He held the little boy, she felt him nuzzling around. And then his hand felt its way to the front of her chest again Wanting very much to cry, she looked at Yi Wenze and whispered, Hes sure to be a ladies man in the future. Yi Wenze was rather helpless in this as well. He extended his pointer finger and gently lifted away the little hand, successfully diverting the boys attention. Alas, an even more woeful situation arose: the little hand clamped around his finger, utterly unwilling to let go. The two therefore could only stand there, not really knowing what they should do. After a while, as they silently communicated with one another by mouthing their words, they arduously managed to get him onto the bed and took turns holding him while the other person showered. When they had both finished washing up and changed, the child finally burrowed himself completely into Jia Hes arms and fell into a sound sleep. Cradling that little person who was snugged against her, Jia He lay on her side and, looking at Yi Wenze, asked in a low voice, Why arent you coming to bed yet? In the moonlight that spilled through the window, gazing upon the side profile of his face and upon his eyes was pure enjoyment. The only pity was that on their first night here in New Zealand, there was a third wheel lying between them. His smile spread into his eyes. You lit a fire but you didnt put it out. How am I supposed to sleep? Jia He shushed him. Your nephew already knows really well how to hit on girls. Dont set even more bad examples for him to follow. There was a short while of stillness. Then the child suddenly shifted. Sensing this, Yi Wenze reached over, picked him up, and brought him to the bathroom. When they came back, he was even able to coax the little nephew back to sleep before re-tucking him into Jia Hes embrace. In the dimness, she watched as he did all of this. Her heart suddenly was stirred. Youre definitely going to be a great dad. Letting out a little chuckle, he breathed, Sleep now. Childrens sleep patterns are very regular. Jia He was still fast asleep when she sensed that the person in her arms was starting to shift about. Her mind fuzzy, she opened her eyes to see him staring at her with his pure, innocent ones. Aunt. She carried on in her daze and stared back at him. One second, two seconds Finally processing who this person in her embrace was, she immediately started to wakefulness and, holding him, sat straight up and began inspecting for signs that he might have wet the bed. After feeling around for some time and discovering that everywhere was nice and dry, she at last breathed out in relief. Youre awake? Yi Wenze walked into the room carrying a glass of milk and some fruit. With an mm-hmm, she commented, This is just too amazing. This kid is just a little past two years old but he already doesnt wet the bed. Bringing the glass of milk up to her mouth, Yi Wenze stated in a mild tone, I brought him out three times in the middle of the night. You didnt feel anything? Jia He was in mid-swallow and nearly sprayed everything back out. No way. Really? He held a piece of fruit in front of her lips. Want to sleep some more? This particular hour was when she was usually in her soundest slumber. With her eyes closed, she ate the fruit and rather sheepishly declined, Were in your little sisters house. I wouldnt feel right sleeping in so late. The warmth in her embrace disappeared. He had picked the little nephew up into his arms. Its okay. Shes still sleeping. Ill carry him over to his dad and then come back to keep you company. She answered with an mm, then at once lay down and went back to sleep. Before, when she slept with her arms enclosed around Yi Wenze, she would always have a comfortable sleep, because his embrace was strong and secure. However, this past night, she had had to protect the child with her entire body and had practically been in a curled-over posture. Now as she finally relaxed her body, she felt achiness flood through her, and she could not even lift an arm. While she was in a half-awake, half-asleep state, she felt something soft on her lips, and then warmth enclosed around them. She made a couple of moans, but his tongue had already glided right in. Very tenderly, he gave her a lingering good-morning kiss. Except the kiss was too long. She was almost breathless. Her mouth feeling parched, she swallowed. This subtle little action, though, quietened him. Puzzled, Jia He opened her eyes. Whats wrong? With a little chuckle, he pulled her against his chest. Hurry and sleep. CH 19.3 In the afternoon, Wenrun brought the little nephew along to the supermarket while Yi Wenze took Jia He to the university he used to attend. When Jia He was still in school, she had always felt that there was a wonderful atmosphere to Shanghai Jiao Tong Universitys old campus in the Xuhui district. However, as she stepped foot into the University of Auckland, she felt that it did not even seem like a school. All the buildings were hidden amongst greenery and flowers, and because there was no main gate or a surrounding wall, many of the people strolling around near and far were not students. This place seemed more like a botanical garden. Shanghai Jiao Tong University Xuhui Campus By Yi Wenzes side, she ambled and listened to him tell her some of the things from his university days, exhaling contentedly, Now that Im counting, my universitys worldwide ranking is lower than yours by a triple-digit figure. Thats too demoralizing. With mirth, he asked her, How do you know this? She lifted her brows. Back then, I read through all the info on you. After I saw where you graduated from, I deliberately did some research on this school. Very pleased with herself, she flicked him a glance and continued, I also know that near your school is the largest national park in Auckland. Be honest and fess up. Back then, did you ever go on a date there with someone? She had originally been asking this merely as a joke, but he simply smiled and did not say anything. Humph. I knew you would have Putting on a magnanimous front, she said, A persons days of youth are always when thoughts of love start to bud. Rest assured, Im not going to blame you for things that are in the past. Still Yi Wenze maintained his silence, only smiling and gazing at her. Finally, Jia He could contain herself no longer, and fixing her eyes on him, she demanded, Dont tell me the sight of all these familiar places is stirring up past memories and youre starting to reminisce on them. I am very sorry to say, he at last laughed, that at the time, other than the library and all the lecture theatres, I basically didnt go anywhere else. Uttering an oh, Jia He remarked, Truly such a shame. But in her heart, she was already so thrilled she could burst with jubilation. The two would stroll and stop every so often, all the while conversing casually. Even in such an open, non-traditional school, she was still able to rediscover that feeling of ones student days. Her steps in pace with his, she lightly took ahold of his fingers and intertwined them with her own. Im hungry. All right. Well go home. After saying these simple words, he extended a hand and ruffled her head. Youre making me start to regret that I never dated back when I was in university. Jia He ran this sentence of his through her brain a couple of times, then nodded, very pleased. Fellow student, its too late now. Youre a man with a wife already. The trees were very low. Through the breaks in the foliage, they could glimpse the faraway white clock tower. So very beautiful. With her arm linked through his, she meandered along with him. All of a sudden, stirred by the moment, she told him, Sometimes Ill think, if I had just focused on my studies while I was in uni and not dated anyone, I would have been able to give my whole, complete love to you, and only ever loved you. How good that would be. But then sometimes Ill think, if it hadnt been for everything in the past, I wouldnt have switched careers and become a screenwriter, and then I would never have met you The ClockTower at the University of Auckland (Image credit: Cropped from University_of_Auckland_Clock_Tower by Larry Koester, original posted in https://www.flickr.com/photos/larrywkoester/, image used under CC BY-SA 2.0) Truly, everywhere in life are things that can be logically analyzed. For reasons unknown, she was very stirred with melancholy. His smile was very light, and only after listening to her finish saying all that she had to say did he speak up. Fellow student, would I be able to get to know you? She was briefly taken aback, but then immediately comprehending his intention, she released her hand from around his arm and took two backward steps. Pretending to hold some textbooks, she gave him a shy look. Why? The look in Yi Wenzes eyes gradually softened. I think, your future should be tied to me somehow. The midsummer swelter and also his gaze scorched her heart. She was not certain whether it was because his acting was too good or because their surroundings were able to evoke fancies in people, but she actually felt as if Yi Wenze truly was a heartthrob of this universitys School of Architecture, while she was merely an ordinary girl who every day only worried about how she could prevent herself from failing her courses. Her eyes randomly flitted about as she tried with all her might to think up some lines of dialogue that were so awesome they could even move immortals to tears. However, despite racking her brain for a long time, no good script came to her. And Yi Wenze was simply looking at her, one hand in his pocket, his posture very casual as he stood there. Screenwriter, how are we supposed to act out the next part? A slight smile touching his lips, he at last spoke up. Do we need to cut? No. She tried hard to save face. Dont you know that right now, silence is more stirring than any speech. She suddenly remembered the only two scenes in which she had acted with him, and, moreover, her role had been one of a tearful, cast-aside concubine. Originally, she had been hoping to get into the mood of the scene here, but now, that idea was trounced by those memories. Looking at him, she finally heaved a sigh. Im sorry, but while Im still in university, I dont All right, then, let me for once act out a person who rejects someone. Is that so? A smile on his face, his gaze riveted on her, he took two steps forward and then, right then and there, brought his head down and brushed his lips over hers. A very light, and also very chaste kiss. All around there were still people strolling by. Jia Hes heart was thundering furiously. She had not predicted at all that he would make such a move, and it was only out of reflex that she, lightheaded, moved back a step and gaped at him. Did you skip some episodes? How come you only just hit on me and then it became a kiss scene? And plus, I rejected you, too. Yi Wenze looked at her with extreme seriousness. I still havent acted the role of playboy yet, and I wanted to try out what it felt like. Giving an oh, she fiddled with the little gold pig that hung on her neck. She plainly had just been taken advantage of, but she was still grinning widely like she had hit the jackpot. <>The translator would greatly appreciate it if you would only read this translation from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the actual site of posting. Thank you. In the evening, Yi Wenze received a phone call. Seeing him standing by the window speaking in a warm, gentle tone, Jia Hes heart instantly began beating a little unsteadily. At such an hour, such a phone callit meant the madam wanted to meet the daughter-in-law She had seen photographs of Yi Wenzes family, and she had to say, he and his sister very much resembled their mother, especially the eyes, so warm and pleasant, with a gaze so intent it gave you a very safe, secure feeling. Nevertheless, this was, after all, her future mother-in-law she was meeting. Rather anxiously, she recalled all the advice and exhortations her own mom had given her: When she spoke, it needed to be in a soft, gentle voice. She should not dress too casually. She needed to help out with things to demonstrate that she was not a lazy person While she was running these pieces of advice through her mind, Yi Wenze had already hung up. He saw her rummage through the clothing in her suitcase, pull out a jacket with three-quarter sleeves, and also select a very long skirt. Watching her as she stood in front of the mirror holding the outfit up against herself, he chuckled and asked, You wont feel hot dressed like that? She gave him a very solemn look. Erring on the conservative side is always better than wearing stuff thats too revealing. Yi Wenze also returned her gaze with great solemnity. Honey, to be honest, youre normally already very conservative. Her mouth opened slightly. Mute. Was that considered a compliment? Or a complaint? <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only Owing to this upcoming first meeting that would be taking place the next day, she ended up tossing and turning and unable to sleep. Yi Wenze could tell that she really was stressed, so he kept her company and talked to her. In her arms was the little child, and the two did not dare talk too loudly, cuddling closely together and speaking in low tones into one anothers ear. Only when the faint light of early morning was beginning to show did they finally doze for a while. The direct consequence of this was that her complexion was a little pale. When their car drove into Wellington, she began throwing looks at him, one glance, and then another glance, until at last he was forced into chuckles. Honey, youre starting to make me uptight, too. Do you know whats the feeling youre giving people right now? What? Jia Hes eyes were nervously on him. That my face is a really unsightly, unhealthy colour? That youre like Snow White going to see her evil stepmother. He drew the analogy to a fairy tale, trying to help her to relax as much as possible. You can try to think of it this way: the one youre going to see isnt your stepmother; its the mother of the prince who kissed you awake. It was seldom that Yi Wenzes words were so corny, and they drew giggles from Jia He and caused her to loosen up a little. I should record these words of yours. If I sell it to the Chinese media, it will definitely have an explosive effect. He only smiled. I dont mind. Jia He shot him a look. You dont mind, but I do <>Please support this translation by reading it only at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the translators actual site of posting. Thank you. It turned out, though, that they had only just stepped in the door and then Yi Wenzes mothers three sentences thoroughly took away Jia Hes ability of speech. The first sentence: Are the two of you planning to hold your wedding in New Zealand? The second sentence: Have you set a date yet? The third sentence: Do you need me to start preparing? She stared at this perfect mother-in-law, who was beaming in front of her, then turned around and looked at Yi Wenze. Why was the feeling like she had bought a bunch of expensive items in a video game and, shuddering in her boots, was wholly prepared to fight the big boss, only to be informed when she arrived at the level, You have successfully passed this level? What? Yi Wenzes mother also turned her gaze on him. You didnt come back this time to get married? With a smile, Yi Wenze handed a cup of hot tea to Jia He and motioned to her that she should stay calm, before addressing his mother. If you keep on talking, youre going to end up saying everything that I want to say. Astounded, Yi Wenzes mother gawked at him, then turned her eyes to Jia He, then back to him again. Eventually, she let out a lengthy sigh. Thats just so wrong! She turned back again to continue staring at Jia He. You two have been together for so long and he still hasnt proposed to you yet? Jia He, you really should think hard about this. You cant indulge men like this. Jia He nodded, embarrassed. This wasnt a mother-in-law. No. She was like a loving, actual, biological mother <>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only The two women hit it off in their conversations. His mother surprisingly seemed like simply the mother of an ordinary son, like she had no understanding whatsoever of how show business worked. Her smiles never ceasing, she asked Jia He about all the various fun and interesting things of being a screenwriter. When she grew enthused from listening, she would even call over Yi Wenze, who was sitting a ways off and chatting with his father, and have him tell her some more amusing things. In such an atmosphere, Jia He soon began to unwind from her earlier tension. Midway through the night, Yi Wenzes mother finally stood up and, acting enigmatic, pulled Jia He with her. The instant I got back last night, I went and specially decorated the bedroom for you two. Come have a look and see if you like it. Jia He tossed an amused glance at Yi Wenze. And then she heard his mother murmur by her ear, Tonight, try and get him to propose. Jia He was speechless. Unable to deny his mothers effusive kindness, though, she could only nod her head, not knowing at all what she should say. The bedroom for the two of them was on the second floor, at the very end of the hallway. When Yi Wenzes mother pushed open the door, Jia He was utterly blown away. Xiao Yu and Qiao Qiao had always laughed at her for having a young girls heart filled with romantic notions and fancies. Now, though, she discovered that the person who truly had a girly heart was the pretty O great mother-in-law beside her. Once she and Yi Wenze stepped into the room, his mother immediately took the initiative to close the door for them. Inside the room, there were several hundred candles, but no illumination from lights. In the dancing glow of candlelight that spangled the room, layers upon layers of rose petals blanketed both the bed and floor, so many it was jaw-dropping. This type of cheesy scene was one that all women love. However, as she presently stood beside him, she wanted only to laugh, until at last, unable to hold herself in any longer, she hugged his arm, nuzzled herself this way and that against him, and burst into chortles. She was purposely trying to keep her voice down and repressed herself so much her stomach hurt. When she finally lifted her head again, she saw that he, too, had a very shocked expression and his lips were twitching with suppressed mirth. If I didnt know youre Yi Wenze, I would definitely believe that youre an unwanted bachelor who hasnt been able to find himself a wife Your mom is just too adorable. Walking over, he opened a bottle of red wine with an opener, poured himself a glass, and took a small sip. There should be some credit to Wenrun for this, too. Even more laughter spilled unabatedly from Jia He. She stepped up to him and, from his glass, also had a drink. Fine, I admit defeat. I surrender. He smiled and pinched her cheek. You didnt get any sleep last night. Go sleep now. Still grinning, she pointed at the bed. Hubby, you really want to sleep on a pile of flower petals? As a result, the two expended all of their energy before they were able to clean off all the petals both on and inside the comforter. Staring down at the petals that now covered the entire floor, Jia He exhaled. Its going to be even more troublesome to tidy these up tomorrow. Sure enough, being romantic has its price. After almost a dozen hours of torture on an airplane, plus these last two days of waiting on the little boy, exhaustion had long since overtaken these two people. Now that they actually had a comfortable, quiet sleep environment, they could not even bother to care how romantic it was, and in just a short time, they were fast asleep. CH 20 In the dozen or so days that followed, she soon integrated into this family. Yi Wenzes mother loved cooking and especially liked Chinese food. Jia He was also happy to keep her company and chat with her, and over the next few days, she actually spent more time with his mother. The first thing the two did after waking up every morning was to look into what they would eat for the days three meals. When their discussions led to a dish that neither of them knew how to make, they would go online to look up the recipe and then study it in detail. Eventually, both Yi Wenze and his father could not stand this anymore, and they persuaded the two women to simply have a barbecue in the backyard and not, just for the sake of one meal, prepare for two to three hours while, in the process, casting aside and ignoring the two grown men. Jia He, you have a very healthy appetite. His mother was very pleased. With a white brush, she swept some olive oil onto the fresh vegetables. I like little girls who eat and drink well. Its nice and healthy. Im long past being a little girl Jia He responded with a smile, I usually eat a lot in the winter, and then in the summer I wont have much appetite. It might be because my body is still stuck in China mode, so I still have my winter appetite. The person in front of her gave her a meaningful look, then suddenly dropped her voice and inquired, Have the two of you been using any form of birth control? An Ah? slipped from Jia He, but no words came to her for the longest time. That was just too direct. Even her mom had never outright asked her like that Her head hanging low, she brushed oil onto the chicken wings with all her might. Faltering many times over her reply, she finally squeaked out, No. It shouldnt be. These last few months, her periods had been normal, and she had not shown any obvious symptoms either. Other than She searched her mind. It seemed, other than a little bit of change to her bust size, everything was the same as normal. It shouldnt be, right? The more she pondered on this, the more self-conscious she became. What made it worse was that the eyes of the person by her side were still fixed on her. Soon, a delicious smell wafted from the chicken wings above the continuously prancing flames. From somewhere by her hand, someone suddenly handed her a basting brush. Only then did she snap back to the present. As she hurriedly made a couple of sweeps with the brush, she heard his voice ask, What are you thinking about? Jia Hes cheeks burned even more furiously. But though she spent a lengthy time trying to work herself up to it, she still could not make herself say anything. Last time, it was because she had mistakenly believed she was pregnant that she had been filled with eager expectation and taken the test so many times, but it had turned out to be nothing. If a repeat of that were to happen this time, she would die simply from getting laughed at Amid the increasingly tantalizing aroma surrounding them, she finally, filled with uneasiness, snuck a peek at Yi Wenze. Do you think I should take a test and see? Oh no, I did end up saying it. Her eyes were darting around nervously, and she nearly burned her hand. Yi Wenze took from her the things she was holding. His manner was utterly demonstrating that this was all within his expectations. Ive already made an appointment. You might need to wake up a little earlier tomorrow. Huh?Jia He stared incredulously at him. When did you make the appointment? Before we came, when we were in Shanghai. He plated all the food items that were done grilling. I was afraid you would be too uptight, so I didnt tell you ahead of time. Jia He gawked at him the entire time as he brought the plate over, came back, and continued grilling more food. After a long while, with her eyes fastened on him, she mumbled, I dont even feel anything; how can you feel something? Im the babys father. How could I not feel something? His expression was placid, as if this was only to be expected. After mulling over that for a moment, she felt that it did sound rather reasonable even though there was no scientific basis for it. She would just treat it as if their hearts and minds were in sync The next day, she had not even woken yet when he picked her up in his arms and started helping help her to get dressed. Her mind stayed in its muddled state for a long time before she at last remembered what they were going to do today. She gazed at him, wanting to say something, but then she noticed that his attire was particularly proper-looking today. She had thought that, since they became a couple, she had gradually developed immunity to him. However, on this morning, this sight that charged into her view when she opened her eyes still ended up taking her breath away, and she honestly wanted to grab her phone and take a photo, forever preserving this picture. Seeing that all this time her eyes had never left him, Yi Wenze very resignedly asked, Awake now? She made a sound of mm-hmm. Abandoning the idea that her besotted mind had concocted, she docilely followed him downstairs. When the two arrived at the hospital, they began methodically going through the tests. She only needed to let Yi Wenze lead her, continually going into different rooms, doing various tests. All the doctors were very courteous, but they did not provide so much as one sentence of useful information to her. Finally, when they were waiting for the results report, he privately had a few words with the doctor. As Jia He sat on the couch, studying his expression that showed not even the slightest ripples of anxiety, she speculated that he might be concerned that she would be disappointed and hence was discussing things with the doctor first. She had to say, regarding this particular point, he was being extremely thoughtful. At the end, she left the hospital in trepidation, still not prodding him for any information. If she really were pregnant, the doctor would have given a very detailed explanation as well as some instructions But judging from the look on Yi Wenzes face, he did not appear to have anything that he wanted to say. She surmised that he was worried she was going to experience yet another instance of disappointment, and so was weighing how he should break the news to her. While all these random, baseless thoughts were whirling through her head, an intense feeling of guilt was already beginning to rise in her, and she was incessantly thinking up all sorts of words of persuasion she could use. The car had driven to a broad, open grassy area before he slowly brought it to a stop. At the end of that stretch of green was the beach. Beneath the flood of sunshine, the crystal-clear ocean was suffused with a hazy, white glow. Simply gazing out upon this sight would improve anyones mood immensely. She followed him out of the car and strolled along the beach. Both near and far, there was no one around but the two of them. In the serene surroundings, there was only the sound of the rushing waves. Was she? Or was she not? Was he trying to give her a happy surprise? Or was he trying to think of how to comfort her? Jia He groaned inwardly. Seriously, such a conflicted life. Why cant I just ask straight out? In the future, what do you want to name our children? His tone was mild when he asked this. Her entire face concealed in the shadow cast by the brim of her sun hat, she plodded behind him, stepping in the footprints that he stamped into the sand and keeping pace with him. What did she want to name her child? She truly had never seriously thought about it. Staring at Yi Wenzes back, she felt another fierce rush of guilt. When they went back later on, they were definitely going to keep working hard at it Have you thought of a name? Aijia, Aihe[1], he answered very naturally. When Jia Hes steps paused briefly, she saw him turn his head back. You dont like those? Her eyes began to sting. What was this? Was it that he more and more knew how to play up the romance, or that her heart was becoming more and more girly? They were just two names, right? And moreover, it was the cheesiest, most overused Chinese way of professing love, one that you could understand with just one glance. Just how many times had she written something like this into her film dialogues? But when she thought about the fact that the children would be surnamed Yi and they were going to be given these names Her heart was beating slower and slower, as if it was going to come to a stop. She watched as he walked back to her. Finally, when he was gazing down at her, she sniffled and asked, How are you so sure were going to have twins? There was laughter in his voice as he calmly held his eyes on her and stated, The doctor told me. The report also said the same. Her eyes were riveted on him. Much time passed before she stammered, Re-really? Instinctively, she moved her hand to cover her abdomen, not daring to believe him. An inexplicable joy rushed over her, so great it could move her to tears, as if she had been longing for a child for years. This feeling was so palpable it was scary. He reached his hand forward and smoothed her hair, which was a little disheveled from the wind. Bringing his head down beside her ear, he said, Jia He, marry me. A simple, straightforward sentence, but it was imbued with the greatest tenderness. It was similar to how he would quietly say to her every morning, Good morning, honey, or how he would casually ask her, Are you hungry? Yet, it had thoroughly seared into her heart. Dazed, she tilted her face up to look at him, her eyes seeming unable any longer to bear the additional weight in them, and in an instant, teardrop after large teardrop began rolling down. Darn it! Such a simple marriage proposal, yet she was crying to such an extent after hearing it As a screenwriter, she understood too well that, when ported into real life, all those romantic things were simply melodramatic cheese. She had even envisioned that if Yi Wenze said or did anything publicly in front of a bunch of people, she would definitely be so embarrassed she could die on the spot, so embarrassed that before she could even experience the feeling of happiness, she would first get a heart attack. Hence, she would always think, she should just be the one to propose, lest her too-fragile self be unable to hold up under the shock and scare. Happiness does not require any sort of surprise, as long as every day when I wake up, I can see you there with methis was the ending that she truly wished for. And now, everything was as she had longed for. All along, he had understood what it was that she wanted. Merely a beach on which there were no other people. No people to watch and stare at them. Only him and her. Simple and understated. But filled only with sweetness. Purely, wholly, only sweetness. Youre not willing? Lowering his voice, he followed up with another question. Jia He ground her teeth and fired a little glare at him. Youre doing it on purpose, arent you? Im carrying your babies in my womb. Do you think I want to be a single mom? But for a long time, try as she might, she was unable to make any words come forth. Waves of heat swept over her, more scorching than even the blazing sun of the seaside. She cleared her throat, wanting to say something, but her eyes dampened again. With a smile, Yi Wenze lifted her sun hat and very gently placed a kiss on the tip of her nose. Then, he knelt down on one knee. His white shirt and pants and the fine sand that was washed white in the sunlight melded perfectly together. Jia He stared dazedly at him. She felt as if her soul had already flown out from her body and was standing in a faraway spot, observing her His eyes teemed with earnestness. Merely the way he was gazing so intently at her caused her heart to speed up uncontrollably, and her arms had long grown terribly weak. I once had depression. Fortunately, though, in the summer of that year, I encountered someone who made it possible for me to get through it and walk out my life to this day. I have also had a failed marriage. Also fortunately, in 2011, I met someone who made me not only want to be with her, but also want that for the rest of her life, her eyes would only hold me in them. From somewhere on him, he pulled out a box, and very gently he opened it. In the rays of sunshine, enchanting little sparkles of light danced from the engagement ring that lay serenely in that box. The most fortunate part is, they are one and the same person. In your opinion, then, wouldnt the whole world not agree to it if I dont marry her and bring her home with me? She was in an unfamiliar country, on an unfamiliar beach. Only the person before her was familiar to her. She gazed down at him. Even the posture in which he proposed and the words of his proposal were flawless. The two of them remained like this, their eyes locked. After a long moment, she at last stretched out her hand and, in a voice that was choked over, answered, I think, I cannot go against the whole world. <>Your support by reading this story only at hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the actual site of posting, would be greatly and sincerely appreciated. Thank you. A very small ring. It was the perfect size. When he guided it onto her ring finger, he also slid his fingers through to interlace with hers, clasping her hand. This moment was like a special effect in a film, a slow-motion shot doing a close up of the expression in his eyes and on his face. In the true first meeting between the two of them, when he had turned his head, he had also looked at her in this same way. His gaze had landed only on her, and a smile had filled his deep, black eyes. Image after image was flashing across her mind. He, though, had already brought his face down. However, just as he was about to make contact, she suddenly let out laugh. I think I spoke incorrectly. I seem to have done something thats made me the target of hatred of the whole world. Then, with those words, she lifted her hands, cupped his face, and, bringing her lips up, kissed him. In that moment when their lips and teeth came together, she suddenly felt that, with this, her life was already set. Five years, ten years, twenty years, forty yearsthe remainder of her life, she would place into his hands. Because he was Yi Wenze. Therefore, there would only be happiness. [1]The given names Yi Wenze stated are and . The two names share the first character, ai, which is homophonic with love. The second characters in the two given names are the exact same characters of Jia Hes name. Therefore, when paired with his surname Yi, the names Yi Wenze chose sound like Yi loves Jia and Yi loves He, his love profession for Jia He. In modern culture, the characteris often played with and substituted in place of the character love.