He nodded his head slightly.
Why didn't you sleep last night? I asked him.
I slept, he said.
No, you didn't, I said.
Okay, as you say, he said.
As I say, Yuan, tell me, I said.
He looked at me slightly and said, I didn't sleep last night because I didn't feel it. Nothing more than this, he said while taking a turn on the road and moving his steering.
Then he became silent for a while, and then another question rose in my mind. I looked at him immediately, and without looking at me, he said, tell me, what now?
How do you know I am going to ask you something? I asked him.
Your deep, questionable eyes have already said many things before your mouth does, he said.
Why were there two layers of blankets on me when I woke up? Because I remember that when I slept, there was only one blanket. Then how did this become two? I said while scratching my head a bit.
He smiled calmly, as he always does, his calm, soothing, usual smile on his face. Then he said, why bother about things that don't even matter at all?
It matters, Yuan. How does it not? I asked him.
See, whether I slept or not last night has nothing to do with you. And the blanket question—it was placed on the bed only, and maybe you yourself were the one who took that blanket while still sleeping.
I nodded my head slightly. I still was not buying whatever he was saying, but I just nodded my head.
Then we finally reached the shooting set location. The car stopped. Before my hand was able to open the door, he was already out of the car and opened it for me.
I smiled and said, thanks.
He smiled back and said, not needed. It's just your boyfriend on his duty.
I smiled harder.
Then we both went to our makeup rooms. The doors closed.
Meanwhile, when Yuan entered his makeup room, he sat on the chair for a while, and a flashback hit him.
Flashback – Last Night
I was completely asleep but shivering. Yuan turned on his couch where he was lying and saw it. He immediately got up from the couch and checked the windows, which were already locked, but still I was shivering.
Then he took out a blanket from his cupboard and placed it over me and tucked me fully inside it.
When he was about to go back to sleep, my feet touched his legs accidentally when he was passing by the bed. He stopped.
What is this? he murmured to himself.
Then he bent down and slightly opened the blanket from my feet side and touched my feet.
So cold, he said the moment he touched them.
He didn't wait for anything. He quickly got up, took a hot bag in his hands, sat on the floor beside the bed, and started warming my feet with the hot bag.
When the hot bag's heating intensity was over, he started rubbing my feet with both his palms.
Like this, the morning sunlight reflected on him. He checked the time—it was 6:00 a.m.
He checked my feet again. They were completely warm now.
He exhaled sharply and went outside the room.
Flashback Ends
He smiled while looking at the mirror, thinking about me.
If I told you why I didn't sleep last night, I know you would blame yourself and would never let me help you. That's why some truths need to be hidden for one's betterment.
And now I completely understand why you didn't tell me about the Yang Lulu situation and you working there in the bakery. You really didn't want to bother me or make me worry. So yes, you were right in your place.
He said all these things to himself while looking at the mirror.
Then a knock appeared on his door. His thoughts broke. He stood up and opened the door. It was his assistant, who came inside the room with the costume in his hands, and then he started doing the look for today's scene.
Meanwhile, Yang Lulu was doing my makeup in the room.
Yang Lulu, I said.
Yes, she replied.
Is everything alright? Why do you look a bit off today? I asked her.
I am not a bit off, Zhao Shiza. You overthink so much, she said while applying blush on my cheeks.
No, I don't. I just get intuition when I know a person—whether that person is okay inside or not, I said while looking at her through the mirror.
Her expression changed a little. Then she said, I am just a bit worried, Zhao Shiza.
Look, what did I tell you? My intuitions are never wrong, I said.
Tell me about what, I asked.
Her brush stopped. She put it down on the table and said, Zhao Shiza, actually today he asked me to meet him.
Who? Your fiancé? I asked.
She nodded.
But why suddenly—? I was cut midway.
No, she said. He said he wants to talk about something important. But you know what, on the call his voice sounded very composed. I think maybe he will change his mind and won't want that money from me.
I don't think such a person will ever change his mind. What if he raises the amount? Are you still going to arrange that too for the sake of your parents' reputation? I asked.
She picked up the brush again and started applying it to my other cheek and said, for the sake of my parents' health, I can do anything. Everyone is not lucky like you, Zhao Shiza.
See, if all the fingers of one hand are not equal, then how can the lives of two individuals be the same?
You grew up with your father and mother's protection, love, and care. You get whatever you want before even saying it. But for me, since childhood, my parents' health was not good. I always had to think twice before buying things I wanted, and I had to work hard myself to get them.
And now you can already see my situation—it is worse than before. This marriage also came with a cost.
I smiled at her and held her hand in mine.
You are right in what you say, but I do think you are assuming things from outer appearances. You don't know what is going on inside. Everyone is not the same, that is true, but everyone also has a different story of pain that no one knows. Everyone is fighting their own battles. Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it isn't there.
Then I paused and said, I'll go with you to meet him during the lunch break.
No, you don't need to. You are already doing so much, she said.
Oh please, Yang Lulu. I won't break if I walk with you, I said.
But why do you want to? she asked.
I smiled and said, I just want to be with my friend in her toughest situation. You know, a friend in need is a friend indeed.
She laughed a little—a laugh through pain—and agreed.
Indeed, you are really an angel friend of mine, she said.
Angel friend? What was that? I asked.
A friend sent by an angel who is an angel herself, she said.
Oh please, Yang Lulu. I am already your friend. You don't need to apply such butter on me. I have already become a butter-slippery floor.
She laughed. At least for a few minutes, I was able to make her happy—and that was enough for me.