The car stopped in front of the set. We both stepped out of the car. Then I took my phone out of my bag and was about to pay the cab driver, but Yang Lulu stopped me by holding my wrist and said, "At least let me pay this."
I smiled at her and let her pay the fare to the cab driver. The cab left after the payment. We both started entering the set and walking toward the makeup room. While walking, I said, "Yang Lulu, I know whatever happened today was very difficult for you to process, but some difficult things are needed. I hope you can understand. If it didn't happen today, then some other day it would have happened, but this was needed."
"I know what you are trying to say, Zhao Shiza," she said.
I exhaled sharply and asked, "Did you plan how you'll tell this to your parents?"
"No, I didn't. I think I need at least four to five days to prepare myself first to tell them about it," she said. But then she stopped midway, held my hand, and said, "Whatever you have done today has opened my eyes. I really learned from you today that no matter how much pain you endure, you need to respect yourself first. Our first priority should be ourselves, not others, no matter how much we love them. We need to learn to value ourselves more than anyone, and this learning will always remain with me throughout my whole life."
I smiled after listening to her and said, "Throughout the whole life?" I repeated. "Don't you think it's a big word to say? I mean, we don't even know what the future holds for us."
Then we started walking toward the makeup room, and while walking she said, "Unless that future has you in it, everything will be alright."
"Really?" I asked.
"Really," she replied with a satisfying smile on her face, which was long lost.
Then we reached the room and got inside. "Let's get ready for the scene, otherwise Director Li will get angry," she said while taking out the eye brush from the makeup bag to apply on my eyelids.
I smiled, and like this we shot together. After a very long and hectic schedule, we finally got pack-up at nearly 10:30 pm. Everyone was about to leave after packing their stuff. I stopped Yang Lulu and asked her, "Didn't we need to go to that bakery today for the work? I mean, I know the engagement has been broken, but still you had taken advance payment from him, didn't we?"
She smiled and said, "No, we don't need to. I returned that advance payment to him just a few hours ago when we got out of that restaurant. So no extra work. We just need to focus on one thing—our biggest project—to make our drama Lost in Your Love the most loved and hit drama series in the whole Shanghai."
"Why only Shanghai? We want it to be the best in the whole China," I said.
"Yes, true. Now I am leaving. You also go, it's getting late, your dorm will get closed," she said while leaving.
"Ooo no worries, I am also leaving," I said.
"Okay, bye-bye," she said.
"Bye-bye," I replied, and then she left the set.
I was about to go inside the room to get my bag, but suddenly he came and pulled me toward him and said, "Where have you been so lost the whole day, my silly girl?"
I smiled and said, "Mr. Yuan, a few people are still on set. I think you should behave."
He bent a little more to meet my eyes and said, "How should I behave when you are in front of me?"
I laughed, just to cover my blushing, and said, "Yuan, I am in no mood to eat Margherita pizza, so eat it yourself only."
"Ooo, teasing me?" he asked.
"Actually, you just gave me so many points to tease you," I said.
"Come, let's go. I'll drop you to your dorm," he said.
"No, I mean you are my boyfriend, Yuan, not my personal chauffeur. I'll go by myself," I said. I was about to leave, but he pulled me back by holding my bag and said, "But you are mine, and I don't feel like leaving you alone at this late night," while brushing away a strand of hair from my forehead.
I smiled and said, "Okay fine, I lost. You have successfully defeated me, Mr. Yuan. Now you can perform your boyfriend duties."
"That's like my silly," he said.
Then we both left the set and got into his car. But the moment he turned on the car, I remembered something.
"Ooo no."
"What happened?" he asked worriedly.
"Yuan, just a minute, I'll be back," I said.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"I am going to get my bag back from the makeup room. I forgot it there, and it's because of you," I said.
"Because of me?" he asked in little surprise.
"Yes, because when you came, I was about to go back to the makeup room to take my bag, but you made me forget it," I said.
"So you are indirectly blaming me for that, isn't it?" he asked.
"Not indirectly, I am blaming you directly, only through direct speech," I said.
"Okay, okay. You forgot it because of me. I'll go and get it back. Now happy, my silly girl?" he asked.
I tried to control my smile but failed badly and said, "More than anything."
He smiled back and got out of the car to get it. He reached the room and took my bag, but suddenly a notification popped up on my phone. My phone was placed on top of my bag. He didn't see it intentionally; it was just that his eyes went there. It was from Wang Ruoxi on WeChat.
She was asking me, What are your plans for the 21st? Do we go to any movie, then go shopping, and end it with hot pot for dinner? What say? If you have any changes, let me know, and please come soon. We'll discuss what to wear tomorrow.
The message ended.
Yuan took my bag and phone and came out of the set. On his way back to me, he thought, What's on the 21st? What's so special about it? The 21st is tomorrow only. Are they going to celebrate some friendship day? No, no, I don't think so. Shall I ask her? No, what will she think—that I peeked at her phone intentionally? Which I didn't. It was just placed on her bag and the notification came at that moment.
While thinking all this, Yuan reached the car. He sat in the driver's seat and gave me back my bag and phone.
I smiled and said, "So, so thank you, my responsible, caring boyfriend."
He smiled and said, "No need. I am just doing what I love to do."
Then he started the car.
"You are so good at making and playing with words, aren't you?" I asked.
He chuckled and said, "Didn't you like it?"
"No," I said.
He looked at my face for a second, then I smiled and said, "I loved it."
He smiled back and said, "You scared me."
Then I started scrolling on my phone while he was driving. I opened Weibo, my favorite thing to do. I kept scrolling and scrolling, and then I saw his photos and videos—promotional shoots where he promoted jewelry, eye-catching specs collections, and most importantly, tea-flavored teas.
I smiled while watching them.
He asked, "Why are you smiling while seeing your phone?"
I smiled again and said, "Nothing. Just seeing how handsome my boyfriend is."
"You are… I mean, I am sitting right next to you, and still you are watching me on your phone?" he said.
"Yes. From past years, it was my only way to stay happy—seeing you there only. So it's just a habit now. I can't do anything about it."
My smile faded for a second. Then he said, "See, now I am sitting next to you, so you don't need to see it."
"My world is always around you. Whether you are physically near me or not, it's always about you. It always starts with you and ends with you," I said.
"So heavy words at midnight," he said.
I smiled. Then I saw another video on Weibo—his old video with his co-star, where she said she joined that drama because he was in it. I quickly backed out of Weibo and placed my phone inside my bag, but he had heard it.
The car stopped in front of my dorm.
Before leaving the car, I smiled and said, "Okay, Yuan, bye-bye. Have a safe drive."
He smiled back and said, "Bye-bye."
I left, but he was still there, thinking about what was on the 21st… tomorrow...