“Also,” Xiao Yu took off the dozen or so loops of black rope wrapped around her wrist and asked while tying up her hair nicely, “are you sure you didn’t fall for it?”
Jia He shuddered, her teeth aching from the teacup poking into them.
Xiao Yu wasn’t rushed either, neatly wrapping her hair until she tied it securely, only then continuing: “You haven’t taken any preventative measures right?” Asking so directly, only Miss Xiao could.
Jia He hmm-ed and continued digging at the cake with her spoon, kept on digging and digging.
Xiao Yu took out her wallet and called for the bill, then led her from the tea house all the way to the pharmacy. It was just past 3pm, there weren’t many people in the pharmacy, only several old ladies gathered together chatting. Jia He was extremely paranoid sweeping her eyes around: “They have it in supermarkets too right? I’ll just pay out of pocket.”
“They do have it, but quality isn’t guaranteed,” Xiao Yu said it all in one go, before facing the crowd and asking: “Do you have pregnancy test sticks?” She didn’t expect her to be so at ease saying it. Jia He instantly had thoughts of fleeing.
Luckily the few old ladies hadn’t seen such unabashedness either. They quieted for a few seconds before quickly dispersing. One old lady remained. She cleared her throat and very properly said: “We do. What brand?”
Xiao Yu smiled. “I don’t have experience. Auntie please recommend one.”
The old lady was steady as ever. She said wait a moment, then went to the counter on the other side and took out three boxes. Walking over, she placed them in front of her and said the prices were actually all similar, but this one sold a little better. After speaking, she singled out one box. Xiao Yu hmm-ed and picked it up looking at it briefly before directly saying just this one, five boxes for me.
The old lady’s gaze shuddered. She grabbed a ledger to ring her up.
And so the two exited the pharmacy with a bag holding more stuff. Jia He still only carried a very small bag that could barely fit her wallet, phone, and keys. Hiding it was impossible. Under the glaring sun, she watched Xiao Yu swagger off carrying the semi-transparent bag. She had nowhere to go.
In the end she bought an opaque cloth bag to nicely put everything inside and securely tied the opening shut before she could settle her guilty heart.
With her mom supervising at home, if that was discovered, her mom may very well issue an ultimatum to meet the so-called knockoff version of Yi Wenze. Xiao Yu’s house? She just said she wouldn’t be home tonight. Home? She despairingly discovered her only real home in Beijing was with Yi Wenze.
The last place left was the production company. Still his territory.
Just as she was hesitating at the intersection, not knowing what to do, she suddenly thought of an idea. Go watch a movie then use the bathroom there… Then afterwards… her phone rang.
“Not at the company?” he asked.
She mm-hmmed and casually made up a lie: “Some stuff in the new drama needs changing. I’m going to have a brief meeting with them about it.”
It was rare for that side to fall silent for a bit before asking: “Where are you? I’ll come get you.”
She raised her head looking at Xiao Yu Company’s tall building and continued spinning her story: “Just came to find Xiao Yu after the meeting. I’m under Orient Plaza.”
Just after her voice fell, she heard a familiar voice speaking on the phone. A man’s voice. She was stunned for a second and instantly teared up. There is justice in heaven… It was Director Liu. How could she have forgotten? Those two had cooperations. They even specifically met in Tianjin before.
Yi Wenze laughed as he spoke with him for a bit before saying to her: “I’ll be there soon. I’ll get us a table. You go in first and wait for me.”
Jia He’s gaze went from the model’s face in the display window, to an alluring mink coat, then over-the-knee boots. In the end, she resigned herself to admitting: “Okay. Send me a text with the name once you’ve reserved it.”
Exposed. Utterly exposed.
He did that on purpose…
She had come to this restaurant once before during a celebration banquet so she counted the time before Yi Wenze arrived. Just to spitefully waste his money, she ordered a table full of dishes. Right when she put down the menu, his text came in saying: Almost there.
“Almost there” yet the door opened just three minutes later. The hostess leading the way was clearly overly enthusiastic. The main character hadn’t even shown himself yet she kept on about how Easy Wen was this and that. Jia He hurriedly lowered her head to stare at the menu until she felt two people sit down. Her menu was abruptly snatched away: “Ordered everything already?”
Jia He awkwardly raised her head. Through the hollow lamp shadows she mm-hmmed. Then forced out an awful grin at Director Liu: “Director Liu.”
“Oh, it’s Jia He!” Director Liu deliberately grinned before sighing and saying, “If I knew earlier I wouldn’t have made you nervous.” Jia He truly blanked. She turned to look at Yi Wenze. He was calmly and unhurriedly flipping through a menu with a faint smile: “I let it slip by accident in Tianjin.”
So all this time, it was her self-deceiving and covering her ears while stealing bells??
So he did that on purpose…
The mustard greens and spinach were truly tear-inducing. Just as she reached to grab her orange juice, touching the cup she discovered it was ice cold. She hesitated, recalling the things inside that opaque black bag. Only then did she apprehensively call out for the server to add a cup of heated coconut milk. After speaking, Yi Wen ze gave her a look.
Alright she admitted she always liked drinking chilled orange juice to go with meals!
Finally in the car, she very carefully tossed the bag into the backseat. Only then did he ask: “Where’d you go today?” Jia He recalled she still owed him an explanation but no matter how she wracked her brains, she couldn’t find a more farfetched excuse. She could only calmly say: “Xiao Yu got dumped so I went to keep her company.”
Forgive me Xiao Xiao…
She recited silently in her heart. Yi Wenze truly smiled helplessly though: “Do your friends get dumped so easily?”
She very surely mm-hmmed and even sorrowfully said: “She also feels it’s too embarrassing so strictly charged me not to spread this around.”
He finally let her off: “Not feeling well today?”
He’s so attentive. She despondently sighed to herself and mm-hmmed.
That black bag. Just carrying it in hand made her feel guilty.
And so she followed him out of the car, up the building, and into the home. Watching him change his clothes and shower. Finally sit at his desk and start looking through the stack of documents. Only then did she find the best opportunity to scurry into the bathroom.
She had just taken out a box and was carefully reading the instructions when she heard him enter the bedroom. Then there was the sound of him answering the phone. Not too soft or loud, it echoed by her ears making her take much longer just reading a few lines. It was very straightforward directions accompanied by illustrations yet she just couldn’t continue. Such a long phone call but no idea who it could be to have so much to say.
She was afraid he would notice her taking too long so could only turn on the shower. It was amidst the rushing water that she finally relaxed.
The sudden knocking on the door nearly made her drop the paper in hand.
“Didn’t you grab clothes?”
“Oh right. Forgot.”
After some time, he knocked again so she could only guiltily stick her head out to see him holding her undergarments and pajamas: “It’s been getting colder these days. Don’t come out wrapped in just a towel.”
She took them with a smile and swiftly shut the door.
Under immense pressure, she finally threw the clothes on the shelf. Reaching out, she tore open the packaging. Each second felt like a century, her throat tightening from thirst.
The result—a very clear singular red line. Just one line.
What was one line again? Picking up the instructions for another careful look. Oh, it meant negative.
Still feeling uncertain, she used up all five boxes before completely settling her heart.
She swiftly cleaned everything up, washed up, got dressed, and went out feeling completely nonchalant now that she mentally prepared herself.
And she saw Yi Wenze leaning against the chair massaging his brow looking at documents. She also took a glance as she walked over. It was a notice about promotions for the New Year film. A dense list of over a dozen cities with the final date being Kuala Lumpur two weeks later. Two weeks… Her heart fluttered slightly. The knots in her stomach all day finally loosened and she relaxed completely.
He looked back at her, perfectly meeting her beaming face, unable to help smiling too: “What’s got you smiling so happily?”
Somehow, being asked like this made her feel guilty instead. How to explain this?
She hesitated, taking his hand to solemnly lead him to the sofa and sit down. With every step she could think up a line but when she truly sat, she fell silent again still not knowing what to say.
He seemed a bit tired, just leaning against the sofa and pulling her onto his lap to lie down, looking at her from above: “Still haven’t figured out what to say?” From his tone, it was as if he had guessed everything already. Jia He blinked: “I already said don’t get mad when I tell you.” His smile was gentle as he reached out to button up her pajama top: “Why would I get mad?”
That was true too.
With his rebuttal, Jia He finally felt it wasn’t her fault either. You tell me, if something really happened wouldn’t it be both people’s fault equally? Thinking randomly like this, her face reddened. What was she even thinking about here? How was it just from him looking at her a couple times, she suddenly had this overwhelming sense of guilt like she had been wishing to bear him children for many years yet her stomach wasn’t cooperating…
She flipped over with her face toward the outside mumbling: “Xiao Xiao reminded me today to check if there’s been any developments down there…” She paused. Hearing him remain silent he probably understood right? “Then… I checked. And discovered there hasn’t been any developments yet.” Sigh Her screenwriting was all for naught. All the important lines were replaced by “that”.
Still no reaction? Don’t tell me he really is mad? It’s not my fault though?
No wait. They weren’t even married yet. Of course they couldn’t do “that”…
All kinds of conflicts spinning in her head, she flipped back over craning her neck to look at his face. Then she felt the buttons he just helped her with get unravelled matter-of-factly by him again. One by one. Unrushed. And an amused low voice asking her: “So you just washed yourself all clean and are prepared to keep working hard?”
Erm. Did I?
This was the living room. The bedroom was on the second floor near the top of the stairs.
Although it was very quiet in the room, there were sounds of people talking and walking outside. She didn’t stop struggling even with her arms around his neck. In a low voice she said to go to the room. His voice was right next to her ear. Right here. The vertigo was stronger than ever before. She was hugging his arm yet her own limbs started going soft. Her skin scalded by his kisses, even his breath was hot.
The sofa was very soft. With both their weight pressing down, it nearly reached its limits.
The sudden knocking on the door nearly made her yelp.
Biting her lip for dear life, she heard Wu Zhilun’s voice calling out I’m hungry. Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, his heated breathing then completely drowned that out, scorching and confused. She felt blood would drip from her face soon. Only when that relentless knocking finally stopped did someone loudly yell: “Yi Wenze, prioritizing lust over friends!”
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