The room’s heating was already very warm, yet he had also turned on the air conditioning. Despite it only being mid-October, the two still ended up drenched in sweat. She was so hot that after quickly putting on a strappy dress, she rushed to shower. When she came out using a towel to dry her hair, he suddenly pulled her over to sit on the bed and took out winter clothes for her to change into – a round neck sweatshirt pulled over her head, then sweatpants.
He dressed her very swiftly. Jiahui was practically dumbstruck, letting him manipulate her – it was like 5-star service!
In the end, seeing the sweatshirt sleeves were rather long on her, he neatly rolled them up one loop. She sniffled and softly said, “Done.” Then she watched him stand up and walk to the desk to dial an extension, “Ah Lun, come on over.”
Huh? Jiahui nearly tumbled off the sofa.
Wasn’t this exposing their tracks, the two had been in the room without opening the door this entire time?!
Having just showered, she now wore so many layers and started sweating again. The moment she heard the knock, she immediately jumped up, saying I’ll pour drinks for you guys, then rushed into the tea room. Her eyes swept over the shelves – flower tea, black tea, Pu’er tea, which kind? She finally decided to make coffee. That would take more time…
Outside, the two men laughed while chatting. Not until the coffee finished brewing did she carry out two cups of coffee and one cup of tea. Only then did Wu Zhilun stop and lift a paper bag, saying, “I originally came to deliver stuff and see if there was anything good to eat. And you treat me like this?”
If anything, Jiahui felt more peculiar. “What does it have to do with me?”
Wu Zhilun smiled at Yi Wenze but the latter only accepted the glass Jiahui handed over without a word, still smiling. Jiahui also gave Wu Zhilun the coffee before taking his paper bag and simply writing “You have Yi Wenze” on it. She uncertainly glanced at Yi Wenze again, but he remained silent.
Instead, Wu Zhilun gave two light coughs. “Aren’t you two tired of each other yet? There’s a saying…making eyes at each other.” She had long known despite his fluent Mandarin, whenever he said this kind of thing, it definitely meant mocking her… Jiahui placed the paper bag on the table, purposely ignoring him and tugging Yi Wenze’s sleeve as she stared at him brightly, “Are you releasing a single?”
What astonishing news since he hadn’t made a peep in so many years!
Yi Wenze smiled with a nod. “Happy?”
She swiftly nodded. “Of course!”
Wu Zhilun chuckled. “I managed to write the lyrics in my busy schedule,” he lifted the paper bag before Jiahui again. “There’s an idiom, family harmony brings prosperity. Let me tell you, Yi Wenze really does have a huge flaw. Like placing love above friends, very lazy, leaving everything for me to do.”
He pronounced “placing love above friends” with particular effort. Jiahui lowered her head again, fiercely drinking coffee and nearly scalding her tongue. She finally heard Yi Wenze speak, but it was to Wu Zhilun, “How do you feel?”
Wu Zhilun beamed, “Extremely good, fantastic. With your music and my lyrics, plus you willing to sing, I believe even without PR, it will definitely become a big hit.”
Their following discussion revolved around publicity for the single. Jiahui listened in a confused jumble, flabbergasted to discover this was already recorded and completed without her knowledge, about to kick off massive promotion.
Only after Wu Zhilun left did she casually ask while washing cups, “After the single, are you planning a new album?” He accepted the cup she handed over and placed it on the shelf. “No plans yet.”
Jiahui ah-ed, sighing what a pity. She didn’t need to listen to know this song would become popular. Releasing a new album with that momentum would be the best move. Although she didn’t comprehend the music market well, from the moment Yi Wenze opened his mouth to sing at the concert, she knew he was inherently born a star. Even casually singing someone else’s song could sound so…
Recalling this matter along with his words from back then, she belatedly felt bubbles of happiness and washed the same cup over and over for a long time until recovering her senses to see him leaning against the counter, amusedly watching her. Only then did she turn off the faucet and stuff the cup into his hands. “Go sleep.”
The next three days, Yi Wenze consecutively flew to four or five cities. Jiahui could only hug her phone, periodically checking messages. Having already mentally placed going to New Zealand as a foremost matter, she had pushed nearly all work to next month. When Xiaoyu brought her the framed words, she unrolled and inspected for a very long time. Despite lacking skill here, she still approvingly gave over a dozen thumbs ups and compliments.
Sitting in the living room, Xiaoyu took a look around at the furniture and painfully asked her, “You picked all these?”
Jiahui watched her guardedly. “You’re not allowed to say they’re bad.”
Xiaoyu leaned back on the sofa with a long sigh. “If I remember right, among celebrities, Yi Wenze’s taste has been evaluated as quite good. What a pity, what a pity.”
Jiahui was wiping the balcony glass door. For hard to reach high spots, she could only hop about. In the end, Xiaoyu still took the cloth and wiped a few areas for her. “Since when were you this diligent? That run-down little Shanghai property still used part-time cleaners. The moment you returned to Beijing, you instantly became the epitome of kindness, virtuosity, and grace?” Jiahui watched how with barely bent arms, she easily made every corner sparkling clean. Very envious, she said, “Can’t hire people now. Scared of gossip.”
Xiaoyu shot her a look. “Then get married.”
Jiahui mmm-ed. As she reached to take back the cloth and throw it in the balcony sink to wash, she suddenly heard the usually composed Xiaoyu shriek. Frightened, she instantly ran back to the living room. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
Xiaoyu hugged her laptop with lowered eyes eerily staring at her. “Explosive news.”
Jiahui’s heart thumped. Xiaoyu’s scare made her feel guilty. “Don’t mess with me.”
“It’s unrelated to you.” Very slowly, Xiaoyu turned the computer screen her way. “See how big this engagement ring is?”
Jiahui sat beside her. It was a video in selfie perspective. Due to Xiaoyu’s question, she directly focused on the engagement ring in the frame, straining to estimate its size compared to the box and hand. “At least two carats right? Very eye-catching.”
“Know this person?” Xiaoyu pointed at the video’s man.
Only then did Jiahui examine him. So familiar… “I remember now. It’s Cheng Hao, he was an assistant director in Yong’an’s crew before leaving our company later. Haven’t seen him for over half a year since I left the production team in March.”
“Does he know Qiao Qiao?” Xiaoyu continued leading her.
“They know each other. Back then with meals, singing, and stuff, they were often together,” Jiahui added. “But probably not very close right? Haven’t heard Qiao Qiao mention him much.”
Xiaoyu mmm-ed, recovering her calm. “He proposed. This kid’s quite sincere to even post it on Weibo…let’s see the repost rate…”
“Huh? No way?” Jiahui shook her fingers hitting play.
In the video, Cheng Hao raised a box, staring at his camera. “Qiao Qiao, happy birthday. I still can’t afford a 10.25 carat diamond ring for now. I searched a long time for this 2.25 carat one.” He took out the ring from the box and cleared his throat before continuing, “I’m at the Tokyo Film Festival. Don’t know if I can succeed this time, regardless of success or failure – marry me.”
It seemed to be seaside scenery with ambient noise from the wind.
Cheng Hao tightly gripped the box from tension.
It was a very short video but somehow, Jiahui watched with a souring nose. So touching!
But…she looked at Xiaoyu then the video then Xiaoyu again. “She’s always told me immediately whenever something happens in her relationships. It’s impossible for her to date Cheng Hao without telling me right?”
Xiaoyu nearly spat out water. “So it went straight to proposal without even dating yet?!”
The two ominously stared at each other for a moment before simultaneously taking out phones and dialing Qiao Qiao. In the end, Jiahui got through first. That side picked up with sniffles and a sound of acknowledgment. Jiahui’s eyes instantly lit up. “You’re so moved, you’re crying?”
Jiahui decisively hit speakerphone, placing the call on the table.
“Huh? What?” Qiao Qiao’s voice carried heavy nasal tones. “I’m freezing to death here, filming on location.”
“You still don’t know?!” Jiahui glanced at the reposts. Very good, passing 9000 after 20 minutes while the person involved still had no clue.
That side was very helpless. “If there’s something, say it quick. I have another call coming in.”
“Uh…” Jiahui decided to slowly escalate things. “Recently have a new boyfriend? After that scum bassist[1]?” Qiao Qiao was silent for a bit. “Are you so blissful in your relationship you’ve come to comfort us singles?”
[1] Referencing previous character
Jiahui embarrassedly thought, what’s the relevance to me? “Truly nothing? Or some budding tender affections, just shy of piercing the window paper[2]? There should be some clues right? Otherwise isn’t this guy courting death?”
[2] Chinese idiom for confirming romantic interest
“Absolutely none. Want to introduce me to someone?” Qiao Qiao was nearly frenzied.
“There’s something I need to tell you. Stay calm when you hear it.” Jiahui exchanged a look with Xiaoyu, the implication very clear – it’s your turn to agitate her.
Xiaoyu cleared her throat. “Miss Lovesickness, I have some unfortunate news for you. Go farther from crowds and find a quiet spot.” Qiao Qiao ah-ed, “So you two are together?” That side quieted before she cried out again, “I get it now. You two finally felt guilty forgetting my birthday today right? Do you know how many celebrities have sent me messages starting from 12 AM yesterday? They’re so busy yet still remembered. And you two idling everyday actually forgot to even text me!”
Jiahui awkwardly peered at Xiaoyu. Xiaoyu interrupted, “Do you know Cheng Hao?”
“I know him,” Qiao Qiao swiftly said. “Jiahui does too, we worked on Yong’an together. He left our company later. What’s up? Caught your eye?”
……
Now Xiaoyu was also embarrassed. She looked at Jiahui before calmly speaking to the phone, “He proposed to you.”
Quiet. Extremely quiet.
Jiahui’s heart thumped anxiously. That side gave an abrupt sound. “It’s my birthday today, not April Fool’s. I haven’t even seen him for half a year and lost his number too.”
“Check your own Weibo. Someone’s already reposted the video to you. 2.25 carats, very eye-catching, especially under natural light.” After Xiaoyu swiftly concluded, that side instantly hung up.
One minute later, the phone on the table buzzed again. Jiahui deeply inhaled and hit accept, even more excited than when she got proposed to herself. She immediately heard sniffling and sobbing – the female lead couldn’t speak anymore. “You said…is this a prank…” Xiaoyu calmly stated, “Given the current tens of thousands of reposts, probably no one’s pranking themselves like this.”
The two merely listened to her incoherent blubbering for a long while. Jiahui couldn’t hold back asking, “Hey, what do you plan to do? This Cheng Hao went overboard too. Not even dating yet and he dared propose first. Doesn’t that make things difficult for you?” Although very romantic, they still needed to consider if the person involved was willing right?
“I think…” Hesitation came from the other end before even more shocking words. “I’m in love with him.”
……
Jiahui felt her brain couldn’t handle the load anymore. Xiaoyu simply mmm-ed, “Hurry to apply for a visa then. If you come down, you should make the festival’s closing ceremony.” The two action-oriented people swiftly exchanged several sentences and hung up. Only then did Jiahui understand Qiao Qiao’s intention, instantly dumbfounded as she stared at Xiaoyu. “No way. Her head’s gone hot and you support her decision too? Going to Tokyo?”
“If a man stakes his dignity to do this without any assurance whatsoever, marrying him is pretty good,” Xiaoyu neither confirmed nor denied. “Not every woman can encounter something like this. In the end, you could split with anyone. So why not pick a silly yet capable man? You should know he won an award. That’s witnessed by over ten thousand people, not a small number.”
Jiahui blankly nodded, continuing to nod. Why does Xiaoyu make everything sound so reasonable?
After Xiaoyu left and she suddenly recalled the exhilarating matter, she simply called Yi Wenze to excitedly recount the silly man daring to propose without even dating first and how Qiao Qiao instantly fell in love at the proposal. That side only chuckled while listening. In the end, very mild and tranquil, “There truly are two Chinese films shortlisted this time. Hope he succeeds.”
Such gentle composure instantly deflated Jiahui. She oh-ed.
Leave a Reply