His words are enough to make my Mr. Heart flutter. I really don't know whether calling it words is suitable or not, because it's worth more than words. I can't believe my luck. I never imagined that in this life I would ever be able to hear these kinds of kind and loving words from him. I thought it would all end just like my incomplete dream only, but I got it all wrong. He is here with me, saying these things. I just can't believe myself sometimes. Sometimes I think it's just a dream, my imagination, but if it is, then why does it feel so real? And if this all really is a dream, then I want to sleep more. I never want to wake up from this. At least, at least in my dreams you are with me. I can live a life which I always crave for. And seeing you like this, loving me so deeply, it's just everything I prayed to God for my whole life, but never thought that He would ever give me this or not. But really, who cares about all this? I am just living it, living this moment. I don't know how much time I have, but in this whole time I want to live the best of us, best of us. I repeated it again.
He suddenly taps my cheeks and asks, "Where are you lost again, silly girl?"
I chuckled and said, "Nothing, just living my dreams with my own open eyes. I just want to catch this moment in my eyes forever and ever."
He smiled at me and said, "Make it a habit, because I'm really going to make your every day feel like this."
"Focus, focus on your lines, Yuan. Focus," I said to him and started reading my own lines. Then suddenly my attention was drawn towards Yang Lulu, where she was just standing there outside the makeup room, looking so dull and silent. I want to ask her what happened to her, why she is so strange today, but I can definitely say one thing—that something is definitely off with her, definitely.
Then Director Li's voice came, saying, "Xu Yuan and Zhao Shiza, both of you ready with your lines?"
We nodded our heads.
"Okay then, come. Start shooting for today's first scene as scheduled," said Director Li.
We immediately got up from our chairs and went to shoot the respective scene.
The scene went well. Director Li said, "The scene was good. There is a break for half an hour. We'll gather again here only for the next shot. Alright everyone, having a break right now."
Director Li announced it to everyone and then left from there.
I need to talk to Yang Lulu and ask her what's bothering her. I took a few steps towards her, but before I reached her, suddenly someone held my hand and pulled me towards the makeup room. Then the makeup room door got closed, and who could it be else than my obsessed boyfriend? Of course, it was Yuan who did this.
"Yuan, isn't this your makeup room?" I asked him.
"Seems like it," he said.
"What if someone finds us together here? They'll definitely know about us," I said.
He bends down a little to meet my eye level in his usual posture and asks me, "Are you afraid about it?"
"Yes, I am afraid… afraid for you," I said.
"For me?" he asked surprisingly.
"Your career, Yuan. Your career. It might get affected because of all this, and—and—" I stopped midway.
"I what?" he asked.
"I really don't want to come in your career path. I don't want to ruin your career that you have built with so much hard work all these years. I don't want to become the reason for your downfall. I really don't," I said.
"You won't, my silly girl. You won't," he said while cupping my face between his hands.
"No, Yuan, no. You know how the industry works. One mistake and it will all ruin your hard work of all these years. It will all be shattered in just one glimpse. And I—I don't want to become the reason for your downfall, Yuan. I worshipped you and never wanted that anything of you would ever get ruined because of me. I don't want it. I don't. We need to understand this behavior much more carefully. Your career is our topmost priority in your life. Your career comes first to you, and then I."
"And what about you?" he asked.
"About me, there is nothing about me, Yuan. About me was vanished way before, back in years, since the moment I saw you that evening on my TV screen in that drama. Since then everything in me, about me, is always you. Always," I said.
"And your career?" he asked me while looking into my eyes like he was searching for something.
"Yuan, I have never been an actress. My career is new here, and I don't even know whether I'll stay in it forever or not, whether it will work out or not. I don't know anything. And if it doesn't, then also I already have my own path. You know I am learning interior designing in Shanghai University, and I'm in my final year. Sooner or later I'll graduate, and then I'll earn for myself and be independent. So don't worry about me. Somehow I'll earn money, so don't think that I'll be left as good for nothing. I already have my way ready, so don't bother about me, okay Mr. Boyfriend," I said while pulling his cheeks slightly.
"Look at you, so ready for anything, taking all the things on yourself and only caring about my career," he said. "Sometimes I ask myself how did I find this girl so easily? Did I deserve her? But whenever this question rises in my mind, my heart answers it—if it's not me, then I can't even imagine anyone else having you. I'll better die before thinking about that scene."
"Yuan, please don't say such things," I said while putting my hand on his mouth.
He gently removed it and held my hand in his. "I don't know what good deed I have done to get you in this life, but now when I got the most precious treasure of my life, I'll never ever let anyone's eyes lay on what's mine. Never ever. Not even over my dead body."
"My boyfriend is getting so emotional today," I said softly. "What if someday you won't find me? What if someday you'll know that I'm gone? Then promise me you'll move forward in your life. Promise."
He got angry hearing these words. "Why are you talking like this?"
"It's not that I want to hurt you, Yuan. It's just that life is uncertain. No one knows what will happen in the next moment. So for that, I want you to promise me. Promise me that if, in the worst scenario, I couldn't make it—"
"Couldn't make it?" he asked.
"Couldn't make it to come along with you in your path and left it midway, then promise me you'll move on from me. You'll find another girl, you'll build a family with her. Take this as my last wish," I said, tears almost forming in my eyes.
"I'm really not going to promise such foolish things," he said while looking away.
"Yuan, please," I said.
"What please? You are asking me to move on from you, to build my family with someone else. Look, Miss Zhao Shiza, I don't know what you think about me, but you'll be the one who will stay with me all along my path. You'll be the one with whom I'll build my family. Only you. And don't you dare talk about my girl like this ever again. Ever. And why are you talking such rubbish today? Did you hit your head somewhere?"
"No, Yuan. I am just being practical and talking about the uncertainties of life," I said, then paused. "Stop scolding me first."
"You need to be scolded for asking such silly questions and foolish promises," he said in rage, but when his eyes landed on me and he saw I was about to cry, he came near and hugged me tightly, like I would vanish if he loosened his grip. "I'm sorry, really sorry. I didn't want to scold you, but look at you today. What you are talking about—it's such rubbish. Why are you bad-mouthing yourself?"
"I am not bad-mouthing myself. I am just being practical and making you prepare for such situations," I said while crying between my sobs.
"I don't like you being practical. I really don't want you to do that. Just be my silly girl," he said while calming me down.
"I am already your silly girl," I said.
"Then just be it like that," he repeated.
I broke the hug. "What happened?" he asked.
"Yuan, I can stay like this my whole life, hugging you like this, but I really can't. I need to go, otherwise everyone will sense it. I need to go, Yuan."
Then I left his room.
Inside, Yuan was left with too many thoughts. Why is she talking like this today? What if whatever she is saying happens one day? I don't know how I'll react, but God, now that you have given her to me, trust me—I won't let you take her back from me. I won't.
Outside, I started searching for Yang Lulu. Then I saw her standing a little far away, talking to someone on a phone call. I went near her, and what I heard—I couldn't even believe my ears.
"Please, please don't call off this wedding. My family won't be able to handle it. I'll surely manage it. Please just give me some time," she was begging the person on the other side.
Her call ended automatically. I put my hand on her shoulder. She turned around immediately.
"What, Zhao Shiza? Shall we start the makeup for another scene? Let's go inside," she said and was about to leave.
My voice stopped her. "What happened, Yang Lulu? Whom were you talking to? Whom were you begging not to call off your wedding? Is it your would-be husband's parents? Did you tell him what the heck his parents are doing to you?"
She grabbed my wrist, pulled me into the makeup room, locked the door, and turned towards me.
"Tell me, Yang Lulu. What happened?"
Tears rolled down her eyes uncontrollably, and she hugged me.
"Stop crying, Yang Lulu. Just stop," I said while trying to console her.
"Zhao Shiza," she finally said while crying badly.
"Yes, Yang Lulu. I'm all here. Tell me. I'll hear you," I said, massaging her back to calm her.
"Help me, Zhao Shiza. Help me," she said...