Bab 45: Three Days (1)

Long Jie was in the middle of an important conference meeting when Song Luli called him.

"Hello?" he answered without the consideration of the others in the room.

"I'm coming home late tonight; the set has been busy. Can you pick up some deep-fried mantou on the way home? I've been craving it lately."

"Do you want some pearl milk tea?" he asked her.

"Yes, please," she answered.

"All right. I'll see you later."

Long Jie hung up the call, and the executives and other members of his staff stared at him, gawking subtly. He didn't register any of their glances.

After the conference ended, his assistant said, "All preparations are made for J city, Mr. Long. We can arrange a three-day trip for you when we receive a final confirmation."

Long Jie nodded. "Thank you," he answered solemnly.

He dismissed his assistant and other members for the morning. He went to his office to complete some work. Long Jie knew it would be the longest without seeing Song Luli, but travelling was part of his job description.

He finished work for the rest of the day and headed towards the dessert shop on the way home. He picked up some deep-fried mantou, a can of condensed milk, and pearl milk tea.

At home, he put the things he picked up away for her in the kitchen. He then went to his room, packing some essentials and clothing in an overnight suitcase.

He heard Song Luli arrive home, and her sweet, concerned voice rang. "Long Jie?" she asked, ascending the stairs.

"I'm here," he said to her while folding some clothes.

Song Luli cautiously stepped into his bedroom. She was still getting used to coming in and out without feeling like she's intruding, even though he had assured her multiple times that she wasn't.

She appeared to be tired and weary as she approached his bed, slumping over the sheets. Song Luli seemed to be defeated. He dropped the shirt he held, walking around the bed to sit next to her.

"What's wrong?" he asked her.

Song Luli laid flat on her torso, as she glanced at him with glossy eyes. "Nothing," she answered. "It was so busy today; I felt overwhelmed and out of place."

Long Jie had rarely seen her put down her walls. He reached out, taking her hair in his hand. He unconsciously twirled them around his finger as he asked, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Song Luli nodded.

Long Jie then responded, "I will be back."

He quickly left the room, returning with the tray of snacks he bought her earlier. Song Luli's eyes glinted as she had almost forgotten that he asked her to buy it.

She began to chow down on the deep-fried mantou, dipping it in the condensed milk in between bites, stuffing her face. She vented to Long Jie as she ate.

"Behind the scenes, everyone is snappy and working under stress. I held everything in the entire time, and no one gives a fuck about who I am. It doesn't matter if my family owns the production company. They could easily make a film without me. But still, I was so excited to make some contribution, and all I did was ran useless errands. They even treated Lan Shufen better than me, which I understand, since he's the writer, after all."

Long Jie listened to her. After a moment, he said, "Luli."

"What?" she answered with a pout.

"It's okay to feel the way you are," he began.

He was happy that she didn't leave it bottled up inside, but instead, she told him of her feelings. "But you must listen to me; keep going there, flash your presence, make them understand the reason you attend each film day," he said defiantly. Long Jie knew that Song Luli kept working hard to help the set.

Song Luli nodded. She looked at him with soft brown eyes and wondered if it would be okay to hug him?

She reached out, circling his shoulders with her arms; he toppled over the bed with her on him. She squeezed tight, and it took Long Jie a moment to respond to her embrace. He held her, glancing at the canopy above them. They didn't speak a word, and it was quiet. But there was a comfortable silence shared between them.

After a few moments had passed, Long Jie asked her, "Who's Lan Shufen?"

Song Luli chuckled against his chest, "He's a friend. A goof of some sort, but he's harmless. I promise." She rose to meet his eyes; her hair curtained him. He lifted his hand to twirl dark strands of her raven-black hair with his slender fingers. His eyes were full of trust and sureness. "I believe you," he said.

Song Luli smiled, catching him off guard. "Are you confident that I won't ever leave you?" she asked him quietly.

"Oh, I know you won't," he said, gazing at her, finding the defiance and confidence in her eyes again; it was clear now more than when she arrived earlier. She was returning to herself. Good.

Song Luli lifted her head, finding the suitcase resting on the bed. When she arrived earlier, she hadn't noticed him packing. "Where are you going?" she asked him.

"I have to work in another city. But it will be only three days," he said as he rubbed her arms.

It completely slipped her mind. She had been getting used to living with Long Jie that she had forgotten there would be times where he wouldn't be home.

Long Jie would have asked her to come with him, but it wasn't simple. Song Luli wasn't someone to drop her work and priorities for a last-minute trip. "You'll survive without me, right?" he asked her with slight sarcasm.

Song Luli pouted, lifting her chin. "Of course I will," she responded. Long Jie laughed and sat up.

Song Luli then detached herself from him, and Long Jie continued with his packing. She then left to use his shower and came out wearing his long black robe. The sleeves were too long; it surpassed her wrists and hands, appearing to be oversized on her. Long Jie flushed. She innocently stepped towards his bed, acting as if what she didn't know that what she wore affected him.

She snuggled comfortably under the covers.

Long Jie, on the other hand, had to keep packing. He watched as her breathing deepened, sleep claiming her quickly. He knew she was tired; therefore, he couldn't ask her to stay up with him just before he left.

He finished packing, preparing for sleep. He joined Song Luli in bed, taking her in his arms. It didn't take long for him to join her in their slumber.

In the morning, Long Jie woke up early. Song Luli was still asleep, sprawled on him. He carefully detached himself from her, grabbing his things. But just before he left, he planted a light peck on her cheek.

Long Jie already began to feel the dread of leaving.