Capítulo 11: Afternoon Sun

After an exhausting evening, Song Luli managed to arrange her room to her liking, feeling more like home.

Long Jie disappeared after helping her unpack the last box, and she supposed she would have to get used to the fact that he wouldn't linger a moment longer if he weren't needed.

Song Luli sighed. She was content with the fact that he granted her privacy, but still, just how long can they keep going like this?

Straying from her thoughts, she went to the kitchen, finding herself something to eat. She looked through the fridge, which consisted of vegetables, so she looked through the cupboard to find a snack. But something hit her then. Was she even allowed to take any food? What if Long Jie liked these snacks?

She then glanced around the room, but it was silent and empty. Then a note caught her eye. "You can eat anything - Long Jie," it said. Song Luli sighed in relief before taking a bag of chips and crunching on them.

Wearing pyjama shorts and a sweater, Song Luli then went to the library study to get some work done. She could not tell if she liked being alone or not. In some ways, Song Luli felt as if she was given some agency as she always grew up in a big, loud household surrounded by friends and family, but now she was beginning to feel lonely.

But in other ways, she had always felt alone. She wondered if Long Jie felt that way too.

Song Luli then shook her head at the thought. She didn't need to worry or think about him; it didn't matter what he did.

She then proceeded to drown herself in some work.

...

The next morning, Song Luli went back to the company. She went to greet her father, who was already there bright and early before heading to her office.

She made some phone calls towards head producers informing them that they now had the proper budgeting for film productions and to resume any on-going projects.

She decided to visit some of the sets as she had never formally introduced herself to some of the companies' biggest producers and investors. It was Song Meiling that they knew.

She found a man who looked like the director of a historical romance drama they were filming, and she approached the man.

"Hello," she said.

The director ignored her.

Song Luli cleared her throat. "H-hello?" she said again.

The director glanced at her with knitted brows. "What do you want?" he asked unkindly.

Song Luli was taken aback. She held her chin high, trying to compose her quivering voice. She was nervous because she was still some-what unfamiliar with backstage areas. "Hello, I am Song Luli," she said smoothly.

The director arched a brow, unimpressed. "I thought when they said Song Sheng's daughter is visiting, it would have been Song Meiling."

Was he disappointed?

Song Luli tried not to absorb the insult. She didn't want to anger the director, but she was also someone who did not like to take the undertone of his attitude.

"Director Gui? Is it?" she began with a silverware smile. "I want to introduce myself formally." She then reached out to shake his hand firmly. "I will be working as an executive producer on this project."

His eyes widened. "Executive producer? But aren't you the...?"

Song Luli smiled again. "Indeed, I will take over my father's position soon. But I have money to spare for some of these projects. As long as everything goes smoothly, your projects will be funded."

The Director registered her words. If he doesn't comply or respect her, then she could pull out from his projects. But how does she have the money?

"I understand," said Director Gui respectfully, eyeing her once more before going back to the set.

Song Luli, on the other hand, decided to spend the rest of the morning and early afternoon meeting cast members, assistants, and writers to build her social network and display her face. She was someone that needed to be recognized so that they wouldn't undermine her.

After a long day, Song Luli returned to the house; it was a thirty-minute drive from the company, but it wasn't trivial because she got to delay her journey home. It was still bright and hot outside for the afternoon, so she felt compelled to swim.

At the house, she stepped inside, welcomed by silence. She stepped in further. Her stomach began to hurt, so she skipped out on making dinner and went straight to her bedroom to get a bathing suit.

She placed on a brand new white one-piece swimsuit that she hadn't got the chance to wear and a pair of goggles before entering the pool, performing some laps. She was big on swimming because there was something about being submerged in water just before surfacing that felt soothing.

When she finished, Song Luli stepped from the pool to lie on a long chair and dry underneath the heat of the late afternoon sun.

Song Luli fell asleep and woke up startled when someone tried to wake her. She sat up abruptly, knocking heads with the person in front of her.

"Ouch..." she said, rubbing her forehead. When she opened her eyes, Long Jie was also rubbing his head in front of her.

"You scare easily. Noted," Long Jie said.

"What are you doing?" Song Luli said. But she realized that her entire body felt hot and sensitive.

Long Jie appeared to be irritated. "I was going to advise you to step inside since you're burnt," he said.

Song Luli stood up, but her skin felt boiling, and it hurt. Long Jie then went inside before her and returned with some cooling gel. "Go inside, and I'll help you put it on," he said.

Song Luli nodded, stepping in carefully. She laid down on the couch of the living room as her skin stung against the fabrics.

Long Jie sat next to her side, as he applied the cooling gel with his soft fingers.

Song Luli inhaled sharply as it initially stung. "Calm down," he said. She released a breath as the gel worked its way into soothing her skin.

"Why did you fall asleep?" he asked her.

Song Luli glanced at him. Long Jie wasn't looking at her, but from her angle, she realized his cheekbones were sharp and refined, traceable even.

"I didn't mean too," she responded. "I haven't been getting much sleep lately."

Long Jie rubbed the gel across her skin again. "Why?" he asked with a voice that did not sound concerned, only curious. "Too much work?"

"I suppose," she answered under her breath. "I'm still learning."

Long Jie finished his movements, cleaning up his fingers. He looked at her, locking his gaze. Song Luli felt like glancing away, but she held it, wondering why he was able to look at her directly without feeling embarrassed.

"I won't tell you not to overwork yourself because I am, too, in a position of your calibre, but what I can say is that you must keep working hard, adjust to your position, but do not burnout," he said.

Song Luli nodded. She absorbed his words because he was more experienced in the positions that they hold. He was twenty-five years old, a mentee to his father, but that's all she knew about him.

Long Jie stood up to leave, as Song Luli remained in her spot. He then paused to say, "My grandparents have invited me to dinner at the end of the week. You can come if you wish."

Song Luli rolled her eyes. "As your wife, I think there isn't a need to ask?" she said aloud, but then realized she called herself, his wife. Her face involuntarily flushed, but her expression remained defiant.

Long Jie's lips curled. "Doesn't hurt to ask a tomato-faced girl," he said.

Song Luli barred her teeth, wanting to bury herself beneath the pillows of the sofa, but seeing as she couldn't, Long Jie laughed and left.

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