Chapter 31

With the passing of Minor Cold and the approaching harsh winter, the film crew's planned wrap-up date is drawing ever closer. During a break on set, Shen Li overhears the actors discussing how to snag tickets to go home.

Her parents asked her in the group chat: When will it be finished? Can you come home for Chinese New Year this year?

Shen Li opened the filming schedule. As the female lead, she had the most scenes, and naturally, she was also the last to finish filming.

She sent the time to the family group chat and typed: I can reply. My business is booked until after the New Year, and I won't have much work after filming wraps up.

Mother Shen: Okay, after we go to Grandma's house on New Year's Eve, we'll go to your Aunt Luo's.

Shen Li suddenly remembered that she had promised Luo Mingxiu that she would visit his home during the Spring Festival. She had been really looking forward to it, but now, with this awkward atmosphere between them...

This isn't a solution. What if my parents mistakenly think they had a fight?

Although the current situation is no different from arguing and having a cold war, Shen Li irritably rubbed her hair, swiped the screen, and flipped to Luo Mingxiu's rehearsal schedule.

The group scenes with the four of them have been filmed. Tomorrow, Luo Mingxiu will wrap up filming, which will also be her last scene with Luo Mingxiu.

Why don't we talk to him after filming is over?

Thinking about this, Shen Li became even more frustrated. Why should she take the initiative to talk? Forget it, she'd better just keep it to herself. At worst, she could pretend she didn't know anything and treat it as an act.

He's been behaving quite well lately, so maybe he's already given up on the idea. She doesn't need to worry about him anymore.

As the crew urged her to leave, Shen Li turned off her phone and handed it to Xiao Yu, comforting herself as she focused intently on filming the next scene.

After filming, Shen Li got into her car and was on her way back to the hotel when Cheng Qingqing called.

She was listening to music when she pressed answer. A voice came through her earphones: "I heard Liang Jin say that Luo Mingxiu has finished filming tomorrow?"

Shen Li: "Yes, tomorrow morning, we'll film the last scene together."

“Oh,” Cheng Qingqing drawled, her tone strange, “How has he been lately… with you, no, how has he been doing on set?”

“That’s good,” Shen Li frowned. “Do you know something? I haven’t told you why we fought last time…”

“I guessed, but when I went to Liang Jin and told him that you knew Luo Mingxiu’s thoughts and wanted to confirm it, he admitted it.”

Shen Li rubbed her temples with her fingers: "Aren't you surprised? How could he like me? Just thinking about it gives me a headache."

"It's quite a headache, but it was within my expectations. Do you remember when we had dinner together before joining the crew? Liang Jin said that when Luo Mingxiu auditioned for the male lead of this drama, I had doubts about his feelings for you. Later, he helped you beat up that guy surnamed Fang, and he gave you flowers on the day of your divorce. I felt more and more that his feelings for you went beyond those of a sister."

After Cheng Qingqing mentioned it, it really did seem like a clue. Shen Li said, "Then you should have reminded me earlier."

"I was just guessing. Besides, you usually have no shortage of suitors. It's quite normal for a younger brother who has been taking care of you for many years to like you. I just want to see how it goes first."

“You…” Shen Li was speechless. “You’re just watching me make a scene, aren’t you?”

Cheng Qingqing: "Let's not talk about that for now. I called to tell you that Liang Jin asked me to rent an apartment for Luo Mingxiu. He said that his popularity has increased and he has more business in B City, so he can't always stay at your place."

"Did he suggest this?" Shen Li asked.

"Right, Liang Jin will definitely discuss it with him."

"You can approve this small matter; you don't need to tell me." Shen Li lowered her eyelashes, her tone unconsciously becoming somewhat muffled.

Cheng Qingqing noticed her subtle displeasure and said with a smile, "Are you angry? Are you a little disappointed?"

"Hmph," Shen Li laughed, "What do I have to be disappointed about? Filming every day is so annoying, I'd better get away from it, out of sight, out of mind."

"Hey, you're not angry yet?" Cheng Qingqing teased.

Shen Li hung up the phone.

Yes, why is she angry? Isn't this the result we've been waiting for? She should be happy. She'd known all along that their relationship could never go back to what it was before, hadn't she?

In the early hours of the morning, Shen Li, who was in a deep sleep, had a dream. In the dream, she returned to the time when Luo Mingxiu had just come to her house. She was watching TV on the sofa and eating her favorite bear-shaped cookies. The boy next to her stared at her intently and said, "Sister, I want to eat some too."

She stopped, who was busy popping cookies into her mouth, turned around and ruffled his hair: "Little one, eat if you want."

"You said it yourself."

The scene shifts, and the tiny Luo Mingxiu has grown up. His bangs, which used to cover his eyes, are swept up, and he wraps his strong arms around her, lowering his head to bite open the hem of her clothes.

Then a familiar ringtone came from afar...

Shen Li suddenly opened her eyes, breaking out in a cold sweat. She turned off the alarm, buried her head in the blanket to cover her face, and tried to calm her racing heart.

What kind of dream is she having?

That's insane.

-

In their first scene together, Shen Li was lying in bed, and he cried to her as she slept. In their final scene, he collapsed into her arms, and she cried to him as he was covered in blood.

"Huaixi, I can finally call you that. I'm sorry, in the next life, Li Ze will protect you again." After saying his last line, Luo Mingxiu closed his eyes heavily.

"Cut!"

"Congratulations to our Xiao Luo on wrapping up filming!"

After Director Liu yelled that, the first person to rush over was Yuan Haoxuan, who grabbed him and said, "No, buddy, what will I do if you leave!"

Luo Mingxiu pushed his head away: "Your filming will be finished in the next day or two."

Yuan Haoxuan clicked his tongue: "This is really boring. I was just expressing my reluctance to part ways. I'll keep your WeChat and come find you when I get back to B City."

Luo Mingxiu: "Don't worry, as long as you stop spamming my WeChat Moments with ads, I won't delete you."

“You…” Yuan Haoxuan said angrily, “Dude, you’re just jealous of my popularity. You’ve lost your advertising space.”

"No," Luo Mingxiu quickly changed his mind, "I was just kidding, save the advertising space for me."

Yuan Haoxuan snorted twice: "Now you know how good I am, brother. If you have any new movies to promote, just come to me."

Luo Mingxiu patted him on the shoulder: "Thank you."

Shen Li walked to Xiao Yu's side, took the cotton coat and put it on, and hugged and said goodbye to Luo Mingxiu, the director, the martial arts instructor, and some actors.

He caught her gaze out of the corner of his eye, ran over, stopped and looked at her, his eyes seeming to hold a thousand words, but he only said one sentence: "Sister, aren't you going to wish me a happy wrap-up?"

But just from that one sentence, Shen Li already felt her eyes stinging. She didn't want to think about what she liked or disliked at that moment.

Countless scenes from filming flashed through her mind. Regardless of the little incidents, this was their first collaboration, and the experience was invaluable. She reached out and hugged him: "Happy wrap-up."

Goodbye, Li Ze.

Goodbye, Xie Huaixi.

...

Two weeks later, Shen Li finished filming her last scene on Cangyun Mountain outside the film and television base. With that, the filming of "Detective Xie Huaixi" officially came to an end after nearly five months of shooting, from September to January.

The crew members had a simple meal together. Shen Li sent a large red envelope in the group chat, which made the group lively. Cheng Qingqing sent her congratulations and asked when she would be back.

Shen Li wasn't in a hurry to go back. Finally free, she unloaded all her burdens and spent four days playing in Cangyun, tasting all the delicious food and taking lots of photos before finally preparing to return to City B.

On the day she was heading home, she received a call from Li Nan while waiting at Cangyun Airport.

"Congratulations on wrapping up filming. When are you coming back?" Since I completely rejected Li Nan, we haven't been in contact for more than half a month. Hearing his voice now, I feel a little dazed.

However, the tone on the other end was natural, so Shen Li replied naturally, "Did you plant a camera on me? I was just about to board the plane."

Li Nan smiled and said, "The investors of the movie we discussed before would like to have dinner together. Let's schedule a time."

Shen Li: "I'm free today, tomorrow and the day after."

Li Nan: "How about tonight? What time will you arrive?"

“Tonight is fine,” Shen Li said, glancing at her plane ticket. “I have an hour until boarding, and I should arrive around five o’clock.”

"Do you need me to pick you up from the airport?"

"No need, you need to let me go back to the villa to get ready. Qingqing will come to pick me up."

"Okay, let me know when you arrive, and I'll send you the time and address."

"Okay." Just as Shen Li was about to hang up, a woman called out from the other end, "Lili, don't hang up yet, Auntie has something to say."

Shen Li stopped what she was doing and replied, "Hey, Aunt Xu, I didn't hang up. What's up?"

“Lili,” Aunt Xu answered the phone, “After you and Xiaonan finish eating, come straight to my house. Have you forgotten what you promised your Uncle Li?”

"I haven't forgotten," Shen Li said.

Okay, she really forgot what she had promised before, it seems like... oh right, she said she would go to Li Nan's house for dinner after filming wrapped.

Shen Li: "You're going to eat Uncle Li's cooking, right? I was planning to go in the next couple of days. But it won't work tonight, since Li Nan and I have already eaten out."

Aunt Xu: "Oh, what I mean is, I'd like you to stay here for a few days. I just finished my tour and am at home recently. Aren't you going to film that movie with Li Nan that requires dancing? I'll be in it too, so I'd like to chat with you."

"I see..." Shen Li thought of the female lead's mother in the script, a dancer playing a dance teacher, a natural performance, and it wasn't hard to imagine that Li Nan would leave this role to his mother.

"Then I'll stay here for a couple of days. Thank you for your help, Auntie."

"No trouble at all, you're very welcome. You said it's been so long since you last visited Auntie's house, it's only been two days, have a few more days to stay."

“Mom,” Li Nan interrupted Aunt Xu, speaking up for her, “Chen Li is only free these two days; she probably has other commitments later.”

"Oh, okay, two days is fine too. I'll be happy if Lili can come."

Shen Li smiled and said, "Thank you for your understanding, Aunt Xu."

At 5 p.m., the flight arrived in City B on time.

Tong Xiaoyu quickly walked out through the V-passage, got into the car, and Chen Li took off her sunglasses and mask. She first hugged Cheng Qingqing in the driver's seat and gave her a cheek kiss.

Then he buried his head in her chest: "I missed you so much, let me inhale your fragrance."

Cheng Qingqing let her press against him a few times, then used her hand to support her forehead and push her away.

"Oh my, baby, you're so well-endowed." Shen Li smiled at her and winked. "So soft and fluffy."

"Alright, if it weren't for your face, I sometimes really think you're a bit creepy," Cheng Qingqing said. "What are we having for dinner tonight? Shall we go straight to a restaurant?"

Shen Li turned on her phone and sent Li Nan a message saying she had arrived. She then held up the chat window to Cheng Qingqing's face: "See? There are arrangements. Take me back to the villa."

“Okay, but just so you know, Luo Mingxiu is still staying at your place. Liang Jin said he hasn’t found a safe place yet,” Cheng Qingqing glanced at her watch. “He should be done filming the commercial by now and heading back soon.”

Shen Li paused for a moment, then pulled on her seatbelt and fastened it: "Let him stay if he wants. I didn't kick him out."

“You…” Cheng Qingqing hesitated, unable to finish her sentence.

"Hurry up and drive. I can't even come and go freely in and out of my villa anymore?" Shen Li said.

Cheng Qingqing started the car: "What I wanted to say is that you'd better not let him know that you had a date with Li Nan as soon as you came back. I ran into him at the company last time. He stared at your poster in the corridor for a long time. I felt that although he was avoiding you on the surface, as you said, he was still very concerned about you."

Shen Li remained silent, unsure of what to say.

She was filled with mixed feelings. She wanted to see him as soon as possible, but she didn't know how to face him. She couldn't understand herself at all.

The car stopped at the traffic light intersection. Shen Li looked out the window and sighed deeply.

The green light came on, and Luo Mingxiu continued forward, turning into the commercial street and driving the car into the supermarket's underground parking garage.

Having learned from Liang Jin that Shen Li was coming back today, he was restless all day. Although he couldn't rehearse with her every day while filming, he could always see her during breaks or when changing locations. Just seeing her made him feel at ease.

He thought this feeling would be easy to break, but after only half a month without seeing her after filming wrapped, he was going crazy with longing.

How could he possibly give her up? It was simply impossible.

Luo Mingxiu got out of the car, put on a mask and hat, and entered the elevator. A message popped up on his phone; it was a link to Liang Jin's house.

Liang Jin: Bring the car back to me tomorrow, and we can go see this apartment together.

The elevator doors opened with a ding, and Luo Mingxiu entered the supermarket, pulled up a shopping cart, and replied with one hand: Wait a little longer.

Liang Jin: How much longer do we have to wait? I've asked you to show me a place several times, but you're never enthusiastic. Do you even want to move out of Chen Li's place? Give me a straight answer!

Luo Mingxiu: Brother Liang, let me think about it some more.

Liang Jin: Fine, think about it for as long as you want. I can tell you just don't want to move out.

Liang Jin: You're hopeless.

"Hopeless," Luo Mingxiu chuckled self-deprecatingly. Maybe so. He really was beyond redemption, even though he had planned not to cross the line again and not to touch her again.

He had only been doing this for a short while, but he couldn't resist wanting to get closer to her again. After browsing the fresh food section, Luo Mingxiu quickly selected some ingredients, and a smile appeared on his lips as he recalled Shen Li's eating habits.

After putting his things in the trunk and getting back into the car, he looked at himself in the mirror, and his smile gradually faded.

Shen Li must find him annoying; she can't shake him off no matter what she does. How can he be so shameless?

As the car entered the villa area, Luo Mingxiu saw a red sports car parked on the side of the road in the distance when they were almost at the gate. It belonged to Shen Li.

She's back already?

Luo Mingxiu was overjoyed for a moment, then realized that the rarely used sports car had been driven out. Was Shen Li about to go out?

You just got back and you're already going out again?

Luo Mingxiu quickly parked the car in the underground garage, went upstairs, and opened the door.

In the entryway, Shen Li, dressed neatly, was bending down to change her shoes, with a small suitcase to her right.

Hearing the noise, she looked up. Her makeup was exquisite, her long hair was slightly curled, and the air was filled with the scent of fresh perfume.

"Are you going out?" Luo Mingxiu asked first, then realized something, "Oh, I forgot to bring the groceries up."

He turned back to look at her again: "Where are you going? Can't you finish your meal before you leave?"

Shen Li put on her high heels, slung her small handbag over her shoulder, and said, "I have an appointment with an investor, so I have to go. Let's have dinner another day."

Hearing her calm tone, Luo Mingxiu felt a little jealous and couldn't help but question, "Do you need to avoid me like this? I've already found another place to live, I just haven't moved out yet."

He glanced at her suitcase: "You need to bring a suitcase when you go out to meet investors."

"After having dinner with the investors, I went straight to Aunt Xu's house to spend a couple of days with her. I had promised Li Nan that I would visit him after filming wrapped up."

After Shen Li finished speaking, she saw Luo Mingxiu staring at her silently with an unreadable expression. She pushed her suitcase, turned around, and said, "I'm leaving."

The handle of her suitcase was grabbed, and someone suddenly approached from behind, picked her up, and quickly walked inside.

"What are you doing? Put me down!" Shen Li kicked him, her shoes falling to the ground. Luo Mingxiu gripped her legs tightly with both hands, preventing her from struggling.

"I'm not lying to you, I really did have an appointment with investors," Shen Li said, startled by his sudden action. She tried to soften her tone, "Mingxiu, please put me down, okay? I'm in a hurry. We can talk when I get back, okay?"

Luo Mingxiu did not answer. He led her into his bedroom, placed her on the bed, and before she could react, quickly tore off the tie around his neck, intending to tie her hands together.

"Are you crazy?" Shen Li flung off her tie, which, along with the tie clip she had given her, fell to the side. She kicked him away and then saw that Luo Mingxiu's eyes, which were already filled with gloom, were looking at her.

She got up and opened the door, only to have it slammed shut the next second. Luo Mingxiu closed in, his chest heaving. He restrained her hands, the close proximity rendering her immobile.

"Stop being foolish!" Shen Li said angrily. "Do you know what you're doing?"

"What did I do? I just don't want you to leave, I don't want you to leave me, I want you to spend more time with me," Luo Mingxiu whispered in her ear, his passionate breath close to hers.

The phone in his pocket rang, and Luo Mingxiu stopped what he was doing, still holding her tightly with one hand, while reaching for her phone with the other.

He took it out and glanced at it, then turned the screen towards her: "Is this the investor my sister was talking about?"

He lowered his gaze in refusal and tossed the phone onto the bed.

"It's Li Nan again. Why is it always him?"

"Chen Li, you know Li Nan likes you, so why are you still getting so close to him? Do you really like him and are you with him?"

Shen Li gave a cold laugh: "What? Can't Li Nan and I meet with investors together? He's the director and I'm the actor, can't we collaborate?"

"Your mind isn't clear; don't overthink the relationships between people."

"Besides, even if I'm with Li Nan, is it any of your business?"

Luo Mingxiu felt a pang in his heart, and he lowered his hand: "Yes, it's none of my business..."

Once Chen Li was freed, she took the opportunity to open the door, but as soon as she did, Luo Mingxiu reached out and pulled her back inside. He locked the door from the inside and put his arm around her waist.

"Chen Li, why are you doing this to me? You're hurting me so much. You know how I feel. Don't you even have a shred of pity for me?"

A glint flashed in Luo Mingxiu's eyes, and his voice trembled with tears: "I used to like Fang Wei, and now I like Li Nan. One person after another comes and goes in your life. You fall for others so easily, why don't you ever look back at me?"

Shen Li was furious and turned her face away, not wanting to look at him. She didn't know how deep his misunderstanding was; he thought she liked Li Nan, and even though she denied it, he didn't believe her.

"I like you, Shen Li, haven't you ever thought about it?" Luo Mingxiu reached out and forcibly turned her face to face, forcing her to look directly at him. Her head was lower and lower, and Shen Li blocked him with her legs to prevent him from getting any closer.

Shen Li: "Don't jump to conclusions about yourself like that. I'm just a sister you're close to. If you get to know other girls, you'll realize that you don't really like me. It's just dependence. That kind of feeling can easily mislead you."

"Dependence?" Luo Mingxiu raised his eyes. "I left for four years, came back and went straight to you, joined your team, and clung to you every day. Do you think that's dependence?"

"Over the years, I've felt lucky to be recognized as a godson by my godparents and to have met you and lived with you. On the other hand, I also hated it. I hated that I had to call you 'sister.' Do you know how painful it was for me? So many people were pursuing you, but I didn't dare, just because of this nominal sibling relationship."

"From the day we parted, you've been like an invisible chain binding me. I can't break free, I can't stop thinking about you, I can't stop being near you." He lowered his head again, the burning desire in his eyes was something Shen Li couldn't possibly not understand.

“I’ve missed you every single moment of these past four years. Do you know how happy I was when I heard you were divorced? God gave me another chance, allowing me to…”

"Stop talking." Shen Li didn't want to hear the truth; she was afraid to face reality.

Seeing Shen Li's disgusted expression, Luo Mingxiu felt a sharp pain in his chest and his throat tightened as he uttered a hoarse voice: "I have to say this. I've been holding this in for ten years, and I'm going to make it all clear today. I like you. I like the scent you have. For me, every smile and every movement of yours makes my heart flutter."

You were my first love, my sexual awakening, and my first heartbreak. What do you mean by "puppy love" and liking a girl from school? Don't you understand yet? That person is you!

"From beginning to end, I've only ever loved you."

Luo Mingxiu practically roared out the last sentence, his voice so loud it felt like a heavy blow to her heart, making her tremble.

The phone on the bed rang again. Shen Li struggled to kick him away and tried to answer it, but he ignored her and picked her up, shoving her forcefully against the wooden door.

"Let me go, what's wrong with you?"

"Yes, I'm crazy, just consider me crazy." Luo Mingxiu was panting, thick fog had already reached his eyes, and he lowered his head to cover her lips.

Shen Li stared wide-eyed and tried to push him away with all her might, but he easily controlled her and hugged her tighter and tighter.

He sucked and licked her lips forcefully. Shen Li gritted her teeth, but in the end, she was invaded by him, his passionate and reckless kiss engulfing her. Lacking any skill, it left Shen Li almost suffocating, and a moan escaped her lips.

After a brief struggle, she finally got a chance to catch her breath and felt Luo Mingxiu's body stiffen. She bit his lip hard and struggled desperately.

Luo Mingxiu raised his head and pursed his lips. The taste of blood entered his tongue. His eyes were hazy, and his desire deepened.

He stopped holding her, letting her feet touch the ground, but he didn't let go of her. Instead, he bent his legs slightly to hold her tightly, gripped her neck, and kissed her even more passionately.

Blood still stained his lips, but he seemed oblivious to the pain. The kiss continued, his mouth filled with the taste of blood. Luo Mingxiu persisted relentlessly, like a dog in heat.

Until Shen Li's lips and tongue went numb, and tears of primal instinct flowed from the corners of her eyes.

Luo Mingxiu finally stopped. The silver thread that trailed from her lips told him what he had done to her without her permission in his rush of passion.

"I'm sorry." He reached out to wipe away her tears.

Shen Li covered her lips, never having felt so humiliated and wronged. She glared at him resentfully, slapped him hard, and then opened the door and ran out.

Luo Mingxiu took two steps back and squatted down by the bed. The loud slap on his face hurt a lot, but the pain was nothing compared to the pain in his heart.

He made a huge mistake; he's completely finished. This time, Shen Li is really going to leave him.

Luo Mingxiu picked up Shen Li's phone and chased after her. He didn't know when, but it had started snowing outside. He stepped into the snow and watched her put her luggage into the trunk.

Shen Li glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, took her phone, walked around to the driver's seat and got into the car, not giving him any more attention.

The moment the car started, she caught a glimpse in the rearview mirror that tears were streaming down Luo Mingxiu's face, and his lips moved as if he had something else to say.

Shen Li gripped the steering wheel and drove away. In the snow, Luo Mingxiu's eyes were dark and icy. He watched the car getting smaller and smaller as snowflakes fell on his head, but his feet remained rooted to the spot.