That's all for today.
Jiang Songhe told Lin Duole to go back to his workstation and wait, and to come in half an hour later to have a meeting with him.
Once the office door was closed, there was no further action; he simply stood silently, maintaining the posture he had before opening the door.
Even though I couldn't see his face, the feeling of an invisible barrier erected around him, making him unapproachable, reappeared.
On Valentine's Day, Jonathan thought that Jiang Songhe had lowered her standards for him, which meant that Jiang Songhe was finally willing to open a door to her world. Although the door was small, only he held the key to enter.
With this key, Jonathan should be a burden to Jiang Songhe, and should return to Maner once and for all, waiting for Jiang Songhe to resolve the problem and return to his side, shouldn't he?
It doesn't seem so.
Jiang Songhe was unwilling to introduce him to the butcher lady she rarely saw, nor to the company employees she often met. Even when he came to visit the company, she had to use the pretext of project cooperation.
Why? Is it because I haven't done enough to prove that I'm a valuable boyfriend?
She had clearly stated that in her career, she was willing to adjust her own transformative work to meet the needs of the projects that Jiang Songhe valued. In her relationships, she was willing to accommodate Jiang Songhe's traditional values, dispel her fear of being subservient, and give him her all.
Jiang Songhe refused.
In the past, the men Jonathan encountered flattered and schemed for nothing more than fame, fortune, and sex. Now, he not only offers these things willingly but also gives his true heart. Why then does he receive a "no" response?
What you don't want is what you give, or the self that gives it?
Does saying "I am yours" sound cheap? Does it sound like a joke? Was Jiang Songhe's emotional response fake...?
No, that's not right. I shouldn't compare Jiang Songhe to those men from the past.
Jiang Songhe is a good person, and all those good qualities are hidden in her actions, something Jonah knew long ago.
That's why Jonathan was deliberately saying the opposite of what he meant, testing whether the door was closed. When Jiang Songhe was provoked into asking herself the same question, she felt guilty and ashamed and was speechless.
Jiang Songhe is a good person, but she is traditional and slow to warm up. Although she is ten years older than me, she has never been in a relationship, just like me. Aren't these things already known?
It was because I was too anxious to return to Maner, it was because I was immature and worried about gains and losses, it was because I used the wrong methods to try to prove myself and possess, it was because I broke my promise and spoke ill of others, it was because I was not good enough.
The two of them simply handle their relationship at different paces, and they just need more time, that must be it.
So what else can be done? If the time spent in Jingting cooperating with the publicity is extended again, how many more days can be gained?
It's hard not to be anxious!
Jonathan didn't know exactly what a "film screening" was in the Chinese entertainment industry, but when Lin Duole mentioned "platform" and "investors," and considering the timing of the barrier being erected, he thought it must be related to the problems Jiang Songhe was facing.
"I just finished watching the first episode in the conference room. The first episode was about Song Yoon's duel with his on-screen brother. I felt..."
Jonathan grabbed Jiang Songhe's hand, which was hanging by her side, and turned her around to face her.
“‘Sacrifice at Dawn’ is more suitable as the theme song for the older brother. You should reveal the current version at the meeting tomorrow, and tell them that Janus will make adjustments based on the theme of ‘Yan Ge Xing’ soon, okay?” Jonathan tightened his grip, trying to exert some psychological suggestion.
Jiang Songhe took a light breath, her gaze flickered a few times before dimming again.
Instead, Jiang Songhe lowered his head and gently took Jonathan's lips into his mouth, tracing them meticulously until Jonathan could no longer smell the blood that hadn't been wiped away. Only then did he raise his head and stop this sweet yet perplexing kiss.
"It's okay, I'll handle it." Jiang Songhe wiped the moisture from her thin lips with her fingertip and made a light joke. "I approve of Vasin's driving skills. I'll give him the car keys later and ask him to take you home first."
Jonathan understood the implication and refused.
Is that still not enough?
Jonathan felt like there was a butterfly in his chest that he couldn't catch no matter how hard he tried. Anxiety and frustration intertwined into a powerful spider web. In a moment of impulsiveness, he said, "Then tell them that Yunhe will sign Janus's porcelain division contract."
"..." Jiang Songhe's expression froze for a moment, then she hastily ruffled Jonathan's hair, "Don't talk nonsense."
Most of the time, Jonathan enjoys being treated like a child by Jiang Songhe, feeling cherished by his lover. He is exceptionally satisfied because of his lack of childhood. In order to preserve this satisfaction, Jonathan even intentionally or unintentionally does some stupid things in front of Jiang Songhe.
But when it comes to Jonathan's serious discussion about his say in his area of talent, it's a different story.
"Which sentence?" Jonathan's expression turned serious. "You think it's nonsense?"
Jiang Songhe clearly didn't catch the question, remaining silent for a long time, most likely lost in thought again behind the barrier. Jonathan disliked it most when he kept spacing out while he was waiting for a response.
This can make Jonathan feel neglected, especially by someone he wants to rely on, which can trigger a lot of bad memories.
Memories of a shadowy figure offering warmth and hope only to abandon you without a word; memories of a mother knowing what her stepfather did to her but turning a blind eye; memories of undergoing grueling training to become a perfect entertainer so she wouldn't have to go through those experiences again…
Suddenly, thorns sprouted all over his body. Jonathan released his grip on Jiang Songhe's hands, crossed them under his armpits in a defensive stance, and asked, "Or do you think I'm incapable of making decisions about my own career?"
Jiang Songhe raised his eyebrows, then closed his eyes and sighed. He took out his phone from his pocket with his hand that was hanging in mid-air, and stopped looking at him: "I didn't eat lunch, so I ordered takeout to my house. You should be able to eat when you get there."
“I told you, I’m not a child anymore.” Jonathan was unmoved. Being treated as someone who couldn’t take care of himself and being urged to leave only made his thorns grow longer. “I can not only decide for myself, but also for your brother.”
Jiang Songhe paused, then swiped the screen faster and harder. He still didn't make eye contact. The barrier seemed to thicken and grow colder, emanating a sinister black aura.
“You know, my first job back in Manr was the Star Showdown finals.” Jonathan stubbornly insisted on using his own words to pierce Jiang Songhe’s barrier. “Songyun is already an adult and on my team. I might as well say something silly and suggest that he also sign a contract with TANG. Do you think he would accept it?”
Jiang Songhe finally raised his head, revealing a stern face.
Seeing this, Jonathan became even more agitated, and with a provocative smirk, said, "Isn't this great? This way, you'll have no choice but to stay in Manr from now on, anyway!"
"Anyway, your brother doesn't seem to care about continuing to be an actor at all. He didn't even ask you a single question about the roles you cherish so much!"
He intended to say the above next, but then he inappropriately remembered Jiang Songhe's hurt reaction after talking to Jiang Songyun last night. Before he could finish speaking, he changed his words: "Anyway, your most important concern is your younger brother."
"I will not agree to split Song Yun's contract." Jiang Songhe slammed down her phone and locked the screen. She was probably so angry that she didn't even bother to order takeout for Jonathan. "Similarly, Tang Fan will not agree to split your contract either. Am I clear?"
What does this have to do with Tang Fan? Jonathan has almost never disappointed Tang Fan's expectations, and Tang Fan has always been very independent in his career decisions. Otherwise, the collaboration between TANG and Yun He wouldn't have been so easily achieved.
Jonathan turned his thoughts back to the part where "Jiang Songhe didn't want it," and started to imagine Tang Fan again.
He recalled that Jiang Songhe had never commented on the final version of "The Night of Sacrifice and Dawn," and that whenever he brought it up, she would always change the subject. He then thought about how, after the final version was completed, he had personally and reluctantly defined Jiang Songhe's identity with Tang Fan at the TANG Cinema.
A sudden tightness gripped Jonathan's heart. He tentatively asked, "Did Tang Fan say something to you?"
Jiang Songhe turned around and opened the blinds: "No. I'm just stating the facts from the perspective of an artist's agent."
When he turned back, his face was expressionless, but Jonathan had a bad feeling.
From outside the window, you can see Lin Duole rushing in with his laptop, stopping at the office door and knocking.
The conversation ended so abruptly, and Jonathan was in a hurry, unsure of what else to say. So he picked up the first thought that popped into his head and blurted out, "What about the reaction filming? I've only watched the first episode, is that okay?"
"It's alright." Jiang Songhe opened the door, gesturing for Lin Duole to come in. "That's all for today."
...
Wasin drove Jonathan back to the Jiang family villa and into the garage.
After getting out of the car, the two arrived at the door one after the other. Jonathan was feeling down because of the unpleasant conversation and because the door lock hadn't been registered with his fingerprint yet. When he saw the beautifully packaged takeout food on the floor mat, which was still warm when he picked it up, he suddenly felt a mix of sadness and warmth in his heart, and even a little bit of tears.
My stomach feels like it's being churned, and I can't eat anything.
I shouldn't have been so greedy yesterday and ate all that "dessert" called baked pumpkin with salted egg yolk without thinking.
Jonathan handed Wasin the house key that Jiang Songhe had left him, along with the takeout, and asked for Luman's car key. He told Wasin to go in first and whether he wanted to eat or rest, as he wanted to stay in the car alone for a while.
Seeing that Vasin had entered the villa, Jonathan pressed the key to unlock it, went back into the garage, went to the back seat of Luman's car, opened the door and got in.
After sitting quietly in the empty space for a long time, even though Jonah's mind was not on anything, he was still overwhelmed by a complex mix of emotions, feeling lost and adrift in them.
He got cold sitting there, so he curled up into a ball and hugged himself.
Did I really mess it up?
Will Jiang Songhe come back?
Is this the only place that counts as home?
Today or later?
Is she near Jingting Man'er?
"Jiang Songhe, Jiang Songhe, Songhe, Songhe, Song...he..."
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