Chapter 15
After charging her phone, Chen Li turned it on and, as expected, saw Luo Mingxiu's messages and missed calls.
She received many inquiries from relatives and friends. After filtering out those she rarely contacted and who were just watching the show, she chose to reply to a few.
The video call came in from home. Shen Li answered, and her parents asked with worried expressions, "Is it true what they're saying online that Fang Wei is having an affair with a company employee?"
Shen Li: "It's true, the evidence has been handed over to the lawyer, and I deliberately leaked the information to the media. If it weren't illegal to release it, the video of him having sex in the car would have already spread all over the internet."
My mom was yelling on the other end of the phone, and Shen Li didn't interrupt, just letting her rant.
"I never would have guessed. This scumbag has really gone too far. His parents still have the nerve to come and try to reconcile them. It's truly an eye-opener."
Shen Li frowned: "His parents are here?"
Mother Shen: "Yes, last time you specifically chose to come on a day off. Your father and I refused to see you and were chased away by the driver and the housekeepers."
"They probably don't know, or maybe they do but don't want to believe it. Fang Wei is a habitual liar; no one but himself can truly know what kind of person he is."
As Shen Li spoke, she scrolled through the list, "Dad, Mom, block the Fang family. If they harass us again, call the police."
“Yes, we’ll listen to our daughter,” Mr. Shen sighed and said, “Daughter, don’t be sad.”
On the balcony outside the office window, a bird that had been resting flew away. Shen Li watched it soar into the sky, a smile playing on her lips.
"It's not worth my sadness, I'm indifferent to it now."
Father Shen: "Hey, that's the right way to think."
Chen's mother said from the side, "Lili, you must cheer up! There are so many handsome young men in the crew, and colleagues of similar age..."
"Oh, Mom, can you let me rest for a while?" Shen Li interrupted her.
"Why are you telling the child these things now? Just let nature take its course." The father on the other end seemed to take the phone and walk away.
"Don't blame your mother. You've never suffered such injustice before. Your mother is worried that you'll be completely disillusioned with love."
"Hey, don't think so much. Just be happy. Life is short. As long as my daughter is healthy and happy, that's more important than anything else."
No matter when, the words of loved ones can always touch the softest spot in your heart. Shen Li smiled through her tears: "Thank you, Dad. Please give Mom some advice."
"Okay, don't worry, daughter. If you're doing well, then we're doing well too."
The call has ended.
Her flight took off at 8 p.m. and she arrived in Hengdian around 11 p.m. When she got back to her apartment, she collapsed onto the sofa.
When she's rushing to catch a train and doesn't have time, she just grabs some snacks from her bag; missing a meal isn't a big deal.
But at this moment, Shen Li suddenly felt extremely hungry, and her stomach felt slightly uncomfortable. Helpless, she got up to rummage through the refrigerator.
I picked a pear from among the many cold dishes, peeled it, ate it, and then my stomach started to hurt.
She suddenly remembered something, took a sanitary napkin from her bag, went to the toilet, and sure enough, she started bleeding.
She's always punctual every month, but these days she's been so busy providing evidence that she completely forgot she ate an iced pear just now. No wonder she felt worse and worse after eating it.
After leaving the bathroom, Shen Li opened her phone and ordered takeout.
Her menstrual cramps weren't severe, but she would get stomach pain if she wasn't careful. Her stomach was more sensitive and vulnerable during her period, and she got hungry very easily.
She ordered takeout from a nearby restaurant, and it arrived quickly. The delivery guy called to say he'd put it in the takeout locker, and then she remembered that the area near the film set was a residential area where takeout delivery wasn't allowed to enter or leave freely.
You can hand it over to the housekeeper who is responsible for delivering it upstairs before 11 p.m., and after that you have to pick it up yourself from the takeout locker at the entrance.
Xiaoyu was taking a shower at the moment. She was so hungry that she had to get up from the sofa and go downstairs.
As she stepped out of the elevator, a gust of wind blew by, and Shen Li shrank her neck. The weather had turned cooler recently, and it was getting chilly outside late at night.
She regretted not wearing a coat, but gritted her teeth and went outside. When she saw the dark, wet ground, she realized it was raining.
"Teacher Shen." Someone walked towards us; it was Xiao Wen and Luo Mingxiu.
Luo Mingxiu stopped in his tracks: "Are you going out?"
Shen Li: "Hmm, I'm hungry, let's get some takeout."
Luo Mingxiu glanced at Xiaowen, who very perceptively said, "Send me Teacher Shen's number, I'll go get it."
Before Shen Li could say thank you, she had already opened her umbrella and stepped into the rain, leaving them alone.
Luo Mingxiu glanced at her thin shirt and said, "Let's go, it's cold here."
"It's not far to pick up the takeout, I'll just wait."
"There's still a bit of distance." Luo Mingxiu took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders, the warmth of his body still lingering.
Shen Li paused for a moment, then said thank you.
The two sat down in the waiting area next to the elevator. Seeing Luo Mingxiu staring at her without saying a word, Shen Li smiled and asked, "Did you miss me?"
Even though he knew she was just asking casually, Luo Mingxiu's mind went blank for a second when he heard it, and he nodded: "I want to."
Then he added, "Happy divorce."
Things change. I didn't receive "Happy Wedding" from Luo Mingxiu back then, but I received these four words now.
However, it is indeed something to be happy about.
Shen Li looked out the window with a sigh and saw three people walking in this direction. The person in the middle looked very familiar.
The three got a little closer, and after seeing their faces clearly, Shen Li jumped, covered her face with her hands, and immediately squatted down, bending over to hide behind the corner of the elevator.
Luo Mingxiu followed, not understanding why.
The person outside is a popular young actress. She once worked with her on a drama, and afterwards, her team's marketing staff claimed to be her fans and fabricated some unfounded friendships.
In short... he's become obsessed with her.
Moreover, Xiao Hua herself is extremely attentive whenever she meets her. It's fine once or twice, but it becomes really difficult to deal with if it happens too often.
Luo Mingxiu opened his mouth to ask a question, but Shen Li quickly covered his mouth when she saw Xiao Hua come in.
A delicate pear scent wafted over, and Luo Mingxiu's eyes widened. His body temperature rose rapidly, and his breathing became rapid and intense as he repeatedly struck her hand.
He moved off uncomfortably.
Shen Li glanced at him with a warning: "Don't move."
While covering herself, she peeked outside. In the dim light, she didn't realize how close she was. So close that Luo Mingxiu could count her individual eyelashes just by looking down.
The sound of high heels getting closer and closer outside made Shen Li nervous.
In the narrow fire escape, it was impossible to tell whose heart was beating faster.
The scent of pears wafted into Luo Mingxiu's nostrils, so close at hand, that a thought flashed through his mind.
He leaned forward slightly, his lips brushing against her palm, barely perceptible, a kiss.
After he finished, his heart was pounding. He looked up at the person in front of him, seemingly oblivious to what was happening.
He lowered his head, and their breaths were close again.
He gently touched it again, and having tasted the sweetness, Luo Mingxiu was in a daze and wanted to try again, when a sound came from outside.
"You've gone to the wrong building. This isn't the right one. You have to keep going forward."
"I know, I just caught a glimpse of Teacher Shen, so I came in to take a look."
"There's no one here. You must be mistaken."
"...It seems like I'm seeing things."
"Hurry up, it's so dark and scary."
The footsteps faded into the distance.
Once Shen Li was sure the person was gone, she let go of his hand and was about to explain when she saw Luo Mingxiu leaning against the wall as if all his strength had been drained, panting and his face flushed.
"Look how tight you are! I just covered you up too much. Are you alright?" Shen Li asked.
"It's nothing." Luo Mingxiu tugged at her sleeve and sniffed.
Shen Li looked puzzled: "What are you doing?"
Luo Mingxiu let go and said, "There's no perfume smell. Did you eat a pear?"
Shen Li exclaimed in surprise, "You have such a keen sense of smell! You can even smell this. It's not like it's anything with a strong odor."
Luo Mingxiu, his face flushed, replied, "I have some on my hands."
Shen Li: "Oh."
Luo Mingxiu stared at her lips and blurted out without thinking, "I want to eat too."
"What?" Shen Li didn't hear clearly.
"nothing."
Seeing that he refused to repeat himself, Shen Li pouted. Xiao Wen returned with the takeout at the door, and she quickly went up to take it.
"Thanks, Xiaowen. I'll go upstairs and get you some fragrant pears. They're a local specialty, sweet and juicy, and delicious."
"Okay, okay." Xiao Wen nodded excitedly, earning a glare from Luo Mingxiu.
Xiaowen scratched her head and said, "Well, I suddenly thought about it, you should keep it, I don't eat fruit much."
"I see," Shen Li pressed the elevator button, then turned to look at Luo Mingxiu, "Do you want it?"
"Yes," Luo Mingxiu replied without hesitation.
Xiaowen looked at him in shock.
—
A new day begins, and work starts early. Due to her period, Shen Li discussed with the director in advance and postponed the scene where she falls into the water.
She didn't have many action scenes left in Hengdian, so she spent the whole day busy filming dialogue scenes.
"We still need Teacher Shen to come back."
In the evening, after the last scene wrapped up, the director came over with a thermos: "Since you came back, the whole crew has become more efficient."
Shen Li: "That's an exaggeration. I've only been gone for a few days, but I heard that Haoxuan's progress has already caught up with mine."
When the director realized he hadn't flattered the director properly, he awkwardly changed the subject: "Haha, yes, that's because you're such a role model. You're the backbone of this film."
Although the director usually showered her with compliments, he had never been this enthusiastic before. Shen Li asked curiously, "Director Liu, is there something else you want to say? Just say it."
Director Liu smiled and said, "It's like this, our filming in Hengdian will probably wrap up in about two weeks. Judging from your progress, you should be able to finish filming ahead of the others. After you finish, would you have time to keep an eye on the other lead actors' scenes?"
“Of course I can,” Shen Li said. “You can do it even if you don’t ask. My company produces it, so I’ll definitely take full responsibility. Besides, I have two artists with me, how could I not care?”
“That’s great,” Director Liu relaxed. “To be honest, not every producer would get involved in this kind of thing. I see you’ve been busy with personal matters lately, and I’m worried you might not be able to manage it all.”
“I don’t need to worry about anything else, everything is basically resolved,” Shen Li said. “You can tell from watching me film that I haven’t been affected much, so don’t worry.”
Director Liu: "Okay, I feel relieved to hear that."
After talking with Director Liu, Shen Li sent a message to Luo Mingxiu asking: Have you finished work yet?
The court date sent by the lawyer was November 7th, which was also when filming in Hengdian was almost finished.
Perfect timing! After we finish filming here, we'll have two days off before moving on to the next location, so I won't need to ask for leave.
Shen Li replied to the lawyer: Received, thank you for your hard work.
After logging out, I saw Luo Mingxiu reply with two words: "Night."
It means filming night scenes, and it will be very late.
Shen Li remembered that he also didn't get back to the apartment until almost midnight last night, and typed: Keep it up, I believe in you!
After sending the message, the other party replied instantly: "Are you done with work? Where are you now?"
Shen Li: Just finished filming, I'm in the car.
Luo Mingxiu: Wait, I'll have Xiaowen bring something over.
Shen Li: What?
There was no reply from the other end, so she guessed that filming had started again. She turned off her phone, told Xiaoyu that she would wait in the parking lot.
Three minutes later, Xiaowen rushed over and knocked on the car window: "Teacher Shen?"
Shen Li opened the door, and Xiao Wen handed her a thermos, saying, "The thermos is new. Brother Luo went back at noon and personally cooked it for a long time. It's still warm."
After saying that, he waved goodbye. Shen Li wondered what it meant, but wasn't quite sure.
She unscrewed the lid and saw that the cup contained jujube tea. Steam rose from it, and she took a sip. Whether it was the steam or something else, her eyes suddenly became moist.
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