It was Jiang Liuyue's first time asking the executive director for a leave of absence.
The director was very amiable, repeatedly assuring her that it was fine and taking the morning off was no problem.
Because Li Feile had also asked for a leave.
The executive director even said with a smile, "What a coincidence that you both asked for time off at the same time. As long as it doesn't affect the afternoon shoot, it's fine."
Little did he know.
Jiang Liuyue and Li Feile were taking a leave for the exact same reason.
The phone on the table rang.
Song Hanzheng: [Come down.]
Through the window glass, she saw a black Maybach parked downstairs.
Song Hanzheng was really early.
The moment she opened the car door, a bag of breakfast was stuffed into her hands.
Jiang Liuyue looked through it; there was milk, sandwiches, pancakes, and even sushi rolls.
"So much? I can't finish all this."
"Just pick what you like," Song Hanzheng said, his lips pressed together in a reserved manner, though a hint of happiness revealed itself in his eyes.
Jiang Liuyue chewed her food like a little hamster.
Halfway through her meal.
She finally remembered the man beside her and asked, "Have you eaten?"
"Yes." Song Hanzheng nodded.
He still maintained that aloof and noble appearance.
He didn't even turn his head.
What a poseur.
The car slowly drove toward their destination.
Actually, Jiang Liuyue didn't know where they were going until they drove for half an hour onto a mountain road, eventually stopping at the main entrance of a public cemetery.
Li Feile had already arrived.
She stood there wearing a slim-fitting long black dress and black-framed sunglasses.
Seeing the Maybach pull up.
She walked over with a look of joy.
The car door opened.
But the first to step out was Jiang Liuyue.
"Why is it you?" Her face was filled with displeasure.
Immediately following, a pair of leather shoes stepped out of the open door. Moving her gaze upward, she saw Song Hanzheng dressed in a black suit.
Looking at them like this.
They were both wearing black.
Only Jiang Liuyue was wearing a white puff-sleeve top and light gray pencil pants, looking like she had wandered in by mistake.
"I asked her to come," Song Hanzheng spoke.
Jiang Liuyue smiled and naturally linked her arm through his, speaking to Li Feile in an affectionate tone:
"Sister Feile, it's mainly because my boyfriend was afraid I might misunderstand."
"After all, there are rumors going around outside about you and him... Though I know it's just a pure friendship."
Li Feile's face looked awful.
But she could only swallow her anger.
However, she spoke without any politeness.
"That's right, Brother Hanzheng and I grew up together."
"I've seen many of the girlfriends around him, and I don't know if I'll still be seeing you next time."
Jiang Liuyue didn't reply.
Instead, she turned her head and looked at Song Hanzheng with a bright smile.
"Baby, will I be able to tag along with you to see Sister Feile next time?"
She deliberately said the word 'Baby' in the sweetest, most coquettish voice possible.
Li Feile's face completely darkened.
Beside her, Song Hanzheng was slightly taken aback. It was the first time he had heard this pet name. After a moment of surprise, the corners of his lips curled up.
He gently patted the back of her hand.
"Why would you need to see her?"
"Seeing me is enough."
These two sentences were extremely protective.
Li Feile could no longer maintain her basic decency, glaring viciously at Jiang Liuyue.
As if she were looking at a seductress.
But Jiang Liuyue wasn't afraid in the slightest.
She actively provoked her:
"Sister Feile, look, my baby is really possessive."
"It's not like I'm meeting anyone else, I'm just meeting you, and he still gets jealous."
Li Feile frowned so hard she could have crushed a mosquito between her brows.
She never imagined that the always cold and stern Song Hanzheng could ever be associated with the term 'Baby.'
Jiang Liuyue was truly disgusting!!!
Song Hanzheng smiled.
He didn't refute it, which felt like a kind of indulgence.
Li Feile took a deep breath.
Deciding to ignore Jiang Liuyue, her gaze fell on Song Hanzheng.
"Brother Hanzheng, let's go up."
"My brother must be missing us."
She deliberately emphasized the word 'us.'
To make it clear to Jiang Liuyue that she was just an outsider.
The group walked up the steps. This was one of the largest private cemeteries in the area, very expensive, so the environment was quite nice.
Pine and cypress trees were planted on both sides of the steps.
It had just rained a few days ago, so the stone pavement was still a bit damp.
At first, Li Feile occasionally turned her head to look at Jiang Liuyue, who was being led by the hand by Song Hanzheng, until they reached the tombstone, where she instantly quieted down.
Looking quietly at the grave, her eyes gradually turned red.
Her voice choked with emotion:
"Brother."
"Brother Hanzheng and I have come to see you."
The photo on the tombstone was of a young man, looking to be only sixteen or seventeen years old.
So he had passed away at a very early age.
The name on the tombstone was Li Xinle.
Song Hanzheng placed the prepared bouquet of daisies in front of the tombstone.
He said softly:
"Another year has passed, Xinle."
The atmosphere was solemn.
Jiang Liuyue did not speak.
Coming here made Li Feile feel like she had found her backing, and she poured out everything with a crying tone:
"Brother, you don't need to worry about me. Brother Hanzheng has taken very good care of me all these years."
"I know I have a bad temper and always cause a lot of trouble, but Brother Hanzheng has helped me handle it all."
"Didn't you say before that you wanted to be a shining star? Brother, I've done it for you."
"Last year I just won a Best Actress trophy. When I stood on the stage, looking at the applauding crowd,"
"I thought to myself, Brother, how wonderful it would be if you could see it with your own eyes."
Some of these words were a performance, deliberately said for Song Hanzheng to hear.
While some were her true feelings.
Crying and crying, Li Feile knelt down beside the tombstone.
Gasping for breath.
Song Hanzheng stood to the side, seemingly silent, without uttering a word.
But Jiang Liuyue knew.
His heart had softened.
Song Hanzheng had the kind of personality that looked cold and difficult to deal with, but in reality, his heart was very soft.
You see, as long as you praised him, he was very easy to coax.
What did this mean?
It meant that he must have lacked care and affection since childhood, which was why he was so easily touched.
Li Feile's brother, Li Xinle, must have been a very good childhood playmate of his.
Therefore, he had dedicated himself to taking care of Li Feile all these years.
All for the sake of their childhood friendship.
Holding the tombstone, Li Feile sobbed and continued:
"Brother, it seems I've made Brother Hanzheng angry again recently, and I don't even know what I did wrong."
"But I really don't want us to continue being so estranged. I've already lost our parents, I've lost you, and I don't want to lose Brother Hanzheng too..."
As her voice fell.
Song Hanzheng spoke.
"Li Feile, I promised your brother."
"I won't abandon you."
A flash of joy crossed Li Feile's eyes, but with her head down, she quickly hid it.
She knew it.
Brother Hanzheng was very easy to soften up.
Raising her head again, she revealed a pair of tear-filled eyes and said with a sob:
"Brother Hanzheng, then please don't treat me like a stranger, okay?"
"I'm really so scared. I was wrong."
Jiang Liuyue, who had been silent all this time, tugged at his cuff.
Song Hanzheng looked at her and asked softly, "What is it?"
Jiang Liuyue said with a face full of sincerity:
"Did you bring any tissues? I saw Sister Feile's tears and snot flowing into her mouth, it's so dirty."
Li Feile shot her a murderous glare: "...!!!"
