A heartbeat, a lifetime

Chapter 11: Like Love (1)
Shen Qinjun didn't look for me again, I only know that he went to Japan the next day, as for what happened after he went back to find Qin Mou that night, although I really want to know, I really don't know anything.But I guess they should not get back together, otherwise I should have received the news, and the contract will be completed.

After the Spring Festival holiday, I started working normally again. During my lunch break, I suddenly received a call from Mai Zhendong asking me to have dinner together in the evening.

It was agreed to be seven o'clock.After six o'clock, most of the colleagues in the office got off work, and Lulu asked me specifically: "You worked so hard when the Spring Festival came back, the boss must like you to death."

I laughed and said, "I'll go home after I finish this."

It's almost noon, and I was about to go downstairs, but Shen Qinjun would call: "Have you had dinner yet?"

"Are you back from a business trip?" I said, "I haven't eaten yet, but I have an appointment with friends today."

He didn't say much, "I just got off the plane. Originally, grandpa wanted to have dinner with you, so let's do it next time."

When we arrived at the restaurant, Mai Zhendong had already arrived. Before I sat down, he squinted his eyes and said, "Quite busy?"

I smiled, "Have you been waiting for a long time?"

"Are you free on the weekend? My personal photography exhibition is opening, come and have a look around." He said directly, "Tsk tsk, look at you, is it worth it to work hard for a dead salary?"

I avoided answering, my eyes drifted out of the window, and I just said, "Okay, I'm free on weekends."

His eyes were full of inquiry, "What are you doing for?"

I still had my head turned away, the night view outside the window was bright, and the lit street lamps looked like a sea of ​​stars, or diamonds—a lot of things, which are unremarkable when viewed up close, but unexpectedly beautiful when viewed from a distance.

"Bai Xi, am I the first to say that you look like Qin Mou?" He suddenly said.

"Huh? What?!" I was startled, there was still half a sip of lemonade in my mouth, and I spat it out with a puff, choking out of control.

He grabbed the napkin and walked around me as fast as he could, patting me on the back and saying, "Sorry, I didn't mean to choke you."

There was a panic here, when suddenly there was a doubtful and deep voice behind him: "What are you two doing here?"

Mai Zhendong and I looked up at the same time. Shen Qinjun was standing behind us, watching calmly. Although his face was expressionless, his eyebrows were still slightly frowned, not knowing whether he was puzzled or unhappy.

I never imagined that he would come here for dinner today, Mai Zhendong's hand was still touching my back intimately, and he raised his eyebrows lightly, "Hey."

Shen Qinjun asked again: "What are you doing here?"

My mind was blank, and I reflexively said, "Eat."

Before the words finished, Mai Zhendong patted my head affectionately, as if to show encouragement.

Shen Qinjun glanced at me, nodded slightly, and said calmly, "That's delicious."

The waiter at the side came up and led him into the box respectfully.

I sat back across from Mai Zhendong, and he suddenly changed his serious expression and said, "What's the matter with you and Shen Qinjun?"

"It's nothing." I felt a little guilty, so I could only defend myself vigorously, "I don't have to hide it from you. You must know about his relationship with Qin Mou—you said, how could I have anything to do with him?"

"I heard that you were almost hit by a car once, but Shen Qinjun got angry and gave the young masters in Xishan some of the racing."

I quickly explained: "It's really not. In fact, he was so angry because we were almost hit by both of us."

Mai Zhendong looked at me thoughtfully, carefully choosing his words, "Bai Xi, Qi Dafei."

I laughed dryly, "I know."

He regained his indifferent expression and turned to talk about the weekend photo exhibition. I was also relieved.Perhaps because of changing the subject, we chatted happily over a meal.I got up and went to the bathroom. Bamboo shadows were sparse in the corridor I passed by after washing my hands. The running water on the entire glazed wall was slowly flowing down. Under the warm orange light, it seemed like clouds.

It's a pity that such a beautiful scenery disappears after turning a corner.

I looked at Shen Qinjun standing in the middle of the narrow passage with a bad expression on his face.I looked around suspiciously, "Are you waiting for me?"

With a sullen face, "I won't answer my phone, I won't reply to my text messages, so I can only block you here."

I quickly took out my phone and looked at it, and said, "It's muted."

He raised his chin slightly to look at me, "I'll be waiting at the old place, I have something to ask you." Then he walked away without waiting for my answer.

I bite the bullet and go back to see Mai Zhendong, "I will go back to the company to work overtime later, you don't have to send me off, go back first."

He didn't say anything, and said goodbye after eating.I walked quickly across the sidewalk and walked quickly to the "old place".

After walking a few steps, he was called.I glanced at him, and quickly pulled him into the alley next to me, almost sweating on my back, "You are crazy! We are all colleagues here!"

He smiled faintly, "Bai Xi, I really can't tell."

I heard the undisguised mockery in his tone, and asked with a frown, "What?"

"You really have a dark relationship with Mai Zhendong." He looked directly into my eyes, "So inseparable?"

Although I was misunderstood, I don't want to explain.

"That's all you're asking?" I shrugged. "What does that have to do with you?"

"Who taught you to be so indifferent?" He was actually irritated by me, and said in a deep voice, "Mai Zhendong and my girlfriend secretly dated for dinner, do you think it has something to do with me?"

I added for him: "It's the girlfriend in name."

His eyes turned cold, "I remember you said, at least you won't let me see these - since I saw it today, I'll say it again, don't see him in the future."

I was anxious, "Why do you meddle? I'm just playing a show with you, you don't allow me to smoke, you don't allow me to make friends-why are you, what are you!"

He looked at me coldly, as if trying to suppress his anger, "Bai Xi, I said that I found you because I didn't hate you. You better not become disgusting to me."

I stared at him stubbornly, afraid that if I couldn't help it, tears would fall.

Does he know how much I have endured all this time? I like him so much, and I know he doesn't like me, so I still stay by his side like a self-abuse, and try my best to perform in this love drama that doesn't belong to me... Does he know, every time he mentions Yiyi, I feel so jealous that I want to cry and want to leave immediately! ?
The sockets of my eyes were slightly hot, I didn't want him to see me crying, so I turned around and left.

As I walked, tears fell down, just like the snowdrops that fell a few days ago, densely packed and continuous, I couldn't even see the road clearly, I only knew to keep going.Until one hand grabbed me and dragged me back, the voice was annoyed: "I didn't see the red light! You want me to drag you off the road again?"

Only then did I raise my head and realized that I had already walked several streets. He held me back and prevented me from stepping into the rolling traffic as if I was suicidal.

"Let go of me." I choked up and said, "It happens that I don't want to act anymore, so let's shoot and break up."

Shen Qinjun looked at me intently, and for some reason, there was a trace of naughtiness in his expression, as if arguing with a child, "Why did I find an actor who would go on strike from time to time?"

"I really don't want to act anymore." I wiped my tears with my hand, "You explain it to her carefully. She will definitely be moved by your good intentions."

"The camera costs 20 yuan, and you only worked for less than a month. After doing this calculation, you still owe me 10,000+."

Camera... Leica camera... I have used it, it is really good!I took a few test shots at random, and the effect is comparable to the works in the studio.I was hit by what he said all of a sudden, and I froze there.

"Then... you can explain it in another month." I said intermittently, "I have used the camera."

He finally couldn't help laughing.

It was almost nine o'clock, and he didn't drive over again, so we could only walk back silently.

Shen Qinjun spoke earnestly: "Bai Xi, it's not that I forbid you to fall in love, it's just that you and Mai Zhendong are not suitable."

I turned my head to look at him, he probably just came back from abroad, with a green mustache on his chin, and a scar on his cheek that was not completely healed from the last time he rescued me, he was a little rough.I said bluntly: "How do you know we are not suitable?"

He put one hand in his coat pocket, was silent for a while, and said, "Bai Xi, there are so many unmarried men in the Roewe Group, tell me which one do you like, and I will help you decide."

The people I fall in love with will never fall in love with me.

I shook my head sullenly, "I have someone I like."

His bright eyes narrowed slightly, as if curious: "Who?"

I shook my head and refused to say, the street lamps stretched our shadows very long, and this winter night made me shiver.Shen Qinjun glanced at me, "Go and buy a cup of coffee to warm your hands?"

At this time, the coffee shop is already deserted.I ordered a cup of hot chocolate, and he pulled out his wallet to pay the bill.The moment I opened it, I saw the photo of Qin Mou inside. It was not a still photo of a radiant face, but a photo of her ID card without makeup. She slapped her face, very cute.

I sat by and scrolled through Weibo boredly.

A Weibo reposted by Lulu surprised me:
Meixing Entertainment Company confirmed: Actress Qin Mou, who just announced her withdrawal from the entertainment industry to study abroad, has secretly returned to China.It is reported that she has been hand-picked by the famous female director An Weiran, and she will star in his latest movie, where she will play with the actor ×××.For this cooperation, Qin Mou even applied to the school to suspend his studies for a year, which shows how much he attaches importance to it.

The number of retweets below has exceeded [-]. This is the first big news in the entertainment industry after the New Year.

My fingers paused, and I was dazed for a moment.

Shen Qinjun took a hot drink and sat next to me: "What are you looking at?"

I showed him my phone, "She's coming back to pick up the show."

His calm expression convinced me that he must have known.I felt a little silly, so I put it away and said in a low voice, "That's it, it's easier to communicate."

He laughed, "An Weiran's plays are notoriously strict with the actors, and the mobile phone can't be used."

I have seen An Weiran's movie.

This woman is also a legend.When she was young, she was an actor and had a rather tacky stage name "An Qi".After acting in his 30s, he began to get involved in the directing world.Her filmmaking speed is very slow, but what is surprising is that every film is both well received and well received. She has won many awards at home and abroad, and she has single-handedly won several movie kings and actresses.

After becoming a director, she changed her original name back to "An Weiran", and is now one of the most important directors in the Chinese director circle. Many actors are overwhelmed and would rather not act in her play for a penny— If not, Qin Mou would not be willing to interrupt her studies and return to China to continue her film career.

"You know her?" I was a little curious.

"I've had contact with you before." He said casually, "Why, you also like her movies?"

An Weiran's movies left a deep impression on me.In her stories, there are always strong and independent women who break free from the shackles of family and men, and pursue freedom wholeheartedly, so they are also sought after by film critics.But after I read it, I always have some strange feelings. I feel that the strength of the protagonists is too "powerful", so I feel a little more deliberate.

Of course, I'm not a professional film critic, it's just my own feeling.

After drinking most of the drink, I felt much warmer, so I stood up and said, "Let's go."

As soon as I got to the door, the phone rang.

I glanced at the caller ID, and carefully took a few steps behind, so as not to let Shen Qinjun see anything strange.

"Why didn't you answer the phone?" He looked back at me suspiciously.

I laughed dryly, "Nothing."

He raised his eyebrows slightly, and said in a low tone, "What shameful thing?"

I said displeasedly: "It's not that I'm shameless, it's that you have too many problems."

I picked up the phone and answered it. Mai Zhendong's voice was always straightforward: "Go home early after working overtime."

I promised and hung up the phone, only to find Shen Qinjun waiting for me standing far away.This night had already been so unpleasant, I really didn't want to have any more disputes with him, so I simply called a taxi, turned around and said to him: "Don't see me off, I'll just go by myself."

Mai Zhendong picked me up to the photography exhibition on weekend afternoons.

His off-road vehicle is really huge, squatting like a steel beast, full of power, but he is dressed in a suit, and even wears a pair of gold-rimmed glasses in a gentle manner. When the two sides are combined, there is a strange harmonious beauty.

"I don't think you're a rigid person, or you'd still hang out with me?" Mai Zhendong turned around and said, "A few days ago, "M" magazine was looking for a suitable photographer. I heard from their editor-in-chief that you It's a good fit."

Although "M" is not as good as "V" in the industry, it is still considered TOP5, and it is a photographer rather than an assistant... I heard my little heart thumping, but then I heard him talking to himself: " Forget it, if Old Mr. Shen finds out, he must kill me."

"Ah? What's the matter with grandpa?"

"The old man is really looking for someone for you. You said that if you quit your good work and go to do photography that men find tiring, he won't kill me?" Mai Zhendong said with a smile.

I also smiled dumbly, and looked down at the invitation letter for the opening ceremony of today's photography exhibition.As usual, there will be the photographer's classic works in the booklet, and I saw Qin Mou's black and white veiled photo in it, so I asked casually, "Master, can I ask for some gossip?"

He didn't care, and said bluntly, "You ask."

"Do you like Qin Mou?"

He smiled, "You mean the love between men and women?"

I pointed to the photo, "I can feel an emotion from the photo."

If a good photographer wants to take great pictures, he must project emotion on the subject - this is like a writer, if he can't resonate with the characters he writes, let alone move others?Men's emotions tend to heat up faster than women's. Naturally, the works of male photographers often contain tension and full emotions.

"Did I tell you? I first entered this circle to pick up girls." He smiled and said, "To be honest, I have seen many models, big and small, and Qin Mou is the one I would never touch."

"Why?" I was a little surprised.

"I don't want to have the same taste as someone." He said with a half-smile.

That being said, they really do have a heart-to-heart relationship, I thought to myself, and suddenly heard him say: "You are lucky today, you can meet several interesting people."

"Who?"

He motioned me to turn the invitation letter to the back, and the sponsors listed the crew of "Beautiful Eyes". He said, "An Weiran's new play."

"Ah?" I was stunned for a moment, "Is this the new movie that Qin Mou picked up?"

"Well, she will probably come too." Lao Mai said indifferently.

The opening ceremony of the photography exhibition did not include speeches, ribbon cutting and other processes as I imagined.Instead, there is no ceremony.There were not many people in the two-storey art gallery, and everyone watched the exhibition quietly, and no one even greeted each other.

I wandered around with my precious camera.Mai Zhendong didn't know where he had gone for a long time.

When I walked up the stairs, there was a lady beside me, I couldn't help but take another look, she smiled at me politely, and left sideways.

"Director An?" I called out tentatively.

She stopped, and by the light of the bathroom, I saw the fine wrinkles in the corners of this woman's eyes, as well as the calm beauty accumulated over the years.She nodded and said gently, "Hello."

Her attitude was not like that of a big-name director, so I boldly asked, "Director An, I'm a fan of your movie and have watched all your movies."

She smiled, "Thank you."

"Can I spare you a minute? There's a question I've been trying to figure out in Skyrim."

She looked at me with slightly raised eyebrows, "Few people would ask about Skyrim."

Because "Skyrim" is a magical movie, and it has never been shown nationwide, and it hasn't even won an award, not many people know about it.I asked: "That's the end. All the good people went to the Isle of Immortality, but the so-called 'Island of Immortality' is another name for death, right?"

She looked me up and down, and if the smile just now was a polite response, now, I'm sure there is a smile in her eyes.

"You are the first to say that." She nodded lightly, "Even when I told the actors about the play, I didn't mention the implied ending. How did you see it?"

(End of this chapter)