"How could he do that?" Director Li continued saying that to one of the crew members. But who is that he? I am not getting it exactly—who's that he they are talking about? Is that he Yuan? No, no… how could that he be Yuan? It can't be possible. Yuan is so much hardworking and dedicated towards his work that it can't be him. Then who is that he? I am getting very curious about it.
But then I heard Director Li saying to that crew member that he needs to behave and has to bear the consequences of his unprofessional behaviour. "Didn't he know the contract well before signing or joining this drama?" Director Li said that to that crew member.
Whom are they talking about? I kept thinking.
Then suddenly, from the back, a voice came saying, "What are you doing here?"
I got startled a little in that particular moment, but then I made myself calm and composed.
"Yuan, have you prepared your scenes?" I asked him.
"Don't change the topic. I have already caught you hearing their conversations—sorry, not hearing, let me correct myself—overhearing their conversations," he said.
"Yuan, can you please stop it?" I said to him.
"No, I can't. When making you irritated and frustrated is that easy, I really can't get enough of it. And how can I even leave a single chance to make you feel that?" he said that while smiling a bit to himself.
Then I turned around towards Director Li and that crew member, but they weren't there—they had already left from there, and I wasn't able to know what they were really talking about. I said it to myself.
"You are really very curious to know what they were talking about," he said to me.
I got a little bit shocked. How did he know that I was trying to hear them? Did he fit any surveillance cameras here which monitor all of my actions? I thought in my mind.
Then he said, "Don't think too much about it. I really know what you are talking and thinking about."
Then I took a long deep breath and said, "Yuan, it's nothing like that."
I tried to convince him with this, but he said, "You know they are talking about Ji Juan."
I got shocked hearing that from him. I repeated it again, "Ji Juan?"
He nodded his head and said, "Yes. He backed out from the drama without even telling Director Li. He just left the show in a very unprofessional way. That's why Director Li is getting very angry at him, because he needs to bear the consequences for that. As in the contract, if you leave without even telling everyone before doing that, then you need to pay maybe some sum of money for that."
"Ooooo… this is so difficult. He just made things complicated for himself," I said.
Then after a pause of a few minutes, he said, "Don't you want me to talk to Director Li and ask him to forgive him?" he asked me.
I smiled and said, "Whatever he does, it's his responsibility. He is an adult and responsible for his own actions. And why should I want you to do this for him? Yes, he is my friend—a very good friend of mine. Still, he is, and there is no doubt within a few days he became a very good friend of mine. But asking a favour for him from you is definitely a very wrong thing, as you have nothing to do in it—just nothing. And why should I ask you to do something for him? Why should you bear these things because of him? So no, I'll never ask you something which is not in your hands," I said.
He smiled and said, "I really didn't know that you think that deeply about me."
"Of course. I am your only girlfriend—I have to. How can't I?" I said.
He smiled.
Then another crew member came to us and handed over the script in our hands and said, "Mr. Xu Yuan and Miss Zhao Shiza, these are your scripts for your dialogues for the next scene that you need to shoot just after ten minutes. So be ready, both of you. As you know, today Director Li's mood is not quite good, so just don't let him wait. He is already very upset today due to a few things going around."
The crew member said that and left after giving us the script.
Then we both looked at each other and smiled.
Then Yuan said, "Don't you really want me to talk to Director Li about him? Do you really?"
I smiled back at him in my most convincing way and said, "I know my Xu Yuan is China's biggest face and he is the great, great master of the C-drama industry, but I really don't want you to use your power. I will never let you do something that wrong because it is so—stop flexing your power here, Mr. Xu Yuan," I said.
He smiled, and after that we both went to change our costumes and read our scripts.
But while reading it, thoughts were going on in my mind—how the chapters in my life have ended. I think some goodbyes are just like that—we have to say them whether we want it or not. Some things just end without even telling us. Maybe they are just meant to be ended like this.
I never thought that Ji Juan would come into my life and leave this much fast. But I think this is how goodbyes look when you are not prepared for them—they just appear.
From now onwards, Ji Juan's existence and his chapter in my life ended.
It was very nice to meet you, Ji Juan.
I hope in the future, if our paths ever collide, we will see each other in better positions.
Then I took a deep breath and got inside my makeup room to get ready for the scene.
Meanwhile, Ji Juan was going to take a flight to Chongqing city and thinking:
"I know I left everything without telling anyone anything, but trust me, I have a reason. If I didn't, then I would definitely mess up everyone's life here—especially the one I have fallen for."
He exhaled sharply and said to himself:
"Zhao Shiza… it's not just a name, it's an emotion. The person you are, the way you see the world through your eyes—I always loved the way your eyes see everything. I hope everyone sees like that."
"I will always cherish all the moments and memories that I have created with you for my whole life. I know it's just four to six days of meeting you, but I think my destiny made me get into this project just for meeting you—Zhao Shiza, just for meeting you."
"And trust me, meeting you is the best thing of my life, and I can spend my whole life with these memories of you."
"There is no one like you—no one. It's very true to say that you are the rarest, exclusive one."
"But I know what your heart wants—what it craves for. I know it's hurting, but still it's the truth of our lives. It's Xu Yuan—your heart wants him only. And how can I make things complicated for the one whom I love? Never."
"So it's really better for both of us to say goodbye to each other forever. Thanks for meeting me. Thanks for coming into my life, even if it's just for a few days."
Then the Chongqing flight announcement started at the airport.
He smiled, got up, and went to board his flight.
And this is how goodbyes are when you are not really prepared for them.
This is him, and his part of playing the character in our life has ended.
Some people just come for a few days in our life—not to stay with us forever—they just come to teach us something.
Ji Juan's presence was also like that for me.
He came and taught me that leaving your loved ones for their own good is a kind of sacrifice of love—a form of love that only a few people can do. Not everyone has this much courage to do it.
And I understand it.
So thank you, Ji Juan, for visiting my life—even for a while. I will always count you as one of my good friends in my list and remember the moments of us together forever.
And this is how it ended…