Global Film Emperor

Chapter 475 I Say Yes

Dynamic music started playing, and the lights kept changing patterns in sync with the rhythm. The exclamations of tourists were constant, and even inside the car, they couldn't be completely isolated. She sat in the passenger seat, hugging her knees, and swayed her body back and forth slightly to the music.

Lu Ze picked up his phone, glanced at Teacher Zhang beside him, turned down the air conditioner, and answered the call from Fatini.

"Hey Lu Ze, how was your holiday?"

"not bad."

"Come over when you've rested enough. The film crew is almost set up. We can start shooting anytime you come."

It was afternoon in Rome, and the subtropical Mediterranean climate still provided enough warmth for the Italian people in March. He was wearing a thin sweater, stirring his coffee with his right hand and holding his phone in his left, smiling as he talked to Lu Ze.

“I’m going to Liverpool on the 15th. My company is hiring, and I need to go there for an interview. I’ll probably fly to Rome on the 22nd. If it’s urgent for you, I’ll have Lucas go first.”

"No problem, I'll wait for your good news."

Lu Ze didn't try to hide it from her, and she naturally overheard their conversation. Of course, her English wasn't good, so she didn't really know what they were talking about on the phone, but one thing she did understand was that Lu Ze was leaving again.

For the past twenty minutes, she had been happy, but after figuring out the purpose of the call, her initial happiness gradually faded. With her head drooping, she listened to Lu Ze and the foreigner on the other end of the phone babbling on and on. She could only make sure she didn't cover her ears or let her dejection show too obviously.

Based on past experience, this departure would last at least another six months. It was only early March, and if they wanted to see each other again, it would probably be at the end of the year. He always left when the snowflakes were falling and returned when the snow was pouring down, as if he had missed three seasons and was only living in winter. So she was reluctant to let him go, even though he rejected her most naive yet courageous confession.

I didn't ask for much, I just wanted to see him, to hear the music coming from the bar when I passed by the street corner. But I kept thinking dejectedly that I was really not good enough for him. Earning foreign exchange... should be very profitable, right? With my economic conditions, good manners and temperament, there are plenty of good girls chasing after me. He really can't be interested in me.

After hanging up the phone, Lu Ze looked at her. She was probably daydreaming, lost in her own thoughts. Her body wasn't moving and her expression was blank. He had no choice but to clap his hands to wake her up and bring her back to reality.

"what?"

"The show has started now. Do you have anything else to do? If not, I'll take you home."

Actually, she still had things to do, such as listening to the volunteer group leader's speech after the performance, arranging tomorrow's work process, and collecting today's allowance. But the thought in her mind was tempting her: if she left now, she wouldn't hear his voice for the next three seasons.

"I……"

"I……"

"I think I'll get off the bus."

In her mind, two little figures were fiercely fighting. It turned out that the little white figure was a fat woman who was beating the slender little red figure mercilessly, which made her rationality, or rather her inferiority complex, take over.

Inferiority complex mostly doesn't stem from one's own shortcomings, but rather from comparing one's own shortcomings to others' splendid lives. Just like right now, she's fantasizing about Lu Ze's high-class life, and then unconsciously starts to back down.

Touching the car door, she tried to find the handle, but couldn't find it for a long time. Lu Ze got up and opened it for her. His body was very close to her head, and she could smell the indescribable fragrance on Lu Ze. So she took a greedy sniff, but still dared not reveal too much breathing.

The wind blew in, hitting her already flushed and hot face. It was almost as good as being doused with cold water, making her more alert. She slowly touched the ground with her legs, steadily got out of the car, and gently closed the door.

She waved to Lu Ze, and relying on her memory, she returned to the small stool, sat down quietly, and was as obedient as a kitten. She wasn't lame, but her nose was running again.

She heard the engine sound right across the street, so she still didn't dare to wipe it, but she could take a deep breath without restraint, and then felt the engine sound getting further and further away from her.

She hated this feeling; her heart was always hanging in suspense, as if she was expecting something, but the reality was that what she expected was usually not as wonderful as she imagined.

She thought being a volunteer would be very busy and that she could help many people, but listening to the countless footsteps passing by, very few people stopped to ask her about being a volunteer.

She always thought of finding the true meaning and significance of life in her busyness, but eventually found that she was not busy most of the time, as if life did not want to pay attention to this poor little thing.

Just like the tavern owner who works abroad, he was unwilling to give her an answer as to what love is.

She aspired to be a diligent student, but her world had never provided her with fertile ground for knowledge. Her inferiority complex stemmed from this, from her lack of understanding of many emotions. Fortunately, she had grown accustomed to no one answering her questions, so she wasn't too sad, and she still didn't shed tears. She simply sat up straight, wearing a slightly naive smile, waiting for the next "life mentor" who needed help.

"Here, your fifty dollars."

A piece of paper was slapped onto the back of her hand. She subconsciously turned her palm over and grasped it, along with the four fingers pressing on the back of her hand. She turned her head in disbelief, even though she couldn't see her dream lover at all.

"I went to see your team leader and told him to get some rest early."

He turned his gaze to a middle-aged man wearing a volunteer armband not far away. The two looked at each other, and the man gave him a thumbs up. Lu Ze was surprised to find that the volunteer group leader was his high school classmate. However, it was not unusual to run into acquaintances in a small town. This guy probably thought he was a wingman, and he was smiling smugly.

"Brother Lu..."

"Let's go, I'll take you home. Are you staying at school or at home now?"

She was still holding onto Lu Ze's four fingers, which made it easier for him to pull her up. Only then did she realize what was happening. She hurriedly pulled her hand away, clutching the fifty yuan note, her hands behind her back, head down, standing straight in front of Lu Ze.

"I... live at school."

"Let's go, get in the car."

Sitting in the passenger seat again, I was even more tense than the first time. The car started moving, but no one spoke, silently approaching the moment of parting.

He neither slowed down nor increased his speed, just like a normal daily drive. He didn't cherish the time at all, and arrived at his destination in just ten minutes.

This time, Lu Ze opened the car door for her again. She got out of the car and stood by the car, feeling anxious but not knowing what to say. In the end, she could only say thank you and take her first step towards the school gate.

"Wait a minute, come over here."

Hearing the plea to stay, her heart tightened instantly, as if she had taken a nitroglycerin supplement, and her whole body was filled with energy. She turned around, approached the driver's side door, and the square box was stuffed into her arms.

"Change into these shoes before you go to work tomorrow. Your shoes are too thin and they're uncomfortable."

"I……"

"Don't give me any 'sorry's'. It's not much money. Consider it a return gift for the record you gave me. Anything else? If not, turn around, stand at ease, stand at attention, and march."

"Wait a minute, Brother Lu... are you leaving again?"

"Well, what happened?"

"Can I call you? I won't bother you often, it's just... it's just... oh dear."

Compared to her panic, Lu Ze sat calmly in the car, leaning back in his seat and casually changing the radio channel. Watching her anxiously pacing around with the shoebox in her arms, he was truly a villain.

She'd gotten herself into a trap. Lu Ze understood what she meant. All she wanted was to call him when she missed him—a simple thing, but she couldn't bring herself to say it. Seeing her sweating in the cold weather, stammering and unable to articulate her thoughts, was certainly an interesting situation for Lu Ze.

"Row."

"what?"

I said okay.

"..."

(End of this chapter)