In his deep, cold voice, which was enough to make my heart flutter, he said, "How dare he… how dare he hug you."
I placed one hand on his shoulder and said, "Yuan, it was just a scene. Why are you thinking about it so deeply? I thought you knew that."
"No, I didn't," he said in a quiet rage.
"Yuan, it was just an acting scene which was shot for the camera. It didn't have anything related to do with our real lives," I said to make him calm, but it seemed like all my efforts to calm him were going to waste.
Then he took a deep breath and said to me while opening the door of the room himself, "Please go. I want to stay alone here for some time."
I didn't say anything. I didn't ask him anything. I just lowered my head and left the room.
The moment I stepped outside, he closed the door immediately. This was the first time I had seen him this angry since we met each other.
I just went to my room without saying or asking anything to anyone.
Meanwhile, Yuan, alone in that room, fell down on his knees and sat on the floor and said, "Sorry… I am so sorry, my silly girl, that I got so angry at you. But what should I do? What should I do? I can't see anyone taking advantage of you being so innocent and unaware of the thoughts of the people around you. I don't want them to ruin your innocence, but if I tell you all this, then it will only make you cautious and heartbroken, and I don't want you to live cautiously. But what should I do? You tell me.
"I know, I know that the hug was not written in that scene, but still… still he did that. And if I tell you clearly, you'll directly go to Ji Juan and ask him about it, and I know what he's going to answer you. I know he'll definitely fool you by saying it was an improvisation that the scene and the character demanded. But I know… I know. But you didn't… you didn't."
He said all these things to himself alone in that room, where no one was there to listen to him or his thoughts, which were completely broken.
Then he immediately stood up and went outside his makeup room. He went straight to Ji Juan's makeup room and knocked on the door.
Ji Juan opened the door immediately and saw Yuan standing in front of him. He forced a smile on his face and said, "Xu Yuan, what brings you here?"
"You," Yuan replied.
Ji Juan got a little shocked after hearing his answer and said in a quiet, shocked way, "Me?"
"Can we talk?" Yuan asked him.
He immediately nodded his head and said, "Sure, please come inside."
Yuan stepped inside the room. Ji Juan closed the door after Yuan entered.
Then Yuan turned towards him and asked, "Mr. Ji Juan, you are a very aspiring and promising actor of this time in the industry."
Ji Juan smiled and said, "Thank you so much, Xu Yuan. Hearing such words from you is literally a big thing for me. You are such a big star in the C-drama industry, and you are praising me. It really means that I am good at what I do."
Yuan smiled, but it was a forced, fake smile that he usually gives in a sarcastic way, and said, "But Ji Juan, if you are such a good actor, then there is no need for improvisation required for you to do it in scenes without telling or letting anyone know."
"Improvisation?" he repeated.
"Yes, improvisation," Yuan said while taking one step closer to him, which was enough to make him a little scared.
He hesitated and said, "Xu Yuan, you are getting me wrong. I think I didn't do any improvisation."
"Don't lie. I know you did," Yuan said while taking another step towards him.
Ji Juan stepped back and said again, "I didn't. I only did what was on the script."
"No, you didn't. It wasn't on the script. Stop lying," Yuan said while taking one more step towards him. Now Ji Juan's back bumped into the wall, and Yuan was standing right in front of him.
"It wasn't on the script," Yuan said.
"What?" Ji Juan asked.
"The hug," Yuan replied.
"The hug was there. Director Li told me to do that. He thought of it at the time when we were filming the scene. That thought came to his mind immediately, so it was just a hug. He told me to do it. There was nothing more than that, Xu Yuan. Nothing. Trust me, nothing," he said in a quiet, convincing way that anyone could believe.
Yuan took a step back and said, "Do you think I am a fool? Then think that, because I am not falling into your trap."
"It's not a trap, Xu Yuan. It's the truth that I have just told you. Believe it or not, it's up to you. It has nothing to do with me," Ji Juan said.
Yuan smiled again in his usual sarcastic way and said, "What do you think, Ji Juan? That you'll say these things to me and I'll believe you? Never. I'll never. Just from next time onwards, be very careful, because my eyes are on you. One more action in the name of improvisation, and I'll make sure you regret stepping into this drama series and taking this role."
"Xu Yuan, do whatever you want. I have already told you my side. Believe it or not, it's up to you. But I am not going to pay for something that I haven't done. And if you treat me like this, then I'll make sure you make me suffer only after I actually do something wrong," Ji Juan said.
Yuan immediately turned to him, grabbed his collar, and said, "Take back your words, and don't you dare think about it."
"I wasn't. I really wasn't. But your actions, your behavior, make me think like that. Yuan, listen, I am not some villain in your story. This is real life, not your drama series where you are playing the male main lead and I am the villain. Everyone is the main lead in their own story, so don't step into someone else's story. Everyone has their own life.
"I know you are Xu Yuan — the Xu Yuan — the most popular and successful actor in the C-drama industry. But you can't be the hero in everyone's story. At least in the story of my life, I am the main lead. So stop trying to become the main lead in my life's story."
Yuan smiled and said, "Are you really a grown man? Because I don't think so, talking like a kid over here. Just from next time onwards, be very careful. I am really not interested in stepping into someone else's story, but don't force me to do that. Stay away."
Yuan was about to leave the room. He held the doorknob and was about to turn it to open the door when suddenly Ji Juan said, "It's for her, right?"
Yuan turned his face towards him.
"I know. I can sense it since the moment I entered this set. Of course, it must be her. She is pretty and cute, doesn't know things properly. It's very interesting to teach her about the industry."
"Stay away from her," Yuan said.
"I am staying away from her already. But are you? Are you staying away from her?" Ji Juan asked.
"Don't you know that you two being together is not a good thing? What if people get to know about it? Both of your careers will be at risk — especially yours, Xu Yuan. You are such a big actor, and she is just a newcomer in this industry. If her career ends here, she can easily go back to her normal life. It won't affect her much. But it will affect you — very much, Xu Yuan.
"Did you really forget that, or did she make you forget that? Yes, I agree, she is very cute and chirping like a bird. But what if her sky falls down? Then where will that bird fly again in her life? Has it ever?" Ji Juan asked.
"I know you are her sky — a free sky where she flies. But the sky must be careful, because if it falls, then that bird will never be able to fly again in her whole life."
"Ji Juan, watch your words before speaking. Do you really want to mess with me?" Yuan asked.
"No, Xu Yuan. Never. I never wanted that. You came here because of your insecurity and accused me of doing something that I didn't. I only did my work. But still, you warned me for something I haven't done. That made me mad at you.
"So I just want to tell you, Xu Yuan, let me do my work peacefully. I am not here to disturb your life. I am here for work. Don't interfere in it, and I won't interfere in your matters. And trust me, I am really not interested in those matters. Next time, think before you speak. Now you can leave, Mr. Xu Yuan. Sorry if I said anything that hurt you," Ji Juan said.
This time, Yuan didn't say anything to Ji Juan. He just opened the door and left the room. And outside Ji Juan's makeup room, when Yuan got out from it…