After a while, Jiang Li heard a soft chuckle above her head.
"You're worried about me being slandered?"
Jiang Li pursed her lips, looked into his eyes, and said softly, "I don't want them to speak ill of you."
He came from a prominent family and had lived in a privileged environment since childhood. He didn't deserve such slander and humiliation.
And it was something she didn't want to see that he had suffered such an unwarranted disaster because of being with her.
"Moreover, Ms. Su came to see me before. She said that a celebrity's status is quite special. If I were to be with you, it would bring trouble and burden to the Xiao family in the future—let me make it clear first, I'm not snitching."
At this moment, Xiao Yanzhi finally understood why Jiang Li had said those things to him before, why she had said that they could both live better without each other.
She didn't want to make things difficult for him, didn't want him to be involved in controversies and troubles, and didn't want to see him get hurt.
Xiao Yanzhi looked into her eyes and let out a laugh. "She's always been fond of moral - kidnapping. I'm sorry."
He took her hand and found it a bit cold, so he put it into his overcoat pocket and covered it well. "She said something similar to me too."
"Does she also moral - kidnap you?"
"She said that I'm her only son and her sole support, and told me not to make the wrong decision. I should get back on the right track as soon as possible, marry into a well - matched family, and have children."
"And then..."
Xiao Yanzhi saw the hesitation on her face. He tightened his grip on the hand in his pocket, passing strength and warmth to her. "I said that I could do as she said, marry a suitable woman, and have a marriage as hollow as hers; but at the same time, I would lead a life like a walking corpse. There would only be a false appearance of harmony on the surface, while actually I would always carry another woman in my heart and spend the rest of my life in loneliness and emptiness."
Jiang Li was stunned. She looked at him in disbelief, unable to believe that he would say such things to Su Jialan.
He was determined, which was why he had so resolutely pronounced his own life.
Lonely and empty.
From then on, in every night, he would miss someone he couldn't be with.
Until he grew old and died.
Thinking that he would lead such a life and become a soulless puppet, her heart ached. She hugged him. "I don't want you to be that kind of person."
"It depends on you." He put his arm around her back and said gently, "It's up to you to decide whether I should lead such a life."
Jiang Li laughed in his arms. The laughter was crisp. "Is this your way of moral - kidnapping me?"
Xiao Yanzhi smiled softly and kissed the corner of her mouth. "You've found me out."
The market wasn't far from their hotel. Jiang Li was in the mood to take a walk back with him, so the two strolled slowly along the road.
Their breaths were steady, and there was a puff of white air in front of them.
"Many people say that Lyon is a boring city, especially in winter."
Xiao Yanzhi said, "It often rains here in winter, and the sky is mostly overcast."
"How could it be?" Jiang Li laughed. "I think this city is beautiful, especially in winter."
Xiao Yanzhi turned his head to look at her.
"I've never felt that a winter could be so warm." She tilted her head and smiled at him. "Maybe it's because of you. From now on, in every winter, I'll think of the winter in Lyon."
"Because it's the winter spent with you."
At this moment, Xiao Yanzhi's heart was like a tempest - swept sea, or a torrential downpour, and finally it calmed down.
This veiled confession made his heart pound so violently that his chest began to ache. He even had difficulty breathing, and there was only one thought in his mind.
He held her face and kissed her solemnly.
It was as if he was kissing the god in his heart.
In the shadow not far away, Xiao Ye pouted and shivered while holding the camera. "This is... this is my first time being a paparazzi... doing some sneaky photography. This job is really not for humans."
Half an hour ago, Xiao Yanzhi had arranged an urgent task. He asked Sister Chen to arrange some of their own people to follow them throughout the whole process, mainly to take pictures of them walking together.
While Xiao Ye was still confused, Sister Chen had already guessed something and wore a smile on her face.
His love wouldn't be hidden forever.
He wanted her to shine brightly.
...
Apart from the premiere, there were several road - shows scheduled later. Jiang Li had to follow the crew around, and in her spare time, she stayed with Xiao Yanzhi.
During the road - show, Jiang Li accidentally heard someone in the crew mention that the reason this movie could be released in France was that Xiao Yanzhi had talked about cooperation with Shang Zewen.
And Shang Zewen had hurt Jiang Li. He was an out - and - out bastard.
That night, during dinner, Jiang Li directly questioned Xiao Yanzhi and asked if it was Shang Zewen who had helped them get this opportunity.
Xiao Yanzhi answered frankly, "Not entirely."
Jiang Li felt a bit uncomfortable in her heart and looked a bit unhappy. "I feel ashamed that this movie owes a favor to him."
She had a bit of a hatred for evil.
Xiao Yanzhi slowly cut the steak into pieces for Jiang Li. After passing it to her, he said, "He just gave me an idea. As for the contacts he recommended, I really don't think much of them."
Jiang Li blinked. "You didn't ask him to help make connections?"
Xiao Yanzhi laughed to himself. "Compared to him, I think my contacts are more extensive."
The outside world thought that this movie was released in France thanks to Shang Zewen's connections, but in fact, Xiao Yanzhi suddenly remembered that when he was studying in France, he had an old friend who was now the biggest movie distributor in France.
He flew there several times back and forth. Finally, he managed to settle it and even invited his old friend to drink. This matter was thus settled.
As for those recommended by Shang Zewen, he just noted down their names in his mind to avoid any contact with them.
Once you owe a favor, it's very difficult to pay it back.
Moreover, men understand men best. Xiao Yanzhi could see Shang Zewen's despicable nature clearly, but he was just too lazy to interfere. But he never thought that Shang Zewen would go crazy enough to directly attack Jiang Li.
"Are you relieved now?" Xiao Yanzhi looked at her with a teasing look. "I'm used to solving problems on my own; besides, most of the time, I'm the one with the contacts to solve problems."
"Okay, okay, Mr. Xiao is the best." Jiang Li complimented him half - heartedly.
He didn't mind. He took a sip of red wine and said casually, "I want to hear the same words in bed tonight."
Jiang Li covered her face. "… You're a hooligan."
There was no work arrangement the next day. Jiang Li didn't want to go back, but it was too cold at night, and it wasn't suitable for outdoor activities.
Jiang Li suggested they go to watch a movie together.