"Shu Yueru, oh Shu Yueru, you disobedient woman. You even resist me in dreams. I won't allow it."
As Chang Zhiyuan spoke, he leaned his face closer.
"Chang Zhiyuan, this isn't a dream!"
Chang Zhiyuan was pushed away by Shu Yi once again before he realized. This wasn't a dream; this was reality. How embarrassing. Just now, he had...
"Ahem, I thought it was a dream," Chang Zhiyuan said, scratching his head.
"Boss, you're sober now. You can go home."
"I don't have a car."
"You have a phone and an assistant."
"I don't want to leave."
"You..." Shu Yi was speechless. How could someone be so thick-skinned?
"Now that we're both sober and have time, can we sit down and talk properly about our issues?"
Chang Zhiyuan pleaded.
Shu Yi also calmed down, her eyes fixed on Chang Zhiyuan. She could clearly see an unprecedented seriousness on his face.
"How do you want to talk?"
They sat face to face, their eyes locked on each other.
"I know what you're worried about. My parents won't bother you again in the future."
Chang Zhiyuan got straight to the point.
"Do you know that there's already a huge disparity between our social statuses? Most of the time, two people in love find it very difficult to end up together."
Shu Yi spoke with equal seriousness.
"I know, but problems are meant to be overcome. We like each other, so why can't we be together? We're not minors, nor are we married. We're both single, so why is it so hard for us to be together? I know my parents approached you, and that's my fault. But they can't make decisions for me. I'm financially independent and I don't live with them. If I insist, they won't bother you again. You might say they still won't accept you in their hearts, but so what? I'm the one who will be living with you, not them. You don't need to care about what they think at all. As Xiu He once said, the only person who can accompany you to the end is your partner."
Chang Zhiyuan spoke at length, expressing all the thoughts he had been holding back.
"Are you finished?"
"Your turn. I want to hear your thoughts."
"I don't know what I think. My mind is a mess right now."
"What's there to be confused about? Our relationship is between us and no one else. If we're together, you don't need to worry about your career at all. Your fans don't care about your personal life. They just want you to be happy, no matter what. Besides, you've gotten to where you are today because of your acting skills and talent. What are you afraid of? Are you worried about the difference in our social status? Do you think your background isn't good enough for me?"
Chang Zhiyuan paused, and Shu Yi seemed to be pondering.
"No one can choose their birth circumstances. That's not our fault. But we have the right to pursue love. So what if my family has some money? I feel like I'm not good enough for you. You're young and beautiful. As for me, I had a bad reputation before, and I'm older than you. I should be the one feeling unworthy. What's wrong with you? You can earn money, and you're smart. It's just my parents' outdated views that made them say those things to you. You're excellent. Others might not know how you've made it this far, but I do. It's not easy for a girl in the entertainment industry. You were just a little luckier than others, but everything else you've achieved, you deserve."
Chang Zhiyuan hadn't forgotten what he learned when he investigated her past, how she had risen from obscurity to her current position.
She took notes while acting, repeatedly observed veteran actors' techniques, constantly studied scripts to understand character profiles, worked late and rose early, never complained, never argued with directors, never deliberately tried to get close to directors. She just quietly did her job, neither fighting nor grabbing, but diligently practicing her acting skills.
The hardships she endured behind the scenes, perhaps only she knew.
"Marriages without parental blessings are often unhappy," Shu Yi finally said after a long pause.
"You said 'often,' not always. We can't generalize like that. There are always exceptions. Sometimes, parents' opinions aren't always right. We're adults now, capable of independent thinking and knowing what we want. Why should we give up something precious because of their opinions? Shu Yueru, let me tell you this: I won't marry anyone but you in this life. We'll get through this together. If you think it's because of my parents, that's okay. They're 30 years older than us after all, and we'll outlast them. But I'll say it again: we don't need their blessing. As long as I firmly choose you, what does their opinion matter? I'm not using their money now, and they can't control me. My sister likes you very much too. What else are you afraid of?"
"You've said too much."
Since waking up, Chang Zhiyuan's mouth hadn't stopped moving, spouting one rationale after another. He was just short of citing examples. But Shu Yi believed that with Chang Zhiyuan's personality, he was capable of doing just that. He might go and find many examples of marriages that weren't blessed by parents but turned out well, and present them to her.
"Woman, do you see? This couple wasn't blessed by their parents, but they grew old together happily. This couple had a huge status gap between their families, but they..."
Shu Yi imagined in her mind.
Chang Zhiyuan was observing Shu Yi beside her.
"Have you made up your mind?"
"About what?"
"Marry me, date me, or have children with me. Choose one. It's a must-answer question."
"Can I choose none?"
"No."
Shu Yi's mind was in a fog. Chang Zhiyuan had said too much today.
"Can you give me some time to think about it?"
Shu Yi said after nearly a minute of contemplation.
"Alright, but I don't want to wait too long. Rest assured, my parents will never bother you again. And don't worry, if we really end up together and get married, we definitely won't live with them."
Chang Zhiyuan could guarantee this point. He wasn't living with them now, so how could he possibly live with them after getting married?
"I'll give you three days to think it over slowly."
After saying this, Chang Zhiyuan left Ziyue Manor on his own, giving Shu Yi private space to think.
Shu Yi was indeed moved by Chang Zhiyuan's words, but she felt there was still a hurdle in her heart that she couldn't overcome.
"Hey, Yin Yin."
"I'm here."
"I don't know what to do anymore."
