After Feng Yueshan's birthday party ended, Chu Yilan kept Shen Lian at home for an entire week.
Only Shen Lian could have asked for time off and gotten Dai Tong's approval without a moment's hesitation.
Mostly, it was because Shen Lian was dependable and steady, and filming was progressing so quickly that a few days wouldn't matter.
Chu Yilan was clearly furious. At first, all Shen Lian's sweet talk had been useless. Worried that he would sneak back to the set, Chu Yilan had even asked Nie Sheng to come watch him personally.
Shen Lian: "..." There was no escape.
On the fourth day, Teacher Shen got angry. He didn't resort to a hunger strike, though. Instead, he simply grew quieter, only speaking when spoken to, looking utterly wilted. Even Aunt Fen felt sorry for him and headed to the kitchen to make soup.
"You're determined to be the death of me," Chu Yilan said.
Shen Lian paused in the middle of drinking his soup but said nothing. As he lowered his head, his shoulder blades stood out slightly.
Beside them, Aunt Fen kept shooting Chu Yilan pointed looks: stop talking! He already looked so pitiful. What more was there to say?!
Chu Yilan thought Aunt Fen had fallen for his act, but less than two days later, he had fallen for it even harder.
On the sixth night, after they had showered, Chu Yilan asked, "Can you guarantee this won't happen again?"
"No," Shen Lian answered honestly. "Yilan, some things are beyond anyone's control. But I hope you understand that I'm the last person who wants you to worry. I'll keep every promise I make to you."
The taut string in Chu Yilan's heart slowly loosened.
"Go," Chu Yilan continued. "Go do what you love."
Shen Lian stayed home