Chapter 114 - Song Luli (2)

As Song Luli slipped away, speaking with people who highly regarded the preview of her film, Long Jie watched her proudly.

He took a glass of wine offered by the server. His friends and family went to mingle with other guests, but Long Jie wasn't one who liked small talk, so he began to idle around the hall.

Long Jie glanced over at Song Luli, and she was deep into conversation, laughing with Han Ru and the others. He downed another wine glass from a table nearby.

He wanted to be a part of Song Luli's world, but he felt as if people were more interested in his presence, overcasting a shadow—not that's he's more important. It's just how society worked, and he didn't want that for her. But he would wait.

Someone stepped to his side, startling him.

"Hello, Mr. Long," said Miss Mao.

Long Jie arched an insincere, questioning brow. "What are you doing here?" he asked bluntly.

She smiled coquettishly. "A friend personally invited me," she replied. "I wouldn't want to miss the opportunity to congratulate my boss for his production."

"I may be a producer, but it's my wife who worked hard on this project, not me. Go thank her."

She smiled widely. "Oh, yes, of course," she replied, glancing at Song Luli from across the hall. "But at the moment, she seems a bit too occupied."

Long Jie loosened his tie as he began to feel warm in his suit. He decided to walk towards Song Luli, but he stumbled over his foot. Miss Mao grasped his arm, helping him up.

"Sorry," Long Jie said. "I think I am a bit drunk." He turned around to steady himself when his limbs weakened; his mind clouded in a daze. He tried to walk, but he accidentally knocked over some champagne glasses, and they shattered on the floor.

Luli can't see me like this , Long Jie thought, It will ruin her night.

He kept walking and stumbling when Miss Mao helped steady him. "I'll help you," she told him.

Sweating, Long Jie nodded, swinging an arm over her shoulder. His body felt heavy, and his eyes kept shutting. It required an effort to move his legs. They reached an elevator, and Long Jie's head lulled. He glanced at Miss Mao, realizing that she wore a twisted smile. "What the fuck...did you...do to me?" he mumbled out.

...

Song Luli parted ways with some writers that were from other networks. They told her they looked forward to the opening weekend of her film and offered to give her genuine critique a few days after the release.

Han Ru introduced her to more people, and though she was speaking and meeting everyone, she was missing Long Jie, who was always by her side.

She went to look for him when Lan Shufen abruptly stood in front of her, wearing a tuxedo that appeared to be too big on her.

"Have you seen Long Jie?" she questioned Lan Shufen.

Lan Shufen shook her head. She glanced at people around them, and not wanting anyone to overhear, she took Song Luli by the arm, locking arms with her.

"Come with me. Someone is anxiously waiting to meet you," Lan Shufen lied. When she noticed no one was around, Lan Shufen pulled her aside and said, "I saw some woman take Long Jie up the elevator. He looked drunk. I don't know what to tell you, Luli; I'm sorry that you had to find out your husband is cheating on you this way."

Song Luli stilled. "A woman?" she questioned.

Lan Shufen looked at her with pity. "Yes," she replied.

Song Luli then collected the hem of her dress, dashing towards the elevator, anxiously clicking the elevator button repeatedly.

"Are you going to confront them? That's bold," Lan Shufen said.

"Lan," Song Luli snapped. "Long Jie wouldn't cheat on me, and certainly not in public. Something else is going on, and I need to find out what it is."

Song Luli understood how Lan Shufen must have misread what was going on, but Song Luli knew that wasn't the case.

"What the fuck?" Lan Shufen replied. "I'll come with you!"

Song Luli shook her head. "No. Find Su Xiang and the others!" she instructed her.

Lan Shufen nodded, stalking away quickly.

The elevator opened, and Song Luli hopped in. There were only three levels, but Song Luli didn't know which room he would be in. Fuck!

The second level was a dance floor, flooded with dozens of people from the Entertainment Industry. Many festive ornaments decorated the room and performers were wearing beautiful costumes. She ditched the level, heading to third.

The third level held private booths with curtains. Song Luli peeked through each of them. Some people were engaging in promiscuous activities, while others drank or smoked. She was growing impatient, so she started to open the curtains, running as she went.

"Hey!" people shouted at her, but she was creating havoc.

Frustrated tears flowed from her eyes when she stumbled upon Long Jie, walking painfully at the end of the hall. Relief passed through her, and Long Jie fell in her arms in one piece.

"Are you okay?" her quivering voice questioned.

He lifted his head, not facing her.

He then pushed her aside. "Get the fuck away from me!" He said.

Song Luli fell with a thud. Nothing hurt, but her behind ached a bit.

"It's me! Luli," she said, crawling to him. "It's me."

"Luli?" Long Jie questioned. He rubbed his eyes, opening them. "Is it really you?"

"Yes," she said.

He then lept into her arms, squeezing her tight. "She was...trying to kill me...I fought her."

Song Luli creased her brows. "Who?" she questioned.

Angry people then surrounded them. Song Luli clung to him, hauling him up. She hung Long Jie's arm over her, but she struggled to carry him as he was tall and heavy.

Han Ru barged into the room, startled and flushed. "What the heck happened to you two?" he asked, his eyes widening.

A half-naked woman then spat on song Luli. "This bitch scared away my customer before he finished paying."

Han Ru tucked a wad of cash in her hand and told her to leave, and everyone else left behind her.

"I need to take Long Jie to Su Xiang," Song Luli told him.

"All right," Han Ru said, nodding.

Long Jie then dropped to the ground suddenly, taking her with him. He was wholly unconscious. Han Ru stepped forward to help pick him up. Song Luli found a glass bottle; she shattered it against the edge of the bar countertop. She picked up a long glass shard, bringing it to the back of Han Ru's neck.

"Get the fuck away from him," she said through a slight sob.