The Blossom We Found under the Cherry Tree

Chapter 3: Hidden Blossoms

     Yinghua watched as Zhe Yuan swayed slightly, his eyes clouded with irritation and the effects of alcohol. The usually composed and aloof actor now looked vulnerable and unpredictable. Her heart pounded as she stood before him, trying to compose herself and prepare for the conversation that was about to unfold.

     "How long have you been living here?" Zhe Yuan demanded, his voice slurred but firm. There was a slight wobble in his stance, but his gaze remained sharp, pinning her with its intensity.

     "A few months," Yinghua replied hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper. She couldn't bring herself to look directly at him, fearing the judgment in his eyes.

     He narrowed his eyes, processing the information. The silence stretched between them, thick with tension. "Were you here when I brought those girls over?" he asked, his tone edged with annoyance and a hint of disbelief.

     Yinghua's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. The memories of those nights spent hiding in the cramped closet, heart pounding as she listened to the muffled sounds of his encounters, flooded back. "I... I tried to stay out of sight," she admitted, avoiding his gaze. She felt a surge of shame, wishing the ground would swallow her whole.

     Zhe Yuan let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair in a gesture of exasperation. "Aren't you getting paid for the story writing?" he asked, his annoyance clear. The idea that she had been living in his trailer all this time without him knowing seemed to grate on him.

     "I am," she replied, her voice steadier this time. "I'm trying to save up." She felt the need to justify herself, to explain that she wasn't taking advantage of his kindness—or lack thereof. "I just couldn't afford anywhere else."

     Zhe Yuan, still tipsy and visibly irritated, rubbed his temples as if trying to ease a headache. His shoulders sagged slightly, the fight seeming to drain out of him. "We'll talk more in the morning," he said, his voice softer but still tinged with irritation. "I need to get some rest. You can stay here tonight, and I'll book a ride to the Golden Lotus instead."

     Yinghua nodded, feeling a wave of relief that he wasn't wasn't making her leave. She watched as he fumbled with his phone, calling for a ride. The tension in the air was palpable, each moment stretching painfully. Zhe Yuan looked at her one last time before stepping out into the night, leaving her alone in the trailer.

     As she lay on the small bed, trying to get comfortable, the events of the evening replayed in her mind. The trailer, once her safe haven, now felt like a precarious refuge. She stared at the ceiling, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and fears. How would this change things between them? Would he see her differently now? She had no answers, only the hope that tomorrow would bring some clarity.

     She closed her eyes, willing herself to sleep, but her mind refused to quiet down. The soft hum of the heater was the only sound in the otherwise silent trailer. The uncertainty of her situation weighed heavily on her, and she wondered how long she could continue living like this.

     As the hours passed, her exhaustion finally overtook her anxiety, and she drifted into a restless sleep, hoping for a solution in the morning.

***

     Surprisingly, Zhe Yuan didn't throw her out. Instead, he seemed curious about her circumstances and moved by her determination. That morning, as the early light filtered through the trailer's small windows, he watched her sleep for a moment before quietly leaving to fetch some breakfast. When he returned, he gently shook her awake.

     "Let's talk," he said, handing her a cup of coffee.

     Yinghua sat up, her heart pounding. She accepted the coffee, wrapping her hands around the warm cup. "Thank you," she murmured.