From Reel to Real

VI. Reconnected

Shen Yue glanced to his direction a few times during the meeting. Her heart was bursting with joy watching him. How does it feel to touch his face? She wondered. All she had done after their online conversations was to touch the screen, her fingers would linger on and she would imagined how his skin felt. She recalled the warmth of his body when she was fast asleep on his shoulder during that flight back. She did not want to wake up from that 'dream'.

She had missed Dylan. Even though, they had spent hours on video calls. During busy times, they would message each other. And then, there was a few months gap when they stopped communicating especially after she started working in Hunan TV. Life was way too hectic.

However, out of the blue, a message from him would popped up saying "Hey, Yue, what do you think of my new Tik Tok video?" She would watch it and then feedback "The music does not match with that. You should use this instead," sending him a song. "Whoa! You're right. Thanks!" Just like that, they would pick up where they left off.

Since Phuket, her feelings for him were growing, the opposite of what she predicted to be. She found it strange. It was just a week and yet, they had connection. Is Dylan THE GUY? The right one whom she would date, marry and have kids with? She was curious. Spending more time with him as his assistant would help her get an answer.

Meanwhile, she had to be the upbeat Yue Yue so he would not see through her real feelings. Easy peasy, Yue. Even the greatest actor in China would be deceived by her performance.

———-

Dylan is not human. Wait, Dylan is superhuman. His schedule is crazy. How can anyone do it the way he does?

In the following weeks, he had multiple events and photoshoots in Beijing and endorsement jobs in Shanghai, on top of his Super Penguin basketball game. Apparently this is Dylan's regular schedule during non-filming periods. As Yue was concerned, his next filming project would start in 6 months' time. Meanwhile, he would be busy with all the other activities.

Her job was to ensure all preparations were done for Dylan including flight check-ins, morning calls, meetings with organizers, sponsors and his daily meals. During the outstation trips, she would wake up one hour to prepare herself before Dylan's morning call. Afraid to miss their early morning flights, she sometimes stayed awake the whole night. Coffee was her best friend.

She had decided to specifically designed meals for Dylan so he would have enough nutrition and energy for work. She had noticed in the past how he tend to lose weight easily. I will not let it happen on my watch, she thought. Plus, she noticed he tends to get grouchy when his stomach is empty. Yue stocked up snacks in her bag for emergency purposes.

For the first time, Yue felt overwhelmed. She did not show it in her temperament, however she had lost her appetite and sleep. Someone noticed though.

"Why are you not eating, Yue?" Dylan asked.

"I don't feel like it. I will just drink coffee," she mumbled.

Dylan peered at her closely. "Seems like you are not sleeping well either. Are you stressed?"

"No, no, I am okay. Just getting used to this job. Give me one more week." she smiled. Then, she closed her eyes and sipped her coffee. He noticed her dark eye bags. She also looked like she lost weight.

Dylan stood up and pulled her hand.

"Come with me!"

"What? Didi, someone might see us!"

It was a break from photoshoot and everyone else was eating.

"You need food."

"But we have food. I'm just not hungry." she protested.