"Thank you, Mr. JJ. Goodbye." Iris hung up the phone.
She and her music producer discussed her upcoming soundtrack album for the film "Strong Yet Broken" which would be released on the same day as the movie premiere. Although she wouldn't be part of the official movie promotions, she still needed to attend select interviews for her contribution as the official composer. In addition to this, she had to do her own promotions for the soundtrack album which would be under her name.
Excitement bubbled within her. She couldn't wait to hear her own music in a movie. This was something she only dreamed about in her past life. Now she was on the verge of achieving it. Once again, she felt thankful to have been given a second chance in life.
Ice Cream meowed daintily from her lap. Iris petted the plump and fluffy grey kitten. Popcorn was sprawled belly up by her feet on the carpet. He was sleeping soundly after tiring himself from running around the entire penthouse.
"Go back to sleep, Ice Cream. I need to return to Daddy," Iris whispered. Then she gently removed Ice Cream from her lap and transferred the kitten onto the couch.
Ice Cream was quite heavy now. Popcorn was slimmer because he always ran around whenever he was awake, unlike Ice Cream who liked sleeping and lounging the entire day.
Iris petted her two kittens before exiting the cat room.
When she returned to the bedroom, she saw Jin Liwei sitting on the edge of their bed with his head hanging down and his hands covering his face. He looked forlorn.
"Liwei, what's wrong?" she asked, quickly walking to him.
He raised his head and looked at her with a pained expression. "Baby…"
She tried to stand up but he pulled her back down on his lap.
"No," he said. He wrapped his arms around her tiny waist and pulled her closer to him. Then he turned his face towards her neck and inhaled her sweet scent.
Iris could sense that he was troubled, but she didn't ask him again. She waited for him to speak instead.
"I'm such a coward," he said. "I love you so much, baby. I can't bear for you to hate me."
She felt confused. She already knew that he loved her but what did he mean by his other words? She didn't understand.
He took her hand and kissed it. Then he looked directly at her eyes. "Baby, I…" He stopped and took a couple of deep breaths before continuing. "I have a secret. I'm afraid that if I tell you, you're going to hate me and then leave me."
Her head tilted to one side, immediately feeling curious. However, she controlled her curiosity because he looked so distressed. Her chest tightened seeing him like this. She leaned down and pecked him on the lips. "Just tell me whenever you're ready. I'll listen to you and do my best to be understanding whatever it is."
His eyes widened at her in wonder.
"I don't know what your secret is but what I do know right now is that I don't want to leave you. I want to be with you." She released her hand from his hold and began caressing his face. Then she whispered, "I like you very much, Liwei."
Iris rubbed his back while her other hand stroked his hair, soothing him. She patiently waited for him to control his emotions. Although she had no idea what kind of secret he was keeping that he would become like this, she didn't think much about it.
'Whatever your secret is, I'm sure it's nothing to my secret,' she thought.
What would be his reaction if she told him that she wasn't actually Long Xiulan but was someone else who transmigrated into this body? Would he even believe her? She didn't think so. Who in their right mind would believe such a claim?
She knew that he would never mock her. He would probably just think that she was joking or perhaps even hallucinating if she ever told him that she was a transmigrated soul. So as not to upset her, he would probably humour her and pretend to believe her. She smiled thinking about it. It was so like him.
She continued to rub his back and stroke his hair.
They remained in that position for a while. Nobody spoke. They just quietly embraced each other.
Finally, Jin Liwei lifted his head. His expression was no longer distressed but loving instead. He still looked a little troubled but he felt much better. He already cemented his resolve when it came to his baby girl.
"How about you rest, baby? You're still recovering," he said, tucking a lock of her long hair behind her ear.
"I want a towel bath first. I'll take a nap after."
"Okay."
He stood up and carried her to the bathroom.
She whispered close to his ear, "Thank you for taking care of me."
He stopped and looked at her.
They gazed at each other's eyes.
Guilt flashed in Jin Liwei's eyes before it transformed into a resolute expression. "I'll take care of you for the rest of our lives. I'll do anything for you, baby. Anything. Just please don't leave me."
Iris' heart skipped a beat, and then it started racing wildly inside her chest. She suddenly felt flustered and shy, so she hid her face against his neck.
What was this feeling? Was she going to faint again? But she didn't feel unwell. It felt weird but it wasn't unpleasant. In fact, she felt excited mixed with…something else. She didn't know what she was feeling.
"Liwei, I feel weird."
"No."
"Tell me what you're feeling. We'll call Second Brother and ask him, okay?"
"No!" She lifted her head but felt flustered again when she saw his face. "I mean, let's not bother Second Brother. I don't feel sick. Really."
He observed her face. Indeed, she didn't look pale. On the contrary, she looked flushed. He pressed their foreheads together. Her temperature felt normal. Thank goodness she didn't have a fever.
"Oh." Iris felt her heartbeat race even faster.
What was wrong with her?!
After the towel bath, she would search this up.