A whirlwind marriage with a high-ranking official: Lights out, don't force me to take the initi

In summer, the cicadas chirp desperately, one call after another, as if trying to tear the whole afternoon to pieces.

In Song Xiaotang's office, the electric fan hummed, stirring up the stuffy air.

She held the phone receiver, leaned over her desk, and rubbed her temples with her other hand, her knuckles leaving two faint red marks on her temples.

"What kind of person is your editor-in-chief?" she asked.

On the other end of the phone, Ji Tinglan's voice was filled with the static of a long-distance call: "It's hard to say, I haven't had much contact with him."

"Popular Cinema magazine has been republished for less than a year, and this editor-in-chief was just promoted after the republication. I've looked through the few issues that have been published so far, and the style is not much different from before. So I feel... he's a serious conservative."

Long-distance calls from Beijing to the military region cost a little over one yuan per minute.

Neither of them mentioned hanging up.

They had clearly managed to snatch a glimmer of hope from their predicament.

The current situation is actually quite good. Ji Tinglan's special report has been submitted and accepted by the branch office for the first time.

Furthermore, it is certain that the report on "Heroines' Kindness" will occupy a large section in future issues of "Popular Cinema" magazine, with prominent promotion.

Song Xiaotang, as the producer, also achieved her goal.

But both of them felt empty inside.

Like a jigsaw puzzle, the most crucial piece is missing. Ye Wenxi is gone.

This sense of loss is hard to explain.

Whether they are writing propaganda or making movies, their initial intention is to praise the outstanding and advanced deeds of women.

They actually met a real person like Ye Wenxi in real life and realized that there is more than one definition of a hero.

Heroes aren't only those who fight on the battlefield.

The new era needs people like Ye Wenxi even more.

They never shed blood, yet they led military families from the kitchen to the worktable; they never sacrificed anything, yet they gave each family a sense of security.

She is not a heroine in the traditional sense, yet she breaks all traditional definitions.

But such people were pulled down and left in the deleted manuscripts.

Song Xiaotang twisted the phone cord in her hand, leaned back in her chair, and let out a soft sigh: "So when are you coming back?"

"Let's wait a while longer." Ji Tinglan paused. "I don't want to give up so soon."

As Song Xiaotang listened, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.

She suddenly remembered an old saying: "A scholar will die for one who understands him."

They had only known Ye Wenxi for a month or two, but because of him, they were willing to come to this point today.

This was something no one had anticipated at the beginning.

But some things are like that; it's not about how long you've known each other, but about the shared experiences and the connection on a soul level that makes it impossible to break free once you're involved.

Song Xiaotang then asked, "By the way, what was Ye Wenxi's reaction after you finished talking to her?"

"There was no reaction, just calm. There was no pressing, no questioning, and no resentment. It was very calm, as if it were a trivial matter."

Song Xiaotang laughed and said, "You're so calm? What are we doing here then?"

Ji Tinglan paused for a moment on the other end of the phone: "Oh, right. Hey~~ tell me about it."

-----------------

Ye Wenxi's voice came through the phone in Lu Weidong's office; she sounded listless and weak.

Lu Weidong: "Not eating anymore?"

Ye Wenxi: "Okay, I'll go straight home in a bit."

Lu Weidong: "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Ye Wenxi: "It's nothing, I'm just a little tired and don't have much of an appetite."

Lu Weidong: "Okay, I'll go home after get off work."

After getting off work, Lu Weidong hurried home.

The lock and door were opened extremely quickly.

He opened the door and saw Ye Wenxi sitting on the sofa, holding a copy of "Popular Cinema".

The main lights were not on in the room, only a floor lamp was lit, casting a dim, yellowish light that projected her lonely silhouette onto the wall.

Lu Weidong put his military cap and bag on the side cabinet and walked over to Ye Wenxi.

Ye Wenxi looked up at him: "Have you eaten?"

Lu Weidong shook his head.

"Don't worry about me, go eat." Ye Wenxi continued to lower her head, pretending to read a magazine.

But Lu Weidong could tell that Ye Wenxi was acting strangely, so he snatched the copy of "Popular Cinema" from her hand.

"Huh? What?"

Before Ye Wenxi could react, Lu Weidong had already pulled her onto the sofa.

He leaned back, half-lying down. Ye Wenxi initially wanted to push him away, but when her face touched his, she heard his heartbeat, felt the warmth of his chest, and sensed the comforting aura emanating from him.

Ye Wenxi wrapped her arms around his waist, buried her face in his strong chest, and hugged Lu Weidong tightly.

"Tell me, what's wrong?" Lu Weidong stroked her long hair, his voice low.

Ye Wenxi immediately deflated like a punctured balloon, letting out a long sigh of relief.

"The 'Popular Cinema' project... is probably not going to work out."

"The movie isn't being reported?" Lu Weidong looked down at the top of her head.

Ye Wenxi shook his head: "Everything was reported. The movie was reported, and Jiahe's story was reported too. Only me and the clothing company were rejected."

"It's settled so quickly? They've given us an answer?"

"Editor-in-Chief Ji called me personally from Beijing. He was talking about the deputy editor-in-chief's opinion, so I guess that's the verdict." Ye Wenxi's voice came from his chest.

Lu Weidong pulled Ye Wenxi up a little, letting her slump in his arms, and patted her back gently with his large hand: "So... you're not going to eat dinner?"

"Hmm, I don't want to eat anymore."

Lu Weidong was well aware of the significant impact this matter would have on Ye Wenxi.

She has a huge collection of "Popular Cinema" magazines at home, all of which she bought one by one from outside, without missing a single issue.

She studied the narrative structure and propaganda logic repeatedly, and even discussed it with him many times:

If this feature gets published, the clothing company's brand can expand nationwide, and the employment model for military dependents can be seen by more people.

Her eyes shone with light; she truly believed this could succeed.

"Let's go, let's rest." Lu Weidong picked Ye Wenxi up.

"What's wrong? I haven't showered, and I'm not in the mood for it."

Lu Weidong clicked his tongue, ignored her, carried her into the bedroom, and the two lay down on the bed.

Ye Wenxi lay on his chest, her fingers casually tracing circles on his pectoral muscles.

Lu Weidong patted her gently, like he was coaxing a child.

Lu Weidong: "You're not reconciled, are you?"

Ye Wenxi: "No... Editor-in-Chief Ji had already warned us. The chances of success were already low."

Lu Weidong: "It feels unreasonable that it was rejected, doesn't it?"

Ye Wenxi: "Really not... After all, they're *Popular Cinema*, while our clothing company is just a tangential affiliate. The nature of it is rather special... sigh... I understand."

Lu Weidong chuckled and lowered his head: "Still pretending?"

Ye Wenxi fell silent and let out a heavy sigh.

Suddenly! Ye Wenxi trembled violently on the bed as if she had been electrocuted.

"Oh dear~~ really!"

"This is so frustrating!"

"Why don't I deserve to be reported on? I've prepared for so long... Humph!!"

..........

Ye Wenxi got more and more excited as she talked, her arms and legs flailing around like a live carp that had just come ashore, jumping around on the bed.

Lu Weidong reached out and pulled her back, holding her in his arms: "It's alright, it's alright..."