Standing in the Time Episode 18
It's a forced decision for him
to live at Xia Fan's.
What could possibly force him?!
Let's have a talk.
You misunderstood us that day.
All men are liars from inside out.
You can choose to stay honest, but you can't choose a world without lies.
Just follow the procedures to fulfill the task.
Don't get so agitated.
Do it or not do it, it's a simple decision.
Why do we get it so complicated?!
You've been asking about the lady that I dated with.
She is actually my wife.
For the market and my business,
I can't make others known our relationship.
I can't stand this anymore.
I don't care whether this book is good or bad excellent or clumsy.
However, the message I want to deliver through this book to all of you is that
I don't want to be an online celebrity with a huge fan base
who is totally not cultivated or educated.
How I wish I could have the time to spend with my wife,
to have a baby,
and to travel around the world with my family.
I've been to many places, but I never know what travelling is.
I really don't want to act as a pop star day after day.
I have never been an idol.
Many thanks to the editor in charge and the proofreader
of this book, Li Xiao.
It was right because of their attitude to me as a pop start
that I'm ever more determined with my dream.
I'd like to make an announcement here to you all that I'm not the actual writer
of this book.
It is him?
He is Mr. Liu, my assistant, but in fact, he is a very brilliant young man.
Come on here!
I hope his name can be printed as one of the writers
once this book gets published.
And I'll add up some fresh content.
Today I spoke out
a lot of words hidden from inside my heart over the last years.
This will violate the interests of a lot of people for sure.
My deepest apologies,
but I'm not regretful
even if it means
forever farewell.
Lastly,
My wife and I
wants to thank you all
for your support and care
over the past years.
Thank you for your time today.
Thank you!
-Good morning! -Morning!
Li Xiao!
What are you up to?
My work!
Hold on a second!
What happened?
Do you know that the writer of Once a Young Boy
is changed from Zeng Jun to Zeng Jun and Mr. Liu.
And in terms of content, there is the addition about
Zeng Jun's apology and confession to his wife.
Are you satisfied now?
Frankly speaking, you helped me hold the baseline of a literary editor.
Thank you!
Mr. Wu, don't talk to me like this.
I can't get used to it.
No, I mean it.
So I want to invite you over for dinner to extend my gratitude.
Oh really?
Then I'm going to have a
slap-up meal
No problem!
It's your call!
Are you serious?
It's a deal!
Sure, let me think!
The Bund seems to have a...
Don't you need to work?
Of course I need!
The demeanor of being a leader.
Being proactive is the key.
Whatever reaction she gives, you need to say sorry to her in the first moment
you get.
Do you understand?
Yeah!
What are you doing
with these?!
Proofreader Li!
Editor Wu!
Welcome!
The location of your apartment is very nice.
Is it?
I'm glad you like it.
It is as good as it is, but just not as good as
the noodle restaurant of my family.
Definitely!
Take this. I bought it for you.
You shouldn't.
Brewed 12 years ago!
Yes!
Have you prepared some sort of baked cuttlefish or something?
Li Xiao.
To be or not to be, that's a question.
That's a question.
Cross the bridge when you come to it.
Take a look around.
This is the kitchen.
Western style. Fully-open design.
All functions available.
Don't you want to take a look?
Proofreader Li, old as this apartment might be,
it is a classic old-styled apartment in Shanghai.
You can find this in nowhere else.
Thanks to my ancestor that I can live here,
otherwise...
And there is the phonograph which is left by my dad
despite that I don't even know where to buy vinyl.
Allow me to introduce a bit more.
This... this room is my bedroom.
That is the bedroom of Zhou Zimo.
Which one do you want to check out first?
It's up to you.
Ask her to turn over.
I can explain to her.
I am saving a talented young writer from his trouble.
What I am doing now is distinctively different from Xia Fan.
Miss. Xia tried to control him with his weakness, right?
She made him a model and serve the RESA.
Enough acting!
What did you say?
I said stop acting.
Speak louder!
Speaker louder!
Be at home!
Say whatever you want.
I said stop acting!
I am not!
This is my home.
Why do I need to act?!
Right?
Zhou Zimo, what are you doing there?!
Li Xiao is already here!
Don't you know her?
Yes, I know.
Then come over and say hello!
Li....Li Xiao!
Li Xiao!
Zhou Zimo!
You are sheer coward!
You planned this, didn't you?
Yes, you're right.
I planned it.
What's wrong with that?
It wouldn't change anything if I let you know the truth from the beginning.
You would still be hesitating whether to come or not.
Now you have come and seen him.
What's bad about that?
It's okay for you to beat him, to cry over him,
to scold him or to make a fuss on him, but in the end, you have to talk
no matter it'll end up good or bad.
After that, you have to go on with your lives
either to still be together
or to break up.
There must be a conclusion.
I feel speechless as well to take over him.
What are you thinking?
Are you really doubtful that Zhou Zimo and Xia Fan
has some sort of relationship?
Of course no!
Then that's simple.
Show your attitude
about the talk.
If you agree,
then go for a good talk.
If you don't agree, I'll stop the mediating that I did back there
in the living room.
In the living room.
Wait!
I agree to talk, alright?
Let me think about it!
Don't you leave anything to me to trip up in future.
Otherwise... No objection!
Xia Fan has come.
Xia Fan?!
Calm down!
I just want to gather all the people involved and straighten things out.
Isn't that better?
Everything will be fine!
Here you come!
Xiao, you are here too!
Xia Fan!
Zhou Zimo!
It's understandable if you can't find the glass or bowl,
but the sandal is right there.
Why don't you help Xia Fan to get it on?!
No, I can manage on my own.
This pair, right?
Yeah!
Wait!
Zhou Zimo, didn't you forget to buy olive oil?
What?!
I know it.
You must have forgotten.
I've told you many times about this.
How can we make steak without olive oil!
What on earth can you do!
What do you mean?
Xia Fan, will you please come with me?
Sure!
I know which brand is the best.
Let me go with you.
Great! Let's go!
Xiao, we'll be back in a minute.
Leave the bags here.
I... Do I need to...
Li Xiao!
So,
what else haven't you told me?
What?!
You're Zhou Zimo as a model.
You're Lei Yang as a writer.
You moved in with Xia Fan.
What else have you not told me?!
Nothing. Seriously nothing.
There should not be anything else.
It was only because I didn't have any place to live.
So Xia Fan took me in.
After that I was trained into a competent model.
And then I fell in love with you.
So I wanted to move out from there.
The coincidence is that
I really don't like her.
I have absolutely no affection towards her.
Li Xiao, you know me for such a long time.
You understand me well.
I'm not that type of person.
Which type?
That type.
The bad type.
Li Xiao,
I don't cheat on people.
Nor do I lie.
Least of all lying to you.
This is indeed a misunderstanding beyond imagination and makeup.
I should not have lived in a girl's apartment.
That's my fault.
Please accept my apology.
However, you've gotta give me a chance to apologize and explain, right?
It's been very hard for me to calm down
and work in these days
because I want to meet you.
But I was afraid that you would turn me down and refuse to forgive me.
That's all I can say.
Seriously.
What about now?
Are you alright?
It's only some scratches.
Not an issue now.
You're too inconsistent and slow in reaction.
I don't feel ashamed at all about getting beaten up this time.
Zeng Jun should be grateful to you now, right?
I have no idea.
What did surprise me was that the lady is his wife.
I should apologize to him about that as I had prejudices against him.
Apology doesn't matter to him.
The point that matters is that he is having a relaxing life now.
So that means I've done him a favor.
Frankly speaking, the one Zeng Jun should thank most
is Li Xiao.
Do you think we should go up?
It's been 18 minutes and 40 seconds from the time we left till now.
I'd rather spend some more time down here.
Because we should give them a bit more time.
Yes, that's so right.
You refused to see me
these days.
I sent you emails but you don't read them.
I wanted to get in touch with you
but I couldn't.
So I wrote letters to you.
It's not love letter
but letter of apology.
You were all over my head
when I was writing it.
Open it and read it.
Xiao, I love you.
Li Xiao, I love you.
This is the first letter you wrote me.
I don't want letter of apology.
I want love letter.
What kind of people do you think Xia Fan would choose?
Someone of my type?
Definitely not you.
Why not?
Why would it be you?
What's wrong about me?
Do you like Xia Fan?
What do you like her?
She's elegant, with a taste,
smart, beautiful and can hold a proper limit over things.
Of course, these flattering words apply on any woman you like.
The most important is that
she is the one from the fashion magazine
who looks least like a fashion editor.
Who looks least like a fashion editor.
Yeah!
I don't quite understand that.
Well,
it's very much like
a gold in the sand.
Forget about it.
You won't catch me anyway.
If that sense,
I'm the one who looks least like a writer among all writers.
Then I'm also a gold.
Zhou Zimo, I can't refute you if you have to overestimate yourself
without dignity and feeling ashamed
Let me put it this way.
It's totally different
between the heart-felt self-discipline and the pretentious arrogance and apathy.
Think that over.
I'm going for a bath.
You're insulting me, aren't you?
Li Xiao!
Good morning.
Come over here.
What's up?
I heard that Zeng Jun thanked you in the public.
What happened exactly on that day?
Nothing.
That's over already.
Then why are you still so happy?
Is there anything else to be happy about?
I can't tell you that.
Come on!
I just can't tell you.
No way!
Look at this.
-Good morning, Ms. Shi! -Ms. Shi!
She is 20 minutes early today.
Usually, she would just take her time and walk elegantly.
What happened today?
Yeah, I don't know what happened.
I've gotta go.
It's not time yet.
Tell me about it please.
Come on!
Take a guess.
That's so mean.
Morning.
It's you.
Ms. Shi,
may I ask...
I'm fine. Go ahead.
Meimei, what's happening with her?
I don't know.
What is she waiting for?
Wei Ke!
Ms. Shi, the drafts are here.
Let me carry them for you.
No, thank you. They are pretty heavy.
It's alright.
Thank you.
-Be careful. -It's okay.
See you.
Director!
Shi Lei!
What are you searching?
Nothing!
Yu Xuan Play Collection.
Isn't Yu Xuan a fictionist?
When did he start writing plays?
She has composed fiction for 20 years.
She decided to adapt her three most meaningful fictions into stage play
into stage play and publish a play collection.
Among them, the first fiction which made her famous is Pretty Woman.
It catches the most attention from the play collection
as it is a reinterpretation to Pretty Woman after 20 years.
It is also what most Yu Xuan fans look forward most.
How do you know it?
From the feed from Yu Xuan Book Club.
I mean how do you know we're going to proofread the play?
The feed clearly says Dong Fan Press has the full right to publicize it.
Besides, I confirmed it with Literature Editorial Department
early this morning.
They told me the draft will be delivered here early in the morning.
Lu Wenfeng.
Lu Wenfeng!
You know very well about the regulations here.
What regulation does he mean?
As proofreaders, we are not allowed to proofread the books we like.
Why?
Because their attention will be diverted by the content of the book,
which can lead to high error rate of the proofreading.
The rule is the rule.
No one can breach it.
You know my capability.
I can do it well.
This has nothing to do with capability.
This is the rule.
Give that to me!
You know I like her works.
How can you do this to me?
What are you doing?
No one else knows this in this office.
You're the only one.
Just give it to me, alright?
Please don't do this to me!
Shi Lei!
Look at you!
As an experienced employee
and a proofreader,
how can you not even respect the manuscript?
Director, calm down.
Ms. Shi, don't take it too seriously.
Liang,
stay out of this.
It's nothing but a manuscript.
We've been working together for a long time.
It's embarrassing as a lot of eyes are watching out there.
Am I right?
The rule is manmade.
We can discuss about that.
Liang,
take it!
Eh... I'm still not done with my work yet.
Take your time for a good talk.
Xiao Chen!
Director, the woman depicted in the book is the same as my mom.
I've had enough sufferings already in life.
Please don't make it any more difficult for me in work.
Mr. Niu!
Director, I'm not feeling very well lately
because of the big pressure from work.
Meimei, take this up!
Director, I've got three manuscripts already in great technicality.
It's really hard for me to catch up.
Li Xiao!
You've just finished Zeng Jun's book.
How about you?
Don't look at her!
Ms. Shi,
should I...
Don't ask me!
Do as you're requested.
That's the deal.
Li Xiao is the preliminary proofreader for Yu Xuan Play Collection.
Liang, you're secondary proofreader.
I'm proofreader in charge.
Let's get started.
I've been watching on the model.
The response is good.
The sales of RESA is gradually increasing.
Brands like Ribecs have also increased their advertising.
This is the joint efforts from all members in Editorial Department.
Thank you all!
Everyone will be gifted with a bottle of sponge cream as the award.
And I'm treating everyone to dinner.
Among you all, the models from Mo and Xia Fan are neck and neck
in terms of competitiveness and heat.
So I decide to take advantage of the current heat.
I'll choose one out of these two models to be the chief
in the coming RESA Plus.
So I'll prepare an exclusive write-up for them in this supplement
to allow more readers to understand them from different angles
so as to increase sales.
It's very tight.
You need to make up a dedicated plan immediately to shoot them in particular
and further coordinate with the write-up.
Okay?
Okay!
I think we can organize a round of voting
on the official website simultaneously.
It creates interaction with the readers and allows our model
to enjoy more popularity and also promote our sales.
Very good.
Let's do it then.
We'll have more and more work load on the supplement.
We'll have Mo...
Thank you, Amanda!
And Xia Fan to take charge.
Dismiss!
We need to work hard for the new column.
Absolutely.
Anything you need, just let me know.
I'll do my best.
You're too modest.
We work with each other.
Xia Fan, just a reminder to you.
The Editor-in-Chief bonded these two matters together.
The chief model task
and the candidate determination to take charge of the supplement are tied up.
Miss Mo is supposed to be as sure as a gun this time.
But you cut in from the behind.
You'd better be careful.
Thank you!
Xia Fan!
There you come!
Take a seat!
`We will raise a round of voting to determine the chief model in RESA.
There will be an exclusive write-up for you this time.
Don't forget about the shooting in the afternoon.
Why does RESA do voting every day?
Leave that!
Let's sort out the questions for the exclusive write-up.
Let's start then.
First, why did you choose to be a writer?
Isn't this an exclusive interview about the model?
Have you forgotten about what you promised to me?
Because
I like it.
Okay!
Next, after the new concept won the award, you publicized
your very first collection of essays, Morning Sunlight.
Then after a rest of four years, you publicized the novel, A Footless Insect.
Are there any reasons behind it?
Ms. Xia,
did I ever do anything wrong to you?
Why do you treat me like this?!
I'm leaving if you don't have anything else to discuss.
Zhou Zimo, this is work.
Can we just cooperate with each other?!
What else do you want to ask?
Let's finish them once for all.
And, you can't open my buried secret and hurt me like this!
I won't dig out your past or rip up your scar.
I'll continue with my questions, okay?
How about the sales of A Footless Insect?
It's pretty good!
How good is it?
Any specific numbers to share?
Is that very important to a book?
What matters is the content.
The content shows the writer's world views and his ideas.
Alright, Zimo.
I got it.
Your book didn't sell well, did it?
If it's not good, we can evade that with another question.
Xia Fan, you're going too far.
No, I'm not!
This is just about my work.
I didn't decide on these questions alone.
I promised you the setting about writer as a model, but it doesn't mean
you can disrespect my dream at will.
I didn't disrespect your dream.
Why are you so hysterical?!
I did this because I want to help you increase the sales of your book!
Do you know that?
I don't need such way of help with my book.
In the night of winter,
the dry wind blows off the dead leaves.
They fall down gradually.
It plays the symphony of December.
Ms. Shi, how do you know what comes next?
The play you're proofreading now
is adapted from Yu Xuan's work,
Pretty Woman.
I've read the novel 20 years ago, but I still review it
by reading a few paragraphs
from time to time
You are really a fan
of Yu Xuan.
Her ideas match perfectly
with mine.
Besides, I can only read true love
in her books.
I can feel that as well.
Are you in love?
Love is like fireworks.
It is beautiful, but fleeting as well.
All love is happy
at the time of starting.
You can even sacrifice everything for love.
But as time moves on, what love brings about
is only pain.
Is it going to work with the method you said?
Just do as I said.
You'll surely
bring that boy down your knees
This prodding
will leave me in trouble after you retrieve if he is really irritated.
Then forget about it.
Mind your attitude!
Where do we go now?
Zimo, are you tired from the shooting today?
Not really!
Then it didn't go smoothly?
Sort of,
but that's inevitable to have sufferings if one wants to achieve something.
The point is to forget about it
once it passes.
Don't worry about me!
If you had sufferings,
can you still do it well?
What can I do then?
Honestly, ever since I came to RESA,
I feel more and more involuntary.
But there is nothing I can do.
Sometimes,
I'm not doing the things I want,
but the things they want.
Even if you fulfill their requirements
by doing the things you don't want, more intolerable things
will follow afterwards out there!
Still, you can do nothing about it
other than tolerate it
till the last moment
when you can no longer hold it.
It might succeed anyway.
Or the other way around,
it might fail.
Then all the things you tolerated end up in vain.
Zimo,
did someone make it difficult for you?
Li Xiao,
I want to give up the modelling.
Give up!
Then I had...
Zimo, I have never wanted you to be a model.
To be a model.
I like you.
So I want to be the best model
for you.
What if you no longer like me?
Or maybe I no longer like you.
Then what you tolerated now means nothing.
Well.
Why do you think this way?
Sorry!
I don't mean that.