Defeated By Love

Translated by Fairy_Dust

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Hearing those words, Shu Nian looked down at the script. She didn’t know if it was because she knew the line position in advance but she felt that as long as she saw the script, the first thing she would see was the first line. 

It was in an extremely eye-catching position. 

Shu Nian felt like she was being a little strange. 

But she also didn’t feel like she was being strange at all. 

She and Xie Ruhe had always got along like that. 

It used to be like that in the past but maybe because they hadn’t seen each other in a long time or because they had grown up, the two of them had a little experience regarding life but otherwise, they hadn’t changed much. 

Compared to the past, Shu Nian felt that Xie Ruhe seemed to be a little different. 

And she couldn’t pinpoint where. 

But because of this, she felt like she was being weird. 

Shu Nian wanted to ask him but she didn’t know how to ask so she just give up trying. Thinking back to what he had just said, her fingertips slid down the script and moved along the line: “Did you read this sentence?” 

Xie Ruhe’s eyes were still glued to the window and hearing Shu Nian speak, he reached out and touched the tip of his ear before leaning over. He glanced at the line she was pointing at and hummed faintly.

“This isn’t my line.” Shu Nian lowered her eyes and thought about it. Her occupational instincts began to act up. “But this sentence shouldn’t be said like that. This is a scene about a man chasing a woman. The man had been chasing the girl for a long time now. His personality is very open and this sentence has been said many times. You should have used a lighter tone but the way you said it was too stiff.”

“…” 

Shu Nian seriously analysed it: “You used more of a confessing for the first-time kind of voice.” 

Xie Ruhe’s face froze as if someone had read his mind and unnaturally turned away. 

Shu Nian thought about her past experiences in voice dubbing and the things that the teacher and directors had taught her. She spoke mostly to herself: “The voice of a young boy is brighter and lighter; you have to open your mouth and use a softer tone. Probably something like this-“ 

Xie Ruhe asked: “What?” 

After Shu Nian adjusted, she suddenly said: “I like you!” 

Xie Ruhe was dumbfounded. His eyelashes moved and his peach blossom eyes bent down slightly. The curvature of his eyes was very shallow but his emotions were well hidden and hard to grasp: “En.” 

“This way, your voice will sound brighter.” With that, Shu Nian looked at him. “Try it.” 

“Huh?” 

Shu Nian repeated: “You try now.” 

“…” Xie Ruhe paused and didn’t react for a moment. “Try what?” 

“Just brightening your voice by relaxing the back muscles in your throat.” Shu Nian suddenly remembered something. “You know this though, right? You were the one who taught me how to sing high notes before.” 

Xie Ruhe slowly nodded: “Uh-huh.” 

Shu Nian became interested and handed him the script: “Then try it, dubbing is fun.” 

Noting the expectant look on her face, Xie Ruhe took the script and cleared his throat. He read the sentence after the line she had said at the start: “Do you want to eat something?” 

Compared to earlier, his voice was much brighter and clearer.  

Shu Nian stilled and didn’t react for a while. Then, she leaned over and said: “It’s not this line.” 

Xie Ruhe lowered his eyes and explained in a low voice: “I’ve brightened my voice now so it’s okay to try another sentence.” 

“No!” Shu Nian refuted his words and seriously said. “They’re not the same character. He has the cold kind of personality. His voice should be deep and magnetic. You have to say this line.”
  
Her fingertips underlined the words, “I like you”. 

Xie Ruhe glanced at the line. His lips moved but no sounds came out. Then, he looked in her direction and their gazes just happened to clash. 

Her eyes were big and round, the tails of her eyes drooped down. The colour of her pupils was brown but as light reflected in them, they glowed brightly. The look in her eyes was serious, they appeared clear and free of any darkness. 

As it did many years ago, there didn’t seem to have been any changes since then. 

" "

Maybe it was because she was sheltered by her family but she had always lived like a child with a pure heart.  

Xie Ruhe still remembered that time when they first learned their classmates were experiencing puppy love. Shu Nian had seriously told him that they were too young and falling in love then was wrong, it was something that shouldn’t be done. 

Even if everyone else thought that she was stupid and spoke without much care, she was still very stubborn. Once she believed something to be the truth then she wouldn’t easily change her mind because of someone else.  

She had the exact same look as then.  

Xie Ruhe suddenly lost the courage he had at the start. He reached out and took the script to unfold it before returning it back to her. Seeing Shu Nian’s puzzled look, he bluntly changed the topic: “Are you free tonight?” 

“Tonight?” Shu Nian was instantly distracted by what he was saying. “I don’t think so. I have to record today so I probably won’t be out until midnight” 

“Okay.” Xie Ruhe asked no more questions and handed her a box that had been sitting next to him. “Here you are.” 

Shu Nian blinked and reached out to take it: “What is this?” 

Xie Ruhe honestly replied: “It’s a birthday gift.” 

Shu Nian froze, she never thought that he would remember her birthday and prepare a gift too. She was moved slightly and sincerely said: “Thank you.” 

The box was not big, it was only a little bit larger than Shu Nian’s hand. She couldn’t guess what it was and out of curiosity, she couldn’t help but hesitantly ask. “Can I see what’s inside?” 

Xie Ruhe said: “Sure.” 

She opened it with anticipation. 

Inside the box was a white MP3 player with a small display screen. It was small and cute. Beside it was a charging cable and earphones.  

Shu Nian picked it up and looked at it. The corners of her mouth curled up and she thanked him again: “Thank you.” 

Xie Ruhe “en’ed” and after giving it a thought, he reminded her. “Remember to use it.” 

Except for Deng Qingyu, this was the only other gift she received for her birthday this year. Shu Nian carefully put back the MP3 player and responded: “Of course I will use it.” 

At the same time, Xie Ruhe was also putting away the earphones she gave him.  

Shu Nian noticed his actions and was in a good mood. She unintentionally mentioned what Fang Wencheng had told her before: “I had bought these earphones a long time ago but I was afraid that you would like it, so I didn’t dare to give them.” 

Xie Ruhe looked up and questioned. “Why?” 

“Assistant Fang said you didn’t like people sending you gifts.” Shu Nian scratched her head. “I was a little worried that it would make you unhappy but I felt like it wouldn’t be too good if I didn’t give it so I’ve been caught in an internal struggle all this time.” 

“…” 

“I asked Assistant Fang for his opinion and he said that I shouldn’t give it.” 

Xie Ruhe lightly asked: “Did Fang Wencheng really say that?” 

Fang Wencheng was driving the car. When he heard that, he smiled without noticing the low temperature radiating behind him at all. He replied like a silly guy who didn’t know anything: “Yes young master, you don’t like it to when people gift you things but I guess it’s different when it’s from your friends.” 

Shu Nian nodded and told Xie Ruhe. “The important thing is that you like it.” 

Xie Ruhe turned his head to look at Shu Nian: “Fang Wencheng told you not to give me a gift or it will make me unhappy?” 

Shu Nian couldn’t remember the exact words but looking at Xie Ruhe’s expression something seemed to be wrong. She hesitated and change her answer: “He just didn’t think you were interested in gifts.” 

“En.” Xie Ruhe pulled his lips up casually. “No, don’t listen to him.” 

Fang Wencheng drove the car right outside the recording studio where Shu Nian was going to.  

Before getting out of the car, Xie Ruhe suddenly called out to her: “Shu Nian.” 

Shu Nian had the door opened halfway, she glanced sideways and inquired. “What’s wrong?” 

“I’ll come look for you after you get off work.” Xie Ruhe looked at her calmly and said. “To take you somewhere.” 

Shu Nian thought of the time she usually got off work and didn’t immediately agree: “But I may get off work very late…” 

“If it’s too late then we won’t go.” Xie Ruhe said. “I’ll just send you back.” 

Shu Nian didn’t know what he wanted to do but she didn’t hesitate any more and answered him: “Okay, I’ll see if I can get off as early as possible.” 

She said goodbye to the both of them and then got out of the car. 

Fang Wencheng started the car and asked: “Young master, where are we going now?” 

Xie Ruhe looked out of the window. His slender fingers tapped on the edge of the window and nonchalantly called: “Fang Wencheng.” 

“Yes.” 

Xie Ruhe’s expression was idle: “The weather is pretty good today.” 

Fang Wencheng gave a suspicious “ah” and followed the flow of his words. “It’s pretty good.” 

He stared at the light that fell on the back of his hand: “The sun is also out.” 

Because of Xie Ruhe’s incomprehensible words, Fang Wencheng finally noticed that something was wrong. He swallowed his saliva and carefully asked. “What’s wrong?” 

Xie Ruhe actually smiled: “You don’t understand?” 

“I understand…” Fang Wencheng looked at him from time to time through the rear-view mirror. His heart was extremely worried and he said in a strong voice. “When young master and Shu Nian met, it was the best day in the world! Everything cleared up! Even God couldn’t help but smile!” 

“Are you done?” 

“And, and…” Fang Wencheng didn’t know where he had offended him but he was desperate enough to cry. “God also said that young master and Miss Shu Nian are a match made in heaven…” 

Hearing that, Xie Ruhe’s mood became better. 

His eyebrows raised up and his crow-like eyelashes made his eyes appear dark and bright. His eye sockets were deep and his voice was icy: “Isn’t he also reminding me of something else?” 

Fang Wencheng didn’t quite understand and nervously asked: “What is he reminding you of?” 

“That it’s time to change my assistant.” 

*Sigh* Poor Fang Wencheng, not only is he subjected to dog food but his job is on the line (ᗒᗜᗕ) 

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