24. If later.

At Steven’s repeated requests, Yu Yue finally agreed to accompany him in shooting that short film about “First Love.”

However, Yu Yue only took on the role of a “supervisor” and didn’t participate in the shooting or scriptwriting. To put it simply, he stayed beside Steven, helping him watch over the camera and such.

Today, the sunlight was good. On a large lawn with a fountain, Steven was directing a scene where the male and female leads were having a quarrel.

Yu Yue sat on a white chair, chin propped up, watching.

Steven explained vigorously, his neck turning red, as if he were the one having the argument. The male and female leads seemed to understand him, and when Steven enthusiastically returned to open the camera, saying “action,” the male and female leads began quarreling aimlessly.

After Steven shouted to stop, he asked Yu Yue to take a look with him.

Initially, Steven thought he had done quite well.

But after watching it repeatedly, his expression wasn’t too good. “Why does it feel a bit off?”

Watching the repeated quarrel scenes on the camera, Yu Yue asked Steven, “Have you ever had a real argument with someone?”

“I have…” Steven said, “It was intense. Our upstairs neighbors were renovating while I was sleeping in. As a result, they leaked water from the ceiling during the renovation, and it directly leaked into my mouth. I went up to argue with them.”

Yu Yue: “…”

He reached out and gently moved the progress bar on the camera screen. “Couples shouldn’t argue like this. Although there are intense arguments between couples, they’re not at that level yet. Besides, if they really argue like this, it will destroy the atmosphere created earlier in the movie. Moreover, from your script, they’ve just entered the honeymoon phase, haven’t they?”

Steven nodded.

He waved to the two actors while holding the camera. Before they approached, he asked Yu Yue, “Do you have experience? If you do, help me guide them.”

Yu Yue remained silent.

In Steven’s camera, the two actors were arguing vehemently, looking as if they wanted to devour each other alive.

The two actors came over to Yu Yue and Steven, awaiting their judgment.

Yu Yue handed each of them a bottle of water, re-watched the footage on the camera, then stood up and said to the actors, “Come with me.”

Curiously, Steven watched as Yu Yue led the two actors to the other end of the lawn. After a conversation whose content Steven couldn’t hear, the two actors nodded repeatedly.

When they returned for shooting, the two actors were completely different.

They didn’t engage in a loud argument; instead, they looked at each other silently. One would softly say something, and the other, in a calm manner, would respond with a hurtful remark. The scene concluded with the other party turning red-eyed.

Steven clapped his hands abruptly. “That’s the feeling!”

He turned off the screen, and after the two actors went to rest, Steven came back to Yu Yue. He wanted to say something to him but found Yu Yue propping his chin, gazing at the rainbow emerging from the fountain, lost in thought.

“Did you watch that segment just now?” Steven asked. “I feel like you’d be a great director. You instantly brought them into those emotions.”

Yu Yue withdrew his gaze. “It’s just real experiences. I can’t direct.”

Steven started his questioning again.

But this time, Yu Yue remained silent, refusing to bring up the topic of “quarrels” at all.

After getting rid of Steven and returning home, Yu Yue went upstairs, lay on his bed for a long time, then got up and walked to the desk, picking up the green notebook.

Flipping to the page he last read, Yu Yue knew very well that after this date, some not-so-good things started happening.

Their passionate love lasted less than three months, and various trivial matters began surfacing.

But those were not the most serious.

The worst was that one time.

With his head bowed, staring at the diary entry for March 19th, Yu Yue pinched the bottom right corner of the notebook with his fingers, hesitating to turn the page. He didn’t know whether he was unwilling or afraid.

After a long time, Yu Yue still hadn’t turned that page.

He closed the notebook and placed it on the table. It seemed he preferred to leave all the memories on that page, on that day, frozen in the perpetually beautiful moment.

If only nothing happened afterward.

If later on, they continued just like before.

But there was no going back.