Jane Sampson had yet to speak when the man who had been eating slowly changed his expression and cut her off directly.
"No," he said, leaving no room for negotiation.
The refusal was unequivocal.
Jane Sampson panicked and moved a bit closer to James Black, "How about we try a different way? That is, I wonāt come home when Iām busy, and for these three months, Iāll come back once for three days, all at once to make up for the time with you, ok? That means, instead of coming back once a month, Iāll consolidate it into one trip, to cover the days of all three months at once."
Seeing that James Black remained silent with a cold face, Jane Sampson sat there stunned for a few seconds.
What kind of temperament is this?
Heās that difficult to negotiate with?
Three months, one day each month, and three days all at onceāit all adds up to three days, doesnāt it?
Is there a difference?
Is it worth being this upset?
Jane Sampson felt she had to push harder, considering the long flight between Cloud Province and Capital Province which she was reluctant to endure every month, squeezing time like squeezing out toothpaste for such travel.
The film crewās work arrangements were so busy that even if she could spare two days a month, those two days would be spent flying. With such a long distance, it meant flying today, spending one night with James Black, and then rushing back the next day on an airplane.
Just thinking about it was exhausting.
"If you agree, I will stay here with the guard team for the next two days, making you delicious food every day. And on those three days when I come back, Iāll also cook for you daily," Jane Sampson said, batting her eyelashes at James Black and pointing to the food on the table, "Whatever you want to eat, Iāll make it for you, no questions asked."
"Iām not you," James Black thought, he certainly couldnāt be coaxed with just a scoop of ice cream.
But thinking about it made James Blackās mood even worse.
After all, Jane Sampson didnāt just come tonight because of the ice cream; she had a specific purpose for coming.
The ice cream was just one of the potential perks she might grab while here.
Jane Sampson sat quietly, no longer speaking.
This conversation had escalated to personal attacksācould they even continue discussing?
What had the foodie done to him? Why the prejudice against foodies?
Didnāt everyone know that nationals consider food paramount?
She was merely upholding the spirit of the ancestors who valued food above all!
"Is there really no room for discussion? Not even a little bit?" Jane Sampson squinted at James Black with a threatening look, but in her speech, she was still trying to negotiate, "If you agree, Iāll do anything you say for these next few days and the following three as wellāIāll absolutely follow your lead!"
"If you donāt behave, I have plenty of ways to deal with you," James Black raised his eyebrows, completely unaffected by Jane Sampson, and picked up his chopsticks to continue eating.
Jane Sampson was almost infuriated to death by James Blackās unshakeable demeanor.
She must have owed him in a previous life!
"If you donāt agree, then youāre not allowed to eat!" Jane Sampson exclaimed in anger, "Do you like me that much? Canāt bear to part with me, huh? Insisting on meeting once a month? Would you be missing a piece of meat if we didnāt see each other?"
If this had been before, James Blackās response would surely have been "You wish."
But after last timeās direct confession, James Black felt that some things, when said out loud, didnāt seem to be that difficult after all.
Listening to Jane Sampsonās huffy speech, James Black put his chopsticks down on the table.
His gaze fixed on her face, he nodded very seriously.
"Yes, if possible, Iād prefer you to stay with the team so that I can see you every day," James Black agreed.