Married in a Daze - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

July and August were always fiercely hot. The sun blazed like fire, and the air seemed to hide invisible sparks that swept through the entire City A.

Qin Zhenzhen walked briskly out of the recording studio. By the time she got into the van, her cheeks were flushed and a fine sweat dotted her forehead. Ji Lu promptly handed her a bottle of ice water. As Qin Zhenzhen drank, she asked, "Do I have any schedule for the rest of today?"

Ji Lu shook her head.

Qin Zhenzhen screwed the cap back on the bottle. "What about tomorrow?"

Ji Lu looked up at her, hesitated, then after some thought, answered honestly. "Tomorrow's schedule has been canceled. Sister Meng said you're getting a week off."

Qin Zhenzhen's step into the van faltered. Her phoenix eyes narrowed. "A vacation?"

Her expression cooled, her pretty face taking on a hint of frost. Ji Lu felt the air around her grow thin under that stare. Only after getting into the car herself did she let out an almost inaudible "Mm-hmm."

A complex emotion flashed through Qin Zhenzhen's clear eyes. How novel. In her three years since debut, she could count her days off on her fingers. Now, Meng Xin was actually willing to give her a whole week's vacation.

It was both infuriating and laughable.

Remembering how, after her last TV series became a huge hit, she had to beg and plead just for a single day off, only to be given the runaround... and now, because of this temporary 'fall from grace,' she was practically discarded with a long vacation. A sudden pang of bitterness welled up in Qin Zhenzhen's heart.

Seeing her expression, Ji Lu tried to console her. "It's okay, Zhenzhen. Weren't you just saying you were tired recently? It's a good time to rest."

Qin Zhenzhen pressed her lips together.

It was true, she had wanted a break. But not like this—not a forced break. The nature of the two was completely different.

Thinking this, she spoke with a touch of headache. "Computer."

Ji Lu shot her a careful glance and handed over the tablet.

The tablet's screen was still on her Weibo page. The most recent post was about Time in Full Bloom, which had premiered a month ago.

@TrulyZhen: The most important thing today is watching a movie with you all [picture attached].

The initial comments on the post were like this—Sending hearts to Zhenzhen! You've worked hard!

—Love you, Zhenzhen! We must watch the movie together!

—Goddess Zhen, remember to take care of yourself.

Four days after the movie's release, the tone on Weibo changed drastically. Starting with film critics to countless netizens, her styling and acting in Time in Full Bloom were criticized as utterly worthless. Meng Xin thought it was a normal anti-fan incident and hurriedly bought online trolls and mobilized fans to suppress it. Unexpectedly, the more these netizens were suppressed, the more stubborn they became. They didn't just criticize this movie; they dragged out her previous TV dramas for scrutiny too.

No acting skills, no talent, using body doubles, acting like a diva, poor interpersonal relationships, plastic surgery.

For nearly half a month, news about her was all about these things. And Time in Full Bloom, after a brilliant four-day run, was forced into an early theatrical pull. Coincidentally, just as the movie was pulled, Lu Ruyun also received negative news. Some questioned her judgment in picking scripts, some said her talent had dried up and she could only act in these teenage angst movies, some cursed her for only knowing how to sell a persona, and some even wondered how she had gained her previously good reputation in the first place.

The moment the news broke, Lu Ruyun's fans couldn't sit still. Everyone knew how badly Qin Zhenzhen had been torn apart online recently. It was entirely possible her fans were "saving Qin by surrounding Lu"—trying to divert netizens' attention in this way.

Even if it wasn't her fans stirring things up, Lu Ruyun was definitely implicated because of her.

So they were righteously indignant, sparing no effort in smearing Qin Zhenzhen.

The fans who had been fighting on the front lines for Qin Zhenzhen saw this development and were furious. They dug up black material on Lu Ruyun, releasing a new batch daily. Lu Ruyun's fans were no slouches either, searching hard for Qin Zhenzhen's own scandals.

And so, back and forth, the fans of these two were completely at loggerheads.

The onlookers swelled like a snowball, growing larger and larger. They took great delight in adding fuel to the fire, fabricating one drama after another. And this farce reached its climax the night before last.

Because the night before last.

She hit Lu Ruyun.

Qin Zhenzhen closed the tablet. The air conditioning in the car was set a bit too low. She pulled a trench coat from beside her to cover her legs, leaned back in the seat, closed her eyes, and asked Ji Lu, "Where was that temple you mentioned last time?"

Ji Lu was stunned by the question. After a long moment, she turned her head. "Temple? Tianyuan Temple?"

Qin Zhenzhen opened her eyes, her gaze sweeping over Ji Lu. Her thin lips parted. "The one you said can get rid of bad luck."

Ji Lu quickly nodded. "Right, that's the one. It's especially effective, very famous in my hometown. Zhenzhen, let me tell you..."

Qin Zhenzhen gave a slight nod, interrupting her. "Let's go there."

Ji Lu stared at her blankly, hesitated for two seconds, and opened her mouth. "What?"

What else could it mean?

Go there. Literal meaning.

Don't understand?

Qin Zhenzhen turned her head, her eyes questioning Ji Lu. After her initial surprise, Ji Lu scratched her head. "No, it's just... it's quite far. If we go now, we might only arrive in the evening."

Qin Zhenzhen leaned back against the seat, closing her eyes again. "Now is fine."

Ji Lu, still dazed, said, "Okay."

She poked the driver, Xiao Wu, in the back. Xiao Wu nodded to show he understood. Only then did Ji Lu sit up straight. Steady breathing already came from beside her. Ji Lu pulled the trench coat up a little, resting it on Qin Zhenzhen's shoulders.

The car sped away, kicking up a little dust that quickly settled. Outside the window, there wasn't a hint of wind, only the ever-rising temperature and stifling air. This summer was hot to an unbelievable degree.

The hotter the weather, the more lush the flowers and plants lining the road grew, a riot of colors and verdant green.

Ji Lu shifted her gaze from the window to the front.

Tianyuan Temple was in a neighboring city, near her hometown. Since childhood, she had been immersed in stories of its miraculous deeds. That's why, after Zhenzhen kept hitting a streak of bad luck, she had suggested going to pay respects. But at the time, Zhenzhen was swamped and had refused outright.

Who would have thought she would bring it up herself now.

Maybe—driven mad by Sister Meng and the netizens.

Seeing Qin Zhenzhen was sound asleep, Ji Lu quietly opened the tablet. The page still showed the unclosed Weibo. The comment section was a bloody battlefield. The two top comments with the most likes:

—How dare you hit my goddess! Who gave you the right! Come out and apologize!

—Believe in Zhenzhen. There must be a misunderstanding.

When Qin Zhenzhen woke up, the evening glow in the sky was a brilliant red. With the fierce sun gone, the air suddenly felt much cooler. She tilted her head to look beside her and saw Ji Lu already asleep against the car window.

Still groggy from waking, she instinctively wanted to shake Ji Lu awake to ask about the upcoming schedule. Her hand reached towards Ji Lu's arm before she remembered—she was on vacation.

Her eyes cleared a little.

Qin Zhenzhen withdrew her hand and opened the car window. She felt the wave of heat squeeze through the crack; the stifling quality of the air remained unchanged.

Xiao Wu, who was driving, saw her movement in the rearview mirror and asked with concern, "Are you feeling carsick, Miss Qin? Should I slow down a bit?"

Qin Zhenzhen waved her hand. "No need. Just keep driving like this."

She finished speaking and closed the window.

At the same moment, a black sedan brushed past her window. The sedan's window was half-open, revealing the person in the back seat on a phone call.

"Okay, I understand."

"I'll be there soon."

"No, I won't. Shuangshuang knows the way."

"Don't believe me? Want me to take a picture for you?"

Lu Ruyun hung up the phone with a resigned, light laugh. He Shuangshuang glanced over at her and smiled. "Was that Yaoyao?"

"Mm."

He Shuangshuang focused her eyes on the road ahead. "Can't blame Yaoyao for not believing it. If I hadn't dragged you here, you'd still be at home doing your health regimen."

Lu Ruyun shifted her gaze out the window without answering.

He Shuangshuang continued, "But it is strange when you think about it. Do you and Qin Zhenzhen just have clashing auras? This is the first time I've seen something so bizarre."

So bizarre it gave her the shivers just mentioning Qin Zhenzhen's name.

Lu Ruyun glanced at her and put down her phone. "What bizarre? Don't talk nonsense."

He Shuangshuang knew Lu Ruyun's temperament—she never believed in ghosts, gods, or supernatural forces. If she and Yaoyao hadn't pestered her endlessly, she would never have come here.

But since they were here, she was going to make sure she paid her respects properly and got rid of all that bad luck.

Half an hour later, He Shuangshuang parked the car at the temple entrance. The red in the sky gradually faded, tinted with ink-black. The wind whipped up the hot air and blew it against people's faces. Lu Ruyun adjusted her mask and sunglasses and got out of the car. She looked up. The temple was solemn and imposing.

Just as He Shuangshuang was about to get out, her phone rang. She answered as she stepped out of the car. "Hello, Mom."

"What? How much? Say that again?"

Her voice suddenly shot up. Lu Ruyun looked over. He Shuangshuang's face flushed slightly, a bit embarrassed as she smiled at her. Lu Ruyun understood. "Should I go in first?"

He Shuangshuang covered the phone. "Go through the second gate once you're inside."

Lu Ruyun nodded, fully covered up as she entered through the temple's main gate. A few minutes later, a gray van parked next to He Shuangshuang's car. A woman with a good figure got out, also fully armed with a baseball cap, mask, and sunglasses.

He Shuangshuang's full attention was on her phone, speaking angrily. "I said no!"

"Not a single cent as investment!"

"Yes! I am heartless!"

"What bullshit brother, tell him to get lost!"

"If he doesn't get lost, I will!"

Furious, He Shuangshuang threw her phone to the side and slapped the steering wheel, immediately causing a sharp honk. Ji Lu, still asleep in the van, jolted awake.

She looked around blankly, then at the front, and asked confusedly, "Where's Zhenzhen?"

Xiao Wu pinched the bridge of his nose. "Miss Qin went inside."

Ji Lu rubbed her eyes. "Went inside?"

Xiao Wu pointed to the temple beside them. "Just went in a moment ago."

Ji Lu hurriedly opened the car door and rushed out. As she passed the car next to them, its door suddenly opened and someone stepped out. She couldn't dodge in time and collided directly with them.

Both took two steps back.

"I'm sorry."

The two voices spoke at the same time. Ji Lu and He Shuangshuang each looked up and reached out a hand. "It's okay..."

The "okay" was still in their throats when Ji Lu exclaimed, "He Shuangshuang!"

He Shuangshuang also exclaimed in shock, "Ji Lu!"

"What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here?"

They both asked simultaneously, then held their breath. "Where's Qin Zhenzhen?"

"Where's Lu Ruyun?"

Their gazes turned towards the temple as one. He Shuangshuang gritted her teeth. "Shit!"

Ji Lu also paled, her body swaying slightly. Two big words were written across her large forehead.

We're done for!

Starlit Scrolls