Married in a Daze - Chapter 28
Chapter 28
Star Showdown invited six guests for this episode. Aside from Qin Zhenzhen, Lu Ruyun, and Hu Jing, there were three others—all from the same crew, the male and female leads and second male lead from the recently popular idol drama Joyful Tones.
Although Qin Zhenzhen hadn't watched the TV series, she had seen the promotions. The female lead had an incredibly adorable look—a round face, big eyes, with a hint of baby fat on her cheeks. It didn't make her look chubby, just made people's hands itch with the urge to give them a pinch.
The male lead and second male lead fit the current popular pretty-boy aesthetic—delicate, refined, and slightly thin. The three of them arrived at roughly the same time. Shen Haitang stood in front of them and pointed towards the direction of the car. The three nodded and walked over to the vehicle one after another.
Fu Cheng walked at the front. She whispered, "I heard our partners for this episode are Teacher Lu and Qin Zhenzhen. Is that true?"
Ding Yichuan nodded. "I heard that too."
He and Fu Cheng were from the same company, so their source of information was likely the same. Fu Cheng shifted her gaze to Wang Zi. "You..."
Before she could finish, she saw Lu Ruyun step down from the car door, bag in hand. She swallowed. "Never mind. I see Teacher Lu."
Lu Ruyun, who had been looking down, sensed someone staring at her. She looked up and saw Fu Cheng, Ding Yichuan, and the others. She gave a slight nod as she passed by them, a cool breeze stirring in her wake. Fu Cheng stood frozen for a few seconds before exclaiming, "It really is Teacher Lu!"
Wang Zi nudged her. "It really is. Stop yelling. You can ask Teacher Lu for an autograph later to settle the account with your mom at home."
Fu Cheng chuckled sheepishly and scratched her head, recalling the moment she had just seen Lu Ruyun.
Her face seemed a bit pale, didn't it?
Lu Ruyun's face was indeed pale. A dull ache throbbed in her lower abdomen. She didn't know if it was because of the cold herbal tea she drank yesterday after her period started, but it had triggered dysmenorrhea—something she hadn't experienced in several years. Standing under the blazing sun, cold sweat beaded on her forehead.
Shen Haitang tilted her head, seeing Lu Ruyun get off the car and walk over, she asked, "What's wrong?"
Lu Ruyun smiled faintly and shook her head. "It's nothing. Where's the restroom?"
Shen Haitang pointed to the other side. "Over there. Do you want me to go with you?"
Lu Ruyun declined the offer. "No need. I'll be right back."
Shen Haitang hummed in acknowledgment. "Okay."
Qin Zhenzhen was bored, idly scrolling through her phone in the car. She and Lu Ruyun sat in the very back. In front of them was Hu Jing, and further ahead were the three young people who had just boarded, whispering among themselves. "Teacher Lu's face looked pretty pale just now."
"If you want to compliment her, you need a different word. Her fair skin is well-known."
"Ding Yichuan, are you an idiot? That was clearly discomfort—pale-faced!"
Qin Zhenzhen's fingers, which had been scrolling her phone, paused. She pricked up her ears to listen. "Right, I also felt like Teacher Lu seemed unwell."
"Should I go down and check on her?"
The girl who said this was Fu Cheng. She wore a high ponytail, a T-shirt, and jeans, radiating youthful energy. Her big eyes darted between Ding Yichuan and Wang Zi, waiting for their answer.
Ding Yichuan, under her gaze, opened his mouth but before he could make a sound, he saw Lu Ruyun board the car again, bag in hand.
She walked straight to the back and sat down next to Qin Zhenzhen.
Having overheard the conversation in front, Qin Zhenzhen glanced sideways at Lu Ruyun out of the corner of her eye. Indeed, her complexion was pale, with a faint sheen of sweat on her forehead. Unable to hold back, Qin Zhenzhen asked, "What's wrong with you?"
This was the first sentence she had spoken to her since meeting today.
Lu Ruyun was taken aback.
Although they had exchanged a 'sweet' goodnight yesterday, Qin Zhenzhen had been focused on her phone all day today, not even sparing her a glance. Lu Ruyun couldn't tell if Qin Zhenzhen was shy or still upset about yesterday.
Besides, with so many people in the car, it wasn't convenient to ask. So they had remained at an impasse.
She hadn't expected Qin Zhenzhen to speak first.
Seeing Qin Zhenzhen's gaze still fixed on her, Lu Ruyun shook her head lightly. "It's nothing."
Looking at her, Qin Zhenzhen didn't believe for a second that it was 'nothing.' Recalling the events of last night, a sudden realization flashed in her mind. She lowered her voice. "You're not having cramps, are you?"
Lu Ruyun choked on her words, coughing several times in succession. A slight flush finally touched her pale cheeks. Her bright eyes, glistening from the coughing fit, completely shed her usual serious, seasoned-veteran persona, now appearing somewhat delicate and fragile???
Qin Zhenzhen shuddered, horrified by her own mental imagery. Seeing that things outside were almost ready, she quickly averted her gaze, afraid that if she kept looking at Lu Ruyun, she'd start imagining her as a fragile Lin Daiyu.
Lu Ruyun lowered her eyelids. Wave after wave of pain washed over her lower abdomen. Clenching her teeth, she leaned back against the seat, one hand pressed against her stomach, not uttering a sound.
Qin Zhenzhen caught her reflection in the window and stared for a few seconds, deep in thought. Is she really not using a 'bitter flesh' strategy here?
But if it was a 'bitter flesh' strategy, this woman's acting was just too good—absolutely masterful!
Although Qin Zhenzhen wasn't looking directly at Lu Ruyun, her eyes remained fixed on the window beside them. Watching Lu Ruyun take a tissue from her bag to wipe her face, she couldn't help but say, "If you're really that uncomfortable, you can lean on me."
Whether it's a 'bitter flesh' strategy or not, she's succeeded.
Hearing this, Lu Ruyun looked up at Qin Zhenzhen, taking in her awkwardly averted profile. The corners of her lips lifted in a barely-there smile. She shifted a bit closer to Qin Zhenzhen but hadn't yet leaned against her when Qin Zhenzhen spoke up. "Wait."
"I need to get off."
Lu Ruyun: ...
After getting off the car, Qin Zhenzhen found her luggage, communicated with a staff member, and pulled out a hat, mask, and trench coat. She covered herself up completely, leaving only her eyes exposed.
The staff member, unable to stop her, went to find Shen Haitang.
Shen Haitang turned and saw Qin Zhenzhen bundled up like an underground operative on a covert mission. She chuckled. "Zhenzhen?"
Qin Zhenzhen nodded. "Sorry, I need to go buy something."
Shen Haitang smiled. "Buy what? I'll have Xiao Li go."
Qin Zhenzhen waved her hand. "No, no need. I'll go myself."
"Just—where's the pharmacy?"
Shen Haitang looked at her fully geared-up appearance, her eyes revealing a knowing glint. "First left turn up ahead."
Under her deeply meaningful gaze, Qin Zhenzhen hurried off, only to return a moment later, slinking back with her hands thrust deep into her trench coat pockets.
Lu Ruyun was feigning sleep when suddenly, she heard someone sit down beside her. She turned to look. Qin Zhenzhen was removing her hat and mask. Lu Ruyun pursed her lips. "Where did you go?"
Qin Zhenzhen pulled a small box from her trench coat pocket and shoved it at Lu Ruyun. Having jogged back, her face was flushed as she said, "Take it."
Lu Ruyun looked up and saw her nearly bashful expression. For a moment, she forgot her physical discomfort. It wasn't until Qin Zhenzhen nudged her arm again that she snapped back to reality and took the item Qin Zhenzhen was offering.
The bag was from a pharmacy.
So she had gone to buy medicine for her?
A warm feeling spread through Lu Ruyun's heart, softening her gaze towards Qin Zhenzhen, tinged with a subtle tenderness. Qin Zhenzhen felt goosebumps rise all over under that look. Lu Ruyun's acting was just too good.
If she didn't know her intentions, she might have been completely fooled by such an expression!
Indignantly, she nudged Lu Ruyun's arm again. "Are you going to take it or not?"
Lu Ruyun collected herself, her expression returning to normal as she said softly, "Thank you."
Qin Zhenzhen held back her temper. "Don't mention it. I'm only doing this because..."
Before she could finish, Lu Ruyun interrupted her. "What is this?"
Lu Ruyun stared at the box in her hand. Three glaringly large characters on the box were particularly eye-catching. Her fingers holding the box trembled slightly. Her face flushed, her tone unnatural. "Zhenzhen, did you buy the wrong thing?"
Qin Zhenzhen turned to look at her. "I didn't buy it wrong. This is very effective. I've taken it..."
Lu Ruyun, staring at the box in her hand, coldly cut her off. "You've taken it before?"
Qin Zhenzhen didn't understand her sudden cold expression. She pursed her lips. "Of course I have. And the effect is very good. One pill..."
Lu Ruyun gripped the box so tightly it creaked. "Qin Zhenzhen!"
Qin Zhenzhen froze, frowning. "What's wrong?"
Lu Ruyun, her face cold, tossed the crumpled box back into Qin Zhenzhen's hand and turned her head to the other side.
Qin Zhenzhen looked at the crushed box in her hand and mumbled, "You're not going to take it? This is very effective for relieving menstrual cramps."
Lu Ruyun turned her head back, her face stern, her eyes cold. "I don't... what did you say? Relieving menstrual cramps?"
Qin Zhenzhen's bright eyes were clear, her expression normal. "Yeah. Didn't you know this relieves menstrual cramps? I took it a couple of times in emergencies before. The effect was good."
Lu Ruyun's gaze lowered, landing on the box of birth control pills in Qin Zhenzhen's hand.
She genuinely didn't know that!
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