Shrine - Chapter 46
Chapter 46
The night Shi Ran returned to Jiangcheng was a Sunday, which also happened to be Halloween. The lobby of her apartment complex was decorated with all sorts of pumpkins and ghosts, but the building was still quiet. After all, this was one of the most dazzling luxury residences on the Waitan, renowned for its exceptional privacy, and many tycoons and celebrities had settled here.
Wu Mei was very nervous. First, she asked Ruan Ruan if she should move out. Then she asked Ruan Ruan if her room smelled bad. Then she gathered up all the socks from the utility balcony and used a deodorizer to air out the kitchen and refrigerator.
Ruan Ruan didn't tell Wu Mei that when Shi Ran had visited her place before, she had most likely already seen Wu Mei's socks on the drying rack.
After receiving the WeChat message that the plane had landed, Ruan Ruan cooked a bowl of hot rice soup for Shi Ran. She and Wu Mei sat across from each other with their bowls and chopsticks set out. About twenty minutes later, the door opened.
Ruan Ruan padded over in her slippers. Shi Ran stood alone in the entryway, pushing a silver-white suitcase. She was wearing a loose sweater, convenient for flying, and her long straight black hair hadn't been messed up by sleep at all. She took off her mask, and Ruan Ruan helped her hang it up, then took her carry-on bag. Wu Mei immediately squatted down and pushed the slippers she had prepared for Shi Ran a little closer to her feet.
Shi Ran glanced at her and gave a faint greeting, "Hello."
"Ah, yes, Teacher Shi." Wu Mei bowed, her right hand pressed against the seam of her pants, looking very constrained.
"Mei Mei," Ruan Ruan tucked her hair behind her ear, "could you pour a glass of water for Teacher Shi?"
Wu Mei agreed with a series of nods and scurried to the kitchen. Only then did Ruan Ruan purse her lips into a smile and look at Shi Ran. "Lost some weight?"
Shi Ran nodded. She was very tired. She rested her arm on Ruan Ruan's shoulder, leaning on her as she changed her shoes. When she saw Wu Mei approaching, she stood up straight again and headed for the living room.
"I made some hot rice soup. Do you want some?" Ruan Ruan asked, following behind her.
"It's too late, I can't eat." Shi Ran glanced at it, then added, "Put it in the fridge. I'll eat it tomorrow."
Rubbing her shoulders, she sat down on the sofa. Ruan Ruan peeled a pear. Wu Mei stood to the side, biting her upper lip, not daring to speak.
She had almost never been this close to Shi Ran before. It was even more terrifying than seeing her get out of her RV while an assistant held an umbrella.
"You…" Shi Ran had never encountered a situation like this either—an unfamiliar person standing around in her home, as jumpy as a spring, popping up every time she glanced at her. So she thought for a moment and asked Wu Mei, "Have you eaten?"
"Eat, eat, eaten, that is." Wu Mei trailed off and looked toward Ruan Ruan. She hadn't eaten; she had wanted to have some of the hot rice soup. But since Shi Ran said she wasn't eating, she didn't dare.
"Mei Mei, if you're hungry, go have some. You don't need to be nervous. Shi Ran is very nice," Ruan Ruan said, breaking the awkwardness.
Wu Mei started to sweat. She even felt that the way Ruan Ruan addressed Shi Ran by her first name was strange.
"You two eat. I'm going to take a shower first." With Shi Ran here, Wu Mei couldn't possibly sit down to eat, so she got up and headed for the bedroom.
The master bedroom door closed. Wu Mei glanced at it and let out a sigh of relief. She had met plenty of celebrities, but this was the only top-tier one. No, to be precise, you could count the number of top-tier stars in the industry on one hand. And here she was, living in her house.
She touched her nose, annoyed with herself for her poor performance.
Ruan Ruan handed her the peeled pear and gave her a soft smile.
As night fell, the entire apartment grew as quiet as if it were sleeping in its own breath. To avoid disturbing Shi Ran, they both went to bed early. After Wu Mei moved in, Ruan Ruan had been staying in her own room. It was slightly smaller than Shi Ran's master bedroom and also had a balcony with transparent glass, perfect for collecting the silver thread of moonlight from the Waitan.
She was lying on her side, just about to fall asleep, when her phone suddenly buzzed. It was a message from Shi Ran: "Asleep?"
Ruan Ruan understood immediately. Without replying, she quietly opened and closed her door. With a little rabbit hopping in her heart, she walked to the master bedroom, opened the door, and, in the dim shadows, expertly slipped into Shi Ran's quilt.
There was the scent of shower gel, and there was Shi Ran, who had traveled through the night for this long-awaited meeting.
The stars had once again landed by Ruan Ruan's side, holding her, cool and fragrant.
A pair of long, slender, delicate hands slipped inside Ruan Ruan's nightdress. The moment they grasped her softness, a kiss landed on the back of her neck. Wu Mei was in the next room. Ruan Ruan had thought Shi Ran wouldn't want to do anything, but unexpectedly, she paid it no mind, and her kisses were slightly more urgent than usual.
Ruan Ruan quietly endured it, curled on her side in her arms, blissfully letting her enjoy a whole Little Bread.
Eating once wasn't enough. Shi Ran turned her over and ate again.
She sat in the darkness, silent, her robe not tied securely. The landscape of her body was faintly visible, and her long black hair slid over her shoulder, outlining the lustrous scenery and turning it into a landscape painting that was waiting to be framed.
Ruan Ruan panted, covered in a light sweat, without making much of a sound. Even when she came, she only gripped Shi Ran's wrist tightly. Afterward, she slowed her breathing and asked softly, "Want to take a shower?"
Shi Ran shook her head, took a tissue to clean Ruan Ruan, then touched her again before continuing to wipe.
"You missed me," Ruan Ruan said softly, staring at her.
"You too." Shi Ran crumpled the tissue in her hand, threw it into the trash can, and pulled out another one.
They were both busy and tired from work. At this moment, it was as if they were recharging together, using each other's physical responses. Shi Ran lay down beside her. Ruan Ruan reached out to brush the hair from her forehead. It was magical. The Shi Ran who had been at the center of grand affection just a few days ago was now lying by her side, her breathing light, as if she had been stripped of her feathered cloak of immortality, unable to return to the heavenly court, able only to find rest in Ruan Ruan's gaze.
"Shi Ran." Ruan Ruan touched her with the tip of her nose.
"Have you been busy lately?" Shi Ran asked softly.
"Mhm, rehearsals are on a tight schedule. I've found that theater has high demands for physical control, so I have to practice my form every night when I get back." Ruan Ruan answered obediently. "After you wrap up, how long will you rest?"
"A few months," Shi Ran closed her eyes wearily. The year-end events were quite packed. "I'll join a new production after the new year."
"Shrine is also after the new year." Then they could start their respective productions around the same time.
"So what will you do during this time?" Ruan Ruan asked.
"Be a boss, manage an artist."
"Manage an artist?"
Shi Ran opened her eyes. "Manage you."
After saying this with little inflection, Shi Ran got up to pour some water. She was familiar with the apartment's layout, so she didn't turn on a light and walked straight to the dining area. Just as she took out a glass, there was a light sound behind her. Shi Ran turned, and the person gasped, "Tea- Teacher Shi."
Shi Ran focused her eyes. It was Wu Mei, holding a thermos.
Shi Ran took three seconds to confirm that this was, in fact, her own home. Someone was in her home, looking at her as if they had seen a ghost.
In the moonlight, Wu Mei stole a glance at Shi Ran. She was in a loose silk robe, her collarbones prominent, her entire being enveloped in the scent of shower gel. Different from how she was during the day, she exuded a hidden and subtle sensuality.
And Shi Ran also felt a bit uncomfortable. She had just finished with Ruan Ruan, her body still moist, only to run into her best friend.
Shi Ran reached up, tugged at her collar, and adjusted it a couple of times. "Getting water?"
Her voice was hoarse, which made Wu Mei's heart pound with fear.
"Mhm, yes."
Shi Ran let out a small sigh. "There's some in the kettle." After speaking, she gave a cool nod and walked around her to return to the room.
Wu Mei was sleepless all night.
The next day, as Ruan Ruan and Wu Mei were preparing breakfast in the kitchen, Wu Mei muttered, "I should just move out. I feel uncomfortable all over."
"What's wrong?"
"We're both staying here as guests, right?" Wu Mei lowered her voice.
"Right."
"I'm your assistant, right?"
"Right."
"Then why do I always feel like you're her wife, and I'm your servant?" Wu Mei asked, cupping her face in confusion.
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