Married in a Daze - Chapter 40

Chapter 40

When Qin Zhenzhen arrived at the private room, she saw not only Director Zheng but several other people as well. Meng Xin followed behind her and whispered, "The investors for this film."

"Later, you just need to symbolically propose a toast. I'll handle the rest."

Meng Xin's slightly lowered voice reached Qin Zhenzhen's ears. Zhenzhen hummed in acknowledgment. When it came to accompanying drinking sessions, Meng Xin had never forced her since her debut, knowing her alcohol tolerance was poor.

After the three of them entered the room, Director Zheng and a few men were chatting, seemingly about the script. Director Zheng was a rising director, not yet thirty. Though young, he had a prematurely aged look about him, giving off an old-before-his-time feeling.

When Qin Zhenzhen walked in, Director Zheng and the others exchanged glances. Meng Xin smiled apologetically, "Sorry, sorry. Zhenzhen got caught in traffic, that's why she's a bit late."

p>Director Zheng smiled and took up her words, "Where are you saying this, Miss Meng? Isn't it only natural to wait for a beauty?"

Just as Meng Xin was about to smile, Director Zheng continued, "However, since Miss Qin is late, she must still be punished. Don't you agree, Miss Meng?"

Qin Zhenzhen quickly looked up, catching a glimpse of Director Zheng. His eyes were profound, making it hard to discern his meaning. Meng Xin laughed, "Of course, of course. How about this, Zhenzhen being late is my fault, so the punishment should be mine!"

As she spoke, she pulled Qin Zhenzhen to sit next to Director Zheng. Director Zheng smiled and said, "Ah, Miss Qin, sit here. Today is mainly about keeping President Wang company."

Hearing this, Meng Xin glanced at Director Zheng, her expression subtly turning unpleasant. Qin Zhenzhen stood up and sat next to President Wang. President Wang looked her up and down, a faint smile appearing in his eyes.

After Qin Zhenzhen sat down, Meng Xin breathed a sigh of relief and quickly punished herself with three glasses. A satisfied smile hung on Director Zheng's face as he instructed the waiter to start serving the dishes.

Only after the waiter left did the conversation at the table truly begin.

Meng Xin poured a glass of wine for Director Zheng and said with a smile, "Director Zheng, what do you think about Zhenzhen..."

Director Zheng interrupted her, "Miss Meng, don't be so hasty. We've just arrived, I need to look her over and think about it, don't I?"

Meng Xin smiled and nodded, "You're right, Director Zheng."

Director Zheng: "Besides, you know very well, as soon as news of this film was released, so many actresses rushed to audition. The fact that I'm making an exception to have you and Miss Qin come for dinner, you understand what that means, right?"

He still wore a smile, but Qin Zhenzhen felt a knot in her chest. Meng Xin's expression froze for a moment before quickly recovering: "Of course I understand. Zhenzhen, why don't you propose a toast to Director Zheng and all the bosses here?"

Qin Zhenzhen raised her eyes to look at Meng Xin, seeing her slight nod. She stood up, holding a glass half-filled with a cocktail. "Director Zheng, President Wang..."

Her gaze shifted to the others. Director Zheng introduced them one by one. Qin Zhenzhen wore her signature smile and responded to Director Zheng's words: "Zhenzhen offers you all a toast."

"Hey—"

President Wang reached out, grabbed Qin Zhenzhen's arm, and pulled her down to sit. "Miss Qin, don't listen to Shaoyuan. Young ladies should drink less. If you get too drunk, it won't be fun anymore."

The hidden meaning in his words made the others smile faintly. Director Zheng patted his own mouth, "Look at me. Zhenzhen, ah, just don't drink then."

"How can that be?"

President Wang said, glancing sideways at Director Zheng. "Just a little bit, to liven things up."

He reached over, took the glass from Qin Zhenzhen's hand, poured out the cocktail, and handed the empty glass to Director Zheng. "Change it to red wine."

Director Zheng hurriedly lowered his head and poured a glass of red wine. President Wang then brought the glass to Qin Zhenzhen's face. "Miss Qin?"

Qin Zhenzhen pursed her lips, watching their actions. The smile on her face was about to slip. She glanced at Meng Xin's expression and saw Meng Xin stand up. "Bosses, please don't tease Zhenzhen anymore. She has to rush to a shoot tomorrow, and her alcohol tolerance isn't good either."

President Wang's face wore a half-smile. "So Miss Qin is refusing to give me face?"

Qin Zhenzhen reached out and took the glass from President Wang. The wine inside was a vibrant color, exuding a rich aroma. Just by smelling it, one could tell it was good wine. She took a small sip. Director Zheng teased, "Miss Qin, we can't see your sincerity if you drink like that."

As soon as his words fell, Qin Zhenzhen threw her head back and drank the entire glass.

"Good!"

President Wang led the applause, and the others followed suit. Qin Zhenzhen's throat felt bitter and astringent. She had drunk the red wine too quickly and nearly choked. She coughed violently several times. Seeing this, President Wang reached out to pat her back, his rough hand wandering over her back, slowly moving downward.

Qin Zhenzhen could no longer maintain her smile. Her voice turned cold. "Sorry, I need to use the restroom."

After she got up, Meng Xin also excused herself and followed her out. The two stood in the corridor. Qin Zhenzhen turned her head. "Sister Meng, what is the meaning of this?"

Meng Xin rubbed her forehead. "I don't understand Zheng Shaoyuan either. He wasn't like this yesterday."

During previous gatherings, he had acted very proper, even chasing out the girls sent in to accompany the drinking, putting on an aloof and noble air. Moreover, the previous two dinners were only about discussing the script with her. He only said to have Zhenzhen come today to get a look at her, and if there were no problems, the contract would be finalized.

Who knew it would turn out like this?

Meng Xin's delicate brows furrowed tighter and tighter. She sighed. "Zhenzhen, I just don't want you to lose this opportunity."

Qin Zhenzhen thought for a moment. "Okay, I understand. Let's go back in and see."

Meng Xin patted her shoulder. "I'm sorry to trouble you."

Qin Zhenzhen watched her slender back disappear into the private room. She turned and walked towards the restroom. Ji Lu followed behind her. "Zhenzhen, are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

It was just one glass of wine. She wasn't about to collapse from one drink, but she was worried about the lingering effects of the red wine.

Qin Zhenzhen scrutinized herself in the mirror for a long time before saying to Ji Lu, "Where's my bag?"

Ji Lu looked down. "In the private room. I'll go get it."

With that, she jogged away. Qin Zhenzhen opened her mouth to say it wasn't necessary but didn't get the chance. After she left, Qin Zhenzhen stood in front of the mirror, looking left and right. Not long after, a voice approached the doorway.

"Forget it, I don't want to talk about this anymore. Go find Big Brother."

"He won't deal with it? So you come to me? Haven't I cleaned up enough of that kid's messes? Again and again, I don't want to clean up anymore..."

Before she finished speaking, she saw Qin Zhenzhen standing in front of the mirror. He Shuangshuang said into the phone, "I'll hang up first."

Qin Zhenzhen also saw He Shuangshuang. She didn't intend to greet her and was about to leave when He Shuangshuang called out from behind, "Qin Zhenzhen."

"Can we talk?"

In the past, when she and Lu Ruyun had disagreements, she had called her by her full name before, but always in an angry tone. This was the first time Qin Zhenzhen had heard her speak so calmly, which made her somewhat uncomfortable.

She glanced at He Shuangshuang and noticed deep dark circles under her eyes, her face full of exhaustion, and obvious fatigue. Qin Zhenzhen paused. "Okay."

The stairwell had always been a good place for secret chats. Qin Zhenzhen followed He Shuangshuang to the stairwell entrance. They entered one after the other. After standing still, He Shuangshuang turned to look at Qin Zhenzhen and asked, "What did you mean by what you said to Ruyun before?"

Qin Zhenzhen frowned slightly. "What?"

He Shuangshuang continued, "That sentence you said, that Ruyun leaked the video. What did you mean by that?"

Qin Zhenzhen let out a light laugh. She could understand anyone else asking her what she meant, but He Shuangshuang of all people.

"What do I mean? He Shuangshuang, shouldn't you understand better than me? Wasn't the video leaked from your family's overseas company? Did you think that just because you wiped the IP, we couldn't trace it?"

He Shuangshuang's usually fiery bright eyes revealed surprise and confusion. "My family's overseas company?"

She then recalled the question Lu Ruyun had first asked her.

Shuangshuang, did you leak the video?

So, Ruyun had already found something back then?

Why didn't she tell her?

Qin Zhenzhen listened to her confused voice and said calmly, "What? Didn't expect me to find out?"

"Or did you think you erased it quickly enough that no one could trace it?"

He Shuangshuang took a step back, lowered her eyes, and shook her head slowly. "It wasn't me."

"Qin Zhenzhen, I do dislike you. I wish you would disappear from Ruyun's side, but I wouldn't stoop to such a despicable method. The video leak wasn't my doing."

Qin Zhenzhen's red lips parted slightly. "Wasn't you? The video was edited from the one you brought back. The traced IP belongs to your family. He Shuangshuang, if you want to make up an excuse, why not prepare a script in advance?"

"Do you think, under these circumstances, I can still believe it wasn't you?"

He Shuangshuang's mind went blank for a moment. She hadn't rested properly for a long time, and hearing this news from Qin Zhenzhen caught her completely off guard. Even though she had a vague guess in her heart, hearing these cold words from Qin Zhenzhen's mouth still made her breath catch slightly.

Qin Zhenzhen looked at her deeply. "If there's nothing else, I'm leaving."

He Shuangshuang bit her lip. "One week."

Qin Zhenzhen stopped in her tracks. He Shuangshuang continued, "Give me one week. I will find out who did this."

"If I can't find out, I'll let you handle me however you want in a week."

Qin Zhenzhen: "I don't want to pursue this matter anymore."

He Shuangshuang: "You don't want to pursue it because you've decided it was Ruyun? Qin Zhenzhen, I knew nothing about the video. She knew nothing about it either. She even gave you the video to help clear your suspicions."

"If we really did it, why would she give you the video?"

After saying this, He Shuangshuang prepared to leave. Her hand was on the door handle. Qin Zhenzhen's hands hung at her sides, trembling slightly. Her voice quivered lightly. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Don't you hate me? Shouldn't you be happy if I misunderstood Lu Ruyun?"

He Shuangshuang's fingers gripping the door handle tightened, veins standing out on the back of her hand. After thinking for a moment, she answered honestly, "I don't know."

Maybe it was because that day, seeing Qin Zhenzhen drape clothes over Ruyun overturned her previous thoughts.

Maybe it was because she spent three days and two nights with Ruyun, and Ruyun actually didn't have an episode and accepted her.

Or maybe, she could see that Ruyun had developed different feelings for Qin Zhenzhen.

She shook her head and left the stairwell.

As the door closed, Qin Zhenzhen took two steps back, leaning against the white wall. Her face was paler than the wall, her head lowered, her eyes slightly red.

"She knew nothing about the video."

"I'll find out who did it in a week."

Qin Zhenzhen leaned against the wall, her mind a chaotic mess as if the alcohol was hitting her. One moment she thought of the words Lu Ruyun had said to her, the things she had done; the next moment, she thought of her own presumptuous guesses and the hurtful things she had said.

Was it really not her?

Qin Zhenzhen's body, leaning against the wall, slowly slid down into a squat. Her eyes held a trace of confusion.

The door suddenly opened. Ji Lu's head peeked in. "Zhenzhen?"

"Zhenzhen, what's wrong? Did He Shuangshuang say something to you?"

Seeing her like this, Ji Lu hurried in to help Qin Zhenzhen up. She had just run into He Shuangshuang, who told her Zhenzhen was here, so she rushed over. Who would have thought she'd find Zhenzhen with this expression?

Qin Zhenzhen's face was slightly pale. Supported by Ji Lu, she stood up. She turned to Ji Lu and said, "Phone."

Ji Lu quickly took the phone from her bag and handed it to her.

Qin Zhenzhen held the phone, quickly found Lu Ruyun's number, thought for a moment, but still didn't press dial. She took two deep breaths and put the phone back in her bag. "Let's go."

Ji Lu, following behind Qin Zhenzhen, was quite bewildered. She scratched her head and quickly caught up with Qin Zhenzhen's pace.

Before they reached their private room, they saw someone standing at the door of the room next to theirs. Qin Zhenzhen glanced casually, then couldn't help but look again when she saw who it was.

Zhang Yiyao clearly also saw Qin Zhenzhen. She walked forward with a smile. "Zhenzhen."

Qin Zhenzhen halted her steps and asked Ji Lu to go in first.

Seeing Ji Lu enter the private room, Zhang Yiyao smiled and said, "You probably don't know me yet, but I often hear Ruyun mention you."

Qin Zhenzhen nodded. "I know you. Miss Zhang is Director Duan's girlfriend."

Upon hearing this, a shadow briefly crossed Zhang Yiyao's delicate face before she smiled again. "Ah, right, I almost forgot. We met once at a gathering."

Qin Zhenzhen wasn't in the mood for idle chat with others right now. Her expression was indifferent. "If there's nothing else, Miss Zhang, I'll be going."

Zhang Yiyao reached out and grabbed her. "Zhenzhen, I'm very sorry to bother you. I just want to ask you for a small favor."

Qin Zhenzhen tilted her head to look at her. "What is it?"

Zhang Yiyao handed her the trench coat she was holding. "It's Ruyun's. She said she wasn't feeling well halfway through dinner and went to the rooftop. I'm worried she might be cold, but I'm afraid she might not want to see anyone right now. I was hesitating whether to take it up or not, and then I ran into you. What a coincidence."

"If you take it up, she definitely won't refuse."

Zhang Yiyao spoke with sincere concern, her face full of worry. Qin Zhenzhen looked down at the trench coat, thought of what He Shuangshuang had just said, her fingers curling and then stretching out. After a long moment, she still took it from Zhang Yiyao's hand. "Okay."

"Thank you."

Zhang Yiyao smiled and turned back to her private room.

Qin Zhenzhen glanced at her own private room. She knew if she didn't go in now, Director Zheng and President Wang would definitely take issue with her. This was an opportunity Meng Xin had worked hard to secure. Even though she didn't like the situation, to just erase Sister Meng's efforts like this made her feel very guilty.

But Lu Ruyun...

Qin Zhenzhen stood at the door, hesitating, wanting to push it open, then retracting her hand. Finally, she took two steps back and walked towards the elevator.

---

Lu Ruyun sat on a wooden chair on the rooftop. Tonight was Yaoyao's birthday. Duan Qiuhan, thinking this was her first birthday since they publicly announced their relationship, wanted to make it a big celebration and invited quite a few friends.

As Yaoyao's good friend, she naturally couldn't escape. Just now, Yaoyao had pulled her to drink quite a bit, and now her head was aching slightly.

She was sitting on the wooden chair with her eyes closed, resting. The sound of the wind was light and gentle in her ears, very much like someone's shallow breathing next to her ear.

Breathing.

Lu Ruyun slowly opened her eyes and saw Zhu Yao right in front of her.

She reached out and pushed Zhu Yao away. Her face, slightly flushed from drinking, was now stern, her gaze somewhat cold. "Miss Zhu, what are you doing?"

Zhu Yao had also drunk quite a bit. Her mind was still filled with the words Zhang Yiyao had said before she came up: 'What's wrong with liking someone? If you don't dare to confess, that's the mistake. Missing the chance because of that is the mistake.'

Yes.

What's wrong with her liking Lu Ruyun?

She didn't want to lose this chance.

Zhu Yao stood unsteadily, but her mind was clear. Under the night sky, her eyes shone as she whispered, "What am I doing? Can't Teacher Lu tell? Or has Teacher Lu been ignoring me all along? Can't you see my efforts at all?"

Lu Ruyun hadn't expected Zhu Yao to be here to confess. She rubbed her aching head. "Miss Zhu, please have some self-respect."

Zhu Yao swayed. "Self-respect? Self-respect! It's because I had too much self-respect that I never disturbed you! Teacher Lu, do you know how long I've liked you? Do you remember when I first debuted and you came to guide us in acting? Do you know, I liked you even back then."

"It's been so long, longer than Qin Zhenzhen's time in the industry!"

"We've known each other for so long, all because of 'self-respect,' I didn't dare disturb you, didn't dare let you know, even when I saw you I had to act like a respectful junior. Who knows how much I wanted to hold you..."

As she spoke, she moved closer to Lu Ruyun. Lu Ruyun instinctively dodged. Zhu Yao stumbled forward, missing her. Lu Ruyun didn't want to waste any more words on her and simply turned to leave. Seeing her about to leave, Zhu Yao quickly took two steps forward and hugged her from behind!

She hugged her desperately, as if using all her strength. Lu Ruyun was caught off guard by the hug and didn't push her away immediately, only saying coldly, "Let go!"

Zhu Yao rested her head against Lu Ruyun's back. This figure she had longed for day and night, this person who had occupied her dreams—she had finally embraced her. She shook her head frantically. "I won't let go!"

Lu Ruyun placed her hands on Zhu Yao's tightly clenched fingers, trying to pry them open. Zhu Yao, anxious, tears streaming down her face, cried out, "Why? I just want to know why! Why can Qin Zhenzhen, but I can't!"

"She..."

"Because you lack self-awareness."

An unknown person stood behind the two of them. Lu Ruyun turned her head at the voice and saw Qin Zhenzhen standing two meters away.

Zhu Yao clearly saw her too.

Her lips parted slightly, her voice trembling. "How... how are you here?"

Qin Zhenzhen walked forward, expressionlessly moved Zhu Yao's hands away from Lu Ruyun, and draped the trench coat over Lu Ruyun. When she turned to look at Zhu Yao, her expression remained unchanged, only the mockery in her eyes was unmistakable. "Zhu Yao, you really make me see you in a new light!"

After saying this, she took Lu Ruyun's hand and prepared to leave, not even glancing at Zhu Yao. Lu Ruyun followed behind her, her gaze fixed on their joined hands. Qin Zhenzhen's fingertips were cold, pressed against her slightly warm skin—an indescribably comfortable feeling.

Zhu Yao, unwilling to give up, hurried forward a few steps and grabbed Lu Ruyun's sleeve. She heard a light, cold voice.

"Get lost."

Her legs went weak, and she collapsed onto the ground.

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