Married in a Daze - Chapter 44
Chapter 44
Qin Zhenzhen received He Shuangshuang's phone call a full week later. She had just gotten off set when Ji Lu jogged over and handed her the phone, saying it was He Shuangshuang.
She took the phone, her voice sounding normal as she said, "Hello."
He Shuangshuang was silent for a few seconds before speaking. "Are you free to meet at noon? There's something I need to say to you."
Qin Zhenzhen's gaze drifted toward another direction. The crew from the neighboring production was shooting on location and not here, so she hadn't seen Lu Ruyun for two days.
"Just say it over the phone."
She wasn't really in the mood for a meeting right now.
He Shuangshuang paused. "I found out about the video. It was an employee from my brother's company. How she got the video hasn't been fully explained yet. If you have time, we should meet to settle this matter."
"I am at your disposal."
Qin Zhenzhen glanced at her watch, her expression unchanged. "There's no need."
Hearing these three words, He Shuangshuang couldn't help but exclaim, "No need?"
"You say there's no need, Ruyun says to stop investigating... So you've both decided it was me, is that it?"
Qin Zhenzhen could hear the raised voice on the other end of the line, easily picturing her expression. She pressed her lips together, lowering her voice slightly. "He Shuangshuang, I said there's no need because, at the end of the day, this matter involves you. So what do you want me to do? Sue you? You're Teacher Lu's person. Do you think I should sue you?"
He Shuangshuang's breath hitched slightly upon hearing this. Qin Zhenzhen continued, "As for Teacher Lu..." She closed her eyes briefly. "Don't jump to conclusions. Maybe the reality is completely different from what you think."
With that, she hung up, handed the phone back to Ji Lu, and lowered her head to study the script.
She had lunch on set. Song He, noticing she seemed in low spirits, bought her a bunch of sweets. Qin Zhenzhen bit into an ice cream cone and looked at him with a smile. "Unrequested favors are never good!"
Song He patted her head. "Just eat it!"
His starlit eyes held a hint of heartache as he looked at the noticeably thinner Qin Zhenzhen.
He had learned some things from his manager recently. Qin Zhenzhen had offended Director Zheng and angered the investors. While she hadn't been completely blacklisted in the film world, the impact was still noticeable.
Director Zheng's personal connections weren't that extensive, but the investors backing him had considerable clout. With that warning put out, many of Zhenzhen's opportunities had dried up recently, especially in films. His manager had mentioned several directors explicitly saying Qin Zhenzhen had too much of an attitude, and they couldn't afford her.
Fortunately, there hadn't been much news on the television side. Even if there were, the impact likely wouldn't be great; TV dramas and movies were different beasts, and her influence wasn't superficial.
It was just that she might not be able to land any good movie roles for a while.
Thinking this, Song He felt rather sorry for her. He sat beside Qin Zhenzhen, and the two ate their ice cream cones in silence, neither speaking.
After finishing, Qin Zhenzhen felt a chill run through her. This Song He—buying her an ice cream cone not in the summer heat, but now that autumn was setting in, leaving her feeling cold inside and out.
She stood up and stretched. Song He, staring at his phone, chuckled. "The news is spreading pretty slowly."
Qin Zhenzhen leaned over to look at his screen. "What's up?"
Song He gestured with his chin toward the phone. "News about Zhu Yao."
Qin Zhenzhen saw the news about Zhu Yao withdrawing from Like a Dream. She frowned slightly. "When did this happen?"
Song He looked at her curiously. "You didn't know? It's been about a week. Zhu Yao cited personal reasons for dropping out. Didn't Teacher Lu tell you?"
Qin Zhenzhen thought of the Zhu Yao she saw on the rooftop that day and shook her head. "No."
Song He nodded. "Right, Teacher Lu isn't one for gossip."
Qin Zhenzhen took out her own phone to check the news. Today's trending topic was about Zhu Yao's withdrawal, with various opinions flying around. Netizens had once again started their endless speculation.
—Sigh, is it a health issue? I heard she's not in good health.
—That can't be, can it?
—Why not? She's Teacher Lu's little fangirl. Getting to act alongside her idol this time must have driven her crazy with excitement. If it weren't for health reasons, why would she drop out?
—Tsk, don't you all know? It's because she kept harassing LRY on set. A few days ago, during their crew dinner, I heard she got handsy after drinking and was kicked off.
—Holy shit?????? Really? I actually kind of liked her, didn't think she was that type.
—What 'not that type'? Ask anyone from the Like a Dream crew and you'll know. She practically glued herself to LRY. Even when LRY gave her the cold shoulder, she still stuck to her. The woman is married, it's disgusting!
—I'll say this quietly. A friend of mine in the Like a Dream crew confirms this happened. She'd always try to get LRY alone after filming. Her wife was right next door in the other production, but she showed no restraint, just clung on desperately.
Qin Zhenzhen stared at these comments, not moving for a long moment. Song He put his phone away. "Because of this, Director Duan had to go on location again. But I heard Zhu Yao had to pay a penalty this time."
Qin Zhenzhen lowered her eyes. So that was why Duan Qiuhan was back shooting on location.
After a brief exchange, Director Hu called for Qin Zhenzhen and Song He to get ready to start work.
Qin Zhenzhen was busy for almost two more weeks. News of Zhu Yao's withdrawal had long been buried by other stories. She and Lu Ruyun had trended on Weibo for two days, but neither of them responded, and the matter sank like a stone without a ripple.
In the meantime, Meng Xin landed her an advertisement and a magazine cover shoot, and Qin Zhenzhen was busy again.
Once busy, she didn't dwell on her situation with Lu Ruyun as much. Sometimes they met at meals or on set, both maintaining an appearance of friendship, their on-screen chemistry impeccable.
He Shuangshuang later texted Qin Zhenzhen, saying the employee involved had been dealt with, and if Qin Zhenzhen still wanted to pursue it, she was willing to take responsibility.
Qin Zhenzhen waved it off, turning the page on that incident.
And with that page turned, it was already mid-October. Qin Zhenzhen's TV series wrapped. Director Hu invited Sun Qin and others to the wrap party and told Qin Zhenzhen to bring Lu Ruyun along. Qin Zhenzhen declined, saying she was tied up with filming and couldn't make it. Director Hu didn't press.
Lu Ruyun indeed had filming. Because of the Zhu Yao incident, their shooting schedule had been delayed considerably. Qin Zhenzhen had seen Lu Ruyun staying on set past midnight twice without returning home.
The wrap party was held at a hotel near the film and television city. Qin Zhenzhen had been there several times. Standing in the corridor with Ji Lu, she paused for a long while. Only when Ji Lu nudged her did she snap out of it.
When they entered the private room, many people were already there. Director Hu was being persuaded to drink, his spirits high. Seeing Qin Zhenzhen enter, Song He called out, "Zhenzhen! Over here!"
Qin Zhenzhen walked over with a smile and sat down beside Song He. She glanced at Director Hu and whispered, "Why is he drinking so much?"
Song He chuckled. "Probably happy."
Sure enough, seeing Qin Zhenzhen approach, Director Hu raised his glass. "Come, come! A toast to our leading lady!"
Everyone raised their glasses. Qin Zhenzhen, somewhat at a loss, held up her cup, clinked with everyone, and drank. The sharp burn spread in her throat, making her eyes water.
Everyone took their seats. Director Hu leaned over, glass still in hand. "Zhenzhen, this series is truly my most satisfying work to date. Thank you!"
Hearing such praise, Qin Zhenzhen lowered her head, poured another drink, and downed it with Director Hu before setting her cup down.
After that, Ji Lu switched her to fruit wine.
Qin Zhenzhen took a sip of the sweet fruit wine and relaxed. With the mood like this, Director Hu would likely end up drunk here tonight. Indeed, glasses were clinking all around the table, everyone's focus on drinking, while only Qin Zhenzhen was busy filling her stomach.
After several rounds, the crew members came over one by one to toast them. Qin Zhenzhen's fruit wine earned a couple of laughs, but no one forced her to switch. By the time the group photo was taken, Director Hu was practically being held up by his assistant.
After the photo, people started to disperse. Qin Zhenzhen and Song He were pulled aside by Director Hu, who wouldn't let them leave, regaling them with tales of the hardships and bitterness of filming. Finally, he choked up, sobbing uncontrollably. Qin Zhenzhen looked at Director Hu, who usually scolded them sternly like a teacher, now bawling like a child, and suddenly felt like laughing.
A faint smile touched her eyes. Her sleeve was tugged, but she didn't pull away, letting Director Hu ramble on, occasionally exchanging a helpless smile with Song He.
In the end, Director Hu was dragged away by his assistant, though he still tried desperately to pull Qin Zhenzhen and Song He elsewhere to keep talking before being coaxed back by his assistant.
Qin Zhenzhen let out a long sigh. Song He stood beside her, picking up her coat. "Let's go."
Ji Lu and another assistant followed not far behind.
Outside the hotel, a cold wind hit them head-on. Qin Zhenzhen shivered twice. Song He draped the coat over her shoulders. Qin Zhenzhen gathered the garment around her. "Thanks."
Song He smiled slightly. "Don't be so polite. After all, you're still my concubine."
Qin Zhenzhen laughed at his teasing. They walked and chatted, a gentle night breeze blowing, the streetlights stretching their shadows long on the ground. Song He turned his head. "I heard you're going to film Drunken Dreams of Jianghu next?"
Qin Zhenzhen frowned slightly. "Still in discussions. Sister Meng hasn't finalized it yet."
Because of the lost film opportunities, Meng Xin had been looking into TV drama resources, but nothing was confirmed yet.
Song He nodded. "Do you know about Director Yu's new project? If you're interested, I can introduce you. But whether he'll meet or not is another matter. You know how eccentric he is."
Qin Zhenzhen looked at him curiously. "Director Yu?"
Song He hummed in confirmation. "Yu Changlin."
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