Married in a Daze - Chapter 56
Chapter 56
The heart rate of Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun was still racing at a hundred and twenty beats per minute even after finishing the hotpot. She knew Lu Ruyun was never one to speak empty words. Precisely because of that, her heart continued to pound wildly, a kind of fervor breaking out of its cocoon, quickly soaking through her entire body.
Lu Ruyun's words had ignited the little flame hidden in her heart, whoosh—setting her entire body ablaze, even bringing a reddish tinge to her eyes. She nodded: "Then I'll trouble Teacher Lu."
"You're welcome." Her expression was as usual—calm and unruffled, even her tone didn't fluctuate much. But Qin Zhenzhen caught a hint of something different beneath that composed demeanor. She turned her head and looked deeply at Lu Ruyun. The two looked at each other and smiled.
It was already past ten when they left the hotpot restaurant. There were few pedestrians on the road, and they were only wearing hats. Qin Zhenzhen breathed in the cold air, which just managed to suppress the restlessness in her body. It felt very comfortable.
Lu Ruyun walked beside her. The dim yellow streetlights fell on the two of them, casting long shadows. In the shadows, the two drew closer and closer, leaning against each other.
"Does Teacher Lu like taking walks?" Qin Zhenzhen asked after they had walked for a while.
Lu Ruyun's footsteps paused slightly: "It's alright."
A satisfied look appeared on Qin Zhenzhen's pretty face beneath the brim of her hat. She took a deep breath and turned to look at Lu Ruyun: "Don't you think walking like this is very comfortable?"
So comfortable, so pleasant. The surroundings were quiet, with only the occasional distant bark of a dog. The dim yellow streetlights illuminated Qin Zhenzhen's graceful figure. Her bright eyes sparkled like stars. Lu Ruyun met her gaze and, as if possessed, nodded: "Mm."
Qin Zhenzhen laughed, took off her hat, casually plucked a flower from a flowerbed nearby and tucked it behind her ear, then looked at Lu Ruyun: "Is it pretty?"
Lu Ruyun looked at her—her beauty outshining the flower—and seemed infected by her joy, the corners of her lips lifting in a slight smile, her beautiful eyes also rippling with amusement: "Pretty."
Qin Zhenzhen blinked: "Teacher Lu looks pretty when she smiles like that too."
Lu Ruyun's expression froze. She reached up and touched her own cheek, hiding the smile.
After returning to the apartment, Qin Zhenzhen patted her stomach and sat on the sofa. She opened Weibo and saw that Zheng Shaoyuan had already posted an apology statement. Although it was an apology, it was very ambiguous.
He said the actress he previously mentioned on Weibo was not referring to Qin Zhenzhen. Miss Qin was a very talented actress, and very hardworking. After lavishing praise on her, he apologized for the unnecessary trouble he had caused her these past few days, expressing deep regret. Additionally, taking Wei An to a room was actually to discuss a script for a new movie with the screenwriter, and it was not some industry scandal. He hoped his fans would continue to support him.
Such a ridiculous apology statement naturally received no favorable comments. Qin Zhenzhen glanced at the comments below; they were all scathing insults, no less intense than the scene she had faced before. Wei An was also implicated, being torn to shreds verbally.
Many netizens even started topics boycotting Zheng Shaoyuan's movies. Regarding this, Qin Zhenzhen just looked for a moment before turning off the screen.
What she was more concerned about now was Yu Changlin's side.
Yu Changlin's casting had always been kept private. Plus, with the recent events involving Zheng Shaoyuan, netizens still didn't know that the strong collaboration they were looking forward to had already been replaced by her collaborating with Director Yu.
Qin Zhenzhen closed her phone screen. She could already imagine what kind of huge uproar would erupt tomorrow.
Lu Ruyun looked at Qin Zhenzhen, who had been sitting on the sofa in a daze since returning, and spoke up: "Aren't you going to rest yet?"
Qin Zhenzhen looked up, her bright eyes glistening, waves of emotion swirling within. She nodded: "I'll go right away. Teacher Lu..."
She seemed to want to say something. Lu Ruyun's gaze remained fixed on her. Qin Zhenzhen smiled: "It's nothing. I'll go wash up first."
Lu Ruyun made an almost imperceptible "Mm" sound, watching as Qin Zhenzhen went into the study, gathered her pajamas, and headed to the bathroom. Only after hearing the door close did she relax her shoulders, which had been stiff for a long time.
A notification sounded on her phone. It was a message from He Shuangshuang.
—Ruyun, we found the person who took the photos.
Lu Ruyun sat up straight and quickly called her back: "Who was it?"
He Shuangshuang's voice sounded hesitant: "The person who took the photos was from a private detective agency."
Lu Ruyun lowered her eyes: "Private detective? Zheng Shaoyuan?"
He Shuangshuang bit her lip: "No. It was Zhu Yao."
Zhu Yao?
Lu Ruyun hadn't heard this name for a long time. She had previously withdrawn from the production citing health reasons. For the past two months, she hadn't attended any events either. She thought this person had been removed from her life, but unexpectedly, she had circled back.
It was easy to guess. Given her near-frenzied attitude before, how could she possibly withdraw completely and immediately?
So, had she been planning this for the past two months?
Lu Ruyun leaned back against the sofa, her voice slightly lower: "Does Meng Xin know about this?"
"Haven't had a chance to tell her yet. I just found out too." He Shuangshuang added after saying this: "Do you need to contact her?"
Lu Ruyun refused: "No need."
Currently, all netizens' attention was focused on Zheng Shaoyuan. They believed the marriage of convenience was also fabricated by him. Although Zheng Shaoyuan wanted to refute it, no one believed the words of someone with such a tarnished reputation anymore.
It would only be adding superfluous details. So he was gritting his teeth and swallowing the bitter pill, taking full responsibility for the matter.
Zhenzhen was a perfect victim.
In this incident, the role she played was that of someone upright and unyielding, who had been tripped up and schemed against by a director. Whether they had previously criticized her or supported her, this time no one could find a reason to berate her again. It could be said that after this incident broke out, her reputation had improved by several levels.
Given this situation, exposing Zhu Yao was actually inappropriate.
It would make the originally clear event confusing again. Netizens don't have that much time to think; they just want the simplest outcome.
The current outcome is Qin Zhenzhen versus Zheng Shaoyuan; she is the aggrieved party.
If Zhu Yao were added, linked to emotions, it would damage Qin Zhenzhen's perfect victim image.
Especially since tomorrow is the day Qin Zhenzhen's movie starts filming.
Lu Ruyun held her phone, thinking for a long while before saying: "Keep an eye on her. Buy her a month's worth of hot searches."
He Shuangshuang frowned: "What?"
Lu Ruyun had just hung up the phone when Qin Zhenzhen walked out of the bathroom. She had removed her makeup. Her fair cheeks were flushed pink from the steam. The silk pajamas clung to her delicate figure, perfectly presenting her lovely curves before Lu Ruyun's eyes.
Skin as white as snow, a beautiful face like fine jade. Her slender wrist removed the dry towel, and her jet-black long hair instantly cascaded down her back. She casually tousled it a couple of times, her expression normal, but Lu Ruyun couldn't help but tighten her grip on her phone. She didn't even notice her fingertips turning white.
She only felt the person before her was like a bewitching spirit, exuding a fatal temptation towards her.
Qin Zhenzhen tossed the dry towel onto the sofa and sat down casually, acting natural and poised: "Is Teacher Lu going to the set tomorrow?"
Hearing her voice, Lu Ruyun quickly regained her composure, replying somewhat hastily: "No, I'll go the day after."
Qin Zhenzhen pressed her lips together in a smile and sat down in the spot beside her: "That's perfect, then. Accompany me out tomorrow."
She had just taken a bath, her body exuding a rich fragrance. The two were close. When Qin Zhenzhen casually tousled her long hair, her arm inadvertently bumped against Lu Ruyun. Lu Ruyun shifted slightly to the side: "Tomorrow?"
Qin Zhenzhen turned her head, her bright eyes clear: "Yeah. Tomorrow I need to go buy some things to modify the study. I was thinking, this is Teacher Lu's home after all. Whatever I buy should get your approval. Rather than sending you photos or calling you tomorrow, why don't we go together? What do you think?"
Her expression was frank, her posture natural. Lu Ruyun turned to look at her, stood up, and said: "No need. The study is yours to handle. You can modify it however you want."
Qin Zhenzhen nodded happily: "Good. Then tomorrow I'll move all the bookshelves out."
Lu Ruyun's footsteps towards the staircase paused. She turned her head: "Why?"
Qin Zhenzhen shrugged: "Once I'm done modifying it, Teacher Lu definitely won't want to go in."
Lu Ruyun withdrew her gaze, her expression calm: "I won't." She would simply pretend not to see it.
Qin Zhenzhen asserted confidently: "You will. Teacher Lu, didn't I tell you? I have a lot of little quirks."
Lu Ruyun stumbled on the stairs, her body tilting. She hurriedly grabbed the stair railing. Sitting on the sofa, Qin Zhenzhen heard Lu Ruyun's voice, noticeably lower: "I'll accompany you tomorrow."
Qin Zhenzhen lifted the corners of her lips, a smile surfacing in her eyes.
After Lu Ruyun entered her room and closed the door, she returned to the study and lay down on the tatami. The surroundings were very quiet. Just as she was about to fall asleep, she heard a thump from upstairs, as if something had fallen on the floor. Qin Zhenzhen resisted the urge to get up, took out earphones from under the pillow beside her, put them on, and blocked out the outside noise.
Qin Zhenzhen opened her eyes and looked upwards. Lively music came through her earphones, but the image that floated before her eyes was of Lu Ruyun leaning weakly in a corner, hugging her own arms and trembling. She irritably closed her eyes, turned over, and banished the image from her mind.
This night was destined to be long.
Qin Zhenzhen couldn't remember when she fell asleep. When she woke up, the sky was already beginning to brighten. Her phone was ringing relentlessly. She answered weakly: "Hello?"
Ji Lu's voice came from the other end of the phone: "Zhenzhen, are you awake? Should I come directly to Teacher Lu's apartment to pick you up? Do you want me to bring you breakfast?"
She fired off a barrage of questions. Qin Zhenzhen, just awakened, was still in a dazed state.
"Pick me up? Mm, come on."
Ji Lu laughed hearing her speak unclearly: "Okay, I got it."
Qin Zhenzhen hung up and looked at the time on her phone. It was already 6:30. She rubbed her long hair and got out of bed, wandering out of the study like a lost soul. Just after leaving the room, she smelled a delicious aroma. She glanced sideways and saw breakfast already laid out on the dining table: milk, bread, ham, and fried eggs. Qin Zhenzhen rubbed her eyes and looked towards the kitchen. No one was there.
Somewhat puzzled, she turned her gaze upstairs. Lu Ruyun's bedroom door was closed.
Was this made by Lu Ruyun?
Getting up at six in the morning to make breakfast?
Qin Zhenzhen twitched the corner of her mouth, her eyes gradually regaining clarity. She looked around the living room several times but didn't see anyone. She decided to head to the bathroom first to take care of business.
The moment she opened the door, she froze for a few seconds, then slam—shut the door!
Lu Ruyun, who was in the middle of changing clothes, was startled, her hand trembling so much she almost dropped the clothes on the floor. Outside the door, Qin Zhenzhen paced left and right a couple of steps, her face flushed red. She took several deep breaths, cursing herself inwardly for being an idiot. She wasn't the one changing clothes, why was she so nervous!
And slamming the door so dramatically!
Stupid! So stupid!
Such a great opportunity just now, and she didn't even take a good look at Lu Ruyun's figure!
What a huge loss!
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