Married in a Daze - Chapter 62
Chapter 62
Qin Zhenzhen had been lying on the hospital bed for half an hour. She could hear the sound of people moving about outside, gradually growing softer. Just as she was about to get up, she suddenly heard movement at the door.
The door clicked open as someone pushed it. Qin Zhenzhen looked over from the bed. Lu Ruyun was standing in the doorway, wearing a trench coat. She was taken aback and quickly sat up. "How come you're here?"
Lu Ruyun was still holding a lunchbox in her hand. Seeing her about to place it on the coffee table, Qin Zhenzhen hurriedly called out, "That's a prop..."
"It's fine. Come eat."
Lu Ruyun sat on a chair and opened the lunchbox. Drawn by the enticing aroma, Qin Zhenzhen walked over and sat down opposite her. "Did Director Yu send you to persuade me to quit?"
"Eat first." Lu Ruyun passed her a pair of chopsticks. Qin Zhenzhen picked up a few grains of white rice and slowly began to eat.
Footsteps continued to sound outside. Qin Zhenzhen glanced at Lu Ruyun from time to time, seeing her usual elegant and composed demeanor. She couldn't hold back any longer and asked, "Just tell me clearly."
Lu Ruyun looked up, her gaze fixed on her. Instead of answering, she asked a question in return. "If what you're thinking were true, and Director Yu advised you to quit, what would you do?"
Qin Zhenzhen was momentarily stunned. "I—"
She naturally didn't want to quit. Although Yu Changlin's words were sharp, every one of them was right. She didn't even possess the most basic professional discipline of an actor. Before, she had been arrogant, thinking idol dramas had limited her performance—she should have been better. Today, being scolded like this, after a few seconds of dazedness, she suddenly felt a bit more clear-headed.
She couldn't blame idol dramas for affecting her performance; it was truly because her own ability was insufficient. If even idol dramas attracted criticism, what reason did she have to call herself an uncut gem covered in dust?
But she didn't want to give up either.
"I want to try again." Qin Zhenzhen gripped the chopsticks, the pads of her fingers aching slightly. After saying this, her face felt a little warm. A faint smile appeared in Lu Ruyun's eyes. "Eat. Director Yu didn't send me. Ji Lu called me."
Qin Zhenzhen's heart settled back into place. She glared at Lu Ruyun half-annoyed. "Then why did you scare me just now?"
Lu Ruyun also felt her previous words were a bit childish. She chuckled softly and lowered her head to eat. The two of them picked at their rice. Qin Zhenzhen asked, "What's the word on the Weibo situation?"
"Are you worried about Weibo?" Lu Ruyun glanced at her nonchalantly, then lowered her head to pick up some food. "So it did affect you?"
Qin Zhenzhen paused her eating hand, thought for a moment, and shook her head. "Not really." After all, compared to the previous incidents, today's trending topic really didn't rank highly. It had even helped dispel the rumors about her marriage of convenience. There was no reason for it to weigh on her mind.
It was just that the timing of this incident was coincidentally just two hours before filming started. She hadn't had time to suppress that restless feeling. Combined with the inevitable nervousness of working with Director Yu for the first time, she had run straight into the line of fire, resulting in a string of NGs.
Lu Ruyun didn't tell her the outcome on Weibo, instead asking, "What if you do it again?"
"Are you sure you can get it right this time?"
Qin Zhenzhen put down her chopsticks and answered honestly. "I don't know."
Lu Ruyun also straightened her posture. Her voice lowered slightly. "Zhenzhen."
Qin Zhenzhen looked up into Lu Ruyun's eyes, deep as a pool, the light within them flickering. Lu Ruyun's red lips parted as she said, "I think, more than your acting skills, you should adjust your mindset."
"As long as you want to, whether you're in front of the camera or not, you can be the person in the story."
Qin Zhenzhen stared at Lu Ruyun, mesmerized, listening to her slightly hushed voice, each word striking her mind.
"You are an actor. What you must do is focus wholeheartedly! Be single-minded!"
"You have to understand, even if you're seriously ill, the moment you appear within my frame, you are an actor. Do you understand?"
"Zhenzhen, as long as you want to, whether you're in front of the camera or not, you can be the person in the story."
Seeing her deep in thought and silent, Lu Ruyun quietly gathered up the food remains, packed them up, and placed them beside her feet. Qin Zhenzhen's acting wasn't bad. If it truly were bad, she wouldn't have collaborated with Director Hu before, nor would she have stood out in Director Yu's audition.
So not only was she not bad, she was arguably among the top of her peers among the young actresses in terms of acting. But that didn't mean she was without flaws. Lu Ruyun had acted opposite her and understood her weaknesses better than others. When she said she would free up time to help her practice acting, it was actually to help her practice focus.
Perhaps because she was young, she was easily influenced. Although on the surface she seemed to have weathered storms, she was really only a little stronger than a flower in a greenhouse. When Lu Ruyun received Ji Lu's call, she was worried.
Especially with Ji Lu's tearful voice.
She was worried Qin Zhenzhen would be scolded into retreating, that she would angrily refuse to film because of the criticism. But when she pushed open that door and saw Qin Zhenzhen lying on the hospital bed, a thought arose in her heart: She won't retreat.
She couldn't say for sure if this thought came from seeing her animated, spirited demeanor when talking about her dreams during the show recording, or from seeing her crawl bit by bit towards her dreams while disdaining petty tricks, or perhaps from the earnestness she inadvertently revealed, her reverence for her dreams.
She knew, she wouldn't give up.
Fortunately, she wasn't mistaken.
Qin Zhenzhen kept her head bowed for a long time, her whole person in a state of emptiness. Lu Ruyun didn't disturb her at all, simply waiting for the change in her state of mind. They didn't communicate, but Lu Ruyun knew she was transforming.
The door was suddenly knocked on. A voice sounded outside. "Zhenzhen? Can I come in?"
Qin Zhenzhen looked up at Lu Ruyun and quickly replied, "Yes, come in."
When Zhang Qian entered holding a lunchbox, she saw Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun sitting face to face by the coffee table. She smiled. "Sorry, my timing really isn't great."
Qin Zhenzhen hurriedly stood up. "Not at all. What is it, Sister Qian?"
Lu Ruyun also lowered her head in greeting. "Sister Qian."
Zhang Qian waved her hand, still holding the lunchbox. "I just ran into your assistant. Seeing she was still holding food, I thought she didn't dare come in, so I volunteered to help. I didn't expect you and Ruyun had already eaten."
Qin Zhenzhen felt rather apologetic. "Sorry for making you trouble, Sister Qian."
Zhang Qian walked over with a smile. Qin Zhenzhen pulled out a stool for her to sit. Seeing the lunchbox set aside, Zhang Qian said, "What trouble? We're all part of the same crew. Isn't looking out for each other what we should do?"
Qin Zhenzhen felt the words sounded strangely familiar. Upon thinking, she realized she had said the same thing to Hu Jing before and couldn't help but smile. "Thank you anyway, Sister Qian."
Zhang Qian sat gracefully, her speech appropriate. "Don't mention it. As long as you don't mind me meddling."
"Of course not." Qin Zhenzhen smiled.
Zhang Qian's lips twitched, then she asked candidly, "Are you okay? I heard about Director Yu just now... You should know, Director Yu has high demands and is very direct. Don't take it to heart. The actors he's scolded could probably fill half the industry."
Qin Zhenzhen was amused by her and sat down next to Lu Ruyun. "Thank you for your concern, Sister Qian. I'm fine."
Zhang Qian placed her hands on her knees. "Am I disturbing you two?"
Qin Zhenzhen glanced at Lu Ruyun and naturally hooked her arm. "Of course not."
The sounds of footsteps and chatter continued outside, and laughter occasionally drifted out from the room as well.
Zhang Qian found more and more topics to discuss with the two of them. Even Lu Ruyun, who usually spoke little, chimed in a few times. Time passed gently. The ringtone of Lu Ruyun's phone interrupted the pleasant conversation among the three. She said apologetically to Zhang Qian, "Sister Qian, I should head back now."
"Alright." Zhang Qian nodded, remaining seated.
Lu Ruyun also bid farewell to Qin Zhenzhen. She stood up, and Qin Zhenzhen immediately followed suit. They walked close together to the door, neither speaking. Only when Lu Ruyun placed her hand on the doorknob did Qin Zhenzhen whisper, "Teacher Lu."
"Thank you."
Lu Ruyun's movement on the doorknob paused. "It's nothing."
Qin Zhenzhen looked at her slender fingers. "I think this time, I can do it."
Lu Ruyun glanced sideways. Qin Zhenzhen's tone was perfectly normal, her expression relaxed, but her bright eyes held an unmistakable seriousness. She nodded. "I know."
They stood very close, speaking almost like lovers whispering intimately. Zhang Qian tactfully averted her gaze, only looking back after Lu Ruyun had left.
"Sister Qian, let's go for touch-ups too." Qin Zhenzhen said to Zhang Qian after seeing Lu Ruyun off. Zhang Qian nodded and stood up. "Alright."
The two left the ward together. Ji Lu let out a long sigh of relief when she saw her come out.
After exiting, Qin Zhenzhen walked straight towards Yu Changlin. Yu Changlin had just finished eating and was resting when a sudden commotion arose around him.
"She's coming over, she's coming over. What's she doing? Trying to pick a fight with Director Yu?"
"She got scolded so badly earlier, she must be resentful."
"True. She's at least one of the better ones among the young actresses."
"Got nothing to do?!" Director Yu's sharp shout made the staff immediately scatter. When Qin Zhenzhen reached his side, she lowered her head and said, "Director Yu, I'm sorry about this morning's scene."
Director Yu looked slightly surprised. He thought his harsh words would require Qin Zhenzhen some time to think things over properly. He had even mentally prepared for a 'peaceful parting'. He didn't expect her to come apologize so quickly.
However, his surprise lasted only a blink. His expression soon returned to normal. Qin Zhenzhen was still wearing her patient gown, her makeup barely changed. She actually fit the character he wanted very well. Unfortunately, he didn't just want the character; he wanted a living, breathing person.
"I already told you," Director Yu's voice was still chilly. "You didn't let me down. You let yourself down."
Qin Zhenzhen lowered her head, her voice soft but carrying a note of determination. "You were right to scold me. I do have many shortcomings. But I want to be worthy of my own efforts."
Yu Changlin heard the change in her tone. He looked up nonchalantly, then froze. He met Qin Zhenzhen's bright, clear, clean eyes, and there was that ethereal, indescribable feeling he had always needed but couldn't articulate! This was the look! This was the gaze that came from deep within the mountains!
He looked at the Qin Zhenzhen before him, who in an instant had become a different person. He stiffened for a few seconds, then slowly stood up and shouted to the production coordinator, "Get ready to start!"
As long as you want to, whether you're in front of the camera or not, you can be the person in the story.
Watching the crew spring into action, Qin Zhenzhen suddenly felt she understood a little of what Lu Ruyun's words meant.
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