Married in a Daze - Chapter 67

Chapter 67

Qin Zhenzhen's scenes weren't scheduled until later today. The morning's shoots were mainly the confrontational scenes between Chen Feng and Zhang Qian. She only had two scenes herself, so while waiting for Chen Feng and Zhang Qian to take the stage, she hid in the greenroom to read the script.

Unlike the densely packed lines of the previous pages, today's script was clean. Qin Zhenzhen held a pen, her hand resting on the script. As she looked at the words and lines before her, her thoughts inexplicably drifted to last night. Her fingers moved unconsciously, and when she came to her senses, she saw several words written on the script.

They were all the name "Lu Ruyun."

People were still moving about around her. Qin Zhenzhen lowered her head, heat rising to her cheeks, coloring them a delicate pink. Her eyes shimmered. Hastily, she scratched out the written words.

"Zhenzhen, get ready." Ji Lu jogged into the greenroom, spotted Qin Zhenzhen lost in thought on a chair, walked over, and gave her a nudge. "Zhenzhen?"

Qin Zhenzhen snapped back to reality, looked up, paused, then said, "Okay."

She put away the script and followed Ji Lu into the makeup room, where the stylist quickly touched up her makeup.

"Zhenzhen." Yu Changlin and Chen Feng walked over together, the director holding a prop. "Get ready first. Run through the scene with Teacher Chen again. We need to prepare to clear the set."

Qin Zhenzhen nodded. Scenes with intimate moments like this usually required clearing the set, which was also why her scenes were scheduled later. Just after her touch-up, she held the script as Chen Feng sat on the stool beside her. They faced each other and ran through their lines.

Some of the physical actions were a bit awkward to practice, so they simply mimicked the poses. Qin Zhenzhen couldn't help but laugh seeing Chen Feng speak to an imaginary scene.

Lu Ruyun stood not far away at the greenroom entrance, watching Qin Zhenzhen's suddenly radiant, laughing face. An indescribable emotion flickered in her eyes, now visible, now hidden. She stared fixedly at the two people sitting not far away.

"Like this? Or maybe like this?"

Qin Zhenzhen made a gesture with her hand, looking rather odd. Chen Feng shook his head, adjusted her arm. "A bit higher would be better."

"It is better higher."

He Shuangshuang stood behind Lu Ruyun and spoke up. "Ruyun?"

Lu Ruyun snapped out of her slight daze, glancing sideways. "What is it?"

He Shuangshuang furrowed her brows slightly. "Aren't you going over?"

When Lu Ruyun had said she wanted to visit the set back at the apartment, He Shuangshuang had been skeptical. After getting in the car and hearing it was the Mountain Girl set, she fully understood. This wasn't just a set visit; it was specifically to see Qin Zhenzhen.

Although she hadn't asked much about how Lu Ruyun and Qin Zhenzhen were getting along lately, the fact that Lu Ruyun could tolerate Qin Zhenzhen living by her side already spoke volumes. Asking or not asking made no difference.

She had indeed held a grudge against Qin Zhenzhen before, but since their 'heart-to-heart' conversation, her resistance had lessened. She even harbored a bit of a matchmaking mentality. Now, seeing Lu Ruyun hesitate at the door, she even urged her on.

Lu Ruyun took two steps forward. A staff member recognized her and called out, "Zhenzhen! Teacher Lu is here!"

Qin Zhenzhen was running lines with Chen Feng. Hearing the call, she turned and saw Lu Ruyun standing not far away. The delight on her brow was unmistakable. She stood up, her steps almost skipping as she walked over. "You came?"

Around them, staff members whispered amongst themselves.

"It really is Teacher Lu."

"Oh my god, that aura, it's really too good, isn't it?"

"I missed her last time she came. I'm getting a good look this time!"

"You're really something, hahaha..."

Bits and pieces of chatter drifted over. Qin Zhenzhen took Lu Ruyun's wrist and led her to a stool, introducing her to Chen Feng. Lu Ruyun lowered her head with a slight smile. "Teacher Chen."

Chen Feng patted the stool beside him. "Sit. Heard you were hospitalized recently. Feeling better?"

Lu Ruyun nodded. "Much better."

Seeing her complexion and energy were good, Chen Feng, recalling the earlier talk that her hospitalization was due to overly long filming hours, couldn't help adding a word of advice. "Don't burn the candle at both ends just because you're young. Need to rest properly."

Lu Ruyun: "Thank you for your concern, Teacher Chen."

Their polite conversation hadn't finished when someone called for Chen Feng from not far away. Chen Feng exchanged greetings with Lu Ruyun and Qin Zhenzhen and left. Many staff members passed by them. Qin Zhenzhen looped her arm through Lu Ruyun's, intimate and familiar. "How come you're here?"

Lu Ruyun's gaze dropped for a few seconds before she pressed her lips together. "Passed by this way. Remembered I hadn't thanked Director Yu for the last matter, so came to express my thanks."

Qin Zhenzhen's brow furrowed slightly. "Express thanks?"

Lu Ruyun hummed in affirmation, nodding. "For the audition matter last time."

The starlight that had just been shimmering in Qin Zhenzhen's eyes dimmed a few shades. She tugged at the corner of her mouth. "I see."

She thought Lu Ruyun had come specifically to see her.

On second thought, she felt she was overthinking it. She could sense Lu Ruyun held some slight fondness for her, but it was just that—fondness. Just like when she asked Lu Ruyun during the Star Showdown recording if she liked her.

Lu Ruyun had said she didn't.

Yes, she was a little special to Lu Ruyun, but not to the degree of liking.

Being aware of this, Qin Zhenzhen dared not act rashly, afraid that any misstep might erase that bit of fondness Lu Ruyun held.

Qin Zhenzhen lowered her gaze, lost in thought for a long while, silent. Lu Ruyun watched her. She already wore light makeup, her profile even more exquisite, jade-like. Her fair skin rivaled snow, long eyelashes fluttering gently. Unbelievably beautiful.

Lu Ruyun's carefully steadied heartbeat began clamoring again.

The two remained silent for a while, neither speaking. When Ji Lu went to the greenroom to find Qin Zhenzhen, she saw Lu Ruyun beside her. Her mouth opened. "Tea—Teacher Lu?"

Lu Ruyun looked up, the emotion in her eyes fading, clarity returning. She pressed her lips together. "Time to shoot?"

Meeting her gaze, Ji Lu nodded. "Mm. Director Yu wants Zhenzhen to get ready."

Qin Zhenzhen stood up, glanced in the mirror a couple of times, and seeing Lu Ruyun still sitting beside her, blinked and asked, "Have lunch together later?"

Lu Ruyun nodded. "Okay."

As she spoke, she stood up. Under Qin Zhenzhen's surprised gaze, she pressed her lips together and said, "I'll go with you."

The set was nearly empty, cleared. Chen Feng stood beside Yu Changlin; the two were talking with serious expressions over the script. When Qin Zhenzhen walked over, Yu Changlin pointed at the script and said, "Let's do it like this."

Chen Feng nodded. Yu Changlin's gaze shifted from him to Qin Zhenzhen, spotting Lu Ruyun behind her.

Lu Ruyun lowered her head in greeting. "Director Yu."

The stern expression on Yu Changlin's face softened into a smile. "I was wondering why Zhenzhen seemed so happy today. Turns out Ruyun's here to visit."

Qin Zhenzhen's cheeks flushed red from his words, offering an awkward smile.

Yu Changlin's attitude towards her had improved considerably these past few days, but he had never teased her before. Now, probably seeing Lu Ruyun's arrival, he was joking a bit. Qin Zhenzhen lowered her eyelashes, standing beside Lu Ruyun.

Their bodies stood close together. Qin Zhenzhen's hand, hanging at her side, moved slightly, inadvertently brushing against Lu Ruyun's cool hand. She glanced sideways. "Cold?"

Lu Ruyun whispered back, "Not cold."

As soon as her words fell, Yu Changlin's voice rang out. "Places."

After Yu Changlin's call, the few remaining crew members left the set. Lu Ruyun remained standing in place, unmoving. Yu Changlin, probably because of Qin Zhenzhen, didn't ask her to leave either. After the clapperboard snapped, Lu Ruyun walked to stand beside Yu Changlin.

Yu Changlin's attention was on the monitor. The surroundings were quiet. The camera slowly pushed forward. Chen Feng stood hesitantly at the door, his face filled with indecision. Finally, he sighed and opened the door to enter.

After entering the main hall, he saw from a distance someone sleeping on the sofa. This apartment was the one he bought for Mountain Girl. Apart from an auntie who came to take care of her meals, no one else would be there. So the person on the sofa was Mountain Girl.

Once this thought crossed Chen Feng's mind, he felt an inexplicable sense of relief. Relief because he wouldn't have to face her clear, spring-water-like eyes. He feared that gaze. He feared the firmly held convictions he'd struggled to maintain would crumble instantly under such a look.

But he underestimated Mountain Girl's influence on him. He thought just a distant glance, seeing if she was living well, would be enough. But it wasn't. The honest reaction of his body told him it wasn't. Not nearly enough.

Chen Feng slowly walked step by step towards the sofa. Lu Ruyun watched his gaze. That look was all too familiar. Just like her last night. Knowing full well the person before her was poppy, she still wanted a taste.

A wave of discomfort immediately surged within her.

Very stifling. A bit hard to breathe.

Lu Ruyun turned her head, shifting her gaze from the monitor to the two people not far away. Chen Feng half-knelt before the sofa. Qin Zhenzhen lay on her side, her sleeping face serene and peaceful. Who wouldn't be moved seeing such a countenance?

Chen Feng reached out, his fingers touching her cheek, slowly lowering his head. Lu Ruyun's hands were clasped behind her back, slowly clenching. It felt as if a string in her mind was tightening, bit by bit, inch by inch. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her jaw tense, her gaze burning as she stared ahead. Just as she couldn't help but part her lips slightly, a cell phone ringtone suddenly sounded.

She let out a long, slow breath.

"Cut!"

Yu Changlin was still watching the monitor, a very satisfied smile spreading across his face. Chen Feng's expressions and movements just now were perfect, vividly portraying a man being tempted yet struggling to resist. He couldn't help but smile. "Touch-ups. Prepare for the next scene."

Hearing "Cut," Qin Zhenzhen sat up on the sofa. Chen Feng helped her sit up properly. "That was excellent just now."

"No, it was Teacher Chen's superb acting." This wasn't flattery. The focus of that scene was primarily on Chen Feng. The next scene would be her main stage.

Chen Feng smiled and shook his head. Honestly, facing Qin Zhenzhen's face, acting convincingly entranced was far too easy.

Lu Ruyun stood not far from the two, watching them talk and laugh, a shadow flitting through her eyes. She took a few steps forward and sat on the sofa beside Qin Zhenzhen. Seeing they seemed to have something to discuss, Chen Feng followed his assistant for touch-ups.

The set, having been cleared, had very few people. Qin Zhenzhen glanced around; her stylist hadn't come in yet. She turned to Lu Ruyun. "Teacher Lu, you..."

Lu Ruyun stared at her slightly parted red lips and said in a low voice, "Don't move."

Qin Zhenzhen's words stuck in her throat. She swallowed them down, watching as Lu Ruyun reached out and touched her lips with her fingers. Her expression was serious, her own tiny reflection visible in Lu Ruyun's eyes. The cool touch on her lips was distinct. It felt as if her throat was constricted, her heart thumping so wildly it made her uncomfortable.

Lu Ruyun's fingertip still rested on her lip as she spoke with a composed expression. "It's smudged. Let me wipe it for you."

Qin Zhenzhen: "..."

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