Married in a Daze - Chapter 88
Chapter 88
The restaurant was chosen near the film and television city. Duan Qiuhan had started filming another low-budget idol drama. When Lu Ruyun and the others arrived at the private room, Duan Qiuhan hadn't shown up yet.
Qin Zhenzhen walked along the corridor holding Lu Ruyun's arm. Thinking back to the first time she had mistakenly thought Zhang Yiyao and Duan Qiuhan were having an affair, and how she had turned around and hugged Lu Ruyun without a second thought, she found it funny.
Hearing her soft laugh, Lu Ruyun asked, "What is it?"
Qin Zhenzhen pointed not far away. "Remember when I hugged you then? At the time, I overheard Miss Zhang and Director Duan were going to announce their relationship at the stairwell. I thought there was a bit of green on your head [implying you were being cheated on]. I was worried you'd be hurt and hugged you."
With this explanation, Lu Ruyun finally understood the reason for that sudden hug back then. It was just that one hug that made her overthink for ages, leading her to believe Qin Zhenzhen had feelings for her.
It was all a misunderstanding.
Lu Ruyun turned her head to look at Qin Zhenzhen beside her. When they reached the spot where they had hugged before, she couldn't help but wrap her arm around Qin Zhenzhen's waist. Qin Zhenzhen looked at her, puzzled. Lu Ruyun's eyes crinkled with joy, her voice full of delight. "Zhenzhen, I really like you."
She really liked this simple person. She really liked her straightforward personality. She really liked every one of her virtues and flaws.
And she liked even more that she could hold her now, could kiss her. It wasn't a misunderstanding.
She was real, right beside her.
That tremor from the depths of her soul made her unable to stop liking the person before her a little more, and a little more, until her heart and eyes were completely filled with her.
Qin Zhenzhen was somewhat stunned by her sudden confession. She was dazed for several seconds before snapping back to reality, her face flushed crimson. "What are you doing? You're not allowed to say such things outside in the future!"
Her chiding tone couldn't suppress the joy within, her expression radiant. Lu Ruyun nodded. "Can I say whatever I want at home?"
Qin Zhenzhen: ...
Why hadn't she discovered Lu Ruyun had this side before?
She really—loved it too much!
Overjoyed, Qin Zhenzhen leaned in and kissed Lu Ruyun's cheek, her voice soft and sweet. "At home, you can say anything you want!"
Lu Ruyun lowered her gaze, holding her tighter. "Then, shall we settle the payment in full tonight when we go back?"
Qin Zhenzhen: ...
Zhang Yiyao stood behind the two, watching their affectionate, embracing figures. Her fingers dug into her palms, a wave of frenzied emotion rising in her eyes, but it quickly faded, her expression returning to normal.
"Ruyun, Zhenzhen."
Zhang Yiyao walked over, very naturally leaning close to Lu Ruyun. "Qiuhan said he'll be a little longer, told us to order first."
Lu Ruyun smiled and said to Qin Zhenzhen, "Let's go, we'll go in first."
After greeting Zhang Yiyao, Qin Zhenzhen walked into the private room.
It was a small private room. After the three of them entered, Zhang Yiyao asked, "Ruyun, did you call Shuangshuang?"
Lu Ruyun nodded. "I did. She'll be here soon."
Zhang Yiyao sat beside her, a smile in her voice. "That's just like her, always late. You're too lenient with her as her boss."
Lu Ruyun gave a light smile. "Not really. She's been quite tired lately."
"Tired of what? Don't think I don't know. Your filming doesn't start until after the New Year. She shouldn't have many activities during this period."
The two chatted back and forth. Qin Zhenzhen couldn't get a word in, so she simply lowered her head to drink tea. Noticing her action, Lu Ruyun pursed her lips in a smile. "She's busy with the studio matters. Zhenzhen knows about it too. Zhenzhen, you tell her, has Shuangshuang been busy lately?"
Qin Zhenzhen, suddenly called upon, choked on the water in her throat. She coughed lightly. Lu Ruyun quickly patted her back to help her catch her breath.
Watching their intimate actions, Zhang Yiyao's brows furrowed slightly as she smiled and asked, "Zhenzhen, are you okay?"
Qin Zhenzhen nodded. "I'm fine, fine."
Ever since Lu Ruyun told her that Zhang Yiyao had also been sick before, her hostility towards Zhang Yiyao had lessened considerably. At the very least, she wasn't so resistant anymore. Remembering the topic they had just been discussing, Qin Zhenzhen swallowed her water and said, "Shuangshuang has indeed been quite busy lately."
Lu Ruyun's studio had started recruiting new talent.
Actually, this suggestion was Qin Zhenzhen's idea. She felt Lu Ruyun had a unique eye, was good at analysis and judgment, knew the ins and outs of the industry, and was particularly skilled at spotting potential. Her guidance would be truly excellent for newcomers.
When Lu Ruyun heard her suggestion, she rejected it without a second thought. Later, unable to withstand Qin Zhenzhen's persistent pestering, she finally gave in and agreed to give it a try.
And with this trial, He Shuangshuang became busy.
After hearing Qin Zhenzhen's explanation, Zhang Yiyao smiled. "Zhenzhen, you're really amazing. Ruyun is naturally stubborn, never listens to others' advice. You don't know, before when I asked her to go out to relax, she'd refuse six out of ten times."
"In the end, we had to go to her place to invite her out."
"Because of this, I even specially got a key to her apartment for easier visits."
Hearing this, Lu Ruyun thought for a moment. "Was it really that exaggerated?"
Zhang Yiyao glared at her angrily. "How could it not be? Do you remember the snowy day two years ago? I asked you to drive out so we could travel to the countryside. But you? Absolutely refused to leave the house."
"And three years ago..."
She chattered on and on with Lu Ruyun about past daily life for a long time, finally turning to Qin Zhenzhen and saying, "Sorry, Zhenzhen. I'm such a chatterbox; once I start talking about the past, I can't stop."
Qin Zhenzhen met her smiling eyes and shook her head. "It's fine."
Call it overthinking or suspicion, but she couldn't shake the feeling that Zhang Yiyao's endless chattering wasn't just about catching up with Lu Ruyun. It felt more like a power move aimed at her, as if telling her, "We were very close before."
Qin Zhenzhen didn't want to suspect others so readily, especially a long-time friend of Lu Ruyun's. But this feeling grew stronger, stirring a faint sense of discomfort in her heart.
Seeing the slight change in Qin Zhenzhen's expression, Zhang Yiyao lowered her eyelids, the corners of her lips curving upwards in a smile of gratitude. "Zhenzhen, I'm glad you don't mind."
Qin Zhenzhen looked up at her and finally couldn't hold back, smiling as she said, "How could I mind? It's rare for you and Ruyun to meet up. It's normal to have a lot to talk about."
Upon hearing her words, the smile that had just graced Zhang Yiyao's lips instantly vanished. She pressed her lips together and didn't reply further.
The private room door was knocked open as He Shuangshuang swept in like a gust of wind. "So cold."
"This weather, is it trying to freeze people to death?" She walked into the private room, completely unaware of the unusual atmosphere, and said to Zhang Yiyao, "Yaoyao, you're just wearing a dress. Aren't you cold?"
Zhang Yiyao looked up at her with a light smile. "It's fine, not cold."
He Shuangshuang instinctively tightened her own coat and casually sat down beside her. Within minutes, the waiters started serving the dishes. Zhang Yiyao called Duan Qiuhan, who said he'd be right there.
Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun were whispering to each other, heads close, discussing who knows what. A smile persistently lingered at the corner of Lu Ruyun's lips as she nodded from time to time. After hanging up, Zhang Yiyao wanted to pull Lu Ruyun into a conversation but was stopped by He Shuangshuang instead. "Don't disturb them."
"Haven't you noticed they're getting along better and better?"
Thinking about how Lu Ruyun had finally found her destination, He Shuangshuang's face held a smile. "This is great. You and Qiuhan, Ruyun and Qin Zhenzhen. Two couples, perfect. Just leaves me, a single dog."
Zhang Yiyao, being held back, felt somewhat displeased but didn't show it. Instead, she comforted, "Then you should go find someone too. Don't cling to Ruyun all day long."
He Shuangshuang tilted her head to look at her. "How am I clinging to her all day? I've been crazy busy these past few days."
She pursed her lips and took a sip of hot tea.
Seeing her like this, Zhang Yiyao's eyes darted around. "By the way, I heard from Ruyun her studio has opened. How's it going? Need any help?"
He Shuangshuang turned to look at her. "You want to come over?"
Zhang Yiyao adopted a casual posture. "The company is laying people off after the New Year. I need to find a backup plan first."
He Shuangshuang thought deeply for a moment. "You'll have to ask Ruyun about that."
All decisions, big and small, regarding the studio were made by Lu Ruyun. She was just responsible for running errands.
Zhang Yiyao coming over to help actually wasn't out of the question. Back then, both she and Zhang Yiyao had been interested in being Ruyun's manager. Later, after she had a falling out with her family, Lu Ruyun helped her a lot and even made her her manager.
Later, she had thought countless times: if back then, Ruyun hadn't chosen her as her manager but had chosen the more responsible Zhang Yiyao instead, would things be different now?
But these were all useless hypotheticals. He Shuangshuang shook her head. The matter was settled years ago; dwelling on what-ifs only added unnecessary trouble.
Besides, Ruyun was doing quite well now.
She had a wife, and her career was flourishing. Perhaps what she lacked back then wasn't a responsible manager, but a Qin Zhenzhen.
Thinking this, He Shuangshuang found Qin Zhenzhen even more pleasing to the eye and personally poured her a cup of tea.
Seeing her sudden show of attentiveness, Qin Zhenzhen looked at her somewhat bewildered. "Busy to the point of losing your mind?"
He Shuangshuang retorted without good humor, "You're the one who's lost your mind from being busy!"
Hearing their exchange, Zhang Yiyao laughed. "Zhenzhen, don't be mad. Shuangshuang has always been this blunt."
Qin Zhenzhen paused. "It's fine. I never get angry with fools."
He Shuangshuang made a scoffing sound and plopped heavily onto her chair. Not long after, Duan Qiuhan arrived. Qin Zhenzhen was somewhat familiar with him and nodded in greeting. "Director Duan."
Duan Qiuhan walked in and sat next to Zhang Yiyao, smiling at Qin Zhenzhen. "Miss Qin."
Qin Zhenzhen glanced at Lu Ruyun. Lu Ruyun smiled with pursed lips. "Qiuhan, no need to be so formal. Call her Zhenzhen. We're all family here."
He Shuangshuang nodded. "Right, we're all family. No need for formalities. Who knows, maybe one day you'll need her for one of your movies or dramas."
Hearing this, Duan Qiuhan hurriedly waved his hands with a laugh. "I can't afford to hire her."
Actors' fees in the industry were transparent. Before, he could have gritted his teeth and afforded Qin Zhenzhen's previous rates. But after this recent wave of publicity, her asking price had skyrocketed. Selling him off wouldn't be enough to afford her.
Hearing his words, Qin Zhenzhen lowered her head and picked up her glass. "I could always make a guest appearance as a favor."
Duan Qiuhan's handsome face broke into a smile upon hearing this. He also raised his glass and clinked it with hers. "Great! Then I'll ask Ruyun for the payment."
"I can reluctantly allow you two to leave half an hour early each day."
He Shuangshuang, who was eating, made a sound as if stirring up trouble. "Just half an hour? Qiuhan, you have too little faith in Ruyun. At least two hours."
Lu Ruyun pressed her lips together. "He Shuangshuang."
He Shuangshuang pouted. "I'm joking! By the way, you didn't go to your workout yesterday. The coach called me asking if something was wrong."
Lu Ruyun lowered her head. "Nothing. Tell him I won't be going for the rest of the month."
"Something up?"
"Nothing." Lu Ruyun placed a chicken wing in Qin Zhenzhen's bowl. "These next few days, I need to practice something else."
Qin Zhenzhen, who was just lowering her head to nibble on the chicken wing, suddenly choked, coughing violently, her pretty face flushing crimson.
Practice something else, my ass!
Comments
Post a Comment