Married in a Daze - Chapter 91
Chapter 91
Lu Ruyun woke up and again did not see Qin Zhenzhen. This pattern had repeated for almost a month now. Yet, different from before, she wasn't unhappy. In fact, a hint of delight lingered at the corners of her eyes.
Her body under the sheets was naked. She retrieved Qin Zhenzhen's bathrobe from the side, draped it over herself, tidied up the study, and finally called He Shuangshuang.
He Shuangshuang had just woken up, her voice groggy. "Ruyun? What's up?"
Lu Ruyun looked at the study in front of her, pursing her lips. "What's on the schedule today?"
He Shuangshuang, lying in bed staring at the ceiling, was dazed for a long moment before coming to her senses. "Need to pick someone up at the airport at nine in the morning. Then at ten-thirty, go to the studio to check on their training results. In the afternoon, we have to take them to meet the directors as scheduled."
Lu Ruyun listened and said lightly, "Have Xiao Han handle the airport pickup. You don't need to go to the studio at ten-thirty either. I'll go with you in the afternoon. Clear your morning schedule."
"Clear it for what?" He Shuangshuang scratched her head in confusion, her long hair a bird's nest on top. Lu Ruyun calmly dropped two words: "Come to the apartment. See you in half an hour."
He Shuangshuang: ...
Zhang Yiyao had been waiting in her apartment since eight o'clock. By past ten, Lu Ruyun still hadn't arrived. Knowing Lu Ruyun's character, if she decided to come, she would definitely come without fail.
Thinking this, she went upstairs and changed into an even sexier outfit, one that accentuated her slender waist—so tiny one could almost wrap a hand around it. She walked with a swaying grace, applied light makeup, and kept glancing at the door.
Half an hour passed.
An hour passed.
There was still no movement at the door. Zhang Yiyao, unable to sit still any longer, called Lu Ruyun.
He Shuangshuang answered the phone.
"Shuangshuang?" Zhang Yiyao was surprised. "Where's Ruyun?"
He Shuangshuang looked at Lu Ruyun busy in the room and opened her mouth. "She's tied up with something."
Zhang Yiyao clenched her hand, her face suddenly darkening. "Tied up? Are you with Zhenzhen?"
He Shuangshuang hurriedly said, "No, we're not."
Though they weren't with Qin Zhenzhen, they were busy with Qin Zhenzhen-related matters.
He Shuangshuang watched as Lu Ruyun completely transformed the room into a study, just a larger version. Everything she bought was a size bigger. Thinking about how this grown woman had just gone out to buy a giant plush toy made He Shuangshuang feel awkward.
What was worse, Lu Ruyun seemed completely unbothered, asking nonchalantly, "Where do you buy this?"
How the hell should I know where to buy that!
Weren't you and Qin Zhenzhen the ones who bought all this stuff last time!
"When will Ruyun get here?" Zhang Yiyao's voice interrupted He Shuangshuang's thoughts. He Shuangshuang thought for a moment and then raised her voice to call out, "Ruyun?"
Lu Ruyun was laying down a rug. Hearing her name, she looked up. "What is it?"
He Shuangshuang pointed at the phone. "Yaoyao is asking when you're going over."
"I'll go in the afternoon. Have Xiao Han deliver lunch to her place later."
He Shuangshuang relayed the message. Zhang Yiyao was initially displeased. "This afternoon?"
Then her voice softened. "Afternoon is fine too. Don't bother having Xiao Han come over for lunch. I'll just grab something simple."
"Okay."
They exchanged a few more words before He Shuangshuang hung up. She placed the phone on the coffee table. Lu Ruyun finished smoothing the rug and said to her, "Help me move the mirror over."
He Shuangshuang nodded and walked over, lifting the full-length mirror to the edge of the bay window. After a moment, she couldn't hold back any longer. "Ruyun, are you... suspecting Yaoyao?"
Lu Ruyun's hands paused slightly, her expression stiffening for a few seconds. After putting down the mirror, she replied honestly. "Shuangshuang, do you know what Yaoyao said to me yesterday?"
He Shuangshuang stood opposite her, noticing a darkness in her eyes that hadn't been seen for a long time. She shook her head. "What did she say?"
Lu Ruyun turned, picked up some decorations from the rug, and began arranging them casually. Her movements were natural, her tone equally so. "She said she saw that person not long ago."
"She said that person misses me very much."
He Shuangshuang's hands tightened. "How could that be..."
Lu Ruyun met her bright eyes. "You see? Even you know that person wouldn't miss me. How could she forget?"
He Shuangshuang's throat felt as if gripped, making it hard to speak. The words stuck. Finally, she lowered her head. "I don't believe it."
"I don't want to believe it either."
She had known Zhang Yiyao for much longer than He Shuangshuang. During the most difficult time in the hospital, they had gone through it together. Zhang Yiyao had witnessed all her darkest days. Though they didn't see each other often, their relationship never felt distant.
In the hospital, they had relied on each other. After being discharged, they had supported each other along the way.
That's why she didn't want to suspect her.
But her words last night shattered her previous understanding of her.
He Shuangshuang's voice was muted. "Ruyun, have you considered... maybe it really is just a coincidence?"
Lu Ruyun turned her gaze to her, each word clearly reaching He Shuangshuang's ears. "Shuangshuang, I wish even more than you do that these were just coincidences."
In the bedroom, the two looked deeply at each other. He Shuangshuang was the first to avert her eyes. "Let's hurry up and finish. It's almost noon. Shall we go straight to the director's after we eat later?"
Lu Ruyun lowered her head. "Okay."
They had a simple lunch at home. He Shuangshuang cooked while Lu Ruyun sat on the sofa. Qin Zhenzhen had sent her a WeChat message in the morning. She had replied but hadn't received a response yet.
I wonder if she's eaten.
She thought for a moment and prepared to send Qin Zhenzhen a message. Just as she picked up her phone, her thumb felt a vibration. She quickly looked at the screen. The caller ID displayed "Ms. Lu."
Lu Ruyun paused, then answered the call.
"Hello, Aunt..."
By the time Qin Zhenzhen finished work and had lunch, it was already past one in the afternoon. Picking up her phone, she saw the message Lu Ruyun had sent in the morning. She ate while replying.
A few young actresses nearby were discussing where to travel for the New Year holiday. Qin Zhenzhen listened with interest.
"Let's go to Country N, it's warm. I really don't want to have to take my hands out of my pockets in this weather."
"Why Country N? Winter is for seeing snow! Let's go to the scenic area in City H. I'm telling you, the snowscapes are incredibly beautiful! I went last year!"
"Hey, hey, I say Mount W is the best. I heard there are lots of legends there too."
Qin Zhenzhen listened to their hushed discussion, her finger tapping on the screen.
—What are you doing?
Lu Ruyun, sitting in the car, saw Qin Zhenzhen's WeChat and replied: On the way to the studio.
The studio was near the city center, an address Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun had chosen together. With few people currently, they had only rented three floors.
Qin Zhenzhen thought for a moment and asked her: Are you free during the New Year? Do you need to go home?
Lu Ruyun was momentarily stunned by her question. Her aunt had just asked her the same thing.
Are you coming back for New Year?
Qin Zhenzhen waited a while before seeing Lu Ruyun's message: Not going back. Is something the matter?
—Nothing, Teacher Lu. If you're not going back, then come home with me!
Lu Ruyun looked at the sentence, followed by a cute sticker. After a moment of thought: Okay.
After receiving the affirmative reply, Qin Zhenzhen smiled, her eyes crinkling. She hurriedly called home.
Yin Lanfang hadn't received a call from Qin Zhenzhen in a long time. Knowing she was busy, they were afraid to call casually and disrupt her time, usually just communicating via WeChat. Now, receiving her call, she was somewhat surprised. "Zhenzhen, what's wrong?"
Qin Zhenzhen said in a clingy tone, "Nothing, just miss you guys."
Hearing her act cute, Yin Lanfang chuckled. "You silly girl. You miss us but never know to come home."
As she spoke, she wiped the corner of her eye.
Ever since Zhenzhen became famous, the most common way to see her was on TV. The first year, she could still come home often. The following two years, she genuinely had no time. A few days ago, when her new drama aired on TV, she had been telling her dad that she'd probably be busy again.
Hearing her words, Qin Zhenzhen felt a pang of guilt. "I'm sorry, Mom."
Yin Lanfang couldn't bear to hear her apologize. "What 'sorry'! Just do your work well. Don't worry about us."
Qin Zhenzhen smiled at her contradictory words, knowing she wanted to set her mind at ease. Thinking of this, she said to Yin Lanfang, "I want to come home for New Year's this year, Mom. Prepare lots of dishes."
Before Yin Lanfang could speak, Qin Zhenzhen continued, "Oh, and Ruyun will be coming too."
Hearing the suddenly joyful voice on the other end of the phone, Qin Zhenzhen inexplicably felt her eyes grow hot and her nose tingle. The first year after her debut, she was busy with promotions and didn't go back.
The second year, she performed on a local TV station's Spring Festival Gala and didn't go back.
Last year, she was abroad.
Only this year did she have time.
To say she had time was relative; in truth, she only had two days. It was a holiday she had forced by rejecting all other engagements, enduring the cold stares and eye-rolls from the general manager. Before being with Lu Ruyun, she couldn't deeply comprehend what "home" truly meant. Now, the moment she finished filming, or returned from a business trip, her heart and mind yearned to fly back immediately.
The meaning of the word "home" had unknowingly changed for her.
Before, she always felt there was plenty of time, wanting to take advantage of her youth to venture out, to drift carefree everywhere. Only now did she suddenly realize—the parents behind her had been neglected for too long.
Those two people she thought would never grow old—it was only because she had preserved their youthful images in her heart.
Time had still left its indelible marks upon them.
Qin Zhenzhen hung up the phone, blinked, and dissipated the heat in her eyes.
The afternoon filming went surprisingly smoothly, with several scenes shot in one take. Director Yu had originally been worried that after being away from the set for several days, Qin Zhenzhen would have a hard time getting back into the emotional flow. But judging by the morning scene, which only had two NGs, he was quite satisfied.
What he never expected was that the afternoon would see several scenes shot in one take. This was almost impossible.
Many crew members also found it strange.
"Another one-take?"
"Yep, done."
The crew members couldn't help but look at Qin Zhenzhen with added admiration. Everyone in the industry knew Director Yu was demanding, nitpicky, unwilling to compromise on even the smallest detail. Those who worked with Director Yu knew even better that shooting a scene over a dozen times was common. Getting a one-take in a day was the limit.
Yet this afternoon, they had consecutive one-takes.
Truly unbelievable.
Because of this, they wrapped up early in the afternoon. By a little past four, the crew was packing up, ready to leave. Young actresses occasionally scurried over to Qin Zhenzhen's dressing table. "Zhenzhen, Zhenzhen, your expression just now was amazing!"
"Yeah, it made even me feel heartbroken for you."
Even Chen Feng walked over with a smile and said, "Zhenzhen, have you been secretly taking extra lessons again? Your acting has improved by leaps and bounds."
Qin Zhenzhen was amused. "Is it really that exaggerated?"
Chen Feng pointed at a girl who had just been scolded by Director Yu. "Ask them, and you'll know."
A group of girls nodded vigorously.
Qin Zhenzhen thought for a moment. "Maybe my teacher taught me well."
"Which teacher?"
Which teacher.
A smile played on Qin Zhenzhen's lips.
Of course, it was Teacher Lu.
The one and only Teacher Lu.
Qin Zhenzhen's eyes sparkled with joy, her expression radiant. After removing her makeup and changing clothes, she hurriedly pulled Ji Lu along, ready to slip away. On the way, she received a call from Meng Xin, confirming the wrap-up time for Mountain Girl and the upcoming promotional activities for Cold Palace.
Hearing Meng Xin mention Cold Palace.
Qin Zhenzhen hung up and immediately checked her phone, looking up last night's TV ratings summary. Seeing Cold Palace still stuck in the middling fifth place, Ji Lu, noticing her looking at the chart, comforted her. "Zhenzhen, it's only aired four episodes. Making it into the top five is already impressive. In a few days, when it reaches the climax, it's bound to explode in popularity."
"Mm."
Qin Zhenzhen actually knew that the early plot didn't have major conflicts. This drama used a strategy of building up before the climax; the early part was sweet romance and shy, ambiguous feelings. The real plot would only kick into gear after the general's death.
So, hearing Ji Lu say this, Qin Zhenzhen put away her phone.
Half an hour later, the car arrived at the apartment. Qin Zhenzhen opened the apartment door to find Lu Ruyun sitting on the sofa. A pile of materials lay in front of her. Qin Zhenzhen tiptoed over, hugged her from behind, and whispered by her ear, "Teacher Lu, guess who I am?"
Lu Ruyun maintained her sitting posture, not even turning her head. "Childish."
Qin Zhenzhen released her hold on Lu Ruyun's eyes, pressed her face against Lu Ruyun's cheek, and nuzzled it. "Then let's do something not childish."
Lu Ruyun turned her head, her lips brushing against Qin Zhenzhen's cheek. They felt cool, carrying a hint of the outside chill. Qin Zhenzhen suppressed a laugh and leaned in, biting Lu Ruyun's lip, mumbling, "Is this still childish?"
Lu Ruyun chuckled softly, set aside the script, wrapped an arm around Qin Zhenzhen's shoulder, and deepened the kiss.
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