Against the Light - Chapter 131
Chapter 131: It's All a Lie!
Gu Xinran woke early that morning. A glance out the window revealed an overcast sky, and she sighed as she watched the drizzling rain patter against the glass.
The weather had been uncooperative for days. Yilan had wanted to go for a walk a few days ago, but it had rained every day, preventing her small wish from coming true.
She turned to look at Yilan, who was still fast asleep, and gently tucked in the corner of her blanket.
The weather had turned recently. Coupled with the incessant drizzle, the temperature dropped lower each day. It was only November, but it already felt like the dead of winter.
Gu Xinran lay back down, planning to get a little more sleep, but then she saw Yilan turn over. Yilan's hand instinctively reached behind to scratch her back, and Gu Xinran quickly caught it.
The wound had been healing well over the past few days and was starting to scab. The new skin growth made it itchy. While awake, Yilan could control the urge to scratch, but in her sleep, she had no restraint. Two days ago, Gu Xinran had looked away for a moment, and Yilan had scratched a scab open, drawing blood. The sight had broken Gu Xinran's heart. For the past two nights, she hadn't dared to sleep too deeply, waking at the slightest movement from the person beside her.
Bai Yilan frowned, rubbing her head against the pillow. Her other hand reached back to scratch, only to be caught by Gu Xinran as well.
Gu Xinran gently rubbed her back through her clothes to soothe the itch. Bai Yilan's eyelids fluttered open, her brow furrowed. She buried her face in the pillow, her voice muffled. "It's so itchy."
"I'll rub it for you gently. Don't move."
With that, Gu Xinran used the pads of her fingers to gently rub over the wound.
After a moment, she felt Yilan's tense body finally relax.
"Feeling better?"
"Mhm," Yilan murmured. She stretched lazily and turned to look out the window, her expression immediately falling.
"The rain isn't too heavy today. I checked the forecast, and it should stop this afternoon. I'll take you out for a walk then."
"Auntie Ye would never allow it," Yilan sighed.
"I'll figure out a way to get her out of the way. We can sneak out for a quick walk and be back before she knows it." Gu Xinran gave her a wink.
"Really?" Bai Yilan's eyes lit up.
"Mhm."
Just as they were speaking, they heard footsteps approaching the room. They exchanged a look and, with perfect understanding, quickly ducked their heads and feigned sleep.
Ye Nan pushed the door open and tiptoed inside. She walked to the bed and glanced at them. Seeing that they were both still asleep, she remained silent. She then went to the window and drew the curtains tightly before leaving the room.
When they heard the door close, they both opened their eyes at the same time and exchanged a smile.
"Isn't Auntie Qing her boss? Can't she keep her in line?" Gu Xinran sat up against the headboard and helped Yilan lie on her side, resting her head in Gu Xinran's lap in a sweet, intimate moment.
"When it comes to work, Auntie Ye wouldn't dare disobey her. But in personal matters, Mom can't be bothered to argue, so she usually just goes along with what Auntie Ye says."
"No wonder." Gu Xinran shook her head, her mind already racing as she plotted how to lure the tiger from the mountain. She might even have to drag someone else into this scheme.
The two of them got up and finished their morning routines.
Gu Xinran chatted with Qu Qi for a while to take care of some work.
Bored, Yilan scrolled through old scripts on her phone.
Ye Nan came in, walked over, and confiscated both of their phones.
"You finally have a chance to get some proper rest, and you spend all day glued to your phones. Are you trying to ruin your eyes?" she scolded. Then, she took out a food container and ladled a bowl of the clear soup she had simmered early that morning for each of them.
They both took the bowls.
"Auntie Ye, you don't have to get up so early to make us soup. It's too much trouble," Yilan said, looking at the bowl in her hands and feeling guilty.
"It's no trouble at all. I wake up this early for work anyway. I'm used to it."
"Is Mom awake?"
"She woke up long ago and has already had breakfast."
Bai Yilan nodded. "Auntie Ye, I'm almost better. When can I leave the hospital?"
"There's no rush. Just rest a while longer. In your profession, you work day and night once you get busy. It's rare to get a break, so why are you so eager to end it?"
Bai Yilan pressed her lips together. It wasn't that she was unhappy about resting; she just felt guilty that her hospitalization forced Xinran, Auntie Ye, and her mother to put their own work aside to be with her.
"There, there, don't think so much about it. Just eat for now." Ye Nan sat beside her for a moment, but sensing she might be making Bai Yilan uncomfortable, she tactfully got up and left.
Gu Xinran got her phone back and frowned as she looked at the screen.
"Yilan, have you heard of the movie The Yan Dynasty?"
"Of course. It was a massive production. Twenty years ago, it set the benchmark for the entire industry. Even today, it's a classic that's difficult to surpass. There have been a few remakes, but none have ever topped the original. Why do you ask?"
"Oh, nothing. Qu Qi just told me it's being remade again. The director is Zhao Sheng. Do you know her?"
"Teacher Zhao? She's known in the industry as a 'ghost talent' director. Her films are incredibly detailed and full of Easter eggs that always leave the audience wanting more. She's also meticulous about her compositions and notoriously demanding of her actors. The pressure on her sets is immense. What, are you thinking of auditioning?"
"I am," Gu Xinran nodded.
"President Gu already has such a large enterprise, and you're still working this hard?" Bai Yilan asked with a smile.
"Stop teasing me."
Bai Yilan chuckled. She knew Xinran well. She loved acting, but she loved a challenge even more. If an opportunity like this presented itself and she claimed she wasn't interested, that she was content with the status quo, she wouldn't be the Gu Xinran she knew.
They discussed The Yan Dynasty for a while longer before deciding to just watch the film. They analyzed it from their respective viewpoints, and before they knew it, the morning had passed.
Gu Xinran glanced out the window. The rain had stopped, and the sun was making a rare appearance.
Bai Yilan saw it too. She leaned against the windowsill, took a deep breath, and looked at Gu Xinran with eyes full of anticipation.
"Go get changed. I'll be right back." Gu Xinran gave her a wink before turning and leaving the room.
Half an hour later, they finally slipped out of the hospital as planned. Bai Yilan threw her arms wide, as if to embrace the sky, and took a deep breath. The earthy scent of rain filled her nose, and she couldn't resist a long, luxurious stretch, as happy as a child.
"What did you go do?" Bai Yilan asked.
"Mhm. I asked someone for a favor. They're keeping Auntie Ye occupied."
"Oh? Who could possibly have that much power over her?"
Gu Xinran just smiled without answering.
"Let's go. Today is the second runway show for Queen's Stage. I'll take you to see it in person."
"Okay!"
An hour later, Gu Xinran led Bai Yilan to the Queen's Stage venue. Fully disguised, they had their tickets checked and found their seats in the audience.
Bai Yilan was visibly excited, her eyes sparkling above her mask.
Gu Xinran rarely sat in the audience to watch a competition live, either. The experience felt wonderfully strange.
Gu Xinran took Bai Yilan's hand, and they sat quietly, waiting for the show to begin.
"Sigh, I wonder how Teacher Bai is doing. Will we get to see her again before the show ends?"
"I know, right? I miss my Teacher Bai so much. Gu Xinran hasn't updated her Weibo in days."
"Teacher Bai should be fine. Hah, you know Gu Xinran is such a doting wife. She's definitely by Teacher Bai's side twenty-four-seven, taking care of her. Where would she find time to post on Weibo?"
"Oho, I guess that's women for you."
Listening to the fans beside them discussing them, Gu Xinran and Bai Yilan exchanged a look and couldn't help but chuckle.
Gu Xinran tilted her head slightly to glance at the young woman sitting next to Yilan. The fan was engrossed in her phone, and Gu Xinran noticed that her phone's wallpaper was a picture of Yilan. An idea struck her. She gave Yilan a subtle look, took out her own phone, and snapped a selfie from the side, making sure to include Yilan and the two fans next to her in the frame.
Shortly after, the venue lights dimmed. Gu Xinran quickly put her phone away and focused her attention on the stage.
Qu Qi walked gracefully onto the stage and approached the front.
The moment she saw Qu Qi, Gu Xinran immediately ducked her head. As luck would have it, Bai Yilan glanced over at that exact moment. Seeing her reaction, she couldn't help but stifle a laugh and pat her arm.
After Qu Qi's brief opening remarks, the second runway show officially began.
It was their first time seeing the million-dollar stage effects in person, and "breathtaking" was the only word that came to mind. The deafening cheers of the crowd were so infectious that they soon found themselves shouting along with everyone else.
Back at the hospital, Shi Qing was lying in her room, pressing a hand to her forehead.
"Why the sudden headache? You've never had this problem before. You can't possibly be tired, you haven't done anything these past few days. Could it be from boredom?" Ye Nan paced the room, muttering to herself, unable to understand why Shi Qing's head suddenly hurt so much she couldn't even sit up.
"You've been muttering for an hour. Can you please give it a rest?"
"But I can't figure it out!"
Shi Qing sighed to herself. With the way Ye Nan was carrying on, her head was going to start hurting for real, if it wasn't already.
"Did you catch a chill? Was the window shut tight last night? Did you get caught in a draft? Or maybe you got cold this morning?"
"…" Shi Qing rubbed her temples. Now her head was really starting to hurt.
"Is it hurting again? Why isn't the doctor here yet? Wait here, I'll go get one."
"There's no need. I just want to sleep for a bit."
"Alright, you get some sleep. I won't bother you."
"Wait, no. Stay here with me."
"Huh?" Ye Nan froze.
My boss wants me to stay with her while she sleeps? Am I reading too much into this?
"Yes. Stay here with me. Don't go anywhere."
"Uh… oh, okay. You sleep, then. I'll just sit right here." Ye Nan was a little bewildered. Sister Qing was an extremely light sleeper and hated being disturbed. What was going on with her today?
Shi Qing turned on her side to face her. She squinted at Ye Nan for a moment, and seeing her sitting there obediently, she felt reassured that she wouldn't leave. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to drift off.
Ye Nan sat there quietly, hardly daring to breathe. She watched Shi Qing's sleeping face and felt a surge of emotion. See? she thought. No matter how strong a woman is, she still needs someone with her when she's sick.
The young assistant was lost in thought when her phone suddenly buzzed, startling her. She quickly pulled it out to put it on silent, but the notification on her screen made her freeze.
Teacher Bai is Safe! Gu and Bai Spotted Together in a Low-Key Appearance at the Queen's Stage Venue!
Ye Nan stared. She tapped the notification and saw a Weibo post from Gu Xinran, published just two minutes earlier. It was a selfie of her and Bai Yilan at the venue, with the faces of two other audience members blurred out beside them.
Ye Nan was utterly dumbfounded.
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