Married in a Daze - Chapter 92
Chapter 92
Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun dawdled until five o'clock before heading out. They stopped on the way to buy some fruit and a gift for Zhang Yiyao. It was Qin Zhenzhen's first time visiting her home, and she followed closely behind Lu Ruyun the whole way.
Zhang Yiyao's apartment wasn't very far from Lu Ruyun's, but they encountered some delays on the road. By the time they arrived, it was already past six. Neither Qin Zhenzhen nor Lu Ruyun were in any disguise, dressed quite naturally. However, they had forgotten this wasn't Lu Ruyun's security-tight apartment complex; it was just an ordinary residential area. So, when the two of them stood at the complex entrance, they were immediately stopped by a group of fans.
Qin Zhenzhen's visibility had remained consistently high recently, with a steady stream of good news, solidifying fans batch after batch. Her face was everywhere—on billboards, posters on buses, even on the looping music videos for Jian Mu's new song playing in major supermarkets and malls.
So, it wasn't surprising she was recognized. Lu Ruyun stood beside Qin Zhenzhen, taking all the bags. She watched as Zhenzhen signed autographs for others with a gentle smile. Occasionally, the wind would lift her long hair, and Lu Ruyun would use her free hand to tuck it behind her ear. The two stood straight, their movements natural and intimate. The fans surrounding them couldn't help but grow even more frenzied, squealing with delight.
Qin Zhenzhen only hastily signed a few autographs, fearing further trouble, before quickly pulling Lu Ruyun away. After they left, the fans excitedly made phone calls: "Ahhhhh! I just saw Zhenzhen! Zhenzhen! She even signed for me! And Cloud Fairy! Oh my god, you didn't see the two of them, they were so sweet!"
"Come quick, come quick! I'm right at the entrance of XX Complex. They went to visit someone, so they should come out soon."
"Which Cloud Fairy? The Cloud Fairy! Didn't see any manager; they came together!"
"I'm about to faint! I saw Zhenzhen up close! I even got her autograph! I need a moment... Zhenzhen smiled at me just now, wuwu..."
A few young fans finished their excited calls and then turned to their group chats, posting the photos they had just taken of Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun. There were pictures of them exchanging meaningful glances, a video of Lu Ruyun tucking Qin Zhenzhen's hair behind her ear... The fan groups instantly exploded.
Lu Ruyun had a key to Zhang Yiyao's apartment, but she still knocked when they reached the door. After a few seconds, Zhang Yiyao's gentle voice came from inside: "Is that Ruyun?"
Lu Ruyun stood at the doorway, smiled at Qin Zhenzhen, took her hand, and responded: "Yaoyao, it's me."
Zhang Yiyao opened the door with a smile. She had dressed up carefully, wearing a long dress, her makeup meticulously applied, every strand of hair radiating precision. She opened the door, smiling as she spoke: "Did you forget your key again? How many times have I told you..."
As the door opened, she saw Lu Ruyun standing outside and Qin Zhenzhen behind her. Her words instantly died in her throat. She rekindled her smile: "Zhenzhen is here too."
Qin Zhenzhen held the fruit in her hand, wearing only light makeup, yet still as beautiful as a porcelain doll. Standing beside her, Zhang Yiyao, despite her careful preparation, suddenly felt like a clown.
Lu Ruyun placed the things from Qin Zhenzhen's hands on the coffee table and asked Zhang Yiyao: "How are you? Is your leg any better?"
Zhang Yiyao lowered her gaze, masking the dimness in her eyes: "It's fine. It hardly hurts today. If you're busy, you don't need to come over tomorrow."
Qin Zhenzhen walked to Zhang Yiyao's side, wanting to help her sit down. Zhang Yiyao subtly shifted her position and walked over to Lu Ruyun instead, saying: "I heard from Shuangshuang you took someone to meet a director this afternoon."
Lu Ruyun nodded, helping her sit on the sofa: "Yes, I did."
Zhang Yiyao sighed: "That's good. Ruyun, I feel you're becoming more and more different from before."
Lu Ruyun smiled slightly. Qin Zhenzhen, standing behind them, said: "Let me wash some fruit for you."
Zhang Yiyao looked up: "Let Ruyun do it."
"Zhenzhen, this is your first time here, after all. You're a guest. How can we let you do the work?"
Qin Zhenzhen smiled: "It's fine. We're all friends here; no need to distinguish between guest and host."
She naturally picked up some fruit from the coffee table. Lu Ruyun also stood up, took the fruit from her hands, and said to Zhang Yiyao: "I'll go with her. Zhenzhen doesn't know where the kitchen is."
Zhang Yiyao nodded: "Okay."
It wasn't until she watched their figures disappear into the kitchen that Zhang Yiyao's face darkened, a shadow lurking in her eyes, slowly devouring the original brightness.
Qin Zhenzhen.
Really is like a persistent ghost, isn't she.
Lu Ruyun prepared dinner. There weren't many ingredients in the fridge. Qin Zhenzhen initially wanted to go out and buy some, but Zhang Yiyao insisted it wasn't necessary. She had ordered some takeout; they could eat that with the home-cooked dishes. She just hoped Qin Zhenzhen wouldn't mind.
Qin Zhenzhen smiled: "Of course I don't mind."
Just as the takeout arrived, Cold Palace happened to be playing on TV. Watching the general and Qin Zhenzhen being affectionate on screen, Zhang Yiyao asked with interest: "Zhenzhen, I'm actually quite curious. Do you ever get too deep into character sometimes?"
Lu Ruyun was cooking. Qin Zhenzhen sat on the sofa watching TV. Hearing this question, she was momentarily stunned before laughing: "Of course we do. There was a time I played a student, and every morning when the alarm went off, I thought I had to go to school."
She said this in a joking tone. Zhang Yiyao smiled lightly: "Does that happen with romance scenes too? I feel your gaze at Hu Jing is different from how you look at others. Did you get too immersed then as well?"
Qin Zhenzhen's expression froze for a few seconds upon hearing this, and she instinctively looked towards Lu Ruyun.
She happened to meet Lu Ruyun's gaze looking back at her.
Lu Ruyun had just gone to bring the dishes to the dining room. As she stepped out, she heard Zhang Yiyao's question and looked at Qin Zhenzhen.
Their eyes met in the air. Qin Zhenzhen smiled slightly: "Of course you have to get immersed. It's actually quite simple. Just think of Hu Jing as Ruyun, and it becomes easy to get through the scene."
Hearing this answer, Lu Ruyun lowered her eyes with a smile and went into the kitchen.
Zhang Yiyao lightly slapped Qin Zhenzhen's wrist: "What? So you two came over tonight just to show off? Then go back, go back, hurry up and go back!"
She complained, half-joking, half-serious. Qin Zhenzhen merely smiled slightly and didn't reply.
Soon, the takeout arrived. Qin Zhenzhen and Zhang Yiyao walked to the dining table and saw the dishes were all Lu Ruyun's usual favorites. Noticing the change in her expression, Zhang Yiyao pulled her hand to sit down, saying: "Sorry, Zhenzhen. I forgot to ask what dishes you like when ordering just now."
"I'm just so used to ordering these dishes when eating with Ruyun."
Qin Zhenzhen sat down. Before she could say it was fine, she heard Lu Ruyun walk over, carrying soup, and say with a smile: "It's alright. The dishes I made are all ones Zhenzhen likes. Sit."
Zhang Yiyao looked at the two of them, lowered her gaze, and sat down.
Dinner didn't last long. Qin Zhenzhen had to watch her figure, so she avoided many foods and only dared to pick at certain things. Lu Ruyun never had a big appetite to begin with, and Zhang Yiyao had even less of an appetite.
So, the table full of dishes was barely touched.
After dinner, Qin Zhenzhen took the initiative to clear the dishes. Lu Ruyun wanted to help but was refused. Lu Ruyun had no choice but to go sit on the sofa next to Zhang Yiyao.
Zhang Yiyao was still watching TV. Seeing her approach, she said apologetically: "Ruyun, am I taking up your time?"
Lu Ruyun shook her head: "No. Zhenzhen also said she wanted to come see you tonight."
Zhang Yiyao lowered her gaze, her hands clasped together, her voice slightly lower, lacking its usual gentleness: "She really is a good girl, Ruyun. Such a good girl... can you bear to keep things from her?"
Lu Ruyun's body stiffened slightly, her expression darkening a shade. When Qin Zhenzhen returned to the living room, she sensed something off about the atmosphere between them. Puzzled, she wiped the water droplets from her hands, walked over, and sat down beside Lu Ruyun, asking with a light smile: "What are you talking about?"
Zhang Yiyao looked up, a hint of a smile in her eyes: "Nothing. Ruyun was just praising how good you are. It's really enviable. I've known her for so long and have never heard her praise anyone else."
"Zhenzhen, sorry for taking up your time."
Qin Zhenzhen quickly replied: "It's no trouble at all."
They didn't stay much longer. Lu Ruyun stood up, ready to leave. Qin Zhenzhen noticed her expression seemed a bit off, but with Zhang Yiyao present, it wasn't convenient to ask. She could only follow behind Lu Ruyun and say goodbye to Zhang Yiyao.
Once outside, the cold wind blew, and Lu Ruyun's tense body actually relaxed a little. Qin Zhenzhen still held her arm, walking close to her, asking from time to time: "Are you cold?"
"Ruyun, look, what kind of flower is that? So pretty. Let's get some later; don't you like keeping plants?"
"Hey, that one..."
Lu Ruyun found Qin Zhenzhen's desperate attempt to keep the conversation going utterly adorable. She pressed her lips together, took the initiative to grasp Qin Zhenzhen's hand, their fingers intertwining. The streetlights stretched their shadows long on the ground. Lu Ruyun's expression softened as she said to Qin Zhenzhen: "Zhenzhen, there's something I want to tell you."
Qin Zhenzhen halted her steps and looked up. The cold wind made her long eyelashes tremble slightly. Under the streetlight, her bright eyes shone, hiding stars within them, making it hard to look away.
They stood there on the spot. Before Lu Ruyun could speak, they heard a clamor of voices.
"Zhenzhen's come out!"
"It's Zhenzhen!"
"Cloud Fairy! Cloud Fairy!"
"They're over here!"
Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun were slightly stunned. They simultaneously looked in the direction of the voices. Many girls and boys were sprinting towards them from the previously empty complex entrance, shouting "Zhenzhen" and "Cloud Fairy."
"Should... should we go?" Qin Zhenzhen swallowed, looking at the sudden onslaught, instinctively asking Lu Ruyun.
Lu Ruyun didn't answer. Instead, just as the fans were about to reach them, she grabbed Qin Zhenzhen's hand and ran towards the side.
On the empty street, besides the cold wind, there were the fans' shouts: "Zhenzhen!"
"Ahhhhh! Zhenzhen!"
"Cloud Fairy! Cloud Fairy!"
Qin Zhenzhen was pulled by Lu Ruyun into a small alley, twisting and turning left and right, running until she was out of breath. They quickly shook off the fans behind them. Even after getting into the car, Qin Zhenzhen was still giggling foolishly.
Lu Ruyun looked down at her: "What are you laughing at?"
Qin Zhenzhen patted her aching stomach from laughter: "Teacher Lu, you were so wild just now! I never thought you'd do something like that."
It felt so incongruous.
She thought, given Lu Ruyun's "old cadre" personality, she would have stood there solemnly, accepting the fans' cheers, her face expressionless and serene, her movements elegant and natural.
She never expected her to just grab her hand and run.
This kind of scene only appeared in the idol dramas she filmed. She never thought she'd experience it firsthand.
Lu Ruyun glanced at her sideways. A little streetlight shone through the car window, casting Qin Zhenzhen's features in a blurry yet clear light. In her ears were Qin Zhenzhen's slightly panting breaths and her unique fragrance, drifting under her nose. Lu Ruyun's voice grew slightly hoarse: "Zhenzhen, I can be even wilder."
Qin Zhenzhen, puzzled, turned to look at her, meeting her deep, shimmering eyes, like a pool of dark water, shining brightly. Her throat tightened as she leaned back against the seat: "Wha-what?"
Lu Ruyun unbuckled her seatbelt, leaned over, her lips brushing past Qin Zhenzhen's cheek before lightly pressing a kiss onto Qin Zhenzhen's lips.
Bathed in the streetlight, her expression was reverent, her movements cautious, daring only a gentle touch before quickly pulling away. Qin Zhenzhen blinked, her heart rate suddenly skyrocketing to 280.
This is deadly! This is really, really freaking wild!
She wanted nothing more than to crush the Lu Ruyun before her into her very being!
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