Against the Light - Chapter 164
Chapter 164: A Successful Stolen Kiss
"Sister Ran, your wife is bullying the kid. Aren't you going to do something about it?" a crew member shouted out of nowhere.
Gu Xinran was stunned for a moment. "Aiyo, you really overestimate me."
"Hahahaha—"
Gu Xinran squatted down and hugged Xiao Ye, ruffling her little head. "Xiao Ye is so good at acting. You have a real talent for performing."
"Hmm, really? But acting isn't fun at all," Xiao Ye said, shaking her head listlessly.
Gu Xinran chuckled and glanced up at Yilan, not daring to expose her.
"So, Xiao Ye, you must never become an actress in the future. It's tiring and boring," Bai Yilan said, taking the opportunity to instill this idea in the little one.
"Mmm," Xiao Ye nodded, as if she had taken it to heart.
"Go on, take her to play for a while. I'm going back to work," Yilan said to Xinran.
"Okay," Gu Xinran replied. She picked up the little girl, returned to the swing, and continued to play with her.
Gu Xinran watched everyone film from a distance for a while without getting closer; Yilan wouldn't let her get close anyway.
She knew Yilan was afraid that seeing those familiar scenes would stir up old emotions and make her recall things from her past life, so she deliberately kept her from getting involved.
Gu Xinran pushed Xiao Ye on the swing for a bit and noticed the little one staring blankly at her own feet, looking quite bored. She thought for a moment and suddenly remembered there was a small stream nearby.
"Xiao Ye, come on. Mama will take you somewhere fun."
"Huh?" Upon hearing they were going to play, Xiao Ye's big eyes immediately lit up.
Gu Xinran picked her up and, following her memory, walked along a small path. She took a turn at a fork in the road and soon saw the stream. Under the sunlight, the water's surface shimmered and sparkled, looking exceptionally beautiful.
"Wow!" the little girl exclaimed, pointing at the stream ahead with her chubby little hand.
Gu Xinran set her down on the ground and held her little hand as they walked forward. "Slow down, now. Don't step on the rocks."
The little girl obediently acknowledged, looking down at the ground and taking careful, tiny steps.
Soon, the two arrived at the stream's edge. Gu Xinran squatted down and took a deep breath, smelling the fresh scent of the earth.
The little one copied her, taking a big sniff.
Gu Xinran smiled at her, then dipped her hand into the water. The stream was a bit cool. She scooped up a small handful and tasted it.
Xiao Ye tilted her head, watching her.
"Have a taste, Xiao Ye. This water is very sweet."
Xiao Ye watched curiously for a moment, then held onto Gu Xinran's shoulder and walked to the edge of the stream. She glanced down, took a small step back, and tried to keep her little shoes on the bank to avoid getting them wet.
She squatted down like Gu Xinran and, with some effort, rolled up her sleeves. She dipped her small hands into the water, splashing it around and watching the ripples spread in amazement.
A moment later, the little girl copied Gu Xinran again, scooping up a handful of water. She carefully stuck out her little tongue to lick it, savoring the taste.
"It's sweet!"
"See?"
"Uh-huh!" The little girl nodded excitedly, took another lick, and smacked her lips.
"Alright, the water is too cold. Xiao Ye can't drink it. Drinking cold water will give you a tummy ache." Seeing the little one sticking her butt out and leaning over the stream, almost burying her head in the water, Gu Xinran didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She quickly steadied her and reminded her.
The little girl scratched her head, seeming a bit disappointed.
"Ooh! Ah! Mama, it's moving!" Xiao Ye was suddenly startled by something. She flinched and scrambled backward, landing on the ground with a plop.
"What is it?" Gu Xinran quickly picked her up and felt her pants. The soil on the bank was a bit damp, but thankfully the little one's pants weren't wet. Following the direction of her daughter's finger, Gu Xinran chuckled. It was a small fish, stuck in a crevice between the rocks.
"It's a fish. Doesn't Xiao Ye recognize fish? Don't you love to eat fish?"
"Fish?"
"Uh-huh, look closely."
The little girl's eyes widened as she looked into the water. "Ah! Can I eat it?"
Gu Xinran was exasperated. What a little foodie.
"I guess so. You wait here, and Mama will catch it for you."
"Okay!"
Xiao Ye stood obediently to the side, watching her mother heroically catch a fish for her.
Gu Xinran took off her shoes and socks and stepped into the water, shivering instantly. The water really was quite cold.
"Go, Mama!"
Hearing Xiao Ye's cheer, she was suddenly filled with energy. She observed carefully; the fish really seemed to be trapped in the rocks with nowhere to go, and it looked to be in poor shape. Gu Xinran caught it without much effort. It was only the size of her palm.
"Wow!" Xiao Ye gasped, her eyes growing wide as she applauded for Gu Xinran.
Gu Xinran turned the fish over in her hands and frowned. "Xiao Ye, this fish looks like it's about to die."
"Huh? Mama, please don't let it die, okay? Save it, Mama, Mama!"
"Then Mama will release it, okay?" Gu Xinran said, gently placing the fish back into the water. The fish flicked its tail, instantly revived, and swam away with a whoosh.
"Wow! Mama is the best!" Xiao Ye clapped enthusiastically for Gu Xinran.
Gu Xinran winked at her with a proud smile.
"But what will Xiao Ye eat?"
"Huh?" Gu Xinran didn't know whether to laugh or cry, a look of exasperation on her face.
The mother and daughter played by the stream for a while longer. Gu Xinran caught another fish, filled a plastic bag with water, and kept the fish in it, planning to take it back.
"If Xiao Ye wants to eat fish, we'll wait for Mommy to finish work, and we can grill this fish to eat. If you don't want to eat it, we can take it back to where we're staying and keep it as a pet, okay?"
"Okay!" Xiao Ye nodded, looking at the fish thoughtfully.
"What? You don't want to eat it right now, do you?"
Xiao Ye shook her head.
"Mama, can you catch one more fish?"
"Huh? Why?"
"Auntie Lin likes to eat fish!" Xiao Ye blinked, her face full of certainty.
"Oh? How do you know if Auntie Lin likes to eat fish or not?"
"Mmm, Xiao Ye just knows!"
Gu Xinran felt helpless, but not wanting to disappoint the little one, she nodded in agreement. "Alright, then you wait here for Mama for a moment."
"Okay, go, Mama!"
Before long, Gu Xinran caught another fish. The way the little girl looked at her was different now, her face filled with adoration!
The mother and daughter, each carrying a plastic bag, returned to the set. Seeing that everyone was still busy from a distance, Gu Xinran didn't go over to disturb them. She led Xiao Ye back to the swing and settled the two fish down first.
She then took out Xiao Ye's little milk bottle from her backpack and prepared a bottle of formula for her. The little girl had played enough and was tired, so she happily drank from her bottle.
Gu Xinran looked up at the sun, then glanced around. She picked up Xiao Ye, found a spot under a large tree with plenty of sunlight, and sat down, leaning against the trunk. She held Xiao Ye horizontally in her lap, patting her gently.
"If Xiao Ye is sleepy, you can take a nap."
The soft, warm sunlight fell on them. Not only was the little one getting drowsy, but Gu Xinran also felt a bit tired. She looked down at her daughter's delicate little face, illuminated by the sun, and couldn't resist giving her a light kiss.
In her past life, she had so little time with Xiao Ye that she could almost count the moments on one hand. In this life, she could finally make it up to this little one.
With a command from Yilan, everyone finally wrapped up the morning's shoot and could take a break.
The crew distributed boxed lunches in an orderly fashion. The staff gathered in small groups, sitting together, eating and chatting in a very harmonious atmosphere.
"Look at that mother and daughter. Isn't that heartwarming?"
"Don't say it, sis. I'm dying of envy."
"Are they asleep? Won't they catch a cold sleeping just like that?"
"Yeah… but hey, it's not our place to worry. Look."
Just as the crew member finished speaking, Bai Yilan, who was walking toward the two, glanced back and smiled faintly.
She reached them, draped the jacket she was holding over Xinran, and tugged at it, using the two sleeves to cover Xiao Ye.
Gu Xinran's eyelids fluttered open. "Finished?"
"Mmm, taking a break." Bai Yilan turned and sat down beside her, slipping under the jacket. She leaned her head on Gu Xinran's shoulder, closed her eyes, and wore a look of pure contentment.
Gu Xinran tilted her head and nuzzled her forehead, then turned to give her a kiss. "You've worked hard, baby."
"Hmm? We're an old married couple, and you're still calling me baby. Aren't you tired of being so cheesy?" Bai Yilan chuckled, almost getting goosebumps from the pet name.
"Not at all. You and Xiao Ye are both my babies."
Bai Yilan gently bumped her head against hers. "No wonder Xiao Ye has been so cheeky lately. She learned it all from you, didn't she?"
"Er…"
"Was it you who taught her to ask Xiao Qing to kiss her mouth to see if it's sweet?"
"Hmm? Gu Xinran? Still pretending?"
Bai Yilan glanced over. This woman had actually closed her eyes and started feigning sleep!
"If you dare teach Xiao Ye any more nonsense, just see how I'll deal with you!" Bai Yilan threatened.
Gu Xinran kept her eyes closed, ignoring her.
It really wasn't her fault that Xiao Ye had asked Lin Yuqing to kiss her mouth to see if it was sweet. The little one had come up with that on her own somehow. But Yilan wouldn't believe her even if she said so. After all, who would believe a two-year-old could say something so flirty?
Gu Xinran sighed silently and lit a candle for herself in her heart.
Yilan, beside her, didn't continue her lecture. Gu Xinran gently turned her head to look. Her eyes were closed, and she seemed extremely tired, on the verge of falling asleep.
Gu Xinran glanced around. The crew members who had finished their lunch were also finding sunny spots to take a nap.
Lin Yuqing was sitting on some steps, resting her chin in her hand and looking at Gu Xinran.
Their eyes met, and Gu Xinran nodded at her.
Lin Yuqing understood and walked over.
"What is it, Sister Ran?" Lin Yuqing asked.
"Come here, sit here. Take Xiao Ye." Gu Xinran gestured with her eyes to the spot beside her.
"Huh?" Lin Yuqing was puzzled for a moment but did as she was told.
She squatted down beside her and carefully took the little girl into her arms. Then she turned and sat down next to her, quickly adjusting her posture so the little one could lie comfortably in her embrace.
Gu Xinran slipped one hand behind Yilan's waist and supported her head with the other, cradling her as she lay down in her lap.
Bai Yilan's eyelids fluttered.
"Go to sleep. Everyone is napping, no one will see. Get some proper rest," Gu Xinran said softly.
"Mmm." Bai Yilan nodded slightly, closed her eyes again, and turned her head to find a comfortable position, sleeping with a look of contentment.
Gu Xinran smiled, gazing at her radiant face for a while. When she looked up, she saw Lin Yuqing smiling at her.
"This is so nice," Lin Yuqing said. It was so good that the two of them could be this happy in this life.
Gu Xinran chuckled and nodded at her.
"I'll leave Xiao Ye with you. You should get some rest too. You have a busy afternoon ahead," Gu Xinran whispered.
"Okay."
Lin Yuqing stared at the little girl's rosy face for a while, her eyes filled with a gentle light.
Before long, she could faintly hear Xinran's steady breathing. Lin Yuqing glanced over; both Xinran and Yilan were sound asleep. She looked around again; the rest of the crew was scattered about, sleeping in various positions.
All was quiet, with only the occasional breeze rustling the leaves, making a soft, swishing sound.
Lin Yuqing tightened her arms, pulling the little girl closer. She stared at her sleeping face for a long time, then slowly leaned down and planted a gentle kiss on her smooth forehead.
Having successfully stolen a kiss from the little one, Lin Yuqing's lips curved into a contented smile. The next second, she reflexively glanced at the other two. Thankfully, they were still fast asleep, and she finally relaxed.
Lin Yuqing leaned against the tree trunk and closed her eyes. Just as she was about to drift off, the little girl in her arms suddenly kicked a leg, startling her. She immediately opened her eyes to look. Xiao Ye's little brow was furrowed tightly. Lin Yuqing patted her gently for a while, smoothing her brow.
When Bai Yilan opened her eyes, she was still a bit dazed. Realizing she was being held by Xinran, her heart filled with warmth. She saw Xinran with her head bowed, looking incredibly cute as she dozed off, and couldn't resist a playful urge.
She lifted a strand of her hair and gently tickled Xinran's nose, then quickly pulled her hand back and closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep.
Gu Xinran sneezed, jolting awake. Her first instinct was to pat Yilan's waist, soothing her as if she were coaxing Xiao Ye to sleep.
Bai Yilan opened her eyes with a smile. Their gazes met, and Yilan once again tickled her nose with her hair.
"You little rascal," Gu Xinran said with a light laugh, patting her hand away.
"Slept well?"
"Mmm," Yilan replied, stretching. "Where's Xiao Ye?" She froze, just now realizing the child seemed to be missing?
"There. Did you think I'd toss our child aside just to hold you?" Gu Xinran glanced to the side.
Bai Yilan sat up, looked over, and breathed a sigh of relief.
Suddenly, the little girl sneezed, startling herself awake. She blinked, looking completely bewildered.
Lin Yuqing was also woken by the sneeze and was momentarily stunned. The two of them stared at each other, both looking utterly confused.
"Auntie Lin?" Xiao Ye reached a small hand out from under the jacket to rub her eyes, as if she couldn't believe she had been sleeping in Auntie Lin's arms!
"Uh-huh. Is Xiao Ye awake?" Lin Yuqing gently tucked her little hand back under the jacket and smiled softly.
"Mmm!" Xiao Ye nodded, then stared at her dazedly for another moment.
She yawned, finally waking up completely.
"Ah, Auntie Lin, Mama and I caught a fish for you!"
"Huh?"
"Mmm-hmm!" Xiao Ye sat up, excitedly climbed off Lin Yuqing's lap, and ran to the swing. She picked up a plastic bag full of water from the swing and, taking tiny, careful steps, carried it back to Lin Yuqing.
"Look, Auntie Lin, it's a big fish! Auntie Lin likes fish the most, right?" Xiao Ye's eyes were sparkling.
Lin Yuqing smiled warmly. "Yes."
Yes, in her past life, she loved fish the most. The first time Xiao Ye tried to cook fish for her, she was too scared to kill it. She brought the knife down, but not only did the fish not die, it flopped all over the floor, smearing blood everywhere and scaring her half to death!
She still remembered that day. When she came home, she saw Xiao Ye holding a kitchen knife, splattered with blood. She had been terrified and, without thinking, ran over and shielded Xiao Ye behind her.
That was the first time she had actively shown concern for Xiao Ye through her actions. And after that, she started to care for the little one more and more.
She never expected that, at such a young age, she would still remember that she loved fish.
"Xiao Ye? You only caught a fish for Auntie Lin? Is there none for Mommy?" Bai Yilan was jealous again, so much so that her mouth felt sour. She was terribly sad.
Bai Yilan pouted and blinked, trying to well up tears.
"Don't cry, Mommy. Mommy has one too, Mommy has a fish too, a really big one!" Xiao Ye grew anxious. After speaking, she placed the fish in her hands into Lin Yuqing's and turned to run back to the swing.
She accidentally tripped and fell, startling everyone. Just as Bai Yilan was about to go over, she saw the little girl pick herself up. Without even bothering to dust off her pants, she continued running and brought back another 'big water balloon' from the swing.
"Mommy's! A big fish!" Xiao Ye looked at Bai Yilan, her eyes shining brightly.
Bai Yilan quickly took the water balloon, placed it in Gu Xinran's hands, and then picked up Xiao Ye, her heart aching.
She helped dust off her little pants and rolled up the leg to look. Her knee was red from the fall.
"Mommy, fishy!" Xiao Ye pointed at the water balloon.
Bai Yilan was moved beyond words. "Thank you, baby."
"Don't cry, Mommy."
"Mmm, Mommy isn't crying."
"Mommy knows that Xiao Ye thinks about Mommy and loves Mommy very much, right?"
"Very, very much!" Xiao Ye said, grabbing Bai Yilan's hand and placing it over her own heart, so serious that her little brow furrowed with effort.
Bai Yilan kissed her. "Thank you, baby. Mommy loves you too, very, very much."
Xiao Ye grinned.
Bai Yilan played with Xiao Ye for a while until the rest of the crew began to wake up, and then she returned to work.
Gu Xinran held Xiao Ye and sat on the swing, gently rubbing her knee.
"Does it hurt?" Gu Xinran nuzzled Xiao Ye's temple and asked softly.
"It hurts a little bit." Xiao Ye held up her little hand and made a tiny 'one' gesture.
"But it doesn't hurt when Mama rubs it!"
Gu Xinran's heart warmed upon hearing that. "Is Xiao Ye trying to comfort Mama?"
"Ehehe." Xiao Ye smiled shyly.
"Xiao Ye is so brave. Mama will give you a kiss."
"Mwah~"
The afternoon shoot went just as smoothly. After spending this time together, the crew had witnessed Lin Yuqing's capabilities and were full of praise for her acting skills.
Coupled with her low-key and easygoing nature, she was quite popular despite being a bit quiet, and she got along well with everyone on set.
Even someone like Jin Shuang, who had seen countless good actors, praised Lin Yuqing highly and had great expectations for her.
The scene they were currently filming was of Lin Yuqing squatting in a flowerbed, planting flowers. Her handling of each plant was extremely meticulous; it was clear she had done her homework beforehand and didn't need anyone to worry about her or tell her how to handle the flowers and plants.
The way she looked at the orchids was incredibly gentle, not vacant at all. It was the gaze of someone with a story to tell. Her movements, though slow, were reverent, immediately drawing everyone into her inner world.
"Tsk, this scene is actually quite difficult to act. The character has to use these flowers to express her longing for her deceased wife. There are no lines; these flowers are her scene partners. It's a real test of acting skill."
"She really is a good actress. Her emotions are so rich, and her ability to empathize is strong. Most importantly, the way she releases her emotions—her actions seem insignificant, but they always manage to touch the deepest part of your heart. I can't explain why, but I'm just moved by her."
"Sisters, I have a feeling this show is going to be a hit, a massive hit!"
"I feel the same way. It would be an injustice if such a dedicated actress didn't become famous!"
"I need to get her autograph later."
"Pfft…"
A few crew members, watching Lin Yuqing's performance on the monitor, couldn't help but whisper among themselves.
Gu Xinran held Xiao Ye and watched from the side. After staring at the monitor for a while, she couldn't help but nod. Xiao Qing's acting was even more mature than she had imagined.
As Gu Xinran was feeling emotional, she caught sight of Xiao Ye out of the corner of her eye. The little one was also nodding incessantly, even leaning over and perking up her ears to eavesdrop on the crew members praising her Auntie Lin.
Gu Xinran chuckled, charmed by her smiling face. She quietly slipped out of the crowd and went off to play with her daughter, feeling completely at ease.
As the sky gradually darkened, everyone prepared to wrap up for the day.
"Great work, everyone. Let's call it a day. Pack up your things, and let's head down the mountain before it gets completely dark," Bai Yilan announced.
A cheer immediately went up from the crowd.
Bai Yilan rubbed her shoulders and was helping everyone pack up the equipment when she suddenly felt something was off. Normally, by this time, that big one and little one would have run over to her for hugs and cuddles. Why was it so quiet today?
Bai Yilan stopped what she was doing and looked around, but she couldn't see them anywhere. Just as she was wondering, her right eyelid suddenly twitched several times, sending an inexplicable wave of panic through her.
"Has anyone seen Xinran and Xiao Ye?" Bai Yilan asked loudly.
"Ah, Sister Lan, I saw them. Sister Ran told me just now that she was taking the child back first. But from her back, she seemed to be in a real hurry, and her expression was a bit serious. I don't know what happened."
"What? Why didn't you say so earlier?" Jin Shuang was also stunned.
"I… I was filming just now, I…"
"Alright, it's fine. You all continue packing. I'll go take a look." Bai Yilan frowned, said goodbye to everyone, and started down the mountain first.
She had only taken a few steps when she heard footsteps behind her. She turned to see it was Lin Yuqing.
"Let's go together," Lin Yuqing said.
"Okay."
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