Married in a Daze - Chapter 130
Chapter 130
The next morning, their flight was at seven o'clock. Just as Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun, packed and ready, stepped out their door, they saw He Shuangshuang opening hers. He Shuangshuang was still holding the suitcase from the night before. The three of them stared at each other for a long moment. From behind He Shuangshuang came Ji Lu's voice, "What are you doing blocking the doorway? Get out! Zhenzhen and Teacher Lu will be leaving soon."
Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun exchanged a glance, both looking puzzled, but neither spoke.
Ji Lu gave He Shuangshuang a push from behind and heard He Shuangshuang say, "Morning."
"What morning? You..." Ji Lu hadn't finished her sentence when she spotted the two people outside the door over He Shuangshuang's shoulder. Her voice took a sharp turn, and she forced a smile. "Good morning, you two."
Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun shared a look and a knowing smile.
In the car, Ji Lu kept glancing at them. Seeing their calm expressions, she wanted to explain but felt it was unnecessary. Yet, not explaining made her feel stifled. Her face showed a trace of annoyance as she turned to look out the window. Finally, when they reached the airport, she couldn't hold back anymore and called out, "Zhenzhen!"
Qin Zhenzhen turned. They had arrived quite early. Lu Ruyun and He Shuangshuang had gone to buy coffee. She and Ji Lu were sitting in the lounge. Hearing Ji Lu's voice, she tilted her head and looked at her.
Under her gaze, Ji Lu's voice dropped a little. "Zhenzhen, actually, last night He Shuangshuang couldn't find a hotel nearby, so I let her crash for one night. It really isn't what you and Teacher Lu are thinking!"
Qin Zhenzhen chuckled, deliberately teasing her. "It's not what we think? Then why did He Shuangshuang come out early?"
Ji Lu was stumped. "She was afraid you'd misunderstand."
Qin Zhenzhen nodded slightly. "But since there's nothing between you, how could we misunderstand?"
Ji Lu opened her mouth but couldn't argue. She simply hung her head. Qin Zhenzhen laughed. "I'm teasing you. Of course I know there's nothing going on."
"You don't even like her. How could we misunderstand?"
Ji Lu nodded obediently, as if convincing herself. "Yeah, I don't even like her."
He Shuangshuang and Lu Ruyun, having already bought the coffee, were standing right behind them. He Shuangshuang's grip on the packaging bag produced a crisp crinkling sound. Qin Zhenzhen and Ji Lu turned to see them standing there.
"You're back," Qin Zhenzhen smiled softly at Lu Ruyun, taking the coffee she offered.
Ji Lu also met He Shuangshuang's bright eyes. Seeing her stare directly at her, Ji Lu felt inexplicably guilty, blinked, and turned her head away pretending not to see her.
Soon, the four of them boarded the plane. Qin Zhenzhen kept pulling Lu Ruyun aside for whispered conversations, and on the plane, they sat together, with only intermittent murmurs reaching the seats behind. Ji Lu and He Shuangshuang sat behind them. Compared to the intimacy of the pair in front, the atmosphere between them was decidedly awkward.
He Shuangshuang didn't say a single word to her. Once on the plane, she tilted her head and leaned against the side to sleep. Ji Lu kept glancing at the couple in front, then at the person beside her, before finally succumbing to boredom and falling asleep herself.
Qin Zhenzhen turned, intending to call Ji Lu, but seeing both of them resting, she pursed her lips and turned back. Lu Ruyun whispered, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. We'll talk after we land."
Lu Ruyun nodded and leaned back in her seat. Qin Zhenzhen also leaned against her. After a moment's thought, she said, "Ruyun, you were right before. Teacher Tang Ya really went to audition for The Means to Survive."
Her tone carried a hint of displeasure and underlying worry. Lu Ruyun glanced at her, knowing she wouldn't easily show such an expression. Last time, to audition for Mountain Girl, she had lost over ten pounds in just a week to better fit the character's image. Besides that, Tang Ya's own unwillingness to change her image had given Qin Zhenzhen a chance. Presumably, this time, Tang Ya's decision to audition for The Means to Survive meant she was well-prepared.
At the very least, more prepared than for Mountain Girl. She wouldn't stumble over the same stone twice.
Moreover, if Qin Zhenzhen knew Tang Ya was auditioning, others probably did too. Compared to the secrecy surrounding the Mountain Girl audition, this was practically announcing her schedule. So, if she wasn't at least ninety percent confident, she wouldn't dare do this.
Hearing Qin Zhenzhen's words, Lu Ruyun's expression also turned serious. She reached out, pulled Qin Zhenzhen closer, and rubbed her shoulder. "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Just do your best."
Qin Zhenzhen hummed in acknowledgment at her comfort, then turned her head with a light laugh. "If I don't get it, Teacher Lu, don't forget what you promised me."
Lu Ruyun knew she was changing the subject. She nodded obediently. "Zhenzhen, whether you get it or not, you can still do that."
A spark lit up Qin Zhenzhen's eyes, and she smiled, pressing her lips together.
The warm atmosphere between the pair in front didn't extend to the back. It was as if a wall separated the two rows of seats. At least by the time they disembarked, Ji Lu still hadn't managed to speak to He Shuangshuang.
Staff from Perfect Star Magazine were there to pick them up, with two cars sent. Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun took the lead car, while He Shuangshuang and Ji Lu followed in the second.
Since Meng Xin and He Shuangshuang had already negotiated the terms with the magazine and the contract was signed, the car went directly to the photography studio.
The props were all set up in the studio. Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun had only allocated one day for this, with an interview session for both of them after the shoot, so the photography time was actually very tight. Upon arrival, they were immediately taken to change.
The stylist was the exclusive one for Perfect Star Magazine. Every guest's styling came from her hands. It wasn't just about clothes and makeup coordination; she was also exceptionally skilled at design, and each of her creations played to the subject's strengths while minimizing weaknesses.
Many said that Perfect Star Magazine's best-selling status was partly due to her, which gave her a very high standing at the magazine. Even the editor-in-chief treated her with a degree of deference.
After changing, Qin Zhenzhen was subjected to Sister Wei's critical gaze. When she learned the next guest was Qin Zhenzhen, she had been very unhappy. Who in the industry didn't know that the clothes she designed were always for high-end individuals? And this "high-end" was not something a mere traffic star like Qin Zhenzhen could compare to.
So, she hadn't agreed to design clothes for Qin Zhenzhen.
Of course, this wasn't the first time she had chosen to 'go on strike'. Every time she received information about a guest, she would assess them. If she found them lacking, she would claim she had "no inspiration," and even the editor-in-chief was powerless against her.
This time, for Qin Zhenzhen, she used the same old excuse.
No inspiration.
Initially, Qin Zhenzhen didn't know this. She only felt that Sister Wei's gaze on her was too sharp, like hidden blades scraping over her.
In contrast, after Lu Ruyun changed and came out, the treatment she received was much better. Seeing her, Sister Wei couldn't help but soften the sharpness in her eyes, her expression growing noticeably warmer.
Seeing this attitude, Qin Zhenzhen frowned and thought for a few seconds but couldn't figure it out, even as Ji Lu pulled her over for makeup.
During makeup, she wasn't seated with Lu Ruyun. The makeup rooms here were separate. Lu Ruyun was in the room next door. Sister Wei did her makeup first.
Looking at Qin Zhenzhen, who had her eyes slightly closed, Sister Wei's gaze was calm. No matter how much she objected to Qin Zhenzhen, she had to admit she was a rare natural beauty, untouched by any later modifications. Under normal circumstances, having such a beauty to work on would likely please her. But not now.
Not when she was supposed to be Perfect Star Magazine's new face.
What use was being pretty? The guests Perfect Star Magazine invited always competed on substance, on depth, never so superficially on looks. She wasn't unaware that the higher-ups intended to change the magazine's target audience direction. But choosing Qin Zhenzhen for the first attempt still displeased her greatly.
Despite her displeasure, Sister Wei's professionalism wouldn't allow her to do anything unprofessional. While applying Qin Zhenzhen's makeup, she suppressed the unhappiness in her eyes, her expression serious, her movements skilled and natural. After studying Qin Zhenzhen's bare face for several glances, she quickly began applying her makeup.
Qin Zhenzhen opened her eyes when she heard "Done." She was wearing a white dress, with tiny floral patterns adorning the shoulders, dotted with sparkling diamonds that glittered under the light. In the mirror, her makeup was light and subtle, very natural. Her skin was already fair, and excessive makeup would only mask her beauty, so Sister Wei had given her a light application.
Seeing Qin Zhenzhen's faint smile in the mirror, the unhappiness in Sister Wei's heart dissipated a little. If the pre-makeup Qin Zhenzhen was a rare beauty, then the post-makeup Qin Zhenzhen was like a little fairy who had descended to the mortal world, ethereal and graceful.
Qin Zhenzhen was very satisfied with this look. She turned to Sister Wei with a smile and said sincerely, "Thank you, Sister Wei."
Her smile was genuine, her eyes clear and bright. Sister Wei had seen all sorts of people, countless eyes hiding various emotions, but it had been a long time since she'd seen eyes like Qin Zhenzhen's—so pure. She was momentarily stunned, then averted her gaze without replying.
Qin Zhenzhen watched her and her assistant walk out, presumably to do Lu Ruyun's makeup. She followed them out and went straight to the shooting area to wait for Lu Ruyun.
Staff bustled around. Qin Zhenzhen sat on a stool and played with her phone for a while. When she heard the words "Sister Wei" and "Qin Zhenzhen," she focused her attention, listening to the chatting staff ahead.
"So Sister Wei really is unhappy. I thought I was mistaken."
"How could she be happy? Just think about the status of the guests she used to work with. Qin Zhenzhen doesn't measure up."
"Keep your voice down." Hearing this, one of the girls instinctively glanced at Qin Zhenzhen. Seeing her still playing with her phone, she lowered her voice. "You're right. I don't understand what the higher-ups are thinking. If this goes wrong, won't we become a laughingstock in the industry?"
"Don't say anymore. The other day, Tiger Roar Magazine messaged me asking if we'd really invited Qin Zhenzhen. I said yes, and they even asked if our boss had lost his..."
She pointed a finger at her own head. Qin Zhenzhen lowered her eyelids. Truth be told, she also felt uncertain about this collaboration. As these staff members said, any one of the previous guests Perfect Star Magazine invited carried more weight than she did. But this time, they wanted to expand their audience, hence choosing to combine traffic with high-end. Whether it would succeed or not, no one could say for sure.
She put away her phone, noticing the previously noisy atmosphere had quieted for a moment. She looked up. It was Lu Ruyun and Sister Wei emerging from the makeup room.
Lu Ruyun was also wearing a dress, but the style was slightly different from hers. Qin Zhenzhen's skirt was long, sweeping past her ankles and trailing on the ground. But Lu Ruyun's skirt ended just below the knee, with the hem adorned with floral patterns and tiny diamonds, matching the ones on Qin Zhenzhen's shoulders. Clearly, this was a coordinated design, one long and one short.
This dress suited Lu Ruyun perfectly. The thought suddenly popped into Qin Zhenzhen's mind. Watching Lu Ruyun approach, she stood up and went to meet her.
Sister Wei was talking to the photographer. Qin Zhenzhen leaned her head close to Lu Ruyun's ear and whispered, "Teacher Lu, what do we look like dressed like this?"
Lu Ruyun turned to meet her bright eyes, her expression as composed as ever. "Like what?"
Qin Zhenzhen's voice dropped even lower. "Don't we look like we're about to get married?"
Lu Ruyun was taken aback for a moment. After a few seconds of thought, she lowered her head, pressed her lips together in a smile, and hooked her little finger around Qin Zhenzhen's, a warm current flowing through her heart.
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