Married in a Daze - Chapter 140
Chapter 140
When Qin Zhenzhen and Ji Lu returned home, Qin Ye had already prepared a veritable feast. Firstly, because Yin Lanfang was being discharged from the hospital, and secondly, because Qin Zhenzhen's event had concluded successfully. He was so happy that he made a table full of dishes. He wouldn't let anyone help, busying himself alone in the kitchen, humming a tune as he worked.
He Shuangshuang had originally wanted to leave early, but Yin Lanfang insisted she stay for dinner. After declining twice, Lu Ruyun also told her it was fine to stay and eat before leaving, so she finally agreed.
Lu Ruyun didn't say much, but both Yin Lanfang and He Shuangshuang were talkative, chatting away with frequent laughter that even made Lu Ruyun smile.
When Qin Zhenzhen brought Ji Lu home, this was the harmonious scene she saw.
The person she loved was happily chatting and laughing with her parents, surrounded by good friends—all was joyous and harmonious.
Ji Lu had been dragged upstairs by Qin Zhenzhen. She was initially worried about being a third wheel, but unexpectedly seeing a familiar figure, she immediately relaxed and followed Qin Zhenzhen into the house.
"Mom."
Qin Zhenzhen changed her shoes and walked over to the sofa, calling out. Lu Ruyun looked up and saw Qin Zhenzhen gracefully walking over. She scooted aside to make room for her to sit.
Ji Lu glanced at Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun, then very self-consciously walked over to He Shuangshuang, plopping down beside her.
The expression on He Shuangshuang's face, which had just been smiling and chatting with Yin Lanfang, froze for a few seconds. She glanced at Ji Lu out of the corner of her eye, and seeing her look perfectly composed, silently averted her gaze.
Not long after, Qin Ye called them for dinner. Qin Zhenzhen stood up first to go help, skipping into the kitchen. Lu Ruyun followed closely behind. The two of them helped bring out the dishes. Ji Lu and He Shuangshuang exchanged a look, then each glanced away. Yin Lanfang laughed, "Come, let's eat. Have a taste of Uncle Qin's cooking."
He Shuangshuang, being closer, helped her stand up. Ji Lu followed behind them and sat down at the dining table. Knowing they would be driving later, Qin Ye brought out several cans of soda. When Ji Lu reached out to take a can, He Shuangshuang also extended her hand. Their fingertips touched, and Ji Lu quickly withdrew hers. The can Qin Ye was handing her fell onto the tiled floor with a clatter.
"Sorry, sorry, I didn't hold it properly." Ji Lu hurriedly bent down to pick it up. Qin Ye chuckled, "It's fine. See if the can is dented?"
Ji Lu picked it up and looked, smiling, "No."
He Shuangshuang glanced at her sideways, said nothing, took the can from her hand, opened it, and took a drink, tilting her head back. Ji Lu turned to look at her, watching the curve from her chin to her neck as she drank, inexplicably swallowing, then lowered her eyes.
"Ji Lu, eat."
Qin Zhenzhen stood beside Ji Lu, seeing she wasn't moving, nudged her arm. Ji Lu snapped out of it, her face slightly flushed as she sat down on the stool.
It was a small square table. Yin Lanfang and Qin Ye each sat on one side. Qin Zhenzhen sat next to Lu Ruyun, and Ji Lu sat beside He Shuangshuang.
There were many dishes, and everyone was in good spirits, so the meal lasted a bit longer than usual. Yin Lanfang was her usual self, habitually bickering with Qin Ye, telling Qin Zhenzhen that Qin Ye was getting old and forgetful. Qin Ye just smiled good-naturedly, not getting angry.
He Shuangshuang occasionally looked up at the arguing elderly couple and inexplicably felt a sense of warmth. She probably somewhat understood why Lu Ruyun liked coming to the Qin household.
Ji Lu stole glances at He Shuangshuang out of the corner of her eye. Seeing her expression gentler than usual, she was momentarily captivated, just staring at her, only lowering her head to eat after a long moment.
After dinner, Qin Ye still cleared the dishes. Everyone sat on the sofa watching TV for a while. Seeing it was getting late, Qin Zhenzhen softly said to Lu Ruyun, "Should we be heading back?"
Lu Ruyun glanced at her wristwatch and nodded with a light smile. "Okay."
As she said this, she stood up. Qin Ye also emerged from the kitchen, carrying a fruit platter. Qin Zhenzhen said to him, "Don't eat too much at night."
Qin Ye grinned, "It's fine."
Qin Zhenzhen walked over to him, took the platter, and placed it on the coffee table. She said to Yin Lanfang, "Mom, it's late. We'll get going first."
"Leaving already? Won't you sit a bit longer?" Yin Lanfang stood up. Qin Zhenzhen shook her head. "No, Ruyun has to go to the film crew early tomorrow."
Only then did Yin Lanfang let them go. "Alright then. Be careful on your way back."
Ji Lu and He Shuangshuang stood behind Lu Ruyun and also took the opportunity to bid farewell to Yin Lanfang and Qin Ye. When Qin Zhenzhen reached the doorway, she suddenly called out, "Mom."
Yin Lanfang looked up. "What is it? Did you forget something?"
Qin Zhenzhen shook her head with a smile. "No. It's just about the wedding. Don't you and Dad forget."
Yin Lanfang walked over to her, straightening her clothes. "I know, I won't forget."
Only then, satisfied, did Qin Zhenzhen kiss Yin Lanfang on the cheek before turning to leave. Yin Lanfang watched her retreating figure, muttering, "Still like a child."
Qin Ye stood beside her, wrapping an arm around her. "Even a child... has grown up."
Hearing this, Yin Lanfang's eyes grew moist. She whispered, "Yes."
The 'child' who had already grown up, Qin Zhenzhen, linked arms with Lu Ruyun and got into the elevator. Behind them, He Shuangshuang and Ji Lu still stood in awkward silence, not saying a word.
Downstairs, they decided Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun would take one car back, while He Shuangshuang would drop Ji Lu off. This was more convenient. Lu Ruyun also nodded, having no objections. He Shuangshuang glanced at Ji Lu and shrugged. "No problem."
"Then it's settled. Shuangshuang, you take Ji Lu back first."
"Be careful on the road."
He Shuangshuang grunted in acknowledgment. "It's fine, don't worry."
Hearing her say that, Ji Lu let out a sudden snort of laughter. He Shuangshuang looked at her, bewildered. "What are you laughing at?"
Ji Lu got into the car while saying, "I still remember someone saying before that they were the Akina downhill racing queen, with top-notch driving skills."
[The result was a crash, they almost hit the guardrail.]
He Shuangshuang also remembered the incident back at Tianyuan Temple and said awkwardly, "That time was an accident."
Ji Lu turned to look at her. "Which day of your life isn't an accident?"
He Shuangshuang retorted, annoyed, "Can't you say something more auspicious? Do you want us to get into a car accident before you're happy?"
Ji Lu gave her a sidelong glance and remained silent.
He Shuangshuang started the engine, the car carving an arc on the road as it sped away. Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun also exchanged a look and got into their car.
Lu Ruyun was driving. Qin Zhenzhen sat in the passenger seat, fiddling with her phone. Lu Ruyun occasionally glanced at her sideways. "Looking at what?"
Qin Zhenzhen looked down. "Checking the online response."
It was quite good. Just as Ji Lu had said, besides her fans praising her styling this time, several fairly well-known fashion influencers had reposted on Weibo, showering praise. Driven by them, more and more netizens flooded in, all voicing their opinions.
—Looks great! Anyway, I bought it.
—Bought it too, plus one. Love the sleeve design super, super much!
—Don't even mention it, look at my shopping cart, all five colors.
—The person upstairs is hardcore. But I bought three colors.
—Sky blue is the prettiest! Qin Zhenzhen's exact same style, simply gorgeous!
Qin Zhenzhen browsed Weibo for a while, then checked some forums. Seeing everyone was very supportive of her endorsement this time, especially her fans, who said that after failing to buy the magazine, buying the clothes somewhat made up for the emptiness in their hearts. Lu Ruyun, seeing her chuckle from time to time, asked, "The response is good?"
"Super good! Do you know Gu Changyun?"
Lu Ruyun frowned. "I know. What about him?"
Qin Zhenzhen smiled, waving her phone with his Weibo post in front of Lu Ruyun. "Even he praised me. Last year, he was the one who criticized me the most harshly."
Just as they reached a traffic light, Lu Ruyun stopped the car, tilted her head to look at Qin Zhenzhen's phone. It was indeed Gu Changyun's Weibo. Seeing Qin Zhenzhen so happy, she couldn't help but call out, "Zhenzhen."
Qin Zhenzhen tilted her head. "Hmm?"
The car behind them honked. Lu Ruyun released the clutch and stepped on the accelerator. The car slowly moved forward. Qin Zhenzhen was still tilting her head, looking at Lu Ruyun. "What did you want to say just now?"
Lu Ruyun, hearing the pleasure in her voice, smiled. "I'll tell you at home."
Qin Zhenzhen nodded. "Okay."
Arriving at the apartment, after Lu Ruyun parked the car, Qin Zhenzhen waited for her at the entrance. The two of them entered the apartment together, arm in arm. Lu Ruyun still hadn't finished what she wanted to say earlier, and Qin Zhenzhen was also busy looking at her phone, forgetting about it. After returning to the apartment, she told Lu Ruyun to go shower first. Lu Ruyun nudged her body, saying, "You go first. I need to call Shuangshuang."
"Okay." After agreeing, Qin Zhenzhen went to the bedroom to get her pajamas, then headed into the bathroom. Only after the sound of rushing water came from the bathroom did Lu Ruyun withdraw her gaze. She went on Weibo and the forums. Qin Zhenzhen's name was still on the front page, with Lanyi's name close behind. The discussions on Weibo were also in full swing.
All kinds of praise came pouring in. After Perfect Star Magazine, Qin Zhenzhen was being flooded online once again. Trending topics popped up one after another. Lanyi's sales were also soaring online. Yet, she quietly furrowed her brow.
When Qin Zhenzhen came out of the bathroom, Lu Ruyun was still sitting on the sofa. She walked over and hugged Lu Ruyun from behind. "What are you looking at?"
Then she saw the screen showed Lanyi's event page and laughed. "What, does Teacher Lu also want to buy clothes?"
Lu Ruyun turned to look at her. Qin Zhenzhen had just showered, a wave of fragrance wafting over. Suppressing the bad premonition in her heart, she raised her lips and said, "No, I'm just looking."
Qin Zhenzhen moved from the side of the sofa to beside her, her red lips parting as she said, "Isn't it just a few more days before you have to go for the promotions?"
Lu Ruyun nodded, pulling Qin Zhenzhen's body closer, resting her chin on her shoulder. "Four or five days."
Qin Zhenzhen pursed her lips. "I won't be able to go with you."
She needed to prepare for the wedding, so she couldn't accompany Lu Ruyun. Although she knew it would only be for a few days, the thought of Lu Ruyun being in a place without her still made Qin Zhenzhen somewhat worried.
"Should you take the medicine with you?"
"Zhenzhen." Lu Ruyun held her, her breath whispering just below Qin Zhenzhen's earlobe. "I'm fine now."
Qin Zhenzhen pouted, skeptical of this statement, but didn't refute it further. The two sat on the sofa, just snuggling like that. The atmosphere was quiet. Lu Ruyun pursed her lips and finally asked, "Zhenzhen, how many more years until your contract with Jing Rui Entertainment expires?"
Jing Rui Entertainment was her current management company. Qin Zhenzhen was momentarily taken aback by this sudden question.
Her initial contract with Jing Rui Entertainment had been for three years. Last year, when it was time for renewal, it coincided with her conflict with Lu Ruyun and being attacked online. At that time, Jing Rui Entertainment's attitude toward her was one of neglect, canceling many of her schedules, telling her to take a break. The contract was even changed from three years to one year, expiring this July.
After hearing this, Lu Ruyun let out a relieved sigh, her expression softening considerably.
Qin Zhenzhen looked at her curiously. "Why ask about this all of a sudden?"
Lu Ruyun smiled, lifting her lips. "Just suddenly remembered."
Qin Zhenzhen pinched the tip of her nose. "Lu Ruyun, you're not telling the truth."
Lu Ruyun wrapped her arms around Qin Zhenzhen's waist, leaning close to her ear and whispering softly, "Hmm, I'm not telling the truth. So, are you going to punish me?"
Hearing her slightly low voice, Qin Zhenzhen felt an itch in her heart. Her hands very consciously slid to Lu Ruyun's waist. When Lu Ruyun chuckled softly and said, 'I haven't showered yet,' Qin Zhenzhen bit Lu Ruyun's lip and said, "We'll shower together later."
On the television screen, their bodies were entangled, the atmosphere rippling, the sounds ambiguous.
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