Married in a Daze - Chapter 23

Chapter 23

This wasn't Qin Zhenzhen's first time eating with Lu Ruyun. In fact, since their marriage, the number of meals they'd shared had noticeably increased. Yet, she still couldn't figure out why Lu Ruyun had come over to "share her meal" today.

Her puzzled gaze kept flickering towards Lu Ruyun. She wanted to ask but felt it would be abrupt; not asking, however, left her feeling restless. After a few more bites, she finally spoke up. "Teacher Lu, why did you come over?"

Lu Ruyun picked up a few grains of white rice, chewed slowly and deliberately, then replied, "Song He invited me. He said you've missed me a lot these past few days."

Her expression was normal, her tone as light and detached as ever, but to Qin Zhenzhen's ears, the words struck like muffled thunder, booming and rattling her unprepared.

She missed her???

Song He, what the hell!

When had she ever said she missed her?

It was one thing for them to tease her in private, but to actually go and stir things up with Lu Ruyun? How embarrassing!

A faint blush colored Qin Zhenzhen's face for a moment. She cleared her throat. "They're just messing around. If there's a next time, Teacher Lu, you can just ignore them."

Lu Ruyun's hand, holding her chopsticks, paused slightly. She raised her eyes to meet Qin Zhenzhen's clear ones, where a flicker of indignant fire hadn't yet died down, making them appear even brighter. She parted her lips. "Alright."

Her ready compliance left Qin Zhenzhen at a loss for words. She could only stare at the crown of Lu Ruyun's head, the whorl in her hair as she looked down, when she suddenly heard Lu Ruyun's voice. "Not eating?"

Qin Zhenzhen snapped back. "Eating."

The air conditioning fan under the umbrella continued to whirr noisily. At the small square table, the two ate in silence. Not far away, a group was sitting together. Sun Qin laughed. "They really do look like a perfect match, no matter how you look at them."

As soon as she finished speaking, several others chimed in agreement. "Yeah, Zhenzhen was so bashful just now."

"So good. They look so happy like this!"

"I really want to sneak a photo to show those gossipy haters on Weibo! Let them see for themselves instead of making up all those ridiculous scripts. Clearly, Zhenzhen and Teacher Lu are so lovely together!"

The girl who said this had a very cute smile, with two dimples at the corners of her mouth. She was the same one who, not long ago, had asked Qin Zhenzhen who had pursued whom.

After her words, everyone's gaze turned to her. Holding her phone, her fingers seemed frozen in place. "I was just kidding! Who would dare actually take a picture?"

Her slightly cowardly expression made the group laugh. Song He chuckled. "Rather than sneaking a photo, why not just ask Zhenzhen openly? She's not that petty."

The dimpled girl widened her eyes. "Really?"

"Would Zhenzhen agree?"

Truth be told, she had long wanted to take a picture of this pair of beautiful people. It was just that there had been no opportunity during previous meals, and after returning, Teacher Lu hadn't been on set, so no chance again. Now, finally, there was a perfect moment, but she was scared!

Seeing her like this, Song He beckoned. "Come on, I'll go with you."

The girl scurried after him.

Under the umbrella, Qin Zhenzhen watched as Song He and the girl stood before her. She couldn't believe her ears and repeated, "You said what?"

Song He pointed at the girl. "She wants to take a photo of you and Teacher Lu. Is that okay?"

Is that okay?

You're asking if it's okay?

I haven't even settled the score with you for bringing Lu Ruyun here without permission!

Qin Zhenzhen's gaze was sharp, laced with cold daggers that seemed to scrape over Song He's body. Song He's expression changed slightly. Before he could speak, Lu Ruyun's light voice interjected. "It's fine."

The girl's eyes instantly lit up. Qin Zhenzhen turned to look at Lu Ruyun, who wore a slight smile. "Zhenzhen?"

It felt different from when she had called her 'Zhenzhen' before. Ever since learning about that matter, Qin Zhenzhen had held an inexplicable wariness towards her. Now, hearing her call her 'Zhenzhen' sent a shiver down her spine, a creepy, unsettling feeling.

Seeing Qin Zhenzhen silent and the girl waiting expectantly, Lu Ruyun stood beside her and softly asked the girl, "How should we pose?"

The girl, nudged by Song He, snapped back to reality with a bright smile. "Anything works!"

After all, Zhenzhen and Teacher Lu would look like a poster no matter how they posed—flawless from every angle!

Seeing they were really going to take the photo, Qin Zhenzhen sighed quietly and leaned a bit closer to Lu Ruyun, putting on a professional, slightly fake smile. The girl stared at the two on her phone screen. "So beautiful!"

Then she looked up at them. "It's just... not sweet enough."

She thought for a moment. "It must be my poor photography skills. Um, Teacher Lu, could you put your hand on Zhenzhen's shoulder?"

"Or maybe..."

Before she could finish, she saw Lu Ruyun's hand rest on Qin Zhenzhen's waist, pulling her closer. Qin Zhenzhen looked up in surprise just as Lu Ruyun lowered her head and smiled at her. Click, click, click. The girl rapidly snapped several photos, perfectly capturing the moment.

"Perfect!"

"Teacher Lu, Zhenzhen, you two really are such a perfect match, so beautiful!"

The girl lavished her praise without reservation, her sparkling eyes still fixed on Lu Ruyun and Qin Zhenzhen. Seeing her look of lingering desire, Qin Zhenzhen waved her hand. "Alright, that's enough. Ruyun just got back and must be tired. Let her rest for a bit."

Song He teased her. "Tsk, Zhenzhen's learning to be considerate now."

Qin Zhenzhen shot him a glare. Song He quickly tugged the girl's sleeve. "Let's go, let's go."

Only after they left did Qin Zhenzhen let out a sigh of relief. Lu Ruyun had already taken the initiative to sit on the lounge chair Qin Zhenzhen had been using earlier, enjoying the breeze, looking utterly relaxed.

Qin Zhenzhen gritted her teeth with a smile. "Teacher Lu, aren't you leaving yet?"

Lu Ruyun closed her eyes against the cool breeze, her red lips parting slightly. "You were right just now."

Qin Zhenzhen: "Hmm?"

Lu Ruyun's voice grew quieter. "I'm tired."

Qin Zhenzhen: ...

If you're tired, then go back! What are you doing staying here!

Qin Zhenzhen shot an annoyed look at the person who had already closed her eyes. Lu Ruyun had the classic long, straight black hair—thick and somewhat coarse. Lying on the lounge chair, her hair splayed out casually, tousled by the fan's breeze. Qin Zhenzhen sat beside her playing with her phone, strands of that long hair occasionally drifting across her screen. Irritated, she grabbed a handful of the hair. It felt smooth and soft to the touch, and she vaguely remembered playing with the ends of this very hair not long ago, the sensation identical.

Qin Zhenzhen tilted her head to look at Lu Ruyun. Indeed, there were faint dark circles under her eyelids. The impulse to yank the hair hard froze in her hand. After a moment's thought, she let go and went to fetch a clip.

In her mind, she chanted a hundred times that the person before her was a smiling tiger, an actress who stabbed you in the back while smiling to your face.

But looking at her elegant, dignified features, even in sleep, it was hard to connect this image with the one in her mind.

While inwardly scolding herself for being shallow and a sucker for good looks, Qin Zhenzhen quickly gathered Lu Ruyun's long hair, twisted it into a bun, and secured it with the clip. Lu Ruyun seemed disturbed by the motion and turned onto her side.

The weather was hot. Lu Ruyun wore a knee-length skirt with short sleeves. As she turned, the hem of her skirt rode up a little, revealing her fair, slender legs. It wasn't revealing anything improper, but Qin Zhenzhen felt awkward looking at it. After a few furtive glances, she reached out to smooth down the skirt hem and covered her from the abdomen to the thighs with a thin blanket.

Not far away, He Shuangshuang was approaching, carrying something. She was already quite close to the umbrella. When she saw Qin Zhenzhen's hand on Lu Ruyun's skirt, she was about to cry out, but then she saw Qin Zhenzhen adjust the skirt properly and cover her with the blanket.

Her mouth hung open, momentarily unsure how to react.

Under the blazing sun, she stood there dumbfounded. Under another umbrella, Ji Lu noticed her bewildered expression, snorted lightly, and looked away. Her poor impression of Lu Ruyun was largely thanks to He Shuangshuang!

This girl was like a walking firecracker, ready to explode at any moment.

Others saw it too, but they weren't very familiar with He Shuangshuang. Thinking that since Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun were married, He Shuangshuang and Ji Lu must know each other well, they nudged Ji Lu's arm. "Ji Lu, go help her."

Pushed by everyone, Ji Lu stood up and walked over to He Shuangshuang with an unenthused expression. "What are you standing here for?"

He Shuangshuang hadn't yet recovered from what she'd just seen and looked at Ji Lu somewhat dazedly, not reacting immediately.

Ji Lu twitched the corner of her mouth. "What's wrong with you?"

He Shuangshuang lowered her gaze. "Nothing."

Then she placed all the desserts she was holding into Ji Lu's hands. "Ruyun bought these for all of you. I'm not familiar with them, so you take them over."

She made as if to leave, but Ji Lu suddenly grabbed her. "T-Teacher Lu bought them?"

He Shuangshuang nodded. "Yes."

Ji Lu frowned. "Why?"

Why?

She didn't even know why herself.

She had planned to ask Ruyun when they returned, but instead found her already asleep on the lounge chair.

Feeling somewhat annoyed, she said, "I don't know why either. Just take them over. So many questions."

Seeing her temper flare again, Ji Lu retorted without backing down. "Of course there are questions. Who knows what you're scheming? Maybe there's even laxative in there."

He Shuangshuang withdrew her gaze from Lu Ruyun and Qin Zhenzhen, turning to look at Ji Lu. Her face, already flushed red from the sun, grew even redder with anger. She snatched the desserts back from Ji Lu's hands. "If you don't want them, give them back to me!"

Ji Lu shrugged. "Fine. It was Teacher Lu who asked you to buy them, not me to deliver them."

He Shuangshuang gritted her teeth at Ji Lu's nonchalant tone, then resentfully shoved the things back into her hands. "Take them. No laxative, nothing. Do you really think I'm that low?"

Ji Lu curled her lip, countering. "Hard to say. Whether you are or not, only you know."

He Shuangshuang snapped angrily. "Ji Lu!"

Her voice was a bit loud, disturbing Qin Zhenzhen nearby and the lightly sleeping Lu Ruyun.

Lu Ruyun sat up halfway, pressing her fingers to her temples. As she looked down, her gaze inadvertently fell on the thin blanket covering her legs. Her hand on her temple stilled. She picked up the blanket, then looked towards Qin Zhenzhen, who was already walking over to Ji Lu and He Shuangshuang.

"What's going on?"

Qin Zhenzhen asked, standing beside Ji Lu.

Ji Lu and He Shuangshuang exchanged a glance. Ji Lu smiled. "Nothing. Teacher Lu bought some snacks for everyone. I'll go hand them out."

Qin Zhenzhen turned silently, her eyes meeting Lu Ruyun's clear, now-awake gaze. She was dazed for a few seconds. He Shuangshuang also glanced at Lu Ruyun. "I'll head out first."

"He Shuangshuang." Qin Zhenzhen called out to her just as she turned to leave.

He Shuangshuang stopped in her tracks. Qin Zhenzhen clenched her hand at her side. "...Never mind. It's nothing."

After He Shuangshuang left, Qin Zhenzhen watched her retreating back for a moment, then lowered her gaze and returned to the umbrella shade. Lu Ruyun was already awake, sitting on the lounge chair straightening her skirt. Seeing her approach, Lu Ruyun handed her the blanket. "Thank you."

Qin Zhenzhen took the blanket from her, watching her graceful, refined movements without a word.

From not far away, Ji Lu called out. "Zhenzhen! Teacher Lu!"

Qin Zhenzhen glanced at Lu Ruyun, then started walking towards Ji Lu.

Lu Ruyun tidied up and followed behind her.

Before they even reached the rest area, they could hear the chatter.

"So delicious! This is from that shop on Qiaobei Road, right? You usually have to queue for it."

"Yeah, this chilled drink is a must in this scorching heat. Teacher Lu is so thoughtful."

"Can't even stop your mouths with food!"

Sun Qin's remark made everyone laugh. Then they saw Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun approaching together. Ji Lu handed Qin Zhenzhen a chilled drink. "Teacher Lu prepared it."

As soon as she said it, everyone smiled and thanked Lu Ruyun. "Thank you, Teacher Lu!"

"Teacher Lu, you shouldn't have."

"Teacher Lu, we'll take good care of Zhenzhen!"

Amidst the laughter and chatter, Qin Zhenzhen only found it grating. She took the chilled drink from Ji Lu and took a sip. An icy sensation spread from her tongue to her stomach, chilling her to the bone.

Lu Ruyun stood beside her, conversing with everyone with gentle smiles, poised and dignified.

After a while of lively banter, Lu Ruyun received a call from Duan Qiuhan. She stood up to bid everyone farewell. Sun Qin nudged Qin Zhenzhen's arm. "Go on, see her off."

Looking at the contented group and the table littered with remnants, Qin Zhenzhen stood up. She and Lu Ruyun stepped out from under the umbrella. The sun was like fire, the heat slamming down on them. After just a few steps, fine beads of sweat appeared on Qin Zhenzhen's forehead.

Lu Ruyun said to her, "Go on back."

Qin Zhenzhen thought for a moment, then spoke. "Teacher Lu, about today..."

Lu Ruyun interrupted her. "Are you free tonight?"

Qin Zhenzhen looked up. "What?"

A touch of seriousness entered Lu Ruyun's bright eyes. "You still owe me a meal."

Qin Zhenzhen: ...

After Lu Ruyun left, Qin Zhenzhen returned to where the others were resting. She sat with her head down, taking absent-minded bites of her chilled drink.

She still owed her a meal.

Admittedly, if it were anyone else who had helped her so much, she would definitely treat them to a meal. Not just one meal—several, and she'd be willing.

But it just had to be Lu Ruyun.

Just had to be the person who had stabbed her in the back.

If you're going to stab, then stab all the way through.

At least then she wouldn't feel any guilt.

But now, she was coming over showing goodwill. She wasn't a fool; she could see Lu Ruyun's overtures. It was precisely because she could see them that she couldn't understand what Lu Ruyun actually wanted.

Qin Zhenzhen sighed as she thought, feeling as if ten thousand 'whys' were fighting in her head. She randomly stabbed her spoon into the chilled drink and set it aside.

Several girls nearby were still chattering away.

"Look, look! This is the one I just took. Don't they look perfect together?"

"So sweet, this one."

"Yes! Sweet!"

"Did you post it on Weibo? I just saw someone repost it."

"Yeah!"

"Then I'm going to repost it too!"

"Me too, me too!"

The noise reached Qin Zhenzhen. She glanced over and saw the speaking girl was the one who had taken their photo earlier, a crew staff member named He Tian, if she remembered correctly. True to her name—'Sweet'—she had a sweet smile.

Qin Zhenzhen withdrew her gaze absentmindedly, then suddenly registered what He Tian had just said.

What did she just say?

She posted it on Weibo??

Qin Zhenzhen quickly picked up her phone to check Weibo. Sure enough, she spotted an ID called 'Dimples-Super-Sweet' on the trending list.

@Dimples-Super-Sweet: Turning circles with joy!! Got to see Teacher Lu and Zhenzhen in the same frame, AND take photos! Couldn't be happier! Come, come, sharing with all of you who howl for content every day!

Qin Zhenzhen clicked into this 'Dimples-Super-Sweet' ID and found her photo wall was filled with stills from the time she and Lu Ruyun filmed Time in Full Bloom. So this girl was a hidden CP fan?

And with a decent number of followers too?

Qin Zhenzhen opened the Weibo post with the photos. In just half an hour, it already had twenty thousand reposts, forty thousand likes, and countless comments.

—Zhenzhen in person? Oh my god, Zhenzhen is even more beautiful than in the dramas! Dimples, I love you, love you!

—Boss Dimples! The model for fan girls! Actually managed to snap pics of Zhenzhen and the Cloud Fairy! Dimples must be over the moon right now.

—I still can't figure out why Zhenzhen chose her! Can't figure it out!

—And I can't figure out why the Cloud Fairy chose Qin Zhenzhen. Just a pretty face, no acting skills, no spark. How can she be with the Cloud Fairy?

—Disgusting! So damn disgusting!!!

—Hey, hey, hey, don't go too far. This is Dimples' Weibo. Let's be civilized, okay? Don't just leave your trash everywhere.

—Tsk, I'll say what I want! Qin Zhenzhen has no acting skills, just coasts in the entertainment industry on her face. Smiling and flirting a bit gets her resources. Just wait, in a couple of years, who will even remember this person.

—Tsk, so you're saying Lu Ruyun is better? Then tell me, what's so great about Lu Ruyun? Been in the industry for thirteen years, right? How many major awards has she won? Oh, right—none. Not a single proper major award. And you still call her Teacher Lu, Cloud Fairy? Tsk!

Watching the familiar online brawl about to start, it seemed their respective fans hadn't become more harmonious because of their marriage; on the contrary, the arguments were getting worse.

The post's popularity soared straight up the rankings. Qin Zhenzhen watched as the initial comments of 'so sweet', 'perfect match', 'so beautiful' were gradually buried under the fighting.

He Tian kept glancing guiltily at Qin Zhenzhen. She asked the person beside her, "Should I delete the post?"

The person beside her shook her head. "No use. It's been reposted so much already. Even if you delete it, others have it."

He Tian looked remorseful. "But that wasn't my intention at all."

She just wanted to share the sugar with the CP fans who were eagerly waiting, to be happy together. She hadn't expected a swarm of demons to descend, turning her comment section into a mess and reigniting the feud between the two fan bases.

She felt so guilty she didn't dare look at Qin Zhenzhen.

From the other side, Ji Lu came running over, panting. "Zhenzhen, you're up next. Let's go change into your costume first."

Qin Zhenzhen nodded and stood up. Her finger brushed the edge of her phone screen, lighting it up. Unnoticed by her, she put the phone in her bag and left.

Behind her, He Tian, who had been watching her with full of remorse, silently withdrew her gaze. Before she could look back at her phone, the girl sitting next to her exclaimed, "Holy shit!"

Her startled cry made several people resting nearby look over. She quickly waved apologetically, then tugged He Tian's sleeve. "Zhenzhen just liked your Weibo post!"

He Tian's mouth fell open. "Huh?"

She hurriedly looked down, her fingers trembling as she clicked into the list of people who had liked the post. Indeed, there was @TrulyZhen. Clicking in confirmed it was Qin Zhenzhen's official Weibo account!

Holy shit!

He Tian was not calm!

The CP fans were not calm!

The fans of both sides were even less calm!

—Zhenzhen liked Dimples' post?? Am I seeing things?

—Look at you all fighting. What's the point? The actual people involved are loving and sweet, while you fans argue yourselves hoarse. Don't you feel stupid?

—So? Qin Zhenzhen's fans got slapped in the face, huh? You kept saying Qin Zhenzhen looked down on the Cloud Fairy. Does your face hurt now? Hahaha, today's source of happiness! Qin Zhenzhen slapping her own fans in real-time!

—What real-time slapping? Don't put it so harshly, okay? You lackeys of Lu Ruyun!

After Qin Zhenzhen liked the post, 'Dimples-Super-Sweet's Weibo quickly climbed the hot search rankings. Lu Ruyun was in the makeup room when she heard someone nearby holding a phone whisper, "Qin Zhenzhen liked this?"

"Yeah, I saw it too. But from the photos, they do look quite good together."

"Well, the Cloud Fairy looks good with anyone."

A few people discussed in very low voices as they passed behind Lu Ruyun. Lu Ruyun was about to call He Shuangshuang over to ask what was going on when Zhu Yao walked in.

Zhu Yao was in costume, with exquisite makeup giving her the aura of a cold, beautiful assassin. She sat down on the chair next to Lu Ruyun and said, "Teacher Lu, are you free tonight? There are quite a few parts in the script I don't really understand, and I'd like to run lines with you first. If you're not busy, we could..."

Lu Ruyun replied calmly, "Sorry, I already have plans for tonight."

Zhu Yao took a breath. "Alright. Then I won't disturb Teacher Lu."

Lu Ruyun gave a slight nod. Zhu Yao took a deep look at her profile, clenched her fist, and left.

As soon as she left, Duan Qiuhan walked over. Seeing Lu Ruyun, he teased, "Ruyun, what kind of love potion did you give Qin Zhenzhen? She'd rather get scolded by her own fans to protect you."

Lu Ruyun looked at him, puzzled. "What?"

Duan Qiuhan sat down in the chair beside her and took out his phone. "You haven't seen? The hot search just now?"

Lu Ruyun took Duan Qiuhan's phone. Among the top trending topics were several about her and Qin Zhenzhen, precisely the photos just taken. And Qin Zhenzhen, because of her 'like', was being lambasted by netizens.

—Qin Zhenzhen really pulled a ruthless move! Completely disregarded her fans' feelings! Just slapped them down like this. Must hurt so much!

—My heart aches for Qin Zhenzhen's fans. So pitiful.

—Find someone else to stan! An idol who doesn't consider her fans at all—better off without her.

—If I were Qin Zhenzhen's fan, I would have un-followed long ago. Fighting for her, arguing for her, and then she just casually hits 'like'. Their faces must be swollen from the slap!

—So painful!

Lu Ruyun saw countless comments like these, with plenty of anti-fans stirring the mud, taking the chance to smear them. Her pretty face grew stern. Duan Qiuhan looked at her. "Couldn't tell before, but now it seems Qin Zhenzhen really cares about you."

Lu Ruyun stared at the phone, unsure of Qin Zhenzhen's true thoughts.

Was she indifferent to her, or did she have feelings?

If indifferent, then why had she suddenly hugged her during the dinner party? Why had she held her hand while eating? And now this 'like'.

She wasn't a newbie fresh out of debut. She had to know her fans were currently upset about her marrying Lu Ruyun, that some fans couldn't accept it and were teetering on the edge of un-following. Unlike Lu Ruyun, Qin Zhenzhen's career relied on popularity; fans were her achievements. Doing this was practically sacrificing all her past efforts.

Was it all just because—she didn't want Lu Ruyun to be wronged?

But if these were all signs she cared, then what about the previous coldness? When Lu Ruyun had gone to find her just now, her attitude had been distant, deliberately drawing a line, even reverting to calling her 'Teacher Lu'.

Teacher Lu.

She had thought about the two of them returning to the starting point, getting to know each other anew. But not like this, not in the way they addressed each other.

For the first time, the three words 'Teacher Lu' felt so alienating.

Lu Ruyun sat on the chair, a conflicted expression on her face. Duan Qiuhan looked at her. "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing much."

She responded lightly, then asked, "You said... she seems to care about me?"

Duan Qiuhan smiled. "Of course. That night at the dinner party, I saw it with my own eyes—how tightly she was holding you."

Lu Ruyun seemed to recall that night as well. She lowered her eyelashes, thinking for a moment, then took out her phone from her pocket. Her thumb hovered over the 'like' icon beside the photo.

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