Married in a Daze - Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Qin Zhenzhen pulled Lu Ruyun into the elevator. Her mind was so full of He Shuangshuang's words that she forgot their hands were still joined. Lu Ruyun just glanced at her faintly, withdrew her hand, and said casually, "Why are you here?"

Her long hair, tousled by the wind on the rooftop, cascaded down her back. Her fair face held a faint flush from the alcohol, and the corners of her eyes were slightly red. Gone was her usual proper demeanor, replaced instead by an indescribable allure.

Qin Zhenzhen pursed her lips. "I just ran into He Shuangshuang."

Lu Ruyun gave a light "hmm."

Qin Zhenzhen shot a quick glance at her, slowly clenched her hand—her palm was sweating—and said, "She told me a bit about the video incident."

Lu Ruyun's expression didn't change; it remained faint and indifferent. She just raised her eyelids slightly. "Hmm."

As her light, cool voice fell, the elevator doors opened. Qin Zhenzhen's "I'm sorry" was still stuck in her throat when she saw Ji Lu standing outside. Seeing her, Ji Lu was momentarily stunned, then reacted, "Zhenzhen, where did you go? I was just about to go downstairs to look for you. Sister Meng is going crazy with worry!"

Only then did Qin Zhenzhen remember that Sister Meng was still waiting for her in the private room. Looking at Ji Lu's sweaty, anxious face, she pursed her lips. "I know."

Hearing their conversation, Lu Ruyun just brushed past Qin Zhenzhen, giving a slight nod. "I'll be going first."

Qin Zhenzhen looked at her retreating back and called out, "Hey—" Lu Ruyun halted her steps, about to turn around, when she saw the private room door not far away open. Meng Xin followed behind a man, bowing slightly as she said, "My apologies, Director Zheng. Zhenzhen wasn't feeling well. She has a low tolerance for alcohol, felt a bit dizzy after drinking the red wine earlier, and was afraid of dampening the mood, so she didn't come."

"Director Zheng, please wait a moment."

Meng Xin followed behind Zheng Shaoyuan, her face wearing an ingratiating smile. Lu Ruyun watched the group of people approaching, turned her head to look at Qin Zhenzhen, her bright eyes dark and profound. Qin Zhenzhen met her gaze and felt inexplicably guilty. Her lips moved soundlessly. Before she could speak, she heard Meng Xin's voice, "Zhenzhen! Where did you go?"

Lu Ruyun gave her a deep look, turned, and left the hallway, her figure disappearing around the corner of the private room doors. Ji Lu, beside Qin Zhenzhen, nudged her. Qin Zhenzhen snapped back to attention and called out, "Sister Meng."

Meng Xin shot her a look that promised a later reckoning while continuing to apologize and smile obsequiously at Director Zheng. Pulling Qin Zhenzhen behind her, she trailed after the group. Before getting into the elevator, Qin Zhenzhen glanced towards the door of Lu Ruyun's private room, then lowered her gaze.

Director Zheng and President Wang's faces were extremely unpleasant, a sickly grayish-green. Hearing Meng Xin's explanation, they just snorted coldly. "Forget it. Since Miss Qin is so busy, we won't disturb her any further."

"I wouldn't want to sign a contract only to find the star is unavailable three out of five days."

His tone was laced with faint sarcasm. Meng Xin paused upon hearing this. "Director Zheng, where would you get such an idea? Zhenzhen isn't busy, not at all busy!"

President Wang turned to look at Qin Zhenzhen upon hearing Meng Xin. "Oh? Not busy?"

Qin Zhenzhen offered a polite smile and gave a slight nod to President Wang. Meng Xin smiled lightly. "Of course not busy!"

A smirk played on President Wang's face. "If she's not busy, why don't we move somewhere else to chat, hmm?"

Meng Xin's eyes lit up slightly, about to nod, when President Wang continued, "I've booked a room on the top floor. If Miss Qin is free, why not come up for a sit-down? 'Busy' or 'not busy' isn't just something you say."

After speaking, he looked at Qin Zhenzhen with a greedy gaze, his hand involuntarily reaching out to rest on her shoulder. The feeling of her delicate, smooth skin under his touch brought a look of ecstatic pleasure to his face. Qin Zhenzhen stood still, her eyes lowered.

Director Zheng's ashen complexion eased slightly as he spoke. "Miss Qin, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and thank President Wang."

Qin Zhenzhen raised her eyes, her gaze clear and bright, tinged with arrogance. "I don't know how to give thanks, but I do know how to apologize."

"I'm sorry, but I think I'm still unqualified for Director Zheng's new production!"

As she spoke, her gaze shifted to President Wang's hand resting on her fragrant shoulder. Her eyes were as cold and sharp as blades, stabbing repeatedly into the back of his hand. President Wang's face turned extremely ugly as he withdrew his hand with a cold snort.

Seeing her like this, Zheng Shaoyuan was momentarily stunned. He turned to look at the rebuffed President Wang, his expression changing. "Qin Zhenzhen! What are you doing? President Wang inviting you up is giving you face! Don't be so ungrateful! Apologize to President Wang now!"

"Meng Xin! Is this the kind of person you're managing?"

Meng Xin, having endured enough, glared at him, the handbag she was holding practically itching to smash into his punchable face. With a ding, the elevator doors opened. Suppressing her fury, she grabbed Qin Zhenzhen's arm and strode out. Behind them came the sound of Director Zheng hopping mad, "You'll regret this!"

"Meng Xin! I'll remember you! Let me tell you, don't even think about getting any more resources!"

Meng Xin pulled Qin Zhenzhen into the car. Ji Lu opened the door for them. After they got in, Qin Zhenzhen lowered her gaze and said, "I'm sorry, Sister Meng."

She knew how hard Meng Xin had worked to secure this opportunity. She also knew Zheng Shaoyuan's words weren't empty threats. By not giving him face today—with his established position in the film industry—it really wouldn't be easy to get resources in the future.

Qin Zhenzhen hung her head. Meng Xin patted her hand. "Forget it, don't think about it. If we hadn't left just then, I wouldn't have been able to stop myself from hitting someone."

"And don't worry too much. Even without outside resources, we still have the company. The company is pushing you hard right now; they'll allocate resources to you no matter what."

Listening to her comforting words, Qin Zhenzhen nodded, though in her heart she knew: if the company truly valued her that much, they wouldn't have asked her to 'take a break' back when she was having that conflict with Lu Ruyun.

She was currently red-hot, but within the company, they weren't lacking for stars like her.

As if sensing her thoughts, Meng Xin patted her shoulder. "Feel like going for a couple of drinks?"

Qin Zhenzhen turned to look at her. "Okay."

The van drove to a bar in the city center. Qin Zhenzhen followed Meng Xin inside, watching as she greeted the bartender with familiar ease. The two headed towards a room in the back.

This was a place Meng Xin frequented. The bar owner was her university classmate. When Qin Zhenzhen had just debuted, she'd come here a few times with her, but stopped after getting busier.

After settling Qin Zhenzhen in a seat, Meng Xin asked the bartender to bring in some strong liquor and some with lower alcohol content. Qin Zhenzhen's alcohol tolerance was poor, and she had filming tomorrow; Meng Xin didn't want to see her completely wasted.

Qin Zhenzhen sat down in the room, Ji Lu beside her. Meng Xin looked at her. "Want me to call a couple of people over?"

"No need."

Qin Zhenzhen took the drink the bartender brought in—a light red color with a fruity aroma. It seemed low in alcohol. After two glasses, she saw Meng Xin down several in quick succession. She hurriedly grabbed Meng Xin's hand. "Sister Meng, what's wrong?"

Meng Xin drank two more glasses. "It's nothing. Just feeling stifled."

Qin Zhenzhen and Ji Lu exchanged a look. Ji Lu tactfully excused herself from the room. Qin Zhenzhen sat on the sofa. The room's colorful lights shone on her and Meng Xin. Wearing an apologetic expression, she said, "I'm sorry, Sister Meng."

Meng Xin tilted her head to look at her. "Apologize for what? You didn't do anything wrong. If I, Meng Xin, had to climb the ladder by selling out my artists, I'd have been up there long ago."

Knowing her character, Qin Zhenzhen felt a surge of gratitude in her bright eyes.

When she first started working with Meng Xin, she had also worried about these kinds of situations. Fortunately, Meng Xin wasn't like others; she never forced her, and would even pull her away at the first sign of trouble.

Watching Meng Xin down several more glasses in quick succession, Qin Zhenzhen reached over and took her cup. "Sister Meng, for the past three years, you've always been the one drinking on my behalf. I've never once drunk a cup for you. Tonight, let me drink a few for you!"

With that, she tipped her head back and drank it all. The liquor was cold, strong, and so pungent it brought tears to her eyes instantly!

Meng Xin snatched the empty cup from her hand. "Things like drinking on someone's behalf—that's my job. You just focus on acting well. That's the best repayment for me."

She was smiling, but a sorrowful look flashed in her eyes. Qin Zhenzhen was momentarily stunned, so much so that she didn't even react when her cup was taken.

The room door suddenly opened. Qin Zhenzhen looked up and saw the woman standing in the doorway—it was the bar owner, Meng Xin's classmate.

Meng Xin was still drinking by herself. Hu Ling walked over and sat down beside Qin Zhenzhen, asking, "What's wrong? Xiao He just told me you two were here, and I didn't believe it."

Qin Zhenzhen shook her head. "It's nothing. Sister Meng is in a bad mood and wanted to drink."

Hu Ling looked at Meng Xin with concern. "A bad mood? What happened?"

Meng Xin noticed Hu Ling's arrival too. She reached out and pulled Hu Ling over. "You're here? Good, perfect timing. Have a couple of drinks with me."

She handed over a cup as she spoke. Hu Ling took it, frowning. "What on earth is going on?"

Meng Xin's eyes suddenly seemed to glisten. "It's nothing. Just ran into some trash, that's all."

Seeing her speech was a bit incoherent, Hu Ling turned to Qin Zhenzhen. Qin Zhenzhen shook her head with a faint smile and gave a brief explanation. Hu Ling nodded. "So that's what happened."

Qin Zhenzhen had a feeling Meng Xin wasn't just drinking to drown her sorrows over today's incident. She took a sip of her fruit wine. "Does Sister Meng have something else on her mind?"

Hu Ling looked at Meng Xin, who was drinking gloomily, and nodded. "She once managed a newcomer. The girl had real talent. But Meng Xin didn't have much capability back then, didn't have good resources. I heard that newcomer later got resources from somewhere, was coaxed with promises of instant fame. That newcomer dragged Meng Xin along and went."

Qin Zhenzhen held her cup, her expression freezing. "And then..."

Hu Ling poured herself a drink and downed it. "She died."

Qin Zhenzhen tightened her grip on the cup and said nothing more.

The three women in the room drank back and forth. Qin Zhenzhen's fruit wine was long finished. Hu Ling had someone bring in quite a few more bottles. Their cups emptied and were refilled. By the end, both of them were thoroughly drunk. Qin Zhenzhen had drunk the least but was the most intoxicated. She had never held her liquor well, and now her mind was completely muddled. Hu Ling looked at her and asked, "Should I have someone take you home?"

Qin Zhenzhen shook her head, pointing outside. "Have, have someone."

Hu Ling opened the door and saw Ji Lu standing outside. She waved her over. "Come in."

Ji Lu looked at the thoroughly drunk Qin Zhenzhen and Meng Xin, who hadn't even lasted an hour, her mouth hanging open slightly. Hu Ling patted her shoulder. "Take Miss Qin back. Meng Xin can stay here; I'll look after her."

As she spoke, she helped Qin Zhenzhen up. Ji Lu quickly wrapped an arm around Qin Zhenzhen's waist and said to Hu Ling, "Then I'll trouble you with Sister Meng."

Hu Ling waved her hand with a smile. "Don't be so formal. Hurry back. Remember to take care of her when you get home."

Ji Lu nodded with an "Mm," and supported Qin Zhenzhen as they walked out.

Qin Zhenzhen hung her head, leaning on Ji Lu's shoulder, her every exhale carrying the smell of alcohol. Ji Lu took several deep breaths, half-dragging, half-carrying her into the car. Worried she might vomit during the ride, she went back into the bar to get several plastic bags.

Fortunately, after getting drunk, Qin Zhenzhen just closed her eyes and slept, very peacefully. Ji Lu breathed a sigh of relief, thankful for her good drunken demeanor.

Half an hour later, she wished she could slap herself twice!

"Zhenzhen, Zhenzhen, that's a window, you can't climb out!"

"Xiao Wu, lock the car windows!"

"Hey, hey, hey, Zhenzhen, no, don't sleep down there, come up here."

The inside of the car was in complete chaos. One moment, Qin Zhenzhen tried to open the window to get out; the next, she slumped like soft mud onto the floor, curling up into a ball. When Ji Lu tried to talk to her, she even shoved Ji Lu away roughly. "Move!"

"Who are you?"

"Where are you taking me?"

Sweat beaded on Ji Lu's forehead from the frantic effort. She quickly replied, "Zhenzhen, it's me, Ji Lu. I'm taking you home."

Qin Zhenzhen, who had been lying face-down on the car floor, lifted her head, her long hair now dusted with grime. "Home?"

"I don't want to go home."

Ji Lu tried to soothe her. "If not home, then where?"

Hearing this, Qin Zhenzhen actually seemed to think seriously for a moment. "I want to go find Lu Ruyun. I still have something to tell her. Right, go find Lu Ruyun."

"You take me to find Lu Ruyun!"

Ji Lu looked at her with a headache. "Okay, okay, okay. Then let me call her first. If she's already asleep, we won't go, alright?"

Qin Zhenzhen nodded, obediently saying, "Okay."

Ji Lu had just breathed a sigh of relief when Qin Zhenzhen snatched the phone from her hand, held it to her ear, and said, "Hello, Lu Ruyun, are you home? Wait for me! I'm coming right over!"

After saying that, she tossed the phone onto a nearby seat, looked up at Ji Lu, and grinned foolishly. "She said I should come over."

Ji Lu looked at the phone, screen still locked, lying discarded on the other seat, and twitched the corner of her mouth. "Uh, okay then. Let's go."

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