Married in a Daze - Chapter 68
Chapter 68
Qin Zhenzhen's heart was in disarray from Lu Ruyun's sudden move. Fortunately, her week of hard work had yielded some results. After Director Yu called "action," she cast aside all distracting thoughts and quickly immersed herself in the scene.
Director Yu watched the person on and off screen, who seemed like two different people, and couldn't help but nod in approval.
He had been right before.
Qin Zhenzhen's adaptability and potential were indeed high.
He didn't regret scolding her earlier at all. Even though his words had been harsh, they were all facts. If Qin Zhenzhen couldn't even accept criticism like that, then she truly had no future prospects; she'd only remain stagnant, shooting those soapy dramas.
Luckily, Qin Zhenzhen had once again proven his thoughts correct. He hadn't misjudged her.
A flicker of admiration shone in Yu Changlin's eyes. Lu Ruyun saw it clearly, and a sense of shared pride welled up in her heart. She knew that once Qin Zhenzhen crossed this hurdle, she would become a dazzling star.
And the most dazzling one at that.
A faint smile surfaced in Lu Ruyun's eyes.
The final scene still required two more takes due to issues with the lines. Director Yu didn't blame them, just said amiably, "Continue."
The stylist quickly touched up their makeup, and the third take went smoothly. Standing before the monitor, Director Yu said to Lu Ruyun beside him, "When I got your call that day, I thought you were coming for an audition. Really no regrets?"
Lu Ruyun smiled lightly. "Nothing to regret. Opportunities are for those who need them, aren't they?"
Yu Changlin glanced at her calm expression and nodded.
Truthfully, he hadn't initially planned to collaborate with Tang Ya. The person internally selected back then had been Lu Ruyun. All the scripts and details were finalized. He had met Lu Ruyun and was fairly satisfied. Only after encountering Tang Ya did he understand that in filmmaking, mere satisfaction wasn't enough. Only when you saw the right person could you feel the thrill of creative inspiration.
He had rejected Lu Ruyun and chosen the newcomer, Tang Ya. Everyone said he was crazy. Leaving aside Tang Ya's acting skills, she was a complete newcomer with no established audience appeal. And since he wanted to use this film to make a name, choosing Lu Ruyun was the best option.
But he stubbornly refused to believe in conventional wisdom. He insisted on using Tang Ya, even risking a falling out with the investors. In the end, Lu Ruyun voluntarily stepped back, which also saved his face. So, from beginning to end, he felt he owed Lu Ruyun a favor. He told her that if she ever needed anything, she could contact him anytime.
And that film she withdrew from did indeed become a huge hit. It was, to date, the film he was most satisfied with, hailed by many netizens as a classic of the art-house genre. Tang Ya, because of that film, soared to prominence, becoming the legendary figure she is today.
He had actually wondered later: if Lu Ruyun had starred in that film back then, could it still have become a classic? But in fact, even he wasn't sure. All he knew was that a film and its actors complement each other. Tang Ya made that classic, and that classic forged who she is now.
His gaze shifted from the monitor to Qin Zhenzhen not far away. That feeling was exactly the same as now.
After finishing her scenes, it was already past noon. Qin Zhenzhen had originally wanted to go out for lunch with Lu Ruyun, but filming resumed at one o'clock, leaving no time. So, Lu Ruyun stayed at the set and ate boxed lunches with her.
Not far away, He Shuangshuang and Ji Lu sat together. Their eyes were fixed on the two people eating with their heads bowed. Ji Lu's expression was very awkward. If facing Lu Ruyun gave her a guilty conscience, facing He Shuangshuang only left awkwardness.
During their past conflicts, not only had they clashed openly, but they had also privately sparred over WeChat. So, sitting together eating now was truly incredibly awkward.
Even though they had already sat together for several meals before this.
"What does Teacher Lu mean by all this?" Ji Lu poked at her rice, unable to resist asking. He Shuangshuang ate with her head down and merely twitched her lips in response. "Don't know."
Ji Lu shot her a sidelong glance and rolled her eyes. "I see the rumors about the marriage of convenience have pretty much died down on Weibo now. Can Zhenzhen move back?"
He Shuangshuang's hand, holding her chopsticks, paused. She looked up at Ji Lu. Just when Ji Lu thought she would say something, she uttered three more words: "Don't know."
Ji Lu stared at her irritating face and frowned. "Are you a parrot? All you know is 'don't know'!"
He Shuangshuang opened her mouth to counterattack. "And you're just a walking encyclopedia of 'why'?"
Ji Lu gritted her teeth. Her reflexive reaction every time she heard He Shuangshuang speak was an urge to hit someone.
The two glared at each other briefly before He Shuangshuang turned her gaze away. A phone rang. She picked it up, glanced at it, irritably silenced it, threw it back into her bag, and her face turned cold.
Not far away, Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun had just finished eating. Qin Zhenzhen pulled a tissue from the side to wipe the corners of her mouth and asked, "Are you heading back later?"
Lu Ruyun thought for a moment. "I'll wait and leave with you."
Qin Zhenzhen was stunned for a few seconds. "But I still have a long time to go, probably won't finish until around four."
Lu Ruyun's expression remained unchanged. "It's fine."
Qin Zhenzhen stared at her profile, momentarily unable to guess what she was thinking. If she had just come to thank Director Yu, she'd clearly already done that. What was with sticking around now?
And then there was that earlier move... Qin Zhenzhen subconsciously licked her lips, her eyes momentarily confused.
After lunch, Lu Ruyun received a message from Haitang asking if they would be coming over in the evening. Thinking of the little girl named Doudou, Lu Ruyun felt a hint of delight and replied: See you tonight.
Haitang quickly replied: See you tonight.
After their meal, a crew member knocked and told Qin Zhenzhen to get ready. Qin Zhenzhen stood up, draping her coat over her shoulders. Lu Ruyun stood beside her, putting away her phone. As soon as the door opened, Qin Zhenzhen let out several consecutive sneezes. Lu Ruyun slightly frowned, looking at her.
In the afternoon, because Qin Zhenzhen needed to leave early, her scenes were scheduled first. Fortunately, her current scenes were filmed inside the apartment set, with heating, so it wasn't extremely cold. But sometimes when she stepped outside, she still shivered uncontrollably from the chill. Lu Ruyun stood not far away, lowered her gaze, thought for a moment, and still called He Shuangshuang.
Half an hour later, He Shuangshuang handed a thermos cup to Lu Ruyun, asking with concern, "What's wrong? Did you catch a cold?"
Lu Ruyun shook her head, her expression neutral. "Zhenzhen seems to have a slight cold."
He Shuangshuang's lips twitched. That natural tone, that natural attitude... She held her breath and silently left.
After Qin Zhenzhen finished her scene, Lu Ruyun handed her the thermos. Chen Feng, the veteran actor who had been filming with Qin Zhenzhen, teased, "Zhenzhen, you're really blessed."
"No, it's not like that," Qin Zhenzhen replied somewhat awkwardly, taking the thermos from Lu Ruyun. Under everyone's watchful eyes, she whispered, "What is this?"
Lu Ruyun stood beside her and opened the lid. "Cold medicine. Drink it while it's warm."
Qin Zhenzhen took a sip. The water temperature wasn't too hot, just right. A warm feeling coursed through her body, and a tender sprout named happiness sprouted in her heart, quickly blossoming into a flower.
Crew members passed by them from time to time, but no one disturbed the quiet bubble around them.
Qin Zhenzhen's scenes ended early in the afternoon, perhaps because Director Yu also noticed she wasn't feeling well and told her to go back and rest properly. Qin Zhenzhen agreed and left the set with Lu Ruyun.
Ji Lu naturally wanted to follow, but Qin Zhenzhen told her to clock off first. Ji Lu watched Qin Zhenzhen's departing back with a touch of resentment, her mind filled with a sense of abandonment.
After getting into Lu Ruyun's car, Qin Zhenzhen felt somewhat drowsy. Whether it was because of the cold medicine or the cold itself, she felt utterly lacking in energy. He Shuangshuang was driving. The weather was cold, with snowflakes drifting outside. He Shuangshuang drove slowly, the car swaying gently. Halfway through the journey, Qin Zhenzhen's head tilted and rested against Lu Ruyun's shoulder.
Lu Ruyun had been looking down at her tablet. Suddenly, weight settled on her shoulder. She turned her head and saw Qin Zhenzhen leaning against her side, her face obscured by her long hair. The car swayed, and her head moved gently with it. Lu Ruyun lowered her gaze for a long moment, then leaned back in her seat. Qin Zhenzhen naturally snuggled closer, half her body leaning against Lu Ruyun's, her head settling against Lu Ruyun's chest. With a slight bow of her head, Lu Ruyun could see the crown of her hair.
Worried Qin Zhenzhen might be uncomfortable, Lu Ruyun asked He Shuangshuang to pass her a pillow and a thin blanket. Because of her recent filming schedule, she always kept these items in her car. He Shuangshuang reached for the items on the passenger seat and handed them back. Lu Ruyun lifted Qin Zhenzhen's head, placed the pillow beneath it, and covered her body with the blanket. Qin Zhenzhen nestled into the pillow and shifted forward slightly. Lu Ruyun felt the friction against her chest, and her whole body grew warm.
Her eyes darkened slightly, her fingers tightening on the edge of the blanket.
By the time they arrived at the apartment, she was covered in a light sweat. He Shuangshuang, seeing neither of them getting out of the car, turned and asked, "Ruyun, we're here."
Lu Ruyun nodded. "Take the other car and head back first."
He Shuangshuang wanted to say something, but glanced at her, then at Qin Zhenzhen sleeping against her, and swallowed her words. She could only change her response to, "Okay. But the schedule..."
"I'll send it to you after I finalize it," Lu Ruyun cut her off, her gaze signaling for He Shuangshuang to leave first. He Shuangshuang opened her mouth. "Alright."
After He Shuangshuang got out, Lu Ruyun leaned back against the seat again. The car was still running, the heater on. Qin Zhenzhen's light, steady breathing was particularly clear in the quiet vehicle. Lu Ruyun looked down, her fingers unconsciously brushing aside Qin Zhenzhen's long hair, revealing a delicate profile. Her gaze remained fixed, not withdrawing for a long time.
Perhaps because the car's heater was on full blast, or maybe because Qin Zhenzhen herself had a fever from the cold, her cheeks were flushed red, as if she were intoxicated. Lu Ruyun reached out and touched her forehead—it was a normal temperature. She felt relieved, but the reflection in her bright eyes was still Qin Zhenzhen's peaceful sleeping form.
From her fair forehead to her slightly parted red lips... Lu Ruyun's fingers twitched, almost touching Qin Zhenzhen's pale skin. The warmth she imagined meeting her fingertips made her immediately curl her fingers, shift her body slightly, and let out a soft cough.
Qin Zhenzhen was awakened by her movement, frowning as she slowly opened her eyes. Her long eyelashes traced an arc in the air, simultaneously tracing a tear in the emotions Lu Ruyun had been suppressing. That stirring, the hidden affection, now rushed out from the small opening, thread by thread invading her, making her entire heart feel scorched.
Why was it that Qin Zhenzhen was the one with the cold, yet she was the one experiencing the feeling of fever?
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