Married in a Daze - Chapter 71
Chapter 71
After hanging up the phone, Qin Zhenzhen followed Lu Ruyun into the apartment. Seeing that Lu Ruyun was still silent, she hesitated for a few seconds before asking, "You're not happy?"
"Is it because there were too many people at the dinner?"
Lu Ruyun turned her head, meeting Qin Zhenzhen's bright eyes, which still held a trace of cautiousness and undisguised concern.
"No." Lu Ruyun replied, pursing her lips as she took off her coat, revealing only a dress underneath. The figure-hugging design showcased her excellent figure perfectly.
Hearing her rebuttal, Qin Zhenzhen pouted. "I'm not blind."
She could still tell whether someone was happy or not.
Lu Ruyun didn't argue further with her, instead asking independently, "Was that Meng Xin on the phone just now?"
Hearing her mention Meng Xin, Qin Zhenzhen remembered she had something to discuss with Lu Ruyun. She nodded, sitting down beside her and picking up a cushion. "You know Jian Mu, right? The one we just had dinner with."
Lu Ruyun's expression remained unchanged, but a faint hint of displeasure glimmered in her bright eyes. "I know. What about him?"
Qin Zhenzhen fiddled with the edge of the cushion. "It's nothing major. He's releasing a new song and wants me to be the female lead in the music video."
Her face showed hesitation as she spoke, her eyes occasionally glancing at Lu Ruyun out of the corner of her eye. Truthfully, she wanted to go. Opportunities like this didn't come often. Resources like Director Yu's might be attainable with effort in the future.
But a resource like Jian Mu had little to do with whether she strived for it or not.
Because some people's stature was inherently unattainable. With Jian Mu's current status, no one would dare question it even if he invited Tang Ya for his MV, let alone in the future—it would probably be even harder to obtain. Now that he was extending an olive branch to her, Qin Zhenzhen was, deep down, somewhat willing.
She believed that if this collaboration succeeded, she wouldn't have to worry about popularity for the next two years. This single achievement alone would be enough to crush the other rising starlets on her level.
But regarding this matter, she still wanted to seek Lu Ruyun's opinion.
She couldn't pinpoint exactly when it started, but she had grown accustomed to sharing her affairs with Lu Ruyun, letting her help deliberate and make decisions. Qin Zhenzhen thought for a moment; perhaps it began when Lu Ruyun said she would help her reposition herself.
Lu Ruyun fell silent for a few minutes after hearing Qin Zhenzhen's words, then looked up at her, noticing the expectation on her face.
Of course there was expectation. An opportunity like this would be like a pie falling from the sky for anyone else. Others might have agreed immediately, but Qin Zhenzhen didn't. Instead, she came to seek her opinion.
The discomfort in Lu Ruyun's heart was instantly smoothed away. She sighed. "You want to go?"
Qin Zhenzhen nodded honestly. "Yes."
Lu Ruyun lowered her gaze. "Have you considered the song's detailed information, the MV's shooting style, the schedule arrangements?"
Caught off guard by these questions, Qin Zhenzhen furrowed her delicate brows. She really hadn't asked about those things yet. Seeing Lu Ruyun's unchanged expression, she cautiously inquired, "So your meaning is—"
"Accept it." Lu Ruyun interrupted her, a faint smile lifting the corners of her lips. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Qin Zhenzhen's stunned face. After saying this, she stood up. Qin Zhenzhen blinked her bewildered, wide eyes.
Did she just say... accept it?
Did she hear that right?
She wasn't telling her to turn it down??
Lu Ruyun left Qin Zhenzhen time to process. After going upstairs, she changed into pajamas. The room was lit by a fluorescent light, with a gray-and-white color scheme—white wallpaper, gray furniture, simple and elegant decor. But now it looked empty.
After changing, she sat on the bed, thinking of the study Qin Zhenzhen had redecorated downstairs—the long carpet, the casually placed stuffed dolls, the cushion on the desk—all exuding a warm feeling.
Not like her space here.
One glance felt cold and icy.
She sat on the edge of the bed for several minutes before finally getting up and calling He Shuangshuang.
"Help me buy some things."
"Yes, a carpet, a four-piece bedsheet set, blue ones, and also—" Lu Ruyun leaned against the headboard. The light fell on her, casting her distorted shadow on the white wall, making her feel exposed. Her throat tightened. "Forget it. Pretend I said nothing."
He Shuangshuang hesitated for a moment before asking, "Ruyun, are you still taking a break next?"
The word "break" pulled Lu Ruyun's thoughts back. A pair of beautiful, glistening eyes appeared before her, filled with concern, warmth that seemed within reach. Just as He Shuangshuang thought Lu Ruyun wouldn't speak again, she heard her slightly hoarse voice. "No more breaks. Arrange the schedule. We're going for an audition."
He Shuangshuang perked up. "Which production?"
Lu Ruyun pressed her lips together, her voice slightly lower. "Drunken Dreams of Jianghu."
Qin Zhenzhen found out about Lu Ruyun's audition two days later. She and Meng Xin had finally finalized the details for the MV female lead role. After confirming, she even received a call from the company president's special assistant, conveying the boss's congratulations. Qin Zhenzhen was pleasantly surprised. She had been with the company for so long, having worked her way up to the 'top spot,' but this was the first time the boss personally congratulated her. His action indicated the company's emphasis on this collaboration.
The company valued it, and the online world valued it even more.
However, what netizens valued was Jian Mu's new song. When his team announced the upcoming release, the entire internet erupted. It topped trending searches for two consecutive days, with endless praise, and major entertainment publications sent their congratulations.
Before the online feast could subside, Jian Mu's team released a second announcement, declaring the collaboration with Qin Zhenzhen—the female lead for the new song's MV was indeed Qin Zhenzhen. Additionally, there was explosive news: the male lead for the MV was Jian Mu himself.
These two pieces of news left netizens stunned and dazed. They rushed to Jian Mu's team's page in disbelief, begging for confirmation.
—Really? Really? My Brother Jian is shooting an MV??? OMG I'm gonna cry!
—Waited five years, my Brother Jian finally decided to earn a living with his face??
—The new song's female lead is Qin Zhenzhen, ahhhhhhh, I don't like her! All she does is hype, can't do anything else. Is Jian Mu blind to pick her?
This comment was quickly pushed to the top. However, the replies below weren't agreements but scathing retorts.
—You're the blind one! Who gave you the face to insult people? Who do you think you are? Tell me, who do you like? Oh, checked your profile, you like Wei An, right? The roles she got by sleeping around? Let me tell you, you're not worthy of liking Qin Zhenzhen! [10,092 Likes]
—You know why I liked your comment? So others can curse you! Qin Zhenzhen is at least beautiful. Who are you? A keyboard warrior hiding in a dark corner, disgusting! [83,332 Likes]
—Sorry, from now on I'm gonna like Qin Zhenzhen! Piss you off! [80,002 Likes]
Qin Zhenzhen's Weibo also attracted a lot of traffic. Originally, after her clash with Director Zheng, she had attracted a small batch of fans. Lately, due to filming, she rarely had news. Occasionally, she'd show some affection with Lu Ruyun, but using Lu Ruyun's Weibo account, so her fan growth was slow. Unexpectedly, after this news, her fan count was multiplying.
Her followers had broken 60 million last month, her Weibo influence ranking in the top ten. This directly helped her break into the top five.
The performing arts circle was ultimately different from the music circle. Although both belonged to the entertainment industry, the two fields were completely separate. Jian Mu was a mythical figure in the music circle. Choosing Qin Zhenzhen as the female lead this time really made people's jaws drop.
Qin Zhenzhen's fans were naturally ecstatic. They almost set off firecrackers on Weibo to celebrate. After Jian Mu's team posted, Qin Zhenzhen reposted it, stating she would cooperate well. Her fans swarmed in to congratulate her.
—Zhenzhen, go for it! What does it feel like when your favorite singer and favorite actress collaborate? The dimensional wall has broken! Sorry, Cloud Fairy, let me ship Zhenzhen and Brother Jian for just one second!
—Wuwuwu, who said before that Zhenzhen couldn't act in movies? Look, she's filming Director Yu Changlin's movie now. And who said Zhenzhen was fading? Now she's collaborating with young superstar Jian Mu! Please, I beg you, say she won't win awards, I kneel and beg!!!
—Upstairs, are you trying to kill me with laughter? Hahahaha I also kneel and beg! Anti-fans, keep going! Charge! Show your fearless spirit, I look forward to seeing your faces swell like pig heads!
But this time, no anti-fans came to cause trouble. They seemed to have mutually agreed to shut up and remain silent, refusing to show their heads no matter how Qin Zhenzhen's fans mocked them.
In reality, it wasn't that they didn't want to show up, but they didn't dare.
The anti-fan who previously said Qin Zhenzhen only knew how to hype under Jian Mu's Weibo had all their history dug up, even the celebrity they liked was dragged out and mocked. Qin Zhenzhen's fans, afraid of causing trouble for their idol, usually only dared to argue back, without causing substantial harm. But Jian Mu and Qin Zhenzhen were different. They didn't dare to fabricate baseless criticism carelessly, because a slight misstep could lead to a lawsuit. So they didn't dare.
It was rare for Weibo to be this lively for so long while maintaining a harmonious atmosphere. This was the first time since her debut that Qin Zhenzhen topped trending searches for two days without a single negative review. She couldn't help but sigh: only when you stand at a height others cannot reach will others not even dare to criticize you.
After the collaboration was finalized, Qin Zhenzhen returned to the film set. The people who were previously extremely concerned about her and Lu Ruyun's relationship shifted their focus, all asking her about Jian Mu.
"Zhenzhen, what's Jian Mu like in person? I heard he's even more handsome!"
"Hey, hey, I heard his personality is super good."
"Stop coveting other people's boyfriends, okay!"
Qin Zhenzhen and everyone else looked over. The young girl smiled shyly. "Future boyfriend."
When Lu Ruyun went to find Qin Zhenzhen after her audition ended, she saw Qin Zhenzhen surrounded by many young girls—some were supporting actors, some were crew members. He Shuangshuang stood behind her and whispered, "Go over?"
Lu Ruyun stood behind them without moving, listening to Qin Zhenzhen's clear voice say, "Pretty handsome. More charming in person."
"Awooo! What about his voice! I heard he's a natural bass! Irresistible!"
Qin Zhenzhen thought for a moment and nodded. "Quite magnetic indeed."
"Then..."
Someone else wanted to ask, but Lu Ruyun's face darkened slightly. She interrupted their chat, calling out, "Zhenzhen."
Qin Zhenzhen turned around and saw Lu Ruyun standing right behind her. The people beside her obediently lowered their heads and greeted, "Teacher Lu."
Lu Ruyun nodded in acknowledgment, greeting everyone with a nod. Soon, no one was around Qin Zhenzhen anymore. She looked around, puzzled, then looked up at Lu Ruyun. "What are you doing here?"
"Passing by." Lu Ruyun sat down beside her, thought for a moment, and still asked, "Who were you all talking about just now?"
Qin Zhenzhen relaxed her expression. "About Jian Mu. They're all crazy excited knowing I'm collaborating with him. They even asked me to get them..."
"Are you happy?" Lu Ruyun interrupted her, staring fixedly at her. Qin Zhenzhen's unfinished words stuck in her throat. She didn't react for a moment, then nodded. "Happy."
Lu Ruyun's pretty face cooled by two degrees, her bright eyes emitting chilly glints. Her lips pressed into a straight line, and she didn't speak further. Sensing something off, Qin Zhenzhen nudged her and asked, "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing. I'm leaving first." After saying this, Lu Ruyun stood up. He Shuangshuang, who wasn't far behind her, looked at her, then at Qin Zhenzhen, just meeting Qin Zhenzhen's gaze as it swept over. The two exchanged a smile before averting their eyes.
Since Qin Zhenzhen still had a few scenes left, she definitely couldn't leave. Watching Lu Ruyun's retreating back, she pouted and sat back down.
Lu Ruyun walked quickly. He Shuangshuang was wearing ten-centimeter high heels today and couldn't keep up, so she had to call out, "Ruyun, slow down!"
As soon as she spoke, she indeed saw Lu Ruyun's pace slow down. She quickly caught up and walked beside her, asking, "What's wrong?"
Lu Ruyun's expression was like the current weather—chilly, cold just looking at it. He Shuangshuang tugged at her sleeve. "Did you quarrel with Qin Zhenzhen?"
"No." Lu Ruyun replied quickly, her expression gradually returning to composure, though a shadow still lingered in her eyes. She turned her head and said, "Shuangshuang."
"Hmm?"
Lu Ruyun pursed her lips. "Do you think I have charm now? How's my voice?"
He Shuangshuang stopped walking, blinked, three question marks floating in her mind.
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