Married in a Daze - Chapter 105
Chapter 105
Qin Zhenzhen had no idea what promotional method that Auntie Li used, but in any case, the neighbors kept coming in waves. Both she and Lu Ruyun felt like they were hosting a signing event. In the end, she couldn't hold it in any longer and pulled Lu Ruyun downstairs. Yin Lanfang called after them from behind, asking where they were going. Qin Zhenzhen laughed and said, "To set off fireworks!"
Fireworks were banned within the city limits of City A, with the relevant authorities strictly controlling them. During festivals, large-scale organized displays were the norm. Qin Zhenzhen's home was in the suburban outskirts. While it was also officially prohibited, tonight being New Year's Eve was a special amnesty. Thus, quite a few people were setting off fireworks downstairs.
A festive New Year atmosphere filled every household. Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun, wearing masks and hats, walked among the crowds, hearing strangers wish them a happy new year with smiling faces.
When Lu Ruyun had first come downstairs, her body was still somewhat stiff. She wasn't yet accustomed to being out among such a lively crowd this late at night. Usually, on film sets was the most bustling environment she'd ever been in, but compared to this scene before her, it was nothing.
Seeing her walking very slowly, Qin Zhenzhen turned around, not understanding why. Her bright eyes blinked, long eyelashes catching the white mist of her breath. "What's wrong?"
Lu Ruyun met her clear gaze, seeing her own reflection in those eyes. The unease in her heart instantly dissipated. She took the initiative to hold Qin Zhenzhen's hand and quickened her pace a little. "It's nothing."
"Where are we going?"
Qin Zhenzhen pointed not far away. "See that plaza over there? There's a stall selling fireworks."
Lu Ruyun followed the direction of her finger and saw a plaza not too far off. Many people were gathered there, and various sounds of laughter drifted over. Qin Zhenzhen's face was covered by her mask, her expression unclear, but a touch of longing shone in her eyes. She looked at Lu Ruyun with anticipation. "Let's go, let's go, Teacher Lu."
"Okay." Lu Ruyun, softened by her coquettish plea, lost all her previous awkwardness. Her feet unconsciously followed Qin Zhenzhen's lead. When she came to her senses, the two of them were already standing by the stall.
Qin Zhenzhen picked out several types of fireworks—some for adults, some for children. The plaza was mostly filled with parents with their kids, but also quite a few couples. They held sparklers, either sitting together laughing sweetly or playfully chasing each other, full of joy.
Lu Ruyun also had a few long sparklers thrust into her hand by Qin Zhenzhen. They chose a spot near some steps. Qin Zhenzhen arranged the fireworks one by one, and Lu Ruyun, following behind her, lit them. Watching the person before her standing amidst the sparks, like a dancing spirit, filled the cold, dark corners of her heart.
After playing for a while, Qin Zhenzhen grew tired. She snuggled up next to Lu Ruyun, sitting down and resting her head on her shoulder. Holding up a long sparkler, she unconsciously twirled it, her voice soft. "Teacher Lu, is it fun?"
Lu Ruyun also held one in her hand. Hearing the question, she chuckled lightly. "Zhenzhen, right now I feel like a child."
After all, Qin Zhenzhen had bought mostly children's fireworks, and in large quantities. Not far away, several children who had finished their own fireworks were eyeing their stash with covetous looks.
Qin Zhenzhen tilted her head to look at her. "Feeling like a child is good."
After saying this, she wrapped her arms around Lu Ruyun's arm, her voice deep with emotion. "Teacher Lu, I just hope that in the future, if someone asks you about the happiest thing from your childhood, your answer won't be 'nothing.'"
"Even though I don't know what you've been through, whatever you lacked, I want to make it up to you."
The smile on Lu Ruyun's face froze, then gradually faded away.
She truly hadn't realized Qin Zhenzhen was acting with such thoughts in mind. Her heart instantly felt a profound itch, an ache so intense it made her eyes redden, as if something was stuck in her throat.
Not hearing a response after a long moment, Qin Zhenzhen glanced at her side and saw Lu Ruyun's reddened eyes. Her heart fluttered in panic. "Ruyun, what's wrong? Did I say something wrong?"
Her anxious face was right before her eyes, the concern in her gaze genuine and palpable. Lu Ruyun reached out and pulled her into an embrace, her voice hoarse. "No."
"Zhenzhen, thank you."
Thank you for coming to my side, for allowing me to have someone as wonderful as you.
Lu Ruyun's arms around Qin Zhenzhen trembled slightly. The image of Qin Zhenzhen in her eyes gradually cleared. The two leaned against each other in quiet companionship until the atmosphere was broken by a child running over.
"Sisters! I wanna play!"
The mood Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun had just been building was instantly shattered. They looked at the tiny kid before them, both wanting to laugh and cry. The child's parents, trailing behind, kept shouting, "Hey! Don't ask strangers for things! Honestly!"
The muttering voices grew closer as they approached. Qin Zhenzhen reached out and handed the child several sparklers. The child beamed with a flower-like smile. Their parents hurried over. "Put those down."
"Don't take things from strangers. You have no manners."
The child looked reluctantly at the sparklers in hand, then at their parents, finally lowering their head, on the verge of tears. Qin Zhenzhen immediately laughed. "It's okay, the sister is giving them to you. Take them."
"How can that be? We..."
Qin Zhenzhen looked up. "Don't mention it. We can't finish them all anyway."
The woman, meeting Qin Zhenzhen's bright eyes, was momentarily stunned. The man beside her nudged her, and she snapped back to reality. "Alright then, thank you."
She then said to the child, "Aren't you going to thank your aunties?"
The child smiled happily. "Thank you, Aunties!"
Qin Zhenzhen patted the child's head and waved goodbye.
After they had walked a few steps away, the woman whispered to the man beside her, "Don't you think that woman just now looked familiar?"
The man was dismissive. "Familiar with what? With hats and masks on, who can see what they look like? Alright, alright, hurry up and take the kid back. It's freezing."
Hearing him say that, the woman just shrugged and led the child to set off the fireworks.
Qin Zhenzhen settled back down next to Lu Ruyun. The two chatted idly in the cold air. A few stars dotted the sky above, and from time to time, fireworks would shoot up, illuminating the night brighter than the stars.
Lu Ruyun looked up for a moment before speaking softly. "Where's the next promotional stop?"
Her own work didn't start until the 10th of the new year. She wanted to use this time to spend more time with Qin Zhenzhen. Once they were both busy, they probably wouldn't even have time for a meal together.
Qin Zhenzhen replied nonchalantly, "In City K. On the fourth, I need to go abroad to shoot that endorsement commercial. I'll be back on the sixth."
"What's up? Does Teacher Lu want to come with me?"
Lu Ruyun held her shoulder and smiled. "Going abroad? Which country?"
Qin Zhenzhen looked at her sideways. "Country J."
Lu Ruyun stiffened. Her smile hadn't even had time to fade before a stunned expression took over her face. Fireworks occasionally exploded overhead, illuminating her reaction clearly.
"Country J?"
Qin Zhenzhen nodded. "Right. Teacher Lu, do you want to come with me?"
Lu Ruyun paused for a long time before speaking. "Zhenzhen, when I was little, I lived in Country J."
The light in her eyes had vanished. Qin Zhenzhen grasped her hand. "It's okay. I'll only be gone for two days. I'll probably be really busy. If you came with me, I might not even be able to look after you. You should just wait for me at home."
Her face wore a radiant smile, gentle words spilling from her lips. Lu Ruyun heard them with her ears, warming her heart. She wrapped her arm around Qin Zhenzhen's shoulder, resting her head on top of hers. Neither spoke, a comfortable silence settling between them.
The number of people nearby was increasing, mostly young couples. Qin Zhenzhen checked the time; it was almost midnight, no wonder the plaza had suddenly filled up.
Smiling, she pulled Lu Ruyun to stand up. "Come on, let's join them."
Lu Ruyun let herself be pulled along until they stood in the middle of the crowd. Qin Zhenzhen pointed to the watch on her wrist. "Wait, let me show you what it's really like to see the New Year in."
Lu Ruyun nodded. "Okay."
Some of the young couples around them were impatiently asking why the time hadn't come yet; others were intimately whispering sweet nothings, cheeks touching; and a few girls were chattering in hushed tones.
"When I get home later, I'm catching up on Cold Palace. I heard Huang Ling say it's super good."
"Yeah, yeah, it's super good! Have you read the novel? It's like a perfect recreation!"
"Hey, hey, hey! I just saw in Xiao Xue's group chat that she lives near Qin Zhenzhen's place. She just took a photo with Qin Zhenzhen! Do you think we could go get an autograph?"
"What??? Are you sure! It's really Qin Zhenzhen?"
"It's true! Cloud Fairy was there too!"
"OMG! I'm their die-hard CP fan!!!!! What kind of heavenly news is this! I'm going to find Xiao Xue right now!!"
"Hey, hey, hey!"
A series of voices rang out. Qin Zhenzhen, looking at the chattering girls not far away, found it amusing, but worried about being exposed, she pulled Lu Ruyun to a less crowded spot.
Lu Ruyun let herself be maneuvered, following behind. They ended up at the edge of the park. Qin Zhenzhen listened to the countdown starting around them.
"Ten!"
"Nine!"
"Zhenzhen."
Lu Ruyun suddenly called out. Qin Zhenzhen's 'seven' hadn't yet left her lips. She looked up at her. Lu Ruyun's voice was soft. "I want to go with you."
Qin Zhenzhen frowned. "What?"
Lu Ruyun lifted Qin Zhenzhen's mask, removed her hat. Their long hair fluttered in the breeze, tangling together. Lu Ruyun's voice grew even softer, speaking close to her ear. "I want to go to Country J with you."
As soon as her words finished, the countdown ended. Cheers erupted behind them. Fireworks lit up the sky, reflected brilliantly in both their eyes.
Qin Zhenzhen actively embraced her, lifting her lips into a smile. "Alright."
Lu Ruyun held her tightly. They looked at each other for a few seconds before their lips met. The festivities on the plaza continued, the sounds around them fading in and out. Qin Zhenzhen, kissed until breathless, bit Lu Ruyun's lip. "Are you sure? You really want to go together?"
Lu Ruyun traced her lips with the tip of her tongue. "I'm sure."
Qin Zhenzhen nodded happily. She knew that if Lu Ruyun agreed to go together, it meant she was willing to step out of her past. Her efforts all this time hadn't been in vain. Thinking this, she deepened the kiss, her tongue playfully teasing Lu Ruyun, entwining with hers, not letting her catch a breath.
"Cloud Fairy!"
"Holy crap, Qin Zhenzhen!"
"It really is Qin Zhenzhen!!"
The woman who had taken her child halfway home suddenly looked up and slapped her husband's arm. "I know! I know why that woman looked so familiar just now! She looks like Qin Zhenzhen!"
The man was confused. "What Qin Zhenzhen?"
The woman glared at him unhappily. "The one who plays the female lead in Cold Palace."
The man snorted with laughter. "Are you crazy? How could a big star like that come here? Shouldn't she be in a five-star hotel tonight or walking some red carpet? Seeing her here? You're probably going nuts."
The woman scoffed. Before she could retort, they heard a commotion break out behind them.
"Zhenzhen!"
"Qin Zhenzhen!"
"Cloud Fairy! Cloud Fairy!"
The two figures running at the front of the crowd were precisely the ones they had just seen.
The man blinked dumbfoundedly. "Honey, what were they just shouting? Is there something wrong with my ears?"
The woman huffed in annoyance. "Your ears are fine. It's your eyes that have a problem. Went blind too early."
The man: "..."
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