Married in a Daze - Chapter 109

Chapter 109

As Qin Zhenzhen turned her head while munching on a potato chip, she saw Lu Ruyun standing behind her. She lifted the chip in greeting. "Teacher Lu, good evening."

Her movement was natural, her expression no different from usual, her smile even sweeter by three degrees.

Lu Ruyun lowered her gaze. A single word emerged from her throat. "Mm."

Ji Lu stood behind the two of them, looking left and right, and decided it was time to bid farewell. She returned to the kitchen, placed the cut fruit on the coffee table, looked up, and said to Qin Zhenzhen, "Zhenzhen, I'll be heading off then."

Qin Zhenzhen stood up. "It's so late, just stay over."

Ji Lu hurriedly waved her hands. "No need."

Having said that, she picked up her bag and prepared to leave. As she reached the door, she seemed to remember something and turned back to ask, "Zhenzhen, do you still need me to come over tomorrow?"

Qin Zhenzhen's expression remained unperturbed. "Of course. I'll be very bored spending the New Year alone."

Ji Lu shot a glance at Lu Ruyun, opened her mouth, and said, "Alright."

It was only after Ji Lu left that Qin Zhenzhen sat back down. Without turning her head, she asked, "Teacher Lu, why did you come over?"

Lu Ruyun walked over to the sofa and sat down, her eyes downcast. "I couldn't find you at home, so I came here."

Qin Zhenzhen nodded. "Right, it's been a long time since I came back. I finally had some free time, so I came to take a look today."

Hearing her words, Lu Ruyun's face paled for a few seconds. She lowered her gaze. "Zhenzhen..."

Qin Zhenzhen interrupted her. "Have you had dinner?"

"If not, there's still some food in the kitchen. Just heat it up."

Lu Ruyun looked at her. "I'm not hungry."

As if to contradict her words, her stomach let out a loud growl. Lu Ruyun's pretty face flushed slightly. She lowered her eyelids and, as Qin Zhenzhen glanced over, stood up and walked toward the kitchen.

On the kitchen counter lay a portion of food, untouched, the lid securely fastened. After opening it, Lu Ruyun discovered two items inside that she liked.

She knew I would come.

Lu Ruyun glanced at Qin Zhenzhen's slender back, placed the container in the microwave for two cycles. Qin Zhenzhen was watching the final sketch of the variety show. After finishing, she started tidying up the trash on the coffee table. Just as she finished cleaning, Lu Ruyun walked into the living room holding the takeout box.

Qin Zhenzhen raised her arms in a stretch. After sitting for half a day, her whole body felt sore.

Lu Ruyun sat on the carpet beside the coffee table, watching Qin Zhenzhen flit around the apartment like a butterfly.

This continued until she saw Qin Zhenzhen holding her pajamas and entering the bathroom. Soon after, the sound of running water could be heard.

She pursed her lips and lowered her head to eat.

When Qin Zhenzhen emerged from the bathroom, a dry towel was wrapped around her head. She was wearing a nightgown, her skin flushed pink from the hot bath, her bright eyes glistening. Every gesture exuded infinite charm.

Lu Ruyun put down her chopsticks, thought for a moment, and called out, "Zhenzhen."

Qin Zhenzhen was drying her damp hair. Hearing the voice, she looked over. "Finished?"

"I prepared a set of clothes for you, on the rack. Go take a shower first."

"The room is ready too. The one with the open door."

She arranged everything very naturally, her attitude intimate, yet a sense of distance could still be detected. Lu Ruyun stood up and walked over to her side. The two of them just stood there, unmoving.

Qin Zhenzhen yawned, looking utterly exhausted. "Teacher Lu, I need to rest."

Watching her turn to leave, Lu Ruyun instinctively grabbed her hand. But before she could say anything, she heard Qin Zhenzhen speak. "I know what you want to say. I'm not blaming you. If I had known Miss Zhang was in trouble last night, I would have definitely gone too."

"But Ruyun, you can't deny me even the right to be upset."

After saying this, Qin Zhenzhen gave a light laugh. "Just let me be angry for a while. Anyway, with you, I can be angry for at most three minutes."

After these two self-mocking sentences, she turned and entered her room. Lu Ruyun stood behind her for a long time before her stiff body finally moved. She tidied up the sofa Qin Zhenzhen hadn't finished cleaning. Qin Zhenzhen, listening to the sounds outside, tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

After putting everything in order, Lu Ruyun went to the prepared room. She turned on the light. All the decorations and preferences inside were very obvious—they were Qin Zhenzhen's taste.

She took two steps inside and sat on the bed. It felt a bit like returning to the study in her own apartment.

There was no fear of entering an unfamiliar environment, no lingering, haunting memories. Perhaps it was because the person sleeping next door was Qin Zhenzhen. Lu Ruyun felt inexplicably at peace.

Her phone beeped repeatedly. She picked it up from the nightstand. Seeing the message on the screen, her pretty face tensed, her lips pressed tightly together. Her fingertip pressed against the phone's hard casing until it ached uncomfortably.

Lu Ruyun remained silent for a long while before getting up from the bed. She walked to the wall directly adjoining Qin Zhenzhen's room, sat down, and leaned her back against it.

Qin Zhenzhen rolled around in bed for a long time but couldn't fall asleep. Irritated, she simply got out of bed without putting on slippers and walked straight to the door of Lu Ruyun's room.

The room next door was a guest room, but few guests ever came, so it was usually vacant. Tonight, however, its lights were on. Lu Ruyun's door was half-closed. Qin Zhenzhen pushed it open and saw the person sitting on the carpet.

Lu Ruyun's head was bowed, her long hair falling forward, covering her cheeks. Qin Zhenzhen stood there looking at her and was suddenly reminded of the first time she saw Lu Ruyun in a room like this.

Curled up in a corner, body trembling, rejecting anyone's touch.

Her heart felt as if pricked by a needle. Her footsteps felt as heavy as lead. She had promised herself she would just take a look and then go back, but she couldn't help walking towards Lu Ruyun.

Qin Zhenzhen entered the room and sat down beside Lu Ruyun, asking with a fierce expression, "What are you doing sitting here? Let me tell you, don't think I'll fall for some 'suffering act' just because you..."

Lu Ruyun turned to look at her. Her expression was calm, but her red-rimmed eyes and misty gaze caused Qin Zhenzhen to momentarily lose her voice.

Their eyes met. Qin Zhenzhen awkwardly averted her gaze and pushed Lu Ruyun's arm. "Get up and go to sleep. Going crazy in the middle of the night, don't you know what time it is?"

Pushed by her, Lu Ruyun stood up. Qin Zhenzhen tugged on the sleeve of her pajamas, pulling her to the bedside, saying angrily, "Sleep! Don't think about anything!"

"Okay." Lu Ruyun was as obedient as a child. Following Qin Zhenzhen's instruction, she sat on the edge of the bed and looked up at Qin Zhenzhen.

Qin Zhenzhen, stared at by such a gaze, glared at her. "What are you looking at me for? You think you're the wronged one, huh? The one who's wronged is me..."

As she spoke, her voice choked up. A mist of vapor rose before her eyes, blurring her vision.

Forget about the New Year they had planned together. She couldn't even stay at her own home.

She had promised to spend the New Year with her parents, but she had to break that promise.

Thinking of Yin Lanfang and Qin Ye's hopeful yet afraid to insist expressions, Qin Zhenzhen couldn't hold back her tears.

"Lu Ruyun, the one who's wronged is me!"

"It's me!"

Hearing her outburst, Lu Ruyun simply held her tightly. Her lips quivered, wanting to say 'I'm sorry,' only to realize she had been saying 'sorry' far too often lately.

She remained silent, letting Qin Zhenzhen vent, holding her tightly no matter how she struggled.

Qin Zhenzhen's accusations hammered into Lu Ruyun's heart like iron nails, causing it to bleed profusely. The pain turned her face pale and made her body tremble.

The two of them were like little wild beasts lost in the night, leaning against each other, seeking warmth from one another.

Qin Zhenzhen's sobs gradually quieted, turning into slow hiccups. Lu Ruyun patted her back gently. In the quiet night, neither spoke. Only the sounds of their breathing, deep and shallow, filled the air.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Qin Zhenzhen's voice was hoarse, utterly different from her usual clear tone.

Lu Ruyun's hand, patting her back, paused. She answered honestly, "I don't know what to say."

Qin Zhenzhen sat up from her embrace. "Think I'm being unreasonable?"

Lu Ruyun shook her head. "It's that I don't even have the right to say I'm sorry."

Qin Zhenzhen opened her mouth, then closed it. Seeing the turbulent emotions swirling in Lu Ruyun's eyes, she clenched her fist. "Forget it. It's not really your fault either."

Having vented, she was calmer now. When it came down to it, this was just an accident, one that no one wanted to happen. She felt wronged, but Lu Ruyun must be feeling terrible too.

With this thought, Qin Zhenzhen stood up. "I'm going back to my room."

The moment she rose, Lu Ruyun reached out and caught her fingers. Qin Zhenzhen turned her head, saw their joined hands, saw Lu Ruyun's pitiful posture, saw her revealing an expression she never usually showed. Her heart softened a little.

Qin Zhenzhen silently scolded herself for being so weak-willed.

Although she knew she could never stay angry at Lu Ruyun for more than three minutes, she hadn't expected to reconcile in the middle of the night either. So she steeled herself, preparing to leave. Lu Ruyun merely tightened her grip. Her body swayed slightly. She was already sitting on the edge of the bed, and with this tug, half her body nearly fell off.

Qin Zhenzhen had been watching her out of the corner of her eye. Seeing her movement, she instinctively reached out to prevent her from falling. The moment Qin Zhenzhen opened her arms, Lu Ruyun pulled her into her embrace, holding her tightly.

"Zhenzhen."

"It's my fault."

"There won't be a next time."

Hearing her words, Qin Zhenzhen's body stiffened. A feeling of warmth seemed to emanate from Lu Ruyun as she patted her back gently, comfortingly.

"Don't be angry anymore, okay?"

Qin Zhenzhen's pretty face flushed slightly. Stubbornly, she said, "I wasn't angry in the first place."

Hearing her contradictory words, Lu Ruyun lowered her eyelids. The two of them sat on the edge of the bed, holding each other. Occasionally, a speck or two of starlight leaped through the window, adding to the tranquility.

After a long while, Qin Zhenzhen kicked off her shoes and got onto the bed. She knew there was no way she was leaving tonight.

Lu Ruyun didn't do anything else. They simply changed their hugging posture. Qin Zhenzhen lay flat on the bed, looking up at the ceiling and the crystal chandelier. She asked, "How is Miss Zhang?"

"Hmm?"

Lu Ruyun paused for a moment. "Physically, no major issues. Mentally, not so good. Vice Dean Ding has prohibited her from being discharged."

Qin Zhenzhen blinked, her long eyelashes tracing an arc in the air. "Was it suicide?"

Lu Ruyun nodded. "Mm."

Qin Zhenzhen turned her head to look at Lu Ruyun. "Because of Director Duan?"

Lu Ruyun thought of the message she had received on her phone and shook her head. "What it was because of... I'm afraid only she herself knows."

Qin Zhenzhen made a thoughtful "Mm."

The atmosphere in the room was peaceful. The two of them chatted intermittently. Feeling Qin Zhenzhen's shallow breaths and the warmth of her body, Lu Ruyun moved a little closer. She couldn't help but say, "Zhenzhen."

Too lazy to move, Qin Zhenzhen gave a soft "Mm?"

Lu Ruyun hugged her waist, couldn't help but tighten her hold a little, and said, "Actually, I've attempted suicide before too."

Under Qin Zhenzhen's astonished gaze, Lu Ruyun suddenly felt that that part of her past wasn't as unbearable as she had thought. It had just been sealed away for too long. Each time it was mentioned, only fear remained. The accumulated terror over the years had gradually consumed her, making her forget that she had long possessed the courage to move on.

Qin Zhenzhen clenched her hand. Upon hearing these words, her heart skipped a beat. She tightened her grip and said with a light laugh, "It's getting late. Let's rest."

Lu Ruyun lowered her head, slipping her hand into Qin Zhenzhen's clenched fist. Their fingers intertwined. Smelling the familiar scent, listening to her shallow breathing, feeling her warmth, Lu Ruyun's heart was calm. Her voice was soft. "Zhenzhen, I want to tell you."

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