Married in a Daze - Chapter 117

Chapter 117

Qin Zhenzhen recuperated in City K for two days, and Lu Ruyun stayed with her there the whole time. On the morning of the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, Ji Lu completed the discharge procedures, and only then did the three of them leave City K.

Ji Lu was driving. During the five-hour journey, Qin Zhenzhen was in good spirits, chatting animatedly with Lu Ruyun all the way back to City A. While driving, Ji Lu wished she could erect a folding screen between the front and back seats. People in love, why are they always so disgustingly sweet?

She clicked her tongue inwardly but continued driving with a neutral expression.

Upon arriving in City A, Qin Zhenzhen originally planned to contact Meng Xin directly and meet up with her. After thinking for a moment, Lu Ruyun said, "Zhenzhen, I'd like to go see Qiuhan."

Qin Zhenzhen thought briefly: "Let's go together."

Lu Ruyun nodded: "Alright."

In the past two days, unfavorable rumors about Duan Qiuhan had been spreading increasingly online. Some were even calling for the "scumbag and mistress to get out of the entertainment industry" and were deemed "unfit to film." The netizens' emotions were running high. Duan Qiuhan's silence seemed like a tacit admission, making them even bolder in their verbal abuse.

Qin Zhenzhen had seen Lu Ruyun trying to contact Duan Qiuhan, but each time she returned with a deep frown, telling her she couldn't get through.

Duan Qiuhan's phone was never answered.

Duan Qiuhan's apartment complex was located not far from Zhang Yiyao's residence. He had bought the place thinking it would be convenient to be close by to take care of her. Lu Ruyun stood at the apartment door, knocking and calling out, "Qiuhan."

Not a sound came from inside. Lu Ruyun knocked again a few times: "Qiuhan, it's Ruyun."

Qin Zhenzhen stood beside Lu Ruyun, whispering, "Could Director Duan not be here?"

Hearing this, Lu Ruyun also wasn't sure. This was the only place she knew about. But after all these days of him not responding to the online rumors, whether he was even in City A was truly unknown.

She sighed and knocked on the door a couple more times. Still no sound from inside. Just as she was about to take Qin Zhenzhen and leave, they heard a loud clatter from behind the door. Qin Zhenzhen instantly grabbed Lu Ruyun's hand—she had clearly heard it too.

Lu Ruyun knocked on the door several more times, raising her voice: "Qiuhan, open the door."

"Qiuhan!"

"Duan Qiuhan!"

Qin Zhenzhen also helped by slapping the door, calling out, "Director Duan!"

Lu Ruyun watched the tightly shut door remain unmoving and finally couldn't hold back: "Duan Qiuhan, if you don't open this door, I'm going to break the lock open."

As if he knew she never made idle threats, within two minutes of her words, the tightly shut door creaked open. A wave of alcohol fumes hit them, so strong it made Qin Zhenzhen pause in her steps.

Duan Qiuhan's state was also extremely poor. His face was unshaven, his eyes hollow. His hair looked like it hadn't been washed for days, a messy mop on his head. One could smell the overwhelming stench of alcohol even before getting close. Qin Zhenzhen glanced at him and thought he looked gaunt, almost unrecognizable.

This was a far cry from the usual Duan Qiuhan.

The last time Qin Zhenzhen saw him was outside Zhang Yiyao's hospital room. In just four or five short days, Duan Qiuhan had become a different person. If he hadn't emerged from this apartment, if his drastically thinned face didn't still vaguely resemble his former features, Qin Zhenzhen might not have recognized him if she passed him on the street.

Seeing him like this, Lu Ruyun's brows furrowed tightly. She clenched and unclenched her fists, her voice softening slightly: "Let's go in first."

"Ruyun."

Whether it was because he hadn't spoken for a long time, Duan Qiuhan's voice was hoarse, as if something was stuck in his throat. He closed his eyes: "I don't want to talk right now."

Seeing his dejected state, Lu Ruyun was instinctively reminded of her own time in the hospital. Her tone gradually returned to normal: "Then listen to me talk, okay?"

Duan Qiuhan stubbornly shook his head: "I don't want to listen either."

"Ruyun, just let me be alone."

"I don't want to see anyone right now. I don't want to hear any voices."

He just wanted to numb himself with alcohol. The outside world was too noisy; he didn't want to step into it at all. He just wanted to hide in his own world, quietly.

Seeing him like this, Lu Ruyun swallowed whatever she wanted to say. Qin Zhenzhen nudged her hand: "Ruyun, you and Director Duan go in and talk. I'll wait for you outside."

She was giving Lu Ruyun and Duan Qiuhan space alone. Before Lu Ruyun could respond, Duan Qiuhan said, "You both go."

"Ruyun, I'm begging you. Let me be alone."

Lu Ruyun looked at him deeply: "Qiuhan, how long do you plan to hide?"

Duan Qiuhan shook his head honestly: "I don't know."

He took a few steps back. Through the doorway, Qin Zhenzhen caught a glimpse of the living room coffee table strewn haphazardly with liquor bottles. Several more were rolling on the floor. The earlier noise was probably caused by stepping on one and falling. Lu Ruyun followed him into the living room while Qin Zhenzhen remained standing in the doorway.

Duan Qiuhan's starry eyes were slightly red, appearing utterly wretched under the circumstances: "Ruyun, teach me. Teach me what to do?"

His lost and helpless expression pained Lu Ruyun. Duan Qiuhan continued: "Ruyun, tell me. If Zhenzhen broke up with you, what would you do?"

Lu Ruyun opened her mouth upon hearing this. All the comforting words she had prepared crumbled in the face of this hypothetical. If she and Zhenzhen broke up... she didn't dare to contemplate that 'if'.

Seeing Lu Ruyun silent, Duan Qiuhan laughed bitterly: "See, you can't handle it either."

Lu Ruyun lowered her head and eyes. She truly couldn't handle it. Just the thought of that possibility was enough to make her tremble with fear.

Qin Zhenzhen didn't know what Lu Ruyun and Duan Qiuhan were discussing. She only saw Duan Qiuhan talking incessantly while Lu Ruyun listened in silence. This scene almost looked like Duan Qiuhan was comforting Lu Ruyun. Her delicate brows drew together, looking somewhat confused at the two over there.

After a long while, Lu Ruyun finally spoke: "Alright. Three days."

Duan Qiuhan's voice was raspy: "Thank you."

Lu Ruyun pressed her lips together and brushed past him, ignoring the liquor bottles scattered across the floor and the reeking man before her. Her heart felt heavy, an uncomfortable tightness making her panicky.

After leaving, Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun returned to the apartment to pack their luggage. Ji Lu also drove home to get a change of clothes. Once back at the apartment, Lu Ruyun entered the bedroom. Qin Zhenzhen followed her inside and watched her open the suitcase, meticulously placing clothes and toiletries inside one by one. She took Lu Ruyun's hand and asked, "What's wrong?"

"What did you two talk about earlier?"

Lu Ruyun lowered her gaze: "Nothing."

After saying that, she paused. Seeing Qin Zhenzhen's gaze still fixed on her, she looked up: "Earlier, Qiuhan asked me a question."

Qin Zhenzhen smiled: "What question?"

Lu Ruyun looked at her blooming, smiling face, her heart stirring. Unconsciously, her arms circled Qin Zhenzhen's waist, holding her: "Qiuhan asked me, if one day you and Zhenzhen broke up, what would you do?"

Qin Zhenzhen, still being held, hadn't had time to feel happy before hearing this buzzkill of a question. She frowned: "What?"

Lu Ruyun hugged her tightly, answering honestly: "Zhenzhen, I thought about that 'if'. I think I wouldn't be able to handle it."

Qin Zhenzhen instantly broke into a wide smile: "If you can't handle it, then don't think about it."

"Teacher Lu, don't worry. I'm going to cling to you. I'll cling to you forever."

She seemed to sense the fluctuation in Lu Ruyun's emotions, which had been present since returning from City K and became more pronounced after meeting Duan Qiuhan. Initially, she thought it was because of Duan Qiuhan, but now she realized it might actually be because they were about to go to Country J.

Regardless, that place had brought her real, tangible pain. Even though she had moved past it now, returning and seeing familiar scenes would always trigger unpleasant memories.

And Duan Qiuhan had chosen this precise moment to ask that question, unsettling the normally composed Lu Ruyun, making her lose her usual poise over such a hypothetical.

Understanding, Qin Zhenzhen held her, patting her back: "It's okay, Ruyun. I'll always be with you."

Lu Ruyun made a soft sound of acknowledgment at her soothing words. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting several layers of halos over the two of them. Qin Zhenzhen loosened her hold slightly and looked up, meeting Lu Ruyun's slightly darkened eyes. They gazed at each other, and the room's temperature seemed to rise instantly. Qin Zhenzhen's cheeks flushed a rosy pink. Lu Ruyun didn't move, so Qin Zhenzhen took the initiative, leaning in to press her red lips against Lu Ruyun's in a fleeting, dragonfly-skimming-the-water kiss. Before she could pull away, Lu Ruyun's arms tightened around her waist, pulling her closer.

The two of them tumbled onto the large bed beside them, the mattress emitting a creak. Lu Ruyun's one arm encircled her waist while the other cradled her head. Qin Zhenzhen's hands also roamed freely over Lu Ruyun's lovely figure. The sight of her well-proportioned, exquisite body shattered Qin Zhenzhen's reason, making her only want to pull Lu Ruyun down into the depths with her.

The floor-length mirror beside the desk had been moved at some point. Qin Zhenzhen turned her head and caught her own reflection—flushed cheeks, eyes seductive as silk. In the mirror, the beautiful figures of both women were on full display, with not a stitch of covering, further stimulating Qin Zhenzhen's nerves. She hooked her leg around Lu Ruyun's, wrapped both arms around Lu Ruyun's neck, and pulled her down towards her.

The sounds in the room gradually grew suggestive. Qin Zhenzhen saw Lu Ruyun in the mirror lowering her head to kiss every inch of her body. One kiss after another fell, causing her whole body to tremble and flush red. The not-too-gentle, not-too-rough pressure seemed to carry sparks, instantly igniting her body. She squirmed restlessly, emitting ambiguous, wanting moans.

After making love so many times, Lu Ruyun had long since memorized her sensitive spots. Her fingertips circled over one, and Qin Zhenzhen's body immediately tensed, instinctively curling onto her side like a shrimp. An indescribable wave of pleasure pierced through her body, assaulting her brain directly, leaving her no time for thought. She could only go along with Lu Ruyun's movements, unconsciously letting out sounds.

This time, they went at it for quite a while. Perhaps because the impending return to Country J had agitated Lu Ruyun, she lingered and dawdled with Qin Zhenzhen for a long time. Fortunately, Lu Ruyun always controlled her strength, leaving no marks on her body. Even so, Qin Zhenzhen was left exhausted, limp on the bed, her body weak and listless. If it weren't for the upcoming flight, Qin Zhenzhen truly wanted to just sleep like this.

She sighed and lightly kicked Lu Ruyun's calf, pouting: "Teacher Lu, I want some water."

Lu Ruyun turned to look at her, got out of bed, poured a glass of water, and brought it to Qin Zhenzhen. Qin Zhenzhen blinked: "Feed me."

Her eyes held a hint of mischief. Lu Ruyun looked at her and nodded, taking a straw from a nearby drawer and placing it in the glass. Seeing her action, Qin Zhenzhen pursed her lips: "Teacher Lu, you're really no fun."

Lu Ruyun knew what she meant and lifted the corner of her lips: "I'm afraid if I'm too much fun, you won't be able to get on the plane later."

Qin Zhenzhen: ...

Get instant access to all chapters now.

Previous Table of Contents Next