Married in a Daze - Chapter 118

Chapter 118

Qin Zhenzhen fell asleep after boarding the plane. Lu Ruyun covered her with a thin blanket and let her lean against herself, sleeping soundly. Sitting behind them were Meng Xin and Ji Lu, chatting in low voices.

"Why did Teacher Lu come along?" Meng Xin asked with a frown.

Ji Lu replied quietly, "Probably because Zhenzhen got sick in City K. Teacher Lu was worried."

"Oh."

Meng Xin nodded and didn't say more.

It was already afternoon when they arrived in Country J. Qin Zhenzhen was woken up by Lu Ruyun. Rubbing her eyes, she asked, "Are we there?"

Lu Ruyun nodded slightly. "We're here."

The people picking them up were from the advertising company. Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun were escorted into a car. Meng Xin suggested they go to the hotel first to freshen up a bit before heading to the shooting location. Qin Zhenzhen had no objections. She looked at Lu Ruyun. "Ruyun, are you coming with me?"

Lu Ruyun shook her head. "No need. I'll wait for you at the hotel."

Qin Zhenzhen frowned with concern. "Will you be okay alone?"

Lu Ruyun smiled, pursing her lips. "It's fine. I'll contact my aunt later."

Only then did Qin Zhenzhen feel a bit reassured. They talked in the car for a while before arriving at the hotel entrance. Staff brought their luggage up. Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun shared a room. The room next door was Meng Xin's, while Ji Lu was arranged on a floor below, on the same level as the advertising company's work team.

Lu Ruyun stood in the room. Qin Zhenzhen pouted coquettishly at her. "Don't wander off while you're here. I'll come back as soon as I finish shooting."

Seeing her anxious expression, Lu Ruyun chuckled lightly. "Zhenzhen, I know this place better than you do."

Qin Zhenzhen bit her lip. "Alright."

When Meng Xin, having changed clothes, knocked on Qin Zhenzhen's door, Qin Zhenzhen reluctantly waved goodbye to Lu Ruyun. Lu Ruyun stood behind her. Hearing the suite door click shut, she lowered her gaze and took out her phone to make a call.

Lu Sheng had just stepped out of a meeting when her phone rang. Glancing at the name on the screen, it was actually Lu Ruyun, who might not contact her a handful of times throughout the entire year.

"Ruyun." Lu Sheng's voice carried a smile. "What made you think of calling me?"

Lu Ruyun sat on the sofa. The sunlight in Country J was intense, somewhat dazzling. Squinting her eyes, she said, "Auntie, I'm back."

Colleagues still passed by Lu Sheng occasionally, some greeting her. Lu Sheng's nodding motion paused. "What?"

"What did you just say?"

Lu Ruyun repeated softly, "Auntie, I'm back."

Lu Sheng immediately asked, "Where are you now?"

Lu Ruyun detected the tension in her voice and reassured her, "I'm fine. I'm waiting for Zhenzhen at the hotel. Auntie, let's have dinner together tonight."

Lu Sheng's eyes instantly reddened. She immediately said "Okay" twice. After hanging up, her hand still trembled slightly, her face full of joy.

The colleague walking beside her, seeing her like this, asked, "Sheng, what's got you so happy?"

Lu Sheng raised her lips. "My niece is back."

The colleague didn't quite understand but congratulated her after thinking for a moment. Lu Sheng took a couple of steps and then asked, "By the way, Ai Lin, help me brainstorm. What gifts are suitable for meeting a junior for the first time?"

Ai Lin nodded. "For your niece?"

Hearing this, Lu Sheng thought of the first time she spoke with Qin Zhenzhen on the phone, when Qin Zhenzhen called her 'Mom.' She lowered her head and smiled. "For a daughter."

Ai Lin: ...

---

Qin Zhenzhen's afternoon shoot went smoothly. It wasn't her first time collaborating with this team; they had met during her previous advertisement shoot, so there was some tacit understanding.

"Good, raise your hand a little higher."

"Hold it."

"OK!"

Qin Zhenzhen lowered her hand. Ji Lu promptly stood beside her with a parasol, shielding her from the sun. This wasn't City A; the climate in Country J was completely different. Qin Zhenzhen felt hot even wearing spring clothes.

"Change for the next set."

A staff member called out from not far away. Ji Lu accompanied Qin Zhenzhen to change clothes. Meng Xin was standing not far away answering a phone call, though occasionally their chatting could be heard.

After changing, Qin Zhenzhen took a sip of water and stood in front of the camera again. Meng Xin, having finished her call, walked over to Ji Lu. "Almost done, right?"

Ji Lu nodded. "Mhm, this is the last set."

Meng Xin watched as Qin Zhenzhen under the camera lifted her gaze with a slight smile, every movement seemingly meticulously polished, exuding perfection.

Not only did she look on with admiration, but even the staff standing nearby couldn't help but sneak extra glances at Qin Zhenzhen.

Qin Zhenzhen stepped off the platform and sighed in relief. While getting her makeup removed, she sent a message to Lu Ruyun. "Teacher Lu, what are you doing?"

Lu Ruyun had just finished showering and changed into a dress. Hearing the message notification, she quickly walked to the bedside and saw Qin Zhenzhen's text.

She smiled, pursing her lips, and replied: Waiting for you.

Qin Zhenzhen instantly broke into a delighted smile. The girl removing her makeup pressed a hand over her pounding heart, feeling this job had a dangerously high risk factor.

After the makeup removal, Qin Zhenzhen walked out of the restroom and saw Meng Xin and Ji Lu standing together. She walked over. "Back to the hotel?"

Meng Xin said to Ji Lu, "You take Zhenzhen back to the hotel. I still have to have dinner with the advertising company later."

Qin Zhenzhen obediently agreed. "Okay."

Seeing her like this, Meng Xin thought for a moment and said, "Zhenzhen, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."

Qin Zhenzhen, seeing her hesitation, signaled Ji Lu with her eyes. Ji Lu tactfully stood behind them. Meng Xin and Qin Zhenzhen walked and talked. "This afternoon, SP called me. They want to book you for a magazine cover shoot."

"SP?"

Qin Zhenzhen looked sideways at Meng Xin upon hearing the name. "Are you talking about Perfect Star?"

SP's full name was Perfect Star Magazine, one of the top magazines domestically, with sales consistently ranking in the top three. True to the magazine's name, Perfect Star, it followed a high-end route, inviting only renowned big names in the industry or figures with significant influence.

So Qin Zhenzhen uncertainly repeated the full name.

Meng Xin nodded. "That's right."

For the past two years, SP had been wanting to change its style, aiming to combine popularity with high-end. After receiving the news, Meng Xin actively contacted the magazine. In terms of popularity, Qin Zhenzhen was undoubtedly a top choice. Even though she had been relatively quiet for almost the entire year, nearing the New Year had forcefully boosted her visibility again, giving Meng Xin more confidence when contacting them.

The magazine side hadn't given her a definite reply before, only saying they were considering it.

Meng Xin waited like this. Unexpectedly, they just called—they had finished considering and decided to cooperate.

But there was one condition.

Qin Zhenzhen looked at Meng Xin and smiled. "Then Sister Meng, what are you hesitating for? Why not agree?"

After all, not everyone could appear in SP. It also served as proof of one's status within the industry. This was Qin Zhenzhen's fourth year since debut. With that TV drama that broke a 2.5 rating record, she won the Best TV Drama and Best Actress awards. At the time, she thought it was just the beginning of a new starting point in life. Little did she know she hadn't surpassed those two awards since, and was even labeled a popularity-driven artist now. So for this SP invitation, Qin Zhenzhen was willing.

Meng Xin was certainly willing too, but the magazine had one more condition.

Qin Zhenzhen pursed her lips. "What condition?"

Meng Xin looked at Qin Zhenzhen. "They hope you and Teacher Lu shoot together."

After all, it was their first attempt at changing styles. Directly letting Qin Zhenzhen appear alone would be risky for them. But with Lu Ruyun, it was different. Lu Ruyun's "Hundred Blossom Immortal" role was still on the classic rankings, a beloved memory for countless people. Shooting together with Qin Zhenzhen would not only halve the risk but also create hype with the married-couple angle. What made Meng Xin hesitate was, as far as she knew, Lu Ruyun never accepted magazine shoots like these.

Qin Zhenzhen smiled lightly at her concern. "Sister Meng, I'll ask Ruyun when I get back."

Meng Xin nodded. "I still hope you can persuade Teacher Lu. This opportunity is truly hard to come by."

Even without her saying it, Qin Zhenzhen knew the opportunity was hard-won. Her expression turned slightly serious. "I will. Don't worry, Sister Meng."

Meng Xin breathed a sigh of relief. "Shall I take you back?"

Qin Zhenzhen waved her hand. "No need. Ji Lu and I will go back. You have a dinner later, remember not to drink too much."

Meng Xin lowered her head and smiled at her caring words. "It's fine. I know my limits."

Qin Zhenzhen didn't chatter anymore. After getting in the car with Ji Lu, they headed straight for the hotel. Ji Lu noticed Qin Zhenzhen secretly touched up her makeup just before getting out of the car. She asked, "Zhenzhen, should I bring dinner up for you two? Or should I help you..."

"No need." Qin Zhenzhen interrupted her, blinking at Ji Lu. "Teacher Lu and I are going out for dinner."

Before Ji Lu could finish her sentence, she saw Qin Zhenzhen smiling at her with a sweet expression. She choked on her own saliva, coughing several times in a row.

After getting out of the car, Qin Zhenzhen and Ji Lu went upstairs together. Ji Lu saw her to the room door, waiting until Lu Ruyun opened it before saying, "Be careful if you go out tonight."

Qin Zhenzhen glanced at her. "Nags. This is Country J."

Ji Lu scratched her head and smiled. She had thought it was City A, crawling with paparazzi.

After waving goodbye to Ji Lu, Qin Zhenzhen followed Lu Ruyun into the room. The sky was growing dark outside. The crystal chandelier in the room was lit. Qin Zhenzhen kicked off her high heels, put on slippers, and slumped on the sofa. Lu Ruyun sat beside her. "Zhenzhen, what do you want to eat tonight?"

Qin Zhenzhen tilted her head to look at her, placing both feet on her lap and rubbing them. "I'm fine with anything. Teacher Lu, you're more familiar with this place. You choose."

Lu Ruyun massaged her ankles, lowering her head. "I haven't been back for a long time either."

Qin Zhenzhen's smile faded. Biting her lip, she said, "Then should we just pick any place?"

Lu Ruyun watched her take out her phone, fingers tapping on the screen. She smiled, pursing her lips. "I'll take you to a place my aunt and I used to go to often."

"Okay."

Qin Zhenzhen said this and went back to the room to change clothes. Country J was on the warmer side. She changed into a sleeveless knee-length dress with a waist-cinching design that made her slender waist look as if it could be held in one hand. The pale yellow dress made her skin appear even fairer and rosy. She applied light makeup and casually tied her long hair behind her head, swaying with her movements.

After coming out, Qin Zhenzhen saw Lu Ruyun looking down at her phone. She walked over, took Lu Ruyun's phone, and sat on her lap, pouting coquettishly. "Teacher Lu, am I not better-looking than a phone?"

Lu Ruyun was stunned for a few seconds, her red lips parting slightly. "Zhenzhen, the phone..."

Qin Zhenzhen held the phone, turned her head, and mumbled, "What's so good about a phone?"

Then she looked up and saw a face appear on the raised phone screen, with her own image sitting on Lu Ruyun's lap in the upper right corner. She blinked. The person on the phone smiled. "Hello, Zhenzhen."

Qin Zhenzhen: ...

Get instant access to all chapters now.

Previous Table of Contents Next