Married in a Daze - Chapter 122

Chapter 122

Due to the little incident at the university, Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun returned to the hotel early. They were both tactful and did not mention the person from earlier. Back at the hotel, Qin Zhenzhen saw it was still early and said to Lu Ruyun, "Should we go back?"

Lu Ruyun turned to look at her, thought for a moment, and replied, "Alright."

Qin Zhenzhen called Ji Lu to book plane tickets, then she and Lu Ruyun packed their things to leave. In the room, Lu Ruyun folded clothes and placed them in the suitcase. After packing for a while, Qin Zhenzhen sat on the edge of the bed, trying to find a topic of conversation.

"Ruyun, Sister Meng asked me to ask you something."

Lu Ruyun responded without looking up, "What is it?"

Qin Zhenzhen sat on the bed, hands resting on the edge, swinging her legs slightly. "Do you know about SP?"

"SP?" Lu Ruyun placed clothes in the suitcase, frowning as she looked at Qin Zhenzhen. "Perfect Star Magazine?"

There was some surprise in her eyes. She naturally knew about SP and was aware of some of their industry practices. To her knowledge, this magazine had always promoted itself as a high-end brand, inviting either major stars in the industry or influential figures in society. Of course, they often invited well-known international personalities as well. So when Qin Zhenzhen mentioned it just now, she was a bit uncertain.

Qin Zhenzhen seemed to have anticipated her reaction. "Mhm. They contacted Sister Meng a couple of days ago."

Lu Ruyun thought for a few seconds. "What did Sister Meng want to ask me?"

Qin Zhenzhen got off the bed, walked over to Lu Ruyun, and said in a somewhat coquettish tone, "Actually, it's nothing major. It's just that the magazine side has a condition."

Lu Ruyun: "A condition?"

Qin Zhenzhen nodded. "They want to invite both of us for the shoot together."

Lu Ruyun's brows drew together. "Both of us? Together?"

Qin Zhenzhen wore a faint smile. "You know, to halve the risk."

Seeing that Lu Ruyun still looked somewhat puzzled, Qin Zhenzhen explained Meng Xin's reasoning to her. Lu Ruyun's expression cleared with understanding. "When?"

Qin Zhenzhen shook her head. "It's not set yet. Sister Meng wasn't sure if you'd agree."

They would need her consent before discussing the timing with the magazine. Lu Ruyun thought for a moment and said, "Tell Sister Meng to contact them first to confirm a time."

Qin Zhenzhen's eyes brightened. "So you agree?"

Lu Ruyun smiled at her. "Why wouldn't I agree?"

Qin Zhenzhen opened her mouth, wanting to mention what happened last night and earlier today. But seeing Lu Ruyun's expression, which had already returned to normal, she swallowed the words that were about to come out and lifted her lips in a smile. "Teacher Lu, you're so great!"

Lu Ruyun pursed her lips, accepting this sudden praise.

They caught the last flight back to City A. He Shuangshuang came to pick them up. Her expression wasn't good, tense and silent the whole time.

None of the four people in the car spoke. He Shuangshuang drove Lu Ruyun and Qin Zhenzhen straight back to the apartment. After watching the two enter the building, Ji Lu very consciously took her suitcase out of the car and said to He Shuangshuang, "Goodbye."

He Shuangshuang frowned at her actions. "Where are you going?"

Ji Lu held up her suitcase. "To hail a cab."

"You were unhappy earlier, wasn't it because I was sitting in the passenger seat?"

He Shuangshuang was both exasperated and amused by her words. She walked straight over to Ji Lu, took her suitcase, placed it in the trunk, then said to Ji Lu, "Get in the car."

Ji Lu looked dumbfounded at her series of actions and tugged at the corner of her mouth. "What are you doing?"

He Shuangshuang opened the passenger door, her voice slightly low. "Taking you home."

Seeing that she genuinely didn't seem to be forcing herself, though the gloom between her brows hadn't faded, Ji Lu hesitated for a few seconds before getting in. Closing the car door, she scratched her head and asked, "Did you fight with someone again?"

He Shuangshuang glanced at her coolly, and Ji Lu wisely didn't press further.

In truth, their relationship had eased quite a bit. Ever since she found out about Zhenzhen and Teacher Lu being together, her attitude towards He Shuangshuang had changed. While not exactly attentive and caring, she definitely wouldn't pick fights at the drop of a hat like before.

As for He Shuangshuang's attitude towards her...

Ji Lu thought about it and felt that He Shuangshuang was still the same towards her.

As venomous-tongued as ever.

There was no conversation on the road. Ji Lu kept her gaze fixed outside the window. The New Year had just passed, and the festive atmosphere hadn't completely dissipated. Lights were on in every household. Pedestrians on the street walked in twos and threes, some holding hands, some hugging—a scene of warmth.

He Shuangshuang also wasn't her usual chatterbox self tonight. She was unusually silent, so much so that Ji Lu felt somewhat unaccustomed to it. She occasionally glanced at He Shuangshuang's reflection in the window—dejected, lifeless. Finally, Ji Lu couldn't hold back and asked, "He Shuangshuang, did you get dumped?"

This time, He Shuangshuang didn't even spare her a glance, only uttering airily, "Do you want to get out here?"

Ji Lu looked outside at the howling cold wind. Her body, which had just been enjoying the sunbath in Country J, immediately shuddered. She pressed her lips together and shut up completely.

He Shuangshuang drove the car straight to Ji Lu's doorstep.

Ji Lu's home wasn't in a residential complex but in an old-style two-story house. At the moment, the lights were bright, and laughter and noise could be heard from inside even before getting out of the car. After parking, He Shuangshuang got out and retrieved Ji Lu's luggage for her. Ji Lu looked at this He Shuangshuang who was completely unlike her usual self, bit her lip, and said, "Thank you."

He Shuangshuang lowered her eyes, her voice very soft. "You're welcome."

She finished speaking and was about to leave when Ji Lu, looking at her retreating back, called out, "He Shuangshuang."

He Shuangshuang turned around to see Ji Lu smiling as she asked, "Have you had dinner yet?"

When Lu Ruyun called He Shuangshuang after her shower, she immediately heard a lot of noise on the other end. She instinctively asked, "Are you home?"

He Shuangshuang glanced at the enthusiastic Ji family and the elders who kept putting food in her bowl. Hearing Lu Ruyun's question, she momentarily didn't know how to answer, only mumbling vaguely, "Mhm, what's up? Something wrong?"

Lu Ruyun walked to the living room, her red lips parting lightly. "Meng Xin will probably contact you in the next couple of days. Confirm the photoshoot timing with her."

"Shoot?" He Shuangshuang stood up, nodded to everyone in greeting, and went outside. As soon as she opened the door, a gust of cold wind greeted her. She asked, "What photoshoot?"

Lu Ruyun sat on the sofa, wrapped in a bathrobe, her long hair damp and cascading down her back. Her expression was normal. "The magazine cover for Perfect Star Magazine. Sister Meng will contact you with the details and explain everything."

He Shuangshuang agreed. "Alright."

Only after Lu Ruyun hung up did He Shuangshuang put away her phone. Someone tapped her shoulder. She turned to see Ji Lu standing behind her, holding a cup of hot tea, steam rising from it.

Ji Lu stood in front of He Shuangshuang. "What's wrong? You seem in a bad mood tonight?"

He Shuangshuang took the teacup from her hand, lowered her eyes, and without thinking, was about to take a sip. Ji Lu hurriedly grabbed her wrist. "It's still hot!"

With this pull, He Shuangshuang's grip on the cup faltered. Tea splashed out, landing on Ji Lu's hand. Ji Lu winced in pain and retracted her hand. He Shuangshuang's expression changed slightly. She quickly set down the cup and took Ji Lu's hand to look, her face apologetic. "I'm sorry."

Ji Lu paused. It was the first time she'd heard He Shuangshuang apologize. She was stunned for a few seconds before realizing He Shuangshuang was still holding her hand. Ji Lu hurriedly withdrew it, flustered. "It's fine, it's fine."

As if infected by her awkwardness, He Shuangshuang also felt somewhat unnatural. She gave a light cough, thought for a moment, and said, "Well, if there's nothing else, I'll head off first."

Ji Lu nodded. "Okay, goodbye."

He Shuangshuang uttered an "Oh," took two steps away, then turned back. Under Ji Lu's puzzled gaze, she said, "I should say goodbye to your family too."

Ji Lu: "Okay."

As she spoke, she tried to step aside to make room. But wherever she moved, He Shuangshuang seemed to step in that direction. After two rounds of this, Ji Lu stood still and smiled. "Go on in."

He Shuangshuang made an acknowledging sound. After going in to say her goodbyes and coming out, she didn't see Ji Lu. She lowered her head, got in the car, and left the Ji residence.

Night slowly descended. The cold wind lifted leaves, dropping them into the water, creating ripples that spread in circles.

After her shower, Qin Zhenzhen came out to find Lu Ruyun still watching TV. Cold Palace was already halfway through its broadcast. Although she hadn't participated in the promotion these past two days, she was frequently tagged. The popularity of the show had skyrocketed, showing signs of intensifying. Last night's single-episode rating had already broken 2.4. At this rate, the finale might even break 3.

Lu Ruyun was blow-drying her long hair while watching TV and didn't hear the sound behind her. Only when Qin Zhenzhen sat down did she tilt her head to look at her. Qin Zhenzhen had just emerged from the bathroom, her skin flushed pink from the steam, her hair ink-black. Lu Ruyun pulled her to sit beside her and began drying her hair, her movements practiced.

The hum of the hair dryer filled the living room, drowning out the sound from the TV. Qin Zhenzhen looked at the LCD screen in front of her, somewhat distracted. She lowered her head and whispered, "Ruyun?"

Lu Ruyun didn't answer, probably not hearing her. Qin Zhenzhen pouted, her shoulders slumping. Lu Ruyun saw her movement and smiled. "What is it?"

As she spoke, she turned off the hair dryer. Qin Zhenzhen looked at her suddenly close face and the familiar scent at her nose. She lowered her eyelashes, her voice very soft. "This afternoon, that person..."

"Was my grandfather." Lu Ruyun replied lightly, then resumed drying her hair. The damp long hair gradually became smooth and flowing between her fingers. Many strands lifted, forming a semi-circular arc. Qin Zhenzhen glanced sideways at her. Just now, she had said that sentence in a casual tone, very normal-sounding. But Qin Zhenzhen saw a shadowed darkness in her clear, bright eyes.

Qin Zhenzhen reached back and grasped the fingers that were lifting her hair, holding them tightly.

Lu Ruyun lowered her gaze, the darkness fading from her eyes.

After her hair was dry, Qin Zhenzhen began feeling sleepy. However, Lu Ruyun still wanted to look over the script. She was entering the Drunken Dreams of Jianghu set in a couple of days. After the New Year, she had been running around with Qin Zhenzhen, so she hadn't studied the script at all. She wanted to look it over now while she wasn't tired.

Seeing that Lu Ruyun wasn't going back to the bedroom, Qin Zhenzhen simply waited for her on the sofa. Lu Ruyun sat reading the script, while Qin Zhenzhen lay with her head on Lu Ruyun's lap, holding her phone and scrolling through Weibo. After a while, she kept yawning. Lu Ruyun said softly, "Zhenzhen, go to sleep first. I'll come in a bit."

Qin Zhenzhen put down her phone. Because of the yawning, the rims of her eyes were slightly red, her gaze limpid and alluring, her bright eyes sparkling. Lu Ruyun helped her sit up by her shoulders. Qin Zhenzhen obediently walked upstairs. Before Lu Ruyun could even sigh in relief, she heard a series of thumping footsteps coming down the stairs. Qin Zhenzhen was wrapped in a thin blanket, looking at her somewhat plaintively. "Teacher Lu, I can't sleep alone."

Lu Ruyun: "..."

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