Married in a Daze - Chapter 131
Chapter 131
The interview finally concluded a little past four in the afternoon. While the questions were fairly standard, the magazine staff didn't focus much on their careers. Instead, they asked many questions about their relationship, likely because they knew there wasn't much novelty to be mined from their professional lives.
Qin Zhenzhen was scrolling through Weibo in the car on the way back when she saw that SP had already announced their collaboration.
SP's prestige within the industry was top-tier. Those who could grace its cover were, without a need for introduction, figures of significant stature. During the shoot, Qin Zhenzhen had heard the staff's comments and initially thought it would spark major controversy online. Surprisingly, contrary to her expectations, the number of people condemning it wasn't very high.
Of course, there were still those who disapproved. Their arguments mirrored what Qin Zhenzhen had overheard: mostly that the magazine had gone insane, that anyone could get into SP these days, and wondering if SP was on the verge of bankruptcy.
Apart from that, there were many more differing voices.
—Qin Zhenzhen's acting is pretty good. Cold Palace's performance clearly leaves other TV dramas in the dust. What's wrong with an interview?
—Actually, I think Qin Zhenzhen is quite alright. What's more, there's also Cloud Fairy. For Cloud Fairy's sake, I'm definitely buying!
—That's what I think too. Watching Cold Palace made me appreciate Qin Zhenzhen's acting skills. And that sky-high ratings for Cold Palace weren't fake either. What's the big deal about shooting a magazine spread? Do we need your permission?
—Are all you people upstairs simple-minded? Do you even know what SP is? If you don't, go look it up! The people who get into SP are all superstars, at least at the level of Tang Ya or Jian Mu, okay?? Truly, fans reflect their idols.
—As a loyal SP reader, do I qualify to voice my opinion? Actually, SP should have revamped itself long ago. Seeing the same old big shots every time, with interview segments where even the talking points hardly change, I really wonder what the point of the magazine is. SP initially built its brand on the idea of the 'perfect star'. But in this life, who is perfect from birth? Rather than reading interviews with superstars, I'd much rather see artists who are growing step by step, watch how they climb their way up. Don't call me a fake reader; here are the photos [photo] [photo] [photo].
The photos showed many versions of SP, some old and worn, some brand new. It was clear they were treasured possessions, proving he was indeed a loyal reader as he claimed.
After he posted this comment, many official readers spoke up, agreeing there was no problem, that it was time to infuse fresh blood. A magazine that never changes will eventually be replaced, and they were willing to see SP reform. Qin Zhenzhen knew, of course, that among them were undoubtedly water armies hired by the magazine to muddy the waters, but there were also genuinely many people standing by her side, supporting her.
This moved Qin Zhenzhen somewhat. Leaning her head on Lu Ruyun's shoulder, she received a message from Meng Xin asking her to repost SP's Weibo post. She agreed, copied the message Meng Xin sent over, and reposted it with the comment: A new year brings a new beginning. Hope everyone supports the new SP [attached photo].
The photo was a group shot she and Lu Ruyun took with the team after the shoot.
Seeing the photo, their fans immediately became restless.
—Zhenzhen, are you guys taking wedding photos!!!
—Oh my god, stunningly beautiful. Must buy until it sells out!
—Teacher Lu looks so dom! Sorry Zhenzhen, let me jump ship for two minutes.
—What kind of divine couple is this? slurps drool
—OMG, this really does look like wedding photos!
Seeing the discussion veering further and further off course, Qin Zhenzhen was both amused and exasperated. Trending on Weibo was inevitable, but she didn't expect the trending topic to be #Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun's Wedding Photos Leaked#.
Of course, the other trending topics below were much more standard.
#Qin Zhenzhen on SP#
#Qin Zhenzhen Lu Ruyun Collaborate with SP#
By the time they arrived at the airport, Weibo was already bustling. Many colleagues Qin Zhenzhen had collaborated with sent congratulatory messages. Qin Zhenzhen replied to each one, and then she saw Jian Mu's repost and comment.
@Jian Mu: Congratulations. Hope you get better and better.
Qin Zhenzhen was momentarily stunned when she saw this comment. Jian Mu's fan club immediately liked his comment to the top position. Countless fans left messages underneath: "When will you collaborate with Zhenzhen again, idol?" "Brother Jian, hurry up and release new songs!" and similar comments were too numerous to count. Qin Zhenzhen stared at his Weibo profile picture, thought for a moment, and replied: Thank you.
If it were his work team posting congratulations, it wouldn't be a big deal. After all, they had collaborated before, and well-wishes were understandable.
But the thing was, he reposted it using his personal Weibo account. And his personal Weibo was traditionally only for matters related to his creative work. Reposting her post at this moment felt particularly conspicuous.
Lu Ruyun had just returned from the restroom and saw Qin Zhenzhen lost in thought. She asked softly, "What's wrong?"
Qin Zhenzhen looked up, subtly putting her phone away. "It's nothing."
She smiled at Lu Ruyun. "When do we leave?"
Lu Ruyun glanced at her watch. "In about half an hour. Are you hungry? Should I ask Shuangshuang to buy some food?"
Lunch had been late, so Qin Zhenzhen wasn't hungry. She shook her head to indicate it wasn't necessary.
In the lounge, as Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun talked, Ji Lu instinctively stood by the door. When He Shuangshuang walked over, Ji Lu called out, "He Shuangshuang."
He Shuangshuang turned to look at her. "What is it?"
Ji Lu bit her lip. "Are you... angry?"
He Shuangshuang frowned, as if puzzled. "Angry? Why would I be angry?"
Ji Lu opened her mouth but said nothing. She didn't know why, but she had this feeling that He Shuangshuang was upset with her. From the car ride to SP without a single word, deliberately avoiding her, to sitting next to her at lunch yet chatting animatedly with the SP staff without saying a word to her.
Even her own questions were met with half-hearted replies.
Seeing Ji Lu fall silent, He Shuangshuang walked straight into the lounge. Ji Lu stared at her slender back, pursed her lips, and followed inside.
Half an hour later, they boarded the plane. Qin Zhenzhen was feeling tired. Once on the plane, she leaned against Lu Ruyun to rest. As the plane gradually ascended, Lu Ruyun turned to look outside the window, her gaze calm.
They arrived in City A nearly at seven o'clock. Ji Lu suggested having dinner together, but He Shuangshuang declined. She said she had something to attend to at home and parted ways with them right at the airport entrance.
Ji Lu had no choice but to drive Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun back to their apartment.
The apartment was still stocked with plenty of food. The haul from the Qin family was almost enough to fill the refrigerator. Facing the packed freezer, Qin Zhenzhen clicked her tongue and laughed, "My mom is too much."
Lu Ruyun smiled slightly. "It's fine. We'll eat it slowly."
Qin Zhenzhen wrapped her arms around Lu Ruyun's waist, nuzzling against the 'big white rabbits' on her chest. "Teacher Lu, you're so good."
Lu Ruyun: ...
After this bit of teasing, Qin Zhenzhen was promptly deposited onto the sofa by Lu Ruyun. Dinner was simply three dishes and a soup. Qin Zhenzhen sat on the sofa watching TV, the aroma of the food wafting over, when the abrupt ringing of her phone sounded before they even sat down at the table.
She glanced at the screen. It was Meng Xin calling.
"Hello, Sister Meng." Qin Zhenzhen walked to the dining table, picked up a piece of meat with her chopsticks, and called out while chewing the meat, her words slightly muffled.
Meng Xin's voice was somewhat low. After a few seconds of hesitation, she called out, "Zhenzhen."
Qin Zhenzhen's eyelids twitched. She subconsciously put down her chopsticks. "What's wrong?"
Meng Xin sighed. "Tomorrow's audition is canceled."
"They just called me. The female lead has been finalized. It's Tang Ya."
Qin Zhenzhen stood rooted to the spot, silent. Lu Ruyun was just walking over with two bowls of rice when Qin Zhenzhen hung up the phone. Seeing Qin Zhenzhen's less-than-stellar complexion, she approached. "What happened?"
"It's nothing. Let's eat."
Qin Zhenzhen's expression was normal, but a hint of unhappiness was visible. Neither spoke during the meal. Just as they were about to finish eating, Qin Zhenzhen pointed at her phone and said, "I should have just finished eating before answering the call!"
Lu Ruyun looked at her slightly reddened eyes. "Who called?"
"Sister Meng," Qin Zhenzhen replied honestly. Lu Ruyun nodded. "Problems with the audition for The Means to Survive?"
Qin Zhenzhen gave an affirmative hum. "Canceled. They just finalized Teacher Tang Ya."
Lu Ruyun had actually anticipated this outcome yesterday, but she hadn't dared to tell Qin Zhenzhen. Hearing the news now, her expression showed no surprise at all. Qin Zhenzhen let out a sigh; the oppressive feeling in her chest eased somewhat.
If she had gone to the audition tomorrow and failed, she wouldn't have felt this disappointed.
But it was precisely because she didn't even get to audition, was declared out of the running from the start, that all her efforts over the past days felt wasted. The more she thought about it, the more upset she felt.
Lu Ruyun put down her chopsticks, walked over, and put an arm around her shoulders. "It's okay. We still have other opportunities."
Qin Zhenzhen knew this was her way of comforting her. Truth be told, at the moment, there weren't many noteworthy movies for the year. Otherwise, Tang Ya wouldn't have set her sights on The Means to Survive either. Her initial thought had been the same as Lu Ruyun's: to use The Means to Survive to change the image from Time in Full Bloom. Moreover, The Means to Survive outshone other films this year in every aspect. Now, with Tang Ya added to the mix, it was a powerful combination. Even if she acted in a similar genre, she couldn't compete.
Lu Ruyun was well aware of all these thoughts swirling in Qin Zhenzhen's mind. However, since the investors had already settled on Tang Ya, changing the actress now was almost impossible.
At the dining table, neither spoke further. Lu Ruyun offered silent comfort to Qin Zhenzhen. The dishes gradually cooled, their aroma slowly fading away.
After being dispirited for a while, Qin Zhenzhen patted Lu Ruyun's arm. "Alright, time to tidy up."
"I'll wash the dishes."
She said this with a smile as she stood up. Seeing her forced smile, Lu Ruyun's heart ached. She tugged at Qin Zhenzhen's clothes, pulling her to sit on her lap, and said softly, "Zhenzhen, I'm not a qualified teacher."
"Punish me."
The unhappiness Qin Zhenzhen had been feeling instantly dissipated upon hearing these words. She chuckled lightly. "Don't be silly."
Lu Ruyun looked at her steadily. "I'm not being silly."
Qin Zhenzhen glanced at her sideways, seeing the seriousness in her eyes, and blinked. "Ruyun..."
Lu Ruyun curved her lips into a smile at her. Qin Zhenzhen's heart fluttered, her eyes and mind completely filled with the person before her. She thought for a moment and said, "Then let's go to the study."
The study door opened and closed. The living room light couldn't reach inside. Inside and outside the room, one place warm, the other place fragrant.
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