Chapter 39 p2
Lu Duanjing, a fragile and sheltered young woman, saw Wen Sigu as her savior, her only source of light and hope, terrified of being abandoned.
So, her emotions would be a mix of panic and desperation, a willingness to do anything to keep Wen Sigu from leaving.
The usually timid and obedient heiress, for the first time, would act recklessly, her actions a desperate gamble.
But the script wasn’t very detailed.
It simply stated that Lu Duanjing, in a state of panic, would go to see Wen Sigu, throw herself into her arms, and kiss her forcefully.
Xin Yao had been pondering how to portray this “forcefulness,” this desperation.
She had considered pinning Wen Sigu against the wall, or grabbing her collar and pulling her down for a kiss.
But just now, she had a better idea.
Lu Duanjing was terrified of losing her lover, her actions driven by panic and fear, but also by a deep, abiding love and respect.
As the clapperboard snapped, Xin Yao, standing at the door of the clinic, looked at Wen Sigu, her expression a mix of sadness, vulnerability, and longing.
In that moment, she truly understood Lu Duanjing’s emotions, the fear of losing the person she loved most, the desperation of wanting to hold onto that love, the terror of being alone again.
Different circumstances, same emotions, a strange convergence.
And Xu Jingyu…
The actress was truly remarkable, her performance captivating and nuanced.
She was usually so cold and aloof, but the moment the camera rolled, she transformed.
Her eyes, behind her gold-rimmed glasses, were soft and gentle, a faint smile playing on her lips. Her hair, pulled back simply, her white coat giving her a professional yet approachable air.
Even a glimpse of her in the soft light was enough to convince you that she was Wen Sigu.
No wonder Director Gao had insisted on casting her.
Xin Yao stood there, watching her, her hand clenching at her side.
Was it really her? She would know if she got closer, if she touched her, if she looked into her eyes.
She took a deep breath, letting herself be consumed by Lu Duanjing’s emotions, then, as the scene began, she ran towards Xu Jingyu, throwing herself into her arms, her movements a mixture of recklessness and trembling hesitation.
Xu Jingyu, slightly surprised by her sudden approach, instinctively caught her, her arms wrapping around Xin Yao’s waist, but Xin Yao’s urgency pushed her back against the desk.
The desk rattled slightly.
In the dim light, Xin Yao reached out and touched Xu Jingyu’s wrist, her touch gentle and lingering, like a soft, whispered plea.
She looked into Xu Jingyu’s eyes, their dark depths usually so cold and impassive, now filled with a soft, warm light.
As she gazed at her, her fingers began to tremble.
100% certain.
It was her.
She couldn’t mistake those eyes, the eyes of her beloved.
How could she have taken so long to recognize them?
When she had first learned about the kissing scene, Xu Jingyu had been apprehensive.
She considered herself emotionless, incapable of love.
But everything had changed the moment she saw Xin Yao’s photo.
She had felt an uncontrollable urge to be near her, a strange, almost frantic desire.
And seeing Xin Yao in person hadn’t helped. The urge to touch her, to hold her, had only intensified, a burning sensation that consumed her every waking moment.
Why did she care so much about this person?
Was Xin Yao her cure, or her poison?
When she had accepted the role, she had considered the intimate scenes, her usual aversion to physical contact replaced by a strange anticipation.
But she hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.
She had been so preoccupied with thoughts of Xin Yao, of kissing her, that she had forgotten to consider how the scene would play out.
So, when Xin Yao threw herself into her arms, Xu Jingyu had been startled.
The soft impact against her chest had sent a jolt through her, her heart skipping a beat.
The force of Xin Yao’s embrace made her chest ache.
She tried to move, but she could feel the warmth of Xin Yao’s skin against hers, their bodies pressed close together.
Xu Jingyu, hypersensitive to touch, felt every detail of Xin Yao’s body, her warmth, her softness, their intimacy.
And then Xin Yao moved closer, their bodies pressing even tighter together.
Xu Jingyu’s breath hitched, her chest tightening, making it hard to breathe.
And she, usually so dominant and in control, found herself being pushed back against the desk by Xin Yao’s surprisingly forceful embrace.
Then, the small figure in her arms reached out, her soft fingers tracing Xu Jingyu’s wrist.
Xu Jingyu was a talented actress, but in this moment, she wasn’t Wen Sigu. She was Xu Jingyu.
The moment Xin Yao’s fingers touched her skin, a wave of longing washed over her, almost overwhelming.
Her breath came in short gasps, her chest heaving, her body trembling with excitement.
In the dim light, Xin Yao, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, looked at Xu Jingyu, her hand still resting on her wrist.
Xu Jingyu captured Xin Yao’s hand, her head lowering for a kiss.
Just then, a voice echoed through the room.
“Cut!”
The director’s voice, cold and impersonal, interrupted them just as their lips were about to meet.
Xu Jingyu’s movements stilled, her head lowered, her long eyelashes casting shadows on her face as she looked at Xin Yao’s profile, inches from hers.
Her fingers, still gripping Xin Yao’s wrist, tightened around the edge of the desk, as if restraining herself.
Director Gao, always assertive and authoritative on set, looked at them, her expression critical.
“What was that?”
“The emotions were there, but it felt… disconnected. You’re supposed to be Lu Duanjing and Wen Sigu, not yourselves. Do you understand?”
“Ms. Xu, you were clearly distracted. Your initial surprise was good, very natural, but then it felt forced, unnatural.”
“Let’s try again.”
They returned to their starting positions.
Xin Yao, standing at the door, her heart pounding, looked at Xu Jingyu, her hand clenching into a fist to stifle a sob.
The distance between them, from the doorway to the desk, seemed both short and impossibly long.
It had taken her a lifetime, a journey across worlds, to find her again.
She stared at Xu Jingyu, her gaze unwavering, afraid that if she blinked, the other woman would disappear, leaving her alone once more.
She finally understood the complex mix of emotions the director had described: the anticipation and sadness of seeing a loved one after a long separation, the fear and joy of reunion.
Her heart ached with longing.
The clapperboard snapped.
Xin Yao ran towards Xu Jingyu, throwing herself into her arms, her movements a mixture of recklessness and trembling hesitation.
Xu Jingyu, slightly surprised, caught her, her arms wrapping around Xin Yao’s waist, but Xin Yao’s urgency pushed her back against the desk.
Then, Xin Yao reached out, her trembling fingers gently touching Xu Jingyu’s face, her touch filled with the emotion of their reunion, the fear of losing her again, and, standing on tiptoe, she kissed her.
It was a desperate, frantic kiss, a mixture of recklessness and tenderness.
As Xin Yao’s lips met hers, Xu Jingyu’s fingers, gripping the edge of the desk, tightened, her knuckles turning white.
She felt the warmth and softness of Xin Yao’s lips against hers, the sensation both overwhelming and exhilarating, her body trembling with a sudden surge of desire.
Her trembling wasn’t just from restraint, but from excitement.
Xin Yao, oblivious to her hidden emotions, continued the kiss, her lips moving gently against Xu Jingyu’s.
But then, Xu Jingyu, unable to contain herself any longer, captured Xin Yao’s lips, her kiss deepening, almost a bite.
This person had clearly never kissed anyone before.
She didn’t even know how to… use her tongue.
Her lips pressed against Xin Yao’s, her teeth grazing her skin, the pressure almost painful.
Then, it occurred to Xin Yao.
Perhaps she was being considerate, afraid of overwhelming Xin Yao with too much intimacy.
She was always so unexpectedly thoughtful.
But even so, Xin Yao was completely dominated by the kiss.
This familiar feeling…
If seeing Xu Jingyu’s eyes in the soft light had confirmed her identity, then this kiss, this fierce, possessive pressure against her lips, left no room for doubt.
It was her.
Her kiss, like her personality, was as fierce and demanding as ever, leaving Xin Yao breathless.
She couldn’t take it anymore.
“Cut!”
The director’s voice was like a lifeline.
Just as Xin Yao felt like she was about to be devoured, the scene ended.
But then, something unexpected happened.
While Xin Yao had heard the director’s call, Xu Jingyu hadn’t. The kiss continued, its intensity unwavering, making Xin Yao’s heart pound.
She panicked, gently pushing against Xu Jingyu’s shoulder, trying to break free.
“Cut!” the director yelled, her voice louder this time.
The sound finally reached Xu Jingyu, who pulled away.
She swallowed, her breath coming in short gasps, her back against the desk.
Her lips were slightly swollen from the kiss, her gold-rimmed glasses reflecting the dim light.
She looked a little wild, a little disheveled, and incredibly sexy.
She looked at Xin Yao, her voice slightly hoarse.
“Sorry, I didn’t hear you.”
She really hadn’t heard the director.
When her condition flared up, she sometimes lost control.
Xin Yao, seeing her slightly dazed expression, sensed something was wrong.
“Ms. Xu, are you alright?” she asked softly, her voice filled with concern.
Xu Jingyu looked down at her, her dark eyes unreadable.
“I’m fine.”
Better than fine.
The director’s voice echoed through the room.
“What was that? Xin Yao, are you that happy to see Ms. Xu? And Ms. Xu, why are you more excited than Xin Yao? What is this, New Year’s Eve?”
“The pacing was off. Wen Sigu is supposed to be conflicted, wanting to push Lu Duanjing away, but also reluctant to. Xin Yao, tone down the excitement a bit. It was too much.”
“Let’s try again.”
It was the third take.
In this industry, three takes wasn’t unusual.
And Director Gao was known for her persistence, filming a scene repeatedly until it was perfect.
It was stressful for the actors.
But Xin Yao, still reeling from the realization that Xu Jingyu was Pei Yu, was even more nervous.
And she was starting to realize that Xu Jingyu didn’t remember her. While she had been drawn to Xin Yao, her motives and intentions were still unclear.
The repeated NGs only intensified Xin Yao’s anxiety.
She didn’t want to cause trouble for the production team, to be the reason for delays.
So, in her nervousness, she made a mistake.
As she threw herself into Xu Jingyu’s arms, her momentum was a bit too strong.
Like a startled cat, her teeth accidentally grazed Xu Jingyu’s lip as she kissed her.
Xu Jingyu froze, her eyelashes fluttering, her fingers tightening around Xin Yao’s wrist as she returned the kiss, her own kiss now fierce and demanding.
Xin Yao felt a sudden shift in Xu Jingyu’s demeanor, her passion unrestrained.
So, it was still there, that hidden fire beneath her cool exterior, that tendency to retaliate, that possessive streak.
And they were still practically strangers.
Would her Xu Laoshi, her beloved, secretly seek revenge?
If so, Xin Yao wouldn’t blame her.
Because in the years she couldn’t remember, Xin Yao had missed her, terribly.
It didn’t matter if she didn’t remember. Xin Yao’s love had never wavered.
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