Chapter 45 p1
The black eyes under the light were deep, cool, and beautiful, like polished jade. At a glance, they should have appeared calm and emotionless.
But at this moment, the owner of these eyes seemed deeply agitated, the dark pools swirling with a hidden intensity. Her long eyelashes fluttered, revealing a dangerous glint beneath.
She didn’t need to speak. Her silent gaze was enough to make your hair stand on end, a primal fear gripping your heart.
Xin Yao, caught in that gaze, felt a surge of panic.
As if she was about to be devoured, consumed whole.
And she was half-dressed, her back exposed, her blouse barely concealing her breasts, the bright light of the dressing room revealing more than she intended.
The small space, barely big enough for two people, felt even more cramped now, the walls closing in on her, amplifying her anxiety.
Xin Yao swallowed nervously, her gaze fixed on Xu Jingyu’s face, inches from hers, her heart pounding. She felt like she was about to be pounced on, taken right there on the spot.
After all, Xu Jingyu’s self-control was notoriously weak, her desires easily ignited.
And now, her eyes were burning with an intensity that made Xin Yao’s heart race.
She even saw Xu Jingyu’s fingers, hidden beneath her skirt, trembling slightly, a bead of sweat trickling down her forehead.
She was clearly struggling to restrain herself.
The sight only intensified Xin Yao’s anxiety, her fingers clutching her blouse, their tips turning white.
Xu Jingyu reached out, her hand slowly approaching Xin Yao’s face.
Xin Yao flinched, her body tensing, expecting a sudden, forceful kiss, or worse.
But Xu Jingyu’s touch was gentle, her fingers brushing a stray strand of hair from Xin Yao’s cheek, her voice soft.
“Change into a different dress, then drink your medicine and take a shower, so you don’t catch a cold.”
Xu Jingyu found herself behaving strangely.
She had always been aloof and reserved, her emotions tightly controlled, her desires never surfacing.
Until she met Xin Yao. She had been awakened, her days now filled with a rollercoaster of emotions.
And along with those emotions came a fierce, almost uncontrollable desire, a hunger she had never known before.
Xu Jingyu wasn’t one for restraint. She was dominant by nature, always taking what she wanted.
If she desired something, she would simply take it. Why bother holding back?
But now, on the verge of giving in to her desires, she stopped herself.
The time, the place, the circumstances, it was all wrong. She had to respect Xin Yao, not frighten her or make her uncomfortable.
Was this what they called “like”? Or even “love”?
So, love was a burning desire tempered by restraint?
Xin Yao knew how much Xu Jingyu wanted her, yet she had held back.
And now, looking into Xu Jingyu’s dark eyes, Xin Yao felt no fear, only a deep appreciation for her unexpected gentleness.
She leaned into Xu Jingyu’s touch, her cheek brushing against her warm palm, a soft “mm-hmm” escaping her lips.
Xin Yao changed into a different dress, drank her medicine under Xu Jingyu’s watchful eye, then hurried off to take a shower and eat, before rushing to the set for the rest of the day’s filming.
By the time she returned to the hotel, it was late, and exhausted, she quickly showered and fell asleep.
The next day…
Fortunately, neither of them had caught a cold.
And as Xin Yao was leaving for the set, she bumped into Xu Jingyu in the hallway.
Xu Jingyu’s agent, Xue Ning, greeted her with a cheerful smile.
“Ms. Xin, what a coincidence!”
Xin Yao’s gaze lingered on Xu Jingyu’s face for a moment before she politely replied, “Good morning.”
Compared to her subtle glance, Xu Jingyu’s gaze was more direct, her eyes fixed on Xin Yao’s face.
“Why don’t you ride with us?”
“Oh,” Xin Yao hesitated. “Chen Jia is waiting for me. She’s probably already in the parking lot. I should go with her.”
Xue Ning smiled. “You might not know this, Ms. Xin, but the road to the set is under construction. There’s a detour, and even with navigation, it’s a bit tricky to find.”
“Why don’t you come with us? Your assistant can join us too. It’ll be a good opportunity to learn the route.”
That made sense.
Xin Yao nodded.
“Okay.”
A few minutes later, Xin Yao and Chen Jia were in Xu Jingyu’s car.
Xue Ning drove, Chen Jia sat in the passenger seat, and Xin Yao and Xu Jingyu sat in the back.
Xin Yao had woken up early, and the detour to the set was long and winding. She started to feel drowsy, her head nodding against the headrest.
“Bang!”
“Boom!”
Two loud explosions jolted her awake, the sound echoing through the car.
Xin Yao’s eyes snapped open, her heart pounding.
What was that?! Was it an alien invasion?!
Xu Jingyu, who had been debating whether to let Xin Yao lean on her shoulder, was the first to notice her reaction.
Seeing her startled expression, she reached out and gently stroked Xin Yao’s hair, her voice soft and soothing.
“Don’t be afraid. It’s nothing.”
Chen Jia, also startled, turned to check on Xin Yao.
But she froze, her gaze fixed on Xu Jingyu’s hand on Xin Yao’s head.
The sunlight, filtering through the trees and the car window, illuminated Xu Jingyu’s face, her expression soft and gentle, a rare smile playing on her lips.
Chen Jia had been a fan of Xu Jingyu before becoming Xin Yao’s assistant.
She knew that the aloof and reserved actress rarely smiled, especially not in public.
And yet, here she was, comforting Xin Yao with a gentle touch and a warm smile.
Chen Jia covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide with surprise.
When had Sister Xin Yao and Ms. Xu become so close?
And… wasn’t this a bit too intimate?
Xin Yao, still slightly dazed, looked around. “What was that?”
It hadn’t sounded like construction work.
Xu Jingyu, her eyes softening as she looked at Xin Yao’s startled expression, was about to speak when Xue Ning, who was driving, chuckled.
“Did we scare you, Ms. Xin? Don’t worry, we’re almost at the set. That was the crew next door filming.”
She clicked her tongue.
“Meng Wanqing’s team is always so noisy. Sounds like a war zone.”
Meng Wanqing?
Xin Yao, after a moment’s thought, remembered. She was a popular actress, a few years older than Xin Yao, around the same age as Xu Jingyu, one of the “Four Little Flowers” of the current generation, her acting skills highly regarded.
Xu Jingyu explained, “Meng Wanqing is the lead actress in the production next door. They’re filming a zombie movie, and there are a lot of action scenes, explosions, that sort of thing.”
“It’s like a war zone over there, with gunshots, explosions, and zombies running around,” Xue Ning laughed. “I saw Meng Wanqing the other day, covered in fake blood and guts. I almost screamed.”
Xue Ning’s cheerful chatter, her voice filled with amusement, made Xin Yao smile.
A zombie movie set sounded interesting. She would love to visit sometime.
She wasn’t afraid of zombies, but ghosts were a different story. If she ever encountered a ghost, she would probably die of fright.
Xin Yao tilted her head thoughtfully. “That sounds interesting. I’ll have to watch it when it comes out.”
Xue Ning, who seemed to know Meng Wanqing quite well, smiled.
“I’ll make sure Meng Wanqing treats you to dinner, then.”
The explosions and their conversation were just a small interlude, quickly forgotten.
They soon arrived at the set.
Xin Yao, feeling slightly guilty for having caused so many retakes during the rain scene, had asked Chen Jia to buy milk tea for the crew.
It wasn’t an extravagant gift, but it was a thoughtful gesture, a sign of appreciation for their hard work.
And Xin Yao, with her cheerful and friendly nature, had quickly won over the crew, dispelling some of the negative impressions created by the recent scandals.
The script supervisor, holding a cup of milk tea, chatted with the makeup artist. “Xin Yao isn’t anything like the rumors say. She’s not manipulative or malicious at all. She’s actually quite cheerful and kind.”
The makeup artist nodded eagerly. “I know! She’s so nice!”
“I accidentally stained one of the costumes the other day, right before filming was about to start. You know what the director’s like. I thought I was going to be fired! But Xin Yao took the blame, saying she had accidentally spilled something on it. She even got scolded by the director for it.”
“I felt so bad! She was like an angel, saving my life!”
“So,” the makeup artist clenched her fist, “I think those online rumors are bullshit! You can’t judge someone based on a few news reports! You have to actually meet them to know what they’re like.”
The script supervisor nodded in agreement. “Those news reports… they don’t always tell the whole story. And just because something is trending doesn’t mean it’s true.”
“So,” the makeup artist tapped her chin thoughtfully, “it’s very likely that Li Xu was lying! That bastard! He’s such a scumbag! I used to think he was handsome, but now I’m officially a hater!”
Xin Yao, unaware of the shift in public opinion, her kindness and warmth slowly winning over the crew, finished giving instructions to Chen Jia and went to greet the other actors, chatting with each of them.
The actress playing Lu’s mother, Wen Xin, took a liking to her, holding her hand and chatting animatedly.
The actor playing Lu’s father was actually Wen Xin’s real-life husband, and the three of them stood there, talking and laughing.
Xu Jingyu, standing in the shadows, watched them.
She watched as Xin Yao stood in the sunlight, her attention divided, her smiles directed at others.
She had known from the beginning that Xin Yao was kind and compassionate, that people were naturally drawn to her.
But sometimes, she wished Xin Yao wasn’t so kind, so generous with her affection.
Wouldn’t it be better if she was more reserved, less approachable, so that she belonged only to Xu Jingyu?
Xu Jingyu’s fingers clenched into fists, her gaze fixed on Xin Yao.
Xin Yao’s world was filled with other people, other connections, her love extending beyond Xu Jingyu, encompassing the entire world.
But Xu Jingyu didn’t care about the world. She only wanted Xin Yao.
Xin Yao, standing in the sunlight, oblivious to Xu Jingyu’s possessive thoughts, turned and looked at her, as if sensing her gaze.
And then, she smiled, her smile bright and warm, a beacon of light in the dimness.
Xu Jingyu’s clenched fists relaxed, her lips curving into a soft smile as she returned Xin Yao’s gaze, drawn to her light, her warmth.
But on a film set, time for socializing was always limited. Work was the priority.
After a brief chat with the actors and crew, Xin Yao was called over by the director to prepare for the next scene.
And so, she became Lu Duanjing once more.
The relationship between the Lu and Wen families deepened.
Lu’s father would often visit the Wen residence, bearing gifts.
But today was unusual. He had brought Lu Duanjing with him, a rare occurrence, considering his traditional views and his disapproval of women venturing outside the home.
Hearing that they were going to the Wen residence, Lu Duanjing’s thoughts immediately turned to the unconventional Ms. Wen, to her daring jump into the pond, to the jade hairpin she had retrieved.
Her heart fluttered with anticipation.
But upon arriving at the Wen residence, she didn’t see Ms. Wen.
It wasn’t until they were about to leave that she finally saw her, rushing in, her arms laden with books.
Lu Duanjing, usually shy and reserved, but wanting to express her gratitude for Ms. Wen’s kindness, approached her and offered her a hand-embroidered handkerchief as a token of thanks.
Wen Sigu, seeing her, smiled, accepting the handkerchief.
They started talking, and Lu Duanjing learned that Wen Sigu had founded a school.
The school was new, and short on teachers, so Wen Sigu, a doctor, had been teaching temporarily.
Lu Duanjing was impressed. Ms. Wen was so accomplished, even founding a school. She must be very learned.
Unlike Lu Duanjing, who had rarely ventured outside her sheltered world.
She looked at the book in Wen Sigu’s hand, a primary school textbook, its pages filled with characters she didn’t recognize.
Wen Sigu, always perceptive, noticing Lu Duanjing’s gaze, smiled.
“Miss Lu, would you like to visit the school with me tomorrow?”
“M-me?” Lu Duanjing was stunned.
Could she go to school?
The Wen family, known for their progressive views, encouraged education for women, and Wen Sigu had always had a strong voice in her family.
And Lu’s father, eager to please the Wen family, was surprised by his daughter’s connection with Ms. Wen.
He saw it as an opportunity to further their alliance.
So, surprisingly, he agreed to let Lu Duanjing go.
The next day, Lu Duanjing accompanied Wen Sigu to the school.
She didn’t enter the classroom, simply watching from outside as Wen Sigu taught.
Standing at the podium, her gold-rimmed glasses reflecting the light, her hand holding a book, Wen Sigu looked young and confident.
She would ask a question, and the students, their eyes bright with eagerness, would eagerly raise their hands to answer.
Lu Duanjing watched Wen Sigu, her admiration growing, but what truly captivated her was the atmosphere of the classroom, the pursuit of knowledge.
She wished she could be one of those students, learning alongside them. She didn’t recognize a single character Wen Sigu had taught that day.
Lu Duanjing, sheltered and naive, couldn’t even write her own name.
So, she wanted to learn. She wanted to learn how to read and write.
Not to impress Ms. Wen, whom she so admired, but for herself.
That evening, Wen Sigu drove Lu Duanjing home.
The day had been a revelation for Lu Duanjing, her mind still reeling from the experience as she said goodbye to Wen Sigu and walked towards her home, a small, quiet alley.
She looked at the familiar path, the dimly lit alley leading to the house that had always felt like a cage, suffocating her spirit.
And in her mind, the image of the bright, cheerful classroom, the sound of children’s voices reciting their lessons, lingered.
It was Wen Sigu who had given her a glimpse of a different life, a taste of freedom.
Wen Sigu, sitting in her car, watched as Lu Duanjing walked away.
In the soft light of the streetlamp, the young woman’s figure appeared delicate and vulnerable, her head slightly bowed, the nape of her neck exposed, a smooth expanse of white skin.
It was as if, with a single touch, Wen Sigu could tilt her head back, forcing her to look up, her eyes filled with tears.
And she would leave a mark on that delicate skin, a blush that would linger.
As Wen Sigu’s thoughts wandered, her gaze fixed on Lu Duanjing’s retreating figure, the young woman suddenly stopped, then turned around.
She started walking towards Wen Sigu, her pace quickening, then, abandoning all pretense of decorum, she ran, her long skirt billowing around her, until she reached the car and leaned into the open window, her face inches from Wen Sigu’s.
Like a bird returning to its nest, she had flown back, her sudden proximity, her warm breath against Wen Sigu’s skin, making Wen Sigu’s heart race.
She looked into Lu Duanjing’s bright, sparkling eyes, her breath catching in her throat, momentarily speechless, captivated by her radiant energy.
Lu Duanjing, realizing her impulsive action, her breathlessness from running a stark contrast to the demure and composed image she was expected to maintain, blushed slightly.
But she knew that Ms. Wen wouldn’t mind.
For the first time, she had acted so boldly, leaning into a stranger’s car, her face so close to theirs.
But she was filled with a hopeful anticipation.
“Ms. Wen,” she asked, her eyes shining, “can I come to you tomorrow, to learn how to write?”
Wen Sigu, her eyes softening with a gentle smile, replied, “Yes.”
“Cut!” the director’s voice echoed from behind the camera.
Xin Yao knew what that meant. Another retake.
As expected, the director walked towards them, waving her script.
“No, no, that didn’t work. Xin Yao, when you ran towards Ms. Xu, the distance wasn’t right. Too far.”
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