**18**
“What’s going on between you and Ning Zhi?” Meilan leaned back relaxedly in her chair, her right hand resting on the armrest holding a cigarette that was already half-burned.
“What do you mean, what’s going on?” Shen Yizhi replied calmly.
There were only a few scattered tables in the bar, and everyone’s mood was low, just sitting in the booths, drinking a little and chatting.
After they finished the show, they had a meal together. Thinking it would be boring to go back to the hotel, Meilan insisted on inviting Shen Yizhi to come over for drinks.
In the end, they didn’t drink much, but the gossip started first.
A resident singer was singing on stage, having already performed three depressing and sorrowful folk songs in a row. Meilan glanced back at the stage and silently guessed that the bar’s business was poor, probably because the singer was too sad.
Hearing Shen Yizhi’s retort, she clicked her tongue: “Still pretending.”
Shen Yizhi looked down at the wine glass in his hand; the glass was still full.
Meilan listed them one by one: “How many times did I ask you to play the role of Ruan Yinmeng, and how many times did you refuse me? Instead, you recommended Ning Zhi to me, and then? After I finalized Ning Zhi, she came to me to take the role without me even having to say a word.”
“Because you said before that you wanted to find a seventeen-year-old actress to play Chi Sheng.” Shen Yizhi took a sip of wine, a bit of lipstick smudged on the rim of the transparent glass. She lowered her eyes and casually wiped it off with her fingertip.
Meilan paused and said, “That was a joke. Aren’t you not even thirty-one yet?”
She had said at the time that she wanted to be as true to the original as possible; Ruan Yinmeng was thirty-one, and the first time she invited Shen Yizhi was two years ago, when Shen Yizhi was only twenty-six.
In the film industry, it is common for older actors to play roles much younger than their actual age, but playing roles older than themselves is much less common.
It is generally believed in the industry that the latter is more difficult, as the marks left by years of experience and life’s trials are like aged fine wine, hard to portray convincingly through acting alone.
Meilan was so persistent in seeking out Shen Yizhi because she was the most suitable candidate.
Meilan had prepared for this film for a long time and was determined to achieve the best results; otherwise, she wouldn’t have spent so much time on casting.
“And on the set, the whole crew noticed something was off between you two, making things so awkward,” Meilan added,
Shen Yizhi said nothing.
Seeing that she wasn’t going to say anything, Meilan slowly said, “She secretly watches you.”
Shen Yizhi lifted his head.
“Very discreet, just a glance and then quickly looking away, feeling uneasy for quite a while.” Meilan described it clearly, obviously having noticed it more than once.
It was the first time Shen Yizhi heard how others saw Ning Zhi. She was stunned for a moment, imagining Ning Zhi’s appearance, and for a while forgot to speak.
But Meilan wouldn’t let her stay idle, smiling and asking, “What do you feel?”
Shen Yizhi’s absent gaze tightened and fell upon her.
Meilan smiled more deeply: “How does it feel for you older ones to see a little kid having a crush on you?”
Shen Yizhi realized the meaning behind her words and was instantly at a loss for whether to laugh or cry. He explained for Ning Zhi: “She’s influenced by the role.”
Ah…” Meilan nodded in sudden understanding. After finishing a cigarette, she lit another one. “I also noticed her mood was off, especially today. First, she just couldn’t get into the zone, then after the scene, she stayed silently in the corner, staring blankly at you.
Actors not being able to get out of character is common. This problem can be minor or major. Minor ones clear up after filming and leaving the set, and after a few days they come back to themselves. Major ones require psychological counseling and take a long time to recover from.
Shen Yizhi was very worried about Ning Zhi. If she had known she would be so deeply affected, she wouldn’t have recommended her to Meilan.
“Have you ever thought that she might be influenced not only by the role but also by you?” Meilan suddenly said.
“Not influenced by me, she is influenced by…” Shen Yizhi wanted to say she was influenced by her former self, but she stopped halfway through.
She felt that Ning Zhi wouldn’t want anyone to know about her reckless youth.
Not far away, a table of guests kept glancing this way. After watching for a while, one of the girls hesitated but excitedly walked over. As she approached, she covered her mouth and let out a shout.
Shen Yizhi signed an autograph for her but refused to take a photo together.
They couldn’t stay in the bar any longer and left before more fans gathered.
But he was used to it; Shen Yizhi had lost count of how many times such gatherings had been interrupted.
Mei Lan had an urgent matter and parted ways with Shen Yizhi at the bar entrance.
Shen Yizhi got into the car.
Thinking that she hadn’t spoken to Xiaogou today, she took out her phone.
Most likely, Xiaogou wouldn’t praise that colleague anymore, and might even angrily scold her.
At the filming site, she used their past experiences to guide Ningning. Ningning didn’t notice at the time, but when she realized it later, she would definitely be upset.
“I think this is a mistake.” This sentence suddenly echoed in Shen Yizhi’s mind, followed by the image of Ning Zhi’s obedient and guilty expression.
She felt that liking her was a mistake.
Shen Yizhi felt a bit irritated; she opened “Orange.”
She was stunned when she saw the message the puppy sent her today.
Is 0929 a special date?
Is 0929 a special date? After sending this message, Ning Zhi lay down on the **, the script covering her face.
She actually couldn’t say what she wanted to say, feeling stifled in her heart. She stared blankly at the chat interface for a long time before remembering that 0929 had spoken ill of Shen Yizhi for several days but had never mentioned anything about herself.
As if to divert her attention, Ning Zhi curiously asked this question.
However, 0929 did not reply to her.
Probably busy.
It’s such a waste to have the evening free like this, but I heard the shooting schedule will speed up soon. Ning Zhi wandered aimlessly.
What is Shen Yizhi doing? Anyway, it definitely wouldn’t be as boring as this.
After returning from the set and spending some time alone, Ning Zhi felt she had come to terms with things.
If you’re going to get into character, then go all in; playing the role better won’t hurt her either.
As for Shen Yizhi, she was just acting. What happens in the movie is determined by the script, not by her.
Anyway, it would all be over once filming was done.
She still refused to accept the idea that she was liked by Shen Yizhi in the movie, but her resistance grew weaker day by day.
The phone vibrated.
Ning Zhi lifted the script from her face, took it over, and saw the reply from 0929.
It’s the day of reunion after a long separation.
Reunion after a long separation? Ning Zhi pondered the phrase for a moment, then gossiped, smiling brightly as she asked, “Is it someone you like?”
It must be someone she likes; otherwise, she wouldn’t take this date so seriously.
0929, no reply for quite a while, Ning Zhi recalled what she was doing on September 29th last year.
She couldn’t remember; she didn’t really keep track of dates, except for birthdays and holidays, she had no habit of remembering others.
She guessed she was probably rushing around for various appointments.
0929 hadn’t replied all along; was she feeling embarrassed? Ning Zhi guessed.
0929’s image suddenly became vivid, turning into a cool, quiet, yet very shy woman.
Ning Zhi came to her rescue: “If you don’t want to say it, then don’t.”
But in his heart, he thought, if you don’t want to say it, that means you agree.
But this time 0929 replied: “A very precious person.”
Precious. Ning Zhi looked at this word, wondering what kind of person would be considered very precious by someone else? She was both curious and a little envious; 0929 must really cherish that person.
She stopped gossiping and properly said goodnight to the other person.
Before falling asleep, she couldn’t help but let her thoughts drift away.
What kind of place did she hold in Shen Yizhi’s heart?
Now, probably nothing at all. But before, was there even a little bit that could be considered precious?
The filming of the movie continued.
The relationship between Chi Sheng and Ruan Yinmeng became ambiguous.
She would go to find Ruan Yinmeng during the day. Every time she went upstairs, she was very careful, afraid of being seen. When her grandmother asked where she was going, she only said she was going to see a classmate.
She couldn’t control her feelings, but she didn’t want anyone to find out about her connection with Ruan Yinmeng.
Deep down, she looked down on Ruan Yinmeng’s profession.
The portrait had been worked on for many days but was still unfinished.
It wasn’t that Chi Sheng was lazy; it was that no matter how she painted, she felt something was missing.
Ruan Yinmeng’s daily life at home was very simple—doing some housework, watching melodramatic TV shows, and often reading books.
She loved doing housework; her home was spotless, not a speck of dust to be found, not even on the windows.
When Chi Sheng expressed his amazement, Ruan Yinmeng had a thick book resting on her lap and said, “I like cleanliness. Clean things, clean people—I like them all.”
Chi Sheng instinctively felt that the “clean people” she referred to were him, but afraid of misunderstanding, he hesitated for a long time without daring to ask further, though his ears had already turned red.
After she finally managed to stammer through, she looked up to ask whether she was a clean person or not, only to see Ruan Yinmeng smiling sweetly at her, the smile full of teasing.
Only then did Chisheng realize she was teasing her. She put down the paintbrush, pinned her down on the sofa, and then kissed her with a pounding heart.
She still wasn’t very skilled, but Ruan Yinmeng would teach her—teach her to use her fingers to claim her, teach her to please her with lips and tongue. Chisheng always did it awkwardly but refused to admit it. When teased, she blushed and said, “I will improve.”
Chisheng was completely enchanted by her, sometimes wondering if she liked just being with her or only liked doing that kind of thing with her.
They lay on the narrow sofa kissing for a while when suddenly a heavy rainstorm began outside.
Summer rain always comes without any warning.
Ruan Yinmeng heard the sound of rain, looked up at the window, gently pushed Chi Sheng aside, and got up to collect the clothes.
Chi Sheng was left on the sofa. She looked at Ruan Yinmeng’s back and felt strange. She thought Ruan Yinmeng was as beautiful as a narcissus flower, pure and noble.
Ruan Yinmeng’s beauty was well known to everyone. No matter how much the neighbors mocked her, they had to admit she was good-looking.
But Qinggao…
Chisheng’s heart felt as if it had been gently touched by a pair of soft hands.
She saw on the balcony that Ruan Yinmeng was taking down clothes one by one, among which was a set of Chisheng’s pajamas, mixed in with her clothes and hung inside.
When Ruan Yinmeng turned back, Chisheng quickly looked away, then realized there was nothing to avoid—it was just putting away clothes.
But the sight of her clothes being put away together with Ruan Yinmeng’s made her very happy, happy as if she had eaten a candy that wasn’t very sweet, but was extremely light and lingering.
She got up and went behind the easel, holding the brush, and began to think. It seemed she had grasped the idea.
Ruan Yinmeng didn’t pay attention to her, poured a glass of water, held it and took a sip, then let out a low “ah.”
Chi Sheng hurried over and asked, “What’s wrong? What’s wrong?”
“The bottom of the cup is broken,” Ruan Yinmeng said.
Chi Sheng took the white enamel cup, touched the bottom of the cup, and sure enough, a drop of water clung to her fingertip.
Just as she was about to wipe the water on her clothes, Ruan Yinmeng grabbed her wrist.
Chi Sheng realized what she was about to do, her heart pounding fiercely. Ruan Yinmeng took her finger into her mouth, her tongue easily licking away the water stain on her finger. The warm, moist mouth made Chi Sheng think of another place.
Her head felt hot, her face burning red as if on fire, and she quickly pulled her hand back.
“What are you doing!” She frowned righteously, completely unaware that her tone, though seemingly stern, was actually as soft as a coquettish plea.
Ruan Yinmeng glanced at her faintly: “I’m helping you wipe your hands.”
She spoke so matter-of-factly that Chi Sheng didn’t know what to say, so he just pretended to be casual and held the cup: “The cup is broken. I’ll draw a pattern on it, so you can use it as a flowerpot to plant some flowers and greenery.”
Ruan Yinmeng had several pots of green plants at home. She was truly obsessed with cleanliness—not only was the floor and furniture in her home spotless, but even those green plants looked neat and tidy at a glance.
Seeing there was still water in the cup, Chi Sheng drank it up, then walked over to the easel, picked up a brush, dabbed a little on the palette, and with a few swift strokes painted a pattern on the pure white cup.
It was a street lamp, emitting an orange-yellow glow, with a long, slender shadow of the lamp painted below.
The first time they met was under such a street lamp.
—–