Chapter 57

**57**

The latter half was all Ning Zhi’s solo shots, filmed for a long time again.

Several scenes flickered, showing him from eighteen to thirty-one years old. Actually, these were very short shots, like a fleeting glimpse while traveling through a time tunnel in a time machine. But Mei Lan had very high standards; even if it was only one second, it had to be expressive. Especially the last scene, seeing that group of soaring youths, a single five-second expression took three days to perfect.

All the expressions, movements, and moods were all Ning Zhi’s own interpretations.

Repeatedly correcting the unexpressive status, gradually getting closer to Chi Sheng, until overlapping with Chi Sheng at every age.

It seemed as if she had also lived a lonely life with Chi Sheng for fourteen years.

One night, she was lying in the hotel **sleeping, in a daze, as if she saw Ruan Yinmeng return, sitting beside her, smiling, still with her graceful and elegant demeanor.

She struggled hard to come out of the half-dream, half-awake state, opened her eyes, and naturally, there was no one beside her.

After that, I couldn’t fall asleep, lying awake all night with my eyes open, wondering where Ruan Yinmeng might be and whether she had been doing well over the years. The more I thought about it, the deeper my concern grew.

After the final scene was shot, the script supervisor called the last clap, and everyone cheered as filming wrapped. Ning Zhi stood still, unable to come to her senses.

At the wrap-up banquet, she was absentmindedly led around by someone, took a few group photos, yet still felt detached from it all.

She sat at the main table, and someone filled her glass with wine. She lifted it and took a sip. The cold wine on an empty stomach made her lean on the table, closing her eyes in discomfort.

Everyone around was very happy; finally, filming was over, and everyone felt relieved. Only she couldn’t seem to adjust at all.

Her mind was blank when she heard someone at the table say, “Has Teacher Shen signed for the next drama?”

Ning Zhi opened her eyes and listened carefully.

“The next one is a collaboration with Xu Rui,” said Shen Yizhi’s voice.

The person who spoke just now suddenly realized and said, “Xu Rui’s new drama, huh? I know, he’s been preparing for quite a while, aiming for the Oscars. It should be starting filming soon.”

“I heard filming starts in November,” another person said.

Everyone eagerly joined the lively chatter, the topic naturally expanding as they happily talked about their next job, the next crew, the next movie.

Ning Zhi stood up straight, his eyes squinting reflexively at the bright overhead light, but a voice popped up in his mind.

It’s over.

The voice was soft, yet like fine needles, it pricked Ning Zhi’s heart. It wasn’t exactly painful, but it startled her so much that she couldn’t catch her breath, followed by a bout of coughing.

She saw Shen Yizhi looking over, and the chatter at the table stopped; others also turned to look.

“Choked?” someone asked with concern.

Not knowing where the courage came from, Ning Zhi stood up holding her wine glass, and on an impulse, raised her glass towards Shen Yizhi sitting opposite her.

Shen Yizhi’s hand holding the chopsticks paused.

Ning Zhi’s gaze swept over a few people taking photos with their phones. She didn’t know if they were invited media or the production team’s publicity capturing footage, but she didn’t care about that. Driven by a surge of emotion in her mind, she looked into Shen Yizhi’s eyes and said, “Chisheng Yinmeng is my first film, and it means a great deal to me. I will always remember this summer, remember Chisheng, remember Ruan Yinmeng, and remember us who became them.”

The eyes of everyone at the table flicked back and forth between the two of them, faintly showing signs of teasing, but restrained by Shen Yizhi’s presence, they didn’t dare to make too much noise. Still, their faces showed the excitement of gossip.

One of them stood while the other sat. Ning Zhi only looked at Shen Yizhi, staring straight into her eyes, then smiled faintly. Her tone dropped slightly, carrying the melancholy of an ending, and she said, “Thank you, Teacher Shen, for your care and guidance during this time.”

After speaking, without waiting for Shen Yizhi’s response or looking at her expression, she downed the entire glass of wine in one go.

Shen Yizhi looked at the empty wine glass in her hand, then picked up the wine in front of him and finished it.

They sat at opposite ends of the same table, exchanging a glance across the cluttered cups and plates before each looking away.

This table was full of clever people, and soon someone spoke up, breaking the previously quiet atmosphere.

A group of people came together to ask Ning Zhi for a photo, and Ning Zhi left her seat.

She quickly wiped away her earlier listless expression, her spirits high. Whoever came to toast her, she finished the entire glass, refilling it after each one, drinking glass after glass with such gusto as if dealing with those barely acquaintances, just wanting a legitimate reason to have a drink.

Shen Yizhi was talking to others, but her attention was always on her. Just now, her words had stirred up a whirlwind in her mind, and now seeing this way of drinking, she couldn’t help but feel angry again.

She had been absent-minded all day and hadn’t eaten much. If she kept drinking like this, she would feel unwell soon.

Shen Yizhi endured again and again, but finally reached her limit and called her assistant over.

Ning Zhi was in high spirits, tightly holding her wine glass. Shen Yizhi watched the assistant approach her side, guessing it would be very difficult to persuade her.

As expected, the assistant talked for a while, and Ning Zhi smiled obediently on her face, but showed no sign of letting go of the wine glass.

But as the assistant said something else, Ning Zhi was stunned, her smile faded, she lowered her eyelids, obediently handed the cup to the assistant, and then turned towards the terrace.

She walked unsteadily, her steps somewhat unsteady.

Shen Yizhi watched anxiously. The assistant came over, looking troubled: “I can’t persuade her. Just coax her by saying you have something to tell her, or you can just say a few words to her yourself.”

The terrace was a secluded corner extending from the banquet hall. Inside, the feast was in full swing, and no one came out. The entire terrace had only Ning Zhi, who carelessly leaned on the white marble railing without much concern for appearances.

The little annoyance in Shen Yizhi’s heart completely vanished when she saw her lying there alone, looking thin and lonely.

She walked over to her side, and Ning Zhi only noticed her arrival then, turning her head to look at her.

Her eyes were very dark, with a heavy shadow seeming to linger beneath them. She still carried a strong smell of alcohol, and looked more dazed than usual, though her words were not confused.

“What do you want me to do?” she asked bluntly.

Shen Yizhi pondered how much consciousness she still had and straightforwardly said, “You can’t drink anymore.”

Ning Zhi didn’t want to hear that and turned her head away. Most of her body was leaning against the railing, yet even so, she stood crookedly and couldn’t straighten up.

Shen Yizhi realized she was very drunk.

“I’ll take you to rest.” She reached out to help her, but Ning Zhi resisted and pushed her hand away, not wanting her to touch her.

Shen Yizhi couldn’t persuade her and said, “Then I’ll call your assistant for you.”

Ning Zhi’s gaze turned cold as she looked at her deeply. After a moment, she seemed to suddenly lose strength and leaned on the railing again, muttering, “If you want to leave, then just leave.”

Her tone made it unclear whether she wanted her to go or not.

Shen Yizhi asked, “Then I won’t leave, okay?”

Upon hearing this, Ning Zhi was not comforted at all; instead, she immediately pressed her lips tighter, turned her head away, leaving only a cold back of her head to Shen Yizhi, clearly angry.

After that, no matter what Shen Yizhi said, it was useless. She simply refused to speak or even look at her.

Shen Yizhi didn’t know what she had said wrong to make her so angry, and tentatively placed her hand on hers.

This time, Ning Zhi had a reaction. She looked down at their intertwined hands, and for a long time, she didn’t look away, as if she was thinking of something.

It was almost September, and by midnight, the chill was intense. The leaves on the trees downstairs rustled loudly as a gust of wind blew through, then fell silent once the wind passed.

Ning Zhi had drunk so much alcohol, yet her body hadn’t warmed up; the back of her hand was still cool.

She was only wearing a short-sleeved shirt and had drunk so much; if she stayed any longer, catching a cold would be bad.

Shen Yizhi asked again, “Shall I take you to rest?”

Ning Zhi was still looking at their intertwined hands, and upon hearing this, she didn’t react much.

Shen Yizhi inexplicably felt that Ning Ning’s hand was like the scruff of a little kitten’s neck—grab it and it would obey.

So she held her hand, took two steps forward, then stopped to see Ning Zhi’s reaction.

This time Ning Zhi didn’t resist at all and followed along, but she was unsteady, swaying as she walked.

Shen Yizhi let her lean against him, and she did, but she still stubbornly held onto Shen Yizhi’s hand, insisting, “I want to hold hands.”

This person was even more drunk, and it was uncertain whether he would remember anything when he woke up tomorrow.

There was another exit on the other side of the terrace, and Shen Yizhi took Ning Zhi away from there.

Her assistant and Yang Yang had been keeping an eye on their movements, and seeing that they were about to leave, hurriedly packed up their things and followed.

Yang Yang wanted to take Ning Zhi over, but as soon as she stepped forward, Shen Yizhi glanced at her. It wasn’t a very stern look, but it made Yang Yang tense all over.

Immediately, Ning Zhi slowly realized her intention, glared at her fiercely, raised the hand that was holding Shen Yizhi’s, and said angrily, “Not leaving!”

Yangyang: “…”

She quietly stepped back.

Fortunately, it was late at night, and there were few people in the hotel corridor.

The assistant quickly booked a room and handed over the key card.

Shen Yizhi helped Ning Zhi inside and settled him on the sofa.

Then the trouble began. Ning Zhi refused to let go, and Shen Yizhi couldn’t even take a towel to wipe her face.

Drunk people are unreasonable. The assistant was sent away again, so Shen Yizhi had no choice but to stumble with her to the bathroom, wet a towel, and wipe the little drunkard’s face and hands.

Wiping her down was extremely difficult because Ning Zhi wouldn’t let go. Shen Yizhi had to fight with one hand, putting in a lot of effort.

But Ning Zhi simply refused to let go. She cooperated well in everything else, following every command—sit when told, stand when told.

The hotel sent over some sobering tea, and without needing Shen Yizhi to coax her, she drank it all in one go, not leaving a single drop.

Shen Yizhi took her to brush her teeth, then let her lie down on the **, Ning Zhi also lay down properly.

“Now, sleep.” Shen Yizhi gave the drunkard an order.

The drunkard immediately closed her eyes.

Shen Yizhi sat by the bedside, waited a few minutes, and, estimating that she should have fallen asleep, was about to withdraw his hand.

As soon as she moved, Ning Zhi quickly opened his eyes, his bright eyes staring straight at her, his hand gripping tightly.

“You can’t leave,” she said coldly.

Shen Yizhi didn’t want to leave. She was so drunk, and she didn’t feel at ease leaving her alone here, but she had to go freshen up.

“I’m not leaving, you just keep sleeping,” she coaxed gently.

But Ning Zhi didn’t believe her, staring at her without blinking.

Her fear of Shen Yizhi leaving made Shen Yizhi both soft-hearted and helpless. She rubbed her head and promised, “I really won’t leave.”

Ning Zhi showed a thoughtful expression, as if weighing whether what she said was true, but soon she lowered her eyelids, still not believing her: “You said you wouldn’t leave last time too.”

Shen Yizhi was momentarily stunned, images flashing through her mind, quickly recalling her last time.

It was the scene where Pai Chisheng and Ruan Yinmeng parted ways.

Ning Zhi was emotionally broken, crying so much she couldn’t continue filming, constantly begging her not to leave.

“I’m not leaving, I won’t abandon you, I’ll always be by your side.” She whispered these words repeatedly into Ning Zhi’s ear until she believed them.

Shen Yizhi realized that Ningning once again couldn’t tell her apart from Ruan Yinmeng.

Ning Zhi’s movements were slow; she seemed to have developed a theory that as long as she didn’t let go, she could keep someone.

Seeing Shen Yizhi fall silent, she became a bit timid and stopped looking at her, mumbling vaguely, “I don’t want you to leave.”

The little irritation in Shen Yizhi’s heart was once again softened by compassion.

She hesitated for a moment and glanced at Ning Zhi.

The intoxication burned more fiercely, making Ning Zhi’s head feel dizzy. She rubbed her eyes groggily but still held Shen Yizhi tightly, struggling to keep her eyes open and watch her closely.

Shen Yizhi made up her mind, threw off the quilt, and lay down beside her.

Ning Zhi was startled for a moment, slightly parted her lips, then looked a bit shy, lying flat and not daring to move.

“See, I’m not leaving.” Shen Yizhi turned to face her, speaking softly.

Ning Zhi nodded, her eyes filled with a gentle smile.

She was actually very tired, but she still occasionally glanced at Shen Yizhi without moving her body, sitting properly. Shen Yizhi’s mind stirred, and he asked, “What do you think of Shen Yizhi?”

She appeared natural, but Ning Zhi’s expression changed instantly. She frowned tightly, looking very unhappy, and said, “I hate her, she’s the worst.”

Her tone was exactly the same as when she said on the terrace just now, “If you want to leave, then just leave.”

So awkward.

Shen Yizhi looked at Ning Zhi lying straight beside her, feeling a wave of helplessness. She wanted to ask more, but Ning Zhi suddenly said, “I’ve already said goodbye to her.”

Said goodbye? When did that happen?

Shen Yizhi thought carefully and then recalled the words at the dinner table.

“I will always remember Chi Sheng, remember Ruan Yinmeng, remember us who have become them—is that your way of saying goodbye?” she asked softly.

Ning Zhi nodded.

They had just finished filming that morning, but Shen Yizhi already had another movie lined up. She wasn’t attached to it at all, speaking lightly; to her, it was probably just another film she had made.

She left again.

But it didn’t matter, Ning Zhi thought. She would always remember, always cherish, and stay where she was.

If Shen Yizhi wanted to leave, then let her go. She wouldn’t hold her back, because she never could.

As she thought this, she saw their hands clasped together.

Ning Zhi was stunned, her head so dizzy she couldn’t open her eyes. In a daze, she thought about not leaving her, but her hand ultimately did not let go.