Hidden Affection - Chapter 06

Shen Yizhi stood by the window, raising her hand to rest on the windowsill, her snow-white skin almost blending with the white wall.

She was still wearing that light blue long dress, but she was completely different from the misty and ethereal Ruan Yinmeng in the play. The pale blue made her appear even more distant and cold.

Ning Zhi’s face immediately flushed bright red. She had an exceptionally strong sense of pride in front of Shen Yizhi and would never allow herself to be at a disadvantage. She was about to strike back.

Shen Yizhi said again, “The first time, you really got into the character.”

The retort that was on the tip of her tongue had to be swallowed back. Ning Zhi waited for her to continue speaking.

“But the one who got into character was Ning Zhi, not Chi Sheng,” Shen Yizhi said.

Ning Zhi was stunned; she hadn’t expected Shen Yizhi to be so perceptive.

During the first take, she was indeed immediately drawn into the scene depicted by Shen Yizhi, not even caring whether it was herself or Chi Sheng who was getting into character.

“Ning Ning,” Shen Yizhi called out to her.

…

…

Ning Zhi looked up.

Have you ever had that kind of feeling…” Shen Yizhi showed a slight thoughtful expression, her speech slowing down, “the kind Mei Dao described, where you wish to see all the flowers of Chang’an in one day, feeling very proud, as if there is nothing in this world you can’t accomplish, all regrets can be made up for, and all wishes are within easy reach.

Ning Zhi hesitated slightly, then nodded: “Yes.”

“Put yourself in that person’s shoes,” Shen Yizhi said.

Ning Zhi didn’t react immediately. Based on what she had learned in those few acting classes and what she had heard before, “getting into character” meant that the actor immerses themselves into the role.

But Shen Yizhi said that the character should immerse into her instead.

Her confusion was written all over her face as she stared at Shen Yizhi in astonishment.

Shen Yizhi finally smiled and patiently said, “Human emotions are universal. If you can’t immerse yourself into the character, then why not try the opposite—try acting as yourself.”

Acting as yourself is much easier than playing a role.

Only then did Ning Zhi belatedly realize that Shen Yizhi was giving her guidance.

She couldn’t help but feel a bit awkward, not wanting to accept Shen Yizhi’s kindness, but the words she had heard were that she wasn’t going back yet.

Should she say thank you?

Ning Zhi thought to herself, since Shen Yizhi was a senior, it wouldn’t be shameful to be guided by her.

She was struggling with her inexplicably strong pride, a “thank you” already on the tip of her tongue, about to be spoken, when Shen Yizhi raised her hand and gently patted her shoulder: “Feel it for yourself.”

After saying that, he walked away.

That thank you hung on Ning Zhi’s lips but was never spoken.

She looked up and touched her shoulder, feeling inexplicably frustrated.

After so many takes, it was already late. When each group took their positions again for the eleventh take, Ning Zhi felt a great deal of pressure.

Jiang Peng stood on the outskirts, rubbing his hands nervously, even more anxious than her.

Ning Zhi took a deep breath, adjusted her state, Mei Lan made a gesture, and the clapperboard was struck.

Action.

By the half-open door, Ning Zhi carried her painting supplies inside. It was her first time here, and drawn by Ruan Yinmeng, she couldn’t help but feel curious about the place where she lived.

Ning Zhi took two steps, then stopped, openly scrutinizing the room.

She had a certain restraint typical of someone visiting another’s home for the first time; her gaze was unfamiliar, but her eyebrows and eyes were relaxed, and her eyes were clear.

The door slammed shut behind her, interrupting Ning Zhi’s scrutiny. She instinctively looked down and saw Shen Yizhi walking up beside her.

Shen Yizhi was several centimeters taller than her. Standing next to her, those few centimeters seemed magnified many times over, forcing Ning Zhi to slightly tilt her head up to meet her eyes.

They were really close to each other.

The scent from Shen Yizhi was drifting straight into her nose.

Strangely, for a woman of the streets, her scent was not some cheap perfume, but a faint smell of laundry detergent dried in the sun—fresh, yet carrying a gentle warmth that was not at all harsh.

Ning Zhi liked this kind of scent, but she felt uneasy about the overly intimate closeness between them.

Shen Yizhi was much more at ease. She wasn’t exactly warm, but there was a hint of teasing in her eyes. She glanced lightly at Ning Zhi, making Ning Zhi’s heart tighten for no reason. Shen Yizhi’s eyes half-smiled as she asked, “Do you want me to stand there completely still while you draw me?”

Ning Zhi was involuntarily drawn to her smiling eyes and couldn’t help but glance a few more times, then she felt a sense of unease as if being led by someone.

She quickly stepped up to the easel and said, “No need.”

Saying this, she sat down on the chair in front of the easel.

In those few seconds, her youthful and agile mind took a turn, feeling that by looking away first she had shown weakness, and a small surge of defiance welled up in her heart.

“Just do your thing, and make sure the painting satisfies you.” Ning Zhi boasted, then laughed to herself after speaking.

Her smile was very bright, a kind of brightness and confidence without a trace of gloom.

Shen Yizhi didn’t bother to be polite with her; he simply responded with a “Hmm” and walked past her, leaving behind the words: “Do as you please.”

Painting a portrait requires a model because everyone has their unique features, and the artist, by comparing with the person, can depict her temperament on the canvas to the greatest extent.

Capturing movement naturally is a bit more difficult.

But Ning Zhi had plenty of time, and moreover, she was happy to paint a daily life scene of Ruan Yinmeng.

Ruan Yinmeng held an indescribable attraction for her; she was willing to trace every inch of her with her eyes, then put it onto paper with the brush in her hand, which made her feel joyful.

Although she said she was just doing her own thing, Ruan Yinmeng didn’t do anything special.

She watered the few small green plants on the windowsill, placed fresh melons and fruits in the fruit bowl, and Chi Sheng’s nose twitched slightly, as if catching the scent of the fruit.

She moved freely and comfortably around the room, as if she were the only person there.

She sat down, turned on the television, switched to a channel, and started watching. The sound quality of televisions in those days wasn’t very good; listening closely, it was somewhat muffled.

Chi Sheng watched her intently, looking at her hands—the long, fair fingers, the slender, jade-like wrists—and at her eyes, fox-like; perhaps at night, when the corners of her eyes lifted, she would become a fox spirit.

Looking at her full bosom, the light blue long dress made her seem extremely virtuous while doing housework, yet its close-fitting cut perfectly outlined her exquisite and well-proportioned figure.

Contradictory, yet so harmonious.

Chisheng watched intently, tracing the woman with his eyes as her hand held a pen, sketching the outline on the paper.

She hadn’t felt this excited in a long time.

The sound from the television didn’t affect her in the slightest; she was fully focused on pouring the surging inspiration onto the paper.

She stood behind the easel, slender and upright, the blue-collared school uniform short sleeves making the skin on her neck appear exceptionally fair. She was truly pure, embodying the unique youth and confidence of children in the campus vividly.

Her long fingers gripped the brush, her eyes slightly lowered, the corners of her lips gently lifted, and her brows and eyes carried an innate spirited elegance.

Ruan Yinmeng stood up.

Chi Sheng caught a glimpse of her leaving and quickly returning; Ruan Yinmeng walked over to her side.

Chi Sheng’s hand paused, he looked up at her, and his face pressed against something cold.

Chi Sheng let out a “hiss” and instinctively dodged, only to see it was a bottle of Sprite, contained in a green glass bottle, chilled, with cold vapor and droplets of water on the surface.

This sudden chill cooled Chi Sheng’s burning hand for a moment, but when she met Ruan Yinmeng’s eyes, another part of her heart began to heat up.

She said, “Thank you.”

She lowered her head and took the Sprite.

Ruan Yinmeng did not walk away; she still stood by her side, looking at her. Chi Sheng suddenly felt a wave of pressure, but it didn’t quite feel like pressure. The gaze above her head was like a sly little snake, desperately burrowing into her heart.

Ruan Yinmeng’s hand gently touched her cheek. Chi Sheng tilted her head slightly but did not completely avoid her. Ruan Yinmeng let out a soft laugh, which made Chi Sheng feel a bit shy and annoyed. She looked up at her, her eyes straightforward and clear, with an unmistakable hint of youthful awkwardness.

Ruan Yinmeng’s smile deepened a little, and her voice softened: “Chi Sheng, close your eyes.”

Chi Sheng vaguely sensed what was about to happen, but suddenly lost her resolve, staring blankly at the person in front of her. Ruan Yinmeng’s smile grew deeper, and her gaze became increasingly tender and lingering.

When Chi Sheng was at a loss, she covered her eyes. Chi Sheng blinked, her long, thick eyelashes brushing against her soft palm, and the next moment, soft lips pressed against hers.

Chi Sheng’s breath caught; she stood there, shy and stunned. Her suddenly exploding heartbeat made her ears ring, but Ruan Yinmeng gave her no time to adjust. Her kiss was forceful and aggressive, mercilessly parting her lips and probing into her mouth.

Chi Sheng opened her eyes wide but could only see her own palm.

Her consciousness struggled to break free from the chaos, but in less than a second, it sank back into this water-like tenderness.

Ruan Yinmeng straddled his lap; she was so light that Chi Sheng could hardly feel her weight. She covered her eyes with one hand and supported the back of her neck with the other. Chi Sheng felt completely controlled, as Ruan Yinmeng’s lips were passionate and intense, entwining with his tongue in a fervent, grinding kiss.

The scent that Chi Sheng liked was accompanied by a more enticing and ambiguous aura, filling her sense of smell and overflowing between their lips as they met.

Chi Sheng suddenly felt a late surge of panic in her heart, her weak will whispering that she shouldn’t. She finally remembered to struggle, but Ruan Yinmeng supported the back of her neck and deepened the kiss, their lips and tongues entwined. She sucked on her tongue and bit it lightly, causing Chi Sheng to shiver, feeling some pain but even more an overwhelming, irresistible tingling sensation.

Chi Sheng opened her eyes wide, only to have her view blocked by that gentle yet resolute palm.

She had never experienced anything like this before; it was as if she had fallen into a secret, forbidden spring dream. Everything felt so unreal, yet the warmth in her arms was so real—so real that it captured her entire mind and soul.

Chi Sheng was helpless like a little dog drenched in the rain, wet and dripping, toyed with at Ruan Yinmeng’s palm.

She couldn’t help but let out a sob, her body trembling along with it.

The stormy kisses slowed their assault, lightly pecking one after another at the corners of her lips and the tip of her nose, as if each kiss landed on Chisheng’s heart.

Chisheng’s eyelashes fluttered weakly, the hand that had been covering her eyes finally withdrew, and she saw Ruan Yinmeng, forehead pressed against hers.

A flush of pink stained the corner of Ruan Yinmeng’s eyes, her charm overflowing as she gazed at Chisheng with deep affection: “The night I saw your eyes, I wanted to do this to you.”

If there was a trap in Ruan Yinmeng’s eyes, Chi Sheng believed he had completely fallen into it.

She held Ruan Yinmeng tightly, tilting her head to kiss her lips, chin, and jade-like neck. She was eager and urgent, her feelings so intense they were hard to express. She kissed Ruan Yinmeng passionately, licking her tender skin inch by inch with her lips.

Her hand trembled involuntarily, rubbing Ruan Yinmeng’s slender waist through the fabric. Ruan Yinmeng indulgently tilted her head back, exposing her neck to Chi Sheng’s mouth without any restraint. Her fingers impatiently tangled into Chi Sheng’s short hair.

Chi Sheng was like a green apricot, not yet ripe and soft, still a bit raw; she was passionate and eager, yet never quite found the right rhythm.

She finally lifted her head from Ruan Yinmeng’s neck, feeling wronged and at a loss.

Her eyes were moist and soft, a tear clung to her eyelashes, trembling slightly. She looked into Ruan Yinmeng’s eyes, which were gentle and vast, as if they could hold everything about her.

“Be good, don’t rush.” Ruan Yinmeng’s voice was so wet it seemed as if water could be wrung from it. She took Chi Sheng’s hand, tracing along her bare, snow-white leg, slipping under the edge of her skirt.

Chi Sheng’s fingertips were burning; she stared intently at Ruan Yinmeng.

Ruan Yinmeng breathed heavily in a low voice, her breathing sounded very pleasant, making Chi Sheng’s ears turn bright red.

Her eyes gradually grew moist, her chest heaving more intensely. She met Chisheng’s gaze, the corners of her lips curling up like a fairy’s, enchanting and alluring. Fine beads of sweat appeared on Chisheng’s forehead.

Desire spread thickly and damply, like hot spring water, like swamp mist; the air was humid and sticky.

Suddenly, Ruan Yinmeng’s body trembled. The watery light in her eyes reflected Chisheng’s image. Chisheng gazed at her in fascination, but before he could catch the feelings in her eyes, she lowered her head and rested it on Chisheng’s shoulder.

“Stop!” Mei Lan’s voice suddenly rang out, like a bolt of lightning cutting through the thick, ambiguous desire.

Shen Yizhi stood up and looked down to straighten her clothes.

Ning Zhi was dazed, still caught up in the play. She suddenly felt the surroundings grow cold, many people were laughing, Mei Lan was laughing too, and she raised her hand to rest it on Ning Zhi’s shoulder.

“Not bad, better than I expected.” She praised confidently.

The props team gathered around to organize the props, and Ning Zhi was unconsciously pushed to the side. She stood there absentmindedly as Jiang Peng excitedly came over, chattering away about something.

Ning Zhi didn’t hear a single word.

She instinctively looked towards Shen Yizhi sitting opposite her.

Shen Yizhi was leaning back in a chair, his face slightly turned, talking with Director Mei.

Her eyebrows and eyes were gentle, and she smiled from time to time, saying something, with no difference from usual.

That just now seemed to have no effect on her at all, and Ning Zhi suddenly felt a sense of loss for no reason.

Suddenly, Shen Yizhi turned her head and looked over this way.

Ning Zhi’s heart skipped a beat. They shared a brief moment of eye contact across the bustling set. Shen Yizhi’s gaze paused slightly, a faint, almost imperceptible smile appearing in her eyes. Ning Zhi stared at her in a daze, and before she could fully understand, Shen Yizhi raised her hand to tap her lower lip, then turned back to continue talking with Director Mei.

Ning Zhi was momentarily confused by her meaning and stood there stunned for a moment. Then she suddenly remembered something, and her face flushed as if it had exploded with color, vividly red and dripping with emotion.

She hurriedly turned around and asked Yangyang for a makeup mirror. When she opened it, she saw that her lips were kissed to look as bright and plump as rose petals, stained with Shen Yizhi’s lipstick.

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