Chapter 20

It happened to be a day off, and Jiang Lai had finally gotten the chance to sleep in at the hotel without having to go to work. Who would have thought there would still be people determined to ruin her peace?

“Lai, stop sleeping already! Get up, now!”

Gu Xizhou’s annoying voice came from outside the door. Jiang Lai let out an unhappy grumble, rolled over, and shoved a pillow over her ears.

After a few more persistent knocks, there was no sound outside. Just when Jiang Lai thought Gu Xizhou had finally left and her ears could enjoy some peace, her phone on the table suddenly rang.

She kicked the blanket irritably a couple of times, then answered in resignation. “Gu Xizhou, are you sick in the head?”

Gu Xizhou’s voice came from outside the door. “No, I’m asking why you’re inside and still not opening the door for me.”

Jiang Lai sighed, got up, and opened the door. If looks could kill, Gu Xizhou would already have been reincarnated hundreds of times over.

Gu Xizhou, made a little uneasy by that stare, lost some of her confidence too. “Um... do you want to grab breakfast together?”

Jiang Lai answered coldly, “Sorry, I’m busy.”

“Hey, hey, hey!”

Gu Xizhou shamelessly reached out and blocked the door before Jiang Lai could close it, her tone turning coaxing. “Well, since you’re already awake, come with me to the set. I’m bored all by myself.”

Before Jiang Lai could even say no, Gu Xizhou started acting spoiled like a giant teddy dog. “Lai, please? You’re the best.”

Unable to endure the assault any longer, Jiang Lai could only surrender. “Fine, fine, I give up on you. I’ll go with you, okay? Honestly.”

When the two of them arrived at the set, they realized the atmosphere seemed a little off.

Jiang Lai glanced around and gave the dejected Xiaoman a small wave. “Xiaoman.”

“Hm?”

Seeing that it was Jiang Lai, Xiaoman bounced over to her. “Sister Jiang! Why are you here? Aren’t you off today?”

“I came with Xizhou.”

As Jiang Lai spoke, she kept looking around.

“It’s because Aunt Cheng and Senior Xu just can’t seem to get the effect Director Zhang wants, no matter how they act, so the whole atmosphere turned out like this..."

“Oh... I see.”

Jiang Lai was silent for two minutes, then spoke up. “Go buy a cup of coffee for the whole crew. When the time comes, say it’s from Aunt Cheng. She’s sorry for wasting everyone’s time.”

“Oh, okay, I’ll go right now.”

Xiaoman hurried off.

“Director Zhang.”

“Oh, Jiang Lai. Aren’t you supposed to be resting today? Why are you at the set again?”

Seeing that it was Jiang Lai, Director Zhang’s expression finally eased a little. Jiang Lai took the opportunity to sit beside him. “What’s going on? Haven’t you always been praising Aunt Cheng and Miss Xu’s acting? You said they don’t even need much direction from you. Why’s it like this today?”

Director Zhang sighed. “I’ve filmed with them before and never had to worry about either of them. Who knows what’s going on today? Neither of them is in the zone, and this shot just won’t pass no matter what.”

At that, Jiang Lai looked toward Cheng Shuyang, who was reapplying her makeup nearby. She looked haggard, with dark circles under her eyes; it was obvious she hadn’t rested well.

“Jiang Lai.”

“Mm?”

“I heard Shuyang’s your idol, right?”

“Yes.”

Jiang Lai nodded blankly, not knowing what Director Zhang meant. Then he suddenly laughed, but the smile somehow made Jiang Lai feel a chill run up her spine. “You..."

“Want to try acting?”

Jiang Lai’s eyes went wide. She pointed at herself in disbelief. “Me?”

“What, you can’t?”

Jiang Lai shook her head again and again. “No, no, I’d be terrible at it. I’d drag everyone down.”

Director Zhang patted her shoulder. “I think you can. Don’t sell yourself short.”

The refusal stuck in her throat, but Jiang Lai couldn’t get the words out. Just then Xiaoman came back with the coffee, and Jiang Lai, as if she’d seen a savior, hurried over to her, grabbed a cup, and stuffed it into Director Zhang’s hand. “Director Zhang, have some coffee. Aunt Cheng specially had Xiaoman buy it for everyone.”

“Alright. Thank her for me.”

Jiang Lai carefully picked up another cup and walked toward Cheng Shuyang. Cheng Shuyang, who had been resting with her eyes closed, suddenly felt warmth in her hand. She opened her eyes and froze a little when she saw Jiang Lai.

“Lai..."

Jiang Lai smiled brightly. “Aunt Cheng, I specially had Xiaoman buy your favorite flavor. Want to try it?”

“Lai... I’m not in the mood.”

Jiang Lai crouched down, her tone gentle. “Are you unhappy?”

“No.”

Knowing Cheng Shuyang was hiding something from her, Jiang Lai was smart enough not to press further. She just tightened her grip on the cup in Cheng Shuyang’s hand a little. “Be careful when you drink it; it’s hot. Don’t hurt yourself.”

Cheng Shuyang looked at the coffee in her hand, then at the girl distributing coffee not far away. Something in her heart was suddenly struck hard.

When the coffee reached Xu Zhiyi’s hand, the latter suddenly called out to Jiang Lai and shook the cup in her hand. “I say... was this really coffee bought by Cheng Shuyang?”

Jiang Lai didn’t even blink. “Mm. Aunt Cheng had Xiaoman go buy it.”

“Jiang Lai, you can’t even lie properly.”

Xu Zhiyi smiled and dusted off the nonexistent specks on Jiang Lai’s clothes, as if she were about to leave. Jiang Lai stopped her. “Senior Xu.”

“What is it?”

“Aunt Cheng, she..."

Knowing what she was going to say, Xu Zhiyi cut her off. “I wasn’t deliberately targeting her. It’s just that her emotional state isn’t there. That’s got nothing to do with me.”

“Alright, alright, we’re starting now!”

Hearing Director Zhang’s voice, Xu Zhiyi stopped paying attention to her. Only when she passed by Jiang Lai did she speak again. “Jiang Lai, stop protecting Cheng Shuyang.”

Director Zhang specifically arranged the scene between Xu Zhiyi and Cheng Shuyang to be last, hoping they would sort out their emotions and get it right in one take. Who would have thought there would still be a mistake?

Director Zhang wore a dark expression and said nothing. No one else dared make a sound.

“Jiang Lai, you do it! Pair with Shuyang!”

In an instant, everyone’s eyes turned to her. Jiang Lai’s face immediately scrunched up like a bitter melon. “Director, I really can’t!”

“Lai.”

Gu Xizhou nudged her and said quietly, “Can’t you just give Director Zhang some face? Do you really have to make him lose it in front of so many people?”

“But I really can’t. Besides, Aunt Cheng might not even agree...”

“I can.”

After a long silence, Cheng Shuyang suddenly spoke, startling everyone present. Her gaze, however, was fixed straight on Jiang Lai. “Lai, I can do it.”

Jiang Lai took a deep breath and walked up to Cheng Shuyang. Her voice was slightly hoarse when she spoke. “Aunt Cheng, sorry. Then I’ll be offending you...”

She reached out. Her large hand circled gently around Cheng Shuyang’s waist. Cheng Shuyang’s waist was very slender; Jiang Lai almost effortlessly drew her into her arms. The two of them were so close it was nearly nothing at all, close enough to see each other’s reflections in each other’s eyes.

Her arm tightened, bringing them even nearer. Seemingly bewitched by those beautiful peach-blossom eyes, Cheng Shuyang unconsciously lifted a hand to Jiang Lai’s cheek and slowly traced her skin, inch by inch. It was featherlight, yet everywhere her fingertips passed, Jiang Lai couldn’t help shivering.

Jiang Lai caught that wandering hand. Her forehead was already damp with a layer of nervous sweat. “Don’t mess around...”

But Cheng Shuyang only looked at her. Those beautiful eyes were filled with restrained emotion, and for a moment Jiang Lai felt dazed. Was she the real Cheng Shuyang... or the Madam Zheng from the script?

She followed the line of sight downward and paused on those full lips. They were like cherries ripened in spring, glistening with moisture, tempting one to pluck them...

What should I do? I really want to kiss her.

She couldn’t stay here any longer. If she did... something would happen. That was Jiang Lai’s first reaction.

Feeling Jiang Lai’s breath surrounding her, Cheng Shuyang only felt like she was about to be drunk on it, but she still kept a little clarity. She caught hold of Jiang Lai’s clothes and leaned in close to her ear, her voice a little unsteady. “Lai, we’re filming..."

“Sorry!”

Jiang Lai suddenly stepped back, escaping the ambiguous atmosphere. Cheng Shuyang said nothing either, simply lowering her head so her expression could not be seen.

“That’s it. See? Act with this kind of atmosphere. Got it?”

Director Zhang promptly eased Jiang Lai’s embarrassment and called everyone to shoot the next scene. Jiang Lai kept taking deep breaths, trying to force down that restless, turbulent heart.

“Lai..."

“What is it?”

Gu Xizhou looked worried. “Just now... you weren’t really about to kiss her, were you?”

Having her thoughts exposed, Jiang Lai immediately denied it. “No. Don’t talk nonsense. How could I?”

Gu Xizhou still wasn’t reassured. “But just now you clearly looked like you wanted to kiss her...”

Jiang Lai clamped a hand over her mouth and dragged her into a corner. Half threatening, half warning, she said, “Don’t say things like that! It’ll ruin Aunt Cheng’s reputation!”

“Jiang Lai.”

“What now?”

“You look at her differently..."

Jiang Lai suddenly fell silent, not knowing how to answer.

In the rest room, Cheng Shuyang closed the door and asked Xiaoman, “The coffee was bought by Lai?”

“Mm.”

Xiaoman told her everything honestly. “At the time, you and Senior Xu both looked a little angry, and Sister Jiang was worried the rest of the crew would resent you two, so she had me go buy coffee..."

“Xiaoman, how do you think I’ve been treating Lai?”

Right now, Cheng Shuyang felt like she could no longer make sense of her own attitude. It was like being in a fog; she didn’t know what she was doing, and everything seemed to be developing in a direction entirely beyond her expectations...

“Mm..."

Hearing the question, Xiaoman tilted her head and thought carefully before answering, “I think it’s very good. Although sometimes, maybe it gets a little..."

Xiaoman didn’t want to use that word for the two of them, so she could only rack her brains for other words to replace it.

“A little what? ... Over the line?”

“Mm, it just feels not quite like a normal relationship between a senior and a junior..."

“Alright, I understand. You can go out first. Let me think by myself.”

Carefully closing the door behind her, Xiaoman immediately broke into a triumphant smile. For someone as deep in the ship as she was, this situation was exactly what she loved to see; she practically wanted the two of them to get even more over the line!

Thinking of that, she silently prayed in her heart, Jiang-jie, you absolutely have to step up...

Author’s Note:

Jiang Lai: “What do I do? Aunt Cheng’s lips look so kissable...”