Errand

The plane landed smoothly. On the flight, Zhu Qing caught up on the latest two episodes of the variety show, then scrolled through videos online, munching on gossip. Under Li Lan’s orders, she slept for seven hours, and by the time she got off the plane, she was so drowsy she could barely focus.

“Zhu…” Qian Chu took both of their suitcases and met a pair of bleary, sleepy eyes. “Air sick?”

“She went off to become a gossip-munching monkey,” Li Lan remarked dryly.

Zhu Qing flopped into the back seat and closed her eyes, ready to go see the King of Hell.

Qian Chu said in wonder, “You spent the whole night reading gossip?”

“Pretty much. I woke up in the middle of the night and she was still pretending to sleep,” Li Lan said as she got into the front passenger seat and buckled her seat belt. “And she didn’t even do a good job of it; her eyes were darting all over the place.”

“That’s called the eye-movement stage,” Zhu Qing protested weakly. “I really did sleep.”

“Look at yourself.” Li Lan fished a small mirror out of her pocket and handed it to Zhu Qing. “Do you look like you slept?”

Zhu Qing glanced at the mirror and wailed, “Why do I look like I was dancing all night?”

Li Lan was speechless.

Zhu Qing said, “I really slept. I was so obedient; I just ate too much gossip and didn’t sleep well, and then I had a bunch of weird dreams.”

Li Lan said coolly, “Dreaming about Yu Ling?”

The main focus of Zhu Qing’s gossip binge had been Yu Ling and Qi Yao. After the variety show aired its final episodes, the fans on both sides had launched into a full-scale bloody war; either her fans were storming the other side’s comment sections or his fans were sabotaging her endorsements. Every trick in the book was on display. As a bystander, Zhu Qing had been extremely satisfied watching the chaos.

Zhu Qing said solemnly, “Teacher Li, don’t slander me. I dreamed about you the whole time.”

“You can dream about me from reading gossip?” Li Lan asked curiously. “Are you reading my gossip?”

Zhu Qing coughed. “Not exactly. I just happened to see some couple-edit videos of us while I was scrolling.”

Case closed. This was why Zhu Qing had refused to sleep and why her sleep quality had been so poor.

She thought of the music used in those CP videos, the suggestive filters, the entangled looks, and the sudden cuts to steamy scenes from some film or drama.

The transitions were incredibly smooth; the actress’s figure was also rather similar to Li Lan’s…

Li Lan glanced back. Zhu Qing was turned toward the back seat, her back to the other two, motionless, apparently sleeping.

Zhu Qing replayed those images in her mind, along with the brazen comments under the videos, and her face grew hot as a strange itch rose in her chest.

There was no reason to be married and still keep things chaste. Zhu Qing decided she had to make something happen.

As for how to do it, and whether she should seek the other party’s cooperation, she hadn’t worked that out yet. She only had one thought, repeated over and over: it had to happen.

This way, that way, then this way again; yes, exactly!

Up front, Li Lan, thinking Zhu Qing was sleeping obediently, lowered her voice and spoke to Qian Chu.

“The studio’s been getting more and more invitations lately,” Qian Chu said. “The online momentum is in our favor. Your follower count has increased by nearly six million, and it’s still rising.”

Li Lan listened quietly to Qian Chu’s report.

“But right now the public’s focus is still on Yu Ling and Qi Yao,” Qian Chu said honestly. “Those two are too eye-catching; they’re young and beautiful, and a lot of fans support them blindly. Their fan bases are currently tearing each other apart, but once they no longer have each other to fight, they’ll definitely turn their attention to you.”

That was expected.

Yu Ling’s repeated attempts to curry favor with Li Lan, as well as Li Lan’s not-so-subtle hints to Yu Ling after Qi Yao disappeared, had all become ammunition for Yu Ling’s fans.

And Qi Yao needed no mention; his fans could spot traces of his rejection of Li Lan from the smallest clues, not to mention that ever since he had shoved Zhu Qing, Li Lan had never given him a good look again.

Fortune comes from danger.

Qian Chu sighed. “Still, to snatch traffic from two people backed heavily by Guanghe Tongchen and MeiYu Media, this trip wasn’t for nothing.”

Excitedly, she calculated the next round of collaborations and the studio’s profit forecast for the coming year. Her eyes bright, she said, “Manager Lan, take three days off and then get back to work.”

Zhu Qing, eavesdropping, pricked up her ears.

Three days?

Was that even human language??

What could you even do in three days?!

Before she could come up with a plan, Li Lan was going to fly off again!

Li Lan didn’t answer, and Qian Chu continued, “Zhu Qing’s sick leave is almost up too; she needs to go back to work. Manager Lan, you should keep working as well!”

Zhu Qing swallowed the urge to object.

She had actually forgotten about the kindergarten.

But Li Lan couldn’t run off either!

Li Lan hesitated. “We’ll talk about it later.”

“Then I’ll send you the schedule for the next few days.” Qian Chu was full of fighting spirit. “You’ve got three major national variety shows, six cover shoots, twelve interviews to record, and two film scripts and five TV scripts currently in negotiation.”

Zhu Qing: …

Ding-dong.

A notification sounded on Li Lan’s phone.

From WeChat.

[Link: To keep a marriage harmonious, you must do these three things: maintain close contact, cooperate with marital duties…]

[Link: Heartbreaking! Seven-year love story ends in a shabby breakup after marriage because one side keeps traveling for work…]

One didn’t need a knee to guess who had sent them.

Without turning her head, Li Lan passed the phone to Qian Chu while waiting at a red light.

Qian Chu read the contents seriously, then turned around and sincerely advised Zhu Qing, “These are both clickbait accounts. The previous one was still suggesting that after marriage both sides should maintain a sense of mystery; distance makes the heart grow fonder. Hurry up and unfollow them, or when you’re old they’ll trick you into buying health supplements.”

Facing away from Qian Chu, Zhu Qing said coolly, “You can’t take revenge on society just because you don’t have a love life.”

Qian Chu: ?

Zhu Qing said slowly, “You’re three or four years older than me, and yet you’ve been single since birth. I can understand your desire for something you can’t have, so you can only work hard, but your boss has a family. A harmonious home makes for smooth work.”

Qian Chu thought about Zhu Qing’s words; they made a lot of sense.

But no matter how much sense they made, they still couldn’t compare to the money from those collaboration offers.

“Six figures; buy Manager Lan for one night.”

Zhu Qing let out a cold laugh.

Qian Chu thought it over. “There’s also one for seven figures; buy Manager Lan for three days and two nights.”

Zhu Qing dismissed it with contempt.

“If the heat can hold,” Qian Chu dropped the bombshell, “next year the highest monthly income can break eight figures.”

Zhu Qing was speechless.

Lying there with her back to the two of them, she was so angry she wanted to bite someone.

Qian Chu pressed on with emotion, reason, and money. “Not a single collaboration can be missed.”

Li Lan finally couldn’t stand it anymore and laughed. “Don’t provoke her. I already said we’d discuss it when the time comes. Stop packing my schedule so tightly that I can’t even get home.”

Only then did Qian Chu fall silent.

The car drove on steadily; none of the three argued further about Li Lan’s work.

Zhu Qing thought and thought, but still couldn’t swallow her anger. She angrily tapped open Qian Cancan’s profile picture.

[Zhu Qing]: Emergency rescue!

Qian Cancan always had her phone in hand and replied in seconds.

[Volcano]: Speak quickly

[Zhu Qing]: Qian Chu, that miser, wants to sweet-talk Li Lan into not resting and keep working to make money!

[Volcano]: Such a thing exists?

[Zhu Qing]: !!!!! I’m furious. Where on earth does her absurd ambition come from? Is there any way to rein her in!

Qian Cancan deleted and retyped for half a minute.

[Volcano]: …How do you define “rein her in”?

[Zhu Qing]: Make her blow up, make her doubt life, make her rebuild her worldview, and keep her from having any time in the short term to encourage Li Lan!!

Qian Cancan was quiet for two minutes.

[Volcano]: Leave it to me.

The moment Zhu Qing saw that Qian Cancan had a plan, she quickly poured out Qian Chu’s offenses like beans from a bamboo tube.

What was this nonsense about her having to endure for now, that Qi Yao had only shoved her and she hadn’t actually been injured, that Zhu Qing had only lost a little bruising while Qi Yao had lost a whole pile of traffic and resources!

And there was her insistence that Zhu Qing had no camera-ready training, so fans would pick at every little thing; Zhu Qing could just be careful with her words and act like a sweet, naive darling, but she absolutely could not talk too much!

With grievance after grievance, she made Qian Cancan angry too.

[Volcano]: She really hasn’t changed at all!

[Zhu Qing]: A litany of crimes too numerous to write down!

[Volcano]: Just wait; even if I’m not your bestie, as the messenger of justice I can’t stand for this!

[Zhu Qing]: Down with Qian Chu!

[Volcano]: Take Qian Chu down!!

After solving one worry, Zhu Qing finally felt able to breathe again and started telling Qian Cancan about her other troubles.

[Zhu Qing]: Bestie, I remember you said that I and Li Lan used to have conflicts, and one important reason was that I didn’t fulfill my wifely duties, right?

[Volcano]: What, you’ve finally decided to do it?

As expected of her best friend, Zhu Qing typed excitedly.

[Zhu Qing]: Hehe, it’s just that the right opportunity isn’t easy to find. You’ve got more experience in this area, help me think of a way.

[Volcano]: That’s easy. Arrange the room, trick her inside, lock the door, and go straight in.

[Zhu Qing]: Is the success rate high?

[Volcano]: Depends on the person; the other side has to cooperate.

At the thought of Li Lan’s level of cooperation, Zhu Qing shook her head wildly in her heart and asked Qian Cancan to change the method.

[Volcano]: Then wait until she’s asleep, tie her up. If she doesn’t agree, don’t let go.

[Zhu Qing]: ???!!!

[Volcano]: Do you need tools? I’ll have courier delivery send them over for you; a full set.

Zhu Qing hesitated for only one second.

[Zhu Qing]: Grateful.

Putting down her phone, Zhu Qing could no longer hold on and sank into a sweet sleep.

When she woke again, she was already lying on the bed at home. The curtains were drawn shut, and the air conditioner was set to 26 degrees.

Zhu Qing felt a little warm. She kicked off the blanket, stayed awake for a while, then pulled out her phone to check the time.

Three in the afternoon; still early.

Xiao Bao had gone on a study tour to the southern ancient capital and wouldn’t be back for four days. The house only had her and Li Lan left.

Perfect timing for something to happen!

Zhu Qing’s blood surged; she sat up from the bed.

First, she changed into a short, thin set of pajamas, then took out perfume and sprayed it a few times into the air, turning around so the scent would settle on her.

When she walked out of the bedroom, Li Lan was on the balcony making a phone call, and their luggage had been spread out in the living room.

There was also a pile of souvenirs they had brought back.

Hearing Zhu Qing move, Li Lan ended the call and walked over, pointing to a large brown paper bag beside them. “Courier delivery brought this.”

Courier delivery?

The full set of tools?!

Bondage, training!!

Zhu Qing’s face flushed red. She hugged the bag to her chest. “You didn’t look, did you?”

Li Lan shook her head. “No. It’s from Qian Cancan to you.”

Zhu Qing let out a breath.

The next second, Li Lan asked, “What is it?”

Zhu Qing: …

Zhu Qing’s mind raced. She nodded vaguely. “Um… just some things I left at her place last time!”

Li Lan looked at her for two seconds and said nothing more.

She crouched down and pointed at the luggage. “My things are already packed. I didn’t touch yours; you can sort them out yourself.”

If this had been before, Zhu Qing would definitely have jabbed back at Li Lan for separating “yours” and “mine,” then complained and acted spoiled, ordering Li Lan to pack her things for her. But now Zhu Qing’s mind was full of those “tools,” so she agreed with remarkable smoothness.

“Okay, I’ll do it myself.” Zhu Qing looked up at Li Lan, her eyes sparkling. Looking concerned, she said, “Darling, you must be tired, right? Hurry and go rest. I’ll prepare dinner for you.”

Li Lan glanced at the time. “So early?”

Zhu Qing pushed her toward the bedroom while clutching the paper bag. “It’s not early. Go sleep quickly; you must be tired. You used to sleep for a whole day and night after work!”

That was true enough. Li Lan confirmed, “There really isn’t anything else?”

“I won’t wake you, not for anything,” Zhu Qing promised. “With me here, nothing will happen.”

Li Lan hesitated as she stood up. “All right. Don’t call me for dinner at night; leave some for me to eat myself when I wake up.”

“Okay, I’ll save however much you want,” Zhu Qing urged. “Go on!”

Li Lan looked at Zhu Qing again, feeling that Zhu Qing was a little odd, but Zhu Qing was right; after working, she habitually made up for lost energy by sleeping. After taking a shower and changing into her pajamas, once she lay down on the bed, her body automatically shifted into rest mode.

That faint sense of doubt floated through her dreams again and again, sometimes turning into Zhu Qing’s eyes filled with sly laughter, sometimes into the sight of Zhu Qing wearing her shirt and falling to the floor with bare thighs.

It wasn’t until an unfamiliar sensation touched her body that Li Lan slowly woke from deep sleep.

Opening her eyes, she heard the crisp clink of chains in her ear.

Looking more closely, she realized the source of those chains was actually her own wrist!

————————

Zhu Qing: [heart][heart][heart]

Li Lan: [fear][wave][wave]