QKYJ - 23

Unfortunately, ideals are beautiful, but reality is harsh.

Managers understand their artists better than the artists themselves. As soon as Ding Yaocai heard that Shen He had gone to visit the set, she immediately called Shen Zhi, talking agitatedly and indignantly for a long time. The main points were: stating the major premise of “I don’t want to interfere in your and your man’s private life” and then reasoning with her emotionally—”Whenever you two get together, you cause a huge fuss,” “Shen He has an announcement tomorrow morning, don’t make things difficult for me and Xi Xi,” and “I’m begging you.” Finally, she had to ensure a double layer of security: “Hand the phone to Shen He.”

“Mhm, mhm, I know,” Shen Zhi replied absentmindedly.

Then she hung up the phone.

In fact, they were both quite aware of their boundaries; it was just that their “momagers” were too concerned.

Even people who are great at handling stress need an outlet to vent.

And they didn’t have any other hobbies.

Both Shen He and Shen Zhi were planning on a wild night together.

After work, Shen Zhi changed her clothes and sat in the car to remove her makeup. Shen He was playing with a diabolo that was used as a prop on set.

The props master was also happy to explain some techniques.

Shen He listened attentively, and maybe he really had a talent for street performances, as he was able to get the hang of it.

Who knows how long Cheng Ruiyi had been standing behind him?

As they were about to leave, he took the initiative and said, “Mr. Shen He.”

“Ah,” Shen He knew more about current events than Shen Zhi did, so he knew who Cheng Ruiyi was. “Hello.”

Cheng Ruiyi conveyed his intentions without being servile or arrogant: “When I asked for acting advice from Ms. Shen the other day, I was hoping I’d run into you, and I actually did!”

This kid seemed to want to become an actor. Shen He silently thought back.

So it was only natural for him to try to get close to him and Shen Zhi.

The next moment, Shen He smiled subtly, giving a flawless response: “Ms. Shen Zhi has also told me about you. You’re amazing, so accomplished at such a young age.”

The small talk was more or less over at this point.

But Cheng Ruiyi didn’t want to leave: “The first film I saw of yours was South Wall South, directed by Huang Zhengfei. Your character had very few lines, but it really had a big impact on me. I felt like your character was a man, but you incorporated a lot of feminine elements into it.”

Shen He, who had been balancing the diabolo, gradually stopped.

He walked up and suddenly put his arm around Cheng Ruiyi’s shoulder, his attitude a thousand times more enthusiastic than before: “You have a very bright future!”

Shen He’s grip was quite strong. Cheng Ruiyi was unprepared and almost couldn’t handle it, his face turning a little pale.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” Cheng Ruiyi laughed.

“Do you know how to play the diabolo?” Shen He asked.

He had learned a little for a relevant scene: “I know how, I’m just not very good at it.” Cheng Ruiyi was a little overwhelmed by the sudden enthusiasm. But on second thought, he should at least be better at it than Shen He, who had just learned, so he didn’t refuse.

In Shen He’s world, being uninterested and interested are two different concepts.

If it was the former, he would not be willing to spend even a tiny bit of energy. But if it was the latter, he would disregard the other person’s feelings and just shove whatever he found interesting at them.

Cheng Ruiyi started playing with the diabolo.

He hadn’t touched it in a few days, so he was a little rusty.

Shen He laughed so hard he bent over, then took it and said, “You’re no good at this,” and started playing by himself. His technique didn’t look like it was his first time. Cheng Ruiyi was both impressed and a little confused. He could only force a smile, then heard a faint female voice from behind him: “Stop teasing him.”

He turned his head, and it was Shen Zhi.

She had removed her makeup. Her face was moisturized and slightly luminous, but not at all greasy, bringing to mind the glistening surface of a lake.

“What’s wrong with it?” Shen He laughed nonchalantly. He bent down to grab his jacket, then took a bottle of Yakult from his assistant, turned around, and tossed it to Cheng Ruiyi. “He’s a good kid.”

“I was just thinking that you would definitely like him.”

“Really?” Hearing her words, Shen He walked over, put his arm around Cheng Ruiyi’s shoulder, and looked at him, asking out of the blue, “Do I seem like I like you?”

Whether Shen He actually liked Cheng Ruiyi or not, at least at this moment, it seemed to Cheng Ruiyi that Shen He was one of the most difficult people he had ever met.

He also smiled. Just as he was about to say something, Shen He changed direction first.

“Let’s go back,” Shen He said, putting on his jacket.

“Ruiyi, you don’t need to come tomorrow, right? Get some good rest,” Shen Zhi said, as if she were taking care of her little brother. “Come play at our house next time.”

Cheng Ruiyi was still a little behind, but he suddenly caught the main point: “Is that okay?”

“Yes, it is,” Shen He also said.

Then they saw Cheng Ruiyi running away.

Just as Shen He and Shen Zhi were about to leave, Cheng Ruiyi ran back.

“I just reported to my assistant. Shall we leave now?” he said.

The meaning he was trying to convey was misunderstood. Shen Zhi and Shen He looked at each other. They were about to clarify the situation when Cheng Ruiyi spoke again: “My company wants me to be an actor, but I’m really just a hobbyist. I didn’t even go to college, and I really want to learn from you both, seniors—”

“Okay, that’s enough,” Shen He interrupted him in time.

When he looked at Shen Zhi again, he saw the same mood in her eyes as in his own.

When it came to acting, Shen He and Shen Zhi were both very sincere.

In all walks of life, the entertainment industry has a low barrier for educational qualifications, and many people are just products of packaging. If you have a poor education, you just have to hide it. Cheng Ruiyi, on the other hand, had laid all his cards on the table.

It was really hard not to be a little nicer.

As a result, the words of refusal were never spoken.

Taking a junior back home wasn’t without precedent.

Shen Zhi was usually fine with it, but Shen He often invited actor friends he liked to come over. The privacy of their house’s layout was good, making it very suitable for entertaining guests. In addition, Shen Zhi thought this was a necessary part of socializing, so she wasn’t against it.

After arriving home, the assistant went to park the car. The three of them went inside directly.

As soon as he entered the door, Cheng Ruiyi saw the Guanyin Bodhisattva at the entrance.

“Wow,” he said in a low voice.

Shen Zhi went to prepare indoor shoes. Shen He followed her from behind, asking blandly, “Are you religious?”

“No,” Cheng Ruiyi shook his head. “Are you guys—”

“We aren’t either,” Shen He smiled at him dispassionately.

“Do you have a favorite dish?” Shen Zhi asked.

Cheng Ruiyi said, “It’s fine. I’m not picky. I’m already embarrassed to be bothering you.”

“It’s fine,” Shen He replied with a laugh, without giving him any leeway, “I’m the one who’s doing the cooking anyway.”

“Does Mr. Shen usually cook?” Since he was now at a point where he was visiting their home, his way of addressing him had also changed.

Shen Zhi thought about it: “It’s fifty-fifty.”

“Sometimes it’s me, sometimes it’s her. Why?” Shen He asked.

They only stayed on the first floor. The house had been thoroughly cleaned and tidied, and everything was very neat. Cheng Ruiyi sat on the sofa. Shen Zhi didn’t make him tea; instead, she opened a bottle of red wine in the living room: “Can you drink?”

“Mhm, mhm,” Cheng Ruiyi replied.

Shen He handed him some crackers: “Can you eat these?”

“Mhm, mhm,” Cheng Ruiyi replied again.

Then Shen He and Shen Zhi sat down and stared at him eating, like customers watching a hamster from outside a cage in a pet store. Cheng Ruiyi was a little embarrassed, so he ate very politely.

Shen Zhi said, “Being an idol must be very tough, right?”

Cheng Ruiyi said, “It’s alright. It’s better than not being famous.”

“That’s true,” Shen He said vaguely, then got up and went to the kitchen.

Cheng Ruiyi asked, “Do you usually invite friends over?”

“Yes,” Shen Zhi said. “It’s pretty common. Many people even stay over.”

In fact, Shen Zhi was usually quite good at keeping a lively atmosphere. But she had just been acting with Cheng Ruiyi, and seeing his face, she couldn’t quite get out of character, unconsciously taking on a senior’s mindset.

She knew this wasn’t good, so she made an excuse to check on the progress and got up.

Shen Zhi walked into the kitchen and saw Shen He slowly wiping a knife. She walked in and deliberately said, “Are you thinking of murdering someone?”

“A little,” Shen He also played along.

They had agreed to have a fun holiday, trading what they needed and partying to their heart’s content. But then a guest, and not just one, had suddenly dropped in. He had already planned where to start.

She leaned against the side, quietly watching his distinctively jointed hands. The indoor temperature was just right. Shen Zhi raised her head and quietly touched his arm. It seemed unintentional, but it was all a deliberate seduction.

“Don’t be mad,” she said.

Shen He looked at her, and his eyes subtly brewed with emotion, as if he was contemplating something.

In the face of desire, everyone is equal.

Finally, he walked over. She was leaning against the edge of the table, her body tilted, so she had to look up at him.

Their first kiss was in bed.

A very cheap, very simple bed.

At that time, the relationship between Shen He and Shen Zhi had happened too suddenly. It was originally just an escape on Christmas, but after accusing each other of being perverts, it evolved into them sharing each other’s bodies.

Since they weren’t a couple and had no possibility of becoming one, they avoided close contact that could lead to future problems. There was no kissing. Even though their foreheads and the tips of their noses were close, they just looked at each other—one could even say they were glaring at each other. After all, when two rookies teamed up, they were bound to have a few bumps in the road.

It was in one of the intervals between encounters that Shen Zhi lay flat on her back, and Shen He propped himself up on his side. They were both smart and thoughtful young people. They gradually got the hang of it, and as they felt pleasure, they became more intimate.

“Do you have someone you like?” Shen He asked.

“No,” Shen Zhi said. “Do you have someone you like?”

At that time, they couldn’t have known what would happen later, so it was a simple, precious chat.

After a long silence, Shen He said, “Not a single one.”

To them at that time, “love” was still a word they only saw and heard in scripts. They were so lonely that they didn’t even have the courage to think about that word.

He looked into her eyes, and she suddenly turned her face away.

They were both bewildered and at a loss, but there was not a trace of panic or fear.

The anxiety that was as white as snow on Christmas Eve was dispersed.

And then they kissed.

What Shen Zhi never told anyone later was that before she fell asleep that night, she secretly looked at his face and, for a moment, wondered if he would one day become someone’s property. From his perspective at the time, if Shen He’s life were a movie, what role would she play then?

They didn’t kiss.

Because they weren’t people in love.

So they just became entangled.

However, before they could move on to the next step, the smart home system beeped urgently, like a fire alarm.

Shen He frowned, and Shen Zhi turned her body.

It wasn’t like they were going to do anything anyway, so she didn’t feel regret, just a little annoyed.

She took out her phone and connected to the doorbell camera.

She didn’t expect to see a face like a female ghost reflected back at her.

Ouyang Sheng was hugging her arms tightly. The black eyeliner and mascara had all run, looking like a dried-up waterfall below her lower eyelids.

Shen Zhi froze, and even Shen He came over and interjected: “Did you get robbed?”

“Stop with the nonsense,” Ouyang Sheng said weakly. “Just let me in.”

Shen Zhi looked at Shen He. She had often enjoyed Ouyang Sheng’s on-call service when she needed it, so it would be wrong to stand by and do nothing now that the other person was in trouble. Shen He nodded. So Shen Zhi unlocked the door.

She walked out, greeted Cheng Ruiyi, who was still foolishly playing on his phone on the sofa, and then went outside to meet Ouyang Sheng.

Ouyang Sheng was not in good shape.

She had obviously been crying, and she didn’t know if she had come here directly, as she said with a hint of sadness: “I don’t want to be alone.”

“Come in,” Shen Zhi said. “But Cheng Ruiyi is here, is that okay?”

“That little idol?” Ouyang Sheng looked over.

Her eyes were filled with suspicion, as if asking, “Are you cheating?”

“Didn’t you just hear Shen He’s voice?” Shen Zhi didn’t bicker with her.

Cheng Ruiyi knew who Ouyang Sheng was. After all, she had once been hailed as a “little flower” [a popular young actress]. Even though she had lost in the battle for “big flower” [a more established actress], she hadn’t immediately fallen to the bottom.

Their first meeting in this awkward situation could only be passed off with a few perfunctory greetings. Shen Zhi took her to wash her face, and Shen He went to the bedroom to find some of Shen Zhi’s spare clothes. Cheng Ruiyi was once again left out, but he couldn’t say anything, only watching foolishly with concern but no ability to help.

After a little bit of talking, it turned out to be a heartbreak.

“She still chose a man, just because I’m a woman. Bisexuals are all liars; in the end, they still submit to reality. I’ve even been looking into things in the Netherlands.” Ouyang Sheng cried hysterically. “I really don’t understand, I really don’t understand, why is it so difficult?”

“Ouyang, use this to wipe your face first,” Shen Zhi said.

“Why is it so difficult to marry the person you love?” Even though this was reality, Ouyang Sheng sounded like she was reciting lines. “Love, it’s so hard—”

Shen Zhi leaned against the door, standing quietly for a moment.

Love and marriage were also blind spots for her. Even though to others, she was the epitome of a good marriage.

Shen Zhi didn’t quite understand this kind of problem. She was exhausted and went upstairs to help find clothes.

Shen He had been in her bedroom many times, but he was still unfamiliar with finding things. Shen Zhi quickly walked over and casually picked out a few items. She heard him sigh behind her.

“There’s nothing we can do. Let’s just send them off,” Shen Zhi said.

She felt a little guilty. After all, Cheng Ruiyi was from her crew, and Ouyang Sheng was her friend. They weren’t a real couple and didn’t have to understand each other.

But their plans were disrupted because of other people.

Shen Zhi said, “There’s nothing we can do. Let’s just wait for them to leave.”

“It’s fine,” Shen He replied.

“Let’s wait for tonight.”

Her hand was hanging down, and he took her fingertips. The atmosphere was just right when her phone rang loudly.

Shen Zhi looked at Shen He. He was too lazy to react, and she also picked up the phone with a blank, dispassionate expression.

“Hello. Shen Zhi,” it was Lan Qiao’s voice, she said. “Can I stay at your place for a night?”