Troublesome – Chapter 24

Shy

She really wasn’t shy.

Lu Zhenqiu didn’t know what Jin Shuilan was thinking. She just assumed that Jin Shuilan had gotten so absorbed in the novel that she was empathizing with the characters. After all, she herself had cried over novels many times, so she didn’t think much of it. After handing Jin Shuilan a tissue, she asked, “Teacher Jin, are you going to keep reading?”

Jin Shuilan shook her head. “No, I’m done. You’re finished streaming?”

Lu Zhenqiu smiled. “Yeah, just finished. Um…”

She bit her lip, a hint of embarrassment on her face. Her glance toward Jin Shuilan was also slightly awkward. At the end of the day, they had only known each other for a few days and weren’t close enough to say just anything. If it were Hua Luo or Xiao Yu right now, she would have already grabbed them to listen to the recording.

Jin Shuilan rubbed the sore spot on her head and glanced at Lu Zhenqiu, suddenly understanding. “Time to record?”

“Ah!” Lu Zhenqiu gave a dry laugh. “Does Teacher Jin have time?”

Jin Shuilan thought of the clip Lu Zhenqiu had been listening to in the car. She pursed her lips, her heart beginning to pound uncontrollably. The spot on her head that had been aching just moments ago was suddenly numb, and even the tip of her tongue felt tingly. Several seconds passed before she said, “I do.”

Lu Zhenqiu let out a breath. “Then shall we go to my room?”

Jin Shuilan nodded. “Okay.”

The fewer words she spoke, the more nervous Lu Zhenqiu became. Upon entering her own room, she nearly forgot whether to step with her left foot or her right. She could only sneak glances at Jin Shuilan from the corner of her eye. Jin Shuilan’s expression was calm, her eyes clear and bright. Perhaps because she had just been crying, the corners of her eyes were tinged with a faint red, which softened much of her usual sternness.

Teacher Jin is very approachable. Teacher Jin is very approachable. Teacher Jin is very approachable.

Lu Zhenqiu chanted inwardly, psyching herself up. After entering the room, she asked Jin Shuilan, “I heard Teacher Jin used to do post-production for radio dramas?”

Jin Shuilan nodded. “I’ve done a bit of everything.”

She was the one who had invested in Ji Zibo’s radio drama studio. Back then, they didn’t have many connections, so Ji Zibo handled everything from production supervision to post-production herself. Not only was she busy, but she also pulled Jin Shuilan in to learn with her, which was why she knew a little about it.

Lu Zhenqiu stroked Maomao’s head and said, “Teacher Jin is so amazing.”

Jin Shuilan just smiled.

The two entered the room. The curtains were half-drawn, and a night breeze blew in gently, making the small lights along the bay window flicker. Lu Zhenqiu walked to the window, closed it, and drew the curtains fully. The room became a bit darker than before, so she turned on the main light. Jin Shuilan stood by the desk, watching her bustle about. Once Lu Zhenqiu had everything sorted, she turned around and said, “Okay, all set.”

It was finally time to record. Lu Zhenqiu took a deep breath. She held the printed-out script for the scene, feeling a sense of shame just from reading the lines silently. She had no idea if she’d be able to say them out loud when it was time to record.

Jin Shuilan leaned against the desk, tilting her head. Her hands were clasped behind her back, gripping the edge of the desk so tightly that her fingertips hurt without her realizing it. Her expression remained calm and composed.

Lu Zhenqiu said, “Okay, Teacher Jin, I’m starting.”

The hand Jin Shuilan was using to grip the desk edge tightened, slipped, and her body swayed to the side for a moment. She straightened up and nodded. “Go ahead.”

Lu Zhenqiu took another deep breath. “I’m really starting now.”

A faint blush had already spread across her face. She imagined herself as the female lead, entangled in a frenzied physical struggle with her lover after a heated argument. She closed her eyes, her cheeks burning. Just as Jin Shuilan was waiting for her to speak, Lu Zhenqiu’s eyes snapped open and she blurted out, “Teacher Jin, do you want a late-night snack?”

Jin Shuilan stared blankly for a few seconds, blinked, and then smiled. “Sure.”

Lu Zhenqiu hurriedly led Maomao out to make a late-night snack.

Jin Shuilan walked over to where she had been standing and picked up the script. She glanced back at Lu Zhenqiu’s embarrassed expression, the smile in her eyes deepening. She placed a hand over her mouth, unable to suppress the upward curve of her lips.

Lu Zhenqiu quickly whipped up a simple snack, and Jin Shuilan also ordered some takeout—barbecue. The two sat on the sofa by the coffee table, eating and chatting.

Lu Zhenqiu apologized, “I’m so sorry, Teacher Jin. I’ll definitely get it right later.”

Jin Shuilan tilted her head and pulled two cans of beer from the takeout bag—a gift from the restaurant. She opened one and said, “It’s okay, take your time. How did you usually record scenes like this before?”

Lu Zhenqiu took a sip of beer, the alcohol slightly easing her tension. She said, “I used to look at reference material.”

“Reference material?” Jin Shuilan was about to ask what kind of material when it suddenly dawned on her. She nodded in understanding.

Lu Zhenqiu said, “I didn’t really know how the first time, so Hua Luo sent me some. She said I’d get the hang of it if I listened to more.”

It hadn’t been much use to her, though, because the voices all sounded more or less the same, offering little of value to reference. Jin Shuilan nodded. “Do you want me to find some for you?”

Lu Zhenqiu, holding her beer, quickly waved her hands. “No, no, that’s not necessary.”

Her face flushed with embarrassment.

Jin Shuilan didn’t press the issue.

Lu Zhenqiu swallowed her beer and, while eating her barbecue, asked with feigned nonchalance, “Has preparation for this radio drama already started?”

Jin Shuilan nodded. “It’s been in preparation, but we haven’t found the right person.”

She looked at Lu Zhenqiu, seeming to want to say more, but ultimately she didn’t. She took a sip of beer. Lu Zhenqiu let out an “oh,” and Jin Shuilan added, “But we’ll record my other drama first.”

After saying that, she remembered what Ji Zibo had said and asked Lu Zhenqiu, “Will you be going to the studio, or recording from home?”

Lu Zhenqiu looked up. “For your drama? As long as it’s not in the afternoon, I can go to the studio any other time.”

Jin Shuilan nodded, thought for a few seconds, and said, “Then let’s just have you go to the studio. I have to go too, so I can give you a ride. I’ll bring you back in the afternoon for your stream.”

Lu Zhenqiu felt a bit embarrassed. “Won’t that be too much trouble? I can just take a cab.”

“It’s no trouble,” Jin Shuilan said, her tone unchanged. “I have to come back in the afternoon to write my new book anyway. It’s on the way.”

Only then did Lu Zhenqiu feel relieved. She said, “As long as I’m not interfering with your work, Teacher Jin.”

Jin Shuilan took a sip of beer. “You’re not.”

The two sat on the sofa, making small talk. The atmosphere was much more comfortable than before. When Lu Zhenqiu finished her beer, Jin Shuilan said, “Alright, let’s continue recording.”

Lu Zhenqiu had no more excuses to delay. The late-night snack was finished. She reluctantly cleaned up the leftovers and put them in the trash before following Jin Shuilan back into the room.

Maomao was lying at the doorway, wagging his tail at them and panting with his mouth open, looking adorably silly. Lu Zhenqiu patted her own cheeks, psyched herself up, and stood by the recording equipment.

Jin Shuilan sat down in front of the computer. Lu Zhenqiu said, “Okay, I’m starting.”

“Don’t you need to get in the mood first?” Jin Shuilan suggested. “Take a moment to find the feeling.”

Find the feeling. Lu Zhenqiu lowered her head to look at the notes for that section, as well as the long psychological analysis that preceded it. She actually had her own understanding of this scene. The protagonist’s hysterical madness was followed by the determination of breaking free from a cocoon and being reborn. This kind of resolution was incredibly difficult to express, especially when it was mixed in with a bed scene. Some audiences would only care if it was titillating enough and wouldn’t be very concerned with the emotions hidden within it. But Lu Zhenqiu still felt that a deeper level of expression would be better. She shared this idea with Jin Shuilan, who turned her head to look at her.

Under the light, Lu Zhenqiu’s profile was slightly flushed. It was hard to tell if it was because of the beer she just had or the scene she was about to record. But her gaze was clear and her attitude was proper. She was discussing it with Jin Shuilan as if it were an ordinary scene, not a bed scene. But even for an ordinary scene, she was exceptionally serious.

Because of her earnestness, Jin Shuilan felt a tingling sensation spread through her heart. It was different from the feeling of listening to that audio clip earlier. Now, it was more like someone was lightly tapping on her heart, cracking open a small fissure. A warm current poured in, so hot that her palms began to sweat.

“Teacher Jin, do you think my idea could work?”

After asking, Lu Zhenqiu saw that Jin Shuilan hadn’t responded. She turned her head and met Jin Shuilan’s gaze, seeing her own tiny reflection within it. She called out, “Teacher Jin?”

Jin Shuilan snapped back to reality and looked at her. “What?”

Lu Zhenqiu said, “My idea just now, do you think it could work?”

Jin Shuilan lowered her eyes, concealing her chaotic emotions. She gripped the edge of the paper and nodded. “You can give it a try.”

Lu Zhenqiu let out a breath. “Alright then. I’ll try it once.”

Jin Shuilan hummed in agreement.

Lu Zhenqiu sat down by the microphone with the script, face to face with Jin Shuilan. Jin Shuilan clicked something on the computer and said, “You can start.”

Silence surrounded them. Lu Zhenqiu closed her eyes, imagining the environment of the scene. She opened her mouth to ask, “Why won’t you just believe me!”

As the questioning voice rang out, Jin Shuilan’s heart began to beat like a drum. She rested her chin in her hand, listening as Lu Zhenqiu’s tone shifted. “When will you ever believe me? I told you I don’t know her well, so why won’t you believe me! Do you want me to—”

The voice stopped abruptly. A brief silence.

This was where the main character pushes the other female lead onto the sofa and pins her down. Lu Zhenqiu continued, “You say… Mmph…”

“Mmph… I… Let go… Bastard!”

A few seconds of silence.

“You want me, don’t you? Then come on…” Jin Shuilan could almost hear the sound of clothes being torn, ripping through the air. That wasn’t even in the script, but she could already hear the painful entanglement in Lu Zhenqiu’s voice and emotion.

“Take me… hurry up and take me… Ah…”

Jin Shuilan’s hand tapped on the computer. She called out, “Zhenqiu.”

Lu Zhenqiu looked at her and walked over, asking sheepishly, “What’s wrong, Teacher Jin? Was it not very good?”

It wasn’t that.

It was too good. So good that she couldn’t take it anymore.

Jin Shuilan cleared her throat and pretended to look down at the script. “It was very good.”

If it was so good, why did you stop me? Lu Zhenqiu was a little confused. She tilted her head to look at Jin Shuilan and noticed an unnatural blush on her profile. It wasn’t obvious under the incandescent light, but Lu Zhenqiu caught it.

She suddenly remembered something a friend she had worked with once said, and she blurted out, “Teacher Jin, are you getting shy?”

With this kind of scene, it was fine if you were immersed in the performance. But if you were just listening to it, it could be incredibly embarrassing. Lu Zhenqiu had been completely in the zone and hadn’t felt anything, but Jin Shuilan had been sitting right there, listening.

Jin Shuilan looked up at her and said with forced casualness, “Do I seem like the type of person who gets shy?”

Lu Zhenqiu shook her head. “No.”

She felt that someone like Jin Shuilan must have heard all kinds of scenes. She had surely listened to countless intimate scenes during studio recordings. Besides, she was a novelist—what kind of scenario hadn’t she imagined? They were probably far more outrageous than the one she had just recorded. But her current reaction was clearly one of shyness!

The blush on Jin Shuilan’s earlobes spread across the side of her face. She sat there for a few seconds before suddenly standing up. “You can just record it yourself.”

Lu Zhenqiu’s voice was laced with a smile. “Oh, okay.”

Jin Shuilan glanced at her, pursed her lips, and left without another word. It was only when she reached the door that she finally unclenched her fists. Deep, crescent-shaped marks were imprinted on her palms from her own nails.

She really wasn’t shy.

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The author has something to say:

Thirty red envelopes, muah muah.

Thank you everyone for loving the characters Guigui has written. I’m truly happy that some of my older works are still being loved and resonated with by all of you. I received some fan art that I really love today, so here’s an extra chapter. Love you all!

Lu Zhenqiu: Teacher Jin is actually pretty cute when she gets shy.

Jin Shuilan: I’m even cuter when I’m not shy.

Lu Zhenqiu: …

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