Troublesome – Chapter 39

Girlfriend

I am her girlfriend.

When Lu Zhenqiu got home, she was in a daze. It had been late, and she’d had a few beers. Until she woke up the next day, she was half-convinced that her agreeing to pretend to be Jin Shuilan’s girlfriend had been a hallucination.

There was a sound outside the door. Lu Zhenqiu padded out barefoot and saw Jin Shuilan coming in with breakfast. She scratched her head. “Teacher Jin, you’re up so early.”

Having just woken up, Lu Zhenqiu’s voice was soft and a little husky, tinged with a lazy drawl. She hadn’t even washed up yet and was still in her pajamas, her hair slightly messy—the very picture of someone who had just crawled out of bed.

Jin Shuilan’s heart melted. She said, “Mhm, I had to go out for something just now and picked up breakfast on the way. You don’t have to make any today.”

Lu Zhenqiu nodded. “Oh, okay.”

Maomao squatted by her side, and upon seeing Jin Shuilan return, it trotted over to rub against her. Jin Shuilan looked down. “I’ll feed him first.”

Lu Zhenqiu smiled and went into the bathroom. As Jin Shuilan watched her retreating back, a sense of contentment washed over her. Bai Mao had called her after she got back last night. They chatted for a bit, and Bai Mao had asked her, “What is it you like about Lu Zhenqiu?”

What did she like?

Her pleasant voice? Her beautiful face? The bewitching scent of her perfume during their first encounter? She couldn’t seem to explain it clearly. She only remembered that the happiest times were when she was chatting with Lu Zhenqiu online—waiting for her messages, talking about everything and nothing, always feeling a flutter of excitement and ease she had never known before.

She still remembered that not long after adding Lu Zhenqiu, she had gotten into an argument with Ji Zibo over a disagreement. When she got back, Lu Zhenqiu sent her a message. She didn’t know what she replied, but Lu Zhenqiu had asked: 【Are you unhappy today?】

It was as if in that single moment, a fine tremor had crawled through the depths of her heart, causing her to fall even harder, deeper and deeper.

When Jin Shuilan came back to her senses, Lu Zhenqiu had already finished washing up and come out. A glistening droplet of water clung to her eyebrow, and she was surrounded by a fresh scent. She walked over to Jin Shuilan’s side and asked, “What did you buy for breakfast?”

“Soup dumplings,” Jin Shuilan said. “And soy milk.”

The soy milk was sweet. Lu Zhenqiu took two sips and thought it was quite good. She smiled at Jin Shuilan, and Jin Shuilan felt that she was even sweeter than the soy milk.

After breakfast, Lu Zhenqiu was hesitant, as if she had something to say to Jin Shuilan but couldn’t find the right opportunity. After walking the dog, they got into the car together. Jin Shuilan said, “Are you thinking of going to Zhang Xin’s concert?”

Lu Zhenqiu was just about to speak, then thought of that classmate. She hesitated for two seconds. Jin Shuilan said, “We won’t ask Zhou Yuan. Bai Mao has a relative who also works at the stadium.”

A manager, no less, so getting tickets would be easier.

Lu Zhenqiu nodded. “Should I contact Teacher Bai then?”

Jin Shuilan said, “No need. I told her yesterday to set aside two tickets for us.”

Lu Zhenqiu turned her head. “Does Teacher Jin want to go too?”

She had thought Jin Shuilan was the type to be uninterested in concerts.

Jin Shuilan said, “Listening to a live performance now and then helps spark inspiration.”

Lu Zhenqiu nodded, praising her, “No wonder Teacher Jin is so amazing.”

Her expression was so earnest and serious that Jin Shuilan’s ears turned red from the compliment. She gave a muffled cough, tightened her grip on the steering wheel, and tapped her fingers rhythmically against it. Lu Zhenqiu’s phone suddenly rang. She took it out of her bag. It was Hua Luo.

Hua Luo’s voice was muffled. “You’re up already? Why are you up so early?”

Lu Zhenqiu explained, “I have to go record.”

“Oh, right,” Hua Luo said. “I almost forgot.”

Lu Zhenqiu asked her, “Why are you awake so early?”

Hua Luo said, “Don’t even mention it. I was woken up by my mom this morning. She called and spent the whole time yelling and crying, and even asked if I really owed that much money. That guy thought Teacher Jin was a debt collector. I’m seriously dying of laughter.”

But it was good this way. Her mom wouldn’t be setting her up with anyone else for a while. She didn’t care about having a good reputation anyway; let it be ruined.

Lu Zhenqiu pursed her lips. “Then you should get some more sleep?”

“Mhm,” Hua Luo said. “I’m going to. And please thank Teacher Jin for me. If it weren’t for her yesterday, I’d still be dealing with that headache. I’ll treat her to a meal when I have time.”

Lu Zhenqiu agreed.

After hanging up, she turned her head and said to Jin Shuilan, “That was Hua Luo.”

“She said thank you for yesterday.”

Jin Shuilan smiled. “No need.” Then, as she turned the steering wheel, she added, “If anything, I should be thanking her.”

The car had just arrived at the studio. After getting out, Lu Zhenqiu walked in with Jin Shuilan. Yu Wen was just coming out of a booth and saw Lu Zhenqiu’s retreating back. Her gaze lingered for a few seconds. Someone at her side greeted her, “Wenwen, morning.”

Yu Wen put on a smile, her voice gentle. “Morning.”

Only after passing the crew member did her expression turn cold. She took out her phone from her bag, typed out a long string of characters with a flurry of taps, and finally sent it. A moment later, she received a reply. A pleased smile touched her lips, and she left the recording studio.

Lu Zhenqiu stood in front of the equipment, a teleprompter before her. She looked at the large screen, rehearsing lines with the main character. Jin Shuilan sat to one side, watching as Ji Zibo tapped on her computer. “Bai Mao sent me a message,” Ji Zibo said. “She said you agreed to have Zhenqiu do the role for 【Stirred by Emotion】?”

Jin Shuilan turned her head. Ji Zibo said, “Not bad. You’re willing to let your wife sacrifice herself for art?”

After she said it, Jin Shuilan didn’t reply, just stared at her fixedly. Ji Zibo touched her own face. “What? What are you looking at?”

Jin Shuilan spoke coolly. “Nothing. I’m just wondering if you’re always this unprofessional.”

Ji Zibo: …

She rolled her eyes. Professional, professional, you two are the most professional couple in the world!

Jin Shuilan added, “Send me Bai Mao’s script when it’s done.”

Ji Zibo: …

She had actually thought Jin Shuilan would ignore it, that she’d keep up the act to the end. She never expected her to crack so soon. Ji Zibo said, “I can show it to you, but you’re not allowed to delete any important scenes for me.”

As everyone knew, many of Bai Mao’s scenes were elevated through the collision of passion. Jin Shuilan said, “I know.”

She said, “Do you think I’m Tang Yingxia?”

Ji Zibo choked. Speaking of Tang Yingxia, she remembered something else. Ji Zibo asked Jin Shuilan, “You know how we sent Zhenqiu those messages back then, and she never received them? Do you think it’s possible that…”

Of course, it was just a guess, because the timing couldn’t have been such a coincidence. She had sent Lu Zhenqiu two messages that were never received, and the messages from Zhen Yuan weren’t received either. Moreover, she had checked the timing with Zhen Yuan, and it was right around when she had sent her messages. Could it be that Tang Yingxia had deleted her messages, and then, afraid Lu Zhenqiu would find out she’d been on her phone, deleted Zhen Yuan’s messages as well?

No, that wasn’t right either. Why would she delete their messages?

Unless she didn’t want Lu Zhenqiu to have a career in this industry.

Ji Zibo hadn’t even finished when Jin Shuilan’s expression darkened slightly. She asked Ji Zibo, “I asked you to find the person who leaked the information. You haven’t found them yet?”

“Not yet.” A conflict suddenly arose in Ji Zibo’s heart. If it really was related to Tang Yingxia, should they tell Lu Zhenqiu? Could Lu Zhenqiu handle it?

No matter how strong a person is, finding out they were deceived by the person closest to them would be enough to make them break down, right?

Only then did Ji Zibo understand the deeper meaning behind Jin Shuilan’s decision not to tell Lu Zhenqiu immediately. Jin Shuilan said, “Just investigate first. We’ll talk after you find something. Don’t make random guesses.”

“I know,” Ji Zibo said. “I’m just talking to you. If—if it really is her—then Tang Yingxia is a real piece of work!”

Tang Yingxia was a piece of work.

Jin Shuilan had known that for a long time.

She didn’t say more to Ji Zibo, instead listening intently to the recording. Lu Zhenqiu’s part wasn’t as large as the other two leads’. She could take a long break after recording a segment. During her break, she went to a milk tea shop and ordered a cup for everyone. When Jin Shuilan came out of the restroom, she saw the milk tea being handed to her. “Teacher Jin, it’s still hot.”

Jin Shuilan cradled it in her hands, her heart filled with delight. She smiled. “Good. Two more scenes and we’re done, right?”

Lu Zhenqiu said, “Mhm, two more.”

Jin Shuilan took a sip of her milk tea. After going back inside, she saw that every member of the crew had a cup in hand. The corners of her lips, which had just been lifted, drooped slightly. After Lu Zhenqiu went in, she was called over by another voice actor. The two of them were talking about something; Lu Zhenqiu nodded and smiled, her expression one of rare relaxation. Jin Shuilan sat alone on a chair, holding her milk tea. The phone in her pocket buzzed and lit up. Jin Shuilan saw it was her mother’s number. She glanced at Lu Zhenqiu not far away and suddenly called out, “Qiuqiu.”

Lu Zhenqiu turned her head and said to the person beside her, “Excuse me for a moment.”

With that, she walked over to Jin Shuilan’s side and said, “Teacher Jin.”

Jin Shuilan pointed at her phone. “In here.”

It was a break room. Lu Zhenqiu followed Jin Shuilan inside, and it immediately became much quieter. The room had a beanbag sofa, a two-seater. After sitting down, Jin Shuilan said to Lu Zhenqiu, “It’s my mom.”

Although Lu Zhenqiu didn’t understand why she had been called in, she still nodded earnestly. Jin Shuilan answered the phone.

A moment later, she suddenly mentioned the words “blind date.” A chill went through Lu Zhenqiu’s heart as she was abruptly reminded of her promise to Jin Shuilan from last night. She sat up even straighter, straining her ears to hear Jin Shuilan say, “You don’t need to set me up with anyone. I have someone I like now.”

The words rolled off her tongue so smoothly, and she even glanced at Lu Zhenqiu. Lu Zhenqiu blinked nervously, wringing her hands together. Jin Shuilan continued, “We just got together, it’s true. I’ve liked her for a long time, and she just agreed, so I didn’t tell you. I’m not trying to fool you…”

Lu Zhenqiu’s breath caught in her throat. Her body was tense as Jin Shuilan said, “What’s she like? Of course she’s wonderful. She has a great personality, and she can cook. You don’t believe me? Why not? Fine, I’ll let her take the call.”

Jin Shuilan looked at Lu Zhenqiu and mouthed the words, “She wants to talk to you.”

Lu Zhenqiu nodded. “Oh.”

She took the phone, pressing it to her ear, which was burning hot. She had always been the one lying to Hua Luo’s blind dates. It had never been this nerve-wracking with her peers. Facing an elder for the first time, Lu Zhenqiu’s heart was pounding. She took the phone and said, “Auntie.”

A woman’s voice came from the other end of the line: “So you’re Lanlan’s girlfriend?”

Lu Zhenqiu’s heart was in her throat. She gripped the phone tightly, took two deep breaths, and then said, “Mhm, yes. I’m Jin’s—I’m her girlfriend.”

Jin Shuilan lowered her gaze and turned her head, pressing the hand resting on the edge of the sofa to her lips, hiding the smile she couldn’t suppress.

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The author has something to say:

Thirty red envelopes, muah~ Second update is here.

Lu Zhenqiu: I am her girlfriend.

Jin Shuilan: Okay, girlfriend.

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