Chapter 79
The following month, on Xu Ling’s birthday, a netizen ran into Xu Ling and Qin Cong’an at Sanrio Puroland in Tokyo and posted it online, exclaiming that they had shipped it.
In the photo, Qin Cong’an was wearing a pink My Melody ears headband, with a “I want to go home” expression on her face. It was easy to guess who had asked her to wear the headband.
But it was just that she had been photographed with that expression. Most of the time, Qin Cong’an’s demeanor was very relaxed, and she was in a very good mood.
When she was tired, she would just look at Xu Ling taking pictures enthusiastically and being active, and listen to her cute and impressive Japanese, and just feel very content.
Xu Ling didn’t even know that her broken Japanese was an impressive point in Qin Cong’an’s eyes.
Many of Qin Cong’an’s fans were also wailing: [Sister, when are you going to join a new production! You’ve had enough of a happy relationship! It’s time to join a new production!]
Although Qin Cong’an’s TV series and movies were always airing, the fans were still worried that her inventory would be depleted. Mainly, it was so abnormal that it made them panic. The former workaholic, after falling in love, had been on a break for a year!
Not long after, the two were spotted again. This time, it was at the Grand Theater on Christmas Eve. The play that night was a romance.
The CP fans were ecstatic: [They’re seeing each other so often!! The honeymoon phase is so clingy!]
The career fans were also ecstatic, because the two of them had arrived during the afternoon rehearsal: [Is An An going to be in a play too? And it’s Director Rong’s!? Looking forward to it, looking forward to it!]
The CP fans continued to be ecstatic: [Can the little couple have a second collaboration? If you’re really in a play, please kiss, okay? If you can’t show it online, you can do it offline, right? Then I’ll definitely chase every show, chase, chase, chase.]
When the producer, Yan Manyi, saw Qin Cong’an bring Xu Ling, she had the same question as the CP fans. “Are you planning to introduce her to the production?”
Qin Cong’an looked at Xu Ling. Xu Ling shook her head and said, “No, I’m just here to learn.”
The play’s director, Rong Yuanqing, at the side, said with a smile, “I understand. You’re not bringing a connection, but a family member, right?”
Xu Ling was so embarrassed she glanced at Qin Cong’an and saw her nod—in an instant, Xu Ling almost lost face in front of the two big shots she was meeting for the first time. Fortunately, she managed to hold back what would have probably been a terrifying smile and just nodded reservedly along.
Rong Yuanqing teased them a couple of times, then had the actors prepare for the final rehearsal. The few of them sat in the front row and watched.
This play had a style that was traditional with a hint of novelty, which was very in line with the feeling Yan Manyi wanted for the Chinese version of The Dark Room. So she had invited Rong Yuanqing to be the director of The Dark Room. Rong Yuanqing was quite satisfied with Qin Cong’an. This time, she was here to see if Qin Cong’an could accept Rong Yuanqing’s style. It was a two-way choice.
Rong Yuanqing was known for being strict in the theater circle. He was strict with the set, strict with the actors’ performances, and would often still be scolding people at the rehearsal on the day of the performance.
Usually, he was amiable and loved to joke around, but when it came to his profession, he was extremely fierce. Many actors had suffered greatly, often crying to the point of breaking down on the spot.
A play wasn’t like filming, where you could have a do-over. A play was only once. It required the actors to practically offer up their lives on stage.
The actors were already under a lot of pressure, and many of them had their own ideas, which were contrary to Rong Yuanqing’s. It wasn’t uncommon for them to argue with Rong Yuanqing at the rehearsal.
Qin Cong’an watched calmly the whole time. She, who was not in the theater circle, had also heard of Rong Yuanqing’s strictness. But seeing it in person was a different matter. But it was true that after the changes he had suggested, it was much better.
Xu Ling was impressed but didn’t understand. Did she have to act in this play? She was afraid that Qin Cong’an’s mental state would not be good after she finished acting, even though she knew that Qin Cong’an’s heart was stable enough.
Compared to all the directors Xu Ling had worked with, she even felt that Director Rong was more terrifying than those directors who would curse people on set. After all, those directors’ skills were obviously inferior. You knew what they were saying was nonsense, and you would just let it go after listening.
But every one of Director Rong’s criticisms was a bloody fact. The blow was not ordinary.
It felt like working with him wasn’t just about doubting whether you were cut out to be an actor, but also about doubting whether you had the right to breathe as a human being.
During the official performance in the evening, Xu Ling was very engrossed.
Obsession, madness, tearing, burning, determination, echo.
Xu Ling was still savoring some of the lines and the actors’ performances even after she got in the car after the show. It was too brilliant, indeed much higher than during the rehearsal.
“Have you decided to act in it?”
“What, do you want me to or not?”
Xu Ling’s feelings were very complicated. She both wanted and didn’t want to. She wanted to because she felt that Director Rong was too strong, and Qin Cong’an would definitely get a good training. She didn’t want to because she was worried that this training would come at the cost of her mental health.
After thinking for a long time, Xu Ling finally said, “It still depends on what you think.”
Qin Cong’an’s eyes lit up. “Of course I want to act. It’s not confirmed yet, but whether it’s confirmed or not depends on my reply today.”
She took out her phone and sent a message to Yan Manyi, expressing her definite desire to participate.
Qin Cong’an had rested for a whole year without filming. One was that she finally had enough personal emotions and life to enjoy. The other was that she really hadn’t received any script or role that was attractive enough to surpass the time she spent with Xu Ling.
Now the opportunity had come. And it was content that completely broke her out of her comfort zone, very challenging.
It had been a long time since Xu Ling had seen Qin Cong’an with such a burning passion. The dim car even felt brighter. Speaking of which, she was also a career fan of Qin Cong’an. She had never missed any of her dramas and had watched them all over and over again.
“That’s great. I’m so looking forward to it!” Xu Ling responded enthusiastically and leaned over to hug her. “But if you’re under pressure, you must tell me. We’ll relieve it together.”
Qin Cong’an’s heart instantly became a soft ball. The feeling of having her girlfriend by her side was too good. She hugged her and kissed her. “Okay.”
After the New Year, the cast of The Dark Room officially began training.
Xu Ling would go to visit whenever she had free time, but she would have to go out for a breath of fresh air after watching for a short while. The intensity was too high.
This story itself had a lot of dramatic tension, and the 700,000-word novel had been condensed into a two-hour stage play, so the emotions were even more intense, and the demands on the actors were also very high.
Xu Ling didn’t know how Qin Cong’an felt, but anyway, she was under a lot of pressure.
“You should stop coming in the future,” Qin Cong’an said, seeing that Xu Ling couldn’t take it. “It’s a rare break. Just wait for me at home.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Director Rong’s demands were indeed extremely high, but it was exactly this kind of power that could make her break through that Qin Cong’an wanted. The effect of being driven both internally and externally was very good.
Xu Ling was still very worried, but if she stayed any longer, she was afraid she would get depressed first, so she had to leave.
On the way home, Xu Ling bought a lot of flowers and decorated the house so that Qin Cong’an could change her mood as soon as she came back. Maybe she was just putting on a brave face.
After a long day, Qin Cong’an pushed the door open and was greeted by the fragrance of flowers and the citrus scent she loved. Her tense nerves instantly relaxed.
The pressure from Director Rong wasn’t enough to make her break down, but it was enough to make her highly focused and tense. And yet, she still had to act out Hicks’s relaxed feeling, which was very difficult to grasp. On top of that, it was her first time rehearsing a play, and there were many things she wasn’t used to. At this moment, she needed some comfort.
It was just that, was Xu Ling underestimating her a little? To go to such lengths.
Xu Ling came out to greet her in a slip dress and thoughtfully kneaded her shoulders. “You’ve worked hard. I’ll give you a good massage tonight.”
Qin Cong’an had originally wanted to say no, but seeing her so sexy and obedient, a rare sight, she decided to go along with her expectations.
Since her wife thought she was under a lot of pressure, then she would be under a lot of pressure.
“Mhm.”
So few words! Not right, very not right. Xu Ling was on high alert. Although Qin Cong’an didn’t talk much, after she got together with her, she rarely spit out words one by one. So how tired must she be now!
Could it be that after she left, Director Rong had grabbed her and scolded her?
Xu Ling’s heart ached. She quickly pulled Qin Cong’an to the bathroom.
The bathtub was even filled with flower petals, a sight Qin Cong’an had never seen before. There were also aromatherapy stones all around, the essential oils emitting a rich fragrance, creating a full atmosphere.
So there were such benefits to making Xu Ling’s heart ache. Okay, then let her be underestimated.
Qin Cong’an looked at the bathtub and let out a long sigh. !!
To have such a lifeless look at her favorite bathtub, it was over. She had really suffered today.
“An An…” Xu Ling hugged her, undressed her, washed her, and pulled her into the bathtub.
They embraced. Xu Ling tightened her grip on her shoulders, letting her lean against her, and gently stroked her back, in a very reassuring posture, as if telling her that no matter what, she had her shoulder.
Qin Cong’an leaned comfortably for a while, then was puzzled. Just like this? No doing it?
The flower petals and aromatherapy were all expecting them to have a big session. Was Xu Ling just planning to heal her soul with a hug?
After waiting for a while longer, Xu Ling was still quiet. Qin Cong’an had no choice but to blow in her ear. “I want it.”
Ah. Right. When you’re under a lot of pressure, doing it can also relieve it.
Receiving the instruction, Xu Ling’s fingers immediately slid to the place that would make her tremble. She knew her. Soon, she had Qin Cong’an also melting in the pool of water.
Faster than usual. Was it because of the pressure? My heart aches.
Qin Cong’an was so turned on she wanted to bite something. She leaned over and took Xu Ling’s earlobe in her mouth. She had worked so hard today. So comfortable.
Her reaction was so big. Xu Ling worked even harder. She didn’t stop even when she came again, thinking of making her pass out, carrying her out to sleep, to forget the hard work of the day.
A white light did indeed flash before Qin Cong’an’s eyes. She lost her strength for a moment and almost slipped into the bathtub. Xu Ling promptly held her and didn’t let her slide down, and even pulled her arm up to have her hold onto her.
Qin Cong’an’s arm was on Xu Ling’s shoulder. She looked at her face. So much love.
“Little Ling.”
Xu Ling, who was still thinking about how to make her happier, heard her murmur and looked at her. “Hmm?”
“I love you so much…” Qin Cong’an’s eyes were hazy as she looked at her. She didn’t know if it was because of the steam or some other reason, but a blush appeared on her fair skin.
Xu Ling was shocked. For a moment, she didn’t know whether to thank Director Rong or to blame him. Look what he had done to Qin Cong’an’s mental state. This was the first time she had said she loved her. But no matter what, she was so happy.
“I love you too.” Then she had to show it even more.
