After Filming a WLW Movie With My Straight Girl Crush 39p1

Chapter 39 p1

Qin Cong’an finally went out once.

She had dinner with Teacher Dong Li’s producer friend, Yan Manyi, to talk about the stage play of The Dark Room. The other party was a little surprised to hear that she wanted to play Hicks.

During the meal, their ideas clashed. Yan Manyi had already clearly expressed her satisfaction with her, feeling that the role was very suitable for her.

“But to be honest, you also know that a play is only two or three hours long, and the length is limited. I didn’t originally plan to bring Hicks to the stage.”

Qin Cong’an was surprised but didn’t show it. “But the English version of the play has her.”

“Yes, but after all, the perspectives of audiences in different countries are different. I don’t know if the character of Hicks will be popular in our country,” Yan Manyi said, then smiled, signaling for her to relax. “But after chatting with you, I want to revise the script again. It’s still in the production stage anyway.”

Qin Cong’an nodded. “Your ideas should be the priority. You have more aspects to consider.”

“Then if I want to cast you in another role in the future, would that be okay?”

“We can discuss it.”

After the meal, they exchanged contact information. Qin Cong’an opened WeChat. The bottom of the screen was a large blank space, with only one chat box at the top, the name a lemon emoji.

Dong Li, at the side, caught a glimpse of the large white space and glanced over, seeing her switch to another account to add someone on WeChat.

Yan Manyi left first. Dong Li said, “Little Qin, are you in a bad mood? If you’ve run into any trouble, you can talk to me.”

“It’s nothing.” Qin Cong’an didn’t know how Teacher Dong could tell, but after all, they had known each other for ten years. He was also her acting coach and had seen her emotional side. He knew her well.

“Is it related to that person?”

“No.”

“Something similar?”

“Not that either.”

Dong Li nodded. “So there is something.”

“…”

“But as long as it’s not related to that kind of thing, it’s fine. If you have any problems you can’t solve, you must tell me. If it’s not convenient to tell me, remember to find your Sister Tan.”

“Okay, thank you, Teacher Dong.”

Qin Cong’an switched her account back to the silent side account and got in the car to go home.

The “that kind of thing” Dong Li was referring to had happened in Qin Cong’an’s second year in the industry, when she was a sophomore. A male investor had persistently “pursued” her, causing a huge commotion, and had even spread rumors that he had already won her over, causing her a lot of trouble. In the end, it was Dong Li and his friend, Tan Nanchun, who helped solve it.

Because of this, Qin Cong’an had gotten to know Tan Nanchun, and later, her girlfriend, Jiang Ruzhi. They didn’t meet often, but their relationship had always been good.

Tan Nanchun had a high status, was ruthless, and had her ways. She was unconditionally good to those she considered to be on her side. If you ran into any trouble, it was never wrong to ask her for help. But this matter, Sister Tan really couldn’t help with.

Qin Cong’an returned home, back to being alone.

As usual, she opened Xu Ling’s IG. She still hadn’t posted anything new. Then she opened Meng Bai’s, then Li Yan’s, then the fourth person in the group photo. She happened to see that she had posted a story at noon. The content was the three of them in a Pilates studio.

Xu Ling looked to be in good spirits, better than the day Li Yan was there. She was wearing a white sports tank top and watery blue leggings, accentuating her good proportions.

Because she wasn’t very good at it, her legs were shaking, and she was smiling a little awkwardly but also very happily. Very cute.

Qin Cong’an looked at the patch of watery blue in the drying area. After washing and hanging it up, she had never taken it down. Every time she passed through the living room, she could see it. It was almost the only bright color in the house, very conspicuous.

Sometimes, seeing it would make her feel good. Sometimes, seeing it would make a wave of annoyance spread from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.

The account had new content.

Qin Cong’an glanced at it. It showed the three of them going to a hot spring hotel.

Tossing her phone aside, Qin Cong’an thought, she probably doesn’t even remember that I mentioned to her that there was a nice resort hotel in North City where you could soak in hot springs.

At that time, she hadn’t said “let’s go together in the future” because she could see that Xu Ling was a little distracted. But later, they had agreed to shower together “one day.”

Hilarious. Xu Ling could soak in a pool with other people, but not with her.

***

After being taken to exercise by Naoko, Xu Ling was then taken to soak in a hot spring and steam in a sauna. She had never been in a hot spring in the middle of summer before. It was surprisingly comfortable.

It felt like her post-workout muscles were being infused with energy, all her pores opening up. Then, with an ice towel, it was just so refreshing.

But…

“Why are you spacing out again?”

Back in the room, the three of them were sitting together. Meng Bai was drinking iced strawberry milk and asked her.

“What?” Xu Ling wrinkled her nose. “I’m not.”

“Could you be any more obvious?” Meng Bai rolled her eyes, then said with a mournful sadness, “It’s true. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, relationships fade, and secrets are kept.”

Xu Ling thought to herself, sorry, I’ve had them for a long time, and this secret is becoming more and more unspeakable.

Naoko said, “But I think Ling’s mood is much better. Exercise and hot springs really are the best.”

“Mhm, thank you for bringing me here,” Xu Ling said with a smile. It was much better.

But why did she think of Qin Cong’an no matter what she did? She had even said before that there was a resort hotel in North City where you could also soak in hot springs. It was a pity they could never go together.

After finishing her milk, Meng Bai lay down on the tatami mat, looked at her phone for a while, and then suddenly sat up again. “Xu Ling, Yanzi said she’s leaving tomorrow.”

“Oh.” Come to think of it, Xu Ling had also wondered before why Li Yan had just cut off contact with her after moving away but had still kept in touch with Meng Bai.

But she had figured it out on her own, thinking that Li Yan had gotten busy, and that she had, without her knowing, become better friends with Meng Bai, so she only contacted her. Anyway, if she told Meng Bai something, they would all know.

“Your reaction is so calm.” Meng Bai shook her head, feeling sorry for Yanzi.

Naoko suddenly asked Xu Ling, “You don’t have a partner now, right? Do you want to try it with Yan? She said she’s given up, but maybe she hasn’t completely given up. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have said it.”

Xu Ling: “…?”

Meng Bai’s eyes lit up, and she quickly said, “Yeah, you can’t forget her desserts. Maybe it’s because you subconsciously like her, but you’re too dense and haven’t realized your feelings for her. I also think you two could give it a try.”

“Could you not make me sound like an idiot?” Xu Ling collapsed in exasperation, staring at the wooden structure above. She might be a little dense, but not to the point of not being able to recognize the feeling of “like.”

It had taken her less than a second to confirm the fact that she liked Qin Cong’an.

The surging emotions were so strong that she couldn’t have missed them even if she had tried.

As for Li Yan, she was just a good senior and a good roommate in her heart. Even after hearing what she had said, she still thought so, although she was a little embarrassed and sorry for not having realized it all along.

Liking Li Yan’s desserts was just a pure love of eating!

After they had talked about these things that day, Xu Ling had also thought about the relationship between Qin Cong’an and Xie Jing.

Could it be that she had also misunderstood something?

Could Xie Jing also be gay, like Li Yan’s male friend, and Qin Cong’an was just his cover?

Then it would be a mutually beneficial arrangement. Qin Cong’an should be getting something out of it, but there was nothing. And the two of them didn’t have any work collaborations, nor had they ever gone public.

It was just that everyone in the industry knew, and it was rumored that both of them had admitted it. That day at the hotpot, Xu Ling had heard Director Liang behind her talk to Qin Cong’an about her boyfriend, and Qin Cong’an hadn’t denied it—

And Mo Yun, the black cat on Qin Cong’an’s main WeChat profile picture, was clearly Xie Jing’s cat. And her answer, “it’s not exactly my cat,” didn’t that clearly mean it was half Xie Jing’s and half hers? How else could you say that except in a romantic relationship?

And that copy of The Dark Room. The hint was practically shoved in her face. Did she really think she was an idiot?

“I think you are an idiot!” Meng Bai was getting angry. “Then tell me, who have you liked all these years?”

Xu Ling’s voice was muffled. “I haven’t met anyone yet.”

“If you haven’t met anyone, then just give it a try with Yan,” Naoko said. “I think you two are very suitable. Yan will take good care of you.”

They said it several times, and a thought really did pop into Xu Ling’s head.

Maybe she could give it a try? Didn’t they say the best way to get over a relationship was to start a new one?

In less than a second, Xu Ling raised her hand and made a big “X.”

No. That would be unfair to Li Yan.

And Xu Ling knew that even if she tried it with a thousand Li Yans, she would never be able to forget Qin Cong’an. She just liked her.

In the evening, Xu Ling received a call from Yi Huai.

“You can come back now. Work is starting to pile up. And guess what, we’re going to be on Starry Night! And we’ve been arranged to sit in the second row!!” Yi Huai said excitedly. “Come back and prepare well. We’ll try to make a beautiful splash then.”

Xu Ling’s nose was a little stuffy. “Okay.”

Yi Huai heard that her enthusiasm wasn’t that high and was a little disappointed. She sighed and said, “Xu Ling, do you still want to do this?”

“…Sorry, I’m just a little unwell. I’ll do my best.” Xu Ling’s goal for entering this industry had already been achieved—sort of. So she was indeed a little unmotivated. But after all, she had signed a contract with the company. She still had to follow the company’s arrangements until it expired.

“Do you know how you got this opportunity? You performed well on the set of She and Her and the Knife. Director Chang, Director Liang, and the producers and investors all have a good impression of you and have introduced you to some resources.” Of course, Yi Huai had also worked hard to negotiate, but she felt there was no need to say that. “Your efforts have been seen. Things will get better and better. Don’t suddenly start slacking off, okay?”

“Mhm, mhm, I know.”

“But you really need to take care of your body. Sister Quan recommended a nutritionist to me. We’ll go see them when you get back.”

“Sister Quan?”

“Gao Quan, Qin Cong’an’s manager. Don’t you remember people? Forget it. I’ll remind you next time we meet. I have something to deal with. I’m hanging up now.”

Xu Ling couldn’t find a chance to interject. Of course, she remembered who Sister Quan was. She just wanted to ask why Sister Quan would recommend… but it was probably because Sister Huai had seen how good Qin Cong’an’s figure and physical fitness were and had taken the initiative to ask her.

Xu Ling sniffled again and hugged the blanket tightly. But no matter how tightly she hugged it, it was different from Qin Cong’an. It didn’t have her scent, her body heat, the movement of her breathing, or her sometimes cold, sometimes husky voice.

Climbing out of bed, Xu Ling took Qin Cong’an’s shirt from her suitcase and hugged it to sleep.

It was a good thing she hadn’t returned it or thrown it away. Otherwise, how could she have slept?

She wondered if the clothes she had deliberately left at her place had been thrown away.

***