Chapter 35

At nine in the morning, Lu Zhi arrived punctually at room 2109 to wake her up.

Little Ma had already taken Zhou Mingming to the set. Rong Yin’s breakfast was prepared in the small refrigerator in the dining area: a fitness meal and some blended avocado. A fully coordinated outfit was also laid out on the sofa.

As expected, Rong Yin was still asleep, spread-eagled on the two-meter-wide bed. Most of the blanket had fallen to the floor, leaving only a corner draped limply over her stomach. Her nightgown had ridden up to her waist, revealing two long, fair legs and light-colored underwear. Her arms rested casually beside her head.

Perhaps due to her controlled diet, Rong Yin’s sleeping face lacked the greasy sheen common to ordinary people. Her skin was delicate and fresh, her thick, curled lashes rested peacefully, her nose was finely sculpted, and her pink lips were lightly pressed together. There was no trace of the irritable, frowning temper she showed during the day; she looked as innocent as a baby, incredibly deceptive.

Lu Zhi patted her face. “Rong Yin, wake up.”

Rong Yin furrowed her brow, rolled over, and buried her face in the pillow, exposing a flawless, beautiful back. Her two shoulder blades, like butterfly wings, rested quietly beneath skin as smooth as ice and jade.

Lu Zhi sighed, not out of any desire to take advantage, but simply marveling at the Creator’s handiwork.

She stood up and pulled open the heavy curtains. Sunlight rushed in uninvited. She then pushed the balcony door in the bedroom slightly ajar, allowing the slightly stuffy air to begin circulating again.

“Rong Yin, it’s time. Get up,” Lu Zhi called again.

The figure on the bed didn’t move.

Lu Zhi didn’t continue the pointless wake-up calls. She went to the bathroom, took a disposable face towel, soaked it in warm water, then returned to the bedroom, turned the person over, and scrubbed it over the pretty face a couple of times.

Roused so roughly from sleep, Rong Yin’s mind wasn’t yet clear, but her arms reflexively rose to resist.

“Ugh… what are you doing… let… let go…” Her voice, fresh from sleep, was still soft and slurred. Her eyes, hazy and unfocused, glared at Lu Zhi with zero menace.

“It’s nine o’clock. Time to get up.” Lu Zhi released her, ignored her furious movement to sit up, and went back to the bathroom for a fresh face towel.

When she came back out, Rong Yin was still sitting in the same position, bare-legged on the bed, her dark hair fluffy and disheveled. Her burgeoning temper made her captivating eyes round with anger.

“Now—”

The moment she uttered a word, a pillow came flying, accompanied by a spirited interrogation: “Who let you in?!”

Lu Zhi sidestepped slightly to dodge. Yesterday, this young lady had smashed her phone to avoid getting up. Having slept less than four hours today, it was even less likely she’d comply easily.

Prepared for this, Lu Zhi wasn’t angry. She just lifted an eyebrow and said, “So energetic. Seems you’re awake.”

The answer was the second pillow.

Lu Zhi dodged it just as easily and said calmly, “Since you’re awake, get up and wash up now.”

“Hah!” Rong Yin sneered, the corners of her mouth twisting. “Who do you think you are? Do I know you?”

Lu Zhi glanced at her, hefted the damp towel in her right hand, and countered without answering: “Will you wash yourself, or should I help you?”

Rong Yin’s seven-parts morning temper was fueled to a full ten by this matter-of-fact attitude. She suddenly scrambled to her knees, pointing a finger at her, shouting hysterically: “Get lost! Disappear right now! I don’t need—”

Lu Zhi frowned slightly. She didn’t appreciate being pointed at. So, without letting her finish, she reached out and gently bent the slender index finger back. As the other girl gasped in pain, Lu Zhi plastered the damp towel onto her face.

“Such bad manners? I’ll help you wash, then.”

While she disliked violence, Lu Zhi couldn’t grovel and serve someone like the lowly Little Ma did. For a brat like Rong Yin, she only had three parts patience to coax. If coaxing failed, she’d have to use her hands.

Her finger bent back, Rong Yin let out a pained cry, her slender arm forced upwards into a slight curve. She had never been treated like this before. After the cry, she was completely stunned. When she tried to struggle again, Lu Zhi directly pressed her down onto the bed.

Rong Yin had been kneeling, so being pressed down completely trapped her calves beneath her. Even more so, Lu Zhi’s knee, placed against her lower abdomen, though seemingly without much force, instantly turned Rong Yin into a fish on a chopping block, ready to be carved.

“Hey! Don’t—don’t touch me! S-stop… stop it…” Rong Yin thrashed beneath her like a small chick. The thin strap of her nightgown slipped off, hanging uselessly at her elbow, revealing a large expanse of snow-white, pink, and tempting spring scenery.

Her one free hand grabbed Lu Zhi’s wrist, trying to stop the face-scrubbing, but it was utterly useless. Angry and anxious, tears were about to fall.

Soon, amidst Rong Yin’s incoherent protests, Lu Zhi had thoroughly scrubbed the pretty face until it was pink. Then she casually tossed the sodden towel away, freed a hand to pin both of Rong Yin’s arms above her head, and looked down coldly at the face flushed with rage and humiliation.

“Rong Yin, you should know, I’m only filling in for Zhuang Jie. I don’t rely on you for money. So don’t expect me to indulge your little temper.”

Rong Yin was so angry her eyes seemed about to bleed. Ignoring her words completely, she struggled furiously and yelled, “Let me go! How dare you do this to me! I—I’ll have the company fire you!”

Lu Zhi’s expression remained unmoved. Her left hand pressed down on Rong Yin’s wrists. With her right, she adjusted the slipped nightgown strap, even carefully pulling up the lace-trimmed neckline.

“Chen Qihua! I’m telling you! You’re done for! You dare… Mmph… mmph…”

Rong Yin lifted her head, roaring at her, the slender neck straining, veins standing out. In the next second, Lu Zhi extended two fingers and firmly pinched her cheeks, forcing all the threats back down her throat.

Lu Zhi idly noted the softness between her fingers—springy and fluffy, like cotton candy. Her expression, however, didn’t change. Her gaze bore directly into the captivating eyes brimming with rage and rimmed with red at the corners. She spoke directly: “Rong Yin, I have my job, you have yours. We’re both adults. Compromise is better than burning bridges, right?”

Rong Yin’s head buzzed. She barely understood the meaning. The person on top of her looked like an average woman physically, yet held her completely immobile. Rage and fear warred within her. She wanted to open her mouth to curse, but her cheeks were pinched, leaving her only able to make futile “mmph” sounds.

As if reading her mind, Lu Zhi gave her little face a punitive shake and continued: “I won’t treat you the way Zhuang Jie does. Normally, if you slack off or sneak a snack, I can pretend not to see. But if you dare try to torment me the way you do Little Ma…”

Lu Zhi smiled slightly, leaning closer to speak softly, her oppressive presence unmistakable: “I really will hit someone.”

“Mmph…” Staring at the calm yet cold face above her, those dark eyes clearly holding a smile, yet sending an involuntary shiver through her, Rong Yin even forgot to struggle.

Lu Zhi was completely serious. If Rong Yin didn’t behave, she wouldn’t mind beating her up.

“Understood?” Lu Zhi asked coolly.

Rong Yin’s lashes fluttered, tears welling up.

Lu Zhi looked at her silently for a long moment, waiting until a hint of compromise appeared in the girl’s eyes before releasing the grip on her cheeks.

But she hadn’t expected this young lady to be so stubborn. The moment she was released, Rong Yin immediately gritted her teeth and retorted: “Chen Qihua! I—”

“One dirty word, and I’ll slap your mouth rotten.”

As if anticipating it, Lu Zhi quickly offered a piece of advice, her voice icy, her gaze violent.

Seen by those eyes, the expletive about to burst from Rong Yin’s lips choked back down.

Lu Zhi’s face was like a layer of frost. She lightly patted Rong Yin’s cheek, looking down condescendingly at the girl clearly frightened, with two obvious pinch marks on her fair face, and returned to the day’s main topic: “Can you get up now?”

Rong Yin bit her lip fiercely, her face a mixture of bravado and fear.

Lu Zhi didn’t press her to answer. She gave her a warning look, then stood up and released her. Today, she was wearing a white T-shirt and jeans—comfortable and relaxed, particularly convenient for getting things done.

The moment she was freed, Rong Yin scrambled to the other side of the bed and jumped barefoot onto the floor before daring to turn back and glare hatefully at Lu Zhi.

Lu Zhi didn’t care. She glanced at her watch and looked up: “We leave at nine-thirty. You have fifteen minutes to wash up. You’d better go brush your teeth and wash your face right now.”

Rong Yin was furious. A star, pampered for years, she couldn’t possibly give in so easily. Her eyes gauged the distance between them—seemingly safer now—and she turned to grab the spare ashtray from the nightstand. Not daring to throw it at Lu Zhi, she clutched it for courage.

“Like hell I will! You—You just wait! After what you did to me today! I’m not going anywhere! Just wait until the company fires you!”

Lu Zhi’s lips curved upwards slightly. She met her gaze across the two-meter-wide bed. “Are you serious?”

“Of course I’m serious! Who do you think you are? Threatening me?! Even if you kneel down and beg me today, I won’t go! Go act yourself! I’m just not going! Not! Going!” Rong Yin’s voice grew involuntarily louder, her body beginning to tremble slightly.

Lu Zhi, naturally, wasn’t scared. She just nodded and said, “Fine. You don’t have to go to the set. If you confirm you’re not going, I’ll call the director right now and tell him you’re injured and can’t make it.”

A flicker of panic crossed Rong Yin’s heart, then she heard the cold, final words.

“If you don’t mind, I can also take a photo to send to the director after I’ve beaten you up.”

The moment she finished speaking, Lu Zhi looked at Rong Yin. Giving her no time to react, she turned and started walking around the foot of the bed to grab her.

Rong Yin really hadn’t expected her to actually dare. She screamed in fright, flung the ashtray aside carelessly, and scrambled frantically onto the bed as if fleeing for her life.

Lu Zhi had no intention of chasing her in circles. She pounced on the foot of the bed, her knee pressing into the mattress, and reached out to grab a slender calf, dragging her straight back.

“Ah… you… you… don’t…”

Rong Yin was pulled flat onto the bed, her body sliding backwards uncontrollably with the force on her leg. Her small arms flailed, trying to grab something to hold onto, but all she could manage was clutching a corner of the blanket, watching helplessly as the entire bedding bunched up, utterly failing to resist the strength of the person behind her.

“Don’t don’t don’t! Don’t hit me! I’ll go! I’ll go! Wuwu! I’ll go, okay!”