Chapter 18: Kiss Scene

Rong Si’s two words seemed to have a hypnotic effect. Nestled in Rong Si’s arms, Cheng Jinzhi fell asleep before long.

In Rong Si’s embrace, Cheng Jinzhi slept very soundly. Rong Si’s body had a pleasant scent—some perfume’s base note, though she couldn’t place it. Since her rebirth, Cheng Jinzhi hadn’t felt very secure. Her nights were filled with strange dreams, past-life and present-life tangled together. Sometimes she’d start awake and have to drink cold water to calm herself. In the haze of sleep, her leg would suddenly twitch and she’d snap awake, surrounded by darkness. Sometimes she couldn’t tell whether she’d been reborn or was just dreaming of her past life.

Sleeping in Rong Si’s arms, Cheng Jinzhi felt like she’d fallen into something pink and soft. She knew she was dreaming and laughed at herself in the dream—dreaming of pink? This forty-year-old maiden heart was terrifying.

Soon, Cheng Jinzhi felt a softness at the back of her head—a hand kneading it. She drifted from the dream back to the hotel’s big bed, everything soft. Her eyelids heavy, she drowsily opened her eyes and nuzzled into the soft embrace.

“Time to go to the set.”

“I want to sleep…”

“Want me to carry you up?”

“I don’t want to get up… I want to sleep…”

Suddenly, Cheng Jinzhi felt her body become weightless. Rong Si had picked her up. Startled, Cheng Jinzhi quickly wrapped her arms around Rong Si’s neck, jolted fully awake. “What are you doing?”

“I’m carrying you to wash up.”

“I don’t want you to carry me. I can walk myself.”

“Aren’t you sleepy?” Rong Si shifted Cheng Jinzhi’s weight and walked two steps.

“I’m awake now. Put me down.” Rong Si’s carrying was almost bringing out her maiden heart.

“Really not sleepy?”

Cheng Jinzhi opened her eyes wide. “I’m full of energy.”

“Mm.” Rong Si set Cheng Jinzhi down.

Feet on solid ground, Cheng Jinzhi finally breathed a sigh of relief. Rong Si was so thin, she’d been afraid Rong Si would drop her ninety-plus pounds onto the bathroom floor. Rong Si was a head taller than her, probably around the same weight—maybe even lighter.

With a toothbrush in her mouth, Cheng Jinzhi watched Rong Si washing up beside her. Rong Si was running warm water over her face mask.

“Rong Si, how tall are you?” Cheng Jinzhi asked. She remembered Rong Si’s official height. Many male actors acting opposite her had to wear height-boosting insoles.

“Long time since I measured.” Rong Si said. “Physical exam was 175 centimeters.”

God damn it! She’d grown three more centimeters in college!

After Cheng Jinzhi washed her face, Rong Si wrapped her arms around her from behind and applied a hydrating face mask for her. Rong Si’s long fingers gently pressed her facial acupoints. It felt comfortable, so Cheng Jinzhi leaned back against Rong Si’s arm. The arm looked slender but was surprisingly strong. Cheng Jinzhi felt steady leaning on it.

“Rong Si, what exercise do you usually do?”

“Some simple training.”

“I don’t believe you. Your body’s so strong.”

“I’ve been training since I was eight.”

“…” No wonder. “Isn’t it boring?”

“No. It’s a form of rest.”

“…Rong Si, when you have nothing to do, are you memorizing the Eight Honors and Eight Shames?”

Talking to Rong Si was so dull—like an old cadre. Cheng Jinzhi felt that talking to her own grandmother was more fun than talking to Rong Si.

Rong Si didn’t reply. She took off Cheng Jinzhi’s mask and gave her a simple massage. “Rinse off. I’ll make you breakfast.”

Living with an old cadre meant meals were very regular. Cheng Jinzhi rarely ate breakfast, for three reasons: lazy, lazy, and lazy. If she lived with Rong Si, she thought she’d be fed into being fat. While rinsing her face, Cheng Jinzhi caught herself—why was she thinking about living with Rong Si??

Rong Si made congee and a few small dishes. Cheng Jinzhi felt Rong Si must have OCD—every time she cooked, she’d plate everything neatly. The strict plating was terribly un-lively. When Rong Si sat down, Cheng Jinzhi took an empty plate and set out the side dishes in a smiling face.

When Rong Si drank her milk, Cheng Jinzhi slid the plate over to her hand. Rong Si paused with the milk at her lips and looked down at the empty plate. “Don’t like it?”

“What does it look like?”

Rong Si lowered her milk. A bit of milk clung to the corner of her lip. She looked a bit cute.

The milk at her lip—Cheng Jinzhi couldn’t help stealing two glances. Especially when Rong Si extended her pink tongue and licked it off. Cheng Jinzhi felt like she was that drop of milk, and Rong Si had licked away her soul.

“A smiling face.”

Cheng Jinzhi’s ears burned red. “Why the ‘face’? Drop the ‘face.’ Every time you humor me, you add filler words.”

Rong Si was already used to Cheng Jinzhi’s “unreasonable tantrums.” She picked up her milk again.

Just as she lifted it, Cheng Jinzhi set down her spoon. “I want to drink.”

“Didn’t you say you didn’t like it?”

“If I don’t like it, you won’t let me have any?”

Rong Si took the milk bottle and poured Cheng Jinzhi a glass. Cheng Jinzhi tasted it. Not good. But every time she watched Rong Si drink something, she thought it looked delicious. Holding her glass, she stole a glance at Rong Si’s glass. “I want to drink yours.”

Why did she always want to drink Rong Si’s? Cheng Jinzhi quickly found the answer in 《Girls’ Fortress》.

This was a kiss scene. When Rong Si bent down to kiss her, Cheng Jinzhi even smelled the milk on Rong Si’s lips. Milk? When Rong Si’s tongue slipped in, Cheng Jinzhi couldn’t help wrapping her arms around Rong Si’s neck.

“Cut.” The director called. “Miss Cheng, the action.”

In this scene, Weicheng was supposed to push Miss Jia away, only to be embraced and kissed again, the struggle completing the shot. But Cheng Jinzhi, kissed by Rong Si, had forgotten to push.

After finishing the scene, Rong Si immediately pulled out of character. “Are you doing this on purpose?”

“Huh?”

Rong Si turned and stepped off camera. Cheng Jinzhi looked back and saw Gao Yi, her expression complex. Cheng Jinzhi’s not-so-sharp brain began to work. Did Rong Si think she was using her as a shield? Hey, she didn’t know Gao Yi was behind her. Cheng Jinzhi was furious at the sudden appearance of Gao Yi. She didn’t know why she was so angry either. Without even looking back, she waved her hand to have DC escort Gao Yi out.

Cheng Jinzhi wanted to explain to Rong Si, but she didn’t know how or where to start. Rong Si also seemed completely unfazed. At dinner that night, she still served Cheng Jinzhi food and ladled her soup as usual. So she was fine, right? Scatterbrained Cheng Jinzhi breathed a sigh of relief.

“I’m going to report to Daqian Drama Society this weekend. Interested?” Cheng Jinzhi asked, feeling a bit like she was trying to please Rong Si.

“Okay.”

Daqian Drama Society was a drama affiliate of Daqian Film Studio, opened by Grandma’s student. When Cheng Jinzhi first reported in, the president didn’t assign her anything—just told her to familiarize herself with stage performance forms and practice lines. Lines were the most basic thing. On her first day, she saw the president scolding someone. “The young actors and flowers of today are so ‘blessed,’ running into an era where they can have someone dub their lines.”

These two days, seeing she was about ready, the president called her out to rehearse. The play for these days was 《The Female Imperial Son-in-Law》, adapted from Huangmei Opera. To align with modern values, it had undergone significant changes. The county magistrate father was imprisoned, the female lead Feng Suzhen had nowhere to appeal, and by a twist of fate went to the capital for the imperial examination, earning the top scholar title. Her stunning talent, displayed at court when she cleverly repelled the barbarian envoy, caught the eye of the Emperor’s most beloved princess, and she became the Prince Consort. From her father’s case, a conspiracy emerged involving the Virtuous Prince colluding with the barbarians to covet the throne. After a series of twists, the female lead cleared her father’s name, returned to her female identity, and was celebrated through the ages as a female top scholar.

Cheng Jinzhi nearly fell asleep reading the script. Where was the fun in this? Same old wine in a new bottle, same old flavor, wasn’t it?

“There’s nothing new under the sun.” The vice president clapped his hands, rallying them. “The tropes are the same—what makes things pop is your performance.”

“Perk up. Was all that posture training for nothing?” The vice president pointed at a male student in the front row. “You, you. Stand up straight.”

“President Gong, I am standing straight.”

“Standing crooked, and you have fans?”

The boy’s face immediately flushed red. Cheng Jinzhi looked around. Eh? Who was this? He looked familiar. Oh right—the male lead opposite Xia You, Beauty Fills the City Tower?

Cheng Jinzhi understood now. This rehearsal class was basically an amateur class, specially provided for celebrities to practice.

“We’ll test basic skills soon. Pair up in twos and get your numbers.” The vice president’s meaning was probably casting.

“Rong Si, let’s pair up.”

“I’ve never touched this.” This was Rong Si’s first time at the drama society.

“It’s fine. I’m not that good either. We’re not aiming for the lead roles. Play some bit parts…”

“What are you saying?” Teacher Wu Yi walked over just then, catching Cheng Jinzhi “reassuring” Rong Si. Half-laughing, half-crying, he tapped Cheng Jinzhi’s head. “Usually you love stealing the spotlight. Now you’ve got ambition?”

“Teacher, where did you spring from?”

“What kind of talk is that? I’m the martial arts director here.”

“Hello, Teacher.” Compared to Cheng Jinzhi, Rong Si was much more proper, greeting the teacher immediately.

“Rong Si, right?” Wu Yi recognized her at once. “A freshman at our school. I saw your military training performance. Very good.”

“Teacher Wu, I’ve taken your martial arts directing class. I really like it.”

“Mm. I like students with a proper attitude like you. You’ll go far.”

Listening, Cheng Jinzhi rolled her eyes internally. Fancy that—in the drama society, they start performing teacher-student bonding.

“Student Rong, are you sure you want to pair with Cheng Jinzhi? I’m afraid…” Wu Yi trailed off.

“Teacher, what are you saying? Like I, a senior, would drag a junior down?” Cheng Jinzhi chimed in.

“You know that yourself?”

“…” Villain! Everyone was a villain!

“No.” Rong Si glanced at Cheng Jinzhi. “The senior is quite professional.”