Chapter 22: Concerned About Your Waist

Rong Si’s moans still echoed in Cheng Jinzhi’s ears. Cheng Jinzhi let out several breaths before pulling herself out of the memory. She hadn’t had much impression of it before, but now, once remembered, she could almost see Rong Si’s pained expression beneath her, hear Rong Si’s uncontainable moans. After they’d done it that day, there’d been no tender afterglow; Rong Si had gotten up and showered. Back then, Cheng Jinzhi had looked at the bloodstains on the sheet and felt a twinge of guilt about her “technique.”

“Been reading all day?” Rong Si walked over, her hands falling on Cheng Jinzhi’s shoulders.

“Mm…” She was currently “letting her mind wander,” and she felt especially guilty. Rong Si was massaging her, and the more Rong Si pressed, the stranger her body felt. She raised her hand to cover Rong Si’s. “I’m fine. Not too sore.”

Rong Si withdrew her hand from under hers. “Mm.”

When Rong Si’s hand was on her shoulder, she felt uneasy. When it was gone, Cheng Jinzhi felt a loss. “How many exams do you have left?”

“One more.”

“When you’re done, it’ll be about time to record the reality show.” Cheng Jinzhi said.

The recording dates had come out: early February, quite rushed, squeezed in before the New Year.

《Girls’ Fortress》 also had its final two scenes these days—roughly, Weicheng had experienced enough of the glamorous world and seen enough of Miss Jia’s fickleness. Weicheng wanted to leave the Marshals Mansion and return to her opera troupe. This was a fierce scene: Miss Jia tried to express her love through sex.

“You’re leaving?” Rong Si embraced the dripping Cheng Jinzhi as she stepped out of the water, pressing dense, scalding kisses to the nape of her neck, her chin. Cheng Jinzhi was soaked, dripping wet. She turned to look at Rong Si. In and out of character, she didn’t quite understand Rong Si either. These days, she could feel her own sense of loss. Rong Si looked at her, her gaze equally fervent—in character, Rong Si was always this fervent. Rong Si gripped Cheng Jinzhi’s neck and bit her lower lip. Her nimble tongue slid into Cheng Jinzhi’s mouth, sweeping away her breath. Cheng Jinzhi’s arms reached back, clutching the back of Rong Si’s head. Their wrists tangled—the camera captured the wrist-tangling, making it look like binding, like being bound by “rope.”

This matched the promotion for 《Girls’ Fortress》. It’s indulgence, and it’s downfall.

Weicheng. Everyone has a fortress-city within.

Lust was easy to act. Desire was not. This scene was a “bone-deep” entanglement of lovemaking. When the director called “cut,” Rong Si still held Cheng Jinzhi tightly, as if she hadn’t come out of the scene.

“Rong Si?” Cheng Jinzhi whispered. Rong Si could always pull herself out of a scene instantly. Today’s behavior surprised Cheng Jinzhi greatly. Even as surprise shivered through her, she hugged Rong Si tighter. The moment she wrapped her arms around Rong Si, Rong Si looked up.

Rong Si’s eye sockets were red. The “entanglement” just now had demanded Miss Jia’s frenzy and glaring fury. She quickly picked up the clothes and wrapped them around Cheng Jinzhi. “Go get changed.”

When Cheng Jinzhi changed, Rong Si had already changed too, sitting on a stool. It was very late now; the crew had all gone home. Tomorrow, after the last scene, their parts would be wrapped. Probably next year, the film would screen overseas. This film was mainly for Yi Yi to take to international festivals.

Good actors fall easily into character. In the role live greed, rage, infatuation. When the music stops and the audience disperses, real life continues. No matter how deeply you enter a role, you have to come out. This was Rong Si’s first film, and Cheng Jinzhi could feel her affection for it, even though her character wasn’t the most likable.

“Where’s the director?”

“He’s gone to edit.” Rong Si said.

“Let’s go back.”

“Mm.”

Cheng Jinzhi and Rong Si were still staying at the hotel near the set; they’d said they’d change but never did. They’d just arrived at the building when a cluster of fluorescent sign boards burst out—a group of fans who’d come to visit. They were Rong Si’s fans, their boards showing Q-version illustrations of Rong Si. “Welcoming the Princess back to her residence.”

Pfft, so cringe, so embarrassing. Cheng Jinzhi curled her lip. It wasn’t that she was jealous Rong Si had fans visiting her on set.

The fans’ eyes were red, clearly emotional. “You must have been working so hard lately. Please take care of yourself!”

Rong Si was also stunned, seemingly not expecting to have fans. Or rather, she knew she had fans, but didn’t know what that felt like concretely. She stepped forward and took the bouquets and snacks the fans offered. Her tone was very gentle. “I understand. From now on, don’t come out so late at night. It’s not safe going back.”

Rong Si’s demeanor and tone were very kind, and she bent at the waist to accommodate her fans. During their ten-some minutes of conversation, she stayed bent. Only after the fans left did she straighten up. Rong Si frowned slightly. That’s when Cheng Jinzhi remembered—Rong Si’s back had been injured this period. The intensity of the work had done a number on her back.

Back at the hotel, Cheng Jinzhi thought it over and asked the front desk for two medicated plasters. “Here.”

Rong Si had just showered. She opened the door to find Cheng Jinzhi practically pressing the things in her hands into her face. She took them. Medicated plasters?

Cheng Jinzhi had always been awkward about caring for Rong Si. “Your back okay?”

That question made it even more awkward.

“Mm.”

“I’m going back.”

“Mm.”

“Shouldn’t you say thank you?”

Rong Si glanced at Cheng Jinzhi. “Mm. Thank you for caring about my back.”

“…” Could she strike out “my back” please? Cheng Jinzhi felt herself about to start thinking weird things again. “Rest early.”

“Wait.” Rong Si stopped her, then brought out snacks from her room. “Here.”

“Those are what your fans gave you?”

“Mm.” Rong Si said. “I don’t like these. Wasting them with me is a shame.”

“…Who said I like these?”

“I saw you staring at them all along.”

It wasn’t the snacks she was envious of! It was the fans! Real, true fans! Fine, she admitted she was jealous Rong Si had fans visiting. “Thanks.”

The word “thanks” was gritted through Cheng Jinzhi’s teeth.

“You’re welcome.”

“…” Rong Si’s utterly earnest face made Cheng Jinzhi feel even more fiercely mocked.

The final scene of 《Girls’ Fortress》 was a scene full of atmosphere. Weicheng was beaten half to death by the Grand Marshal and dragged her battered body, covered in wounds, out of the mansion. It was a winter scene. Fortunately, it had snowed at the filming location, and with the additional artificial snow set up, the entire mood was quite natural.

To apply the “wound makeup,” Cheng Jinzhi had gone to the back early in the morning. It took about three hours.

“The eyes are very important.” Yi Yi also came backstage, explaining the character to her. “Be empty. Think of nothing. The space you leave will be filled by the audience. Let the audience fill it for you.”

Cheng Jinzhi nodded.

Soon, the set was ready. When Cheng Jinzhi came out, she saw Rong Si in military uniform—the crisp uniform giving off the heroic air of the Grand Marshal’s only daughter. Rong Si wore the uniform three times in the film: at the first meeting with Weicheng, in the middle of their intimacy, and now this final time.

In this scene, Weicheng was beaten black and blue and ordered by the Grand Marshal to be stripped down to her underclothes. “Everything I gave you—my gold, my treasure, even a single piece of cloth—you won’t take a stitch.”

Snowflakes drifted and swirled. Cheng Jinzhi gasped for breath, staggering. Her sinuous waist seemed unable to support her swaying body, as if it would snap.

Then the Grand Marshal gritted his teeth, drew his gun—Rong Si’s gun—and the dark muzzle aimed at the back of Weicheng’s head. Miss Jia stared, wide-eyed, reaching out to snatch it. A gunshot rang out. The screen went black.

Did Weicheng die?

In the endings Yi Yi had arranged, one had Rong Si running desperately back, seeming to search for something. Another had Rong Si’s Miss Jia running back to find a grave, kneeling expressionless before it, then breaking into hysterical sobs—the only time in the entire film Miss Jia cried. Yi Yi had prepared several endings; currently, the tentative one was the shot of Rong Si running back through the crowd of chaos.

“Wrapped.” Yi Yi seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. There was no sweat on his forehead, yet he wiped it with a towel. “Miss Cheng, Miss Rong, you’ve worked hard. Go back and take off your makeup and change.”

Though 《Girls’ Fortress》 hadn’t completely finished filming, the two leads’ scenes were finally wrapped, which eased Yi Yi’s burden considerably. He had always held himself to high standards.

“What surprised me most during these months of filming was Miss Cheng’s acting. I am now very honored that Miss Cheng participated in my humble work.” Yi Yi spoke at the dinner table. He rarely praised celebrities publicly. Then he looked at Rong Si. “Of course, Miss Rong has also given me many surprises. I believe that in time, Miss Rong will stand on an even higher stage and bring the audience more brilliant performances. Finally, I, Yi Yi, would like to solemnly toast you both.”

“Thank you, Director Yi, for all your care over these days.”

“Don’t say that. Once you walk out that door, I’ll be asking you two big stars to look out for me.” Yi Yi clinked glasses with them and smiled easily.

Cheng Jinzhi turned her head to look at Rong Si and happened to meet her gaze. She raised her glass to Rong Si. Rong Si paused, then raised hers back.