Chapter 31: CH 31

Lu Zhi Wei couldn’t smile.

If she was to smile now, it would most certainly be filled with bitterness and even uglier than crying.

Outrageous, outrageous, it was too outrageous!

The female lead wasn’t acting according to the script, and now even the system missions weren’t according to the script!

Lu Zhi Wei was scolding the system like mad in her heart: 【This thing is too unintelligent, can’t you see I’m comforting someone!】

Lao Wu came out to defend the system: 【You can’t blame the system, if it was a male and female lead, this sort of confession and sharing a bed… If we go a little further, you could simply take out $9.90 and go straight to the Bureau of Civil Affairs[1].】

After a moment of thought, he continued: 【Although you two haven’t reached the stage of rushing to the Bureau of Civil Affairs, but Sang Wan Ci has very good feelings towards you now, it can be considered an improvement in the relationship.

【Continue to work hard, daughter, mommy believes in you.】

Lu Zhi Wei: 【…… You guys might as well stab me with a knife directly.】

Everytime she worked hard to improve her relationship with Sang Wan Ci, the system would definitely run out and give her a blow.

Was this really an auxiliary system?

Was this really not a system that is designed to obstruct the host and try to anger the host to death???

Lao Wu reminded: 【You still have one free punishment pass.】

Lu Zhi Wei immediately rejected the idea.

With such a devilish system that could even propose the idea of sleeping in the same bed, she wasn’t sure if there wouldn’t be an even more outrageous, even more difficult task in the future.

【Then good luck.】Lao Wu sighed. 【There’s a long way to go.】

He then got up and moved away from the console.

【Mommy’s going to work out, work hard and finish your mission so you can sleep early.

【Call me if there’s anything.】

Lu Zhi Wei: 【……】

What a cruel and heartless world.

Lao Wu left.

Lu Zhi Wei fell silent again.

Looking at the person in her arms, she suddenly felt very thankful she was hugging Sang Wan Ci, so she couldn’t see Lu Zhi Wei’s sorrowful expression.

This despicable system.

Why did it have to be so cruel to her?

Oh, no. Why did it have to always misunderstand their pure friendship and be so cruel to them!

At such a nice, heartwarming moment, how could she say such abrupt and atmosphere-killing words?!

But she had to finish the mission.

If she didn’t complete the mission, there would be no mission point.

If she didn’t complete the mission, the world would fall into disarray and more people would become transparent entities, suffering the way she did before.

If she didn’t complete the mission, she would be zapped.

She looked stealthily at the person in her arms.

And it would be another electric shock in front of Sang Wan Ci.

She could only concede to her fate and think of how to accomplish her mission.

A solo mission that could be done simply by talking was better than one that required both parties.

After a moment of silence, she adjusted her tone and tried to sound natural, then laughed in a joking manner: “Our Teacher Sang likes me?

“Then…… Do you want to be my girlfriend?”

【System judgment: Mission to say the classic line to female lead Sang Wan Ci: “Do you want to be my girlfriend?”, complete.

【Mission point +1

【Please work hard, host.】

She sighed silently.

Thankfully the mission didn’t require her to make Sang Wan Ci agree, or it would truly be too suffocating.

“Mm?”

A sound came from her embrace.

The atmosphere was like a string, tightened by this sound.

Lu Zhi Wei immediately became nervous.

Sang Wan Ci backed out of the hug and lay back in her original spot, looking at her after a moment’s pause.

“You like women?”

Lu Zhi Wei forced a calmness she didn’t feel and raised a hand to pat Sang Wan Ci’s head gently: “I was just kidding, don’t take it seriously.”

After that, she looked away guiltily and looked at the ceiling.

Sang Wan Ci didn’t pursue it any further.

She looked at the same ceiling, faint rays of light dancing across it.

The world fell silent again.

Lying by Lu Zhi Wei’s side, Sang Wan Ci could only feel this year’s snowy night was exceptionally quiet.

And exceptionally gentle.

Just like Lu Zhi Wei.

Lying by the side, Lu Zhi Wei gently flipped over.

She felt like she had once again made the conversation awkward.

At the same time, she couldn’t help but feel curious.

—— Sang Wan Ci, she…… Could she like women?

If Sang Wan Ci didn’t like women, then everything she did to try and save the world, wouldn’t that mean she was forcing it?

Her lips moved as she asked in a low voice: “Wan Ci, do you…… like women?”

“Mm?”

It was another sound of doubt.

Sang Wan Ci looked at Lu Zhi Wei, her gaze filled with contemplation and doubt.

She didn’t mind if the person next to her liked men or women.

It was just finding someone to like anyway, why did they have to care about the person’s gender? The most important thing was the person’s personality as well as their compatibility.

But Lu Zhi Wei had just made a joke about asking her to be her girlfriend; this made her think a little deeper about the question.

Was it just a question…… Or was Lu Zhi Wei trying to sound her out?

Even though the light was dim, Lu Zhi Wei could clearly see the unusual expression on Sang Wan Ci’s face and she panicked: “I don’t mean it that way! I was just asking casually, just asking casually……

“Just idle chatter among friends!”

“Is that so.” Sang Wan Ci’s tone was even.

Lu Zhi Wei couldn’t tell if she believed it or not. She held onto the blanket tightly, afraid Sang Wan Ci would push her away in disdain.

She had worked so hard to get a friend……

She had finally managed to get closer to her friend……

Just as her thoughts were running wild, Sang Wan Ci asked: “Then what about you?”

Lu Zhi Wei was confused: “What?”

Sang Wan Ci said: “I don’t know if you like women or not either.”

Lu Zhi Wei immediately understood.

Lu Zhi Wei didn’t dare to be too firm.

It’s best to leave a backdoor in case of accidents in the future.

So she said: “Maybe.”

“If there’s someone who can move me, then as long as that person shows up in my life, I believe that whether it’s a man or a woman, my heart wouldn’t be able to avoid drawing closer.”

She sneaked a glance at Sang Wan Ci and said: “We don’t have to hold on so tightly to our sexuality when dating.”

Sang Wan Ci looked at her side profile, half silhouetted in shadows.

Lu Zhi Wei smiled appeasingly: “After all, one more gender means one more choice.”

Sang Wan Ci looked at her for a few seconds, then as if she had finally digested her words, she nodded her head: “Then I can too.”

One more gender, one more choice.

It wasn’t incorrect.

Lu Zhi Wei was amused by her serious demeanour: “What, are you imitating me now?”

Sang Wan Ci nodded.

She was so honest that Lu Zhi Wei didn’t know what to do with her.

Laughing, Lu Zhi Wei said in defeat: “Alright, our Teacher Sang is good looking, anything works.”

Then she pulled the blanket up and covered Sang Wan Ci: “It’s late, let’s sleep. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

Lu Zhi Wei turned off the light.

Everything faded into darkness and silence.

……

The next day, Sang Wan Ci woke up blurrily from her dreams.

There was a faint sound of children playing by her ear, it was distant, as if from outside her world.

A little nearer, there was the clink of pots and pans gently knocking against each other.

It wasn’t hard to tell that the person was being careful.

Opening her eyes, she immediately saw Lu Zhi Wei standing in the kitchen, working busily.

Her slender body, and long dark hair.

When she turned around and their eyes met, she smiled faintly.

Everything was signalling that this was a warm New Year’s morning that wouldn’t be lonely.

“You’re awake?”

Lu Zhi Wei looked at the sleeping beauty on the bed.

Only to see her slowly open her beautiful amber eyes and reach out to hug the bolster, as if she wasn’t in a hurry to get up.

Then she stopped moving again, as if she was booting up.

Her bare face was filled with the blurriness from waking up, but she was still unreasonably attractive.

It wouldn’t be too much to call her sleeping beauty.

Lu Zhi Wei quietly waited for her to wake up.

After a while, Sang Wan Ci slowly looked toward her and said in a raspy voice: “Morning.”

Lu Zhi Wei smiled: “Morning.

“The dumplings are almost ready, we can have breakfast once you’re done brushing your teeth.”

Sang Wan Ci didn’t stay in bed, rising to walk to the window and look outside.

Indeed, she saw a few children outside playing.

They were all dressed festively, smiling like dolls in a painting.

She withdrew her gaze and went to wash up.

Then, she obediently helped to set the table and prepare the sauces, the both of them working together.

After the “night time conversation” yesterday, whatever could and couldn’t be let go of was all set aside.

The relationship between the two of them also got closer.

Lu Zhi Wei’s “Wan Ci” got smoother and smoother.

Sang Wan Ci’s “jiejie” was also more and more frequent.

They finally were no longer superficial friends.

They finished preparing breakfast, sat on the sofa and turned on their phones.

Sang Wan Ci’s phone started buzzing with incoming messages, as expected.

Compared to hers, Lu Zhi Wei received very little.

It was good that she wasn’t someone who cared about the quantity. She was also easily satisfied, as long as she had it, she would be happy.

Ying Xi Ze and Wen Yao both wished her Happy New Year.

When she wished the veteran actors and Director Li a happy new year, Director Li even sent her a red packet, wishing her a successful career ahead.

It moved her almost to tears.

She gripped her phone in happiness for a while, not accepting the red packet.

It was only when Director Li sent another message reminding her to accept it, that she dared to press the button.

Sang Wan Ci could feel her joy. Looking at her smiling at the screen, she asked: “What is it?”

Lu Zhi Wei smiled in contentment: “I received a red packet, I’m happy.”

Sang Wan Ci “oh”-ed, then lowered her head and sent her a red packet as well.

Lu Zhi Wei: “?”

Sang Wan Ci’s face didn’t change: “So you can be happy again.”

Lu Zhi Wei couldn’t help but laugh: “I’m very happy to know you have such good intentions, you don’t have to give me the red packet.”

Sang Wan Ci tilted her head: “You don’t want it?”

Lu Zhi Wei shook her head.

Sang Wan Ci immediately found another excuse: “Then take it as the rent for me staying here the past few days.”

Lu Zhi Wei: “???”

Lu Zhi Wei laughed in amusement again: “You’re here as a guest, not as a tenant, what rent are you talking about?”

Sang Wan Ci disagreed.

She didn’t come to rent a room, but everything she used, wore and ate was Lu Zhi Wei’s.

And Lu Zhi Wei even went out to prepare items for her.

If she didn’t give her some money, wasn’t she just a freeloader? Her parents didn’t raise her up like that.

“Accept it, Lu Zhi Wei.”

Sang Wan Ci’s eyes shone.

“Didn’t you say it yourself, earning money isn’t easy?”

Lu Zhi Wei picked up a dumpling filled with corn and pork and dipped it in the vinegar.

“Mm, earning money isn’t easy. It’s not easy for you to earn money too.

“Besides, you’re a friend here as a guest, and you accompanied me for the New Year. I’m so happy, how could I be calculative with you over this bit of money.

“You’re not allowed to be so calculative with me, or I’ll be angry.”

She said she would be angry, but the tone she was using was clearly that used to coax a child.

The child in question sat there, arms crossed against her chest, looking at Lu Zhi Wei’s size profile seriously.

After a while, the child thought of a foolproof plan.

“Next time, it’ll be my turn to invite you to my house for the New Year.”

Lu Zhi Wei looked to her side, her gaze meeting those clear eyes.

There was seriousness and sincerity there.

Sang Wan Ci: “I’ll prepare everything in advance and wait for you to come.”

It was simple reciprocity.

Compared to her, Lu Zhi Wei’s earnings weren’t a lot and she didn’t want to spend Lu Zhi Wei’s money without returning it.

Even if they were friends, she couldn’t let one of them be the only one to put in effort.

Lu Zhi Wei smiled: “Alright, it’s settled then. We’ll celebrate the New Year at your place next time.”

It was the first time she was making this sort of promise with someone.

She believed Sang Wan Ci would follow through.

“Let’s have breakfast.”

…

After breakfast, Lu Zhi Wei asked Sang Wan Ci what she wanted to do.

Because Lu Zhi Wei’s house was so comfortable, Sang Wan Ci actually didn’t want to think about work, wanting to relax properly instead.

But asking her what she wanted to do, she couldn’t say either.

She probably didn’t want to do anything and just laze around.

Lu Zhi Wei didn’t mind either.

She cleaned the last corner of the kitchen and washed her hands, wiping them dry: “Then just rest well at home. It’s so hard for you during filming, you do need to rest more when you have the time.

“Don’t keep forcing yourself, you need to combine work and rest. You’ll suffer if you push your body to exhaustion.”

Sang Wan Ci sat on the bed under the blanket, nodding lightly.

She understood. A good example would be Ying Xi Ze, exhausted to the point he started hallucinating and mistook Lu Zhi Wei for a man.

She most definitely didn’t want to become like Ying Xi Ze.

Lu Zhi Wei kept everything neatly, and was about to sit down and rest.

She even considerately left the warm, comfortable bed to Sang Wan Ci and prepared to sit on the sofa.

But Sang Wan Ci clearly wasn’t intending to let her do that.

Glancing at her, Sang Wan Ci pulled away the blanket and said calmly: “Here.”

So before Lu Zhi Wei’s butt could even touch the sofa, she quickly stopped and got under the blanket that had been warmed by Sang Wan Ci’s body heat.

Sang Wan Ci passed her the remote control for the television, almost as if giving the permission to choose.

Lu Zhi Wei didn’t know what to watch now.

She didn’t dare to watch any more of Meng Lian Yu’s shows.

She was afraid her “love Meng” DNA would subconsciously act up again, and that she would perform another show of a fan climbing the wall in front of Sang Wan Ci.

Thinking of what she saw before, she tried to find a funny variety show.

Afraid Sang Wan Ci would feel left out, she spoke to her while she was flipping through the channels: “You were shopping at Xinghe mall yesterday?”

Sang Wan Ci blandly hummed: “I went to a scenic viewpoint, Zhang jie asked me to stay away from the sea, so I went to Xinghe.”

Lu Zhi Wei looked at her curiously: “Why did you go to the scenic viewpoint late at night?”

Sang Wan Ci looked calm: “When I’m bored and free, I like to zone out at the scenic viewpoint.”

The scenic viewpoint was one of the scenic attractions in An City, but there weren’t a lot of people visiting it on most days, so it was very quiet.

Not only could you hear the sea breeze whistling by and watch the sea and the corals, but you could also quietly sit there alone and while away the time undisturbed.

Sang Wan Ci loved this sort of place.

After that, she seemed to have thought of something and looked at Lu Zhi Wei: “This is a secret.”

Lu Zhi Wei blinked.

Sang Wan Ci reached out her hand, her cool fingertips brushing against Lu Zhi Wei’s cheek as she played with a lock of hair: “Jiejie, don’t tell other people that I like going to the scenic viewpoint.”

Her voice was light and floaty, so soft it felt like a low hum that floated by Lu Zhi Wei’s ear like wind.

Lu Zhi Wei locked eyes with her.

Those eyes were filled with a bright gleam, attractive and moving.

Almost like if Lu Zhi Wei wasn’t careful, she could fall in.

Lu Zhi Wei moved her gaze away and turned her head to the opposite side, answer: “Ah, okay, I won’t tell anyone……”

She felt as if her face was burning up.

At times, she really couldn’t handle Sang Wan Ci’s innocuous actions.

Especially when Sang Wan Ci didn’t call her name, but called her “jiejie” suddenly.

…… She couldn’t handle it at all.

—— Even if there was nothing between them but pure friendship.

Lu Zhi Wei: Is this the female lead’s charm, save me, I can’t withstand it!

Sang Wan Ci was confused: “?”

What happened?

She leaned forward and tipped her head to the side as she looked at Lu Zhi Wei: “What’s wrong?”

This great beauty that nobody could refuse suddenly drew close.

In that moment, all the air felt as if it had been replaced by the air from her body.

With nowhere to escape, Lu Zhi Wei could only lower her head and hide her face in her hands: “Our Teacher Sang is too good-looking, I’m a bit embarrassed……”

Sang Wan Ci’s eyebrow lifted slightly, but there was no pride or expectation that her beauty would stun people.

She just gently patted Lu Zhi Wei’s shoulder: “You’ll get used to it the more you see it.”

Lu Zhi Wei: “……”

Why did she suddenly feel a sense of zen?

Teacher Sang, who didn’t care for looks, was utterly calm.

It was just an external skin, there would always be a day when people grew tired of it.

What’s more important is what’s on the inside.

……

The two of them didn’t do many New Year activities, but they relaxed in peace and quietness.

On the third day, the two of them even went to the moon-viewing cliff together, sitting quietly there at Sang Wan Ci’s favourite scenic viewpoint.

Everything was silent around them, except for the whistling of the sea breeze.

Lu Zhi Wei rarely came to the moon-viewing cliff, but sitting at the viewing platform and gazing out at the expansive ocean, she could understand why Sang Wan Ci enjoyed coming here alone.

The peacefulness she felt at this moment was unprecedented.

After today, Sang Wan Ci would have to return to get ready to go back to work, and Lu Zhi Wei had to work hard too.

They were both fighting hard for their own futures, their ambitions burning like a fire.

After sitting there for a while, their faces were all cold.

Lu Zhi Wei exhaled a cloud of white air then stole a glance at the person next to her.

Sang Wan Ci had been quiet from the beginning, as if she had gone into a daze, unable to feel the cold from the sea breeze.

Lu Zhi Wei sighed and stood up, pulling Sang Wan Ci up with her as if she was pulling a child to their feet.

“Manager Zhang is right, you should stay away from here.”

Sang Wan Ci: “?

“Why, I’m not thinking of doing anything foolish.”

“Not that you’re thinking of doing anything foolish.”

Lu Zhi Wei pointed at her red cheeks.

“It’s cold.”

She couldn’t help but nag: “How is it that you don’t seem to feel cold at all……

“Don’t come here so often in the winter, the wind is strong. When you come in summer, it’ll be very cooling then. If you’re in a good mood, you can even bring half a watermelon and eat it while you’re here. Wow, it’ll be satisfying……

“Now it’s too cold. Alright, let’s go home.”

Sang Wan Ci was led along as she walked behind Lu Zhi Wei and listened to her nagging. Then, she suddenly smiled quietly.

—— Our teacher Lu is still very adorable.

Lu Zhi Wei brought Sang Wan Ci to buy some groceries before going home.

She prepared a few more sumptuous dishes today, taking it as their feast before they started work. They had to eat their fill to have strength to continue working.

When they were eating, Lu Zhi Wei randomly turned on a channel to watch a variety show.

It was such a coincidence, the original male lead Qiu Luo was there.

Even more of a coincidence, the female guest who was supposed to be on the show with Qiu Luo was none other than the Miss Sang who was sitting next to her.

Lu Zhi Wei’s hand trembled.

She actually was quite curious why Sang Wan Ci didn’t join the variety show, but changed to act in the drama instead.

But she couldn’t ask it directly.

How could she, a small, ordinary transparent entity, know so much? She wasn’t close to Sang Wan Ci before either.

And at that time, nobody had mentioned inviting Sang Wan Ci on the internet.

She was curious.

She was too curious.

Curious to the point that she stole another glance at Sang Wan Ci.

In the end, she realised Sang Wan Ci was looking at Qiu Luo on the screen. But she didn’t look at him for long, and her gaze was composed without much emotion.

Sang Wan Ci turned her head to see Lu Zhi Wei looking at herself and asked: “What is it?”

“No, nothing.” Lu Zhi Wei bit her chopsticks and asked cautiously, “just curious why you keep looking at Qiu Luo……”

Sang Wan Ci expression replied with a calm expression: “Don’t misunderstand, I have a show to film with him this year, so I just took a few more looks.”

“Oh, that’s it……”

Sang Wan Ci said absent-mindedly: “It’s the one that you auditioned for, called 《Questioning Deity Sect》, he’s the male lead.”

Lu Zhi Wei: “?”

Who’s the male lead??

This is where the current male lead, original male lead and female lead would gather???

Lao Wu: 【Oho, the current male lead and previous male lead’s battle?】

Lu Zhi Wei: “……”

I love peace, thank you.

Sang Wan Ci put down her chopsticks and asked: “Did you pass your audition? What role is it?”

Lu Zhi Wei answered truthfully: “I passed, it’s the female lead’s junior sister.”

Sang Wan Ci heard “junior sister” and looked at her from the side of her eye.

Only to see Lu Zhi Wei holding her bowl, looking innocent and lost like a gullible young lady, making Sang Wan Ci want to pinch her cheek.

Sang Wan Ci suddenly laughed.

“You’re very suitable.”

Lu Zhi Wei: “?”

What was she laughing at?

…

Night came quickly.

Sang Wan Ci had already arranged to meet with Zhang Xian Rui tomorrow morning.

She bathed, brushed her teeth and got into bed.

Lu Zhi Wei didn’t dare to disturb her sleep, so they didn’t chat much. Soon, the lights were turned off and they both fell asleep.

But tonight, she had a nightmare.

She dreamt she was in a perpetual state of falling.

The wind cut like a knife, whooshing past her ear.

Heaven and earth were both inverted.

And she even dreamt that Sang Wan Ci said she didn’t like the moon-viewing cliff anymore.

At this point of her dream, she was like a marionette. Her string got pulled and she got dragged back to reality.

She awoke from her dream with a start, breathing heavily as she stared into the quiet darkness.

Her racing heart sounded loud in her ears, reminding her of her dream.

It was really odd, why did she have such a dream?

Why would Sang Wan Ci not like the moon-viewing cliff?

That child liked it so much she could sit there and not feel cold.

What was this rubbish dream!

But when she closed her eyes, she would think of that odd dream and she slowly grew more and more awake.

As her sleepiness went away, her heart started feeling worried.

But at this moment, a pair of arms stretched out from beside her and pulled her into an embrace.

A low, raspy voice asked softly: “Is it a nightmare?”

Then, Lu Zhi Wei’s head was patted twice as the voice continued on gently: “I’m here, don’t be scared……”

Lu Zhi Wei laid in Sang Wan Ci’s arms in a daze.

Sang Wan Ci’s hand smoothed over Lu Zhi Wei’s hair again and again in her half-awake state, as if it was second nature to her.

Lu Zhi Wei could smell the fragrance from her body.

She could hear that calm breathing.

She could also hear the steady beating of Sang Wan Ci’s heart.

Everything was warm and peaceful.

She suddenly relaxed.

Forgetting about that dream of her falling, forgetting about the unhappiness in her dream.

There was only this quiet, warm night in her heart, as well as Sang Wan Ci next to her.

Having calmed down, she felt as if she should get out of Sang Wan Ci’s embrace, but she didn’t want to leave this warmth.

When she had nightmares in the past, nobody ever comforted her like this.

Nobody had ever spoken to her so softly and gently.

She really liked it.

Because of that, she was conflicted and kept her eyes open for a while.

Finally, she closed her eyes.

Forget it, she would be selfish this once.

They were friends, she didn’t need to keep her distance.

[1] The Bureau of Civil Affairs is where you go to get your marriage registration certificate in China and I believe the fee is/was $9.90, so it’s a common online saying for people to tell others that you just need to fork out $9.90 as a way of telling them to go get married.