Chapter 91: CH 91

Today’s filming ended here.

It was time to wrap up and head back to rest.

Lu Zhi Wei and Sang Wan Ci went to the dressing room to remove their makeup and change out of their costumes.

They parted in front of Lu Zhi Wei’s door.

“I’ll bathe then come over.” Sang Wan Ci said.

Lu Zhi Wei smiled and nodded.

Wen Wen watched as Sang Wan Ci and Xiao Qiu left, then turned to ask: “Zhi Wei jie, what else do you two need to do? Why is Teacher Sang still coming over after she bathes?”

Lu Zhi Wei’s hand paused slightly on the doorknob.

Then she turned around and shook the script in her hand.

“We’re practising our ‘acting skills’.”

She really didn’t expect that she would be led by their serious-looking Teacher Sang to say such cryptic words.

Wen Wen immediately showed her admiration: “Jie, you guys are really professional, still reading the script after knocking off work.

“And I just want to hurry home to sleep after work……”

To a corporate slave, there was never enough sleep.

To continue working during your free time instead of playing or sleeping, it was too painful!

Lu Zhi Wei chuckled and reached out to pat her head: “Then go back and rest. There’s nothing else for today. You don’t have to send breakfast tomorrow either, I’ll sleep in, so you can sleep in too.

“Don’t come over whether there’s anything, just call me.”

Wen Wen blinked: “Then what if you’re hungry?”

Lu Zhi Wei: “I can call for food delivery if I’m hungry. I’m an adult, I know how to care for myself, don’t worry.”

Wen Wen nodded: “Okay, then call me if you have anything, Zhi Wei jie!”

Lu Zhi Wei smiled: “Rest well, goodnight.”

Wen Wen: “Goodnight!”

Wen Wen left happily.

Zhi Wei jie is so good, Zhi Wei jie is so considerate!

Lu Zhi Wei closed the door behind her.

She put down the script and turned on the air conditioner, taking her clothes to go shower.

After showering, she even put on a bit of perfume for Sang Wan Ci.

In the blink of an eye, it had already turned to August.

The days were still very hot, and the fans never left their hands when they were out filming.

Especially Sang Wan Ci and Luo Xin Han.

At night, the air conditioners definitely had to come on too.

Besides, it would get hot later too……

Lu Zhi Wei read the script as she sat on the sofa, waiting for Sang Wan Ci.

Suddenly, the phone on the table rang. It was Lu Si Jiao.

At the same time, the door was knocked.

She could only answer the phone as she opened the door.

“Hello, Jiao Jiao, what is it?”

Once the door was opened, Sang Wan Ci could hear Lu Zhi Wei making a call.

Sang Wan Ci walked in, closing the door behind her.

She put down the script and hugged Lu Zhi Wei from the back.

Sang Wan Ci placed her chin on Lu Zhi Wei’s shoulder, catching a slight hint of a clear, elegant fragrance.

She drew closer to Lu Zhi Wei’s neck and sniffed, smiling.

—— Her Zhi Wei had put on perfume for her.

Lu Zhi Wei could clearly feel Sang Wan Ci’s warm breath brush against her neck.

It was light and itchy, as if there was a feather brushing past her skin.

A part of her heart started feeling odd.

She was afraid her tone would sound weird, so she cleared her throat before daring to continue speaking with Lu Si Jiao: “Mm, filming is successful. Good, the production crew’s atmosphere is very good, everybody’s very good. Eat? Of course, I’ve been eating properly.

“Boyfriend? What are you thinking about, where would a boyfriend come from?”

Hearing that, Sang Wan Ci slowly tightened her arms around Lu Zhi Wei.

Soft, red lips gently closed around on Lu Zhi Wei’s ear as Sang Wan Ci’s hand moved around naughtily.

“Have a girlfriend.” She said in a low voice beside Lu Zhi Wei’s ear, in a volume that only the two of them could hear.

Even so, Lu Zhi Wei still consciously pulled her phone away.

Her eyebrows wrinkled as she twisted her body to look at Sang Wan Ci. Her expression couldn’t be called tortured, but it couldn’t be called happy either, as if she was being teased at a middle point.

A tease that could make someone restless at any time.

But she had spoiled the culprit so much that Lu Zhi Wei couldn’t push her away.

Lu Si Jiao’s voice came from the phone: “Jie? Are you listening?”

Lu Zhi Wei quickly grabbed Sang Wan Ci’s dexterous hand and put her phone back to her ear: “I’m listening, something dropped just now, what is it?”

Sang Wan Ci liked how Lu Zhi Wei was looking at her just now. As if she had found something to amuse her, she wanted to continue teasing Lu Zhi Wei.

Kissing and biting and licking, touching and rubbing and pinching.

Like a naughty kid who was causing trouble during class.

“Jiejie, are you done with the call?” She whispered softly into Lu Zhi Wei’s ear.

Lu Zhi Wei’s attention was completely stolen away by Sang Wan Ci, her mind was a mess.

She could only force herself to concentrate and reply to Lu Si Jiao, hoping to end the call quicker.

“Yes…… I’m resting.

“Mm? You want to come by? Mm…… Up to you, it’s fine.

“Next time, there’s not much free time lately, wait until I have more time then come over.

“Jiao Jiao, jiejie is quite tired from filming today, I want to rest early……

“Mm, good girl, goodnight, rest early too.”

Lu Zhi Wei finally hung up the phone and exhaled.

The person behind her was still “teasing”: “Teacher Lu, are you going to sleep?”

Lu Zhi Wei put down the phone and turned around with a smile, wrapping her arms around Sang Wan Ci’s neck: “Is our Teacher Sang going to let me sleep?”

Sang Wan Ci bit back a smile and said: “I’ll let you.[1]“

Lu Zhi Wei paused, then realised what was wrong: “This kid, you really are……”

Sang Wan Ci kissed her, not finishing the sentence this time: “Are what?”

Hearing that, Lu Zhi Wei pulled her over and kissed her.

“Are my favourite person.”

The night was long.

Their lips and tongues touched each other, wrapping around each other and rubbing together.

Five fingers buried in soft hair, they poured out their love for each other in the most secret place. Even the breaths they exhaled had each other’s names.

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Lu Zhi Wei took the showerhead and washed away the sweat on the back of Sang Wan Ci’s neck.

Sang Wan Ci hugged her, burying her face in the crook of Lu Zhi Wei’s neck, not moving.

They chatted as they washed up, from the script to the characters, and then whose house they would spend the new year at this year, until they finally talked about living together.

“Jiejie, move in with me, okay?”

Her house was big and too spacious for just one person.

She still preferred when Lu Zhi Wei was around. Even lying on the sofa and idling the day away became the sweetest thing on earth to enjoy.

She hugged Lu Zhi Wei, her voice lazy and gentle: “I’ll get Xiao Qiu to buy a lot of vegetables to put into the fridge, we can cook together and then go down for a walk once we’re done eating.

“We can watch the sunsets together, and the snow falling during winter.

“When summer comes around, we can go to the scenic viewpoint and look at the sea while eating watermelon.”

Love was great, but love was also ordinary.

These were all the things she wanted to do with Lu Zhi Wei, it was all the beautiful things she could think of.

She didn’t need a passionate, fiery love. This was already good enough.

Lu Zhi Wei listened quietly.

Every sentence Sang Wan Ci said could become a heartwarming painting in her mind.

The paintings could all bring out her anticipation and direction.

“Okay,” Lu Zhi Wei smiled. “Let’s move in together.”

Sang Wan Ci pulled out of the embrace, staring at her: “Really?”

Lu Zhi Wei nodded: “Mm, really.”

As long as they didn’t say it, nobody would suspect they were lovers cohabiting.

They would just think that they were good friends living together.

So what if good friends lived together?

Ying Xi Ze lived in his friend’s place before too!

The siblings had to be similar!

Lu Zhi Wei exaggeratedly said: “Ah, if I go stay in Teacher Sang’s house, wouldn’t it be bad if I didn’t pay for anything? Should I pay rent?”

Sang Wan Ci chuckled: “Mm, you have to pay.”

She kissed Lu Zhi Wei: “You have to pay every night.”

“Every night? Teacher Sang, this is extortion.”

“Teacher Lu doesn’t like it?”

“……”

“Mm?”

“It’s not that I don’t like it……”

Sang Wan Ci took the showerhead from Lu Zhi Wei’s hand and put it back, starting to tease her again.

“Teacher Lu,” Sang Wan Ci leaned closer to her ear. “You’ll have to start paying right now.”

The affection was lingering and hard to stop.

Lu Zhi Wei accepted her fate.

She couldn’t let down the work that Teacher Sang had done to tire her out and let her sleep in a bit longer tomorrow.

To repay Teacher Sang, Lu Zhi Wei also had to make her sleep in for a bit more.

……

After being intimate with her girlfriend and then sleeping in for the whole morning, the two of them were in high spirits the next day.

A new day.

The only thing that was unchanging was the heat.

After changing into their costumes and getting the makeup done, the actors got into position.

This scene was to show the goddess sympathising with others and changing Lin Huai Rou’s destiny without permission. Their relationship became much closer because of it.

Lin Huai Rou went to the temple to pray to the goddess as usual.

The goddess stood outside the hall.

This time, Lin Huai Rou didn’t tell her about her sorrows either.

Through the lens, Lu Zhi Wei stood outside the hall, deep in thought.

In this lifetime, Lin Huai Rou was a virtuous wife, an obedient daughter and an effective lady of the household.

She had a kind heart with no flaws, but she had never put herself first.

And now, because of her husband, her death was drawing near.

The goddess thought about it, not understanding what her believer had done wrong to deserve such a trial.

“Ah Yue.”

The goddess turned back.

Lin Huai Rou lifted her hand: “Let’s go.”

The goddess nodded and habitually reached out to support her.

The hall was quiet.

The believers who came to offer incense were all silent, nobody dared to disturb the sacred grounds of the goddess.

Lu Zhi Wei supported Sang Wan Ci’s arm.

The two of them slowly walked towards the gate.

The camera followed their steps, slowly moving forward with rhythm.

The goddess lowered her eyes and asked softly: “What wish did Madam make of the goddess?”

Lin Huai Rou was also accustomed to her straightforwardness: “Nothing much.”

The goddess asked again: “Was Madam praying for the master?”

Lin Huai Rou replied calmly: “Mm.”

Take it as that she was praying for Zhou Ming Shan then.

The goddess said: “Madam and Master truly are a harmonious couple.”

Lin Huai Rou paused for a long time before lightly humming.

Harmonious, a good match.

Isn’t that what everybody thought of them?

She loves him…… She has to love him.

“Since Master dotes on Madam so much, he will definitely listen to whatever Madam says, right?”

“……” Please read at jiulian lian . word press . com 台湾独立

“Madam, forgive Ah Yue for speaking out of turn, but have you tried to persuade Master to do more good deeds and accumulate virtue?”

Tried to persuade?

Of course she tried to persuade him.

But how could Zhou Ming Shan listen to her?

Lin Huai Rou’s mind pulled up the image of Zhou Ming Shan telling her to mind her own business.

She closed her eyes and slowly opened them again, exhaustion showing.

“Ah Yue, don’t bring up this matter again.”

Lin Huai Rou spoilt her because she could see a shadow of herself in the goddess.

She could no longer find the old her, but she could at least still protect the little servant Ah Yue.

But that didn’t mean that they could talk about everything.

They still had a master and servant relationship.

The goddess had long since understood Lin Huai Rou’s personality and understood how the couple got along.

With just a glance at Lin Huai Rou’s expression, she could know the answer.

That was even more ridiculous.

What wrong did Lin Huai Rou have as a wife?

Didn’t she mention it? Didn’t she do it? Didn’t she once save a little beggar whose leg had been injured?

The husband had the vicious heart of a scorpion, but the wife had the kind heart of a Buddha……

The rhythm was locked in and the timing was right.

Guo Hui signalled for another actor to appear.

After the short conversation between the goddess and Lin Huai Rou, a man suddenly appeared from behind and struck.

His clothes were plain and simple and his face was tanned. He had a sharp dagger in his hand and his eyes were tearing the people in front of him apart as he rushed towards Lin Huai Rou.

“Bitch, you’ll pay for my father’s life!”

Lin Huai Rou turned back upon hearing it.

The man had already drawn close to her.

The dagger glinted in the sunlight, the reflecting ray of light shone on Lin Huai Rou’s neck, as if predicting her fate.

Lin Huai Rou’s beautiful eyes widened as she lifted a hand to try and block it.

At this moment, the goddess jumped between the two and took the stab that was meant for her.

Fresh blood spurted out.

The man looked at the goddess who had blocked his dagger.

He suddenly didn’t know what to do now that he had injured an innocent person.

“No…… I didn’t mean to kill you, I wanted, wanted to kill Lin Huai Rou…… How could this happen……”

The goddess’ face was deathly pale, but even so, she pushed him away forcefully.

—— Go, all grievances have a debtor. Killing Lin Huai Rou will not get rid of your resentment, this goddess will not blame you.

She couldn’t die.

But she did feel pain.

Lin Huai Rou watched the goddess take the dagger for her in surprise.

The goddess collapsed in her arms, pressing a hand to her wound, blood flowing over her fingers.

The temple’s monks rushed forward and pressed the assailant against the floor.

Lin Huai Rou helplessly called out “help”, this was the first time the matriarch of the Zhou family had ever shown panic.

There was no sound used here.

In the quiet world, it showcased the anxiety and panic of the actors, whether it was the wounded or the perpetrator.

Silence was better than sound, and the scene was immediately improved.

The actors were all in optimal condition.

Guo Hui immediately got the crew to start shooting the next scene.

They didn’t go back.

The goddess was lying on a bed in the temple.

The assailant had been tied up and was waiting for Zhou Ming Shan’s judgement and punishment.

After investigating, it was discovered that he was the son of the fortune teller that Zhou Ming Shan had beaten to death.

He hated Zhou Ming Shan’s wickedness, but couldn’t think of a way to harm him, so he thought of hurting Lin Huai Rou.

Didn’t everybody say Zhou Ming Shan liked this wife the most? If he killed her, Zhou Ming Shan would definitely be in agony!

Lin Huai Rou was taking care of the goddess.

She really didn’t expect that the yellow-clothed girl in front of her would risk her own life to save her.

Lin Huai Rou asked if she was in discomfort.

The goddess lay on her back and softly said: “It hurts……”

Everything happened so suddenly. She didn’t know if she had done it because she pitied Lin Huai Rou, or if she had saved this believer out of instinct.

She only knew that she had done it.

Because she wasn’t allowed to use magic on mortals, so she had done this.

Hearing it, Lin Huai Rou suddenly said: “Ah Yue, I’m sorry.”

The goddess looked up at her.

Lin Huai Rou’s eyes were filled with guilt: “If not for me, you wouldn’t be suffering, I’m sorry……”

The goddess suddenly wanted to laugh.

The person who was at fault didn’t think he was wrong, but the person who was innocent had to apologise.

There was actually such a ridiculous concept in this mortal world?

Her believer definitely had a lot of grievances in her heart.

The script originally said that here, the goddess would smile at Lin Huai Rou and tell her not to be unhappy.

Lu Zhi Wei felt that simply saying that and smiling was a bit too simple.

The goddess wasn’t bound by the rules and conventions of the mortal world. She was daring and unrestrained, even towards Lin Huai Rou.

So Lu Zhi Wei added some small actions.

“You’re not in the wrong, Madam,” Lu Zhi Wei lifted a hand and gently smoothed out Lin Huai Rou’s tightly knit eyebrows. “Don’t be unhappy……”

Smile, my believer.

I’ve never seen you smile before.

You’re so beautiful, you must be incredibly good-looking when you smile.

Lin Huai Rou was dumbfounded.

Ever since she had married into the Zhou family, nobody had ever asked her not to be unhappy. Everybody felt that she was living well and in bliss, the luckiest woman in the world.

Only Ah Yue was different.

She would say “Madam, you look unhappy.”

She would try to make her laugh.

She would even tell her “don’t be unhappy” when she was injured.

In this whole world, it was like Ah Yue was the only one who remembered that she was still a human with feelings and desires.

Guo Hui felt that Lu Zhi Wei’s action was perfectly fitting.

The goddess had already started wanting to see Lin Huai Rou smile at this point, she was starting to have the same feelings and desires as mortals. She was willing to draw a little closer, so touching her own believer was within reason.

So Guo Hui didn’t call to cut, letting them continue acting.

Through the camera.

Lu Zhi Wei’s eyelids drooped as she looked frail: “Madam, I’m tired……”

Sang Wan Ci slowly put her hand down and pulled the blanket up to cover her: “Then rest well.”

Everybody in the room withdrew.

Only the goddess was left there to rest.

Outside the room, Lin Huai Rou asked the doctor about the goddess’ injuries.

The doctor shook his head: “Her injury is on the chest, and it was a deep stab. This doctor has treated patients for decades, but I’ve never seen someone survive under these circumstances. Madam Zhou, I’ve tried my best, as for the rest…… We can only leave it up to the heavens.”

Hearing that, Lin Huai Rou’s eyebrows furrowed even tighter.

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Through the camera, Lin Huai Rou stared at the sky, looking glamorous yet helpless in her luxurious silk clothes.

This scene was filmed a few times before passing.

The weather was hot, so Guo Hui gave everybody a break to drink some water and have some fruit before continuing.

There was one scene in the evening.

After knowing that his wife had encountered danger, Zhou Ming Shan was rushing to the temple to kill the son of the fortune teller. Lin Huai Rou was not willing to see her husband commit yet another sin, so she saved the son and set him free.

The son of the fortune teller knew it was Lin Huai Rou who was letting him go, and he wept on the spot, feeling immense guilt.

Every debt has its own origin, he shouldn’t have pinned Zhou Ming Shan’s sin onto Lin Huai Rou.

After filming this scene, the sky was just about dark.

Luo Xin Han’s Zhou Ming Shan visited the injured goddess and went through the pleasantries, affirming her actions and allowing her to continue being Lin Huai Rou’s servant, building the foundation for the goddess and Lin Huai Rou to get even closer in the future.

Because in his eyes, right now, Ah Yue was an unquestionably loyal dog.

If Ah Yue could block a dagger for Lin Huai Rou this time, she could do it next time too, like a loyal bodyguard.

Luo Xin Han was his old self.

He was flawless when acting, but once he was done filming, he immediately retreated to a side and became a mushroom who didn’t want to socialise with anybody.

Sometimes, Lu Zhi Wei suspected his acting skills were so good because he wanted to finish filming ASAP and reduce the number of interactions he had to have.

This probably was…… his social anxiety helping him improve?

Once this was done, it would be time for Lu Zhi Wei and Sang Wan Ci’s scene ——

At this time, the sky was already dark.

Lin Huai Rou lifted up her skirts and walked into the hall, kneeling sincerely in front of the statue of the goddess.

On the other end, the goddess slowly woke, the wound on her chest slowly healing.

Mortal weapons could never harm gods.

But she was now acting as a mortal, how could mortals heal so quickly from a wound?

So she could only try to make this wound look like it did at the start.

After using her magic, she closed her eyes to rest.

At that moment, she saw Lin Huai Rou in front of her statue, looking as devout as always.

She knew her believer was going to pray silently again.

But she was wrong this time.

Lin Huai Rou spoke.

“Goddess, please protect Ah Yue and heal her, she’s innocent.”

The goddess suddenly opened her eyes, unsure what she was feeling.

The first time her believer had spoken to her statue, and it was to pray for her wellbeing……

She sat calmly on the bed.

After a moment, she raised a hand and erased the magic spell on her wound.

Then she opened the window and looked at the sky.

There was no moon tonight.

The dark clouds swirled overhead as if they were going to press down on the world at any time.

Lightning flickered amongst the clouds, threatening to fall.

It was the heavens accusing her of impulsively changing the fate of mortals.

But she didn’t regret it.

Just treat it as a miracle that she gave to Lin Huai Rou.

Why should a kind person give up her life for the mistakes of someone else?

There was no such principle on earth or in heaven.

She closed the window and lay back down.

As long as she couldn’t see it, she wouldn’t be bothered by it.

As she lay down, the door suddenly opened.

Lin Huai Rou had come.

“Madam……”

The goddess pushed herself up to sit.

Lin Huai Rou quickly indicated for her to lie down, closing the door and walking over to enquire how she felt.

Seeing the anxiousness in her eyes, the goddess suddenly smiled and said: “Madam, maybe the goddess is protecting me, I feel like I’m better…… Madam, help me take a look?”

Lin Huai Rou pulled open her collar, half in doubt, only to see that the bloody wound had disappeared and her skin was unblemished as if nothing had happened.

Lin Huai Rou froze, then smiled.

—— It must be the goddess’ blessing!

“It’s okay now, Ah Yue,” Lin Huai Rou sighed. “It’s okay now.”

The goddess had finally seen Lin Huai Rou smile. It was like a flower had bloomed, beautiful and surprising.

She suddenly felt that this miracle was worth it.

The goddess got up again: “Since I’m fine, then I’ll send Madam back to the residence.”

Hearing that, Lin Huai Rou schooled her expression back to a neutral one and ordered her to lie down and continue resting.

“Although the goddess has blessed your injury and healed it, but you’ve lost a lot of blood and you’re still weak, there’s no rush to leave.

“We’ll rest here for one night, then leave tomorrow.”

“Then Madam ——”

“I’ll accompany you.”

The goddess paused in confusion.

Under the warm, yellow candlelight, Lin Huai Rou’s expression was gentle: “There’s going to be lightning outside, aren’t you scared of it?”

The goddess was suddenly speechless.

Lin Huai Rou actually remembered what she had said before……

She looked at Lin Huai Rou in a daze.

Lin Huai Rou supported her and helped her lie back on the bed.

“Sleep, I’m here.”

The goddess didn’t know what was going on, closing her eyes obediently.

Her hand subconsciously closed around Lin Huai Rou’s sleeve.

At this moment, her subconscious was hoping for Lin Huai Rou not to leave.

After living alone for thousands of years, even a god would be lonely……

Lin Huai Rou looked down at the goddess’ hand, not removing it.

In that scene, they were illuminated by the warm candlelight. The atmosphere was gentle and beautiful, as if they could accompany each other until the end of their days regardless of their identities.

“Cut ——”

Guo Hui stood up, satisfied: “This scene is a pass, everybody’s worked hard. Let’s wrap up here and go back to rest. Rest well, we’ll continue tomorrow.”

……

Lu Si Jiao wanted to visit the production.

Ying Xi Ze also wanted to visit the production.

The two of them agreed to pick a time when everybody was free to visit.

Once she thought about the fact that she would be able to watch her sister act in real-life, Lu Si Jiao got extremely excited.

—— It was going to be so fun!

[1] Bit difficult to bring the meaning across in English, but in Chinese, sometimes the word for “sleep” can be used to refer to sleeping with someone (as in having sex). So when Lu Zhi Wei asked if Sang Wan Ci will let her “sleep”, the (unintended) double meaning is that she’s asking if Sang Wan Ci will let Lu Zhi Wei sleep with her (or be the top, in other words).