CHAPTER 98
Following Assistant Gao's "hint," Xiaoyuan calculated that by 9 p.m., she would already be waiting for Wei Zhuang on the 34th floor.
When Wei Zhuang came in, how should she appear?
'Suddenly rush out and jump onto her?'
Xiaoyuan abruptly shook her head, dismissing the thought. She couldn't play the games she used to play with her brother when she was little, Wei Zhuang might just throw her off...
Wait, she hadn't told Wei Zhuang beforehand that she was coming. Would she even be welcome?
For someone like Wei Zhuang, who has such a strong sense of boundaries, it's highly likely that she wouldn't appreciate surprises. Only now did Xiaoyuan realize that she might have acted impulsively.
But since she was already here, it probably wouldn't come to the point of being kicked out. Wei Zhuang had always been a person of great grace.
Xiaoyuan recalled the last video call when she mentioned going to Xicheng to visit Wei Zhuang. In the video, Wei Zhuang had frowned slightly.
Did she feel like she was bothering her?
Xiaoyuan used to believe that, under the contract, they were equals. Even in the eyes of her brother and Cai Juan, who knew the inside story, there were too many inequalities between them: social status, wealth, identity, age, and so on.
But Xiaoyuan didn't see it that way. None of those things mattered to her.
The attraction between them had always felt balanced—until this moment, when Xiaoyuan realized the balance had tipped...
She liked Wei Zhuang more, and...
Xiaoyuan didn't dare to think further. Her once cheerful mood instantly plummeted.
Forget it. To avoid an awkward situation, and since Wei Zhuang hadn't returned yet, she still had time to leave.
She lowered her head and walked out the door, into the hallway, passing by a wall of murals, and silently waited for the elevator to arrive.
She had come full of excitement but was now leaving disappointed.
Xiaoyuan kept her head down the entire time, so she didn't notice the numbers on the elevator display. When she heard the crisp "ding" and the elevator doors slid open, she looked up and saw Wei Zhuang.
Both of them were stunned.
Xiaoyuan felt the embarrassment of being caught like a thief. She stiffly raised her hand and waved in a "maneki-neko" (beckoning cat) gesture. "...Hi~"
She was very nervous but kept her nerves taut, not missing a single expression on Wei Zhuang's face. She saw the surprise in her eyes flash past as Wei Zhuang stepped out.
"..."
Wei Zhuang was wearing a loose, light gray suit, her hair half-tied, and carrying a large black CELINE The 16 bag. There was a hint of weariness in her eyes that Xiaoyuan hadn't seen before.
"You're here." her voice was slightly hoarse, as if from a long journey.
Hearing those familiar words, Xiaoyuan's heart softened. She involuntarily followed Wei Zhuang, gazing at her profile, and reached out her hand. "Let me carry your bag."
Wei Zhuang glanced at her and shook her head. "No need."
They entered the apartment, and Wei Zhuang went to the foyer closet, set down her bag, took out slippers, swapped her high heels for them, and removed her coat, leaving her in a simple off-the-shoulder blouse.
Xiaoyuan watched her, feeling that Wei Zhuang seemed distant yet undeniably captivating. The moment she saw her, she should have gone up and hugged her. Now, she had missed the perfect opportunity.
Wei Zhuang turned back and saw Xiaoyuan standing still, her eyes bright and clear, like a little kitten waiting to be petted.
As Wei Zhuang passed by her, she casually reached out and ruffled the top of Xiaoyuan's head.
Xiaoyuan watched her figure and smiled, her lips curving upward.
Wei Zhuang walked into the living room, poured herself a glass of water, drank it, and then sat down on the couch to rest.
Seeing that the weariness on Wei Zhuang's face hadn't faded, Xiaoyuan volunteered, "Let me massage your shoulders." In no time, Xiaoyuan had moved behind the couch and began gently massaging her.
"I used to do this for my brother often. How does it feel?"
Wei Zhuang's off-the-shoulder look was really beautiful, and her back was also very slender, with extremely beautiful butterfly bones hidden beneath her fabric. But Xiaoyuan could feel that Wei Zhuang wasn't relaxing. On the contrary, her muscles seemed tenser.
She really didn't like, or perhaps wasn't used to, others touching her. As expected, Wei Zhuang reached out and pressed her hand, rejecting her massage. "No need."
Xiaoyuan withdrew her hand, her brows and eyes drooping. Wei Zhuang tilted her face slightly but didn't turn to look at her, lost in thought.
Xiaoyuan's eyelashes fluttered twice, and suddenly she leaned forward, embracing the woman from behind.
Her heart was pounding wildly. She could feel Wei Zhuang pause for a moment before her hand rested on hers.
Xiaoyuan was stirred by this gesture and couldn't help but lean in to kiss her cheek. Only then did Wei Zhuang turn her head, her long eyelashes almost brushing against Xiaoyuan's cheek.
Their breaths mingled in an instant.
It was a distance perfect for a kiss, and it easily brought back the atmosphere of their last kiss.
Their eyes met, and Xiaoyuan felt Wei Zhuang's gaze was deep and intense, moving from her eyes down to her nose, then to her lips...
Xiaoyuan even noticed Wei Zhuang's slender fingers lift up to gently pinch her chin.
'Is she going to kiss me?'
Xiaoyuan felt her breath hitch, but after waiting, Wei Zhuang merely pinched her chin, her index finger sliding down her cheek before letting go. She then moved slightly away and stood up.
"I'm a bit tired, I'll rest first." she said, seemingly preparing to return to her room. "You should rest soon too."
Xiaoyuan blinked at her, her lips slightly pouting, looking utterly endearing.
Wei Zhuang's foot that had stepped forward retreated slightly, and she ruffled the top of Xiaoyuan's head again before leaving.
Xiaoyuan pursed her lips, feeling not at all comforted. She sat idly for a while before heading to her usual room to shower and change into her pajamas.
She couldn't sleep very well and missed the warmth of Wei Zhuang's body, so she came to Wei Zhuang's bedroom door again.
This time, she didn't push the door open but knocked instead. "Frances, can I come in?"
She waited, but there was no answer from inside the room.
She knocked again, still no response.
Perhaps the room was too big, and Wei Zhuang couldn't hear her. Xiaoyuan picked up her phone, intending to send her a WeChat message. She had already typed the words, but at the moment she was about to send them, her body froze.
'Don't do this,' a voice inside her screamed. 'Don't go this far.'
She slowly squatted down.
A vast emptiness overwhelmed her, as if she were alone in a wilderness, surrounded by howling winds.
......
The next day, Wei Zhuang woke up slightly later than usual. For the past half month, she had been working non-stop, with a poor appetite and restless sleep. Only last night, back in her familiar bed, did she finally sleep comfortably.
After finishing her morning routine, she checked the time—8:30. Normally, Xiaoyuan wouldn't be up yet. She walked to Xiaoyuan's room and gently pushed the door open.
But inside, she found the bed neatly made, with no signs of it being slept in.
Wei Zhuang frowned slightly and quickly scanned the room. No one was there, Xiaoyuan wasn't in her room. She walked out, circling the house, but found no one.
The air carried no trace of her presence.
Wei Zhuang stood in place for a while, then returned to her room, took out her phone, and saw that the WeChat chat was also quiet.
She frowned again, a hint of confusion in her expression.
She typed and sent a message, [Did you go back?]
A long time passed, but Xiaoyuan still hadn't replied to her.
Wei Zhuang's finger hovered above the screen, the light in her eyes flickering dimly. After a while, she also put away her phone.
......
On May 1st, Labor Day, a well-known film and television influencer on Weibo revealed that Xu Shumin, a heavyweight in the screenwriting industry, had a new project jointly invested by Tonghua and Warner Bros., and they were currently casting for some roles.
It was already known that He Chenying and Zeng Li would be participating, and according to reliable sources, an even bigger star was joining the cast—someone absolutely eye-popping!
This influencer had always been well-informed, and their leaks were usually accurate. With millions of followers, the news quickly spread across the internet within hours, causing a frenzy:
Two major industry giants collaborating on a joint investment!
The return of a legendary screenwriter!
Triple Golden Award-winning actress He Chenying stars in a TV series for the first time! And she's collaborating with the uncrowned king of veteran actors, Teacher Zeng Li! And there's even a bigger star than them!
Each piece of information was a bombshell, almost crashing Weibo. Other social media platforms opened posts for heated discussions, with rumors, both true and false, flying everywhere.
After the Labor Day holiday, Xiaoyuan arrived at a Warner Bros. studio for an audition.
It was a sunny day in May. She wore sunglasses and glanced up at the towering, luxurious office building. The parking lot outside was almost full, indicating that there were many competitors today. It was said that almost all the young actors in the industry who could make it had come.
She was dressed in an all-white suit, with red lips, her hair swaying gently in the breeze as she walked.
Cai Juan followed her, whispering, "Don't be nervous. We've got this."
Xiaoyuan turned her head slightly, "I'm not nervous. You're the one who's nervous."
Cai Juan chuckled and scratched his head, "Yeah, I guess I am a bit nervous."
Tiantian, standing nearby, looked at her with starry eyes, "Sister, you're so beautiful," she whispered, "Sister, go crush them all!"
Xiaoyuan smiled faintly. She was indeed confident. Yesterday, Ruan Qing had called to say she would accompany her today, but Xiaoyuan had declined.
"Phew~" She closed her eyes behind her sunglasses and took a deep breath.
She had been out of touch with Wei Zhuang for two weeks. Where their relationship stood now, Xiaoyuan wasn't sure, and she didn't want to discuss it with anyone else.
The only thing she was certain of was that she didn't want to have that unbalanced feeling again. She wanted to find a balance point between them.
'Work comes first. Don't think about anything else.'
She told herself.
Entering the audition hall, there were already many actresses sitting inside. This round was the selection for the young female roles in "Deep in the Palace."
There were three outstanding young female roles in this drama: the two princesses, Chong'an and Chongping, and a palace maid named Suhe.
This drama is undoubtedly a top-tier project. Even landing a minor role in it would elevate an actor's status, which is why all the renowned actresses under thirty in the industry have gathered here. Each one had exquisite makeup and looked radiantly beautiful, gathered together. When Xiaoyuan walked in, the entire room fell silent.
Curious glances, subtle hostility, genuine and fake smiles—countless gazes, both open and hidden, landed on Xiaoyuan.
She was simply too popular.
Her recent hit drama frequently trended on social media, and the online discussions had crafted a narrative for her as a "buried acting talent with overlooked stunning beauty," a tragic yet strong character.
Following that, she starred in Huo Bijun's blockbuster film, and her current agent was also a prominent figure in the industry.
She was simply too eye-catching, too enviable.
Cai Juan felt a wave of emotion and smiled, muttering, "Yuan'er, who would have thought we'd come this far!"
Tiantian laughed, "Brother, you better get used to it. Our Sister Yuan is only going to get more popular!"
Cai Juan suppressed his smile.
Xiaoyuan wasn't familiar with any of these actresses and didn't pay much attention to them. She offered a polite, friendly smile and looked for a seat. Just then, a familiar voice called out, "Xiang Xiaoyuan!"
Zou Yirui, frowning, walking over excitedly. "You're here too?"
Xiaoyuan raised an eyebrow slightly. "Can't I be?"
Zou Yirui snorted, "You can. I'm not afraid of you!" Despite her words, her demeanor softened, and she lowered her voice, "Hey, hey, hey, which role are you auditioning for? I don't want to audition for the same role as you."
Xiaoyuan smiled faintly, "You're still scared?"
This drama had investment from Tonghua, and Zou Yirui was the only young actress from Tonghua. It was clear she was someone with connections.
"Hey, I wasn't scared before," Zou Yirui twirled her hair, blinking, "But now that you're here, I am. If I, someone with connections, don't get selected, I'll lose face!"
Xiaoyuan was about to tease her when she caught sight of someone out of the corner of her eye.
Lu Jingnian.
She was sitting in a secluded corner, accompanied only by a very young and unfamiliar assistant, exuding the timidity of someone just entering society.
Her gaze had likely been fixed on them, and now it met Xiaoyuan's. She nodded and smiled.
Zou Yirui followed her gaze, "She's here too. I heard Boyi replaced her agent. Look at her assistant, as timid as a quail. What's the use?"
Xiaoyuan remained silent for a moment, then said, "Let's go say hello."
She led the way towards Lu Jingnian. Zou Yirui's muttered "Why should I go say hello?" hung in the air, unanswered. She sighed inwardly and followed.
Lu Jingnian was stunned for a moment and hurriedly stood up. Xiaoyuan took off her sunglasses, revealing a face as lovely as a lotus, with a touch of red on her lips. She smiled, "You're here too?"
Lu Jingnian felt the room's chatter momentarily quiet as the girl in front of her removed her sunglasses. Up close, she was even more struck by the impact.
From her beauty.
From her kindness.
She was the first to arrive. For over an hour of this audition, no one had come forward to greet her. Everyone was chatting and laughing, their greetings seemingly genuine but also fake. Only she was like a transparent person.
Half a year or more ago, she was still the most famous among the young actresses under 30. But as the saying goes, "Flowers do not bloom forever," and times have changed. She sat quietly in her seat, digesting this immense disparity.
Only Xiang Xiaoyuan had walked towards her.
Lu Jingnian's eyes were burning with a strong surge of sourness. She tried hard to hide it and greeted her with a genuine smile. "Xiaoyuan, hello."
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