Huayu: Starting from retirement, sweeping across the domestic entertainment industry

Chapter 212 "The Azure Orchid's Secret" filming wrapped

After finishing their meal, the three of them came out of the private room. A night breeze blew by, carrying the coolness of early autumn.

Lu Yuxiao walked ahead with light steps. She suddenly turned her head and looked at Li Ran with anticipation in her eyes.

"Where should we go next?"

Li Ran casually replied, "Let's go back to the hotel and sleep."

He even yawned, and a few tears welled up in the corner of his eye.

Lu Yuxiao paused for a moment.

Her face slowly turned red, starting from her neck and spreading all the way to her ears and cheeks.

"This...this isn't quite right...isn't it too fast?"

Her voice was halting, as if she was choking on something. Her eyes didn't know where to look; she stared at the ground one moment and the streetlights the next, but she didn't dare to look at Li Ran.

Li Ran smiled slightly as he looked at her nervous expression.

He knew she was overthinking it, but he didn't intend to explain; instead, he wanted to continue teasing her.

"Didn't you pay? You said one night, and it's one night, not a penny less—"

Before he could finish speaking, he received a slap on the back of the head. The force was neither too light nor too heavy, but it carried a fierce "shut up" attitude.

Tian Xiwei withdrew her hand, glaring at him. "Are you never going to stop?!"

Li Ran was taken aback by the camera, then turned around and chuckled awkwardly, "So, are we going back to the hotel or not?"

Tian Xiwei ignored him. She turned to look at Lu Yuxiao, her expression softening. She took out her phone from her pocket and tapped a few times.

"I'll refund you the two thousand yuan. Li Ran was just joking with you." Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable tone.

As soon as she finished speaking, Lu Yuxiao's phone vibrated; a WeChat transfer of two thousand yuan had been made.

Lu Yuxiao glanced down, then looked up, opened her mouth, and wanted to refuse.

Before he could even speak, Li Ran interrupted.

"It's your birthday, and I've just finished filming. I'll take you out to play then."

Looking into his earnest eyes, Lu Yuxiao swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

She lowered her head, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded.

"I'll be finishing filming the day after tomorrow."

Li Ran thought for a moment, then frowned slightly.

"Then it's perfect to go back to Beijing to play. There are too many paparazzi in Hengdian, it's not convenient."

He was telling the truth.

In Hengdian, there are more paparazzi and paparazzi than tourists. You're followed wherever you go, and even having a meal can be photographed as an "exposure of a relationship."

He didn't want Lu Yuxiao to get involved in that kind of trouble.

Lu Yuxiao nodded and did not refuse.

She looked down at the "Payment Received" notification on her phone screen, and a slight smile curved her lips. She didn't tell Li Ran that she had finished filming and was going back to Shanghai.

It's not that I don't want to tell him, it's that I'm afraid he won't come if I do.

"Let's go back to the hotel first." Tian Xiwei had already walked ahead, and Li Ran followed. After taking a few steps, he turned back to look at Lu Yuxiao.

She was still standing there, head down, lost in thought.

"Let's go," he called out.

Lu Yuxiao looked up, smiled at him, and then quickly followed.

Li Ran first took Lu Yuxiao back to her hotel before going back with Tian Xiwei.

The two returned to the hotel, and the moment the door closed behind them, the light in the corridor was also cut off.

Tian Xiwei turned around and pinched Li Ran's ear.

The movements were quick and precise, as if they had practiced countless times. Two fingers pinched his earlobe and twisted it gently.

Li Ran winced in pain, tilting his head and grimacing as he reached out to cover her hand.

What are you doing?

-

Tian Xiwei snorted coldly. She didn't let go, but just kept twisting his ear. Watching him tilt his head and grin, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve slightly, but she quickly tightened her grip.

"Why would I?" she retorted, her voice rising a half-octave. "You'd sell yourself for two thousand dollars?"

Li Ran smiled and reached out to try to push her hand away, but he didn't dare to use force, so he could only lightly place his hand on her wrist.

"That was just a joke, who knew Lulu would take it seriously." His tone carried a hint of helplessness.

Tian Xiwei sneered. She finally released his ear, but instead of letting him go, she pushed him against the wall, braced herself against the walls on either side of him, and trapped him in the middle.

She looked up at him, her large eyes shining brightly in the dim light, carrying a hint of provocation and a touch of expectation.

"That's perfect," her voice softened, rising at the end, "I've refunded her the money, now I'm your customer."

She paused, tilted her head to look at him, and a mischievous smile curved her lips. "Let me see how your two thousand yuan service is."

Li Ran leaned against the wall, looked down at the woman who had her arms wrapped around him, and suddenly smiled.

He reached out and gently pinched her chin, his thumb brushing against her lips.

"So, this customer," his voice lowered, tinged with amusement, "where would you like to begin?"

Tian Xiwei slapped his hand away and glared at him, but there was no real threat in that glare; it was more of a reproachful "Don't try that on me."

She turned and walked towards the bathroom, but after taking two steps, she stopped and looked back at him.

"Go take a shower first." Her tone was commanding. "Make sure you're clean, so the customers don't find fault with you."

""

Li Ran watched her retreating figure, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

He straightened up, straightened his collar which she had pulled askew, and then followed her.

"Yes, ma'am."

He added, "I'll show you what true value for money is today. I guarantee you won't waste these two thousand."

The bathroom door was closed.

The sound of rushing water could be heard, but through the frosted glass door, it was indistinct, as if through a layer of mist.

On September 25th, the sky over Hengdian was a clear, bright blue.

When the last scene was filmed and the director yelled "Cut," Li Ran was still standing in the shot, waiting for the "Cut!" before slowly walking out.

Staff members surrounded him, some handing him flowers, others patting him on the shoulder and saying, "Congratulations on wrapping up filming."

He smiled and accepted it; it was a bunch of sunflowers, golden and dazzling in the sunlight.

The wrap party was simple, but lively.

The producer said a few polite words, thanking this person and that person, and finally said, "I wish everyone a bright future."

Li Ran stood in the middle of the crowd, holding the bouquet of sunflowers, and smiled at the camera.

Back at the hotel, the assistant had already packed my luggage.

Tian Xiwei was sitting on the edge of the bed scrolling through her phone when she saw Li Ran come in. She looked up and asked, "Why did you change your flight?"

Li Ran leaned against the wall, his hands in his pockets.

"Oh—Coconut is in Hengdian, right? I'll stay for a few days before going back."

Tian Xiwei glanced at him but didn't ask why.

The filming location for "Protecting the Heart" is not far away; it only takes about ten minutes by car.

When Li Ran arrived, Zhou Ye had just finished filming a scene and was sitting on a folding chair in the rest area drinking water.

"Happy wrap-up!" Her voice was clear and crisp.

Li Ran walked over and sat down next to her.

When will filming for this drama end?

Zhou Ye tilted his head and thought for a moment, "We've only just started filming, it'll be after New Year's Day at the earliest."

As she spoke, she sighed, as if lamenting that she would have to stay in this wretched place for several more months.

Li Ran nodded. "Okay."

Zhou Ye glanced at him, his brows furrowing slightly. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, just asking casually," Li Ran explained, his gaze falling on the film set in the distance.

He was actually thinking about the system tasks.

The one with Zhang Ruonan has already been filmed. Zhou Ye, Zhang Jingyi, and Liu Haocun each have one more film to shoot. The scripts have all been selected, but a suitable time has not yet been found.

He thought that once Zhou Ye's film was finished, it would be around next spring, and then they could start shooting.

His e-sports drama should have finished filming by then.

Zhou Ye pursed his lips and didn't ask any further questions.

Li Ran's secretive behavior wasn't a one-off occurrence; she was too lazy to guess.

"When are you going back to Beijing?" she changed the subject.

"My flight is tomorrow afternoon. I'm going to Shanghai, then back to Beijing." He paused, looking into her eyes. "I'll spend tonight with you."

Zhou Ye paused for a moment, then frowned. "Why go to Shanghai?"

She suddenly remembered something, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "Lu Yuxiao's birthday? Are you two together?"

When?

Li Ran didn't expect that her words would trigger three questions from Zhou Ye, which shows that she has indeed become much smarter than before.

He chuckled and explained, "It is indeed her birthday, but we're not together."

Zhou Ye snorted, "That's about right."

She paused, then started counting on her fingers, "How many more did you add this year? Zhang Ruonan, Sister Meng, Li Yitong—"

She counted to this point, then looked up at Li Ran, her eyes filled with a hint of questioning and grievance, "There's still Lu Yuxiao, and this is never-ending."

As she spoke, she pouted, her lips so wide they could hold an oil bottle.

"Sister Meng isn't—"

"The others are the same!" Zhou Ye glared at him and continued, "A while ago, my mom asked me about our relationship."

Zhou Ye lowered his voice, saying with some helplessness, "I already said it was just online hype, and brushed it off."

After she finished speaking, she sighed. The sigh was soft but heavy, like a stone pressing on her chest, making her feel suffocated.

Li Ran looked up at her.

He reached out, wanting to touch her face, but pulled his hand back halfway.

In the distance, the stage manager's voice came from afar, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Teacher Zhou—get ready for the next performance—!"

Zhou Ye stood up and patted the wrinkles on her skirt.

She looked down at Li Ran, her eyes no longer filled with the grievance and questioning she had just displayed, but instead with a quiet, indifferent calm, as if nothing had happened.

"I'm going to film now."

Li Ran nodded. "Go ahead."

She turned and walked towards the film set.

After taking a few steps, she stopped and looked back at him.

"Go back to the hotel and wait for me!"

Li Ran nodded, sat down, and stared at the direction where her figure disappeared for a long time.

Finally, he shook his head and went back to the hotel where Zhou Ye was staying.

As night fell, the lights on set went out one by one.

After finishing work, Zhou Ye returned to his hotel room, where Li Ran was lying on the bed scrolling through her phone.

There was freshly delivered takeout on the table.

After taking a shower, the two snuggled up in bed.

Zhou Ye leaned against Li Ran's chest, his hair loose, brushing against Li Ran's chin, making him feel a little itchy.

She didn't speak, but kept her eyes closed, her fingers unconsciously drawing circles on his chest. She stopped drawing, as if she had fallen asleep, or perhaps she was thinking about something.

Li Ran didn't say anything, he put one arm around her waist and rested the other hand behind his head, staring at the ceiling.

The coconut juice was a bit too sweet and cloying.

"coconut."

"Hmm?" Zhou Ye didn't open his eyes, but just responded lazily.

"Did your aunt say anything to you?" Li Ran asked casually, but he was actually a little unsure himself.

Zhou Ye opened his eyes, snuggled closer to him, and found a more comfortable position.

"We didn't talk about much."

Her voice was muffled. "It's just that your relationship was in a bit of a mess recently, right? My mom asked a few questions, but nothing else."

She paused, then began tracing circles on his chest with her finger again, making two marks before stopping. "It's just that my parents want to meet your aunt and uncle—"

Li Ran frowned.

He didn't answer immediately. His gaze remained fixed on her face for a long time, so long that Zhou Ye thought he had fallen asleep, before he finally spoke.

"Okay." His voice wasn't loud, but it was clear. "But let's wait until we both have some free time. I'll make the arrangements."

Zhou Ye nodded without saying anything.

Her face was buried in his chest, so her expression couldn't be seen; in fact, she was also very scared.

She was afraid that her parents would meet Li Ran's parents.

She was afraid that the problems she had never dared to face would finally be brought to the forefront.

She was afraid her mother would look at her with that gentle yet disappointed gaze and ask, "Ono, what are you trying to achieve?"

What was she after? She couldn't say for sure herself.

All she knew was that she had liked this person since her college years.

I like him so much that I can tolerate everything about him, I like him so much that I can pretend not to care about those messy things, I like him so much that I can stay quietly in his arms, not thinking about anything, not asking anything.

But she didn't want her parents to know any of this, didn't want them to know that their daughter was living such a humble life in this relationship.

She knew that Li Ran's mother preferred Tian Xiwei.

It wasn't a guess, it was a feeling.

That kind of affection couldn't be hidden, just like Li Ran's favoritism towards her couldn't be hidden either.

Sometimes she wonders if things would be different if Li Ran hadn't agreed to get back together, and if she wouldn't be so conflicted now.

But there are no "what ifs".

She couldn't let go, she never could; she simply loved Li Ran.

The night outside the window was deep, and the light from the streetlights flickered on the curtains before going out.

Zhou Ye closed her eyes, buried her face in Li Ran's arms, and slowly relaxed, smelling his familiar and comforting scent.

"Li Ran," she suddenly spoke, her voice very soft.

"Um?"

"You'll always be by my side, right?"

Li Ran didn't answer immediately, but lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead.

"Yes, I will." His voice was soft, but firm.

Zhou Ye did not speak again.

She closed her eyes, and the corners of her mouth curved slightly, a curve so small it was almost invisible, but it was there.

Like the silvery-white ray of light outside the window, thin, quiet, and always shining.

The following afternoon, the sunlight in Hengdian was no longer as intense as in summer. It slanted in through the windows of the RV, casting a warm orange glow on the dining table.

Li Ran and Zhou Ye ate their last meal in the RV.

Zhou Ye picked out pieces of meat and vegetables from his own bowl and put them into Li Ran's bowl, his movements as natural as if he had done it countless times.

"Eat more, airplane food isn't good." She lowered her head, poking around in her food container with her chopsticks.

Li Ran did not refuse and ate them one by one.

-

After finishing their meal, the two stood at the entrance of the film set.

Zhou Ye has another scene to film in the afternoon. Her makeup is already done; she's wearing a light blue costume and her hair is styled in a high bun, making her look like an ethereal fairy.

Li Ran was dressed casually, her hair unkempt, with a few stray strands falling across her forehead, creating a strange contrast with her refined appearance. They seemed like people from two different worlds, yet standing together like a painting.

"Then I'm leaving."

"Mm." Zhou Ye nodded, without trying to stop him.

She just stood there, looking at him, with something indescribable in her eyes.

Li Ran reached out and gently ruffled her hair.

She didn't dodge or pay attention; she just tilted her head and let him rub it.

Send a message when you arrive.

"it is good."

He turned around and walked towards the parking lot, but after a few steps, he turned back.

She was still standing there, the sunlight shining from behind her, enveloping her in a warm golden glow. Her skirt swayed gently in the wind, like a flower about to be blown away.

He glanced at her, then turned away and continued walking.

This time, there was no turning back.

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