They all pushed me!

The feeling I had back then was surprisingly similar to how I feel now.

It's like the land after a heavy snowfall. It seems that everything can be arranged and trampled on at will, which makes people feel that life is long.

But maybe love is just a part of what Beichuan Liang taught her over the years, because compared with herself twelve years ago, she has not only gotten rid of the shadow of her childhood, but also reaped success in her career. She has close friends with whom she can chat, go shopping, and act in shows, and is truly loved by many other people. She is not someone who lives as someone's accessory because of the so-called love.

Her view on love was slowly shaped during the years she spent with Beichuan Liang, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that she was influenced by Beichuan Liang.

Love neither possesses nor is possessed.

For love is satisfied in love.

Chapter 28: Their Future

"call--"

After rinsing her whole body in the shower, Kitagawa Rumi tied her long hair up and put a cool towel on her head. She first let her body adapt to the specific temperature of the hot spring, and then relaxed herself and immersed most of her body in the hot water of the hot spring, and breathed a sigh of relief with contentment.

The feeling was different from taking a bath in a bathtub at home. I just felt the warmth gently wrapping my whole body. My mind unconsciously relaxed and my brain began to empty, as if thinking about it any more would be a difficult burden.

Arima Kana, who was a little slower than Kitagawa Rumi, had just walked out of the bathroom and was absent-mindedly stroking the plastic ring on her right wrist that held the key to the locker for clothes.

Most of the hot springs in Japan require guests to enter completely naked, and all kinds of accessories are required to be removed in advance. Even towels can only be worn on the head or on the face. The Sphinx pendant that Arimaka had always tied on her hand and that Kitagawa Ryo had given her before also fell into this category. She temporarily took it off and put it together with the clothes she had taken off.

In the past few years, in addition to necessary shooting and work needs, Arigana would wear it in her daily life, even when taking a bath or sleeping. Now, she suddenly took it off for such a long time, which made her a little uncomfortable.

Although Akane Kurokawa and Rumi Kitagawa were seen taking off the same pendant from their necks when taking off their clothes in the locker room, Kana Arima always felt that hers was different from the other two, and could even be said to be unique.

Because she had just sewed the second button she had taken off Kitagawa Ryo's collar into the inside of the pendant a few days ago, and when she held it in her palm, she could occasionally feel the touch of a slightly hard object, as if the Sphinx, which was filled with cotton inside, had a real heart.

Thinking of this, Arima Kana also sighed slightly heavily. If this hot spring was not the most famous one in the whole Miyazaki, and all measures and security guarantees were first-class, she would have started to worry about whether someone would steal her "treasure".

When I looked up, I saw Kurokawa Akane just walking out of the bathroom. Her hair was slightly longer than Arima Kana's, so she lowered her head slightly and tied up the hair that reached her shoulders to avoid her hair getting accidentally soaked in the water when she was soaking in the hot spring, which was also prohibited.

"Red Sound."

Arima Kana walked over and called her. Akane Kurokawa, who had tied her hair, shook her head slightly. After confirming that it was tied firmly and would not fall apart easily, she tilted her head in confusion:

"What's wrong?"

Although Magana also calls her 'Akane', Akane Kurokawa knows that she is calling her by her stage name 'Akane Kurokawa', because whenever they appear together, they are bound to be competitors as actors.

"Senior Liang asked me to ask you if you would be willing to be a flower girl at his wedding next year."

Originally, it should have been Hoshino Ai who asked about this matter, but as soon as she arrived here, she took Kitagawa Ryo to take a private hot spring bath for couples only. So this task had to be handed over to Arima Kana, asking her to help ask.

"What does a flower girl do? Hold the flowers?"

Akane Kurokawa obviously didn't know much about this and blinked curiously.

"Pretty much. I did some searching before I came here. The main duties include throwing flower petals at the beginning of the wedding, helping to hold up the bride's wedding dress when she enters the venue, handing over the ring pillow when the newlyweds exchange rings, and performing talent shows to warm up the atmosphere."

"Isn't this the Little Mermaid?"

After listening to Arima Kana's explanation, Kurokawa Akane also spoke subconsciously.

"What little mermaid?"

Arima Kana was slightly stunned, not quite understanding what was said.

"It's from a play our troupe adapted from Andersen's fairy tale a while ago. The little mermaid in the play did just that at the wedding of the prince and princess."

Kurokawa Akane counted on her fingers very seriously:

"For example, holding up the bride's wedding dress, dancing for the newlyweds and guests at the wedding... I felt very sad when I read the story."

"So Chiyin means that he doesn't want to go."

"Since Kana came to me to ask about this, does that mean you have agreed?"

Instead of directly answering Magana's question, Akane Kurokawa asked a question in return.

"Yes, so now there is only one spot left."

Arima Kana admitted it neatly, crossing her arms and looking at the other party provocatively.

"If that's the case, I'd be willing to do that, too."

After receiving an affirmative answer from Arima Kana, Kurokawa Akane nodded without hesitation and stared at her unwillingly.

"Well - come on."

Arima Kana stretched her body lazily, walked to the hot spring and sat down, put her feet in first, and gently poured water from bottom to top, allowing her body to gradually adapt to the temperature:

"At least I need to have a masterpiece to show off when the wedding starts next year. Otherwise, if I were to be a flower girl with you, I would feel like we are not of the same 'status'."

Hearing Magana's blunt ridicule of her, Kurokawa Akane felt a little embarrassed and annoyed. She bit her lips lightly and said indignantly:

"I can beat you in this audition for 'Homeless Kids'."

"impossible."

Arima Kana, who had already buried her entire body in the hot spring water, turned her head slightly:

"To be honest, the competition between the two of us is inherently unfair, because the industry itself is unfair. Even if, even if in this audition, your acting skills are equal to mine, or even, even a little bit better, the production team will only choose me."

"To be honest, I actually didn't need to participate in various so-called auditions more than a year ago, because my high popularity is enough for many sponsors and producers to select me to play a certain role. The reason why I still participated in the auditions of various crews like I did in the beginning is actually just to prove to you and others that I am not the one who was 'predetermined'."

Arima Kana rested her hands on a large rock beside the hot spring and looked towards Kurokawa Akane with a smile:

"So, Chiyin, you don't have to stick to competing with me in the audition. Besides, compared to film and television actors, what you are learning and using now is more of the knowledge and experience as a theater actor. In my opinion, you might as well try to work harder in this area."

"It would be best to wait until Chiyin has accumulated enough popularity and reputation so that directors and producers in the industry can subconsciously put us on the same level before starting this fair audition competition."

"But didn't Kana just say that? Popular actors in the industry don't even need to audition... I've also heard from Senior Liang that most directors and producers will first identify a few candidates, and then contact those popular and well-known actors one by one, and will never contact the next person unless the previous one explicitly refuses."

With Magana being the only popular actress, the production team wouldn't mind playing 'house' with her for an audition, but if Kurokawa Akane becomes an actress of the same caliber as she says, this situation would be unlikely to happen again.

After all, letting two popular actors of the same level compete for the same role is the most rude behavior in the industry, and it is one of the unspoken rules that many agencies subconsciously follow.

"By then, wouldn't it be fine for us to have a private audition competition among ourselves?"

Arima Kana seemed to have thought it through long ago, staring into Kurokawa Akane's pupils and saying:

"The losing party will then take the initiative to refuse the job."

"As for the judges..."

"Don't we all know someone who would be perfect for this?"

-------------------------------------

"So slow...Xiao Qian."

Kitagawa Rumi, who had been soaking for a while and was feeling sleepy, only then did she notice Kurokawa Akane moving slowly towards her.

Because Kitagawa Ryo and Hoshino Ai's car arrived here first, Ai herself ran to book a couple room and a private hot spring as soon as she got off the car. Kitagawa Rumi, who arrived later, still didn't know that Hoshino Ai had arrived in Miyazaki Prefecture. She just thought that Kitagawa Ryo was bathing in the men's bath just across the wall, and planned to go find him after he finished bathing.

She had already thought it through. The two of them would lean on a recliner together, enjoying the evening breeze and looking at the stars, chatting about today's filming while drinking cool ice milk. It couldn't be more perfect.

"I stayed in the bathroom for a while longer."

Kurokawa Akane answered vaguely and turned to ask Kitagawa Rumi:

"Where's Ruby? Why is she here alone? Where are the others?"

"MEM-chu is discussing short videos and account management with Ms. Kyoko. I don't really understand what she's saying. Abi-ko is too tired today. She went out to rest after soaking for a while, so I'm the only one left."

"But it's nice to be alone and quiet."

As Kitagawa Rumi spoke lazily, the words Kitagawa Ryo said to her yesterday emerged in her mind again. "From today on, Ruby is the only child I support alone." She sank down unconsciously, and a string of bubbles came out of her mouth.

"Ruby's face is so red, do you want to go out for some fresh air? I feel like I'm going to faint from the soaking."

Akane Kurokawa looked at Kitagawa Rumi's blushing face and suggested with some concern.

"It seems like I soaked for a little too long... but I didn't get dizzy or confused."

Kitagawa Rumi shook her head left and right, stood up slightly, stroked Xiaohe's newly exposed chest with her right hand, pressed it against her heart, squeezed it twice, then took a long breath, and sat back in the hot spring.

"I just saw you talking to that Arima Kana, and I thought you two were sworn enemies, but I didn't expect you to get along so well."

"After all, we only become competitors during auditions, but we are friends at other times."

"By the way, does Akane know why she came to Miyazaki?"

"I heard from Kana that it seemed to be for the filming of a tourism promotional video."

"Eh - is this some kind of publicity event organized by the Tourism Bureau? I remember that when Ryo filmed "He Used to Live" in Miyazaki, it was led by the local government and the Tourism Bureau."

Looking at Kitagawa Rumi, who was soaking in the hot spring and had become the same person as before, and could seamlessly switch any topic to Kitagawa Ryo, Kurokawa Akane didn't know whether she should be happy or not.

"It doesn't seem like it. It seems like a big local family has proposed a cooperation invitation. They probably want to promote their hometown and increase its popularity. After all, Kana is very popular now."

Akane Kurokawa raised her little face and tried hard to recall:

"I remember it was called Tiantong Temple or something."

"Tendo Temple...?"

Kitagawa Rumi repeated the surname indifferently, without any ripples in her heart.

After Beichuan Liang saw through her impromptu lie at that time, the other party had lost the last bit of value that could make her emotionally fluctuate.

The reason why she confessed her reincarnation to Kitagawa Ryo was only because she needed the identity of Sarina and needed her to prove that she had met and known Kitagawa Ryo long before Hoshino Ai, and that she already had a vague affection for him in her heart.

What both Kitagawa Ryo and she can't let go of is Sarina, not Tendouji Sarina. The surname itself has no meaning.

"It's okay. Once Xiao Qian succeeds in her audition for 'Homeless Kids' and her popularity rises, there will be countless advertising agencies that want to invite you to shoot various promotional videos and commercials."

Realizing that something was wrong with Kurokawa Akane today, Kitagawa Rumi hugged her good friend from behind, comforting and encouraging her softly.

“…But actually, I don’t plan to audition for ‘Homeless Kids’ this time.”

What surprised Kitagawa Rumi was that after being silent for a while, Kurokawa Akane suddenly spoke like this.

"Eh?"

"I've figured it out. I probably won't participate in other auditions anymore. I'll just stay with the LALALAI Theater and work hard to learn my acting skills. At least I want to be recognized by more people in the theater world."

Kurokawa Akane was hesitant at first, but became more and more determined as she spoke, and even shocked Kitagawa Rumi.

"That's good too. After all, I think Akane is very suitable for acting in dramas and stage plays... Of course, Ryo also said so."

As if she felt that she was not persuasive enough, Kitagawa Rumi unceremoniously brought up Kitagawa Ryo.

Akane Kurokawa nodded and said "hmm". Her social circle is very small, and she doesn't think she is a child who can make many friends, so she can feel that Kitagawa Rumi has always regarded her as one of her best friends.

But Maganai's words also planted seeds in her heart.

So, Kurokawa Akane's little head froze again, as if the angel representing the good kids and the devil representing the bad kids were fighting there and it was hard to tell who would be the winner.

She felt like she was about to pass out in the hot spring.

In the end, Akane Kurokawa could only comfort herself with a line from "Antigone".

"It is not my nature to hate with those who hate. I only like to love with those who love."

She was the simple child among them who first learned what love was.

To the extent that from birth to now, I have never experienced even a trace of malice from others.

Chapter 4: Retreat to Advance (7k)

"Hehe... It's cold... I'm not sleepy, I don't want to go back to the hotel——"

As gently as possible, he handed Kitagawa Rumi to Saito Kyoko. Looking at his sister who was almost asleep and talking unconsciously in her sleep, Kitagawa Ryo shook his head helplessly:

"Send Ruby back, we still have filming work tomorrow."

"You seemed full of energy when I came to see you just now, but you fell asleep so quickly... It seems that Ruby is really tired today."

Kyoko Saito carefully placed Kitagawa Rumi in the back seat of the car, covered her with a blanket, and then gently closed the car door. While opening the driver's door, she talked to Kitagawa Ryo with a smile.

"Indeed, at the beginning she was clamoring for ice milk. I was a little worried that acute gastroenteritis might affect the subsequent filming, so I didn't buy it for her. As a result, the more she lay in my arms, the quieter she became."

Beichuan Liang leaned on the open car window of Saito Kyoko and looked at his sister's sleeping face through the rearview mirror of the front seat. When he saw that she showed no signs of waking up, he let go:

"Then you guys go ahead. I'm just going to sleep here tonight."

The other two members of ACE and Akane Kurokawa had already been arranged by Saito Kyoko to go back to the hotel in another car. She originally thought that Kitagawa Rumi would pester Kitagawa Ryo for a long time, and she was even prepared to leave her here for one night and get up early tomorrow to pick up Kitagawa Rumi to go to the shooting location.

Who would have thought that before half an hour had even passed, Kitagawa Rumi, who had gone in standing to look for Kitagawa Ryo, was carried out like this while soundly sleeping.

But it does save her the trouble of running back and forth tomorrow.

After seeing Kitagawa Ryo pull away, Saito Kyoko waved goodbye to him, closed the car window again, started the engine, and soon disappeared into the night.

When Kitagawa Ryo returned to his room, he saw Hoshino Ai had changed into a bathrobe and was leisurely leaning on a recliner, drinking ice milk from a vending machine through a straw while swiping her cell phone.