Chapter 149: Kiss
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
Time seemed to stop at this moment.
Xi Mo was a bit taller than Ruan Yesheng. She lowered her eyes and looked at Ruan Yesheng in a daze. She still had half a cherry in her mouth. One cheek puffed up like she was holding a candy ball.
Ruan Yesheng lifted her chin and looked back at her.
They stared into each other’s eyes. Their breathing was heavy, and it carried a slight tremble.
Xi Mo’s hand didn’t move away from Ruan Yesheng’s arm. She still held her like that.
The time was short, but Ruan Yesheng felt it long. At first, her mind was blank. When she came back to herself, she realized their lips were pressed together. Her heart shook, and even her lips trembled.
That trembling brought a faint movement of her lips.
Xi Mo noticed her lips move. She quickly pulled back.
Ruan Yesheng stayed still like frozen.
They stood apart by a short distance and looked at each other.
Xi Mo: “…”
Ruan Yesheng: “…”
Blood rushed to their faces after a moment. Both turned their heads away, cheeks red.
They stayed embarrassed for a while. Xi Mo wanted to speak first, but then she remembered she still had half a cherry in her mouth. She quickly mumbled, "I... I'll go deal with this cherry first."
"...Okay." Ruan Yesheng’s heart beat faster than before. She nodded in a daze.
Xi Mo walked fast to the sink in the open kitchen. At first, she meant to spit out the cherry. But she stood there and hesitated. For some reason she couldn’t bear to throw it. Like pushed by a ghost, she chewed the rest of the fruit clean.
She didn’t use her hands. She just held it in her mouth and bit it. Before, she failed when she tried this with a whole big cherry. But now half was gone, it was smaller, and it could move around easier in her mouth. This time she finally ate it.
Afraid Ruan Yesheng would hear, she even turned on the faucet so the sound of water would cover the sound of her chewing.
After she finished, she spat out the pit and washed her hot face with cold water. Then she came back.
She saw Ruan Yesheng already sitting on the sofa. The bowl of cherries was put back on the coffee table. Ruan Yesheng raised her finger to her lips, as if lost in thought. That touch of her lips carried a faint look of wanting to speak but stopping, like she was still tasting something.
Xi Mo walked over with a straight face and sat down next to Ruan Yesheng.
Ruan Yesheng noticed her arrival, so she quickly put her hand down. Her cheeks looked like peach blossoms as she stared at her without blinking.
Another strange silence fell.
"Just now..." Both of them spoke at the same time.
They realized the first two words were the same, and it became even more awkward. They both stopped and swallowed back the rest of their words.
After a while, Xi Mo made up her mind and said, "...Yesheng, sorry, I used too much force just now."
Ruan Yesheng: "..."
Seeing her cheeks turn even redder, Xi Mo felt her choice of words sounded strange. She quickly explained, "I mean, it was my fault. I bit that cherry too hard, so it slipped into my mouth. That’s why we... why we..."
Ruan Yesheng said, "That was my first kiss."
Xi Mo: "..."
A soft ripple moved in Ruan Yesheng’s eyes, but her words carried a faint sadness. "Now my first kiss is gone."
Xi Mo couldn’t stand her soft yet blaming tone, and she was at a loss. "This... doesn’t count as a first kiss, right? I didn’t really kiss you, it was just a touch."
Ruan Yesheng’s face sank a little. "How does it not count as a first kiss? I’ve grown this big, and it’s the first time someone’s lips pressed against my lips like that. Even when I filmed before, it never happened. I left the circle early. I hadn’t even gotten a kiss scene before I quit acting."
Xi Mo’s face darkened too. She felt unhappy for no reason. "You still want to do kiss scenes?"
Ruan Yesheng noticed the tone in her voice. She wanted to laugh, so she said, "What, I can’t? Actors filming kiss scenes is very common now. You think everyone’s like you, with such deep cleanliness issues, resisting body contact, and even unwilling to do fake kiss shots."
In this circle, Xi Mo was indeed one of the few actresses who had never filmed a kiss scene.
The main reason was her strong background. When she debuted, no one had the power to push her. After she became popular, her status gave her more say. She wasn’t like other actors who had no choice.
She was very picky with scripts. If it wasn’t suitable for her, she wouldn’t act. Before, she only filmed movies, and they were all dramas. In those complex drama films, whether there was a kiss scene or not wasn’t something the audience cared about. Many didn’t even have love scenes. That kind of movie was either high-minded, or full of twists and turns, or filled with ups and downs, or could strike strong social resonance.
Xi Mo’s fans were proud of this.
Their idol’s movies were so high in quality. The ratings had never been low. Even though the number was small, the quality was fine and the reputation was good. They felt honored by it.
After hearing Ruan Yesheng’s words, Xi Mo felt she had crossed the line. She wasn’t anything to Ruan Yesheng, so why did she care if Ruan Yesheng wanted to take kiss scenes or not?
But when she thought of Ruan Yesheng kissing someone else, the picture in her mind was unbearable.
She became more unhappy.
But she could only say, "...You can. It’s your freedom. You have the right to decide anything for yourself."
Ruan Yesheng asked her, "You’ll never take kiss scenes in the future?"
"Of course not." Xi Mo said seriously. "There’s no need."
She thought Ruan Yesheng planned to take kiss scenes, so she worried. After a pause, she said, "If you take them, you need to pay attention to the character of the actor working with you. Some are gentlemen, but some have poor morals. Some will take advantage of it. In that case, you must refuse. If you’re not sure, you can ask me. Lu Qingming knows everyone in the circle very well. You can check in advance."
A smile spread on Ruan Yesheng’s lips as she looked at Xi Mo.
She liked seeing Xi Mo worry about her and get anxious for her.
Xi Mo spoke again. "Actors will face all kinds of situations while filming. That’s why being in a good agency is so important. A good agency will protect actors and bargain with the crew. They’ll never compromise on unfair demands. If you sign with an agency in the future and meet a crew that wants you to film a kiss scene, you can let your manager talk to them. Ask them to use camera tricks or a stand-in. Many actors who are dating or married do this, so their partners won’t feel uncomfortable. Once they explain, the crew always understands."
Ruan Yesheng laughed. "I’m single. I’m not dating, and I don’t have a family."
Xi Mo: "..."
Ruan Yesheng’s gaze seemed to cling to Xi Mo, and she said with meaning, "It’s not like I want to take just any kiss scene. I’m picky too. If it’s not the one I want, I won’t do it."
Xi Mo felt uneasy under her soft gaze, yet curious. "Then who do you want to film a kiss scene with?"
Ruan Yesheng didn’t answer. She just looked at her.
So Xi Mo asked in another way. "Which male actor’s work do you like the most?"
Ruan Yesheng smiled brightly. "Do I even need to say? Of course it’s Movie King Pei. He looks so charming. His figure is like a walking clothes rack. And his acting? There’s nothing to complain about."
Xi Mo: "..."
Movie King Pei Tingquan.
She knew him. She couldn’t know him more.
Ruan Yesheng really was his fan. When she talked about him, she naturally brought up his recent movie. But she wasn’t a crazy fan. She just admired him. With his skills and experience, he deserved it.
The earlier awkwardness faded a little in this casual chat. Ruan Yesheng and Xi Mo talked for a while. From time to time, Ruan Yesheng even naturally picked cherries from the glass bowl, handed one to Xi Mo, and also ate one herself.
Xi Mo held the cherry, feeling her fingertips burn, though her face stayed calm as she bit into the fruit.
The taste was sweet, soft, and juicy.
She thought, she liked the taste of this cherry.
After chatting for a while, Ruan Yesheng looked down at her watch. "It’s late. Let’s go to sleep."
"...Mm." Xi Mo nodded.
Ruan Yesheng smiled brightly at her. "Thank you for running lines with me today."
Thinking back on what happened, Xi Mo suddenly felt uneasy. "But that scene... was a failure."
"I think the start was fine. It was just the end that had an accident." Ruan Yesheng’s eyes shimmered like water. She said, "But my first kiss is gone. You have to make it up to me."
Xi Mo: "..."
Her face twisted for a moment. Then she said, "It was my first kiss too. My first kiss is gone. You have to make it up to me too. So if you look at it this way, we’re even. That logic works, right?"
Ruan Yesheng: "..."
...Your logic is weird.
Ruan Yesheng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. But Xi Mo’s reasoning was flawless, so she couldn’t argue. She gave up and started tidying the table. "You go take a shower first. I’ll wash the dishes."
They had already showered before. But since they went out later to look for gifts and letters, they had to wash again. Xi Mo agreed, glanced at her with a complicated look, and went upstairs.
Back in her room, Xi Mo opened her chat list, found Movie King Pei Tingquan, and sent him a cold, plain period.
Pei Tingquan replied quickly. "Why did you suddenly send me a period?"
"Nothing, I just suddenly felt like blocking you," Xi Mo replied.
Replying like this showed she and Movie King Pei Tingquan were naturally good friends without any grudges.
"Hahahahaha." Even as a Movie King, Pei Tingquan didn’t have any airs. His temper was good. "What’s wrong? Did something suddenly upset you? Could it be that my new movie broke your previous record, and you’re not happy?"
Xi Mo: "Let’s say yes."
Pei Tingquan: "Then I’ll have to make it worse. When you’re fully recovered, I’ll book a theater. Come watch my movie?"
Xi Mo: "Dream on. I don’t have time."
Pei Tingquan: "Hahahahaha. Fine, fine. How’s your health today, feeling better? Lu Qingming said you’re resting at home now."
Xi Mo: "Pretty good, just a little mad."
Pei Tingquan: "Aren’t you often in a bad mood? What’s strange about being a little mad?"
Xi Mo: "...Get lost."
Pei Tingquan: "Alright, alright, I’ll get lost. When you come to Beijing later, remember to ask me out for dinner."
Xi Mo: "Okay, I’m going to sleep."
Pei Tingquan sent her a sticker.
Xi Mo put down her phone, grabbed her clothes, and went into the bathroom.
….
Shen Qingbie was still chatting with Yu An on the phone. She didn’t know that Yu An had only come out wearing a sweater. She really thought, like Yu An said, that Yu An had put on clothes. She kept talking nonstop, like pouring beans from a bamboo tube.
She missed Yu An so much and had so many things to say.
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
Yu An missed her too. Usually, listening to her talk so much made her ears ache, but now hearing her little mouth jabber nonstop on the phone sounded nice. Yu An listened and laughed, thinking, this little fool talks so much.
Shen Qingbie chatted aimlessly but also sneaked in questions to learn about the scene. "A’Yu, how many people are in your room? I don’t hear much noise. Not many people, right?"
It can’t be just A’Yu and the pretty boy, right?
Yu An saw through Detective Shen’s plan. To put her at ease, she explained with a smile. "There are many people. I’m at a friend’s villa for a party, and I brought Lin Shunfeng to meet this friend. He has some resources, and I want to help Lin Shunfeng get them. I’m in a room on the second floor. Besides Lin Shunfeng, there are a few others. They’re drinking. They’re all polite people, not noisy."
"Drinking?" Shen Qingbie immediately panicked. "Don’t drink! What if you get drunk and someone takes advantage of you!"
"I can drink well." Cold wind blew over, making Yu An’s body chilly, but her heart felt warm.
"Even if you drink well, it’s no good. Dangerous. As the saying goes, walking by the river often, how can your shoes stay dry? Drowning victims always know how to swim, drunk people always know how to drink, car crash victims always know how to drive..."
"Okay, that’s enough," Yu An said, her head aching from Shen Qingbie’s lecturing, but she couldn’t help laughing. "I only had one glass, and it was red."
Shen Qingbie finally relaxed. "Good, that’s fine."
Yu An’s heart moved. She had been so busy listening to Shen Qingbie ramble before that she hadn’t asked. Now, after thinking it over, she said softly, "Qingqing, when you asked before why I didn’t want you, what… did you mean?"
Author's Note:
Xi Mo, even if you don’t do kiss scenes, you can kiss Ruanruan, right? [What am I saying?]
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