Chapter 74: Original Version 

Deleted/Changes are on green text

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The lingering rain drew a beautiful arc between the sky and the earth, and another layer of ripples splashed on the ground.

The room was filled with the sound of rain hitting the windows. Even though the small raindrops hitting the glass make a light sound, the continuous dripping can still easily make the heart restless.

After Gu Xizhi changed her clothes, she went to the dressing room to remove her makeup. Most of them returned to the filming site and followed the director to review the scenes they had just shot. After a while, Gu Xizhi finished removing her makeup and prepared to leave the set. As soon as she left the dressing room, she happened to meet Qu Xizhi and Zhong Linshan walking out of the set together.

The so-called golden ratio face is by no means just a name. Due to Qu Xizhi’s strong aura and bright complexion, most girl-next-door actresses will immediately change their ways when standing next to her. However, Zhong Linshan is very fashionable at heart. In addition, she is tall and loves extremely high heels. Even if she is just wearing an ordinary T-shirt and jeans, she will be very eye-catching.

Meeting in a narrow space with limited room, not saying hello would be very strange. Gu Xizhi looked at Qu Xizhi, then at Zhong Linshan, and squeezed out a smile, "Going back?"

"Yes," Zhong Linshan said, holding Qu Xizhi and smiling at Gu Xizhi. "Taking Xiao Qu back to the hotel." After a pause, she continued, "We just watched your scenes with Sister Jia, I thought that Xiao Qu's acting was the best but we didn't expect that Miss Gu's acting is even better."

"No, no." Gu Xizhi immediately denied, "Her acting skills are much better."

"Perhaps the camera focuses more on Miss Gu." Zhong Linshan tilted her head and looked at her with a smile, "Miss Gu's acting skills gave an immersive and realistic feeling. I think it must have been just bad luck that Miss Gu didn't win the award before."

Gu Xizhi glanced at Qu Xizhi, her smile froze for a moment, then quickly raised the corners of her mouth and said, "I hope so." When Lili walked out of the dressing room with clothes in hand, she quickly added, "We'll be leaving first."

"Bye."

The city's roads were congested due to flooding, but because Gu Xizhi had an appointment with Tian Youlan in advance, even though the journey was long and difficult, she still went back to her talent agency and signed a contract.

It was already eleven o'clock when she returned to the hotel. Upon opening the door to her room, she was immediately enveloped by the lively music. Gu Xizhi turned on the lights in the living room and soon realized that the music was coming from Qu Xizhi's room.

The music's genre wasn't one that Qu Xizhi typically liked. Gu Xizhi looked at the high red heels at the door, then closed the door and went back to her own room.

Probably sensing that she was back, the music in the room quickly turned down. After Gu Xizhi put down her bag, she went to the bathroom to take a shower and then returned to the bedroom after washing her clothes.

Perhaps it was indeed very late at this point, when Gu Xizhi returned to her bedroom once more, the music had already disappeared. She opened the door and looked at the shoes at the entrance. Seeing that the pair of red high heels were still lying there quietly, she frowned and closed the door again.

The large and soft bed seemed like it could alleviate all weariness. Gu Xizhi had just turned off the light and lay down for a short while when there was a knock on the door again. She had to put her shoes back on and walked to open the door.

Opening the bedroom door, Qu Xizhi stood outside the door wearing a long nightgown. Her black hair was tied up, making her facial features look more delicate and charming under the light of the living room.

"What's the matter?" Gu Xizhi was confused by the interruption at this time.

"I saw burn ointment in the medicine box last time. Can I borrow it?"

Gu Xizhi observed her for a moment, noticed no signs of burns, and didn't inquire further. She simply said, "Wait a moment," and went back to her bedroom to search the medicine cabinet.

Only one light was turned on in the bedroom. Gu Xizhi finally found the medicine box from the cabinet, then placed the medicine box on the table and rummaged through it from inside to outside.

She was wearing a silver strap nightgown, and under the light, her silhouette appeared very slender. Her focus on the task at hand made her seem very composed.

Qu Xizhi looked at her back for a long time, crossed her arms, and walked to her side quietly, "You didn't review the scenes we shot tonight. Is it because you're satisfied with your performance?"

Gu Xizhi's motion of searching for the ointment paused for a moment, and she quickly replied, "As long as Sister Jia is satisfied."

"You used to review the scenes multiple times. You'd even demand reshoots when you weren't satisfied."

"That was before. I don't want to talk about today's scenes anymore." She found the burn ointment in the medicine kit and handed it to Qu Xizhi, expressionless. "Here's the ointment."

Qu Xizhi lowered her gaze to look at the ointment in her hand, then slowly raised her eyes to look at her. After a long time, she reached out to take the ointment.

"Forget it, there are still some things I want to say." Gu Xizhi couldn't hold back and said, "I don't know what you were thinking, but we have no relationship at all. What you did today was really lacking in manners. You have a girlfriend, and you have a decent life. Even if it's to be fair to your girlfriend, you shouldn't engage in such activities. Of course, maybe it's ultimately a bias, and I don't expect an apology from you. But the intimate scenes are all done. Tomorrow, I'll discuss with Director Jia to change rooms. In the future, we should try to have as little contact as possible."

After she finished speaking, she kept looking directly into her eyes, looking very serious.

Qu Xizhi listened to her words quietly, and her eyes fell on the ointment in her hand again. She slowly took it and glanced at her brows with a faint look, "You want to change rooms, right?"

Gu Xizhi lowered her eyes and seemed reluctant to repeat herself.

Qu Xizhi nodded slightly, held the ointment in her hand for a while, and then looked up at her, "I have a question."

Gu Xizhi thought for a moment before raising her head to meet her gaze.

Qu Xizhi looked into her eyes and asked, "Have you been with someone else after the breakup?"

Gu Xizhi was stunned and quickly said, "This question is irrelevant and I refuse to answer." She turned back to put away the medicine box.

As she was about to close the medicine kit, her left wrist was grabbed. Gu Xizhi turned to look at Qu Xizhi, but she was pulled in front of her with a slight force.

"No, right?"

Her wrist slightly hurt from the pull, and Gu Xizhi struggled, saying, "I told you, it's irrelevant."

"To evade like this means you're obviously guilty." She didn't give in at all.

After trying several times but being unable to break away, Gu Xizhi met her gaze and said, "There is nothing to feel guilty about. There is no need to speculate here. I just don't want to talk about this. Please let go and let me rest."

"You can rest if you want." Qu Xizhi looked at her blankly, "But admit your true feelings first."

Gu Xizhi's tone was incomprehensible, "We're not even friends, there's nothing to admit."

The air fell silent for a moment, and Qu Xizhi curled her lips into a mocking smile. Under her thick eyelashes, her eyes carried a tone of sarcasm. "Okay, no." After a pause, "I just wanted to say that if it were any other actor in today's bed scene, you would have reacted the same way, wouldn't you?"

Her words were like a sharp weapon cutting through the last barrier to protect her self-esteem. Gu Xizhi looked at her sarcastic brows, her face turned red and white, and it took a long time for her pale lips to look better.

"Go away, I don't want to see you." She extended her other hand to forcibly pry open Qu Xizhi's grip, then turned and walked toward the door.

Footsteps followed closely behind. Gu Xizhi hadn't managed to fully open the door to let Qu Xizhi leave when she heard the sound of the door lock clicking shut. She looked at Qu Xizhi's wrist and immediately tried to unlock the door, but before she could grasp her hand, her body was suddenly controlled by Qu Xizhi's strength and forced to face her.

After her body was pressed against the door, Gu Xizhi looked at her with a gaze that held more confusion. "What do you want?"

"Shh..." Qu Xizhi placed a finger on her lips. She hesitated to look at the Mediterranean-style wallpaper covering the walls beside her and then raised Gu Xizhi's chin, forcefully kissing her lips without hesitation.

This sudden kiss stunned Gu Xizhi. Apart from the inexplicable reason why she would do such a thing, she couldn't believe that she would do such a thing under Ara's nose.

Her body was firmly pressed against the intricate wooden door. Due to the gap between the door panel and the frame, any slight struggle would cause the door to tremble and produce noise. Gu Xizhi felt both anxious and irritated. She pushed her multiple times, but she didn't seem to be afraid of getting exposed. With determination, Gu Xizhi bit down on the tongue that had invaded her.

This movement stopped halfway because she had already felt that the other party had stopped because of her behavior, and also because her heart could only be cruel to her to this extent.

The light switch was touched at some point during the struggle. Qu Xizhi stared into her eyes in the darkness, the emotions in her eyes were covered by thick eyelashes.

Their eyes met for a long time, Gu Xizhi tilted her head, and even though she didn't want to let her go, she also didn't want to face her.

As if stimulated by this behavior, Qu Xizhi immediately took her chin and kissed her hard.

Fierce flames, strong wind, red ink, her kiss was like all the strong things that made her breathless. If Gu Xizhi had room to avoid the first kiss, then at this moment, she was simply on the verge of being devoured. Any struggle would only make her feel ridiculous.

Qu Xizhi almost kissed her crazily, one hand sliding along her curves, lifting her skirt, and then sliding up her waist to touch her unprotected softness, leaving no room for refusal or resistance from the beginning to the end.

The close distance made their breaths intermingle, and the boiling temperature immediately ignited another wave of heat on their cheeks. Her lips and tongue invaded and forced her to respond, while her hands ambiguously rubbed her vulnerability. The subtle contact sparked a tiny yet powerful electric current.

Dazed and dizzy, her body seemed to relax. In the darkness, Gu Xizhi's thoughts had just become clearer when she was forcefully thrown onto a soft bed by some unknown force. Immediately, a sweet breath approached, and Gu Xizhi was suppressed by a heavy force, unable to move.

Qu Xizhi suppressed her hands with both hands, forced her knees between her legs, lowered her head, and bit the delicate skin under her neck.

Her tender skin couldn't bear the torment, and waves of pain mixed with indescribable tingling penetrated her bone. Every time Gu Xizhi tried to push her away, she intensified the pressure between her teeth, tormenting her to the brink of collapse. Finally, as if showing mercy, she withdrew her lips and teeth from Gu Xizhi's neck. However, the chill that followed on her chest sent shivers down Gu Xizhi's spine.

"Don't do this."

Before she could say more, the sensation of wet heat had already covered the chill. Qu Xizhi pressed her tongue down and scraped forcefully at the top.

Gu Xizhi's whole body involuntarily tensed, she closed her eyes and tilted her head. Her restrained hands, from a struggling posture, transformed into gripping the bed sheets tightly, while her teeth clenched to prevent herself from making any sound.

The rain pattered outside the window, and the wind became louder every now and then. The temptation of skill seemed to be draining away something. Gu Xizhi lost in temptation, walked farther and farther, but she never stopped resisting the decline of her body.

Qu Xizhi embraced her body tightly as if there was an inexhaustible passion, and every inch of their skin touching had to burn each other to ashes before stopping.

In a daze, it seemed like something was groping little by little towards her lower abdomen. The slow movements became the only way to break through the chaos. Opening her eyes, the world was pitch dark, but the scorching sensation in her lower abdomen reminded her of an inviolable line of defense. Gu Xizhi raised her weak, limp hand, gripping Qu Xizhi's shoulder, her voice incredibly hoarse.

"Stop..."

Qu Xizhi buried her cheek into the crook of her neck and rubbed it gently, while her fingertips moved down her lower abdomen like someone possessed.

The humiliation from a few hours ago was etched into her mind like a brand. Gu Xizhi weakly pinched the corner of her shoulder's clothing, her voice now tinged with a hint of determination.

"Qu Xizhi, don't make me hate you."

Her belated words made the fingertips suddenly stop in the wet heat. In the darkness, Qu Xizhi clung to her shoulders, silently resting her body on top of hers, staring into the infinite darkness of the room.

The collision of their skin produced countless sparks, and the scattered waves of heat seemed capable of scalding. The woman's warm, jade-like fragrance was like a beguiling poppy, bewitching the mind. Qu Xizhi closed her eyes and kissed her lips passionately, the hand on her right shoulder seeming to gradually withdraw as if exerting immense control, almost as if she wanted to absorb her into her body.

The raindrops pattered on the window, and every drop was full of spring.

Qu Xizhi really stopped and didn't move for a long time.

The time felt exceptionally long, like a Lingchi execution. Qu Xizhi merely embraced her tightly, as if she needed something to survive.

Beside her ears, there was ragged breathing, and beneath her was a scorching body.

Finally, the fingertips, which had been stagnant, were enveloped by an even warmer sensation. Qu Xizhi's grip on her shoulder finally tightened, as if it was on the verge of crushing her.

"I can't control it." Her suppressed voice sounded like a frustrated admission.

The part of her that had eroded her rationality, once touched, rendered everything helpless. Her movements were terrible as if she was connecting a certain pleasure into a complete line. Even if it choked her to suffocation, she willingly descended into hell.

The trembling came very quickly, and the moist warmth almost burned her fingertips. Qu Xizhi comforted her trembling and, in one breath, pressed her fingertips in following the wetness. Just as she was about to enter halfway, the footsteps drew near and the banging of the door, like thunder, caused her joints to be tightly suppressed by external forces.

"Xiao Qu, I don't need the burn ointment. I'm going to be late for the flight, I need to go now."

Zhong Linshan's voice near the door felt like an invisible hand tightly gripping Gu Xizhi's heart. Besides an indescribable sense of shame, the foreign object continuously invading her made her so nervous that tiny beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

As the joints continued to be pressed, they lost control. Qu Xizhi inserted the last joint, but the sensitive movement and tightening made her close her eyes and calmly regain her composure.

With even the slightest movement, her passion could turn into scorching wet heat, burning her fingers. 

It seemed like quite a while had passed, and there was still no response from Qu Xizhi. Zhong Linshan knocked on the door again, "Xiao Qu, did you hear what I said?"

With her joints still being twisted, Qu Xizhi calmed down and said, "I know, I won't see you off. Be careful on the road."

"Okay, good night."

The footsteps grew distant, and Gu Xizhi's body in this critical state could no longer withstand any teasing. Qu Xizhi kissed her lips while moving her fingers, but this time, the pace was quicker than before. While her hands clasped her back tightly, making her whole body involuntarily excited again.

The suffocating heat was both pleasure and torture. Qu Xizhi once again moved her fingers, but this time, she only got halfway and couldn't go further. Meanwhile, her hands tightened around her, trembling continuously.

Her scattered gaze was joyful, but the tears that followed had an unclear meaning.

The air carried a sweet fragrance, that was her breath, like a thorny red rose, intense and enchanting, yet filled with countless wounds.

Gu Xizhi closed her eyes, feeling the icy coldness of tears sliding down. After a long while, she quietly said, "I thought, perhaps there was still a bit of liking left."