Chapter 38: No Defense
With Fang Ruolin's company, Lan Chen did not dare to harass Xia Linying anymore. She could only vent by desperately chewing gum in the front seat. Her cheeks hurt from the biting, but she still felt unsatisfied. Xia Linying thus got a moment of peace. She leaned on the seat, wanting to catch up on sleep and relax her exhausted body. There were many scenes to shoot later...
These past days, Xia Linying and Xiao Moyan had been tirelessly together day and night. Enveloped in sweetness when together, she did not feel anything. But as soon as they separated, she felt like half of her body was about to collapse. Her thin back just touched the seat, and Xia Linying fell into a deep sleep, losing all consciousness.
Fang Ruolin sat quietly beside Xia Linying, staring at her. Her fluffy eyelashes lightly blinked, and her breathing was even, carrying a faint fragrance. Her fair skin, sexy neck, high nose bridge, and kissable thin lips indeed made her a beauty. It was not the first time Fang Ruolin saw Xia Linying. At the company, she had seen her before. Remembering the cold chill she saw on her face then, and recalling how Xia Linying trembled under Xiao Moyan at the airport this morning, Fang Ruolin lightly laughed and shook her head. Indeed, love is poison, best to stay away from it. It seemed her choice was correct.
Lan Chen secretly turned her head and saw that Xia Linying was asleep. Only then did she turn around, looking at Fang Ruolin with a sullen face.
Fang Ruolin stared back at her without blinking. After a while, she chuckled, reached out, and ruffled Lan Chen's hair.
"Alright, is Lanlan still mad? Wasn't I just following orders?"
Lan Chen tilted her head, slapped Fang Ruolin's hand away, and did not appreciate it. She still stared at Fang Ruolin, her gaze becoming complicated.
"If you have something to say, just say it. Don't just stare at me. It's annoying!"
Fang Ruolin rolled her eyes at Lan Chen. This person, how did she become more irritable after not seeing her for half a year? She had completely lost her straightforwardness from before. Fang Ruolin and Lan Chen could be considered friends. Back then, Fang Ruolin had dug up quite a few sensational news pieces from her. She did like Lan Chen's straightforward nature, but the work of a reporter always annoyed people. In their interactions, Lan Chen, like Xiao Moyan, had lost out. After several arguments, she gradually understood Fang Ruolin's nature. This woman could only be treated with respect. Offending her was not an option. Over time, they became quite familiar with each other, even if not very close.
Lan Chen was provoked, her face turning red, unable to speak clearly.
"Damn, how do I remember... someone... someone drunkenly calling out 'Xiaoxiao, I love you' while crawling into my arms back then!"
Fang Ruolin's smile froze upon hearing this. Her gaze turned sharp instantly, and she clasped her hands tightly together. She looked at Lan Chen with a blank expression.
Lan Chen was intimidated by her aura, awkwardly coughing and quickly trying to turn away. Unexpectedly, just as she turned, a sharp pain shot through her neck, the tearing pain making Lan Chen scream, and her body instantly tensed.
The dozing passengers on the plane were startled by Lan Chen's shout. They all turned their heads and saw a beautiful long-haired woman biting the neck of another elegant woman with a smile on her face. The intensity of it made everyone feel the pain just by watching.
Fang Ruolin, however, did not care at all. Under the gaze of the crowd, she cheerfully released her bite. Lan Chen, in pain, had cold sweat streaming down her forehead. She gasped, reached back to touch her neck, and found it covered in blood. Seeing the bright red on her hand, she turned around, trembling, pointed at Fang Ruolin, and was too angry to speak.
Fang Ruolin smiled, looking at the furious Lan Chen, and shook her head.
"Want to be bitten again?"
Lan Chen looked at Fang Ruolin helplessly, shook her head in resignation, and turned around, only to be held back by her. Lan Chen turned back, baring her teeth at her.
"What do you want now?!"
Fang Ruolin was not in a hurry. She squinted her beautiful eyes slightly, staring at Lan Chen thoughtfully. Just when Lan Chen was growing impatient, she slowly spoke.
"Issac, if you really love her, knowing her heart is elsewhere, it's better to let go and see her happy."
Lan Chen was stunned, staring blankly at Fang Ruolin. Fang Ruolin chuckled and shook her head, then leaned back, put on her headphones, and continued enjoying her music. After a long while, Lan Chen came back to her senses. She looked at the sleeping Xia Linying beside her, her face showing a hint of emotion. But when she saw the striking love marks on her fair neck, her heart ached. The tenderness in her eyes disappeared. Knowing Xia Linying could not hear, Lan Chen dared to softly snort at Fang Ruolin.
"That's your cowardice!"
Lan Chen then turned away as if nothing had happened. However, just as she turned, Fang Ruolin, who had been listening to music, took off her headphones. She looked at the sleeping Xia Linying beside her, lowered her head, and sighed. Turning to gaze at the clouds outside the window, her heart began to ache faintly because of Lan Chen's words.
Xiao Moyan...
****
As soon as the group got off the plane, they headed straight to the set without even a moment's rest. Fang Ruolin, holding her camera and carrying her special reporter's pass, followed them in.
Mohe in winter was beautiful. Snowflakes gently drifted from the sky, landing on faces with a cool, ticklish sensation that vanished in an instant. The entire crew was immersed in this snow-covered world, everyone excited and cheerful. But after standing on the ice in thick down jackets for half an hour in temperatures below minus ten degrees Celsius, they were all freezing, teeth chattering like popsicles. The cold wind howled past their ears, intensifying the freezing atmosphere.
Although others were miserable, at least they could wear down jackets while waiting for their few scenes. The ones who had it worst were Xia Linying and Jiang Feng. For the sake of appearance, they wore thin clothes despite the freezing cold. Xia Linying gritted her teeth, enduring the bone-chilling wind, pretending to look at Jiang Feng, whose nose was almost frozen, with a face full of love. She quietly expressed her admiration for him, everything proceeding according to the script. But Xia Linying's mind had already drifted far away. At this moment, she really missed Xiao Moyan. If she were here, she could snuggle into her ever-warm embrace, right?
Due to the harsh weather and the exhaustion from the long flight, the crew made little progress on the first day. They only filmed a few insignificant scenes before letting everyone return to the hotel to rest.
Xia Linying took the key distributed to her, turned on the lights, and dragged her luggage into the hotel room. Her first action wasn't to turn on the electric heater but to thaw her stiffened hands by turning on her phone, which immediately rang upon startup. Only then did Xia Linying switch on the electric heater and sit on the equally cold bed, eagerly opening her inbox.
9:40 Xiao: Have you boarded the plane? Lately, you've been exhausting yourself for my sake. Remember to rest well.
11:40 Xiao: Without you here, the food tastes bland. Xiaxia, I miss you.
2:34 Xiao: Have you arrived?
4:00 Xiao: Call me back!
Xia Linying smiled softly, about to dial the number when Xiao Moyan beat her to it. As she answered the phone, her urgent voice quickly came through.
"I told you to call me back, didn't I?!"
“I just arrived."
Xia Linying answered softly. Xiao Moyan, who had been simmering with anger all afternoon, immediately lost her momentum. After thinking for a while, she asked gently.
"Oh~ Have you eaten?"
"Yes, I have~"
"Xiaxia..."
"Mm?"
Xia Linying held the phone with a smile. She realized that no matter the distance, as long as two hearts are close, that is happiness. The person on the other end hesitated, but Xia Linying wasn't in a rush and waited patiently. After a long pause, Xiao Moyan suddenly blurted out like she was in a hurry.
"I love you!"
Before Xia Linying could respond, the call ended. She sat on the bed, holding the phone, stunned. Xiao Moyan's words echoed in her mind. The usually sharp-witted Xia Linying was left in a daze, just sitting on the bed, grinning foolishly.
What did she say?
"Knock, knock!"
Just as Xia Linying was savoring the moment, the door was knocked on fiercely, breaking her sense of happiness. Xia Linying frowned, put down her phone, and opened the door.
"Xiaxia—"
As soon as the door opened, the smell of alcohol hit her nose. Lan Chen, her face flushed from drinking, staggered and fell directly onto Xia Linying. Xia Linying stiffened, turned her head, and frowned at Lan Chen.
"What’s wrong with you?"
Lan Chen looked uncomfortable, waving her arms and shouting.
"Nothing—nothing, just wanted to see you—"
Hearing Lan Chen's slurred words, a hint of displeasure flashed across Xia Linying's face.
"It's almost midnight. Go back to your room and rest. You have scenes to shoot tomorrow."
"I refuse!"
Lan Chen pushed away Xia Linying, who was half-holding her. Without support, she staggered to the bed, spread out her limbs, and fell straight down, drunkenly shouting.
"Xiaxia~ Xiaxia~ I love you, I love you, don’t you know?"
Xia Linying was startled by what she heard. What was Lan Chen doing now? The hotel staff, hearing the noise, glanced into the room curiously. Xia Linying quickly closed the door. Just then, her phone rang cheerfully. Xia Linying saw the caller ID, frowned, and pressed decline. However, not even half a minute later, the phone rang again. She sighed, glanced at Lan Chen on the bed, and walked into the bathroom, closing the door to block out Lan Chen’s drunken ramblings. Once she was sure she couldn't hear Lan Chen, she answered the call.
"What are you doing?! Why did it take so long?! You didn’t give me any face at all. I finally gathered the courage to confess and this is how you treat me?!"
Xiao Moyan's voice burst out like a machine gun. Xia Linying listened absentmindedly, trying to soothe her gently.
"Xiao, I'm very tired. Can we talk tomorrow?"
"What did you say?"
Xiao Moyan's hurt voice came through. What did she mean? Was she rejecting her?
"No, I mean—"
"Bang—"
The bathroom door was pushed open forcefully. Xia Linying turned around in surprise to see Lan Chen standing there with messy hair and a flushed face, staring straight at her. The next second, Lan Chen shouted at the top of her lungs.
"Xiaxia, I love you!"
Xia Linying froze, her right hand holding the phone instantly turned to stone, and from the other end of the line, all she heard was the busy tone.
Author’s Note:
~~~~(>_<)~~~~ Yesterday's post was late, and only a few comrades left comments. The rest of you were like T-Rexes hiding in your blankets, sleeping. Today’s post is early, so don’t be tyrants, watch Yezi, and leave some comments, /(ćoć)/~~