**46**

When did she think Ruan Yinmeng was better than her? Ning Zhi was completely baffled, his face full of confusion, saying, “I never thought she was better than you.”

In Shen Yizhi’s moist eyes, there was a hint of vulnerability and softness rarely seen, and upon closer inspection, a trace of melancholy could be detected. She bit her lip and looked at Ning Zhi for a moment.

Ning Zhi really liked her like this now. He only knew that Shen Yizhi had a low tolerance for alcohol and got drunk easily, but he didn’t know she looked so alluring when she was drunk.

“I really don’t think she’s better than you.” She tugged gently at Shen Yizhi’s clothes and spoke to her kindly.

Shen Yizhi showed a thoughtful expression, as if pondering whether what she said was true.

Ning Zhi tried hard to make herself look sincere and believable, but in the end, she couldn’t hold back a smile, curling the corners of her lips: “How are you so adorable?”

The person who was almost coaxed into feeling better frowned, thinking Ning Zhi was just brushing her off.

She furrowed her brows, trying hard to look serious, but the intoxication still muddled her mind, bringing out a hint of melancholy.

“It’s useless for you to like her; she only likes Chi Sheng. There’s no room for anyone else between them.”

She seemed to be very considerate of Ning Zhi, earnestly advising her not to like someone destined to have no future, and not to let herself end up heartbroken and sorrowful.

Only then did Ning Zhi understand that Shen Yizhi thought she liked Ruan Yinmeng.

Of course liking Ruan Yinmeng was hopeless; she was just a character created by the screenwriter, brought to life by the director and actors on screen. Once the film was finished, it was over—this was obvious.

No matter how deeply Ning Zhi got into the role, she wouldn’t be so confused about this. So why did Shen Yizhi emphasize it? What she stressed wasn’t that Ruan Yinmeng was just a character, but that no one could come between her and Chi Sheng.

Maybe I was drunk and confused.

Ning Zhi didn’t think much of it, just followed Shen Yizhi’s lead and gently coaxed her, “Hmm, I only liked her when I was Chi Sheng, Ning Zhi doesn’t like her.”

Shen Yizhi was still dissatisfied, about to say you’re not Chi Sheng, but then remembered the movie wasn’t finished filming yet. If things got out of hand and she couldn’t get into character, that would be terrible. So she silently leaned back in her seat, staring blankly. Ning Zhi watched her closely from the side, her gaze unwavering, feeling deeply moved.

Unable to resist, she reached out and lightly tapped the back of her hand.

Shen Yizhi moved her hand a little, just a tiny bit, and Ning Zhi persistently tapped it again.

Shen Yizhi lowered her head, looked at her own hand, then at Ning Zhi’s, frowned, moved it a little more, and then gave Ning Zhi a complaining look, as if saying, “Why won’t you just stop?”

Ning Zhi couldn’t help but smile and didn’t tease her anymore.

The hotel arrived quickly.

Ning Zhi got out of the car first, intending to help her a bit, but Shen Yizhi walked steadily. Apart from her cheeks being a little flushed, she showed no signs of drunkenness. Anyone looking wouldn’t be able to tell she had drunk too much.

Ning Zhi smiled with pursed lips, still walking beside her, carefully protecting her. He escorted her all the way back to the room and then had Yangyang bring some sobering medicine over.

Shen Yizhi took the medicine, held the cup of water, and swallowed it straight down, which was very reassuring. Then she said, “I want to take a shower,” and got up to head to the bathroom.

Ning Zhi was afraid she might slip inside but didn’t want to follow her in, so he repeatedly reminded her, “Don’t lock the door. I’ll be right outside. Call me if you need anything.”

Shen Yizhi frowned at her, as if he didn’t trust her at all.

Ning Zhi had no choice but to explain, “I can’t do anything, I’m just afraid you’ll fall.”

Shen Yizhi still didn’t believe her and stood by the door without moving.

Ning Zhi felt an indescribable pang of sadness in her heart. Could it be that her credibility with Shen Yizhi was really that poor? But no matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t recall ever having lied to him.

Shen Yizhi looked at her, his gaze lingering on her lips for a moment, then he frowned in confusion and lowered his head.

Ning Zhi suddenly remembered the time he stole a kiss from her while she was asleep that year.

Because of this, do you not believe her anymore? Ning Zhi pressed her lips tightly, feeling unbearably sad and also thinking she deserved it. She forced herself to put on a indifferent expression and said, “Then I’ll help you call the assistant over. Someone has to watch.”

After they started commuting together, they all sent the assistants to other cars and rarely called on them at night. But since they lived nearby, it only took a few minutes to get there.

As she spoke, she turned around, but her wrist was gently grabbed.

Ning Zhi looked back. Shen Yizhi’s eyes shimmered with tears. She quietly looked at her for a moment, then released her hand, went into the bathroom, and didn’t lock the door.

Ning Zhi took a while to react, lowering her head to look at the doorknob. That bit of soreness spread from her heart, extending to every limb and bone, still aching, but different from before. It was a kind of damp, soothing ache, as if tinged with tears, a mixture of soreness and tenderness.

Shen Yizhi entered the bathroom, and the hazy drunkenness on her face immediately lifted, leaving only a sense of absurdity.

Those few drinks were not enough to make her lose her mind; she was only a little dizzy and a bit drowsy. But when she used that slight intoxication to speak the words she had been holding back for a long time, the situation slipped beyond her control.

She couldn’t help but use the pretense of being drunk to let all her care for Ning Zhi out, and she couldn’t help but want to see her anxious, to see her care, to see the gentle look in her eyes that seemed to like her very much.

Shen Yizhi still felt it was too absurd; she gently lowered her eyes, thinking this was really not something she would do.

But she did it anyway.

This made her very uneasy.

Ning Zhi stood guard outside the door, carefully listening to the sounds inside.

Fortunately, after half an hour, Shen Yizhi came out safe and sound.

She saw that Shen Yizhi’s face was flushed red from the steam. After holding back for a while, she finally controlled herself from reaching out to pinch her, but a smile involuntarily appeared on her face. In a soft voice, as if coaxing a child, she asked, “Thirsty? Shall I pour you a glass of water?”

Drinking alcohol easily causes dry mouth, especially since Shen Yizhi had been in the steaming hot bathroom for so long.

After speaking, she didn’t wait for Shen Yizhi’s reply and went outside to pour a glass of water, then brought it to her.

Shen Yizhi leaned against the headboard, quickly glanced up at Ning Zhi, then took the cup with both hands and finished drinking the warm water inside before setting the cup aside.

“Go back to sleep,” she said without looking into Ning Zhi’s eyes, her gaze falling to Ning Zhi’s chin, somewhat evasive.

Ning Zhi didn’t notice and bent down by herself to pick up the cup. “I’ll pour you another glass. You can drink it if you get thirsty tonight.”

She rarely had the chance to take care of Shen Yizhi, so she tried to be thorough in every way.

“No need.” Shen Yizhi snatched the cup back.

Ning Zhi was momentarily stunned, her hands empty, and when she looked down, her eyes met Shen Yizhi’s. Those eyes were clear and sharp; although similar to before, Ning Zhi realized that Shen Yizhi had sobered up.

Go back.” She looked natural, her tone gentle, and smiled again, “Go to bed early.

Clearly not harsh, nor distant, yet Ning Zhi suddenly felt a wave of disappointment, as if waking from a dream.

She couldn’t linger, so she had to leave.

After going back and washing up, she lay down on the **, recalling Shen Yizhi’s drunken state. Drunk Shen Yizhi was really adorable, completely different from her usual self, but it was too short, not even a whole night.

She tossed and turned restlessly, wanting to share her joy with someone but having no one to tell, so in the end, she could only send 0929 a restrained and reserved message: “My colleague is very cute tonight.”

0929 didn’t reply to her. Ning Zhi tossed and turned for most of the night before finally falling asleep. When she woke up the next day, she saw 0929’s reply.

“Oh.” 0929 said coldly.

The message was sent just a few minutes ago.

She often replied late, so Ning Zhi didn’t take it to heart. In a good mood, she got up, washed up, and went to find Shen Yizhi as usual. She was eager to see her, but ended up empty-handed; the only one waiting in the room was Shen Yizhi’s assistant.

“Yizhi had something to do and left early,” the assistant conveyed Shen Yizhi’s words with a smile.

Ning Zhi came over excitedly, but it was like a bucket of cold water was poured over him, and his enthusiasm was instantly extinguished.

But as soon as she thought about seeing Shen Yizhi at the set later, she immediately became happy again, hurried downstairs, and urged the driver to go faster, feeling that the daily journey felt especially long.

After finally arriving at the set and not seeing Shen Yizhi, Ning Zhi casually grabbed someone and asked, “Has Shen Yizhi arrived?”

That person said, “Here, in the makeup room.”

Ning Zhi excitedly entered Shen Yizhi’s makeup room. She was sitting in front of the mirror while the makeup artist was applying her eye makeup.

Ning Zhi smiled. She had been anxious all morning, but now that she saw her, she was no longer in a hurry. She slowly walked over and sat down beside Shen Yizhi.

Shen Yizhi glanced at her without saying a word.

Ning Zhi seemed to have a lot to say, still wanting to stay by Shen Yizhi’s side, wanting to be surrounded by her presence. But Shen Yizhi showed no intention of speaking, leaving her unable to find a topic to break the silence.

She had no choice but to suppress her feelings for the time being, watching as Shen Yizhi gradually finished her makeup, her expression and brows taking on the appearance of Ruan Yinmeng.

Ning Zhi couldn’t help but feel an emptiness in her heart, as if everything from last night had been just a dream; once awake, the dream dissipated.

When Shen Yizhi turned her head, she saw Ning Zhi staring deeply at the side of her face.

Shen Yizhi bit her lip quietly and turned away, pretending not to have seen it.

After the makeup artist left and there was no one else in the room, Ning Zhi finally breathed a sigh of relief. She tugged at Shen Yizhi’s sleeve like last night and hesitantly asked, “Do you still remember what happened last night?”

Shen Yizhi blurted out, “I don’t remember.”

Ning Zhi let out a low “ah,” feeling deeply disappointed. Such a wonderful night, and she was the only one who remembered—it was truly a pity.

She puffed out her cheeks, somewhat wanting to talk to Shen Yizhi about it. After some consideration, she said, “You drank too much last night; you were different from usual.”

Shen Yizhi was playing with an eyebrow pencil. Upon hearing this, his movements stiffened. He stood up and, while walking out, said, “It’s time to start shooting.”

Ning Zhi hurriedly followed, completely missing Shen Yizhi’s intention not to bring it up, and babbled on without any tact: “You shouldn’t drink anymore. Once you get drunk, you become…”

She hadn’t yet thought of the right words when she saw the group on the set, as if they had come from a quiet, deserted countryside to a noisy, bustling city, feeling a moment of disorientation.

Ning Zhi glanced at them and awkwardly stopped talking.

Shen Yizhi caught a glimpse of her finally quieting down and secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but then thought about the walk home that evening, knowing this little dog who couldn’t read people’s expressions would probably keep bringing this up nonstop, causing another headache.

Fortunately, the filming began.

Saying she wanted to go with Chi Sheng was not a whim, but a carefully considered decision.

Firstly, it spared Chi Sheng the hardship of traveling back and forth; secondly, changing to a city where no one knew her was better for her to start anew.

That intense, scorching summer was about to end, and it rained in early September.

Raindrops fell like beads broken from a string, dripping into a small pond in Tonghua Alley. The emerald water reflected the lush, deep green plants around it and the tall, dense paulownia trees. Ripples spread in circles, and a misty vapor drifted over the surface.

To secure a place to live and find a job, Ruan Yinmeng needed to settle down first.

Chi Sheng helped her organize her luggage.

As they sorted, they realized Ruan Yinmeng didn’t have much—only two or three suitcases, one of which was filled with books.

She couldn’t bear to throw the books away, but the entire bookshelf was so heavy that it was difficult to move.

Chi Sheng said, “You can leave them at my place for now.”

It was a good idea, but Ruan Yinmeng still felt a bit reluctant, as if having these books—many of which she didn’t understand—nearby gave her some sense of comfort.

Chi Sheng thought for a moment and carefully picked out a box from the large bookshelf for her, which finally gave Ruan Yinmeng a sense of stability.

And the mimosa plant, which Chi Sheng had given her, she was also reluctant to part with. But since plants are hard to carry on the road, she had no choice but to entrust it to Chi Sheng as well.

Chi Sheng touched the leaves of the mimosa plant, and the leaves shyly closed up: “Let grandma watch, grandma takes good care of her flowers.”

Ruan Yinmeng said okay.

She bought a ticket for tomorrow, and after checking out from the landlord, she could leave.

Going far away alone, she had never traveled far before, let alone start a new life. Ruan Yinmeng was full of unease. She had long heard that it was hard to get ashore, and the ladies she had seen leaving and returning at the club were the best proof.

She naturally would never go back again; she wouldn’t return there even if it meant death, but she was very afraid of dragging Chi Sheng down.

She didn’t voice these worries to trouble Chi Sheng; she just smiled gently from the side, watching him busily pack her luggage.