**22**

The veteran actress who played the grandmother had a kind and gentle appearance. She often played elder leading roles in films and TV dramas, and there was no one in the country who didn’t know her. If there were a nationwide vote for a national grandmother, she would definitely win by a large margin.

Ning Zhi also grew up watching her works and felt a sense of familiarity the moment she saw her.

She originally thought today’s shoot would be very difficult. After all, last time, she was only praised once by Shen Yizhi, which stirred Ning Zhi’s consciousness restlessly. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t suppress it, making it impossible for her to get into the right state.

And last night, she thought about Shen Yi all night long.

Unexpectedly, the shoot went very smoothly.

The veteran actor wore the costume from the movie, his silver hair neatly combed back, and the wrinkles on his face made him look very kind. He smiled warmly and praised her, “Xiao Ning, each scene you shoot is better than the last. In just a few days, you’ve improved so quickly.”

Ning Zhi sat on a tall box, swinging her legs back and forth. “Director Mei said I rely too much on emotions.”

Experienced actors have worked with many others and seen all kinds of acting styles. She said with a hint of reassurance, “Relying on emotions isn’t necessarily a bad thing; maybe this is just your style.”

“What if one day the emotions aren’t right, then wouldn’t I be unable to act?” Ning Zhi was very troubled.

They chatted casually back and forth, with Shen Yizhi glancing over this way from time to time.

Meilan habitually pulled out a cigarette, but thinking it was not appropriate to light it indoors, she put it back.

She sat next to Shen Yizhi, chatting with her about a film investment, a popular IP; both the creative team and the subject matter were good.

Shen Yizhi said, “Let Lin Shao handle the negotiation.”

She spoke, then looked toward Ning Zhi, who was right in front of her, just a slight lift of the eyes was enough to see him.

The distance was too far to hear what they were saying; only Ning Zhi’s obedient smile could be seen, and when he lightly furrowed his brows, he looked like a younger generation confiding troubles to an elder.

“Who are you looking at?” Mei Lan said, and when she got no response, she followed her gaze to look over.

Shen Yizhi withdrew his gaze and stood up, saying, “We still have to shoot tonight, I’ll go get ready.”

Meilan didn’t stop her either; she just seemed to recall something, lowered her eyelids, and smiled.

Because the filming went smoothly during the day, the task was completed ahead of schedule.

A last-minute night shoot was added tonight, and it was for Shen Yizhi.

But Ning Zhi wanted to stay and observe Shen Yizhi’s acting style, so he stayed on set with everyone else.

The person delivering the boxed meals seemed to have run into some trouble and was half an hour late with no sign of arrival. No matter how much the logistics team urged them, they only kept saying they were on their way, but never actually showed up.

Ning Zhi stayed in the lounge, covering his face with the script, and weakly said to Yang Yang, “If they don’t come soon, let’s just order takeout ourselves.”

The boxed meals ordered by the crew tasted quite good. Ning Zhi tried them on the first day and had been eating the crew’s boxed meals ever since, never cooking for herself.

At this moment, the delivery person was still nowhere to be seen, and like everyone else, her stomach was growling with hunger.

Yang Yang stared at the food delivery app for a while. If she ordered now, the fastest delivery would still take at least half an hour.

Just as she was thinking of placing an order to eat whichever arrived first, a commotion outside caught her attention—the boxed meals had arrived.

Ning Zhi immediately sat up and opened the door to go out.

A group of people surrounded the logistics area so tightly that no water could leak through. After a while, they each took a boxed meal and dispersed.

Very hungry, the aroma of the food was especially tempting.

Ning Zhi walked over as the logistics staff came holding the few remaining boxed meals.

She walked while looking at the markings on the lunchbox, and when she reached Ning Zhi, she smiled and said, “A bunch of starving ghosts, all that’s left are the ribs and minced meat eggplant.”

Saying this, he looked again behind Ning Zhi: “You and Yi Zhi haven’t taken any yet.”

“Give us the ribs,” Yang Yang said; Ning Zhi didn’t like eggplant.

Ning Zhi asked, “How many portions of ribs are left?”

The logistics staff handed over the boxed meal while answering, “Only one portion left.”

Ning Zhi didn’t take it: “Just two servings of eggplant for us.” She really didn’t like eggplant, but Shen Yizhi was allergic to it and would break out in a rash at the slightest touch.

Yangyang glanced at her unexpectedly but said nothing more.

The logistics staff thought she was trying to please Shen Yizhi and was happy to do a favor, raising his voice slightly and asking, “Do you want to give the last portion of ribs to Yizhi?”

She smiled politely, her eyes looking behind Ning Zhi.

Ning Zhi realized something was wrong and quickly turned around, only to see Shen Yizhi just approaching.

The assistants on both sides each took their boxed meals, and the logistics staff, thinking they had done a great deed, cheerfully winked at Ning Zhi before leaving.

But Ning Zhi seemed as if she had been immobilized by an acupuncture point, her mind filled with how to explain.

Shen Yizhi knew she didn’t like eggplant.

Shen Yizhi was also thinking about how to thank her, but before she could speak, Ning Zhi calmly said, “I’ve started liking eggplants now, so I’m not giving them to you.”

Without being forced, Yangyang held back the urge to cover her face and quietly left first. Shen Yizhi’s assistant, seeing this, also tactfully followed suit.

Listening to the meaning behind her words, Shen Yizhi held back a laugh. Looking at Ning Zhi’s cold and awkward demeanor, she suddenly felt a strong urge to touch her hair.

In the end, she restrained herself. It was just that the boxed meal was bumped into by her, making things awkward. If she had actually touched her hair, who knows how frizzy it would have gotten.

“Alright, thank you.” Shen Yizhi went along with her.

She gave her enough face and didn’t expose her, but Ning Zhi was still unhappy.

What she just said was too stupid; after saying it, she felt embarrassed herself. But Shen Yizhi still went along with it, as if truly believing the obviously fake reason of “now I like eating eggplants.”

When Shen Yizhi had rejected her before, he said, “I don’t like you, I have no such feelings for you,” and also said, “Ning Zhi, you’re only a few years old, do you really understand what liking someone means?”

Because she was young, Shen Yizhi probably never truly acknowledged her feelings. Her obsession with her, her heart—perhaps she never took it seriously.

Even now, he probably still thinks of her as a fourteen-year-old middle schooler. When she talks nonsense like this, he just goes along with it and casually humors her.

Ning Zhi maintained a calm expression, remained silent for a moment, then said, “It’s for you. I still don’t like eggplant, but you have to film tonight, so you can’t go hungry. I don’t have any scenes, so waiting a bit longer is fine.”

She suddenly became serious, neither awkward nor upset, but Shen Yizhi’s words made her fall silent.

Ning Zhi looked at her, forced a slight smile, and said, “I’m going to eat.”

After speaking, she walked past her.

She took a few steps forward and immediately regretted it. Why did she have to say it so seriously? What if Shen Yizhi misunderstood and thought she was trying to flatter her?

Ning Zhi bit her lip, thinking that Shen Yizhi might want to distance herself, when she suddenly heard Shen Yizhi call her from behind.

“Ning Ning.”

Ning Zhi stopped walking and did not look back.

Shen Yizhi also did not come up.

She spoke from a few steps away, “I’m sorry, I thought you would like me to go along with you. Before, when you were angry, you liked me to stand on your side and agree with you.”

Ning Zhi pressed her lips tightly and looked down at her feet.

Shen Yizhi’s voice was gentle, and she continued, “We haven’t been in touch for a long time. My understanding of you is stuck in the past. Treating the present you with past ways was thoughtless of me. Please don’t be angry, okay?”

Ning Zhi didn’t expect her to apologize, and a wave of bitterness spread through her heart.

It was very quiet behind her. Shen Yizhi didn’t speak again, nor did she leave; she stood in place, waiting for her response.

Ning Zhi steadied her emotions before looking ahead and saying, “It’s okay.”

She returned to her lounge, and shortly after, Shen Yizhi’s assistant brought over several meal boxes. The boxes bore the logo of a restaurant, probably the same one they had ordered from since the boxed meals hadn’t arrived after a long wait, so they had ordered takeout themselves.

“Yizhi asked me to thank you for giving her the rib meal. None of these dishes have been touched, and they’re still warm. Please have some,” the assistant said thoughtfully.

Ning Zhi looked at the beautifully plated food in the lunchbox but didn’t pick up his chopsticks for a long time.

At the night shoot, the lights were very bright. Actors generally didn’t like night scenes, especially in summer when the set had no air conditioning, making it hot and attracting mosquitoes.

Ning Zhi moved a small stool over and held a notebook, watching from the side. He took notes and wrote down key points and insights, like a little sponge, diligently learning how to act well.

It’s not just tonight’s scene; even when she doesn’t have lines, she quietly studies like this.

Shen Yizhi’s acting skills, which can be felt during their scenes together as exquisite, now watching from behind the camera gives a completely different feeling.

Before filming, when Ning Zhi attended acting classes, the teacher said that everyone is bound by limitations, and actors are no exception. In their performances, they inevitably bring some of their own traits, making it hard to completely shed them.

After filming began, she found this statement even more profound because she was the best example of it. When portraying the character Chi Sheng, she couldn’t help but infuse her own experiences into the role.

But Shen Yizhi seemed to have no such troubles at all.

She and Ruan Yinmeng were two completely different people. When the scene was called, and the camera focused on her, even if she said nothing, just the subtle changes in her expression, eyes, and posture could make people believe she was Ruan Yinmeng.

But once the director called cut, she could instantly step out of the scene; every frown and smile, every gesture and movement completely separated her from the character. No one would ever confuse Shen Yizhi with Ruan Yinmeng.

Ning Zhi was writing in her notebook with a pen, then stopped.

She thought about Shen Yizhi’s apology just now, about how she said they hadn’t been in contact for a long time, and about last time, when she asked if she felt sad when she liked her.

After reuniting, Ning Zhi had been careful not to mention the past, pretending those things never existed, but Shen Yizhi was so open and unreserved.

What was she thinking in her heart when she brought it up?

The sound of the clapper came, and Meilan waved her hand, saying, “Okay, this take is approved.”

Under the spotlight, Shen Yizhi simply changed her stance and instantly stepped out of character.

With ease and composure.

What was she thinking?

Was it because she regarded those matters as nothing more than ordinary old stories, just like any other things, with nothing worth keeping silent about? Or was it that Shen Yizhi wanted to tell her that she remembered all those things and had forgiven them?

Ning Zhi couldn’t be sure.

She thought a little disheartenedly that it was no wonder Shen Yizhi treated her the same way she had six years ago.

Compared to Shen Yizhi’s calm composure, her avoidance and bluffing were indeed stiff and childish.

The night shoot was finished, and it wasn’t too late. When Ning Zhi left the set, Shen Yizhi was just going to remove her makeup. They met face to face, and Shen Yizhi looked at her, curling the corners of her lips.

Ning Zhi stiffly didn’t know what expression to show her, but there was no need for her to overthink it; they just passed by each other.

Back at the hotel, lying on the **, Ning Zhi’s mood was still chaotic when 0929 appeared,

She rarely took the initiative to message her, asking, “Did your colleague annoy you today?”