**37**

The crew all tactfully retreated downstairs; no one likes to be watched while crying miserably, even if it’s for the sake of getting into character.

Yang Yang stood helplessly on the side.

Shen Yizhi stayed alone behind that door for a long time before coming out, her eyes red as well. She gave Yang Yang a look that said “leave it to me,” then bent down beside Ning Zhi.

Ning Zhi maintained the pose for the last shot, kneeling on the ground. Shen Yizhi raised his hand tentatively and ran it through her hair. The fine, soft strands made Shen Yizhi’s heart soften even more.

Seeing that Ning Zhi did not resist, his palm slid down her hair to the nape of her neck, while his other hand went around her back, carefully pulling her into his embrace.

Good girl, don’t cry anymore…

Yang Yang left feeling uneasy. She kept looking back with every step until she saw this scene, then sighed quietly in her heart and walked away without looking back again.

Ning Zhi knew she should stop—the camera had already moved away, the clapperboard had snapped, the director had called cut, and she should have calmed down. But the despair of a future cut off for Chi Sheng, along with the years of suppressed sorrow buried deep in her heart, surged up like a tidal wave, giving her no chance to resist.

“It’s okay, it’s okay, it will get better.” Shen Yizhi gently comforted, feeling that the person in her arms seemed to gradually calm down, but a few seconds later, her collar was tightly grabbed, and her shoulder was soaked with tears.

Shen Yizhi’s eyes also grew sore. She looked up, and a beam of dusk sunlight shone through the small window at the stairwell corner. Tiny dust particles floated in the air, as if casting a time-worn filter over this old building.

“Don’t cry, it’s okay, I’m here. Things will get better.” Shen Yizhi gently stroked Ning Zhi’s soft hair.

“What position are you speaking to me from?” Ruan Yinmeng’s line suddenly surfaced, and Shen Yizhi couldn’t help but ask herself from what standpoint she was comforting Ning Zhi.

Ning Zhi’s hand gripped tightly, as if afraid she would leave, clutching firmly in her palm.

Shen Yizhi coaxed her for a long time before she finally let go and allowed Shen Yizhi to hold her hand.

They went to the makeup room, and the makeup artist removed their makeup. Ning Zhi’s gaze remained fixed on Shen Yizhi, the obsession in her eyes was alarming.

The makeup artist and assistants noticed something was off, but no one dared to speak up.

Shen Yizhi smiled reassuringly at Ning Zhi and said, “It will be over soon.”

Ning Zhi nodded, but her thoughts drifted, not knowing where they had landed.

Shen Yizhi took her into his car, and they sat side by side in the back seat. Ning Zhi looked out the window; passing cars, streetlights on both sides, and the city’s neon lights intertwined like a tide, flooding in and reflecting on her face.

Her eyelashes fluttered lightly as she immersed herself in her thoughts. Shen Yizhi touched the back of her hand, and she seemed startled. When she turned to look back, there was still a trace of confusion in her eyes.

Shen Yizhi held her hand, and Ning Zhi tugged at the corner of her mouth, as if trying to smile, but failed.

When they arrived at the hotel, they took the elevator upstairs.

Strangely enough, they lived on the same floor, their rooms so close, but apart from the first two days when they met, they never ran into each other again at the hotel.

Ning Zhi followed beside Shen Yizhi, and as they got closer to Shen Yizhi’s room, she grew anxious and tugged at her sleeve, saying, “Are you leaving?”

“No.” Shen Yizhi quickly reassured her, “You’re coming with me.”

As the door opened, Shen Yizhi said a few words to Yangyang at the entrance. Yangyang nodded, glanced at Ning Zhi behind Shen Yizhi, then looked around nervously, afraid of being caught by lurking paparazzi.

If these two actors, who starred in such a genre of film, were caught being too close in private, they would have a lot of trouble.

Shen Yizhi was fine, but Ning Zhi was just starting out, so it was better not to get involved in any gossip or scandals.

Shen Yizhi was confident and told Yang Yang not to worry, as she had already had someone check it out. Only then did Yang Yang smile awkwardly at her and leave.

Ning Zhi stood by the door, examining the room’s layout. It was the same layout as hers, but with many added small details: flowers on the windowsill, scented candles on the table, a half-read book, cushions on the sofa, and a glass casually placed on the open bar counter.

Shen Yizhi took a pair of slippers for her to change into, settled her on the sofa, and went to pour a glass of water.

Ning Zhi didn’t want to be separated from Shen Yizhi, but staying here with her felt awkward. She held the water cup and said softly, “I’ll be fine in a moment.”

Shen Yizhi sat down beside her, looking at the side profile of her lowered head as she drank water.

Her brows and eyes had fully developed, no longer showing the childishness of her youth. She had grown taller, and her features had become much more defined.

Shen Yizhi had always seen her as the little neighbor who needed her care. It wasn’t until Zhou Tong said, “Twenty years old, not young anymore,” that Shen Yizhi realized this little neighbor, who had been kicked around like a ball by her parents since childhood and cautiously followed anyone who showed her kindness like a puppy, had grown up so much.

Ning Zhi drank half a cup of water, holding the cup in her hands, her palms pressed against the cup’s surface. Her emotions were slowly calming down, but after suppressing Chi Sheng’s despair, the dull ache of that long-standing wound became even more distinct.

“What right do you have to talk to me about liking someone? I’m already sick of you. Can you be a little more sensible?” This sentence, which completely shattered the connection between her and Shen Yizhi, suddenly flashed up from the depths of her memory.

Ning Zhi’s fingertips trembled as she held the water cup, her elbow was bumped by someone.

Ning Zhi was startled and turned her head to see Shen Yizhi, who had just spoken, standing beside her. She instinctively wanted to say, I don’t like you anymore, please don’t hate me,

“Are you hungry?” Shen Yizhi asked.

Only then did Ning Zhi realize the current situation. She shook her head, “Not hungry.” But after saying that, she remembered it was dinner time and changed her answer, “Hungry.”

Shen Yizhi didn’t laugh at her absent-mindedness; instead, he looked at her with concern and said, “The filming schedule is moving much faster than planned. If you can’t hold up, you can take a week off to adjust your mood.”

“I’m not leaving,” Ning Zhi blurted out. “I can adjust myself. I’m in a good state now and can perform at my best. Don’t make me leave.”

After saying that, she felt it wasn’t appropriate and quickly added, “If I take a leave, the investors and the director will think I’m unprofessional.”

Shen Yizhi hurriedly said, “The investors and the director are both very satisfied with you.”

Ning Zhi was momentarily stunned, then whispered, “Even so, I’m not leaving.”

Dinner was a simple meal, and Shen Yizhi asked Yangyang to bring Ning Zhi’s pajamas over.

“You sleep here tonight.” Shen Yizhi saw that she was really not in a good state and didn’t feel at ease leaving her alone.

But Ning Zhi was very hesitant, until Shen Yizhi said, “The empty room is being cleaned.”

Only then did she nod.

As long as she didn’t have to share a bed with Shen Yizhi, she was afraid she couldn’t hide her feelings.

Why was Shen Yizhi so calm? She couldn’t help but wonder if it was because she never took her feelings seriously, so she could be so casual around her, or if she believed the claim that she no longer liked her.

She lay down in the unfamiliar **, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep, her mind restless and unsettled.

The entanglement between Chi Sheng and Ruan Yinmeng repeatedly disturbed her, along with the matter she had deliberately hidden in her memory, unwilling to stay silent and creeping out.

Shen Yizhi originally didn’t know that she liked her; she had hidden it well, without revealing any clues, until that day—her birthday—when Shen Yizhi rushed back to celebrate with her.

That day happened to be a weekend, and she didn’t have classes, so she had been leaning by the window waiting since morning.

Shen Yizhi arrived only at night, bringing a gift for her—a beautiful violin. At that time, Ning Zhi was just fascinated by various musical instruments and had once mentioned to Shen Yizhi that she wanted to try the sound of a violin, so Shen Yizhi kept it in mind.

Grandma went to bed early, blew out the candle, and returned to her room, leaving them alone in the living room.

Ning Zhi looked at the violin again and again, reluctant to part with it. Finally, she reluctantly put it back in its case and mysteriously said to Shen Yizhi, “I also prepared a gift for you.”

After saying that, she ran back to her room and then took out a peace amulet.

Shen Yizhi immediately covered her forehead and laughed, saying, “Why are you so superstitious?”

Ning Zhi was shocked and pale, “Don’t say that, it won’t work.”

This safety charm was something she got last week when she woke up early and went to the temple with her grandmother to offer incense. She knelt before the Bodhisattva and made wishes for a long time.

First, she wished for Shen Yizhi’s safety and health; second, she wished for her box office department to achieve new highs; third, she wished that all her desires would be fulfilled.

She first made the first two wishes, covering Shen Yizhi’s health and career, but still feared she might have missed something, making it incomplete, so she quickly added a third wish.

“I saw the news about your injury while filming. With this, it will protect you,” Ning Zhi said earnestly.

Shen Yizhi took it; the fabric was somewhat rough, and the pattern on it was old-fashioned and unattractive, but none of that mattered. The small safety charm became adorable because of Ning Zhi’s heartfelt intention.

She held it in her hand, examining it for a long while, until Ning Zhi grew anxious, wondering if she would refuse it. Then she carefully put the safety charm away, habitually patted her head, and smiled again: “Ning Ning is so thoughtful. When you grow up, I wonder which boy will be lucky.”

Her gaze was so gentle that Ning Zhi’s breath caught, and he quickly looked away. He never dared to respond to such words and could only murmur vaguely, “What nonsense are you talking about?”

She gave Shen Yizhi a safety charm because of the helplessness she felt when she saw the news of Shen Yizhi getting injured that day. Although later it was said to be just a scrape on the shoulder and nothing serious, Ning Zhi still felt very powerless.

I like her, but when she was hurt, she was far away and couldn’t help at all.

This made Ning Zhi feel very frustrated, but she also understood that this sense of powerlessness and frustration would probably always accompany her, because Shen Yizhi moves very fast, and the distance between them will only grow. She might forever only be able to look up to her, unable to truly care for her by her side.

But the more she felt this way, the more she wanted to do something.

Shen Yizhi accepted the safety charm, which made Ning Zhi very happy. Even though this thing was ultimately just a psychological comfort, she was still very pleased.

Everything that day was wonderful, from the waiting during the day to the exchange of gifts at night, even the candles on the birthday cake were so beautiful that Ning Zhi remembered them vividly.

They talked a lot, and Shen Yizhi listened attentively. Whatever she said, Shen Yizhi smiled at her, so beautifully unreal.

When Ning Zhi got up to pour a glass of water and came back, Shen Yizhi was leaning on the sofa, asleep.

She was very tired. Ning Zhi recalled her tight schedule; she had rushed through several nights just to find this one day to spend with her for her birthday.

She couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy. Sitting down beside Shen Yizhi, she wondered whether to wake her up to **sleep or to get a blanket to cover her.

She thought for a while, then her gaze fell on Shen Yizhi’s face. Seeing her gentle features, peaceful and beautiful, Ning Zhi was reminded of the soft, lush grass deep in the forest, the deserted Peach Blossom Land, the softest and most tranquil place in the world.

In that moment, as if bewitched, she leaned in and kissed Shen Yizhi’s lips.