{"id":3553,"date":"2026-05-23T21:11:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T21:11:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/hidden-affection-17\/"},"modified":"2026-05-23T21:11:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T21:11:32","slug":"hidden-affection-17","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/es\/chapter\/hidden-affection-17\/","title":{"rendered":"Hidden Affection 17"},"content":{"rendered":"

**17**

Ning Zhi held her phone without dialing the number, and Jiang Peng happened to call in.

I didn’t expect Shen Yizhi to speak up for you. Yesterday, your assistant director said the two female leads had a strained relationship and had never been seen talking after scenes.

Jiang Peng had also seen that video. Shen Yizhi speaking up for Ning Zhi saved him a PR expense, so he was in a good mood.

It was the first time Ning Zhi heard someone gossiping about her relationship with Shen Yizhi behind her back. Curious and unable to help but care, she asked, “Is that what the assistant director said?”

Yeah, he said everyone on the crew is guessing whether you and Shen Yizhi have some grudge. It’s one thing not to communicate, but you haven’t even greeted her when you run into her face to face.

Ning Zhi was speechless. She was avoiding Shen Yizhi, so how could she take the initiative to greet her?

As for Shen Yizhi…

Ning Zhi thought for a moment; Shen Yizhi had never taken the initiative to talk to her either.

In the eyes of others, it was proof that their relationship was strained.

Jiang Peng called about this matter: “If you can’t get along with her, at worst we just won’t cooperate anymore, but you have to save face. Otherwise, what if people say you’re being difficult and disrespecting your seniors? And about that video, you need to thank her in person\u2014that’s the basic courtesy.”

As he spoke, he felt exhausted. Ning Zhi used to handle these social matters smoothly on her own, but whenever it came to Shen Yizhi, she somehow became stubborn. The last time they came out of the elevator together, they fell behind and didn\u2019t speak to each other.

Because Shen Yizhi spoke up for her, and because Jiang Peng insisted she thank her in person, Ning Zhi felt somewhat awkward when she saw Shen Yizhi the next day.

Today\u2019s scenes were still indoors, and Shen Yizhi sat by the draft reading the script.

She was sitting on a small stool, the script resting on her lap, a pair of glasses perched on the bridge of her nose, and a pen held in her hand.

Ning Zhi\u2019s own script had been flipped through for a long time, with several creases added, but the one in Shen Yizhi\u2019s hand was kept very well, still clean and brand new.

The set was still being prepared, and the two lead actors had already changed into their costumes.

Ning Zhi was wearing a white short-sleeved shirt, while Shen Yizhi was dressed in a long dress.

In this movie, she had two completely opposite styles of clothing: one was glamorous, and the other was homely and gentle.

Shen Yizhi could handle both styles perfectly.

The outfit she was wearing now belonged to the former category. The long dress had very high slits on both sides, so when she stood up, her slender thighs were visible. The neckline was also very low, clearly revealing her delicate collarbones and the large area of snow-white skin beneath.

At this moment, she had a beige cardigan draped over her shoulders, just enough to cover the view at her chest.

Ning Zhi stood not far from her, holding a script in his hand, but he wasn\u2019t paying much attention, thinking about how to thank Shen Yizhi.

After hesitating for a while, she finally walked over.

Shen Yizhi heard the sound, looked up, and seeing it was her, took off the glasses from the bridge of his nose.

She was wearing Ruan Yinmeng’s clothes, but her expression and demeanor were the calm and composed Shen Yizhi, as if the two had merged into one at this moment.

Ning Zhi was momentarily distracted until Shen Yizhi asked, “What’s wrong?” She then steadied herself and said, “Thank you for yesterday’s interview.”

The thank you sounded stiff, and Ning Zhi’s expression was somewhat awkward.

Shen Yizhi looked at her for a few seconds\u2014just a few seconds\u2014but it made Ning Zhi feel completely uneasy. She herself thought that her thanks had been poorly expressed, so she tried to be sincere and added, “I will act well and won’t let what you said in front of the media go to waste.”

Shen Yizhi smiled and said, “You’re doing very well now, don’t put too much pressure on yourself.”

Ning Zhi’s gaze stuck to her smile. Shen Yizhi’s words entered her ears, but it took a few seconds before her brain registered them.

She shouted in her heart, Shen Yizhi praised me to my face! But on the surface, she remained calm and nodded lightly, “I know my limits.”

After speaking, she turned and walked away.

Shen Yizhi lowered his head and made a few strokes on the script, then the tip of the pen paused.

Every night, she could hear the puppy’s complaints about her colleague, wondering if she could get a good review today.

Today’s shoot didn’t go smoothly because Ning Zhi’s mind wasn’t calm; her emotions were too easily affected, influenced by Ruan Yinmeng and also by Shen Yizhi.

Meilan had to stop to give her time to get into character.

Ning Zhi stayed alone, trying to immerse herself in Chi Sheng’s emotions in her mind, but she never succeeded. No matter how much Ning Zhi tried to get close to Chi Sheng’s feelings afterward, she couldn’t satisfy Meilan.

“Do you know how your performance today differs from a few days ago?” Meilan asked.

Ning Zhi bit his lower lip.

Mei Lan said, “A few days ago, you were truly Chi Sheng, but today you are clumsily pretending to be Chi Sheng.”

Ning Zhi knew where the problem lay because she had spoken with Shen Yizhi, and the consciousness belonging to Ning Zhi stubbornly emerged in response.

This naturally couldn’t be blamed on Shen Yizhi; if anyone was to blame, it was herself for being too amateurish and letting personal emotions affect her work.

Meilan could only wait for her to regain her state.

The next scene was the key point where Chi Sheng went from curiosity to falling in love, and it required a good state.

Ning Zhi also knew this; she was secretly anxious but to no avail.

The entire crew came to a halt because of her, and the staff dispersed. Meilan sent people out, leaving this room for Ning Zhi.

There was no air conditioning in the room, and Ning Zhi soon began to sweat. A tissue was handed over from the side. Ning Zhi turned her head and saw Shen Yizhi sitting beside her.

The part of Ning Zhi’s consciousness that belonged to her grew more and more clamorous. Ning Zhi took the tissue and clenched it in her hand. She looked at Shen Yizhi, who remained silent. Her palm pressed against the bedsheet, stroking it gently as if caressing.

Such a simple action, yet it made Ning Zhi’s heart tighten painfully.

This is her bed.

In that world, would Chi Sheng and Ruan Yinmeng have ever had a desperate, passionate moment on this very bed?

She looked at Shen Yizhi, whose gaze was extremely gentle, so gentle that Ning Zhi felt dazed, unable to tell who the person before her really was.

After a moment, Shen Yizhi spoke up: “When you liked me, were you troubled?”

They had never touched on this topic before. Ning Zhi always thought that Shen Yizhi probably wouldn’t want to talk about these things, so she deliberately ignored it, pretending it never happened.

But now, she brought it up herself.

Ning Zhi felt her lips and tongue dry; she clenched the hand resting flat on the bedsheet.

“I’m not upset.” She answered softly.

“Why?” Shen Yizhi asked again.

Ning Zhi was somewhat annoyed; she felt that Shen Yizhi was asking knowingly, but when she met her calm gaze, the annoyance faded. She answered meekly, “I think this is a mistake.”

Shen Yizhi treated her like a sister, like a friend she could talk to, and was very kind to her, but she had crossed the line and developed improper feelings for her.

Ning Zhi spoke as if she had done something wrong, lowering her head.

” You know it’s wrong, so why do it?” Shen Yizhi’s voice sounded as if it came from far away.

But she was clearly right in front of her. Ning Zhi felt a bit at a loss. She pressed her lips together, looked at Shen Yizhi timidly and with guilt, then quickly lowered her head again.

I can’t control myself.

As she said this, it was as if something flashed through her mind.

She can’t control herself, she thought blankly.

She knew she shouldn’t be moved, shouldn’t get closer to her again, but she couldn’t control her heart.

Chi Sheng felt the same way about Ruan Yinmeng; her mind was clear, she understood everything, but her heart’s flutter was completely uncontrollable.

Chi Sheng’s consciousness emerged, taking over her mind. She furrowed her brows tightly, then slowly relaxed them. Looking up at the person in front of her, she opened her mouth but didn’t know what to call her.

The filming continued.

That day, Chisheng fled in panic. After she and Ruan Yinmeng held each other tightly, kissing and entwining, after their most intimate contact, her heart was in turmoil. Taking advantage of Ruan Yinmeng going to the restroom to freshen up, she escaped.

She was very confused, unable to understand how such a thing had happened.

But she knew this was abnormal; they were both women, and Ruan Yinmeng was also a prostitute.

She didn’t go looking for Ruan Yinmeng again, treating what happened that day as a chaotic dream.

The day after the incident, her painting supplies and easel from Ruan Yinmeng’s house appeared at her doorstep.

Grandma saw them and asked curiously, “Chi Sheng, why are your things left all over the place?”

Chi Sheng could only respond vaguely, “I forgot them outside the door.”

But she knew it was Ruan Yinmeng who had placed them there. When she was bringing the things inside, she couldn’t help but glance upstairs\u2014there was no one there.

This made her feel very uncomfortable. She was avoiding it, and Ruan Yinmeng went along with her, without any intention of forcing her or expecting her to take responsibility for that day.

Chi Sheng’s heart was stirring; she knew she shouldn’t entangle herself with someone like that, but no matter what, she couldn’t control herself.

In the early hours of another morning, when Ruan Yinmeng was returning home, Chi Sheng opened the door.

Ruan Yinmeng saw her, and her expression was hard to read\u2014neither surprise nor understanding\u2014but she did smile slightly.

The hallway light was dim, her makeup even heavier, as radiant as peach blossoms. She said nothing, passed in front of Chi Sheng, and went upstairs.

And Chi Sheng followed behind her.

Ruan Yinmeng didn\u2019t look back at her, nor did she say anything to drive her away. She opened the door and went inside.

Chi Sheng followed in and closed the door behind her with a flick of his hand.

Ruan Yinmeng bent down to take off her high heels. Chi Sheng stood beside her, and when he saw the large patch of fair, tender skin on her chest as she bent over, he quickly turned his head away.

Ruan Yinmeng noticed this, glanced at her indifferently, and then walked further inside.

Chi Sheng followed again, stopping behind the bathroom door. Ruan Yinmeng halted, and Chi Sheng couldn\u2019t brake in time, bumping into her back before quickly stepping back.

She looked at the person in front of her without showing any emotion, trying to appear calm and composed.

But Ruan Yinmeng easily saw through her act. She spoke, the first words they had exchanged in days.

\u201cI\u2019m going to take a shower first.\u201d

Chi Sheng saw the fatigue between her brows and the haggardness beneath her makeup, and suddenly felt a sour ache in her heart.

“I’m waiting for you here,” she said.

Ruan Yinmeng said nothing more, went inside, and closed the door.

The sound of rushing water came from inside. Chi Sheng stood by the door, suddenly feeling a bit lost. Why had she followed her up? What could she do?

She couldn’t figure it out, but the bathroom door opened.

Ruan Yinmeng changed into soft clothes, no longer glamorous, and the aura of the worldly life was gone. The scent of perfume mixed with smoke and alcohol was replaced by the light fragrance of shower gel.

It was as if all that was needed was a bath.

The prostitute would become a virtuous woman untouched by any speck of dust.

Chi Sheng couldn\u2019t quite describe the feeling in his heart; it was like being suddenly pricked by a needle, causing a sharp pain.

Ruan Yinmeng was drying her wet hair with a towel, every move she made exuding the charm of a mature woman.

Outside, dawn was approaching, the streetlights had gone out, and Chi Sheng still hadn’t spoken.

Ruan Yinmeng dried her hair, as if unwilling to spend any more time with her. She walked up to her, and Chi Sheng looked up at her.

Their eyes met, and Ruan Yinmeng smiled. She spoke softly, “I’m going to sleep now. What about you? Are you going to sleep together or go home?”

The words “sleep together” were said teasingly. Chi Sheng immediately thought of that day, his face instantly turning red, but he held back the stirring in his heart and said, “The painting isn’t finished yet.”

This time, Ruan Yinmeng finally showed a look of surprise, but soon the corners of her eyes and brows were tinged with a smile, as if Chi Sheng had said something extremely amusing.

She laughed with a trembling grace, not the deliberate smile from when they met in the hallway, nor the teasing smile when sitting on his lap, but a genuine smile from the heart.

Chi Sheng’s slightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and before she even realized it, her lips curved into a slight smile, a certain part of her heart sinking.

Passed in one take!

Mei Lan thought that with Ning Zhi’s condition, this scene would take several days to get right, but unexpectedly, it was approved in just one go.

She watched the monitor again, confirmed it was perfect, then looked up, glanced at Ning Zhi, and shifted her gaze to Shen Yizhi.

Ning Zhi walked to the side in a daze, Yang Yang handed her some water, but Shen Yizhi did not follow.

The water was ice-cold, sliding down her throat, making her shiver.

She suddenly felt like a marionette in Shen Yizhi’s hands, unable to get into character because of a single compliment, and unable to speak her lines because of a few words.<\/p>","protected":false},"parent":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}}},"novel":[],"class_list":["post-3553","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3553","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3553"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3553\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3554,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3553\/revisions\/3554"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3553"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"novel","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/novel?post=3553"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}