Although Li Sudong was Qin Mu’s ultimate target for revenge in the story, Li Chu and Dong Ming, who played Li Sudong, didn’t actually have many scenes together. Qin Mu lurked in the shadows, moving like a ghost across the chessboard. She aroused suspicion, yet it was difficult to find evidence against her. The newly unearthed clues made it impossible for Li Rui to pin anything on her.
However, one person kept a close eye on Qin Mu: Xi Yiyun.
In this drama, Li Chu had the most scenes with Ning Manqing, followed by Zhao Zhichun. Xi Yiyun was always suspicious of Qin Mu, and Qin Mu deliberately drew her attention, their lives inevitably becoming entangled. One probed skillfully, the other disguised herself with ulterior motives. With their deliberate efforts, the superficial emotional development between them progressed quickly.
In early November, the weather transitioned from autumn to winter, but the city where the film crew was located was relatively warm, and the temperature hadn’t dropped much. Li Chu wore a knitted long-sleeved shirt, her long, straight black hair cascading down her back, a few strands framing her face, making her pale face appear even smaller. Her pants concealed her slender legs, creating a visually fuller and even more attractive appearance.
However, the person in the car with her wasn’t in the mood to appreciate her beauty, their face full of worry.
“You have to go in the water later. How cold it must be! And it might rain today. Sister Li, I’ve prepared ginger tea. Drink more later, okay?” Qian Duoduo was very concerned about Li Chu’s health. Perhaps influenced by Qin Mu’s character, she always felt that Li Chu was frail and couldn’t help but feel worried about the upcoming water scenes.
“Got it.” Li Chu responded while looking at the script. She didn’t think she would get sick easily.
The scene they were shooting today was at a water park. This was also where Qin Mu and Xi Yiyun shared their first kiss. However, this first kiss wasn’t beautiful at all; it was unexpected for both characters. Although they appeared amicable on the surface, they both secretly wished the other would suffer some misfortune. Xi Yiyun hoped Qin Mu would slip up soon, while Qin Mu wished for some natural or man-made disaster to befall Xi Yiyun, so she wouldn’t interfere with her plans.
This outing was Qin Mu’s invitation to Xi Yiyun. She claimed she had bought two tickets to the water park with a friend, but her friend had a last-minute emergency and couldn’t make it.
Xi Yiyun didn’t doubt this excuse. Whether it was true or false didn’t matter to her. She came today with the information she had gathered, intending to test Qin Mu.
When Li Chu arrived, Ning Manqing was already waiting. She wore casual clothes and waved to Li Chu.
“Teacher Ning.” Li Chu only had time to greet her before Ji Yun called her with a loudspeaker to get in position and start filming.
After filming the entrance scene, it was time to change into swimsuits.
“Drink some hot water before changing.” Ning Manqing instructed Li Chu off-camera.
“Okay.” Li Chu looked into Ning Manqing’s eyes and responded with a smile. She looked so serious when she spoke, as if those lake-like eyes could only hold the reflection of one person.
Ning Manqing pressed her tongue against the roof of her mouth, trying her best to control herself and not give in to the urge to caress Li Chu’s cheek right there.
Ji Yun had discussed Li Chu’s swimsuit with the costume team for quite a while. Because Li Chu was fair and delicate, Ji Yun had considered a little white dress style, but he felt that the color was too bland. It felt like two patches of white together, not eye-catching enough and not distinctive enough.
After considering several styles, Ji Yun still wasn’t satisfied. Finally, he settled on a cute, girly style. He said it was more in line with Qin Mu’s state of mind when inviting Xi Yiyun. Li Chu, of course, felt that anything was fine; the director was always right. However, she didn’t expect her swimsuit to be printed with peaches – pink and tender peaches that looked sweet at first glance.
When she came out, Ji Yun nodded repeatedly. “Yes, that’s the feeling! I told you peaches were suitable.”
Ji Yun had actually smelled Li Chu’s pheromones before. When Li Chu’s heat came early last time, although it was only for a few seconds, the scent was so distinct that Ji Yun immediately recognized it as peach. So, seeing the pink peaches adorning her youthful figure, like a fresh and lovely peach, was very fitting. Moreover, he felt that this image suited Li Chu very well; it could be said to be true to her nature.
Qian Duoduo snapped a couple of pictures and sent them to Tang Congnan, telling him that her “daughter” was in good shape today, having drunk a cup of hot ginger tea before changing.
The “mother hen” sent an “okay” and transferred Qian Duoduo 5.20 yuan for her hard work.
Li Chu walked out of the changing room in her slippers and saw Ning Manqing emerging behind her. She wore a black one-piece swimsuit, her long, straight legs on full display. Her black hair flowed down her back, dazzling Li Chu. Black could be an extremely dangerous, charming, and seductive color, but on Ning Manqing, it had a kind of aloofness that prevented frivolous glances, even though her expression was gentle. With her dark hair, eyebrows, and eyes, she seemed to transform the slightly chilly early winter into a much colder season.
None of the crew members dared to stare, and even the tourists acting as extras only looked at her face, not her body.
This is so A! Li Chu thought. Sister’s waist isn’t a waist; it’s a deadly scimitar. Sister’s legs aren’t legs; they’re the spring water of the Seine!
Ji Yun announced through his loudspeaker, “Alright, we’ll start soon. Relax and treat it like you’re just having fun.”
The performance requirements in the script were indeed like this. Apart from the dialogue parts, Qin Mu and Xi Yiyun were genuinely playing, and although they had their own thoughts, they also let loose a little. Qin Mu had never played like this with anyone before, and it was Xi Yiyun’s first time as well.
But not for Li Chu. She had been to countless water parks in her past life. She wasn’t afraid of the signature rides, like sudden drops or low-inclined slides. Although she didn’t look like a particularly daring person, Li Chu actually loved thrilling rides. However, she wasn’t obsessed with them. She believed that a mundane life should have some color and shouldn’t always be like stagnant water. That’s why she always liked learning new things and pursuing new careers.
“Teacher Ning, have you ever played in a place like this?” Li Chu chatted with Ning Manqing where the cameras couldn’t pick up sound.
“No.” Ning Manqing wasn’t someone who paid much attention to this kind of entertainment, so she never had the desire since childhood, and even less so as she grew older.
“Then you should try it later. It’s really fun. We’re not filming over there, so we can go to the top one after we’re done.” Li Chu’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
They were going to film a two-person water ride and then some other segments. The first kiss scene was quite cliché – accidental. They both turned to speak to each other at the same time, and their lips brushed.
When it came to expressing emotions, Li Chu’s task was more challenging than Ning Manqing’s. Ning Manqing, as Xi Yiyun, only needed to show slight surprise and then apologize. But Li Chu had to first portray stiffness and then transition into girlish shyness. After turning their heads away, both of their expressions were identical frowns, perfectly portraying the superficial ambiguity.
Li Chu played the rides with enthusiasm. She didn’t need to hold back; her current state was exactly what Qin Mu wanted to show Xi Yiyun. An image different from her usual pale and frail self, like a beautiful freesia blooming under the nourishment of the warm sun, every line exuding beauty.
Ji Yun didn’t call cut, so Li Chu continued to have fun with Ning Manqing. Their inflatable raft spun rapidly down the slide, Li Chu’s laughter echoing through the tube.
The kiss scene would be filmed after they came out of the water. Inside the narrow, winding tube, there were no cameras, no lenses, and no other eyes.
After the rapid descent, there was a buffer zone in the tube where the surging water would carry the raft down, bringing the riders back into the light.
It was at this moment that Li Chu felt a hand on the back of her neck. The hand rested on her scent gland, a sensitive spot that made her involuntarily shudder.
“Teacher Ning, are you scared?” Li Chu joked. After all, only her unrestrained laughter had echoed in the tube, while Ning Manqing behind her remained silent.
“It feels… strange.” Ning Manqing’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was exceptionally clear in Li Chu’s ear.
“It’s kind of like a roller coaster, but different. I think it’s more fun than a roller coaster. The water feels better.” Li Chu’s nape felt itchy. As she spoke with a beaming smile, she looked up at Ning Manqing.
The two-person raft was positioned one in front of the other. Because of the staggered arrangement, Li Chu had to tilt her head back to see Ning Manqing’s face, just in time to meet her downward gaze.
There was light in this buffer zone, but it was dim, filtering up from the bottom of the water. The shimmering ripples seemed to melt into those ink-black eyes, and Li Chu, for some reason, lost her voice.
She watched as the flickering light drew closer and closer, as the orchid-like fragrance entwined around her face with each breath. The air was filled with a pleasant, comforting scent.
Li Chu clearly knew what Ning Manqing wanted to do. She could stop her, break the ambiguous atmosphere, but at this moment, her mind was blank, and she didn’t think about any of that.
She didn’t move, only watched as Ning Manqing leaned in closer and closer, even closing her eyes when their noses touched.
At this moment, she seemed to forget where she was, only feeling that the surrounding dimness was just right. The light from the bottom of the water shimmered in her eyes and also in her heart.
Ning Manqing had initially intended to just take a quick taste of her scent. Her emotions were stirred, but she knew that while the atmosphere was right, the setting wasn’t. However, the peach in front of her was so obedient and cooperative that it brought forth all her desires, all her budding feelings, the urge to cherish her, to meld her into her very being.
She desperately suppressed those restless emotions. Even though her heart was turbulent, she remained incredibly gentle.
Li Chu’s soft lips felt like they were coated with honey. The gentle kiss made her unconsciously part her lips, cooperating fully with Ning Manqing, her heart melting into the shimmering water like a shadow.
How can she be so well-behaved? Ning Manqing sighed inwardly.
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