Ding Ze heard Gu Ran's muttering to herself and cleared his throat lightly. "Well, you can't be so absolute about that."
Gu Ran: "Hmm?"
Ding Ze: "It depends on when the ex-girlfriend relationship happened. If it was between two mature adults, and they claim they did nothing during the relationship, that's a bit hard to believe."
"But if it was between two students, I think it's still credible."
"I had a secret puppy love with a girl from the class next door in high school. The school was so strict it was limited to exchanging longing glances every day. We broke up later without even holding hands."
Gu Ran, clutching the seatbelt across her chest, nodded after hearing this, then slowly added, "But our school wasn't strict at all."
It was an international school; the teachers basically didn't care if students dated or not.
Ding Ze: "..."
Sure enough, as expected, it was related to Ji Shiyu.
He sighed and said, "Then it depends on the person who told you. You can't trust words from a smooth-talking man, nor from a man who often lies."
Gu Ran didn't make a sound.
Ji Shiyu barely even liked to talk; the term "smooth-talking" didn't fit him at all.
In the past, aside from being a bit of a dog in bed, hadn't he not really deceived her in other aspects?
Gu Ran looked out the car window.
...
Gu Ran's advertisement promotional video was scheduled for two days of shooting. On the second day, people from the game company also came to see how their ad was being filmed. After watching the first few completed shots, they all said it looked good.
The news that Gu Ran was shooting the promotional video for "Holy Spirit Jianghu 2" had been released, and the vast number of game fans were already eagerly rubbing their hands in anticipation.
Actually, another recently popular young actress had also wanted the endorsement for "Holy Spirit Jianghu 2." When her agent found out about the game's release, they actively sent many photos to the game company, believing the actress could also portray the character Xing Yao well. However, after discussions in a high-level meeting at the game company, they unanimously decided to choose Gu Ran.
The young actress's side didn't seem too happy about it. After all, they had condescended to compete with a female streamer for the endorsement, thinking the game company should have chosen her without question, but ended up losing.
Because of this, the actress's studio "intentionally or unintentionally" posted a few Weibo posts with strong implied meanings, saying things like "working diligently still can't compare to a certain 'princess'."
"Princess" had recently become Gu Ran's obvious nickname. Although her live-stream fans didn't call her that anymore, various gossip forums and entertainment news accounts liked to use these two words to refer to her. After all, following a previous dispute with a female idol, the titles "Mao Zhua Little Princess" and "Xinbo Little Princess," backed by her company's staunch support, were already deeply ingrained. There were even many posts "exposing what kind of connections the princess relies on."
Gu Ran saw the implied Weibo posts from the actress's studio and pursed her lips.
If you didn't get chosen, you can only resort to veiled digs here. She wouldn't take the bait.
So today, before Gu Ran even started filming, she specifically posted a photo of the green screen set on Weibo—though she usually only posted streamer updates on Mao Zhua—with the caption "Starting~"
Happily throwing a veiled dig back, specifically to annoy people.
After posting on Weibo, Gu Ran handed her phone to Ding Ze and went to the makeup room to get ready.
Another girl was getting her makeup done at the same time, but like Tang Song, she was a background prop character in the scene who wouldn't show her face.
Because in the original work, Xing Yao was only one of the female leads; there was another female lead. Today they were shooting scenes from the original story where Xing Yao repeatedly witnesses the male lead being affectionate with the other female lead, which is also the part where Xing Yao is tormented throughout the entire book.
Gu Ran had previewed the storyboard beforehand and hadn't felt particularly moved while reading it. She even thought arranging these plot points in a one-and-a-half-minute ad was a bit boring, and it would be better to shoot more monster-fighting scenes for hot-blooded excitement. But when they actually started filming, seeing the intimate interactions between Tang Song and his female co-star, for a moment, she suddenly felt dazed.
The casual expression on her face faded away.
The female co-star was also a student from a film academy, clearly much more professional than she had been yesterday, smiling and leaning intimately on Tang Song's shoulder.
The script said what she needed to do now was stand in place and watch the person she likes being intimate with someone else.
Gu Ran stood there in a daze.
She originally thought she couldn't relate to such a plot, until the scene before her suddenly overlapped with some of her own memories.
It was as if on a certain summer afternoon, with the school full of laughter and noise, in the cafeteria cafe, the older students like Ji Shiyu, Gu Mingjing, and their group were gathered together. Qin Wenyi sat beside Ji Shiyu, chatting with his friends, also leaning on his shoulder like that.
Qin Wenyi seemed to have seen her. She saw Qin Wenyi's mouth form the words "A-Yu," and the glance Qin Wenyi cast her way held a hint of a smile.
The air in the studio was quiet.
The director, sitting at the monitor, saw the expression on Gu Ran's face now.
For this shot, he had originally only planned to use a wide establishing shot, as shooting close-ups of her face and expressions would place too high a demand on Gu Ran's acting skills, which she clearly didn't possess.
However, Gu Ran's performance today was unexpectedly impressive. She stood there, and before long, emotions gradually surfaced on her face: sadness, helplessness, grievance, and the pain of watching this scene unfold before her eyes.
The director was both surprised and delighted, quickly signaling the cameraman to switch to a close-up of her face. Every emotion appeared completely natural.
After finishing this shot, the director excitedly praised Gu Ran for doing very well, even complimenting her on having a talent for acting.
But Gu Ran's face didn't show the happiness of being praised. She forced a slight curve of her lips, as if trying to smile, but couldn't quite manage it.
She didn't have any particular talent for acting.
Ding Ze walked over, sensing Gu Ran's low spirits.
"Are you okay?" Ding Ze asked.
Gu Ran shook her head: "I'm fine."
All the shots today were about tormenting Xing Yao. In Xing Yao's memories, she was always an observer.
Countless times watching the person she likes being sweet with someone else, until finally dying pierced by ten thousand arrows.
Unlike yesterday's situation where she instinctively leaned back when Tang Song got close, today Gu Ran's shots all went surprisingly smoothly. The director sat behind the monitor praising her in various ways, saying she had finally found the right feeling. The several people from the game company who came to watch were also very satisfied after seeing the footage.
Only Ding Ze, watching Gu Ran being hoisted up on wires to film the "pierced by ten thousand arrows" scene, felt that her mood wasn't quite right today.
...
Because the filming today went surprisingly smoothly, they finished two hours earlier than planned.
The promotional video for "Holy Spirit Jianghu 2" was completely shot in two days, now just waiting for post-production special effects.
Gu Ran went to remove her makeup and change clothes quietly right after finishing. Since she wasn't streaming today, on the way back, Gu Ran suddenly said to Ding Ze, "Ding Ze, let's go eat."
Ding Ze: "Sure, what do you want to eat?"
In the end, following Gu Ran's directions, Ding Ze found a roadside stall at a night market not far from her home to eat skewers.
Ding Ze facepalmed, looking at Gu Ran who was ordering from the shop owner: "I thought when you specifically said let's eat, we were going to some high-end restaurant for French cuisine."
Gu Ran: "That's boring."
The food and a few cans of beer were brought over together by the shop owner.
Ding Ze looked at the beer and then at Gu Ran: "Can you drink?"
Gu Ran pulled the tab on a beer can, tilted her head back, and took a swig: "Actually, my alcohol tolerance is pretty good."
She clinked her can with Ding Ze's: "Cheers."
The night market soon filled with people, becoming noisy and bustling, full of life. Ding Ze noticed that Gu Ran wasn't eating much and wasn't talking either, but she had already finished two cans of beer.
He started a couple of topics trying to make conversation, but unfortunately, Gu Ran didn't seem very interested in chatting. Each time, she just perfunctorily replied with an "Mm-hmm" or two before going back to drinking her beer as if it were cola.
"Hey, don't just drink," Ding Ze finally couldn't stand it anymore. He put down the chicken wing he was holding and grabbed Gu Ran's hand as she reached for another can of beer.
He noticed Gu Ran's face was starting to flush: "Stop drinking. If you get drunk, I'll have to drag you back tonight."
Gu Ran shook her head: "Who... who said you need to drag me back?"
"I'm not drunk at all."
Ding Ze, faced with a Gu Ran who had suddenly started stammering, quickly took the remaining can of beer from her hand: "You call this not drunk?"
"I'm really not drunk," Gu Ran looked up at Ding Ze, who then saw her eyes and the tip of her nose were all red.
Gu Ran rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand, rambling on: "Let me tell you, I'm not drunk, but I... I'm really good at pretending to be drunk."
"You think I'm drunk too, right? But I, hic, really am not drunk."
Ding Ze: "If you're not drunk, I'll write my name backwards." He hadn't expected that letting her drink two cans would end up like this, and he immediately started getting a headache.
He was a bit angry, remembering that Gu Ran's mood had seemed off all day: "If something's bothering you, just say it. Say it, and maybe someone can help. What's the point of bottling it all up? Do you think someone will pay attention to you if you just keep it inside?"
After saying this, he wondered if he had been too harsh and was about to add a few comforting words when he suddenly heard a distinct sob.
Ding Ze was startled, seeing Gu Ran sniffle with her red nose, tears welling up first.
Gu Ran hugged an empty beer bottle: "No one pays attention to me."
Ding Ze: "I..."
Gu Ran: "I'll tell you a secret."
Ding Ze: "What secret?"
Gu Ran looked at Ding Ze, speaking with a thick nasal tone: "Once, I wasn't drunk either. I lied and told him I was drunk. He believed I was drunk and took me away."
"I didn't want to lie, but I like him. I really like him..." Gu Ran lowered her head, tears plopping onto the table.
"Why is liking someone like this? It hurts so much. I don't want to hurt anymore."
"Why am I even the extra one when shooting a commercial?"
Ding Ze looked at the emotionally overwhelmed Gu Ran, his expression one of surprise. He hadn't expected her secret to him would be this.
If he wasn't mistaken, that "he" was probably Ji Shiyu.
He pulled out two tissues for Gu Ran: "Do you think you're drunk now?"
Gu Ran shook her head slowly: "No."
Yeah, right. As if she wasn't drunk.
Ding Ze thought to himself, taking a deep breath: "Sit properly for now."
He got up and made a phone call.
By the time Ji Shiyu arrived, Ding Ze was leading a swaying Gu Ran out of the night market.
Ji Shiyu walked over. Seeing him, Ding Ze handed over Gu Ran, who had been crying, laughing, and telling secrets all night: "You talk to her."
"Thank you." Ji Shiyu reached out and took Gu Ran.
In her daze, Gu Ran felt herself being turned around. She looked up and found the face before her familiar.
Ji Shiyu lowered his head and called out: "Ranran."
Gu Ran first parted her lips slightly, her expression somewhat blank, until reality gradually overlapped with the image in her mind.
That person Qin Wenyi leaned against. That person she could only admire from afar, yet who also gave her hope.
Others said Ji Shiyu helped you, it was just a casual gesture.
He probably doesn't even know your name.
He helps you only because you're his family driver's daughter, but you took it to heart all by yourself. Because of a little bit of charity-like kindness, you stubbornly developed a crush on someone who doesn't even know your name.
All the bitterness of the day, all those pent-up emotions, erupted violently upon truly seeing this person.
Ding Ze heard Gu Ran finally start crying out loud.
He shook his head, walked a bit farther away, not listening to what the two were saying.
Ji Shiyu tried to wipe the tears from Gu Ran's cheek, hearing her cry out loudly:
"Why do you like Qin Wenyi and not me?"
Ji Shiyu's voice was thick with emotion: "I don't."
Gu Ran's tears fell like broken pearls, crying like a child: "You all like Qin Wenyi, but I hate her. I really, really hate her."
She finally said it without any restraint. She hadn't even dared to say she hated Qin Wenyi, dared to say Qin Wenyi made her uncomfortable. Because when everyone likes that person, even when the person you like the most likes that person, and you're the only one who hates her, then your hatred seems to become a mistake. Your mistake.
Ji Shiyu pulled Gu Ran into his embrace, his brow furrowed with pain: "I'm sorry."
Gu Ran cried hard. Once upon a time, she had also cried buried in Ji Shiyu's shoulder like this, but what was said that night, she couldn't remember.
Gu Ran: "Whenever Qin Wenyi is around, you don't want me anymore. I'm so tired, I'm so sad. I don't want you anymore either. I can't keep going."
Ji Shiyu stroked the back of Gu Ran's head, never wishing for time to reverse more than at this moment.
"I want you. I only want you." He said it over and over in her ear until Gu Ran's sobs gradually subsided.
Ji Shiyu slightly separated them and wiped her tear-streaked face.
"Remember this time." He said.
Gu Ran looked up with teary, blurred eyes. Ji Shiyu first kissed her forehead, then the tip of her nose, and finally sealed his kiss on her lips.
