After the Divorce, the Whole World is Waiting for Us to Get Back Together - Chapter 16

Chapter 16

The rain in the mountains always came and went in a flash. The sky, which had been thick with dark clouds moments ago, suddenly cleared. The wind swept through the leaves, brushing away the mist, but inside the Romantic Cottage, a layer of gloom was proving difficult to disperse.

Cheng Xi seemed to have forgotten she was an actress who made a living off her looks. Clutching a throw pillow, she looked completely soulless. She leaned sideways on the sofa, letting her thick, dark hair spill over her shoulders and back. Her dense lashes hooded her eyes, making it impossible to read her thoughts.

The directing team was at a loss. Beyond feeling bad for her, they didn’t know how to comfort a young woman whose spirit had been crushed by a Best Actress’s bad luck. After all, the rules had been set since last season. They never expected Meng Zhijin to pick the worst room on the first try—they had even intentionally placed that envelope on the very edge to help her avoid it.

But since the cameras were rolling, they were also secretly eager to see what kind of sparks would fly between Meng Zhijin and Cheng Xi over this “room crisis.”

Amidst the silence, Meng Zhijin stepped into the frame. The sofa dipped slightly as she sat beside Cheng Xi and said softly, “Blame me.”

Perhaps because she was still reeling from the frustration of waking up early only to end up with the worst room, Cheng Xi didn’t realize how close she was to Meng Zhijin. She straightened up slightly, her chin resting on her pillow, but didn’t pull away.

She shook her head dejectedly. “I don’t blame you. I’m the one who asked you to draw.”

“I’m just doing some mental construction, telling myself I have to accept it no matter how bad it is upstairs.”

Cheng Xi looked at the numerous cameras and the director’s team. She then turned her face—still buried in the pillow—toward Meng Zhijin. A hint of a smile returned to her eyes, and her voice came out muffled and lazy: “Besides, Teacher Meng, having a Best Actress stay in the worst room might make for a great headline when the show airs. I can even ride your coattails for more screen time.”

The staff was surprised by her blunt honesty. Such words could easily give viewers a negative, calculating impression of Cheng Xi.

But Meng Zhijin didn’t seem to mind. She let out a soft “Mm” of agreement. She seemed entirely at peace with it.

Then, the crinkle of a candy wrapper broke the silence. Meng Zhijin produced a White Rabbit creamy candy out of nowhere and held it out in front of Cheng Xi. “Want one?”

A faint milky scent wafted through the air. Cheng Xi bit her lower lip, feeling tempted. In a moment like this, a piece of candy really could lift her mood. However, her arms were busy hugging the pillow and her chin was pinning it down. She was comfortable and didn’t want to move.

The lights of the living room cast their silhouettes against the wall. Cheng Xi’s long hair brushed against Meng Zhijin’s arm as she leaned forward. Her white teeth peeked through her red lips, and she nimbly, swiftly snatched the candy directly from Meng Zhijin’s fingers.

Her soft lips seemed to graze Meng Zhijin’s fingers for a fraction of a second—a touch so fleeting the cameras almost couldn’t capture it.

The director’s team stood frozen. They didn’t know how to describe it, but even the most popular “CP” (couple) from last season didn’t have this level of natural chemistry. The sight of those vivid red lips taking the candy from Meng Zhijin’s hand looked incredibly ambiguous, yet it didn’t feel forced or “greasy.” It felt as though this was exactly how they were supposed to interact.

“How are they this familiar?” the staff wondered. “They only worked together once three years ago, right?”

As the candy was taken, Meng Zhijin imperceptibly rubbed her thumb against her index finger, as if imprinting that untraceable touch into her own skin. “Let’s go up and look,” she said.

“Okay,” Cheng Xi nodded, her mouth full of sweetness.

The Starry Attic was on the third floor. Cheng Xi pushed the door open, braced for the worst.

To her surprise, the “Starry Attic” was much better than the semi-basement room from last season. Though small, it was well-equipped. There was a small foyer, a bathroom to the left, and the bedroom featured a sloped ceiling with a massive skylight that opened up the space, making it feel airy rather than cramped.

“Actually… it’s not bad,” Cheng Xi admitted, pleasantly surprised.

Meng Zhijin was also surprised, but more practical. she scanned the room for cameras. Because of the sloped ceiling and high elevation, there were only two cameras: one at the head of the bed and one at the foot. There were none in the bathroom.

Satisfied, she heard Cheng Xi’s voice behind her: “Teacher Meng, won’t you come test out our bed with me?”

Sunlight streamed through the skylight, illuminating the bed. Cheng Xi had already flopped onto it, her red dress fanning out over the white sheets like a flame.

Meng Zhijin’s cold gaze flickered. She saw the deliberate provocation in Cheng Xi’s eyes—a bold “dare” because the cameras were rolling. She knew how mischievous Cheng Xi could be.

The room was quiet. Cheng Xi, seeing Meng Zhijin unmoved, gave her an “uninteresting” look and turned back to the sky. The light after the rain was gentle, carrying a winter-like brightness that felt nostalgic.

Suddenly, the bed dipped on the other side. A familiar, subtle fragrance brushed against Cheng Xi’s left shoulder.

Meng Zhijin had laid down beside her.

After a moment, Meng Zhijin offered her feedback: “It’s not too soft. Since you have a waist injury, this kind of bed is good for you.”

Cheng Xi’s eyes widened. Her waist injury was from her ballet days, a career she had abandoned years ago. Very few people remembered it. During Daylight, she had a relapse due to the repetitive ballet scenes, and the crew was always telling her to be careful.

She remembered a pair of cool hands supporting her aching waist back then…

“Then let’s lie here a bit longer,” Cheng Xi said, shifting slightly. She remained lazy, but something felt different.

The two lay there in silence. Time felt as though it hadn’t moved at all. The clouds in the skylight were just as heavy as Cheng Xi remembered. For a moment, she felt like she had only been gone for a few minutes. The box containing her most complicated emotions was cracking open, letting the light in.

“Meng—”

Cheng Xi turned her head to say something, but stopped when she saw the woman beside her. Meng Zhijin had fallen asleep. Her usually pursed lips were slightly parted, showing a hint of lip balm shimmer. Her lashes fanned out over her cheeks, looking completely defenseless.

A perfect target.

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