Famous Actresses, Please Keep Your Distance From Me - Chapter 17

Chapter 17

After returning home, Cen Zhi found herself still dwelling on Duan Rujin’s words—

What did she mean by “actually happen”? Was it because she had fantasized about it before?

The moment this thought surfaced, Cen Zhi found it ridiculous. Who was she, and who was Duan Rujin? How could she be so arrogant as to think that way?

But…

Those words had indeed come directly from Duan Rujin’s mouth.

It wasn’t until Cen Zhi finished her shower that she managed to push those thoughts aside, interrupted by Wen Lin knocking on her door.

Wen Lin stood there holding a bottle of red wine. It was clear she had already started drinking; her eyes weren’t as clear as usual. Seeing Cen Zhi open the door, she tilted her head: “Drink?”

Cen Zhi, also feeling restless, gave a soft “Mhm.”

The two sat opposite each other at the coffee table, which was spread with cold appetizers and braised meats Cen Zhi had bought near the apartment complex. It was a good thing, too; she had been so preoccupied with thoughts of Duan Rujin that she had forgotten to eat dinner.

Wen Lin tilted her head back to drain her glass and called out: “Cen Zhi.”

Cen Zhi hadn’t started drinking yet; she wasn’t particularly fond of alcohol. She was busy using her chopsticks to stuff food into her mouth. Hearing Wen Lin call her name, she simply hummed a nasal “Mhm?”

“Have you ever thought about going back to Nancheng?” Wen Lin stared at her.

Cen Zhi’s movements halted. She looked up, waited to swallow her food, and asked back: “Do you want to go back?”

Wen Lin’s lips twitched into a bitter smile. “No.” She sighed. “My mom called. She said my grandmother will probably pass away this month.”

Cen Zhi didn’t offer an opinion. She lowered her eyes, sighing inwardly.

Wen Lin’s family favored boys over girls. After Wen Lin’s mother struggled through three pregnancies, she finally gave birth to a son. As the eldest daughter, Wen Lin had received the least—not just materially, but emotionally. Her grandmother, in particular, had only ever doted on the grandson and never spared a glance for her. As she grew older, Wen Lin became more clear-headed; she worked part-time jobs and rarely contacted home. By the time she graduated university, her family expected her to provide for her younger brother’s tuition and living expenses.

The accumulated conflicts finally exploded. Wen Lin found even the air in Nancheng nauseating. She had traveled all over the country with Cen Zhi, and in these five years, she hadn’t returned once. She only maintained occasional phone contact with her mother, who possessed a shred of conscience.

“I don’t want to go back,” Wen Lin’s eyes welled with tears. “Just the thought of it makes me sick.”

Cen Zhi set down her chopsticks and raised her glass to clink against Wen Lin’s. “Then don’t go back. I haven’t thought about going back either.”

Wen Lin lifted her head again. “I’ll wait until she’s dead to go see her.”

“Okay.”

Wen Lin had a decent tolerance; she drank ninety percent of the bottle without getting completely wasted and eventually headed back upstairs to her own place.

Cen Zhi cleared the coffee table, washed up, and sat on her bed to open WeChat.

Yu Lu was still in the “Go Fur-babies Go” group chatting with Duan Rujin about adoption. Many people in Yu Lu’s comment section were sharing how they had adopted their pets from rescue stations—how cute and well-behaved they were. These positive messages were encouraging others to take action.

Cen Zhi didn’t join in. She quietly watched the stream of messages between Yu Lu and Duan Rujin.

Until she received a private message from Duan Rujin.

By Any Means: “What time do you go to work tomorrow?”

Cen Zhi pursed her lips and replied: “Is something wrong?”

“I wanted to see if I’d have time to visit the columbarium again.”

Cen Zhi: “Ten o’clock.”

By Any Means: “Good.”

By Any Means: “Then how do I get in?”

Cen Zhi originally wanted to say she would take her in, but then she thought better of it. Frequent meetings with Duan Rujin made her mind a mess. So she said: “I’ll tell the front desk. When you arrive, just tell her your name is ‘By Any Means.'”

“Will do.”

The conversation ended there. Both of them were acting quite professional.

Cen Zhi let out a breath.

Having slept poorly, Cen Zhi got up and applied some foundation to cover her fatigue. Wen Lin looked even worse, so she put on a full face of makeup. The two sat in the office and began organizing the day’s tasks.

Cen Zhi watched the time in the corner of her computer screen, her heart ticking along with the seconds. She had told Feng Xingxing to send her a WeChat if “By Any Means” arrived. It wasn’t that she wanted to see her, just that she wanted to confirm she had actually come.

Cen Zhi’s brow remained slightly furrowed as she occasionally glanced at her phone.

By 10:15 AM, Feng Xingxing still hadn’t messaged. Cen Zhi couldn’t wait any longer. She locked her phone in the cabinet and entered the pet preparation room to begin her day’s work.

She was currently cleaning a small Teddy. Its fur needed very meticulous grooming. The owner was an elderly lady who remained calm during the farewell ceremony. She stroked the dog’s body with her aged hands and said gently, “You’ve worked hard, accompanying an old woman like me for over ten years.”

The dog gave no response. She continued talking to it, and after a while, she turned to Cen Zhi: “Little girl, do you think his life was a happy one?”

“Of course. Because he had you.”

The old lady let out a deep, heavy sigh. “That’s good then.”

She said, “Thank you. I really needed to hear that.”

“You’re welcome.”

By the time Cen Zhi left the farewell room, it was already 11:30 AM. She didn’t need to guess to know Duan Rujin was gone, as she had to visit other rescue stations in Yuncheng today.

Cen Zhi took off her work clothes and retrieved her phone from the cabinet. Sure enough, Duan Rujin had arrived around 10:30; Feng Xingxing had messaged her.

Cen Zhi went downstairs.

Feng Xingxing called out to her from the front desk: “Sister Cen.”

“Mhm?” Cen Zhi stopped in her tracks.

Feng Xingxing pointed to a small bouquet of flowers on the counter. “This was brought by that ‘Miss By Any Means.’ She asked me to give it to you.”

Cen Zhi was surprised. “She sent these?”

“Mhm.” Feng Xingxing blinked. “She said these flowers suit you very well.”

It was a small arrangement of sunflowers—a very brilliant, sunny color.

Cen Zhi walked behind the counter and picked up the flowers. “Okay, I see. Thanks.”

She carried the bouquet back to the second floor and into the office. Wen Lin had just finished washing her hands and sat down. Seeing her walk in with sunflowers, she laughed: “Did Chen Kai change his flower choice?”

“No.”

Wen Lin raised an eyebrow. “True. Word has already spread that you rejected his flowers yesterday.” She continued, “I get it. They’re from the girl from yesterday.”

Cen Zhi placed the flowers on the windowsill and said nothing. She sat down at her desk and picked up her phone, wondering what to send to Duan Rujin, but finding herself at a loss for words. Her lips were pressed tight.

She actually wanted to ask: Why sunflowers?

By conventional standards, sunflowers weren’t as beautiful as roses or other flowers.

Cen Zhi rubbed her brow. Before she could come up with a reason, Wen Lin asked from across the room: “But Cen Zhi, that person yesterday was Duan Rujin, wasn’t it?”

Cen Zhi looked up.

“Why so defensive?” Wen Lin said. “I went for a stroll downstairs and saw today’s appointment list. That ‘By Any Means’ said she was a friend of yours. It’s pretty obvious. I’m not an idiot.”

“It was her.”

Wen Lin chuckled. “Well, you two don’t seem like strangers. She even asked you if you wanted to be her eyes yesterday.”

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