Famous Actresses, Please Keep Your Distance From Me - Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Cen Zhi unlocked her computer and responded to Wen Lin’s remark with a dismissive tone: “We weren’t close last time.”

“Forget it, I won’t talk about this with you anymore, lest we get into another argument.” Wen Lin dropped the gossip.

“…”

Shortly after, Cen Zhi received a new message in the “Go Fur-babies Go” group. Duan Rujin had already moved on to another stray animal rescue station in Yuncheng and posted several photos. Some of the stations weren’t in as good a condition as Brother Xin’s; the animals there looked even more pitiful.

Cen Zhi pretended to be busy and didn’t appear in the group, which was mostly just Yu Lu and Duan Rujin chatting.

By the end of the day, Duan Rujin had visited two locations. Cen Zhi could imagine Duan Rujin on the other end of the phone—clearly afraid, yet forcing herself to step forward.

Cen Zhi did pop into the group a few times, but only to answer technical questions, acting like a consultant.

As for that bouquet of sunflowers, she had brought it back to her rental apartment. The apartment was a two-bedroom, but the guest room was used for storage. However, the sunlight there was quite good. Cen Zhi usually kept some succulents on the bay window’s tea table, and now she had placed the sunflowers in a glass bottle.

She didn’t take a photo. She stared at them for a long moment before leaving the room.

But… did receiving flowers require her to message Duan Rujin?

Cen Zhi pondered in silence. She opened their chat window but ultimately decided against sending anything. Instead, she grabbed her car keys, headed out, and rushed over to Wei Shu’s shop.

Wei Shu was startled by her sudden appearance and immediately tried to peer behind her. “Why are you here alone?” Wei Shu’s face fell.

Cen Zhi walked in. “I told you ‘in a few days,’ not ‘in a day’.”

It was just after 8:00 PM, and Wei Shu’s shop was busy. Cen Zhi went to the paper-folding area and asked her friend, “I want to fold some sunflowers.”

“For her?”

Cen Zhi: “Mhm.”

“…” Wei Shu looked confused. “Were you two actually close in university?”

Cen Zhi shook her head. “Not really.”

There were only about twenty students in their class. Duan Rujin was the class monitor then, so they had some interaction, but truly not much. Mostly, Cen Zhi had been busy with part-time jobs; she was almost impossible to find once classes were over.

Wei Shu picked out paper for her, stunned by the reply. “Then why are you giving her ornaments and paper flowers?”

“Just returning a gesture.”

Wei Shu suddenly perked up. “Returning a gesture? What did she give you? Can you transfer it to me? Please, it’s something from Duan Rujin!”

Cen Zhi felt a headache coming on. “Don’t even think about it.” She grabbed a pile of supplies and found a seat. “They’re real flowers; they’ll wither.”

“I want them even if they’re withered.”

“Drop it.”

Tomorrow was Tuesday, and Cen Zhi was off work. She spent the night learning how to fold paper sunflowers from a tutorial. It was difficult at first—some steps were hard to grasp and it was delicate work—but she got into a rhythm. Eventually, she didn’t even need to ask Wei Shu for help. By the time she got home at 11:00 PM, she was holding about seven or eight paper sunflowers. Even the wrapping was made of folded paper.

Cen Zhi placed them on her bedside table. Under the warm yellow lamp, the paper sunflowers looked surprisingly realistic. She lay on her side, her gaze lingering on them, a satisfied curve touching her lips.

After another moment of hesitation, she took the initiative to message Duan Rujin: “Will you still be in Yuncheng tomorrow?”

Ten minutes later, Duan Rujin replied.

“There are still a few more rescue stations I haven’t seen.”

Cen Zhi understood and asked: “Are you coming to the shop to see the ashes tomorrow then?”

Wait. That sounded incredibly strange.

Cen Zhi bit her lip and added: “I mean the kittens.”

By Any Means: “Not going.”

Cen Zhi rolled over, her eyelashes fluttering. How was she supposed to give her the paper sunflowers then?

A second later, her eyes locked onto the phrase “a few more rescue stations.” Since she was off tomorrow, wouldn’t it be perfectly normal for her to visit a rescue station as well?

But she didn’t know which one Duan Rujin was visiting.

Cen Zhi stared at the chat box. After thinking it over, she messaged: “Which station are you going to tomorrow?”

“Why?”

“Are you going too?”

Cen Zhi’s eyelid twitched. She couldn’t deny it: “Our shop only partners with three, but as far as I know, there are several in Yuncheng. My friend asked me to do some more research.”

“I’m going to ‘With Love.'”

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow at ten, Cen Zhi.”

Cen Zhi’s breath hitched.

“Goodnight.” she sent.

The “With Love” stray animal rescue station wasn’t far from where she lived. When Cen Zhi got up, she even ran into Wen Lin in the elevator. Wen Lin saw her holding the paper sunflowers and gave a “tsk.” “You’re up so early on your day off.”

“I have things to do.”

“Doesn’t look like ‘things’ to me. Looks like a ‘tit-for-tat’ exchange.”

Cen Zhi ignored her. After leaving the underground parking, they parted ways. Cen Zhi placed the paper sunflowers in her trunk.

She drove to “With Love,” arriving about five minutes before ten. This place was in a better area than “Warmth”—not as remote. Since it was early and a weekday, there weren’t many cars in the lot. Cen Zhi didn’t see the Wuling Hongguang Mini yet. She stood by her car holding an umbrella, waiting for Duan Rujin.

At exactly 9:58 AM, the Kuromi-stickered Wuling Hongguang Mini drove through the gates.

Duan Rujin was wearing a T-shirt, jeans, and flats. She still wore a hat, looking very fresh, almost like she was back in university. Cen Zhi watched her get out of the car and watched the assistant drive the car away.

“Have you been waiting long?” Duan Rujin wasn’t wearing a mask, and a smile hung on her lips.

Cen Zhi shook her head. “No.”

The car was already out of sight. She asked in confusion, “Isn’t your assistant staying?”

“She has an emergency.” Duan Rujin stepped under Cen Zhi’s umbrella, bringing them very close together.

Cen Zhi didn’t suspect anything. “Then let’s go in.”

There were surveillance cameras starting from the entrance. There was no one to lead them on a tour, but one could call a staff member if they were interested in adopting. Neither of them had that intention; they were just there to see the animals.

The area was divided by size and health. Unlike “Warmth,” the first things you saw here were the cats. Cen Zhi instinctively glanced at the spot where Duan Rujin had been bitten last time.

Clearly, she got caught.

Duan Rujin captured her gaze and boldly raised her right hand in front of Cen Zhi’s eyes: “No need to be sneaky about it, Cen Zhi.”

“…”

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