Famous Actresses, Please Keep Your Distance From Me - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Yu Lu’s social circle had always been vast, with acquaintances as numerous as fish in the sea; Cen Zhi had known this since she ran into Yu Lu at a hole-in-the-wall eatery three years ago.

But she never imagined that one of those “fish” would be Duan Rujin.

Of course, Duan Rujin lived up to the title of “heavyweight guest” that Yu Lu had used; perhaps, given Duan Rujin’s popularity and status, “super-heavyweight guest” would have been more appropriate.

Thinking about this, Cen Zhi’s eyelashes fluttered.

The next second, she received a message from Wen Lin. Her gaze fell back to her phone screen, avoiding a collision with the look Duan Rujin was sending her way.

Wen Lin: “What time are you coming back tonight?”

Cen Zhi: “Probably midnight.”

The time Yu Lu gave her was that the venue was booked until twelve, giving them several hours to play.

Wen Lin: “Fine.”

Wen Lin: “Pick me up at the bar on your way back.”

Before Cen Zhi could reply, she heard Yu Lu mention her name, while simultaneously warning the others: “Don’t you guys go wild! Rujin is a straight girl, just like A-Zhi! Keep your distance from both of them! Don’t even think about it!”

Hearing this, Cen Zhi looked up at Duan Rujin, who was sitting on a soft chair a few meters away, changing into non-slip socks.

Duan Rujin was wearing a crewneck sweatshirt and sweatpants today—a casual outfit. Her baseball cap had been removed, revealing a face that was effortlessly beautiful. Hearing Yu Lu’s words, she seemed to find it quite amusing; her bright, clear eyes were full of mirth as she spoke to Yu Lu: “Xiao Lu, don’t falsely accuse them.”

“Exactly,” Xiao Shi nodded. “Who would dare have thoughts about Teacher Duan? I’m actually Teacher Duan’s ‘Mom-fan’.”

Duan Rujin widened her eyes slightly: “Little sister, how old are you this year?”

“Me?” Xiao Shi looked innocent and radiant. “I’m still in university, born in ’03.”

“…I suddenly remembered I have something to do, can I leave now?” Duan Rujin brushed her long hair back, looking helpless.

Yu Lu exposed her without mercy: “You’re off all week, don’t think I don’t know. Besides, I’m turning thirty today—did I say anything? I’m four years older than you, Rujin.”

Cen Zhi retracted her gaze and replied to Wen Lin’s message.

Just as she sent the message, Yu Lu tucked away her smile and called out to everyone: “Alright! Let’s head in! We’re the last group to enter!” She added seriously, “Since the plan is to leave everything from the outside world behind and have fun, phones have to go in the lockers.”

Everyone was very cooperative.

Cen Zhi stood up to put her phone in a locker. She was facing Duan Rujin’s direction; by the time she closed the locker door, Duan Rujin had already walked ahead with Xiao Shi and the others.

Yu Lu glanced at her from the side and whispered, “A-Zhi, I have a newfound appreciation for your emotional stability.”

“Why?”

The two of them walked forward, maintaining a distance of a few meters from Duan Rujin’s group.

“That’s Duan Rujin, for goodness’ sake.”

Cen Zhi looked at the various attractions in the venue, appearing unconcerned. “If a hundred million RMB fell from the sky for me, I think my emotions wouldn’t be this stable.”

“…” Yu Lu found it hard to disagree. “My standards aren’t that high; ten million would do.”

Cen Zhi curled her lips. “Is everything a competition now?” She then asked, “By the way, since the phones are locked away, how are we taking photos together?”

“I brought a Polaroid; I’ve got Xiao Lin holding it for me.”

“Okay, then I’m going to play the racing game first.”

Just as she finished speaking, there was a loud commotion ahead. Yu Lu’s dozen or so friends who had entered earlier had spotted Duan Rujin. Among them were both men and women, and the joy on their faces was unconcealed. Unfortunately, their phones were in the lockers, so they couldn’t even take a group photo.

In the end, everyone went back to “give Yu Lu a hard time.”

“Xiao Lu, if you had told me Jinjin was coming, I definitely wouldn’t have locked my phone! Is it too late to go get it?”

“Old Yu, you’re really not cool; you actually hid the fact that Teacher Duan was coming.”

Cen Zhi had already reached the racing area and climbed into a seat. The stranger next to her was looking curiously over at Duan Rujin’s side.

Cen Zhi didn’t move; she gripped the steering wheel and operated the large screen in front of her, yet she could hear Duan Rujin’s voice rising from the side: “It was all my idea. Xiao Lu is the protagonist today; I’m just here to be the ‘green leaf’ (supporting role).”

The end of Duan Rujin’s sentence lifted slightly, sounding quite sweet.

“But what can we do, Rujin? Wherever you go, everyone’s eyes follow,” Yu Lu said with a laugh. “Supporting role? No way. You’re going to be the mascot today.”

Cen Zhi couldn’t help but turn her head, letting her gaze fall on Duan Rujin once more.

Yu Lu was exactly right.

Before Duan Rujin entered the entertainment industry, she was that kind of presence—she carried a spotlight just by standing there, as dazzling as the brightest star in the sky.

Cen Zhi’s lips pressed into a thin line. She stopped paying attention, but a subtle feeling stirred in her heart.

She believed Duan Rujin surely hadn’t expected her to be here either.

However, Duan Rujin had been so busy these past few years; whether she even remembered her was another matter entirely.

Before she could think further, the unfamiliar girl next to her issued a racing challenge: “Sister, want to race?”

“Sure,” Cen Zhi nodded. “Which map?”

The Trendy Play Space had many projects, and thus many choices. With nearly twenty of them in total, they didn’t really need to queue, but since it was Yu Lu’s birthday, no one could refuse if the birthday girl wanted everyone to play together.

Consequently, Cen Zhi joined in on many of the activities.

Whether it was go-karting, billiards, or the trampoline, the atmosphere was lively with constant cheering. She maintained a faint smile throughout, responding to whoever spoke to her.

It wasn’t until the rock climbing ended that Cen Zhi sat on a side chair to rest.

Many LED clocks hung in the hall, showing that it was now 10:30 PM.

Xiao Shi sat down beside her, huffing and puffing, sighing from the bottom of her heart: “I can’t do this. I need to exercise. I’m only 20, how can my stamina be this bad? How am I going to be a ‘1’ (top) in the future?”

“You’ve been one before?” Cen Zhi’s lips curved.

Xiao Shi immediately stiffened her neck: “Of course! Everyone knows I’m the ‘New 1’ of the lesbian circle!”

“I didn’t know.”

Xiao Shi giggled: “A-Zhi sister, you’re really cute when you’re being all serious.”

“Thanks.”

Ahead, another group was starting a competition, and Duan Rujin was among them. Under the guidance of the staff, she had already fastened her safety harness. Quite a few people stood up to watch this “match.” Xiao Shi was truly exhausted; she had just come in dead last, so she leaned back and watched leisurely from where she was.

Without a phone in hand, Cen Zhi followed suit and looked over.

Duan Rujin’s frame was very slender, but that was only in appearance. The moment the race started, she climbed upward very rapidly, leaving the others behind to become the first person to ring the bell. Her posture while coming down was like something out of a movie.

Gasps of surprise rose from the crowd, and even the staff members stood with their mouths agape.

Xiao Shi’s eyes went wide: “Teacher Duan is so amazing.”

“Mm,” Cen Zhi replied calmly.

She watched as someone handed Duan Rujin a tissue, which Duan Rujin accepted with a beaming smile.

Duan Rujin’s climbing seemed effortless; even now, her breathing didn’t seem to have changed at all.

Unlike before.

Cen Zhi’s mouth tightened. Perhaps because her gaze lingered on Duan Rujin a bit longer this time, Duan Rujin spotted her through two thin layers of people.

“…” Cen Zhi’s knuckles curled, her breath hitching.

In just an instant, Duan Rujin looked away, as if the eye contact had never happened.

As if nothing had ever happened between them in the past.

Cen Zhi exhaled for no apparent reason.

Yu Lu called out at that moment: “The space here is big, let’s take a group photo right here, everyone.” She waved toward Cen Zhi and Xiao Shi. “A-Zhi, Xiao Shi, come over quickly.”

Xiao Shi rose quickly: “Coming!”

Cen Zhi followed slowly.

There were quite a few people, and the staff members were adjusting angles with the Polaroid.

Yu Lu was tactful and wanted to accommodate everyone’s feelings; she didn’t force Cen Zhi, who only wanted to stand on the edge. However, after the team photo ended, Yu Lu pulled her over to her side: “We agreed on a photo, A-Zhi.”

“I haven’t forgotten.”

The others were flipping through the group photos, except for Duan Rujin, who remained at the center of the discussion.

An ominous premonition rose in Cen Zhi’s heart.

As expected—

“Rujin, help me take a photo with A-Zhi.” Yu Lu waved with a grin.

Duan Rujin’s dimples appeared: “Sure.”

She came over holding the Polaroid. Her gaze flickered almost imperceptibly over Cen Zhi’s face before she stood a meter away, aiming the lens at Cen Zhi and Yu Lu, leaning her eye toward the viewfinder.

“Cen Zhi,” Duan Rujin called out. “Lean your head a bit closer to Xiao Lu.”

After all these years, hearing Duan Rujin call her name again made Cen Zhi’s nerves tense up. Her smile was a bit stiff, but she still tilted her head as requested.

She looked at the lens, finding it hard to continue denying that Duan Rujin remembered her.

Even though she herself remembered it so clearly.

How could one forget? On that rainy night five years ago, Duan Rujin, who was usually surrounded by stars, had come to knock on her door. She had called her name just like this, and then whispered to ask if she wanted to sleep on this final night.

The rain that night was heavy, the droplets splashing loudly everywhere.

Yet it didn’t hinder them at all from hearing each other’s heavy breathing.

Cen Zhi even remembered that Duan Rujin was quite disheveled that night. Toward the end, she had leaned against her in frustration, her eyes rimmed with red, saying: “Cen Zhi, I can’t find the position.”

The flash of the camera pulled Cen Zhi’s thoughts back, and she stopped holding her breath.

The photo was done. Duan Rujin handed the photo paper to Yu Lu, her eyes brimming with a smile: “Take a look? I don’t know how my skills are.”

“They definitely won’t be bad.”

After Yu Lu spoke, she cleared her throat and suddenly asked: “Wait, Rujin, how do you know A-Zhi’s real name?”

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