Famous Actresses, Please Keep Your Distance From Me - Chapter 20

Chapter 20

How could she not have seen it?

When Duan Rujin expressed her surprise and joy at seeing her again; when Duan Rujin called her to soothe her emotions; when Duan Rujin sent her sunflowers—in so many moments like those, Cen Zhi could see it.

But just as she had once admitted, she felt a sense of distance between her identity and Duan Rujin’s. Because of that, she had been unwilling to let herself think about it.

Now that Duan Rujin had laid it bare, it didn’t truly surprise her. It fit Duan Rujin’s character—or at least, it fit what Cen Zhi knew of her, however little that might be.

“I can tell,” Cen Zhi admitted.

Duan Rujin set down her chopsticks and sat up straighter. “And?”

“And what?”

“Your attitude.”

Cen Zhi pursed her lips. Direct words still felt difficult to voice. Finally, under Duan Rujin’s expectant gaze, she said, “Wait a moment.”

She stood up. As she moved to pass Duan Rujin, the other woman suddenly caught her by the wrist. Looking up at her, Duan Rujin asked, “You’re coming back this time, right?”

Not like five years ago.

Duan Rujin didn’t say that part out loud; she simply waited in silence for Cen Zhi’s answer.

Cen Zhi looked down at her captured wrist. This was just like when she accompanied Duan Rujin for her second shot; the same scene was playing out again.

“I’ll be back.”

Duan Rujin looked visibly relieved and smiled. “Okay. Then I’ll wait for you.”

“Mhm.”

While waiting for Cen Zhi to return, Duan Rujin covered her face with her hands. She wasn’t sure if she was being too blunt or too vague. What she wanted to develop with Cen Zhi was, of course, more than just a friendship, but what else could she do for now?

What is Cen Zhi doing out there? Is she going to bring a camera tripod like she did for Yu Lu? She wasn’t filming a video, so it had to be something else. How long will it take?

Question after question sprouted in Duan Rujin’s mind, her thoughts drifting like willow catkins in the wind.

Just as she was pondering a new question, a bouquet—unlike any she had ever received—appeared before her eyes. She looked up and met Cen Zhi’s gaze.

A trace of a smile lingered in Cen Zhi’s eyes. “As you can see, this is my attitude.”

Duan Rujin found her own voice strained. “…Thank you.”

She hadn’t expected a bouquet of paper sunflowers, interspersed with tiny paper daisies and green paper leaves and stems. Even the outer wrapping was meticulously folded. At first glance, it looked incredibly realistic; upon closer inspection, it was stunning.

Cen Zhi had finally found the chance to give her the flowers. She let out a quiet breath of relief before taking her seat opposite Duan Rujin again.

“Did you fold these yourself?” Duan Rujin thought of the painted ornaments.

Cen Zhi picked up her chopsticks. Meeting her eyes, she nodded hesitantly. “Mhm. I folded them last night.”

“They’re beautiful. You’re very talented with your hands.”

Cen Zhi’s mind briefly flickered to something else, but her expression remained natural. She shook her head. “It’s not that hard. I just followed a tutorial.” Mostly, Wei Shu’s shop had everything one needed to learn.

“Thank you. I love them.”

“…You’re welcome.”

As time passed, more people entered the shop. But sitting in the corner with her back to the room, even with her hat off, no one could see Duan Rujin’s face clearly enough to recognize her. They both enjoyed a peaceful meal.

To their surprise, just as they were finishing, Yu Lu arrived with some other friends.

Yu Lu headed straight for the secluded path. She hadn’t thought much of the fact that the last table was occupied until she looked closer. The person facing her was Cen Zhi, and the person opposite Cen Zhi had a back that looked remarkably like Duan Rujin’s.

She clearly remembered sending Duan Rujin a message at noon asking if she wanted to eat together, offering to take her to a great restaurant.

Duan Rujin had replied: “I’m going with a friend.”

It turned out that “friend” meant Cen Zhi.

Cen Zhi looked up and met Yu Lu’s gaze. She froze for a moment, then looked at Duan Rujin. Duan Rujin, completely unaware, had just finished wiping her mouth and was preparing to put her hat back on.

Sensing Cen Zhi’s gaze, Duan Rujin blinked. “What’s wrong?”

Before Cen Zhi could answer, Duan Rujin heard a familiar female voice: “Well, well, if it isn’t the famous Miss Duan. To think we’d run into each other here.”

Yu Lu had already told her friends she’d be right back and walked over. She pulled out a chair and sat down beside them, letting out a cold huff. “Alright, confess. When did this start?”

Cen Zhi pressed a hand to her forehead. Duan Rujin adjusted her hat.

“Just today,” Duan Rujin said, clutching the paper sunflowers to her chest. “Cen Zhi is my new friend.”

Cen Zhi’s eyelid twitched.

Yu Lu’s gaze swept back and forth between them, looking unconvinced. “I don’t buy it. I think it was earlier than that.”

“Oh?” Duan Rujin countered. “When?”

“When you hugged her while getting your shot. Our A-Zhi isn’t the type to let just anyone do that.”

Cen Zhi gave a light cough. “Today is… official.”

Yu Lu waved her hand dismissively. “Fine, I won’t hold it against you two for making friends behind my back. but this secretive vibe… if I didn’t know better, I’d think you two were…”

She didn’t finish the sentence, but everyone at the table knew what she was implying.

“Yeah, it’s exactly what you’re thinking,” Duan Rujin challenged playfully.

Yu Lu stood up. “I’m leaving. You two really have the nerve to tease a poor lesbian like me.”

The shop was getting crowded, so Duan Rujin pulled on her mask. As they walked through the narrow passage, she gave a nod to Yu Lu’s table. Xiao Shi and the others were there too, and they called out, “Bye, Sister Zhi!”

Cen Zhi felt a bit guilty. After saying “See you next time” to the busy Big Sister, the two of them stepped outside and got into the car.

“It’s still early. Do you want to go back for a nap?” Cen Zhi ignored the strange fluttering in her heart.

Duan Rujin was still holding the paper sunflowers. She reached up to tuck some hair behind her ear. “Are you taking me?”

“Mhm.”

“Then you’ll know where I live.”

“…” Cen Zhi looked at her. “Is that not allowed?”

Duan Rujin’s eyes crinkled with a smile. She cleared her throat. “Of course it is. There’s no reason it shouldn’t be.”

Even a friendship has an initial adjustment period.

“Then give me the address.”

“Alright.”

As it turned out, Duan Rujin wasn’t staying in a hotel this time, but in a high-end apartment. Cen Zhi was a bit surprised as they approached. “I thought you were staying at a hotel.”

“I’ll likely be staying in Yuncheng for a while this time, so I moved out of the hotel.”

Cen Zhi: “Mhm.”

A moment later, they arrived. Cen Zhi didn’t unbuckle her seatbelt. She turned her head and said seriously, “I won’t be joining you this afternoon. I have other things to do.”

“Okay.”

“Good afternoon.”

Duan Rujin opened the door and stepped one foot out. Then, she turned back and smiled at Cen Zhi. “So, you folded these flowers last night. Before I even asked, you had already decided to be friends with me, right?”

Cen Zhi froze, then slowly replied, “Yes.”

“Good.” Duan Rujin put her mask back on. “Can you tell from my eyes how happy I am?”

“…Yes.”

“That’s good then.” Duan Rujin raised an eyebrow. “Do you understand what I mean? Mille-Feuille Cake.”

Cen Zhi turned away, not looking at her directly, her lips moving softly.

“I know.”

“I feel a little… that way too.”

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