Famous Actresses, Please Keep Your Distance From Me - Chapter 31

Chapter 31

The health center was anything but quiet; the sound of children crying was a constant, unending loop. Yet, Cen Zhi’s answer was clear and audible. Following it was a soft laugh from Duan Rujin—so light and airy, like willow catkins being carried by a breeze.

Hearing it sent a ticklish sensation through Cen Zhi’s ears.

Duan Rujin hadn’t taken her hat off yet. She gave a light cough. “If I’d known, I would have recorded that, Cen Zhi.” Her amusement was still very evident. “But I trust you won’t break your word.”

“And what if I do?”

“Then…” Duan Rujin’s lips moved behind her mask, but in the end, she only said, “Just don’t let me lose contact with you again.”

That period of time had been truly difficult; Duan Rujin didn’t want to experience it ever again.

Cen Zhi was slightly stunned. She hadn’t expected Duan Rujin to say that. She replied, “I won’t.”

“I won’t let you lose contact with me again.”

“Then shall we pinky swear? No, a pinky swear isn’t enough. I should still record you saying that, just in case you…”

Before Duan Rujin could finish, Cen Zhi reached out and took her left hand.

Duan Rujin’s face was still obscured by her hat, and she couldn’t see anything, but the sensation on her hand was real—Cen Zhi had grasped her left hand and specifically “singled out” her pinky finger, hooking it with her own.

Duan Rujin’s heart felt like it had leaped into her throat.

“I suppose taking a photo of the pinky swear works too?” Cen Zhi asked.

Duan Rujin struggled to keep her voice from shaking. “It works.”

Cen Zhi looked at their intertwined pinkies, the curve of her lips widening noticeably. She glanced up, thinking it was actually good that Duan Rujin couldn’t see right now; it gave her a boost of courage. She opened the camera app on her phone and captured the moment.

“Done.” Cen Zhi wasn’t greedy; she only took three photos.

She didn’t take photos of anything else. After all, given Duan Rujin’s profession, even if a photo of her in this state might not seem like much, Cen Zhi wanted peace of mind and couldn’t bring herself to do anything risky.

As soon as they let go, Duan Rujin adjusted her hat properly, letting her eyes show again. But before she could check the photos Cen Zhi had taken, the doctor walked over. She immediately composed her expression, making herself unreadable even behind the mask.

Soon, the two of them left the health center, Duan Rujin carrying the bag of clothes Cen Zhi had returned.

“Send the photos to my WeChat?” Duan Rujin felt she was being quite reserved. “Evidence like this should definitely be held by both parties.”

Cen Zhi nodded. “Yes.”

She was about to pull out her phone when Duan Rujin stopped her. Duan Rujin waved a hand. “Just send them once you get back.”

This implied they could keep chatting once they were home—a very natural move.

Cen Zhi didn’t suspect a thing. “Okay.” Then she remembered something. “By the way, now that you’re back from Liucheng, do you have time in the next couple of days? For that visit to the cat figurine shop. If you’re busy, I’ll tell my friend to wait a bit longer.”

To prepare for Duan Rujin’s arrival, Wei Shu had been hitting the gym all week. She wanted to look her best—a bit of personal vanity disguised under the excuse: “Isn’t this for your sake? I want Teacher Duan to see that I’m a respectable fan so she knows you keep respectable friends.”

Cen Zhi: “…”

“Are you working tomorrow?” Duan Rujin asked, looking at Cen Zhi.

It wasn’t even five o’clock yet, and the Yuncheng sun was still scorching. They stood in the shade of a tree to chat. The leaves swayed, and the shadows danced. Duan Rujin felt she could see the shape of the wind in Cen Zhi’s eyes.

But she didn’t see herself.

Cen Zhi’s pupils were brown. Hearing the question, she blinked. “Why ask me?”

“You aren’t going to make me go alone, are you?”

“Good point.”

“How about the day after tomorrow? I have to work tomorrow, Monday. I should be at the shop since I was away on business.”

Duan Rujin nodded. “Alright, so we’ll meet the day after tomorrow?”

“Okay.”

With the next meeting time settled, Cen Zhi checked the sky and then looked at Duan Rujin. “Then go back and rest. Remember what the doctor said.”

“I know.”

Cen Zhi pursed her lips, feeling like there was more she wanted to say, yet nothing would come out. Finally, she just lifted her phone slightly. “I’ll send the photos as soon as I get home.”

“Okay.”

“Goodbye then.”

“See you next time, Cen Zhi.”

Both had driven themselves and were parked in different directions. After saying their goodbyes, they turned away from each other. The distance was short, only about ten meters, but Cen Zhi’s steps felt heavy with reluctance. She walked with difficulty.

It shouldn’t be like this; it’s not like we won’t see each other again.

By the time Cen Zhi got into her car, the sedan Duan Rujin was driving had already begun to disappear from her view. She seemed much more decisive than Cen Zhi.

But then, what reason did Duan Rujin have to be anything else?

Cen Zhi looked at the pinky finger of her right hand. She had never actually done a “pinky swear” before, because she never had a “never change for a hundred years” promise with anyone. This was also why she could so decisively cut ties with her past. But did this simple action really have such magic? Enough to make her heart feel full?

Full of nothing but Duan Rujin.

At that thought, Cen Zhi covered her face with her hands. What was there left to be confused about?

She liked Duan Rujin.

She didn’t know when this feeling had started, but at this moment, the fluttering of her heart was so real.

She finally remembered what she had wanted to say before they parted: “Our next meeting doesn’t have to be the day after tomorrow; it could be tomorrow, or even tonight.” As long as Duan Rujin wanted to, and as long as she had time, she was available whenever.

But she couldn’t say it. She could only leave her with a “Yes.”

After a long while, Cen Zhi drove away.

Back at home, she sent all three photos to Duan Rujin. To be honest, all three looked exactly the same. After receiving them, Duan Rujin asked: “Did your phone freeze?”

“No.” Cen Zhi replied. “Just to be safe, I sent three copies.”

By Any Means: “Miss Cen certainly does things thoroughly.”

“I try.”

They chatted for a few more lines before ending the conversation because Duan Rujin suddenly had a meeting to attend.

Cen Zhi then opened her chat with Wei Shu.

“Coming the day after tomorrow.”

It took over half an hour for Wei Shu to reply: “I was just lifting weights.”

Wei Shu: “GREAT!!!”

Wei Shu: “Are you coming too?”

“Isn’t that obvious? You think I’d let her come alone?”

Cen Zhi chuckled to herself, then felt a bit shameless. She composed herself before replying: “Don’t get too nervous, just come and experience it casually.”

“What time the day after tomorrow?”

Cen Zhi thought back. “We didn’t actually specify. Probably the afternoon. I’ll let you know once it’s confirmed.”

Wei Shu: “Okkkk!!”

Wei Shu: “Wuhu! My mood is taking off!”

“But we have a deal—not a word to anyone else. I don’t want people with bad intentions using her for clout.” Cen Zhi truly didn’t want Duan Rujin to become a marketing gimmick; if that happened, what freedom would she have left?

She wasn’t worried about Wei Shu specifically, but rather that Wei Shu might tell her friends, and some of them might be unreliable. Like how someone took a secret photo at Yu Lu’s birthday party.

“Don’t worry, I haven’t told a soul.”

“Good.”

After sending the last word, Cen Zhi flopped onto the sofa. She opened the photo of their hooked pinkies and raised an eyebrow. Then, her mind drifted back to that night five years ago, when Duan Rujin had held up her hand and asked seriously: “Do I use my index finger? Or the middle one?”

Five years ago, little Jin knew nothing and yet she dared to ask… truly impressive. (Lights a cigarette)

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