Famous Actresses, Please Keep Your Distance From Me - Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Even though Cen Zhi had grown accustomed to Duan Rujin’s often boundary-blurring remarks, she couldn’t help but curl her lips slightly and reply, “Is that so? Then it seems it’s my honor.”

“Of course.”

Cen Zhi didn’t let the idle chatter continue. She placed a sheet of yellow paper in front of Duan Rujin and pointed to the tutorial in the book. “Let’s start folding.”

“What about you?”

“I’ll start too.”

In truth, origami was a genuine “skill.” Perhaps because she had folded so many last time, her muscle memory kicked in. Cen Zhi was able to successfully fold a sunflower without looking at the tutorial, though she went slowly because she had to guide Duan Rujin step-by-step.

Duan Rujin seemed somewhat clumsy in this department. If Cen Zhi wasn’t watching, her folds would go crooked. Despite Cen Zhi’s best efforts to salvage it, the end products consisted of one beautiful flower and one rather twisted one.

Cen Zhi let out a laugh. “Very… unique.”

“Then it’s yours.” Duan Rujin placed her folded creation on Cen Zhi’s side and, as a matter of course, took the one Cen Zhi had folded for herself. “The real flowers I gave you have probably withered by now, so let’s replace them with paper ones.”

Cen Zhi arched an eyebrow but didn’t refuse.

Duan Rujin was right; the bouquet of sunflowers she had been given previously had indeed withered. The petals had turned from bright orange-yellow to a pale brown, though she hadn’t thrown them away yet.

“What else do you want to do?” Cen Zhi asked.

Duan Rujin scanned the decorations in the booth, leaned over, and picked up a stone carving of a Husky. “I also want to try painting a figurine.”

“Good luck then.” Cen Zhi flipped back to the rose section to continue her learning.

Duan Rujin glanced at her a couple of times but said nothing more. She picked up the pigments and brushes and began. She didn’t use her phone to look up reference photos; she simply painted according to her own whims. By the time she was finished, the Husky figurine was red with green eyes. After this chaotic combination, the piece looked anything but ordinary.

Duan Rujin even gave it a name: “This one is called ‘Hong Huo’ (Red Fire). it’s a symbol of prosperity—a gift for you.” She added, “I know that for a shop like yours, ‘roaring business’ means many pets have passed away, so I’m not wishing for your business to be ‘roaring’ in that sense. It’s just literally meant to bring you wealth and luck in all aspects.”

The freshly painted figurine needed time to dry, otherwise Cen Zhi would have taken it into her hands immediately. Now, she could only watch it longingly—though she didn’t show she was longing for it. On the surface, she remained calm, her lips slightly curved and a hint of a smile in her eyes.

“Thank you,” Cen Zhi said sincerely.

Just as she spoke, Wei Shu entered with a fruit platter, thoughtfully provided with several forks. She sat down cross-legged and said to Duan Rujin with a smile, “Teacher Duan, please have some fruit.”

Duan Rujin didn’t stand on ceremony and took a fork. She said, “I didn’t get a chance to say it earlier, but you can just call me Xiao Jin.”

“Okay! Xiao Jin-laoshi!”

Cen Zhi stopped folding her rose and poked a piece of honeydew melon. She had never called Duan Rujin that. She always addressed people by their full names; such an intimate or playful nickname felt almost impossible coming from her. She flicked her eyelashes, suppressing the restless thought in her mind.

Wei Shu stayed and didn’t leave again. It was clear she was enjoying the meeting. Halfway through, she asked Duan Rujin if she could have an autograph.

“Sure.”

Without a second thought, Wei Shu placed the rose Cen Zhi had just folded in front of Duan Rujin. “Could you please sign it on the leaves of this rose? Or anywhere else you’d like.”

“Okay.”

On those few leaves, Duan Rujin wrote out four-character blessings like “To Xiao Shu: May your business prosper” and “May all things go as you wish.” Finally, she drew a small heart on the outer petals of the rose before handing the origami flower back to Wei Shu.

Wei Shu accepted it with great solemnity. She looked at Cen Zhi, as if only just remembering she was there. “Zhi, I have to thank you too. If it weren’t for you, I never would have imagined today happening.”

Cen Zhi stared at the heart on the paper rose for a moment, her lips twitching. “Are you being that polite?”

“I guess so.”

They stayed at Wei Shu’s place for three hours before leaving. The sky was still bright, though the sun was beginning to dip in the west. Two leaves had fallen onto Cen Zhi’s car hood. She went over to brush them off and said to Duan Rujin as if nothing were wrong, “I’ll drop you back at your apartment first. I have some other things to take care of.”

“Are you in a rush? If you are, I can just take a taxi back.”

Cen Zhi shook her head. “I have time to take you home.”

“Okay.”

They got in the car and buckled their seatbelts. The bags they had brought out were placed in the back seat, but the Husky had been placed by Cen Zhi on the dashboard alongside four other figurines. “Hong Huo” stood out remarkably.

Cen Zhi’s mood, however, failed to lift. Her mind was filled with the heart Duan Rujin had drawn for Wei Shu. She knew it was just a heart and didn’t mean anything special. But she didn’t have one.

She had been trying hard to suppress her petty feelings so no one would notice, but now that they were away from the shop, it was becoming difficult to control. She decided it was best to drop Duan Rujin off and go home to process it alone.

“By the way, Cen Zhi, what fruit are we picking the day after tomorrow?” Duan Rujin suddenly asked.

Cen Zhi gripped the steering wheel and made a turn. “Cherries.” She looked ahead. “There’s a large cherry orchard in the suburbs of the city neighboring Yuncheng. They’ve just hit the market, so they’re at their best right now.”

Duan Rujin shifted her gaze to Cen Zhi’s profile. “Will we see each other at the orchard then?”

“Yes.” Cen Zhi explained, “The plan is to have a meal first upon arrival, then go pick cherries. That part will be free time. Once we’re done, we’ll bring them back to pay together.”

“Oh~~~” Duan Rujin trailed off. She looked out the window at the streetscape, then asked hesitantly, “So the next time we see each other is the day after tomorrow?”

Cen Zhi was momentary stunned by the question. To be honest, she wanted to see her every day, but she was afraid Duan Rujin might notice something. Yet, Duan Rujin had asked.

The light ahead turned red. Cen Zhi stopped the car, turned her head, and held out her palm.

“Just draw a heart for me and it won’t have to be.”

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