Famous Actresses, Please Keep Your Distance From Me - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

What does it feel like when someone you thought you’d never see again—just over ten hours ago—reappears right before your eyes?

To Cen Zhi, it felt nothing short of surreal.

It was true she had heard Yu Lu say yesterday that Duan Rujin was off all week, but that didn’t mean she expected to run into her twice in the span of that same week.

Unsurprisingly, Duan Rujin’s presence drew the attention of almost everyone in the vicinity.

Before anyone else could react, Cen Zhi maintained a distant expression, stood up, and led them toward the main entrance to take them outside. “Let’s go.”

Duan Rujin and Yu Lu followed.

To transport the supplies, the shop had specifically prepared a van with half of its seats removed. While waiting for the others to arrive, Cen Zhi had already inventoried the materials in the back; now that they were in the courtyard, they only needed to get in.

Yu Lu slid open the side door herself and climbed into the back, saying to Duan Rujin, “You take the passenger seat, Rujin.”

Duan Rujin didn’t refuse. “Alright.”

Cen Zhi was already in the driver’s seat with her seatbelt fastened. She tilted her head slightly, looking at Duan Rujin, who had closed her door and was buckling up, and pressed her lips thin.

A few seconds later, the van pulled out of the “Shining Star” courtyard.

Cen Zhi was wearing a button-down shirt today. She had rolled her sleeves up slightly, revealing a pair of pale wrists. She gripped the black steering wheel, eyes fixed forward, her expression neutral.

“Miss Cen, I was the one who told Xiao Lu not to tell you,” Duan Rujin’s clear voice sounded after they entered the main road.

Cen Zhi glanced at her and gave a calm response: “Okay. Welcome.”

“You don’t look particularly welcoming.”

Yu Lu, who had been replying to messages in the back, looked up. Hearing this, she laughed to lighten the mood. “How is that possible? This time she’s not here to be a mascot, but a laborer. Who wouldn’t welcome free labor?”

Cen Zhi curled her lips. “It’s more than that,” she said bluntly. “Miss Duan has such a huge influence now. If word gets out that you visited a pet rescue station today, I believe these animals might finally find homes.”

The worry she had felt the night before seemed to find a glimmer of hope.

To her surprise, after those words, Duan Rujin actually nodded. “There’s no need for others to spread the word. I can do it myself.”

Yu Lu gave a thumbs up. “True. My bit of influence is nothing compared to Rujin’s.”

“Don’t think like that. This act itself is very meaningful,” Duan Rujin said with a slight smile.

Cen Zhi tapped her fingers against the steering wheel and said nothing.

The sky was still dim, and the rain continued to fall.

About half an hour later, Cen Zhi drove the van to the stray animal rescue station they were visiting today. It was located in the suburbs, a somewhat remote spot, with rice paddies lining both sides of the roads they passed.

Duan Rujin used her phone to take several photos of the scenery along the way.

Finally, the van stopped in an open space in front of a large factory building. The words “Warmth Stray Animal Rescue Station” were painted clearly on the factory wall. The van’s soundproofing was poor; even without getting out, they could hear the barking of dogs echoing from inside.

Cen Zhi had called the person in charge while on the road. Just as the car arrived, a man came out to greet them.

“Boss Cen, thank you so much,” the person in charge, whom everyone called “Brother Xin,” smiled so wide his mouth wouldn’t close. “You come every month to bring supplies to our station.”

Cen Zhi offered a smile. “It’s what I should do.”

Duan Rujin and Yu Lu got out of the car. Brother Xin only noticed them then. Looking at Duan Rujin, he felt she looked a bit familiar. “This person is…”

“Hello, Brother. Just call me Xiao Duan.”

Yu Lu added, “And just call me Xiao Yu.”

Brother Xin scratched the back of his head, unable to place Duan Rujin’s face for the moment. He smiled honestly. “Thank you for the hard work.” He called out to two volunteers in the factory. “Come on, let’s move the cat and dog food inside first.”

The so-called “labor” didn’t actually exist. The volunteers placed the bags onto dollies; two small dollies were enough to hold the hundreds of pounds of animal feed.

Yu Lu had come this time to take photos and videos for social media, recording everything with the camera in her hand.

Once they stepped through the main gates, the barking became louder.

Cen Zhi shifted her gaze and saw Duan Rujin’s lips pressed tight, her expression somewhat solemn.

After a moment’s thought, Cen Zhi said softly, “They don’t bite. They’re just excited and welcoming you. Brother Xin has trained them very well; they don’t even guard their food or fight during mealtime. This is so potential adopters won’t be scared when they visit.”

“Thank you.”

Yu Lu, who was still taking photos nearby, chimed in, “They really are cute. It’s a pity I can’t raise one.”

“How many are here in total?” Duan Rujin asked.

Cen Zhi recalled. “There were over three hundred last time I came.” She turned to Brother Xin. “Brother Xin, how many cats and dogs are here now altogether?”

“Three hundred and forty-one. We took in a few more just a few days ago.”

Brother Xin spoke with a hint of exasperation. “Some people don’t want them anymore, so they drive over in the middle of the night and leave cats sealed in boxes at our front gate. It’s been raining lately too; when I got to the factory in the morning, the cats in the box were shivering with cold.” He sighed, not even lighting the cigarette held between his fingers. “I wonder when these fur-kids will finally have homes of their own.”

Brother Xin had started the rescue station simply because he loved animals. Previously, he had been paying out of his own pocket; it was only better now with the material donations.

While chatting, they arrived at the area for the first group of dogs.

These stray animals varied in size, temperament, and physical condition. Brother Xin kept them separated. This first group consisted of injured or disabled small dogs; they were the hardest to get adopted. Cen Zhi recognized several familiar faces among them.

As these dogs watched the people outside the fence, even those with injured tails started wagging them, barking and whining affectionately.

Cen Zhi reached out to rub a Golden Retriever’s head.

Beside her, Duan Rujin asked softly, “Can I do it too?”

“Mhm,” Cen Zhi replied.

“Rujin, do you want me to record this for you?” Yu Lu asked.

Duan Rujin smiled. “Thank you, Xiao Lu, but I want to record it myself.” She leaned forward and petted the head of a Chinese rural dog. “What I feel for myself is the most real.”

Cen Zhi’s gaze fell on the hand resting on the dog’s head.

In fact, it wasn’t hard to see that Duan Rujin’s hand was trembling. Cen Zhi didn’t know her well enough to know if she was afraid of dogs or what; it seemed Duan Rujin’s nerves hadn’t relaxed since they entered.

“Duan Rujin,” Cen Zhi couldn’t help but call her name. “Don’t force yourself.”

Duan Rujin looked at her. “I’m not forcing myself.”

Cen Zhi looked back into her eyes. Before she could say anything, her own hand was grabbed by Duan Rujin and placed on the head of the small-eyed Chinese rural dog.

Duan Rujin’s eyes crinkled with a smile: “Its head is so smooth, feel it.”

Yu Lu peeked over from the side: “Interrupting for a second—I’m very confused.”

Her eyes were wide with curiosity: “Is this how you straight girls interact? You can hold hands the second time you meet?”

“…”

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