The Second Fall - Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Insatiable Desire

Lan Cixing instinctively shrank back a step.

Rong Yushu narrowed her eyes, and Lan Cixing immediately froze her steps, cautiously shuffling back one step to her original position. She was the taller one, yet she habitually looked up at Rong Yushu like a dog trying to please its master. Her eyelashes flickered, making Rong Yushu truly believe there was a glimmer of moisture in them. It made her heart itch.

Rong Yushu had always known that, in truth, it wasn’t that Lan Cixing wanted to kiss her. It was that she wanted to kiss Lan Cixing.

Seeing Lan Cixing like this, she found herself unable to hold back. She constantly wanted to wrap her arm around Lan Cixing’s waist, forcing her backward until there was no room to retreat—to bully her like that.

Rong Yushu took a real step forward and hooked Lan Cixing’s necktie. She had wanted to pull open this bothersome lock earlier. If this were a private kiss, they would have definitely proceeded to a deeper step.

More bothersome than the necktie was the surrounding crowd, especially that Mu Huai. Rong Yushu’s fingertip wound around the tie, pulling it vertical. The strap entangled with her hand. Her finger tapped against Lan Cixing’s throat, which was finally partially exposed. She poked it gently. The curve of Lan Cixing’s neck was rounded and elegant, very suitable for being gripped.

Lan Cixing looked beautiful and sophisticated; her face was the definition of fashion. When she was still in the industry, several high-luxury brands had approached her for endorsements. Yet, as a person, she was quite conservative—even in the heat of summer, her clothes were buttoned to the very top, as if she were hiding something shameful.

Rong Yushu didn’t like that. Her fingertip flicked upward, intending to pull the tie completely open.

Lan Cixing’s hand finally moved. She pressed down on Rong Yushu’s wrist, not daring to use much force. Her eyelashes fluttered as she looked at Rong Yushu, seemingly begging for mercy. Rong Yushu gave a light scoff and actually let go.

Before Lan Cixing could catch her breath, her lips were suddenly brushed.

“!” She covered her mouth and nearly crouched down.

Rong Yushu had bitten her hard earlier; her lips were still somewhat numb and sensitive even through the mask. Being touched by Rong Yushu’s finger like that sent a current of electricity through Lan Cixing that made her entire body go numb. For a split second, Lan Cixing truly thought Rong Yushu was going to kiss her again. Whether it was anticipation or nerves, her heartbeat thudded and accelerated.

By the time she straightened up, Rong Yushu had already walked far ahead. Lan Cixing hurried to catch up, not forgetting to tighten her mask even further. Rong Yushu didn’t give her a single glance, as if the person who had just invited a kiss wasn’t her and it was all just Lan Cixing’s hallucination. Lan Cixing stayed a step behind, staring blankly at the tips of her hair—there was a warm, sunlight-like color there that always tugged at her heart when the wind moved it. It was like her guiding thread.

Lan Cixing’s shoulder was suddenly tapped. They had arrived at the door of Nian Guanqi’s office.

“The tie, little bodyguard.” Rong Yushu’s eyes held a shallow smile, carrying a clear sense of teasing. But the words she spoke were a serious reminder. Lan Cixing hurried to lower her head and fix it; she felt the top of her head being rubbed. The touch was very gentle, like sunlight.

“I don’t know what’s so mysterious that you had to come to my office,” Nian Guanqi remarked to Rong Yushu while looking at messages on her phone.

Rong Yushu just smiled. The smile she gave Nian Guanqi was completely different from the one she gave Lan Cixing. Lan Cixing stood quietly behind Rong Yushu, observing carefully, thinking Rong Yushu wouldn’t notice. Toward Nian Guanqi, she was always more like the character Jiu Lisheng. After all, it was a relationship between director and actor; her interactions with Nian Guanqi always felt veiled.

Toward herself… Lan Cixing still couldn’t see through it. Rong Yushu didn’t resemble anyone. She had played too many roles, across too many genres; any emotion came easily to her. If she wanted it, there was nothing she couldn’t achieve. Lan Cixing was always afraid she was facing one of Rong Yushu’s masks. Layer upon layer, never-ending. It was like this four years ago.

…Why was she again wondering what Rong Yushu meant? Lan Cixing suspected Rong Yushu had cast a spell on her. Otherwise, why would she always be thinking about Rong Yushu, thinking until she had placed this woman back into her heart? She hadn’t even noticed it, as if the opening in her heart was exactly the size of Rong Yushu; only when Rong Yushu arrived was her heart complete.

Lan Cixing shook her head to snap out of it.

“Anyway, it’s definitely not because she isn’t good-looking. Just based on those expressive eyes, I think she’s a beauty. So… could she be an industry insider?” Nian Guanqi and Rong Yushu were already talking about Lan Cixing.

“What do you think?” Rong Yushu gave a teasing smile and pulled Lan Cixing, who was standing behind her, to the front.

Looking at Lan Cixing’s gray-blue eyes, Nian Guanqi actually began to ponder. “If she were an insider, she should have just taken the role. Could it be that my name and Writer Li’s name aren’t useful anymore?” Nian Guanqi quickly dismissed the guess. It wasn’t that she was arrogant; the team she and the screenwriter had assembled this time ranked among the top in the entire domestic industry.

That was why Mu Huai’s family had gone to such lengths to squeeze her in. Mu Huai had promised she could act well, and her audition had been acceptable. Nian Guanqi just didn’t know why she had collapsed so much once filming officially started. She suspected that without Rong Yushu leading her, Mu Huai’s solo scenes would definitely require numerous retakes.

Hearing her friend’s words, Rong Yushu laughed so hard the tips of her hair trembled. A drop of cold sweat ran down Lan Cixing’s forehead, soaking her mask. Rong Yushu didn’t give her a chance to think; she hooked her finger and removed the mask.

That face—which had been on Vantage magazine, had won Best Supporting Actress, had acted alongside Rong Yushu multiple times, and had even served as her stunt double—was exposed. Lan Cixing was stared at intently by Nian Guanqi for three seconds before she couldn’t take it anymore and lowered her head.

“Hiss…” Nian Guanqi saw the features and finally recognized her. Before her retirement, Lan Cixing always had black hair, rarely permed it into such curls, and usually wore colored contacts on screen. It was no wonder Nian Guanqi couldn’t recognize her just by her eyes.

“You’re the one Director Ming protected back then, the one… Lan… Lan Cixing. Hey, you aren’t acting anymore?”

This is an industry insider, isn’t it? Why did Rong Yushu lie to me? Nian Guanqi sifted through her memories. She didn’t care much for rumors or trending gossip—she didn’t even know when her own works were released; she only cared about the craft. She knew Lan Cixing had produced very powerful work a few years ago and should have been pushing for Best Actress next. Why hadn’t there been any new work since then?

Nian Guanqi took a careful look at the two people in front of her and suddenly understood. “You didn’t go back to take care of kids, did you?” Quite a few Alphas retired to return to family life, and the Rong family wouldn’t treat Lan Cixing poorly, after all.

“…” Even Rong Yushu, who had the same thought before, was surprised by Nian Guanqi’s logic. Lan Cixing, meanwhile, felt like she had been struck by lightning, freezing in place.

“Director Nian. I retired four years ago. Er… it wasn’t to get married or have kids. I just… didn’t want to continue.” Since Nian Guanqi didn’t know the details, Lan Cixing didn’t want to explain too much. She couldn’t say it out loud anyway—the other party involved was right there.

Rong Yushu seemed to have no reaction. She could always act, and Lan Cixing couldn’t see through her inner thoughts.

“But your talent is so good, your image is great, and you can do action scenes—your range would be huge. It’s such a waste not to act.” Nian Guanqi spoke out of a genuine appreciation for talent. Seeing that the chemistry between Lan Cixing and Rong Yushu was so good, she already wanted to give them her next script.

“Let’s talk about the supporting role in this movie. Take a look at the script first.” Nian Guanqi rummaged through her desk and finally found the original version of the script. She handed it enthusiastically to Lan Cixing.

Unable to refuse, Lan Cixing actually began to read. She didn’t plan on taking it, so she flipped through quickly. The character Nian Guanqi had deleted was a secret agent with excellent combat skills. In today’s entertainment industry, where “traffic” is king, it was hard to find someone whose image matched so well and who could actually fight.

Nian Guanqi and Writer Li had looked at non-actors, but it was hard for a civilian to project that sharp, intense aura. Since the role wasn’t heavy, it was simply deleted from the new script.

It really did suit her. Looking at the script, Lan Cixing remembered the roles she took during her first two years in the industry; they were all this type. It was only after being mentored by Rong Yushu that she began to take roles outside her comfort zone—softer, more emotionally rich characters.

Lan Cixing put down the script and shook her head. “I’m sorry, Director Nian, I really don’t want to return to the industry. The voices online are too ugly; I can’t take it anymore.”

“…I see.” Hearing this, Nian Guanqi understood why she had retired. She was somewhat disappointed but didn’t push further, silently preparing to push back all scenes related to this character. Since Lan Cixing would be staying on set as Mu Huai’s kiss-double, what if she changed her mind?

“Should we discuss my business now?” Rong Yushu acted as if she had finally come back to life, wearing her earlier smile as she bent over to place a contract in front of Nian Guanqi.

“I have to sign a contract with you for a stunt double?” Nian Guanqi thought Rong Yushu would just take Lan Cixing straight to Mu Huai.

“I don’t want to communicate with that person, so I have to trouble you.” Facing Nian Guanqi, Rong Yushu didn’t hide her distaste for Mu Huai at all. She did this deliberately, and Nian Guanqi wouldn’t deny her the face.

“Alright, alright. I really shouldn’t have signed her back then.” Nian Guanqi regretted it too; she had signed Mu Huai for the sake of the investment. In fact, Mu Huai’s image fit the prototype well; according to Writer Li, her voice and face were very similar. Since her acting had been passable then, they had opened that back door.

While sighing, Nian Guanqi flipped through the contract. She saw that Rong Yushu required that when filming the kiss scenes, only relevant production staff (like gaffers and camera crew) could be present; unrelated actors, such as Mu Huai herself, were forbidden. She even required the perimeter to be cleared to prevent fansites from taking leaked photos.

“What’s in the contract…” Lan Cixing asked quietly. She hadn’t even seen it yet, and Rong Yushu had handled it all for her. A double is a double; her face wouldn’t show in the final cut. But she would still be seen during filming. Lan Cixing was a little afraid.

“Naturally, it was prepared specifically for you.” Rong Yushu’s eyes were still bright, though she seemed to zone out toward the distance for a moment. Only after she finished speaking did she retract her gaze to look at Lan Cixing. Lan Cixing feared that kind of look—one that both devoured people and dug pits—so she shrank into a ball, not daring to speak.

Nian Guanqi slowly signed the paper. Rong Yushu took the contract but didn’t plan on letting Lan Cixing see it, leading her out of the room. Lan Cixing put her mask back on and walked a few steps before looking down. When did Rong Yushu grab my hand? Lan Cixing twisted her hand a couple of times, but it only made Rong Yushu grip tighter. Forget it. Rong Yushu’s palm was very fragrant, carrying her usual white tea scent with a hint of milky sweetness. It was also very warm. Rong Yushu secretly applied force, eliminating the gaps between their fingers.

“Boss, can I ask you a question?” On the way to the lounge for lunch, Lan Cixing asked softly.

“You already asked one.”

“Ah, about the kiss during the screen test…” Why did she kiss her? Lan Cixing hadn’t even finished her sentence.

Rong Yushu seemed to realize something was wrong; she suddenly let go and even gave Lan Cixing a shove. It felt a bit numb. Lan Cixing rubbed her hand to comfort herself, keeping her steps close. She took two steps for every three of Rong Yushu’s. The sound of their footsteps overlapping made it seem like Rong Yushu was in a hurry. Lan Cixing just followed step-by-step, calmer than Rong Yushu.

Rong Yushu suddenly stopped, turned around, and grabbed Lan Cixing’s necktie, pulling so hard that Lan Cixing, who was braking, stumbled. Rong Yushu was half a head shorter than her, yet she insisted on making her bow to meet her gaze levelly—or to look down. Rong Yushu took a step back, forcing Lan Cixing to bend over, her eyes downcast and full of shame as she stared unblinkingly at Rong Yushu.

“Wasn’t it what you wanted? So I kissed you.” Rong Yushu narrowed her eyes, the corners of which were like a fox’s upturned tail; the hint of arrogance made Lan Cixing truly wonder if she had done something to make Rong Yushu misunderstand.

“I didn’t, did I…” Her heart trembled under that gaze, and she wasn’t so sure. After all, deep down…

“Then it was what your character wanted.” Rong Yushu let go, dusting off Lan Cixing’s necktie as if brushing away ash. “If you didn’t get enough of the kiss, come to the dressing room to find me after lunch. Be good, and remember to gargle.” She shoved Lan Cixing into the lounge. The lounge door was shut heartlessly.

“…” Lan Cixing pressed her hand to her chest. The aftereffects of Rong Yushu still lingered, shaking her uncomfortably. It was an unrest that couldn’t be soothed. It seemed the only way to eliminate it was to go see her, just as Rong Yushu had said. Rong Yushu must have cast a spell on me… Lan Cixing went to the chef to get her food and quietly pondered her life in the corner.

“Something up?” He Lanli was still playing games. Her account had been taken by Rong Yushu, so she was building a new one. She was in the middle of a ranked match, her hands flying, her mouth muttering something—it seemed she was flirting with a girl. Seeing Lan Cixing standing there for ten minutes, she finally took off her headset and looked up.

“Boss… does Sister Rong usually lock her office door?” Lan Cixing wanted to ask about the medicine application this morning. She felt she had offended Rong Yushu, causing her to target her all day, and wanted to apologize. Since the question about the kiss hadn’t gone well, she had to ask this assistant, who seemed closest to Rong Yushu.

“Duh. Who do you think Sister Rong is? What a question. Do you not lock your own door when you’re in your room?” He Lanli rolled her eyes. Lan Cixing saw the “Victory” on her screen; He Lanli’s character had won MVP. Next to her was someone in a matching couple’s outfit. The game was the same one Lan Cixing and An Yu played, which was why she took an extra look.

“So, if I knocked and could go in, was that an accident?” Lan Cixing hesitated before continuing.

He Lanli had already put her headset back on, but she turned her head and looked at her strangely. “Didn’t you hear me? If she didn’t want you in, she would’ve locked the door. Since you got in, she obviously permitted it.” He Lanli sized Lan Cixing up and rolled her eyes. “I don’t know how such a stupid brain got so lucky—personal bodyguard, I’m gonna die of jealousy…”

She didn’t plan on entertaining Lan Cixing’s boring questions and started a new match. Her voice suddenly became “cutesy” and high-pitched. “Baby, Sister is coming right now. You play the Healer this round, just hide far away and don’t get hurt.”

That voice… Lan Cixing paused. She wanted to hear more, but was sent away by another eye-roll from He Lanli.

Lan Cixing gargled silently in the restroom, reminiscing. She felt the cutesy voice He Lanli used was familiar. It was as if… An Yu.

Lan Cixing knitted her brows. On the day she caught her sister, her sister had forgotten to plug in her headphones at first, and the audio played through the speakers. Although it was only for a few minutes, Lan Cixing had heard it clearly. The voices were so similar. Could it be that He Lanli was the scum Alpha who flirted with her every day and was indeed cheating by keeping “fish in a pond”?

With suspicion, Lan Cixing knocked on the dressing room door. The door wasn’t locked. This meant Rong Yushu agreed to let her in. Lan Cixing entered and locked the door behind her, fearing being photographed.

“Are you really that insatiable?” Rong Yushu seemed to have just finished eating. She reclined in the swivel chair, moved it a couple of times, and glanced at Lan Cixing.

“I just have a question.” Lan Cixing walked over to help her clean up the food remains. It was an instinctive action. But her back was hooked by Rong Yushu.

“So well-behaved.” Doing housework voluntarily. Rong Yushu’s fingertip slid down smoothly, winding a pink river across Lan Cixing’s back. Lan Cixing jolted, finished cleaning up, and jumped away.

“About this morning…” Lan Cixing didn’t want to keep obsessing over what Rong Yushu meant. Thinking about the same person all the time was not a good sign; she decided to ask clearly. “Why didn’t you tell me you were, um, bitten and injured by me?”

Rong Yushu’s actions were full of contradictions. She allowed her in, yet punished her for intruding. She didn’t tell her, yet teased her emotions. She was as mysterious as a moon shrouded in blue fog, making Lan Cixing endlessly curious.

“Why should I tell you?” Rong Yushu was sitting. She was lower, so she had to look up to meet Lan Cixing’s eyes. But she seemed lazy; her eyelids were only half-lifted, leaving Lan Cixing with only a view of her light-brown lashes. “You have no awareness of the things you’ve done yourself.” Rong Yushu gave a half-squinting, sleepy scoff, appearing angry again.

Lan Cixing pursed her lips. She always felt there was more to Rong Yushu’s words. The emotion wasn’t just simple irritation; it carried an unspeakable sense of loss.

“I… I’m sorry.” Lan Cixing cautiously knelt down. She didn’t have to make Rong Yushu tire herself by looking up. If Rong Yushu liked it, she could look down on her forever. Lan Cixing leaned on the edge of the swivel chair, gripping the armrest and looking up. Her gray-blue eyes were like thick fog, yet on her, they were clear and pure as if stainless.

Rong Yushu met those eyes and was stunned for a second. She thought Lan Cixing wouldn’t admit to it. She thought Lan Cixing would criticize her for being ill-tempered and moody. She thought Lan Cixing would see through her insecurity. But Lan Cixing simply obeyed her and apologized. It made her look like the one being unreasonable.

“…I just didn’t know if you would,” Rong Yushu spoke softly. This time, there was no mockery. No movements. The usual flippant arrogance had vanished. It was as if she were removing layer after layer of disguise, taking off every mask she had worn. Only those green eyes remained on Lan Cixing. What a gentle gaze. She didn’t even dare to intensify it, fearing she would crush the person.

Lan Cixing lowered her head a bit more. Her gaze was somewhat naive, but incredibly moving.

“Feel bad for me,” Rong Yushu finished her sentence.

So Rong Yushu hadn’t wanted to say anything. But she was too curious, and she wanted Lan Cixing’s attention too much. She wanted Lan Cixing to touch her, stroke her, and bite her. Bite her, torture her. And then comfort her, heal her, and kiss her afterward.

After saying this disjointed sentence, Rong Yushu stopped speaking. Her green eyes were as still as a lake. No waves, as dead as a mirror. This was the real her—perhaps she really was this boring. Born with fox-eyes and an innate allure, yet paradoxically unwilling to use them for anything, only wanting to stay as still as a block of wood. Even when facing a love she had hidden for too long.

They had known each other for eight years. By the time her glands cramped twice more, it would be ten. She was only thirty. Half of her life since she gained memories—almost all of her adult life—belonged to this person.

…How could she possibly say it out loud. Rong Yushu turned her face away. She shouldn’t have said anything today. Making Lan Cixing guess, making her curious, and then letting her step into a trap she couldn’t escape—that was the plan.

“I will.” Lan Cixing reached out instead, gripping Rong Yushu’s sleeve. She had already knelt down, her back so straight, looking purely at Rong Yushu. She didn’t dare hold too much, yet was unwilling to hold too little. After a thousand thoughts, she finally chose the sleeve.

Rong Yushu even stopped breathing.

“The things I’ve done, I must take responsibility for,” Lan Cixing added. She always had a strong sense of responsibility, sometimes to a fault. But she was definitely not the type to flee from punishment.

“…” Rong Yushu’s expression changed.

“Sister Rong! Something happened! That screen test just now is trending on the hot search!” He Lanli’s voice suddenly came from outside the door, followed by a knock.

Rong Yushu truly didn’t care and didn’t open the door. Her eyes curved into a familiar arc. Lan Cixing instinctively swallowed, her mind becoming a mess.

“Since you’ve said so… you also made my waist hurt. Pay me back tonight.”

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