The Second Fall - Chapter 30

Chapter 30: Peeping at Lan Cixing Like a Pervert

Lan Cixing sat before the main door, upright and well-behaved.

Her upward gaze was pure, and her eyes were strikingly innocent—clear as a pool without a single speck of impurity. As she blinked, it felt as though an invisible tail was wagging behind her. She truly saw herself as a little dog guarding her master.

Seeing Rong Yushu open the door, Lan Cixing didn’t move; the light in her eyes simply brightened a fraction. It was a pity she didn’t have a real tail; her emotions were hidden only in her gaze. Even then, facing Rong Yushu, she habitually masked them. Her acting skills had been personally taught by Rong Yushu, and over the years, they had evolved. Even for Rong Yushu, she wasn’t so easy to read anymore.

Rong Yushu narrowed her eyes and slightly raised her hand. Lan Cixing saw that hand as if it were divine nectar; she twisted her body, eager to lean into it.

“Heh.” So easy to read. Rong Yushu tucked her hands behind her back.

Lan Cixing sat back instantly, her gaze flickering and hiding, as if her eyes were chasing Rong Yushu’s hand. When Rong Yushu approached, her eyes shone directly; when Rong Yushu withdrew, she became bashful, not knowing where to put her gaze.

The second Lan Cixing looked at the ground, she felt a pat on her head. Heat began to sear from the tips of her ears. Lan Cixing cautiously looked up at Rong Yushu, only to find those fox-like eyes narrowed into crescent slits.

“What are you doing, little bodyguard? Are you really acting as my guard dog?” Rong Yushu didn’t pull her hand back after the pat. She ruffled Lan Cixing’s hair casually, turning her into a “pink puppy.” Lan Cixing’s entire upper body seemed to blend into the red outlines of her tattoo; only the white of the tea petals remained conspicuous and abrupt.

“I wanted to wait for you…” Once Rong Yushu’s hand stopped moving and used Lan Cixing’s head as a headrest, Lan Cixing finally stammered, her voice tiny. She stopped halfway.

In truth, she didn’t even know what she was waiting for. Did she want Rong Yushu to change her clothes? Or wash up with her? Either seemed too far across the line. Lan Cixing stiffened her neck, thinking she must have been dazed by the earlier ambiguity. How old was she now? How could Rong Yushu do such things with her?

But Rong Yushu moved. There was a slight sigh in the movement of her body. She didn’t let Lan Cixing hear a sound, but Lan Cixing saw it through her peripheral vision. With a lift of her hand, Rong Yushu pulled Lan Cixing up. She sized her up carefully, her gaze lingering momentarily on her abdominal muscles with an unreadable meaning.

Lan Cixing stood stiffly, not daring to look at Rong Yushu. She could only endure being dissected by Rong Yushu’s gaze. After all, Rong Yushu had ordered her to change, but she had disobeyed, insisting on staying in her previous state, sitting blankly at the door.

How foolish. As Lan Cixing grew heated under the gaze, her brain finally seemed to return to her, realizing how strange her behavior was. Even now, things weren’t exactly “normal”—she was being held by Rong Yushu and stared at.

Rong Yushu had made her stand up, her palm resting on Lan Cixing’s arm. Her gaze traveled over her body continuously. It was like a physical examination, or perhaps… a flirtation. It felt as if Rong Yushu wanted to touch her stomach. Her gaze was like fingers; Lan Cixing could feel which glance was a stroke and which was a sweep.

“S-Sister…” Don’t look like that… Lan Cixing had dared to strip earlier because she thought they had seen everything before; their bodies held no secrets from each other. But with Rong Yushu acting like this, she couldn’t help but feel shy.

“Hmm? Didn’t you take the initiative to show me?” Rong Yushu insisted on pointing out all her shame. Lan Cixing tilted her head back, wanting to cry but having no tears. The corners of her eyes were red, but she didn’t dare move.

She only blinked, and Rong Yushu began unbuttoning her clothes.

“!” Lan Cixing hurriedly took a step back. She didn’t manage to escape; Rong Yushu held her shoulder with one hand while unbuttoning with the other. In just two seconds, Rong Yushu had undone the outer coat. Inside was a thin undershirt. The lining was semi-transparent and very light, faintly revealing the pink-white of her skin and tracing subtle lines.

Rong Yushu draped the outer garment over Lan Cixing’s shoulder, held her hand, and began helping her change. Though they were dressed improperly and their erratic breathing was visible to all—making the ambiguity shameful—Rong Yushu’s movements carried no trace of lust. It was as if they had returned to ten years ago, to an age where Rong Yushu would help Lan Cixing wash her hair and change her clothes.

Rong Yushu was simply taking care of her. Back then, Lan Cixing was so small. Despite living alone and having a younger sister to care for, the moment she entered Rong Yushu’s house, she forgot how to live. She couldn’t handle daily chores; she had to follow Rong Yushu to bathe and cling to her when drying her hair. Rong Yushu had suspected she was faking weakness for sympathy, but after leaving her alone for two days, Lan Cixing managed to turn herself into a “drowned rat,” squatting miserably in a pile of laundry and looking at Rong Yushu with watery eyes.

What else could she do? You raise the puppy you picked up yourself. For those three months, Rong Yushu really played the role of a mother to Lan Cixing. What difference was there now?

After helping Lan Cixing change, Rong Yushu tried to do the buttons. Lan Cixing had grown a lot; she used to be able to wear Rong Yushu’s hand-me-downs, but now she could barely squeeze into them. Two buttons were fastened, yet half her belly was still exposed. The cuffs and chest were a bit tight.

Lan Cixing was at a loss, not knowing where to put her limbs. Rong Yushu could only squeeze her hand, cast a helpless glance at her exposed abs, and lead her to the door. The servants had already been dismissed. The hallway was empty. It was just a mother leading her “helpless” eldest daughter to her prepared room.

“You’ll sleep here from now on. Clothes are in the wardrobe, and toiletries are set up. If you don’t know how to use something, call me. Don’t go opening things blindly and spill them all over yourself.” Rong Yushu gave detailed instructions. Lan Cixing sat on the bed as obediently as an honest elementary student.

After speaking, Rong Yushu’s hand brushed past Lan Cixing’s flushed face and gave her a pinch. “The gym is in the old spot downstairs. We go to the set in two hours; arrange your own time.” Sensing Lan Cixing’s face leaning into her hand, Rong Yushu indulged in the feeling for a second.

“Then you…” Seeing Rong Yushu leave, Lan Cixing started to stand up.

“A bath. Why, you want to join?” Rong Yushu was one step ahead of her. When she turned back, her eyes were full of light. It seemed like a tease, yet vaguely serious, as if she were truly asking.

Lan Cixing hurriedly retreated. She really didn’t have such transgressive thoughts!

“It’s not like it’s forbidden,” Rong Yushu sighed lightly just as she stepped out of the room. The voice was so soft and ethereal that Lan Cixing thought she was hallucinating.

It wasn’t until she changed into her gym gear and went downstairs that it slowly sank in. Rong Yushu had been serious. She was truly inviting her to bathe together.

Lan Cixing vented all her emotions on the gym equipment. After warming up, she went straight to maximum intensity, determined to turn every distracting thought in her head into sweat. What she didn’t know was that there was a surveillance camera in the corner of the gym.

At this moment, Rong Yushu was lying in the bathtub, covered in rose bubbles. Expensive essence was piled onto her, making her skin glow with moisture. She opened her tablet and pulled up the gym’s live feed. Eight cameras, eight angles. The screen was suddenly filled with Lan Cixing’s face and… her body.

The gym wear only covered the essential parts. Everything else was exposed. Years of training had given Lan Cixing a fit, athletic build with clear, beautiful lines—lines that were almost “tasty” to Rong Yushu. She licked her lips and couldn’t help but unwrap a lollipop, popping it into her mouth. Her fingertips rubbed the screen of the camera facing Lan Cixing directly, as if she were caressing her, being intimate with her while smelling the scent of her pheromones.

“Mmh…” Rong Yushu tasted the sharp scent of the pheromones. The spicy sensation stung her mind with a pleasant ache. She couldn’t help but change her posture, arching her back and sitting up to watch the monitor. The most delicious sight was an unaware one. Her gaze grew dreamy as she enlarged the image.

She had specifically installed high-definition cameras in the gym. For a lazy person like her to design a home gym in the first place was something worth pondering. Rong Yushu wanted to crunch the lollipop, but wanting to savor the flavor longer, she bit down on the stick instead. Her eyes fixed on a bead of sweat on Lan Cixing’s waist. She watched it slide down the lines of the abdominal muscles, following the motion of the run. She saw the thin layer of sweat-mist turn Lan Cixing’s skin glistening.

Rong Yushu pulled the lollipop out; her heart felt half-empty. It wasn’t real after all; no matter how she “tasted” it, something was missing. Perhaps only when she truly licked the sweat off Lan Cixing’s waist would that feeling be fulfilled.

“Ngh…” Rong Yushu set the tablet aside, took the candy back into her mouth, and reached her hand down. She was the most pitiful one—seeing and touching, yet unable to “eat.” Lan Cixing wouldn’t give it to her. She could only keep Lan Cixing like a pervert, watching the monitor from the bathroom.

Rong Yushu didn’t blink until a tear gathered at the corner of her eye. After a deep breath, she looked back at the tablet. Lan Cixing had switched to strength training. Her arms were beautiful, especially those long hands with distinct joints and light calluses. How she wished those hands weren’t gripping equipment, but… her.

Rong Yushu wanted to crush the candy, using the familiar sweet-spicy taste and Lan Cixing’s pheromones to give herself a shock. But as she bit down, she hit the stick. It was always like this. Lollipops dissolved too easily; they were gone in a flash. She stared at the screen for a few minutes, managing not to break her self-control.

A sense of emptiness bubbled up, filling her heart like dense foam. She took a photo of herself in this state and finally opened her friend’s chat to reply to a message she had ignored for two days.

“Auntie, you’re finally online. Is Nian Guanqi such a pervert that she doesn’t give you any rest? Surely not.” The friend, Chu Fengyan, was also in the industry—though she didn’t act much, usually doing magazines or concerts.

“No, I’m peeping at my wife.” Rong Yushu typed these words and giggled to herself. Chu Fengyan was her childhood friend and one of the few who knew her family situation and the truth of her love life. Seeing the word “wife,” she was speechless.

“Peeping?” Chu Fengyan didn’t want to be curious, but she knew even if she didn’t ask, Rong Yushu would tell her.

“Watching the surveillance. She’s working out; she’s so handsome.” Rong Yushu harassed her friend without a shred of guilt. The screen still showed Lan Cixing. She zoomed in on the details, staring at her collarbone.

“Why don’t you go look in person?” Chu Fengyan knew about the little Alpha Rong Yushu liked. She hadn’t seen her in four years and didn’t know how she was now. Based on Rong Yushu’s descriptions from a few days ago, their relationship had softened.

“Face.” Rong Yushu was righteous. Was it because she didn’t want to go down? Of course not; it was because Lan Cixing wouldn’t be able to move if she saw her, let alone work out. She was just too charming. Being lazy, this was the one thing she wouldn’t do with Lan Cixing.

“Heh. I think you’re quite shameless.” Chu Fengyan rolled her eyes via emoji. Rong Yushu saved the sticker; it was cute, she’d send it to Lan Cixing later.

“You married people just don’t get it~ She’s shy.” Rong Yushu continued to tease her friend. Chu Fengyan sent a string of ellipses. She was married; what “play” didn’t she understand? Fine, hers was a contract marriage; she didn’t understand.

“Are you really going on a dating show? What are you thinking? That ‘Big Flower’ (top actress) guest has been chasing you for ages, right?” Chu Fengyan finally remembered what she had come to ask. She had helped organize the show and was shocked when she saw the list. Rong Yushu had ignored her for two days.

“Aren’t you two going as observers? I’m just going to blend in. Anyway, Nian’s film is going to pause for a re-shoot in a couple of days.” Rong Yushu calculated the time—about a week left. Just in time for the show’s filming.

“What do you mean?” Chu Fengyan didn’t understand. Rong Yushu had already logged off and ignored her.

Lan Cixing wanted to finish the full two hours. Approaching thirty, muscle loss was accelerating; she had to work harder to maintain her strength. She was a bodyguard, after all.

As she entered the cardio phase, the door suddenly opened. She kept her pace while looking over, seeing Rong Yushu leaning against the doorframe, her fox-eyes curved toward her. Lan Cixing almost tripped. She hit the stop button immediately.

“Continue.” Rong Yushu didn’t even come close; there were at least ten meters between them. Lan Cixing’s reaction was so intense—like a pet caught doing something secret, too shy and scared to continue.

“I-I-I’m nervous…” Lan Cixing walked toward her. Rong Yushu entered the gym and draped a towel around Lan Cixing’s neck, wiping away the excess sweat.

“I used to watch you train all the time; you even led me. How is it that at twenty-seven, you’re thinner-skinned than an eighteen-year-old?” She teased while wiping. Her accent was slightly off—a heavy Hong Kong flavor—and her tone was seductive. It was lucky Lan Cixing was already red from the heat, or her blush would have been too obvious.

Of course, Rong Yushu saw it anyway. While wiping, she specifically brushed against her waist, making her jump back. Lan Cixing stumbled and simply sat down. She sat upright on her knees as she had before, looking like a good little dog looking up at her.

Tsk. Rong Yushu’s gaze softened. She gave Lan Cixing a pre-prepared sports drink. As she took it, Rong Yushu rubbed her head. Her hair was quite wet.

“Good puppy. You have thirty minutes left. We need to go to the set.” Rong Yushu subtracted the time it would take to dry her hair. Lan Cixing’s hair was much longer now, from shoulder-length to waist-length, and it was permed and dyed—not easy to dry.

“Sister…” Lan Cixing held the drink, looking pitifully at her.

“We can continue when we get back tonight.” Rong Yushu couldn’t help but comfort her. She pulled Lan Cixing up, forcing her to finish the workout.

After washing up, Lan Cixing planned to let her hair dry naturally on set. But Rong Yushu pulled her to the vanity and dried it for her. Lan Cixing lowered her head, swaying with her movements. Rong Yushu’s touch was gentle and familiar. Gradually, Lan Cixing’s ears stopped being red, but her eyes grew moist. She closed them to hide the subtle color.

They felt as if they had returned to the past. Maybe… maybe Rong Yushu really didn’t hate her. They could be okay—at least be friends.

For the next few days, Lan Cixing followed like a shadow. When Rong Yushu was filming, she waited outside the shot like a fool. When she went to the lounge, Lan Cixing usurped He Lanli’s position, successfully sticking to Rong Yushu’s side. He Lanli couldn’t stand it and almost got into a fight with her. Rong Yushu never broke up fights; He Lanli was just an undifferentiated kid and didn’t win.

As for An Yu, Lan Cixing had been cold to her for a week, only replying with emojis. Finally, An Yu couldn’t take it and wanted to call to apologize. Lan Cixing hung up immediately, planning to settle the score tonight about An Yu tricking her into the bedroom—and to test her real identity.

“Busy at work. I’ll be angry with you after hours.” Lan Cixing was nice enough to leave a message. An Yu sent something and then retracted it, trying to get her attention. Lan Cixing didn’t have the mood for her; today was a big day.

A kiss scene.

Mu Huai had been ordered by Nian Guanqi to go back and rest because she wasn’t in the right state. Her role wasn’t large, so skipping a week didn’t hurt the schedule. In fact, with her gone and no one dragging the pace, most shots were finished in one take.

“I really shouldn’t have signed her,” Nian complained to Rong Yushu daily. Lan Cixing’s ears were calloused from hearing it.

“But we still have to film. Luckily our screenwriter, Li, is smart and didn’t give her too many scenes~” Rong Yushu spoke with a lingering tone, still in character. She always communicated with the director through the shell of her character.

“Let’s not talk about that. She’s coming to the set today. Do you want to film the intimate parts with little Cixing first, or the plot scenes with her?” Nian looked at Lan Cixing, who was tucked behind Rong Yushu, secretly messaging An Yu. Lan Cixing had missed An Yu’s retracted message and pocketed her phone, ignoring the “Scum Alpha” and her nonsense.

“She listens to me. Why are you looking at her?” Rong Yushu pulled Lan Cixing behind her, showing intense possessiveness. She wouldn’t even let Nian look.

“…I was asking you. I’m just worried she hasn’t filmed in a while and won’t be used to it. Mu Huai can go first.” Nian gave in. She had searched for their past in her free time; she didn’t find much, just Lan Cixing’s “scandal” records. Nian saw with her own eyes how much the “impersonal” Rong Yushu protected her. She didn’t believe a word of the media gossip. She strongly suspected the real reason Lan Cixing left the circle was to stay home and raise a child. After all, Nian had seen a photo of a child on Rong Yushu’s social media feed—though it was hidden a second later.

“No. I don’t want to see Mu Huai. Let’s kiss my little bodyguard first.” Rong Yushu squeezed Lan Cixing’s hand. The word “kiss” was emphasized. Speaking to Lan Cixing, she naturally didn’t use her character’s voice.

Lan Cixing jolted, realizing: Rong Yushu was about to kiss her. The formerly dazed “little tail” was now nervous. She was afraid she wouldn’t act well. Before it was just a screen test, but this was formal filming. If she caused frequent NGs, would Rong Yushu get impatient enough to “kill” her?

“Fine. Mu Huai is here; I’ll have her go to styling and wait. Your bodyguard should go too.” Nian obeyed and stopped using Lan Cixing’s name.

“Thanks for the trouble~ My little darling will use my stylist. Send Mu Huai away.” Rong Yushu led her out. Nian covered her face, exhausted. When the door closed, Nian called her wife, with whom she was having a cold war. “Honey, can we tonight…”

“Didn’t you say I’d disturb your filming? I’m busy!” The call was hung up instantly. Nian felt like a dog being kicked for no reason.

“Read the script first. The circled parts are yours.” Rong Yushu cleared the dressing room. She wanted to style Lan Cixing herself; she didn’t trust others. A kiss double wouldn’t show their face, but lips, ears, lashes, and the tip of the nose would be filmed. Rong Yushu wished she could only show a mouth. Unfortunately, Lan Cixing would have to take off her mask.

Lan Cixing took the script. She knew Rong Yushu was all-around capable; she had styled her before. This was just for a double; it didn’t need to be too detailed. She tugged at Rong Yushu’s sleeve and got a pinch on the cheek. The sharp nail made an electric sting run through her. Lan Cixing behaved and opened the script.

There were notes on how she should act. Judging by the handwriting, they were written by Rong Yushu. “Sister…” Lan Cixing looked at the familiar writing, her thoughts drifting. At twenty, her first role was finished under Rong Yushu’s handwritten guidance.

“If the kiss isn’t good, I’ll have to punish you well tonight.” Rong Yushu’s green eyes were emotionless, but her fox-like shape was as mocking as ever. Combined, Lan Cixing didn’t dare breathe, fearing she’d annoy her. She studied like a good student.

Rong Yushu seemed to read her mind and flicked her forehead. “And today, call me Teacher. Bad girl.” Her nicknames changed daily. Hearing “bad girl,” Lan Cixing’s ears itched. She felt a puff of powder on her face.

Lan Cixing closed her eyes obediently. “Teacher.” The tone was soft, not sounding like a serious “teacher” at all. It sounded like flirting.

Rong Yushu was satisfied. She finished the styling and wig in a few strokes, then led her by the collar to the set.

“I had Mu Huai wait; we’ll finish the double segment first. The area is cleared as you requested.” Nian saw them walking in an ambiguous, stumbling manner and pretended to be blind. Otherwise, she’d be the one hurt. She only had time to go home and coax her wife after filming; she couldn’t stand “lovey-dovey” couples right now.

Rong Yushu scanned the people: the cinematographer, assistant, gaffer, Nian, and her assistant. Very few remained. Not even the screenwriter.

Rong Yushu forced Lan Cixing into the ornate chair. She pulled off the mask and, following the script, kissed her without a word.

Nian hadn’t even shouted “Action.” The camera wasn’t ready. But the assistant cinematographer secretly turned on the camera. She captured Lan Cixing’s face and their kissing posture perfectly.

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