A OO Love After Officially Announcing with the Best Actress - Chapter 20

During the holiday, Chu Feng went to her grandmother’s house and worked there for a few days. On her grandmother’s side, there was a stretch of sandy shore by the river. Chu Feng worked during the day, and at noon and night, she would run to the shore to pick up shells.

Before Chu Feng left, many guests had been coming and going from the Li residence. They were from other places and had brought news: the Li family’s shops and granaries in the capital had suffered heavy losses, and Young Master Li’s whereabouts were still unknown.

Master Li flew into a rage and broke Ji Fengling’s wind chime. After that, the crisp, pleasant sound of bells in the wind could no longer be heard by the window.

Chu Feng wanted to make Miss Ji a new one. She picked up shells by the sea and used thin fishing line to string them together. While making the wind chime, her mind was filled entirely with that figure.

Chu Feng came back. She wrapped the wind chime in her clothes. In the middle of summer, her belly bulged into a round lump. When Granny Zhou asked her about it, she said she had eaten too much at her grandmother’s house, making Granny Zhou laugh before chasing her off to work.

Chu Feng carried a bucket of hot water upstairs. A ladle filled with flower petals rested inside the bucket. She held the bucket in one hand and protected her belly with the other as she went upstairs.

The door beside the round window on the second floor quietly opened a crack. A pair of amber eyes looked at her from inside, curving with a smile.

Chu Feng squeezed through the door, set down the bucket, and turned to close the door. Her hand touched the door bolt. After hesitating for a moment, she lowered it, locking the door.

Behind her, a fragrant gust of wind suddenly pounced over, nearly knocking her into the wooden door.

Chu Feng was startled and hurriedly dodged. She raised a finger to her lips. “Shh!”

Chu Feng acted mysteriously. She lifted her clothes, took out a bundle, and opened it in front of Ji Fengling. “From now on, when you miss me… hang the wind chime by the window. When the wind chime rings, I’ll come see you.”

Ji Fengling’s eyes warmed. Her stunned expression came back to life. She held the wind chime, unable to put it down.

“Cut!” Shen Feng wiped her sweat and rolled her trousers up to her knees. Since they were recording live sound on set, they could not use fans. After a few scenes, everyone was drenched in sweat.

During the break, a production assistant went to test the water temperature. Lin Bingran happened to go change. Under her qipao, she wore a bandeau-style top and safety shorts for the underwater scene later.

Lin Ke held a split fan and fanned herself, copying Shen Feng’s posture by rolling her gray trousers up to her knees.

Her two fair, even legs were exposed outside. She no longer cared about her own image at all.

Lin Bingran stared at her calves for a while. “No more idol baggage?”

Lin Ke laughed awkwardly and put her pant legs back down.

Fang Wuyu carried two buckets of water and poured them into the bathtub. Her sleeves were rolled up to her arms. As she poured the water, she asked, “Xiao Lin acts pretty well.”

Lin Bingran turned her head, using a palm-sized mini fan to blow at her neck. She narrowed her eyes slightly. “Not bad. Want to get to know her?”

Fang Wuyu put down the bucket and smiled. “It’s not like you don’t know me.”

The makeup artist was standing right beside them. The two spoke as if they were playing riddles.

Lin Bingran smiled. Lin Ke jogged back and said, “Teacher Lin, Director Shen said filming starts in two minutes.”

Fang Wuyu knew what this scene was about. She said to the two of them, “Work hard. Be careful not to slip in the water.”

Lin Ke understood that this sentence was meant for Lin Bingran. Following along, she praised, “Teacher Fang really is considerate.”

There were many people and ears on set. Lin Ke thought calling her “sister-in-law” would be inconvenient, so she changed it to “Teacher Fang,” believing herself to be sensible and considerate. In the end, she received a meaningful look from Lin Bingran.

Unrelated personnel left the set. Lin Bingran loosened the buttons of her qipao and stepped into the water. Long legs, narrow waist, full curves—the atmosphere on set was set ablaze for an instant, only for it all to be buried in the water right after.

To create a misty effect, the water was hot and even a little scalding. Dry ice had been placed beneath the bathtub, making mist swirl around. Lin Bingran scooped up two handfuls of water herself and dampened a few strands of hair.

Young ladies from wealthy families used roses when bathing. The water’s surface was covered with petals, blocking every view. The shimmering water, with red and white interlaced, stirred the imagination.

Lin Ke held a ladle and waited for the production assistant to clap the slate.

Ji Fengling was bathing. There were faint bruises on her back and arms. Chu Feng poured hot water down, deliberately avoiding those marks.

As the hot water flowed over her body, Ji Fengling shrank back unconsciously. She leaned against the edge of the bathtub, her hair damp. Her expression was innocent and young as she raised her head and stared blankly at the wind chime hanging by the window.

“Miss?” Chu Feng called her, handing Ji Fengling the soap for bathing. After helping Ji Fengling wash her shoulders and back, she placed the soap into Ji Fengling’s hand and turned away to avoid looking.

Behind her came the sound of water, ladle by ladle, handful by handful.

Each sound seemed to pour directly into Chu Feng’s heart, filling it until it was full and swollen.

Chu Feng felt as though she had been drenched through, moistened, and dazed by the steam.

Suddenly, a hand reached up, wet as it touched the back of her hand. Chu Feng reacted as if she had been electrocuted. Her movement was so large that she stepped into a puddle of water and fell straight out of frame.

The script had definitely not written that. Lin Bingran held the bathtub with both hands and laughed loudly.

Everyone around them burst into laughter. Shen Feng joked that they should put this into the behind-the-scenes footage later.

The production assistant clapped the slate again for the second take.

Most people did not make the same mistake twice. Lin Ke was a little more outstanding—she fell again.

Lin Bingran: “…”

After the same thing happened for the third time, the people on set could no longer laugh.

If this went on, it would delay the schedule. Shen Feng picked up the walkie-talkie, her expression serious. “Xiao Lin, what’s going on?”

Lin Ke grabbed the bathtub and climbed up. Her backside hurt from the fall. With a red face, she said, “Sorry, Director. I got distracted.”

Shen Feng frowned. “You can get distracted during this? What were you thinking about? Say it for everyone to hear.”

Lin Ke’s ears flushed bright red. Embarrassed, she said, “Let’s do it one more time. This time, there definitely won’t be a problem, Director.”

Lin Bingran slapped the water, playing with a petal between her fingers. Every time Lin Ke NG’d, it happened at the moment Lin Bingran reached out to touch her hand. Lin Bingran turned her head and saw Fang Wuyu standing in the corner.

After the hand touch, they would be filming the kissing scene. So everything had a traceable cause. Lin Bingran raised her hand. “Director, I also feel a little uncomfortable. Can we clear the set a bit more?”

Another batch of people left. Fang Wuyu followed the staff out. Lin Ke let out a breath of relief and whispered, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Lin Bingran said coldly. “Don’t let personal feelings delay work.”

Lin Ke was lectured twice and was still a little dazed. She mumbled, picked up the ladle, and served Lin Bingran. “Teacher Lin, I was wrong.”

“Where were you wrong?” Lin Bingran asked.

Why was this person so relentless? Lin Ke complained inwardly. She felt uncomfortable. Filming a kissing scene with Lin Bingran in front of Fang Wuyu, the rightful wife, made her feel like she was having an affair. It was awkward.

Lin Ke reflected. “…It’s me. I’m not professional enough!”

Lin Bingran sneered, seeing through her. “Is Fang Wuyu beautiful?”

Lin Ke gave an “ah.”

Lin Bingran raised an eyebrow. “Tell the truth.”

“Beautiful,” Lin Ke said.

Lin Bingran said, “A person can’t be judged by appearance alone.”

Lin Ke found that inexplicable. “Teacher Fang doesn’t just have ordinary looks. Her personality and career are both excellent too.”

Lin Bingran glanced at her. “Looks like you have a very good impression of her.”

How could she not? Lin Ke complained inwardly, nodding rapidly like she was pounding garlic.

Seeing her foolish appearance, Lin Bingran felt a little pity and said, “Do you know who Fang Wuyu likes?”

This was destined to be a melodramatic love triangle that would go nowhere. Lin Bingran wanted to persuade Lin Ke to turn back.

“You,” Lin Ke said.

Lin Bingran was extremely surprised. She had originally thought it was just her imagination, but it turned out to be true. “Since you know that, you still want to be with her?”

Lin Ke: “Huh?”

Shen Feng spoke through the intercom. “What are you chatting about?”

Lin Ke jumped in fright and quickly made an OK gesture toward the camera.

Lin Bingran’s expression was complicated. She complained, “I really don’t understand young people.”

Slate.

Lin Bingran’s expression instantly switched into Ji Fengling’s. Lin Ke came back to herself one second later.

Ji Fengling touched Chu Feng’s hand. Chu Feng did not turn back.

“Thirsty,” Ji Fengling said.

Chu Feng went to the table to bring water. When she returned, she stood outside the misty steam and stared fixedly at Ji Fengling.

Ji Fengling’s face was peaceful. A dimple appeared at the corner of her lips. As she washed herself, she would glance at the wind chime hanging on the window frame, her eyes filled with longing and joy.

The wind made the bells ring. Ji Fengling caught sight of Chu Feng from the corner of her eye. Their gazes met, then slowly moved away.

“Miss, I’ll feed you.”

Chu Feng held the cup and fed her water. Ji Fengling stretched her neck and swallowed. She drank too quickly, and water spilled from the corner of her lips, slid down her neck, and rolled into the bathtub, mixing with the red roses.

“Do you want more?” Chu Feng asked, her mouth dry.

Ji Fengling nodded.

Chu Feng went to pour water again. Standing in front of the table, she suddenly poured several large cups of tea and gulped them down herself.

When she came back, the cup she handed to Miss Ji was the same one she had used.

Ji Fengling watched, taking in all of her tangled emotions and sudden movements. Her face, already flushed from the steam, gained two more streaks of color.

“Why aren’t you drinking?” Chu Feng asked.

Ji Fengling held the cup and took a small sip. Her voice was thin, carrying the texture of someone who rarely used it, exhaling a faint breath as she said, “It’s a little hot.”

Chu Feng had tested the water. She had deliberately brought over warm water. How could it be hot?

Chu Feng saw it clearly.

What was hot was not the water, but the human heart.

Chu Feng leaned down. The loose collar of her shirt fell open and dropped into the water, soaking the fabric over her chest inch by inch. Chu Feng kissed Ji Fengling heavily.

Ji Fengling clung to the bathtub, making the sides wet and slippery. She was forced back by Chu Feng until her back pressed against the rough wood, with nowhere left to retreat. Under Chu Feng’s clumsy kissing, she was kissed until her whole body softened and went numb.

By the time filming ended, the sun had set. Lin Bingran touched her lips and actually stood there in a daze.

Lin Ke had never kissed anyone before. Her only experience came from Lin Bingran.

The swallowing, the licking, the teasing of the palate—she had learned it all from Lin Bingran.

In this scene, the two of them had kissed inseparably. According to the script, the kiss had to be a little fierce. The moment filming ended, Lin Ke, her neck flushed red, ran away without stopping.

Lin Bingran sat in the bathtub. The water had turned cold, but she still did not get up. Her pheromones mingled in the water, the green-tea fragrance faint.

Shen Feng called wrap, then walked over to Lin Bingran with her hands behind her back, swaying slightly.

“What, still savoring it?”