Transmigrating into the Rival's Fanfiction - Chapter 18

“Teacher Qin, I know you’re fearless, but I’m not.”

Sheng Mingluo pressed her palms together in a prayer-like gesture, desperate to escape this trouble.

So much for easy bargains, she thought.

“With me here, what’s there to fear?”

Fine, I give up.

“Are we practicing again today?”

Qin Zhi walked ahead, the ornamental maple tree’s branches drooping between them. Neither woman was one to give up easily.

“Ah… um, I’m fine with it. What about you, Teacher Qin?”

Her gaze wavering, Sheng Mingluo glanced up at Qin Zhi. Her jet-black lashes stood out against her lightly made-up face as she stared directly at her.

“Of course I’m fine with it too.”

Night fell.

Sheng Mingluo had grown accustomed to these nightly ambiguous encounters. Qin Zhi set down the hairdryer, her hair now dry and refreshed. She produced a strip of black gauze from somewhere and carefully tied it over her eyes with her slender fingers.

The black gauze trailed down her back.

Wearing her pajamas, Qin Zhi explained her actions:

“I’m trying to see if this will work.”

“If I cover my eyes, my emotions might not spiral out of control.”

Sheng Mingluo’s lips parted slightly, but her cheeks flushed again. Qin Zhi looked so restrained, so ascetic, with her navy blue pajamas buttoned all the way up to the collar and the long, thin black gauze strip trembling slightly.

Qin Zhi was genuinely trying to suppress her possessive urges, that overwhelming desire to destroy. If she couldn’t see Sheng Mingluo’s eyes or face, she could focus solely on the primal instinct of physical contact, eliminating any emotional connection.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Sheng Mingluo watched Qin Zhi’s fumbling movements and couldn’t help but giggle. The soft pfft of laughter echoed loudly in the silent room.

Especially now that Qin Zhi had lost her sense of sight, Sheng Mingluo’s lips twitched. She knew she looked a bit ridiculous, but her hand still found its way to Sheng Mingluo’s shoulder.

Feeling the smooth fabric of Sheng Mingluo’s pajamas, Qin Zhi leaned down, her vision completely blacked out. Unable to see the woman before her, she pressed her lips against hers.

Warm and close, Sheng Mingluo closed her eyes. Having learned from their previous encounters, they were no longer awkward. Their lips and teeth battled for air.

Once, twice, three times.

Until her lips were slightly swollen, Sheng Mingluo collapsed weakly onto the bed, gently pushing against Qin Zhi’s movements with her palm. In a soft, gentle voice, she murmured, “Teacher Qin… that’s… enough.”

Today’s mission was thoroughly accomplished.

Yet Qin Zhi held her without moving. In the silence, she could hear a heartbeat—she couldn’t tell if it was her own or the person she was embracing.

“Just… let me hold you a little longer… just a little longer,” Qin Zhi murmured to herself, her eyes still covered. She felt like she had rediscovered the feeling of childhood, lying on the same bed as her teddy bear, pouring out her heart.

Time flowed silently, until Sheng Mingluo began to feel drowsy and her body temperature started to rise. Qin Zhi’s breathing gradually steadied as she suppressed the strange thoughts stirring within her.

Qin Zhi’s fingertips untied the thin black gauze bag from the back of her head, and the material slid down her upturned nose, revealing a pair of dark, misty eyes that fixed on Sheng Mingluo.

Her lips were slightly swollen, making her look irresistibly alluring.

“Did I hurt you…?” Qin Zhi asked softly, her arm numb from holding the position for too long as she propped herself up.

The warmth between them rapidly dissipated with the distance. Sheng Mingluo shook her head, unable to say she was uncomfortable; in fact, she felt quite comfortable. Qin Zhi seemed to be desperately restraining herself during their kiss, her entire body trembling.

“No,” Sheng Mingluo replied.

Brushing aside the stray strands of hair that had fallen across her forehead, Sheng Mingluo’s vision cleared. Qin Zhi stood up, neatly folded the gauze bag, and placed it back in the bedside table.

“Go to sleep. We have filming tomorrow.”

Looking away, Sheng Mingluo burrowed under the covers. Qin Zhi dared not glance at her again, forcing herself to recall the System’s warning.

Only by following the plot as intended could they escape this world. Any interactions between them would revert to their original world, and everything would vanish.

Just treat it like a play.

Sheng Mingluo found a cool spot to eat her boxed lunch. The veteran actor playing her father was a seasoned performer, and his intense acting nearly overwhelmed her. They had only filmed two scenes all morning. As she picked at her rice with her chopsticks, a sense of melancholy lingered.

Her script still bore Qin Zhi’s notes, which provided a deep analysis of her character’s personality.

The densely packed notes revealed Qin Zhi’s natural talent for acting. Her understanding of the character and how to portray her seemed effortless.

Squatting behind a large tree, Sheng Mingluo had thought the secluded spot was deserted. But just as she took her first bite of vegetables, rustling footsteps approached. She paused mid-bite, realizing someone was behind the tree. Their voice carried a note of urgency.

“Sister Chu… the boss’s medication dosage has been increased again.”

Chu Wenxiu’s head swam with anxiety. Hadn’t Qin Zhi’s condition shown slight improvement in recent months? Why was this happening again?

“What’s wrong with her? How is she doing?”

“Not well… Her mood is erratic. She was cold and distant earlier, but yesterday she suppressed a fit of anger.”

“I didn’t dare ask her directly.”

Fang Qing dutifully reported on Qin Zhi’s recent behavior. She had witnessed the boss’s episodes before. Once, when a crew member accidentally sat in Qin Zhi’s chair, Qin Zhi had grabbed a lighter and set the chair ablaze.

The expression in her eyes was dark and unreadable.

The artists who knew about the incident were terrified and sought out Qin Zhi to apologize. Qin Zhi accepted their apologies with a cold, impassive face, insisting it was her own fault and telling them not to worry.

But who would believe such an absurd explanation?

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Chu Wenxiu sighed. This woman is truly a handful.

“I understand. I’ll have the medication delivered right away.”

“Be careful. If things get too out of hand, we’ll have to halt filming.”

Qin Zhi’s condition had been fluctuating. Knowing her personality, Chu Wenxiu added before hanging up, “Remember, don’t tell her about the increased dosage.”

“Yes, I understand, Sister Chu.”

Fang Qing sighed. Having worked with Qin Zhi for years, she knew how sensitive the actress was about her recurring illness.

Oh no, I think I accidentally overheard something confidential. Sheng Mingluo even stopped chewing her food, perhaps because the secluded spot was so quiet.

Fang Qing didn’t dwell on it and left after finishing the call.

Were they talking about Teacher Qin’s illness?

After squatting for so long, Sheng Mingluo’s legs had grown numb and achy. She massaged her thighs and stood up. But as soon as she did, she saw someone standing on the pavilion above.

…Awkward.