Huayu 2021: Isn’t he in the technology field?

Chapter 361 Unrestrained, how long do you plan to keep lying?

At seven o'clock in the evening, dusk was falling and the streetlights were coming on.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of Binhu Shuangxi, the lights of Luyang are gradually being lit up.

In the living room, Jiang Qing leaned back on the sofa, one hand on her forehead, her eyes slightly closed, her chest still heaving uncontrollably.

Chen Duling slumped down beside his legs, curled up, a thin blanket casually draped around her waist, her exposed arms and calves exuding a languid beauty in the soft light.

Her cheeks still had a lingering blush, and a few drops of sweat clung to the stray hairs at her temples, giving her a vibrant, spring-like appearance.

Clearly, the great battle has just ended.

"Gululu..."

A loud rumbling sound broke the silence of the room.

Chen Duling subconsciously buried her head in the blanket, and a muffled sound came out.

"It's all your fault!"

Jiang Qing opened his eyes, stretched out his long arm, and pulled her along with the blanket.

"Yes, it's my fault. We let our teacher, Ms. Chen, go hungry."

"It's more than just hunger."

Chen Duling struggled to sit up from his arms, wrapped herself tightly in the blanket, and glared at him accusingly.

"How long did that bowl of noodles from this afternoon keep you full? And then you..."

She was too embarrassed to finish the sentence, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

They started partying around noon, and during the afternoon break, she got really hungry, so Jiang Qing made her two bowls of clear noodle soup.

Her stomach was full, but all she did was bend down a little too far to pick up the blanket... and this person came from behind...

That's really...unreasonable!
Jiang Qing looked at her embarrassed yet trying-to-remain calm appearance, and the smile in his eyes deepened.

He didn't expose her subtle guilt, nor did he point out that her body was more honest than her words.

The sofa, the bed, the French windows, the kitchen island, and even the bathroom—all these places were left with traces of excessive passion throughout the day. How could she have truly resisted it?
Some feelings of excitement and satisfaction are best kept to oneself.

"Order takeout?"

He deliberately changed the subject.

"What would you like to eat? Today, the zookeeper Jiang is on strike, so let the chefs from Luyang show off their skills."

Chen Duling stood up, wrapped in a blanket, and walked barefoot on the cool floor toward the master bedroom, answering in a muffled voice as she went.

"Anything is fine, as long as it's hot."

Jiang Qing's laughter came from behind, making her quicken her pace.

When she finished washing up and came out in a soft, loose-fitting long dress, several exquisite lunch boxes were already laid out on the coffee table.

The enticing aroma of food filled the air, making her mouth water.

Chen Duling walked over and sat down, and Jiang Qing handed her a bowl of rice.

She picked up her bowl and ate in small bites, glancing occasionally at the man beside her who was eating heartily. After hesitating for a long time, she couldn't help but complain.

"Could you...be a little more restrained next time?"

As soon as the words left my mouth, I felt like my ears were burning.

Jiang Qing swallowed the food in her mouth, put down her chopsticks, and slowly turned to look at her, her eyes filled with knowing mockery.

"Oh? What Teacher Chen means is..."

"It's boring!"

Chen Duling immediately interrupted, her face burning hot enough to fry an egg.

"What I mean is, it's tiring! And I'm so hungry!"

She tried to make her complaints sound reasonable and natural, never mentioning the secret pleasures or the later half-hearted entanglements.

Jiang Qing nodded readily, her tone sincere.

"Okay, I'll remember that. Next time, I'll make sure Teacher Chen eats her fill first, so she has the energy to eat more..."

He deliberately dragged out the last syllable, making it seem meaningful.

"Jiang Qing!"

Chen Duling was speechless with anger. She glared at him fiercely and forcefully stabbed a piece of pork rib in her bowl with her chopsticks, as if it were someone's incarnation.

But the corners of her lips, which were unconsciously raised, betrayed a hint of a smile, even she herself didn't realize.

You simply can't bring yourself to be fierce towards someone as shameless as him.

Seeing her feigned seriousness and dejected expression, Jiang Qing couldn't help but laugh out loud.

He knew she was shy and enjoyed it but was too embarrassed to admit it.

Chen Duling continued muttering, and he nodded in agreement with her, saying "yes, yes, yes" and "okay, okay" to everything she said. But as they talked, Chen Duling realized that his smile clearly showed he understood everything!
He had seen through my hypocrisy long ago.

A wave of heat washed over her cheeks. She pursed her lips, lowered her head, and focused intently on eating her rice. She dared not look at him again and fell completely silent, wanting only to finish this "criticism and education meal" as soon as possible to end this awkward situation.

Under the light, Jiang Qing noticed that her fair neck was tinged with a lovely pink.

His body stirred with a subconscious restlessness, and he stared intently at her.

Over this period of time, Chen Duling had become extremely familiar with his gaze, so she lowered her eyes and deliberately avoided his burning gaze.

This person has become increasingly outrageous lately!

Just as this subtle silence was about to spread—

hum... hum... hum...

Jiang Qing's phone, which was lying to the side, suddenly lit up, accompanied by continuous vibrations, breaking the tranquility at the dining table.

The avatar displayed on the screen instantly caught Chen Duling's attention... it was Zhou Ye.

She paused slightly as she ate her rice, her gaze falling on the bowl, but her ears involuntarily perked up.

It felt like something had gently bumped my chest, and the illusion of possessiveness I had felt earlier instantly receded like a tide.

Yes, how could it be just her?
Jiang Qing's smile faded slightly.

He put down his chopsticks, picked up his phone, but didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked up at Chen Duling with a hint of inquiry in his eyes.

Chen Duling's face had returned to its usual gentle and peaceful expression, and she gave him a very natural smile.

"Go."

His voice was gentle, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

Jiang Qing nodded to her, then picked up her still-vibrating phone, got up, and walked towards the study.

As Chen Duling watched his figure disappear behind the closed study door, the smile on her face gradually faded, eventually turning into a silent sigh.

She put down her chopsticks; she had lost her appetite.

Those tender moments seemed to be easily shut out by this phone call.

The difference is so obvious.

Although he was a little awkward in front of Liu Haocun, he was able to maintain a basic level of composure.

But when Zhou Ye called, he instinctively needed to avoid her.

This reaction says it all.

Upon entering the study, Jiang Qing sat down at the desk, took a deep breath, and swiped to answer the video call.

"Jiang Qing!"

The moment the call connected, Zhou Ye's unadorned face filled the screen, with the background seemingly a hotel room.

She puffed out her cheeks, her eyes wide open, radiating clear grievance and dissatisfaction.

"Why did it take you so long to answer? What were you doing?!"

Jiang Qing leaned back in her chair, a gentle smile on her face.

"We were just eating. What's wrong? Who is our Ono-sensei arguing with this time?"

His tone was familiar and intimate, while he deliberately pretended to be nonchalant.

"That's you!"

Zhou Ye angrily accused him, pointing at the screen as if he wanted to poke him from afar.

“What did you say to me last time? You said you were too immersed in the role of Zhang Jingyi, that it would all be over once filming was over, and that it wasn’t Jiang Qing’s real feelings for Zhang Jingyi! And what happened? I saw all those trending topics and behind-the-scenes clips this afternoon!”

She pouted. "You were pushing your bike with her on the beach! You even helped her up! She almost fell and you just reached out to catch her arm! So naturally! And then, watching the sunset! She was peeking at you, and you were just laughing! What were you laughing at? And that sparkler! She ran towards you, what was that look in your eyes? You even raised your hand... Were you trying to touch her face?"

The girl launched into a rapid-fire speech.

"You promised me! But those scenes didn't look like acting at all, and they weren't work! The movements were too... too real! You yourself said you were too immersed in the role, but how long has it been since filming wrapped up?"

Jiang listened to her jealous accusations without much change in expression.

He spoke softly only after she finished shouting.

"Ono."

He leaned forward slightly, getting closer to the phone screen.

"Don't rush, listen to me first."

“Shooting for magazines is part of the job, you know that better than I do. You also know Harper's Bazaar's style; they pursue that sense of atmosphere and story extension. Every interaction the photographer asks us to do on set is scripted. Our eye contact, movements, positioning, and even the width of our smiles all need to be in line with the photography theme.”

He explained patiently.

"Like that forest-themed shoot you did before, didn't the photographer also ask you to make that ethereal, detached expression? Does that represent the real you?"

He paused briefly, staring at Zhou Ye's slightly stunned face on the screen, and continued to explain.

"Those so-called natural expressions at the beach were mostly designed by the photographer. He asked me to hold her arm, so I did, because it was required for the job. Jingyi jumping around and setting off sparklers was also the photographer's way of letting her improvise for dynamic shots, so I just watched as instructed. As for you looking at me and me looking at each other..."

He gave a forced, helpless smile.

"Xiao Ye, with so many staff members surrounding the set, lights, reflectors, and several cameras pointed at us, what real, secret footage could we possibly capture? Those were all candid shots taken from different angles, and the lighting created an illusion. That behind-the-scenes video was even edited and amplified in post-production, just for promotional purposes. You're an actor too; these are common practices in the industry. Why are you following the trend set by netizens?"

His tone was helpless, as if he had been wronged.

On the other side of the screen, Zhou Ye's puffed-up cheeks calmed down a bit because of his explanation and his self-righteous work attitude, but the suspicion in his eyes did not completely disappear. He still looked at him stubbornly, as if trying to discern the truth or falsehood in his words.

Jiang Qing noticed her softening emotions.

He immediately and subtly changed the subject, his smile deepening with obvious concern.

"Alright, stop overthinking. Tell me about your situation? How's filming going? I heard Director Xin's films are very meticulously crafted, are you adjusting well?"

Sure enough, Zhou Ye's attention was immediately and successfully diverted when work was mentioned.

The hurt on her face faded, her brows relaxed, and she began to excitedly share her experiences on set.

"Wow! Director Xin is really amazing! He's so strict, it's common for him to shoot a single scene a dozen or twenty times, but you can really learn a lot from him!"

Her tone became lighter.

"Today we filmed a scene with actor Qin Hao, the one in the small restaurant... Qin Hao's acting is truly superb! I was a little overwhelmed at first, and Director Xin had to call 'cut' several times... But later I felt it was right! When Director Xin said that take was good, I almost jumped up!"

She talked on and on about the details of the filming, her admiration for the director, her praise for her seniors, and her slight pride in her own progress.

Jiang Qing listened quietly, nodding occasionally with an encouraging smile on her lips, and adding a few words like "Hmm," "Not easy," "Teacher Qin is really amazing," and "Our Xiao Ye is so amazing" to guide her to continue.

Watching her face gradually light up with excitement on the screen, Jiang Qing silently breathed a sigh of relief.

After chatting for another ten minutes about interesting things on set, Zhou Ye's conversation came to an end, and a smile returned to his face. All his previous doubts and grievances had completely dissipated.

Seeing that her emotions had been completely calmed down, Jiang Qing brought up a new topic at the right time.

"Ono, I've been preparing a surprise for you lately."

Jiang Qing softened her voice, her tone carrying a hint of mystery.

Zhou Ye was immediately drawn in, leaning forward with his eyes wide open.

"A surprise? What surprise? Tell me quickly!"

Jiang Qing shook her head, deliberately keeping everyone in suspense.

"It's pointless to talk about it now. You'll find out when you finish filming."

He looked at her with a gentle smile.

"It's guaranteed to be a big surprise."

"what?"

Zhou Ye pouted in dissatisfaction.

"Why do I have to wait until filming wraps up? I still have a part of filming left! Can't you tell me even a little bit now? Not even a little bit?"

She started to act coquettishly, making faces at the screen.

"No."

Jiang Qing's attitude was very firm.

"I told you it was a surprise. If you knew beforehand, you wouldn't feel anything. Be good, focus on filming, the surprise will be revealed in time."

His tone left no room for argument, yet it was tinged with affection.

Having been pleasantly surprised and intrigued, Zhou Ye's curiosity was completely piqued, and all her previous doubts about Zhang Jingyi and the behind-the-scenes footage were long forgotten.

She asked twice more, but Jiang Qing smiled and brushed her off each time, so she had no choice but to give up.

"Alright alright."

She sighed like a little adult, but a sweet smile returned to her face.

"I'll be waiting! If I don't like the gift after filming wraps, I'll... I'll bite you! I'll bite you to death!"

She waved her little fists threateningly, looking both cute and fierce.

Jiang Qing was amused by her.

"Don't worry, I won't let you down. Focus on filming and take care of yourself."

"Okay! Then you need to take good care of yourself too! Don't work too hard, and try not to stay up too late."

Zhou Ye nodded vigorously at the screen.

"I'll hang up now, I have an early shoot tomorrow."

"OK, good night."

Jiang Qing smiled and waved goodbye to her.

"Goodnight!" Zhou Ye waved to the camera and hung up the video call with a sweet smile.

The screen went dark, and the call ended.

The study instantly fell silent.

The gentle and patient mask on Jiang Qing's face slowly faded away.

He didn't move immediately, but leaned back in his chair, staring intently at the darkened phone screen, his gaze unfocused for a long time.

A mixture of helplessness, weariness, and some deeper emotion crept up to the corners of his eyes and brows.

Finally, he pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a long breath.

The sighs sounded particularly heavy in the quiet study.

Just then, a slight "click" sound was heard.

The study door was gently pushed open.

Jiang Qing looked up and followed the sound.

At the doorway, Chen Duling leaned against the door frame, arms crossed, and stood there unnoticed.

The warm light from the living room streamed in from behind her, casting a hazy glow around her slender figure.

There was no surprise or anger on her face, only an almost transparent calmness. Her calm eyes stared straight at Jiang Qing behind the desk, as if they had seen through all the pretense and looked into the deepest part of him.

Something invisible seemed to tighten in the air.

The eye contact lasted for a few seconds.

Time seemed to stretch out considerably.

Then, Chen Duling spoke.

"Jiang Qing."

She looked at him, her voice soft and solemn.

"How long do you plan to keep lying to Ono like this...?"

Her voice was soft and steady, like a feather falling on still water, without a ripple of emotion, yet every word was sharp as a needle.

As the last word fell, the study fell silent once more, leaving only the two of them in a silent standoff, and the distant, indistinct sounds of the city outside the window.

Jiang Qing met her gaze and remained silent for a moment.

(End of this chapter)