Rebirth of Chinese Entertainment, the Diary of a 95 Flower

Zhang Ruonan's breathing was erratic.

She continued messaging Bailu: ["Stop treating Ruonan as your past self."]
"The girl who once pursued her dreams her whole life, she still lives in your bones."
"Now, it's time to let her breathe again."
["Sing, White Dew."]
[“Not for me, not for Ruonan.”]
["Just for yourself."]
["Just like Ruonan, who once took the name Ruonan, take your own life back into your own hands."]
Send the last message.

Zhang Ruonan's wrists trembled so much that she couldn't even hold her phone steady, let alone type.

Her hair fell down, covering half of her face, revealing only the slightly reddened tips of her ears.

Jiang Yang's fingers ran through her long hair.

First, he gently stroked the back of her head, his knuckles turning white as he gradually applied more pressure.

Jiang Yang's phone screen lit up on the coffee table.

It was a message from Bailu: ["Ruonan, I actually knew it was you. Thank you. This time, I'm going to try to find my former self again."]
Jiang Yang glanced at the message Bai Lu had sent.

I saw this message, sent it a few seconds later, and then deleted it.

Jiang Yang pretended not to see, and after a while, he finally felt the urge. He suddenly reached out and grabbed Zhang Ruonan by the back of her neck. The force was not strong, but it prevented her from retreating.

"Take a good rest. The music video can't be filmed for now. Everyone will be joining the crew one after another. I'll be staying with the crew. You're going to school tomorrow. I haven't received the call sheet yet. I'll let you know in advance when it's time to film your scenes."

"Ah."

Zhang Ruonan responded with a slightly hoarse voice.

I can finally help Jiang Yang.

Chatted for a few words.

I know Jiang Yang is going to record a song.

"Jiang Yang, I just used your phone to send a lot of messages to Bai Lu, and I sent them in your name."

"I saw it all."

Jiang Yang didn't care and didn't take it seriously.

Even without Ruonan, Bailu would still have signed the contract.

Because you can get attributes from Bailu.

"It's okay, I don't mind."

Jiang Yang gently stroked Zhang Ruonan's feverish cheeks: "Get some rest."

I still can't recall the complete lyrics to the song I wrote for Ruonan. I need to remember the score and melody bit by bit.

It's not too late to show it to Zhang Ruonan once I can write it out completely.

Not in a hurry.

Zhang Ruonan is still missing a truly outstanding work, and so is Bai Lu.

Having a signature piece, combined with a song, makes it easier to break out of the niche.

It would also be easier for him to make money.

Actually, at first, I just wanted to exploit Xiao Hua's attributes; I didn't have any ambition to work hard.

Gradually, the desire to make money grew.

Perhaps because they don't have enough money, they can't get better resources or better gigs for their young actresses.

I really don't want to sleep with Xiaohua.

Somehow, we ended up lying together.

He really didn't have any ulterior motives.

Zhang Ruonan suddenly reached out and grabbed Jiang Yang's wrist, her voice slightly hoarse: "Jiang Yang, tell me, have I been too presumptuous?"

"What's wrong?" Jiang Yang asked with a smile.

He understood what Zhang Ruonan meant, but he still wanted to hear her say it.

Some things are easier to say than to keep inside. Just now, it seemed like Ruonan was encouraging Bailu, but wasn't she also reminding herself?

Zhang Ruonan lowered her eyelashes: "I just feel that I took it upon myself to use your identity to say those things to Bai Lu and to make decisions for her without permission. But actually, I am still learning how to be a decent artist. I have only accepted a job as an extra."

Talking and talking.

Zhang Ruonan's eyes welled up with tears: "Will you blame me?"

"Don't think so much."

Jiang Yang placed his palm on her burning cheek and wiped away the moisture from the corner of her eyes with his thumb: "If you think you're so self-righteous, then when I signed you, it was probably this very self-righteousness of yours that I was after."

Zhang Ruonan's eyes flickered.

She saw Jiang Yang lean down and approach her.

His palm slid slowly down her back, his knuckles tracing the hollows of her waist, as if measuring a fragile piece of porcelain.

Ruonan's back tensed slightly under his palm, her shoulder blades rising and falling with her breath.

She closed her eyes and slightly raised her chin.

She realized that Jiang Yang wasn't going to kiss her, but rather gently kissed her forehead.

She saw Jiang Yang lying beside her.

Jiang Yang's voice rang in her ears: "Back then, you were so nervous, you didn't even put on makeup, but you still dared to come to the interview, right? Now you haven't even established yourself in this industry, and you're already thinking of helping Bai Lu."

Jiang Yang cupped her lower back with his palm, his fingertips sinking into the soft curve.

She instinctively curled her knees up, but he pressed them back into place.

The blanket rustled softly as it was moved.

He laughed and said, "Maybe you really can't help Bai Lu much, but so what? At least you've given Bai Lu a strong sense of security."

He added, "And me too. I've seen it all. Bailu is your friend, and so am I, aren't I?"

Ruonan clumsily helped Bailu, and Jiang Yang watched.

They tacitly approved.

Because in this circle, you never know who might suddenly rise to prominence or who might suddenly fall from grace.

Each person is a seed, and it's only a matter of time before they blossom and bear fruit.

No one laughs all the time, and no one cries forever.

At least, if he ever falls down in the future, Ruonan's embrace will be there for him.

This is enough.

Ruonan was allowed to support Bailu in the hope that if Bailu were to fall on hard times in the future, Ruonan would lend him a hand.

“But Jiang Yang, I’m scared.” Zhang Ruonan suddenly grabbed Jiang Yang’s collar, her knuckles digging into his clothes.

Jiang Yang's lips landed on her chest, his breath hot, like kissing a flower about to bloom, and he asked, "What are you afraid of?"

"I'm just afraid that one day I'll be so badly criticized that I won't dare to read the comments, so disliked that I'll be pointed at and talked about on the street, just like before the White Dew solar term, worn down by reality until I can't even cry out in pain, and finally, facing my increasingly distant dreams, I can only say, 'Forget it.'"

"Then remember today, remember how you forced Bailu to face herself, remember what you insisted on saying even though your throat hurt, and also..."

Jiang Yang cupped the back of her head with one hand and pulled her into his arms: "Remember, I'm behind you."

The words fell.

Jiang Yang suddenly hissed.

A red mark on my neck; I'd been ambushed.

Ruonan planted a strawberry.

"Still planting hickeys, one of these days might cause a blood clot," Jiang Yang muttered, then lowered his head and kissed her. (End of Chapter)