Chapter 127 But This Moment is Different
Yan Fangshu noticed that Ren Limeng's gaze had shifted. She turned her head and saw Li Chuyue walking towards them with a cameraman holding a camera. Yan Fangshu happily waved at Li Chuyue with her empty left hand.
"Fangfang, thank you."
Ren Limeng suddenly hugged Yan Fangshu. During the hug, she quietly pinched Yan Fangshu's arm, with a gentle and beautiful smile still on her face.
Yan Fangshu couldn't help but think of the 24-hour recording of the program that Ren Limeng had been mentioning these days. She stared at Li Chuyue's side with surprise. It was obviously just pitch black, but Yan Fangshu immediately felt the inexplicable oppression brought by the silent camera, like a lurking poisonous snake, staring at her hungrily.
Yan Fangshu's heart tightened, and she suddenly heard Ren Limeng's steady voice in her ears. After the hug, Ren Limeng still held Yan Fangshu firmly with both hands, giving Yan Fangshu a sense of security.
"The production team and I have only taken five minutes off. We'll discuss this in detail after today's filming is over. You should also hurry back to Qianfang to avoid delaying your training."
The words contained some implicit reminders, especially when mentioning "Qianfang", Ren Limeng's emphasis and eyes were slightly different.
After she finished speaking, Ren Limeng turned her head calmly and looked at the camera that was getting closer and closer. She was almost sure that the camera was in recording mode.
Even if the waist microphone was not turned on, the distance was enough for the camera to pick up the sound, so she had no worries about chatting with Yan Fangshu. However, the Qianfang Troupe's actor competition was coming to the Fanhua Troupe, and Ren Limeng was afraid that some bored people in the Meixiang Theater would gossip after the broadcast.
Mei City is too small, and Ren Limeng is afraid that Yan Fangshu will have a hard time.
Yan Fangshu understood Ren Limeng's meaning almost immediately, but she smiled gently, still stretched out her hand, and firmly handed the gift box that she had been holding for a long time to Ren Limeng.
"I came here to give you this. Last week, when I saw you on your debut stage for 'Mountains and Seas', I guessed you must have been secretly practicing martial arts. I put it in the car this week, thinking you might need it someday! As expected, hard work pays off! Hurry up and give me some praise, hehe!"
It was clearly a brand new, beautiful, and unfamiliar gift box, but as soon as she glanced at it, Ren Limeng immediately guessed what was inside.
Ren Limeng's words rolled over and over again in her throat as she hesitated. Yan Fangshu held Ren Limeng's hand tightly, not allowing her to retreat at all. As if to encourage herself, she wore a nonchalant look on her face. She turned slightly towards the camera and continued loudly, "Wear this on stage this afternoon, Mengmeng, you'll need it!"
"Fangfang..."
Although everyone knew that the Fanhua Troupe and the Meixiang Troupe were not on the same level, and the afternoon competition was a battle between the three troupes, it was inappropriate to openly give things to the opponent before the game. Feeling Ren Limeng's slight frown of disapproval, Yan Fangshu just lifted the bag more insistently, stuffed it completely into Ren Limeng, and then suddenly let go.
Out of subconscious inertia, Ren Limeng finally caught the gift box.
"Although the peony on the costume is a bit out of place in 'The Female Prime Minister', it should fit the overall tone of 'The Female Prime Minister'. I guess Fanhua won't be able to find a more suitable costume for the time being, so you can just make do with it and don't be disgusted!"
Yan Fangshu said with a smile that the Fanhua Troupe was famous in Mei City for being thrifty. Folk troupes mainly performed in the countryside, and many were limited by practical conditions, so the costumes, makeup and even the stage were not that sophisticated.
Yan Fangshu couldn't change the Fanhua Troupe, but she hoped that her best friend would be dazzling when she made her debut, wearing the most beautiful costume and shining in front of everyone.
When their eyes met, a lot of emotions suddenly surged in Ren Limeng's heart. If the camera hadn't been there, she would definitely not be able to be as calm as she appeared. As friends for thirty years, there were many tacit understandings that were unspoken. Ren Limeng did not refuse anymore. She just solemnly accepted the costume and held the gift box bag tightly.
"......Thanks."
"...What are you thanking me for! This was originally yours, and now it's back intact! Mengmeng, I still want to say, welcome back!"
My dearest friends, welcome back to the Huangmei Opera stage.
In front of the camera, Yan Fangshu's voice was very soft. They had clearly met on Monday, but at this moment, there were still too many thoughts in their eyes. They smiled at each other at the same time, as if all the past times reappeared before their eyes.
Li Chuyue looked at Ren Limeng and Yan Fangshu, who seemed to be in tune with each other. She bit her lips tightly, slowed down her pace, and was unable to control the emotions surging in her heart.
It's clearly... a story about three people, why was she eliminated long ago?
Out of the corner of her eye, she thought of the camera that was quietly recording, and Li Chuyue finally forced a smile and slowly walked towards Ren Limeng and the others.
"Fangfang! Why are you here in Fanhua? Are you here to see Li Meng?"
"Yes, Yueyue, I just followed you and Director Dong Zhu!"
The question asked despite knowing the answer made Yan Fangshu look a little doubtful.
"Ah! I...maybe I didn't notice. What was that thing you gave Li Meng? It's such a big gift box. Can you open it and take a look?"
“Is it being filmed now?”
Yan Fangshu just opened her mouth to answer, but Ren Limeng looked directly at the photographer behind the camera, and her gentle tone was slightly strong.
"Li Meng, the production crew has been filming non-stop!"
Facing Ren Limeng's scrutinizing eyes, although they were obviously gentle, the photographer still lowered his head subconsciously. Li Chuyue answered Ren Limeng vaguely, with a look of confused surprise on his face.
Even after only spending more than two days with the program crew, Li Chuyue was able to observe many unspoken rules of the program recording. Ren Limeng was not a big star like Shen Xingzhi and Chen Xi, so she should naturally abide by the recording rules announced by the program crew to the audience.
Ren Limeng has been very cautious in her words and actions this week. Li Chuyue believes that Ren Limeng now will not take such trivial matters seriously. After all, Ren Limeng's current personality is generous and she seems easy to get along with.
"I remember you weren't an intern on the camera crew, were you?"
Ren Limeng seemed to ignore Li Chuyue's answer, still looking at the camera with a smile. Her gentle tone seemed to be just curiosity, but also had a hint of majesty, which made the photographer break out in a cold sweat. He silently took a half step back and turned off the camera. "I'm sorry, Teacher Ren."
The recording rules for broadcast programs are always different from the actual shooting scenes. Ren Limeng has always cooperated with the recording in such gray areas. There is no need to lose face for the program crew for these trivial matters, and her status is also easy to attract criticism.
But this moment is different.
Ren Limeng's serious look carried some warning as she looked back at Li Chuyue who was already smiling and holding Yan Fangshu's arm. Li Chuyue seemed not to see anything and chatted enthusiastically with Yan Fangshu. Yan Fangshu glanced at Ren Limeng, then looked back at Li Chuyue, and finally suppressed all the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
After all, they are not 18-year-old innocent girls, and many problems cannot be forgotten overnight and reconciled.
Yan Fangshu sighed softly in her heart, but there was no trace of frustration on her face.
Yan Fangshu: Yueyue has been under a lot of pressure these years. The competition in Meixiang is too fierce. It is not easy for her to get to where she is today.
Ren Limeng: Do you mean that her change is understandable?
After the morning recording ended, Ren Limeng turned on her cell phone while walking, and walked back to the Huangmei Opera Hall in the center of the ancient city with Li Chuyue with an expressionless face.
Yan Fangshu: We have all changed, I just...
Yan Fangshu: Mengmeng, we grew up together after all, Yueyue might not have done it on purpose.
Yan Fangshu didn't want to think too much about it, but she knew Ren Limeng and Li Chuyue's every move too well. Even though she didn't stay in Xishi for long, she could still sense the strangeness between the two of them, especially Li Chuyue's subtle targeting.
Yan Fangshu: Maybe it’s because she is familiar with you and doesn’t know anyone else in the program crew, so she feels insecure and unconsciously keeps looking for topics to talk about with you.
Ren Limeng: Fangfang, can this reason convince you?
Yan Fangshu: After all, we are not children anymore, it is normal for everyone to change.
Yan Fangshu: I'm not speaking for Yueyue, it's just...
Yan Fangshu: When I think about the two of you being at loggerheads with each other, I feel really sad. How did it come to this?
Ren Limeng: There was no tit-for-tat. I have been tolerating Li Chuyue for a long time these past two days.
Ren Limeng is not a generous person. She will not swallow any loss she has suffered over the years. If a colleague at work repeatedly uses her as an excuse, Ren Limeng will definitely fight back openly or secretly, making these people regret choosing her who looks gentle and easy-going.
Of course, Ren Limeng also understood what Yan Fangshu meant. Even though she had warned Li Chuyue many times that they had parted ways, Ren Limeng was very clear that because of the past, she would eventually become more tolerant of Li Chuyue.
This old friendship ended at the lunch at Meixiang Theater.
When leaving after dinner, Wu Murong heard Ren Limeng softly say "The Female Prime Minister". Her eyes suddenly became dark and sharp. After a deep look, she left Ren Limeng's side without saying another word.
Ren Limeng looked at Wu Murong's back with an expressionless face, hiding all her thoughts with her eyes lowered. When she heard the voices of Li Chuyue and Han Tai chatting and laughing on the other side, a dark light flashed in Ren Limeng's eyes.
She took out her phone again and opened the chat with Yan Fangshu.
Ren Limeng: Fangfang, I have something to ask you.
Ren Limeng: Does Li Chuyue like Han Tai?
Yan Fangshu: Have you finished your meal?
Yan Fangshu: Yes, I don’t think I mentioned it to you. Didn’t you tell me not to mention her in front of you?
Yan Fangshu: Was it obvious during the recording? Or did you hear that from somewhere?
Ren Limeng: The show is over, and I’m getting ready to go live.
Ren Limeng: They deliberately kept a distance during the recording, at least Han Tai looked normal.
But Ren Limeng was too familiar with Li Chuyue, with whom she had lived day and night. After so many years, some of Li Chuyue's little movements and eyes remained unchanged. Ren Limeng clenched the phone in her hand.
Ren Limeng: I guessed it.
Ren Limeng: Should it be more than friends? Ambiguous?
If they were an open couple, Ren Limeng believed that her parents would never secretly choose Han Tai as her blind date.
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