Chapter 15 Ambiguous Touch, Good, Yun Du
His words seemed to possess a captivating magic, and coupled with the hazy lighting and unique background, the string of reason in Zhu Qingting's heart quietly loosened.
Never mind, just like he said, tonight is a dream where I can do whatever I want.
She stopped struggling and let him take her hand, leading her into the laughing crowd.
They challenged themselves to crack the intricate Luban lock at the stall guarded by the "Bull Head" (a local deity).
Zhu Qingting has nimble fingers, but no matter how hard she tries, she can't disassemble it.
Chai Yundu's hand reached out from the side, completely covering her hand holding the wooden block, guiding her movements. "Like this, and like this again..."
Meng Po's task at the soup stall requires two people to carefully pass a fragile "other shore flower" made of sugar using only their mouths.
The two were so close that their noses almost touched, and their breaths could be clearly heard.
Chai Yundu held one end of the flower stem in his mouth and gently handed it over. Zhu Qingting held her breath and slightly parted her lips to take it. The delicate sugar flower seemed about to fall between their lips and teeth, and an ambiguous atmosphere silently spread in the air.
Upon arriving at the "zombie" hopping and jumping booth, they need to compete in a princess carry jump with two other couples.
Although Zhu Qingting was slender, her height of 175 cm made her less than the other two petite pairs. Chai Yundu had an injured right arm and wanted to give up the game. However, Chai Yundu easily lifted her up with one arm, his left arm firmly and powerfully slipping under her knees.
To ease his burden, Zhu Qingting had to tighten her arms around his neck and press herself closer to his chest.
Even through layers of clothing, she could almost feel the strong, rapid heartbeat emanating from his chest.
After successfully completing all the challenges, they accumulated a thick stack of "remuneration".
Holding a large sum of money, they arrived at the event's final redemption point, which had been transformed from a silver bank.
The "Snake Spirit" NPC tallied their "payment" and handed them a pair of adorable ceramic kittens, one black and one white, with a warm and lustrous glaze.
At the same time, she also added a blessing: "The two newlyweds are a perfect match. I wish you a long and happy marriage!"
Chai Yundu even cupped his hands in a serious manner and replied in his feigned scholarly tone, "Thank you for your kind words."
Dazzling fireworks lit up the sky. The two walked onto the bridge in the lake one after the other. At the highest point of the arched bridge, Chai Yundu turned around and looked at her intently.
"Could you give me a chance to stop calling you Teacher Zhu?" he said earnestly. "I want to call you Zhu Zhu, like you would a friend."
Zhu Qingting suddenly realized that since the end of the recording of "Street Dance of China", Chai Yundu seemed to have stopped calling her by her name and started speaking directly instead.
A small change in how they address each other signifies a step forward in their relationship, and is more like a disguised confession.
"Similarly, could you please stop calling me Teacher Chai so formally?" He continued to gaze into her eyes. "I think you should call me Yun Du, that's what my close friends and family call me."
He slowly extended his hand, palm up, a silent invitation.
"Could you give me a chance to get to know you better?"
Looking at the large, well-defined hand, Zhu Qingting knew that if she placed her hand on it now, it would no longer be the role she had been playing in the game.
This represents her answer.
Thinking about all the interactions she had had over the past two months, she was willing to try taking this step forward.
She gently placed her hand in his palm.
"Okay, Yun Du."
From that moment on, their hands never parted, remaining tightly clasped until Chai Yundu escorted her to her hotel room.
Standing in front of the door, Chai Yundu did not say goodbye immediately. Instead, he reached out his hand to her, asking for tonight's spoils.
“I participated in the whole game, so shouldn’t I get half of the loot?” he asked matter-of-factly.
Zhu Qingting looked at him speechlessly, but still took out the black ceramic kitten that probably didn't even cost twenty yuan to make from the paper bag and handed it to him.
“No,” Chai Yundu glanced at the paper bag, his tone a little picky, “I like the white one.”
Zhu Qingting had no choice but to give him the white one, while muttering under her breath, "He's so stingy."
But I felt a sweet warmth in my heart. These kittens were originally a pair, so who owns them?
In the days that followed, Chai Yundu remained busy with the intense reshoots. Zhu Qingting gave him the opportunity to understand herself and also took the initiative to learn more about him.
She would wear a mask and hat and quietly watch him film in a corner of the set, marveling at his professionalism and the hard work involved in the action scenes.
They ate together in the RV, sharing simple boxed meals, and gradually learned about each other's taste preferences.
Happy times are always fleeting.
It's already the last three days of Zhu Qingting's sick leave. Tomorrow, she will return to Shanghai, and the day after tomorrow she will go to the hospital for a follow-up examination. If there is nothing seriously wrong, she will return to the dance troupe and resume normal work and training.
Having relaxed for so long, the concussion had no longer affected her, and her dancer's heart, which belonged to her, could no longer be contained and began to stir.
Although she needed to rest as advised by the doctor, she began to recover some basic physical fitness and flexibility exercises in the second week.
In the RV, she told Chai Yundu about her itinerary, saying that she had already booked a high-speed train ticket back to Shanghai for the next day.
Upon hearing this, Chai Yundu felt a sense of aversion to his acting job for the first time, and wished he could go back with her immediately.
But he knew that was impossible. The only way was to complete the remaining filming more efficiently and try to finish as soon as possible.
"Don't take the high-speed train," he said. "I'll have Mr. Chen drive you back."
"No need for that trouble!" Zhu Qingting tried to refuse. "The bullet train is very fast, it only takes two and a half hours, it's very convenient."
He insisted, "Listen to me, don't reject my kindness."
He scrolled through his phone listlessly, then suddenly remembered something and suggested, "Oh, by the way, Xu Yi bought a small house with a yard in Lishui. I don't have any night filming tonight, so let's go there for a BBQ, consider it a farewell dinner for you."
“Okay,” Zhu Qingting readily agreed.
Xu Yi, who was stationed in Lishui for many years to film fantasy dramas, bought an old house there and even spent more than 10 times the house price on renovations.
The house has a spacious courtyard, and the temperature is just right today, making it perfect for an outdoor picnic. Inside, he has also prepared an entertainment space, complete with a pool table, mahjong machine, and karaoke equipment.
Chai Yundu made a phone call, and Xu Yi readily agreed without hesitation, sending over the door lock code directly.
In the afternoon, considering that it was inconvenient for Chai Yundu to appear in the crowded vegetable market, Fang Xiaoya took the initiative to suggest that she and Shi Yufan be responsible for purchasing all kinds of ingredients and seasonings needed for the barbecue, deliberately leaving Zhu Qingting at the old house, wanting her and Brother Du to enjoy a rare time alone.
Therefore, the challenging task of cleaning pots and pans, barbecue utensils, and lighting charcoal fell on the shoulders of Chai Yundu and Zhu Qingting, who stayed behind.
Chai Yundu took off his coat, leaving him in only a simple black T-shirt, and stood in front of the brand-new barbecue grill, scrolling through short videos on his phone, trying to figure out how to light the pile of black charcoal.
He clumsily held the lighter and the palm-leaf fan, the fan stirring up bits of charcoal ash that danced around him.
Zhu Qingting stood by the pool, sleeves rolled up, carefully washing the barbecue grill and the necessary baking pans and tongs.
She occasionally turned her head and saw that the handsome man was now struggling with a pile of charcoal like a big boy. The contrast made her smile slightly.
Making charcoal is indeed no easy task. Chai Yundu tried several times, but the charcoal only turned slightly red before quickly dimming again.
Sweat beaded on his forehead in frustration. A gust of wind blew by, carrying charcoal ash onto his face. He instinctively wiped it with the back of his hand, leaving a noticeable black mark on his cheek.
Zhu Qingting had just finished washing the grill when she turned around and saw him looking like a little kitten. She couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Chai Yundu looked up at the sound, saw her mischievous smile, and asked somewhat blankly, "What's wrong?"
"Your face," Zhu Qingting smiled, put down what she was holding, took out a few tissues and walked up to him. She naturally reached out and gently wiped the black mark on his cheek with the tissues. "It got charcoal ash on it."
Her fingertips touched his skin through the tissue, and Chai Yundu stood there blankly as she wiped him.
His gaze fell on her face, which was so close to his. Her focused expression, her slightly trembling eyelashes, and the faint fragrance emanating from her body made the surrounding air feel thin and ambiguous.
They were very close. Chai Yundu's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. He could no longer hold back and hugged her, murmuring, "I'll be back in Shanghai in a little over ten days. Don't forget the meal you promised to treat me to, and don't forget... me."
Although Zhu Qingting was very shy, she did not struggle and softly replied with a syllable.
"Um……"
Just then, a commotion and footsteps came from the courtyard gate.
"We're back! We bought so many groceries!" Xiaoya's energetic voice rang out first.
Zhu Qingting took a step back like a startled deer, her cheeks flushed red as if they were about to bleed. She turned and walked towards the door in a fluster, saying, "I'll go help get the things!"
Chai Yundu watched her hastily fleeing figure, a hint of doting smile flashing in his eyes.
Xiaoya, Yufan, and Wenjing returned carrying large bags of groceries. Seeing the cleaned grill and lit charcoal fire in the yard, they all praised it.
"Wow! Sister Qingting, Brother Du, you guys are really efficient!" Xiaoya looked at Zhu Qingting's rosy face, then glanced at Chai Yundu, who was calm and composed but with a slight smile on his lips, and a knowing smile flashed in her eyes.
In the following time, everyone pitched in, dividing the work among themselves: some washed vegetables, some chopped meat, some skewered vegetables, some cut fruit, and some steamed seafood. The atmosphere was lively and harmonious.
As darkness fell and the charcoal fire blazed brighter, the barbecue feast officially began.
Chai Yundu took the initiative to take the position of head roaster, and his technique gradually became more and more skilled.
He naturally handed the first batch of grilled skewers to Zhu Qingting, who was sitting next to him, saying, "Try it, be careful it's hot."
Zhu Qingting took it, took a bite, and found the meat tender and perfectly cooked. "It's delicious." She looked up and gave him a satisfied smile.
Chai Yundu looked at her glistening lips, which were soaked in oil, opened a beer can with one hand, and gulped down a few mouthfuls of ice-cold beer to suppress the restlessness in his heart.
After the barbecue feast, everyone moved on to the entertainment room.
Zhu Qingting knew nothing about billiard tables, mahjong machines, or karaoke equipment.
Chai Yundu took the initiative to pick up the pool cue and walked to her side.
“I’ll teach you,” he said, gesturing for her to hold the cue stick and then having her lie face down on the table, mimicking his posture.
Zhu Qingting obediently did as she was told, and then Chai Yundu wrapped his arms around her from behind, adjusting her posture. His chest was almost pressed against her back, his warm breath enveloping her ear, as he held her hand and demonstrated how to strike the cue.
The overly intimate instruction made Zhu Qingting's ears burn, but Xiaoya, Yufan, and Wenjing, who were standing nearby, tacitly refrained from disrupting the two's teaching.
But Zhu Qingting was really embarrassed, so she quickly put down her cue and turned to the mahjong table, "How about... I learn to play mahjong?"
Playing mahjong shouldn't require physical contact, right?
Xiaoya, Wenjing, and Yufan readily agreed, and the four of them sat down at the mahjong table.
Chai Yundu walked behind Zhu Qingting, and instead of moving another chair, he sat directly on the wide armrest of her chair, leaning slightly towards her, almost encircling her in his arms, and whispered, "I'll teach you."
In the following games, Chai Yundu became Zhu Qingting's personal strategist.
He patiently explained the basic rules to her, analyzed the cards, and when she hesitated, he leaned close to her ear and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, telling her which cards to keep and which to play.
His presence stirred up her emotions.
As night deepened, the gathering came to an end.
Back in her hotel room, Zhu Qingting lay on the bed, her mind filled with the lively and warm atmosphere of the evening.
She has dedicated almost all of her 26 years of life to dance, and has very few friends. Apart from Qin Youyou, this kind of relaxed, lively, and down-to-earth team gathering is an experience she has never had before.
A feeling of unprecedented fulfillment and joy welled up inside me, along with a sense of reluctance to leave.
She really didn't want to leave.
Most importantly, it was because of the person who gave her endless attention and tenderness.
Recalling the ambiguous touches between the two of them, a sweet expectation quietly grew in her heart.
She was looking forward to seeing what would happen between them after he returned to Shanghai.
A note from the author:
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