Chapter Fifty-One: Return

Rong Qing walked out of the upscale club, feeling utterly disgusted, as if she'd been revolted by a piece of spoiled meat, and the nausea lingered on. Becoming entangled with someone like Huo Lingtian from a wealthy and powerful family had brought a series of foul and unpleasant incidents.
Chapter Fifty-Two
The scorching sun offered no warmth, only an oppressive heaviness in her chest that refused to dissipate. Wu Yuxin had come to provoke her, and she tried her best to remain indifferent and emotionless, but it was impossible not to be affected by her words. The chasm between the Huo family and an orphan without parents was like the difference between clouds and mud—this gap was the greatest barrier between her and Huo Lingtian. She did not deny Huo Lingtian’s genuine affection for her, but how much could that really amount to when weighed against his family and relatives? She tried to comfort herself with such thoughts, yet she couldn’t help but yearn for that care and warmth. She too wanted a home.

That afternoon, Rong Qing returned to the film set. Most of her scenes had been shot, with only the final one remaining. Director Zhang remained strict yet warm, showing no sign of ostracizing her because of the troubles caused by the recent scandal.

Rong Qing sat under the shade of a tree, carefully reading the script. As September approached, the heat was less intense; a gentle breeze caressed her face, bringing a subtle chill and soothing her body. Nearby, Wang Zhang’s familiar shouting and the actors’ discussions about the plot gave her a sense of belonging. Perhaps she was born to act—it was a joy for the spirit.

"Oh my god, so handsome! I’m going to die, seeing him in person!"
"Aaron, it’s actually Aaron! I must be seeing things—he’s right in front of me!"

The screams and commotion from the makeup room caught Rong Qing’s attention. Aaron? Wasn’t he supposed to be in France? How could he be in China? Rong Qing shook her head with amusement.

A deep, pure accent, a tall and handsome man dressed in an old-fashioned Zhongshan suit that accentuated his perfect proportions, brown hair gleaming in the sunlight, blue eyes filled with gentle waves. The number one celebrity in France’s fashion world appearing in a Chinese film set? Heaven, he really had come to China!

Aaron winked at her, full of playful familiarity. Rong Qing stared blankly at the man who seemed to outshine the sun and moon, as if transported back to those unforgettable days in France.

Wang Zhang was in good spirits, his face creased in a mischievous smile. "Qing, you know Aaron? That’s wonderful! He’s our special guest actor, playing Qin Zhen, the Chinese-Western mixed-race husband of Ling Fei ten years later." With a world-class star joining, he was no longer afraid that his Chinese film wouldn’t break into the global market. Wang Zhang became increasingly excited for the release of "Splendid Years."

Rong Qing silently stepped forward and pinched that impossibly handsome face, tugging and teasing, "He’s real!"

Aaron: …,>_

"How come you’re in China without giving me any warning?" Rong Qing complained, though her curved lips betrayed her excellent mood.

"I wanted to surprise you," Aaron replied. During his time in France, he had hesitated, even considered giving up. But after the elfin Oriental woman left, she took his heart with her. He lost all interest in his top-model career, life became dull, and he never again saw that bright-eyed little fox smiling on the street. A period of indulgence only strengthened his resolve to come to China, and sure enough, upon seeing the lively Rong Qing, his heart raced, and the long-lost excitement was hard to contain.

"What a ‘surprise’ indeed—without a word, you end up as a guest star playing ‘Qin Zhen.’ I thought you came just for me?" Rong Qing’s eyes sparkled with playful teasing.

"Why not?" Aaron smiled elegantly, but his eyes brimmed with uncontrollable tenderness. He took Rong Qing’s fair hand, like a prince from a fairy tale, and kissed it gently and reverently. "My queen, it is my honor to share the stage with you." In his deep blue eyes, only Rong Qing’s beautiful reflection remained. That ardent and intense affection warmed her heart.

"You…" Her hand shrank back slightly, and Rong Qing was even more stunned, a rare blush coloring her usually calm face.

Though this scene was romantic and beautiful, others saw it merely as a graceful Western gesture of greeting. To be kissed on the hand by such a noble and elegant man—Rong Qing’s luck was extraordinary.

"All right, save the reminiscing for later. Aaron’s time is precious, so Qing, go ahead and shoot your scenes." Wang Zhang’s command broke the ambiguous tension, and Rong Qing breathed a sigh of relief. Aaron’s emotions had been so sincere and intense, she couldn’t handle it. Surely he was teasing her—the aloof man full of mischievous charm must want to see her flustered! In Rong Qing’s low-emotional-intelligence understanding, our poor international top model’s first confession ended just like that—with nothing to show for it~