Chapter Thirty: The Reverse Scale

In the depths of night, within the extravagant villa at Fragrant Hill, the oversized king bed was a stage for entwined bodies—her pale, delicate figure and his bronzed, muscular form tangled together. His large hand enveloped hers, her supple body nestled in his embrace, breaths gentle and lingering rising and falling with their chests, weaving a tapestry of longing and passion.

Suddenly, the shrill, piercing ring of a phone shattered their intimacy. The limbs entwined around Rong Qing slipped away as she, bleary-eyed, fumbled for the stubborn phone. With a soft press, she answered.

"Hello~" Still heavy with sleep, her voice carried a husky, languid warmth that seeped through the receiver, stirring forgotten feelings in the caller.

There was only heavy breathing from the other end, no words. Rong Qing stared at the phone, her eyelids weighed down by exhaustion. "Hello, who is this? If you don't speak, I'm hanging up," she mumbled, desperate for her slumber to remain undisturbed.

At last, as her patience wore thin, a deep, bitter male voice, tinged with pain, finally came through. "Qing, it's me."

In an instant, her drowsiness vanished as if drenched in icy water. Her eyes, once hazy, sharpened with a cold light, and the hand holding the phone grew colder still.

The caller, sensing the shift, asked cautiously, "Qing, what's wrong? Have you been well lately?" His voice was filled with anguish and affection, like a young man seeking forgiveness from a lover.

Rong Qing bit her lip, struggling to control her emotions. She refused to let someone like him disturb her peace—some people truly had no shame, and the very thought made her sick.

"Darling, who could be troubling us so late?" A deep man's voice drifted to her ears, and her rigid, icy body melted back into the warmth of his arms, soothing her heart. His fingers intertwined with hers, and her entire being was filled with him. Without hesitation, he ended the call.

Safe once more, she buried herself in Huo Lingtian's broad, solid arms, clutching him like a frightened fawn. He gently stroked her back, murmuring, "Darling, be good. I'm here for you... always."

She, still uneasy, curled up in his embrace as he softly comforted her. His tender words were like a lullaby, guiding Rong Qing into a peaceful sleep. Huo Lingtian, half-awake, opened his eyes, fierce and murderous intent flashing within them.

Elsewhere, Wang Chenhao gripped his phone in a daze. With a crash, the device fell to the floor. That lingering, ambiguous male voice haunted his soul like a demon.

In the morning, at Huo Lingtian's insistence, he drove Rong Qing to the filming location for "Splendid Years." A luxurious yet understated Bentley stopped on a narrow path near Capital University. Rong Qing picked up her shoulder bag, kissed Huo Lingtian's cheek, and stepped out of the car.

Huo Lingtian watched her figure disappear before turning the car toward the Huo Corp building.

Rong Qing's scenes were few, and she joined the crew late. Compared to the actors playing Li Mengjie and Chen Hao, who had already been filming for some time, she entered the university grounds just as Wen Rui and the superstar Xie Mutian were acting together.

Li Mengjie, in her college years, wore her hair in a ponytail and dressed in a sky-blue uniform from the 1980s. Pure, yet tinged with melancholy, she walked alone along a tree-lined path. Dappled sunlight filtered through the leaves, creating a serene and tranquil atmosphere. She seemed as still as a maiden, her gaze clouded with sorrowful confusion.

"Ah!" Accidentally, she collided with a boy coming toward her. The thick stack of books in her arms tumbled to the ground.

This boy wore simple, short work pants and carried a cloth bag filled with yellowed textbooks. Under the morning sun, he radiated youthful energy, like a small sun just rising.

The boy hurried over, helping her pick up the scattered books, carefully brushing off the dirt. With a shy smile, he seemed to have committed an unforgivable mistake, embarrassment mingling with apology. "S-sorry," he stammered, handing the books back to her.

Li Mengjie, her eyes clouded and downcast, took the books and stood up, silently turning away.

"Hey... hey..." Chen Hao, like a timid puppy, chased after her, their figures disappearing in the bright sunlight.

When cold solitude meets fiery enthusiasm, when melancholy encounters a ray of sunshine, the entire university world lights up, brilliant and dazzling. Thus begins the story of "Splendid Years."

"Cut!" Director Wang Zhang's eyes were deep, unreadable, his mind still immersed in the scene.

Rong Qing carefully studied the performances of the two stars—masterful, emotions rich and nuanced. She silently took note from the sidelines.

Seeing the director finally emerge from the scene, Rong Qing stepped forward. "Director Zhang."

The old man saw her punctual arrival and respectful demeanor, growing ever more satisfied. He called over Wen Rui and Xie Mutian, introducing Rong Qing solemnly, "This is Rong Qing, playing Ling Fei. You veterans should guide and support the newcomers."

Wen Rui immediately recognized Rong Qing. Her once cheerful expression stiffened, her discontent deepening. Who was this girl, that even the upright and stern Director Wang would speak up for her? Outwardly, she agreed, but the flash of jealousy and resentment in her gaze did not escape Rong Qing.

"Director, you're too gracious. No need to ask, it's our duty to help the juniors avoid mistakes," Wen Rui replied smoothly, her piercing gaze fixed on Rong Qing, her aura bold and domineering.

Rong Qing met her without flinching, her smile elegant and poised as she shook Wen Rui's hand. "Sister Wen, thank you for your guidance!"

Director Wang Zhang, oblivious to the undercurrents between them, laughed heartily, "Excellent... excellent..."

---- Extra note ----

Thank you all for your support and adding this to your collections!