Actresses

Chapter 6, Day 1

It was only a little past noon when they finished their brunch, the normal time for people to come out for lunch. The sidewalks of Blue Harbor were packed with families walking their children and young people on weekend dates, with hardly any room to stand side by side. He Yuran and Shi Jiahe could only follow the flow of people and walk forward little by little.

As soon as the sun began to shine, He Yuran immediately felt dizzy and asked while yawning, "Where are we going later?"

Shi Jiahe glanced at her watch. "Let's take a stroll."

He Yuran glared at her. "No, I'm sleepy. Find me a place to sit."

Shi Jiahe pointed to the ice cream shops along the street, but He Yuran shook his head vigorously. "You're in charge of the money these next few days, so I'm in charge of the calories. Don't even think about letting me touch that junk food!"

Shi Jiahe had no choice but to say, "Then let's go to the cinema."

This time, He Yuran finally didn't object. A few steps further and they arrived at the cinema. Since the latest screenings weren't available on her phone, Shi Jiahe bought two tickets at the counter for a movie starting in ten minutes; the price was 180 yuan. She also grabbed two bottles of mineral water, which cost another 40 yuan.

Shi Jiahe looked up and reported, "Balance: 1515 yuan."

He Yuran seemed not to hear and entered the theater without turning her head. Shi Jiahe quickly followed. Upon entering, they discovered that there were only six audience members, including the two of them, scattered around the theater like half a set of mahjong tiles.

He Yuran didn't follow the seat number; she found an empty seat in the last row, tilted her head, and fell asleep. Shi Jiahe, full of energy, sat two seats away, completely immersed in the atmosphere of the big screen for the next two hours.

Actually, because she's been too busy with work, Shi Jiahe hasn't been to the cinema to watch a movie properly in a long time. She's usually invited to premieres by industry professionals, but she and He Yuran never go. Premieres these days are all about socializing; going means being photographed by passersby, and she might even get called up and scolded by the film's producers or director. If she says something inappropriate and causes trouble, it's simply not worth it. When she has free time, Shi Jiahe usually catches up on sleep. Except for major movie seasons like Chinese New Year, she rarely goes to the cinema anymore.

As a result, Shi Jiahe couldn't help but sigh when she saw half of the film: How can domestic films these days be so ugly and mediocre? There's not even a single outstanding flaw to be found. No wonder He Yuran slept so soundly.

She took out her phone, searched for the ending online, and scrolled through social media for a while, quickly passing the remaining tens of minutes. When the stage lights came on, He Yuran woke up naturally and even stretched.

"Is it good?" He Yuran said lazily, leaning against the seat in front of him, only his eyes showing as he watched the audience in front of him leave, looking just like a very alert cat.

"Not as pretty as my sister Ran." Shi Jiahe patted her pants and stood up. "Shall we go?"

He Yuran turned and looked up at her, her eyes pleading. "What's next? I'm tired."

"I'm still tired after only two hours of sleep! Let's go out first."

"Why isn't there even a schedule? It makes me feel really insecure," He Yuran complained.

"Wake up, sis. We're out relaxing and experiencing life these past few days, not on a gig. The schedule won't be that tight." Shi Jiahe said helplessly, supporting He Yuran while keeping an eye on the steps. "Besides, if there's anything you want to go or do, you can tell me."

"I want to go to Roppongi and eat that sukiyaki we had together last time..."

"Sis, let's just focus on Chaoyang District right now!" Shi Jiahe really wanted to grab He Yuran by the collar, drag her to the Liangma River, and kick her in. But then, a thought suddenly struck her. "Let's go take a boat?"

"Hey, this is good." He Yuran instantly perked up.

Like a mother dragging a spoiled child she couldn't let go of, Shi Jiahe pulled He Yuran to the pier. But when it came time to pay for the tickets, they were already grimacing. It was 180 yuan per person on the weekend, so this meant another 360 yuan was gone. Their remaining balance was 1155 yuan; half their budget was already gone.

There weren't too many people on the boat, but the shore was packed with people, like people in a zoo watching monkeys across the water.

The two, carrying the complimentary tea, found seats near the front. Unexpectedly, He Yuran immediately began waving to people on the shore, occasionally blowing kisses enthusiastically, attracting many to take photos and videos. Sure enough, soon people started discussing whether the eccentric monkey on the boat was the actress He Yuran.

He Yuran laughed heartily and shouted, "I'm a fan who likes to imitate her! Thank you for liking us! Please support my idol!"

Shi Jiahe was so embarrassed she didn't know where to put her toes. She couldn't even glance at the green trees, clear water, and blue sky reflected in the water; she could only silently pray that the boat would reach the dock soon. Fortunately, He Yuran quickly tired herself out and then sat quietly, elegantly sipping tea. But since the boat was still some time away from docking, people on board began to come over to take photos.

Shi Jiahe initially wanted to block him, but He Yuran was already smiling and making a peace sign at the camera, so she had no choice but to give up. When they disembarked, they overheard passengers discussing how the ticket was really worth it, since they had caught a free performance by a celebrity.

After using the restroom, the two finally started strolling leisurely. Passing a hat shop, He Yuran went in and tried on two hats before asking Shi Jiahe to pay. Shi Jiahe sternly said she didn't have enough money, and after much persuasion, He Yuran reluctantly chose one of the two. After paying, they only had 856 yuan left in their account.

"Sis, no more shopping! Otherwise we won't have money for food."

"It's too sunny." He Yuran put the hat with the tag cut off on her head, then fiddled with the hair on her forehead and temples in front of the store mirror before turning her head. "Does it look good?"

Seeing He Yuran's face beaming with pure joy, Shi Jiahe smiled sincerely. "My sister is so beautiful."

He Yuran pursed her lips in satisfaction, then looked at herself in the mirror from left to right, admiring her facial features and profile.

It was rare for He Yuran to be truly happy, and Shi Jiahe also became completely relaxed for the rest of the day. The two sat in a cafe for a while, then held hands and went to have dinner, and even walked along the path for half a day to enjoy the night view.

Around 9 p.m., He Yuran visibly wilted. Shi Jiahe hurriedly called a car, and when the car finally arrived, she frantically helped her sister into the back seat.

Once inside, He Yuran slumped onto the sofa, looked at Shi Jiahe, and said softly, "Why haven't you submitted your expense report tonight?"

"Because I don't have much money left, I'm afraid it will affect my mood."

"Well, I need to know that too."

"160 left."

He Yuran blinked. "Then let's order takeout at home tomorrow."

Shi Jiahe rolled her eyes. "No way! You have to go out right away. What kind of behavior is it to stay home! I'll pick you up at 10 a.m. tomorrow."

"But I've almost spent all my money today." He Yuran lazily shifted her legs and simply lay down on the sofa. "This little bit of money definitely won't be enough to go anywhere tomorrow."

"Never mind, I have my own plans."

Shi Jiahe turned to leave, but He Yuran called her back.

"Jiahe, don't take it too seriously. We had a lot of fun today, and I understand what you're trying to tell me. Let's not make things difficult for ourselves tomorrow."

Shi Jiahe didn't say anything, but continued walking towards the entrance.

"Jiahe!" He Yuran called out, raising her voice. "Aren't you going to compliment me? I was really relaxed today! When we were on the boat, I didn't have any celebrity airs at all."

Shi Jiahe stopped in her tracks, but didn't turn around. "Sister, let's talk about this after tomorrow."

"I'm already trying my best to cooperate with you!" He Yuran said from behind. "You could at least say something nice to me."

"I'll pick you up at ten o'clock tomorrow morning." Shi Jiahe mechanically repeated what she had just said, and slammed the door shut without hesitation, shutting everything out behind her.

That night, although she still had no contact with He Yuran, Shi Jiahe's sleep quality was once again in shambles. When she woke up from her dream again, it took her several seconds to realize that she was in the real world where she hadn't resigned. The thought that He Yuran had said he was just going along with her made her angry.

Whether the first day was wasted or not depends entirely on the second day.

The next morning, Shi Jiahe was still somewhat listless after washing up. With sleepy eyes and tired limbs, she left home. When she entered, she found that He Yuran was full of energy. He greeted her warmly with a pat on the shoulder as if the argument from the previous day had never happened.

"How did you sleep, Jiahe, my little one?"

Shi Jiahe thought to herself, "If you looked closely, you wouldn't have asked that question," but she still forced a smile and said, "That must be great! Today I'll show you a new program."

"Tell me quickly, where are we going today!" He Yuran put on sunglasses and a mask, and slung her bag over her shoulder. Her expression was as excited as that of a primary school student going on a spring outing.

Shi Jiahe blinked. "Then let's make this clear: no matter where we go today, we can't be disappointed. And no objections are allowed."

"Of course! There are only 160 left, I know that number!"

After hearing this, Shi Jiahe turned and left, while He Yuran called out after her, "Hey, hey, didn't you even give me a heads-up?"

"No," Shi Jiahe said firmly.

After leaving the residential area, Shi Jiahe didn't arrange to hail a taxi. Instead, she led He Yuran to the bustling main road and pointed to the yellow and blue bicycles on the sidewalk. "Now, open your WeChat and scan the QR code."

He Yuran was dumbfounded. "What do you mean?"

Shi Jiahe smiled. "Next, let's each scan a shared bike. You ride alongside me and be careful not to get lost."

"I haven't ridden a bike in years! Aren't you afraid I'll..." He Yuran gritted her teeth but couldn't finish her sentence. Celebrities are usually quite careful to avoid prophecies, and He Yuran is no exception.

As Shi Jiahe glanced at her own bike, she turned back and smiled, "Just follow me slowly on the sidewalk. It'll be fine."

He Yuran can certainly ride a bicycle, but she lives such a wealthy life that she never needs to use this everyday skill. What He Yuran can't do is scan QR codes.

After painstakingly teaching He Yuran how to use her skills, and seeing the movie star herself grinning as she pushed a bicycle, Shi Jiahe suddenly had a premonition that the most glorious day of her career as an agent had probably arrived.

Shi Jiahe led the way, cycling through many twists and turns until they reached a community two or three kilometers away. The streets were only wide enough for two-way traffic, and the roadside was filled with parked cars, which were not marked with lines. Every now and then, elderly people would slowly push strollers past, creating a strong sense of everyday life.

"Alright, let's return the car." Shi Jiahe pushed off with her left foot and stopped at the roadside.

He Yuran rode his bike up to Shi Jiahe and stopped, looking puzzled. "Where is this?"

Shi Jiahe smiled broadly. "This is my home."

He Yuran was stunned for a while before exclaiming in surprise, "So... we're going to your house today?!"

"Yes. After returning the car, let's go buy groceries first. Then we'll go to my house to cook." Shi Jiahe didn't even look up, focusing on scanning the code to return the car.

After she returned her own car, she came over and took He Yuran's phone to help her return the car. When it was all done, He Yuran was still in shock.

"The shared bikes cost 3 yuan in total," Shi Jiahe said. "There are 157 yuan left now."

"You live in...this neighborhood? How come you've never told me before?" He Yuran stared at her, looking around as if it were her first day in Beijing.

Shi Jiahe shrugged calmly, "There's no need to say it."

What Shi Jiahe was really thinking was, "You didn't even ask."

Over the years of working together, He Yuran had never proactively suggested visiting Shi Jiahe or any other colleague at home. Nor would anyone rashly extend such an invitation to their boss. Everyone, including Shi Jiahe, knew perfectly well that He Yuran belonged to a different social class; their interactions at work were sufficient, and it was best to maintain no overlap in their personal lives.

Who likes to be compatible with everything all the time?

But today, Shi Jiahe is going all out.

She wanted He Yuran to clearly realize just how different the daily lives of the people she saw every day at work were from how they were portrayed in movies and TV dramas.