Su Huan stood pacing beneath the hospital building, her figure half-hidden in the backlight, making it impossible to see her expression clearly.
She knew that Shen Xiaoyu had deliberately sent her away, and she also knew what Shi Qiubai would say to Shen Xiaoyu. She could only wait quietly for Shen Xiaoyu's judgment of her, hoping extravagantly that Shen Xiaoyu remembered nothing and could be softer toward her.
Su Huan entered the hospital room anxiously, and sure enough, the next second, Shen Xiaoyu spoke up: "Su Huan, let's go outside and talk."
Shen Xiaoyu deliberately called her to the empty corridor outside, where the dim lighting was weak, barely allowing Su Huan to see Shen Xiaoyu's face clearly.
"Why did you lie to me?"
Shen Xiaoyu's words made Su Huan's heart tighten, her mind filled with only one thought—
She really found out.
Shen Xiaoyu turned to look at her, the weak light illuminating the glimmer in her eyes. She stepped closer, staring into Su Huan's eyes, her anger almost overflowing.
She asked again: "Su Huan, why did you lie to me?"
"We don't have a marriage relationship, do we?" she said. "No marriage certificate, no wedding, and it's even more impossible for me to have a child with you. So how was Nian'an born?"
Shen Xiaoyu didn't doubt Shen Nian'an's identity—their fifty percent similar faces left no room for doubt.
But if what Shi Qiubai said was all true, and the original had already fallen out completely with Su Huan, then how was Nian'an born?
Su Huan looked at her quietly, her face showing no expression, but only she knew that her heart was about to jump out of her chest.
After the lie was exposed, the fear of losing Shen Xiaoyu surged up. Su Huan closed her eyes and forcibly suppressed the unease in her heart.
After a long while, Su Huan finally spoke: "Xiaoyu, I didn't lie to you. We really were going to get married."
"Going to get married and already being married are two different concepts!" Veins bulged on Shen Xiaoyu's forehead, and the anger in her eyes seemed ready to burn Su Huan to ashes. "Su Huan, you kept me locked up here, not allowing me to look at my phone—were you worried I'd see those comments about me online?"
"Afraid I'd find out about our past relationship, and how you tacitly allowed your fans and your CP fans to cyberbully me?"
Shen Xiaoyu's words made Su Huan's face grow paler and paler. She hurriedly explained, "No, I just didn't want you to be affected by those things. You just woke up, you need rest. I'll handle everything, you just need to stay here..."
"To be kept like a dodder flower?" Shen Xiaoyu couldn't listen anymore and directly interrupted her. "Su Huan, what exactly do you take me for? A canary? A pet? Or a puppet to be manipulated by you?"
While listening to Shi Qiubai talk about things that belonged to the original, Shen Xiaoyu's anger had been building up, especially when seeing those large-scale cyberbullying incidents—she almost couldn't help but curse.
Those filthy, vicious curses were unbearable even for Shen Xiaoyu as an outsider, and she almost smashed Shi Qiubai's phone.
"No!" Su Huan refuted, "I never thought of you that way! You're my wife, my lover. I just want to protect you properly."
Hearing this, Shen Xiaoyu laughed coldly, "If you really wanted to protect me, why was I still subjected to large-scale cyberbullying? Why would I rather sleep for six years than be with you?"
Su Huan's breathing hitched, her face pale as paper, her body trembling like a leaf in autumn wind. She wanted to say something but was interrupted by Shen Xiaoyu.
"You say you love me, yet you made me give my roles to others; you made me your manager, yet you wouldn't let me interfere with your work; you were ambiguous with me while also creating CP hype with that artist named Tang Tang; and when I was being scolded by your manager pointing at my nose, what were you doing?"
"Is this what you call love?" Shen Xiaoyu looked at her, her aggressive gaze coldly piercing through. She smiled slightly, "You don't love anyone. You only love yourself."
After saying this, she turned to leave, but Su Huan grabbed her hand: "Where are you going?"
"Is that any of your business?" Shen Xiaoyu shook off her hand, her cold gaze stabbing Su Huan's heart, followed by a needle-like pain.
Su Huan pressed her lips together tightly, her face growing even paler.
She stepped forward to block her path, speaking humbly: "It was my fault to lie to you, but everything I said was true. We already agreed to get married..."
Shen Xiaoyu tried to dodge her, but Su Huan blocked left and right, refusing to let her leave.
She became annoyed and pushed the person away from in front of her, her voice sharp: "That's just your delusion! I would never marry you! We broke up long ago!"
Su Huan was stunned, looking at her expression with lips moving, but unable to say a word.
When Shen Xiaoyu stepped past her, she paused for a moment, turned her head to look at her, and said softly: "I think I used to hate you very much. After all, if it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't have had to endure all that."
She really didn't know how the original had managed to hold on, being subjected to large-scale cyberbullying repeatedly, having black-edited photos and memorial portraits made by her fans and the fans of her and Tang Tang year after year, with her Weibo comments filled with all kinds of vulgar language, while also having to watch her girlfriend create CP hype and show affection with other female artists.
What kind of heart did the original have to endure all this while arranging Su Huan's work perfectly, and even when leaving, giving her complete dignity?
Otherwise, according to her way of thinking, the day they fell out she would have immediately published their relationship online along with all the evidence, and Su Huan would have been skinned alive even if she didn't die.
It was just a pity that the original was so kind-hearted, making wedding dresses for others.
Su Huan watched her retreating figure, the unease in her heart growing heavier, as if once she let Shen Xiaoyu leave, she would never have another chance.
No! No!
Su Huan stumbled after her.
Shen Xiaoyu had already walked to the door, and who else could be standing at the door but Shi Qiubai?
Noticing her gaze, Shi Qiubai gave her a smile and deliberately raised her voice: "Sister, my driver has arrived. Let's go."
Don't go with her! Please don't leave...
Seeing that she couldn't catch up, Su Huan suddenly cried out, her voice sharp: "Xiaoyu! Don't go with her."
Shen Xiaoyu's body paused for a moment, but she didn't turn back. Supporting Shi Qiubai, she quickly got into the car.
Shen Nian'an, who was still at home, didn't know what had happened, but by the time she realized, Su Huan was already sitting on the sofa looking lost and dejected, silently crying.
She had never seen Mommy cry. Mommy was like a superhero—nothing could ever trouble her.
But now her mommy was silently crying, murmuring in a low voice: "She still left, An'an... How can we make her stay?"
She couldn't believe it, staring blankly at her fragile mommy, her eyes gradually reddening.
"Mama..." she whispered softly, tears streaming down.
The mama who had said she would always stay with her this morning had left again.
Would mama come back? Did mama still want her?
Enormous panic enveloped Su Huan at the same time. She suddenly regretted it—she shouldn't have let Shen Xiaoyu leave at the hospital. She shouldn't have given in. Even if Shen Xiaoyu was angry, she should have brought her back first.
Fortunately, she had placed a tracking device on her.
There was still time. Everything was still in time.
"Take good care of An'an!" After giving instructions, Su Huan headed straight to the garage without looking back.
She got into the nearest car, turned on the tracking device she had previously installed on Shen Xiaoyu, and floored the accelerator.
Two hours later, Su Huan caught up with Shi Qiubai's car.
The driver glanced at the rearview mirror, somewhat worried: "Miss Shi, the car behind is catching up."
Shi Qiubai sneered, "Lose her!"
With that command, the car's engine roared to life. The driver floored the accelerator and shot forward, the speed rapidly increasing.
Due to inertia, Shen Xiaoyu's whole body lurched forward. Shi Qiubai quickly pulled her back, her hands tightly clasping around her waist, holding her in her arms.
Shen Xiaoyu turned around in panic, glancing at Su Huan who was catching up, suddenly feeling somewhat uneasy. She wouldn't implicate Shi Qiubai, would she?
If Shi Qiubai got into trouble, the strategy mission would become even more difficult.
Seeing her worry, Shi Qiubai gripped her hand tightly, her gaze gentle: "Sister, trust me!"
She didn't have the ability to protect Shen Xiaoyu before, but that didn't mean she didn't have the ability now. She was determined to take Shen Xiaoyu away, and today no one could stop her!
Shi Qiubai looked at the driver and suddenly raised her voice: "Qiu Ye, lose her! Show her what you're capable of!"
Unlike their coordination, Shen Xiaoyu, held in her arms, was terrified by the car's swaying. Turning to see the ink-black night outside the window, with only constantly flashing and jumping shadows.
They were racing here—were they trying to get themselves killed?
Also, was this the villain's crazy personality?
Big question marks popped up in Shen Xiaoyu's mind. She really wanted to ask Shi Qiubai if she could be normal—she was scared.
Seeming to sense her emotions, Shi Qiubai, in her excitement, still had the leisure to comfort her: "Sister, don't be afraid. Qiu Ye used to be a race car driver! Her driving skills are super amazing!"
Hearing this, Shen Xiaoyu looked up. Qiu Ye wore a hat and mask, hiding her entire face. She hadn't looked carefully before, but now she noticed her figure was quite slender, like a girl's, though her voice sounded like a delicate boy's.
Shen Xiaoyu voiced her question.
Shi Qiubai gave her a definitive answer—Qiu Ye was indeed a girl.
Under Shen Xiaoyu's surprised gaze, Qiu Ye silently pulled up her mask.
The facts were exactly as Shi Qiubai said. Qiu Ye's driving skills were excellent. On this mountain road, she drifted, dodged left and right, keeping Su Huan, who wanted to overtake, firmly behind them.
Shi Qiubai laughed heartily: "Sister, how about it? Isn't Qiu Ye amazing?"
Shen Xiaoyu pressed her wildly beating heart and praised: "Amazing."
More than amazing—running like this in such a dark night, anyone else would have died several times over.
During this time, she looked back and could vaguely see Su Huan's angry face.
She seemed to be looking at her too. Shen Xiaoyu could feel her desolation and silent pleading.
She wanted her to stay.
But why should she?
She wasn't the original, hadn't experienced the love-hate relationship with Su Huan. Even if she were the original, she probably wouldn't want to stay either!
Shen Xiaoyu felt a lump in her chest that wouldn't go up or down, suffocating her with discomfort.
She remained silent for a long time, then suddenly asked: "Do you have Su Huan's number? Give her a call."
Shi Qiubai, who had been cheering for Qiu Ye, suddenly looked at her. The expression on her face gradually disappeared, and she just stared at her for a while before taking out her phone and giving it to her.
Shi Qiubai asked nothing, just quietly watched her movements.
After finding the number, Shen Xiaoyu dialed Su Huan's phone.
The call was quickly answered, but the person on the other end said nothing—only rapid breathing could be heard.
Shen Xiaoyu looked out the window as the scenery rapidly passed by. Their speed was frighteningly fast.
If this continued, something would definitely happen.
Before coming to this world, the system had told her to avoid changing the world's storyline too much, or the problems left behind after she left would be difficult to handle.
Shen Xiaoyu also didn't want anyone to get hurt because of her, so she said: "I definitely won't stay. Even if you chase after me, my decision won't change at all."
Su Huan still didn't speak, but Shen Xiaoyu saw the car behind speed up, desperately trying to catch up and block their path.
But Qiu Ye didn't give her that chance, maintaining their speed and always staying ahead.
"Go back. Don't let An'an worry." After Shen Xiaoyu finished speaking, she hung up.
She returned the phone to Shi Qiubai, then sat properly in her seat without looking back again.
Perhaps because Shen Nian'an was mentioned, Su Huan's car gradually slowed down. Qiu Ye took the opportunity to leave Su Huan far behind.
The light at the car's rear gradually disappeared, until finally not even a speck of light remained. In the black night, they couldn't even hear the sound of the second car, only the whistling wind.
She had truly left Su Huan's side.
When this thought emerged, Shen Xiaoyu found that she wasn't particularly happy. Instead, she had a strange, complex emotion.
She couldn't explain why she felt this way and could only attribute it to Shen Nian'an—after all, she was her daughter.
They hadn't been together for very long before having to separate again, and she didn't even know if they'd be able to see each other often in the future...
Thinking this way made Shen Xiaoyu's mood even more complex.
She... actually quite wanted to steal Shen Nian'an away.
[Nice thinking. I suggest you don't think about it for now.]
The system's voice suddenly sounded in her mind. [After all, Shen Nian'an has been with Su Huan for so many years. Whether she'd be willing to go with you is still a question. Besides, if you stole Shen Nian'an away, Su Huan would definitely use Shen Nian'an to trick you into coming back.]
[Host, do you want to see the plot now, or wait a bit?]
[Let's see it now. I feel like we won't arrive for a while.]
[Okay.]
[Plot transmission initiated.]
[Plot transmitting----]
The plot hint showed that when Shi Qiubai entered the industry, she met a very good manager, Shen Xiaoyu. Later, the manager encountered trouble. Before the incident, she arranged Shi Qiubai's placement, had a final meal with Shi Qiubai, and then disappeared without a trace.
Shi Qiubai searched for her for a long time without any information. Later, she somehow found clues that the manager's trouble was related to Su Huan. Shi Qiubai began targeting Su Huan and Tang Tang, but her schemes backfired and she was counter-killed. She began frantically retaliating against them, and in the end even wanted to kidnap Shen Nian'an to lure Su Huan and perish together with her.
But cheaters will be cheaters—Su Huan couldn't possibly get hurt. The only one who would die would be Shi Qiubai.
After reading the story, Shen Xiaoyu felt terrible.
Now she had a question—
[Why would Shi Qiubai think my disappearance was related to those two cheaters? Also, why is Shi Qiubai the one seeking revenge for me? What role exactly am I playing in this story?]
[The matter is quite complicated, so let's not talk about it for now. Let's discuss your mission first. What do you plan to do?] the system asked enthusiastically.
[Let's see first. At least you need to tell me exactly what counts as eliminating the corruption value.] she asked.
This thing was intangible and very broadly defined. She didn't have mind-reading abilities and didn't know what Shi Qiubai was thinking.
In the plot, Shi Qiubai went after Su Huan because she wanted to avenge her, but now that she had returned, logically the conflict between Shi Qiubai and Su Huan should be resolved. Yet according to the system's statistics, the corruption value was still one hundred percent.
[For Shi Qiubai, her corruption stems from her obsession with protecting Shen Xiaoyu. Now she believes that you staying by Su Huan's side isn't good, so she'll definitely try her best to prevent you two from being together. Su Huan won't let you go easily either, so currently the possibility of Shi Qiubai's corruption is still very high.]
Shen Xiaoyu felt her head ache.
So the situation was currently at an impasse: Shi Qiubai thought she would still be hurt, so she continued opposing Su Huan. Su Huan wouldn't let her go, and the two stubborn people would continue confronting each other until Shi Qiubai's corruption was complete and she became a villain to deal with Su Huan.
This was a damn vicious cycle!
For a moment, Shen Xiaoyu couldn't think of any good solution. She could only console herself that now that she was right in front of Shi Qiubai, surely Shi Qiubai wouldn't go after Su Huan anymore, and certainly wouldn't kidnap Shen Nian'an, right?
Shen Xiaoyu's thoughts were chaotic until Shi Qiubai's words interrupted her: "Sister, come live with me for now. I bought a big house with very good security! No one can just casually enter! Sister can live there with peace of mind."
Shen Xiaoyu listened to her words as the system also chimed in.
[Host, this is a good opportunity! The tower near the water gets the moon first—move into her house first!]
That made sense. Shen Xiaoyu agreed without hesitation. "Thank you for the trouble."
"No trouble at all. Sister, why are you being polite with me!"
Shi Qiubai was as happy as a dog that had snatched a bone, practically wanting to wag her tail off at Shen Xiaoyu.
Shen Xiaoyu sorted out her emotions and followed Shi Qiubai upstairs together.
There were only two rooms on the second floor.
One was where Shi Qiubai was currently living, and the other door was locked. Shi Qiubai stood at the door mysteriously saying: "I think Sister will definitely love this place!"
As she spoke, she pushed the door open.
Shen Xiaoyu's first reaction upon seeing the room was that it was very cozy.
Warm-colored curtains, sofa, carpet, and a bouquet of budding roses on the coffee table.
Shen Xiaoyu walked around the room and saw a corner of bright color showing through the balcony. She walked over to look and found it faced a garden.
Standing on the balcony, she felt somewhat complex emotions. Just how much did the original love flowers? Why did everyone arrange rooms facing the garden? Was she trying to attract more mosquitoes?
But looking at it this way, Shi Qiubai had bought quite a nice detached villa. The distance between the two villas was about a three-minute drive, with abundant greenery giving owners plenty of privacy.
When she first entered, Shen Xiaoyu had also observed the security guards outside. How to put it...
She could sense that the people living here were either rich or noble.
As Shen Xiaoyu was observing the place, Shi Qiubai beside her slapped the balcony railing with great spirit.
"Sister, this is our home! We'll both live here from now on! I'm completely capable of supporting Sister now."
She patted her chest, very proud.
Shen Xiaoyu's gaze shifted from the garden to Shi Qiubai, the corners of her mouth curving up in a smile that made her eyes crinkle, and she couldn't help but feel more confident.
This strategy target seemed like she had her in the palm of her hand!