49. I’ll go with you (Main x Deputy Cp)

Zhong Ling sat there, bold and uninhibited.

You couldn’t tell at all that she had just been torn apart on the trending topics.

It was as if she had an impenetrable defense, blocking all those insults back.

Cheng Shiyu stood there, hesitant, doubtful, wanting to accept her invitation, but feeling awkward.

Clearly, there had been a long separation between them.

She had spent countless days and nights on Moon Island.

Occasionally, just occasionally, she would dream of her.

In the dream, she was also like this, unrestrained, always speaking straightforwardly and ardently to her.

That was how Zhong Ling had attracted her.

The bar was crowded, just trying to look around made one dizzy.

Most people who came here indulged in pleasure, either drinking or dancing wildly on the dance floor after a few drinks.

But she, she sat at the bar, chatting with the bartender while drinking.

When she felt like it, she would down the drink in one gulp.

Her gaze swept around the bar, then lingered on her for a long time.

It wasn’t the kind of scrutiny that sleazy men would give her, but admiration.

Even though there was intense admiration in her eyes, it didn’t seem impolite; she would look for a while before moving her gaze away.

She possessed a kind of elegance that Cheng Shiyu had always lacked since childhood – artistic.

People always enjoy talking to similar people, as if they’ve found a kindred spirit.

But in her youth, she was attracted to someone completely opposite to herself.

Zhong Ling was the opposite of Cheng Shiyu.

She was always straightforward and passionate, with a sweet face, but she spoke and acted decisively.

But coincidentally, she could use that face to deceive people.

That face always showed various expressions, bold and uninhibited smiles.

Unreal, yet difficult to look away from.

Cheng Shiyu’s palm felt warm, then she asked her, “Haven’t you dated anyone?”

Zhong Ling dangled her legs off the edge of the bed, swinging them like on a swing, “I have.”

Her tone seemed indifferent.

“Five?” Zhong Ling pretended to recall, “Or seven? I don’t remember.”

Cheng Shiyu: “…”

Seeming to know exactly how to provoke her, Zhong Ling smiled at her after speaking, “Just broke up with one.”

Five relationships in two years, almost seamlessly connected.

Cheng Shiyu’s expression changed slightly, “You’re just like that…”

Her low voice carried a hint of anger at this moment, but she suppressed the words of condemnation.

Because she realized she had no position to say such things.

“So…” Zhong Ling continued from where she left off, her tone indifferent, “cheap? Slutty? Promiscuous?”

Zhong Ling chuckled, “Cheng Shiyu, what do you want to say?”

Cheng Shiyu stiffened, her tone also rigid, “Nothing.”

She wanted to say, so starved for love?

So seamlessly transitioning, one girlfriend replaced another.

And me, just one among many.

“Cheng Shiyu,” Zhong Ling called her name casually, lacking the intense affection from before, instead carrying a frivolous and careless tone, “You don’t think I’m going to be a widow for you, do you?”

Cheng Shiyu: “?”

“I’m not dead,” Cheng Shiyu said awkwardly.

Zhong Ling laughed, “I chose the wrong words.”

Zhong Ling got on the bed, her pants slightly wet and uncomfortable sticking to her, so she casually took them off and threw them aside.

Her fair, straight legs rested casually on the white sheets, illuminated by the bright white light, almost glaringly white.

Cheng Shiyu couldn’t take her eyes off for a moment.

And on the fair right leg, just below the knee, there was a long scar.

It looked startling.

But Zhong Ling continued lazily, picking up where she left off, “Anyway, I’m not a saint.”

“I have desires,” Zhong Ling looked up at her, stepping on her sore spot with precision, “You know, I have pretty strong desires, so I have to find someone to satisfy them.”

Zhong Ling provocatively continued, “I have needs, and conveniently, they can fulfill them. What’s wrong with dating a few more?”

“I didn’t cheat,” Zhong Ling trailed off, her lips curling into a light smile, a hint of coquettishness appearing on her sweet face, “What do you think? Ex-ex-ex-ex-ex-ex-ex-girlfriend.”

Several consecutive “ex-” words, spoken slowly, almost stuttering out of her mouth.

Almost like slapping Cheng Shiyu’s face with each word.

After she finished speaking, Cheng Shiyu’s eyes were tinged with red.

Her normally indifferent face now looked complex.

The warm palm opened, but the air around them was stifling, as if a fine mesh had been woven, enclosing her entire being.

Her fingers curled and stretched repeatedly, but still couldn’t find the strength.

All her strength seemed to gather in one place – her heart.

That strength almost wanted to press the provoking woman down on the bed at this moment, tear her apart, devour her, and merge into one.

The silent confrontation between the two lasted for a long time. Just as Zhong Ling felt bored and was about to speak to dismiss her, Cheng Shiyu suddenly asked, “Is the one on the trending topics also your ex?”

Zhong Ling: “…”

“It’s bullshit.”

But Zhong Ling’s smile didn’t diminish at all, and there was no hint of her acting visible to Cheng Shiyu.

“I guess so,” Zhong Ling tutted, “She’s just pretty, but not skilled.”

Zhong Ling’s gaze wandered, still not used to bragging about such things.

But for the sake of her own pride, and to annoy Cheng Shiyu, she continued, “But just looking at that face is enough to arouse desire in people.”

Cheng Shiyu suddenly remembered that when they were together before, Zhong Ling would also touch her face and say in a teary voice, “Jie Jie, just looking at your face makes me wet.”

The last word made Cheng Shiyu tremble.

That tearful voice was very charming.

And Zhong Ling was always a master of dirty talk, no matter where they were. Sometimes Cheng Shiyu would see her tired and want to avoid her, but because of her provocative words, she would end up doing it over and over again.

And Cheng Shiyu was also fond of hearing her cry and call her Jie Jie.

But now things had changed, and she actually said that just looking at someone’s face was enough to arouse desire.

Cheng Shiyu was no longer her only one.

Maybe she never was.

Although at that time, in order to coax herself into bed, she always cuddled up to her like a coquettish little cat, nuzzling against her neck, and saying, “Jie Jie, I’m really your first love.”

That sweet face was too deceptive.

Although Cheng Shiyu always tried not to believe it, this skilled seductive look was clearly not the first time.

But every time she said so, Cheng Shiyu would fall without hesitation.

Give her anything she wanted.

Once she even went too far, crying herself and then asking Cheng Shiyu to cry with her.

Cheng Shiyu’s hand, which was doing something, paused. “What did you say?”

“You cry,” Zhong Ling pleaded with a teary voice.

Cheng Shiyu: “…”

Cheng Shiyu couldn’t cry, so Zhong Ling bit her shoulder, biting down all the way, and ended up crying herself.

Cheng Shiyu, however, was bitten all over her body and cursed her as a dog.

After Zhong Ling finished, she regained her energy, her face wearing a bold and charming smile. “So, do you even fuck dogs?”

Cheng Shiyu: “…”

Cheng Shiyu pinched her chin. “Can you…”

“Kiss me.” Zhong Ling muttered, “Then I’ll…”

Cheng Shiyu kissed her.

After kissing her, she started to get dressed on the side, and then heard Zhong Ling leisurely say, “Too bad you didn’t cry today.”

Cheng Shiyu’s movements paused slightly, suddenly becoming more alert.

After all, with Zhong Ling’s mouth, she couldn’t guarantee what she might say.

But in the next moment, Zhong Ling daydreamed, “I really want one day to… “

Cheng Shiyu: “?”

“…Fuck.” Zhong Ling leaned behind her, wrapped her arms around her neck from behind, and bit her earlobe, her voice slow and steady, “Cry.”

Cheng Shiyu was about to end it, but didn’t expect to hear such words, so she flipped her over with one hand.

Zhong Ling lay back on the bed, her body slightly curled up, but still provocatively challenged her, “Jie Jie, how many fingers do you want to use? Three?”

Cheng Shiyu was amused by her, “Do you want to try?”

Zhong Ling couldn’t get out of bed that day.

The next day, her mouth was sore even when eating. While eating in the school cafeteria, Zhong Ling sent a message to Cheng Shiyu: 【It hurts so much.】

Cheng Shiyu: 【Where?】

Zhong Ling: 【My mouth hurts.】

Cheng Shiyu: 【Is it the upper or lower part?】

Zhong Ling: 【……】

Surprisingly, Zhong Ling blushed while looking at her phone, almost getting her phone snatched by her dorm mates to see, with a bunch of people teasing her about what good stuff she was looking at.

After returning to the dorm, Zhong Ling only sent her a photo, showing the red mark at the corner of her mouth.

Cheng Shiyu replied: 【Don’t speak so recklessly next time.】

Zhong Ling retorted: 【Is it the upper or lower part?】

Cheng Shiyu: 【……】

Zhong Ling had never lost in this regard. Knowing that Cheng Shiyu would say something provocative was already a big step forward, but she still sent her a voice message late at night.

At that time, voice messages weren’t popular yet, but Zhong Ling spoke with a clipped tone: “Jie Jie, I really want to hear you talk dirty.”

“Next time when we’re in bed,” Zhong Ling encouraged, “say a bit more.”

Cheng Shiyu felt helpless towards her, yet also quite fond of it.

When she did this, Cheng Shiyu’s emotional value would be greatly satisfied, a feeling that no one else in the world had.

Her entire heart would be filled to the brim by her.

And now, she would call Cheng Shiyu lightly.

The estrangement, both in name and in the past, was unlike before.

It seemed unchanged, yet also as if everything had changed.

Just like Zhong Ling suddenly standing before her.

It felt unreal, like the dreams Cheng Shiyu had occasionally had over the past two years.

So she stared at Zhong Ling sitting on the bed, lost in thought for a long time.

Until Zhong Ling called her name, “Cheng Shiyu.”

She put away her frivolous and indifferent attitude, becoming polite and distant.

Cheng Shiyu slowly came back to herself, feeling a warm drop of water on her cheek. She raised her hand and found tears.

But Zhong Ling coldly stared at her. “Why are you crying? It’s disgusting.”

Cheng Shiyu shook her head, “It’s nothing.”

She naturally endured Zhong Ling’s harsh words, just like before, when Zhong Ling would get angry with her when she was in a bad mood, Cheng Shiyu never complained.

She had a strong tolerance for insensitivity, and not much troubled her, so she provided Zhong Ling with high emotional value, allowing her to vent all her emotions and frustrations to her.

And at this moment, Zhong Ling’s mood must have reached its lowest point.

But Zhong Ling turned her face away, refusing to look at her again, afraid that she would soften her heart. In a cold tone, she urged her to leave, “Are you doing it or not? If not, then leave.”

She hadn’t really said anything harsh to her before, and now when she did, she felt somewhat guilty.

Her voice drifted.

But to Cheng Shiyu, it sounded like she was at her breaking point.

What was she so angry about?

Cheng Shiyu remained silent for a moment. Zhong Ling couldn’t stand the silence, subconsciously reaching for her phone to relieve the awkwardness, but then remembered that she had thrown her phone into the sea.

Along with those annoying messages.

From a certain perspective, the society of information explosion was quite good. At least by throwing away her phone, she could cut off all negative messages.

She didn’t have to think about what kind of person she wanted to be anymore.

Cheng Shiyu’s fingertips rubbed against the cold door, trying to regain some rationality in the gradually warming room.

“Are you going to find someone else?” Cheng Shiyu asked.

Zhong Ling was slightly stunned. Her round almond eyes looked over, with ripples in them, then she chuckled lightly, “Why do you care?”

Becoming even more audacious.

Zhong Ling leaned back on her arms, her legs crossed, as if basking in the sun. “Just go.”

“Go like you used to.” Zhong Ling said.

Cheng Shiyu turned around, her hand on the doorknob, turning it downwards.

Zhong Ling sneered, “Cheng Shiyu, goodbye.”

Whether it was the two words “goodbye” that stimulated her, or the light and ethereal “Cheng Shiyu”, Cheng Shiyu’s hand suddenly released the doorknob and locked it in place.

“I have something to say,” Cheng Shiyu walked to the edge of the bed, looking down at her, pulling the hem of her shirt out of her pants. The creases of the white shirt were so neat that even someone with OCD would be pleased to see them, but her voice was still somewhat hoarse and obscure as she asked, “Not doing it anymore?”

Zhong Ling stared straight at her.

In the silent confrontation, although Zhong Ling was in a lower position, she had gained enough advantage in this relationship.

This time, she had the upper hand.

She was betting on Cheng Shiyu’s guilt.

Zhong Ling chuckled, “It saves me the trouble of finding someone else.”

Cheng Shiyu gradually approached, her arms resting in front of her, blocking the large swath of light in front of her eyes.

Their eyes met, and Cheng Shiyu asked, “Find who?”

“Haven’t decided yet,” Zhong Ling reached out, hooking her tie with her finger, then pulled her closer forcefully, getting extremely close, as if she were a wolf ready to pounce, “But it’s also good to find someone familiar for this kind of thing.”

Zhong Ling’s provocative words continued to pour out, still with a strong sense of provocation. “Let me see if you’ve improved.”

Cheng Shiyu suddenly leaned forward and kissed her.

The fiery kiss landed, carrying long-hidden longing.

They pounded fiercely against each other, a response from Zhong Ling even more intense than Cheng Shiyu’s.

It seemed like they were agreeing to do it, but it felt more like a fight.

The quiet night was dyed an intense crimson at this moment.

The unique night colors were reflected on the sea surface, with waves tirelessly rolling, again and again.

Zhong Yu broke the silence, “Yi Jie, look.”

Qin Zhaoyi had been silent all the way back from Jiayi. Now, hearing Zhong Yu’s words, she followed his gaze.

The night was more unique than usual, and even more beautiful.

Even the moon was tinged with crimson, as if someone had set it on fire.

Burning with passion, igniting all emotions.

But Qin Zhaoyi had no mood to appreciate it, only giving a perfunctory acknowledgment of its beauty.

Zhong Yu’s mood was low, muttering, “My sister should be okay.”

“She will be,” Qin Zhaoyi said.

Zhong Yu didn’t know why she was so sure.

Even she herself felt uneasy.

But since Qin Zhaoyi said so, Zhong Yu believed her.

From a certain perspective, Qin Zhaoyi’s relationship with her sister was better.

Because they grew up together, while she, was still lacking a bit.

Zhong Yu continued to remain silent.

The car sped through the night, its headlights illuminating the asphalt road.

It was almost dawn when they finally returned to Moon Island.

As dawn approached, a faint blue light emanated from the distant east. The wind blowing over the sea brought a chill, dispersing the morning mist.

Zhong Yu had slept for a while on the way, but it was an uneasy sleep. She woke up intermittently, calling out to her sister and then falling back asleep.

She woke up a few times along the way.

Meanwhile, Qin Zhaoyi drove steadily through the night.

When Zhong Yu woke up again, the car had already stopped at the entrance of Yan Ci Café.

Perhaps to leave the door open for Zhong Yu, the café’s lights were still on, and the door was unlocked.

It was like a lighthouse waiting for travelers to return, brighter than the lighthouses in the distance.

“Go back and rest,” Qin Zhaoyi advised her. “Don’t overthink it. Your sister is fine.”

Zhong Yu nodded. “Okay, Yi Jie, you should also go back and rest.”

Qin Zhaoyi nodded slightly but didn’t respond verbally.

In less than five minutes, it had stopped at the entrance of the Little Red House.

Qin Zhaoyi parked the car and subconsciously glanced at the neighboring house.

The lights weren’t on yet, and the big yellow dog was curled up next to a pillar, lazily squinting its eyes.

She took a few unconscious steps towards it but then hesitated, afraid of disturbing Luo Yue’s sleep.

In the end, she retreated, entered the password, and went inside.

The window next door was propped open the next second, letting the morning breeze and the unique humidity of the island into the room.

The salty smell permeated the air.

Luo Yue calmly looked towards the neighboring house while holding a cup of hot coffee.

There was no sound.

She probably went to sleep as soon as she got home.

In fact, she hadn’t slept well all night. She thought about calling Qin Zhaoyi to ask about the situation but decided to check the news online instead.

Zhong Yu had messaged her through Yan Ci to let her know they had safely returned to Moon Island.

So, this night, Luo Yue was half asleep and half awake.

Sometimes it felt like a long time had passed, only to find out when she opened her eyes that it was still not yet dawn.

Other times, it felt like just a blink of an eye, only to realize that an hour had passed.

At this moment, time was not just a simple unit of measurement; it carried the weight of waiting.

The sound of the car tires rolling on the ground woke her up, and she stood by the window afterward.

As she expected, there was no greeting from outside.

Perhaps they couldn’t find the person, and her mood was terrible.

Luo Yue didn’t disturb her and instead looked out for a while before taking out a book to read.

Moon Island was as usual, not bustling because of the news trending online. People sitting on the street still chatted casually, discussing whether vegetable prices had risen and who’s son was getting married, or whose daughter had brought her boyfriend home.

Meanwhile, the hurricane on the hot search continued to rage, fueled by Zhong Ling’s silence and Qin Zhaoyi’s response.

Qin Zhaoyi had contacted a lawyer overnight to gather evidence and had also managed to contact the actress through WeChat.

Fortunately, the actress hadn’t been completely tainted by the entertainment industry yet and was willing to come forward to clarify the situation.

Qin Zhaoyi instructed her not to make any moves and not to issue any clarification statements.

The lawyer Qin Zhaoyi hired specialized in handling defamation and rumors in the entertainment industry. Based on past experience, suing a marketing account was time-consuming and might not yield satisfactory results in the end.

The implication was to engage in a battle of public opinion and not to rely on lawsuits to resolve the issue.

Or simply send a lawyer’s letter to intimidate and end it.

But Qin Zhaoyi insisted on taking this approach.

Especially when she saw online rumors about her and Zhong Ling using their power for unspoken rules, she couldn’t help but laugh.

At that time, she and Zhong Ling had just graduated and were still new students. They only had some talent and a bit of luck, and they had caught the attention of capital.

After being pushed forward, they soared.

And now they were being accused of unspoken rules?

Qin Zhaoyi had never expected this term to be associated with her and Zhong Ling.

She didn’t need to say it. She had always been someone who lived behind words. Even when giving interviews, they were only text interviews. When attending book signings, she always wore a mask and a hat. Moreover, the number of book signings she had organized over the years could be counted on one hand.

Except for that initial news, but even that was just a peripheral mention.

Qin Zhaoyi later wondered, how did such news suddenly skyrocket to the top of the hot search?

There must have been a push behind the scenes.

Apart from the one who went on a blind date with her, there was no one else with a reason to do such a thing.

So Qin Zhaoyi was always against Zhou Xi promoting her pen name.

Too many people were obsessed with this pseudonym Xixi.

And this little scoundrel Zhong Ling, she was so passionate about a woman that she was ready to die for her. She was always flirting with her mouth, but her actions were very innocent.

Qin Zhaoyi never expected that one day both of these aspects would be exposed at the same time.

She even had the urge to argue with netizens three hundred times along the internet cable.

It was fortunate that there were too many of them, and she couldn’t argue with them.

That’s when she relaxed her mind.

So, Qin Zhaoyi was determined to file a lawsuit.

But she hadn’t contacted Zhong Ling yet, so she could temporarily postpone the clarification.

As someone who had half a foot in the entertainment industry, she also knew about the golden time for public relations.

The public’s patience for all news was only twenty-four hours. If this matter was not clarified within 24 hours, no matter how it was clarified afterward, no one would believe it.

Qin Zhaoyi also had no intention of helping Zhong Ling get through this hurdle. After all, she could go back to inherit the family business if she didn’t make movies in the future.

If staying in this circle made people feel wronged, it would be better not to stay.

After all, Zhong Ling’s first movie was invested by her father.

It could also be said that she hadn’t suffered much.

Perhaps the biggest hardship she had ever experienced in her life was the pain of love.

Qin Zhaoyi was just angry.

How could this dog disappear without telling her?

Did she think it was cool?

Wait until they meet again, Qin Zhaoyi must kick her.

Before going to bed, Qin Zhaoyi’s mind was still occupied with these matters, and she had all sorts of strange dreams, but she had the same dream again.

Falling into the endless depths of the sea, desperately trying to grab hold of a piece of driftwood, but still floating there.

She struggled to call her older brother, call Zhong Ling, but no one answered.

Just as she was about to suffocate, she called out Luo Yue’s name.

Then she woke up suddenly.

It was already afternoon, the sunlight was hot, pouring down on the earth, shining through the glass into the room.

Qin Zhaoyi opened Weibo, and the heat of the hot search had dropped.

But her and Zhong Ling’s names were still on the hot search.

However, pleasantly surprised, her book sold even better.

This was news Zhou Xi told her.

At the same time, Zhou Xi said she had found a new job and was ready to resign formally.

The handover of work had been completed, and she even forwarded the new editor’s WeChat to her, the editor who had previously been in charge of her book operations.

Qin Zhaoyi wished her a bright future.

And Zhou Xi also wished her a promising future.

A dignified farewell drew to a close.