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“Shu Yin?”
“Chen Shu Yin!”
The chopsticks slipped from her hand and fell onto the table. Chen Shu Yin suddenly raised her clear, innocent eyes. “What’s wrong?”
Liu Yi Ran put her hands on her hips, took a deep breath, and then gave up struggling, instead tapping her on the forehead. “Let me tally it up for you. Since this morning, you’ve looked at your palm twenty-one times, got up to wash your hands twelve times, and stole my hand cream three times.”
“Be honest—did you commit murder behind my back?”
Chen Shu Yin wanted to pour bleach into her brain. She let out two dry sobs. “Yi Ran, I feel like it’s no different from murder.”
“Why?”
Chen Shu Yin shook her head lifelessly, her eyes vacant. “Because it’s something shameful, something that would be recorded in a book of sins.”
Seeing her looking so pitiful, Liu Yi Ran cupped her face playfully. “Alright, alright. Was it that bastard Pei Yu?”
No matter how close Chen Shu Yin was to her, she wasn’t about to share her intimate secrets.
She preserved her dignity, quickly gathering her emotions and shaking her head solemnly. “It has nothing to do with him. Please keep him far away from our conversation.”
“I just accidentally touched something dirty, and I can’t get over it.” Chen Shu Yin clutched the hem of Liu Yi Ran’s shirt, looking at her with the sincerity of a child seeking help from a parent.
Liu Yi Ran saw through her but didn’t expose her, pursing her lips with a smile. She replied seriously, “The only way to solve a problem is to face it head-on. Find a picture of that ‘dirty thing’ and keep looking at it until you build tolerance. That way, you’ll desensitize yourself.”
“Tsk.” Chen Shu Yin heard the teasing in her tone and lowered her head to sulk over her food.
“He Zhi Xuan gave me two tickets and asked me to take Zhu Fang Ning to Pei Yu’s live interview.” Liu Yi Ran snatched her drink.
Chen Shu Yin continued eating, showing no reaction.
Seeing her indifference, Liu Yi Ran added, “I saw an official post today saying it was temporarily changed to a two-person format. I guess it’s to promote the drama, but each person will have a solo interview. You’ll have to compete for it.”
Chen Shu Yin immediately dismissed the possibility. “I’m busy with civil affairs interviews. I don’t have time to chase after celebrities.”
“Really not going? You’ve been pretty free lately.” Liu Yi Ran sighed. “If you don’t go, Zhu Fang Ning will get another advantage.”
Chen Shu Yin remained uninterested. After a few bites, she started packing up her lunchbox.
“You and Pei Yu—are you just messing around?” Liu Yi Ran changed the subject. “Who changes their stance on marriage so drastically in just one or two weeks?”
“We’re not messing around. When things get too intense, you need some distance.” Chen Shu Yin found an excuse for her “crimes.”
“Is it convenient for me to stay at your place for a few days?”
Liu Yi Ran could see through everything, but she couldn’t help asking, “Is it just convenient, or are you running away?”
“I—” Chen Shu Yin choked. “He’s filming all the time and never comes home. Why would I need to hide from him?”
“Alright then, come over.”
At midnight, Chen Shu Yin lay beside Liu Yi Ran, who was snoring like thunder. She had no choice but to retreat to the blanket on the floor.
Her phone screen suddenly lit up. A new message popped up.
Py: [Why didn’t you come home?]
Dancing Notes on the Tree: [I’m staying at Yi Ran’s for now. Not coming back.]
Py: [You said last night that you wouldn’t divorce me. So why are you avoiding me again?]
Dancing Notes on the Tree: [Who said I’m avoiding you—]
Chen Shu Yin froze.
Dancing Notes on the Tree: [You were awake back then?!]
Py: [Half and half. I only heard that part.]
Dancing Notes on the Tree: [Liar. You knew exactly what you were doing!]
Py: [Sorry. I only realized it in the morning when I saw the laundry basket.]
Py: [What will it take for you to come home? Want me to help you once?]
Py: [Should I lick it for you?]
Dancing Notes on the Tree: [Shut up. Don’t even think about touching me again.]
Pei Yu called her immediately, catching her off guard. She quickly muted the phone and tiptoed out of the room.
“Why are you calling so late?” Chen Shu Yin’s tone was irritated.
“Chen Shu Yin, I admit that my actions might seem like those of a bastard now, but before you became the ‘you’ you keep talking about from three years ago, we were… very affectionate. We did it a lot. So when I was drunk and unconscious, my instincts—”
“I didn’t ask for your consent, and that was wrong. I should have talked to you properly.”
To fit a character role, Pei Yu had once mentioned that he took voice training lessons. His voice would change depending on the role he played. At this moment, his deep, magnetic tone made it impossible to reject his apology.
The lower his stance, the more wronged Chen Shu Yin felt. “Yeah, you really are a scumbag.”
“Alright, I am. You can punish me however you want.” Pei Yu’s voice turned husky with a hint of roughness. “I have a day off after my event. I’ll come pick you up.”
“I’ll think about it.” Chen Shu Yin abruptly hung up.
So frustrating.
Why does Pei Yu always have the ability to piss her off?
She clasped her hands together and made a wish under the moonlight:
Please let Pei Yu be the one who started this mess!
That way, when it’s time to bring up divorce, it will be seamless.
At the filming site, they had just finished shooting the fifteenth scene. The actors were gathered on the steps of the set, taking a break.
“Pei Yu, want to try some cookies I made?” Zhu Xi received a delicate glass container from her assistant. Inside, several rows of goldfish-shaped cookies were neatly arranged.
Goldfish had been the name of Pei Yu’s fan club since his debut. Her gesture was far too obvious.
“No thanks. I don’t like sweets,” Pei Yu glanced at them and replied politely, not intending to continue the conversation.
Zhu Xi wasn’t discouraged and got straight to the point. “My sister is going to interview you at tomorrow’s event. She’s been your fan for a long time.”
“Can we have a meal together after the event? Just as a favor to me.”
Pei Yu refused without hesitation. “A photo is fine. But I don’t mix business with personal matters. It’s troublesome.”
Her persistence wiped away Zhu Xi’s smile. She played the sympathy card. “We’ve worked together for years, and I’ve never asked for anything before. My sister was wronged at work, and I just want to stand up for her.”
She pulled up a chat record and handed it to him. “Her position was stolen. She needs strong interview experience to back her up—”
Pei Yu’s gaze landed on a few key words: Chen Shu Yin, stolen position…
“Are you sure she was the one who got replaced?” Pei Yu’s attitude changed. He actually asked a follow-up question.
“Yes.” Zhu Xi thought she had hope. “So you agree?”
Pei Yu’s expression darkened. He let out a cold laugh and turned to look at her. “That’s funny. The ‘Chen Shu Yin’ your sister is talking about is the journalist I admire the most. I know her inside and out. If anyone earned their position through hard work, it’s her. Where does this ‘stolen’ nonsense come from?”
His emphasis on “admire the most” made his stance painfully clear.