Category: The Vicious Female Lead Doesn’t Want to Do It Anymore

Chapter 75: More Please – Desensitization Therapy Part 1

Of course, Dong Ling just thought about it and didn’t have the nerve to ask Tang Qianxi.

She looked at the instantly revived Tang Qianxi, helped her choose clothes and accessories, and watched her rush out the door.

“Ling Ling, I’m going to find her, you can leave whenever, remember to lock the door for me.”

Tang Qianxi’s voice gradually faded as she walked away, disappearing into the air.

Dong Ling smiled helplessly, checked the faucets and stove in Tang Qianxi’s apartment, and locked the door for her.

She originally wanted to hang out with her friends to distract herself during these three days of cold war, but on the very first day, her friend had already run off to pursue her own love.

Dong Ling turned her sunglasses in the car and called Dong Nuo.

As a true party animal in their small circle, Dong Nuo always had many fun activities, going out with her was definitely the right choice, it would never be boring.

“Nuo Nuo, where are you?”

“Honey, you’re looking for me? I’m on a small island, surfing with my boyfriend, talk to you later!”

Dong Nuo, wearing a swimsuit, lay on the beach, having her boyfriend apply sunscreen, she caressed his muscles and kissed him.

Dong Ling listened to the inappropriate sounds, numbly hung up the phone.

How come, while she and her girlfriend were forced to separate, her friends were all in love?!

Thinking this, Dong Ling saw a group of young couples walk by. Probably noticing the luxury car parked by the roadside, they took a sweet picture together in front of the car.

Dong Ling: …………

So painful, truly painful.

Only after they finished taking pictures did Dong Ling start the car listlessly.

For a moment, she didn’t know where to go, so she went to the company.

Busy work could fill the void in her mind, and initially, it was indeed very effective.

But as night fell, a greater emptiness surged.

Dong Ling was confused, it was just a relationship, why did so many things feel different now?

Song Mingzhi wasn’t always by her side, in the past, before they confessed, such days were normal, why was it so unbearable now, even just for one day?

Dong Ling took a picture of the night view outside the window and shared it on Weibo.

@Jieshi: Finished work today, I can’t share tonight’s night sky and the not-so-delicious dinner with her, feeling a little down, I really want to be with Jiejie.

Humans had a desire to share, especially with the people they liked, a desperate urge to let them know and be involved in their lives.

Unfortunately, she was currently in the “cold war” stage, so Dong Ling could only express this desire to share online, along with her feelings of disappointment.

Tonight’s dinner wasn’t exactly bad, but Dong Ling felt that the chef didn’t control the heat well, she liked tender meat, but the meat tonight was a bit tough and salty.

She was too embarrassed to use that intimate address for Song Mingzhi, which she wouldn’t say out loud, but she had no such reservations online.

Dong Ling drove home, and after arriving, she refreshed Weibo and saw new replies.

@ILostAFightToACat: Is it my imagination, or has Jieshi become like a coquettish little girl after falling in love? A rich woman like this, who wouldn’t want her? Rich woman, please date me, don’t make me beg on my knees!

@SongSongReallyWantToSleep: Why can’t you share with Jiejie? Is it because of work? Is she unreachable, or is she an artist in the industry?

@MyFingersHurt: Hahahaha, I can immediately tell Jieshi’s type, I wonder who managed to capture Jieshi Jiejie’s heart, is she the same cool and beautiful type as Song Jie?

Dong Ling mistakenly read the second and third comments together and almost had a heart attack.

Although she felt that Song Mingzhi wouldn’t mind coming out, and didn’t even seem to care much about her career in the entertainment industry, Song Mingzhi’s popularity was still rising, revealing a relationship now would be very unwise.

And regardless of personal or professional considerations, Yu Shuangwei’s “The Legend of Liang Jin’an” hadn’t been released yet, such explosive gossip would be a huge loss.

Dong Ling’s intention to reply to the comments vanished, she chose to remain silent and continue reading.

A Song Zhong sister was particularly persistent, determined to mention the CP in every comment, trying to annoy her, the “anti-fan,” and even bought a membership so she could post pictures in her comment section.

@Tonight’sWindAndMoon: Jieshi Jiejie, why can’t you be with Jiejie? Such a pity, our CEO Dong and Song Jie are filming a movie together, so they can be together openly.

Attached was a behind-the-scenes photo from “The Legend of Liang Jin’an,” the picture showed Song Mingzhi holding an umbrella for Dong Ling.

Dong Ling mentally gave her a thumbs-up, the clarity of this picture was excellent.

Not to mention, the pictures edited by CP fans were truly amazing.

Dong Ling admired the picture for a while, lamenting her girlfriend’s beauty, and continued browsing Weibo.

It was a pity 021 was still dormant, and she didn’t have the authority, otherwise she really wanted to see the resources it had stored.

After all, she was a domineering CEO who had to… no, it was less than three days now.

She was a domineering CEO who had to go out in two days, she had to prepare.

To be more immersed in the role, Dong Ling went to the super topic forum for her and Song Mingzhi, then fled in terror.

Absolutely not, absolutely not, absolutely not!

“Song Mingzhi” grabbed “Dong Ling’s” wrist and said coldly: “You used to be the one keeping me, but now you’re my prisoner, please me, and I’ll consider saving your company.”

Aaaaaaaaa! What kind of plot was this?! Dong Ling’s toes curled, she felt numb.

The CP fans were no longer satisfied with the ordinary “canary makes the sugar daddy cry” trope, role reversal, forced marriage, sugar daddy wanting to change canaries but being ruthlessly dominated… truly terrifying.

As Dong Ling fled, she was also indignant, did she really seem that un-dominant? There were people calling her “husband” under the video she posted before, even praising her powerful top energy, why was the general consensus in the super topic that she was the bottom?

Even Chen Shang Shang said her cold and silent demeanor was very intimidating, full of elite aura.

Why, why, she wanted to be the domineering CEO, these were all learning materials for being the bottom, how was she supposed to put them into practice?!

Dong Ling felt that she must have missed something, the ones she saw were all like that, there must be new content, so she returned to the super topic forum to search, and actually found the “riding face” content she had been thinking about earlier.

Of course, there was no actual story, just a preview from a fan fiction writer, asking if the readers were interested.

This action was exactly what it sounded like, Dong Ling felt it was a bit much.

@BlueBlue: I remember the author previously mentioned the sugar daddy’s special constitution, hahahaha, won’t Song Jie be choked?

Dong Ling: ???????

There was no need to visit this super topic forum anymore, goodbye, internet.

Dong Ling turned off her phone, put on a violin CD, and started reading.

After reading for half an hour, Dong Ling started practicing yoga, stretching.

Time quickly passed, and Dong Ling decided to tidy up her room before taking a bath.

It was at this moment that Dong Ling noticed a report, it was the medical report from when she accidentally drank Chen Fei’s spiked drink, she had put it aside and hadn’t looked at it because she was busy, and she hadn’t experienced any unusual symptoms, so she had completely forgotten about it, only remembering it now.

Dong Ling opened the report and her eyes widened seeing the results.

She knew she was sensitive, but she didn’t know she was this sensitive, no wonder she… Dong Ling gasped, Chen Fei really hadn’t lied to her that time, it was just an ordinary stimulant, but it was extremely potent for her.

Dong Ling hurriedly put the report away and entered the bathroom with a troubled mind.

Did Song Mingzhi see this report? Probably not, right? Or did she?

It had been too long, Dong Ling couldn’t remember.

If Song Mingzhi saw it… Dong Ling sank into the water, looked at her slightly flushed face through the water, and covered her face with her hands.

Too embarrassing.

These three days were longer than Dong Ling had imagined, and when she heard the task system’s notification, she couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy.

[Task complete, current main storyline progress: 57%.]

[Task: Confront the female lead angrily, and in this state, say the lines and do something extremely intimate with her. Countdown: five hours. Completing this task will reward 13% progress.]

If 021 was here, it would be screaming.

This was 13%!

Dong Ling was already at the airport, she had been counting down the time, unsure when the deadline was, so she bought tickets for every flight after that, afraid of missing the optimal time.

Dong Ling refunded the other tickets, her current flight was about to board.

Dong Ling actually wanted to surprise Song Mingzhi, but since Song Mingzhi was on set, if she appeared too suddenly, and other people saw, it wouldn’t be a surprise, and might even cause unnecessary trouble. So before boarding, Dong Ling first asked Xiao Tan if Song Mingzhi was filming, and after learning that Song Mingzhi had finished her scenes for the day and was removing her makeup, Dong Ling immediately called her.

Chapter 74: More Please – Learn Some Experience

After reaching a consensus with Song Mingzhi, Dong Ling felt relaxed and happy.

Not just because she wouldn’t cause a misunderstanding and hurt her girlfriend, but also because of the feeling of sharing and discussing things with someone.

Keeping secrets alone was a burden, and no one could resist the comfort of a safe space to confide in.

“Can we choose when to start?”

Song Mingzhi scooped up some of the ice cream Dong Ling brought and fed it to Dong Ling, asking.

The test results should be out in a few hours, and she wanted to tell Dong Ling as soon as possible.

Dong Ling swallowed the matcha-flavored ice cream and said hesitantly: “I’m not sure, usually it starts immediately.”

There was no countdown for this task, but it definitely had a time limit, she just didn’t know when the deadline was.

This task system was still too stupid, everything was unclear, rigid, and inflexible.

“Then let’s start in ten minutes, I’ll tell you the results three days later.”

Song Mingzhi couldn’t estimate the time, so she chose a relatively safe value.

Dong Ling nodded, a slight regret on her face.

“I don’t know if she’s your sister or not, at such an important moment, I really want to be by your side.”

What did a cold war mean? It meant no contact, no communication.

If the task reward wasn’t 7%, Dong Ling wouldn’t be so hesitant, it was just too much.

“The result will be there, it won’t disappear, I’ll share it with you no matter what.”

Song Mingzhi continued feeding her little girlfriend, a gentle smile on her face.

Even if emotions were fleeting, the memory of them still lingered.

Dong Ling originally wanted to ask Song Mingzhi to have someone tell her the results. Although they were supposed to be in a “cold war” and couldn’t communicate directly, they could still have someone relay the message. But hearing Song Mingzhi say this, she dismissed the thought, it was better for Song Mingzhi to tell her personally.

Dong Ling finished the sweet matcha ice cream and then realized: “Why are you only feeding me? You bought this for yourself.”

It was the ice cream she bought for her girlfriend, but now more than half of it was in her own stomach, Song Mingzhi had been feeding her, and she hadn’t eaten much herself.

Song Mingzhi fed Dong Ling another bite and asked: “Is it sweet?”

Dong Ling nodded: “Yes, it’s quite good.”

A sudden soft touch, lips and teeth cold from the ice cream, the sweet fragrance of matcha filling her mouth, sliding down with the creamy sweetness.

Song Mingzhi licked her lips, tenderness in her eyes, her face blooming like a spring flower.

“It is indeed very sweet.”

Dong Ling’s earlobes turned red, the color spreading across her face.

What could a couple do in public when they were about to be separated and not allowed to contact each other for several days? Song Mingzhi had her answer.

Time was limited, they could only share a small box of ice cream.

Song Mingzhi didn’t have a sweet tooth, perhaps it was genetic, she couldn’t handle too much sweetness and easily got tired of it, but the dessert called “Dong Ling” was an exception.

This was probably the most matcha-flavored thing Dong Ling had ever eaten, in the end, she couldn’t even taste the matcha anymore, only a numbing sweetness, spreading through her senses, some rising, some falling, making her dizzy.

Dong Ling left the lounge wearing a mask, her legs weak, she waved goodbye to Song Mingzhi reluctantly, even though they hadn’t really parted yet, it felt like three years, she hadn’t felt this way when she made the decision.

Dong Ling went to the restroom to freshen up. When she took off her mask, the slight redness and swelling on her lips made her feel a little embarrassed, she carefully applied a layer of lip balm, staring at her slightly red eyes in the mirror, lost in thought.

She didn’t feel like crying, neither physically nor emotionally, she was just too excited earlier, and also… Dong Ling took a deep breath, entered a stall, and with a pained expression, checked herself, she had been wearing a panty liner.

That was all she could do, there was no way to change her pants right now.

Damn it, truly damn it, this body was truly useless.

Leaving the restroom, she put on her sunglasses, looking like an aloof cool girl.

She passed by the lounge again, the door was open, Song Mingzhi was standing at the entrance, watching her walk by, she waved at her with a smile.

Dong Ling’s appearance was quite intimidating, just like her expressionless face, making people think she was unapproachable, but Song Mingzhi knew the softness hidden beneath her glamorous exterior, and what a beautiful sight lay beneath the sunglasses and mask, a stark contrast to her outward appearance.

Only after getting into the car did Dong Ling suddenly regret something, she didn’t take a picture with Song Mingzhi, the only picture she had was the secretly taken photo of her sleeping face, they were going to be apart for three days, she should have taken more pictures to look at.

But she couldn’t go back now, Dong Ling looked at the decorations at the entrance of the testing center and left, feeling dejected.

Dong Ling looked at her phone, their last conversation was a long time ago, during the past two days of reconciliation and love, they had been together, so there was no need to communicate through social media, their chat window was empty.

She didn’t seem to have taken any souvenirs, except… Dong Ling touched her lips through the mask and looked down at the area below her collarbone, hidden by her clothes.

Song Mingzhi’s kisses were gently intoxicating, making one want to melt in her arms.

She didn’t know if people who were newly in love and then separated felt this intensely about each other, but Dong Ling was distracted for a long time after returning to Beihai.

To avoid missing her, Dong Ling could only invite her friends out to distract herself.

Chen Shang Shang was on a business trip, so Dong Ling went to Tang Qianxi’s house.

When she arrived, Tang Qianxi was drawing, discarded design drafts scattered across the table, practically all rejected.

Tang Qianxi ran a hand through her messy hair, the dark circles under her eyes making her look haggard.

She casually tied her hair into a ponytail and said apologetically to Dong Ling: “Sorry, Ling Ling, I haven’t had time to tidy up, just sit anywhere, what would you like to drink?”

“Just water, how long have you been cooped up at home? You look like you’re about to grow mold.”

Dong Ling helped Tang Qianxi sweep the crumpled papers into the trash can and opened the curtains, letting the sunlight in.

“Not long, just a few days, don’t worry about it, just leave it there.”

Tang Qianxi said vaguely, getting Dong Ling a bottle of water from the refrigerator.

Dong Ling continued tidying up and asked: “Is the deadline for these drawings urgent?”

Tang Qianxi shook her head and said: “No, end of the month.”

“Then let’s tidy up together, you can’t be like this, if Shang Shang was here, she would probably pinch your ear and scold you.”

Dong Ling rarely did housework, but she occasionally liked tidying things up, the feeling of putting things in order was also a way to clear her mind.

“She… sigh…”

Tang Qianxi couldn’t help but sigh, her mood worsening.

“Did you two have another fight?”

“Still the same thing, it feels like an irreconcilable conflict between us… I’ll go wash my face, I’ll tell you later.”

Tang Qianxi tugged at the corners of her lips and went to the bathroom.

Dong Ling sensed the seriousness in her words, and also her friend’s desire to confide and seek advice. She squatted down and started tidying up for Tang Qianxi.

These tools should probably go in the cabinet… Dong Ling wasn’t sure and decided to open the cabinet to see if it was a storage space for tools.

After opening the cabinet, Dong Ling looked at the fabric inside with a strange expression, there was a note next to it.

Dong Ling swore she didn’t mean to see it, but the words jumped out at her the moment she opened the cabinet, she couldn’t pretend she hadn’t seen it.

—Idiot, see when you can find the love gifts I left for you, the reward is one ride on my face.

Next to it was a large, tongue-sticking-out emoticon. This ugly emoticon, the bold strokes, the familiar tone, Dong Ling knew who it was.

Dong Ling suddenly realized, so these two had secretly hooked up behind her back!

Although in a three-person friendship, there was always someone who was easily left out, wasn’t this a bit too sudden?

Dong Ling silently closed the cabinet, desperately wishing for a pair of eyes that hadn’t seen her friend’s intimate apparel and bold words.

Chen Shang Shang, I didn’t expect you to be such a player, you’re amazing.

Dong Ling stopped tidying up and sat properly on the sofa, drinking some water to calm down.

When Tang Qianxi came out, she saw Dong Ling sitting like a primary school student, and sensed the change in her mood.

“What’s wrong? I just went to wash my face, why are you sitting like a guest?”

Dong Ling shook her head and asked: “What happened between you and Shang Shang? You were being vague before, saying you would handle it yourself, it’s been so long, and you’re still like this, there’s no conflict that can’t be resolved, tell me about it, maybe I can help.”

Unless one of them fell in love with a woman, which would indeed be difficult to resolve, but that kind of plot wouldn’t happen on Jinjiang. (Jinjiang Literature City is a Chinese web novel site known for its LGBTQ+ content, but primarily focuses on romantic relationships between women.)

Tang Qianxi thought for a moment, then sighed dejectedly.

“I don’t know how to say it, and I don’t know if she’ll be angry if I tell you, forget it.”

“Are you trying to say… that you and Shang Shang have a relationship that goes beyond friendship? Are you two dating?”

Tang Qianxi’s dejected demeanor instantly vanished, she looked at Dong Ling with wide eyes, swallowed, and said: “How did you know? Did she tell you?”

“No,” Dong Ling pointed to the cabinet she had opened with some embarrassment, and said, “Why don’t you take a look there?”

Tang Qianxi immediately rushed to open the cabinet, and seeing the thong inside, she choked on her own saliva, coughed until her face turned red, and clutched her chest.

“I accidentally saw it, now you don’t have to worry about Shang Shang being angry, tell me what happened.”

Dong Ling, newly in love, felt she should help her friends find happiness as well, they all deserved to be happy.

Tang Qianxi closed the cabinet and, with some embarrassment and melancholy, briefly explained the situation between her and Chen Shang Shang.

Chen Shang Shang was afraid to come out, she was an only child, and her family was already planning for her to marry a man who would take over the family business. And unlike Dong Ling’s parents, her parents weren’t so doting, the family conflict would be immense if she came out.

“This isn’t actually irreconcilable, as long as you two have the courage to fight for your relationship, Shang Shang is still her parents’ child, as long as she insists on being with you and you’re happy together, why not?”

“As for the heir, you’re both still young, what’s the hurry? And I heard there’s already technology that can create babies from two eggs, it’s just not mature yet, who knows what will happen in a few years? If her parents only care about an heir, this can be resolved.”

“And is it necessarily reliable to have her marry a man who will take over the family business? People’s hearts are unpredictable, what if he just wants to take over the family assets? Are there few cases of gold-diggers deceiving rich heiresses? If she encounters a ruthless beast, she might end up in a mental hospital, or even worse, and by then, it’ll be too late.”

“This not only depends on Shang Shang, but also on you, you have to face it together.”

“Love is a shared responsibility, not just a fleeting feeling, I hope you and her can figure it out.”

After recent events, Dong Ling understood this deeply, love was a journey together, two people sharing responsibilities and moving forward together.

Tang Qianxi listened to Dong Ling’s words, nodded, and fell into thought.

Regardless of her friends’ decision, Dong Ling hoped they would be happy.

And, she really wanted to ask how that “two eggs” thing worked, she almost angrily pinned Song Mingzhi down in the room just now, she wanted to learn some experience, like riding face.

Chapter 73: More Please – A New Task

Who could resist Song Mingzhi’s sweet nothings? Dong Ling couldn’t.

Her heart was now even sweeter than after eating the pastries, her sweetness levels exceeding the limit. Cuddling with her Jiejie, she didn’t want to think about anything.

While Song Mingzhi was washing up, Dong Ling went on Weibo, unable to resist sharing her joy.

@Jieshi: I’m in a relationship now, may this happiness last.

It was currently peak online activity time, and several replies appeared immediately.

@IReallyWantToSleep: Congratulations!

There were such congratulatory messages, and also CP fans who disliked her account, coming to provoke her.

@SongZhongSistersNumberOne: Oh, Jieshi is in a relationship with her friend, so it seems my Song Zhong CP is also set in stone.

@ImDyingFromSweetness: The sister upstairs is wrong, they’ve been together for a while now.

@SweetSongZhong: Borrowing Jieshi Jiejie’s good fortune, wishing Song Jie and CEO Dong the same happiness.

@SweetDreamsInMyDreams: Jieshi Jiejie, does your friend know that you’re Song Jie’s biggest anti-fan? Be careful, she might get jealous.

Dong Ling thought, these people were clearly trying to annoy her, but she couldn’t help but smile.

To avoid revealing too much, Dong Ling only replied to the last comment.

@Jieshi replying to @SweetDreamsInMyDreams: She won’t be jealous.

How could Song Mingzhi be jealous of herself? She would be happy.

Dong Ling happily browsed online, ignoring the CP fans who were still discussing the sugar mommy and her sister-in-law’s trip to the temple.

She would consider how to introduce Zhong Zhong after the test results came out, there was no hurry, as long as Song Mingzhi didn’t misunderstand, Dong Ling didn’t care what others thought.

After Song Mingzhi came out of the bathroom, Dong Ling went in. She had come in a hurry and didn’t bring anything, so she used her friend’s shower gel, toothpaste, and other toiletries.

Song Mingzhi smelled the girl’s soft, fragrant scent, the same as hers, and gave her a sweet kiss.

Tonight was destined to be filled with sweet dreams.

Dong Ling was woken up by a knock the next morning and opened the door sleepily.

“Mingzhi, you’re going to be late, if you don’t hurry, you won’t have time for hair and makeup, Director Yu will…”

Zuo Zhen looked down at her schedule and urged, Song Mingzhi was always punctual, but she was late today. She could understand her being shocked by the news yesterday, but if they delayed any longer, the film crew would have to wait for her.

But when Zuo Zhen looked up and saw her boss in a loose robe, her words stopped abruptly.

?????

Was this a lovers’ reunion scene?

“CEO Dong… I’ll go and tell Director Yu.”

Zuo Zhen, always considerate of her boss and her boss’s lover, immediately said this.

Dong Ling yawned and said: “Tell Director Yu that Mingzhi has something to do and needs to take a day off, and also, there’s no need to prepare for the contract termination, but don’t arrange any new jobs for Mingzhi for now.”

Dong Ling wasn’t sure what would happen next, so she made these arrangements first.

Zuo Zhen nodded, seeing Dong Ling close her eyes again.

She didn’t understand her boss’s world, she would just do as she was told.

Dong Ling lay back down, wanting to go back to sleep, but she couldn’t quite fall asleep, her mind in a half-awake, half-asleep state.

Song Mingzhi came out of the bathroom, saw the girl on the bed with messy hair, and gently brushed the strands from her cheek.

“I’m sleepy, but also a little awake.”

Dong Ling mumbled, her voice soft and coquettish.

“Close your eyes and lie down.”

Song Mingzhi pulled the quilt over Dong Ling and gently caressed her flushed cheeks.

Dong Ling heard Song Mingzhi’s footsteps receding, her consciousness hazy.

A cool towel was placed on her slightly swollen eyelids, dispelling the heat and summer stickiness.

Dong Ling’s brows relaxed comfortably, her eyes moving under her eyelids, she slowly woke up.

Song Mingzhi applied the cold compress for a while, then folded the towel and put it aside again, only removing it after two or three minutes.

Dong Ling was now fully awake, she stretched contentedly and smiled at her friend.

She originally thought this was enough, but then Song Mingzhi put slippers on her feet, which were dangling off the bed, carried her to the bathroom, and helped her stand.

“Breakfast is already ordered, you can eat after washing up.”

Seeing the prepared cup and toothbrush, Dong Ling gave a thumbs-up in admiration.

So being in a relationship allowed you to act like you were disabled without any guilt, how wonderful.

Song Mingzhi’s smile was gentle and subtle, a twenty-nine-year-old experiencing first love, her heart filled with a youthful passion, wanting to do everything for her little girlfriend.

Dong Ling happily finished her breakfast, and after putting on sunglasses and masks, she and Song Mingzhi went to a local testing center.

Zhong Zhong and Yuki were already waiting there. Seeing Song Mingzhi, Zhong Zhong’s pupils constricted for a moment, but her face remained expressionless.

Song Mingzhi knew about her facial paralysis from Dong Ling and gave her a friendly smile.

“Don’t be nervous.”

Song Mingzhi didn’t act too enthusiastically, she wasn’t usually very expressive, if this girl wasn’t related to her, she wouldn’t care, so she didn’t want to say too much too soon, just trying to reassure her.

Zhong Zhong nodded and took a deep breath.

She looked a little cute making this action with a blank face. Dong Ling handed her a candy, hoping to ease her nerves.

Professionally, she was an artist under her company, personally, she might be her sister-in-law, and she was only nineteen, so she should take care of her.

Even with expedited processing, the results would still take a few hours.

Dong Ling made an excuse to go shopping with Yuki, leaving Song Mingzhi and Zhong Zhong alone for a while.

Song Mingzhi appreciated her girlfriend’s thoughtfulness, and only after Dong Ling left did she look away from her and sit on a bench with the girl beside her, starting their conversation by talking about their favorite things.

In the ice cream shop opposite the testing center, Dong Ling sat on a bar stool, eating shaved ice and swinging her legs, waiting.

She really hoped Zhong Zhong was Song Mingzhi’s younger sister, it would make Song Mingzhi’s search for her family much easier.

She wondered if the task system was also dormant along with 021, Dong Ling bit her spoon and thought wistfully, when would 021 wake up?

Perhaps sensing her summons, the long-awaited voice of the task system rang out in Dong Ling’s mind.

It issued a task, along with the unlocked plot for this stage.

The content was so rich and dramatic that Dong Ling was stunned.

First, she learned that the task system and 021 operated independently.

Second was the content of the unlocked plot outline. It mentioned the appearance of a person who resembled the female lead, which was the next part of the story, but there was a backstory to it.

In the original novel, at this time, there was a conflict between the male and female leads.

They were in a tacitly understood ambiguous stage, just one step away from an official confession, but then, there were rumors about the female lead.

She was photographed leaving the same restaurant as a man, who was actually just a friend, there was nothing ambiguous between them, and since the female lead was busy filming and also had her own business to attend to, she assumed the male lead wouldn’t believe such rumors, so she didn’t bother explaining.

The male lead indeed didn’t believe it, but he wanted the female lead to explain, as a gesture of reassurance, but the female lead didn’t contact him at all, so he sulked.

Under these circumstances, Zhong Zhong appeared, she was taken to a party by her agent, and ran into the male lead when she was drunk.

Seeing her resemblance to the female lead, the male lead didn’t want her to be taken advantage of, so he kindly offered her a ride, and they were photographed by the paparazzi.

But unfortunately, the paparazzi’s headline was “Popular actress suspected of secret meetings with different men,” mistaking Zhong Zhong for the female lead.

This plot was so familiar it made Dong Ling’s toes curl, she didn’t know whether to call it an irresistible force of the plot or a striking resemblance to history.

Just like Dong Ling’s reaction, the male lead immediately suppressed the news and clarified the situation with the female lead, but the Song Mingzhi in the novel reacted differently from the Song Mingzhi with Dong Ling.

The female lead simply said, “I believe you,” and that was it, incredibly calm.

Because the female lead felt that they were both adults, capable of making their own judgments, but the male lead felt that the female lead didn’t care enough about him, that she wasn’t even jealous, so he went to see her, half-drunk, and in his anger, restricted her freedom.

The subsequent plot was grayed out again, waiting for the next unlock.

And the task Dong Ling received was… to have a cold war with the female lead for three days, and be photographed with the supporting character, completing this would reward 7% progress.

Dong Ling finally understood how 021 felt every time it lamented being taken advantage of, was the task system crazy?! Could it be a little more intelligent?!

This plot had already happened! It was all over!

And she had just officially gotten together with her girlfriend yesterday, and now it wanted her to have a cold war for three days?

Was it serious?

But 7%… Dong Ling took a deep breath, her expression gloomy.

This damn fate was testing her will, playing with her soul.

Dong Ling wasn’t very motivated to complete the task, but she knew she couldn’t miss this opportunity, she wouldn’t make the decision herself, she had already been honest with her girlfriend, this was something they should face together, she didn’t want Song Mingzhi to be sad.

Dong Ling finished her shaved ice and returned to the testing center with Yuki.

She gave them each a takeout container of ice cream, then waved at Yuki and Zhong Zhong.

“Wait in the room for a bit.”

Yuki and Zhong Zhong immediately left, not wanting to be lightbulbs.

“Mingzhi, there’s something very, very important I need to tell you, about this.”

Dong Ling pointed to her head, she knew Song Mingzhi would understand.

Song Mingzhi’s expression became serious, and she pulled Dong Ling to sit down.

Because “task” and “progress” were all within the system’s restricted vocabulary, Dong Ling couldn’t say them directly, she could only rack her brains and use various metaphors and stories to explain her current situation.

Fortunately, Song Mingzhi was very patient and logical, able to find the correct meaning from her sometimes incoherent and fragmented words.

“Can modern technology detect it?”

This was a question Song Mingzhi wanted to ask yesterday, but the atmosphere wasn’t right at the time, it would have been a mood killer.

Dong Ling shook her head and said: “No, I had a checkup at the beginning, and also after the car accident, they couldn’t find anything.”

Song Mingzhi wasn’t surprised, she pondered: “It seems it really is as you said, mechanically applying templates.”

“So after three days of cold war, it will be time for me to act angrily and film certain scenes, right?”

Song Mingzhi raised a delicate eyebrow, a knowing glint in her eyes.

“Darling, remember to act well when you get the script, don’t let down my upcoming three days of separation.”

Song Mingzhi’s fingers caressed Dong Ling’s soft cheek, and she gently kissed the tip of Dong Ling’s nose.

Dong Ling swore she saw anticipation in Song Mingzhi’s eyes, so this was how tasks could be completed.

Chapter 72: More Please – Because It’s You

Dong Ling ate the pastries contentedly beside her newly minted girlfriend. Having a mature and understanding lover was a great advantage, she could handle those misunderstandings and miscommunications, even her previous anger and outburst made her seem even more caring.

She likes me, Dong Ling thought sweetly.

“Who is the prince in your Cinderella story?”

Just as Dong Ling finished eating and wiped the crumbs from her fingers, she heard her girlfriend’s question.

The use of fairy tales was to avoid the silencing restriction, Dong Ling thought this mechanism should be similar to the task system’s, both rigidly literal.

Dong Ling answered honestly: “Wen Han.”

Song Mingzhi: “…………”

Song Mingzhi didn’t need to speak for Dong Ling to sense her speechlessness.

“He’s in a coma, so you had to take his place, why you?”

To understand how a program worked, you had to understand its structure and operating rules. Song Mingzhi wanted to directly access the source code, but unfortunately, under the restriction, Dong Ling couldn’t explain it clearly.

“Because I was the closest and also one of the attendees at the ball.”

Song Mingzhi raised an eyebrow and said: “It just chose you like that, regardless of gender?”

Dong Ling nodded, yes, yes, practically robbery.

“It seems it wasn’t very smart, but from another perspective, it was also quite smart, if it were you, I would probably be interested.”

Song Mingzhi said thoughtfully, looking rather satisfied.

So some of the past events now made sense.

“That agreement was also its doing?”

Song Mingzhi asked, and Dong Ling nodded.

“So, I’m not really your muse?”

Dong Ling coughed lightly, her initial joy from the love confession turning into guilt, she didn’t dare speak.

Song Mingzhi didn’t mind, she played with Dong Ling’s fingers and asked: “Why is Wen Han in a coma, or rather, how did all of this start?”

“Because…” Dong Ling sensed the restriction, adjusted her wording, and continued, “Because the prince should be with the princess, but they didn’t fall in love as the story dictated, so the fairy godmother appeared, to guide everything back on track, otherwise the story would collapse.”

Apologies to 021, that greasy, domineering CEO system, for comparing it to a fairy godmother, this was probably the most humiliating moment for fairy godmothers.

Song Mingzhi frowned and said: “Quite absurd.”

Dong Ling agreed: “Indeed.”

She was the vicious female supporting character, wasn’t that absurd enough?

“Then let’s talk about that girl, what’s her name, when did you start paying attention to her, and what role does she play?”

Her girlfriend asked three questions in a row, her aura imposing as she leaned against the sofa.

“Her name is Zhong Zhong, stage name Zhong Suizhuo, nineteen years old, I noticed her when you were filming your last movie. At the time, I was just looking for promising newcomers to sign, and I happened to see her. To confirm her role and background, I wanted to have her under my control, so I signed her.”

“I don’t know her identity yet, because I’m just a temporary replacement, I don’t have access to much information, I only know she’s an important character, and I think she might be related to you.”

“I went to the temple with her yesterday, I went there for Xuan Du and happened to run into her, and we came down the mountain together.”

Dong Ling told her everything, honestly.

“I need to meet her,” Song Mingzhi pondered for a moment and said, “I suspect she might be my younger sister.”

Dong Ling had also considered this possibility, but there was no basis for it, she didn’t know much about Song Mingzhi’s family.

“Was your sister lost?”

Dong Ling recalled that Zhong Zhong didn’t continue her studies after graduating from high school, she didn’t know the reason, but her family seemed to be of average means. According to Yuki’s report, Zhong Zhong lived in the dormitory and often took on commercial gigs while training at Dream Machine.

“Yes, I don’t know who my biological parents are…”

Song Mingzhi briefly recounted her past, it was actually quite simple, trafficked, spent a few years in an orphanage, and then adopted.

“One of the main reasons I entered the entertainment industry was to gain popularity, so the people who might still be looking for me could find me.”

As for her adoptive parents’ background and her current situation, Song Mingzhi planned to tell Dong Ling at a more appropriate time, there was no hurry.

Dong Ling’s heart ached when she heard it, if this was just a story, she would simply sigh at the female lead’s tragic and dramatic past, but the person in front of her was real.

She couldn’t imagine how Song Mingzhi escaped from human traffickers at such a young age, finally found a loving family, only to lose them early on. She, who had grown up pampered, compared her life with Song Mingzhi’s and wanted to give half of her parents’ love to her.

“Don’t be sad, I was actually quite lucky, my adoptive parents gave me access to good education and also left me considerable assets.”

Although those assets were also the source of her troubles, forcing her to hide her capabilities and live in the shadows for years, Song Mingzhi was very grateful to them, so she would protect what they left behind, use the assets as they wished.

“You’ve grown up very, very well.”

Dong Ling nuzzled Song Mingzhi’s cheek, lying in her lover’s soft embrace.

Being praised like a child, Song Mingzhi kissed her cheek.

“I’ll arrange for you to meet her…” Dong Ling immediately took action, taking out her phone and scrolling through her contacts, “Have her stay here for a night, then she can go to the hospital for a test tomorrow.”

Dong Ling contacted Yuki and asked her to buy a plane ticket for Zhong Zhong and arrange accommodation for her at the same hotel.

Yuki immediately got to work, but she grumbled inwardly, her boss was truly ruthless, using this to stimulate her former lover.

Dong Ling hung up the phone, remembered something else, looked at Song Mingzhi, and said: “About the contract termination…”

“It’s done, but we need to sign another contract.”

Song Mingzhi didn’t have any strong feelings about staying in or leaving the entertainment industry. Since she was in the industry, she naturally wanted to be under her girlfriend’s company, and she was also worried that terminating her contract would disrupt the so-called “progress,” but she needed to sign a different contract with Dong Ling.

“What contract?”

“A profit-sharing contract. The previous one was too one-sided. For this new contract, all my earnings will be transferred to your account, and then you can transfer the money to my account.”

Dong Ling shook her head and said: “That’s also too one-sided, there’s no need for that.”

Although Song Mingzhi said her adoptive parents left her some money, and she had also earned quite a bit from working in the past few years, she still saw her wife as a poor little thing, and her family wasn’t short of money anyway, and the company was doing relatively well, it was better for Song Mingzhi to keep the money for herself.

“It’s only natural for a wife to make money for her family, to hand over her salary.”

Song Mingzhi twirled Dong Ling’s hair around her finger, her voice gentle.

Dong Ling’s face flushed, Song Mingzhi was being mischievous sometimes, how could she call her that so naturally? Just a few hours ago, she was also doing that while asking her, it was so…

“There’s no need to refuse, the things you gave me were all very expensive, what I’m giving you is just a token of my affection, this is also part of my affection.”

Song Mingzhi looked at the girl’s flushed earlobes and gently pinched them.

Thinking of the expensive gifts she had given, Dong Ling bit her lip, then finally decided to speak: “Will you mind?”

“Like playing a dating sim, some of those actions I did, I might not have even been aware of them, will you mind?”

Dong Ling felt that any doubts should be addressed as soon as possible to avoid future misunderstandings.

Dong Ling herself would mind if someone approached her so schemingly, although having a plan was normal when pursuing someone, it was completely different from taking someone to see a movie they liked.

“Of course I mind, I like you because of those actions, because you were the one who did them.”

What made people feel special wasn’t the action itself, but the person doing the action.

Song Mingzhi truly loved Dong Ling’s straightforwardness, clear and direct, no beating around the bush, raising questions, discussing them, and solving them.

“It’s only because it’s you that it matters.”

Chapter 71: More Please – Please Date Me

The raging fire in Song Mingzhi’s heart was extinguished by Dong Ling’s words and tears.

Love was truly a ridiculous thing, making one lose all reason and their bottom line.

She suddenly felt that it didn’t matter whether Dong Ling was lying to her or coaxing her.

“I was the one who was angry, but now it feels like I’m the one in the wrong, and strangely, seeing you cry makes me feel like I’m the one in the wrong.”

Song Mingzhi wiped Dong Ling’s tears, her movements gentle and intimate, with a hint of melancholy.

“You really make it easy for me to misunderstand, saying you can’t be with me, yet speaking such affectionate and moving words, how can I accept that we’re not meant to be?”

“I didn’t want you to misunderstand.” Dong Ling’s eyes stung, and hearing Song Mingzhi’s words, her heart ached even more, “Let me tell you.”

Dong Ling didn’t want to cry, she wasn’t even trying to confess, but in her hurried explanation, she said many things she hadn’t planned to say.

She was sincerely answering Song Mingzhi’s question, Song Mingzhi, to her, was a captivating spring breeze, a special bow.

Feeling the warmth of Song Mingzhi’s palm, Dong Ling’s tears flowed even more uncontrollably, she hadn’t even cried in front of Song Mingzhi when she asked if she didn’t like her that day, but now, it was as if all her pent-up grievances were pouring out.

Dong Ling’s voice was low and dejected: “I don’t want this, I really don’t want this at all, I don’t want to be a savior.”

“Then don’t be.”

Song Mingzhi looked at Dong Ling and said decisively.

Her fingers caressed Dong Ling’s cheeks, the wiping motion making Dong Ling’s fair face flush, their breaths mingled, creating a warm, moist air.

“Setting aside your hypothetical situation, is everything in the future certain, or still uncertain and full of possibilities?”

The situation Dong Ling described was too ambiguous. If… if everything Dong Ling said was true, if she wasn’t lying, if that unbelievable science fiction scenario was real, then Dong Ling was bearing far more than she thought.

The extreme emotional turmoil unexpectedly made her more rational. Song Mingzhi patiently inquired, seeking a clear answer.

Dong Ling looked at Song Mingzhi blankly and said hesitantly: “It should be uncertain.”

She naturally assumed that after the real male lead woke up, she, the substitute, would be forced to withdraw, 021 didn’t seem to say so explicitly, because 021 didn’t know what would happen either, it couldn’t contact headquarters.

What if 021 remained dormant… of course, she didn’t want that to happen, but what if it did?

And, this novel would have an ending, but not when the protagonists were old and gray, the system would leave at the end, so after 021 left, would Wen Han return? And since there would be no more main storyline tasks, could they, like other couples, have a future together?

The more Dong Ling thought about it, the brighter her eyes became, even her tears stopped unconsciously, she wanted to express all of this, but because it involved the system, she couldn’t say anything, so she could only convey her surging emotions with her eyes.

“So there is a possibility of failure, and the probability isn’t zero?”

Song Mingzhi grasped the meaning in Dong Ling’s words, her tone even lightening up.

In the investment industry, every deal came with risks, profits and risks were always balanced, and what she was best at was making big bets based on the present and the future, there were too many uncertainties, and even when she had a premonition of success, she would still be prepared for the risk of failure.

If they fell in love, even if they were to part ways in the future, there would be no regrets, Song Mingzhi wasn’t someone who would let opportunities slip away.

“Even for others, there’s no guarantee of a happy ending, Ling Ling, what are you worried about? If you’re afraid of losing, then you’ll never succeed. If you’re thinking about me, instead of making a decision now, I would rather wait until the last moment, until the probability is zero.”

“You think so too, don’t you?”

Song Mingzhi’s words were almost coaxing, she looked at Dong Ling, her eyes full of affection.

Dong Ling, still lost in her thoughts, was gently placed on the bed, she still didn’t quite understand what was happening when she heard Song Mingzhi’s soft question.

“Ling Ling, you like me, don’t you?”

“Yes… mmm…”

Dong Ling was always honest about her feelings, even if there was no future, liking someone was liking someone, she wouldn’t lie.

A soft touch made Dong Ling swallow the rest of her words, their dark hair intertwined on the white bedsheets.

Her thoughts, like a lost little animal, were being led through a complex jungle.

The experienced woman, with her mature charm, guided her past every trap.

A fragrant wind wove a fine net, and unconsciously, Dong Ling had nowhere to escape.

Her body and soul were completely captivated, her older lover, skilled at manipulating hearts, amidst the extreme romance, who would be distracted by other thoughts?

But she wasn’t initially here for this, she was here to explain… explain what?

Dong Ling clutched Song Mingzhi’s wrist, her eyes red from crying, looking pitiful.

“Don’t be afraid.”

Song Mingzhi patiently comforted the anxious girl, gently stroking Dong Ling’s seaweed-like hair.

She knew Dong Ling’s body and didn’t plan to rush things here.

She still had many questions to ask, but there was no hurry, everything would be revealed in time.

The girl was stubborn and persistent, a pampered flower, who should have been spoiled, but was instead considerate and understanding, making one’s heart ache.

Her affection was passionate and straightforward, making one’s heart pound, she didn’t use the selfish excuse of “it’s for your own good” to dismiss it, but instead spoke those seemingly absurd words, even willing to be misunderstood, considering things from her perspective, how could she not love and cherish her?

Song Mingzhi didn’t think their relationship would be controlled by that unknown existence, what determined their future was their own actions.

If Dong Ling hadn’t come today, if she hadn’t been willing to forgive, things wouldn’t be like this.

Repeatedly analyzing Dong Ling’s words with a rational mind while suppressing her own emotions was painful, but that pain was now soothed, it wasn’t in vain.

Dong Ling must have come in a hurry today, her clothes casual and simple, so the buttons were easily undone as her fingers brushed against the wrinkles.

Song Mingzhi’s kisses were gentle, like a warm spring breeze.

The delicate hibiscus flower, covered in dew, trembled.

Dong Ling’s emotions had fluctuated drastically today, from the anger and heartache upon learning the news, to the anxiety on the way, the sadness and grievance from being questioned, and finally, the unexpected turn of events, the intertwined emotions left her in a daze.

She felt like she was sinking into soft sand, the illusory waves rising and falling around her, crashing against the rocks. The seashells picked up by humans were tightly clutched in their palms, still alive, opening and closing with each breath.

Illusory yet real, hazy yet vivid.

Dong Ling unconsciously drifted off to sleep, and when she woke up, the curtains were drawn, the room dark, making it impossible to tell the time.

Dong Ling sniffed her slightly stuffy nose, her eyes red and swollen from crying, she sat up, still a little dazed.

She picked up the phone by the bed to check the time and found that it was already 10 pm.

Looking at the room, Dong Ling scrambled out of bed like her butt was on fire, and looking at herself in the full-length mirror, her eyes widened in shock.

This, this, this, this, this!

No… how did things develop like this?!

She came here to explain Zhong Zhong to Song Mingzhi, to prevent Song Mingzhi from misunderstanding, she knew what she did was easily misinterpreted, but the plot was important, she would rather be misunderstood than let this character of unknown allegiance slip away, what if she posed a threat to Song Mingzhi? She wasn’t reassured unless she was under her control.

She had anticipated the initial reaction, but she didn’t expect to lose control of her emotions, she originally thought she would be kicked out after explaining, regardless of whether Song Mingzhi accepted it or not, but who knew things would…

Fortunately, it was just making out, at most… she wouldn’t be able to look Song Mingzhi in the eye today.

Dong Ling washed up, applied a cold towel to her swollen eyes, and wondered what to do.

Although she was thinking this, she couldn’t help but smile.

She felt a surge of anticipation, just like Song Mingzhi said, if there was a chance to be together, she shouldn’t give up, they would deal with whatever came their way, it wasn’t something she could decide anyway, there would always be a solution!

But she wasn’t straight, hehe, Dong Ling didn’t want to say “absolutely not” anymore, this was actually quite nice.

After Dong Ling came out of the bathroom, Song Mingzhi had already returned, she placed the food on the table and beckoned to Dong Ling.

“I remember you like this, I’m glad I managed to get some.”

The pastries on the table were from a famous local bakery, Dong Ling had always liked these delicate treats.

“Are they still selling these at this hour? I thought they closed at eight or nine.”

“I was lucky today, maybe because you’re here, they happened to have some left over.”

Song Mingzhi’s lips curved upwards, seeing the girl’s delighted expression.

Actually, they had already closed, but they couldn’t resist her generous offer, so the baker made some fresh ones.

“Mingzhi, your words are so sweet.”

Dong Ling touched her cheeks shyly, Song Mingzhi was usually reserved and elegant, she wasn’t used to her being so straightforward.

“Isn’t it normal to be sweet to your girlfriend? Or are you trying to play dumb again?”

Song Mingzhi rested her chin on her hand, looking at Dong Ling, her eyes narrowing slightly at the last sentence.

If Dong Ling still wanted to back down after she had been so direct, Song Mingzhi would pin her down and take care of her right there and then.

Alarm bells rang in Dong Ling’s mind, flashing red and bold “DANGER!”

Her cheeks puffed up slightly, she looked at Song Mingzhi, her eyes darting around, and finally forced out a sentence: “You haven’t even confessed to me yet.”

Even if she was being coerced, shouldn’t there at least be a domineering declaration of love?!

Song Mingzhi chuckled, and seeing Dong Ling’s sulky look, immediately became serious.

How could she not like this straightforward love?

“It is 10:25 pm, September 12th, 2031, Dong Ling, I like you, will you go out with me?”

“Of course!”

When love reached its peak, everything enveloped in romance, all things eternal.

Chapter 70: Absolutely Not, Absolutely Not – I Miss You So Much Part 3

Dong Ling went to the bathroom, the warm water seemingly warming her hands and feet, she lay in the bathtub and unconsciously picked up her phone.

She habitually typed words in their chat window, fragmented sentences, writing whatever came to mind.

[Mingzhi, I rarely think about why people live, there are too many answers, perhaps only a few enlightened people truly understand, those who keep searching for answers will only be lost in confusion, I’m not an enlightened person, so I choose not to think about it.
Xuan Du used to always ask me why she was born, I couldn’t answer her then, and now that she’s dead, I still can’t give her an answer.
I closed my eyes, and blood splattered in front of me, like frames in a movie, I didn’t like it. If you were by my side, I would probably hold your hand tightly.
How’s the weather there? Has it been raining or getting colder?
I miss you a little today.]

The cursor blinked, Dong Ling pressed the delete button, watching the characters disappear quickly.

In another city, someone watched the notification disappear and whispered good night.

Before going to bed, Dong Ling saw a white envelope on her dressing table, with “To Dong Ling” written on the front.

Dong Ling opened it, inside was a piece of paper and a silver card.

Five words were written on the front of the paper in bold strokes: Principal plus interest.

Dong Ling looked at the card and sighed softly.

There seemed to be more words on the back of the paper, Dong Ling flipped it over and saw a short sentence.

[If you see this, go to a temple and pray for me when you’re free, no need if you’re not.]

Dong Ling thought, this person was still playing mind games even in death, Xuan Du knew she wouldn’t ignore it after seeing this.

The next day, Dong Ling watched Xuan Du’s burial. He Diesheng didn’t hold a funeral for her, or publish an obituary.

As if she was still alive, just disappeared.

He Diesheng held a small urn containing Xuan Du’s ashes.

She wheeled herself away without saying a word.

Her figure was thin and frail, like a butterfly wrapped in sin.

Dong Ling went to a nearby famous temple with a flourishing incense and prayed for Xuan Du, hoping that after paying for her karmic debts, she could have a normal life in her next life, according to religious theories.

Red ribbons fluttered from the large trees in the temple, Dong Ling stood there, looking up for a while, when she suddenly heard a voice not far away.

“CEO Dong?”

Dong Ling turned around and saw Zhong Zhong wearing glasses.

“Why are you here?”

“My mother was a Buddhist when she was alive, and I don’t have any training scheduled today, so I came to pray.”

Dong Ling nodded, didn’t ask further, and walked down the stairs.

Zhong Zhong followed beside her, also silent.

Nearing the foot of the mountain, Zhong Zhong, after holding it in all this time, finally spoke: “CEO Dong, Sister Bai Lu said I need a stage name, but I can’t decide, she said I could ask you.”

Her agent told her to ask, she didn’t know why, and just happened to run into her, so she asked.

Dong Ling said casually: “Predestined encounters, symbiotic relationships, if you don’t think it sounds bad, then call yourself Zhong Sui Zhuo. (Sui Zhuo refers to a symbiotic relationship between two birds.)

Zhong Zhong said honestly: “It sounds a bit obscure and unpleasant at first, but the more I think about it, the more I like it, thank you, CEO Dong.”

So the name was decided.

Dong Ling parted ways with Zhong Zhong at the foot of the mountain, not bothering to see her off.

Dong Ling’s injuries had just healed, and after walking around today, she felt a little weak, feeling sleepy even though it was still early.

The next morning, she was woken up by Yuki’s incessant calls, she was a little annoyed at first, but after hearing what Yuki said, she was wide awake.

It wasn’t exactly explosive news, just that someone took a picture of her and Zhong Zhong leaving the foot of the mountain together yesterday, but the title was “Song Mingzhi’s boss visits a temple with another woman, is this temple known for its accurate love fortune telling?”

Dong Ling almost cursed, wanting to find the person who took the picture and wrote the title and beat them up.

Many marketing accounts even reposted it, trying to capitalize on the CP hype.

“Did you suppress the trending topic?”

“Yes, I had those smaller accounts delete their posts, deleting those with more followers might backfire, so I left them for now.”

“Just leave it.”

Dong Ling rubbed her temples tiredly, what was this?

She had Yuki book her a flight and went to wash up.

Online, the Song Zhong sisters were overjoyed seeing the title, but quickly, someone noticed something was wrong.

@SweetSongZhong: Um… this isn’t Song Jie, right? Although she does look a bit similar, she’s clearly much younger, and her style is completely different.

@LanZhiDuoFangCao: Our Jiejie is filming thousands of miles away, she even interacted with visiting fans yesterday, this…

@PleaseSendMeOffToMyGrave: Think positively, maybe it’s CEO Dong visiting a temple with her sister-in-law.

When Song Mingzhi arrived at the set this morning, she noticed that some people were looking at her strangely, but when she looked back, it was as if nothing was happening.

She felt a little strange, but after thinking about it, she didn’t think she had done anything unusual, so she went to do her makeup and review the script as usual.

Seeing Song Mingzhi’s demeanor, Zuo Zhen knew she probably hadn’t seen Weibo and didn’t know anything yet, which was good, the later she knew, the better.

Just then, Zuo Zhen saw Pu Xingchun running over and thought, uh oh.

As expected, Pu Xingchun looked at Song Mingzhi teasingly and asked: “Song Jie, how did you do that cloning trick? Teach me!”

Song Mingzhi looked puzzled: “What cloning trick?”

“Still pretending, I promise I won’t tell anyone, the paparazzi took pictures of you and CEO Dong at a temple yesterday, I heard that temple is very effective for praying for love, I want to go with my baby too.”

Pu Xingchun lowered his voice for the last sentence, but Song Mingzhi wasn’t in the mood to listen.

“They took pictures of me and CEO Dong?”

Song Mingzhi emphasized “me,” Pu Xingchun felt something was wrong, but still nodded.

Song Mingzhi asked Xiao Tan for her phone and searched for the topic.

Blurry pictures, Dong Ling was wearing sunglasses, and the person beside her was wearing glasses, at first glance, they did look quite similar.

But Song Mingzhi knew, this wasn’t her.

Song Mingzhi sneered angrily, what was this, was she being played?

Making up that elaborate story just to deceive her?

Then thank you very much, Song Mingzhi found it ridiculous, she was twenty-nine years old, and was played by a girl five or six years younger than her.

Song Mingzhi was so angry her heart ached, she saw Pu Xingchun’s slightly frightened expression and composed herself.

“Want to know? You can ask CEO Dong.”

Song Mingzhi’s tone was sarcastic, she was no longer in the mood to film and went to find Yu Shuangwei to ask for leave.

Yu Shuangwei said with displeasure: “If you can’t get into character, I can wait, but if you take a day off, everyone has to wait for you.”

Song Mingzhi didn’t waste her breath, she dialed a number in front of Yu Shuangwei and said: “Tell Yu Shuangwei that the lead actress needs a day off.”

Yu Shuangwei was a little puzzled, then she realized her phone was ringing, it was from the investor of Yunming Pictures in Jingzhou, the main investor.

Yu Shuangwei answered the call, and after hanging up, she only saw Song Mingzhi’s back, she moved her lips, then finally picked up the loudspeaker and yelled: “Props team! We’re filming other scenes today!”

Song Mingzhi changed her clothes, removed her makeup, and decided to discuss the contract termination today.

She didn’t want to lose her last shred of dignity, during their separation, constantly thinking about Dong Ling, she felt like a fool, she was just a momentary interest, a plaything for Dong Ling’s amusement, it would have been better if she had been upfront with her from the beginning, then she wouldn’t have misunderstood, wouldn’t have had any wishful thinking or self-deception.

A knock on the door came, Song Mingzhi opened the door with a cold expression, and seeing the slightly uneasy person standing in front of her, her face darkened even more.

“You still dare to come see me? What lies are you going to tell me this time?”

“Mingzhi, I didn’t lie to you… I…”

Dong Ling was pulled into the room and pressed against the wall.

“You didn’t lie to me, then who is that person?”

“Found a replacement so quickly? Or do you just like this kind of face, this kind of appearance?”

“I hate being played, Dong Ling, what do you think I am?”

Song Mingzhi’s every word was a question, filled with humiliation.

The back of Dong Ling’s head hit the hard wall, tears welling up in her eyes from the pain, she held them back, looking at Song Mingzhi, and explained: “I wasn’t playing with you.”

“She’s not a replacement, I don’t like her, I have nothing to do with her, and it’s not that I only like this kind of face or appearance.”

“When you weren’t around, I kept thinking, why did I have to meet someone impossible, why did I have to endure the pain of unrequited love?”

“I tried to distract myself, but strangely, I would think of you every time my emotions fluctuated. I rewatched the movie we didn’t get to finish several times, it’s good that the hamster you gave me has been keeping me company.”

“Xuan Du is dead, her blood splattered in front of me, I wasn’t very sad, because it was her choice, but if you were by my side at that time, it would have been nice, I would have held your hand tightly and told you I was a little scared.”

Dong Ling’s tears fell, completely defeated by Song Mingzhi’s disappointed accusations.

“If I were a violin, you would be the only bow that could play me.”

Chapter 70: Absolutely Not, Absolutely Not – I Miss You So Much Part 2

Song Mingzhi returned specifically for Wang Buli’s matter. Purple Star Entertainment wasn’t doing well, and Wang Buli wanted to sell her shares and use the money for investments, so Song Mingzhi came back to help her.

She didn’t actually have to come back in person, it was just… Song Mingzhi lowered her eyes, pushing aside the chaotic thoughts in her mind.

She went to the second floor, not to the study, but to the balcony.

She remembered that when she first met Dong Ling, she had seen Dong Ling in the house opposite hers from this balcony.

Song Mingzhi looked over and saw a figure by the floor-to-ceiling window in the distance.

The distance between the houses wasn’t close enough for them to see each other’s faces clearly, and perhaps because of this, neither of them left.

The sweet fruit juice Dong Ling had just swallowed suddenly turned bitter, she leaned against the window, feeling a little lost.

Song Mingzhi looked at that figure and thought, the little liar must have recovered, otherwise she wouldn’t be discharged from the hospital and visiting her friend.

Dong Ling really wanted to go downstairs and knock on the next door right now, but she couldn’t.

What would she say if they met? She had no answer.

Chen Shang Shang patted Dong Ling’s shoulder and said: “Ling Ling, what are you looking at? You’ve been gone for so long, everyone thought you fell in.”

Dong Ling was startled by Chen Shang Shang’s actions and took a moment to recover.

“What’s wrong? You look a little out of it.”

“Nothing.” Dong Ling looked towards the window again and found that the figure on the opposite balcony was gone, she subconsciously searched, “Where is she?”

Chen Shang Shang felt something was wrong with her and also looked outside, asking: “Who?”

Dong Ling explained vaguely: “There was a cat that climbed a tree just now, it’s gone now.”

Chen Shang Shang didn’t question it and pulled Dong Ling downstairs.

Dong Ling wanted to immerse herself among her friends, using their company to numb her disappointment, but strangely, every time she felt a little happy, she would think of Song Mingzhi.

She took out her phone again, typed some words in the chat window, but didn’t have the courage to send them, and deleted them one by one.

On September 10th, there was a light rain in the morning.

The ground was slightly damp, with the fresh scent of watered earth.

Two days had passed, it was time for Xuan Du to go, Dong Ling came to see her one last time, she wouldn’t visit her again after this.

Halfway there, Dong Ling received a call from the hospital, the person watching Xuan Du said someone came to visit, a patient in a wheelchair, the police let her in, but didn’t follow, just stood guard outside the door.

It couldn’t be anyone but He Diesheng, truly persistent of her to come all the way here in her frail state.

He Diesheng’s constitution was naturally weak, and unlike Dong Ling, she didn’t have a system protecting her, so her injuries were quite serious, after being rushed to the emergency room, she underwent several surgeries, Xuan Du almost actually killed her.

“Drive faster.”

Dong Ling urged, He Diesheng meeting with Xuan Du was never a good thing.

Dong Ling looked at the scenery flashing past the window, her eyelids twitching, an inexplicable anxiety gripping her heart, making her quickly walk towards the inpatient department after arriving at the hospital.

Something fell from a height not far away, like a kite with a broken string, a large pool of blood spreading on the ground, the person’s head, like a shattered watermelon, splattering brain matter.

Screams immediately rang out, followed by the sound of running footsteps, Dong Ling stood motionless, her mind blank, her body cold.

She finally understood that unsettling feeling, Xuan Du had planned this all along!

She was also a lunatic!

All that calmness, that seeming resignation, it was all an act, how could someone like her be content with spending the rest of her life in prison? She probably couldn’t even endure a day, let alone years. To her, she had already lost everything, living was just lingering on.

Dong Ling dry heaved, unwilling to look back at the gruesome scene, it was terrifying and disgusting, as if the mixture of blood and brain matter had splattered on her skin, with a lingering metallic scent, making her stomach churn.

The police quickly arrived to deal with the situation, and facing the murmuring crowd, explained: “This is a suspect who committed suicide to avoid prosecution.”

Dong Ling’s face was cold as she went upstairs, feeling a hollowness in her heart.

She pushed open the ward door and saw the person standing by the window, her back turned, her figure thin and sharp, like a blade.

“Is this the outcome you wanted?”

Dong Ling didn’t mean to accuse, but her tone inevitably carried a hint of emotion.

Dong Ling didn’t want to interfere in their affairs, but she also didn’t want them to cause any deaths, so besides lending money to Xuan Du, she only inquired about her whereabouts when she disappeared.

Although it wasn’t her who lent the money, it was Song Mingzhi.

“Wasn’t it better to let her go to jail and pay for her crimes? Even if you locked her up, why did you have to do that to her?”

Even though Dong Ling knew Xuan Du wouldn’t stay quietly in jail, knew she had already planned to die.

He Diesheng, her back still turned, didn’t answer, she looked out the window, leaning against it, as if about to become the second falling kite.

Dong Ling pulled her back and looked at her face.

He Diesheng had lost a lot of weight, her cheekbones prominent, her features slightly contorted as she suppressed her emotions.

Her eyes were bloodshot, like a vengeful ghost crawling out from the depths of hell.

Her teeth gritted, her facial muscles twitching unnaturally.

Dong Ling subconsciously released her hand, looking at the haggard and pained person in front of her.

“She had someone send me a message, saying I had to come see her one last time.”

“I came, I tried to persuade her, I threatened her, I begged her, she was very satisfied, she felt like she hadn’t lost.”

“She said, ‘He Diesheng, why don’t you just die?’ and then jumped.”

“If there was anything she could use as a weapon in this room, she might have dragged me down to hell with her.”

He Diesheng’s eyes were indifferent and numb, making one feel suffocated, as if trapped in an airtight space.

“Why… I also want to know why.” He Diesheng looked at Dong Ling, or perhaps just at some point in the distance, muttering to herself, “It just happened.”

“I wanted to see her fear, her breakdown, her begging for mercy, to see her with nowhere to run but to rely on me. Sometimes I really hated her, wanted to strangle her with my own hands, she wasn’t likable at all, but when she really tried to die…”

“Have you ever felt that desperate need to grab onto something, but no matter how hard you try, you can’t?”

“I didn’t even have time to tell her, she was the loser, I won, I’ve always been the winner.”

He Diesheng’s face was as pale as a sheet, the same color as the white paint on the wall, beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, she laughed as she spoke.

She suddenly clutched her chest, as if in great pain, and then collapsed.

Dong Ling called for a doctor, watching coldly as He Diesheng was taken to the emergency room.

When she went downstairs, the body was gone, a cleaner was repeatedly scrubbing the bloodstains, trying to erase all traces of death.

There seemed to be people discussing what had happened, Dong Ling walked past them like a ghost.

She didn’t feel pain or sadness for Xuan Du’s death, just a hollowness, a sense of detachment.

She walked home listlessly, the housekeeper said someone had sent her a letter, which was placed on the table in her room.

Dong Ling nodded, but didn’t go to her room immediately.

She went to the music room and took out her long-time companion, her violin.

The notes were filled with a gentle sadness, like a sigh in the misty rain.

Dong Ling rarely contemplated the meaning of life before, because she was young then, full of curiosity about everything, and then she found her musical companion, and learned happily.

She had a smooth upbringing, rarely unable to obtain something she wanted, she knew what she had, so she always had a sense of compassion, which was why, when she met Xuan Du, she didn’t hesitate to reach out.

She never regretted helping her, even though she almost met with misfortune later.

Dong Ling didn’t resent Xuan Du, not because of blind kindness or compassion, but because the harm wasn’t realized, and she pitied Xuan Du, even with a sense of condescending sympathy, like someone fortunate looking down on someone unfortunate.

One couldn’t choose their initial fate, but they could choose how to face life, Dong Ling didn’t approve of Xuan Du’s way, so they parted ways.

But now that everything had ended, even though she had anticipated it, she still felt a sense of emptiness.

Dong Ling played two short pieces, until an unspeakable fatigue washed over her, making her body weak.

Chapter 70: Absolutely Not, Absolutely Not – I Miss You So Much Part 1

After seeing her brother off, Dong Ling sat restlessly on the bed, either fiddling with her phone or pressing her temples.

She desperately wished she could hear 021’s familiar, greasy, annoying voice at this moment, it would make her feel a little more at ease.

But just like the past week, her mind was still quiet, as if she had never been bound by any system.

This thought was a little terrifying, Dong Ling stopped herself from further spiraling, she didn’t want to drive herself insane.

Dong Ling felt uneasy, and with the help of a nurse, she sat in a wheelchair. Her legs weren’t actually seriously injured, it was just that her internal organs were damaged and her legs were still weak, requiring assistance.

She went to the twenty-sixth floor, unlocked the fingerprint lock at the door of the ward, and wheeled herself to Wen Han’s bedside.

Wen Han’s mother had already asked about his condition when she came to visit Dong Ling the day after the accident. Wen Han hadn’t experienced any physical changes due to the system’s dormancy, which was something Dong Ling was very grateful for.

Wen Han was still the same as before, still breathing, his heart still beating, but still not awake.

He had been lying like this for a year, how much longer would it be?

“Wake up soon, so everything, whether good or bad, can have a resolution.”

Dong Ling’s gaze was unfocused, a bitter look on her face.

The unsettling factor wasn’t the sword of Damocles hanging over her head, but the dull ache in her heart.

Strangely, she hadn’t complained much when she was first bound by the system, but these days, she often regretted going to visit Wen Han that day.

If only they had never met, it would have been better than this heartache.

However, things weren’t that dramatic, Wen Han didn’t open his eyes and say hello to Dong Ling, Dong Ling stayed for a while and then returned to her own ward.

Yuki called, and she originally thought it was to report that the matter had been handled, but unexpectedly, there were some changes.

“You’re saying she has some problems with her facial nerves?”

“Yes, CEO Dong, they didn’t mention this, I noticed something unusual during my observation, and just now, I asked her to demonstrate, her facial expressions are limited, although her appearance and skills are excellent, this greatly reduces her commercial value. When I asked, they said it wasn’t a medical issue, they had already gone to the hospital for a checkup, and they couldn’t change it no matter how hard they tried, what are your thoughts?”

Yuki knew this person looked a bit like the boss’s former lover, but she didn’t ask anything she shouldn’t, just considered the matter from a commercial perspective.

After hearing Yuki’s report, Dong Ling recalled her first encounter with Zhong Zhong, when Zhong Zhong was being criticized by her teacher for her expression management. If an idol couldn’t express a wide range of emotions, then her career would be limited, and acting was even more out of the question, unless she specialized in playing emotionless characters.

But she signed Zhong Zhong not for her commercial value, but because of her uncertain role in the plot.

“Talk to them, lower the price, but we must sign her.”

“Okay.”

Dong Ling hung up the phone, staring at it blankly.

She thought of Song Mingzhi again, wondering how she was doing, she could ask Zuo Zhen, she could ask Yu Shuangwei, but she didn’t dare, afraid that Song Mingzhi would find out and be annoyed.

In the afternoon, Yuki brought the person to Dong Ling. The girl was wearing a loose T-shirt and shorts, her face free of makeup, looking youthful and beautiful, but her expression was blank, like a quiet doll.

“Hello, CEO Dong.”

Zhong Zhong knew this was her new boss, and greeted her somewhat nervously.

Dong Ling quietly observed her from the hospital bed, she used to think she looked a bit like Song Mingzhi, but now that she was standing in front of her, she realized they weren’t alike at all.

Their expressions and auras were different, only their facial features were somewhat similar, making her suspect a blood relation between her and Song Mingzhi. Dong Ling’s thoughts wandered, could she be an illegitimate child of Song Mingzhi’s parents?

Zhong Zhong felt Dong Ling’s gaze, and remained motionless, letting her new boss observe her. After glancing at her, she looked away, to avoid making her boss feel offended.

She had seen pictures of CEO Dong before coming, and she was even more beautiful in person.

“Why did you choose this career path?”

Zhong Zhong, hearing Dong Ling’s sudden question, answered honestly: “To make money.”

“You know your lack of expression will limit your career options, right?”

Zhong Zhong nodded and said apologetically: “I’ve been like this for as long as I can remember, I can’t control it.”

Dong Ling believed that she couldn’t control her expressions, because even when saying this, Zhong Zhong’s expression remained indifferent, if it weren’t for the change in her tone, just looking at her face, it would be hard to sense her apology.

“Are you still in school?”

“I graduated from high school and didn’t continue.”

Zhong Zhong’s expression remained the same, her eyes dark, like opaque jade, making it impossible to see her inner thoughts.

Dong Ling wasn’t surprised and said: “Then take the singer route, Yuki, have Bai Lu manage her, focus on vocal training and expression management, everything else will follow the company’s regulations, start her training.”

Yuki nodded, indicating she understood.

“By the way, if you hear any gossip, don’t mind it, I have no ulterior motives towards you.” Dong Ling said this to Zhong Zhong, then looked at Yuki, “Yuki, pay attention, don’t let people gossip, especially about Mingzhi.”

Dong Ling made her stance clear, very straightforward.

She knew that Zhong Zhong’s face, which was 70% similar to Song Mingzhi’s, would inevitably cause some controversy, even malicious speculation, but she hoped to control it somewhat.

She had considered secretly training Zhong Zhong, but if people found out, it would be even more ambiguous.

Dong Ling was very troubled, if only she knew Zhong Zhong’s role in the original novel, then she wouldn’t be so clueless about what to do.

Yuki was a little puzzled, if she didn’t want Song Mingzhi to misunderstand, then why sign this girl and keep an eye on her? But the boss’s business wasn’t something a secretary could interfere with, she would just do as her boss instructed.

Zhong Zhong followed Yuki and was taken to meet her new agent.

Zuo Zhen happened to be looking at the members’ profiles in the company, if Song Mingzhi terminated her contract, then she would have a vacancy, so she was looking for promising newcomers to manage.

She ran into Yuki and, looking at the girl with rimless glasses beside Yuki, her expression turned subtly strange.

Even though the girl was wearing glasses, as an experienced agent who had spent a considerable amount of time with Song Mingzhi, she could tell at a glance who this girl resembled.

“Secretary Lin, is this… a new artist?”

Yuki’s real surname was Lin, she nodded in response, she had specifically bought glasses for Zhong Zhong to avoid attracting attention, but she knew she couldn’t hide it from Zuo Zhen, and since this was the boss’s lover’s agent, she let Zhong Zhong wait in the office and explained to Zuo Zhen.

“The boss has no ulterior motives, she just signed her to prevent other companies from using her to compete with us because of her appearance.”

Yuki wasn’t lying, with Song Mingzhi’s rising popularity, Dream Machine had increased Zhong Zhong’s asking price several times, her face alone could be used to gain popularity by associating her with Song Mingzhi, she had a unique quality.

Zuo Zhen nodded, she had her own thoughts.

If it weren’t for Song Mingzhi’s intention to terminate her contract, she might have believed it, but now… she didn’t know if this was the boss’s new lover, or a replacement she found.

When Zuo Zhen returned to the film set, she looked at Song Mingzhi with hidden sympathy.

Song Mingzhi sensitively caught her gaze, sensed something was off, raised an eyebrow slightly, and looked at her questioningly.

Zuo Zhen looked away and didn’t say anything.

The September sun was still scorching, Dong Ling was in her ward, holding a book in her hand.

As dusk approached, she received Yuki’s progress report.

Zhong Zhong was now being managed by Bai Lu, she had already found a vocal coach, and they were planning to train her as a singer.

Training took time, Dong Ling put this matter aside, lowered her head, and filled her mind with knowledge.

She didn’t want to let her mind wander, if she was idle, she would inevitably think of Song Mingzhi.

The situation that day was too sudden, Song Mingzhi’s departure too decisive, she didn’t even have time to apologize, and there was no way to apologize now, it would seem like a signal of completely cutting ties.

But even reading couldn’t dispel her thoughts, truly frustrating.

Habits were terrifying things, she was used to saying good morning and good night to Song Mingzhi, used to sharing interesting things and stories with her, so whenever she saw a good article or sentence, she instinctively wanted to tell her.

Dong Ling deleted the words in the chat window bit by bit, staring blankly at their last conversation, which ended eight days ago.

Song Mingzhi, sitting in her hotel room, watched the “typing…” appear and disappear in their chat window, her expression changing constantly.

In the end, nothing appeared in the chat window, and the constantly appearing and disappearing words were gone.

Song Mingzhi couldn’t help but sneer, feeling a little irritated, she switched to a different page.

She seemed to be caught in a loop, her rational mind telling her to let go, but failed relationships couldn’t be deleted like files, they were like viruses constantly sending pop-up notifications, disrupting the system.

It would be best if Dong Ling never came looking for her, never tried to salvage the situation, then she could completely cut ties and move on.

But every time Song Mingzhi thought this way, her heart would waver.

Song Mingzhi closed her eyes, turned down the air conditioning, and opened her chat window with Wang Buli, their last conversation was four days ago.

Wang Buli told her about Dong Ling’s recovery, and her heart ached seeing Dong Ling like that.

—Don’t tell me how she’s doing, it has nothing to do with me.

Wang Buli probably understood her meaning and didn’t ask why, just replied “Okay.”

Song Mingzhi, thinking of Dong Ling’s pale face, still didn’t ask.

She was probably lively and energetic again by now, the heartless girl.

…………

As the old saying went, it takes a hundred days to recover from bone and muscle injuries, but Dong Ling wanted to be discharged after half a month, her parents refused to let her, wanting her to stay in the hospital for two more months.

“Mom, it’s really not that serious, the doctor said I can be discharged, it’s the same if I recuperate at home, and you don’t have to travel back and forth between the hospital and home.”

Liu Zhuoyun said worriedly: “Okay, but if you feel unwell at home, you must see a doctor immediately.”

“Okay, I know.”

“Then your father and I will go home first, I made you some chicken soup, you can have it when you get back.”

Dong Ling touched her soft belly and nodded.

There wasn’t much to prepare for being discharged, but there was one thing she had to do.

When she went to the ward next door, Xuan Du seemed to be writing something. Seeing Dong Ling, she quickly put it away.

“The police should be coming to question you later, congratulations in advance on your self-improvement journey, I don’t know how long you’ll be sentenced for, but I hope you’ll have turned over a new leaf when you come out.”

Dong Ling wasn’t interested in what Xuan Du was writing, she came just to tell her the ending.

She had already made arrangements, Xuan Du wouldn’t be able to escape punishment.

“Thank you for your parting words, but could you let me recuperate for two more days? Just two days, to mentally prepare myself… hey, don’t look at me like that, I’m not planning to run away, and besides, where could I run to? My dad isn’t the mayor anymore.”

Xuan Du shrugged, even in the mood to joke.

This felt strange, Dong Ling was used to seeing her hysterical side, she wasn’t used to seeing her like this.

“If you’re not reassured, you can ask the police to stand guard at the door, this is the twenty-fifth floor, I don’t have wings.”

“Okay.”

Dong Ling nodded, planning to tell the police officers later and ask them to keep a close eye on her.

Xuan Du waved her hand: “You’re truly merciless, hurry up and leave, I won’t disturb your lovey-dovey time.”

Dong Ling was puzzled: “What lovey-dovey time?”

“Isn’t that person coming to pick you up when you’re discharged?”

Xuan Du said with surprise, after all, that person’s attentiveness towards Dong Ling gave her goosebumps.

Dong Ling’s face darkened, Xuan Du truly knew how to poke her sore spots.

“You two broke up?”

Xuan Du caught Dong Ling’s reaction and was very surprised.

“What does it have to do with you?”

She and Song Mingzhi weren’t even officially dating, how could they break up?

“That’s a pity, I thought you two would be very happy together.”

“Are you Xuan Du? Are you possessed?”

Dong Ling truly felt like she was seeing a ghost, such words coming from Xuan Du, how strange.

Xuan Du crossed her arms and said coldly: “What? You don’t like my blessings? Then I hope you break up soon, if it weren’t for my current situation, I would set off fireworks to celebrate.”

Before Dong Ling could reply, she muttered to herself: “But you should still think about it, after all, she seems to like you quite a bit.”

Dong Ling was about to leave, but hearing this, she couldn’t help but ask: “Does she seem to like me a lot?”

“Yes, especially that time in front of your house, the way she looked at me was full of threats,” Xuan Du recalled and curled her lip in displeasure, “I really hate those who are even more pretentious than me, what gives a small-time actress such confidence?”

“You’re the one who’s being unreasonable.”

Dong Ling didn’t expect that the person she could calmly discuss her relationship with Song Mingzhi with was actually Xuan Du.

She sincerely hoped Xuan Du could reform herself in prison and start anew.

Before Dong Ling left, Xuan Du suddenly called her name.

“Nothing, just wanted to call your name.”

Xuan Du waved at Dong Ling, and Dong Ling mumbled “Weirdo,” suppressing the strange feeling in her heart.

After Dong Ling was discharged, Chen Shang Shang insisted on throwing a recovery party, a discharge party, for her. Her friends were too enthusiastic, Dong Ling couldn’t refuse, so she agreed.

But while they drank alcohol, she had milk and juice.

The party was at the usual place, one of Dong Nuo’s dedicated party venues.

Everyone came to express their concern for Dong Ling, and soon, she was surrounded by gifts.

Someone brought homemade cookies and cupcakes, asking Dong Ling to open them and share.

It was a small gathering, everyone eating, chatting, and inevitably, gossiping.

Gossip inevitably involved the most shocking news, and currently, the most shocking news was, of course, about Chen Fei.

Chen Shang Shang, afraid that Dong Ling would be uncomfortable, wanted to take her away.

“I’m going to the restroom.”

Dong Ling knew how much Chen Shang Shang loved gossip, she held Chen Shang Shang’s hand, and went herself.

She didn’t go to the restroom, but to the second floor, sat on a hanging chair, and stared blankly at the trees outside the window.

A fleeting movement caught her attention, Dong Ling jumped off the hanging chair, went to the window, and after thinking for a moment, took out her phone, zooming in through the camera to see clearly that it was a cat.

It should be a black cat from the neighbor’s house, its fur sleek and shiny, it had climbed a tree in the yard and was now sitting on a branch, wagging its tail, looking quite pleased with itself.

Someone from the neighbor’s house soon came out, seemingly looking for the cat, the cat remained motionless in the tree, ignoring the calls, just quietly watching its owner search for it.

So mischievous, Dong Ling thought, the corners of her lips curving upwards.

But the smile quickly froze, she couldn’t help but zoom in further, the image on the screen was already blurry, but even so, she could still tell who the person in light-colored clothes was.

Shouldn’t Song Mingzhi be on set filming? Why was she suddenly here?

The people in the small yard didn’t notice that someone was watching them from afar, Wang Buli shouted her cat’s name, looking at Song Mingzhi with exasperation.

“Lao Song, you go upstairs and wait for me, it’s probably hiding somewhere again, it always does this, I’ll go get some food and find it.”

Chapter 69: Absolutely Not, Absolutely Not – If One Doesn’t Work, Change Her

Xuan Du’s expression was incredibly calm, making Dong Ling instantly sense something was wrong.

“I’ve saved all the evidence and can press charges against you now, you can go to jail after your legs recover… of course, if you want to go now, that’s also fine.”

Dong Ling brought up this matter, she felt that Xuan Du going to jail was better than falling into He Diesheng’s hands.

She thought He Diesheng would definitely resort to some extreme measures, and to avoid that outcome, she could go through legal procedures and send Xuan Du to jail.

“It’s up to you, I’m ready anytime.”

Xuan Du was still looking out the window, Dong Ling couldn’t see her expression, and felt a brief unease in her heart.

“Your mother has been found, they found a lot of evidence against your father on her, she won’t escape imprisonment either.”

“I know, thank you.”

Dong Ling’s expression became even stranger, Xuan Du rarely thanked anyone, she always felt the world owed her something, acting as if everything was her birthright, perhaps this car accident, or perhaps her utter defeat, had changed her.

Dong Ling pushed the wheelchair back to her ward, a dull ache in her chest.

She looked at the vibrant bouquet of flowers in the ward, staring blankly.

She briefly fell asleep, then woke up with a start, but couldn’t remember what she had just dreamed about. She picked up her phone and saw a missed call and unread message from Zuo Zhen.

Dong Ling’s heart skipped a beat, Zuo Zhen only contacted her about Song Mingzhi-related matters.

[Zuo Zhen]: Boss, Mingzhi asked me to cancel all her upcoming engagements and said she would terminate her contract with the company after filming this movie, are you aware of this? What should I do?

Dong Ling felt listless, not even in the mood to reply, she finally moved her fingers and typed a few words, put her phone aside, and closed her eyes dejectedly.

On the film set, Zuo Zhen watched Song Mingzhi filming, lost in thought.

It seemed the boss and her little lover had broken up, this wasn’t uncommon in the industry, Zuo Zhen wasn’t surprised, just a little disappointed.

After all, Song Mingzhi was hand-picked and promoted by CEO Dong, how could she just terminate her contract? She wondered which company offered such generous terms to poach her.

But that wasn’t certain either, Zuo Zhen felt that Song Mingzhi wasn’t particularly ambitious, she just took whatever jobs were arranged for her, she didn’t seem to have a strong desire to climb higher, and CEO Dong had always been so affectionate, how could they suddenly break up?

Did CEO Dong find a new lover?

Her phone suddenly vibrated, Zuo Zhen looked down and saw the message from her boss.

[CEO Dong]: Listen to her.

Concise and comprehensive, three words said it all.

Zuo Zhen thought, CEO Dong must have found a new lover, sigh, this was normal, the entertainment industry was so fickle, full of temptations.

No wonder Song Mingzhi seemed to be in a bad mood these past few days, although she still had that expressionless face, her aura was very cold.

Not daring to gossip about her boss, Zuo Zhen sat back in the car and started making calls, planning to cancel or transfer all of Song Mingzhi’s upcoming engagements.

Song Mingzhi finished filming a scene and was checking messages in the car when she heard her agent busy canceling her schedule.

She leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes to rest, a faint anxiety rising in her heart.

Her thoughts had been very chaotic these past few days, affecting her performance, Yu Shuangwei even talked to her about it, she only managed to focus during filming after that, but off-set, she felt extremely restless.

Perhaps because this film set was filled with Dong Ling’s presence, sometimes, in her daze, Song Mingzhi would feel that Dong Ling was still sitting beside the director, waiting for her to finish filming.

But it was just an illusion, she didn’t know how Dong Ling truly felt about her.

She recalled Dong Ling’s words, still skeptical.

If, as Dong Ling said, there was a supernatural being controlling her, then she wouldn’t just be analyzing their relationship, but the very nature of this world.

If the obstacle between them couldn’t be overcome, then what was the point of talking about the future?

Ignoring the cause and process, just looking at the result, she wouldn’t forgive Dong Ling no matter what.

Song Mingzhi would rather believe that Dong Ling was playing with her, that her feelings were toyed with, that she had stumbled in love.

But even so, she still felt uneasy.

Song Mingzhi didn’t know what she was expecting, otherwise, she could have asked her assistant to handle the contract termination immediately, there was no need to wait until filming was finished.

This movie, who knew how much longer it would take, Yu Shuangwei prioritized perfection over efficiency.

She knew this, and also knew this wasn’t consistent with her usual decisive style, but thoughts were thoughts, actions were actions, Song Mingzhi was also troubled.

“I’ve canceled all your engagements, you just need to focus on finishing this movie, do you have any other plans after this?”

After finishing her calls, Zuo Zhen asked Song Mingzhi.

Dong Ling originally hired her specifically to manage Song Mingzhi, if Song Mingzhi terminated her contract, she had to consider her own future work arrangements.

Song Mingzhi replied with a blank expression: “No.”

“Okay, if you need any information about the industry, feel free to contact me.”

Although Zuo Zhen regretted losing such a valuable asset for the company, from a business perspective, she felt sorry for the money CEO Dong had spent on Song Mingzhi, but since CEO Dong didn’t mind, they could part ways amicably. Zuo Zhen also hoped to maintain a good relationship, after all, Song Mingzhi would definitely achieve great things in the future, building connections was always beneficial.

“No need, I’ll be leaving the industry after this movie.”

Song Mingzhi opened her eyes, her expression indifferent.

Why did she enter this industry in the first place? It was because someone looked at her with fervent eyes and said she was her muse.

Perhaps her initial decision was wrong, some things might not be meant to be, like her parents, whom she couldn’t find, perhaps, like her adoptive parents, they had already passed away.

No matter what kind of relationship it was, you couldn’t force it with just effort.

Zuo Zhen was quite surprised and said regretfully: “Okay.”

Song Mingzhi, after filming Yu Shuangwei’s movie, should have a bright future ahead of her, but she was actually leaving the industry, it seemed she had been deeply hurt in love.

Night fell, the stars sparse.

Dong Ling looked at the message from Zuo Zhen, then continued reading the book in her hand with her head lowered.

But after turning two pages, her mind wandered, the words floating in front of her eyes, not entering her brain.

Liu Zhuoyun came in with fish soup and saw her daughter’s dejected look.

“Baby, the nurse said you only ate a few bites of food tonight, this is the crucian carp soup Mom just made, it’s very nutritious, have some to nourish your stomach.”

Liu Zhuoyun’s heart ached for her daughter and placed the bowl in front of her.

“Thank you, Mom.”

Dong Ling put down her book and smiled at her mother.

“If you don’t want to talk about it, then don’t, why the long face? Be happy, so you can recover faster.”

Dong Ling shook her head: “It’s nothing.”

Liu Zhuoyun sighed: “I don’t know what’s wrong with you and your brother, both so quiet. You’ve always been good at acting coquettishly, but you’re even better at hiding things than your brother, don’t keep everything bottled up, Mom and Dad will always be there for you, okay?”

“I know.”

Dong Ling knew her parents and brother loved her very much, it was the same in the original novel, if they hadn’t doted on her so much, their family wouldn’t have met such a bad end.

Thinking of the original novel, she thought of the system, Dong Ling couldn’t help but sigh and took a sip of fish soup.

Seeing that she couldn’t get anything out of her, Liu Zhuoyun could only ask her son to try.

So Dong Ling received a loving breakfast from her brother, along with a heart-wrenching question.

“Where’s your girlfriend? Why haven’t I seen her visit you? So inconsiderate.”

Dong Tang noticed that it had been almost a week, and he hadn’t seen his sister’s little lover come to visit, he was a little dissatisfied.

Dong Ling, who was about to eat breakfast: …

Brother, you’re truly my brother.

Dong Ling mumbled: “She’s not my girlfriend.”

Dong Tang looked at his sister in surprise, he didn’t think Dong Ling couldn’t get the girl, after all, she had invested so much money and effort, he could only think that Dong Ling’s enthusiasm had waned.

“Okay, she’s just a lover anyway, if one doesn’t work, there are plenty of others, if you like, I can arrange it for you.”

To Dong Tang, his sister was the most important, he could find any kind of beautiful woman Dong Ling liked, that Song Mingzhi was beautiful, but there was no shortage of beautiful people in the world, if his sister wanted, he could find several for her.

Dong Ling said with a dark expression: “Brother, what do you think I am?”

This damn corrupt capitalist style, when would it be eradicated!

“And don’t talk about her like that, she’s not that kind of person.”

Dong Ling didn’t like her brother’s attitude and didn’t want Dong Tang to be condescending towards Song Mingzhi, she respected Song Mingzhi and wanted the people around her to respect her as well, she never saw Song Mingzhi as a plaything.

“If you’re so protective of her, why did you break up? Did she give you attitude?”

This made Dong Tang even angrier, his sister had given her money and effort, and she was beautiful, how could anyone be so blind?

“It’s my problem, brother, don’t ask, let’s change the subject, I don’t want to talk about this.”

It couldn’t be explained anyway, she couldn’t tell him she was afraid the world would end if Song Mingzhi fell in love, could she?

Then her brother would probably have doctors examine her brain, no one could say such things unless their brain was damaged.

“Okay, okay,” Dong Tang reluctantly agreed, but his thoughts didn’t change, “If you like beautiful women, I can introduce you to some.”

“Worry about yourself, you’re still single at your age.”

“Am I that old? A thirty-year-old diamond bachelor, okay?”

“Other people’s children are already old enough to help with chores.”

After bickering with her brother, Dong Ling’s mood improved somewhat.

She ate her breakfast slowly, her phone rang, it was Yuki, she put the call on speakerphone and continued eating while listening.

“Boss, Dream Machine is ready to let her go, the trainee you asked me to keep an eye on, should I sign her now?”

Dong Ling thought of Zhong Zhong, whose role in the original novel was unknown, and immediately made a decision, saying: “Sign her, and then bring her to me.”

The task system hadn’t made any noise lately, she wasn’t sure if it was still working, but she had to control this plot character.

Dong Ling hung up the phone, swallowed the porridge in her mouth, and was thinking about what to do next when she suddenly felt something was off.

She looked up and met her brother’s meaningful gaze.

“Not bad, this is how a woman should act.”

There are plenty of beautiful women in the sea, if one doesn’t work, change her.

Dong Ling: ?

Do you even understand women?

Chapter 68: Absolutely Not, Absolutely Not – Trying to Believe

Song Mingzhi’s three identical sentences represented her changing emotions.

When Dong Ling heard the last sentence, her emotional turmoil reached its peak.

“That’s not true, I…”

Dong Ling instinctively refuted it, she couldn’t bear to see Song Mingzhi like this, clearly disappointed, yet still trying to suppress her emotions and ask, it made her feel even worse than being directly questioned.

Dong Ling wanted to tell her about the system, she no longer cared if Song Mingzhi would think differently of her for approaching her to complete tasks, Song Mingzhi had the right to know the truth, the right to know about her feelings.

But she couldn’t say it, even with 021 dormant, she was still bound by the unspoken restriction.

Her vocal cords were trying to produce sound, but she couldn’t say a word.

Dong Ling felt a moment of despair, but she quickly made a decision.

Dong Ling never intended to hurt Song Mingzhi, and she didn’t want to simply cut ties between them, not just because of her unwillingness, but also because Dong Ling couldn’t determine if the task system was still running, she had to find a balance between the two.

“I like you,” Dong Ling admitted her feelings, looking into Song Mingzhi’s eyes, then she said, “But I can’t like you right now.”

How cruel it was to suppress her love, how absurd it was to explain the truth indirectly, but whether Song Mingzhi believed it or not, Dong Ling still decided to say it this way.

“It’s like… I should have died in that car accident, but I’m still alive, it wasn’t a miracle, it was… Cinderella’s fairy godmother’s magic.”

“In this fairy tale, Cinderella missed the pumpkin carriage because she overslept, but the story needs someone wearing glass slippers to appear at the prince’s ball and become his bride, so the fairy godmother found me and asked me to take Cinderella’s place and complete all of this.”

“But the magic has a time limit, and the real Cinderella could wake up at any time, how can I fall in love with the prince and become his bride? Everything could change at any moment.”

Dong Ling tried her best to explain clearly, but she was also mocking herself, her words sounded like fabricated lies, like a player making excuses, who would believe such a supernatural story?

This was indeed an answer Song Mingzhi hadn’t expected. When Dong Ling confessed her feelings, she was overjoyed, but Dong Ling’s subsequent words made her confused, then her heart sank.

Song Mingzhi’s first reaction was to believe Dong Ling, she could sense that Dong Ling wasn’t deceiving or using her in their interactions, but this was too fantastical, like a story to coax a child.

Song Mingzhi started searching through her memories, recalling her conversation with Wang Buli when she arrived.

Wang Buli said Dong Ling was the most incredible patient she had ever encountered. Dong Ling was sitting in the passenger seat, and when the cars collided, the driver instinctively turned the steering wheel, so she should have been the most seriously injured, she should have been critically injured when she arrived, but Dong Ling’s condition was surprisingly good, her internal organs didn’t even bleed heavily, the person in the driver’s seat was in surgery for seven hours before stabilizing, and further surgeries were needed to ensure their survival, their life hanging by a thread.

Song Mingzhi thought about Dong Ling’s sometimes unusual behavior, searching for more clues in her memories, she didn’t know if this was her trying to convince herself, preferring to believe this fantastical story than believe that Dong Ling was lying to her, unwilling to believe that Dong Ling didn’t like her.

Song Mingzhi’s reason and emotions seemed to be at odds, wavering between doubt and belief, battling each other.

“Is this a story?”

Song Mingzhi’s short-term memory, similar to hyperthymesia, allowed her to clearly remember every word Dong Ling had just said, and her expression when saying them. After replaying them in her mind three times, Song Mingzhi keenly grasped the key point.

Dong Ling froze, looking at Song Mingzhi in disbelief, a tingling sensation running down her spine.

Song Mingzhi actually understood! She actually got it!

Dong Ling carefully chose her words, trying to avoid the restrictions: “Fairy tales are stories, they have a set storyline and a perfect ending, the fairy tale world exists for their stories.”

Song Mingzhi didn’t nod or shake her head, she peeled an orange and offered it to Dong Ling.

“Then when will you be able to like me?”

Dong Ling forced the words out: “I don’t know.”

“I understand.”

Song Mingzhi lowered her eyes and wiped the orange juice from her fingers with a tissue.

Dong Ling looked at her retreating figure, a wave of panic washing over her, she instinctively wanted to grab her sleeve, but couldn’t, she could only watch as her hand grasped at empty air.

“Mingzhi, do you believe me?”

Dong Ling asked anxiously, knowing that her words sounded completely absurd, but she still hoped Song Mingzhi would believe her.

But Song Mingzhi didn’t storm off angrily or mock her after hearing her words, which was already a sign of great restraint and composure.

“I’ll try to believe you. Let’s not contact each other for now, I’ll terminate my contract with the company after this movie is finished, and the agreement we signed will be void.”

Song Mingzhi’s back was turned, her voice calm and indifferent.

If she didn’t believe her, then she would undoubtedly think Dong Ling was playing with her feelings.

If she believed those absurd words, then Dong Ling was loving her on behalf of someone else, trapped in a situation beyond her control.

Neither of these was what Song Mingzhi wanted, Song Mingzhi needed to calm down, she didn’t want to see Dong Ling for a while.

Song Mingzhi left.

Dong Ling held back her tears, lay on the bed dejectedly, and stared blankly into space.

It seemed to be over between her and Song Mingzhi, she didn’t want to think about any more tasks, lying stiffly on the hospital bed, she thought with resignation, let this world live another day with the current progress.

But she still felt aggrieved, why did she have to bear all of this?

Why was this a story, why did the author make Wen Han and Song Mingzhi a destined couple, why didn’t Wen Han and Song Mingzhi fall in love with each other?

Many things in this world had no cause and effect, but Dong Ling desperately hoped there was, so she could have a reason to keep going.

The door opened again, Dong Ling thought Song Mingzhi had returned and immediately looked towards the door eagerly, but it was her brother, walking in with a bag.

“Ling Ling, I brought your clothes and toiletries, Mom packed them for you, let me know if you need anything else. And this is the soup Mom just made, she said you should have some if you have an appetite before going to sleep.”

Dong Tang took out the thermos first, then placed the bag of toiletries beside Dong Ling.

“Is there anything else you need… hey, why…”

Dong Tang, hearing his sister’s silence, looked up and saw Dong Ling’s red eyes and tears streaming down her face, and panicked.

He hurriedly took out a tissue to wipe her tears, but the more he wiped, the more tears flowed.

Dong Ling tugged at the corners of her lips, forcing a pale smile, her eyes filled with tears, and said: “The anesthetic wore off, it hurts a little.”

“Brother, it hurts.”

She didn’t even dare cry in front of Song Mingzhi, afraid she would think she was trying to gain sympathy.

She truly didn’t intend to deceive her feelings, it would be better if they were both straight, or if Song Mingzhi was straight, then Song Mingzhi wouldn’t be angry and hurt.

Every word of Song Mingzhi’s calm, disappointed expression was like a sharp knife, stabbing her heart, and thinking of the pain she had caused Song Mingzhi, it hurt even more.

The effects of the anesthetic were indeed wearing off. Although 021 had done its best to save her life, there were still injuries, and it still hurt. Dong Ling, using this pain as an excuse, unrestrainedly released her sorrow.

“Does it hurt that much? I’ll go call the doctor.”

Dong Tang was anxious, gently patting Dong Ling’s back, and was about to press the call button.

He knew Dong Ling had been afraid of pain since she was young, her senses more sensitive than others, how much pain she must be in now to be crying like this.

Dong Ling shook her head at him, lying there listlessly.

Her mind was filled with Song Mingzhi’s retreating figure and the light fading from her initially hopeful eyes.

She couldn’t tell anyone about this, the only one who knew the truth, the AI, was in a deep sleep of unknown duration, her words of love sounding like a grand lie to others.

Dong Ling didn’t know when she fell asleep, she didn’t get to drink the soup her mother made, but her mother brought her a new batch the next day.

Birds outside the window perched on branches, preening their feathers, everything in the world continued as usual, no one noticed the end of a silent affection.

Dong Ling realized that Song Mingzhi seemed to have disappeared from her life, no one around her mentioned Song Mingzhi, as if she had never existed.

Dong Ling panicked, she couldn’t help but interrupt Yuki, who was reporting on work, and asked: “Where’s Song Mingzhi?”

Yuki was taken aback and replied: “Filming on set, boss, do you need me to contact her?”

Dong Ling relaxed and shook her head, saying dejectedly: “Don’t disturb her.”

So her connection with Song Mingzhi existed only between them.

If they lost each other, their lives wouldn’t be affected at all.

Dong Ling couldn’t help but wonder, which company would Song Mingzhi go to after terminating her contract? With her current popularity and outstanding abilities, it shouldn’t be difficult for her to find a company… In short, Song Mingzhi didn’t really need her.

Today was five days after the car accident, and she hadn’t contacted Song Mingzhi for so long.

Dong Ling lay listlessly on the hospital bed, her body recovering day by day, but her spirit visibly wilting.

The phone suddenly rang, Dong Ling hurriedly answered it, and seeing it wasn’t Song Mingzhi, she answered with disappointment.

“I know, just tell them this is a criminal suspect and they can’t be discharged, I forbid it.”

The call was from the hospital, someone had come to discharge Xuan Du, and she had instructed them to inform her immediately if this happened.

The mayor was imprisoned, Xuan Du’s mother’s whereabouts were unknown, there was only one person who could do this for Xuan Du, it seemed He Diesheng had made her move.

Dong Ling went to Xuan Du’s ward and told her about it.

Xuan Du’s expression changed drastically, but quickly returned to normal. She sat in her wheelchair, looking out the window, and gave Dong Ling a faint smile.

“Do you remember the story you told me a long time ago? A scientist tried to save himself using the butterfly effect, but even though he could make the sky cloudy, he couldn’t save those caught in the war, the changes he made with all his effort were insignificant to others.”

Dong Ling recalled: “Chaotic Butterfly by Liu Cixin.”

“Sometimes, the thing you’ve been fearing happening is a kind of relief.” (Quote from the movie Arrival)

Xuan Du looked out the window, and Dong Ling was stunned.

The exposure and end of their unspoken, ambiguous relationship, was it a relief for her and Song Mingzhi?