Chapter 67: Absolutely Not, Absolutely Not – About Liking Someone
Both Chen Shang Shang and Tang Qianxi were startled by Dong Ling’s extreme reaction, because based on Dong Ling’s personality, although this kind of gossip was shocking, it shouldn’t cause her such physical and psychological discomfort.
“Ling Ling, should we call a doctor?”
They were worried it was an adverse reaction from the car accident and hurriedly asked.
“No need.”
Dong Ling suppressed her nausea, rinsed her mouth, and used the scent of oranges to calm herself down.
She had always known that some people played around, normally, Chen Fei and her mother’s twisted relationship wouldn’t bother her at all, she would just be surprised and distance herself, but Xuan Du’s situation was still fresh in her mind, so she couldn’t help it.
He Diesheng’s attack was truly cruel, Xuan Du was homophobic, and she actually used this to attack her, this kind of psychological impact was truly ruthless.
A light knock came from the door, drawing everyone’s attention.
Chen Shang Shang thought Xuan Du had returned and was about to open the door and curse at her, but she froze when she saw the person.
The person in front of her looked terrible, her gloomy aura almost frightening.
“Song Mingzhi, why are you here? Are you worried about Ling Ling? Come in.”
Chen Shang Shang didn’t think too much about it, assuming Song Mingzhi had rushed over after receiving news of Dong Ling’s accident, and was in this state because of her haste.
Dong Ling sat up slightly and smiled at Song Mingzhi, who walked in.
“Mingzhi, why are you here? It’s so late, how did you get here?”
It was already 2 am, Song Mingzhi’s sudden appearance surprised her.
Tang Qianxi was more perceptive than the two of them, the news of Dong Ling’s accident was blocked immediately because it involved He Diesheng, and with tonight’s turmoil, logically, Song Mingzhi shouldn’t have known.
But how did she find out and get here so quickly?
She was a little suspicious, but didn’t show it in this situation.
“I heard from a friend that you were in an accident, so I rushed over.”
Song Mingzhi’s voice was a little tired, she had come in a hurry, her hair slightly disheveled.
She had indeed felt a chill in her bones when she heard the news, her heart still cold, but she quickly calmed down.
She wasn’t someone who jumped to conclusions, Dong Ling wouldn’t have suddenly said those words to her friend, there must be a reason.
She observed Chen Shang Shang’s expression when she opened the door, Chen Shang Shang knew about her and Dong Ling, if they were talking about her behind her back, Chen Shang Shang’s expression would have been unnatural when she appeared, but Chen Shang Shang didn’t show any such signs, which meant their conversation wasn’t about her and Dong Ling’s relationship, it was more likely that she missed part of the conversation.
But even though her mind was rationally analyzing the situation, Song Mingzhi couldn’t ignore the lump in her throat, like a small thorn pricking her heart, making her chest feel cold with each breath.
Dong Ling said “Oh,” and beckoned to Song Mingzhi, asking her to sit down.
She knew Song Mingzhi had connections, able to find out things and even borrow designer bags, so she wasn’t too surprised.
“We’ll be going now, Ling Ling, call us if you need anything.”
Chen Shang Shang tactfully prepared to leave, now that the canary, the lover, was here, they wouldn’t stay and be lightbulbs.
Dong Ling nodded, and Chen Shang Shang left with Tang Qianxi.
At the hospital entrance, just as Tang Qianxi was about to say something, Chen Shang Shang interrupted her.
“Stop, we still haven’t resolved our own issues, don’t talk to me.”
Tang Qianxi chuckled: “Weren’t you the one who rejected me? Why are you acting like I’m the one at fault?”
Chen Shang Shang said unreasonably: “Wasn’t it mutual? You were the one who insisted on me coming out, I’m the only child in my family, my legs would be broken!”
“You know I’m a coward, Tang Qianxi, I’m truly afraid, I admit I’m superficial, I admit I like you, I admit I’m not interested in anyone else, but so what?”
Chen Shang Shang said dejectedly: “I wish I could be as carefree as Ling Ling, keeping whoever she wants, not afraid of what her family says.”
Tang Qianxi pinched her ear and said sarcastically: “Who do you want to keep?”
“Just talking, let go, I’m leaving!”
Chen Shang Shang ran away like a rabbit, leaving Tang Qianxi sighing.
And the carefree person she envied was currently sitting awkwardly on the hospital bed, looking at the canary, afraid to speak.
Dong Ling sensed Song Mingzhi’s bad mood, although Song Mingzhi didn’t show it, Dong Ling could still sense her suppressed emotions.
“It’s really not that serious, the doctor said I was very lucky.”
Dong Ling looked at the bandages on her body, trying to comfort Song Mingzhi.
It wasn’t just luck, if it weren’t for 021’s help, she might already be dead.
This was probably a blessing in disguise. When she was first bound by the system, she had imagined the day 021 would save her.
“Don’t talk, it hurts.”
Song Mingzhi’s voice was slightly hoarse, she couldn’t bring herself to blame her for not taking care of herself, this was a human-caused disaster, Dong Ling couldn’t have known.
Dong Ling obediently stopped talking, lying still on the bed.
Song Mingzhi calmed down and asked about what had happened.
“Is she next door?”
Song Mingzhi turned her head, as if wanting to see the person in the next ward through the wall, her hands clenched into fists, and when she turned back, she hid the coldness in her eyes, to avoid scaring Dong Ling.
“Yes, my family won’t let her off the hook, she has to pay for what she did.”
Dong Ling thought Xuan Du should indeed go to jail to reflect, regardless of her motives, she had broken the law, and it was actually better for her to be in jail, He Diesheng’s reach couldn’t extend that far. Xuan Du going to jail was a certainty, but she had a strange feeling that this wasn’t over yet.
Song Mingzhi nodded, indeed, it couldn’t just end like this.
“Do you want an orange?”
Song Mingzhi looked at the oranges beside her, took two, peeled them, and offered them to Dong Ling.
Dong Ling nodded, the sweet taste of oranges still lingering on her tongue.
“Were you talking about something before I came in? The atmosphere in the room felt a little strange when I arrived.”
Song Mingzhi didn’t say she heard anything, but subtly inquired.
It was better if Song Mingzhi hadn’t mentioned it, Dong Ling’s reaction intensified, she frowned with a troubled expression.
“It was some gossip Chen Shang Shang told me, about someone in our circle, I think I told you about it before.”
Dong Ling wasn’t usually one to gossip, especially not with Song Mingzhi, this kind of thing, she would just be surprised and keep it to herself, but at this moment, Dong Ling couldn’t help but share.
She only talked about Chen Fei and her mother, their mother-daughter relationship was also competitive and twisted, Dong Ling felt that ultimately, it was Chen Fei’s mother’s fault, it was highly unlikely for Chen Fei not to be affected.
She didn’t mention Xuan Du and He Diesheng, because they were people she knew, so the impact on her was greater. She knew this was a tragedy for Xuan Du, but even with such complex feelings, she couldn’t bring herself to revel in someone else’s pain.
“It’s truly too… if it was in a novel, I might just be touched by the description, but they’re real people, I really…”
Dong Ling pressed her hand against her throat, suppressing the wave of nausea.
Some things, happening to others and happening to people you knew, were completely different.
“It’s truly disgusting for those people to be lesbians… I’m not prejudiced against sexual orientation, it’s about them as people…”
Dong Ling’s expression was complex, it wasn’t about sexual orientation, but about them as people.
Song Mingzhi’s expression softened slightly, the knot in her heart untangled, but looking at Dong Ling’s subtle expression, a sudden impulse arose in her mind.
“We’re not the same, right?”
This wasn’t part of Song Mingzhi’s plan, she hadn’t intended to say this.
But one could never predict what would happen next, like how she didn’t expect to hear Dong Ling say those words when she arrived. If she hadn’t heard them, she wouldn’t have said this now, impulsively uttering these almost provocative words.
But Song Mingzhi didn’t regret it, the impulse was followed by a sense of exhilaration and a heart-pounding anticipation.
She didn’t want to endure it any longer, she didn’t want to play this long game of chase with Dong Ling anymore, she didn’t want to endure Dong Ling’s ambiguous actions, living in a space where everything seemed possible, yet nothing was.
Waiting without a deadline was too torturous, Song Mingzhi wanted an answer.
Dong Ling froze, looking at Song Mingzhi, her mind blank.
“We’re not the same, right?”
Song Mingzhi looked at Dong Ling’s face and repeated what she had just said, but with certainty instead of the initial uncertainty.
This certainty came from Dong Ling, she believed Dong Ling liked her and cared about her.
If it was just as a friend, why would she be so worried, anxious, and even angry after comforting her that her injuries weren’t serious?
Song Mingzhi was someone who valued a sense of belonging. When her adoptive parents passed away, those who tried to seize their assets condescendingly told her that she was just an adopted child, that she had no right to interfere.
She was legally adopted by her adoptive parents, recognized by law, but not by them, she was just an outsider added to the family tree, a lucky person who had benefited from their kindness, she was ostracized by the family, if it weren’t for this, why would she have to hide her capabilities and bide her time, hoping to find her biological parents?
And now, Song Mingzhi desperately wanted this sense of belonging from Dong Ling.
Since Dong Ling wouldn’t say it, then she would be the one to break the silence, she could tell Dong Ling that she didn’t have to worry about anything, that she would always have her back, and that she liked her too.
Song Mingzhi’s palms were sweating nervously, she waited for Dong Ling’s response.
Dong Ling didn’t have to say anything, even a nod would be enough.
But things didn’t go as planned, or rather, the opposite happened.
Dong Ling froze on the hospital bed, immense panic and helplessness making her expressionless, she didn’t know why Song Mingzhi chose this time to break the silence, or what kind of response she should give.
She really wanted to nod, but she was afraid she couldn’t bear the consequences, the only one she could rely on was now dormant, there was no voice to tell her what to do, like being on an island about to be swallowed by the waves, isolated and helpless.
So she just looked at Song Mingzhi silently, a hint of pleading in her eyes.
Please don’t, please don’t ask.
She didn’t know what answer to give, didn’t know how she could calmly be with Song Mingzhi after giving her answer, she could only numb herself and stay within her safe zone, afraid the sky would fall.
She was being avoidant, a coward, the chosen one.
Dong Ling looked at Song Mingzhi’s increasingly gloomy eyes, her breathing becoming difficult.
Her throat moved, she wanted to say something, but couldn’t.
The silence made the air stifling, making her feel embarrassed and helpless, a silent mockery, a ruthless irony.
Song Mingzhi unclenched her fists, which she had clenched nervously, and looked at Dong Ling quietly.
She didn’t know what Dong Ling was hesitating about, or what obstacle there was between them, she could only think of one answer.
In business negotiations, there was a threatening tactic, which was “It seems your company lacks sincerity…” In layman’s terms, it was the “I’m not buying it” tactic used in bargaining. This was usually very effective, forcing the other party to try and salvage the situation in their desperation. Of course, there was also the possibility of failure, it all depended on the other party’s bottom line.
“Dong Ling, you don’t like me, do you?”