Chapter 85: Strangers When We Meet Again
Yu Linna wore an apron, her hair tied in a ponytail, busy in the kitchen. She gently scooped a bit of soup with a spoon into a small dish, then tasted the soup in the dish herself.
“The taste is just right.”
Saying this, she put the lid back on the pot and continued simmering.
Food was already laid out on the dining table: four dishes and one soup. Although not very rich, it was nutritious enough as a home-cooked meal. It had been almost a month since she started living here. This month, as a student working part-time, she hadn’t done any work since this month began, just cooking at home.
She had briefly worked as a cook in a restaurant before, but was fired for taking too much leave. Cooking was absolutely no problem for her; her years of life had long cultivated her good cooking skills. The meals she made were much tastier than Ye Zhiyun’s half-baked cooking. If she chose to be a chef, it shouldn’t be difficult.
“So tired. I’m back. Is dinner ready?”
When the clock hand pointed to seven, Ye Zhiyun came in from outside, travel-worn. She wore a gray coat, a black scarf covering half her face. Her cheeks were a bit cold from the wind.
“Almost. Go watch TV on the sofa for a while. It’ll be ready in five minutes.”
“Okay, hurry up. So hungry.”
“Okay.”
Ye Zhiyun took off her scarf, removed her coat, and sat in the heated living room, much more comfortable than outside. She had been busy for so long these days, she had gotten used to having Yu Linna around. Since taking her in, this girl had taken over the household chores and meals. Although she didn’t have to do these things, she insisted, so Ye Zhiyun didn’t object.
“Let’s eat.”
“Smells good. Nana, what did you make today?”
“It’s old fire soup (slow-cooked soup).”
They gradually got used to living together, and time passed just like that. Although Ye Zhiyun bled heavily over the eighty million matter, fortunately, the “Storm Seal Chronicle” she invested in made money, allowing her to smoothly pass the winter and continue her business. For this, her father even scolded her several times, saying she wasn’t shrewd at all as a businesswoman; eighty million was too much of a loss.
Of course, she knew spending that eighty million was foolish, but it was her decision after all. For her, someone’s value was more important than those eighty million.
And Yu Linna was now truly living a life of being well-fed and warmly clothed. She didn’t have to do any work except the daily commute to and from school. The rest was coming back to cook for her. Because the two weren’t in the same school, their commute routes were different, but there was always time to eat dinner at home. It was just that Ye Zhiyun was busier; besides classes, she also had to discuss business, sometimes not coming back at all.
Otherwise, how could this rich woman be so rich? Wasn’t it earned by herself?
“This soup is quite good, several times better than when you first started. Have your cooking skills improved?”
Hearing this, Yu Linna just smiled.
Speaking of which, her current situation was like being kept by someone. She didn’t have to do anything but cook, could eat well and wear warm clothes every day. This was unimaginable before.
Think about it, someone sleeping in the park a month ago suddenly had a house to live in and could eat full meals. It felt like a dream. Such a feeling never existed in the past.
“Now, besides cooking, it seems I can’t do anything else.”
Yu Linna smiled bitterly.
This wasn’t wrong. Yu Linna lost her dream, lost her goal. After quitting the entertainment industry, she suddenly didn’t know what to do. In the past, she still had Nangong Ying as a goal, thinking of chasing after her. But now…
Her relationship with Nangong Ying was truly over. It was impossible for them to contact each other again. After all, Nangong Ying did that kind of thing; she couldn’t just forgive her like that. It was just that sometimes, Yu Linna would wonder why their friendship was so fragile in the face of capital. They used to be so close, but in the face of huge power, they were helpless.
And before, she could never imagine that Nangong Ying would betray her for her career.
But when she learned that the movie starring Nangong Ying was released and achieved super high box office, she still went to the cinema and bought a ticket. She sat in the audience, watching Nangong Ying’s figure on the screen, that face she had seen countless times, yet on the screen, it became so unfamiliar. She knew they could never go back.
After finishing the movie that day, Yu Linna returned alone. She stood on the balcony looking up at the night sky, letting the cold wind hit her face. If Ye Zhiyun hadn’t come back early, she might have stayed on the balcony until midnight.
Once, they were so close. Once, they were so intimate. Once, she was the person she trusted most in this world, but now became the person who hurt her the most.
“You’ll eventually find something you can do. Before that, isn’t it quite nice to cook for me?”
Anyway, Ye Zhiyun had gotten used to eating her cooking. What harm was there in letting her continue to stay? Besides, she also liked coming home to a hot meal after a busy day. It felt like a home. She seemed to somewhat understand why her own mother quit the business world to be a noble lady at home. What could be more comfortable than home?
“That’s true.”
Yu Linna gave a wry smile and said no more.
The next day, she continued her school life. Since taking leave for half a month some time ago, the current homeroom teacher kept a close eye on her, and she no longer fell behind in her courses. She attended classes properly every day, did her test papers properly, stably occupying the ranking list.
Fang Jianing was still her deskmate. Before every exam, she would ask her for extra tutoring, a special training session. Under Yu Linna’s influence, Fang Jianing’s grades also rose rapidly. In the last mock exam, she successfully entered the top ten. Thinking back to her first year of high school when she couldn’t even enter the top hundred, now in her third year, she actually had the chance to break into the top ten. Truly incredible.
“Linna, let’s have special training today too! I found I can solve many problems. As long as you’re here, I have a chance to enter the top five next time!”
Facing Fang Jianing’s enthusiastic invitation, Yu Linna didn’t want to bother at all. Where did she have the time to mess around with these things?
“Not going, no time.”
“Eh… Aren’t you living with Zhiyun now? You don’t have a job, how can you not have time? Don’t tell me you’re just busy cooking.”
Fang Jianing’s resentful little gaze startled Yu Linna. Feeling guilty, she turned her head away, her tone also becoming unnatural. Looking at her small eyes, she found she couldn’t come up with a good excuse.
“Um, how did you, know…”
“Oh, Zhiyun told me. Said you seemed to have been kicked out onto the street, and now have no job, so you’re living at her place.”
“Don’t say that kind of thing…”
Yu Linna just wanted to cover her face. Why did people know about this? She didn’t want anyone to know she was living with Ye Zhiyun at all. Although she was also a girl, living under the same roof with a girl still made her somewhat uncomfortable.
But luckily Ye Zhiyun didn’t say the reason why Yu Linna was kicked out. If Fang Jianing knew Yu Linna was sleeping on the street because of the Orange River incident, it might add unnecessary trouble. Yu Linna didn’t like trouble, so she just let it go.
“Alright, it’s settled then. Tutor me in English this afternoon. As a reward, I’ll treat you to a hot dog. How about it?”
“Okay.”
Thinking there was no reason to refuse, Yu Linna still agreed. Forget it, a little time doesn’t matter.
Her relationship with Fang Jianing was getting better and better now. The two were almost inseparable at school. Besides Ye Zhiyun, no one could interfere with them. As for Huo Ningning, she wanted to get close every day, but unfortunately, Yu Linna never allowed it. Huo Ningning bit her handkerchief every day, silently watching from the corner.
She and Fang Jianing walked on campus, chatting idly, talking about meaningless topics. Suddenly, a strand of blue hair drifted past Yu Linna’s eyes. Those particularly beautiful eyes instantly widened. She looked up and saw that figure.
That girl also saw her. She turned around, looking towards her. Today she wore the school uniform skirt, her hair tied in a single ponytail, her eyes carrying a hint of shame.
“Wow, look, it’s Senior Sister Nangong! The one we just saw at the cinema!”
“Senior Sister Nangong is already a big star! We should get her autograph and photo now!”
“Senior Sister Nangong, you’re really cool! I watched your movie, really cool, I like you so much!”
“Classmate Nangong, are you lacking a boyfriend…”
Nangong Ying was popular now. Relying on one movie to make her famous, she became this year’s most powerful newcomer. Many companies also saw the potential of this newcomer and threw olive branches one after another. The current Nangong Ying, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she became famous overnight. She was a true big star.
Looking at those eyes, Yu Linna’s gaze dimmed. Once upon a time, those eyes held protection. Now, she only saw hurt in those eyes.
A crowd quickly gathered around Nangong Ying. They surrounded her, asking for her autograph. The campus instantly became crowded.
Nangong looked at the blonde hair outside the crowd, a trace of guilt and unease in her eyes, lowering her head. And Yu Linna finally sighed, slowly walking past the edge of the crowd. She walked step by step, without hesitation. When that step passed Nangong Ying, she clearly saw the sadness on Nangong Ying’s face.
But she couldn’t stop. She had to keep walking, without any lingering.
She walked past Nangong Ying. From now on, never looking back.
Nangong Ying closed her eyes. Everything in the world seemed to have nothing to do with her anymore. At this moment, she was the loneliest person. Linna, if there was a chance to choose, would you continue walking this path with me? But I know that’s impossible now.
“What’s wrong, Linna? Don’t you know Classmate Nangong? Why didn’t you go say hello?”
“No need. We don’t need to greet each other anymore.”
“What’s wrong with you!”
“Nothing’s wrong.”
I’m sorry, Nangong. I can’t forgive you. Because you hurt me too deeply. We can’t go back anymore.
If there was a chance to choose, would you give up this path? But we both know, that’s impossible now.
Leaves fell, carried away by the wind. The blonde girl walked towards the direction outside the school gate, never looking back. And outside the school gate, a black-haired girl was waiting for her. The moment she saw her, the black-haired girl revealed a faint smile, took a few steps forward, and took her hand.
A new path had already been found.
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