Chapter 20: Absolutely Not, Absolutely Not x3
If she could do it over again, Dong Ling would have gagged Chen Shang Shang three seconds earlier, whether by throwing her into the Pacific Ocean to feed the sharks or sending her to Africa to mine, anything to prevent her from saying those words.
This world’s malice towards her was so great, she thought about emigrating to another planet every day.
Chen Shang Shang was still lost in her own thoughts, Dong Ling looked at Song Mingzhi, who had frozen in place, her expression stiff.
In this situation, the system was absolutely unreliable, because the idiot was still giving her a countdown.
[Task end countdown: two minutes.]
Dong Ling quickly chose between refuting and acquiescing. Since there would be more tasks like this in the future, she couldn’t make absolute statements, one should always leave themselves a way out.
“I only like someone based on whether our personalities click, it has nothing to do with gender.” Dong Ling waved to Song Mingzhi, pinched Chen Shang Shang’s face, and said with narrowed eyes, “And I’ve always loved Mother China, she’s a woman I love just like my own mother.”
[Task end countdown: one minute.]
Chen Shang Shang nodded with difficulty, indicating that she understood, and freed her face from Dong Ling’s hand.
“Don’t mind what other people say, Song Mingzhi is indeed the person I want to promote. Publicly, she is my person. Let them guess whatever they want. I might as well just say I like her, she’s someone I cherish, then no one would dare look down on her.”
Dong Ling looked at Song Mingzhi, who was walking up the stairs, and said: “Mingzhi, isn’t that right?”
The more open one was about something, the less people would speculate.
[Task complete, main storyline progress: 31%.]
“If you hear any gossip in the future, don’t take it to heart. The more famous you become, the more malicious speculation and slander there will be. But as long as you understand that we are Bole and Maxima, supporting each other, that’s all that matters.”
Dong Ling said frankly, openly showing her favoritism.
“Thank you, CEO Dong, I’m grateful for your support. I’ll work hard and live up to your expectations.”
Song Mingzhi emphasized the word “expectations,” calming the turbulent emotions stirred by these words.
Whether these were Dong Ling’s true feelings or words deliberately spoken for her to hear, Song Mingzhi took note of them.
She originally had no desire to climb higher, but if Dong Ling wanted her to become a superstar, then striving for that position wasn’t unacceptable.
She had never received such fervent favoritism and affirmation, so despite her usual suspicion, she didn’t want to speculate now.
She wasn’t someone who liked to take things one step at a time, but she was now starting to look forward to the unpredictable future.
“By the way, why are you back? Are you done filming?”
Dong Ling had just seen the film crew still filming, why was Song Mingzhi back so soon?
“There was a small problem, I came to change my undershirt and then continue filming.”
Song Mingzhi pointed to a large water stain on her left waist, which she had accidentally gotten while filming. The weather was quite cold now, and Cheng Ge felt that actors performing in damp clothes would affect their state, so he asked Song Mingzhi to quickly come back and change.
Dong Ling nodded, watching Song Mingzhi go upstairs.
After Song Mingzhi left, Chen Shang Shang spoke. She gave Dong Ling a thumbs-up and said: “Ling Ling, you’re amazing. I didn’t know you were such a smooth talker.”
Chen Shang Shang cupped her face and said: “So domineering and doting.”
Dong Ling said with a forced smile: “Do you want my domineering affection too?”
“Just kidding.”
Chen Shang Shang finished her teasing and didn’t bother Dong Ling anymore.
Song Mingzhi changed quickly and came downstairs soon.
Dong Ling and Chen Shang Shang waved to her and watched her leave.
After Song Mingzhi left, Chen Shang Shang continued the topic, pulling Dong Ling to sit on the sofa, and asked about Xuan Du with some concern.
“You just mentioned Xuan Du, what happened?”
“Yesterday was her birthday party, I went.”
Dong Ling gave a brief account, omitting the parts Chen Shang Shang didn’t know.
Sometimes, knowing too much wasn’t necessarily a good thing, especially since Chen Shang Shang couldn’t keep secrets.
Hearing that Xuan Du wanted to rekindle their friendship, Chen Shang Shang frowned. She didn’t want Dong Ling to get involved with Xuan Du again, she had never liked or even been a little afraid of Xuan Du.
Chen Shang Shang said with a serious expression: “Ling Ling, I’m not trying to drive a wedge between you two, but Xuan Du, she… you’d better not continue being friends with her, she’s too sinister, you’ll get into trouble sooner or later if you stay by her side.”
“What do you mean, what did she do?”
Dong Ling narrowed her eyes, sensing something unusual in Chen Shang Shang’s words.
Chen Shang Shang hesitated for a long time before saying: “Do you remember that swimming incident?”
“You mean when you accidentally fell into the water and then decided to learn how to swim?”
Dong Ling retrieved this incident from her memory. They were about fourteen years old at the time. They went hiking in the mountains, and Chen Shang Shang said she was going to catch some small fish. She returned to the campsite a while later, soaking wet, without any fish, having fallen into the river.
After that hiking trip, Chen Shang Shang signed up for swimming lessons. It was a small incident at the time. Dong Ling remembered it because after that trip, Chen Shang Shang became somewhat distant from her, which she found puzzling. But she just assumed Chen Shang Shang was too busy or had other friends, which was understandable, and during that time, her time was almost entirely occupied by Xuan Du…
Xuan Du.
“Does it have something to do with Xuan Du?”
Dong Ling’s face turned cold, a shadow falling over her features.
“Yes… I was catching small fish, Xuan Du pushed me from behind, and then she watched me struggle in the water, and pulled me out after a while. She told me to stay away from you, and said some other things.”
Chen Shang Shang had never told anyone about this. At that time, her family’s business hadn’t taken off yet, and as Xuan Du said, she was just Dong Ling’s little follower. She couldn’t afford to offend any of those people, so she could only silently follow Dong Ling. So when Xuan Du warned her, she didn’t dare to do anything.
When they returned to the campsite, Xuan Du even leaned against Dong Ling and teased her a couple of times, as if nothing had happened. Everyone was there, Dong Ling didn’t notice and just gave her a towel and urged her to change clothes.
Later, when they were eating, Xuan Du even handed her a cream cake. At that time, Xuan Du didn’t wear heavy makeup, and looked kind and harmless, but it made Chen Shang Shang’s blood run cold.
Fortunately, Xuan Du disappeared later and didn’t return for a long time, so she breathed a sigh of relief and continued hanging out with Dong Ling.
So even today, she still subconsciously feared Xuan Du.
“Ling Ling, those things are in the past, I’m not trying to bring up old grievances, I just want to warn you, she’s not a good person, don’t be fooled by her.”
Dong Ling’s expression had become very cold due to anger. Chen Shang Shang rarely saw her like this and tried to comfort her, feeling uneasy.
“Of course I know she’s not a good person. Don’t worry, I didn’t know about what happened to you back then.”
Dong Ling’s expression softened slightly, she reached out and patted Chen Shang Shang’s head, her eyes filled with cold fury.
Chen Shang Shang said coyly: “Ling Ling, I can’t handle it if you keep doing this, it’s too much.”
Her expression was incredibly shy, giving Dong Ling goosebumps.
“Who could handle this? You don’t have feelings for Song Mingzhi, are you sure she doesn’t have feelings for you?”
Chen Shang Shang’s thoughts suddenly went off track, Song Mingzhi’s expression when Dong Ling said those words flashing through her mind.
She saw her smile, but it was very subtle, and her eyes were deep, not quite like the usual reaction of an employee receiving praise from their boss.
“Of course not.”
Dong Ling waved her hand dismissively. This was a romance novel, the female lead’s sexual orientation shouldn’t be a problem, right? And she hadn’t done anything, how could Song Mingzhi like her?
It was good that she didn’t say this out loud, otherwise Tong Ao downstairs would be the first to jump up and hit her.
Dong Ling saw that Chen Shang Shang didn’t want her to bring up the past, so she didn’t, but she kept it in mind.
She didn’t want to have anything to do with Xuan Du, but Xuan Du didn’t seem to be willing to let it go, so she would deal with whatever came her way.
Seeing that Dong Ling was wary of Xuan Du, Chen Shang Shang was relieved and started talking about some recent gossip she had discovered.
“Ling Ling, do you remember the gossip I told you about a month or two ago? About Chen Fei.”
“Huh? The one where she slept with her mother’s boyfriend?”
Dong Ling remembered hearing about it when she went to visit Wen Han, and then she was kidnapped by the system, oh no, bound.
“Yes, I didn’t expect there to be a follow-up. Her mom froze all her cards, and she came to me to borrow money. I lent her some and then forgot about it.”
Chen Shang Shang’s face was full of excitement, her expression telling Dong Ling there was more juicy gossip to come.
“Then guess what? During this time, Chen Fei found a boyfriend to support her. Her boyfriend is also a rich second-generation heir. Chen Fei thought he was very good to her and wanted to take him home to get married. Her mom wasn’t angry at her anymore by then, so she took him home.”
“Then Chen Fei discovered her boyfriend in bed with her mom. It was truly… in a word, incredible.”
Chen Shang Shang gave a thumbs-up, her praise laced with irony, amazed.
“That exaggerated?”
Dong Ling was shocked. She had always known that some people in their circle played around, but this was truly…
“Yes, I had the honor of witnessing the scene. Chen Fei invited us to her house, and we heard indescribable sounds coming from upstairs. Her mother was wearing a Playboy bunny costume. I have to say, for her age, Auntie was quite open-minded. Then they started fighting, and we had to break it up.”
Chen Shang Shang recalled the chaotic scene that day, it was truly unforgettable.
Chen Shang Shang sighed: “What kind of feud do they have, I really don’t understand.”
“Maybe her mom has psychological problems, which caused her daughter to also have some problems.” Dong Ling recalled what her psychology professor had said. “Some mothers see their daughters as rivals. It’s strange, but it exists.”
Recalling the unhealthy mother-daughter relationship described by her professor, Dong Ling felt like she had forgotten something amidst Chen Shang Shang’s gossip. She thought for a moment, but decided it wasn’t anything important, put it out of her mind, and invited Chen Shang Shang out for dinner.
“By the way, where’s Qianxi? What has she been busy with lately?”
Dong Ling thought of her other good friend and asked with concern.
“Out on a date with her boyfriend, of course. Honestly, if she hadn’t mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten she has a boyfriend. They’re long-distance all year round, it’s almost like not having one. Her boyfriend is back in the country this time, so she’s with him.”
Chen Shang Shang shrugged, her expression not very happy.
Dong Ling knew about Tang Qianxi’s boyfriend. She had even helped Tang Qianxi pursue him, putting birthday messages on her family’s building’s billboard.
Tang Qianxi’s boyfriend was a researcher, not particularly good-looking, thin and lanky. Dong Ling and Chen Shang Shang were puzzled at the time why Tang Qianxi liked him, and Tang Qianxi replied that she liked smart guys.
Researchers were very busy, and Tang Qianxi’s boyfriend couldn’t come to any events. Dong Ling and Chen Shang Shang would occasionally forget she was in a relationship.
“Sometimes I really think she should just break up, I’m more like her boyfriend than he is. But as long as she’s happy.”
Chen Shang Shang raised her left hand and looked at the charm on her wrist, sighing.
She was wearing a bracelet with a dazzling red ruby pendant, and a small gold disc next to it engraved with Tang Qianxi’s initials.
Dong Ling knew this was their friendship charm. Tang Qianxi also had one, engraved with Chen Shang Shang’s initials.
When they first wore them, they were a little worried she would be angry, like in a group of three where two were closer. Dong Ling wasn’t angry, and even teased them, saying “If I didn’t know better, I’d think I was the mother-in-law, and you two were the star-crossed lovers I was trying to separate.”
She had always known they were closer, and she was also closer to Chen Shang Shang than to Tang Qianxi. She wasn’t upset, because she wouldn’t compare.
So the later development of this novel really didn’t make sense. How could she become so jealous that Wen Han cared more about Song Mingzhi that she turned evil and insisted on marrying him?
Her marrying Song Mingzhi would be much more reasonable!
Chen Shang Shang had a little wine with dinner. Dong Ling watched her drink and chatted about the recent progress of the movie. The topic inevitably turned to Song Mingzhi.
“Where did you find such a great beauty? She seems to have such a good temperament, clearly well-educated. It’s impossible for someone like her to not make a splash in the entertainment industry.”
Chen Shang Shang asked in confusion. After all, Song Mingzhi wasn’t a gem hidden in a mine waiting to be discovered, but a jade of exquisite quality, she should be marketable wherever she went.
Dong Ling simply answered: “Some personal reasons.”
“Then how long is her contract? Be careful, she might run away if it’s too short.”
“Don’t worry, she’s not that kind of person.”
The contract period was only five years, which was unheard of in the industry, after all, it was originally a pampering agreement.
Pursuing better options was human nature, but Dong Ling inexplicably believed Song Mingzhi wasn’t that kind of person.
While Dong Ling and Chen Shang Shang were talking about Song Mingzhi, Ji Yiling also happened to be talking about Dong Ling with Song Mingzhi.
“So, big star, how does it feel?”
Ji Yiling received the electronic document and teased Song Mingzhi.
“Not bad, quite a novel experience. You’ve been working hard lately.”
“Indeed, quite hard. Remember to give me a raise, I’m so busy I don’t even have time to date.”
Song Mingzhi: “I’ll give you paid time off when I’m free.”
“When will you be free? Aren’t actors always busy? Even if your little boss wants to promote you, she won’t let you be too capricious, right?”
Ji Yiling was really a little worried that Song Mingzhi would become a pitiful employee exploited by capitalists, even though Song Mingzhi herself was a terrible capitalist.
“She’ll allow it.”
The corners of Song Mingzhi’s lips curved upwards, clearly in a good mood.
Ji Yiling said: “You should know there’s no such thing as a free lunch, aren’t you afraid of what she wants in return…”
Song Mingzhi said softly: “It’s alright.”
There was a sudden commotion on the other end of the phone, Ji Yiling’s cat had walked across her keyboard.
“Don’t use my cup to wash your feet!”
Ji Yiling yelled in exasperation, a series of thuds followed before silence returned.
Ji Yiling said breathlessly: “Finally got that little ancestor off. Song, I didn’t hear what you just said.”
“Nothing, I know what I’m doing. Change that data again…”
Song Mingzhi steered the conversation back to work, suppressing her other thoughts.
After finishing her work, she glanced at the time on her computer, it was already 1:30 am, and the person in the secondary bedroom still hadn’t returned.
Dong Ling was currently at the airport, standing with Chen Shang Shang, eagerly looking towards the arrival gate.
Originally, after their dinner, one was going to the hotel and the other back to the film crew, but less than five minutes after they parted ways, Chen Shang Shang called and asked Dong Ling to go to the airport with her.
Because Tang Qianxi had called Chen Shang Shang and said she had broken up.
Chen Shang Shang’s words had come true, and she was devastated.
Tang Qianxi hadn’t taken off yet when she called, but Chen Shang Shang had already dragged Dong Ling to the airport and begun their long wait and discussion.
“How could they suddenly break up? Tang Qianxi has been with him for three years, three years! Not three days, not three months. They’ve always been long-distance, but their relationship seemed stable, he didn’t cheat, did he? She didn’t say anything on the phone, just said she broke up and was coming to see me, her tone very downcast.”
“Qianxi is almost here, we’ll find out soon.”
Dong Ling looked at the electronic display, saw Tang Qianxi’s flight information, and comforted her anxious friend.
A few minutes later, Tang Qianxi, wearing a white down jacket and a black mask, walked out of the crowd. Dong Ling didn’t recognize her immediately, but Chen Shang Shang was already waving.
They went to Chen Shang Shang’s hotel together. Dong Ling helped Tang Qianxi with her luggage and watched her sit on the sofa with a calm expression, pouring her a cup of hot water.
“Tell us what happened, how did you break up? Did you dump him or did he dump you? Did he cheat?”
Chen Shang Shang asked anxiously, ready to curse the scumbag to the ends of the earth.
“No cheating, I broke up with him.”
Tang Qianxi looked at Chen Shang Shang’s agitated state and flicked her forehead.
Dong Ling: “What happened? Was he too cold after being apart for so long?”
“Not really. I went to see him, he looked at me, gave me a gift, then took my suitcase, and we went to his place together. We cleaned his place together, and then he cooked for me.”
Tang Qianxi took a sip of hot water, her face, pale from the cold, regaining some color.
Dong Ling and Chen Shang Shang exchanged glances, neither interrupting. So far, what Tang Qianxi said was quite normal.
“After dinner, we went for a walk, he bought me a bouquet of flowers, and asked me when I would be free to take him home to meet my parents. At that moment, I suddenly felt terrified… I asked myself, could I really maintain this kind of love for a lifetime? Three years is fine, but what about another three years, and another?”
“So I asked him, ‘Why didn’t you ask if I missed you after being apart for so long?’ He repeated my question, and I said, ‘I did.’ He just said ‘Oh,’ and that was it.”
Dong Ling’s expression became a little strange. Although she had no relationship experience, she could sense that this wasn’t a normal conversation between a couple.
Chen Shang Shang said incredulously: “That’s it? That’s all?”
“Then I broke up with him, probably out of impulse. He asked me why, I said I couldn’t feel his love for me. He didn’t say anything, and I left.”
“He didn’t care about why I came, or why I left so readily.”
Tang Qianxi collapsed on the sofa and said listlessly: “So boring, not even as interesting as Dong Nuo breaking up ten times a month.”
Tang Qianxi didn’t cry, but Chen Shang Shang started wailing, hugging Tang Qianxi and saying she felt sorry for her, which amused Tang Qianxi.
Chen Shang Shang grandly ordered some wine, declaring they wouldn’t leave until they were drunk. Dong Ling thought, who was she kidding, she couldn’t even walk straight. She was taken back to the manor by Yuki, and assistant Xiao Tong helped her upstairs.
Dong Ling was only half-drunk, still conscious, but she had little control over her actions, almost falling as she entered.
Song Mingzhi was still working at her computer. Seeing Dong Ling come back drunk, a strange glint flashed in her eyes, and she walked over to support her.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, you’re still up?”
Dong Ling nodded, recognizing Song Mingzhi’s face, and asked groggily.
Seeing this, Song Mingzhi knew she wasn’t very drunk, at least she could still recognize people and wouldn’t cling to her clothes, looking at her with pleading eyes and calling her “sister,” waiting for her to take her home.
An inexplicable sense of disappointment flashed through her heart. Song Mingzhi realized her malicious thoughts, quickly adjusted her mood, helped Dong Ling to a chair, and brought the water to her lips.
Dong Ling was too weak to raise her hand, and sipped the water from the cup Song Mingzhi held.
Her neck was tilted back, looking extremely docile, like a well-behaved house cat.
Song Mingzhi accidentally tilted the cup, and the water flowed out too quickly for Dong Ling to swallow, spilling from the corners of her lips down her chin and dripping down.
Dong Ling’s eyes were a little dazed, she felt the dampness on her clothes and tugged at her collar uncomfortably.
Song Mingzhi subconsciously wiped the water stain from the corner of Dong Ling’s lips with her finger, and then withdrew her hand unnaturally as if realizing something.
“Thank you, I’ll go wash up first.”
Dong Ling still remembered to say thank you and stumbled towards the bathroom.
Song Mingzhi placed the cup on the table, the moisture between her fingers evaporating as she gently rubbed them together.
The hot water made Dong Ling feel a little more awake, then a little dizzy again. When she leaned against the wall, she realized she had forgotten to bring her pajamas.
She opened the door a crack, leaned against the door, poked her head out, and looked at Song Mingzhi.
“Mingzhi, can you get my pajamas for me? They’re on the bed.”
She was a little dizzy, her voice soft and weak.
Song Mingzhi saw her undried neck, still dripping with water droplets, soft and dazzling under the white light.
“Okay.”
Song Mingzhi entered Dong Ling’s room, a faint fragrance wafting towards her.
The secondary bedroom was relatively small, and Dong Ling’s things were piled up, so besides the pajamas on the bed, Song Mingzhi also saw some more intimate clothing. She looked away and picked up the pajamas.
It was a fluffy nightgown. As she placed it in Dong Ling’s outstretched hand, Song Mingzhi realized she should have brought another piece of clothing out.
“Thank you.”
Dong Ling retreated into the bathroom, quickly dried herself, and put on the nightgown.
She finished the water in the cup, and then poured herself another half glass as if she wasn’t satisfied.
The water dispenser was near the door, directly facing the bed where Song Mingzhi was sitting.
Dong Ling’s nightgown wasn’t long, and the hem lifted slightly when she bent down to pour water.
Song Mingzhi lowered her eyes, the girl probably hadn’t realized she knew she was braless underneath.
“Did the crew just finish work? Why aren’t you resting yet?”
Dong Ling glanced at the time, it was already 1:30 am.
“We finished early today. I have some personal matters to deal with. Did you have a business dinner today?”
Song Mingzhi asked casually, the girl didn’t have a high alcohol tolerance, it would be easy for something to happen if she frequently attended such events.
“Not a business dinner, my friend broke up with her boyfriend, the tallest one you saw last time, the one surnamed Tang.”
Dong Ling always felt a sense of ease and a desire to confide in Song Mingzhi. She leaned back in the soft chair and said with some emotion: “She’s been with her boyfriend for three years, but they’ve been long-distance most of the time, completely different social circles. Today her boyfriend said they could schedule a time to meet her parents, and she got scared.”
Song Mingzhi closed her laptop and asked: “Scared of a long-distance marriage? It’s difficult to maintain unless both sides are understanding and supportive.”
“That’s right. We advised her to break up before, because her relationship was no different from being single. But she said he was good to her and probably loved her. But today, when she asked him about it, he didn’t say anything. I don’t understand, even if he didn’t have strong feelings, he shouldn’t have reacted like that, right? But if he doesn’t have feelings, then what was the point of all those sweet nothings?”
Dong Ling was still slightly drunk, her eyes hazy.
“Perhaps he felt that those things were just what one should do in a relationship, not specifically for your friend.”
Song Mingzhi gave her understanding of the situation, looking at the damp ends of Dong Ling’s hair.
A small strand of hair hadn’t been tucked behind Dong Ling’s ear, but was stuck to her neck, making her want to reach out and brush it away.
“Ultimately, it’s just not enough love, like going through the motions on a blind date… Then why didn’t he say so earlier? Qianxi’s goals are clearly different from his.”
Tang Qianxi wasn’t worried about finding a husband. Every time he had time off, she would fly to his city. If she just wanted to get married, there was no need for her to do that.
This wasn’t something Song Mingzhi could answer, so she didn’t say anything. The moment Dong Ling stood up, she still reached out and brushed the damp strand of hair away from Dong Ling’s neck.
Dong Ling touched the dampness on her neck. It was clearly her hair that had brushed against her just now, but it gave her the absurd feeling that it was Song Mingzhi’s fingers.
“Mingzhi, I’m going to bed, good night.”
The feeling was strange, making Dong Ling uncomfortable, even unable to look directly at Song Mingzhi. She quickly returned to her room and only relaxed after closing the door.
When Dong Ling saw the clothes scattered messily on her bed, she cried out inwardly and hurriedly tidied up.
Too bad, Song Mingzhi had seen her messy room.
021 shrugged: [This social death has nothing to do with the system.]
Dong Ling: […Shut up!]
Why did such an annoying thing like a system even exist?!
Fortunately, the task system was quiet as a mouse tonight, not causing her any trouble.
021: [Dear host, allow me to interrupt with an announcement, the world has consumed 1% of the main storyline progress, the current progress is 30%.]
As if she didn’t know, this world was as heartless as ever.
Under the system’s repeated trials, Dong Ling’s skin had become thicker and thicker, even able to forget many things after a night’s sleep. The next day, when facing Song Mingzhi, she felt no awkwardness at all.
The makeup artist who had done her makeup before saw her and handed her a lipstick. The case was a certain brand’s classic red shade, but when Dong Ling opened it, she found the color wasn’t quite right.
The makeup artist explained: “This is the color we mixed that day. Director Cheng said we might need this color later, so I asked a friend who makes custom lipsticks to blend this color from a few different lipsticks.”
Seeing this color, Dong Ling recalled the unexpected loss of her first kiss that day and calmly accepted the lipstick.
The matters of the film crew didn’t require much attention from her, the investor. Canghai’s headquarters was still in Beihai, so Dong Ling would occasionally go back.
During this time, the task system issued some good morning and good night tasks, and the main storyline progress inched its way to 30.7%.
Dong Ling understood, the lull in the original novel’s plot was coming again, but her days were anything but calm.
When she received a call from Xuan Du on her personal number, Dong Ling wasn’t surprised. If Xuan Du wanted to know her personal number, it wouldn’t be too difficult.
“It’s been a while since we hung out, Ling Ling, come out with me today.”
Xuan Du’s words were so intimate, as if there was no rift between them, making Dong Ling frown.
“Don’t refuse so quickly, you’re filming a movie, right? It takes time for review and approval after filming, and it would be troublesome if the release date keeps getting pushed back, right? Then the person you want to promote probably won’t have a chance to become famous.”
Xuan Du spoke again before Dong Ling could reply, making her threat sound like a joke.
Dong Ling ignored her threat and hung up.
Soon, footsteps sounded behind her, tinged with frustration.
“You hung up on me? You were the one who wronged me in that incident, and I haven’t even gotten angry at you yet, why are you hanging up on me when I’m trying to make amends?”
Xuan Du held her phone, her expression full of anger.
Passing staff members were attracted by the commotion and looked over curiously.
Dong Ling calmly looked at Xuan Du and said: “Have you always felt that I was the one who wronged you?”
“I know I was wrong in that incident, you did it for my own good, but what about afterwards? You made me pay the price. Don’t you feel even a little bit guilty for my suffering? We used to be so close.”
“Was our past friendship the reason you hurt the people around me? Besides Chen Shang Shang and Ah Sheng, what else have you done?”
Dong Ling hated Xuan Du, not because she took drugs and didn’t repent, but because she had a selfish, cruel heart.
Xuan Du said with a sinister look: “It seems Chen Shang Shang did complain to you. As for that woman… you’re still sticking up for her? I told you, she started it, don’t you believe me?”
Xuan Du looked behind Dong Ling and gave a strange smile: “Since you know what kind of person I am, you know what I’m capable of.”
“Song Mingzhi… just a small-time actress. Dong Ling, there are many ways to ruin a person, you understand, right?”
Dong Ling turned around and saw Song Mingzhi, who was rehearsing not far away, her expression becoming even colder.
“Meanness is the passport of the mean. Don’t look at me like that, you know I always do what I say. Come shopping with me, and I promise I won’t do anything for now.”
Xuan Du was like a venomous snake, coiling around Dong Ling and flicking her tongue.
Dong Ling went.
She originally thought Xuan Du would take her to some shady place, but she never expected Xuan Du to take her to an amusement park.
“Come on, let’s go queue for that.”
Xuan Du pointed excitedly at something in the distance, smiling brightly at Dong Ling.
Dong Ling looked at the giant Ferris wheel, her expression stiff.
She silently sent an “SOS” to Song Mingzhi, although she knew Song Mingzhi wouldn’t see it so soon.
This wasn’t Xuan Du being childish, she was smiling happily, but Dong Ling only felt malice.
Dong Ling was afraid of heights.
She had never yearned for such romantic things like Ferris wheels, but rather found them terrifying. Just imagining being stuck high up in the air gave her a sense of suffocating dread.
It was a weekday, so there weren’t many people in the amusement park. Dong Ling and Xuan Du quickly reached the front of the line.
“You still have a chance to change your mind. As long as you agree that we can go back to how we were before, I’ll take you away from here.”
Xuan Du knew Dong Ling’s weakness, she asked almost desperately, as if it was her, not Dong Ling, who wanted to leave.
Dong Ling stepped inside and sat down.
Xuan Du was slightly stunned, watching her close the door, and could only enter the next cabin.
She could only watch her ascend, just a step behind, unable to catch up, destined to watch her leave from above.
Dong Ling didn’t throw up when she came out, she even stood up straight, not looking like someone afraid of heights at all.
“Anything else?”
Xuan Du smiled faintly: “Of course.”
Roller coasters, drop towers, they tried everything. Xuan Du was starting to feel nauseous, but Dong Ling remained unmoved.
“Xuan Du, you’re still so childish.”
She looked at her, as if talking to a naive child.
Xuan Du left angrily. After she left, Dong Ling still stood there, motionless.
When Song Mingzhi called, Dong Ling immediately answered.
“I just saw your message, are you okay?”
Song Mingzhi’s voice was anxious. She had learned from the crew that Dong Ling had left with Xuan Du.
“I’m not okay, my legs are weak, Mingzhi, come pick me up.”
Dong Ling instantly went from cool girl to damsel in distress, she couldn’t hold it in anymore, wuwuwu.
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