Chapter 61 p2
It wasn’t Xin Yao’s birthday, but the original owner’s.
And coincidentally, on that day, the police had released their official report, confirming Li Xu’s crimes.
The internet exploded, the trending topics dominated by news of his arrest.
The online discussions, which had quieted down slightly, erupted again, a mix of outrage, schadenfreude, and disbelief.
Even Li Xu’s most devoted fans were now silent, their idol’s downfall a harsh reality.
He had become the first celebrity in the entertainment industry to be arrested for such a serious crime.
And in a quiet corner of the internet, another news report, almost overlooked amidst the Li Xu frenzy, announced the arrest of Xin Yao’s cousin and aunt for burglary and extortion.
Initially, everyone had been focused on Li Xu.
But by evening, the news of her relatives’ arrest had also trended online, sparking a new wave of discussions.
[Wait, isn’t that Xin Yao’s cousin and aunt?!]
[Yes! The ones who accused her of being ungrateful, of abandoning them after they raised her!]
[So many people attacked her online! She’s so unlucky! Always being targeted and slandered!]
[No wonder she tried to kill herself…]
[I’m so angry! She’s suffered so much!]
[I’m Xin Yao’s former neighbor. Our neighborhood has been buzzing with gossip lately!
But honestly, Xin Yao is the real victim here.
After her parents died, she lived with her aunt and uncle, who treated her terribly. She wore hand-me-down clothes, she was always being scolded, she never got any treats…
She lived in a constant state of fear and neglect.
And then her aunt accused her of not supporting them financially! It was ridiculous!
And now we know the truth. They were trying to extort her! And when she refused to give them money, they slandered her online!]
[I thought they were just following Li Xu’s instructions, but it was their own doing! They’re so evil!]
[I thought it was just extortion, but they actually abused her for years! And they still had the nerve to accuse her of being ungrateful!]
[I’m crying for Xin Yao!]
Her uncle, a quiet, reserved man, had always remained silent.
He had silently taken care of her after her parents’ death.
He had silently smoked his cigarettes as his wife abused and neglected her.
And now, with his wife and son arrested, he remained silent, a ghost in Xin Yao’s story.
Xin Yao was aware of the online discussions, but she didn’t pay much attention to them.
Because it was Xin Yao’s birthday, or rather, the original owner’s birthday, her official birthdate in this world.
And Xu Jingyu, having never been told otherwise, had planned a celebration.
They stayed in, a quiet, intimate dinner for two.
Xin Yao had ordered a large cake, and Xu Jingyu had cooked a delicious meal.
The atmosphere between them was slightly tense, Xu Jingyu’s possessiveness still a lingering presence, but their love was strong, their connection undeniable.
It wasn’t a fight, just Xu Jingyu being a bit… much.
As Xu Jingyu cooked, Xin Yao had come into the kitchen, her voice teasing.
“Don’t make too much! There’s only two of us! We’ll never finish it all!”
She had offered to help, but Xu Jingyu, smiling, had shooed her away, not wanting her to tire herself out.
Xin Yao had sat on the sofa, waiting to be fed.
And Xu Jingyu, always eager to please, had soon brought out the food, their dinner a quiet, intimate affair.
After dinner, they had opened the cake box.
As Xin Yao lit the candles and made a wish, then picked up her phone, ready to take a photo, a message notification popped up.
It wasn’t an unknown number. The original owner had saved the contact.
It was her uncle.
The message was short and simple.
[I’m sorry.]
Her uncle, a simple, uneducated man, didn’t know how to read or write, let alone use a smartphone. She wondered how he had even sent the message.
Xin Yao stared at the three words, her earlier cheerful mood fading, a wave of sadness washing over her.
She sat down, then, after a moment’s thought, for the first time since arriving in this world, she posted a message on social media.
The photo was of the birthday cake she had bought, its candles flickering in the soft light.
The caption was short and simple.
[Happy birthday, from 12 to 26. May your future be bright.]
Since moving in with her aunt and uncle at the age of 12, the original owner had never celebrated her birthday. No one had cared, no one had remembered.
So, when Li Xu had celebrated her birthday with her, she had been overjoyed.
But his affection had been a lie.
It wasn’t until she had joined Sister Wang’s company and met Chen Jia and the others that she had finally experienced a few proper birthdays.
But she had died so young.
If she had lived, today would have been her 26th birthday.
But she was gone.
So, Xin Yao had bought the cake, a silent celebration for the soul watching from the system space.
Her wish had been similar to her message online.
Bai Zhi, the original owner’s name.
Pure and innocent, like a gardenia blossom. May your future be bright.
It was Xin Yao’s first social media post since the scandal.
Her remaining fans, the new fans who had been drawn to her story, the curious onlookers, they all flocked to her page.
[OMG, Yaoyao posted!]
[We missed you, Yaoyao! You’ve been through so much!]
[How are you doing, Yaoyao?]
[I’m a new fan! I love you!]
[Happy birthday!]
The notifications kept popping up, a constant stream of messages.
Xin Yao looked at the comments, her eyes slightly sad.
They love me, but they’re also loving you.
See, Bai Zhi? You’re loved.
Yaoyao hasn’t smiled in a while.
Xu Jingyu, sitting beside her, watching as Xin Yao’s cheerful expression faded, replaced by a quiet sadness, thought.
She’s unhappy.
Xu Jingyu had made a silent vow to punish anyone who made Xin Yao unhappy.
And she had.
Li Xu, who had betrayed and hurt her, the Mo family, who had humiliated her, even the netizens who had slandered her online, she had dealt with them all.
She wanted Xin Yao to be happy, to smile every day.
But now…
The person who was making Xin Yao unhappy was Xu Jingyu herself.
Xin Yao was naturally cheerful and outgoing, her laughter infectious, her warmth a magnet for others.
Unlike Xu Jingyu, who was quiet and reserved, Xin Yao craved freedom, loved being surrounded by people, her spirit thriving in the warmth of human connection.
And Xu Jingyu had caged her, confined her to her apartment, isolating her from the world.
She had clipped the wings of a free bird, keeping it captive in her gilded cage.
And the once vibrant bird had lost its song.
So, Yaoyao was unhappy now, wasn’t she?
Why else would she look so sad on her birthday?
She had promised she would never make Xin Yao unhappy.
And yet, she was the source of her pain.
Because she loved her too much, she had been afraid of losing her, and she had tried to keep her safe, to protect her from the world.
But in doing so, she had dimmed her light.
Xu Jingyu looked at Xin Yao, her own eyes slightly sad.
“Have I hurt you too?”
“Huh?”
Xin Yao, still lost in thought, her heart aching for the original owner, looked up at Xu Jingyu, her confusion growing.
Then, she realized what Xu Jingyu was thinking.
She was about to say something, a mix of amusement and exasperation at Xu Jingyu’s misplaced guilt, when Xu Jingyu pulled her into a gentle embrace.
“I won’t let you be unhappy.”
So, if you’re not happy, I, your monster, will let you go.
But only a little.
You can’t leave me.
After that day, they seemed to have reconciled.
Li Xu was a distant memory, the issue of Pei Yu seemingly resolved, their relationship returning to its usual comfortable rhythm.
And Xu Jingyu’s actions, her possessiveness and her jealousy, had inadvertently helped Xin Yao move on from the emotional intensity of the film, her thoughts now focused on her girlfriend, on how to appease her, to reassure her.
But she was still an actress.
And thanks to the recent scandals, her popularity had soared, endorsements and offers pouring in.
She had to work, not just to fulfill her promise to Bai Zhi, to show her that she could succeed in this world, but also to earn enough points to stay.
Several months had passed since the filming of “Unseen Spring” wrapped, their days filled with laughter and passion, winter giving way to spring.
Xin Yao had accepted a major endorsement deal, requiring her to travel abroad for a fashion show.
Unfortunately, Xu Jingyu had work commitments in China and couldn’t accompany her.
Normally, Xu Jingyu would have cancelled everything to be with Xin Yao.
But this time, she hadn’t.
As if wanting to prove that she had changed, that she wouldn’t be so possessive and controlling anymore, she hadn’t insisted on going with Xin Yao.
Xin Yao had been surprised, even checking her forehead for a fever.
“Is this really Xu Jingyu? Are you possessed? I’ll be gone for two days! Can you handle it?”
Xu Jingyu, smiling, had pulled her into a hug.
“I don’t want you to be unhappy. Don’t worry. It’s just two days. I’ll be fine.”
It was a lie.
She wouldn’t be fine.
On the day Xin Yao left for her trip, six hours after their separation…
At the fashion show, Xin Yao sat perched precariously on a stool above a pool of water, watching the models strutting their stuff.
Yes, above a pool of water.
The fashion show was being held in a large swimming pool, the water slowly rising as the guests took their seats.
The runway was partially submerged, the audience seated on tall stools, their legs dangling above the water, no armrests, no safety net.
The designer, apparently, wanted to convey the theme of “water as a dangerous element.”
Xin Yao, however, lacking in artistic appreciation, simply thought: If I move even slightly, I’ll fall into the pool! Isn’t that dangerous enough?!
But the show itself was quite interesting, the designer’s creativity and vision evident in every garment. Xin Yao gradually became engrossed in the spectacle.
But a minor mishap had delayed the show, making it run over an hour longer than scheduled.
As the show neared its end, Chen Jia, her assistant, approached Xin Yao, her voice a hushed whisper.
“Jiejie Yaoyao, Ms. Xu called.”
Xin Yao, sitting near the edge of the pool, her feet dangling above the water, couldn’t easily leave her seat.
She reached for her phone.
“Just give me the phone. I’ll send her a message.”
Chen Jia nodded and handed her the phone.
But they had both underestimated the distance, and as they reached for each other, their hands fumbled, and the phone slipped from their grasp.
“Splash!”
Xin Yao’s phone, to their horror, landed in the pool.
Back in China, at 8 pm…
Xu Jingyu, sitting in her apartment, was making her fifteenth call to Xin Yao, each unanswered call fueling her anxiety.
As the call went to voicemail again, her eyes darkened.
They had agreed to talk at 7 pm, after the fashion show, and then video call later that evening, after Xin Yao returned to her hotel.
But it was already 8 pm, and Xin Yao hadn’t answered any of her calls.
Xu Jingyu’s mind raced, her thoughts a whirlwind of worry.
Did Yaoyao not want to talk to her? Was she annoyed with her? Or had something happened?
She wanted to call Chen Jia, Xin Yao’s assistant, but she didn’t have her number. Just as she was about to ask someone to find it for her, she heard Xue Ning and Meng Wanqing’s excited chatter from the living room.
They were watching a popular historical drama, its plot revolving around forced love and possessive alpha males.
Xu Jingyu, her brow furrowed, was about to tell them to leave when she heard the male lead’s booming voice.
“I will have her!”
“She’s mine, in life and in death! Even if I have to force her, I’ll keep her by my side, my captive bird!”
The female lead, furious, had slapped him.
“You beast!”
Xue Ning and Meng Wanqing had cheered.
“He’s such a jerk!”
“Did they get a happy ending?”
“I think so. She secretly loved him too.”
Xu Jingyu, who hadn’t been able to reach Xin Yao for over an hour, was suddenly silent.
Because she had done the same thing, keeping Xin Yao practically prisoner in her apartment.
She had asked, her voice a soft murmur, “What if… she didn’t love him? What if he forced her to stay with him, against her will?”
Meng Wanqing, always quick with a witty retort, had replied, “That’s even worse! She would hate him!”
Hate.
The word made Xu Jingyu pause, then she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, “What if… they were in love? And he wanted to change, to let her go, to give her her freedom?”
“Would there still be hope?”
“But what if, after giving her her freedom, he couldn’t contact her?”
Meng Wanqing had clapped her hands together. “Then it’s obvious! She ran away! She dumped him!”
Dumped him!
The words, so simple yet so devastating, shattered the last vestiges of Xu Jingyu’s control, her eyes widening in panic, her body trembling, her fingers clutching her phone.
She stood up abruptly and walked towards the door, her movements swift and determined.
As the door slammed shut behind her, Xue Ning and Meng Wanqing exchanged glances.
Meanwhile, Xin Yao was still busy.
After her phone had met its watery demise, her assistant’s bag, containing her own phone, had also fallen into the pool.
So, as the fashion show ended, Xin Yao, eager to call Xu Jingyu, had been intercepted by the designer, who, impressed by her appearance, had enthusiastically invited her to model for them.
Unable to refuse, she had politely chatted with the designer, the conversation lasting much longer than she had anticipated.
By the time she returned to her hotel, it was late, and after finally managing to turn on her waterlogged phone, she saw the missed calls from Xu Jingyu.
She immediately called back, but the call went straight to voicemail.
She frowned, calling again.
And again.
On the fifth attempt, as the call went to voicemail again, the doorbell rang.
Who would be visiting her at this hour, especially in a foreign country? Was it Chen Jia?
Without thinking, she opened the door.
The hallway light illuminated the figure standing outside, and Xin Yao’s eyes widened in surprise, her body instinctively stepping forward.
It was Xu Jingyu, dressed in black, a black baseball cap pulled low over her eyes.
Her expression was impassive, her appearance seemingly calm, but her trembling fingers and her rapid breathing betrayed her anxiety.
And as she saw Xin Yao, her eyes reddened, tears threatening to spill.
Xin Yao, startled by her sudden appearance, her unexpected vulnerability, was about to ask what she was doing here when Xu Jingyu, stepping closer, her voice trembling slightly, her eyes fixed on Xin Yao’s face, said, “I don’t want to break up.”
Xin Yao blinked, confused. “Huh?”
Xu Jingyu’s eyes filled with tears, her voice choked with emotion.
“Yaoyao, I don’t want to break up.”
“As long as we’re together, I’ll do anything.”
“I’ll change. I’ll fix my flaws. Even if… even if you like someone else, even if I’m just a substitute, it’s okay. Just don’t… don’t break up with me.”
Xin Yao didn’t understand.
Why had she suddenly flown all the way here? Why was she so distraught? What had happened?
But she knew that this wasn’t the time for questions. What Xu Jingyu needed now was reassurance, a firm and unwavering declaration of love.
Xin Yao stepped forward and embraced her, her face buried in Xu Jingyu’s shoulder, her voice a soft murmur.
“Let’s get married, Xu Jingyu.”
“I’ve only ever loved you. And I’ll never leave you.”
“You don’t have to believe me now. I’ll spend the rest of my life proving it to you.”
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