GV – Chapter 100

Four years later, Song Zhiqing, who had once burst onto the scene, finally returned with her new work.

Film critics said that Song Zhiqing was a true genius for having mastered two distinct styles.

Two completely opposite styles.

If her previous film, Huan Le Song, was an exquisitely gentle love song, then her new film, Goodbye to Goodbye, was a postcard in dark tones.

Gray, gloomy, and disappointing were the themes of this film. Although its visual aesthetic was first-class, this beauty was like a sharp knife, cutting away the blindfold from your eyes and forcing you to see the truth—and the truth was disappointment.

Film fans had a true love-hate relationship with this movie. They had never seen a film that could so thoroughly satisfy one’s aesthetic sensibilities while simultaneously crushing one’s emotions. It had reached a point where daring to watch Goodbye to Goodbye a second time had become a way to prove one’s own optimism and positivity.

What was even more infuriating was that while Song Zhiqing was making her audience emo, she herself was off happily enjoying her love life. According to incomplete behind-the-scenes footage, during most breaks, while others were clutching thermoses or snacks to recover their energy, Song Zhiqing stood out, holding her phone and grinning from ear to ear as she video-chatted with her girlfriend. If the break was a little longer, she would just run off. She took advantage of the fact that the producer, worried she might have an emotional breakdown and abandon the project midway like last time, didn’t dare stop her from rushing off to her sweet girlfriend.

The footage contained blurry clips of the two of them together. They would rest their heads against each other, whispering about something, with smiles constantly on their faces and their hands always intertwined. One could say they were twice as sweet as the main characters in the movie during their sweetest moments.

Truly a genius director, leaving the pain for the audience and keeping the happiness for herself.

Of course, due to the film’s overly obscure and somber style, its box office performance could only be described as average. It didn’t create the nationwide viewing craze that Huan Le Song had. But, as everyone knew, films like this were excellent at winning awards.

After sweeping up awards both at home and abroad, Song Zhiqing, basking in glory and expectations, announced that she would be dedicating the next two years to creating a new script and would not be taking on any other work. Anyone with discerning eyes could see that writing a script was one thing, but what was likely more important was that Song Zhiqing wanted to focus wholeheartedly on her relationship. The work cycle and intensity of the film industry were indeed extremely unfriendly to romance, and even more so for a clingy romantic like Director Song. It was said that the only reason Song Zhiqing had continued to finish filming Goodbye to Goodbye was because the producer and executive producer, upon hearing her condition had stabilized, had camped out at her house for ten consecutive days to persuade her.

Otherwise, Director Song, who had just started a new relationship, wasn’t short on money, and didn’t have much career ambition, would not have returned to the director’s chair so soon.

In the Song family’s study, Song Zhiqing opened her computer, clicked on a Word document, and solemnly typed out a title. Then she closed the document.

Alright, six months’ worth of work complete. Song Zhiqing took a satisfied sip of milk. Now she needed to think about where to go for their date tomorrow.

People probably knew that Song Zhiqing was a slacker, but they could never have imagined she would take it to this extent.

If they knew, those self-congratulatory declarations of “owing Director Song a second movie ticket” would not be so prevalent in the comment sections of a certain review site.

As for Song Zhiqing, well, she had already decided on a location for their date.

But quite unfortunately, Ye Yuhuan had also decided on a location for a date. To be precise, it wasn’t a date, but a meeting with two people.

Shangguan Xianxian and Shen Wei.

Hearing this, Song Zhiqing’s brow furrowed immediately. She walked around to stand in front of Ye Yuhuan and asked, puzzled, “Why?”

Ye Yuhuan looked up slightly. Her face, fresh from a bath, had a faint pinkish glow, like a ripe peach or some other delectable thing. Song Zhiqing’s attention was nearly diverted, but thankfully, Ye Yuhuan’s voice sounded in her ear just in time. “In the virtual world, you and Shen Wei were very good friends, and your relationship with Xianxian was quite good as well.”

Song Zhiqing pulled over a chair and sat opposite Ye Yuhuan, her tone carrying the chill of post-rain air. “So what? They were just two characters. They didn’t really go in, so there’s no comparison to the real world at all.”

Ye Yuhuan squeezed Song Zhiqing’s hand, her dark eyes filled with sincerity. “But you need to give the emotions you invested some closure. Besides, even though they didn’t really go in, their character data was completely realistic.”

“Oh?” Song Zhiqing leaned closer. “So Shen Wei was really reborn?”

Ye Yuhuan shot her a helpless glance. “That was my setting.”

“My, my, Doctor Ye has such a wild imagination. I’m tempted to hire Doctor Ye as my screenwriter.”

Seeing Song Zhiqing still trying to evade the issue, Ye Yuhuan said with disappointment, “So, is Director Song unwilling to grace us with her presence?”

“…” Song Zhiqing sucked in a breath.

“Huanhuan, speak normally.”

“Oh, so now you don’t like the way I talk?”

Song Zhiqing closed her eyes in anguish. When she opened them again, her expression had a new layer of resolve. “Fine. What time tomorrow?”

Ye Yuhuan smiled with satisfaction, leaning forward to give Song Zhiqing a light kiss. “Good girl.”

“Tsk.”

Song Zhiqing pulled the person who was about to retreat after the kiss into her arms. Even in a relationship, Doctor Ye didn’t forget her professional duties, always thinking of ways to drag her out of her psychological shadows. She deserved some form of payment for that.

And as it happened, Doctor Ye was quite fond of this body of hers.

The meeting was set for the afternoon, so the two of them shamelessly fooled around until midnight and then slept in until the sun was high in the sky.

In the real world, the right to dress Song Zhiqing had, after they moved in together, naturally been handed over to Ye Yuhuan. Regardless of which world it was, a certain someone who weaponized her beauty couldn’t care less about her clothes or appearance. And Ye Yuhuan, though she hadn’t inherited her parents’ painting careers, had inherited their aesthetic taste. She instinctively couldn’t stand to see a beauty dress so casually. Besides, adding color to a beauty was a truly satisfying affair.

Wearing their usual matching couple’s outfits, the two met Shen Wei and Shangguan Xianxian at the appointed restaurant.

The moment she opened the door, Song Zhiqing subconsciously paused. They were the same two faces, with no difference except that the current Shen Wei and Shangguan Xianxian looked a bit more mature. A torrent of vague memories rushed out from the depths of her mind. It wasn’t until she turned her head and saw Ye Yuhuan that Song Zhiqing came back to her senses.

Ah, this is another world now.

Song Zhiqing walked steadily and took a seat opposite the other two.

“Hello, it’s been a while,” she said with polite pleasantry.

It had indeed been a while, but what had happened long ago was nothing worth reminiscing about.

Shen Wei, who had navigated the business world for years, suddenly found herself at a loss for how to start a conversation after so long.

To be honest, she held no ill will toward Song Zhiqing now.

On one hand, Ye Yuhuan had explained Song Zhiqing’s difficult circumstances. On the other, while dealing with Shangguan Chong, she had inexplicably received help from an anonymous source. The anonymous person had sent evidence of Shangguan Chong’s involvement in money laundering, and in this network, Song Chen’s name was also prominently listed.

Connecting all the dots, that anonymous person was, in all likelihood, Song Zhiqing.

Back when Song Zhiqing had her car accident, Shen Wei had already suspected there might be a deeper meaning behind her actions. After all, her methods of pursuit were overly theatrical and yet too carefully measured, maintaining a middle ground that was bothersome to the target but not overly so.

It was for this reason that Shen Wei hadn’t refused Ye Yuhuan’s request back then.

And if Shen Wei felt no ill will, then Shangguan Xianxian was…

“Miss Song, I saw your film, Goodbye to Goodbye. It’s a truly wonderful movie. I watched it three times. It’s a pity my mental fortitude isn’t strong enough, or I would have definitely watched it a few more times.”

No, that’s already very strong.

Shen Wei, who had been moved to tears after just one viewing and became so emo she started writing poetry in the middle of the night, really wanted to remind her wife of this.

Song Zhiqing said it for her. “Miss Shangguan, your mental fortitude already surpasses that of the vast majority of people. You should know, even the lead actor of our film only dared to watch it once.”

Then Song Zhiqing turned to look at Ye Yuhuan teasingly and said, “And my Huanhuan, who originally said she was very much looking forward to this movie and bought ten tickets, ended up wasting nine of them.”

Ye Yuhuan pinched Song Zhiqing in embarrassment, making an excuse for herself. “That’s because I had to work the next day. I couldn’t be in low spirits.”

Song Zhiqing smiled without a word, and Ye Yuhuan pinched her again.

Speaking of which, Shen Wei grew a little curious. “How many times did Director Song watch it?”

Song Zhiqing took a sip of tea and said calmly, “A dozen or so times, I suppose. I was supervising the editing, after all.”

Huh?

Was this the person Ye Yuhuan had described as emotionally fragile, someone who needed them to help stabilize her perception of the world?

That was a bit of a humblebrag, wasn’t it?

Of course, Ye Yuhuan didn’t understand this either. Although the inspiration and creation of the entire film came from Song Zhiqing, an idea and the final product were different. The impact of the latter was far greater than the former. How could Song Zhiqing manage to endure one gloomy blow after another without batting an eye?

It wasn’t just during editing. Even during promotional events, when the movie was being screened, others would take turns, but only Song Zhiqing watched it from beginning to end.

She only learned the answer to this question after their meal with Shen Wei and Shangguan Xianxian.

The two had a habit of taking walks together, and since the restaurant wasn’t too far from home, Song Zhiqing suggested they walk back. Ye Yuhuan naturally had no objection.

They walked along a tree-lined sidewalk, where the sunlight trickled down in fine, fragmented pieces, scattering patches of liquid gold. It was a dreamlike scene.

Amidst this beautiful scenery, Song Zhiqing said, “Huanhuan, I probably won’t marry you.”

Strangely, even though she spoke words that were almost cold, Ye Yuhuan felt as if Song Zhiqing was making a vow of eternal love to her.

So much so that she felt not a hint of disappointment or sadness, but instead asked calmly, “Is it because of the virtual world?”

“Yes.” Song Zhiqing nodded, their intertwined fingers still clinging together tenderly and tightly.

“Just now, I realized that the Shen Wei in the real world and the Shen Wei in the virtual world are actually very similar, but I don’t feel the same sense of closeness to her that I did in the virtual world. She’s just a stranger I have a decent impression of, without even any extra fondness.”

“So, you see, Huanhuan, the birth of feelings is very precious. Even with two very similar people, you can’t make the same feelings arise twice.”

“But didn’t we manage it?”

Song Zhiqing lowered her gaze and smiled, turning to kiss Ye Yuhuan’s cheek. “That’s because our feelings never broke. Huanhuan, your love for me continued from the virtual world into the real world. Oh, no, it had already begun in the real world. I’m the one whose feelings continued from the virtual world to the real one.”

“So, the reason for not getting married is that you think this world might also be fake?”

“It’s hard to say, isn’t it? But I can’t afford to take any risks. I have to learn from every lesson.”

“After all, a love that lasts across two worlds is already a miracle.”

Ye Yuhuan stopped walking, thought for a moment, and then said with a smile, “Alright, then we won’t get married.”

Ye Yuhuan felt that she couldn’t prove this world was real either. At the same time, she also couldn’t afford to take any risks.

Song Zhiqing raised their joined hands into the blazing sunlight. “But we will be together forever.”

The sunlight was warm, but in that moment, Ye Yuhuan suddenly understood why Song Zhiqing could withstand the emotional blows of the movie so many times. It was because the film, as her creation, was only a part of the gloom in her heart.

Song Zhiqing held a deeper darkness within her, one that stemmed from a distrust and hostility toward the entire world.

The aftereffects of this therapy, Ye Yuhuan thought, were truly immense.

“Song Zhiqing, let’s run back,” Ye Yuhuan said loudly.

“Hmm?”

“I think running is faster than walking.”

“Huh?”

Before she could finish, she was already being pulled into a run by Ye Yuhuan.

But no matter what, Ye Yuhuan made a silent vow in her heart.

Song Zhiqing, I will be your sun.

Forever and always.