GV – Chapter 74

Shen Wei hadn’t been back for half a month before she sent her own father to prison.

The police visited the top floor of the Shangguan Group building and sent Shangguan Chong, who was in the middle of smashing a vase, to the detention center to take a tumble. The operation was very secretive, and officials had yet to announce the specific charges against him. A paparazzo who specialized in Shangguan Chong’s romantic affairs captured a shot of him being escorted into a police car.

Not long after it was posted online, it was bought out by the Shangguan Group’s shareholders.

After all, the sight of him looking like a drowning dog truly affected the Shangguan Group’s stock price. The already precarious company couldn’t withstand any more external ridicule and speculation.

When the news got out, the entire city was in an uproar.

What was even more shocking was that Shen Wei, the instigator, had no intention of touching the Shangguan Group. The behemoth that once dominated A-City became a delicious, ownerless cake, cleanly divided up by the Jin family, who were in a favorable position, and several of Shangguan Chong’s brothers. Shen Wei stayed with Sheng Jing, completely unmoved.

Some said she was disgusted by it.

Some said she looked down on it.

Some said it was both.

But this no longer had anything to do with Ye Yuhuan. After nearly half a year of relying on each other while on the run in Europe, it was a great pity that they hadn’t established the precious bond of seeing true friendship in adversity. This was because the real dangers were all handled and faced by their bodyguards. So, what was left for Ye Yuhuan and Shen Wei wasn’t precious memories of mutual sacrifice and consideration between friends, but the terrible experience of being forced into the same confined space, serving as the sole outlet for each other’s manic and depressive emotions during their endless journey.

Even though both of them had rather tolerant personalities, they still argued a few times during the long journey.

Once, in a situation where they couldn’t make a sound, they even resorted to insulting each other with sign language. However, neither of them was proficient in it, so their communication relied mostly on ferocious facial expressions. The scene was, naturally, too ugly to want to recall.

Admittedly, they were grateful for each other’s company and help—if not for Shen Wei’s persistent protection, Ye Yuhuan might not have made it back; if not for Ye Yuhuan’s strategies, Shen Wei might have fallen in a foreign land.

But for the time being, they also truly didn’t want to see each other’s faces or recall that terrible time when their anger made them regress to a primitive state.

So, they tacitly entered a phase of no contact.

In any case, Shangguan Chong was already caught, the plot was over, and there was no need for them to contact each other.

The rest of their time and their lives belonged to themselves, to be spent freely.

In this life that was her own, Ye Yuhuan planned to confess to Song Zhiqing.

She had already discovered the secret of the cup in Germany. After filling it with water, she could clearly hear a difference when she placed it on the table.

The sound was too crisp.

It seemed the bottom of the cup had a hidden compartment.

No wonder. Before, she hadn’t understood why Song Zhiqing had made the bottom of the cup so thick.

Understanding the cup’s secret didn’t mean Ye Yuhuan could bring herself to destroy it. She continued to treasure it, only tapping the bottom from time to time, listening to the crisp echo, and guessing what Song Zhiqing could have hidden in such a small space.

However, the escape began. To prevent this secret from becoming a regret, Ye Yuhuan used a small hammer to break the bottom of the cup in the last half hour before getting in the car. The partition shattered cleanly. With a light tap, it fell away in pieces, like fake flower petals loosely stuck to a tree.

Underneath, words were carved into the new bottom: 【Ye Yuhuan is so cute】

Mm, it seems she decided to carve this in the middle of making it, Ye Yuhuan thought. She traced the words with her hand, smiling with her lips pressed together, and treasured it even more reverently during their escape.

After that, when Ye Yuhuan returned home, she followed suit and broke the other cups.

【I hope Ye Yuhuan will be happy】

【I like you, Ye Yuhuan】

【Eh? Why is there no reaction?】

【I’ll repeat it, I like you】

Now she knew the answer. This tiny space could hide a sincere heart.

Ye Yuhuan stood amidst the ceramic shards scattered on the floor, as satisfied as if she were standing in a field of diamonds.

How wonderful. She likes me.

Song Zhiqing had indirectly confessed, which greatly eased Ye Yuhuan’s heart. It allowed her to free her mind from the anxiety about the outcome, transforming her confession plan from a desperate self-analysis into a ritual that could afford to be romantic.

A ritual for tearing through that final paper screen.

So she concealed the secret of the cups and interacted with Song Zhiqing as usual, casually asking her to go to the planetarium over the weekend.

However, what made her a little uneasy was that Song Zhiqing was acting too calm.

Ever since that big cry at the airport, Song Zhiqing hadn’t shown any extreme emotional reactions. What was even stranger was that from the time Ye Yuhuan returned until now, Song Zhiqing hadn’t once talked to her about what happened abroad.

Ye Yuhuan could sense that Song Zhiqing was brewing something. It couldn’t be that she was planning to cut off all feelings and love, could it?

No, I have to confess. Immediately! Confess right now!

A small part of Ye Yuhuan’s groundless fears hit the mark. During their overly long separation, Song Zhiqing had indeed let go of many unrealistic, extravagant hopes. Her desire to see Ye Yuhuan had gradually mutated under the torment of time, becoming like the monster trapped in a bottle in a fairy tale, going from calm to furious to despairing, and then back to calm.

At first, Song Zhiqing had confidently believed that Ye Yuhuan would return on time, or even early. When Ye Yuhuan had been gone for a month, she loudly complained during their occasional video calls that she wasn’t keeping her promise.

At the time, she didn’t notice that the background of Ye Yuhuan’s calls was always inside a car.

Later, the video calls stopped.

After that, the phone calls stopped too.

Rumors swirled, and everyone said that Shangguan Chong had made a move against Shen Wei.

Then what about my Ye Yuhuan? At that moment, Song Zhiqing had only this thought. Give me back my Ye Yuhuan. She’s not Shen Wei.

Song Zhiqing tossed and turned in the tide of rumors for a full two months. The moment she saw Ye Yuhuan, all those wild ambitions, that cat-and-mouse game of ambiguity, were all pushed to the back of her mind.

Looking at the gaunt person across from her, Song Zhiqing nearly bit through her lower lip. Only one thought remained in her mind: Ye Yuhuan won’t even think about leaving me in this lifetime.

Friend, whatever, any relationship that would let me throw a tantrum to keep her from leaving me would be fine.

And the fact that Ye Yuhuan never mentioned the cups after returning added another layer of heaviness to Song Zhiqing’s already gloomy heart.

But she immediately consoled herself.

Could anything be worse than having no news from someone for over three whole months?

No.

So, even if Ye Yuhuan just wants to like me without being with me, that’s fine. As long as she doesn’t like anyone else, as long as she doesn’t leave, it’s fine.

On Saturday night, the two arrived at the planetarium. There was no one inside, but the equipment was on.

Ye Yuhuan had once again mindlessly thrown money around for love. After donating a large sum to the planetarium, she had secured the privilege of booking the entire venue for the night.

They walked through an artificial starry sky, as if strolling through outer space. The stars were close and distinct, their simulated starlight condensed into a universe the size of the hall. Here, everything was peaceful—no exploding stars, no black hole traps, no endless expansion. They were solidified into humanity’s primitive and beautiful fantasy of the starry sky, hanging quietly overhead.

But perceptive people would still realize this wasn’t the universe’s starry sky; it was humanity’s.

Ye Yuhuan had this self-awareness. She hadn’t come here to experience the vastness of the universe with Song Zhiqing, but to enjoy a starry sky.

Unfortunately, before Ye Yuhuan could share this starry sky with Song Zhiqing, Song Zhiqing walked over to the astronomical telescope, wanting to experience the vastness of the universe.

Well, it was the only thing in the room that had a real connection to the actual universe.

Ye Yuhuan joined her, occasionally looking for constellations by referencing the educational displays in the hall. After a while, she found it quite interesting.

Just as she was getting immersed and almost forgetting her main purpose, Song Zhiqing got annoyed.

“This is boring,” she said.

Mm, she did, in fact, have a bit of an intentional, uncontrollable urge to torment Ye Yuhuan.

Such a long wait would naturally have some aftereffects. Even though Song Zhiqing tried her best to restrain most of them, considerately not wanting her emotions to disturb the just-escaped-death Ye Yuhuan, some feelings simply couldn’t be suppressed—just as the great Ye Yuhuan and the great Shen Wei could be angered to the point of primitive name-calling.

Ye Yuhuan stood to the side, at a loss. Seeing this made Song Zhiqing even more irritated. She bent down again, putting her eye to the lens, trying to hide her overflowing negative emotions.

This irritation was directed at herself. She frowned, thinking she should just end the night here, otherwise it wouldn’t be good if she scared Ye Yuhuan.

But her heart was unwilling. They had been apart for so long; she wished she could tie Ye Yuhuan to her belt. Letting her leave willingly felt like a crime against herself.

Morality and desire warred in her heart as Song Zhiqing randomly adjusted the telescope’s angle and magnification.

Suddenly, her movements stopped.

After watching silently for a dozen seconds, Song Zhiqing let out a dry laugh and stood up straight.

Ye Yuhuan, confused, leaned in to see what on earth Song Zhiqing had discovered.

She had just gotten a glimpse when she hurriedly messed up all the telescope’s settings.

What kind of strange fate was it that allowed someone to see other people kissing on a rooftop through a telescope?

Also, had her voyeuristic constitution finally been transmitted to Song Zhiqing?!

When the words “other people” and “kissing” were combined, in Song Zhiqing’s limited experience, “other people” meant Shen Wei and Shangguan Xianxian. This time was, of course, no exception. They were kissing in the rooftop garden of a villa in the suburbs.

It was indeed very romantic. If she had seen it in a TV drama, Song Zhiqing might have covered her mouth and shrieked.

But now, she tugged at the corner of her mouth, the lines of her lips tightening. A trace of self-mockery appeared in her beautiful almond eyes.

Some people don’t even dare to get angry at the person they like.

They don’t dare to confess because they’re worried the other person isn’t ready.

But some people, again and again, and again and again, torture a single dog like me right in front of my face.

And some people just drag me along to witness their love every day, but don’t do a single practical thing about it.

That trace of self-mockery was ignited by the silence, turning into a raging fire of anger.

Song Zhiqing raised her eyes and stared at the person she had been longing for for so long. It had been over a year. If she had been raising a chicken, she would have been eating eggs every day by now.

“Haven’t you noticed that I’ve fallen for someone else?”

Ye Yuhuan was completely stunned. What was this? Was Song Zhiqing trying to steal her moment to confess?

But in Song Zhiqing’s eyes, this was just Ye Yuhuan the block of wood continuing to be a block of wood. She clenched her fists. Damn it, I’m a peerlessly beautiful girl! The leader of all the members of the Cosmic Beauty Garden! The future star of the music world!

Why should I hold back?

Even if I have to take her by force, I’m going to tie Ye Yuhuan to my belt.

Song Zhiqing’s heart hardened with resolve. She stood on her tiptoes, lunged forward, and pressed her lips against Ye Yuhuan’s.

Then she pulled back as if she’d been startled.

Damn it, so soft.

I must have been bounced back. That Ye Yuhuan, who knows how many layers of lip balm she puts on day and night, how are her lips so soft.

I definitely wasn’t scared.

Ye Yuhuan gazed at the tomato in front of her and sighed. Her carefully constructed confession ritual was ruined just like that.

Ye Yuhuan’s sigh undoubtedly provoked Song Zhiqing again. She began to spout nonsense, speaking without thinking: “I know you like me, I figured it out a long time ago. But you, you idiot, not only can’t you tell that I like you, you couldn’t even figure out the secret of the cups.”

“Ye Yuhuan, you’re so stupid it’s killing me. If you’re this stupid, what would you do without me by your side looking after you, right?”

“Besides, the most annoying thing about you is that all you do is drag me to watch passion plays every day. I’m at a hot-blooded age, you know. Do you think that’s appropriate? You won’t take the initiative, so of course I had to be kind enough to do it myself.”

Hearing that last sentence, Ye Yuhuan raised an eyebrow. “A hot-blooded age?”

“W-what else?” Song Zhiqing answered, her neck stiff.

Soon, Ye Yuhuan’s hand caressed her stiff neck, and that mouth that wouldn’t stop chattering was silenced by Ye Yuhuan’s own.

Ye Yuhuan kissed her once.

And stopped.

Song Zhiqing’s still-wide eyes saw the smile at the corner of Ye Yuhuan’s mouth, and her burning red ears heard her say, “I forgot. You like foreplay before a kiss, don’t you?”

The neck under her hand instantly grew even hotter. Ye Yuhuan rubbed it gently, then lightly kissed Song Zhiqing’s forehead, her eyebrows, her trembling eyes, her straight nose, and her full cheeks.

The tip of her nose traced patterns on Song Zhiqing’s face, startling out a series of ragged breaths.

Finally, her slightly pursed lips.

As their four lips met, Ye Yuhuan felt as if she had just bitten into the sweetest cherry in the world.

No wonder Shen Wei liked kissing so much.

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