SYLM Chapter 81

Chapter 81 “What do you think I’m doing right now?”

Chapter 81 “What do you think I’m doing right now?”

The nights in Yunjiang City are bizarre and dazzling, like an overturned palette. Neon lights flicker wantonly on both sides of the street, and the dazzling colors intertwine into a colorful net, tightly binding the tall buildings. Various building walls reflect these grids in a distorted way, like countless indifferent eyes, watching the bustling crowds below.

The hands of the clock passed 10 p.m. before Tang Ying returned to her apartment.

After leaving the hospital in the morning, she originally planned to go straight to Fu Yi Wen’s restaurant, but a phone call from her mother, Tang Lan, forced her to attend a long family dinner. The Jiang family was all there, and even her nominal husband, Jiang Yingxu, had rushed back from the army.

At the dinner table, Tang Ying dealt with all kinds of hypocritical greetings and probing, drinking a lot of wine. When it ended, Jiang Yingxu offered to take her home, but she coldly refused.

She didn’t need this kind of false concern, especially from a man whose marriage was just an agreement.

Back home, Tang Ying kicked off her high heels and casually threw her bag on the sofa.

The night outside the window spilled in through the glass, making her overly beautiful profile look a little hazy. Tang Ying went straight to the wine cabinet, selected two bottles of fine vintage red wine, then sat down and leaned against the sofa, lightly tapping her forehead with her fingertips. The cold, bitter liquid entered her throat, and her thoughts drifted involuntarily to Fu Yi Wen.

Fu Yi Wen, who was always straightforward and only had her in her eyes.

Tang Ying picked up her phone, hesitated for a moment, and finally sent a message: [Want to eat sweet and sour pork ribs.]

After sending the message, Tang Ying stared at the screen without blinking, her fingertips unconsciously tapping the edge of the phone.

Time passed by, but the screen remained dark.

Two hours passed, and Fu Yi Wen still hadn’t replied.

Tang Ying frowned, a inexplicable irritability surged in her heart. She switched pages and directly dialed Fu Yi Wen’s phone. A monotonous ringing tone came from the receiver, and until it automatically hung up, Fu Yi Wen didn’t answer.

Heh, so she’s grown a temper, huh.

Tang Ying sneered and threw her phone on the table. She leaned her head back on the sofa, her eyes unconsciously turning cold.

It wasn’t that she didn’t know what Fu Yi Wen cared about and why she was angry, but she didn’t understand where the irritability and unease that had plagued her all day came from, and why.

Was it because of Fu Yi Wen?

Tang Ying tugged at the corners of her mouth, but there was no hint of a smile in her eyes.

She was used to controlling everything, used to using ambiguous attitudes to test and manipulate, and used to assuming that she wouldn’t have feelings for anyone.

But Fu Yi Wen seemed different.

Even though she wasn’t the little chubby girl anymore, whenever she thought of her, Tang Ying would still see that small, fleshy face with big, round eyes and a few freckles on her nose.

That little chubby girl was always so direct, so passionate, so open and fearless, like a bright and fiery flame, burning Tang Ying’s heart, but she didn’t dare to get close easily.

Would a woman like her really be moved by a kid like Fu Yi Wen?

Her beautiful eyebrows furrowed together, and Tang Ying couldn’t smile.

Regardless of whether she was willing to admit it or not, there was a more important problem in front of her now—

If she didn’t take any action, this flame called Fu Yi Wen seemed to be dying out.

Soon, both bottles of red wine were empty.

Tang Ying stood up and walked to the window, her fingertips gently tracing the cool glass. The night outside the window was prosperous and the lights were bright, but they still couldn’t shine into her heart.

She suddenly remembered what Gu Wan Jun had said at the hospital during the day about a boomerang—young and beautiful girls wouldn’t be single for long.

That was right, young and beautiful girls were never short of suitors. Fu Yi Wen was young, beautiful, had a good personality, and had her own business. The people chasing her probably lined up to the restaurant door long ago.

And what did she, Tang Ying, have besides money, power, looks, and a good figure?

Her money and power came from her family, and her own face and figure would eventually fade with age.

And she was cursed to be 14 years older than Fu Yi Wen.

14 years. A full 14-year age gap.

No amount of power or money could interfere with that real 14-year difference.

So what could she use to win against the younger, more beautiful, more romantic, and more expressive admirers around Fu Yi Wen?

Was it her strong, difficult, possessive personality, or the marriage certificate that she herself didn’t want to look at a second time, or the way she opened her mouth and wished she could poison herself to death with her sarcastic tongue?

Love makes the proud bow their heads. Fu Yi Wen was the first person to make Tang Ying, who had been confident for more than thirty years, feel a bit of inferiority and self-doubt from the bottom of her heart.

The fast-paced nightlife wouldn’t slow down because of someone’s low mood. On the other side of the city, the SWEET HOME restaurant, which usually closed on time, was still brightly lit.

Outside the window on the street, neon lights flickered and cars flowed, but the restaurant was quiet as if it were isolated from the world.

In the huge restaurant, there were only Fu Yi Wen and Chen Lu.

On the table, bottle after bottle of alcohol had been emptied.

Fu Yi Wen’s cheeks were flushed, her eyes were blurred, and her glass was filled again. She tilted her head and drank it all in one gulp. Beer dripped down the corner of her mouth, splashing small droplets on the table.

“Chen Lu, why does Tang Ying treat me like that? Why does she deserve to treat me like that?”

Fu Yi Wen’s voice was tearful. She clenched her glass tightly, her knuckles white:

“Am I not good to her? Am I not good enough to her? I’ve been guarding her for so many years. Doesn’t she have even a little bit of liking for me? If she doesn’t like me, why does she always call me and send me messages? Why did she help me lose weight, buy me clothes, buy me perfume, buy me everything? Why did she help me plan to open a restaurant? Why does she do things for me that she has never done for anyone else? Is she idle? Is she burning money? But if she likes me… is she a living devil? Why does she break my heart over and over again?”

“……”

Chen Lu sat opposite her, propping up her forehead, her eyes a little tired. She pursed her lips, tactically took a sip of water, and didn’t respond immediately.

Honestly, it wasn’t that she didn’t want to speak, but she had heard these few sentences repeated all night.

During the day, after she left the hospital, she returned to the hotel and took two sleeping pills. She finally managed to sleep for a few hours. When she woke up, she thought that Fu Yi Wen hadn’t replied to her WeChat message, and she felt a little uneasy, so she drove to the restaurant to see what was going on.

As a result, it would have been better if she hadn’t come.

Fu Yi Wen and Tang Ying had a fight.

And this time it was a cold war.

For Chen Lu, it wasn’t surprising that Fu Yi Wen and Tang Ying had a fight, but a cold war was a first.

After all, Fu Yi Wen couldn’t help but go to Tang Ying every time they quarreled in the past.

But this time, the situation was clearly different.

“Chen Lu, why can Tang Ying say that to me?”

Fu Yi Wen’s voice suddenly rose, and tears fell like rain, hitting the table:

“It was clearly her who was being unreasonable and jealous for no reason. How did it end up being my problem? She also said she didn’t want to see me…”

“……”

These words were heartbreaking.

Chen Lu sighed, took a few tissues and handed them to Fu Yi Wen. She couldn’t stand to see people cry. Seeing her friend crying until her whole face was swollen, Chen Lu frowned slightly, feeling a little complicated.

Tang Ying was acting as a spiritual guide in front of her during the day, but she herself had a lot of emotional problems that hadn’t been resolved.

Thinking of this, Chen Lu’s lips curled into a sarcastic smile. She was about to say something when her phone on the table vibrated.

Chen Lu subconsciously glanced at it and found that it was a message from Tang Ying.

Fu Yi Wen also saw the note. The person whose eyes were swollen like walnuts slammed the table, her tone indignant:

“She dares to send me a message?! Let me see what she said… wants to eat sweet and sour pork ribs…? No, who does she think she is! Does she think I have to go and make it for her just because she wants to eat it?! Dream on!”

This “bold statement” was a bit slurred, obviously Fu Yi Wen was drunk. Her head was dizzy, she was busy complaining, but her fingers were also unconsciously tapping on the phone screen.

Glancing at Fu Yi Wen’s phone screen, Chen Lu’s expression changed slightly. She quickly grabbed her friend’s wrist, her tone a little helpless:

“What are you doing?”

“Me? I didn’t do anything?” Fu Yi Wen blinked her dazed eyes, looking blank.

“Are you planning to reply to Tang Ying?” Chen Lu raised an eyebrow.

“Who wants to reply to her! I’m still angry! Let her dream on!” Fu Yi Wen retorted angrily.

“But you typed something, you just didn’t press send.” Chen Lu’s tone was a bit disappointed.

“……”

Fu Yi Wen blinked slowly, taking a few seconds to digest what Chen Lu’s words meant. She patted her face, shook her head hard, and tried to open her eyes wide to look at the screen. The unsent text box clearly said “Okay.”

Her already flushed face was now so red that it was about to bleed, as if someone had exposed her secret thoughts. Fu Yi Wen frantically pressed the delete key and stuttered to explain:

“I… I just slipped!”

Chen Lu sighed. She didn’t expose her friend, just silently let go of her hand.

She knew that Fu Yi Wen’s love for Tang Ying had become a habit, even an instinct. No matter what request Tang Ying made, Fu Yi Wen would unconditionally agree. This habit had long been ingrained and couldn’t be changed in a short time.

Just like her and Gu Wan Jun.

A message from Tang Ying stirred up some past memories in the little drunkard. Fu Yi Wen lowered her head, and tears began to well up in her eyes again.

She thought of the past five years, no matter how late, as long as Tang Ying opened her mouth, she would carry large bags and small packages to cook for her, Tang Ying sneezed, she was more anxious than anyone else, even skipping class to accompany her…

But what was the result? That annoying woman said she didn’t want to see her!

The corners of her mouth drooped with the increasingly bitter memories. Fu Yi Wen threw her phone on the table and opened another bottle of beer.

“You’ve had enough to drink today, you can’t drink anymore.”

“No, I want to drink! Are you my friend? If you are, don’t stop me!”

“……”

Chen Lu pursed her lips and didn’t say anything. Maybe she thought of her own messy situation with someone, and after a while, she picked up the bottle of beer that Fu Yi Wen had just opened and poured herself a glass too.

“Chen Lu, why do I have to like Tang Ying?”

Fu Yi Wen’s voice was choked with sobs, and tears couldn’t be wiped away:

“Loving Tang Ying is really hard… Do you think I was a heinous murderer in my previous life, and God is punishing me in this life by making me fall in love with a married woman? What is this between me and her? We haven’t kissed, we haven’t hugged, we haven’t even held hands with our fingers intertwined… For so many years, I’m not even a mistress. She has a husband, what am I?”

“……”

Listening to Fu Yi Wen’s complaints, Chen Lu felt a pang of sadness in her heart. She silently drank the glass of wine she had just poured, the burning sensation of alcohol spreading from her throat to her chest, but it couldn’t dispel the bitterness in her heart.

She couldn’t help but want to ask what kind of evil she had done in her previous life to make her fall in love with Gu Wan Jun in this life.

“What is there about Tang Ying that’s worth me liking? Why am I hanging myself on her tree?” Fu Yi Wen was still talking, her voice getting lower and lower, like a soliloquy.

Chen Lu put down her glass and said faintly: “Yeah, what is there about her that’s worth you liking? She’s old, has a bad temper, always gives you the cold shoulder, is possessive, isn’t enthusiastic about you, never cares about your feelings, she also—”

“Stop, stop, stop! Cut it out!” Fu Yi Wen was so anxious that she kept slapping the table, her eyes wide, and she was busy protesting incoherently, “Who told you to say that about her?”

“Didn’t you ask what was worth you liking about Tang Ying? Am I not telling the truth?” Chen Lu raised an eyebrow, her tone a bit helpless.

“What truth!?” Fu Yi Wen was so angry that she stomped her feet, retorting mercilessly: “Then I ask you, what is there about Gu Wan Jun that’s worth you liking? She’s hurt you so much, but you still can’t let go—ah! Why did you pinch me?!”

Chen Lu withdrew her hand and picked up her glass expressionlessly: “Too much talking, drink.”

Fu Yi Wen rubbed her pinched arm and mumbled a few words, but eventually obediently picked up her glass.

For the question of whether to love or whether it’s worth loving, the two younger women troubled by love were destined not to come to any conclusion.

It was past midnight, Chen Lu still retained a trace of sobriety, while Fu Yi Wen had already passed out on the table, still muttering “annoying woman” in her mouth.

Chen Lu sighed, got up to clean up the restaurant, closed the door, and found a car to send Fu Yi Wen home.

Back at the hotel, Chen Lu lay in bed. The moment she closed her eyes, Gu Wan Jun’s beautiful and charming peach blossom eyes appeared before her.

Annoying.

Chen Lu frowned and turned over, burying her face in the pillow.

Either she hadn’t drunk enough wine, or the face that she could see as soon as she closed her eyes was too annoying, Chen Lu tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep.

Tonight seemed particularly long.

The next morning, as soon as the SWEET HOME restaurant opened its doors, the glass door was pushed open, and the restaurant welcomed its first guest of the day.

The waiter looked up and was a little dazed.

Standing at the door was the woman who had made the boss smile from ear to ear yesterday noon.

The woman was wearing a black tight-fitting dress, sunglasses covered most of her face, only revealing her glamorous red lips and high nose bridge, her whole body exuding an aura that no one should approach.

The waiter swallowed silently and greeted her nervously, her voice trembling slightly: “Hello, is there anything I can help you with?”

Tang Ying took off her sunglasses, revealing her cold phoenix eyes, her tone cold: “When does your boss come?”

The waiter looked at the clock on the wall and answered cautiously: “The boss usually comes between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.”

Tang Ying nodded and casually pulled out a bank card from her bag, her tone unquestionable: “Rent the place out.”

The waiter was stunned for a moment, then reacted immediately and hurriedly took the card to complete the procedures.

Tang Ying put on her sunglasses again and walked straight to the table in the center of the restaurant and sat down, her slender and strong fingers tapping lightly on the table, as if waiting for something.

At 9 a.m., the pink electric scooter that was late but arrived wobbled to the restaurant door.

She had drunk a little too much with her Chen Lu last night, and the hangover almost prevented Fu Yi Wen from getting up this morning.

Sure enough, alcohol is something to be enjoyed in moderation, and hurts the body when drunk in excess.

After locking the car, Fu Yi Wen rubbed her aching temples and looked up to see the “Closed for Business” sign hanging on the door, she couldn’t help but frown.

What’s wrong with these newcomers, are they still doing business?

Pushing the door open, Fu Yi Wen was about to scold the waiter when her eyes were suddenly attracted to someone sitting in the center of the restaurant.

Damn it! What’s going on? Am I seeing a ghost in broad daylight?!

Fu Yi Wen froze, her face suddenly darkened. She turned to ask the waiter: “What’s going on?”

The waiter glanced at Tang Ying not far away, then answered her boss’s question tremblingly: “This lady has rented out the entire restaurant.”

“……”

Fu Yi Wen bit her lip, glared at Tang Ying, and turned to walk towards the warehouse, cursing in her heart: What does this annoying woman want to do? Wasn’t she scolding her enough yesterday!?

Fu Yi Wen cursed, took the key to open the warehouse door. She had just entered the warehouse when she heard a “click” behind her—the warehouse door was locked.

Fu Yi Wen was startled. When she turned around, she saw Tang Ying leaning against the door, arms crossed, looking at her with a smile that wasn’t really a smile.

Fu Yi Wen subconsciously retreated until her back hit the cold shelf, and there was no way to retreat. She had to brace herself and face those beautiful eyes directly: “What… what do you want?”

“Is that how you treat the person who rented the place?”

“…Aren’t there waiters outside! I’m the boss!”

Tang Ying walked closer slowly, going straight to the point, her voice cold: “Why didn’t you reply to my message last night?”

How dare she ask her?

Fu Yi Wen cursed non-stop in her heart. She straightened her neck and said confidently: “None of your business!”

Tang Ying took another step forward, the distance between them so close that they could almost feel each other’s breath. She lowered her head slightly, her eyes looking directly into Fu Yi Wen’s:

“You did it on purpose.”

“……”

Fu Yi Wen was a little guilty under such a gaze, but she still hardened her heart and replied: “So what if I did?”

Tang Ying raised an eyebrow, her tone with a hint of insincerity: “You’ve grown a temper?”

“?”

Speaking of this, Fu Yi Wen’s anger surged, she pushed Tang Ying away, her tone full of grievance:

“What? Are you allowed to have a temper, but I’m not allowed to have a temper?”

Although she had lost weight, Fu Yi Wen still had some strength. Tang Ying was pushed back a step by her, but she wasn’t angry, just stared at her for a few seconds, her tone faint:

“I’ll forgive you this time, but don’t do it again.”

“???”

Forgive? Who’s forgiving who? Did this annoying woman come here specifically to make her angry!?

Fu Yi Wen was so angry that she was about to explode, retorting directly: “Who wants your forgiveness! Do you have anything to do? If not, hurry up and leave, don’t disturb my business!”

Listening to Fu Yi Wen giving her an eviction order, Tang Ying frowned. After a moment of silence, she took off her sunglasses, her tone rarely gentle:

“Except for going to school, all my remaining time is occupied by you. You know there’s nothing between me and him.”

Who this “him” referred to, they both knew very well.

As soon as the words were spoken, Fu Yi Wen’s aura weakened. In fact, she had known for a long time that Tang Ying and that man named Jiang Yingxu had almost no contact except during the New Year, but she was still unconvinced:

“Then according to what you said, I go to you whenever I have time, why do you suspect me and Zhou Yuan?”

Tang Ying snorted coldly, her tone with a hint of course: “I know there’s nothing between you, otherwise do you think I would still be standing here?”

Fu Yi Wen’s eyes widened, stamping her feet angrily: “You know there’s nothing between us and you’re still jealous?!”

Tang Ying turned her face away, stubbornly saying: “Who’s jealous?”

Fu Yi Wen was anxious and stamping her feet: “You’re still being stubborn!?”

Tang Ying still refused to admit it, continuing to be stubborn: “I’m just simply unhappy, can’t I be?”

Fu Yi Wen was so angry that she stuttered: “You! I can’t reason with you!”

Tang Ying raised an eyebrow, insisting even if there was no reason: “I’ve always been this kind of person, is this the first day you met me? I was like this when you were in high school.”

Fu Yi Wen couldn’t help but roll her eyes: “Can you be the same as when you were in high school now!?”

Tang Ying looked at her with a smile that wasn’t really a smile, her tone with a hint of probing: “What’s different?”

Fu Yi Wen was quick-witted, blurting out what was in her heart: “I like you the most now, I only like you!”

“……”

As soon as the words came out, Fu Yi Wen herself was stunned, her fair little round face completely red!

Seeing that someone’s face was about to burn, Tang Ying curled her lips in satisfaction, her tone triumphant: “So are you still going to be angry with me?”

“……”

Realizing that she had “surrendered” first, Fu Yi Wen felt a burst of remorse in her heart. She was preoccupied with what happened yesterday, muttering to herself in a low voice: “You were the one who said you didn’t want to see me…”

Tang Ying sneered: “I said I didn’t want to see you and you wouldn’t come to me, when have I ever seen you so obedient?”

Fu Yi Wen was angry and stuttering: “Then… then who told you to come!?”

Looking at the angry look on this person, Tang Ying found it a bit cute and couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow: “I’ve changed my mind now.”

Fu Yi Wen wrinkled her nose, her tone stubborn: “Just because you changed your mind doesn’t mean I have to be obedient, right?”

Tang Ying crossed her arms, looking at her with a smile that wasn’t really a smile: “Then what do you want? Continue the cold war?”

Fu Yi Wen shook her head, her tone unrelenting: “I want you to coax me.”

Tang Ying narrowed her eyes, her voice a little low and husky: “What do you think I’m doing right now?”

“?!”

Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!

Tang Ying was coaxing her!?

Fireworks exploded in Fu Yi Wen’s heart, but she still didn’t give in on the surface: “No, is this how you coax people?”

Tang Ying’s tone was direct: “Otherwise? I haven’t coaxed anyone else except you.”

Fu Yi Wen smacked her lips, deliberately nitpicking: “This is a bit too perfunctory, isn’t it.”

Hearing this, Tang Ying’s face changed again and again, and she turned to leave.

Thinking that she had gone too far, Fu Yi Wen suddenly became anxious and quickly grabbed her wrist:

“Hey! Where are you going? You’re backing down before you’ve even coaxed me properly, you can’t do this! What’s wrong with coaxing me a few more times!?”

Tang Ying’s tone didn’t reveal any emotion: “Let go.”

“Here you go again!” Fu Yi Wen was so angry that she wanted to bang her head against the wall.

Tang Ying stared at the almost crying face of the person in front of her with a stiff face, and after a long silence, she blurted out: “I’ll go get you dessert.”

“Dessert?”

“Yeah, I waited in line for two hours to buy it, this is the second time.”

“……”

Looking at Tang Ying’s annoyed look, Fu Yi Wen suddenly realized: “The second time? Could it be that you also—”

Tang Ying turned her face away, her tone with a hint of awkwardness: “Yeah, otherwise why do you think I was so angry.”

Fu Yi Wen was anxious and stomped her feet: “Then why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Tang Ying raised her chin: “Who told you to make me angry.”

“???”

Fu Yi Wen had a head full of question marks: “I made you angry? You were the one who made me half dead, okay? I cried all night last night, look at what kind of dead look my eyes are swollen to!”

Fu Yi Wen was busy complaining about her own heartache. After she finished speaking, she noticed that Tang Ying’s makeup seemed to be particularly heavy today.

As if she had thought of something, Fu Yi Wen curved her eyes. She took half a step forward, staring straight at Tang Ying’s overly beautiful face, her tone with a hint of teasing: “Didn’t you sleep well last night either?”

“……”

Tang Ying glared at her and didn’t answer directly, just coldly dropped a sentence: “Try not replying to my message next time.”

Fu Yi Wen pursed her lips, her tone a bit stubborn: “Then don’t talk to me so sarcastically next time.”

A dangerous aura flashed in her phoenix eyes, but Tang Ying still suppressed her temper and said: “I’ll try.”

Fu Yi Wen took advantage of the situation and continued to shake her head: “You can be jealous, but you have to believe me, otherwise I’ll be sad.”

Tang Ying had a cold face, but nodded: “Yeah.”

Fu Yi Wen also solemnly added: “Also, you can’t just say you don’t want to see me, that’s too hurtful.”

Tang Ying finally couldn’t bear it anymore, her tone a little impatient: “Why do you have so many conditions?”

“Hey hey hey, look, look, so impatient, so impatient!”

Fu Yi Wen wrinkled her nose and asked with her soul: “Do you still want to make up or not?”

Tang Ying: “……”

Sure enough, a cornered rabbit will bite is an eternal truth.

Looking at each other, Tang Ying raised an eyebrow, taking a full stance, but when she opened her mouth again, there was a hint of bargaining that had never been there before: “What you said, I’ll try.”

“So you agreed?” A hint of complacency and satisfaction flashed in her bright eyes. Fu Yi Wen smiled and repeatedly confirmed: “You have to keep your word!”

“When have I ever broken my word on something I promised you?”

“That’s true… but—”

“No buts, you made so many requests, now it’s my turn.”

Tang Ying crossed her arms, lifted her chin with a cold face: “First request, I’m renting this place out today, I want to eat sweet and sour pork ribs now.”

“……”