SYLM Chapter 98

Chapter 98 “Sister, am I pretty today?”

The end of July transitions into early August, and the summer heat reaches its peak. Seasonal rains come one after another, and the sudden temperature differences between morning and evening silently herald the approaching autumn.

Beijing time, August 9th, 9:00 PM.

Fu Yi Wen came out after taking a shower, not even having time to dry her hair before sitting down at her computer desk. Her mind was filled with matters related to the restaurant’s first-anniversary celebration tomorrow.

This was the first large-scale event since the opening of the SWEET HOME restaurant, and she wanted to make it beautiful, absolutely not letting Tang Ying down.

The blue light of the computer screen reflected in her eyes, making her ink-black pupils appear particularly bright. Fu Yi Wen quickly typed on the keyboard, making final revisions to the manuscript files needed for tomorrow. Her brow was slightly furrowed, and her slender fingers occasionally paused, as if she was pondering something.

Unknowingly, the coffee at hand gradually cooled, and at the same time, after repeatedly checking for errors, the mouse finally clicked the save button.

Fu Yi Wen raised the corners of her lips and breathed a long sigh of relief. She rotated her sore neck and wrists and was about to turn off the computer and go back to her room to sleep when her phone, placed to the side, vibrated inappropriately twice.

Unlocking it, the smile that had just bloomed instantly froze on her face.

Tang Ying: [Something came up last minute tomorrow, can’t make it to your restaurant.]

A simple text message. Fu Yi Wen’s eyes stared blankly, even wondering if she was hallucinating.

After a long silence, she switched phone pages and directly dialed Tang Ying’s number, but the ringing tone only sounded once before it was hung up. Then Tang Ying’s text message popped up on the screen again:

[Don’t call, not convenient to answer.]

Fu Yi Wen glanced at the time. Her already slightly uneasy eyes dimmed instantly, but she still patiently typed a reply: [What happened? Do you need my help?]

Tang Ying replied instantly: [No need.]

Fu Yi Wen hesitated for a moment, typing to press: [What is it exactly?]

After the message was sent, Fu Yi Wen waited patiently. She watched the chat box display “Typing…” for a long time until, after waiting for almost five minutes, she finally received Tang Ying’s reply:

[The school has a last-minute public class scheduled for tomorrow.]

The school scheduled a public class.

Just a public class?

Fu Yi Wen pursed her lips. She lowered her head, and just as her fingers typed a line, another message popped up on the screen: [Can’t decline it.]

Her eyes stared at those three simple words for a long time, until they felt sore and swollen. Fu Yi Wen quickly blinked and silently deleted the [Can you decline it?] that she hadn’t sent.

Tang Ying’s message continued: [I have other arrangements for tomorrow noon, no need to bring me lunch.]

[I’ll have someone deliver flowers and gifts to the restaurant on time, wishing you all the best.]

The night was like water, and Fu Yi Wen, standing at the computer desk, kept her head lowered, staring at the screen, like a statue.

If the person doesn’t come, what’s the use of flowers and gifts?

That’s never what she wanted.

Fu Yi Wen adjusted her emotions and wanted to chat with Tang Ying about something else, but Tang Ying didn’t seem to have any intention of continuing the conversation. The other party quickly sent a message saying that she had a public class tomorrow and needed to rest now.

Her fingertips dug into the edge of the phone, digging until they turned white. Fu Yi Wen finally replied: [Okay, good night.]

The computer screen on the desk, not yet turned off, emitted a faint glow. The page was still on the manuscript she had just revised, as if everything was ruthlessly mocking all of Fu Yi Wen’s efforts that had been reduced to nothing in an instant.

It’s normal for high schools to add public classes temporarily. Tang Ying is a high school teacher, that’s her job, she has to be responsible for her students, that’s normal, she shouldn’t mind.

Yes, she shouldn’t mind.

Fu Yi Wen told herself this in her heart.

But can she really not mind?

Fu Yi Wen put down her phone and walked to the French windows. The thick night outside was dense, and the shimmering neon lights in the distance were reflected on her pale face through the glass, melting into a hazy halo, making her expression difficult to see clearly.

The city lights were bright, but they couldn’t illuminate people’s hearts.

On the other side, in a detached apartment.

Using [Good night] as the end of this conversation, Tang Ying bit her back teeth and impatiently threw her phone on the table, her face extremely cold: “Satisfied?”

On the opposite sofa, Tang Lan picked up the phone that Tang Ying had thrown on the table, scrolling up and down a few times with a serious expression. After reading it, she put the phone back on the table, looking calm and composed:

“This public class was the higher-ups’ idea. I’m helping you secure an opportunity.”

“Helping me secure an opportunity?”

As if hearing something funny, Tang Ying looked disdainful, her tone mocking:

“Director Tang, everyone for themselves, and the devil take the hindmost. It’s not that hard to admit you’re doing it for yourself.”

Tang Ying’s words were barbed, but Tang Lan didn’t mind, her tone still calm:

“Many leaders will be there to listen to your public class tomorrow. Perform well, don’t embarrass me.”

After speaking, Tang Lan straightened her suit and got up to leave.

“Oh, right, tomorrow that kid’s restaurant–”

“I warned you, don’t touch her.”

Mentioning Fu Yi Wen, Tang Ying’s thorns seemed to bristle up, and facing those fierce eyes that were even more ruthless than her own, Tang Lan instead smiled, her tone interested:

“What’s with the tension? I just wanted to say that it’s that kid’s restaurant’s first anniversary tomorrow, and I’ll send flowers to express my blessings. Young people, it’s not easy to do business.”

“No need,” Tang Ying refused directly.

“Whether it’s needed or not is not up to you. Prepare well for tomorrow’s public class.”

The apartment door opened and closed again, leaving only a trace of a steady perfume smell that didn’t belong to this apartment.

Tang Ying’s face was livid, and she directly picked up the wine bottle on the table and smashed it against the door panel.

The wine bottle slammed into the door panel, and shards of glass scattered in all directions, flashing coldly under the lights. Dark red wine flowed down the door panel, like a hideous wound, and some drops even splashed onto Tang Ying’s face, icy and biting. The wine spread across the floor, and the air was filled with a strong smell of alcohol.

Tang Ying’s temples throbbed with anger, and her ears buzzed. She raised her hand to wipe the wine stains on her face, but found that her hands were shaking. She got up and went straight to the wine cabinet, taking out another bottle of wine.

This time, she didn’t smash it, but instead drank directly from the bottle.

The spicy liquid burned her throat, but Tang Ying felt relieved.

The world is unpredictable, and even the most capable people ultimately cannot escape the word “emotion.”

But then again, if there is no “emotion” in a long life, wouldn’t it be too sad?

Fu Yi Wen, what am I supposed to do with you?

On the other side of the city. Yunjiang Century Garden.

In the bedroom, watching her daughter’s sleeping face, Gu Wan Jun put down the storybook in her hand, tucked the corner of the quilt for the little one, and then tiptoed out of the room.

Coming to the kitchen, she opened the highest cabinet, took out a bottle of red wine and a glass from the innermost part, and then went to the balcony.

Over the years, borrowing alcohol to relieve sorrow wasn’t the first time, but Gu Wan Jun still didn’t like the spicy taste of alcohol, so much so that she frowned unconsciously after only taking a sip.

But she was extremely fascinated by this taste.

Chen Lu.

The moonlight rippled on the misty gauze curtains, and Gu Wan Jun murmured to herself, facing her reflection on the glass window.

Since Li Sa appeared, she hadn’t contacted Chen Lu again.

Several times, her daughter, Duo Duo, asked her questions about Chen Lu, and she either vaguely evaded them or directly changed the subject.

What could she say?

The last time they met, Chen Lu’s intimacy with Li Sa, her preference for Li Sa, her protection of Li Sa… every scene pierced Gu Wan Jun’s heart, and her heart would ache faintly whenever she thought of it.

In fact, the day after that meeting, Gu Wan Jun, with walnut eyes, asked Tang Ying to investigate Li Sa. She finally learned that the woman was five years older than Chen Lu, a well-known photographer, with a straightforward personality, daring to fight, and had her own studio abroad. All the conditions were excellent, and she was a good person to date.

Time wouldn’t reverse, everyone should look forward, Chen Lu was about to start a new life, what qualifications did she have to destroy the little girl’s happiness.

She had no qualifications.

Let it be like this…

As long as Chen Lu is happy.

Let it be like this.

Gu Wan Jun took a big gulp of wine, the spicy and stimulating taste choked her eyes red, and tears flowed. When she got up to get a tissue, the phone on the sofa rang, and the two words [Chen Lu] on the caller ID made her head buzz and froze on the spot.

Chen Lu. Chen Lu. Chen Lu.

Wine doesn’t intoxicate people, people intoxicate themselves. These two words had more magic for Gu Wan Jun than any number of bottles of wine. Dragging her stiff steps, she moved to the sofa as if possessed, and almost piously pressed the answer button.

“…Hello?”

“Sister… come pick me up, okay…”

“……”

A “sister” with a nasal voice and obvious drunkenness shattered Gu Wan Jun’s heart. She shivered and looked at the caller ID several times in disbelief.

Whether it was the voice she had just heard or the name on the screen, it was clearly Chen Lu.

Was the little girl drunk?

Gu Wan Jun frowned, her heart leaped into her throat. She wanted to ask what was going on, but a strange female voice spoke on the other end of the phone:

“Hello, ah, hello, is this Miss Li Sa? Oh, it’s like this, this young lady drank too much at our place, and she keeps calling out the name Li Sa. Would it be convenient for you to come and pick her up? Okay, okay, our address is…”

After hanging up the phone, Gu Wan Jun hurriedly put on a windbreaker and rushed out.

In the night, the hand holding the steering wheel trembled slightly, but the accelerator under her foot was pressed without hesitation. The car lights cut through the silent street, and Gu Wan Jun’s thoughts were in a mess.

Chen Lu wasn’t the type to get drunk easily. She was always calm, self-possessed, and had a sense of propriety, but why did she drink so much tonight? And why did she call the wrong number to her?

Chen Lu’s clear face couldn’t help but appear in Gu Wan Jun’s mind, her pair of beautiful crescent eyes slightly narrowed, with a hint of drunkenness, softly calling “sister.”

Sister.

This title was like a thin needle, gently piercing Gu Wan Jun’s softest heart, extremely painful but unable to pull out.

Was the little girl usually calling Li Sa that?

The hand holding the steering wheel was extremely cold, trembling fiercely. Gu Wan Jun felt as if something was blocking her chest, making it difficult to breathe.

She knew she had no right to be jealous, but that sour feeling surged up like a tide, drowning her reason alive.

Gu Wan Jun bit her lower lip, forcing herself to concentrate on driving, but Chen Lu’s voice kept replaying in her mind, that gentle and somewhat coquettish “sister”…

When she arrived at the bar, Gu Wan Jun saw Chen Lu at a glance.

The little girl was sitting on the sofa in the corner, her originally fair cheeks flushed, her eyes dazed, as if covered with a layer of mist, making it impossible to see her emotions. She was wearing a well-tailored suit, which set off her tall and slender figure. The collar of the white shirt inside was slightly open, revealing a section of fair and beautiful collarbone, which looked particularly tempting in the dim light.

Gu Wan Jun heard her own heart beating wildly, her throat was a little dry. She strode over, gently patted Chen Lu’s shoulder, and whispered:

“Chen Lu, wake up, I’ll take you home.”

Chen Lu raised her head and looked at her with blurred eyes. She seemed to recognize her, and a faint, gentle smile appeared on the corner of the little girl’s mouth:

“Sister, you’re here…”

“……”

Facing those watery eyes, Gu Wan Jun’s nose felt sore. She tried to suppress the throbbing in her heart, reached out and supported Chen Lu’s arm, and pulled her up from the sofa.

The little girl’s body was soft and limp, almost leaning entirely on Gu Wan Jun. Her warm breath sprayed on her neck, with a faint smell of alcohol.

The hand around Chen Lu’s waist trembled slightly. Gu Wan Jun tried not to have too much intimate contact with Chen Lu, but the little girl was really too drunk. She didn’t dare to relax at all, so she could only half-drag and half-hug the person out of the bar.

A gust of night wind seemed to sober up the drunk a bit, but her steps were still unsteady, and she leaned entirely on Gu Wan Jun.

After getting into the car, Chen Lu leaned on the passenger seat, constantly muttering “sister” in her mouth. The originally clear and detached voice was softened by the alcohol, and her tone was still somewhat aggrieved, making Gu Wan Jun’s heart seem to be grabbed hard by something, so sour that it almost overflowed her chest. She gripped the steering wheel and tried to make her voice sound calm:

“Chen Lu, where is your home? I’ll take you back.”

Chen Lu didn’t answer, but just closed her eyes, her beautiful eyebrows slightly furrowed, as if she was trapped in some uneasy dream.

Gu Wan Jun bit her lower lip, a taste of blood spreading on the tip of her tongue. She desperately resisted the sourness and pain in her heart, and whispered:

“Or… I’ll take you to Li Sa’s house? Where does she live?”

As soon as she finished speaking, Chen Lu suddenly opened her eyes, her eyes were red, and the tears that poured out in an instant were like beads with a broken string, falling down. “Sister… don’t argue with me… don’t leave me…”

“……”

Hearing this, Gu Wan Jun thought the little girl drank so much because she had quarreled with Li Sa, and as if she had been stabbed hard by something, a burst of sadness and helplessness surged in Gu Wan Jun’s heart. She bit her lip, disregarding any suspicion, held the little girl’s hot face in both hands, and gently wiped away the tears on her face, but the tears seemed to be endless, constantly sliding from Chen Lu’s reddened eyes.

“Don’t cry… don’t cry…”

Her hoarse voice couldn’t help but choke up, with a bit of heartache and helplessness. Gu Wan Jun trembled and gently pressed her forehead against Chen Lu’s forehead, her tone devout:

“Sister won’t leave you, never will…”

Chen Lu seemed to have heard Gu Wan Jun’s words, and her tears gradually stopped, and her breathing became smooth. Probably because of the alcohol, the little girl fell asleep on the seat after a while, her long eyelashes were wet with tears, making anyone who saw her couldn’t help but feel distressed and love her.

Looking at Chen Lu’s peaceful sleeping face, Gu Wan Jun closed her eyes, her eyelids trembling, letting the tears fall.

After an unknown amount of time, the car restarted the engine and drove towards the nearest hotel.

Gu Wan Jun didn’t know where Chen Lu lived, couldn’t contact Li Sa, and couldn’t even get through to Fu Yi Wen’s phone. Helplessly, she could only take Chen Lu to the hotel.

In the hotel room.

After settling Chen Lu on the bed, Gu Wan Jun gently took off her shoes and covered her with a quilt. When she turned her head, the little girl lying on the bed didn’t know when she had opened her watery eyes. Her voice wasn’t as clear and detached as usual, but now only had a soft and aggrieved nasal sound:

“Sister, am I pretty today?”

“……”