PANT - Chapter 44

Chapter 44

When Zhou Lu heard Xin Ya speak, her first reaction was to pick up a piece of plum ribs with her chopsticks and unhesitatingly stuff it into Xin Ya's mouth, cutting off whatever she was about to say next.

With the rib in her mouth, Xin Ya looked a bit like a stray dog suddenly force-fed, completely bewildered by the unexpected food. Unable to speak, she could only blink her eyes rapidly, trying to communicate with them.

Seeing the confusion in Xin Ya's eyes, Zhou Lu said with a straight face, "Let's eat."

But who could possibly be in the mood to eat at a time like this?

The moment Shi Ning heard what Xin Ya said, her scalp went numb. What is all this? she thought.

No wonder seeing Xu Lulu and seeing Mo Lingyuan felt different.

So this person is her first love, huh?

She didn't understand why Mo Lingyuan would suddenly appear on the show, nor did she believe it was a coincidence... If there were that many coincidences in the world, she would have won the lottery long ago.

The first thought that flashed through Shi Ning's mind was that perhaps Mo Lingyuan's appearance was another trap set by that person hiding in the shadows.

Shi Ning pondered this silently, deciding she had to find time later to call Ye Wanlan and discuss the situation. She didn't know if Ye Wanlan had managed to find the mastermind by following Xu Lulu's trail. At the same time, Shi Ning watched Su Tianxue's expression.

Su Tianxue seemed completely unaffected by Xin Ya's words, calmly picking up food with her chopsticks.

Shi Ning: I can tell my wife is really hungry.

【Su Tianxue: Don't cue me, I just want to eat.】

【First loves aren't important. What's important is this bowl of rice in front of me.】

After shoveling down several mouthfuls of rice, Su Tianxue looked up and saw that she was the only one eating...

Su Tianxue: "Why aren't you eating?"

Xin Ya, gnawing on the bone in her mouth, was crying a river of tears internally.

She thought: I have to be able to stomach it first!

Hearing her sister, Su Wanxing quickly started to serve herself some food.

Shi Ning wasn't that hungry to begin with. She casually picked up a piece of fragrant, tender braised pork and put it in her bowl. Just as she took a bite with some white rice, she heard Mo Lingyuan ask her, "Is it good?"

Shi Ning: "You'll know if you try it yourself."

Mo Lingyuan didn't get angry. "This is the first time I've heard you speak to me in this tone. Hmm, it's quite novel."

Su Wanxing could barely control her expression. She turned and hid behind Zhu Yu, letting out a soft cough.

The bone in Xin Ya's mouth clattered onto the table. Fearing she would open her mouth and say something else out of line, blurting out some new revelation, Zhou Lu quickly used the same trick again, stuffing another piece of rib into Xin Ya's mouth.

Su Tianxue wasn't interested in the braised pork. She picked up a piece of oil-braised bamboo shoots and placed it in her bowl. After rolling it in her rice to soak up the excess oil, she lowered her head and took a bite of the tip.

Su Tianxue: "This is pretty good. Do you want to try it?"

She was speaking to Mo Lingyuan.

Shi Ning turned her head to look at Su Tianxue, finding her behavior a bit abnormal. Usually, Su Tianxue was definitely not someone who was keen on chatting with people or joining conversations.

...

The moment Shi Ning thought about Mo Lingyuan's top-tier Omega constitution, an alarm went off in her head.

In an instant, she recalled a plot point from the novel where the original "Shi Ning," in order to test Su Wanxing, had brought Mo Lingyuan in to act with her and provoke Su Wanxing. And of all things, after that incident, Su Tianxue and Mo Lingyuan had actually become good friends.

...How could she have forgotten something so important?

Based on Shi Ning's understanding of Su Tianxue, she wouldn't become friends with someone for no reason.

The word "friend" was exceptionally precious to Su Tianxue.

...

This was a disaster.

Shi Ning couldn't help but consider another possibility in her mind.

She had thought she had the home-field advantage and could win Su Tianxue's heart. Could it be...

Without another word, Shi Ning stood up, took the plate of oil-braised bamboo shoots, and shoveled the contents directly into her own bowl.

Su Tianxue: "?"

Shi Ning: "I like it, so I'll eat it."

Seeing this, Mo Lingyuan chuckled softly. "Shi Ning, do you really need to be so afraid of me? It's just one dish, you won't even let me have a single bite?"

【Schemer! Schemer! Schemer! Back off! Back off! Back off!】

【Even if you're the first love, they're already married, okay? If she doesn't talk to you like this, how should she talk to you?】

【You're all focused on the drama, but I'm just thinking about how delicious that food looks. Help, help, am I going to order takeout again?? This isn't supposed to be a food show!!】

Since the oil-braised bamboo shoots recommended by Su Tianxue were gone, Mo Lingyuan picked up a piece of the braised pork that Shi Ning had just chosen.

But she only bit off the lean part of the pork. After taking a slow, deliberate bite of rice, she said softly, "Shi Ning, I've noticed you've changed quite a bit."

Shi Ning's nerves were stretched taut, as if an air raid siren was blaring in her brain.

di-wa di-wa—

She had a premonition that Mo Lingyuan's next words would be a bombshell, and sure enough, Mo Lingyuan said, "I've known you for so many years, but this is the first time I've seen you eat this dish. You never used to like it."

Mo Lingyuan's words were clearly loaded, and her expression seemed nostalgic.

As she spoke, her gaze landed casually on Su Tianxue.

Shi Ning took a sip of tea. "People change," she said.

Mo Lingyuan: "I know. I just didn't expect you to change so completely. Both your taste in food and in people."

With the conversation having reached this point, the implication was obvious.

At the table, even a thick-skinned person like Xin Ya didn't dare to speak anymore. She gnawed on the chicken foot in her hand with extreme caution, afraid that the slightest sound would draw everyone's attention.

Zhu Yu observed the scene impassively.

Even she had never known the story between Shi Ning and Mo Lingyuan. She had never heard Shi Ning mention these things.

Su Wanxing looked from Mo Lingyuan to Su Tianxue, and for some reason, she felt a surge of empathetic pity for Shi Ning.

She had experienced this kind of feeling in her dreams.

It really wasn't pleasant.

Shi Ning pulled out a napkin, wiped her mouth, crumpled it into a ball, and tossed it into the trash can. "Is it possible that you just never knew me well enough to begin with?"

【Friendly reminder: We viewers are allowed to breathe.】

【A textbook meeting between the first love and the current partner.】

【Mo Lingyuan has a strong mentality, not breaking down yet. In situations like this, all that matters is one person's attitude. I think Shi Ning's attitude is already obvious enough.】

【My mom asked me why I'm watching a love triangle drama on a romance show TvT】

Mo Lingyuan was very composed. She took a light sip of her tea. "More than ten years of history, and you call that not knowing you?"

Hearing this, Xin Ya's eyes nearly popped out of her head.

She had just been chatting with Mo Lingyuan and only knew they were first loves; she hadn't known about this part of their history.

【Childhood sweethearts??】

【But if I were Mo Lingyuan, I probably wouldn't be able to accept it either.】

Su Tianxue slowly put down her chopsticks and looked at Mo Lingyuan. "Miss Mo, you said something wrong."

"Oh?" Mo Lingyuan raised an eyebrow.

Shi Ning also looked toward Su Tianxue.

She had thought Su Tianxue would stay completely out of it, unconcerned.

Su Tianxue calmly began to explain, "A person's food preferences aren't solely determined by their personal emotional judgment. To be precise, sometimes what humans perceive as a food preference is actually influenced by their physical condition."

Shi Ning: "?"

Mo Lingyuan: "?"

I'm trying to stage a dramatic confrontation here, and you're telling me this?

What is this?

A live science lesson?

Xin Ya finally found a topic she dared to speak on. The chatterbox, who had been holding it in for ages, quickly chimed in, "Sister Su, why is that?"

Su Tianxue: "When it comes to influencing a person's desire and preference for food, the gut microbiome plays a significant role."

Zhu Yu also grew curious. "How does it do that?"

Su Tianxue explained, "In fact, our bodies have two brains. One is this one." Su Tianxue pointed to her temple. "The other is in our gastrointestinal tract, known as the 'gut brain'."

Even Mo Lingyuan, the star of this dramatic confrontation, couldn't help but be drawn in. "The gut brain?"

Su Tianxue gave her a faint glance. "Simply put, the gut microbiome communicates its food preferences to the brain in its own unique way, through various bodily functions and reactions. It controls people's food preferences and regulates their physiological and psychological states. Sometimes, negative emotions are also influenced by the gut microbiome."

Su Tianxue: "So, when you said just now that Shi Ning has changed, that statement isn't entirely correct. It's possible that the gut microbiome in her body has undergone changes through a process of natural selection, which in turn has altered her food preferences."

Mo Lingyuan: "I..."

Thanks a lot.

【.........】

【What am I even supposed to say?】

【A new method for defusing a dramatic confrontation has been born.】

【Sister Su, why do you know so much weird stuff!!】

【Is this the caliber of an academic?】

【I feel like Su Tianxue's move is like the 'four taels deflecting a thousand catties' in Tai Chi. No direct confrontation, but it completely neutralized the problem, hhh.】

【Mo Lingyuan's expression is hilarious.】

【It's like landing a heavy punch on a ball of cotton. If I were Mo Lingyuan, I'd be furious right now.】

Shi Ning wanted to laugh but held it in.

She saw Su Tianxue trying to pick up some glass noodles with her chopsticks but failing repeatedly, so she simply stood up and helped put them in her bowl.

Seeing this, Mo Lingyuan held up her own small bowl and brought it to Shi Ning, not hiding her intentions in the slightest.

She said with a smile, "Could you help me get some too, please?"

Before Shi Ning could refuse, Xin Ya shot up and gallantly took Mo Lingyuan's bowl. "Beauty, beauty, let me help you."

She stretched out her chopsticks and piled a mountain of noodles into Mo Lingyuan's bowl.

Mo Lingyuan: "Actually, that's enou-"

Xin Ya: "This is delicious, eat more. You just got back to the country, you must miss our local food. Don't be shy, come on, come on."

Mo Lingyuan looked at the pile of glass noodles, stacked as high as a small mountain, looking like it would overflow if she so much as lifted a hand.

...

Xin Ya said enthusiastically, "Is that enough?"

Mo Lingyuan said earnestly, "It's enough."

Xin Ya: "Mhm, don't waste food, okay? Tell me if it's not enough."

Mo Lingyuan: "...Thanks a lot."

Zhou Lu turned her head, using her teacup to hide the smile she could no longer control.

【Is this the legendary 'goofy beats the schemer'?】

【There's always something to counter another!】

【Suddenly, Xin Ya's earlier outburst doesn't seem so annoying anymore, hahahaha!! This girl is basically a plot-driving machine!!】

Everyone chatted casually during the meal.

Xin Ya curiously asked about Mo Lingyuan's past.

Xin Ya: "Speaking of which, why did you go abroad back then? Is it fun overseas?"

Mo Lingyuan was more than happy to share.

Mo Lingyuan: "I went abroad right after graduating high school. As for whether it was fun..." She chuckled lightly. "I went abroad for medical treatment. Later, I just got used to being there alone."

Mo Lingyuan: "Some places are pretty fun. When there's a chance, I can take you?"

Xin Ya was delighted. "Okay, okay."

She then asked with some concern, "What illness did you have? Are you okay now?"

Mo Lingyuan: "It was nothing serious, just an accidental injury to my gland, so I went abroad to recover." As she said this, she calmly looked at Shi Ning. "It was also because of this that Shi Ning and I broke up."

Fuck.

Xin Ya hadn't expected her casual question to lead the topic back to Mo Lingyuan and Shi Ning's past relationship. She gave an awkward laugh, not knowing what to do.

【Sounds like there's a hidden story behind this breakup?】

【Holy crap, a gland injury? Wouldn't that be incredibly painful?】

【I have a melodramatic theory. Could it be that after Mo Lingyuan's gland was injured, Shi Ning's parents found out? After all, Shi Ning is the heir to a wealthy family. How could they let her marry an Omega with a gland problem? So... 'Here's five million, leave my daughter'?】

【The person above has a wild imagination. Have you considered that Shi Ning's current wife isn't even an Omega, but an Alpha? No matter what, her parents wouldn't obstruct Shi Ning's relationship over something like that, right?】

【Why am I suddenly starting to feel sorry for Sister Mo?】

Shi Ning hadn't fully remembered the story between "Shi Ning" and Mo Lingyuan, let alone why they broke up, so she couldn't casually refute or explain anything.

If she accidentally exposed herself, the loss would outweigh the gain.

"But it's nothing." Mo Lingyuan's smile became more genuine. "It's all in the past. Now, Shi Ning and I just have a sisterly bond. After knowing each other for so many years, if we can't be lovers, we can at least be friends."

Shi Ning: Sisterly bond my ass. Who has a sisterly bond with you?

Mo Lingyuan turned to ask Su Tianxue, "I'm very curious, Miss Su, when did you and Shi Ning meet?"

Mo Lingyuan's move was nothing more than an attempt to probe into Shi Ning and Su Tianxue's past.

Su Tianxue: "Not long ago."

The smile in Mo Lingyuan's eyes deepened. "You haven't known each other long?"

Su Tianxue: "That's right."

Mo Lingyuan laughed. "I had no idea Shi Ning was the type to have a flash marriage."

"A few months ago was our breakup anniversary," Mo Lingyuan said nonchalantly. "Shi Ning, I won't allow you to just marry someone randomly out of spite."

Mo Lingyuan's words gave Shi Ning a clue.

Perhaps the day "Shi Ning" was speeding through the mountains and had her accident was her breakup anniversary with Mo Lingyuan.

...

How childish.

She'd heard of dating anniversaries and wedding anniversaries, but never a breakup anniversary.

Did her other self in this world have a firm grip on her persona of being a playgirl who was actually deeply devoted, or what?

Su Tianxue was no fool; she could read between Mo Lingyuan's lines.

She was just trying to imply that Shi Ning probably hadn't forgotten Mo Lingyuan, and that marrying her was merely a way to dilute the pain and loneliness of the breakup.

But what Mo Lingyuan didn't know was that she and Shi Ning hadn't gotten together out of love in the first place.

The marriage was just a matter of convenience.

Su Tianxue: "I was the one who proposed to her."

Su Wanxing: Holy crap, my sister is so good at making up stories.

To this day, Su Wanxing still thought that Shi Ning and her sister were only pretending to be married for the sake of the romance show.

Under the table, Shi Ning quietly took Su Tianxue's hand. She was worried that mentioning this would remind Su Tianxue of the painful memory of her grandmother's passing.

She held her hand, giving Su Tianxue strength, while looking at Mo Lingyuan. "If you hadn't brought it up, I wouldn't have even remembered that anniversary."

These were her true feelings, but they sounded cruel and hurtful.

Shi Ning: "As for why I decided to get married so quickly... I can only say, Mo Lingyuan, sometimes you meet someone, and from the very first glance, you just know whether you'll spend the rest of your life with them."

"The relationship between two people is perhaps destined from the moment they first meet."

Shi Ning had said this casually, but she unexpectedly struck the deepest, most unbearable spot in Mo Lingyuan's heart. The place she had tried so hard to hide.

Mo Lingyuan gave a bitter smile and repeated the words, "Is the relationship between people really destined from the start? Is there no way to change it?"

Everyone assumed she was saying this to Shi Ning, lamenting that after knowing her for so many years, they couldn't end up together and were now like strangers.

But only Shi Ning, who was being stared at directly, detected a different emotion in Mo Lingyuan's eyes.

This bright and flamboyant woman had a pair of desperate eyes.

Shi Ning felt as if Mo Lingyuan was looking through her at someone else. And Mo Lingyuan's gaze seemed to stir up the pain and resentment in Shi Ning's own heart.

The emotions left behind by the original owner were constantly affecting Shi Ning's state. This made her even more determined to figure out what had happened between the original owner and Mo Lingyuan.

Shi Ning herself had never experienced such an unforgettable, all-consuming emotion. She was usually the type to part ways coolly, never truly falling in love with anyone, and thus never truly feeling heartbroken over anyone.

She had assumed that her counterpart in this world was just like her, flitting from one romance to another. But now... Shi Ning had reason to suspect that perhaps the original owner had chosen the same promiscuous lifestyle because she had already given her most sincere, purest youthful love to someone else.

That person was Mo Lingyuan.

Since transmigrating, Shi Ning had wondered where her other self was.

Later, she guessed that either the other person had gone to her world in a spatial swap, or her arrival had forced the other person to disappear from this dimension.

If this was based on the parallel worlds theory, then it stood to reason that two beings couldn't exist to play the same role in the same world.

Since her life remained here, and she had inherited the original owner's memories and emotions, it was highly likely that the other person had already disappeared.

As someone who had accidentally intruded into another's world, Shi Ning felt she had a duty to be responsible for the original owner's life.

Both for her family and for the rose she had loved but could not have.

Being responsible didn't mean she had to be completely obedient to Mo Lingyuan and grant her every request. Rather... Shi Ning thought she should find an answer for the original owner and bring this relationship to a proper close.

Shi Ning looked back into Mo Lingyuan's eyes. "And whose relationship is it that you want to change?"

Although Shi Ning hadn't yet recovered her memories concerning Mo Lingyuan, her natural intuition made her realize that there might be a hidden story behind "Shi Ning's" relationship with her.

Shi Ning's words made Mo Lingyuan freeze.

She skillfully composed herself and gave a dazzling smile. "With you, of course."

Shi Ning remained steady and unmoved.

Mo Lingyuan: "But since you're already married, what's done is done. I'm not one to force things."

She raised her glass with a smile. "Let this drink be my toast to the two of you. I wish you a happy marriage, a long and happy life together, and eternal love."

As she raised her hand and downed the drink in one go, a single, glistening teardrop slid from the corner of her eye.

This tear was resentment, this tear was pain, this tear was despair.

Su Tianxue looked at Shi Ning, but couldn't find the slightest trace of emotion on her face.

【Some things, once you miss them, are truly gone forever.】

【This suddenly reminds me of my deadbeat ex. If it were me, I definitely wouldn't wish her a happy life. I'd only wish for her to rot and stink!!】

【Sister Mo, just look forward. Sigh, there's definitely a better life ahead.】

This meal was filled with veiled attacks.

Shi Ning was secretly analyzing the situation the entire time.

Mo Lingyuan...

Although she still hadn't completely figured out the story between herself and Mo Lingyuan, she reasoned that if Mo Lingyuan was the person the original owner truly loved... then logically, she shouldn't be a woman with this kind of personality. Using such clumsy tactics to provoke her and Su Tianxue in front of everyone. It was a bit too blunt.

A seed of doubt was planted in Shi Ning's heart. She reached back and tugged at the fabric on her back; when she pulled, she felt like the breeze could dry the cold sweat there.

Although she knew she and the previous Shi Ning were two different people, hearing Mo Lingyuan mention their shared past still made her worry that it would affect Su Tianxue's judgment of her.

Shi Ning didn't really care what other people thought of her, especially the netizens. If she were the type to care about others' opinions, she wouldn't have lived the way she did before.

The only thing she cared about was what Su Tianxue thought.

Throughout the meal, Shi Ning kept glancing at Su Tianxue's expression, trying to gauge her attitude, but Su Tianxue appeared exceptionally calm.

There was absolutely no awkwardness about facing her "first love" ex-girlfriend.

Shi Ning couldn't tell if this was a good thing or a bad thing.

After the meal, everyone was finally heading back to their rooms to rest.

Shi Ning eagerly stood up, said goodbye to Su Tianxue, and went to find the production team by herself.

There were some things she wanted to ask Ye Wanlan.

The sooner she knew, the sooner she could be at ease.

Shi Ning found it utterly unpleasant to always be the one kept in the dark.

Once Shi Ning left, the atmosphere became much more awkward.

The rooms for Xin Ya and Zhou Lu, as well as Zhu Yu and Su Wanxing, were in a different direction from Shi Ning and Su Tianxue's.

Seeing that Su Tianxue was about to leave alone with Mo Lingyuan, Su Wanxing grew worried and wanted to go to her sister's side to help.

Zhu Yu grabbed her arm.

Su Wanxing turned back, confused.

Only after Mo Lingyuan and Su Tianxue's figures were far away did Zhu Yu speak. "Wanxing, don't you think that's very inappropriate?"

Su Wanxing: "Huh?"

What did I do?

Zhu Yu: "I know you're probably worried about your sister, worried that Su Tianxue won't know how to handle this situation. But Wanxing, she's an adult, and she's older than you. This is a matter between her and Shi Ning. I think you can choose to let them resolve it themselves, don't you?"

Su Wanxing subconsciously replied, "But-"

"But my sister has never been in a relationship."

Zhu Yu: "And you have?"

Su Wanxing said guiltily, "I've read more romance novels and watched more dramas than she has."

More importantly, Su Wanxing felt that she was someone who knew about the future! Shouldn't she help her sister navigate this situation, plan ahead, and give her some reminders?

Zhu Yu was very good at observing people. Her ability to debut from an audition show and reach her current position was not only due to her talent but also her insight and emotional intelligence, which were far beyond that of an ordinary person.

Right now, although Zhu Yu didn't understand why Su Wanxing was so nervous about Su Tianxue's love life—like a mother hen trying to protect her chick, even though Su Wanxing was the child—in Zhu Yu's eyes, this was by no means a good thing. Sometimes, good intentions could backfire.

She reminded Su Wanxing, "Wanxing, sometimes you shouldn't let your preconceived notions blind you. Both Shi Ning and Su Tianxue are mature individuals. They should have their own judgment about things."

"I know you've always been biased against Shi Ning, but Wanxing, think about it carefully. In all the time you've known her, has she ever done anything that wasn't to help you?"

Zhu Yu's voice was soft and clear. "You are Su Tianxue's younger sister, but you are not Su Tianxue herself. This is her relationship, something for her to decide. Think about it from another perspective: when you fall in love one day, would you want your sister to interfere?"

Su Wanxing shook her head.

Hearing Zhu Yu's words, Su Wanxing realized that whenever she faced issues related to Shi Ning, she unconsciously became like a triggered hedgehog, always prickly, always viewing things in the worst possible light. Perhaps it was because she always felt that Shi Ning represented the future she wanted to avoid... But Zhu Yu was right.

Su Wanxing thought about it seriously. From the moment Shi Ning appeared until now, Shi Ning had never done anything to hurt her, nor had she actually done anything bad.

Only the labels of "scum woman" and "scum A" kept swirling in her mind, making her constantly worry that Shi Ning had ulterior motives toward her sister, that Shi Ning's feelings were just a whim.

She didn't want her sister to become Shi Ning's plaything, and she especially didn't want to see her innocent sister be toyed with. Perhaps that was why she was always so on edge?

But Zhu Yu was right.

This was Su Tianxue's story.

Her sister had her own judgment.

Zhu Yu's words were like a sudden enlightenment for Su Wanxing. She pushed aside the fog and gradually became clear-headed.

She realized she had been far too sharp-tongued before.

She lowered her head and asked Zhu Yu, somewhat dejectedly, "Then do I need to apologize to her?"

Zhu Yu asked deliberately, "To whom?"

Su Wanxing stomped her foot. "Shi Ning!"

She looked up angrily, but when she saw the smile on Zhu Yu's face, she realized Zhu Yu was just teasing her.

Zhu Yu: "She won't care about that at all. Wanxing, I'm telling you this for two reasons. First, I'm Shi Ning's friend, and I also cherish you, so I don't want the two of you to continue on like this. Second, I want to tell you that from now on, no matter what you face, you must forget your preconceived notions. Be careful not to get hurt because of them."

Zhu Yu was just making a point, but she didn't know that her casual words had struck that shadow in Su Wanxing's heart.

Zhu Yu was right.

It was because of her preconceived notions that she had chosen to trust Jiang Ningran without any suspicion.

Su Wanxing let out a long sigh, then gasped.

Zhu Yu: "What's wrong?"

Su Wanxing cautiously discussed with Zhu Yu, "Today, when I went to chat with my sister, I accidentally let something slip."

Zhu Yu glanced at the camera following them, then led Su Wanxing to a corner where they weren't being filmed. "What is it?" she asked.

Su Wanxing said, "I... I accidentally told my sister the truth about this romance show."

Su Wanxing was a little flustered. "Will this be bad for my sister and Shi Ning?"

Zhu Yu asked, "Did anyone else hear?"

Su Wanxing shook her head. "I'm just worried that my sister is too proud and might not be willing to accept this kind of help. She might even feel like we deceived her. Will she be angry at Shi Ning?"

Zhu Yu ruffled Su Wanxing's hair. "You have to trust that your sister is a rational and grateful person."

"Alright, alright, stop thinking about your sister and Shi Ning. This night belongs to us too, doesn't it?" Zhu Yu extended a hand to Su Wanxing, inviting her. "My beautiful lady, I wonder if you would be interested in taking a stroll with me by the sea."

Su Wanxing: "Okay."

She wanted to walk by the sea and clear her head.

Zhu Yu: "Then I'll go back and get my guitar."

By the sea at night, sitting on the rocks on the beach, gazing at the vast, mysterious, and seemingly unreachable ocean, holding a guitar and occasionally singing a little tune—Zhu Yu thought this would be a pretty good date.

The walk from the restaurant back to the room wasn't long, but today, these few steps felt somewhat endless to Su Tianxue.

Shi Ning had gone to see the production team, leaving just her and Mo Lingyuan. Walking down the empty, narrow corridor, silence became a third person following behind them, like a ghost, dragging the atmospheric pressure down to an extreme low.

Just as they were about to arrive, Mo Lingyuan broke the silence.

Mo Lingyuan: "Can I ask you a question?"

Su Tianxue: "Hm?"

Mo Lingyuan: "Do you like Shi Ning?"

Su Tianxue: "And you?"

Mo Lingyuan: "Me?"

Su Tianxue: "Do you like her?"

Mo Lingyuan smiled. "Miss Su, I asked first."

Su Tianxue: "You don't have to answer."

Mo Lingyuan: "I'm not afraid to answer."

"Of course I still like her. If I didn't, I wouldn't have chosen to return to the country at this time, much less accept the invitation to join this show."

Su Tianxue was puzzled. "So you knew from the beginning that Shi Ning and I were on this show."

Mo Lingyuan laughed, her smile filled with abandon and pride.

Mo Lingyuan: "Of course I knew. I came precisely because I knew."

Su Tianxue didn't understand. "For what?"

Mo Lingyuan: "For what?"

Su Tianxue analyzed rationally, "Since you already knew Shi Ning and I were on the show, you must also know that we are now together and married." Su Tianxue thoughtfully added, "I don't mean anything else by this. It's just a fact."

"What can you do by showing up now? If you wanted to win Shi Ning's affection, I imagine you had many years of opportunities to contact her before this. But you didn't." Su Tianxue's expression was as indifferent as a deity's. "Mo Lingyuan, are you appearing now because of love, or because of resentment?"

Mo Lingyuan pressed her lips together tightly.

Every one of Su Tianxue's words pierced her heart.

She stubbornly raised her head and looked at the woman. "Perhaps it's possible that for all these years, I didn't contact her not because I didn't want to, but because I couldn't."

Su Tianxue: "I thought love could make people do anything."

Su Tianxue's nonchalant tone infuriated Mo Lingyuan.

She leaned against the doorframe and sneered. "What do you know?" she mocked. "Su Tianxue, who have you ever loved?"

Su Tianxue looked at Mo Lingyuan calmly.

Su Tianxue: "I'm in astronomy."

She seemed to be changing the subject.

Su Tianxue: "I don't know how much you know about astronomy. But studying stars that are hundreds of millions of light-years away is not an easy task. Countless people have gotten to where they are today because of love. Because love is enough to overcome all difficulties."

"I admit, my feelings for humans have not yet reached that level. But, Mo Lingyuan, I believe these kinds of emotions have something in common."

Mo Lingyuan: "But what if that love is destined to fail? Destined to be impossible?"

Su Tianxue: "1+1=2 only holds true under the rules of mathematics."

"When hydrogen and oxygen are mixed and heated, they combine to become water. At that point, 1+1 becomes 1."

Mo Lingyuan: "You're so annoying. Speak like a normal person."

Su Tianxue gave a rare smile, lowering her head slightly. "Looked at from another angle, some failures can also be very romantic."

Su Tianxue: "My relationship with Shi Ning is very good right now. So, Miss Mo, accepting your own failure is also a form of courage."

Mo Lingyuan was stunned.

Su Tianxue: "Good night."

She turned and went back to her room, while Mo Lingyuan stood in place, watching the door slowly close. She tilted her head back, staring at the ceiling with complex emotions.

When she was young, she thought loving was courage. That's why she listened to Miriam Yeung's song "Courage" over and over again. But after ten years in a foreign country, she learned that seeing the impossibility of a relationship, giving up on love, and learning to detach—that was true courage.

Footsteps approached. Mo Lingyuan looked over and saw Shi Ning hurrying toward them.

Seeing the obvious anxiety on her face, Mo Lingyuan smiled.

Mo Lingyuan: "What's the rush? It's not like I'm going to eat your wife."

Mo Lingyuan: "I think I'm starting to understand why you like her. She has a special kind of charm."

Mo Lingyuan: "How about I steal her from you? I have fewer ex-girlfriends than you, I'm gentler and prettier than you, and I'm an Omega. I think my odds are pretty good."

Shi Ning, who had just learned the truth from Ye Wanlan and recalled her history with Mo Lingyuan through past events: ????

What is this plot twist???

Am I the biggest sucker here???

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