DTBS – Chapter 49
Chapter 49: CEO Tao Returns
"Mom, are you okay?" Tao Qiuyun supported her.
"Qiu Bao, I might not be okay," Xia Xianglu said heartbrokenly, clutching her chest. "You can take the 'do first, love later' script, or the 'marry first, love later' script, you can even take an AO3 non-all-ages script, but you... how could you take the 'ran away with the ball' script! My Qiu Bao~ This will lead to a crematorium arc, how could you do this!"
"I calculated the time, Qingshang was still in college when she got pregnant and gave birth! Are you a beast? I thought only men would do such disgusting things, you've completely shattered my perception! You made a girl pregnant before marriage! All the beautiful things in this world have been ruined by you!"
"Qiuqiu, although your... ability in that regard shocked me, in terms of being a person, you've truly disappointed Mom!"
"I..." Tao Qiuyun opened her mouth.
"I won't listen! I won't listen! I won't listen!"
Xia Xianglu suddenly sat up, her expression serious. "Qiuqiu, I need to change the script."
"What script?"
"I'm going back to be Qingshang's strategist. How can my precious good daughter pick up just any trash and bring it home? If she doesn't put you through a crematorium arc, I won't agree to you two being together! I'm going to hide your marriage certificate!"
"What are you talking about? Mom, aren't I your daughter?"
"Qingshang is my daughter now, you're in the past, Qiuqiu. You have to learn to let go and look forward."
"Mom, Qingshang and I are married. We'll handle our own affairs."
"You can't handle it yourselves. She can forgive you for making a girl pregnant before marriage and raising the child alone for several years? I don't understand, why would she forgive you? Or have you actually been secretly helping their mother and daughter all these years? Are you playing the role of an enduring, deeply affectionate domineering CEO?"
"No."
"Then why? Does she prefer going up the mountain to dig wild vegetables?"
"...Let me tell you the truth, Mom. She and I never had sex. That daughter just suddenly appeared, the paternity test is conclusive, and Grandpa also knows about it. That's why she and I had to get married. We suspect Qinqin, our suddenly appearing daughter, is from a parallel dimension."
To prevent her mother from hindering her great task of chasing her wife, she chose to be honest. After all, her mother could even accept non-humans; a mere parallel dimension should be easier to adapt to, right?
"Oh, this is good! This is good!" Xia Xianglu was silent at first, then suddenly clapped her hands. "So you don't have feelings for each other right now, right? You're just in a contract marriage, aren't you?"
"Yes." Tao Qiuyun nodded, lowering her gaze. "But I... I actually met her a long time ago. I like her."
"Mom's favorite Qiu Bao~" Xia Xianglu opened her arms and hugged her. "Come here and let Mom hug you. You did well! It's even better to have a daughter!"
"...Mom, you weren't saying that just now. You called me a beast and trash."
"Hahaha, how could I~ You're my own child, how could I bear to scold you? That would be scolding myself too."
Xia Xianglu's expression changed extremely quickly. She said seriously, "Don't worry, Qiu Bao. With your mom, who has read countless books, I'll definitely help you turn your contract wife into your real wife!"
"Just don't say anything random in front of her," Tao Qiuyun didn't trust her. "I'll handle the rest myself."
"The way you say that, it's like Mom would hinder you from chasing your wife. Don't worry, Mom won't hold you back. I'll always be on your side."
"..." Just now you said you were going to send me to the crematorium.
Tao Qiuyun was helpless. She knew her mother loved watching drama the most. She reached out and supported her back, turning to walk her out. "Mom, I'll get you a room. You should get some sleep first."
"Then you have to take me with you when you go back to the country, otherwise I'll make a fuss."
After saying this, Xia Xianglu suddenly became sweet and gentle. "CEO Tao, I'm rooting for you~ Go go go!"
"...Thank you, Mom."
Seeing her finally leave, Tao Qiuyun slowly exhaled.
All she could say was, after this conversation, she was truly grateful that she had begged Qin Qingshang to marry her back then. Otherwise, those novel plots about domineering CEOs chasing their wives would probably really play out in reality...
It was too terrifying, just thinking about it was social death.
Chunjin's new technology indeed caused a sensation. Tao Qiuyun had said she would return in two weeks at the latest, and she truly stayed for the full duration. Perhaps it was the trauma Xia Xianglu inflicted on Qin Qingshang, but her video calls were rejected several times afterward.
【Big Cat: CEO Tao, while you're abroad, please spend time with Auntie. Let's not video call for now, I'm scared (cat pounding the ground crying)】
【Tao Qiuyi: Okay】
Actually, she really wanted to say that she had already arranged for someone to accompany Xia Xianglu shopping and watching plays everywhere, and besides, she was alone in the evenings. But considering Qin Qingshang's feelings, Tao Qiuyun still chose to go along with her.
Fortunately, their daily chats were still normal. Now Qin Qingshang seemed to be used to her daily greetings and would sometimes even actively share interesting things she encountered.
Making a small step forward every day, maybe they wouldn't have to divorce in the end.
【Tao Qiuyi: I'm on the plane. My mom isn't with me. She finally decided to wait for my dad and grandma. She'll probably come back next month.】
She missed Qin Qingshang terribly, so as soon as things wrapped up here, she immediately headed to the airport and bought the soonest flight. Secretary Zheng Liuyu couldn't get a ticket and was still waiting in the lounge for the next flight.
Just as Tao Qiuyun finished sending the message, she saw a familiar figure appear beside her.
"Qinqin's Mom?" Chang Suiyou, carrying a bag, was looking for her seat number on her phone. Seeing her, she smiled. "What a coincidence, we met here."
"Are you sitting inside?" Tao Qiuyun stood up to let her pass.
Because she bought the ticket last minute, all the first class and business class tickets were gone, leaving only an aisle seat in economy class.
"Yes, thank you." Chang Suiyou smiled.
Seeing her seated, Tao Qiuyun reached out. "Teacher Chang, you haven't put your bag away yet. This size takes up space if you put it at your feet. Let me help you put it up."
"Oh, I forgot. Thank you, Qinqin's Mom!" Chang Suiyou handed her backpack to her. "It's a bit heavy."
"It's fine." The woman placed the backpack in the overhead compartment. Her black shirt rode up as she lifted her arms, further highlighting her waist and chest, which was a bit sexy.
Chang Suiyou immediately turned her head to look out the window and chatted with the System in her mind. "032, how does she seem so familiar with economy class? I thought CEOs always traveled first class."
032: "Why do you say she's familiar with economy class?"
Chang Suiyou: "Because the layout of first class is completely different from economy class. Although the worlds are different, many things are similar, and planes are no exception. First class has dedicated luggage compartments and special seat belts, and carry-on luggage is usually placed there. But she actually knew that in economy class, it's usually placed at your feet."
032: "Huh? Isn't that pretty easy to figure out?"
Chang Suiyou: "So unless her information processing ability is exceptionally strong, she's sat in economy class more than once. If that's the case, it doesn't match her identity, does it? Didn't the book say she was raised as the heir to the Tao family from birth? She even had bodyguards following her when she went for a walk."
032: "So someone like her, who lacked freedom since childhood and doesn't understand love, needs you to bring her happiness."
Chang Suiyou: "Absolutely not necessary. I said before, as long as she's not single, I won't pursue her. I'm not going to be a mistress."
032: "If you can't complete the mission, you won't be able to return to your original world. Are you okay with that?"
Chang Suiyou: "...Besides threatening me with that, what else can you do? Can I push some side plots to fill up the progress bar?"
032: "You can try."
Chang Suiyou felt speechless and wanted to put on her eye mask and sleep, but when she reached out, she realized her backpack wasn't there.
"Teacher Chang's annual leave is quite long." Tao Qiuyun suddenly turned to look at her, her eyes showing curiosity.
"It's not just annual leave, I also took a few extra days off."
032: "I told you that you and the female lead have a fated connection. See, you deliberately took a few extra days off to play, but you still ran into the female lead."
Chang Suiyou: "Thanks for the reminder, but please shut up while I'm talking to the female lead."
The woman frowned slightly, feeling a bit annoyed.
She deliberately extended her vacation from the novel, but she still ran into Tao Qiuyun. A perfectly good CEO insisting on flying economy class, was this really the plot's irresistible force?
Then was she destined to fall in love with Tao Qiuyun? But she couldn't. If she were single, it would be fine. Who wouldn't love such a gentle, polite, and considerate older sister? But...
Tao Qiuyun had a family, and her wife was sickly. If she were to interfere, she wouldn't even deserve to be human.
Chang Suiyou pursed her lips and asked the woman beside her, "Qinqin's Mom, I told you about Mengmeng's dad cheating before. What do you think about that kind of thing?"
Tao Qiuyun leaned against the seat back, her hands clasped. "There's nothing to say about that kind of thing. Cheating and domestic violence are unforgivable and cannot be excused. I think Mengmeng's mom did the right thing; divorce is the best option."
"I have a friend," Chang Suiyou sighed. "I always thought she was a very good person. She's gentle, kind, and considerate. But one day she suddenly told me she couldn't stand her bedridden wife anymore and wanted a divorce. I wanted to persuade her, but I didn't know what to say. Can you give me some advice?"
"It's actually very difficult for outsiders to judge whether something like that is right or wrong," Tao Qiuyun said thoughtfully. "Were your friend and her wife very much in love?"
"Very much in love!"
"Love can be worn away," Tao Qiuyun turned her head to look at her. "Was your friend's love worn away day by day?"
"So, Qinqin's Mom, you also think that if your wife were bedridden, you would divorce her after your love wore away?"
"No, I wouldn't do that." Tao Qiuyun shook her head. "Love can be worn away by time and suffering, but I believe that the moment you see your loved one, the love will reignite. Even if it happens repeatedly, this fire will burn hotter and hotter until death."
The woman's expression was focused. "If it were me, I would feel heartache for my wife. No matter what, I would want her to live, and I could never abandon her. I would accept her presence by my side in any form, until the moment my life ends."
Hearing these words, Chang Suiyou silently closed her eyes.
"032, listen to that. Only death can separate her from her wife. Are you sure I should still try to date her?"
032: "Well, it seems her wife should be gone later in the novel."
Chang Suiyou: "Is it just that simple that she's gone? The Tao Qiuyun in the novel didn't have a wife at all. When I saw Su Qingxiang, I thought she was the fiancée who got promoted, but she wasn't."
"Su Qingxiang was the female lead's former fiancée," 032 corrected. "And it was just the elders' idea; the female lead even rejected it. Such a pure and upright girlfriend with good character, are you really not tempted, don't you want her?"
"032, you're a newbie, and I'm a newbie. Let's not make things difficult for each other. At worst, we can both just slack off!"
032: "Speaking of newbies, I saw a newbie System on the anonymous forum say it latched onto a big shot, doesn't have to worry about anything, points are pouring in, CGs are flooding in, and it even got the main System's delivery guy as a mount. I hope you, Host, will also work harder."
"What's that newbie System's mission?" Chang Suiyou asked curiously. "Is it also to interfere in someone else's family and be a third party?"
032: "I'll go ask on the forum."
While 032 went to the forum to verify, the plane took off, and Tao Qiuyun beside her slowly fell asleep. Chang Suiyou looked at the clouds outside the window, her thoughts drifting far away...
"I'm back!"
032 suddenly appeared. "It replied to me. It said its Host indeed forcefully interfered in someone else's family, not only became a third party, but even slept with the other two people together."
"Holy cow, awesome! That Sister is a master! That's too shameless! Is it really because it's not the real world that she's fearless?"
Chang Suiyou was instantly wide awake. She sat up straight:
"Come on, 032, elaborate!"
"Our forum has rules. A lot of information gets censored and distorted when posted. Anyway, that's roughly what it meant."
"I just wanted to say, you guys actually have a forum, that's cool! Do you also have a System store?"
"Yes."
"Then why haven't you opened it for me?" Chang Suiyou was dissatisfied.
"The rule is that it can only be unlocked after achieving accomplishments," 032 was also depressed. "Not only has your progress bar not moved at all, you haven't even earned any accomplishments. That System on the forum already has several CGs."
"You're young, don't always think about comparing yourself to others," Chang Suiyou adopted a teacher's tone. "What kind of family are we from, and what kind of family are they from? Their Host can do a threesome, but even if you killed me, I couldn't do that!"
032: "Can't you think about it differently? If someone else can be a mistress and seduce the female lead, why can't you?"
Chang Suiyou: "So she's immoral, and you're asking me to be immoral too, right? I can't do it. If you have the guts, find Hosts who are immoral from now on."
032: "Hmph! Anyway, if you don't complete the romance progress with the female lead, you'll stay here forever."
Hearing this, Chang Suiyou paused and asked, "I suddenly have an idea. Can the romance progress between me and the female lead... be calculated separately? For example, she has her romance, I have mine, and then we combine our romance progress. Maybe that way it will fill up faster. What do you think? After all, the character I've transmigrated into is also one of the female leads in a yuri novel."
032: "Uh... I don't know."
Chang Suiyou: "Then go give feedback to the main System and see if my suggestion works. I always feel like your main System is playing dead. It hasn't read emails for so long before, is that reasonable?"
032: "I sent the email, but the main System is very busy, it might not... Wait, it read it!"
Chang Suiyou didn't expect it to be so fast and quickly asked, "How is it? Did it reply?"
032 was stunned. "It replied. The main System said yes, your romance progress can be calculated separately. As long as both are full, your mission is considered complete."
Chang Suiyou took a deep breath, feeling that her goal of returning home finally had hope. Her whole demeanor brightened:
"See, it was deliberately not reading that email! This world definitely has a bug!"
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