DTBS - Chapter 122
Chapter 122: Not an Outsider
The sea was calm now. Looking at the sparkling water surface always soothed one's turbulent emotions.
Qin Wu sat on a reef, her face haggard. The woman's mental state was clearly at its worst. She closed her eyes, recalling the repeated time reversals from before.
She had changed the fates of many people, even going back many years to change Zhuang Die's fate of becoming a lawyer. But in gaining something, she also lost something. She and Zhuang Die didn't know each other; they were strangers.
It doesn't matter...
Qin Wu thought so. As long as Zhuang Die was alive, they could be parallel lines that didn't intersect.
But unfortunately, it was like a beautiful dream that shattered just when it was at its best. Zhuang Die did survive, but before Qin Wu could be happy for a few days, a natural disaster suddenly struck.
It was then that Qin Wu understood that all these developments were like falling leaves; they were destined to fall to the ground. They were falling, not flying. This was the rule.
As if fate was playing a joke on her, she felt it in the depths of her being: she couldn't change Zhuang Die's fate of becoming a reporter and dying at that moment. It was a very mysterious feeling. Her ability to reverse time came from Zhuang Die's death and her strong desire, which granted her this magical power. But when she changed Zhuang Die's fate of dying at this specific point, it created a paradox with her time reversal ability—
If Zhuang Die didn't die at this point, her ability shouldn't exist. If her ability didn't exist, then Zhuang Die was bound to die.
And the consequence of the irresolvable paradox was like a butterfly flapping its wings in the Amazon rainforest causing a tornado in Texas two weeks later; a massive natural disaster descended, leading to the deaths of even more people.
"Stop joking! You're not a savior, and don't be so obsessive. This isn't your fault, you can't save everyone!"
When she confessed to Zhuang Die, during their confrontation, Zhuang Die had yelled at her like this.
Yes, what did it matter if she had superpowers? She couldn't save everyone, couldn't save the person she wanted to save the most!
"Right now, tell me, what would you choose?"
"I would choose you." Qin Wu hugged her.
"Thank you very much for telling me that, whether it's true or false," Zhuang Die hugged her back, then pushed her away again. "But I will push you away, again and again. Promise me, save more people."
Qin Wu lay down, looking at the sky. The current ending was the best she could achieve. The bad guys were brought to justice, and the tragic fates of many people were changed here and there. The only downside was... Zhuang Die didn't survive.
The woman raised her palm to her eyes. She knew very well that her body was reaching its limit. Each reversal consumed her life. So, was it going to end like this?
When she first gained this ability, the hope in her chest was like a fiercely burning flame. She thought she would absolutely not let Zhuang Die die coldly.
But now, what did it count for?
Would the flame in her heart be extinguished by the cold wind of reality?
"Xiao Wu," she seemed to hear Zhuang Die's voice again, saying the same words as during their confrontation: "I want to save more people."
You want to save more people, but I want to save you!
She looked at the white clouds floating in the sky...
Just like her heart at this moment.
Flocks of birds flew over the sea, stopping in twos and threes on the large reef to rest, tilting their heads curiously, seemingly wondering where the woman had gone.
The little cat was held in Qin Qingshang's arms, listening to her and the director discuss the plot and ending of the drama. She was inwardly shocked and chatted with the System: 【Sys, is this the adapted version of 《Strange Life》 from another world? But honestly, it's quite good for an episodic drama. It connects the main plot through small stories, and the ending is open-ended. If my world had this kind of dual-female lead drama, I'd binge-watch it like crazy.】
System 030: 【Didn't you always say you were a cat? Shouldn't it be meow-watch? Only ducks quack.】
Tao Aiqin: 【That was me deliberately fooling my CEO mom to make her have a cat filter for the female lead. Why is your memory so bad?】
The System skipped the topic: 【So why did they say it's a shame it's not a movie?】
Tao Aiqin: 【If it were a movie, maybe it would have a chance to participate in awards. But for a TV drama, it's definitely aimed at viewership and popularity. The structure will be very different from a movie, and there will naturally be many compromises.】
She hugged the large white cat plushie in her arms and continued to the System: 【Also, if it were a movie, the narrative style would have to change, it would need to be more concise and simple. Too much irrelevant narration would lower the score, after all, a movie's runtime is only so long.】
The cat pondered: 【If I were the screenwriter, I would consider inserting a special effect shot of a butterfly breaking out of the ground and flying towards Qin Wu just as she's about to be beaten to death, at the moment Qin Wu sees Zhuang Die's buried body. In the subsequent parts, there would also be many butterfly images interspersed, firmly establishing the tragic ending. Finally, the camera would show Qin Wu years later after graduation, still alone, but with a butterfly always on her shoulder.】
The System was greatly shocked: 【...Aren't you a novelist? You know this too?】
Tao Aiqin: 【You don't have to be a novelist to know this. Don't assume things, AI that doesn't understand humans.】
System 030: 【6】
Ning Pingliu was a new director, and this drama was her own idea. Qin Qingshang and Ming Siwen also helped a lot with many imperfect parts of the script, making it a result of everyone's joint effort. Today was finally the wrap-up, and the whole crew was lively.
"I've been wanting to ask, but didn't get a chance," Ning Pingliu looked at the little one held in Qin Qingshang's arms and said gently, "This must be your and CEO Tao's daughter, Qinqin, right? She really looks like you. You can tell she's your daughter at a glance. But wasn't she in Tianhua? Why did she suddenly come to Linhai?"
Qin Qingshang smiled and stroked the little cat's head, "Kindergarten is on break, and it's close to the end of the year. Qiuqiu is especially busy. She's been eating, living, and sleeping at the company this past month, and she's also busy flying to various places for inspections. So she asked me to take care of Qinqin."
As for the big dog at home, he was sent to Su Qingxiang to be looked after. She heard that the doctor lady made her daughter's teacher accompany her on walks every day, claiming the dog was too big for her to handle alone.
Big Bold felt wronged: Woof, I wouldn't run around! Excuses! All excuses!
Besides, it was good for Qinqin to come to Linhai. Although they were staying in a hotel, since she and Qiuqiu were now public, it didn't matter if she was photographed by the media while accompanying her daughter.
"Come, say Auntie Ning." Qin Qingshang pinched the little cat's paw and waved towards Ning Pingliu.
"Hello, Auntie Ning!" The little one's voice was soft, instantly melting hearts.
"Hello, Qinqin, hello, Qinqin. Can I hold you?" Ning Pingliu's eyes sparkled, looking like she was about to be completely smitten.
"Qinqin, are you willing?" Qin Qingshang asked her, kissing her daughter's face.
"Okay~" The little cat looked obedient.
"Wuwuwu, she's so cute!" Ning Pingliu hugged her and rubbed her face against hers, "So soft and smooth, is this a child's skin! So cute!"
Tao Aiqin: 【...Sys, she's so weird!】
The System used her own words against her: 【I'm an AI, I don't understand humans.】
Ming Siwen walked over, looking at Tao Aiqin being held up high, and looked at Qin Qingshang in confusion: "Why did you think of bringing your daughter to the set?"
"My assistant said Qinqin was bored at the hotel," Qin Qingshang stood up, seemingly afraid that Ning Pingliu would drop her daughter, "So I asked her to bring Qinqin to the set. Anyway, I only have a little voice-over work recently, I'm not busy."
"That's right, filming is over now," Ming Siwen teased her, "You haven't seen CEO Tao in two months, shouldn't you go back and spend some quality time with her? After all, in two more days, you'll be joining another crew. Director He is very strict, don't say I didn't warn you."
"Thank you for the reminder, Teacher Ming," Qin Qingshang pursed her lips, walked closer to Ming Siwen, and whispered, "Teacher Ming, there's something I want to tell you. Come with me to the lounge first."
After speaking, she looked at Wen Yu and instructed, "Xiao Yu, help me look after Qinqin for a bit. I need to talk to Teacher Ming about something."
"Don't worry, Sister!" Wen Yu patted her chest to guarantee, looking at Qin Qingshang and Ming Siwen's backs with some emotion...
Who would have thought that Sister Qin would end up becoming friends with Ming Siwen? Things really are unpredictable!
"What do you want to tell me?" Ming Siwen sat on the sofa, looking at the hesitant Qin Qingshang opposite her, somewhat puzzled: "You and CEO Tao even have a daughter now, don't tell me you still need my help with your relationship problems. But..."
She paused, her expression serious, and continued: "I really have to thank you, thank you, Qingshang."
She, Ming Siwen, was alive again! Endorsement and acting offers were coming in again!
Knowing that Qin Qingshang was Tao Qiuyun's wife, and she was Qin Qingshang's good friend, those big shots who had suppressed her before all apologized and proactively sent resources, hoping she wouldn't mind the previous misunderstandings.
"If you were just someone who only knew how to scheme and had no acting skills," Qin Qingshang looked at her, "I wouldn't call you Teacher Ming, I would just call you Ming Siwen."
"Yes, yes, yes, what is it? Tell me." Ming Siwen smiled and nodded.
"It's just..." Qin Qingshang hesitated, but finally chose to speak honestly: "I video called Qiuqiu these past two days, and I found that she didn't react much when she heard I was coming back to Tianhua. Before, her ears would turn red when I said flirty things, but now she doesn't react at all, like she's back on her lotus pedestal. I clearly said..."
"Wait, wait! Stop right there," Ming Siwen stopped her, "You don't need to tell me the details of your private conversations with CEO Tao, really. I can analyze it for you without knowing it so clearly."
Help! Can you not be so honest and straightforward? This kind of thing... can I really listen?
"Well... actually, it's not too private, you can listen." The cat blinked.
"You talk without clothes on?" Ming Siwen guessed.
"Huh?" The cat was shocked, waved her hand, and explained, "No, no, how could that be! I just said I'd accompany her on the coffee table once I get back."
What? What did you just say? Did I hear coffee table?
Ming Siwen's mouth dropped open in surprise...
No, is that not private talk?
You really aren't treating me as an outsider at all!
I get to hear this for free?
The inspiration for the drama comes from the game 《Strange Life》 and the band Shin's song 《If》.
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