TBTTSP - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Zhang Xu Has No Story (7)

I think Shang Yi and Xu Wanqing have recently buried the hatchet, reached an agreement, and made up with each other.

I opened the notebook and saw nothing out of the ordinary. Every page was filled with proper, daily greetings. But I couldn't sleep, so I stared at it for half the night. It was only then that I could read between the lines—most of the notebook was filled with shameless flirting!

This wasn't some wild idea I came up with. I'm as dense as a block of wood; my understanding of romance is limited to Lu Yiping's diary entries.

Shang Yi probably thinks so, too. That's why she never censors herself when writing in this public notebook, not caring about a minor like me. She probably thinks my education level is too low for me to understand, or that even if I did, I wouldn't make a big deal out of it.

She knows me pretty well.

Everything has a cause and effect. It all started with Shang Yi's first sentence: How have you been lately?

That tone didn't sound like it was for me. But at the time, Shang Yi had just burned Xu Wanqing's kite. After bullying her, she was now eagerly trying to talk to her. The elementary school boys in my class do the exact same thing.

Shang Yi is pretty old, so she shouldn't be acting so childish. That's why I replied underneath:

Fine.

And Xu Wanqing wrote below that:

Nothing of note has happened recently. I have a mind to write a book. The Golden Lotus is already known to the world, but I have another story to tell. However, they say writing novels brings retribution, so I have yet to put pen to paper.

And starting with that sentence, the two of them began a back-and-forth conversation.

I didn't say anything. I didn't dare to ask.

First, Shang Yi tried to appeal to Xu Wanqing's interests by making up a story about a guy named Wang Er buying shoes. It was a complete, incoherent mess, at the level of a primary school essay. I nearly fell asleep reading it.

She might be a discreet but powerful force in the business world, but a career in writing was definitely not for her. The moment she stepped out of her field, she overreached and fell flat on her face. The story was a total wreck.

Of course, I wouldn't dare say the big boss was a bad writer, so I kept my mouth shut.

But who would have thought that our Shang Yi would actually start writing a serialized story? Wang Er went home and fought with his wife.

Wang Er and his father smashed up the shoe store and started selling shoes.

Wang Er and his wife cleared up their misunderstanding, but then Wang Er got leukemia, and his wife had to take over the shoe store by herself.

Then, Wang Er's wife became a business tycoon.

In just four short pages, Shang Yi had written the entire dramatic life of Wang Er and his wife. Sprinkled in between were a few lines in calligraphy, all from Xu Wanqing:

Is Wang Er's wife not Younger Sister Shang?

To possess such marvelous skill in commerce, Younger Sister Shang's ideas are brilliant.

Xu Wanqing was clearly acting like she was Zhiyanzhai, constantly leaving a running commentary in the margins. After Shang Yi finished her serial, she even added an author's note:

See, even I can write. If you write, it will surely be even better.

Tsk.

I couldn't connect this person praising someone so gently with the Shang Yi in my head—the one with a mocking smile who looked at everyone like they were an idiot.

But the handwriting was unmistakably hers, so I didn't dare to ask.

They went back and forth, in perfect harmony. Eventually, I stopped opening the notebook much. I could only see Shang Yi's occasional scraps of pity for me in the period-tracking notebook:

Eat less ice cream. Eat less barbecue. Make sure the kang is heated.

Lying on the warm kang, I opened the notebook again and copied down a piece of their conversation. I can't be the only one whose eyes have to suffer through this.

Shang Yi: How have you been? How is the novel coming along? Is your husband treating you well?

Shang Yi: The weather is great today. I checked the forecast. You should wear more layers.

Shang Yi: I saw a vintage-style dress in a magazine today that would suit you well. I cut it out and put it in the Chinese textbook.

I'm not trying to pad the word count. It's just that Shang Yi wrote these three messages over six consecutive days before Xu Wanqing finally deigned to reply:

How would Younger Sister Shang know if it suits me? What if I am unbearably ugly? Would it suit me then?

Shang Yi seemed utterly convinced that Xu Wanqing was beautiful, saying:

Wanqing is beautiful.

She said it as if she'd seen her before.

I just don't get why Shang Yi has had such a change of heart and is trying to butter up Xu Wanqing. Could she be planning some kind of dirty trick?

But seeing how intimately they addressed each other, I could barely stand to look.

Shang Yi: Has Wanqing been busy lately? You haven't replied.

…

Could you be any more annoying?

Lately, Shang Yi was like some old guy trying to chat up a girl online.

Hey beautiful, you there? Beautiful, you busy? Why aren't you replying? Beautiful, whatcha doin?

…

Her persona was crumbling a little too quickly, but without seeing the look on her face as she wrote this, I couldn't jump to any conclusions.

After she left Pingdu, there was one piece of news about her online, but it was just a photo of her in profile. It was from some summit attended by numerous entrepreneurs. She was sitting inconspicuously in a corner, as poised as a news anchor, with a paper cup and a nameplate in front of her. If it weren't for the nameplate, I wouldn't have been sure it was Shang Yi.

Xu Wanqing replied to her: My husband is preparing to rebel. The cause and effect of the matter is such and such…

I didn't understand the middle part, but I think Shang Yi did.

Shang Yi said: Pack your valuables and run. Don't get implicated.

Xu Wanqing replied: I intend to leave, but I have nowhere to go. Furthermore, my body becomes uncontrollable every other day, which is a source of great distress. Younger Sister Shang need not worry.

I have written some of my novel recently. My husband said it was very good, and I thought you should have a look. I have transcribed a copy in the back of the Chinese textbook.

Younger Sister Shang's ways in commerce are unheard of. I have borrowed them slightly for my book, and my husband thinks them my own ingenious ideas.

Little does he know, Younger Sister Shang is a modern-day Fan Li. I am truly humbled.

Shang Yi's words were at the very bottom: This is so well-written!

Wang Er's wife is such a sharp and capable person.

…

I closed the notebook. There was no place for me in it anymore.

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