MQSP - Chapter 95
Chapter 95
After a flurry of whispers, the scene fell quiet again.
"You… You're the Flower Witch?"
"I am." The Flower Witch's voice was very hoarse, a world away from Gu Xinran's originally ethereal tone.
"You…" The person leading the group was also stunned. "You…" The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he didn't know how to ask. Or perhaps, he simply couldn't believe it.
A few of Gu Xinran's die-hard fans took several steps forward, observing her carefully. Someone even took out an old photo of Xinran to compare. "It's her, it's really her. Her eyes haven't changed, it's her!"
"She's Gu Xinran!"
"Xinran—my goddess!!!"
"Can you let us see you!"
The Flower Witch stared intently at the clearly emotional fans in the front row, a mix of emotions swirling within her. She took a silent, deep breath. "I am not Gu Xinran. If you want to look, then look." As she spoke, the Flower Witch slowly raised her hands and removed the mask from her face. Gu Baiye, standing beside her, didn't even have time to stop her.
"Hiss…" Many people in the front row gasped, staring in disbelief at the familiar face now covered in burn scars. It was simply unbelievable, unacceptable. Tears welled up in the eyes of some of her most loyal fans.
Her features were unmistakably Gu Xinran's, but the scars were branded so realistically upon her face.
"I am not Gu Xinran. Do you understand now?"
The Flower Witch took two steps forward and scanned the crowd, making sure everyone could clearly see the scars on her face.
"Gu Xinran died fourteen years ago, following her lover. Thank you all for still remembering her. She would be very happy to know." With that, the Flower Witch put her mask back on and turned to leave.
"Gu Xinran!"
"We're sorry!"
"Xinran, we owe you an apology! We're sorry—"
"We're sorry—"
A chorus of apologies rose and fell as the fans became emotionally charged.
Lin Yuqing watched, her heart warming. If only Xinran had had a group of people like this supporting her during her most difficult time, she never would have been pushed to such an extreme.
With her back to the crowd, the Flower Witch listened to the resounding apologies, tears forming in her eyes. She slowly walked away, supported by Gu Baiye.
Gu Baiye saw it all and gently raised a hand to wipe the tears from the corner of her mother's eye.
Gu Xinran smiled and squeezed Xiao Ye's hand, holding it tightly in her own.
Lin Yuqing and Fang Yi dispersed the fans before heading home.
On the way, Fang Yi's phone began to ring incessantly.
"What is it now?" Lin Yuqing glanced at her, wishing she could smash the phone. The ringtone was like a death summons, grating on her nerves.
"This… One of the fans just now was live-streaming. The entire scene of Xinran meeting everyone was broadcast online…!"
"And…"
Lin Yuqing waited for a long time, but Fang Yi didn't continue. Instead, she was engrossed in scrolling through her phone, and then she suddenly burst out laughing, leaving Lin Yuqing completely baffled.
"And what?"
"A new topic has started on Weibo: 'Owe Gu Xinran an Apology.' It details the story of how Xinran and Yilan met, fell in love, and died for each other. A lot of people are replying with apologies!"
"We… We've finally lived to see this day."
Lin Yuqing was still a bit dazed, but seeing Fang Yi already crying tears of joy, she couldn't help but break into a silly grin herself. Had this day finally come…?
Was Xinran vindicated? The malicious slander and extreme insults of the past had now transformed into waves of apologies, filling the wounds they had once carved. Although it was all futile now, for Xinran to witness such a scene in her lifetime was a form of comfort.
Wait a minute. If Xinran was vindicated, did that also mean that same-sex relationships could receive fair and equal treatment? No more hiding, no more fear of mentioning it, no more dreading those insulting words, no more discrimination…
As Lin Yuqing was pondering this, she suddenly noticed Fang Yi beside her, smiling secretively and tapping furiously at her screen, apparently typing.
"What are you doing?"
"Telling Su Yu the good news!" Fang Yi didn't even look up.
Lin Yuqing watched her with a knowing smile.
Finally, after Fang Yi sent the message, she looked up and saw Lin Yuqing grinning at her with an expression that said, "I see right through you."
"Hey, wait, don't get the wrong idea. I was just… as a friend, I should tell her, right? After all, this is huge news!"
"See… I'm telling Lu Qing next. Look, I'm sending Lu Qing a message." Fang Yi held up her phone for Lin Yuqing to see. The latter had no interest in looking. The four words "guilty as charged" were practically written all over Fang Yi's face.
"Look!" Fang Yi practically shoved the phone in Lin Yuqing's face.
"What's there to look at?" Lin Yuqing dodged her with a look of disdain.
"If you want to pursue her, just do it. Stop being so coy. Look at you, so pathetic."
"Pah!"
As they were talking, Fang Yi's phone chimed. Lin Yuqing glanced over; it seemed to be a reply from Su Yu. Fang Yi saw it too, gave it a perfunctory look, and didn't reply, slipping the phone back into her pocket with an air of someone who couldn't be bothered. She was quite the actress.
"Mm, you'd better not reply to her," Lin Yuqing couldn't help but laugh.
Fang Yi shot her a look. How mean. Couldn't she wish her well for once?
For the next few days, the topic "Owe Gu Xinran an Apology" dominated the trending lists, causing a massive stir online. The number of people who now supported her was as great as the number who had once boycotted her.
Furthermore, because of this incident, the issue of same-sex relationships gradually gained more attention. Many gay people felt emboldened to speak out, calling for the public to view them rationally. They were just different in their orientation, in their preferences, not freaks who would eat or harm people.
The voices of reason grew louder, and everything was developing in a positive direction.
Even Fang Yi, abandoning her usual calm demeanor, was glued to her phone every day, monitoring the online discussions, her joy plain to see.
However, the center of the storm, Gu Xinran, wasn't as happy as she was, or rather, she wasn't paying as much attention to these things. She spent her days planting flowers, petting her cats, teasing her daughter, and bullying her "son-in-law." Life couldn't be more comfortable.
Incidentally, Lin Yuqing also rode the wave of popularity from Xinran's incident. The fact that she was already married was brought up again. The old fellow was quite helpless; she hadn't caused this much of a stir even when she won Movie Queen.
Looking at the constant stream of offers from production companies, Lin Yuqing thought long and hard but decided not to make a comeback for the time being. After all, the current hype was temporary. Once it died down, dissenting voices might emerge. Besides, returning to acting at a time like this would make her intention to ride the wave of popularity too obvious. It was better to keep a low profile.
However, while she wanted to be low-key, someone else had other ideas.
Su Yu could now wake up from her dreams laughing. Her TV series had finally found a distribution channel, and several companies were even fighting over it. After all, it had the backing of the recently popular Lin Yuqing, and the GL theme was in line with the current climate. Most importantly, the series starred Lin Yuqing and her new, young, beautiful wife. Photos of Lin Yuqing's lover had long been circulating online. Now, being able to see this married couple show off their affection on screen, it was hard for the show not to become a hit.
Su Yu felt more and more that she had a true eye for talent. How on earth had she so coincidentally chosen Xiao Ye back then! This director's vision was truly impeccable!
Everything was back on track. Lin Yuqing was busy arranging a suitable school for Xiao Ye. She had discussed it with her; she didn't want Xiao Ye to pursue a career as an actress anymore. It was too exhausting, and when they got busy, they would spend more time apart than together. The little one felt the same way. After a brief discussion, they decided on a photography major. The coursework wasn't heavy, and since the little one loved to travel, she could put her learning into practice and capture the most beautiful scenery along the way.
On Friday evening, Lin Yuqing was driving to the school to pick up her beautiful young wife and take her home when her phone rang.
"Hello? Who is this?"
"Hm? The day after tomorrow? Let me ask Xiao Ye. If we're free, we can go check it out. By the way, are you going too? Alone? Not asking Su Yu to come along?"
"Who are you calling, smiling so happily?" A voice came from the other end of the line. Lin Yuqing paused. That voice sounded a bit like Su Yu.
"Well, well, you two are… already living together?" Lin Yuqing felt she had been worrying for nothing. That Fang Yi had some moves after all.
"Ah… um… ha~" Fang Yi seemed a little shy, laughing it off.
"Fang Yi, hurry up. Are you going to bathe the baby or not?"
"???" Hearing the voice on the phone, Lin Yuqing was completely dumbfounded. This woman couldn't have called just to show off their relationship, could she? Bathing? And for the baby… What was going on? Who was the baby…? This was progressing a little… hm.
"You… are giving… her… a bath?" Lin Yuqing swallowed, her mind flashing back to the time she had bathed Xiao Ye.
"Pah! I'm bathing the cat, you pervert!!!"
"Your cat… is named Baby…?"
"…It's Bao Bao! As in, steamed bun!"
Lin Yuqing thought, I don't believe you for a second!
"Alright, I'm hanging up. Go bathe your 'baby.' I'm on my way to the school. Don't bother me again today. I'm going to have some private time with Xiao Ye."
"You shameless old thing. Watch out for your mother-in-law spying on you through the door crack. She's totally capable of that."
Lin Yuqing's heart skipped a beat. Crap, how could she have forgotten about her!
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