After helping Lin Jiaojiao to her feet, Tang Yunzheng glared furiously at Su Mianmian.
“Su Mianmian, why did you push Jiaojiao?”
Lin Jiaojiao nestled against Tang Yunzheng and pouted.
“Yunzheng, don’t blame Mianmian. She wanted to go home, but I wanted to spend a little more time with you, so I thought I’d keep her here a while longer. I didn’t expect her to suddenly get angry…”
“That’s a lie! That’s not what happened at all!”
Su Mianmian hadn’t expected Lin Jiaojiao to make things up right to her face.
“You said all sorts of awful things to me, then grabbed my hand. I did pull away, but I barely used any force.”
Tang Yunzheng had only heard Su Mianmian admit that she’d pulled her hand away from Lin Jiaojiao, causing her to fall. His brows furrowed tighter and tighter.
“Su Mianmian, ever since your birthday, it’s like you’ve become a different person. You’re strange and impossible to get along with. Jiaojiao only wanted you to stay and have a little more fun. Did you really have to take your anger out on her like that?”
They say people in love lose all their intelligence. Su Mianmian thought Tang Yunzheng’s had dropped below zero by now.
She could accept that he didn’t love her, but she couldn’t stand him teaming up with Lin Jiaojiao to bully her like this!
At that thought, she pointed up at the security camera.
“If you want to know who was really at fault, just check the footage.”
Lin Jiaojiao had only met Su Mianmian twice. From the way Tang Yunzheng talked about her, she’d surmised that Su Mianmian was timid and easy to bully, which was why she’d dared to pick on her behind his back.
She never imagined Su Mianmian would be so tough once she was truly angered. Afraid Tang Yunzheng might find out what had really happened, Lin Jiaojiao panicked.
“Yunzheng, Mianmian really isn’t to blame. Don’t argue with her because of me. Look, I’m not hurt. Why don’t we just let it go?”
But Su Mianmian had no intention of letting it go so easily.
“How can I? I’m not going to take the blame for something I didn’t do.” As she spoke, she really did head for the restaurant’s front desk.
Tang Yunzheng couldn’t understand why Su Mianmian was still making a fuss when Lin Jiaojiao had already magnanimously decided not to press the matter. He called after her, raising his voice.
“Do you own this restaurant? You think you can check the footage whenever you want?”
At that, Lin Jiaojiao let out a quiet sigh of relief.
“Yunzheng, can’t they just check the security footage here?”
Tang Yunzheng murmured, “Mm,” his thick brows drawn together.
“She’s making a mountain out of a molehill. Isn’t there enough trouble already?”
Lin Jiaojiao pouted.
“Mianmian’s so fierce. She’s nothing like the gentle girl you described.”
Tang Yunzheng was simmering with anger too. He had no idea what had gotten into Su Mianmian these past few days. She seemed determined to contradict him at every turn.
Holding Lin Jiaojiao’s hand, he followed her to the front desk and heard Su Mianmian speaking with the lobby manager.
“I’m sorry, miss. It’s not that we’re unwilling to cooperate, but the footage also involves the privacy of other customers. We can’t let you view it just like that. I hope you understand.”
From a distance, Lin Jiaojiao heard him and curled her lips in satisfaction.
Tang Yunzheng cleared his throat.
“Su Mianmian, that’s enough. Jiaojiao hasn’t even said anything.”
Su Mianmian bit her lip. Her older sister knew the owner of this restaurant, and she was debating whether to call her.
A group of sharply dressed people entered the restaurant, surrounding a tall, well-built man.
The lobby manager spotted Gu Yizhou at once and hurried over to greet him.
“President Gu, welcome. It’s an honor to have you here.”
Gu Yizhou gave a slight nod. He happened to notice Su Mianmian standing with her head bowed and paused. He gestured for the people beside him to go on ahead, then changed direction and walked over to her.
“Is something wrong?”
Su Mianmian first noticed a pair of gleaming leather shoes, then heard a familiar voice. She looked up and stared, stunned, into Gu Yizhou’s dark eyes.
“Brother-in-law?”
“Mm.” Gu Yizhou looked at her. “Why are you upset?”
The lobby manager was quick on the uptake. He’d been startled when he heard Su Mianmian call Gu Yizhou “Brother-in-law,” and now, as soon as Gu Yizhou asked what was wrong, he stepped forward and explained the situation on her behalf.
“You only want to check the footage?”
Su Mianmian nodded. From his tone, it sounded like this would be easy for him. She looked at Gu Yizhou hopefully.
Gu Yizhou glanced at the manager behind the desk. Before he could say a word, the manager immediately replied,
“Of course. I’ll take you to see it right away.”
…
The five of them, including the manager, went to the security room.
Su Mianmian sat in a chair while the others stood behind her. Tang Yunzheng had one arm around Lin Jiaojiao and looked thoroughly impatient.
Gu Yizhou braced one hand on the back of Su Mianmian’s chair and leaned over to study the footage.
The faint scent of sandalwood drifted through the air, gradually calming Su Mianmian.
Just then, the footage showed Lin Jiaojiao asking Su Mianmian whether she liked Tang Yunzheng.
A trace of embarrassment rose on Su Mianmian’s face. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Tang Yunzheng’s brows furrow, and the arm around Lin Jiaojiao stiffened.
Then Lin Jiaojiao launched into a stream of insults, every word clear to everyone in the room. The footage even showed her fall at the end—anyone could see she’d faked it.
After that, Tang Yunzheng came storming out and hurled all kinds of accusations at Su Mianmian on Lin Jiaojiao’s behalf.
The video ended there, revealing the whole truth.
Su Mianmian turned to look at Tang Yunzheng.
“Can you see now who was right and who was wrong?”
Lin Jiaojiao hadn’t expected the truth to come out so quickly. Her expression changed rapidly.
“Yunzheng, let me explain. I…”
“Shut up!”
Tang Yunzheng had never imagined things would turn out this way. Hearing Lin Jiaojiao’s insults against Su Mianmian, each worse than the last, had made his heart ache.
“Lin Jiaojiao, what’s wrong with you? What do you get out of bullying Su Mianmian?”
Lin Jiaojiao pressed her lips together and said nothing.
Tang Yunzheng walked over to Su Mianmian.
“Xiaomianmian, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have accused you without believing you first.”
Su Mianmian avoided his gaze.
“Tang Yunzheng, from today on, let’s stop seeing each other.”
She stood up and walked out first. Tang Yunzheng instinctively moved to follow, but Gu Yizhou stepped sideways and blocked his way.
“Make up your mind. Who are you choosing?”
Tang Yunzheng froze for a moment. Lin Jiaojiao hurriedly clung to his arm, fat tears spilling down her cheeks.
“Yunzheng, please let me explain. I only did something wrong because I care about you so much…”
Tang Yunzheng hadn’t been with Lin Jiaojiao for very long; they were still in the honeymoon phase. Seeing a beautiful woman cry softened him almost at once.
As for Su Mianmian, she’d never stayed angry with him for long. He could go make it up to her tomorrow.
Gu Yizhou could clearly read every shift in Tang Yunzheng’s thoughts in his eyes. Without a word, he turned and walked away.
…
Su Mianmian didn’t finally let out a breath until she reached the restaurant’s entrance.
The truth coming out had felt great, but so many people had heard Lin Jiaojiao say on the security footage that Su Mianmian liked Tang Yunzheng. It was practically a public humiliation.
There was no way she would get in Tang Yunzheng’s car now. She hailed a taxi, and only after she was in it did she remember that she’d forgotten to thank Gu Yizhou.
Never mind. She’d thank him the next time she saw him.
It was already past nine when Su Mianmian got home. Her parents had gone to bed, but the light was still on in her older sister’s room.
Su Mianmian knocked and went in. Her sister, Su Yang, was curled up in a wicker chair, drinking red wine.
Her cheeks were faintly flushed, and her eyes were red too.
“Mianbao[1]An affectionate nickname combining Mianmian’s name with bao, meaning “treasure” or “darling.” jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3736075_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3736075_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });, you’re back.”
Su Mianmian glanced at the several empty wine bottles on the table, then went over and crouched beside Su Yang’s legs.
“Jie[2]Chinese for “older sister,” used here as a familiar way to address Su Yang. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3736075_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3736075_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });, why have you had so much to drink again?”
Su Yang didn’t answer. She took another sip of wine.
“Mianbao, what do you think people are even alive for?”
Su Mianmian thought about it.
“I think people are alive so they can do the things they love every day and see the people they love.”
Su Yang murmured, “Mm.” Her voice was soft with drink.
“But if I marry Gu Yizhou, I’ll never be able to see the person I love again.”
Su Mianmian’s heart jolted. She looked at Su Yang.
“Jie, what do you mean? You… don’t like Gu Yizhou?”
“I don’t. I don’t like him at all.”
Su Yang’s voice caught with tears.
“I know everyone thinks Gu Yizhou is handsome, decent, and comes from a good family. But some things have to come in the right order. That person was already living in my heart first…”
“That person?”
References[+]