A Love Letter Written to You - Chapter 6
Chapter 6
The Spring Festival holiday had ended, and work resumed everywhere.
Sister Qun encountered a tricky situation.
She sat alone in her office, staring at a variety show proposal laid out before her — one sent over from Leng Ying’s mother’s side.
Leng Ying took her mother’s surname. Her mother, Leng Xingming, was a renowned award-winning actress during her golden years. After achieving fame and success, she invested in the industry and transitioned partly into production. Nowadays, her time was split between producing behind the scenes and acting in films.
Her husband, Leng Ying’s father, was also a workaholic and equally entrenched in the film industry. The couple had co-starred in a blockbuster film early in their careers, fallen in love on set, and married. In the same year Leng Ying was born, her father achieved the rare honor of a grand slam actor.
Naturally, the birth of a child to two such high-profile parents drew public attention. Even now, news reports about Leng Xingming’s pregnancy were still searchable online. Just two weeks after giving birth, Leng Xingming was already back on set for a new film, giving interviews at the film’s opening ceremony — her first public appearance post-partum.
Time changes people. Sister Qun used to be a fan of Leng Xingming. But after working closely with Leng Ying, watching their relationship evolve from distant colleagues to trusted partners and eventually friends, she couldn’t overlook some of Leng Xingming’s actions anymore.
She started to feel sympathy for Leng Ying.
Now, the proposal in front of her was undeniably tempting — a juicy opportunity.
Leng Ying had previously instructed Sister Qun to reject any offers or work arrangements from her parents. This one should’ve been dismissed like the rest.
But this offer was different. It was too good to ignore.
“…So, that’s the situation,” Sister Qun said over the phone. “I really think this is a good opportunity. Our Lives is a hugely popular reality show, practically a national phenomenon. Plus, this season’s theme fits well. Didn’t your best friend return to China recently? You could invite her on the show too.”
Before Leng Ying could respond, Sister Qun added, “Anyway, I’ve said my piece. As your friend, I respect your decision. Even if you turn it down like always, I won’t blame you. There will be other chances.”
She heard Leng Ying laugh softly, maybe at her closing remarks.
“I understand,” Leng Ying replied calmly. “Just reject it, like always.”
She gently played with a potted plant, her tone light. “Besides, do you really think Leng Xingming would let me take whoever I want on that show?”
Sister Qun paused, then recalled recent news about Leng Xingming’s company, Hechu Entertainment. “Right, I heard they signed a very talented newcomer… but haven’t introduced her yet publicly.”
“Exactly,” Leng Ying said. “So just reject it.”
She didn’t want her relationship with Ji Yu made public either.
Picking up a baseball cap, Leng Ying pulled it over her freshly washed, fragrant hair. “Xiao Ye just texted — she’s downstairs. I’m heading to the airport. Talk later.”
“Alright. Be careful and stay low profile — don’t get photographed.”
Sister Qun hung up, glanced at the clock, then out the window at the traffic.
Sea City was notoriously jammed during rush hour, but she had arranged for Xiao Ye to head out early, just in case. Reassured, she left to organize a staff meeting.
Leng Ying rode the elevator down to the underground garage and spotted the black car Xiao Ye had sent the license plate for.
“Ying-jie,” Xiao Ye greeted cheerfully. “Happy New Year!”
“Happy New Year,” Leng Ying replied. “Didn’t Qun-jie say you were taking a few more days off?”
“Oh, nothing important. And hey, you gave me such a big red envelope — of course I had to show up. Oh! I brought you two cups of homemade veggie juice.”
On the console were two cups of bright green juice. Though it looked questionable, Leng Ying had tasted it before — fresh and sweet without sugar. Xiao Ye’s family grew the produce themselves.
“Thanks.” Knowing one cup was for Ji Yu, Leng Ying didn’t touch them yet. She sent Xiao Ye a location. “Let’s stop here first and pick up the flowers I ordered.”
“Sure,” Xiao Ye checked the map. “It’s on the way. Want me to grab them for you?”
Leng Ying measured the distance between the seats and nodded. “Yes, pass them to me from the left side.”
“…Ying-jie,” Xiao Ye hesitated, “Qun-jie told me to keep an eye on you.”
“What’s wrong?” Leng Ying asked.
“You’re trending again.” Xiao Ye grinned. “I bet you haven’t checked Weibo. Ren Meng just released a new song — and it contains your name.”
Leng Ying’s response was short and sharp: “Childish.”
“Our Ying-jie just attracts heat no matter what~” Xiao Ye joked. “Please wear your hat, mask, and sunglasses when you get out… I brought mine too!”
“I know.” Leng Ying leaned back against the seat. “I’ll be careful.”
Satisfied, Xiao Ye drove off. As expected, they hit rush hour traffic.
“Good thing we left early,” she said with relief. “Plenty of buffer time.”
There were still two and a half hours before Ji Yu’s plane landed.
Leng Ying unlocked her phone and opened WeChat, scrolling to her chat with Ji Yu. Their latest exchange was a video call before Ji Yu boarded her flight.
Back then, it didn’t feel strange. They’d video chatted countless times, listened in on each other’s lives, shared intimate daily moments. They were close.
But now, sitting in the car heading toward the airport, Leng Ying felt nervousness slowly creeping through her body.
She rarely left Sea City. She never knew what “nervous returning home” meant — until now.
She wanted to see Ji Yu… and feared it too.
It all felt like a dream — a beautiful one she’d been lost in for years. And reality was unknown, possibly unpleasant.
That’s why, despite how easy it was to travel, she never suggested meeting up. Even when Ji Yu hinted at it, she always brushed it aside.
Leng Ying knew it wasn’t fair to Ji Yu. But Ji Yu never left. She never stepped back. She just quietly waited for Leng Ying to reach out.
In the quiet of the car, the tapping of Leng Ying’s fingers on the console was loud. Xiao Ye noticed her expression in the rearview mirror and quietly turned on some soft background music.
So even cool and calm Ying-jie could be nervous like everyone else.
Xiao Ye was very curious about the friend they were picking up. This person was an inseparable part of Leng Ying’s story — the one tied to that necklace she never took off.
Years ago, Leng Ying had even posted on Weibo to clarify rumors about it — one of her rare original posts.
Everyone knew the necklace meant something. No one had seen the person behind it.
Like a character out of a fantasy — no name, no face, and even Leng Ying’s mother, Leng Xingming, couldn’t get a word out of her about it.
They’d even fought over it. Though Leng Xingming was always cold, even her arguments lacked warmth.
They arrived at the flower shop. Xiao Ye, fully masked, retrieved the bouquet Leng Ying had preordered.
It wasn’t a big, flashy arrangement. Small and tasteful, dominated by blue, accented with soft lavender. Just big enough to hold in one hand, tied with a fluffy cream bow.
She carefully returned and passed the bouquet to Leng Ying.
Its fragrance brought Leng Ying’s mind back to the moment.
She inspected the flowers. They looked exactly like the sample video the shop had sent her.
Relieved, she pulled out a small black velvet box from her bag — a gift for Ji Yu — and tucked it into the hollow space in the bouquet.
Everything was ready.
As if fate itself was helping them, the traffic cleared on the way to the airport, and they arrived an hour early.
Xiao Ye parked the car and glanced over — just as Leng Ying reached for the door.
She cried out in panic, “Ying-jie! Wait—!”