A Pair of Evil Women's Love - Chapter 29
Chapter 29
Fu Yilan sat behind the bar, grinding coffee beans. She was a little spaced out, not noticing that her movements had slowed. “She went back on her word.”
A knot of frustration was stuck in her chest. Fu Yilan ground the beans harder. She told herself countless times not to overthink it, but every time she recalled Fu Haitang’s words, her chest felt like it was being twisted.
It was 2 a.m. Fu Yilan bagged the ground coffee beans. It was time to lock up. She glanced at the door, but the bell hadn’t chimed for two hours.
Fu Yilan bit her lip and cursed under her breath, “Appearing and disappearing like a ghost, and not showing up when you’re supposed to…”
She mopped the floor, wiped the walls, and straightened the tables and chairs. When she looked up again, it was already 2 a.m.
Fu Yilan: “…”
Zeng Jingmeng’s phone rang in the middle of the night. She answered sleepily, “Hello? Lanlan…”
“I’m heartbroken,” Fu Yilan said.
Zeng Jingmeng: “Huh? You said that at the same time last night, too. Am I dreaming?”
Fu Yilan: “…”
Zeng Jingmeng: “Or am I stuck in a loop? Wow! Am I the chosen one? Am I the main character now?”
Fu Yilan rolled over on her cot. “…Thanks for cheering me up.”
Zeng Jingmeng laughed, then said, “Tell me, why are you saying that again?”
“She…” Fu Yilan involuntarily lowered her voice. The thin blanket she was wrapped in couldn’t compare to the warmth of a body. Fu Yilan licked her lips. “She gave me a book of poems today.”
Zeng Jingmeng: “That son of a b1tch! You found out she was two-timing you and she still came to flirt?”
Son of a b1tch… Fu Yilan’s mouth hung open slightly. “Ah, no, it was a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding?” Zeng Jingmeng shot up in bed, her voice cracking. “You said it was a misunderstanding? Fu Yilan! Are you blinded by love?”
“You found a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl dressed improperly in her house,” Zeng Jingmeng said, furious. “And you’re telling me it was a misunderstanding?!”
Fu Yilan felt guilty. “Listen to me… That girl is her distant cousin…”
Zeng Jingmeng: “I’m not listening! You believe that ‘distant cousin’ excuse? Is there something wrong with your brain? I’m going to set you straight today!”
“A distant cousin who calls her ‘mom’ and doesn’t have any clothes to wear every day,” Zeng Jingmeng fumed. “Tell me, what did you misunderstand?!”
Fu Yilan pressed her temple. “She said her cousin likes to eat instant noodles in bed, and that the mattress costs 98,888, so…”
“Hahaha! What a stupid moron of an Alpha! So what, she used that excuse to brush you off and secretly flaunted her wealth? What does she take you for? Would you even have noticed that amount of money before you were twelve?”
Zeng Jingmeng was so worked up she was losing her mind. “A dragon in a shallow pond is teased by shrimp; a defeated phoenix is not even as good as a chicken!”
Fu Yilan savored the words but felt something was off. “Are you cursing me?”
“Uh… no, I got a little carried away. Where was I?” Zeng Jingmeng asked in return.
Fu Yilan: “That’s not the point.”
Zeng Jingmeng was dumbfounded. “That’s not the point?” She was now sure that beneath Fu Yilan’s clever exterior, she was a lovestruck fool.
“The point is that book. She was going to give it to me one moment, and the next, she went back on her word.” Fu Yilan sat up straight, propping her face in her hands. “What do you think she meant?”
“Playing hard to get, holding back words, being indecisive. What else could it be but playing games? Look at you, your heart is all over the place!” Zeng Jingmeng said.
Fu Yilan: “…”
Fu Yilan buried her head in her arms. “Sigh.”
Zeng Jingmeng: “So you said you were heartbroken again because she gave you a book and you got excited again?”
Fu Yilan said foolishly, “Yes, yes.”
Zeng Jingmeng: “Lanlan! Have you forgotten that you’ve been the smartest of all of us since kindergarten? Are you insane? You were taken down by such a cheap trick?”
Zeng Jingmeng: “Lanlan! Do you still want to pay off your aunt and uncle’s debt? Do you know that beautiful omegas in the entertainment industry are very wary of talking about love?”
Fu Yilan’s expression changed. “You’re right. I can’t believe I fell for such a clumsy excuse again. She approached me to use me. How can I have real feelings for her?”
Zeng Jingmeng breathed a sigh of relief. “It’s good that you know.”
“Thank you, Mengmeng.” Fu Yilan smiled. “I’m so glad I have you.”
Zeng Jingmeng: “You’re welcome. Don’t worry, if this happens again, I’ll still knock some sense into you.”
“It won’t happen again,” Fu Yilan murmured.
…
Tuesday
The Rehearsal Room
After the first public performance, twenty people were eliminated, and the classes were reshuffled. Although Fu Yilan had advanced, her overall evaluation was still a D-grade.
She naturally stayed in Class D. The training became more demanding, and the other things that came with her rising popularity became more complicated. Fu Yilan was only sleeping two to four hours a day, and her body was starting to give out.
During lunch, she added an extra serving to her meal. Fu Yilan took out her phone and snapped a photo of today’s food.
“Hey, are you taking a picture to send to a crush?”
“What?” Fu Yilan instinctively looked at her phone.
“Isn’t that what you’re doing?” Chen Na said. “You always take a picture when you eat with me. Yilan, who are you taking a picture for?”
She subconsciously looked at her phone. The picture was already in the draft box. According to their agreement, she was supposed to send it to Fu Haitang. If Chen Na hadn’t reminded her, she wouldn’t have even realized her behavior was like reporting in.
Two meals a day. Why?
Fu Yilan pursed her lips. If she was going to end it, she should end it cleanly. From now on, she wouldn’t do anything ambiguous or clingy.
Outside the TV station, there were two camphor trees, their branches so thick they blocked out the sun. In the center of the square was a fountain built with a huge investment, its surface sparkling. Fu Haitang held her phone, waiting and waiting. She couldn’t help but wonder if Fu Yilan was angry.
Because I went back on my word?
(What’s today’s meal plan?) The message was edited with a heavy heart. Sending it felt like an act of courage. It was completely fair for Fu Yilan to curse at her for going back on her confession.
Two minutes, five minutes, ten minutes. A sense of powerlessness washed over her. It turned out that being ignored was more painful than being cursed at.
Fu Haitang picked a photo from her camera roll and sent it to Gu Jingjing to get a free pass, then she held her phone, not knowing what she was waiting for.
Ding. Her phone vibrated. Fu Haitang’s heart skipped a beat, a tight squeeze in her chest. She even held her breath as she rushed to open it.
Sini: “You got fired, but you’re still not using the company cafeteria?”
Fu Haitang: “…”
After muttering a few curses, Gu Jingjing’s coffee finally arrived. Fu Haitang took it up to the 22nd floor, to the private room. She raised her hand to knock, but then she heard Gu Jingjing’s loud cry from inside.
Fu Haitang froze.
Gu Jingjing didn’t go to her family for help?
Gu Jingjing: “You have to help me. Without Haitang, I can’t survive at the TV station!”
Fu Haitang was stunned. Gu Jingjing didn’t go to her family?
Lu Jing: “Then you should leave.”
“No, I won’t. Why should I leave? My performance evaluation is an A. I’m not leaving!” Gu Jingjing grabbed Lu Jing’s arm. “Lu gege~”
It’s Lu Jing.
Fu Haitang retracted her left foot, then her right, backing away step by step until she was against the wall and could no longer hear the whispers from inside.
The door opened, and Lu Jing walked out.
Fu Haitang bowed, not lifting her head.
Gu Jingjing: “Come in.”
“…Miss.” Fu Haitang closed the door. “You went to ask Teacher Lu.”
Gu Jingjing said as if it were obvious, “Of course. He’s my fiancé. Who else would I ask when I have a problem?”
Fu Haitang’s expression was complicated. “I see… So… did Teacher Lu agree?”
Just as she finished speaking, Ren Qing’s phone call came in.
“Go to the set this afternoon.”
Then came the busy signal, a couple of beeps that faded away.
Fu Haitang clenched her jaw.
Gu Jingjing was overjoyed. “So? So? It’s settled, right?”
Fu Haitang looked up and gave a faint smile, handing the coffee to Gu Jingjing. “President Ren told me to continue with the team. I can go back to the Class B set this afternoon.”
“I knew it. Lu gege still cares about me!” Gu Jingjing said proudly, feeling more motivated to eat.
“Aren’t you happy you’re back on the set?” Gu Jingjing asked, confused.
Fu Haitang: “I’m happy.” But she also felt powerless. The things she had tried so hard to do were just a single sentence for Lu Jing.
…
In the Afternoon
Fu Haitang waited discreetly on the Class D set. News of her situation had already spread. The rumor was that she had been fired for mismanagement that almost caused a fire. But since no incident occurred, the trainees in Class D were naturally happy to welcome her back.
There was only one person who didn’t give her a single glance from the moment she arrived until they were on set.
It wasn’t until the break that Fu Yilan went to the restroom. Fu Haitang followed her out of the practice room. “Fu Yilan.”
Fu Yilan stopped. “Instructor Fu.”
“Does our agreement still stand?” Fu Haitang asked.
Fu Yilan: “You were almost gone from the TV station. Do you still have the right to work with me?”
Her tone was confrontational, probably full of resentment. Fu Haitang pursed her lips. “My issue has been resolved. You just need to continue to cooperate with me. Our agreement stands. I hope you won’t fight against real money.”
To ensure Fu Yilan wouldn’t back out, Fu Haitang added the last part, with a hint of provocation.
“The money. You still owe me 500,000,” Fu Yilan said.
The sun was setting in the west, and the orange-red sun was about to disappear.
Fu Haitang was stunned. In a flash, she remembered everything. In the damp changing room, Fu Yilan had asked for a price in a rough voice. She had held up a finger, meaning ten million, but Fu Yilan had thought it was one million.
I don’t need to sell my house! Fu Haitang’s eyes curved. “Let’s meet at the Lake Bay Gym across from the coffee shop tonight. I’ll give you the check in person.”
A nerve in Fu Yilan’s brain had been tightly wound. When she saw Fu Haitang smiling, the knotted muscle suddenly sprang back. She relaxed her clenched hand and a faint smile appeared on her lips. “Congratulations on getting back on the team. You can give me the check tomorrow.”
The air in the hallway was too cold. Fu Haitang instinctively hugged her arms. She felt a faint, fleeting breeze that made her heart shudder. She wanted to say something, but she couldn’t. “Yesterday…”
Fu Yilan disappeared into the restroom.
Chasing her now would be rude.
Fu Haitang stood in the hallway for a long time. There was an important announcement tonight. She had to go back to the set to talk to Sini. If she didn’t leave now, she would only delay work. Fu Haitang left in silence.
Fu Yilan walked out of the restroom. The hallway was empty. She smoothed her damp hair and thought to herself, This is for the best. We each go our separate ways, with no ties or burdens.
“But I still have to say this!” someone suddenly ran back and stood upright in front of her. Fu Yilan was startled and was almost knocked over by Fu Haitang.
Her wrist was caught and she was pulled back and held steady!
Fu Haitang shook Fu Yilan excitedly and said in a hurried voice, “But I still have to say, I know how you feel, and I’m sure you know how I feel…”
What is she talking about? All her melancholy and sorrow were thrown out the window. As Fu Yilan was being shaken almost to the point of a concussion, her heart began to race uncontrollably.
The thought of the landmine she had planted with Lu Jing—that she had “slept with the female lead”—and her passionate betrayal of Fu Yilan, made her feel like she was going to collapse. “But we really can’t be together. The heavens won’t allow it. You have to forget me! Forget about our feelings… But don’t hate me!”
Fu Yilan: “…”
She looks so smart, but she’s missing a few screws. Her quality just isn’t up to par. Fu Yilan’s lips parted slightly. “Moron.”
Fu Haitang was stunned, her eyes fixed on the corner of Fu Yilan’s mouth.
Fu Yilan: “What’s wrong?”
Fu Haitang smiled faintly. “It’s good that you’re smiling.”
Fu Yilan: “…”
Fu Yilan turned away and raised a hand to her mouth. She glared at Fu Haitang, who was so pleased she could have blossomed into a flower. “Just don’t hate me.”
“Heh.” Fu Yilan scoffed and said deliberately, “In your next heat cycle, I’ll still need your help. So it’s not about hate.”
Fu Haitang: “…”