After the Breakup, the Crazy Movie Queen Clings to Me Every Day (GL) - Chapter 22

Lan Jingli rose from her desk, closed the window, and sealed out the dampness and heavy wind that heralded the approaching mountain rain.

********

Yun City had been particularly rainy in the days leading up to Christmas. The intermittent showers had persisted since her brief encounter with Tan You in the alleyway.

The television in her dorm room flickered on, casting a faint glow that brought a semblance of life to the otherwise desolate space.

She repeatedly unlocked her phone, checking for calls, texts, and WeChat messages. The person at the top of her contact list remained unresponsive.

Her band’s schedule was relentless: appearances on variety shows, cameo roles in dramas, and endless rehearsals in the company’s practice rooms. Next week’s public fan signing event would consume every spare moment she might have used to catch up on sleep.

With her exceptional talent, striking beauty, and lifelong adoration, she had always been elevated above others. Given her extraordinary gifts, why would someone like her ever be interested in someone like me?

*Why would she like someone so ordinary?*

For her first love’s anniversary, Tan You casually gifted passersby with hundreds of thousands of yuan worth of flowers and candies. If it were Lan Jingli, she might only be able to treat Tan You to fried rice and two small puddings.

Would anyone ever like someone who could only afford fried rice and puddings?

Probably not. Even she didn’t see much to like about herself.

She quietly changed her WeChat name to “Li Li’s Day Off,” turned off her phone screen, and slumped onto the table, drifting into a deep sleep amidst these repetitive thoughts.

She was jolted awake by Wei Yixi’s shout.

**”Looking at wedding dresses?! Oh my god, are you getting married?! Jingli, I accidentally saw it! Go back to your sister right now!”**

*Looking… at wedding dresses?*

Lan Jingli’s face registered disbelief as she saw Tan You’s message on her phone screen.

*Her sister was going to look at wedding dresses with her?* Before she could process this, another message arrived, replying to her earlier text.

[Sister: Yu Meiren, please. Thank you]

A wave of overwhelming happiness crashed over her, her heart pounding wildly. She felt both elated and anxious, yet the final “Thank you” left her with a faint sense of disappointment.

That cold, distant formality made her feel like she was just a same-city delivery person, delivering flowers for the delivery fee.

********

On Christmas Day, Tan You arrived as promised to pick up Lan Jingli. They drove along the coastal highway into the city and parked in a luxury shopping district.

To avoid crowds, they arrived at ten o’clock at night. Black and white security tape had already been strung across the entrance of the bridal shop, with staff members standing guard on either side, politely turning away any customers who tried to enter.

As Tan You and Lan Jingli stepped out of the car, the store manager and all the sales associates bowed slightly, murmuring, “Welcome.”

Once the two women were inside, the security tape was quickly removed, leaving only a “Colese” sign.

The store manager bowed again. “Miss Tan, it’s an honor to serve you. All 120 wedding gowns on display on the third floor were designed by renowned designers. Please feel free to browse at your leisure.”

The sales associates maintained an air of utmost professionalism, though they couldn’t help but feel secretly excited, even a little flustered.

When Tan You requested to look at the gowns privately with just Lan Jingli, the staff retreated downstairs, unable to resist discussing the matter among themselves.

“Chairman Tan is just too much—so cold, yet so alluring. I’d love to get her autograph.”

“Come on, is that really what you want? I won’t call you out, but you’d better keep those little schemes to yourself.”

“Don’t you know? Chairman Tan keeps to herself. She never sees outsiders except for work. Wealthy heiresses have been fawning over her for years, but she can’t even remember their faces. She’s so aloof.”

“What about the person with her today?”

“Some starlet, clinging to a sugar daddy.”

The group exchanged knowing glances, their smiles a mix of envy and disdain.

In the VIP area on the third floor, Tan You looked listless, but her voice was gentle.

“Li Li, help me choose.”

“Ah, me?” Lan Jingli had never been to such a lavish place before. The refreshments and utensils prepared by the sales staff were unbelievably extravagant.

And the handmade wedding gowns, each without a price tag, were priceless.

Tan You pushed Lan Jingli onto the sofa, then casually sat sideways on her lap, her lips brushing Lan Jingli’s eye corner.

“What, don’t you want to personally dress me after you’ve chosen?”

Lan Jingli’s face flushed crimson, her words tumbling over each other in a flustered rush.

“No, I—I mean, I do, but that’s not what I meant.”

The woman’s eyes, hazy with allure, brushed lightly over Lan Jingli’s lips in a fleeting kiss before she rose to her feet.

“Go ahead. I’ll be waiting.”

The touch on her lips was as light as a feather, leaving Lan Jingli dazed and obediently drifting toward the last rack to begin selecting wedding gowns.

Over forty minutes passed in a blur as she meticulously chose ten gowns and wheeled them over, eager for Tan You’s opinion.

But when she approached, she saw a familiar figure seated beside Tan You, deep in animated conversation.

By the time Lan Jingli reached them, the person had just left.

Puzzled, Lan Jingli hesitated before cautiously asking, “Sister, why was Wei Xueyin here?”

Tan You’s expression remained indifferent, her striking features cool and detached.

“We just happened to run into each other.”