After the Breakup, the Crazy Movie Queen Clings to Me Every Day (GL) - Chapter 29.1

Tan You stood against the light, her refined and noble features shadowed, making her appear both proud and vulnerable.

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Originally weakened by her addiction, she had summoned every ounce of strength to keep Lan Jingli from leaving. Her slender, elegant fingers, with their distinct knuckles, first reddened and broke the skin, then pressed down on Lan Jingli’s wrist, leaving a clear red mark like a restraint.

“Li Li, be good. Don’t make a fuss,” Tan You said, her voice weary, as if exhausted by Lan Jingli’s unreasonable behavior.

Lan Jingli forcefully wrenched herself free. In that instant, her autumn-clear eyes blazed with a fierce, unquenchable fire.

The woman, holding her hand, didn’t realize the engagement ring on her left middle finger was digging painfully into Lan Jingli’s skin.

“Chairman Tan, you’re joking,” Lan Jingli said, her gaze drifting. “We’re not close enough for such talk. How could I possibly make a fuss with you?”

“Li Li, don’t be like this.”

Tan You murmured softly, as if exasperated by a mischievous pet trying to run away from home.

Bl00d dripped from Lan Jingli’s right hand, the fingers strained to the point of bleeding, the crimson drops staining the diamond ring that shimmered on her finger.

“Chairman Tan, I have other matters to attend to. Please excuse me,” Lan Jingli said, clutching her wrist where Tan You had grabbed her, the pain there far exceeding the desolation in her heart.

She pushed open the door with practiced ease, but Tan You called her back again.

“Li Li, don’t go. Let’s talk.”

Outside the hotel, the wind and rain raged in the darkness. Tan You stood there, her black hair and dress stark against the stormy backdrop, her gaze both cold and solemn.

At her silent signal, several Tan Family bodyguards sealed off the exits of the corridor.

In an instant, the dimly lit, enclosed space was left with only the two of them.

“We have nothing left to discuss. We’ve said everything there is to say,” Lan Jingli turned, her expression clear and resolute. She genuinely didn’t want to make a scene and embarrass everyone.

But the irony was inescapable: the hotel, preparing to host Tan You and Wei Xueyin’s engagement banquet, had hung photos of the couple in wedding attire everywhere.

At that moment, Lan Jingli stood beside one such photo, looking like a bridesmaid presenting the ring, or perhaps a flower girl, a guest. Anyone but the one who should have been there.

“Calm down, sit down and have something to eat, then we can talk,” Tan You said, as if she hadn’t heard Lan Jingli’s words, her voice tinged with concern and tenderness. “Look at you—you haven’t been taking care of yourself lately. You’ve lost too much weight.”

“I forgot to congratulate you and Wei Xueyin on your engagement,” Lan Jingli said, her cheeks flushed from suppressing her emotions, her smile radiant and beautiful. “Remember to toss the bouquet to me at the wedding.”

Tan You remained unmoved, sighing softly before speaking with genuine concern. “I ordered your favorite French toast. Come inside and have some. Then you can vent your feelings to me, okay?”

“You’re mistaken. I don’t actually like it anymore. I don’t like it anymore,” Lan Jingli said, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. The burning pain in her chest churned and roared, and she could only forcibly suppress it. “And I don’t have any feelings to vent. If you’re going to speculate about me, at least make it realistic.”

Tan You’s expression finally darkened, her gaze cold and sorrowful. “Li Li, do you really have to be like this?”

“Like what?” Lan Jingli asked herself. She hadn’t burst into tears, hadn’t screamed or cursed, hadn’t thrown a tantrum or threatened suicide. She had maintained her dignity and composure to the utmost.

But why? Why wouldn’t Tan You let it go? Why did she have to push her to the brink? Couldn’t she just let her live?

She had already acknowledged Tan You and Wei Xueyin’s happiness. Why couldn’t they just let her go?

Was it not enough that she had unknowingly served as a s3x toy? Did Tan You also need to use money, influence, and power to “buy” her, turning her into their personal plaything?

“If you don’t like being here, come back to Deep Mountain Estate with me and stay the night. If you’re tired, I’ll ask the company for a day off for you,” Tan You said, her voice calm and gentle, neither hurried nor slow, as if speaking to a naive child she was trying to persuade or tame.

The woman paused, then reached out as if to touch Lan Jingli’s face. “You’ve been working too hard lately. You look worn out and have lost weight.”

“What would I go back for? To witness your lovey-dovey act firsthand, or to design another wedding dress for you?” Lan Jingli’s face, as cold and clear as a mirror, dripped with icy sarcasm.

Tan You’s brow furrowed slightly. She steadied herself and said gently, “Don’t say things you don’t mean. This won’t happen again, I promise. Okay?”

Perhaps Lan Jingli is truly angry this time, she thought, temporarily blinded by stubbornness, driven to extremes. But a little coaxing will fix it.

The diamond on the woman’s engagement ring flashed, stinging Lan Jingli’s eyes. She had to cover her face with her hands.

“Was once not enough?” Lan Jingli’s eyes were bloodshot, like a cornered animal howling in despair. “Was it not enough?”

Tan You reached out to take Lan Jingli’s hand again, but Lan Jingli recoiled, leaving her hand grasping at air. Tan You’s brow furrowed slightly, yet she maintained her pristine, untouchable composure.

“Li Li, are you upset about my engagement to Wei Xueyin, or about the fact that I’m getting engaged to someone else?”

Lan Jingli wanted to laugh and cry at the same time, feeling as if she were seeing Tan You for the first time. The woman’s face was as cold and exquisite as a demon’s, now tinged with an eerie, inhuman quality.

Suddenly, it struck her with chilling clarity: she had never truly understood Tan You.

They had strolled beneath the moon and admired flowers in the rain, but Lan Jingli had actually fallen in love with a phantom in her own heart, fantasizing about being cherished by this illusion.

I’m truly delusional.

She wasn’t merely unloved; she was treated as property, no different from that koi named Lili. Tan You wanted to create a harmless aquatic paradise for her too—a world designed solely to amuse and please its master, where only the master’s moods mattered.

What did it matter if the pet was resentful, greedy, or foolish, as long as the master was content?

Only a pet’s attempt to run away would be dismissed as a “tantrum.”

“No, I don’t mind at all. How could I? It doesn’t matter who you marry or get engaged to.”

“Then come home with me. Don’t be stubborn.”

Lan Jingli stood rooted to the spot, finding it impossible to communicate with Tan You. What she was discussing, what mattered to her, was her dignity. But Tan You still saw her as a fish that had left home in a fit of spoiled pique, parched for water.

A fish dried out to the bone can’t be revived by belated spring water.

Besides, this wasn’t spring water.

What Tan You offered had never been love.

The wind stirred Tan You’s long hair, making the cinnabar beauty mark on her earlobe glow like a flame. She spoke slowly, deliberately, “Whatever you want, we can negotiate. Don’t let your emotions cloud your judgment. It’s bad for both of us.”

Her tone was businesslike, refined and detached, yet her voice carried a seductive undertone, weaving a sweet, romantic trap.

“A new deal?” Lan Jingli stared at Tan You’s composed demeanor, as if they were haggling over a price. The absurdity of it struck her.

In truth, their previous encounter had also been a transaction, one that had fallen through. Lan Jingli had mistaken it for a beautiful reunion, a love rekindled. But fate’s gifts always came with hidden price tags.

Tan You lowered her gaze, her red lips parting in a sigh. “Li Li, don’t twist my words.”

“Then what else? We’re deeply in love, our feelings are profound. Are we supposed to swear to the heavens from now on that we’ll never marry anyone but each other?”

Tan You fell silent, as if allergic to the topic of love. Her eyes flickered with veiled emotions before she suddenly flashed a pale, cold smile.

“Is that truly what you want? Let me consider this carefully. I’ll give you a satisfactory answer later.”

Lan Jingli listened to the woman’s condescending words. Anyone else would likely be overwhelmed with flattery, perhaps even weeping tears of gratitude and kneeling in devotion.

A woman worth hundreds of billions, wearing an engagement ring, was speaking to her with such gentle, coaxing tones, asking what she wanted.

How touching, Lan Jingli thought sarcastically.

This was merely the condescension of a superior to an inferior, a facade of brilliance and extravagance masking a rotten core of self-respect.

Even if she was as lowly as mud, her dignity would never decay.

“Tan You, have you forgotten? I already had Aunt Wan convey my feelings before,” Lan Jingli said, her eyes clear and unwavering, each word deliberate. “I’m simply ungrateful.”

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Outside the window, a corner of the deep blue sky seemed to have gone moldy from the rain. The faces of the two women were blurred by the rain-soaked mist, their features indistinct.

This made Tan You feel that Lan Jingli had become much more distant. The child who used to chase after her seemed to have grown into an adult overnight, becoming unreasonable.

“Li Li, I told you to calm down. I’m taking everything you’re saying as just anger,” Tan You said, her face pale but gentle. She even reached out again to stroke Lan Jingli’s gaunt cheek. “Let’s go back and talk about this properly, okay?”

Lan Jingli jerked away again. In the dim light, the teardrop-shaped scar beneath her brow seemed about to drip down her lashes.

“Maybe I wasn’t clear enough. What I mean is, Tan You, I accept it. You and Wei Xueyin can be happy together forever. Or with anyone else, for that matter. I’ll wish you well.”

Tan You paused, the diamond on her jade-white finger flashing like fire in the lamplight. Her flame-red lips parted.

“You mean you want to leave me completely? I won’t allow it.”

This woman, amidst deceit, betrayal, and even indifference, demanded that this master-pet “love” last until the end of time, unwavering until death, entwined until the ends of the earth.

Who’s the mad one here? Lan Jingli scoffed coldly. Is it this world, or is it me?

“I’m sorry, but your disapproval changes nothing. Perhaps everyone and this world revolve around you, but I am definitely not among them.”

“I’ve indulged your whims too much, Li Li. For now, I won’t press you further. I’ll give you time to think clearly. But don’t make me wait too long. Come back soon, okay?”

“Though the ending was terrible, there were beautiful moments along the way,” Lan Jingli said with a cold smile. “Tan You, don’t make me despise you completely.”

Tan You’s eyes sharpened as she stepped forward, her expression grave and slightly angry, yet her voice remained gentle. “If saying harsh words makes you feel better…”

“You can take it as harsh words if you like. It’s your choice.”

With that, Lan Jingli strode toward the emergency exit, forcefully shoving open the door. Several bodyguards, caught off guard, stumbled back a step.

The bodyguards hesitated, unsure whether to let Lan Jingli pass or continue blocking her way.

It wasn’t until the pale-faced woman with ink-thin eyebrows gracefully waved her hand, signaling them to clear the path, that they finally relented.

“Chairman Tan, I hope this is the last time we ever meet in this lifetime. If you can make that happen, I’ll be grateful.”

Lan Jingli, with her striking figure, turned her back to Tan You and waved casually, oblivious to the faint, distant possessiveness and coldness in the woman’s dark eyes.

Descending from the top floor, Lan Jingli avoided the elevator, feeling like a lost, helpless insect or bird. In the pitch-black stairwell, guided only by dim emergency lights, she felt trapped in a whirlpool, unable to find an exit.

The anniversary celebration dragged on late into the night. After struggling down the stairs, she found a back door and slipped out. As she breathed in the crisp, cold air, she could still hear the lively chatter and laughter from the banquet hall.

Faint whispers of congratulations and “Happy wedding” drifted through the drizzling rain. Perhaps it was just her imagination, a fleeting hallucination, and none of it was real.

She couldn’t tell if it was real or a hallucination. Sitting on the steps, her hands trembling slightly, she pulled a pair of white earbuds from her pocket and shakily untangled the cord.

They were old earbuds, the kind used for MP3 players. She’d thought they were obsolete, but surprisingly, they still worked with her phone.

She put the earbuds in, opened her music app, and tried to drown out the possible auditory hallucination with loud electronic rock.

Behind her, the solid wood door creaked open and shut. Wei Yixi appeared on the steps, carrying a plate piled high with steak, mayonnaise, and coleslaw.

“I’m so tired,” Wei Yixi said, sighing. “They kept pouring me drinks. I saw you slip away from the stairs—everyone’s finally escaped to catch their breath. Want some?”

Lan Jingli took off her earbuds and turned to look at Wei Yixi earnestly. “No, thanks. You eat. I’m not hungry.”

“Not hungry? You’re already so skinny you’re practically a telephone pole,” Wei Yixi said, taking a large bite of the rare steak and exhaling contentedly. “Meat’s still the best. I was starting to feel like I was turning into a rabbit from eating all that vegetarian stuff.”

Because of the complete darkness, Lan Jingli couldn’t see clearly. She could only listen to the sound of raindrops in the night. Suddenly, she asked out of the blue, “Yixi, how did you do it?”

“Do what?” Wei Yixi replied nonchalantly, biting into a juicy, delicious steak.

“You said it’s forbidden to fall in love with clients. I’m sure you’ve had that experience before. So, how did you manage it back then?”

The clinking of silverware against the plate paused for several seconds. Wei Yixi forced a smile, her expression distant and somber. “You just endure it, slowly. Endure and endure, and eventually you’ll realize you truly don’t care anymore. Time heals all wounds, they say.”

“Endure? Have you endured it all?”

“Whether I have or haven’t, it’s all the same.” Wei Yixi’s bitter smile shone brightly. “Haven’t you heard the saying? ‘Suffer now, enjoy later, and you’ll endure year after year.'”

Lan Jingli stared in astonishment for a long moment before nodding. She’d heard the saying, but she thought it sounded more like self-consolation for the hopeless.

“That’s a beautiful sentiment, but the real challenge is distinguishing whether someone is truly a client.”

Wei Yixi was stunned by Lan Jingli’s words, and the steak in her mouth suddenly lost its flavor.

“Let’s not talk about that for now. You were gone for ages! How was the grand prize? Was it as amazing as they say?”

“It was… amazing,” Lan Jingli said with a faint smile, her voice weak.

Maybe it’s for the best, she thought. Each time I don’t see Tan You, it’s another step toward dispelling the illusion I’ve built around her.

She needed to remember that the person she had loved, longed for, and believed she was in love with was nothing more than a figment of her imagination.

Her distant dream beyond the mountains could never be shared with a phantom.

As the streetlights flickered on, Wei Yixi noticed a red mark encircling Lan Jingli’s slender wrist, with even a few broken capillaries visible.

“Hey, your wrist is all red! Were you abused or something?”

Lan Jingli finally noticed the mark herself. Under the misty streetlight, the mark left by her engagement ring stood out starkly.

The pain of the ring digging into her skin, now seared into her heart, had nowhere to hide under the harsh light.

“I just bumped it accidentally. It’s nothing serious.”

“Seriously? Don’t lie to me. What could you have bumped it against to make it look like that?”

“It’s really nothing. It doesn’t even hurt that much. This time was much better than last time,” Lan Jingli said, pulling her sleeve down to cover the red marks around her wrist. They looked worse than they actually were.

Tan You had grabbed her, and when Lan Jingli yanked her hand away with too much force, the struggle tore the skin on both of their wrists, leaving them bleeding.

Looking at the wound on her wrist, she thought of Tan You’s bleeding fingers. “A mutual loss” seemed like an accurate description of their encounter.

It was still surprising that she could physically injure someone as privileged and powerful as the CEO, even if only in a literal sense.

“What do you mean ‘much better than last time’? What nonsense are you spouting?” Wei Yixi exclaimed dramatically, reaching out to touch Lan Jingli’s forehead.

“I’m not talking nonsense. I’m becoming clearer,” Lan Jingli replied.

A light rain was falling outside the steps where they sat, just like last time. They sat in silence for a while, then spoke again.

She seemed to see the shadow of that little wild grass in her heart, struggling to break through the soil. Last time, it had looked utterly defeated, but now it seemed to have found the courage to face the next spring.

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