After the Breakup, the Crazy Movie Queen Clings to Me Every Day (GL) - Chapter 33.2

Tan You had a way of making you believe she knew everything, when in reality, you knew nothing at all. This woman was never as gentle or sincere as she appeared. She always wore a perfectly crafted mask, a woman shrouded in mist, coldly controlling the world around her and allowing nothing to slip beyond her grasp.

Wei Yixi had never truly understood Tan You, and now she had no desire to try. Following Lan Jingli as she hurried away from this “frozen three feet deep” place, Wei Yixi had to summon all her mental fortitude just to take the first step out of the serene and elegant office.

She struggled to keep up, trailing half a meter behind Lan Jingli, terrified that Tan You might send guards to seize her and drag her back into confinement without explanation. One step, two steps, three steps… They rounded the corner, and behind them, an eerie silence hung in the air, not a sound stirring.

Wei Yixi didn’t dare look back, feeling a bone-chilling cold prickling her spine. She quickened her pace, catching up to Lan Jingli and gasping for breath.

“Do you think Chairman Tan will send people after us again?”

“Honestly, I don’t know.”

“Yeah, she’s impossible to figure out. Anyway, you need to go into full alert mode now. Judging by her expression, she’s not going to let this go easily. It’s terrifying! What kind of person did you even fall for back then?”

Lan Jingli shook her head gently. “I don’t know either. Maybe it was just my fantasy.” How laughable. It’s so hard to escape the grasp of phantoms.

Wei Yixi tugged Lan Jingli out of the company building, whispering, “What did Chairman Tan want? Did she ask you to go home with her right now?”

“No,” Lan Jingli replied, a cold smile playing on her lips as she recalled the “generously compensated” contract. “She offered me four hundred million, after tax.”

“After s3x? Didn’t you try negotiating for a no-s3x arrangement? I think that could work. A platonic arrangement—who knows who’d come out ahead?”

Lan Jingli was momentarily bewildered by Wei Yixi’s misunderstanding. They paused beneath a sycamore tree as she asked, “No tax? I meant the amount after taxes.” Midway through her explanation, she realized what Wei Yixi had misinterpreted. “Xi Xi,” she said, exasperated, “what’s going on in that head of yours? I’m talking about tax.”

“Oh, oh, oh! Tax, not s3x! My bad, I totally misread that,” Wei Yixi waved her hand dismissively. “But Chairman Tan’s gaze has never been innocent. You can’t blame me for thinking that way. Her stares can be so… blatant sometimes.”

Lan Jingli: “……”

Despite the awkwardness, Wei Yixi’s interruption had significantly lifted Lan Jingli’s gloomy mood.

“Jingli,” Wei Yixi suddenly realized, feeling a cold sweat break out on her back. She nearly collapsed from exhaustion. “So, what Chairman Tan showed you… was that kind of thing?”

“A slave contract.”

“Huh?” Wei Yixi’s eyes widened. “I knew this wasn’t over! It’s definitely not over.”

Tan You had been rejected by Lan Jingli multiple times. Given Tan You’s proud and arrogant nature, even if she temporarily lacked the patience to continue playing games with Lan Jingli, she would undoubtedly have a backup plan.

“Maybe. It might not stop until her official engagement day.”

“Does she still have feelings for you? But she’s… engaged already! The wealthy are so messy. Isn’t this just trying to make you her mistress, her side piece?”

“Or maybe she just thinks I’m more useful,” Lan Jingli said with a wry smile. Perhaps her “personal massager” was simply too effective, and she couldn’t find a better replacement for the time being.

“So, I was right about the after-s3x part.”

Lan Jingli glared at Wei Yixi, her voice weary. “Let’s drop this. Let’s go.”

Wei Yixi paused, confused. “Go where?”

“To Wen Fei’s place, to hang out, remember?”

“Oh, that was just a quick excuse I came up up with on the spot. I couldn’t exactly admit I was eavesdropping at the door, could I? Tomorrow, we’ll go cheer on Wen Fei and her group at the competition, and then we’ll all hang out in the evening.” Wei Yixi glanced at her WeChat. “Chen Jiayang said she wants to meet up with you tomorrow and go to the amusement park.”

“Why would she want to see me?”

“Who knows? Maybe she has a thing for you,” Wei Yixi mused, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. “Or maybe she’s jealous because you’ve been getting close to Wen Fei lately.”

Lan Jingli didn’t respond, but when she saw Chen Jiayang the next day, she was startled. Chen Jiayang was dressed as usual in a tank top and hot pants, seemingly impervious to the cold. Two crimson earrings dangled from her ears, vivid as bl00d, striking and flamboyant. Even with a mask on, she drew frequent glances from passersby.

Most surprisingly, Chen Jiayang was holding hands with a girl who looked no more than two or three years old. Perhaps it was just Lan Jingli’s imagination, but she thought the two shared a faint resemblance.

“Jia Yang, hello. What’s this little one’s name?” Lan Jingli pulled down her mask slightly so the child could see her face.

“Her nickname is Dao Dao. You can call her that,” Chen Jiayang said, crouching down to speak to the girl. “Dao Dao, this pretty lady is Lan Jingli. You can call her Sister Xiaoyu.”

“Okay!” Dao Dao turned to Lan Jingli, her voice small and sweet. “Hello, Sister Xiaoyu! You’re so tall and pretty!”

“Thank you, Dao Dao. You’re very cute too,” Lan Jingli replied. She wanted to ask Chen Jiayang about her relationship with Dao Dao, but hesitated because the child was present.

“Alright, let’s hurry up and go play!” Chen Jiayang said, seemingly oblivious to Lan Jingli’s puzzled expression, and pulled them both forward.

The three of them went to an amusement park that wasn’t particularly crowded with celestial beings. They played for an hour before Chen Jiayang, wanting to “repay” Lan Jingli for the marble soda from last time, bought her the park’s specialty ginger beer.

The ginger beer wasn’t actually alcoholic; it was made by combining ginger juice and lemon juice to create a beer-like flavor. Each of them got a glass, topped with a colorful paper umbrella.

Chen Jiayang sat next to Lan Jingli and rolled her eyes. “Hey, why are you so indifferent to everything? I get you ice cream, and you say it tastes bland. I take you on a roller coaster, and you don’t even flinch. You even zone out during movies!”

“Ah, do I… do I really?” Lan Jingli pursed her lips helplessly. “But I honestly think it’s just okay.”

“Alright, you bland weirdo. A single steamed bun is enough to satisfy you. I’m going to queue for tickets. Watch Dao Dao for me,” Chen Jiayang said, pulling her fisherman’s hat low. “Be careful not to get recognized.”

“Relax. There aren’t many people here today, and I’m wearing a hat and sunglasses.”

“Enjoy this while it lasts. Once your group gets even more popular, you won’t have time to hang out with friends anymore.”

“I know.”

Chen Jiayang glanced around before darting to the ticket line for Little Bear Box and his friends. The Little Bear Box-themed attractions were popular, and even during the off-season, the wait was still about five minutes.

Lan Jingli and Dao Dao sat in the shade of a tree, sipping their drinks slowly. Both were quiet and reserved, their dark eyes heavy with unspoken thoughts.

“Sister Xiaoyu, can I have the little umbrella after you finish your juice?” Dao Dao asked, her eyes wide and hopeful after obediently finishing her drink.

“This paper umbrella?”

“Mhm!”

“Of course. But why do you want it?”

“I want to collect them and give them to Sister Jia Yang. She’s the nicest to me and loves little umbrellas. I want to make her happy.”

For some reason, Lan Jingli’s heart gave a little jolt, and her nose suddenly felt a strange, stinging ache. She’d had moments like this herself. Times when she’d wanted to hold an umbrella for someone, holding it until her arm ached, only to realize they didn’t need it at all, especially not her umbrella. There were plenty of people in this world who deserved to hold an umbrella for Tan You, but Lan Jingli certainly wasn’t one of them.

She handed the little paper umbrella to Dao Dao, and as expected, received another sweet, childlike thank you.

“Dao Dao, you can go play now. Sister Xiaoyu and I will watch you from outside,” Chen Jiayang said as she returned, surprised to see the two getting along so well.

Lan Jingli cradled her cup, silent, when Chen Jiayang began to answer her unspoken question.

“He’s the little boy from next door. It’s a sad story. His parents died in an accident shortly after he was born, leaving him to be raised by his grandmother. Now she’s seriously ill and doesn’t have much time left. He might end up in an orphanage or something.”

“So he’s the boy from next door. No wonder he calls you ‘Sister’.”

Chen Jiayang playfully flicked Lan Jingli’s ear. “What, did you think I was Dao Dao’s mom or something?”

“You two look a bit alike,” Lan Jingli said, covering her ear, tears welling up from the pain. “That really hurt.”

“If it hurts, I’ll blow on it for you.”

Seeing Chen Jiayang move to bite her ear without warning, Lan Jingli dodged back, returning to their previous topic.

“How old is Dao Dao now?”

“Just turned five. She looks even younger, like she’s only three. She doesn’t get enough to eat in the countryside and has to take care of her sick grandma. Sometimes she doesn’t even get enough sleep.”

Lan Jingli lowered her gaze. “She must be having a hard time at such a young age. If she were sent to an orphanage, it would only get worse.”

“Why? Thinking about yourself?”

“No, just… reflecting.”

Outside, as they watched Dao Dao play on the Little Bear Box themed playground equipment with her friends, Chen Jiayang sipped her juice, feigning casual curiosity.

“Hey, would you ever consider turning our fake relationship with Wen Fei into something real?”

“What?” Lan Jingli nearly choked on her drink. “We’re just friends who just met, right?”

“Just friends?” Chen Jiayang batted her eyelashes, feigning hurt and disappointment. “I even helped you deal with your ex. How could you say that?”

Understanding Chen Jiayang was referring to Tan You, Lan Jingli’s expression darkened. “She’s not my ex. We were never that close.”

“But when she visited you in the hospital, she looked like she wanted to claim you on the spot. And Xi Xi told me yesterday she seems really determined to win you back.”

Before Lan Jingli could respond, Chen Jiayang continued, “Still, you’re being sensible. A family like the Tans would never lower themselves to get involved with ordinary people like us. Don’t let your heart soften for a moment.”

Beneath Lan Jingli’s long lashes, her eyes shimmered with a light that seemed about to spill over.

“You’re overthinking things. No one should or would chain themselves like a dog.”

“Hey,” Chen Jiayang nudged Lan Jingli with her elbow, her crescent eyes sparkling like stars. “I have a way to get rid of her for good. Want to hear it?”

“What is it?”

“To solve this once and for all, just find someone to marry quickly. I doubt Chairman Tan would try to steal another man’s wife, right?”

“You’re not suggesting I marry you, are you?”

“Bingo! You’re so clever, Xiao Yu!” Chen Jiayang exclaimed, her anger rising as she noticed Lan Jingli retreating. 

“What’s with that reaction? I might not be as stunning as Tan You, but I’m not that far off, okay? Why are you acting like you’ve seen a ghost?”

“No, I’m not rejecting you,” Lan Jingli replied, a bitter smile playing on her lips

. “Love and marriage are both important. I don’t want to rush into a lifelong commitment just to escape her. Even if I were to marry, I’d want it to be for love, not to avoid her.”

“You’re such a hopeless romantic! No wonder Chairman Tan doesn’t want to let you go.”

Tan You probably wants to keep this pure, untainted gem all to herself. The stubborn, possessive nature of the wealthy always makes them want to own everything they desire, for life, even beyond death. Utter selfishness, devoid of humanity.

The Lock Girl Group’s performance was scheduled for 6 PM. The three of them had been enjoying the amusement park since 1 PM. After Chen Jiayang took Dao Dao back to her dorm, she and Lan Jingli hurried to the venue.

Rehearsals, makeup—Lan Jingli even performed a few songs as a guest and accompanied Wen Fei on the drums for an hour. After the performance, Lan Jingli’s ears and wrists felt uncomfortable, and she was physically exhausted. She had planned to chat with Wen Fei and Chen Jiayang, but after only a few steps, she saw Wen Fei tugging Chen Jiayang by the sleeve, dragging her into a narrow alleyway behind the venue. What secret conversation could they be having now? Lan Jingli thought, and decided to return to the backstage area to rest, planning to find them later.

But just as she finished changing, her manager called with urgent news: there was a last-minute music event that evening, and she needed to fill in. A car had already been dispatched to pick her up.

Though puzzled, Lan Jingli didn’t dwell on it. She sent a quick message to Wen Fei and Chen Jiayang on WeChat before leaving through the side exit.

An Alpha nanny car was waiting at the door. The driver was a woman, not one of the familiar ones, but her driving skills were excellent. Initially, Lan Jingli tried to stay awake out of caution, but she couldn’t resist the swaying motion of the car. She drifted in and out of sleep, only catching glimpses of the pitch-black night outside the window.

After what felt like an eternity, Lan Jingli was jolted awake by the screech of brakes.

“Miss Lan, you may disembark now.”

Tan You stood gracefully outside the courtyard of an ancient, elegant mansion, barely two or three meters from the car. Lush greenery surrounded her, and her black, sheer, deep-V-neck gown contrasted sharply with her snow-white skin, which seemed to shimmer like freshly fallen snow. She personally opened the car door for Lan Jingli, her gaze soft and tender. In a gentle voice, she murmured,

“Li Li, welcome home.”