Got a Happy Ending With My Ex’s Sister? (GL) - Chapter 17: Rehearsal

Chapter 17: Rehearsal

Shi Huan stared at her intently, full of anticipation.

Her request was quite unreasonable. Tang Yiqiu paused, her tone turning cold. “You’re an adult. Do you still need someone to coddle you?”

“What’s wrong with being an adult? Can’t adults be coddled?” Shi Huan said sourly. “Other adults get coddled. Even Ji Yuan, who’s so unreasonable, gets coddled. But no one coddles me.”

Tang Yiqiu remained unmoved, only frowning.

Shi Huan felt increasingly wronged. The surrounding air was cold and bitter, and the moment she breathed it in, tears began to stream down. She pursed her lips and accused, “You said you understand, but you don’t understand anything.”

Tang Yiqiu said, “Understanding and coddling are two different things.”

Shi Huan argued, “If you’re not going to coddle me, what’s the point of asking so many questions? Are you just going to stand there and watch me be sad once you understand? Tang Yiqiu, you’re too cruel. Just leave. Don’t stand there.”

Lately, she had been circling around Tang Yiqiu, acting flirty and brazen, just to catch her attention. But this woman always had the same attitude—cold. Shi Huan had her pride, too, and felt she was being too shameless, like a warm face pressing against a cold butt.

But as long as Tang Yiqiu showed even the slightest response, Shi Huan could bounce back fully revived. This was similar to Ji Yuan in the script. However, Tang Yiqiu was very different from Qin Zhiyan. At least Qin Zhiyan would coddle people.

All sorts of grievances and confusion surged up. The more Shi Huan thought about it, the sadder she got. She squatted in the snow without any regard for her image, wiping away tears.

Tang Yiqiu’s frown deepened. “Why are you crying again?”

“None of your business!” Shi Huan gasped, even spouting her lines. “You meddle in everything. Now you’re meddling in whether someone cries or not.”

In the end, she still wanted to be coddled. Tang Yiqiu looked at her for a few seconds, showing a hint of compromise. “Fine, stop crying.”

Shi Huan glared at her, lowered her head, and this time stayed silent, just keeping her head down. Her warm tears made small pits in the snow.

Still crying. Really hard to coddle.

Tang Yiqiu leaned against a tree. “When the new script is revised, I can rehearse with you.”

“Really?” Shi Huan slightly raised her eyes, waiting for her nod. She huffed, “If I go to your lounge, you better not kick me out.”

“Depends. If you mess around, I’ll definitely kick you out.”

Shi Huan let out an “oh,” already scheming in her mind. She wanted to push a little further but feared losing even this small gain. “You keep your word. If I don’t mess around, you’ll rehearse with me.”

Tang Yiqiu agreed.

Shi Huan wiped her face, her heart feeling soft and warm. “Alright, were you just coddling me?”

“No.” Tang Yiqiu denied it, looking into the distance. “It’s too cold here. Let’s head back.”

“I feel cold, too,” Shi Huan mumbled, unable to resist wanting to steal some warmth from her. But Tang Yiqiu was so aloof, sidestepping to dodge. Unexpectedly, she bumped into the tree beside her. The branches shook, dropping a pile of snow right onto Tang Yiqiu’s head.

“What a huge clump!” Shi Huan looked up and burst out laughing. Tang Yiqiu, feeling embarrassed, quickly brushed it off and sped up, not lingering. Shi Huan, staring at the wet spot on her head, couldn’t stop laughing.

At the corner, she suddenly stopped. Tang Yiqiu turned to look at her, helplessly asking, “What’s wrong now?”

Shi Huan pointed at her eyes. “Teacher Yang is still outside. If I go out looking like this, he’ll definitely feel bad.”

Tang Yiqiu met her still-red eyes and, after a moment, said, “Wait here.”

“Okay.”

Tang Yiqiu told her to wait, so Shi Huan obediently stayed put, not moving an inch. She waited until Tang Yiqiu returned, her legs numb from the cold. Shi Huan rubbed her legs and stood up. “Where did you go?”

“Here.” Tang Yiqiu held a knitted hat, bright red with a fluffy pom-pom on top.

Shi Huan was stunned. “For me?”

“Yeah.” Seeing Shi Huan’s eyes light up again, Tang Yiqiu turned her head. “Chang Qing bought it last time. The color’s too bright to wear. If you like it, it’s yours.”

“I love it! I love anything Teacher Tang gives me!” Shi Huan excitedly reached for it but pulled back just as she touched the edge. “Can you put it on for me?”

Of course not. Tang Yiqiu refused flatly. “You can also not take the hat.”

“I want it, I want it!” Shi Huan hurriedly grabbed her hand, unwilling to let it go, deliberately pinching her fingers.

Tang Yiqiu frowned. “Let go.”

Shi Huan complied, put the hat on, and adjusted the brim. “This should hide that I was crying, right?”

Her fair skin made her eyes look even redder with the red hat, like a little rabbit. Tang Yiqiu nodded and went straight to the lounge.

Shi Huan followed. At the door, she cautiously said, “I’ll come in to warm up by the fire and leave soon.”

Tang Yiqiu didn’t respond, so Shi Huan dragged a chair over. Seeing her read the script, Shi Huan sat quietly beside her, staring. When Tang Yiqiu showed impatience, Shi Huan quickly got up to leave, not forgetting to remind her, “When the new script comes, we’ll rehearse.”

For the next few days, Shi Huan was unusually well-behaved. She visited Tang Yiqiu’s lounge daily, didn’t bother her, and left on time.

Her unusual behavior lasted several days, making even Chang Qing curious. She whispered, “Did you and Huanhuan have another fight?”

“What do you mean ‘another’?” Tang Yiqiu frowned, displeased, flipping through the new script from Writer Shen. “She wants to rehearse with me.”

Chang Qing let out an “oh.” “You’d better keep your word, or she’ll be heartbroken.”

Just then, Shi Huan came in, holding a script and wearing the hat Tang Yiqiu gave her, the red pom-pom bouncing cutely. “Ugh, it’s freezing outside.”

There was a small heater by Tang Yiqiu’s feet. Shi Huan hurried over, stretching out her red, frozen hands. “Teacher Tang, have you read the new script?”

“Still reading.” Tang Yiqiu had a shoot in the morning and only had time in the afternoon.

Shi Huan smiled. “I’ve finished it. Shall we rehearse later?”

Tang Yiqiu nodded and continued flipping through the script.

The main plot hadn’t changed, but the later emotions shifted from intense arguments to a calmer approach, giving a sense that they were breaking through emotional barriers to be together. But at the climax, they suddenly turned away, heightening the helplessness and regret.

For example, Qin Zhiyan’s character was no longer just cold and rejecting. After learning Ji Yuan accepted a blind date arranged by her parents, she showed more emotional leaks and even a hurt expression.

Hurt… Tang Yiqiu glanced at Shi Huan, who was seriously reading the script beside her. Unlike last time’s distress, Shi Huan was excited, eagerly asking, “Have you finished?”

Tang Yiqiu shook her head.

Shi Huan added, “It’s not much different, just adjusted character emotions. There’s an extra blind date scene for me, maybe with a new character. But you have to believe me, I still like you the most.”

Tang Yiqiu felt dizzy from her enthusiasm. “Stop talking. Let me finish, then we’ll rehearse. Can you be quiet?”

“Hey, you don’t need to read the rest. It’s just a bed scene, super easy!” Shi Huan rubbed her hands, grinning. “I’ve been preparing for days. I’m super ready. Let’s start!”

“What?” Tang Yiqiu was stunned. “What bed scene?”

“It’s in the script!” Shi Huan went to flip hers, recalling the director’s warning, and quickly opened her own. “Look! It says right here. Ji Yuan agrees to her dad’s blind date. While eating with the date, we run into you. You’re watching me from the next table. We both drink, and then we end up in bed.”

Shi Huan poked the script hard, as if wanting to rip out Writer Shen’s new addition. “See, it’s crystal clear, right?”

Tang Yiqiu was dazed, not expecting this change. She opened her mouth, seeing Shi Huan’s excitement and recalling her odd behavior lately. “…You knew all along?”

“No way! I just found out, same as you.” Shi Huan denied firmly, then unzipped her jacket, pulling out a bottle of wine from her chest, winking at her. “I warmed it up. Want some?”