Her Wild Rose - Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Lover

“Tang Tang, stop talking.”

In Shen Jia’s eyes, both Su Qian and Tang Tang were usually mild-tempered. Although the two had their fair share of friction over the past three years, it was always minor. She never imagined they could argue so fiercely.

She didn’t know how to intervene. Frowning, she looked anxiously at the two who were ready to explode at any moment.

Tang Tang, still fuming, heard Shen Jia call her name. Instinctively, she assumed her boss wasn’t on her side either, and her emotions surged. She glanced outside at the now-familiar streets and blurted out, “Stop the car!”

“So in your eyes, no matter what I do, it’s always impulsive and reckless, right?” Tang Tang’s heart was full of grievance. She didn’t know why, but she suddenly felt the need to win this argument. Her neck stiffened as she looked at Shen Jia and Su Qian with stubborn determination, as if she wouldn’t give up until she got a clear answer.

But clearly, neither of them could give her that answer.

Or rather, even without asking, Tang Tang could already read it from their eyes — yes, she was reckless and impulsive.

“Stop the car! Stop the car!”

Seeing that the car still wasn’t stopping, Tang Tang felt even more wronged.

She had come out tonight solely to help Su Qian, and she hadn’t told her because she didn’t want her to worry. But how had her good intentions turned into evidence of her being willful in Su Qian’s eyes?

Tang Tang couldn’t understand. But she was truly upset.

The car finally came to a stop, and just as Tang Tang was about to get out, she found that the rear doors had been locked by Su Qian.

“You two go back first. I want to take a walk by myself,” Su Qian said as she got out, signaling for Shen Jia to take Tang Tang home.

The two exchanged a complicated look and seemed to come to a silent agreement. After a moment, Shen Jia sighed and moved into the driver’s seat, taking Tang Tang toward Gu Shuangran’s villa.

Behind them, Su Qian’s figure grew smaller and smaller. Tang Tang couldn’t help but glance back through the window. Her concern was subtle, even Shen Jia didn’t notice at first.

“The show’s location should be nearby, right? Getting a cab shouldn’t be hard…” Tang Tang fiddled with her now-dead phone, muttering softly to herself. Su Qian wasn’t wearing much — what if she caught a cold?

Well, clearly she, the boss, was the unnecessary one here.

Shen Jia drove while observing Tang Tang’s expression in the rearview mirror. She noticed the girl kept sneaking glances at Su Qian’s direction and knew Tang Tang was worried about her.

“I just called a car — it should be here in a few minutes.” Shen Jia turned a corner and parked steadily on the small road next to the villa. She turned to look at Tang Tang, unable to hold back her advice.

“Su Qian didn’t confront Tian Qingqing directly because she was afraid it would backfire on you. Now you’ve walked right into it — doesn’t that just nullify all the sacrifices Su Qian made to protect you?”

In the days following Tian Qingqing’s scandal, Su Qian had been busy filming variety shows, so Shen Jia had been handling most of her work.

Su Qian never gave an inch when it came to resources. But Shen Jia had witnessed firsthand how Su Qian kept compromising and retreating — just to keep Tang Tang safe.

Even… even to the point of wanting to quit the industry.

Su Qian hadn’t let Shen Jia or Tang Tang know, and Shen Jia hadn’t found the right opportunity to tell them either.

“But I don’t want her to protect me like that!” Tang Tang protested. “It’s true I’m not as forward-thinking as her, not as capable. Even after five or six years in this industry, I’m still just a nobody. But that doesn’t mean I want her sacrificing herself to shield me. Besides…”

Tang Tang’s eyes turned red at the thought. “If she really hurt herself just to protect me, how am I supposed to face myself?”

Yes, that was the heart of it.

Shen Jia sighed again. Her worst fears had finally come true.

Two proud people — one thinking only about using her last ounce of strength to push her lover forward, while the other just wanted to weather the storms together.

If neither was willing to compromise, there really was no solution…

…

After the chaos the previous day, the filming of “Girlfriends” at Lvteng finally began.

Li Xinxin and Zhao Rui got up early to make a simple breakfast. Before 9 a.m., the dressed-up guests began trickling out of their rooms.

Tang Tang got up a little late. By the time she arrived at the dining room, everyone except Su Qian was already seated. She noticed the seat next to Su Qian had been saved for her, but she quietly swapped places with Lu Piaopiao, the only person she could still talk to.

Usually, variety shows broke the ice by teasing guests who seemed close. And she and Su Qian — well, they only appeared close now.

“Did I see that right? Did Tang Tang just switch seats with Lu Piaopiao?”
“Yeah, she gave up the seat next to Su Qian… Why?”
“Tang Tang can sit wherever she wants. Why are you pressed about it?”
“Let’s be real, they were always just good friends. CP fans shouldn’t take it so hard.”

Meanwhile, watching the monitor from afar, director Li Xiang was practically in tears.

He wished this was all scripted — but the guests were genuinely upset!

“Morning,” the villa door opened. Su Qian stood in the doorway in workout clothes, shaking a carton of soy milk with a smile. “Saw these on my morning run. Want some?”

“Yes, yes, Su Qian-jie is the best!”

Li Xinxin was the first to take a cup. She handed the rest to the others. It wasn’t until she noticed everyone looking awkward that she realized — only Tang Tang liked this kind of sweet soy milk.

She paused, suddenly the soy milk didn’t taste as good anymore.

Wait a minute… making soy milk for one person and giving it to everyone? What kind of domineering CEO behavior was this?

On the other end, Tang Tang sipped through her straw, stealing glances at Su Qian. She watched as Su Qian slowly scooped herself a bowl of congee and secretly hoped she’d also prepare one for her.

If Su Qian would just reach out, she’d gladly forgive her.

Even Tang Tang herself hadn’t realized how badly she wanted to make up with Su Qian.

But after a long wait, no congee appeared. Tang Tang finally understood — Su Qian was really angry this time. She drank the plain congee without much interest, but her eyes kept drifting in Su Qian’s direction.

She really wanted to ask — did she wait long last night? Was she cold?

“Shall we start planning today’s tasks?”

The dining table had gone silent for too long. Gu Shuangran received a prompt on her phone from Li Xiang, reminding her to steer the show back on track. She glanced at the gloomy expressions of Su Qian and Tang Tang and sighed.

“We have three missions today. One is to find a traditional Lvteng craftsman and make Baroque pearl souvenirs for each guest. Another is to prepare a ‘breaking-the-ice’ dinner. The last is to shoot a themed photo series in the city.” She paused, then added, “There are seven of us. How about two for the dinner, three for the photos, and two for the Baroque pearl jewelry?”

Everyone agreed — no objections.

“Gu Shuangran definitely knows how to assign tasks.”
“Please let Su Qian’s team do the Baroque rings. I want to see them exchange rings!”
“Wake up. Your CP is basically over.”
“Tang Tang looked at Su Qian 55 times. Su Qian? Zero. Absolute heartbreak.”

Tang Tang wanted to avoid working with Su Qian. Seeing no one objecting, she volunteered:

“How about Piaopiao and I prepare dinner?”

The guests looked surprised. Only Gu Shuangran, who had stayed in the same room as them, sighed and nodded. “Then I’ll go with Su Qian.”

“But Tang Tang,” Lu Piaopiao chimed in, “You were just staring at Su Qian. Now you don’t want to be in the same group?”

She had been watching the two closely since breakfast and couldn’t help but say bluntly, “You two aren’t… fighting, are you?”

“Piaopiao gets it. What a direct shot.”
“Su Qian’s pupils just quaked — hit the mark for sure…”

“Um… I’m full now. Let’s go get groceries.” Tang Tang nearly choked on her congee and grabbed Lu Piaopiao in a hurry to escape.

She couldn’t stay any longer. Who knew what else that girl might blurt out!

…

Su Qian and Gu Shuangran took quite a while to find the workshop at the end of the old street.

“This must be it,” Su Qian double-checked the task card and pushed open the door. “It doesn’t look like the boutique stores we usually go to.”

“Feels more like an old-school handicraft shop from the Republic era,” Gu Shuangran replied.

They weren’t talkative types, but fortunately, they got along well enough to avoid awkward silences.

“Hello, we’d like to—” Before the cameraman could follow them in, a young man in a coarse apron stood up and tried to shoo them out.

“Leave, leave! I don’t welcome influencers here!”

“We’re not influencers. We’re with a variety show. We just want to custom-make a few Baroque pearl pieces,” Su Qian hurried to explain before they were chased out.

“I don’t welcome influencers or celebrities!” the young man said angrily. “Do you even understand pearls? Do you understand Baroque? If not, don’t try to ride the trend!”

“Baroque pearls, also known as irregular pearls, are all unique. The earliest Baroque jewelry dates back to the 16th century, the most famous piece named ‘The Sea God.’”

Su Qian recited calmly. The young man’s face softened, and he handed them a box of pearls to choose from.

“How about we make a ring for each guest?” Gu Shuangran suggested. “It’s easier and more wearable.”

Su Qian agreed. She was already imagining what Tang Tang’s hand would look like with a ring she personally made.

They selected pearls, and Su Qian chose one shaped like a heart.

“What will you name it?”

“Heart.”

The artisan paused while taking measurements. “That’s a bit cliché, isn’t it?”

“It’s very fitting,” Su Qian replied softly.

If she could, she wanted to give her heart to that person as well.

As she gently polished the ring base with a grinding tool, her thoughts wandered. Every time she reached for the delicate heart-shaped pearl, she paused, imagining the final piece on Tang Tang’s slender hand.

“Su Qian,” Gu Shuangran suddenly spoke up, her voice low, “You and Tang Tang… you two are together, right?”

Su Qian was silent for a moment.

“We were.”

“…Then last night?”

“We fought.”

Gu Shuangran hesitated for a moment, then said with a bit of a sigh, “Actually, Tang Tang cried when she got back last night.”

“She—cried?”

Su Qian’s fingers trembled, and the tool nearly slipped from her hand.

“Yes,” Gu Shuangran confirmed. “She wiped her eyes before anyone noticed, but she cried.”

Su Qian didn’t reply, but her fingers paused in the air for a long time before she finally picked up the ring again and started polishing more carefully.

Gu Shuangran glanced at her, wanting to say something but ultimately staying quiet.

That was probably how grown-up relationships were—restrained, polite, cautious, and filled with hurt.

…

Over in the wet market, Lu Piaopiao was trying to act nonchalant while carrying a basket, but she couldn’t help blurting out:

“Tang Tang, are you and Su Qian… really okay?”

Tang Tang didn’t answer.

After a while, she lowered her head and whispered, “We argued last night.”

“I guessed that much.”

Lu Piaopiao grabbed a bag of radishes and held them up to her. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Tang Tang turned the radishes over absentmindedly, hesitated, then nodded.

“I just don’t get it. She clearly wants to protect me, but why is she pushing me away at the same time?”

“She thinks she’s protecting you,” Lu Piaopiao said, weighing the radishes, “but have you told her how you want to be protected?”

“I…”

Tang Tang stopped in her tracks.

That’s right. She hadn’t said anything. She’d been waiting—waiting for Su Qian to understand her, to compromise, to speak first.

But maybe Su Qian was waiting too.

She clutched the list of ingredients in her hand, feeling suddenly lost.

“What should I do?” she asked. “I don’t want to lose her.”

“Then go and find her,” Lu Piaopiao said decisively. “Fight for it.”

“But I don’t even know if she still wants to be with me…”

“Are you going to just sit here and guess for the rest of your life?” Lu Piaopiao rolled her eyes. “Tang Tang, you’re already in this deep. Just ask her directly. If she says no, then let it go. If she says yes, then hold her tight and never let go.”

Tang Tang looked at her, stunned.

Was it really that simple?

…

That night, all the guests gathered around the long dining table. The overhead string lights sparkled, and the plates were filled with food Tang Tang and Lu Piaopiao had prepared together.

Su Qian arrived last.

She still wore her outfit from earlier—white shirt, beige slacks, a minimalist watch on her wrist. She didn’t look out of place, but she didn’t look like she belonged either.

Tang Tang sat directly across from her.

For a while, the two didn’t look at each other.

Everyone tried to fill the awkward silence with jokes and laughter, but the underlying tension was obvious.

The meal neared its end. Gu Shuangran got up and clapped her hands with a smile. “Before we end tonight, we have a surprise mission.”

She took out seven velvet ring boxes from her bag.

“These are the rings we made this afternoon. Each one is one-of-a-kind. Now we’ll each give the ring we made to someone else, along with a sentence from the heart.”

The others cheered. It seemed like a cute and warm-hearted activity—until Su Qian stepped forward.

She didn’t hesitate. Walking straight to Tang Tang, she placed the heart-shaped pearl ring into her palm.

“I made this for you.”

Her voice was low, almost trembling.

Tang Tang looked down at the ring. Her vision blurred.

“I named it ‘Heart,’” Su Qian continued. “Because I want you to know—you’ve always had mine.”

The table fell completely silent.

“OH MY GOD.”
“WAIT WHAT. SHE’S CONFESSING.”
“I KNEW IT. THEY’RE TOGETHER. I KNEW IT.”
“Tang Tang, say something!!!”
“Su Qian, don’t do this to me. I can’t take this level of heartbreak.”

Tang Tang stood frozen, her eyes locked on the ring in her hand.

Then she raised her head.

“You idiot.”

She crossed the table and threw her arms around Su Qian.

“Why didn’t you just tell me sooner?”

“OH MY GOD SHE’S CRYING I’M CRYING”
“I AM SCREAMING. THEY’RE BACK TOGETHER.”
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN THIS IS NOT A DRAMA—THIS IS REAL LIFE”
“Best. Variety. Show. Moment. Ever.”

Su Qian held her tightly, one hand cupping the back of her head.

“I was scared,” she admitted. “I didn’t want to drag you down.”

“Then let me drag you with me too,” Tang Tang said, muffled against her shoulder. “We can drag each other down. Who cares?”

The guests applauded wildly. Some had tears in their eyes.

Even director Li Xiang, watching behind the scenes, was wiping his glasses with a tissue.

“Cut,” he said softly. “That’s a wrap for today.”

But for Su Qian and Tang Tang, this was just the beginning—of something real.