Her Wild Rose - Chapter 53

Chapter 53: Be Yourself

#Su Qian acting like a diva
#Su Qian abruptly leaves signing event
#Who is Su Qian really
#Why doesn’t Su Qian go to school

…

The wine was barely halfway finished when Tang Tang’s phone, resting on the table, suddenly buzzed. Still slightly tipsy, she picked it up sleepily, but the flood of reposts from the fan group jolted her sober almost instantly.

She put down her wine glass and grabbed Su Qian’s wrist urgently. “Su Qian, stop drinking—something’s happened!”

“Happened… to me? What could possibly happen to me…” Su Qian was already quite drunk. She reached out and patted Tang Tang’s hand, smiling mockingly. “Those fans, those interviews, the signings—whoever wants them can have them, just leave me out of it… And besides, I never said I’d write novels for the rest of my life. I want my own life too. I need to study, go to college, get away from home—as far away as possible…”

Her voice grew smaller and softer. With reddened eyes, she took another sip from her glass.

“Tang Tang… what do you think they really like about me? That I was lucky to have a bestseller on my first novel? Or this seemingly glamorous, comfortable life I have now?”

Su Qian let out a helpless chuckle. It sounded both like sarcasm and confession. “But all of that… it’s just what they think.”

“It’s not like that, Su Qian.”

Seeing the faint smile on her face, Tang Tang couldn’t help but feel tense. She instinctively snatched the wineglass out of Su Qian’s hand and hurried to explain, “I like you not because of your so-called luck or your lifestyle. I like the ‘Little Candy’ in your stories, and the freedom and boldness in you that I don’t have.” Tang Tang seemed unsatisfied with her words, frowning hard, trying to find the right phrasing. “And… and…”

Tongue-tied, Tang Tang gave up trying to sound refined and blurted, “Anyway, I just like you, and I love your stories. As for everything else—your life, your choices—they’re yours. Su Qian-jie, in the eyes of people who truly like you, you have the right to choose your own life and future.”

It had been a long time since she’d spoken so much at once. When she finished, Tang Tang’s throat felt dry and raw. Nervously, she glanced at Su Qian’s reaction, her fingers unconsciously tightening around her glass.

So this is what she was, in Tang Tang’s eyes.

Someone who could live freely and boldly, unafraid of disappointing those who liked her…

Su Qian’s tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed. She covered her face with her hands and nodded slightly. When she looked up again, a genuine smile had formed. “So that’s how I look to you.” She stretched lazily, clearly in better spirits. “Thank you, Tang Tang. If you hadn’t said all that tonight, I might’ve spent the rest of my life trapped in fear—afraid of losing people.”

Thank her?

Tang Tang waved her hands, looking shy. “Su Qian-jie, I just told the truth. Maybe you’ve been caring too much about all those imaginary expectations.”

“Exactly. It’s all imaginary.” Su Qian no longer stopped Tang Tang from drinking. She picked up her glass and clinked it against Tang Tang’s. Leaning back lazily in her chair, she returned to her usual laid-back self. “Come on, drink. Here’s to both of us having a bright future.”

“To you, finding the life you truly want.” Maybe it was the alcohol, but Tang Tang suddenly felt bold. She blushed as she looked at Su Qian and said shyly, “Su Qian-jie, the first time I saw you, I thought you were so beautiful—like a real celebrity.”

“Celebrity, huh? Who’s to say I won’t be one someday…” Su Qian swirled her drink. The golden liquid bubbled with her every movement. Her gaze wandered lazily across the room until it stopped in a certain corner—her previously relaxed fox-like eyes suddenly turned sharp.

“I have to go deal with something.” She set her wine glass down, her voice growing cold to match her eyes. “Some people really know how to ruin a moment.”

—

“Alright everyone, the girl in the black jacket on camera now is Su Qian. And the one our camera is focused on… that’s the chick who dragged Su Qian away at the signing event earlier. Rumor has it she’s a student from Liao’an No.1 High School, and let’s just say her private life isn’t exactly squeaky clean. You’re asking what her relationship with our dear Su Qian is? Probably just a hookup. Su Qian swings both ways, so it’s no surprise she’d get snatched up by this girl…”

In the corner of the bar, a girl in a white T-shirt was holding her phone, adjusting the angle as she livestreamed, blabbering on, “Guys, Su Qian is standing up—she’s heading this way, probably going to the bathro—Su… Su Qian?!”

She hadn’t even finished her sentence before she looked up and saw Su Qian’s smirking face right in front of her. Startled, she jumped to her feet, lowering her head and mumbling, unable to explain herself.

“Fan jacket. Number 135.” Su Qian’s eyes lingered on the girl’s shirt before she looked away with disdain. “Your name’s Li Ke’er, right? You’re a member of my fan club?”

“Whoa, Su Qian even knows that?! She really loves us!”
“This is what we call mutual devotion—I’m crying!”
“Okay but livestreaming her private life is too much, right?”
“Too much? She’s a public figure. Public figures don’t get private lives. Besides, Ke’er didn’t film in her house.”
“Exactly! If you don’t like it, just leave!”

Su Qian’s appearance had caused Li Ke’er’s livestream to surge with new viewers, the chat scrolling so fast that any rational voices were drowned out.

“Don’t look at me with those excited eyes. I don’t know you—I only recognize your shirt.” Su Qian’s voice was icy. She tapped the badge on Li Ke’er’s chest, her nails painted red. “135. You were one of the five extras. Originally, I agreed with Ms. Su to only make 130 fan jackets. But she was afraid you and your little group would cause trouble, so she begged the factory to make five more in secret. I specifically asked her to give you this number—135—because I hate that number.”

Su Qian sounded casual, but each word cut into Li Ke’er like a blade.

Li Ke’er had liked Su Qian’s novels since she was seventeen. She followed her from college through graduation, even giving up a stable job back home to work in the bustling city of Liao’an—all for Su Qian. She thought if she tried hard enough, Su Qian would notice her among the fans.

And Su Qian had noticed—just not the way she wanted. She was more disliked than the rest.

“I…” Li Ke’er wanted to say she hadn’t done anything wrong, but facing Su Qian’s cold, emotionless eyes, she found herself speechless.

She was afraid—because deep down she knew she’d gone too far. She had chosen the wrong path from the beginning, and now there was no way back.

“I remember Ms. Su liked you a lot. You once wrote her a letter saying you hoped I could belong to all fans—that everything about me, including my right to choose my life and friends, should be shared.” Su Qian’s voice grew heavier. “The very next day, she made me give up my college offer from Liao’an University, took my phone away so I couldn’t contact friends, and turned me into the obedient, fan-pleasing Su Qian you all know. So tell me, Li Ke’er—don’t you think I should hate you?”

“Wait, so the reason she didn’t go to college was because of Li Ke’er? I thought it was health issues…”
“That’s so selfish. What kind of fan does this?!”
“This isn’t a fan, this is stalking.”
“Is “Ms. Su” her mom? There were always rumors they didn’t get along… now it makes sense.”
“And no wonder Su Qian went off the grid after becoming famous—her mom probably confiscated her phone.”

Hate?

Li Ke’er’s already pale face flushed red with rage. She stared wide-eyed at Su Qian, as if seeing her clearly for the first time.

She’d always thought she could control Su Qian in the name of love—never imagining the obedient girl was hiding such resolve.

“I—I only did this for your own good! If you just focused on writing, we could keep supporting you, right, Su Qian?”

Enough. She had heard those words too many times.

Su Qian gave a cold laugh, picked up the phone from the table, and flipped the screen—her face now visible to the livestream.

“I never wanted to say these things out loud. But some people just keep testing my limits,” she said, watching the viewer count rise rapidly. She knew every word now would be magnified. She didn’t know what would come next, but when she looked at Tang Tang’s worried expression, she decided—it was time to be brave.

“I’m twenty years old now. I think I can make decisions for my own future. This September, I’ll be enrolling at Liao’an University like any other student. I’ll cut back on book signings and fan meetups. As for writing…”

She paused before continuing, “I think I’ll keep going. But from now on, all my fan clubs and support groups will be disbanded. I just want to focus on studying and writing.”

“You can’t disband the fan club! Su Qian, you can’t do this to us!” Li Ke’er shrieked, grabbing the phone back. Her face contorted with rage. “I left my hometown to come to Liao’an for you! This is so irresponsible to all your fans!”

“But if I compromise for you, then I’d be irresponsible to myself.” Su Qian looked down at her from above, ending the stream with a tap. Then she turned to the waiter. Her voice was sharp, cold:

“Filming and slandering someone without permission—Li Ke’er, get ready for a lawsuit. And as an apology to everyone here, tonight’s drinks are on the house.”

She tossed the phone onto the girl’s chest, then walked back to Tang Tang. Holding out her hand as if offering an invitation, she said:

“Sorry you had to see that. To make up for it—want to go for a ride with me?”