Her Wild Rose - Chapter 9
Chapter 9: Drunk
The variety show’s evening banquet was scheduled for dusk.
After finally dealing with the situation she had stirred up with Tian Qingqing, Tang Tang collapsed onto the bed, completely exhausted and unwilling to move.
Ugh, working is so tiring. Being spoiled and living off someone else is definitely the better deal.
That thought led her mind right back to Su Qian’s ridiculously stunning face—no matter how many times she thought about it, that woman’s looks were just… mesmerizing. Frustrated, she pounded the pillow and couldn’t help but mutter to herself:
“Stupid Su Qian. So pretty, but why does she have such a sharp tongue? Can’t she go easy on me for once…”
The more she complained, the more aggrieved she felt. The knot in her heart that was Su Qian only tightened further.
Su Qian was the one who’d called her immature, and the one who betrayed their relationship first—so why did it now feel like she was the one who had wronged Su Qian?
Those lingering frustrations drained Tang Tang’s energy even more. She wished she could just close her eyes and fast-forward to the end of the show. But the ticking of the alarm clock in the room kept reminding her: time to get up and get back to work.
Sighing, Tang Tang stood up, opened the wardrobe, and pulled out the gown the production team had prepared for the banquet—a dark blue and black trailing starry sky dress.
Compared to ordinary evening gowns, this one was extravagant to the extreme. The upper half was a simple off-shoulder bodice woven with silver and gold threads, while the wide ruffled shoulder straps added a touch of elegance. The skirt was made of layered tulle—light, voluminous, and inlaid with glittering rhinestones. Even in the dim hotel lighting, it sparkled dazzlingly.
Was… was this dress really meant for her?
Tang Tang stared at the gown, suspicious, and decided to call her agent just to be sure.
“Shen Jia-jie, about the gown for tonight’s banquet…”
Before she could finish, Shen Jia immediately understood. “All the gowns for tonight were prepared by Su Qian. Don’t worry—just wear it.”
Oh… so that’s how it is.
Knowing who had picked the dress made Tang Tang suddenly like it a lot less.
“Tang Tang, what kind of wedding do you want in the future?”
“I want a starry sky theme. Hopefully I can wear a starry dress, with all the lights focused on me. That way I’ll shine just like a star!”
“You’ve always been the brightest star in my eyes.”
…
Those familiar lines echoed once again in Tang Tang’s ears, and her eyes involuntarily welled up.
Yep. Nothing hits harder than a memory sneak attack.
With a weary sigh, Tang Tang placed the gown back into the wardrobe untouched. Instead, she picked out a simpler, everyday black dress and changed into that.
If everything could be cleared up with just one explanation, then why had Su Qian chosen to go to such lengths, leaving things unsaid?
Given that, how could Tang Tang accept any of this now?
…
“Miss Tang, the banquet is about to start.”
A knock came at the door—clearly a staff member sent after waiting too long.
“Coming, coming,” Tang Tang called back quickly, then turned to the mirror and practiced her smile a few times. It was the show’s first live broadcast, and she knew the cameras would be catching every guest’s reaction.
“Sorry, I got a little held up,” she said as she opened the door, stepping out in a simple black dress.
Instantly, the livestream’s comment section exploded.
“Huh? Why is Tang Tang wearing that? Isn’t that her own dress?”
“Exactly! Lu Piaopiao and Gu Shuangran were both wearing gowns Su Qian picked. Did Su Qian not prepare one for Tang Tang?’
“Did Su Qian and Tang Tang really fall out? She did like that post about Tian Qingqing’s scandal after all… seemed like the last straw.”
“Can you blame her? Anyone would snap after being drained for three years.”
“Could it be that Su Qian gave Tang Tang… something not suitable for broadcast?”
“You really know how to use a comment section.”
“+1”
“+10086”
…
Tang Tang had no idea what kind of absurd speculation netizens were coming up with. Following the staff into the banquet hall, all she wanted was to find a quiet corner to sit in.
At events like this, raising a glass meant socializing. As a minor celeb, she figured the safest move was to stay put and stay out of trouble.
“Tang Tang!”
Just then, a girl in a Lolita-style dress with twin pigtails waved excitedly at her. Worried Tang Tang might not see her, she even ran over. “We’re playing truth or dare! Come join us?”
Under the dim lighting, Tang Tang stared at her for a few seconds before finally placing her as the same girl—Lu Piaopiao—who had entered the elevator first earlier that day. She followed Piaopiao’s pointing finger and saw that nearly all the other guests were seated around a table, several of them already rolling up their sleeves with the eager look of people ready for drama.
“I…” Tang Tang’s eyes quickly found Su Qian, dressed in a moon-white tailored suit. She instantly thought of the gown she had left behind in a fit of anger. Regret crept in. “I’d rather not. Looks crowded.”
“Nope!”
The little Lolita shook her head and pointed behind the group to the cameraman who stood expressionless behind his lens. “Director’s orders. You’re the only one we’re waiting on.”
Yep, definitely not your average banquet.
The production team clearly expected some juicy gossip tonight to feed their viewership metrics.
Sighing again, Tang Tang followed Piaopiao toward the table. As if everyone was in on the rumors between her and Su Qian, the seat beside Su Qian was conspicuously empty.
Great… and where exactly was she supposed to sit?
Her smile froze like a cracked porcelain mask. Under Su Qian’s amused gaze, she forced herself to sit down beside her, spine ramrod straight like she was ready to bolt at any second.
“Damn. Tang Tang really does look like the most pitiful employee at a company function.”
“This whole table knows how to chase clout. They really left a seat open just for her.”
“What was that smile Su Qian just gave? That should be illegal…”
…
As the comments about Tang Tang and Su Qian heated up, the director instructed the camera crew to lock the main focus on them.
“Well, let’s get started,” Su Qian said smoothly. Always composed, she glanced at the camera and immediately picked up on the director’s cue. “Ground rules: once you choose truth or dare, you can’t switch. If you refuse to complete it, it’s three shots as penalty.”
“I’ll go first,” Lu Piaopiao offered. As the youngest among them, she still had some of that curious energy the others had long lost. She stood and spun the bottle in front of her.
Everyone watched intently. First round, high stakes. The bottle spun and spun… and landed on Tian Qingqing.
“I choose truth,” Tian Qingqing said, leaning back in her chair. Clearly, she hadn’t expected to go first.
“Alrighty, here I go!”
Lu Piaopiao grinned mischievously, eyes sparkling with trouble. “I saw the trending topic between you and Tang Tang. What’s the real deal between you two?”
Tian Qingqing glanced at Tang Tang, her expression instantly complex. Tang Tang instinctively leaned slightly toward Su Qian’s side for safety.
“Sorry. I can’t say.”
Without hesitation, she grabbed her glass and downed three shots. “Fair’s fair. My turn.”
Can’t say? Now that was suspicious.
Tang Tang’s hopeful smile vanished, and she cast a nervous glance at Su Qian beside her.
The vinegar queen was clearly mad now. From here on, she was on her own.
The bottle spun again. This time, everyone silently prayed: Please not me.
It landed on Su Qian.
“I choose truth,” Su Qian said, crossing her arms with a calm smile. “Ask anything—except for my bank PIN.”
Tang Tang stared at her for a moment, then suddenly asked, “Do you have someone you like?”
The air fell silent.
So even a simple question like that… she wasn’t willing to answer?
Tang Tang’s heart ached. She picked up her glass and took a swig of whiskey. The burn hit her throat and her eyes instantly reddened.
Just when everyone thought Su Qian was about to drink too, she calmly replied, “Yes. I do.”
“Then…” Tang Tang looked up, surprised, and locked eyes with the smile in Su Qian’s gaze. She bit her lip and asked the question she really shouldn’t have: “Is she… at this banquet?”
“That’s a second question.”
Su Qian stood and spun the bottle again. This time, it stopped in front of Tang Tang.
“Well well, Tang Tang,” she teased with a sly grin. “Your turn—truth or dare?”
“Truth.” Tang Tang had clearly already had too much. Her eyes were glossy, voice soft. “You ask.”
“You want me to ask?” Su Qian paused in surprise. “Then… is the person you like here at this banquet?”
The moment the question left her lips, Su Qian looked down, clearly terrified of the answer.
She had always been overconfident—thinking that whatever distance had formed between them could be brushed off like the fights they used to have. But three years changed a lot.
They had been apart for too long. Now, even asking a sincere question required the cushion of alcohol.
If she said yes… would Su Qian think she meant Tian Qingqing?
Tang Tang stared hard at her, but the words just wouldn’t come. Something once so easy to say now felt impossible. After a pause, she picked up her glass.
“I’ll drink.”
The air grew heavy.
“Tang Tang, you’ve had enough,” Su Qian said, her eyes dimming. She reached out, took Tang Tang’s glass, and placed it on the table. “Don’t drink anymore. It doesn’t count as cheating.”
“Su Qian, who are you to make decisions for me?”
Tang Tang snatched the glass back and downed it in one go. Her face flushed red, completely forgetting they were still live. “You made decisions for me before, and I convinced myself it was because you cared. But now? After three years, you still have the nerve to say it’s for my own good?”
“Whoa… there’s definitely a backstory here.”
“Doesn’t look scripted…”
“Let this be a lesson: don’t drink too much.”
…
The comment section scrolled wildly as Su Qian glanced at the cameraman still recording. Her eyes turned icy.
“Tang Tang, you’re drunk.”
She stood up, took Tang Tang by the arm, and turned toward the camera with a faint smile.
“I’ll take her back to her room.”