Let's Do Some Questions - Chapter 82

On the third floor, in the study, shattered cups lay on the floor, coffee spreading like an unknown stain.

Song Qinglan looked at the broken porcelain on the ground and dialed a number on her phone.

“Send me two bottles from the wine cabinet. I’ll transfer the money.”

Song Qinglan hung up the phone, her hand hanging down with a hint of weariness.

Qingcheng at night was like a charming beauty, dressed in a black gown adorned with brilliant stars.

Song Qinglan swirled her wine glass on the balcony, looking down at the city from the highest point.

“Did you just come here to drink away your sorrows?”

The glass insulated them from the cold wind outside. Tong Yiran, wearing a long dress, sat gracefully beside Song Qinglan, setting down the drink she had mixed. She rested her chin on her hand, gazing at the beauty across from her.

Song Qinglan was still wearing the suit she wore for work, her hair neatly pinned up, looking meticulous, cool, and unapproachable. Only when her red lips touched the wine glass did she reveal a hint of indescribable charm.

“Don’t just sit there in silence. Are you really treating this place like a bar, my dear guest?”

Tong Yiran leaned closer, her scent wrapping around Song Qinglan’s nose. Song Qinglan lifted a strand of Tong Yiran’s long hair and sniffed it. It was a flirtatious gesture, but on her, it felt uniquely different, causing Tong Yiran’s eyes to deepen.

“This scent suits you. It smells good.”

Song Qinglan released the strand of hair, leaned back in her chair, picked up her glass, drained the wine, and poured herself another.

“You forgot, this was your birthday gift to me this year. As expected, you didn’t pick it out yourself.”

Tong Yiran lightly scoffed, accusing Song Qinglan of being thoughtless.

“Although I didn’t buy it myself, I really did pick the scent.”

Song Qinglan narrowed her eyes, as if remembering the matter. She had a reminder for Tong Yiran’s birthday to avoid being taken advantage of again. Although she had instructed her secretary to buy it, she had indeed chosen the fragrance herself.

The company had a partnership with that major brand, and their company handled the advertising. She took this deal very seriously and had researched it for a long time. The first time she smelled this perfume, she felt it suited Tong Yiran.

It was like a raging fire sweeping over the senses, yet not intensely unpleasant. The base notes had a lingering, complex charm, a woman’s scent that made people want to stay.

“I knew you still cared about me.”

Tong Yiran smiled and raised her glass to Song Qinglan.

“Tell me what’s bothering you. It’s not good to keep it all bottled up. You always keep everything to yourself; sooner or later, it’ll cause problems.”

Song Qinglan touched the smooth surface of the glass, watching it distort her reflection.

“Did I do something wrong in this matter?”

She murmured unconsciously, looking at the red wine with a vacant expression.

“What matter?”

Song Qinglan snapped back to reality, realizing she had spoken her thoughts aloud.

“Nothing, just had a disagreement with Manman. She wants to go out and have fun. Her eighteenth birthday is coming up soon, and I wanted her to come back early to celebrate her coming-of-age birthday with me, but she refused.”

Why did she refuse?

“Ah, your dear sister again. If she doesn’t want to, just let her be. Why bother managing her?”

Hearing this, Song Qinglan remembered what Song Man had said during their last argument.

Making everyone think she was unreasonable, making everyone think she was the perfect older sister.

Song Qinglan sighed softly, her mind a mess.

Had the plan succeeded? Not yet.

Things were already like this. Facing Song Man’s increasing dissatisfaction and her saying those unnecessary words, she felt anxious.

This seemed to have deviated significantly from what she had planned.

So much so that she didn’t know how to proceed. If she let it go, she couldn’t do it, but she also didn’t want Song Man to resent her.

“You’re just worrying too much about her. There’s really no need. Once she’s an adult, she’ll have to bear the consequences of her own actions. You’re fussing over her like a mother hen, and she might not appreciate it. But speaking of which, it doesn’t seem like you’ve controlled her that much.”

All Tong Yiran saw was Song Qinglan’s unilateral indulgence and pampering. It was strange; despite being raised like that, the girl hadn’t done anything too outrageous. Although she formed cliques, they were just a bunch of students. Tong Yiran felt it was just minor trouble, not worth mentioning. Compared to those rich girls who frequented bars, did drugs, and often had abortions, she was much more innocent.

“I’m just worried…”

“Worried about what? The way she is, she doesn’t have the ability to compete with you for things. Ms. Song is a businesswoman; she couldn’t possibly not know who is the suitable successor. The future of a group isn’t supported by her preferences. You’ve already established yourself in the Song Group, haven’t you? And if that doesn’t work, you still have external help.”

“Your methods are already gentle enough. Being so hesitant isn’t like the you I know.”

Tong Yiran was always direct with Song Qinglan. She leisurely took a sip of wine, a hint of ruthlessness in her expression.

She used to be annoyed that Song Qinglan always pampered that kid, but after growing up, who didn’t have a few tricks up their sleeve? She also noticed something wasn’t right.

She stood on Song Qinglan’s side and didn’t think anything Song Qinglan did was wrong. However, she also knew this plan definitely wasn’t Song Qinglan’s own idea. After all, tracing back the years, when Song Man was born, Song Qinglan was only seven or eight years old. If she had that awareness back then, would she have let Song Man live until now?

It was obvious someone had given her the idea. Tong Yiran felt Song Qinglan was still soft-hearted; otherwise, she wouldn’t be so troubled just because Song Man argued with her.

She really admired Song Qinglan’s patience. Her father had just died three months ago, her mother brought a new man home, and within a few months, she had a new sister. If it were her, not hating these people would be good enough, let alone pretending to dote on her. It was truly sickening.

“Are you talking about my grandfather?”

Song Qinglan wasn’t surprised that Tong Yiran pointed it out. This method wasn’t clever, but it was effective.

“Don’t count on your grandfather.”

Tong Yiran sneered, inwardly cursing Song Qinglan’s grandfather as cunning and treacherous.

“Your grandfather doesn’t just have your father as a son. Besides, if you go to him, wouldn’t he just be waiting to devour your Song family’s cake by arranging a marriage?”

Song Qinglan understood this logic, which was why she had less contact with her grandfather as she got older, only maintaining polite interactions.

Although her grandfather told her he could be her backing, how could she not know his ambition to swallow the Song Group? He truly had a big appetite.

“Then what other external help do I have?”

Song Qinglan felt she had always fought alone. She couldn’t trust anyone, no one was trustworthy. Only what she held in her own hands was truly hers.

“Me. I’m standing right here, such a big source of external help, such a good resource. Aren’t you going to make use of it?”

Tong Yiran pointed to herself, strongly recommending herself.

Tong Yiran’s own entertainment company was one of the rising stars in the industry, but this was just her hobby project.

“Hmm? Didn’t you say you weren’t interested in your family’s business?”

“Interests change. If I wanted to compete, do you think my few useless younger brothers could beat me?”

Tong Yiran blew on her dark red nails and scoffed.

“I won’t use friends. If I need help, I’ll ask you directly.”

Song Qinglan pursed her lips. She had used many people, but she had no such thoughts towards Tong Yiran.

She didn’t want to live a pathetic life where she seemed to have everything but actually had nothing. Tong Yiran, who had persistently stayed by her side through all the long years, was her only friend. Song Qinglan didn’t want to involve her in matters of interest, because she felt that once interests were mixed in, anyone could change.

“Well, I’m truly happy about that. But what if I want you to use me?”

Tong Yiran picked up Song Qinglan’s wine glass, took a small sip, and passed it to Song Qinglan with her lips.

“My wine really does taste good.”

“Tong Yiran, you!”

Song Qinglan coughed a few times, her face flushed.

“Qinglan, I have big br3asts, giving you plenty of security. Consider it, how about it?”

Tong Yiran knew Song Qinglan lacked a sense of security and didn’t trust others, as if she was walking alone in her world.

She first met Song Qinglan at her father’s funeral. The oppressive blackness made people feel gloomy. She was brought by her parents and saw Song Qinglan standing there in a black dress, her face pale, as if isolated from everyone else.

At that time, she thought, this person must be very lonely.

And she was also very lonely. If the two of them were together, they wouldn’t be lonely anymore.

The wine glasses on the balcony faced the night in pairs, long dresses and suits intertwined, warming winter into spring.

Meanwhile, Song Man, who was in her room discussing sister topics with her silly online friends, was completely unaware of the adult world.

Song Man felt much better after chatting with Zhuazhua and had a plan in mind.

Anyway, as long as Song Qinglan didn’t provoke her anymore, she was too lazy to argue with her.

If this hadn’t happened to her, she would only sigh about the chaos in the upper circles.

But this matter happened to her. She could understand Song Qinglan, but she couldn’t forgive her.

Some things weren’t for her and Song Qinglan to decide, and Song Man couldn’t blame her parents for this. Since she couldn’t change the established facts, she could only try her best not to make things worse.

Then Song Man went to Chu Fengqiu’s room to chat. She had gone out to play many times, but this was her first time participating in a group activity related to studying.

When she entered Chu Fengqiu’s room, she found Chu Fengqiu looking at the news on her computer.

“What are you watching?”

Song Man leaned over curiously, attracted by the headline.

“Quantum mechanics possibly overturned? Let me see.”

Song Man’s eyes widened, and she leaned closer to the computer. Chu Fengqiu gave her control of the mouse, letting her scroll down the page.

There was only one chair in Chu Fengqiu’s room, so Song Man could only stand and bend over to look. Chu Fengqiu put her arm around Song Man’s waist and had her sit on her lap.

Song Man’s attention was still drawn to the report, so she obediently let Chu Fengqiu hold her waist.

Chu Fengqiu leaned against Song Man’s back. Because the house had air conditioning controlling the temperature, Song Man was only wearing a long-sleeved shirt. She leaned against Song Man’s back and narrowed her eyes contentedly.

That’s why she liked having only one chair in her room.

“This experiment doesn’t seem to say it overturns quantum mechanics, does it?”

Song Man finished reading the report and commented, startled by the headline. It made it sound like quantum mechanics was finished.

Quantum mechanics is a physics theory describing microscopic matter, one of the two pillars of modern physics. If it were finished, it would be a new academic upheaval.

“Indeed, it doesn’t. This experiment is about detecting the continuous process of the wave function, studying the quantum transition of the first excited state between two other excited states.”

Chu Fengqiu said seriously. Song Man realized she was sitting on her and tried to get up, but Chu Fengqiu stopped her. Song Man didn’t struggle and simply stayed seated.

“Okay, and then?”

In quantum mechanics, the state of a physical system is represented by a wave function, and the controversial part of quantum mechanics has always been its randomness.

That is to say, a quantum system can be in different states simultaneously, but when observed, it can only be in state one or state two. Schrödinger’s cat illustrates this.

“I’ve read many reports, and many views are incorrect. Some people directly asserting that Heisenberg’s theory is wrong are too hasty. Schrödinger’s theory actually cannot describe the process of quantum state transformation. Heisenberg’s matrix mechanics can actually derive Schrödinger’s equation. Any conclusion about overturning quantum mechanics is still too soon. If true randomness is really to be overturned, then new theoretical support is needed. Unfortunately, I still know too little.”

Chu Fengqiu’s face showed regret. Her current knowledge in this field was far from enough. She was only limited to understanding and couldn’t yet be like those predecessors.

“Then keep learning.”

Song Man pinched Chu Fengqiu’s face.

“If you like it, then go for it. You clearly told me you liked physics before, so why are you saying you want to go into business?”

“I…”

Chu Fengqiu was rarely at a loss for words. As she was preparing her response, Song Man suddenly remembered what Deng Wei had said.

When she told Deng Wei to go for it if he liked someone, Deng Wei said he wasn’t good enough for Shen Conglin and couldn’t give her a better life.

“Don’t tell me you’re trying to work hard and make money so you can buy me things because my family is too rich?”

Chu Fengqiu’s expression went blank for a moment. She hadn’t expected Song Man to guess her thoughts so quickly and accurately this time.

“Chu Fengqiu, are you an idiot?!”

“Do I need you to support me? Can’t I support myself?!”

Song Man got up from Chu Fengqiu’s lap, leaned over, and grabbed Chu Fengqiu’s collar, making Chu Fengqiu laugh in exasperation.

“Listen, I don’t need you to make this kind of concession for me.”

“If you want to do something good for me, then go do what you want to do. You want me to be happy, and I want you to be happy too. We both have hands and feet; are we afraid we can’t support each other? You underestimate me and you underestimate yourself too much, silly.”

Song Man finished speaking fiercely, still feeling unsatisfied.

“Idiot!”

That felt better.

Chu Fengqiu curved her lips, and then her smile grew wider and wider, filling her entire face.

“Chu Fengqiu, what are you laughing at?! I’m being serious!”

“Okay.”

Chu Fengqiu chuckled softly. Song Man looked at her and couldn’t help but laugh too.

“Chu Fengqiu, you’re such a goofball!”

“Okay, I’m a goofball.”

“Then you’re also a universe invincible super big idiot.”

“Okay, I’m a universe invincible super big idiot.”

Whatever Song Man said, Chu Fengqiu agreed.

“And this super big idiot loves you super much.”

Loves your burning sincerity, loves your joyful abundance,

“Stop saying sweet words trying to trick my heart.”

Song Man covered Chu Fengqiu’s mouth.

“Then did I trick it?”

Chu Fengqiu’s voice was muffled, her warm breath spraying onto Song Man’s palm.

Song Man pulled her hand back as if she had been electrocuted, putting it behind her back.

“Just a little bit.”

Song Man gestured with her thumb and index finger. She couldn’t let Chu Fengqiu get arrogant. Just this much, no more.