Chapter 179: All in the Past
Yu Linna hadn’t known Tang Yulong was Tang Yumeng’s twin brother. Though they looked similar, one a writer, the other an actress, she hadn’t connected them. Who knew they were actually related?
Tang Yulong, seeing Yu Linna, panicked, remembering their awkward encounter at the convenience store, his embarrassment resurfacing.
“I didn’t know you two knew each other. I only knew Little Linna was a Wenqing author, but I didn’t realize she was so… successful.”
Sitting in the passenger seat, Tang Yumeng was still processing the information, her brother not only knowing Yu Linna but also being her rival. It felt like something out of a novel.
“I didn’t know you knew her either, Sis…”
Tang Yulong, driving, still couldn’t believe the coincidence. The world was truly small.
And if his sister found out about his late-night condom purchase, she would probably kill him…
I have to stay on Shion-sensei’s good side! he thought.
His car was spacious, easily accommodating five or six people. He dropped off Fang Jiangning first, then Dai Wenqian, then Ye Zhiyun, who, as she got out of the car, gave Tang Yulong a suspicious look. Though he seemed harmless, his demeanor gentle and unassuming, something about him felt… off.
Like he was hiding something.
Ye Zhiyun didn’t like it.
“Is… something wrong?”
Tang Yulong, unsure what he had done to offend her, felt a shiver of unease. Though younger than him, she seemed to exude an intimidating aura.
This girl… she was scary.
“Nana, be careful. Get home safe.”
“Okay.”
Though unsure why Ye Zhiyun sounded so serious, Yu Linna nodded.
As she got out of the car, Ye Zhiyun glared at Tang Yulong, her eyes warning him not to try anything funny. He shivered again.
“Bai Chen-sensei, are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Let me take you home, Shion-sensei.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. It’s not safe for a girl to walk alone at night.”
Tang Yumeng, sitting in the passenger seat, watched her brother chatting with Yu Linna, ignoring her completely, a feeling of annoyance bubbling within her.
She remembered her brother asking for advice on how to pursue a girl, inquiring about their preferences. And the girl he was interested in was also a Wenqing author.
Could it be… Yu Linna?
She looked at the golden-haired girl, her beauty undeniable, even surpassing her own. Though petite, she was undeniably attractive.
And their interaction… Tang Yulong’s gaze kept shifting, his demeanor unnatural, clearly hiding something.
“Little Linna, want to come over to my place before you go home? I have some imported cookies from Macau. They’re quite good.”
Having formed her own conclusions, Tang Yumeng decided to play matchmaker, offering an assist to her brother.
As expected, Yu Linna, unable to resist the lure of free food, readily agreed. Though she could afford to buy her own snacks now, her freeloading habits persisted.
“Sis, you rarely come home. What’s the occasion…?”
“If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”
“Oh…”
Tang Yulong felt a pang of injustice. Why was his sister so mean?
Tang Yumeng’s apartment was spacious, almost like a small villa, its interior decorated with calligraphy and paintings, expensive furniture, and a bowl of fresh fruit on the table, a picture of comfortable living. And the promise of delicious cookies… even better.
“Have a seat. I’ll make some tea. Don’t worry, there will be snacks soon.”
Tang Yumeng gave her brother a meaningful look, which he completely missed. If he understood her intentions, he would be furious; the girl he was interested in was Zhao Yuyan, not Yu Linna.
Tang Yumeng’s imagination was running wild.
“Is Senior Yumeng always like this?”
“I don’t know. She used to be normal. Ah, don’t tell her I said that; she’ll kill me.”
“Just like if she found out about your… late-night purchase?”
“Please keep that a secret!”
“Sure, depends on your performance.”
Having been caught red-handed, Tang Yulong could only endure the teasing, his embarrassment a secret he desperately wanted to keep hidden. If his sister found out, she would kill him, her disappointed gaze a far greater punishment.
He shuddered at the thought. She couldn’t find out!
“You and your sister look alike. Why did you choose to be a novelist, and she chose to be an actress?”
“It was her choice. She was fine a few years ago, then suddenly decided to become an actress, much to our father’s disapproval. I listened to my family and became a novelist. Now, I’m somewhat successful, but my sister… she’s still struggling.”
Tang Yulong was the son of Tang He, the chief editor of Wenqing, his father’s influence and guidance smoothing his path, his success partly due to his privileged background, his Silver Award a testament to his talent and connections.
Tang Yumeng, however, had abandoned her comfortable life to pursue her acting dream, her career struggling, despite graduating from film school, unable to land significant roles, her Weibo follower count a measly one thousand, her name unknown.
And she had picked up smoking, a pack or two a day her norm.
No acting gigs, no income, poor living conditions, a constant nicotine addiction… no wonder her father was so angry. Compared to her brother, her life seemed… adrift.
Tang Yulong, unwilling to discuss his sister’s struggles, turned on the television, flipping through channels. His sister was taking too long; he was getting impatient.
“Sis is taking forever…”
“I agree.”
They sat there, watching TV, the atmosphere awkward, their conversation stilted.
Tang Yumeng’s matchmaking attempts had failed; they were oblivious to her intentions.
A commercial break interrupted the program, featuring a familiar face: Nangong Ying. Yu Linna, leaning back on the sofa, looked at the screen, a sense of detachment washing over her.
“I really like Nangong Ying. She’s so cool and beautiful. I can’t wait for her next project.”
Tang Yulong’s sudden praise for Nangong Ying, fortunately, didn’t reach Yu Linna’s ears; if he knew about their past, she would have killed him.
“You like her?”
“I’m a fan. Shion-sensei, you don’t follow celebrities, do you?”
“I do.”
“Oh? Who’s your favorite?”
“…”
“You don’t, do you?”
Yu Linna didn’t answer, her gaze fixed on the screen, the image of Nangong Ying now a distant, almost unfamiliar, figure. Seeing her no longer brought pain, no longer stirred any emotion, just… indifference.
Time truly healed all wounds, the once intense emotions now faded, the resentment and anger replaced by a quiet acceptance. Even the deep wound Nangong Ying had inflicted was slowly healing.
“She’s… really talented.”
“You mean Nangong Ying?”
“Yes. She’s amazing. She used to be my idol.”
“Really? We have that in common.”
“But… she’s part of my past now.”
Yes, Yu Linna had grown up, her perspective changing, no longer swayed by Nangong Ying’s presence.
She had once clung to a sliver of hope, a lingering attachment, but no more.
She closed her eyes, memories of their high school days resurfacing, the girl’s image blurred, but the shared ice cream, a vivid memory.
(“Linna, want some ice cream? My treat.”)
(“Yes! Take me, Nangong!”)
(“Linna, are you okay?”)
(“I’m fine, just a scrape.”)
(“Here, let me get you a band-aid.”)
They had been so close, so inseparable.
Yu Linna had believed their friendship would last forever.
She no longer believed in forever.
Since the betrayal, there was no going back. She had let go of all hope, all expectation. She had truly moved on.
She had Ye Zhiyun, Fang Jiangning, Dai Wenqian, Tang Yumeng… so many people in her life now. She didn’t need that fake friendship anymore.
She could live without Nangong Ying.
“Shion-sensei? Are you spacing out?”
“Mmm, I just thought of an interesting story.”
“Oh? What kind of story? Can you tell me?”
“There were once two little girls, best friends, sharing everything, even their ice cream, promising to be friends forever, to always protect each other. They both had dreams, and they embarked on their separate journeys.”
“And then?”
“One of the girls broke her promise, betrayed her friend, pushed her off a cliff, and became the king. The end.”
“Wow, what a terrible story! So depressing! Shion-sensei, you can’t write that!”
“Of course not. I was just making it up.”
“If you published that, your readers would crucify you.”
Yu Linna chuckled, not responding.
Yes, if she published that, she would be crucified. Better not.
Tang Yumeng, seeing their lack of progress, gave up and brought out the cookies, letting Yu Linna indulge herself. After finishing the cookies, Yu Linna quickly excused herself, clearly not interested in Tang Yulong, much to Tang Yumeng’s frustration.
Her brother was hopeless.
