Chapter 63: Feeling Much Better, Sis

“I’m trying too, you know? That’s why I came to pour my heart out to Manager Li,” Tang Xien said with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

The words floated lightly in the air, more like a joke than anything one could take seriously.

Li Yunli gave a gentle nod. “I’m honored.”

She didn’t for a moment believe that Tang Xien truly wanted to confide in her out of the blue. There was simply too much distance between them, worlds apart as they were. Their only connection was Ji Zhenshi, and even becoming casual acquaintances had been no small feat.

Tang Xien glanced at the time on her watch, silently calculating when Ji Zhenshi might arrive. She peered out the window. “Actually, what I’m really curious about is your story with Ji Zhenshi.”

Her tone shifted. “Ji Zhenshi went through a really low period once—days blending into a mechanical routine. Then suddenly, she burst into this hyper-excited state. I suspect you’re the reason.”

Even now, Tang Xien remained cautious. Though she longed to reminisce about the past, she framed it as an exchange with Li Yunli.

She wouldn’t blindly trust even someone who couldn’t speak aloud. Rather than letting sentimentality override her caution, she chose a safer path.

Li Yunli, for her part, harbored no such suspicions. She responded with a touch of humor. “Miss Tang might come across as a bit insincere like this, but that’s fine. I don’t mind sharing the story of Yunli and Xiao Zhen.”

Communicating by text was slow for her, so Li Yunli kept her account concise, outlining the twists of fate that had bound her to Ji Zhenshi over the years.

Tang Xien sat across from her the whole time, watching as her fingers flew across the keyboard.

Even just recounting her time with Ji Zhenshi brought a sweet smile to Li Yunli’s lips, her eyes brimming with a tenderness born of profound love—the unmistakable glow of lovers deep in the throes of romance.

They loved each other deeply, in that quiet, everyday sort of happiness.

In Li Yunli’s heart, her relationship with Ji Zhenshi had never been something to hide.

It was real love, deeper than most imagined—not flashy or dramatic, but woven into the finest details.

Tang Xien watched it all, her coffee untouched and growing cold. Yet even that cool detachment in her heart warmed slightly.

Just witnessing someone else’s happiness could be so comforting.

Tang Xien pressed her lips together. “Your relationship is truly beautiful.”

The envy in her words was plain as day.

With that contrast laid bare, her own memories stung sharper than before, the lingering bitterness harder to quell.

“It’s Xiao Zhen who’s wonderful, not me,” Li Yunli replied. “She’s always been so steadfast. I’m still amazed that she’d fall for someone like me.”

She kept emphasizing how remarkable Ji Zhenshi was.

Without that defiant kiss shattering societal norms, without the moon that hung over her heart like a promise, without that humble plea for a chance at love, they wouldn’t have their happy ending now.

Li Yunli would forever be moved by Xiao Zhen’s courage, forever touched by the depth of her affection.

At her most prideful, Ji Zhenshi had humbled herself so completely, begging only for the possibility of being together. It was too sincere, too earnest to betray.

After a long moment of reflection, Tang Xien spoke slowly. “I had a girlfriend once. She played the violin too, ten years younger than me. If things hadn’t gone wrong, she’d be twenty-six now. But her life ended at twenty-two. She was a lot like Ji Zhenshi—always upbeat and positive. A wild rose that I claimed as my own.”

Her voice inevitably took on a bitter, almost manic edge, but as the words poured out, she found herself relaxing.

Li Yunli listened intently, undisturbed by the comparison to Ji Zhenshi.

Once, she might have felt a twinge of jealousy, but now she only felt endless empathy.

To everyone else, Tang Xien seemed aloof and distant. To Li Yunli, though, she was pitiable—a woman of deep emotions left to dine alone at life’s grand feast.

She had everything, and yet nothing at all.

Not even someone she could fully trust, forcing her to barter stories just for a sense of security. Li Yunli felt no resentment toward this approach; if anything, it made her value Tang Xien’s trust even more.

She lacked friends too.

Li Yunli listened quietly as Tang Xien continued. “We finally got both sets of parents to agree, but then she died in an accident. A drunk driver going the wrong way—she didn’t even make it to the hospital. Instant death. We’d overcome every obstacle, only for fate to intervene. We never even got to say goodbye. I loved her deeply; she saved my soul like a guardian angel. But in the end, it all turned to dust.”

“So when I saw Ji Zhenshi’s video online, it felt like seeing her again for a moment. So many similarities: both twenty-two, same vibe, same determination, even left-handed. I truly felt like she’d come back.”

With the story told, Tang Xien let out a long breath. The perpetual mask of indifference cracked, lending her an unexpectedly human warmth.

Speaking it aloud was enough.

Li Yunli didn’t need to respond at all.

A ten-year age gap, parental approval—they’d conquered mountains to be together.

Love like that required oceans of it to flourish.

It should have been the start of their happiness. Who could have foreseen such a tragic end?

“But you know Xiao Zhen isn’t her,” Li Yunli typed. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here. What you feel for Xiao Zhen is mostly admiration, right? She told me you’re always professional—half a year by your side, and she never glimpsed your private life.”

Tang Xien’s coffee had gone cold. Li Yunli replaced it with a fresh hot one and thoughtfully dimmed the corner light.

Let this story stay confined to that spot.

Tang Xien was candid, which allowed Li Yunli to respond with ease.

Without hesitation, Tang Xien replied, “Of course. Truth be told, Ji Zhenshi doesn’t look a thing like her—my girlfriend was stunning. Life isn’t some clichéd substitute plot. I loved my girlfriend deeply and still believe no one can replace her. With Ji Zhenshi, it’s pure admiration for her grit and that commanding presence she has over the violin. That’s rare.”

Tang Xien wasn’t foolish enough to use Ji Zhenshi as a stand-in.

Li Yunli let out a silent chuckle, latching onto an unexpected detail. “Xiao Zhen’s still pretty good-looking, though.”

“My girlfriend was beautiful too.”

“…”

The words slipped out, leaving Tang Xien with an odd sense of awkwardness. She paused for a beat before adding apologetically, “I know I’m being abrupt today, Manager Li—please forgive me. That display case got to me. Ultimately, I hope you two overcome whatever hurdles are in your way and end up together.”

That wasn’t her main reason for coming.

But witnessing their love had stirred memories of her own unfinished story.

Tang Xien was an excellent performer, a fine teacher, perhaps even a warm-hearted friend beneath the ice. Yet in matters of the heart, she was utterly alone, finding solace only in peeking at others’ romances.

“No problem,” Li Yunli replied. “And thank you for the well-wishes. We will.”

Just then, Ji Zhenshi rushed in, breathless and disheveled.

Her long legs carried her through the coffee shop door. She scanned the room frantically until her eyes landed on Tang Xien and Li Yunli in the corner.

With a deep sigh of relief, Ji Zhenshi stumbled over.

Of all things, Tang Xien had arrived early, catching her completely off guard.

“Ji Zhenshi, faster than I expected,” Tang Xien noted, checking her watch. Only twenty minutes.

Still panting, Ji Zhenshi eyed the relaxed Tang Xien and the composed Li Yunli, sensing their chat had gone smoothly. She had no idea what they’d discussed, but it seemed fine.

“Teacher Tang, is something up?” Ji Zhenshi asked.

Li Yunli tugged at her sleeve, gesturing for her to sit beside her.

She handed over some tissues and shot her a reproachful look. “I told you not to rush. You’ll sweat through your clothes and catch a cold.”

Ji Zhenshi took the tissues and dabbed carelessly. “It’s fine. I was just worried your communication might be slow, so I came to translate.”

A noble excuse if ever there was one—and utterly transparent to both Tang Xien and Li Yunli.

“Teacher Tang, what brings you here so suddenly?” Ji Zhenshi pressed, baffled how someone as busy as Tang Xien could drop by the coffee shop early for a casual chat.

Tang Xien lifted her coffee cup with unruffled poise. “Didn’t you invite me for coffee? Already forgotten?”

“Oh.” Ji Zhenshi shot Li Yunli a suspicious glance before lacing their fingers together tightly, as if only that could steady her nerves.

Amused by the tension—Ji Zhenshi acting like she faced a fearsome foe—Tang Xien chuckled. “You seem awfully on edge. Do I look like the type to bully someone who can’t speak?”

Li Yunli patted the back of Ji Zhenshi’s hand, signaling her to relax. She hooked her pinky reassuringly. “We were just chatting casually. Don’t worry—it’s rude to act like this.”

Ji Zhenshi puffed up like a scolded child who refused to back down. “Sorry, Teacher Tang.”

“No harm done. I’m here for you, actually.” Tang Xien pulled a contract from her bag and placed it on the table. “Ji Zhenshi, I wasn’t joking the other day. Leave the company—I’ll cover the penalty fee. But it’ll be an interest-free personal loan; you’ll pay me back. The new contract gives you seventy percent of the profits. I’ll be focusing mainly on the domestic scene going forward. Think it over seriously—this offer stands long-term.”

Fame and status had shifted her priorities; money wasn’t everything anymore.

She couldn’t stomach watching a talented young artist get burned out by corporate greed, reduced to a mere commodity valued only in dollars.

So she didn’t mind being Ji Zhenshi’s ally for once—maybe even witness her little friend grace an even bigger stage.

A bit of personal indulgence on her part.

“A million? Aren’t you afraid I flop and you lose it all—become the butt of jokes?” Ji Zhenshi whistled, hesitant to even touch the document.

Was Tang Xien seriously set on helping her?

But why?

Tang Xien savored her coffee nonchalantly. “No confidence in your future? Or doubting my judgment?”

“Of course not,” Ji Zhenshi shot back. “I just mean… why help me like this?”

“Because Manager Li’s coffee is great. Suddenly craving it long-term.”

“…”

Ji Zhenshi and Li Yunli exchanged a look, sharing the realization:

Tang Xien really didn’t play by the rules.

“I know better than most how vital it is to have someone who gets you,” Tang Xien said. “Think it over, Ji Zhenshi. Or negotiate any terms you’re unhappy with. For now, I see big things in your future.” She set down her cup and smiled politely at Li Yunli. “Thank you for the hospitality, Miss Li. I love your coffee—mind if I drop by again sometime?”

“Of course.”

“Good.”

As Li Yunli and Tang Xien exchanged farewells, Ji Zhenshi caught the encouragement in her eyes. But Li Yunli said nothing, respecting her choice.

“Wait.” Ji Zhenshi slapped her hand on the contract, snatched the pen from Li Yunli’s notebook, and signed at the bottom without a second glance. “Teacher Tang’s so sincere—I trust you completely.”

The speed caught Tang Xien off guard; she raised an eyebrow. “I’ll handle the rest then. No need to go to the company for now, or deal with Zheng Siqi’s tactics. I’ll negotiate with them ASAP.”

“Thanks, Teacher Tang.”

“Don’t mention it. Just don’t let me down.”

Li Yunli prepared one last coffee for her to take away.

Tang Xien accepted gladly and left with it in hand.

“Is it really that good?” Ji Zhenshi sidled up to Li Yunli and swigged from her cup. She couldn’t taste what the fuss was about.

Li Yunli favored cappuccinos and occasionally made one for herself. Now Ji Zhenshi drained the whole thing.

She really was parched.

Li Yunli watched her down every drop, then wiped the coffee stain from her lip with indulgent affection. She poured a glass of hot water. “Just an excuse.”

So that was Tang Xien’s real aim here.

Following her would beat the company by a mile for Ji Zhenshi’s career.

“What did you two talk about?” Ji Zhenshi was dying to know.

“Nothing much.”

“Not telling me!”

“Good Child, a girl needs her secrets.”

“Fine, then I’m staying—moving in right now!” Ji Zhenshi grabbed Li Yunli and tickled her.

Hopelessly ticklish, Li Yunli toppled back into the chair under her.

Xiao Ning drew the curtains at just the right moment, blocking the playful duo. “Here we go again with those two,” she muttered.

Li Yunli put up with it too much—always getting pinned and teased.

Now that Ji Zhenshi was moving in, it’d be dog food every day from here on out.