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Chapter 22: Can’t

Gu Yuanyuan arrived at the magazine office right at 5:30. She peeked inside, prompting the receptionist to smile and ask, “Miss, who are you here to see?”

“Song Xian.” Gu Yuanyuan pointed at her watch. “It’s 5:30. She’s not off work yet?”

The receptionist clearly recognized the name—who at the magazine didn’t know Song Xian, the prettiest one of them all? She said, “I can call and check for you.”

“No need.” Gu Yuanyuan waved her off. “I’ll call her myself.”

She had just said that when a familiar figure emerged from the building. Gu Yuanyuan waved. “Song Xian!”

Song Xian looked up. Beside her, He Xiaoying asked, “Hey, is that your friend?”

Gu Yuanyuan had delicate features, the kind that gave off a demure charm. Especially when she smiled, the little dimples on her cheeks could easily win anyone over. Song Xian said to He Xiaoying, “Yeah, she’s a friend.”

“She’s really pretty,” He Xiaoying said enviously.

Catching the comment as she approached, Gu Yuanyuan smiled until her eyes crinkled. She turned to Song Xian. “Done for the day?”

Song Xian nodded, then said to He Xiaoying, “I’ll head out first.”

He Xiaoying let out a sigh. After Song Xian left, she stood by the front desk and said wistfully, “Good-looking people standing together—it’s really a feast for the eyes.”

The receptionist glanced at her and smiled. “You’re pretty too.”

“Oh, that’s not even close,” He Xiaoying said with a shake of her head. 

The receptionist, her voice full of gossip, leaned in. “Hey, is it true Song Xian’s wife is Jiang Liuyi?”

He Xiaoying turned to her. “How do you know?”

“Who doesn’t know in this office?” the receptionist said, her voice rising in pitch. “Is it really true?!”

He Xiaoying shrugged. “Of course it is. Why else do you think Jiang Liuyi agreed to the interview? It was all for her wife.”

The receptionist clasped her hands together. “I knew it. So that’s what it was.”

It didn’t take long for the news of Jiang Liuyi giving an exclusive interview to Man Tong for her wife to spread throughout the industry. There had never been any intention to keep it under wraps. The interview even recounted how the two had met—love at first sight. Two stunning women, such a beautiful beginning. And now, even after marriage, Song Xian was still glowing with happiness. Jiang Liuyi had been willing to make an exception and sit for an interview, all for her.

They were the perfect match—made for each other.

People in the industry might not know who Song Xian was, but there wasn’t a soul who didn’t know Jiang Liuyi. Within half an hour, a work photo of Song Xian had already made the rounds. Industry insiders were full of admiration—with looks like that, no wonder she was the woman Jiang Liuyi fell for at first sight. Who wouldn’t blurt out wow, now that’s a wife worthy of the title?

After the awe came anxiety—over next issue’s sales figures. Of course, not everyone was worried—just the magazines that had to compete.

Meixiu was the hardest hit.

They had been riding high, flaunting the fact that they’d booked Zhang Susu, practically throwing a party on the trending charts to celebrate. Now, with Man Tong dominating the spotlight, they didn’t even dare breathe too loudly. Who in the industry didn’t know about the long-standing feud between Meixiu and Man Tong? Everyone had assumed Man Tong was destined to lose this round. No one had expected them to rise from the ashes like this.

Even the central forum had spawned four or five threads in a row.

It was an anonymous forum, one that had been all but dead until a past brawl between two magazine teams had unexpectedly revived it. Ever since then, with everyone able to post anonymously, it had become a go-to spot for gossip and behind-the-scenes drama—a shared bulletin board for the whole magazine world.

Most of the gossip before had been about poached resources or anonymous exposés about someone cheating. When Meixiu landed Zhang Susu, the forum had buzzed with posts. Back then, everyone thought Man Tong was finished. Who could’ve predicted things would turn out like this?

[Man Tong really kicked things off with a bang. I hear Jiang Liuyi has quite a few friends—if even a couple more show up, their numbers are locked in.]

[I live for Man Tong vs. Meixiu—better than any drama series.]

[Hey hey hey, do you know how Meixiu got Zhang Susu to sign with them? Word is their lead writer is someone named Yu Cai. She’s got an older sister who’s a painter—Yu Bai, you’ve heard of her, right? That new rising star in the art world from that article a while back? She used to date Jiang Liuyi. Then Yu Cai went to Zhang Susu’s company and told them Jiang Liuyi’s wife—that’s Song Xian—stole her sister’s girlfriend. Guess what happened next?]

Gossip had a way of stirring up a frenzy. Just moments ago, the industry had still been lost in admiration over Song Xian’s beauty. Now, heads were popping up everywhere to feast on this ancient scandal.

[Say something! Where’d you go? Don’t just drop a bomb and ghost!]

[Where are you? Where are you? Dropping half the story and leaving is like stopping halfway through sex!]

[Here I am, stop haunting me already. So, Yu Cai went ballistic at Zhang Susu’s company, claiming that Song Xian stole her sister’s girlfriend. Someone went to ask Song Xian about it, and guess what she said? She admitted it—said yeah, Jiang Liuyi and Yu Cai’s sister used to be together. But they broke up three years ago, and Yu Bai moved overseas right after. No contact since!]

[What a joke. Three years ago? Steal your girlfriend my ass!]

[Exactly. That’s what Man Tong said too—and they called Yu Cai’s sister a damn chastity monument!]

Yu Cai shot to her feet the moment she saw that comment. Her face was stormy, her eyes burning holes into the computer screen. Colleagues turned to look at her, even the editor-in-chief gave her a sharp glance laced with barely contained irritation. Yu Cai clenched her jaw and dropped back into her seat with a thud.

She was furious. A chastity monument? Did they really have to be that vile?

Unable to hold back, she stormed into the thread anonymously.

[You don’t know anything! Jiang Liuyi used to be head over heels for Yu Bai. Even after the breakup, she was still hung up on her. And you probably don’t even know why Jiang Liuyi married Song Xian—it’s because Song Xian looks like Yu Bai! She’s just a stand-in!]

Typing that out finally gave her some relief, venting the pent-up rage. But the moment the replies came in, they tore her apart.

[Exce—what are you even saying? Song Xian looks like Yu Bai? Where? How?]

Someone even attached a work photo of Song Xian—her profile serious and focused, dressed in a solid-colored shirt. The way she lifted her gaze, the angle of her brow, carried a striking sharpness and poise.

The comparison photo of Yu Bai was taken at an airport. Though it was clear, the vibe was completely different from Song Xian’s.

[Let’s be honest—Song Xian is way better looking than Yu Bai. Anyone with functioning eyes can tell. Trying to say she looks like her? Please. If Jiang Liuyi really saw Song Xian as a stand-in, why would she agree to an exclusive interview?]

[Exactly. Isn’t that lead writer at Meixiu Yu Bai’s sister? If Jiang Liuyi were still pining after her, wouldn’t she have done the interview with Meixiu instead?]

[You there, with the “stand-in” theory—seems like you know a lot. Could it be… you’re Yu Cai?]

Others quickly caught on that something didn’t add up. They started digging to find out who had posted it. Yu Cai turned pale. She immediately went back and deleted every one of her posts. It was an anonymous forum, yes, but clicking into a user’s profile showed a history of previous posts—most of hers were tied to Meixiu. In a panic, she deleted them all, scrambling like a cornered dog, utterly humiliated.

On the other side of the screen, He Xiaoying high-fived Wu Ying. Both wore the satisfied smiles of victors.

A colleague passing by noticed and asked, “What are you two so smug about?”

Wu Ying raised her brows. “Secret!”

Right after saying that, Wu Ying heard He Xiaoying call her name. She turned her head, and He Xiaoying asked, “But honestly—don’t you think that Ms. Jiang…”

“That’s nonsense!” Wu Ying snapped into fangirl mode. “Ms. Jiang is not that kind of person. If she still had feelings for that Bai, why didn’t she accept Meixiu’s interview? Meixiu’s been trying for six months!”

He Xiaoying finally relaxed. The argument with Yu Cai had been a minor thing—what really mattered was that she didn’t want to see Song Xian get hurt. Song Xian was such a good person. To be treated like a stand-in…

She shook her head at the thought.

No way.

Absolutely not.

She had to believe in Ms. Jiang.

Meanwhile, Jiang Liuyi sneezed several times in a row on the sofa. Rubbing her nose, she shifted her position and occasionally glanced at her phone.

After agreeing to the interview, she’d gotten a flood of messages. Even a television station she’d previously worked with had reached out. Everyone had sent her something—except Song Xian.

Not a single message since she got off work.

Jiang Liuyi lay on the sofa, staring up at the crystal chandelier. A faint, unfamiliar fragrance drifted in through the window. She was starting to feel hungry. The dinner reservation she’d made was now useless. With no better option, she ordered delivery instead. After placing the order, her eyes drifted toward the movie ticket, wondering if Song Xian had come home yet.

Song Xian and Gu Yuanyuan had already bought their dresses. The two of them were now discussing where to go for dinner. Gu Yuanyuan was scrolling on her phone. “There’s a hotpot place nearby that’s pretty good. I just made a reservation online, but it’ll be half an hour before we can get a table. Let’s wander around for a bit first.”

Then she asked, “You’re going to that friend of Jiang Liuyi’s birthday, right? Did you buy a gift?”

Song Xian shook her head. “Not yet.”

“Come on then, let’s go pick something out!”

With that, she looped her arm through Song Xian’s and led her into a jewelry store. Gu Yuanyuan asked, “What does she look like? Do you have a photo?”

“No.”

Gu Yuanyuan hesitated, then lowered her voice and asked, “Do you have a photo of Jiang Liuyi?”

Song Xian turned her head, her expression calm. “Why would I have a photo of her?”

Gu Yuanyuan choked on her words, then nodded. “Got it.”

Once inside the shop, Gu Yuanyuan said, “Then let’s pick something safe. How about a bracelet?”

Song Xian thought back to that night when she’d met Zhao Yuebai. She had a watch on one wrist and a bracelet on the other—an older style, clearly something she cherished. “Let’s look at necklaces,” Song Xian said.

Gu Yuanyuan walked with her to the necklace display. The sales associate greeted them with a bright smile. “What kind of style are you looking for, miss?”

Song Xian lowered her gaze. “Do you have anything on the delicate side?”

“This way,” the associate said.

Song Xian and Gu Yuanyuan took a seat as the associate laid out several necklaces on the glass counter. Gu Yuanyuan took a liking to one with a star-shaped pendant. The chain was fine and silver. She asked Song Xian, “What do you think?”

Song Xian felt the chain was too thin and frowned slightly, then lowered her eyes to look at the others. Reaching out, she said, “I’d like this one—”

A voice beside her spoke up. “Could you please take that one out for me?”

It was a woman’s voice—familiar.

Song Xian turned her head and, to her surprise, saw Yu Bai.

Yu Bai was wearing an ivory-colored dress, her makeup perfectly done. She stood right beside Song Xian. Gu Yuanyuan froze for a moment when she saw her but said nothing.

Yu Bai said, “Song Xian?”

Song Xian gave her a small nod in return.

Yu Bai said, “You’re here to buy a necklace too? It’s Yuebai’s birthday soon, and I wanted to get her a gift. This one really suits her—would you mind letting me have it?”

Any ordinary friend would’ve probably given it up after hearing that.

But Song Xian didn’t even hesitate. She shook her head. “No.”

She turned to the sales associate. “I’ll take this one. Please wrap it up for me.”

Standing beside her, Yu Bai clenched her hand so tightly her nails dug into her palm, the pain sharp and biting. Her face went pale, her entire body stiff as she tried to regain a sense of elegance and composure.

But Song Xian didn’t even glance her way. She simply followed the associate to the counter behind and paid, then walked out.

Yu Bai couldn’t hold it in any longer.