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Chapter 24: The Movie

Jiang Liuyi was flatly rejected. Song Xian didn’t hesitate before texting her: [No.]

No?

No to what?

No to watching a movie together? But why?

Jiang Liuyi didn’t understand. She asked Song Xian: [Why not? You don’t like the movie?]

She sent a still from the film to Song Xian—the very same movie Song Xian had picked earlier that afternoon. Song Xian was chewing on a strip of dried tofu, brows furrowed. After a long pause, she finally replied: [Are we really just watching a movie?]

That sounded… off.

What else would they be doing at the theater if not watching a movie?

Jiang Liuyi didn’t catch her meaning. She replied: [You want to do something else?]

Song Xian: …

So it was her who misunderstood Jiang Liuyi.

Half a minute later, she sent: [Never mind. What time’s the showing? I’ll just meet you at the theater.]

Jiang Liuyi: [Come home first and drop off the gown. It’s a hassle to carry.]

Song Xian turned to glance at the gown resting on the bench. She agreed with Jiang Liuyi’s suggestion. After replying with a simple [Okay], she set her phone down.

Gu Yuanyuan said, “Next time we go out, I should make you set your phone to silent.”

After wiping the corners of her mouth with a napkin, Gu Yuanyuan asked, “When does your next issue come out?”

“Next Monday,” Song Xian replied.

“Want me to buy a few extra copies to help boost sales?” Gu Yuanyuan offered.

Song Xian shot her a sidelong glance. “No need.”

And she meant it. Ever since the interview with Jiang Liuyi was officially announced that afternoon, the order hotline hadn’t stopped ringing. Sales weren’t going to be a problem. Before dinner, He Xiaoying had even mentioned it in the group chat—said the folks at Meixiu were furious, especially Yu Cai. Word was her bonus had been docked. When He Xiaoying ran into Yu Cai while buying dinner, Yu Cai’s look could’ve devoured her whole.

Gu Yuanyuan shrugged. Song Xian never lied—if she said no, she meant it. Setting down her chopsticks, Gu Yuanyuan said, “I’ll go pay the bill.”

Song Xian reached for her purse on the chair, but just as she was about to stand, someone called her name.

“Song Xian.”

She looked up—and there was Yu Bai.

Again?

Yu Bai took the initiative. “Do you have a moment? I’d like to talk.”

Song Xian glanced at her watch. “Will ten minutes do?”

Yu Bai’s breath hitched. She gritted her teeth. “That’s enough.”

Song Xian turned to the counter and called out, “Yuanyuan.”

Gu Yuanyuan had just finished paying when she saw Yu Bai standing in front of Song Xian. She was about to frown, but then heard Song Xian speak with effortless calm: “Take these to the car for me. I’ll be right there.”

“Oh.” Gu Yuanyuan wasn’t at ease about it, but in the end, this was Song Xian’s personal matter. It wasn’t her place to interfere, so she took the bag and gown and headed to the parking lot.

Yu Bai asked, “Should we find somewhere to sit and talk?”

Song Xian shook her head. “Let’s just talk here.”

She looked at Yu Bai. “What is it?”

They sat facing each other. Yu Bai lowered her gaze, silent for a couple of seconds, before finally saying, “It’s about me and Liuyi. We grew up together. Her parents liked me a lot—when we were kids, they often joked about us getting engaged.”

Song Xian’s expression remained calm. Not a flicker of emotion crossed her face in response.

Yu Bai pressed on, unwilling to let it go. “Later, my parents and I traveled a lot, so I didn’t see Liuyi much. It wasn’t until we went to school together again that things became more stable.”

Song Xian spoke, quiet and indifferent. “Mm.”

Yu Bai dug her nails into her palms.

She calmed herself, then began, “Liuyi’s family never allowed her to play piano. So growing up, she always practiced in secret. Even her music classes—she signed up behind their backs. When she was kicked out of the Jiang family, we were the ones who took her in. Liuyi’s actually very sentimental. Over the years, many companies have offered her better pay, but she never left.”

A sentimental person only loves someone from their past.

Yu Bai thought she’d made herself perfectly clear. But to her surprise, Song Xian still showed no reaction. Gritting her teeth, Yu Bai pushed on: “So we’ll likely continue working together—maybe for a long time. Our families will probably stay in touch too. I just hope all this won’t cause trouble for you and Liuyi.”

Song Xian gave a slight nod. She’d understood perfectly. “It won’t.”

So clean. So definitive. Yu Bai looked up in slight disbelief, meeting Song Xian’s clear, unflinching gaze.

Song Xian said, “You don’t need to worry, Miss Yu. None of this will be a problem for us. If she doesn’t work with you, she’ll just work with someone else.”

Yu Bai bit her lip. “You know I’m not just anyone.”

How could she be? She was the one Jiang Liuyi loved!

Song Xian looked up, her gaze cool. “And what makes you different? From where I stand, you’re all just someone else.”

She hadn’t even been confrontational—her tone had simply stated facts. Yet it made Yu Bai so furious she could practically see stars. She clutched the edge of her bag, ready to speak, but Song Xian stood up and said, “Time’s up. I’m leaving.”

Yu Bai stared in disbelief as she walked away.

Just like earlier in the jewelry store, her departure felt like a slap—clean and merciless, right across the face. That was what had driven Yu Bai to follow her out in the first place. She’d wanted to ruin her dinner, to get some satisfaction. But now she’d been slapped again.

How could someone like this exist?

Wasn’t Song Xian supposed to be madly in love with Jiang Liuyi? And yet, after everything Yu Bai had just said, she didn’t react at all?

Yu Bai was so livid she could’ve stomped right then and there.

Song Xian had already walked off. When she reached Gu Yuanyuan, Gu Yuanyuan asked, “What’d she want?”

Turning back toward the direction of the hotpot restaurant, Song Xian replied, “Just to talk.”

Gu Yuanyuan clicked her tongue. “I think she just came to show off.”

She’d barely set foot back in the country before clinging to Jiang Liuyi. Everyone knew she was married now, and Yu Bai still had the nerve to bring up working together. Please—was Jiang Liuyi the only pianist left in the country? Everyone knew they used to be involved. Any decent person would keep their distance. Yu Bai was clearly here for Jiang Liuyi.

Strangely enough, she hadn’t paid much attention to Jiang Liuyi before—but now, thanks to Yu Bai, she felt oddly fired up. She couldn’t stop reminding Song Xian to keep an eye on Jiang Liuyi and Yu Bai.

Song Xian just shook her head at Gu Yuanyuan’s familiar rambling and drove home.

She dropped Gu Yuanyuan off at the bakery. Gu Yuanyuan handed her a bag of freshly baked bread, but before she could start nagging, Song Xian stepped on the gas and sped off.

At home, Jiang Liuyi was sitting in front of the wardrobe, picking out clothes while sneaking glances toward the entrance. When she heard the door, she stood quickly, composed herself, and walked out like nothing was out of the ordinary.

“You’re back,” she said to Song Xian.

Song Xian looked up at her, nodded after changing out of her shoes. “Mm. Let me go change.”

“No rush,” Jiang Liuyi replied.

Then she remembered she hadn’t changed either, so she followed Song Xian into the room.

Song Xian opened the closet and laid out the gown. Jiang Liuyi glanced down at it. Dark blue. Sleeveless. Bare shoulders. The hemline flared into a short fishtail. She hadn’t seen it on yet, but she could already picture it—Song Xian’s tall, slender frame, fair skin, the color setting off her complexion like polished jade. If she styled her hair up too, the effect would be effortlessly elegant.

Seeing Song Xian about to hang it up, Jiang Liuyi said, “Hang it on my side.”

She had a separate wardrobe just for evening gowns—some styles were too long and needed their own space. At the moment, only two dresses hung inside. Song Xian handed the gown to Jiang Liuyi.

Now their clothes were hanging side by side. A strange feeling stirred in Jiang Liuyi’s chest.

She closed the wardrobe and saw that Song Xian had chosen a casual outfit. She pulled out a matching loungewear set in the same color tone. After both had changed, they headed out together. Jiang Liuyi was driving. As she steered, she asked, “What did you have for dinner?”

Song Xian, head down while replying to a question from He Xiaoying in the group chat, answered with a calm, cool tone. “Hotpot.”

Jiang Liuyi didn’t press further.

They arrived at the movie theater’s parking lot. Seeing people carrying large tubs of popcorn, Jiang Liuyi asked Song Xian if she wanted any. Song Xian said, “I’m fine with anything.”

Jiang Liuyi went to buy popcorn and grabbed two drinks. Her hands full when it came time to retrieve the tickets, she asked Song Xian to get her phone from her bag.

Song Xian stood across from her, leaning close as she searched through the bag. They were standing very near. Jiang Liuyi only had to lower her head slightly to catch the scent of Song Xian’s hair—it was the same shampoo she used herself. Familiar, soothing.

Soon Song Xian found the phone. After Jiang Liuyi unlocked it, she went to collect the tickets. Jiang Liuyi stayed where she was, holding the popcorn, waiting for her.

She remembered that the last time she’d been to a movie theater was before she and Yu Bai broke up. Back then, they rarely had time alone—Qian Shen and the others always insisted on tagging along. Whether it was a vacation or a movie, it always turned into a group outing. Even so, she used to quietly prepare snacks just for Yu Bai. But which ones?

Jiang Liuyi suddenly realized that her memories of Yu Bai were beginning to blur.

She fell silent. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a man standing near Song Xian. He didn’t look like he was there to pick up tickets—his face was flushed as he lingered by her side. Jiang Liuyi frowned and was about to walk over when she heard him ask, “Miss, are you watching the movie alone?”

Song Xian turned to him, voice calm and even. “No. I’m with my wife.”

The man awkwardly backed off.

Jiang Liuyi froze in place.

She suddenly remembered a time early in her relationship with Yu Bai. They’d gone out to eat, and a man had approached, asking for Yu Bai’s number. Yu Bai had simply said, “Sorry, I don’t have my phone.” The man left his number instead, and Yu Bai set it on the table, showing it off to her with a smile.

She’d only felt a little uncomfortable back then. But now she understood—what hurt was that she’d been sitting right there across from Yu Bai, and Yu Bai hadn’t introduced her.

Jiang Liuyi lowered her head.

Then she heard Song Xian say, “Got the tickets. Let’s go in.”

After speaking, she took one of the drinks from Jiang Liuyi’s hands. The two passed through the ticket check and entered the theater. They found their seats—it was a horror film, and since it was late at night, the theater wasn’t crowded. Just a few scattered people sat up front. Their seats were in the middle.

Once seated, Jiang Liuyi set down the drinks and popcorn. As she did, a couple of girls walked past behind them, talking in low voices.

“I heard this is the scariest movie of the year. Don’t start crying later.”

The other girl giggled. “No way. You’ll be the one scared to death.”

Jiang Liuyi turned to look at Song Xian. She’d forgotten whether or not she was afraid of horror movies. That thought made her say, “Give me your hand.”

Song Xian turned to her. The theater was pitch dark, with only Jiang Liuyi’s eyes gleaming in the shadows. “Why?” she asked, puzzled.

Jiang Liuyi figured that with Song Xian’s shy personality, she probably wouldn’t admit it even if she were scared. She reached out her hand and said, “I’m a little scared.”

If you’re scared, why did you pick a horror movie?

Song Xian looked into the flicker in her eyes and pressed her lips together, swallowing the retort. In the end, she placed her hand in Jiang Liuyi’s.

Immediately, Jiang Liuyi clasped it tightly.

She shifted in her seat, finding the grip a little awkward, then gently pried Song Xian’s fingers apart and laced them together, ten fingers interlocked.