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墨書 Inktalez
The morning sun filtered through the clouds, casting its light on the private jet's tarmac. Su Yao carefully supported her weary mother as they descended the stairs, glancing occasionally at her mother's pale face. Zhang Zihao followed closely behind them like a devoted guardian.
"Su Yao, Aunt Su, please get in the car," he said, eagerly opening the door before the driver could, a smile gracing his lips.
Su Yuyan nodded, fatigue etched on her face as she climbed into the back seat. She was utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally. Just as Su Yao was about to follow, she suddenly stopped and turned to Zhang Zihao. "Zhang Shao, thank you for taking care of us these past few days."
"No need to mention it," Zhang Zihao replied, his gaze fixed on Su Yao with admiration. "It’s my honor to help you."
He paused for a moment, unable to resist stepping closer. "If you ever need anything in the future, feel free to reach out to me."
Su Yao smiled politely but didn’t respond, turning to slip into the car. The scenery outside rushed by as she leaned back in her seat, her gaze unfocused while her thoughts drifted to that person across the ocean.
Lin Yue, what are you doing right now?
On the third day after returning from the United States, Su Yao rejoined the cast of Dark River. The familiar set and crowd felt unchanged, as if nothing had shifted.
"Su Yao!" Director Li jogged over excitedly, a broad smile on his face. "It's so good to have you back!"
"Sorry for keeping everyone waiting," Su Yao said apologetically.
"No worries at all," Director Li waved his hand dismissively. "What matters is that you're back. Hurry and get ready; the makeup artist is already waiting for you."
Nodding, Su Yao quickly made her way to the makeup room. As soon as she sat down, makeup artist Xiao Li swooped in like a gust of wind, her eyes shining like searchlights. "Sister Yao! What did you do in America? The crew was about to explode with curiosity!"
Su Yao's expression froze for a moment before she regained her composure. "I went to visit a friend."
"A friend?" Xiao Li raised an eyebrow and leaned in conspiratorially. "It wouldn’t happen to be President Lin, would it?"
Su Yao shot her a glance. "Who told you that? Is someone gossiping behind my back?"
"Everyone can see!" Xiao Li winked playfully, her tone teasing.
Su Yao's face flushed crimson, and she struggled to find a retort. Just as Xiao Li was about to continue teasing her, she suddenly remembered something and her eyes lit up. "Oh! Today the original author of Dark River is coming to visit the set," she exclaimed excitedly, waving her arms around. "I heard she's very pleased with your performance and specifically came to watch you shoot!"
"Really?" A spark of excitement flickered in Su Yao's eyes as her fatigue seemed to vanish instantly. "I’m really looking forward to meeting her!"
Her expression resembled that of a fan meeting their idol; that pure excitement brought a smile of satisfaction to Xiao Li’s face. This was the sunny and cheerful Su Yao that she knew.
Meanwhile, at a private club in Los Angeles...
Lin Yue sat by the window, her fingertips unconsciously tapping the rim of her cup. The sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a soft glow on her pale cheeks. She gazed outside, as if she could see Su Yao miles away.
"Sorry to keep you waiting." Lu Chen's voice broke her reverie.
Lin Yue snapped back to reality, looking at Lu Chen as he took a seat across from her. She forced a smile. "I just arrived not long ago."
Lu Chen frowned slightly and lowered his voice. "Lin Yue, you look unwell."
"I haven't been sleeping well." Lin Yue avoided his gaze, her voice trembling. "Brother Chen, I need to talk to you about something."
Lu Chen listened quietly as Lin Yue recounted her father's past with Su Yuyan and the current complicated situation.
Lin Yue was somewhat surprised by Lu Chen's calm reaction. "Brother Chen, by the looks of it, you must already know."
"Then Jiang Rou must know too," she scoffed.
Lu Chen nodded.
Taking a deep breath, she locked eyes with Lu Chen. "I know that my determination to be with Su Yao puts you in a difficult position."
"But this time, I've made up my mind." Her voice was as resolute as if she were making an investment decision. "This time, I won't compromise."
Lu Chen stared at the girl he had grown up with in silence. After a long pause, he finally spoke slowly. "Lin Yue, you don't have to worry about me; I only care about your happiness."
His voice was gentle, but his eyes were filled with concern. "You know I'll always stand by your side, but this time, I can't just watch you walk down a path that is bound to lead to heartache."
"Brother Chen?" Lin Yue furrowed her brow.
"What I mean is..." Lu Chen hesitated for a moment before gathering his courage to meet Lin Yue's gaze. "Maybe letting go this time is the right thing to do."
Lin Yue felt as if she had been struck by lightning, her eyes widening in disbelief.
Throughout their lives, Lu Chen had never stopped or opposed any of her decisions. No matter how absurd or willful they were, he would simply smile and say, "Whatever Lin Yue wants to do, I will support her."
And now, he was actually advising her to let go?
Lin Yue fell silent for a moment and then let out a bitter laugh. "Do you really think that I'm destined not to be with Su Yao?"
"If it were just about opposing the three major families, I would help you fight against them."
"But with Su Yuyan opposing your relationship, do you think Su Yao would sever ties with his mother for you?"
Lin Yue lowered her head, the light in her eyes dimming.
She suddenly felt that the path she was about to take would be even more arduous than she had imagined.
The loneliness was suffocating.
On the set of "Dark River," the filming was in full swing.
"Cut!" Director Li exclaimed, his voice filled with admiration. "That was perfect, Su Yao!"
Su Yao let out a long breath and walked over to the monitor to check the footage from earlier.
"You performed beautifully," a gentle female voice came from behind her. "You captured the character's inner struggle perfectly."
Su Yao turned around to see a woman in her thirties standing there. She had long hair that flowed like a waterfall, skin as white as snow, and kind eyes. The elegance in her every gesture made Su Yao recognize her at once.
"Are you... Ye Lan?" Su Yao's voice was laced with uncontainable surprise and admiration.
"I can't believe you recognized me right away," Ye Lan said with a smile, extending her hand. "I'm Ye Lan, the author of 'Dark River.' It's a pleasure to meet you, Su Yao."
"Hello, Teacher Ye!" Su Yao exclaimed excitedly, shaking Ye Lan's hand. "I've read all your works! My favorite is definitely 'Dark River'!"
A flicker of surprise crossed Ye Lan's eyes, quickly replaced by joy. "Really? It's an honor to have your admiration."
"I've been following your work," Ye Lan said with a smile. "Your performances always resonate with people. Director Li has great taste in casting you; this role was practically tailor-made for you."
Su Yao felt her ears flush from the compliment and smiled modestly. "You're too kind; I'm just lucky to have encountered such a great script and team."
As they were enjoying their conversation, a commotion suddenly erupted outside the set.
"Zhang Shaoye is here!" someone whispered in excitement.
Su Yao's smile vanished instantly.
Zhang Zihao entered with several exquisite gift bags, his bright smile radiating warmth as he strode in confidently.
"Su Yao, you've worked hard today!" he greeted enthusiastically, his gaze so intense it felt like it could melt her away. "I saw you jumped right back into work after returning from America, so I brought you some fruits and supplements."
He looked around, his smile widening even more. "Of course, I brought treats for everyone too! Come on, don't be shy!"
The crew members flocked around him, their faces plastered with eager smiles.
"Thank you, but there's really no need for all this trouble," Su Yao replied politely, though her eyes revealed reluctance.
Noticing Ye Lan beside Su Yao, Zhang Zihao's eyes lit up as he extended his hand. "And who is this?"
"This is Ye Lan," Ye Lan replied with a smile as she shook hands with Zhang Zihao.
"Ye Lan? The author of 'Dark River'?" Zhang Zihao exclaimed in surprise, his tone rising as if he had encountered a long-time idol. "Hello, Teacher Ye! I'm such a huge fan!"
Ye Lan raised an eyebrow and glanced at Su Yao, her eyes filled with curiosity about who he was.
"Teacher Ye, this is Zhang Zihao," Su Yao had no choice but to introduce them.
"Teacher Ye, your work 'Dark River' is truly magnificent!" he began to lavish praise, "Especially the psychological portrayal of the female lead, it's simply profound!"
"And Su Yao's performance brings your characters to life in such a seamless way!"
Ye Lan smiled slightly, noticing Zhang Zihao's feelings for Su Yao and Su Yao's indifference towards him.
Ye Lan gently patted Su Yao's shoulder, "Why don't you take a break? The emotional intensity in the afternoon scenes is quite high; you need to adjust your state."
Su Yao nodded gratefully, briefly said goodbye to Zhang Zihao, and turned to leave.
Zhang Zihao, understanding the situation, did not follow her but stayed on set to continue chatting with Ye Lan.
Assistant Xiao Lin followed Su Yao into the lounge and closed the door, unable to resist gossiping, "Sister Yao, this Zhang Shaoye is really clingy. You just returned to the set, and he came over to check on you. His gaze gave me goosebumps."
She exaggeratedly made a face, "Miss Lin doesn't know when she'll be back in the country; I’m afraid he’ll be coming every day just to make his presence felt."
"Stop joking," Su Yao said helplessly, rolling her eyes at her. "Zhang Shao is just too enthusiastic."
"Enthusiastic?" Xiao Lin raised her eyebrows mischievously. "The way he looks at you seems like he wants to devour you whole!"
Su Yao shook her head, not wanting to continue on that topic.
She took out her phone and glanced at the time, calculating what time it was in America and whether Lin Yue had woken up.
Seeing Su Yao's restless demeanor, Xiao Lin wisely excused herself and left.
Su Yao stared at her phone and let out a soft sigh.
It had only been three days since they parted, yet it felt like a lifetime.
After filming wrapped up, Su Yao bid farewell to Ye Lan and eagerly settled into the back seat of the van, dialing Lin Yue's number with anticipation.
"Hello..." a familiar voice came through.
"Lin Yue, it's me." Su Yao's voice was as soft as cotton candy.
Lin Yue's voice brimmed with joy, "I was just about to call you."
"I miss you," Su Yao said softly.
A light laugh came from the other end of the line: "I miss you too; I’m going almost crazy thinking about you."
Su Yao felt her cheeks warm slightly. "By the way, today the original author of 'Dark River,' Ye Lan, visited the set. She’s so elegant; she looks like she walked out of a book."
"Oh?" Lin Yue's voice suddenly rose with noticeable jealousy. "Which book? Why are you so enamored?"
Hearing her jealousy made Su Yao unable to suppress a laugh. "What’s wrong? Are you jealous?"
Lin Yue feigned anger with a huff in her voice. "Just a few days apart and you're already attracted to someone else? You really forget love when you see beauty."
"I admit I really like Ye Lan," Su Yao responded with a smile. Her tone shifted as she spoke softly, "But I only love you, Lin Yue; in this lifetime, it’s only you."
There was a moment of silence on the other end before Lin Yue's voice suddenly grew serious: "I love you too, Su Yao."
"So, when are you coming back?" Su Yao asked cautiously.
"As soon as possible," Lin Yue paused, "there are still some things I need to take care of."
"Is something wrong?" Su Yao asked anxiously.
"Nothing's wrong," Lin Yue forced a smile, "just a bit tired."
Worried about Su Yao's concern, she changed the subject. "I heard Ye Lan is tall, has a good personality, and is beautiful. When I return to the country, I’ll have to keep an eye on you. You mustn't get too close to her!"
Su Yao laughed, "Alright, then you better come back quickly. Otherwise, if I get taken away by someone else, don't regret it."
The two chatted for a while longer before reluctantly hanging up the phone.
Once Lin Yue ended the call, the smile on her face vanished.
Since the last time she confronted her parents, she hadn't returned to their home. They hadn’t mentioned Su Yao again, as if that argument had never happened.
But Lin Yue knew that a storm was brewing.
She needed to think carefully about her next steps, especially on how to be with Su Yao without hurting anyone else while having no support from anyone.
Her handling of interpersonal relationships had always been weak; Jiang Rou used to take care of these matters for her. Now, she felt like she was at a kindergarten level, completely unsure of how to navigate such a complicated situation.
However, in order to be with Su Yao, she had to face the challenges head-on and could no longer delay.
Just as she was thinking this, her phone vibrated with several messages from Jiang Rou:
"Lin Yue, where are you?"
"I haven't seen you for days. I miss you and I'm really worried about you."
"Lin Yue, I need to see you."
Lin Yue stared at the screen, her fingers hovering in mid-air as she hesitated for a long time.
Finally, she replied: "Hotel, Room 2801. If you're free, come over and we can talk."
The moment she sent the message, Lin Yue felt like she was heading to the gallows.
But avoiding it wouldn't solve anything; this conversation had to happen sooner or later.
Less than half an hour later, the doorbell rang.
Lin Yue took a deep breath and walked over to open the door.
Jiang Rou stood outside, dressed simply in a white T-shirt and jeans, her makeup still flawless.
The moment she saw Lin Yue, her eyes turned red instantly and her voice was filled with grievance. "Lin Yue!"
She rushed into Lin Yue's arms, wrapping her arms tightly around Lin Yue's waist. "I missed you so much!"
Lin Yue gently patted her back and tried to push her away as gently as possible. "Come in, Xiao Rou."
Jiang Rou reluctantly released her grip and followed Lin Yue into the living room, taking a seat on the sofa. Lin Yue poured her a glass of water and sat across from her, looking directly into her eyes. "Xiao Rou, we need to talk."
Jiang Rou looked at Lin Yue, tears streaming down her face like pearls falling from a broken string. "Lin Yue, I can feel it. You're really going to leave me, aren't you?"
Her voice trembled with sorrow, and her delicate fingers clutched Lin Yue's hand tightly. Lin Yue felt a sharp pain in her heart, but she knew she couldn't be soft-hearted this time. She gently wiped away Jiang Rou's tears. "Xiao Rou, I have to be honest with you."
"I truly love Su Yao. It's not a fleeting whim or rebellion; it's the first time in my life I've genuinely felt this way. I want to spend my life with her." She looked straight into Jiang Rou's eyes, no longer avoiding the truth.
"I don't want to give up on this relationship."
Jiang Rou's face turned pale, as if all the blood had been drained from her body. "Lin Yue, is this why you called me here? To tell me this?"
She gripped Lin Yue's hand tightly, her nails digging into the flesh.
"Yes." Lin Yue nodded. "I don't want to deceive you anymore, nor do I want to deceive myself."
Jiang Rou fell silent for a moment, her expression gradually calming down. "Are you really ready to accept all the consequences? Even if it means losing me?"
Lin Yue answered without hesitation, "Yes."
Jiang Rou stood up, her fingertips lightly brushing against Lin Yue's cheek, despair filling her eyes. "Then I wish you happiness, Lin Yue." With that, she turned and walked away.
Lin Yue watched Jiang Rou's retreating figure and let out a long breath. It seemed that Jiang Rou had finally come to terms with it and was ready to let go.
She relaxed her body and slumped onto the sofa, closing her eyes. Next, she would have to convince her parents.
In the early morning, a series of urgent vibrations and notification sounds from her phone jolted Lin Yue awake. Groggily reaching for her phone, she frowned at the screen filled with missed calls and messages from Lu Chen.
A sense of foreboding washed over her as she quickly dialed Lu Chen's number.
"Brother Chen, what's wrong?" Her voice was laced with concern.
"Lin Yue, hurry to the hospital!" Lu Chen's voice was nearly breaking. "Xiao Rou has had an accident!"
Lin Yue's blood ran cold instantly.
She hurriedly jumped out of bed, frantically putting on the clothes she wore yesterday, barely taking the time to wash up before rushing to Jiang Family Hospital.
In the lounge on the top floor of the hospital, members of the Jiang family, along with Lu Chen and Lin Yue's parents, were present.
Lin Yue abruptly stopped in her tracks, her heart sinking at the sight before her. Jiang Rou's mother was collapsed against her husband's shoulder, crying uncontrollably.
Lin Yue rushed forward, grabbing Lu Chen's arm. "What happened to Xiao Rou?" Her voice trembled so much it was almost inaudible.
Lu Chen's expression was terrifyingly grave. "Xiao Rou is in critical condition; she... took an overdose of sleeping pills."
"What?!" Lin Yue felt as if she had been struck by lightning, her mind going blank.
"Fortunately, the housekeeper discovered it in time; otherwise..." He didn't finish his sentence, but the implication was clear.
Lin Yue felt as if she had been hit by a thunderbolt; her mind exploded with confusion. She suddenly recalled what Jiang Rou had asked her before leaving: "Are you ready to face all the consequences? Even if it means losing me?"
So that was what Jiang Rou meant by "losing"!
Lin Yue was filled with regret, wanting to bang her head against a wall for not recognizing Jiang Rou's hints and for failing to manage their relationship properly.
She collapsed onto the sofa, her face rapidly paling, her hands and feet beginning to tingle, and her lips losing color.
Lu Chen hurriedly pulled out Lin Yue's medication. "Quick, take your medicine!"
Lin Yue mechanically swallowed the pills, only managing to recover a few minutes later.
Shangguan Yun and Lin Zhihong came over and sat beside her.
Shangguan Yun tightly grasped her daughter's hand, her voice laced with reproach and concern. "Lin Yue, can you bear this price?"
Lin Yue closed her eyes, unable to respond.
In that moment, she felt as if she were being torn in two. One half wanted to fly towards Su Yao in pursuit of true love; the other half was bound by invisible chains, unable to move.
Lin Yue's plans to return home were completely disrupted, and all that filled her mind was one thought: Jiang Rou, please be okay.
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