After Being Bound to the Scummy Alpha System, I Became Famous Thanks to My Face Blindness - Chapter 65

The hall fell silent. Every gaze was fixed on Pu Xiaoyu.

After all, Pu Xiaoyu had always maintained a humble, elegant public image—never before had she spoken so sharply in a public setting.

Mrs. Tang stood up, visibly anxious, as if wanting to say something. But Tan Shiyi gently held her hand and shook her head.

She and Tang Ling had already agreed beforehand—no matter what happened tonight, their priority was to calm Pu Xiaoyu down. They would soon be one family; the past was the past. There was no need to make a scene and embarrass everyone present.

Tang Ling fully agreed. It wasn’t that she feared an argument with Pu Xiaoyu—based on their previous “matches,” Xiaoyu rarely won verbal duels against her. But she didn’t want to upset her parents or make the Tang family the laughingstock of society.

Whether things could truly be soothed, that would depend on fate.

Steeling herself, Tang Ling smiled. “Sister, what was it you just said?”

Pu Xiaoyu froze for a moment, then gave a sharp laugh. “What’s this, your attempt at diplomacy?”

Tang Ling knew she couldn’t let her sister derail the situation any further. Openly and calmly, she said, “Let me introduce someone to everyone. This is Pu Xiaoyu—our Best Actress. I’m sure you all know her. She also has another identity—she’s my older sister, and the Tang family’s biological daughter.”

The entire hall erupted in shock.

Jiang Manli’s jaw nearly dropped. “Sister-in-law—so Ling-jie is actually a twin? But, they don’t look alike at all!”

Tan Shiyi whispered, “Just keep listening.”

Tang Ling continued, “I can’t go into the full story here—it’s something that happened over twenty years ago and still needs proper investigation. Our family has already accepted this reality and sincerely welcomes my sister’s return. But due to various misunderstandings, she’s upset with me. Why don’t we discuss it privately at home tonight?”

Pu Xiaoyu let out a cold laugh. “You sure say ‘sister’ like it means something. Anyone listening would think you actually cared about seniority and family bonds.”

She strode up to the stage and snatched the microphone straight from Tang Ling’s hand. “Stop trying to change the subject! You’re here throwing a lavish banquet—have you ever thought about how the people whose lives you stole are living now?”

Tang Ling lowered her voice. “Sister, I didn’t steal your life. It was all a tragic mistake. Besides, you’re doing wonderfully now.”

“I wasn’t talking about myself,” Pu Xiaoyu shot back. “The title of ‘Tang family heiress’? I neither deserve it nor want it.”

“Then what do you mean?” Tang Ling frowned.

Pu Xiaoyu straightened, eyes sharp. “I’m making a formal accusation. Tang Ling used improper means to secure her debut spot in the ‘Beidou Star Training Program.’ I urge the relevant authorities to investigate.”

Tang Ling was stunned. She turned to Tan Shiyi, who looked equally bewildered.

Jiang Manli, utterly lost, muttered while sipping juice, “What improper means? If there was a trick like that, why didn’t I use it to debut too? Don’t tell me it’s because I just didn’t want to?”

Pu Xiaoyu declared passionately, “I don’t know the exact details, but there’s definitely something fishy. Originally, the debut lineup of the Beidou Star Training Program should have been.”

She proceeded to name seven contestants—the exact seven who had debuted in the original show. Then she vividly described how Tang Ling had supposedly been eliminated in a later performance.

The hall went dead quiet.

Anyone who had actually watched the show knew her claims were baseless—pure fabrication.

Tang Ling realized Pu Xiaoyu’s mental state had deteriorated. She could no longer distinguish fiction from reality.

She couldn’t let the farce continue. Grabbing back the microphone, she said firmly, “Sister, you’re in your secondary differentiation phase—you’re hallucinating. Please calm down first!”

Pu Xiaoyu struggled to wrestle the mic away. “I’m telling the truth! If you don’t believe me, check for yourselves! Why does everyone choose to believe Tang Ling over me? I’m not lying!”

As the two began to tussle, security rushed onto the stage, pulling them apart. Mr. and Mrs. Tang hurried up as well.

“Lingling! Xiaoyu! Are you both alright?”

Pu Xiaoyu’s glasses were askew, her hair disheveled, but her eyes remained fixed on Tang Ling. “What I said is true.”

“What are you standing there for? Call an ambulance!” Mr. Tang shouted.

In the end, Tang Ling’s birthday banquet ended in chaos.

That very night, the internet exploded.

There are no secrets that stay hidden forever. Hashtags like #TangLingBirthdayBanquet, #TangLingFamilyBackground, #TangLingPuXiaoyu, and #PuXiaoyuBreakdown flooded the trending list. Everyone was talking about the shocking revelation of Tang Ling and Pu Xiaoyu’s supposed connection.

“Tang Ling and Pu Xiaoyu switched at birth? No way—that’s some surreal plot twist.”

“Ugh, poor Xiaoyu goddess. But this isn’t really Tang Ling’s fault either.”

“Wait, so why was Pu Xiaoyu sent to the hospital?”

“Am I the only one weirdly happy that they’re now technically family? (just kidding, maybe)”

Fortunately, the guests at the banquet were all well-mannered—no one took photos or recordings, preventing a larger public scandal.

Pu Xiaoyu was taken to the hospital and sedated with a tranquilizer before finally calming down.

After a psychiatric evaluation, Pu Xiaoyu was diagnosed with early symptoms of schizophrenia—likely brought on by excessive work stress—and was advised to be hospitalized for treatment.

Naturally, Father and Mother Tang chose to stay with her at the hospital.

It was already late by the time Tang Ling and Tan Shiyi checked into a hotel. After all, paparazzi had been staking out both the Tang residence and the training camp entrance, and neither of them had the energy left to deal with the chaos.

Tang Ling sat by the window, lost in thought.

For a moment, she actually felt a little sorry for Pu Xiaoyu.

If she hadn’t transmigrated into this world, then everything Pu Xiaoyu said would have come true—Tan Shiyi would have fallen in love with her instead, and the Tang family would have remained whole and happy.

From Pu Xiaoyu’s point of view, her hatred wasn’t without reason.

“Still thinking about Pu Xiaoyu?” Tan Shiyi asked, sitting down beside her and handing her a glass of water.

“Shiyi.” Tang Ling looked at her, unsure how to begin. “If I hadn’t appeared, would you have fallen for Pu Xiaoyu?”

Tan Shiyi frowned. “Why would there ever be a world without you? I don’t like that kind of assumption.”

Tang Ling lowered her eyes. “I mean, if I really was as arrogant and cruel as Pu Xiaoyu says—would you still like me then? Or would you like her instead?”

“I don’t follow your logic.” Tan Shiyi thought for a moment, then said, “If you really were arrogant and cruel, then I simply wouldn’t like you. What does that have to do with her? Stop overthinking this. None of what happened is your fault—it’s because she let her mind twist itself that way.”

“I just wonder how long she’ll have to stay in the hospital and whether she’ll get better.” Tang Ling sighed softly. She couldn’t tell what exactly Pu Xiaoyu was—someone who’d transmigrated, someone reborn, or someone whose self-awareness had awakened—but if possible, she hoped Pu Xiaoyu could finally let go of her obsession and stop clinging to the past.

Tan Shiyi put on a mock frown. “You’re not even looking at me anymore. I can’t give you your birthday present like this.”

Tang Ling blinked. “Birthday present?”

“Isn’t it your birthday today? Or do you not want one?”

“Of course I do!” Tang Ling said quickly. “What did you get me?”

Tan Shiyi lowered her head, her voice soft. “I wrote you a song. I was going to play it for you on guitar, but there isn’t one here, so I’ll just sing it. I don’t know if you’ll like it.”

Tang Ling’s eyes lit up in surprise and delight. “Of course I will! I like everything you write. What’s it called?”

Tan Shiyi’s cheeks turned pink. “I haven’t thought of a name yet—it’s all been a bit rushed. Why don’t you name it? I’ll sing it for you now.”

She cleared her throat softly, then began to sing:

“Carefully collecting every moment spent with you,

Speaking riddles half-true, half-false, holding secret hopes.”

Tan Shiyi didn’t dare meet Tang Ling’s eyes, her head slightly turned away. The faint tremor in her voice betrayed her nerves.

“I want to make you laugh, to sing praises just for you,

Let my shadow fall into the clear reflection of your eyes.

Before the moon goes to sleep,

I want to push open your heart and hide inside.”

When the song ended, Tan Shiyi’s face was bright red. Seeing Tang Ling staring at her in stunned silence, she took a couple of steps back. “I know it’s childish. You’re not allowed to laugh. And if you don’t like it, you’re not allowed to say so.”

Tang Ling immediately caught her hands and pulled her close. “It’s not childish at all. I love it. I really love it.”

She paused, struggling to find words for the rush in her chest. “What do I do? I didn’t know you liked me this much—I’m so happy I feel like I could float away. Ah, I want you to sing it for me every day.”

Tan Shiyi blushed even harder, lowering her head. “Let’s talk about that when your next birthday comes.”

In the next second, Tang Ling cupped her face gently.

“Shiyi,” she whispered, voice trembling with emotion, “I really like you too. I don’t want to wait anymore. Let’s be together—right now, okay?”