After Being Bound to the Scummy Alpha System, I Became Famous Thanks to My Face Blindness - Chapter 69 (END)

“Eh? I can’t call you that?” Tang Ling scratched her head. “But isn’t that how couples usually talk—sweet and clingy?”

“Even if it’s clingy,” Tan Shiyi protested, cheeks flushed, “you can’t just say it out loud in public. There are so many people here. What if someone hears us? It’d be so embarrassing.”

Tang Ling glanced around. The people nearby were all elderly folks seriously choosing vegetables, not paying them any attention at all.

“We’ve both graduated from trainee life,” Tang Ling said matter-of-factly, “so we’re dating openly now. Calling you ‘wife’ doesn’t violate any laws or disturb public order. What’s the problem? All those fans of yours call you ‘wife’ online every day—why can’t I? Am I worse than your fans now?”

Tan Shiyi sighed helplessly. “That’s not how this works. Fine, if you really want to, go ahead—just don’t be too loud about it.”

Tang Ling’s joy was instantly visible. “Okay, wifey!” she chirped.

Tan Shiyi’s face turned scarlet. She ducked her head and went back to picking fruit.

Once they’d chosen some gifts to bring along, they headed for the subway together.

Tan Shiyi had assumed that someone like Tang Ling—a rich young lady used to being chauffeured everywhere—wouldn’t know how to deal with crowded public transport. To her surprise, Tang Ling moved with practiced ease, scanning the QR code, buying the tickets, and guiding her through the station.

She looked like someone who had done this a hundred times before.

And with how naturally Tang Ling kept calling her “wife,” she really seemed like a seasoned lover. The sweetness in Tan Shiyi’s heart was tinged with a faint sadness.

After all, she knew what Tang Ling’s personality used to be like. Surely, she must’ve dated a lot before and probably had quite a few “wives,” too.

Tang Ling, of course, had no idea what was running through Tan Shiyi’s head. She thought she was doing great—she’d even researched the subway lines in advance! Everything was going perfectly, in her opinion.

Before long, the two arrived at Ms. Pu’s neighborhood.

Before her breakdown, Pu Xiaoyu had been a polite, well-mannered young woman. Her adoptive father had passed away early, and Mrs. Pu had raised her alone. Once Xiaoyu started earning money, she’d been supporting her mother ever since. Back in high school, she’d even bought Mrs. Pu a small but upscale apartment here.

Mrs. Pu was already waiting for them at the gate when they arrived.

Tang Ling froze for a moment when she saw her—the woman’s features bore a faint resemblance to her mother from her original world, though her forehead was etched with deep worry lines, likely from the stress of Xiaoyu’s recent illness.

For a brief second, Tang Ling didn’t know whether to call her “Auntie” or “Mom.”

Thankfully, Mrs. Pu didn’t mind. She recognized Tang Ling at once, her expression softening. “You must be Tang Ling? You bought so many things—aren’t they heavy? Here, let me help you carry them.”

Tang Ling quickly waved her hands. “They’re not heavy at all, really! No need to trouble yourself. This is Tan Shiyi—she’s my good friend. I brought her along to meet you today.”

Mrs. Pu smiled kindly. “I’ve seen you on TV before. Hello.”

Tan Shiyi nodded gently. “Hello, Auntie.”

Mrs. Pu’s home was a cozy two-story duplex—not nearly as grand as the Tang family estate, but tastefully decorated. She’d planted roses all over the courtyard and kept two little white rabbits hopping around.

“Xiaoyu has caused you girls some trouble,” Mrs. Pu said with a sigh. “It’s my fault for not noticing how much pressure she was under. I just hope you won’t hold it against her.”

Tang Ling no longer felt any resentment toward Pu Xiaoyu. Having once been trapped by a system herself, she could easily imagine how Xiaoyu had been slowly brainwashed by her dreams until she lost control. In those circumstances, it was hard to stay sane.

Tan Shiyi added softly, “It’s all in the past now. What matters is that Xiaoyu gets better.”

Mrs. Pu nodded gratefully. “Thank you, both of you. I’ve already spoken with your parents, Tang Ling. I suppose, after all this, fate has tied our families together in a strange way. From now on, both you and Xiaoyu are our children. It might be too soon to call us one family, but let’s keep in touch. You’re always welcome here.”

After lunch and some pleasant conversation, the two finally bid Mrs. Pu farewell.

Leaving the neighborhood, Tang Ling felt as if a weight had lifted from her shoulders.

She’d been nervous before coming, worried that Mrs. Pu might be as difficult as Xiaoyu had been.

But Mrs. Pu turned out to be gentle and reasonable, and everything had gone smoothly.

With that settled, there was nothing left to worry about.

Tang Ling’s playful side resurfaced. “Wifey, what are you doing next?”

Tan Shiyi glanced at her. “Nothing planned. Why?”

“Well,” Tang Ling said, grinning, “since it’s still early, how about we go on a date?”

“A date?” Tan Shiyi blinked, lowering her gaze. “Where to?”

Tang Ling’s smile deepened. “You’ll see when we get there.”

She led Tan Shiyi to the oceanarium they hadn’t visited in ages.

Tan Shiyi looked around in surprise. “Why did you bring me here?”

Tang Ling lowered her voice. “Remember when you mentioned on a livestream that it was your first time visiting an aquarium? Back then, you were with Pu Xiaoyu. Even though it was for work, I was jealous. I wanted to bring you back here myself one day.”

Tan Shiyi hadn’t expected Tang Ling to remember something so small. Her heart softened, and she couldn’t help but confess, “Tang Ling, this is actually my first real date. What about you?”

Tang Ling smiled. “What a coincidence—mine too.”

Tan Shiyi blinked, uncertain. “I mean, this is my first time being in a relationship.”

Tang Ling nodded earnestly. “Right, same here.”

Tan Shiyi’s eyes widened. “But you used to, didn’t you have so many rumors before.

Tang Ling looked a little troubled. “There are some things I don’t quite know how to explain to you,” she said softly, “but I promise you this — from beginning to end, there’s only ever been you. I only like you, and I’ll keep liking you, always.”

At the end of her words, she seemed a bit embarrassed. “Will you believe me?”

Tan Shiyi’s heart fluttered at her confession. She lowered her head deeply and said, “I will.”

Tang Ling reached out her hand. Tan Shiyi met her gaze and, with quiet seriousness, took it.

Tang Ling teased, “There are so many people here, and lots of young ones too. Aren’t you afraid someone might take a picture of us and post it online? That could cause quite a stir.”

Tan Shiyi’s face flushed red. “That would be bad. Miss Pu’s only just started to get better — let’s not make her relapse because of us.”

Tang Ling couldn’t help but laugh. “Now I’m upset. You’re holding my hand, but thinking about someone else?”

Tan Shiyi countered, “Then what, do you want to cut open my heart to check if you’re the only one inside?”

Tang Ling chuckled. “No need. I’ll issue you a lifetime certification of purity.”

Just then, two girls walked past. They’d been dragging their feet under the blazing sun, but upon seeing Tang Ling and Tan Shiyi, their eyes went wide with disbelief.

One girl clapped a hand over her mouth and gasped, “Holy crap—it’s Tang Shi! What am I seeing right now?”

The other pushed her. “What are you standing there for? Go get an autograph!”

Tang Ling and Tan Shiyi exchanged a knowing look and quietly let go of each other’s hands, putting a little distance between them.

The two fans stumbled forward, nervous and trembling as they fished notebooks out of their bags. “Tang Ling, Shiyi! Hi! We’re both fans of the Beidou Star Training Program! We’ve been following your show and your CP. Could we get your autographs, please?”

Tang Ling smiled graciously. “Of course. Just signatures, right?”

The two fans glanced at each other. “Can we request something specific to be written?”

Tang Ling laughed. “Sure, just tell me what you want.”

The girls whispered back and forth in panic.

“What should we write?”

“Don’t just ask me—you think of something too!”

After much anxious discussion, they finally came up with a simple, earnest wish: “Can you write, ‘Tang Shi is real’? Please don’t just write the initials, though—use proper characters.”

Tang Ling took the pen with a playful smile. “All right—Tang Shi is real.”

Unable to resist, the other girl blurted out, “So, is Tang Shi actually real?”

Tang Ling lifted her gaze and smiled at her. “What do you think?”

The girl squealed, clutching her face. “Ahhh—if you ask me, it’s definitely real!”

Tang Ling handed the paper back to her. “Here you go. All signed.”

The girl grew bold. “Shiyi, can you sign too? Maybe write ‘Shiyi thinks it’s real too’.”

Tan Shiyi’s cheeks burned even redder. She didn’t know whether to take the paper or not.

Before she could answer, Tang Ling laced their fingers together and said with a grin, “No more autographs—we’re in a hurry for our date. Maybe next time.”

Before the two fans could react, Tang Ling was already leading Tan Shiyi toward the ticket booth.

The girls stood frozen for a moment.

“What, what did Tang Ling just say? In a hurry for what?”

“In a hurry for their date, duh! Are you deaf? They’re really together!!”

One of them sniffled, her voice trembling with joy. “I can’t believe it. I finally shipped a real couple!”

Their excited squeals drew the attention of nearby passersby—conveniently giving Tang Ling and Tan Shiyi the perfect cover to slip away.

Once they had their tickets in hand, the two looked at each other and smiled.

“Shall we go? Our first official date?”

Tan Shiyi nodded. “Let’s go.”

[Main Story – End]