After Redeeming the Female Lead, I Faked My Death and Escaped - Chapter 50.2

Meanwhile.

Ying Xu had indeed triggered a temporary task but quickly failed. She had planned to return, but unexpectedly ran into Sheng Qiuyu on the way.

It felt less like a coincidence and more like the omega had been waiting for her.

Almost the moment she saw Ying Xu, Sheng Qiuyu bit her lip. “Ying Xu, I ”

Though she had suspected that the only reason she was invited here was because Sheng Qiuyu wanted something related to Qinghong, hearing the omega say it out loud still left Ying Xu with a bitter taste.

Sheng Qiuyu seemed to have rehearsed countless times for these few minutes, clearly explaining her family’s recent situation and her thoughts.

Xu Ying didn’t interrupt her, watching Sheng Qiuyu’s face instead. She felt that even if Sheng Changming were to step down in the future, Sheng Qiuyu would still find it difficult to carry on.

Omega didn’t know how to negotiate from the very beginning, she laid everything bare, with no leverage at all.

But having nothing was still far better than hiding and refusing to reveal one’s true thoughts.

Thinking of that piece of jade, Xu Ying’s smile unconsciously faded.

Under her increasingly indifferent gaze, Sheng Qiuyu’s tears welled up, but she held them back. “Xu Ying, could you… help me and Gu Qingzhu ”

“I’ll tell Qingzhu about these matters and do my best to mediate,” Xu Ying snapped out of her thoughts and responded one by one. “But whether she agrees or not, I can’t rashly make you any promises. That wouldn’t be fair to her or to you.”

Xu Ying didn’t say “you two,” but instead separated Gu Qingzhu from Sheng Qiuyu. In the past, there had been moments like this, but usually, it was Xu Ying who came first, and Gu Qingzhu who followed.

Noticing this change, Sheng Qiuyu instinctively choked up, suddenly recalling a screenshot she had seen not long ago.

The image was from Xu Ying’s recent private social media posts. She had adopted a cat and occasionally shared videos and pictures of playing with it, all taken with great care, enough to prove the owner’s love for the pet.

It was only then that Sheng Qiuyu realized that after Redemption, Xu Ying had joined a new project, made many new friends, and started a new life one unknown to her.

Despite this, Xu Ying remained distant toward others, politely declining all advances, whether genuine or not.

Whenever Sheng Qiuyu heard such descriptions, she would feel dazed, thinking it was completely unlike the Xu Ying she remembered.

The next second, she would realize, that was probably how Xu Ying truly treated outsiders.

She thought it was different only because Xu Ying had treated her specially.

But now that even that small bit of special treatment had been taken back, would Xu Ying start treating her the same way? No more smiles, no more concern for her joys or sorrows.

“Xu Ying,” Sheng Qiuyu suddenly lost control of her emotions, almost self-destructively asking, “Do you hate me? Blame me for not speaking up for you back then, for not helping you”

“Miss Sheng,” Xu Ying sighed. “It’s all in the past. There’s no need to apologize.”

“In the past?” Sheng Qiuyu shook her head in disbelief. “It’s not in the past! Those things, I”

What? Sheng Qiuyu suddenly found herself speechless. Should she say she knew nothing and shift all the blame to the Sheng family? But if not for the Sheng family, she wouldn’t even have the right to stand here and speak to Xu Ying.

“Alright,” Xu Ying, as if seeing through all her emotions, said with unusual gentleness, “It’s time to go back. Don’t make others worry.”

Through tear-blurred vision, Sheng Qiuyu saw the woman hand her a tissue.

In the end, she reached out and took it, steadying her breathing several times before suppressing the overwhelming emotions.

The two walked back in silence, the moonlight just beginning to grace the treetops, the sea shimmering under its glow.

Just before they reached the filming location, Sheng Qiuyu suddenly spoke up, “Xu Ying, I”

“I want to give you a gift. Could you tell me your current address?”

Xu Ying instinctively wanted to refuse, but Sheng Qiuyu turned around and grabbed her sleeve. “It’s nothing expensive. I just… I just want to apologize, that’s all.”

At this moment, she suddenly couldn’t hold back her tears. Droplets kept rolling from her eyes, her nose turned red, and her voice carried an almost pleading tone.

Ying Xu had never seen Sheng Qiuyu in such an awkward state before. For a moment, she was at a loss for words, and in the end, she still didn’t refuse.

When she saw Gu Qingzhu again, the woman was contacting someone. From the few casual instructions she gave, Ying Xu had already noticed her presence, and the call soon ended.

Gu Qingzhu was alone, and as Ying Xu took a seat, the scene finally felt somewhat complete.

Noticing her return, the camera quickly shifted focus, closing in on the two of them.

The slightly salty sea breeze brushed against her face. Just as Ying Xu was about to remind Gu Qingzhu, the omega spoke first: “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Ying Xu’s heart skipped a beat, thinking Gu Qingzhu already knew about her conversation with Sheng Qiuyu. She weighed her words carefully before replying, “I just thought I could handle it myself.”

Gu Qingzhu said, “If you could handle it, that endorsement wouldn’t have ended up in someone else’s hands.”

Her tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction, but more than that, it was laced with unconcealed delight.

The only thing Gu Qingzhu would bring up on her own seemed to be the brand that had abandoned her when she was under fire.

Luo Zhu had contacted Ying Xu, but after hearing her intentions, Ying Xu had outright refused and never mentioned the matter again, it would have been too deliberate.

So why was Gu Qingzhu suddenly bringing this up now?

As Ying Xu pondered, Gu Qingzhu provided the answer herself.

“Xiao Lu just contacted me and mentioned a few business matters, including this one.” Gu Qingzhu turned to look at her, the corners of her eyes lifting, her tone light. “I know you didn’t want me to worry, but their behavior was too shameless. It’s only right they cough some of it back up.”

“I’ve already contacted Luo Zhu to prioritize all the best resources for you. Whatever roles you want to play, shows you want to appear on, or events you want to attend as long as you want it, they’ll arrange it for you.”

“If there are artists you like, people you want to work with, places you’d like to visit, or vacations you want to take, I’ve had your wardrobe prepared.”

For the first time, Ying Xu realized Gu Qingzhu could be talkative too.

She stared at the other woman in astonishment, utterly unable to articulate her current feelings, remaining silent.

Under her gaze, Gu Qingzhu’s voice gradually softened.

Why was Gu Qingzhu suddenly saying so much? It was just a rejected collaboration.

She wouldn’t bother putting on an act in front of her, would she?

Why?

Ying Xu had always believed she understood Gu Qingzhu exceptionally well, anticipating every possibility and keeping the situation under control.

But at this moment, Gu Qingzhu’s sudden questioning shattered her plans.

In the end, Ying Xu averted her gaze.

“Qingzhu, I”

Just then, Gu Qingzhu suddenly reached out and grabbed Ying Xu’s wrist.

“Ying Xu.”

Her wrist was tightly gripped, the icy touch startling Ying Xu awake. Instinctively, she tried to pull her hand back, unwilling to face what might come next, but Gu Qingzhu held her gaze firmly, giving her no chance to evade.

“About what happened before, I’m sorry. I don’t know how to make you forget those things”

The omega paused, as if realizing her words were careless, and frowned. “I’m not asking you to forget, nor am I denying what I did. I just want to say, I’ll make it up to you in my own way.”

Even now, Gu Qingzhu wasn’t entirely sure what she wanted.

Everything she had just said was merely because she didn’t want to see Ying Xu waiting endlessly for a response.

Ying Xu didn’t answer. Gu Qingzhu suddenly felt uneasy. The courage she had mustered earlier dissipated once more.

Perhaps this was within her expectations, after all.

Because the person named “Gu Qingzhu” could only ever offer things external to herself—whether it was her emotions or “Gu Qingzhu” as an entity, all of it was particularly dull and insignificant.

Would Ying Xu reject her?

She must just be thinking of how to phrase it.

Her fingertips loosened their grip slightly.

Just as she was about to let go, fireworks suddenly burst across the sea.

As if reacting instinctively, Ying Xu tightened her hold on Gu Qingzhu’s hand, only loosening it slightly a few seconds later.

Gu Qingzhu was still dazed when the dazzling fireworks ignited the night sky, their booming sounds drowning out even the director’s shouts through the megaphone.

Faintly, Gu Qingzhu caught only a few words: “Custom-made,” “expensive,” “celebrating the wrap.”

She finally found an opportunity to change the subject and was about to sigh in relief when Ying Xu called her name: “Qingzhu.”

Gu Qingzhu heard it.

But the next moment, another round of fireworks exploded, and she only saw the alpha’s lips move.

“That piece of jade”

Just three words, and her voice was swallowed by the fireworks.

Almost instantly, Ying Xu snapped back to reality, lowering her gaze to their intertwined hands.

She suddenly found it all absurdly laughable.

The other piece of jade belonged to Xu Ying. It was only natural for Gu Qingzhu to hide this fact.

Xu Ying would always be the most important to Gu Qingzhu.

Hadn’t it always been this way?

Ying Xu closed her hand around Gu Qingzhu’s.

The person before her visibly stiffened, her previously dim expression brightening in an instant.

In the brief lull before the next fireworks display, Ying Xu wanted to continue their earlier conversation, but Gu Qingzhu suddenly asked, “Did you see it?”

To ensure she was heard, Gu Qingzhu leaned in closer, almost pressing against Ying Xu’s ear.

“What?” Ying Xu held her breath, confused.

“Two pieces of jade,” Gu Qingzhu hesitated but continued, “One was mine, the other was Xu Ying’s a birthday gift meant for Wei Siyan.”

The dazzling fireworks stole the scene. Mentioning that name again in this moment left Gu Qingzhu momentarily dazed, as if caught in a dream. But perhaps it had been too long since she’d spoken it, uttering those two syllables now felt strangely unfamiliar.

Gu Qingzhu lifted her eyes, meeting the alpha’s unwavering gaze.

The illusions dissolved into the fireworks, bringing her back to reality.

“That piece of jade, I had it sent to the Xu family at noon,” she explained further. “If you hesitated because of this, I’ll prepare another gift for you.”

“The one in your hand whether it’s lost or broken, it doesn’t matter. As long as you like it.”

Her words seemed to refer to the jade, yet also to herself.

“Let’s watch the fireworks first,” Ying Xu said hastily. “They’ll be over soon.”

Gu Qingzhu froze, thinking this was a rejection. Just as she was about to say more, her fingers were suddenly squeezed tightly, and within seconds, their hands were fully interlaced.

She heard Ying Xu ask, “Are you cold? Do you need another jacket?”

Gu Qingzhu parted her lips and whispered, “Does that mean you agree?”

The only sound in his ears was the brilliant burst of fireworks. It took a while before Gu Qingzhu finally heard the alpha’s gentle response.

“I will never refuse you.”

Just like “Yingxu” would never refuse Gu Qingzhu.

“Yingxu” did so out of affection, while he did so because of the system nothing more.