After the Female Star Was Slandered Onto the Trending Search List - Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Because of Liking

The moment Shen Yu heard the phone ring, she immediately took it out.

However, seeing the caller, she felt a little disappointed.

She answered the phone, “Hello, Teacher Wang, what is it?”

Teacher Wang’s voice on the other end was urgent. “Shen Yu, can you reach Wen Xi?”

Shen Yu’s grip on the phone tightened. “Did something happen?”

Teacher Wang said, “I woke up today and saw a message Wen Xi sent me last night. She said she wouldn’t be taking the exam tomorrow. It startled me awake. I’ve been messaging and calling her, but she isn’t responding. I know you two are close. Can you reach her? All those years of effort were for tomorrow. Whatever happened, I hope she can put it aside for now. The exam is more important.”

Teacher Wang was Wen Xi’s art teacher.

Wen Xi and Shen Yu attended the same art cram school, but their areas of study were different, and Shen Yu had one-on-one private lessons.

Wen Xi was a student with great talent and spirit. Teacher Wang always held her in high regard. Due to certain reasons, Shen Yu and Teacher Wang had gotten in touch.

Shen Yu was silent for a moment after listening. “Teacher Wang, I’m sorry, I can’t reach her either. Please wait a little longer. I’ll try to contact her homeroom teacher for information.”

“Ah, okay.”

After hanging up, Shen Yu didn’t wait to go to their high school to find Wen Xi’s homeroom teacher. Instead, she contacted several people to get the homeroom teacher’s phone number.

She and Wen Xi were in the same high school, just not in the same class.

“Teacher Cen, hello, I’m Shen Yu.” The moment the call connected, Shen Yu got straight to the point. “I wanted to ask about Wen Xi. The art exam is tomorrow, and we can’t reach her. Can you contact her?”

Shen Yu was quite a figure in their grade, and she and Teacher Cen had met each other.

“Wen Xi? She contacted me this morning about a transfer.” Shen Yu heard the voice on the phone. “The procedures were processed very quickly. She left the school a while ago. I also know she won’t be taking the art exam. As her teacher, I respect her choice.”

Shen Yu was momentarily stunned by the word “transfer.” “Transfer? Teacher, it’s senior year. How could you…”

Teacher Cen interrupted her: “I know it’s senior year, but special circumstances require special handling. She had a valid reason, so I naturally agreed.”

“…But she studied painting for over ten years, all for tomorrow.”

Teacher Cen explained, “She still has the chance to repeat the year.”

Shen Yu leaned against the wall. “May I ask the reason for her transfer and… where she transferred to?”

Teacher Cen gently refused. “If Wen Xi doesn’t voluntarily say, I must keep it confidential for her. You should rest well after your exam, return to school as soon as possible, and don’t worry about this too much.”

After saying that, Teacher Cen ended the call proactively. She put down the landline, recalling Wen Xi who had appeared in her office that morning, and let out a very helpless sigh. “She’s also an unfortunate child. How could something like this happen?”

Shen Yu fell into a deep sense of powerlessness. After a long while, she picked up her phone.

Her phone number still hadn’t been blocked by Wen Xi.

As she pressed the screen, more tears involuntarily fell, splashing onto her hand.

She sent a text message.

“I agree to break up. Will you come back for the exam?”

Wen Xi didn’t dare to look at Shen Yu. She kept her head down, staring at her hands. “I’m sorry.”

“Still no reason,” Shen Yu forced a smile. “Did I not do well enough back then? If you told me, I could change…”

Wen Xi didn’t want to hear Shen Yu say that. She interrupted her, “Asking for a reason is useless now. We broke up ten years ago.”

“You saw the text message I sent you,” Shen Yu stated with certainty. “But you still didn’t come back for the exam. Is it wrong for me to ask for the reason for that?”

Wen Xi repeated, “It’s meaningless.”

“That’s true,” Shen Yu laughed. “You didn’t go to art school, did you?”

Wen Xi didn’t say anything.

Shen Yu continued, “You studied photography? Why?”

“Why do you need so many whys,” Wen Xi felt the sunlight streaming through the car window onto her legs. “I just didn’t want to study painting anymore.”

Shen Yu absolutely didn’t believe her. “Have you learned to say things you don’t mean after a few years apart?”

Forget it, Shen Yu thought. It looks like I won’t get any answers today.

Ten years apart, Wen Xi had changed a lot.

The obedient young girl in her memory had grown up a lot, becoming independent and having her own ideas.

She wouldn’t force an answer now. She was willing to wait, wait for the day Wen Xi decided to speak up on her own.

Shen Yu called her assistant. “You two can come back.”

In just two minutes, Ke Han and Yu Yan returned to the car, tactfully asking no questions.

However, Yu Yan understood Shen Yu’s hint and locked the car doors.

Wen Xi immediately turned her head, alert. “What are you doing?”

Shen Yu didn’t look at her, saying casually, “I’m driving you to your studio.”

“No need. I can take a taxi myself. Don’t trouble yourself,” Wen Xi refused.

Shen Yu chuckled again, her eyes curving as she looked at Wen Xi, threateningly saying, “You’re in my car. Do you think I’ll let you go so easily?”

Afterward, without looking at Wen Xi’s expression, she turned to face forward and instructed Yu Yan, “Drive.”

Yu Yan: “Got it, Sis!”

Wen Xi and Shen Yu sat on opposite sides. Wen Xi secretly glanced at Shen Yu, sensing that Shen Yu was radiating an aura of great displeasure.

Wen Xi felt a little lost. She rarely saw Shen Yu unhappy.

In the past, their economic disparity was vast. At first, Wen Xi even thought Shen Yu was an aloof, difficult-to-approach spoiled rich girl.

But the reality was the opposite. Shen Yu was always gentle when they were together. Even when they first met, Shen Yu was always considerate of her, and their time together was never awkward.

After they confirmed their relationship and started dating, Shen Yu never lost her temper, so Wen Xi never had to comfort her.

Wen Xi knew that Shen Yu was always considerate of her feelings. Shen Yu was afraid she would feel inferior, afraid Wen Xi would be unhappy while they were dating.

Shen Yu had always worked hard and carefully to maintain their relationship.

But now…

Wen Xi turned her head to look out the window again.

They could never go back to the past.

There was no conversation in the back seat, so the two in front guessed the discussion hadn’t gone well and tacitly remained silent. Yu Yan didn’t even dare to turn on the car music.

The four of them drove in silence the whole way.

Fortunately, the distance to the studio was short. Yu Yan secretly felt relieved and said to Shen Yu, “Sis, we’re here.”

Wen Xi also let out a subtle sigh of relief. “Thank you.”

She immediately prepared to get out, but this time, Shen Yu grabbed her arm again.

Shen Yu’s tone was full of helplessness. “I’ll be starting filming in two months.”

Wen Xi didn’t understand what Shen Yu meant. She hesitated and nodded. “Okay.”

Shen Yu’s tone softened slightly. “I don’t know why you won’t tell me the reason, but I can wait. I’ve already waited ten years; this time doesn’t matter to me.”

Wen Xi looked down at Shen Yu’s hand clutching her arm and muttered, “It’s not necessary.”

“It is necessary,” Shen Yu shook her head, her voice husky. “If it’s because of me… I can change.”

Wen Xi’s throat tightened. She gently pulled Shen Yu’s hand away. “It’s not because of you.”

Shen Yu forced a weak smile. “Then will you wait for me? For these two months, don’t move, and don’t run away, okay?”

Wen Xi blinked frantically, not daring to look into Shen Yu’s eyes. “I’m getting out now.”

In the last moment before Wen Xi left, she heard Shen Yu whisper, “I’ve been looking for you all these years.”

Wen Xi fled in a panic.

After Wen Xi entered the office building, she couldn’t resist taking out her phone and opening Yu Qiao’s chat box.

T.T: “Things seem to be getting out of hand. Shen Yu can’t seem to forget me.”

Wen Xi typed and revised this message repeatedly. She didn’t dare to dwell on what Shen Yu meant, and at the same time, she felt she was overestimating her own importance.

Who was Shen Yu? All the girls who had surrounded her over the years were much more beautiful and outstanding than Wen Xi.

Why would Wen Xi be unforgettable to Shen Yu?

If Shen Yu knew Wen Xi’s thoughts, she might answer Wen Xi: “Because of liking, because of reluctance.”

But regardless of reality, Wen Xi still sent the message.

She entered the elevator and pressed the floor for her office.

The office building was within the Third Ring Road of Wancheng. The office was on a middle floor, the rent was manageable, and Wen Xi could afford the price.

Yu Qiao had helped her find this location. It was only a twenty-minute drive from Yu Qiao’s company, a convenient distance.

As Wen Xi entered the studio, everyone greeted her listlessly.

Wen Xi smiled. “What’s wrong with everyone?”

It was better when Wen Xi didn’t ask. As soon as she did, a whole group started complaining all at once.

“Ever since you went viral, Boss, so many people have wanted to book you! I can’t even keep up with the emails! It’s not just regular people; there are other business collaborations too. I’m terrified of missing an important email and being accused of acting too grand for our small brand!”

“Boss! I can’t take it anymore! The clients are too demanding! My brain is almost drained dry!!”

“Boss! When are you coming back to work? I can’t do this without you!”

“Boss…”

Wen Xi laughed. “Alright, alright, everyone worked hard! This month’s bonus will be doubled! I’ll take you all out for team building tonight, and I’ll be back to work tomorrow.”

“Long live the Boss!”

Wen Xi walked into her office. “Alright, get back to work!”

Not long after, someone knocked on her office door.

Wen Xi was searching for files on her computer and didn’t look up. “Come in.”

Xiao Du poked her head in. “Boss, what about Teacher Xu’s photos?”

Wen Xi glanced at the current time. “Tell her that I’ll give them to her today.”

Xiao Du smiled. “Got it!”

On the other side, Xu Shuili received Xiao Du’s message, took a satisfied screenshot, and sent it to Shen Yu.

Xu Shuili: “Done, right? You owe me a favor.”

Shen Yu was packing her luggage, preparing to head to the film set, when she saw the message.

Shen Yu typed back unhappily.

S: “Fine. What do you want me to help you with? If it’s chasing someone, forget it.”

On the other end, Xu Shuili made a small clicking sound with her tongue, murmuring, “What does she think of me?”

Xu Shuili: “Haven’t thought of it yet. Keeping it on file.”

S: “Fine.”

Xu Shuili: “By the way, is Teacher T really your ex-girlfriend?”

S: “… Didn’t you already know?”

Xu Shuili: “I’m still very shocked. You’ve been celibate for so many years. I thought you were asexual. I never thought… you had such a deeply hidden ex-girlfriend.”

S: .

Xu Shuili: “But you’re quite a lucky person. To have successfully landed someone as beautiful as Teacher T.”

S: “Gotta go. Busy.”

Shen Yu looked at the words “ex-girlfriend” and “successfully landed” on the screen and only felt annoyed.