After the Female Star Was Slandered Onto the Trending Search List - Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Unforgettable

Xu Shuili clicked her tongue when she saw Shen Yu’s message. “Whether you’re really busy or just pretending is something you know best!”

It had been a few days since Xu Shuili learned that Shen Yu had an ex-girlfriend, and she was still greatly shocked, especially since Shen Yu’s ex-girlfriend was someone she knew.

She had to book Twilight a long time in advance just to get a session.

This was too dramatic. Shen Yu had been looking for Wen Xi for ten years, yet Wen Xi was deeply connected to the entertainment industry, and Shen Yu didn’t know anything about it.

Wen Xi was playing a “hiding in plain sight” game.

She had a reasonable suspicion that Wen Xi’s partial involvement in the entertainment industry was a convenient way to secretly observe Shen Yu. After all, she hadn’t heard of Wen Xi having a partner for a long time. However, she had no evidence.

But didn’t everyone say that first love is the hardest to forget?

Shen Yu and Xu Shuili had known each other for four or five years. Xu Shuili always felt that Shen Yu was very cold and unapproachable. Shen Yu couldn’t be bothered to entertain anyone who approached her with ulterior motives in the industry. Sometimes, even when choosing scripts, Shen Yu rarely accepted intimate scenes; she chose scripts based on her mood.

Let alone those admiring women, they didn’t even get a chance to approach her.

Xu Shuili had even considered crowning Shen Yu “The Most Untainted in the Entertainment Industry.”

Their friendship started through a drama. Xu Shuili’s ability to confide in Shen Yu was entirely due to over a year of persistent effort.

At the time, they were both new to the entertainment industry, and Xu Shuili didn’t have many friends. Moreover, Shen Yu was too beautiful, and as someone who valued looks, Xu Shuili immediately sought to befriend her.

It was funny how they genuinely connected over Xu Shuili’s relationship problems. After a breakup, Xu Shuili wanted to go drinking and dragged Shen Yu to a bar secretly. Since they weren’t famous then, she didn’t care if anyone recognized her.

Upon hearing the invitation to drink, Shen Yu accepted immediately.

However, by the time Shen Yu arrived, Xu Shuili was already slightly incoherent.

Xu Shuili saw Shen Yu arrive and smiled hazily. “Quick, sit! Why did you take so long? I ordered a few drinks for you too.”

Shen Yu picked up a cocktail and took a small sip. “You drank too fast. You shouldn’t drink like this without anyone beside you.”

“But I have you, don’t I?” Xu Shuili smiled carelessly. When she looked up again, her eyes began to mist over. “Tell me, why is dating so hard?”

Shen Yu didn’t say anything, just tilted her head back and took another sip of wine.

“Forget it. What’s the point of telling you? You haven’t even been in a relationship,” Xu Shuili mumbled.

Shen Yu was silent for a long time, then said, “…Yeah.”

“You don’t understand,” Xu Shuili whined. “She was so good to me during the honeymoon phase, but it’s only been a few months, and she’s become incredibly cold and even had the nerve to break up with me! I’m genuinely angry!”

Shen Yu’s hand gripping the wine glass tightened slightly. “Why?”

Xu Shuili snorted. “Why else? She stopped loving me, I guess. Love comes fast and goes fast! Shen Yu, this is adult life!”

Shen Yu whispered, “Not necessarily.”

Xu Shuili’s eyes immediately changed. She glared at Shen Yu. “Why would you say that! Did someone mislead you with false promises? Let me tell you, don’t believe that nonsense! Some people are like that. When they like you, their sweet talk is as good as it gets, but as soon as they stop liking you, all those past words are meaningless! Absolutely useless!”

Shen Yu pressed her lips together and asked, “Have you dated a lot?”

Hearing this, Xu Shuili instantly slumped onto the table. “Not really… only two or three times.”

“Two or three times… Is it easy to forget an ex?”

Xu Shuili suddenly looked up, staring at her suspiciously. “Why would you ask that?”

Shen Yu said nonchalantly, “Seeing you drink so much, I was just curious.”

“It’s okay, I guess,” Xu Shuili tentatively accepted Shen Yu’s explanation and answered. “Only the first love is hard to forget; it gets much easier after that.”

Shen Yu lowered her gaze and whispered, “Mhm.”

But the sound was too soft. Xu Shuili didn’t hear it and immediately launched into the story of how she broke up with her first love.

Shen Yu listened intently back then.

Now, Xu Shuili felt the whole situation was increasingly odd.

She thought she had found a kindred spirit who understood her. It turned out Shen Yu had her own story too.

Shen Yu was truly secretive.

Xu Shuili only later learned Shen Yu’s true identity. She could only say that it was no wonder Shen Yu could live so casually in this murky entertainment industry.

The identity of a corporate heiress was right there.

However, other than being a bit casual about work, Shen Yu didn’t really use her heiress title much.

Xu Shuili secretly investigated when she was curious. After finding out, she completely understood Shen Yu’s approach. Her whole family was simply too much, except for her younger brother, who was a huge sister complex.

Shen Yu’s family company had been publicly listed for many years and had become one of the top fifty companies nationwide.

But when Shen Yu was only two years old, her birth mother passed away. Less than a year after her mother’s death, her father brought a pregnant stepmother into the Shen family home.

Shen Yu’s birth mother was an excellent actress, beautiful and talented, with many classic film and television works.

Shen Yu couldn’t deny that her father deeply loved her mother. Even now, there was a photo of them in his desk drawer.

But that didn’t justify her father’s infidelity. Every time she saw her father and stepmother being intimate, she felt slightly sick.

He clearly couldn’t forget his past love, yet he was intimate with another person.

For this reason, her father was always looking for her mother’s shadow in her.

Shen Yu inherited all of her mother’s strengths, including looks and acting talent.

She was forced to live like her mother, but few ever asked if she wanted to.

Except for… Wen Xi.

When they first met that year, Wen Xi stood at the bottom of the steps, hesitatingly asking her, “I secretly watched you practice just now. You seemed a bit unhappy. Why? Are you very tired?”

That was the first time her heart was moved.

After breaking up for so many years, Shen Yu rarely mentioned her ex-girlfriend to outsiders.

Firstly, given her identity, her sexual orientation was difficult to disclose to outsiders.

Secondly, the mere thought of Wen Xi caused a sharp ache in her heart, let alone talking about her with others.

Wen Xi sat in her office, diligently working for a while. After finalizing the last details with the post-production team, she packaged the files and sent them to Xu Shuili’s studio email.

She stretched, then ripped off the bandage wrapped around her right hand and tossed it into the trash can.

In a momentary trance, she seemed to see the pale pink scar in the palm of her right hand.

She checked the time; it was already 5:30 PM.

She stood up, walked out of her office, and lightly tapped the office glass. “Everyone, you can leave now. You decide where we go for dinner.”

Hearing this, everyone immediately slammed their mouse onto the table.

A cheer went up simultaneously.

“Hot pot, barbecue, grilling, or crayfish?”

“Hot pot, hot pot! Haven’t had it in ages!”

“I agree! How about that place we went to last time? The taste was pretty good.”

Wen Xi smiled. “If everyone agrees, those with cars give a ride to those without. Let’s go.”

Everyone quickly packed their things, shedding their work fatigue.

Wen Xi followed them, chatting with Pu Tao.

PeachPeachPeach: “Boss! Why didn’t you invite me to the dinner, boohoohoo?”

T.T: “Come quickly. We haven’t said we won’t wait for you. That hot pot restaurant we went to last time.”

PeachPeachPeach: “Hehe, I’m actually already on my way!”

T.T: [Angry.jpg]

T.T: “By the way, I haven’t had a chance to ask, what happened with the external location?”

PeachPeachPeach: “Small matter. A few bouquets didn’t satisfy the client’s taste. I went with them to a few shops to reorder.”

Wen Xi frowned slightly.

T.T: “Did they need to call you for something like that?”

PeachPeachPeach: “Couldn’t be helped. The client actually said she didn’t trust anyone else’s aesthetic and insisted I accompany her shopping.”

Wen Xi was speechless, sighing helplessly. After all, the client is king.

She typed sincerely.

T.T: “You worked hard.”

As they chatted, they got off the elevator. Wen Xi didn’t have a car, so she hitched a ride with an employee to the mall next door.

When they arrived, Pu Tao also walked in shortly after.

Wen Xi had reserved a private room. The temperature inside was comfortable. Pu Tao collapsed into a seat as soon as she entered.

Wen Xi smiled at her. “To reward you, what do you want to eat?”

Pu Tao held up three fingers. “I want three plates of duck intestine.”

Just as Wen Xi was about to say something, her phone suddenly rang. She looked at the caller, quickly said, Order whatever, I’m paying, and went out to a secluded corner to answer the call.

“Hello.”

It was Yu Qiao calling.

“Sorry, I just saw my phone. Did Shen Yu come looking for you?”

Wen Xi said, “Yes, she was staking out the entrance to the residential complex.”

Yu Qiao sighed. “Didn’t I tell you not to go out recently?”

Wen Xi spoke softly, “Something unexpected came up today. I couldn’t avoid it.”

Yu Qiao: “You must have guessed she deliberately lured you out, right? It’s been ten years. You’ve changed, and she has too. She’s been working in the entertainment industry for so long; these tactics are easy for her.”

Wen Xi frowned slightly. “Don’t talk about her like that.”

Yu Qiao: “…Sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Wen Xi readily accepted the apology. “Anyway, she can’t do anything to me.”

Yu Qiao chuckled. “Are you proud of that?”

Wen Xi refuted, “I just haven’t said anything. I didn’t answer anything she asked me.”

Yu Qiao was silent for a long time. Wen Xi could vaguely hear the sound of her lighting a lighter.

Yu Qiao said, “Actually, it wouldn’t be a big deal if you came clean to her. What happened back then… you were innocent.”

“I don’t want to talk about that,” Wen Xi looked at the darkening sky outside, dotted with sparse stars. “You know, if I wanted to tell her, I would have done so already.”

She initially kept silent for fear of jeopardizing Shen Yu’s future, afraid that their relationship would be exposed and Shen Yu’s career would be ruined before it even started because of her.

Later, she kept silent for fear that Shen Yu would feel too guilty, afraid it would bring a great burden to Shen Yu.

She didn’t want their relationship to be tainted with Shen Yu’s apology towards her. That kind of emotion was not what she wanted at all.

She wanted Shen Yu to love her from the bottom of her heart. She wanted their relationship to be pure and flawless.

She didn’t want to see Shen Yu suffer again because of her. She didn’t want to see Shen Yu’s eyes filled with pity every time she looked at her after knowing the truth.

She only wanted Shen Yu to love her.

Not to love her based on a sense of obligation to compensate her.

If that were the case, she would rather Shen Yu never know the truth.

“Let’s change the topic,” Yu Qiao had spent years with Wen Xi and understood her temper somewhat. “You said she can’t seem to forget you?”

Wen Xi said cautiously, “Possibly.”

“Then what are you planning to do?”

Wen Xi sighed. “I feel very conflicted. When I heard Shen Yu say she had been looking for me all these years, I felt panicked, but also secretly delighted.”

Wen Xi smiled. “Am I a bad person? Hypocrite is the word for me, right?”