Distance Formula - Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Bai Biqing moved swiftly. Just as Cui Xiaojiu’s popularity was peaking, she began releasing black materials—derogatory information, followed by solid evidence.

Cui Xiaojiu was being cursed into oblivion across the internet. She curled up on her sofa, unable to believe everything that had happened. She called Liu Sheng, who finally picked up, only to say his first sentence: “Why on earth did you have to provoke Bai Biqing?”

She had considered this question when the interview first came out. Anyone willing to be Su Yanshi’s assistant clearly had an unusual relationship with her. Her manager had told her to observe first and, if things went south, to apologize to minimize losses. But then, her resources had suddenly improved. The skyrocketing value of her brand made her believe Bai Biqing wouldn’t hold a grudge. But now, Liu Sheng told her that all of it had been Bai Biqing’s arrangement.

The resources were given by Bai Biqing, and the black materials were released by Bai Biqing. Because of Su Yanshi, this person had never intended to let her off the hook.

Cui Xiaojiu huddled under her duvet. Every public social media site was lagging from the sheer volume of insults; she didn’t even dare click on them. Her face was sallow, her eyes sunken, with not a trace of her former refinement. The exorbitant contract termination fees meant she was already beyond saving.

The Alpha’s eyes were filled with resentment; she had lost everything. Just as she was about to call Liu Sheng again, the doorbell rang. Cui Xiaojiu looked warily through the peephole.

It wasn’t anyone she knew. Just as she prepared to ignore it, the person outside suddenly shouted: “Su Yanshi.”

Cui Xiaojiu’s whole body jolted. She wrenched the door open. Standing outside was a middle-aged man in a suit and leather shoes. He smiled at her, yet there was a strangely terrifying feeling about him. His voice sounded ethereal: “I can help you turn the tables. I’ll give you resources. I know Bai Biqing is the one who ruined you. Do something for me in a few days, and I will return you to your peak.”

The Alpha looked at the bank card being held out and swallowed greedily.

“Tomorrow is the final wrap-up scene. Are you still busy?” Su Yanshi lay on the bed, video-calling Bai Biqing.

Bai Biqing was still working. The internal affairs of the Bai Corporation had been stirred into a mess by a few “old relics.” She and her brother had to wipe these people out in one fell swoop.

She wore headphones, leaving one ear free, and spared some attention for Su Yanshi: “Yeah. I have to make good money so I can support you later.”

Su Yanshi rested her chin on her hands and joked: “According to our contract, you, as an assistant, ran away before your term was even up.”

Bai Biqing laughed: “Then what should I do? How much do you want? I wonder if I can afford the penalty.”

The Alpha let out a low laugh. Looking at Bai Biqing’s profile as she worked seriously, she felt that everything was different after falling in love. Her partner looked beautiful no matter how she viewed her.

She suddenly sighed and pulled out a spare phone. She began playing a video: “Teacher Bai, you look so good on TV.”

Bai Biqing stole a quick glance, her fingers never stopping their work: “Not as good as you.”

Su Yanshi rolled over. She pulled several drawings and a sketchbook out of her small bag. If anyone had been paying attention, they would recognize it as the one Bai Biqing used to carry.

She flipped through it; it was full of sketches Bai Biqing had drawn of her, along with a few others Bai Biqing had drawn at unknown times. She looked at them carefully and put them back with satisfaction.

Bai Biqing noticed her movements, stopped her work, and focused on Su Yanshi: “What is it? Why are you looking at those drawings? Aren’t you going to look at me?”

Su Yanshi didn’t look up: “I was wondering when you drew these.”

“In my spare time.”

Su Yanshi looked at the screen with a look of mock grievance. She opened her spare phone: “Wait a second, let me read you a few comments.”

Bai Biqing listened intently: “Go ahead.”

The Alpha cleared her throat: “‘So Teacher Baishi is actually Bai Biqing! She’s so rich and charming. My Yanshi is truly punching above her weight.’”

“Pfft.” Bai Biqing couldn’t hold back a laugh. Meeting Su Yanshi’s stare, she suppressed it. “Continue.”

“‘My CP ended up as a BE (Bad Ending). Such a pity.’”

Bai Biqing was confused: “It’s not a BE, it’s a total HE (Happy Ending).”

“But I learned some things from the replies to this comment.” Su Yanshi’s expression turned serious. “‘It’s a real BE, everyone stop shipping them. I heard the Bai family is choosing Omegas and Alphas for Bai Biqing, and apparently, it’s a match.’”

She continued scrolling: “‘It’s true they are looking for a partner for Bai Biqing, but I don’t know if it’s a success yet. It seems an Omega has already caught her eye.’”

Bai Biqing: “…”

The Beta let out a “hiss” and pressed her hands together: “People are trying to push others toward me, but I haven’t taken a liking to any of them. And it’s not the Bai family doing the pushing. My relatives respect my choices very much; they actually really want to meet you.”

Su Yanshi was startled: “They know about us?”

Bai Biqing said nonchalantly: “I told them the very first day we were together.”

The Alpha bit back her words and lay down again: “An ugly daughter-in-law meeting the in-laws… I’m so afraid they won’t like me.”

Bai Biqing scolded her gently: “How could they? Our Yanshi is so good.”

“And our Yanshi is so beautiful.”

Su Yanshi laughed. Ever since Bai Biqing was fully exposed to the public eye, she had been following the online trends. She had been trying hard to adjust her mindset these past few days and trusted her deeply. But occasionally, she would still think: if Bai Biqing could draw a picture for her today, could she do it for someone else tomorrow?

She had never been in this social circle, but she had heard of it. The “biological wall” of the different social spheres made her uneasy. After all, the things said online sounded so real, and external public opinion still affected her.

The Alpha lay on the bed and asked with a sad expression: “I’m saying if… will there come a day when you don’t like drawing me anymore?”

As soon as she said it, she contradicted herself: “I feel so dejected.”

Bai Biqing’s expression didn’t change. She made time to follow online trends as well, knowing they would affect Su Yanshi to some degree. She let out a “hmm” and showed a joyful expression: “Yanshi, come to my side after you wrap tomorrow.”

“I want to bring you into my world. I hope we can understand each other more.”

She felt a bit guilty: “I was the one who pursued you, yet we went long-distance just a few days after being together. I’ll arrange my time better after this.”

Su Yanshi sat up, holding her phone. Despite being thousands of miles apart, her heart was thumping. She said: “I will always be by your side.”

Bai Biqing’s eyes were full of smiles: “Yanshi, besides my own ideas, you will always be the female lead of my drawings. Whether it’s now or in the future.”

“I forgot to say it today: Yanshi, you are very beautiful today, too. I love you.”

Su Yanshi sat in the makeup room. Today was the final scene. Su Shang sat beside her. The Omega said: “I’m watching the flight for tonight; you should be in time.”

The Alpha nodded: “I’ll make it. Teacher Su, is the situation over there very serious?”

Su Shang finally looked up from her phone, her smile bold: “You have to trust her, Yanshi. If Bai Biqing hadn’t gotten sick, she would have been a brilliant entrepreneur.”

Su Yanshi didn’t say anything after hearing this. She dazed for a few seconds before breaking into a smile: “She is indeed very brilliant and outstanding.”

The Omega looked like she couldn’t stand the sight of it: “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Love truly makes people numb.”

At nine in the morning, the final scene officially began filming.

Just like the beginning’s conclusion, Jiang Yin and Bai Yunyan had reached their final step.

Under the weight of continuous conflicts, Bai Yunyan eventually left. Jiang Yin asked her if they should try again.

“Action.” Director Liu’s steady, powerful voice stirred everyone’s hearts.

Su Yanshi stood on one side of the road. People and cars came and went, and in a daze, she could see Hu Liyang.

She lowered her eyes. When she looked up again, she was completely Bai Yunyan.

It was a silent conversation.

They were like two intersecting lines that had already passed each other. Bai Yunyan held a wood-colored bag, a red ribbon from their first meeting tied around her wrist. Jiang Yin stood not far from her, but neither took a step closer.

Jiang Yin could no longer cry. She only felt a sharp, unbearable ache that was so dense it almost suffocated her. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

Several cars sped past. She blinked, and Bai Yunyan was nowhere to be seen. Only the paper bag remained on the ground, the red ribbon fluttering in the wind.

Inside the bag was Bai Yunyan’s final work—My Lover.

She had finished that shredded painting after all. Like the red ribbon, she had never stayed on that tree.

The sun was bright today. Jiang Yin’s expression was somewhat blank. She gave a self-mocking laugh, squatted on the ground, and stared dazeedly in the direction Bai Yunyan had left.

“Cut!”

“That’s a wrap!”

“Finally finished! Hurray!”

“…”

Su Yanshi pulled Hu Liyang up from the ground, and the two shared a brief hug. All the missing scenes had been completed. After nearly two months, Three Times had officially wrapped.

Director Liu treated everyone to a meal. Su Yanshi didn’t show any sadness; she was thinking that she would soon be able to see Bai Biqing.

During these days apart, she had missed her terribly.

Knowing Su Yanshi was coming, Bai Biqing didn’t have time to send her congratulations. Today, she had rarely applied makeup; her red lipstick made her look even more cold and elegant. She had her hair tied up and wore a women’s suit, toying with a fountain pen while expertly hiding the dark circles under her eyes. Before her was a cup of tea that had gone cold.

She looked nonchalantly at the restless people sitting there, sneering with a tone full of threats unseen in the past: “Uncles, do you have anything else to say?”

“My brother and father care about your past friendship, but I am different. I’m someone who likes doing heartless things. Just as you say in private, I have no heart and don’t know how to show mercy when I act.”

She took a sip of tea: “After all, things belonging to the Bai family shouldn’t be touched by outsiders, right? Wild ambitions—”

Bai Biqing’s smile was exceptionally provocative: “must be suppressed in the heart. Don’t let yourself be caught red-handed by mistake.”

These past few days, she and her brother had played the “good cop, bad cop” routine, and the play was finally over. Now was the time to close the net.

Bai Biqing and her brother shared a knowing glance and looked down with a light laugh simultaneously.

After the meeting ended, she turned and walked out. Back in her office, she dialed Su Yanshi’s number. To her surprise, it was already the early hours of the morning, and the Alpha had just gotten off the plane.

“Teacher Bai, are you still not finished?”

Bai Biqing looked at the flickering lights outside. Thinking about how close Su Yanshi was to her, she felt everything was worth it: “Are you home?”

“I am.”

The Beta pressed her head against the glass and said apologetically: “I have a cocktail party tomorrow; please attend with me. I have things to do today and a checkup scheduled, so we might not be able to meet. Su Shang has arranged everything. I want to secure my status.”

By the end, Bai Biqing’s voice lilted upward.

Su Yanshi lay on the bed and blew a kiss to the phone: “You’ve worked hard, my Assistant Bai. I’ll wait for you. No rush.”

Bai Biqing’s eyes crinkled. Seeing it was late, she said: “Goodnight. See you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow.”

Humming a tune, Bai Biqing pushed open the hidden door of her office. Though separated by several meters, they slept through the night together.

Bai Biqing went to see the doctor at noon. After many tests, the results came out one after another in the afternoon. The doctor adjusted his glasses with a joyful look: “Good. Your condition has improved significantly. Congratulations.”

The Beta thought for a moment: “Then is it normal that I can’t smell pheromones lately, and my partner says my pheromone scent has faded?”

She lit up her screen; she was currently on a call with Su Yanshi.

The doctor nodded: “Your gland will gradually disappear, so everything will trend toward the normal characteristics of a Beta. Don’t worry. The bond between you and your partner remains.” Bai Biqing said she understood, asked about other matters, and left the hospital.

She picked up her phone: “Are you relieved now?”

Su Yanshi: “Mhm, I am. You still have to take your medicine properly and get rid of the illness as soon as possible.”

Bai Biqing agreed: “Okay, okay.”

“Then I won’t disturb you anymore.”

Bai Biqing swayed her body: “Okay, Yanshi. I’ll video call you tonight.”

The call ended. The Beta, holding her medicine, was walking toward the underground garage when she ran headlong into someone she didn’t like very much.

Out of politeness, she still greeted him: “Uncle Bai.”

The man called Uncle Bai looked kind and genial, but Bai Biqing knew his methods and his heart all too well.

“Little Bai, how is your health?”

Bai Biqing curled her lips into a smile: “No need for Uncle Bai to worry.”

Uncle Bai didn’t mind. He laughed loudly, the sound echoing through the garage and gradually turning ethereal. He strangely patted Bai Biqing’s shoulder, his gaze ambiguous: “Good luck to you.”

Bai Biqing’s expression tightened. She gave a slight nod, her heart growing uneasy. She didn’t know what kind of trouble these fools were trying to stir up again—they never did anything good, yet their bad deeds were increasingly foolish.

A look of ruthlessness flashed through her eyes. They had better not reach their hands out too far.

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