Everyone is Crazy - Chapter 7

Because of Liu Shuyun, Tan Muxi had gained a new perspective on the dynamics between sisters. Of course, she wasn’t biased enough to think that all sisters in the world were like the pair from the Liu family at least the pair before her wasn’t.

She had heard Meng Xingci mention Meng Yu’an five years ago. Each time, it was only a few words, and they rarely seemed to call each other. Still, whenever Meng Xingci brought up Meng Yu’an, her expression softened noticeably.

Tan Muxi had always thought Meng Xingci was a competent older sister.

Who knew she was also a siscon?

She had agreed to the cameo because her sister wanted to see her act alongside Tan Muxi, and tonight’s dinner was also arranged for Meng Yu’an.

Truthfully, it wasn’t necessary to go to such lengths. Even without this collaboration, Tan Muxi would have considered Meng Xingci’s invitation carefully, given the kindness she and Aunt Bai had shown her in the past. A simple meal together really didn’t require all this fuss.

But perhaps Meng Xingci was just indulging her acting bug.

She had once said that she loved acting, loved playing different roles. The happiest times in her life, from childhood to now, were the days spent on set. Whenever she talked about the luckiest moments in her life, it always came back to that time she visited a film set with her parents.

Meng Xingci truly loved acting.

That was why Tan Muxi had never understood her decision to start a company. Now, in this situation, Meng Yu’an said, “I’m the one who held her back.”

Was it because of Meng Yu’an?

Well, that made sense.

There was nothing strange about a siscon doing anything for her sister.

Tan Muxi said, “I don’t think it’s your fault. She just knows what’s more important.”

Meng Yu’an seemed momentarily lost in thought at her words. Meng Xingci poured tea for both of them, the fragrance of the tea spreading through the air. She picked up the menu and asked Tan Muxi, “What would you like to eat?”

Tan Muxi replied, “I’m fine with anything.”

Meng Xingci glanced up at her. In her memory, Tan Muxi had never been picky about food. Everyone had their preferences when it came to meals, but Tan Muxi didn’t. Her lunch boxes were always finished, and during group meals, she would eat whatever dish happened to be in front of her.

She had once joked about herself, saying she wasn’t picky and was easy to feed.

Meng Xingci lowered her gaze and ordered two homestyle dishes, requesting that they be prepared lightly.

Tan Muxi noticed that after placing the order, Meng Xingci sent a message to Shan Yingfeng, telling her to come in and eat. It was probably time to stop avoiding suspicion. Shan Yingfeng sent back a photo of a table full of delicacies and replied, “Teacher Tan, I’ve already eaten. Haven’t you started yet?”

Tan Muxi checked the time and realized they had been talking for half an hour already.

Their meal reservation was for an hour and a half.

She replied to Shan Yingfeng, “About to eat.”

Shan Yingfeng sent back a smiling emoji.

Tan Muxi put away her phone and heard Meng Yu’an ask, “Miss Tan, what do you like to do in your free time?”

Her?

Her free time was mostly spent either rolling around in bed with Liu Shuyun or studying scripts and daydreaming. Tan Muxi smiled elegantly and said, “Reading.”

Meng Yu’an nodded. “No wonder Miss Tan is so cultured.”

Tan Muxi accepted the compliment without batting an eye, raising a phoenix-like gaze as she asked, “And you, Miss Meng?”

Meng Yu’an thought for a few seconds before replying, “I don’t really have anything I like to do.”

Tan Muxi took a sip of tea and said, “That’s fine too.”

Meng Yu’an smiled softly. “Is it really okay not to have any hobbies?”

Tan Muxi glanced at Meng Xingci, who was staring at her cup in silence, and curved her lips. “Of course. Interests shouldn’t be shackles.”

Meng Yu’an’s expression brightened even more. She looked at Tan Muxi and said, “You’re right.”

Her delight was written all over her face.

Tan Muxi smiled, her phoenix eyes narrowing slightly. Just then, the private room door opened, and a server brought in the dishes. Though well-trained and accustomed to celebrities, the server still seemed a bit unnatural when making eye contact with Tan Muxi or Meng Xingci. The one serving near Tan Muxi, in particular, moved as if in slow motion, adjusting the placement of the dishes on the rotating tray two or three times before finally spacing them out properly. Bowing her head, she said, “Please enjoy your meal.”

Meng Xingci nodded, and the room fell quiet again. She turned the lazy Susan and asked Tan Muxi, “Care to try some?”

Tan Muxi picked up a dish in front of her and took a bite. Spoiled by Sister Wu’s cooking, everything else now seemed bland by comparison. She set down her chopsticks and said, “It’s quite good. Is this one of their signature dishes?”

Meng Xingci replied, “Yes, I ordered a few of their specialties.”

She then glanced at Meng Yu’an, signaling for her to try as well.

Meng Yu’an ate slowly, which matched her overall demeanor; leisurely in everything she did. Tan Muxi took a sip of tea and suddenly craved something sweet. Whenever her mouth felt bitter, she liked to have candy.

What kind of tea was this?
So bitter.

Sister Wu’s honey tea was much better, and Liu Shuyun’s wasn’t bad either.

Tan Muxi lowered her gaze, her expression unchanged. When Meng Yu’an looked over, she curved her lips into a smile. The meal proceeded pleasantly enough. As it neared the end, Meng Yu’an asked, “Miss Tan, out of all the books you’ve read, do you have a favorite?”

Tan Muxi thought for a moment and said, “There’s one called Humanities that I quite like.”

Meng Yu’an smiled softly. “I have a favorite too, it’s called If There Is Tomorrow.”

Tan Muxi replied politely, “I’ll try to find time to read it.”

Meng Yu’an said, “That would be nice.”

Her smile was shy, her skin an unhealthy pale, but whenever she spoke to Tan Muxi, a faint blush colored her cheeks. Her eyes were large and clear, her brows delicate. A classical kind of beauty.

Meng Yu’an was absolutely right.
She and Meng Xingci looked nothing alike. Meng Xingci’s features were strikingly proper, with a heroic air between her brows. Tan Muxi recalled an interview where a reporter had asked Meng Xingci what kind of role she most wanted to challenge. She’d said, “A twisted villain.” The reporter laughed and replied, “You might not get the chance.”

And it was true! With her looks, if she played a villain, audiences would assume she was an undercover agent.

Snapping out of her thoughts, Tan Muxi noticed Meng Yu’an retrieving an exquisitely wrapped gift box from under her wheelchair. It was square and neatly packaged. Meng Yu’an said to her, “It’s a small gift. May I give it to you?”

Her eyes held a hint of pleading.

Tan Muxi didn’t take it immediately but instead glanced at Meng Xingci, who was also watching Meng Yu’an but remained silent.

Tan Muxi asked, “What is it?” She teased lightly, “If it’s too expensive, it might count as a bribe, you know.”

Meng Yu’an’s voice was gentle. “It’s not expensive. It’s a scarf I knitted myself. I hope you like it.”

A scarf? In the middle of summer?

Tan Muxi accepted it and said, “Thank you.”

Watching her take the gift, Meng Yu’an smiled with relief. “You’re welcome.”

She then looked up, meeting Tan Muxi’s gaze. Tan Muxi thought she saw a glimmer of tears in her eyes, but before she could look closer, Meng Yu’an lowered her head, avoiding her gaze. Meng Yu’an said, “Sis, I’ll head back now. You still have night scenes to shoot later, right?”

“Yes,” Meng Xingci replied, her words unusually sparse tonight. “I’ll have Ye Ying take you back.”

Meng Yu’an said, “Okay.”

Ye Ying came in and wheeled Meng Yu’an out. Only after she had left did Meng Xingci say, “Thank you for tonight.”

Tan Muxi said, “President Meng, you’re too polite. The best way to thank me is not to be late for filming next time.”

Meng Xingci: …

Shan Yingfeng followed Ye Ying into the private room and saw Tan Muxi walking out. She glanced at Meng Xingci behind her and whispered, “Teacher Tan, did you have a fight with Teacher Meng?”

What kind of look is that?

Tan Muxi replied, “No, we didn’t.”

She didn’t like arguing with people anyway.

Shan Yingfeng trailed behind her and asked, “So you two made up?”

Tan Muxi: …

Is this some kind of elementary school game?

Fighting and making up.

She turned to look at Shan Yingfeng and suddenly smiled. “Are you hoping we fought or made up?”

Shan Yingfeng actually took her question seriously. If they fought, at least there wouldn’t be dating rumors. Tan Muxi could generate four or five dating scandals per drama. All false, but enough to keep the PR department busy for a while. Plus, it wasn’t good for Tan Muxi’s image. If they made up, rumors and gossip would spread again. Although Tan Muxi was no stranger to gossip, this was a popular CP with a fanbase and influence that couldn’t be underestimated. What if the CP fans turned against her later and started bashing Tan Muxi.

She was thinking so seriously, considering every angle, that Tan Muxi hadn’t expected such a simple question to stump Shan Yingfeng.

But it was just as well.

At least it was quiet now.

When they arrived on set, she called Liu Shuyun, but the secretary answered, saying Liu Shuyun was still in a meeting.

Although Liu Shuyun wasn’t a workaholic, overtime was a regular occurrence. Tan Muxi put down her phone and sat in the lounge chair. Having eaten little for dinner, she now nibbled on an ice ball made from drinking water to hydrate. It was tasteless but helped cool her down.

In the distance, the director was instructing the props team to get ready. Shan Yingfeng came running back, panting. The weather was hot, and there were plenty of mosquitoes. An air-conditioned fan was placed near Tan Muxi, and under the bright lights, insects swarmed around the glow, adding to the sweltering summer heat.

Shan Yingfeng said, “Teacher Tan, time for touch-ups. It’ll be our turn soon.”

The stylist, carrying a large case, followed behind Shan Yingfeng and smiled when she met Tan Muxi’s eyes. “Teacher Tan, you’re so naturally beautiful, you hardly need any makeup.”

Though it was flattery, it wasn’t untrue. A couple of years ago, Tan Muxi had chosen to appear without makeup for a role and ended up gaining a wave of fans captivated by her looks. Her skin was delicate and fair, full of collagen, truly living up to the saying “so tender it could be broken by a puff of air.”

The makeup artist worked efficiently and soon finished the touch-up. On the other side, Meng Xingci was also ready. The two of them entered the frame one after the other.

Extras off-camera whispered, “I heard they had a falling out. Is it true?”

Someone retorted, “Seems like it. They say Meng Xingci can’t stand the sight of Tan Muxi.”

How could that be? She even invited Teacher Tan to dinner tonight. Shan Yingfeng, walking past the crowd and overhearing this, rolled her eyes in annoyance but didn’t say anything more. She headed straight to the rest area. After the scene wrapped, when Tan Muxi returned to her lounge chair and saw Shan Yingfeng’s pouting face, she asked, “What’s wrong?”

Shan Yingfeng lowered her voice, about to tattle, but then thought it might upset Tan Muxi and simply pursed her lips.

Tan Muxi’s phoenix eyes lifted slightly, as if she already knew what Shan Yingfeng had heard. She didn’t mind and, as she set down the script, noticed the gift box beside her. She had been too busy since returning to open it. Now, Tan Muxi picked up the box, untied the bow, and Shan Yingfeng’s attention was drawn to it as well. She asked, “Teacher Tan, what’s this?”

Tan Muxi said, “A gift.”

Shan Yingfeng asked, “From Teacher Meng?”

After all, she didn’t have it before entering the private room, but now she had a gift. Tan Muxi lowered her eyes and replied, “No.”

Then it must be from the girl in the wheelchair. She was curious and wanted to ask Tan Muxi who it was, but she held back.

Tan Muxi opened the gift box. Inside, a light blue wrapping paper was draped over a towel, reflecting different shades. The towel was bright red, Tan Muxi’s favorite color.

It was hot, and she didn’t feel like trying it on just yet, planning to take a closer look back at the hotel. As she closed the lid, she noticed a small envelope taped to the top. Tan Muxi removed the envelope and opened it to find a card.

On the card was written a single line: [“Good morning, good afternoon, good night.”]

There was no salutation and no signature.

But the handwriting was delicate, and Tan Muxi instantly thought of Meng Yu’an.

What book had she said she liked again?

Tan Muxi called out, “Shan Yingfeng.”

Shan Yingfeng jolted, “Hmm?”

Tan Muxi asked, “Have you ever read the book [‘If There Is Tomorrow’]?”

Shan Yingfeng thought carefully for a few seconds before shaking her head hesitantly, “No.” As she spoke, she took out her phone to search for it. “Is this the one?”

Tan Muxi tilted her head and saw the book’s title page displayed on the screen. She didn’t actually know which book it was either; she had just asked on a whim. Just as she was about to look away, she caught a glimpse of the description and took Shan Yingfeng’s phone to read it closely.

[“If There Is Tomorrow”] tells the story of a girl with bipolar disorder who undergoes active treatment. She believes every day is a fresh start, but reality always deals her a heavy blow just when she starts to feel a little better. In the end, her pet dies unexpectedly, and her spirit shatters. Before choosing to leave this world, she sends a scarf and a card to someone she has secretly admired for a long time. The card reads: [“If there is tomorrow, I want to say to you: Good morning, good afternoon, good night.”]

Tan Muxi clutched Shan Yingfeng’s phone, her gaze dropping to the scarf on the table and the card lying on it. Suddenly, her heart tightened.