Everyone is Crazy - Chapter 9

Meng Yu’an’s condition wasn’t too severe. Thanks to timely emergency treatment, she hadn’t suffered significant physical harm, but the effects of the drug hadn’t worn off yet, leaving her in a continuous state of unconsciousness. Meng Xingci sat on the long bench, with Tan Muxi seated beside her.

Once inseparable confidantes, they now faced each other in silence.

Time had carved a deep chasm between them.

Meng Xingci managed to crack a joke: “Late again, sorry.”

Tan Muxi tilted her head to look at her, and after a moment, said, “I can forgive you for tonight.”

Meng Xingci lowered her gaze, her sleek hair cascading to one side. She hadn’t changed her clothes, still wearing a black suit, her long hair loose down her back. The way she sat caused a few strands to fall across her chest. With no bangs, her fair forehead was fully exposed. Tan Muxi noticed one of her elbows resting lightly on the armrest of the bench, while the other hand hung limply. Her expression wasn’t as tense as it had been on set.

There was a calmness about her, as if she had weathered countless storms.

Tan Muxi asked, “Did the negotiations with Guangfa go smoothly?”

The sudden topic made Meng Xingci turn her head, meeting Tan Muxi’s gaze. In that moment, she felt as if there was a needle in Tan Muxi’s eyes, piercing deep into her heart, wrapping her body in a dense, aching pain. Meng Xingci replied, “Quite smoothly.”

Tan Muxi pressed further, “Was it because the blind date didn’t go well?”

If it weren’t for Ye Ying’s confirmation, she wouldn’t have believed such an absurd reason. Although it had been five years since she last contacted Meng Xingci, she remembered her former temperament as gentle and measured in her actions.

Nothing like now, ruthless and uncompromising.

But Tan Muxi adored this kind of approach.

Extreme, unyielding, fervent.

Meng Xingci said, “What if it was?”

Tan Muxi replied, “Then I think you did exceptionally well.”

Meng Xingci furrowed her brows, locking eyes with Tan Muxi as if to confirm her words weren’t laced with sarcasm. Then, her expression relaxed, and she smiled.

A doctor hurried out of the ward, followed by Ye Ying approaching Meng Xingci and whispering, “President Meng, Miss Meng has woken up.”

Just as Meng Xingci stood up, Tan Muxi said, “I’ll head off then.”

She picked up her bag, her expression calm. Meng Xingci watched her profile and asked, “Heading back to the set?”

Tan Muxi said, “Going home.” She glanced at her wristwatch. “Liu Shuyun is about to finish work.”

Meng Xingci instructed, “Ye Ying, escort Miss Tan.”

“No need,” Tan Muxi declined. “I know the way.” With that, she turned and left the corridor. Meng Xingci watched her retreating figure, silent for a few seconds before entering the inner ward. Shan Yingfeng was taken aback upon seeing Tan Muxi emerge. “Teacher Tan.”

Tan Muxi remarked, “What guilty conscience are you harboring against me to look so nervous?”

“N-No,” Shan Yingfeng stammered. “I thought you went in to see Miss Meng.”

Then, puzzled, she added, “Didn’t Miss Meng wake up?”

Tan Muxi retorted, “Just because she’s awake, I have to go see her?”

Shan Yingfeng shook her head. Of course not, but hadn’t she come today precisely because of Meng Yu’an? Why wouldn’t she go in now that Meng Yu’an was awake? Shan Yingfeng’s face was a mask of confusion. Tan Muxi glanced at her expression but offered no explanation, simply lowering her head and stepping into the elevator.

The elevator was quiet. Shan Yingfeng held her breath, watching the floor numbers descend one by one. Tan Muxi stood casually, pulling a mask and sunglasses from her bag. Although this was a private hospital with strict access controls, she still disguised herself just in case. The lobby on the first floor was brightly lit, with security guards standing on either side, not particularly busy. The receptionist nurse, seated in front of her computer, glanced up at the sound from the elevator before lowering her head to continue working. As Tan Muxi stepped out of the elevator and was about to leave the lobby with Shan Yingfeng, someone called from behind, “Mu—” The person bit back the word and changed the address: “Sister-in-law?”

Tan Muxi turned and saw Liu Yunsheng standing behind her.

Liu Yunsheng quickened her pace and stood in front of Tan Muxi. Tan Muxi said to Shan Yingfeng, “Wait for me in the car first.”

Shan Yingfeng recognized Liu Yunsheng and nodded in greeting. “Good evening, Director Liu.”

Liu Yunsheng smiled at her. Shan Yingfeng, carrying Tan Muxi’s bag, headed to the car, glancing back every few steps and scanning her surroundings vigilantly. Her furtive, cautious demeanor was almost comical. Tan Muxi watched her for a moment before lowering her sunglasses slightly, letting them rest awkwardly on the bridge of her nose. She asked Liu Yunsheng, “What are you doing at the hospital?”

“I should be asking you that,” Liu Yunsheng retorted. “Why are you here?”

Tan Muxi replied, “Visiting a friend.”

Liu Yunsheng pressed, “Which friend?” Then, shifting her tone, she added, “Liu Shuyun?” She smirked gleefully. “What’s wrong with her? Is it serious? Do I need to go home and mourn?”

Tan Muxi: …

Having just witnessed the sister-obsessed Meng Xingci, encountering Liu Yunsheng felt jarring.

Unlike the affectionate sisters of the Meng family, the Liu sisters were the epitome of mutual resentment neither happy to see the other alive. It wasn’t that they held any deep-seated hatred, but during high school, the two had gone to a resort to escape the summer heat. That very night, Liu Shuyun was tragically kidnapped. The Liu family went through immense effort to rescue her from the kidnappers, a feat hailed as a miracle at the time.

After her return, the family showered Liu Shuyun with everything she wanted, completely neglecting Liu Yunsheng. Whenever the sisters desired the same thing, their parents would give it to Liu Shuyun without considering Liu Yunsheng’s feelings. Over time, Liu Yunsheng developed psychological issues, her personality growing increasingly twisted.

As for Liu Shuyun, ever since her return from the kidnapping, her temperament had never been pleasant.

Whenever the sisters met, it was like enemies facing off. Their words sharp as knives, each remark drawing blood.

Tan Muxi remembered the first time she went home with Liu Shuyun. Liu’s mother introduced her, “This is your sister’s girlfriend. From now on, you should call her sister-in-law.”

Liu Yunsheng sneered, “Sister-in-law? Really? So, whoever she brings home is ‘sister-in-law,’ but whoever I bring home is a ‘worthless woman’? How did you all scold me? Now you talk about being open-minded and not caring about these things—is that aimed at me, or is it just that the person I brought home wasn’t right?”

“If the person I brought home wasn’t right, then next time I’ll bring her back too.” Liu Yunsheng sat beside Tan Muxi, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. As her face drew close to Tan Muxi’s, Tan Muxi slapped her without hesitation.

The slap stunned everyone present; the Liu parents, Liu Yunsheng, and even Liu Shuyun, who remained expressionless, calmly sipping her tea from the other side.

Liu Yunsheng covered her cheek, her beautiful face filled with disbelief and shock in her eyes. Tan Muxi turned sideways but didn’t create distance, making it seem as if she were nestled in Liu Yunsheng’s embrace. She lifted her head slightly, her gaze as cool as water, and asked Liu Yunsheng, “Are you a bit clearer-headed now?”

Liu Yunsheng glared at Tan Muxi, a fierce look in her eyes that seemed to say, “Even you dare to bully me?” Tan Muxi simply watched her calmly. The two locked eyes for a few seconds before Liu Yunsheng snorted angrily, turned, and stormed out of the living room.

Mrs. Liu was about to chase after her, but Liu Shuyun said, “Let her go.”

The living room fell silent again. The Liu elders sat opposite them. Liu Shuyun held Tan Muxi’s hand, deliberately rubbing her palm before wiping it clean with a wet wipe, along with each finger. Tan Muxi just lowered her gaze, watching Liu Shuyun’s meticulous and earnest movements, over and over again.

After this incident, Liu Yunsheng and Tan Muxi didn’t become enemies. Instead, Liu Yunsheng’s relationship with Liu Shuyun grew increasingly tense, with arguments breaking out whenever they met. Liu Yunsheng, who worked with words for a living, was sharp-tongued and skilled at hurling insults. Liu Shuyun, on the other hand, usually responded with just one word: “Get lost!”

Fuming with rage, Liu Yunsheng did exactly that. She left the Liu family and rarely returned in the following years. Yet, Tan Muxi never lacked updates about Liu Yunsheng. She joined a rival company, became a director, and grew increasingly famous, her works improving steadily. She deliberately scheduled her drama releases to clash with Times Media’s new shows. Not only that, she went to great lengths to persuade Tan Muxi to star as the female lead in her productions. Even if Tan Muxi refused a hundred times, Liu Yunsheng would eagerly deliver a new script as soon as it was ready. Unlike the anger and resentment she showed toward Liu Shuyun, Liu Yunsheng was sweet and affectionate toward Tan Muxi, calling her “sister-in-law” repeatedly and chattering endlessly. This left the media, who had assumed the sisters’ relationship was irreparably broken, utterly baffled.

Tan Muxi thought she was a masochist.

That one slap had simply awakened her hidden nature.

But Liu Yunsheng paid no mind to outsiders’ opinions. When it came to doing as they pleased, neither sister held back. Every time they met, Liu Yunsheng would cling to her. Like now, Tan Muxi took two steps back, creating distance between them, and said, “It’s not your sister.”

Liu Yunsheng’s tone instantly dropped. “Oh,” she said. “What a shame.”

Tan Muxi: …

She asked Liu Yunsheng, “What are you doing at the hospital?”

Liu Yunsheng replied, “I have a headache. Came to get some medicine.”

She suffered from migraines, something Tan Muxi knew. Once, during a crew dinner, Liu Yunsheng happened to be filming next door and was invited over. After several rounds of drinks, she was rushed to the hospital. The doctor scolded her severely, explaining that she shouldn’t drink after taking headache medication. Tan Muxi wanted to call Liu Yunsheng’s parents, but Liu Yunsheng refused. Tan Muxi stayed by her side until past three in the morning.

When Liu Yunsheng woke up, she tearfully said, “Sister-in-law, you do care about me.”

Tan Muxi replied mercilessly, “I was just afraid you’d die and blame me for it.”

Liu Yunsheng: …

Somehow, Liu Shuyun found out about this later and spent days coaxing her.

Tan Muxi adjusted her sunglasses, her gaze hidden behind the lenses, her expression unreadable and cold. Liu Yunsheng didn’t mind. “Since we’ve run into each other, how about grabbing a drink?”

Tan Muxi’s gaze lowered, and she looked down. Liu Yunsheng noticed her staring at the medicine bag in her hand and raised it. “Haven’t taken it yet. I can drink.”

Tan Muxi said, “Forget it. Next time.”

Liu Yunsheng pressed, “When is next time?”

How would she know when next time would be?

Tan Muxi remained silent. Liu Yunsheng said, “How about this: a drink in exchange for a piece of information.”

Information? What information?

Liu Yunsheng played his trump card: “The piece of information you care about the most.”

Tan Muxi took off her sunglasses, her phoenix eyes meeting Liu Yunsheng’s gaze with undisturbed calm. Her voice was equally composed: “Director Liu, there is no information I care about the most.”

Her attitude was somewhat aloof.

Liu Yunsheng said, “Is that so? You don’t even want to know about Sister Xiao’an?”

Tan Muxi’s expression remained unchanged as she continued to look at Liu Yunsheng.

Meeting her gaze without flinching, Liu Yunsheng stated, “I bet Liu Shuyun definitely didn’t tell you. Sister Xiao’an is back.”