No One Knows [Rebirth] - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: She Still Underestimated…

Chen Shuang was sent out by Shen Jiangchun.

In the next second, Shen Jiangchun tossed her phone to Qin Yu and then unceremoniously picked up an apple from the table to peel. “Xi-jie asked me to come and talk some sense into you. We have a gala performance tomorrow. You didn’t show up for today’s rehearsal, and the producers are already very dissatisfied. If you stand them up at the live event tomorrow, both you and I will have to pay the penalty together.”

Qin Yu didn’t bother listening to her. She took the phone and opened the trending searches.

#TangRuibaiSuicide#

#TangRuibaiFuneral#

#GoldenJadeAwardsPostsTributetoTangRuibai#

#FengBaozhu:IWillAlwaysMissYou#

#TangRuibaiTimeofDeath#

#TangRuibaiDepression#

#QinYuGoestoTang Ruibai’s Home#

Three days after Tang Ruibai’s death, she still occupied half of Weibo’s trending list.

News across the internet was saturated with discussions about Tang Ruibai’s death. Some netizens suspected it wasn’t suicide due to depression, but murder.

However, the police report on the third day had already classified the case: it was suicide.

Tang Ruibai had even left a will before her death, donating all her assets to an educational institution for mountain village girls.

Qin Yu’s hand trembled as she swiped the screen, still unable to believe that Tang Ruibai was truly dead.

Even Tang Ruibai’s photos online had turned black and white. Her fans had edited many videos, which were gaining massive traction.

Qin Yu watched those videos over and over again. It felt as if Tang Ruibai was greeting her through the screen, as if Tang Ruibai hadn’t died yet.

Shen Jiangchun finished her apple and tossed the core into the trash. “What exactly was your relationship with Tang Ruibai? Did you two really have a thing?”

Qin Yu didn’t speak.

“So when you both said ‘divorced,’ did you mean you two were actually married?” Shen Jiangchun asked again.

Qin Yu looked up and didn’t deny it.

Shen Jiangchun gasped. “Then this, this, this… what on earth happened? She wouldn’t be someone trapped by love, right? She didn’t seem the type.”

Qin Yu lowered her eyes. She didn’t know how to answer Shen Jiangchun’s question.

Because she didn’t know either.

The beginning for Qin Yu and Tang Ruibai was simple. They had both played handmaidens in the same production and exchanged contact information to introduce work to each other.

Through back-and-forth interactions, they became familiar, and then they filmed a kiss scene together.

That was Qin Yu’s first kiss; her technique was extremely green.

Tang Ruibai was no better, but the moment their lips parted, Qin Yu’s heart stirred, and her ears turned red as she looked at Tang Ruibai’s face.

Not two days later, they met for a meal and a few drinks, and just like that, they ended up in bed together.

There was no confession, no flowers, no romantic ceremony of any kind.

Their most unique bit of chemistry was that after rolling around the sheets, Tang Ruibai would light a cigarette, Qin Yu would lean in for a couple of puffs, and then she would bite Tang Ruibai’s shoulder a few times.

Even when it hurt, Tang Ruibai wouldn’t make a sound, quietly staring at Qin Yu.

Tang Ruibai’s eyes were full of stories, like a dazzling treasure hidden at the bottom of a calm well.

Everyone said Qin Yu had a face born for the big screen, full of narrative depth.

But Qin Yu always felt that Tang Ruibai was more suited for the cinema than she was.

They had walked the path from obscurity to fame together.

Tang Ruibai stood on the podium of the Golden Jade Awards as Best Actress, and then swept the International Wu Tong Award for Best Actress in one fell swoop, becoming the only winner in forty years of Mandarin cinema.

Such an achievement instantly ignited the internet. Combined with her past works, she could be described as a late bloomer who finally came into her own.

Even though they were divorced, Qin Yu was happy for her. On the night the Best Actress trending search came out, she didn’t know how many praising comments she had posted using an alternate account under the tag #TangRuibaiDeservesBestActress#.

After the divorce, Qin Yu didn’t have a good life, but she thought it was fine as long as Tang Ruibai was happy.

At least every time she appeared before the camera, Tang Ruibai could manage a smile, unlike when she went to see Tang Ruibai and didn’t even get a pleasant look.

But Qin Yu still missed her. Lying in the bed they once shared, she couldn’t sleep for nights on end, until eventually, she didn’t even dare go home.

So when Tang Ruibai was in front of the lens and a reporter asked about her relationship status, she said: “Divorced.”

Facing a reporter’s interview, Qin Yu had also—as if possessed—said: “Divorced.”

The two of them, on the same day, facing the same question, gave the same answer. It was hard for people not to read into it.

Qin Yu and Tang Ruibai had never gone public. Netizens and industry insiders even thought they had a bad relationship.

This was because several roles rumored to be Qin Yu’s ended up with Tang Ruibai as the female lead.

But those were all gifts from Qin Yu to Tang Ruibai. She wanted Tang Ruibai to be famous across the country so that they would have enough strength to officially announce their relationship.

She never expected that after their divorce, Tang Ruibai would indeed become famous.

So Qin Yu had a few drinks that night and, fueled by the alcohol, sent Tang Ruibai a message: “How about we try again?”

She truly missed Tang Ruibai. Since the divorce, she felt her heart was empty.

In the past, when filming, she always thought about finishing quickly to find time to go home to Tang Ruibai. The two of them would huddle in the living room eating cup noodles, or order takeout and turn on the projector to watch a boring movie.

As long as she was with Tang Ruibai, she felt satisfied and full of security.

So she threw away her pride, let go of her self-esteem, tossed aside all that agonizing stubbornness, and thick-facedly messaged Tang Ruibai.

She never expected that Tang Ruibai wouldn’t reply.

The only reply she received was the news of Tang Ruibai’s death the following day.

This was Tang Ruibai’s revenge on her.

Tang Ruibai hated her, hated her to death, so she used this extreme method to make her life a living hell.

But… why?

Qin Yu couldn’t understand.

Shen Jiangchun had originally come to persuade Qin Yu, but Qin Yu’s current state made even her feel a sense of sorrow, and the words got stuck in her throat.

Actually, Shen Jiangchun wasn’t close to Qin Yu.

Qin Yu didn’t have many friends in the industry. She seemed gentle and could get along with anyone, but in reality, her guard was very high.

Shen Jiangchun was in the same management agency as her. They had collaborated on three dramas, played a couple twice, had rumors spread about them, and had even hyped a “CP” for a show.

Every time, Qin Yu would decisively debunk the rumors.

In the past, Shen Jiangchun thought it was because Qin Yu disliked gossip, but now it seemed there was another secret.

Tang Ruibai was that secret.

As the sky gradually darkened, Shen Jiangchun snatched the phone back from Qin Yu.

On the screen, Tang Ruibai looked dignified and elegant, her eyes full of smiles. “Hello everyone, I am Tang Ruibai, and also Yu Ye from Falling Night…”

Her eyes seemed to tell stories; a few brief sentences pulled people into the movie.

What a pity.

Shen Jiangchun turned off the phone and said in a flat tone, “My condolences.”

Qin Yu still didn’t speak.

Shen Jiangchun’s brow furrowed slightly. “Have you really lost your voice?”

Qin Yu pursed her lips and shook her head slightly. “I…”

She only uttered one word before feeling it was pointless, as if all her strength had been drained.

Only one thing remained in her mind—Tang Ruibai was dead.

She had taken sleeping pills, wore her favorite pajamas, slit her own wrists, and let the water be stained red by blood.

Her death wasn’t too painful.

But Qin Yu’s heart hurt so much, as if it had turned into quicksand, turning to ash inch by inch.

Qin Yu couldn’t voice her pain, but her eyes were devoid of any vitality. Just by looking at her, Shen Jiangchun was enveloped by a massive wave of sorrow.

An actor’s empathy became a weakness at this moment.

Shen Jiangchun couldn’t say any words of advice, nor could she blame her. She sighed and said, “If you can’t do it, just pay the penalty. But this qualifies as an accident; I’ll find a lawyer, it shouldn’t be a big problem.”

After saying that, she stepped out. She made a call to Tang Yunxi at the door of the hospital room.

Qin Yu was too lazy to listen to what they were saying, but faint voices drifted in from outside.

“Cancel tomorrow’s event.”

“She’s in this state; are you a slave driver?”

“Sister, show some heart for your artist.”

“…”

Half an hour later, Shen Jiangchun returned to the room but didn’t walk forward. Standing at the door, she said calmly, “Tang Ruibai’s funeral is being handled entirely by her manager and will be held in five days. Many people in the industry will be going.”

“Thank you,” Qin Yu said in a very low voice.

Shen Jiangchun: “I have some insider gossip. I can’t guarantee it’s true, but you can go and confirm it with Tang Ruibai’s manager.”

Qin Yu looked up, curiosity showing in her eyes.

“It’s said that Tang Ruibai had late-stage breast cancer. She didn’t want treatment and chose suicide directly.”

After delivering this bombshell, Shen Jiangchun left the ward. Standing below the hospital building, the cool autumn night wind brushed against her.

She tapped her phone, and Tang Ruibai’s face appeared in her sight.

It is said that actors resonate with their breakout characters to varying degrees of fate.

The character Yu Ye, played by Tang Ruibai in Falling Night, had breast cancer.

Shen Jiangchun suddenly felt an indescribable sadness—a pity for an outstanding peer.

Inside the ward, Qin Yu felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She pulled out all the IV needles from the back of her hand, ignoring the flowing blood, and staggered out.

Assistant Chen Shuang walked in and was startled by the scene. “Yu-jie… you… you…”

“Contact Tang Yunxi,” Qin Yu said coldly.

Even if she hadn’t said it, Chen Shuang was going to call Tang Yunxi anyway, but Qin Yu’s attitude toward “Tang-jie” terrified Chen Shuang.

Tang Yunxi had been Qin Yu’s manager since her debut; their relationship was very close, both mentors and friends.

Qin Yu usually called her Tang-jie, but now she called her by her full name.

Tang Yunxi was currently explaining Qin Yu’s two-day “strike” to the company. Nothing like this had happened since Qin Yu’s debut. Tang Yunxi’s back was practically breaking from bowing; she had used every possible word to stabilize the higher-ups and partners.

Receiving Chen Shuang’s call, she had just taken a sip of water. “What is it?”

Qin Yu spoke directly to Tang Yunxi: “Give me back my phone. Give me one week. After Tang Ruibai’s funeral is over, I will return to work.”

Tang Yunxi was startled at first. “You can talk now?”

Qin Yu held herself together with a surge of energy. Her throat hurt a bit, but she could manage to speak. Previously, she simply didn’t want to speak, not knowing what to say.

“It would be better if you didn’t,” Tang Yunxi said glumly. “As soon as you open your mouth, you give me such a difficult task. Qin Yu, do you know that just dealing with the past two days has been hard enough? The filming tasks you abandoned, variety recordings, roadshows, live streams…”

“Seven days,” Qin Yu said. “I only want seven days.”

“It’s too difficult.”

“Then I will breach the contract,” Qin Yu said in a heavy tone. “I will terminate my contract with the company.”

“Are you crazy?!!” Tang Yunxi raged. “Do you know how hard it was for you to get to this point?! Now you’re going to destroy yourself just because of Tang Ruibai’s death?”

Qin Yu hung up the phone.

She didn’t answer Tang Yunxi, but Tang Yunxi stood in place for a long time, unable to recover, her heart still pounding with fear.

Tang Yunxi knew that Qin Yu was usually very obedient and seemed like a cotton doll that could be molded by anyone, but in reality, once she set her mind on something, nine bulls couldn’t pull her back.

A complete stubborn streak.

Just like when the company wanted her to hype a CP with Shen Jiangchun, she never compromised.

She had paid a significant price for it.

But she was willing.

Now, Tang Yunxi knew that everything Qin Yu said was true.

She had still underestimated Qin Yu’s feelings for Tang Ruibai.

In the past, she always felt that Qin Yu and Tang Ruibai were optional existences to each other—otherwise, how could the divorce have gone so smoothly?