Pats Little Shrike's Tail - Chapter 69

Chapter 69

Shen Qingyi didn’t drive for long before she got stuck in traffic near the entrance to the villa area, where she quickly spotted the girl named Fang Ran.

Fang Ran watched a car stop beside her. When the window rolled down, she saw the two people from earlier and froze.

“Ms. Fang Ran, do you have time to talk?” Shen Qingyi stopped the car and looked at Fang Ran: “We have something we’d like to show you.”

Fang Ran looked at the two strangers warily, frowning deeply: “Ladies, after talking to my boss, are you planning to talk to me now? If you continue like this, I’ll call the police. I believe the police will have a good chat with you.”

Shen Qingyi was a little speechless. She felt quite exhausted from having her good intentions constantly suspected.

She sighed helplessly, picked up the book from Shan Ling’s lap, opened the inner layer of the book, and showed it to Fang Ran. After seeing Fang Ran’s visibly widened eyes, Shen Qingyi asked: “Now, can we talk?”

Ten minutes later, in a still-open coffee shop opposite the villa area, a waiter served two coffees and a glass of lemonade.

Fang Ran looked at the two strangers opposite her, silent for a while before asking: “How did that book… end up in your hands?”

“So, you admit that you are the person who wrote the confession in the inner layer?” Shan Ling asked her curiously.

“I wrote it,” Fang Ran didn’t shy away from it and admitted frankly: “I wrote it the year I graduated from high school and gave it to Qinglan. I don’t know why it ended up with you.”

Shen Qingyi then spoke: “Five or six years ago, I posted online seeking to buy this book. Song Qinglan found me and sold it to me for 3,000 yuan. A few days ago, while tidying up the house, we found it and discovered the secret in the inner layer.”

“We contacted Song Qinglan at the time, intending to give her the book, which is why we arranged to meet tonight.” Shen Qingyi looked at the person in front of her, her dark pupils slightly shimmering under the light: “We just didn’t expect that you would be the owner of this secret.”

Fang Ran remained silent, seemingly lost in thought. After a long while, she said: “I think I understand. Qinglan was still in university back then and struggling financially. Selling the book must have been out of necessity.”

She sighed softly, looked at the book on the table, and asked: “Did you… show the book to Qinglan just now?”

“No,” Shen Qingyi replied: “When we heard your name, we felt it would be better for you to handle this yourself. It wasn’t appropriate for us outsiders to intervene.”

Fang Ran scratched her head. She took off her glasses, rubbed the bridge of her nose, and put her glasses back on, saying: “Thank you for keeping my secret. If she found out, it would be very troublesome.”

“Qinglan is a hot commodity actress now. She’s still on the rise and is currently aiming for the super A-list,” Fang Ran said helplessly: “I just finalized a new endorsement for her, and we are still negotiating the contract. If she were to find out about this now, I’m afraid it would affect her work mood, after all… I am her assistant.”

Shan Ling sipped her lemonade through a straw and wondered: “So, Ms. Song Qinglan still doesn’t know you like her?”

“She shouldn’t know,” Fang Ran said with a bitter smile: “If she knew, I wouldn’t have been able to stay by her side for so many years.”

One year in high school, four years in university, and five years working.

A full ten years.

If Song Qinglan knew that her best friend and assistant liked her, it would probably affect both her personal life and her career.

Song Qinglan showed great promise in high school. Fang Ran was her desk mate at the time, and over that year, she increasingly discovered the other’s wonderful qualities and was drawn to Song Qinglan.

Of course, Fang Ran wasn’t the only one attracted to Song Qinglan at school. Many people confessed to her only to be mercilessly rejected because Song Qinglan had only one goal: to get into the most famous film academy and become a dazzling movie star.

Fang Ran deeply admired her at the time. Few people their age knew exactly what they wanted, and unknowingly, Song Qinglan also became Fang Ran’s goal. In those best years, Fang Ran determined to always be by her side.

Song Qinglan successfully entered the film academy, and Fang Ran enrolled in the literature school next door. The two often met during those four years. When Song Qinglan was doing bit parts on sets, Fang Ran would bring home-cooked meals to visit, helping her relax her sore muscles and joints. After graduating from university, Fang Ran resolutely became Song Qinglan’s assistant, managing all her work arrangements.

Thus, Fang Ran has worked by Song Qinglan’s side for five years. During this time, she watched the other work incredibly hard, sometimes drinking only water for a week to lose weight, and even getting out of the hospital to rejoin a film crew.

She also witnessed Song Qinglan engaging in subtle, veiled attacks with an actress from the same agency over a small endorsement, being framed with various scandals by the other party.

Song Qinglan gradually grew up in this complex environment, finally becoming the leading actress she is today—a popular A-list celebrity with over a dozen famous endorsements, a household name.

And now, Fang Ran didn’t want any emotional obstacles to appear on Song Qinglan’s path, even if that obstacle was herself.

“Ladies,” Fang Ran made a decision. She looked up at Shen Qingyi and Shan Ling and asked: “May I buy this book? I can pay double the price, as long as it’s within my means.”

Shen Qingyi lowered her gaze, still hesitant.

In fact, Song Qinglan sold the book to Shen Qingyi for 3,000 yuan originally because Shen Qingyi was young and foolish at the time, determined to get what she wanted, so she offered the high price of 3,000. Considering the prices and used book market at the time, although the book was a first edition with the author’s signature, it was a mass-produced book. Seven or eight hundred yuan would already have been considered a high price.

Most importantly, Shen Qingyi actually liked the story. The book had also been adapted into a film and won awards, making the first edition with a signature even more precious.

“I don’t plan to sell it right now,” Shen Qingyi finally shook her head and told Fang Ran: “Unless you can find an identical first edition book with the author’s signature to exchange with me, I will not give it to you.”

Fang Ran paused, then nodded: “I understand. I will try to find a similarly signed book as soon as possible and will contact you then.”

Shan Ling suggested: “Let’s add each other on WeChat so we can stay in touch.”

“I have your contact information,” Fang Ran blinked and said: “I was the one who sent you the address, and I already added Ms. Shen just now. Just accept the request.”

So that was it. She truly was a big star’s assistant.

The three had nothing more to discuss and prepared to leave.

At the door, Shan Ling asked Fang Ran: “Ms. Fang, do you still like Song Qinglan now?”

The other party was silent for a long time, then looked up, exhaled a puff of white air, and said calmly: “Yes, I do. I have liked her all these ten years, and I like her more and more. I believe it will be the same in the future.”

“Even if… Ms. Song doesn’t know?”

Fang Ran nodded: “Even if she doesn’t know, I will always like her.”

If she knows, I will quietly love her.

Fang Ran looked back at Shan Ling, smiled briefly, and said: “Let’s add each other’s contact information too. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing each other often.”

Shan Ling nodded and exchanged WeChat contacts with Fang Ran.

On the way home, Shan Ling looked at Fang Ran’s social media. She rarely posted updates, unless it was a great view, a very good restaurant, or a cute small animal. The most recent post was a photo of food from a Western restaurant a few days ago. It looked like a meal for two. She didn’t know who she was with, but Shan Ling somehow felt that the person sitting opposite her must have been Song Qinglan.

Perhaps Fang Ran’s decision was right. Without a confession, they could be friends for life. With a confession, they might not even be able to be friends anymore.

Shen Qingyi did not speak the entire way home. Once they arrived, she placed the book in the study, then came out and told Shan Ling: “It’s late. Let’s wash up and rest.”

“Mhm,” Shan Ling nodded, smiling: “Okay!”

Meanwhile, Fang Ran, who had just parted ways with Shan Ling and Shen Qingyi, received a call from Song Qinglan around the corner.

After answering the phone, Song Qinglan’s voice came through: “Ranran, what were you busy with? You didn’t reply to my WeChat.”

“I was eating,” Fang Ran thought for a moment and decided to lie: “I didn’t eat enough at dinner, so I went to the noodle shop by the entrance for a bowl of tomato and egg noodles. You know how much I resist eating with those bosses.”

“It’s not just you; I resist it too,” Song Qinglan was currently wearing pajamas, with a face mask on, speaking through the phone’s speaker: “The way those old men look at me is disgusting, and I have to force a smile for them. But now that I’m more famous, I don’t need to put up with their nonsense anymore. I don’t have to tolerate the disrespect like before.”

“Yes, you’re very accomplished.”

Song Qinglan was in a good mood. She checked the time, then smiled and said to Fang Ran: “Ranran, you’re not home yet, are you? Why don’t you get me a serving… no, half a serving of tomato and egg noodles and come to my place. Don’t leave tonight. Sleep with me.”

Fang Ran stopped in the street, her ears turning slightly red as she said: “I can bring you noodles, but I won’t sleep with you. I’ll sleep in the guest room.”

She turned and walked towards the noodle shop, telling Song Qinglan: “You can’t eat too much for a late-night snack. I’ll ask the shop to add extra soup, no sugar, and only two thick noodles.”

“Ah? I’ll finish two noodles in half a bite!”

“…Did you forget you have an endorsement shoot in a few days?”

“Can’t we just retouch the photos?”

“You can’t always rely on retouching. Do you want to live forever in a Photoshopped image?”

Song Qinglan touched the mask on her cheek and said pitifully: “Fine then, two noodles, one bowl of soup, no sugar. Is that acceptable?”

“Mhm,” Fang Ran nodded calmly and told Song Qinglan: “I’ll be back soon. If you’re hungry, drink some water.”

“Okay!” Song Qinglan stretched, and said with feeling to the person on the phone: “Ranran, I realize I really can’t manage without you now. I can’t be without you for a moment~”

Fang Ran smiled and hung up the phone.

Looking at the dark screen of her phone, she quietly said to herself: And what about me?

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