Pats Little Shrike's Tail - Chapter 98

Chapter 98

“Are we… really just friends?”

Fang Ran’s voice was trembling. She held her phone, listened to all of Song Qinglan’s arrangements, and at this moment, she just wanted to ask this one question.

Was there any possibility for her and Song Qinglan to be together?

In these days, Fang Ran had thought a lot. She felt that two people who genuinely loved each other shouldn’t be like them.

Since Song Qinglan’s debut, Fang Ran had been in charge of her daily life. At that time, Song Qinglan had only her. Fang Ran did all the work, ran all the notices, and even had to negotiate the contracts.

Later, when Song Qinglan had her own studio, she still couldn’t do without Fang Ran. She needed Fang Ran by her side every day.

She needed Fang Ran to run lines with her during filming and share meals and accommodations during recordings.

Gradually, Song Qinglan found no one else as handy as Fang Ran. Fang Ran was always attentive and comfortable to work with, so much so that everyone in the studio felt that as long as Fang Ran was present, Song Qinglan wasn’t such a terrifying celebrity.

Therefore, when Fang Ran tendered her resignation, Song Qinglan immediately sought her out and said she wanted to “give it a try.”

How could anyone say they want to “give it a try” when talking about falling in love?

But Fang Ran had loved Song Qinglan for ten years. She wholeheartedly believed this absurd reason and soon started dating Song Qinglan.

The two seemed to return to their old ways. Song Qinglan dumped all sorts of troublesome matters on Fang Ran, and Fang Ran dutifully and skillfully handled all affairs. Furthermore, because their relationship was closer, Fang Ran was now the one who met Song Qinglan’s physical needs.

This was truly catering to the boss, even serving her in bed.

Now that their relationship was exposed, Song Qinglan immediately issued this explanation, making everything Fang Ran had done before seem like a joke.

In truth, Fang Ran knew very well that the first thing any assistant should do upon learning that their boss has a dating scandal is to clarify it.

Regardless of whether the boss is actually dating that person or not.

But when it happened to her, Fang Ran felt extremely distressed.

Extremely distressed.

What did “just friends” mean? What did “impossible to be together” mean?

Fang Ran wanted to know if, in Song Qinglan’s eyes, she was truly just a hanger-on who could be summoned and dismissed at will?

Someone who could help her with work, solve her problems, and was ultimately dispensable.

“What do you mean by that?”

Song Qinglan heard the implication in Fang Ran’s words. She said with a cold face: “Are you blaming me for posting that explanation without consulting you?”

Fang Ran shook her head: “I’m not…”

“Then what do you mean?” Song Qinglan said irritably: “If it were before, you would also have me issue this statement. Why are you acting up now? Just because I posted that explanation, you’re unhappy and want to argue with me?”

“I didn’t want to argue with you. I just wanted to clarify.”

“Clarify what? Do you want me to post on Weibo, saying that we are indeed dating, and announce it to the world?” Song Qinglan said forcefully: “Fang Ran, do you really want to see me get blacklisted and lose the endorsement deal I just signed? Is that what makes you happy?”

No, it’s not.

Fang Ran gripped her phone, feeling her breathing become difficult.

She didn’t want Song Qinglan to lose her job, nor did she want her new endorsement to have problems. She just wanted a simple statement from Song Qinglan, saying they were dating.

That she wasn’t her little maid serving her, and that spending the night with her was because they liked each other, not a reward from Song Qinglan for her hard work.

She felt so insignificant next to Song Qinglan. Even this relationship was something Fang Ran “threatened” Song Qinglan into, by offering her resignation.

“I just…”

I just want an equal opportunity to love you, to love each other equally, like all couples who genuinely like each other. Kissing is not a reward; it’s because of liking. Being together isn’t for work; it’s because of true love.

But Fang Ran didn’t say any of these words, because Song Qinglan had already hung up the phone.

A heavy feeling of unease enveloped Fang Ran. She knew that this time, she and Song Qinglan were likely truly finished.

Song Qinglan wanted a comfortable, attentive, and secret underground relationship, while Fang Ran wanted to date her openly.

Song Qinglan wasn’t willing to accept Fang Ran’s idea, and Fang Ran couldn’t accept what Song Qinglan wanted.

Why did her love have to be buried underground? Why couldn’t it see the light of day? She only… wanted to be with Song Qinglan…

The topic of Song Qinglan and her assistant possibly dating continued for over a week. Everyone speculated whether the two were really together.

Although Song Qinglan’s studio issued a statement that day, saying Fang Ran and Song Qinglan had been good friends for ten years, and they were having dinner with Fang Ran’s family on New Year’s Eve, the incident in the parking lot was merely two girls fooling around. They hoped that certain media and individuals would stop spreading rumors and creating trouble.

Shan Ling sat on the sofa, looking at the comments below Fang Ran’s Weibo post on her phone.

The studio had issued a statement, but Fang Ran’s Weibo was completely silent. Her last post was a work schedule from before New Year’s Eve.

Many people were asking Fang Ran if she was really dating Song Qinglan, asking why she wasn’t cooperating with the studio to issue a statement to clear her sister’s name.

Shan Ling didn’t understand. Why was dating considered “unclean”? Was liking someone wrong?

Shen Qingyi entered the door carrying packed food and saw Shan Ling wearing a distressed expression.

“Still looking?” Shen Qingyi placed the food on the dining table, taking off her scarf: “You already called Fang Ran. Since she said she’s fine, you don’t need to worry too much.”

“But I just feel that Fang Ran’s mood isn’t right,” Shan Ling stood up and looked at the takeout Shen Qingyi brought: two servings of beef noodles from the complex entrance and a portion of cooked cold dishes.

Shan Ling’s eyes lit up when she saw her favorite spicy lotus root: “Did you manage to buy this today?”

The spicy lotus root at that deli sold out quickly. Shan Ling could barely ever buy it, often having to go four or five times before getting lucky enough to buy some.

“I went a little early today. It happened to be the last portion in the shop, so I bought it,” Shen Qingyi told her: “Go wash your hands. We’re going to eat.”

She had to go back to work tomorrow. Shan Ling’s waist was much better now. As long as she didn’t twist or turn, it generally didn’t hurt.

After washing her hands, Shen Qingyi had changed into home clothes. She opened the takeout boxes, and the fragrant steam of the hot beef noodles wafted out, making Shan Ling’s mouth water.

“We go back to work tomorrow,” Shan Ling sat down in a chair, eating the beef noodles and saying: “I’ve been going to bed too late these past few days. You absolutely must wake me up tomorrow.”

Shan Ling had been sleeping until 12 PM for half a month. She was a little worried about being late on the first day back to work.

If she was late, that was one thing, but she was afraid of making Shen Qingyi late too. That would be complicated.

“I’ll set an alarm,” Shen Qingyi ate her noodles, blowing on them: “I’ll definitely wake you up then.”

“Thank you, Yiyi~” Shan Ling happily took a big bite of noodles.

Before going to sleep that night, Shan Ling scrolled through the Weibo posts about Song Qinglan and Fang Ran one last time, then rested her head on the pillow to sleep. Unfortunately, perhaps because she had been sleeping very late these past few days, even though it was past 11 PM, Shan Ling simply couldn’t fall asleep.

Shen Qingyi’s breathing beside her gradually became steady, indicating she was asleep, but Shan Ling lay wide-eyed on the bed, feeling lost.

I can’t sleep, I can’t sleep.

Shan Ling opened her eyes, then closed them, counted sheep, counted birds, but felt no drowsiness at all.

Finally, Shan Ling accepted her fate.

If I can’t sleep, I’ll just scroll through my phone for a bit. Anyway, scrolling for a while usually puts me to sleep.

As soon as Shan Ling opened her phone, she saw a message notification on WeChat. Knowing that Shan Ling didn’t have many friends, very few people would text her this late at night.

Opening the message, Shan Ling was surprised to find that Fang Ran had sent her a message.

Fang Ran: “I’ll be leaving this city in a couple of days. I’d like to meet you and Miss Shen.”

This message was sent at 11:30 PM. Shan Ling didn’t know why Fang Ran was still awake so late. Checking the time, she quietly climbed out of bed, went to the balcony, and called Fang Ran.

The other person probably didn’t expect Shan Ling to be awake at this hour. It took a moment before she answered the phone.

“Hello? You’re still awake? Did my message just now bother you?”

Fang Ran’s voice on the other end was heavy with a nasal tone, sounding as if she had just been crying.

“What’s wrong?” Shan Ling asked with concern: “Were you crying? Why are you suddenly leaving? Is it related to Song Qinglan’s trending topic?”

Shan Ling asked three questions in one breath, and Fang Ran remained silent for a long moment before answering.

“Xiao Ling,” Fang Ran said heavily: “Perhaps Song Qinglan and I are fundamentally incompatible. I’ve thought it through. She won’t give me what I want, and my staying here will only add to our troubles.”

During this time, Fang Ran had been subjected to malice from many sides.

Colleagues in the studio, fans, and brand representatives all felt that Fang Ran’s ideas were too naive. They couldn’t control who Song Qinglan liked, but when it affected various interests, they had to step forward to clarify.

Even Song Qinglan held this attitude. She felt that Fang Ran’s current distress was a scheme to force her to acknowledge their relationship.

Song Qinglan was unwilling.

Fang Ran told Shan Ling: “She and I are adults. We’ve been working hard in this society for so many years. Even breaking up should be done with some dignity, so I plan to… leave in a few days.”

She asked Shan Ling: “You’re back to work tomorrow, right? Are you free in the evening? Let’s get together. It might be difficult to see each other again once I leave here.”

Shan Ling was silent for a moment, then nodded firmly: “Okay. I’ll talk to Yiyi tomorrow. How about I bring you some of my homemade beef sauce? It’s a little spicy. I don’t know if you can handle it.”

“I can,” Fang Ran said with a smile: “Thank you, Xiao Ling.”

Although they hadn’t known each other for long, Fang Ran and Shan Ling had a very good relationship. Now, she was not only saying goodbye to ten years of secret love but also saying goodbye to her friend in this city.

Fang Ran sat in the already packed room, looking at the empty space, feeling as if she had finally let go of something.

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