She Got Revenge on Her Ex-Girlfriend Through a Kiss Scene - Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Xi Jisheng was jolted awake by Lin Wenxun’s phone call.

She answered in a daze, only to hear Lin Wenxun’s frantic voice: “Jisheng, look at Weibo! Now!”

She hung up and opened the app. The moment she saw the trending list, she was wide awake.

Lou Ningyu was woken by the noise as well and sat up. “What happened?”

Xi Jisheng handed her the phone. Lou Ningyu read through it, fell silent for a few seconds, and then said, “It’s finally here.”

Her tone was calm, almost… relieved.

“Aren’t you afraid?” Xi Jisheng asked.

“Afraid of what?” Lou Ningyu put the phone down and turned to her. “Afraid of people knowing I love you? Jisheng, I wish the whole world knew.”

Xi Jisheng’s heart gave a heavy thud.

The phone rang again; this time, it was David. Lou Ningyu answered and put it on speaker.

“Ningyu, you both saw it, right?” David’s voice was urgent. “The evidence this time is too solid. We have to respond. This is the last chance—do we admit it or issue a total denial?”

Xi Jisheng gripped the duvet tightly.

Lou Ningyu looked at Xi Jisheng and spoke into the phone: “David, let’s have a video conference. Jisheng and I will talk to everyone together.”

…

Ten minutes later; Xi Jisheng, Lou Ningyu, Lin Wenxun, David, and the PR Director appeared on the screen.

The PR Director spoke first: “The situation is that Shu Qin did his homework too well this time. If we issue a hard denial, we’ll look ridiculous. If even more ‘hard’ evidence comes out later—or if you two admit it yourselves down the line—our entire team’s credibility will be destroyed.”

Lin Wenxun nodded. “But admitting it carries risks. The premiere is imminent. If we go public now, all focus will shift from the movie to your private lives. That’s not fair to the film or the rest of the crew.”

David sighed. “So what do we do? No comment? Cold treatment? We can’t stay quiet this time; the internet is going crazy.”

Everyone fell silent. Xi Jisheng looked at the faces on the screen and suddenly felt exhausted. For seven years, she had been dodging, hiding, and denying. She had been afraid of affecting Lou Ningyu’s career, afraid of being attacked, afraid of the pressure.

But now, looking at the trending topics and the authentic details in Shu Qin’s article—the monthly transfers to her mother, Lou buying out theater shows—Xi Jisheng realized she couldn’t hide it anymore.

And she didn’t want to.

“I’m tired,” she said softly.

Everyone looked at her.

“I’ve been hiding for seven years, and I’m tired,” Xi Jisheng’s voice was quiet but clear. “I don’t want to hide anymore.”

Lou Ningyu’s eyes lit up.

Lin Wenxun frowned. “Jisheng, think carefully—”

“I have thought it through,” Xi Jisheng interrupted. “But… not before the premiere. Let’s not steal the movie’s thunder. The film is everyone’s hard work; it shouldn’t be overshadowed by our private matters. After the premiere is over and the movie has spoken for itself, then we’ll speak.”

Lou Ningyu nodded. “I agree.”

The PR Director thought for a moment. “Then it’s settled. The premiere goes on as planned. You’ll walk the red carpet and take interviews, but the unified answer to all personal questions will be: ‘The protagonist today is the movie; please focus on the work.'”

“And after the premiere,” Lin Wenxun added, “you will both sit for an exclusive interview with a single media outlet. In that interview… you give your answer.”

“Which outlet?” David asked.

“Let’s go with People magazine,” Lou Ningyu suggested. “Teacher Ai Ye is a consultant there; they’ll give us a fair presentation.”

…

The plan was set. After the meeting, Xi Jisheng and Lou Ningyu sat on the bed in silence. Dawn was breaking, and the morning light filtered through the gaps in the curtains.

“Jisheng,” Lou Ningyu called suddenly.

“…Yes?”

“Back in the meeting, when you said ‘I don’t want to hide anymore’…” Lou Ningyu’s voice hitched. “I really wanted to cry.”

Xi Jisheng turned and saw that she actually was crying, the tears flowing silently.

“I’ve been waiting seven years for those words,” Lou Ningyu said. “Waiting for you to say you won’t hide, that you’ll face the world with me.”

Xi Jisheng reached out and wiped her tears. “I’m sorry for making you wait so long.”

“Don’t be sorry.” Lou Ningyu grasped her hand. “As long as you’re here, any wait was worth it.”

…

Under the Sahara stars, Zhu Jinhe lay in her tent, scrolling through Weibo. When she saw the #LouNingyuXiJishengSevenYears hashtag, she smiled. She opened her chat with Wen Bixu and requested a video call.

It rang several times before Wen Bixu picked up. She was in her Beijing studio, eyes red from editing all night.

“Still awake?” Zhu Jinhe asked.

“Reviewing footage. Why are you awake?”

“The sun just went down here.” Zhu Jinhe turned the camera toward the sky, showing a vast expanse of stars. “See the trending news?”

“Yeah.” Wen Bixu sounded tired. “It finally blew up.”

“Your documentary…” Zhu Jinhe turned the camera back. “When do you plan to release it?”

“At the film festival after the premiere. Only three screenings.” Wen Bixu paused. “Will you… watch it?”

Zhu Jinhe laughed. “Maybe. If there’s a screening nearby.”

Silence followed. Wen Bixu looked at Zhu Jinhe on the screen—she was more tanned, but her eyes were still bright. Behind her, the Sahara was hauntingly beautiful.

“I’m going to Antarctica next month,” Zhu Jinhe said suddenly. “A penguin project, filming for three months.”

Wen Bixu’s heart sank. “Oh.”

“Do you…” Zhu Jinhe looked at her, “want to come?”

Wen Bixu was stunned. “What?”

“I mean, there are stories to film in Antarctica too.” Zhu Jinhe’s voice was soft but steady. “Your documentary could become a series.”

She paused.

“Part One: How Love is Resurrected.” “Part Two: How Freedom is Possible.” “Part Three: How Idealism and Reality Coexist.”

Wen Bixu was speechless. She looked at the eyes that usually carried a hint of mischief, now filled with sincerity.

“I need to… think about it,” she finally said.

Zhu Jinhe smiled knowingly. “No rush. I have three days left in the Sahara.” She adjusted herself and looked at Wen Bixu. “By the way, about the answer to that question—”

Wen Bixu held her breath.

“I think now,” Zhu Jinhe said slowly, “that idealists and realists are best suited for each other when they are willing to occasionally leave their own orbits for one another.”

…

The night before the premiere.

Lou Ningyu had lived in the apartment for two months now, transitioning from “guest” to “half-owner.” Her toothbrush sat next to Xi Jisheng’s; her clothes hung in the closet.

“Tomorrow…” Xi Jisheng began, then stopped.

“Nervous?” Lou Ningyu asked.

“Yes. More nervous than when I’m filming.”

Lou Ningyu smiled and closed her laptop. “Should we rehearse?”

“Rehearse what?”

“Questions they might ask in the exclusive. Like—’What is your relationship with Lou Ningyu?'”

Xi Jisheng’s heart raced. She took a breath and recited like a script: “Lou Ningyu and I… are university classmates.”

“And?”

“We… used to be together.”

“And now?”

Xi Jisheng froze. Her lips moved, but no sound came out.

Lou Ningyu took her hand. “No rush. We’ll save it for tomorrow.”

“But if I can’t say it tomorrow either…”

“Then I’ll say it,” Lou Ningyu’s voice was steady. “I’ll say: ‘I love Xi Jisheng. From twenty-three to thirty, from the past to the present, to the future.'”

Xi Jisheng’s eyes grew wet. Lou Ningyu leaned in, forehead against hers. “Jisheng, no matter what you say or don’t say tomorrow, I love you. So don’t feel pressured, okay?”

…

That night, they slept in each other’s arms for the first time in seven years.

“Ningyu,” Xi Jisheng whispered in the dark.

“…Yes?”

“This time… I won’t run.”

Lou Ningyu’s arm tightened around her waist. “I know. You can’t run away this time.”

…

Premiere Day. 5:00 PM.

The red carpet began. Xi Jisheng and Lou Ningyu did not walk together to avoid over-focusing on their private lives. Xi Jisheng went first in a light blue satin mermaid gown. Fifteen minutes later, Lou Ningyu followed in a deep blue satin suit.

On the carpet, Xi Jisheng told reporters: “I believe love can span time and misunderstandings, as long as both people don’t give up.”

Fifteen minutes later, Lou Ningyu said: “It was an honor to work with Jisheng. She is a wonderful actor, and a… wonderful person.”

Inside the theater, they sat in the front row. In the darkness, Lou Ningyu reached out and interlaced her fingers with Xi Jisheng’s.

When the movie ended, the applause was deafening. During the Q&A, a reporter asked the question on everyone’s mind:

“Xi Jisheng, Lou Ningyu—the chemistry in the film is so moving. Is your relationship in reality like theirs?”

The room went silent. Xi Jisheng felt Lou Ningyu’s hand brush hers. Don’t be afraid, I’m here.

She spoke into the mic: “Today is about the movie. Please focus on the work.”

But as she spoke, she turned to look at Lou Ningyu. That look—tender, firm, and full of love—was captured by a hundred cameras.

Lou Ningyu smiled at the reporters. “Yes, please focus on the film. As for our private lives… we will give our answer in our exclusive interview with People.”

The crowd gasped. It was practically an admission—tomorrow, they would go public.