She Got Revenge on Her Ex-Girlfriend Through a Kiss Scene - Chapter 31

Chapter 31

After dinner, they walked through the ancient town’s night. Lanterns swayed gently in the wind, their glow reflecting off the polished bluestone paths. From a distance, the faint sound of a folk song drifted from a local bar.

“Ningyu.”

“Mm?”

“Tell me,” Xi Jisheng looked up at the night sky; here in the town, you could actually see the stars. “If we hadn’t accepted Echoes, what would things be like now?”

Lou Ningyu thought for a moment. “I’d likely still be filming, but I’d probably never have moved on from you. You would have kept hiding until we were both old, and then one day we’d meet at some event, share a brief smile, say ‘long time no see,’ and pass each other by.”

Xi Jisheng’s heart tightened. “That would have been such a tragedy.”

“So, we’re lucky.” Lou Ningyu gripped her hand. “Lucky that I took the role, lucky that you acted in it, and lucky that we were both brave just once.”

They walked to the riverbank and found a set of stone steps to sit on. The water flowed quietly in the dark, mirroring the lantern light.

“Actually,” Xi Jisheng said softly, “when we were filming Echoes, I was scared every single day.”

“Scared of what?”

“Scared of falling too deep into the role, scared of falling back in love with you, scared of making the same mistakes again.” Xi Jisheng watched the water. “But I was also scared of not falling into the role—scared of failing the character, or letting the director down.”

Lou Ningyu pulled her closer by the shoulder. “And in the end?”

“In the end, I fell in love anyway.” Xi Jisheng turned to look at her. “Not ‘falling back’ in love, but realizing I had never stopped.”

Lou Ningyu’s kiss descended, gentle and lingering. The town night was silent, save for the sound of the water, the wind, and their synchronized heartbeats.

…

It was late when they returned to Beijing. Stepping through their front door, the familiar scent of home greeted them.

Xi Jisheng kicked off her shoes and stepped onto the floor barefoot. “Nothing beats being home.”

Lou Ningyu set down the luggage and hugged her from behind. “And where is home?”

“Wherever you are is home.” Xi Jisheng turned around and kissed her chin. “Hungry? Should I make some noodles?”

“Yes, please.”

Xi Jisheng headed to the kitchen while Lou Ningyu sat in the living room to clear a backlog of work emails. The television was on, broadcasting entertainment news—it happened to be covering their event from yesterday.

“Recently, Lou Ningyu and Xi Jisheng attended the third-anniversary event for ‘Echoes.’ Their stable and sweet relationship has made them a model couple in the industry. At the event, they shared insights from their three years together and gave gentle advice to young viewers facing their own emotional struggles…”

Xi Jisheng emerged carrying two bowls of noodles. “Watching ourselves again.”

Lou Ningyu switched off the TV. “I’m done watching. Just looking at you is enough.”

They sat at opposite ends of the table with simple, steaming bowls of egg noodles.

“I start filming next month,” Xi Jisheng said. “Director Jiang’s new project. It’s in Qingdao, about two months.”

“I’m heading to New York the week after next,” Lou Ningyu added. “Sheng-Ning is negotiating a collaboration with a production company there. About ten days.”

Xi Jisheng did the math. “So… we won’t see each other for ten days.”

“Mm.” Lou Ningyu nodded. “Which is why we have to cherish tonight.”

After eating, they curled up on the sofa with books. Xi Jisheng leaned against Lou Ningyu’s shoulder, while Lou Ningyu rested an arm around her, absentmindedly playing with her hair. A single floor lamp cast a warm, yellow glow over them.

“Ningyu,” Xi Jisheng said suddenly.

“Yes?”

“Thank you for… not giving up on me back then.”

Lou Ningyu set her book down and looked at her earnestly. “Because the thought of giving up never even crossed my mind.”

She cupped Xi Jisheng’s face, her gaze as serious as an oath. “Xi Jisheng, remember this—no matter how far you run or how long you hide, I will find you. That is what seven years taught me: love isn’t just waiting; it’s the pursuit.”

Tears welled in Xi Jisheng’s eyes. “Well… you’ve found me now.”

“I have.” Lou Ningyu wiped away a tear with her thumb. “So I’m not letting you run again.”

Xi Jisheng leaned in and kissed her. The kiss was tender and long, tasting of noodles and the salt of tears. Their foreheads rested together as they pulled apart, both slightly breathless.

“You don’t need to pursue me anymore,” Xi Jisheng whispered. “I’m right here.”

“Always.”

…

The night deepened, and they got ready for bed. The two-meter-wide bed no longer had a “Milky Way” between them; they always slept intertwined like two matching puzzle pieces.

Xi Jisheng rested her head on Lou Ningyu’s arm, her fingers tracing the simple band on Lou’s ring finger—a ring they had bought from a local craftsman during a trip to Iceland last year.

“Go to sleep,” Lou Ningyu whispered, kissing her forehead.

“Goodnight.” “Goodnight, love you.” “Love you too.”

They drifted into sleep together. Moonlight spilled through the window, illuminating their joined hands, the simple bands on their fingers, and the silver bracelets on their wrists.

These were the proofs of love. The proof of a seven-year secret crush, the proof of three years of companionship, and the proof of a promise for the countless years to come.

In the morning, Xi Jisheng woke up first. She didn’t move, just quietly watched Lou Ningyu sleep. In the dawn light, Lou’s lashes cast small shadows, and her breathing was steady.

Xi Jisheng reached out, touching her cheek with the lightest of pressures. Lou stirred but didn’t wake, simply pulling Jisheng tighter into her embrace.

Xi Jisheng smiled and closed her eyes again.

In a few hours, they would begin another busy day. One would meet a director; the other would go to a production meeting. In a few weeks, they would briefly separate for work in different cities, even different countries.

But they knew that no matter how far they traveled, they would always return here, to each other.

Because love is an echo.

It was the seed planted at twenty-two in a film academy dorm, two girls squeezed onto a small bed with hands tightly held.

It was the first vibration on a stone bridge at twenty-nine, two women staring through the rain, hands nearly touching at their sides.

It was the deep, unending resonance at thirty-two on a Beijing sofa, two lovers with fingers interlaced and simple bands upon their fingers.

Love is an echo. A resonance that time cannot erode. The inevitability of two souls, on their own orbits, finally merging.

Xi Jisheng lightly kissed the corner of Lou Ningyu’s mouth, then rose to make breakfast. It was one of countless ordinary mornings, yet each one was a miracle they had bought with seven years of waiting and three years of standing fast.

As the eggs began to sizzle, Lou Ningyu woke. She stumbled into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes, and hugged Xi Jisheng from behind.

“Morning.”

“Morning,” Xi Jisheng turned to kiss her cheek. “The eggs are almost done. Go wash your face.”

“Don’t want to move.”

“Lazybones.”

“Just lazy,” Lou Ningyu tightened her arms. “I just want to hold you forever.”

Xi Jisheng laughed, turned off the stove, and turned to face her. “Then hold me. The eggs can wait.”

They embraced in the morning light, in their small kitchen, in the air scented with breakfast. Outside, Beijing was waking up—the sound of traffic, the chirping of birds, the start of a new day. But their world was right there, in each other’s arms.

Complete, whole, and full of love.