Silent Testimony - Chapter 53

Nanyuan, founded in 1988, is affiliated with the Shujiang Publishing and Media Group. It primarily deals with culture, literary arts, juvenile readings, and general lifestyle books, rarely favouring novels related to humanities and social sciences, so it was not Tao Ling’s first choice. However, due to a series of unfortunate events, the three publishing houses she initially focused on didn’t result in a collaboration. Tao Ling submitted her manuscript to Nanyuan with a testing attitude, just as its chief editor planned to explore the market for suspense and mystery novels. After half a month of communication, the two parties finally signed a contract.

Teacher Miao knew Nanyuan was highly regarded in academic and literary circles, especially for its translation and publication of foreign literature, which had long been acclaimed, with its market share consistently ranking in the top five nationwide. She was overjoyed and immediately asked about the details: “How many copies in the first print run?”

The curve of Tao Ling’s smile deepened: “Although it’s only 2,000 copies, I’m already very satisfied.” Nanyuan considered her a newcomer with no established readership, so they set the first print at 2,000 copies, with a royalty rate of 7% and a single book price of 42.8 yuan, making the total manuscript fee 5,992 yuan.

Teacher Miao cast a look of approval: “Everything is difficult at the start. Sales will definitely exceed ten thousand eventually.”

“Mhm, thank you, Teacher.”

It was nearing 8 p.m. when they each went home. Tao Ling leaned back in the car seat and inadvertently clicked into WeChat, noticing a message from Li Hewei sent two hours ago.

[I’ll be home soon. Is your cold better?]

[Do you have an appetite? What do you want to eat tonight?]

The words were heartwarming, but Tao Ling struggled to smile. She had been physically and mentally tormented for the past two days. When she was feverish and confused, she could barely cast aside her worries, but as soon as she was clear-headed, she couldn’t avoid thinking about the outrageous desires she was suppressing deep inside. She asked herself from an outsider’s perspective: Even with her brother missing, all her relatives and friends tacitly acknowledged her relationship with her sister-in-law. Was it completely absurd and shocking to harbor unusual feelings for her sister-in-law, even having indecent thoughts when helping to retrieve a bath towel?

Was this a pathological, shameless behaviour?

If Sister Wei knew her thoughts, she would probably feel disgusted and distance herself.

Tao Ling couldn’t imagine such a situation, nor could she bear the consequences, so she forced herself countless times to curb her desires.

However, in the dead of night, whenever she accidentally glimpsed the bookmark tucked inside a book or the keychain placed in a corner, her heart would always ache from the excessive restraint.

Tao Ling stared at the chat window, biting her lip slightly. Finally, she replied politely: [Sister Wei, I’m out for a dinner party.]

For the next half hour, the message was like a stone sinking into the sea. She didn’t think much of it until she pushed open the security door and Cheng Yingqiu quietly whispered, making her realize Li Hewei’s abnormality.

“She locked herself in the room and hasn’t eaten.”

“Why?” Tao Ling moved into the living room, sitting next to Cheng Yingqiu, but her gaze was fixed on the master bedroom door, her eyes deep and troubled.

Cheng Yingqiu spread her hands: “I don’t know. She’s been grumpy since she got back.” She raised an eyebrow: “Why don’t you try to talk to her?”

Tao Ling suddenly felt nervous: “I…”

“What ‘I’? Go on.” Cheng Yingqiu pushed her shoulder.

Tao Ling gently refused: “Yingqiu, if Sister Wei doesn’t want to talk, there must be a reason.”

Cheng Yingqiu couldn’t help but thump the sofa: “Aiya, Sister Tao Ling, you’re so dense.”

“Dense?”

“Nothing.” Cheng Yingqiu huffed. “My leg isn’t convenient, or I would have knocked on the door already. Could you help me out?”

“She hasn’t eaten. Can you bear it?”

Tao Ling suddenly coughed twice. Remembering that Li Hewei had complained recently that she was not used to the local food during her business trip and that her stomach felt uncomfortable, she silently got up and walked toward the kitchen.

“Sister Tao Ling?”

“I’ll cook a bowl of noodles first.”

Cheng Yingqiu smiled like a sly fox: “Great!” She lowered her head and sent a private message to Li Hewei: [Sis, she’s back. She’s cooking noodles in the kitchen.]

[?]

[Oh, you acted mute just now when I asked what was wrong.]

[She’s still sick, why is she cooking noodles?]

[She knows you haven’t eaten.]

[Oh.]

On the room’s balcony, Li Hewei leaned against the railing. The damp night wind blew open the light fabric of her clothes, and her exquisite, straight collarbone was clearly visible in the moonlight. Although she was frustrated with Tao Ling’s passivity, she was still concerned, worried that Tao Ling might have been upset by her family.

[What does ‘oh’ mean? Come out already. Or do you want her to hand the bowl directly into the bedroom?]

[I don’t have an appetite. Tell her not to cook.]

Saying one thing but meaning another, Cheng Yingqiu rolled her eyes: [You tell her yourself.]

Li Hewei held her forehead, looking into the distance. After a long while, she finally turned, slowly walked to the door, and reached for the doorknob.

A sudden knock sounded, followed by Tao Ling’s gentle voice: “Sister Wei.”

Li Hewei opened the door, her face still cold: “Mhm.”

Tao Ling didn’t look her directly in the eye, focusing her gaze on the bowl of noodles: “I cooked shiitake mushroom and chicken leg noodles. Do you want to eat in the dining room or the bedroom?”

She doesn’t dare look me in the eye? Is she feeling guilty? A sudden prick of pain, like a needle, stabbed Li Hewei’s chest. She tried her best to suppress her emotions and said in a deep voice: “Give it to me.”

“It’s a bit hot.”

“Thank you.”

Tao Ling looked up, watched her take the bowl of noodles, stood there for a long time, and then mumbled one word: “If you encounter anything frustrating at work or in life, you can chat with Yingqiu on WeChat.”

“Mhm.” Li Hewei responded coldly, so coldly that the girl across from her involuntarily shivered.

Tao Ling’s accumulated courage shattered instantly. She choked out, “Get some rest,” and turned her back, walking away.

Li Hewei took a deep breath and closed the door behind her.

Cheng Yingqiu was thoroughly confused, standing by the door and watching Tao Ling clean up the kitchen: “What’s going on?”

Tao Ling didn’t say a word.

Cheng Yingqiu shook her head: “I don’t understand what’s on her mind.” She added, “Sister Tao Ling, don’t worry about it. She might be going through a special period; her hormones are probably unstable.”

Tao Ling replied gloomily: “Yingqiu, your leg is still hurting. Go sit in the living room.”

“It’s fine. With the hot compress and spray, I can walk independently now.” Cheng Yingqiu leaned her back against the door panel: “You said you’d treat us once you got the manuscript fee. What manuscript fee?”

Tao Ling dried her hands: “A physical book. I just signed a contract with Nanyuan.”

Cheng Yingqiu couldn’t hide her excitement: “Nanyuan? Are you talking about Nanyuan Publishing House?”

“Yes.” Tao Ling bent down, placed the milk pot into the cupboard, and by the time she turned to walk toward Cheng Yingqiu, she had completely gathered her thoughts.

“This is fantastic news.” Cheng Yingqiu held her arm and slowly walked back to the living room to sit down, eagerly asking: “Quick, tell me, what book is it?”

“A suspense novel, no romance, told from the female protagonist’s perspective. It’s about her and her female partner traveling together, discovering a body in a hotel, which leads to a series of murders, and the process of them solving the case together.”

Cheng Yingqiu covered her mouth and smiled: “You work in silence! I didn’t even know you were writing a novel.”

“I wrote it during my internship and finished it in April this year. The last six months have just been revisions.”

“I know the editors at Nanyuan. They seem to sign very few novels.” Cheng Yingqiu motioned toward the bookcase on the left: “They focus more on translating foreign works. I’ve bought six or seven of them.”

Tao Ling nodded: “Mhm. Nanyuan plans to sign two or three suspense novels to test the market response.” Her tone was calm: “I originally submitted to Zhongyun Publishing House, Lanliao Publishing House, and Hexin Publishing House, but we couldn’t agree on terms.”

Cheng Yingqiu was well-informed and had a clear understanding of the publishing industry. She was confused: “What was the reason? They publish a lot of best-selling novels.”

“Zhongyun and Lanliao both wanted me to change the female protagonist’s partner to a male, and Hexin suggested adding a male character to the team to form an ‘iron triangle.’ I didn’t agree.” Tao Ling said helplessly: “They analyzed it from a commercial perspective, stating frankly that a team with only two women wouldn’t attract readers.”

Cheng Yingqiu angrily retorted: “Nonsense.”

“The editor at Nanyuan also said she wasn’t sure what the market feedback would be, which is why the first print is 2,000 copies.” Tiny ripples of light shimmered in Tao Ling’s eyes. “But she wants readers to see the power of women and is willing to give it a try.”

“2,000 copies really isn’t much.” Cheng Yingqiu nudged her arm: “I’ll need to get your signature in advance. You might be able to sell it for money one day.”

“Yingqiu, you exaggerate. I’ll be ecstatic if I manage to sell all 2,000 copies.”

“I have complete confidence in you.”

“Thank you.” Tao Ling smiled sincerely.

“By the way, why did you go to Wangyan? Why didn’t you stay the night?” Cheng Yingqiu thought she would at least return tomorrow.

Tao Ling didn’t hesitate for a second, speaking truthfully: “It was my teacher’s birthday. I celebrated with my classmates.”

The sliding door to the living room was open. Li Hewei was intentionally sitting on the balcony in the bedroom, easily hearing the conversation between the two. She realized she had misunderstood Tao Ling, and upon hearing that she had signed a physical book contract, she was delighted. She buried her head and finished the now-clumped noodles, not leaving a single drop of soup.

“I’m going to take a shower first.”

Tao Ling’s clear, soft voice came through. Li Hewei hastily picked up the bowl, strode forward, and abruptly pushed open the door.

Cheng Yingqiu smiled radiantly: “Ya, Sis, you finally decided to show yourself.”

“Mhm, I’m full.” Li Hewei looked past Cheng Yingqiu at the shadow cast from the second bedroom, unconsciously biting her lip and smiling.

Cheng Yingqiu looked at her empty bowl, surprised. She deliberately raised her voice for Tao Ling to hear: “Oh my god, you drank all the soup.”

“Because the noodles were delicious, and the soup was also savory.”

“Sister Tao Ling, I want some tomorrow morning too!” Cheng Yingqiu stood up. “Sis, leave the bowl there. Do me a favour and help me into the bedroom.”

Li Hewei followed the request, placing the bowl in the sink. Then, she carefully helped Cheng Yingqiu, asking her: “Feeling better? Let me check.”

“Check what?” Cheng Yingqiu whispered in her ear: “Did you think she went on a blind date?”

Li Hewei didn’t reply, just sulked.

“I knew it. Look at your reaction—so possessive. You are completely head over heels in love.”

Li Hewei frowned: “Watch your mouth.”

“Don’t worry, she can’t hear.” Cheng Yingqiu leaned back against the pillow, holding her phone and looking up: “I’m not going to be a third wheel. Say whatever you want to her yourself.”

Li Hewei sat on the edge of the bed, reached for the spray bottle on the nightstand, lifted the covers, and motioned for her: “Ankle.”

“No need, I can do it myself.”

“Otherwise, someone will always say I don’t care about her.” Li Hewei gently held her lower leg, took off the sock, sprayed a little medicine, and then massaged it with moderate pressure.

Cheng Yingqiu endured the pain: “I don’t need you to care about me. I just want Sister Qiu to care about me.” She took a photo and habitually opened Qiu Wan’s profile to send it: [My sister has had a change of heart.]

[Sister Qiu, are you catching up on sleep?]