The Person I Love Who Has Been Missing For Three Years - Chapter 63

Chapter 63: About to Be Driven Mad by Her Own Obsession (5k…)

The final joint rehearsal for the last performance had only 8 contestants remaining.

Neon lights streamed across the stage, and layers of dry ice mist created an ethereal, fairy-like atmosphere. Currently on stage was Su Chenxing.

Wearing full makeup for the rehearsal, she was dressed in a Dunhuang Flying Apsara costume. Copper bells jingled on her slender, pale ankles. The wind machine blew, billowing the silk ribbons around her. Under the neon lights, she spun and stretched, looking like a goddess walking out of a fresco.

Su Chenxing had a beautiful face, and her physique was perfectly managed. This outfit showcased her best features completely.

Zhou Xintong chewed the tapioca pearls while sucking on her milk tea straw. Watching the monitor, she muttered, “I just don’t get it…”

“Don’t get what?” Song Xiangwan, also sipping her milk tea straw, stood next to her, watching the monitor. She took a big gulp, her cheeks bulging and round.

“She’s changed this dance so much it’s barely recognizable…” Zhou Xintong pouted. “How does she still have the nerve to call the program ‘Dunhuang Flying Apsara’?”

“And why are her votes always so high? I don’t understand…”

“That, my dear, is called abusive fan engagement (Nue Fen). You wouldn’t know, would you?” Shen Yi walked over with a cup of milk tea and clicked her tongue. “No wonder you’re not famous. You don’t even know this.”

“Oh, you’re making fun of me,” Zhou Xintong said, reaching out to pinch Shen Yi’s face. Shen Yi skillfully dodged her side-step. “Hey, hey, you can’t catch me.”

“Just you wait,” Zhou Xintong rolled up her sleeves, looking determined not to give up.

One chasing, one running—like Jing Ke assassinating the King of Qin, who circles a pillar—Song Xiangwan was currently that pillar.

The running and circling made Song Xiangwan dizzy. She quickly said, “Alright, alright, both of you. Didn’t we agree to know your enemy to win every battle? Slacking off during preparation time?”

“Be careful, Xiangwan might not treat you to dinner later, making you go Dutch (AA),” Lu Peiling walked in, raising a cup of milk tea towards Song Xiangwan. “Thanks.”

She walked off with the milk tea. The two who had been playing immediately stopped, looking at Song Xiangwan: “Sister Wan…”

They definitely couldn’t afford to go AA.

They remembered the first two times Song Xiangwan offered to treat them to dinner. They politely insisted they had to go Dutch this time, saying she couldn’t pay every time.

Then, they saw the menu and were stunned.

Good heavens, one meal cost them almost half a month’s income. The restaurant Song Xiangwan chose was truly eye-opening.

Song Xiangwan never intended for them to pay. She took out Ming Jin’s secondary card and paid the bill without batting an eyelid.

This secondary card had been with Song Xiangwan for years. In the past, Song Xiangwan rarely used it.

Every purchase would be seen by Ming Jin. She always felt a sense of being monitored and constrained.

Now… My wife earns money for me to spend. What’s wrong with me spending some of her money? Can she complain?

Constrained?

She wasn’t doing anything dishonest or having any illicit expenses, so what was there to be constrained about?

“You’re pretending to be pitiful,” Song Xiangwan chuckled. Her gaze returned to the monitor, but the curve of her lips lifted slightly.

She had indeed made some close friends on this show.

They were different from the friends she had made at drinking parties before…

Su Chenxing’s dance had been heavily modified. It was a cover dance. The original was performed by Lu Peiling at the Lantern Festival Gala two years ago. All the high-difficulty moves were removed and replaced by spins and turning in the wind machine… the classic tropes from ancient historical dramas, brought onto a competitive dance stage.

She knew very well now that her popularity among the general public had collapsed. Only a few die-hard fans supported her. She just needed to give these fans what they liked.

Su Chenxing eventually got a top-tier manager. After a series of “abusive fan engagement” tactics, she still managed to maintain some commercial value.

Song Xiangwan was the type to seek revenge, but she wasn’t interested in kicking a dog while it was down. She didn’t chase a cornered foe. Su Chenxing made it to the finals based on votes cast by her die-hard fans.

Zhou Xintong and Shen Yi had been eliminated in the previous rounds but were invited back by Song Xiangwan as supporting dancers for the final round.

Besides the two of them, Song Xiangwan also invited a friend of Shen Yi’s, a young actress from the Black Swan Theater Company named Zhao Qingxue.

Compared to the relaxed demeanor of Zhou Xintong and Shen Yi in front of Song Xiangwan, the young girl was still a bit reserved. She didn’t join the playful banter and was sipping her milk tea little by little.

“Sister Wan, this milk tea is really delicious. Which shop is it from? Why is there no merchant name on the cup?” Zhao Qingxue turned the cup around.

The milk tea cup had a Disney Princess cartoon image, was well-made, and beautifully designed, but the lack of a merchant name seemed like an oversight.

“It’s a secret,” Song Xiangwan winked.

“Sister Wan made it herself. Only a few of us have it,” Zhou Xintong said proudly.

It was actually boiled by Sister Qiu, following the recipe Ming Jin gave her. The taste was… not exactly the same as Ming Jin’s.

But if it were made by Ming Jin, Song Xiangwan would probably be reluctant to share it with them.

“Don’t go talking about this outside. I ordered milk tea for everyone,” Song Xiangwan quickly cautioned. Everyone had milk tea, but only theirs was special.

It was a low-sugar, low-fat version, refreshing and delicious. Since it was made in a home kitchen, the output was small, and it was only given to a few people, so there was no need to worry about food safety issues.

“Here we go, here we go,” Zhou Xintong responded, hurriedly checking her makeup in the mirror.

The three of them walked to the door. Zhou Xintong realized someone was missing and turned around: “Sister Wan…”

Zhao Qingxue: “…”

Shen Yi: “It’s just a cup of milk tea, isn’t it?”

Zhou Xintong sighed and shook her head: “Milk tea is her life.”

She had been reluctant to drink it just now. Now, she was gulping it down quickly. Gulp, gulp, gulp. Finally, the straw made a sucking sound as it drew air.

Only then did Song Xiangwan put down the milk tea cup. She walked over quickly, her phoenix eyes shining: “Let’s go, let’s go. Time to wait backstage.”

Zhao Qingxue couldn’t help but chuckle softly, but didn’t dare laugh out loud. She bowed her head, trying to suppress her laughter, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Shen Yi immediately put an arm around her shoulder: “See? I told you, Sister Wan is a very down-to-earth and adorable person.”

Zhao Qingxue was invited by Shen Yi and felt apprehensive when she arrived.

Song Xiangwan had a fierce reputation, and she was truly scared of being yelled at and humiliated.

However, after rehearsing with her for a while, she realized that wasn’t the case at all. Song Xiangwan was just very clear about her likes and dislikes, genuinely true to herself.

Don’t mess with me, and I won’t mess with you. If you mess with me, I will pursue you relentlessly.

The others were secretly laughing, and Song Xiangwan knew it, but she wasn’t embarrassed. A month’s quota of milk tea must be finished.

If she waited until after the rehearsal, the milk tea would change temperature and wouldn’t taste as good.

Nothing in the world was more important than drinking it all while it was still delicious.

The rehearsal had no audience, but everyone performed with the seriousness of a live broadcast. Afterward, the director held a brief review meeting and then let everyone go.

Song Xiangwan didn’t eat with Zhou Xintong and the others today. She reserved a table for them, paid the bill in advance, and hurried back to the hospital herself.

Despite her rush, she was still a step behind Song Xiuyun.

When she arrived, Song Xiuyun and Zhou Ying were already in the ward. Steam rose from an opened thermos. A bowl of soup sat on the small tray table in front of Ming Jin.

“Drink more. Wanwan always says my soup is delicious. I bought this Cordyceps flower from a village household; it’s top quality.”

“Drink it. Don’t just sit there. Look how skinny you are. Don’t just think about beauty when you’re young. Health is more important.”

“After a serious illness, you need to supplement more. Who knows how long it will take to recover.”

“It’s heartbreaking to see. I wonder if your parents are heartbroken that you have to suffer like this.”

“Don’t just drink the soup. Eat a couple of pieces of meat too. The nutrients are in the meat. Eat more to gain some weight.”

Song Xiuyun looked at Ming Jin with eyes full of motherly love and affection.

“Mhm.” Ming Jin had nothing else to say besides nodding.

Song Xiangwan looked at CEO Ming, who was nodding like a quail, and had a momentary hallucination. She felt like CEO Ming was an elementary school student being lectured.

Her mother’s boldness was increasing. At first, she addressed Ming Jin with formal respect; now, she lectured her like a granddaughter.

Ming Jin had never encountered a situation like this in her life. The love of an elder, heavy as a collapsing mountain. Her parents had never treated her this way, and servants in her home certainly wouldn’t.

It was rare to see Ming Jin so utterly subdued.

Song Xiangwan couldn’t help but smile, suppressing her laughter. She stepped in to smooth things over: “Alright, Mom, stop nagging.”

“How can I stop nagging? You young girls all care about looking good, but you can’t be so thin that a gust of wind blows you away.”

“Oh, right, about you, that Little Hu…”

Hearing this, Song Xiangwan’s heart sank. She quickly interrupted her: “My own business, I know what I’m doing.”

“Is this the old hen you brought from home? It smells so good. I want a bowl too.”

“If it were brought from home, I would have fed it to you long ago. We’ve been here a month. How could it still be fresh?” Song Xiuyun said, serving a bowl of soup and handing it to Song Xiangwan. “I bought this at the market. I went to several markets and finally got to know this owner. He’s honest and specially saved this free-range chicken for me. The soup is bright and sweet…”

“Drink more. I see both of you are too thin.” While nagging, she added two pieces of chicken to Song Xiangwan’s bowl.

Song Xiangwan: “…” Blocking her mother’s random nagging resulted in having to drink this entire bowl of chicken soup now.

Good heavens, this free-range chicken was fatty. The soup had a layer of oil.

She had also drunk milk tea today…

The final live performance was tomorrow. Would she even be able to dance?

“Drink it. It’s not hot,” Song Xiuyun urged. “It won’t taste good when it cools down.”

Ming Jin seemed to have let out a soft laugh. When Song Xiangwan looked at her, however, she saw no smile. Her light-brown eyes were perfectly calm.

Her long fingers picked up the spoon with graceful elegance. She quietly urged, “Mhm, hurry and drink.”

Song Xiangwan: “…” She was doing this on purpose. Song Xiangwan glared fiercely at Ming Jin in frustration.

But it had no destructive power. A kitten glaring angrily but helplessly is just fluffy and adorable.

After finishing the bowl of soup and eating two pieces of chicken, Song Xiangwan felt her stomach was full. Not quite full, but rather, greasy.

“That’s right. You should eat more,” Song Xiuyun said, beaming, and pulled something out of her bag. “And this.”

It was a Zhuang brocade blanket with dense floral patterns, glittering under the light. She unfolded it for Song Xiangwan to see: “Look at this. Isn’t it pretty?”

“It’s pretty. Why are you making this again? It’s hard on your eyes…” Song Xiangwan said, her tone slightly displeased.

When she was little, Song Xiuyun worked at a small restaurant during the day and knitted blankets and scarves when she returned home at night. This was a skill she learned from a neighbor when she was young.

She was skillful, and her knitted items were in high demand and sold well.

The money for Song Xiangwan’s dance lessons was woven into these blankets and scarves.

But this took too much time. Even working overtime, she could only knit one piece a month. Song Xiuyun’s eyesight had deteriorated in the last two years, and Song Xiangwan had long forbidden her from doing this kind of work.

This one looked very meticulously woven, the pattern exquisite, and the texture silky smooth…

Then, Song Xiuyun snatched it back: “Why are you talking so much? It’s not for you.”

Then, Song Xiuyun handed it to Ming Jin: “Little Jin, look. See if you like it. You can use it in your wheelchair. If you like it, Auntie will make two more for you.”

Song Xiangwan: “…” It was over. It was truly over.

“I like it very much. Thank you, Auntie.” Ming Jin touched it with her hand. Her eyes genuinely showed she liked it.

Following the pretense of looking at the blanket, Song Xiangwan sat down right next to Ming Jin, her hand inadvertently wrapping around Ming Jin’s waist.

After a month of recovery, the wound had healed. There was no waist brace now, and her touch was warm. Her fingers couldn’t help but move slightly up and down.

Who was Song Xiangwan? She was extremely bold. Not only was she not deterred by the elders, but she escalated her actions. She used a little pressure with her fingers to gently pinch Ming Jin’s waist.

It was a very subtle movement. Her phoenix eyes blinked slightly, filled with innocence.

She looked down and said, “This one is truly beautiful. It’s even better than the ones you knitted for me before…”

On the surface, she was just looking at the blanket and doing nothing else. Under cover, that hand was already naughtily squeezing Ming Jin’s waist up and down.

She had gained a little weight. The touch was no longer the grating feeling of bone, and Song Xiangwan was very satisfied.

“If you like it, I still have the yarn…” Song Xiuyun said, her face also showing happiness.

Elders are like that. If you like the gift they give you, they are very happy.

“No, no,” Song Xiangwan quickly refused. “I don’t need it.”

“Mom, it’s dark. Please close the window. We don’t want the light to attract insects.”

“Okay,” Song Xiuyun, not thinking much of it, got up to close the window. Zhou Ying also got up to help.

Taking advantage of the brief moment when the two were turned away, the little cat was quick. She turned her head and softly kissed Ming Jin’s lips, looking at her with a mischievous, triumphant smile.

“Stop… being naughty…” Ming Jin suppressed her voice.

“I’m not…” Song Xiangwan whispered. “My mom likes you so much…”

The implication was, Why don’t we just go public?

During their stay in Haicheng this month, Song Xiuyun and Zhou Ying had visited the hospital several times and had chatted happily with Ming Jin, their relationship growing closer.

Song Xiangwan felt the time was right, but Ming Jin kept deflecting the issue every time.

Seeing that the two elders hadn’t finished closing the window, Song Xiangwan leaned in and nibbled on Ming Jin’s ear: “Fine, fine, Ah Jin. You just don’t want to give me an official title.”

The cat was flirting. Her hot breath rushed directly from the ear canal to the eardrum.

The gentle nibbling on her earlobe tickled slightly. Ming Jin subconsciously tried to pull away, but the arm wrapped around her waist tightened.

Then, Song Xiangwan’s chin rested lightly on her collarbone: “I’ve been missing you all day. What’s wrong with a little kiss?”

“The floor is high here, so there shouldn’t be many mosquitoes. But there might be wind at night, so be careful,” Song Xiuyun closed the window, muttering as she walked back.

Song Xiangwan was lowered her gaze, seriously folding up the blanket to put it away. Ming Jin also thanked her calmly: “Thank you, Auntie.”

There was no sign of anything unusual, except that when Song Xiangwan looked at Ming Jin again, Ming Jin raised her hand and buttoned the top button of her shirt.

Song Xiuyun and Zhou Ying didn’t stay long. As night fell, they got up and said they were going back.

Song Xiangwan got up to see them out. After watching the two elders leave, she quickly lowered her head and kissed Ming Jin’s lips: “Be good. I’ll be back soon.”

She smiled playfully, like a kitten that had successfully stolen a piece of freeze-dried meat.

“Aren’t you going home?” Ming Jin asked.

“No, are you willing to let me go home?” Song Xiangwan pursed her lips and turned her face: “Come, kiss me, and I won’t leave.”

Lately, Song Xiangwan had been going home very infrequently. Most of her free time was spent at the hospital.

She felt that Ming Jin was a little clingy after the surgery.

It was as if she wanted to possess her, filling up all her free time.

She would show weakness, holding her and saying, Wanwan, I hurt so much, so much. Can you not leave? Can you hug me?

She was so spoiled, unlike the original CEO Ming, which made Song Xiangwan incredibly distressed. It was true that people felt lingering fear after a brush with death.

The black Rolls-Royce was waiting at the door. After seeing the two elders into the car, Song Xiangwan waved: “Be careful on the road.”

Song Xiuyun frowned, looking at her: “You’re still not coming home tonight? Don’t you have no work?”

“I have a photoshoot tomorrow…” Song Xiangwan tried to speak vaguely.

“You have a private car. You’ll still make it tomorrow,” Song Xiuyun said, getting out of the car to pull her. “You have nothing on tonight, so go home and get a good sleep. Don’t fool around outside.”

Song Xiangwan: “…” Where did the conclusion “fool around” come from?

Before Ming Jin returned, she did frequently hang out in bars, but now, she was strictly following the rules.

But you couldn’t beat the belief that she was fooling around outside, which was held by her elders.

Perhaps, in their youth, not going home meant fooling around outside?

“I’m not fooling around. I have important business…” Song Xiangwan tried to explain. “I have a gathering with a few friends.”

“You must come home today,” Song Xiuyun said in dissatisfaction. “If you gather outside every day and don’t sleep well, how can your body be healthy?”

When it came to things like this, Song Xiuyun’s nagging power was fully unleashed.

After a struggle, Song Xiangwan still went back with the two elders, preparing herself to be lectured as soon as she got in the car.

“Wanwan, that Little Hu has called you many times. What exactly do you mean? Do you really have no time at all?”

“Let’s talk about it later, later…” Song Xiangwan continued her stalling strategy, while simultaneously sending a message to Ming Jin.

Song Xiangwan: Can’t come back tonight QAQ. (Little Cat Crying Emoji)

Song Xiangwan: My mom dragged me into the car. She said I’m not allowed to fool around outside.

My Beloved Ah Jin: You should also spend time with the two elders.

Song Xiangwan: Are you unhappy?

My Beloved Ah Jin: No, don’t overthink it.

My Beloved Ah Jin: Rest well tonight. I wish you a successful performance tomorrow.

Song Xiangwan: Why don’t we just tell them? (Little Cat Rolling)

Song Xiangwan: Although I know it might be hard for them to accept, I’m ready. (Little Cat Pumping Up)

Song Xiuyun’s voice came over: “Stop staring down at your phone. Did you hear what I just said?”

“I heard it,” Song Xiangwan replied casually.

Song Xiuyun pressed her hand on the phone, looking at her: “Then repeat it back to me.”

A mother knows her daughter best. Song Xiangwan hadn’t heard a single word.

Song Xiangwan: “…”

Song Xiuyun said earnestly: “I knew it. You were like this when you were little. If it was something you didn’t like to hear, it went in one ear and out the other.”

“How are you still like this now that you’re grown up? Are you like this with your leaders and colleagues?”

“No,” Song Xiangwan quietly pursed her lips.

Leaders and colleagues? If they said something she didn’t like to hear, she wouldn’t listen to a word. She’d walk off with a cold face. It would be a miracle if she didn’t curse them out.

“Then I’ll say it again. Even if you don’t like the man, you must be polite and say a few nice words to him.”

“His parents sought me out. They are respectable people. You can’t just leave them hanging like this.”

“Mhm, got it,” Song Xiangwan had no intention of calling back.

But just then, her phone rang.

It was as if something had been agreed upon long ago.

The phone number that had called many times and had not been answered—the local Haicheng number.

“Answer it,” Song Xiuyun instructed.

Song Xiangwan: “…” She endured it and pressed the connect button: “Hello, this is Song Xiangwan.”

“Hello, Mr. Hu. This is Song Xiangwan.”

Courteous and respectful, giving him full face.

Under the car seat, a red sensor light flickered. The audio current was transmitted, finally coming out through the earphone.

Song Xiangwan’s voice: “Hello, Mr. Hu. This is Song Xiangwan.”

The ward was slightly silent.

Ming Jin’s lips were slightly pale and tightly pressed. The fingers clutching her phone tightened severely, as if her heart had been seized all at once.

She was nervous.

She heard Song Xiuyun’s urging, the whooshing sound of the car’s air conditioning, and Song Xiangwan’s voice.

The phone screen was lit up, showing a series of recorded conversations. The previous one was the sound from the car that brought Song Xiuyun and Zhou Ying:

“What does Wanwan mean by ignoring Little Hu all the time?”

“She wouldn’t really like women, would she?”

“No…” Song Xiuyun speculated. “Is it her female boss?”

“Didn’t you like CEO Ming very much?”

“That child is endearing. She’s pretty, smart, sensible, and stable. And going through something like this makes one feel sorry for her. I truly like her character.”

“It’s just… it’s just… being together is a lifelong thing…”

“Our Wanwan is a whole person. Being with her, she will ultimately be at a disadvantage.”

“Even though she’s rich, we’re not after her family wealth.”

“On the contrary, with that kind of family background… she’s easily disadvantaged, wronged, and bullied…”

They weren’t unaware of Ming Jin and Song Xiangwan’s relationship. They weren’t fools. Over the past month, they had already sensed some things.

But they preferred to pretend to be deaf and dumb, unwilling to face it, and wanting to change Song Xiangwan.

Ming Jin felt a surge of violent emotion spreading through her mind. Her hands trembled slightly, and every breath she took caused her chest to heave violently.

No, no one was wrong. They were just worried about Song Xiangwan.

Go public? Go public and let Song Xiangwan be caught between her lover and her elders?

She couldn’t be so selfish, yet she couldn’t control herself. The thought of Song Xiangwan going on blind dates, having dinner, and meeting other people almost drove her mad with her own obsession.