Transmigrated Into the Stand-In of the Tragic Novel’s Heroine - Chapter 41

Xie Qingtang lowered her gaze, and time seemed to pause at this moment.

“Qingtang.” Qi Yu’s voice reached her. She walked closer to Xie Qingtang, saw Chang Yishao pressing her lips together, and raised an eyebrow in surprise. This unusual atmosphere… she sensed it. She looked towards Chang Yishao, seemingly waiting for her decision.

Chang Yishao released her hand and said softly, “I’m sorry.” After a pause, she added, “You’re here to pick me up.”

Xie Qingtang found it a little funny; of course, she knew she was here to pick up Chang Yishao. It was just that He Yanjin beside her was utterly an eyesore.

He Yanjin was dizzy, several figures crossed before her eyes. She pressed her temples, desperately trying to stay sober. This time, she had privately negotiated with Zhang Yi, and was later forced to drink by Zhang Yi’s friends… She understood her current predicament. It was Chang Yishao and her friends, who happened to be here, who helped her. She strained to keep her eyes open, searching for warmth in Chang Yishao. However, the two overlapping figures before her kept stimulating her nerves, reminding her over and over again that Chang Yishao had left.

??Regret and grievance surfaced in her heart. She blinked at Chang Yishao, who hadn’t responded at all, and said, “Yishao, you weren’t like this before. You’ve changed.”

Qi Yu had been listening to He Yanjin quietly. She thought to herself, Chang Yishao had changed. After meeting He Yanjin, her whole person underwent a drastic change, whether for the better or worse. She had already messaged Zhou Yunmeng, who replied that she would be coming immediately after receiving the address, her tone filled with panic and anxiety.

She scrutinized He Yanjin, wondering what kind of charm this woman possessed to make both Chang Yishao and Zhou Yunmeng… fall for her one after the other.

“Haven’t you changed, too?” Chang Yishao raised an eyebrow, finally replying. Her smile was mocking, and she felt no pity for He Yanjin’s state. She only found it ridiculous.

“We’ll leave when Miss Zhou arrives,” Chang Yishao turned to Xie Qingtang, her tone gentle, seemingly harboring a hint of caution, afraid that she might turn and leave at this moment.

It would indeed be rude to leave a heavily drunk woman alone in a bar. Xie Qingtang understood Chang Yishao’s choice. She simply nodded lightly, then began speaking softly with Qi Yu.

The only thing that could interest Qi Yu was art. Given Xie Qingtang’s past work experiences, having traveled to the past and the future, the river of art was endless, with various branches. She naturally could draw on her experience to converse with Qi Yu.

Among the group, Tang Rong was dragging the drunken Lu Li, and Qi Yu and Xie Qingtang were conversing happily. Only Chang Yishao—she felt like she didn’t belong in this environment. She sighed softly, suppressed the urge to join the conversation, and swallowed the words that reached her lips. She gazed at Xie Qingtang, her eyes as calm as a windless sea, yet as bright as the stars dotted in the night sky.

Zhou Yunmeng arrived quickly.

She practically ran into the bar. Before she could catch her breath, she rushed to Qi Yu and looked up at her slightly.

Qi Yu and Xie Qingtang’s conversation came to an abrupt halt.

Since learning about the past connection between Zhou Yunmeng and Qi Yu from Chang Yishao, and recalling Zhou Yunmeng’s actions and gaze, Xie Qingtang had always felt there was a hint of something, and this time was clearly no exception. She subtly stepped back. Zhou Yunmeng was clearly here for He Yanjin, but the first person she rushed to was Qi Yu.

“She’s on the sofa,” Qi Yu said.

Zhou Yunmeng followed Qi Yu’s gaze, and the joy in her eyes significantly diminished. The “couple,” she and He Yanjin, had their hearts set on different people.

“It’s good that Miss Zhou is here. We’ll head back now,” Chang Yishao’s voice rang out, intercepting Zhou Yunmeng’s gaze. She raised an eyebrow, her tone slightly cold. Qi Yu nodded in agreement, then looked over and saw Tang Rong and Lu Li. She sighed almost inaudibly again. She said to Chang Yishao, “I’ll take the two of them back.”

Mhm.” Chang Yishao nodded; this was the best solution.

Qi Yu’s movements were swift; it was clear she entirely did not want to stay in the bar any longer. As for Zhou Yunmeng, she paid her little attention. She didn’t see the bright fireworks in Zhou Yunmeng’s eyes, nor the ashes after the sudden extinction.

Zhou Yunmeng watched Qi Yu and the others’ departing figures, biting her lower lip tightly.

“Miss Zhou, why don’t you let yourself go? What you’re clinging to is just an illusion, isn’t it?” Chang Yishao folded her arms and smiled faintly.

Zhou Yunmeng remained silent, her gaze finally landing on He Yanjin. She asked, “What’s wrong with her?”

“You should ask her yourself,” Chang Yishao said.

Zhou Yunmeng pursed her lips and said nothing more. He Yanjin was still softly calling Chang Yishao’s name, hoping for her to look back and show sympathy.

Chang Yishao, however, handed the key to Xie Qingtang, breaking Xie Qingtang’s spectator state, and said softly, “We’re going home too.”

Xie Qingtang said, “Mhm.” But before leaving, she still looked back at He Yanjin and Zhou Yunmeng. She felt that these two people huddling together for warmth or mutually tormenting each other were crazy, but also exceptionally pitiful.

The world is vast; why be so fixated? But ultimately, this was someone else’s business. She, as an outsider, merely spoke lightly. As for how to choose, they needed to figure it out themselves, and they would ultimately bear the consequences.

When she mentioned picking up Chang Yishao that morning, Xie Qingtang hadn’t expected it to take this turn. Actually, when she saw Chang Yishao and He Yanjin in the bar, her first thought was to flee far away. Perhaps it was the result of the emotions brewing over the past few days, which became incredibly strong at this moment.

Along the way, she wanted to speak up several times, but seeing Chang Yishao’s tired face, she chose to keep silent. She decided to bring it up once they were home.

She hadn’t violated the contract, just a small business trip. It shouldn’t be a big deal, right?

Outside the car window was a dark blue night. Faint lights approached and then retreated; no light could stay by her side forever. She no longer had any feelings for He Yanjin, and even the slight amusement she felt earlier was completely gone. If she had to say anything, signing the contract with Xie Qingtang was also part of the game. Their relationship was bound by a contract, unable to move forward or backward.

She couldn’t remember the detailed clauses on the paper, but upon re-examining it, she felt it was filled with the word “absurd.”

She knew that without breaking this constraint, there would be no other possibility between her and Xie Qingtang. Once everything settled, they wouldn’t even be friends.

If not friends, what kind of relationship would it be? What exactly did she want? Confusion arose in Chang Yishao’s heart.

Xie Qingtang did not follow the direction she had pre-set, but instead completely developed into a dazzling surprise.

A surprise she didn’t dislike.

Xie Qingtang only brought up the business trip during breakfast the next day.

The supposedly decisive her had, after all, agonized over it all night, counting roast duck, chili chicken, beef brisket stew… unable to fall asleep.

She was going to be spoiled by Chang Yishao. If it weren’t for that contract between them, she would have thought Chang Yishao was doing it on purpose.

“Are you going to Sincheng?” Chang Yishao’s tone was calm and unperturbed, as if Xie Qingtang’s decision hadn’t caused any ripples in her heart.

Xie Qingtang looked at Chang Yishao’s expression and suddenly felt relieved. Given Chang Yishao’s personality, she probably wouldn’t care too much, right? If that was the case, wasn’t her agonizing over it for so long making her look extremely uncool? No matter what, the situation was already developing towards a bad side, and she couldn’t continue to be eroded by gentle affection. Meeting Chang Yishao’s gaze, she said, “Yes, in Sincheng. The world is so big, I want to go out and see it.”

She quoted the common, carefree phrase typically found on resignation letters.

At this moment, she was utterly satisfied with her posture, demeanor, and tone.

“Okay,” Chang Yishao replied. She curved a faint smile. Gazing at Xie Qingtang, she added, “May you be accompanied by fresh flowers, and may poetry and romance always be in your life.”

Xie Qingtang let out a small “Ah,” and said blankly, “Then… thank you?”

“Tang Rong is also going back to Sincheng, do you want to go with her? Have you found a place to live there? Do you know the local customs? Will you be unaccustomed to it once you move there…”

A barrage of questions hit Xie Qingtang, leaving her dizzy.

Sincheng wasn’t actually very far, less than an hour by plane. How big of a difference could there be? As for accommodation, Old Master Qi said he would arrange everything, so she didn’t need to worry at all.

“I’ll help you pack your things,” Chang Yishao said when she saw Xie Qingtang remain silent.

Xie Qingtang suddenly remembered the scene when Chang Yishao helped her pack her suitcase when she first moved to Chang Yishao’s place.

It wasn’t a facade; this person truly knew how to take care of others. She met her expectations. If there was anything wrong, it was that this world was abnormal.

Xie Qingtang did not refuse Chang Yishao’s kindness, and her limited rest day was thus devoted to busyness.

She didn’t have many things. With summer approaching, she felt even lighter. As for most of her possessions, she could buy new ones in Sincheng; she didn’t need them to become a burden.

Chang Yishao also realized this.

She took out the unnecessary items from the suitcase again. Her movements were not hurried, but time seemed to stretch infinitely in her hands.

Xie Qingtang propped up her chin, nestled in the wicker chair, watching Chang Yishao work. It wasn’t until Chang Yishao packed a strange item that didn’t belong to her that she spoke, “What’s that? A photo album?”

Chang Yishao paused, then pressed her lips and said, “Yes.”

“Photos taken in the park?” Xie Qingtang couldn’t think of any other possibility. After Chang Yishao nodded, she asked again, “When did you get them developed?”

Chang Yishao said, “The day before yesterday.”

Xie Qingtang became interested. There were many of her “masterpieces” in there; she wondered if they were included.

“I want to see.”

Chang Yishao got up, spread the opened photo album in front of Xie Qingtang, and flipped through the pages with her fingertips, showing intense flowers and beaming smiles. “I’ll put it away first. You can take it with you and look at it slowly.” When only one-third of the album remained, Chang Yishao suddenly closed it and put it into the suitcase.

Xie Qingtang didn’t think much of it. She said, “Oh,” glanced around, and suddenly remembered the gift Chang Yishao had given her.

She said, “It’s getting hot, take a fan.”

Chang Yishao looked up and gazed at Xie Qingtang, her eyes deep.

Xie Qingtang, however, fanned herself with her hand nonchalantly, muttering, “It’s a little hot now.”

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