When the Heartthrob Meets the Cold-Hearted Ex - Chapter 22

The latest issue of Yifeng magazine dedicated a full 10-page color spread to a feature report on Qianhe Company.

With Qianhe’s authorization, the magazine used an electronic composite image of Su Yang and the 3D version of Tangtang as its promotional cover.

Shining Tangtang had been online for nearly half a year, amassing a considerable number of loyal fans, though they were primarily young women who were avid internet users.

This magazine issue first caught the attention of passersby with its eye-catching cover, then drew Qianhe and Shining Tangtang into the view of a broader audience through its nuanced writing and compelling coverage.

Yifeng’s official blog and public account simultaneously released a vlog, which, boosted by the organic recommendations of loyal fans, landed several free trending spots.

The magazine sold out on the first day of release, prompting an emergency reprint of 20,000 additional copies. Final sales exceeded the previous issue by 80%, reaching Yifeng’s highest in three years.

At the same time, Shining Tangtang saw a sharp increase in downloads that month, once again securing its position as the top mobile game in monthly active users far surpassing the runner-up.

This interview was a mutually beneficial collaboration for both Qianhe and Yifeng.

As the lead reporter for this feature, Tang Yeran naturally played an indispensable role.

The editor-in-chief lavished praise on her during meetings, and even her end-of-month performance bonus was several times higher than usual.

In the past, Tang Yeran, who had always been career-driven, would have felt an immense sense of accomplishment.

After all, wasn’t this exactly what she had been striving for since joining the company?

But now, with such a major project finally completed, all she felt was exhaustion.

A kind of inexplicable exhaustion that rose from the depths of her heart and spread through her limbs.

It was as if the project had drained her very essence.

Finally making it to the weekend, Tang Yeran curled up at home to watch a movie.

She clicked on the first recommendation on the homepage, letting it play as background noise while she stared blankly at the TV screen.

Halfway through the movie, things took an unexpected turn.

The two protagonists, separated for years, reunited on a rainy night. The world around them faded into insignificance as they broke down into hysterical sobs.

Then, for reasons unknown, one of them suddenly pulled the other into a passionate, all-consuming kiss.

Tang Yeran: “…”

She checked the title and synopsis on the homepage and realized it was a recently popular emotional drama about long-lost lovers reuniting.

The two leads had met in school polar opposites in personality, yet irresistibly drawn to each other. They were torn apart by some melodramatic twist of fate, only to reunite years later and realize they had never stopped loving each other.

Melodramatic. Clichéd!

What kind of algorithm-driven nonsense was the media pushing these days?

Annoyed, Tang Yeran turned off the TV. Just as she was about to get up, her phone rang, An Xin was calling.

“Sweetie, it’s such a beautiful day want to hang out?”

Tang Yeran had originally planned to spend the day holed up alone, but after that inexplicable movie had soured her mood, she figured going out might not be a bad idea. So she agreed to An Xin’s invitation.

The two hit up a nearby mall, with An Xin doing most of the shopping while Tang Yeran played the role of bag carrier.

Shopping was supposed to release dopamine, the happiness hormone, but this rule didn’t seem to apply to Tang Yeran.

Noticing her friend’s distracted demeanor, An Xin dragged her to a nearby quiet bar and found them a secluded spot.

“Alright, spill it. What’s going on between you and Su Yang these days?”

In the past, whenever Tang Yeran posted something on her social media, Su Yang would be the first to like it.

But recently, Su Yang had completely vanished from Tang Yeran’s feed.

If Su Yang were just too busy with work to keep up, that might have been a plausible excuse.

Yet, the recent feature Yi Feng did on Qianhe had gone viral even someone like An Xin, who wasn’t even in the industry, had heard about it.

Su Yang’s company, Tang Yeran as the lead writer even setting aside their past relationship, shouldn’t there at least be some interaction during the promotional period?

An Xin had invited Tang Yeran out today precisely to help her unwind and coax out whatever was bothering her.

After all, wasn’t that what good friends were for? To be each other’s sounding boards?

But, maybe it was true that you become like those you spend time with. Tang Yeran used to be so outgoing and talkative, but now she’d turned into someone just like Su Yang keeping everything bottled up inside.

Seeing that the person in question wasn’t going to open up on her own, An Xin, as the good friend, had no choice but to take the initiative and ask directly.

Tang Yeran paused for half a second at the question, setting the package in her hand down on a nearby chair before playing dumb.

“What does Su Yang have to do with anything? Like I said before, we’re just work colleagues. Now that the project’s over, there’s nothing between us.”

Hah, still pretending.

An Xin speared a piece of cake with her fork but hadn’t even taken a bite yet.

“Speaking of work, I remember you used to follow, @, and repost every interviewee on your personal account after each feature.

“Even if the official account did the same, you’d still do it on yours. So why skip it this time?”

Tang Yeran: …

Did you have to pay that much attention?

Tang Yeran snatched the cake from An Xin’s fork and popped it into her mouth before answering nonchalantly.

“Oh, I’ve just been too busy lately. Forgot.

“Besides, our magazine’s never had a rule requiring editors to follow or @ interviewees on their personal accounts.”

An Xin, now inexplicably robbed of her cake: …

Do you really think anyone’s buying that?

Back when Tang Yeran and Su Yang had broken up, An Xin hadn’t been around. This time, she didn’t want to leave things unresolved between her and her friend.

So she cut straight to the point.

“I only heard bits and pieces about what happened between you two back then, from Xiao Lan and the others.

“Wasn’t it just some minor relationship friction? Most couples would argue and make up in a couple of days.

“But you two, you never even fought before. I used to envy that.

“Then the moment there was an issue, you broke up and acted like you’d never speak again. Was it really that serious?

“Let me be honest someone as outstanding and devoted as Su Yang is a once-in-a-lifetime catch.

“Of course, you’re amazing too. That’s why you’re so perfect for each other. Can’t you just get back together?”

As An Xin rambled on, Tang Yeran stabbed her fork violently into the cake on her plate.

“No. Su Yang is outstanding, but she’s not devoted. She doesn’t love anyone. Or rather, she only loves herself.”

Meanwhile, on the other side of the bar, separated by a screen.

Xu Youran slid a cocktail toward Su Yang, who was engrossed in typing on her laptop.

“Boss Su, I finally managed to drag you out here. Can you not be so workaholic for once and just enjoy the moment?”

Su Yang glanced up, her eyes briefly scanning the surroundings.

The evening was drawing near. Although it was a quiet bar, people had already started singing and dancing in the center of the dance floor.

There were hired dancers performing on stage, but their moves were rather mediocre.

She couldn’t understand why Xu You loved coming to places like this and insisted on dragging her along.

With a sigh, she closed her notebook. “If you’re really that bored, you could start working on the summer event outfits for Shining Candy ahead of time.”

Her words reeked of capitalist exploitation, the spring event outfits had just been released not long ago.

Xu You wasn’t about to take the bait.

“There’s plenty of time for the artwork. But caring for the boss’s mental health is urgent.

“You’ve been so preoccupied lately that the entire Qianhe team is on edge, morale unstable.

“If this goes on, how can everyone focus on their work when they’re so affected by the boss?”

Su Yang: …

“Stop exaggerating. I’ve been in the office this whole time, how could I possibly be affecting anyone?

“Besides, I’ve assigned all the tasks via email. Has there been a single mistake?”

Xu You took a sip from her glass and laughed it off.

“Fine, I admit I might’ve exaggerated a tiny bit.

“But I’m just trying to nip problems in the bud, you know? Better safe than sorry.

“Otherwise, if all that pent-up stress of yours suddenly explodes one day, we’d be left leaderless in an instant.

“And then all your work would land right on my shoulders!”

That last part was the real point.

Su Yang glanced up at her. “I’m fine.”

Fine, her foot!

Xu You took a big gulp of her cocktail and let out the words she’d been holding back for ages.

“Look at you—twenty-five years old, not exactly a spring chicken anymore, yet still acting like some angsty young artist with all that ‘bright yet sorrowful’ nonsense.

“So what if you got dumped? If you can’t let go, then go win her back.

“Don’t give me that look. The way you’ve been spacing out lately, even an idiot could tell something’s wrong.

“Honestly, Editor Tang is great. Do you know how many people in the company adore her after just a few days here? Yet she only treats you the best.

“And what do you do? Glare at her all day like every extra word costs money. Who could stand that?

“If you didn’t like her, fine. But you do like her, so you should take the initiative.

“Do you think a girl like Editor Tang is short on suitors?

“While others are chasing after her desperately, you just dumped her like it was nothing. Now you’re regretting it serves you right!”

After this long rant, Xu You felt immensely relieved and picked up her glass to finish the remaining half of her cocktail.

Su Yang had stayed silent the entire time, only letting out a sigh after Xu You finished.

“Most of what you said is right, but you got one thing wrong.

“I didn’t dump her, she dumped me. Back then, and now too.”

“Cough, cough, cough!” Xu You choked on her cocktail as if she’d just heard some earth-shattering secret, tears welling in her eyes.

What had she just heard? Someone as proud and untouchable as Boss Su had actually been dumped twice!

But the melancholy in Su Yang’s eyes suggested she wasn’t lying.

Xu You was still mulling over how to comfort her when a sudden commotion erupted nearby.

What was going on?

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