Chapter 23
Xiang Xiaoyan arrived early at Wilson Café.
She had received a strange phone call earlier. A woman had asked to meet her there, saying that she wanted to discuss Meng Shi.
After thinking it over repeatedly, Xiang Xiaoyan ultimately decided to come.
While waiting, she took out her phone and looked at the missed calls from Meng Shi, then sighed.
“It’s obvious that you care about her. Why did you still let her go?”
The sudden voice startled Xiang Xiaoyan.
She hurriedly put away her phone and looked up.
A woman wearing sunglasses and a face mask had entered the private room.
“You are…? Were you the one who called me?”
She examined the woman before her in confusion.
Yan Qing closed the door to the private room and removed her sunglasses and mask.
“Hello. I’m—”
“Ji Yao! Uh, no. You’re… Yan Qing?”
Xiang Xiaoyan became slightly excited and stood up, asking tentatively.
After all, someone like Yan Qing had always existed only on the screen to her.
“That’s right.”
Yan Qing smiled gently and sat on the sofa.
“Sit down.”
She invited Xiang Xiaoyan to take a seat and ordered two cups of coffee.
“Uh, you wanted to see me because…?”
Xiang Xiaoyan was so confused that her mind nearly stopped working.
“Wait. You contacted me to discuss Meng Shi?”
Now she was even more bewildered.
Yan Qing smiled and nodded.
“I hope you’ll keep our meeting today confidential. For Ah Shi’s sake, and for mine.”
Xiang Xiaoyan organized her thoughts.
“All right. Of course, that’s no problem.”
“Then was the ‘aunt’ Little Shi mentioned that day actually you?”
Xiang Xiaoyan felt as though she had finally found a clue.
“Aunt? That’s how Meng Shi introduced me to you?”
Black lines appeared across Yan Qing’s face.
She raised an eyebrow and smiled with pursed lips.
【Meng Shi: I’m finished.】
【Xiang Xiaoyan: Hmm? Did I say something wrong?】
【Yan Qing: Hmph! Perhaps a washboard is no longer enough to discipline that little brat. I should switch to an acupressure board—the kind covered in tiny bamboo spikes!】
“Uh…”
The flames of gossip began burning fiercely inside Xiang Xiaoyan.
“May I ask out of curiosity… are you truly her aunt?”
“…”
Yan Qing did not know whether to laugh or cry.
“Ah Shi probably didn’t know how to explain our relationship, so she said it casually.”
“In truth, she and I are currently dating.”
Yan Qing told Xiang Xiaoyan without the slightest hesitation.
Clatter!
Xiang Xiaoyan’s hand slipped, and her cup fell onto the table.
Seeing her stunned expression, Yan Qing quietly sighed.
The reason she dared reveal her relationship with Meng Shi was because she trusted her own judgment.
She believed Xiang Xiaoyan’s feelings toward Meng Shi went beyond those of an employer toward an employee, and she trusted Xiang Xiaoyan’s character.
If this matter were exposed, it would have a considerable impact on Yan Qing.
The same was true for Meng Shi.
Xiang Xiaoyan would not harm Meng Shi.
Still in shock, Xiang Xiaoyan asked, “Dating means… what exactly?”
She paused and looked at Yan Qing.
“Wait. Why are you telling me this?”
“If I asked why you dismissed Ah Shi while pretending to be a complete stranger, would you tell me the truth?”
Xiang Xiaoyan had not expected Yan Qing to be so straightforward.
Even so, such explosive information was still difficult to digest.
“Can you tell me now?”
“Ah Shi cares greatly about this job. It’s also obvious that you didn’t truly want to dismiss her.”
“Are you facing some difficulty?”
Xiang Xiaoyan remained silent for a while before nodding.
“I admire your honesty.”
“Just as you said, I didn’t want her to leave either.”
“She’s a rare child who values loyalty and relationships deeply.”
“That’s exactly why I can’t use those feelings to bind her here.”
“Hmm?”
“The boxing gym received another challenge letter, and the challenger specifically named Meng Shi.”
Xiang Xiaoyan spoke helplessly.
Yan Qing immediately understood.
“After her match against Karina, Little Shi’s popularity clearly increased.”
“The gym’s business improved, which is a good thing.”
“However, she shouldn’t have to bear the challenges and risks that came with it.”
“Actually, only after speaking with her sister that day did I learn that working at the gym was merely something she had chosen out of necessity.”
“She has a dream.”
“She wants to become a major star like you.”
“But when her dream conflicted with reality, she chose reality.”
Yan Qing nodded in understanding.
First, Xiang Xiaoyan did not want the gym’s problems to involve Meng Shi or cause her to face danger again.
Second, she wanted Meng Shi to return to the path her life had originally been meant to follow.
Thinking this, Yan Qing felt grateful toward Xiang Xiaoyan.
She appreciated how thoroughly the woman had considered Meng Shi’s future.
“But aren’t you going to explain everything to her in person?”
“That girl has extremely sharp eyes and is very good at reading people.”
“I’m afraid that the moment I stand before her, she’ll see straight through me.”
“I even closed the gym today specifically so she couldn’t find me.”
Xiang Xiaoyan sounded helpless.
The older woman smiled and said nothing more.
Xiang Xiaoyan repeatedly glanced at Yan Qing and seemed about to speak several times.
“You and Little Shi… this kind of relationship…”
“Could you perhaps…”
She stammered, unsure whether it was appropriate for her to say such things.
Yan Qing nodded.
“I know what you’re trying to say.”
“I once tried using my own influence to help her, but she refused to accept any of it.”
The older woman sounded somewhat helpless, but also pleased.
After thinking, Xiang Xiaoyan nodded.
“That makes sense. She is a very self-reliant child.”
“Mm.”
Yan Qing looked at Xiang Xiaoyan without speaking.
Xiang Xiaoyan met her gaze, then suddenly blushed.
“Uh, please don’t misunderstand. I-I don’t have that kind of feeling toward Little Shi…”
“I simply feel sorry for her and admire her greatly.”
“I’ve always treated her like a younger sister!”
“It’s all right. You don’t need to explain yourself to me.”
“I can see it.”
“Your feelings for her are your own concern. I have no right to interfere.”
“Besides, you’ve taken such good care of her and considered her future so carefully. I’m happy about that.”
Yan Qing spoke sincerely.
“Uh… mm…”
Xiang Xiaoyan lowered her head awkwardly.
“I’ll keep today’s meeting confidential.”
“Could you… give me your autograph?”
She looked at Yan Qing expectantly.
Yan Qing did not know whether to laugh or cry, but readily agreed.
…
Meanwhile, Meng Shi had no idea that Yan Qing had specifically gone to meet Xiang Xiaoyan because of her.
At that moment, she was frantically trying to comfort her mother…
She had just finished watching the third film in the When Will the Swallows Return? trilogy, Evening Sun, with Xie Ping.
As a result, the older woman was crying uncontrollably.
Evening Sun primarily depicted Ji Yao’s middle years.
Nanling was facing both domestic and foreign crises, while the new king was still young.
Ji Yao governed the country on his behalf.
Internally, she had to eliminate the remnants of Cheng Huaijin’s forces.
Externally, she had to maneuver between neighboring nations and protect Nanling from invasion.
To preserve Nanling’s kingdom, she even went to war against her homeland, Jiang, severing ties with her father and brothers.
Through her calculations and endurance, Nanling gradually became powerful.
However, as her child grew older, he began to fear her.
Ultimately, he confined her within the imperial harem and stripped her of her authority.
In the film’s final scene, Ji Yao had only just turned forty.
In modern times, she would still have been in the prime of her life.
Yet she was already covered in white hair and visibly aged.
Ji Yao stood atop the palace walls and looked at the magnificent palace and picturesque kingdom before her.
She was delighted.
She was proud.
But when she turned around, she discovered that there was no longer anyone beside her to keep her company.
The smile frozen at the corners of her lips was truly heartbreaking.
…
“Mom? It’s only a film. D-don’t cry!”
Meng Shi was overwhelmed.
She held a box of tissues and wiped away her mother’s tears.
“Let’s stop watching. We won’t watch anymore, all right?”
Meng Shi reached toward the television to switch it off.
“No! Leave it there. Don’t touch it!”
“…”
Meng Shi attempted to persuade her a little longer.
Instead, Xie Ping became annoyed with her and drove her back into her room…
What kind of situation was this?
Sitting at her desk, Meng Shi flipped through her notes and contemplated life.
She picked up her phone and wanted to call Xiang Xiaoyan.
However, she hesitated repeatedly and never pressed the call button.
Instead, the older woman called her first.
The moment Meng Shi answered, Yan Qing’s gentle voice came from the other end.
“Little thing, are you all right?”
Meng Shi felt warmth in her heart.
She was about to answer that she was fine, but changed her mind.
“No.”
“Hmm? Is it because of your job?”
“No. I was watching When Will the Swallows Return? with my mother.”
“She’s crying uncontrollably now because of your performance, but she won’t let me comfort her.”
“Sigh…”
Meng Shi sighed helplessly.
Yan Qing nearly burst out laughing.
“What about you? Don’t you have anything to say after watching it?”
Yan Qing smiled with pursed lips, somewhat expectant of Meng Shi’s evaluation.
“Hmm…”
“I would rather like to know who the screenwriter and director were.”
“I want to beat them both.”
“They made you play such a role. It made my heart ache.”
The older woman secretly laughed, extremely pleased with herself.
The two spoke affectionately for a while before Yan Qing changed the subject.
“Have you considered what I asked you this morning?”
“Do you still want to return to the entertainment industry?”
Meng Shi remained silent and did not answer.
Yan Qing heard the rhythmic tapping of fingers against a desk from the other end and knew Meng Shi was struggling with the decision.
“I just went to see Xiang Xiaoyan and spoke with her.”
Meng Shi froze.
“You went to see Sister Xiaoyan?”
“Mm.”
“I was also curious why she dismissed you. Now I understand.”
“There are two reasons.”
“First, she wants you to return to the path your life was originally meant to follow.”
“To put it simply, she hopes you’ll persist in pursuing your dream.”
“Second, she doesn’t want the boxing gym to become a burden that holds you back.”
Yan Qing did not mention that the boxing gym had received another challenge letter.
Since Xiang Xiaoyan had deliberately concealed it, Yan Qing naturally did not want Meng Shi to place herself in danger again.
She could still vividly remember Meng Shi’s match against Karina.
“You told her about our relationship?”
Meng Shi sounded surprised.
“Mm.”
“You…”
“Even though I trust Sister Xiaoyan’s character, you didn’t need to take that kind of risk for me!”
Meng Shi became anxious.
“Since I’ve chosen you, I’m not afraid of other people’s gossip.”
“The question is whether you intend to continue living like this forever.”
Meng Shi fell silent.
Yan Qing also stopped speaking.
The two quietly listened to each other’s breathing.
After a long while, Meng Shi seemed to make a decision.
“I know what I should do.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t provide you with any assistance.”
“I have great confidence in your abilities.”
“Thank you, my lady.”
Meng Shi teased her with a smile.
“You little thing~”
After ending the call, Meng Shi suddenly released a long breath.
She slid her finger across the screen and sent Xiang Xiaoyan a message.
【Shi: Thank you for taking care of me during this period. If anything happens at the boxing gym, please make sure to tell me.】
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