Giving You Dawn And Dusk - Chapter 12

When Lin Xingcan heard this, she glared at her friend. “If she’s not Liang Shi, then who else could she be?”

Her friend looked innocent. “Like, transmigrating into a book? Into a TV drama? Or maybe soul transmigration? Possession? They’re all possible.”

The atmosphere instantly froze.

Everyone looked at the speaker as if she were an idiot. This was Su Meiqi, the daughter of Haiwei Jewelry. She usually loved reading novels the most.

Especially during a period when the news said that a once-in-a-century ten-star alignment was about to occur. She had found a novel where the female lead had the same name as her, stayed up three nights in a row to finish reading it and memorize the whole thing, then swore with absolute conviction that she would definitely go and create an era that belonged to her.

In the end…

The ten-star alignment had passed long ago, and Su Meiqi was still here.

Because of that, Su Meiqi had been mocked countless times at socialite gatherings.

“Have you lost your mind?” Lin Xingcan rolled her eyes. “You actually believe something that ridiculous?”

“Why shouldn’t I?” Su Meiqi shrugged, completely unconcerned. “Don’t you think she’s changed? And Cheng Ran even posted something on Moments implying things about her. It probably has something to do with her change too. So under these circumstances, what could be more believable than transmigration?”

“Then tell me, what did she transmigrate into?” Lin Xingcan sneered. “A book? A TV drama?”

“Transmigrating into a book is more likely.” When Su Meiqi spoke of this, even her eyes started glowing. She wished she could run over to Liang Shi right now, grab her, and ask about the great method of transmigrating into books. “Based on all her behavior, she really does seem like someone who transmigrated into a book. But…”

She stopped.

For a moment, no one picked up her words.

A few seconds later, she said in a regretful tone, “Transmigrated women these days are all very smart. They never go out of character. But her OOC is way too serious. She’s severely deviating from Liang Shi’s character setting. She doesn’t look very intelligent.”

Everyone fell silent.

A few seconds later, Su Meiqi asked seriously, “Am I wrong?”

Lin Xingcan shook her head and walked forward. “That’s too ridiculous. I’d better go ask Auntie Liang what’s going on.”

One friend patted Su Meiqi on the shoulder. “I know Zhao Xuning. How about you go find her and get a scan?”

Another friend sighed. “Meiqi, this is an illness. It needs treatment.”

Su Meiqi: “……”

She was being very serious.

//

Liang Shi and Xu Qingzhu returned to the hotel.

Xu Qingzhu was still wearing that look that warned strangers to keep away. Even standing in the elevator, one stood in the south and the other in the north, and their gazes did not even meet.

Liang Shi wanted to explain what had just happened to Xu Qingzhu, but she also felt there was nothing much to explain.

What she had done just now… should count as a perfect lover performance, right?

But Xu Qingzhu had no reaction.

It must be just as she had said before. She no longer liked her.

So she did not care whether there were other women around her, nor did she care what reaction she would have.

Even without Liang Shi just now, Xu Qingzhu would have been able to handle it very well.

Liang Shi had an inexplicable trust in Xu Qingzhu.

The elevator reached the top floor. Xu Qingzhu glanced at her phone, her brows furrowing slightly. But the moment the elevator doors slowly opened, she leaned closer.

Liang Shi stepped to the side, creating distance again.

“Act with me,” Xu Qingzhu said. “It won’t take too long, and it won’t delay you too much.”

Liang Shi relaxed a little. “Okay.”

Then she asked, “How do you need me to cooperate?”

She did not want to anger Xu Qingzhu again by saying the wrong thing, then be forced to accept the system’s unreasonable punishment.

It was really… very unlucky.

Xu Qingzhu pondered for a moment, then shook her head. “No need. Just stay there and be a background prop.”

“Okay.” Liang Shi thought for a moment, but still advised, “Speak properly with your sister. She’s still young, after all. Having her idol’s merchandise torn up would definitely make her very angry. Little girls are all like that. Coax her first. At worst, I’ll find someone to compensate her with new ones. Don’t let these things ruin your relationship with your family. It really isn’t worth it.”

If Liang Shi had family, she would definitely get along with them properly.

But she no longer had any.

So she envied Xu Qingzhu’s family very much.

She had a kind mother, a father who could shield the family from wind and rain, and a younger sister who might not be that obedient but was sometimes very well-behaved and someone she could confide in.

“Why does what you said sound like ‘by the time the child wants to be filial, the parents are gone’?” Xu Qingzhu looked at her while entering the passcode and said softly, “That doesn’t sound like something Liang Shi would say.”

Liang Shi: “……”

She inexplicably felt like she had been tested again.

“No.” Liang Shi wanted to explain, but Xu Qingzhu said, “I remember last month, you even had a huge fight with Uncle Liang because you didn’t get the villa in the north of the city.”

Liang Shi: “……”

Really?

For a moment, she could not tell whether Xu Qingzhu was testing her or simply teasing her.

Because there was no memory related to this matter in her mind.

Fortunately, Xu Qingzhu did not continue to dwell on it.

When they went inside, Xu Qingya was lying on the sofa with Bluetooth earphones on. The pants she had changed into were still very short, exposing two long, fair legs. Liang Shi turned away and did not look again.

Xu Qingzhu walked over and patted her leg, signaling for her to get up.

Xu Qingya reluctantly took off her Bluetooth earphones. “What?”

“You’re hungry, right?” Xu Qingzhu swept away her earlier severity and said warmly, “Come on. Let’s go eat.”

Xu Qingya was puzzled. “Hm?”

“What are you standing there for?” Xu Qingzhu said. “Change into another pair of pants. We’re going out to eat.”

“What do you mean?” Xu Qingya frowned. “You’re not planning to call Mom and Dad over while we’re eating, are you? I’m telling you, I can’t swallow this anger. He threw away my idol’s merchandise. Do you know how hard those albums were to find? They were all limited editions. Even if I want to buy secondhand ones now, I can’t get them anymore.”

“No. Mom said you can stay outside for a while and clear your head,” Xu Qingzhu said. “You and Dad should both calm down. I won’t lecture you either. We’re just going to eat. Liang Shi and I both still have things to do. After we finish eating, we’ll leave.”

Although Xu Qingya did not quite believe her, she really was hungry. She stuffed her Bluetooth earphones into her backpack and pointed at Xu Qingzhu. “Sis, you can’t lie to me.”

“When have I ever lied to you?” Xu Qingzhu said.

Xu Qingya gave a soft huff and said nothing more.

//

Liang Shi was not familiar with the restaurants around here, nor did she know where the food was good.

Fortunately, Xu Qingzhu did not let her choose. The moment they got into the car, she handed Liang Shi her phone. The destination was already displayed on it, so Liang Shi only needed to follow the navigation.

After they arrived at the restaurant, Liang Shi went to park first and let the Xu sisters go in ahead.

The parking lot was quiet. She sat in the driver’s seat for a while, waiting until her mind had rested a little before going in.

This was a very elegant Western restaurant. Xu Qingzhu had already ordered for her in advance. After Liang Shi entered, she politely thanked her.

Xu Qingya looked up at her. “Sister Liang Shi, you’re now…”

Liang Shi: “Hm?”

Xu Qingya clicked her tongue. “Giving off a bit of a wife-slave vibe.”

“Am I?” Liang Shi awkwardly rubbed the tip of her nose. She had only thanked her out of politeness.

How had that gotten connected to being a wife slave?

“You are, you are.” Xu Qingya nodded wildly. “Anyone who knows you knows that the Liang family’s second young lady is someone who respects no elders and is spoiled and reckless.”

Liang Shi: “……”

Ah, this.

“That’s enough.” The food happened to arrive, and Xu Qingzhu interrupted at the right time. “All right. Eat.”

Xu Qingya shrugged indifferently. “It might also just be a rumor. I think Sister Liang Shi has always been pretty good.”

Xu Qingzhu glanced at her. “Exactly how many benefits has she given you?”

“None. Don’t you think Sister Liang Shi is good?” Xu Qingya asked.

Xu Qingzhu: “……”

She said coldly and quietly, “Eat.”

“If you think she isn’t good, why would you marry her?” Xu Qingya clicked her tongue, then looked at Liang Shi with fangirl eyes. “Sister Liang Shi is so gentle to you.”

Even Liang Shi herself felt unworthy hearing that.

Probably everyone in the Xu family had no idea what kind of situation Xu Qingzhu had been in before.

After all, the original owner was skilled at pretending in front of the Xu family.

Back then, in order to make Father Xu marry Xu Qingzhu to her, she had even knelt in the Xu family’s living room for an entire day.

The most terrifying thing was when everyone thought someone treated you very well.

Only you knew what kind of hell on earth you were living through.

Liang Shi looked at Xu Qingzhu, and her heart suddenly ached.

For an instant, she truly empathized with her.

It was just like how everyone thought Liang Shi had no father or mother, that no one controlled her, and that she stood beneath the spotlight, bright and dazzling.

But no one knew how lonely it was for her to return alone to an empty home, unable to date, with not even one person she could confide in.

Xu Qingzhu sensed her gaze and looked back. The corner of her lips curved. “Why are you looking at me? Eat.”

Liang Shi speared the foie gras on her plate and passed it to her. “You eat first. Eat more.”

“You two are abusing single dogs,” Xu Qingya teased.

At that moment, Liang Shi’s phone rang. She looked at the screen. It was Cheng Ran.

She frowned and hung up.

Xu Qingya asked, “Why aren’t you answering?”

Liang Shi blocked that number. “It’s someone I don’t really like.”

//

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, at Cris Bar.

A beautiful Alpha sat in front of the bar counter, drinking one glass after another while her fingers dialed a number.

But a mechanical electronic voice came from the receiver. “Sorry, the phone you have dialed is powered off.”

The glass in her hand instantly flew out and shattered into transparent fragments.

Cheng Ran pressed her brow and could not help cursing. “Fuck.”

“Liang Shi has really fucking lost it, hasn’t she?” Cheng Ran downed another mouthful of alcohol. “She wants to cut ties with me over one Xu Qingzhu? Besides, I never even touched Xu Qingzhu. Who was the one bullying Xu Qingzhu all this time? Fuck. Trash. Why is she rushing to be a simp now?”

She cursed for a while, then slowly exhaled. “No. I have to know what happened to that dog.”

“Could Xu Qingzhu be threatening her?” As Cheng Ran spoke, she dialed a number. The other side picked up very quickly.

Cheng Ran pressed her temple and ordered drunkenly, “Help me investigate someone.”

“Who?”

Cheng Ran said, “Liang Shi.”

After saying that, she added, “Also Xu Qingzhu, and the Xu family’s current financial situation.”

A few seconds later, she said again, “Most importantly, what exactly happened to Liang Shi in the hospital yesterday and today? I want to know every detail, no matter how small.”

She refused to believe that Liang Shi had changed overnight.