After Being Scummed – Chapter 71

If I have a guilty conscience, what then?

The scandal between Zuo Jingyou and Yin Bai has been widely circulated, both within and outside the entertainment industry. By the end of November, Yin Bai’s statement to the press confirmed the speculation within the industry: Yin Bai and Zuo Jingyou are in a relationship.

Xiao Nian, being a well-known actress in the industry, has naturally heard discussions about this matter on numerous occasions. Yin Bai herself is a beauty, but what was unexpected is that this beauty only likes other beauties. Whether it’s Zuo Jingyou, who is as pure as moonlight, or Xiao Nian, who is like a red rose, they are all connected to her.

Whenever this matter is brought up, these people have a tone of not knowing whom to envy at the moment.

When Xiao Nian heard about this scandal, she was actually quite happy. Yin Bai chose someone better and received a response, finally no longer being alone.

Knowing that Zuo Jingyou would be starring in that movie, Xiao Nian has been looking forward to acting alongside her. She just thought that her meeting with Zuo Jingyou would be at the film’s opening ceremony.

She never expected to be sitting in the room of her former benefactor, chatting with her current girlfriend, who happens to be an actress she greatly admires, in the late hours of the night.

The situation felt terrible and awkward no matter how you looked at it.

Xiao Nian pursed her lips, looking at Zuo Jingyou on the screen, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to start the conversation.

Zuo Jingyou, equally surprised, quickly regained her composure. She smiled lightly and said to Xiao Nian, “Teacher Xiao Nian, how did you meet our Yin Bai? She told me it was quite an exciting story. If you have the time, perhaps you can share it with us?”

Zuo Jingyou seemed to have just finished bathing, as she was now sitting on the bed in a robe. Her long black hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall, adding a touch of softness to her stunning face.

This is a very gentle person, Xiao Nian thought.

When mentioning Yin Bai’s name, even more tenderness emerged.

And the possessiveness contained in the phrase “our Yin Bai” formed a strong contrast with her gentle words.

Zuo Jingyou… really cares about Yin Bai.

Xiao Nian knew the awkwardness of her own position. She smiled, pursed her lips, and explained to Zuo Jingyou in the manner Yin Bai expected: “Well, it’s like this. I attended an event nearby today and checked into the Galaxy Hotel in the evening…”

Within Yin Bai’s business, a portion involves the hotel industry, so they have a complete and mature hotel service industry chain in many cities.

Xiao Nian and Yin Bai had been together for almost seven years. In her impression, the hotels under Yin Bai’s umbrella had a strong sense of security. That’s why, even after they separated, she subconsciously chose a hotel under the Galaxy Group.

However, she never expected to encounter such an unexpected situation this time.

Xiao Nian held her hand, trying to distance herself slightly from that anxious feeling, and looked at Zuo Jingyou calmly, saying, “It’s just that I didn’t expect to meet Director Yin when I entered the elevator, who was leaving the annual meeting venue…”

Zuo Jingyou thought to herself that they really had quite a fate.

Xiao Nian continued, “After we went to the top floor with our assistants, we discovered an accident… I heard a girl in a dazed state calling for help, so I asked Director Yin for assistance. We called security and managed to rescue her…”

“While rescuing her, we found out that she had been injected with an overdose of drugs and was in danger from three men…”

Upon hearing this, Zuo Jingyou understood everything. Her gaze was filled with concern as she looked at Xiao Nian and asked, “What happened to that girl?”

“She was taken away in an ambulance, and the police went with her,” Xiao Nian turned her head and glanced at Yin Bai, who was resting her chin on her hand, and whispered, “Thanks to Director Yin’s help, nothing more terrible happened to that girl.”

“As for why such a thing happened in the hotel, we’ll have to wait for the police investigation results to find out.”

Zuo Jingyou nodded, looking at Xiao Nian with great affection, and said, “Teacher Xiao Nian, you are truly a kind person. Thanks to you today, that girl was saved!”

Xiao Nian shook her head, “I didn’t do anything. It was Director Yin who took action.”

Yin Bai, standing beside them with her arms crossed, huffed and muttered in a displeased tone, out of Zuo Jingyou’s sight, “Exactly! I was the one who led the team!”

Why only praise Xiao Nian and not give her any credit!

Upon hearing Yin Bai’s grumbling voice, Zuo Jingyou smiled, her eyes curved, and said, “Yes, yes, your contribution is the greatest. But it’s true that it was Teacher Xiao Nian who first heard the girl’s plea for help, wasn’t it?”

Upon hearing this, Yin Bai gestured for Xiao Nian to hand her the phone. She took the phone and looked at the video of Zuo Jingyou’s gentle face, muttering, “But I was the one who took the lead in saving the person. I also called the police and dialed 120!”

Praise her quickly! Otherwise, this matter won’t end!

Yin Bai’s childish behavior made Zuo Jingyou instantly delighted. She indulgently looked at Yin Bai and coaxed her, saying, “Okay, I know you’re the best. Our Little Bai is obedient and righteous, the best person.”

“You did a great job, and I’m proud of you!”

Yin Bai felt very happy upon hearing this, but soon she felt something was off. What was with Zuo Jingyou’s tone of coaxing a child? Is she Tongtong? Did she need this kind of encouragement from a mother?

Yin Bai furrowed her brows, about to correct Zuo Jingyou’s statement when she suddenly heard Xiao Nian burst into laughter beside her.

Yin Bai turned her head, looking at Xiao Nian with great displeasure.

Xiao Nian covered her lips, her eyes sparkling with a hint of laughter that couldn’t be hidden.

Yin Bai felt like she was being laughed at and said, somewhat annoyed and embarrassed, “What are you laughing at? Is what Teacher Zuo said not right?”

Xiao Nian shook her head, suppressing her smile, and looked at her very seriously, “No, I’m not laughing. I think she’s absolutely right.”

“You are such a compassionate person, someone with a strong sense of justice.”

She had always known that beneath this cold exterior was a very pure heart.

She was so precious… and so fragile. She couldn’t, and didn’t have the ability to protect such a heart…

Xiao Nian sat on the sofa, resting her chin on her hand, and looked at Yin Bai with gentle eyes, her expression very serious. “Yin Bai, thank you for what happened tonight.”

It was a side of Xiao Nian that Yin Bai rarely saw. In that moment, Xiao Nian was like a rose with its thorns removed, leaving behind only the softness of each petal.

In that gaze, Yin Bai felt the itchiness of the wounds once pierced by rose thorns. She felt somewhat moved, yet also uncomfortable. She couldn’t help but avert her gaze, no longer looking at Xiao Nian, and casually said, “You’re welcome. It’s what I should do.”

“This is my territory. How could something so disgusting happen?”

Yin Bai’s gaze fell on Zuo Jingyou’s face on her phone as she smiled and asked, “Isn’t that right, Teacher Zuo?”

Zuo Jingyou didn’t miss the momentary change in Yin Bai’s expression just now. She suppressed her discomfort and nodded, saying, “Yes, you’re right. It’s what you should do.”

Next, Zuo Jingyou continued to converse with Yin Bai and Xiao Nian. They talked about that movie, and Xiao Nian expressed her anticipation of working with Zuo Jingyou.

Yin Bai saw that it was getting late and bid Zuo Jingyou goodnight.

Their conversation helped alleviate Xiao Nian’s unsettled heart to some extent. In the end, she still declined Yin Bai’s offer to stay over and returned to her room with her assistant.

Yin Bai couldn’t understand why Xiao Nian, who clearly needed help, refused her. As she watched Xiao Nian get up, she said, “Teacher Zuo also invited you to stay just now. She said it would be good to have a friend by your side after experiencing such a fright.”

“You’re afraid of the dark, and you have PTSD from such incidents. My place can make you feel safe. Why don’t you stay?”

“Besides, we have no connection anymore. I no longer have feelings for you, and I have explained it clearly to Teacher Zuo. We have a clear conscience between us.”

Yin Bai muttered to herself, quickly coming up with a possibility. “Ah, are you worried about Lu Qing? Come on, your assistant is with you. I’m just a cripple, no threat to you, and you don’t even like me. What is she worried about?”

As Yin Bai spoke, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of heartache. “What’s wrong with her? She’s grown up, why can’t she have some basic trust in her lawful partner?”

“You’re someone who values contracts so much!”

Although she couldn’t stay in character in the past and would fall in love with others onscreen, during the years they were together, she always adhered to the contract and would return to her side every time.

It was only when their contract period ended that she responded to Lu Qing.

Xiao Nian is someone who gives others enough dignity.

Looking at her puzzled face, Xiao Nian didn’t know why she suddenly remembered that night when she cried with tears streaming down her face. Her heart twisted in pain.

Throughout the years, she had made Yin Bai angry many times, coaxed her many times, but she couldn’t break through her cold and icy facade. It was only on the day she left that she saw the fragmented expression on Yin Bai’s face and the bewildered look of someone crying like a child.

She had always thought that Yin Bai never grew up, that she treated her as a beloved toy that would eventually be discarded.

She even felt that Yin Bai didn’t know what love was.

But Yin Bai knows.

She understands everything, but she always looks up to her, only seeing her icy mask, childish behavior, and ignorant understanding of human nature.

That night, there was a moment when she didn’t want to let go.

But after making that choice, how could she turn back? Moreover, she already had Lu Qing by then.

Xiao Nian lowered her gaze, looking at Yin Bai sitting on the sofa muttering complaints about Lu Qing. She sighed softly and said, “It has nothing to do with Lu Qing… It’s me…”

Yin Bai lifted her gaze and met Xiao Nian’s eyes. Xiao Nian stood before her, tears shimmering in her eyes, and said with deep regret, “It’s me… I have a guilty conscience.”

Only now, she finally understood that it wasn’t Yin Bai who didn’t want to face this emotional connection; it was her.

It was her, from beginning to end, who couldn’t be honest. It had always been her.

Yin Bai sat bewildered on the sofa, watching Xiao Nian walk away. She watched Xiao Nian’s figure and her mind was filled with Xiao Nian’s words just now…

“Having a guilty conscience,” what does it mean?

She wrestled with this question until she fell asleep. It wasn’t until she woke up the next morning and thought about being able to go back and see Zuo Jingyou that she happily cast aside this issue.

Who cares? She had Teacher Zuo now! Whatever Xiao Nian was thinking was no longer her concern. These past matters should not be tangled up again.

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LP: Damn, that gotta hurt! Is the author gonna milk this issue ⊙︿⊙

Please expect inconsistent updates this month ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶

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