After Being Scummed – Chapter 49
by Little PandaIf There’s Someone Suitable, I Could Give It a Try.
Yin Bai lay on her back, phone pressed to her ear, trying her best to suppress the urge to spit out blood and forcing all her attention onto Zuo Jingyou.
Zuo Jingyou’s voice was exquisite, like the babbling water of a stream in a deep mountain valley—clear, cold, and captivating.
Her line delivery was superb. When she said, “O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.”
An image of a young, innocent Zuo Jingyou began to form in Yin Bai’s mind. She stood on a high balcony, bathed in moonlight, looking down upon the lover she had just met.
Her passion, so fiery and pure, was full-bodied, and one couldn’t help but be moved by this young girl’s vibrant love.
But when Zuo Jingyou adopted Romeo’s tone, saying, “With love’s light wings did I o’er-perch these walls; For stony limits cannot hold love out, And what love can do that dares love attempt; Therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me.”
Another image appeared in Yin Bai’s mind: Zuo Jingyou dressed in a medieval knight’s attire. A sword hung at her waist as she braved the hazy moonlight, scaling the high balcony without fear of hardship or danger to meet her young lover.
This Zuo Jingyou was deeply affectionate, romantic, and moving, making one feel that she was the Romeo born for love, who would die for love.
Listening to Zuo Jingyou’s voice, Yin Bai’s mind continuously conjured up images of her in all sorts of different outfits. The overwhelming pain corroded Yin Bai’s brain, gradually dragging her into the vast, dark land of the dead.
Her consciousness sank into darkness, but Zuo Jingyou’s voice tugged at her nerves, keeping her adrift on the very edge of the waking world called “life.”
Torn between this state of pain and comfort, Yin Bai soon drifted into a half-dreaming, half-waking state, clutching a beautiful vision as she sank into a deep sleep.
Zuo Jingyou read several long passages to her. It was only after arriving at the airport that Zuo Jingyou realized Yin Bai hadn’t responded for quite some time.
Zuo Jingyou guessed she must have fallen asleep from the pain. She couldn’t help but call out her name softly, “Yin Bai…”
“Yin Bai…”
They were a few gentle calls, but the already sleeping Yin Bai did not hear them. After waiting for a long while without a response, Zuo Jingyou sighed softly and said in a warm, gentle voice, “Sweet dreams, Yin Bai.”
Zuo Jingyou hung up the phone, got out of the car with her mobile, and headed into the airport. While waiting to board, she found herself with nothing to do and decided to reread the entire script.
What Zuo Jingyou had studied in university actually had little to do with film, but she had a particular fondness for drama, so she had joined the drama club.
In her sophomore year, she performed in 《Romeo and Juliet》 with her classmates at the New Year’s Gala. It was then that she met He Zhiwen.
Their first meeting was at the backstage entrance.
The young man, a few years her senior, was wearing a well-made white shirt and a grayish-blue overcoat, holding a camera as he looked at her and said, “You’re the junior who just played Romeo, right? Your line delivery was exceptionally good~”
He Zhiwen clutched his camera and grinned at her, looking sunny and handsome. “I make movies. I have a really good story, want to give it a try?”
After speaking, He Zhiwen handed Zuo Jingyou a business card, his beautiful peach blossom eyes1 full of mirth. “I think you’re a person with a story to tell. It’s in your eyes, in your voice, in your every move and expression. You were born to be on the big screen.”
“Want to give it a try? To work with me on a story that will move people’s hearts even more?”
That year, Zuo Jingyou was not yet twenty. Looking at the sincere, youthful, and energetic young man before her, she took his business card and accepted his invitation.
At his core, He Zhiwen was a deeply romantic person. He believed that love was fleeting and brilliant, that death was romantic, that everything was romantically splendid.
Without romance, he would rather die.
The young Zuo Jingyou was bewitched, finding herself unconsciously fascinated by this young man. Against this ambiguous and hazy backdrop, two fledgling filmmakers, armed with nothing but passion, love, and a story romantic to its core, managed to break through the competition.
The first movie she and He Zhiwen collaborated on was also his directorial debut. That year, she won several major industry awards for “Best Newcomer,” while He Zhiwen’s film also took home a major award, along with several for “Best Newcomer Director.”
Between her and He Zhiwen, it was never a case of one making the other famous.
Without He Zhiwen, she had still won awards. Without her, He Zhiwen could still make good films.
It was just that when the two of them worked together, they always brought out the best in each other, a partnership of mutual achievement.
He Zhiwen always said she was his Muse, the source of all his romance.
But in Zuo Jingyou’s eyes, his romance did not come from her, nor would it end because of her. And so, in the end, they parted ways.
Love… it was just such a thing, romantic to the point of death, fleeting and brilliant. It made one feel sweetness, yet also pain, like a sugar-coated poppy, impossible to resist. It was also like honey-smeared □□; the sweeter it was, the more fatal.
But even so, Zuo Jingyou still looked forward to the next beautiful encounter.
After all, life is short, so why not give it a try?
Although there was a chance of pain, there was also the possibility of reaping countless beautiful things.
What’s more, the person she had met this time was such a wonderful person. Since she had already met her, how could she deceive her own heart and tell it to stop beating?
Yin Bai’s mouth ached for several days, during which she could only consume liquid food. Having to suck on a straw to eat every day made her increasingly irritable.
But thankfully, Zuo Jingyou took pity on her these past few days, dedicating a large part of her energy to her and finding new ways to coax her to sleep every night. Coaxed into a good mood, Yin Bai decided not to fuss over the fact that she was running off with someone else next month.
One day, Zuo Jingyou was singing to lull Yin Bai to sleep. Yin Bai, who was able to speak again, rolled over comfortably in bed, lying on her back and patting her stomach as she said with great feeling, “Teacher Zuo, if you were bisexual, you’d definitely be the type of jiejie that our comrades2 would love the most.”
“Your singing is too beautiful, just too gentle.”
On the other end of the line, Zuo Jingyou crossed her arms and fell silent for a long moment before saying softly, “I don’t think I ever said I wasn’t.”
Yin Bai’s hand, which was patting her stomach, froze. She rolled over onto her stomach, letting out a surprised “Huh?” and asked, “You are? Did you date a girlfriend before you got married?”
Zuo Jingyou shook her head and said with some resignation, “No, I only ever dated one person, and then I got married.”
Yin Bai was heartbroken. “You’re so beautiful, how could you only date one person before getting married! If you’re good-looking, you should date a few men and women!”
Zuo Jingyou’s eyes curved into a smile. “What kind of twisted logic is that? Good-looking people should date more? Then why don’t you go find a relationship?”
Yin Bai mumbled in reply, “Isn’t my situation… special?”
Zuo Jingyou asked her, “What special situation?”
Yin Bai clutched her pillow and said sullenly, “I’m a cripple. I can’t even stand steady. I can’t hold someone, I can’t give someone a piggyback ride, there are so many things I can’t do. How could I ever fulfill a normal person’s fantasies about a partner?”
People, after all, loved to dream most of the time.
Zuo Jingyou let out a low laugh and said to her gently, “Why does it have to be you doing those things? Isn’t it better to find someone who can hold you, give you a piggyback ride, take you out to have fun, and do all the things you fantasize about doing?”
Yin Bai thought for a moment, then said with a sense of helplessness, “I’d like that, but the problem is I’m too tall. To be able to give me a piggyback ride, someone would have to be at least 175cm tall.”
“It’s not that there aren’t tall girls out there, but they have plenty of options. Why would they choose a cripple like me, and even have to give me a princess carry?”
Zuo Jingyou pursed her lips into a smile and sighed. “That’s a real shame. My height doesn’t meet your standard, otherwise, I could try carrying you.”
Yin Bai froze. In that instant, she felt her heart sink, skipping half a beat.
Huh? What does Zuo Jingyou mean by that?
Yin Bai was silent for a moment, so Zuo Jingyou continued on her own, “After all, I work out regularly. Fulfilling your wish for a princess carry shouldn’t be a problem.”
Fulfilling her wish? Is this just the kind of friendship besties have?
Yin Bai pursed her lips. After a long moment, she raised a hand to rub her face and said, a little embarrassed, “Then you could work out a bit more… maybe, you could give it a try… I think… I’m quite light.”
Zuo Jingyou nodded in agreement. “Yes, you are quite thin. You should eat more.”
Zuo Jingyou thought for a moment, then added, “But I do agree with you on one thing. I’m so good-looking, I should have a few more relationships. Marriage isn’t necessary, but I could try dating… After all, as for children… Tongtong is all I need.”
Dating? Why is she talking about this? Is my good friend about to start a new relationship? That senior sister? No way!
The more Yin Bai thought about it, the stranger it felt. She felt as if her newly healed tooth was about to start aching again.
Even so, Yin Bai suppressed her emotions, pretending to clap her hands happily. “That’s great! Tongtong won’t have to worry about having a step-parent or younger siblings.”
Zuo Jingyou’s eyes curved into a smile as she said teasingly, “And you don’t have to worry about having another little friend, right?”
Yin Bai tilted her head and smiled sheepishly. “That’s true… I can be friends with a child, but that doesn’t mean I can be friends with an infant. Besides…” If Zuo Jingyou got married again, I feel like I’d really lose her as a friend.
At this thought, Yin Bai clenched her hands and asked, full of apprehension and unease, “You’ve mentioned dating twice today. Are you… in a new relationship recently?”
Zuo Jingyou’s lips curved into a light smile. “Nothing of the sort.”
Yin Bai’s heart fell heavily back into place. She let out a sigh of relief and quickly said, “Oh… that’s good.”
Zuo Jingyou’s eyebrows arched, a dark light glinting in her eyes. She bit her lip, thought for a moment, and said, “However, I am thinking that if I meet the right person, I could try starting a new relationship.”
Yin Bai’s eyes widened. She felt her heart being lifted high, dangling without a foothold, precarious and terrified.
Who is it! Just who is it!
Who made my friend feel like she wants to be in a relationship!
Yin Bai clenched her fists, thinking to herself that she absolutely had to see which bastard3 was trying to steal her friend away!
LP: I think I remember someone commenting that Zuo Jingyou would be the first to realize her feelings. Whoever it is, you are correct! ♡( ◡‿◡ )
Re-translated on June 20, 2025
Footnotes
- 桃花眼 | táo huā yǎn | A term used to describe eyes that are alluring and charming, often associated with romance and attraction.
- 同志 | tóngzhì | Lit. “comrade.” In modern slang, it is often used to refer to members of the LGBTQ+ community.
- 王八蛋 | wángbādàn | A common and strong insult, literally meaning “turtle’s egg,” implying one’s mother was unfaithful. It’s equivalent to “b#stard” or “son of a b#tch.”
Zuo Jingyou i genuinely look forward to how you’ll be able to give confidence to Yin Bai
Zuo Jingyou i genuinely look forward to how you’ll be able to give confidence to Yin Bai
I knew Zuo Jingyou would realize it first haha, it looks like we’re entering a “useless lesbian is pursued by a competant bisexual” phase of the story
Honestly, does make sense considering that Yin Bai’s hurt is fresh and she doesn’t want to lose her “friend” that she’s made quite newly while Zuo Jingyou has always had these thoughts but now just fully digested and understood her feelings and from the looks of it Yin Bais too
I knew Zuo Jingyou would realize it first haha, it looks like we’re entering a “useless lesbian is pursued by a competant bisexual” phase of the story
Honestly, does make sense considering that Yin Bai’s hurt is fresh and she doesn’t want to lose her “friend” that she’s made quite newly while Zuo Jingyou has always had these thoughts but now just fully digested and understood her feelings and from the looks of it Yin Bais too