After Being Scummed – Chapter 50
by Little PandaAm I Your Most Special Friend!
The moment she thought about her one and only best friend being snatched away by some man or woman who had popped out of nowhere, Yin Bai felt her heart was being steeped in a vat of wine, burning and aching.
For the next few days, Yin Bai acted like someone who suspected their partner of cheating, furtively scrolling through Zuo Jingyouโs social feed and Weibo, trying to find any trace of Zuo Jingyouโs budding affections for someone else.
After several days of observation without finding any sign that Zuo Jingyou was about to get involved with anyone, Yin Bai finally felt a great sense of relief.
She comforted herself on one hand, thinking that for someone as outstanding as Zuo Jingyou, the person who could win her favor must be incredibly rare and wouldn’t appear so easily. On the other hand, she couldn’t help but wonder, what if Zuo Jingyou really does get together with someone else?
Yin Bai had never had any other friends; she didn’t know what a normal friendship was supposed to be like.
But she had been lonely for so long. Having finally met Zuo Jingyou, she really didn’t want someone else, besides family, to become more important and divert Zuo Jingyou’s attention.
So, while riddled with suspicion, Yin Bai went online to search for topics like, โIf my best friend gets married, will we still be as close?โ
The results were not very encouraging. They were either things like, โAfter my friend got married, I feel like weโve grown distantโฆโ or โOnce my friend had their own little family, we just drifted apartโฆ they never have time to get together anymoreโฆโ
Or they were comments like, โWe used to talk about topics we were both interested in, but now their mouth is full of their partner and kids,โ and so onโฆ
Not only that, but the mere act of a friend falling in love could create a rift in most friendshipsโฆ
Because a person’s energy and love are finite. When they devote themselves wholeheartedly to one person, it’s inevitable that they can’t give the same attention to others.
This wasn’t just about romantic relationships; the same thing would happen even if a friend made a new friend.
A person’s affection and love are like a cake. The more people they care about in their heart, the smaller the slice of love each person receives.
Or, when someone more important comes along, the one who is no longer the favorite will receive less love.
Can friendship compare to romantic love? Without a doubt, it can.
Because friendship, like love, is an incredibly precious thing.
But who can truly place a friend on the same level as a lover?
People always say that a lover is the partner who will accompany you for the rest of your life, but what about a friend? Canโt a friend who would be completely open and sincere with you1 and go to great lengths for you2 also accompany you for life?
Could the two words โbosom friend3โ not be enough to fill the emptiness in your soul?
Yin Bai stared at these answers, her mind a chaotic mess of such questions. The more she thought, the clearer one idea became: it would be best if Zuo Jingyou never fell in love, never met another friend she considered important, for her entire life.
This thought startled even Yin Bai herself. Since when did my possessiveness towards Zuo Jingyou become so strong?
When did I become that child who imprisons others in the name of love again?
Yin Bai was plunged into a state of extreme panic. She couldn’t help but think back to many years ago, during the period when Xiao Nian had skyrocketed to fame. Her possessiveness back then had also swelled to such boundless proportions.
At that time, Xiao Nian had countless public appearances, variety shows, interviews, new TV series, movies, and so onโฆ
As busy as a spinning top every day, Xiao Nian had no time to meet with her at all.
Back then, to reduce the trouble of being photographed, Yin Bai had already retreated behind the scenes and didn’t interfere much in Xiao Nian’s affairs.
But watching her beloved little rose navigate among all those people day after day, displaying her magnificent beauty for all to see, Yin Bai grew mad with jealousy. She wished she could build a perfect glass house and bring her rose home to hide her away securely.
And what she thought, she did.
During the peak of Xiao Nian’s fame, she took Xiao Nian away, hiding her on a small island in the Southern Hemisphere for over a month.
After cooperating for a month, Xiao Nian finally began to resist. It was a sunny afternoon. Xiao Nian sat with her on the sofa in the glass house, facing her and constantly explaining, โI still have a lot of work to do, I can’t rest for too long. Boss Yin, next timeโฆ next time Iโm free, Iโll definitely squeeze out a lot of time to spend with you, okay?โ
Faced with her desire to escape, Yin Bai was furious. With a cold expression, she said forcefully, โIt doesnโt matter if you donโt work. Just stay here.โ
Xiao Nian let out a laugh, looking at her helplessly. โBoss Yin, if I donโt work, will you support me? I owe a lot of money, a lot of your money. If I donโt work, how can I pay you back?โ
Yin Bai tightened her grip on her cane, her gaze firm as she said, โIโll support you.โ
Xiao Nian was stunned for a moment. She saw the woman opposite her state with resolute seriousness, โDonโt work. Iโll support you. Your debt, I donโt need you to repay it. Your mother, I will continue to provide treatment for. You donโt have to do anything, just stay here and accompany me.โ
The words sounded just like an overbearing CEO, and were exceptionally unreasonable. Xiao Nian looked at her and smiled slightly, then tilted her head back to watch the clouds drifting in the sky. Squinting, she said, โOur contract doesnโt have this clause.โ
Xiao Nian sighed and turned to look at Yin Bai. โBoss Yin, we signed a contract, and Iโve been very obedient to your requests. But I donโt have to be your golden canary4โฆโ
Xiao Nianโs red lips parted slightly, and she enunciated each word clearly, โI believe that no girl is born willing to be someone elseโs dodder5 or golden canary.โ
โYou said you would support me, that you would let me be free.โ
Compared to Yin Baiโs forcefulness, Xiao Nianโs attitude was even more resolute. The two parted on bad terms. The next day, Yin Bai had her private jet send Xiao Nian back to the country.
Perhaps it was from that moment on that Xiao Nian became convinced she was a detestable sponsor who would forcibly keep her against her will, which was why she schemed in every possible way to escape from her side.
It wasn’t like this at the beginningโฆ Although she had thought about it and desperately wanted to do it, she would still restrain herself for the one she loved.
It was just that her restraint had come too lateโฆ
A person who has rarely received any sweets since their youth, once they grab hold of something, will surely clutch it tightly in their palm, never letting go.
But that kind of love was too suffocating. Sooner or later, it would crush the precious thing in her hand, causing everything to fall apart.
After Xiao Nian chose to leave, Yin Bai reviewed every detail of their past, reflected on all her bad habits, and repeatedly chewed on them in the darkness, enduring endless torment.
From that relationship, she came to understand a principle: no matter how passionate the love, distance is necessary. Between people, besides favoritism, there must also be mutual respect.
At this very moment, she was incredibly grateful for the lessons Xiao Nian had taught her in the past, which allowed her to cool down slightly amidst this head-spinning jealousy.
Emotion wasn’t just about possession; there was also the path of mutual taming.
It didn’t matter if Zuo Jingyou found new playmates. She would work hard to occupy an important place in Teacher Zuo’s heart.
It didn’t matter if Zuo Jingyou found a new lover. She would become Zuo Jingyou’s most special friend. Then, by Zuo Jingyou’s side, there would be the iron-clad Yin Bai and a revolving door of loversโฆ
Yin Bai calmed down. She stopped searching for traces of Zuo Jingyou’s budding affections and instead focused all her attention on cultivating her relationship with Zuo Jingyou.
Yin Bai, who usually waited for Zuo Jingyou to contact her at night, began to take the initiative.
Every day at noon, after confirming if Zuo Jingyou had time, Yin Bai would give her a call after she finished her meal.
After every public appearance, Yin Bai would order a bouquet of flowers in the local city and have it delivered to Yang Yi, asking her to give it to Zuo Jingyou.
After a week of this, Yang Yi, who had been receiving flower deliveries daily according to Yin Bai’s instructions, finally couldn’t hold back and asked her boss, โJingyou-jie, is Boss Yin pursuing you?โ
After all, if her boss was going to be in a relationship, she, as the assistant, needed a heads-up to coordinate with them properly!
Zuo Jingyou, holding the newly arrived bouquet in the back seat of the car, leisurely arranged the bellflowers within it and curled her lips into a faint smile. โWho knows~โ
Seeing her attitude, the little alarm bells in Yang Yi’s mind went off nonstop. She paused, suppressing her excitement, and asked, โWhat about you? Do you like Boss Yin?โ
Zuo Jingyouโs hand, which was stroking a petal, paused. She turned her head and smiled at her little assistant. โDon’t you think she’s a very nice person?โ
A very nice person? Does that mean she likes her?
Yang Yi nodded, gave Zuo Jingyou an “OK” sign, and said with a grin, โI understand.โ
The boss doesn’t dislike Yin Bai’s attentiveness. As a perceptive person, I feel it’s my duty to drop some hints and help out in the future!
Yin Bai’s flower-sending campaign continued for half a month. She waited and waited, and finally, during a phone call, Zuo Jingyou took the initiative to ask her, โWhy have you been so good to me lately? So attentive, and always sending me flowers?โ
It’s finally here, Yin Bai thought. She sat up straight against the headboard, her back erect, and said happily, โBecause I want to be your best friend! I want to be the most special person in your heart!โ
Alright, wants to be best friends, wants to be the most special person, is that it.
Zuo Jingyou lowered her eyes, a dark light glinting within them, and let out a soft laugh. โIf youโre talking about the most special friend, Yin Bai, you already are. Among all my friends, no one is more important than you.โ
Yin Bai was so happy she felt like she could fly. Suppressing her excitement, she pursed her lips into a smile and replied, โZuo Jingyou, youโre my most special friend too!โ
The two poured their hearts out to each other for a while longer. The very next day, Zuo Jingyou boarded a plane with her assistant Yang Yi and headed to the Tibetan region to gather creative inspiration.
On the first day of her trip, Zuo Jingyou posted a photo from the airport.
On the second day, Zuo Jingyou posted a photo of herself riding a pony on the grasslands.
On the third day, Zuo Jingyou posted a photo on Weibo of herself in Tibetan attire, with Xu Ruofengโs arm around her shoulder, kissing her on the cheek, her face beaming with a radiant smileโฆ
When Yin Bai, sitting on the sofa, scrolled to this Weibo post, her heart stopped.
She gripped her phone tightly, slammed her cane heavily on the floor, and raised her voice to shout, โZhang Yu!โ
Zhang Yu, who was playing on her phone nearby, was so startled by the shout that she almost fell off the sofa. She patted her chest, looking at Yin Bai with lingering fear. โWhat is it now, boss?โ
Yin Bai tightened her grip on her cane, fighting the feeling that her heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys were all about to explode. She gritted her teeth and said, โBook me a ticket! Now! Immediately, right away!โ
โPack my bags!โ
โIโm going to Tibet!โ
Iโm so pissed, so pissed! To hell with her forbearance and restraint, to hell with not being jealous!
Her friend was really about to be stolen away this time! If she didn’t go over there and stir up some trouble, Zuo Jingyou would never know who was truly more important in her heart!
LP: I’m sorry for taking so long to upload. My monthly visitor is bringing in cramps and body aches this time :(
Re-translated on June 22, 2025
Footnotes
- ่่็ธ็ ง | gฤndวnxiฤngzhร o | Lit. to show oneโs liver and gallbladder to each other; an idiom meaning to be completely open, loyal, and sincere with a friend.
- ไธค่ๆๅ | liวnglรจichฤdฤo | Lit. to stick knives into oneโs own ribs; an idiom meaning to be willing to make great sacrifices for a friend.
- ็ฅๅทฑ | zhฤซjว | An intimate friend who understands you deeply; a confidant or soulmate.
- ้ไธ้ | jฤซnsฤซquรจ | A metaphor for a kept woman or mistress, living a luxurious but confined life.
- ่ไธ่ | tรบsฤซcวo | A parasitic vine that cannot survive on its own. Itโs a metaphor for a person who is completely dependent on others.
Sheesh, I know it’s hard to change habits and ingrained patterns of behavior, so I’m not judging her for failing to stave off her emotions, but… yikes. That one month stuck on an island with an obsessive lover who wants to keep you with them, alone, and have you give up your career and friends and rely only upon them is scary. I don’t blame Xiao Nian at all for getting the hell out of dodge.
Yin Bai I though you finally got a character development but NVM!
THANK YOU TRANSLATOR
Yin Bai I though you finally got a character development but NVM!
THANK YOU TRANSLATOR
No worries!! Thank you again for your hard work!!
No worries!! Thank you again for your hard work!!
Yin Bai is like me with my new year resolutions, can’t last long enough to become habits lol
Yin Bai is like me with my new year resolutions, can’t last long enough to become habits lol
No worries about delays, thank you as always for the tl! It seems like there will be fireworks on the roof of the world very soon haha
No worries about delays, thank you as always for the tl! It seems like there will be fireworks on the roof of the world very soon haha