Blame the Villain – Chapter 20
by Little PandaThe Villainous Film Empress (End)
A little rich girl bent on saving the world X A paranoid, dark, and vengeful Film Empress
Just as Song Xuyi had expected, Zhao Qingyu saw the message she’d sent almost immediately.
There was so much she wanted to say, but Zhao Qingyu forced down her turbulent emotions, waiting until the next day to reply with a few brief words: “I know. Thank you.”
Just then, her assistant brought a package inside. Spotting the sender’s name—which belonged to a certain university—the assistant instinctively handed the parcel to Zhao Qingyu. Yet, unlike before, Zhao Qingyu didn’t reach out to take it.
Zhao Qingyu kept her head lowered as she stared at her phone. The lamplight cast faint shadows across her beautiful face. Though her expression was entirely blank, the assistant couldn’t help but feel that she seemed… deeply sorrowful.
The assistant was somewhat bewildered. Zhao Qingyu had rushed through her remaining scenes to return to the city. The moment she heard that Miss Song had sent her something, she’d immediately called the crew to have them forward the package via the fastest courier service. Yet, now that it was right in front of her, she didn’t seem to be in any hurry at all…
“Qingyu-jie?” the assistant called out hesitantly.
“Thank you for your hard work,” Zhao Qingyu said, snapping out of her daze. She gestured casually toward a corner of the hospital room before looking back down at her phone. “Just leave the package over there.”
“Don’t push yourself too hard either,” the assistant said hesitantly as she set the package down. “If Auntie were awake, she definitely wouldn’t want to see you this sad.”
“Thank you.” Zhao Qingyu looked up at her assistant and forced a faint smile. “You’ve had a tiring few days accompanying me as well. Go home and get some rest. Come back in a couple of days…”
“Don’t worry, I’m fine.” Seeing her assistant’s hesitation, Zhao Qingyu shook her head. “I’ve known for a very long time that this day would come. For these next two days, I just want to be alone with my mother…”
“Then please eat something. You haven’t eaten in days.”
Since Zhao Qingyu had put it that way, the assistant didn’t dare to justify staying any longer. She ordered a takeout meal for her and left the room.
Zhao Qingyu didn’t notice that as her assistant left, she bit her lip and cast several thoughtful glances toward the package in the corner.
Once the assistant was gone, the ward fell into absolute silence.
Zhao Qingyu glanced at her mother, who was hooked up to a ventilator, pulled the blanket up a bit, and sat down beside her to look at her phone again.
On her phone, several people were reporting their recent progress:
Everything was unfolding exactly as she had anticipated. Several of the people she’d cultivated had been recruited into Song Jun’s company and were now scattered across its various departments. Two of them had even earned quite a bit of his trust.
Seeing this progress, Zhao Qingyu had thought she would be ecstatic. Yet for some reason, she found herself completely unable to smile, her heart weighed down by an overwhelming exhaustion.
Perhaps it was because the hospital had issued several critical condition notices over the past few days, warning that her mother wouldn’t make it through the winter. Perhaps it was because the weather lately had been stiflingly hot. Or perhaps it was simply that this clamorous world had grown exhausting…
Whatever the reason, Zhao Qingyu refused to admit she was experiencing regret.
She had already set out on her path of vengeance against Song Jun. When the day came that her goals were achieved, Song Xuyi would fully realize what a despicable person she was: someone from the lowliest of backgrounds, with the most vicious and filthy of hearts…
When that time came, Song Xuyi would surely regret ever becoming her friend, and would likely regret saving her in the first place.
Instead of waiting for Song Xuyi to look upon her with disdain, it was better to distance herself now while she still had some shred of dignity, preserving her final bit of wretched, pitiable self-respect…
Zhao Qingyu felt she had already prepared herself to face all of this.
But why was she so sad?
It was a sorrow so intense it felt as though her heart were being squeezed in a tight fist. She didn’t dare to hear Song Xuyi’s name, and she dreaded seeing any messages related to her. The mere thought of her felt like a sudden deprivation of oxygen, sending a sharp pang through her chest that left her gasping for breath—
Ultimately, Zhao Qingyu opened the package Song Xuyi had sent.
Inside were some dried meats and preserved fruits, alongside several dried flower sachets1 embroidered with various auspicious patterns. While the pouches themselves were store-bought, the medicinal herbs sealed within had been custom-blended by Song Xuyi specifically for her.
Zhao Qingyu cradled the sachets, carefully hanging all of them at her mother’s bedside. In the end, she couldn’t hold herself together any longer. Clasping her comatose mother’s hand, she wept softly.
“Mom, I’m so sad!”
This would probably be the last gift Song Xuyi would ever send her, wouldn’t it?
The person and the things that mattered most in Zhao Qingyu’s life were now all on this small hospital bed.
With a net worth of hundreds of millions, surrounded by countless flowers and applause, she appeared to have everything. Yet, in the end, she couldn’t hold on to a single thing she desired most…
While Zhao Qingyu was quietly weaving a massive web to ensnare Song Jun, he was also investigating her background. However, aside from discovering that his mother had remained in constant contact with her, he turned up absolutely nothing else.
During this time, following a stroke, Grandmother Song became completely paralyzed. Yet even as she lay on her sickbed, drooling continuously, she would incessantly mutter, “I’m sorry, please let me go…”
The doctor said his grandmother didn’t have much longer to live.
Song Jun had a vague inkling that his grandmother’s terror stemmed from some past misdeed. Unwilling to let her pass into the next world consumed by guilt and regret, he decided to seek out Zhao Qingyu directly to ask for clarity.
However, when he inquired among those in the industry, the only news he received was that Zhao Qingyu had recently been injured while filming and was currently recovering in secret.
At present, no one knew where she was.
Song Jun mobilized all his connections, only to receive the same reply repeatedly: “My apologies, Miss Zhao doesn’t wish to see anyone at this time.”
For a moment, the matter seemed to have reached a complete standstill.
Yet, Song Jun knew there was one other person who understood the beginning and end of it all.
He knit his brows, hesitating for a long while before finally driving to a certain location.
“Mom.”
Song Jun spoke with conflicted emotions as he looked at the woman before him, dressed in a familiar yet foreign cheongsam2. He hadn’t seen his mother in a very long time. Observing her closely now, he realized that the passage of time had left its mark on her; fine wrinkles had gathered at the corners of her eyes.
“What exactly is going on between Grandmother and Zhao Qingyu?”
The woman didn’t ignore him and walk past as she usually did. She halted, her fingers tightening around the Buddhist prayer beads in her hand. Casting a complicated look at Song Jun, she said, “It’s time you knew everything.”
From his mother’s lips, Song Jun heard a story.
“Your grandmother committed a wicked deed back then, and this is her retribution!
“And I have my own retribution as well. When you were young, you loved your father so much. I was terrified that if your father discovered Zhao Fang had given birth to his child, he’d bring them back out of sentimentality, which would threaten your position. So, when your father was secretly investigating the mother and daughter, I erased all traces of them, making your father and grandmother believe that Zhao Fang had died long ago…
“Afterward, I grew utterly disheartened. I could no longer face your grandmother or your father, and I gradually began to resent you as well. I think I was mentally ill back then; I kept thinking that if it weren’t for you, I’d never have fallen into the quagmire of the Song Family Estate, nor would I have changed into such an unrecognizable monster who ruined another woman. I even had the urge to strangle you to death…
“Fearing that I might truly end up hurting you, I moved out on my own. It wasn’t until your father was on his deathbed, murmuring Zhao Fang’s name, that I thought perhaps Zhao Fang had survived past thirty, and they might be able to see each other one last time. Only then did I search for the mother and daughter again…
“For a young, beautiful woman like Zhao Fang to be relegated to the bottom of society meant everyone wanted to prey on them. But Zhao Fang was stubborn and always held onto her principles. When I first found them, they were living in terrible conditions. I lent them a hand, secretly arranging a job for Zhao Fang so that she could support herself and her daughter. After that, I stopped paying attention to them…
“But when I went to look for her again, I found she’d already gone mad. This poor woman had survived past thirty and wanted to go back to find your father so their daughter could be officially recognized. Instead, she discovered your father already had a wife, and even a son…
“Once Zhao Fang lost her mind, she naturally could no longer work. When I arrived, her daughter was so thin her bones were showing, searching for food in trash heaps at such a tender age. She was scavenging plastic bottles to scrape together tuition money, and she was even chased and bitten by dogs for the sake of a meaty bone…
“Only then did I realize what a horrific sin I’d committed.” Tears streamed down the woman’s face. “I sent Zhao Fang to the best sanatorium, put the child through school, and sponsored her business ventures. I watched her become increasingly outstanding and brilliant, but I never dared to show my face before them…
“What right do we have to appear before them?”
The woman looked at Song Jun with a bitter smile. “Me, your father, your grandmother, and even you—every single one of us is an executioner who helped drive Zhao Fang mad…
“None of us deserve to be forgiven…”
Song Jun had no idea how he made it back home. The truth was far more absurd than he could have ever imagined: Zhao Qingyu was actually his half-sister.
His grandmother feared Zhao Qingyu because she resembled her mother, Zhao Fang, didn’t she? His grandmother had assumed Zhao Fang died after being driven away, so she believed Zhao Qingyu was Zhao Fang’s ghost returning for vengeance…
Song Jun knew his grandmother wasn’t a good person, but while anyone in the world had the right to condemn her, he, who had been showered with her love and care, did not.
How could he have the face to invite Zhao Qingyu over? Just as his mother had said, none of them had the dignity to stand before Zhao Qingyu and her mother to beg for forgiveness…
Song Jun drank himself into a stupor, holding Sun Wan as he wept, promising repeatedly, “Wanwan, everything will end with our generation. I’ll never let you down. Whether we’re poor or wealthy, we’ll face it together…”
In front of Sun Wan, Song Jun had always been dignified and capable, handling everything with ease. When had he ever shown such a vulnerable, weak side?
Sun Wan had indeed harbored some resentment over Song Jun’s secrecy, swayed by Zhao Qingyu’s words earlier. At this moment, however, her heartache for him overwhelmed any lingering resistance. She soothed him to sleep. She recalled the stack of sponsorship documents she’d secretly spotted in his study that afternoon, and remembered how he’d been frantically running around trying to find Zhao Qingyu while she consistently refused to see him…
Sun Wan couldn’t help but dial the number she’d called once before, but no one answered.
Anxious, she decided to send a text message instead: “Zhao Qingyu, I already know about Song Jun’s mother sponsoring you all these years. I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but regardless, if only for the sake of his mother, you should come out and make things clear. You shouldn’t be avoiding Song Jun…”
Half an hour later, Zhao Qingyu called back.
On the phone, her voice was incredibly strained, as if she were suppressing a surge of intense emotion.
“Are you saying… the one who sponsored me all these years… was Song Jun’s mother?”
Song Xuyi knew nothing of these events.
A few days later, as she was leaving school in the evening, she received a call from a woman.
“Hello, is this Miss Song? I’m Miss Zhao Qingyu’s assistant. I often help send packages to you, which is how I have your number.
“I do apologize for disturbing you so suddenly,” the assistant’s voice sounded rather anxious. “Miss Zhao Qingyu isn’t doing very well right now…”
According to the assistant, Zhao Qingyu had been behaving strangely ever since making a phone call a few days ago. She seemed completely out of it, and she, who normally never touched a drop of alcohol, had actually started drinking. Coupled with another critical condition notice issued for her mother, the assistant was terrified that Zhao Qingyu might do something drastic…
Having stayed by Zhao Qingyu’s side for so many years, the assistant had observed her closely. Although Zhao Qingyu was polite and appeared to have many friends, the assistant saw right through it: Zhao Qingyu had never once reached out to anyone of her own accord, except for Song Xuyi. And whenever Song Xuyi was mentioned, a gentle warmth would wash over Zhao Qingyu’s face, completely unlike her usual demeanor.
That was why the assistant had thought of contacting Song Xuyi first.
…
After listening to the assistant’s account, Song Xuyi was utterly stunned.
Since Zhao Qingyu hadn’t contacted her for so long, Song Xuyi had assumed she was wrestling with her decision about seeking revenge. Unwilling to interfere with her choice, Song Xuyi had thoughtfully given her space to think. She’d never expected that Zhao Qingyu’s mother was actually on her deathbed…
How heartbroken Zhao Qingyu must have been during this time!
Song Xuyi had let her preconceptions cloud her judgment, assuming Zhao Qingyu was an incredibly powerful, indestructible villain. She’d forgotten that Zhao Qingyu was also a living, breathing person who could weep and feel sorrow…
Song Xuyi was filled with immense regret for neglecting Zhao Qingyu during this period. She immediately requested a few days of leave from school and rushed to the hospital address the assistant had provided.
“Qingyu-jie’s mother has been taken to the emergency room again. This time, she might…”
By the time Song Xuyi arrived at the hospital, night had already fallen. The assistant met her outside and, with a sorrowful expression, guided her toward the waiting area outside the emergency room.
The red indicator light outside the emergency room door glowed with a piercing brightness. On a bench outside, Song Xuyi spotted Zhao Qingyu, sitting with her head hung low.
Song Xuyi couldn’t quite describe what she was feeling, only that a sudden pang pierced her heart.
The Zhao Qingyu in her heart had always been proud and strong. Even when they were in danger inside the cave, she had maintained a resilient spirit that made one feel as if nothing could ever break her…
But the hollow-eyed Zhao Qingyu before her now… looked as though she had lost her very backbone.
Song Xuyi didn’t know what had occurred, but she could feel that Zhao Qingyu was truly heartbroken right now.
“Qingyu…”
Song Xuyi found her throat suddenly dry. She stepped forward in a daze, wanting to wrap her in a tight hug. Suddenly, a sound echoed from behind. The green indicator light flared on, and the door was pushed open. The doctor stepped out, sighed, and shook his head at Zhao Qingyu. “I’m sorry, we did everything we could.
“Madam Zhao Fang has regained consciousness. She still has some final words to pass on…”
Zhao Qingyu scrambled to her feet instantly.
Her face was practically bloodless. Because she had stood up too quickly, she lost her footing for a brief moment and stumbled, running into the operating room in a frantic, disjointed panic…
Song Xuyi hastily followed right behind her.
On the hospital bed, the gaunt, skeletal woman’s eyes had cleared of their cloudy film. Looking at the tearful Zhao Qingyu, she offered a long-lost smile. “Qingyu, don’t cry. You aren’t pretty when you cry…
“It’s Mom who failed you,” the woman sighed softly. “It’s all Mom’s fault that you had to live such a hard life all these years.
“I always wanted to give you the happiest life, but in the end, I was the one who dragged you down the most. Actually, I’ve always wanted to tell you that in Mom’s heart, you’re the most important…
“Don’t hate anymore! The matters of our generation shouldn’t drag you down. My Qingyu is so beautiful and outstanding, you deserve a better life.” The woman exerted her remaining strength to squeeze Zhao Qingyu’s hand. “Qingyu, promise Mom, alright?”
Zhao Qingyu bit her lower lip so hard her teeth sank deep into the flesh, but the physical pain didn’t amount to even a fraction of the agony in her heart…
Staring at the hope shining in the woman’s eyes, Zhao Qingyu closed her eyes.
Scalding hot tears rolled down the corners of her eyes, and finally…
Zhao Qingyu nodded her head.
The woman’s lips curved into a smile, though her eyes were filled with bitterness. She was worried about her stubborn daughter, but time had run out…
What could she do for Qingyu?
The woman’s gaze shifted to Song Xuyi, who was watching everything with deep concern. Recalling how her daughter had confided in her about her deep affection for this girl during her days of madness, a powerful surge of hope welled in her heart…
If it were her, she would surely be able to do it, wouldn’t she?
“You’re Xuyi, aren’t you?” She smiled and reached out a hand toward Song Xuyi. “Goodness, Qingyu hasn’t even started crying, yet why are you crying so pitifully?
“You’re a good girl, even lovelier than I imagined.” The woman placed Song Xuyi’s hand over Zhao Qingyu’s. Zhao Qingyu lowered her gaze, her body trembling slightly as if she wanted to withdraw her hand, but Song Xuyi was quick to grasp it tightly…
“Thank you!” Taking in the sight, the smile on the woman’s face widened as her voice gradually faded. She slowly closed her eyes…
“Please take care of my Qingyu!”
…
Zhao Qingyu had long since secured a burial plot for Zhao Fang. Since Zhao Fang had been entirely alone in life and knew virtually no one in this city, very few mourners came to pay their respects.
Her remains were kept in the funeral hall for only two days before they were scheduled for cremation and burial.
On the second evening, both unexpectedly and yet entirely within anticipation, Zhao Qingyu spotted a woman in a cheongsam, accompanied by Song Jun in a black suit, and Sun Wan.
The three of them didn’t step inside the memorial hall, merely bowing deeply toward it from a distance.
Zhao Qingyu spared them a single, indifferent glance before withdrawing her gaze.
The moment she discovered that Song Jun’s mother was the very same Auntie Liu who had sponsored her over the years, her burning obsession with vengeance felt as though a bucket of cold water had been dumped over a raging fire. Although resentment still simmered in her heart, it had been reduced to the smoldering ash left in the wake of a conflagration—painful and utterly devastated.
What an absurd, wretched world.
Suddenly, she couldn’t summon interest in anything anymore. It was as if a gaping hole had been torn open in her heart, leaving her utterly exhausted, with nothing but a cold wind whistling through the void.
Zhao Qingyu watched as her mother’s ashes were slowly lowered into the earth.
The coffin was laid to rest, and the tombstone was erected…
She knelt before the headstone, raising her eyes to look at the piercing sunlight streaming down from above.
What a loathsome sun.
Why did the people who had once provided warmth always end up turning into completely unrecognizable versions of themselves?
Her mother had been like this, and Auntie Liu had been the same.
“I’m a wild child with no father. My father is a scumbag, and my mother is a lunatic. To survive, I resorted to every possible means since childhood—selfish, opportunistic, and entirely without boundaries…
“My methods are cruel. Since growing up, my mind has been entirely consumed by revenge. Even now, I still wish the old woman of the Song family would drop dead…
“I’m despicable and low. I plotted with endless schemes, fully intending to sabotage Song Jun’s company and exact my revenge on him…”
Song Xuyi was the very last ray of light in Zhao Qingyu’s life.
But if the warmth brought by the sunshine meant an endless winter would follow, then…
Zhao Qingyu chose to extinguish this light with her own hands.
Despite the sharp pangs in her heart, she forced the words out anyway.
“You should leave,” Zhao Qingyu heard herself murmur softly. “From now on, just treat me as a stranger…”
Now that her truest, most wretched and irredeemable self had been exposed before Song Xuyi, she would surely leave, wouldn’t she?
Zhao Qingyu hadn’t expected Song Xuyi to stay by her side all these days. Lost in her own dazed, chaotic thoughts, she’d been aware of Song Xuyi’s presence the entire time, yet she’d never dared to think about how Song Xuyi would judge her upon witnessing all of this…
Song Xuyi was so kindhearted; seeing her in such an embarrassing, pitiful state, she would surely find it difficult to bring up leaving. Thus, it was better to be the one to speak first.
At the very least, it would preserve a final shred of dignity for them both.
…
However, the anticipated sound of retreating footsteps never came.
Zhao Qingyu fell into a warm embrace.
The girl she assumed would distance herself and ignore her let out a soft sigh and wrapped her arms around her.
“Qingyu, don’t describe yourself that way…”
“I’m telling the truth.”
Zhao Qingyu closed her eyes, trying her best to make her voice sound cold, yet she couldn’t bring herself to push Song Xuyi away.
“Eat something first.”
Song Xuyi paid no heed to her avoidance, firmly pulling Zhao Qingyu up to her feet. “Your mom entrusted you to me, so you have to listen to me…”
The MPV3 drove to the nearest restaurant.
Song Xuyi took a bowl of congee from the assistant, staring at Zhao Qingyu with a burning intensity, as if she would stare her down until the end of time if she didn’t eat.
Zhao Qingyu had absolutely no appetite, but she still couldn’t refuse the expectation in Song Xuyi’s eyes. She took a few halfhearted bites. The moment she set her spoon down, Song Xuyi picked it up, scooped a portion, and held it to her lips. Her smile was gentle but left no room for refusal. “Keep eating!”
Zhao Qingyu had never imagined that the soft, dough-like Song Xuyi could be so unyielding. She looked up at her, and after a brief standoff, she took the spoon back and ate a few more bites.
She realized she still couldn’t deny any of Song Xuyi’s requests.
Yet, the longer she spent with her, the deeper she would sink…
“When are you…”
Before she could finish asking when she was leaving, Song Xuyi cut her off.
“Rest for a bit first. I’m taking you somewhere!”
Song Xuyi ushered Zhao Qingyu into the MPV.
Zhao Qingyu lay back in her seat with her eyes wide open, utterly devoid of sleep. She’d been unable to sleep for days; the moment she closed her eyes, memories of her past hardships and displacement would swarm her mind. She didn’t understand the reason behind Song Xuyi’s sudden actions, but things couldn’t possibly get any worse than they already were. Since she was close to being utterly disheartened, she had no energy to probe further.
“Be good and go to sleep, alright?” Sitting beside her, Song Xuyi suddenly leaned over, draping her jacket over her and gazing into her eyes with earnest intensity. “Once you wake up, everything will be in the past.”
Zhao Qingyu hadn’t expected Song Xuyi to speak to her as if she were coaxing a child. Yet, perhaps because Song Xuyi’s voice was simply too tender, or perhaps because she didn’t dare to face the concern shining in those eyes, she eventually closed them.
The jacket still carried Song Xuyi’s familiar, subtle fragrance. Song Xuyi never wore perfume, but for all these years, she had consistently used a peach-scented body wash without ever switching.
Song Xuyi didn’t know that, in order to prevent this obscure little brand of body wash from going out of business, Zhao Qingyu had deliberately lowered her rate to accept an endorsement for them. She had long since switched to the same brand’s orange-scented body wash herself, and had never changed it since.
…
Zhao Qingyu didn’t know when she finally drifted off.
She had anticipated another endless cycle of nightmares, but this time, her sleep was extraordinarily sweet and peaceful.
In her dream, a pair of hands seemed to emerge at the exact moment she was about to plummet into the darkness, catching her with immense force and gifting her a world of brilliant light…
When the vehicle came to a stop, they had arrived at the welfare home4.
Zhao Qingyu knew this was a facility sponsored by Song Xuyi; over the years, the majority of Song Xuyi’s allowance had been poured into this place.
Song Xuyi pressed a finger to her lips, signaling Zhao Qingyu to be quiet, before leading her to a room on the sixth floor.
Through the slightly ajar door, Zhao Qingyu spotted the silhouette of a young girl sitting at her desk, working on her homework. Taped directly above her desk was a massive poster of Zhao Qingyu.
This was from a film Zhao Qingyu had completed at the end of last year. It told the story of an abused girl who escaped her monstrous adoptive father, overcame societal prejudice, struggled to survive, and fought her way upward to eventually become a lawyer, successfully sending her adoptive father to prison.
With this low-budget, realistic drama that the industry had initially dismissed, Zhao Qingyu had swept three of the most prestigious Best Actress awards in the country.
Song Xuyi pulled Zhao Qingyu to the side and lowered her voice.
“This girl’s experiences are identical to the ones in your movie…”
Zhao Qingyu stiffened, a crack appearing in her otherwise expressionless facade as she turned her gaze toward Song Xuyi.
“When our volunteers first met her at the police station, she was covered in wounds and cigarette burns. Yet, she was smiling. She said she could finally live a clean life…
“She was highly intelligent and used her phone to record her abusive stepfather’s crimes, sending the beast to prison.
“She told us that it was your film that gave her courage. Throughout those years of being tormented by that beast, she had been brainwashed with all sorts of warped thoughts. But your movie was like a beacon of light, telling her…”
Song Xuyi softly recited Zhao Qingyu’s lines from the movie: “I can’t remain silent any longer! That beast told me I was dirty, but who could possibly be filthier than him? Public opinion has crushed far too many victims, nurturing countless lurking monsters who grow fat on the flesh and blood of young girls…
“I want to become a wall of steel! Even if rumors cut like knives and prejudices loom like mountains, even if painful memories burn my flesh like fire, I’ll block the blades and flames from reaching other girls…
“And so, she reported her stepfather,” Song Xuyi said, leading the quiet Zhao Qingyu further down the corridor. “We helped her relocate to a new city to start over. Her grades have caught up now, and she wants to become a lawyer. She wants to bring her university acceptance letter to meet you after she finishes the Gaokao5 next year…”
As they spoke, Song Xuyi arrived at another doorway. Inside sat an elderly grandmother wearing reading glasses, diligently knitting a sweater. On her table stood numerous chibi figurines of Zhao Qingyu, though each one was dressed in tiny, handmade clothes. “This grandmother used to be a tailor. A few years ago, her only granddaughter passed away in a car accident. The granddaughter had been a devoted fan of yours, so the grandmother began to love you for her granddaughter’s sake as well. Every single day, she worries about whether you’re cold or hungry. Her greatest wish is for you to wear a piece of clothing she knit with her own hands…
“And then there’s this grandfather. He used to be an extra, but a car accident this past year forced him to undergo a double leg amputation, ending his acting career. Yet, his lifelong passion has always been the performing arts. Out of the entire entertainment industry, you’re the star he has the most faith in. He’s waiting for you to lead our nation’s cinema onto the global stage…”
“Qingyu,” Song Xuyi turned around, wrapping her arms around Zhao Qingyu, whose face was already covered in tears. She let out a gentle sigh.
“You actually understand all of this, don’t you? Everyone has a dark side. I don’t know how you intend to exact your revenge, nor do I know where your hatred will lead you. But I want to tell you: the reason so many people love you so deeply without expecting anything in return is because you’re truly wonderful. You’ve actually been the light in many people’s lives for a long time now.
“Out of the eight films you promised me, there are still four left,” Song Xuyi said, taking Zhao Qingyu’s hand. “I promised Auntie that I would take good care of you…
“I don’t have the right to persuade you to give up revenge, but your life shouldn’t be trapped by hatred. Qingyu, why don’t you shift your focus and try to live well for your own sake from now on, okay?”
Song Xuyi didn’t know if Zhao Qingyu had taken her words to heart. Although she remained deeply concerned, her leave of absence was limited. After staying with Zhao Qingyu for a few days, she returned to school.
Upon her departure, she saw Zhao Qingyu standing at the entrance. Even after her car had traveled a great distance, the figure seemed to linger by the doorway…
Terrified that Zhao Qingyu might do something reckless, Song Xuyi began to conscientiously ‘clock in’6 with her every day. Zhao Qingyu’s replies, which started as mere fragments, gradually grew longer and more frequent…
Everything seemed to have reverted to how it was when they first met.
Yet, everything was also different.
Song Xuyi received updates from the welfare home that Zhao Qingyu’s assistant had paid them a visit, delivering a “Good luck on the Gaokao” postcard to the young girl. She’d also rented some hand-knitted clothing from the elderly grandmother to wear to an awards ceremony…
Later on, Zhao Qingyu joined another film production.
More than a year passed before they met in person again. Over this period, they kept in touch sporadically through WeChat7 messages and phone calls, but both were incredibly busy.
Song Xuyi was already in her fifth year of medical school. With her stellar academic record, she’d been directly recommended for admission to Huang Shuo’s postgraduate research institute, working round-the-clock under his guidance…
Zhao Qingyu’s new film had launched internationally and achieved stellar success, sweeping multiple global accolades. Her fans eagerly anticipated her securing every major Best Actress title across the globe.
Less than a month after the passing of Zhao Qingyu’s mother, Grandmother Song passed away on a torrential rainy night, shrieking about “retribution” with her final breaths.
Song Jun married Sun Wan.
Perhaps having learned a lesson from the toxic entanglements of the previous generation, Song Jun shed his arrogant, superior attitude in his relationship with Sun Wan, making their bond exceptionally secure.
Song Jun’s company developed a domestic service robot designed to lead the frontier of technology. However, just as they were preparing to launch the product into production, an obscure, little-known startup rolled out a much smarter alternative, instantly absorbing all market investment…
Since technology was the ultimate driver of productivity, this minor company soared overnight to become the industry titan, completely usurping the dominant market share of Song Jun’s firm. Several core developers from his R&D team jumped ship to the competitor, reducing his business to a second-rate enterprise in one fell swoop.
Despite his deep frustration, a sense of relief also lingered in Song Jun’s heart. The other party had actually shown mercy; if they’d launched their competitor’s product after he had fully invested in the assembly lines, his company would likely have plummeted into an abyss of catastrophic loss and crippling debt.
It wasn’t until the owner of that rival firm made an appearance at an industry convention that Song Jun, staring at that familiar yet foreign face, suddenly understood why she had crushed his company yet spared him from total ruin.
He dazedly endured the rest of the convention. At the end of the event, he received a slip of paper handed to him by Zhao Qingyu’s assistant.
“I fully intended to watch you fall into absolute ruin. But back then, your mother showed me mercy, so I’m returning the favor this once. From now on, I have no association with the Song family.”
Song Jun froze. He instinctively raised his head to scan the room for Zhao Qingyu, but she’d already boarded her vehicle and departed the venue…
Not long after, the System’s pleasantly surprised voice chimed in Song Xuyi’s mind: “Xuyi! We’ve completed the mission!”
Song Xuyi looked up in astonishment, only to spot a slender, graceful figure through the research institute’s transparent glass window.
Standing outside, she offered a brilliant smile. Her features were relaxed, the crimson mole at the corner of her eye enchanting, and her gaze was as bright as the stars. It was as if all her past suffering and darkness had never existed.
“Can I remain in this world a little longer?”
“Yes, until this host body passes away…”
After a momentary daze, Song Xuyi smiled upon receiving the System’s confirmation.
How wonderful.
Meeting Zhao Qingyu’s gaze, Song Xuyi’s eyes curved in tandem. Zhao Qingyu deserved all the beautiful things in this world; she was meant to be this radiant and breathtaking.
The two of them shared a meal together.
Throughout the entire dinner, Zhao Qingyu barely spoke, simply staring at Song Xuyi and smiling. Song Xuyi flushed under her gaze and cast a sheepish glare at her, only causing Zhao Qingyu’s smile to widen.
“In the blink of an eye, we’ve known each other for so long! Xuyi, will you be my friend forever?”
Zhao Qingyu leaned in to take a sip of Song Xuyi’s juice, seemingly asking the question in a casual tone. Yet, perhaps because the sunlight was too brilliant, Song Xuyi felt that there were unreadable emotions swirling deep within those eyes.
Song Xuyi’s heart skipped a beat. After a long pause, she replied softly, “Yes. I’ll always consider you a dear friend as long as I live.”
“A dear friend?” Zhao Qingyu echoed the phrase, her lips curving up once more. “Then, when you turn twenty-seven, what kind of birthday gift would you like?”
Twenty-seven?
Song Xuyi froze, lowering her gaze. A long time passed before her lips twitched into a gentle smile, and she spoke softly, “I’ve always loved watching your movies. Making more great films is the best gift you could ever give me…”
Zhao Qingyu’s eyes curved as she laughed. “Then I’ll gather every single Best Actress trophy in the world to present to you as a gift…”
…
Song Xuyi dismissed this as a passing joke and didn’t take it to heart.
Upon her return, she doubled her efforts in researching the field of the Sleeping Disease. She pushed forward with her progress so frantically that even Huang Shuo couldn’t bear to watch her relentless pace anymore, constantly urging her to rest…
Unlike others who might hoard their discoveries, Song Xuyi published every minor research milestone as soon as it was verified to share it with the world.
Before long, everyone came to know of a young scholar named Song Xuyi who was researching the Sleeping Disease.
After reviewing Song Xuyi’s published papers, the female lead, Sun Wan, also developed a profound interest in this field and threw herself into the research as well.
While Song Xuyi worked day and night without food or sleep, Zhao Qingyu successfully completed the milestone of starring in eight films. Yet, she didn’t stop there. Her films gained immense global recognition. Especially after the public discovered that she was also the chairwoman of a corporation valued in the tens of billions, people began to speculate endlessly about what kind of person could possibly be worthy of her. However, even as she reached the age of thirty, she’d never been linked to a single scandal.
No one knew that Zhao Qingyu had been waiting for a specific day to arrive.
In the days following her mother’s death, Song Xuyi had urged Zhao Qingyu to find a new purpose. Song Xuyi assumed that Zhao Qingyu had subsequently begun to reconcile with the world, but she remained unaware that the new anchor holding Zhao Qingyu to life was none other than herself.
Zhao Qingyu transformed herself into exactly the person Song Xuyi wanted her to be, striving to align with the image of “Zhao Qingyu” in her heart. If she couldn’t survive past thirty, then every single day of her fleeting existence would serve as a silent, unvoiced confession of love to Song Xuyi.
But if she managed to survive past thirty, she would stop at nothing to pursue her.
On her thirtieth birthday, carrying a mixture of desperate resolve and hopeful anticipation, Zhao Qingyu applied her finest makeup and lay down in bed. She typed out a message to Song Xuyi: “Hey! Tomorrow is my birthday. Doctor Song, do you have time to come over to my place for a meal tomorrow night? The key to my house is inside the third shoe cabinet in the entryway…”
She had decorated her room with a breathtaking arrangement. If she survived past this night, she would confess her feelings to Song Xuyi right here tomorrow evening.
Song Xuyi didn’t reply.
Zhao Qingyu didn’t mind. Song Xuyi had grown increasingly busy in recent years, sometimes to the point of missing meals entirely. Furthermore, with the onset of winter lately, Song Xuyi had become increasingly sleepy, so she’d likely missed the text.
Zhao Qingyu powered off her phone and quietly waited for midnight.
When the midnight bell finally chimed, Zhao Qingyu burst into a joyous laugh in the dark room!
She was still alive!
She didn’t have the Sleeping Disease!
She would have more than enough time in the future to express her love to Song Xuyi…
Zhao Qingyu couldn’t find the words to describe her overwhelming excitement.
Trembling with joy, she switched on her phone, instinctively wanting to share the news with Song Xuyi right away, though she quickly caught herself, realizing Song Xuyi was likely asleep and shouldn’t be disturbed…
However, the moment her phone booted up, a flood of missed calls inundated her screen, followed by a text message from her assistant.
“Qingyu-jie, Miss Song… has passed away.”
…
That very night, two separate announcements practically set Weibo8 ablaze:
The first was that a researcher named Song Xuyi had successfully identified the underlying cause of the Sleeping Disease, bringing hope that the condition could be completely eradicated within a few years.
The second was that Zhao Qingyu, who had maintained a spotless record free of any scandals, had publicly declared the person she loved on her personal Weibo page. Yet, that person… was already deceased.
“Even if you’ve entered the grave, I’ll spend the rest of my life loving you.”
As Song Xuyi departed this world, the most agonizing memory belonging to the original host replayed in her mind. Mother Song had leaned against Father Song, sobbing quietly: “What should we do? Why does Xuyi have this birthmark on her wrist? Why did the Sleeping Disease have to fall upon her…”
Only later did the original host learn that the Song family also carried a hereditary history of the Sleeping Disease. The birthmark on her wrist served as the definitive marker for those afflicted by it within the family.
As a result, the original host had abandoned her dream of becoming a doctor, deliberately choosing to behave in a capricious, mean-spirited manner instead. She figured that if she made herself thoroughly unlikable, her parents wouldn’t be quite so devastated when she passed away…
“Don’t worry. From now on, Song Xuyi will always remain by her family’s side. Those who are cured of the Sleeping Disease in the future will serve as the continuation of your life. Whenever your family thinks of you, they’ll only feel pride and comfort…” Song Xuyi murmured softly as she gazed upon the fading world.
From the very moment she arrived in this world, she had resolved to conquer the Sleeping Disease.
Fortunately, in the final moments of her life, she succeeded in identifying its underlying cause.
She just felt a bit sorry that she hadn’t survived until Zhao Qingyu’s thirtieth birthday, but she figured that discovering the cause was the absolute best gift she could leave behind for her…
“Xuyi, are you ready to head to the next world?”
Song Xuyi materialized within a vast, pristine white space. The System’s true form was actually a tiny black cat. Currently, the kitten was using its front paws to wipe away its tears, speaking in a raspy, quiet voice.
The System had never expected that Song Xuyi would manage to conceal her affliction so thoroughly, keeping even the System itself completely in the dark.
Song Xuyi nodded.
“To prevent memory interference, we will extract and store your memories of the person who left the deepest impression on you in this world.” The System pulled out a tiny helmet and fitted it onto Song Xuyi’s head. As her physical form gradually faded, the System couldn’t resist peering back to check on the state of the world following her departure before joining her on the journey to the next world.
The System projected its perception five years into the future:
Upon entering Huang Shuo’s research institute, one would find a framed exam paper that scored a flat zero on its final question, accompanied by a large sculptural monument of a perfect “100” standing beside it.
Father Song and Mother Song had funded the development of the drug to cure the Sleeping Disease, bringing it successfully to market. Whenever they thought of their daughter, though a deep sorrow remained, they were overcome with an even greater sense of pride.
The public hadn’t forgotten Song Xuyi either; monuments named after her had been erected in numerous locations.
The female lead, Sun Wan, had successfully developed the precise treatment to eradicate the Sleeping Disease entirely…
As for that other person…
The System scanned every corner but failed to locate the woman who had only dared to confess her love in the dead of night. Ultimately, it discovered her headstone standing directly beside Song Xuyi’s grave.
Three years after Song Xuyi’s passing, Zhao Qingyu had successfully accumulated every major Best Actress accolade in the world. She’d met her end after falling from a cliff while volunteering as a teacher in a remote mountainous region. Strangely enough, when her body was recovered…
—A gentle smile rested upon her breathtakingly beautiful face.
The author has something to say:
“—Chop!”
I’m severing the very hand that wrote this angst to apologize to all my crying angels!!!
I couldn’t control myself!
X﹏X.
I’ll continue updating once my hand grows back tomorrow evening~
Tomorrow night will feature an ABO world setting: Grand Marshal * Little Delicate Wife.
Aside from the glands on the neck, no other extra organs will appear~
Footnotes
- Dried flower sachet (gānhuā xiāngnáng). Traditionally filled with aromatic herbs or dried flowers to ward off evil, repel insects, clear the mind, or bring good fortune.
- Cheongsam (qípáo). A body-hugging traditional Chinese dress characterized by a high collar, side slits, and asymmetrical closures, popular in twentieth-century fashion.
- MPV (bǎomǔ chē). A multi-purpose vehicle or luxury minivan, highly favored by Chinese celebrities and their staff for comfort and privacy during commutes.
- Welfare home (fúlì yuàn). A state-run or charitable social welfare institution in China providing shelter and care for orphans, disabled children, or destitute elderly individuals.
- Gaokao (gāokǎo). The notoriously difficult National College Entrance Examination in China, which determines university placements and is a major life milestone.
- Clock in / sign in (dǎkǎ). Originally referring to punching a timecard, this internet term denotes checking in daily, completing routine tasks, or showing consistent presence to maintain contact or support.
- WeChat (wēixìn). A highly popular Chinese multi-purpose messaging, social media, and mobile payment app developed by Tencent, ubiquitous in daily life.
- Weibo (wēibó). One of China's most popular microblogging social media platforms, frequently used for celebrity news and trending public topics.
I wish it wasn’t such a good story, because then it wouldn’t be as painful to read…
I knew it with the "longevity" that it was foreshadowing, i was prepared but still feld sad that Zhao Qingyu didn't even get the chance to confess in person ༼;´༎ຶ ༎ຶ༽
This is heartbreaking 💔😭 give me a happy ending on the next arc pls 🥹
This is heartbreaking 💔😭 give me a happy ending on the next arc pls 🥹
I don’t really like tragedies, but this arc is probably my favorite (pretty much all of them are good though). I scoured my NovelUpdates trying to remember the name of this novel just so I could reread it lmao. Happy that the story continues on otherwise I’d be bawling
againright now! (●>ω<)ﾉﾞI don’t really like tragedies, but this arc is probably my favorite (pretty much all of them are good though). I scoured my NovelUpdates trying to remember the name of this novel just so I could reread it lmao. Happy that the story continues on otherwise I’d be bawling
againright now! (●>ω<)ノ゙