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Wen Zhihan confessed.
That’s right, she confessed.
She hesitated briefly, unable to decide if her confession was made in a moment of courage or impulse. It was likely the latter, she decided. An action in stark contrast to her careful personality, but feeling unrestrained, she had done it anyway.
With her heart pounding and her thoughts unguarded, she had blurted out her love.
She looked into Shao Cixin’s warm peach blossom eyes and thought, if given the choice, she’d do it all over again without hesitation. For this once-lost sweetheart, whom she had found again and cherished deeply, a treasure above all else.
Both of them were single, so why couldn’t they have a consensual relationship?
Wen Yu could, but she, Wen Zhihan, couldn’t?
But Shao Cixin’s understanding was a little slow. She only regarded Wen Zhihan as an older sister and even pushed her in the direction of others.
Wen Zhihan didn’t want to be Shao Cixin’s sister, nor did she want to be pushed in the direction of another person.
All she wanted was Shao Cixin’s heart.
Shao Cixin was still in shock, stunned by this large amount of information.
—Wen Zhihan likes me…
—Oh my god, Wen Zhihan actually liked me the entire time??
—I never dreamed of this!
As memories resurfaced in Shao Cixin’s mind, they began to come together, each scene adding to the weight of a realization she could no longer ignore. This “like” had always been there, just waiting for her to notice. It was as clear as day.
No wonder Wen Zhihan was the first to rush to the scene of the car accident and accompanied her all the way to the hospital.
No wonder Wen Zhihan came to see her every so often after she was hospitalized, treating her with all-around care and consideration.
No wonder Wen Zhihan had always been so good to her…
From beginning to end, everything was done out of love. The only one who was slow was her, Shao Cixin.
“When did you…” Shao Cixin asked in a daze, even forgetting how to blink her eyes.
Before the words were finished, the meaning was reached.
Wen Zhihan’s voice was as gentle as ever. “High school.”
Shao Cixin was even more stunned.
High school?!
Wen Zhihan liked her since high school?!
Her eyes turned elsewhere, and her thoughts began to turn, like gears starting to run, as she slowly sorted out the past. Situations that had been puzzling before gradually became clear under the lens of love, then fell into confusion again.
Wait. If Wen Zhihan liked her since high school, then why did she let her marry Wen Yu?
Shouldn’t she make her marry her instead?!
What kind of magical operation was this that she couldn’t understand???
“Then why did you let me marry Wen Yu?” Shao Cixin asked bluntly.
Wen Zhihan lowered her eyes and gazed at the apple peels on the table.
Looking back on her original decision, she thought that her heart was just like these peels coming off the fruit, torn apart and extremely painful.
“Because I wanted to help you, and you liked her. Because I thought she really loved you and getting married would make you happy.
“But I didn’t think it would turn out like this…
“If I had realized earlier that she was unfaithful to you, maybe none of this would have happened.
“I’m sorry Cixin, it was also me who hurt you.”
She had promised that she would confess everything.
Now that she did, she was prepared to be resented by Shao Cixin.
But Shao Cixin only felt sad when she saw Wen Zhihan shoulder all of the responsibility.
She didn’t want Wen Zhihan to blame herself like this.
Just like her mother said, when other people are bad, it has nothing to do with them—it was Wen Yu who was bad, and it was Wen Yu’s fault. What did it have to do with Wen Zhihan?
More importantly, putting aside everything else, Wen Zhihan gave her a chance to protect the Shao Group. Wen Zhihan was her savior. This was an unchangeable fact.
“Don’t say that,” Shao Cixin said softly, “I’ve already told you that this is not your fault. It’s Wen Yu who isn’t good, Wen Yu who’s to blame. You don’t have to bear her mistakes for her.
“And you allowed me to save my family. I will always be grateful, and I will never blame you.
“Even now…”
She was a sensible person.
If the person sitting in front of her today was Wen Yu, she would be furious and tell her to get out. But it was Wen Zhihan sitting before her, a person she couldn’t bear to hurt.
It wasn’t because of love. It was just because she didn’t want to blame this softness—because she wasn’t willing to cause her harm.
Wen Zhihan gazed at Shao Cixin, and for a moment, she felt a sense of relief.
This was the person she fell in love with, someone sensible and appropriate.
But she couldn’t see any love for herself in Shao Cixin’s eyes.
Those beautiful peach blossom eyes reflected her appearance, but they didn’t hold what she was looking for.
That was her answer.
When their eyes met, there was no need to say anything. They already understood each other’s thoughts.
They looked away tactfully, and the air became awkward.
They originally had many topics to talk about, but all those topics were disrupted at this moment.
After a while, Shao Cixin spoke first. “I can’t like someone right now, and I won’t deceive you without a conscience. Wen Zhihan, a love built on wish-fulfillment is too painful…”
Wen Zhihan nodded her head gently. “I know.”
How could she not know?
She had liked this person for so many years, and she had already experienced so much sweetness and bitterness…
Shao Cixin looked at Wen Zhihan and saw a trace of loneliness between her eyebrows. Her whole heart suddenly seized. She felt a faint pang of pain.
What was one more rejection? She had already rejected so many people.
But none of those rejections had ever made her feel so inexplicably sad. She seemed incapable of being as open and fearless with Wen Zhihan as she was with other people.
She still wasn’t willing to hurt her…
“I’m not…” She couldn’t help but explain herself to Wen Zhihan and try to comfort her. “I just got hurt by Wen Yu, and I have no intention of starting a new relationship for the time being.
“I don’t mean to hurt you. I don’t hate you. So don’t be sad…”
Her impression of Wen Zhihan had always been that of someone who was calm and gentle, unaffected and composed.
Encountering this other side of Wen Zhihan for the first time, she was a little at a loss for what to do. In the end, all she wanted to do was hurry and comfort her.
Wen Zhihan rarely saw Shao Cixin so uncertain of what to say, and she couldn’t help but laugh. She asked gently, “I was the one who was rejected, but why is Cixin more flustered than me?”
Seeing her laugh, Shao Cixin breathed a sigh of relief, and her tone became much more relaxed. “Because it’s you!
“Wen Zhihan, the person I don’t want to hurt the most is you. Seeing you sad makes me sad too…If it was anyone else, I would’ve turned my head away and left, and I wouldn’t have cared about anything else!”
Wen Zhihan watched as she listened.
She discovered that she had a place in Shao Cixin’s heart, but this position did not cross over the line of liking. It was still firmly entrenched in the friend zone.
Would there be a chance in the future?
“What about the future?” A sense of expectation unconsciously rose in Wen Zhihan’s eyes.
Shao Cixin’s heart was instantly hit by this look of expectation.
She really couldn’t reject this gentle and cute person again and again.
“There’s a possibility,” Shao Cixin said seriously. “After all, I can only be sure that I don’t want to fall in love now, but I can’t be sure about later on. Surely, no one can predict what will happen in the future.”
Wen Zhihan understood. She smiled at Shao Cixin tenderly. “Then when Cixin wants to fall in love, can she consider me?”
“Okay!” Shao Cixin agreed without hesitation. After she thought about it again, she frowned and said, “But don’t wait for me.”
Wen Zhihan: “?”
Shao Cixin explained, “No one can predict the future, so I don’t know when I will want to fall in love again. What if I never want to fall in love again in this life? Then you’ll also have to wait for me for a whole life?”
Wen Zhihan said nothing and looked at her with a quiet tenderness.
Shao Cixin continued, “I don’t want this. I don’t want to delay you, so if you meet someone you like before I want to fall in love, then go for it. Go for it, and don’t wait for me anymore, okay?”
Wen Zhihan had been waiting for her year after year ever since she fell in love with her in high school. But now that she had been hurt by Wen Yu, she couldn’t open her heart to others without a sense of reservation, so Wen Zhihan must continue to wait.
Was this fair to Wen Zhihan?
It wasn’t. Wen Zhihan was a free bird, and no one should use the name of love to restrain her from spreading her wings and flying into the vast world.
“It’s a little difficult.” Wen Zhihan suddenly smiled. She lowered her eyes and began cleaning up the peels on the table.
“I’ve liked you for so long that I can’t have anyone else.”
—Unless the bird willingly folded her wings, dwelled in this love, and endured its hardship[1].
Shao Cixin was like a ray of light, illuminating all of her youthful years, so Wen Zhihan was willing to silently like her and wish her a blessed and content life.
If she could also win her heart, she would be beyond happy and grateful, but if she couldn’t, it didn’t matter.
Even if she couldn’t find love, her life would continue to tread on normally until she met her fate.
Wen Zhihan was also unwilling to use the favor she provided to the Shao family to morally kidnap Shao Cixin.
After cleaning the table and washing her hands, Wen Zhihan returned to the sofa and sat down. Then she looked seriously at Shao Cixin, who was still in a daze because of her words.
“Cixin, I am telling you this because I want you to be aware of my feelings, not because I want to morally kidnap you and force you to be with me.
“Forced love won’t make you happy. If you’re unhappy, I won’t like it either.
“So I hope you don’t carry any psychological burdens, and that we can continue as usual.
“If you like me, we will become a couple. But if you never like me, then that means we are not fated to be together and can only remain as friends—even just remaining friends is good.”
Out of habit, Wen Zhihan wanted to hold Shao Cixin’s hand. But then she suppressed her desire and simply gazed at Shao Cixin with her beautiful eyes, rippling like water.
“Cixin, do you understand?”
Shao Cixin gradually recovered from Wen Zhihan’s sincere confession.
Thinking back on what Wen Zhihan just said, she was extremely moved for a moment.
Wen Zhihan was always so considerate of others’ feelings.
Her love for Shao Cixin was filled with patience and gentleness, like the wind in spring and the sun in winter, and it would never make people tired of it.
Meeting Wen Zhihan was her greatest fortune.
“I do.”
Shao Cixin took the initiative to hold Wen Zhihan’s hand—just like a friend.
“I understand.”
Wen Zhihan lowered her eyes and gazed at their intertwined hands. Her tensed heartstrings finally relaxed.
She curved her eyes into a smile, then raised her hand to gently stroke Shao Cixin’s long hair.
“Thank you for not driving me away.”
Shao Cixin was unhappy after she heard this. She took a bite of her apple. “You are not allowed to say such things in the future. I don’t want to hear it. You are such a good person. How can someone like you have so little confidence? Stand up for yourself!”
Drive away? Who would be willing to drive away such a good person? No one was so cruel!
Wen Zhihan smiled gently. “Okay, I won’t say it anymore.”
At night, there were only two warm orange lamps left flickering in the ward.
Most people had already gone to bed, but Shao Cixin was lying alone in her hospital bed, quietly looking out the window at the bustling Fengcheng below.
She was still subconsciously replaying the day’s sudden confession in her mind.
Every sentence Wen Zhihan said came to her mind like scenes in a movie until she finally landed on the words that had stunned her for a long time—
“I’ve liked you for so long that I can’t have anyone else.”
Shao Cixin moved her body. She stretched out her hand to cover her head with her blanket, then curled up beneath it. At the same time, a little joy slowly emerged to the top of her heart, and the corners of her lips rose uncontrollably.
Although it was a little bit selfish and unexplainable, she was really happy when she heard this…
After being hospitalized for over half a year, Shao Cixin was finally discharged from the recovery ward. Then she rested at home for what became nearly another year.
When her body was fully recovered, she officially took the first step towards her comeback and returned to filming.
The Wen family knew that Shao Cixin wanted to become an actress again, and Wen Xingyun even called to ask if she wanted Guanglan’s investment or endorsement.
They liked her, and they wanted to make up for what their little daughter owed her and treat her as well as possible.
Wen Zhihan also introduced her to a new assistant.
This new assistant was a very cute girl named Lin Mumu, and her girlfriend happened to be Wen Zhihan’s assistant Guan Yan.
Lin Mumu was very smart, capable, and experienced in the industry, so Shao Cixin did not refuse Wen Zhihan’s offer.
Shao Cixin didn’t forget about her acting classes while she was recovering. From time to time, she would review her old footage to evoke her emotions from when she was still filming. This way, she didn’t have to waste time reacquainting herself with the process.
After a lot of hard work, the filming of her first new TV series since her comeback went very smoothly.
Going back to the entertainment industry and reinvigorating her career was the best feeling for Shao Cixin.
After filming her first feature-length movie and returning home, the first thing she did was celebrate with her parents.
Then, at night, she lay in her room and scrolled through her phone to see what people were saying about her.
There were both good reviews and bad reviews, but this was to be expected.
People had diverse thoughts, and they were free to have their likes and dislikes, but there were still boundaries for speech. As long as they didn’t come in front of her and attack her, Shao Cixin could pretend she didn’t see it.
Fortunately, even though she had been out of the industry for so long, there were still many fans who liked her.
When they found out that she wanted to start over, they wrote happy words of encouragement on their Weibo, gently supporting her without asking too many questions or exposing her scars.
Her fans were even extra tolerant of her because of her car accident. They always hoped that she would take more breaks and reduce her work intensity—as long as the quality of her work was good, it was okay even if she only shot one movie every two years.
These words of encouragement were reflected in her eyes.
Shao Cixin laughed silently, put down her phone, and lay on her back looking at the ceiling.
She didn’t know why, but she suddenly thought of Wen Zhihan.
Picking up her phone again, she opened the chat history between the two of them.
They talked a lot during filming. When she revealed her lack of confidence, Wen Zhihan was always able to give her just the right amount of affirmation and encouragement to help her move forward.
It could be said that Wen Zhihan contributed a lot to Shao Cixin’s ability to reach this point.
Wen Zhihan was not like Wen Yu.
Wen Yu would never encourage her to pursue acting like this.
Wen Yu wasn’t even comparable to Wen Zhihan—no one was comparable to Wen Zhihan.
The chat history was last updated this morning.
Wen Zhihan wished her a happy end to filming and congratulated her on completing another work safely and smoothly. Then Shao Cixin thanked her in return and said that she would find her when she returned to Fengcheng. After that, there was no more communication.
Because of this, Shao Cixin didn’t look for Wen Zhihan at all after she came back today, and she didn’t even think about it until now.
Looking back at the chat, Shao Cixin suddenly felt like a heartless scumbag.
She teased someone, raised expectations, and then disappeared without a trace.
It was simply scumbag behavior.
It didn’t have anything to do with Wen Zhihan liking her. Even considering that they were just friends, Shao Cixin should go find her.
Yes, she should find Wen Zhihan. Because it was the right thing to do, and because she wanted to see her.
Her fingertips tapped on the screen, ready to ask someone to go out with her, and then she suddenly stopped again.
Her eyes twitched, and she felt very strange.
After thinking for a moment, she deleted her message and texted Lin Mumu instead.
[Shao Cixin]: Mumu, help me ask your family’s Assistant Guan about President Wen’s schedule tomorrow and if she’s busy.
[Shao Cixin]: But tell her that she can’t let President Wen know. Keep it secret.
[Mumu]: Are you going to see President Wen?
[Shao Cixin]: Yeah.
[Mumu]: Okay, I’ll go ask for you right away.
[Mumu]: Wait for my report!
After a while.
[Mumu]: I’m back!
[Mumu]: My girlfriend said that President Wen will be at Guanglan all day tomorrow. She has an interview in the afternoon, but it’s in the company building, so it won’t be in the way.
[Mumu]: Guan Yan also said that you can go to Guanglan to see President Wen at any time. She welcomes you very much.
Shao Cixin saw these replies and an idea began forming in her mind.
Since this was the case, then she should go see Wen Zhihan in her office tomorrow and give her a big surprise!
[Shao Cixin]: okok[2], I understand. Thank you, go to bed early, good night.
[Shao Cixin]: Wait!
[Shao Cixin]: Let me add your girlfriend. I need her help tomorrow.
The next day, Shao Cixin bought afternoon tea and got on the bus to Guanglan.
This was actually her first time visiting Guanglan, and she didn’t even know which floor the CEO’s office was on or where the elevator was.
Fortunately, Wen Zhihan had an all-inclusive assistant.
Recognizing that Shao Cixin wasn’t familiar with Guanglan’s structural layout, Guan Yan had already let her know on WeChat which floor she should take the elevator to and how to get to the CEO’s office.
Just now, Guan Yan sent her a message: [President Wen is in her office.]
Somehow, Guan Yan had become her personal spy.
[Shao Cixin]: Okay, I understand. Thank you.
After replying, she smoothly boarded the elevator.
Wen Zhihan was working on documents in her office.
In an hour, someone would come to Guanglan to interview her, which would waste some time. She didn’t want to pile up on work.
Knock knock.
There was a knock on the door.
Wen Zhihan didn’t even raise her head as she responded, “Come in.”
The door creaked open, and as the figure stepped inside, she finally lifted her gaze. Her striking blue eyes, framed by glass lenses, settled on the entrance.
Then she froze.
She saw Shao Cixin standing at the door, wearing a cheerful expression as she shook the drinks and desserts in her hand.
Dang dang dang[3]!
“I’m here. Are you surprised? Is it unexpected?”
Wen Zhihan came back to her senses, her eyes filled with joy.
Now she could set aside her work.
Wen Zhihan immediately put down the pen in her hand and stood up to great Shao Cixin.
“Why are you here?”
Shao Cixin took the initiative to pull Wen Zhihan into a generous hug, smiling happily.
They hadn’t seen each other for several months, and to be honest, she missed Wen Zhihan very much too. Since they were friends, it was okay to hug when they saw each other.
“I promised that I’d find you when I return, so I came over and brought you some food,” Shao Cixin said with a smile in Wen Zhihan’s ear. “I’m not disturbing you, right? I asked Assistant Guan first.”
Wen Zhihan said, “She knows?”
Shao Cixin answered, “Yeah.”
“So she went along with you and hid it from me?”
Shao Cixin said, “Because I wouldn’t let her tell you since I wanted to give you a surprise~ How is it? Are you happy to see the beautiful me?”
Wen Zhihan held Shao Cixin in her arms, her gaze gently reflecting Shao Cixin’s appearance.
She used her eyes to express her love and joy for this beautiful girl.
“I’m happy.”
It was great that Shao Cixin could come and give her this surprise.
“You don’t need to stand. Sit down.”
“Okay.”
Shao Cixin put the food on the coffee table. Then she obediently took a seat and began to observe Wen Zhihan’s office.
It was spacious and simple, bright and clean, and the layout was very comfortable.
There was also a floor-to-ceiling window in the office. When you stood by this window, you could see the endless prosperity of Fengcheng with your wide field of vision.
Wen Zhihan sat down next to Shao Cixin. Seeing that she only brought one portion, she asked, “Cixin, you’re not eating?”
Shao Cixin shook her head. “I’m only responsible for delivering the food. Oh, I heard the best thing to get was their signature dish of the day, so I bought it. You really have to try it out.
“Our Cixin has worked so hard. She can take a break and reward herself.”
Wen Zhihan opened the cake box with a smile and discovered that it happened to be made of Shao Cixin’s favorite matcha flavor, so she said, “Let’s eat together.”
Shao Cixin was about to shake her head ‘no’ when she heard Wen Zhihan say, “Even though I’m very happy that you brought me food, I would be even happier if our beautiful big star was willing to eat with me. Is the big star rejecting me?”
Shao Cixin saw a hint of sadness in Wen Zhihan’s expression, and her heart was instantly struck.
Who could reject her?
It would be too cruel to reject this person!
“Okay, okay, I’ll eat with you,” she readily agreed, “Who made me such a kind person.”
Wen Zhihan smiled and gave her a bigger portion.
“Since you like matcha, you should eat more.”
Shao Cixin held a fork in her hand. When she heard that Wen Zhihan still remembered that she liked to eat match-flavored things, her heart softened, and her eyebrows unconsciously eased.
The matcha cake was very good.
Wen Zhihan was also very good.
“Do you have any plans tonight?” Wen Zhihan suddenly asked.
“No,” Shao Cixin replied smoothly.
“Then should we have dinner together?”
“Sure.”
Shao Cixin looked at the time.
“Assistant Guan said you have an interview. When will it start?”
“In about an hour.”
“Oh, is it going to take a while?”
“It’ll take around forty minutes.”
Shao Cixin did some calculations in her mind. Then, after thinking that she had nothing to do, she asked, “Do you mind if I stay and wait for you to get off work? I don’t have any obligations…”
Wen Zhihan’s answer was obvious.
She curved her beautiful eyes and gave Shao Cixin a moving smile.
When she responded, her voice was gentle and pleasant, “If Shao Cixin is willing to stay, then I would be very happy.”
Wen Zhihan’s bright smile suddenly bloomed in Shao Cixin’s eyes. It was as if a delicate flower had also blossomed on the tip of her heart, capable of making someone yearn.
It wasn’t just the smile that was moving, it was also the sincerity.
“As long as our President Wen is happy.”
Shao Cixin gave her a knowing smile.
Wen Zhihan saved her office for the person she liked and went to a small conference room for the interview.
The interviewer was Chen Suling, the boss of the well-known magazine Wen Zhe.
Shao Cixin knew Chen Suling. She was said to be both beautiful and talented, and her reputation was well-known in the journalism industry. The number of people who wanted but couldn’t obtain an interview with her was not insignificant.
The fact that Chen Suling personally came to interview Wen Zhihan was enough to demonstrate Wen Zhihan’s commercial value—she was always worthy of the best.
Shao Cixin stayed in Wen Zhihan’s office playing with her phone.
Time passed quietly in this silent atmosphere. Near the end of the allotted time, she left to use the bathroom.
When she walked to the ladies’ room, she happened to pass by the small conference room where the interview was taking place. She casually took a glance through the transparent glass into the conference room.
The only people in the brightly lit room were Wen Zhihan and Chen Suling.
They sat opposite each other.
Chen Suling’s back was to the outside of the room, and she had an open notebook and recorder at hand. Wen Zhihan kept a certain distance from her and answered her questions calmly.
Besides the fact that both people were beautiful, there wasn’t much to look at.
Shao Cixin was about to look away, but at this moment, her eyes caught Wen Zhihan’s.
Then she saw Wen Zhihan’s lips curve slightly, revealing a gentle smile.
It wasn’t because of the content of the interview, but because she saw the person that she liked.
Shao Cixin paused for a moment, feeling like she was being teased.
She couldn’t help but look away and quickly walked toward the restroom—having no idea that her ears were completely on fire.
Chen Suling noticed the smile on Wen Zhihan’s lips and immediately turned outside to look at the glass wall, but she missed it.
Chen Suling: “?”
What was Wen Zhihan laughing at?
Did she think of something funny?
The translator (AmEricaNo) has something to say:
Thank you so much to Yamahl for the bonus chapter~ ❤️
We’re so close to the finish line!
The author (热到昏厥) has something to say:
Yes, it’s true, your 热到昏厥 wants to take a break.
But the extra IF story wants to go in a different direction OvO
Of course, some characters still have a role to play~
[1] Here, the last part of the sentence actually reads “甘之如饴” (gān zhī rú yí) or “as sweet as syrup.” While this idiom sounds like it would be the Chinese equivalent of the English phrase “as sweet as sugar,” it actually describes being willing to endure hardship and pain in order to achieve a goal—which is very different than the English connotation of “as sweet as sugar.”
[2] Shao Cixin literally uses the English “okok” here, which is a common Chinese internet slang.
[3] Meant to represent the sound of things clanging together.
