MTLNOVEL Chapter 78 - Fight
The two walked along the narrow path, heading toward a scenic area’s public restroom.
After turning off her microphone, Su Qingyao looked at Meng Yao’er and gestured to her clip-on mic, signaling for her to turn it off.
“Qing Qing, what’s the secret you want to share with me?” Meng Yao’er asked, turning off her microphone. She glanced sideways at Su Qingyao, her smile not reaching her eyes.
There was a certain look in her eyes, one that revealed she knew exactly what Su Qingyao wanted to say or do but still chose to indulge her whims.
Su Qingyao turned to the staff holding the camera, politely saying, “I’m sorry, but could you wait here for a moment? We need to step into the restroom.”
She took a couple of steps forward, then turned to see that Meng Yao’er hadn’t followed. Instead, the latter extended her hand, making it clear that she wouldn’t move unless Su Qingyao held it.
Su Qingyao sighed, went back, and took her hand, leading her into the restroom.
【Secret! More secret!】
【What am I even watching today? I’m reporting this to the authorities!】
【Someone, pair this with a monkey jpg!】
Inside the restroom, Su Qingyao let go of Meng Yao’er’s hand and gazed at their reflections in the mirror, falling into a momentary silence.
Meng Yao’er rubbed her wrist and said, “Qing Qing, didn’t you have something to tell me?”
She added, “Let’s agree on this, okay? Say everything you want to say this time, and don’t bring it up again in the future.”
Su Qingyao’s gaze shifted to Meng Yao’er, her lips trembling slightly. “Meng Yao’er, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have… back when you were young and inexperienced…”
Closing her eyes, Su Qingyao seemed overwhelmed by emotions that had been suppressed for far too long. The surge crushed her composure, drowning her in guilt. When she reopened her eyes, she avoided looking directly at Meng Yao’er.
“It’s my fault. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t like girls. I ruined you.”
“When you didn’t understand anything, I led you down a dark path. And then, consumed by guilt, I ended our relationship in the worst way possible.”
If not for her misstep, Meng Yao’er’s preferences wouldn’t have been distorted. After all, Meng Yao’er had dated boys before.
Meng Yao’er’s eyes, clear and calm, swept over Su Qingyao. She stepped closer, lifting her hand as if to touch Su Qingyao’s cheek, but the latter turned her face away to dodge.
Meng Yao’er’s lips curled into a humorless smile. “Qing Qing.”
“I thought you came to find me because you had thought things through and wanted to make it up to me. Turns out, you came to hurt me.”
Her voice carried a mix of bitterness and lament. “How could you bear to do this?”
Meng Yao’er suddenly threw herself into Su Qingyao’s arms, holding her tightly as though she wanted to merge into her very being. She found Su Qingyao’s lips, biting down hard despite the other’s resistance. Only when she tasted blood did she let go.
Feeling the faint tremble of the body in her embrace, Meng Yao’er still refused to release her. She pressed her cheek against Su Qingyao’s and murmured, “Qing Qing, why don’t you understand? Every time you soften toward me, you’re the one caging me further. Why do you keep pushing me away?”
“Don’t you see? Every umbrella you hold over me becomes another shackle.”
As her words faded, Meng Yao’er acted as if nothing had happened. Smiling brightly, she said, “Qing Qing, done with the nonsense? If so, let’s head back.”
Su Qingyao’s eyelashes trembled, and she pushed Meng Yao’er away forcefully.
Meng Yao’er’s back hit the sink. When she looked up at Su Qingyao, the light in her eyes seemed to shatter.
Instinctively, Su Qingyao wanted to help, but her outstretched hand froze mid-air.
Every umbrella you hold over me becomes another shackle.
Turning her back to Meng Yao’er, Su Qingyao said, “Meng Meng, you’re only 24. You’re still young. After you forget about me, you can have a healthy relationship, find someone who will cherish you…”
The voice behind her was unnervingly calm. “If that’s what you truly think, why did you come on this show? Why appear in front of me again?”
Su Qingyao stiffened, her voice dry. “I saw how you acted toward Jiang Zi and Tang Yuan on the show. That’s not who you are. I don’t want you to become that kind of person…”
Her actions had gone viral online, and everyone criticized her, calling her crazy and unhinged.
But Meng Yao’er wasn’t supposed to be like that.
A soft sigh came from behind her. “QingQing, you still don’t know me…”
Footsteps drew closer. Meng Yao’er stood by her side, tilting her head to gaze at her. “I’ve always been like this—a terrible person. You just never saw it.”
“If you don’t want me, I’ll go ruin someone else’s life.”
Leashed, she could play the obedient pet. Unleashed, she was a rabid dog, biting everyone she saw.
“Six years, Qing Qing. You’re still thinking of Lu ShanEn, aren’t you?” Meng Yao’er turned to face her, grabbing her chin as she vented her grievances. “You just don’t want to like girls anymore! And now you’re pretending to let me go back to a ‘normal’ life? Do I look stupid to you?”
“Lu ShanEn is a hypocritical scumbag. He killed my mom! Why do you have to like him?!” Tears streamed down her face, burning hot against her skin. Meng Yao’er wiped them away carelessly and shoved Su Qingyao aside.
“Do what you want. I’m pathetic. I don’t deserve you.” Taking a deep breath, Meng Yao’er said nothing more and walked out of the restroom. She yanked off her microphone, shoved it into the camerawoman’s hands, and said curtly, “I’m done. I’ll discuss the compensation with the show privately.” Then, she walked back the way they had come, disappearing from sight.
The camerawoman was dumbfounded. Wealthy people’s privacy was on another level. The restroom’s soundproofing was so good she had barely heard a thing.
But now Meng Yao’er had stormed off, clearly furious.
Holding her camera, she captured a scene that mirrored her confusion.
【What just happened? Why does Meng Yao’er look so angry?】
【Someone lip-read her last words!】
【Did she say she’s quitting? Is she leaving?】
【Why isn’t QingQing out yet? Did Meng Yao’er kill her and hide the body?】
【Your imagination knows no bounds.】
Su Qingyao didn’t emerge until the camerawoman was about to abandon her equipment and go inside.
Unusually, Su Qingyao’s face did not have her usual smile. Her steps seemed unsteady. She looked at the staff with lifeless eyes, as though asking something silently.
“Miss Su, you’re finally out. Miss Meng left. Did you two… have a fight?”
Su Qingyao withdrew her gaze, staring at the empty path. It wasn’t until she felt the suffocating ache in her chest that she realized the pain pressing on her heart—a pain no amount of deep breathing could ease.
You’re still thinking of Lu ShanEn, aren’t you?
Why do you have to like him?!
A misunderstanding.
But isn’t that better?
At last… she’d forced Meng Yao’er to let go.
With a frozen smile, she turned to the camera and, with a voice that was faint and hoarse, said, “Shall we go back?”