Song Yan disappeared from the entertainment industry.
Su He learned this news from Jiang Xiaoxiao.
"Back then, she provoked you so much, I never thought she'd end up like this!" Jiang Xiaoxiao hadn't contacted Su He for a long time after returning to her hometown. It seemed her mood had finally settled, and she'd regained her usual cheerfulness.
Su He wasn't concerned about Song Yan; she only wanted to know why Jiang Xiaoxiao had left so abruptly. "You still won't tell me the truth?"
Jiang Xiaoxiao gave a wry smile. "There's nothing to say, I just felt tired. The salary here isn't high, but the expenses are also low, and life isn't as tiring."
But such a reason clearly couldn't convince Su He.
How could her best friend not know how ambitious Jiang Xiaoxiao was? Once, to secure an important project, she'd worked through sleepless nights, entertaining clients, only to collapse by the roadside. She hadn't given up until the very last moment.
How could someone so driven retreat to her hometown just because life felt too stressful?
Moreover, she'd heard Jiang Xiaoxiao mention her family before. They were extremely patriarchal, and she was the second child, sandwiched in the middle, receiving even less attention.
Even if she were to leave B City, she wouldn't return to a place that made her uncomfortable.
She must have gone to another city.
"Xiaoxiao, do you still consider me your sister?" Su He asked seriously.
Jiang Xiaoxiao was silent for a long time, then said, "Miaomiao, it's not that I don't want to tell you, it's just that I don't know where to begin."
"Then tell me slowly, I have plenty of time to listen." Su He put down her paintbrush and picked up her phone.
Jiang Xiaoxiao bit her lower lip, deciding to confess to Su He. "I'm sorry, Miaomiao."
"Why are you suddenly apologizing?" Su He was a bit surprised.
"I... I've done many wrong things before," Jiang Xiaoxiao began hesitantly.
"Who hasn't been young and ignorant? As long as you repent, it's fine," Su He said, not understanding.
Looking into her pure eyes, Jiang Xiaoxiao suddenly didn't know how to speak. She owed Su He an explanation, but the words, once at her lips, were swallowed back down.
If she spoke, it would inevitably affect Su He's relationship with Su Chen.
Su Chen had always silently protected Su He, and his feelings for her were no less than her feelings for him. One was a man she'd silently admired for years, the other her best friend. If this barrier were broken, they might not even be able to remain friends.
Jiang Xiaoxiao felt she couldn't be too selfish.
In the end, she chose to leave.
But even far from their city, she found no true peace, still tormented. Towards Su He, she always felt a sense of debt, owing her an apology.
"Miaomiao, if I told you I've done something that wronged you, would you forgive me?" Jiang Xiaoxiao asked, tears welling up in her eyes.
Su He blinked. "You're my best friend, how could you possibly do anything to wrong me!"
"Miaomiao, I'm not as good as you think," Jiang Xiaoxiao said, crying and laughing. "I haven't been good to you..."
Jiang Xiaoxiao had unspeakable secrets, and only revealed this much.
She didn't mention Su Chen, nor anyone else, just kept apologizing to her.
Su He found it baffling and tried to comfort her. "Xiaoxiao, what's wrong? Is there anything between us that we can't talk about?"
"Miaomiao, I'm sorry," Jiang Xiaoxiao sobbed on the phone.
"You haven't wronged me!" Su He emphasized repeatedly. "Even if you're hiding something from me, it must be out of necessity, right?"
Su He's magnanimity made Jiang Xiaoxiao feel even more ashamed. "There are some things I can't say yet. Miaomiao, please don't hate me, okay?"
"I don't hate you, stop crying," Su He said, startled by her tears.
Jiang Xiaoxiao, who was usually so cheerful, had suddenly become so fragile, and Su He found it hard to adapt.
Jiang Xiaoxiao cried for a long time, as if releasing all the pent-up grievances from recent times. Su He patiently waited for her to calm down, not hanging up the phone.
"Miaomiao, is Lu Yanbei good to you?" Jiang Xiaoxiao asked after wiping her tears.
Su He nodded. "He's quite good to me, you don't need to worry."
"And you, do you like him?" Jiang Xiaoxiao asked again.
Su He hummed. "I think I do."
"How much do you like him?"
"Well, I don't mind him getting close. Sometimes when I don't see him, I miss him," Su He described her feelings for Lu Yanbei, resting her head on her hand.
In the past period, Lu Yanbei had taken such meticulous care of her, he was almost spoiling her.
Whatever she said, he agreed.
Whatever she wanted, he would spare no effort to fulfill.
Who wouldn't like such an obedient and charming man?
Seeing Su He's affectionate expression, Jiang Xiaoxiao felt a little relieved. "That's good..."
"What about you? You said your family was urging you to go on blind dates, have you met anyone suitable?" Su He asked, showing concern.
Jiang Xiaoxiao stammered, "I've been on a few, but none of them have made my heart flutter. Plus, I've met quite a few oddballs."
"Tell me about it!" Su He's eyes lit up.
So, Jiang Xiaoxiao complained about her recent blind dates.
"A civil servant earning three thousand a month actually wanted to split the bill with me, saying that we're building a life together, so it should be fair. Then I asked if household chores would be split too. Guess what he said? He said that doing housework is inherently women's work! Ha! I left before the date was even over."
"Uh..."
"Another one didn't even have a stable job, yet he had a long list of demands. He said his family would pay the down payment for the house, I'd be responsible for the decoration, and we'd share the mortgage after marriage, but the property title could only be in his parents' names."
"Am I there to provide aid?"
"The last one was even stranger! Not long after we met, he asked how much savings I had and if I could give them a son within a year to carry on the family line. Does their family have a throne to inherit?"
"What kind of people are these!" Su He clicked her tongue in disbelief.
"These oddballs are considered elites by the elders, who say I'm too picky and unappreciative." Jiang Xiaoxiao couldn't help but scoff at the thought.
This wasn't a blind date, it was clearly a declaration of war.
"I've seen their true colors. They all claimed it was for my own good, but I think they just want to marry me off quickly to save their own face."
"Don't be angry, I'll introduce someone good to you in the future," Su He comforted her.
"I'm not angry, I just feel a bit tired," Jiang Xiaoxiao pouted. "Does a woman have to get married? Can't she live without a man?"
"Rather than entrusting my life to someone full of uncertainties, I'd rather be single forever!"
Su He expressed her support. "It's okay, I'll take care of you in your old age, and we'll move into a nursing home together!"
Jiang Xiaoxiao was amused by her words. "Would your Mr. Lu agree?"
"What do you mean 'my' Mr. Lu? We're still just boyfriend and girlfriend."
"Didn't you already get the certificate?"
"That doesn't count. He said he wants to pursue me again, and only if I agree will we move to the next step," Su He said with a hint of shyness.
"How far have you progressed?" Jiang Xiaoxiao was incredibly curious.
Su He covered her face and then whispered, "Just kissing..."
Jiang Xiaoxiao: ...
Young Master Yan can really hold back!