Reboot the heyday

Chapter 3487 Unrequited Love Ends Without a Trace
“It’s fake,” Wang Taika said.

"Huh?" Cheng Gymnastics was completely dumbfounded.

“You really do believe everything you hear. Of course it’s true,” Wang Taika said.

Cheng Gymnastics' eyes were filled with disbelief. In her most desperate moments, there were always these strange, miraculous turns of events. Wang Taika always seemed to be like that. A single sentence felt like a tiny flame that ignited instantly, almost illuminating her gloomy heart.

Wang Taika looked at the sudden light in her eyes, nodded, and said in a calm voice, though less cold than before: "Yes, I believe everything you just said is true. Actually, whether it's true or false isn't that important. Since you think it's important, then I'll believe you."

Cheng Ticao breathed a sigh of relief and said, "As long as you trust me, that's fine."

Wang Taika's gaze passed over her, seemingly landing on some distant point: "But Cheng Gymnastics, whether I believe it or not is one thing, how to actually do it is another. I believe your tears and words right now, but that doesn't change anything."

Cheng Ticao said, "I didn't intend to change anything, but, no, there might be some things."

Wang Taika's tone carried a kind of cruel clarity born of experience: "Belief doesn't mean you can change anything. Time passes, people change, and paths diverge. That favoritism that may have existed in the past is like spilled water—it can't be taken back."

"I see, that makes sense."

The light in Cheng Gymnastics' eyes dimmed little by little, irrevocably, as he spoke calmly. The warmth that had just begun to rise was replaced by a deeper chill.

But she couldn't refute these words. Because that's just how reality is. Cheng Ticao had always understood this principle, but only when she experienced it firsthand did she realize how cruel it was.

Wang Taika's letter was not a reconciliation, a promise, or a signal of a fresh start. It was more like a belated "understanding" and "empathy" based on his own past pain, a projection of compensation for past regrets, bestowed upon her now that she had run into trouble.

This "letter" itself carries an insurmountable sense of distance.

Looking at Cheng Gymnastics, who was now embroiled in serious internal strife, Wang Taika seemed to see a reflection of his former self. No, Cheng Gymnastics still maintained her dignity. Unlike Wang Taika, who threw tantrums and tried to delay the inevitable outcome. Now, standing in this position, his heart was filled with complex emotions.

Time is also very important. Right now, Wang Taika really has no interest in Cheng Gymnastics at all.

Cheng Ticao said, "Uncle, do you believe me? Do you have a little crush on you?"

"Yes." Wang Taika didn't evade the question and admitted it directly. However, his heart wouldn't change because of these things.

Because there are many kinds of liking, Wang Taika believes that Cheng Gymnastics' liking is probably the possessiveness that arose when someone who once protected her was taken away. Although this kind of liking is genuine, it is not the kind between men and women.

Therefore, Wang Taika believes that Cheng Ticao likes him, but he remains skeptical about the extent and form of that liking. It's possible it's just a simple liking for an older man, which is quite reasonable.

Wang Taika said, "Anyway, the fact that you like me shows that you have good taste. I will talk to the people in charge of the entertainment sector in China later, and someone will contact you. You will be given priority for suitable resources. Don't feel pressured. This is not compensation or charity; it's just to live up to your feelings."

"Being together is the only way to live up to expectations," Cheng Ticao corrected.

"Don't waste the opportunity. Ups and downs are normal in the entertainment industry. A high start followed by a decline isn't the end; there are also those who bounce back from rock bottom. The key is whether you can seize the opportunity and endure the pressure." Wang Tai paused, then continued, "As for being together, you probably know how many people are around me, right? I won't compare anyone to others; it has nothing to do with fame or looks. I don't think they're necessarily better than you; maybe you're better than them. But since I'm already in this situation, I won't give up on anyone who's already by my side."

The implication is, can Cheng Ticao accept Wang Taika's womanizing ways?
This is a real problem, so real that Cheng Tiao hadn't considered it before. It's unclear whether it was a subconscious, deliberate oversight, or whether she genuinely hadn't thought about it.

Now, suddenly facing it all, she realized how naive she had been. Cheng Ticao sat on the sofa, like a sculpture whose soul had been emptied. The immense disappointment and the cold reality pinned her to the spot. She had gained "belief," and she had gained "resources," even better than she had initially anticipated.

But she felt no joy whatsoever, only a bone-chilling cold and an emptiness of being utterly abandoned. Because she truly couldn't accept Wang Taika's current situation.

To have two boats at once is already outrageous, but Wang Taika's actions are comparable to the Battle of Red Cliffs, where Prime Minister Cao used iron chains to link countless ships together, making it as easy as walking on flat ground.

The other women can accept it because they are all Koreans, and compared to Chinese people, they are more accepting of certain privileges. They can even be indifferent to things done by the US military, let alone wealthy men having multiple girlfriends.

Moreover, the idol industry is very stressful. Not to mention the various unspoken rules, even those who smoothly become famous often end up in a situation where they are neither good enough for high-level jobs nor good enough for low-level ones due to the nature of the profession.

It's simply not within their reach; they're at a level that truly allows for a leap in social status. Real tycoons don't even consider idol stars; marrying an ordinary wealthy person like a company executive is considered a good outcome for them.

If you're too picky and don't take a job that's too low-paying, that's even worse. You're already past your prime, but your pride won't allow it. Feeling empty inside, and having a little money makes you an easier target for scammers, often resulting in you being cheated out of money and sexually exploited.

The Korean entertainment circle is so small that more often than not, you find yourself with no choice. It's safer to be with Wang Taika than to be coveted by unknown people. In comparison, while Wang Taika's womanizing is a flaw, his other overall qualities are extremely strong, so it's not entirely unacceptable.

But these things are incomprehensible to Cheng Gicao. At the very least, she could return to China and become a minor celebrity, where she would at least be financially secure.

So deep down, I really can't accept it.

Wang Taika already knew this was the case, so he wasn't surprised.

He has so many close female friends, and there will always be differences in their closeness. Even if some of them aren't entirely sincere towards him, he can completely accept that.

Of course, it's possible that some people don't actually have feelings for him and are simply with Wang Taika because they have no better options. Han Chae-young is an example; she genuinely has no feelings for Wang Taika, and initially even harbored complete hatred towards him. Now, they only maintain a respectful distance, and over time, she's even found it quite pleasant.

But Cheng Gymnastics had no choice; she had a choice, but she couldn't stand this kind of humiliation.

"Alright, see? Problem solved." Wang Taika said calmly, "See? Whether you believe it or not doesn't really matter. Even if I believed it 100%, it wouldn't change anything. Because you can't accept it, right?"

Cheng Ticao lowered her head and remained silent for a while before saying, "If I remember you were single back in Korea, and if we had a chance back then, would you be all alone now?"

Wang Taika thought for a moment and nodded: "That should be true. But back then, you were still a minor, right? Don't mess with me."

"The right time, but not the right mindset. The right mindset, but the right time was missed." Cheng Gymnastics was utterly disappointed this time.

Those around Wang Taika had previously, intentionally or unintentionally, avoided this question. Of course, they couldn't help but think that Wang Taika would abandon others for their own sake. Humans, after all, always feel they are the only unique miracle.

Cheng Ticao lowered her head and shook it. No matter how she thought about it, she still couldn't accept sharing her love with someone else. So she finally decided to end this unrequited love.

This time, at least they'll die knowing why!

(End of this chapter)