The Entertainment Industry in Turmoil: Young Actresses All Want to Rise to the Top

Thank you to the leader [Eat Kun Without Spitting Out Thorns] for your support!

Thank you so much to [You're so sweet, Tian Xiwei] for the two generous donations of 2 each!

Thank you all for your support of Tian'er's return.

I don't have many drafts saved up, so I'll release all four at once today.

I know everyone wants to see the male lead get his comeuppance at Tian'er's hands, but it takes time, so please be patient.

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The lounge was eerily quiet.

Shen Mo sat on the sofa with his back straight and his hands on his knees, his posture as upright as if he were attending some important negotiation.

But his gaze kept drifting towards Tian Xiwei, and his lips moved several times, but he swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

Li Yitong sat next to him, her fingers tapping lightly on her knees, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, revealing that her heart was not as calm as it appeared.

Bai Lu and Li Lin sat on the folding chairs opposite each other, their gazes shifting back and forth between Shen Mo and Tian Xiwei.

Bai Lu frowned slightly and pursed her lips into a line. She wanted to ask something, but looking at Shen Mo's expression and Tian Xiwei's nonchalant demeanor, the unusual atmosphere made her ultimately remain silent.

Li Qin leaned back in her chair, the milk tea cup in her hand slightly deformed from her grip. Her gaze lingered on Tian Xiwei's face for a long time, trying to read something from that smiling face.

But I can't read anything.

Tian Xiwei sat at the other end of the sofa, legs crossed, holding the cup of milk tea in her hands, sipping it slowly.

Her posture was relaxed, as if she were sitting in her own living room, completely different from the girl who had been crying her heart out just moments before.

Her gaze swept around the lounge, curiously observing everything around her, before settling on Bai Lu.

Bai Lu felt a little uneasy under her gaze and subconsciously shrank back: "Tian'er, why are you looking at me like that?"

Tian Xiwei's lips curved slightly, but she didn't answer. Instead, she shifted her gaze from Bai Lu's face to Li Qin's, and then back again.

Seeing Li Lin frown, she raised an eyebrow as if ignoring it, then looked away and continued sipping her milk tea.

Shen Mo noticed Tian Xiwei's expression; that raised eyebrow was clean and crisp, carrying a sense of scrutiny and understanding.

His Adam's apple bobbed, as if he wanted to say something, but the words caught in his throat.

What are you saying?

Asking her if she remembered was too direct.

Ask her what that eyebrow-raising gesture meant? That's so stupid.

Asking her if she wanted another cup of milk tea was too perfunctory.

"Fine, I'll strike up a conversation," he thought, opening his mouth and managing to squeeze out, "Tian'er, your milk tea's cold, would you like a fresh cup?"

Tian Xi turned her head to look at him, her expression showing a hint of disdain, as if she were looking at a not-so-bright passerby.

"In this hot weather, aren't you going to drink something hot instead of something cold?"

Shen Mo: "..."

Shen Mo was silent for two seconds. Everyone present could hear the emotion in Tian Xiwei's words. Bai Lu wanted to open her mouth, but Li Qin held her down.

Li Yitong's pursed lips and Shen Mo's frustrated yet not angry expression amused Li Qin.

Shen Mo smiled and then asked, "What would you like to eat? I'll have someone go and buy it."

Tian Xi glanced at him, her lips twitched slightly, a hint of disdain mixed with speechlessness, and she spoke dryly.

"I'm not hungry."

The three words sounded dry and lifeless, as if they were spoken to a stranger.

Shen Mo tapped his fingers twice on his knee, then spoke again: "Then, how about—"

"stop!"

Tian Xiwei interrupted him, her tone extremely harsh: "Can you be quiet for a moment?"

Bai Lu's eyes widened instantly, almost thinking she had misheard.

When did Tian Xiwei ever speak to Shen Mo in this tone?

This girl usually clung to Shen Mo like glue, her voice always tinged with a coquettish tone, but now she's complaining that he's noisy?

Shen Mo's choked expression was so obvious that the milk tea cup in Li Lin's hand shrunk a little more. She wanted to laugh, but when she saw Li Yitong's expression, she suppressed her laughter.

Li Yitong looked at Tian Xiwei with a calm gaze, but there was a hint of heartache hidden in it.

After being choked, Shen Mo remained silent for about ten seconds before speaking again.

"Tian'er, what you just did—"

"Shen Mo!"

Tian Xiwei interrupted him again, this time in an even more indifferent tone, so indifferent that it was almost impossible to detect any emotion.

"Have you been having a lot of free time lately?"

"Go do your own thing and don't hang around in front of me. Don't force me to slap you during the happiest time of my birthday!"

Although no one knows what happened to Tian Xiwei, she has reached the point of calling her beloved Mo Ge by his name.

But seeing Shen Mo's frustrated expression again, Bai Lu couldn't help but burst out laughing. She then immediately covered her mouth and pretended to cough twice.

Li Qin also lowered his head, his shoulders trembling slightly.

Shen Mo took a deep breath and turned to look at Li Yitong. The plea for help in his eyes was so obvious that even Bai Lu and Li Lin understood it.

Bai Lu's lips twitched slightly. She had known Shen Mo for so long, and this was the first time she had ever seen him with such an expression.

The man who was so assertive at the negotiating table and so composed in front of the camera was now like a helpless schoolboy, rendered speechless by Tian Xiwei's sharp retorts.

Li Yitong smiled slightly, got up and sat down next to Tian Xiwei.

The sofa cushions were slightly sunken, and Tian Xi could feel the weight beside her, but she didn't look up and continued sipping her milk tea.

The milk tea was almost empty, and the straw was making a hissing sound at the bottom of the cup, but she didn't stop.

Li Yitong didn't urge her. She sat quietly for a while, looking at Tian Xiwei's profile. Her eyelashes were long, and there was a trace of red on the tip of her nose, where she had just cried. Her lips were tightly pressed together with the straw, with a stubborn curve.

She reached out and took the empty cup from Tian Xiwei's hand. Tian Xiwei's fingers instinctively retracted, paused in mid-air for a moment, and then landed on her knee.

The next second, a pair of warm hands grasped her cold fingers.

Tian Xiwei's fingers froze instantly.

She knew those hands all too well; she had held them countless times. The knuckles were slender and long, with beautiful lines. Her own little hands had always been enveloped in those hands.

Li Yitong felt that brief stiffness. Tian Xiwei's fingertips were very cold. She didn't know if it was due to her emotions or the milk tea.

She didn't let go or use force; she just held it gently, transferring the warmth of her palm to him little by little.

Tian Xi's stiff fingers slowly relaxed. She didn't retaliate, but she didn't pull away either, letting Li Yitong hold them.

The two of them just sat there, neither of them saying a word.

The lounge fell silent.

Bai Lu held her breath. She didn't know why, but she felt that she shouldn't make a sound at this time. Li Lin leaned back in her chair, her gaze falling on the two people's clasped hands. She paused for a moment, then looked away.

About half a minute later.

Li Yitong gently patted Tian Xiwei's hand, her movements slow, one pat after another.

What do you want to eat tonight?

Her voice was very soft, as if she was afraid of disturbing something.

Tian Xi turned her head slightly, her big eyes now filled with curiosity.

I'm curious about what Li Yitong is up to.

Li Yitong looked into her eyes, which held so much: curiosity, probing, and a deep-seated grievance.

But Li Yitong didn't investigate. She just looked at Tian Xiwei, her eyes filled with heartache, joy, and some other emotions she couldn't quite explain. They all mixed together and eventually turned into a faint smile.

"It's your birthday today, let's go out for dinner again tonight."

She paused, then her voice softened even more.

"Just the two of us!"

Tian Xi stared at her for a long time. This familiar face, this face that was obviously much younger, but the tone of voice was exactly the same as she remembered.

Li Yitong was not cautious, not tentative, not deliberate; she was simply very natural and casual.

But Tian Xiwei knew this wasn't arbitrary; it was Li Yitong giving her a way out.

Exactly the same as in my previous life.

She recalled those years when Li Yitong was always the one to stand up for her after every argument with Shen Mo.

He spoke up for her impartially and also offered Shen Mo a way out.

Sometimes when she got really angry, she would say a lot of hurtful things, but Li Yitong wouldn't get angry. She would just sit quietly and wait for her to finish yelling before handing her a glass of water.

"Calm down."

"That's just how he is, you know that."

"Alright, alright, let's give him a way out."

Back then, she kept thinking—Are you stupid? I stole the person you liked, and instead of taking advantage of the situation, you even helped us get back together?

One time, she actually asked it out loud.

Li Yitong paused for a moment, then smiled, her eyes crinkling into crescents.

"When you two are arguing, I don't feel good either."

"Besides, I don't want to lose you as a friend."

It's that simple.

There are no grand principles, no emotional appeals.

Li Yitong loves Shen Mo, but she is even more unwilling to lose her as a friend.

It sounds pretentious to say, but it's not easy to do.

Tian Xiwei couldn't understand it.

They should be rivals in love... but she always tries to protect this relationship.

They should have been enemies... but she cherished this friendship more than anyone else.

Even though their agents were fighting tooth and nail, she was still being smeared by her own agent for years, and her fans even questioned her about why she was stealing her roles.

But somehow, they became friends closer than anyone else.

Perhaps it's because some things are more important than reason, more important than rivals, enemies, or right and wrong.

Tian Xiwei's lips moved; she wanted to say "okay," but the word stuck in her throat and wouldn't come out.

My throat felt like it was blocked by something, a sour and astringent feeling rising from my chest to my eyes.

With tears in her eyes, she nodded.

Li Yitong smiled, a gentle smile, her crescent-shaped eyes filled with tenderness.

Tian Xiwei looked at that smile, her nose tingled, and she turned her face away to look out the window.

But she didn't pull her hand away, and Li Yitong didn't let go either. The two of them just sat there holding hands quietly.

Bai Lu looked at them, then at Shen Mo, her confusion deepening. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but Li Qin gently kicked her chair leg from the side.

Li Qin shook his head, his eyes saying "Don't ask," and Bai Lu obediently shut her mouth, but her expression still showed great confusion.

Shen Mo sat there, watching Li Yitong and Tian Xiwei holding hands, a slight smile playing on his lips.

As expected, Tyrannosaurus Rex still needs the soft and cute Snow to deal with it.

This was based on his experience from several years of getting along with her in his previous life. When Tian Xiwei was being difficult, the more you confronted her head-on, the more energetic she became.

The more careful you are, the more you try to explain, the less friendly she becomes.

But Li Yitong was different; she extended a hand, and Tian Xiwei went over by herself.

He tried three times, only to be met with three dry, dismissive remarks.

Li Yitong didn't say anything, she just sat down next to her, took her hand, and all she got in return was a "okay".

It wasn't fair, but he laughed, and as he laughed, his eyes welled up with tears.

He lowered his head, pretending to look at his phone. He swiped his thumb across the screen twice but didn't tap anything. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he swallowed back the moisture.

He knew he had let Tian Xiwei down.

In his past life, he failed to protect himself and Li Yitong, leaving her alone in that world.

In this life, he is reborn and is with Li Yitong.

Moreover, she may have also noticed the presence of Bai Lu, Li Qin, and the other girls.

All of this amounts to abandoning her and betraying her.

Therefore, no matter how much Tian Xiwei gave him the cold shoulder, how much she disliked him, or how much she ignored him, he would not get angry.

He will only try to make up for it, and he'll spend his whole life doing so.

Bai Lu finally couldn't hold back any longer and whispered something in Li Lin's ear.

"I feel like... Tian'er has become a different person..."

The sound was very soft, but everyone in the quiet lounge heard it clearly.

Li Lin didn't say anything, but just rolled her eyes at her, thinking, "You talk too much."

Tian Xi turned her head slightly and looked at Bai Lu openly.

Bai Lu felt a little guilty under her gaze and shrank back, saying, "I... I just said it casually..."

Tian Xi stared at her for two seconds, and Bai Lu felt as if she had been frozen in place.

Tian Xiwei's gaze wasn't sharp; in fact, it could be described as quite calm. But there was an inexplicable sense of pressure about it, like an older female student looking down at you from the stairs.

Her lips slowly curved into a smile, completely different from her earlier disdain for Shen Mo. The smile was bright, warm, and even a little mischievous, and her dimples sank in slightly.

"Sister Mengyan."

Bai Lu was taken aback: "Huh?"

Tian Xi tilted her head slightly, her tone light and cheerful, and the dimples on her cheeks deepened a little.

Have I changed?

Bai Lu was stumped by her question. She stared at Tian Xiwei's face for a long time. Her eyes were still the same eyes, her nose was still the same nose, her mouth was still the same mouth, she still had dimples when she smiled, and she still had that innocent look when she tilted her head.

But it's just different. I can't quite put my finger on why, but it's just different.

Bai Lu opened her mouth, then after a long pause, managed to stammer, "It seems... a little different? But I can't quite put my finger on what's changed..."

Tian Xi smiled, released Li Yitong's hand, stood up and walked to Bai Lu.

Bai Lu looked up at her. She remembered that when she first came to Mohen, she was always the one looking down at Tian Xiwei. When did this girl grow so tall?

Tian Xi bent down slightly and got closer to her face. Bai Lu was startled by her sudden movement and instinctively leaned back.

What are you doing?

Her voice even changed tone.

Tian Xiwei didn't speak, but just stared at her face, her gaze moving from her eyebrows to her eyes, and finally stopping at the tip of her nose.

Then he reached out and gently tapped the tip of her nose.

"You have cream here."

Bai Lu subconsciously reached out to wipe her nose, rubbing it twice, but found nothing. She rubbed it twice more, but still found nothing.

She looked up at Tian Xiwei and found that she had already turned around and walked back.

"Where's the cream?" Bai Lu touched her nose, looking confused.

Tian Xiwei sat back down next to Li Yitong, took her hand again, a smile still on her lips, and spoke in a light, airy tone.

"Oh, I misread it."

Bai Lu froze for a second, then her face flushed red.

"Hey! Tian Xiwei, how dare you flirt with me?!"

She jumped up and made as if to pounce, but Tian Xiwei hid behind Li Yitong, peeking out half her head with a grin.

"I didn't flirt with you! I just mistook you for someone else!"

"You're mistaken? There's no cake, so where would the cream come from!"

"It's a misunderstanding, Mengyan! There was no cake. Maybe you just happened to come across it while drinking milk tea."

"Do you think I'm stupid? Drinking milk tea through my nose?!"

Bai Lu stomped her feet in anger, but seeing Li Yitong as a shield, she couldn't really pounce on her. In the end, she could only sit back down angrily and point her finger at Tian Xiwei's nose.

"You just wait!"

Tian Xiwei peeked out from behind Li Yitong and made a face.

"Hehehe."

Bai Lu was so angry that her cheeks puffed up.

Li Qin, standing to the side, twitched slightly at the corner of his mouth. When Tian Xiwei's finger brushed past Bai Lu's nose, it didn't touch anything at all.

This girl was deliberately teasing Bai Lu.

Li Qin's gaze fell on Tian Xiwei's face, trying to glean something from that smiling face.

Tian Xiwei felt her gaze and turned to look at her; their eyes met in mid-air.

Li Lin's gaze was indifferent, carrying a scrutinizing quality, while Tian Xiwei's eyes were bright, radiating a complex yet composed smile.

After a few seconds of eye contact, Tian Xiwei spoke first, "Sister Qin."

Li Qin raised an eyebrow slightly: "Hmm?"

Tian Xi smiled and said in a relaxed tone, "You crushed the cup."

Li Qin looked down and saw that the milk tea cup in her hand had been dented, and the milk tea inside was surging up along the gap in the straw, almost overflowing.

She loosened her fingers one by one, placed the cup on the coffee table, and raised an eyebrow expressionlessly.

"The cup is a bit slippery; you have to grip it tightly to hold it."

Tian Xiwei said "Oh" and nodded, without saying anything more, but the curve of her lips deepened a little.

Li Qin leaned back in his chair, his gaze still fixed on Tian Xiwei's face, but the scrutiny in his eyes slowly faded, replaced by something more complex.

She was certain of one thing: Tian Xiwei had indeed changed.

It's not the kind of feeling that comes after having a nightmare.

Although she would occasionally reveal her previous obedient, innocent, and cheerful expression, her smile still had those dimples, her head tilt was still the same, and she loved to hide behind Li Yitong, just like a little girl who hadn't grown up.

However, Li Qin's intuition told her that things were different.

The way they talk has changed.

In the past, Xiaotian spoke like a string of beans, babbling away, saying whatever came to mind, sometimes without even understanding what she was saying after she had finished speaking.

Now? Every word seems to have been carefully considered before being spoken, unhurried and measured, with a perfect sense of proportion.

The way he looks at people has changed.

In the past, Xiao Tian'er would look at everyone with her big, almond-shaped eyes, innocent, enthusiastic, and without any impurities.

And now? Just now, there was that sly look in her eyes when she looked at Bai Lu, that knowing and calm look when she looked at herself, and that look of disgust when she looked at Shen Mo.

Although Li Lin didn't know why she had such an expression, she knew that it wasn't Xiao Tian'er's eyes.

The sitting posture is even more different.

Xiao Tian used to have terrible posture. She would curl up on the sofa like a boneless cat, never stretching her legs out if she could cross them, and never sitting up straight if she could lean back.

And now? She sat next to Li Yitong, her back straight, her posture relaxed but not slouching, exuding a composure from the bottom of her heart.

Fundamentally, it's subtly different from before.

Shen Mo sat on the sofa and watched all of this unfold.

Tian Xiwei's teasing gesture towards Bai Lu, her tone of voice when speaking to Li Lin, and her attitude towards herself were all unlike Xiao Tian'er's usual style.

Xiao Tian'er wouldn't retort or tease Bai Lu when she questioned her; she would just laugh foolishly, then pounce on Bai Lu and playfully wrestle with her until they both ended up laughing so hard they collapsed on the sofa.

Xiao Tian'er wouldn't notice that the cup in Li Lin's hand was crushed and deformed. She often lost her own cup, forgetting about it halfway through her drink, and by the time she remembered, the milk tea was already cold.

Xiao Tian'er's gaze is always straight and unwavering; she either likes someone or dislikes them, never casting that knowing look between Bai Lu and Li Lin.

But she is also Xiaotian'er.

Old Tian'er wasn't familiar with Bai Lu and Li Lin. In their previous life, their interactions were limited, consisting only of nodding acquaintances in public.

Those are Xiao Tian's things, Xiao Tian's experiences in Mohen over the past few years, things that Lao Tian might not be able to fake even if he wanted to.

Old Tian'er's memories and soul returned, but Little Tian'er did not disappear.

She is both Old Tian'er and Little Tian'er.

Shen Mo took a deep breath and suppressed his surging emotions.

She's back, or rather, her memories have returned.

He didn't know whether he should be happy or nervous.

The good news is that she is finally whole again. The fragments have been pieced back together. She is no longer that silly little girl who only knows how to laugh, but an adult who has experienced two lifetimes and knows everything.

He was nervous because when he glanced at Li Yitong, he remembered how Li Qin had leaned against his chest in the prop room earlier.

He took a deep breath, knowing that now was not the time to press for answers.

Shen Mo stood up and said in as natural a tone as possible, "It's almost time. You have a scene to film this afternoon, so go and get ready."

Bai Lu glanced at her phone and exclaimed, "Holy crap! It's already 2 AM!"

She jumped up, almost tipping the chair over, and then frantically started fixing her hair and checking her clothes.

"Oh no, I have to change my makeup and clothes too. I don't even know if I'll have enough time. Director Wang might start yelling at me!"

She muttered to herself as she rushed toward the door, but turned back halfway, grabbed her phone which had fallen on the chair, stuffed it into her pocket, and ran out again.

Li Qin also stood up, her movements much more composed than Bai Lu's. She glanced at Tian Xiwei.

"Tian'er, it's time for your scene at 3 o'clock. Are you in good shape?"

Her tone was calm, as if she were asking something very ordinary, but Tian Xiwei knew that she was really confirming whether she was in a good condition to be able to film normally.

Tian Xi pursed her lips slightly, raised her chin slightly, and then stood up.

"Absolutely! Who do you think I am, Tian Xiwei?!"

Compared to her less than two years of clueless acting career in this life, in her previous life she was an outstanding graduate of the Shanghai Theatre Academy and the leading actress in many TV series.

Handling a small piece like "Ode to Joy" is a piece of cake, isn't it?

She spoke arrogantly, but she did so with a strong sense of self-righteousness.

Li Qin glanced at her and nodded: "Then together."

Tian Xiwei hummed in agreement and walked towards the door.

Bai Lu had already rushed out, and the sound of her hurried footsteps and a cry of "Oops, my shoelace is untied!" echoed in the corridor.

When Tian Xiwei reached the door, she suddenly stopped, placed her hand on the inner door frame, and looked back.

His gaze lingered on Shen Mo's face for a second. In that second, Shen Mo saw many things: grievances, complaints, and unspeakable sadness.

Then her gaze shifted to Li Yitong, and her expression softened instantly.

"Sister Tong."

Li Yitong looked up at her, and Tian Xi smiled. It was a clean smile, completely different from the cunning she had shown Bai Lu earlier.

"I need to think about what to eat tonight. I'm not happy with anything too simple!"

His tone was disdainful, but the corners of his mouth were turned up.

Li Yitong smiled too, her eyes curving into crescents: "Don't worry."

Tian Xi nodded with satisfaction, turned and walked out. Her footsteps echoed in the corridor, unhurried and slow, completely different from Bai Lu's earlier panic.

Li Lin walked last, and paused for a moment as she left, glancing sideways at Shen Mo.

Her eyes were calm, but beneath that calmness lay a hint of inquiry.

Shen Mo shook his head slightly at her.

Li Chen didn't say anything more and turned to leave.

The door closed, leaving only Shen Mo and Li Yitong in the lounge.

Li Yitong leaned back on the sofa and let out a long breath. Her shoulders slumped, and she sank softly into the sofa cushions as if her supporting skeleton had been removed.

Shen Mo reached out and put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her into his embrace. He could feel her trembling slightly, not from the cold, but from the aftereffects of emotional overload, like a string that had been stretched for too long finally being released.

Li Yitong leaned on his shoulder, lost in thought without speaking. Her gaze fell on the opposite wall, where several film crew notices were posted. She stared at those papers for a long time, but couldn't absorb anything.

"She's back."

Shen Mo's voice was very soft, as if he were confirming a fact, or as if he were talking to himself.

Li Yitong was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"When the moment actually came, I felt calm."

Her voice was soft and gentle, as if she were talking about something from a long time ago.

"My previous worries—whether I had betrayed her, whether she would be angry, and what would happen to the three of us in the future—seem to have all become unimportant."

She paused, her fingers unconsciously gripping Shen Mo's collar.

"It's good that she's back."

The sentence was spoken softly, but every word carried great weight.

Shen Mo looked down at her; her profile was hidden in the shadows, making it impossible to see her expression, but there was a slight curve at the corner of her mouth.

"You're cured."

He twitched the corner of his mouth, his tone tinged with self-deprecation.

"I feel like I'm about to die."

Li Yitong leaned on his shoulder, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, forming an arc that seemed to be both gloating and deeply sympathetic.

With a hint of coquettishness, she gently patted his chest.

"Serves you right!"

"You deserve to be beaten to death!"

Shen Mo paused for a moment, then smiled and reached out to lift her chin, meeting her crescent-shaped eyes.

"Sister Xue, are you willing to part with it?"

Li Yitong reached out and slapped his fingers away, the movement swift and decisive.

"What can I do if I can't bear to part with it?"

She glared at him, a look that held both resentment and helplessness.

"Whose fault is it that you did something so absurd?"

Shen Mo chuckled, leaned in, and kissed her lips with a hint of flattery.

"So, we'll have to rely on Sister Xue again, won't we?"

His tone was self-righteous.

Li Yitong glared at him fiercely, "All you do is bully me."

Her voice began to tremble, "She was your partner in your past life. You asked me to comfort you and help you reconcile, and that's fine."

Her fingers began to clench slowly. "Now I'm your boyfriend, and you still want me to comfort and reconcile with your ex-girlfriend?!"

Her nails dug into her palms. "Shen Mo, what's wrong with your head? How come you get all the good things?"

Shen Mo didn't notice these details. Instead, he raised an eyebrow and a mischievous smile appeared on his lips.

"Ms. Xue, you wouldn't want your husband to be stabbed in the back by your best friend, would you?"

Li Yitong's eyes widened suddenly, her brows furrowed, and her crescent-shaped eyes lost their curve, as if they were filled with all the grievances she had accumulated over the years.

"knife!"

"knife!"

She raised her hand and slapped him on the chest.

"knife!"

"knife!"

She raised her hand and slapped him on the chest.

I want to kill you right now!

"You really think I have a good temper and aren't angry at all?"

Another slap, a little harder than before, the palm striking with a dull thud.

"You really think I'm so generous as to want to share you with someone else?"

"You really think you're irreplaceable, and that I can't live without you?!"

Another slap, this time her hand was trembling, and when she slapped it, most of her strength had dissipated; it was more of a push than a hit.

But this seemingly light touch made Shen Mo freeze completely.

Because Li Yitong cried.

Tears welled up without warning, overflowing from his eyes, sliding down his cheeks, and dripping onto his clothes.

She didn't make a sound, but bit her lips so hard they turned white, and her shoulders were trembling.

Shen Mo stood there, stunned.

Li Yitong had always given him the impression of being amiable and cheerful.

She was the one who always stood behind him, the one who unconditionally supported him no matter what he did, the one who comforted all the women, cleaned up all the messes, and shouldered all the pressure for him.

She's too easy to talk to, so easy that he forgets she can also feel wronged.

He forgot that she was also a person.

A selfish, possessive, loving, and hateful little woman who can cry and laugh.

She was not a machine to serve him, not an emotionless accessory, not a resource he could use at will.

Her name is Li Yitong.

She was the girl he had known since childhood, Li Yitong, who would recite poems in his ear, let him carry her home, and wait for him to confess his love in the snow.

She was never someone who depended on him.

She is Li Yitong.

Li Yitong's tears were still flowing. She had so many words stuck in her throat, unable to be spoken or swallowed.

Why? Because of a small misunderstanding, he abandoned me and ran away.

Why should she? After coming back, he's been aloof and distant, making her lose interest in other men.

Why? Why did she have to choose her best friend as her boyfriend, and then she had to comfort and reconcile them when they had a falling out?

Why should he keep his ex-girlfriend by his side after coming back?

Why should he? Having himself isn't enough, and he doesn't even refuse the advances of other women.

Why should she bear all of this?

Is it something that Li Yitong owes him?

Is Li Yitong just inherently a masochist?

These words are too embarrassing to say.

It's like asking for something, or like admitting that you're not good enough.

So she never says it.

She simply smiled, remained magnanimous and composed, swallowing all her resentment and grievances, and told herself: It's okay, as long as he's happy.

But today, she didn't want to hold back anymore.

Shen Mo did not stop her from patting his chest. The force was nothing to him. What really hurt him were the tears that fell on his clothes.

He reached out and pulled her into his arms, a tight, forceful embrace that seemed to want to meld her into his very bones.

He rested his chin on the top of her head and closed his eyes.

"sorry."

"Yukiko, it's my fault."

There was no defense, no explanation, no buts.

But Li Yitong understood.

His voice was trembling; this man, who was always confident and composed, was trembling.

Li Yitong's tears were still flowing, but she stopped patting him. Her hand stopped on his chest, and her palm was pressed against his heartbeat, which was fast and erratic.

She has a temper, but she also has a good temper.

She knew this chest all too well; since she was six, she had leaned against it, listening to the heartbeats of countless sunrises and sunsets.

When I was little, it was narrow and uncomfortable; later it became wider and thicker, and it felt soft against my skin.

And now? It's still that comforting temperature, that gentle curve that makes her want to linger.

Her resentment melted away little by little in that embrace.

It's not that it's gone, it's just that she doesn't want to deal with it for the time being. She doesn't want to bother with those trivial matters anymore.

Now, he belongs to her, and that's enough.

The crying gradually subsided, turning into occasional sobs. Her shoulders trembled, like a wronged kitten nestled in its owner's arms, whimpering and seeking comfort.

Shen Mo gently patted her back, and after an unknown amount of time, Li Yitong lifted her head from his embrace.

Her eyes were red, her nose was red, and tears still clung to her eyelashes, glistening in the light.

Her gaze towards him was complex, containing resentment, tenderness, helplessness, and a touch of heartache.

"never mind."

Her voice was hoarse, with the nasal tone characteristic of someone who has been crying.

"You've got me completely under your thumb for these two lifetimes."

She sighed lightly, a sigh that conveyed resignation, relief, and a hint of indescribable sweetness.

"That's fine..."

She leaned back into his arms and nuzzled her head against his shoulder.

"Go back to the company."

Her voice was muffled, coming from his chest.

"Think carefully about how to explain and comfort her from your own perspective."

She paused.

"I'll take her out for dinner tonight and we can have a good talk."

He knew she was right. The last person Tian Xiwei wanted to see was him. If he forced his way in, it would only make things worse. Li Yitong was the best mediator.

But he still hesitated, "You really aren't taking me?"

There was a hint of relief in his voice, and Li Yitong chuckled.

She lifted her head from his shoulder, her crescent-shaped eyes smiling, glistening with tears.

"Didn't you hear how she complained about you?"

She reached out and patted his face, her tone tinged with schadenfreude.

"Just wait patiently for the results."

Li Yitong led Tian Xiwei into a private restaurant in the capital.

This restaurant is an old establishment with many years of history. The dim lanterns hanging under the eaves sway gently in the evening breeze.

When she reached the door, Tian Xi smiled slightly, her dimples sinking in.

"Oh, this is it!"

She turned to look at Li Yitong, her chin slightly raised, her tone carrying a hint of coquettish disdain.

"How could you invite me to the place I brought you here? Humph, that's not sincere!"

Li Yitong smiled and said, "Didn't you say you wanted to eat something good? I just remembered you like this place."

Tian Xi hummed twice, then pushed open the door and went inside without further rebuttal.

As she walked through the corridor, several ink paintings hung on both sides. Tian Xiwei's gaze swept over the paintings, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly. It was still a familiar feeling, and even the positions hadn't changed.

She looked around, her gaze moving from the corridor to the hall, landing on the wooden plaque hanging on the wall. It had the names of today's recommended dishes written on it with a brush, the handwriting messy but with great force.

"Not much has changed."

There was a hint of emotion in her voice, "But it's not as popular now as it will be in the future."

Li Yitong followed behind her, watching her navigate the hall with practiced ease and turn into the private room at the end of the corridor.

"You haven't forgotten anything," Li Yitong said.

Tian Xiwei didn't reply, but simply pulled out a chair and sat down.

This familiar private room isn't big; it can just fit four people.

An old elm wood square table, four round-backed chairs, a traditional Chinese painting of flowers and birds hanging on the wall, and a celadon vase in the corner with a few dried lotus pods inserted inside.

Tian Xiwei's gaze lingered on those lotus pods for a while. In her previous life, she had complained that they were dry and not very attractive, but after touching them, she realized that they were just porcelain flowers made to look like that.

She picked up the menu and put it aside, then rattled off a list of dishes without even flipping through it.

The waiter paused for a moment, then noted down the dish and left.

The moment the door closed, Tian Xiwei slumped back in her chair, lounging around aimlessly.

He raised his arm above his head, spread his fingers in the air, then lowered it to rest on the armrest of the chair, and stretched out a big yawn.

She let out a long sigh of relief. "It's so much more comfortable here."

With her eyes closed, she said, "Every time I come to the capital, my first meal is always here."

"Sometimes when I'm so tired, I just collapse into this chair and feel like I've come back to life."

Li Yitong sat down opposite her and couldn't help but laugh when she saw her like this.

"You insisted on dragging me along. If I hadn't come, you would have just come to my house and dragged me out of bed."

Tian Xi opened her eyes slightly, and the corners of her mouth curved up.

"Isn't it because you've lost weight? I felt sorry for you."

"Feeling sorry for me?" Li Yitong raised an eyebrow.

"You just want to eat but are afraid of gaining weight, so you're dragging me into sharing your guilt."

Tian Xi chuckled. "Sister Tong is so smart, you saw right through me."

She changed her posture, crossed her legs on the chair, and curled up into a ball.

"But to be honest, it would be pretty boring for me to eat alone if you weren't here with me, Sister Tong."

"You know, I need someone to eat with me, otherwise I don't even want to touch my chopsticks."

Li Yitong nodded. Of course she knew that Tian Xiwei often just ate a few bites when she was alone, but she could eat with great enjoyment when someone was with her.

"So every time you come back to the capital, I drag you out."

Tian Xiwei continued, "Anyway, you don't have anything to do. Oh no, you do have something to do, but you never say it."

Her gaze fell on Li Yitong's face, with a hint of scrutiny and a touch of a smile.

Li Yitong stretched out her hand and held it up in front of her, saying solemnly, "Sigh! When I was looking for Shen Mo back then, I never hid anything from him."

Tian Xi shook her head slightly and smiled faintly, "I have never doubted Sister Tong."

"Don't I often eat with the three of us?"

Tian Xi stared at her for two seconds, then looked away and focused her gaze on the flower and bird painting on the wall.

"He always says, 'You two eat, I'm not hungry,' but when the food comes out, he eats the most."

Li Yitong laughed out loud: "Yes, especially that braised yellow croaker. He said he wasn't hungry, but he ate most of it by himself."

"And you always give him the meat from the fish's belly!"

Tian Xiwei's tone carried a hint of long-standing jealousy.

"I've told you so many times, that piece of meat is mine! You can give it to me, but you can't give it to him."

"The meat you take out can only go into my bowl, not anyone else's."

She paused, then added, "Shen Mo won't do either!"

The two looked at each other, and Li Yitong immediately covered her mouth and laughed.

"Tian Xiwei, are you playing a guessing game with me? There's a hidden meaning in your words!"

Tian Xi leaned back in her chair, raised her chin slightly, and did not deny it.

Li Yitong looked at her, hesitated for a long time, and then spoke softly.

"How...did you get back?"

Tian Xi raised an eyebrow and picked up the teapot on the dining table to pour herself a cup.

"I heard you had an accident, so I ran downstairs, then I lost my footing, tripped, and tumbled down the stairs."

Her words were casual, but Li Yitong knew it wouldn't be that simple.

She tumbled down the stairs, each step hitting her body; I wonder how much pain she was in. When she finally stopped, she probably hit the wall.

Unlike them, who lost consciousness the instant the elevator accident occurred, she could hardly imagine the pain and despair she felt in those final moments.

Li Yitong walked behind her and gently stroked her arm, which caused Tian Xiwei to tremble unconsciously.

"Does it still hurt?"

Tian Xi shook her head slightly.

How could it not hurt? Tian Xiwei is so thin. Falling down the stairs at that speed, she clearly heard several cracking sounds of bones breaking, let alone the back of her head hitting the wall at the end.

However, she didn't want to recall that moment, even though she had no scars on her body now.

However, the feeling of pain was truly imprinted in her mind.

"Sister Tong."

Tian Xiwei interrupted Li Yitong's sadness, a bright smile spreading across her face. "Let's not talk about this anymore. If you don't think about it, it won't hurt."

Li Yitong paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded, "Okay, let's not talk about this."

Li Yitong sat down next to Tian Xiwei, and the dishes were served one after another.

Tian Xiwei picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of Kung Pao shrimp, put it in her mouth, her cheeks puffed out, chewed it a couple of times, and her eyes lit up.

"It still tastes the same!"

She mumbled something, picked up another piece, and then glanced at Li Yitong, noticing that she hadn't touched her chopsticks much.

"Why isn't Sister Tong eating?"

Li Yitong smiled, picked up her chopsticks, and said, "Eat."

The two of them ate and chatted casually.

In their past life, Tian Xiwei once got drunk and clung to a pillar, refusing to leave. Li Yitong pulled her for more than ten minutes.

Once, Shen Mo treated everyone to a meal, but when it came time to pay, he realized he had left his wallet in the car. In the end, Li Yitong paid the bill, and Tian Xi smiled at him for a whole month.

When Shen Mo was mentioned, Li Yitong cautiously glanced at Tian Xiwei's expression.

Tian Xiwei's face showed no particular reaction; she was neither angry, aggrieved, nor sad, and there was not even a trace of deliberate concealment.

It was very bland, so bland it was as if it were talking about a random passerby, which surprised Li Yitong and left her with a somewhat indescribable feeling.

Li Yitong picked up a piece of sea cucumber and put it in Tian Xiwei's bowl. Tian Xiwei happily took it, put it in her mouth, and mumbled "thank you."

Li Yitong looked at her, hesitated for a long time, her chopsticks stopped in mid-air, her brows furrowed slightly, and her lips pursed again and again, as if she was making a very difficult decision.

Tian Xiwei raised her head and saw her expression, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve into a smile, "Sister Tong."

"Just say what you have to say."

Tian Xiwei put down her chopsticks, crossed her hands on the table, rested her chin on the back of her hands, and tilted her head to look at her.

"Is there anything I can't just say directly to you?"

Li Yitong looked into her clear, large eyes, remained silent for a few seconds, and finally spoke.

"sorry."

The voice was soft, but it struck Tian Xiwei's heart.

Tian Xi was slightly taken aback, then smiled.

This laugh was relaxed, without any forced or bitterness; it was a pure, heartfelt laugh.

"Sister Tong, you haven't done anything wrong to me."

Her tone was calm, and she even raised an eyebrow.

"He's the one who should apologize to me."

She paused, her gaze falling on the plate of braised yellow croaker on the table. The meat on the belly of the fish was still intact, untouched.

"Knowing I would come back, it was absolutely the right choice for the two of you to be together."

She raised her head, looked at Li Yitong, and her eyes were open and honest.

"Really, I've thought about this seriously. If I were you, I would do the same."

Li Yitong's eyes were a little hot. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but Tian Xiwei didn't give her a chance to speak and directly took over the topic.

"Don't just talk about me, what about you guys? You came back after the elevator accident?"

She picked up her chopsticks again, took a piece of meat from the fish's belly, put it in her mouth, chewed it a couple of times, and continued speaking indistinctly.

"You didn't suffer any pain, did you?"

Li Yitong shook her head. "After the accident, I lost consciousness and woke up here."

"So, how did you two get together? Who approached whom?"

Li Yitong remained silent for a while, her fingers slowly twirling around the rim of the teacup.

"Him..."

Tian Xiwei's lips curved slightly, carrying a hint of indescribable emotion.

"That's true. Since you two had an accident together, he's probably wondering if you came back with her."

Li Yitong looked into her eyes, pursed her lips, and said, "Actually, he hasn't forgotten you."

Tian Xiwei paused for a moment, then continued picking up food, her movements natural and showing no sign of anything unusual.

"The day after my birthday in 2011, he flew to Chongqing early in the morning."

She paused and glanced at Tian Xiwei.

"He originally intended to catch a glimpse of you from afar, since if you hadn't come back, Xiaotian would still be just a 14-year-old girl."

Li Yitong gently described that past, while Tian Xiwei remained silent, quietly eating her food.

"He wanted to see if you were doing well, but he never expected that he would happen to see you being bullied, so he naturally couldn't stand it and stood up for you."

Li Yitong looked at Tian Xiwei and said, "You know what happened next."

Tian Xiwei put down her chopsticks and leaned back in her chair. Her expression was calm, so calm that Li Yitong was a little unsure what she was thinking.

She slowly raised her head, a slight smile curving her lips, tinged with a hint of slyness.

"Sister Tong, are you sure? I know everything?"

Li Yitong was stunned. She looked at the mischievous smile on Tian Xiwei's face and suddenly realized what was going on.

As expected, Tian Xiwei saw through Shen Mo's emotional entanglements, and her expression froze for a moment.

Tian Xiwei looked at her and burst out laughing, "Look how scared you are."

She waved her hand, "I'm not trying to settle scores with you."

Li Yitong breathed a sigh of relief, but then her relief faltered again, because she didn't know what Tian Xiwei was going to say next.

Tian Xiwei picked up her teacup, took a sip, and slowly began to speak.

"But to be honest, Sister Tong, I understand why he's admired."

Her tone was indifferent, "After all, he looks like that, he's talented, and now he has such a high status and fame in the entertainment industry, it's normal for anyone to be attracted to him."

Li Yitong didn't reply, she just looked at her. Tian Xiwei put down her teacup and changed the subject.

"But it's normal to be admired, so why didn't he just push her away?"

She spoke angrily, her words tinged with a sense of disappointment and frustration.

"In your past life, you knew about his social engagements outside. When he was enjoying romantic moments, you would make a phone call, subtly hinting and warning him."

"Why are you ignoring him in this life? Has he achieved something greater this time, and you can no longer control him?"

Li Yitong was silent for a while, gave a bitter smile, and then sighed.

"Think about it, what is his status now? He's the boss of Mohen Capital, a top celebrity in the entertainment industry, and he has projects worth billions in his hands."

"Can you stop those who want to get close to him? Can you stop them all?"

She looked up at Tian Xiwei and said, "Rather than let people with unclear intentions and identities approach him, rather than let those with ulterior motives take advantage of him."

Why not keep everything under your control?

Her tone was calm, but there was a deep weariness and worry in her eyes.

"At least, I know who they are, I know what they're thinking, and I also know they can't cause any trouble."

Tian Xiwei stared at her for a long time.

"And..." Li Yitong's voice was even lower, so low that it was almost inaudible.

"I felt guilty when I saw you."

She didn't look at Tian Xiwei; her gaze fell on the plate of dry-fried yellow croaker on the table, which had already gone cold.

"If it weren't for that accident, perhaps... I wouldn't even have had the right to interfere!"

She didn't continue, and Tian Xiwei didn't respond either.

The private room was quiet for a while.

"So you just let it go?" Tian Xiwei's voice broke the silence.

Li Yitong remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.

Tian Xi raised an eyebrow, looking like she knew everything, and then grinned widely.

"But I think there's another reason."

"You two were reborn together, and you're confident that no one can take your place, so you don't want to put too much pressure on Shen Mo, making him feel like you're controlling him, right?"

Li Yitong's fingers paused, while Tian Xiwei wore a faint smile and looked at her with extremely clear eyes.

"Am I right, Sister Tong?"

Li Yitong remained silent for a long time, then nodded. "Maybe you're right."

Tian Xiwei's lips curved slightly, but she didn't speak, waiting for her to continue.

"I do have that confidence."

Li Yitong paused and looked at Tian Xiwei.

"I don't believe anyone can interfere in what's between him and me."

"But you're right, because I had that confidence, I indulged myself."

"I didn't tend to the flowers and plants, and I didn't pinch off the sprouts that hadn't even grown yet."

"I figured I wouldn't cause any trouble anyway, so why make myself seem petty?"

Tian Xi stared at her for two seconds, then the corners of her mouth slowly curved up.

"I'm back now."

"Sister Tong, do you still have that confidence?"

Looking into Tian Xiwei's bright eyes, Li Yitong smiled. Instead of answering Tian Xiwei's question, she asked a question in return.

"So, would you rob it?"

Tian Xi was slightly stunned for a moment, then she burst into laughter, laughing so hard that she almost cried.

"Li Yitong, you're really something. Why do you think I wouldn't steal him? You know he's my fiancé."

After she finished laughing, she wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and looked at the woman opposite her who was also smiling.

"Besides, whether or not we rob it is another matter, that's a matter for the three of us."

Her tone suddenly became serious, but there was a hint of disdain in her seriousness.

"You actually let other women join in."

She pointed at Li Yitong with her finger, shaking her head in exasperation.

"You're so disappointing, Li Yitong!"

Li Yitong blushed a little at her words, turned her face away, picked up her teacup, took a sip, and pretended not to have heard.

Tian Xiwei looked at her and smiled again, a gentle smile spreading across her eyes.

"But so be it, if you're not going to be good enough, then so be it." Her voice suddenly softened. "Well, that's what happens when you're Sister Tong."

Tian Xiwei was silent for a while. She slowly raised her head, her gentle eyes gradually turning cold and sharp, and the corners of her mouth slowly turned up, with a decisive expression.

"Since you can't control him, and you don't want to—"

She raised her hand and slowly tucked her stray hair behind her ear, her expression becoming unusually calm, and she uttered four words softly.

"Then I'll take care of it."

There was a moment of silence in the private room. Li Yitong's expression froze, and a layer of worry appeared in her crescent-shaped eyes as she stared at her.

"Tian'er, don't do anything reckless."

Her tone was unusually serious, even a little nervous. She knew Tian Xiwei too well; this girl could talk a good game, but once she made up her mind, she was capable of anything.

Looking at her nervous expression, Tian Xiwei slowly broke into a meaningful smile.

That smile contained cunning, smugness, and a hint of sinister energy that sent chills down Li Yitong's spine.

Do I look like someone who would do anything reckless to you?

Li Yitong stared at her for a long time, her mind uncontrollably replaying scenes. Whether in her past life or this one, she could write a chronicle of this girl's misdeeds.

Once, after Shen Mo and Tian Xiwei had a fight, Tian Xiwei brought him a cup of coffee to his office early the next morning. During a meeting, Shen Mo picked it up and took a sip, and he immediately jumped up from his chair. At least half a bottle of dark soy sauce had been added to that cup of coffee, and Shen Mo's face immediately scrunched up.

Another time, after a fight, she replaced the hot water in Shen Mo's thermos with liquor. Luckily, he noticed the anomaly on the first sip.

The most amazing thing was that time when Shen Mo discovered that his car keys, wallet, and mouse were all wrapped in plastic wrap on the table leg. This girl used a whole five rolls of plastic wrap, wrapping them tightly and completely. Tian Xiwei even forbade him to use tools to unwrap them, since she also wrapped them by hand. Shen Mo squatted on the ground for more than forty minutes trying to unwrap them.

Tian Xiwei sat on the sofa next to him, legs crossed, eating sunflower seeds and cheering him on. The reason was that she had overheard the singing of the girl who was entertaining business clients on the other end of his phone call with Li Yitong.

Every single one of these things made Shen Mo furious, but he could never do anything about it.

Because Tian Xiwei always has a reason, always speaks with confidence, and always knows how to maintain a proper balance, switching effortlessly between making a joke and letting someone throw a little tantrum.

In this life, Tian Xiwei has become much more restrained, or rather, she hasn't had a chance to unleash her full potential yet.

But Li Yitong didn't forget that this girl's deeds of arguing with haters and fighting with those who bullied her on Weibo were all extraordinary.

Not to mention the little squabbles between her and Shen Mo in her previous life.

Shen Mo's computer files were inexplicably renamed, and when opened, they were all duplicates of "Tian Xiwei is a great beauty".

Suddenly, a pink steering wheel cover appeared in Shen Mo's car, and it couldn't be removed.

A new item was added to Shen Mo's schedule: "3 PM: Buy milk tea for Tian Xiwei," with a note that reads, "Must be done, or you will bear the consequences."

None of them were major issues, but each one precisely teetered on the edge of speechlessness and helplessness.

This is Tian Xiwei's talent.

She knew how to drive someone crazy, and she also knew how to make someone, after going crazy, look at her innocent face and be unable to vent their anger at all.

"What are you thinking about?"

Tian Xiwei's voice brought her back to reality.

Li Yitong came to her senses and saw the innocently smiling face opposite her, and couldn't help but sigh.

Do you think I'd believe that?

"Haven't you done enough things already?"

Tian Xi blinked, looking completely innocent.

"Was what I did reckless? I was just expressing my emotions within reasonable limits."

Li Yitong didn't say anything, but just stared straight at her, her eyes full of doubt.

Tian Xiwei felt a little guilty under their gaze and shrank back, but quickly straightened up again.

She sat up straight, placed her hands on the table, and leaned forward.

"Li Xue! I'm talking to you seriously."

She lowered her voice, her tone heavy, as if announcing a crucial decision for hope Yao.

"I have to teach him a lesson for what he did."

Li Yitong frowned slightly.

Tian Xiwei stretched out her finger and tapped Li Yitong's nose, looking directly at her.

"You can't take sides."

Li Yitong opened her mouth, as if to say something, but Tian Xiwei didn't give her the chance.

"You have to be on my side."

Her tone left no room for argument, carrying a domineering air.

"He needs to know that some things have consequences."

"You have to be on my side."

Her tone left no room for argument, carrying a domineering air.

"He needs to know that some things have consequences."

Looking at her sincere face, Li Yitong had imagined that Tian Xiwei would be angry, aggrieved, and cry. She had even imagined that Tian Xiwei would have a big fight with her and Shen Mo and then slam the door and leave.

But she never expected that Tian Xiwei would say something like "I'll take care of it."

Li Yitong's lips curled up slightly; she suddenly felt a sense of relief and comfort. There was even a hint of relief.

"Okay." She nodded.

Tian Xi was slightly taken aback, then a smile slowly bloomed on her face. She hadn't expected Li Yitong to agree so readily. In the past, all her pranks would have been suppressed by Li Yitong.

"Aren't you going to ask me how I plan to manage things?"

Li Yitong shook her head, picked up her teacup, and slowly took a sip.

"I'm not asking anymore. You won't listen to me anyway."

Tian Xi tilted her head slightly and stared at her for two seconds, revealing her dimples.

"Sister Tong, you actually want to teach him a lesson too, right?"

Li Yitong put down her teacup, her crescent-shaped eyes crinkling into a smile: "I learned it from you."

The two women exchanged a glance and laughed. After laughing, Tian Xiwei crossed her arms over her chest, raised her chin slightly, and looked like a little cheetah about to pounce.

"Okay, it's settled then."

"Don't tip him off, don't offer him a way out, and don't say anything good about him."

"Just behave yourself."

"Stand still!"

"Stand by and watch!"

Li Yitong couldn't help but laugh when she saw her serious expression.

"Are you warning me?"

Tian Xi raised her eyebrows slightly, and the curve of her lips deepened a little.

"Not exactly a warning, just a friendly reminder."

She paused, then added.

"If you don't cooperate, I might take care of you too."

Li Yitong smiled and shook her head, then reached for the teapot and refilled Tian Xiwei's cup with tea.

"Okay, I'll cooperate. Go ahead and clean up."

Tian Xiwei took the teacup, lowered her head and took a sip. The rising steam blurred her features.

Li Yitong did not go home that night, and Tian Xiwei grabbed her arm and pulled her back to the hotel.

"You have to stay with me tonight, you're not allowed to go back."

Her tone left no room for refusal; if Li Yitong dared to say no, she would turn on her on the spot.

Having just merged with her past life's memories, the earth-shattering changes seemed to happen right before her eyes. Even with her strong sense of composure, she was still filled with lingering fear.

Li Yitong smiled helplessly, didn't struggle, and let her pull her back.

After washing up, Tian Xiwei jumped onto the bed and patted the spot next to her: "Xue~~, come here, sleep here."

As soon as Li Yitong lay down, Tian Xiwei immediately snuggled up to her like a cat, burying her face in the crook of her shoulder and letting out a long breath. The warm breath tickled her collarbone.

"Hey! Tian Xiwei! Keep your hands to yourself! If you keep doing that, I'm not sleeping next to you anymore!"

Li Yitong grabbed her mischievous hands. Little Tian'er is so well-behaved; she wouldn't be so disrespectful.

"Don't you have one yourself? You always touch mine! What, do you have the skill to make me bigger?"

Li Yitong looked at her helplessly. If you ignored her smiling expression, her voice sounded quite fierce.

"I just turned eighteen!"

Tian Xi hummed softly, then chuckled, "Still a child! Not grown up yet, can only touch Sister Xue's!"

Li Yitong couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Even without considering the experience of being 18 in this life, he was 28 years old in his previous life, yet he still has the audacity to say that he is a child.

Moreover, this girl has already started developing, and she can lie without batting an eye; she just knows how to flirt with me.

If she didn't know Tian Xiwei, she would have really thought she was a female hooligan after hearing these words.

The room was quiet for a while. Li Yitong thought she had fallen asleep and was about to close her eyes when Tian Xiwei's voice suddenly rang out again.

"Sister Tong, aren't you worried I'll steal him from you?"

Li Yitong's fingers paused slightly, but she didn't speak.

Tian Xiwei didn't need her to answer and continued speaking on her own, "I want to give him a chance and explain things to me clearly tomorrow."

"If he doesn't come tomorrow, I'll just snatch you away and make sure he gets nothing."

In the darkness, Li Yitong smiled and said, "He will definitely come to the set to find you tomorrow. In his heart, your position is incomparable."

"Your emotions haven't been resolved yet, and he's probably not sleeping well right now."

"Besides, you haven't had a proper conversation with him since you came back."

Tian Xi was silent for a moment, then gently hummed in agreement, and lifted her head from her shoulder.

In the darkness, Li Yitong couldn't see the woman's expression, but she could feel her gaze fixed on her face, with a hint of scrutiny.

"You wouldn't secretly message him, would you?"

Li Yitong chuckled: "Didn't you take my phone away?"

Tian Xi hummed twice with satisfaction, buried her face back, muttered "You know what's good for you," and then stopped talking.

Li Yitong stared at the ceiling with her eyes open. The breathing of the person next to her gradually became even and long, but she just couldn't fall asleep.

Not to mention his current fiancée, Lao Tian.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Tian Xiwei woke up.

She unusually didn't stay in bed, and immediately crawled out of the covers, her hair all messy and sticking out. Before she had even fully opened her eyes, she reached out to grab Li Yitong's arm.

"Arise, arise, arise!"

Li Yitong was pulled up halfway by her, and groggily glanced at her phone—7:20.

"Tian Xiwei! I want to sleep more! I didn't fall asleep until 3 a.m."

"I don't care, get up, let's go."

Tian Xiwei was already barefoot on the carpet, rummaging through her suitcase looking for clothes.

Li Yitong leaned against the headboard, yawning incessantly.

"You can just go to the film set, why did you have to drag me out of bed?!"

Without turning her head, Tian Xiwei pulled a sweatshirt out of her suitcase and put it on, then pulled out a pair of jeans, talking as she put them on.

"You must stay with me today to prevent you from colluding with the enemy."

Li Yitong was stunned for a moment: "What?"

Tian Xiwei put on her pants, turned around, put her hands on her hips, and looked self-righteous.

"It's not safe for you to stay in the hotel! I need to keep you with me at all times."

Li Yitong looked at her, both amused and exasperated: "You really don't trust me that much?"

Tian Xiwei walked to the bedside, bent down, placed her hands on either side of Li Yitong, and brought her face close.

"Sister Tong, in both your past and present lives, there has never been a single time when you didn't stand by his side."

Her voice was soft, but her eyes were extremely serious.

Not even once.

Li Yitong's smile froze on her face. She opened her mouth, wanting to refute, but swallowed the words back.

Because she knew that what Tian Xiwei said was true.

Li Yitong remained silent for a long time, then smiled slightly. She reached out and gently stroked Tian Xiwei's cheek, a faint smile curving her lips.

"Don't worry, I'm on your side this time."

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