Chapter 30: CH 30

Lu Zhi Wei could acutely feel the heaviness and awkwardness circulating in the air.

There was an alarm sounding in her ear.

A “danger” word was hanging right above.

She remembered Meng Lian Yu’s New Year’s Eve show, and she also prepared to wait for Meng Lian Yu.

But the plans were disrupted by Sang Wan Ci’s sudden arrival.

She forgot Meng Lian Yu was on that show.

But her DNA still remembered.

—— But her DNA forgot her side job was being Sang Wan Ci’s true love fan!

Here she was climbing the wall while the rightful owner was beside her.

Terrifying, it was too terrifying!

She wanted to scream for help!

But she felt she could still save the situation!

She quickly moved her attention and cheered for the other old singer on stage: “Ah, Teacher Ji Feng!

“Teacher Meng and Teacher Ji Feng are both so good looking!”

Nowadays, which young person didn’t have a few walls?

One life, many walls, that was the normal situation.

So as long as I show that I’m fickle, Teacher Sang won’t doubt my dedication to her!

So what if I like a few veteran entertainers, my greatest love is still you!

Believe me, Teacher Sang! Please read at jiulian lian . wordpress . com

Seeing it, Sang Wan Ci really was fooled. The words that were on the tip of her tongue changed to: “You like them?”

Lu Zhi Wei hugged her bolster as her nails awkwardly scratched in a place that was hidden: “I like them, Teacher Meng acts well and Teacher Ji sings well, who wouldn’t like them?”

She even added: “I like a lot of actors and singers.”

Sang Wan Ci didn’t doubt this, because Lu Zhi Wei really did follow a lot of actors and singers on Weibo.

She turned around and looked at Meng Lian Yu and Ji Feng on the screen as her voice sounded peaceful: “They indeed are worthy of being liked.”

They were outstanding and brilliant, like the proud sun and shining moon.

Nobody would disregard their brilliance, nor would anybody not like them.

She also wanted to become someone like that.

Lu Zhi Wei looked at the television, then at her. She finally added a line in self-preservation: “The one I like the most is still you, Teacher Sang.”

The corners of Sang Wan Ci’s lips moved incrementally in a slight smile, but it wasn’t tough to see how happy she was: “Thank you.”

Her gaze turned gentle as she looked at Lu Zhi Wei and smiled: “I like you too.”

Gentle words and a sudden change in the atmosphere.

Those who weren’t in the know would think that she was confessing to someone she liked.

Lu Zhi Wei immediately tensed up, suddenly worried that the system would pop out again.

Because every time the atmosphere became like this, the system would start to make trouble for her.

She was still thinking about the ridiculous mission of sleeping in the same bed!

Indeed, the system didn’t disappoint ——

【Mission issued: Say the following lines to female lead Sang Wan Ci “do you know the difference between you and the stars?”, “the stars are in the sky, you’re in my heart.”

【Time limit: Three minutes.】

It’s here, it’s here.

This oily system is here again!

But what could she, a weak and pitiful host who wanted to draw the prizes, do?

Compared to sharing a bed, saying some oily lines was already the system being magnanimous.

She inhaled deeply and adjusted her feelings, trying her best not to smile too creepily.

It had to be refreshing.

Sang Wan Ci would only not want to punch her if it was refreshing.

“Teacher Sang.” She smiled.

“Mm?” Sang Wan Ci looked at her curiously, “What is it?”

Lu Zhi Wei: “Do you know the difference between you and the stars?”

Sang Wan Ci: “?”

Lu Zhi Wei: “The stars are in the sky, you’re in my heart.”

Sang Wan Ci: “……”

Lu Zhi Wei: “……”

【System judgment: Say the following lines to female lead Sang Wan Ci “do you know the difference between you and the stars?”, “the stars are in the sky, you’re in my heart.”, complete.

【Mission point +1

【Please work hard, host.】

Lu Zhi Wei laughed silently.

The mission was completed, but they were both awkward now.

Thanks to the system for traveling across space and time to send an absolutely oily gift, the two of them couldn’t escape it.

Sang Wan Ci lifted a hand and supported her forehead.

She honestly wished Lu Zhi Wei would read less of these rainbow farts. Nobody dictated that fans had to be able to blow rainbow farts.

Read something else when she was online, like the news and such……

Awkwardness surrounded the two of them, not going away.

Lu Zhi Wei pressed her lips together. As she carved out Barbie’s dream castle with her toe, she thought about how to break the awkwardness.

At this time, the countdown timer on the television screen popped out.

Every minute and second was showing the audience that the New Year was incoming.

Lu Zhi Wei’s attention immediately was drawn to it as she counted along in her heart.

Three, two, one! Please read at jiulian lian . wordpress . com

It was the new year!

She immediately forgot the awkwardness and smiled happily at Sang Wan Ci: “Happy New Year Teacher Sang, wishing you wealth and prosperity!”

Sang Wan Ci was infected by her smile, muddling by with a greeting.

Then she watched as Lu Zhi Wei climbed off the bed and go around to the side table, taking out a red packet.

—— And stuffed it into her hand.

Sang Wan Ci held onto the red packet: “?”

Lu Zhi Wei happily said: “It’s the New Year, little kids should get red packets.”

Sang Wan Ci was stunned: “I’m not ——”

Lu Zhi Wei cut her off: “You are to me.”

Sang Wan Ci never expected to receive a red packet from a colleague.

And she didn’t think that she would have a red packet this year.

She was a little lost, wanting to return the red packet to Lu Zhi Wei.

Comparing family situations, Lu Zhi Wei wasn’t in as good a situation as her.

Comparing financial situations, Lu Zhi Wei didn’t earn as much as her.

Under these circumstances, how could she still accept Lu Zhi Wei’s red packet?

What status and right did she have to take this red packet?

Lu Zhi Wei went back to her original position: “It’s not a lot of money, I hope you don’t mind, just take it as asking for luck.”

When she saw that Sang Wan Ci wanted to return the red packet, she immediately pushed it back and smiled: “Take it. It’s a happy thing to receive a red packet. I really wanted to receive one when I was a kid.”

Thinking about her past, Sang Wan Ci couldn’t help but ask: “You never received one?”

Lu Zhi Wei smiled and nodded, then thought for a bit and shook her head.

She didn’t know if she had “received” a red packet.

When she was young, she was no different from any other kid. She would be excited for the new year and red packets.

But the only difference was, other kids weren’t transparent like her.

Nobody was like her, if she wasn’t forgotten, then she was on the road to being forgotten.

People would even leave her out when it came to giving out red packets.

Her parents would automatically give Lu Si Jiao a red packet and wish for her to grow healthily in the new year.

When they turned around to see their oldest daughter, they would say: “Ah, we forget, there’s still you.”

Then they would hastily pack another red packet for her.

Although she got the red packet, but in her heart, she still felt disappointed.

It was the same with her relatives.

They would only remember Lu Si Jiao, not Lu Zhi Wei.

She would never forget walking out of her room with plenty of anticipation to greet her relatives, but because they forgot to prepare her red packet, their faces would only show awkwardness and distress.

As if saying: Why is there another child in the house?

Her appearance would make the air become heavy.

Red packets clearly were a form of gifting good luck, but it became a burden when it came to her.

The new year was ruined by her.

—— Because of her appearance, because of her existence.

So from then on, whenever someone visited for the new year, she wouldn’t leave her room. She would even have her meals later than everybody else.

While everybody else was outside chatting and laughing, she would stay alone in her room.

Or hug her soft toy and sit by the window watching the snow.

Or sit by the door, listening to the adults talk. Although she couldn’t understand it, but when everybody laughed, she would secretly laugh too, pretending like she had a share of this new year.

Or she would be so upset she would cry in secret.

The Lu Zhi Wei back then really wanted to celebrate the new year with everybody.

But she really detested seeing the distress and awkward smiles on their faces when they saw her.

She also hated that even if she was sitting outside, everybody would somehow forget her.

It would be better if she didn’t join.

Sometimes, Lu Si Jiao would accidentally come into her room, then play with her for a while.

Although sometimes, as they played, she would leave the room, and once she did, she would forget about Lu Zhi Wei.

After that, she became more optimistic, not caring about such things.

She would just play by herself in her room when the new year came around.

She would learn how to knit, read books and do everything in her power to entertain herself.

So when Sang Wan Ci asked if she had received any red packets, she didn’t know how to answer.

Red packets seemed to all be given voluntarily by adults. Did it count if they had to awkwardly pack a new one just for her?

Of course, there were times when they didn’t pack a new one.

It was just forgetting a kid’s red packet, how could it be counted as a big deal?

They’ll definitely remember next year.

It was the same for the following year.

But ever since she knew that she was not the only transparent entity in the world, she had gotten a slight sense of relief.

Because although it was truly terrible, at least she wasn’t going through it alone.

But regardless, she would still do her missions well and save the world.

She didn’t want to let innocent people also endure these sorts of painful, dark years.

Nobody liked being invisible.

Sang Wan Ci understood her answer, realising she had brought up a sore topic: “Sorry……”

Lu Zhi Wei smiled and comforted her: “What are you apologising for, you didn’t do anything.

“I’m living very well now. We need to be forward-looking, not staying in the past all the time. Besides, I can earn my own money now, I no longer need those red packets.

“Let’s not talk about this, let’s watch Teacher Meng and Teacher Ji perform.”

She had to control herself and not let herself show her “love Meng” DNA anymore.

Being caught climbing the wall was too awkward!

But this…… How was she going to accomplish sleeping in the same bed?

Was it possible for her to wait till Sang Wan Ci slept, then she would secretly lie down and put her head on the pillow for it to count?

She thought wretchedly.

… Please read at jiulian lian . wordpress . com

Lu Zhi Wei succeeded.

She successfully hid being a fan of Meng Lian Yu in front of Sang Wan Ci.

It quickly got to when the two of them were about to sleep.

Lu Zhi Wei looked at the only bed in the house and the small sofa beside it, then pointed to the bed and said to Sang Wan Ci: “You sleep on the bed, I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

“Good night, teacher Sang!”

Having said that, she was about to take out a small blanket from the cabinet and make the best out of it, when Sang Wan Ci stopped her.

Sang Wan Ci looked confused: “Why?”

Lu Zhi Wei thought she was asking why Sang Wan Ci was given the bed, and she couldn’t help but wonder why this silly child would ask such a silly question.

“Because the bed’s more comfortable.”

Sang Wan Ci: “No, I’m asking you, why must we sleep separately?”

Lu Zhi Wei: “?”

Sang Wan Ci: “?”

Lu Zhi Wei was surprised and embarrassed: “I thought you didn’t like sleeping with other people……”

“I don’t like it.” Sang Wan Ci said. “But you’re an exception.”

Someone who would encourage and boost her confidence, who would compliment her being excellent, who would give her their own gloves because her fingers were cold in the middle of winter.

When there was only one bed in the house, Sang Wan Ci could not think of a reason to reject sleeping in the same bed with her.

It was natural for older sisters to take care of younger sisters.

But it was also natural for younger sisters to take care of older sisters.

In this world, there was no such thing as expected when it came to sacrifice.

And there was no such logic as a guest driving the owner to sleep on the sofa.

Besides, Lu Zhi Wei was already so pitiful……

Hearing her words, Lu Zhi Wei suddenly felt that there was hope for the mission. She immediately looked at Sang Wan Ci with moved eyes.

God, what was this heavenly sound?

God, what was this compassionate goddess?

She was in love! Please read at jiulian lian . wordpress . com

Seeing her expression, Sang Wan Ci sighed in her heart.

It was just sleeping in the same bed as a friend, she was actually so happy and agitated……

She felt like Lu Zhi Wei was even more pitiful.

Lu Zhi Wei happily picked up the cushion from the sofa to act as her pillow.

Getting another mission point, she was happy.

Sang Wan Ci saying she was different, she was happy as well.

Even until she laid down, she was still smiling.

Sang Wan Ci leaned down, lying down and resting on the pillow.

Sleeping in the same bed, covered by the same blanket.

The two of them looked at each other.

【Mission judgment: Sleep in the same bed accomplished.

【Mission point + 1

【Please work hard, host.】

Lu Zhi Wei’s smile got even more radiant and sincere.

—— Thank you Teacher Sang, Teacher Sang you’re a reborn Buddha!

Under the orange glow of the bedside lamp, Lu Zhi Wei’s smile appeared even more gentle.

Sang Wan Ci felt a little helpless.

They were just sleeping on the same bed, was she so happy?

No matter how optimistic she was, she would still hope someone could see her and accompany her……

Lu Zhi Wei was still silently celebrating when she suddenly heard the person in front of her say: “Lu Zhi Wei, it’s been tough for you in the past.”

This foreign sentence made her smile freeze.

When she had given up chasing after people to look at her, when she had given up trying to fit into this world, she had given up all of her fantasies.

She didn’t fantasize about having friends, she didn’t fantasize that one day, she would be able to lie in bed and chat with someone like this.

And she didn’t fantasize that one day, someone would know her past and tell her tenderly: it’s been tough for you.

And Sang Wan Ci’s expression was serious and gentle.

She really did feel bad for her.

So she was willing to appear here, face to face.

At this moment, Lu Zhi Wei was the most satisfied she had ever been in her life.

She was happy, unspeakably happy.

—— Even if all this was given by the protagonist halo and not something she had originally.

“It’s all over……”

She lightly curved her eyes in a smile.

“It’s enough that I’m living well now.”

People couldn’t stay at one spot and stop moving forward.

They had to look forward, move forward to be able to meet the light and obtain it.

Meng Lian Yu and Sang Wan Ci were her light.

One changed the trajectory of her life.

One warmed the current her.

No matter how long they stayed in her life, as long as they once existed, she was satisfied.

For a child who had lived in the darkness, it was easier for them to be satisfied than others when they suddenly found the light.

“Thank you, Teacher Sang.” She lightened her voice, saying softly. “Thank you for being willing to come and spend the new year with me.”

Sang Wan Ci looked at her with unfathomable eyes.

“You’re welcome, we’re friends.”

Friends. Please read at jiulian lian . wordpress . com

Lu Zhi Wei repeated the word in her heart, her smile radiant like a spring day: “That’s right, we’re friends.

“It’s my honour to be friends with Teacher Sang.”

Hearing that, Sang Wan Ci suddenly said: “There’s no need to be so polite between friends.”

Lu Zhi Wei was always calling her “Teacher Sang”, polite and distant.

From a friend’s standpoint, she didn’t like it.

Lu Zhi Wei calling Ying Xi Ze “Xiao Ying” was even more intimate.

She still hadn’t heard Lu Zhi Wei call her name yet.

“You should call me by my name,” she said.

Lu Zhi Wei blankly blinked twice.

She didn’t use Sang Wan Ci’s name in the past because they weren’t close enough and she was afraid Sang Wan Ci wouldn’t like it.

Now that Sang Wan Ci had suddenly asked it of her, she became a bit embarrassed.

Not knowing how to call.

“How do you want me to call you?” She asked softly. “Like how I call Xiao Ying?”

Sang Wan Ci thought about it for a moment then answered honestly: “I don’t want to be called like him.”

From the time that they were in the production crew, she had gotten used to competing with Ying Xi Ze to be the most special one in Lu Zhi Wei’s heart.

Only the most special one would be constantly liked.

Lu Zhi Wei was good, Sang Wan Ci wished to be liked a bit more by her.

—— At least more than Ying Xi Ze.

Lu Zhi Wei was tickled pink by the sudden childishness.

She really didn’t understand why Sang Wan Ci was so insistent on competing with Ying Xi Ze.

The female lead and second male lead both picked up the competitive script?

“Then what do you want to be called?”

Sang Wan Ci looked at her silently.

Thinking about it, Lu Zhi Wei experimentally called out: “…… Wan Ci?”

Sang Wan Ci’s eyes shone as she moved ever so slightly closer: “Call me again.”

Lu Zhi Wei could smell the scent of the body wash from her. It was a scent that belonged only in this house, almost as if Sang Wan Ci was also part of her home.

“Wan Ci.”

“Mm.” A gentle hum came from Sang Wan Ci as she replied, “Jiejie.”

“……” Please read at jiulian lian . wordpress . com

Lu Zhi Wei panicked and looked away towards the ceiling.

She couldn’t withstand hearing Sang Wan Ci call her jiejie, she didn’t know why either.

“What’s wrong?” The innocent person beside her asked.

Lu Zhi Wei hurried to change the topic: “Nothing. Oh right, why didn’t you go home to celebrate this year?”

Lao Wu said she wasn’t a good male lead since she didn’t care about the female lead.

Now that she showed her concern, it was met with silence from Sang Wan Ci.

Lu Zhi Wei: “?”

…… Should I not have been concerned?

Merely a few seconds had passed, yet Lu Zhi Wei already felt the slowness of it.

She decided to rectify the atmosphere and switch to another topic.

But at this moment, Sang Wan Ci spoke.

“I fought with my family.”

She turned over lightly, looking at the ceiling.

“I want to be an actress, but my dad wanted to set my life’s direction. He wishes for me to be like my mother and be a pianist.”

“Then what does your mother want?” Lu Zhi Wei asked.

Sang Wan Ci shook her head. She had a peaceful expression but her tone became a little desolate.

“…… She passed away in a car accident.”

Shock showed in Lu Zhi Wei’s eyes as she apologised: “I’m sorry.”

Sang Wan Ci didn’t blame her: “It’s alright.”

The atmosphere was still heavy.

Feeling guilty, Lu Zhi Wei used a gentle tone to comfort her: “Aunty has gone to heaven to be a pianist, she didn’t go far; every star you see in the sky is her.”

Sang Wan Ci suddenly laughed at that: “It’s like you’re humoring a child.”

Seeing her smile, Lu Zhi Wei felt relieved: “You are a child to me.”

Then she continued: “Actually, it’s good to stand strong for your dreams. Life is so long, you can’t let your parents make the decisions for you all the time. Besides, you’ve done very well, you’re already a qualified and serious actress.

“After a bit more training and experience, your acting skills will become even more mature and I believe then, you’ll be just as excellent as Teacher Meng.

“Besides, to be honest, if I had a child like you, I’d even be able to walk sideways when going out[1]!”

A daughter like Sang Wan Ci, whether it was externally or internally, was perfect to the point of flawlessness.

Lu Zhi Wei simply couldn’t figure out which parents wouldn’t like such a child.

“My dad doesn’t think so.”

Sang Wan Ci’s voice was bland, her eyes empty.

“He always thinks I’m not doing enough, so he always demands for me to take it to the extreme and be as excellent as my mother, to become one of the best pianists in the country.”

He would only ever take the results into consideration, never being satisfied with the process.

She hated it; it was torture, thus why she struggled to come out to do what she wanted.

Lu Zhi Wei looked at her in surprise.

No wonder she had such high expectations of herself and would force herself to do even better, it was because of her father.

After the surprise passed, she started feeling unhappy for Sang Wan Ci.

And she started feeling unjust for all the children who had been pressured by their parents’ wishes.

She couldn’t understand parents having such unreasonable asks of their children.

To become a pianist, to become a musician, to become a singer…… Forcing their children to become talented.

They never asked their children if they were willing, if they wanted to, if they could.

—— They themselves couldn’t even do it!

“When your father asked you to become one of the best pianists in the country, could he do it himself?” Lu Zhi Wei asked.

As a father, if you couldn’t do it, what right did you have to demand it of your children?

Isn’t this double standards!

Then she heard Sang Wan Ci say: “He can.”

Lu Zhi Wei: “……”

Sorry, this humble one was too hasty, please take it like I never spoke.

Sang Wan Ci’s eyes remained stuck on the ceiling, as her voice remained calm.

“As long as he wants to, he can.

“My father and mother are both excellent people, there’s nothing they can’t do in this world.”

Looking at her beautiful side profile, Lu Zhi Wei could vaguely feel the inferiority coming from her.

Was it because her parents were too exceptional and perfect, that she felt she was as small as dust?

Lu Zhi Wei thought to herself: But that’s not true……

A pair of warm hands stretched out from the side and held onto Sang Wan Ci’s face.

Four eyes met. Please read at jiulian lian . wordpress . com

Sang Wan Ci saw the light in Lu Zhi Wei’s eyes.

“Wan Ci, listen to me.”

Lu Zhi Wei’s voice had a trace of warm strength.

“You’re very good, and you can do what you want to do.

“Just like you wanted to be a good actress, you did it. Look, who in the production crew didn’t praise you? As long as it was one of your scenes, Director Li even followed your wishes to decide if it passed or not.

“Why? Because she believed in your ability, she knew you would always give her your best representation of the character.

“If you weren’t good enough, how could she trust you, right?”

Sang Wan Ci looked at her woodenly.

Lu Zhi Wei held onto her face and brushed away soft strands of her hair.

“So our Teacher Sang isn’t some lowly speck of dust.

“Our Teacher Sang is the moon, the sun, a radiant being.

“One day in the future, our Teacher Sang will be able to use her own strength to become an unshakable force at the top of this industry.

“At that time, your father and mother will both be proud of you.”

The light shifted in Sang Wan Ci’s eyes as she parted her lips, asking after a moment of hesitation: “What if my dad still doesn’t approve then?”

Lu Zhi Wei smiled: “Then that doesn’t matter too.

“Not every decision in life has to be completely agreed upon by your parents for your life to have meaning.

“As long as we don’t regret it, as long as we’re happy, then the roads we walked, the wounds we suffered, the tears we shed are all meaningful.”

Sang Wan Ci’s eyes moved as her long eyelashes fluttered.

Her heart suddenly felt filled by a gust of warm and gentle wind.

She reached out her arms, wanting to hug this gust of wind and keep the warmth.

Lu Zhi Wei froze.

Sang Wan Ci was hugging her waist tightly, burying her head in Lu Zhi Wei’s shoulder.

Like a clingy child.

“Jiejie.”

Sang Wan Ci closed her eyes, satisfaction evident in her voice.

“You’re really good, I like you.”

Lu Zhi Wei snapped back to her senses and slowly put a hand on the top of her head.

It was the first time someone thought she was good.

It was the first time someone said they liked her.

Her heart was overjoyed.

So this is the feeling of being liked by someone?

She hadn’t even dared to think about it in the past.

Then, the wicked system popped out again ——

【Mission issued: Say the classic line to female lead Sang Wan Ci: “Then, do you want to be my girlfriend?”.

【Time limit: 20 minutes.】

Lu Zhi Wei: “???”

—— I’m going to kill this f*cking system!!!

[1] 出门都能横着走 – This literally means (I) can walk sideways when I go out, but it basically means that the person can do whatever they want (like walking sideways) because they have such a great person/attribute. The line was first used (I believe) as “If I have a girlfriend like this, I can even walk sideways when I go out!” and it’s evolved to stuff like “If I look like this, I can even walk sideways when I go out” and such.