One Pet Gets Married

Chapter 11

As Song Xici stood tilting her head, hand on chin, smiling at the little notebook, Tang You'an's eyelashes fluttered and her eyes slowly opened.

"Xici?" Tang You'an gently rubbed her temples, sitting up straight to look at her, a misty haze still lingering in her eyes. "You're not asleep yet?"

"I couldn't sleep, so I got up for some water. By the way, I saw the grass carp just now," Song Xici said, pointing towards the door.

"You saw it? Then... have you forgiven me?" Tang You'an asked.

"Yes, I have. Really," Song Xici glanced at her askance, then picked up the notebook from the table. "Why are you recording all this stuff?"

"Because I don't want to make you angry again," Tang You'an replied.

"Don't want to make me angry..." Song Xici flipped a page in the notebook and smiled. "Is that all?"

"Yes," Tang You'an met her eyes with certainty. "Also, you're my only friend now, so I want to understand you."

"Only friend?" Song Xici held the notebook, lifting her gaze from it to Tang You'an's face.

"Mm. When I was young, rumors spread that our village had buried treasures. Many thieves came to dig. Later, villagers fought with them, and the thieves massacred everyone, took the treasures, and burned everything. My parents died. I barely escaped with a little girl who survived," Tang You'an sighed softly.

Song Xici watched her, tears gradually welling up in her eyes. She unconsciously closed the notebook, hugging it gently.

"That girl was kind and good-hearted, a bit older than me, with a lively nature. We relied on each other to survive. She always found ways to get food, giving me the larger share. No matter how difficult the path, she'd always hold my hand. But she was born frail and eventually fell ill. I could see her life slipping away but couldn't save her. I cried for a long time by her side," Tang You'an gazed out the ink-black window, running her hand through her hair to the ends.

Song Xici listened, her brow furrowing slightly. She wanted to say something but couldn't form the words.

It felt cruel. If she had experienced such blows, she'd probably be psychologically twisted. But Tang You'an seemed like a blank slate.

"Later, I met my master and secluded myself in the mountains with her," Tang You'an lowered her gaze. "Though people often traveled far to seek our fortunes, it was just business. Once finished, they'd leave, and the little bamboo house would return to silence, as if nothing had happened."

Song Xici looked at her, unable to resist asking, "Wasn't that life boring? Without anyone to talk to."

"I didn't know what boredom was. I didn't feel lonely then. Every morning, I'd make breakfast with my master, then practice swordsmanship, read, play the zither, paint, and pick wild fruit. It was quite enjoyable," Tang You'an recalled, a faint smile on her lips.

"Later, my master also passed away. I stayed there alone. Occasionally, I'd go to the market to buy things. In spring, I'd plant crops and feed the birds that visited me; in winter, I'd pluck a plum branch, sweep snow, and warm wine. As time passed, I grew accustomed to that solitary life," Tang You'an's expression remained gentle as she spoke.

She was as gentle as soft petals fluttering onto clothing in March, utterly harmless.

"So now that I know you, I hope to understand you better. And I hope we can accompany each other for a longer time," Tang You'an said softly.

Song Xici was stunned for a moment, then quickly laughed, "What do you mean 'longer time'? Don't jinx me, I'm going to live to a hundred!"

"I know," Tang You'an looked at her intently. "Large ears, long eyebrows, straight nose, bright eyes, well-proportioned philtrum, ruddy complexion, full forehead - all signs of nobility and longevity. You'll have a long life."

Song Xici paused, "Then you... I forbid you from jinxing yourself too!"

"I'm not jinxing myself. I just mean that even after our six-month contract ends, I hope we can remain close friends," Tang You'an explained.

Suddenly reminded of the nearly forgotten six-month contract, Song Xici's mind briefly short-circuited.

"Of... of course..." Song Xici came to her senses, making a gun gesture with her hand and pointing at Tang You'an. "Friends stick together, first to fall in love is a dog!"

After saying this, Song Xici scratched her head, "Oh right, you probably don't get that reference..."

"Alright, first to fall in love is a dog. But it's late now, Xici. You should go to sleep," Tang You'an smiled again.

Song Xici glanced at the time on the computer and exhaled, quickly putting down the notebook.

"Then I'll go to bed now. I have to film tomorrow, so I need to rest!" Song Xici yawned widely, covering her mouth before leaving Tang You'an's room and heading to her own bedroom.

After the door closed, Tang You'an turned back, picked up the brush, and smiled gently again. She would certainly cherish this friendship. Then she shut off the computer.

Afterward, thinking about filming, Tang You'an paused, opened a drawer, and took out the script.

There were only three days left before she joined the cast.

Her character, Gu Moyan, was not only talented in singing and dancing but also secretly skilled as an assassin, originally infiltrating to gather intelligence near the female general. Unfortunately, she fell in love with the general.

She loved the female general, but the general didn't love her back. Both sides saw her as a thorn in their side, so ultimately, she met a tragic end.

Tang You'an skimmed through, finding that the character had few scenes in the early part, gradually increasing in the middle.

After some thought, Tang You'an opened Weibo, which she had just learned to use with Shi Xiaobao's help, and checked her own account.

The account hadn't been updated for a while and wasn't frequently active, but under every post, people were united in cursing her.

"Has Tang You'an left the entertainment industry today? If not, I'll ask again tomorrow. :)"

"Photoshop queen has no shame, ptui! And in that previous drama, all the action scenes were done by stunt doubles, yet you pretend to be dedicated by getting injured yourself? Why don't you just die?!"

Seeing this, Tang You'an held out her hand, turning it slightly before her eyes.

"Trash trash blah blah blah! Buying roles with money, how shameless and disgusting. I had high expectations for 'The Subject,' but with you in it like a rat turd, I absolutely won't watch it!"

"Don't say that, just skip her parts. It's not fair to the other actors if they suffer because of her."

"The other actors probably feel like they've eaten dog food, having to act with such an idiot..."

Tang You'an turned a page in the script. She had to admit, the script seemed quite interesting.

"Maybe the role wasn't bought. Perhaps the director thought her recent antics and high topic popularity could bring attention to the drama?"

"How did Song Xici fall in love and marry trash like you? I'm scared, I can't pull her back, so I'll have to manually say goodbye. Those who touch pitch are defiled; birds of a feather flock together. May you two scum grow old together!"

"Since Song Xici got together with you, her fame has plummeted. I heard she can't get any good scripts lately. Are you happy about that?"

Tang You'an abruptly closed the script, trembling slightly as she stacked it on the table. Her lowered gaze slowly lifted to the wall.

Looking at the comments on the phone screen, she stood up, one hand behind her back under her snow-white robe, and paced to the window, gazing out at the world beyond.