Chen Chunyao seemed not to understand what she was saying and didn't answer. Instead, she suddenly reached out and grabbed Xu Tingyu's shoulders.
Her slightly intoxicated eyes seemed to be glued to Xu Tingyu's face.
They swept over her eyebrows and eyes inch by inch, finally landing on her fair neck.
Suddenly, she let out a "puff" of laughter.
Then she let go of Xu Tingyu and fell straight backward.
Xu Tingyu was a bit creeped out by her stare. Her hand slipped, and she failed to catch her, watching as she fell back onto the sofa.
"What's wrong with you? Did you run into problems at work?"
Xu Tingyu first glanced around at the people nearby. After making sure there were no paparazzi or the like, she sat down next to Chen Chunyao.
Chen Chunyao had always been a carefree person. No matter what happened, she could always maintain a good attitude.
So, what could have made her so out of sorts?
But she still refused to say and picked up her glass to take another sip of wine.
Seeing her like this, Xu Tingyu didn't press further. She ordered a glass of wine and sat beside her to keep her company.
After a few glasses of wine, Chen Chunyao suddenly spoke up, "You've gotten back together with Qi Shifeng?"
Xu Tingyu was taken aback by this sudden question. "What?"
"You're still trying to hide it from me? Then what are those on your neck?"
A hint of mockery flashed in Chen Chunyao's eyes as she pointed at Xu Tingyu's neck.
Only then did Xu Tingyu remember that she had taken a shower and was in a hurry to go out in the evening, so she hadn't covered the marks on her neck.
She didn't feel the least bit embarrassed and just smiled. "I'm not trying to hide it from you. I just haven't had the chance to tell you yet."
They hadn't been chatting very often lately, and a lot had happened in the past few months. She didn't know where to start.
Chen Chunyao didn't seem to care either. She stared fixedly at Xu Tingyu for a long time and then let out a self - deprecating laugh.
"Tingyu, tell me, what on earth am I lacking?"
This remark seemed out of the blue, but Xu Tingyu could tell that her abnormal behavior must have been caused by a setback somewhere.
She put down her wine glass and looked seriously at Chen Chunyao. "You're not lacking anything, no matter who you're compared to."
How could Chen Chunyao be lacking?
She had worked her way up in the entertainment industry on her own and had reached her current position, winning one award after another.
She was outstanding, loyal to her friends, filial to her family, and kind to the crew.
A person like this was not lacking compared to anyone.
"If that's the case, why doesn't the person I love love me?"
After saying this, Chen Chunyao's tears trickled down the corners of her eyes.
The dim light cast a broken glow on her body, making her look somewhat desolate and beautiful.
So it was a setback in love.
Xu Tingyu thought of Qi Ye and wondered if the person she was talking about was him.
She wouldn't rashly say that she knew. She could only follow her words and ask, "The person you love? Who is it?"
Chen Chunyao refused to say his name and just indulged in venting her emotions. "I've loved him for many years. It was for him that I've come this far."
"I know he doesn't like me to have all sorts of scandals, so I've never been in a relationship in this circle."
"I've tried my best to get closer to the way he likes. I've learned vocal music, dance, and acting. I've been extremely careful when choosing every script."
"I don't engage in hype. I've worked hard to create an image of being non - competitive. I've also told myself to work harder and harder."
"But in the end, he still won't give me a proper title. He even told me that he's never liked me."
"Haha, it's so ridiculous. I'm really so ridiculous. For all these years, I've been like a clown."
She cried as she spoke.
But after all, she was an actress. Even in such great sorrow, her speech was clear, filled with indescribable grief.
Xu Tingyu's eyes even turned red. She held Chen Chunyao's hand. "It's his problem, not yours."
Chen Chunyao looked at her and forced a smile.
"No, no. How could he have a problem? He's such a gentle person. I entered the circle because of him. He's always been my goal."
"I've won so many awards also to be worthy of him. He's such a brilliant and wonderful person. It must be that I'm still not good enough, which is why he doesn't like me."
"I'm just so unwilling. I'm unwilling that after all I've done, it's all in vain."
Her words were a bit jumbled, as if she had fallen into a huge contradiction herself.
Xu Tingyu understood this feeling.
Being overly anxious about gains and losses was exactly like this. Everyone who lacked security and self - confidence in a relationship was prone to falling into such emotions.
Before she could continue to console her, Chen Chunyao went on.
"Recently, he took on a movie. The production company also approached me. The role wasn't great, and the pay wasn't high either, but because of him, I worked hard to convince the company to agree."
"But when I went for the audition, I actually heard him tell the director that I wasn't suitable and recommended Lin Xiaoxiao for the role. It's so ridiculous. How could Lin Xiaoxiao compare to me?"
"He appreciates a花瓶 like Lin Xiaoxiao more than he appreciates me. He really knows how to embarrass me."
Hearing this, Xu Tingyu was stunned.
Taking on a movie? So it seemed to be someone in the industry, and had nothing to do with Qi Ye.
For some reason, she actually let out a soft sigh of relief.
It seemed that what Chen Yan had said was all a mistake.
She had said it before. How could Chen Chunyao hide such a thing from her?
"Since he treats you like this, then just find someone else to like. There are so many young fresh meat in the circle. Finding a young and handsome one, wouldn't that be good?"
She knew how hard it was to like someone who didn't like you. Before getting in too deep, it was best to extricate yourself as soon as possible.
Chen Chunyao, who had been immersed in her own emotions, suddenly looked up at her.
There was an indescribable coldness in her expression.
"So, why don't you change?"
This remark was actually a bit forceful. Even because of the tone, it seemed a bit aggressive.
Xu Tingyu let out a self - deprecating laugh. "If it weren't for Youyou, I would never have anything to do with him again."
If she had taken Youyou with her when she left four years ago, she would never have set foot in Jingdu again in her life.
She wouldn't give up on finding out the truth, but she wouldn't have given Qi Shifeng a chance to get close to her.
But there was no if.
Youyou had grown up by Qi Shifeng's side. No matter what, she couldn't ignore the fact that he was the child's father.
Moreover, in these three and a half months, she had also seen that Qi Shifeng was different from before.
It was impossible to say that her heart wasn't touched at all.
Chen Chunyao murmured to herself, "So, it's because of the child?"
"It's because of the child, but not entirely because of the child."
Xu Tingyu also admitted it openly.
Human emotions were strange and uncontrollable.
Moreover, the mark that Qi Shifeng had left in her life was too deep.
Chen Chunyao stared at her for a moment and then suddenly laughed again. "It seems that we really are good sisters. We're both infatuated souls."
Even though they've been hurt all over, they still can't let go.
"Since you're willing to give Qi Shifeng a chance, then I'll also make one last effort. If it doesn't work out, I'll let go."
"From now on, I won't be an infatuated soul anymore. I'll just be a free - spirited butterfly flitting through life. No one will be able to hurt me."