Chapter 142: Player 14

Tang Shiyu’s emotions instantly became complicated. After decades apart, her white moonlight’s unreasonable behavior hadn’t diminished in the slightest—if anything, it had gotten even worse.

That day, Tang Shiyu spent four or five hours in the bathroom of the neighboring hospital room. From time to time, uncontrollable “pfft pfft” sounds echoed out. When she returned close to ten o’clock, she found that Yu Liuxue had already fallen asleep. The little one wasn’t in her arms—instead, a half-meter-long Lazy Egg plush toy gifted by her mother had taken its place.

Tang Shiyu tiptoed to the bedside and sat down. She gazed at that angelic, beautiful face, but all she could think about were the outrageous things Yu Liuxue had done recently. She had already sorted through all her memories, and precisely because of that, she became more and more convinced that Jian Yin, like herself, had been reborn. Otherwise, how could Jian Yin’s personality have changed so drastically?

Thinking of how the younger version of herself had been driven into a furious frenzy, Tang Shiyu couldn’t help but let the corners of her lips lift. Even this kind of unreasonable tantrum somehow looked incredibly adorable. Anyone with half a brain could tell she was deliberately messing with her—talking nonsense about one child having four moms, or going to bars for flings—it was all just to get her attention, to make her jealous.

Tang Shiyu chuckled softly and sighed. She leaned in to gently brush aside the strands of hair by Yu Liuxue’s ear, her gaze so tender it could melt. “If only I had been a little more patient back then, I wouldn’t have missed out on you for decades.”

She hadn’t come back too late. At least for now, Nan Xu still hadn’t succeeded.

She leaned lightly against the bedside, casually picked up the book Yu Liuxue had left nearby, but didn’t read a single word. Her eyes drifted off into the distance as she savored the memory of Yu Liuxue’s initiative during her pregnancy—it was as sweet as eating a piece of candy. The fact that Jian Yin was still willing to be close to her proved that she hadn’t completely forgotten her. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have deliberately seduced her in the end, forcing herself on her with such boldness.

Before her rebirth, Tang Shiyu had never experienced what it was like to have a girlfriend take the initiative. That made these few memories all the more precious.

Just thinking about it made her cold, sharp eyes soften with a smile. The aura of “keep away” melted into a warmth that overflowed. She subconsciously tightened her grip on the book and made a silent vow in her heart: “Even if Jian Yin still thinks about other women from time to time, pretends to be ambiguous with them, and even got back at me by making me fart in public, I’ll still treat her twice as well in this life.”

When Yu Liuxue woke up, she found that Tang Shiyu had changed again. She had rolled up the sleeves of her white shirt and was brushing her teeth and washing her face by herself. She even personally made breakfast. Yu Liuxue stared at the bowl in her hands in horror. “System, she she she, she?”

Tang Shiyu looked at her gently. “Try it. You used to love the yam and black rice porridge I made.”

Yu Liuxue lowered her eyes to the dark, lumpy mess in the bowl. “……”

“I remember her cooking wasn’t this bad,” Yu Liuxue blinked, thoughts racing. “Don’t tell me she’s planning to get back at me?”

This is too tragic. I’m just a weak postpartum woman who just gave birth.

Yu Liuxue set the bowl aside, then pitifully held Tang Shiyu’s hand and said in the most aggrieved voice she could muster, “Shiyu, vengeance only breeds more vengeance. I suddenly feel a little down. Do you think I might have postpartum depression?”

Tang Shiyu immediately called the doctor in a panic. After a thorough examination, the doctor pulled Tang Shiyu aside and said, “Almost all new mothers experience depressive emotions after childbirth. That’s why it’s especially important for you to be attentive right now…”

Yu Liuxue stretched her neck nervously. “If I’d known, I wouldn’t have wasted four thousand yuan messing with her yesterday.”

The System stared at its Host with a look of utter despair. “Don’t you think it’s a little late to be regretting it now?”

After Tang Shiyu returned, she became even more meticulous and cautious. Yu Liuxue only had to blink a certain way, and Tang Shiyu would immediately understand what she meant—peeling fruit for her, handing her hot water—she was practically living inside her heart. Yu Liuxue finished the porridge down to the last drop, then looked at the System with a face full of resolve. “If she dares to get back at me, I’ll fight her to the bitter end in this life!”

System: “……” That really won’t be necessary.

But after a few days, Yu Liuxue realized Tang Shiyu was genuinely treating her well. She was obedient to her in every way, practically like a loyal sheepdog. Yu Liuxue leaned against her pillow, filled with self-doubt. “Could it be that Tang Shiyu is a closet sadist? The fiercer I am to her, the more she likes me?”

Yu Liuxue shivered on the spot. That’s way too kinky.

Today was her discharge day. Neither set of parents insisted she go to a postpartum care center¹. Instead, each family hired five nannies well-versed in childcare to take care of her and the baby. Add in Mi Rou, a newly transformed Tang Shiyu, and Nan Xu—who was openly competing with Tang Shiyu for her affection—Yu Liuxue was basically living the dream of being waited on hand and foot.

Every day after work, Tang Shiyu would come home to find Yu Liuxue diligently exercising. Her efforts paid off—before long, she’d regained her slim waist and long legs. And because she had just given birth, her figure was even more alluring than before. Tang Shiyu instinctively tugged at her collar, heart pounding with anticipation.

But that night, Yu Liuxue came out of the shower and fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.

Fine. But the next day, after nervously finishing a meeting at the office, Tang Shiyu discovered she had ten missed calls from Mi Rou. Confused, she called back, and Mi Rou’s gritted voice came through immediately. “Jian Yin went to a bar to pick up women!”

Tang Shiyu stared at the photo of the three of them on her desk. “……”

The paternity test results had come back that day. Tang Yu was indeed her biological child—no doubt about it. Because she knew Yu Liuxue had been lying, her affection for her had only deepened. She understood that everything Yu Liuxue had done was just to get her attention. But now someone was telling her that Yu Liuxue had gone out to flirt with other women?

Tang Shiyu could practically hear the sound of her white moonlight filter shattering.

She gripped her phone tightly and said slowly, “Call the police.”

Mi Rou rubbed her ear in disbelief. “?” Isn’t that a bit much?

Knock knock. Nan Xu stood smiling at the door with several documents in hand. When Tang Shiyu looked over, she pointed at the papers. Tang Shiyu immediately ended the call and sat calmly at her desk. “What is it?”

“CEO Tang, these are the documents you just requested. Please review them.” Nan Xu walked in, her graceful figure and waterfall-like hair making her look stunning. But Tang Shiyu had no interest in admiring her. She and Nan Xu had recently fallen out, going from pursuer and pursued to full-blown romantic rivals. They couldn’t stand each other now.

Still, this kind of important news had to be shared. “Jian Yin went to a bar.”

Nan Xu froze for a moment, then quickly recovered with a faint smile. Her tone sounded normal, but to Tang Shiyu, it carried an inexplicable hint of mockery. “Then it must be because CEO Tang can’t satisfy her. After all, women love novelty. No matter how much they used to like someone, after a while, they’ll lose interest.”

“New clothes are always better than old ones.” Her red lips curled into a smile, delivering a fatal blow straight to Tang Shiyu’s heart.

Tang Shiyu’s expression turned cold. “The official company notice has already been issued. Pack your things and leave tomorrow.”

Upon hearing that, Nan Xu gave a soft laugh. “Sorry, CEO Tang, but I’m afraid things won’t go your way.” She gently pushed a prepared envelope across the desk, her eyes gleaming as she smiled sweetly. “This is my resignation letter. I’m going home to take over my grandfather’s company.”

“I was willing to stay by your side as a lowly assistant only because I used to like you.”

“But now, I’ve found someone else I like.” Nan Xu straightened up and spoke with calm confidence. “I’m willing to be her safe harbor from the wind and rain.”

After Nan Xu left the office, Tang Shiyu furiously flung the resignation letter to the floor. A safe harbor from the wind and rain? Did she think Tang Shiyu was invisible? Her gaze flickered slightly. Having known Nan Xu for decades, she was more than familiar with her family background. She picked up the phone. “Prepare to acquire the subsidiaries under the Nan Corporation.”

Yu Liuxue had been having a great time at the bar when suddenly a group of police officers burst in. She looked up and realized she recognized them. The veteran officer scanned the room and quickly locked eyes on her. He strode over with a grin. “Already delivered?”

Yu Liuxue blinked innocently. “Just gave birth not long ago.”

The officer chuckled again. “Then congratulations.” But then his tone shifted. “However, someone reported you to us… said you were soliciting prostitution.”

Yu Liuxue: “…?!” Who was smearing her name like this?

“How is that possible? I was just here chatting about life with my girlfriends…”

But the police weren’t interested in her explanations. “You can tell us everything at the station. If we’ve wronged you, we’ll be sure to apologize.”

Yu Liuxue was clearly reluctant. She had put on a beautiful full-face of makeup today, all to seduce some pretty ladies. If she left with the police now, wouldn’t all that effort go to waste? She gave them a pitiful look. “Can I come to the station later on my own?”

The veteran officer just smiled silently. What do you think?

Yu Liuxue: “…”

Fuming, she got into the police car. “If I find out who ruined my romantic prospects, I swear I’ll cling to her seventy times in one night so she can’t get out of bed the next morning!”

The System shivered uncontrollably.

Yu Liuxue waited and waited at the police station. After being cleared through investigation, just as she was about to leave, the veteran officer’s assistant suddenly ran over with a complicated expression and glanced at her. “Captain Yang, right after you left, a serious brawl broke out at that same bar. When we brought the suspects in and checked them, we found that all of them…”

“Look, this is what we confiscated. A total of two full pounds.”

Captain Yang raised his brows slightly, then looked at Yu Liuxue with a satisfied smile. “Didn’t expect you to be such a passionate anti-crime citizen. You must’ve known something in advance and deliberately went there to report yourself, just so we’d go investigate, right?”

Yu Liuxue gave a sorrowful smile. If you say so, then sure.

I just sabotaged myself seventy times in one night.

When Yu Liuxue returned, she was still the same seductive little vixen, except now, in addition to her purse, she was also carrying a banner. The police station had a spare one lying around, so the veteran officer generously gifted it to her, urging her to continue contributing to a harmonious society. Yu Liuxue agreed half-heartedly, her mind filled with sorrow.

She curled up on the sofa with Lazy Egg in her arms. The banner was tossed aside. Mi Rou walked over with a cup of hot water, and when she saw the bright red fabric, she nearly burst out laughing. Clearing her throat, she asked with feigned confusion, “What’s with the banner?”

Yu Liuxue narrowed her eyes like Sherlock Holmes. “Mi-jiejie, you’re the one who reported me, aren’t you?”

Aside from Mi Rou, she couldn’t think of anyone else who would know where she was. The housekeepers definitely wouldn’t call the police—after all, she was the one paying their salaries. Only Mi Rou, who treated her like a strict homeroom teacher, kept a close eye on her every move.

Three seconds of silence later, Mi Rou betrayed Tang Shiyu without hesitation. “It wasn’t me. It was Shiyu.”

Tang Shiyu sneezed violently. Just then, Nan Xu walked up behind her and greeted her with a smile. “CEO Tang, old clothes don’t compare to new ones. Take care of yourself.”

Tang Shiyu gave a tight-lipped smile. “Thanks for your concern. See you tomorrow.”

She brushed past Nan Xu, but after a few steps, she turned back with a sly smirk, raising her brows deliberately. “Tomorrow, you’ll probably be representing your side in the negotiations for the acquisition of Nan Corporation’s subsidiary, right?”

Nan Xu clenched her fists on the spot. Tang Shiyu didn’t care about her response. In high spirits, she opened the door of her luxury car and got in. She hadn’t yet decided how to deal with Nan Xu, but if Nan Xu dared to covet her woman, she would have to pay the price.

Didn’t Jian Yin say she liked her? Didn’t she claim the baby was hers? Then Tang Shiyu would start by toppling her family’s business and make sure she spent the rest of her life working under her.

Yu Liuxue was feeling utterly dejected today. She only managed a few small sips of chicken soup. After eating, she dragged herself upstairs with a cane, completely forgetting about the baby. When Tang Shiyu came home and saw her pale, fragile appearance, her heart skipped a beat. She quickly strode over. “Are you feeling unwell? I’ll call Mi Rou up—”

“I’m fine.” Yu Liuxue shook her head, full of regret. At this very moment, she should’ve been in another woman’s bed. But now… She couldn’t help but glance at Tang Shiyu. Tang Shiyu instinctively straightened her back and looked at her with a gentle smile, heart full of anticipation. After all this time, and with the postpartum period over, had she finally remembered her?

But Yu Liuxue simply sighed softly, pulled the covers over herself, and went to sleep, as if she had no interest in her at all.

Tang Shiyu: “?”

And so it went for several days. Not only did Yu Liuxue not throw herself into her arms or kiss her, she didn’t even touch her once. Tang Shiyu lay on her side next to Yu Liuxue, her brows tightly furrowed, mind filled with one question: Why won’t she kiss me or hug me? Has she stopped loving me?

Thinking back to the sweet moments in her memory, Tang Shiyu’s heart ached like a jar of vinegar had just been knocked over². During the late stages of pregnancy, Yu Liuxue had been so proactive with her younger self—throwing herself into her arms, unbuttoning her clothes, kissing her with such fiery passion. But now…

Tang Shiyu rolled over and stared longingly at the back of Yu Liuxue’s head, growing jealous of her younger self.

Even though that person was also her, she couldn’t feel any of it firsthand. It was as if the one Jian Yin had been intimate with was a completely different woman. That woman got everything—she saw Yu Liuxue’s boldest side. Tang Shiyu, bitter and sour, wrapped her arms tightly around Yu Liuxue’s waist from behind.

Only when she pulled her close did she realize how well her figure had recovered. One gentle squeeze and she fit perfectly in her arms, like hugging a soft, plush doll. Her heart nearly melted.

Yu Liuxue slept soundly, but when she woke up, she noticed dark circles under Tang Shiyu’s eyes. She blinked and asked knowingly, “Are you okay?”

Tang Shiyu was silent for a long moment before deliberately revealing, “Today I’m going to acquire Nan Xu’s grandfather’s company.”

There was a hint of pride in her tone, but Yu Liuxue didn’t catch it at all. She was still lost in her own confusion. How did both female leads start fighting the moment she gave birth? And it wasn’t just a simple spat—it was a full-on life-or-death power struggle. Wasn’t this supposed to be a melodramatic stand-in romance novel?

Yu Liuxue suddenly had a revelation. “Oh! I get it now! It must be that tragic love wasn’t working out, so they switched to a love-hate relationship instead!”

“Since Tang Shiyu is destined to end up with Nan Xu, I’ll reluctantly give them my blessing. As for me, I’ll just settle for Sister Lu and Sister Mi.” As she spoke, a blissful smile spread across her face.

【System】: You’re dreaming.

Seeing that Yu Liuxue had no reaction, Tang Shiyu couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed. She tried again. “Once I finish acquiring the company, whatever you want, I’ll buy it for you.”

Yu Liuxue instinctively replied, “I want a sister-in-law and…” Wait a minute!

Realizing something was off, she immediately shut her mouth. When she cautiously turned to look at Tang Shiyu, what met her eyes was a dark, stormy face. “Sister-in-law?”

No! Let me explain! That’s right, my body and heart already belong to my sister-in-law! In life, I’m her person. In death, I’ll be her loyal ghost!

Tang Shiyu finally understood why her younger self used to be driven up the wall by Jian Yin every single day. She clenched her fists, her knuckles cracking with a sharp snap. Yu Liuxue shrank her neck in fear, then hurriedly got out of bed to wash up. “You should hurry up, finish breakfast, and get to work.”

Half an hour later, just as Tang Shiyu finished breakfast and was about to leave, a flash of vibrant color caught her eye.

She looked up and saw a graceful figure standing by the wall. With a slim waist and long legs, arched brows and starry eyes, her fair skin and delicate features were stunning. She wore an emerald green gown that hugged her waist perfectly. Her waterfall-like hair cascaded over her shoulder, and when she smiled while holding her phone, she exuded effortless charm.

Tang Shiyu instinctively stood up.

Yu Liuxue had just made plans to have tea with her girlfriends when her phone was suddenly snatched away. She blinked. “Why haven’t you left yet?”

Up close, her beauty was even more breathtaking—rosy lips, pearly teeth, skin like jade and snow. Every feature was irresistibly alluring.

“Where are you going?” Tang Shiyu asked.

“Shopping.” Yu Liuxue figured Tang Shiyu was probably worried she’d max out her card. She frowned and quickly urged her, “Aren’t you supposed to meet Nan Xu today to discuss the company acquisition? If you don’t leave now, you’ll be late.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Tang Shiyu scooped her up by the waist. One hand slipped under Yu Liuxue’s knees as she strode back into the bedroom. She kicked the door shut with force. Before Yu Liuxue could react, a flurry of kisses rained down on her. Though domineering, they were incredibly gentle.

Yu Liuxue instinctively wrapped her arms around Tang Shiyu’s neck, struggling symbolically. “Tang Shiyu, what are you doing?”

“In broad daylight, with the sun high in the sky, you…” The rest of her words were swallowed entirely by Tang Shiyu’s kiss.

Yu Liuxue ended up not going out. She soaked in hot water, supporting her waist, and lazily rubbed a handful of bubbles onto her skin. “Was it just my imagination? Why did it feel like Tang Shiyu was way more aggressive today?”

She’d been decent before, but today she was especially intense—and it had lasted for several hours.

Nan Xu had been waiting since 9 a.m. and still hadn’t seen even a hair of Tang Shiyu by noon. She frowned just as Tang Shiyu’s secretary—who also happened to be her former colleague—rushed over, panting. “I’m so sorry. CEO Tang had an unexpected matter come up this morning. Lunch is on our company. Can we continue the meeting at 2 p.m.?”

Nan Xu agreed. She was determined to find out what kind of nonsense Tang Shiyu was up to.

When she finally saw Tang Shiyu, her long hair had been carefully styled into a low ponytail tied with a black ribbon. Her outfit today was unusually eye-catching—a bright red ensemble that was impossible to ignore. Nan Xu remained unfazed, even thinking Tang Shiyu might be a few screws loose.

Tang Shiyu sat down across from her, took off her coat, and deliberately revealed the red lipstick mark on the collar of her white shirt. Nan Xu noticed it immediately. Her gaze lingered for just two seconds before Tang Shiyu shamelessly tugged at her collar, exposing the kiss mark on her collarbone. “It’s been pretty hot lately.”

Nan Xu: “…”

Secretary: “…?” It’s already October, and the average temperature is only around twenty degrees! Hot?

Nan Xu forced a smile, her lips curling without warmth. “It is pretty hot. Perfect time to throw out all those unnecessary old clothes.”

Tang Shiyu immediately crumpled the corner of her napkin. Nan Xu stared her down with a bright, unyielding smile. The others at the table didn’t dare make a sound, all lowering their heads like obedient little lambs. They were secretly baffled. Weren’t people always saying Nan Xu and CEO Tang were a perfect match? So why did they seem like mortal enemies now?

Could it be a sudden breakup, turning love into hate? No one saw that coming.

Yu Liuxue had already given birth. Her parents were deeply worried about her reputation, but fortunately, Tang Shiyu’s parents took the initiative to meet with them to discuss marriage arrangements. The date was finally set for June of next year, when the weather would be ideal—perfect for wearing a wedding dress and taking photos. The wedding location was chosen based on Yu Liuxue’s preference: Santorini, Greece. Tang Shiyu had no objections.

With Lu Ling also about to get married, Yu Liuxue felt especially reluctant to let go. She hugged her baby and walked over to Lu Ling, eyes red-rimmed. “Sister-in-law, can you really bear to leave me and our child behind to fend for ourselves?”

The next second, she was met with a death glare from her brother-in-law.

Yu Liuxue shrank her neck. “Suddenly I think this child might actually be Sister Mi’s.”

Mi Rou, who was standing nearby: “…” Don’t talk nonsense. I still want to fall in love, okay?

Though she didn’t win Lu Ling’s affection, she did get a kiss on the forehead—gentle and fleeting, like a dragonfly skimming the water³. It stirred ripples in her heart. Yu Liuxue instantly beamed and volunteered eagerly, “Sister-in-law, let me be your bridesmaid when you get married!”

Close enough—it would be like walking into the hall of marriage together with her sister-in-law.

Tang Xiuyi knew his little sister-in-law all too well. Without missing a beat, he said, “Your sister-in-law’s bridesmaid has already been decided. It’s her best friend of twenty years.”

Yu Liuxue: “…” Fine.

As soon as Yu Liuxue left, Tang Xiuyi immediately called his sister. “Your wife came to seduce my wife again today!”

Tang Shiyu: “…?”

“Well, maybe if you were more charming, your sister-in-law’s eyes wouldn’t keep wandering.” Tang Shiyu sneered. “How is that Jian Yin’s fault? This is clearly your fault. You’re not perfect enough to make your wife completely obsessed with you.”

“Tang Xiuyi, you’re almost thirty. It’s time to start reflecting on yourself instead of blaming others for everything.”

Tang Xiuyi: “???”

Translator’s Notes

• In life, I’m her person. In death, I’ll be her loyal ghost!: A common Chinese expression (生是她的人，死是她的鬼 – shēng shì tā de rén, sǐ shì tā de guǐ) used to express absolute, unwavering devotion and loyalty to a person, often in a romantic context.