Chapter 141: No, You Are Strong
Looking at Tong Xiaoya’s dazed eyes, Su Bai felt helpless and had no choice but to drag her to the bathroom, then stand himself under the cold water stream. Tong Xiaoya clung to Su Bai like an octopus, constantly pressing against him. Inside, Su Bai endured wave after wave of inner torment. The icy water poured over them repeatedly, cooling their bodies bit by bit.
After an hour, Tong Xiaoya’s hazy gaze gradually cleared. She glanced down at their disheveled state and recalled the moments they had just shared, her face instantly flushing crimson.
“Su Bai, I...” she began.
Su Bai casually grabbed a towel from the bathroom and draped it over Tong Xiaoya's shoulders.
“You go freshen up first. I’ll wait outside. We can talk after you’re ready.”
With that, Su Bai stepped out.
Sitting by the window ledge, he found himself momentarily stunned. To say the recent scenes didn’t affect him was a lie. Yet, Su Bai knew he must not take advantage of the situation. Although he couldn't quite understand why Tong Xiaoya kept calling his name in that dazed state.
After a long while, Tong Xiaoya finally emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a towel. Her gaze still avoided his somewhat. Bashfully, she said, “Su Bai, could you go freshen up? I’ll be ready soon.”
Su Bai, soaking wet, indeed needed to tidy himself up; otherwise, his appearance was quite unseemly.
When Su Bai returned from the bathroom, two bathrobes—one masculine, one feminine—had been delivered, presumably by the hotel staff. Tong Xiaoya handed him the male robe, which he promptly put on. When he reappeared fully dressed, Tong Xiaoya seemed much more at ease.
“I’m sorry, Su Bai, I lost control just now,” she apologized.
Su Bai shook his head.
As Tong Xiaoya explained, Su Bai finally understood. Earlier that day, Lin Zifeng had suddenly invited Tong Xiaoya to dinner. Due to previous issues involving Yang Xiaomi, Tong Xiaoya had met Lin Zifeng a few times before. Lin Zifeng claimed there had been some misunderstandings with Yang Xiaomi lately and asked Tong Xiaoya to help clarify things.
Thinking it was no big deal and wanting to help, Tong Xiaoya accepted the invitation. She never imagined that during the meal, Lin Zifeng would slip something into her drink.
Halfway through, Tong Xiaoya felt unwell and excused herself.
Knowing she couldn’t drive, she forced herself to rent a room to rest and recover before leaving.
Unexpectedly, Lin Zifeng followed her into the room.
The moment she saw him enter, Tong Xiaoya realized what was happening. She questioned him silently while secretly sending Su Bai a message.
“Luckily, you’re in Yanjing. If you weren’t here, the consequences would be unimaginable.”
Listening to this, Su Bai felt a chill run down his spine. It was pure luck that he had just arrived in Yanjing. Had he hesitated or stayed in the magic city longer, Lin Zifeng might have succeeded. And if Lin Zifeng had recorded anything, Tong Xiaoya’s future would be utterly ruined. Neither of them dared to imagine such a fate.
Once the truth was out, Tong Xiaoya felt somewhat relieved, though the memory of those moments still made her cheeks flush.
“Um, Su Bai, can I ask you something?”
Su Bai looked at her curiously.
“When you felt that way just now, why didn’t you...?”
Coughing awkwardly, Su Bai nearly choked. His posture had indeed been embarrassing, but it was beyond his control.
“If I had done that, how would I be any different from Lin Zifeng?” Tong Xiaoya smiled sweetly.
Then, tilting her head, she teased him shyly, “But you’re different!”
In that instant, her youthful charm blossomed fully.
Su Bai smiled awkwardly, his face tinged with red. He stood and paced the room a few times, picking up a glass of water, sipping a bit, then setting it down repeatedly.
Watching Su Bai’s restless pacing, Tong Xiaoya found it amusing and couldn’t help but chuckle.
Who would have thought Su Bai had such a cute side? When they first met at Yang Xiaomi’s home, she sensed he was different from other men, and now it was clear—at least, he was far more bashful.
“Hey, stop pacing!” she called out.
“If you keep going, I’ll get dizzy!”
“If I faint, I’ll have to rely on you for CPR!”
Hearing this, Su Bai immediately stopped, chuckling awkwardly.
“Have you thought about how to handle those things about you that leaked online?” Tong Xiaoya asked, shifting the topic.
Su Bai felt a wave of clarity wash over him.
“Do you want me to publicly support you online?”
“I actually wanted to do it from the start, but I was afraid it might cause you trouble.”
Su Bai quickly shook his head.
“No need to post anything. Otherwise, netizens wouldn’t know what to say.”
“Just being connected to me is risky now.”
“The police are investigating the source of that video. Once they find it, all the rumors will be disproved.”
Su Bai didn’t want to dwell on how complicated the issue was.
Seeing Su Bai so certain, Tong Xiaoya finally relaxed.
She took two wine glasses from the cabinet.
“Will you have a drink with me?”
Su Bai nodded without thinking.
“Sometimes, I feel so foolish. Other times, I just feel pitiful...”
Unintentionally, they ended up talking a lot. Mostly, Tong Xiaoya spoke while Su Bai listened.
She told him about coming to Yanjing alone to chase her dreams as an unknown actress, how hard it had been.
She spoke of her ex-husband.
Whether it was trust or something else, she confided a great deal in Su Bai.
She said her ex-husband’s family had powerful connections, while she came from a poor background. Despite her looks, she never held her head high in her in-laws’ house. Her mother-in-law despised her for being an actress.
If that were all, she could endure it, as long as her ex-husband treated her well. But he shamelessly made her drink with other men. With financiers, with...
Everyone said her ex-husband was a director with countless resources, but only Tong Xiaoya knew the bitterness behind the scenes.
Eventually, she couldn’t bear it any longer, and they parted ways.
Her eyes reddened slightly.
“Am I pathetic?” she asked.
Su Bai shook his head earnestly.
“No, you’re strong.”