Chapter 76: Settling Scores
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
To coax your girlfriend, your words need to be sweet, and your heart sincere.
Wen Ruoxian believed she had done both. Song Qingluo was smiling so much that the corners of her mouth were practically reaching the ceiling. She held Wen Ruoxian's face, kissing her over and over, then responded, ‘’I love you too'—
And then, she told her to sleep in the guest room tonight.
"Qingluo?"
"To punish you."
Wen Ruoxian saw a bit of tsundere in her eyes, along with a playful intention to tease her, so she smiled and asked, "How about changing the punishment?"
Song Qingluo firmly shook her head, "No."
"Can you really bear it?"
"No more nonsense, go quickly, go quickly."
She turned her back, only to hear Wen Ruoxian say "Alright" as her footsteps gradually faded away. Song Qingluo turned back again and saw Wen Ruoxian looking around, lost like she couldn’t find the room, and burst into laughter.
"Wen Ruoxian!" She called out loudly and chased after her.
The person in front stopped.
She didn't turn around, as if waiting for something.
Song Qingluo hugged her from behind, "Forget it, I'll spare you."
Just as expected.
Wen Ruoxian held the two hands around her waist, loosened them slightly, then slowly turned to face Song Qingluo, pushing her two steps back until she was pressed against the glass cabinet.
"Even if I sleep in the guest room, I'll sneak back to your room in the middle of the night to lie by your side." She lowered her head to kiss her lips.
"Mm..."
Song Qingluo closed her eyes.
….
At the end of the year, the company was busy. Wen Ruoxian returned just in time, organizing the handover matters in an orderly fashion, taking only one day. Over the past two months, she hadn’t completely handed off her duties and had communicated with Xu Man about work to some extent.
As for her "disappearance" during those two months, various rumors were circulating in the company. Officially, people believed that "President Wen was on a business trip personally overseeing a project," but there were still private speculations. Some said there were changes in senior-level shares, others claimed she had been "locked up" for misconduct, and some even speculated she might have fallen seriously ill.
The most absurd rumor was: Cheng Suran was trying to overthrow her.
When she appeared at the meeting, the diamond ring on her left ring finger caught most people’s attention, and the gossip quickly shifted direction—
President Wen got married.
"Oh, what a unique ring."
After closing the office door, Cheng Suran began teasing Wen Ruoxian playfully, holding her sleeve and closely admiring the double-headed olive leaf diamond ring.
Wen Ruoxian only smiled and didn’t pull away, mimicking Cheng Suran’s tone in response, "Not as unique as CEO Cheng’s outfit. You must be wearing another one of those 'one-of-a-kind' custom pieces today, right?"
Cheng Suran nodded repeatedly, pointing at the "Y.R" logo on her clothes, "Jiang Coco is so afraid people don’t know she’s making clothes for me again."
The two of them burst into laughter in the office.
There hadn’t been a time as relaxed as this in the past few years, Wen Ruoxian thought.
She used to believe she would still be as restrained as before, feeling inexplicably nervous and cautious in front of Cheng Suran. But now, when they faced each other, she had already become a "bystander." Obsession was just obsession, easily thrown at will.
It was like walking down the street and brushing past countless people—so common, with no reason to take a second glance.
Her once empty hand is now held in the warmth of another.
"So, how about telling me the story now? My gossipy heart can hardly contain itself," Cheng Suran teased with a mischievous grin, her face full of playful childlike energy.
"I didn’t see Qingluo until the third day I arrived in England..." Wen Ruoxian smiled shyly and roughly recounted the events. Her mind was filled with images of Song Qingluo, and after finishing, she looked up, her gaze landing on the glass cabinet behind Cheng Suran.
A distant, unfocused look in her eyes, her lips curved upwards—clear and unmistakable.
Cheng Suran clicked her tongue and shook her head, "Do you know what you look like right now?"
"What?"
"A peacock in full bloom."
Wen Ruoxian was stunned for two seconds, then burst into a wide smile, "Why do you say the same thing as Qingluo? She thinks she's the peacock in full bloom. I need to tell her that in other people's eyes, I am too. This way, the two of us won't feel lonely together."
As she spoke, she took out her phone.
[CEO Cheng said I look like a peacock in full bloom when I talk about you.]
[Hello, Mrs. Peacock, I’m your Mrs. Peacock.]
"Ha, what kind of strange 'balance' are you two trying to achieve?" Cheng Suran looked at her actions with surprise.
After sending the message, Wen Ruoxian put away her phone without waiting for a reply, her smile fading. "I don't want to deceive myself anymore, nor do I want to struggle in the quagmire of self-imposed constraints."
"I say what I want to say to her right away, do what I want to do for her immediately. Share any beautiful and warm feelings with her promptly, and don’t make her wait any longer."
Don’t let Qingluo suffer anxiety and torment.
She said to herself in her heart.
Cheng Suran looked at her with increasing emotion, "Ruoxian, I’m happy for you."
It felt somewhat unfamiliar, compared to her usual demeanor.
But it was also very familiar.
It was based on years of understanding her.
She had always been gentle and powerful, reserved yet incredibly resilient, able to take and let go, responsive to everything, and always sincere and steady.
Cheng Suran was not only happy for her but also proud to have such a friend.
This time, it was a true friendship.
"So, do you know what you look like right now?" Wen Ruoxian decided to give back in kind.
"Hmm?"
"A worried old mother."
Cheng Suran burst into laughter, grabbing a cushion and throwing it at her, "You deserve a beating!"
….
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too
Today, Song Qingluo was also busy.
In the morning, she discussed copyright with a film and television company and sold three original songs. At noon, she had lunch with Sun Yiren, talking about taking her out for a performance.
After not seeing each other for six months, Sun Yiren was still the same—gentle and lovely, and with a smiling face.
"When Arthur and I were on tour, I thought of having you with me at every show. You can get more exposure, and we can arrange a solo segment for you. Besides the performances, there are also masterclasses. You, me, we’re the masters! Haha…” Song Qingluo chattered on.
Sun Yiren stirred the thick soup in her bowl, her lips slightly curved, and casually said, "You’re joking."
"No, that’s how I’ve planned it. Yiren-jie, with your talent, as long as you have the chance to showcase yourself, you’ll definitely be remembered by more people. The world out there is vast."
"I’m going to Germany for a performance after the New Year. If you’re willing, I’ll make an introduction, and then you can start the arrangements. How about it?"
Song Qingluo’s eyes sparkled.
No one could doubt her sincerity.
A white lotus can be born naturally, and a white lotus doesn’t see itself as a white lotus because, to it, that’s just the normal way of life—elegant, arrogant, superior—it's all the same.
Sun Yiren understood her.
Understanding was one thing; disliking was another.
"The orchestra is quite busy, so I can’t leave," Sun Yiren shook her head with a hint of regret. "And you? Will you come back?"
She changed the topic.
Her spoon stopped stirring, half-submerged in the thick soup.
Mentioning the orchestra made Song Qingluo’s expression stiffen. She curled her lips in disdain, "That place just doesn’t suit me. Why would I go back?"
"Director Yang has been quite concerned about you. He’s mentioned you a lot over the past six months. You never know what might happen in the future; there might be collaborations. After all, with you in the orchestra, the name would be more prominent…" Sun Yiren said with a faint smile, her gaze fixed on Song Qingluo’s face and eyes.
Song Qingluo sneered, "It’s more about the name than about me. It’s mutual use, not genuine feelings. As for me, I never go back to where I’ve left. Once I’m gone, I’m gone. Even if they come begging and chasing after me, whether I agree or not depends on my mood."
"But unfortunately, when it comes to those old stubborn members of the orchestra, my mood won’t be good. So—" She raised her index finger in a "NO" gesture.
Sun Yiren stared at her for a while, as if struck by her coldness, then smiled, "Mm, I understand you."
Her finger muscles slowly relaxed, and the spoon sank back into the thick soup. She stirred it lightly, scooped it up, and ate it comfortably.
"Let’s not talk about this. Yiren-jie, are you really too busy? Time can be coordinated, you know…" Song Qingluo became enthusiastic again. Not letting herself be distracted by her own issues was a virtue.
Sun Yiren still smiled gently, politely declining, "I want to focus on domestic matters for now."
Her gaze toward Song Qingluo was a bit complex. After a pause, she sighed in a tone of apparent reconciliation, "Qingluo, everyone has a stage that suits them. Finding the right one brings joy and realizes self-worth. Choosing the wrong one leads to self-harm, erodes willpower, and extinguishes spirit. I believe the experience you gained in the orchestra over the past year will make you understand this better than I do."
Song Qingluo took a sip of her drink, "That’s right."
Sun Yiren continued, "Our development directions are different, so we might have less contact in the future. However, we can still discuss professional matters."
She then raised her glass.
—I don't wish to be your enemy, nor to be your friend.
Song Qingluo instinctively clinked glasses with her.
What does this mean?
She didn’t quite understand. Different development directions—how could that affect the frequency of contact? There was a hint of farewell in the air.
By the time the meal ended and Sun Yiren left due to other commitments, Song Qingluo still sat alone at the table, lost in thought. She remained there, sipping her half-glass of wine slowly, and after a long time, she finally understood—
It was like classmates who had been very close in elementary or middle school. As they chose different paths in life, they gradually went their separate ways.
She had regrets but was never truly sad.
That's just how life is.
Let nature take its course.
Song Qingluo saw that it was already four o'clock when she checked her WeChat messages.
On a gloomy, drizzly day, the streets were wet, and the water on the road reflected the gray sky. She smiled at her phone in the car for a while without replying.
"Hmph..."
So it’s Cheng Suran?
She no longer cared about "White Moonlight" or anything like that, but she had to settle the score for the past deliberate troubles.
Even if it was for matchmaking.
….
The company at the new address was much more impressive.
The renovation design had better aesthetics.
The two floors were even more beautiful than the entire old building. Song Qingluo thought this as she stepped out of the elevator.
The layout and structure had completely changed, and she could no longer navigate it as easily as before. Fortunately, the front desk staff were familiar faces who recognized her immediately, greeted her, and led her straight to Wen Ruoxian's office.
She didn’t see her old colleague Xu Man.
After hesitating for a second about whether to knock, she had already extended her hand and knocked three times.
She pushed the door open naturally.
Wen Ruoxian was reclining in a large white leather chair, one hand propping up her forehead while the other held a document, that she was reading. With gold-rimmed glasses on her nose, she was so engrossed that she didn’t look up.
“President Wen, the tea’s gone cold. I’ll get you a hot cup,” Song Qingluo said with a secretary-like tone as she approached.
The chair turned slightly.
Wen Ruoxian’s brows, which had been furrowed, relaxed the moment she saw Song Qingluo. Her eyes sparkled with delight.
She stood up in surprise and reached out to hold Song Qingluo’s hand. “What made you come over?”
Song Qingluo waved her phone. “I came to pick up my Mrs. Peacock.”
“So you saw the message earlier.”
“Hmm?”
“You deliberately didn’t reply to me.” Wen Ruoxian’s expression turned serious, and her glasses made her look imposing.
Song Qingluo took a deep breath, her legs feeling weak not from fear but from a certain indescribable excitement. She tugged at Wen Ruoxian’s collar, stepping back to lean against the bookshelf, and teasingly brushed her tongue over the corner of her lips.
“Yeah, President Wen, what do you want?”
She pressed her fingers slightly, and Wen Ruoxian staggered forward, bracing herself with her hands on either side of Song Qingluo's head, palms pressed against the glass, gazing into her eyes.
In those deep black eyes, there was only seduction and cunning.
Wen Ruoxian decided to go along with it, leaning in to kiss her. Song Qingluo raised a hand. “Just a reminder, President Wen, this is the office.”
“You also know it’s the office.”
Song Qingluo stuck out her tongue.
Wen Ruoxian wrapped her arms around Song Qingluo’s waist, and her lips found their way to Song Qingluo’s, biting down gently on the tongue that hadn’t been retracted in time. She immediately felt the tension in Song Qingluo’s body.
“Mm-mm…” Song Qingluo could only make this sound in her plea for mercy.
Wen Ruoxian took advantage of the moment to pry open Song Qingluo's lips, deepening the kiss until their breathing grew heavier. Song Qingluo lay there like a fish on a chopping board, unable to move, yet yearning for more. Just as her thoughts were stirred, Wen Ruoxian released her.
“Mm… Ruoxian?”
“Just a reminder, Miss Song, this is the office.”
Taking revenge on her?
So hateful.
It was a pity that they were in the office and couldn’t do much.
“I knew you would bully me,” Song Qingluo muttered, pushing her away and sitting down on the sofa with her legs crossed.
Wen Ruoxian sat down next to her. “How did the copyright talks go?”
Song Qingluo was soft-hearted; seeing Wen Ruoxian come closer, she nestled into her embrace with a proud expression. “It went smoothly. Two directors want to work with me to create original scores for their films.”
“Congratulations to my great composer.” Wen Ruoxian also enjoyed holding her, the feel was great, like hugging a plush pillow—fragrant and soft.
Song Qingluo blushed out of modesty. “Not really.”
Just as Wen Ruoxian was about to speak, a knock came at the door. Before she could react, Song Qingluo sat up straight, her body tensing as she stared at the office door.
“Ruoxian—”
The door opened, and Cheng Suran walked in.
The three of them were stunned.
Song Qingluo squinted with a smile and stood up. “CEO Cheng, how have you been?”
Author’s Note:
Cheng Ranran: Scared, going home to find Coco.jpg
.
(Beginning the countdown to the end QAQ)
