The Reconciliation Chapter 8

Chapter 8 – Awkward

After three days of fervent public discussion, the topic online gradually turned into whether one should discriminate against gay people or not. A portion of the people believed that homosexuality is a mental illness and that gay people should seek treatments from psychologists. The rest of the people believed that homosexuality is not a crime and is a matter of personal choice. On top of that, humans accept it when animals engage in homosexual behavior, so why do gay people have to be labeled as freaks.

At the same time, the celebrities who previously came out and displayed PDA on their own Weibos have also attempted to jump on the bandwagon for some publicity. They made great efforts to stick up for Yu Xi, hoping that she sticks to the path she chose. They also hoped that netizens do not pay too much attention to this matter because they’re unwilling to see a second Xiao Lishui.

After Xiao Lishui’s name came out, the internet exploded.

As everyone knows.

Xiao Lishui was the last female actress who was forced to commit suicide from the netizens’ cyberbullying.

Despite the actress passing on for this many years already, her fans have not forgotten her and would even have many ways to remember her. When these fans saw another person experiencing the same things, they immediately erupted with the accumulated anger from before.

They rebutted the netizens that believed homosexuality was an illness until those netizens started to doubt their own lives.

Anger is one of the most terrifying emotions, particularly when it’s been piled for this many years. The portion of netizens that suggested Yu Xi to receive treatment quickly withdrew from the argument. The fake fans Bai Yutang found were also mixed within the discussion and through their combined efforts, Yu Xi’s image slowly elevated.

At the same time, Bai Yutang also released a big news. By this time, it’s already been a few days since Yu Xi’s scandal erupted. Netizens were already exhausted from having to debate with others, and on top of that, Xiao Lishui and Yu Xi’s fans’s capacity was so terrifying that even if they wanted to say something, they didn’t dare to say it. Thus, when the big news was released, they immediately focused their attention on that instead. Within two days, the discussion on how Yu Xi came out as gay on the program gradually became tranquil.

Only once in a while will this subject pop up again, however, it would also be very quickly dealt with by Bai Yutang.

Yu Xi didn’t pay much attention to this situation. Instead, she gave Bai Yutang full authority to handle it. Currently, her major task was to look over the script.  

The script was the one Bai Yutang gave her before.

It was a city romance drama.

After thinking about it, Yu Xi corrected this description of the script. Even more strictly speaking, it was a campy melodramatic city romance drama.

The female and male lead met in high school. The female lead was a transfer student who transferred into the male lead’s school during their last year. Due to her beautiful appearance, she received friendly welcoming from her male classmates, but this caused her female classmates to start bullying her. Despite only wanting to focus on her studies, she was dragged into a love triangle.

The protagonist of the love triangle was the male lead.

They dated in high school, broke up after graduating, and then reunited after starting to work. The male lead was her assigned superior at work while the female lead was a small office worker that was being suppressed by the company. The script was a cliched love story, however, Yu Xi couldn’t help but read over it with gusto. This was probably the so-called phenomenon where since ancient times people only fall for the same formulas and tricks¹.

Particularly, when she saw the scene where the female and male lead broke up after graduation, her eyes instantly reddened.

Because she thought of Jiang Jingbai.

Tch, she’s really useless.

Yu Xi hooked the corners of her mouth. The phone on the coffee table lit up and she answered it lazily.

It was Zhong Chen who called, “Xixi, do you need me to cook for you tonight?”

Yu Xi looked at her phone’s calendar, “No need, I need to go out tonight.”

“You need to go out?” Zhong Chen’s voice was suddenly nervous, “Bai-jie said you can’t just randomly go out. What if you get caught by the paparazzi? Something will happen again. On top of that, the previous situation has just been stabilized recently…”

Okay, the reason why she’s nagging her is actually because she’s afraid that Bai Yutang will hold her accountable again and yell at her.

Whenever she looks at Bai Yutang now, her legs will lose all their strength.

Yu Xi laughed, “Don’t get excited, I’m only going to see Xiaojing.”

“She recently gave birth.”

Zhong Chen’s grumbling came to a stop, “Jing-jie gave birth already?”

“Then I’ll-“

Yu Xi stopped her, “You don’t have to go.”

Zhong Chen frowned, “Why not?”

Yu Xi thought about it, “She’s still under prenatal care, I don’t want to bring a firecracker along with me.”

Zhong Chen took a deep breath and restrained her urge to get angry. She pouted, “No matter what, you still can’t be filmed by the paparazzi.”

Yu Xi replied, “Don’t worry, I won’t be.”

After hanging up, she sent Hu Xiaojing a message.

——I’m coming right away, do I need to bring you anything?”

Hu Xiaojing replied immediately: You can just send over a gift. The person doesn’t have to come.

Yu Xi laughed: No can do, if I didn’t get treated to a meal then wouldn’t it be a loss?

Hu Xiaojing:【Picture】As long you know. Come quickly, your goddaughter to waving to you.

The baby in the picture was sleeping in her quilt, looking like a small ball, pink and tender. Yu Xi looked at it and couldn’t help but yell out due to how cute she was. After closing the phone, she went to her bedroom to get changed. Right as she was wearing her skirt, she heard the phone ring again.  

It was Hu Xiaojing again.

“You haven’t left, have you? Gu He says that he has a friend near you. Why don’t you two come together?”

Yu Xi frowned, “A friend?”

“Who is it?”

The baby’s cry could be heard from Hu Xiaojing’s end of the line. She said to Yu Xi, “He didn’t say a name, but he mentioned that you also know them. The person’s at your complex entrance right now, so why don’t you both come together and save me the worry of you driving by yourself.”

Yu Xi pursed her lips, “Okay then.”

Although she had obtained her driver’s license long ago, she doesn’t usually drive, so her driving skills aren’t good at all. Now there’s someone willing to be the driver, how could she refuse?

Wearing high heels, she left the apartment. With a light pink dress on and a vest on top, she was also fully equipped with a cap, sunglasses, and a mask. When she arrived at the entrance of her apartment complex, she planned to call Gu He to ask him who the mysterious person was, but all of a sudden, she saw a car drive past her. The car window slowly lowered, revealing one half of a face.

“Get in the car,“ Jiang Jingbai unlocked the car door, “Gu He told me that you know the directions to their place, so let’s go together.”

Yu Xi furrowed her brows, “You’re going too?”

When she saw Jiang Jingbai, she was so astonished that she even forgot to address her using her title.

Around her, quite a few people were walking to and from, so some people have already started to place their gaze towards her. Yu Xi pursed her lips together tightly, her jaw tensed. After pondering for a few seconds, she walked over to the passenger’s side, opened the door and sat down.

Only after sitting down did Jiang Jingbai ask, “Which direction should I go?”

Yu Xi looked out the window, “Does your car have navigation?”

Jiang Jingbai hesitated for three seconds, “Yeah.”

Yu Xi lowered her head and fiddled with the GPS. After two minutes, she said, “Just follow this.”

“Okay.”

Hearing the shallow voice at her side, Yu Xi shot Jiang Jingbai a glance from her peripheral vision.

Jiang Jingbai was wearing a beige suit and her makeup was exquisite. Covered in an air of professionalism, she looked as if she just came from a conference. Her expression while driving was completely serious, her eyes bright and only focused in front of her.  

In the past, Yu Xi liked her appearance when she did things seriously the most. She completely had a different temperament than others, which she found extremely charming.

“The road’s closed ahead.”

Right as she was observing Jiang Jingbai, the other opened her mouth and she immediately drew back her gaze and looked forwards. There was a sign that said: Construction site, please detour.

Yu Xi pointed to the left, “Let’s go that way.”

Jiang Jingbai used both hands to steer the steering wheel. Fair skin and a thin wrist, she was wearing a very familiar bracelet. Yu Xi remembered that this bracelet was something her mom gave her as a birthday gift. At the time, Jiang Jingbai said it was the best birthday present she’s ever received before.

Surely enough, she’s definitely fond of it. Even after this many years, she’s still wearing the same bracelet.

It would be nice if she was able to be affectionate towards her for that long as well.

Yu Xi turned towards the window, scorning herself fiercely.

The black car slowly drove into a complex. The security here wasn’t that strict so Jiang Jingbai drove in very successfully. She looked towards Yu Xi, “Which unit?

Yu Xi stared outside, only just realizing they reached the complex. She raised her chin, “You’ll reach the underground garage from here if you keep driving straight.”

Obediently listening to her command, Jiang Jingbai drove the car to their destination. Afterwards, Yu Xi was the first to open the car door and step out into the garage with her high heels.

She was originally pretty tall so now that she’s wearing high heels, it only made her figure appear even more fair and graceful. Under her dress, her legs were exceptionally eye-catching. Straight and slim, there was no excess fat at all. Her calf lines were fine and could be said to be perfect.

In no time, someone glanced over and started checking out her legs.

The garage was dark and Yu Xi wore a mask and sunglasses, so she was not worried that she would be recognized. In addition, she was used to having various types of gazes on her, so she didn’t feel uncomfortable. On the contrary, Jiang Jingbai gave her a couple of looks before turning her head towards the guy that was checking her out.

Her gaze was not sharp and she only lightly glanced over at the guy.

The guy made eye contact with her and discreetly coughed before looking away.

Jiang Jingbai stood next to Yu Xi, softly saying, “Let’s go.”

Yu Xi turned around and walked to the front to lead the way.

Hu Xiaojing lived in the business district, so the building was pretty tall. Having a total of 28 floors, she lived on the 22th floor. Yu Xi walked into the elevator, pressed the button, then stood back. Jiang Jingbai stood next to her.

In no time, the faint smell of perfume wafted over from her side. It was the same smell as from a couple days back. Yu Xi lowered her eyes, pretending to look at the posted advertisements on the elevator door and deliberately shifted over to her side a couple of steps.

The high heels produced a crisp sound on the elevator floor. Jiang Jingbai’s line of sight subsequently fell on her.

Yu Xi’s facial features have already fully matured. Compared to when she was younger, she’s more attractive now. Now, both of her appearance when she’s smiling and when she’s not has their own charms. Even when wearing a mask, her just standing there was a beautiful scenery on its own.

After the elevator reached its floor, Yu Xi got off first. Hu Xiaojing’s apartment door was opened and from within the living room, you could hear people chatting. Immediately, Yu Xi could tell it was Han Yisi talking.

“Wait until Yu Xi gets here, I need to talk some sense into her. If she dares to have any contact with Jiang Jingbai, watch how I’m going to yell at her!”

“Not only is she bad at reading people, she’s also super stubborn. In the past, whenever she threw herself into the fire blindly like a moth, I was still able to pull her back. If she dares throw herself in again, I’ll personally set fire to her instead.”

“And Jiang Jingbai as well, what a slag!”

Hearing her furious voice, Yu Xi kicked on the door frame with her high heels. Body tilting askew, she almost fell but held herself up. Hearing the movement coming from the door, the two people that were chatting stopped and looked towards the door. Seeing Yu Xi there, Hu Xiaojing called out, “Come in, come in.”

“I was just talking about you with Han Yisi.”

Yu Xi forced a smile, “I’m coming.”

Hu Xiaojing looked behind her, “Oh right, what about Gu He’s friend? Who is it? Is it one of our old classmates?”

Yu Xi couldn’t hold onto her forced smile anymore. She slightly stepped aside a little and everyone watched another person walk into the doorway.

It was precisely the slag Jiang Jingbai that Han Yisi righteously scolded earlier.

As Yu Xi stood in the living room, she almost heard a peal of squawking crows fly over their head.

How awkward.

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1 Sorry, this is awful translating but in China, there’s a saying that ever since ancient times, affection is never retained, only tricks and routines are popular. An example would be like girls are easily swayed over by players because of all the tricks they know. So, this can be applied to dramas where they use the same tricks and formulas that suck but are still somehow popular.

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