When She Stops Being Dramatic

Chapter 131: Chapter 64: Top Star of the ’60s Art Troupe (3)

Seen this way, half her face was swollen like a pig’s head—it was downright hideous!

”Ruoyun,” Tong Yuanbin took a step forward and waved her over. When she was in front of him, he stuffed a bag of snacks into her hands.

He stared at the swollen half of her face. It lacked its usual cool elegance. He lowered his gaze, his eyes no longer holding their usual fiery passion. The words of concern he was so used to saying now sounded strangely hollow, even to himself.

After a few moments of patient preamble, he said with concern, ”I heard about what happened with your family. I want to hear from you what really happened.”

Xia Zhaoyun bit her lip and looked at him with a wronged expression, thrusting her face right up to his. ”Yuanbin, I have nothing now. You’re not going to abandon me too, are you?”

Tong Yuanbin adjusted his glasses. Noticing the many people coming and going, he turned and led her a few steps into a small grove of trees, incidentally putting some distance between them so his eyes wouldn’t be offended by the sight.

”Of course not. We’re already engaged. We’ll have our wedding as soon as I graduate from university. But, Ruoyun, don’t avoid the subject. Did you really push Baomei down the stairs?”

In the past, whenever he saw her, he could hardly keep from plastering himself to her side. Never mind hugs or embraces; just holding her hand or catching a whiff of her scent was a unique kind of intoxicating thrill that made his heart pound.

Who says men aren’t vain?

She was the unattainable goddess for all the sons of the factory workers, shining down on the masses, yet she belonged only to him.

The feeling was as if he himself were floating high above everyone else!

But now, it was as if their roles had been completely reversed.

The woman who had once been so reserved and aloof, who disliked anyone getting too close, was now clinging to him like a lifeline. Her desperate eagerness gave him a strange sense of pleasure.

However, looking at her in this state, he couldn’t summon even a shred of romantic desire.

Xia Zhaoyun said, flustered and exasperated, ”It wasn’t me! It really wasn’t! Why won’t any of you believe me?”

This ferocious expression made her face look even more like a shifting palette of colors in the light and shadow. The sight was so striking it made his mind go blank; for a moment, he couldn’t even recall how ethereal she once was.

Tong Yuanbin pressed his lips together tightly. ”Ruoyun, you rarely show your emotions so openly.”

’If it’s not a guilty conscience, then when has someone like her, who’s usually above it all, ever lost control like this?’

Xia Zhaoyun’s body trembled, and she gritted her teeth. ”Fine. You believe her and not me. In that case, let’s just call off our engagement. That’ll save your family from having its reputation ruined by a vicious woman like me!”

”Ruoyun, that’s not what I meant,” Tong Yuanbin said hastily. ’Although her face is swollen and ugly now, in time she’ll recover her former, exquisite beauty.’

’How could he just let go of the woman he’d desired for so many years?’

”Don’t you know how I feel about you? I heard you were in trouble and rushed right over, didn’t I? If you say it, I’ll believe you. It’s just that the Song Family are all convinced you’re the culprit, and my mother... she places the utmost importance on a person’s character, so she might be a little harsh with you. Don’t take it to heart. Next time I have a day off...”

Xia Zhaoyun lost her patience and cut him off. ”Tong Yuanbin, have you never heard that the biggest conflict in a family is always between the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law? You’re the son and the fiancé, yet instead of trying to find the root of the problem, you’ve mastered the art of being a useless peacemaker.”

”Endure it? Why should I endure it? What did I do wrong? It’s bad enough that I’m being falsely accused, but now I have to put up with your mother’s harshness too? On what grounds? You get to have a good reputation for your blind filial piety, but I’m the one who suffers!”

”Haven’t I spent my whole life being ordered around by the Song Family? You expect me to marry you just to endure being controlled by your family too?”

”Enough. Let’s just part on good terms. After all,” Xia Zhaoyun’s lip curled into a slight smile, ”your real fiancée is Song Zhenbao.”

After speaking, she shoved the bag of snacks, along with a watch she’d been clutching in her hand, back at him. Then she turned and strode away quickly, not even giving him a chance to grab her.

Tong Yuanbin stood frozen on the spot, his fists clenched. After half a minute, he walked away, pale-faced and still holding the items.

Two women who had taken a shortcut peeked out and let out a long breath. ”That Song Ruoyun really has some temper. Even in this situation, she still dares to act so self-righteous toward Mr. Tong. Tossing away a good engagement just like that.”

”She’s probably used to being put on a pedestal and has no sense of propriety. Does she still think she’s the pampered and doted-on darling of the Song Family? Playing hard to get, waiting for Mr. Tong to coax her back? She should take a good look at herself! If your heart is vicious, it doesn’t matter how beautiful you are. It’s all for nothing...”

”Hehe, without the Song Family or the Tong family to back her, Song Ruoyun will have to learn to live with her tail between her legs...”

”Speaking of which, Song Zhenbao has had it rough. She’s the genuine article, yet she’s been bullied like this by a fake...”

Back in the dorm, He Qingran handed Xia Zhaoyun a manuscript. ”This is the script for tomorrow. Just look it over and get a feel for it.”

Xia Zhaoyun nodded and took it, placing it on her bed. Then she grabbed her washbasin and went to wash up.