"Heh Cai Lingyun had felt so pitiful for Guiying. You should have seen the sympathy in his eyes," 'she' sneered. "And do you know how she got an offer from Dream High? It was Zhan Yahui who had paved the way for her."
Ai's eyes widened.
"Paved the way…? But didn't Yating-"
"Yating and his boss, the chief editor at that time, had their eyes set on you."
She stiffened.
"Heh. They knew that you were the real winner of the competition so he came to you with an offer. I still remember the day. Gu Yating had come to the campus to find you. Guiying wasn't in his sight at all."
All this time, Ai thought that she had gotten the offer after Guiying had. But she was unaware that Guiying had never received an offer from Yating in the first place.
"It was Zhan Yahui who brought her to Dream High and since then…everyday has just been a battle against you. But you know…even amidst all this, Guiying still had one hope left. MrPerfect."
'She' smiled. "They idiot fell in love with him and in this dark and grim life of sorrow and constant comparison, he was the only source of light for her. Because he was someone who poured all his undivided attention to Guiying. The only word on his lips was CherryBlossom. Not Ai. Not MissImperfectlyFine. She felt as if she was his sole world and she wanted nothing more than that. But then after the Summit ended, she saw you and Liu Jun together and she heard him saying he was MrPerfect."
Ai clearly remembered that. It was when they were about to leave. It was the first time that Ai, too, learned about his identity.
'Guiying' chuckled. "Now imagine her world turning upside down. No parents' love, no brother's love and now see the man she gave her heart to to that one woman who had everything. Zhou Ai had won once again."
Ai trembled.
"That's why I took over. Enough was enough. Until when was Guiying supposed to be humiliated? When was this whole ordeal supposed to get over? The time ended where Guiying begged for everyone's love. Instead, it was time for me to get revenge. Just like I protected her from Cai Lingyun all this time, I swore to protect her from Liu Jun too. Or at least that was how it was supposed to go…But now I wonder just against who I had been protecting her all this time…?"
Ai lifted her gaze and for the first time heard 'her' voice shaking.
"I thought I was the smart one between us. Guiying wouldn't be able to do anything on her own. But now I look like a fool who Zhan Yahui used the whole time. I thought I was achieving my goal but I was just a stepping stone for her. What…Just what I have been doing all this time…?"
'Guiying' cried hard for the first time. 'She' never showed herself so much vulnerable, not even in front of Zixin. 'Her' strong front was like an impenetrable wall. But today was different.
'She' felt like disappearing forever. 'She' was supposed to watch over Guiying and protect her. But instead, the guilt of falling into Zhan Yahui's trap crushed 'her' heart beyond repair.
"If I cannot do the only thing right for which I was born then why am I here in the first place? I only…let Guiying exposed to more sadness. I…really should just disappear…" 'she' mumbled with blank gaze.
"No!" Ai said. "Why should you think like that? You did nothing wrong! In fact ever since I came to know about you, I have wanted to thank you for a long time…" her eyes ached, "If not for you then Guiying would have fallen a long time ago. It was you who held her spirit together. You were that friend that I could never become for her. You…" she tightly held 'her' hand and gasped, "you have no idea how much you have my gratitude…So don't say that you want to disappear."
Ai rested her forehead against the back of 'her' palm, her tears dropping on her skin. She cried in silence for a long time, letting out the sorrows of not only the past but also the present lifetime.
It was then when a slow but soft voice spoke, "Ai…"
Ai blinked. She immediately felt the change in Guiying's tone. She lifted her head and saw Guiying staring at her with an indescribable sense of loneliness in her black eyes.
"I am sorry Ai. I am so pathetic. All these things…I wanted to say to you myself. But I just didn't have the courage. Until the end…I relied on 'her' to do the part. Please don't blame yourself for anything Ai. 'She' said some harsh things to you, but that's only because 'she' is very protective of me. Please d-don't be mad at 'her.'"
Her headache was beginning to ease up, and Guiying felt like she could finally breathe.
"Guiying…" Ai tremblingly uttered her name.
Guiying weakly smiled. "There are so many things I still want to say…But I want to start with an apology. I had no place to feel jealous of you. I always felt so childish…You got everything with your own merit. But still I acted so hopelessly. No matter what Ai…I am really happy that we came to Dream High together. I am happy you won the Summit. Your story was amazing. You deserved it. And I am happy that you found Liu Jun too."
Ai broke down as she buried her face in her palms.
Guiying quickly said, "I am not saying this now because the misunderstanding is cleared now. I felt like this ever since Shanghai...when I saw how much he cherished and treasured you. I lost, and I felt that I could never compete to you. Liu Jun would never love me the way he loves you even if 'she' took revenge from him. I am sorry Ai that I never told you about myself. I…just couldn't. But you were never at fault, Ai. It was always me who lacked-"
"You didn't lack at anything!" Ai furiously shook her head. "You are an amazing person! Until the end you remained a kind sister to Cai Lingyun even though he abused you so much. You are an amazing writer who inspired me to become one in the first place. And you are an amazing fighter too! You stood tall against all odds. There is nothing wrong in feeling jealous because t-there have been times when I was so envious of you too. I know…" she shook, "I know that feeling. So please don't blame yourself, Guiying."
She gasped breathlessly and sniffled. "It was so lonely without you Guiying…I always wished we could go back to those times when we laughed without any care…"
Guiying felt her tears blur her vision and she slowly sat upright on the couch. "Me too…I was tired by this revenge. I wish we didn't have these ugly feelings between us. But Zhan Yahui only fanned the flames harder. I…trusted her so much."
At times, Guiying even felt as if Zhan Yahui was an elder sister to her. She spoke bitter words sometimes, but it had always only helped her improve as a writer. That's why Zhan Yahui's betrayal hit her harder.
Ai wiped her eyes and said with a fierce determination shining in her brown eyes, "That's why it's time to make her pay for playing with everyone's lives and feelings. This time, Zhan Yahui will have to suffer."
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