The past life's Zhan Yahui was beyond frustrated with the lack of Guiying's answers to her numerous calls.
"If she hated Ai then why is she so traumatized? When will she snap out of it!"
Hou Lin slowly said, "Zhou Ai was her best friend."
She snorted. "Not for the last five years that I know of. If she was such a good friend, it wouldn't have been easy for me to manipulate her. Why is she being so dramatic now?"
Her phone rang but instead of it being from Guiying, Yating's number flashed on it. Before she could even greet him a hello, his agitated voice exclaimed from the other side. "What the hell is happening!"
Zhan Yahui took the phone away from her ear. "Hey, pipe down. Why are you shouting at me?" Her gaze darkened.
"Of course I will shout at you! I will scream at the entire Dream High. What bullshit is this news of Ai committing suicide!?"
She cocked her brow lazily. "How is it bullshit? She fell from the terrace. What else should the news show?"
"The truth, Zhan Yahui! And the truth is that Ai died of an accident! She…" it took a few moments for him to calm down and speak without stammering, "She died because of me. I couldn't save her in time. I lost Ai because I was a coward…"
The grief in his voice was so deep that it could tug anybody's heartstrings. But it hardened again. "If it was my fault that Ai died then why the fuck did Dream High give a statement that she killed herself!? This is bullshit!"
"It's not bullshit if you cool down and think things through," she dryly said, "I know it's because of Guiying that the accident happened. She fought, things got ugly and then…well unfortunately, we cannot change the situation but we can salvage it to prevent it from screwing any further."
"...What the hell are you talking about?"
"I am talking sense, Gu Yating. You don't possibly think that Dream High will own up to the accident and let Guiying be in the line of fire, do you? Did you seriously think that we will confess that Zhou Ai died because Guiying accidentally pushed her?"
"That's the fucking truth!"
"Which shouldn't be out or else Guiying's career will be over. Can you think of the repercussions this will have? It was an accident for sure but will people completely agree to it? I cannot afford any rumors to be made against my top author. Who knows what sort of toxicity will spread against her? This one incident will ruin her and Dream High's image too."
Yating couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You…you cannot be seriously thinking of career or reputation here, Zhan Yahui. Ai has died for God's sake! She died by falling off the terrace because of Guiying and me! You think that instead of owning up to our sin, we should push the reason onto Ai herself? That she killed herself? Are you out of your fucking mind!? Like hell I will allow this!"
Zhan Yahui narrowed her eyes.
"Ai…" his voice broke as he choked, "Ai is already no more…I have lost her. I will…I will never get to see her again, Zhan Yahui. Do you really understand what it means to lose someone? What it means for somebody to die?"
She wryly chuckled. "Oh trust me, Gu Yating. I know that pain very well…"
"Then please don't disrespect Ai's death and her dignity. She wasn't a coward to take her life, Zhan Yahui. I know that and so do her parents. I won't allow anybody to put a stain on her reputation to save Dream High's. Do you even understand what her parents might be feeling!? Dream High is covering up an accident to show it was a suicide. This is beyond lying!"
She sneered. "It's not your decision but Dream High's."
"And I won't sit down and take this shit. I will come out and confess everything no matter what the consequences would be. I don't care about Guiying or myself because Ai doesn't deserve this," his shaky breaths could be heard from the other side.
"I suggest you think about your late father a little, Gu Yating. Mr. Gu Rong is already no more and you have Gu Corps' responsibility too. Imagine everybody knowing young master Gu getting involved in a scandal related to his ex-girlfriend. Do you think the board will let you go scot free? You running Gu Corps was your father's dream and last wish. I hope YOU think more on that front rather than giving justice for a woman you had already broken up with five years ago."
Silence. Her every word squeezed Yating's heart as if it was being twisted. It only brought upon more agony.
"You are right…I have been a terrible boyfriend. I have been a horrible person to Ai. That's why this time…I will try to correct my sins. I am irredeemable and I know that, Zhan Yahui. But if it brings peace to Ai's soul even a little bit…even a tiny bit…then I won't hesitate to do what it takes to make her happy. Neither you can stop me nor Dream High."
This stubborn man!
Zhan Yahui gritted her teeth in fury.
How the hell am I supposed to deal with him!?
But before she could think any further, Hou Lin's grave expression made her furrow her brows.
He glanced at her with a deadly serious countenance and showed her the latest post trending on social media. A post that was made by Guiying just a few minutes ago and already going viral everywhere.
Zhan Yahui grabbed the phone and as she read her message, she froze and her eyes widened.
Guiying, with her pen name CherryBlossom, had typed -
'I killed Ai. It was me who pushed Ai from the terrace in a fit of anger. I fought with her. I blamed her. I spoke harsh words to her. I snatched her love from her. I…was the one to break off our years of lovely friendship because of my jealousy and insecurity.
It was always Ai who was more talented than me. She was the real winner of the national writing competition held when we were in high school. She was a true gem in every sense and I was nothing but a fake. She had every capability to shine as a writer but I snatched it all away from her…
I always felt jealous of her because I was always lacking as compared to her. But now that I have lost her…I realize how foolish I have been. I lost the only true friend I had and now I am completely alone. It feels…miserable. But it's too late. I cannot bring Ai back. No amount of regret will turn time back.
But at least…before I bid you all goodbye…
I want to confess that Ai didn't kill herself. She was a very, very strong woman. Much stronger than me. More beautiful than me, much more talented than me and much kinder than me…
And I killed that very same friend with my own hands. My hands are forever stained with her blood that I won't be able to wash off. I not only used Ai but also Han Shui that only brought upon the tragic deaths in Liu family and all...all because of me. I will never be able to forgive myself. That's why I will atone for my sins the only way that I can think of…
Thank you everyone for loving me all this time. I am forever grateful for your kindness. But I cannot live a shameless life where my hands pushed my best friend to her death.
That's why this will be CherryBlossom's end.
I am sorry, Ai. I know it's too late for everything. I cannot undo the damage and pain I caused to you. Thank you for being my friend Ai…and I am sorry that I couldn't be the friend to you that you wished for.
I am so…very sorry…'
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺