Jiang Ling, upon seeing this content, was utterly bewildered.
She didnโt understand any of it, but just from the wording in those descriptions, she could vaguely guess that these probably werenโt pleasant memories for Shen Yue.
So, she first put on her Bluetooth earpiece, and only then clicked open a related news report.
It was a video, just over a minute long, briefly and concisely introducing how, as a composer, Shen Yue had beenโฆ subjected to cyberbullying.
Jiang Ling frowned as soon as the first scene appeared. In the center of the video, Shen Yue was walking down the street in a hat and mask, looking disheveled, surrounded by a swarm of cameras.
Flashing lights struck her face again and again, and around her came the shrill, desperate shouts of reportersโ
โWhat do you think about Mr. Meng saying the music you wrote is a pile of trash?โ
โAre you really just putting on a show for fame? I heard that during your collaboration with Candy, you got along terribly and were eventually kicked off the album production.โ
โPleaseโโ
With trembling fingers, Jiang Ling pressed the pause button. The screen froze on Shen Yueโs somewhat haggard face, her eyesโonce dazzling like obsidianโnow dull and lifeless.
Her body looked so small, so slight that she was nearly swallowed up by the crowd of cameras, almost indistinguishable from the chaos.
Jiang Ling couldnโt keep watching. Instead, she turned her complicated gaze to the downcast Shen Yue and immediately apologized, โSorry, I didnโt mean to bring all that up.โ
She hadnโt expected that Shen Yue had been through such things. For a moment, she didnโt know what to say, so she could only sincerely express her apology.
As for those overwhelming negative comments, honestly, Jiang Ling didnโt believe them outright.
After all, things on the internet are always tangled and complex. She herself had been nitpicked and criticized before, so she knew just how helpless that felt.
At least until she knew the truth, Jiang Ling wouldnโt believe itโbut she wouldnโt wrongly accuse Shen Yue either.
โItโs fine.โ
Shen Yue waved her hand lightly, her expression unchanged. Then, locking eyes with Jiang Ling, she spoke again, โSo do you understand what I mean now?โ
โMy songs arenโt liked by anyone.โ
โAnd Iโฆ am not liked either.โ
โYouโฆ youโre an interesting person, willing to eat with me and talk to me. Iโm really grateful for that. But youโd better not buy my songs. If itโs found out I wrote them, youโll face a lot of public backlash.โ
Shen Yue went on talking to herself, โIf only Iโm treated like this, thatโs one thing, but I canโt let you get targeted just for buying my songsโโ
Suddenly, her breathing turned sharp, and her words cut off.
Startled, Jiang Ling looked up, meeting Shen Yueโs face, pale as paper. The hand gripping her glass was trembling uncontrollably.
โShen Yue?โ
Jiang Ling called out in a low, anxious voice, hurriedly getting up and walking over to Shen Yueโs side, hand outstretched to touch her unnaturally cold face.
Donโt worry, if you donโt want to talk, you donโt have to.
Although they hadnโt known each other long, Jiang Ling couldnโt bear to see such a cute girl in front of her cry.
โDonโtโฆ Donโt touch me!โ
But Shen Yue didnโt stop trembling. Instead, she desperately shook off Jiang Lingโs hand, stumbling backward and slamming into the sofaโs backrest with a muffled, panicked thud.
โBang!โ
Seeing her so on guard, Jiang Ling didnโt step forward again, instead carefully backing away, โIโm sorry, I didnโt mean to. Please, just calm down, okay?โ
All of Shen Yueโs earlier defenselessness had vanished. Now she was like a hedgehog, bristling with thorns, watching warily as Jiang Ling moved farther away, her breath ragged.
Jiang Ling obediently returned to her seat, making no extra movements or remarksโjust waiting quietly for Shen Yue to recover.
She didnโt know how long it took.
Slowly, Shen Yue straightened up, picked up her glass and drained her drink, then looked over with a guilty glint in her eyes, her voice a bit hoarse, โSorry, I mightโฆ have overreacted. Letโs end here for today. I really enjoyed eating with you.โ
As she spoke, she looked away awkwardly, then quickly stood up and went over to the shop owner, who had been watching with concern, pulling out her payment code to settle the bill.
Jiang Ling could only watch as she finished paying, pulled a mask from her pocket, put it on, lowered her head, and walked out of the shop, disappearing into the surging crowd.
For some reason, Jiang Lingโs heart suddenly ached.
After she got back, Jiang Lingโs mind was still a bit blank. Shen Yueโs distressed and struggling face kept replaying in her mind, and for a while she didnโt know what to say to her waiting teammates.
Bai Xue saw her walk in dazed and immediately frowned, steadying Jiang Ling and pulling her into her arms with concern, โWhat, did your soul get left behind out there?โ
Hearing this, Jiang Ling couldnโt help sighing. Not being dramatic, she simply buried herself in Bai Xueโs warm embrace, curling up, and whispered, โBai Xueโฆโ
โIโm here.โ
Bai Xue gently stroked her, her voice warm.
โI think I messed up.โ
Jiang Ling muttered, arms tightening around Bai Xueโs waist.
โItโs alright.โ
Bai Xue didnโt say much more, only patiently comforting her, โEveryoneโs inside waiting for you. Donโt put too much pressure on yourself. This isnโt just your burdenโno one will blame you.โ
Jiang Lingโs head, buried in Bai Xueโs arms, shifted a bit as if nodding.
Everyone else, seeing Jiang Ling enter so silently, immediately picked up on her mood.
โWhat happened, did someone bully you?โ
Fang Wannian instantly frowned, looking ready to start a fight.
Mo Ran patted the seat beside her, โAnyway, sit down first. No matter what happened, weโre on your side.โ
Lin Xiaoyu, meanwhile, tore open her favorite snack and offered it to Jiang Ling, โHave something tasty, try to relax?โ
Feeling everyoneโs warmth, Jiang Lingโs jumbled mood improved a bit. Forcing a smile, she shook her head, โItโs not that serious, but there is a problem.โ
With that, she recounted everything that had happened in the burger shop.
The first to react after hearing it all was Bai Xue.
โShen Yue?โ
She frowned, looking incredulous.
Jiang Ling glanced at her and asked in return, โYou know her?โ
โMmโฆ You could say that.โ
Bai Xueโs expression grew subtle. She withdrew her gaze, not bothering with any mystery, and explained word by word, โShe previously collaborated with Candy, as the main composer for their album.โ
โBut that collaboration didnโt go well.โ
โI donโt care about Bai Ming, but for the four girls under himโฆ I always tried to help them however I could, so I know roughly what happened then.โ
As she spoke, Bai Xue found a news article about Shen Yue and showed it to everyoneโ
Genius Composer Girl Collaborates with Famous Girl GroupโWhat Kind of Sparks Will Fly?
โActually, when they first worked together, the reviews were great. Shen Yue had been active online under her real name for quite some time, and the songs she produced were all hugely popular.โ
โBut later, the public opinion about her suddenly reversed overnightโฆโ
Bai Xue recalled, letting out a barely audible sigh.
โAt that time, Candy was just one step away from becoming a top girl group, and Shen Yue, who composed their title track, was a rookie. Meng Qiang, who had written many hits for Candy before, angrily criticized her song in an interview, saying it was flashy but shallow.โ
โAt the same time, photos of Shen Yue arguing with Candy members suddenly surfaced online, and the restโฆ well, you already know.โ
Jiang Ling pressed her lips together tightly, memories of Shen Yueโs wary, almost hostile reaction to her earlier replaying in her mind, her worry deepening.
โI didnโt realize the burger girl was her,โ Bai Xue closed the web page, โbut if itโs her, itโs not surprising she wrote such excellent songs.โ
Then she shifted her tone, โBut honestly and rationally, we shouldnโt keep clinging to Shen Yue.โ
After a pause, Bai Xue quietly watched as Jiang Lingโs face grew more and more stubborn.
โDo you understand what I mean?โ