Chapter 639: Surprise? Shock!
Liu Ruyan suddenly turned her head, her gaze uncertain as she looked at Zhong Lingyin.
Under the immense shock of the film's sudden jump scare, Zhong Lingyin hadn't been able to maintain her affected, high-pitched loli voice. For a split second, her true voice had slipped out—a voice as clear and sweet as a celestial melody, an ethereal sound that was instantly, achingly familiar. Liu Ruyan's heart seized. She knew that voice better than she knew her own reflection. It belonged, without a shadow of a doubt, to her very own Fifth Junior Sister, Zhong Lingyin.
'This Anna… is Lingyin? How could it possibly be Lingyin?'
The thought struck Liu Ruyan with the force of a physical blow, leaving her momentarily breathless. Her mind, usually sharp as a razor's edge, reeled from the revelation. Following this electrifying clue, her gaze narrowed, dissecting every feature of the woman who called herself 'Anna'. The disguise was clever—expertly applied makeup, a different hairstyle, clothes that screamed a personality completely alien to the elegant and world-famous Heavenly Queen. But it was just a facade, not a genuine transformation. The underlying framework, the person beneath, was still there.
Her eyes scanned with predatory focus. The curve of Anna's jaw, the elegant slope of her shoulders, the delicate shape of her ears—it all screamed Lingyin. Then, she saw it. On the slender, porcelain-white column of Zhong Lingyin's neck, almost hidden in the dim theater light, was a tiny, faint mole. A mark Liu Ruyan had teased her about countless times when they were younger.
'It really is her! It's Lingyin!'
The confirmation sent a wave of icy fury washing through Liu Ruyan. Not again. Another little cat sneaking behind her back to steal her fish. Another one of her precious, "good" Junior Sisters trying to pry away the cornerstone of her wall. The memory of the confrontation at the Magic City River View Manor was still fresh, still raw. Fourth Junior Sister Ye Liyou and Seventh Junior Sister Yang Luoluo had already tested the limits of her patience. Ye Liyou, in particular, had challenged her head-on, refusing to back down an inch, her defiance a sharp sting to Liu Ruyan's pride.
And now this? Fifth Junior Sister Zhong Lingyin—the one who had just publicly announced to the entire world that she was in a relationship—was also entangled with her scoundrel of a man?
The irony was acidic. Liu Ruyan distinctly remembered the news from Lingyin's final world tour concert in Magic City. Zhong Lingyin had stood on that grand stage, under the gaze of millions, and declared she had a boyfriend, a mysterious figure known only as the "Jade Prince." She had even claimed they co-wrote the chart-topping hit "Cherry Blossom Night" as a proof of their love.
At the time, Liu Ruyan had felt a surge of protective, sisterly concern. She'd even made a mental note to demand Zhong Lingyin bring this "Jade Prince" for an inspection, to ensure her sweet, naive Junior Sister wasn't being deceived by some silver-tongued charlatan.
Jade Prince. What a magnificent, poetic title. A bitter, sardonic laugh almost escaped her lips. Who else could it be but Shen Anyu?
'You absolute scoundrel! I am so far from being done with you!' Liu Ruyan's inner voice was a low growl. A furious heat coiled in her stomach. Did he have some kind of obsession? Was he systematically working his way through her Junior Sisters?
'He's picking them off one by one, isn't he?' she fumed. 'If he's so determined, why stop there? There's still our Eldest Senior Sister, Pei Changli! Why doesn't he go after Fairy Pei herself?'
The thought was so absurd it momentarily broke her spiral of anger. Wait. She was so furious she was getting confused. Shen Anyu being a scoundrel was a known fact, a fundamental law of the universe at this point. He was a force of nature. The real betrayal, the real sting, came from her own side.
'Zhong Lingyin… my good, sweet Junior Sister… you actually dared to quietly dig at the foundation of my wall?'
And the audacity of it all! Calling herself Anna? Faking that squeaky, cloying loli voice? Liu Ruyan's lip curled in disdain. It was just as she'd always suspected—anyone who used a fake voice was hiding something rotten.
Her charming, phoenix-like eyes practically spat fire. An overwhelming urge to grab Zhong Lingyin by the shoulders, shake her, and teach her a severe, unforgettable lesson surged through her.
Completely oblivious to the tempest brewing just a few seats away, Zhong Lingyin remained nestled in Shen Anyu's embrace, her head pressed firmly against his chest. She was entirely unaware that her carefully constructed identity had been shattered and that her Second Senior Sister was watching her every move. At that moment, she resumed her practiced, sugary-sweet loli voice, the sound ringing out with a deliberate, saccharine clarity.
"Husband, I'm not scared anymore," she chirped, her voice muffled slightly by his shirt. "It's so good to have you here."
The rich, masculine scent of him filled her senses, a comforting aroma that made a fresh wave of blush creep up her neck. Zhong Lingyin felt a pang of guilt, but it was quickly overwhelmed by the sheer bliss of being held by him.
"It's okay," Shen Anyu replied with a gentle smile, his voice laced with a hint of apology. He stroked her hair, his touch sending pleasant chills down her spine. "Today is your birthday, after all. I should have known better than to take you to a horror suspense film. A comedy would have been a much better choice."
Birthday?
The word cut through Liu Ruyan's haze of anger like a bolt of lightning. She froze, her rage momentarily forgotten, replaced by a sudden, dawning comprehension.
That's right. How could she have forgotten? Today was Fifth Junior Sister Zhong Lingyin's twenty-fifth birthday. She had originally planned to spend the day celebrating with her, but An Zhiyue had dragged her away on that wild goose chase to corner Yao Qi, and the plan had fallen through. She'd intended to at least make a video call later tonight to wish her well.
A long, slow breath escaped Liu Ruyan's lips. The fiery anger subsided, not extinguished, but banked into smoldering embers.
'Birthday, huh? Fine. I'll let you off the hook… for today,' she decided, her mind already spinning. 'But tomorrow? Tomorrow, we'll see how Second Senior Sister teaches you a proper lesson. Tomorrow, you'll be reminded of the majesty of a Senior Sister!'
A dangerous, cunning glint entered Liu Ruyan's eyes. She let out a soft, almost inaudible snort, her gaze sweeping over Zhong Lingyin's oblivious form. For now, she wouldn't expose this little charade. An exquisite, predatory arc curved the corner of her lips. The thought of the absolute panic that would erupt on Lingyin's face when the truth finally came out was suddenly a far more tantalizing prospect than a simple, angry confrontation.
Yes, she could look forward to that.
No. On second thought, why wait? Watching them, seeing Zhong Lingyin so intimately wrapped in Shen Anyu's arms, still pricked at her. A familiar, possessive jealousy welled up inside her, sharp and unwelcome.
'No, I still need to teach this little fish-stealing cat a lesson right now,' she mused, her mood shifting again. 'My darling Junior Sister, today Second Senior Sister will save you a little bit of face. Just a little.'
Her eyes sparkled with mischief.
'Tomorrow, I'll serve you a grand feast of humiliation!'
Liu Ruyan's mind was a whirlwind of delightful, wicked schemes. Her foxy nature was in its element as she pondered the perfect way to torment Zhong Lingyin. Out of consideration for her birthday, she wouldn't blow her cover completely. But she would absolutely tease her, push her, and needle her until she was squirming with guilt and paranoia. Anything less would be unsatisfying.
Several minutes had passed. On the massive screen, the movie had transitioned from its thrilling, bloody climax. The main characters were now on vacation at a sun-drenched resort, the tone shifting to something lighthearted and comedic. Genuine laughter began to ripple through the screening room, breaking the earlier tension.
Even Zhong Lingyin found herself chuckling, covering her red lips as she whispered to Shen Anyu, "This movie really isn't bad. It should be qualified to contend for the second-highest spot at this year's box office."
The girl sitting in the row directly in front of them overheard the comment. She immediately turned her head, her expression one of genuine confusion.
"Isn't this Director Lu's masterpiece? He spent three years honing it, and it's got veteran actors and all the most popular young stars. The cast is luxurious, and the investment was 300 million. Shouldn't it be the number one box office hit this year?"
Zhong Lingyin simply lowered her eyes and smiled faintly, offering no reply.
It was the perfect opening. Liu Ruyan, her eyes gleaming, seized the opportunity and spoke up, her voice clear and carrying just enough to be heard.
"Of course not. The number one box office champion in this year's film market is definitely going to be Heavenly Queen Zhong Lingyin's masterpiece, Chronicles of the Mountain and Sea: Immortal Execution!"
"Oh, that's right!" The girl in the front row gasped, her face lighting up with sudden realization. "Chronicles of the Mountain and Sea hasn't even been released yet, but its pre-sale box office has already hit 900 million! That's a historical record! It's already locked in this year's top spot and even has a chance to challenge the all-time box office record. I guess Director Lu's new work can only settle for second place." She nodded in agreement.
"Heavenly Queen Zhong has been unbelievably popular these past few years, both at home and internationally. There's just no one who can match her," the girl continued, now fully engaged. "And with the newly popular young actress Wen Feifei as the second female lead, a strong cast of veteran actors, a script by a legendary writer, and a 500 million investment from the Lu Corporation… Chronicles of the Mountain and Sea is guaranteed to be a massive success."
As she spoke, the girl's eyes fell on Liu Ruyan, and she did a double-take, her expression turning to one of surprise.
"Sister, you're so beautiful! And you look eighty percent similar to Heavenly Queen Zhong. If it weren't for the fact that your temperaments are completely different, I would have thought you were her. Are you perhaps Heavenly Queen Zhong's sister?"
Liu Ruyan pursed her lips into a devastatingly charming smile. Her gaze deliberately swept over Zhong Lingyin, lingering for a fraction of a second too long, and she answered playfully, "I'm not Lingyin's sister, not by blood. But I am her Senior Sister, so I suppose we have a special connection. Speaking of which, it's been such a long time since I've seen her. I really miss Lingyin. In fact, I'm planning to go to Hangzhou Film and Television City tonight to visit her on set and celebrate her birthday."
She paused, letting the words hang in the air before adding with a sweet, almost venomous innocence, "It will definitely be a big surprise for Lingyin."
Whether it would be a surprise or not remained to be seen, but for Zhong Lingyin, it was already a profound shock. The moment Liu Ruyan's gaze had swept over her, a jolt of pure terror had shot through her. For a terrifying second, she was convinced her identity had been exposed, and her heart hammered against her ribs in a frantic rhythm.
But as Liu Ruyan continued to speak, the panic subsided, replaced by a wave of crushing guilt. 'Second Senior Sister remembered my birthday…' she thought, her heart sinking. And here she was, secretly dating her man. The betrayal felt sharp and real.
Even so, the thought of separating from Shen Anyu was absolutely impossible. It was a line she couldn't, and wouldn't, cross. 'At worst… at worst, I'll just have to act spoiled and admit my mistake to Sister Ruyan later,' she resolved, clinging to the hope that she could be forgiven.
'That damned pretty boy… to actually possess two such peerless beauties?' Yao Qi, who had been forced to witness the entire nauseating display, sneered in the darkness of his heart. He had had his fill of their public affection. Already a man of cruel and violent impulses, the sight solidified his resolve. He immediately decided it was time to make a move against Shen Anyu…
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