Chapter 28 Finding Joy Amid Hardship

If life hands you lemons, you ought to smile and turn them into sweet lemonade. The romance time-travel novel updates are always first here, just for you.

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“Who would have thought Miss Xue is a woman of such talent?” Liang Feili narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze fixed on Xue Zuining’s perpetually distant face. Yaoyao bit her lip surreptitiously before handing her the microphone. Without a trace of expression, Xue Zuining took it, her eyes falling upon the couples clinging to one another, her voice cool and even. “What would you like me to sing?”

“Any song you wish—only then can your true ability show, right?” Yaoyao replied softly, glancing at Lu Huaining. Seeing no sign of displeasure on his face, her courage grew. With a coquettish smile, she suggested, “Why not let Miss Xue cover her eyes and pick a song at random? Let’s leave it to fate.”

“I like that!” Su Yi added fuel to the fire eagerly. “Just don’t sing too well, or your man’s heart might melt.”

Lu Huaining’s eyes grew darker, the familiar melody stirring something within him. He sneered inwardly—Xue Zuining, of all the songs you could have chosen, you had to pick the one you once flaunted your love with!

Yaoyao rejoiced at the prospect of Xue Zuining’s misfortune, but as soon as she heard the woman with the microphone perform, her delight curdled into envy. The song was brought to life with such raw intensity that it conjured the vision of a woman flying into the flame for love, and Yaoyao nearly ground her teeth to dust with jealousy.

Xue Zuining sang softly with her eyes closed, her mind drifting back to the day she played this piece on the piano for someone she loved. There was a subtle bitterness in her voice, as if she mourned the woman in the song who loved without hesitation, and pitied her own helplessness.

The sorrow in her singing was so profound that everyone fell silent. She realized, too late, that such emotion would only bring her trouble. She glanced back—Lu Huaining seemed calm, the faintest smile at his lips, apparently awaiting her to continue. Yet his tranquility was more terrifying than any rage.

“Why stop? That was good. Maybe I should consider sending you to a conservatory for another degree,” Lu Huaining teased, as though waiting for the next, fatal blow.

Xue Zuining set the microphone down, her eyes lowered as she replied softly, “The wine just now hurt my throat. I can’t reach the high notes, and I wouldn’t want to spoil everyone’s mood.”

“Oh? Is that a complaint against me?” Su Yi responded with a chilly tone.

Lu Huaining spoke mildly, “My apologies, gentlemen. I’ve spoiled her, ruined your fun.”

Liang Feili’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Truly a master—blending emotion with circumstance. In another setting, it would be splendid. Pity, she wears her heart so openly when it doesn’t suit the occasion.”

Lu Huaining glanced at her flushed face and said, “Go out and walk off the wine.”

She froze, her gaze quickly sweeping across the group. Liang Feili and Xu Liunian were laughing together, not sparing her a glance. Lu Huaining picked up his wine glass coldly, Yaoyao nestled against him, shooting her a mocking smile.

“What’s wrong? Can’t bear to leave?” Su Yi laughed, planting a kiss on the cheek of the woman in his arms. “Women who don’t pretend always seem more popular.”

After the humiliation came a quiet calm. She lowered her head and slipped away, and no one saw the deep relief and the irrepressible smile at the edge of her lips. Freed from the sickening decadence, she felt lighter.

When Su Yi emerged from the villa, he saw her standing by the hot spring, gently smiling as she snapped a photo of the moon with her phone. He paused, then strolled over.

“Didn’t expect to see you so relaxed,” Su Yi remarked, lips quirking in amusement.

Xue Zuining put her phone away, her gaze skimming the tranquil water. “Finding amusement in hardship. Since the young masters suggested I savor a lonely night, how could I waste your good intentions?”

Su Yi looked at the thorny woman before him and smiled, a rare seriousness flickering in his eyes, usually as bright as peach blossoms. “Honestly, I just wanted to see if the woman who could make the uncatchable Mr. Lu treat someone differently was an exceptional actress.” He nodded at her, meeting her distant gaze. “But I’ve realized that, as a drama student, you’re not at all adept at acting in the play of life.”

“Is that mockery?” Xue Zuining tilted her head, glancing back at the villa with a self-deprecating smile. “Perhaps, in the eyes of young masters who’ve always had the wind at their backs, you can’t understand the hardships of the common people, nor what it means to be powerless. Sometimes, when faced with life, human dignity is worth nothing.”

“Our glamorous lives aren’t as peaceful as you imagine,” Su Yi said, handing her a glass of juice. “I joke eight times out of ten, but you really do look a lot like a relative of mine who passed away.”

Xue Zuining was visibly startled as she accepted the glass, but before she could speak, a delicate voice cut through the air.

“So here you are, Young Master Su. Young Master Lu and Young Master Liang are waiting for you at the card table.” The woman’s ample robe could not disguise the seductive sway of her walk. Su Yi mocked her inwardly, though his hands remained as flirtatious as ever.

“Well, so the two beauties in their arms still remember me. I’ll be right there,” he said, his peach blossom eyes flashing playfully as he turned and walked back to the villa.

Xue Zuining set down her orange juice and turned away, expecting the victorious woman to take her leave and flatter her benefactor. Instead, a sudden chill swept over her back, like a snake slipping under her skin. She spun around, startled, to see Yaoyao looking at her with proud eyes, a cup in her hand, dregs of wine at the bottom.

“Oops, my hand slipped…” Yaoyao covered her lips with a smirk, her eyes gleaming with malicious satisfaction. “I heard Miss Xue is also in show business. You should know that putting on airs can sometimes be the height of ignorance. What’s the matter? Young Master Lu already told you to leave, and you’re still here? Do you really think he’ll change his mind?”

The wine-soaked fabric clung uncomfortably to her back, but Xue Zuining acted as if she didn’t notice. She turned and smiled. “You’re only after money and status from your patron—there’s no need to make things difficult for me.” Her tone paused, “Or… would you like to find out what it feels like to lose everything?” As she finished, a sharp crack sounded—she now held a jagged piece of broken glass in her hand. “You should know the meaning of ‘fools rush in where angels fear to tread.’”