Shadow and Light: The Bride Who Clicks Her Way to Love-Chapter 147 - 148: Stage’s Gloomy Light

She walked and ran along the way, gradually losing her strength, her steps faltering.

The endless traffic seemed never-ending, under the dimming sky, the glow of car lights spread endlessly into the distance. And she, like a dying devotee, trudged along it, her feet unknowingly blistered, every step stabbing with pain. She tightly grasped the strap of the equipment bag on her shoulder, telling herself, hold on, Su Xingyu, you must get to the site, you have to go...

Sweat slipped down in drops, her body swaying.

Su Xingyu didn’t know how long she walked, nor how she managed to get out of the congested area. When she got off the ramp and saw the bright lights of the city and the endless stream of cars in every direction, she almost cried with joy. She rushed to the roadside, waving her hands to stop an empty taxi, and got in.

The taxi driver was surprised: "Miss, where did you come from? Why are you in such a state?"

She panted, too rushed to answer the driver’s question, raised her wrist to check the time: "What, it’s already nine-thirty?"

Hearing her tremble with shock, the driver said, "Yes, I heard there’s been a traffic jam on highway 108, it’s been blocked for two or three hours, haha, those people are unlucky to be stuck on the highway on a weekend."

Su Xingyu, face pale, searched for her phone and called the responsible person at Yue Xiaosha’s side again; this time there was a signal, but no one answered.

She urged the driver: "Please hurry up, I’m in a rush!"

The driver responded and sped up. However, due to the traffic jam on highway 108, a large number of cars heading to the suburbs were crowded onto the few auxiliary roads. No matter how hard the driver tried, when they arrived at the venue, it was already past 10 PM. Under the cover of night, the elegant white building was brightly lit, with the long red carpet winding all the way to the roadside.

The driver looked at the small groups of people coming out of the building and said to Su Xingyu, "It seems you’re late, the event looks like it is over."

Su Xingyu, carrying her equipment bag, rushed against the crowd towards the building, as she hurried, her heart grew colder.

Yes, the event was already over. Elegantly dressed guests brushed past her, discussing the highlights of the show; photographers with equipment called the company in the cold wind, cursing and demanding that cars be sent to pick them up; and a few models wrapped in beautiful shawls were chatting and laughing about the latest fashion items...

No one spared her even a glance.

Ignoring the swelling pain in her legs and feet, she started running again, rushing backstage to find where Yue Xiaosha’s clothes were piled up. Nearby stood a man with a shaved head. "Mr. Liu, is that you?" She rushed over to introduce herself, "Hello, I’m Su Xingyu, the photographer that Ling Weilong mentioned earlier. I’m so sorry I’m late, there was congestion on the road, really sorry!"

The man turned around, sneered at her, "So you are Su Xingyu? Quite the attitude, knowing to come at all?"

Su Xingyu understood that it was entirely her fault, deeply bent in a bow, and apologized again, "I’m really, really sorry."

Before the man could speak, two people walked over from not far away, the young girl among them chuckled, "What a coincidence, to see you everywhere, Su Xingyu."

Su Xingyu found the voice familiar, an ominous feeling enveloped her heart. Looking up, it was indeed Su Xingqi. At this moment, Su Xingqi was wearing a light white lace dress pants, paired with pointed high heels, her meticulously groomed makeup and long hair looked very alluring, with one hand holding a bag and the other affectionately linked with a man in a suit — Qin Mu.

Indeed, what a coincidence, Su Xingyu frowned, these two seemed to haunt her wherever she went.

Su Xingqi glanced at her, the corners of her lips painted with shiny gloss revealed a faint smile, still linked with Qin Mu, tilted her head to ask Mr. Liu, "What’s the matter?"

This Mr. Liu, having been around the fashion circle for quite some time, recognized Su Xingqi and her boyfriend Mr. Qin. Seeing Su Xingqi’s unfriendly gaze towards Su Xingyu, he became even more impolite, "Miss Xingqi, Mr. Qin, don’t you think it’s unfortunate? Our Yue Xiaosha spent a lot on hiring a photographer, and what did we get? Some ancestor! The show started at 8 PM, and she arrived so late, this diva behavior, oh! The Qin Family’s bag is still great, models are pretty, products are good, and photographers are reliable."

Su Xingqi smiled at his praise of the models, pursed her lips: "Mr. Liu is teasing me."

Mr. Liu said: "Not at all, I’m speaking sincerely."

Originally, for a half-famous model like Su Xingqi, he wouldn’t have flattered her so much, but her backing was Mr. Qin, better to be on good terms with them.

Su Xingqi laughed again, looking extremely delighted, her heavily made-up eyes glanced at Su Xingyu, deliberately provocative.

Su Xingyu, being ridiculed like this, knowing she was at fault and unable to vent her anger, could only keep apologizing to Mr. Liu: "This time it’s my fault, please give me a chance to make amends."

"A chance for amends?" Mr. Liu snorted coldly, "If apologies were useful, why would there be a need for police? Luckily, I urgently called over an alternative photographer, otherwise, there would be no photos from this event! ’Su something’, you should know your place, just a nameless fish, if not for Ling Weilong’s sake, do you think I’d use you?! Get lost, quickly!"

Su Xingyu, dealt with the sharp tongue, faced Su Xingqi’s gloating gaze and Qin Mu’s complex look, couldn’t bear to stay any longer. She apologized once again, turned away with her equipment bag, and left them. She initially restrained herself, but soon, her steps grew faster, almost fleeing into a door...

Darkness suddenly engulfed her.

She let her eyes adjust for a while, then discovered she was amidst an empty audience area, directly ahead was a dim stage, deep within the stage faintly revealed a misty blue light.

Such desolation pierced deep into her soul.

She slowed her pace, walking unsteadily, step by step forward. Her feet hurt severely, and the place where the strap of the equipment bag pressed on her left shoulder also pained, seemingly skinned. Yet more aching was her eyes, the swelling tears were about to fall, she murmured to herself, "Su Xingyu, you are not allowed to cry, it’s just a scolding..."

You’ve come this far, overcoming all odds to reach here without crying, at this moment, is there any reason to cry?

The stage was so vast and lonely, she stopped in front of the stairs near its diagonal right side, slightly tilted her head, unconsciously watching the faint light emerging from backstage.

It was over...

Really over...

All her efforts were in vain, like a boxer, gathering all strength, only to punch into the air.

And amidst the air, suddenly came a faint sound.