Chapter 17: Wake Up Quickly, the Male Lead Is Not Here

If Xiao Qinghe liked Ying Zenan, why did she frame him in the previous life?

Was it merely because of her rivalry with Ying Jing?

Even if Ying Jing was at odds with the female lead at the time, and Ying Zenan did some things to sabotage Lu Zishu to protect his sister, he still stayed within the bounds of law and morality. It wasn't until those charges were brought up one by one that Ying Jing realized they were all fake. She had never asked Ying Zenan to do those heinous things, and no matter how much her brother doted on her, he wouldn't have done them either.

Now, she seemed to understand.

Xiao Qinghe was taking revenge on her, and she was also taking revenge on Ying Zenan.

Could it be that no matter how the plot changes in this second life, she is still destined to be the enemy of the original book's female lead?

"Do you like my brother?" Ying Jing asked so bluntly that even Xiao Qinghe was caught off guard.

The person opposite her didn't answer immediately; instead, she shook her head gently.

"He is too good; I am not worthy of him."

Ying Jing wanted so badly to blurt out, "I'm glad you know," but she couldn't.

Ying Jing fell silent, clearly not having figured out how to phrase what to say next.

Just as she remained silent, Xiao Qinghe seemed to make a major decision.

"I know I'm not worthy of him right now, but I will work hard to become the best version of myself. When the day of my success comes, I will tell him personally that I have liked him for a long time."

Ying Jing wanted so badly to tell her to stop daydreaming.

Big sister, wake up!

Your true match is Lu Zishu.

In the last life, I was the one who wronged you, digging many pits for you to fall into. But she had also paid a painful price.

Lu Zishu promised Xiao Qinghe a grand wedding that made the whole world envious.

Ying Jing lost all the family members she loved and died alone in the mountains.

In this life, she kept to herself and didn't provoke them. Why were these people still haunting her like ghosts?

The person coming to pick up Xiao Qinghe arrived. After saying goodbye to Ying Jing, she turned and got into her manager's car.

Inside the car, the manager’s eyes flashed with fleeting amazement upon seeing Ying Jing’s face.

It happened to be seen by Xiao Qinghe.

"She’s very beautiful, isn't she?"

"Indeed, she is very beautiful—more beautiful than most of the A-list actresses I've seen in the entertainment industry." Although it wasn't great to say that, who doesn't love beautiful people and things?

The manager had been with Xiao Qinghe for several years, but she remained lukewarm, with no particularly impressive works. If she continued to waste time like this, as she aged, she would miss her prime and eventually be swept away and eliminated by the entertainment industry, which was constantly churning out newcomers.

If a manager encountered a truly great talent, how could they just give up easily?

After all, if a manager could cultivate a wildly popular artist, their own status would rise accordingly.

"Put away those little thoughts of yours! She is a daughter of the Ying family."

A daughter of the Ying family?

"The daughter of Ying Haiyun, the richest man in Shanghai, and Ying Zenan's younger sister." That was truly someone an ordinary person wouldn't dare to covet.

How much did Ying Haiyun dote on this daughter? There were three famous high-rise buildings in Shanghai known nationwide, built on land so expensive it was terrifying. One of them was named after Ying Jing.

On Ying Jing's 18th birthday, Ying Zenan had even gifted her a private island abroad.

Every holiday, Ying Jing would take her girlfriends on a private jet for a vacation.

This young lady was certainly not short on money.

Wherever she went, she was the center of attention, and any one of her brother's friends she happened to catch had a status that would make others shrink back in awe.

"I heard she’s also very capable herself; she was the top science student in the Shanghai college entrance exam back then," the manager said casually while looking at the schedule for their next destination.

"It really makes one want to be jealous, but you can't even bring yourself to be!"

Ying Jing didn't know she was such an impressive existence in the eyes of others, but right now, she had been caught by her brother.

"I asked you to accompany me to my birthday celebration, and you, on the other hand, ran off by yourself. Hurry up and pack these things up so we can go home."

As she followed Ying Zenan back to the private room, most of the people had already left.

Ying Jing was carrying several beautiful gift boxes downstairs when she unexpectedly ran into Lu Zishu, who was still working his part-time job.

Neither of them wanted to pay any attention to the other.

That was, until one of the boxes in her hand rolled away.

Lu Zishu, who had nothing in his hands, bent down to pick it up for her.

"Your birthday?"

"Ah! No, it's my brother's birthday. I'm holding them for him."

"En."

There seemed to be nothing left to say. Ying Jing hurried past him toward the exit. Just as she reached the door, she was drawn by the sound of an argument behind her.

Lu Zishu, who had been fine just a moment ago, was now being blocked by a woman in heavy makeup.

It seemed he had been bumped into, and the woman was insisting that Lu Zishu apologize, her hands wandering restlessly, trying to take advantage of him.

The disgust in Lu Zishu's eyes was self-evident.

More and more people gathered to watch the spectacle, but no one stepped forward to help him.

Ying Jing didn't intend to help either.

She didn't owe him anything, so why go out of her way to provoke the original male lead?

Anyway, he had thick skin; he could handle the verbal abuse.

Whatever cruelty these people showed him now, he would pay them back double in the future.

Thinking this way, she didn't feel much guilt. But before she could even walk out the door, she heard her brother's voice.

Startled, she looked back and saw Ying Zenan actually standing in front of Lu Zishu.

She didn't know what he said, but the crowd quickly dispersed, and even that woman slunk away.

Ying Jing hurried over.

"Brother, what are you doing?"

"Nothing much, just helped him out on the way."

Lu Zishu said a cold "Thank you" and left on his own.

Ying Jing was a little angry.

"Brother, look at his attitude, and you still helped him. Are you bored or something?"

Ying Zenan slapped her on the head. "Is that how you talk to your brother? I raised you for nothing. I didn't help him for your sake—who told you to be blind and like him?"

Ying Jing stomped her feet in anger.

"My eyes are fine now, okay? I already said I don't like him. Why won't you believe me? Can you stay away from him in the future? You're really going to be the death of me."

Hey, this little girl.

She was the one getting angry now.

"Fine, fine, fine, I'll listen to you. I just happened to pass by and ran into it; I'm not that free usually. I was just afraid that if I didn't step in, you'd be unable to watch and would go crawling back to be abused again."

Ying Jing lowered her head.

She muttered under her breath.

"I won't. I really don't like him." It wasn't that she didn't like him anymore; it was that she didn't like him—she had never liked him at all.

Ying Zenan gave her a look that said, "Do you think I believe you?"

"I, Ying Jing, swear to heaven: if I like Lu Zishu, let my brother gain thirty pounds."

Ying Zenan:...

"That's a harsh enough curse, right, brother?"

"It is indeed harsh—so harsh that I've decided to cancel your supplementary card starting tomorrow, my dear little sister." The last few words were spoken with a hint of revenge.

Ying Jing put the gifts in the trunk, closed it, and was about to walk to the front door.

Before her hand could even touch the door handle, Ying Zenan, who had already gotten into the car, started the engine and drove off with a flourish.

All that was left for Ying Jing were the glowing taillights and the words drifting from the car window: "Take a taxi home yourself, my dear little sister."

"Ying Zenan, you jerk."

So vengeful.

Dog of a brother.

I'm never talking to you again!

(End of chapter)