Chapter 5: Breaking Free from the Plot to Live My Best Life

Compared to knowing what happened to Wen Yue later, she wanted to know even more if Wen Fucheng had lived a good life after she died.

Perhaps he got married and had a daughter, or maybe a son.

He would surely be a good father and a good husband.

Even though none of these things belonged to her.

She was truly terrified of the idea of him growing old all alone.

The more she thought this way, the more urgent her desire to see him became.

She didn't want to waste another second missing any opportunity to be near him.

Ying Jing quickened her pace.

Ten seconds later, she rounded a corner and, in a very melodramatic fashion, crashed into a wall of flesh.

Ying Jing froze with a "whoosh," lifting her eyes to look at the "wall of flesh."

*Thump.*

Her heart hammered like thunder.

Wen Fucheng had rounded the corner and seen the dazed young girl.

His lips curled into an imperceptible arc, and then he walked past her with an air of indifference.

At this very moment, there was only her and him in the entire corridor.

Such a perfect way to strike up a conversation—what are you still hesitating for, Ying Jing?

If you miss this village, you won't find this shop.

"Mr. Wen."

In her haste, Ying Jing didn't bother with anything else; she just had to stop him first.

The man stopped and turned to the side, his calm gaze resting on the flush beginning to bloom on her face.

"Hmm?"

Ying Jing closed her eyes, steeled her heart, and stepped forward to stand in front of him.

"You, you, you... Second Uncle, your tie is crooked. My OCD can't stand it; I'm really sorry." After saying this, her hands trembled as she reached out and gave his tie a firm tug upward.

Perhaps she used too much force, as her fingertips accidentally brushed against the man's Adam's apple. The heat made her pull her hand back, and she turned and scurried away at top speed.

She left the man standing there alone, his expression unreadable as he looked down at the tie that had been slightly crooked before and was now completely askew.

Thinking of the hairband covering her wrist, his expression darkened by a fraction.

His assistant came looking for him and was startled by the sight.

"Mr. Wen, are you alright?"

Was he robbed of his money or his dignity?

"I'm fine. Just scratched by a stray kitten passing by. Let's go." He walked forward while straightening his tie, masking the emotions in his eyes.

Having done her dirty deed, Ying Jing fled at top speed, sprinting all the way to the open-air balcony.

She stopped and kept gasping for air.

She was truly insane; she had actually laid hands on him. Would Wen Fucheng think she was some kind of female hooligan and give her a slap?

He must have wanted to kill her just now; it was only because she ran fast that she escaped.

Ying Jing, you hooligan with the heart for mischief but no guts to back it up.

She stood on the balcony letting the wind blow on her for a long while until her legs started to tremble, and only then did she steel herself to walk back.

When she returned to the private room, he was nowhere to be seen.

Hearing from Jiang Cheng that Wen Fucheng had left early due to some business, Ying Jing let out a breath, though a trace of disappointment mingled in her eyes. Seeing this, Yan Shuang let out a cold snort and went to sit obediently beside Wen Yue.

Ying Jing couldn't be bothered to argue with her. Like a deflated balloon, she slumped over the table. Xu Yi had ordered quite a few dishes for her.

"Look at how thin you are, eat more."

She picked up her chopsticks and took a few bites. Xu Yi’s gaze fell on the hairband on her right wrist. "Wearing a hairband but not tying your hair? Is that convenient?"

"It's fine, it's fine, it's quite convenient." *Are you kidding me? If I take the hairband off, everyone will see the gauze wrapped around my hand.*

It was dark now, and both Xu Yi and Jiang Cheng wanted to send her home.

"It's not like we're short on time, let's go!" Xu Yi checked his watch.

"No, no, you two are busy with important matters; I'm quite free. I plan to go to the bookstore across the street to buy a book. You guys go ahead, go ahead! Uncle Li will come to pick me up later."

*Oh, I see!* Knowing someone was coming to pick her up, they felt more at ease.

After tricking the two of them into leaving, Ying Jing turned back to look at the clubhouse sign behind her.

After a moment of thought, she walked back inside.

The membership-only clubhouse didn't have many people coming and going; those who walked here were all people of status and reputation.

She soon spotted Lu Zishu among a group of waiters.

It wasn't that she had sharp eyes; it was simply that the protagonist's halo was too powerful.

He could run into a part-time job just by going out for a meal.

She navigated through the twists and turns and didn't immediately step forward to call him.

Instead, she looked in the direction he was standing. As luck would have it, Wen Yue and Yan Shuang, who had left later, were walking arm-in-arm, chatting happily with others.

Ying Jing crouched in a corner, watching with her own eyes as Lu Zishu’s eyes turned red, his gaze fixed intensely on the man and woman not far away.

*This... the ship is sinking a bit too fast.* She had only warned Yan Shuang in the restroom a few dozen minutes ago.

Yan Shuang’s smile began to falter.

Because she had already seen Lu Zishu; wearing his waiter uniform, he was standing right in front of her holding a tray. Seeing her poor complexion, Wen Yue reached out and touched her cheek. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's just a bit stuffy."

Wen Yue hadn't finished talking to his friend yet, so he told Yan Shuang to go outside and wait for him first. Yan Shuang glanced at Lu Zishu, turned around, and walked out on her high heels. After a moment of hesitation, Lu Zishu followed, and a few seconds later, Ying Jing followed as well.

She had to determine as soon as possible whether she had truly escaped the plot.

This was a good opportunity.

Lu Zishu caught up and grabbed Yan Shuang’s wrist.

Yan Shuang shook him off.

She looked around vigilantly, terrified that Wen Yue might walk out and see them.

"Yan Shuang, are you really going to be with someone like that?"

"What kind of person is 'someone like that'? Can you become someone like that?"

*Hmm,* Ying Jing nodded silently in her heart.

*He can!*

In just a few months, the identity of this legendary "poor" school hunk would undergo a shocking reversal.

He would be found by the Lu family of the Imperial Capital and brought back to acknowledge his ancestors. Although the Lu family wasn't as powerful as the other top families, they still held significant status and influence in the Imperial Capital.

Her thoughts drifted for a few seconds, and by then, the argument had already started. She didn't know what Lu Zishu had said, but Yan Shuang left in shame and anger, her eyes red as she ran away.

Lu Zishu punched the pillar beside him hard.

A few seconds later, Lu Zishu actually walked in the direction where Ying Jing was hiding.

She didn't manage to run away.

"Has Miss Ying seen enough of the joke?"

*Oh dear, I've been discovered.*

Ying Jing stood out generously. Seeing her dressed so beautifully was quite an eyesore.

Some people were born not needing to do anything; their background alone made them winners over most others.

Ying Jing straightened her back.

"I came here to eat fair and square; who knew I'd run into you? Are you working here to support your studies?"

"Has Miss Ying forgotten? You were the one who introduced me to this job."

*Damn it,* she really had forgotten.

She introduced it? Then she really was a kind-hearted little fairy.

Lu Zishu looked at her, his expression indescribable. There was forbearance, unwillingness, yet a helpless compromise.

His words were spoken through gritted teeth.

"I am very grateful that you introduced this job to me, but I will absolutely not accept your pursuit. I will pay you back the money later. Also, I don't need your financial support; take that money back."

Ying Jing was completely bewildered. *What is going on?* Had she been dead for so long that she had completely forgotten about this? When did she ever financially support Lu Zishu? If she had that kind of money, wouldn't it be better to spend it on handbags?

"Oh, is that so? Then... then alright."

Now it was Lu Zishu’s turn to look confused. He still remembered how this wealthy young lady had pestered him and forced him to take that money back then.

She had changed her personality now.

Could it be that he had scolded her awake that day?