Chapter 58 Jealousy
Below the stage, Jiang Luo let out a long sigh.
He Ziyan was not quite the CEO she had imagined.
She had always thought that CEOs should be like Xi He, polite and impeccable.
She originally thought that He Ziyan's temper in private would be restrained in formal occasions. After all, who wouldn't wear a sophisticated mask under the spotlight?
It turns out, He Ziyan doesn't know how.
This temperament and spirit, when seen by Jiang Luo, transformed into a spark of admiration.
He Ziyan embodies a paradoxical coexistence of calm self-control and sharp temper, which makes him extraordinary.
It must be admitted that Jiang Luo's favorability towards him is growing at an explosive rate.
"Won't this... have any negative consequences?" Jiang Luo tilted her head and asked Ji Bei.
Ji Bei maintained his relaxed attitude, saying, "It's really nothing."
He squinted and leaned closer. "I remember you're 27, right? Only two years older than us. How come you don't have any of the courage of us young people? Dude, young people should be fearless!"
Jiang Luo: ...Who's your buddy?
“And look…” Ji Bei took out his phone, tapped and swiped, and then handed it to Jiang Luo.
The screen displays the live stream interface for "Springtime Romance".
A barrage of comments scrolled by.
Wow, He Ziyan is so handsome! I like him so much!
[Husband! Husband! Husband!]
He looks like a cute puppy, but he's actually a fierce wolf—such a charming contrast! I love it!
[Well said! I've disliked this reporter for a long time! She even bullied my sister before!]
...
Although you can occasionally see a few comments criticizing He Ziyan for being too aggressive, most of the comments are overwhelmingly supportive.
"That reporter's question was rather excessive. There's nothing wrong with Ziyan being a little outspoken. Netizens aren't as harsh as you think."
Jiang Luo: ...It turns out I was just being superfluous.
Ji Bei added, "This reporter is quite something. With just one sentence, she hurt three fan groups, one of which is Ziyan's fans..."
Jiang Luo: He Ziyan already has fans?
"One is a fan of Xu Jingyan, and the other is..."
Jiang Luo opened her lips, preparing to say, "I don't have many fans, it's okay."
But Ji Bei said, "You and Ziyan are a CP fan."
The words caught in her throat, and Jiang Luo frowned: ? Where are my fans?
Ji Bei: "Fortunately, you have relatively few fans, so they can be ignored."
Jiang Luo forced a smile: "Yes, thank goodness."
-
"Finally, I have some good news to share with everyone. Next Monday at 12 noon, the ACAI promotional song will be officially released on QQ Music. This theme song was composed by the well-known Jackie, so please look forward to it..."
After the host finished speaking, the press conference officially ended.
The banquet was held in the hall opposite, and everyone moved over.
As she stood up, Jiang Luo quickly glanced at the table.
In front of the platform, He Ziyan was talking to someone.
Judging from the direction his body was leaning, he was heading this way.
"I've invited Lin Shuang to dinner; we'll be together later..."
"No need, I have plans with Shi Yan." Before Ji Bei could finish his invitation, Jiang Luo made an excuse and slipped away.
Right now, she was caught between panic and guilt, making her unwilling to face He Ziyan.
He Ziyan was undoubtedly shining tonight; he was the guiding star of the press conference.
Jiang Luo had to admit that she was slightly tempted.
But……
This is just a job.
She had encountered too many precedents of "being intimate in front of the camera but like strangers behind the scenes," and she couldn't believe it, nor did she want to put her energy into this unpredictable relationship.
Her encounter with He Ziyan was based on commercial value, which means that once there is no value, the relationship will become fragile, like a windowpane that will break at the slightest touch.
Rather than being hurt later, it's better to keep your distance now.
This is just a job.
Getting the job done is enough.
She reminded herself once again.
-
As the conversation ended, He Ziyan's gaze shifted and caught sight of that fleeing figure.
His brow twitched slightly, and his eyes were filled with confusion and frustration.
"What did you do to her? Why did she run away as soon as she saw you?" Ji Bei walked over, spreading his hands.
"I don't know." He Ziyan's tone was unusually dejected, a far cry from the spirited demeanor he displayed when battling the reporters on stage.
He didn't understand.
Why does Jiang Luo always back away and avoid him whenever he gets close?
Is he really that bad?
Suppressing his troubled thoughts, He Ziyan said, "I'll go change my clothes first."
Not knowing what to say, Ji Bei patted his shoulder and then pointed to the exit, "Wait for you in the hall across the street."
He Ziyan: "Mm."
Before turning to leave, he looked one last time in the direction Jiang Luo had gone.
She was nowhere to be seen, only a crowd of people filed out, crowded and disorderly.
He Ziyan was rather disheartened and walked towards the lounge.
The lights gradually dimmed, and the noise was left behind.
Each step he took was heavy, his thin back conveying desolation and weariness.
-
Like a petty thief who has stolen something.
My heart is pounding.
Jiang Luo didn't go to the banquet hall; she went to the restroom first.
Once the cubicle door is closed, the world finally quiets down.
The small, square space provides a great sense of security.
She felt much calmer.
However, she knew she needed a stronger placebo.
I took out my phone, stared at the familiar icon for a long time, and finally, with a determined heart, clicked it.
-
The world changed so suddenly.
A flash of white light, followed by a dizzying sensation.
After He Ziyan regained his senses, he was shocked to find that he had returned to the cottage in "Love at the End of the World"!
Luo Luo logged into the game ahead of time!
Fortunately, he was changing clothes in the lounge in real life, so no one would find out he was unconscious.
Otherwise, it would probably make the front page headlines.
According to the usual rules, if Jiang Luo logs on early, he will deduct her favorability points in order to induce her to log on at the time he sets.
But holding the phone and staring at the "-", he suddenly couldn't press the button.
Luo Luo must be sad to have her affection level reduced, right?
She pursed her lips and said, "Let's wait a bit."
So... why did Luo Luo ignore the agreement and go online ahead of schedule?
"Luo Luo?" he called softly.
"Boyfriend, it's been so long!" It was still that sweet, soft voice, mixed with a bright, cheerful laugh.
It has a warmer, more sunny feel than in reality, and it's more pleasant to listen to and more melodious.
Unfortunately, He Ziyan is unable to enjoy it right now.
Luo Luo, unwilling to say another word to him, couldn't wait to meet Yan Zihe.
That profound sense of loss, so deeply felt, hung over He Ziyan like a dark cloud.
His hands clenched tightly, he tried to make his voice sound less disappointed as he asked, "Why did you come early?"
"Because I miss you!"
The tone was taken for granted.
Like a wind chime ringing in the breeze on a summer afternoon.
It is also like the first morning bell in a temple.
It is pleasant to the ear and delightful to the heart.
Time has passed, and the sweetness that should have arisen is now gone.
All that remained in He Ziyan's mind was the disparity between reality and the game.
A drop as large as a cliff.
-
[Favorability-30]
Jiang Luo: ?
Is the system acting up again?
Please, you're not a learning timer app, why are you so strict about time?
She asked incredulously, "Boyfriend, aren't you happy that I came to see you?"
-
Are you unhappy?
Did Luo Luo notice his unhappiness?
The surprise was fleeting. Once he calmed down, He Ziyan realized that the favorability rating was the standard Luo Luo used to judge whether he was happy or not. Perhaps she had lost favorability rating, which was why she asked such a question.
However, he did not manipulate it.
I reached out to tap the "+" sign, but there was no response.
It's likely that the game fixed the bug he created during the few days he was offline.
So... the system read his emotional data and then gave a judgment to deduct favorability points.
I'm even more irritable now.
He was more annoyed than when he heard the reporter's difficult questions, and more annoyed than when he faced Xu Lu's embarrassing words.
He hated this feeling of powerlessness and loss of control.
-
[Favorability-20]
[Favorability-10]
[Favorability-30]
...
Jiang Luo: ? ? ?
With lightning speed, the finger clicked to exit the game.
She was stunned for a moment, then frowned. Why was this ridiculous game so unpredictable?
Why would a setting deduct favorability points from players who log in early?
Is there no justice left?
However, after meeting Yan Zihe, Jiang Luo's mood soared.
Yan Zihe is her destined partner! He's her cure!
Forget about He Ziyan!
It was just a job; it would end tomorrow, and she and He Ziyan would go their separate ways.
He walks his sunny path, she crosses her narrow bridge.
-
6th floor lounge.
He Ziyan, who was leaning against the sofa, slowly opened his eyes.
Luo Luo's affection for Yan Zihe is so strong that she risks losing favorability points by going online early.
In order to gain favor, she sang hundreds of songs for him, or more precisely, for Yan Zihe.
Why... is he not even as good as a game character?
For the first time in his 25 years of life, he felt jealousy.
The flames of jealousy burned fiercely in his heart, tormenting him, leaving him powerless and unwilling to accept it, causing his heart to rise and fall, unable to find peace.
Even if the game character is himself.
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