Chapter 81 Congratulations, host, you have successfully triggered the main quest...
Seeing this, Qi Siyan looked pained and blocked her view again, gently asking for her opinion: "We're not having much luck today. Shall we go somewhere else?"
Wen Chu looked away, raised her head, and asked him without any apparent change in expression, "Is it true that the steak from this restaurant gave me diarrhea?"
Qi Siyan was momentarily speechless at such a simple question, unable to discern whether the woman was implying something or genuinely just asking him the question.
Finally, he sighed and said, "It's fake. But it's true that if you go in and eat there, you'll feel unwell."
“Since we won’t get diarrhea, why should we go to another place? This one is fine.” Wen Chu composed herself, nudged Qi Siyan who was still standing there hesitantly, and urged, “What are you standing there for? I’m starving.”
Qi Siyan was pushed back a little, tilted her head, and smiled helplessly: "Okay... fine."
Wen Chu pushed open the restaurant door first and walked straight inside. Qi Siyan walked to her side: "Shall we go to a private room? Out of sight, out of mind."
Wen Chu hummed in agreement, trying her best to avoid glancing in their direction out of the corner of her eye.
The door to the private room closed, isolating her from any possibility of confrontation, yet her heart still felt heavy, as if she could hardly breathe. The world centered around Lu Ming continued as before; her participation or not made no difference whatsoever—perhaps, it was even better.
It seems that as long as she stops taking the initiative, their story can end directly.
Wen Chu felt a little defensive, wondering if she really needed to provide "training data" to others.
Wen Xue seems capable of the job.
Being together requires overcoming the challenges of a long-distance relationship. After the initial sweetness, arguments, setbacks, and conflicts are inevitable. Lu Ming still loves her to death, and every argument and setback will surely enrich his emotions. Why should she get involved?
The life trajectories of other people in this world will not stop because of her inaction.
Let them fall in love.
Let them be together, let them develop their own lives, lives unrelated to her, lives without her.
She gave up, stopped trying to take it, and simply remained an observer, offering her blessings to the perfect couple.
Wishing them a long and happy marriage and many children.
But she still has to go home.
Thinking of this, Wen Chu's eyelids twitched, and her eyes regained a sliver of clarity.
She quickly dispelled her negative emotions. She should firmly believe that she is the protagonist and the conqueror of this world. The course and direction of this world will only change because of her.
Everyone else is an NPC.
She cannot downplay her own subjectivity.
Wen Xue's existence is like a difficult game instance; you have to win no matter what means you use. She doesn't have such a strong sense of morality or such a strong sense of defeat when she plays games.
But we really have no other options.
Why not just rob him outright? Going back to her old idea, she would tie Lu Ming up, lock him up in a place where only the two of them are, so that the only thing he sees when he opens his eyes every day is her, and that his survival depends solely on her.
That way there wouldn't be so many twists and turns, and she wouldn't have to deal with so many people and consider their thoughts.
But in that case, can the other person fall 100% in love with her?
It would be a miracle if I could fall in love with someone.
Wen Chu's left and right hemispheres were engaged in a game of strategy, weighing the feasibility of the plan.
"Wen Chu?" A hand waved in front of her.
Wen Chu suddenly snapped out of her daze, looked up, and asked blankly, "What's wrong?"
"You've been sitting here like this since you came in, not saying a word, and your expression is so serious." Qi Siyan pushed the menu towards her, her face showing concern. "Don't think about them anymore, okay? Think about what you want to eat?"
"Oh, okay." Wen Chu glanced at the menu in her hand, casually ordered a few dishes she liked, and sensing that the atmosphere was a bit tense because of her, she smiled and asked, "Was my expression that serious just now?"
"Yeah. I almost thought you were going to grab a weapon and go out and beat them up the next second," Qi Siyan said in a humorous tone.
Wen Chu feigned anger and said, "In your heart, am I also such a unreasonable and violent person?"
Qi Siyan smiled and said, "Of course not. It's just that anyone would easily lose their composure in a situation like this. I don't want you to be distracted by that guy anymore."
"I'm fine. But they really are persistent."
“You haven’t mentioned him to me all day, and I was actually happy for you. This is a good start.”
Wen Chu nodded, neither confirming nor denying, then suddenly asked after a while, "Are they together?"
"Maybe. While you were locked up at home, that guy did have quite close contact with Sister Wen Xue. I ran into him three times." Qi Siyan subtly tried to steal his attention. "I told you long ago, he's not a good person worth your sincere feelings."
Wen Chu twitched the corner of her mouth. How ironic.
She was slandered and grounded because of him, while he was completely unaffected, happily pursuing his relationship without making a single phone call.
I wonder if the other person's feelings for her have dropped to almost nothing now.
She remembered that she still had four chances to check her favorability rating, but then she thought there was no need to use them. She knew that the pitiful score would only dampen her enthusiasm and wouldn't help her at all.
As long as Wen Xue remains, Lu Ming will not take the initiative to find her. Wen Xue's presence has slowed down the progress of everything. Her former supporters, her parents and Lu Ming's parents, no longer try to match them up, and even hinder her.
Even the system doesn't know what its components are. It knows perfectly well that the more it portrays the second female lead's personality, the worse it will be for her, yet it still forces her to carry out its orders. If this continues, will it eventually turn her into the villainous second female lead and try to harm this "white moonlight" (her beloved character)?
Meanwhile, Lu Ming and Wen Xue were still having dinner in a "harmonious" manner.
The group that was causing trouble for Wenxue Company clearly didn't intend to stop there; they were aiming to bring her down. They were adept at exploiting loopholes in the contract. To resolve this matter, Lu Ming had to accompany them on a flight abroad for further processing, which meant he worked non-stop for several days. As soon as he got off the plane, he was starving and randomly picked a restaurant to eat at.
Wen Xue would occasionally review the mistakes she had made and the subsequent developments with others, hoping that the man could give her some professional advice.
Lu Ming responded with a normal expression, offering reasonable suggestions, but inwardly he seemed somewhat uninterested.
He would occasionally glance at the back of the restaurant out of the corner of his eye, but the door to the private room was always tightly closed, making it impossible to guess what was inside.
Twenty minutes ago.
Lu Ming raised his glass and took a sip of wine, but his peripheral vision was fixed on the man and woman moving outside the window.
He paused for a moment, then turned his head to stare at their actions.
They were playfully fighting and pushing each other, showing a very close relationship.
The man seemed to have deliberately provoked the woman, so he was retaliated by being pushed. He had a doting and indulgent smile on his face, and his eyes were fixed on the woman's back without any attempt to hide it.
His thoughts were so obvious, they were almost glaring.
Lu Ming's grip on the glass tightened imperceptibly as he watched them approach the restaurant door and about to enter. Just then, the man outside the window seemed to catch his gaze, and their eyes met. Instead of being surprised, the man smiled at him with an air of certainty.
The wine, once it enters the throat, is somewhat spicy, igniting a fire within one's heart.
He thought that he must be jealous that Qi Siyan had successfully gotten to Wen Chu's side. He was acting like a petty person who had achieved his goal, showing off his power openly and secretly, just like he couldn't stand seeing his competitor make money.
Having just gotten off the plane after a busy day, Lu Ming couldn't quite describe how he felt when he saw this scene.
It turns out the woman wasn't really confined to her home these days; at least she could still go out to eat with Qi Siyan.
Then he wouldn't have to feel guilty and rack his brains to find a way to plead with Chairman Wen, right?
I've told you a million times that guy isn't a good person, but you still fell for his trap. You didn't listen to a word he said.
You say you'll only like him, but you might find that you could like someone else too, right?
Or perhaps she already had feelings for Qi Siyan before.
"What are you looking at?" Wen Xue noticed his distraction, followed his gaze, and was also taken aback for a moment before smiling. "What a coincidence? Mom and Dad actually agreed to let Xiao Chu and Si Yan come out."
Lu Ming snapped out of his daze, composed himself, placed the sliced steak on Wen Xue's plate, and remained silent.
Wen Chu finished her meal with Qi Siyan, her mind preoccupied, but she maintained a cheerful demeanor and seemed quite normal. When they left the private room, they noticed that the people dining at the corner table had changed.
They had obviously left long ago.
Wen Chu looked away, unsure whether she felt relieved or disappointed.
"Shall I take you home? Or would you like to wander around some more?" Qi Siyan asked her in a gentlemanly manner.
"It's still early, we haven't bought your gift yet."
"Forget it, it's just an excuse to get you out. I don't need you to spend money on me."
“No way, if you say you’re going to give it to me, you have to give it to me.” Wen Chu took out a black card from her bag, waved it in front of the man, and said proudly, “I’m very rich.”
The other person spent the whole day with her; she's not someone who only takes and doesn't give back.
Seeing this, Qi Siyan rubbed her forehead and chuckled, "Alright then."
He paused, then raised his hand to smooth down a stray strand of hair that had stuck up on Wen Chu's head, and gently corrected her, "However, she is my younger sister."
Wen Chu's eyes flickered, she coughed, and slapped his hand away in an annoyance.
She had someone drive to the IFC Mall—the most luxurious shopping center in City A.
They walked into the mall side by side, and Qi Siyan joked, "Excuse me, miss, after spending a day together, do you understand me a little better now?"
"Of course," Wen Chu said confidently.
"So, where do you plan to start by picking out a gift for me?"
Wen Chu looked around at the various high-end brand stores. "Don't rush, just take a look first." She pointed to the clothing store next door and waved for someone to follow.
I went in, looked around, and then came out. I went into the jewelry store next door, and then, not finding anything I liked, I went to another clothing store. I even glanced at the sports car on display in the center of the mall.
Qi Siyan was baffled and could only conclude that the other party hadn't actually thought of giving him anything. His expectations gradually subsided, and he returned to normal, continuing to leisurely stroll with the girl.
After visiting several stores, they went to a jewelry store. Wen Chu walked up and scanned the display cases one by one. Suddenly, her fingers stopped in front of one display case and she saw a pair of earrings inlaid with dark blue gemstones.
Her eyes lit up, and she said to the saleswoman, "Could you get this for me?"
The sales assistant politely took it out. Under the light, the diamond shimmered with the color of the deep sea, mysterious and unpredictable, emitting a faint blue light. Wen Chu was attracted by it. Without thinking much, she pointed at the counter and said without even looking at the price, "This is it, swipe my card."
The saleswoman was about to say that this was very expensive, but she immediately shut her mouth and put on a bright smile after seeing the card Wen Chu handed her.
"You've got your eye on this one? Aren't you going to look around some more?" Qi Siyan assumed that Wen Chu had bought it for her.
"This is it." The woman took out an earring directly from inside, walked forward, and without warning, leaned close to him, touching his earlobe.
A hint of surprise and astonishment flashed across Qi Siyan's eyes. He tilted his head slightly at Wen Chu's touch and obediently let her put it on him: "So, it was chosen for me?"
"I see you have pierced ears." Wen Chu carefully put the earrings on the person, took two steps back, and looked them over carefully.
The sapphire earrings complemented Qi Siyan's light blue eyes perfectly, making the man appear even more noble and roguish. His eyes also seemed more aggressive, making his skin appear even whiter and his features even more handsome.
"It really suits you perfectly." Wen Chu clapped her hands and said proudly.
Qi Siyan recovered from her surprise and looked at the person intently: "I thought girls didn't really like men wearing earrings, so I haven't worn any since I came back to China."
"No, everyone has a different style. You look really cool in it, with a sophisticated yet slightly rebellious vibe," Wen Chu laughed, praising him generously.
Qi Siyan gazed at the girl for a long while, then lowered her head and smiled slightly, her tone becoming more serious: "This will be the best gift I've ever received, I love it."
"It's not over yet. Let's go check out other stores." Wen Chu took the receipt and packaging box from the saleswoman and waved to Qi Siyan.
Qi Siyan was flattered: "Where else do we need to go?"
Wen Chu then took him to an equipment store, where a display case showcased all kinds of shooting gloves, all with very cool designs.
“You look very charismatic when you handle a gun, but guns have recoil, so I think you’ll need a protective glove.” Her eyes wandered among the gloves, and she finally chose a black one, asking the shopkeeper to bring it out.
The shopkeeper explained from the side, "You have a good eye, beautiful lady! This one has a palm made of top-quality deerskin, which is waterproof, wear-resistant, and non-slip, so it won't slip even when shooting continuously. The design is also very cool, and it's perfect for your boyfriend!"
Qi Siyan's eyes flickered a few times. He was clearly surprised that the girl would actually put so much effort into choosing a gift for him. He was a little stunned, and even the smile that usually graced his lips faded slightly.
"No, no, we're good friends." Wen Chu was completely unaware of the man's gaze. She simply explained to the shopkeeper and handed him the gloves, excitedly saying, "Here, try them on."
Qi Siyan silently took the gloves and put them on with both hands, leaving only her index and middle fingers sticking out.
The gloves accentuated the smooth lines of his long, slender hands, highlighting their distinct knuckles and exuding a powerful masculine presence.
"Cool! This is it! I have great taste!"
Qi Siyan suddenly felt lost. He sighed softly, tilted his head to look at Wen Chu with a hint of helplessness in his blue eyes.
He made a gun shape with his hand and tapped Wen Chu's head, saying in a light tone, "Miss, you're so nice to me, be careful I don't fall in love with you."
"Don't give me that. A young master like you must have countless friends around you, and receiving gifts on your birthday must be a long-standing habit. What I'm doing is nothing." Wen Chu slapped his hand away, glared at him angrily, but she was actually a little nervous inside.
Qi Siyan withdrew his hand, neither confirming nor denying: "But I feel that what you gave me is the most pleasing to the eye, and I am really happy. I will definitely keep it safe." As he spoke, he lowered his head and gently kissed his gloved knuckles, but his eyes remained fixed on her.
Wen Chu's heart skipped a beat, and she hastily looked away, explaining again, "Well, you spent the whole day with me, so I have to do something for you. It's only right."
They took a walk on the street for a while, and Qi Siyan escorted her to her doorstep.
"Good night, have a good night's sleep," Qi Siyan said with a smile, gripping the steering wheel.
Wen Chu unbuckled her seatbelt and gave an OK sign.
"I'll pick you up the day after tomorrow?"
"Okay, so my parents won't say I'm fooling them again."
“However…” Qi Siyan hesitated before speaking.
"Speak up if you have something to say."
"I thought about it and decided to tell you that Sister Wen Xue will probably be attending as well. I also invited Lu Ming. You know I have a personal relationship with his family. As for whether he will come or not, I don't know. I'm afraid you might mind and not want to come... but that's okay. Compared to that, I'm more worried about it affecting your good mood. If you don't want to go, you don't have to. I won't be upset. After all, you've already given me the best gift in advance today."
Qi Siyan touched the earring on her earlobe and said with a smile.
Wen Chu thought for a moment, then shook her head to indicate that she didn't mind: "It's okay, I'll go. I can just hide from them. I can't give up such a good opportunity to go out and have fun just because of them."
"That's good!" Qi Siyan's eyes lit up. "Then perhaps I have another favor to ask?"
Wen Chu smoothed her hair from her forehead. "Go ahead and tell me."
"Sister Wen Xue might be Lu Ming's date... Would I have the honor of inviting you to be my date?"
Wen Chu was taken aback, feeling somewhat hesitant.
But then the system's voice appeared in her mind: "Congratulations, host, you have successfully triggered the fourth main quest! Please attend the second male lead's birthday party as his female companion!"
The two "second male leads" dealt Wen Chu a heavy blow.
She looked up at Qi Siyan in disbelief. The second male lead?
Is Qi Siyan the second male lead?
Are there even second male leads in this world?
Damn, she never expected that? So he wasn't a regular NPC?
"What's wrong? Is something putting you in a difficult position?" A hint of disappointment flashed in Qi Siyan's eyes, and her lips curved into a slightly bitter smile. Then, she shook her head considerately and said, "It's okay if you don't agree. I know you're worried about others misunderstanding, which is normal, especially after that news just came out..."
"No, no... I promise." Wen Chu hadn't recovered from her surprise yet, but since it was the main storyline, she had to complete it without thinking too much.
Qi Siyan's face lit up with joy: "Really?"
Wen Chu nodded slowly, though her mind was in turmoil: "It's not a big deal, is it? Anyway, I can't find anyone else to be my male companion."
"That's settled then! You don't need to prepare any clothes; I'll personally bring them to you the day after tomorrow."
Wen Chu nodded slowly again: "Okay."
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Author's note: My computer was acting up today, it was so slow, I had to type every single word.
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