Lin Xiaotian’s gaze uncontrollably fell upon the gloomy yet beautiful face before her.
The dim hallway light flickered on, making the beauty in front of her appear even more vivid.
Only when she noticed Xiao Yao’s brows crease ever so slightly did she blush and hurriedly look away.
Lin Xiaotian had a pure and adorable appearance. Her smile was sweet, and ever since childhood people had often asked for her contact information.
But from the moment she had opened the door for Xiao Yao just now, she had been captivated by that face.
So this was what her reclusive neighbor actually looked like?
Her skin was fair, her lips red, her brows soft and delicate. Her eyes were misty and distant, her expression cold, yet none of it diminished her beauty in the slightest.
She was even prettier than the celebrities on television.
Although she and the original Lin Yao had been neighbors, the original owner rarely left the house. In Lin Xiaotian’s memory, Xiao Yao had always been a somewhat withdrawn girl who preferred to keep to herself.
After Lin Xiaotian had started working part-time to support her education, leaving early and returning late every day, the two of them had practically stopped interacting altogether.
Perhaps in the face of overwhelming beauty, everyone became cautious.
Lin Xiaotian couldn’t help speaking softly.
“Um… did you need something from me?”
Xiao Yao raised her head and looked at Lin Xiaotian with eager eyes.
“I heard you’re going to work a part-time job. Can I go with you?”
The Tasker’s Handbook had said that a little acting cute and showing weakness could double the results with half the effort.
Looking at the person before her, Lin Xiaotian couldn’t bring herself to refuse.
Blushing, she revealed a bright and friendly smile.
“That’s great! I was just worried I wouldn’t have anyone to look out for me.”
Seeing her agree so readily, a genuine smile instantly bloomed across Xiao Yao’s usually cold face.
It was like spring rain melting snow and ice.
The smile left Lin Xiaotian dazed once again.
By the time she came back to her senses, the person in front of her had already disappeared.
…
After returning home, Xiao Yao received the interview time and location for the bar from Lin Xiaotian.
The interview was scheduled for three days later.
During those few days, Xiao Yao remained active in the Female Supporting Character’s group chat, constantly trying to build favor.
To complete her future tasks, she needed to establish a good relationship with the Female Supporting Character.
At the previous pool party, Xiao Yao had left a rather poor impression on Qin Yuan.
Everyone else had desperately tried to make themselves noticed by her, but Xiao Yao had arrived dressed shabbily and even left midway through the event. A guest like that had practically never existed in all these years.
If Liang Xue’er hadn’t spoken up for her, Qin Yuan would have kicked Xiao Yao out long ago.
Although Xiao Yao remained in the group, she was completely ignored and treated like air.
The system gloated.
“You’re finished. The Female Supporting Character holds grudges. She’ll never forgive you.”
In truth, Xiao Yao failing her mission wouldn’t benefit it either.
But for some reason, it simply couldn’t stand seeing Xiao Yao looking pleased with herself.
Still…
If Xiao Yao begged it, it could consider using its permissions to give her a shortcut. For example, telling her about Qin Yuan’s preferences.
Xiao Yao had no time to deal with the system putting on airs beside her ear.
Her fingers were flying across the keyboard.
Judging solely by her indifferent, expressionless face, nobody would have connected her with the lengthy passage of flattering text currently appearing on the screen.
Once she finished typing, she sent it.
In the group chat that had been discussing handbags and jewelry, an enormous wall of eloquent praise suddenly appeared.
The language was flowery, exaggerated, and full of colorful compliments.
After Xiao Yao posted the message, the group fell silent for ten whole minutes.
After witnessing her actions, the system said in disbelief,
“Are you crazy? Do you think saying a few nice words will smooth things over with the Female Supporting Character? You’re dreaming! Clown!”
As expected, Qin Yuan didn’t reply.
Neither did anyone else in the group.
Aside from Liang Xue’er asking Xiao Yao a couple of questions, her flattery achieved absolutely nothing.
Watching Xiao Yao fail, the system became happy again.
It resumed trying to manipulate her.
“Just give up. You definitely can’t do it on your own. Beg me. If you beg me, I’ll tell you what the Female Supporting Character likes most… Hey? Hey! Are you even listening to me?!”
Xiao Yao simply muted the system.
The shrill mechanical voice gave her a headache.
When it came to coaxing people—especially a Female Supporting Character who wasn’t particularly smart—Xiao Yao had her own rhythm.
For the next two days, she posted a lengthy, carefully written piece of praise in the group every single day.
The wording was sincere.
The phrasing was thoughtful.
Qin Yuan was praised as though there were no one like her in heaven or on earth.
The group continued to ignore her.
Yet Qin Yuan never removed her from the chat.
After maintaining this routine for three consecutive days, the day of the interview with the Female Lead finally arrived.
Early in the morning, someone knocked on Xiao Yao’s door.
Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Xiao Yao opened it and found the Female Lead standing there, fully dressed and ready.
“Morning, Xiao Yao!”
Lin Xiaotian greeted her energetically and handed over the breakfast she had bought.
Xiao Yao accepted it in confusion and glanced at the clock overhead.
The hour hand pointed exactly at eight.
There were still several hours before one in the afternoon.
“Didn’t you come too early?”
When Xiao Yao hadn’t fully woken up, her expression naturally looked cold and unfriendly.
But because she was so beautiful, she merely looked adorably grumpy.
Lin Xiaotian fought desperately against the urge to pinch Xiao Yao’s cheeks.
Instead, she nodded.
“Yeah. I couldn’t sleep, so I came to hang out with you. You don’t mind, right?”
Hang out?
Were they really that close?
Xiao Yao stared expressionlessly at the Female Lead for quite a while before replying,
“I don’t mind.”
Lin Xiaotian immediately relaxed and wrapped her arms around Xiao Yao affectionately.
“Great! I knew you wouldn’t mind.”
Xiao Yao: “…”
Wasn’t this Female Lead a little too sweet and naive?
Any normal person would have heard that as sarcasm.
Not wanting to waste words, Xiao Yao pulled her arm free, tossed out a casual “Make yourself at home,” and returned to her room to continue sleeping.
Her mission had nothing to do with the Female Lead.
Xiao Yao wasn’t interested in building a relationship with her.
At exactly twelve-thirty, Xiao Yao woke up on schedule.
Her house was tiny and rundown. There wasn’t much to see.
She assumed the Female Lead had probably left already.
Wearing slippers, she walked outside and discovered that Lin Xiaotian was still sitting on the home’s only stool.
The moment she saw Xiao Yao emerge, she immediately looked up and smiled.
So incredibly sweet and naive.
Xiao Yao withdrew her gaze and returned to her room to change into a simple T-shirt and jeans.
She tied her black hair into a small bun.
Having just woken up, her expressionless face carried a faint rosy hue.
“Let’s go.”
At the doorway, she paused to think for a moment before putting on a face mask.
So cute!
Lin Xiaotian screamed internally.
Outwardly, however, she only nodded reservedly.
“Mm.”
The two left together and took a taxi to the bar.
…
The interview process went smoothly.
Lin Xiaotian had a pleasant appearance and was hardworking.
Even though she was only applying for temporary work, the supervisor immediately signed a one-month contract with her.
As for Xiao Yao, because she was simply too beautiful, the supervisor tried offering her a high salary to stay and work there.
Xiao Yao rejected the offer without the slightest hesitation.
Though disappointed, the supervisor didn’t press the matter further.
The two received their uniforms.
They would officially start work the next day.
By the time Xiao Yao returned home, it was already around six or seven in the evening.
She logged onto her computer and discovered that someone in the Female Supporting Character’s follower group was tagging her.
After she had spent three days tirelessly posting lengthy messages, only to disappear entirely from the group today, the others had finally become curious first.
Qin Yuan tagged her.
Precious Yuan: Why didn’t you flatter me today?
Xiao Yao curled her lips into a smile.
“Got her.”
The system was so shocked it became speechless.
“This is impossible!”
How could it be that Xiao Yao merely moved her fingers, posted three days’ worth of seemingly meaningless flattery, and the Female Supporting Character had already forgiven her?
Shouldn’t she have needed to become Qin Yuan’s servant, brave mountains of blades and seas of fire, and pass countless tests before barely being accepted again?
This made no sense!
Xiao Yao had no idea what the system was thinking.
Lying on her bed, she reread the original novel while pondering under what circumstances the Male Lead might get drunk and lose control.
In the original story, the Male Lead’s character setting was that of a gentle and perfect School Heartthrob.
He maintained absolute control over his emotions.
At least in public, he was always rational and composed.
He would never allow himself to lose control.
Xiao Yao read through the novel several times.
She couldn’t find a single scene involving the Male Lead getting drunk.
So…
Was this simply a plot hole left behind by an irresponsible author?
Perhaps when the author originally wrote the story, they had never imagined that a tasker would actually transmigrate into it specifically to play a cannon fodder character and push the plot forward.
When Xiao Yao reached that conclusion, she fell into genuine silence.
So…
How exactly was she supposed to get the Male Lead drunk and photograph him acting out while intoxicated?