Unlike the original Wen Xiao, Ruan Zhiqin was hardworking and ambitious. She was the first person from Nansui Village to get into Jingbei University. In the novel, the male lead was drawn to her tenacity and boldness, and fell hopelessly in love with her.
Especially when he found out that she was his true savior. Compared with the original Wen Xiao—a fake, sharp-tongued and unpredictable woman—the female lead was practically an angel.
The original Wen Xiao had tormented him with her outrageous behavior and mercurial moods for ages. When he learned that the female lead was the real person who had saved his life, he was practically grinning.
Wen Xiao sighed. The food in her mouth had lost all its flavor.
Tian Wanrou understood. “I know you don’t like Zhiqin, but she’s accomplished. Even if we can’t get along with her, we shouldn’t make her dislike us.”
Wen Xiao knew that, of course. She had to win over the male lead and the female lead alike. She could only hope that when the truth came out, the two protagonists would spare her life.
“Brring—”
Wen Xiao glanced at her phone and nearly dropped her bowl in fright.
It was a video call from Xie Shijin!
Tian Wanrou caught sight of the caller’s name, and her curiosity flared. “Who’s that? Sounds like a boy’s name.”
Wen Xiao grabbed her phone and hurried back to her room in a panic.
Biting her chopsticks, Tian Wanrou smiled knowingly. Wen Xiao had a young boyfriend!
With a bang, the wooden door shut. Wen Xiao clutched her phone, her heart pounding.
What was going on? Why had Xie Shijin suddenly video-called her? Didn’t he and the original Wen Xiao usually just make voice calls?
And the original Wen Xiao was always the one to call first. He had never once taken the initiative; he only messaged her first after she got angry.
Wen Xiao didn’t dare answer. If she did, wouldn’t the photo incident come to light?
Before long, Xie Shijin hung up.
Wen Xiao had just let out a sigh of relief when he called again, this time with a voice call.
Now she had no choice but to answer.
Wen Xiao picked up.
“What are you doing?”
The man’s voice on the other end was smooth and clear, sending goose bumps up Wen Xiao’s arms.
Wen Xiao imitated the original’s tone and snapped, “Didn’t I already tell you not to video-call me? I hate video calls! You never listen to a word I say. You don’t love me at all!”
She did her best to sound unreasonable and overbearing.
“Sorry,” Xie Shijin said. “It won’t happen again.”
His response left Wen Xiao at a loss for words. Xie Shijin was being far too nice. But she knew it was only because he thought she was his savior.
“We’ve only been dating for two months. Maybe we can video-call once we’ve been together a little longer, okay?”
Afraid of upsetting him, Wen Xiao hurried to soften the blow. Even she didn’t notice how gentle her voice had become.
Xie Shijin paused, phone in hand. “Okay.”
Jiang Zimo was dying of curiosity and leaned over to listen, but Xie Shijin gave him a cold glance, and he immediately settled down.
The red-haired Li Xiuchi whispered to Jiang Zimo, “I think Xie Shijin’s a masochist.”
Jiang Zimo was astonished. “Why?”
Li Xiuchi said, “His online girlfriend curses him out all the time, and she’s always blocking and deleting him. And Xie Shijin still indulges her. What else would you call him?”
Jiang Zimo thought he had a point. “I just used his phone to video-call her, and that woman didn’t even dare answer. So she’s not only got a bad temper—she’s an ugly monster, too!”
Li Xiuchi heartily agreed. “Where did Xie Shijin find that Pokémon?”
At that, Jiang Zimo felt a little guilty. “Naiyou Paofu was in our gaming group. We were short a player for a five-person match that one time, so I invited her in. Who knew she’d manage to hook up with Xie Shijin?”
“Come to think of it, it is weird,” Li Xiuchi said. “With Xie Shijin’s cold personality, how could he possibly like a gold digger like that?”
…
After hanging up with Xie Shijin, Wen Xiao let out a huge sigh of relief.
He wasn’t one for talking much. Afraid of awkward silences, Wen Xiao kept jumping from one topic to another. He responded now and then, but stayed silent most of the time.
Luckily, that was how he and the original Wen Xiao had always interacted, so she wasn’t afraid of giving herself away.
Xie Shijin: Why haven’t you accepted the transfer?
Wen Xiao jolted. Just seeing the male lead’s name made her think of her gruesome end.
What kind of person nagged someone to take their money?
But she quickly realized he was probably worried that if she refused, she’d bring it up again later and demand even more money from him.
After thinking it over, Wen Xiao accepted the transfer. Then she opened her little savings wallet and put away all the money Xie Shijin had given her, planning to return it to him someday.
Naiyou Paofu: I’ve decided to look for a job.
Xie Shijin: 【Transfer: 100,000】
I didn’t mean you should send me money!
Wen Xiao was so exasperated by rich people she could’ve fainted.
Naiyou Paofu: Stop sending me money! It’ll corrupt my principles and eat away at my mind! It’ll turn me into a social parasite who only wants things handed to me!
Xie Shijin: …Fine.
Why was the male lead so much like a bot?
Wen Xiao couldn’t help complaining.
She didn’t want to talk to a bot anymore, so she just said she was going to bed and set Xie Shijin’s chat to Do Not Disturb.
Meanwhile, Xie Shijin glanced at the time. It was only nine thirty. What?
Didn’t she usually refuse to sleep until two or three in the morning?
It was still hot in A Province, even though autumn had just begun. There was no air conditioning at home, just an old standing fan.
Wen Xiao had always been sensitive to heat. She tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep.
In the end, she dragged a stool over and sat in front of the electric fan. Even the air it blew was hot.
Her fair little face was flushed red from the heat.
How long would it take to earn two million just by working? An idea struck Wen Xiao: why not become a short-video creator and document her daily life in the countryside? That kind of content was popular. She could also film hand dances and transformation videos.
Short-video platforms weren’t as popular here as they were where she came from. Douyin had only been around for a short while, so it was a great time to attract viewers.
She could look for a job, too—do both.
As she thought about it, Wen Xiao lay back down and fell asleep.
Not long afterward, Tian Wanrou came in carrying a bowl of watermelon. Seeing her asleep, she was a little surprised. “Why did this child go to bed so early today?”
Tian Wanrou set the watermelon on the table and gently wiped the sweat from Wen Xiao’s forehead with a tissue.
Seeing her drenched in sweat from the heat, a look of guilt crossed Tian Wanrou’s eyes.
Seeing her drenched in sweat from the heat, a look of guilt crossed Tian Wanrou’s eyes. She quietly slipped out, then called her husband, who was working at a construction site.
“Husband, maybe we shouldn’t pay my sister back that two thousand just yet. Let’s use it to put an air conditioner in Wen Xiao’s room first. She’s always been so sensitive to heat…”
Wen Xing’an was delivering food when he got his wife’s call. He pulled over on his electric scooter. Sweat slid down his dark face and dripped onto the screen. He wiped his phone against his clothes. “All right. I’ll send the money over tomorrow.”
After talking with his wife a little longer, Wen Xing’an started up his scooter and arrived at Yujing Tiancheng.
Looking at the opulent buildings, Wen Xing’an felt out of place. He carefully put the food delivery in the delivery locker.
“Right on time.”
Jiang Zimo hurried over and took the coffee he’d ordered from the locker.
Li Xiuchi mocked him. “You won’t drink freshly ground coffee, but you like instant. You’re so low-class.”
Jiang Zimo took a long sip. “What do you know? I like that cheap taste.”
Both of them were dressed head to toe in designer clothes, and their watches were obviously worth a fortune.
Wen Xing’an couldn’t help glancing at them a few times. When he turned around, he walked straight into someone.
He jumped and hurried to apologize. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Looking up, he saw that the young man he’d bumped into was very tall—at least six foot one. He had a straight, broad-shouldered frame, a narrow waist, sharply defined features, and deep-set eyes of a cool hue. His gaze always held a trace of indifference.
His air of wealth was practically spilling out of him.
“Damn, are you okay, Shijin?”
Jiang Zimo immediately came over.
Wen Xing’an’s heart pounded. He apologized several more times, afraid of angering these rich young Brother figures.
Xie Shijin shook his head. “I’m fine.”
He bent down and picked up the man’s phone. A little gold-spotted cat charm dangled from its yellowing case. Xie Shijin froze.
Naiyou Paofu had sent him a photo of that charm. It was exactly the same.