While driving through the city, the ride was still smooth. Duan Qingyu even briefly considered telling her to get out.
But once they left the city and headed toward the suburbs, the car instantly accelerated, shooting forward like an arrow. The tires screeched as the vehicle slid around a corner.
The speed only increased, and she didn’t even bother to touch the brakes.
Duan Qingyu watched the night scenery flash by outside, resting his hand leisurely against the window frame with a faint, amused smile, as if enjoying the ride.
The person beside him seemed to feel the same way.
As he watched her gradually slow the car down, a flash of ruthlessness crossed Duan Qingyu’s eyes.
“Have you done this before, Miss Ji?” he asked.
“A few times when I was abroad,” Ji Xueli replied without changing her expression.
How could the original host have ever participated in something like this? Her social media was filled with theater and acting.
“Duan Qingyu,” she called his name.
He glanced over, showing no particular reaction to her addressing him directly.
“Your condition—I accept it,” Ji Xueli said, looking at him.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Besides, she was gambling—betting on whether he was serious or not. According to the old-school novels she’d read, when the female lead agreed to such a condition, the male lead would usually fly into a rage out of humiliation.
Wait a minute…
She wasn’t the female lead.
Ji Xueli’s mouth twitched slightly, and she wanted to quickly take back what she’d said.
But the next moment, the man across from her laughed, his eyes dark and intense.
For some reason, Ji Xueli sensed danger approaching.
“Ji Xueli, I really underestimated you,” Duan Qingyu said, narrowing his eyes slightly, his voice cold.
He had intended to use this to make her back down, to give her a chance to declare the game over. Yet…
She had handed the opportunity right back to him.
Ji Xueli frowned slightly. Was this him flying into a rage out of humiliation? It felt more like pure anger to her…
She leaned back slightly, but then the man grabbed her wrist, pulling her toward him with considerable force. She looked up, and her vision was filled with his handsome, indifferent face.
Ji Xueli’s heart suddenly sank, as if she were prey locked in the sights of a predator. She wanted to run—the thought flashed through her mind.
“If you provoke me, don’t regret it later. But the game has already started, and there’s no backing out now,” Duan Qingyu said, staring at her.
He made it sound like she was stepping into an abyss. Ji Xueli forced a smile. “I won’t regret it, don’t worry.”
As long as she could successfully capture the target, regrets were the least of her concerns.
Duan Qingyu released her wrist.
Ji Xueli quickly rubbed her reddened wrist. No wonder the female leads in those old-school novels were all so resilient and unyielding. If it were her, she would have cursed him out and told him to get lost long ago.
Being a transmigrated supporting female character was truly a high-risk profession…
“I’ll drive,” he said after a moment, his voice cool and detached.
“Okay,” Ji Xueli nodded. If he wanted to drive, so be it. His driving skills were probably about the same as hers.
“Ugh!”
Ji Xueli leaned against a tree, vomiting everything she had drunk earlier. It felt like her stomach was about to turn inside out.
Duan Qingyu had driven as if it were a race. Even though she had some experience, compared to him, it was like a drop in the ocean. The ride had left her dizzy and nauseous.
“I can’t walk anymore… help me up,” Ji Xueli leaned against the car, speaking weakly.
Duan Qingyu glanced at her, saw right through her act, and walked into the residential complex without a second thought.
How heartless…
Ji Xueli pouted, her mood shifting quickly as she hurried to catch up.
This was likely Duan Qingyu’s most frequent residence, also located in the affluent district where land prices were worth a fortune.
Following behind him, Ji Xueli hesitated for a moment. Was she really going home with someone just like that?!
How utterly lacking in restraint…
“Aren’t you coming in?” Duan Qingyu glanced at her.
She stepped inside. “Of course.”
To know your enemy and know yourself is the key to victory. Once inside, she might even get to understand him better.
But who could have known that as soon as she stepped in, before the lights were even turned on, a tall, imposing shadow closed in, pressing her against the door with no room to retreat.
The man’s presence enveloped her, his outline blurred in the dim light. Ji Xueli instinctively tried to dodge, but a hand with distinct knuckles pressed down on her shoulder.
A scorching breath brushed against her neck, sending an electric sensation coursing through every nerve.
Ji Xueli tensed, clenching her fists.
Just as the person before her was about to make another move, her hand shot toward his neck with lightning speed, delivering a swift chop.
At the same moment, the lights flickered on, revealing Duan Qingyu’s displeased expression as he stared at her with overwhelming intensity.
Wow, he didn’t faint.
She’d overplayed her hand.
Ji Xueli met his gaze without flinching. “There was a mosquito just now. Don’t mention it.”
She calmly walked toward the living room, though her palms were already sweaty. Goodness, who turns on the lights like that? She’d been so startled she resorted to the TV drama move of knocking someone out…
Duan Qingyu rubbed the spot on his neck where she’d struck him. It stung slightly but wasn’t painful. His gaze darkened a few shades. As for her flimsy excuse, he believed it.
Because he had only intended to scare her in the first place.
“Wow, Duan Qingyu, your place is huge.” After what had just happened, Ji Xueli tried to cover her unease by making small talk.
Duan Qingyu couldn’t be bothered to respond.
“Have you forgotten what you said earlier?” He looked at her, pouring a glass of water as he spoke.
She knew she couldn’t escape this…
“I haven’t forgotten, but you should first tell me what resources and arrangements I’ll get after joining START Entertainment.” Ji Xueli replied.
She still needed to secure some benefits for herself first.
“What do you want?” Duan Qingyu handed her the glass of water.
Ji Xueli took it, deliberately brushing her fingers against his. She raised an eyebrow. “Naturally, I want to be the leading actress. The best resources and scripts should come to me first. And if there’s anyone I don’t like, you’ll have to deal with them for me.”
She had to start with unreasonable demands so that Duan Qingyu might refuse. Then she could seize the opportunity to play the victim, spinning tales about her hardships abroad, embellishing as much as possible.
She refused to believe that the feelings between the male lead and the original host had vanished entirely. They had been together, after all. Perhaps she could escape this ordeal without having to sell herself.
“Fine.”
“I understand if you don’t agree…?! You agreed!” Ji Xueli had already spoken the words before realizing he had actually agreed.
She stared at Duan Qingyu in disbelief.
Duan Qingyu’s smile deepened, as if he had seen through her thoughts. “Anything else?”
“Fire Ren Tang…” Ji Xueli swallowed, hesitating for a moment before continuing with her demands.
“That’s easy. Anything else?” Duan Qingyu took a step closer to her.
Ji Xueli’s eyes widened in shock. He could even agree to that? Just how resentful and humiliated was this male lead? She looked up at him. “You can’t have any women around you.”
She refused to believe he’d agree to this.