“Qiao Qingman, I’ve already said it. I won’t like you. Give up on this idea.”
The man’s deep, mellow voice, laced with cold indifference and impatience, reached the ears of Qiao Qingman, whose consciousness had suddenly fallen into chaos.
She lifted her eyes and met the icy gaze of the man standing inside the villa, his features handsome and his figure tall and upright. Around him stood several well-dressed companions, all looking at her with mocking expressions.
One of them even sneered with undisguised schadenfreude. “Hurry up and leave. My cousin already said he doesn’t like you. Why are you still hanging around here? Aren’t you embarrassed?”
Qiao Qingman’s head throbbed with pain.
If she remembered correctly, she had just confessed her feelings at this small birthday party to the owner of the villa, which was the man standing in front of her, staring at her coldly.
She had been rejected and then kicked out of the villa?
Then why didn’t her heart hurt at all?
And why did she feel absolutely nothing when looking at this man called “Gu Qianshi”?
[Congratulations to the host on awakening consciousness.]
A mechanical system voice sounded in Qiao Qingman’s mind. [The host needs to maintain the original character setting and complete the upcoming plot.]
Awakening consciousness? What was that supposed to mean?
Immediately afterward, a large chunk of memories that did not belong to Qiao Qingman abruptly surfaced before her eyes.
It turned out she was living inside a novel called One-Second Heartbeat. In the book, she was a vicious cannon-fodder supporting female character who admired the male lead.
In the book, she was the pampered little princess of the Qiao family, spoiled since childhood and living a carefree life. But at one banquet, she fell in love with the male lead, Gu Qianshi, at first sight, her heart completely moved.
After that, she launched an intense pursuit of Gu Qianshi. Wherever Gu Qianshi went, she followed.
In order to get Gu Qianshi, she gave him gifts, confessed boldly, personally made love-themed lunch boxes, and even specially customized clothes identical to Gu Qianshi’s to wear as couple outfits.
She annoyed Gu Qianshi to no end.
But she did not care at all. She pursued him her way.
Then one day, Gu Qianshi met the universally adored female lead, who was beautiful and kind. His cold heart melted passionately from that moment on, beyond all control.
Gu Qianshi began giving the female lead gifts, making deep confessions, personally cooking soups and dishes for her, and secretly wearing clothes with similar colors and styles as hers.
Qiao Qingman was displeased. She went to every length to frame the female lead, exhausting every scheme and doing all kinds of bad things.
She even went so far as to drug Gu Qianshi in order to “force herself on him,” but instead accidentally helped bring him and the female lead together.
Gu Qianshi finally lost all patience. Before he was suppressed by the mysterious villain boss in the book to the point of nearly breaking down, he swiftly sent Qiao Qingman to prison.
Qiao Qingman had been raised in luxury since childhood, cherished and protected by her parents. Yet for the sake of a man, not only did she herself suffer imprisonment, she also implicated her parents, who loved and doted on her. In order to save her, they lost everything overnight, their hair turning white with worry.
Feeling she had failed her parents, Qiao Qingman hated both the male and female leads even more. Finally, in utter despair, she smashed her head against a wall and died.
After learning all of this plot, Qiao Qingman: “?”
What kind of ridiculous plot was this?
So she was nothing more than a pure tool character?
Thinking about her parents who loved and spoiled her, as well as wealth she could never spend even in ten lifetimes, Qiao Qingman could not help complaining in her mind. [Wouldn’t it be great to just be a laid-back rich woman, eating, drinking, and enjoying life?]
Why did she have to torture herself over a man who did not love her?
As she lifted her eyes again, she met the cool gaze of the male lead, Gu Qianshi.
And also that girl who had chased her away, the male lead’s cousin, Chen Yiyi, who spoke with disdain. “I’m talking to you. Why are you pretending to be stupid?”
From Chen Yiyi’s perspective, Qiao Qingman, who was being driven out of the villa, was clearly in an awkward state, yet she was still stunningly beautiful.
At that moment, Qiao Qingman stood before them. The dim yellow lights outside the villa cast hazy shadows over her body, accentuating her already fair and tender face, making it look even more delicate and adding an indescribable sense of fragility.
Chen Yiyi thought without exaggeration that if she were a man, she would definitely like Qiao Qingman.
Even though this person completely lost all principles whenever she encountered Gu Qianshi and always threw herself at him.
In fact, more than one person shared similar thoughts with Chen Yiyi. For example, Chen Leyan, who was standing nearby, his brows knitting tighter and tighter as she spoke, clearly wanting to move closer to Qiao Qingman.
Chen Yiyi, frustrated that her brother could not see reason, grabbed her brother’s wrist and glared at him, using her eyes to stop him.
There was also another man the siblings never expected to feel this way at all, the male lead himself, Gu Qianshi.
Gu Qianshi stared at Qiao Qingman with a heavy gaze, and yet an unavoidable, faint ripple stirred in his heart.
He knew very clearly that Qiao Qingman loved him deeply, and he also knew she had given a lot for him. As a man, it would be a lie to say he was not moved at all.
But for some reason, just as there was a slight fluctuation in his heart, an invisible barrier forced him to suppress the surging emotions.
It was as if, in the dark, it had already been destined that he would have another person he truly loved, and that Qiao Qingman would only ever be a passerby in his life.
At this moment, Gu Qianshi, whose inner thoughts were being suppressed by an inexplicable force, had his patience exhausted.
His dark eyes burst with a chilling coldness. “Qiao Qingman, leave immediately. Don’t let me see you again.”
His tone was cold and distant, with an urgency that was hard to explain.
Qiao Qingman, who had no idea that Gu Qianshi was deeply annoyed by this sense of powerlessness: “?”
Her temper flared.
If not for the plot setting, would she ever like him?
Qiao Qingman looked at Gu Qianshi, whose brows were tightly furrowed and whose entire body radiated rejection. She took a deep breath and tugged the corner of her lips politely. “You’re right. I have looks and money. Why would I throw myself at you? I’m tired of it. We’ll never see each other again.”
As for the plot where she continued pouring her heart and soul into the male lead afterward, failed to gain anything, and slowly turned into a mentally twisted, vicious supporting female character?
What did that have to do with her?
She had already awakened her consciousness. Why should she maintain some character setting and go through that damn plot?
She wanted to live her own life properly, and she absolutely could not let her parents fall into the kind of desperate situation they faced in the book.
After saying everything she wanted to say, Qiao Qingman did not care how shocked or stunned the people inside the villa were. She turned around and swaggered toward her car.
Just as her hand landed on the car door handle, she heard Gu Qianshi’s voice behind her, devoid of any warmth. “Qiao Qingman, you’d better mean what you say.”
Without turning her head, Qiao Qingman waved her hand. “Of course.”
There were so many men in the world. How bored would she have to be to keep seeking abuse after knowing the plot?
She then opened the car door, got in, and drove away.
Left behind in the villa, the people looked at one another, each seeing the same disbelief after extreme shock in the other’s eyes.
Especially Gu Qianshi.
There was not the slightest expression on the man’s face. Only his deep, dark eyes were heavy with gloom. “Qiao Qingman, let’s see what tricks you’re trying to pull this time.”
That single sentence immediately made the confused friends around him come to a sudden realization.
So Qiao Qingman was playing hard to get?
No wonder she suddenly gave up her pursuit tonight.
Interesting. They really wanted to see whether she would still come looking for Gu Qianshi later.
Only Chen Leyan, watching the car disappear from view, had a trace of restrained excitement flicker through his clear eyes, completely out of place with everyone else.
At the same time.
Ignoring the system in her mind that was urging her to follow the plot, Qiao Qingman drove leisurely.
As the car went farther and farther away, the system grew anxious. [Because the host’s ending in the book is crashing into a wall and dying after 100 days, that means the host currently has only 100 days of life remaining. So, host, time is tight right now.]
Qiao Qingman’s mind buzzed. She slammed on the brakes. [What do you mean?]
She had just returned to freedom from being a “tool character,” and now you were telling her that if she did not follow the plot, she could only live for 100 days?
Seeing that Qiao Qingman was finally taking this seriously, the system hurriedly said, [As long as the host continuously kisses the male lead, Gu Qianshi, for 100 days, the restriction can be lifted and the host can live a long life.]
Thinking she truly only had 100 days left, Qiao Qingman said, [? But according to the plot, I end up being sent to prison and then crashing into a wall to die. How am I supposed to live a long life? How do I avoid my parents’ ending?]
The system replied, [The host only needs to maintain the original character setting in scenes where the male and female leads are present, and complete the plot related to the male and female leads.]
In other words, for plot points that were glossed over in the book and did not require Qiao Qingman to appear, as long as the final result was ensured, she could act freely.
And after Qiao Qingman entered prison, neither the male lead nor the female lead had any further interactions with her, and there was no more content related to her afterward.
In that case, the “going to prison” plot could be avoided entirely, and the subsequent plot where Qiao Qingman’s parents were so heartbroken that they fell into utter despair would likewise no longer exist.
Qiao Qingman said, [……Why didn’t you say that earlier?]
She had just declared that she would no longer pursue the male lead.
The system: [……]
Its a rookie. This was its first task, so it got a little nervous and forgot.
In order to avoid being questioned further, the system quickly changed the subject. [Host, our 100 days are calculated backward from the end of the novel. That means the host has only one hour left before missing the first day’s kiss.]
Qiao Qingman asked, [What happens if I miss the first day?]
The system answered, [After 100 days, the host will return to the moment of the first consciousness awakening. The cycle will repeat endlessly until the host completes the task.]
Qiao Qingman fell silent. “……”
Could this system not explain everything in one go?
After learning all the details and immediately turning back toward Rongjing Villa, Qiao Qingman had already been waiting outside the villa for a full half hour.
Honestly, it would not have been impossible to just swagger straight in. But when she thought about the bold words she had declared not long ago, Qiao Qingman felt her cheeks heat up.
Fortunately, there was no plot involving her tonight. Otherwise, she would still have to gaze at the male lead with deep affection? That would be way too…
But then again, skipping the affectionate buildup and directly kissing the male lead would be even stranger, wouldn’t it?
After blaming the system for the Nth time for not saying things earlier, Qiao Qingman took a deep breath and fixed her bright, focused gaze on the room where the male lead was staying.
When the lights on the second floor went out, Qiao Qingman knew that the martial arts skills her father had made her practice for years, so she could protect herself in dangerous situations, had finally come in handy—
Since she wanted to avoid embarrassment, she could only resort to some unconventional methods. For example, taking advantage of the male lead being asleep, climbing onto his balcony, kissing him, and then running away?
As for tomorrow’s kiss, she would deal with it then.
Having made up her mind, Qiao Qingman opened the car door. Just before getting out, she hesitated and asked the system uneasily, [Is there anything else you haven’t told me?]
The system, having learned from its first failure, answered decisively, [No!]
Its reply was firm.
Actually… there was.
That was, when it first received this novel, there happened to be a major system data malfunction. But it was quickly repaired anyway.
Something this minor probably wasn’t worth disturbing the host over, right?
With the system’s reassurance, Qiao Qingman avoided all surveillance cameras, nimbly leaped over the villa fence, and lightly arrived beneath Gu Qianshi’s bedroom balcony.
She quickly climbed up a nearby tree. Once she reached roughly the same height as the balcony, she released her grip and jumped hard, landing easily on the balcony in a half-kneeling position.
Qiao Qingman braced both hands against the ground and silently let out a breath of relief. Luckily, even though her consciousness had awakened, her martial arts skills had not diminished at all.
A relaxed smile lifted the corner of Qiao Qingman’s lips, when her peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of a pair of shoes.
She froze, lifted her head, and followed the line of the man’s long suit trousers upward. It was unmistakably the same face she had seen just over half an hour ago.
Only this time, unlike his attire outside the villa, the man had changed into a dark, high-end custom-made suit.
Dim shadows, illuminated by the bright moonlight overhead, made his entire figure appear exceptionally cold, aloof, and noble.
The man’s features were so refined they were beyond reproach. The curve of his lips was flat, and he stood there with one hand in his pocket. His half-lowered lashes cast a gaze onto her that was cold yet unhurried, carrying a lazy composure.
Even so, the intense pressure radiating from him surged toward Qiao Qingman the moment their eyes met, without giving her any chance to resist.
In an instant, Qiao Qingman saw another side of the male lead.
This presence, this face…
Worthy of being the male lead of the book.
Wait. Why was the male lead awake?
Did that mean she had to first show some affection, and then, then kiss him?
“I have looks and money. Why would I throw myself at you? I’m tired of it. We’ll never see each other again.”
Her shameless declaration from an hour ago suddenly echoed in Qiao Qingman’s mind.
Facing the man’s casual, unreadable gaze, Qiao Qingman felt her face burn with embarrassment.
Yet she still had to speak nervously. “Gu, Gu Qianshi, um, this… you might not believe this, but earlier I, I…”
Just as she was struggling with how to continue, the system’s anxious voice suddenly rang out in her mind. [Host, one-minute countdown! Hurry, hurry, hurry!]
One-minute countdown?
Urged on, Qiao Qingman’s heart began pounding uncontrollably.
She did not have time to think further. She stood up and moved toward the man.
A trace of heat surged up from within. Qiao Qingman drew a breath so deep it caught in her throat. “Um… I, I still like you. Just, just let me kiss you first. Just, just once.”
Before her words even finished, she cupped the man’s face, puckered her lips, and kissed him.
The warm, real sensation against her lips made Qiao Qingman’s mind go completely blank.
A gentle summer breeze brushed past her ears, and a faint, fresh scent filled her nose.
Heat rushed rapidly through her body. Qiao Qingman did not notice that at the instant she kissed him, the man’s eyes, which had been so indifferent they were almost emotionless, flickered slightly, his brows knitting faintly.
A soft rustling sound reached Qiao Qingman’s ears from inside the room at that very moment.
Her heart lurched. Her muddled mind snapped sharply awake.
Realizing what she had done, she hurriedly released the man’s lips and turned to leave without thinking.
At that instant, a warm, large hand suddenly wrapped around her waist.
Then, the man she had just kissed calmly glanced in the direction of the room. By the faint moonlight, when he saw another man who looked exactly like himself, he tugged the corner of his lips into a half-smile, leaned down, and moved close to the girl in his arms.
The man’s low, warm, bewitching voice brushed against Qiao Qingman’s ear. “Didn’t you say you liked me? Why are you running?”
In the next moment, the man’s warm lips covered hers.