The food box was also tossed carelessly onto the ground, making a crisp sound.
Xi Cheng unhurriedly took out a soft, silvery-white silk handkerchief, wiped his hands, and tossed it aside just as carelessly.
Dressed in a Rose Liss uniform, the tall, slender, silver-haired boy’s eyelids were half-lowered, his expression utterly indifferent. Just like that, he walked past the dark-haired girl and left.
Jiang You was trying to steady her ragged breathing. She had nearly run herself to death in circles looking for this flower garden.
The garden was planted with vibrant roses that were shoulder-high, arranged in circle after circle. To avoid accidentally stumbling upon the male and female leads having an intimate conversation, Jiang You had nearly made herself dizzy navigating the maze.
She had just breathed a sigh of relief for completing her mission when she was caught off guard by this scene, freezing for a moment.
’Although I couldn’t hear what they were saying, their actions and expressions were definitely not what you would call intimate.’
’In the plot, even if Xi Cheng didn’t like it, he was supposed to accept it first and then throw it in a trash can after he left.’
’Why did he dump the snacks right in front of the female lead now?’
Xi Cheng seemed to lift his gaze and look in Jiang You’s direction.
Almost instinctively, Jiang You spun around and hid behind the rose bushes, her heart unexpectedly starting to beat a little fast.
’What’s going on? Why aren’t the male and female leads following the script?’
No one could answer Jiang You’s questions. The support system she had could only issue and give reminders about missions; it couldn’t possibly answer her.
’Whatever. As long as the mission is complete, that’s all that matters.’
However, just as she was about to leave, she saw the female lead, Zhou Yan, squatting on the ground, all alone and looking pitiful as she picked up the dirt-stained snacks and put them back in the box.
Her steps faltered for a moment, but in the end, she still turned and left.
That evening, Jiang You treated her three little followers to dinner at Qingfeng Pavilion, but she hadn’t expected to run into the female lead there as well.
"Please enjoy your meal, esteemed guest." After delivering the food, Zhou Yan spoke with her eyes lowered, standing beside Jiang You.
’The female lead is working part-time here.’
Qingfeng Pavilion was a place that burned through money, and its patrons were either rich second-generation kids or powerful figures.
’So, it only took me a second to accept it. It makes sense that the female lead would easily encounter many powerful people while working here.’
She didn’t deliberately look at Zhou Yan, nor did she reply, treating her just like any other waitress.
’Otherwise, according to my persona, I can’t act so calm in front of my love rival.’
"Sister You, I’ve peeled the shrimp for you." Her three followers were attentively serving her throughout the meal.
Jiang You put on an act, enjoying their service as if it were her due. After a while, she spoke as if bestowing a favor, "Alright, you can eat too."
The meal came to an end.
Jiang You left briskly, her three followers chattering away beside her.
"Thank you, Sister You! If you hadn’t treated us, we’d never have had the chance to eat such delicious food! It was amazing!" Yu Lin exclaimed excitedly.
"AWOOO, I love you so much, Sister You!" Chen Yu chimed in.
"Sister You is the best, the very best!" Lin Xue agreed.
Jiang You gave a reserved nod.
’Being this spoiled young miss is actually kind of nice. What’s going on?’
Meanwhile, Zhou Yan had just finished her work. As she came out of the restroom after washing her face, she came face to face with the stout manager walking in. The man’s murky eyes were filled with lecherous desire.
"Manager Li, this is the women’s restroom. Why did you come in?" Zhou Yan’s heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly tried to get past him. "There’s still a private room that needs cleaning. I’ll go take care of it now."
But the stout man suddenly grabbed her hand and pulled her into a forceful embrace, looking as though he had been holding back for a long time. "Xiao Zhou, I like you."
Zhou Yan struggled violently, terrified. "Manager Li, what are you saying? Let me go!"
Her struggles seemed to infuriate the man, and he shoved her hard to the ground.
"Zhou Yan, how do you think you got such a high-paying job?" The man’s greasy face twisted into a snarl. "If you want to keep working here, you’d better obey me!"
"Get off! Get away from me!" Zhou Yan thrashed, shocked and furious. "Hel—"
Before she could get the word out, a greasy hand clamped tightly over her lips, muffling her voice.
Hearing the sound of people talking as they passed by, Zhou Yan began to struggle even more desperately.
"Hel—"
Jiang You and her three followers were walking past. Her pink eyes narrowed slightly. ’Did I just hear something?’
Her three followers continued to chatter away beside her, apparently not having heard anything.
’It couldn’t be such a coincidence, could it?’
The moment she had arrived at Qingfeng Pavilion and seen the female lead, Jiang You had reviewed the plot.
Tonight, the female lead was supposed to be nearly assaulted, then rescued by F1 who happens to run into her.
’It couldn’t be the restroom on this floor, could it?’
Jiang You thought it was highly likely, and her pace slowed.
But then she remembered her role as the villainess, and in the end, she walked past the restroom without stopping.
’The male lead will definitely save the female lead, right?’
’I shouldn’t have come here to eat. Now that I’ve run into this, my conscience won’t be clear if I don’t step in and help.’
Jiang You could only comfort herself. ’She’s the female lead, after all. Nothing bad will really happen to her. The male lead will definitely...’
Her thoughts were cut short as a tall young man walked past her, his voice lazy, raspy, and tinged with impatience. "Fine, I get it. I’ll be at school on time tomorrow, alright?"
The young man was talking on the phone as he walked. As he passed Jiang You, he subconsciously and casually glanced sideways at her.
Jiang You also glanced at him instinctively.
Their eyes met for a brief second before they looked away.
The young man had already continued walking, his golden eyes moving very slowly. On closer look, he seemed a bit dazed.
"Hello? Long Yu! Are you even listening to me? As the Crown Prince, your every move is being watched! You skipped the opening ceremony to go street racing and get into fights! Do you have any idea how much public pressure I’m under...?"
"Hello? Hello? Long Yu, are you listening at all!"
Long Yu’s golden eyes darkened slightly. His voice was low and husky as he said, inexplicably, "Damn, she’s gorgeous."
"What? What did you say?"
Long Yu hung up his terminal directly, his expression unreadable.
’He could no longer hear what the person on the other end of the terminal was saying.’
His mind was completely occupied by the face he had glimpsed so fleetingly.
’So gorgeous.’
Not far away, Jiang You’s expression had also gone blank.
Short blond hair, a row of silver studs on his ear cartilage, a handsome face, and an untamable, rebellious aura.
’If I’m not mistaken, this is F1. The very F1 who’s supposed to be rescuing the female lead!’
’But why did he walk right past the restroom door, and now he’s even walked past me!’
’What about the female lead?’
’The plot isn’t following the script. This is making me feel genuinely helpless.’
Jiang You forced herself to calm down. ’F1 will surely have a reason to turn back suddenly. Then he’ll stumble upon the female lead being assaulted and rescue her.’
’He will... He will, right?’
After all, no matter who it was, someone was about to be assaulted in there. Jiang You couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.
Sure enough, Long Yu, who was ahead of her, stopped and turned around.
He walked over step by step, but stopped in front of her. The silver studs in his ear glinted, a little dazzling. The young man tilted his head, his lips curling into a wild and fervent smile.
"Hey, cutie, can I get your number?"