Yu Wan was stunned.
Wasn’t Li Yi… the male lead of this novel?
What was he doing here?!
According to the novel’s timeline, shouldn’t Li Yi still be studying overseas?
Droplets of condensation slid down the outside of the cup, leaving a dark patch on the tabletop.
The young man picked up the iced Americano and took a large gulp.
As he tilted his head back, his exceptionally handsome face was revealed.
Yu Wan couldn’t help staring.
No wonder he was the male lead. He really was handsome!
According to the novel, Li Yi had built everything from nothing and possessed striking good looks.
He came from an ordinary family. Both of his parents were high school teachers, a background that seemed rather unremarkable by typical novel standards.
But Li Yi’s intelligence was astonishing.
He had earned a full scholarship to study abroad in high school, founded his own company while attending university, made a name for himself overseas, and later returned to China to expand his business.
On the surface, he seemed a little unreliable, but when it came to work, he was the complete opposite. He was a true man of action.
In the novel, he started a business together with Su Nanzhi, and the two eventually became both business partners and lovers.
Yu Wan found it rather strange.
In the original story, she had never crossed paths with Li Yi.
So why had he appeared ahead of schedule, and why had he mistaken her for the heroine?
【System, what exactly is the point of your cheat ability? You can’t even figure out who the heroine is. I have to find her myself.】
Li Yi’s inner voice was filled with undisguised disdain.
The System sounded aggrieved.
【There’s nothing I can do! My permissions aren’t high enough. I can only scan objective data. I can only read the novel’s synopsis, and those ancient synopses are nothing but ‘he, she, he, she’ without a single name. How am I supposed to know what the heroine’s name is?】
So that was what had happened.
Yu Wan raised an eyebrow, feeling a little guilty.
Two years ago, she had worried that, just like in the original plot, Mother Yu would be dragged into disaster because of her, the Villainous Second Female Lead, and end up suffering retaliation from Su Nanzhi.
So Yu Wan had asked her mother to donate a scholarship fund to A University.
The list of recipients had been provided by the university, and the only condition Yu Wan had requested was that the students be “academically outstanding and from financially disadvantaged families.”
Su Nanzhi’s name had appeared on that list.
Yu Wan had hoped that if the worst really happened, Su Nanzhi would show Mother Yu some mercy out of gratitude for that kindness.
It was also because of that scholarship that Su Nanzhi’s life had become much easier.
That was why, when the System scanned her, Su Nanzhi no longer appeared poorer than Yu Wan.
One misunderstanding, brought about by a twist of fate.
Yu Wan suddenly felt rather guilty.
Still, even if she did nothing, it probably wouldn’t matter…
In the novel, the story officially began in September. There were still another six months to go.
During those six months, Li Yi would naturally realize who he truly loved, and everything would return to the original storyline.
After all, they were the fated male and female leads.
Having comforted herself, Yu Wan placed the finished drink onto a tray. Just as she was about to bring it to Su Nanzhi’s table, she heard the System speak again.
【Host, I just did another scan…】
The System hesitated.
【The girl sitting by the window in the white dress is also a student at A University. She also meets the conditions of being ‘poor’ and ‘beautiful,’ and her name is Su Nanzhi. Do you think it’s possible she’s the real heroine?】
See? The misunderstanding had been cleared up.
Yu Wan instinctively looked toward the window.
Su Nanzhi was chatting and laughing with her friends. Sunlight fell across her fair face, making her simple white cotton dress look as pure as freshly fallen snow.
When she smiled, her eyes curved into crescents. Sweet, innocent, and the very image of the classic campus white lotus heroine.
As for herself…
Yu Wan lowered her head and looked at her blurry reflection in the glass display counter.
Long black hair, features that were almost too exquisite.
Even with a mask covering her face, she couldn’t hide the natural allure she had been born with.
One look was enough to tell she had the face of the Villainous Second Female Lead.
【System, what kind of taste do you have?】
Li Yi’s inner voice interrupted Yu Wan’s thoughts.
He let out a scoff, his tone full of unconcealed disdain.
【She’s nothing but a bland little cabbage. She’s nowhere near as good-looking as Yu Wan!】
The System fell silent for two seconds.
【But Host, the synopsis describes the heroine as ‘pure and sweet’…】
【She should at least be beautiful, shouldn’t she?】 Li Yi’s inner voice sounded lazy. 【Besides, the scores are right there. Yu Wan has the highest overall rating. I only trust data.】
Carrying the tray, Yu Wan walked toward Su Nanzhi’s table.
Every step was perfectly steady.
But inside, a tiny version of herself was frantically clawing at the walls.
What is wrong with this novel?!
The male lead isn’t attracted to the heroine’s looks?!
Then how are the two of you supposed to fall in love? Through inner beauty?!
She set down the cocoa, and Su Nanzhi looked up, smiling sweetly as she said, “Thank you.”
You’re welcome.
The corners of Yu Wan’s lips twitched beneath her mask.
You’re the real heroine.
The male lead just has the wrong person. But don’t worry, I’ll find a way to set him straight.
…But walking over to him now and saying, “You got the wrong person. The heroine is the girl over there”…
That would make her look completely insane.
Before Yu Wan could think of a solution, Li Yi had already finished the last sip of his iced Americano.
【Host, are you going to ask the heroine for her WeChat?】 the System asked.
【What are you talking about? Several guys asked for her WeChat all afternoon. Did she give it to any of them?】 Li Yi complained.
【Besides, that’s way too cliché. I’m the male lead. If I make my entrance like some random street punk, would readers even want to read that?】
【Then what are you going to do?】
Li Yi stood up and brushed past Yu Wan.
He pushed open the café door and walked outside.
The wind chime hanging by the entrance rang brightly.
Sunlight shone across Li Yi’s face, his smile confident and radiant.
【Come on. Let’s buy the coffee shop.】
The tray in Yu Wan’s hands nearly slipped from her grasp.
…Huh?
Li Yi moved even faster than Yu Wan had imagined.
At six that evening, she had just finished cleaning the kitchen and was about to clock out when the wind chime above the entrance rang again.
“Sorry, we’re already closed…”
Yu Wan froze halfway through taking off her apron.
Li Yi had appeared in the doorway.
Standing beside him was the shop owner, who looked positively thrilled.
“Xiao Yu! Xiao Yu!” the owner beamed. “Come here, come here! Meet our new boss!”
“This is President Li, Li Yi! Such an impressive young man! He came to me this afternoon wanting to buy the café, offered an incredibly generous price, and we signed the contract on the spot!”
She turned to Yu Wan, her eyes sparkling.
“Xiao Yu, don’t worry. I already told President Li all about you. I said you’re the most dependable employee in the shop! President Li said he’ll keep you on as the store manager after the ownership change!”
Yu Wan: “…”
She looked at Li Yi.
Standing behind the owner, Li Yi met her gaze, smiled slightly, and extended his hand toward her.
“Hello. My name is Li Yi.”
The corner of Yu Wan’s mouth twitched before she reached out and shook his hand.
“Yu Wan.”
“Alright, introductions are done. I’ll be off now,” the owner said, coming and going as quickly as ever. “Xiao Yu, work hard. President Li definitely won’t treat you unfairly!”
The café was left with only Yu Wan and Li Yi.
Yu Wan took a deep breath.
“President Li.”
“Just call me Li Yi.” Looking at Yu Wan, his peach blossom eyes seemed to overflow with affection. “I’ll call you Wanwan. It sounds more intimate.”
Yu Wan: “…”
…Who gave you permission to call me Wanwan?
“Wanwan, what did you want to say?” Li Yi asked with a warm smile.
Yu Wan drew in another deep breath.
“I’d like to resign.”
She didn’t care whether it was the heroine, the male lead, or the second male lead. She wanted to stay as far away from all of them as possible.
The smile on Li Yi’s face cracked slightly.
“Why?” he asked.
“The new shop will have its own plans, and I might not be suitable,” Yu Wan replied. “Besides, I need to work on my graduation thesis, so I don’t have enough time.”
It was the excuse Yu Wan had spent the entire afternoon coming up with.
No matter how anyone looked at it, there was no reason to reject it.
Li Yi thought for a moment.
【System, do you think the heroine is telling the truth?】 Yu Wan heard him ask inwardly.
【Host, she must be. The heroine has excellent grades. Otherwise, after graduation, she wouldn’t have joined Hongtai Group and met you six months later!】
Yu Wan: …
Seriously? Does that even match the original setting?
Your System really isn’t reliable. Maybe it should switch careers and start reading horoscopes instead!
Li Yi found that convincing.
【Then how can I persuade her to stay?】
【Replying to Host,】 the System eagerly offered its advice, 【the heroine is very poor. You can solve it with money.】
???
Good grief!
Yu Wan looked up in shock, only to find Li Yi studying her with complete seriousness.
Then he made up his mind.
“Fifty thousand,” Li Yi suddenly said.
Yu Wan blinked.
“…What?”
“A monthly salary of fifty thousand.” Li Yi looked at her, speaking as calmly as though he were commenting on the weather. “Store manager’s base salary plus performance bonus. I did the math. Fifty thousand should be about right.”
Yu Wan suspected she had misheard him.
“President Li,” she said, trying her best to keep her voice steady, “the market salary for a coffee shop manager is six to eight thousand.”
“I know.” Li Yi nodded. “But I have money, and I want to pay that much.”
He stepped closer to Yu Wan, his peach blossom eyes carrying a faint smile as he examined her.
“So…”
“Interested?”