Fang Xihe was startled and pushed Chen Zhou away, rolling to the floor.
Ignoring the pain, she scrambled to grab her phone and flee the small apartment before he could react.
The door slammed shut behind her.
Chen Zhou was still a little dazed.
Had he… just scared her away?
Xihe was shy; he should have taken things step by step.
Before he could reflect on it, he grabbed his phone and ran after her.
By the time he reached the ground floor, Fang Xihe was nowhere in sight.
He called her, but she didn’t pick up.
He could only return upstairs.
Fang Xihe sat in a taxi, patting her flushed cheeks, her heart still racing.
It had all happened too fast it had scared her.
Although the “chasing-wife” novels she had read didn’t detail the male lead’s relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Fang Xihe now had the original character’s memories.
The original Fang Xihe and the male lead were college classmates in different majors.
He was not only handsome but also academically outstanding a teacher’s favorite and a prominent figure on campus.
Many girls liked him.
But he was cold and aloof, and his family was poor. It was said he had a frail mother and was from another city.
Even if the girls liked him, they wouldn’t dare confess.
The original Fang Xihe had thought the same way.
What good was being handsome? Without money, she couldn’t buy a house, and married life would be messy.
Modern women were clear-headed they weren’t blinded by love.
But a month before graduation, her roommates teased her, encouraging her to pursue the famously cold male idol, Chen Zhou.
The original Fang Xihe scoffed, “Don’t worry. I’ll get him in less than a month.”
And she did Chen Zhou agreed to be her boyfriend.
They made their relationship official.
But Chen Zhou was busy after graduation, focusing on starting a business, so they rarely met.
Up until now, they hadn’t even kissed.
The original Fang Xihe also had a mother determined to marry her daughter into a wealthy family.
She constantly warned her against dating in college, especially against having any sexual relationship, insisting that preserving her virginity would ensure a good marriage.
The original Fang Xihe absorbed this mindset and dreamt of marrying into wealth.
She only intended to “play” with Chen Zhou.
The original plan was to break up with him today, humiliating him in the process.
She looked down on Chen Zhou from the bottom of her heart and would never marry him.
Unexpectedly, at the critical moment, she transmigrated.
She couldn’t follow the original path it would lead to a tragic end.
Even as a supporting character, she needed to actively change her fate.
Moreover, having transmigrated, she intended to live life to the fullest.
Though she was technically the male lead’s ex-girlfriend, as long as she handled her relationship with Chen Zhou appropriately…
…she could prevent him from developing a twisted and dark personality.
By the time they broke up, Chen Zhou would appreciate her for sharing hardships with him and likely give her a large sum of money.
Even if he didn’t, his eagerness to be with the female lead would ensure he’d pay her off.
Relying on her memories, Fang Xihe found the original Fang Xihe’s residence.
It was an ordinary residential complex.
After graduation, she had rented with two college roommates.
She entered the code to get inside.
A girl in purple pajamas came out of the kitchen holding a cup of water Wang Yuan.
“Xihe’s back.”
“Mm.”
Fang Xihe opened the door to the secondary bedroom and walked in.
It was a small two-bedroom apartment.
She lived in the secondary bedroom, paying 2,300 yuan per month.
Wang Yuan stayed in the living room, separated by a curtain, paying 1,500 yuan a month.
Wang Yuan’s family was struggling she had younger siblings in school, so she saved and sent money home.
The master bedroom belonged to Zhan Feifei, paying 3,000 yuan. Her family ran a business and was relatively well-off.
Fang Xihe realized she had forgotten something her bag was still at Chen Zhou’s place.
She had only taken her phone when she ran.
Wang Yuan and Zhan Feifei stood by the door, one on each side.
Zhan Feifei asked, “Break up with the male idol?”
Wang Yuan added, “What’s the male idol’s reaction to being dumped?”
Fang Xihe pulled a chair and sat, looking at them.
“No break-up.”
“Ah?”
The two were visibly shocked.
Wang Yuan noticed the diamond ring on her hand.
“How come you’re wearing a diamond ring? Is it real?”
Fang Xihe didn’t hide it. “It’s real. Chen Zhou gave it to me he proposed, and I said yes.”
“What???”
Zhan Feifei shouted in shock.
Wang Yuan gawked. After a moment, she asked, “Weren’t you going to break up with him?”
Zhan Feifei exclaimed, “Exactly! You didn’t like him because he was poor and were just playing around. How did you end up accepting the proposal?”
Fang Xihe didn’t know how to explain.
“I think Chen Zhou is pretty good. I don’t want to break up.”
Zhan Feifei replied, “You must be joking.”
Fang Xihe looked serious. “I’m not. I really won’t break up.”
Both women looked at her, confused.
Fang Xihe grabbed her pajamas to take a shower.
Zhan Feifei returned to her own room.
Wang Yuan stared toward the bathroom, frowning deeply.
After showering, Fang Xihe returned to her room, seeing the messy clothes piled on the bed.
The original Fang Xihe was the type who looked glamorous on the outside but was lazy and unhygienic in private.
She had reason to suspect that Chen Zhou might also be superficial, only attracted to the original Fang Xihe’s looks.
During her shower, she had looked in the mirror.
The original Fang Xihe’s face was indeed pretty.
An oval face, fair skin, round apricot-colored eyes, bright and dark, a high nose bridge, and full, pretty lips.
No wonder she captivated Chen Zhou.
But there was also the possibility that Chen Zhou was controlled by the plot and liked her only to create suffering for the female lead later.
Scanning the messy room, Fang Xihe began to tidy up.
The clothes looked unclean; she gathered them all and stuffed them into the washing machine.
She then organized the small, messy bedroom, cleaned the cabinets and bedside area with water.
Wang Yuan, hearing the movement, came over.
Seeing the neat and tidy room, she was momentarily stunned.
Her gaze landed on Fang Xihe bustling in and out.
Fang Xihe was very beautiful the department’s campus beauty.
Usually stylish and pretty.
But only those in the same dorm knew how lazy and unhygienic she could be.
She rarely did laundry.
Worn clothes piled on the bed, she would just pull them off to wear.
What looked like a daily rotation of outfits was actually reused clothing.
Even underwear and socks were washed only when she had no clean ones left.
The desk was always piled with stuff.
This Fang Xihe had turned over a new leaf.
So diligent.
“Xihe, are you okay?”
Fang Xihe was busy tidying up and didn’t notice Wang Yuan’s surprise.
“I’m fine. I’ll finish quickly and won’t disturb anyone’s sleep.”
Wang Yuan returned to her bed, still a little dazed.
Fang Xihe finished cleaning, changed the bed linens, and left the old ones to be washed tomorrow so as not to disturb anyone at night.
She went to the balcony to hang the washed clothes, then returned to the room and lay down.
Exhausted, in a new environment, she quickly fell asleep.
The next morning.
She was groggily awakened by her phone ringing.
She reached for it and held it to her ear.
“Hello?”
“I’m downstairs. Get ready and come down.”
A deep, magnetic male voice.
Fang Xihe opened her eyes, instantly awake.
She suddenly remembered she had transmigrated; she had become the male lead’s ex-girlfriend in a “chasing-wife” story.
Clearing her throat, she asked, “Is there something you need?”
After a pause, the voice on the other end said, “Let’s go register our marriage.”