Qiao Sheng began to envy the female lead who would appear not long from now!
What a fortunate life she had, to be able to have a man as nearly perfect as Gu Huo in the future.
She didn’t dare imagine how amazing it would be if she were the female lead.
Qiao Sheng didn’t let herself envy for too long and quickly stopped.
Although thinking about it wasn’t illegal, she knew better than anyone that Gu Huo’s feelings toward her were clearer than distilled water—only responsibility, without any ulterior motives.
To put it bluntly, even if there were no female lead, even if all the women in the world except her were gone, Gu Huo would never consider her.
Gu Huo had a strong tolerance and could endure her tantrums and whims out of a sense of responsibility, but that didn’t mean he had a tendency for self-torture.
Halfway through the meal, Gu Huo received a phone call. Whatever the person on the other end said, he looked at Qiao Sheng with a troubled expression.
Qiao Sheng knew what was troubling him and quickly waved her hand. “Go ahead and do what you need to do. Don’t worry about me.”
To be honest, she felt ashamed on behalf of the original owner.
Gu Huo had excellent academic performance, consistently ranking first in his grade. After learning about his personal circumstances, the school provided him with a substantial scholarship each semester to ensure he could study without financial worries.
If they were frugal and planned wisely, it would be more than enough for both of them to live on.
However, every time Gu Huo received his scholarship, it would be taken by the original owner before it even had a chance to warm his hands. She would spend it extravagantly without a second thought, never considering whether there would be rice to cook the next day.
Perhaps Gu Huo was her safety net.
Before she grew up, her grandmother passed away.
Fortunately, her grandmother had left her Gu Huo.
The original owner muddled through each day without a care.
After all, if the sky were to fall one day, Gu Huo would be there to hold it up.
No matter what, Gu Huo wouldn’t—and couldn’t—let her go hungry, unless his conscience had been eaten by a dog!
Hmph, if it weren’t for her grandmother, he would have died alone on the streets long ago!
He wouldn’t dare forget her grandmother’s kindness.
As for how difficult it was for him to ensure she didn’t go hungry—that was Gu Huo’s problem. She was only responsible for living carefreely, eating, drinking, and having fun.
To make ends meet, Gu Huo worked part-time at a nearby convenience store.
Normally, he worked a three-hour evening shift. Now, during the winter break, his working hours were longer, and his wages were slightly higher.
Because the original owner had gone on a hunger strike, Gu Huo had already taken two days off. With the New Year approaching, work was busier than usual, and two out-of-town employees had taken leave to go home for the holidays. If Gu Huo took more time off, it would only add fuel to the fire.
Even the most patient boss couldn’t help but voice some complaints.
In the original storyline, because the original owner refused to relent, Gu Huo took three days off in a row. Not only did he miss out on a competition, but he almost lost his job as well.
People weren’t unreasonable. If he had a legitimate reason, like participating in a competition, it would have been understandable. Everyone would have supported him wholeheartedly instead of holding him back. But going to a comic convention was seen by many as a frivolous and unproductive activity.
Such a proud man had to humble himself for a long time to calm his boss’s anger and keep this hard-earned job.
Since Qiao Sheng had transmigrated here, she naturally wouldn’t cause trouble for Gu Huo.
Gu Huo hurried off to work.
“Burp~”
After wolfing down her meal, Qiao Sheng finally felt alive again.
With a full stomach and a clear mind… well, not exactly. In any case, Qiao Sheng had filled her belly and regained her energy, so she was ready to stir up trouble again!
The original owner had been lying in bed for two days without eating or drinking, not brushing her teeth or washing her face, looking disheveled and unkempt. Qiao Sheng simply couldn’t take it anymore!
Carrying clean clothes, she slipped into the bathroom—but not before washing all the pots, bowls, and utensils.
The original owner had never lifted a finger for household chores.
Not only did she avoid housework, but she also created more of it.
Gu Huo would come home late at night, exhausted from work, only to clean up the mess she left behind.
Of course, he could have ignored it just like the original owner did.
But his obsession with cleanliness wouldn’t let him turn a blind eye.
No matter how tired or late it was, he had to tidy the house until it was spotless before he could close his eyes and sleep peacefully.
For most people, managing both work and household chores would already be impressive. But let’s not forget—Gu Huo also had another important identity that couldn’t be overlooked: student.
He wasted so much time on work, chores, and serving the original owner that, aside from the little time he spent at school, he couldn’t spare even a moment for studying.
But he was the male lead, after all—with an incredibly sharp mind. He could ace exams with minimal effort, effortlessly holding onto the top spot in his grade while others struggled desperately. Infuriating, wasn’t it?
After tidying up the kitchen, Qiao Sheng turned her attention to herself.
When she first transmigrated, she had been too caught up in grief and hunger. Only after eating her fill did she realize how itchy and uncomfortable her body felt. Who knew how many days the original owner had gone without bathing? Outwardly glamorous, but a mess at home—truly a case of “all show and no substance.”
She quickly stripped off her clothes, and the warm water at just the right temperature cascaded over her—pure bliss.
It was only then that she realized she not only shared the same name as the original owner but also looked exactly like her!
What a cursed fate!!
After a refreshing shower, Qiao Sheng changed into clean clothes and stepped out of the steamy bathroom. She tossed her worn clothes into the washing machine—except for her undergarments, which she had already hand-washed in the bathroom before coming out, as it wasn’t hygienic to wash them in the machine.
Just as she was about to start the washing cycle, she paused, looked around, and found two pieces of clothing Gu Huo had changed out of.
These past two days had left Gu Huo utterly drained—he hadn’t even remembered to wash his clothes.
Qiao Sheng picked up his clothes to add to the washing machine and noticed the frayed cuffs of his jacket and the faded, worn-out jeans. It was clear they had been worn for a long time.
Opening the original owner’s wardrobe, she found it overflowing with clothes.
Opening Gu Huo’s, she saw only a few sparse garments hanging inside.
He hadn’t bought new clothes in a long time. The last time was when his grandmother was still alive—she had dragged him out shopping just before the New Year.
Over the years, Gu Huo had grown significantly taller, transforming from a small kid who always sat in the front row into a tall, long-legged young man. The clothes his grandmother bought him no longer fit.
Wearing his school uniform during term time saved him from having to buy clothes. But during holidays or when going out to work, he couldn’t keep wearing the uniform. The clothes he wore now were all hand-me-downs from kind neighbors.
Gu Huo never complained or picked and chose—he accepted whatever was given.
With his good looks and height, he could make even a sack look stylish. Even in old clothes, he carried himself with an effortless charm, remaining the eye-catching, handsome young man wherever he went.
But that was no reason for him to keep enduring hardship.
Amid the sound of the washing machine spinning, the phone rang.
It was a delivery call—the courier asking if she was home, as she had a package to receive.
Not long after, the package arrived. Qiao Sheng didn’t even open it, directly choosing to return it within seven days for no reason.
It was a Lolita dress the original owner had bought for tomorrow’s comic convention.
Pink and delicate, very pretty.
But Qiao Sheng had already passed the age of loving pink. She now preferred simple, easy-to-maintain black, gray, and white.
Of course, the pink Lolita dress wasn’t at fault. The main issue was that Qiao Sheng wasn’t the original owner—what the original owner liked didn’t mean Qiao Sheng would like it.