Chapter 246
Yu Jinzhe’s words made Xiao Jingxi pause slightly.
He hadn’t expected that beneath Yu Jinzhe’s seemingly meek and uncompetitive exterior, such thoughts would be hiding.
But then again—
At the end of the day, Yu Jinzhe was just a college student who hadn’t yet stepped into society.
Without experiencing the hardships of the real world, he had come onto the show; a little sarcasm and ridicule from the audience was enough to hurt his pride. That was only natural.
Since that was the case…
He could be used.
Thinking this, Xiao Jingxi gave a friendly smile and comforted him, “Jinzhe, your life has only just begun. Don’t let these things affect you. Treat this program as a valuable experience—it’ll help you in the future.”
“As for what you just said, I quite agree.”
“Xie Mi does like me, but she insists on using Shen Moqing to provoke me. It gives me a real headache.”
“Do you have a way to get rid of him for me?”
A faint smile brushed Yu Jinzhe’s lips. “Of course.”
Inside Room 301 on the third floor, Xie Mi peered through the slit of the curtain at the two figures conversing in the garden, clicking her tongue.
Xiao Jingxi wasn’t much of a good person, but if it came to scheming in the dark, he was no match for Yu Jinzhe.
She didn’t know exactly what they were talking about, but judging from Yu Jinzhe’s expression, Xiao Jingxi was about to be played.
The male lead who left the heroine doesn’t always remain the male lead, but the villain is always the villain.
Closing the curtain, Xie Mi opened the next round of her mobile game.
Without even looking up, she addressed the person across from her:
“So, you deliberately avoided the cameras and came to find me this late at night because you have something to say?”
Sitting opposite, Xu Shuangrong gave a bitter smile.
“I know you must hate me—I’m scheming, I play the innocent act, I’ll do anything to achieve my goals…”
“Don’t say it like that.”
Xie Mi frowned and cut her off, speaking righteously:
“Don’t make yourself sound like you’re worthless. At least you’re self-aware.”
“?”
Xu Shuangrong nearly broke character, having to pinch her thigh hard to hold it together, “In any case, what I mean is—I really am that kind of person.”
“I didn’t grow up in a good family. From the time I was little I faced cold looks everywhere. Back then, I resolved that I would become someone so high above that no one could ever look down on me.”
“For that, I worked hard, even using any means necessary…”
“My CP with Jingxi? Yes, I deliberately guided that. I wanted to use him for fame. I had no feelings for him. Every tear, every emotional look on the show—it was all an act, because I knew it would win me pity from the audience, and from there, fans.”
“Every step I’ve taken has been for fame and fortune. All I’ve ever wanted was to climb higher. Even if others got hurt because of me, I never cared.”
“That’s who I am. A selfish person.”
As she said this, she gave a bitter smile, her fingers clenched into a fist on her thigh, “Xie Mi, you must look down on me too, right?”
Xie Mi’s fingers paused briefly on her game controls, then she lifted her eyelids to glance at her.
Xu Shuangrong sat there like the walking dead, her eyes full of scattered thoughts.
She perfectly played the part of someone tormented by guilt and regret over her own actions—if only Xie Mi hadn’t overheard her conversation with the system.
[System: Back from studying abroad and still clueless? You’re in the factory now.]
[Xu Shuangrong: ?]
[System: Why are you confessing to her, are you out of your mind?]
[Xu Shuangrong: Since I want to use her, the first step is to gain her trust.]
[Xu Shuangrong: As a transmigrator, she already knows the entire original plot, so she naturally knows what kind of person I am.]
[Xu Shuangrong: So what if I admit it?]
[System: You mean…]
[Xu Shuangrong: Making rational use of my advantage.]
[Xu Shuangrong: Her ability to derail the plot is stronger than mine. I can’t beat her on that front. So why not attack from another angle?]
[Xu Shuangrong: She thinks she controls the game as a transmigrator, but she doesn’t know that I know she’s a transmigrator. That’s my biggest advantage.]
[Xu Shuangrong: By voluntarily confessing all my “schemes,” I completely overturn her understanding of me. That will shake her.]
[Xu Shuangrong: And that’s when I can strike.]
[Xu Shuangrong: Forget Xiao Jingxi or Liu Woxing—I believe Xie Mi will be a far more useful pawn.]
The corner of Xie Mi’s mouth curved ever so slightly.
So that’s it.
Voluntarily confessing to lower the other’s guard—Xu Shuangrong’s move was indeed clever.
“And what exactly are you trying to express by telling me all this?” Xie Mi asked, still focused on her game.
“I just wanted to apologize… and maybe… confide in someone.”
Xu Shuangrong gave a self-deprecating laugh, “All these years, no one has ever known that beneath my seemingly pure exterior lies a rotten heart. I know what kind of person I am. Even though I despise it, I can only keep walking this path.”
“Until I met you, Xie Mi. You’re the most extraordinary person I’ve ever seen.”
“Every time I looked you in the eye, I felt as if you could see right through me. That made me wary of you, so I kept scheming against you again and again…”
“But I couldn’t help envying you too—envying your carefree attitude, your indifference to fame and fortune, the way you live as someone I could only dream of being.”
“My mindset started to change after meeting you.”
“I began to feel that maybe fame and fortune aren’t so important. That I don’t need others’ approval. That even if life is ordinary, as long as I’m happy, that’s what matters.”
“Xie Mi, if it were possible, I’d really like to be your friend.”
Xu Shuangrong’s smile bloomed bright, her once-dull eyes now shining, “Though I know it’s impossible.”
She stood, took a deep breath, as if to adjust her emotions.
“All right, I’ve said everything I wanted. Thank you for listening.”
“Well then—good night.”
With that, she turned with a smile and left.
Even though she tried hard to act unaffected, at the moment she opened the door and walked out, she lifted her hand to wipe at imaginary tears.
Xie Mi’s face twisted with agony.
“WHO THE HELL TOOK MY MINION WAVE?!”
