Category: Green Tea Villainess Fails

Chapter 91

Seeing Zuo Bian’s pitiful state, Qin Ai was both amused and exasperated. She helped her up and applied red flower oil to the bump on her head.

“Does it hurt?”

Zuo Bian tried to cover her forehead, but Qin Ai caught her hand.

Of course, it hurt. Drunk Zuo Bian was much more sensitive to pain than her sober self. If she were sober, she would have probably shaken her head and said it didn’t hurt. But now, Zuo Bian was being a baby, her mind filled with the Green Tea Handbook’s instructions, reminding her that she was a delicate and fragile girl.

“It hurts,” she said, her eyes watery as she looked at Qin Ai.

Qin Ai flicked Zuo Bian’s uninjured forehead with her finger. “That’s what you get for being mischievous. Now you know it hurts?”

Zuo Bian lowered her head and mumbled, “But it’s because you said you wanted to bully me…”

Qin Ai chuckled, hearing her mumble.

“So it’s my fault now?”

“Mm-hmm!” Zuo Bian nodded vigorously, agreeing wholeheartedly.

Qin Ai was amused by Zuo Bian’s stubbornness. She ruffled Zuo Bian’s hair. “You’re even being defiant? They say alcohol emboldens the cowardly. It seems you’re usually quite timid.”

Zuo Bian disagreed. She puffed out her chest, trying to show her boldness and courage, but she patted her chest too hard and choked on her own saliva.

“Cough, cough, cough…” Her face turned red from coughing.

Qin Ai patted her back gently. After a while, Zuo Bian stopped coughing, but her throat still felt itchy.

“Why are you so clumsy when you’re drunk? I shouldn’t have let you drink so much. You have such a low tolerance, why didn’t you drink less? You drank everything I poured for you?”

Zuo Bian stopped coughing and burped, her mind finally able to process simple thoughts.

Why did she drink? Because she wanted to seduce Qin Ai! What did the Green Tea Handbook say? She fumbled around, as if searching for something.

“What are you looking for?” Qin Ai was incredibly patient with the drunk Zuo Bian. After all, she was the one who had gotten her drunk, so she had to take responsibility.

Zuo Bian couldn’t find what she was looking for, so she stood up unsteadily, mumbling incoherently.

Qin Ai tried to listen, but Zuo Bian’s voice was too soft and slurred. She couldn’t understand what Zuo Bian was saying until she finally found what she was looking for.

Qin Ai didn’t know what Zuo Bian had been searching for, but 555 did.

If it wasn’t mistaken, Zuo Bian was looking for the Green Tea Handbook. She was drunk and remembered trying to seduce Qin Ai according to the handbook’s instructions, but she couldn’t recall the specifics, so she was looking for the handbook to review.

【Host, no!】

Unfortunately, Zuo Bian couldn’t hear 555’s cries in her mind. She was determined to find the handbook.

555 considered the Green Tea Handbook its masterpiece, but it would be too embarrassing for Qin Ai, who was clearly sharp and cunning, to see it! And Qin Ai might even think that it was a bad influence on Zuo Bian.

But that wasn’t the most important thing. The most important thing was that its diary was with the Green Tea Handbook!

A diary had to be written in every day, that was 555’s belief, so it had asked Zuo Bian to bring its diary with her when she moved.

And its diary wasn’t exactly a diary, it was more like a fanfiction titled “The CEO’s Pampered Little Wife” and 555’s self-indulgent ramblings.

If Qin Ai saw it, the embarrassment wouldn’t be 1+1=2, it would be 1+1>2.

Murphy’s Law stated that whatever you fear the most will happen.

After searching for a while, Zuo Bian found the bag containing the Green Tea Handbook and the diary. Her hands fumbled with the clasp, but she couldn’t open it.

Qin Ai watched for a moment, then crouched down beside her. “Do you want me to help?”

Zuo Bian handed her the bag, her eyes filled with anticipation, like a Pomeranian waiting for its owner to feed it.

Qin Ai smiled and opened the bag. Among the pile of drinks, she saw two notebooks.

“I opened it. Do you want a drink?” Her hand hovered over the drinks.

Zuo Bian shook her head, reached into the bag, and pulled out both notebooks.

“I want this!” She held up the notebooks proudly, revealing the titles on their covers.

Four large, dark green characters: Green Tea Handbook!

Qin Ai raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in her eyes. She read the title aloud, “Green Tea Handbook?”

Zuo Bian looked at the cover and nodded. “Mm-hmm, it’s the Green Tea Handbook.”

Qin Ai rested her chin on her hand, her eyes narrowed slightly. “Interesting. Where did you buy this handbook? I’ve never seen it in bookstores.”

Zuo Bian puffed out her chest, suddenly feeling proud. She flipped open the Green Tea Handbook and, starting from the table of contents, explained its unique features to Qin Ai.

Her words were slurred because of the alcohol, but Qin Ai was able to understand the story behind everything that had happened since they met.

She had initially thought that Zuo Bian had a clueless strategist, which was why her pursuit was so strange. Now it seemed like it wasn’t the strategist’s fault, nor was it because Zuo Bian didn’t understand the art of seduction.

The real reason was that Zuo Bian had been using the wrong methods from the start, using a guide on how to be a “green tea bitch” to pursue someone. It was no wonder things were so strange.

“Qin Ai, come closer.” Zuo Bian beckoned Qin Ai mysteriously.

Qin Ai leaned closer, and Zuo Bian cupped her hand around her mouth, whispering in Qin Ai’s ear, “Darling, I’ll tell you a secret.”

“Mm, tell me.” Qin Ai waited for Zuo Bian to reveal her secret.

Zuo Bian giggled. “I forgot.”

Qin Ai finally couldn’t take it anymore. She pinched Zuo Bian’s nose. “You’re learning to be a tease now?”

Zuo Bian scrunched her nose, still giggling. After a moment, she said, “I remember now.”

“But I don’t want to hear it anymore.” Qin Ai pretended to be angry.

Zuo Bian tugged at Qin Ai’s sleeve, her eyes pleading. “But I want to tell you.”

Qin Ai maintained her aloof demeanor, closing her eyes and sighing. “You’ve already piqued my curiosity.”

“Please listen, okay?” Zuo Bian continued to act cute, half her body practically climbing onto Qin Ai. She even went as far as kissing Qin Ai’s lips.

Don’t expect any skillful kissing from a drunk person. Zuo Bian simply pressed her lips against Qin Ai’s, pecking her lightly.

Qin Ai didn’t react to the first kiss, so Zuo Bian kissed her again.

After six kisses, Qin Ai finally surrendered.

“Alright, tell me your secret,” she said.

Zuo Bian’s face lit up with a smile.

Finally, she revealed her so-called secret. “I’ll tell you secretly, this Green Tea Handbook was given to me by 555.”

Qin Ai did learn something she didn’t know before, but she wasn’t surprised that the Green Tea Handbook came from 555.

After all, it was a clueless strategist, it would be a miracle if it was actually helpful.

Zuo Bian looked at Qin Ai expectantly, as if waiting for her to be amazed.

Qin Ai didn’t disappoint her. She said in a deadpan voice, “I see. That’s a very surprising secret.”

Zuo Bian giggled. “Right? I only told you.”

Qin Ai pinched Zuo Bian’s cheek. “You’re such a handful. I won’t let you drink anymore.”

Zuo Bian swatted Qin Ai’s hand away, her expression serious. “No! I want to drink!”

“How about juice? Hmm?”

Zuo Bian hesitated for a moment, then quickly agreed. “Okay!”

“You’re so easy to please.” Qin Ai poured her a glass of warm water.

However, Zuo Bian wasn’t interested in warm water now. Her attention was drawn to 555’s diary.

“What’s this?” She picked up the cartoon diary and tried to open it.

She had forgotten that it was 555’s diary and couldn’t hear 555’s near-hysterical screams.

“Hmm? A password?” She fiddled with the combination lock, but she couldn’t guess the password.

555 sighed in relief. 【Good thing I set a password. The drunk host won’t be able to guess it.】

One shouldn’t be too confident, neither should a system. Especially when 555 had a 100% chance of being slapped in the face. So, the next second—

Unable to guess the password, Zuo Bian simply ripped the lock off.

Clank! The metal lock fell to the floor, along with 555’s shattered heart.

Its diary! Not only did it contain “The CEO’s Pampered Little Wife,” but also its shameless self-promotion! Ahhh!

Then came the scene that made 555 want to die. Zuo Bian, drunk and dizzy, struggled to read the words, so she instinctively read them aloud.

“The CEO’s Pampered Little Wife,” she hiccuped. “Adorable Wife Zuo Bian. Hmm? What a strange name, who would be named Zuo Bian?”

Qin Ai glanced at the diary. Just from the handwriting, she knew it wasn’t written by Zuo Bian. Then she noticed the words “male lead” and realized that the so-called male lead was Little Frog.

Zuo Bian was still mumbling, “Why Zuo Bian? It sounds like my name too.”

Zuo Bian was now a walking meme: a small head with a big question mark.

Qin Ai didn’t know how much longer Zuo Bian would continue to act like this. She got up to make her a hangover soup.

But as soon as she stood up, Zuo Bian hugged her waist. “Darling, don’t go!”

Qin Ai patted Zuo Bian’s hand. “Be good, let go, I’m going to make you some hangover soup.”

“No, no, stay with me, sleep with me!” Zuo Bian hugged her tighter.

Qin Ai sighed, her tone exasperated but her expression gentle. “How about I make you the soup first, then I’ll sleep with you?”

Zuo Bian hesitated. Qin Ai coaxed her for a while longer, and she finally let go.

Chapter 90

Bargaining was an art, and Zuo Bian was just a beginner. She had done okay against the uncle yesterday, but she had been outwitted by the more experienced aunties today.

After observing how others bargained, Zuo Bian bought all the vegetables she needed. She returned to her small apartment, carrying several bags of groceries, and washed the vegetables before Qin Ai arrived.

Soon, she received a call from Qin Ai. Worried that Qin Ai wouldn’t be able to find her new place, Zuo Bian went downstairs to meet her.

Most of the residents in this area were elderly people. Seeing two beautiful women like Zuo Bian and Qin Ai, they were only slightly surprised, thinking that young girls these days were getting prettier.

“Qin Ai, I’m here.” Zuo Bian waved at Qin Ai as she reached the stairwell.

Qin Ai followed the sound of her voice, a smile appearing on her face as she walked towards Zuo Bian, carrying a bag.

When she reached Zuo Bian, Zuo Bian looked curiously at the bag in Qin Ai’s hand. “Qin Ai, did you bring more vegetables? I already bought some.”

Qin Ai shook the bag. “This isn’t vegetables, it’s wine.”

“Wine? Is it from your wine cellar? That’s too expensive, it’s not appropriate.”

Of course, Zuo Bian didn’t mean that she thought Qin Ai was being extravagant. They were engaged now. She was just trying to maintain her “poor working girl” persona.

How could a poor worker afford expensive wine?

Qin Ai took Zuo Bian’s hand and led her upstairs. “It’s not that expensive, just some ordinary wine.”

Hearing this, Zuo Bian nodded.

The apartment building didn’t have an elevator, and Zuo Bian was on the seventh floor, so they had to climb the stairs.

Walking alone might be boring, but with someone by her side, time seemed to pass faster.

Soon, they reached the seventh floor. Zuo Bian opened the door and took out a pair of slippers.

The slippers weren’t the cheap ones she had bought, but the ones she had brought from home. Zuo Bian was the only one experiencing a poor life, she didn’t mind, but she didn’t want Qin Ai to suffer along with her.

As she handed Qin Ai the slippers, Zuo Bian realized that Qin Ai must have had the same thought.

“It’s a bit small here.” Qin Ai put down her bag and looked around the apartment. “Are you used to living here?”

Zuo Bian smiled. “It’s okay, the bed is just a bit small.”

“Maybe you should play a rich heiress in your next role.” Qin Ai rolled up her sleeves and asked if Zuo Bian had an apron.

“Oh, okay.” Zuo Bian went to find the apron she had bought yesterday. Or rather, it was a free gift from the clothing store because she had bought so many clothes.

She had been so excited about buying so many clothes yesterday that she had just stuffed everything into the bag without looking closely. Now, she realized it was a bright red apron with large floral prints, incredibly tacky.

“It’s a bit too flashy.” Zuo Bian held the apron, unsure whether to put it away or give it to Qin Ai.

Qin Ai didn’t mind the tacky apron. She extended her hand. “Give it to me. Or do you want to put it on for me?”

Zuo Bian unfolded the apron. “Okay, I’ll put it on for you.”

She tied the apron around Qin Ai’s waist. Qin Ai looked good in red, even this bright, saturated red.

“Now that you’re wearing it, the apron looks better.” Zuo Bian said sincerely.

Qin Ai chuckled and entered the kitchen.

Zuo Bian followed her, but the so-called kitchen was so small that there was barely enough space for Qin Ai to move around.

“You should go out first, the food will be ready soon,” Qin Ai said.

Zuo Bian reluctantly left the kitchen, her gaze lingering on Qin Ai.

She knew she wasn’t talented in cooking, and the kitchen was too small for her to be in there with Qin Ai, so she grabbed a stool and sat down outside.

The apartment was so small that there wasn’t even space for a TV or a sofa. Having a small dining table was already a luxury.

Zuo Bian watched Qin Ai’s back. Her movements were swift and efficient, even cracking an egg looked elegant.

Zuo Bian watched with adoration and joy.

It was a pity that her own cooking was disastrous, both in terms of taste and presentation. Otherwise, she would have cooked for Qin Ai.

Time flew by as she watched. Before Zuo Bian realized it, an hour had passed, and Qin Ai had transformed the ingredients she had bought into delicious dishes.

The aroma from the kitchen made Zuo Bian sniff the air. “Qin Ai, the food smells so good! I’m definitely going to have an extra bowl.”

Qin Ai brought out the dishes and placed them on the small table. She smiled without saying anything.

After all the dishes were served, they sat down at the table.

Since the apartment was small, the table was also small and low, not very comfortable for people with long legs like Qin Ai and Zuo Bian. But it was just a meal, they could endure it.

“Here, try it and see if my cooking has deteriorated.” Qin Ai picked up a piece of cola chicken wings and placed it on Zuo Bian’s plate.

Zuo Bian took a bite, her eyes lighting up. “It’s delicious.” It wasn’t flattery or an attempt to please Qin Ai, it was genuinely delicious.

“I’m glad you like it,” Qin Ai said.

Zuo Bian ate with gusto. A rice ball was no match for a warm, home-cooked meal.

After finishing her first bowl, she had another, her heart and taste buds satisfied.

To save money, Zuo Bian had only bought a small amount of groceries, so by the time they were full, there was barely any food left.

“It seems my cooking hasn’t deteriorated, you finished everything.”

Zuo Bian smiled at Qin Ai. “Because it was so delicious, I accidentally finished everything.”

Qin Ai got up to clear the dishes. Zuo Bian immediately stood up. “Let me do it. You cooked, I’ll wash the dishes. It’s only fair.”

Qin Ai sat back down. “Okay, then I’ll leave the dishes to you.”

“Mm.” Zuo Bian was confident in her dishwashing skills. She might not be good at cooking, but she could definitely wash dishes.

She had washed dishes at the restaurant today, and she felt that her skills were impressive.

She hummed a song as she washed the dishes. “Who’s the best dishwasher in town? Come to the Zuo family and find Zuo Bian.”

While Zuo Bian was washing the dishes, Qin Ai poured the wine.

Zuo Bian saw the wine as soon as she came out of the kitchen. Qin Ai looked up. “Want some wine?”

“Yes.” Zuo Bian picked up a glass and downed it in one gulp.

If she knew how expensive this wine was, she probably wouldn’t have been able to swallow it. But Qin Ai, of course, wouldn’t tell her the price, just vaguely saying that it was “ordinary wine.”

“It tastes good.” Zuo Bian smiled at Qin Ai.

Qin Ai poured her another glass.

After finishing her second glass, Zuo Bian realized something. “Qin Ai, why aren’t you drinking?”

Qin Ai casually swirled the wine in her glass. “I’m tired of it. I just brought it for you to try.”

“Oh, okay.” Zuo Bian didn’t notice anything amiss and finished her third glass. A faint blush appeared on her cheeks.

【That’s enough, Host, you’ll get drunk if you drink any more. By the way, do you remember the “Seduction” chapter in the Green Tea Handbook?】

Zuo Bian’s mind was already a bit fuzzy from the alcohol. It took her a few seconds to remember what was written in that chapter.

The “Seduction” chapter mentioned the “Drunk and Clingy” tactic. Delicate girls couldn’t hold their liquor. Just a few drinks, and they would become soft and cuddly, leaning against the other person.

As long as the drunken antics were within a certain limit, it wouldn’t be annoying, it would be cute. And it would make the other person feel needed and more protective of you.

Zuo Bian remembered and said to 555, ‘Mm, I remember, I’ll try it.’

【Go for it, Host! Remember, you need to be five parts drunk, not more, not less.】

‘Mm-hmm.’ Zuo Bian wasn’t really paying attention to what 555 was saying, she just responded randomly.

The “Drunk and Clingy” tactic required a specific level of drunkenness: flushed cheeks and hazy eyes. You had to maintain your beauty. Throwing up and talking nonsense wouldn’t be cute.

So, the level of drunkenness had to be just right. Getting too drunk would have the opposite effect.

But you couldn’t be completely sober either, that would be too fake. This tactic worked best when it was half-real, half-pretend.

However, Zuo Bian was already six parts drunk. She had completely forgotten about this and, under Qin Ai’s coaxing, drank two more glasses.

The glasses weren’t big, and Qin Ai didn’t pour much, but Zuo Bian had a low tolerance for alcohol. After five glasses, she was completely drunk.

She blinked rapidly, not even realizing she was drunk. She held Qin Ai’s head, telling her to stop swaying.

“I’m not swaying, you’re the one who’s drunk.”

Zuo Bian frowned, staring at Qin Ai intently, as if trying to burn a hole through her.

“Qin Ai, hic, why are there three of you? Am I going to have three wives in the future? Hic.” She burped as she spoke.

Qin Ai gently pulled Zuo Bian’s hand down. “So greedy? You want three wives?”

Zuo Bian suddenly sobered up, her survival instincts kicking in. Her head was spinning, so she leaned against Qin Ai, who caught her.

“Don’t want so many wives… Mm-hmm, one wife is enough… Qin Ai is enough.”

Qin Ai chuckled, amused by Zuo Bian’s words. She kissed her eyes. “You’re so well-behaved, it makes me want to bully you.”

Zuo Bian’s eyelashes fluttered, the blush on her face spreading from her ears to her neck, then to other parts of her body.

“Don’t bully me, okay?” She looked up at Qin Ai, her eyes glistening with moisture.

Qin Ai smiled, her lips parting. Zuo Bian stared at her face, expecting her to say “okay,” but Qin Ai said, “No.”

“Then… I’ll have to strike first!” Zuo Bian pounced on Qin Ai like a tiger.

“Ah—” She let out a short cry. She had pounced too hard and bumped her head.

Chapter 89

Zuo Bian wasn’t sure if she had seen correctly, but she memorized the car’s license plate number.

Lost in her thoughts, she returned to the small apartment. As soon as she sat down, she received a call from Qin Ai.

“Have you had dinner? Do you want me to come over and cook for you?”

Zuo Bian, lying on the bed, happily rolled over, but she rolled right off the bed. She had forgotten that she wasn’t at home, and the bed was much smaller.

“Ugh…” She got up from the floor, her knee slightly bruised.

Qin Ai, hearing the commotion, immediately asked, “What happened?”

Zuo Bian sat back on the bed. “Nothing, I just accidentally fell off the bed.”

“Wait a moment.” Qin Ai hung up the phone and then called back with a video call.

Zuo Bian accepted the call without hesitation. Qin Ai’s face appeared on the screen.

“Let me see where you fell.”

Zuo Bian pulled up her pants leg. “It’s just a bruise, not even broken skin. Don’t worry.”

“Do you have any red flower oil? Apply some.”

“Okay.” Zuo Bian found the red flower oil and rubbed it on her bruised knee, muttering about its strange smell.

Qin Ai said with a hint of exasperation, “Will you be more careful next time?”

Zuo Bian capped the oil and nodded obediently at the camera. “I will.”

“You haven’t answered my previous question. Have you eaten dinner?”

Zuo Bian replied, “Yes, I’m full. So you don’t need to come over and cook for me, Qin Ai.”

She could see that Qin Ai was still at the office. If she was still working at this hour, it meant she was busy.

Zuo Bian didn’t want Qin Ai to work all day and then come over to cook for her.

“Then I’ll cook for you tomorrow. Do you want me to bring the groceries?”

Zuo Bian thought for a moment, then shook her head. “I’ll go buy the groceries myself. I’ve never been to a wet market before.”

“Okay.”

They chatted for a while longer, hanging up the phone only when it was getting late.

The apartment had a separate bathroom, but it was cramped, making it difficult for Zuo Bian to move around freely. After showering, she wanted to blow-dry her hair but realized she hadn’t brought a hairdryer.

So she sat by the window, letting the night breeze dry her hair naturally.

She was on the seventh floor, and across from her was a forty-story residential building.

At 10 p.m., most of the windows were still lit. Zuo Bian could hear couples arguing, parents scolding their children, lonely elderly people watching TV…

It was as if she could see a glimpse of all walks of life through this small window. She felt like she understood this world a little better.

A world wasn’t just about the good things, there were also bad things. And some things were neither good nor bad.

The family of three across the street: The child had just been scolded by his short-tempered mother for his messy handwriting. The father tried to mediate, but the mother was still fuming. It seemed like the argument would continue, but then the mother brought a bowl of sweet soup for the child, her tone gruff as she said, “Drink it if you want.”

The child took the bowl and started drinking, tears silently rolling down his cheeks.

The mother felt bad but couldn’t bring herself to apologize. She said sternly, “Write neatly next time,” then started nagging again.

Zuo Bian could see that the mother loved her child; she just had a quick temper. Life wasn’t always about dramatic events, it was mostly made up of these mundane, trivial matters.

The cool night breeze brushed against Zuo Bian’s hair, which was almost dry now.

Zuo Bian’s thoughts were simple: Live in the present. Qin Ai, her mother, father, brother, 555, and Little Frog all thought she was suffering by moving into this small apartment for the sake of filming, but she didn’t see it that way.

She didn’t feel bad about not wearing expensive designer clothes or eating luxurious meals. The smaller bed and cramped bathroom were a bit inconvenient, but not unbearable.

What mattered was that she seemed to be seeing another world, or rather, another side of the world.

Not everyone could buy whatever they wanted. They worked hard every day, struggling to make ends meet.

They would haggle over a few yuan. Zuo Bian had spent a long time bargaining with a middle-aged street vendor over three yuan when she was buying clothes. She wanted to save money, and the vendor just wanted to earn a little more.

However, her master seemed to dislike her being exposed to these things, saying that the complexities of the mortal world would cloud her mind.

Whenever Zuo Bian saw her senior and junior disciples descending the mountain, she felt envious. She wondered what the world outside was like.

Later, she became a senior disciple herself, qualified to take on missions and descend the mountain.

But the missions she received were carefully chosen by her master. And if she went somewhere far away, her master would send someone to protect her.

Her fellow disciples, both senior and junior, all said that her master doted on her. But Zuo Bian envied them. She also wanted to be with everyone, but she was always alone, watching them go on missions in groups.

She had asked her master why she wasn’t allowed to train and go on missions with others. Her master had simply said that she was her most prized disciple, so she was special, and it was all for her own good.

Zuo Bian, naive and trusting, looked at her master’s kind and loving face and nodded, saying she understood.

Gradually, the night breeze dried Zuo Bian’s hair. She ran her fingers through it, feeling that it was almost dry, and closed the window.

The sounds from the building across the street were muffled, and Zuo Bian lay down on the small, clean bed, her eyes open.

A dim yellow light from the streetlamp outside shone through the window, casting a faint glow on the floor. Zuo Bian stared at it, lost in thought.

The memories of her previous life had faded since coming to this world. She realized that she preferred this world to her old one.

Slowly, she drifted off to sleep.

She seemed to have fallen into a strange dream. In the dream, she was a baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes.

A woman held her tightly in her arms, her embrace warm. A sticky, warm liquid dripped onto Zuo Bian’s forehead. She opened her eyes, her vision a blur of red.

The woman’s face was obscured by blood, and Zuo Bian could only make out her silhouette.

Although she couldn’t see the woman’s face clearly, and her parents had been dead for as long as she could remember, she knew this woman was her mother.

The woman was saying something to her, but her words were muffled, like they were coming from behind a veil.

More and more blood dripped down, and the woman’s voice grew weaker.

Zuo Bian felt cold, so cold. And then, as if reaching the peak of coldness, she was enveloped in warmth.

She didn’t know how much time had passed. When she opened her eyes, she saw a hand, as white as jade, reaching out to her.

“Are you alright?”

Zuo Bian instinctively looked up and saw a woman who looked like a celestial being.

The woman had a cool and elegant aura. She wasn’t breathtakingly beautiful, but there was a strange allure about her.

Her eyes were gentle and clear, like water. Although she looked young, her gaze held the wisdom of countless years.

Zuo Bian, who was on the verge of starvation, reached out her bony hand, her dirty little hand landing in the woman’s palm.

This was Zuo Bian’s first encounter with her master, Meng Zhen, in her memory. She remembered Meng Zhen’s hand being cold, as if she was touching a lifeless piece of jade.

The dream was long, so long that when Zuo Bian woke up, she could barely remember what she had dreamt about.

A faint light shone through the thin curtains. Zuo Bian got out of bed and opened the curtains.

Although she had slept for a full eight hours, she didn’t feel refreshed. Instead, she felt tired.

【It must be the small bed, you didn’t sleep well, Host.】

“Should we buy a bigger bed, ribbit?” Little Frog asked.

Zuo Bian, who was about to brush her teeth, said, “No, I just had a dream last night.”

【Was it a nightmare?】

Zuo Bian mumbled, “Not really. I should feel better after washing my face.”

After washing up, she changed into the new clothes she had bought yesterday. They were very ordinary: a white T-shirt with random English letters printed on it and a pair of black sweatpants with white stripes. It was the kind of outfit that would easily pill.

On an ordinary person, this outfit would look frumpy, but on Zuo Bian, it looked decent.

Perhaps it was because of her good figure. As long as the clothes fit, they looked good on her.

Before heading out, Zuo Bian put on her baseball cap as usual. She received a call from the director, saying that he had sent someone to pick her up.

Today was her first day of “work.” She got into the van and soon arrived at the restaurant.

In the movie, she played a restaurant employee, and some of the scenes would be filmed in this restaurant.

Coming here to “work” was also a way for her to familiarize herself with the set. Since it was her first day, Director Li only asked her to get acquainted with the environment and the procedures. She would officially start working tomorrow.

Of course, it wasn’t real work. Considering her background, everyone in the restaurant would take care of her, and her work wouldn’t be strenuous.

After learning what she needed to know, Zuo Bian decided to buy some groceries and head back to the apartment. Qin Ai was coming over to cook for her at noon.

Director Li offered to give her a ride, but Zuo Bian declined, saying that she wanted to buy some things.

She left the restaurant with her canvas bag and went to a nearby wet market.

She hadn’t gone to the supermarket because she wanted to experience haggling. The vendors at the wet market were much more experienced. Zuo Bian thought she was good at bargaining and had gotten the best vegetables at a low price.

But then she turned a corner and saw two middle-aged women carrying bags of vegetables, laughing and saying that the vegetables were only 3.5 yuan per kilogram. They had just bought them from the same stall where Zuo Bian had bought her potatoes.

Looking at the vegetables in her hand, which she had bought for 4 yuan per kilogram, Zuo Bian suddenly felt a bit cheated.

【It seems like your bargaining skills need some improvement, Host.】

Zuo Bian: …

Chapter 88

Although Zuo Bian had only met the man once, she wouldn’t forget his face.

After all, he was the one who had killed her in her previous life. The overseas investor hosting the dinner looked exactly like the Demon Lord who had ended her life.

However, apart from a momentary flicker in her eyes, Zuo Bian didn’t react in any other way.

Although she wasn’t the type to hide her emotions, she couldn’t be sure if this man who looked exactly like the Demon Lord was just a doppelganger or the actual Demon Lord.

In her heart, she leaned towards the possibility of them being the same person. 555 had mentioned that this world was still incomplete and vulnerable to invaders. Plus, one person looking exactly like someone from her previous world could be a coincidence, but two people? Was that also a coincidence?

Zuo Bian thought the probability was low.

If this man who looked like the Demon Lord was truly an invader and posed a threat to her, she had to be even more careful not to reveal her suspicions.

Perhaps thanks to her professional training, Zuo Bian’s acting skills had improved significantly. She acted naturally, showing no signs of her inner turmoil.

Director Li and the producer greeted the man warmly. From their conversation, Zuo Bian learned his name.

—Mo Zun.

【What a casual name.】555 couldn’t help but comment.

Zuo Bian also thought his name was too casual. It was hard to pretend she didn’t notice the similarity.

As a fellow investor, Qin Ai also met Mo Zun and exchanged business cards with him.

Mo Zun seemed aloof and unsociable. He rarely spoke unless necessary. Xia Ruyun tried to strike up a conversation with him several times, but he only responded with single words.

Xia Ruyun was beautiful and talented, but she had always dreamed of marrying into a wealthy family. She didn’t care if it was a man or a woman, she just wanted to use the entertainment industry as a stepping stone to enter the world of the rich and powerful. But it seemed like everyone she met was difficult to deal with, leaving her no room to maneuver.

Unable to find a way in, Xia Ruyun gave up and revealed her true nature, focusing on her phone instead.

The atmosphere at the dinner table seemed lively, but everyone was actually talking amongst themselves. Director Li, the producer, and the actors were chatting. The actors were chatting with each other. Zuo Bian and Qin Ai were chatting, occasionally exchanging a few words with others. And then there was Xia Ruyun, lost in her own world (playing with her phone).

Only Mo Zun was alone. It wasn’t that people were ignoring him, it was that he only responded with “Mm” or “Yes” to everything.

Many people wondered: Why did he even come if he wasn’t going to talk? What was the point of hosting the dinner?

There were usually three reasons why investors treated people to dinner: One, they had someone they wanted to promote in the crew. Two, they wanted to show off their generosity. Three, they wanted to take advantage of young actors.

But this Mo Zun didn’t fit any of those categories. He was like a stone.

Zuo Bian discreetly observed Mo Zun during the meal but couldn’t gather any useful information.

However, this seemed to be a sign. Little Frog, inside Zuo Bian’s bag, started to feel uneasy.

It sensed its master’s presence. Although the aura was faint, it was enough to make it restless.

To calm itself down, Little Frog unconsciously drank all the beverages in Zuo Bian’s bag.

After dinner, they exchanged pleasantries. Mo Zun didn’t do anything unusual throughout the evening, making Zuo Bian wonder if it was just a coincidence that he looked exactly like the Demon Lord.

However, as they were getting into their cars, Zuo Bian instinctively glanced at Mo Zun.

He seemed to sense her gaze and looked back at her. In that instant, Zuo Bian felt a wave of coldness wash over her, the colorful neon lights of the city dimming.

“What’s wrong?” Qin Ai asked, seeing that Zuo Bian wasn’t getting into the car.

Zuo Bian shook her head. “Nothing,” she said, then got into the car.

A faint gray mist surrounded her, but it quickly disappeared.

==================

The next day, Zuo Bian packed her bags, ready to move.

She didn’t bring much. First, the apartment she was moving into was small and couldn’t fit much. Second, she was only staying for half a month.

However, her parents and brother didn’t see it that way. They looked at her as if she was their daughter about to get married, a daughter who was going to suffer.

“Xiao Bian, do you really have to go?” Du Yundong grabbed her suitcase.

Zuo Bian nodded. “Mm, I have to.”

“Can’t you not go?” Du Yundong looked at her with pleading eyes.

“Mom, I already promised the director. Of course, I have to go. And it’s not as bad as you think.”

As Zuo Bian’s mother, Du Yundong only wanted her daughter to live a comfortable and carefree life.

She had agreed to Zuo Bian’s plan before, but now that the day had come, she couldn’t help but try to dissuade her. She nudged her husband, Zuo Yan, with her elbow and gave him a warning look.

Zuo Yan immediately understood his wife’s intentions. He frowned and clutched his stomach, pretending to be in pain. “Dad isn’t feeling well recently, Xiao Bian, can you accompany Dad to the hospital?”

“But Dad, you ran five laps around the garden this morning. I saw you from the window.” Zuo Bian looked at him with confusion.

Zuo Yan’s attempt at feigning illness was effortlessly exposed by his daughter. He coughed awkwardly and looked away.

Seeing that her husband’s plan had failed, Du Yundong decided to try her own acting skills. She clutched her chest and groaned, complaining of a headache.

However, she didn’t hear any concern from her daughter. She looked up and saw Zuo Bian staring at her curiously.

“Mom, why are you holding your chest if you have a headache?”

Du Yundong’s expression froze. She couldn’t keep up the act any longer.

Zuo Yuan didn’t pretend to be sick like his parents, but he was still reluctant to let his sister move into a tiny, ten-square-meter apartment.

“Xiao Bian, you have to take care of yourself. If you want to eat anything, just call Brother, I’ll have it delivered to you. And here’s some money, don’t be afraid to spend it. Don’t wrong yourself.” He slipped a bank card into Zuo Bian’s hand.

Zuo Bian looked down at the warm bank card in her hand and smiled at Zuo Yuan. “Thank you, Brother.”

She put away the card, but she wouldn’t use it during these two weeks. She was going to experience the character’s life and could only spend the money she earned herself. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be a true experience.

Zuo Bian was taken to the apartment the crew had rented for her. She opened her suitcase and unpacked, arranging her belongings.

This apartment wasn’t just for her to experience the protagonist’s life for two weeks, it would also be one of the filming locations. It needed to have traces of real life. The worst thing for a film or drama was to look fake and unconvincing.

TV dramas were a bit more lenient, but movies were different. Movies were shown on the big screen, every detail magnified. Any flaws would be easily spotted by the audience.

Especially with Director Li at the helm. He was a perfectionist who was almost obsessive about recreating details.

The apartment was small, not even a third of the size of Zuo Bian’s room, but it had a cramped bathroom, a narrow bed, an old refrigerator, a wardrobe squeezed into a corner, and a balcony with no sunlight, blocked by the building across the street.

Zuo Bian walked around the tiny apartment, stopping every now and then to jot down notes in her notebook.

She was working on the character’s backstory. To portray the soul of a character, she needed to understand everything about them.

After taking notes, she rearranged some of the furniture, but it still didn’t feel right.

“The protagonist’s salary is low, and her living standard is poor. She shouldn’t have such an expensive toothbrush, and the toothpaste is too fancy.” She examined the toothbrush.

Then she said, “I need to go to the supermarket and buy some cheap ones. And clothes too.”

【Host, you’re going too far. It’s just an experience.】

“That’s why I need to experience it fully.” Zuo Bian packed her bag, ready to go out.

She was a woman of action.

However, before leaving, she switched her bag. She took out a canvas bag and put her wallet inside.

This wallet was a prop provided by the crew. It contained 526 yuan in cash and a faded old photo.

Then she put on a baseball cap, slung the canvas bag over her shoulder, and left. She wasn’t wearing any makeup, but her natural beauty was enough to attract attention.

555 reminded her to pull her hat down. She was famous now, and if she was recognized by fans, she wouldn’t be able to shop properly.

Zuo Bian followed 555’s advice, pulling her hat down to cover most of her face.

She wouldn’t officially start “working” until tomorrow, and without a job, she had no income. This meant she only had 526 yuan to spend.

Before buying anything, she carefully compared the prices of similar products, choosing the cheapest and most practical option.

She bought various small household items, a few discounted long-sleeved shirts and pants, and a rice ball from a convenience store for dinner. She spent a little over a hundred yuan, which made her happy.

Not only were her family members heartbroken for her, but 555 and Little Frog also felt bad, thinking she was suffering too much.

A pair of socks Zuo Bian used to wear casually cost more than her entire budget now. She used to eat whatever she wanted, how could she bear to eat such a dry and bland rice ball?

But Zuo Bian was enjoying it. She took a bite of the rice ball and said to 555 in her mind, ‘I think this frugal life is quite nice.’

She wasn’t spoiled. She had eaten tree roots and mud during the famine, a simple rice ball was nothing. Besides, she thought it tasted pretty good.

Holding the rice ball in one hand and the bag full of groceries in the other, she waited for the green light at a crosswalk. A car drove past, and she saw a familiar side profile.

She instinctively wanted to chase after it, but the car was too fast, and the light turned green. The pedestrians surged forward, pushing her along with the crowd.

Chapter 87

Zuo Bian wanted to ask Director Li which investor was hosting the dinner, but he received a phone call, preventing her from asking.

“Did you want to ask something, Zuo Bian?” Xia Ruyun asked.

Zuo Bian shook her head. “It’s nothing.”

Seeing that Zuo Bian didn’t seem interested in continuing the conversation, Xia Ruyun excused herself and left.

【Host, you need to be wary of her. She’s clearly trying to steal your girlfriend. Although I know Qin Ai only has eyes for you.】

“Mm, I’ll be careful.” Zuo Bian also knew that Qin Ai wouldn’t be swayed by Xia Ruyun, but the thought of someone else trying to get close to Qin Ai still made her uncomfortable.

She had asked 555 about this feeling before. It was called possessiveness, and it was normal for couples to experience it.

Zuo Bian called Qin Ai and told her about the dinner hosted by the investors, apologizing for not being able to have dinner with her.

Qin Ai was silent for a moment, then said, “Qin Group is also an investor. I don’t think it’s a problem for me to join the dinner.”

Zuo Bian’s face lit up with a smile. “Mm-hmm.”

“See you tonight.”

Zuo Bian, who hadn’t planned on changing her outfit, went home and changed into a different one, even touching up her makeup.

Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she asked 555, ‘555, do I look good?’

【You look great!】

Little Frog hopped onto the vanity table and croaked, “You look super pretty, ribbit. Can you take me with you tonight, Xiao Bianbian, ribbit?”

Little Frog had been cooped up at home lately and was eager to go out. Even though its tiny body couldn’t run around freely, it still wanted to experience the outside world.

Zuo Bian adjusted her earrings and picked up Little Frog, smiling. “Okay, I’ll take you with me.”

“You’re the best, Xiao Bianbian, ribbit!” Little Frog rubbed its head against Zuo Bian’s finger.

It hopped into Zuo Bian’s bag and even closed the flap, very well-behaved.

555 didn’t bring a body with it this time. Its plushies were too big and conspicuous.

Besides, it didn’t want to spark another “love child” rumor.

Zuo Bian glanced at the time. It was already 5 p.m. Time to leave.

Just as she was about to head out, Qin Ai called, as if she had a sixth sense.

“I’m at your door. Want to go together?”

Zuo Bian had thought she would meet Qin Ai at the restaurant, she didn’t expect Qin Ai to pick her up.

“I’m coming out now.” Her eyes curved into a smile, her voice light, her steps quickening.

As soon as she stepped out, she saw Qin Ai. Before even reaching her, a smile bloomed on Zuo Bian’s face. “Qin Ai!”

Qin Ai, leaning against the car, smiled back at her. “Did I arrive at the perfect time?”

Zuo Bian reached her side and nodded. “Mm, perfect timing.”

Qin Ai opened the car door for her, and Zuo Bian got in.

After they were both in the car, Qin Ai looked at Zuo Bian, who was fastening her seatbelt. “You look beautiful today.”

Zuo Bian instinctively touched her cheeks, a faint blush appearing, whether from joy or shyness.

“I dressed up because I’m having dinner with you tonight.”

Qin Ai smiled. “You’re always beautiful, you don’t need to dress up for me to like you.”

Zuo Bian unbuckled her seatbelt and quickly kissed Qin Ai’s lips. Qin Ai couldn’t help but chuckle at the brief touch.

Seeing Qin Ai smile, Zuo Bian smiled too.

They hadn’t had much time to spend together lately, just occasional dinners. Now that Zuo Bian had finally finished her training and had some free time, she was relaxed and happy.

As they chatted, they talked about Zuo Bian’s upcoming experience of living like the protagonist of “Twins.” It wasn’t just for fun, it was Director Li’s requirement.

To portray the soul of a character, you had to understand them inside and out. Reading the script was one thing, but it lacked a certain depth.

Especially for someone like Zuo Bian, who was practically a blank slate, firsthand experience was crucial.

However, her parents and brother were worried about her. They supported her dreams, but they didn’t want her to suffer.

Moving into a run-down apartment, with no one to take care of her meals, having to wash dishes and serve food, in their eyes, it was suffering.

Even though it was only for half a month, and it wasn’t as drastic as it sounded, they still felt心疼(xinteng, a feeling of distress and heartache) for her.

Zuo Bian had endured famine before and had faced many difficulties and dangers in her cultivation journey. This was nothing to her, so she managed to convince her family.

However, she hadn’t discussed this with Qin Ai in detail yet. She didn’t know what Qin Ai thought about it.

Zuo Bian told Qin Ai about her plan, watching her profile, waiting for her response.

They stopped at a red light. Qin Ai turned to look at Zuo Bian, but she didn’t speak immediately.

“Is it a bad idea?” Zuo Bian asked, her eyes pleading.

Finally, Qin Ai said, “I feel bad for you.”

“It’s not that bad, it’s not as difficult as you think. At least Director Li found me a job, I don’t have to look for one myself.” Zuo Bian smiled.

She was an optimist. She had once watched a drama about a middle-aged man experiencing a midlife crisis. His wife divorced him, his son failed his college entrance exams, he was laid off, and he couldn’t find a new job because he was too old. That was true suffering.

Qin Ai suddenly smiled, resting her hand on the steering wheel and leaning back.

“Mm, that sounds like you. Do you want me to come over and cook for you?”

Zuo Bian’s heart skipped a beat. She had only tasted Qin Ai’s noodles, she had never tried her cooking before. She was tempted, but it felt wrong.

“But wouldn’t that be cheating? Director Li said I have to live alone and do everything myself.” Zuo Bian was confused.

Qin Ai tapped her fingers on the steering wheel. “As your fiancée, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with cooking for you. Is that not allowed?”

Zuo Bian thought Qin Ai’s logic was sound. She nodded. “It seems… reasonable.”

“Then it’s settled. It’s been a while since I last cooked, I want to try it out and see if my skills have deteriorated.”

“Can I choose the dishes?” Zuo Bian asked, her eyes sparkling.

The red light turned green. Qin Ai started the car and glanced at Zuo Bian. “Didn’t you just say it was a bad idea? Why are you already choosing dishes?”

Zuo Bian said confidently, “Because you said you would cook for me, and I don’t want to waste this opportunity.”

Qin Ai nodded. “Then choose the dishes, I’ll try my best to fulfill your requests.”

Zuo Bian smiled happily and ordered three dishes without hesitation. “Is that okay?” she asked.

Qin Ai, of course, said yes. She would agree to any request Zuo Bian made. She had just been teasing her.

Time flew by as they chatted, and soon they arrived at the restaurant.

They were just in time. Some people had already arrived, but not everyone was there yet.

Qin Ai had informed the director and producer beforehand, so her appearance didn’t surprise them.

Director Li greeted Qin Ai with a smile. Logically, someone like him, who was proud and dedicated to his craft, shouldn’t be so polite to investors who only cared about profits. But the four investors for this project were all very easygoing. They not only provided ample funding, but they also didn’t interfere with the casting or the production.

After exchanging pleasantries with Director Li, Qin Ai took Zuo Bian to the private room.

It was a large room, and several people were already seated inside, including Xia Ruyun.

Seeing Zuo Bian and Qin Ai enter, Xia Ruyun immediately smiled and walked towards them.

“Zuo Bian, this must be your fiancée. She’s even more beautiful than in the videos.” However, her smile didn’t last long. She seemed to remember something, her brows furrowing, her expression pained.

Based on her understanding of the Green Tea Handbook, Zuo Bian could guess what she was going to say.

—Miss Zuo, didn’t you say your fiancée was busy? Ah, sorry, I guess I overstepped my boundaries.

Xia Ruyun’s smile was strained, her voice filled with grievance. “I’ve been wanting to meet Miss Qin, but Miss Zuo said she was too busy, so…” She stopped abruptly, as if realizing what she had said.

“Sorry, I think I misunderstood my relationship with Miss Zuo.” She forced a nonchalant smile.

The implication was that Zuo Bian was being overly protective, paranoid even. Why would she make up an excuse to avoid a simple meeting? Qin Ai clearly wasn’t busy.

Zuo Bian hadn’t even thought about that. She had forgotten what she had said to Xia Ruyun that afternoon. She had been too happy knowing that Qin Ai would be having dinner with her that night.

555, in Zuo Bian’s mind, urged her to fight back. Zuo Bian said, “Miss Xia, you did misunderstand. We just met today. I think it’s better to be cautious when talking to strangers.”

Qin Ai put her arm around Zuo Bian’s waist, her expression polite, her gaze distant, her smile perfectly measured.

“Of course, I don’t have time to meet strangers. My time is precious, I need to spend it with important people and on important matters.” She then led Zuo Bian to their seats.

Xia Ruyun was still standing there, her back facing them, but there wasn’t much disappointment on her face.

After all, her goal was to quickly climb the social ladder. If she couldn’t get through to Zuo Bian, she would find another target.

Soon, everyone arrived, except for the investor who was hosting the dinner.

Then the long-awaited protagonist finally arrived. The moment the door opened, Zuo Bian’s pupils constricted.

Chapter 86

It was a sleepless night, but for 555, it was a night of continuous hibernation.

Even though it had been hibernating the entire night, 555 still felt exhausted.

Don’t ask, it was mentally drained.

What? You say it doesn’t have a heart?

555 was a believer in idealism. It said it had a heart, so it had a heart.

Since Zuo Bian had taken the day off, she could sleep in as late as she wanted.

However, they only woke up at noon, even though they had gotten out of bed at 9 a.m.

Looking at its host, radiant and blooming like a flower that had been well-watered, 555 felt a pang of envy. But then it remembered that the happier Zuo Bian was, the more points it would receive at the end of the mission, and it felt happy again.

This wasn’t so bad after all.

Without Qin Tian, the little light bulb, to interrupt them, Zuo Bian and Qin Ai spent the entire day together at the villa. They watched movies, had dinner, and took a leisurely stroll in the garden. Time flew by.

When it was time to go home, Zuo Bian was reluctant to part with Qin Ai. She hugged Qin Ai’s neck and gave her 24 pecks on the lips, counting each one in her mind.

After being kissed, Qin Ai chuckled helplessly. “Why so many kisses? 24?”

Zuo Bian nodded. “Because I want to give you a kiss for every hour of the day. I want to prepay all the kisses for tomorrow.”

Qin Ai touched her lips. “You’re so clingy.”

Although she said “clingy,” there was no hint of annoyance on her face. She seemed to be enjoying it.

Zuo Bian frowned slightly. “Don’t you like it?”

“Actually… clinginess isn’t so bad. But aren’t your kisses a bit insincere? Just a light touch, can that even be considered a kiss?” As soon as she finished speaking, Qin Ai cupped the back of Zuo Bian’s head.

Her tongue was soft and agile, exploring Zuo Bian’s mouth, enticing her tongue to dance with hers.

By the time the kiss ended, five minutes had passed.

555 felt offended. Was that intentional?

Later, Qin Ai drove Zuo Bian home. Zuo Bian was reluctant to part with Qin Ai and lingered by the car window, saying goodbye.

When she returned home, she was surrounded by her family. All three of them stared at her, making her feel a bit confused.

Du Yundong spoke first. “Xiao Bian, did you have fun today?”

Zuo Bian nodded with a smile. “Mom, I had a lot of fun.”

“That’s good.” Du Yundong patted Zuo Bian’s hand, her approval of Qin Ai growing.

There were still many families who believed that girls should marry a reliable man, only men could protect women.

But Du Yundong disagreed. Loving someone of any gender was a personal choice. And they lived in a society ruled by law, not in the last century, where people still believed that a family wasn’t safe without a man.

Du Yundong thought Qin Ai was a good person. She was capable, decisive, and cared for her daughter. Most importantly, her daughter was happy with her.

Du Yundong had initially thought that Qin Ai might be unhappy that Zuo Bian was busy with her career, but to her surprise, Qin Ai was not only understanding, but also happy for Zuo Bian.

She could see that Qin Ai truly loved her daughter. Entrusting her daughter to someone like Qin Ai, what else did she have to worry about?

Du Yundong’s happiness stemmed from her daughter’s happiness.

Zuo Bian noticed the joy and relief in her mother’s eyes and chatted with her for a while that night.

Her father and brother also expressed their concern for her. However, they weren’t as expressive as Du Yundong, but there was no denying their love for Zuo Bian.

This warm and loving family made Zuo Bian feel like she was enveloped in a comforting embrace, her heart filled with happiness.

Her day off was over, and she had to continue her training the next day.

In half a month, she would need to experience the protagonist’s life and meet with the investors and the cast of “Twins.”

She would probably meet the woman who looked exactly like her master then. However, Zuo Bian wasn’t as eager to find her master as she had been when she first arrived in this world.

Having experienced true love and happiness, a thought had crossed her mind: Was her master truly good to her? Why did she choose to isolate her from the outside world?

If she hadn’t met 555, her family, and Qin Ai in this world, would she have been able to survive?

With her abilities, survival wouldn’t be a problem, but living a good life was another matter. She would have stumbled and faced even more malice than the criticism she had received online.

Zuo Bian had been exposed to the internet and had spent enough time in this world to know that her behavior was different from most people’s, even a bit strange.

Her master had rescued her from starvation and given her a new life, but Zuo Bian felt like something was wrong.

However, even after searching through her memories, she couldn’t find the source of her unease.

555, being in Zuo Bian’s mind, was aware of her worries.

【Host, why are you overthinking this? I think your master seems normal. At least, based on the information I’ve gathered, she seems normal.】

‘There’s nothing particularly unusual about her…’ Zuo Bian frowned slightly.

She had a lot on her plate, so she pushed those thoughts aside for now.

Meanwhile, the rumors about Lu Letian and Chang Wensi had been circulating for two months. They were constantly bickering and often asked Zuo Bian to mediate, but she was too busy to help them.

However, in 555’s eyes, Zuo Bian’s “help” only made things worse. She always managed to accidentally step on landmines, escalating their conflict.

Fortunately, their problems weren’t serious. One was just using the wrong approach, and the other was too stubborn.

As long as Chang Wensi came to her senses, everything would be fine.

One day, Weibo exploded again because Chang Wensi had finally seen the light.

Lu Letian and Chang Wensi publicly announced their relationship and clarified that the child wasn’t theirs.

Chang Wensi’s change of heart wasn’t due to Zuo Bian’s efforts, but rather Chang Wenyan’s intervention.

Chang Wenyan might be a loser in love, but he could still play matchmaker for others.

Unfortunately for him, he was now in the same boat as 555. His childhood sweetheart, Qin Ai, was engaged to Zuo Bian, his sister was dating his best friend, and even Lin Qingqing had found a girlfriend! He was the only one who was still single.

Time passed, and Zuo Bian had learned everything she could from her teacher. Now all that was left was practice.

Half a month before the filming for “Twins” began, Director Li gathered all the main actors. Filming was about to start, and he assigned tasks to everyone, giving them a chance to get to know each other.

This movie actually had two female leads. Zuo Bian was the actual protagonist, also the main antagonist.

The other female lead was the one the audience would perceive as the protagonist, but she was actually the second female lead. After all, Zuo Bian’s character, Lin Ling, was the soul of the story.

The movie would start from the second female lead’s perspective, misleading the audience.

The second female lead was a spoiled and arrogant young lady who got caught up in the events after her father’s accidental death.

“Hello, Miss Zuo, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” Xia Ruyun, the actress playing the second female lead, extended her hand to Zuo Bian with a sweet smile and a friendly gaze.

Zuo Bian smiled back and shook her hand briefly.

555 clicked its tongue. As a master of “green tea” tactics, it had sharp eyes, like a radar.

【I can already smell the strong “green tea” scent on her. But Host, why is there another one of these characters around you? I didn’t buy any packages for you.】

Zuo Bian also felt a sense of dissonance from Xia Ruyun, then she heard her say, “I was a fan of yours when I was watching the drama. I’m so happy to finally meet you in person. I heard you and Miss Qin Ai are very much in love, I’m so envious of your relationship. I wish I were as capable as you.”

【Classic “green tea” tactic. She has good qualities, but she insists on belittling herself and praising others to appear humble.】

Zuo Bian smiled. “You’re also very good, don’t be so hard on yourself.”

Xia Ruyun continued her attack. “You’re too kind, Miss Zuo. I know I’m not as good as you. By the way, Miss Zuo, we’ll be working together for a long time, can we be friends?”

【She seems approachable and gentle, but her goal is to get close to you and make you let down your guard, then she’ll achieve her own goals.】

Zuo Bian listened to 555’s rambling while chatting with Xia Ruyun.

She didn’t take 555’s words to heart. Just like with Hu Miaofu, as long as Xia Ruyun didn’t do anything malicious, she wouldn’t deliberately distance herself from her. After all, they would be working together.

To outsiders, it seemed like Xia Ruyun and Zuo Bian had hit it off and would become good friends.

But in reality, Zuo Bian was just being polite. She wasn’t actually close to Xia Ruyun.

This was a common “green tea” tactic, creating the illusion of closeness to appear kind and gentle, then slowly infiltrating the other person’s life and winning over the people around them.

As someone who had studied the Green Tea Handbook, Zuo Bian could see through Xia Ruyun’s tactics. So when Xia Ruyun expressed her desire to meet Qin Ai, Zuo Bian politely declined, saying that Qin Ai was busy.

“That’s a pity.” Xia Ruyun forced a smile, looking slightly hurt.

At this moment, Director Li approached them. “I saw you two chatting so happily, so I didn’t want to interrupt, but I have to. The investors are treating us to dinner tonight.”

Zuo Bian’s eyes lit up. There were initially two investors for “Twins”: Meng Zhen and the overseas conglomerate Mo Group. The Zuo family and the Qin family had invested later.

Zuo Bian hadn’t heard Qin Ai or her brother mentioning a dinner, so it was highly likely that it was either Meng Zhen or Mo Group.

Chapter 85

Since Zuo Bian had to continue her training in the afternoon, Qin Ai didn’t take her to a restaurant far away. They had lunch at a nearby restaurant with good food.

The dishes here were light but flavorful.

Zuo Bian enjoyed trying new dishes. During their meal, she told Qin Ai about the amusing incident that had happened that morning.

Qin Ai also shared the CP video she had seen yesterday, which piqued Zuo Bian’s interest.

“Qin Ai, can I watch it?” Zuo Bian looked at Qin Ai with longing eyes.

Qin Ai said, “Finish your food first, then you can watch it.”

“Mm-hmm.” Zuo Bian nodded happily and ate even faster.

After lunch, Qin Ai showed Zuo Bian the video. Zuo Bian was captivated and finally asked, “Qin Ai, did you make this video? Why are there photos of you from high school?”

Qin Ai smiled, resting her chin on her hand. “I didn’t make it, but it was someone you know. Guess who.”

Zuo Bian searched her memory. “Could it be your mother?”

Qin Ai shook her head with a smile. Zuo Bian guessed again, “Is it Sao Sao (sister-in-law)?”

Tao Zi was the biggest fan of their CP and a woman of action. Photo editing and voting were child’s play for her. It was normal for Zuo Bian to guess it was her.

But Qin Ai shook her head again. This stumped Zuo Bian. She even guessed her own brother.

However, Zuo Yuan was also the wrong answer. Finally, she said, “Qin Ai, could it be my mother?”

“Don’t you think you’ve forgotten someone? You’ve guessed almost everyone, but you haven’t guessed him yet.”

Zuo Bian’s eyes lit up. She was sure she would guess correctly this time.

“Then it must be 555! It’s very good with electronic devices.”

Qin Ai sighed, but there was no disappointment in her eyes. “If Xiao Tian were here, he would be heartbroken.”

Zuo Bian’s eyes widened in surprise. “It was Xiao Tian?”

Qin Ai nodded. “Mm, it was Xiao Tian.”

“He’s so young and already so talented? No wonder there are so many photos of you in the video. And the background music is your piano playing.”

“He snuck into my music room last night to record the piano music, and I caught him. That’s how I found out about the video.”

Zuo Bian chuckled. “Was Xiao Tian scared when you caught him?”

They chatted about it for a while, but they didn’t have much time. Zuo Bian had to go back to her acting lessons.

As the days passed, Zuo Bian’s progress was evident, and her teacher praised her constantly.

Her teacher was a veteran actress who had played many well-known roles. Now that she was older, she didn’t have much energy left, and the current market favored younger actors.

She had thought she would just retire peacefully, but one of her students introduced her to Zuo Bian and asked her to be her acting coach. Teaching Zuo Bian had rekindled her passion for acting. She found meaning in passing on her skills to a new generation.

Zuo Bian also enjoyed the learning process. The only downside was that she was too busy.

“Ascending to Immortality” had recently ended. It was a true hit drama, not one of those artificially hyped-up shows that relied on marketing and trending topics.

Every time it trended on Weibo, it was because there was genuine buzz, driven by real viewers and fans.

With the drama’s success, Zuo Bian, as the female lead, was also in high demand. Various talk shows and programs invited her. She couldn’t accept all of them, but she couldn’t reject all of them either.

So she chose a few interviews and shows, squeezing them into her busy schedule. A month before the filming for “Twins” began, she would also need to experience the protagonist’s life.

Zuo Bian was like a spinning top, constantly on the move.

She could handle the physical demands. She was in good health and slept well at night. The biggest drawback was that she didn’t have much time to see Qin Ai. Before, it was Qin Ai who was busy, and Zuo Bian had to make appointments to see her.

Now, the roles were reversed. It was difficult for Qin Ai to see Zuo Bian. They could only chat briefly during Zuo Bian’s meal breaks, which made Zuo Bian feel guilty.

Today, after finishing an interview, Zuo Bian called Qin Ai and asked if she was free for dinner that night.

Qin Ai agreed, and Zuo Bian happily told her that she had already booked a restaurant.

“Qin Ai, I’ll be waiting for you at the restaurant. I’ll send you the address.”

“Mm.” Qin Ai replied with a smile.

She didn’t blame Zuo Bian for being busy. Seeing her grow and thrive every day made Qin Ai happy.

And she was even happier that Zuo Bian had invited her to dinner.

After hanging up the phone, Zuo Bian smiled.

555 said in her mind, 【Host, everything will definitely go smoothly.】

‘Mm-hmm.’

Actually, this date had been planned by Zuo Bian days ago. She had been too busy lately and hadn’t had much time to spend with Qin Ai.

She had been performing well in her training, so she had asked her teacher for a day off, just to be with Qin Ai.

Since it was a date, it had to be romantic.

According to the guides, women loved special treatment, and if you loved a woman, you should spend money on her. Zuo Bian wholeheartedly agreed, so she booked an entire restaurant, complete with flowers and a violinist.

She had also bought 999 red roses. A candlelit dinner with roses, it would definitely be a romantic date.

Zuo Bian arrived at the restaurant early. Qin Ai wasn’t there yet.

She entered the restaurant. Candles were already lit on the table.

Qin Ai arrived shortly after. As soon as she entered, someone covered her eyes.

“Qin Ai.” It was Zuo Bian’s voice.

Even without hearing Zuo Bian’s voice, Qin Ai wouldn’t have dodged. She could smell Zuo Bian’s scent as soon as she got close.

Everyone had a unique scent, and when you spent enough time with someone, you could recognize their scent even from a distance.

Zuo Bian was a few centimeters shorter than Qin Ai, so she had to stand on her tiptoes, her body practically pressed against Qin Ai’s back, to cover her eyes.

“Are you giving me a surprise?” Qin Ai’s lips curved into a smile. Although her eyes were covered, they must be sparkling with amusement.

Zuo Bian hummed in response and led Qin Ai forward.

The melodious sound of a violin filled the air. Qin Ai’s vision was obscured, but she could smell the fragrance of roses.

She easily guessed what Zuo Bian was planning. Such romantic gestures might lose their novelty after being used too many times, but for Qin Ai, the romantic aspect was secondary. What mattered was Zuo Bian’s heart.

This girl, who was clumsy and awkward even when pursuing someone, was incredibly serious when it came to love. Her earnestness touched Qin Ai’s heart.

“Qin Ai, these roses are for you.” Zuo Bian removed her hand from Qin Ai’s eyes as they reached a display of 999 red roses.

The flickering candlelight illuminated the vibrant roses.

Even in the dim light, their beauty was undeniable.

They were luscious and fragrant, their color, shape, and scent like a blazing fire, enveloping Qin Ai like a net, mirroring the overwhelming emotions in Zuo Bian’s heart.

Zuo Bian fidgeted with her clothes nervously. “Qin Ai, do you like them?”

Qin Ai tore her gaze away from the roses and turned to look at Zuo Bian. The candlelight cast a warm glow on her face, making her eyes sparkle.

When they first met, Zuo Bian had thought Qin Ai’s eyes were like a calm sea hiding turbulent depths, unfathomable and mysterious.

But now, Qin Ai’s lips were curved into a smile, her eyes gentle, her once unfathomable gaze reflecting Zuo Bian’s image.

Zuo Bian was the only thing Qin Ai could see.

Even though Qin Ai hadn’t answered yet, Zuo Bian already knew the answer. She smiled, her eyes sparkling with joy.

Only then did Qin Ai finally speak. “I like them. Not just the flowers.”

Zuo Bian led Qin Ai to the table, their hands clasped together. The waiter, who had been waiting in the shadows, immediately served the dishes as they sat down.

Qin Ai had expected a typical candlelit dinner, but when the food arrived, she couldn’t help but chuckle.

Zuo Bian, seeing her reaction, said sheepishly, “Is it weird to order well-done steak at a Western restaurant?”

Qin Ai picked up her chopsticks and took a bite of the stir-fried steak. “It’s fine. It’s safer to eat meat well-done anyway.”

Zuo Bian smiled brightly. “Mm-hmm, Qin Ai, try this steamed goose liver with fermented rice wine.”

“Okay.” Qin Ai took a bite. “It’s good.”

Zuo Bian’s smile widened, and she ladled a bowl of pork rib and mushroom soup for herself.

555 remained silent. It thought the chef must be crying. Who would force a Western chef to cook Chinese food?

Grilled steak had become stir-fried steak, pan-fried foie gras had become steamed goose liver with fermented rice wine, and creamy mushroom soup had become pork rib and mushroom soup. Fortunately, the chef had previously specialized in Chinese cuisine before switching to Western cuisine, so he was able to handle the request.

It wasn’t that Zuo Bian was deliberately making things difficult. Both she and Qin Ai preferred Chinese food. And that website called Jinjiang, where their mission was based, had been promoting the importance of avoiding wild game, eating cooked food, ventilating rooms, washing hands frequently, and wearing masks.

So they were having Chinese food at a Western restaurant, and they were enjoying it, although the atmosphere was a bit strange.

However, their stunning beauty made everything seem perfect. Who could resist beautiful flowers, beautiful people, and safe food?

The violinist had left at some point, leaving only Zuo Bian and Qin Ai in the spacious room.

The candles flickered, casting long shadows, and they leaned closer to each other.

The atmosphere was charged with unspoken emotions. Their lips met in a soft kiss, the sweetness reaching its peak.

Unfortunately, this kiss could only be a brief one. They were in public. Qin Tian had been taken to his grandmother’s house by his mother tonight, so Qin Ai took Zuo Bian to her own home.

There were no distractions. However, they accidentally entered Qin Ai’s music room instead of her bedroom.

But at this point, they weren’t picky about the location. Qin Ai lifted Zuo Bian and placed her on the piano lid.

Before being censored, 555 yelled, 【Don’t get water on the piano!】

Chapter 84

Zuo Bian hung up the phone only when she got out of the car. But after dinner and a shower, she called Qin Ai again for a video call.

555 and Little Frog were huddled together with a tablet, whispering and occasionally glancing at Zuo Bian.

“Being in love is so nice.”

“Yes, ribbit, yes, ribbit.”

“I really want to be in love.” 555 stared at Little Frog with longing eyes.

Little Frog blinked, confused. “Your eyes look strange, 555, ribbit.”

555 cleared its throat awkwardly. “Little Frog, be my girlfriend. Let’s be in love.”

“Ribbit?” Little Frog was stunned.

555 continued, “Be with me, I’ll treat you well.”

Little Frog shook its head frantically. It felt like 555 was looking at it with lustful eyes.

“You just want my body, ribbit!” It hopped onto Zuo Bian’s phone screen, its round and heavy body pressing down on the screen. Qin Ai saw a flash of Zuo Bian’s face before the camera pointed at the ceiling.

Zuo Bian looked at the panicking Little Frog. “What’s wrong?”

Little Frog, crying and hiccuping, finally managed to explain what had happened.

Zuo Bian was both amused and exasperated. The video call wasn’t disconnected, so Qin Ai had also heard their conversation.

Zuo Bian stroked Little Frog’s head with her finger, calming it down.

“What’s wrong with me?” 555 was devastated, clutching its nonexistent heart with its tiny hands, looking incredibly pitiful.

Seeing 555’s distress, Little Frog suddenly felt bad.

“It’s not that you’re bad, 555, ribbit. It’s just that I’m too young, ribbit. I’m not ready for a relationship yet, ribbit.”

“Then I’ll wait for you to grow up. And before that, I’ll save enough money to marry you.”

Zuo Bian, as a bystander, was touched, but love was a matter between the two parties involved.

Little Frog thought about it seriously, then said, “Okay, ribbit, I’ll think about it, ribbit.”

555 sighed in relief. “That’s great.”

“Go back to playing.” Zuo Bian gently pushed Little Frog’s back.

Little Frog was indeed too young, not in terms of actual age, but mental age. Both of them were still children, it was too early for them to be talking about love.

After Little Frog went back to playing with 555, Zuo Bian picked up her phone again.

“Qin Ai, I’m sorry, I got a bit distracted.”

Qin Ai said, “It’s okay. But puppy love isn’t something to be encouraged.”

Zuo Bian chuckled. “Mm, puppy love is bad.”

Qin Ai might say that, but if she had met Zuo Bian in high school, she probably wouldn’t have cared about “puppy love.”

They chatted for a while longer, hanging up the video call only when it was almost midnight.

Before hanging up, Zuo Bian softly called Qin Ai “Ai Jiejie,” making Qin Ai’s heart flutter. If Zuo Bian were here with her, she would have been devoured.

Zuo Bian thought to herself, it would be great if she and Qin Ai were already married. Then she wouldn’t have to make video calls anymore, she could see Qin Ai as soon as she got home.

But wasn’t she being too hasty? They had just gotten engaged.

She touched her cheeks, feeling the heat. Her face must be red.

“Xiao Bianbian, it’s time for bed, ribbit.” Little Frog, seeing that it was getting late, came over to remind Zuo Bian to sleep.

Zuo Bian had to continue her training tomorrow, and staying up late would affect her performance, so she agreed.

Although 555 had just confessed to Little Frog, there was no awkwardness between them. They were still interacting as usual.

Zuo Bian was relieved that the scene she had imagined hadn’t happened.

She had read many melodramatic romance novels with 555, and in those novels, whenever a confession was rejected, the two parties involved would either become strangers or feel awkward every time they met.

In reality, it wasn’t much better. No one could be completely calm and composed after being rejected by the person they liked.

Lying in bed with the lights off, Zuo Bian finally realized something. ‘555, is the person you like Little Frog?’

Her reaction time was incredibly slow.

555, back in Zuo Bian’s mind, replied, 【Yes, I like it. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem interested in a relationship. But it’s okay, I can wait, I have plenty of time.】

‘But you told me that childhood sweethearts can’t win against newcomers. What if Little Frog meets someone else and they get together?’ Zuo Bian was just presenting a possibility.

However, her words struck a nerve with 555. The more it thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

【Host, I think you should go to sleep now. I’m going to hibernate.】Then 555 disappeared.

Zuo Bian was truly a natural-born troublemaker. She had so easily stabbed 555 in the heart. Wuwuwu, it should have muted her before she could speak.

The day passed uneventfully. At least, it was uneventful for Zuo Bian. For the CP fans, however, it was a celebration.

The previous video had been well-received, and Editor Tiantian had promised to release another video with a 99% sugar content within three days.

As for footage? As a frontline CP fan, Qin Tian had no shortage of material.

That night, he secretly snuck into the music room, planning to record the piano music as background music for his video.

Qin Ai seemed to be in a good mood today. She was still playing “Galaxy,” but the melody was much lighter and even a bit playful.

When the piano music stopped, Qin Tian smirked to himself. BGM acquired!

Just as he was about to sneak back to his room, he noticed a pair of long, slender legs in front of him.

He gulped nervously and slowly raised his head, meeting Qin Ai’s gaze as she bent down to look at him.

Qin Ai straightened up, towering over him, a familiar smile on her face.

But Qin Tian didn’t want to see that smile. He could already envision his allowance being confiscated.

“Sister, let me explain! No, I mean, let me clarify!”

Qin Ai crossed her arms. “Okay, I’m listening.”

Qin Tian slowly got up from the floor, trying to explain his presence as concisely as possible.

Lying to his sister might not get him off the hook, but it would definitely make things worse.

However, after listening to his explanation, Qin Ai didn’t confiscate his allowance as he had feared. Instead, she said, “Let me see it.”

Qin Tian suddenly became hesitant. It was one thing to share the video with other CP fans, he was even proud of it. But showing it to Qin Ai, the subject of the video, was incredibly embarrassing.

“Are you not going to show it to me?”

Qin Tian sensed the underlying threat in Qin Ai’s tone. His heart skipped a beat. “I’ll show you right now!”

Qin Ai took his phone and watched the entire CP video. After finishing it, she chuckled. “Not bad. Go to bed.”

“Oh, okay.” Qin Tian took his phone back, nodding dumbly. He wasn’t used to his sister being so gentle.

That night, Qin Ai created a Weibo account, but her profile picture was a photo of Zuo Bian.

She reposted Editor Tiantian’s CP video with a simple comment: Not bad.

After doing this, Qin Ai went to bed, ignoring the frenzy her actions had caused among her fans.

At first, people thought the account was fake. President Qin didn’t seem like the type to use Weibo, and she had never had an account before.

Some people claimed that it was just a CP fan trying to create more buzz.

However, after clicking on the account, they saw that it was officially verified as belonging to the CEO of Qin Group. It was definitely real.

This made the fans, who were used to digging for crumbs of sugar, scream with joy. As expected of an engaged couple, the sugar was real and sweet!

It was another celebratory day for the AiBian CP fans. They were busy writing fanfiction and leaving comments.

===============

Zuo Bian slept soundly through the night and woke up early the next morning, getting dressed and having breakfast in the car.

Although the filming for the movie was still three months away, she needed to experience life before joining the crew, which meant she actually had less than three months to prepare.

Director Li was a perfectionist. He saw Zuo Bian’s potential but believed that raw talent needed to be honed.

Zuo Bian also felt the need to experience the protagonist’s life. Simply relying on imagination wouldn’t be enough, she needed to be grounded in reality.

As she started her systematic acting training, she discovered her own shortcomings and found joy in the process.

If her assistant hadn’t reminded her, she would have forgotten to eat lunch.

【Host, you not only forgot to eat, but you also forgot that Qin Ai said she would have lunch with you today.】

Zuo Bian was stunned by 555’s reminder. She immediately took out her phone to call Qin Ai.

She faintly heard a ringtone outside. She instinctively opened the door and was greeted by Qin Ai’s smiling face.

Qin Ai waved her phone. “Finally remembered me?”

Zuo Bian’s face lit up with a smile the moment she saw Qin Ai. Her eyes sparkled, and she instinctively rushed towards her.

Qin Ai opened her arms, embracing Zuo Bian.

The warm embrace, with its faint scent of tea, filled Zuo Bian with contentment. She had missed Qin Ai after not seeing her for a whole day.

Now, the person she missed was standing right before her. Words seemed superfluous. A simple hug was enough to convey her feelings.

“Qin Ai, have you been waiting long? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Qin Ai glanced at her watch. “Not long, just a few minutes. It’s still early for lunch, we’re not late.”

555, the bystander, saw everything clearly. Qin Ai had been waiting for almost half an hour, but when she opened the door and saw Zuo Bian practicing a scene, she quietly closed the door again.

Sigh, the stench of love. 555 hadn’t cared before because it didn’t have anyone it liked. But now that it did, being force-fed dog food was torture.

Chapter 83

In reality, whether she deleted the post or not, it was already too late.

Thanks to these messy “truths,” the popularity of “Ascending to Immortality” soared even higher.

The drama itself was well-made, and the various CP combinations, excluding the male lead, were captivating. With two intriguing real-life couples, it was dubbed the “drama with CP constitution.”

Fanfiction and fan-made videos flourished, but the two “official” couples still dominated the fandom.

One couple was publicly engaged, the other was already married with a child! It was a safe bet to invest in these ships!

Fanfiction, video edits, everything was in full swing.

However, Zuo Bian and Qin Ai’s CP was still more popular. Lu Letian and Chang Wensi had been in the entertainment industry for several years, and they had quite a few girlfriend and boyfriend fans.

Many people were supportive of their relationship, but many were also opposed.

But it was different for Zuo Bian and Qin Ai. Zuo Bian was a newcomer with no established persona, and her fanbase was relatively homogenous. As for Qin Ai, she had never even appeared in the public eye before the engagement announcement.

Both of them were talented and successful individuals, and most people were supportive of their relationship, so their CP had a huge following.

Fanfiction and fan-made videos about them sprouted like mushrooms after rain, gaining massive views within hours.

One video, made by a talented editor, stood out. It contained footage that couldn’t be found online, such as Qin Ai in her youth, Qin Ai at work, Qin Ai playing the piano, and even Qin Ai reading “36 Stratagems of Love.”

Other editors were limited by the lack of available footage of Qin Ai. The only resource they had was the few minutes of video from the engagement ceremony.

This led most editors to focus on Zuo Bian’s perspective. The sudden appearance of a well-edited video with abundant footage from Qin Ai’s perspective quickly rose to the top.

The video started with Qin Ai’s perspective. As a teenager, she was rebellious and prickly, intimidating to everyone.

But it was also clear that she lacked the composure and confidence she had now.

The video didn’t explicitly depict her youth or her life journey, but the faded photos, the sad and restrained eyes, the lonely figure playing the piano, spoke volumes. The audience could fill in the blanks themselves.

Within a few dozen seconds, Qin Ai transformed from a rebellious teenager into a powerful and aloof woman, beautiful and intimidating, seemingly heartless.

Even though you knew that your efforts and attempts to please her might be in vain, you couldn’t help but be drawn to her.

These scenes were tinted with a pale gray, but the colors gradually became more vibrant after Zuo Bian appeared.

As Zuo Bian rolled down the car window, sunlight illuminated her face, and she smiled. In that moment, the world lit up.

Then came snippets of their time together, their journey from strangers to lovers. It wasn’t a dramatic or earth-shattering love story.

Whenever Zuo Bian smiled, Qin Ai’s eyes would also light up with a smile.

A single glance conveyed everything.

The background music wasn’t a well-known song, but a never-before-heard piano piece.

Even those who didn’t understand music could tell that the pianist was skilled because they could feel the emotions conveyed through the music.

The piano melody started with a sense of confusion and rebellion, then transitioned into a light and joyful tune.

The fans who watched the video were clamoring for more, demanding that the editor make another one. They couldn’t get enough!

However, many fans were also curious about how the editor had obtained so much footage.

Qin Ai had been a mystery before her engagement with Zuo Bian was announced. Even a side profile photo of her was hard to find. How could this editor have so much footage?

Some observant fans noticed that even Zuo Bian’s scenes couldn’t be found online, leading them to suspect that the editor was someone close to Zuo Bian and Qin Ai.

【You’re all focused on the visuals, am I the only one who noticed the BGM?】

【I also noticed the BGM. I tried using several music recognition apps, but I couldn’t find it. Could it be that Editor Tiantian also plays the piano? Did they compose it themselves?】

【Let’s be even bolder. Maybe it was Qin Ai who played it.】

Their guess wasn’t far off. The creator of the video was indeed someone close to Zuo Bian and Qin Ai. However, few people would have guessed who it was because this person didn’t seem like the type to edit videos.

That’s right, Editor Tiantian was Qin Tian.

Sitting in front of his computer, Qin Tian yawned, a satisfied smile on his face.

“Hmph, who can compete with me, Qin Tian?” He was confident. He was an editor with exclusive access to footage, he could create any style he wanted. And if he didn’t have enough footage, he would just secretly film some more.

As a CP fan, Qin Tian often took photos and secretly recorded the song “Galaxy” that Qin Ai played for Zuo Bian. Now, all those materials were being put to good use.

He might not have any talent for gaming, but he had taught himself video editing at a young age, and his skills were impressive.

By the time the video was released, Zuo Bian had already started her acting training. Her parents hadn’t enrolled her in a class, they had hired experienced teachers to provide one-on-one lessons.

Du Yundong and Zuo Yan’s reasoning was simple: Their daughter deserved the best, and they were afraid of the past repeating itself.

Zuo Bian had often been bullied before. Although she was becoming more like a normal person now, they were still worried that she would be taken advantage of.

But Zuo Bian felt a bit disappointed. She often passed by the training class next door when she went to the bathroom. Seeing so many people learning together, collaborating on performances, she felt a pang of longing.

In her previous life, she had yearned for a school life, and it was the same in this world.

Her master had taught her separately because she was afraid that her mischievous senior disciples would be a bad influence. Now, in this world, she was already twenty-one, an adult. It was difficult to go back to school.

She had thought she could experience a classroom environment by taking acting lessons, but she was studying alone.

But Zuo Bian knew that her parents had her best interests at heart. She just glanced at the class and left.

555 sensed her low spirits.

【Host, do you want to study with them?】

‘Mm, I want to know what it feels like to study with others.’

Since her wish couldn’t be fulfilled in reality, Zuo Bian often read school-themed novels in her spare time.

At least she could experience it vicariously.

555 could sense her longing. It wanted to say that it could buy a “Time Travel Package” for Zuo Bian to go back a few years and experience school life. But it was deeply in debt and couldn’t afford the points required for the package.

It could use its credit, but it had already reached its limit. It had to pay off its existing debt before it could use it again.

555 sighed internally, deciding to fulfill the host’s wish after completing this mission and earning enough points.

‘But it’s okay if I can’t.’ Zuo Bian said this to 555, but it was also for herself.

Life was full of regrets. She had her parents, she had Qin Ai, a small regret like this was nothing.

Three months of intensive acting training, even with Zuo Bian’s talent, it was a tight schedule.

On the first day, she was already as busy as she had been on set. By the time she got home, it was already 8 p.m.

Zuo Bian realized she hadn’t called Qin Ai at noon, so she immediately called her from the car.

Fortunately, Qin Ai didn’t blame her. She knew Zuo Bian was busy.

Zuo Bian, however, felt guilty. After all, they had agreed to have three phone calls a day.

“If you feel so guilty and want to make it up to me, give me a kiss.”

Zuo Bian said with a hint of frustration, “But you’re not here with me.”

Qin Ai chuckled softly, her voice a low murmur. “Then give it to me when we meet, make it up to me properly.”

Zuo Bian felt her face heating up. She looked out the window, trying to change the subject.

“Qin Ai, what was it like for you when you were in school?” she asked.

“Nothing special, but it was good.” Qin Ai’s teenage years had been quite rebellious.

She had been in her “chuunibyou” phase, like many teenagers who thought they were special and different, finding their classmates childish and wanting to grow up quickly.

But after actually growing up, she realized how precious and rare those school days were. It wasn’t as bad as she had imagined. Looking back, her youthful and even absurd school days were like a vivid and unforgettable photo, forever etched in her memory.

Zuo Bian listened as Qin Ai shared some of her childhood experiences. Of course, these were carefully selected stories. Qin Ai wouldn’t tell her about her true embarrassing moments.

Zuo Bian imagined the scenes in her mind, but they were Qin Ai’s experiences, not hers.

“That sounds nice,” she said.

Qin Ai, sensitive as ever, detected the envy in Zuo Bian’s tone. “Want to visit a school?”

“Mm.” Zuo Bian replied.

She didn’t just want to visit, she wanted to study there.

“I’ll take you when you have time off.”

Zuo Bian couldn’t help but smile. “I just started working, and you’re already asking me when I’ll have time off.”

“Because I want to see you more.”

Qin Ai’s words made Zuo Bian’s smile fade slightly. They had just gotten together, and she was already so busy.

“I’ll try to learn faster so I can have some free time.”

“Xiao Bian is so smart, you’ll definitely learn quickly.” Qin Ai rarely called her “Xiao Bian.”

It seemed like she had savored the two words on her tongue before saying them, adding a touch of tenderness.

“Qin Ai, I miss you.”

“I’ll come have lunch with you tomorrow.”

Zuo Bian’s eyes lit up. “Qin Ai, won’t you be busy?”

“I won’t be busy, not for the next few days. Are you not welcoming me?”

“Of course, I welcome you.” Zuo Bian smiled.

Chapter 82

Luckily for Zuo Bian, she and 555 hadn’t been caught by the paparazzi. However, Lu Letian and Chang Wensi weren’t so lucky. Their argument had sparked a flurry of scandalous rumors.

Unaware of the online drama, Zuo Bian, Qin Ai, 555, and Little Frog were enjoying a hike in the mountains.

It was a beautiful day, perfect for hiking. Zuo Bian was in excellent physical condition, and Qin Ai also exercised regularly, so they found the hike effortless.

555, on the other hand, was struggling. Controlling a physical body was exhausting, and it was practically crawling.

Little Frog, perched on 555’s head, hopped up and down. “555, you’re so useless, ribbit. Look at how strong Xiao Bianbian and Qin Ai are, ribbit.”

“But I’m just a child,” 555 whined weakly.

Zuo Bian, who had walked ahead, turned around and saw 555 slowly shuffling forward.

She walked back and asked, “555, do you want me to carry you?”

555 shook its head, then nodded. If it refused, it might get lost again.

Zuo Bian crouched down, offering her back to 555. Qin Ai walked over, picked up 555, and tucked it under her arm.

“Alright, let’s go up the mountain like this.”

Zuo Bian straightened up. “Qin Ai, won’t you get tired carrying it like that?”

“No, it’s light.” Qin Ai’s expression was relaxed.

555, its little arms and legs dangling, thought to itself: Host, aren’t you going to ask if I’m uncomfortable? Wuwuwu, I’m such an unloved child.

Not long after, following the “love child” scandal involving Lu Letian and Chang Wensi, another absurd headline emerged: “Zuo Bian and Qin Ai Spotted Hiking and Disposing of a Body.”

However, the comments on this topic were much more tame compared to the previous scandal because the blurry photo vaguely showed Qin Ai carrying a child.

Their relationship had just been made public a few days ago, and the discussion was still ongoing.

【Wuwuwu, they’re such a perfect match. Today, I’m shedding tears for someone else’s love again.】

【Isn’t anyone curious about the child’s identity? Zuo Zuo is only 21 years old, she can’t possibly have a five or six-year-old child. And President Qin was said to be single before, so it can’t be her child either.】

【Don’t overthink it, I guess it’s a relative’s or a friend’s child.】

【Hey, did you guys notice? The child is wearing the same clothes as Lu Letian and Chang Wensi’s love child!】

【!!!! I just checked, they’re the same clothes! It’s said that the Starlight Entertainment heir, Miss Chang, and President Qin are childhood friends who grew up together. So, can we assume that the child is Lu Letian and Chang Wensi’s? Maybe they had a fight and temporarily entrusted the child to Zuo Bian and Qin Ai?】

【I think you’re right. It’s very likely.】

And just like that, the two trending topics were connected in a strange way, the discussion growing even bigger.

That night, “Ascending to Immortality” aired. Zuo Bian, as the female lead, and Chang Wensi, as one of the prominent supporting actresses, had a dramatic showdown.

They cared about each other, but their stances forced them to fight. They both held onto their beliefs and respected each other’s strength, so they fought with all their might, ending up severely injured.

The male lead, who had been mostly absent, finally appeared and saved the injured female lead. However, he was criticized by the audience, not because of his actions, but because his presence was an eyesore.

Countless viewers complained: Why is the male lead here again?

“He’s the male lead, so of course, he’ll have a lot of screen time.” But wasn’t the love-hate relationship between the two women more interesting? Didn’t the male lead feel superfluous?

Many viewers had been shipping Zuo Bian and Chang Wensi’s characters since the first episode, and as the plot progressed, their fanbase grew even larger.

Today, Zuo Bian and Chang Wensi were trending in real life, and so were their characters in the drama.

Although the trending topics were quite absurd, Zuo Bian finally went online that night.

She had seen the trending topic about her and Qin Ai “killing and disposing of a body” and clicked on it out of curiosity.

It turned out to be clickbait. Most of the comments were praising their compatibility and saying how cute 555 was. But then the topic went off track, with people claiming that 555 was Chang Wensi and Lu Letian’s child.

Zuo Bian was confused. She didn’t understand why people would think that.

“Host, what’s wrong?” 555 asked curiously, leaning closer. It had taken off its hat and sunglasses, revealing its heavily blushed cheeks.

The plushie originally had light blush, but when 555 asked Little Frog to apply makeup, Little Frog had accidentally rolled its own blush-covered body on 555’s cheeks, leaving behind a bright red “monkey butt” blush.

However, 555 looked cute with the heavy blush, its round head and body adding to its charm.

Zuo Bian moved her phone so 555 could see the screen.

One human and one system browsed through Weibo together. After seeing another trending topic, they finally understood what was going on.

It turned out that Chang Wensi had been photographed with 555, and netizens had mistaken it for her and Lu Letian’s love child.

Some comments read:

【Look at that round head, it looks just like Letian.】

【Such a slender body, it’ll definitely be a beauty when it grows up, probably inheriting 70-80% of Wensi’s genes.】

【With Lu Letian and Chang Wensi’s genes, it seems like the entertainment industry is about to welcome a new star.】

【Hey, hey, aren’t you going to fight? Your idol’s house has collapsed!】

【I was going to fight at first, but then I realized they’re childhood sweethearts! And their bickering is actually quite cute! I can ship any couple, as long as they’re sweet!】

【Hmph, don’t think I don’t know your little game. You’re the moderator of the AiBian forum. Of course, you want to pair Chang Wensi with someone else, so you can clear the way for your AiBian CP.】

【Hehe, you caught me. But don’t you think they’re cute together too? It’s not that the drama CP isn’t sweet, but real-life couples are always better. We can ship them forever!】

Zuo Bian was happy to be blessed by so many people, but she didn’t understand why they thought 555 resembled Lu Letian and Chang Wensi. 555’s body was just a plushie she had bought from the mall.

She scrutinized 555’s face. It did have a round head, but many plushies had round heads.

She poked 555’s chest, and its thin body wobbled. But it was normal for its body to be thin, as most of the stuffing was in its head.

“It doesn’t really look like them,” Zuo Bian said.

555 straightened up. “I think they’re right.”

Zuo Bian chuckled. Even though she didn’t think they looked alike, she wanted to make 555 happy, so she lied. “Now that you mention it, it does look a bit like them.”

“Of course!” 555 said proudly.

Chang Wensi had been ignoring the rumors, refusing to respond, but Lu Letian was panicking. He first called Qin Ai for help, asking her to clarify the situation.

However, Qin Ai ruthlessly refused, saying that it was best for the two of them to handle their relationship issues themselves.

The reason Qin Ai wouldn’t help was simple: Lu Letian had been a third wheel again today, and she was annoyed by him. Why would she help him?

The more troubled he was, the better. Unable to get help from Qin Ai, Lu Letian turned to Zuo Bian.

Zuo Bian, who was about to take a shower, received a call from Lu Letian. “Hello, Mr. Lu, what’s up so late?”

Lu Letian was finally greeted by a gentle voice. He was so touched that he almost cried. But this wasn’t the time for tears. He controlled his emotions and explained his predicament to Zuo Bian.

After listening to his story, Zuo Bian understood what he wanted her to do. She nodded. “Mm-hmm, don’t worry, Mr. Lu, I’ll clarify the situation for you.”

“Thank you so much, Zuo Bian! I have another favor to ask. Can you help me talk to Wensi? She’s not answering my calls.”

Zuo Bian said, “I’ll try.”

“Mm-hmm, thank you again!” Lu Letian thought Zuo Bian was an angel compared to Qin Ai.

After hanging up the phone, Zuo Bian pondered for a moment, then composed a Weibo post.

She nodded with satisfaction after finishing typing. 555 and Little Frog, who had come over to take a look, had strange expressions on their faces.

“Xiao Bianbian, ribbit, are you sure this will clear things up, ribbit?”

“I think it might make things worse,” 555 commented.

Zuo Bian frowned, then revised the post. “Is this better?”

“It still feels a bit off.” 555 stroked its chin, unable to describe the feeling.

Zuo Bian said, “But I can’t think of any other way to explain it. Let’s just post it.”

She clicked “send.”

And then—the internet exploded.

@ZuoBian: Mr. Lu loves Miss Chang very much. The child is not his love child. You don’t need to speculate anymore.

Zuo Bian’s Weibo post was like a stone thrown into a calm lake.

The comments were filled with: ??? When did Lu Letian and Chang Wensi get married?

【The source is Zuo Bian, it must be true. I never expected them to not only be married but also have a child.】

【This is too fast! I haven’t even processed their relationship, and now you’re telling me they’re married with a child?】

【Let’s do the math. They’re both twenty-seven, and the child is around five years old, which means they got married and had a child in their early twenties.】

【Now that I think about it, all those little moments were actually hints!】

【This is why I love Zuo Zuo. She always drops bombshells like this. Give us more!】

Zuo Bian browsed through the comments, realizing something was wrong.

555 muttered, “This really backfired. I’ve somehow become their child.”

Little Frog said, “I also want a mommy and daddy, ribbit.”

Zuo Bian said, “The misunderstanding seems to have gotten bigger. Should I delete this Weibo post?”

“No! Host, don’t do that! If you delete it, it’ll be even harder to explain.”