Category: Green Tea Villainess Fails

Chapter 61

City A’s racetrack was a popular spot for wealthy second-generation heirs, and Qin Ai used to frequent it as well.

Those who once raced with her had all grown up, and Qin Ai was no different. The changes in her family had forced her to give up many things she loved. Now, with Zuo Bian by her side, she was rediscovering those lost passions one by one.

“Qin Ai, I prepared a racing suit for you. Go change into it.”

“Okay.” Qin Ai entered the changing room where a red and white racing suit hung on a rack.

She took the suit and put it on, finding it to be a perfect fit.

Zuo Bian, waiting impatiently outside, asked, “Qin Ai, are you done changing?”

Qin Ai replied, “If I’m not done, do you want to come in and help me?”

Zuo Bian, easily flustered by Qin Ai’s teasing, mumbled softly at the door, “Actually, that would be nice.”

Qin Ai chuckled and opened the door.

A tall and curvy figure appeared before Zuo Bian. The racing suit Zuo Bian had chosen fit Qin Ai perfectly.

Qin Ai’s ample chest didn’t look bulky or out of place. Paired with her slender waist and long legs, she looked incredibly attractive.

Zuo Bian couldn’t tear her eyes away. She wanted to reach out and touch Qin Ai but was afraid of wasting time.

“The bike is ready,” she said, forcing herself to look away, her steps clumsy as she walked out.

Qin Ai could see right through her. She couldn’t help but chuckle and followed Zuo Bian.

Outside, Qin Ai saw a brand-new motorcycle. Its sleek design and vibrant colors – passionate red combined with cool white – perfectly matched her taste.

Zuo Bian turned to Qin Ai and said, “Qin Ai, this is my gift for you.”

Qin Ai stepped forward, running her fingers over the motorcycle. She looked up at Zuo Bian with a smile. “I love this gift.”

In fact, Qin Ai loved every gift Zuo Bian had given her, especially this one.

“Have you seen the soda commercial?” Qin Ai asked.

Zuo Bian shook her head. “Is it airing already? I was busy with the racetrack today, I haven’t been online or watched TV.”

“Do you want to be a big star?” Qin Ai asked.

Zuo Bian understood what she meant. If she wanted to be famous, Qin Ai would make it happen.

Zuo Bian thought for a moment. “I’ve never thought about it. Even now, I don’t know the answer.”

“I understand.”

Although Zuo Bian had learned a lot about this world and understood what it meant to be famous, she was still herself, even in this new world. She wouldn’t change for the sake of fame and fortune.

“I think it’s best to let things happen naturally,” Zuo Bian said.

Seeing that Qin Ai was still standing there, not getting on the motorcycle, Zuo Bian asked, “Qin Ai, don’t you want to try out your new bike?”

Qin Ai put on her helmet, swung her leg over the motorcycle, and sat down, her long legs spread apart, looking even more alluring.

“I should. It’s been a while since I last rode a motorcycle. I need to warm up first.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Qin Ai started the engine. The motorcycle roared to life and shot off like an arrow, making Zuo Bian gasp in surprise.

Was this just a warm-up?

【Very much in line with Qin Ai’s demon king style, starting off so fast.】

‘Will Qin Ai be okay driving so fast?’ Zuo Bian was worried.

【Don’t worry, Host. Qin Ai is the female lead, she won’t get hurt. Even if she flies off the track, she’ll be fine.】

Zuo Bian watched as Qin Ai rode the motorcycle. Soon, she completed half a lap and returned.

“I’m starting to get the hang of it again.”

Through the visor, Zuo Bian could see the smile in Qin Ai’s eyes. She was happy, and Zuo Bian’s mood lifted as well.

“Let’s race then. I might be a newbie, but I might just beat you.” Zuo Bian said confidently.

Qin Ai raised her chin. “Alright, let’s do it.”

As a cultivator, Zuo Bian never thought about losing when facing a challenge or a battle. If she was going to compete, she would do so with the intention of winning.

It was a sign of respect for her opponent.

The starting lights flashed green, and Zuo Bian and Qin Ai sped off, the scenery blurring past them.

Zuo Bian accelerated, the speed making her feel like time was slowing down.

She was already going fast, but Qin Ai was still a step ahead.

There was a curve ahead. Zuo Bian was confident she could handle it, but experience mattered. Her judgment of the curve’s angle and the direction of the motorcycle wasn’t as accurate as Qin Ai’s.

The distance between them widened. Zuo Bian pursed her lips, determined to catch up.

Several times, she almost caught up to Qin Ai, but Qin Ai would always pull ahead at the curves, relying on her superior judgment and control.

Others might have given up, but Zuo Bian didn’t. Even until the very last moment, she didn’t give up.

As they approached the finish line, there was one final curve. Zuo Bian’s progress was undeniable. After navigating so many complex curves, she had developed some skills.

The distance between her and Qin Ai was gradually shrinking. Zuo Bian focused all her attention on this last curve.

They were about to cross the finish line, but Qin Ai still won by a hair.

Zuo Bian stopped her motorcycle, putting her foot on the ground and lifting her visor. “I lost.”

Qin Ai took off her helmet, her long black hair cascading down, revealing her beautiful face.

“Not bad for your first time. I had an advantage. I’ve been to this racetrack many years ago, I’m familiar with the layout and the track.”

Zuo Bian got off the motorcycle. “A loss is a loss. I think I’ll win next time.”

Qin Ai chuckled. “Maybe.”

They didn’t continue racing. Instead, they rode around the track for a few laps. Although their race wasn’t official, it was still physically demanding. If they raced again immediately, there might be an accident.

After spending half the day at the racetrack, Zuo Bian and Qin Ai decided to go for lunch.

Zuo Bian suggested going to the same restaurant they had been to before. The portions might be small, but the food was delicious. They could always order another table of dishes. Neither she nor Qin Ai was short of money.

When they arrived at the restaurant, they coincidentally ran into Lu Letian and Chang Wensi.

Chang Wensi was wearing her signature large sunglasses and a silk scarf, her eyes wide with anger. She was undoubtedly arguing with Lu Letian again.

This time, Lu Letian had returned to his normal self. He had one hand in his pocket, the other lazily yawning.

“Let’s discuss this later, I’m hungry.” He walked towards the entrance, not looking like someone who was hungry at all.

Chang Wensi was furious. “You’re being disrespectful! I’m not done talking yet!”

“Let’s talk inside. We’re both celebrities, it’s not good to be seen arguing in public.”

The photos of Zuo Bian, Lu Letian, and Chang Wensi having dinner together had trended online last time. Although the trending topic was quickly removed, it still had some impact on them.

Hearing Lu Letian’s words, Chang Wensi also felt that it wasn’t appropriate to argue at the entrance, so she nodded. “Fine, let’s talk inside.”

“Miss Chang, Mr. Lu.” Zuo Bian greeted them with surprise.

555 suddenly had a bad feeling. Just as it was about to warn Zuo Bian, Lu Letian’s expression changed.

“Wensi…” He looked at Zuo Bian with fear and caution, as if she had done something terrible to him.

Chang Wensi’s expression changed upon seeing Zuo Bian. She quickly shielded Lu Letian with her body, her voice gentle and comforting. “Don’t be afraid, Letian, I’m here.”

Zuo Bian recalled the incident before the “Happy Camp” recording and looked at the timid Lu Letian curiously.

“Mr. Lu, why are you so afraid of me? Did I do something?”

Lu Letian bit his lower lip and shook his head pitifully. “No.”

If it were any other female antagonist acting this way, it would have been incredibly fake. His “no” clearly implied that something had happened, but he couldn’t say it out loud because he was still afraid of Zuo Bian.

However, it was Lu Letian who was acting this way, and his tall and muscular build made his attempt at playing a fragile and scheming white lotus incredibly awkward, even comical.

“Oh, okay. That’s good.” Zuo Bian smiled at him.

To Lu Letian, who was currently in “scheming bitch” mode, her smile was a blatant provocation. This act of pretending not to see through his schemes was the real scheme. Her carefree smile made him seem petty and dramatic.

But even as he thought this, Lu Letian felt that his thought process was strange. Why was he thinking this way?

At this moment, Qin Ai spoke up. “It’s not good to keep standing here. We all know each other, let’s have lunch together.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Zuo Bian was the first to agree. She turned to look at Qin Ai, seeing the smile on her lips.

Although Qin Ai was perceived as cold and aloof, with no friends, Zuo Bian knew that wasn’t true. Qin Ai was just an ordinary person who needed family, friendship, and love.

“Alright.” Chang Wensi also agreed. If it were the old Chang Wensi, she would have made some snarky remarks. But she had come to understand that Qin Ai didn’t like her brother, and forcing it wouldn’t work.

Lu Letian clung to Chang Wensi’s arm timidly, as if only by her side could he feel safe.

Chang Wensi was quite pleased with the clingy Lu Letian. It aroused her protective instincts.

The four of them, each with their own thoughts, entered a private room. Zuo Bian and Qin Ai sat close together, chatting occasionally, while Lu Letian clung to Chang Wensi, giving Zuo Bian a strained smile whenever she was mentioned.

The waiter, seeing this strange scene, didn’t dare to speak, waiting patiently for them to order.

Zuo Bian glanced at the menu and said, “Let’s have one of everything. There are a lot of us today.”

This reminded Chang Wensi of their previous dining experience. Indeed, they needed to order more dishes.

Chapter 60

As Zuo Bian stepped out of the bathroom after her shower, she felt something soft and bouncy hit her face.

She reached out and grabbed it, hearing a familiar croaking sound.

“Little Frog, what’s wrong?” Zuo Bian held the little creature in her hand.

Little Frog wanted to speak, but the words wouldn’t come out.

“Ribbit, ribbit, my master seems to have appeared, ribbit. Xiao Bianbian, I need to protect you, ribbit!” It looked up at Zuo Bian, its tiny face flushed with worry.

Zuo Bian stroked Little Frog’s head with her finger. Seeing how adorable and innocent it was, she felt like she should be the one protecting it, not the other way around. But since Little Frog insisted on protecting her, she wouldn’t refuse.

“Okay, I believe you can protect me.”

Little Frog stretched out its tiny arms and poked Zuo Bian’s wrist. Zuo Bian felt a ticklish sensation, then a surge of powerful spiritual energy flowed into her body.

“This is the power I’ve secretly stored, ribbit. Keep it safe, Xiao Bianbian, and remember to use it when you’re in danger, ribbit.” Little Frog continued to transfer its energy to Zuo Bian.

555, currently inhabiting a giraffe plushie, stretched its long neck to watch, exclaiming in surprise, “Such immense power! I didn’t know you were hiding such strength, Little Frog!”

Zuo Bian absorbed the energy, feeling its gentleness and strength.

“Thank you, Little Frog. But are you sure it’s okay to give me so much power? Will you be alright?” Zuo Bian looked at Little Frog with concern.

Little Frog retracted its tiny arms and puffed out its nonexistent chest proudly. “I’m super strong, ribbit! This is just a tiny bit of power I’ve collected over a hundred years, ribbit.”

Zuo Bian stared at the adorable and innocent Little Frog, unable to imagine that it was so old.

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

The next morning, Zuo Bian woke up early.

She had decided to give Qin Ai the motorcycle today. After some thought, she asked her brother to help her rent a racetrack.

Zuo Bian changed into a racing suit, put on her helmet, and swung her long leg over the motorcycle.

She usually looked like an innocent and obedient girl, but on the black and red heavy motorcycle, she exuded an air of coolness.

The engine roared to life, the black tires screeching against the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Zuo Bian turned the handlebars, her gaze fixed ahead. In the next instant, the motorcycle sped off, leaving a blur in its wake.

The wind whipped against her helmet. Even with the helmet on, Zuo Bian could feel the wind’s embrace. She loved this feeling of freedom, it reminded her of her past life.

It wasn’t hard to understand why Qin Ai also loved motorcycles. Cars were fine, but motorcycles were more exhilarating. You could feel the wind against your skin, the thrill of speed.

Zuo Bian had already memorized the route to Qin Ai’s house. She stopped the motorcycle in front of the gate, the tires leaving a skid mark on the ground.

She took off her helmet, her long hair cascading down her back.

【Host, you look so cool!】555 cheered in her mind.

Little Frog also chimed in, [Xiao Bianbian is super cool, ribbit!]

Zuo Bian put down her helmet and strode towards the gate, a smile on her face, her eyes bright. In her well-fitting racing suit, she looked incredibly dashing.

The Qin family was having breakfast when Zuo Bian arrived. Qin Tian looked up and saw her.

His mouth full of porridge, his eyes widened in surprise. He quickly swallowed and exclaimed, “Older Sister Zuo Bian, you look so good today!”

Zuo Bian’s gaze fell on Qin Ai, who was sitting across from Qin Tian, drinking porridge. Qin Ai’s expression didn’t change upon seeing Zuo Bian. She continued to eat her porridge gracefully.

After greeting Qin’s mother and Qin Tian, Zuo Bian sat down next to Qin Ai. “Qin Ai, I’m here to pick you up.”

Only then did Qin Ai look up, her gaze meeting Zuo Bian’s.

“Where to?”

Zuo Bian smiled. “The racetrack.”

Qin Ai put down her spoon and raised an eyebrow. “So the gift you want to give me is a motorcycle?”

Zuo Bian’s eyes widened in surprise. “Qin Ai, how did you guess?”

“Because you know what I like.” Besides, Zuo Bian’s thoughts were easy to read. Qin Ai didn’t even need to think hard to guess what gift she would give her.

Even in her racing suit, Zuo Bian sat with impeccable posture.

Tian Yumeng and Qin Tian, sensing that they were third wheels, finished their breakfast quickly and excused themselves.

With them gone, only Zuo Bian and Qin Ai remained in the living room.

Zuo Bian finally asked the question that had been on her mind. “Qin Ai, why were you so cold towards me when I arrived?”

Qin Ai’s hand holding the spoon paused slightly. She leaned closer to Zuo Bian, her voice a soft whisper. “Didn’t we agree on three phone calls a day, morning, noon, and night, if you’re not busy? Did you forget?”

Zuo Bian leaned back, avoiding Qin Ai’s gaze. “Sorry, I accidentally forgot.”

They had made this agreement just a few days ago, but Zuo Bian had already forgotten about it.

Qin Ai wasn’t going to let her off so easily. She leaned even closer, her soft breasts pressing against Zuo Bian. She was wearing a white bathrobe, the collar slightly open, revealing a glimpse of her skin.

Zuo Bian didn’t know where to look, her face flushed as she kept backing away.

She backed away too quickly and fell onto the floor. Fortunately, the living room was carpeted, or she would have bruised herself.

Qin Ai sat in her chair, looking down at the dazed Zuo Bian with an amused smile. “How long are you going to stay on the floor?”

Seeing Qin Ai’s outstretched hand, Zuo Bian grabbed it and pulled herself up.

“Actually, the floor is quite comfortable,” she said, trying to cover up her embarrassment.

Qin Ai brushed a strand of hair from Zuo Bian’s face and whispered, “Mm, it is quite comfortable.”

Although she didn’t explicitly state what she meant, Zuo Bian understood. She picked up the bowl and spoon. “Have your porridge. After you finish eating, I’ll take you to the racetrack and fulfill our promise from last time.”

“Promise? The racing promise?”

“Mm-hmm.” Zuo Bian nodded.

“Are you sure you want to race me? I won’t go easy on you,” Qin Ai said with a smile.

Zuo Bian said, “I don’t need you to go easy on me. If you deliberately let me win, there’s no point in racing. Qin Ai, finish your breakfast quickly, and then we’ll go to the racetrack.”

“Porridge.” Qin Ai pointed at the bowl in Zuo Bian’s hand with her chin.

Zuo Bian realized that Qin Ai hadn’t been eating because she was holding her bowl. Just as she was about to put it back, Qin Ai said, “Feed me. My hand hurts from signing documents.” She looked at Zuo Bian, a playful smile on her lips.

Zuo Bian lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering. “Okay.”

She took the spoon and fed Qin Ai, one bite at a time. It was a simple act, but the atmosphere was charged with unspoken emotions.

Qin Tian peeked from behind a cabinet, covering his mouth to stifle his laughter.

Above Qin Tian’s head was another head.

It was Tian Yumeng. The two of them were Zuo Bian and Qin Ai’s biggest CP fans, and they were having a field day.

Qin Tian, watching their interaction, couldn’t hold back his laughter any longer. As soon as he laughed, he instinctively ducked behind the cabinet, his body hidden by a large blue and white porcelain vase.

The loud laughter made Zuo Bian and Qin Ai look in their direction. Qin Tian immediately dropped to the floor, leaving only Tian Yumeng standing behind the cabinet.

The cabinet couldn’t hide her completely. Tian Yumeng laughed awkwardly. “Mom wanted to get a glass of water.”

Then she actually went to pour herself a glass of water, while Qin Tian, the human rug, trembled, silently apologizing to his mother.

He had not only betrayed his sister, but also his mother.

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

Because of this little episode, Zuo Bian didn’t continue feeding Qin Ai.

After Qin Ai finished her porridge and said goodbye to Tian Yumeng, they left together.

Zuo Bian handed Qin Ai a helmet. “I’ll drive you there.”

“Okay.” Qin Ai took the helmet and put it on.

Zuo Bian got on the motorcycle and put on her own helmet, but she didn’t lower the visor. “Qin Ai, aren’t you worried about my driving skills? What if I’m a terrible driver?”

Qin Ai swung her long leg over the motorcycle and sat behind Zuo Bian, wrapping her arms around her waist and pressing her upper body against Zuo Bian’s back.

She whispered in Zuo Bian’s ear, “I trust your driving skills.”

Zuo Bian’s ears turned red. She started the engine. “Hold on tight, Qin Ai, I’m driving.”

Qin Ai tightened her grip, her chest pressing firmly against Zuo Bian’s back, leaving no space between them.

Zuo Bian told herself to focus on driving, but the soft sensation against her back kept distracting her.

Afraid of crashing, she didn’t drive as fast as she had before. Although they were on a motorcycle, their speed was comparable to an old man riding a bicycle.

The gentle breeze only ruffled Qin Ai’s clothes slightly.

Qin Ai said, “Is this your speed? I don’t think we need to race.”

Zuo Bian pursed her lips. “I think we should drive slowly since there are two people on the bike. It’s for safety.”

“Oh? Is that so?” Qin Ai’s voice held a playful lilt.

Just from her tone, Zuo Bian knew that Qin Ai had seen through her thoughts.

Zuo Bian took a deep breath and focused on driving, finally reaching a normal speed.

They arrived at the racetrack and took off their helmets.

A hint of nostalgia flickered in Qin Ai’s eyes as she looked at the racetrack. How many years had it been since she last came here?

She couldn’t remember. Everything seemed the same as before.

Chapter 59

The fervent emotion conveyed through the kiss sent shivers down Zuo Bian’s spine. She blinked, wanting to ask Qin Ai what was wrong, but Qin Ai didn’t give her the chance.

Seeing the photos had indeed ignited a fire in Qin Ai’s heart, but not one of anger.

By the time Qin Ai’s fire was extinguished, the sky outside had completely darkened.

“Did anything happen during the recording today?” Qin Ai asked softly, buttoning Zuo Bian’s shirt with downcast eyes.

Zuo Bian’s lips were swollen from the kiss, and her beautiful eyes glistened with moisture.

“Yes, I ran into Lu Letian. He said he likes someone, and I think it’s Miss Chang. Also, Lu Letian was acting strange, like…” Zuo Bian searched for the right words to describe Lu Letian’s behavior but couldn’t find any suitable adjectives.

【Like a scheming little bitch, just like those vicious female antagonists in novels who pretend to be weak and innocent.】How did 555 know this so well?

Because it had just received a notification. The rival package it had purchased was a discounted, out-of-season product that had expired yesterday. Coincidentally, its product code was the same as the upcoming “scheming bitch” package, resulting in a malfunction in the rival package today.

Instead of using 555’s description, Zuo Bian said, “He was acting very fragile, not like his usual self. He was speaking like a young girl.”

“Oh?” Qin Ai raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Tell me more.”

Zuo Bian recounted the events that had transpired between her, Lu Letian, and Chang Wensi. Qin Ai shook her head and chuckled after hearing her story.

“Let them be. Let’s go eat. What do you want for dinner tonight?”

Zuo Bian thought for a moment. “Noodles. I’m craving noodles today.”

“Mm.”

The saying “Those involved are blind, while bystanders see clearly” was very apt in this situation, especially for Chang Wensi and Lu Letian. Qin Ai had grown up with them, and although they always bickered, there was a different kind of energy between them.

Chang Wensi, the little chili pepper, was always picky, thinking no one was good enough for her. Lu Letian, despite his love for beautiful women, was probably still a virgin. They were just two clueless fools.

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

After dinner with Qin Ai, Zuo Bian was driven home. As the car stopped, she remembered the gift she had bought for Qin Ai but hadn’t given her yet.

“Qin Ai, are you free tomorrow? I have something for you.” She said while unbuckling her seatbelt.

Qin Ai, still holding the steering wheel, turned to look at Zuo Bian. “I’m free. But tomorrow isn’t a special day. Why do you suddenly want to give me a gift?”

Zuo Bian smiled. “It’s not a special day, but I saw something and thought you might like it, so I bought it.”

Qin Ai was stunned for a moment, then smiled. “Mm, okay. I’m looking forward to your gift.”

“Qin Ai.”

“Mm?”

Zuo Bian cupped Qin Ai’s face and kissed her lips. “This is your goodnight kiss.”

Qin Ai couldn’t help but smile.

“See you tomorrow!” Zuo Bian quickly opened the car door and got out.

Qin Ai watched as Zuo Bian entered the Zuo family home. It felt like she had a sweet candy dissolving in her mouth, leaving a lingering sweetness.

“Goodnight,” she murmured, then drove away.

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

That night, episodes three and four of “Ascending to Immortality” aired. The plot continued to be engaging and well-paced, attracting even more viewers. The discussion surrounding the drama continued to grow.

Zuo Bian’s character was very likable, gaining her countless fans. After falling for a celebrity, fans always wanted to know more about them, watching their interviews and looking at their photos repeatedly.

However, Zuo Bian was a very mysterious celebrity. Her only work so far was “Ascending to Immortality,” and the only photos of her were from the press conference.

The only variety show she had appeared on was “Happy Camp,” which hadn’t aired yet.

When the casting for “Ascending to Immortality” was first announced, people had already started digging into Zuo Bian’s background. Now that the drama was airing and she was gaining popularity, even more people were trying to find out more about her.

But no matter how hard they tried, Zuo Bian remained a mystery. They could only find out that she was a 21-year-old female, 167cm tall. They couldn’t even find out her weight.

Some people speculated that “Zuo Bian” was just a stage name, which was why they couldn’t find any information about her real identity. Who would name their child “Left Side(Zuo Bian)”?

However, the truth was, “Zuo Bian” was her real name, given to her by her mother, Du Yundong.

Du Yundong, still feeling unsatisfied after watching the drama, went online and saw people questioning Zuo Bian’s name.

“Sigh, I’m not very good at naming,” she said, shaking her head and sighing.

Zuo Yuan, sitting beside her, was holding the remote, replaying “Ascending to Immortality.” He was planning to watch it again before going to bed.

“Mom, then why did you name Xiao Bian that?” he asked.

Du Yundong put down her phone. “When Xiao Bian was born, the nurse placed her on my left side. I thought, your father’s surname is Zuo (Left), why not name her Zuo Bian (Left Side)?”

Zuo Yuan was so shocked by this simple fact that he almost dropped the remote. “What?”

He was so surprised that his accent even changed.

Du Yundong was a little embarrassed. She coughed. “A name is just a symbol.”

“Mom, then why am I called Zuo Yuan (Left Edge)?”

“Mom, Brother, I’m home.” At that moment, Zuo Bian arrived home and saw her mother and brother watching TV on the sofa.

Seeing Zuo Bian, Du Yundong immediately got up and greeted her. “Xiao Bian, you’re back! Did Xiao Qin drive you home again? Why didn’t you invite her in?”

“Xiao Bian, have you eaten dinner? Do you want Brother to make you some late-night snacks?” Zuo Yuan was even more motherly than their actual mother.

Zuo Bian shook her head. “I ate before coming back, I’m not hungry.”

“You must be tired after recording all day, Xiao Bian. Go get some rest.” Du Yundong patted Zuo Bian’s back.

Zuo Bian was indeed tired, but not from recording the show. It was from the car ride. She nodded and said to Du Yundong and Zuo Yuan, “Mom, Brother, you should also go to bed early.”

After Zuo Bian left, Zuo Yuan continued to ask, “Mom, how did you come up with my name? You haven’t told me yet.”

Du Yundong sat back down. “About that… I forgot.”

“Hmm???” Zuo Yuan felt like he wasn’t the product of his parents’ love, but a kidney stone.

A commercial played during the replay. Zuo Yuan wanted to skip it, but Du Yundong stopped him.

“Don’t skip it, let’s watch it,” she said.

Zuo Yuan understood why his mother didn’t want to skip the commercial.

It was a commercial starring their Xiao Bian! Zuo Bian, with a fresh peach makeup look, was holding a bottle of peach soda, frolicking in a peach-colored world.

“As expected of our Xiao Bian, she looks good no matter what.” Du Yundong praised Zuo Bian, grabbing the remote from Zuo Yuan and replaying the commercial.

Zuo Yuan also watched the commercial with interest. The two of them almost dissected the commercial frame by frame. Later, their father joined them.

Zuo Bian’s peach soda commercial immediately caught the attention of netizens. Some people who disliked her criticized her for exploiting her fans by endorsing anything just because she was gaining popularity.

They claimed that AB Beverage was a brand they had never heard of before, probably a shady company that was spending money on advertising to gain recognition.

However, someone did some digging and discovered that AB Beverage was actually a subsidiary of Qin Group, not some unknown shady brand.

There were already rumors about Zuo Bian being kept by a wealthy sponsor, and the rumors claimed that the sponsor was the CEO of Qin Group. “Ascending to Immortality” had investments from Qin Group, and now Zuo Bian was endorsing a product from their subsidiary. It was hard not to make the connection.

Qin Ai was not a public figure, and her information was well protected. People didn’t know that the CEO of Qin Group was a young and beautiful woman. They automatically imagined her as a fat, middle-aged man with a beer belly.

The entertainment industry was full of slander and fabricated stories. Zuo Bian’s first drama was a hit, and many people were jealous, wanting to bring her down. Internet trolls tried to spread rumors, but they discovered that their accounts were automatically banned whenever they posted anything negative about Zuo Bian.

The reason was simple: a mysterious financial force was manipulating everything behind the scenes.

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

At night, Zuo Bian’s AB Beverage commercial started playing on the busiest billboards in the city.

Zuo Bian’s image was excellent. Her face alone was enough to capture people’s attention, not to mention that the drama she was starring in, “Ascending to Immortality,” was on its way to becoming a huge hit.

“Peach soda? It looks pretty good.”

“Isn’t that Zuo Bian, the female lead of ‘Ascending to Immortality’? I haven’t watched tonight’s episodes yet. I wonder if Chen Xiang will be able to get the Miaofa Heart Sutra.”

*Miaofa* : (Buddhism) marvellous law of Buddha; profound Buddhist doctrine or power*

A man in a black hat walked through the crowd, glancing up at the giant billboard. His face was illuminated by the faint streetlights.

If Zuo Bian were here, she would definitely recognize him. He was the Demon Lord from her previous world, the man who had killed her.

It was unclear if he just looked exactly the same or if he was the same person.

The man took out a phone from his black trench coat and dialed a number labeled “Master.”

“Master, I’ve found the hundredth sacrifice.”

The person on the other end of the line sat in a dark room, her slender fingers tapping lightly on the wooden table, each tap echoing in the man’s heart.

“Don’t make any rash moves yet.”

“Yes, Master.” The man replied respectfully.

In Zuo Bian’s room, Little Frog, who had been watching TV with 555, suddenly rolled off the table, croaking in confusion. It seemed to sense something and trembled, its round body shaking.

Chapter 58

It was normal for Zuo Bian to feel a sense of déjà vu because a similar scene had played out between her, Qin Ai, and Chang Wenyan before.

In Chapter 6, Chang Wenyan was furious with Zuo Bian and Qin Ai. Now, the roles were reversed, and Zuo Bian was the one being targeted.

Lu Letian had become the “Zuo Bian” of this situation, and Chang Wensi had become the “Qin Ai.” However, Zuo Bian wasn’t Chang Wenyan. She was still confused and didn’t understand how things had turned out this way.

【Oh my god! I need to file a complaint! What kind of garbage package is this?! Shouldn’t Lu Letian be playing the rival role? Why is he suddenly acting like a green tea bitch?!】

Chang Wensi was still comforting the “fragile” Lu Letian.

She couldn’t stand Lu Letian’s usual nonchalant and arrogant demeanor. Now that he had transformed into a pitiful victim bullied by Zuo Bian, her protective instincts went into overdrive.

“Zuo Bian, how could you be so cruel? Can’t you see how scared Letian is of you?”

“I…”

Zuo Bian tried to speak but was interrupted by Chang Wensi.

“Don’t bother explaining, it will only bring back painful memories for Letian. I’m warning you, don’t bully Letian again. His fragile body can’t handle it.” Chang Wensi gently patted Lu Letian’s broad back, her eyes filled with tenderness.

Zuo Bian felt that there was no point in trying to explain herself, so she remained silent and spoke to 555 in her mind instead.

‘555, I now understand why novels and TV shows always say that women in love are unreasonable. Because they really are unreasonable.’

【I’m glad you understand.】555 had understood this truth long ago because its host was a prime example of unreasonableness.

Zuo Bian could see the cold and aloof Qin Ai as a gentle and considerate older sister, so it wasn’t hard to understand why Chang Wensi saw the “fragile” Lu Letian as a helpless little girl—not!

Was Chang Wensi blind? Lu Letian didn’t look fragile at all!

555 complained internally, almost turning into a full-fledged rant machine.

At this moment, Chang Wensi finally snapped out of her Mary Sue character. She patted Lu Letian’s shoulder and turned to Zuo Bian, her expression changing instantly.

“Ahem, let’s go. It’s time to record the show. We shouldn’t keep everyone waiting.”

“Mm.” Zuo Bian didn’t dare to speak, afraid of making things worse.

Just as Chang Wensi was about to leave, a large hand grabbed her sleeve. “Wensi, I’m scared.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll come back for you after the recording.”

“Mm-hmm, I’ll wait for you. Here’s a little heart for you.” Lu Letian made a heart shape with his thumb and index finger, although it didn’t look small at all.

Chang Wensi smiled and returned the gesture. She was clearly the type who responded to softness, not force. The tougher the other person acted, the tougher she became. The softer they were, the softer she became.

Zuo Bian watched their interaction, taking two steps back to distance herself. Why did she have goosebumps? She didn’t understand.

After the heart-making session, Zuo Bian and Chang Wensi went to the stage to record the show.

On the way there, Chang Wensi said, “Hey, Zuo Bian, don’t take what I said earlier seriously.”

“Mm.” Zuo Bian nodded. She thought Chang Wensi’s behavior earlier was like a scumbag coaxing a young girl. Of course, when coaxing someone, one should always agree with them and express unwavering support.

Then she heard Chang Wensi say, “Bully Lu Letian more in the future. I think he’s quite amusing when he’s acting all weak and helpless. At least he doesn’t argue with me anymore.”

“Uh, okay.” Zuo Bian didn’t even know how she had “bullied” Lu Letian to make him act that way.

After Zuo Bian and Chang Wensi left, Lu Letian immediately returned to his normal self.

He looked around in confusion, rubbing his face. Had he been possessed? Why did he speak in such a disgusting voice?

He rubbed his arms, feeling goosebumps all over.

Hopefully, no one else had seen him like that, except for Zuo Bian and Chang Wensi. If anyone else had seen him, his reputation as the Starlight Prince would be ruined.

Rubbing his arms, Lu Letian entered the “Happy Camp” recording studio. He had connections, so the crew had reserved a VIP seat for him.

He sat in the VIP seat, watching Zuo Bian and Chang Wensi introduce themselves on stage.

Zuo Bian was well-behaved, with a polite smile. Chang Wensi, on the other hand, was beaming, as if something wonderful had happened.

The CP fans of Zuo Bian and Chang Wensi were already numerous. Seeing Chang Wensi, who usually had a resting bitch face, smiling so brightly with Zuo Bian on the show was like a dream come true for them.

However, this wouldn’t be known until the show aired. Zuo Bian was still oblivious to it.

“Happy Camp” was a full-day recording, so Zuo Bian could only sneak in a few messages to Qin Ai during breaks.

Qin Ai always replied quickly, and she even said she missed Zuo Bian.

Zuo Bian wanted to see Qin Ai in person or have a video call, but it wasn’t convenient during the recording. So she could only send Qin Ai a few selfies.

They were still her signature “straight man” selfies. If it weren’t for her beautiful face, those selfies would have been disastrous.

Unlike “Happy Camp,” which took the entire day to record, Lin Qingqing’s music show only took half a day.

As a talented musician who had returned from studying abroad, Lin Qingqing was invited as a special guest on a popular music show. She was confident in her looks but didn’t care about becoming famous in the entertainment industry.

She only cared about Qin Ai. She didn’t care if other people liked her or not, as long as Qin Ai liked her.

Lin Qingqing printed out the photos from her phone and went to the Qin Group building to see Qin Ai.

As luck would have it, Qin Ai was in a meeting when Lin Qingqing arrived.

So Lin Qingqing had to wait in the reception room. She was still young and had only ever loved Qin Ai, so she didn’t understand one simple truth.

When it came to love, there was no such thing as first come, first served. If there were no sparks between her and the person she liked after all these years, then there was a high chance they would never fall in love.

Unfortunately, Lin Qingqing hadn’t realized this yet. She stubbornly believed that as long as Qin Ai stopped liking Zuo Bian, she would definitely fall for her.

However, reality proved that most of the time, childhood sweethearts couldn’t win against newcomers. It was the same for Chang Wenyan and Chang Wensi. They were destined to be the losers in love.

Qin Ai could reply to Zuo Bian’s messages during a meeting, but she wouldn’t react in any way to Lin Qingqing’s arrival.

After leaving the meeting room, Qin Ai assigned tasks to her subordinates before finally meeting with Lin Qingqing.

Lin Qingqing smiled the moment she saw Qin Ai. “Qin Jiejie.”

“Mm.” Qin Ai nodded, her expression indifferent.

When facing someone who clearly had feelings for her, Qin Ai always kept her distance. It was the same before she had someone she liked, and now that she did, she was even more careful around Lin Qingqing.

Having grown up with Lin Qingqing, she knew that she wasn’t a bad person, just a bit stubborn. So she wouldn’t give her any false hope.

Seeing Qin Ai’s cold expression, Lin Qingqing’s smile faltered.

But she quickly regained her composure and took out the photos she had just printed, placing them on Qin Ai’s desk.

“Qin Jiejie, I accidentally took these photos. Take a look.” Lin Qingqing nervously rubbed her fingers, avoiding eye contact with Qin Ai.

Qin Ai picked up the photos, her eyes downcast, her expression unreadable.

Lin Qingqing continued, “Qin Jiejie, I think Zuo Bian isn’t as simple as you think. She’s still flirting with Lu Letian even though she has you.”

The angles of the photos were indeed tricky. It looked like Zuo Bian was being half-embraced by Lu Letian, their posture intimate.

However, Qin Ai knew Zuo Bian and Lu Letian well. Lu Letian wasn’t the type to get close to someone who wasn’t interested in him. But seeing these photos still ignited a spark of anger in her heart.

She tossed the photos back onto the desk, her fingers interlaced. Although she was sitting, she looked down at Lin Qingqing with an air of superiority.

“Qingqing, I believe you understand my stance. I hope you won’t waste any more time on this.”

Qin Ai’s words made Lin Qingqing’s face pale, shattering her remaining illusions.

However, she wasn’t ready to give up so easily. She asked with a pale face, “Qin Jiejie, what do you like about Zuo Bian? Is there something I lack compared to her? We grew up together, our bond is deep. You play the piano, I sing, but Zuo Bian can’t even hum a simple tune. She doesn’t understand your world. Only I know your past and your temperament.”

Qin Ai looked at Lin Qingqing, who was deceiving herself despite knowing the truth. She said only one sentence, shattering Lin Qingqing’s last defense.

“But I prefer ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.’ Your voice might be beautiful, but it doesn’t move my heart.”

At that moment, Lin Qingqing finally understood. It wasn’t that Qin Ai liked Zuo Bian because she was better than her. It was because Qin Ai liked Zuo Bian, that everything about Zuo Bian became better than her.

“Qin Jiejie, I understand.” Tears welled up in Lin Qingqing’s eyes. Unable to face Qin Ai any longer, she covered her face and ran away, as if fleeing in panic.

Qin Ai picked up the photos and fed them into the shredder.

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

In the evening, Qin Ai arrived at the “Happy Camp” recording studio to pick up Zuo Bian.

As soon as the recording ended, Zuo Bian received a text message from Qin Ai, telling her that she was coming to pick her up. Her smile widened.

“Wensi, I’m leaving. Bye.” Zuo Bian hurriedly said goodbye to Chang Wensi and left.

Lu Letian, who had been driven backstage by the mysterious force, lost his “fragile” demeanor as soon as Zuo Bian left.

Zuo Bian saw Qin Ai’s white car and got in. Before she could even speak, she was captured in a kiss.

Chapter 57

“AB” reminded Zuo Bian of the beverage factory Qin Ai had bought for her and the fan club Qin Ai had mentioned. Could AB be Qin Ai? Zuo Bian couldn’t help but wonder.

Tao Zi, on the other hand, would never guess that AB was the CEO of Qin Group, who had already gotten intimate with her idol.

Zuo Bian’s appearance convinced Tao Zi that Zuo Yuan was indeed her brother and that her idol wasn’t being kept by a sugar daddy. Did Zuo Bian need a rich sponsor? She was the rich sponsor!

Actually, from the very beginning, Tao Zi had a feeling that Zuo Bian wasn’t the type of person who would sell herself for money and status. Why? It was simple, you could tell from a person’s eyes and aura.

Zuo Bian had the purest aura among all the celebrities Tao Zi had encountered in her years of fangirling. Just one smile from Zuo Bian was enough to make her see all the beauty in the world. That was why Tao Zi became her fan.

Zuo Bian didn’t chat with her future sister-in-law for too long. She returned the phone to Zuo Yuan and went back to her room to rest.

Early the next morning, Zuo Bian woke up, got dressed, and headed to the recording studio. She reviewed the script “Happy Camp” had given her while in the car.

【Host, I sense a plot fluctuation.】

‘Do you know what kind of plot it is?’ Zuo Bian asked.

【It’s unrelated to Qin Ai.】

‘Oh.’ Zuo Bian didn’t ask anything else.

555, waiting for her to ask further questions: ???

【Host, why aren’t you asking anymore?】

Zuo Bian flipped to the last page of the script and replied slowly, “I don’t think it’s necessary.”

[555’s authority is too low, ribbit. Even if you ask, it won’t be able to tell you anything, ribbit. I know what the plot is about, ribbit.]

‘Wow, Little Frog is so amazing.’

Little Frog, nestled in Zuo Bian’s bag, sipping milk, said proudly, [I’m super amazing, ribbit! Much better than 555, ribbit! I foresee that the plot involves Lu Letian and Lin Qingqing, ribbit.]

555: …

‘Lin Qingqing?’

Zuo Bian had almost forgotten about her. Lin Qingqing hadn’t appeared for a while now. But knowing her personality, she wasn’t the type to give up easily, so it wasn’t surprising that Little Frog said the upcoming plot involved her.

【Hmph, Lin Qingqing is just a small fry, nothing to worry about.】

How could a mere supporting character compare to the rival it had bought for 10 points? Although the rival hadn’t had many interactions with Qin Ai yet, 555 believed its points were well spent.

At this moment, 555 was feeling confident, completely forgetting that its ability to predict the plot was worse than Little Frog’s.

‘I’m not afraid of Lin Qingqing because Qin Ai doesn’t like her.’ Zuo Bian rested her chin on her hand, gazing out the window with a smile.

Zuo Bian wasn’t oblivious when it came to matters of the heart. Qin Ai’s feelings were so obvious, how could she not understand?

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

Zuo Bian arrived at the recording studio early. She was halfway through her makeup when Chang Wensi arrived.

Chang Wensi was also one of the main actors, so it was normal for her to be there. What confused Zuo Bian was that Xu Ruisheng, the male lead, wasn’t there.

“You’re early.” Chang Wensi said as she sat down at the vanity table next to Zuo Bian. Makeup artists and hairstylists immediately swarmed her, curling her hair and applying makeup.

“Good morning.” Zuo Bian greeted Chang Wensi.

‘555, isn’t Xu Ruisheng the male lead? Why isn’t he here?’

【Oh, about that, you should ask your lovely wife and your brother.】

[Wife, ribbit?]

Zuo Bian understood, her ears turning slightly pink. ‘555, your voice sounds particularly pleasant today. But what did Qin Ai and Brother do to Xu Ruisheng?’

【Xu Ruisheng tried to use you for publicity, and Qin Ai and Zuo Yuan found out. Those two big shots, one after another, canceled all his upcoming activities and roles. He’s probably back in his hometown selling youtiao (fried dough sticks) now.】

Not that there was anything wrong with selling youtiao, but for someone like Xu Ruisheng, who was used to being a celebrity and spending money lavishly, selling youtiao for a living was hell.

‘Oh, then I’m relieved. I thought Qin Ai and Brother would break one of his fingers. It’s illegal to hurt people.’

555: …

【Read fewer novels, this is a society ruled by law.】

555 seemed to have forgotten who had introduced Zuo Bian to those nonsensical novels. It was 555 who had insisted that she read “The Mafia Boss’s Fierce Love.”

In “The Mafia Boss’s Fierce Love,” there was a scene where a cannon fodder character offended the female lead, and the domineering male lead, the mafia prince, broke one of his fingers as a warning, telling him never to appear in front of the female lead again.

It wasn’t Zuo Bian’s fault for associating Xu Ruisheng’s disappearance with the plot of “The Mafia Boss’s Fierce Love,” considering she hadn’t seen him since the press conference.

As Zuo Bian chatted with 555, her makeup was finished. She was the first to arrive and the first to be ready.

Finding the makeup room a bit stuffy, and with some time before the recording started, Zuo Bian went out for some fresh air.

As soon as she stepped out, she bumped into Lu Letian. She was stunned for a moment, then smiled and asked, “Mr. Lu, are you looking for Wensi? She’s still in the makeup room. You can go straight in.”

Lu Letian, the tool person, was momentarily confused. He thought Zuo Bian was right, he did want to see Chang Wensi more. But the words that came out of his mouth took a 180-degree turn.

“Miss Zuo Bian, I have something important to tell you.” He pointed in a direction. “It’s not convenient to talk here, let’s go over there.”

Zuo Bian nodded seriously. “Mm, I understand.”

【Hmm? What do you understand, Host?】

‘I understand that Lu Letian wants to fall in love. Spring has sprung, everything is coming back to life, it’s mating season. It’s only natural, I get it.’

555 didn’t know whether to comment on Zuo Bian’s misuse of idioms or her misunderstanding of the situation. Clearly, she didn’t realize that Lu Letian was pursuing her.

“Zuo Bian, there’s someone I’ve always liked. The moment I saw her, I knew she was the one for me.” Lu Letian gazed at Zuo Bian, his eyes seemingly filled with deep affection.

But deep down, there was a hint of confusion. Why was he saying these things?

Zuo Bian nodded as she listened, thinking that the person Lu Letian was talking about must be Chang Wensi. Although she couldn’t be 555’s matchmaker, maybe she could be a matchmaker for Lu Letian and Chang Wensi.

‘555, what do you think I should give Lu Letian and Chang Wensi as a wedding gift when they get married?’

“If you like her, then go for it. How will she know if you don’t tell her? So go confess!” Zuo Bian encouraged Lu Letian.

Lu Letian hesitated, the words he wanted to say stuck in his throat. An invisible force was urging him to get closer to Zuo Bian and confess his love.

“Actually, the person I like is y—ah—” An invisible force pushed him towards Zuo Bian, making him “throw himself into her arms.”

Seeing Lu Letian lunge at her, Zuo Bian instinctively sidestepped.

Lu Letian stumbled and fell face-first onto the ground, becoming a human rug.

“Men and women shouldn’t touch casually.” Zuo Bian extended a hand to help him up.

Lu Letian looked at her with feigned resentment. “How can you be so heartless~”

“Mr. Lu, you seem a bit strange.”

‘555, don’t you think Lu Letian is acting like a different person?’

【Hahaha, does he?】555 laughed awkwardly.

Little Frog, however, easily saw through the situation. [555, there’s a problem with the package you ordered, ribbit. I told you that cheap things aren’t good, ribbit.]

If 555 had a face, it would be bright red with embarrassment. It was so humiliating to lose face in front of the person it liked. If it weren’t for the need to buy a house, it wouldn’t have been so stingy and bought the 10-point rival package for Zuo Bian.

“What do you mean strange? Don’t you understand my heart?” Lu Letian said coquettishly, trying to touch Zuo Bian’s arm, but she dodged again.

From the moment Zuo Bian and Lu Letian arrived at this secluded corner, a pair of eyes had been watching them.

Lin Qingqing was also participating in the show, but she was on a music program next door. She had unexpectedly stumbled upon Zuo Bian and Lu Letian’s interaction.

Thinking about Qin Ai’s special treatment of Zuo Bian and her coldness towards herself, Lin Qingqing took out her phone and snapped a few photos. She seemed to have a talent for being a paparazzi. While others took normal photos, hers always had a twist.

Zuo Bian, who had been keeping her distance from Lu Letian, was made to look like they were intimate.

Satisfied with the photos, Lin Qingqing quietly left.

Meanwhile, Lu Letian was still acting cute. A tall and muscular man acting cute was a truly painful sight.

Zuo Bian didn’t discriminate against men with “feminine” personalities, but she was genuinely worried for Lu Letian. “Mr. Lu, Wensi probably won’t like it if you lack masculinity.”

“Don’t you like me this way?” Lu Letian started crying, tears welling up in his eyes.

This made Zuo Bian panic. She couldn’t stand seeing people cry, especially when Lu Letian cried so beautifully.

Ignoring his tall and muscular build, his face was indeed quite handsome and pitiful.

“Don’t cry, you’re a good person. I’m sure there are people in the world who like your type. I believe you’ll find happiness.”

“Zuo Bian, the show is about to start, what are you doing here?” Chang Wensi walked towards them in her high heels and saw Lu Letian in tears.

Chang Wensi: “??? Zuo Bian, did you make Lu Letian cry?”

“Sob, sob, sob~” Lu Letian sobbed, his shoulders shaking.

Chang Wensi immediately stepped in front of him, shielding him from Zuo Bian. “Don’t be afraid, I’m here, I won’t let her hurt you.”

“Mm-hmm.” Lu Letian hid behind Chang Wensi like a timid wife, although his tall frame made it impossible for her to fully cover him.

Then Chang Wensi turned to Zuo Bian. “Zuo Bian, I know you’ve been practicing martial arts since you were young, and you’re very skilled, but you can’t bully the weak!”

Lu Letian lowered his head and said in a soft voice, “Wensi, don’t be so harsh on Miss Zuo. It’s all my fault, it has nothing to do with her.”

Zuo Bian felt a sense of déjà vu.

***

*Here the Author’s Note:*

○ Remember Chapter 6? Karma is a boomerang?

Chapter 56

‘But before that, I need to learn more. I’ve been exposed to so many new things since coming to this world, but I also feel like I know so little. I want to become more capable.’

No one’s success was granted. Qin Ai might have been born into privilege, but she had gone through a lot to become the person she was today.

Zuo Bian was aware of her own blessings: a loving and supportive family who would always be there for her. She didn’t have to worry about her livelihood, she could live a happy and carefree life even if she did nothing.

She was already standing at the finish line of many people’s life journeys, but should she really be content with the status quo?

Zuo Bian wasn’t the type to live a life of complacency. Having been given a second chance at life, she didn’t want to waste it.

The drama continued playing. Qin Tian finished half a bowl of rice without even taking a bite of his side dishes, his eyes glued to the TV screen.

He put down his chopsticks and ran to the sofa, completely engrossed in the show.

“Older Sister Zuo Bian, I think you look even more beautiful in real life than on TV.” Qin Tian said without taking his eyes off the screen.

Zuo Bian sat down beside him and watched the drama with him. Soon, the episode ended, and it was time for commercials.

Only then did Qin Tian finally tear his gaze away from the TV. He blinked his big eyes and asked, “Older Sister Zuo Bian, can you give me some spoilers?”

Zuo Bian felt that it was more fun to uncover the suspense along with the plot, so she refused.

“No spoilers. You’ll find out if you keep watching,” she said.

Qin Tian looked at her with pleading eyes. “Older Sister Zuo Bian, you’re so nice, just give me a little spoiler.”

“I won’t tell you.” Zuo Bian was firm.

“Older Sister Zuo Bian, don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. My lips are sealed.” He even held up three fingers.

Zuo Bian’s expression became even more troubled.

555 voiced Zuo Bian’s unspoken thoughts. 【Does Qin Tian look like someone who can keep a secret? He’s clearly a blabbermouth. He’s already revealed all of Qin Ai’s secrets.】

Just as Zuo Bian was wondering how to respond, Qin Ai spoke up. “The commercials are over, aren’t you going to keep watching?”

“Oh, okay!” Qin Tian immediately sat up straight and faced the TV.

The opening theme song played again. Having already watched one episode, he now recognized many of the characters. Every time a character or a scene appeared, he would grab Zuo Bian and ask her a bunch of questions, turning into a walking question mark.

Before Zuo Bian could even finish answering one question, Qin Tian would ask another.

Qin Ai, who was also planning to watch “Ascending to Immortality,” massaged her temples. “If you keep talking, you won’t be allowed to watch anymore.”

Qin Tian immediately shut up, as if he had been muted.

Without Qin Tian’s incessant chatter, the atmosphere was much more peaceful.

The two episodes of “Ascending to Immortality” that aired tonight had already established the world and introduced the main characters. There was suspense, humor, and heartwarming moments, keeping the viewers engaged throughout.

As soon as the episodes ended, people started discussing the plot online, then they discovered the original novel. But even knowing the story, they still wanted to watch the drama.

The shipping also started immediately, with the most popular pairing being the female lead and the second female lead.

The male lead, due to his limited screen time, was completely forgotten. Actually, his character in “Ascending to Immortality” was quite likable.

He was a cold and aloof male god who always appeared when the female lead needed help, pretending to be indifferent despite his deep feelings for her. With good looks and decent acting skills, even a glimpse of his character’s charm could have made him popular.

But unfortunately, Xu Ruisheng had sabotaged himself with his antics, reducing his already limited screen time to a third of what it was supposed to be. Plus, his acting skills were average, and he always put on airs, making him seem fake. The audience had grown tired of him.

The female lead was cheerful, righteous, and especially cool when she was protecting others. Even in simple white clothes, Zuo Bian exuded a unique aura. Her upright posture and determined gaze made her convincing as Chen Xiang, the character who thrived in the world of cultivation.

Chang Wensi, playing the second female lead, Bai Zhi, was rebellious and looked down on the self-righteous hypocrites who always talked about justice. She had personally witnessed cultivators from the supposedly righteous Xianyu Sect killing mortals to refine pills. She was almost discovered and had to roll down a cliff, injuring herself in the process.

Because of her injuries, Bai Zhi struggled in her cultivation and eventually turned to the dark side in the later part of the novel.

Two childhood friends, one righteous, one evil. Their bond was unbreakable, but their beliefs and stances put them on opposite sides.

Chen Xiang, who had once vowed to protect her friend, was forced to fight against her, as if it was a battle to the death.

This pairing was incredibly popular. Even before the drama was filmed, there were already fan-made stories about them, and now, even more people had joined the fandom. Some even quickly edited together videos of their scenes from the first two episodes.

As the discussion surrounding “Ascending to Immortality” grew, trending on Weibo several times, the “Happy Camp” show posted a Weibo post tagging the main actors.

The next episode of “Happy Camp” would be themed around “Ascending to Immortality.” This variety show mainly invited celebrities to participate in games and interviews, promoting their new dramas or albums.

The recording was scheduled for tomorrow, and the script had been sent to Zuo Bian yesterday. The script outlined the flow of the show and some pre-planned jokes. Zuo Bian’s role was to deliver these jokes and create some comedic effects.

As soon as “Happy Camp’s” Weibo post went up, it received thousands of comments. Most were expressing their anticipation, with only a few negative comments attacking Zuo Bian.

The attacks were mainly about her background and the unfounded rumors about her chaotic private life.

Most people loved the drama, and those haters were quickly drowned out.

【I think “Ascending to Immortality” is really good. Most drama adaptations of novels in recent years have been terrible. They have a good plot, but they insist on deleting everything and writing their own nonsense! Zuo Bian is amazing! This is her first drama, and she’s already so good. She has a bright future. I’m looking forward to the next episode of “Happy Camp.”】

【I kind of want to see Zuo Bian in modern clothes. I checked her Weibo, and she’s so low-key. She doesn’t even have a single post, and her profile picture is still a still from “Ascending to Immortality.” I wanted to find some pictures to drool over.】

Zuo Bian’s fan club also appeared. 【Don’t miss out! You won’t regret being our Xiao Zuo’s fan! She’s beautiful, has a sweet voice, a slender waist, long legs, and great acting skills! [Picture][Picture]】

As Zuo Bian’s biggest fan, Tao Zi was promoting her everywhere, constantly reposting Weibo posts and asking people to like and comment. As she was reposting, she accidentally sent a message to her boyfriend’s phone.

Tao Zi didn’t notice her mistake. She was still buzzing from the two episodes of “Ascending to Immortality” that had just aired. She hadn’t chosen the wrong idol! She had seen Zuo Bian’s potential from the moment she saw her. This girl would definitely go far.

Zuo Yuan, who had just finished watching “Ascending to Immortality” with his parents, suddenly felt his phone vibrate. He took it out and his eyes widened.

Huh? His girlfriend was a fan of his sister?

Zuo Yuan suddenly saw hope for marriage. He quickly sent Tao Zi a message: Taotao, I’m Zuo Bian’s brother.

He waited for Tao Zi’s reply with a smile, thinking that he could finally give Xiao Bian a sister-in-law. But the reply he received was—

Taotao: ???? Why don’t you just say you’re the CEO of Zuo Group?

Zuo Yuan: Well, I actually am…

Tao Zi knew her boyfriend was rich, but she never knew he was that rich.

Zuo Bian was still unaware of this little episode with her brother. After watching the drama at Qin Ai’s house, she was driven home by Qin Ai.

She hadn’t been home last night. Although she had informed her parents, she still wanted to go home and let them see her in person, so they wouldn’t worry.

Zuo Bian wasn’t a spoiled child. She was happy to have a family. And her family was so good to her, how could she bear to worry them?

Qin Ai stayed for a while after dropping Zuo Bian off at her house.

As soon as Qin Ai left, Du Yundong pulled Zuo Bian aside.

This time, she wasn’t asking about the details of Zuo Bian’s relationship with Qin Ai. Just like Qin Tian, she wanted spoilers.

Giving spoilers was impossible, so Zuo Bian suggested that she read the original novel.

Du Yundong reluctantly let go of her daughter. As soon as Zuo Bian was free, her brother pounced on her.

Zuo Yuan looked at her like she was his savior. “Xiao Bian! Help me prove my identity!”

Zuo Bian, confused, was dragged away by Zuo Yuan. He explained the situation, gesticulating wildly.

Hearing that she might have a sister-in-law soon, Zuo Bian was happy for Zuo Yuan.

“Okay, I’ll send her a voice message. She’ll believe you then.”

“Mm-hmm, Xiao Bian, you’re the best.” Zuo Yuan handed his phone to Zuo Bian.

Zuo Bian recorded a voice message, calling Tao Zi “sister-in-law” and greeting her.

It took a while for Tao Zi to reply.

Taotao: Zuo Yuan, where did you get this audio? It sounds like Xiao Zuo’s voice.

Zuo Yuan said, “I think we need to have a video call to prove it. Otherwise, she won’t believe that Xiao Bian is really my sister.”

“Okay.” Zuo Bian nodded obediently.

Zuo Yuan sent a video call invitation. Zuo Bian smiled and greeted Tao Zi on the screen. “Hello, sister-in-law.”

“!!! Am I dreaming?! Is that really you, Zuo Bian?! I love you, Sister!!!”

Zuo Yuan’s face appeared in the corner of the screen. “Taotao, do you believe me now?”

Tao Zi’s face was flushed with excitement. A fangirl having a video call with her idol! And she might even become her idol’s sister-in-law! Tao Zi felt like she was on top of the world.

“Zuo Yuan, move aside, don’t block my view of our Xiao Zuo! Xiao Zuo, your performance in ‘Ascending to Immortality’ is amazing! Keep up the good work! Your fan club and I will always support you! Oh, I have to share this good news with the rich fan leader, AB. She’ll be so jealous!”

“AB?” Zuo Bian was confused.

Chapter 55

Qin Ai was adorable as a child, at least in terms of appearance. In reality, she was the leader of the pack, always the center of attention.

Even though her mother always dressed her in pretty princess dresses and adorned her hair with delicate clips, a single glance from Qin Ai was enough to make other children tremble.

From Tian Yumeng, Zuo Bian learned that Qin Ai, Chang Wensi, Chang Wenyan, Lu Letian, and Lin Qingqing had all grown up together.

Chang Wenyan and Lin Qingqing were Qin Ai’s followers. Zuo Bian couldn’t believe that Chang Wenyan used to be a crybaby who would burst into tears if someone raised their voice at him, and that the now calm and collected Qin Ai was a little hell-raiser.

【Host, why are you so surprised? Qin Ai is a demon king now, it’s normal for her to have been a little demon king as a child!】

[Demon king, ribbit? Are there demons in this world too, ribbit?]

【Demon king is just a figure of speech. It describes someone who’s domineering, unreasonable, and fierce, making people afraid. It doesn’t mean she’s literally a demon.】555 patiently explained to Little Frog.

[Ribbit, I see, ribbit.]

‘Qin Ai was so cute as a child.’

【Hopeless. This host is completely smitten.】555 gave up.

Zuo Bian finished looking through the photo album with Qin Tian and Tian Yumeng. She also saw photos of Qin Ai’s father and grandfather.

Tian Yumeng didn’t hide anything from Zuo Bian, telling her that Qin Ai’s father and grandfather had died in a car accident, and that Qin Group had faced difficult times afterwards. It was Qin Ai who had single-handedly carried the burden and revived the company.

There was no need to hide these things. Anyone who was interested could easily find out with a little digging. They could even piece together the story from news articles from back then.

Zuo Bian had heard about the Qin family’s situation from her own mother before, but hearing it again from Qin Ai’s mother made her feel even more sorry for Qin Ai.

“I miss her a little,” Zuo Bian said, looking at a photo of Qin Ai.

Tian Yumeng smiled. “If you miss her, just give her a call. Maybe she’s waiting for you to contact her.”

“Mm.” Zuo Bian took out her phone and sent Qin Ai a message first, asking if it was convenient for her to talk.

Qin Ai replied quickly, saying she was free.

Zuo Bian thought for a moment and initiated a video call.

After the call connected, she saw Qin Ai’s face. Judging from the background, Qin Ai was in her lounge.

“Qin Ai, are you taking a break?”

Qin Ai nodded. “Mm, just a short break.”

“I’m at your house now, and I just…” Zuo Bian wanted to say that she had just looked at Qin Ai’s childhood photos, but she realized that would reveal her true intentions, so she swallowed her words.

“Sister, Sister! I’m here!” Qin Tian squeezed into the frame, excitedly greeting Qin Ai.

Zuo Bian turned the camera towards Tian Yumeng.

Tian Yumeng greeted Qin Ai through the phone. “Xiao Ai, when are you going to take a break?”

Qin Ai said, “Mom, next week.”

Seeing that Tian Yumeng wanted to say something more, she added, “I’ll take a half-month break.”

Tian Yumeng’s frown finally eased. “Mm.”

After Qin Ai finished talking to her mother, she turned her attention back to Zuo Bian. They chatted for a while, then the intercom in the lounge rang.

“It seems like I have some things to take care of.”

“Go ahead, Qin Ai. We can talk later tonight.”

“Mm.” Then Qin Ai hung up the phone.

Zuo Bian stared at the phone screen, her smile lingering.

“Older Sister Zuo Bian, let’s play games! I have a collection of Sister’s old games. They’re quite difficult, I’ve never been able to beat her records.” Qin Tian’s brows furrowed as he spoke.

The words “Sister’s old games” struck a chord in Zuo Bian’s heart. She liked playing games, but she wasn’t addicted. She only played when she had free time. But if these were games Qin Ai used to play, she couldn’t wait to try them.

Qin Tian led Zuo Bian to the game room. It used to be Qin Ai’s game room, but she hadn’t entered it since her father and grandfather passed away.

In high school, Qin Ai seemed to like rock music, but in reality, she loved playing the piano and even considered studying music in college. But life was full of unexpected turns. The loss of her father and grandfather forced her to grow up quickly and abandon her passions, becoming the person she was today.

Although Qin Ai no longer used this room, many of her things were still here.

Posters of pianists on the walls, CDs on the shelves, and a few sets of old comics and games.

In a box in the corner were the game controllers and consoles Qin Ai used to use. They still worked.

Qin Tian took out a few games. “These are the ones. I’ve never been able to beat Sister’s records. Older Sister Zuo Bian, you’re so good at games, you’ll definitely be able to beat them!”

“Let me see the rules first.”

“Mm-hmm.” Qin Tian loaded the game into the console and handed Zuo Bian a controller.

Of course, it was a new controller, not the one Qin Ai used to use.

Although Qin Ai’s old controller still worked, it was outdated.

Zuo Bian studied the gameplay and quickly got the hang of it.

Because she was just starting, she hadn’t mastered the tricks yet and didn’t beat Qin Ai’s record on her first try. But after gaining some experience, she caught up to Qin Ai’s record on her second try. Qin Tian, watching from the side, clenched his fists excitedly. “Older Sister Zuo Bian, you’re so amazing! No matter how many times I tried, I could only reach level 28.”

Zuo Bian had already reached level 99. After level 99, it was considered a complete victory.

She pursed her lips, her focus entirely on the game.

The character she was controlling passed the final obstacle and jumped into the exit. A celebratory fanfare played, and fireworks exploded on the screen.

“Wow! You cleared the game! Older Sister Zuo Bian, try this one next!” Playing the games Qin Ai used to play, Zuo Bian imagined a young Qin Ai sitting here, engrossed in the game.

She spent the entire day playing with Qin Tian. He wanted to learn some gaming skills from her, but his hand speed couldn’t keep up, and his overall strategy and intuition were inferior to Zuo Bian’s.

So Qin Tian was still a noob, carried by Zuo Bian, the gaming goddess.

As the sky darkened, Zuo Bian called Qin Ai. Qin Ai said she would be home for dinner soon, and Zuo Bian said she would wait for her.

After hanging up the phone, Zuo Bian smiled, as if remembering something.

【Host, why are you smiling?】

‘I just suddenly felt like our conversation was something a married couple would have after many years together.’

【You’re not even married yet! But I guess it won’t be long. Sigh, I still don’t know when I can propose. I need to save at least ten thousand points for the betrothal gifts, or who would marry me?】

[555 is under so much pressure, ribbit.]

‘Actually, I have a question. Do you systems have genders?’

【Not really.】

‘Then how can you be sure that you’re not the one getting married?’ Zuo Bian asked sincerely.

555 paused for a moment. 【Although I don’t have a gender, I firmly believe that I’m the “gong” (the dominant one in a relationship).】

‘Are you?’

【Yes!】555’s reaction was as if someone had stepped on its tail.

Zuo Bian sensed 555’s agitation and quickly comforted it. ‘Okay, okay, 555 is the most “gong.” ‘

[But I think 555 is more “shou” (the submissive one), ribbit.] Little Frog had learned about “gong” and “shou” from its time hanging out with 555.

【I don’t want to hear you talk! Aaaaaargh!】

Zuo Bian comforted 555 while waiting for Qin Ai to return.

She also called her mother, saying that she was at Qin Ai’s house and wouldn’t be home for dinner.

When Qin Ai arrived home, dinner was ready. The four of them sat at the table and enjoyed a meal together.

Halfway through the meal, Qin Tian’s alarm clock suddenly rang. His eyes lit up, and he immediately put down his chopsticks and ran to the TV.

“The drama Older Sister Zuo Bian is starring in is airing tonight! I’m so excited! Older Sister Zuo Bian is so beautiful, she must look even more beautiful on TV!” Qin Tian praised Zuo Bian as he switched to the channel airing “Ascending to Immortality.”

The alarm was perfectly timed. Just as Qin Tian switched to the channel, the opening theme song of “Ascending to Immortality” started playing.

The theme song was composed by the renowned musician Zhou Zhou and sung by a top singer. The opening theme alone showcased the crew’s dedication and raised expectations for the drama.

After all, it was a drama starring the Zuo family’s precious daughter. Even if it was just a hobby project, they wouldn’t spare any expense. Everything had to be top-notch!

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

Meanwhile, the Zuo family was also watching TV. Zuo Bian’s parents and brother were all looking forward to the drama. Did it matter if the drama was good or not? They were there to see Xiao Bian.

“Ascending to Immortality” had been highly anticipated since its production began. The scandals involving the female lead and the second female lead had further fueled the hype, and even more people were watching the premiere tonight.

Many were just curious, while others were fans of Zuo Bian’s beauty, believing that her looks alone were enough to keep them entertained.

But to their surprise, the plot was actually quite good, drawing them in unconsciously.

Qin Tian held his bowl, the rice inside already cold, his eyes glued to the TV screen.

Qin Ai flicked his forehead with her finger. “Are you going to skip dinner just to watch TV?”

Qin Tian snapped out of his trance and mumbled a response, continuing to eat while watching TV.

Zuo Bian ate quickly tonight. After finishing her meal, she focused on the drama.

It felt strange watching herself on TV. She couldn’t describe the feeling. Seeing Qin Tian so engrossed, completely immersed in the world of “Ascending to Immortality,” Zuo Bian felt a sense of accomplishment.

“555, I think I might continue acting in the future. Creating a character, building a world, it feels amazing. I really like this feeling.”

【If you like it, then go for it.】

Chapter 54

Zuo Bian gulped down the red wine like it was beer. She drank too quickly, and some of it splashed onto her chest, a few crimson droplets tracing a path down her curves, disappearing into the depths.

“Cough, cough, cough…” Zuo Bian clutched her glass, her face flushed red from coughing.

Qin Ai patted her back gently. “Drink slowly.”

“Mm-hmm, cough.” Zuo Bian’s throat still felt a little itchy.

It took her a while to calm down. She placed the glass back on the table.

Qin Ai refilled her own glass, raising it with a slight smirk. Her narrow eyes glinted. “Let me teach you how to drink properly.”

Zuo Bian nodded. “Okay.”

Big Sister Qin Ai successfully taught Little Sister Zuo Bian how to drink red wine. However, the details of the process were not suitable for public consumption.

Zuo Bian slept soundly through the night. As dawn approached, Little Frog resumed its monotonous counting.

This time, Zuo Bian didn’t wake up on time. She lazed in bed for another hour before finally getting up to wash up and get dressed.

Qin Ai had thoughtfully prepared clothes in her villa, clothes she had accidentally bought in the wrong size. They fit Zuo Bian perfectly.

Zuo Bian covered her neck, asking Qin Ai for some foundation. After spending so much time on set, she had learned a few makeup tricks.

Even after covering the love bites, Zuo Bian felt a little guilty. She had stayed out all night and told her mother she was having a heart-to-heart talk with Qin Ai. She wondered if she should confess to her mother.

As she was contemplating this, her QQ rang. It was undoubtedly Qin Tian.

She answered the call. “Hello, Xiao Tian.”

“Older Sister Zuo Bian! Do you want to come over to my house today? Come on, come on, I have a lot of fun games here, and after we’re tired of playing, we can watch TV together. I checked, and the drama you’re starring in is airing tonight. Watching TV with the female lead, that sounds so cool!”

Zuo Bian could hear the excitement in Qin Tian’s voice, so she agreed. “Mm, okay, I’ll come over and play with you today.”

“By the way, Older Sister Zuo Bian, is my sister with you, right?”

“Mm, she’s with me.” Fortunately, they weren’t talking face-to-face, or Qin Tian would have seen Zuo Bian’s blushing face.

Qin Tian sighed with the maturity of an old man. “Tell Sister to take a break from work. She should rest sometimes.”

“Okay, I’ll bring Qin Ai with me.” Zuo Bian said.

“Eh! There’s no need for that!”

Qin Tian didn’t want to play games with Zuo Bian under his sister’s watchful eye. Just thinking about it made his scalp tingle.

“Hmm?” Zuo Bian was confused.

Qin Tian’s eyes darted around, and he quickly decided to betray his sister.

“Older Sister Zuo Bian, don’t you want to see what my sister looked like when she was younger? We have a lot of photos of her from her school days in our family album. Do you think she would show them to you if she were here? She probably only wants you to see her at her best.” Qin Tian’s words were tempting.

He didn’t hear a response from Zuo Bian for a moment, his heart hanging in the balance as he waited for her answer.

“Qin Ai must have always been beautiful, I—”

Just as Qin Tian thought Zuo Bian was going to say she wasn’t interested, he heard her say, “But I want to see what she was like before.”

“So come alone.” Qin Tian said.

Zuo Bian agreed. “Okay.”

Qin Tian might seem like an innocent and naive little boy, and he actually was, but he had one thing in common with Qin Ai: he was incredibly good at persuasion. And just like that, he had lured Zuo Bian in.

Zuo Bian came out of the bathroom and went downstairs to have breakfast with Qin Ai. Qin Ai asked about her plans for the day.

Zuo Bian said, “Xiao Tian invited me to play games.”

She wasn’t good at lying, but she knew one trick: Don’t offer information unless asked. That way, even if she lied, it was less likely to be exposed.

“Mm, then I’ll drive you there later. I have some things to take care of today. Shall we have dinner together tonight?”

“Okay.” Zuo Bian nodded happily, but she didn’t forget Qin Tian’s words.

She held Qin Ai’s hand, her expression serious. “Qin Ai, don’t you think you should rest? Work is important, but you should also take care of your health and spend time with your family.”

Qin Ai’s fingers intertwined with Zuo Bian’s. She leaned closer, her red lips whispering enticingly, “Isn’t this spending time with family?”

Zuo Bian’s eyes widened slightly, her ears turning red from Qin Ai’s closeness.

“I-I meant Qin Mama and Xiao Tian,” she stammered.

Qin Ai chuckled softly, her lips brushing against Zuo Bian’s earlobe. “If you want me to listen, you have to say something nice.”

Zuo Bian hesitated for a moment, then whispered, “Ai Jiejie, I really like you.”

“Just like?” Qin Ai’s fingers traced Zuo Bian’s jawline, then lifted her chin.

Zuo Bian looked up, her eyes sparkling.

“More than just like.”

“Then shouldn’t you show it? Hmm?” Qin Ai’s lips grazed Zuo Bian’s, her voice a seductive murmur.

Qin Ai’s scent, with a hint of tea, filled Zuo Bian’s senses. It was clear that Qin Ai was the one who wanted to kiss, but she was tempting Zuo Bian, making her take the initiative.

Zuo Bian leaned forward, pressing her lips against Qin Ai’s.

Qin Ai’s lips were soft and sweet, like delicious jelly, making Zuo Bian crave more.

The rest of the breakfast on the table was forgotten. Long hair scattered on the white carpet, and the air grew hotter.

Qin Ai drove Zuo Bian back to the Qin family home. Before parting, Zuo Bian kissed Qin Ai’s lips again. To her, kissing was one of the fastest ways to express affection.

“See you tonight. Call me if anything comes up.” Qin Ai leaned against the car window, a strand of black hair swaying by her temple.

Zuo Bian smiled at her. “Mm, I know.”

“I’m leaving.”

“Bye, Ai Jiejie.”

The last “Ai Jiejie” was a soft whisper, but Qin Ai still heard it.

She smiled and drove away.

After Qin Ai left, Qin Tian peeked out from behind the door, then ran towards Zuo Bian. “Older Sister Zuo Bian, why are you so late?”

Zuo Bian thought for a moment. “There was traffic.”

“Oh, traffic. Come on in, Older Sister Zuo Bian, I already got the photo album from Sister’s study.” Qin Tian pulled Zuo Bian’s hand, leading her inside.

555 couldn’t help but comment, 【Qin Tian is so naive. Only a silly little sweetheart like him would believe that excuse you came up with after a three-second delay. Host, your acting skills really need improvement.】

Zuo Bian followed Qin Tian inside, still conversing with 555 in her mind.

‘But I don’t think my acting is that bad. Qin Ai has believed me so many times.’

【Uh…】555 was speechless. Should it reveal the truth?

Both Qin Tian and Qin Ai believed Zuo Bian’s lies because they were two extremes. Zuo Bian and Qin Tian were a perfect match of one daring to say and the other daring to believe. Zuo Bian and Qin Ai, on the other hand, were a match of one speaking nonsense and the other playing along.

[Xiao Bianbian is a super awesome actress, ribbit! Her acting skills are amazing, ribbit!]

‘I think Little Frog’s words are very pleasant to hear.’

【Good advice is often unpleasant to the ear.】555 sighed dramatically.

Qin Tian pulled Zuo Bian onto the sofa in the living room. A large photo album lay open on the coffee table in front of them.

“Older Sister Zuo Bian, let’s start from when Sister was born.” Qin Tian flipped through the album, his finger pointing at a baby in a pink outfit.

“This is Sister when she was little.”

Zuo Bian’s gaze followed Qin Tian’s finger. She looked at the baby carefully. “Qin Ai was so cute when she was little.”

“It’s a pity I wasn’t born yet when Sister was little. Otherwise, I could have shown off my beautiful little sister to everyone.”

Zuo Bian couldn’t help but chuckle. “But Qin Ai is your older sister, she can’t become your younger sister.”

“Have some fruit.” Tian Yumeng brought over a fruit platter.

Zuo Bian looked up and thanked her. Qin Tian also thanked his mother and took a bite of dragon fruit.

Tian Yumeng also saw the photo album. Her eyes were filled with nostalgia. “Time flies. Xiao Ai has grown up so much.”

Zuo Bian asked, “Auntie, what was Qin Ai like before?”

Tian Yumeng smiled gently. “Xiao Ai was a good child. Sometimes she could be a bit sharp-tongued, but she has a kind heart and is very gentle.”

Qin Tian swallowed his dragon fruit and protested, “Mom, you’re lying! Sister is so fierce! She’s not gentle at all!”

“I think Qin Ai is just like what Auntie described.” Zuo Bian recalled her interactions with Qin Ai, a smile unconsciously appearing on her face.

Qin Tian, unconvinced, flipped through the album, skipping from Qin Ai’s baby pictures to her high school years.

The girl in the photos had a cold gaze, her face turned away as if she disliked the camera. She stood with her hands in her pockets, looking prickly and unapproachable.

In the next photo, the girl was squatting on some steps, a cigarette between her slender fingers. The smoke obscured her face.

The photo was taken from a low angle, the girl’s chin slightly raised, her narrow eyes half-closed, her gaze aloof and disdainful.

Zuo Bian could see arrogance, recklessness, and a hint of youthful naiveté on the girl’s face. Was this Qin Ai in her younger years? What would it have been like if they had met back then?

Zuo Bian remembered the time Chang Wenyan had treated the crew to dinner. She had seen Qin Ai on the balcony, playing with a silver lighter, but she hadn’t lit anything.

Qin Ai had quit smoking now.

“Older Sister Zuo Bian, look! Three black earrings on her ears! And a black tattoo on her neck! So rebellious! She got one herself but wouldn’t let me get one. I also want a tattoo.” Qin Tian’s true intentions were revealed.

Zuo Bian’s fingers gently traced the girl’s face in the photo, lingering on the tattoo on her neck.

“But Qin Ai only has a tattoo on her chest now, not on her neck. That means the one on her neck was a temporary tattoo sticker.”

Qin Tian gasped. “Eww, Older Sister Zuo Bian, you know so much about her. I feel like I’ve discovered something amazing, but I won’t tell.”

Tian Yumeng smiled knowingly. She had long seen through the relationship between Zuo Bian and Qin Ai.

Zuo Bian pursed her lips and changed the subject. “Let me see more photos of Qin Ai from different periods.”

Chapter 53

The scandalous headline was incredibly absurd: “Popular Actor Lu Letian Spotted Having Dinner with Two Women: A Night of Thrills with One Man and Two Women.”

Zuo Bian, one of the parties involved, expressed her opinion: “I think the person who wrote this article must have some intellectual disabilities. The photo is so brightly lit, how could it be dinner? And we were clearly at a restaurant, not a hotel.”

【In this age of entertainment, these kinds of things are normal. Whether it’s true or not, the headline alone is enough to attract people’s attention.】

Zuo Bian frowned, troubled by the new scandals that had emerged.

Because she was a newcomer and seemingly had no powerful backing, she had become a target for fabricated “scandals.”

The most convincing one was that she was being kept by a wealthy sponsor. The second was that she had a chaotic private life and was involved in a threesome. The third was that she and Chang Wensi had fallen in love on set.

These scandals made Zuo Bian confused. She had never known she was such a person.

She wasn’t too bothered by the “sugar daddy” rumors, but she was concerned about the other two.

So, while in the car, she called Du Yundong, asking her to help remove the trending topics.

“Mom is such a bad mother, you even have to ask me to do this. Don’t worry, Xiao Bian, Mom will take care of it. Don’t be sad. Those people don’t know you, they’re just following the crowd.”

“Thank you, Mom. I’m not really sad, I’m just worried that Qin Ai might be unhappy if she sees it,” Zuo Bian said.

Du Yundong was slightly relieved. “That’s good. In Mom’s eyes, our Xiao Bian will always be the kindest and most adorable child. Even if people misunderstand you, remember that there are people who care about you and believe in you.”

“Mm, I understand.”

After chatting with Du Yundong for a while, Zuo Bian hung up the phone. She had almost reached the Qin Group building.

When Zuo Bian arrived at Qin Ai’s office, Qin Ai was on the phone. She quietly entered, trying not to make any noise.

After Qin Ai finished the call, Zuo Bian spoke up. “Qin Ai, I’m here.”

Qin Ai put down her phone, smiled at Zuo Bian, and walked towards her, rounding her desk.

“Why didn’t you come have lunch with me today?” Qin Ai sat down beside Zuo Bian.

Zuo Bian said, “I went to buy a motorcycle this morning and ran into Mr. Lu and Miss Chang.”

【Oh, there it is, “Miss Chang” when there’s nothing to gain.】

‘I can’t address her too intimately, Qin Ai will misunderstand.’

【No drama, no drama! No misunderstanding, no excitement. Host, you always manage to avoid all misunderstandings. Our mission is turning into a pure and innocent romance on Jinjiang, sigh.】

‘I can sense your disappointment.’

[Plus one, ribbit.]

【Hahaha, not at all, this is great!】555 laughed awkwardly.

The mental conversation between Zuo Bian and 555 was over in an instant.

“Lu Letian and Chang Wensi? That’s an interesting combination.” Qin Ai recalled her childhood.

For as long as she could remember, Chang Wensi and Lu Letian had never gotten along. They would bicker whenever they met.

“But they seem to have a good relationship. The three of us even had dinner together. The food at that restaurant was delicious, Qin Ai. I’ll take you there next time, okay?”

Qin Ai said, “Okay. But how did you know that Lu Letian and Chang Wensi have a good relationship?”

Zuo Bian thought for a moment. “Intuition, I guess.”

Qin Ai raised an eyebrow in surprise. “In a way, their relationship is indeed good. Your intuition is accurate.”

Hearing this, Zuo Bian smiled. “My intuition also tells me that I want to kiss you right now.”

Straightforward Zuo Bian strikes again! 555 immediately dragged Little Frog into censorship mode.

Zuo Bian was simple-minded and always acted on her impulses. She said she wanted to kiss Qin Ai, and she did. But her kiss was too simple, just a few pecks on Qin Ai’s lips.

Her arm was still around Qin Ai’s shoulders, their faces close, their breaths mingling.

Qin Ai’s eyes reflected Zuo Bian’s image. Zuo Bian smiled at her, her cheeks slightly flushed, but not with shyness.

To Zuo Bian, it was just a simple kiss, without any other implications.

Qin Ai, however, had other thoughts in mind. Faced with the innocent Zuo Bian, she felt a rare pang of guilt and didn’t kiss her back.

“Want to try some tomato juice?” Qin Ai changed the subject.

Zuo Bian’s interest in peach soda had waned recently, and she was looking for a new drink. She immediately nodded when Qin Ai mentioned tomato juice.

Qin Ai got up and walked to the refrigerator, taking out a bottle of red juice and handing it to Zuo Bian.

Zuo Bian took the bottle and took a gulp without hesitation.

She couldn’t resist the sweet, sour, and rich flavor. Her eyes lit up as she drank. Although she didn’t say anything, her expression showed that she loved the tomato juice.

Qin Ai said, “You mentioned you liked apple cider vinegar before, so I thought you might like tomato juice, which also has a sweet and sour taste.”

Zuo Bian finished half the bottle in one go, finally releasing the straw.

“Thank you, Qin Ai, I love this flavor.”

Qin Ai leaned forward, cupping Zuo Bian’s face with one hand.

“Let me try.” Then she pressed her lips against Zuo Bian’s.

Zuo Bian felt Qin Ai’s tongue trying to enter her mouth and instinctively opened her lips.

Qin Ai had initially intended to just give her a quick peck, but some things were hard to control.

Once the dam of suppressed desire was breached, it poured out uncontrollably.

Zuo Bian’s dress was lifted, her collar loosened, her eyes becoming hazy. However, Qin Ai stopped.

She straightened Zuo Bian’s clothes, trying to cover up her actions. “I can’t finish a whole bottle of tomato juice by myself, so I wanted to try yours.”

“Mm.” Zuo Bian lowered her head and mumbled a response.

The heat from their previous encounter lingered, making Zuo Bian’s cheeks flush.

“Tonight, do you want to…”

“Yes.”

Zuo Bian answered before Qin Ai could even finish her sentence.

Qin Ai turned her head away, a smile on her lips. “Mm, I understand.”

Zuo Bian realized that she had been too eager, and the heat that had just subsided on her face returned.

Since she had decided not to go home tonight, she called her mother.

Du Yundong asked if she was going to have a heart-to-heart talk with Qin Ai tonight. Zuo Bian thought for a moment, deciding that it could be considered a heart-to-heart talk, so she nodded and said yes.

“Then have a good talk with Xiao Qin, Mom won’t disturb you.”

“Mm-hmm, bye, Mom.”

Zuo Yuan had been listening to their conversation. He said to Du Yundong with a serious expression, “Mom, premarital sex is not something we should encourage.”

Hearing this, Du Yundong almost rolled her eyes to the back of her head.

“You talk a big game, but what about you? Where’s my daughter-in-law? When are you bringing her home?” Du Yundong’s soul-piercing question rendered Zuo Yuan speechless.

His girlfriend, Tao Zi, was even more engrossed in her celebrity worship now that the drama starring her idol was about to air.

Zuo Yuan had initially wanted to use this as an opportunity to bond with his girlfriend, but Tao Zi refused to tell him who her idol was, afraid that he would blacklist them.

Was he that kind of person? Why did she think he was such a bully?

Then he heard Du Yundong say, “It seems it’s time to prepare for their engagement ceremony. Xiao Bian is still young, it’s not good for her to get married so soon. I still want to keep her by my side for a few more years. After thinking about it, engagement is the best option. It’s both legitimate and allows us to keep Xiao Bian with us.”

“I think…” Zuo Yuan didn’t even have a chance to speak.

Du Yundong glared at him. “You think? What do you think? You, as an older brother, can’t even compare to your younger sister. Aren’t you ashamed?”

Zuo Yuan shut up and didn’t dare to say another word.

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

Meanwhile, Zuo Bian spent the entire afternoon in Qin Ai’s office. She was curious about everything in this world. A book, a small toy, could keep her entertained for hours, let alone in this age of information overload, where countless knowledge could be obtained with just a phone.

Time flew by, and Zuo Bian had dinner with Qin Ai.

She took Qin Ai to the restaurant where she had eaten with Lu Letian and Chang Wensi at noon. The food at this restaurant was truly delicious, but the portions were tiny.

The table was full of dishes, but it was only enough for one person with a big appetite.

Zuo Bian finally remembered her “delicate young lady” persona and ate with restraint.

555 couldn’t help but comment, 【Host, you should just give up on that persona. Your “delicate” appetite is actually a bottomless pit. There’s no need to hide it. And after I censored myself and Little Frog for so long, this is all you’re going to show me?】

Zuo Bian pretended to be focused on her food, ignoring 555.

【Don’t ignore your little cutie!】

[Right, ribbit, right, ribbit.]

Somehow, Little Frog had started siding with 555, even though it didn’t even have arms, let alone elbows.

‘555, I’m not ignoring you, I’m just trying to eat properly.’

【Hmph, that’s more like it.】

Zuo Bian thought to herself that 555 was easier to appease than Little Frog. Little Frog needed milk to be coaxed, while 555 only needed a few sweet words.

After dinner, Zuo Bian went to the villa with Qin Ai. Qin Ai said she didn’t come here often, only when she was too busy with work and didn’t want to disturb her mother and brother at home.

The reason for bringing Zuo Bian here today was the same, to avoid disturbing her mother and brother.

However, 555 saw through her excuse. 【She’s not afraid of disturbing her mother and Qin Tian, she’s afraid of being disturbed by them! Late at night, two women alone… Oh! And there’s wine!】

“Would you like a drink?” Qin Ai poured Zuo Bian a glass of wine.

The red liquid swirled gently in the transparent glass, releasing a faint aroma.

Zuo Bian took the glass and sniffed it curiously.

“Try it, you might like it,” Qin Ai said with a smile.

Zuo Bian looked up at Qin Ai’s face. Qin Ai was turned sideways, the red wine slowly flowing into her lips. Her tongue darted out, licking away a stray drop of wine.

For some reason, Zuo Bian suddenly felt very thirsty and instinctively emptied her glass in one gulp.

Chapter 52

Instead of answering, Lu Letian said, “Well, Miss Zuo, if we could become friends…”

“Lu Letian, what are you doing here?” A voice interrupted him.

Lu Letian instinctively turned towards the voice and made a helpless expression upon seeing the newcomer.

“Miss Chang, what are you doing here?” Zuo Bian looked at Chang Wensi curiously. She was wearing sunglasses, a scarf, and a mask, even though it was summer.

Although Chang Wensi had tried her best to conceal herself, those who knew her could still recognize her from her voice and demeanor.

Chang Wensi took off her sunglasses and crossed her arms, her eyes narrowed as she looked back and forth between Lu Letian and Zuo Bian.

“Why are you two together?” she asked, her tone accusatory, as if she had caught them doing something wrong.

Lu Letian spoke first. “I just happened to run into Miss Zuo.”

Chang Wensi clicked her tongue twice. “Lu Letian, don’t you ever stop chasing after beautiful women? Even though Zuo Bian stole my brother’s future girlfriend, she’s already taken. Are you planning to be a homewrecker? Zuo Bian, tell me, what’s your relationship with Qin Ai?!”

Zuo Bian answered blankly, “A touching socialist sisterhood?”

It was all 555’s fault. It had been complaining in Zuo Bian’s mind, saying that stories about women without a romantic relationship were just touching socialist sisterhoods, not exciting at all.

Zuo Bian’s answer made Chang Wensi speechless. She cleared her throat awkwardly. “Anyway, Lu Letian, I advise you not to be a homewrecker.”

Lu Letian shrugged and smiled, tilting his head. “But Miss Zuo and Qin Ai are just sisters. If I were to pursue Miss Zuo, how would that be considered homewrecking?”

“Lu Letian, you’re quite eloquent. Why don’t you become a talk show host instead of an actor?” Chang Wensi put her hands on her hips, ready to argue with Lu Letian.

“Don’t you think it would be a waste to only use this face for hosting?” Lu Letian’s usual charming demeanor crumbled in front of Chang Wensi, turning him into a childish bickerer.

Zuo Bian watched them argue silently, then decided to discreetly slip away.

While Chang Wensi and Lu Letian were “debating,” Zuo Bian started browsing the motorcycles seriously.

She initially wanted to buy a white one because Qin Ai liked white. But white wasn’t cool enough, so her gaze landed on a black and red heavy motorcycle.

“This one looks great.” Zuo Bian ran her hand over the handlebars, admiring the motorcycle as if it were a work of art.

The salesperson immediately approached her and started explaining the specifications. Zuo Bian listened attentively.

This heavy motorcycle required strength to handle. It wasn’t recommended for those with a petite build. But Zuo Bian didn’t need to worry about that. With her physical abilities, she could easily handle this motorcycle.

“I’ll take this one.” Then Zuo Bian spotted a red and white motorcycle. She thought it looked good too and could be a gift for Qin Ai.

She swiftly paid with her card and filled in her address, wondering when she could give Qin Ai the gift.

【I’m so envious of the rich. When will I be able to spend money freely instead of meticulously calculating my points every time I buy something?】

‘555, how many points do you have now?’

555 said sadly, 【-9999. I’m currently in debt. I bought a house in our main city and spent all my savings. I even took out a loan. I still have 9999 points to pay back.】

‘But you said you wanted to support Little Frog. I think it’s safer to leave Little Frog to me. I’m afraid you’ll starve it to death.’

【Sigh, even systems need a house and a car to get married these days. I’m just planning ahead.】

‘Hmm? Does 555 have someone it wants to marry?’

Hearing this, 555 blushed.

【Well… yes, but I haven’t confessed yet~】

‘Do you want me to help you plan your confession?’ Zuo Bian, who had always been guided by 555, now wanted to offer relationship advice in return.

555 hesitated. 【No, it’s okay. My feelings will reach them, uwu.】

This made Zuo Bian even more curious about who 555 liked, but since 555 wasn’t ready to reveal it yet, she didn’t press further.

After buying the motorcycle, Zuo Bian was ready to leave after a quick meal and then go to Qin Ai’s office. However, Chang Wensi and Lu Letian, who had been arguing heatedly, stopped their bickering and blocked her way when they saw her about to leave.

“Hey, Zuo Bian, you promised to have dinner with me last time. You can’t refuse this time.” Chang Wensi put her hands on her hips, her chin raised, her usual arrogant self.

Zuo Bian thought that she and Chang Wensi were considered friends now, and there was nothing wrong with having a meal together, so she nodded in agreement.

“Sure. What do you want to eat? It’s my treat.”

Chang Wensi snorted and crossed her arms. “You’re treating me? When does the eldest daughter of the Chang family need someone else to pay for a meal? Of course, it’s my treat.”

Lu Letian chimed in, “Since Wensi is treating us, count me in. Wensi, it’s been a while since we last met. Let’s catch up over dinner.”

Chang Wensi glanced at Lu Letian, her tone sarcastic. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. Besides, can’t you, Young Master Lu, even afford a meal? Do you have to freeload?”

“A meal treated by Miss Chang is bound to be delicious. It’s my honor to dine with two beautiful ladies.”

Lu Letian’s smile was so sincere that Chang Wensi coughed awkwardly. “Fine, I guess having you join us isn’t so bad. But Zuo Bian, do you mind? This guy might look decent, but he’s actually a chatterbox. He can talk non-stop.”

Zuo Bian suppressed a smile, thinking of Qin Tian. Both their names had the character “Tian,” and they were both very talkative.

“I don’t mind,” Zuo Bian said.

Chang Wensi sighed in relief. After a moment of thought, she said, “I remember a really good private restaurant nearby. It’s not far from here. Let’s go.”

“Okay.” Zuo Bian nodded.

The three of them walked towards the exit. All three were celebrities: Lu Letian, a popular actor; Zuo Bian, a rising star; and Chang Wensi, a talented actress with both beauty and skill.

However, only Chang Wensi was fully disguised. The other two didn’t seem to have any awareness of their celebrity status, walking out casually.

“Hey, why aren’t you two wearing anything?” Chang Wensi grabbed their arms, staring at them intently.

Lu Letian flashed a dazzling smile. “Beautiful things should be shared with everyone, like my face.”

Zuo Bian asked, “Wear? Wear what?”

Chang Wensi pulled out two masks from her pocket and shoved one into each of their hands.

“Masks, of course! Are you guys even celebrities? What if you get caught by paparazzi? Put them on, I don’t want to be involved in any scandals with you.”

Under Chang Wensi’s watchful eye, Lu Letian and Zuo Bian reluctantly put on the masks.

Lu Letian grumbled, “I don’t want to be involved in a scandal with you either.”

Zuo Bian, with only her eyes visible above the mask, asked in confusion, “We’re both women, can we even have a scandal?”

Chang Wensi thought about the fan-made videos of her and Zuo Bian that she had seen online and said with a complicated expression, “Yes, any two people can be shipped as a couple. Even non-humans can be shipped. So, you better be careful, understand?”

“Understood,” Lu Letian said, hands in his pockets, looking nonchalant.

“Understood!” Zuo Bian nodded seriously.

From the incident with Xu Ruisheng, Zuo Bian understood what CP meant. She didn’t want to be involved in any shipping scandals because she was afraid of making Qin Ai jealous.

However, what she feared most came to pass. The three of them were photographed together, and the photos quickly trended on Weibo. But that’s a story for later.

Chang Wensi treated them to a meal, and Lu Letian insisted on joining them, but in the end, only Zuo Bian truly enjoyed the food.

As Chang Wensi and Lu Letian bickered and exposed each other’s embarrassing past, Zuo Bian swiftly devoured all the delicious dishes on the table.

The restaurant Chang Wensi chose served small portions, focusing on delicate presentation.

Many of the plates looked large, but they only held a few pieces of meat, which Zuo Bian could finish in one bite.

When Lu Letian and Chang Wensi finally tired of their argument and decided to eat, they were shocked to find that there was barely any food left on the table.

Chang Wensi rubbed her eyes and patted Lu Letian’s shoulder, asking in disbelief, “Am I seeing things?”

Lu Letian’s lips twitched. “It’s impossible for both of us to be seeing things.”

Zuo Bian wiped her mouth with satisfaction, giving Chang Wensi a grateful smile. “Xiao Chang, you’re so kind. I really enjoyed the meal today. Thank you for treating me.”

Chang Wensi nodded instinctively. “Oh, okay.”

“I’m full. I have to go meet Qin Ai now. You guys enjoy your meal. Bye.” Zuo Bian picked up her bag and left, her smile friendly and her movements natural, completely unaware that she had eaten almost everything on the table.

Lu Letian and Chang Wensi watched her leave. After she was gone, they looked at each other. Was there anything left to eat? She had finished everything!

She said she was here for the meal, and she really was just here for the meal? It was rare to see someone so honest these days.

Only inedible decorations remained on the plates. Chang Wensi had to order another table of dishes before she and Lu Letian could finally start eating.

After Zuo Bian left, 555 started talking. 【I suddenly feel bad for Chang Wensi. You call her Xiao Chang when you need something and Miss Chang when you don’t. You’ve tricked her into treating you to meals, giving you information, and even distracting the male supporting character.】

Zuo Bian, in a good mood, replied, ‘Xiao Chang is such a good person.’

【I think Chang Wensi would have mixed feelings if she heard that. But I also want to say, Chang Wensi is truly a good person.】

Chang Wensi, constantly friend-zoned, sneezed, wondering who was thinking about her.

Lu Letian, the straight man, said, “You probably sneezed because you have a cold. You should wear more clothes.”

Chang Wensi rolled her eyes at him.

Meanwhile, Zuo Bian was already on her way to the Qin Group building. The drama she starred in, “Ascending to Immortality,” was premiering tomorrow. She went online to see if there were any new trailers and stumbled upon a scandal involving her.