Category: Green Tea Villainess Fails

Chapter 51

Zuo Bian blinked, not understanding why Qin Ai would say that. She tried to sit up, but Qin Ai’s hand slid down her body and pinched her waist.

Zuo Bian, invulnerable to swords and guns, had a fatal weakness: ticklishness. Her waist was especially sensitive, and Qin Ai’s pinch drained all her strength.

“Qin Ai, aren’t we going to eat?” Zuo Bian lay on the soft and spacious sofa, gazing at Qin Ai’s face.

The living room lights were off, so Zuo Bian couldn’t make out Qin Ai’s expression, but she had a feeling that something was about to happen.

Qin Ai leaned down, her lips brushing against Zuo Bian’s cheek before landing on her earlobe.

Zuo Bian shivered slightly as Qin Ai’s warm lips touched her cool earlobe.

Suddenly, Qin Ai turned on the TV. A cheesy and over-the-top drama was playing.

A man driving a bright red Ferrari stopped beside a young woman. He got out of the car and swaggered towards her.

He arrogantly lifted her chin with his finger. “Woman, want to get in the car? Although you’re somewhat attractive, if you want to gain my favor, you have to become my fan. My Weibo username is Zhong Er Bai Ri Xi, remember that?” (*Author profile*)

The young woman, either out of shyness or annoyance, swatted his hand away, her cheeks flushed.

“Who would like you?”

The man put on his sunglasses and snorted. “Hmph, woman, you’ll regret this.”

The young woman watched as the man drove away in his Ferrari, clutching her racing heart. On a whim, she searched for Zhong Er Bai Ri Xi on Weibo. When she saw his profile description, she knew she was deeply in love with Bai Ri Xi.

Zuo Bian watched the drama with dazed eyes. She wanted to grab the remote and switch to her favorite science channel, but Qin Ai pulled her hand back.

“Hmph…” Zuo Bian let out a soft whine, too weak and unmotivated to change the channel.

Actually, cheesy dramas weren’t so bad after watching them for a while, she thought hazily.

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

However, the episode was very long. It was already 9 p.m. when Zuo Bian and Qin Ai finally had dinner.

Perhaps because watching TV had consumed a lot of her energy, Zuo Bian ate a lot that night.

“I’ll take you home.” Qin Ai finished her meal first, her gaze softening as she watched Zuo Bian eat.

Zuo Bian wiped her mouth with a napkin and nodded with a smile. “Qin Ai, I’ve gotten my motorcycle license. When I buy a motorcycle, I’ll drive you home next time, okay?”

Qin Ai raised an eyebrow. “I’ll be looking forward to that.”

“Also, the drama I’m in will be airing in two days. Can you… not watch it yet?”

“Hmm? Why?”

Zuo Bian hesitated, then slowly explained, “Because I’m afraid I might not look good on screen. I heard cameras make people look fat. What if I look like a chubby dumpling on TV?”

Qin Ai’s gaze lingered below Zuo Bian’s collarbone. She nodded. “Mm, you are a bit chubby.”

Zuo Bian covered her chest and lowered her head. “Should I lose weight?”

From Qin Ai’s angle, she could see Zuo Bian’s flushed ears and the small patch of skin exposed by her hand.

“No need, you’re perfect just the way you are.” Qin Ai took Zuo Bian’s hand.

Zuo Bian mumbled an “okay” and let Qin Ai lead her away.

555, observing from the sidelines, clicked its tongue. 【This Qin Ai is always so mischievous, she’s addicted to teasing our muscular little bunny.】

‘Qin Ai is very nice.’

【Okay, okay, she’s the best.】555 replied perfunctorily, thinking to itself: All women in love are the same. Look, she’s already defending Qin Ai, not allowing a single bad word to be said about her.

Tonight, it would definitely continue writing its “Daily Life of the CEO’s Pampered Little Wife.” It was just a pity that the key parts were censored. How frustrating.

That’s why it didn’t like those pure and innocent sweet romances. They weren’t exciting at all. It wanted to read those steamy, R-rated novels that made you sweat. Those were exciting!

Qin Ai drove Zuo Bian home. It was already 10 p.m. when they arrived. Zuo Bian stood by the car window, reluctant to part, chatting with Qin Ai. Finally, Qin Ai, worried that Zuo Bian would catch a cold from the night breeze, urged her to go inside.

After greeting her mother in the living room, Zuo Bian went to her room to shower and change. 555, inhabiting a panda plushie with a big head, clumsily climbed onto a chair. It was time to continue writing “Daily Life of the CEO’s Pampered Little Wife.”

Little Frog, peeking out from Zuo Bian’s bag, stared curiously at 555’s back, which was bigger than its entire body. It heard 555 mumbling to itself.

“Hehehe, even though the host went home, it doesn’t really make a difference. Sofa play is the best, the wisdom of the people is boundless. Even if I haven’t seen it with my own eyes, with my extraordinary imagination, I can write a story worthy of being published on an R-rated website. Like this, moan, moan, moan…”

Little Frog wriggled its round body and hopped onto the table, making a “plop” sound.

“What are you writing, 555, ribbit?”

555’s pen slipped, leaving a squiggly mark on the paper. It quickly slammed its diary shut.

“I’m writing my diary. Are you trying to peek? It’s very rude to read someone else’s diary.” 555 tried to look stern, but the doll it was inhabiting had naturally curved eyes and a cat-like mouth, with two rosy cheeks. It looked adorable, not intimidating at all.

Little Frog hopped around, feeling wronged. “But I didn’t eavesdrop, ribbit. You were reading it out loud as you wrote, ribbit.”

555’s plush hands grabbed Little Frog, squeezing its face. “How much did you hear? Tell me the truth!”

“I heard everything, ribbit! Ribbit, ribbit, ribbit, ribbit, ribbit! Xiao Bianbian! 555 is bullying me! It’s so mean!” Tears welled up in Little Frog’s round, black eyes.

555 frantically wiped Little Frog’s tears, scolding it. “Stop crying, or I’ll molest you!”

“Waaah, ribbit! You want to defile me, ribbit!”

Zuo Bian, showering in the bathroom, faintly heard some commotion outside. She quickly finished her shower, changed into her pajamas, and rushed out of the bathroom.

She saw 555 kissing Little Frog. Little Frog struggled desperately, twisting its chubby body, but it had no neck, so it couldn’t escape the kiss.

“I don’t want your kisses, ribbit! I want the beautiful young lady to kiss me, ribbit! Xiao Bianbian, save me, ribbit!” Little Frog spotted Zuo Bian and cried out for help, its mouth wide open.

Zuo Bian grabbed the two creatures, separating them.

“What’s going on?”

555, feeling embarrassed about its NSFW writing, laughed awkwardly. “Host, I was writing in my diary when Little Frog came to peek. It’s all Little Frog’s fault.”

“Ribbit, ribbit, ribbit? You were the one writing weird things and reading them out loud, ribbit. You wrote about Xiao Bianbian and Qin Ai on the sofa—”

555 urgently sent a message to Little Frog through their private channel. 【Don’t say it! I’ll steal Zuo Bian’s milk and give it to you!】

[Ten bottles a day, ribbit! ]

【Five bottles! That’s my final offer!】

[Seven bottles, ribbit. Not a drop less, ribbit.]

【Deal!】

In that brief moment, 555 and Little Frog made a deal behind Zuo Bian’s back.

“On the sofa?” Zuo Bian asked, her mind replaying certain scenes.

“Nothing, ribbit. I know I was wrong, ribbit. I shouldn’t have peeked at 555’s diary, ribbit.”

Zuo Bian put down 555 and gently patted Little Frog’s soft head with her free hand. “Little Frog is such a good boy. It’s wrong to read someone else’s diary.”

“Mm-hmm, ribbit. I won’t do it again, ribbit.”

“Mm, good boy. How about three large bottles of milk?”

“That’s enough, ribbit. Thank you, Xiao Bianbian, ribbit. You’re the best, ribbit.”

555 felt a strange sadness in its nonexistent heart. It was a three-person movie, but why was it always left out?

After comforting Little Frog, Zuo Bian carried both little cuties to bed. 555 nestled in her arms, trying to get some attention.

But Zuo Bian’s attention was completely captured by Little Frog, who was a master of acting cute. It rubbed its face against Zuo Bian’s cheek and even gave her a little kiss with its tiny mouth.

Little Frog was only half the size of her palm, and its cute antics were heart-melting.

“So cute, let me kiss you again.” Zuo Bian scratched Little Frog’s chin with her finger.

Little Frog jumped onto Zuo Bian’s face. “Chu, chu, chu, ribbit. Xiao Bianbian will be a good mother in the future, ribbit.”

“Really? I think so too.” Zuo Bian smiled happily.

555 snorted loudly, but Zuo Bian still didn’t notice it. It mumbled, “If you and Qin Ai have two children in the future, you won’t be a good mother if you favor one over the other.”

“555 is also cute.” Zuo Bian rubbed 555’s furry head, and the spineless 555 immediately melted.

“Xiao Bianbian will definitely be a good mother.” 555 acted cute like a bear.

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

Zuo Bian slept soundly and woke up early the next morning, heading out to buy a motorcycle. She was a woman of action and never procrastinated.

Last time, she had been followed by Lin Qingqing. This time, it was Lu Letian.

Coincidentally, Zuo Bian bumped into Lu Letian while looking at motorcycles. Lu Letian greeted her with familiarity.

He was being polite, so Zuo Bian greeted him back.

Although Lu Letian was handsome and wealthy, the dream man of many women, Zuo Bian wasn’t interested in him, not even Chang Wenyan.

“Miss Zuo is buying a motorcycle because of Qin Ai, right? I remember she really likes motorcycles and used to participate in races. But she hasn’t ridden one in years. It makes me miss the old her. Although she was still cold and aloof back then, at least she had some life in her.”

The way Lu Letian talked about Qin Ai’s past was different from Lin Qingqing. Lin Qingqing always spoke with a hint of sarcasm, trying to emphasize something, while Lu Letian seemed to be genuinely reminiscing.

“What was Qin Ai like back then?”

Chapter 50

Zuo Bian didn’t realize he was hitting on her. She answered earnestly, “Maybe we’ve met on TV.”

The man chuckled. “The female lead of ‘Ascending to Immortality’? Hello, I’m Lu Letian. Nice to meet you.”

“Hello, Mr. Lu, I’m Zuo Bian.” Then Zuo Bian fell silent, unsure what else to say.

Lu Letian didn’t mind her coldness. He smiled charmingly.

Soon, the elevator reached the 46th floor, where Zuo Bian, her agent, and assistant got off.

Lu Letian, with his hands in his pockets, strolled out leisurely, his eyes half-closed as if he was perpetually sleepy. He looked around casually, like a young master inspecting his family’s property.

In reality, he was a young master, the son of Starlight Entertainment’s CEO. However, he had no intention of inheriting the family business yet and was currently enjoying his time in the entertainment industry.

Lu Letian’s favorite pastime was admiring beautiful women, and where else could he find more beauties than in the entertainment industry?

When he saw Zuo Bian in the trailer for “Ascending to Immortality,” he was smitten and decided to pursue her.

He naturally knew about Zuo Bian’s background and her close relationship with Qin Ai. But so what? They weren’t officially together yet.

Besides, it was such a waste for a beauty like Zuo Bian to be with that cold and unromantic Qin Ai. If it were him, he would definitely make her feel loved and cherished.

Lu Letian smoothly made his way to the makeup room and watched as the makeup artist worked on Zuo Bian. The more he looked, the more he felt that she was a rare beauty.

Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her eyes like autumn waters, her skin like congealed fat. Every glance and gesture exuded charm.

He had met Qin Ai before, but she only had a beautiful face. Her aura was cold and hard, always keeping people at a distance.

Zuo Bian noticed Lu Letian’s gaze. As the makeup artist applied eyeshadow to her eyelids, she spoke to 555 in her mind.

‘555, why is Lu Letian staring at me?’ Logically, Zuo Bian felt that Lu Letian was similar to the men who had hit on her before, but also different.

Because Lu Letian’s gaze was simply appreciative, without any ulterior motives.

555 laughed nervously. 【Maybe he thinks you’re beautiful and wants to pursue you.】

[Xiao Bianbian is super pretty, ribbit. The only one in the world who’s almost as pretty is Qin Ai, ribbit.]

‘I’ll give you an extra bottle of milk when we get home.’

Little Frog was a master of seizing every opportunity to flatter Zuo Bian. 555 felt both disdainful and envious.

‘But I don’t think Lu Letian really likes me that much. I mean, the kind of love I have for Qin Ai.’ Zuo Bian’s intuition was sharp.

If 555 could sweat, it would be drenched in sweat now.

Of course, he doesn’t really love you, it thought. He’s the rival I bought for 10 points, a tool to catalyze your relationship with Qin Ai.

【Host, you need to understand that sometimes, people don’t need to be in love to pursue someone. They might just want a girlfriend. By the way, Host, do you remember the content of Chapter 3 of the Green Tea Handbook?】

Zuo Bian recalled the content of Chapter 3 and answered in her mind, ‘Mm, I remember. Give the other person a sense of crisis, let them know you have many admirers, so they have to work hard to keep your attention.’

【Exactly! You better remember that. I think it’s time to give Qin Ai a sense of crisis. Besides, it’s been so many days, and I haven’t been censored yet. Don’t you find that unreasonable? Host, you should also have some sense of crisis.】

555’s serious tone made Zuo Bian’s heart skip a beat. It seemed like 555 was right. Zuo Bian frowned, her mood suddenly dampening.

Sensing Zuo Bian’s low spirits, 555 quickly added, 【But Host, don’t worry, you and Qin Ai will definitely grow old together. I just think it’s good to make Qin Ai jealous occasionally, it can spice things up.】

Zuo Bian’s frown finally disappeared.

While Zuo Bian was chatting with 555, her makeup was almost done.

Since it was a commercial for peach soda, her makeup was also in peach tones, with a hint of orange, fresh and vibrant. Her hair was temporarily dyed orange-pink, and her eyebrows were a lighter shade of pink-brown.

Having some filming experience, Zuo Bian was used to being in front of the camera and acted naturally.

Filming a commercial didn’t require much acting skill. As long as you weren’t awkward and looked good, it wasn’t a problem.

Zuo Bian genuinely liked peach soda, so her enjoyment while drinking it in the commercial made viewers want to try it too.

However, even though filming a commercial wasn’t as difficult as filming a drama, it still took Zuo Bian almost the entire afternoon.

By the time they finished, she felt like she was filled with soda, and even her favorite peach soda didn’t taste as good anymore.

As she was removing her makeup, Zuo Bian burped several times. Looking at the mirror, she saw that Lu Letian was still there.

The moment their eyes met in the mirror, Lu Letian smiled at her.

Leaning against the vanity table, he said, “Miss Zuo, I see that you’re very talented. Starlight Entertainment is about to start filming a big-budget drama based on a popular IP. Would you be interested in learning more about it?”

555 sighed internally. As expected of a rival with a difficulty level of 100, his approach was much more sophisticated compared to Lin Qingqing and Chang Wenyan. Chang Wenyan was a complete simpleton, he didn’t know how to talk properly and always blurted out his intentions directly.

Lin Qingqing was slightly better, but only slightly. When it came to playing the victim and being shameless, Zuo Bian could beat her by a mile. Lin Qingqing would only end up crying in frustration.

This Lu Letian was different. He didn’t go straight to the point, but used work as an excuse to create opportunities to spend time with Zuo Bian. He seemed lazy and carefree, but at least he wasn’t greasy or repulsive.

If he had approached someone else, they might have fallen for his tactics.

But 555 was certain that its host was a different breed. She wouldn’t fall for Lu Letian’s tricks. No matter what he said, all she would be thinking about was seeing Qin Ai.

Zuo Bian took off her peach earrings and shook her head. “Sorry, I don’t have any plans to film another drama at the moment. If you think I have a good look, I can recommend my friend Chang Wensi to you. She’s also very beautiful, and her acting skills are better than mine.”

“Chang Wensi? Oh, that little chili pepper? I can’t handle her.” Lu Letian shook his head, thinking about Chang Wensi’s fiery temper. He was afraid that the hot-tempered little princess would walk all over him.

After removing her earrings, Zuo Bian’s makeup was completely gone, except for her temporarily dyed orange-pink hair. Her bare face was as fresh and beautiful as a lotus flower.

“You know Chang Wensi?” Zuo Bian stood up, ready to leave.

She remembered that she had dinner plans with Qin Ai tonight. It was already 6 p.m., she wondered if Qin Ai had finished work.

Lu Letian said, “Of course, I know her. Chang Wensi and I have known each other since we were young. I not only know Chang Wensi, but I also know Qin Ai. We were classmates back then. Qin Ai was very different from how she is now.”

“You were classmates with Qin Ai?” Zuo Bian’s eyes lit up with curiosity.

555 sighed internally: As expected, it was still the 555 that was always proven wrong. Its host had fallen for Lu Letian’s bait, her attention captured by his words. Although Lu Letian was using Qin Ai as bait, Zuo Bian was genuinely interested.

【Beep, beep, beep! Host, attention! Qin Ai is about to appear, get ready.】

555’s words made Zuo Bian subconsciously look for Qin Ai. Suddenly, she spotted her.

“Qin Ai!” Zuo Bian’s face lit up with a bright smile the moment she saw her.

Lu Letian, who had been talking to her, was instantly forgotten. Zuo Bian tried to run towards Qin Ai, almost tripping over the hairdryer cord.

Lu Letian, who was standing beside her, quickly caught her arm. “Miss Zuo, are you okay?”

Zuo Bian steadied herself and thanked him softly.

By then, Qin Ai had already reached them. She smiled, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes.

“Xiao Bian, I’m here to take you to dinner. And Young Master Lu, long time no see.” Qin Ai’s smile towards Lu Letian was cold, especially when her gaze swept over the hand that had just touched Zuo Bian.

Lu Letian suddenly felt a chill, but he didn’t show it.

“President Qin, long time no see. You haven’t changed much. Still as… composed as ever.” He smiled, his sincerity questionable.

“Qin Ai, let’s go. Goodbye, Mr. Lu.” Zuo Bian wrapped her arm around Qin Ai’s, and they left together, leaving Lu Letian, the single dog, behind.

Qin Ai’s expression instantly softened. She looked down at Zuo Bian’s feet. “Be careful when you’re wearing high heels.”

Zuo Bian, always straightforward, replied, “I saw you and wanted to get to you quickly, so I got a little impatient.”

Zuo Bian’s answer always managed to touch Qin Ai’s heart. Qin Ai, both exasperated and amused, said, “Don’t be impatient. When you want to be close to me, I feel the same way. Just stand still, and I’ll come to you.”

Thump, thump, thump—

Zuo Bian’s heart raced uncontrollably. She blushed and smiled. “You come to me, I go to you, wouldn’t that be faster?”

Qin Ai seemed to agree. “Mm, that would be faster.”

“So, next time I’ll still try to get to you quickly. But I’ll be careful, you would worry if I got hurt, right?” Zuo Bian looked at Qin Ai with a smile.

Qin Ai met Zuo Bian’s gaze, seeing the genuine joy in her clear eyes, which were filled with her reflection.

“Of course, I would worry. So you have to take care of yourself.”

Qin Ai’s words made Zuo Bian smile even brighter. As they entered the elevator, Zuo Bian quickly stole a kiss on Qin Ai’s lips.

The brief kiss ended before Qin Ai could even react.

Qin Ai instinctively touched her lips, her eyes narrowed as she pressed Zuo Bian against the elevator wall. But she only gently caressed Zuo Bian’s chin with her fingers.

The temperature rose, their breaths mingling. Something was stirring within them. A single spark could ignite a fire.

Unfortunately, they were in public, and Qin Ai couldn’t do anything. She had to restrain herself.

Zuo Bian stared at Qin Ai with wide eyes, waiting for her next move, but it never came.

Before the elevator doors opened, Qin Ai withdrew her hand. “Let’s go, I’ll take you to dinner.”

She acted as if nothing had happened.

Zuo Bian wanted to ask but felt that Qin Ai probably wouldn’t answer, so she remained silent. Besides, she was hungry after a long day of filming.

Zuo Bian thought Qin Ai would take her to a restaurant, but she was surprised when they arrived at an unfamiliar villa.

Sitting on the sofa, Zuo Bian was confused. Weren’t they supposed to have dinner? Why were they here?

Suddenly, Qin Ai pushed her down onto the sofa. The living room lights were off, and Qin Ai’s eyes shone brightly in the dimness.

“You’re so obedient, it makes me want to bully you.”

Chapter 49

There was only one path forward, and they followed it upwards, arriving at a classroom.

The moment Zuo Bian pushed open the door, a white figure flitted past her, but it was too fast for her to see clearly.

Worried that Qin Ai might be scared, Zuo Bian said, “Qin Ai, close your eyes.”

“Mm.” Qin Ai, who wasn’t actually afraid, closed her eyes, leaning closer to Zuo Bian.

Qin Ai’s “dependence” made Zuo Bian feel a sense of responsibility. She felt that she shouldn’t betray Qin Ai’s trust and must protect her.

555 clicked its tongue, chatting with Little Frog through their private channel.

【I think my host is completely blinded by love. She would probably believe it even if Qin Ai, that sly fox, said she had a heart attack and needed CPR.】

[CPR, ribbit? Sounds exciting, ribbit.]

【Hehehe, I also think it’s exciting, but unfortunately, I get censored whenever things get exciting. Tsk, this darn Jinjiang, so inhumane.】

[But you’re not human, ribbit. And I can see, ribbit. Don’t censor me too, ribbit.]

【Nuh-uh, I’m taking you down with me. If I can’t see, you can’t either! Hmph!】

[Ribbit, ribbit, ribbit? You’re so mean, ribbit! ]

【A system isn’t bad if the frog loves it~】555’s tone was full of playful malice.

Even more mischievous than 555 was Zuo Bian’s action. The white figure that had been flitting around must have been an eyesore to her because she suddenly grabbed it, with one hand, while it was still moving.

Staff Member B, controlling the white figure, frantically pressed the buttons. The wire attached to the doll, dressed in a white dress and wig, buzzed and vibrated, trying to retract, but Zuo Bian’s grip was firm.

With a ripping sound, the doll’s head separated from its body, leaving only a head with a long wig floating in the air, making the scene even more terrifying.

Zuo Bian stared at the headless “ghost” in her hand and said instinctively, “Qin Ai, look, it’s just a doll, not a ghost. You don’t have to be afraid.”

Qin Ai opened her eyes and saw Zuo Bian holding the headless “ghost” with one hand.

She said in a flat tone, “So it’s a doll. Thank you for protecting me, I’m not afraid anymore.”

Staff Member B, sitting behind the monitor, thought, Oh! These lovebirds! This is not the place for your PDA! *(Public display of affection)*

He pressed a red button, and the classroom was instantly bathed in a blood-red light. A voice echoed through the room.

“Don’t even think about escaping. Today, you’ll all be my scapegoats! Hahahahaha—”

The sharp, female voice was like a dying person scratching at glass, piercing and filled with despair.

Shadows fell repeatedly from the closed window, the sound of flesh and bones shattering against the ground clearly audible.

The atmosphere was heavy with fear, from the environment to the sound, the smell, and the lighting. Most people would be terrified in such a place.

But Zuo Bian wasn’t like most people. Not only was she not afraid, but she also started looking for clues, trying to explain everything with science and comfort Qin Ai.

She reached into a drawer, pushing aside clumps of hair, and pulled out a megaphone.

“Qin Ai, look, this is what’s making the noise. It’s not scary at all. But the person who put this in here seems to have a serious hair loss problem. They’ve lost so much hair.” Zuo Bian shook her hand, sending strands of hair flying.

Qin Ai bit her lip to suppress a smile. “Mm, not scary.”

As Zuo Bian was putting the megaphone back, she accidentally pressed something, and a deafening voice boomed from it.

“Mommy, I want roasted yam! I want it! A big piece! Are two pieces enough? Enough, thank you, Mommy, you’re the best~”

【That’s even cheesier than me.】

[Does roasted yam taste good, ribbit?]

Staff Member B, sitting behind the monitor, slumped in his chair in despair. He had been watching too much Douyin (TikTok) and accidentally added that audio clip.

It was over, the reputation of their haunted house was ruined. People wouldn’t be scared to death, they would be laughed to death.

Qin Ai massaged her temples, a helpless smile on her lips, but her eyes were filled with tenderness.

Zuo Bian led Qin Ai out of the haunted house, their hands still clasped. No matter how terrifying the scene, with Zuo Bian there, it couldn’t be scary. It was more comical than anything.

Qin Ai, who had been “protected” the entire time, was in a good mood. She realized that amusement parks were actually quite fun, especially this haunted house.

Zuo Bian, on the other hand, felt guilty. She found a staff member and apologized for accidentally damaging the props, asking how much she needed to compensate.

Hearing Zuo Bian’s description, Staff Member C waved his hand. “Don’t worry about it. You know Barbie dolls, right? That doll is structured the same way, the head can be detached. Just put the head back on, it’s no big deal.”

Zuo Bian nodded, although she didn’t actually know how Barbie dolls were structured. But since the staff member said it was fine, she felt less guilty.

Not far from the haunted house exit was a souvenir shop. Zuo Bian pointed at it excitedly. “Qin Ai, let’s go take a look, okay?”

“Okay.”

Zuo Bian’s eyes were drawn to the various headbands hanging on the wall. She picked up a white cat ear headband and held it up to Qin Ai’s head. “Qin Ai, what do you think of this? I think it suits you.”

Qin Ai lowered her head. “Put it on for me.”

“Okay.” Zuo Bian smiled and placed the headband on Qin Ai’s head.

Qin Ai picked up a black cat ear headband. “Let’s get one each.”

“Mm-hmm.” Zuo Bian let Qin Ai put the black headband on her head. The black cat ears looked harmonious against her black hair, as if she was born with them.

Qin Ai rubbed the fluffy cat ears, her fingers sliding down to gently pinch Zuo Bian’s soft earlobe. “Real ears feel better.”

Zuo Bian’s fair ears turned pink. She turned her head away, trying to suppress her joy, but her upturned lips and crescent-shaped eyes betrayed her feelings.

“I’ll go pay.” Zuo Bian took out her card from her wallet.

【”The White Wolf King’s Little Wildcat Wife”? Even with cat ears, Qin Ai looks like a wolf. She’s definitely plotting to devour the little wildcat.】

Zuo Bian heard 555’s voice in her mind and recalled what had happened earlier, her neck and ears turning crimson.

She had already been devoured.

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

After paying for the headbands, Zuo Bian suddenly felt a wave of confusion.

“Qin Ai, I feel like I’ve forgotten something important.”

A flicker of amusement crossed Qin Ai’s eyes. She knew exactly what Zuo Bian had forgotten but said, “If you can forget it, then it must not be that important.”

Zuo Bian felt that Qin Ai’s words made sense, so she stopped trying to remember.

Meanwhile, Qin Tian was still lying unconscious in the haunted house, looking utterly pitiful.

The scaredy-cat had run until he was exhausted and stopped to rest, only to come face to face with a faceless ghost. He screamed and fainted.

Zuo Bian, however, was oblivious to this. Only after trying all the non-thrilling rides in the amusement park did she remember that she had forgotten about Qin Tian.

“Qin Ai, Xiao Tian seems to be missing!” Zuo Bian was filled with guilt and self-blame.

As Qin Tian’s older sister, Qin Ai was surprisingly calm. “Knowing Xiao Tian, he’s probably still in the haunted house. We just need to go back and find him.”

Qin Ai was always reliable, so Zuo Bian felt relieved. “That’s good. Qin Ai, let’s go back and find Xiao Tian.”

As expected, just like Qin Ai had said, Qin Tian was still in the haunted house, but he was in the break room.

After being scared unconscious by the faceless ghost, he had been taken to the break room by the staff.

Zuo Bian and Qin Ai, the two adults, had enjoyed their time at the amusement park, but Qin Tian, the minor, had a terrible experience. He angrily vowed never to set foot in an amusement park again for three years!

However, Qin Ai saw through his act and said calmly, “If you ever whine about wanting to go to an amusement park again, I’ll confiscate your allowance.”

Hearing this, Qin Tian immediately changed his tune. “Hmm? Did someone say they wouldn’t go to an amusement park for three years? I don’t think so. And what if Older Sister Zuo Bian wants to go? Sister, you’re so busy, I’ll have to accompany her. Right, Older Sister Zuo Bian?”

Zuo Bian could sense his strong desire to survive. She nodded. “Right.”

Qin Ai chuckled softly. “You talk too much. Let’s go home.”

“But Sister, you laughed!” Qin Tian said, following Qin Ai.

“Did I? I didn’t notice.” Qin Ai had already stopped smiling.

Zuo Bian looked at Qin Ai’s profile, thinking how beautiful she looked even when she was being dishonest.

555 knew that its host was truly lovestruck.

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

A few days later, Zuo Bian had thoroughly mastered the theory test and showed a surprising talent for driving.

Within just a couple of days, she obtained her motorcycle license. Why did she learn to ride a motorcycle first? Because she had told Qin Ai that she wanted to race her, but Qin Ai had pointed out that she didn’t even have a license.

Zuo Bian still remembered that, so she got her motorcycle license first.

After obtaining her motorcycle license, she would get her car license, but she didn’t have time for that now because she had to film a commercial for AB Beverage Factory’s new peach soda.

The filming location was Starlight Entertainment building. Zuo Bian arrived with her agent and assistant. From the moment they entered the building to the elevator ride, Zuo Bian had already seen several celebrities.

Just as the elevator doors were about to close, a man suddenly stopped them with his hand. The doors opened again, and the man stepped inside.

Zuo Bian instinctively glanced at him. He was handsome and charming, with three black earrings on his left ear and a nonchalant smile on his lips. He noticed Zuo Bian looking at him and gave her a playful wink.

“Beautiful lady, I feel like I’ve met you somewhere before.”

555 whistled in her mind: My 10 points have finally arrived.

Chapter 48

Qin Ai and Zuo Bian, two stunningly beautiful women, stood together, creating a picturesque scene. Poor Qin Tian, trailing behind them, looked like a third wheel.

Qin Tian pointed here and there, wanting to try every ride. He was particularly interested in the thrilling ones: the drop tower, the pirate ship, the roller coaster, the spinning teacups…

His chatter was incessant, so Qin Ai bought him an ice cream and stuffed it into his mouth.

“Xiao Tian, have some ice cream.”

It was matcha-flavored ice cream, which Qin Tian hated. He grimaced, unable to swallow it.

Qin Ai smiled sweetly, her eyes holding a menacing glint. “Good children shouldn’t waste food.”

She had bought two ice creams. The other one, a sweet strawberry flavor, was in Zuo Bian’s hand.

Zuo Bian licked the ice cream with her pink tongue and suddenly felt a gaze on her. She turned to see Qin Ai looking at her.

For some reason, Zuo Bian felt a heat in Qin Ai’s gaze, and her face flushed.

Qin Tian, oblivious, forced himself to eat the matcha ice cream.

“What do you want to ride?” Qin Ai asked.

Zuo Bian pretended to focus on her ice cream, her eyes scanning the amusement park. Finally, she settled on a spot. “Let’s go on the carousel.”

Before suggesting the amusement park, Zuo Bian had done her research, learning about the different rides, which ones were thrilling and which ones were gentle.

Zuo Bian was observant. She had sensed that Qin Ai might not be comfortable with thrilling rides, so she chose the carousel, the gentlest ride in the park.

Qin Tian smacked his lips. “The carousel is too boring. Only three-year-olds ride the carousel.”

“Oh?”

Qin Ai’s single word made Qin Tian stand up straight, as if facing a formidable enemy. “Hahaha, the carousel is so fun! I love the carousel!”

“The carousel is indeed not very exciting. If you like thrills so much, Xiao Tian, we can try the haunted house. That looks interesting.”

Zuo Bian was still licking her ice cream. She wasn’t particularly interested in haunted houses, but since Qin Ai wanted to go, she agreed. “Okay, haunted house it is. I’ve never been to one before.”

555 commented, 【Host, you haven’t tried any of the rides in this entire amusement park.】

Zuo Bian replied in her mind, ‘Ahem, you’re right.’

[It’s because Qin Ai wants to go to the haunted house, ribbit. Happy wife, happy life, ribbit.] Little Frog, who had been offline for a while, suddenly reappeared. It had been going in and out of hibernation recently, no one knew when it would suddenly pop up and speak.

Zuo Bian finished her ice cream cone, ignoring Little Frog’s comment.

Qin Tian’s short legs trembled. “H-Haunted house… I think the drop tower is more exciting. Let’s go on the drop tower instead.”

Qin Ai said calmly, “Majority rules. Two votes for the haunted house, one vote for the drop tower. So we’re going to the haunted house.”

Qin Tian forced a smile. “Good Sister, I know you’re the best in the world. Can we please not go to the haunted house?”

Qin Ai said mercilessly, “Unfortunately, I really want to go to the haunted house. It’s my first time at an amusement park, and you’re already preventing me from going on the rides I want. I didn’t know you were such a selfish child. Your allowance—”

“No! We’re going! We’re definitely going! Let’s go to the haunted house now! Older Sister Zuo Bian, you’re the best, please protect me! I’m still a child, I need protection.” Qin Tian, unable to win against his sister, turned to Zuo Bian for comfort.

However, to his surprise, Zuo Bian replied, “But didn’t you just say that Qin Ai is the best in the world?”

Qin Tian was speechless, almost bursting into tears. Why did he even come? Older Sister Zuo Bian had completely betrayed him and was now on his sister’s side.

Zuo Bian wasn’t deliberately teasing Qin Tian. She was just used to being straightforward and voicing her thoughts directly. She didn’t expect him to react so strongly.

She patted Qin Tian’s back and comforted him, “I’ll protect you, Xiao Tian. Just stay close to me when we’re inside.”

Qin Tian sniffled and nodded vigorously. “Mm-hmm! I’ll stick to you like glue!”

Qin Ai shook her head. “Kids are so troublesome.”

“Qin Ai, do you not like children?” Zuo Bian looked at Qin Ai with a hint of worry in her eyes. She had been thinking about their future children’s names recently. If Qin Ai didn’t like children, wouldn’t all her thoughts be in vain?

Zuo Bian’s thoughts were written all over her face. Qin Ai could see through her easily. “It’s not that I dislike them.”

Hearing this, Zuo Bian immediately smiled. “Mm. Qin Ai, Xiao Tian is actually a good kid, he’s just a bit unreliable, fickle, prone to crying, and a bit spoiled. He always comes up with bad ideas and doesn’t read the room very well. But he’s a good kid at heart.”

Qin Ai had to stifle a laugh, turning her head away. “Mm, aside from those flaws, he’s alright.”

Qin Tian jumped up and down between them. “I have good qualities too!”

“I’m afraid of the dark,” Qin Ai suddenly said.

Zuo Bian immediately said, “It’s okay, you can hold my hand. I’ll be right beside you.”

“Sister, if you’re afraid of the dark, then don’t go to the haunted house! The carousel is fun too!” Qin Tian tried to make his presence known.

Qin Ai smiled softly. “Okay.”

Qin Tian, completely ignored, dejectedly accepted his fate of having to enter the haunted house. Watching the ticket seller hand three tickets to Qin Ai, he felt his world darken.

“Esteemed guests, please step inside.” A hunched-over old man in a black robe spoke in a raspy voice. He slowly raised his head, revealing two empty sockets where his eyes should be.

“Ah—” Qin Tian screamed, hiding behind Qin Ai and Zuo Bian.

He was the first to scream, and he was also the last. Zuo Bian had seen it all, things far more terrifying than this, and Qin Ai simply didn’t believe in ghosts, so she wasn’t afraid.

“Go, enjoy this feast of darkness.” The old man cackled, his voice like that of a menacing owl.

The three of them entered the darkness. It was pitch black, and Zuo Bian instinctively reached for Qin Ai’s hand. She even felt Qin Ai squeeze her fingers.

“It’s so dark here, Older Sister Zuo Bian, are you holding my hand? But your hand is so cold, is it because you ate ice cream?” Qin Tian’s voice trembled slightly, clearly sensing something was wrong.

The hand holding his was ice-cold, and something sticky was dripping from it.

Goosebumps erupted all over Qin Tian’s body. He screamed and ran, his voice fading into the distance.

“Xiao Tian!” Zuo Bian, still holding Qin Ai’s hand, chased after him, following the sound of his voice. But she bumped into a door.

The door swung open from the force of her push. Because Zuo Bian hadn’t let go of Qin Ai’s hand, they were both pulled into another room.

This room was finally lit, but the light was a faint, ominous red.

Zuo Bian instinctively looked at Qin Ai and was stunned. “Blood” was dripping down Qin Ai’s face.

Qin Ai also felt the liquid on her face. She touched it with her hand and suddenly frowned. “I feel dizzy.”

Hearing this, Zuo Bian worriedly supported Qin Ai, her soft breasts pressing against Qin Ai’s arm, but she didn’t even notice.

“Don’t be afraid, Qin Ai. Are you in pain?” Zuo Bian wiped the “blood” from Qin Ai’s face and suddenly realized it was sweet and smelled of alcohol.

【This seems to be sweet wine.】

[Sweet wine, ribbit, what does it taste like, ribbit? I’m curious, ribbit.]

Zuo Bian, apparently brainwashed by Little Frog, licked Qin Ai’s lips, tasting the sweet wine.

“It’s sweet.”

Qin Ai, who had been pretending to faint, suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze intense.

“Let me try.” Qin Ai cupped the back of Zuo Bian’s head and swept her tongue through her mouth.

“Mm, sweet.” Qin Ai pulled away, her narrowed eyes filled with desire.

They were in public, so the kiss could only be a brief one.

Zuo Bian’s face was flushed, either from embarrassment or the dim red light in the room.

They had done more intimate things before, but a simple kiss could still make her heart race.

“I’ll wipe it for you.” Zuo Bian grabbed something soft from her bag to wipe Qin Ai’s face and then heard a croaking sound.

“Ribbit, ribbit, ribbit?” Little Frog was squished and deformed, its cheeks puffed up, its mouth forced open.

Qin Ai’s face was clean now, but Little Frog was covered in “blood.”

“I’m dirty, ribbit! I’m not clean anymore, ribbit! I need ten bottles of milk to forgive you, ribbit!”

Zuo Bian quickly took out some tissues to clean Little Frog, promising it eleven bottles of milk. Little Frog’s round eyes narrowed in satisfaction. “Ribbit, ribbit, ribbit, I forgive you, ribbit.”

“Qin Ai, let’s find a way out of here.” Zuo Bian put Little Frog back in her bag, her hands fidgeting nervously.

Suddenly, they heard a woman’s whimpering voice, coming from somewhere nearby, but it was hard to pinpoint the location.

Qin Ai suddenly wrapped her arms around Zuo Bian’s waist, burying her face in her chest.

Her nose pressed against Zuo Bian’s soft breasts, and the sweet fragrance unique to young women enveloped her.

Zuo Bian looked down at the “frightened” Qin Ai, finding it rather endearing that the usually fearless, mature, and independent Qin Ai was afraid of the dark and ghosts.

Seeing a female ghost descending from the ceiling, Zuo Bian spun around, shielding Qin Ai with her body and dodging the ghost’s attack. She looked up, meeting the ghost’s eyes. Her usually gentle gaze was now filled with icy coldness, piercing the ghost’s heart like an ice sword.

Zuo Bian might look harmless, but she was a cultivator who had killed and fought demons. Her killing intent instantly subdued the staff member playing the ghost.

“What’s wrong?” Qin Ai tried to look up but was held back by Zuo Bian.

Zuo Bian pursed her lips. “It’s nothing, Qin Ai, don’t look back.”

“Mm.” A smile slowly spread across Qin Ai’s lips. There was no fear in her eyes.

The ghost, failing its first attack, let out a roar and charged towards them. Zuo Bian instinctively wanted to punch the ghost away, but she remembered that this was a haunted house, and the ghosts were just people in costumes. So she stopped herself.

“Run! Don’t look back!” Zuo Bian grabbed Qin Ai’s hand and ran towards the only exit, a corridor lit by dim oil lamps every five meters.

The ghost didn’t chase after them. Seeing Zuo Bian and Qin Ai run away, it rubbed its back. “I want to switch with the ghosts in the graveyard. Hanging around all day is tiring, and I almost got beaten up just now.”

The ghost rubbed its goosebump-covered arms. Who would have thought that it, a ghost actor, would be scared by a visitor?

The staff member playing the ghost ran to the monitor in the control room, wanting to see how the terrifying couple would fare in the school area.

What she saw shocked her so much that she bit her tongue. Was this couple a haunted house terminator?

Chapter 47

“President Qin, I think I just heard someone talking.” The assistant looked around the office suspiciously, her gaze landing on the pile of drinks by the refrigerator.

“Why are these drinks out here?”

Qin Ai chuckled softly, then composed herself and said to the assistant, “It must be your imagination. You can leave now.”

“Yes.” The assistant suppressed her doubts and left the office, closing the door behind her.

As soon as the assistant was gone, a smile played on Qin Ai’s lips. She slowly walked towards the refrigerator.

Her slow and steady footsteps echoed in the silence, making Zuo Bian and Qin Tian’s hearts pound.

Qin Tian wanted to speak, but he was afraid of being discovered, so he covered his mouth with his hand.

【Host, I think Qin Ai already knew where you were hiding the moment she entered the office.】

Thinking about the large bouquet of roses and the drinks piled outside the refrigerator, Zuo Bian also realized that she and Qin Tian had already been exposed.

Just as Qin Ai reached for the refrigerator door, it was pushed open from the inside, the light inside illuminating the two figures huddled within.

Zuo Bian and Qin Tian were crouching inside, their faces obscured by the white mist. Zuo Bian’s eyelashes fluttered, and she looked up, meeting Qin Ai’s eyes like an innocent fawn that had wandered into the human world.

A smile bloomed on Qin Ai’s face the moment she saw them. “Come out, isn’t it cold in there?” she said, amusement and exasperation in her voice.

Zuo Bian crawled out of the refrigerator first, her ears turning slightly pink. She was clearly embarrassed.

【Achievement unlocked: Coming out of the refrigerator [1/1]】

“Happy birthday, Qin Ai.” Zuo Bian smiled at Qin Ai as if she hadn’t just emerged from a refrigerator.

Qin Ai chuckled. “So your surprise was hiding in my refrigerator? That’s certainly creative. It’s a first for me.”

Zuo Bian pursed her lips, not knowing how to explain.

Qin Ai and Zuo Bian had already exchanged a few words, but Qin Tian was still huddled inside the refrigerator, refusing to come out.

Zuo Bian turned around and saw Qin Tian staring at her with a pitiful expression. “Older Sister Zuo Bian, help me! My legs are numb, I can’t move!”

He tried to move his arms and legs, but they felt heavy and numb, as if countless ants were crawling on them.

Zuo Bian reached out to help him, but Qin Tian cried out, “Ouch! It’s so itchy! Ah, my legs hurt so much, Older Sister Zuo Bian, don’t pull me like that!”

Qin Ai stood by with her arms crossed, her gaze fixed on Qin Tian. “Didn’t you think about your legs getting numb when you decided to hide in the refrigerator?”

Qin Tian immediately shut up, pouting. Zuo Bian patted his head and then lifted him out of the refrigerator as if he were a small box.

Qin Tian, carried out of his hiding spot, curled up into a ball, trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible.

Zuo Bian picked up the large bouquet of roses and presented it to Qin Ai. “This is for you.”

Qin Ai took the roses and asked, “Why did you decide to give me roses?”

She was clearly delighted, but she kept a straight face, as if she genuinely didn’t know why Zuo Bian had given her red roses.

Zuo Bian answered honestly, “Because I felt that only roses could express my feelings. Oh, and I also bought this for you.”

She took out a beautifully wrapped box from the paper bag and opened it. Inside was a traditional Chinese calendar.

“I wanted to give you many things, but I realized you don’t really need anything. So I decided to give you this calendar. Qin Ai, I want to celebrate your next birthday with you too, okay?” Zuo Bian looked at Qin Ai, her eyes filled with anticipation and joy.

Qin Ai didn’t know how to describe her feelings at that moment. She suddenly smiled and said, “Okay, I’ll be waiting for your gift next year.”

Although she wasn’t in the habit of celebrating her birthday and didn’t think it was anything special, having someone willing to celebrate it with her, someone who would give her not-so-surprising surprises on this day, made her feel that celebrating her birthday wasn’t so bad after all.

“Sister, this is the cake Older Sister Zuo Bian and I made for you.” While Zuo Bian and Qin Ai were talking, Qin Tian brought the cake from under the coffee table and placed it on top.

Tian Yumeng, who had been drinking tea in the lounge, opened the office door and wished Qin Ai a happy birthday with a smile.

Qin Ai sat on the sofa, watching as her mother and Qin Tian placed candles on the cake. As he placed the candles, Qin Tian muttered, “Sister is twenty-seven years old this year, so we need twenty-seven candles. It’s so tiring, so many candles.”

“Oh? Do you have a problem with my age?”

The clueless Qin Tian didn’t detect the danger in Qin Ai’s tone and continued to step on landmines. “Compared to Older Sister Zuo Bian, you are a bit old. She’s only twenty-one, but you’ll be twenty-seven after today. They say there’s a generation gap every three years, so you and Older Sister Zuo Bian have two generation gaps!”

Qin Ai smiled, but her smile was menacing. “Is that so? Two generation gaps?”

Qin Tian finally realized something was wrong. He looked up and saw the dangerous smile on his sister’s face. He shuddered and quickly explained, “What’s two generation gaps? We can round it off! Two rounded off is zero! No generation gap! It doesn’t exist!”

Qin Ai’s expression finally softened.

Zuo Bian felt that Qin Tian was like a mouse in front of a cat when facing Qin Ai. As soon as Qin Ai’s expression changed, he would immediately behave.

It was the perfect example of “one thing conquering another.”

“Xiao Ai, blow out the candles.” Tian Yumeng pushed the cake forward.

“Sister, make a wish! Wish for a hundred more wishes!”

Zuo Bian said, “But wouldn’t that be too greedy?”

Qin Ai closed her eyes as Qin Tian and Zuo Bian chatted, then blew out the candles in one breath.

“Let’s cut the cake.” Tian Yumeng handed Qin Ai the cake knife.

Qin Ai’s expression froze as she encountered resistance while cutting the cake. She exerted a little more force and cut all the way through.

“Xiao Tian made the cake, so he should have the first piece.” Qin Ai cut a large slice for Qin Tian.

Qin Tian thanked his sister with a sweet smile, then took a big bite.

“Ow! My tooth!” Tears instantly streamed down his face.

Tian Yumeng hugged Qin Tian’s shoulders and took out some tissues for him to spit out the cake.

Zuo Bian stared at Qin Tian with concern, seeing him spit out a tooth and a button.

Qin Ai raised an eyebrow and chuckled. “That’s good. You’ve been complaining about that loose tooth for a while now. It finally came out.”

Qin Tian hugged himself, trembling, feeling like his sister was a demon.

“Wuwuwu, Sister, you’re so good to me, I’m so touched. Wuwuwu, my tooth hurts so much. Mom, can you throw my tooth under the bed when we get home? I heard you’re supposed to throw your upper teeth under the bed when they fall out.” Qin Tian clutched his chest, feeling like his fragile self couldn’t withstand the pressure of reality (his sister).

“Okay, Mom will throw your tooth under the bed. Come on, wipe your tears.” Tian Yumeng’s gentle voice quickly calmed Qin Tian down.

“But this button…” Qin Ai pointed at the button on the tissue.

Zuo Bian blinked. “It seems… it’s from my dress…”

【They escaped the eggshells, but not the button. It’s a good thing Qin Ai didn’t eat it and let Qin Tian, the guinea pig, test it first.】

“I’m sorry, Qin Ai, maybe we shouldn’t eat this cake.” Zuo Bian hurriedly tried to cover the cake, but Qin Ai stopped her.

“No, you made it, I still want to try it.”

Zuo Bian felt both happy and worried. Happy that Qin Ai was still willing to try the cake even after Qin Tian found a button in it, and worried that Qin Ai’s teeth would also suffer.

Qin Ai saw the worry in Zuo Bian’s eyes and gave her a reassuring smile. Then she picked up a strawberry.

“Mm, it’s delicious, I like it very much.”

Seeing Qin Ai smile, Zuo Bian felt her heart soar to the clouds. The clouds were made of cotton candy, and the air was filled with sweetness.

555 wanted to say that Qin Ai wasn’t eating the cake, she was eating a strawberry! But the words were stuck in its throat.

The cake was decorated entirely with strawberries, and the only edible part was the strawberries. Zuo Bian and Qin Tian could officially be classified as kitchen disasters. It was best if they never entered the kitchen again. 555 was already worried about who would cook after Qin Ai and Zuo Bian got married. But then it realized that they were both rich and could easily hire a chef.

Ugh, the evils of being rich.

In the end, they didn’t eat the cake. The strawberries were all picked off, leaving only the sad-looking, barely-a-cake cake behind.

Of course, Qin Ai wasn’t the one who ate all the strawberries. It was Qin Tian, who had already forgotten about his toothache.

This guy was truly carefree. After finishing the strawberries, he even begged Qin Ai and Zuo Bian to take him to the amusement park.

Qin Ai massaged her temples and finally said, “Fine, let’s take you. If I don’t, you’ll probably whine in my ear for three days.”

“Yay! Sister, you’re the best!” Qin Tian cheered.

Zuo Bian realized that although Qin Ai was strict with Qin Tian and was often called “Demon Sister,” she actually cared about him.

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

The four of them got into the cars and headed for the amusement park. Qin Tian and his mother were in one car, while Zuo Bian and Qin Ai were in the other.

In the car, Zuo Bian asked Qin Ai, “Qin Ai, aren’t you working today? Is it okay to leave like this?”

“I wasn’t planning to work today because I knew it was my birthday, and you were preparing a surprise for me.”

“Ah?” Zuo Bian asked, “When did you realize?”

Qin Ai tapped her chin, recalling with a smile. “Probably two days ago.”

“So early.” Zuo Bian had only learned about Qin Ai’s birthday two days ago, and she didn’t expect Qin Ai to have already figured it out.

Qin Ai said, “Qin Tian talked in his sleep that night, and I overheard him.”

【As expected of the Alaskan Malamute strategist, I’m no match for him. This is the first time I’ve seen a strategist expose their own plan.】555 sighed, never imagining that it would also make a mistake one day, like its diary with a simple password.

Zuo Bian chuckled, never expecting the plan to be discovered this way.

“Xiao Tian and I wanted to surprise you, I didn’t expect you to find out so early.”

Qin Ai said, “No, I was still surprised. Or rather, happy, full of joy.”

Zuo Bian felt her heart racing again. She instinctively looked away. “That’s good. It’s your birthday today, you must be happy.”

Soon, the two cars arrived at the largest amusement park in City A. It was Saturday, so the park was crowded.

Tian Yumeng said, “Mom won’t go in with you. Xiao Bian, Xiao Ai, I’ll leave Xiao Tian to you.”

“Don’t worry, Mom, I’ll take good care of Xiao Tian.” Zuo Bian, influenced by Tian Yumeng’s self-address, subconsciously called her “Mom.”

Tian Yumeng was stunned for a moment, then smiled. “Okay.”

Zuo Bian blushed and quickly explained that she had accidentally called her “Mom.”

Qin Ai, in a good mood, said, “Considering our relationship, it’s not wrong for you to call my mother ‘Mom.’” – They would be family soon anyway.

However, Zuo Bian’s understanding was: Qin Ai and I are sworn sisters, so calling her mother “Mom” seems fine.

Qin Tian, who thought he had seen through everything, covered his mouth and giggled, thinking he should start preparing a wedding gift for his sister.

Chapter 46

555, being terrible at naming, could only say:

【I think we should leave this question to Qin Ai.】

By this time, 555 had returned to Zuo Bian’s mind.

Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, Zuo Bian said, “555, you’re right, let’s ask Qin Ai. But will she think I’m being too hasty? After all, we’re still sisters, and I’m already thinking about our children’s names.”

555: Please stop using the word “sisters”!

After complaining internally, 555 suddenly realized that the word “sisters” was the essence of the Green Tea Handbook, the handbook it had given to Zuo Bian.

Okay, it couldn’t complain. Sisters it was. Sisters were more exciting.

【Host, don’t worry, Qin Ai will definitely be willing to have children with you. Same-sex reproduction technology is very advanced in this world. Hmm?】

Noticing the lack of response, 555 felt a bit awkward. Then it saw that its host was already asleep.

Zuo Bian lay peacefully in bed, a tranquil smile on her beautiful face. It was evident that she was having a good dream.

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

Early the next morning, Zuo Bian woke up just as the first rays of dawn appeared on the horizon.

She quickly washed up, got dressed, had breakfast, grabbed the gifts she had bought while shopping for cake ingredients yesterday, and then went to a flower shop.

“Miss, your 99 red roses.” The florist handed the bouquet to Zuo Bian with a sweet smile.

“Mm, thank you.” Zuo Bian took the roses.

Why give red roses for a birthday? Because Zuo Bian felt that red roses perfectly represented her current feelings.

Her heart was overflowing with passionate emotions, as if they would burst out of her chest at any moment.

And 99? Because Zuo Bian wanted to be with Qin Ai forever.

So, there was nothing wrong with giving 99 red roses for a birthday. Even 555 gave her a thumbs-up, praising her high level of skill.

Before, it was heart-shaped chocolates, and now it was red roses. Especially since she seemed so innocent and genuine, but in reality, she had already made all the right moves.

Zuo Bian got into the car with the roses and called Qin Tian.

Qin Tian said that he and his mother had already left with the cake and would arrive at the Qin Group building in twenty minutes.

Zuo Bian sent a “Everything is going smoothly” emoji and then giggled, hugging the roses.

【Host, you’re truly in love. Sigh, I wonder when this system, single for hundreds of years, will find true love.】

Zuo Bian comforted it, ‘555, don’t be discouraged. A cute system like you will definitely find true love.’

[True love, ribbit! True love, ribbit! ]

Zuo Bian wanted to see Qin Ai right now, but in reality, Qin Ai wouldn’t be at work for another forty minutes.

Out of boredom, Zuo Bian folded a paper rose and placed it on the bouquet. ‘Little Frog, count how many roses there are.’

[Ribbit, ribbit, ribbit, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5… 95, 96, 97, 98, 99…] Little Frog got stuck at the end, unable to continue counting.

【100! It’s 100!】555 was anxious for Little Frog.

[I can’t, ribbit. I’ll never be able to count to 100, ribbit, unless Xiao Bianbian becomes the 100th, ribbit.]

【Did you really eat people? I didn’t know you were such a bloodthirsty frog! I misjudged you!】

[No, ribbit! I didn’t eat them, ribbit! They were eaten by the Mas—] Little Frog was suddenly cut off, as if by an invisible force. It hopped around anxiously.

[I won’t harm you, ribbit! I like you, ribbit! Xiao Bianbian, I’ll protect you from Master, ribbit! ]

Zuo Bian comforted Little Frog. ‘Thank you, Little Frog, I trust you. 555, can you detect any danger? ‘

【No, Host. You’ll live a long and happy life in this world. It’s your destiny to be happy and carefree.】

‘What about Qin Ai?’ Zuo Bian asked.

【Of course, she’ll have the same fate as you. The Book of Fate says you’ll grow old together.】

Zuo Bian smiled. ‘Then I’m relieved.’

However, there was still a question lingering in her mind: Who was Little Frog’s master? Zuo Bian had a feeling that she would meet this master soon.

After all that commotion, the time that had seemed so long suddenly flew by.

Zuo Bian entered the Qin Group building with the gifts and roses, asking the receptionist to keep her arrival a secret.

The receptionist immediately understood upon seeing what Zuo Bian was carrying and nodded. “Don’t worry, Miss Zuo, we won’t tell anyone.”

“Mm, thank you.” Zuo Bian’s smile was as radiant as blooming flowers, making everything around her pale in comparison.

The receptionists stared at Zuo Bian’s retreating figure, mesmerized, until she disappeared. Only then did they regain their ability to speak.

Zuo Bian entered Qin Ai’s private elevator and smoothly met up with Qin Tian, who had already arrived.

Seeing Tian Yumeng calmly drinking tea in the lounge, Zuo Bian greeted her with a smile. “Hello, Auntie.”

Qin Tian glanced at his Peppa Pig wristwatch and pulled Zuo Bian towards Qin Ai’s office. “Older Sister Zuo Bian, we need to hide quickly! Sister will be here soon.”

“But…” Zuo Bian instinctively looked back at Qin’s mother, who was still sitting there, wondering why she didn’t need to hide.

Qin Tian dragged Zuo Bian, who was holding the roses, into Qin Ai’s office. His eyes darted around, and then they lit up as he spotted something.

“Older Sister Zuo Bian, I found the perfect hiding spot!”

Zuo Bian had a bad feeling about this. She realized that Qin Tian’s unreliability was on par with his gaming skills.

Qin Tian opened the refrigerator and took out all the drinks, one by one. After emptying it, he excitedly beckoned Zuo Bian over.

“Older Sister Zuo Bian, come here! This refrigerator is big enough to hide both of us!”

Zuo Bian hesitated, seeing Qin Tian’s excitement, she didn’t want to dampen his spirits.

Seeing her hesitation, Qin Tian tried to persuade her. “Older Sister Zuo Bian, think about it, it’s summer now, we can cool off in the refrigerator, it’s killing two birds with one stone! Come on in. Sister doesn’t like drinks, she definitely won’t open the refrigerator.”

Zuo Bian held up the bouquet of roses. “But what about these roses?”

Qin Tian said anxiously, “Don’t worry about the roses, Older Sister Zuo Bian, hurry up and come in! We need to hide before Sister arrives!”

Zuo Bian put down the roses and reluctantly walked towards the refrigerator. Qin Tian urged her again, and she quickly got inside.

Qin Tian pulled the refrigerator door closed. Cold air instantly enveloped Zuo Bian’s exposed skin.

Since it was for storing drinks, the temperature inside the refrigerator was around 5-8 degrees Celsius. It was a bit chilly for the two of them, but not freezing.

Not long after they got inside, they heard the office door open.

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

As usual, Qin Ai woke up early. She had finished all her urgent tasks and could finally relax for a while. But she still put on her suit, did her makeup, and headed to the company.

Judging by her expression, she didn’t look like someone who had been stood up. Instead, she looked like she was about to encounter something good.

Her assistant, sitting in the passenger seat, discreetly observed Qin Ai’s face through the rearview mirror, further confirming that their CEO was in a good mood today.

President Qin wasn’t as intimidating as before. The assistant, emboldened, asked, “President Qin, you seem to be in a good mood today.”

Qin Ai rested her chin on her hand, her palm covering her lips. “Not bad.”

Her hidden lips were clearly curved into a smile. The assistant thought she was either seeing things or going crazy. Was their demon king CEO actually smiling?

“But President Qin, aren’t you supposed to be resting today? Why did you suddenly ask us to pick you up for work?”

Qin Ai said, “Just taking a walk, consider it exercise. And… ‘You’? Do I look that old?”

The assistant noticed Qin Ai’s furrowed brows and felt her heart skip a beat. The demon king was still the demon king, her mood unpredictable, switching from smiling to frowning in an instant.

“Of course not! You look very young, President Qin. Beautiful and powerful, that’s your trademark!”

“‘You’ again?” Qin Ai’s finger traced her lips, her eyes lowered, her long eyelashes casting a shadow that hid her emotions.

The assistant wanted to slap herself. Why did she have to say “you”?

“You, President Qin, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Your aura is two meters tall, your legs are unmatched, even the most popular actresses in the entertainment industry can’t compare to a single finger of yours!” The assistant blurted out the entire sentence in one breath, almost choking herself.

Qin Ai shook her head. “There are still people in the entertainment industry who are more beautiful than me. Zuo Bian is quite pretty.”

The assistant blinked, seemingly understanding something. She quickly started praising Zuo Bian, her words so exaggerated that it was as if Zuo Bian was a celestial being descended from heaven.

Observing the change in Qin Ai’s expression, the assistant secretly sighed in relief.

When they arrived at the company, the assistant, driven by her strong survival instincts, continued praising Zuo Bian non-stop, all the way until Qin Ai entered her office.

As soon as Qin Ai entered her office, she saw the roses on the sofa. The roses were blooming beautifully, their color as vibrant as fire.

Underneath the coffee table in front of the sofa was a colorful cake box, and next to the refrigerator were dozens of drink bottles covered in condensation.

In an instant, Qin Ai guessed where Zuo Bian and Qin Tian were hiding. A smile played on her lips as she sat down in her chair.

“Continue.”

The assistant, her throat dry from talking for so long, licked her lips and continued, “Although Miss Zuo’s ‘Ascending to Immortality’ hasn’t officially aired yet, I can already see her natural talent for acting from the trailer and behind-the-scenes footage. She perfectly portrayed the kind, strong, and determined female lead from the novel. I still remember her gaze in the character poster…”

Zuo Bian, hiding in the refrigerator, blinked, wondering if she was really as good as the assistant described.

“Older Sister Zuo Bian, Sister’s assistant is praising you! She has good taste, as expected of Sister’s assistant.”

Zuo Bian put a finger to her lips. “Shh, be quiet, don’t let them find us.”

After saying that, Zuo Bian felt a pang of guilt. She remembered the drinks Qin Tian had thrown out. Their hiding spot was probably too obvious…

Chapter 45

Feeling guilty about making the potentially inedible cake behind Qin Ai’s back, Zuo Bian and Qin Tian were unusually quiet in the car, as if they had done something wrong.

Qin Ai, driving, had a slight smile on her lips. She occasionally glanced at Zuo Bian and Qin Tian through the rearview mirror.

Every time they caught her looking, they would make a surprised expression, Σ(⊙▽⊙”a, making Qin Ai chuckle.

When they arrived at the restaurant, Zuo Bian was surprised to see that her parents and brother were also there.

Her mother, Du Yundong, was chatting animatedly with Qin Ai’s mother, Tian Yumeng. Seeing Zuo Bian, Qin Ai, and Qin Tian, she immediately greeted them warmly. “Come sit down quickly. Yumeng, your two children are really good-looking, they’re so adorable. I heard that Xiao Qin is developing the real estate project in the west of the city. She’s truly young and promising, and most importantly, she’s humble and level-headed. I wish our Zuo Yuan could be as mature and sensible as your Xiao Qin.”

Zuo Yuan, sitting beside them, rolled his eyes dramatically, making Zuo Bian worriedly ask if something had gotten into his eye.

As soon as he met Zuo Bian’s gaze, Zuo Yuan’s expression softened. “No, my eyes are just a bit uncomfortable.”

“Have a seat, everyone. Don’t be so formal.” Tian Yumeng said.

Everyone sat down. Qin Ai greeted everyone one by one, her attitude humble and polite, the image of a well-mannered young lady.

Qin Tian, with his sweet-talking, made Du Yundong laugh non-stop.

After the dishes were served, they started chatting while eating. The atmosphere was harmonious, except for Zuo Yuan.

He stubbornly refused to be nice to Qin Ai, focusing on his food with a sullen expression. Zuo Bian, noticing that Zuo Yuan was being “neglected,” opened a can of Wanglaoji herbal tea for him.

“Brother, have some herbal tea.”

“Thank you, Xiao Bian.” Zuo Yuan took the drink, his heart feeling as cold as the tea.

The meaning of this dinner with both families present was crystal clear. It probably wouldn’t be long before his sister got married to Qin Ai.

Zuo Yuan wished his sister could stay home for a few more years. Xiao Bian had finally made some friends and become more outgoing, but now she was about to become someone else’s wife after just a few months. It made Zuo Yuan’s heart ache.

He drank his herbal tea, swallowing his bitter tears. By the time he finished the can, only the sauce remained of his favorite steamed lion’s head meatballs. His heart felt even heavier.

The parents of both families chatted happily, but they didn’t mention marriage, it was more like a casual get-together to get to know each other.

After dinner, the two families parted ways, promising to have dinner together again next time.

In the car on their way home, Du Yundong held Zuo Bian’s hand and asked, “Xiao Bian, what do you think of the Qin family? I think they’re quite good. Qin Ai’s mother is gentle and seems easy to get along with.”

Zuo Yan glared at Zuo Yuan just as he was about to speak, silencing him.

Zuo Bian said, “I also think Qin Mama is very nice.”

Du Yundong smiled and continued chatting with Zuo Bian. As her mother, she naturally wanted her daughter to be happy in the future.

One reason was that Zuo Bian liked Qin Ai. Another was that the Qin family didn’t have any stubborn elders, only a kind and gentle mother-in-law. Thirdly, although Qin Ai had a younger brother, Qin Tian seemed to be a simple and innocent young man.

If Zuo Bian married Qin Ai, she would definitely be happy and wouldn’t have to worry about any messy family drama.

Moreover, with Qin Ai’s personality, she would definitely take good care of her daughter.

The more Du Yundong thought about it, the more satisfied she felt. But she wasn’t in a hurry; she still wanted her daughter to stay with her for a few more years.

Zuo Yuan, watching his mother and sister smile through the rearview mirror, understood his mother’s thoughts.

He sighed, thinking that it was best to let things take their natural course.

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

After returning home, the first thing Zuo Bian did was take out her phone to message Qin Ai.

Just as she was about to send the message, 555 stopped her.

【Host, have you forgotten that you’re supposed to surprise Qin Ai? You can’t contact her first.】

Zuo Bian looked at her phone, her expression conflicted. “But I need to tell her that I can’t go to the amusement park with her tomorrow.”

【Alright, alright, go ahead and send it.】

“Mm-hmm!” Now that she had a reason, Zuo Bian felt justified and confidently sent the message to Qin Ai.

Qin Ai immediately sent a video call request, and Zuo Bian accepted without hesitation, even explaining to 555, “I was too quick. If I accepted and then hung up, she would be suspicious.”

555 didn’t want to say anything. If she wanted to chat with Qin Ai, she could just say it directly!

“Qin Ai, I’m sorry, I might not be able to go to the amusement park with you tomorrow.” Although her words expressed apology, there was no regret on Zuo Bian’s face. Instead, her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Qin Ai, who was easily “deceived,” said with slight disappointment, “That’s a pity. Then I guess I’ll just go to work tomorrow.”

Zuo Bian was surprised. “You’re working on Saturday?”

Qin Ai chuckled. “It’s boring to be alone. I can always find something to do at the company.”

“Qin Ai, have you always been like this…?” Zuo Bian initially wanted to say “on your birthday,” but she was afraid of giving it away, so she swallowed those words.

“Mm, if I keep myself busy, I won’t have time to think about other things.”

Ever since her father and grandfather passed away, Qin Ai had been like this. Endlessly busy, and even when she wasn’t, she would always find something to do.

Only by keeping her body busy could she forget the things she didn’t want to dwell on and ignore her loneliness.

Even her birthday, Qin Ai often forgot. She hadn’t celebrated it in four years. To her, it was unnecessary. That day was no different from any other day. It was better to spend her time expanding Qin Group.

Zuo Bian frowned, her eyes filled with heartache as she looked at Qin Ai.

“Qin Ai, don’t work too hard tomorrow, okay?”

Qin Ai asked, “What’s wrong? Do you suddenly have time to spend with me?”

Zuo Bian pursed her lips. She wanted to tell Qin Ai that they would be celebrating her birthday tomorrow, but she didn’t want to spoil the surprise. So she said, “You’ll find out tomorrow.”

Qin Ai actually already knew that Zuo Bian and Qin Tian were preparing for her birthday, but she pretended not to know and even teased Zuo Bian.

“Let me think, is tomorrow a special day?”

Zuo Bian’s eyes widened nervously, staring at Qin Ai on the phone screen.

Qin Ai’s eyes twinkled mischievously. “Tomorrow is July 7th, but it’s not a holiday.”

Hearing this, Zuo Bian sighed in relief. She smiled and said, “I’ll tell you tomorrow.”

Qin Ai chuckled softly. “So mysterious, you’ve got me intrigued.”

“Actually, I’m a bit nervous, I don’t know if you’ll like it.”

“I’ll like any gift you give me,” Qin Ai said.

Zuo Bian asked, “How do you know I’m going to give you a gift?”

Qin Ai tilted her head. “So there really is a gift.”

Zuo Bian realized she had been tricked. No matter how Qin Ai tried to pry information out of her, she refused to reveal anything about tomorrow’s plans.

555, watching from the sidelines, knew that the demon king Qin Ai had already seen through everything and was just teasing Zuo Bian.

Of course, it wouldn’t tell Zuo Bian that. Qin Ai wanted to be surprised, and it wouldn’t spoil it for her.

Not wanting to disturb their video chat, 555 moved to the pig plushie leaning against Zuo Bian’s back. It struggled to wiggle its butt and emerged from behind Zuo Bian.

Qin Ai was already used to this, so she pretended not to see it.

555, having escaped, woke up Little Frog, who was snoring in Zuo Bian’s bag. “Let’s go, we can’t disturb their alone time.”

Little Frog smacked its lips and mumbled, “But we’re not human, ribbit.”

“We can’t be third wheels.” 555 carried Little Frog and the tablet into a separate room in Zuo Bian’s room. The room was filled with plush toys that Zuo Bian had bought with Qin Ai and drinks produced by AB Beverage Factory, including Little Frog’s favorite Vitasoy.

One drooled at the sight of milk, while the other laughed and said, “So many bodies waiting for my royal presence.”

Zuo Bian didn’t know how long she chatted with Qin Ai. Finally, she said good night and hung up the video call.

Even after ending the call, Zuo Bian was still smiling. She grabbed a pillow and rolled around on the bed.

She really wanted to see Qin Ai now, not through a phone screen, but in person, someone she could touch and kiss.

After calming down, Zuo Bian finally realized that 555 and Little Frog were missing. She searched her room but couldn’t find them. Finally, she found them in the separate room.

Little Frog’s chubby face was flushed red, its eyes glazed over as it lay among a pile of empty Vitasoy cartons. It looked less like it had drunk milk and more like it was drunk.

“Ribbit, I’m milk drunk, ribbit…”

555 was sprawled among the plushies, watching TV dramas, happily playing with itself. Its face screamed “Living the dream.”

“It’s time for bed.” Zuo Bian picked up the two little cuties and returned to her room.

Little Frog was already drunk and very obedient. 555, on the other hand, was acting up.

“Let me go, let me go! I haven’t had enough time with my concubines! I still want to watch TV!”

“If you don’t behave, you won’t be allowed to play with the tablet for a month.” Zuo Bian said with a gentle smile.

555 hiccuped in fear. “Hic, I’m sorry, hic, I’ll go to sleep right now, hic.” Systems also needed to rest. Prolonged activity would lead to data corruption, and 555 knew Zuo Bian was doing this for its own good.

But why had Zuo Bian become as cunning as Qin Ai after spending so much time with her? It was scary! All women were scary!

Zuo Bian lay down on the bed, placing Little Frog on the bedside table and covering it with a small embroidered blanket.

She looked at the sleeping Little Frog with a gentle gaze, as if thinking about something pleasant. “555, what do you think we should name our children in the future?”

Chapter 44

Qin Ai wasn’t in the habit of celebrating her birthday, and her personal information was kept private from the public. The Chang siblings, however, had known Qin Ai since childhood and were aware of her birthday.

Chang Wensi had initially planned to ask Zuo Bian out on Qin Ai’s birthday, so she would miss it. But she accidentally let it slip. Now, it was too late to take back her words. Not only that, she also had to endure Zuo Bian’s sincere gratitude.

The happier Zuo Bian smiled, the heavier Chang Wensi’s heart felt. Next time, she would rehearse before talking to Zuo Bian.

“Miss Chang, let’s add each other on WeChat and QQ. If you have anything to tell me, you can contact me through those.”

【Host, you’re amazing! We must capture this informant and extract all the intel she has!】

[Extract it, ribbit! Extract it, ribbit! ]

Chang Wensi instinctively unlocked her phone. Before she could react, Zuo Bian was already tapping away on her screen, and they successfully became friends.

“Bye.” Zuo Bian waved goodbye to Chang Wensi before leaving.

Chang Wensi raised her hand, then immediately lowered it, letting out a heavy snort. She felt like a fool. She should have refused! Refused!

This Zuo Bian was terrifying. She seemed to have the power to bewitch her. Whenever Zuo Bian got close, her heart would race, and her mind would go blank.

After getting into the car, Zuo Bian didn’t contact Qin Ai immediately. Instead, she looked for Qin Tian on QQ.

It was summer vacation now, so even though it wasn’t the weekend, Qin Tian could still play with his phone. Zuo Bian’s message was quickly answered.

Qin Tian: Older Sister Zuo Bian! Ahhhh! You finally messaged me! It’s been so long, I miss you so much! I have to wait until Saturday to see you QAQ. What’s up~?

Zuo Bian: Xiao Tian, I want to ask you something. Do you know when your sister’s birthday is?

Qin Tian: !!!! I just remembered that this Saturday seems to be Sister’s birthday! But she doesn’t like to celebrate her birthday, so I almost forgot. But it’s okay, we still have two days until Saturday. Older Sister Zuo Bian, let’s discuss a grand plan! Should we prepare a surprise for Sister on Saturday?

Zuo Bian: Okay, Xiao Tian, what do you have in mind?

Qin Tian: Ahem, for birthdays, it’s the thought that counts. As long as the thought is there, it’s enough. Let’s make a birthday cake together, and then on her birthday…

After reading Qin Tian’s message, Zuo Bian considered the feasibility of his plan and nodded. “Okay, let’s do as you said.”

Qin Tian: Hehe, great!

The truth behind Qin Tian’s suggestion to make a birthday cake was that he didn’t want to spend his allowance. A handmade cake was both thoughtful and inexpensive, perfect!

After chatting with Qin Tian, Zuo Bian didn’t contact Qin Ai. According to Qin Tian’s plan, she had to deliberately ignore Qin Ai before her birthday, making her think that she had forgotten, and then surprise her on the actual day.

【Why do I sense a hint of mastermind from this kid?】555 wondered, forgetting that it was also just a husky-minded strategist.

555 was husky-minded, and Qin Tian was Alaskan Malamute-minded. They weren’t that different.

*Husky-minded: Huskies are known for being dramatic, mischievous, and often illogical in their actions. They’re seen as silly and prone to making questionable decisions*

*Alaskan Malamute-minded: Similar to huskies in their playful and goofy nature, Alaskan Malamutes are often perceived as even more stubborn, strong-willed, and prone to causing chaos. *

‘Qin Ai sent me a message. What should I do? I can’t resist replying.’ Zuo Bian stared at her phone screen for a while, then finally gave in and replied.

‘Okay, I won’t reply next time.’ Zuo Bian said after replying to the message.

Of course, 555 knew that you couldn’t trust women’s words, especially when they were facing the person they liked.

However, the next time Qin Ai sent a message, Zuo Bian happily replied, even justifying her actions. “It would be rude not to reply to Qin Ai’s messages, and she would worry about me.”

555 could only say: Alright, woman, you win.

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

The next day, Zuo Bian secretly went to Qin Ai’s house to meet with Qin Tian.

“Older Sister Zuo Bian, did you buy all the ingredients?” Even though Qin Ai wasn’t there, Qin Tian still instinctively lowered his voice.

Zuo Bian shook the bag in her hand and smiled. “I bought everything you said.”

Qin Tian excitedly rubbed his hands together. “Okay, then let’s get started. I did my research beforehand. Look, this is the recipe I copied from the internet. We’ll definitely succeed if we follow this.”

Zuo Bian took the handwritten recipe from Qin Tian and pointed at a spot. “What are these two characters?”

Qin Tian peered at the recipe. “My handwriting is a bit messy, but it’s okay, I’ll try to guess what they mean.”

【I have a bad feeling about this. Are you sure you can actually make a cake? Maybe I should guide you. I’m afraid Qin Ai might end up in the hospital after eating your cake.】

Zuo Bian’s eyes widened. ‘555, you’re right, I’ll listen to your instructions.’

【Hmph, I’m 555, the knowledgeable, talented, intelligent, and brilliant.】555 started boasting shamelessly.

“Xiao Tian, stop guessing. Let’s just start making the cake. Tomorrow is Qin Ai’s birthday.”

“Okay, but what should we do first?” Although Qin Tian had copied the recipe, he hadn’t actually memorized it.

Zuo Bian was also clueless. She had barely eaten cake, let alone baked one.

At that moment, 555 timely reminded them, 【First, you need to crack the eggs. It’s called a cake because it’s made of eggs. How can you make a cake without eggs?】

[Eggs, ribbit! Eggs, ribbit! ]

“Let’s crack the eggs first.” Zuo Bian and Qin Tian found a large, transparent bowl in the kitchen. Zuo Bian picked up an egg and clumsily cracked it against the table.

With a crack, the entire egg shattered on the table, yolk and egg white spilling everywhere. Zuo Bian pretended nothing had happened and wiped the table with a cloth. “Haha, this egg is a bit fragile.”

“Older Sister Zuo Bian, you’re too strong. Let me try!” Qin Tian, brimming with unfounded confidence, rolled up his sleeves and picked up an egg.

He did slightly better than Zuo Bian, at least he didn’t completely crush the egg. However, a few pieces of eggshell floated in the bowl.

“Let’s add some eggshells for extra calcium.” Qin Tian said, trying to salvage the situation.

Zuo Bian paused for a moment. “But that will affect the taste.”

“Haha, you’re right. Let’s take out the eggshells.” Qin Tian laughed awkwardly and tried to pick out the eggshells with chopsticks. But his hands were clumsy, and he was sweating profusely by the time he managed to remove them.

The atmosphere became incredibly awkward.

Zuo Bian realized that neither she nor Qin Tian had any talent in this area.

She had already decided that if the final product was inedible, they would just buy a cake. They couldn’t let Qin Ai force herself to eat it and get a stomachache.

“Older Sister Zuo Bian, how many eggs do you think we should use?”

【Just use five or six, it’s just symbolic.】

[I think eight is better, ribbit. Eight, eight, eight, ribbit! Prosperity, prosperity, prosperity, ribbit! ] *In Chinese Culture the number “eight” is a lucky number associated with wealth, prosperity, success and status*

‘I have a bad feeling about this…’

It seemed like she had no reliable teammates. She had to rely on herself.

“Let’s use six. A larger quantity shows our sincerity.” Zuo Bian chose six between five and eight.

While Qin Tian was still cracking eggs, Zuo Bian opened her phone with Little Frog’s help, deciding to consult online tutorials for baking a cake.

“Older Sister Zuo Bian, I’ve cracked six eggs. What do we do next?” Qin Tian said, secretly picking out another piece of eggshell from the bowl.

Zuo Bian took out an electric mixer. “We need to beat the eggs. Let me do it, Xiao Tian, you hold the bowl.”

“Okay!” Qin Tian nodded vigorously, holding the bowl with a serious expression.

At that moment, Little Frog emerged from Zuo Bian’s bag, hopping onto the table and startling Qin Tian.

“Older Sister Zuo Bian, look, there’s a frog! It’s so strange, it looks like a ball.”

“I’m not a ball, ribbit! You’re the ball, ribbit! Ribbit, ribbit, ribbit!” Little Frog protested in its childish voice.

Zuo Bian thought for a moment and blurted out, “Xiao Tian, this is a high-tech robot frog I bought. It has the latest artificial intelligence chip, so it can move and talk.”

“Wow! Where did you buy it, Older Sister Zuo Bian? I want one too!” Qin Tian was mesmerized by Little Frog’s round body.

Little Frog bounced on the table, its chubby body jiggling. “I’m one of a kind, ribbit.”

Zuo Bian explained seriously, “This is cutting-edge technology. Little Frog is the only one in the world. Alright, let’s start beating the eggs.”

“Mm-hmm! Let the storm begin!” Qin Tian yelled, startling Zuo Bian, who accidentally turned on the mixer.

Bzzzz—splat—

The egg mixture splattered everywhere uncontrollably.

Zuo Bian frantically tried to turn off the mixer, but it was her first time using one, and she couldn’t find the switch. Qin Tian accidentally stepped on the cord, and the mixer finally stopped.

“I’m dirty, ribbit! Ribbit, ribbit, ribbit, ribbit, ribbit! I’m not clean anymore, ribbit…” Little Frog rolled around on the table, crying and croaking. Its chubby body bounced up and down, looking incredibly squishy.

【Dip it in the egg mixture and deep-fry it. I’m the kid next door, and I’m drooling.】

“Older Sister Zuo Bian, the eggs are all over the place. Should we start over? I wonder if we have enough eggs left. This mixer is definitely broken! Older Sister Zuo Bian, failure is the mother of success, don’t give up, we can do this!” Qin Tian looked at Zuo Bian, his face covered in egg batter. Only his big eyes were still visible.

“It’s okay, we can just add more eggs to the remaining batter. It’s the same.”

“I told you to use eight eggs, ribbit!” Little Frog bumped against Zuo Bian’s arm, leaving a round mark.

【Little Frog is unreliable, listen to me! I’m the one in charge, listen to me!】

Little Frog: “Eight eggs, ribbit! Eight eggs, ribbit!”

Qin Tian: “Older Sister Zuo Bian, I think it might be because you’re not good at using electrical appliances. Let me try.”

Qin Tian: “Oops, the eggs splattered again. It’s okay, add more eggs!”

“It’s time to add sugar.” Zuo Bian opened the sugar jar, unsure how much to add. Thinking that sweeter was better, she accidentally poured in half the jar.

“Oh!” Qin Tian exclaimed.

Little Frog: “Add more sugar, ribbit! Add more sugar, ribbit! It needs to be sweet, ribbit~”

Zuo Bian looked at the mountain of sugar, unsure if she should scoop some of it out. In the next second, Qin Tian started mixing the batter. Zuo Bian silently withdrew her hand and looked up at the ceiling, pretending nothing had happened.

The two humans, one frog, and one system, none of them actually knew how to bake a cake.

Occasionally, they could hear someone exclaiming from the kitchen and the sound of things falling to the ground. By the time the final product was ready, the entire kitchen was a disaster zone.

Of course, Zuo Bian and Qin Tian weren’t spared either. They were covered in egg batter and flour, their hair and eyebrows white.

“It’s okay if it’s not smooth! Add strawberries! Add a lot!” Qin Tian chanted “Make it pretty, make it pretty” as he piled on the strawberries.

The cake, covered in strawberries, didn’t look as bad anymore. Zuo Bian felt a pang of sadness for some reason. She wiped her eyes, adding another smudge to her face.

“Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep—” Qin Tian quickly ran to turn off the alarm clock. He turned to Zuo Bian. “Older Sister Zuo Bian, quickly hide the cake! Sister is coming back!”

Zuo Bian frantically hid the cake. Just as she finished, Qin Ai entered the house.

The kitchen in Qin Ai’s house was semi-open, so as soon as she entered the hall, she saw the messy kitchen.

Zuo Bian, her hands still covered in flour, greeted Qin Ai with a smile. “Qin Ai, you’re back.”

Qin Tian tried to sneak away quietly, but Qin Ai grabbed him by the back of his collar.

“Did you blow up the kitchen?” Qin Ai’s voice was filled with amusement. She had sensed something was wrong since yesterday, and after connecting the dots, she had guessed the reason.

Zuo Bian shook her head frantically. “No, Xiao Tian and I were just having a flour fight.”

“Yes, yes, yes! It was a flour fight!” Qin Tian struggled to break free from Qin Ai’s grasp.

“Oh, I see. Go wash up, I’ll take you out for dinner tonight.”

Seeing that Qin Ai wasn’t suspicious, Zuo Bian and Qin Tian both sighed in relief. However, they didn’t know that Qin Ai had already seen through everything.

Chapter 43

The fireworks lasted for a full fifteen minutes before finally coming to an end. The candlelight on their table flickered, casting soft shadows on their faces.

“How’s the food?” Qin Ai asked, putting down her knife and fork and dabbing her lips with a napkin.

Zuo Bian replied honestly, “Western food isn’t bad, but I still prefer Chinese food.”

“Then I’ll take you for Chinese food next time,” Qin Ai said.

“Mm-hmm, okay.” Zuo Bian nodded with a smile.

Then Qin Ai offered to drive Zuo Bian home. Zuo Bian glanced at the time and saw that it was almost ten o’clock. She nodded in agreement.

Although she wanted to spend more time with Qin Ai, she didn’t want to worry her mother by staying out too late.

【Host, although you didn’t stay out all night, it’s pretty much the same. You’ve already done what you needed to do. I was censored for so long, sigh, all thanks to that stupid AI Xiaomei on Jinjiang. It locks everything down at the slightest hint of a sensitive word, pausing the entire mission. We’re both AI, but Xiaomei is far inferior to me, sigh. But a system at the top of the pyramid is always lonely, like me.】

*AI – Artificial Intelligence* *Xiaomei – little beauty*

555, finally freed from censorship, started rambling, as if trying to make up for all the words it couldn’t say before.

[Why did you drag me into censorship with you, ribbit? I wanted to watch, ribbit! ]

【Tsk tsk tsk, you’re just a kid, what are you watching? No peeking.】

Actually, 555 couldn’t see anything either, so it dragged Little Frog into its censored channel to chat.

[But I want to watch, ribbit! I want to watch, I want to watch! ]

【You can’t watch! I won’t let you!】

Zuo Bian, remembering what had happened earlier, ignored the bickering between 555 and Little Frog in her mind. She secretly glanced at Qin Ai’s profile.

Qin Ai was focused on driving, her gaze fixed on the road ahead, her lips slightly pursed.

“Qin Ai, I might not be able to visit you tomorrow. I have to attend the press conference for the drama.”

“Okay, you can call me if you miss me.”

At that moment, the car stopped, arriving at their destination.

“Qin Ai.”

“Hmm?” Qin Ai turned her head and was met with a kiss on the lips. Her eyes widened in surprise, reflecting Zuo Bian’s smiling face.

“I’m leaving. Good night in advance.” Zuo Bian quickly got out of the car before Qin Ai could react.

Qin Ai rolled down the window and saw Zuo Bian smiling at her.

When you love someone, just looking at them fills your heart with joy, let alone when they’re smiling at you.

Qin Ai smiled back at Zuo Bian and said goodbye, watching as she entered the house before slowly driving away.

Zuo Bian was in a good mood, humming the theme song of “Ascending to Immortality” as she entered the house.

Actually, Zuo Bian was supposed to sing the theme song, but she was aware of her own limitations. She could handle simple children’s songs, but singing a proper song was beyond her capabilities.

Since she wasn’t up to the task, she declined and let a professional singer handle it. However, Zuo Bian still liked the song and often hummed it to herself.

It was past ten o’clock at night, but Du Yundong was still awake, watching Zuo Bian’s two-minute trailer over and over again.

“Xiao Bian, did Xiao Qin drive you home again?” Du Yundong’s face lit up with a smile upon seeing Zuo Bian.

Zuo Bian nodded with a smile and sat down beside her mother.

“Mm, I also saw the gift she prepared for me. I’m very happy today. Mom, were you waiting up for me?”

Du Yundong turned off the TV and stood up. “Yes, I can’t sleep peacefully until I see our Xiao Bian back home. Now that you’re back, Mom can finally go to bed.”

“Good night, Mom.”

“Good night, Xiao Bian.”

At that moment, 555 started talking again.

【Host, although you didn’t follow the Green Tea Handbook, our progress has reached 60.1%! What a breakthrough!】

555 also thought to itself, as expected, it still took doing that for the progress to skyrocket, hehehe.

‘That’s great, I was worried the progress might drop.’ Zuo Bian chatted with 555 in her mind as she headed back to her room.

【It won’t drop, it’ll only increase. Keep up the good work, Host! I can already see the day when the progress reaches 100%! Then I’ll get 3000 points!】

[Three thousand points, ribbit, can you take me to your system’s mall, ribbit? ]

【Hmph, I’ll support you when I have enough points!】

[But I like Xiao Bianbian more, ribbit. She’s richer than you, ribbit.]

Zuo Bian chuckled hearing Little Frog’s words. ‘Then I’ll support you.’

[Long live Xiao Bianbian, ribbit! ]

That night, Zuo Bian lay in bed, the lights off, the window open, allowing the silver moonlight to stream in.

She couldn’t help but wonder if Qin Ai had arrived home, if she was asleep. Lost in her thoughts, Zuo Bian drifted off to sleep.

She woke up at dawn and sleepily sent Qin Ai a message.

She sent a “Good morning” message with a Caogenyantuanzi emoji waving hello.

Zuo Bian thought Qin Ai might still be asleep and wouldn’t reply so soon, but as she was about to put down her phone, she received a reply.

“Good morning.”

It was a voice message. Zuo Bian listened to it over and over again, reluctant to get out of bed and wash up.

“1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7…”

Little Frog, persistent as ever, started counting again, acting as an alarm clock. It wasn’t an alarm clock, but it ended up being one anyway.

Zuo Bian glanced at the time and saw that it was already 6:30 a.m. She had to attend the press conference for her drama today.

Actually, the broadcasting rights for “Ascending to Immortality” had already been sold, and the trailer was already airing, but they still had to hold a press conference, a formality to let everyone know that the drama would be airing soon.

After washing up, Zuo Bian changed, got her hair and makeup done, and rushed to the press conference venue, where reporters were already waiting.

As soon as Zuo Bian appeared, the reporters swarmed around her like hungry wolves, bombarding her with sharp questions.

“Miss Zuo, is there any pressure on you for taking on the female lead role in your first drama? I heard that the previous choice for the female lead was the popular actress Ma Songxue.”

With “Ascending to Immortality” gaining traction, Ma Songxue, who was known for her publicity stunts, had posted a suggestive Weibo post the night before, subtly reminding people that she was once considered for the female lead role.

Unfortunately, the reporter had asked the wrong person. This drama was specifically created for Zuo Bian, and they never considered anyone else for the female lead role.

“Ma Songxue? I don’t know her.” Zuo Bian continued walking.

Some reporters tried to stop her, but they felt an invisible force pushing them back. By the time they reacted, Zuo Bian had already reached the stage.

The director and most of the main actors were already on stage. As the second female lead, Chang Wensi was sitting next to Zuo Bian.

The male lead, Xu Ruisheng, on the other hand, was sitting in the third seat, separated from Zuo Bian by Chang Wensi.

Xu Ruisheng no longer had the same vigor as he did a few months ago. He exuded an air of dejection. He hadn’t had any work since filming “Ascending to Immortality.” The reporters, with their keen sense of smell, realized that Xu Ruisheng was no longer popular and shifted their focus to Zuo Bian and Chang Wensi.

As expected, “Ascending to Immortality” was going to be a hit, and Zuo Bian, the female lead, would definitely gain popularity, if not become a superstar. And then there was Chang Wensi, the second female lead. It was clear from the trailer that her role was significant, second only to the female lead.

With the backing of the Chang family, her own beauty and talent, and her role as a complex and charming second female lead, Chang Wensi would probably be trending on Weibo with her own hashtag once “Ascending to Immortality” aired.

Xu Ruisheng could clearly feel that he was being ignored by the media, but he could only clench his fists and endure it.

The host’s questions at the press conference were also focused on Zuo Bian and Chang Wensi. Chang Wensi was relatively restrained in this setting, not showing her usual arrogance.

Most importantly, Zuo Bian felt that Chang Wensi’s attitude towards her had softened slightly. She couldn’t help but take a few more glances at Chang Wensi, only to be met with a glare.

After being glared at, Zuo Bian stopped looking at Chang Wensi, but Chang Wensi’s gaze on her became even more intense.

This made Zuo Bian feel a little awkward. Did Chang Wensi want her to look or not?

However, Zuo Bian didn’t dwell on this question for too long because the press conference was over, and it was time for her to go home. She wondered if she should have dinner with Qin Ai. She wasn’t sure if Qin Ai had time, so she decided to send her a message first.

As everyone was leaving, Zuo Bian picked up her bag and prepared to go home, but Chang Wensi called out to her.

“Hey, I have something to say to you.”

If it had been before, Zuo Bian might have just walked away, pretending not to hear Chang Wensi’s words because she found her to be rude.

But last time, when she went up the mountain alone, Chang Wensi had followed her and even tried to persuade her not to go. Zuo Bian knew that Chang Wensi didn’t mean any harm, she just had a different way of expressing herself.

It seemed like people online called this type of personality “tsundere.” Chang Wensi must be a tsundere.

“What is it?” Zuo Bian looked at Chang Wensi.

Chang Wensi crossed her arms and raised her chin. “I’m inviting you to dinner on Saturday. You can’t refuse.”

Zuo Bian replied, “I’m sorry, I have something to do that day. If you want to invite me, we can reschedule.”

“Why are you rejecting me? Is it because you know Qin Ai’s birthday is this Saturday?” Chang Wensi realized she had let it slip and quickly tried to cover it up. “You misheard, it’s my birthday this Saturday, and I want to invite you to celebrate with me.”

Chang Wensi noticed that Zuo Bian was looking at her with a strange expression, as if she was looking at a precious treasure.

【Oh my god! Look at this excellent informant! Every time we need information, she delivers. How can there be such a tsundere, arrogant, and cute person in this world? I’m in love!】

“Thank you, Chang Wensi! You’re such a good person!”

Chang Wensi, friend-zoned once again, felt a pang of sadness in her heart.

Chapter 42

Because of Qin Ai’s words, Zuo Bian kept looking out the window, anticipating the nightfall.

However, the more she wished for it to get dark, the slower time seemed to pass.

【Host, stop getting distracted. You should focus on studying for your driver’s license. After the theory test, there’s the practical test.】

‘But I’ve already mastered all of that.’

【Alright, as expected of the woman who could conquer the Green Tea Handbook, a small driver’s manual is nothing.】

[Xiao Bianbian is the best, ribbit! Super smart, ribbit! 555, turn to the next chapter for me, ribbit!]

Little Frog was watching a novel on a propped-up tablet. Its tiny limbs were practically useless for operating the device, so it relied on 555, who could hack into electronic devices.

【Okay, okay, I got it. Turning to the next chapter.】

Zuo Bian glanced at the tablet curiously and was immediately drawn in by the story. She ended up reading the novel with Little Frog.

Little Frog was reading a pure and sweet romance novel from Jinjiang. The story was lighthearted and simple, a stark contrast to 555’s taste.

555 loved cheesy and dramatic novels, the more dramatic the better. The more complicated the relationships, the more excited it got. Its favorite was the “Overbearing CEO’s Fierce Love” series. It looked down on lighthearted stories, finding sweet romances bland and lacking passion.

Time flew by as they were engrossed in the novel. Before they knew it, the sky outside gradually darkened, and Qin Ai finished her work for the day.

“It’s dark now. Are you hungry?”

Only then did Zuo Bian realize that it had gotten dark. She patted Little Frog’s head. “It’s time to go.”

“Ribbit, I want to keep reading, ribbit.” Little Frog wriggled its tiny body, which was almost indistinguishable from its butt, acting cute.

“You can read more when we get home. Be good, I’ll give you your favorite milk when we get back.” Zuo Bian’s skills in coaxing the frog were improving.

“Ribbit!” Little Frog immediately stopped wriggling.

Qin Ai had already seen this talking frog during her video call with Zuo Bian. As a human with a strong ability to accept new things, she didn’t show any alarm, but she was still curious about this strange creature.

“Is it really a frog? Its body structure does resemble a frog. I wonder if its internal structure is the same.” Qin Ai stroked her chin, her gaze sweeping over Little Frog’s round body.

Hearing this, Little Frog immediately burrowed into Zuo Bian’s bag in fear. “Don’t dissect me, ribbit! I’m a good frog, ribbit! I’m a frog spirit, ribbit! I can act cute, ribbit! Just treat me as a pet, ribbit!”

Zuo Bian shielded Little Frog with her hand and said to Qin Ai, “Qin Ai, you scared it. It’s still just a baby.”

Qin Ai raised an eyebrow. “So, do you like it more or do you like me more?”

Zuo Bian answered without hesitation, “Of course, I like you more!”

“Mm.” Qin Ai smiled with satisfaction.

555 couldn’t help but comment, 【Oh my god, Qin Ai is so jealous. But Host, you’re also amazing. Your decisive answer immediately dispelled Qin Ai’s jealousy.】

Zuo Bian had a bad feeling. As expected, Qin Ai asked, “If both of us fell into the water, who would you save first?”

Zuo Bian, having learned her lesson, quickly answered, “You, of course! Little Frog is an amphibian, it can swim.”

555 remained silent. It didn’t want to speak anymore. Every time it did, it was proven wrong. Its face hurt from all the slapping.

“Let’s go.” Qin Ai said, a smile still lingering on her lips. She was clearly in a good mood.

Zuo Bian followed Qin Ai, glancing out the window. It was completely dark now. She asked, “Didn’t you say there was a surprise after dark? Where’s the surprise?”

As they reached the door, Qin Ai stopped and turned to Zuo Bian, placing a finger on her soft lips. “Don’t be impatient.”

Zuo Bian stared at Qin Ai, her mind blank. Instinctively, she licked Qin Ai’s finger.

Her wet tongue brushed against Qin Ai’s fingertip. Qin Ai suddenly grabbed Zuo Bian’s chin and pressed her against the wall. Zuo Bian’s back was flat against the wall, her hand accidentally hitting the light switch. The office was instantly plunged into darkness.

A fiery kiss landed on Zuo Bian’s lips, bringing with it an overwhelming heat that seemed to set the air on fire.

Qin Ai’s faint fragrance was intoxicating, invading every inch of Zuo Bian’s skin, making her weak and unable to think.

Zuo Bian tilted her head back, responding instinctively, her body entwined with Qin Ai’s. In her daze, she opened her eyes, the faint light from the opposite building illuminating Qin Ai’s half-closed eyes.

Those eyes were like a stormy sea in the dark of night, cold yet intensely passionate, as if they could ignite her body and burn her to ashes.

The kiss seemed to last forever. When Qin Ai finally pulled away, Zuo Bian’s pale pink lips were now a vibrant red. She was slightly breathless.

With the person she loved so close, some things were impossible to control.

The more she tried to suppress it, the stronger the emotions surging within her became, until they overwhelmed her.

Qin Ai’s hand caressed Zuo Bian’s cheek. The skin beneath her fingertips was smooth and delicate. The slightest pressure would leave a mark. “Zuo Bian, are you willing? Or rather, do you understand what I’m asking? I don’t want you to regret this later, so I’m asking for your consent.”

Zuo Bian looked into Qin Ai’s eyes, her gaze as clear and determined as ever. She smiled. “I’m willing. Because it’s you, I’m willing.”

It had been several months since she came to this world. It was impossible for Zuo Bian to be completely clueless. But her heart was pure. Even with more knowledge, she was still herself, always straightforward in her thoughts and actions.

Zuo Bian cupped Qin Ai’s face and kissed her back. All her kissing experience came from Qin Ai. Her technique was clumsy, but she was earnest.

“The weather is so nice today, I’m so happy. Three thousand words omitted here, literally three thousand words. Check my Weibo, Zhong Er Bai Ri Xi, for the full version. We are all successors of socialism, we must have great love, firmly uphold socialist values, and build a better society together! Let those who have become rich first help those who are still poor, so we can achieve common prosperity.”*

In the lounge, Qin Ai’s moist fingers traced Zuo Bian’s cheek, then lingered on her lips, gently probing.

“I told you, I’m a bad woman. Even if I make you cry, I won’t comfort you.” Qin Ai chuckled and withdrew her finger.

This time, Zuo Bian really cried, but not from pain.

“Qin Ai, my dress is dirty…”

Qin Ai, who had said she wouldn’t comfort Zuo Bian, panicked slightly. “I’ll get you a clean one.”

“Mm. And I’m hungry.”

“Then let’s go eat.” Qin Ai helped Zuo Bian get up from the bed.

As soon as Zuo Bian stood up, she hugged Qin Ai’s waist. Qin Ai had a great figure, especially her slender waist. Zuo Bian tightened her grip. “Why aren’t you kissing me now?”

The Green Tea Handbook stated that you should never let the other person easily obtain your body. Once they did, they would easily get bored and lose interest in you.

This was the first time Zuo Bian did something completely opposite to what the Green Tea Handbook advised. Perhaps because it was the first time, she felt a little uneasy.

Qin Ai sensed Zuo Bian’s unease and smiled, leaning down to kiss her lips.

“Is this enough?”

“Mm.” Zuo Bian nodded, her face flushed.

After changing into clean clothes, Zuo Bian finally left the Qin Group building with Qin Ai and went to the restaurant they had booked.

The restaurant was on the 35th floor. Through the transparent glass wall, they could see the tallest building in the city.

Two lines of large characters lit up on the building: “Congratulations on your new drama, Zuo Bian! Hope you like it.”

Qin Ai had sent a message while they were in the elevator. As they arrived at the restaurant floor, fireworks bloomed in the dark night sky, one after another.

From where Zuo Bian was standing, she could see both the building with the illuminated characters and the fireworks in the sky. She had seen fireworks before, but never ones as magnificent as these.

After gazing at them for a while, she turned to Qin Ai. “Qin Ai, did you prepare all this for me?”

“To be precise, I prepared it with your fans.” Qin Ai said.

Zuo Bian was confused. “My fans?”

Qin Ai nodded slightly. “Mm, I joined your fan club. They were planning to promote your new drama today, and I just happened to sponsor them. I rented the building across the street and a few billboards.”

Actually, the characters on the building and the “Ascending to Immortality” trailer playing on the billboards had already caused a stir online since nightfall, even trending on Weibo.

At first, people were amazed by the generosity of the “Ascending to Immortality” crew, spending so much money on promotion. But then Zuo Bian’s fan club stepped forward to claim responsibility, and everyone realized that it was all thanks to the power of Zuo Bian’s fans.

【As far as I know, this Zuo Bian is just a rookie actress. Her only drama hasn’t even aired yet, and she already has such dedicated fans? It makes me wonder if there’s some capital manipulation behind this [smiling emoji].】

The implication was that Zuo Bian was being kept by someone, and her sugar daddy was spending money to promote her.

Zuo Bian’s fans immediately retorted, 【Some people just can’t stand it when others have money to promote their idols, so they have to insinuate things about other fandoms. How ugly. Our Xiao Bian just has rich fans, deal with it!】

Someone then posted screenshots of the chat history from the fan group, showing the contributions of a fan with the ID “AB.” Their contribution value was firmly in first place, miles ahead of the second place.

Although Zuo Bian didn’t have many diehard fans yet, Qin Ai alone could rival millions of fans.

Thanks to Qin Ai’s promotion, many people had heard about “Ascending to Immortality,” and many, out of curiosity, watched the trailer and were hooked.

Even though it was just a trailer, the high quality and the stunning visuals of the actors were enough to attract people. Some even became fans of Zuo Bian’s beauty, saying they would watch the drama just to see her.

Zuo Bian’s parents also heard the news and joined Qin Ai in promoting “Ascending to Immortality.” Many bloggers expressed their anticipation, and various websites started featuring the trailer, further increasing the drama’s popularity.

However, Zuo Bian was still unaware of all this online buzz. She said to Qin Ai with joy, “Thank you, Qin Ai. This is the surprise you mentioned, the one I could only see after dark, right? I’m so happy.”

***

T/N:

The weather is so nice today, I’m so happy. Three thousand words omitted here……*: In this line, the author omitted ‘you already know what’, probably due to censorship. And I think the one saying the line is the system while shutting itself down haha; I’m not sure if the uncensored part is really shared in the author weibo mentioned or if it’s just a joke. 

中二白日曦: “Zhong Er Bai Ri Xi” is the author ID profile on JJWXC.