Green Tea Villainess Fails 43

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.