The Female Lead Talks Nonsense

Xu Chun had only been joking around, spouting nonsense; she truly had no real interest in the idea. They say dragons beget dragons and phoenixes beget phoenixes, and rats' offspring dig burrows—if Jiang Zhaolie had turned out like this, she certainly wasn't about to harbor any extra hopes for the rest of the Jiang family.

She smoothly changed the subject, her tone tinged with puzzlement as she asked Tang Shiyu, “Mom, shouldn't you be at the company right now? Why are you...” still at home?

“I was thinking you'd be home around this time.” Tang Shiyu's gaze fell on Xu Chun, loving yet somewhat complicated. What she didn't say was that ever since Xu Chun shot to fame on the dating reality show, the melodramatic entanglement between Xu Chun, Yu Sui'an, and Jiang Zhaolie had become everyone's favorite topic over tea and at meals.

Their relatives were well-informed—or even if news usually traveled slowly to them, every manner of distant aunt and uncle had called and messaged to ask about the situation, all while not forgetting to take subtle jabs at Xu Chun to make their own children look better and more obedient by comparison. And they had only one goal in doing so: to squeeze Xu Chun out of her position as heir and get more benefits out of the Xu family company.

Tang Shiyu wasn't stupid; she saw the relatives' little schemes perfectly clearly. After brushing them off with a few words and hanging up, she grew deeply worried about Xu Chun's current mood and state of mind. When Xu Chun and Yu Sui'an had broken up a while back, Tang Shiyu had seen with her own eyes how lost and distracted her daughter had been.

A mother knows her daughter best. With her daughter in low spirits, she didn't dare speak up rashly, afraid that if she misjudged the situation even slightly she might accidentally prod at her sore spots.

So she kept every question bottled up inside, holding it all in until Xu Chun herself tore open her own wounds for everyone to see.

“I came back today specifically to wait for you. After we have lunch together, I have to go on a two-day business trip to the neighboring city this afternoon.” Tang Shiyu's manner was elegant and refined, yet when she spoke there was always a faint worry between her brows. Xu Chun observed her quietly for a long while, and finally understood the reason from her mother's next words: “Next week is Jiang Zhaolie's grandfather's eightieth birthday...”

Tang Shiyu hesitated, words trailing off. By convention, Xu Chun, as the future daughter-in-law of the Jiang family, ought to attend the birthday celebration, but thinking of the unpleasantness and discord between her and Jiang Zhaolie, Tang Shiyu simply couldn't bring herself to ask her daughter to go.

Her daughter had been rejected by Jiang Zhaolie again and again; even the most good-natured rabbit would bare its teeth and bite when pushed, let alone a daughter with such strong self-respect.

Xu Chun had been holding it all in without blowing up this whole time, and Tang Shiyu had been on pins and needles, afraid she might suddenly do something foolish. Now that her daughter had finally come home safe, how could she, as a mother, keep poking at her wounds?

“Grandpa Jiang's eightieth birthday...” Xu Chun drew out the words, repeating them slowly, then looked at her mother with confusion. “Is there a problem with that?”

A moment later, Xu Chun stopped in her tracks, greatly alarmed. “That dog Jiang Zhaolie isn't thinking of using the biggest crowd, when all the elite of high society are gathered, to announce she's cutting ties with me, is she?” The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed. “What a vicious woman! I really misjudged her!”

Tang Shiyu was left blinking in bewilderment, and it took her a good while to recover from Xu Chun's bout of nonsense. “I doubt it would come to that.” She thought it over calmly. “The Jiang family is a prestigious clan. Even if they're unhappy with you in private, they'd never do something so graceless in public.”

Besides, the only one who disliked Xu Chun was Jiang Zhaolie. Old Master Jiang, Jiang Peiyuan, was quite satisfied with this granddaughter-in-law of his; if Jiang Zhaolie wanted to break off the engagement, Jiang Peiyuan might not even agree.

Be that as it may, Xu Chun felt she still needed to prepare for the worst, so she wouldn't be caught off guard by a stab in the back from Jiang Zhaolie that day and drag her parents down with her. Thinking about how the Xu family would later be ruined and left with nothing by Jiang Zhaolie gave her a headache.

Anxiously, she followed Tang Shiyu into the villa, where a young girl sat on the living room sofa playing games. The girl looked young, and her features resembled Xu Chun's by six or seven tenths. Before Xu Chun could search her memories, the girl heard the noise and turned around; her gaze swept over and landed on Xu Chun, and the skin around her eyes tightened in displeasure. “Why did you come back?”

Tang Shiyu's face fell on the spot, and she called out in warning, “Weiwei.”

“How do you speak to your sister?” Her earlier loving gentleness vanished, and her refined, soft features faintly revealed a trace of stern authority. “Come over here and apologize to your sister...”

Before she could finish, Xu Wei had already interrupted her defiantly. “Apologize? For what? I didn't do anything wrong.” Xu Wei curled her lips, voice dripping with sarcasm. “If I really did accidentally do something wrong, then I can only beg Big Sister to be magnanimous and forgive her little sister.”

She wore an expression that said she had nothing to fear, and soon Xu Chun learned the reason from her memories. The original owner had doted on this sister seven years her junior, had spoiled her rotten, in fact. Because they shared blood, the original Xu Chun had granted Xu Wei's every request, big or small. One could say the original owner herself had single-handedly cultivated Xu Wei's current spoiled, unreasonable temperament.

And what was interesting was that even though Xu Chun was also a celebrity, Xu Wei was somehow a diehard fan of Yu Sui'an. She ignored her own celebrity sister at home and spent every day mingling with Yu Sui'an's fans, casting votes and running data for Yu Sui'an, and shamelessly joining Yu Sui'an's fans in badmouthing her own sister and finding fault with her.

To support her idol Yu Sui'an, Xu Wei had even opened a studio, gathered several of Yu Sui'an's fans, and set up a small support team for Yu Sui'an's anti-defamation station, providing plenty of material support for Yu Sui'an's fan activities.

From the original owner's memories, Xu Chun learned that in just the past six months, Xu Wei had already lavished tens of millions on Yu Sui'an, becoming a famous wealthy heiress among Yu Sui'an's fans.

Xu Chun's eyes twitched. A college student who had just come of age, spending over ten million without a second thought in half a year to chase a star—her own sister's rival, no less. And strictly speaking, Xu Wei's actions had all been unconditionally supported by “herself,” bankrolled by “herself”... She nearly ached so much she couldn't breathe.

The original owner really was a fool! Wasn't earning money hard work? Wasn't filming hard work? At the rate Xu Wei was squandering it, even if the family had tens of billions in assets, it wouldn't withstand this spendthrift's extravagance!

Xu Wei was unhappy the moment she saw her sister. How she wished she weren't Xu Chun's biological sister, but Yu Sui'an's! Yu Sui'an was so pure, so strong—simply a unique breath of fresh air in the entertainment industry. Although Yu Sui'an came from a poor family with no connections and no backing, the way she gritted her teeth and fought her way to her own achievements was outrageously cool!

When Xu Wei had accidentally learned about Yu Sui'an's life story, she'd realized that not everyone in the entertainment industry was a wealthy second-generation heir who'd waltzed in carefree to grab a slice of the cake. That murky, chaotic circle also contained dreams.

So Xu Wei had fallen for Yu Sui'an irrepressibly; for Yu Sui'an, she felt she could give everything, even her own life.

“Why haven't you left yet?” Seeing that her sister not only hadn't immediately removed herself from her sight, but had deliberately sat down as if to annoy her, Xu Wei's brow furrowed deeply. Ever since her heart had tilted toward Yu Sui'an, she found her own sister more and more displeasing to the eye.

Her sister had none of Yu Sui'an's gentleness, consideration, and understanding; none of Yu Sui'an's indomitable perseverance and unyielding strength. All she had was the convenience granted by her status as the Xu family heiress.

“Is this your house?” Xu Chun lifted her eyelids and turned to Xu Wei with an indifferent air, smiling gently and harmlessly.

Xu Wei was taken aback. What else would it be?

“The deed clearly has my name on it,” Xu Chun said with a faint smile. “My dear little sister is so young, yet so forgetful.”

Xu Wei's brow furrowed even deeper. What kind of crazy act was this person putting on today?

“Oh, and also—I've temporarily frozen those supplementary cards I gave you,” Xu Chun said, tilting her head and resting her cheek against the back of her hand. Her face was clearly smiling, yet the weight of her presence left Xu Wei unable to argue. “As for all that money of mine you've spent...” She paused deliberately, her tone emotionless. “Remember to pay it back soon.”

Xu Wei's entire body went numb. “???”

“Do you know what you're saying?” Hearing that Xu Chun wanted her to repay the money she'd spent on Yu Sui'an, she couldn't help raising her voice to a shriek. “I just came of age, I'm still in school, I don't even have a job! How could a little girl like me possibly pay back that much money?!”

“I'm your sister!” she cried, furious. “Do you have to be so exact with your own little sister?!”

“What sister? You're clearly my defendant.” Xu Chun stared at her with a perfectly straight face. “You can't pay it back... then why didn't you think about that when you were spending it?”

“It's not easy for me to earn money filming; as my own little sister, don't you know to have some sympathy and economize a little for me?”

Xu Wei was instantly speechless, her face flushing red as she struggled for words. Xu Chun shooed at her like chasing off a dog. “If you don't have the money to pay me back, go get a job. Brick-carrying, dishwashing, or setting up a stall—just say the word and I can introduce you.”

Xu Wei's eyes went red with fury in an instant. She glared at Xu Chun through gritted teeth for a while, then turned to Tang Shiyu with a pitiful, aggrieved look, trying to play the victim and get her mother to scold her sister. “Mom, look at what sister is doing...”

“Your sister has a point,” her mother interrupted. “When your sister was your age, she'd already entered the entertainment industry, filmed dramas, and earned her first five million. But you? All you do every day is spend money. Weiwei, I'm not trying to nag you, but you really should learn from your sister.”

Her mother's words practically amounted to saying she wasn't even worth a finger of her sister's.

Xu Wei: “...” Crying from anger.

Did you two plan this together to mess with me?

Furious, she snatched up her phone and stood. “Who wants your money anyway!”

“Don't forget to pay back those tens of millions soon,” Xu Chun reminded her kindly. Xu Wei's steps faltered, then quickened and grew heavier, as if she wanted to stomp the floor tiles to pieces.

Tang Shiyu said nothing and didn't interfere with Xu Chun's discipline. She even affirmed and approved of it. “You should have been firmer with Weiwei long ago. She's never been as sensible or considerate as you since she was little. If you keep indulging her behind our backs and don't discipline her strictly, she'll easily be led astray by people with ill intentions.”

Tang Shiyu had long felt Xu Chun was too doting toward Xu Wei. She'd spoken to Xu Chun about it several times, openly and indirectly, but Xu Chun always brushed her off with “She's still young, it's fine.” Over time, as long as Xu Wei didn't go too far, she let Xu Chun have her way. Who'd have thought Xu Wei would only grow more conscienceless, until she didn't even respect her own sister?

At her mother's reminder, Xu Chun recalled “her own” past indulgence and ached with unspeakable regret.

Xu Wei didn't appear at mealtime. Tang Shiyu said she'd packed her suitcase in a huff and left the house, looking as if she meant to cut ties with the family. Then she changed the subject. “I've already contacted a brand about the gown you'll wear next week. If you have nothing else to do this afternoon, go take a look and settle on the style early.”

Jiang Peiyuan was holding a birthday celebration, and more than half of high society would attend. Tang Shiyu figured that even if the marriage alliance with the Jiang family didn't work out in the end, this would be a chance for Xu Chun to meet other promising young talents; there was no need to stubbornly fixate on Jiang Zhaolie.

“Okay,” Xu Chun agreed.

After briefly reporting her plans to her manager, Xu Chun, under the other's repeated reminders, put on a baseball cap, sunglasses, and a mask. In her current getup, forget fans—even her own mother probably wouldn't recognize her as her own daughter.

Xu Chun took a car from the garage, a simple, low-key model. Tang Shiyu had booked her with a certain brand's C-label evening gown, and upon receiving word that Xu Chun was about to arrive, the brand immediately sent someone to welcome her. Xu Chun followed the manager all the way to the VIP lounge, and before she'd even steadied her footing, a surprised voice sounded nearby: “Xu Chun?”

Xu Chun looked toward the voice, and the other said, “You're here to look at clothes too?” After speaking, Zhou Yuying suddenly realized the other was likely here to choose a gown for next week's Jiang Peiyuan birthday banquet as well, and her expression immediately soured.

After matching the face before her to the name in her memory, Xu Chun's attitude was neither cold nor warm. “Mm, what a coincidence.”

Her tone was flat and utterly devoid of the excitement and enthusiasm of friends reunited after a long parting. Sensing Xu Chun's perfunctory attitude, Zhou Yuying was immediately displeased. “I heard Jiang Zhaolie rejected you on the show in front of the whole country.” As if something pleasant had occurred to her, her delicate face broke into a delighted smile. “Don't be too heartbroken.”

She consoled, “It was bound to happen sooner or later anyway. But if I were you, I'd have bowed out gracefully long ago, so I wouldn't end up losing the person and my dignity in the end.”

Zhou Yuying was one of Jiang Zhaolie's admirers, and she'd been Xu Chun's classmate for more than ten years, from kindergarten through college. Xu Chun felt nothing for this old classmate; Zhou Yuying chattered on for ten sentences while she gave a perfunctory reply here and there. Soon enough, the other's attitude made her furious, and she stopped concealing her purpose. “Xu Chun.”

“I heard Jiang Zhaolie and that Yu Sui'an are for real?”

Xu Chun's brow arched slightly. Her eyes flickered, and she smiled brightly. “Of course.” Zhou Yuying's mood plunged into an ice cellar in an instant. Xu Chun swore she had never in her life seen such a despairing expression on anyone's face.

“Haven't you watched the show? Jiang Zhaolie and Yu Sui'an are real, and Jiang Zhaolie and I are real, and Yu Sui'an and I are even more real. The three of us went on a date together in front of tens of millions of viewers nationwide—as Jiang Zhaolie's admirer, haven't you heard a single word about it?”

Xu Chun sighed with feigned melancholy. “The three of us are so deeply in love with each other—what are we supposed to do?”

Zhou Yuying's expression had frozen entirely. She stood rooted to the spot like a stone statue, clearly unable to make sense of Xu Chun's words.

Having successfully thrown this unnamed side character's heart into utter chaos, Xu Chun, in excellent spirits, took the evening gown she'd selected and headed for the fitting room. But the moment she turned around, she saw Jiang Zhaolie and Yu Sui'an standing side by side right behind her, quiet as mice. And judging by the expressions on their faces, they seemed to have heard her entire conversation with Zhou Yuying, clear as day.

Xu Chun: “......”