The Female Lead Is Shameless
She said the word “fool” with such doting affection that Jiang Zhaolie couldn’t suppress a shudder; goosebumps prickled across her skin. She looked furious, but with the cameras on her, she couldn’t blow up. In the end, all she could do was grit her teeth and threaten Xu Chun. “You’d better watch your mouth.”
Xu Chun was good at everything except being told what to do; she’d been born with a rebellious streak. The moment Jiang Zhaolie’s words landed, three words slid through Xu Chun’s mind in perfect sequence—I won’t!
In a flash, Xu Chun snatched a napkin from the dining table beside her, pinched one corner, and pressed it under her eye, her face a picture of tearful devastation as she wailed her accusation. “Zhaolie, how could you do this to me?”
“How can you yell at me?” She flipped instantly into full drama-queen mode. “Have you forgotten so quickly all the love and tenderness we once shared? What a cruel heart you have!”
“I loved you so deeply—I was even willing to give up everything I had and bear it all alone, quietly. But—but why did you have to do this to me? You’re so heartless, so cold, so unreasonable.”
Jiang Zhaolie’s eye twitched violently. She wanted nothing more than to rush over and clamp a hand over Xu Chun’s mouth, but Xu Chun’s mouth kept rattling on without pause. “Zhaolie, I don’t understand—how can a mouth running at thirty-eight degrees say something so ice-cold? You’ve left me battered and bruised, wounded from head to toe!”
She wiped at tears as she spoke, and Jiang Zhaolie was so rattled by the accusations that she couldn’t even open her mouth to argue. Finally, face ashen, she leaned close to Xu Chun and stiffly began to apologize, but when she looked closely, forget tears; there wasn’t even a glimmer of moisture in those clear, dark eyes!
Jiang Zhaolie, who had already opened her mouth, immediately changed tack. “Cry. Go on, keep crying. If you don’t squeeze out a single tear today, I have plenty of ways to make you cry for real,” she said coldly.
Xu Chun’s act screeched to a halt. “???”
“You’re truly heartless. For you I’ve been wandering around in a daze, unable to sleep at night, unable to swallow my food—every bite tastes like wax—and instead of caring about me, you actually complain that I’m not crying loudly enough. Jiang Zhaolie, I’ve seen right through you. You heartless woman!”
Accusation delivered, she turned and walked off, leaving Jiang Zhaolie with nothing but the elegant, unhurried line of her back. It took Jiang Zhaolie a while to shake off that ridiculous outburst; the moment her head cleared, she couldn’t help frowning in confusion. How on earth was she the heartless one?
Jiang Zhaolie wanted to chase after Xu Chun and demand an explanation, but just then Yu Sui’an walked over. Before Jiang Zhaolie could speak, Yu Sui’an said softly, “This was all my fault; it has nothing to do with you, Zhaolie.” She paused, lashes trembling slightly, masking the unease and hurt inside her. “I’ll go explain to my sister right now.”
Jiang Zhaolie had just begun to feel it was no big deal, but the moment Yu Sui’an said that, the embers of anger still smoldering inside her flared up again. “Why should you explain anything to her? She stole your ad—why should you be the one apologizing and explaining? This is clearly her fault!”
“Who appears in the ad was never something we could decide in the first place. My sister is just another victim; I’m sure she must feel very uneasy about taking my ad.” Yu Sui’an lifted her face, tugging a forced smile at the corner of her mouth. “Besides... she’s already been having a hard time these past few days.”
The words Jiang Zhaolie wanted to say caught on the tip of her tongue. She looked at Yu Sui’an, her brows full of aching tenderness. Suisui was simply too considerate, too good at thinking of others—otherwise Xu Chun wouldn’t have been able to hurt her so deeply. After struggling for a long while, Jiang Zhaolie reluctantly agreed to Yu Sui’an’s decision. “Fine, then.”
“But I’m coming with you.” So Xu Chun couldn’t give her a hard time again.
Yu Sui’an had always listened to Jiang Zhaolie, but this time she shook her head firmly. “No need, Zhaolie. I’ll go by myself. If you come with me, I’m afraid my sister won’t be able to think it through and will throw another little tantrum.”
That was true enough. Jiang Zhaolie had no choice but to let it go. Uneasily, she cautioned, “If she gives you a hard time later, remember to message me right away. The moment I get your message, I’ll be there.”
The smile on Yu Sui’an’s fair face deepened a little. “I know.” A moment later, the smile slowly faded. “In this whole world, you’re the only one who treats me well now, Zhaolie.”
“I really like you so much.” Her voice was as faint as a mosquito’s.
Jiang Zhaolie lingered in that ambiguous confession for a long time, unable to come back to herself, a hint of sweetness rising unbidden in her heart. In that moment, a reckless impulse seized her—even if she had to walk through blades and fire for Yu Sui’an, she would do it gladly.
Yu Sui’an found Xu Chun.
Yu Sui’an stood to the side watching while Xu Chun washed up, and she was still watching when Xu Chun finished. When Xu Chun went back to her room to tidy up on schedule, Yu Sui’an followed her all the way inside, as if she’d latched on to her. Xu Chun had no choice but to stop and turn around. She folded her arms, lifted a brow, and grinned with a roguish air. “What, you want to watch me change clothes too?”
“Or would you rather personally wait on me while I dress?”
Yu Sui’an froze, then, as if those words had wounded her, her lips went slightly pale. “Sister, about the ad... I’m sorry.” She lowered her head, a few soft wisps of hair clinging to her neck, making her look utterly innocent. “Don’t let other people’s words influence or mislead you—I never meant what they’re saying I meant.”
“I haven’t been influenced at all.” Xu Chun looked Yu Sui’an up and down. This girl was truly beautiful—fresh and dewy, lovely no matter how you looked at her—except beneath that beautiful exterior lay a deeply calculating, scheming heart. She was not the old Xu Chun, and she would not let herself be used as a stepping stone for free.
Xu Chun cleared her throat and, unable to help herself, took Yu Sui’an’s soft little hand—smooth and delicate to the touch—into her palm. “I believe you bear me no ill will,” she said with utter sincerity. “But no matter how kind you are, you can’t stop some netizens and fans from deliberately stirring up trouble, sowing discord, and ruining our relationship.”
“So why don’t you post on Weibo right now and explain it for me?” Xu Chun stared intently into Yu Sui’an’s eyes. “Otherwise those irrelevant people really will succeed in driving a wedge between us.”
Yu Sui’an’s gaze paused. She didn’t answer right away.
Seeing that, Xu Chun immediately let go of her hand. “No way, Suisui—don’t tell me you won’t even do such a small thing for me? Then all those times these past few days when you apologized and said you felt bad—were you lying to me too?” She clutched her chest in disbelief, her expression deeply wounded. “I understand now. So words spoken in love only count while the love lasts. Go on, Suisui. From this day on, we part ways—our bond is severed.”
Yu Sui’an’s expression cracked faintly. She stared unblinking at Xu Chun’s dramatic performance and fell silent. Her gaze drifted, and only after a long while did she slowly speak. “Alright.”
“I’ll go get my phone right now and post on Weibo to clear things up for you, sister.”
Xu Chun, who’d had absolutely no hope for Yu Sui’an’s human nature, was caught completely off guard and struck dumb. “Huh?”
She agreed? Just like that?
She narrowed her eyes and studied Yu Sui’an suspiciously. This person wasn’t secretly scheming something nasty again, was she?
As if she couldn’t see the probing, doubtful look on Xu Chun’s face, Yu Sui’an smiled faintly. “Of course I’ll do what you ask, sister.” The emotion in her eyes was obscure and hard to read. “After all, you’re someone I truly liked.”
I don’t deserve it, I don’t deserve it. Xu Chun rushed to ignore that last sentence and shooed Yu Sui’an out of the room. “I need to change clothes.”
Yu Sui’an left tactfully and, true to her word, posted on Weibo to explain and clear things up for Xu Chun. When Yu Sui’an’s team saw that she’d acted on her own, they called immediately to interrogate her. “Do you know what you’re doing right now?”
“I know.” Yu Sui’an’s lips curved in a smile. “I just don’t want to see my sister hurt and troubled because of me.”
Her team: “???” What the hell was that supposed to mean? Back when you were dealing with her, weren’t your tactics the most vicious and merciless of all?
Yu Sui’an had always had a mind of her own, and the team knew she wasn’t the type to act rashly. In the end, they only gave her a few words of reproach and let it go. She surely knew what she was doing where Xu Chun was concerned; as long as she didn’t go too far, they wouldn’t restrain her. They’d give her enough freedom.
After the Weibo post went up, Yu Sui’an’s fans were the first to express their confusion. 【I don’t know why Suisui keeps speaking up for that heartless woman again and again. If she hadn’t seemed fairly normal in the livestream, I’d suspect Xu Chun had slipped her some kind of love potion.】
【I always thought Suisui had a strong, self-reliant leading-lady image. But can someone tell me why someone as rational as Suisui would also stumble in love? Xu Chun, you have no heart! You let down Suisui’s sincerity, and in the end you make Suisui personally step forward to clear your name. Can’t you walk on your own two feet like a functioning adult?】
【Who let down whose sincerity? The relationship between Xu Chun, Yu Sui’an, and Jiang Zhaolie isn’t even sorted out yet, so don’t go making yourself out to be the victim, okay? If you ask me, my Sister Chun is the one who’s been wronged—broken up with for no reason, slapped with a cheating label for no reason, and now even her fiancée has run off with someone else. Who’s more pitiful than her?】
It wasn’t until Xu Chun met up with He Qingli that she learned the internet was already in an uproar. He Qingli had originally been quite worried about her idol’s mental state, but seeing how utterly unconcerned Xu Chun looked now, she belatedly realized.
She had still underestimated her idol’s thick skin.
Steadying herself, He Qingli brought up today’s task. “There’s no food left in the fridge. We need to split into teams to go grocery shopping. Sister Xu Chun, any thoughts?”
Thoughts? Xu Chun shook her head. “I don’t have any thoughts on it.”
He Qingli’s eyelid twitched. “Then why don’t we leave the grocery run to you, your fiancée, and your ex-girlfriend?” She raised a hand and patted Xu Chun’s shoulder. “I’m sure everyone would be very happy to see the three of you in the same frame.”
Xu Chun opened her mouth to protest, but He Qingli hurried to get ahead of her. “The four of us other guests still need to seriously date, so please have mercy and let us go on a date on the company’s dime. If we successfully get together, we’ll give you a big red envelope right away and then treat you to a huge, nice meal.”
Xu Chun: “...” You’re truly so heartless, so cold—for the sake of love, you’d abandon even your own idol. Is love more important than your idol?
Judging by He Qingli’s expression, apparently it was.
Xu Chun and He Qingli bickered back and forth endlessly, but in the end Xu Chun couldn’t outlast the other woman and had to agree. When Jiang Zhaolie learned she’d be going grocery shopping with Xu Chun, she immediately frowned in opposition. “I don’t agree.”
“It’s just groceries for seven people. Suisui and I can go buy them ourselves; there’s no need to drag her along too.” Jiang Zhaolie was dead set against being anywhere near Xu Chun—especially after learning that Yu Sui’an had just personally posted on Weibo for that woman; her resistance toward Xu Chun shot to its peak. “So I absolutely do not agree to this.”
You don’t agree, and that’s supposed to settle it?
Xu Chun was genuinely annoyed now. She folded her arms and gave a cold laugh. “Fine, then keep objecting here. The louder you object right now, the more excited I get.” She grinned like a villain about to crush a flower underfoot. “Just you wait—today, even if you scream yourself hoarse, no one will pay you any attention.”
Jiang Zhaolie: “...”
TL Note:
thirty-eight degrees (三十八度) = a Chinese internet meme about a mouth at body temperature saying ice-cold words; used to call someone out for being cold and harsh.
go through blades and fire (上刀山下火海) = an idiom for being willing to endure any danger or hardship for someone.
big red envelope (大红包) = a red packet of cash given as a gift or thank-you.
heartless woman (渣女) = slang for a woman who plays with people's feelings; like "player" or "scum."