After Failing To Win Over the Yandere Best Actress, I Got Marked - Chapter 27

The sky was gloomy, and at some point, a drizzle began to fall.

Under the awning at the entrance of the police station, Song Jing’s high heels clicked in a rapid, urgent rhythm.

Just as she pushed open the glass doors, she collided head on with Ye Qinglan and Su Jin coming from the other side.

All three stopped in their tracks simultaneously.

Song Jing’s gaze swept back and forth between the two, finally settling on Ye Qinglan’s unruffled face. Almost instantly, she was certain this was all Ye Qinglan’s doing.

“What a coincidence,” Song Jing squeezed the words through her teeth. Her nails dug deep into her palms, making the metal clasp of her leather handbag creak under the pressure.

Rainwater slid down her meticulously styled curls, carving winding gullies through her foundation, but it only served to make her eyes appear even more bloodshot.

Su Jin was startled by her appearance and tugged at Ye Qinglan’s sleeve, signaling her to stay away from the “mad dog.”

Ye Qinglan held her hand in return, her fingertip lightly hooking Su Jin’s pinky with a comforting pressure only the two of them understood. On her face, however, she wore a smile as sharp as cracked ice: “A coincidence? Coming to the station as the mastermind to bail someone out, only to run into the victim… it feels more like a cliché plot point from a bad script.”

The sentence was like a slap across the face. Song Jing’s expression turned ashen instantly.

Her carefully groomed curls were damp, with several strands clinging pathetically to her forehead. Song Jing’s hands were clenched into fists, her nails sinking deep into her palms, yet she felt no pain.

She stared fixedly at Ye Qinglan’s exquisitely perfect face, trying to find a single flaw. But all she saw was coldness and mockery.

Song Jing’s chest heaved violently before she finally spat out: “You set me up!”

On her way here, Song Jing had learned what happened from the director. Naturally, she knew that after Fang Qi was arrested, she immediately “confessed” that Song Jing was the mastermind.

To be dragged into such a mess for no reason Song Jing was furious.

Ye Qinglan smiled radiantly and shook her head innocently: “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Ye Qinglan, I have no grudge against you. Why do you keep calculating against me?”

Song Jing truly did not understand. She had no conflict of interest with Ye Qinglan; why would Ye Qinglan target her?

“I’d like to know that too, President Song. We have no grudge, so why are you constantly trying to ruin my life?” Ye Qinglan’s tone was puzzled, her expression somber.

【Putting on a show again,】 the System sneered.

【But this plot isn’t right. How could Fang Qi be so brainless?】

Su Jin stared at Ye Qinglan’s face, her mind wandering. She was still reeling from the aftermath; if they hadn’t noticed the prop was wrong in time, it would be Ye Qinglan in the hospital right now.

The System babbled for a while before noticing Su Jin’s distraction and increased its volume:

【Host, are you listening?】

Su Jin snapped back to reality. 【Huh? What did you say?】

【I said, the plot has changed. Fang Qi’s arrest was moved forward, so the subsequent tasks must change accordingly,】

the System said.

【Naturally, the rewards will change too.】

【Oh, okay. You handle it,】

Su Jin replied dismissively.

【Hmm?】

The System sounded suspicious.

【Host, you’re acting strange.】

When it came to tasks and rewards, she was usually never this indifferent. The System scrutinized her, noticing the way she looked at Ye Qinglan. Its running data flickered for a second as it gasped:

【Host, you…】

Su Jin quickly looked away and tried to laugh it off.

【I was just thinking about Fang Qi’s situation quite seriously. But if the plot changed this much, why didn’t you notice?】

【I…】 The System choked.

【You aren’t neglecting your duties, are you?】 Su Jin asked suspiciously.

【I… of course not!】 The System immediately retorted. 【This plot deviation is within the allowed parameters of the program. Besides, just because Fang Qi is locked up doesn’t mean she can’t keep causing trouble. And even without her, there’s still Song Jing. Ye Qinglan won’t have an easy time.】

Su Jin hummed in thought. 【So Fang Qi pinning it on Song Jing is also part of the plot?】

【That part isn’t. That’s just Fang Qi being stupid.】

Su Jin agreed. If Fang Qi had kept quiet, her father could have pulled some strings at Song Corporation, ensuring Song Jing would bail her out. By dragging Song Jing down with her, she wasn’t just losing her bail she was making an enemy out of her.

While she was lost in thought, Ye Qinglan had already led her into the station. Song Jing was also taken away.

Su Jin sat in a private room facing two officers, nervously pursing her lips.

“Now, tell us exactly what happened at the scene.”

Su Jin looked at the officer taking notes and began slowly, “At that time…”

The interrogation room lights were a harsh, blinding white.

Song Jing sat on the hard chair, her face darkening as she listened to the police report.

“Fang Qi is suspected of hiring a hitman, but an accident occurred during the execution, and the acid was splashed on her own face,” the officer flipped through the notes. “She claims she acted under your instructions.”

“Absurd!” Song Jing slammed her hand on the table and stood up. “How could I possibly…”

“Sister!” A piercing scream echoed from the adjacent room.

Fang Qi’s face was wrapped in thick gauze, leaving only a pair of bloodshot eyes visible. “You said it! You said Ye Qinglan was just an actress, that crushing her was like crushing an ant!”

Song Jing gasped. Beneath the gauze, the side of Fang Qi’s face showed clear signs of corrosion, it was gruesome.

“Have you gone mad?” Song Jing’s voice trembled. “When did I ever say such things?”

“It was you!” Fang Qi pointed at her hysterically. “You also said… you said if I succeeded, you’d give me the lead role!”

She turned to the police: “I have a recording! It’s on my phone!”

Song Jing’s expression turned grim as she glared at Fang Qi. She was certain she hadn’t said those words, so where did the recording on the phone come from?

Was it Ye Qinglan? But why was she so determined to destroy her?

Song Jing couldn’t figure it out, nor did she have time to dwell on it. She had to focus all her energy on dealing with the police.

In another room, the atmosphere wasn’t as tense as the interrogation, but it was equally serious.

“So, you’re saying that when you saw the prop, you realized something was wrong and reacted immediately. The suspect was unprepared and ended up splashing the acid on her own face.”

Ye Qinglan nodded, her face full of sorrow. “I still can’t believe she would attack me in front of everyone.”

“If I had known she hated me this much, I would have avoided her, but it’s too late for ‘what ifs’ now.”

The officer across from her didn’t show whether they believed her or not, but after a few more questions, they let her go.

As she walked out of the room, the System’s voice rang in her head.

【Fang Qi is on the verge of being written out of the story. I’m beginning to collect her energy.】

【How long will it take?】 Ye Qinglan asked.

【Three days.】

Ye Qinglan was dissatisfied. 【Too slow.】

The System explained: 【Once Fang Qi is completely offline, her energy becomes unowned. The absorption speed will increase then. For now, I’m just siphoning it. To avoid being detected by the system on Su Jin, I have to go slow.】

【I understand. I’ll make sure she’s completely offline, but not right now.】

Fang Qi was still somewhat useful; a slow absorption was fine for now.

Ye Qinglan walked back to the lobby. Su Jin had finished her statement and was waiting on a chair. Seeing Ye Qinglan, Su Jin immediately stopped arguing with her system and stood up. “How did it go? Are you…”

Before she could finish, she was interrupted.

Upon seeing Ye Qinglan, Fang Zhiqiang’s face contorted. He strode toward her. “You damn Omega”

Ye Qinglan didn’t even lift her head. She merely let a glance escape from beneath her lowered lashes.

That look wasn’t like her usual coldness; it was like an ice shard dipped in poison. It seemed to crawl up from the ground, freezing his raised wrist first, then traveling through his veins to freeze his screaming nerves.

It wasn’t simple anger it was a murderous intent that had simmered for three years, like the chilling gaze of a viper before it strikes.

Fang Zhiqiang’s raised palm froze mid-air, then began to tremble slightly.

“Do you wish to strike me, Mr. Fang?” Ye Qinglan’s voice was soft, yet it made the hair on the back of Fang Zhiqiang’s neck stand up.

He suddenly remembered that the person in front of him was no longer the child he could beat and scold at will. The current Ye Qinglan wouldn’t even soften her heart for her own mother.

Fang Zhiqiang suddenly felt a flicker of regret. Had he known she would become like this, he should have beaten her to death back then!

He gritted his teeth, yet he was powerless against her.

“Is the police station a place for you to act out?” the duty officer’s barked reprimand broke the stagnant air.

Fang Zhiqiang lowered his hand sullenly, his glare directed at Ye Qinglan like a cur whose tail had been stepped on. However, when he caught the mocking smile at the corner of her lips, his face turned from green to pale.

The ridiculous sight made Ye Qinglan chuckle softly, causing Su Jin to tug at her sleeve worriedly: “Are you okay?”

Did she get scared out of her mind? Su Jin wondered. But then she realized, Ye Qinglan was the antagonist; how could she be scared by something like this?

“I’m fine.” Ye Qinglan held her cool fingertips, the frost in her eyes melting instantly when she looked at Su Jin.

Just then, the heavy iron door of the detention area clanged open. Fang Qi’s gauze wrapped figure was helped out by an officer. Her mangled cheek seeped dark red blood under the sterile lights.

When Fang Zhiqiang saw Fang Qi’s face, he let out a subhuman wail. He reached out to touch the gauze on his daughter’s face with trembling hands, then suddenly whirled around to lunge at Ye Qinglan.

“It was you! It must be you, you bitch!” His eyes were bloodshot as he struggled against the officers holding him back. “I’ll make you pay in blood!”

Ye Qinglan stood her ground, unmoving. Only her slightly constricted pupils betrayed any emotion: “Mr. Fang, your daughter is suspected of hiring a killer. The evidence is conclusive.”

“Bullshit!” Fang Zhiqiang roared. “My daughter is the kindest soul! You must have framed her!”

“Lao Fang!” An elegant female voice called out from the entrance.

Ye Huiling held a black umbrella, her face pale as she took in the scene. “Calm down…”

When her gaze fell upon Fang Qi’s face, her pupils shrank violently. The umbrella in her hand hit the floor with a dull thud.

“This… how is this possible…”

When Fang Qi saw Ye Hui, she suddenly burst into a frantic laugh, blood seeping through her gauze. “Auntie Ye… look… this is the ‘good work’ of your precious daughter…”

Ye Hui staggered back a step, her eyes filled with disbelief as she looked at Ye Qinglan. “Lan Lan, you…”

“Mom,” Ye Qinglan interrupted her calmly. “The police have complete surveillance footage, and there is evidence showing that Fang Qi’s original target was me.”

“Nonsense!” Fang Zhiqiang stomped in a thunderous rage. “How could my daughter do such a thing! You must have framed her!”

“Enough!” the officer shouted sternly. “Fang Qi is suspected of intentional assault. With the evidence currently available, this must be handled according to the law!”

Standing to the side, cold sweat had already soaked through Song Jing’s back. Looking at Fang Qi’s crazed eyes, she suddenly realized this fool really intended to drag everyone down with her.

“Song Jing…” Fang Qi looked at her gloomily. “Don’t even think about washing your hands of this…”

Song Jing cut her off sharply. “Fang Qi! You brought this upon yourself; take responsibility for your own sins!” She turned to the police. “I have absolutely nothing to do with this. That so-called recording is a forgery. Song Corporation can provide all necessary technical support to prove it.”

Hearing this, Fang Qi let out a string of maniacal laughter. She tore away the gauze on her face, revealing a bloody, mangled mess. “None of you are getting away… not a single one…”

Her voice stopped abruptly as she collapsed straight to the floor.

“Qi Qi!” Fang Zhiqiang rushed toward her but was blocked by the police.

“Sudden shock! Call an ambulance, quickly!”

The police station instantly fell into chaos.

Ye Qinglan pulled Su Jin toward a corner. While no one was paying attention, she gently squeezed Su Jin’s fingers. Su Jin looked up and caught a fleeting, cold sneer at the corner of Ye Qinglan’s mouth. Suddenly, she understood.

Everything was going according to plan.

Standing there, Ye Hui watched Fang Qi being carried into the ambulance, then looked back at the expressionless Ye Qinglan. She suddenly felt a shiver run down her spine. For the first time, she felt as though she had never truly known this daughter of hers.

The chaos in the station lobby felt like an absurd play. Fang Zhiqiang’s roars, Ye Hui’s panic, and Song Jing’s forced composure all turned into blurred patches of color in Ye Qinglan’s eyes.

She pulled Su Jin to the corner, her fingertip tracing soothing circles in the other’s palm. Only when the commotion of the ambulance faded did she whisper, “Let’s go.”

As they reached the door, Ye Hui chased after them with her black umbrella. Rain dripped from the canopy onto the polished floor, blooming into dark ripples.