After I Transmigrated into the Novel, I made the Heroine Fall for Me - Chapter 40

The cool voice carried a hint of displeasure, making it impossible to ignore her presence.

Hearing the familiar voice, Shen Lixie glanced at the person on the computer screen before slowly turning around, his face full of resentment as he looked at Fang Qingying. “Is this how you treat me?” he asked.

Luring a dog in just to slaughter it.

How was a single dog like him supposed to withstand this?

“Huh? What did I do?” Fang Qingying blinked at him, utterly confused.

All she did was forget to charge her phone was that really worth such a look? Mimicking Shen Lixie’s stance, Fang Qingying stared back at him unblinkingly.

From the other side of the video call, Gu Shengxiao watched the two of them, feeling a pang of jealousy despite not having drunk a drop of vinegar. Yet somehow, she had turned into a vat of it.

Her hands clenched tightly under the table. She wanted to express her jealousy in front of Fang Qingying but was afraid of scaring her off.

If the people from the compound saw her like this, they’d never stop laughing. Gu Shengxiao, the decisive and unyielding woman, was stumbling around like a toddler learning to walk, all because of this.

If she didn’t care so much, why would she be so cautious? It was precisely because she cared too much that she was overly careful.

“Speaking of which, why is Manager Shen at Xiao Ying’s place?” Gu Shengxiao feigned confusion, interrupting their ‘intense staring contest.’

“Hmm? If I’m not at her place, where should I be?” Shen Lixie deliberately shot back, the thick scent of vinegar unmistakable except to Fang Qingying, who remained blissfully oblivious.

His eyes weren’t just for decoration.

Look at this, the esteemed actress Gu, perfect in every way, had somehow taken a blind fancy to Fang Qingying.

Of course, even as these thoughts ran through Shen Lixie’s mind, he knew that if Gu Shengxiao openly pursued Fang Qingying, not only would his attitude change, but his entire evaluation of her might shift too.

Their little fool of a girl wouldn’t stand a chance against such a cunning old fox.

So, out of selfishness, Shen Lixie still wanted to keep Fang Qingying as far away from Gu Shengxiao as possible to avoid future complications.

“Shouldn’t Manager Shen be dealing with the trending topics on Weibo? After all, Xiao Ying ended up there because of you. Aren’t you going to handle it?” Gu Shengxiao gave Shen Lixie a sidelong glance, deliberately emphasizing the word “you” with a mocking tone.

Gu Shengxiao childishly jabbed at Shen Lixie’s age, he was six years older than her, making him an old man in her eyes.

Her Xiao Ying would only ever like her, not some old man.

“It seems Actress Gu is quite up-to-date on our Xiao Ying’s activities,” Shen Lixie remarked, his lips twitching slightly as he swiftly countered.

“Xiao Ying and I are good friends. Of course I care about her,” Gu Shengxiao retorted without hesitation. “Unlike some people who just sit around doing nothing, enjoying the easy life.”

Her words were sharp, dripping with hostility.

She knew perfectly well what Shen Lixie had been doing behind the scenes. Saying this was just her way of venting her jealousy.

Look at him standing in such a position to help Fang Qingying, while she could only operate in the shadows.

As the two of them exchanged barbs, Fang Qingying seemed to catch a whiff of gunpowder in the air. Yet, judging by their expressions, she couldn’t spot anything amiss.

Was she just imagining things? Fang Qingying wondered to herself.

Upon hearing these words, Shen Lixie immediately lit up with joy. “Oh really? Unlike some people who only dare to do things sneakily, too afraid to be found out.”

By comparison, Shen Lixie had the upper hand.

Gu Shengxiao: “…”

Damn, this is infuriating.

Fang Qingying glanced at Shen Lixie, then at Gu Shengxiao, before asking, “By the way, Brother Xie, what did you need me for?”

Shen Lixie wouldn’t come looking for her without a reason, there must be something.

As Fang Qingying spoke, she subtly leaned over, blocking Gu Shengxiao from view.

It was unclear whether she was trying to shield Gu Shengxiao from Shen Lixie’s gaze or vice versa, but both men were amused and exasperated by her action.

“Calling you to eat, what else could it be?” Shen Lixie said irritably, eyeing her movement.

Before Fang Qingying could respond, Gu Shengxiao chimed in mockingly, “The Hello Kitty on Manager Shen is quite adorable.”

Shen Lixie: “…”

Dammit! He forgot to take it off!

This round of victory belonged to Gu Shengxiao.

Shen Lixie’s face darkened as he removed the Hello Kitty apron, rolled it up, and set it aside.

Fang Qingyu, he’s dead.

If not for Gu Shengxiao watching, he would’ve thrown the apron to the ground without hesitation!

This was utterly humiliating!

“I think it’s cute too,” Fang Qingying mused, nodding in agreement with Gu Shengxiao.

“Shut up,” Shen Lixie snapped, glaring at Fang Qingying. She was clueless, just blindly echoing others.

Scolded, Fang Qingying looked up at him pitifully. “I’m hungry.”

“That’s why I came in to call you to eat,” Shen Lixie said, rubbing his temples in frustration.

His slender fingers pressed against his forehead, feeling the throbbing tension in his veins. Fang Qingying was driving him up the wall, a few more provocations, and he’d ascend to the heavens.

“Oh,” Fang Qingying blinked innocently, waving goodbye to Gu Shengxiao before swiftly shutting down her computer.

She absolutely couldn’t let Shen Lixie see the unclosed image on the screen, it was a surprise she had prepared for Gu Shengxiao. If Shen Lixie found out, that surprise wouldn’t last another second.

Once the computer was off, Fang Qingying stood up from her chair and carefully placed the drawing tablet back in its original spot.

“What’s for dinner?” she asked, walking over to Shen Lixie.

From the original host’s memories, Fang Qingying had always wanted to try Shen Lixie’s cooking. Now that she finally could, she felt incredibly satisfied.

“Eat properly stop grinning like an idiot,” Shen Lixie set down his chopsticks and sighed, shooting Fang Qingying a look.

Anyone watching would think he’d poisoned the food, given how widely she was smiling.

“Oh,” Fang Qingying mumbled through a mouthful of rice. “Brother Xie, your cooking is amazing. Top-notch.”

“Slow down, or you’ll choke,” Shen Lixie used serving chopsticks to add some meat to her bowl, which she mindlessly devoured.

He continued, “Eat up. You’ll need the energy for your workout later.”

“Cough!” Fang Qingying choked on her food at his words. After gulping down a large bowl of chicken soup Shen Lixie handed her, she asked, “The wind was too loud just now, what did you say?”

How did a simple meal suddenly turn into a discussion about fitness?

“You’re a female celebrity, right?” Shen Lixie slightly raised his eyes, a cunning glint flickering within them. He resembled a big bad wolf, ready to lure an adorable little white rabbit into opening the door.

“I am… I guess?” Fang Qingying hesitated before answering. If possible, she wished she weren’t.

“Then that settles it,” Shen Lixie declared firmly. “Female celebrities need to maintain their figure and weight. So, don’t you think you should join a gym?”

Fang Qingying gulped nervously, clutching her bowl as she looked at the rice, vegetables, and most sinful of all, the meat she had just devoured.

“You did this on purpose, didn’t you?” she asked belatedly, realization dawning on her.

The bowl in her hands filled her with regret.

Indulging in cravings brings momentary joy, but daily gym sessions are the price.

“Me? Do I look like that kind of person?” Shen Lixie feigned innocence, though his eyes betrayed a triumphant gleam.

He wouldn’t outright admit to Fang Qingying that he had indeed planned this after all, she had gotten too thin lately.

“You absolutely do,” Fang Qingying muttered under her breath, pursing her lips.

Scheming to make her eat so much, then emphasizing how female celebrities should manage their figures and weight wasn’t that just a thinly veiled confession?

“So, are you going to keep eating or not?” Shen Lixie gestured at the spread of dishes on the table.

“Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I?”

Fang Qingying viciously took a bite out of a chicken leg, as if she were sinking her teeth into Shen Lixie’s flesh instead.

“Listen, if I have to go to the gym, you’re coming with me. Otherwise, watch out, you might end up middle-aged, overweight, and wifeless.”

“There’s really no need for that.” Shen Lixie’s chopsticks paused mid-air, his expression turning complicated.

Since when did going to the gym warrant threats about middle-aged weight gain?

Hadn’t he been ranked on some “Most Eligible Bachelor” list? So why was he still single?

In the end, Fang Qingying did go to the gym except it was Shen Lixie’s private one.

He justified it by saying this way, she wouldn’t risk being spotted by fans and damaging her image.

Not that Fang Qingying had many fans to begin with most were just admirers of her looks.

After the workout, Fang Qingying collapsed onto the couch, panting and exhausted. Meanwhile, Shen Lixie looked completely unfazed, which only fueled her sense of injustice.

“How come you exercised more than me, yet you’re perfectly fine?” she grumbled indignantly.

Comparing her disheveled state to Shen Lixie’s unruffled demeanor made her blood boil.

“The more you exercise, the less this happens. You’re just out of shape so don’t blame me, alright?” Shen Lixie replied nonchalantly.

“Xiao Ying, are you planning to keep hiding your identity?” Shen Lixie asked as he lounged on the adjacent couch, legs crossed as he studied her.

“What identity?” Fang Qingying was slow to react, still stuck on their previous topic. How had the conversation shifted so abruptly?

“Have you checked the trending topics?” Shen Lixie sighed in resignation. He really shouldn’t have expected anything from this clueless girl.

“Nope.” Fang Qingying shook her head decisively.

She hadn’t even logged onto social media, let alone checked the trending lists. But not only had Shen Lixie mentioned it even Gu Shengxiao had brought it up.

Fang Qingying took out her fully charged phone and opened Weibo under Shen Lixie’s gaze. Several trending topics dominating the hot search list were all related to her.

After skimming through all the trending topics in seconds, Fang Qingying took a deep breath and asked, “So I’m being kept by you?”

Shen Lixie immediately denied it. “Those marketing accounts and gossip blogs are just making things up. It has nothing to do with me.”

Fang Qingying tilted her head, puzzled. “Then what about the money?”

Shen Lixie: “…”

At first, he didn’t understand what she meant by “money,” but the next second, realization dawned on him, and Shen Lixie decisively told Fang Qingying to “get lost.”

He had just clarified that it was all fabricated nonsense, yet here she was, the actual person involved, demanding money from him?

Fang Qingying frowned. “No appearance fee?”

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