Forced to Act out a Strange Script with a Rival - Chapter 42

On the drive back to the hotel, the car was lit only by the faint, blue glow of the instrument panel and the blurred, rapidly receding lights outside the window.

Si Xiaoxiao held the steering wheel, her fingertips unconsciously tapping on the smooth leather. A peculiar, almost solidified silence pervaded the cabin.

It wasn’t the volatile tension of the journey there, but a stillness that seemed calm on the surface, yet concealed unspent undercurrents, and a subtle, sticky thread of… awkwardness?

Si Xiaoxiao’s peripheral vision drifted several times, uncontrollably, towards the passenger seat. Li Ting was turned sideways, eyes closed, resting. The weak overhead light cast a small shadow on her defined profile, her long lashes creating faint, dark crescents beneath her eyes, and the weariness between her brows was unmistakable.

She opened her mouth, the question that had been circling in her heart, “Why can she and not I?” almost rushing out, but she forced it back down.

Forget it, it’s not an important question.

The key issue now was whether to apply to the System to revoke the reward.

That reward was truly a double-edged sword, having both pros and cons.

Since the matter with Gong Zhiyuan was not yet completely resolved, it was probably better to keep this so-called “Destiny Bond” for now.

The car sped quickly. The two of them arrived at the hotel in silence.

The hotel was deserted and quiet in the early hours of the morning, only the low hum of the central air conditioning audible. The two were uncomfortably squeezed into the small elevator space together.

Si Xiaoxiao’s floor arrived first. She hesitated, but ultimately didn’t say goodbye, didn’t show concern, and left the elevator without a word.

She felt that, given their relationship, anything she might say would feel inappropriate.

This is so strangely awkward.

In the instant the elevator door closed, Li Ting’s lips curved upwards very slightly, almost self-mockingly. The arc was fleeting, gone as quickly as an illusion.

That night, Si Xiaoxiao did not sleep soundly. Her mind was a tangle of nightmarish dreams—one moment the cold suffocation of crashing waves, the next the icy touch of a iron cage, and then again, Li Ting’s calm, water-like eyes…

She woke up several times, her body sticky and uncomfortable in the cool air-conditioned room, a result of the unsettling dreams.

As dawn broke, the morning light quietly seeped through the thick curtain gap, casting a pale streak on the floor.

Unable to sleep any further, she sat up and grabbed Yu Yilin’s phone from the nightstand.

She unlocked the screen—it was glaringly clean.

There were no unread messages from “Captain.”

Frustrated, she ran her fingers through her already messy long hair. The strands tangled in her grasp, mirroring her chaotic state of mind.

So, she gave up on sleeping, threw off the blanket, and, with bare feet on the cool floor, decided to take a shower to wash away the stickiness and fatigue from the nightmare.

The warm water washed over her face and body, somewhat dispelling the exhaustion and the clammy feeling of the dreams.

Si Xiaoxiao closed her eyes, letting the water run, trying to empty her mind.

Just as she turned off the faucet, grabbed a towel to dry herself, and was about to step onto the cool tiles to get her pajamas, her phone rang.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t Yu Yilin’s phone, but Si Xiaoxiao’s own.

The caller ID showed her manager. As soon as she answered, the familiar voice boomed in Si Xiaoxiao’s ear.

“Xiaoxiao, you’re in luck! S-House has invited you to shoot for their new magazine cover. Pack up; prepare for a flight tonight.”

“Really?”

Si Xiaoxiao’s eyes instantly widened. Her heart felt as if something had violently clenched and then released it. A massive wave of surprise surged through her like an electric current.

She was almost ecstatic enough to jump to the ceiling.

S-House was a top-tier fashion resource in the industry. This was undoubtedly an excellent opportunity.

Her manager was extremely efficient, quickly sending over the flight information and the detailed shooting schedule.

However, after the initial euphoria, the real problem surfaced.

She couldn’t separate from Li Ting.

To be fair, Si Xiaoxiao clearly preferred fashion resources over acting.

The photographer invited for this new issue was a stylist she admired greatly, and they had a history.

The reality show shooting here was already completed, and they were just waiting for the director to review the footage to see if any re-shoots were needed later.

Moreover, the magazine’s shooting location was very close to the current island location, just an hour or so flight away.

So, the timing was perfect; it was quite lucky.

This must be a gift from the System’s reward.

She definitely had to go, but how could she convince Li Ting to go with her?

Maybe I should be a little more attentive to her for the next two days while she’s injured?

No, that doesn’t feel like how arch-rivals should interact.

As arch-rivals, one should be trying to find the other’s weakness and attack fiercely!

But what leverage could Li Ting possibly have…

On the other hand, she owed Li Ting a favor for saving her, and she still needed to find a way to convince Li Ting to star in Wen Xiuzhen’s film.

What a headache. Right now, I seem to be the one in the more passive position.

Si Xiaoxiao sprang up from the bed like a carp. She was a woman of action and wanted to do what she decided immediately, but then she suddenly hesitated.

The atmosphere had been so awkward when they returned.

Now, going alone to her arch-rival’s room to ask for a favor felt really strange.

Si Xiaoxiao thought for a moment and quickly devised a plan.

Step One: Find Li Ting’s chat software contact information from A-Lin’s phone.

Step Two: Create a burner account and send Li Ting a friend request message: Ms. Li, hello, I am Director Wen Xiuzhen’s assistant. We are planning a movie with you as the lead. Please accept the friend request.

Step Three: Wait.

Time ticked by, and the phone remained quiet as a brick.

Si Xiaoxiao, unwilling to give up, decided to implement Plan Two, this time with a different style: Ms. Li, hello! Want to know your ‘rival’s’ core, unspeakable secrets? (Absolutely explosive!) Add me to chat; guaranteed value for money! Thank you!!

Li Ting still ignored her.

Si Xiaoxiao fiddled with the phone and soon came up with Plan Three.

This time, her friend request was unusually outrageous: Hello, I am the reincarnation of Empress Wu Zetian. I hold important resources and contacts in the entertainment industry. All you need to do is add me. On the day my friend list is full, I will send you film and television resources and a three-day tour of City A.

Surprisingly, Li Ting accepted the verification request.

She actually fell for this?

Si Xiaoxiao had been prepared for a long battle, but she was genuinely surprised that Li Ting actually accepted.

Well, if there are things like the System in this world, having a reincarnation of Empress Wu Zetian isn’t that much of a stretch!

Li Ting’s username was simply a period: “.” Her profile picture was a stock image of a chubby, lazy-looking orange cat lounging in the sun.

Universe Beauty Girl: Ms. Li, hello! Congratulations on becoming my 999th lucky friend! My friend list is now complete! I hereby honor my promise: A set of Director Wen Xiuzhen’s top-tier film and television resources + A dream three-day tour of City A! Please check! (^^)

. : Si Xiaoxiao?

Universe Beauty Girl: No, no, no! I am the genuine reincarnation of Empress Wu Zetian! Please call me Your Majesty! ( )

. : Oh.

Before Si Xiaoxiao could send the next emoji, a glaring red exclamation mark popped up next to the message box.

She had been blocked!

“Li—Ting—!” Si Xiaoxiao was completely furious. She dropped the pretense, and since her identity had been exposed, she simply called her directly.

“Hello, Xiaoxiao?” Li Ting’s voice quickly answered on the other end.

Surprisingly, the voice was exceptionally gentle, carrying a barely noticeable hoarseness, as if she were carefully handling a fragile piece of porcelain, precious and mild: “Good morning.”

Clearly, she seemed to have anticipated Si Xiaoxiao’s reaction to having her identity revealed.

Si Xiaoxiao was choked by this abnormal tenderness, her tone becoming cautious: “You… why are you calling me so sweetly?”

Has this woman gone mad? She usually either sneers at me or ignores me. This attitude today… is too weird!!

“Because you took the initiative to call me,” Li Ting’s voice was still soft, even carrying a hint of faint laughter: “I’m very happy.”

!! Warning, warning. This is absolutely not the conversation arch-rivals should be having!

Si Xiaoxiao’s internal radar screamed, still highly defensive: “What is wrong with you? Were you threatened? Or possessed? Tell me! Where did you hide Li Ting!”

“No, no,” Li Ting chuckled softly, sensing Si Xiaoxiao’s wariness. With a blend of helplessness and teasing, her teasing lilt lifted slightly at the end, like a feather brushing an ear, and she changed her approach: “It’s me, no doubt about it. I just didn’t realize that the famous Ms. Si had another identity as the ‘Reincarnation of Empress Wu Zetian.'”

The familiar soft-but-sharp edge, the familiar teasing.

This helped Si Xiaoxiao regain her rhythm in dealing with Li Ting, and she followed up: “I’m the queen, mind your own business.”

“You plan to go to City A?” Li Ting’s tone was calm. Smart as she was, she could easily see through Si Xiaoxiao’s little scheme.

“I really don’t like dealing with smart people!” Si Xiaoxiao said this, yet the happiness in her eyebrows was something she hadn’t even noticed herself.

In this rare, relaxed atmosphere, some words simply slipped out: “To thank you for saving my life, I’m gifting you a set of Director Wen Xiuzhen’s film and television resources and a three-day tour of City A.”

An uncharacteristic, proud-yet-honest thank you.

Li Ting then returned Si Xiaoxiao’s earlier words to her: “What is wrong with you? Were you threatened? Or possessed?”

The same phrase, spoken by Si Xiaoxiao, was full of surprise and uncertainty. Coming from Li Ting’s lips, however, it carried a lazy, mocking tone, even mixed with a hint of indefinable… indulgence.

“I have work in City A, and I need you to come with me.”

After all, the System’s reward—the gift of destiny—had bound them together. Only by staying close could they be luckier.

Queen Si Xiaoxiao sought help with righteous indignation.

“And the movie? What’s that about?” Li Ting didn’t agree or disagree, merely asking about Si Xiaoxiao’s other excuse for the friend request.

Si Xiaoxiao was stubborn: “Oh, that was an opportunity I fought hard to get for you. Don’t thank me too much, considering it’s on my account.”

Li Ting saw through Si Xiaoxiao’s stubbornness and cut straight to the core: “They insisted on me joining, didn’t they?”

“…” Si Xiaoxiao fell into suspicious silence.

So Li Ting continued her deduction: “Is the pay for this drama very high? And the styling is good?”

She guessed that too?

Si Xiaoxiao was dumbfounded, and carelessly blurted out this internal thought.

A very light laugh came from Li Ting over the phone, like a breeze blowing wind chimes, carrying a sense of certainty: “Of course, I know you very well.”

Si Xiaoxiao couldn’t possibly concede. She bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, her hair standing on end: “You know me so well, are you crushing on me?”

She said this without thinking.

And instantly felt embarrassed after saying it.

Fortunately, she was on the phone.

A brief silence.

There was only a faint static noise in the earpiece, like a silent countdown.

Then, Li Ting’s clear voice, mixed with the slight static, crossed the distance and came through clearly:

“What if I said yes?”

Boom!

Si Xiaoxiao’s heart felt as if an invisible hand had harshly clenched it, then violently released it, immediately starting to beat wildly and erratically, slamming against her ribs, making her eardrums buzz.

Blood seemed to rush to her face in an instant.

Before she could recover her breath from that earth-shattering answer, Li Ting’s next sentence, with the same, or even deeper, teasing smile, followed closely.

“But what if I said no?” Her voice continued: “Does it matter to you whether it is or isn’t?”

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