I Don't Want To Fall In Love With The Heroine [Quick Wear] - Chapter 2

Bai Qian had always been the cool-headed type.

Even in the face of this urgent, volatile situation, she remained composed. She reached up and firmly clamped her hand around the wrist of the woman who was clinging to her like a serpent, attempting to summon whatever flicker of reason remained in the other woman’s drug-addled mind.

“Open the door first, Shao Zizhi. You can stay calm; this is just a little—mmph!”

Abruptly captured lips stifled the rest of her words.

As if to punish her for being “unyielding and disobedient,” Shao Zizhi nipped sharply at those cool, soft lips. But as soon as she did, she seemed to worry she had caused pain; she extended her tongue to lick the spot soothingly before reluctantly pulling away.

“I can’t be calm!” she murmured, her voice thick with grievance.

Her warm breath carried her natural sweetness, but it was also laced with the mellow, heavy scent of wine. It was a peculiar scent—underneath the alcohol, there was a faint, bitter medicinal trace. Bai Qian had just realized something was amiss when the woman’s soft, warm tongue slid into her mouth.

The remains of the wine, spiked with a potent aphrodisiac, were swallowed down along with their shared saliva.

Bai Qian’s calm eyes gradually became clouded by a thin mist. She tried to push the woman away, but Shao Zizhi, sensing the resistance, pulled her lips back just enough to reach out and press her thumb against the fingerprint lock.

Click.

The door swung open.

Bai Qian shook her head, trying to dispel the dizzying sense of weightlessness that was beginning to take hold.

“Since you’re being a Good Samaritan, Sister, you should see it through to the end!” Shao Zizhi, raised as the pampered darling of her family, quickly reverted to the willful arrogance of a little princess.

Her goal was still unmet. Standing on her tiptoes, she pressed her feverish lips against the woman’s once more. Bai Qian barely managed to dodge, and the rejection immediately brought tears to the eyes of the impatient little beast.

“Waaa… Sister, you’re repulsed by me.”

That delicate, tender tone, paired with a face that could captivate the world—this piteous and wronged expression was a refined form of torture.

Bai Qian lowered her gaze and took several deep breaths. Ignoring the low whimpers, she grabbed the woman’s wrist and successfully led her into the bathroom. She reached out, placing Shao Zizhi in the bathtub while sitting in herself, and turned on the tap.

“It’s summer, so a cold soak shouldn’t hurt. I’ll get the water ready for you. You sit here and wait for me; I’m going to go buy you some medicine, okay?”

The only response was Shao Zizhi’s relentless sobbing. “Waaa… Sister bit me, it hurts… Sister, I’m in so much pain.”

Bai Qian knew she hadn’t used much force, but the girl’s aggrieved crying wouldn’t stop. She was forced to turn around, only to find herself staring into a pair of watery eyes.

Shao Zizhi leaned in close, pouting. When she was right in front of Bai Qian’s face, she opened her mouth slightly, showing her small, pink tongue. “Sister bit me and made it hurt… Sister is so mean.”

A delicate beauty revealing her most vulnerable, blooming side without any defenses is a sight of immense visual impact. The suppressed effects of the drug flared up again at the sight, restlessly tormenting Bai Qian’s self-control.

Unaware that she was testing the very limits of the other woman’s restraint, the girl carefully tugged on the hem of Bai Qian’s shirt, pleading, “Sister, help me. I really feel so bad.”

She guided Bai Qian’s hand toward the most feverish, agonizing parts of her body. “Sister… my mouth hurts… and here hurts too.”

The string named “Reason” finally snapped.

A drop of ink fell into Bai Qian’s clear, pure eyes, quickly bleeding out until they were a deep, dark abyss.

******

The sun had not yet risen.

Bai Qian walked out of the hotel lobby and glanced at the time as she hailed a ride.

2:24 AM.

Shao Zizhi was truly exhausted. When Bai Qian had changed her shoes to leave, the woman was still curled up in the duvet like a boneless kitten, eyes closed in deep sleep.

Thinking about what had just transpired gave Bai Qian a massive headache.

Her mission was simply to help Shao Zizhi escape the “scumbag” male lead, prevent her original tragic ending of jumping off a building, and help her become a truly talented and famous Best Actress. Now, while the scumbag’s first scheme had been thwarted, Bai Qian had ended up in bed with the female lead instead. How terrifying.

A private car with bright headlights pulled up. The glare stung her eyes; she raised a hand to shield them as the driver called out, “Miss, did you call for a car?”

Bai Qian closed the door behind her. As the car pulled away, she sighed.

Regardless, it had already happened. There was no point in agonizing over it now. Shao Zizhi had been in the entertainment industry for years—a “big dye vat” of a place. She must have seen her share of one-night stands.

Shao Zizhi was currently on an upward trajectory as a serious actress. Aside from the drama they had just finished, she had three more starring roles lined up for broadcast, and a famous director had already tapped her for a lead role in a movie next year.

In contrast, the body Bai Qian now inhabited belonged to an utterly unremarkable, bottom-tier actress. In terms of status and background, they were worlds apart. Perhaps when Shao Zizhi woke up, she would even be relieved that Bai Qian had been tactful enough to leave quietly. After all, if a paparazzi had caught them, it would have been an unmitigated disaster for her career.

Having analyzed the pros and cons, Bai Qian felt a bit of relief, followed by a sense of helplessness. The male lead wasn’t the type to stay quiet; since he had targeted Shao Zizhi as a stepping stone, this failed plan would surely be followed by another.

She could no longer follow her original strategy of befriending the female lead, so her methods for stopping the male lead would have to change. Unable to think of a concrete plan immediately, Bai Qian rubbed her aching temples and decided to let her brain rest. After all, Shao Zizhi wasn’t the only one who had been put through the wringer tonight.

******

Bai Qian’s plan was perfect: go home, take a hot shower, and sleep until her body naturally woke up.

That plan was shattered at 7:00 AM sharp by her ringing phone.

She was so tired she couldn’t even open her eyes. She fumbled for the phone and accidentally hit the speakerphone button as she answered.

A middle-aged man’s booming, gruff voice erupted from the receiver. “Bai Qian! My new tenant is coming to see the place at eight. Have you packed your things and moved out yet?”

Bai Qian froze, still half-asleep, as the landlord continued his tirade. “I only gave you a few extra days without rent because I know it’s hard for a young girl starting out. Don’t tell me you forgot your promise! You said you’d definitely be out today. I took pity on you last time, but playing pathetic won’t work anymore. I’ll be there at 7:40 sharp. If I still see you in that room, don’t blame me if I throw your stuff out on the street!”

Click. He hung up.

The sharpness of his voice, like broken glass scraping a chalkboard, jolted Bai Qian fully awake. She processed the situation.

She was so broke she couldn’t even afford next month’s rent.

Last night’s events had been so frantic that she hadn’t fully digested the original owner’s memories. Now, forced into reality by the landlord, she abandoned the idea of sleep and began to piece together her new identity.

Half an hour later, Bai Qian was dragging two suitcases out the door.

She had a grand total of 202 yuan to her name. A payment that had come in last night had been transferred in its entirety to her “vampire” adoptive mother within ten minutes of receipt.

The original owner had been adopted at age three; a year later, her adoptive parents had a biological son. She had grown up being brainwashed into the “Big Sister” role—the idea that every penny she earned had to be given to her brother. It finally made sense why a working actress with a basic salary was so destitute.

Those people weren’t exactly “good,” but they had raised her. The money she had sent back over the years was more than enough to repay that meager debt of gratitude. Bai Qian had no intention of asking for the money back, but she also wouldn’t continue sacrificing herself. As soon as she left the apartment, she blocked their numbers.

Now, she needed to think about her next move.

Shao Zizhi was likely safe for now. In the original plot, the female lead—who was supposed to have had a “fateful encounter” with the male lead—remained at home for a month after the incident. She wouldn’t cross paths with him again until a charity gala, where another “accident” orchestrated by him would take place.

Since the female lead was safe, Bai Qian could set that aside.

Her manager only handled two people: her and a rising starlet who had signed last year. That starlet had gained some fame from a low-budget campus web drama and was now the manager’s top priority. The manager was effectively a ghost to Bai Qian; the role she had just finished was one she had secured herself by auditioning independently.

Knowing she wouldn’t have any work for a while, Bai Qian decided to find a way to make some quick cash to survive.

In the entertainment industry, “plastic sisterhood” was everywhere. For a penniless, bottom-tier actress like her, finding a true friend was nearly impossible. She didn’t plan on relying on anyone, so she sat on a bus station bench and scrolled through her social feed.

An assistant director she had worked with before posted a listing: “Palace maid extras needed. 200 yuan a day, two meals included.”

Bai Qian’s eyes lit up. Work!

She opened a chat to message him, but before she could type, her phone rang. An unknown number.

“Hello?”

“Is this Miss Bai Qian?” The voice was cold, yet vaguely familiar.

“It is. And you are?”

The person on the other end let out a light, sharp huff, her natural entitlement bleeding through. “Miss Bai’s upbringing is truly something. You eat someone up, wipe your mouth, and run away, leaving me all alone and so piteous I can’t even keep my duvet straight. And now you can’t even recognize my voice? You really are something, Miss Bai.”

To emphasize her point, she followed the sentence with two very deliberate, dramatic coughs.

Last night, Shao Zizhi had been drugged and feverish; her voice had been soft and melting. Now that the drug had worn off and she had caught a chill, her voice was cool and slightly raspy. It was only natural Bai Qian hadn’t recognized it immediately.

The little princess, who had been coddled her whole life, grew even more indignant when silence met her words. “Is Miss Bai feeling guilty? Are you too afraid to even speak to me?”

Bai Qian wasn’t sure why Shao Zizhi hadn’t just stayed home to rest as she did in the original plot. Still, she felt she owed her an explanation. While she hadn’t been able to resist the temptation last night, the situation hadn’t been caused by her alone.

“Miss Shao, I—”

“You actually dare to call me Miss Shao! After everything you did to me last night! You still have the nerve to call me Miss Shao? Bai Qian, where are you! Stay right there, I’m coming to find you!”

Shao Zizhi must have had someone track down her number as soon as she woke up. Bai Qian could hear the rustle of sheets as the other woman struggled to get out of bed. After a bit of huffing and puffing, Shao Zizhi spoke again: “Don’t you dare try to hide! Even if you don’t tell me, I’ll find out where you are. You might as well be honest!”

Realizing the woman was determined to get an explanation—and feeling a bit guilty for how far things had gone under the influence of the drug—Bai Qian sighed.

“I’ll come to you,” she said helplessly. “Just lie down and don’t move. Wait for me.”

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