I Don't Want To Fall In Love With The Heroine [Quick Wear] - Chapter 7

“Are you scared?”

“Yes.”

“Do you want to?”

“Yes.”

Shao Zizhi whispered, “Then… just one kiss.”

Bai Qian chuckled. As the girl wished, she cupped her chin and pressed a gentle, tender kiss against her lips.

“Satisfied?”

Shao Zizhi’s face flushed with a mix of bashfulness and indignation. “You were the one who wanted to kiss me! Why are you pinning it on me now? You’re always like this, Bai Qian. You’re so annoying!”

Bai Qian pulled back the little girl, who was as volatile as a lit firecracker, and pulled a tissue from her bag. She meticulously wiped away the lingering tears from her cheeks and the corners of her eyes.

“Why did you come today?”

“My sister’s drama is having its opening ceremony; of course I had to come take a look!”

Bai Qian didn’t argue and accepted her answer. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Shao Liangrong told me. You were the one who asked for this role for me. I haven’t had much work lately, so I’m really grateful to you for getting me a part.”

The heat on Shao Zizhi’s cooling face flared up again. She stammered, “I just thought your acting was decent, so I told her to give you a random role to try out!”

Bai Qian didn’t expose the lie. She smiled and said, “Yes, I understand. I’ll act well and won’t let you down.”

“Good! And another thing—you’re not allowed to say things like that anymore, and you can’t go doing that kind of thing behind my back. Do you hear me?”

She teased, “What ‘kind of thing’?”

The girl stiffened her face, trying to look fierce. “Bai Qian! Don’t play dumb with me. If you really do that, I… I really will lock you up!”

“I know, I know. I don’t even have the ambition to be famous; there’s no need for that.”

Shao Zizhi was confused. “You don’t want to be famous? Then why did you enter the entertainment industry?”

Isn’t it for a ‘love-brain’ like you?

“Let’s go. Are you coming back with me later? We should stop and buy some fish. I’ll cook for you again today.”

“You made it too spicy the day before yesterday. The first time was just right. This time, use less chili, okay? Bai Qian, you’re ignoring me again! You really are so annoying!”

“Want some boneless chicken feet? We can buy a few pounds after the fish.”

“Didn’t you say deboning them was a hassle and you didn’t want to do it? Two pounds isn’t enough; it’ll be gone in a few bites. I want five pounds. Make a huge bowl for me, I can eat it all! Bai Qian, you still haven’t answered my question!”

“Let’s just do three pounds. If you can’t finish them, the flavor turns bitter if they sit too long. I’ll make them for you again in a while.”

The little firecracker muttered gloomily, “Oh, fine. Bai Qian! You’re really too much! I answer all your questions honestly, but you won’t answer mine. You don’t see me as a friend at all!”

“Stop here. I’ll head back first, otherwise people might talk if they see us together.”

“Why should I stop? Why can’t you stop! I’ve never been ordered around like this! Do you think I’m a puppy? Just because you tell me to stop, I have to stop?”

Bai Qian didn’t want to argue over such small things. “Fine, I’ll stop. You go in first.”

Shao Zizhi pouted. “Can’t you just walk with me?”

“No.”

“People won’t overthink it. I’ve always been approachable; I chat with other actors all the time.”

Bai Qian arched an eyebrow. “Doesn’t your conscience hurt saying that? I remember you trending two months ago for giving a supporting actor the cold shoulder and acting like a diva on set.”

Shao Zizhi felt wronged. “That’s because she tried to put her arm around my shoulder! I don’t even know her, and I don’t like strangers touching me. If she had behaved herself, why would I have given her a sour face? It’s not my fault!”

“Fine, I won’t argue. Either you go in first, or I do. You know how much reporters love to invent stories. Best Actress Zhao just helped Starlet Liu pick up a scarf, and the reporters managed to write a whole ridiculous plot about ‘reunion after divorce, uncontrollable emotions, and the inevitable mending of a broken mirror.’ Even if we walk in normally, there’s no guarantee they won’t slap some bizarre storyline on us—”

Bai Qian pinched the “pufferfish’s” puffed-out cheeks. “What’s with that face? I’m telling the truth. Would I steer you wrong? If we get tagged in some scandalous relationship, it’ll be all harm and no benefit for you. Understand?”

Shao Zizhi’s conflicted expression was impossible to ignore. Bai Qian finally asked, “What is it?”

“Actually… those two really were married. And they really are divorced. Right now, the Best Actress is chasing the starlet you mentioned.”

“…”

“It’s okay, not many people know about it. It’s normal that you didn’t know.”

“Then how do you know?”

Shao Zizhi gave an embarrassed smile. “Starlet Liu is my grand-uncle’s daughter. I even attended their wedding banquet.”

The entertainment industry is tiny! The whole world really does revolve around the protagonists!

Without the fake layer of “Bai Qian being the mistress Shao Liangrong was keeping behind everyone’s back,” Zhao Tong’s attitude toward Bai Qian improved significantly. While they weren’t exactly close, at least Zhao Tong no longer looked at her with daggers in her eyes.

Halfway through filming her new drama, another climax from the original plot finally arrived. This was meant to be the turning point for the male and female leads’ relationship. Another “accidental” night with the male lead, combined with being saved by him twice, was supposed to stir the female lead’s heart. She would begin searching for any information on him—watching his dramas, movies, and even examining his commercials frame by frame. After observing him for a while, this “gentle and refined” man would slowly walk into her heart.

When a beauty falls in love, it is often the beginning of a tragedy. In the case of the original host, one could even remove the word “often.”

No matter how sweet the two were or how deep their feelings seemed in the middle, at the end of the original plot, the male lead chose to break up with her to hook up with a self-made middle-aged woman who was a titan in the business world. The female lead refused to let go. Seeing his future benefactor’s favor about to go to a rival, the man steeled his heart. He dug out a nude photo he had secretly taken during their first night together, cropped himself out, and sent it—completely unblurred—to a highly influential news agency.

The photo spread like a virus around 3:00 AM. Although the female lead’s family suppressed it quickly, the golden window for damage control had passed. Stopping the public’s gossip proved nearly impossible. Having never suffered such humiliation, and unable to endure the “slut-shaming” and cyberbullying, the female lead eventually chose to jump to her death from the top floor of her family’s hotel—the very place they first shared an intimate night.

Bai Qian had stopped it the first time, and she was certainly going to stop the second. Unfortunately, the guest list for the charity gala had long been finalized; there was no way for her to tag along.

While she wanted to go but couldn’t, the one person who didn’t want to go was forced to.

Shao Zizhi vented her frustrations: “I have to attend that charity gala tomorrow. I don’t want to go at all; it’s such a waste of my time.”

“You don’t want to go?”

“Of course not. Taking photos, walking the red carpet—it’s a hassle. It’s not nearly as fun as acting. I don’t know who came up with such a terrible thing.”

Bai Qian asked tentatively, “Then… how about just not going?”

If the female lead didn’t go, the “accident” shouldn’t happen, saving her the effort of stopping it.

“I can’t. I’m going on behalf of my father’s company this time. If it were in my own name, I definitely wouldn’t go. Do you want to go? You should have told me earlier. The list is set now, and I can’t add you. Maybe next time? There’s a similar gala in a while; I’ll take you then?”

“I’m not interested either. What time does it start?”

Shao Zizhi teased her: “You say you’re not interested, but then you ask for the details. You’re just stubborn! It starts at seven, but I have to leave around five to get my hair and makeup done. Such a pain.”

“I’ll wait for you outside tomorrow night. Message me the moment you’re done. And no matter what it is—wine or any other drink—don’t touch it. Do you hear me?”

Shao Zizhi was startled by her grave expression. “Why the look like I’m about to meet a disaster? Bai Qian, are you seriously cursing me to make a fool of myself tomorrow?”

“Just listen to me. Remember what I said: don’t drink anything, no matter who hands it to you. Got it?”

“Fine, I remember. Actually, you don’t even have to say it. After what happened last time, I haven’t dared to touch drinks like that. Are you relieved now?”

Bai Qian wasn’t relieved at all. In the original plot, the female lead had also refused all alcoholic drinks because of her first experience. She didn’t drink a thing all night, but her mouth grew parched. Finally, as things were winding down, she asked a waiter for a glass of orange juice.

That single glass of spiked orange juice changed everything.

Bai Qian waited in the car until nearly 10:00 PM. To soothe Bai Qian’s mysterious anxiety, Shao Zizhi sent her WeChat messages every so often.

[Zizi]: Someone just tried to pour me a drink. I followed your orders and rejected him. Aren’t I the best? Bai Qian, praise me!

[Zizi]: T_T So bored. Everyone is posing; they’re all trying so hard.

[Zizi]: Starlet Kong’s makeup is a bit off today, makes her look old. Don’t you think? [Image]

[Zizi]: Shao Liangrong told me before that Director Zhang and the screenwriter for her drama were a thing. I didn’t believe it, but guess what I just saw? I saw them kissing as they went into the same restroom! The restroom is so dirty, and they’re doing it there!

Bai Qian felt that there must have been a glitch when the “pure and innocent” character description was transmitted to her brain. How could this person—who was a gossip mill and a reckless driver—be the same naive “love-brain” from the original story?

[Zizi]: It’s finally over, I’m coming out now! Come greet me! Did you bring water? I’m so thirsty!

Due to a network delay, Bai Qian received the message a moment late. Just as she finished reading it, another one popped up.

[Zizi]: I see the car! The signal is lagging, it only sent just now. Don’t come get me, I’m heading straight there!

As Bai Qian was about to reply, someone tapped lightly on the window from the outside. She rolled it down and met the woman’s overly exquisite face. Shao Zizhi was wearing heavy makeup today, her smile bright and glamorous.

“Good evening, Bai Qian!”

Seeing her standing safely in front of her, the heavy stone of anxiety in Bai Qian’s heart finally settled.

The bushes on either side of the road slowly receded into the distance. However, the atmosphere in the car gradually began to feel wrong. Shao Zizhi had finished the two bottles of water she’d prepared, but she wasn’t satisfied; she wanted more.

“No more water? I still feel so thirsty. Bai Qian, are there any supermarkets on the road? Buy me a few more bottles of water.”

Bai Qian’s eyelid began to twitch without warning. She felt like she had overlooked something.

Shao Zizhi’s hand suddenly reached over and rested on her thigh. It was already autumn, but the hand of the woman wearing only a thin evening gown felt as scorching as if it had just been pulled from a pot of boiling water.

“Bai Qian… I’m so hot. This feeling… it feels familiar. It’s… it’s exactly like that night.”

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