I Just Want to be a Throwaway Character - Chapter 46

Chapter 46: World Three

A red sports car sped down the road.

Sitting in the passenger seat of Xiao Zhuyun’s car, Ji Wan felt a bit guilty for some reason, even though Xiao Zhuyun’s expression had returned to normal. She just felt like she had ruined something.

“Um, Sister Zhuyun, what’s your relationship with that woman with the big wavy hair?”

Unable to contain her curiosity, Ji Wan asked Xiao Zhuyun.

Suddenly, Xiao Zhuyun slammed on the brakes, and Ji Wan was thrown forward by the inertia. The seatbelt squeezed her so tightly she almost couldn’t breathe. Xiao Zhuyun’s expression became momentarily stiff and sad.

“We’re at your apartment, Wanwan,” Xiao Zhuyun said, trying hard to control her sorrow.

“Ah, oh,” Ji Wan unbuckled her seatbelt in a daze and opened the car door. Xiao Zhuyun also got out.

“Wanwan, I hope you’ll pretend that you didn’t see what happened tonight. Don’t tell anyone you’ve met Chu Fang,” Xiao Zhuyun said, looking seriously into Ji Wan’s eyes.

“Is Chu Fang the woman with the big wavy hair?” Ji Wan asked, a bit flustered by the sudden seriousness of the request.

“Yes. You can’t mention her to anyone, especially Grandpa, okay?” Xiao Zhuyun’s eyes filled with sorrow and a hint of a fragile struggle.

Seeing that Xiao Zhuyun’s eyes were starting to well up again, Ji Wan patted her back to comfort her.

“Don’t cry, Sister Xiao. There are plenty of fish in the sea… no, plenty of flowers. The next one will be better!”

Xiao Zhuyun let out a rare, bitter laugh. She patted Ji Wan’s head, her voice catching with emotion. “Wanwan, you don’t understand.” A tear involuntarily trickled down her cheek.

Xiao Zhuyun sadly looked at the swaying shadows of the distant trees. The beautiful memories of the past now felt like thorns, piercing her heart.

Even as slow-witted as she was, Ji Wan could tell that Xiao Zhuyun had been in a bad mood ever since that Chu Fang appeared. There was definitely something between them, but the original host’s memories didn’t contain any information about this person. When she first received the memories, she had been drunk and blacked out, so she only remembered a few fragments.

At a time like this, System 111 wasn’t around to provide any information. Could Chu Fang have bullied Sister Zhuyun? Ji Wan’s mind went wild with possibilities.

“Sister Zhuyun, I don’t know what happened between you, but you still have me. Don’t be afraid. If she bullied you, I’ll help you beat her up. I’ll make her kneel and beg for your forgiveness.”

Ji Wan thought she sounded cool, but seeing her adorably serious expression, Xiao Zhuyun couldn’t help but let out a little laugh. Her mood seemed to genuinely improve.

“Thank you, Wanwan.” Xiao Zhuyun gently hugged Ji Wan, seeking a bit of comfort from her pain.

Although Ji Wan was a little stunned, she quickly hugged her back, gently patting Xiao Zhuyun’s back without saying anything more.

Two girls of similar height embraced under the moon. The bright moonlight illuminated them, making them look like ethereal fairies. It was a beautiful scene, but in some people’s eyes, it was a total eyesore.

Not only did Chu Fang, who was following behind them, have red eyes, but Jiang Zhili, who was watching from her apartment through the floor-to-ceiling windows, also had a dark, heavy look in her eyes. Intense blackness seemed to swell within them.

Neither of the two girls knew what fate had in store for them. They were simply embracing each other for warmth at that moment.

After comforting Xiao Zhuyun, Ji Wan said goodbye and headed toward her apartment. It was already ten o’clock at night. She had to go to work tomorrow, so she needed to wash up and go to bed quickly.

But when Ji Wan got to the elevator, she saw a big “Elevator Under Repair” sign. She wanted to curse. She was still wearing high heels, and she lived on the tenth floor!

There was no other option. Ji Wan resignedly took off her high heels and began climbing the stairs. She complained to herself the whole way up. “What kind of bad luck is this? Why do they have to repair the elevator late at night? It’s going to kill me.”

Ji Wan panted as she climbed, complaining about how high the stairs were and how her old back couldn’t take it. When she reached the ninth floor, she was almost in tears. Her body, which hadn’t exercised in years, felt like it was going to fall apart after climbing just a few floors.

She was almost there. What a relief. But just as Ji Wan was about to push on to the top, the stairwell lights went out with a click.

Seeing the sudden darkness, a chill ran up her spine. It…it couldn’t be a ghost, could it? Ji Wan fumbled for her phone, but it had already died and turned off.

The stairwell was pitch black. Not a single ray of light could penetrate. Ji Wan tried to control her shaky legs, walking slowly, step by step, upward. Her heart pounded in the silence, its sound unusually loud in the darkness.

“Prosperity, democracy, civilization, harmony…” Ji Wan chanted the core socialist values in her head to fight her terror. As she neared the tenth floor, she let out a sigh of relief.

But then she saw a blurry, dark figure by the tenth-floor door, and all the blood in her body seemed to freeze.

She had lived for so many years and this was the first time she had ever seen a ghost! The fear was ingrained in her very bones.

Ji Wan stared blankly at the figure, and the figure stared back, or at least, Ji Wan felt its burning gaze on her.

For a moment, the atmosphere was strange. Ji Wan couldn’t decide whether to move forward or retreat.

Just as she was feeling hopeless, the dark figure moved. It was unmistakably coming toward her.

Ji Wan was so scared she closed her eyes, clutching her two little high heels in her hand. Suddenly, she felt a gust of wind as the presence of the ghost grew stronger. Ji Wan began to tremble slightly.

“Oh god, I don’t taste good, I haven’t showered in days,” she whispered to herself, hoping the ghost would leave.

But the presence remained. There was even a faint, pleasant smell. It felt familiar, as if she had smelled it somewhere before.

When nothing happened for a while, Ji Wan cautiously opened her eyes a crack. It was still very dark, but she could make out a person’s silhouette in front of her, very close. For some reason, Ji Wan felt a little awkward.

Couldn’t this ghost just get it over with? Why was it standing there like a statue?

Ji Wan hardened her heart, closed her eyes, and took off running. It was a gamble, but she might as well try. She saw herself getting closer to the door, getting away from the figure, and she felt a surge of joy.

But her joy was short-lived. The next second, the dark figure pinned her against the wall. Before Ji Wan could cry out in pain, her back pressed against a light switch.

Click!

The stairwell was suddenly filled with light. Ji Wan stared in a daze at the “ghost” that was now embracing her. The clothes, the smell… it couldn’t be.

Ji Wan cautiously raised her head. There was a perfect, white jawline, and above it, thin, cold lips, a high nose bridge, and a pair of deep eyes.

Damn it! It was Jiang Zhili.

What the hell? She’s dressing up as a ghost in the middle of the night? Didn’t she know that you could scare someone to death?

But even though she was cursing internally, Ji Wan put on a goofy smile. “Um, Director Jiang, is everything okay?”

Jiang Zhili didn’t say a word. She just stared at the girl she had trapped between her arm and the wall. The girl’s face, which had been made up to look more mature and alluring, still had a hint of her original innocence and naivete in her bewildered expression. It was a conflicting but harmonious look, a mix of purity and desire that made her eyes light up.

But this beauty wasn’t for her; it was for her so-called fiancée. Jealousy and a strange anger mixed within her. Jiang Zhili could no longer control her cool and reserved demeanor. She felt a surging, destructive force within her. And the culprit of all this was the girl in front of her, the one she both loved and hated.

After enticing her, she wanted to run away? Humph! Not a chance.

When she saw the girl hugging another person, Jiang Zhili knew that her feelings for Ji Wan were not just interest, but a deep desire and longing.

Ji Wan felt a little awkward with Jiang Zhili’s silence. She was being pinned against the wall at night. Could it be that she was jealous? She only went to her future fiancée’s birthday party. Was that really enough to make her this upset?

“Um… Director Jiang, is there something wrong? If not, I’m going back now,” Ji Wan said, gently raising her hand to try to push away Jiang Zhili’s arm so she could go home.

“Ji Wan,” Jiang Zhili’s cold, indifferent voice sounded out, but for some reason, it carried a hint of danger.

“Uh, what is it, Director?” Ji Wan responded obediently. Inside, she was thinking, “Did I offend her recently? Was she still mad about me beating her up at the hotel last time?”

“Do you want to know what you did to me at that resort?” Jiang Zhili asked, gently pinching Ji Wan’s chin.

Sure enough, she’s holding a grudge! Ji Wan thought. I knew she wouldn’t let me off the hook so easily. She’s been waiting for this.

Ji Wan was a little embarrassed and quickly apologized. “I’m sorry, Director, I am very sorry for my rudeness that night.”

But Jiang Zhili just stared at her with a dark, brooding look.

“You’re a big person, Director. Can you please not hold a grudge against me for my mistake?” Ji Wan quickly tried to flatter her.

“What if I insist on holding a grudge?” Jiang Zhili leaned closer to Ji Wan’s face, their faces almost touching. Her warm breath on Ji Wan’s cheek made her blush.

Just talk to me, don’t get so close! Ji Wan thought, feeling a little shy.

“Then…then I’ll pay you back? Or maybe I’ll treat you to dinner?…” Ji Wan desperately searched for a solution.

But Jiang Zhili just stared at her, not answering.

Sure enough, the female lead isn’t some saintly white lotus. She’s a calculating, petty villain, Ji Wan thought, silently complaining.

Ji Wan’s legs were starting to hurt from standing so long, and her mouth was dry from talking so much. Finally, she gave up. “Director, what do you want? Just tell me.”

“What if I just want to do to you what you did to me that night?” Jiang Zhili’s lips curved slightly, her voice full of temptation.

Oh my god, she wants to hit me! Ji Wan thought. What a vindictive woman.

Ji Wan glanced at her own small arms and legs. If the female lead beat her up, she’d probably be bedridden tomorrow. Would she be in a wheelchair from now on? The thought was terrifying.

“Um, Director, I just remembered I have something to do. Let’s talk about this tomorrow, haha, it’s too late tonight,” Ji Wan said, trying to slip away.

She gently pushed Jiang Zhili’s hand away and started to walk to the side. When she saw that Jiang Zhili wasn’t stopping her, she felt a little pleased.

But the next second, she was pulled back.

“Ouch, Jiang Zhili, what are you doing?” Ji Wan cried out in annoyance, feeling the sharp sting on her back. Her voice was a mix of a squeak and a whimper. What was this woman trying to do? Was she really going to beat her up tonight?

Little did she know, this look made her even more desirable to bully.

“I told you, I’m going to hold a grudge,” Jiang Zhili’s voice was a little hoarse and dangerous.

Ji Wan was so annoyed she just wanted her to get it over with. “Fine, just hit me lightly. I’m afraid… Mmph.”

Her words were cut off by a sudden kiss.

Ji Wan was stunned by the softness on her lips. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she saw Jiang Zhili’s beautiful face so close to hers. The intense visual shock and physical sensation made her realize what was happening.

What the hell is going on?!

Seeing Ji Wan’s stunned expression, Jiang Zhili took advantage of the moment. She went deeper, moving without restraint. She stirred and plundered. By the time Ji Wan realized what they were doing, it was already too late. She couldn’t struggle. All she could do was brace herself for the suffocating, overwhelming tidal wave.