I Just Want to be a Throwaway Character - Chapter 48

Chapter 48: World Three

The next morning, Ji Wan sat on the edge of her bed, looking conflicted. She hadn’t changed out of her cute cartoon pajamas yet, and her miserable expression made her look quite adorable. She was wrestling with the decision of whether or not to go to work. Things were so awkward yesterday. Wouldn’t it be even more awkward to see Jiang Zhili today? She must hate her now. Ji Wan ruffled her hair in frustration.

Beep, beep, beep…

Her phone rang. Ji Wan answered, and it was her mother’s voice. “My dear Wanwan, have you missed me?”

“Mom, we just saw each other yesterday,” Ji Wan replied in a flat but affectionate tone.

“Wanwan, you don’t miss your mom? I’m so sad. It’s been so long since I saw my baby.”

“Okay, okay. I love my beautiful mother the most,” Ji Wan said with a smile, her mood brightening.

The original host had also craved her parents’ love. Unfortunately, they were too busy with work and couldn’t spend much time with her, communicating mostly through phone calls and video chats. But even so, the original host never resented them. Her breakdown was likely caused by the revelation of her true identity. Her parents and Jiang Zhili’s parents all felt they owed a debt to Jiang Zhili and lavished her with affection. They believed Ji Wan was already living a privileged life and wouldn’t feel wronged.

They just let her suddenly accept her new identity and deal with Jiang Zhili’s unfamiliar parents, all while her own parents, out of guilt, focused solely on their biological child. They completely overlooked the fact that the original host was also a victim. Her parents still had feelings for her, but the original host was so consumed by the obsession that she wasn’t their biological child that she couldn’t get out of it, and she gradually went mad.

She desperately tried to prove that she was the Ji family’s child, constantly comparing herself to the female lead. But she was always crushed by her, or even ignored. The loss of her fiancée was probably the final straw. Although it was unclear if the original host truly loved Xiao Zhuyun, the title of “fiancée” was the last symbol of her status as a Ji family member.

Ji Wan suddenly became silent. Although the original host had been targeting the female lead in the beginning, it was all harmless pranks, nothing truly damaging. To put it bluntly, it was all the script’s fault.

Cherish life, and stay away from the female lead. Ji Wan affirmed to herself.

Sensing her daughter’s sudden silence, her mother became a little worried. “Wanwan, what’s wrong? Are you unhappy at work?”

“No, Mom. I’m fine, don’t worry about me,” Ji Wan said softly, snapping out of her thoughts.

“That’s good. If you’re ever feeling wronged, you have to tell me. Whatever you say, Mom will believe you,” her mother said gently.

Ji Wan’s heart warmed. Even though her identity hadn’t been revealed yet, her mother genuinely cared for her. It was a feeling she had never experienced at the orphanage. “Okay, I know, Mom,” Ji Wan replied obediently.

“I hope she won’t be too sad when I disappear later,” Ji Wan thought to herself.

“Oh, right. I almost forgot. Your dad said he’ll be passing by the branch company today and he’s going to visit you. It’s a good chance for you two to spend some time together after so long. Your dad says he doesn’t miss you, but his body is more honest than anyone. As soon as he found out he’d be able to see you, he immediately had his assistant change his schedule to take the long way around just to see you.” Her mother’s voice was teasing and happy, with a hint of envy. It was a shame she had to go abroad for a project and couldn’t spend more time with her daughter.

“Okay, Mom,” Ji Wan said sweetly.

After hanging up, Ji Wan checked the time. Oh my god, I’m going to be late again in just 15 minutes! When her identity was revealed, she would have to run away and couldn’t use the bank card her family gave her. She’d have to rely on her meager salary. Every penny was hard-earned and she couldn’t afford to have any deductions.

Ji Wan quickly got ready, unleashing the speed that had earned her second place in the 800-meter race in middle school. In the end, she clocked in three seconds late. Ah, if I’m late more than three times a month, I’ll lose my bonus! How many times had she been late this month? Ji Wan thought back. A few days ago, she overslept and was late once. The day before yesterday, she ate breakfast for too long and was late once. Add this time… so she had been late three times in just a few days at the beginning of the month.

It’s fine, it’s fine. There’s still a chance, Ji Wan patted her chest to comfort herself.

Seeing the elevator going down, Ji Wan rushed toward it, but she bumped into someone who was just coming out. A soft touch, and Ji Wan was a little dazed. She was surrounded by a familiar scent, and for a moment, Ji Wan forgot to pull herself out of the embrace she had fallen into. She felt a strange sense of attachment.

Looking at Ji Wan who had suddenly fallen into her arms, Jiang Zhili didn’t say much. She took a deep breath and pushed Ji Wan away with a cold tone. “Move.”

Startled by Jiang Zhili’s voice, Ji Wan’s body stiffened, and she quickly stepped out of her embrace. When she realized what she had done, she apologized sincerely. “I’m sorry, Director Jiang.”

But Jiang Zhili didn’t pay her any mind and walked past her. Jiang Zhili’s sudden coldness was completely different from before. Of course. After what I did to her, how could she be nice to me? After how I acted yesterday, it’s a blessing she’s not getting revenge, just being cold.

Despite comforting herself, Ji Wan couldn’t explain the slight sourness and sense of loss she felt, a strange pang in her heart. But Ji Wan didn’t dwell on it. She got into the elevator and walked to her desk.

“The current mission is to make money. I can’t think about all that nonsense,” Ji Wan told herself, patting her face.

Around the corner, Jiang Zhili watched the elevator doors slowly close. She watched Ji Wan’s figure completely disappear, and her eyes became obsessive and dark. She would get Ji Wan, no matter what it took.

Ji Wan was completely unaware that she had become the object of Jiang Zhili’s obsession. An unknown fate awaited her.

At a coffee shop, in the corner booth, Jiang Zhili saw the woman who wanted to cooperate with her. The wine-red wavy hair was striking and alluring. Jiang Zhili walked straight to the opposite sofa and sat down. The two women sized each other up, neither of them speaking. They both felt the same aura coming from the other.

Chu Fang’s lips curved slightly, and she spoke first. “You’re Jiang Zhili, the director of the Ji Group’s branch company, and you also control the underground world. You’re an ambitious person.”

Jiang Zhili didn’t say anything, just coolly scrutinized Chu Fang. The fact that she knew all this information meant she was no ordinary person. “Chu Fang, the illegitimate daughter of the Chu Group, and Xiao Zhuyun’s first love. Seven years ago, you disappeared for some unknown reason, leaving only a letter for Xiao Zhuyun. Your current identity is the actual controller of the Chu Group.”

Jiang Zhili said calmly, without any emotion in her eyes. “You’re a smart person. I think we’ll be a great match for cooperation.”

When her identity was revealed so suddenly, Chu Fang wasn’t shocked, but rather calmly resigned, as if she expected it. She had found out about Jiang Zhili’s existence when she was investigating Ji Wan. And Jiang Zhili was an important partner for her success.

“Why do you think we can cooperate?” Jiang Zhili asked. Her eyes became sharp and scrutinizing.

“Because I know you like the Ji Group’s daughter. Our targets are different, but our goal is the same,” Chu Fang replied, her hands clasped on the table, chin resting on them, a carefree smile on her lips. She wasn’t afraid of Jiang Zhili’s gaze.

“Heh, how do you know who I like? Are you so sure I like Ji Wan?” Jiang Zhili’s face was expressionless as she gently raised the black coffee in front of her to her lips.

“I just mentioned the Ji Group’s daughter and you showed up. Doesn’t that prove it? Of course, it wasn’t a random guess. I have a lot of details to prove it. Do you want to know?” Chu Fang replied, a cunning look in her eyes.

Jiang Zhili didn’t answer right away, just calmly looked at Chu Fang. And Chu Fang let Jiang Zhili observe her without any discomfort. After a moment, Jiang Zhili asked, “And you? For Xiao Zhuyun?”

“We have the same goal, don’t we? And against two prominent families, we need to cooperate to have a chance of winning,” Chu Fang said, gently stirring the cappuccino in front of her.

“What do you want me to do with you?” Jiang Zhili still didn’t show much emotion.

“We just need to make the two families give up on their marriage alliance, but ‘giving up’ isn’t something that can be solved with just words,” Chu Fang said, a faint sadness in her eyes as she thought of something.

“What do you have that can shake them?” Jiang Zhili asked.

“If we cooperate with the ruler of the underground world, I believe we have a chance of winning. After all, your goal for coming to the Ji Group wasn’t Ji Wan, was it?” Chu Fang said, her eyes a little sly.

Jiang Zhili didn’t say anything. Chu Fang’s power was definitely not as superficial as she had thought. Jiang Zhili’s lips curved into a slight smile. She extended her hand. “I like to deal with smart people.”

Chu Fang also smiled and shook her hand. “Pleasure working with you.”

Meanwhile, in her office, Ji Wan was on the phone.

“Achoo, achoo!” Ji Wan suddenly sneezed, covering her nose. How strange. Is someone thinking about me?

“What’s wrong, Wanwan?” Xiao Zhuyun’s gentle, slightly hoarse voice came through the phone.

“Nothing, Sister Zhuyun. I probably kicked off my blanket last night and caught a bit of a cold,” Ji Wan said, wiping her nose with two tissues.

“You’re so big, and you still kick off your blanket,” Xiao Zhuyun said with a helpless laugh.

“What do you mean? You’re not even sick, Sister Zhuyun. Your voice is all raspy,” Ji Wan said, not backing down.

“I… Wanwan, don’t talk nonsense,” Xiao Zhuyun said, a little flustered. Her face on the other end of the phone suddenly turned red. Realizing Ji Wan couldn’t see her, she let out a sigh of relief. It was all Chu Fang’s fault. Why did she go crazy all of a sudden? Thinking about crying last night, Xiao Zhuyun was a little embarrassed. After all, she didn’t have a cold, but she couldn’t tell Wanwan that she was crying because that jerk Chu Fang had kissed her, which made her voice raspy. That was too embarrassing.

“Okay, okay. I’m not teasing you anymore. What did Grandpa Xiao say? What are we going to do about the engagement?” Ji Wan asked.

“Grandpa said it was an agreement with your grandpa and he won’t allow it to be canceled. He said that unless your grandpa comes and talks to him, it’s impossible.” Xiao Zhuyun sighed slightly, remembering how stubborn her grandpa was about the engagement.

“If my grandpa really came out, I don’t think anyone would be able to sleep well at night,” Ji Wan quipped. She couldn’t believe Grandpa Xiao would even suggest that. If her grandpa came back as a ghost, she wondered if Grandpa Xiao would be scared.

“Okay, there’s still time. We can definitely solve this, don’t worry,” Xiao Zhuyun said, comforting Ji Wan gently.

And so, the “cancel the engagement” team was formed, with two different people and the same goal.