I Just Want to be a Throwaway Character - Chapter 49

Chapter 49: World Three

“Wanwan, stop working. Get ready, Mr. Ji is coming to our branch company soon,” Sister Zhang called out to Ji Wan, forcefully pulling her away from her computer.

“No, Sister. I’m almost done,” Ji Wan said indifferently.

“That’s Mr. Ji, your boss’s boss. Come on, don’t procrastinate.” Sister Zhang mercilessly clicked “save” and dragged Ji Wan to the front door to greet him.

When Ji Wan arrived downstairs, she was almost killed by laughter at the sight. The entire department was ridiculously over-the-top, with everyone wearing red sashes across their chests, and a long red carpet laid out in front of the company entrance. Banners and confetti were also in place. They all looked like receptionists waiting to welcome her father.

Ji Wan initially didn’t want to wear the ridiculous-looking sash, but seeing everyone else wear one, she felt it would be bad if she didn’t, so she reluctantly put it on. She couldn’t help but wonder what Jiang Zhili would look like wearing one. It would be hilarious. Ji Wan’s mind conjured up an image of Jiang Zhili’s serious demeanor with the red sash. The image was too beautiful to imagine.

But in the next second, Jiang Zhili’s figure appeared not far in front of Ji Wan. Her cool, aloof aura made Ji Wan feel a bit guilty and she quickly looked away. It wasn’t nice to fantasize about people like that. But why was Jiang Zhili the only one not wearing a red sash?! She was so envious. Jiang Zhili was the only one who felt sober in a room full of drunken people.

Soon, a long Rolls-Royce stopped at the company entrance. Ji Wan’s father, Mr. Ji, got out, dressed in a tasteful silver suit. Although he was in his fifties, he still looked dapper and didn’t show his age at all.

He slowly walked into the company, his eyes first landing on the most striking person among the employees: Jiang Zhili. After all, she was the only one in the crowd not wearing a red sash. Her aura was sharp, confident, and elegant. She was clearly no ordinary person. “This child… she looks a little familiar,” Mr. Ji thought, feeling a strange sense of familiarity from Jiang Zhili, especially her eyes and eyebrows, which looked a little like his wife’s when she was young.

But Mr. Ji didn’t dwell on it. He continued to scan the crowd. Finally, in a corner, he saw his beloved daughter. A loving smile appeared on his face. His sweet Wanwan had learned to be low-key and hide in the crowd. It seemed the training was working.

But Mr. Ji’s smile was seen by the other employees as a sign that the chairman liked this kind of atmosphere. Without a second thought, one of them quickly took out a megaphone. “Welcome, Chairman!” Instantly, banners were raised and confetti was released. The group looked more like a cheap grand opening ceremony than a listed company. Ji Wan felt embarrassed for her father.

But Mr. Ji didn’t seem to mind. He followed Jiang Zhili to tour the company. As he passed by Ji Wan, he gave her a wink. Ji Wan obediently returned a big, free smile. The old father’s face immediately showed a look of moving relief.

Mr. Ji had originally wanted Ji Wan to guide him, but Ji Wan had a mission to accomplish. She couldn’t waste such a great opportunity for them to find out about her identity. So Ji Wan insisted that their relationship should be kept private, that no one at the company knew her identity, and that she wanted to be low-key. She also praised the director, Jiang Zhili, for being beautiful and competent. She basically showered Jiang Zhili with a flurry of compliments in front of her father like a little fan. This made Mr. Ji very interested and gave them a chance to get to know each other.

Jiang Zhili lived up to Mr. Ji’s expectations throughout the tour. Her demeanor, conversation skills, and abilities all earned his approval. Feeling the similarities between this young woman and his younger self, Mr. Ji was very satisfied.

“If Wanwan wasn’t already engaged, I’d really want this child to be my daughter-in-law,” Mr. Ji thought with a hint of regret.

“Mr. Ji, next is the planning department,” Jiang Zhili said, leading him to Ji Wan’s department. The entire department was already lined up, waiting. Ji Wan was a little bored, standing at the very back. Compared to everyone else’s fear, she was the most relaxed. She just wished her father would be a little more subtle with his glances at her, as if he wanted everyone to know they were related.

When everything was over and Mr. Ji left, everyone let out a sigh of relief. Ji Wan had already packed up and was on her way to the restaurant where she was meeting her father for dinner.

Walking into the very expensive-looking restaurant, Ji Wan finally found the place her dad told her about. She happily pushed the door open and called out, “Dad, have you missed me?” She rushed over excitedly, her voice lively and sweet, which made her father’s heart swell with emotion.

“You, you child. Of course Dad missed you,” Mr. Ji said with a laugh, opening his arms for Ji Wan. Ji Wan obediently went over and hugged him, using her actions to show her love for her father. The original host rarely said it, but she truly loved this father who was strict on the outside but doted on her more than anyone else.

“Okay, there are other people here. Zhuyun will be here later, go and pick her up,” Mr. Ji said, patting Ji Wan’s back and motioning that there were other people in the room. Ji Wan let go of her father and turned around curiously. “Where are the people? How come I didn’t see anyone?”

It wasn’t until Ji Wan’s eyes met the cool, indifferent gaze from a corner that she froze and her face turned red. Can someone tell me why Jiang Zhili is here too? So how much did she see just now?! So embarrassing! She was just being clingy and Jiang Zhili saw it all.

“Um, Dad, I’m going… going to pick up Sister Zhuyun. You guys have a good chat,” Ji Wan said, quickly moving to the door and hiding. She was completely unaware that Jiang Zhili’s eyes hadn’t left her from the moment she entered. The girl’s charm and adorableness were all taken in. Jiang Zhili’s eyes darkened, and her desire to have her swelled.

Ji Wan hid in the restroom, sitting on the toilet with her face in her hands, embarrassed. For some reason, it was so shameful to be seen by Jiang Zhili in such a pathetic state. Especially after what happened yesterday. Ji Wan’s face got redder the more she thought about it, but she patted her cheeks, forcing herself to calm down.

But when she was about to open the door to go get Xiao Zhuyun, she heard a familiar voice.

“A-Zhu, don’t be mad, okay? I was wrong,” Chu Fang’s alluring and seductive voice had a hint of sweet coquetry. Ji Wan’s hand on the doorknob trembled. No way? If she wasn’t mistaken, that was the woman with the big wavy hair and Xiao Zhuyun outside, right? So there was gossip!

“Chu Fang, I told you. There’s nothing between us. Please stop pestering me,” Xiao Zhuyun’s gentle voice had a deliberate coldness to it.

“A-Zhu, you still have feelings for me. You still love me,” Chu Fang’s voice was filled with confident certainty.

“No,” Xiao Zhuyun quickly denied it, her voice sounding a little guilty for some reason.

“Heh, A-Zhu. When I get close to you, your heart beats like crazy. When I hug you, you naturally melt into my arms. When I kiss you, you can feel it, too. Right?” Chu Fang’s tone was aggressive.

“I said no. Get away. Don’t… don’t stand so close to me,” Xiao Zhuyun’s voice weakened.

“You’re lying. If you don’t love me, why is your heart beating so fast right now?” Chu Fang’s voice was teasing and full of love.

“I… Mmph.”

After that, there were sounds that were not suitable for children. The redness on Ji Wan’s face that had just started to fade came back. Their relationship was this intense?

“Little 1, check their affection levels for me,” Ji Wan said curiously.

“Host, are you sure? Won’t that be a waste?” System 111 reminded her. It never thought its host would so casually use a tool that had a two-year cooldown.

“Stop talking nonsense and do it.” No one could stop Ji Wan’s burning curiosity now. No, she wasn’t curious; she was helping Sister Xiao see if the other person was a jerk.

“Uh, okay. Using Affection Detection.” System 111 said helplessly.

Affection Detection: Xiao Zhuyun’s affection for Chu Fang – 95 (An unforgettable memory in her heart). Chu Fang’s affection for Xiao Zhuyun – 98 (Eternal true love). Unlocked a special character. Chu Fang: An illegitimate daughter of the Chu Group. Because of the hardships she endured as a child, she is ruthless and cunning. She fell in love with Xiao Zhuyun in high school and found warmth and love. She was later discovered and threatened by Grandpa Xiao, who forced her to separate from Xiao Zhuyun. Xiao Zhuyun never saw Chu Fang again, only knowing that Grandpa Xiao said Chu Fang took a five-million-dollar check and abandoned her. She knew nothing else, and there was no news from Chu Fang. Xiao Zhuyun was disappointed in love and agreed to the engagement with the original host. Later, Chu Fang went abroad and secretly built her power, taking down her father and gaining control of the Chu Group. Chu Fang is a villain in the author’s second book, The Wrong Life: A Test of Love. Learning that her beloved Xiao Zhuyun was engaged to someone else, she came back to China out of jealousy. Because of her entanglement with Xiao Zhuyun, she competes with the female lead for her love, using her powerful backing. But she ultimately fails.

“Uh…” Ji Wan felt speechless. What the hell is this about a second book?!

“Little 1, what’s going on? I haven’t even finished the first book yet. Why is Chu Fang showing up?”

“Uh, Host. It seems that because of your appearance, the plot has changed a little, causing Chu Fang to return early,” System 111 explained.

“But the problem is that their affection levels are so high. How could Sister Zhuyun fall for Jiang Zhili? She doesn’t seem like a cheater. Is it the halo of the female lead?”

“I don’t know. The second book only has an outline, and all I know is that Chu Fang is the villain. So, Host, you’ll have to improvise from now on.”

“Damn it, give me more money,” Ji Wan said, annoyed. She wanted to pull the good-for-nothing author out and beat them up. One mess wasn’t enough; they had to add another one.

When the sounds outside stopped, Ji Wan cautiously opened the door like a thief and returned to the room. But when she opened the door, she was shocked and a little confused. It felt like she had come to the wrong place. What was going on? Why was Chu Fang also here?

“Wanwan, come here. Let me introduce you. This is Ms. Chu, my business partner. She’s about your age. Come say hello,” Mr. Ji called out to a dazed Ji Wan.

“Huh? Oh, hello, Ms. Chu,” Ji Wan said, snapping out of it. She walked over, looking for a place to sit. But now she was faced with a dilemma. There was an empty seat between her father and Jiang Zhili, and another between her father and Xiao Zhuyun. The table was small and round, with a few people sitting around it. And Chu Fang was sitting between Jiang Zhili and Xiao Zhuyun.

Ji Wan was so conflicted. If she sat next to Jiang Zhili, it would be awkward. If she sat next to Xiao Zhuyun, she was a little scared after seeing the power of a jealous ex-partner.

But Ji Wan didn’t have to be conflicted for long.

“Wanwan, come and sit next to Zhuyun. You two are a couple now. You should cultivate your relationship more,” Mr. Ji said, making the decision for her.

The moment Mr. Ji’s words fell, Ji Wan clearly felt the temperature in the room drop. Chu Fang’s half-smile was a little scary, and Jiang Zhili’s gaze, which was faintly on her, was also chilling. Ji Wan felt that life was already hard enough, and her father had to make it worse and pour salt on her wounds.

In the end, Ji Wan still sat next to Xiao Zhuyun. There was no other choice; the female lead was the scariest. After sitting down, Ji Wan gave Xiao Zhuyun a pitiful look, hoping she could ease the awkward atmosphere and help her out. But Xiao Zhuyun just kept her head down, blushing, and didn’t seem to have any intention of saving her.

Damn it. A woman who chooses love over her friends. I see right through her. The dinner proceeded under a seemingly calm but secretly turbulent atmosphere. Of course, Mr. Ji just thought that these young people were too quiet and only answered his questions. “It seems like they’re just not comfortable with me here,” Mr. Ji thought.