I Quit Being This Female Lead (GL) - Chapter 44

The cafeteria instantly became exceptionally quiet.

Employees holding their meal trays did not dare to move, while those seated nearby swallowed their food silently, afraid of making any noise that might attract the attention of this group of women.

Xun Fangyun’s face was extremely dark. No one knew what she was thinking, but her expression was clearly furious.

Mang Ke only felt the hand around her waist tighten. Jia Yun held her close, pretending not to notice Xun Fangyun’s expression, and said affectionately to Mang Ke, “Darling, let’s go eat outside. The food here isn’t good.”

Having said that, she released Mang Ke’s waist and instead took her hand.

Mang Ke’s hand was soft and felt like a boneless marshmallow when held. Jia Yun could feel her fingertips were cold, either due to a low body temperature or from being startled by her words just now.

Jia Yun led her out of the cafeteria. Just as they brushed past, Mang Ke wanted to look up to see Xun Fangyun’s reaction, but she only saw her dark eyes staring straight ahead. Not until the two had walked past did Xun Fangyun utter a single word.

Mang Ke looked back at her, only seeing Xun Fangyun’s back, standing frozen in place.

A sudden pain tightened Mang Ke’s heart. She lowered her head and followed the woman beside her out…

What she didn’t know was that the moment the two walked out of the cafeteria, Xun Fangyun reached out and pressed her chest, her entire face ghastly pale.

“General Manager, are you alright?” an employee who had just arrived at the cafeteria noticed the General Manager’s pale face and asked nervously, “Do you need me to get your medicine?”

Xun Fangyun bit her bright red lips, ignoring the employee, and gritted out, “No need.”

The metallic taste in her mouth grew stronger. Xun Fangyun turned and left the cafeteria, rinsing her mouth in the restroom. Seeing the pink foam of blood in the sink, she turned the faucet on higher.

The pink foam was entirely washed away by the clear water, leaving only the sparkling droplets that had splashed up.

——————

The two women who had just emerged from the cafeteria stared at each other.

Jia Yun cleared her throat and released Mang Ke’s hand: “You played that really well, you even thought up a nickname.”

And she called it out so naturally, just like they were dating.

Mang Ke looked at her suspiciously.

Jia Yun said, “I mean the ‘Yun Yun’ [Yùn Yùn] you called out. Hearing you say it, I knew what I should do.”

Mang Ke: “…”

She was too embarrassed to say she wasn’t calling her, but saying it now seemed inappropriate, especially since she wasn’t in the mood to correct the situation at all.

Sitting on the edge of a flower bed, Mang Ke patted her skirt and said, “You go back first. I want to be alone for a while.”

Jia Yun sat down next to her: “I promised to treat you to lunch, didn’t I? Let’s skip work this afternoon.”

“No, if I skip work, I’ll lose my full attendance bonus.”

“Even if you don’t skip work, your full attendance bonus is already gone, isn’t it?”

“…Whose fault is it that my bonus is gone?”

Jia Yun burst out laughing: “My fault, my fault. I’ll make up for your full attendance bonus later.”

Mang Ke waved her hand: “No need. I just don’t want to wander around. I want to stay alone for a bit.”

Seeing that Mang Ke was genuinely upset, Jia Yun reluctantly stood up and said to her, “Alright then. Work well this afternoon, and I’ll pick you up after work.”

“No, I have to work overtime,” Mang Ke refused her.

She thought ‘overtime’ was a good excuse, but she didn’t expect the department supervisor to genuinely make everyone work overtime that very afternoon.

Mang Ke: “…”

Her own curse.

The department had been temporarily halted, and there wasn’t actually any work to do. However, because a bullying incident occurred, a teacher was arranged to give everyone half a month’s worth of lessons.

Mang Ke really didn’t understand why she, the victim, also had to attend the classes.

By the time she emerged from the conference room, it was 9:30 PM.

Cars were still running in the city center, but the buses heading to the suburbs had long since stopped service. Mang Ke sat at the bus stop for more than half an hour before seeing the timetable.

Misfortunes never come singly, and blessings never come in pairs.

She called home, and Xiao Zhe was the only one to pick up.

“I won’t be coming back tonight,” Mang Ke told the child. “It’s too late from overtime, and there are no buses. I’ll stay in the city tonight and return after work tomorrow.”

Xiao Zhe said while writing his homework, clutching the phone, “Staying in a hotel?”

“I don’t know, probably.”

“Staying alone?”

“…What do you mean?”

Xiao Zhe’s innocent voice came through the phone: “I thought your staying out all night, Second Sister, would be more lively.”

Lively?

Lively where???

In a hotel!!!

Mang Ke’s previously gloomy mood, caused by not being able to go home, was instantly ignited with burning rage. She couldn’t understand why this child could provoke her so much with just a word or two!

“Nonsense!” Mang Ke snapped angrily. “I’ll find a cheap hotel nearby and stay by myself. Tell Mom and Dad!”

“Then you…”

“I’m staying alone!”

With that, she hung up the phone.

Mang Ke held her head. She felt the wind tonight was especially stinging. Her clothes were fine during the day, but with the night cold and wind, it was truly excruciating.

Standing up from the bus stop, Mang Ke instinctively stamped her feet. She calculated that taking a taxi home would cost over a hundred yuan. It truly made more sense to find a hotel near the company for the night, or maybe she could sneak some air conditioning inside the company building?

Looking up at the nearly dark high-rise, Mang Ke dismissed that idea.

If the security guard on duty found her, not only would it be misunderstood, but how embarrassing would that be?

Mang Ke hugged her shoulders, kicked her canvas shoes, and decided to walk down the road in front of her first to see if there were any hotels or hostels along the way.

The city was still dazzling at 10:00 PM, but there were fewer pedestrians on the road, mostly cars speeding along the lanes, full of people rushing home.

A gust of wind lifted Mang Ke’s long hair, making her feel even colder.

As she passed a crosswalk, Mang Ke saw a red sports car drive past her, but the windows were too dark for her to see the person inside.

Just as Xun Fangyun drove her car out of the underground parking lot, she saw Mang Ke standing alone at the crosswalk waiting for the traffic light.

Her eyes were fixed on the girl, wondering why she was alone near the company so late at night.

Just as Xun Fangyun slowly drove through the intersection, she saw a few young men, around twenty years old, crouching or standing in a nearby alley. Their gazes were all unanimously fixed on the same spot.

Xun Fangyun’s pupils instantly contracted. After slamming on the brakes and confirming they were staring at the solitary Mang Ke waiting for the light, she didn’t hesitate. She immediately turned her car around and drove back to the crosswalk.

Mang Ke saw the green light come on and was about to step forward when a red sports car inexplicably blocked her way.

The dark window rolled down, and Xun Fangyun and Mang Ke met eyes.

Mang Ke: “…”

Xun Fangyun: “Get in the car.”

A gust of cold wind made Mang Ke shiver involuntarily.

“Why should I get in?” Mang Ke stood rooted to the spot, looking at the green countdown timer, and said unhappily, “Get out of the way, don’t block me from crossing the road.”

Xun Fangyun could already see the two or three people walking out of the alley in her rearview mirror. Frowning, she stopped talking, opened the car door, and directly shoved Mang Ke into the car.

One step on the gas pedal, and she blew through the red light that had just turned on.

Xun Fangyun drove while glancing at the shrinking intersection in the rearview mirror. She then darted a look at Mang Ke in the passenger seat and said, “Buckle your seatbelt.”

Mang Ke was stunned, but she didn’t say anything, lowering her head and obediently buckling the seatbelt.

The two didn’t speak the entire way, only the sound of the car rushing past filled the quiet interior. After an unknown amount of time, the red sports car slowly stopped in front of a villa.

Xun Fangyun got out of the car. Seeing Mang Ke motionless in the passenger seat, she reached out and knocked on the car window.

“We’re here. Get out.”

Mang Ke looked up at her, showing absolutely no intention of getting out.

Xun Fangyun was silent for a moment, pressed the car key to roll down the window, and asked her, “What are you still sitting there for?”

“Are you angry at me?”

Mang Ke stared at her with clear eyes and asked, “You’ve been very hostile toward me these past few days.”

Xun Fangyun pressed her lips together and said, “I told you, you’ve mistaken me for someone else.”

“Is that so?” Mang Ke gripped the seatbelt stubbornly. “If I’ve mistaken you for someone else, then please take me back.”

Xun Fangyun was exasperated: “It’s so late, where should I take you?”

“Anywhere is fine,” Mang Ke said. “Just the intersection earlier. I saw a hotel across the street; I can stay there for the night.”

“Did you bring your ID card?”

“…No.”

“Then how are you going to stay?” Xun Fangyun said helplessly. “Are you going to sleep on the street?”

Mang Ke grunted in annoyance. Although what Xun Fangyun said was logical, she didn’t want to respond to the question.

If she had to sleep on the street, then she would. It would save the hotel money, after all.

Seeing that Mang Ke clearly had no intention of getting out of the car, Xun Fangyun bit her lip and reached out to pull the car door open. Mang Ke quickly grabbed the car door as well, refusing to let it open.

The two stared at each other, pulling with all their might. Mang Ke gripped the car door using all her strength.

“I won’t get out of the car! Send me back!”

“I won’t send you back!”

Xun Fangyun said in a fit of pique, “Aren’t you someone else’s girlfriend now? If you’re so capable, drive back yourself!”

Mang Ke froze, forgetting to exert force with her hand, and Xun Fangyun yanked the car door open instantly.

For some unknown reason, Mang Ke suddenly felt her nose sting, and tears streamed down uncontrollably. Xun Fangyun, who had been angry just moments ago, became flustered the moment she saw her cry.

Mang Ke rubbed the corner of her eyes with the back of her hand, sobbing softly, “I want to go home, I don’t want to be here anymore, I want to go home, boo hoo hoo…”

Xun Fangyun looked at Mang Ke, whose eyes were red from crying, and slowly leaned down.

Her fingertip touched Mang Ke’s warm cheek. Xun Fangyun felt her heart rate spike again, fast and urgent, but it calmed down the instant a tear dropped onto the back of her hand.

“I told you, you shouldn’t have come.”

Xun Fangyun whispered, “Why are you so disobedient?”