I Quit Being This Female Lead (GL) - Chapter 76

Since she had agreed to go shopping with Jia Yun, it would be wrong to break the promise.

Mang Ke leaned against a pillar at the agreed-upon shopping center entrance and couldn’t help but sigh.

Xun Fangyun was very angry last night, communicating through a mix of words and gestures for Mang Ke not to go. But since Mang Ke had already agreed, Xun Fangyun could only pull the blanket over her head and go to sleep in a huff, and hadn’t spoken to her since.

“Sigh…” Mang Ke took out her phone to check the time. It was just past 10:00 AM. Xun Fangyun still hadn’t replied to the message Mang Ke sent her last night.

She can’t really be that angry, can she?

Mang Ke was a little worried. It seemed Xun Fangyun genuinely minded this trip. Perhaps after this meal, she should minimize contact with Jia Yun; otherwise, living with a constant pot of vinegar at home would be quite tough.

Just as Mang Ke was considering whether to send Xun Fangyun another message, she saw Jia Yun walking toward her from afar.

Today, she wore a long bright red dress with a short black leather jacket, and a black beret perched on the back of her head, making her look incredibly aloof. But upon seeing Mang Ke, her previously tense, cold face instantly broke into a brilliant smile. She waved and jogged over.

“Hi, ex-fiancée~”

The surrounding people turned their heads and began to whisper upon seeing the two.

Mang Ke: “…”

Couldn’t this woman use a different title?

Ignoring the curious onlookers, Jia Yun took Mang Ke’s arm and said, “The traffic was so bad! My Maserati couldn’t go fast. Being stuck on the Second Ring Road every day is truly annoying. Next time, I’ll ask my mom to buy me a helicopter. I’ll just say my girlfriend wants it.”

Mang Ke: “…Actually, you’d be faster if you took the subway. The station entrance is right outside.”

Jia Yun said awkwardly, “But isn’t that very crowded?”

“Being crowded is still better than being stuck in traffic. Plus, if you buy a helicopter, you’ll need to hire a pilot.”

“That makes so much sense.”

Jia Yun smiled and linked arms with her. “Let’s go look at the newly released lipstick. I ordered a whole set here—the New Year collection~”

Before Mang Ke could react, she was pulled into the store. The staff seemed to recognize Jia Yun immediately, pouring tea and inquiring after her well-being, which made Mang Ke feel slightly uncomfortable.

“Do you like this shade?” Jia Yun held out the New Year lipstick shade handed to her by the clerk and asked Mang Ke, “Shall I try it on you?”

Mang Ke smiled. “It’s very pretty, but I don’t really like makeup…”

She also glanced at the counter, which was packed with bright red lipsticks adorned with auspicious clouds, and was worried that all of them might be part of the New Year collection.

Jia Yun didn’t mind. She took a mirror, looked at herself, and dabbed the color onto her lips with her pinky finger. “The color payoff is good, and it’s not drying. I’ll order a set for my mom, my Auntie, my second Auntie, my third Aunt, my fourth Sister-in-law, and my fifth Brother’s Wife.”

Mang Ke took a sip of warm water. She looked at the lipstick shade Jia Yun was testing and noticed that the tomato red really brightened the complexion and looked natural even with light makeup. She couldn’t help but check the price.

800 yuan per stick.

Mang Ke blinked. That doesn’t seem… expensive?

She wondered if Xun Fangyun would like it. In her memory, Xun Fangyun was a very beauty-conscious girl. While her short hair looked good now, it lacked some of her previous charm.

“Excuse me,” Mang Ke asked while the clerk was chatting with Jia Yun, “Can I buy just this one?”

The clerk glanced at Mang Ke, then at Jia Yun, and smiled. “The New Year collection is sold by the box.”

With that, she pointed to the large box of lipsticks in front of her. “Miss Jia Yun has our main brand in her hand. These New Year shades are all classic colors, 101 styles to meet all your needs for daily work and evening banquets~”

Mang Ke understood. This was clearly forced bundling for the New Year!

And over a hundred sticks in one box—eighteen mouths wouldn’t finish them!

“Can’t I buy a single one?”

“No, I’m afraid not. I apologize.”

The clerk sized up Mang Ke, noting her clothes and shoes were unknown brands, and her bag was a cheap knock-off. She surely just wanted to buy a single stick as a gift. They had seen too many face-conscious girls like her and didn’t care to waste effort.

She can’t afford the full set anyway, so why bother wasting my breath?

The clerk turned back to Jia Yun and smiled. “How many sets are you planning to order today? Or should we just ship them directly to your home, as usual?”

“No, I think not.”

Jia Yun put down the testing lipstick, glanced at the slightly disappointed Mang Ke, and told the clerk, “I also want just this one shade. Will you sell it to me?”

The clerk: “…Huh?”

Usually, this lady orders four or five sets for her family, and another five or six for her friends. She had never just picked one stick before.

“Miss Jia Yun,” the clerk said awkwardly, “this New Year collection is indeed sold by the box. It also comes with a genuine leather lipstick case, which is a great deal.”

“But I feel I only have one mouth, and I won’t use a whole box of lipstick,” Jia Yun said. “Are you really not going to break the set? If not, I’ll go to another store.”

“…Please wait a moment. I’ll consult our manager.”

“Mhm.”

Watching the clerk go to the front desk to make a call, Mang Ke reached out and tugged at Jia Yun. “Why are you causing trouble?”

Judging by the clerk’s tone, Jia Yun was a regular customer here, a high-spending one who bought by the box. Why was she suddenly picking a fight today?

“I’m not,” Jia Yun said innocently. “I only like this one shade and don’t want to buy a box I won’t use. Is that too much to ask?”

Mang Ke looked at her and shook her head.

Jia Yun couldn’t help but smile, sighing, “Before, I just bought everything. Today, I’ve come to my senses. Buying a whole box would just lead to them expiring. It’s better to buy just one.”

The clerk soon returned. She told Jia Yun, “Our manager said that if you buy one or two sticks, we can break the set, but not too many.”

Breaking the set to sell one or two sticks isn’t the same as throwing it away, and it’s not worth offending a major customer.

Jia Yun nodded, pointed at Mang Ke, and said, “Get her one too. We want the same one.”

Soon, the clerk packaged the lipsticks and handed them over, even including an exquisite black and gold tote bag. Mang Ke held the bag, feeling momentarily dazed, unsure how she had ended up accepting it.

“I’ll transfer the money to you later,” Mang Ke finally said to Jia Yun.

“It’s fine,” Jia Yun said, nodding and smiling. “If you really want to split the bill with me, why don’t you buy me bubble tea instead?”

Jia Yun pointed to the bubble tea shop across the way. “That one. I’m thirsty and want something sweet and sour.”

Mang Ke knew Jia Yun was giving her a way out, so she agreed with a smile. She would transfer the money later anyway; Jia Yun would have to take it eventually.

Mang Ke ordered a Mango Pomelo Sago and also a sweet and sour fruit tea for Jia Yun.

“Make them both hot,” Jia Yun chimed in. “It’s too cold; we won’t drink anything cold.”

“Alright,” the clerk nodded and agreed.

Mang Ke looked back at Jia Yun. “Which hot pot place do you want to eat at later? I remember there’s one upstairs. Let’s go early so it’s not too crowded.”

Jia Yun nodded, smiling. “I feel like any street food would taste delicious if I ate it with you.”

Mang Ke offered a dry laugh. She understood why Jia Yun had dated so many girlfriends and was still single now.

Jia Yun was all sweet talk, but she didn’t genuinely hold the person in her heart.

Still, this was fine. It saved her from having a vinegar pot at home constantly overturned. Being friends with Jia Yun seemed like a good idea.

“What’s going on down there? Why is it so noisy?”

While waiting for the bubble tea, Jia Yun leaned over the railing, looking at the sunken plaza on the ground floor. She pointed at the densely packed crowd and asked, “Little Ke, look, there’s excitement.”

Mang Ke, taking the bubble tea, said, “What kind of excitement?”

She peeked down and saw more and more people gathering there. It seemed very lively. She could even hear people screaming three floors up.

“It looks like a celebrity is here.” Jia Yun took the bubble tea from Mang Ke and said, “Shall we go check it out and get an autograph?”

“No, thanks. It’s too crowded to squeeze through,” Mang Ke refused. “Besides, I don’t even recognize them.”

Before her voice faded, a few passersby ran past, excitedly telling their friends, “I heard it’s Yue Yin! Let’s hurry and get an autograph!”

Mang Ke: “…”

Yue Yin? That name sounded familiar.

She recalled the first world, where she was fighting with this person over Xun Fangyun. No, wait, it was more like Yue Yin and Xun Fangyun were fighting over her.

She couldn’t help but glance down. It shouldn’t be the real person, right?

Jia Yun had good eyesight and, as if watching a show, pointed below. “Hahaha, Little Ke, look! She got her hat knocked off. She really is a big star~ Why is she alone? Doesn’t she have bodyguards?”

Mang Ke saw the low-profile girl being shoved around in the crowd, with people holding up their phones to take pictures right in her face. She looked truly pathetic.

“What’s wrong?” Jia Yun sipped her bubble tea and rested her chin on her hand, intrigued. “You seem to know her.”

“Mhm.” Mang Ke didn’t confirm or deny. “She’s someone I knew before. I should go down and help her.”

“How are you going to help if you can’t even squeeze in?” Jia Yun calmly pulled out her phone. “I’ll handle it.”

Soon, the mall security escorted Yue Yin, whose hair was a mess, to the hot pot restaurant on the fifth floor. Someone had snatched Yue Yin’s sunglasses and mask. She was completely disheveled now. Her white sneakers were scuffed, and she had clearly been touched all over. Her face was pale.

She looked at the two women sitting and eating hot pot and frowned. “Did you help me?”

Jia Yun bit her chopsticks. “Yes. My beautiful girl, shouldn’t you say thank you first?”

Yue Yin was clearly annoyed and said with a sour expression, “Thank you. If there’s nothing else, please have your security guard escort me out.”

“Don’t be in such a rush,” Jia Yun said, patting the seat next to her. “Beautiful, come sit here. Don’t be so dismissive of me. Let me introduce you: I’m Jia Yun, a rich second generation. The one sitting across from me is named Mang Ke.”

Upon hearing that name, Yue Yin, who was about to leave, froze.

Mang Ke?

Jia Yun saw that Yue Yin was no longer sulking, and smiled. “She said you’re her friend. Since you’re friends, please honor us by having a meal~”

Yue Yin looked at the woman, unable to tolerate her any longer. “Who is friends with you?”

How can this woman be so shameless!