I Swear I Don’t Want to Be Everyone’s Favorite - Chapter 1

“Luoyue?”

A woman’s soft voice called out beside her. Jiang Luoyue opened her eyes from the haze, the office bright and spotless, the overly intense sunlight streaming in and forcing her to shut her eyes again.

A cool liquid slid down her cheek. The person before her seemed surprised and pulled out a few tissues, about to wipe her tears. “Why are you crying?”

But before the tissue could touch Jiang Luoyue’s face, she instinctively reached out and knocked the woman’s hand away.

Her first reaction was shock, and she wanted to apologize. But after clearly seeing the face so close to hers, Jiang Luoyue’s body stiffened abruptly, her breathing rapid.

It took a long moment before she uttered the other’s name, almost in a daze.

“…Zhou Ruonian?”

Zhou Ruonian frowned almost imperceptibly. Seven years older than Jiang Luoyue, she had always positioned herself as a mentor figure in the months they’d known each other. Being suddenly addressed by her full name inevitably displeased her.

But she hadn’t forgotten her purpose. Quickly masking her emotions, she smiled. “Yes, after you signed with Yunyue, I became your agent. What’s wrong? Is there something in the contract you don’t understand?”

It was only then that Jiang Luoyue noticed she was holding a contract, the artist agreement with Yunyue Media.

A message notification lit up the phone on the coffee table, displaying the date, seven years ago?

Jiang Luoyue looked up in astonishment. The twenty-six-year-old Zhou Ruonian was far from the mature and composed woman in her memories. Her face was youthful, and when met with Jiang Luoyue’s gaze, she seemed puzzled and reflexively asked, “What’s wrong, Luoyue?”

In Jiang Luoyue’s memory, Zhou Ruonian’s voice had always been hoarse from endless social engagements and alcohol, like sandpaper. But now, her voice was clear, even sharp, like a pen scratching paper, sending a chill down Jiang Luoyue’s spine in an instant.

She finally dared to confirm it, she had been reborn.

Reborn seven years in the past, on the very day Zhou Ruonian became her agent.

In her previous life, after becoming Jiang Luoyue’s agent, Zhou Ruonian had shown her unusual care and affection. The two fell in love within six months, quickly married in secret, and never argued in the years that followed.

After being diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer, Jiang Luoyue signed over all her assets and shares to Zhou Ruonian, wanting to ensure her future would be secure.

On the day she died, Zhou Ruonian wasn’t by her side due to work commitments. But Jiang Luoyue felt no regret. Even in her final moments, replaying her life like a lantern show, she felt nothing but gratitude, gratitude for having met Zhou Ruonian and for the wonderful life they’d shared.

After her death, Jiang Luoyue opened her eyes again, only to find herself a ghost able to see but unable to touch anything.

At her own funeral, she saw Zhou Ruonian for the first time in days. The woman was dressed in mourning black, yet showed no trace of grief, her demeanor calm to the point of indifference.

Jiang Luoyue thought Zhou Ruonian had simply lost the capacity to mourn, and her heart ached with pity and sorrow.

But then she followed Zhou Ruonian home, to the love nest whose location and decor Jiang Luoyue had personally overseen. In the living room, she saw her younger sister, Jiang Lianyan, flipping through letters.

Every single one was a love letter Jiang Luoyue had written to Zhou Ruonian years ago. All these years, Zhou Ruonian had carefully collected and hidden them away.

Jiang Luoyue didn’t understand why Jiang Lianyan was here or how she had found those letters.

She looked helplessly and bewilderedly at Zhou Ruonian, who showed no surprise at all. Even disregarding the presence of the servants, she kissed Jiang Lianyan on the corner of her lips as if no one else was there.

“What are you looking at?”

In the midst of the gentle inquiry, Jiang Lianyan showed her the letter. Zhou Ruonian frowned, disapproval evident in her tone: “A dead person’s belongings, where did you dig this up from?”

“Her room,” Jiang Lianyan nestled into her embrace, the ring gleaming brilliantly in the light, the very engagement ring Jiang Luoyue had given Zhou Ruonian. “Just reading it for fun. Are you mad at me?”

“Of course not,” Zhou Ruonian immediately retorted, perhaps to prove her sincerity, as she casually tore open the letter.

From just a few meters away, Jiang Luoyue watched Zhou Ruonian’s indifferent gesture with her own eyes. Her mind roared as if her heart, too, had been torn to pieces in that moment, shattered and scattered on the ground.

In her dazed state, Jiang Luoyue saw her entire life condensed into a fast-food movie lasting mere minutes.

At seven, she was scouted to become a child star, thereafter spending years shuttling between film sets. Her parents treated her as a money-making machine, forcing her to abandon her studies to earn money for her younger brother. She felt it was unfair and wanted to rebel, yet couldn’t bring herself to let go.

Perhaps her parents loved her they were just a little biased. If she tolerated it, everything would be fine.

So she tolerated it. For twelve years.

Until she was nineteen, when Jiang Luoyue accidentally discovered she was the long-lost daughter of the wealthy Jiang family, missing for fifteen years, and finally escaped that hell.

Eager to reunite with her family, she carefully prepared gifts. But on the day she returned to the Jiang household, she learned that shortly after her disappearance, the family had adopted another daughter, Jiang Lianyan.

Compared to Jiang Luoyue, who had grown up surviving on film sets, sensitive and introverted, Jiang Lianyan was flamboyant and dazzling. At a young age, she had become the principal dancer of a renowned troupe, her future boundless.

Her parents regarded her with pride. Even Jiang Yu, Jiang Luoyue’s cold and indifferent older sister, showed tenderness only to Jiang Lianyan. Guests fawned over Jiang Lianyan, paying no attention to Jiang Luoyue.

Jiang Luoyue keenly sensed that they did not welcome her. Instinctively, she wanted to flee, but Jiang Lianyan publicly unwrapped the gift she had brought and then tossed it into the trash.

“Something like this? I stopped using these ten years ago,” the girl said with a smile, her tone gentle. “This can’t be a gift, it must be trash someone accidentally put in here.”

The gift bore Jiang Luoyue’s name, and everyone saw it. They all knew it was a bag worth six figures not exorbitantly expensive, but certainly not trash.

Yet no one contradicted Jiang Lianyan. Flattering murmurs rose in waves. Jiang Luoyue held back her tears and turned away, only to overhear her parents chatting with guests, sighing with faint displeasure: “Not raised by the Jiang family, she really doesn’t carry herself like one.”

“Too long in showbiz even her bones have gone soft.”

When Jiang Luoyue left the Jiang household, heartbroken and desolate, only Zhou Ruonian was waiting outside.

In the bitter cold of December, Zhou Ruonian seemed to have rushed over right after work, exhaustion written across her face. Yet the moment she saw Jiang Luoyue, she instinctively smiled. Even when she noticed Jiang Luoyue’s disheveled state far from the joy of a “family reunion” she asked no questions, simply taking her back to her residence.

Only as they neared their destination did she softly say, “If there’s anything you want to say, tell me. Luoyue, I’ll listen.”

All her life, Jiang Luoyue had borne the emotions of others. This was the first time someone had willingly offered to listen to everything she had to say.

Countless images overlapped, relentlessly assaulting Jiang Luoyue’s mind. She finally realized that throughout her life, she had always been overlooked and insignificant even the love she received was nothing but poorly disguised hypocrisy and lies.

Before death claimed her completely, Jiang Luoyue had only one thought:

If I could start over, I would never make the same choices again.

“…”

And then, she opened her eyes.

Jiang Luoyue had gone back seven years.

Zhou Ruonian was still looking at her with confusion, unsure which words had crossed a line to provoke such a sudden shift in Jiang Luoyue’s demeanor.

Softening her tone, she ventured a guess: “Did you not sleep well last night?”

In her past life, Zhou Ruonian had often spoken such caring words to Jiang Luoyue. Each time, Jiang Luoyue had treasured them deeply, clinging to them with gratitude and obedience.

But now, having witnessed Zhou Ruonian’s betrayal firsthand and recalling all those intimate moments, Jiang Luoyue felt suffocated, utterly helpless and shattered.

She had once wanted to scream at Zhou Ruonian, demanding to know , why she had done what she did, why she had chosen Jiang Lianyan of all people. The bitterness had twisted her heart so much that she even began questioning herself, wondering if she could have earned genuine love from the Jiang family that despised her and the Zhou Ruonian who had deceived her, had she only imitated Jiang Lianyan.

Yet now, after truly being reborn, Jiang Luoyue suddenly found those dark, humiliating thoughts gone.

She no longer cared about Zhou Ruonian’s motives. She no longer wanted anything to do with the Jiang family.

This time, she wouldn’t repeat the same mistakes.

This time, she would stay as far away from these people as possible.

With that realization, Jiang Luoyue finally calmed down.

She forced a faint smile and replied softly, “I was up late reading scripts and didn’t rest well. I wasn’t paying attention just now… Sorry, Ruonian-jie.”

“Could you pour me a cup of coffee?”

Having spent her youth navigating the film industry, Jiang Luoyue had long mastered emotional control and performance.

Zhou Ruonian, seeing the exhaustion on that beautiful but pale face, didn’t suspect a thing and readily agreed. “The coffee machine’s outside. Wait here, I’ll be quick.”

Zhou Ruonian left, the door to the meeting room clicking shut behind her. Clearly, she didn’t want others to see Jiang Luoyue, she still saw her as her own possession.

Once alone, Jiang Luoyue steadied her breathing and picked up the contract again, reading it carefully.

In her past life, before her contract with her agency had expired, her adoptive parents had secretly negotiated with multiple agencies behind her back, even backing out at the last minute and causing a scandal.

Some companies leaked rumors, and Jiang Luoyue’s reputation plummeted. Public opinion turned against her, and even her original agency refused to renew her contract.

Left with no choice, she had to find another agency.

Her adoptive parents, barely versed in legal matters, had panicked when they saw the backlash online and backed off, though they still privately pressured Jiang Luoyue to sign with the highest bidder and hand over half the money.

Back then, Jiang Luoyue had still clung to some hope for her family and struggled to refuse, leaving her physically and mentally drained.

It was then that Zhou Ruonian, acting as her agent, had approached her adoptive parents, persuading them to let Jiang Luoyue sign with Yun Yue.

In truth, Zhou Ruonian had handled the entire process Jiang Luoyue hadn’t even spoken to Yun Yue’s management.

Still, to show their “commitment,” Yun Yue had added Jiang Luoyue’s contact details and assigned her a selection of agents to choose from.

Jiang Luoyue had signed countless contracts before. After a quick glance, she confirmed that the one in her hands was no different from the one she had signed in her previous life reasonable terms, with resources and benefits meticulously detailed.

The only special clause was the stipulation that Zhou Ruonian must serve as Jiang Luoyue’s manager. Any changes to this arrangement, barring force majeure, would constitute a breach of contract by Yun Yue, leading to automatic termination.

In her past life, Jiang Luoyue had already regarded Zhou Ruonian as her manager before signing, so she hadn’t paid much attention to this clause.

But this time, it was different.

Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the contract as she slowly rose to her feet.

A gentle breeze drifted into the room, rustling the vibrant clusters of flowers by the windowsill.

When Zhou Ruonian stepped out of the meeting room, a few managers were chatting idly, the atmosphere lively. But the moment they noticed her, their voices instinctively lowered, the air growing stiff as their gazes flickered toward Yu Qing, seated at the edge of the group.

Yu Qing scoffed and turned her face away. Someone awkwardly broke the silence, calling out, “Ruonian.”

Yu Qing and Zhou Ruonian had joined the company around the same time. Over the years, they had shared resources and insider information, naturally becoming close friends. Not long ago, Yu Qing had reached a verbal agreement with an artist, waiting only for their current contract to expire before signing with Yun Yue.

Thinking the matter settled, she had casually mentioned it when Zhou Ruonian asked why she was stepping out.

Yu Qing hadn’t thought much of it until yesterday, when the artist arrived as promised, but chose Zhou Ruonian as their manager instead.

Upon inquiry, she learned that after hearing the artist’s name, Zhou Ruonian had actively lobbied the company for a better contract. Though the proposal was rejected, the artist, touched by the effort, had signed willingly.

Competition was normal, but using information she had shared to poach her artist? That was a betrayal.

Yu Qing was furious, but she couldn’t make a scene, the company prioritized profit. Being too emotional would only make management question her competence. She had no choice but to swallow her anger.

Zhou Ruonian noticed Yu Qing’s resentment, of course. But did it matter?

Though they had both started from scratch, Yu Qing had relatives in the media industry, always feeding her insider information. Her performance and skills had long surpassed Zhou Ruonian’s.

But once Jiang Luoyue signed, everything would change.

Yun Yue lacked any major stars. Jiang Luoyue, a renowned child actress, would instantly become the company’s priority, her future limitless. And Zhou Ruonian? She would leave Yu Qing far behind.

The thought made Zhou Ruonian smirk. Before she could speak, a woman in a formal suit turned from the coffee machine. “Has Jiang Luoyue reviewed the contract?”

“President Shi,” Zhou Ruonian immediately schooled her expression, answering seriously. “She’s ready to sign.”

Shi Wei gave a slight nod.

Sent by her family to take over Yun Yue nearly a year ago, she had yet to produce any notable results. So when Zhou Ruonian proposed securing Jiang Luoyue’s signing in exchange for 1% of the company’s shares, Shi Wei hadn’t hesitated long before agreeing.

The shares amounted to little more than a million hardly a concern for Shi Wei. Still, she had privately marveled at Zhou Ruonian’s audacity.

Yet, Zhou Ruonian had delivered.

Still, recalling the unmistakable closeness between the two when they entered the company, Shi Wei offered a quiet warning. “Some things require discretion.”

Zhou Ruonian responded dutifully, though whether she truly took it in was of little concern to Shi Wei. After all, if the two were ever embroiled in a scandal in the future, the first to be sacrificed would undoubtedly be Zhou Ruonian.

As for the clause explicitly stated in the contract? Talent contracts naturally prioritized the artist’s wishes so long as Jiang Luoyue didn’t pursue the matter, it would be fine. Shi Wei was confident that, in the face of sufficient benefits, all emotions were empty words.

She took a sip of coffee and brushed past Zhou Ruonian. After just a few steps, she raised an eyebrow in surprise.

“Miss Jiang?”

Zhou Ruonian instinctively turned around and, sure enough, saw Jiang Luoyue standing not far away, holding the contract in her hand.

While nodding at Shi Wei, Luoyue didn’t forget to acknowledge the other agents nearby.

Among them were even some casual fans of Jiang Luoyue, who cheerfully mentioned dramas she had starred in. Even Shi Wei joined in, smiling as she said, “Your crying scenes once moved my family to tears.”

The atmosphere instantly became warm and lively, making Zhou Ruonian, who was still waiting for her coffee, seem like an insignificant outsider.

She couldn’t stand this kind of cold treatment, especially in front of Yu Qing. “Luoyue? Have you finished reviewing the contract?”

Curious glances were cast their way, but Jiang Luoyue remained composed, avoiding Zhou Ruonian’s gaze. She knew Yun Yue wasn’t the best choice, but it was the one that could solve her most pressing problems.

If she delayed any longer, her adoptive parents might once again act first and force her to sign with some shady agency. By then, she wouldn’t even have the right to choose.

“I’ve finished reviewing the contract. Yun Yue’s sincerity has moved me, and I’d very much like to collaborate with them.”

“However, ”

“However what?” Shi Wei raised an eyebrow. “Do you have additional demands regarding the terms?”

“No.” Jiang Luoyue shook her head before stating firmly, without hesitation, “There’s one clause I’d like removed.”

From a distance, Zhou Ruonian couldn’t hear their conversation clearly, but the moment Jiang Luoyue spoke, Shi Wei visibly reacted with surprise and glanced over.

Jiang Luoyue, on the other hand, never once spared Zhou Ruonian a look.

An inexplicable emptiness settled in Zhou Ruonian’s heart.

Jiang Luoyue was someone who stood by her word once she agreed to sign, she wouldn’t go back on it.

Had her parents said something again?

The more she thought about it, the more uneasy Zhou Ruonian became. She wanted to ingratiate herself with Jiang Luoyue once more, but their conversation had already concluded. Shi Wei was now instructing her assistant, and the next moment, the printer whirred to life, spitting out what was unmistakably the artist contract.

“Luoyue?” This time, Zhou Ruonian couldn’t hide the panic in her voice. “Is there an issue with the contract? If there’s any problem, you can discuss it with me, or with Director Shi—”

Agreeing and then suddenly backing out was a breach of trust in any industry.

Shi Wei was prepared to take responsibility for the matter, but Jiang Luoyue didn’t need her to.

She met Zhou Ruonian’s gaze squarely. “No.”

Zhou Ruonian grew even more bewildered.

In the past, whenever their eyes met, Jiang Luoyue could never hide her shyness. Even the occasional glance was filled with deep trust and dependence.

But now, all that affection had vanished. In its place was cold detachment, wariness even, annoyance?

“I proactively told Director Shi that I want the clause appointing you as my agent removed.”

For a moment, many of the agents widened their eyes in shock, while Yu Qing didn’t even bother hiding her glee.

Zhou Ruonian was stunned. “Why? Didn’t we agree on this? Luoyue, is there some kind of misunderstanding here?”

In the past, Zhou Ruonian had always appeared composed and gentle in Jiang Luoyue’s eyes, effortlessly handling everything. But now, her voice was urgent, her expression anxious, and she even seemed on the verge of reaching out to pull Jiang Luoyue closer.

Jiang Luoyue looked at her as if witnessing the shattering of an already ethereal deity, her heart aching with sorrow.

Yet, the more she felt this way, the clearer and lighter her mind became.

She held onto this sensation tightly and countered, “Is that so?”

“But I’ve already forgotten.”