I Swear I Don’t Want to Be Everyone’s Favorite - Chapter 2

Meeting those icy eyes, Zhou Ruonian felt a chill run down her spine, finally realizing this was no joke.

Jiang Luoyue had truly given up on her.

But why? Just ten minutes ago, her attitude had been completely different.

More importantly, Jiang Luoyue clearly still intended to sign with Yunyue. But aside from her, who else did Jiang Luoyue know? Who could she possibly choose as her new agent? Zhou Chu? Wu Yi? Or Yu Qing?

The mere thought of that possibility struck Zhou Ruonian like a bolt of lightning, leaving her speechless. She struggled to salvage the situation, but Shi Wei cut in first: “You must be tired after working for so long. Take a few days off, rest well, and come back next week.”

Next week? By the time she returned, Jiang Luoyue would have already signed the contract and joined the production. How could she possibly listen to her then?

But this was an order, not a request. Before the words had even fully left Shi Wei’s mouth, her assistant was already stepping forward to guide Zhou Ruonian out. “Miss Zhou, this way, please.”

The woman’s tone was polite, but her grip was firm, making it clear that resistance would not be tolerated.

Zhou Ruonian had never been treated like this before. Her composure shattered as she lashed out in humiliation, “Luoyue, have you forgotten what Aunt Jiang said before we came?”

Jiang Luoyue’s adoptive mother was named Jiang Lanhui. In her past life, she had always believed she shared her mother’s surname. Even when the Li family repeatedly blackmailed her, threatening to expose her hypocrisy and ingratitude to the media if she didn’t pay up, Jiang Luoyue had never doubted her origins.

Of course, she couldn’t recall exactly what Jiang Lanhui had said, but it must have been some kind of threat. At that thought, the corners of her eyes curved slightly. “I remember. But so what?”

Ever since Jiang Luoyue became famous, the entire Li family had relied on her to fund their lavish lifestyle. If she were ruined, unable to land roles or earn money, how could the Li family, accustomed to extravagance possibly endure the sudden loss of their cash cow?

It was a simple truth, yet it had taken Jiang Luoyue twenty years to understand.

“You can repeat my words verbatim to them,” Jiang Luoyue said, staring at Zhou Ruonian, enunciating each syllable. “Let’s see if they choose to believe you, or me.”

The truth of her relationship with the Li family would be obvious to anyone who looked closely.

Zhou Ruonian had discovered the reality of her exploitation by the Li family, yet she still tried to manipulate her with appeals to family ties.

Jiang Luoyue couldn’t tell whether she felt more disappointed or disgusted. All she knew was that she never wanted to deal with Zhou Ruonian again. Turning to Yu Qing, she said, “Miss Yu, if it’s convenient, I’d like you to go over the contract details with me.”

Yu Qing looked surprised but didn’t refuse, standing up gracefully.

As Zhou Ruonian watched the two walk toward the meeting room, an overwhelming sense of unreality and weightlessness consumed her. In that moment, Yu Qing, whom she had always looked down upon seemed like the victor, glancing back at her with undisguised mockery and derision.

Unable to accept defeat, Zhou Ruonian tried to chase after them, but the assistant abruptly yanked her back. In the struggle, she nearly fell.

Laughter erupted around her. Zhou Ruonian’s eyes burned with fury as she tried to memorize the faces of those mocking her, but the assistant shoved her into the elevator, cutting off any chance of retaliation.

Meanwhile, in the conference room.

The moment they sat down, Yu Qing got straight to the point. “Miss Jiang, if possible, I’d like to be your agent.”

She didn’t know what had happened to make Jiang Luoyue abandon Zhou Ruonian. But clearly, this was an opportunity.

From a professional standpoint, Jiang Luoyue was an outstanding artist with boundless potential if managed well. On a personal level, every action she took against Zhou Ruonian struck a deeply satisfying chord in Yu Qing, earning her endless goodwill.

Just by observing, Yu Qing felt a clarity of mind, almost wishing she could step in and slap Zhou Ruonian a few more times herself.

Now, when she looked at Jiang Luoyue again, her gaze softened considerably.

Jiang Luoyue had already been inclined to collaborate with Yu Qing, so being treated with such warmth came as a pleasant surprise. What astonished her even more was how thoroughly Yu Qing seemed to have analyzed her current situation. When discussing the future, the woman spoke with effortless confidence, never faltering.

Jiang Luoyue listened humbly, her thoughts drifting involuntarily to her past life.

After Zhou Ruonian had accumulated enough experience and resources at Yunyue, she had gone independent to start her own studio. And after her departure, it was Yu Qing who had held Yunyue together.

Yu Qing had a sharp eye and extensive connections. Even the greenest newcomers under her guidance quickly rose to prominence.

Her most successful artist had debuted from a live-streamed travel variety show titled Hate Me? I’m Doing It on Purpose.

Most variety shows aimed to entertain, striving for a lighthearted tone right from the title. But Hate Me exuded hostility from its name alone.

When the project was first pitched, no one had high hopes for this small-scale production, until the show announced its lineup of four permanent guests:

A director notorious for her sharp tongue and aloof demeanor, with box office earnings totaling over ten billion.
A haughty heiress who had stumbled into the entertainment industry by accident, vowing to quit and inherit the family business if criticized.
A reclusive, introverted musical genius battling mental illness.
A twenty-four-year-old CEO of a trillion-dollar conglomerate, a smiling tiger known for his ruthless tactics.

The hashtag HateMeImDoingItOnPurposeIsInsane skyrocketed to the top of trending lists, setting the internet ablaze.

Because every single one of the show’s guests had a well-documented feud with the others.

Their conflicts had fueled countless heated debates among fans, leaving a lasting impression on the public.

Hate Me was already a sensation before it even aired. Upon release, it shattered viewership records, and even its guest stars reaped the benefits, transforming from unknowns into overnight celebrities.

Receiving an invitation from Hate Me but having to decline due to scheduling conflicts had always been one of Jiang Luoyue’s regrets.

But this time, perhaps she could try walking a different path.

As Jiang Luoyue signed the contract, Yu Qing exhaled in quiet relief. Jiang Luoyue was far more amiable than she’d expected gentle and patient throughout, without a trace of the coldness she showed Zhou Ruonian.

Truly, everyone reacted the same way when faced with someone they despised.

With that thought, Yu Qing double-checked the contract before cheerfully suggesting, “Luoyue may I call you that? There’s still some time before lunch. Let me show you around Yunyue.”

Jiang Luoyue’s reply was polite, tinged with a hint of shyness. “I’ll be counting on your guidance from now on, Sister Yu.”

Though Yunyue was a mid-sized agency, its facilities were impressively comprehensive. Halfway through the tour, Jiang Luoyue was even surprised to discover that Yunyue provided accommodation and meals for its artists.

Her gaze lingered a little too long, and Yu Qing, noticing, asked in mild surprise, “Do you need that?”

Jiang Luoyue had never publicly disclosed her family background, but paparazzi had once photographed her out with her parents in luxury cars worth millions, prompting netizens to marvel at how child stars always seemed to come from wealthy families.

That’s precisely why, when news spread of her repeatedly comparing prices and maliciously breaching contracts, the backlash from public opinion was especially severe. After all, the general impression of the wealthy is that they are honorable, refined, and above worldly concerns. To suddenly become obsessed with money, appearing tacky and vulgar, was utterly destructive to that image.

Yu Qing thought Jiang Luoyue was just curious and would retract her question after asking, but instead, Jiang Luoyue hesitated and softly said, “Is that really okay?”

Jiang Luoyue’s current residence was a small one-bedroom apartment under her adoptive parents’ name.

Her adoptive parents held a spare key and would drop by occasionally to cook her a meal, ostensibly to bond with her, but also to ask for money.

She had already been considering moving out, and Yu Qing’s inquiry conveniently saved her a significant expense.

Before turning eighteen, due to interference from the Li family, Jiang Luoyue had never opened her own bank account. Her acting earnings were deposited directly into the Li family’s accounts, and the small allowance she received was mostly spent on building relationships with the film crew.

As a result, she now had very little money on hand, barely enough to rent a cheap hotel for half a year.

Jiang Luoyue rarely imposed on others, and even asserting her legitimate rights came across as cautious and hesitant.

Yu Qing was momentarily surprised but quickly regained her composure, smiling as she said, “What’s the big deal? If you want it, it’s yours. Not only that, I’ll find you the best one.”

Yu Qing acted swiftly. Once Jiang Luoyue agreed, she handled the paperwork and soon handed her the keys to a two bedroom apartment.

Jiang Luoyue was pleased with the layout, it was not only larger than her previous place but also had a balcony with a few potted succulents, giving it a cozy feel.

Yu Qing, however, paced back and forth, sighing in dissatisfaction. “It’s still too small. You’ll have to make do for a while.”

As if, in her eyes, living in such a place was already a disservice to Jiang Luoyue.

Jiang Luoyue smiled and changed the subject. “It’s close to my current place. I’d like to move in right away.”

“Perfect,” Yu Qing said. “I have a meeting with a friend nearby this afternoon, so I can help you.”

“If you feel it’s too private.”

Jiang Luoyue shook her head. “It’s fine.”

From ages fourteen to nineteen, she had lived in that apartment. Though the time span was long, she had actually spent very little time there. She had almost no personal belongings, so privacy wasn’t an issue.

Yu Qing had assumed Jiang Luoyue would take her to one of the newly built complexes in recent years. She had visited a few while picking up other artists lush greenery, babbling streams, like a miniature garden.

But Jiang Luoyue’s destination was far from what she had imagined. At first, Yu Qing wanted to ask questions, but the deeper they went, the heavier her heart grew. By the time they arrived, she was utterly speechless.

Before them stood an old residential area, squeezed between a market and a middle school, filled with arguments and crude insults. Privacy and security were virtually nonexistent, and the environment was dirty, chaotic, and foul, reeking of decay.

As they entered the neighborhood, many eyes turned toward Jiang Luoyue.

She had tried to conceal her identity, but that only made her stand out more.

Yu Qing couldn’t bear the hostile stares and shielded Jiang Luoyue behind her.

Upstairs, Yu Qing didn’t enter the room, choosing to wait in the living area instead. But even a glance upward revealed the cramped, oppressive layout.

Outside, it was midday, yet the entire apartment was dim and gloomy, barely touched by sunlight. The atmosphere was bleak and suffocating, weighing on anyone who saw it.

Just two streets away from the upscale, well-secured neighborhood she had imagined, it felt like an entirely different world.

The stark contrast left Yu Qing momentarily dazed. She couldn’t fathom why Jiang Luoyue would live here.

Something felt off, though she couldn’t pinpoint why. Just as her confusion deepened, Zhou Ruonian’s impulsive exclamation “Aunt Jiang” suddenly echoed in her ears.

Frowning, Yu Qing averted her gaze and made up her mind to dig deeper. She needed to uncover the full story behind Jiang Luoyue’s price hike and subsequent breach of contract.