I Swear I Don’t Want to Be Everyone’s Favorite - Chapter 24

Saying “Wei Qian seeks revenge” might not be entirely accurate, given that Song An’s film was so supernatural, and it was highly likely that Luo Gaixiang possessed someone herself to actively carry out the revenge.

“Taking it a step further in defying logic, Luo Gaixiang and Wei Qian might even be the same person.”

On the way back, while explaining the plot to Yu Qing, Jiang Luoyue added a few of her own speculations. Yu Qing was stunned: “The actress playing the fifth female lead nailed it.”

Which fifth female lead not only runs through the entire series but also appears at every critical moment? Aside from having no lines, her importance is almost on par with the second female lead.

“But this kind of show might not pass censorship,” Yu Qing said. “Too many people die, and it’s too bloody and violent.”

Jiang Luoyue: “But if only Luo Gaixiang dies, it would become a model film criticizing feudal superstitions and attract a lot of attention.”

As the plot gradually took shape, Jiang Luoyue began to recall that in her previous life, she had indeed encountered Calling Souls. However, the film and the main characters’ names were changed, turning the entire story into a collaboration between the male and female leads as they solved a case, fell in love, and ultimately resolved the grievances of a female ghost who had died tragically years ago.

If she remembered correctly, the female lead was Wei Qian, the male lead was Luo Cheng, and the one who was redeemed and forgave the entire family was Luo Gaixiang.

Yu Qing noticed her displeasure and changed the subject. “Recently, a magazine reached out, wanting to do a feature interview with you and Fu Yunqing. Are you interested?”

A dual interview meant the two of them would pose together for a set of photos to be printed in the magazine’s inner pages a common money-making tactic the magazine had used for years.

Jiang Luoyue: “They’ll want to interview Fu Yunqing.”

“They approached Fu Yunqing first, and she said she’d do it if you do.”

Jiang Luoyue was about to decline outright, but Yu Qing said, “No rush, take your time to think about it. The third season hasn’t started yet, and who knows next time they might invite you and someone else.”

Hearing the obvious teasing in her tone, Jiang Luoyue sighed. “One is already enough.”

Any more would be too harsh on the fans’ wallets.

After arriving home, Jiang Luoyue went to the balcony first to water the few pots of succulents she was growing. With the recent overcast weather, they were clearly not getting enough sunlight, so she brought out the grow light she had bought last month but only recently found time to unpack.

Under the purple glow, she took a few photos of the succulents and casually posted them on Weibo for her fans to interact with before starting to plan tonight’s dinner.

Just as she was agonizing over various one-minute recipes, a notification popped up on her phone. Diandian, holding a deflated volleyball in his mouth, grinned foolishly at her from the center of the screen.

The moment she answered, Fu Yunqing’s energetic voice came through: “Jiang Luoyue, where are you?”

“At home,” Jiang Luoyue replied instinctively, then asked, somewhat puzzled, “What’s wrong?”

Their last conversation had been about the CP issue. Fu Yunqing seemed to have joined another production recently. Whenever Jiang Luoyue checked her Moments, she’d often see Fu Yunqing posting and immediately deleting complaints about Xu Xing, suggesting she wasn’t having a great time.

“Where’s your home?” Fu Yunqing asked bluntly before adding, “Didn’t you wrap filming today? I went to your set to find you, but they said you’d already left.”

“Them? I have a name, you know. Show some respect, will you?”

Yu Qiu’s voice could faintly be heard, but Fu Yunqing paid it no mind. Instead, she complained to Jiang Luoyue with a pitiful tone, “She talks so much, why has no one ever called her out for it?”

How could she still be holding onto Xiang Fan’s comment about “talking too much” after all this time?

Jiang Luoyue was speechless but still sent Fu Yunqing her address. Her intention was to meet the other woman downstairs when she arrived, but unexpectedly, her doorbell rang just twenty minutes later.

Peeking through the peephole, she saw Fu Yunqing standing outside wearing sunglasses, fixing her hair in the reflection of a mirror.

When Jiang Luoyue opened the door, Fu Yunqing seemed startled, instinctively pulling her hand back while offering a hidden bouquet of flowers: “Happy wrap-up.”

Many people on set had said those words to Jiang Luoyue, but hearing them from Fu Yunqing made her momentarily dazed. “Thank you, How did you find this place?”

“You posted it on Weibo yourself,” Fu Yunqing said. “With such a glaring light, it’d be hard to find a second place like this.”

As Jiang Luoyue went to the balcony to turn off the light, Fu Yunqing hadn’t quite processed it yet. “Aren’t you going to keep taking photos?”

Jiang Luoyue replied, “I’m afraid a second person as clever as you might show up, and then everyone would know where I live.”

When Fu Yunqing left, she summed up the apartment: small, unsafe, and not as open as Dian Dian’s room.

“Why are you still here?”

After Jiang Luoyue turned off the lights, closed the curtains, made sure all precautions were taken, and even washed her hands, she turned around to find Fu Yunqing still standing outside, staring at the decorations in the entryway.

Jiang Luoyue was slightly taken aback. “Are you about to leave?”

Her words were ambiguous, but Fu Yunqing interpreted them in a positive light. “You didn’t invite me in, so of course I’m still here.”

Jiang Luoyue sighed, “Come in.”

She felt particularly exasperated, thinking to herself how nice it would have been if Fu Yunqing had been this polite back when she barged into her tent.

Once given permission, Fu Yunqing stepped onto the carpet and asked in an almost coy tone, “Should I wear shoe covers?”

“I live alone,” Jiang Luoyue said, rubbing her temples. “I’m not that particular for now. What would you like to drink? Water? Something else?”

Fu Yunqing took an unexpected turn: “Do you have any alcohol?”

“Sure, but you’ll have to wait a bit,” Jiang Luoyue glanced at her watch. “About half an hour.”

After all, delivery would take some time.

Fu Yunqing immediately became compliant and settled for water. Watching Jiang Luoyue pour the water, she asked again, “Can I take a photo? Just of the coffee table.”

Jiang Luoyue had a feeling she was up to no good. “What do you want to do?”

“Brag!” Fu Yunqing enunciated clearly. “Am I the first friend to visit your home?”

Jiang Luoyue shook her head immediately. “No photos. And besides, my agent has been here before you.”

Fu Yunqing had no choice but to amend her statement, “Second isn’t bad either… Hey! Don’t look at me with that suspicious expression, I would never take sneaky photos!”

Jiang Luoyue waited until Fu Yunqing had talked herself hoarse before handing her the glass of water. Fu Yunqing instinctively thanked her, then remembered just who had made her talk so much in the first place. “How could you!”

“What did I do?” Jiang Luoyue tilted her head to look at her. “I didn’t say anything you’re the one making assumptions.”

Just as Fu Yunqing was racking her brain to find some excuse, no matter how unreasonable, Jiang Luoyue smiled faintly. “Have you eaten? I haven’t had dinner yet.”

Fu Yunqing thought she was about to be invited and nodded, preparing to accept with restraint, when she heard Jiang Luoyue ask, “Mixed rice noodles, mixed noodles, plain noodle soup, which one do you want?”

Fu Yunqing instinctively asked, “Why are they all noodles? Aren’t there any dishes?”

“Does soy sauce-steamed egg count as a dish?” Jiang Luoyue pondered. “My skills are limited; these are the only ones that aren’t terrible.”

With such shortcuts, it’d be a miracle if they were bad.

“Forget it.” Fu Yunqing stood up, casually rolling up her sleeves. “I’ll handle it.”

Jiang Luoyue’s cooking was awful, but for the sake of her chef dreams, she still regularly bought ingredients. There were plenty left in the fridge that hadn’t been ruined yet.

She watched as Fu Yunqing skillfully sliced the meat, blanched it, and poured oil into the pan, causing a white mist to rise. Jiang Luoyue was still a bit dazed: “You know how to cook?”

Fu Yunqing said casually, “The food abroad isn’t fit for humans, so I had to learn.”

She said it naturally, but when she brought the dishes to the table, she noticed Jiang Luoyue’s gaze had clearly changed, now tinged with a bit of admiration.

But when looking at the food, Jiang Luoyue was still somewhat cautious, only picking up her chopsticks after Fu Yunqing had sat down.

Watching her actions, Fu Yunqing hesitated but couldn’t hide her pride: “How is it?”

Jiang Luoyue: “It’s delicious.”

So delicious that she suddenly realized she truly had no talent for cooking and was deeply discouraged.

If it’s so good, why the long face? Fu Yunqing rested her chin on her hand, watching Jiang Luoyue, but didn’t ask. After all, this side of Jiang Luoyue was rare and kind of cute.

“Do you have plans tonight?” Fu Yunqing suddenly asked after watching for who knows how long.

Jiang Luoyue shook her head somewhat blankly. The film crew had wrapped up, and the variety show schedule wasn’t set yet. If Fu Yunqing weren’t here, her post-home routine would be watching videos and reading pretty boring.

Satisfied, Fu Yunqing pulled two paper tickets from her bag: “A stage play tonight at eight, front row seats Would you like to go with me?”

As if afraid Jiang Luoyue might misunderstand, she explained, “Xu Xing gave me the tickets, and they’ll expire if we don’t go. Since you’re free anyway, just keep me company.”

Jiang Luoyue hesitated, “I can, but don’t you think it’s strange?”

“Strange how?” Fu Yunqing was puzzled.

Giving flowers, having a meal, then going to see a play together no matter how you looked at it, it seemed like the standard dating routine. If they left together, there was a high chance they’d be photographed by reporters Xu Xing had arranged.

Fu Yunqing clearly hadn’t thought it through that deeply; out of the whole explanation, she only caught the word “date.”

“Even if it were true, being photographed on a date with me wouldn’t be so bad, right?”

“Lots of people want to date me,” Fu Yunqing emphasized. “But you’re the first and only one I’ve invited.”

Jiang Luoyue: “…”

With things put that way, Jiang Luoyue seemed to have no reason to refuse. After the meal, she thought about using dishwashing to stall, but Fu Yunqing simply grabbed her wrist and pulled her out: “It’s already seven!”

The trip to the theater would take at most twenty minutes, but Fu Yunqing insisted, “What if there’s traffic?”

Jiang Luoyue had no choice but to follow closely.

As they went downstairs, she saw Fu Yunqing’s sports car, blazing red. After clumsily fastening her seatbelt in the passenger seat, Jiang Luoyue said, “You really like red.”

“Don’t you think it’s cool?” Fu Yunqing squinted her eyes as she started the car. Wind rushed in through the window, lifting her hair to float in the light. “When racing, a red car looks like a flame so eye-catching.”

Jiang Luoyue had never watched such races, but Fu Yunqing’s tone turned light and cheerful when she mentioned racing, as if recalling something particularly wonderful. She asked, “Why don’t you go anymore?”

“I got injured a few times, and my family wouldn’t let me continue.”

Fu Yunqing said it casually, but Jiang Luoyue immediately responded, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”

“It’s fine.” Fu Yunqing smiled. “Back then, I was cooped up at home every day. When someone invited me to act, I went for it. Even after I became famous, my family still disapproved they thought showing my face in public was shameful.”

But she had sneaked out anyway.

Even though her family suppressed her, leaving her with nothing but the hollow title of “young lady” and forcing her to linger in short-drama crews, it didn’t dampen Fu Yunqing’s pride at that moment. “I just wanted them to know the more they try to stop me from doing something, the better I’ll do at it.”

Jiang Luoyue listened attentively, but her thoughts drifted to the previous life.

After Fu Yunqing left the entertainment industry, she did return to the racing scene she loved, only to pass away in a racing accident just a few months later.

“I can actually act well, too.”

As she spoke, the atmosphere in the car grew quiet. After a long pause, Fu Yunqing, gripping the steering wheel, suddenly said, “Someone like Yu Qiu, with her non-professional acting skills, manages just fine. I even studied with a teacher for a year by any measure, I’m better than her.”

Jiang Luoyue burst out laughing. Fu Yunqing lifted her lips. “It’s true. I want to act in proper dramas with you, too. All this ‘stepmother’ stuff… if my mom saw it, she’d scold me to death.”

“Has your mom watched your dramas?” Jiang Luoyue asked curiously.

Fu Yunqing: “She has. She watched and scolded me the whole time, saying my acting was stupid ”

Jiang Luoyue looked out the window, her pupils reflecting the neon lights outside. Before Fu Yunqing could change the subject, she said earnestly, “I don’t know much about racing, but you’ll definitely achieve great things in the future.”

Fu Yunqing smiled, puzzled by her confidence. “Who told you that? Is it reliable?”

Jiang Luoyue: “Well actually, we met once in our previous life. That version of you told me.”

Fu Yunqing glanced at her serious expression and laughed. “Jiang Luoyue, you’re actually pretty good at telling jokes.”

Jiang Luoyue mimicked Fu Yunqing’s tone: “I’m being serious.”

But her voice was filled with barely concealed laughter.

Fu Yunqing hummed a tune, happily picking a fight. “If it’s true, meeting only once is way too little. Are we really that unlucky in fate?”

Jiang Luoyue smiled and said offhandedly, “Maybe all our fate was saved for this lifetime.”

Perhaps it was precisely because she had only met them once in her previous life that she could see them every day now.

Jiang Luoyue looked at Fu Yunqing. The woman was looking back at her. Whether it was Jiang Luoyue’s imagination or not, under the lights, Fu Yunqing’s cheeks were noticeably flushed. But before she could get a closer look, Fu Yunqing had already turned her face away, lifting her chin proudly. “If you say so, then it must be true.”