I Swear I Don’t Want to Be Everyone’s Favorite - Chapter 32

On the way back, Xiang Fan remained silent, with only the sound of the wind and faint music filling the car. Jiang Luoyue relaxed, gazing at the ever-changing scenery outside the window, her thoughts drifting to Jing Lan.

Though Jing Lan was her biological mother, they had met only a handful of times, and their relationship was particularly cold. Most of what Jiang Luoyue knew about her came from Jiang Lianyan’s accounts.

For instance, how Jing Lan had gifted Jiang Lianyan expensive assets or splurged lavishly to please her.

Jiang Luoyue had once envied this and even tried to seek maternal affection from Jing Lan. But each attempt ended in nothing but self-inflicted humiliation and disappointment. Gradually, she shifted her focus, giving up on the Jiang family just as they had given up on her.

Their last contact was when Jing Lan saw news of Jiang Luoyue’s illness and asked if she needed help. By then, her condition had already worsened, and treatment was a long and painful process for Jiang Luoyue. Not wanting to worry her, she simply smiled and said it wasn’t serious.

But when she tried to continue the conversation, Jing Lan hung up due to a meeting. That was the last time Jiang Luoyue saw her. Even at her own funeral, Jing Lan only sent an assistant in her place.

Jiang Luoyue thought she had long forgotten it all, but seeing Jing Lan again brought back memories of their first meeting.

Even during their reunion, even as Jiang Luoyue’s face lit up with emotion, Jing Lan’s expression remained cold, even somewhat annoyed. For the longest time, Jiang Luoyue believed it was because she had made a bad first impression, leading the Jiang family to dislike her.

Only now, seeing concern on that face for the first time, did Jiang Luoyue realize the truth. Jiang Lianyan was the Jiang family’s cherished treasure, nurtured with love and care for years. Even if Jiang Luoyue was their flesh and blood, it meant nothing.

That thin thread of blood relation couldn’t compare to the years of devotion the Jiang family had poured into Jiang Lianyan.

Just like Zhou Ruonian. She might have loved Jiang Luoyue once, but she had loved Jiang Lianyan longer, making it harder to let go. When forced to choose, she would always be the one left behind the unimportant one.

Understanding this brought Jiang Luoyue an unprecedented sense of relief. Though her heart ached, the corners of her lips lifted unconsciously.

Xiang Fan, who had been observing her expression, paused and casually asked, “What are you thinking about? You seem happy. You can tell me, I’ll forget right after.”

Jiang Luoyue raised an eyebrow. “No such creature exists.”

Xiang Fan replied nonchalantly, “Fish do. They only have seven seconds of memory.”

Jiang Luoyue chuckled softly. “It’s nothing. I just realized that many things I thought were my fault… actually weren’t.”

As soon as she said it, she realized how convoluted it sounded and was about to apologize when Xiang Fan asked, “What did you think you did wrong?”

Jiang Luoyue pondered. “Not being liked. Not being loved.”

Xiang Fan laughed. “No one can be liked by everyone.”

Jiang Luoyue countered seriously, “I meant not being liked by family and friends.”

“So what?” Xiang Fan interrupted. “Family and friends are just people. There’s nothing special about them.”

“Besides,” Xiang Fan shot Jiang Luoyue a glance, “who doesn’t like you? Everyone I know likes you.”

Jiang Luoyue froze for a few seconds before hesitantly asking, “Really?”

Xiang Fan smiled. “Do you want me to compliment you? I’m driving now, I’ll think of some when we arrive.”

Jiang Luoyue reflexively agreed, only realizing moments later that wasn’t her intention. But Xiang Fan was already humming cheerfully, focused on the road. Not wanting to disturb her, Jiang Luoyue occasionally glanced over, worried Xiang Fan might list more flaws than virtues while thinking.

Maybe, it wasn’t so bad?

She thought uncertainly, a nervous flutter in her chest, the bitterness from the Jiang family fading away.

Her fears were unfounded. Once the car stopped, Xiang Fan actually began listing her strengths: high tolerance, a good listener, thoughtful using Fu Yunqing as an example, as if Fu Yunqing were a rabid dog and Jiang Luoyue a professional trainer.

Jiang Luoyue struggled not to laugh, warmth spreading through her chest. Caught between wanting to stop Xiang Fan and wanting to hear more, she froze when the woman suddenly said, “You’re good. If someone doesn’t like you, that’s their problem, not yours.”

Jiang Luoyue: “Didn’t you just say no one can be liked by everyone?”

Xiang Fan raised an eyebrow. “Did I? I forgot.”

After all, in this car, she had the memory of a fish seven seconds and gone.

How shameless. Jiang Luoyue wanted to tease her, but what came out instead was a quiet “Thank you.”

This was the first time someone had told her so plainly: You’re good.

Everything you worry about isn’t your fault.

This illogical encouragement was exactly what had been missing in her life. Despite her efforts to hide it, a smile crept into her eyes.

Xiang Fan watched her for a moment, then ignored the thanks and shook her phone.

In just half an hour, Fu Yunqing had sent over a hundred messages proof of her fury.

Jiang Luoyue’s smile faded. Steeling herself for what awaited, she took a deep breath.

Just as she expected.

The moment they stepped into the private room, Fu Yunqing launched into a tirade: “Xiang Fan! Are you insane?! You’re the one who should be in a cast, you and your whole family! Can’t you talk without dragging me into it, you washed-up hack? Stop leeching off me!”

Xiang Fan: “Unsubscribe.”

Fu Yunqing shrieked, “Jiang Luoyue! Look at her!”

Jiang Luoyue lowered her hands from her ears and said innocently, “She’s terrible. I tried to stop her, but I failed.”

Fu Yunqing’s temper flared up and died down just as quickly. After a few soothing words, she moved on, coming over to inspect Jiang Luoyue’s hand. But before she could get close, Ning Fuguang calmly shouldered her aside.

“Huh?” Jiang Luoyue blinked. “What’s wrong, President Ning?”

Ning Fuguang forced a smile, barely containing her anger. “This is ointment for the scrape. I bought it myself.”

She emphasized “myself,” shooting simultaneous glares at Fu Yunqing and Yu Jingtang.

Fu Yunqing scoffed. Ning Fuguang had stormed off to buy medicine, then took her frustration out on them when she returned to find Jiang Luoyue gone. Were they her punching bags? It pissed her off so much she’d immediately started arguing with Ning Fuguang.

And Yu Jingtang, that mute, just took the scolding without a word. How did she even have shipping fans with Jiang Luoyue?!

“Ah.” Jiang Luoyue nodded. “Thank you, President Ning.”

But she remembered the hospital had already prescribed medicine.

Just as she reached for it, Xiang Fan deliberately rustled her own bag. “Luoyue? This should be enough. Any more would be wasteful. Let her keep it for herself better safe than sorry.”

Jiang Luoyue hesitated. Ning Fuguang turned, and Xiang Fan smiled. “Not that I’m cursing you. Just looking out for you.”

Fu Yunqing, however, zeroed in on something else. “Luoyue?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Since when are you two so close?”

Jiang Luoyue: “Um, well.”

Xiang Fan countered, “You can be close to her, but others can’t?”

Seeing Jiang Luoyue’s obvious hesitation, Fu Yunqing exploded. “Jiang Luoyue, tell me the truth did she drug you?! You weren’t like this before you left!”

Jiang Luoyue took a deep breath. As the three of them teetered on the edge of an all-out brawl, she clutched her arm. “Ow!”

Though her acting was painfully fake this time, it successfully diverted their attention.

Under their reproachful stares, Jiang Luoyue felt a twinge of guilt. Luckily, the waiter arrived with their food, and she used Ning Fuguang’s own words to shut them up: “Eat first. You’ll need energy to stay mad.”

The recording wrapped up in an odd but peaceful atmosphere.

As they prepared to leave, Jiang Luoyue accepted Ning Fuguang’s medicine after all since she’d gone out of her way to buy it.

Fu Yunqing, eavesdropping, sneered, “Half an hour for this? Must be worth a fortune. Here’s ten bucks keep the change.”

Jiang Luoyue scolded, “Why do you always eavesdrop?”

Ning Fuguang smirked, but her expression softened at Jiang Luoyue’s words. “It’s nothing. Just a small favor.”

Fu Yunqing mentally mocked her hypocrisy and whistled, moving to sling an arm around Jiang Luoyue’s shoulders. But Yu Jingtang suddenly spoke up: “Aren’t you injured?”

Fu Yunqing scowled. “Who’s injured?”

She was about to argue when she remembered, according to Xiang Fan’s story, she’d “broken” her leg and was undergoing treatment. “…”

Fu Yunqing whirled on Xiang Fan, who now played innocent. “Did that happen? How tragic.”

“Xiang Fan!”

Fu Yunqing gritted her teeth but ultimately agreed to wait in the private room until the reporters left before sneaking out.

But if she was suffering, she wasn’t about to let others off easy.

Xiang Fan was ordered to stay, with Fu Yunqing threatening to livestream lies about her leg being broken too if she refused. She’d even brainstormed the next episode’s theme: Battle of the Cripples.

Xiang Fan’s eye twitched. “Don’t worry. Next time, I’ll aim for the good leg.”

Ning Fuguang snorted, instantly drawing glares from both.

As the three factions teetered toward chaos, Yu Jingtang seized the moment to extend her phone. Jiang Luoyue was about to ask what was wrong when she saw the friend request QR code. “…”

“Add me,” Yu Jingtang said. “Fu Yunqing has you.”

Jiang Luoyue laughed. “If she has me, you need me too?”

But her hands obediently pulled out her phone. Just as she went to scan it, Yu Jingtang suddenly locked her screen, lips pursed in something like dejection. “If you don’t want to, forget it.”

Thinking she might actually be upset, Jiang Luoyue hurriedly said, “I do. I’ve wanted to add you for a while.”

“Then why didn’t you?” Yu Jingtang challenged.

Jiang Luoyue: “…”

During the first recording, Yu Jingtang hadn’t been around. By the second, she’d been too dizzy to remember.

Both silently recalled the first episode, that night of brilliant fireworks. Yu Jingtang’s tight lips finally curved slightly. Under Jiang Luoyue’s coaxing, she unlocked her phone again, stressing, “You wanted to add me.”

Jiang Luoyue: “Mhm.”

Biting back a smile, she sent the friend request. Yu Jingtang’s profile picture was a black cat with jewel-like green eyes. Jiang Luoyue recognized it as a popular internet-famous cat. She glanced at Yu Jingtang, struck by the resemblance.

Before she could pinpoint why, Fu Yunqing noticed their whispering. “What are you two doing?”

This time, before Jiang Luoyue could respond, Yu Jingtang waved her phone screen, mimicking Fu Yunqing’s classic line in a deadpan tone: “What? Don’t tell me I’m the only one Jiang Luoyue actively added? You guys didn’t make the cut?”

Fu Yunqing: “…”