I Swear I Don’t Want to Be Everyone’s Favorite - Chapter 33

Only after stepping into the elevator and confirming that no Fu Yunqing would suddenly jump out screaming did Jiang Luoyue finally relax, turning to Yu Jingtang with an accusatory look.

Yu Jingtang acted as if she hadn’t noticed, while Ning Fuguang openly scrolled through Jiang Luoyue’s social media feed in front of her, liking every post one by one. She seemed particularly engrossed in this task, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm, even leaving comments on some.

Jiang Luoyue sighed. “I’m right here. Can’t you just say it to my face?”

Ning Fuguang replied earnestly, “Words on a screen and spoken words are different.”

As she typed seriously on her phone, Jiang Luoyue inwardly scolded herself for being so perfunctory earlier. She eagerly awaited Ning Fuguang’s comment, only to receive two words:

[Nice]

And it was under a post about her succulents.

Jiang Luoyue was momentarily speechless.

Ning Fuguang: “People who know me well understand that I’m not great with words, so.”

Before she could finish her explanation, she spotted a post where Jiang Luoyue praised Fu Yunqing’s cooking. Connecting the date, Ning Fuguang looked up in shock. “Fu Yunqing went to your place?”

Yu Jingtang also abruptly raised her head, expression serious. “Why? You’ve never invited me over.”

Jiang Luoyue wasn’t sure whether to lament how the entertainment industry had corrupted Yu Jingtang into suddenly speaking in full sentences or to question how Ning Fuguang had the nerve to claim she wasn’t good with words.

Aside from Fu Yunqing, Ning Fuguang was the biggest instigator.

Just as this thought crossed her mind, Jiang Luoyue remembered Xiang Fan’s grand deception: “…”

She struggled to explain, “It wasn’t an invitation. She came on her own.”

Yu Jingtang smoothly pivoted. “You never even told me your address.”

“Not adding you as a friend was my fault, and not giving you my address was also my fault,” Jiang Luoyue chuckled helplessly before countering, “But why haven’t you ever shared yours with me?”

She thought she had successfully silenced Yu Jingtang, but the next second, her phone buzzed. Yu Jingtang sent her a small schedule filled with her contact details, home address, and a random list of dishes.

Just reading it painted a vivid picture of her daily life. Caught off guard, Jiang Luoyue was also puzzled. “Where’s Feiniao?”

Yu Jingtang: “Where I practice instruments. Do you want to come?”

Jiang Luoyue had never been exposed to that world and was naturally curious. But unsure if she’d have time, she hesitated. Yu Jingtang, however, had already thoughtfully added, “If you want to visit, just message me. I’m usually there.”

Ning Fuguang coughed lightly, but Jiang Luoyue’s earnest question drowned it out: “And when you’re not?”

Yu Jingtang sent another string of numbers: “Contact my manager.”

Ning Fuguang coughed again. Jiang Luoyue looked at the flood of messages on her screen and teased, “If you sold this info to your fans, you’d make a fortune.”

Yu Jingtang didn’t hesitate. “Sure. But I’d move into your place the same day.”

Jiang Luoyue imagined the scenario and, surprisingly, didn’t find it unappealing. Yu Jingtang was quiet she’d make a good roommate. The only issue was her tiny apartment, which could barely fit Yu Jingtang, let alone her instruments.

As she pondered, Ning Fuguang coughed again. This time, Yu Jingtang finally acknowledged it, pulling two masks from her bag.

Jiang Luoyue snapped back to reality. “What’s wrong?”

Yu Jingtang put on her mask, fully arming herself. “There’s a virus carrier. Stay away from her.”

Ning Fuguang: “…”

Jiang Luoyue covered her forehead, barely suppressing her laughter. The elevator reached the ground floor, and the moment the doors opened, reporters who had been lying in wait snapped photos of Ning Fuguang storming out with a frosty expression.

One immediately asked, “President Ning, are you dissatisfied with the Hate Me production team because of Jiang Lianyan’s injury?”

Ning Fuguang: “I’m dissatisfied because you’re interviewing me.”

The blunt response stunned the crowd. Another reporter turned to Yu Jingtang. “Xiao Tang, you”

Yu Jingtang’s manager rushed out like a protective mother hen, shielding her. “No interviews during private time.” She then thanked Jiang Luoyue profusely. “Thank you for looking after our Xiao Tang. Please team up with her next episode. We’ll be going now.”

Before leaving, she kept glancing at Ning Fuguang, who nodded approvingly. Only then did she half-drag Yu Jingtang away.

Jiang Luoyue watched the scene unfold: “…” Did Ning Fuguang call Yu Jingtang’s manager here? How old was she, resorting to “calling the adults” when she couldn’t win an argument?

Ning Fuguang, however, acted oblivious to her realization. Turning back gracefully, she smiled and asked, “Miss Jiang? Would you like me to give you a ride?”

Jiang Luoyue was tempted to accept, but before she could, Yu Qing finally pushed through the crowd. “Luoyue”

Ning Fuguang’s smile dimmed. A second later, she received Jiang Luoyue’s apologetic glance: “…”

Once in the car, Yu Qing immediately checked Jiang Luoyue’s hands. Only after confirming the injury wasn’t serious did she relax and start the engine. Moments later, she suddenly began cursing.

Jiang Luoyue jumped in surprise, but Yu Qing quickly clarified, “Not at you.”

Then, she continued ranting into thin air. Jiang Luoyue realized she was on a call with the Hate Me director: “…”

Fortunately, this wasn’t the first time the director had been yelled at. Yu Qing kept it professional, and soon, the two were amiably discussing PR strategies.

Relieved but exhausted, Jiang Luoyue dozed off. When she woke, the car was nearing the airport, and her phone was flooded with messages.

Earlier, Yu Jingtang’s sarcastic remark had earned Jiang Luoyue three new friends.

Yu Jingtang was currently boarding a flight, while Ning Fuguang had sent scenic photos matching the view outside Jiang Luoyue’s window.

Xiang Fan and Fu Yunqing had also left the restaurant half an hour ago. Fu Yunqing’s whereabouts were unknown, but Xiang Fan had sent her flight details coincidentally, the same one Jiang Luoyue was taking.

A sense of foreboding grew in Jiang Luoyue’s heart.

When she entered the airport lounge and saw the three of them seated a row apart, she took a deep breath and tentatively greeted, “Good afternoon?”

Xiang Fan raised an eyebrow. “What a coincidence.”

“Good afternoon.” Ning Fuguang checked the time and frowned. “Why are you all on this flight too?”

Yu Jingtang stayed silent but shot her exasperated manager a rare look of approval.

Soon, someone snapped a photo of the scene and posted it online.

[LMAO, is this a lounge or the Hate Me live set?]

[The elite four minus one! Fu Yunqing’s gonna lose it when she finds out she’s been excluded.]

[Fresh Luoyue content, I’m inhaling it.]

[Why isn’t Luoyue sitting with the others? They look so distant.]

[If she sat with any one of them, the other two would ask: Why not me? (Including Yu Jingtang.)]

[Who else gets the joke about “including Yu Jingtang”]

Shortly after the four boarded, Fu Yunqing her right leg in a cast, wheeled herself into the airport. During security, she saw the trending topic and, in front of everyone, furiously posted:

[What’s the meaning of this? You all left without me? Trying to publicly exclude me?]

She even added the hashtag #JustARegularPersonWhoHatesNingFuguangYuJingtangXiangFan, instantly sparking a flood of comments. The previously top-trending #JiangLianyanInjured was gradually pushed out of the top ten by the cast’s antics.

When the plane landed, Yu Qing, delighted by the news, finally relaxed. “Fu Yunqing’s not bad, she deliberately used a controversial hashtag to divert attention.”

Jiang Luoyue, who had just unlocked her phone to find 999+ rants from Fu Yunqing: “…”

What if she wasn’t doing it on purpose but genuinely meant every word?

Through the screen, Jiang Luoyue could almost hear Fu Yunqing’s tone. As she marveled at how well she understood her now, Yu Qing brightened. “Yu Jingtang’s been cornered by reporters. Let’s go first.”

Due to last-minute booking, Jiang Luoyue was stuck in economy class, separated from the other three in first class. Remembering their devastated expressions when they found out, she stifled a laugh. On her way out, she spotted Xiang Fan in the crowd, looking thoroughly annoyed.

As she silently apologized, her phone lit up.

Yu Jingtang sent a cute sticker. Before Jiang Luoyue could reply, she followed up with a screenshot an order for various ointments, all shipped to Jiang Luoyue’s address.

Jiang Luoyue wanted to say she already had enough medicine, but not wanting to reject the gesture, she thanked her sincerely. Yu Jingtang responded with a pink bunny sticker, utterly mismatched with her icy demeanor.

Amused, Jiang Luoyue saved it and sent a matching one back. Then, curiosity got the better of her. “What was first class like with the three of you?”

Yu Jingtang replied with a string of ellipses and a cold: [So annoying.]

A second later, she added: [Wanted to hang out with you.]

[But my manager wouldn’t let me.]

Attached was a photo of her stern-faced manager.

Jiang Luoyue felt Yu Jingtang had become oddly chatty through text. After reassuring her, Yu Jingtang went silent. Jiang Luoyue guessed she was tired after all, she’d been busy outdoors all day.

Even arguing was mentally exhausting.

Come to think of it, was Yu Jingtang always silent because she was strategizing how to annihilate her opponents in one move?

Remembering her random “virus carrier” comment, Jiang Luoyue nearly laughed aloud but held back to avoid disturbing Yu Qing, who was handling work.

Just as she was about to check the latest hilarious fan comments, Xiang Fan sent a question mark.

[Why’d you send her this?]

Jiang Luoyue clicked open Yu Jingtang’s latest post:

[Y]: With her.

Two images:

1.

Their chat log, Yu Jingtang had deleted the conversation, leaving only the two pink bunny stickers blowing kisses.

2.

The sticker’s name: [Pink Bunnies, Kissy Face]

Jiang Luoyue, who had absolutely no such intentions: “…”