I Swear I Don’t Want to Be Everyone’s Favorite - Chapter 63.2

She had tried to probe why Ning Fuguang seemed so familiar with her, but the other woman had brushed it off with evasive banter.

Jiang Luoyue had assumed it was merely a polite remark, something to be forgotten after hearing it, never truly taking it to heart.

Yet before she could ask what the answer was, Ning Fuguang looked at her and said, “We have met. Only once.”

“The film ‘Spiritual Connection’ that invited you earlier this year was fully funded by the Ning Corporation. I saw you at the company on the day you came to discuss the contract.”

The “earlier this year” Ning Fuguang referred to was, for Jiang Luoyue, a memory from ten years ago. For any other project, she would have needed time to piece together fragmented recollections from her long memory.

But ‘Spiritual Connection’ was different.

It was the only project that had invited her, after she had terminated her contract with her company and was mired in a public controversy to play the female lead.

At first, Jiang Luoyue thought some production company had taken notice of her notoriety and wanted to milk the last bit of her popularity. But when she opened the email and saw the production team listed, she was left speechless for a long time, the director had box office earnings in the billions, supported by dozens of highly popular and skilled actors.

Production teams that could gather such talent existed, but they were rare. And they certainly had no need for someone like Jiang Luoyue, let alone to cast her as the lead.

Instinctively, she felt it was impossible, yet she still contacted the producer with a sliver of hope. Then, faced with the producer’s disdain and numerous insinuations that “if someone hadn’t wanted to promote you, you wouldn’t even be qualified to meet with me,” she turned down the contract.

By the time Jiang Luoyue fell ill, ‘Spiritual Connection’ had not been filmed or released. That star-studded production team felt like a dream, something Jiang Luoyue only recalled occasionally in the dead of night, feeling relieved that she hadn’t been deceived,

Hearing a different version from Ning Fuguang now left Jiang Luoyue dazed for a long moment before she finally asked in disbelief, “The Ning Corporation fully funded it?”

Unaware of the producer’s manipulations, Ning Fuguang nodded. “Or rather, I funded it.”

Everything about the production team was handled through Ning Fuguang, including the news that “Jiang Luoyue had foolishly turned down an incredible opportunity.”

Ning Fuguang didn’t understand why Jiang Luoyue had refused, assuming she was simply tired of acting. So, she invested in another team and created the variety show ‘Hate Me.’

Amid the hype surrounding the other four participants, Jiang Luoyue, as the only normal one, would undoubtedly become the center of attention.

Everything she had now was what Ning Fuguang had long envisioned Jiang Luoyue deserved.

If not necessary, Ning Fuguang wouldn’t have brought this up. She didn’t consider what she had done as particularly remarkable the so-called contributions were, to her, merely a drop in the ocean. Whether it resulted in profit or loss, it barely caused a ripple in her vast commercial endeavors.

But these things mattered greatly to Jiang Luoyue, enough to easily overturn her thoughts and stir within her a whirlwind of complex emotions.

Ning Fuguang did not need such emotions from her, which is why he had never mentioned the connection between “Hate Me” and her.

Bringing up “Spiritual Connection” was merely to answer Jiang Luoyue’s question.

He thought Jiang Luoyue would have more questions such as why he invested, or why he wanted to invite her,

But Jiang Luoyue remained silent for a long time before asking with a strange expression, “Aside from ‘Spiritual Connection,’ have you invested in any other productions?”

Ning Fuguang nodded. “A few. Why do you ask?”

Jiang Luoyue took a deep breath. The producer’s words about hidden rules echoed in her mind.

Although she didn’t believe Ning Fuguang’s character was that flawed, she still hesitated before asking, “Were they around my age too?”

Ning Fuguang sensed something was off but couldn’t pinpoint the reason. He could only reply, “No. Most of the time, to play it safe, we chose actors who were already quite popular.”

Jiang Luoyue: “So, from the very beginning, you were prepared to lose money by choosing me?”

Somehow, that sounded even more like hidden rules.

Ning Fuguang shook his head. “I never considered the profit aspect.”

“The reason I made that production was simply to make you happy.”

Wasn’t an actor’s greatest joy joining a good crew, playing a great role, and being loved by many? Even if Jiang Luoyue couldn’t achieve that, Ning Fuguang could use his own abilities to help her.

As for profit or loss, it was never his main concern.

Youthful and beautiful bodies were universally adored a truth shared across the world. Calculating her own age, Jiang Luoyue realized she fit into that category. Suddenly, she felt she could calmly accept whatever Ning Fuguang said next.

“So, why did you invite me?”

She tried to steady her breathing as she asked this question that suddenly no longer seemed important.

Ning Fuguang, however, seemed lost in thought for several seconds before softly saying, “Four years ago, you acted in a film about the sky.”

It was a road movie, where Jiang Luoyue played the younger version of the female lead. After her family member passed away, the protagonist inherited their wish and, amidst the chaos of her accident-ridden household, insisted on becoming a pilot. Ignored by her family, she stole money and ran away, traveling everywhere, only to learn that she wasn’t even old enough to qualify for an experimental flight.

Devastated and with her family tracking her down, she reluctantly gave up and returned home with them.

Before leaving, she watched an airplane circling the ground before disappearing into the sky and asked the woman beside her, “What does it feel like to fly?”

“Is it difficult? Is it high? Is it scary?”

But her family, worried about her for days, naturally didn’t answer such a trivial question. Instead, they spanked her, hoisted her under an arm, and dragged her to the bus station.

Jiang Luoyue’s role ended abruptly in that frame. In the next scene, the protagonist had grown up, played by another actress. She was caught up in the weariness of daily life until, while moving, she discovered a photo of herself at an aerospace base. Suddenly reminded of her youthful dreams, she contacted a few friends and embarked once more on the journey to attempt flight.

Even though Ning Fuguang had watched this film over a hundred times, he never saw the ending. After all, regardless of whether the protagonist succeeded in flying, the younger version of her never got what she wanted.

During that period, Ning Fuguang had just taken over the company, and everything was in chaos. The problems left behind by her deceased father were far more numerous and severe than she had imagined. Anxious and irritable, she took pleasure in sarcastic remarks, and the grudges held by both Fu Yunqing and Xiang Fan were remnants of that time. Even when she realized she might have offended these people, the thought of apologizing never crossed her mind.

She stumbled upon this movie by chance, solely because its cover resembled the notebook she once used. With the intention of killing time and expecting to watch another bad film, her plan came to an abrupt halt the moment she saw Jiang Luoyue.

Her eyes were clear, like those of a young lamb, timid yet beautiful. When she cried, it was almost silent, reminding Ning Fuguang of the image of her own mother shedding tears.

Naturally, Ning Fuguang became Jiang Luoyue’s fan and, in the same year, obtained her pilot’s license. Before taking the helicopter for a spin, she contacted Jiang Luoyue’s agency, hoping to take her along for a day of fun.

But the agency likely dismissed her as a troublesome fan they read the message but never replied.

Left with no choice, Ning Fuguang flew alone, snapping a few photos mid-flight and posting them on Weibo.

Initially, she had tagged the movie and even @-mentioned Jiang Luoyue, but the next day, feeling it might come across as “attention-seeking,” she deleted the post and republished it, leaving only a response to a line from the film:

“Not difficult, not high, not scary either.”

In the years that followed, Ning Fuguang remained busy building connections, consolidating her position and her only link to Jiang Luoyue remained that one movie.

Having seen Jiang Luoyue’s interviews, she knew the actress was introverted and sensitive, yet in the film, she played a spoiled, sharp-tongued young lady. The contrast always amused Ning Fuguang, so she treated the movie as comedic background noise, playing it whenever she had a moment to spare.

By the time Ning Fuguang thought to check in on Jiang Luoyue’s real-life situation, the actress was suddenly embroiled in a scandal accusing her of “lacking business integrity” and being difficult during negotiations.

Such moral accusations might work on ordinary people, but to Ning Fuguang, they were nothing short of a joke.

If a competitor ever labeled her with such a tag, she would laugh and graciously accept the “compliment.”

Ning Fuguang understood that the public outcry was merely an excuse to drag Jiang Luoyue down, not a genuine pursuit of justice. So, she decided to establish an entertainment company, intending to protect Jiang Luoyue herself rather than let her fall into the same traps at a major agency.

Unfortunately, the newly founded company had no one. Even when she tried to invite Jiang Luoyue to join, the actress politely declined. Left with no alternatives, Ning Fuguang conceived the idea of producing the drama Lingxi.

Who would have thought Jiang Luoyue would turn it down as well?

That day, feigning indifference as she flipped through a newspaper in the lobby, Ning Fuguang received the news and nearly laughed in frustration.

When the elevator doors opened and Jiang Luoyue stepped out, Ning Fuguang wanted to confront her directly and ask for a reason. But the moment their eyes met, she saw Jiang Luoyue suddenly burst into tears.

Large teardrops fell like broken pearls, and the instant Jiang Luoyue realized her embarrassment, she muttered an apology and turned to leave.

A car was waiting for her, its window slightly ajar. Through the gap, Ning Fuguang saw a young woman in the driver’s seat handing Jiang Luoyue a tissue.

The once delicate and timid lamb from her memory now seemed even more pitiable. Every time Ning Fuguang closed her eyes, she saw Jiang Luoyue’s tear-streaked face from that day.

One day, while watching that film again and reaching the scene where the young Jiang Luoyue was crying, Ning Fuguang found her thoughts still lingering on the adult Jiang Luoyue. She couldn’t help but wonder how much grievance Jiang Luoyue had endured, wanting to hold her, ask the reason, and resolve it. It was then that Ning Fuguang finally understood the source of her recent anxiety.

She had fallen for Jiang Luoyue.

Not because of the film she had watched for four years, but because of those dozen seconds when Jiang Luoyue had shed tears before her eyes.

She wanted to wipe away Jiang Luoyue’s tears, to make her smile forever, just like the protagonist in the movie who, despite being beaten up, eventually broke into a smile after eating an ice cream with three extra scoops.

Ning Fuguang sifted through her memories, editing out the parts that shouldn’t be mentioned (like how long it had taken her to muster the courage to knock on the car window and take Jiang Luoyue away). She tried to summarize the whole incident as briefly as possible.

Yet Jiang Luoyue remained silent for a long time.

At first, surprise surged in her eyes, as if she had something to say but held back. Gradually, her emotions settled, and she simply watched Ning Fuguang without a word.

Time seemed to stand still, each second stretched unnaturally long.

For the first time, under someone’s gaze, Ning Fuguang understood the meaning of “shame.”

Her fingers curled unconsciously as she whispered, “So, I”

She wanted to tell Jiang Luoyue that she was trustworthy.

No matter what Jiang Luoyue was thinking good or bad, obscure or even rebellious she could share it with her.

Ning Fuguang was willing to share those emotions and use her own strength to help resolve everything.

But Jiang Luoyue suddenly called out, “Ning Fuguang.”

Ning Fuguang froze, and the next moment, she was almost entirely enveloped in Jiang Luoyue’s embrace.

The paper bag in her hand became superfluous, crushed between them.

“Thank you,” Jiang Luoyue murmured, holding her tightly. The faint scent of lily of the valley grew more distinct with their closeness. Staring at the warm sunlight outside the window, she blinked, trying to keep her voice steady. “Even though you helped me a lot, and yet you didn’t really help at all ”

Ning Fuguang: “…” Was that a compliment? She wanted to laugh and ask but found herself speechless, only gently patting Jiang Luoyue’s back.

“You’re such a child.”

Ning Fuguang said it and thought it, as if Jiang Luoyue were still that gentle lamb from the movie, not even half as significant as the other characters. But as she was held in Jiang Luoyue’s arms, Ning Fuguang realized that despite her slender frame, Jiang Luoyue was surprisingly strong, and her embrace was warm.

Ning Fuguang couldn’t even remember the last time someone had held her so intimately. She seemed to have a touch of fastidiousness, keeping everyone at a distance. If such a moment had ever occurred before, it must have been in her early childhood, long before she could form memories.

Jiang Luoyue didn’t respond, and the whole world seemed to fall into silence along with her. Ning Fuguang suddenly noticed that it wasn’t just the sounds of children playing, there was also the clear chirping of sparrows outside the window. Everything intertwined with the ticking of the clock, perfectly overlapping with the rhythm of her heartbeat.

The embrace lingered, even tightening slightly. Just as Ning Fuguang felt a scalding teardrop fall on her neck and was about to speak in surprise and comfort, Ning Huan finally descending the stairs, widened her eyes and hurried down, holding up her live-streaming phone.

“Everyone! The first live scene of ‘Moonlight Embrace’! Keep liking the stream, keep the likes coming double-tap and don’t stop!!”