I Swear I Don’t Want to Be Everyone’s Favorite - Chapter 65

Ning Fuguang had proposed spending the day as a couple, and by the afternoon, the two were indeed wandering around, following an online list of “must-visit spots for couples.”

Their first stop was a newly opened couples’ restaurant. They stared at the food questionable even for a pig’s standards for a few seconds. One took a photo as if she had eaten it, while the other wrote a two-hundred-word scathing review.

After reluctantly finishing the meal out of principle against wasting food, they stepped outside and were immediately drawn to the “buy one, get two free” couples’ instant photo booth across the street.

Looking down the road, the entire street was couple-themed.

The weekend crowd was dense, with lovebirds holding hands, some even openly affectionate, making the two, who were dressed inconspicuously, stand out even more.

“Want to take photos?” Jiang Luoyue didn’t really care. Though it was marketed as a couples’ photo booth, even a girl holding a rabbit could take pictures there. The gimmick didn’t bother her.

But Ning Fuguang beside her seemed intrigued. Hearing the question, the woman raised an eyebrow slightly. “We’ve never taken a photo together, have we?”

Jiang Luoyue didn’t find it particularly unusual. After all, even she and Yu Qing, despite their closeness, had never

Before she could finish the thought, Ning Fuguang cut in, “But you have one with Xiang Fan.”

Jiang Luoyue: “…”

Just as she was about to retort, Ning Fuguang pulled up the official wrap-up post from the “Yin Hun” crew. Sure enough, among the eighteen photos, the centerpiece was a picture of Jiang Luoyue and Xiang Fan.

Jiang Luoyue was speechless. “It’s just one photo.”

Ning Fuguang countered, “And you won’t even take one with me?”

Her gaze lingered on Jiang Luoyue’s cheek, and Jiang Luoyue seemed to recall the warmth of a light kiss there. She took a deep breath and strode forward. “Not one, three.”

Ning Fuguang followed with a smile.

In front of the self-service machine, they didn’t have to worry about being recognized. Removing their disguises, Ning Fuguang wrapped an arm around Jiang Luoyue’s waist.

Jiang Luoyue: “Xiang Fan didn’t pose like this.”

Ning Fuguang replied matter-of-factly, “This is how couple photos are taken.”

Jiang Luoyue knew that if she didn’t satisfy Ning Fuguang, the woman would only make more demands. Though she had every right to refuse, Ning Fuguang had just bared her heart not long ago. Remembering all that had happened, Jiang Luoyue took another deep breath and endured it, allowing Ning Fuguang to press closer, cheek to cheek, or even pose with heart-shaped hands.

When the photos printed out, Jiang Luoyue stared silently at the picture that only captured them from the collarbone up.

Ning Fuguang, however, was unbothered. Smiling, she said, “Miscalculated the framing. Want to retake? I won’t hold your waist this time.”

Jiang Luoyue ignored her, arms crossed as she watched. Ning Fuguang didn’t mind. She took out her phone, adjusted the angle repeatedly, and snapped a photo of their cheeks pressed together.

In the picture, Jiang Luoyue clearly looked reluctant, yet her gaze remained fixed on the lens.

Ning Fuguang, on the other hand, appeared much more radiant, her eyes bright and youthful, the playful gesture making her seem even more vibrant.

This one actually turned out quite well.

Suppressing a sigh, Jiang Luoyue refrained from imitating Ning Fuguang and instead asked, “Are you going to post this on Weibo?”

She didn’t mind the other person sharing photos, but she was afraid that netizens might recognize the location and end up surrounding them offline, making it difficult to escape.

Ning Fuguang raised an eyebrow. “No. Why should I share our first photo together with them?”

Although she was speechless at his reasoning, Jiang Luoyue was quite satisfied that Ning Fuguang intended to keep the photo tucked away.

However, this satisfaction lasted less than half a second before she saw Ning Fuguang open WeChat and replace the default avatar he had been using since registering with their photo together.

Jiang Luoyue swallowed hard. “I thought you weren’t going to share it?”

Ning Fuguang argued confidently, “This isn’t for them. It’s just to make sure I can see it every day.”

Jiang Luoyue: “…”

When they left the mall and headed to their next destination, Jiang Luoyue opened a livestream out of boredom. Little did she expect that after casually answering a few questions about their destination, a crowd of fans would already be waiting for them when they arrived.

As soon as the two appeared, the previously quiet crowd erupted into inexplicable screams,

Fortunately, it was a scenic area, and both tourists and staff were accustomed to suddenly excitable groups of passersby. Not only did no one reprimand them, but a few staff members were even dispatched to maintain order.

Thus, Ning Fuguang’s planned “visit to the Aegean Sea” was rewritten into “listening to the distant waves of the Aegean Sea while helping Jiang Luoyue collect letters.”

Despite the drastic change, Ning Fuguang didn’t mind. Just being by Jiang Luoyue’s side, watching her interact softly with her fans, filled him with a serene sense of peace.

And every time Jiang Luoyue was surprised or moved by something a fan said and instinctively looked up at him, that peace transformed into delight and a secret sense of pride.

So what if these fans had spent more time with Jiang Luoyue recently?

Ning Fuguang had known Jiang Luoyue for four years, silently supporting her all along, and was even one of her favorite “fans.”

There was no reason he should feel inferior to these people just because of missed opportunities.

More importantly, every fan he saw today would remember that, at this moment when they met Jiang Luoyue in person, Ning Fuguang was the one standing by her side.

Ning Fuguang managed to cheer himself up, and even standing by her side like a punishment felt sweet. It wasn’t until Jiang Luoyue signed autographs for the fans, her pen flying across the paper with practiced ease, that he frowned slightly.

In his memory, Jiang Luoyue’s handwriting wasn’t like this it was more elegant and neat, just like her.

Handwriting is hard to change, and a celebrity’s signature is usually very consistent.

The doubt flickered through Ning Fuguang’s mind, but Jiang Luoyue noticed this small episode and subtly altered her handwriting for the next signature. Habits from her past life were hard to break in such a short time.

There weren’t many fans on-site, and it was all resolved in just over ten minutes.

But news spread quickly from person to person, and in the end, the two never got to see the “S City version of the Aegean Sea.” They got into the car, and Ning Fuguang abandoned the carefully researched itinerary he had prepared for days, opting instead to wander aimlessly.

During this time, Jiang Luoyue remembered her mission to buy a gift for Yu Jingtang and suggested a bead art shop as their final stop.

After two hours of effort, as the sun began to set, Ning Fuguang finally completed a chibi version of Jiang Luoyue.

Jiang Luoyue, clutching the bead art meant for Yu Jingtang, had never expected Ning Fuguang to suddenly receive a gift and was momentarily speechless.

Ning Fuguang, however, seemed to have long understood her intention. Not only was she unbothered, but she leisurely remarked, “Then I’ll trouble Luoyue to make something for me now.”

Jiang Luoyue wanted her to choose for herself, but Ning Fuguang said, “It’s you giving it to me, not me forcing you to give it to me.” Her tone was calm, yet her words carried a hint of sarcasm.

But after being subjected to such sarcasm for so long, Jiang Luoyue was surprised to find herself gradually growing immune to it. After all, despite the sharp tongue, Ning Fuguang wasn’t truly angry she just never held back with her words.

That was all.

Among the available templates, Jiang Luoyue eventually chose a snake. Ning Fuguang didn’t ask why, nor did she say whether she liked it or not, but she seemed quite pleased and even helped craft the snake’s tongue herself.

Once it was finished, she immediately hung the bead art beneath her phone case.

“It’s very cute,” Ning Fuguang said softly amidst the bustling crowd, tentatively taking Jiang Luoyue’s hand. Seeing no resistance, she smiled and whispered, “I really like it.”

Even though she knew the word “like” might carry ambiguous undertones, under the other’s gentle gaze, Jiang Luoyue could only reply, “As long as you like it.”

It wasn’t until they got into the car that Ning Fuguang said with a light laugh, “I thought you’d pick something easier to make for me.”

“Are you saying the snake was a lazy choice?”

A brief silence filled the car before Ning Fuguang drawled, “Whether it’s lazy or not depends on what you compare it to.”

Jiang Luoyue chuckled in exasperation. “Didn’t you just say you liked it? Besides, it resembles you, it’s not lazy.”

“How so?” Jiang Luoyue thought seriously. “You’re like a snake you enjoy coiling tightly around people.”

But Ning Fuguang was far more patient than a snake. She was in no hurry to devour her prey in one bite; instead, she preferred to torment it repeatedly. Perhaps only when she lost interest would she finally consume it. Or perhaps her interest was endless, so the so-called prey changed its name and became a lover.

Jiang Luoyue kept these somewhat intrusive thoughts to herself, but Ning Fuguang seemed to guess them anyway, asking with a smile, “Then, have I coiled tightly around you?”

Jiang Luoyue was taken aback, about to analyze the intent behind the question, but Ning Fuguang had already cheerfully answered herself, “If I have, I’m delighted. If not, I’ll make sure you feel my sincerity even more strongly from now on.”

Silence returned to the car.

Several minutes later, Jiang Luoyue attempted to retaliate, “Actually, I chose the snake not because it resembles you, but because its colors are mostly the same, it saved me the trouble of picking colors.”

Ning Fuguang nodded. “Luoyue is very clever, always finding ways to save time.”

Jiang Luoyue: “Are you being sarcastic?”

“Just giving a compliment.”

“I’m serious.”

“I never said Luoyue was lying to me.”

Jiang Luoyue was not only someone who went with the flow but also someone who knew when to retreat and felt no shame in it.

Seeing she couldn’t win the argument, she simply closed her eyes, deciding to regain some energy through feigned sleep and resume the battle later.

Jiang Luoyue had thought the bumpy ride would keep her from dozing off. But at some point, the car slowed down, and the temperature inside rose as the windows were rolled up.

In the quiet, warm atmosphere, the familiar scent of lily of the valley grew faint, and before she knew it, she had truly fallen asleep.

By the time Jiang Luoyue opened her eyes again, the car was already parked outside the villa.

Ning Fuguang’s phone was lit, casting a glow on the snake-shaped bead art as he stared at it with a heavy gaze, lost in thought.

The city’s neon lights dazzled brilliantly, and the sudden return of warmth made the breeze blowing into the car feel unusually hot.

Jiang Luoyue, having just woken up, felt both thirsty and slightly dizzy.

After staring at the dimly lit figure for a long while, she suddenly said, “Actually, this one isn’t that well made. If there’s a chance, I could make you one you’d actually like.”

“Awake?” Ning Fuguang wasn’t surprised, but asked, “When exactly is ‘if there’s a chance’? An invitation without a specific time is just a polite brush-off.”

Jiang Luoyue: “Let’s see how my schedule works out. I’m not sure yet.”

Though it was the truth, Ning Fuguang sighed. “Luoyue is a big star, with a packed schedule and no time to spare.”

Jiang Luoyue decided to mirror her tactic of feigning retreat: “If you don’t want to, then forget it.”

“How could I not?” Ning Fuguang raised an eyebrow. “I’ve always wanted to spend time with you, Luoyue.”

Jiang Luoyue: “…”

She had expected Ning Fuguang to bicker with her over this, but instead, the other woman conceded so easily that it felt almost unbelievable.

Ning Fuguang admitted frankly, “I’m not the type to push my luck.”

Jiang Luoyue was puzzled: Wasn’t that phrase practically tailor-made for Ning Fuguang?

Before she could voice her thoughts, Ning Fuguang abruptly changed the subject. “You’ve met up with Fu Yunqing and the others privately, haven’t you?”

Though phrased as a question, it sounded more like a statement. Ning Fuguang lowered her eyes. “I’m the only one you haven’t invited. I thought I might have accidentally deleted you, which is why I never received an invitation from you.”

Her tone carried a hint of melancholy and inexplicable grievance. Hearing her speak like this was rare, and even Jiang Luoyue, who hadn’t thought she’d done anything wrong, felt a sudden pang of guilt.

It took several seconds for her to regain her composure. She took a deep breath. “When did I ever invite them?”

Whether it was Fu Yunqing or Yu Jingtang, they had all shown up uninvited she hadn’t had any chance to refuse,

But Ning Fuguang let out a soft sigh and countered, “Then why is it that the only one who never pressured you still can’t get an invitation? Do you really dislike me that much?”

Jiang Luoyue: “…”

Jiang Luoyue was left speechless.

She felt that Ning Fuguang’s ability to twist logic had reached its peak, with no room for further improvement. After a long pause, she gritted her teeth and managed to say, “It just occurred to me my schedule really is packed lately. I probably won’t have time to invite President Ning out for at least the next few months.”

Ning Fuguang, however, remained unperturbed and unfazed.

“It’s fine, I understand.”

“A few months won’t work? How about half a year? A year?”

“After all, Luoyue, you know better than anyone, what I’m best at is waiting.”

From four years ago until now, from the beginning of the show to its impending conclusion.

Ning Fuguang was most skilled at waiting especially when it came to waiting for Jiang Luoyue.

Jiang Luoyue fell completely silent, clenching her fists tightly, the tips of her ears flushed red.

She wanted to argue but couldn’t find the words.

She was unwilling to admit it, yet she had to concede: if there were a biological hierarchy among people, Ning Fuguang would undoubtedly be above her.

Watching her flustered and annoyed expression, the smile in Ning Fuguang’s eyes deepened, but she didn’t press her advantage further.

Jiang Luoyue’s name meant “moon,” yet she wasn’t distant. Instead, she was like a free-flying kite.

The tighter you pulled, the more likely she was to fall. Only by letting her go, allowing her to soar freely, could you reel her back, no matter how far she drifted.

But there was one more thing Ning Fuguang hadn’t said. So, after letting Jiang Luoyue rest for a few minutes, she spoke again: “Agreeing to your invitation wasn’t because I thought the gift was bad.”

Jiang Luoyue couldn’t guess what she was about to say and instinctively tried to stop her: “Ning Fuguang”

Ning Fuguang nodded, acknowledging her call, then chuckled softly and said, word by word: “It’s just because I still want to see you.”

“Outside of the variety show, in the real life of Jiang Luoyue.”