My Virtual Wife From my Phone Has Come to See Me - Chapter 30

Chapter 30: “You Become a Star, and I’ll Be Your Designer.”

A week later, on Saturday, Xia Ruoxin drove Qi Ying to Shi Yu’s birthday banquet.

The party was held at Shi Yu’s home. The two of them thought they were arriving early—having come straight from closing the shop—but they were surprised to find the villa district and the courtyard already teeming with people.

Women wore elegant gowns, men were in formal suits, and even the domestic staff standing at the entrance were dressed with extreme formality.

Xia Ruoxin looked at her and Qi Ying’s casual attire and sighed. “I told you we should have dressed up. Looking like this, people will think we’re here to collect the trash.”

Qi Ying looked down at her jeans and frowned. “Maybe we should just drop off the gift and leave.”

Xia Ruoxin grinned mischievously. “You think you can get away that easily?”

Qi Ying gave her a look.

“A-Ying!”

Shi Yu’s voice rang out from the courtyard. They looked up to see Shi Yu appearing before the crowd, wearing the birthday gown Qi Ying had designed. The champagne-colored fabric complemented her rosy complexion; her waist was cinched tight, and the oversized bow looked elegant rather than out of place. With her exquisite makeup and hair, she looked breathtakingly beautiful.

The guests’ gazes shifted toward her, captivated by the beautiful young heiress.

Shi Yu gathered her skirt, descended the steps, and walked straight to Qi Ying.

“You’re here,” Shi Yu said with a smile. “I thought you were going to stand me up today.”

Qi Ying looked at her and said calmly, “There was some traffic, so we’re a bit late. This is your gift. Happy birthday.”

Xia Ruoxin take the hint and handed over the bag.

However, Shi Yu didn’t even glance at Xia Ruoxin. She grabbed Qi Ying’s hand and said excitedly, “It’s your first time at my house, A-Ying. Let me show you around!”

Before Qi Ying could react, she was dragged away. Xia Ruoxin was left standing there holding the bag, awkwardly raising and then lowering her hand before rubbing her nose and slinking into the villa.

Shi Yu’s home was truly massive—a three-story villa with a huge courtyard. Even outdoors, five air conditioning units were blasting cold air toward the guests to ensure no one in a heavy gown felt the heat.

Inside, the first floor featured a grand staircase that looked like a fashion runway. The living room was opulent; beyond the buffet, a pianist was playing live. The melody and atmosphere were all new to Qi Ying; she had never seen such a spectacle.

Shi Yu could see Qi Ying was impressed. Holding her wrist, she whispered in her ear, “Want to come up to my room for a moment?”

Qi Ying shot her a wary look.

Shi Yu laughed. “Don’t get the wrong idea. I want to show you my walk-in closet. I have so many gowns designed by other people, and I feel like my styling today isn’t quite right. I want your expert opinion.”

Entering a girl’s bedroom was one thing, but entering Shi Yu’s was another entirely.

Qi Ying pulled her hand free and took a step back. “Miss Shi is beautiful enough today. I don’t think you need my advice.”

Shi Yu looked upset by the distance. She reached out to grab Qi Ying again, but Qi Ying dodged once more.

Shi Yu’s face turned red with frustration as she stared at Qi Ying with a resentful pout.

Qi Ying cleared her throat. “I’m going to go find Ruoxin. Your house is so big, I don’t want to get lost.”

Shi Yu stomped her foot and cried out “A-Ying!”, but Qi Ying turned and hurried away. Shi Yu wanted to chase her, but other guests approached to greet her, forcing her to stay and play the polite hostess while watching Qi Ying escape.

Exiting the hall, Qi Ying found Xia Ruoxin at the outdoor buffet.

She walked over with a stern face. “Aren’t you also from a rich family? Why are you acting like you’ve never seen food before?”

Xia Ruoxin jumped, startled by Qi Ying’s sudden appearance. She offered her a plate. “Try this. This roast squab is amazing. I want to know which shop made it so I can buy some.”

Qi Ying didn’t take it; she sat down on a nearby bench.

Xia Ruoxin quickly grabbed a few more items and floated over to sit beside her. “Look at this,” she sighed between bites. “The courtyard, the house… if you just agreed to date her, you wouldn’t have to work another day in your life!”

Qi Ying rolled her eyes. “If you want this ‘blessing,’ you take it.”

Xia Ruoxin burst out laughing and stuffed two pieces of cake into her mouth.

The party continued. Shi Yu was tied up with social duties and didn’t find Qi Ying again until the main ceremony began at 7:00 PM.

The staff invited all guests into the main hall. Qi Ying and Xia Ruoxin went in late, standing at the very back of the crowd.

To the sound of piano and violin, Shi Yu appeared at the top of the stairs in her champagne gown. Beside her was a middle-aged woman in a qipao; they looked remarkably alike, clearly mother and daughter.

Shi Yu scanned the crowd and immediately spotted Qi Ying. She flashed a small smile and began her slow descent down the stairs with her mother.

Thunderous applause broke out, and Qi Ying joined in.

Shi Yu held her skirt elegantly, standing at the high point like a goddess looking down on her subjects. She looked confident and radiant, unfazed by the hundreds of eyes on her.

Tonight, she was the star.

Qi Ying was stunned by the scene. Looking at Shi Yu, she suddenly thought of Xing Xiaochu. If Xiaochu wore a gown I designed and stood there, how beautiful would she be?

That shy, sensitive girl who was afraid to speak—what if one day she could shine like Shi Yu? Wearing clothes Qi Ying designed, receiving the admiration of a crowd.

How beautiful would Xiaochu be then?

The thought made Qi Ying’s heart race. She stared at Shi Yu, but in her mind, she replaced her with Xiaochu. She imagined the timid girl giving her a gentle smile, gathering her skirts, and walking toward her step by step.

Xia Ruoxin remarked, “The clothes you design are truly amazing. We should use this as an ad; we could get so many orders, don’t you think?”

But when Xia Ruoxin turned her head, Qi Ying was gone.

…

Logging into the game, Qi Ying’s heart was still pounding.

She looked at the door of her home, took several deep breaths, and unlocked it.

Upon entering, she saw Guazi playing with a cloth fish on the sofa. The kitten meowed excitedly but hesitated at the edge of the sofa, unsure if it was too high to jump.

Hearing the noise, Xing Xiaochu came out of the kitchen. She was holding a spatula and wearing a brown ruffled apron. Her dark eyes widened in disbelief. “Sister? You said you had something to do tonight and weren’t coming home?”

Qi Ying strode over and, ignoring the spatula, pulled Xiaochu into a tight hug.

Startled, Xiaochu held the spatula high in the air. “Sister, what’s wrong?”

“I’m fine.” Qi Ying let go and held Xiaochu’s shoulders. Her eyes were sparkling with excitement. “Xiaochu, you should become a star!”

Xiaochu: “!!!”

Qi Ying cupped the girl’s face, looking at her features that were stunning even without a drop of makeup. “You become a star,” she said with total conviction, “and I’ll be your designer.”

…

Back at the villa, the empty living room was still brightly lit, but the noisy crowd had vanished, leaving behind a mess.

Shi Yu sat on the stairs in her beautiful gown, clutching a bottle of red wine and a glass, drinking without any regard for her image.

Earlier tonight, when she walked down those stairs, she had seen Qi Ying’s eyes lighting up as she watched her. Shi Yu had been so happy, her heart leaping with a shy smile. She thought Qi Ying had finally fallen for her.

After all, who wouldn’t like a beautiful, wealthy girl who was devoted to them?

But she never expected that in the very next second, Qi Ying would turn and bolt out of the room, disappearing around the corner.

Shi Yu had been distracted for the rest of her own party, barely hearing the speeches. Her mind kept replaying the scene of Qi Ying seeing her at her most brilliant and then running away.

It was too much for her pride!

Shi Yu tilted her head back, took a large gulp of wine, and started to wail.

She had been a princess since she was a child. This was her first time liking someone, and she couldn’t believe they would be so disrespectful as to just leave!

“Qi Ying, you’re a bastard!” Shi Yu sobbed. “You scumbag!”

“And I wanted to introduce you at the party… you were clearly staring at me, so why did you run!”

“What about me isn’t good enough for you! I’m rich, I’m pretty, I pursue you so hard, and you give me zero face!”

“Qi Ying, you bastard! If I ever like you again, I’m a dog!”

Xia Ruoxin walked into the hall and heard Shi Yu cursing her friend from a distance. She scratched her ear awkwardly as she approached the girl sitting cross-legged on the stairs with her wine.

Sensing someone’s presence, Shi Yu looked up through teary eyes. Seeing it was Xia Ruoxin, she looked away with zero interest.

Xia Ruoxin set a bag down beside her. “Happy birthday, Miss Shi. Here’s your gift. Take it or toss it, I know you aren’t short of things. I’ll head out now.”

“Wait.”

Shi Yu stopped her, her voice slurred. “Don’t go. Come here. Help me curse Qi Ying.”

Xia Ruoxin hesitated. “Is that a good idea? She is my friend.”

Shi Yu said, “I’ll pay you.”

Xia Ruoxin immediately sat down next to her. “How would you like me to curse her?”

Shi Yu handed her the wine. “Drink with me. 100,000 for one bottle, 200,000 for two. If you can drink five, I’ll give you a million.”

So generous?

Xia Ruoxin wasn’t short on money, but no one turns down a million. Besides, she felt bad for the girl—it was her birthday and she’d just been heart-broken. Her sympathy took over. She took the wine. “Fine. I’ll drink with you.”

The next morning, when Xia Ruoxin woke up staring at an unfamiliar ceiling and the person lying next to her, she realized that one really shouldn’t drink that much.