The Host Has Fallen for the Second Female Lead Again - Chapter 16

Ji Mingxiao felt a surge of irritation. “I know you mean well, but I’m an adult. I have my own considerations. If she finds someone she likes, I’ll let go.”

System A sighed inwardly. As expected, he wouldn’t stop until he hit a wall.

It was six in the morning by the time Ji Mingxiao returned to his room. On the sofa, Xi Ruan had nearly rolled off three times while she was asleep.

She was a light sleeper with a bad temper when woken up, so Ji Mingxiao didn’t dare move her back to the room.

However, as soon as he left, Xi Ruan rolled off the sofa again.

When she woke up, Xi Ruan found herself on the floor. Her back was sore, and her whole body ached as if she’d been beaten up. She stared at the ceiling in a daze, then crawled to her feet. It was already past twelve. Looking at the downstairs area, Ji Mingxiao was clearly still not up.

To have slept so late… She yawned and headed to the kitchen to warm up some food.

When Ji Mingxiao came downstairs, he was hit by a burnt smell. He immediately rushed down. “What are you doing?”

“I… was trying to warm up the food,” Xi Ruan said, feeling awkward as she stared at the charred, unrecognizable substance in the pot.

Ji Mingxiao rubbed his temples. “Wash the pot. I’ll do it.”

“Okay.”

Ji Mingxiao glanced at Xi Ruan, who seemed much more subdued after the embarrassing incident.

“Did you roll off the sofa later?”

Xi Ruan’s body stiffened.

“I was squatting next to you until six a.m. You almost rolled off three times last night.”

“Oh, thanks.”

“I told you to go back to the room yesterday, but you wouldn’t.”

Xi Ruan pouted. “I didn’t know I’d just fall asleep. If only I knew then what I know now.”

Ji Mingxiao decided not to push it. Any more, and she would probably get agitated.

After eating lunch, Xi Ruan helped Ji Mingxiao tidy up and then left. Before she did, she transferred five thousand yuan to him.

When Ji Mingxiao saw the transfer notification, he couldn’t help but laugh.

How afraid was she of being entangled with him?

The transfer note read, “Don’t pay me back, or I’ll be mad.”

Zhuo Xi returned on the third day of the Lunar New Year. The two were still on peaceful terms, but they absolutely did not share a bed.

Their communication had also dwindled.

Ji Mingxiao could only say one thing: “Thank goodness for my period.”

Zhuo Xi stayed for two days before leaving again. She was still busy with work during the holiday season.

Ji Mingxiao had to return to work on the eighth day of the New Year.

It was tough. As Ji Mingxiao walked into the company, she could sense the general weariness.

She just wanted to lie down in her office.

Jade Whistle was likely to air in the summer. She needed to do other things to slowly chip away at her public image.

Ji Mingxiao found that help arrived just when she needed it.

Zhuo Xi was on the hot search again.

The headline was: [Fang Qing and Zhuo Xi’s Late-Night Rendezvous]

Fang Qing, thirty-three years old, had won two Best Actor awards. He was a talented actor, but his career had stagnated in recent years. He had been in a relationship with a non-celebrity girlfriend for eight years. Everyone knew about her, and fans always wished them well, hoping they would get married soon.

Ji Mingxiao saw the hot search and knew it was most likely true.

She clicked on it and saw nine photos.

Taken at night, they showed a man and a woman standing behind a tree, appearing intimate. However, on closer inspection, there was no particularly close physical contact. With the dense tree shadows and both of them wearing hats, it was impossible to see their faces clearly.

Their identities were confirmed by the clothes they were wearing that day.

Neither of the two parties had responded yet.

Zhuo Xi called. Ji Mingxiao enabled the recording function before answering directly. “The person in the hot search is you, right?”

“Yes, but I didn’t do anything with Teacher Fang. We just said a few words.”

“Why did you have to go behind a tree and stand so close to each other to say just a few words, away from everyone?” Ji Mingxiao’s tone was flat but she spoke right after Zhuo Xi, giving off an air of pressure.

Zhuo Xi was silent for a few seconds. “You don’t trust me.”

“You’re using up my trust.”

“Explain it to me. If your explanation makes sense, I’ll believe you and help you get the hot search taken down. I don’t want to tell myself that you’re a cheater and a homewrecker.”

On the other end, Zhuo Xi gripped her phone, her expression strained. “They intentionally chose that angle for the shot. Teacher Fang and I weren’t standing close at all. We went there to talk because we were outside for a smoke. You’re not allowed to smoke indoors, and we were afraid of being photographed, so we hid behind the tree. I didn’t expect to still be caught.”

After saying this, Zhuo Xi gave a bitter laugh.

“You smoke?”

“Yes, I do sometimes when I’m under a lot of pressure. I was afraid you’d worry, so I never dared to tell you.” Zhuo Xi’s voice carried a feigned, fragile strength. “I’m sorry.”

“What kind of pressure are you under?”

“You’re too outstanding. I’m afraid I’m not good enough for you. You’ve given me so many great opportunities, but after three years, I’m still like this. I…” Zhuo Xi didn’t finish her sentence and started to cry quietly.

Ji Mingxiao rolled her eyes in frustration.

“If the entertainment industry is causing you so much pain, then just quit. I’ll take you abroad, and we can register our marriage.”

“No, I can’t be a burden to you. I can’t let people look down on you because of me.”

Ji Mingxiao couldn’t understand where Zhuo Xi had picked up so many cringeworthy lines.

If Fu Youzheng were here and heard these lines, she would probably feel sorry for her.

“I’ll get someone to suppress the hot search for you.”

Ji Mingxiao hung up after saying that, not giving Zhuo Xi a chance to say anything else. The hot search was taken down quickly.

Both Zhuo Xi and Fang Qing issued very official responses and condemned the marketing accounts for spreading falsehoods.

Most people trusted Fang Qing’s character, and since Zhuo Xi’s style didn’t match his, the matter blew over.

After angering Ji Mingxiao, Zhuo Xi started sending her daily love notes, copied from some relationship blogger.

Wu Duo helped Xi Ruan get a role in a web drama. She was the eighteenth female lead, with very few scenes, but the character was likable and could make a striking impression on the audience.

Zhuo Xi was displeased with Wu Duo’s actions, but she had just stirred up a hornet’s nest and didn’t dare to complain to Ji Mingxiao. Seeing that Glorious Entertainment didn’t seem to have plans to promote Xi Ruan, she didn’t interfere.

She had always looked down on web dramas.

When Ji Mingxiao and Zhuo Xi met again, it had been two months since the secret photo incident.

During this time, Ji Mingxiao had only called Zhuo Xi twice on her own accord.

This time, Zhuo Xi brought a gift for Ji Mingxiao.

In her three-year relationship with Zhuo Xi, Fu Youzheng had bought her most of the gifts. Zhuo Xi rarely bought anything for her, and the total could be counted on one hand.

“This is a local specialty I bought when I was in D City,” Zhuo Xi said, pushing the box toward her. “I remember you like savory things.”

Ji Mingxiao stared at her, saying nothing.

The smile on Zhuo Xi’s face was about to freeze. “You don’t trust me anymore.”

“To earn back my trust, you need to show me with your actions that I should believe you,” Ji Mingxiao said, imitating a CEO from a romance novel, gripping Zhuo Xi’s chin. “Now, look into my eyes and tell me you’ve never done anything to betray me.”

Support The Host Has Fallen for the Second Female Lead Again