The Plan to Save the Villainess Supporting Actress [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 35

Day 4: Chasing a Girlfriend for My Wife

One week later.

When Nan Zhi woke up, Xi Zhenyi had already left.

Although she did not know what sudden whim had possessed Xi Zhenyi to move back home that day, the woman had not forced them to share a room. In fact, over a week of living together, the number of times they had actually met was countable on one hand.

In the morning, when Xi Zhenyi left for work, Nan Zhi was still asleep. In the evening, when Xi Zhenyi returned, Nan Zhi was already in bed. Since their schedules were so different and they rarely saw each other, Nan Zhi simply acted as if she were not there.

After meeting Chu Yue at the club last week, Nan Zhi had requested some time to prepare her portfolio for the application. Since the project there was not urgent, Chu Yue gave her a week. Today was the day of their scheduled meeting.

Nan Zhi had mentioned booking a salon appointment yesterday. After another round of deep skin and hair treatments, her skin looked hydrated and translucent today, even without makeup. She examined herself in the mirror with satisfaction, circling her slender fingers over the dressing table before selecting a few items.

Today’s style was professional, so the makeup remained clean and simple. However, since this was her first formal appearance, being too plain was not Nan Zhi’s style. She chose earth-toned eyeshadow, deepening the outer corners and creases, lightly traced an upward flick with eyeliner, and then gave her brow peaks a slight lift. Finally, she chose a velvet-matte vintage red lipstick.

Very good. Very powerful.

Her black hair was carefully curled into elegant waves, paired with a dark green velvet deep-V bodycon dress. The V-neckline featured ruffled arc-shaped tailoring and jewel-encrusted rhinestone buttons; she was the literal definition of a “Rich Flower of the Human World.”

Once ready, Nan Zhi had a quick breakfast and headed out. The “Little Pink” car from before had been towed away by Xi Zhenyi at some point, so Nan Zhi’s new favorite was the “Little Orange” in the garage.

Following the agreed time, Nan Zhi parked the car in the basement. As she drove into the underground parking lot, she spotted Chu Yue.

“Senior Sister, what a coincidence! Did you just arrive too?”

Nan Zhi parked the car and ran toward Chu Yue in her high heels.

“Slow down,” Chu Yue said with a chuckle, reaching out to steady her. “I have been here for a while, waiting for you.”

Waiting for her in the underground parking lot? The eldest daughter of the Chu family?

Nan Zhi blinked and immediately bowed slightly in a mock-apology. “This humble one is late. To think I kept Her Majesty waiting in the garage. Please, Your Majesty, show mercy and forgive me.”

Chu Yue burst into laughter. “Stop being cheeky. Come on, I will take you up to meet the team.”

She led Nan Zhi toward the executive elevator. As the elevator ascended, the numbers on the display flickered rapidly.

Nan Zhi asked curiously, “Is this elevator usually used by President Chu?”

The “President Chu” she referred to was the male lead of the original novel, the “Overbearing CEO” Chu Wen.

Chu Yue nodded. “Yes, my younger brother usually uses it. Since I have returned, I am just hitching a ride on his elevator. I am a President Chu myself, after all.”

Nan Zhi asked as if casually, “Does the Chu family only pressure you to marry? Do they not pressure President Chu? Or does he already have a partner?”

“As far as I know, he does not,” Chu Yue’s eyes flickered slightly as she looked at Nan Zhi teasingly. “Why? Have you taken an interest in my brother? My brother is not a good man; do not think about becoming my sister-in-law.”

Nan Zhi was shocked. “I am already married, alright? Senior Sister, what are you thinking?”

“Does that contract marriage of yours even count as being married?” Chu Yue laughed dismissively.

The two continued their banter, moving past the topic. As the elevator reached the 28th floor with a “ding,” Nan Zhi frowned slightly the moment Chu Yue turned away.

This meant Jiang Niannian had not appeared by Chu Wen’s side either. Strange. The time for the female lead’s debut had been delayed by several days. Jiang Niannian had not appeared near Xi Zhenyi, nor had she met Chu Wen. Could she still be working at her original small company?

Nan Zhi shook her head suspiciously. That should not be the case. Logically, even if it were not at the cemetery park, Jiang Niannian should have appeared near Xi Zhenyi or Chu Wen in another way to bridge the broken world line. Could it be that the fact she survived had such a massive impact on the timeline?

Before she could figure it out, Chu Yue led her to a conference room door.

“Are you ready?”

Nan Zhi looked up, her eyes bright. “Yes, I am ready.”

Chu Yue gazed at her for a few seconds before suddenly leaning in to give Nan Zhi a hug, gently patting her back. A sudden, unfamiliar perfume enveloped Nan Zhi entirely.

“Do not be afraid. Your Senior Sister is here; you have nothing to worry about.”

She actually was not that afraid. Seriously, she was riding the coattails of the CEO’s older sister. With such a blatant powerhouse backing her, who would dare trouble her in front of Chu Yue? Were they stupid? Still, having someone care for her was not a bad thing.

Nan Zhi smiled softly and hugged Chu Yue back. “Yes, thank you, Senior Sister!”

A phone vibrated. Xi Zhenyi immediately reached for it to check the message. The department manager, who was currently giving a report, habitually closed his mouth. The others in the room were long past being surprised.

Over the past week, President Xi had checked her messages countless times during meetings. Everyone had moved from shock to acceptance. The only thing that remained shocking was the source of the messages. According to the grapevine, President Xi had recently moved back to the wedding villa. Furthermore, one secretary from the office was always missing from their desk, having been sent by President Xi to tail her wife.

Everyone was bewildered. Could it be that after three years of marriage, President Xi had suddenly remembered this wife? Were they actually a real couple?

“Hey! Hey!” The Design Director poked the Marketing Manager next to him. “Look at this!”

The Marketing Manager looked down. A breaking news alert on the glowing phone screen immediately caught his eye.

[The rebellious heiress of the Nan Group, who married into wealth, appears after many years! She actually went to her partner’s rival company for a job interview! The wealthy family’s love-hate drama escalates again!]

The Wife? Where did she go? Bayuan? For a job interview!

The Marketing Manager’s mouth hung open in shock. The Design Director hid his hands under the table, swiped the screen, and clicked the news link.

One had to admit that the content and photography skills of current business tabloids were becoming impressive; one would think they were looking at entertainment news.

In the first photo, the eldest daughter of the Chu family, Chu Yue, stood alone in an underground garage, seemingly waiting for someone. Below the image, the reporter thoughtfully explained that President Chu Yue waited alone in the cold wind for the married Nan heiress for a full 20 minutes. Such patience!

Marketing Manager: “You write better than I do.”

Scrolling down, there was a GIF of the Wife getting out of a car and running toward President Chu, with Chu Yue reaching out to steady her. The caption read: “A meeting of Senior and Junior Sisters! A bond broken for three years reappears! Will they remember the old days in London?”

These reporters really dare to write anything!

Next was a photo of Chu Yue brushing dust off the Wife’s skirt, the two of them walking arm-in-arm toward the private elevator, and more.

“How did they take these? Did they follow them up?” the Marketing Manager whispered.

The background of the last photo was clearly inside the Bayuan Company. The angle was tricky, but it managed to capture the two of them embracing. One could vaguely see Chu Yue burying her head near the Wife’s neck, eyes half-closed with a tender expression.

The caption grew even bolder: “Is it an embrace of a long-awaited reunion? Or is it true love being suppressed under a wealthy contract marriage? The rebellious heiress, who disappeared for three years, returns with a vengeance!”

The Marketing Manager and Design Director exchanged a silent look, screaming in their hearts. As expected of a wealthy family full of grudges. So exciting! So dramatic!

Judging by the reporter’s captions, it clearly hinted that the Wife was cheating with the eldest Chu daughter. Not only were they childhood friends, but they had also studied abroad together. Chu Yue had once openly praised the Wife’s talent in front of the media. When the Wife eventually entered a marriage alliance with President Xi, the public had been thoroughly shocked.

Back then, rumors circulated that President Xi had snatched someone else’s love, which was why Chu Yue had left the country again only six months after returning. However, as the Wife and the Chu heiress faded from the public eye, those rumors vanished.

And now, the Chu heiress had just returned to the country last month. The Wife, silent for three years, suddenly reappeared. Old stories flooded back, creating an illusion of a lifetime passed.

“Are you enjoying yourselves?”

A cold female voice, seemingly suppressed with rage, rose slowly from the end of the conference table. The Marketing Manager and Design Director froze simultaneously, feeling a chill down their spines. They did not dare make a sound.

“You, tell me. What is so interesting?”

A fountain pen was slammed onto the table in front of the Marketing Manager. The pen snapped, and ink splattered everywhere. The manager did not dare move, letting the ink stain his shirt and face.

Xi Zhenyi let out a cold laugh and looked at the department manager who was still waiting to continue his report. “Continue.”

“Yes, President Xi. Continue?” The pitch of the last two words rose in disbelief. The project manager’s mouth moved faster than his brain; after the two notes echoed through the room, he realized what he had said and clamped his mouth shut.

Xi Zhenyi said coldly, “What? Is there a problem? Or can you not even understand human speech anymore? Do you want me to send you to a Chinese training class for further study?”

“No, no, President Xi. I am sorry.” The project manager raised a hand and wiped cold sweat from his forehead.

“Then continue!” Xi Zhenyi said through gritted teeth, emphasizing every word. “Do not waste my time.”

“I understand, President Xi. The goals for the third quarter are as follows.”

Voices rose again, and everyone immediately threw themselves into work, no one daring to look toward Xi Zhenyi. The oppressive atmosphere in the room made it hard for them to breathe. The demon was back.

However, no one noticed that after the project manager resumed his report, Xi Zhenyi’s eyes never focused on the projection screen. Ringing in her ears was that “Of course” she had overheard a week ago. The tone had been soft and sweet; even through a door, she could tell the speaker was relaxed and happy.

To Xi Zhenyi, every interaction between Nan Zhi and Chu Yue felt like flirting. But what about when she spoke to her? She either intentionally provoked her or called her “President Xi” with heavy irony. Why? Just because of some “Senior Sister”? They did not even go to the same school; what kind of “Sisters” were they? Ridiculous!

Furthermore, she had met Nan Zhi in London too. Why did no one say they were destined? And these photos. She actually hugged Chu Yue in public? Did she not know her own status?

Xi Zhenyi felt like her head was going to explode. The reports sounded like a monk’s incessant chanting, incredibly annoying. She reached her limit and stood up abruptly.

“Uh, President Xi?” The project manager asked cautiously, “Is there a problem with this project?”

Xi Zhenyi did not even give him a glance. “No need to report.”

“What?!” The project manager felt like his world was ending. This was unheard of; President Xi was telling him not to report.

“Make a written summary and send it to the secretary’s office.” After saying this, Xi Zhenyi strode out of the room.

The people left in the conference room looked at each other in silence. The Marketing Manager and Design Director collapsed into their chairs, feeling like they had escaped a disaster.

“Do you think President Xi is going to catch them in the act of cheating?”

Everyone thought that he was very brave.

“Beep, Beep.”

“I am sorry, the number you have dialed is currently unavailable. Please try again later.”

In the car, the screen went black and returned to the contact interface. Xi Zhenyi’s face was grim as she pressed the call button again. Nan Zhi had taken her off the blacklist, but what was the difference between not answering and being blocked?

The call went unanswered again. Xi Zhenyi thought for a moment, her gaze darkening. She scrolled down and selected Chu Yue. Do not answer. Please, do not answer.

Heavens did not grant her wish. This time, the call was connected quickly. On the other end, the woman’s voice, as smooth as a voice actress, rose calmly.

“President Xi? What a rare guest. Is something the matter?”

Before Xi Zhenyi could speak, another familiar voice rose from a distance. “Who is it? Xi Zhenyi?”

The voice was sweet, yet the tone grew colder when mentioning her name. Xi Zhenyi’s grip on the steering wheel tightened as she floored the gas pedal, causing the tires to screech.

Chu Yue’s voice sounded surprised. “Is President Xi driving? What is the hurry?”

The soft voice moved closer, seemingly leaning toward the phone’s owner. “Senior Sister, hang up. Who knows what whim she is on now.”

“Nan Zhi!” Xi Zhenyi reached her limit. “Get out of Bayuan!”

Nan Zhi was slightly surprised. “What? Why? More importantly, who do you think you are?”

Chu Yue also seemed displeased, her voice turning cold. “President Xi, I hope you show some respect to our guest at Bayuan.”

A guest at Bayuan? Ridiculous!

Xi Zhenyi slammed on the brakes, her body jerking forward from the momentum. “Nan Zhi, I will say it one more time. Get out of Bayuan. I am waiting for you downstairs. Come down; we need to talk.”

The other end went silent for a moment. Then, Nan Zhi’s voice returned. “You say you are downstairs at Bayuan?”

“I am.” Xi Zhenyi took a deep breath and looked up through the car window. The heavy glass reflected the sunlight brilliantly. Somewhere behind that glass, Nan Zhi was standing next to Chu Yue. Xi Zhenyi could not explain why she felt so restless.

Chu Yue seemed to be advising Nan Zhi: “Junior Sister, if it is difficult for you, you do not have to go down.”

“It is fine.” She heard Nan Zhi let out a soft laugh. Xi Zhenyi felt a wave of relief for no reason. “I will go down and meet her.”

Xi Zhenyi thought that it was fine. That works.

President Xi’s Diary: [Date], Sunny. My wife hugged Chu Yue. She has not hugged me yet. I am furious!

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