The Second Fall - Chapter 15

Chapter 15: She Gave Too Much

Lan Cixing held down on the message she had just sent, waiting anxiously for An Yu’s reply. If there was no response within a minute, she planned to withdraw it.

Lan Cixing rarely complained to others. Aside from the potential danger of such things, allowing someone into her heart meant bearing the weight of emotional insecurity and the pain of potential betrayal. Rather than seeking comfort, Lan Cixing needed a method to solve the problem so she could dispose of whatever was troubling her.

But this matter involved Rong Yushu. She couldn’t ask Rong Yushu directly, and she couldn’t understand Rong Yushu’s thoughts regardless of how she tried. A whole afternoon of being nearly ignored, followed by an unlimited black card.

Lan Cixing sighed. She had actually reached the point where she had to seek solace from a stranger. The last person who had listened to her complaints was Rong Yushu.

Forget it.

Lan Cixing’s gaze darkened, and she clicked “Withdraw.”

However, An Yu’s message flashed out at that exact moment, popping up right in Lan Cixing’s palm. Her palm stung from the notification; she hurriedly closed the screen, took a deep breath, and then opened it.

“Are you working? I knew you didn’t look like a student.” An Yu’s message was very casual. It didn’t even directly address the main topic Lan Cixing wanted to discuss. Paradoxically, this made Lan Cixing relax.

“I guess. If you’re not the boss, aren’t you working no matter what you do?” Lan Cixing adjusted her mindset, trying to speak to An Yu as normally as possible. In this moment, An Yu wasn’t the scum Alpha who bullied her sister in a dream or an object of revenge; she was just a hollow tree she could talk into. They would never meet in reality, and they didn’t know each other. This was good.

“Actually, bosses occasionally work for others too. There’s always a bigger capital player.”

An Yu’s casual remark reminded Lan Cixing that they weren’t in the same social class. Suddenly, Lan Cixing felt like she didn’t want to talk anymore. Even if she was a hollow tree, An Yu was a museum-grade tree hollow cast from gold-edged, diamond-studded Phoebe zhennan wood. Meanwhile, Lan Cixing was just an ordinary worker struggling to save up medical fees for her family; if she went a while without an order, she’d be living hand-to-mouth.

“What kind of card is it? Describe it to me?” An Yu didn’t notice Lan Cixing’s silence, acting as if she were seriously considering the question.

Lan Cixing pursed her lips. Aside from a few top families in the Beijing circle, no one had the power to get this black card. If she spoke of it, Rong Yushu’s identity would be easily exposed.

“Just the kind I can swipe, I haven’t checked the limit yet”, Lan Cixing glossed over it vaguely.

An Yu sent an emoji.

Lan Cixing glanced at the name of the emoji: Contempt.

“…” Fine, fine, just treat me like a bumpkin who’s never seen big money.

“That little bit of money is boring.” However, An Yu simply assumed the card was a common low-limit gold card given by a domineering CEO to a subordinate. “Why work? Just come play with me. I haven’t gained any rank today, and the season is ending.”

As she spoke, the sound of a transfer notification pierced the silence. Lan Cixing’s phone nearly flew out of her hand; by the time she steadied it, the transfer had already been automatically opened.

This time, it was also 52,000 yuan.

Lan Cixing gasped. For a split second, she was actually tempted by An Yu’s suggestion. She had chatted with An Yu for so long and knew her temperament. Her emotions were stable, and she was gentle, humorous, and easy to talk to. All she had to do was play games and chat; Lan Cixing had the skills, An Yu had a nice voice, and she even provided emotional value.

Earning 50,000 yuan a day easily—besides being a star, what other job could pay this much?

Of course, being a bodyguard for Rong Yushu did pay this much, but Rong Yushu’s temper was too eccentric. Lan Cixing felt uneasy just walking beside her.

Lan Cixing was torn. Although this was her sister’s online dating interest—a profligate, flirtatious second-generation scum Alpha who, in the novel’s timeline, bullied and killed her sister—but, but she really gave too much!

Lan Cixing put down her phone. This matter couldn’t be rushed. Once the floodgates of self-degradation were opened, they couldn’t be closed.

Lan Cixing turned on the lights and went to the living room, where she saw a suspicious shadow. Without thinking, she slapped the shadow on the head.

“Ow—!” Lan Baian’s scream echoed through the building once again.

“Sister! What are you doing? Are you trying to murder your own sister!” Lan Baian clutched her head, feeling as if a large bump was forming. With tears in her eyes, she looked at Lan Cixing with resentment and couldn’t resist kicking her.

“…I thought a thief had broken in.” Lan Cixing’s hand paused as she hurried to comfort her poor sister. “Why didn’t you turn on the lights when you came back? Creeping around like that.” It wasn’t really her fault for misjudging, was it?

Lan Cixing comforted Lan Baian for a moment, having no choice but to treat that slap as a “lesson.”

“You didn’t turn on the lights when you came back either. I thought no one was home…” She had wanted to steal her sister’s tablet to play games.

Lan Baian groggily leaned against Lan Cixing, only to be held in place.

“You’re a grown girl now, pay attention to boundaries.” Lan Cixing righteously rejected Lan Baian’s attempt at acting spoiled.

“…I can’t even hug you anymore?” Lan Baian’s head was still throbbing, and being rejected made her angrier, so she simply bit Lan Cixing.

“Truly a dog personality,” Lan Cixing sighed, patting Lan Baian’s head.

Lan Baian made a face at her. “How was the blind date, Sister? Did Auntie find you a pretty sister?”

Lan Cixing’s fist tightened; she almost gave Lan Baian another slap. “So it was you who told Auntie to find me a blind date, huh?”

“Uh…” Sensing danger, Lan Baian took a step back, preparing to flee.

“Come back, didn’t you want to hug your sister?” Lan Cixing grabbed Lan Baian’s collar.

“Wait, wait! I—I know I was wrong! I didn’t say I wanted you to go on a blind date, I just said you wanted to date someone…” Unable to struggle free, Lan Baian quickly slid into a kowtow position to beg for mercy.

“Is there a difference? Do you know who I met?”

Lan Baian began to sweat profusely. “Who… who?” Surely not Rong Yushu. Aside from that Omega, everyone else should be okay…?

“Sheng Yuexiao. The one who shot my magazine covers.” Lan Cixing let go, feeling utterly helpless. “She said it wouldn’t be someone from the industry… I really don’t want to have any more entanglements with them. Now look, I owe someone a meal and a gift.” It was money again. Lan Cixing felt like rushing back to accept An Yu’s 52,000 yuan right now.

“Sister, we really need to talk to Auntie about this. Breaking her word—she deserves a scolding.” Knowing she couldn’t escape, Lan Baian sat down obediently in front of Lan Cixing, firmly taking her side and shouting slogans for her.

“I knew I couldn’t count on you. Go rest. Get up early tomorrow morning; I’ll cook noodles for you.”

Lan Cixing had finished her scolding, her emotions had calmed, and she let Lan Baian go. Lan Baian clutched her head and scurried to her room, not forgetting to think things over as she slipped away. She had smelled that suspected Omega scent on Lan Cixing again today. It was definitely the same one as yesterday. Her sister said she met Sheng Yuexiao, so why was the scent still the same? Something was fishy. She was going to snitch to Auntie!

Back in her room, Lan Cixing decided to return the black card to Rong Yushu tomorrow. Since she wouldn’t need to vent to An Yu anymore, she didn’t accept An Yu’s transfer and clicked “Return.”

“I’m treating you like a body double, yet you still give me money to play with you?” The sentence was a bit cold and blunt. Combined with the act of returning the money, anyone else—even if it weren’t an online romance—would have started a breakup fight.

But An Yu replied instantly.

“A body double is fine too, as long as it’s you.”

Lan Cixing didn’t understand. It was just an online relationship; was An Yu really this devoted? Or did she actually say this to ten other netizens behind her back?

“What exactly do you like about me?” Lan Cixing decided to test her.

An Yu replied faster than expected.

“I like that you don’t care about my money.”

“Good skills.”

“Cute voice, you call me ‘Sister’.”

She clearly wasn’t finished, sending words out one by one. Lan Cixing’s ears turned red. Could this scum Alpha actually like her? She had listed so many of her strengths in one breath.

“That’s useless! I don’t like you back.” After sending that, Lan Cixing’s head was completely hot; she simply turned off her phone to shower and sleep.

The next morning, before breakfast, Lan Cixing opened the chat with An Yu and saw her messages from yesterday.

“I know, you like our Shushu.”

“I just want to be your favorite person in the 2D world.”

“Asleep? Working is very tiring. Rest well, goodnight.”

A series of messages, none of which made Lan Cixing feel awkward. There was no need for her to overthink; An Yu’s feelings were expressed very bluntly. There was even rare concern and a considerate lack of intrusion.

Lan Cixing took a deep breath. Maybe… An Yu wasn’t a scum Alpha after all.

“Good morning.” She quickly typed the two words, sent them, and then turned off her phone, pretending she had done nothing.

Lan Cixing went directly to the film set. When she arrived, Rong Yushu was still in the dressing room having her styling done. She entered the room, but no one turned to look at her; they all ignored her, as if they didn’t care. That included Rong Yushu.

Lan Cixing didn’t mind. She found her previous spot and stood there, fulfilling the contract she had signed. When Rong Yushu finished her styling and stepped out, her assistants followed her in a flurry. Lan Cixing was left at the very end, trailing the group like a tail, the gap growing wider and wider.

There wasn’t much danger on a film set; a bodyguard wasn’t actually necessary. Lan Cixing understood this and had nothing to say. Once filming began, Lan Cixing stood guarding from the corner she had found earlier. Her hand was hidden in her pocket, clutching that precious black card.

The whole morning passed. Rong Yushu’s filming went smoothly. She spoke with the director, the photographer, and even the screenwriter, seemingly revising two small details in the script. She also spoke with her closest assistants. The assistant who had mocked Lan Cixing earlier—the one who stayed closest to Rong Yushu—was sent to buy milk tea for everyone. Everyone on set got one, except Lan Cixing, who was ignored.

She also spoke with the stylist. Rong Yushu merely said thank you, and the stylist’s face turned red, her eyes darting around in embarrassment as she followed Rong Yushu around like a waddling duckling. Almost everyone on set had achieved their “daily goal” of social interaction with Rong Yushu.

Only Lan Cixing was repeatedly ignored by Rong Yushu. Rong Yushu walked back and forth right in front of her without sparing her a single glance. When Lan Cixing wanted to catch up, Rong Yushu went back to filming. When Lan Cixing followed again, Rong Yushu went into the restroom.

Lan Cixing sighed. No matter how dull she was, she could see that Rong Yushu was angry. It was right for her to be angry. But at the very least, she should take the card back, right? It was impossible for her to truly give such a valuable card to someone she hated.

Lan Cixing worked hard to find an opportunity. Finally, at noon, Rong Yushu was standing by the side of the set, lost in thought, with no one near her. Lan Cixing hurried toward her. At almost the same time, on the other side of the set, Mu Huai took off her heavy accessories and, carrying an exquisite bento box, also headed toward Rong Yushu.

Lan Cixing walked quickly, afraid Rong Yushu would leave again. When Mu Huai saw her, she also sped up. The two of them nearly knocked each other over behind Rong Yushu.

“Don’t you look where you’re going?” Mu Huai shielded the bento she planned to give Rong Yushu and stepped back. When she saw it was the Alpha who had ruined her plans, she started shouting.

“…I’m sorry.” Clearly, it was this person who had been in a rush, her vision blocked by her hairstyle. Lan Cixing tried to keep the peace and didn’t point it out.

However, Mu Huai wasn’t willing to let her off so easily. “Do you know how much this outfit costs? The lunch box was personally forged by an intangible cultural heritage craftsman. If you really broke something, could you afford to pay for it?”

If it hadn’t been for this Alpha last time, she definitely could have taken the promotional photos with Rong Yushu. Now, the photos were already out, and she hadn’t even managed to get a picture with Rong Yushu; all her prepared CP marketing had gone to waste.

“I can’t afford it, but I didn’t break anything, did I?” Lan Cixing stopped and turned to look at this Alpha whose malice was baseless yet extremely obvious. There was no gentle light in her eyes, only some abyss-like blue-purple depth. Caught in the backlight, that sudden glance actually stunned Mu Huai for a second.

“You… how did you not break it?” Mu Huai was even more unwilling to let go after being angered. She looked down at her clothes, trying to find evidence of damage from the collision.

“You two, what are you chatting about?” Rong Yushu was finally drawn by the commotion and turned to walk over. Her tone was still in character—lazy and teasing. Her posture was casual, and her eyes held little seriousness, only indifference. She didn’t look like she was there to be a judge; she looked more like she was there to cause trouble, or rather…

Lan Cixing’s gut told her something was wrong. And Rong Yushu indeed ignored her completely, walking toward Mu Huai. It was as if she were coming to take sides in a biased way. Lan Cixing was left where she was, her internal thoughts now complete.

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