After having crossed paths with the outrageous system so many times, Lu Zhi Wei had grown sensitive.
She felt like she had grown stronger.
At the same time, her heart jumped for joy. It was the first time she liked this system so much.
Thanks to the system, she finally had a reason to be brave.
But thinking about the systemâs missionâ¦â¦
She tied up her hair and laid back down on the bed, asking tentatively: âForming this CPâ¦â¦ Does it want me to succeed or not?â
Lao Wu sat in the control room, sipping on his tea.
ãWhat do you think?ã
The answer was obvious.
Lu Zhi Wei: ââ¦â¦â
But she couldnât predict if Sang Wan Ci wanted this attention.
She felt like Sang Wan Ci didnât need it.
Sang Wan Ci wasnât like her, starting from nothing with no resources.
From all the previous times Sang Wan Ci had been paired with people in a CP, there had never been a time when she responded and interacted with the other person.
So she probably really didnât need it.
Even if they were friends, even if they were close.
She sighed.
Hearing it, Lao Wu put down his teacup and said: ãIâve discovered that ever since you started liking Sang Wan Ci, youâre particularly unconfident when it comes to anything to do with her.ã
She flipped over, preparing to say something.
Lao Wu suddenly mused: ãThatâs loveâ¦â¦ã
Lu Zhi Wei flipped over again: âExperienced?â
ãMm, experienced.ã
He picked up his cup again, turning it in his hand.
ãLove is a strange thing, it always makes one become self-critical.
ãWhen Bai Zhi was still in the system, I had the best relationship with her but I felt she wouldnât like me, I had no confidence.
ãJust like you, I thought she was very good, very outstanding, so I couldnât match up.ã
Lu Zhi Wei was suddenly intrigued: âYou were worried you wouldnât match up to her?â
She sat up excitedly: âYouâre a high-level administrator! Didnât you say the higher the number, that means the more powerful you are, youâre ranked fifth!â
Lao Wu smiled slightly: ãSilly child, do you know whatâs her rank?ã
Lu Zhi Wei was curious: âWhat?â
Lao Wu put down the cup and slowly said: ãOne.ã
She was the number one most powerful high-level administrator that nobody could deny.
Bai Zhiâs excellence was clear for everybody in the system to see.
She used her own ability to prove that women were not inferior to men at all.
It was precisely because of this excellence that it had been hard for her to leave when she chose to withdraw from the system. The main computer didnât want to let go of the most excellent student it had trained.
And his liking for her was like Lu Zhi Weiâs liking for Sang Wan Ci, like the stars chasing the moon.
No matter how bright the star was, it would never be able to cover the brilliance of the moon and it would never be able to take the moon for itself.
Unless the moon took the initiative to move towards the star.
So when Bai Zhi rejected him after he gathered all his courage to confess, it was within his expectations.
But so what?
Love itself was akin to a moth flying towards a flame, it was out of anyoneâs control.
Lu Zhi Wei was shocked: âSo impressive!â
Talking about the person he liked, Lao Wuâs voice become incredibly gentle: ãOf course sheâs impressive, extremely impressive.
ãSo my situation is very similar to yours.ã
Lu Zhi Weiâs brows lowered again: âThatâs saying Iâll also be rejected by Wan Ciâ¦â¦â
In this situation, she was Lao Wu and Sang Wan Ci was Bai Zhi.
Bai Zhi had rejected Lao Wu.
Sang Wan Ci would reject her too.
Hearing that, Lao Wu laughed: ãDonât think that. You and Sang Wan Ci are different from me and Bai Zhi.
ãAt least, Bai Zhi wouldnât kiss me.ã
Lu Zhi Wei immediately raised her head, the light in her eyes gleaming.
Lao Wu continued: ãAlthough I canât determine if Sang Wan Ciâs willingness to kiss you stems from liking you or from curiosity about intimacy, but I can confirm that youâre not the same in her heart, youâre a special existence.
ãAs for how special and different, youâll have to figure it out yourself.ã
Talking so much, Lao Wu felt more and more like he was Lu Zhi Weiâs real mother.
Not helping the host to finish the missions emotionlessly, but helping his daughter solve her romance problems.
It was more emotional than his missions before.
He thought to himself, maybe this is Lu Zhi Weiâs charm.
Even after everything she encountered, she was pitiful but still optimistic and strong.
Like a flower that continued to survive on Earth regardless of how the wind and rain battered it, welcoming the next sunny day.
So people couldnât help but want to be good to her, to encourage her to walk her own route, to accomplish her dreams, and to pursue a perfect love.
ãBelieve in yourself,ã Lao Wu said. ãYou have to be optimistic and confident.ã
Lu Zhi Wei paused, then looked at her phone.
Sang Wan Ci had said the same thing to her beforeâ¦â¦
Lao Wu continued: ãI remember Bai Zhi told me before that if she met someone she liked, she would definitely use any and all methods to pursue them. No matter if the ending is good or bad, she at least had to convey her feelings to that person.
ãSo I hope you can be as courageous as Bai Zhi.
ãBesides, no matter what, youâre the male protagonist. The male and female protagonists are determined to fall in love!ã
Hearing that, Lu Zhi Wei mumbled: âDo people have to be together just because theyâre the male and female protagonistsâ¦â¦â
ãYes,ã Lao Wu changed to another method to comfort her. ãBecause you both like each other, thatâs why you can become the main lead in each otherâs hearts, understand?ã
Love was the crux.
Love was the guiding light in the world.
Hearing that, she finally had a bit of selfishness.
She typed down a message and sucked in a breath, gathering her courage to send it out.
This time, she would take the initiative to be the âmale protagonistâ.
â¦Â Please read at jiulian lian . wordpress . com
The moon was high in the sky and the night breeze was slightly cool.
Sang Wan Ci sat outside on the balcony holding her phone, her lips curved up in a smile.
Her gaze was locked on the name on the hot search.
Wei Shi Bu Wan.
Finally, they had been elevated to a real person CP.
She had waited a long time for this.
The netizens asked how the black silk strap had gotten onto Lu Zhi Weiâs neck?
Of course she had tied it on Lu Zhi Wei with her own hands.
She hadnât even asked for it back from Lu Zhi Wei, leaving it with her decisively, letting the silk strap naturally become one of Lu Zhi Weiâs accessories.
ââ As if it was a couple accessory.
She didnât know if Lu Zhi Wei liked her or not, but she could confirm that she held a different position in Lu Zhi Weiâs heart.
A position that let her play these small tricks and test Lu Zhi Wei.
She wasnât someone who liked to sit and wait for things to happen.
And someone had told her before that if she liked someone, she should chase after them and let them fall into her trap, unable to leave.
Even if she didnât manage to obtain the other personâs heart, at least she had managed to show them her feelings.
So, her Zhi Wei, please fall into her trap soon.
Fall for her soon, reciprocate her feelings soon.
Become the hunterâs deer[1]Â soon.
At this time, a new message jumped out on the screen ââ
[Zhi Wei]: Wan Ci, would you be willing toâ¦â¦ form a business CP with me?
Business CP.
Seeing this term, Sang Wan Ciâs eyebrows went up.
She had never formed a CP before and never signed a contract about it, but she seemed to rememberâ¦â¦ During the duration of a business CP, neither party could form CPs with anybody else?
In other words, even if it was fake, Lu Zhi Wei would belong only to her.
She opened the conversation.
As if afraid she wouldnât agree or that she would misunderstand, Lu Zhi Wei was working hard to explain.
[Zhi Wei]: My manager saw our hot search and felt it was getting popular, so she asked me to come speak to you
[Zhi Wei]: I know this is me riding on your popularityâ¦â¦
[Zhi Wei]: Itâs okay even if you arenât willing, I was just asking
It was actually because of popularity, not because of her.
Lu Zhi Wei, am I not as good as popularity?
[Sang Wan Ci]: Am I not as good as popularity?
Lu Zhi Wei held her phone: â?â
Mm?
What does that mean?
Sang Wan Ci calmly typed.
[Sang Wan Ci]: It sounds too exploitative if you say itâs for popularity, I donât like it.
[Sang Wan Ci]: I would rather hope you say it because you want to form a CP with me.
[Sang Wan Ci]: Itâll seem like you like me a lot, I would be very happy.
Lu Zhi Wei felt like she had been flirted with through the screen, her ears turning red.
ââ Save me save me save me, how is this kid so good at this!
Youâd be very happy if I like you?
Really?
Is it what I think it means?
She put down her phone and hugged her pillow in embarrassment, rolling around on the bed.
After three minutes, she suddenly calmed down.
Somethingâs not right.
I still have the fan identity, she couldnât be talking about a fanâs liking towards her idol right?
A fan suggesting a CP with her idol for popularity, that really didnât sound as nice as a fan wanting to form a CP with her idol because she liked her idol, right?
And she used to worry about whether I would climb the wall and like other people, and she compared herself with Ying Xi Ze and Meng Lian Yuâ¦â¦
The more Lu Zhi Wei thought, the calmer she got.
Indeed, she had thought too much.
She picked up the phone and looked at the sentence âitâll seem like you like me a lotâ, and she suddenly felt like Sang Wan Ci would continue with the next sentence âmore than you like Meng Lian Yuâ.
Ah, Lu Zhi Wei, you were too self-confident.
Sang Wan Ci was waiting for Lu Zhi Weiâs reply.
She didnât know if Lu Zhi Wei understood her meaning.
ââ As long as you say you like me, itâs fine even if you use me.
Her fingertip continuously scrolled across the screen.
Two minutes later, she finally got a new reply.
[Zhi Wei]: Of course, itâs definitely because I like our Teacher Sang, so I have a bit of selfishness in wanting to form a CP
[Zhi Wei]: Really like you, really really like you
[Zhi Wei]: (Teacher Meng isnât competing in this)
Sang Wan Ciâs lips slowly curved upwards as she read the first two messages.
When she saw the last one, her lips immediately turned down.
What business does Teacher Meng have here?
Could Lu Zhi Wei want to form a CP with her aunt and be her aunt-in-law?
Or did she think Sang Wan Ci was talking about the liking a fan had for their idol?
ââ Lu Zhi Wei, youâre not smart.
She thought about refuting it, then reconsidered and decided to give up.
Forget it, she would take her time.
Lu Zhi Wei hadnât fallen into her love trap yet, she wasnât indispensable. Directly confessing now might scare Lu Zhi Wei away.
At that time, it would be impossible to form even a business CP.
They could form a CP first, there was plenty of time, wouldnât there be plenty of opportunities later to slowly become a real couple?
Besides, Lu Zhi Wei had said it herself, she might like women.
And Sang Wan Ci herself was only working hard to amplify this possibility and make it happen.
Lu Zhi Wei hugged her phone and sat on the side of the bed, waiting for Sang Wan Ciâs reply.
There was a wooden platform under her bed, with a row of drawers at the bottom.
Her feet rested on the platform as she propped up her face with her hand. She was so nervous that even her legs had started to tremble.
Would Sang Wan Ci agree?
Would she have to suffer an electric shock, or would she have a beautiful business CP?
If Sang Wan Ci didnât agree, how would she navigate past this awkward topic?
At this moment, she felt like she wasnât asking if Sang Wan Ci wanted to form a business CP, but that she was asking âare you willing to be together with meâ.
She was so nervous she couldnât sit still.
âDingâ. Please read at jiulian lian . wordpress . com
The phone vibrated.
She quickly unlocked it.
[Wan Ci]: I agree.
It was like a ray of hope had suddenly shone on Lu Zhi Wei, illuminating the glimmer in her eyes.
[Wan Ci]: Iâve already told Zhang jie, you can tell your manager to discuss the terms with Zhang jie.
When it came to forming a business CP, both partiesâ teams had to be informed and discuss the contract.
Lu Zhi Wei was so excited she stood up.
She even spoke to Zhang Xian Rui already?
Awesome, this was great!!!
Lao Wu calmly watched as she spun around in circles happily.
He picked up his tea and drank a mouthful.
It was clearly just agreeing to a fake CP, but someone was so happy it was like the other person had agreed to a real relationship.
Ahâ¦â¦ This blasted feeling called love.
ãSystem judgement: Successfully formed a CP with female protagonist Sang Wan Ci.
ãMission point +1
ãPlease work hard, host.ã
ãSystem reminder: The host has collected five mission points, and can draw a prize.ã
Lu Zhi Weiâs happiness suddenly paused.
Lao Wu quirked an eyebrow: ãOho, are you going to draw it?ã
Lu Zhi Wei thought about it: âNot drawing, I want to save it. Save until I have ten or five draws to do it. Is that okay?â
Lao Wu said solemnly: ãOkay.ã
Lu Zhi Wei decided: âMm, thatâs what weâll do!â
She no longer believed in her ability to draw something good with one try.
She had to put her faith in multiple draws, she might get everything she wants!
â¦
âMm?â
Meng Lian Yu paused in the action of pouring wine.
âWan Ci took the initiative to form a CP with someone?â
Zhang Xian Ruiâs voice came from the phone: âYes, your niece took the initiative to form a CP with someone, that someoneâs even a woman.â
âWho?â
âSheng Yueâs Lu Zhi Wei, you probably donât know her?â
âI know, Iâve heard Wan Ci talk about her.â Meng Lian Yu raised her glass and swirled the wine around, her voice light. âItâs pretty good.â
â?â Zhang Xian Rui didnât understand. âWhere is it good?â
Meng Lian Yu smiled and sat on the sofa: âIf itâs Lu Zhi Wei then it means my nieceâs heart is kind.â
When Sang Wan Ci first mentioned Lu Zhi Wei to her, she checked on Lu Zhi Weiâs background.
She accidentally found that this was a kid who had potential but was never given a chance to bloom.
If only she had been given a chance, she wouldnât have been buried and left the industry at the start after acting only a few times.
She quite liked Lu Zhi Wei.
She liked that indomitable strength in her eyes.
Sang Wan Ci taking the initiative to form a CP with Lu Zhi Wei, maybe it was to help bring a bit of popularity to her?
That was good too. At least her niece would be willing to try new things instead of just acting and not caring about the world.
She was rather worried that Sang Wan Ci would be forced by her father to the point that she would go into a production crew and never come out, only acting for the rest of her life.
âLife is so beautiful, of course one has to do what they want.â Meng Lian Yu said gently. âAs long as sheâs not doing anything illegal, Iâll support whatever she wants to do.â
Zhang Xian Rui tsk-ed: âYou really are an open-minded aunt.â
Meng Lian Yu didnât deny this compliment.
Zhang Xian Rui continued: âThen her father? Chairman Meng isnât familiar with the twists and turns of the entertainment industry, if he sees his own daughter showing up on the hot search with another womanâ¦â¦ Wonât he explode?â
Meng Lian Yuâs smile grew even wider.
âYou think he doesnât know? That man blows up my phone with calls the instant his daughter has any news.
âWan Ci has also debuted for two years now, and sheâs naturally popular. Does she even lack being sent up the hot search by CPs? So in this regard, my brother already has more knowledge than me.â
Meng Lian Yu put down her wineglass: âAlright, I know what you mean. Iâm here to deal with her father, you can do what she wants to do.â
Zhang Xian Rui chuckled: âThatâs good then.â
Such a good artiste, she didnât want Chairman Meng to drag her home like that.
â¦â¦Â Please read at jiulian lian . wordpress . com
After the two teams came to an agreement on the business CP, the two of them started promoting it.
Their Weibo accounts started having more and more traces of each other.
It wasnât the type of content that passionately and directly spoke about love. It was all normal, ordinary posts or posts that showed off their small gifts to each other.
Today, Lu Zhi Wei posted a photo of a black silk strap and captioned it: A gift from our Teacher Sang.
The next day, Sang Wan Ci would post the handknitted gloves that she got from Lu Zhi Wei last new year and caption it: Knitted by our Teacher Lu.
There was not a single extra word, it was simple and ordinary.
But it showed off their genuineness.
ââ This was something that belonged solely to her, other jiejies and meimeis didnât have it.
The CP fans were screaming out how easy it was to ship them.
âWei Shi Bu Wanââs CP super topic[2]Â had new fans coming in every day because of this.
@Iâm so weak: Iâll use three of my hairs to swear, they must be dating!
@Red-faced: This is the first time Sang Sang is taking the initiative to promote, wuwu Sang Sang has grown up
@Whatâs the relationship between you two: You two are both adults, you have to learn how to satisfy fansâ requests. So give us more, silk strap is fine, gloves are fine, dumplings are fine, post more, the audience loves it!
Lu Zhi Wei was at home scrolling through the comments, when she suddenly exhaled.
Thankfully, there werenât a lot of negative comments.
Andâ¦â¦ A lot of people felt they were compatible.
She used her burner account to see the content people were posting in the super topic.
The more she saw, the happier she got. The more she saw, the more she felt the two of them really were fragrant.
ââ Wuwu, Wei Shi Bu Wan is too shippable.
Even though it was fake, she was really happy.
â¦â¦
Ever since Lu Si Jiaoâs identity was exposed, she didnât dare to log into âQiao Qiao Yaââs account anymore. She stayed in her dorm and studied, preparing for the term exams.
Today, she finally checked her phone to relax.
Only to find out her sister and Sang Wan Ci had formed a CP.
They even had a CP super topic!
Lu Si Jiao: â?â
Iâve only been away for a while, you guys even have a CP now?!
Shipping a real person CP wonât give you happiness, wake up!
But why did my jie cooperate and interact?
This canât be real!
Did they announce their relationship while I was studying hard?!
Then why didnât I see any news about it!
Because Lu Zhi Wei had said that she had someone she liked, so Lu Si Jiao was very curious if that person was Sang Wan Ci or not.
Or else why would her jiejie be so proactive on Weibo?
She really wanted to send a line of meaningful question marks to Lu Zhi Wei.
But she was afraid Lu Zhi Wei would find out she was checking her phone instead of studyingâ¦â¦
Sending it to Sang Wan Ciâ¦â¦ Thatâs not right either.
She was one of the parties involved after all, how awkward would it be to ask her directly.
Thenâ¦â¦ Send it to Ying Xi Ze?
He kept calling Lu Zhi Wei jie, he canât possibly have no information at all, right?
Lu Si Jiao: If you donât know anything, Iâll remove your didi qualifications!
After she decided, she realised something.
No matter whether it was Sang Wan Ci or Ying Xi Zeâ¦â¦ she didnât have their contact.
Lu Si Jiao: F*ck, Iâve miscalculated!
So she chose the simplest method that might not work ââ
Weibo private message.
[Lu Si Jiao]: Are you there? Iâm Lu Si Jiao, I donât know if you still remember me. I have something to ask you, can you reply once you see this?
[Lu Si Jiao]: ãPlease.JPGã
You had to act the part if you were begging someone.
She felt like her attitude was already very humble, hopefully he could see it.
Ten minutes later.
She received a reply.
[Ying Xi Ze]: Itâs actually you?
[Ying Xi Ze]: Youâre actually not studying?
[Ying Xi Ze]: Iâm going to complain
Lu Si Jiao: â?â
ââ You dog!!!
[Lu Si Jiao]: I just finished studying, Iâm taking a break now. Youâre not allowed to go, youâre not allowed to accuse me!!!
[Lu Si Jiao]: ãRoar.JPGã
[Ying Xi Ze]: Youâre done studying? Thatâs good then
[Ying Xi Ze]: ãPat head.JPGã
[Ying Xi Ze]: Whatâs up?
Lu Si Jiao didnât beat around the bush, getting straight to the point.
[Lu Si Jiao]: Whatâs going on with my jie and Wan Ci jieâs CP super topic?
[Lu Si Jiao]: Whatâs going on with their Weibo too?
[Lu Si Jiao]: Iâve been studying these few days, I donât know anything, they wouldnât beâ¦â¦ together, right?
Ying Xi Ze raised his eyebrows, feeling begrudgingly amazed by Lu Si Jiaoâs whimsical thinking.
[Ying Xi Ze]: Why would you think that?
[Lu Si Jiao]: â¦â¦ Donât you know?
[Ying Xi Ze]: Know what?
[Lu Si Jiao]: Know that my sister likes someone!
[Lu Si Jiao]: Heh, you still want to be a didi like that
[Lu Si Jiao]: Ying Xi Ze, your didi qualifications have been removed by me, from now on, you have no right to call her jie anymore!
What stinky didi, he didnât care about jiejieâs love life at all, he didnât care about jiejie!
Not qualified, eliminate him!
Ying Xi Ze didnât reply.
Five minutes later, he sent over a screenshot.
The screenshot was of his conversation with Lu Zhi Wei, the content was simple ââ
[Ying Xi Ze]:Â Jie jie jie jie jie jie jie jie
[Lu Zhi Wei]: What is it?
The timestamp was just after she removed his didi qualifications.
[Lu Si Jiao]: ââ¦â¦â
It was hard. Please read at jiulian lian . wordpress . com
Her fist was hard!
So what if this dog was good-looking, he still deserved a beating!
After Ying Xi Ze had finished teasing Lu Si Jiao, he calmly replied: [Theyâre just business CPs, donât think too much, focus on your studies
[Ying Xi Ze]: You know about business CPs right? Itâs fake
[Ying Xi Ze]: And theyâre mostly showing the friendship side, how people want to ship it is the business of the CP fans
[Ying Xi Ze]: But their relationship originally felt like they were dating anyway
[Ying Xi Ze]: Oh, donât you know that your jie and Teacher Sangâs friendship is so good itâs like theyâre an old couple?
[Ying Xi Ze]: Lu Si Jiao, Iâm removing your meimei qualifications
What a good turnabout, using someone elseâs method to defeat them.
[Lu Si Jiao]: ?
[Lu Si Jiao]: ãIâll bloody give you two punches.JPGã
[Lu Si Jiao]: ãGive you another punch.JPGã
[Ying Xi Ze]: ãBlock.JPGã
[Ying Xi Ze]: ãHeh, youâre still too weak.JPGã
Lu Si Jiaoâs unwillingness to be defeated came up and she started crazily sending expression packs, until she got defeated with one sentence.
[Ying Xi Ze]: Classmate Lu, youâve been playing with your phone for half an hour now, itâs time to study
Lu Si Jiao: ââ¦â¦â
Was he the study inspection teamâs co-captain?
[Ying Xi Ze]: Let me know if something else comes up and you need help next time
[Ying Xi Ze]: Iâll give you my contact, I might not be able to see Weibo private messages
This was Lu Zhi Weiâs sister after all. If she looked for him for help, he would help if he could.
But the precondition was that he had to be able to see this classmate Lu Si Jiaoâs message.
Lu Si Jiao thought about it, then replied: [Thereâs something now!]
[Ying Xi Ze]: What?
[Lu Si Jiao]: You canât go about saying my jie has someone she likes
[Lu Si Jiao]: Donât let nosy people know about it, if the whole world finds out, Iâll definitely chase you to the ends of the Earth and kill you!
Ying Xi Ze could almost see the young ladyâs fierce face through the screen, and he couldnât help but laugh.
[Ying Xi Ze]: Donât worry, I know my limits
[Lu Si Jiao]: Also, if my jie really has a girlfriend
[Lu Si Jiao]: You need to tell me in advance
[Lu Si Jiao]: So I can be mentally preparedâ¦â¦
[Ying Xi Ze]: ?
[Ying Xi Ze]: What sort of mental preparation does this require?
[Lu Si Jiao]: Because Iâve never thought about it before
She had thought that her jiejie would date, get married, and she even thought that her jiejie would win the most outstanding female actress award.
But she had never thought about her jiejie finding a girlfriend.
Because she had grown up surrounded by heterosexual relationships, she naturally had never thought in the other direction.
Putting down her phone, her hands supported her head as her thoughts drifted.
So will my jie really find a girlfriend?
If I donât get along with that personâ¦â¦ Then what?
[1] 鹿 â This is a play on Lu Zhi Weiâs surname, because the word means deer.
[2] è¶ è¯ â Think of a super topic as⦠a hashtag on Weibo that people can click in (similar to Twitter) to see what other people are posting about that topic.