Chapter 2: Angry

Bai Ci stared at the mirror, feeling for the first time that she… looked good.

Her black hair was neatly combed, pinned with a silver clip.

Light makeup hid her dark circles.

A vibrant red dress and black stockings contrasted with her naturally pale skin.

“Damn, nice chest, tiny waist, long straight legs, smooth skin—junior sister, you’ve got a killer figure.

A little dolling up, and you’re way prettier than Chen Wenwen,” Chen Motong said, clicking her tongue in approval. “If you showed off that chest a bit more, you’d be perfect!”

“That’s enough… I don’t need all that,” Bai Ci said, awkwardly tugging at the spaghetti straps on her shoulders. “This feels… too revealing.”

“Come on, the Qing dynasty’s long gone.

Wear what you want—nobody’s gonna judge,” Chen Motong teased, then led Bai Ci to a fiery red Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano.

“Such a gorgeous car…”

Bai Ci was floored by its sleek, luxurious design.

She’d never seen a supercar like this—hell, she barely rode in regular cars like BMWs.

“You like it?”

“Yeah.”

Bai Ci nodded. “This car… it’s gotta cost, what, a few hundred thousand?”

“Not bad, just five million.

Way cheaper than Caesar’s ride,” Chen Motong said with a grin. “Let’s go~”

She kicked off her heels, floored the gas barefoot, and the car roared to life.

Bai Ci was still reeling.

Five million?

She wasn’t worth that much if you sold her.

“Come on, junior sister, don’t look so shocked.

Didn’t I tell you? You’re a big-shot lady now.

Act like a Ferrari’s no big deal—like your garage is full of Bugatti Veyrons and Maybachs!” Nono teased, speeding toward the Wanda Cinema parking lot.

Bai Ci snapped out of it as Chen Motong expertly parked the car.

She unbuckled her seatbelt and followed.

“You know who tonight’s main character is, right?” Chen Motong asked.

“Yeah, Lu Mingfei,” Bai Ci nodded.

Chen Motong’s lips curved into a soft smile. “Remember, don’t let anyone look down on you.

Own it like a queen, got it?”

Bai Ci nodded.

The shoes were awkward, the dress felt too breezy, and everything was uncomfortable.

So this is what wearing a dress and heels feels like?

Kinda sucks…

Honestly, this was Bai Ci’s first time doing something like this, and she was nervous.

She’d never done anything so attention-grabbing.

If it wasn’t for Lu Mingfei, she wouldn’t be caught dead doing this.

For some reason, it felt… like the version of herself from before she came to this world.

“Go on alone.

I won’t meddle, but if you’re in over your head, I’ll step in,” Nono said, handing her a suit jacket. “After all, you’re kinda his childhood friend, right? Don’t let me down, junior sister.”

Childhood friend?

Sounded nice.

Bai Ci waved her off, waited until she was gone, then took a deep breath, pushed open the hall’s door, and stepped inside.

In her mind, Lu Mingfei was like a punching bag anyone could mess with.

Who ever thinks about how a punching bag feels?

Maybe they don’t even realize how much it hurts him…

Just like the version of herself from before this world…

Like an unwanted ugly duckling…

Lu Mingfei leapt onto the stage, standing on a sheet of paper in front of the screen.

He took a deep breath, ready to speak, but a harsh spotlight hit his eyes, forcing him to shield them.

Two bowling-pin-shaped guys flanked his left side.

Lu Mingfei glanced around, confused, as “Chen Wenwen, I love you” was projected beside him, with him as the “I”…

He was so close to touching the stars, but then… dawn broke, the stars vanished, and he crashed back to earth.

Maybe… he’d never dare look up at the stars again…

Lu Mingfei suddenly felt… so damn stupid.

If Chen Wenwen had picked out a suit for him, would she have gotten one for the Xu brothers too?

Same style, different sizes…

His feelings couldn’t even make her smile.

Right now, Chen Wenwen was gazing at Zhao Menghua, eyes full of affection, lips curved in a smile.

Zhao Menghua nodded back, strutting onto the stage like a king.

Lu Mingfei thought about charging Zhao Menghua, but his athletic skills were nowhere near the guy’s, plus Zhao had a crew.

He’d been a loser too long—he was used to it…

But then, in his line of sight, a stunning girl in a bright red dress marched up and slapped Zhao Menghua across the face.

The slap came out of nowhere, knocking Zhao Menghua to the ground.

Everyone froze, including Lu Mingfei.

That red dress was blinding, the slap’s crack deafening…

Lu Mingfei stood there, dazed, staring at Bai Ci.

Bai Ci hated him—really hated him.

Confessing was fine.

But why drag Lu Mingfei into it as a prop?

Just because he liked Chen Wenwen too, you had to step on him?

You knew how he felt, knew he’d been crushing on her forever, yet you humiliated him like this?

Then she glared at Chen Wenwen, who flinched.

If you don’t like a puppy, why pat its head?

You knew, but you still didn’t care.

Lu Mingfei was so damn pathetic around you.

Even a regular friend would be jealous!

It’s like your lifelong playmate got snatched away.

Ever since Chen Wenwen showed up, it’s been “Chen Wenwen this, Chen Wenwen that!”—dozens of times a day.

My ears are calloused from hearing it!

He’s an “S-grade,” for f*ck’s sake—he’d even ditch Cassel College for you…

Bai Ci had so much to say, but seeing Lu Mingfei’s face, she swallowed her words.

Ignoring the stunned crowd, she ripped the ill-fitting suit off Lu Mingfei, dressed him in the one Chen Motong had prepared, tied his tie, fixed his buttons, tucked a folded handkerchief into his pocket, and made sure he didn’t look pathetic.

Then she grabbed his hand and dragged him off the stage.

Her movements weren’t gentle—hell, they were rough.

She pulled him to the door, flung it open, and the night breeze swept in, messing up her bangs.

She shot a cold look at the people in the screening room, then slammed the door shut.

“Don’t just stand there, move,” Bai Ci said, yanking him toward the fire-red Ferrari.

“Hey, how’s it feel?” Nono winked at her.

“Lousy,” Bai Ci said, giving her a half-smile before glancing at Lu Mingfei, who was staring at her from the car.

“What’re you looking at?

You think I’d do this if it wasn’t to back you up?”

She flicked his forehead. “Alright, now ride off in the Ferrari with your hot Senior Sister!”

With that, she slammed the car door and hailed a taxi.

“To XX Internet Café.”

The driver nodded, started the engine, and headed toward the café.

Lu Mingfei just sat there, staring blankly as the taxi drove off.

Back in his stuffy, cluttered room, Lu Mingfei lay on his bed, staring at a ceiling peeling with age.

Mosquitoes buzzed in his ears.

His aunt’s harsh yelling echoed outside.

The dim streetlight barely reached through the window.

He curled up, playing music on his phone through crackling earphones.

This wasn’t a great life, but in his mind, an entire spring bloomed…

The ride was over—it was time to get off.

Someone else would take his place.