Ji Yunhe: 'System!! Hellooo! In need of urgent help here! Why aren't the main leads following the plot? Why is Ning Xiaoran standing there instead of Li Mubai? How am I going to accuse the male leads for cheating if Li Mubai didn't even make his move?'
For some odd reasons, the system chose to go offline at this moment.
Ji Yunhe: "..." I– you can never understand my pain.
Ning Xiaoran's light and calm voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
"Student Mo, I think this is enough. Student Xu Nian here merely acted out of instinct and pulled at the nearest guy she could reach to protect herself. If I were in her place, I would grab onto Senior Li as well. But that doesn't mean that I'm an attention-seeker and is seducing Senior Li, right?"
Ning Xiaoran sported a cheeky smile when he said this, a small shift of expression that didn't escape Ji Yunhe's eyes.
'A big man like you hiding behind Li Mubai? Are you a little girl or what?' Ji Yunhe inwardly rolled her eyes.
Not only was he a black-hearted seller who sells cheap goods three times the market price, he was also an incredibly shameless one with a skin as thick as the Great Wall of China!
The doll on her shoulder suddenly squeaked out, "Want. Him."
Ji Yunhe: "!!!" A crazy man like him, you even have the appetite to eat?
The doll Mo Xiangyun didn't care and continued to point at Ning Xiaoran with a determined expression: "Steal. Him."
Ji Yunhe: "..." Fine, up to you. But before that…
What exactly is the relationship between the female lead Xu Nian and the Second Male Lead Ning Xiaoran?
Ji Yunhe quickly recalled the Spoiler that she had acquired from the completion of the first Beginner's Guide. The spoiler didn't give her much pointers.
She could only recall that after the adultery drama with Xu Nian and Li Mubai, this identity would be spotted joining hands with Ning Xiaoran the next day, unsure if it's for the sake of revenge or something else.
She only knew that Li Mubai wouldn't dare to raise a fuss about it, since he himself was accused of two-timing her with Xu Nian just the day before.
The plot that came after would be Ning Xiaoran's betrayal, Mo Xiangyun's revenge, and finally the death of Ning Xiaoran's sickly little sister, before Ning Xiaoran completely disappeared and made his comeback four years later to take revenge against the Mos.
This meant that Ji Yunhe only had a short period of time before the sickly sister's death to build a harmonious and absolutely not hate-inducing relationship with the later-turned-Big-Boss second male lead, Ning Xiaoran.
But, with the bitchy doll Mo Xiangyun by her side, constantly pointing fingers at her every move, how was she going to accomplish that and save her three brothers?
Ji Yunhe's burning stare landed on Ning Xiaoran's flawless face as if at this moment, he was a hot commodity she needed to snatch no matter the cost.
Under such intense gaze, even the usually nonchalant and cool as cucumber Ning Xiaoran, who had long grown used to attention due to his good looks, couldn't help but stiffen and grew uneasy.
Was it the heat of awkwardness that climbed to the back of his ears, painting them red? Or was it the bashfulness of an innocent youth oblivious of love, that stirred his calm composure?
Ji Yunhe's silence was stirring ripples on countless palpating hearts awaiting for her reaction and yet, it was at this time that Li Mubai, the main lead who had stayed passive by the side, decided to step forward.
With a single motion, he pulled Ji Yunhe to his side and placed a palm over her startled deer-like eyes.
"Don't look," He whispered against her ears, sending unusual tingles down her spine. "Since you're now promised to me, you're not allowed to look at another man other than me. I am not a rock, I can get jealous as well."
Ji Yunhe: "..."
The strong scent of vinegar in the air, the gasps of shock and regret coming from all directions, the envious gazes – this kind of doki-doki atmosphere bubbling with love and skipping heartbeats…
Ji Yunhe shuddered all over from the cringe.
These kinds of cheesy lines enough to drive one socially-dead from the embarrassment… Why was she the one on the receiving end instead of the female lead Xu Nian?
'Helloo, Mr. Main Lead…' Ji Yunhe really wanted to pull at this Li guy's ear and tell him to open his eyes wide, 'Look closely, will you? I am the evil villainess waiting to be slapped on the face and not your pitiful damsel-in-distress female lead, okay?
Ji Yunhe distanced herself from Li Mubai and glanced at the silent Xu Nian hiding behind Ning Xiaoran, not missing the thin clouds of jealousy swirling in her eyes as she lowered her eyelids and bit on her lower lips.
Just as Ji Yunhe didn't know what to do to break free from this awkward quadrangle-love situation, Ning Xiaoran cleared his throat, scratching the back of his head as if embarrassed.
"Since there's nothing else, I'll be going first. You guys… can go on." He turned around and returned to his pink-bombed stall, continuing to offer his sky-high priced cotton candy to the idling onlookers.
Ji Yunhe: "..." You traitor!
She nearly puked out blood when she heard Ning Xiaoran offering another bashful girl his cotton candies whilst sporting his signature angel-like smile, "Student, would you like a stick? 15 yuan each, just for you beautiful miss."
Ji Yunhe: "!!!" Wasn't it 30 yuan before? Take 2 and it'll be 40? You black-hearted seller! I'm really going to report you!
Fortunately, the school bell rang at this time, signifying the start of the first period classes. Ji Yunhe ushered Li Mubai away with a random "I'll see you after class."
What was a computer science student even doing here, did he have no class to attend? The same went for the busy hawker over there, selling sweets instead of studying hard in the elite academy.
It was truly a world in a novel, ridiculous to no end. Ji Yunhe walked into the classroom and bypassed Xu Nian without a word nor a glance of mockery.
All the messy setup and drama could wait after class. At least, that was what Ji Yunhe thought, until the plot continued to push forward and forced her hand once again.