Ding Jie noticed nothing amiss. In fact, because Xu Ziyan had just made Ding Yao lose face, he was in an excellent mood. He stepped forward and took the initiative to swipe his card, asking gently, “Just these? Would you like to look at anything else?”
“Of course! These are all from the same series, the style is similar. I want to pick some other styles too. Oh, and I need to choose some jewelry, shoes, and bags to match. Ding Jie, look, those crystal shoes on display over there are so pretty. They would go perfectly with this dress, right? Will you help me put them on?”
Xu Ziyan sat down on the sofa, looking at Ding Jie with anticipation. “You wouldn’t… be unwilling to fulfill this little wish of mine, would you? Let me be Cinderella just this once, okay?”
The smile vanished from Ding Jie’s lips as he looked at Xu Ziyan suspiciously. Was she really acting spoiled to get closer, or was she finding an excuse to mess with him? Have him put shoes on for her? Who did she think she was?
Xu Ziyan blinked. “I’ve done so much for you, and you’re not even willing to do this little thing for me?” As she spoke, she casually reached out and took her bag back.
Seeing the bag, Ding Jie was reminded of the hard drive inside. He took a deep breath. “You’re very different today. So fond of ordering me around?”
Xu Ziyan said in a flat tone, “If you were the one kicked out of your home, you’d be different too.”
That made Ding Jie understand. Xu Ziyan was originally just an adopted daughter of a wealthy family, and now she’d been driven out for his sake. From now on, she would be nothing. Of course she would feel insecure and resentful.
Especially with someone whispering in her ear that “someone who likes you wouldn’t make you do such things,” she naturally had pent-up anger with nowhere to vent. Since she hadn’t heard his promises yet, she had become this difficult.
Ding Jie set aside his suspicions. After a moment of struggle, he still took the crystal shoe the sales consultant brought over, crouched down, and put it on Xu Ziyan’s foot. Guiltily, he said, “If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have to go through so much trouble.”
His hands were gentle, but the look in his downcast eyes was vicious, wishing he could snap the ankle before him.
No one had ever made him serve like this. If he weren’t an illegitimate son, if he weren’t in a position without power or influence, would Xu Ziyan dare treat him like this? Talk of loving him—she was just another piece of trash who looked down on him.
Ding Yao couldn’t hear what they were saying, but he was shocked by the scene. Ever since this cheap younger brother of his had been acknowledged by the family, he had carried an innate arrogance. On the surface, he was gentle and mild, but in reality, he was most sensitive about his status, wasn’t close to anyone, and always wanted to prove his worth. Now he was willingly, even cheerfully, crouching down to put shoes on for a girl?
It seemed Xu Ziyan was someone Ding Jie truly liked.
Just then, the woman beside Ding Yao raised her phone and took two photos, quickly sending them to Ding Yao. Ding Yao was puzzled. “What are you doing?”
The woman said, “They made you lose face just now, of course we use these photos to complain at home, make sure he gets into big trouble.”
Ding Yao was speechless. “What nonsense.” He didn’t like these underhanded tricks. The Ding family business was huge; giving a share to this cheap brother was no big deal. Why would he stir up trouble over this?
Ding Yao was about to leave when he heard that voice again.
【The male lead really knows when to bend and when to stand firm. To get the game in my hands, he’s peeled shrimp for me, served me food, carried my bags, and now put on my shoes. His service is really top-notch. If you’re going to live off a woman, you should have that awareness. Thinking he can live off me while acting tough? In his dreams.
And he still won’t give me money. How shameless. Today I’m going to max out his card!
But he seems quite well-off. Old Man Ding gives more to him and his mother in private than he gives to Ding Yao. Ding Yao is such a fool. He doesn’t even know how much his own mother’s inheritance was. Old Man Ding fooled him, and even his mother’s favorite jewelry ended up in Song Jie’s hands.
Too bad I don’t know how many days I have left to live. I can’t worry about others. When the whole world collapses together, and no one has to die miserably, does that count as me helping them accumulate virtue?】
Xu Ziyan took a few steps to feel the shoes, and thinking of this, she couldn’t help but smile.
This time, Ding Yao saw and heard clearly. Xu Ziyan’s mouth hadn’t moved at all, yet the words he heard could only have come from her. He strode toward Xu Ziyan, opening his mouth to ask her what was going on. But suddenly, he felt suffocated, and his body seemed to freeze in place, stopping at the store entrance.
Both Ding Jie and Xu Ziyan looked at him, surprised. Was he still unhappy and coming to pick a fight? Ding Jie asked first, “Brother, is there something else?”
Ding Yao stared at Xu Ziyan. Only when he gave up on asking did he return to normal. His expression changed, and he said, “Since we’ve run into each other, let’s shop together. We’re all just buying things anyway.”
Ding Jie found it absurd. They weren’t children; did they need companions to go shopping? But since Ding Yao had said so, his status and persona didn’t allow him to refuse. He could only look at Xu Ziyan, hoping she would be the one to refuse.
As a result, Xu Ziyan nodded indifferently. “Fine. Let’s see which of you brothers has deeper pockets. Don’t regret it and start worrying about your wallets later.”
She had been wanting to make Ding Jie spend a fortune, and now Ding Yao had handed her an opportunity. A ready-made competitive relationship—why not use it?
Xu Ziyan didn’t even look. She directly asked for all the shoe styles in the store, one pair of each, and also picked out two bags. She smiled at Ding Yao’s female companion, then went to another store to pick out jewelry. She even proactively selected two expensive pieces, saying they suited the companion.
The female companion understood instantly. She immediately pointed out several extravagant and luxurious sets, saying they suited Xu Ziyan.
Seeing a pink diamond set among them, Xu Ziyan thought: 【Pink diamonds seem to be something the female lead likes. After Ding Jie found out, every time he saw pink diamonds, he would give them to the female lead. It became their little sweet thing.
Oh right, Ding Yao’s mother had a set of premium pink diamonds she bought at an auction. They even ended up being given by Song Jie as a meeting gift for her future daughter-in-law.】
This was the second time Ding Yao had heard about Song Jie taking his mother’s jewelry. Song Jie was Ding Jie’s birth mother, a famous ‘flower vase’ beauty—a beautiful but talentless actress—in the entertainment industry who had stayed popular for decades just on her looks alone. But how could it be that easy to stay famous? The Ding family’s backing was behind it all.
He stared at the pink diamond jewelry, racking his brains, and finally remembered. Five years ago, his mother had mentioned once that she really liked them when she bid for the pink diamonds, but after getting them, she found they didn’t suit her. She put them away, treating it as satisfying a girlish whim.
Such a minor thing from so long ago—he had truly forgotten. When his mother passed away from illness and it came to signing the inheritance documents, he had only paid attention to the stocks and real estate. Jewelry like this wasn’t registered item by item, and he didn’t remember the specifics. Whatever his father gave him, he just stored it away. Looking at it now, it seemed many valuable pieces of jewelry had been taken by his father and given to Song Jie?
So what Xu Ziyan’s inner thoughts said… was all true?
Ding Yao’s mind was in chaos, but the rising fury made him look at Ding Jie with extreme displeasure. Offhandedly, he said, “Ding Jie, why are you just standing there like an idiot? Swipe the card. Have some sense when accompanying girls shopping.”
Ding Jie couldn’t say anything. He just frowned slightly and handed over his card. Ding Yao’s female companion, feeling she had cooperated with Ding Yao to scam Ding Jie’s money, was delighted. After she and Xu Ziyan put on the jewelry, she took out her phone for a group selfie. Being able to go shopping and take photos with the Fu Family Second Miss was something she could boast about for a long time! Plus, the Eldest Young Master Ding had bought her two sets of jewelry!
After that, the foursome kept repeating this process. Xu Ziyan helped the female companion pick out a few bottles of fine wine; the companion helped Xu Ziyan pick out even more expensive, rarer wine. Xu Ziyan helped the companion pick pretty bags; the companion helped Xu Ziyan pick limited edition bags.
Finally, at the female companion’s suggestion, they went to a high-end club. In the heat of the moment, they directly paid for a five-year membership fee, all paid for by the Ding brothers. Of course, the lion’s share came from Ding Jie.
Ding Yao wanted to try and fish for information but never found an opportunity. Looking at his enthusiastically scheming companion, he only felt a headache and decided to make an appointment with Xu Ziyan alone another day. He forcibly dragged his companion away.
Xu Ziyan quickly asked her, “What’s your name?”
The companion said happily, “I’m Yang Anni, an actress. I’m in the currently popular drama ‘Harem Schemes.’ Can I… add you as a friend?”
“Of course!” Xu Ziyan took out her phone and added Yang Anni on WeChat. Shopping with Yang Anni today had been quite enjoyable. Moreover, Yang Anni’s combat effectiveness was off the charts, saving Xu Ziyan a lot of trouble and directly provoking Ding Jie into even greater anger. She smiled at Yang Anni. “Let’s have coffee and go shopping again when we’re free.”
Yang Anni nodded happily. At this moment, Ding Yao also smoothly offered his phone’s QR code. “Since we’ve met, let’s add each other. Contact me if anything comes up.”
Though Xu Ziyan found it strange, she didn’t think too much of it and casually scanned the code to add him. Only then did Ding Yao leave with Yang Anni. Ding Jie’s patience had reached its breaking point. He asked Xu Ziyan with a forced smile, “Still want to play?”
Xu Ziyan was already tired and didn’t want to play anymore, but she said, “Of course. We agreed to go to a bar. You promised to accompany me for a whole day, so you have to accompany me for a full 24 hours.” She placed her bag on the nearby table. “I’m going to the restroom. Order me a drink and think about how we can have real fun later.”
Xu Ziyan went to the restroom. Ding Jie stared at her retreating back, his face dark, then sat down in his seat without a word. Suddenly, his gaze fell on Xu Ziyan’s bag. The leather bag had no zipper, and the hard drive inside was faintly visible.
He thought of the humiliation he had endured all day and couldn’t bear it for another second. He reached out, took the hard drive, stood up, and left.
Fu Qiming, observing from a distance, was stunned. He just left? Wait, isn’t this stealing? Even if it was originally meant for him, since Xu Ziyan said she wouldn’t give it to him now, him taking it directly was theft, right? This is the so-called male lead’s character?
When Xu Ziyan returned, Fu Qiming was still wondering if she would be angry or shocked.
Xu Ziyan came back and couldn’t find Ding Jie. Opening her bag and discovering the hard drive was gone, she indeed showed an expression of anxiety and anger. Then she walked out with heavy, stomping steps.
But Fu Qiming heard her inner thoughts.
【Haha, the game is in the scumbag’s hands now, and he left in anger. That should definitely count as mission success, right? He stole it himself. Even if there are problems with the game, he can’t find anyone to blame. Who told him to have sticky fingers?】
001: 【Congratulations, Host, on successfully completing the mission. Reward: one skill point.】
Fu Qiming suddenly understood. So Xu Ziyan had done it on purpose? He hadn’t seen it coming. Xu Ziyan said she would do nothing, but in reality, she had made the ‘male lead’ dance in the palm of her hand. He had a premonition—the days to come would definitely be interesting.
But what was up with that Ding Yao? Why did it seem like he could also hear Xu Ziyan’s inner thoughts? He needed to find an opportunity to test that.
He caught up with Xu Ziyan from behind. Xu Ziyan was surprised. “Why are you here?”
Fu Qiming said casually, “I came to the club to discuss some business. As soon as I walked out, I saw you. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, thanks for your concern.” Xu Ziyan smiled.
【My cheap younger brother is pretty warm-hearted. But is it really such a coincidence?】
She joked, “You weren’t following me to protect me, were you?”
Fu Qiming also knew his excuse was too flimsy, so he simply admitted it. “Yeah, I was afraid you might slip up and he’d find out, so I came specifically to escort you.”
Just then, Fu Qiming’s phone rang. After answering, he said happily, “Sister and brother-in-law are back. They just got off the plane and said they’re having dinner at home tonight. And there’s more good news—Sister is pregnant!”
He remembered Xu Ziyan’s inner thoughts saying the original host would cause his sister to become a vegetable. Now that it was Xu Ziyan, of course his sister would be safe. Plus, with his sister back, there was one more person to discuss the matter of the inner thoughts with.
Thinking of Fu Yazhen’s situation, Xu Ziyan mused to herself: 【Pregnancy is a death warrant. Who would have thought that the loving, considerate Zheng Wenbo was actually a scumbag who came specifically to take revenge on the Fu family? Fu Yazhen is going to become a vegetable.】
Fu Qiming: ??? Wasn’t it the original host who harmed Sister? How did it become brother-in-law? Zheng Wenbo seeking revenge on the Fu family? What revenge?