When the Female Lead Becomes Obsessive – Chapter 10
by Little PandaVolume One: Those Years I Was a CEO
She is easy to understand.
You Jiayi cried for a long time, her eyes swollen terribly.
Wen Nuan gently wiped away the tears that still lingered on her face, coaxing softly, “Don’t cry anymore, okay? I’ll take you home.”
You Jiayi kept her head down, not speaking.
Wen Nuan took her silence as agreement and helped her into the front passenger seat. Afraid she might bolt1, she even locked the car door.
She walked back to the driver’s seat, and as soon as she got in, she turned on the heater.
The temperature in the underground parking garage was still tolerable, and both were wearing coats, but it wouldn’t be once they drove out.
Outside, heavy snow was falling, and the wind was blowing fiercely.
Wen Nuan saw her turned sideways, looking out the window, ignoring her, not speaking—basically shutting herself off2.
She sighed, leaned over, and pulled the seatbelt across. “Here, fasten your seatbelt properly.”
You Jiayi frowned slightly but adjusted her position, making it easier for Wen Nuan to buckle the seatbelt.
They were completely silent the entire way.
Wen Nuan didn’t know what to say; You Jiayi simply didn’t want to acknowledge her.
She parked the car downstairs from You Jiayi’s apartment building. The snow had stopped.
Fingers tapping on the steering wheel, Wen Nuan glanced at You Jiayi, who was already asleep.
She had cried herself tired and fallen asleep.
Wen Nuan lowered the seat slightly so You Jiayi could sleep more comfortably.
She turned the car’s heater up a bit higher. There was a blanket on the back seat; Wen Nuan very gently covered You Jiayi with it, terrified of waking her.
After doing all this, Wen Nuan lay sideways, looking at the sleeping You Jiayi.
She didn’t know what had come over her.
Seeing her cry so painfully made her heart ache3.
If she hadn’t returned to this world, then You Jiayi would have followed the world’s plotline according to the System, ultimately ending in suicide.
Suicide.
Wen Nuan hadn’t expected that a single action of hers would lead the originally tenacious4 You Jiayi toward an ending of suicide.
She raised a hand to touch the corner of her eye; it was somewhat damp.
Her current mood was a mix of regret and guilt, but even more than that, it was heartache5 for You Jiayi.
【Just now, the blackening value decreased. Current blackening value is 5.】 the System’s voice sounded.
“Oh.” Wen Nuan was in no mood to care about the blackening value right now.
【Feeling down?】
Wen Nuan nodded. “Mm.”
She truly was feeling down.
【Because of the female lead?】
“Mm.”
It really was because of her.
【After you finish talking with the female lead, what do you plan to do next?】
Wen Nuan heaved a long sigh. “I don’t know. My mind is a complete blank.”
She had received a huge shock tonight.
【Of the things the female lead told you, how much do you believe?】
Wen Nuan had told it before that she didn’t believe in unwavering, once-in-a-lifetime love6 in this world.
“I don’t know.” Wen Nuan couldn’t figure it out.
【Alright then. Get some rest soon.】
The System didn’t press further. At this point, no matter what it asked Wen Nuan, she would probably just answer, “I don’t know.”
Because she was in turmoil.
Space Line
You Jiayi opened her eyes and realized it was already daylight outside.
She was covered with a blanket that wasn’t hers, and her surroundings told her she had woken up in a car.
She looked around, and her gaze suddenly froze, landing on Xu Wen Nuan sleeping beside her.
This was Xu Wen Nuan’s car, and beside her was Xu Wen Nuan.
So, the two of them had slept in the car all night?
She had the blanket, while Xu Wen Nuan only had her coat covering her. The car’s heater was turned up high, causing Xu Wen Nuan’s cheeks to flush slightly red.
Seeing Xu Wen Nuan asleep was rare; including this time, she had only seen it three times.
The first time was when she had fallen into the water and been hospitalized; Xu Wen Nuan had stayed up all night taking care of her, eventually getting so tired she fell asleep by the bedside.
The second time was when she was filming abroad, and someone deliberately caused her to lose her passport, leaving her unable to return home, all alone in a foreign land where she knew no one and nothing7. After Xu Wen Nuan found out, she immediately dropped her work, took two connecting flights overnight to come and be with her, and ended up so exhausted she fell asleep on a roadside bench.
This was the third time. Too many things had happened between them, things complicated and hard to articulate. Xu Wen Nuan, under the guise of acting for her own good, had done something that hurt her.
She wanted to resent her, but couldn’t bring herself to.
Because from start to finish, everything Xu Wen Nuan had done was meant for her benefit. Yet she herself had indulged in wishful thinking8, wanting to possess all of Xu Wen Nuan’s kindness.
It was she who was unsatisfied, insatiably greedy9; ultimately suffering the backlash10 of her own desires, she couldn’t blame anyone else.
You Jiayi gently traced her features11 with her finger. Her exquisite features12 were flawless.
Her beauty was bold and unrestrained; she lived with carefree elegance.
Clearly living in an utterly murky13 world, she nonetheless seemed like a solitary, clear-headed saint. Coolly observing14 as the people of this world fell into obsessive delusions and willingly degenerated.
Her fingertip landed on Wen Nuan’s soft lips.
You Jiayi couldn’t help thinking: Such gentle lips, why are the words that come out of them as sharp as knives?
Her fingertip was suddenly grasped. Startled, You Jiayi was just about to pull back when she was caught red-handed.
“Getting fresh?”15 Wen Nuan was a light sleeper; she had been awake ever since You Jiayi stirred.
She had only wondered if waking up then would make You Jiayi feel awkward, but as it turned out, she was the one feeling awkward now.
She felt You Jiayi’s fingertip land on her brow, the bridge of her nose, her cheek, and her lips.
That fingertip felt as if it had been scorched by fire; wherever it touched, it seemed to burn.
You Jiayi hadn’t expected to be caught in the act by Wen Nuan. Her face flushed crimson instantly, and she stammered, “I… I… there was something on your face, so… so I was wiping it off.”
Seeing the female lead looking so flustered, Wen Nuan’s own heart was pounding wildly, startlingly loud in the silent car.
She felt that if she contradicted her, the female lead would probably die of embarrassment17.
However, the You Jiayi at this moment was actually a bit more like her old self again—no longer pained and despairing like last night, nor deliberately distancing herself or ignoring Wen Nuan.
“Mm, thanks.” Wen Nuan pretended not to notice the female lead’s little fib.
Seeing that Wen Nuan seemed to believe her, You Jiayi breathed a sigh of relief. “Since you’re awake, I’ll get going. Thanks for bringing me back last night.”
She tossed the blanket into the back, her movements slightly flustered as she unbuckled the seatbelt, then abruptly pushed open the car door and got out.
The cold air rushing into the car jolted Wen Nuan’s mind. Her whole body shivered, and her thoughts felt much clearer.
Watching You Jiayi about to enter the building’s stairwell, Wen Nuan’s fingers curled slightly. She pushed open her door, got out, and called, “You Jiayi?”
You Jiayi stopped and turned to look at Wen Nuan. “Is there something else?”
Wen Nuan walked towards You Jiayi and stopped in front of her. “You said you like me, right?”
You Jiayi’s expression stiffened. “Why are you asking this?”
“Then… do you still like me now?” Wen Nuan took a deep breath. “Do you still like me now?”
“What do you mean?” You Jiayi frowned.
Wen Nuan looked somewhat uncomfortable. “It’s embarrassing to say, but having lived this long, I don’t know what liking someone is, nor what love is. In my eyes, this thing called ‘feelings’ is too illusory and ephemeral18, uncontrollable. So I don’t like dealing with emotions.”
You Jiayi froze, looking at Wen Nuan with confusion.
“Before, everyone was just playing around19. No one would genuinely catch feelings20, because we all knew it was just a game, nothing more.”
“Why are you telling me all this?” You Jiayi was completely baffled21.
Wen Nuan took another deep breath and continued, “And precisely because of that, my instinctive reaction to your confession was rejection. It wasn’t that I disliked you; I was just… resistant.”
You Jiayi blinked, hardly daring to believe what Wen Nuan was saying.
“And it wasn’t you I was resisting, it was my own heart. I don’t understand love, don’t understand what it means to like someone, so naturally, I don’t know how to like or love someone.”
“I don’t know if I like you or love you. But what I can be sure of is this: I don’t dislike you. I don’t resist you. I don’t think badly of you. I don’t think you’re some insatiably greedy woman trying to marry into a rich family22. In my eyes, you’re a good woman.”
“You’re pretty, you have good character, you’re kind-hearted… you’re just too stubborn and tend to stick rigidly to your guns23.”
You Jiayi’s voice trembled slightly as she retorted, “I am not… sticking rigidly to my guns.”
“Mm, you’re not.” Wen Nuan gave a resigned smile. “It’s my problem. I can’t give you any promises… which sounds way too much like something a scumbag guy24 would say.”
“But I don’t want to lie to you. I don’t know what my feelings are for you, but I can tell you this: I accept your affection. I accept your touch. I accept your closeness. Your confession… I accept it.”
“So… maybe we… could give it a try?”
Her palms were sweaty. After saying all this, Wen Nuan watched the female lead, her heart feeling as if it were suspended in mid-air, precarious and unsteady25.
You Jiayi covered her face with her hands, tears silently streaming down.
Wen Nuan walked over and pulled her into an embrace, teasing gently, “What are you crying for? If you’d rejected me, I should be the one crying.”
You Jiayi suddenly hugged Wen Nuan tightly, burying her face in her shoulder and choking out between sobs, “What you just said… were you serious?”
Wen Nuan nodded. “I was serious.”
“You’re not just trying to trick me, are you?”
She really couldn’t bear being deceived again. She would die. She really would die.
Wen Nuan nodded again. “I’m not deceiving you.”
“You really want to be with me, is that right?”
She hadn’t misheard, had she?
She wanted to hear Wen Nuan say it one more time.
Wen Nuan gave a faint smile. “Mm, I want to be with you. Although I don’t know how to like you, I can try to learn. So, if you don’t mind… let’s give it a try?”
“Okay, okay, okay…” You Jiayi agreed readily, weeping tears of joy.
She hugged Wen Nuan tightly, repeating “Okay” over and over again.
As if afraid Wen Nuan wouldn’t hear her.
As if afraid this moment was just a dream.
The two kept embracing downstairs. Several times, Wen Nuan wanted to suggest they separate for a moment, but as soon as she moved, You Jiayi just hugged her even tighter. Becoming even more inseparable26.
Some aunties and uncles from the residential complex came out for their morning exercises. Seeing Wen Nuan and You Jiayi hugging tightly at the building entrance, one teased, “These two young ladies27 are certainly close, always hugging like that!”
Wen Nuan: “…”
Hearing this, You Jiayi flushed red, abruptly let go of Wen Nuan, and didn’t dare look at her.
Wen Nuan immediately shot the aunties and uncles a grateful look. It wasn’t that she minded You Jiayi’s hug, but alas, the young woman had been hugging so tightly she simply wouldn’t let go.
“You didn’t really sleep well all night. Go upstairs and get some proper rest.” Seeing how swollen You Jiayi’s eyes were, Wen Nuan added, “And put an ice pack on your eyes for a bit to bring down the swelling.”
You Jiayi sniffled, nodded with a smile, and said, “Okay, I got it.”
“Alright then. You head back up, and I’ll… get going?” Wen Nuan looked at her, asking tentatively.
“Okay. Drive carefully. When you get home, could you… After you get home, rest well,” You Jiayi paused, then smiled as she finished.
“Mm.”
Wen Nuan’s hands hovered awkwardly in the air, unsure what to do. She felt she ought to make some kind of intimate gesture.
She raised her hand and gently patted You Jiayi’s hair. “Leaving now. Bye bye.”
You Jiayi smiled gently, waving her hand. “Mm-hmm, be careful on the road. Bye bye.”
Wen Nuan opened the car door. Just as she was about to get in, she suddenly remembered You Jiayi trailing off earlier28.
She took out her phone and waved it slightly towards You Jiayi. “After I get home, I’ll send you a WeChat.”
You Jiayi smiled so wide her eyes crinkled up. She nodded. “Okay, I’ll wait for you.”
Seeing her reaction, Wen Nuan thought, This young woman is quite easy to understand, isn’t she?
Then why are lovers who fall head over heels always arguing, always saying the other person doesn’t understand them?
Actually, if you just observe carefully, they’re quite easy to understand, aren’t they?
Footnotes
- 跑路 | pǎolù | Lit. “run road”; Colloquial term meaning to run away, flee, or abscond.
- 搞自閉 | gǎo zìbì | Lit. “doing autism/being autistic”; Modern slang meaning to withdraw into oneself, become uncommunicative, shut down socially, or be lost in one’s own world, often due to moodiness or stress. Not a clinical diagnosis.
- 不好受 | bù hǎo shòu | Lit. “not good to receive/bear”; Feeling unwell, uncomfortable, sad, or pained (physically or emotionally).
- 坚韧不拔 | jiānrèn bù bá | Lit. “firm and tenacious, not pulling out”; A Chengyu (idiom) meaning persistent, indomitable, steadfast and unyielding.
- 心疼 | xīnténg | Lit. “heart aches”; To feel distressed for someone, feel sorry for them, love someone dearly and feel protective, pity, compassion.
- 矢志不渝 | shǐ zhì bù yú | Lit. “swear an oath and not change”; A Chengyu (idiom) meaning to vow undying loyalty, remain steadfastly devoted, or be unwavering in one’s determination or love.
- 人生地不熟 | rénshēng dì bù shú | Lit. “people life place not familiar”; Idiomatic expression meaning to be completely unfamiliar with a new place, including its people, customs, and environment.
- 痴心妄想 | chīxīn wàngxiǎng | Lit. “infatuated heart, absurd thought”; Chengyu (idiom) meaning to indulge in foolish delusions, have unrealistic desires, or engage in wishful thinking, often out of infatuation or obsession.
- 贪得无厌 | tān dé wú yàn | Lit. “greedy acquire without satiety”; Chengyu (idiom) meaning extremely greedy, insatiable.
- 反噬 | fǎnshì | Lit. “reverse bite”; Backlash, negative repercussions, often used when something one relies on or desires turns harmful.
- 眉眼 | méiyǎn | Lit. “eyebrows and eyes”; Often used to refer to facial features or expression, particularly around the eyes.
- 五官 | wǔguān | Lit. “five sense organs” (traditionally referring to eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, or sometimes eyebrows, eyes, ears, nose, mouth); Commonly refers to facial features collectively.
- 浑浊不堪 | húnzhuó bùkān | Lit. “turbid unbearable”; Describing something (like water, air, or metaphorically, a situation or society) as extremely muddy, dirty, chaotic, or corrupt.
- 冷眼旁观 | lěngyǎn pángguān | Lit. “cold eye side observe”; Chengyu (idiom) meaning to look on with detachment, watch coldly from the sidelines, be an indifferent bystander.
- 耍流氓 | shuǎ liúmáng | Lit. “play the hoodlum/hooligan”; Colloquial expression meaning to act improperly or take liberties, often implying lewd behavior or unwanted physical advances, though sometimes used playfully for minor transgressions.
- 邪门得很儿 | xiémén de hěn’r | Extremely strange, weird, uncanny, or inexplicable. 邪门 (xiémén) means strange or abnormal, often with a superstitious connotation. The 得很儿 (de hěn’r) suffix adds strong emphasis, common in Northern dialects.
- 含羞而死 | hánxiū ér sǐ | Lit. “contain shame and die”; A hyperbolic expression meaning to be extremely embarrassed or ashamed, “to die of shame.”
- 虚无缥缈 | xūwú piāomiǎo | Lit. “void nothingness indistinct faraway”; Describes something completely unreal, illusory, intangible, vague, and uncertain.
- 玩玩 | wánwan | Lit. “play play”; Reduplication often implies doing something casually, not seriously, for fun, or for a short time.
- 动情动心 | dòngqíng dòngxīn | Lit. “move emotion move heart”; To be emotionally moved, develop feelings of affection or love for someone.
- 一头雾水 | yī tóu wùshuǐ | Lit. “a head full of fog and water”; Chengyu (idiom) meaning to be completely confused, bewildered, or baffled; “to be all at sea.”
- 豪门 | háomén | Lit. “grand gate”; Refers to a rich, powerful, and influential family; wealthy elite.
- 认死理 | rèn sǐ lǐ | Lit. “recognize dead logic/principle”; To stubbornly cling to inflexible reasoning or principles, refuse to be persuaded or adapt, be dogmatic or intransigent.
- 渣男 | zhānán | Lit. “dreg man”; Modern slang for a “scumbag guy,” player, womanizer, or man who treats romantic partners poorly.
- 摇摇欲坠 | yáoyáo yù zhuì | Lit. “shake shake want fall”; Chengyu (idiom) meaning shaky and about to collapse, precarious, tottering.
- 密不可分 | mì bù kě fēn | Lit. “dense not able divide”; Chengyu (idiom) meaning closely bound together, inseparable, inextricably linked.
- 小姑娘 | xiǎo gūniang | Lit. “little girl”; A common, often affectionate or familiar way to refer to a young woman or girl.
- 欲言又止 | yù yán yòu zhǐ | Lit. “want speak but stop”; Chengyu (idiom) meaning to want to say something but hesitate and stop short, often due to shyness, fear, or difficulty expressing oneself.
So they make up that fast??😭😭😭 I don’t know what I was expecting lol but not complaining tho