When the Female Lead Becomes Obsessive – Chapter 9

Volume One: Those Years I Was a CEO

Sorry

You Jiayi stopped short, her gaze skipping over the man’s shoulder to look behind him. Xu Wen Nuan stood at the exit, a slender cigarette held between her fingers, the ember glowing at its tip, slowly burning.

The man turned, and upon seeing Wen Nuan, his whole body trembled as he stammered, “CEO… CEO Xu?!”

Among those attending the CAD¹ cocktail party, one could afford not to recognize many people, but one absolutely could not fail to recognize Xu Wen Nuan and Ren Kai². Otherwise, such a person simply wouldn’t have the qualifications to attend the CAD cocktail party at all.

Wen Nuan took a drag from her cigarette, walked up to the man, and blew the smoke from her mouth onto his face. Her eyes were dark and obscure as she looked past the man towards You Jiayi.

She asked, quite disappointedly, “Was all the combat training I taught you before learned in vain?”

Wen Nuan pointed at the man, a mocking smile on her face. “This kind of scum, if you don’t beat him up, what are you keeping him around for?”

The man: “……”

You Jiayi bit her lip, remaining silent.

She lifted the hem of her skirt and walked towards the doorway; she wanted to leave this place.

“Where are you going?” Wen Nuan grabbed her arm.

You Jiayi evaded Wen Nuan’s grasp, lowered her eyes, and said softly, “Thank you for your kind intentions, CEO Xu. I still have matters to attend to, so I’ll be leaving first.”

Wen Nuan frowned slightly. “You want to leave? Fine. Beat this man up. Once you’re done hitting him, I’ll let you go.”

The man: “……”

You Jiayi took a deep breath. “No need. I don’t want to cause trouble. Thank you for your kind intentions, CEO Xu.”

“You don’t want to hit him?” Wen Nuan observed that the man’s looks and build were indeed quite good; he looked like he might be of mixed heritage, just that his way of speaking was somewhat dissolute, giving people a particularly unreliable feeling.

The female lead doesn’t want to hit him, could it be she likes this type of man?

Wen Nuan raised an eyebrow. “You like him?”

If the female lead really liked him, she wouldn’t interfere in the couple’s… dynamics.

You Jiayi lifted her head, looking at Wen Nuan in disbelief. She clenched her fists, humiliation and embarrassment flooding her heart.

She ground out through clenched teeth, “In CEO Xu’s eyes, am I just that kind of promiscuous³… b%tch⁴?”

“……” Seeing her suddenly become agitated, Wen Nuan figured the female lead probably didn’t like this dissolute man.

The System popped up to warn: 【The female Lead’s blackening value is rising. Current blackening value is 6!】

Hearing this, Wen Nuan immediately explained, “I didn’t mean that. I saw you were reluctant to hit him and thought you might… towards him…”

You Jiayi gave a cold laugh. “Because I was reluctant to hit him, you assume I like him? If I were to slap you, would you assume I really hate you?”

Wen Nuan looked at her tear-brimmed eyes and suddenly didn’t know what to say.

You Jiayi saw her silence again—silence, time after time—it was more painful and torturous than being cursed at.

She wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes, her movement fierce, and raised her hand to slap the man hard across the face.

The man’s face was knocked sideways by her blow, but because Xu Wen Nuan was present, he didn’t dare to resist in any way and could only endure it.

“Is this okay now?” You Jiayi held her neck stiffly, her voice heavy. “Is it enough? Can I leave now?”

Wen Nuan: “…..”

Without waiting for Wen Nuan’s reply, You Jiayi turned and left directly.

The man stood awkwardly rooted to the spot. He touched his cheek; that woman had used considerable force just now, making his head buzz.

“CEO Xu, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

The cigarette between her fingers burned down to the end.

“Scram!”

The man immediately ran far away.

The System, looking at the rising blackening value, consoled: 【Actually, it’s not hard to figure out. If the person someone likes keeps setting them up with men or women, anyone would get angry.】

At this moment, Wen Nuan had no mind to care about the rising blackening value. Her mind was filled with the look You Jiayi had given her just now.

Pain and desolation.

It felt like a ball of cotton hitting her—not painful, but suffocatingly uncomfortable, making it somewhat hard to breathe.

The man and woman who had finished their business behind the vine trellis ran right into Wen Nuan. Both were startled, bowing low to greet Wen Nuan.

Wen Nuan couldn’t be bothered with these two who had been fooling around outdoors. She walked deeper in and sat on a chair behind the vines.

She lit another cigarette, holding it in her mouth without inhaling, letting the flame burn the cigarette down bit by bit.

As it neared the end, Wen Nuan took a forceful drag, the smoke slowly exhaling from her nose.

“Did I say the wrong thing?” Wen Nuan asked.

You Jiayi’s expression made one’s heart clench just looking at it.

The System sighed: 【Probably. Otherwise, the female lead’s blackening value wouldn’t have risen.】

It was a system; it could only infer human emotional changes through data.

“That wasn’t my intention.” Wen Nuan thought of You Jiayi calling herself a promiscuous b%tch, and her heart began to feel heavy.

【I know,】 the System naturally understood Wen Nuan’s meaning, 【But… the female lead doesn’t know.】

Wen Nuan said sullenly, “I think I need to have a proper talk with her.”

They hadn’t exchanged many words during their last meeting, mainly because the female lead’s sudden confession had caught her completely off guard.

And this time, she had misspoken again and made the female lead cry.

【Talk about what?】 the System asked puzzledly, 【Talk about romance?】

“….” Wen Nuan was speechless. “Are you trying to turn me gay every second of every day?”

The System smiled faintly: 【Isn’t it all for a beautiful future?】

Wen Nuan gave a cold snort, rolling her eyes at the System.

The CAD cocktail party continued until 12 o’clock, and people gradually began to leave.

Shu Changning had been looking for You Jiayi at the party for a long time, finally finding her in the women’s restroom.

Seeing her eyes red and puffy, looking like she had cried.

Shu Changning frowned, asking nervously, “What happened? Were you bullied?”

You Jiayi shook her head. “No, I’m just too tired.” She forced a smile. “My eyes got red from yawning.”

If Shu Changning couldn’t tell whether those eyes were red from crying or fatigue, he wouldn’t have needed to survive in the entertainment industry. But since You Jiayi wasn’t willing to say, he wouldn’t force her.

He carefully checked You Jiayi from top to bottom: no injuries, hairstyle intact, no signs of her clothes being torn or splashed with water. Only her eye makeup was messed up from crying, but now that the party was ending, her makeup wasn’t too important.

“The party’s over. Let’s go.”

You Jiayi nodded. “Okay.”

Ren Kai had been looking for Wen Nuan for ages. Seeing her emerge from the indoor garden, he exclaimed, “Damn, I looked for you all night, and you were f%cking hiding in the garden?”

Wen Nuan looked at the mark on his neck, speechless. “You looked for me all night? With telepathy? Wipe the lipstick off your neck first before you talk.”

Ren Kai touched his neck; indeed, there was lipstick. He grinned cheekily, “Isn’t it because I was worried about you? Let’s go? Next round? The party’s over, let’s hit a bar?”

“Not going,” Wen Nuan scanned the surroundings, spotting the figures of Shu Changning and You Jiayi. “Go have fun yourself. I have something to do, leaving first.”

“Hey? Hey?” Ren Kai watched Wen Nuan run towards You Jiayi.

He recognized that woman, the top artist from Yixin Entertainment. Good acting skills, good looks too. He had originally wanted to make a move, but Xu Wen Nuan beat him up, making him drop the idea.

Shu Changning heard the rapid clicking of high heels, turned his head, and was surprised. “CEO Xu?”

You Jiayi’s body stiffened, but she didn’t stop, continuing to walk forward.

“Jiayi, let’s talk.” Wen Nuan grabbed her, her tone earnest. “Let’s chat, okay?”

You Jiayi shook off Wen Nuan’s hand, her voice cold. “I have nothing to talk about with CEO Xu.”

Seeing her deliberately avoiding the topic, Wen Nuan didn’t get annoyed. Gripping her wrist, she said to Shu Changning, “I’m taking Jiayi. You can head back first.”

Shu Changning: “….Alright.”

“Let go!” You Jiayi tried to break free from Wen Nuan’s grip, but couldn’t.

Wen Nuan silently led You Jiayi out of the hotel.

They arrived at the underground parking garage. Wen Nuan opened the car door. “Get in, I’ll drive you back.”

“I wouldn’t want to trouble CEO Xu. I can take a taxi home.” You Jiayi turned to leave.

Wen Nuan pulled her back. “It’s the middle of the night, where are you going to find a taxi? Get in the car!”

“Even if there are no taxis, the subway in B City is still running. No need to trouble CEO Xu with worry.” You Jiayi pulled her wrist free. “Safe travels, CEO Xu.”

“You Jiayi, can you stop throwing a tantrum!” Wen Nuan’s patience wore thin, and she abruptly yanked You Jiayi back.

You Jiayi, wearing ten-centimeter⁵ sky-high heels⁶, twisted her ankle from Wen Nuan’s sudden pull.

She gritted her teeth against the pain, a cold laugh escaping her. “What? Not getting into CEO Xu’s car means I’m throwing a tantrum?”

“Then… why must CEO Xu insist on taking me home? Or perhaps CEO Xu has a use for me, needs me to accompany you to discuss a partnership, have a few drinks?” You Jiayi’s expression was laced with intense sarcasm as she spat out through clenched teeth, “And then sleep with the business partner?”

Wen Nuan’s face darkened.

“If that’s what CEO Xu means? Just say the word, and I will definitely pledge my utmost loyalty⁷, give my all. And this time, accompanying the client won’t even require CEO Xu to specially drug me. Just say the word, and I can obediently strip naked and lie in bed waiting….”

Pa—

You Jiayi’s face was slapped sideways, her hair obscuring her features, making her expression unreadable.

“Have you said enough?” Wen Nuan looked at her own hand, a trace of regret flashing in her eyes. “Is there any point in humiliating yourself like this? Does your heart feel better now?”

You Jiayi lifted her head, the corners of her eyes red. She smiled faintly. “Of course, it’s meaningful. Of course, it feels better. Compared to being full of anticipation only to have it destroyed by someone’s own hands, isn’t it cleaner to destroy it myself?”

Wen Nuan looked at the mark on her left cheek, her fingers digging into her palm.

Full of anticipation.

Wen Nuan looked at her. “That day, what were you anticipating?”

You Jiayi’s pupils trembled, panic flickering across her face. “It’s all in the past, what’s the point of asking now?”

“I’m asking you, that day, when I gave you the drugged wine, and you willingly drank it, what were you anticipating?” Wen Nuan’s tone was forceful.

You Jiayi bit her lip, her expression nearly contorted, and roared lowly, “I anticipated, I anticipated that you liked me too! I anticipated that you wanted to be close to me! I anticipated that our relationship could take a step further…..”

“As it turns out, it was just my wishful thinking, daydreaming, hahaha…” You Jiayi burst into laughter, but the tears could no longer be held back.

Heaven knows how excited she had felt inwardly when she saw Xu Wen Nuan drug that glass of wine and hand it to her to drink.

She naively thought that perhaps Xu Wen Nuan liked her too, wanted to get closer to her, wanted to sleep with her.

She even questioned herself internally if she hadn’t done something well enough, causing Xu Wen Nuan to resort to drugging her to possess her. If she had been more proactive, would Xu Wen Nuan perhaps not have thought of using such a method?

She was simultaneously excited and happy about Xu Wen Nuan’s initiative, and guilty and self-reproachful for her own ignorance and dullness.

Filled with joy, she drank that glass of wine, was taken by Xu Wen Nuan to a hotel room, placed on the soft bed, feeling Xu Wen Nuan caress her cheek.

In that instant, You Jiayi felt that even if the world ended tomorrow, she would be content.

But the next second, Xu Wen Nuan turned and left without mercy, her figure aloof and proud. She wanted to grab her, tell her not to go, but her body lacked strength; she could only watch helplessly as she left.

The moment she saw Qi He walk into the room, You Jiayi’s heart turned completely cold, as if falling into the Avici Hell⁸.

Wen Nuan’s mind was a tangled mess. She truly hadn’t known that the female lead harbored such thoughts at that time.

And what had she done?

“Jiayi, my original intention… wasn’t like that.” Wen Nuan felt that all explanations seemed pale and powerless at this moment.

Harm is harm. It had already happened. She couldn’t avoid it, only try to find ways to make amends.

You Jiayi gave a self-deprecating laugh. “Original intention? What was your original intention? The Xu Group wanted to cooperate with the Qi Group, needing someone to connect them, and that person was me, right?”

“You sensed that Qi He liked me, so you took matters into your own hands, drugged me, sent me to Qi He’s room, thinking Qi He would cooperate with the Xu Group because of this, right?”

“No, Jiayi, that’s not what I meant.” Seeing her misunderstanding deepen, Wen Nuan said urgently, “Listen to my explanation, okay?”

“Explanation?” You Jiayi fiercely wiped away her tears, looking at Wen Nuan. “Go on, what do you have to say?”

Wen Nuan swallowed hard, saying with difficulty, “After interacting with Qi He, I felt he was a decent man—good-looking, well-educated, good character, and from a wealthy family. Someone worth entrusting one’s life to. Plus, he had told me he had favorable feelings towards you, so I thought…”

“So you thought you’d play matchmaker, figuring that as long as we slept together, our relationship could progress further. You thought that given Qi He’s character, if he slept with me, he would definitely take responsibility for me, and I could thus marry into a wealthy family, right?” A trace of contempt flickered in You Jiayi’s eyes. “Xu Wen Nuan, don’t you think you’re incredibly hypocritical?”

“Under the guise of doing what’s good for me, you drugged me, sent me to… Qi He’s room, letting him… sleep with me?” You Jiayi took a deep breath, pointing at her chest. “If I had become… Qi He’s woman because of this, entered the Qi family’s door, how would you have others… look at me? Openly and secretly… cursing me as a b%tch who relied on selling her body… to climb the ladder, is that it?”

“Or perhaps, in your eyes, Xu Wen Nuan… I’m just a f%cking… social-climbing woman greedy for wealth and status, desperate to marry into… a rich family?” You Jiayi was already sobbing uncontrollably, choking several times before managing to shout these words out.

Wen Nuan opened her mouth, but the words of explanation were ultimately suppressed by guilt.

She looked at You Jiayi before her, crying uncontrollably, a heart-wrenching pain rising in her chest.

Wen Nuan walked up to You Jiayi, tentatively pulling her closer. Seeing she didn’t flinch away.

Perhaps she was tired from crying, perhaps she had exhausted all her strength.

She held You Jiayi’s thin body tightly in her arms.

She really had gotten thinner, her waist much slimmer too.

Wen Nuan felt the tears landing on her shoulder, drop by drop, scalding and heavy.

She whispered softly, “…Sorry.”

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LP: Considering that this is Wen Nuan’s first mission, she relied too much on the ‘fate’ thing to sort out what’s gonna happen next. And considering this again, how worst are the next worlds when she thought this is effective

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