Qin Qing carried bottles of alcohol, weaving through the many diners. 996 quickly dashed onto a table and stole a grilled fish.
“Huh? Where did my grilled fish go? It was right here!” a diner exclaimed in surprise.
“Right here! You’re really something, eating that fish until it’s completely bare, not a single shred of meat left.” His companion kicked a complete fish skeleton out from under the table with the tip of his toe.
The diner looked at the fish skeleton, feeling very confused, while 996 had already wiped its greasy little mouth clean and caught up with Qin Qing.
“Why didn’t you anger that bald guy? You made the plot collapse!” It accused angrily.
“How is the script written?” Qin Qing asked, communicating with 996 telepathically while handing out drinks to the customers.
Unaware that it was being pumped for information, 996 looked at its smart brain and said, “The script says you have to refuse to drink with the bald man.”
“So I did exactly that.”
Qin Qing quickly grabbed the wrist of a diner who had knocked over his glass, raised the other’s arm, and said with a slight hint of concern, “Lift your hand a little, be careful not to get your clothes dirty.”
Completely ignored, 996 was fuming, but there was nothing it could do. Qin Qing had indeed acted according to the script, but the outcome was completely different!
“No! You didn’t anger that bald guy. Instead, you made him sympathize with you!” 996 felt it had caught Qin Qing’s mistake, and its tone became harsh.
“Does the script stipulate my exact lines?”
Qin Qing released the diner’s wrist and apologized softly, “I’m sorry, it seems I didn’t help you.”
The diner was a young man in his early twenties. He had never seen a man as handsome as Qin Qing, exuding an elegant, ancient charm and a gentle aura. His cheeks instantly flushed bright red, and he couldn’t speak clearly, only able to wave his hand hastily. “N-n-no, it’s nothing. I knocked over the glass myself. It was my fault to begin with.”
“Damn, why are you getting shy? You’re straight!” his friends teased.
The young man became even more embarrassed. He shot a quick glance at Qin Qing and then lowered his head.
996 shook its head. “There are no lines, only plot points. How could the fate arranged by the Heavenly Dao possibly specify what to say? It can only outline a general thread of fate.”
Qin Qing chuckled softly, his voice rich as wine. This answer was within his expectations. The young man, however, thought Qin Qing was laughing at him. He quickly looked up at the other man, and both his ears turned bright red. This person’s voice was lethally beautiful, and his smile was so handsome… His brothers teased him even more.
Qin Qing bowed slightly. “Please wait a moment. I’ll be right back.”
Two minutes later, Qin Qing returned with a bottle of dry cleaning solution and a pack of wet wipes. He gently held the young man’s wrist with one hand while pinching a wet wipe soaked in the solution with the other, carefully and diligently cleaning the grease stains from the young man’s sleeve. The face so close, made exceptionally handsome and gentle by its focus, was surrounded by a faint, lingering fragrance…
Imperceptibly, the entire table fell silent. The young man whose wrist Qin Qing was holding felt his heart pounding erratically. His gaze was fixed on Qin Qing, unable to look away. How could there be such a good person in the world…
“All done. Just as clean as when you came in, right?” Qin Qing released the young man’s wrist, straightened up, and smiled slightly.
A gentle, beautiful smile, like a quietly blooming flower in the noisy night market.
The young man held his own quietly warming wrist and nodded dumbly. “Right.”
The few who had been teasing also slowly blushed, belatedly captivated by Qin Qing’s charm.
But Qin Qing seemed completely unaware of the others’ reactions – or rather, he was long accustomed to the surging emotions directed towards him in secret. He quickly cleaned the tabletop with the wipes, left a “Please enjoy your meal,” and turned to leave.
The young men, who had been happily playing and laughing just moments ago, were now reluctantly gazing at his retreating back. 996 chased after Qin Qing as he darted around the venue, occasionally stealing a few skewers.
“Next time, act properly and don’t let the plot collapse again!” It sternly admonished, then slid the bamboo skewer of a grilled lamb skewer completely through its mouth in one go.
A glint of shrewdness passed through Qin Qing’s eyes. He probed further, “So my actions just now weren’t inappropriate, right? I can still get those 10 points?”
996 looked down at the red checkmark on its mission list and said reluctantly, “You can get those 10 points, but your approach was definitely wrong. You should have—”
“Hello, are you interested in the entertainment industry?” A middle-aged man walked over, interrupting 996’s words.
Qin Qing turned to look at him. The middle-aged man handed out a business card.
“You’re an agent?” Qin Qing studied the card in his hand. When he lowered his eyes, his two thick rows of eyelashes fanned down like screens.
The middle-aged man stared at this extremely handsome face, his heart burning with excitement.
“Strictly speaking, I’m a top-tier agent in the industry. You can easily find my name and photo online with a quick search. I’ve been observing you for a long time. I’ve noticed you possess a unique charm. Although you’re a bit older, I dare guarantee that the moment you appear on screen, everyone will be captivated by you! Follow me, and you can immediately change your current difficult situation. You can earn in a short time what others can’t earn in a lifetime. Your mother and sister can have the best life possible.”
The man laid out his bait step by step. For the Qin Qing of this moment, this business card was equivalent to a path to a brilliant future. If he took this path, his tragic fate would undergo a tremendous change.
However, just as Qin Qing was about to answer him, 996 scratched his ankle hard and commanded, “Don’t agree to him!”
“I’m sorry, could I have some time to think about it?” Qin Qing hadn’t intended to agree immediately anyway. Bait that looks too delicious is often poisonous.
The middle-aged man tried to persuade him a few more times, but seeing Qin Qing unmoved, he left with regret.
“If I had agreed to him, my life would have improved dramatically. Do you realize that?” Qin Qing asked, looking down.
“You can’t agree. The script has plans for your career. You can’t become a celebrity.” 996 shook its head.
“Is everything about me planned out by the script? Do I have no freedom at all?” Qin Qing fiddled with the card in his hand, a faint, unreadable smile on his face.
“Not exactly. You’ll have a better job than being a celebrity later on. When you’re not following the plot, you can do anything. We are messengers spreading love and peace. We wouldn’t harm you.” 996 vowed earnestly.
“I understand.” Qin Qing smiled and nodded, then stuffed the business card into his pants pocket.
996 looked at its smart brain and said hurriedly, “Meow, here comes the next plot point. Go to the bathroom right now, wash your face, slack off a little, and come out after ten minutes.”
Qin Qing did as instructed. He leaned on the sink with both hands, breathing heavily for a while. His stomach felt like it was stuffed with steel needles; every jolt brought sharp pain. His raven-like hair fell loose, covering his pale face. A bead of cold sweat slid down his tall, straight nose… What was the point of standing in the bathroom for ten minutes? The sudden appearance of two female customers interrupted Qin Qing’s thoughts. They stood at another sink, washing their hands and chatting.
“Zhou Linlin is such a jerk! The moment she comes back, she wants to drive away Zhou Yourou. After all, Zhou Yourou is her second uncle’s daughter, her cousin. What’s wrong with her being raised in her house?”
“Zhou Linlin was raised by her grandparents. She has no manners. What does she know about human relationships?”
“I heard she used to live in the rural northeast?”
“Yeah, that’s where her grandparents live.”
“So laughable! She speaks with that thick country accent!”
“And she can’t even do makeup!”
“Her clothes are so tacky!”
“If Yourou hadn’t taught her how to dress, she wouldn’t even look presentable!”
“If Yourou hadn’t taken her around to socialize, who would hang out with her! And yet she goes against Yourou at every turn. Such an ingrate!”
“Yourou is so tolerant. If it were me, I’d slap her silly!”
“But Yourou lives in her house, so even if she doesn’t want to tolerate it, she has to.”
“So what if she lives in her house? She was only brought back to the Zhou family at twenty-two, but Yourou has been raised in the Zhou family since childhood. If you really think about it, the feelings of the eldest Zhou uncle for Yourou are certainly deeper than for his own daughter! What’s she so arrogant about?”
“Exactly! Every time she bullies Yourou, doesn’t the eldest Zhou uncle always side with Yourou? Zhou Linlin has no self-awareness!”
“She’s such a bitch!”
“Haha…”
The two female customers walked away, chattering and laughing as they cursed. Only then did Qin Qing lift his cold-sweat-drenched, pale face and thoughtfully watch their retreating figures. So, standing in the bathroom for ten minutes was just to hear this conversation? Zhou Linlin, Zhou Yourou… Were they characters in the plot?
“Alright, you can go out and sell drinks now. The third plot point is coming.” 996’s urging indirectly confirmed Qin Qing’s guess.
So, a few minutes later, Qin Qing, carrying several bottles of beer, met Zhou Linlin and Zhou Yourou, the subjects of the conversation.
Zhou Yourou lived up to her name – gentle, lovely, delicate, and dressed with taste. Zhou Linlin had a narrow, thin face, high cheekbones, and tough features. Yet she sported two curved, slender eyebrows, wore heavy, glamorous makeup, kept her hair long, black, and straight, and wore a lace dress.
Overall, Zhou Linlin’s outfit was fashionable, but it completely clashed with her looks and temperament. Recalling that this style was taught by Zhou Yourou, Qin Qing gave Zhou Yourou a meaningful look, then put down the beers and said gently, “Please enjoy, everyone.”
“Handsome, Linlin has been watching you for a long time. How about having a drink with her?” Zhou Yourou suddenly said with a smile.
996 immediately wrapped its chubby paws around Qin Qing’s ankle: “Refuse her! Be direct!” In the original plot, after overhearing the two women’s conversation, Qin Qing felt disgust towards Zhou Linlin, so naturally, he wouldn’t agree to drink with her.
Qin Qing followed the instruction: “Sorry, I can’t drink.”
Zhou Linlin, who had been looking up at him with hopeful anticipation, instantly saw the bright, sparkling light in her eyes dim. Her companions quickly covered their lips and snickered. How embarrassing! Even the liquor seller looked down on the country bumpkin Zhou Linlin.
Zhou Yourou blinked and continued with a smile, “Then how about having a drink with me?” As she spoke, she shyly handed over a glass of wine.
996 quickly instructed: “Drink it. Don’t hesitate!” In the original plot, Qin Qing had a favorable impression of Zhou Yourou and did drink this glass of wine.
Refusing Zhou Linlin but not Zhou Yourou – this action would surely ignite conflict between the two, especially since their relationship was already strained. Qin Qing understood 996’s intention and knew Zhou Yourou was being deliberate, but he still took the glass and downed it in one go. 996 immediately looked at Zhou Linlin, then turned its head to look at the bald man from earlier.
Zhou Linlin’s reaction was exactly as written in the script – her face darkened, her eyes blazing with anger. But the bald man wasn’t looking at Qin Qing at all. Instead, he grabbed his car keys and shouted, “Let’s go, let’s go. My daughter is crying and calling for daddy on the phone!”
After listening to Qin Qing, he had immediately called his wife. Sure enough, his daughter wasn’t asleep, fussing and demanding to wait for daddy to come home. Ah, a daddy’s girl… The bald man left in a huff with his gang of brothers.
996: “…”
Holy meow! That’s not what the script said! Hey big brother, you were supposed to see Qin Qing refusing to drink with you but drinking with a woman instead, feel disrespected, get pissed off, come over and cause trouble, and as the trouble escalated, get riled up by the alcohol and pull a knife. Why aren’t you acting according to the script?
996 really wanted to chase after the bald man and drag him back. The most important tool person had left! Who was going to cut Qin Qing’s tendons? 996’s gaze burned as it looked at Zhou Linlin. This lady had a fierce temper! She could do it! A loud bang confirmed 996’s judgment.
Zhou Linlin slammed her glass heavily onto the table, her tone icy cold: “Are you looking down on me?”
Coming from the countryside to this bustling metropolis, what stung her most was the contempt of others. Qin Qing silently picked up Zhou Linlin’s glass and poured the remaining wine onto the ground.
His action was undoubtedly pouring oil on the fire. Zhou Yourou’s lips curved almost imperceptibly. Her hangers-on widened their eyes in feigned surprise, but their pupils sparkled with schadenfreude. This guy is too mean, bullying Zhou Linlin like that the first time they meet!
996 clapped its paws together enthusiastically: “Way to go, Qin Qing!”
In its good mood, it jumped onto the table and gulped down a grilled chicken wing in one go.
Zhou Linlin was so angry she lost her mind. She snatched the glass from Qin Qing’s hand, smashed it forcefully on the ground, and asked viciously, “Do you fucking know who I am?”
The sharp crack drew the attention of the surrounding diners. Brother Jiang quickly ran over, wanting to help Qin Qing out of trouble. But when he saw Zhou Linlin’s face clearly, he wailed inwardly. Oh my god, it’s the female tyrant of the Zhou family?
The Zhou family was a top-tier, wealthy, and powerful family in Haishi City. This young lady of the Zhou family had grown up in the countryside, spoiled rotten by her grandparents, and had a terrible temper. Whoever provoked her would lose a layer of skin! She never reasoned with people; she only caused trouble unreasonably. It’s over. Qin Qing is probably in for a rough time today!
Brother Jiang didn’t dare go over anymore and could only watch from afar. The young men who had blushed at Qin Qing earlier were now standing up, watching the scene warily. If things got out of hand, they would definitely rush over to help Qin Qing. The top agent also walked over, ready to offer help in his time of need.
But Qin Qing, the one everyone was worried about, spoke in that same low, gentle voice: “You’re having an allergic reaction. Didn’t you know?”
“Wh-what?” Zhou Linlin, a volcano about to erupt, suddenly fizzled out.
“Your wrist is red.” Qin Qing reminded her softly.
Zhou Linlin looked down and saw that her arm was indeed covered in many red blotches, but they were hidden under her lace sleeves and not very noticeable. She had felt a bit itchy earlier and thought it was just a mosquito bite, so she hadn’t paid attention.
“Drinking alcohol while having an allergic reaction is not good.” Qin Qing shook his head with a soft sigh.
“Ah, I, I didn’t notice. I didn’t know.” Zhou Linlin, who had been acting like a female tyrant just moments ago, now looked flustered, like a child who had made a mistake.
She looked at the broken glass scattered at her feet, then at Qin Qing’s still gentle and forgiving handsome face, and became even more at a loss.
“I-I-I’m sorry!”
Zhou Linlin understood now. Qin Qing hadn’t drunk with her because he was worried about worsening her condition. Pouring out the wine in her glass was for the same reason. There was no contempt, no deliberate provocation. Zhou Linlin, who hadn’t received any care or love since her grandparents passed away, had received a silent warmth from a stranger. She stared blankly at Qin Qing for a long while, then bent down and apologized, overcome with guilt, her cheeks and ears burning red.
“I’m truly very sorry.”
996, who had been fully expecting Zhou Linlin to beat Qin Qing up: “…”
That’s it? That’s it? Zhou Linlin, you’re the vicious female supporting character! Where’s your viciousness?
“It’s okay.” Qin Qing waved his hand with a smile, his tone gentle: “I’ll drink this glass. You shouldn’t drink any more. Girls should drink less when they’re out; it’s not safe. It would be better to find a female designated driver when you go home. I have a business card here.”
Qin Qing took a stack of business cards from his pants pocket, selected one for a female designated driver, and handed it to Zhou Linlin. These were all small necessities for a liquor salesman, handy for helping customers.
“Go home early.” Qin Qing’s low, gentle voice was full of concern, tinged with a hint of helplessness.
Feeling like she was being cared for by an older brother, Zhou Linlin took the business card with both hands, a warm feeling blooming in her heart. She looked up, gazing intently at Qin Qing, as if wanting to memorize him. Zhou Yourou, who had been expecting a good show, clenched her fists, her mood turning sour. But her hangers-on, like Zhou Linlin, were all blushing and looking shyly at Qin Qing.
Qin Qing waved his hand and walked away with a smile. Although reluctant, Zhou Linlin didn’t dare ask him to stay. She had already embarrassed herself enough and didn’t want to leave a bad impression on this man.
But Zhou Yourou called out loudly, “Hey, handsome, can Linlin add you on WeChat?”
Zhou Linlin’s eyes lit up. Qin Qing turned around.
Zhou Yourou pointed to the nearby parking lot and continued, “Our Linlin is the eldest daughter of the Zhou family. Her monthly allowance is more than your yearly salary. See that bright red sports car? That’s Linlin’s. If you’re interested, she could let you take it for a spin.”
Zhou Linlin nodded eagerly, her eyes full of anticipation. She truly wanted to share her nice things with Qin Qing. But she didn’t know that if Qin Qing were truly someone from the lowest rung of society, living a precarious, impoverished life, what kind of greed would arise in his heart upon hearing those words?
What kind of good person would approach or even try to please others out of greed? How would he treat Zhou Linlin? The answer was obvious. He would deceive, use, and then easily betray her for more benefits. In just those few sentences, Qin Qing saw through Zhou Yourou’s intention. She was looking for a “suitable” friend for Zhou Linlin, a friend who was destined to bring her harm.
Qin Qing pursed his lips into a smile and gently refused: “No, how could someone like me be worthy of being friends with Miss Zhou?”
Zhou Yourou gritted her teeth in frustration. Was this man playing hard to get or what?
Zhou Linlin said anxiously, “What’s there to be worthy or unworthy of! I don’t care about that stuff when making friends! There’s no high or low in professions, and the same goes for people! You and I are no different!” She had come from the countryside; she knew all too well the feeling of being looked down upon.
Qin Qing smiled sincerely. He liked this simple girl.
He walked back slowly, looked down at Zhou Linlin until she was blushing and flustered, then took out his phone and said with a smile, “Alright, let’s add WeChat.”
Zhou Linlin nearly jumped for joy. She quickly took out her phone and added Qin Qing on WeChat. Zhou Yourou sneered inwardly: So he was playing hard to get. This man really knows how to hook women! Later, she could secretly contact him, offer him some benefits, and have him ruin Zhou Linlin.
Amidst the undercurrents, 996 was in despair. Holy meow, the plot really has collapsed! Two people who were supposed to be mortal enemies have become friends. Then who will trigger the bloody incident? Who will cut Qin Qing’s hand? After adding WeChat, Qin Qing urged Zhou Linlin to go home early and not forget to see a doctor, then turned and left. Zhou Linlin stared blankly at his retreating back, then lost all interest in the evening.
She turned around and said coldly, “Let’s all disperse. I’m going home.” Her attitude towards these plastic sisters had always been haughty, because weakness would only make her a target of bullying.
She had no one to protect her now. Her beloved grandparents were long gone. She could only face this lonely world by herself. Zhou Linlin lowered her slightly reddened, tearful eyes and walked forward alone. Zhou Yourou followed, wanting to get Qin Qing’s WeChat ID from her. The few hangers-on didn’t hide their admiration at all, chasing after Zhou Linlin and shouting, “Linlin, Linlin, share that handsome guy’s WeChat with us too, okay?”
Zhou Linlin was a full 178 cm tall. Annoyed by the questions, she strode forward with her long legs. Zhou Yourou was only a little over 160 cm and could only chase behind with the group of hangers-on. Watching the two groups, who were supposed to have a bloody conflict but had now dispersed, 996 felt completely lost.
“It’s over. The plot has collapsed! Qin Qing, you messed up!” It pounced and scratched Qin Qing’s leg with its claws.
Qin Qing avoided the chubby cat’s attack and asked, “Did I get the points for all three plot points?”
“You got them, but because you didn’t use the correct method, the fourth plot point has been completely ruined by you! Do you know the butterfly effect? The wings of your little butterfly have flapped away all the subsequent plots!”
996 yelled in exasperation.
“What was the fourth plot point?” Qin Qing walked back to the shop, put down his tray, and poured a glass of warm water, drinking slowly.
“The fourth plot point was a brawl!” 996 blurted out the plot without thinking.
“A brawl?” A glint of light flashed in Qin Qing’s eyes.
996 quickly covered its mouth, its green eyes blinking guiltily. Damn, it let it slip!
“I’m a supporting male character. The fate of supporting male characters is always tragic. So, in that brawl, I would get hurt, right?” Qin Qing probed.
“So what if you get hurt? That’s your destiny! If you want to go back alive to see the person you care about, you cannot resist fate!” 996 immediately set aside its guilt and said righteously.
Qin Qing turned his head back, watching Zhou Linlin and Zhou Yourou slowly walk away, emotions he couldn’t name swirling in his eyes. Just then, Zhou Yourou, who was trotting along, accidentally bumped into a drunkard. The drunkard grabbed Zhou Yourou and demanded an apology, but Zhou Yourou slapped him hard and pushed him into a nearby foul-smelling drainage ditch.
The ditch was full of sour, stinking grease, making the drunkard a mess. The drunkard’s friends quickly jumped in to pull him out, and then got into a conflict with Zhou Yourou and her hangers-on. The two sides went from shouting and shoving to flipping tables and fighting.
Seeing this, the anxious and irritable 996 was stunned for a moment, then let out an excited cry: “Meow, the plot hasn’t collapsed after all! What was meant to happen is still happening! Is this unchangeable fate, meow?”
Qin Qing put down his glass, his eyes dark and obscure as he murmured deliberately, “Unchangeable… fate?”
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