Chapter 14
First floor, kitchen.
Ning Mingyue was making breakfast, with Wei Xuan helping out beside her.
When Jiang Sheshe came downstairs and saw the two of them, her expression grew a bit more forlorn.
“Sheshe, you’re awake? I made breakfast for you-it’s your favorite taro bagel.”
Ning Mingyue was the first to notice Jiang Sheshe.
Wei Xuan looked up and, seeing Jiang Sheshe’s face still looking a bit drained even after putting on makeup, frowned. “Did you not sleep well last night?”
Ning Mingyue also asked with concern, “Really? Then let me switch rooms with you. I don’t mind sleeping in either the double or single room.”
Being cared for like this by the two of them, Jiang Sheshe’s previously gloomy mood eased quite a bit.
She shook her head. “I’m fine, just a bit curious about today’s Switch Dating. I heard from the Program Team that someone might go on a date with two guests today. Is that true?”
Ning Mingyue nodded with a smile. “Yes.”
As the daughter of the main investor in this variety show, she already knew the pairings for today’s dates in advance.
Wei Xuan would be dating her.
Shen Yibai and Fu Zhi would be dating Jiang Sheshe.
As for Ning Xi… she would probably be left out today.
Now, with over ten million viewers across all the livestream rooms, her popularity would definitely soar after today.
Ning Xi would miss out on the most crucial day for gaining fans during the livestream, and her traffic would surely decline afterward…
Thinking of this, Ning Mingyue’s smile deepened.
Just then, Ning Xi had also finished getting ready and came into the kitchen.
Seeing Ning Xi wearing her old makeup style again, Jiang Sheshe first felt a pang of regret, then grew annoyed at herself for being such a sucker for good looks.
She looked at Ning Xi, whose entire outfit probably cost less than a few hundred yuan, and deliberately mocked her:
“Ning Xi, if you’re having financial difficulties, you have to tell me. I know you haven’t had many gigs lately, but you don’t have to dress so down-and-out, do you?”
You know, even the socks she brought for the show cost no less than a thousand yuan!
However, the awkward and embarrassed scene Jiang Sheshe had anticipated didn’t happen.
Ning Xi’s eyes lit up. “Really? WeChat or Alipay? Show me your strength.”
See, she knew it-getting along with the Female Lead would bring her fortune.
Look, the money was coming her way.
Ning Xi excitedly pulled out her phone and showed Jiang Sheshe her payment QR code.
At this moment, all of Jiang Sheshe’s thoughts turned into one big question mark:
Did Ning Xi not get the implication behind her words?
Clearly, she didn’t.
Seeing Jiang Sheshe frozen in place, Ning Xi looked hurt:
“Sheshe, didn’t you just say to tell you if I was in trouble? Are you only saying it and not planning to do anything? Are you still my best friend or not? I’m really devastated, truly devastated. An adult’s breakdown often happens in an instant. Because of what you said, I feel completely defeated, sweating all over, shivering, and life seems to have lost its color…”
“I’ll transfer it! Stop talking!”
Jiang Sheshe was on the verge of a breakdown.
Ning Xi held out her payment code, looking at Jiang Sheshe with puppy eyes:
“A thousand or two is fine, but thirty or fifty thousand would be even better. WeChat or Alipay?”
Jiang Sheshe’s hand froze as she held her phone. “Thirty or fifty thousand? Why don’t you just rob me?”
“Aren’t I robbing you right now?”
“…”
Seeing Jiang Sheshe so angry she was trembling and couldn’t even speak, Ning Mingyue stepped in to smooth things over:
“Sheshe, Xiao Xi is just joking with you.”
She then turned to Ning Xi. “Xiao Xi, Sheshe takes things seriously, so don’t tease her.”
Ning Xi put away her payment code in disappointment. “Alright, I’ll listen to Mingyue-jie. After all, I’m under strict management.”
Ning Mingyue: …
At this moment, Ning Mingyue only regretted speaking up just now.
Besides, if Ning Xi really took the money, she’d definitely be scolded by netizens for being money-grubbing.
Ning Mingyue thought it over and smiled sweetly:
“Xiao Xi, you misunderstood me. I’m not stopping Sheshe from transferring you money. I just mean, if you really have any difficulties, we’ll all help you.”
Ning Xi caught a different meaning from that “all”:
“So, you mean you also want to transfer me money?”
Ning Mingyue gave her an encouraging smile and nodded.
Ning Xi tentatively brought out her payment code.
Without even blinking, Ning Mingyue transferred her thirty thousand yuan.
Hearing the notification for thirty thousand yuan received, Ning Xi was stunned.
Ahhhhhh!
Who on earth is badmouthing Ning Mingyue?
Mingyue is clearly the purest and kindest person she’s ever met!
She just casually transferred thirty thousand-how generous is that!
Jiang Sheshe stood there dumbfounded: Has Mingyue lost her mind?
Ning Xi then looked at Jiang Sheshe. “Sheshe, what about you?”
Although Jiang Sheshe didn’t know what Ning Mingyue was thinking, with so many people watching the livestream, she didn’t want to lose face, so she also transferred thirty thousand to Ning Xi.
Ning Xi nodded and looked at Wei Xuan:
“So, do you want to chip in too? I really don’t mean anything by it, it’s just that since both of them chipped in, if you don’t, I’m afraid you’ll feel left out.”
She’s really not picking on Wei Xuan for being honest-she’s just worried he’ll feel excluded!
Really.
Wei Xuan couldn’t help but laugh.
“The thirty thousand I just transferred to you already includes Brother Xuan’s share! He doesn’t need to give you anything!” Jiang Sheshe quickly spoke up, glaring at Ning Xi.
“Alright.”
Ning Xi shrugged, looking a bit disappointed.
But inside, she was already laughing like crazy.
Just by acting a little crazy, she had earned sixty thousand!
What did this mean?
There weren’t many chances left for Xiangcheng’s Richest Person.
Ning Xi was cackling inside, her whole demeanor shifting from someone who would roast anyone she met to a bright and cheerful little girl.
Ning Mingyue noticed that Ning Xi still seemed completely oblivious, and the corners of her mouth curled up.
However… the scene she had imagined, where Ning Xi would be hated by the entire internet, didn’t happen at all.
Netizens who saw what just happened were all envious of Ning Xi.
[You brat, you really made a profit]
[Ning Xi must be tired, let me go in and record for a day]
[Jiang Sheshe and Ning Mingyue seem a bit silly and rich]
[Can someone randomly give me a million? Maybe it’s nothing to you, but it could change my fate]
After this little episode, everyone started eating.
Ning Xi immediately launched into a barrage of over-the-top compliments, praising Head Chef Ning Mingyue to the skies.
The emotional value was maxed out.
At first, Ning Mingyue could barely keep a smile on her face.
But soon, her expression visibly started to crack.
“Xiao Xi, this is just a simple sandwich, it’s not as amazing as you say!”
Ning Xi disagreed: “How could this be a simple sandwich? Just look at the way the egg is cooked-such skill in the small details shows that Mingyue-jie’s cooking is extraordinary! Look at this lettuce, so bold and full of life! And this bread…”
Ning Mingyue was completely numb.
After all those compliments, she felt like she hadn’t made a sandwich, but a whole Manchu Han Imperial Feast.
She wanted to hint to Jiang Sheshe to stop Ning Xi, but since Ning Xi was praising her, she couldn’t find any reason to interrupt.
In the end, she could only hold it in.
Meanwhile, in all this chaos, Ning Xi quietly devoured two sandwiches and a whole glass of freshly squeezed juice.
“I don’t think we’ve seen Fu Zhi at all. Doesn’t he eat breakfast?”
As breakfast was ending, Ning Mingyue asked curiously.
Ning Xi was still thinking about how she could sneak a bit more food without the Netizens noticing, completely unaware that Ning Mingyue was talking to her.
“Xiao Xi?” Ning Mingyue called her again.
Because of the thirty thousand transfer earlier, Jiang Sheshe was still a bit upset, so she deliberately said:
“Ning Xi, why are you spacing out? Do you have something on your mind? Or are you thinking about today’s date?”
Ning Xi’s mouth was quicker than her brain: “Hahaha, what could I possibly have on my mind? The only thing I worry about is being poor.”
Jiang Sheshe: …
Jiang Sheshe awkwardly changed the subject: “Hahaha, the weather is really nice today.”
Ning Xi looked a little disappointed.
Sigh, she thought Jiang Sheshe was about to shower her with more gold coins.
But it was fine, after all, everything had to go down the path of sustainable development.
“Xiao Xi, this is the breakfast I made for Fu Zhi. Why don’t you take it up to him later?” Ning Mingyue said again.
Following her principle of always helping the Female Lead, Ning Xi pinched her nose and agreed reluctantly.
But out of Ning Mingyue’s sight, Ning Xi maliciously added three spoonfuls of sugar to Fu Zhi’s coffee.
She even put on a villainous, arrogant smile.
“Eat up, Big Glutton Boy.”
[Wow, is she trying to make Fu Zhi eat sugar as his main course?]
[Fu Zhi: Great, another day of life-and-death chaos with Ning Xi]
On the other side.
Fu Zhi lay lifelessly on his bed.
He looked like someone who had spent the night under a bridge in winter and now had to gnaw on a moldy bun someone else had thrown away-utterly miserable and powerless.
He didn’t even react when he heard knocking at the door.
Until someone spoke: “Fu Zhi, are you awake?”
Ning Xi?
Fu Zhi immediately jumped up from the bed.
Outside, Ning Xi knocked for a while but heard nothing, so she assumed Fu Zhi was dead and was about to leave.
But just as she turned around, the door behind her opened.
“What do you want?” Fu Zhi sounded a bit impatient.
[Wow, in just three minutes, Fu Zhi managed to get dressed, wash up, and put on cologne? Impressive.]
[I’m really starting to suspect that Fu Zhi doesn’t see Ning Xi as just a friend. I mean, I wouldn’t change clothes and put on cologne just to see a friend. *thinking*]
Ning Xi shoved the breakfast tray at Fu Zhi and looked at him with a loving gaze: “Here, your breakfast.”
Fu Zhi: ?
“Did you forget your meds today?”
Ning Xi admitted cheerfully: “Yep, couldn’t afford them. Are you planning to sponsor me?”
Fu Zhi immediately started cursing.
Ning Xi tuned him out and was about to head back to her room.
“Um…” Fu Zhi called out to Ning Xi, looking a bit awkward, “I’ll finish all the breakfast.”
Ning Xi gave him a satisfied smile.
Then, as fast as lightning, she dashed back to her own room.
A minute later.
Fu Zhi’s furious roar echoed through the villa:
“Ning Xi!!!”