Accidentally Pursued The Female Lead (GL) - Chapter 3
At seven o’clock in the evening, Shen Mian got into Shen Zhixing’s car.
His assistant had taken a few days off, so Shen Zhixing was driving himself. Catching sight of the small girl in a light blue evening dress in the back seat, the corners of Shen Zhixing’s lips slightly curved.
He had been wearing this expression all day.
It made the company’s subordinates think his head had been hit. Otherwise, why would someone who was always expressionless and exuded a coldness that kept people away have an air of friendliness and a smile surrounding him today?
And the source of Shen Zhixing’s happiness was Shen Mian’s calling him “brother” today.
“Brother, you’re in a good mood?” Shen Mian saw Shen Zhixing’s smile from the corner of her eye.
Shen Zhixing restrained his smile and nodded, his voice deep. “Mm.”
Hearing this, Shen Mian chuckled softly. Her mood was also good today.
Not only had she been reborn, but she had also returned to a point in time where everything could still be salvaged.
And now, she was about to prevent the beginning of the nightmare.
The siblings didn’t chat anymore, instead immersing themselves in a sweet atmosphere of joy as they headed towards the hotel where the banquet was being held.
Upon entering the venue, Shen Zhixing was immediately surrounded by people, and Shen Mian, who was holding his arm, was squeezed out of the crowd.
Shen Zhixing frowned and looked at Shen Mian, only to see her point at the table offering food and then turn and walk away.
After taking a few steps, she even waved and greeted someone who was staring at her, her familiarity and ease showing that there was no need to worry about her.
Shen Zhixing withdrew his gaze and mingled with the people around him.
Shen Mian stood at the edge of the table, but her eyes weren’t fixed on the food. Instead, she was observing her surroundings.
Finally, her sharp gaze settled on a corner.
A woman in a long black dress, her hair scattered down her back, walked by. Her figure was curvaceous and voluptuous. If not for the fact that few people looked towards the corner, this woman would surely attract the attention of many men.
She was the female lead of the novel, Xie Qiaoyu.
••••
Xie Qiaoyu sat idly in the most secluded corner of the banquet hall, holding a plate of small cakes that she intended to fill her empty stomach with.
Today, she had performed several surgeries totaling about five hours and hadn’t even had time for lunch. Exhausted after a long day, she was about to have dinner when Xie Yangzheng had someone drive her to this place.
She hadn’t wanted to come originally, but Xie Yangzheng had threatened her with a keepsake left by her mother.
Helpless, Xie Qiaoyu had no choice but to follow the driver to the venue.
She knew Xie Yangzheng’s intentions: to use her to curry favor with those wealthy and influential figures.
Xie Qiaoyu didn’t want to fulfill his wishes, so as soon as she entered, she had hidden here without going out.
It was just that her stomach was terribly empty, so she had grabbed a plate of cakes nearby.
Xie Qiaoyu hadn’t expected that with just a few steps, she would be targeted by two people.
Shen Mian picked up a wine glass, glanced at Shen Zhixing, and seeing that he was still surrounded by people and couldn’t get away, she immediately felt relieved and turned to walk towards her target.
A shadow fell over her, and Xie Qiaoyu looked up to see someone standing in front of her. But because they were backlit, Xie Qiaoyu couldn’t see her face clearly. She could only see the warm light from the banquet hall behind her radiating around her.
Shen Mian looked down at Xie Qiaoyu, her brows relaxed, her pink lips glistening. Just like in her previous life, even with light makeup, she could make hearts pound.
Truly worthy of being the female lead!
Composing herself, Shen Mian sat down at a safe social distance, raised the champagne in her hand, and said to Xie Qiaoyu, “Hello, Miss Xie. My name is Shen Mian.”
Hearing Shen Mian introduce herself, Xie Qiaoyu’s eyebrows slightly arched.
Shen Mian?
The third young lady of the Shen Group?
She had only heard of her before; this was the first time she had seen her in person.
Because Shen Mian sat down, Xie Qiaoyu could easily see Shen Mian’s appearance.
She was quite good-looking.
After this mental assessment, Xie Qiaoyu raised the cake in her hand in acknowledgment. “Hello.”
“Why is Miss Xie sitting here alone?”
Shen Mian asked, picking up her wine glass and bringing it to her lips. She took a sip, and after the taste buds were stimulated, Shen Mian frowned and glanced at the liquid in the glass, then nonchalantly put the glass down.
Xie Qiaoyu noticed all of this and said, “It’s quiet here.”
Shen Mian gave a dry laugh. “Then it seems I’ve broken the quiet.”
Xie Qiaoyu didn’t speak, silently conveying ‘yes’.
Shen Mian acted as if she didn’t understand at all and continued, “How about we become friends?”
Xie Qiaoyu put down the cake in her hand and was about to refuse Shen Mian when a male voice interrupted, “Miss, hello. Here is the wine you just ordered.”
Xie Qiaoyu had indeed asked a waiter for a drink just now, but she had asked for water, not wine. After working all day, she only wanted a drink that wouldn’t irritate her. But she didn’t want to fuss over such a small matter and took the wine without saying anything.
While Xie Qiaoyu was talking to the waiter, Shen Mian looked into the distance and saw the person who had noticed Xie Qiaoyu at the same time as her staring intently in their direction.
That person was Xie Qiaoyu’s half-brother, Xie Zhi, 21 years old.
It was mentioned in the later chapters of the book that the person who drugged Xie Qiaoyu was this younger brother of hers.
Shen Mian looked at Xie Zhi and narrowed her eyes.
With her here, how could Xie Qiaoyu fall into the trap today?
Earlier in the dressing room, Shen Mian looked at her empty hands and suddenly thought of something.
Since thinking of Lu Jingchen would make her heart flutter and affect her plan, while thinking of Xie Qiaoyu had no reaction, then wouldn’t it be fine for her to stay by Xie Qiaoyu’s side?
After all, as the female lead, Xie Qiaoyu’s importance was the same as Lu Jingchen’s.
So, the first thing Shen Mian did upon entering the banquet venue was to look for Xie Qiaoyu.
When she sat down next to Xie Qiaoyu, the first thought that floated into Shen Mian’s mind was: It’s great, I don’t have the urge to slap her like I did in my previous life.
••••
After the waiter left, Xie Zhi, who was still observing the situation, happened to meet Shen Mian’s gaze.
Although the distance was far, Xie Zhi saw the mockery in Shen Mian’s eyes. Xie Zhi’s heart pounded as he looked at Shen Mian, and some of the wine in his hand spilled.
Why did he feel like Shen Mian knew everything just from that look?
Impossible!
His methods were so secretive that even the waiter hadn’t noticed. How could Shen Mian possibly know?
Seeing that Xie Qiaoyu had already picked up the glass, Xie Zhi sneered and turned to leave, preparing to go find Xie Yangzheng to take credit.
Seeing Xie Zhi leave, Shen Mian reached out and grasped the hand Xie Qiaoyu was holding the wine glass with.
Xie Qiaoyu looked at the fair, delicate hand on her wrist. “Miss Shen, what are you doing?”
Shen Mian: “I’m thirsty.”
“?”
Xie Qiaoyu turned her gaze to the wine glass in Shen Mian’s other hand, which was still full of clear wine.
Shen Mian followed Xie Qiaoyu’s gaze and then remembered that she already had a glass of wine in her hand.
Three vertical lines appeared on her forehead. Shen Mian calmly placed the wine glass on the table and said, “This doesn’t taste good.”
She had previously heard that the third young lady of the Shen family was a gentle, sensible, and well-bred lady. Now, it seemed she was more like a spoiled young heiress.
But Xie Qiaoyu didn’t dislike it. She had seen too much hypocrisy among the wealthy families. Now, suddenly meeting someone with such genuine emotions, Xie Qiaoyu thought Shen Mian was quite cute.
Xie Qiaoyu smiled charmingly. “Then this glass is for Miss Shen.”
Shen Mian took the wine glass and stood up, saying, “Thank you. I’ll order another glass for Miss Xie.”
After speaking, she walked away from the corner.
Xie Qiaoyu watched Shen Mian’s departing figure, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes.
A few minutes later, a waiter brought a glass of transparent liquid with a small note attached:
“Take a rest (^_^) ”
Xie Qiaoyu took the note in her hand and looked at the clear liquid. She had thought it was sake, but when she picked up the glass and took a sip, she realized it wasn’t wine but water.
The water she had wanted from the beginning.
“…”
Meanwhile, after leaving the corner, Shen Mian first had a glass of water poured for Xie Qiaoyu and sent over. Then, she prepared to go to another corner, intending to pour the wine she had gotten into a flowerpot.
On her way to the corner, Shen Mian noticed a few people standing in front of a flowerpot. Taking a closer look, she saw that the people were none other than Xie Yangzheng and Xie Zhi.
Shen Mian’s eyes narrowed, and a better idea suddenly formed in her mind.
Holding up her skirt with one hand, her high-heeled feet moved elegantly and lightly towards Xie Yangzheng and the others.
The moment Shen Mian walked over, everyone noticed her and stopped their conversation, turning to look at her.
Shen Mian stood in front of Xie Yangzheng and said with a sweet smile, “Hello, Uncle Xie. I’m Shen Mian. I wonder if you recognize me.”
Of course, Xie Yangzheng knew who Shen Mian was; after all, he had just been trying to curry favor with Shen Zhixing. Although he didn’t know what Shen Mian wanted from him, he still smiled and said, “Of course, Miss Shen, I recognize you.”
Shen Mian covered her mouth and giggled, then raised her wine glass. “I’ve always heard of Uncle Xie’s name, but I never had the chance to meet you. Taking this opportunity, how about I offer Uncle Xie a toast?”
Xie Zhi, who had been standing beside them watching Shen Mian, raised his hand to stop her. “Excuse me, Miss Shen, my father has taken medication today and can’t drink. How about I take his place?”
Shen Mian nodded. “Of course.”
Xie Zhi smiled and took the wine glass, drinking it all in one gulp.
Watching the wine glass being taken away, Shen Mian seized the opportunity and leaned towards Xie Zhi, pretending to stumble and spill the remaining wine on him. Grabbing Xie Zhi’s arm, she exclaimed softly, “Oh dear~”
Xie Yangzheng quickly asked, “Miss Shen, what’s wrong?”
Shen Mian looked down at her feet and frowned. “It seems I’ve twisted my ankle.”
“Xiao Zhi, quickly help Miss Shen to the sofa. I’ll go call a doctor.”
“Uncle Xie doesn’t need to go to so much trouble. I remember there’s some safflower oil in room 1502 upstairs. Could you ask Xie Zhi to help me get it?”
The Lu family had prepared rest rooms for every attending family.
Hearing Shen Mian’s words, Xie Yangzheng and Xie Zhi exchanged a look: 1502? Wasn’t that Lu Jingchen’s room? They were planning to lure Xie Qiaoyu there in a while.
Xie Zhi said, “That, room 1502 seems to be Young Master Lu’s room, right?”
Shen Mian sneered inwardly, but her face was gentle as she said, “No, room 02 is my brother’s. Room 01 is Young Master Lu’s.”
Hearing this, Xie Yangzheng didn’t suspect Shen Mian of lying. He said to Xie Zhi, “Alright, Xiao Zhi, hurry and get some safflower oil for Miss Shen.”
Shen Mian thanked him promptly. “Thank you, Brother Xiao Zhi.”
Everyone around them was watching him, so Xie Zhi had no choice but to nod and walk towards the elevator.
However, the more steps he took, the hotter Xie Zhi felt. At first, he thought it was just him, but when he entered room 1502 and saw Lu Jingchen inside taking off his clothes, he finally realized what was happening.
He had clearly been drugged with an aphrodisiac.
Shen Mian…
It must be Shen Mian.
He knew that look in Shen Mian’s eyes earlier meant no good.
Before Xie Zhi could turn around and go downstairs to find Shen Mian, the collar of his shirt was grabbed from behind.
Xie Zhi didn’t manage to keep his balance and fell onto Lu Jingchen.
And then…
The banquet officially began after the second son of the Xie family was thrown out of the hotel for unknown reasons.