Hot Search Incoming: The Yandere Heiress’s Wife-Chasing Livestream - Chapter 16

Qiao Zhiyue’s voice caught in her throat. She pressed her lips together, wiping away her tears. Her eyes grew more serious.

“Zhichou, are you going to the company?”

“There might be some unpleasant rumors circulating there lately. I hope you won’t mind.”

Gu Zhichou pulled a pair of sunglasses from her pocket and put them on. Looking at Qiao Zhiyue felt like dirtying her eyes.

“Unpleasant rumors? Are they about you having a crush on me?”

“How did you know?” Qiao Zhiyue froze, frowning slightly.

Gu Zhichou lowered her sunglasses with two fingers, revealing a pair of cold, captivating phoenix eyes.

She had guessed it.

Since the protagonists of this plot had been swapped, it meant Qiao Zhiyue had gone from spreading rumors about Gu Zhichou liking her to actually liking Gu Zhichou herself.

This was likely the author’s way of course-correcting.

Gu Zhichou hadn’t fully understood it until Qiao Zhiyue confirmed her suspicions. Now everything was clear.

Because Qiao Zhiyue had failed to reconcile with her last time, it meant the high branch she was climbing was about to break.

The author wouldn’t allow her female lead to be foolish, nor would she let Qiao Zhiyue lose her chance to reach the top.

Gu Zhichou was merely a stepping stone for her, and might even be surpassed by her in the future.

But now, Gu Zhichou would never let things proceed according to the original script.

Let alone allow Qiao Zhiyue to use her to reach the pinnacle of life.

Gu Zhichou’s red lips curved into a smile, but the amusement didn’t reach her eyes.

If there absolutely had to be a female lead,

it might as well be me.

No, it had to be me.

She loathed any form of restraint, even more so a predetermined fate.

She would change things, little by little.

Whether the enemy was the female lead or the author himself,

no one could stop her.

Besides, Gu Zhichou now had her own selfish desire: she wanted someone to stay by her side,

for a long, long time,

without having to live in constant fear of their interactions.

Anticipating the next moment, yet dreading it.

Shi Mi would become someone who existed only in her memories.

What tormented Gu Zhichou most was that,

when Shi Mi was gone, even the images in her memories began to fade.

Because in this world, only she cared about Shi Mi.

Only she remembered.

The embrace on the bench before Shi Mi left the hospital.

It was something Gu Zhichou regretted deeply, yet was powerless to reclaim.

She didn’t know where to find Shi Mi now; the other woman could appear anywhere.

More likely, she would appear when Gu Zhichou was being manipulated by the plot.

But since Gu Zhichou was currently free from that control, the chances of seeing Shi Mi again were even slimmer.

Qiao Zhiyue found the person before her strange.

A strangeness she had never encountered before.

In those icy eyes, she glimpsed hidden anger and sorrow.

Was it because of her?

But why would someone react this way upon learning they were secretly admired?

For the first time, Qiao Zhiyue began to ponder:

What is the meaning of all this?

But the biggest problem was that she couldn’t figure it out, yet she knew she had to do it.

A question lingered in her heart.

Her body moved involuntarily.

“Zhichou, I’m being sincere. I’ve never told you this before.”

“Because I was afraid you’d reject me.”

“But now that Ruo Yun and I have broken up, so…”

Gu Zhichou couldn’t bear to listen any longer.

Qiao Zhiyue’s words were clear: she was just a backup plan.

Sensing Gu Zhichou’s growing desire to leave, Qiao Zhiyue had cut her losses in time.

Even the author was helping her.

But who would help Gu Zhichou?

Who cared that she spent her days in the hospital, constantly smelling disinfectant?

Gu Zhichou didn’t hate that she wasn’t the protagonist.

She hated being just a supporting character, used to highlight others.

None of her story was for her own sake.

The author had poured all their effort into shaping only Qiao Zhiyue.

But that didn’t matter anymore.

Gu Zhichou had found the only person who cared about her and remembered her.

Sometimes she wished Shi Mi could speak, and other times she was grateful she couldn’t.

This way, she could perfectly preserve her dignity.

She could say all the words she had suppressed in her heart.

Gu Zhichou frowned, realizing she had been distracted too many times today.

Too lazy to deal with Qiao Zhiyue, she simply got into the car.

Ning Yiyuan was utterly bewildered.

The engine had just stalled, and now it was suddenly fine.

Only Gu Zhichou knew it was because the female lead’s aura had weakened.

Without a threat, there was no interference.

Qiao Zhiyue clearly wanted a ride, but Gu Zhichou’s sharp glance deterred her.

“Zhichou…”

“Qiao Zhiyue.”

Gu Zhichou removed her sunglasses and swept her with a dismissive look.

“Have I ever told you how grating it is when you call me by my name? From now on, just call me CEO Gu.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she felt the familiar controlling force again, this time tinged with anger.

Gu Zhichou sneered inwardly. See? He’s getting impatient again.

If he insisted on temporarily reversing the plot to give her freedom of movement, then the awkward situation Qiao Zhiyue now found herself in was entirely his own doing.

It was too late. The plot could no longer control her.

Because Ning Yiyuan had already driven away.

Since the last time, Gu Zhichou had learned to leverage the power of supporting characters.

Before the narrative’s influence could manifest, she waved Ning Yiyuan away.

She didn’t speak or make any unnecessary gestures, leaving the author unable to control her or force her to give Qiao Zhiyue a ride to the company.

However, Gu Zhichou wasn’t entirely free from consequences. Each time she defied the narrative’s will, her body felt as if it were falling apart, wracked with unbearable discomfort.

Ning Yiyuan glanced in the rearview mirror and asked carefully, “Miss, are you hungry? Is there anything you’d like to eat?”

“No…” Gu Zhichou murmured, leaning back weakly and groaning softly. She had no appetite whatsoever.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a wildly popular dessert shop. Her eyes lit up.

“Uncle Ning, pull over. I’m going to buy a cake.”

Ning Yiyuan thought to himself how quickly women could change their minds as he pulled the car to the side of the road. He was about to suggest he go in for her when Gu Zhichou had already vanished inside.

Isn’t that the Little Mute she’s always talking about? he wondered. I didn’t realize she was working here now.

Shi Mi was responsible for packaging the desserts, since she couldn’t speak. Sometimes Gu Zhichou found this deeply unfair. All the other extras could talk—why was Shi Mi singled out?

But some things simply defied logic. After all, Shi Mi was the only Passerby A who ever noticed her.

Everything came at a price.

Shi Mi might have traded her voice for the ability to save Gu Zhichou.

Of course, this was just speculation.

Gu Zhichou knew the place would be crowded, especially since it was a popular internet-famous shop. The line stretched out the door. There was no way she could look for her Little Mute now; the other girl wouldn’t have time to pay her any attention.

With a pout, Gu Zhichou stood to the side, her gaze occasionally darting toward the shop’s interior. Suddenly, her beautiful eyes narrowed. Strange, where is she?

Just then, someone tapped her on the waist with a paper bag. Gu Zhichou turned around, her expression softening instantly.

Shi Mi, in the midst of her busiest shift, had secretly packed a small piece of cake for her and come to find her. Of course, she’d paid for it herself.

Gu Zhichou cleared her throat, accepted the bag, and removed her sunglasses. Her chestnut-brown curls were as captivating as her smile—at least, in Shi Mi’s eyes.

Even the wind seemed to pause.