Hot Search Incoming: The Yandere Heiress’s Wife-Chasing Livestream - Chapter 20

Ren Qingwen casually flipped through a few pages of the book, which was filled with scenes featuring Gu Zhichou.

It included everything that had happened between her and Shi Mi.

“You’ll be back to work tomorrow.”

“No.”

Ren Qingwen paid no attention, gently closed the book, and locked it in a cabinet.

“You will.”

Gu Zhichou scoffed disdainfully. “Whatever. Anyone who wants to come to this dump can come.”

Her father didn’t care about her anyway.

It wasn’t like he’d freeze her bank account if she didn’t work.

Ren Qingwen lowered her head to look at the documents, her expression cold and her lips curved into a faint smile.

“If you don’t want to come, why did you?”

“Because going home might be even more trouble.”

Ren Qingwen was slightly surprised, wondering if this person had gotten hold of the script.

She was certainly much smarter than before.

In Ren Qingwen’s eyes, Gu Zhichou was still someone who hadn’t awakened.

She believed those plot points were merely the author’s design.

Therefore, Ren Qingwen didn’t realize that Gu Zhichou had fought tooth and nail to achieve these results.

She didn’t think the scenes depicted in the book could be altered.

Just as now, when she entered this side plot, she showed no emotion whatsoever.

It wasn’t that Ren Qingwen liked to give up.

It was that she had already tried countless times.

“Chairman Ren,” Qiao Zhiyue said as she walked in carrying a stack of documents.

She was about to say something when she noticed Gu Zhichou sitting nearby.

Gu Zhichou was also a bit stunned. One moment she had been lounging there, and the next she was sitting up straight, looking serious.

“Zhichou… President Gu.”

Qiao Zhiyue set down the documents, looking somewhat awkward.

Ren Qingwen nodded. “If there’s nothing else, you may leave.”

She was an even more marginal supporting character than Gu Zhichou, with very little screen time. In front of the female lead, she had no power to control or resist the actions she was forced to perform.

Gu Zhichou’s next lines had already been scripted. Ren Qingwen knew the comic by heart, even backwards. Without even needing to look, she could predict that Gu Zhichou would return to work.

Because this wasn’t their decision to make.

According to the plot, the author would now increase interactions between the two women until the female lead regained Gu Zhichou’s trust.

But in reality, Qiao Zhiyue would never truly love anyone. Her character was designed as a “strong female lead” who only formed close relationships based on self-interest.

In a way, Ren Qingwen felt that Qiao Zhiyue was even more of a puppet than they were. Yet she felt no sympathy for her, because the cruel things Qiao Zhiyue did were very real.

Gu Zhichou was her cousin. If Ren Qingwen had any power to intervene, she would have protected her. But she couldn’t, which was why Gu Zhichou had suffered so much.

Gu Zhichou’s expression darkened. She had been too exhausted earlier and had completely forgotten that coming to the office meant following the script. There was no chance to use Ren Qingwen’s influence to alter the plot.

Supporting characters might seem insignificant, but sometimes they were even more crucial than the protagonists.

Gu Zhichou frowned, her body trembling slightly, but she had no choice but to deliver her lines.

“What are you doing here? I don’t want to see you at all.”

Qiao Zhiyue lowered her head, her almond-shaped eyes brimming with tears, but she dared not cry in this place.

“I know I can’t ask for your forgiveness anymore, so I’ve come to say goodbye.”

“Chairman Ren, I will resign.”

She lifted her head, her smile pale.

Ren Qingwen watched her without any particular reaction. This scene wasn’t about her; it was about Gu Zhichou’s choice.

That man couldn’t defy her character setting. Given Qiao Zhiyue’s actions, he couldn’t possibly remain indifferent.

Therefore, Gu Zhichou would definitely keep her.

His inherent gentleness, combined with Qiao Zhiyue’s seemingly genuine affection for him, would compel him to act.

Ren Qingwen lowered her gaze, knowing there was no turning back.

Meanwhile, Gu Zhichou found herself in a precarious position.

The bullet comments flooded her screen, frantically warning her not to show any mercy to Qiao Zhiyue.

But they couldn’t possibly understand how difficult it was for Gu Zhichou to change her ways.

She says she likes you, but don’t believe it!

Zhizhi, you already have Little Mute. You absolutely can’t keep this troublemaker!

Last time she tried to drown you. What will she do next?

Gu Zhichou was well aware of these principles.

It was precisely because she had tried so many times that she understood she couldn’t rely on others without Shi Mi. Every step she took had to be carefully considered.

Gu Zhichou knew she couldn’t keep depending on others. So, while searching for Shi Mi, she also explored alternative approaches.

Gentleness… yes, gentleness.

Gu Zhichou’s eyes lit up slightly as she mentally reviewed her strategy.

Isn’t the author trying to force me to develop according to my predetermined character?

What if I expressed myself using my original tone? Would that work?

After all, even if I wanted to say something sharp, it would be filtered out anyway. I might as well come up with my own approach.

Adopting a troubled expression, Gu Zhichou approached Qiao Zhiyue and said softly, “You know that’s not what I meant.”

“But your current state isn’t suitable for work.”

“I’m your supervisor, but I’m also your friend.”

After delivering this lengthy speech, Gu Zhichou’s palms were sweating. The lines were a mix of her script and her own words.

Everything that had happened before had made her realize that the plot wasn’t fixed. In fact, the author sometimes seemed to prefer unexpected twists, as long as they remained within his established boundaries.

By carefully managing the degree of deviation, Gu Zhichou could make minor changes.

For example, the core of this scene was that she needed to get Qiao Zhiyue to leave. As long as she didn’t outright dismiss her, she could use concern as a pretext to suggest she take a break.

Then she could achieve the same goal.

She hadn’t been fired, had she?

Gu Zhichou could also reduce the number of times she saw Qiao Zhiyue.

But that final line was indeed an unavoidable part of her script.

Because the author wanted them to reconcile.

The uncontrollable power of that line surpassed all others.

So Gu Zhichou had to say it; she had no choice.

Qiao Zhiyue froze slightly, touched by Gu Zhichou’s understanding.

She couldn’t help but burst into tears right then and there.

“Zhichou… no, President Gu, I know, I know…”

“We can still be friends, right?”

To be honest, Qiao Zhiyue’s acting was truly excellent.

If Ren Qingwen hadn’t known the script, she would have genuinely believed Qiao Zhiyue had fallen for Gu Zhichou.

A faint smile played at the corners of Ren Qingwen’s lips.

But Qiao Zhiyue…

You’re the female lead, the one most cherished and cared for by the author.

You have no right to fall in love.

At this thought, Ren Qingwen felt a sudden surge of mockery.

Are protagonists really all that great?

If Qiao Zhiyue had never awakened, then perhaps they would have been.

But what if…

Ren Qingwen shook her head. That’s impossible.

If she hadn’t stumbled upon the manga, she would never have gained self-awareness in this lifetime.

As for Gu Zhichou, Ren Qingwen found her increasingly difficult to understand.

The subtle shift in her lines was either deliberate or…

Ren Qingwen tapped her fingers against the edge of the table. Only after Qiao Zhiyue left did the controlling force finally release her.

She raised her gaze to Gu Zhichou, whose face had instantly fallen.

Her eyes deepened.

Things seemed to be getting complicated.