Oops, I’m the Scumbag Ex in Her Storyline - Chapter 25
The moment Xin Yan heard that Song Xizi was coming today, she didn’t need to think twice—she was sure Song Xizi came for Bei Lanlan.
Otherwise, why would she choose today of all days, and even host a lecture specifically targeting the School of Information? It was as obvious as a weasel paying New Year’s greetings to a chicken—up to no good.
Especially now, at such a crucial time in the battle for the investor’s favor. If someone told her Song Xizi came to give back to her alma mater, only a fool would believe it.
She just wanted to be a female Ximen Qing, seducing the stunningly beautiful Bei Lanlan. And once the timing was right, she would sweet-talk her into drinking a bowl of poison so she could sit back and reap all the rewards!
Devious. Absolutely devious!
Xin Yan’s imagination ran wild, picturing an innocent girl being lured by a venomous woman. She couldn’t sit still anymore. She burst out of Xu Suyu’s office and sprinted toward the School of Information. Xu Suyu, standing behind her, looked utterly baffled.
The principal had given her a task, which she’d already completed. Whether Xin Yan planned to donate to the school or not—that was no longer her business.
Xu Suyu closed her office door and returned to work. Meanwhile, after stepping out of the admin building, Xin Yan realized she didn’t know the way back. She pulled out her phone, opened the map, and finally found the right direction.
At that very moment, Bei Lanlan was indeed with Song Xizi—just as Xin Yan had feared.
But rather than being seductive, the atmosphere was oddly distant.
The lecture was scheduled after class, and Bei Lanlan had no intention of attending. She planned to leave with Xin Yan and maybe grab dinner together—Xin Yan always complained about work and social obligations, never getting a chance to eat somewhere nice and quiet.
Under normal circumstances, they wouldn’t have crossed paths, but Song Xizi had done her homework. She knew Bei Lanlan rarely participated in campus activities, so she came straight to the classroom.
A stunning beauty, dressed head to toe in elegance, appeared at the doorway. The previously noisy classroom immediately fell silent. Standing at the bottom of the stairs, Song Xizi looked up, spotted Bei Lanlan, smiled subtly, and walked toward her.
Because she hadn’t been here long, Bei Lanlan hadn’t formed any strong bonds with her classmates. First, she was dropped off by the high-profile Xin Yan; now, a celebrity like Song Xizi had shown up. Naturally, the others assumed she was from a different world. They didn’t shun her—but they wouldn’t treat her normally either.
Bei Lanlan kept removing and replacing the cap of her pen, repeating the motion over and over.
Xin Yan disrupted her life, and she was trying to adapt. Song Xizi disrupted her life too, but this time, her instinct was to get rid of her—without revealing her true thoughts.
As she remained silent, Song Xizi sat down beside her.
“Long time no see.”
Bei Lanlan looked up, shifting subtly toward the window. “Not as long as I imagined.”
Song Xizi chuckled, “I was just afraid you had forget me. I’ve been thinking about you these past few days.”
Bei Lanlan paused, then said quietly, “Thinking about me? Or thinking about Xin Yan seeing me?”
For a moment, Song Xizi didn’t speak. Then she gave a soft laugh, “You’re even more interesting in person. So much more fun than the profile I read.”
She paused briefly, her tone lifting slightly. “You don’t seem to like me very much. Did Xin Yan talk bad about me in front of you?”
Bei Lanlan gave a soft “mm.” “She just doesn’t like you.”
She was blunt, but Song Xizi didn’t get angry. In fact, she smiled. “That’s okay, I forgive her. You can’t expect me to argue with someone with such a low IQ. But you seem smarter. You must’ve noticed—Xin Yan and I, in many ways, we’re basically the same.”
Bei Lanlan frowned slightly and looked up. Seeing her reaction, Song Xizi grinned even wider. “Let me guess—she probably told you I’m manipulative, cold-blooded, and have a controlling nature? Sweetheart, believe me, when it comes to control issues—I always lose.”
Bei Lanlan gave a half-hearted smile. “Thanks for the warning.”
Clicking her tongue, Song Xizi shook her head as if lamenting her kindness being ignored. She looked casually toward the door. As if on cue, less than a minute later, Xin Yan stormed into the classroom. Her eyes scanned quickly, and when she saw Song Xizi sitting next to Bei Lanlan, smiling smugly like a victor, her vision darkened—she nearly fainted.
She marched over. As she neared, Song Xizi leaned in and whispered to Bei Lanlan, “Don’t go against me when it comes to her. Also, if you ever want to talk, my office door is always open for you.”
With that, she stood and left—without sparing Xin Yan a single glance. Xin Yan didn’t chase her. Instead, she sat down in the seat Song Xizi had just vacated and immediately demanded, “What did she say to you?”
Bei Lanlan looked at her anxious face and pressed her lips together.
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There were still two classes that afternoon. Xin Yan couldn’t get anything useful out of Bei Lanlan and didn’t want to interfere with her studies, so she left the classroom. But the moment she exited the school, she unleashed everything she’d bottled up all afternoon.
“Whatever she said—don’t believe her! I knew she’d pull something shady. She’s always been like this. She’d steal any business partner I had, and if she couldn’t, she would sabotage them. Anyone who’s even slightly nice to me, she has to wedge herself in. And with you—she’ll try even harder.”
She was fuming while driving. Bei Lanlan had stayed silent the whole time, but at this point, she suddenly asked, “Why me?”
Xin Yan paused. Her voice softened. “Because you’re the only one who stayed by my side all these years. To her, you’re more worth the effort than even Adubo.”
Lanlan listened, but it didn’t ease her mood. Instead, Song Xizi’s earlier words echoed in her mind. Almost involuntarily, she murmured, “Actually, I don’t think she’s as awful as you make her out to be.”
SCREECH—
Xin Yan slammed on the brakes. Thank goodness for seatbelts—otherwise, Lanlan would’ve hit the windshield. She looked at Xin Yan, stunned. Xin Yan looked even more shocked.
“You’re joking, right?!”
Xin Yan, who’d been talking nonstop before, suddenly had nothing to say. Her face was serious—too serious. She couldn’t understand it. What kind of magic did Song Xizi use to change Lanlan’s impression in just a few sentences?
She herself had spent every single day and night working hard—and Lanlan had never once praised her!
Xin Yan stared ahead, silent. Bei Lanlan looked at her, still puzzled.
Amazing.
One sentence. That was all it took to provoke such an intense reaction from Xin Yan.
The last person who could get this kind of response from her was Jing Chu. Now it was Song Xizi.
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Xin Yan had said everything she could, but Bei Lanlan just wouldn’t listen. So Xin Yan had to come up with another plan. That night, and the next morning, she kept thinking.
But before she could come up with a solution, another bombshell hit her out of nowhere.
She had skipped a meeting the day before, and now the decision was already made. Over 60% of the attendees had approved, and someone had already started talking to the agent.
Assistant An walked into her office to inform her politely.
Xin Yan slammed her hands on the desk. “WHO did you say?!”
She couldn’t believe her ears.
“With so many celebrities and influencers out there, you actually brought me Kong Zhiluo?! Are you kidding me?! She’s Jing Chu’s fiancée! Everyone knows what Jing Chu and I were! Who made this decision?!
Whoever it was is clearly a spy—fire them!”
An Zhiyuan, under immense pressure, answered carefully, “You told us to pick whoever we thought was best, and to inform you afterward…”
Xin Yan snapped, “I didn’t tell you to pick her!”
She felt like the world was conspiring against her. Was this some book with automatic plot correction? Why were all the side characters converging on her and Lanlan?
She was too agitated to remember that side characters naturally orbit the main characters. This wasn’t “plot correction”—it was just fate.
She sat down in silence while Assistant An continued earnestly, “From every angle, Kong Zhiluo is the perfect candidate. She’s active in charity, comes from a wealthy background, has a great public image, and since getting engaged to Jing Chu, her international profile has skyrocketed. There’s even talk she’ll be appointed a UN Environment Ambassador by year-end. Our five-year strategy is all about sustainability—she fits perfectly.”
Still no response. An Zhiyuan hesitated, then offered, “If you don’t approve, I can call everyone back.”
Xin Yan finally reacted. She waved a hand, exhausted. “No need. I get it. You just can’t stop them.”
An Zhiyuan was confused. Xin Yan suddenly sat up, eyes sharp. “She can be the spokesperson—but I don’t want to see her. She’s not allowed to come to the office, and especially not near Lanlan.”
An Zhiyuan was baffled. “Why not?”
Xin Yan shot him a look. “Are you dumb? She’s engaged to Jing Chu. If she can like someone like her, imagine how much more she would like Lanlan. I’m not letting her get anywhere near her.”
An Zhiyuan couldn’t help but laugh. “Aren’t you overthinking? Miss Bei Lanlan isn’t exactly—”
He didn’t finish the sentence before Xin Yan narrowed her eyes dangerously. “Isn’t exactly what?”
“Uh…”
Xin Yan stood up slowly. “Are you saying Lanlan isn’t as good as Jing Chu?”
“No—”
“Are you saying she’s not pretty enough? Or that I’m delusional?”
An Zhiyuan:“….”
There’s no right answer to this. Every option is a death sentence.
An Zhiyuan stared at her, completely speechless. Then, Xin Yan straightened and gave him a dazzling smile.
“You haven’t completed your international outreach quota this year, have you? I heard Juárez is lovely this time of year. How about I send you there to work as an anti-drug awareness officer?”
An Zhiyuan: …
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Author’s note:
Juárez: One of the most dangerous cities in the world, also known as the “City of Slaughter.” Located near the Mexican border, notorious for the disappearance of women, murders, and rampant drug cartels.