Secretly Seducing the Third Female Lead Behind the System’s Back - Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Repatriated?

Beneath the spotlight, Jiang Yisheng appeared before the crowd in a vibrant red dress, drawing even more enthusiastic applause.

But then, as people looked closer, they noticed her left arm was linked with a man’s. The two walked side by side.

That man was none other than An Hao.

A sharp pain pierced Bai Chu’s chest, and the smile on her face instantly froze.

…

Rewind to earlier that evening, just before the banquet began.

Jiang Yisheng was in the room memorizing her speech when a voice suddenly echoed in her mind:

Mission Four: Attend the banquet arm in arm with An Hao.

Jiang Yisheng’s expression instantly turned tense.

“No way!” She abruptly stood up, slamming both hands on the vanity.

Zhang Tao, startled, looked uneasy. “Should I shorten the speech a little then?”

“Zhang Tao, leave the room,” Jiang Yisheng said sternly, tilting her head slightly.

Zhang Tao immediately got up and exited, closing the door behind her in one swift motion.

The fact that Jiang Yisheng had called her by her full name meant she was truly angry.

Outside, Zhang Tao tried to calm her breathing, still visibly shaken.

“I can’t do this mission.” Jiang Yisheng’s face was filled with frustration. Her voice was cold. “I don’t like An Hao. Don’t make me do this kind of thing again.”

The system responded flatly, “You don’t have the right to refuse. In this novel, everything revolves around He Youran and An Hao. You are merely a supporting character. Please follow the plot.”

“If they’re the main characters, then why do I have to set up so many obstacles for them?”

“These trials are necessary. Only through hardship can they achieve a happy ending.”

“So they get their happy ending. But what about Bai Chu?” Jiang Yisheng’s chest heaved, her throat tightened. “The one I love is Bai Chu. If I walk out there with An Hao, she’ll think all my feelings for her were fake.”

She had reached a breaking point and said everything outright.

By the end, Jiang Yisheng’s lashes trembled, and tears welled in her eyes.

“The system doesn’t interfere with whom you like. But assigned missions must be completed. That is the role of a supporting character.” The mechanical voice showed no emotion.

“Supporting character?” Jiang Yisheng’s eyes widened as tears spilled down her cheeks. “So that means a supporting character’s feelings don’t matter?”

“Please complete the mission immediately,” the system replied, unmoved.

“I said—I won’t do it!” she snapped, her voice resolute, eyes burning.

“Electric shock penalty ready. Proceed with the mission immediately.”

“Keep dreaming.” Jiang Yisheng clenched her teeth. The pain from the last shock still haunted her. Her fists tightened, nails digging into her palms. Her body trembled with instinctive fear, but she still refused to hurt Bai Chu.

“Level One Shock.”

Jiang Yisheng’s body convulsed. Her hand clenched even harder, fingernails nearly piercing her skin.

“Level Two Shock.”

Her legs gave out. She collapsed back into the chair, her entire body trembling.

“Level Three Shock.”

Sweat poured from her forehead. Her lips turned pale, eyes blurred with flashes of gold stars. Every breath felt like sharp needles stabbing her lungs.

“Level Four Shock is intolerable to normal humans. Complete the mission now.”

“Never,” she hissed between clenched teeth, tears mixing with sweat to blind her.

“Level Four Shock.”

She slumped backward, the chair crashing to the floor. Her consciousness began to blur, as if a wall separated her from reality.

“President Jiang, are you okay?” Zhang Tao, sensing something wrong, knocked on the door and shouted urgently.

Jiang Yisheng thought she heard the voice. Her lips parted, but the first words dissolved into breath. She took another breath and finally managed to say:

“Do not come in without my permission.”

Ten seconds later, the shock stopped. Jiang Yisheng lay on the floor, barely breathing. “Is that all you’ve got?” she sneered weakly.

That was how much she loved Bai Chu.

A few seconds passed before the system spoke again, “If you still refuse, I will have no choice but to repatriate you.”

“Repatriate?” Jiang Yisheng slowly lifted her head, using the table for support, a trace of panic flashing in her eyes. Her earlier resolve cracked bit by bit.

“Return you to where you came from,” the system said coldly.

Jiang Yisheng froze in fear. If she went back to the real world, she would never see Bai Chu again.

She took a deep breath and wiped the sweat from her face with the back of her hand. Then she called out toward the door, “Come in.”

Zhang Tao quickly opened the door and stepped in.

Seeing the fallen chair and Jiang Yisheng’s pale face, she panicked. “President Jiang, what happened?”

“Make arrangements. I’ll attend the banquet with An Hao,” Jiang Yisheng said, her voice so light and detached it barely felt like it came from her own lips.

“Huh?” Zhang Tao blinked. “Do you mean President An or President Bai?”

The question stabbed into Jiang Yisheng’s heart like a thorned blade.

Her face flushed with pain and shame. She looked down and scratched at her skin hard, leaving deep red marks.

“An Hao,” she repeated.

“O-okay.” Zhang Tao turned to make the arrangements.

She had wanted to inform Madam Yu, but there wasn’t time. She went directly to An Hao’s parents.

The moment they heard, they were overjoyed and quickly sent An Hao upstairs.

But An Hao refused, insisting on going downstairs to find He Youran.

His father grew furious, smashed his phone, and kicked him multiple times before forcing him upstairs.

When An Hao entered the room, Jiang Yisheng said nothing. Neither did he. The only sound came from the makeup artist touching up Jiang Yisheng’s face.

The artist wore a mask that covered most of her face, but the visible forehead and eye area revealed deep, uneven burn scars.

“Avoid scratching. Your skin is sensitive, and it could damage the barrier,” she said, concealing the red marks on Jiang Yisheng’s face.

Jiang Yisheng glanced at the scars, her gaze involuntarily drawn to them. Then, afraid she was being rude, she looked away and nodded.

“Your eyes are a little swollen. May I apply a heavier eye makeup to cover it?”

“Yes.” Jiang Yisheng lowered her eyes.

A single tear fell without warning, landing on the artist’s hand.

The artist paused briefly, didn’t wipe it off, and quietly continued working.

Jiang Yisheng kept crying. The artist simply wiped the tears and worked silently.

She understood too well—no two tears ever tasted the same.

Once the makeup was done and time was nearly up, Jiang Yisheng stood up, smoothed her gown gently, her gaze soft and reverent.

“President Jiang, it’s time,” Zhang Tao reminded her softly.

Jiang Yisheng nodded and glanced at An Hao sitting on the sofa.

He stood reluctantly, not looking at her, his eyes dull and lifeless.

They walked out side by side, but with a visible distance between them.

Just before stepping into public view, Jiang Yisheng clenched her left hand into a fist and hooked it into An Hao’s arm.

The spotlight flashed on. The applause thundered.

She swept the crowd desperately, searching for her pale, moonlight girl.

But she didn’t see her.

At center stage, Jiang Yisheng released An Hao’s arm.

Yu Mushan and Jiang Hang exchanged a glance, surprised. Their faces betrayed nothing, but their eyes stirred.

Jiang Yisheng adjusted the microphone and looked into the crowd. After scanning, she finally found Bai Chu.

Her heart clenched.

She swallowed and began: “Hello everyone, I’m Jiang Yisheng.”

Another round of applause erupted.

“As my mother said, we’re honored to have you all here for Yujang’s 30th anniversary. Thirty years ago, I wasn’t even born. My mother was only twenty-six when she started this company. Since then, she has worked tirelessly.” She always says she’s grateful to you all. But tonight, I want to thank her. She showed me the strength to break free from any chains, and the gentleness to cherish every small thing. Without her, Yujang wouldn’t be what it is today. And I wouldn’t be the person standing here under her protection.”

Jiang Yisheng wasn’t reading Zhang Tao’s script. She spoke from the heart, having been deeply moved by Madam Yu in recent months.

“There’s also another woman I want to thank.” Her eyes turned to Bai Chu, filled with light.

“Thank you for tolerating my stubbornness. Thank you for taking care of me.” She paused, her fingers tightening around the mic. “I’ve never lied to her.”

She swallowed again and returned to the formal speech: “Of course, I also want to thank all of you who have supported Yujang. Thank you.”

Another round of applause rang out.

Yu Mushan was so moved she nearly soaked Jiang Hang’s handkerchief.

With the speech over, the guests were free to mingle.

Xie Xin glanced left at Bai Chu, then right at He Youran, feeling like she was sitting between two glaciers. She rubbed her shoulders and quietly slipped away.

Someone approached Bai Chu for a toast.

Bai Chu raised her wine glass, smiling politely as she downed it.

“President Bai is bold,” the guest laughed, impressed, and finished his own glass.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yisheng was being surrounded by An Hao’s parents.

“Xiao Jiang, you really moved us today,” An Hao’s mother said tearfully, gripping Jiang Yisheng’s hand.

Jiang Yisheng nodded perfunctorily, her gaze locked on Bai Chu.

Bai Chu had already drunk her third glass.

“I heard you and President Bai are close. But seeing you and President An appear together—does that mean wedding bells soon?” another guest teased.

“Oh? Really? I hadn’t heard,” Bai Chu smiled coolly, her gaze flat, fingers gripping the glass so tightly they turned white.

“Walking in together—it’s practically a public announcement. What a perfect match.”

Bai Chu let out a bitter laugh and raised her glass. “Bottoms up, everyone.”

The chill of the glass kissed her lips. The cold made her shiver.

The wine slid into her stomach—first icy, then searing like fire. She swallowed hard and reached for another glass.