Secretly Seducing the Third Female Lead Behind the System’s Back - Chapter 36

Chapter 36: Meaning

When He Youran saw Xie Xin’s utterly devastated expression, she couldn’t help but laugh. “It can’t be that bad, right?”

Xie Xin slumped in her chair, eyes vacant, and silently shook her head.

Bai Chu looked toward the elevator and asked Xie Xin, “When did she get here?”

“President Jiang was already here before I arrived. I actually thought it was you,” Xie Xin sighed again.

Bai Chu frowned slightly and thought about messaging her later to check what was going on.

The training program was already halfway through. Today, someone was scheduled to come and conduct a midterm exchange session.

The exchange was set to start at ten o’clock. At exactly nine-thirty, everyone received their group assignments via email—ten people per group. Coincidentally, Bai Chu, Jiang Yisheng, and He Youran were all placed in the same group.

The email included a note: “Discussion topics from the exchange must not be disclosed. Please sign the electronic confidentiality agreement attached as Appendix II.”

“Does it involve trade secrets?” Xie Xin asked after adjusting her posture.

Bai Chu shook her head. She didn’t know either, so she just signed the contract as instructed.

10:00 a.m., Small Conference Room

When Bai Chu and He Youran pushed the door open, Jiang Yisheng was already seated, staring down at her phone.

Bai Chu sat next to her and, looking at her profile, gently asked, “What’s wrong today? Not in a good mood?”

Jiang Yisheng looked up and, upon seeing the gentle look in Bai Chu’s eyes, softened for a moment. Just as she was about to speak, she saw He Youran sitting next to Bai Chu.

Jealousy surged again, and she forcefully swallowed her words, giving a cold hum before lowering her head to stare at her screen.

Bai Chu tilted her head in confusion, but before she could ask anything more, the exchange host had already taken their place. The eleven participants formed a circle around the table, and the atmosphere was fairly relaxed.

“I’m very happy to have this opportunity to exchange thoughts with everyone today. You’re all elite members from different departments, so we won’t focus too much on professional knowledge. Just think of this as a heart-to-heart chat,” the host said.

“Since you’ve all spent a month together, we’ll skip introductions.”

“Our first topic today: If you were given the chance to switch lives with someone you envy, would you take it?”

“If yes, raise the green paddle with your left hand. If not, raise the red one.”

After a few seconds of silence, only He Youran raised the red paddle. The rest either raised green paddles or didn’t respond.

Both Bai Chu and Jiang Yisheng didn’t make a choice.

The host looked at He Youran and smiled. “He Youran, why wouldn’t you want to switch?”

He Youran thought for a moment. “Everyone has someone they envy, and everyone is also envied by others. I’d rather focus on what I have than what I lack. Instead of becoming someone else, I’d rather be myself.”

The host nodded approvingly.

Jiang Yisheng was baffled by why a training exchange would include questions like this, and was surprised that only He Youran chose red.

The question was awkward for her—because she was living someone else’s life.

If it were her real-life self, she definitely would’ve said yes. After all, who wouldn’t want to live Jiang Yisheng’s novel-perfect life?

The host’s gaze swept over the group. No one else met her eyes—everyone seemed to be avoiding her gaze.

She let out a soft chuckle and looked down as she asked the second question.

“If you had a chance to start your life over, do you think it would change?”

This time, everyone responded except for Bai Chu. Half the group chose “yes,” the other half “no.”

He Youran and Jiang Yisheng both chose “no.”

The host picked someone else and asked why.

“I think, given my mindset back then, I would have made the same choices. So whether I start over or not doesn’t really make a difference,” the person said.

Jiang Yisheng lowered her eyes. She felt the same way.

She tilted her head slightly and saw Bai Chu staring down at the table in silence.

She wasn’t sure whether Bai Chu didn’t answer because she didn’t want anyone to see into her heart, or because she truly didn’t have an answer.

The host asked several more questions, and Bai Chu continued to stay silent.

“Alright, final question for today.”

“Do you think your life, up to this point, has had meaning?”

Jiang Yisheng thought for a moment, her mind drifting back to her real-world life.

In the real world, she’d long since learned to be courteous and slick. No one had ever truly cared about her, and she’d never really loved anyone.

She could still live a good life on her own, but there were times she felt lonely. Sometimes she would imagine what her mother looked like—she must be beautiful, right? Her embrace must smell wonderful.

But the more she fantasized, the deeper the emptiness inside her grew.

She had always lived in the moment. But when asked about the meaning of her life—she had no answer.

Jiang Yisheng fell into thought and forgot to raise her paddle.

The host gave everyone extra time to consider this question.

After a brief pause, Bai Chu glanced toward Jiang Yisheng, exhaled gently, and slowly raised her green paddle.

When she did, she looked around the room.

Some people held red paddles, others didn’t respond. Only a few chose green.

She turned to look at Jiang Yisheng and realized she still hadn’t made a choice.

Frowning, Bai Chu reached out, took Jiang Yisheng’s wrist, and gently lifted her hand holding the green paddle.

Jiang Yisheng snapped out of her daze, blinking in surprise at Bai Chu.

Bai Chu, still holding her wrist tightly, stared straight at her.

Jiang Yisheng nodded and gave her a smile.

Only then did Bai Chu slowly release her wrist, keeping her eyes on the green paddle in Jiang Yisheng’s hand, worried she might lower it.

Jiang Yisheng also noticed the green paddle in Bai Chu’s hand, and felt genuinely happy for her. If Bai Chu believed her life had meaning, then maybe she could rewrite her destiny someday.

What she didn’t see was the glance Bai Chu had cast her way before making that decision.

“Would anyone like to share their thoughts?” the host asked.

This time, there was no cold-calling.

Those who had chosen red clasped their hands together on the table, still avoiding everyone’s gaze.

They all looked familiar to Jiang Yisheng, but she couldn’t name them.

Seeing the vivid red in their hands made Jiang Yisheng feel uncomfortable.

So even characters in a novel could think their lives were meaningless.

Finally, a girl holding a red paddle spoke up. “I think life should have meaning. If we’re alive, there should be meaning.”

“But sometimes, I can’t find my own.”

Her words instantly cast a somber mood over the entire session.

The host nodded and set down her pen. “That’s the end of today’s exchange. If anyone would like to talk to me one-on-one, you’re welcome to stay. Otherwise, please head to the employee lounge. The company has arranged a movie and some massages for you. After lunch, everyone is free to go home—the chairman has given everyone the afternoon off.”

As Jiang Yisheng exited the room, she noticed that the girl who spoke last hadn’t left.

Maybe the topics had stirred some memories in everyone. As they headed to the lounge, no one said a word.

Jiang Yisheng and Bai Chu sat side by side in the screening room, with He Youran on Bai Chu’s other side.

A staff member came over to take orders. She walked to Jiang Yisheng and asked softly, “President Jiang, what would you like to drink?”

“Just a glass of wa—”

Jiang Yisheng turned her head and saw Bai Chu leaning in close to He Youran, listening intently. The two were very near each other.

Jiang Yisheng’s expression shifted. “Do you have any alcohol?”

The server blinked, surprised. “No, I’m afraid not.”

“Then water is fine.” Jiang Yisheng leaned back in her chair, arms crossed.

Bai Chu finished ordering and turned to say something to Jiang Yisheng, only to find her eyes closed, as if she were asleep.

Bai Chu had no choice but to swallow her words.

When the movie ended, it was time for lunch. Jiang Yisheng didn’t eat in the restaurant—she had Zhang Tao take her out to clear her mind.

The driver took her for a ride along her favorite riverbank. But today, Jiang Yisheng was already tired of the view.

She was upset. Why did Bai Chu always put He Youran first?

He Youran knew her home’s passcode, they spent New Year’s together, and Bai Chu helped her with everything.

The more Jiang Yisheng thought about it, the more jealous she became. She turned to Zhang Tao and said, “Take me to a bar.”

Zhang Tao’s eyes widened. Bars were chaotic; she didn’t dare bring her there.

“It’s only 2 p.m., bars aren’t even open yet,” Zhang Tao quickly came up with an excuse.

Jiang Yisheng felt even more stifled. Then I’ll go buy some liquor and drink at home!

…

While Bai Chu was lining up for lunch, she couldn’t find Jiang Yisheng anywhere. She called her, but no one answered.

She grew uneasy. Jiang Yisheng had been in a strange mood all day, and Bai Chu feared something might have happened.

“You go ahead and eat, Youran. I need to check on something.” With that, Bai Chu left and searched Jiang Yisheng’s office—nothing. Then she rushed downstairs and got into her car.

She dialed as she drove, but the calls kept going unanswered.

Her anxiety spiked, and her foot pressed harder on the gas.

She could only hope Jiang Yisheng was asleep at home.

The repeated lack of response made panic rise in Bai Chu’s chest—a familiar, painful kind of panic that tore at her insides.

She had already lost the person she loved most once. She couldn’t lose Jiang Yisheng too.

That realization hit her with overwhelming clarity, her chest heaving.

She reached Jiang Yisheng’s home as fast as possible, and even before she got to the door, she saw a car parked in the yard.

Her heart finally settled.

She let out a long, shaky breath and walked up to Zhang Tao, who was standing by the door.

“President Bai? You’re here?” Zhang Tao looked surprised, but her eyes said: Thank goodness you’re here.

“Can you unlock the door for me?” Bai Chu glanced at the keypad.

Zhang Tao quickly nodded. “Of course.”

As soon as Bai Chu stepped inside, she heard off-key singing echoing through the house.

“I’m just a tiny, tiny bird~ No matter how I fly, I still can’t soar high~”

Following the voice, Bai Chu spotted Jiang Yisheng dancing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, clutching a wine glass.