The Frail, Alluring O Always Wants Me to Mark Her (GL) - Chapter 15: 015
Zhu Lexing thought, Of course, she’s the protagonist.
The negative favorability always only goes up by one.
In front of the elevator, even though Yan Mian had gotten out of the car first, she didn’t go up immediately but deliberately waited for Zhu Lexing.
The hotel was opulently decorated, sparkling with golden light, and the tablecloths were dazzlingly bright.
In the private room, the man in the main seat was chatting with a gentle and elegant woman beside him. Hearing the door open, he quickly pulled out the chair next to him and laughed heartily, “Xingxing, come sit here. I’ve already ordered all your favorite dishes. See if there’s anything else you want?”
Having already seen him on video, Zhu Lexing quickly recognized him and called out, “Dad.” As for Jiang Yue beside him, despite her dislike, she perfunctorily called out, “Auntie.”
In the past, let alone a respectful title, it was rare for Zhu Lexing to even call Jiang Yue “hey.”
The word “Auntie” made both of them pause. The next second, the smile on Jiang Yue’s face became much more sincere. She was about to make conversation when Yan Mian walked in.
Zhu Lin laughed heartily again, repeating the process: “Xiaomian! Sit down! What do you want to eat? Order anything you like. Your mother has been missing you a lot during this time.”
Yan Mian looked at Jiang Yue, who’s voice was as gentle as ever: “Just sit down now that you’re here.”
Yan Mian then smiled and responded to Zhu Lin: “Anything is fine for me. Why don’t you ask Lexing?”
She hadn’t heard what Zhu Lin had said earlier and thought they hadn’t ordered yet. She subconsciously handed the control over to Zhu Lexing.
Zhu Lin was a little unsure how to respond. Jiang Yue then said softly, “Uncle Zhu has already ordered the dishes Lexing likes. He wasn’t sure if he missed anything, so why don’t you take another look?”
“After all…” she paused and smiled, “You’ve been living with Xingxing for so long, you two must have some tacit understanding, right?”
In just a few sentences, Zhu Lexing felt like she couldn’t eat this meal anymore.
What did she mean by “take another look at the menu”? Was she treating Yan Mian like a servant?
And… what did she mean by “tacit understanding”? Why should there be one?
Zhu Lexing hadn’t forgotten how Jiang Yue had stood by and watched as the original owner bullied Yan Mian in the original work.
Jiang Yue’s tacit permission was also a contributing factor to Yan Mian’s final tragic fate.
Zhu Lexing looked up. Yan Mian was sitting next to Jiang Yue. She had no expression, took the menu, and was about to accept this identity, like a beautiful puppet on a string. Whatever Jiang Yue wanted her to do, she would do.
Zhu Lexing couldn’t hold back and let out a cold laugh: “Why would I need to have a tacit understanding with Yan Mian?”
Jiang Yue hadn’t expected her to change her expression so quickly and subconsciously tried to console her: “That’s not what I meant—”
Zhu Lexing completely ignored her and pressed on: “If that’s not what you meant, then what is? Auntie, I called you ‘Auntie’ because I don’t want you to meddle so much. Why are you so concerned about what I eat?”
Jiang Yue could only look at Zhu Lin, who quickly said, “There are enough dishes here. Let’s just leave it at this. Lexing, was your stage play’s rehearsal this morning? Your teacher sent me a video. The script is very well written. Is it an original?”
The topic shift was incredibly stiff. In her peripheral vision, Yan Mian relaxed a lot after a moment of confusion. Her gaze wandered and finally settled on the menu.
Zhu Lexing perfunctorily replied that she got the idea from the internet. Zhu Lin then started rambling about the film crew’s experience buying scripts and reminded her to pay the original author.
This sentence finally raised Zhu Lexing’s impression of Zhu Lin.
She responded earnestly. Just as she lowered her head to take a sip of soup, she heard Zhu Lin ask Yan Mian, “How is school? Is there anything you’re not used to in your life?”
When talking to Yan Mian, his tone wasn’t as rambling as it was with Zhu Lexing. It was more like someone caring for an ordinary junior.
Yan Mian, however, liked this politeness. Only in front of Zhu Lin would she truly be treated as a “guest,” with genuine respect.
After answering his questions one by one, she paused before saying, “Lexing is doing well at school, too. The stage play she wrote and directed is excellent.”
“Many people like her.”
Zhu Lin had a fatherly bias toward Zhu Lexing, but he was also well aware that in the eyes of outsiders, Zhu Lexing was not very likable, and was even disliked.
Yan Mian wouldn’t lie in his eyes. Her words went straight to his heart. He immediately sighed, “Ah, things like this are inherited. It’s hard to say who gets what.”
Jiang Yue smiled and interjected: “Maybe in the future, with daughter following in father’s footsteps, when Lexing becomes successful, she can also help Xiaomian.”
Jiang Yue’s attitude toward Zhu Lin was not like a lover, but more like a “boss.” She said whatever he liked to hear.
If Jiang Yue were just a stranger, Zhu Lexing would probably have been fooled by her gentle personality and appearance and would have felt a favorable impression toward her. But Zhu Lexing hadn’t forgotten Jiang Yue’s obsessive personality in the original work and let out a cold laugh.
Zhu Lin said, “We’re family. What’s this about helping? Whatever Xiaomian wants to do, I’ll support it. Watching the video this morning, Xiaomian seems to have some talent in acting. Have you considered that path in the future?”
Yan Mian was about to answer. Under the tablecloth, Jiang Yue put her hand on Yan Mian’s left arm and lightly patted it twice: “If there’s an opportunity, I’d certainly consider it.”
Zhu Lexing: ?
What is this tactic now?
When Jiang Yue had mentioned the topic earlier, she thought the other woman was just trying to please Zhu Lin. Only after hearing this sentence about entering the entertainment industry did she understand Jiang Yue’s plan—
Why did she want Yan Mian to curry favor with the Zhu family? It was so that Yan Mian could enter the entertainment industry through the Zhu family’s connections.
If Jiang Yue were ten years younger, she would have been the one going down this path.
But she wasn’t young, so she was pushing Yan Mian into a fire pit.
Even though she knew this was a world full of lunatics, Zhu Lexing couldn’t help but slam her chopsticks down: “I knew there was a reason we had to eat here. You’ve been talking for so long just for this one sentence, haven’t you?”
“You want to be famous yourself, so you’re trying to send a frail girl into the entertainment industry? That’s a beautiful thought. But who’ll take responsibility if something happens? She’s your child. Don’t you care about her life anymore?”
“If you want to act so much, get my dad to invest in a show and shove you into it.” Zhu Lexing stood up, her gaze cold, her words sharp and merciless. “If I hear something like that again—”
Everything was left unsaid.
Zhu Lexing stopped herself in time, turned, and walked out.
After she left, the private room fell silent.
Jiang Yue was about to explain, but Zhu Lin had already lost his smile and said calmly, “What Lexing said was unpleasant, but it makes sense. It would be irresponsible to let Xiaomian enter the entertainment industry when she’s in poor health. She should focus on her health first. We can talk about the future in the future.”
Jiang Yue could only put on a stiff smile and agree.
Yan Mian, however, looked up at the closed door.
Zhu Lexing’s sudden outburst was unexpected.
But this time, the other girl was much more restrained than before. This made Yan Mian’s thoughts unclear. If she had to explain, it would just be one question.
Why?
Hadn’t Zhu Lexing been “nice” to her before just so she would say good things about her in front of Zhu Lin?
But she had already done so.
What was Zhu Lexing still afraid of?
Yan Mian couldn’t understand.
Under the table, Jiang Yue’s hand on her arm tightened its grip. She grew more and more frustrated. Finally, she stood up and said in a low voice, “It’s time for my medicine. I’ll go get a glass of water and get some air.”
She took her medicine with warm water, but the table was set with only iced drinks to match Zhu Lexing’s dietary habits.
Zhu Lin quickly said, “Don’t delay then.”
Not long after, Jiang Yue also smiled and said she was going to reapply her makeup.
The private room door was closed.
Jiang Yue’s smile instantly vanished. Her expression was sullen and malicious.
Around the corner, Yan Mian stood silently against the wall, her hands clasped together, her head bowed like a child awaiting a lecture, reflecting on her misdeeds.
“What’s wrong with you?” As soon as they met, Jiang Yue frowned. “Didn’t I tell you to be smart with your words in front of Uncle Zhu? Whatever he says, you respond.”
Yan Mian said in a low voice, “I did respond.”
“What kind of response was that?” Jiang Yue said. “Praising Zhu Lexing? Everyone’s already praising Zhu Lexing. Do we need you to as well?”
Yan Mian was speechless.
“Xiaomian.” Jiang Yue reached out, grabbed her shoulders, and said in a low voice: “Mom has no connections, no background. If you do anything else, I can’t give you any support. But entering the entertainment industry is different. Uncle Zhu has money and resources. As long as he’s willing, you can become famous overnight and make a name for yourself.”
“When that happens, we’ll have a real foothold and won’t have to live dependent on anyone. Do you understand?”
Yan Mian tried to argue: “But if I go to college and do something else—”
She could also “make a name for herself.”
“How is that the same?” Jiang Yue immediately interrupted her. “You’re pretty, so you should use your good looks to your advantage.”
“Zhu Lexing has a bad temper, but she’s a great choice.”
Yan Mian looked up in astonishment: “Mom.”
She had never imagined her mother thought this way.
Her mother wanted to marry into the Zhu family, so she hoped…
That she would also marry in?
What is this?
Yan Mian had always thought that Jiang Yue “cautioned” her to be patient because Jiang Yue had no power to “fight” Zhu Lin, so she was just going with the flow, forced to do so.
So she was considerate of Jiang Yue. She kept her mother’s words in mind and wouldn’t complain or cry to her unless Zhu Lexing had truly crossed the line.
It wasn’t until the other woman’s suggestive words fell that Yan Mian realized that this wasn’t the case. It was none of it.
She wasn’t enduring because she couldn’t fight back.
It was just that in Jiang Yue’s eyes, she was just like Zhu Lexing. Her mother wanted Yan Mian to become Zhu Lexing’s possession.
Something obedient and submissive, that wouldn’t fight back, and would forever wait for a handout.
A thing.