Wait, I Got in the Wrong Car (GL) - Chapter 7

“Sis, can you give me some extra allowance? Your brother is about to live on dirt these days.” Guan Miao clenched his teeth at the thought of that sponsor on the leaderboard, “Wife.” Ever since that shameless tycoon appeared out of nowhere and started teasing his goddess every day, his wallet had turned against him. He had maintained the top position for nearly half a month, but now the title was snatched away. He had to watch a flood of extravagant virtual meteor showers blind his eyes daily, and worse, he had to endure half an hour of unbearable flirting every night. His goddess was as pure as white paper, easily deceived, and she did not even realize it.

It was truly infuriating.

“Today is only the tenth.” Guan Xiuniang did not even raise her head. She was carefully choosing a few songs sent by Su Bai and decided to play them publicly in her studio.

As Su Bai’s melancholic voice flowed from the speakers, Guan Miao shivered all over, covered his ears, and pleaded for mercy. “Sis, sis, please help me this time. It is urgent.”

Guan Xiuniang was not the kind of guardian who lacked understanding. She had never opposed her younger brother’s obsession with idol-chasing and sending gifts, especially since she herself worked in the same industry. Yet this time, something felt different. “What was the name of that online singer you kept following?”

Guan Miao looked displeased. “Sis, can you not make it sound so awful? What do you mean by online singer? Her name is Xiao Yu’er. She is the perfect goddess in my heart. Have you ever seen anyone turn a silly children’s song into a popular hit? That Su Bai you manage definitely cannot do that.”

Guan Xiuniang knew that her brother had always disliked Su Bai, so she had no interest in debating such childish matters. She pulled out a notebook, tore off a sheet of paper, and tapped her fingers on the desk. “If she really sings as beautifully as you claim, then I might be interested in her.”

Guan Miao’s eyes widened in disbelief. Over the past few days, he had recommended her countless times, even passing her an earbud, only for his sister to dismiss it every time with a look of hopelessness. Afraid she might change her mind, he hurriedly grabbed the pen and scribbled down the livestream account and all the popular songs he remembered. The list went on and on.

He bit the pen cap, thought hard to make sure nothing was missing, then handed the paper to his sister, who was smiling faintly at him. He tilted his chin proudly, his rooster-like dyed bangs shaking with his movements, looking utterly ridiculous.

He declared, “Xiao Yu’er only sings the songs she writes herself. Can Su Bai do that?”

Su Bai could not. Every melancholic love song Su Bai sang had been bought by the company.

Amused by his silly expression, Guan Xiuniang teased, “So your goddess even writes her own songs?”

This was something Mo Ying had already confirmed when asked by her fans.

Guan Miao stood straighter, puffing out his chest. “Every song is hers. If you do not believe me, just listen yourself. You will hear that every one of them has her unique style.”

That kind of originality was rare in the current entertainment industry. Guan Xiuniang nodded. “I see. I will listen.”

Success. He had convinced her.

Guan Miao danced away with a silly, self-invented step. Before leaving, he called back, “Sis, my dearest sister, please send me some allowance. More than usual. It is really urgent. Please, please.”

Unable to resist his constant begging, Guan Xiuniang finally picked up her phone and waved it at him.

Only then did Guan Miao leave, satisfied. He stared at his account balance, refreshing it every few seconds. Ding! The cheerful notification sound boosted his confidence. He immediately entered the livestream room, fists clenched, determined to protect his goddess by crushing the rich rival. But then his eyes caught the glaring red announcement: Leave of Absence.

Guan Miao’s heart sank colder than the depths of the ocean.

…

At mealtime, Mo Ying had prepared everything in advance, ready to tap her chopsticks against the bowl. She was a very dedicated little mermaid.

However, Miao Jin told her that livestreaming would not be possible for the time being. Miao Jin avoided her gaze, those clear and pure green eyes. When stared into too long, it felt as though they reflected her own filthiest side. “Mo Ying, I already told you about this issue days ago. If you do not sign the contract, the company cannot provide you with any convenience.”

Mo Ying glanced around the room, filled with gray strands and a mix of red ones. She lost all appetite. Without her food source from the livestream, she would be hungry again.

It was the first time Miao Jin saw her so dejected. Her heart softened instantly, almost enough to open the computer for her. But the thought of Supervisor Song’s relentless urging, along with Ni Xinyu’s arrogant presence, made her feel she must play her last card.

“You love livestreaming so much. Why not sign the contract? Once you do, the company will immediately let you broadcast, and there will even be money for a fish tank.”

Her persuasion failed completely. Mo Ying had lost all interest in the bait. Instead, she began to retreat into herself. Living in the human world is too hard. Should I just return home? At home, her little companions still liked to hear her sing. Their emotions were not as rich as humans, but at least they could be swallowed down.

Seeing her silent, Miao Jin crouched by the sofa and tried again. “Mo Ying, signing this contract will be good for both of us. We have worked well together so far. You livestream, and I will handle all the rest. I promise to take you to the top of the industry. Sign it, and think of it as a way to help me. Will you not?”

Mo Ying sat cross-legged on the sofa and looked at her for a long time before saying, “Did I not already help you?”

Miao Jin was stunned. The weight of Ni Xinyu’s oppressive aura returned, crushing her breath. She bit her lip. “Yes, you did help me. Can you not help me again this time? I need this job. You may not know this, but I already resigned from my previous work for your sake. Supervisor Song said if you do not sign, then their company will not hire me either.”

Mo Ying stared at the black and red strands floating around, the unbearable stench almost choking her. She shoved Miao Jin away, rushed into the bathroom, and slammed the door shut.

Miao Jin’s face turned pale. She collapsed to the ground and laughed bitterly. “Still no.”

Mo Ying soaked in the bathtub for a long while before stumbling out, her face drained of color. She looked around but found Miao Jin gone. Her gaze lingered on the cramped apartment she had stayed in for some time. Her strongest impression of it was small and crowded.

Still, it had been her first shelter after coming ashore. Even though she had to leave, she felt reluctant.

Disappointed, Mo Ying cast one last look at the darkened residential area before wandering slowly toward the eastern riverside, her landing point.

From where she came, she would return.

Her brief adventure in the human world had ended in failure after only ten days. She pouted bitterly. “Those big brothers lied to me. This is not fun at all.”

Snap. Snap.

A bright light suddenly flashed in front of her eyes, forcing them to shut. When it dimmed, she saw a giant fiery red Cayenne, much like its owner. Compared to Lou Anran’s car, though, it fell slightly short.

Mo Ying considered herself a mermaid who had seen the world. She glanced twice, then continued forward. This forced Ni Xinyu to lean out of the window to greet her. “Hi, little one. Going to the seaside for some air? I can give you a ride.”

“You are also going to the seaside?” Mo Ying asked.

“Yes,” Ni Xinyu replied with a smile. “I came here to catch a big fish. I thought it would take me several days, but I was lucky. I have already hooked it.”

Mo Ying’s eyes widened, shining like jewels in the light. Ni Xinyu could not help cursing Lou Anran for being such a beast, unable to spare even a child.

It was exactly this innocent aura that made her easy prey.

“So did you catch a fish?”

“Do you want to see it?”

Curiosity flared in Mo Ying. If it was bigger than her, then it must be a companion. She peered inside the car but saw nothing. “Can I have a look?”

Ni Xinyu lured her inside with a few words. The moment Mo Ying entered, the car roared forward at full speed. Within minutes, they arrived at the eastern coast. Ni Xinyu opened the sunroof and lit a thin lady’s cigarette between her fingers. “Do you mind?”

Mo Ying searched the car, puzzled. She still could not find where the big fish was hidden.

Amused, Ni Xinyu puffed smoke toward her on purpose. The little one coughed hard, cheeks flushed from the irritation. Ni Xinyu laughed, eyes narrowing. “Are you looking for the big fish I caught?”

In Mo Ying’s clear green eyes shimmered a faint golden thread, whether from the dim light or something else. With her soft and tender features, she looked even easier to bully. She pouted and glared through the tears. “You promised to show me. Where did you hide it?”

It had been a long time since Ni Xinyu met someone this pure. Like a blank sheet of paper, it was hard to imagine her in the entertainment circle. She could not resist pinching that soft cheek. The touch was addictively tender. She pinched and stroked until the little one puffed her face in anger. Only then did she stop, chuckling. “Wow, your skin is amazing. No wonder that lunatic keeps thinking about you. But little one, you are the big fish I hooked.”

Mo Ying gasped, pressing herself flat against the glass like a fish laid on the chopping board, awaiting the knife.

Ni Xinyu burst into laughter, pounding the steering wheel. “Hahaha… cough… little one, why are you so shocked? Are you not the little salted fish from the mermaid livestream?”

Mo Ying froze. So that was it. She had nearly been scared to death.