Transmigrating into the Rival's Fanfiction - Chapter 37

Sheng Mingluo wondered what Qin Zhi had threatened Luo Hu with. For the past few days, he had been unusually well-behaved, not even attempting to strike up a conversation with her.

Sheng Mingluo reveled in her newfound freedom, finally relieved of the burden of attending to this young master.

Due to a family emergency, Director Zhao Le had to return home, granting the film crew a three-day break. Sheng Mingluo had initially planned to spend the time lounging at home, but her dear agent promptly scheduled her for a charity gala.

This event was mentioned in the original novel, but Sheng Mingluo, having skipped ahead while reading, couldn’t recall the details—only that it was nothing inappropriate for minors.

That was enough to put her at ease.

The charity gala buzzed with activity, attended by a constellation of influential figures—individuals Sheng Mingluo would never have encountered in her previous life.

But this was, after all, a novel, and she was the protagonist. Accepting the invitation felt natural, a way to compensate for the regrets of her real-world existence.

Qin Li was also on the guest list. She greeted the attendees, her fingers delicately gripping the stem of a wine glass, gently swirling the liquid within.

Within the industry, Qin Li was far more favored than her eccentric, unfocused younger sister, Qin Chengyi. Even though Qin Chengyi hadn’t explicitly named the heir to the Bai Ling Group, Qin Li’s prospects were widely celebrated.

Qin Li’s crimson lips, painted a bold red, curved into a dignified smile as she linked arms with Yin Qianxue. The radiant superstar clung to her wrist, and Qin Li had just secured another high-end endorsement under the Bai Ling Group, drawing envious glances from the other actresses.

“Tch, what’s she so smug about? She didn’t earn this through talent—she just slept her way to President Qin’s favor.”

“Exactly! Some people are just born lucky.”

Sheng Mingluo sat in a corner, staring blankly at the lilies on the table. The pale green and white petals seemed to merge into a single, mesmerizing hue. Lost in thought, she overheard the hushed whispers nearby.

Following the others’ gazes, Sheng Mingluo spotted a woman in a deep-V evening gown. The black dress shimmered with a celestial glow, like a flowing river of stardust. She exuded both feminine allure and the ruthless decisiveness of a businesswoman—and, most strikingly, bore a striking resemblance to Qin Zhi, sharing perhaps seven or eight features. Yet her expression remained perpetually fixed in a faint smile, like a dagger hidden beneath a veil of charm.

Could that be Qin Li?!

In the novel, Qin Li had only been mentioned in passing. Sheng Mingluo had never paid much attention to her. Now, looking back, she deeply regretted her oversight.

How could I have missed such crucial information?

Naturally, Qin Li, who was approaching, also noticed Sheng Mingluo. Linking arms with Yin Qianxue, she walked toward Sheng Mingluo, instantly silencing the surrounding chatter.

Sheng Mingluo instinctively followed the crowd’s lead, pretending to be a quail hiding its head in the sand.

Please, don’t see me! Don’t see me! Don’t see me!

The memory of Qin Chengyi’s invitation to dinner still made Sheng Mingluo uneasy. Even though this was a fictional world, the Qin family was still an all-powerful, influential clan.

Someone as inexperienced as her could easily lose her nerve.

Qin Zhi, perhaps due to her years in the entertainment industry, had a notoriously bad temper and the haughty arrogance of a second-generation rich kid.

But beyond that, she had few other vices.

Sheng Mingluo had overheard the celebrities gossiping earlier. Of course, she recognized Yin Qianxue, the renowned star and pioneer of celebrity endorsements. But had this scene actually appeared in the original novel?

It seemed like there was no such thing at all.

The clack of high heels echoed as Qin Li, holding her wine glass, approached. She casually clinked glasses with Sheng Mingluo, the crisp sound of glass against glass ringing pleasantly.

“I heard my sister is quite fond of you?”

Though Qin Li smiled, Sheng Mingluo felt a palpable wave of hostility wash over her. Her heart pounded, and she instinctively tried to scoot back in her chair, desperate to escape.

“I… I… Teacher Qin is a good person!”

Sorry, Qin Zhi, you’ve just been friend-zoned.

Her words drew laughter from both women. Qin Li and Yin Qianxue settled down beside her, placing their wine glasses on the table.

“You’re the first person to ever call A-Zhi a ‘good person’ to my face,” Qin Li remarked.

Oh no, do they have a bad relationship?

Sheng Mingluo’s toes curled into the floor, feeling utterly flustered. With Qin Li’s arrival, their corner had suddenly become the center of attention, attracting furtive glances from across the room.

Just moments ago, Sheng Mingluo had been eavesdropping in the shadows. Now, she felt like she’d been thrust into the spotlight.

“Don’t you think A-Zhi has a terrible personality?” Yin Qianxue asked. “He was such a mischievous child.”

“And even now, he never lets anyone off the hook,” Qin Li added.

Well, let’s treat this dead horse as if it were alive. Logically speaking, if Qin Zhi had no interest in his family’s Bai Ling Group and instead pursued a career in the entertainment industry, he should pose no threat to Qin Li, the eldest daughter.

Sheng Mingluo shook her head and said softly, “Teacher Qin, she’s also troubled by her own personality. I don’t think she does these extreme things on purpose.”

What a lovestruck thing to say! But it was the right thing to say. Sure enough, Sheng Mingluo heard the System’s chime.

Congratulations, Host! You’ve made a positive first impression on a key supporting character. +5 Completion Points!

Damn this stingy System! Only 5 points?

“You’re quite amusing, Miss Sheng. A-Zhi must be quite moody around you, isn’t he?”

“Actually, he’s not too bad?”

After all, Qin Zhi had recently transferred another 500,000 yuan into her account. She hadn’t even finished spending the last transfer. Sheng Mingluo believed one should always look to money. For that kind of money, she could forgive Teacher Qin for any extreme behavior.

“Miss Sheng, I must warn you: A-Zhi is very dangerous.”

Qin Li opened her palm, revealing a faint scar that bisected her palm lines. The scar appeared well-healed, but its pinkish hue still betrayed the depth of the original wound.

“This knife wound… she inflicted it.”

She clasped her hands together, twirling the ring on her index finger, and let out another soft, humming laugh, swaying like a beautiful poppy in the opulent hall.

“Don’t blame me later for not warning you.”

Qin Li’s gaze drifted into the distance, her thoughts clearly elsewhere. Sheng Mingluo appeared gentle, her eyes shimmering like dewdrops on a greenhouse flower… yet her background was anything but ordinary. Having risen through the murky depths of this cutthroat world to her current position—modest though it may be—she had remained untainted by the mire, a rare and remarkable feat.

How could someone like her ever be interested in A-Zhi?

Willingly allowing her branch to be broken off, to be caged and cultivated like a captive bloom.

The rain-soaked night, Qin Zhi’s eyes burning with utter madness—Qin Li could still vividly recall it. The wound on her hand had healed, but the blade’s cut was nothing compared to the wound in her heart.

The exquisite dagger, its edge sharpened without her knowledge, had flashed with a cold glint, nearly piercing her throat. Her palm had intercepted the blow, the blade sinking deep into her flesh. Bl00d trickled down her wrist from the gash between her thumb and forefinger.

Her heart shattered into pieces.