Transmigrating into the Rival's Fanfiction - Chapter 40

Overtime… what overtime?

After a moment’s thought, Xu Yun realized what Sheng Mingluo was implying, and her face flushed crimson.

What’s with my boss? Can’t she just stop?

Being a single dog with no nightlife is already miserable enough!

The charity gala soon drew to a close. Sheng Mingluo followed the other celebrities out, cameras flashing incessantly, the blinding white light stinging her eyes.

Clutching her long gown, Sheng Mingluo walked slowly, Xu Yun and the bodyguards flanking her. A sea of starstruck fans surged outside, their screams rising in waves.

Sheng Mingluo struggled through the crowd, the glare of the lights making her eyes water.

As she reached her nanny van, she spotted a Maserati parked behind it. Qin Zhi was furtively adjusting her sunglasses, clearly overwhelmed by the commotion outside.

If the reporters find out I’m here, it’ll be a disaster! Yet Qin Zhi desperately wanted to know when Sheng Mingluo would emerge from the gala, so she cracked the car window open and kept peeking out.

She remembered Sheng Mingluo’s license plate number and deliberately parked her car behind Sheng Mingluo’s van, hoping Sheng Mingluo would find her immediately.

Having finally shaken off the reporters and fans, Sheng Mingluo, protected by Xu Yun, approached her van. Her eyes immediately fell on a luxurious sedan parked behind it.

Before she could speak, the driver’s window rolled down, revealing a face hidden behind sunglasses and a mask. Sheng Mingluo recognized her instantly: Qin Zhi.

“Get in,” Qin Zhi said. “I told you I’d drive you home.”

Xu Yun, sensing the situation, discreetly stepped back, offering a smile and shifting to the side.

“See you tomorrow, Sister Mingluo!”

“Mm, go home now,” Sheng Mingluo replied.

Lifting the hem of her gown, Sheng Mingluo climbed into the passenger seat. Her high heels made it awkward, and she wobbled slightly until Qin Zhi steadied her with a hand.

Her slightly chilled hand pressed against Qin Zhi’s warm skin. Qin Zhi glanced at Sheng Mingluo, her gaze softened by the tinted lenses of her sunglasses.

Settling into the seat, Sheng Mingluo chuckled softly, tilting her head to look at Qin Zhi. “Still afraid to take off your sunglasses?” she asked gently. “How are you going to drive?”

Qin Zhi had put on her sunglasses earlier to avoid being recognized by passing reporters and fans. Sheng Mingluo couldn’t see Qin Zhi’s expression, only her jawline.

“How much did you drink? You smell of alcohol.”

Seeing Sheng Mingluo reclining in her seat, Qin Zhi removed her sunglasses and clipped them to her collar. She leaned in close, her fingertips brushing against the seatbelt.

“Not much. I didn’t want to drink too much since I was coming to see you.”

“Liar.”

With the seatbelt fastened, Qin Zhi removed her sunglasses, her gaze tinged with reproach.

She clearly didn’t even read my messages. How could she possibly know to drink less? She’s not even bothering to rehearse her lies anymore, just casually brushing me off like this?

“I’m not lying, Teacher Qin. I just guessed.”

A smile played on Sheng Mingluo’s lips as she gazed tenderly at Qin Zhi, the tipsiness making her feel like she was floating.

“I guessed you’d come to pick me up.”

The car fell silent. Just as Qin Zhi was about to speak, she noticed Qin Li across the parking lot, surrounded by bodyguards and drawing all eyes. Yin Qianxue was at her side, radiant and dazzling.

Qin Li glanced back. In the dimly lit underground parking garage, Qin Zhi’s headlights were still on. One look was all it took for Qin Li to recognize her sister’s car.

She came after all.

Qin Li smiled in that direction and slipped into the car door the bodyguard held open.

“She… came too?”

“No wonder I recognized that familiar scent on you.”

Qin Zhi finally realized something was off. Qin Li’s gaze had made her deeply uneasy, yet it was also strangely meaningful. What exactly did it mean?

“Ah… you mean President Qin?”

“She warned me to be careful of you.”

Hearing the commotion outside the car window, Sheng Mingluo closed her eyes, searching through her alcohol-hazed memories. She had only spoken to two people: Qin Li and Zhao Tang.

If Qin Zhi recognized the scent, it could only be Qin Li.

Sheng Mingluo saw no reason to hide this information from Qin Zhi. Strictly speaking, they weren’t true sisters; this was merely a fabricated NPC in a parallel world.

“Trying to sow discord.”

Yet Qin Zhi, despite being a Best Actress known for her impeccable performances, seemed to take this virtual world with surprising seriousness. She huffed childishly.

“Why do you say that?”

“I hate her.”

“In both this virtual world and the real one, I hate her.”

The car engine hummed to life as Qin Zhi turned the vehicle around. After driving out of the parking lot and watching Qin Li’s car gradually disappear into the night, Qin Zhi finally let out a sigh of relief.

Having previously driven Sheng Mingluo home from the hotel, Qin Zhi already had her apartment address. The drive was silent, the scenery flashing by outside the windows as Sheng Mingluo drifted off to sleep.

“We’re here,” Qin Zhi said softly, parking the car smoothly. There were plenty of parking spaces available near the apartment building. When Sheng Mingluo didn’t respond to her gentle call, Qin Zhi realized she had fallen asleep.

“Sheng… Mingluo,” she tried again tentatively. Still no response. Instead, Sheng Mingluo frowned uncomfortably, clearly displeased at being disturbed in her sleep.

Left with no other option, Qin Zhi leaned over, unbuckling Sheng Mingluo’s seatbelt. She wasn’t sure when Sheng Mingluo had fallen asleep, but her shallow breaths brushed against Qin Zhi’s ear, threading through her hair and seeming to settle directly on her heart.

Qin Zhi then got out of the driver’s seat and opened the passenger door.

“Mingluo?”

“Are you awake?”

Still no response. Qin Zhi carefully helped Sheng Mingluo sit up. Sensing someone touching her, Sheng Mingluo opened her eyes and looked at Qin Zhi.

“I don’t have any strength, Teacher Qin…”

Honestly, she wasn’t pretending to be weak. She had just woken up from a deep sleep and felt utterly limp and drained.

“Then… I’ll carry you upstairs.”

“What floor do you live on?”

After receiving an affirmative answer, Qin Zhi’s slender hand supported her shoulder as he lifted her into a princess carry, gently closing the car door with his back.

The street was deserted late at night, but Sheng Mingluo still felt a twinge of embarrassment. She buried her face against Qin Zhi’s chest, which felt soft and warm, and inhaled the pleasant scent of her perfume—though it wasn’t quite perfume, more like the floral fragrance of laundry detergent.

He walked steadily, but Sheng Mingluo was genuinely tipsy. Drowsiness returned, and she drifted back to sleep on Qin Zhi’s shoulder.

The apartment door was secured with a fingerprint lock.

Qin Zhi took Sheng Mingluo’s finger and pressed it against the scanner. With a soft ding, the door unlocked.

The apartment wasn’t large, but it was cozy and inviting.