After a busy day at the company, Zhu Xinyue was finally able to clock out and go home.

  The bus smelled of mixed, unpleasant odors. As soon as Zhu Xinyue boarded, she was choked by the smell and started coughing, and her head began to spin.

  She adjusted her glasses, walked to the last row, sat down, opened the car window, put on the wired headphones she bought at the ten-dollar store, and started listening to the novel she hadn't finished reading yesterday.

  This novel has a melodramatic and addictive plot, and there's even a rich heiress with the same name as Zhu Xinyue.

  Zhu Xinyue, a money-grubber working a 996 job, can't get rich in real life, so she dreams of the wealthy life of "Zhu Xinyue" in novels.

  The gentle AI electronic voice came through the headphones, but the headphones, which lacked noise cancellation, still faintly revealed the sounds of wind and the bus starting up.

  Zhu Xinyue could never understand why her childhood sweetheart would fall in love with someone other than her.

  "Even though she has sacrificed so much for him, Ji Qingyuan's eyes are always on Jiang Rui!"

  In reality, Zhu Xinyue frowned, sensing that something was amiss.

  "She gave up her inheritance for Ji Qingyuan, was devoted to him, rejected all suitors, ran away from home, and entered the entertainment industry, starting as a low-level variety show personality. She even violated her own morals, knowing that Jiang Rui was allergic to silk, she still applied a silk mask to Jiang Rui on a variety show, embarrassing her in front of the camera."

  "But all her efforts only earned her one sentence from Ji Qingyuan: 'I only see you as a younger sister. I have never liked you. Even if you were standing naked in front of me right now, I wouldn't be moved at all.'"

  "Zhu Xinyue's heart is completely dead. Since she can't be Ji Qingyuan's lover, she will become the person he can never forget."

  "So, Zhu Xinyue jumped from the high-rise building and died on the spot..."

  Zhu Xinyue pressed the pause button on the audiobook and deleted the novel directly from her bookshelf!

  Her life was so difficult, yet she still tried her best to live. How could another "Zhu Xinyue" debase herself like this for a man who doesn't love her?

  Zhu Xinyue pulled on her headphones, accidentally pulling off her glasses as well.

  She is severely nearsighted, and without her glasses she is practically blind, so she squatted down to touch her glasses on the floor.

  However, before Zhu Xinyue could even touch her glasses, she suddenly heard a loud bang, and the huge impact overturned the entire bus.

  Zhu Xinyue's last thought before she closed her eyes was—thankfully she had bought insurance, so her family could receive compensation.

  [ System loading...]

  A crackling sound of electricity came through, and Zhu Xinyue's head throbbed with pain, feeling as if it were about to explode. Some memories that did not belong to her were forcibly poured into her mind, but these memories were like those seen through a thick fog; she could only feel that they were blurry and could not see them clearly no matter what she did.

  Would you be willing to help the female supporting character "Zhu Xinyue" fulfill her wishes: 1. To reconcile with the Zhu family. 2. To protect Ji Qingyuan's path to stardom.

  If you select "Yes", you will become the supporting female character, Zhu Xinyue, in the novel "Starry Night".

  If you choose "No", you will die immediately.

  Is there really such a good thing?

  Zhu Xinyue did not hesitate and immediately chose "yes".

  Once the electronic sound from the system disappeared, the strange electrical noises also vanished.

  In the darkness, the first thing Zhu Xinyue felt was the damp, cold wind. Icy water droplets splashed onto the backs of her feet. Her ears felt as if they were covered by a thin film, so she couldn't hear clearly. There was music and voices.

  "Xinyue, don't you like Ji Qingyuan? Hurry up and confess to him now! He won the Best Newcomer Award today, he's in a good mood, maybe he'll say yes!"

  "Yeah, yeah, after you got together with Ji Qingyuan, you didn't have to work so hard as an extra on variety shows anymore. You could just post a photo of the two of you and become incredibly famous!"

　　Don't forget us then!

　　Ji Qingyuan, Best Newcomer Award, variety show extra...

　　Zhu Xinyue remembered this part of the story.

　　At this point, the novel has only just begun, and the female lead, Jiang Rui, has not yet appeared. Ji Qingyuan became a sensation within a year of his debut, gaining immense popularity and generating a huge buzz. He won the Best Newcomer Award that year. His childhood sweetheart, "Zhu Xinyue," ran away from home to become an extra on a variety show in order to follow him, but her performance was so poor that she had zero screen time.

　　At Ji Qingyuan's celebration party, two of Zhu Xinyue's internet celebrity friends encouraged her to confess her feelings to Ji Qingyuan. After being rejected by Ji Qingyuan, she became angry and tried to push him away, but ended up slipping and falling into the swimming pool.

　　The following day, the confession video spread across the internet, and "Zhu Xinyue" became a laughing stock in the industry. Out of consideration for their childhood friendship, Ji Qingyuan not only helped her buy a house in Tianze City, but also provided her with a lot of resources.

　　Zhu Xinyue is a cotton-loving girl who always has her performance stolen by people with connections but dares not speak out against it, and a money-grubber who wants someone to give her money for no reason every day.

　　He bought her a house and provided her with resources!

　　What's this?

　　This is her great benefactor!

　　What was the original owner's last wish? To protect Ji Qingyuan's path to stardom, right?

　　My half-sister, sharing the same name, though born of different fathers and mothers, rest in peace. From today onward, I will protect your childhood sweetheart! He is my great benefactor, Zhu Xinyue. From now on, if he picks up food, I will never turn the table! If he takes the microphone, I will never change the song!

　　Zhu Xinyue's fighting spirit was ignited, and she instantly sat up from the recliner.

　　The two minor internet celebrities next to her were startled; one of them, who was wearing heavy smoky makeup, almost dropped her camera.

　　When Zhu Xinyue opened her eyes, all she saw was a blurry mosaic.

　　It was nighttime, yet this place was brightly lit. It was as if someone had spilled a palette of colors—blue, white, black, yellow, all sorts of colors—and there were flickering lights and shadows. But she couldn't make out the features of any of the moving figures. She couldn't even tell whether the shadow in the distance was a person crouching down or a pet dog dressed in clothes.

　　Oh no! Why did her severe nearsightedness come to this world? This isn't how it's written in other transmigration novels! What kind of female protagonist transmigrates with pre-existing nearsightedness?

　　[System: For each wish you fulfill, the system will help reduce your myopia by a certain amount. Once you have fulfilled all your wishes, you will regain normal vision.]

　　I understand. This is a reward system in case she becomes passive or lazy.

　　Zhu Xinyue is used to being manipulated by her company leaders. If the system is too nice to her, she should be wary of whether it will dig a big pit for her later.

　　In an unfamiliar environment, Zhu Xinyue could only rely on common sense to make judgments.

　　The irregularly shaped, deep blue swimming pool in front of me shimmered with light. A group of people in brightly colored swimsuits sat by the pool, cheers erupting from time to time. Loud music played nearby, and a large crowd had gathered at a long table. Behind the pool stood a three-story white villa; the two floors facing the pool were lit with warm-colored lights, but the upper floors were darker.

　　Zhu Xinyue was sitting in a flat-roofed pavilion closer to the villa, where her two internet celebrity friends were telling her about the benefits of confessing her feelings now amidst loud music.

　　Looking around, Zhu Xinyue was trying to figure out which of the swaying figures was the male lead, Ji Qingyuan.

　　Based on her experience reading novels, the male lead in a romance novel is always the best-looking one.

　　Zhu Xinyue's gaze immediately locked onto one person, and she narrowed her eyes slightly.

　　From the very beginning, she noticed this person. Among the swaying mosaics, he was the tallest, best-built, and most upright. Moreover, everyone else seemed to revolve around him, sitting or standing around him.

　　He proved with his talent that even with mosaics, he is more handsome than other mosaics.

　　"I understand." Zhu Xinyue stood up. "I'll go confess to him right now!"

　　The smoky-eyed makeup influencer immediately pulled out her camera, pointed it at Zhu Xinyue, and said, "Go ahead, I'll record this highlight of your life!"

　　Zhu Xinyue appeared in the camera lens of an internet celebrity. Without the thick glasses covering her eyes, her eyes were big and deep, as if a thin mist was covering her light brown pupils, making her look mysterious and aloof.

　　She walked towards the man with extreme caution, afraid of stepping on someone because of her poor eyesight.

　　The smoky-eyed influencer, completely unaware of the situation, couldn't help but swoon over the red-haired influencer next door: "Zhu Xinyue really likes him. She's even so hesitant to confess. She must be afraid that after confessing, their relationship will never be the same again."

　　The next moment, Zhu Xinyue was seen standing behind a man in a suit, looking up at him with her head slightly tilted back, as if she had something to say to him.

　　Zhu Xinyue moved closer to him and smelled the clean scent emanating from him.

　　To get a better look at him, she took another step closer, standing just a step away from him, her hands behind her back, her gaze sweeping up and down to determine if he was the male lead.

　　The flashing lights swayed over, occasionally landing on his short, black hair or his dark gray suit, lingering briefly before sliding away.

　　Zhu Xinyue thought, "Ji Qingyuan will probably wear a formal suit when he goes to receive the award today, right?"

　　"Mr. Ji, the driver is at the door." A man who looked like a bodyguard stepped forward and treated the man in the suit with great respect.

　　Mr. Ji? Ji Qingyuan? Zhu Xinyue was only about 70-80% sure, but seeing him put down his champagne glass and leave, she knew it would be too late if she didn't confess soon, so she mustered up her courage and grabbed the man in the suit's hand.

　　All sounds fell silent, all eyes turned to them, and even the music dimmed.

　　As the lights flickered, the man turned around, and the silvery light, like fluttering butterflies, passed over his shoulders and fell into Zhu Xinyue's eyes.

　　He was indeed the most handsome man in the room. Zhu Xinyue was momentarily stunned when she saw his face clearly.

　　The blurred light and shadow were the most skilled sculptor. He was like a plaster statue, with well-defined features, sharp angles, and pale skin. Only his thin lips had a little color in them. His black eyes were like the sea at night, filled with coldness, which made Zhu Xinyue instinctively shrink back.

　　In the blink of an eye, the coldness in his eyes receded like the tide, as if the coldness just now was only Zhu Xinyue's illusion.

　　The other person raised an eyebrow slightly, as if asking her "what's the matter?"

　　Zhu Xinyue's eyes were red and dry, and the bright light made her already photophobic eyes even more uncomfortable.

　　Tears streaming down her face, she confessed, "I fell in love with you the moment I saw you. You're so special; just standing there makes you seem fragile. I want to give you a home..."

　　Before the words were finished, a man with light blond hair emerged from the pool next to him. Someone teased him, saying, "Ji Qingyuan, your childhood sweetheart Zhu Xinyue is going to run off with your brother!"

　　Zhu Xinyue was stunned.

　　Her eyesight is poor, but she is not deaf.

　　If the person who just came out of the pool was Ji Qingyuan, then the person she was holding hands with was...

　　Ji Linyu withdrew his hand from Zhu Xinyue's, his dark eyes fixed on her, a polite but distant smile playing on his lips.

　　"Miss Zhu, isn't it a bit too fast to talk about marriage on our first meeting?".

  In the novel, Ji Qingyuan's eventual rise to the position of a top male star in the entertainment industry was inseparable from the protection and support of his half-brother, Ji Linyu.

  Although Ji Linyu doesn't appear often, every time he does, he effectively saves the day. Some readers say that as long as they see the name "Ji Linyu," they know the game is won.

  However, the author planted many foreshadowing elements in the novel, explicitly and implicitly indicating that the relationship between the two brothers is not so simple. Some analysts, based on these foreshadowing elements, predict that Ji Linyu will be the biggest villain in the entire book. Judging from Ji Qingyuan's attitude towards Ji Linyu, the two brothers are likely to turn against each other and become sworn enemies later on.

  Zhu Xinyue stood there, stunned. So she had just... confessed to the male lead's nemesis?!

  Will the male lead still give her the house and resources that she is about to inexplicably obtain?

  Zhu Xinyue realized that her actions had deviated from the original plot of the book, and her tears fell even more genuinely.

  Is it too late for her to replace her now?

  Zhu Xinyue rubbed her eyes and turned to look at the male lead, Ji Qingyuan, who was walking towards her.

  If Ji Linyu's appearance is handsome, with regular features, sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, like a ruthless and taciturn swordsman in a martial arts novel, then Ji Qingyuan's appearance is both heroic and gentle, with crescent-shaped eyes, full eye bags when he smiles, red lips and white teeth, like a spoiled young master.

  Ji Qingyuan caught the towel his friend tossed to him, casually dried his wet hair, and seeing that Zhu Xinyue was still staring at him, he naturally put his arm around her shoulder.

  He was clearly used to this way of getting along with "Zhu Xinyue," treating her no differently than he would his good brothers or friends. His attitude was familiar yet not overly intimate, unlike romantic feelings. There was a distance between their bodies, with only his wrist resting on her shoulder, and he maintained a perfect sense of proportion.

  Zhu Xinyue frowned slightly. To her, Ji Qingyuan was a stranger.

  But given the original owner's relationship with Ji Qingyuan, if she rejects Ji Qingyuan at this time, wouldn't that confirm that she likes Ji Linyu? Should she distance herself from Ji Qingyuan?

  A small act of impatience can ruin a great plan. For the sake of her big house and resources, I'll endure it!

  "I didn't expect your criteria for choosing a partner to still be based on looks as always." Although Ji Qingyuan said this to Zhu Xinyue, he meant it to everyone.

  This not only complimented his brother's good looks but also helped Zhu Xinyue out of an awkward situation, explaining her earlier confession as simply admiring his appearance and reducing her embarrassment at being rejected.

  Zhu Xinyue couldn't help but secretly admire Ji Qingyuan's high emotional intelligence.

  Ji Linyu raised his hand and glanced at his watch.

  "Are you leaving, brother? I'll see you off." Ji Qingyuan casually brushed it off, released Zhu Xinyue's shoulder, and walked out with Ji Linyu.

  Zhu Xinyue can only see the two people closest to her right now.

  Without her glasses, she felt completely insecure. Moreover, the poolside was dark and slippery, and she was wearing high heels, making it easy for her to slip and fall. Once these two left, there was no point in her staying any longer, so she might as well go with them.

  Zhu Xinyue lowered her head and saw Ji Qingyuan beside her. He was only wearing swimming trunks. She didn't dare to look at him for long and immediately looked away. Then she caught sight of Ji Linyu passing by her.

  He was dressed in a well-tailored suit, which covered him completely. The sleeves of his suit jacket hung down just enough to cover his wrists. His dark coat and the white shirt that was barely visible underneath overlapped, and the dial of his watch shimmered dazzlingly under the light.

  In Zhu Xinyue's eyes, she only judges people by their color, shape, and lines. Ji Linyu caught her eye because his body proportions were good enough, like a male model who stepped out of a fashion magazine.

  Zhu Xinyue stared at Ji Linyu, treating him as a guiding light, and followed closely behind—after all, she couldn't see him clearly from a distance.

  She pursued Ji Linyu relentlessly, for reasons that were simple, but ultimately...

  However, those with a keen eye see it differently.

  Ji Qingyuan glanced at Zhu Xinyue behind them, then looked away and continued chatting with his brother.

  The shortest route from here to the main entrance requires passing through the indoor area first.

  Once inside, it became much quieter, with only the sound of their footsteps and the voices of the two people in front of them.

  “Brother, can I move in with you? The security in Lishan is better than here. Just last week, they caught a paparazzi who climbed over the wall into the community. Other residents complained that I was disturbing them.”

  "Come anytime you want, I welcome you anytime."

  "Thanks, bro! And there are a few notebooks that have been handed to me recently..."

  Zhu Xinyue followed the person in front of her with complete concentration. Ji Linyu was tall and had long legs, so it wasn't easy for her to keep up with him. She was wearing high heels that were at least ten centimeters high, and the sound of her heels hitting the smooth floor was louder than their voices.

  On his left, Ji Linyu listened to his younger brother's endless stream of plans, hoping that he would invest in the drama he wanted to film. On his right, he heard the woman's messy footsteps, like pattering on his eardrums, chaotic and disturbing his mind.

　　It's a bit annoying.

　　Ji Linyu glanced at the woman who was only half a step behind him and frowned slightly.

　　She followed him even closer than his bodyguards.

　　The evening breeze swept through the hall, carrying with it her perfume, a cloyingly sweet, powdery scent.

　　The two were so close that the hem of her skirt brushed against his suit trousers almost imperceptibly.

　　Ji Linyu tried to avoid it as fast as he could, running even faster as if being chased by a ghost.

　　There was a threshold in front of him, which Ji Linyu stepped over with ease.

　　Zhu Xinyue couldn't keep up with his long legs to begin with, and Ji Linyu was walking so fast that she didn't notice the threshold in front of her and almost tripped. Losing her balance, she instinctively reached out to find something to steady herself...

　　Ji Linyu felt the wind behind him. He was already experienced in dodging people. After taking a big step forward, he turned around and faced Zhu Xinyue, coldly observing her tricks.

　　In that brief second, countless thoughts of human relationships flashed through Zhu Xinyue's mind—it was already unclear if she had confessed to the wrong person, and if she pounced on him, it would only confirm that she had feelings for Ji Linyu.

　　Zhu Xinyue twisted her body, abruptly changing her trajectory from lunging at Ji Linyu, and instead fell towards the bodyguard next to her.

　　"Crack!" The change happened suddenly, and everything was quiet. The sound of the bone dislocating was deafening, as if it had hit their hearts. Anyone who heard it would feel pain on her behalf.

　　Ji Qingyuan gasped, unable to bear the sight.

　　Ji Linyu stood frozen in place, his initial annoyance melting away, replaced by a strange feeling.

　　Is she... keeping her distance from him because of his earlier rejection?

　　The bodyguard caught Zhu Xinyue when she fell.

　　Zhu Xinyue was in so much pain that tears streamed down her face. She didn't utter a sound, biting her lower lip as she fell into the arms of her bodyguard.

　　She was used to enduring the pain.

　　Or rather, she had long forgotten that she was capable of crying out in pain.

　　To outsiders, Zhu Xinyue looked incredibly pitiful.

　　Her brows furrowed, her eyes red-rimmed, and her pupils filled with tears. Even her curled eyelashes were wet, and large tears fell, landing on the hem of her red gauze skirt, making her look like a pear blossom in the rain.

　　As if she didn't want to cry so pathetically in front of others, she closed her eyes, bit her lower lip, tried to suppress the pain, took a deep breath, her body trembling, and when she opened her eyes again, she had composed herself.

　　Fragile yet resilient.

　　Ji Linyu's fingers curled up, and a feeling of regret flashed through his mind.

　　He misunderstood her; she's different from other women.

　　Ji Qingyuan had seen what it was like for "Zhu Xinyue" to cry in front of him. She would cry endlessly and for no reason, throw tantrums, and be hysterical. She would only be satisfied if someone tried to coax her in every way possible. He was annoyed by her constant crying, so when Zhu Xinyue shed tears, he was completely unmoved.

　　But this time it's different.

　　This was the first time Ji Qingyuan had seen her cry so quietly, and it was heartbreaking to see her cry like this.

　　Because of the intense pain, Zhu Xinyue gripped the bodyguard's sleeve so tightly that it wrinkled the sleeve.

　　She sniffed, looked up, and said to the bodyguard, "Thank you. I'm sorry I wrinkled your clothes."

　　Her voice was choked with sobs, and when she looked up, her eyes, brimming with tears, were studded with sparkling diamonds. Her tone was so sincere that anyone who met her would be completely bewildered.

　　The bodyguard stammered, "N-nothing."

　　"Why don't you leave me your contact information? I'll iron your clothes and return them to you." Zhu Xinyue put herself in his shoes; she only wore the same two sets of work clothes to work, and this bodyguard's clothes felt so good, they must not have been cheap.

　　Ji Linyu stared at the part of the bodyguard's sleeve that she had clenched so tightly, his lips pressed into a thin line.

　　The creases were deep, showing how much she had sacrificed to avoid him.

　　Ji Qingyuan raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping between Zhu Xinyue and the bodyguard. He casually ruffled his blond hair and interrupted the bodyguard before he could speak, saying, "Is your foot alright? Should we go to the hospital for an X-ray?"

　　With the help of her bodyguard, Zhu Xinyue tried to stand up, relying only on her good left leg for support. However, the high heels she was not used to wearing were already unstable, and now she was even more unsteady.

　　"Take an X-ray? No need. It's probably just a sprained ankle. Just apply some ointment and safflower oil when you get home, and it should be fine."

　　Going to the hospital is so expensive. The original owner left home to enter the entertainment industry for Ji Qingyuan, and the Zhu family wanted to force her to go back. They not only sent people to persuade her to return home, but also canceled all her credit cards. How could she afford the medical expenses?

　　Ji Qingyuan disagreed, saying, "I heard you say before that you live on the fifth floor. In your current state, can you even climb stairs?"

　　Zhu Xinyue pursed her lips and remained silent, seemingly pondering what he had said.

　　"Qingyuan!" At that moment, a voice calling Ji Qingyuan came from the poolside, as if someone was looking for him.

　　Ji Qingyuan looked up towards the swimming pool, his gaze searching for someone, his mind clearly more concerned about the other side.

　　Zhu Xinyue noticed Ji Qingyuan's distraction and was about to speak when she heard a steady voice.

　　"Today is your day, go and celebrate." Ji Linyu gently nudged his younger brother's shoulder, gesturing for him to go back. "I'll take Miss Zhu to the hospital."

　　His gaze lingered briefly on Zhu Xinyue. Zhu Xinyue's blurry vision prevented her from seeing his eyes, but she could see his movements.

　　Ji Qingyuan was clearly very comfortable entrusting Zhu Xinyue to his brother, and said cheerfully, "Okay, then I'll leave it to you, brother."

　　After saying that, he returned to his party.

　　The room fell silent again.

　　Ji Linyu walked towards her, and Zhu Xinyue smelled his scent—clean, elegant, and uniquely cool, like a gentle spring rain that had soaked through trees and grass, releasing the fragrance of plants.

　　In her field of vision, she saw once again that dark and white overlapping sleeve. The clothes were neatly pressed, the cuffs had a cold, hard line, and the hand hanging down at her side had distinct knuckles and prominent veins on the back of the hand, undulating like a mountain range.

　　Unlike before, he took the initiative to come to her.

　　“Miss Zhu, I’ll take you to the hospital,” said the owner of the sleeve.

　　Zhu Xinyue coughed lightly, her gaze wandering. Her fingers, gripping the hem of her skirt, tightened and loosened repeatedly. She hesitated and said, "Let's forget it. I... don't have the money to pay for medical expenses."

　　The sound grew fainter and fainter.

　　Ji Linyu stared at the tips of her ears, which gradually turned from fair to pink, and, as if possessed, made a deal that would cost him nothing:

　　"I'll pay."

  The private hospital was quiet at night, with few people and a bitter smell of medicine in the air.

  Fortunately, Zhu Xinyue's foot injury was not serious; it was just a minor sprain that would heal in a week or two.

  The bodyguard thoughtfully pushed over the wheelchair and even bought her a new pair of women's slippers from somewhere to replace her ten-centimeter high heels.

  Zhu Xinyue tugged at the bodyguard's sleeve. Because of her poor eyesight, she would keep her eyes fixed on him to make sure he was listening to her—after all, it was the easiest place to make a sound among the human senses.

  "Thank you, you're such a kind person."

  Stared at so directly by her, the bodyguard blushed for once, scratched his head, swallowed the words "This is the boss's order," and silently accepted her thank you.

  The medical bills never passed through Zhu Xinyue's hands, but she had several tests done, and it's estimated that the total cost should be in the five figures.

  Before Zhu Xinyue entered the doctor's office, she heard Ji Linyu standing in the hospital corridor, making a phone call in a low voice, seemingly talking to his assistant about flight rescheduling.

  No wonder he was in such a hurry to leave Ji Qingyuan's party; he was rushing to catch a flight, and ended up missing it because he was taking her to the hospital.

  As Zhu Xinyue listened to the doctor's instructions, she thought to herself that regardless of their stance, Ji Linyu was actually a pretty good person. He could have just left her alone at the hospital, paid the bills, and left. After all, he had only promised to take her to the hospital and pay the medical expenses, and they didn't really know each other. In fact, it was their first meeting. Yet, he stayed with her to finish all the tests, and it was almost two or three in the morning.

  Previously, when Zhu Xinyue was reading the novel, seeing the name "Ji Linyu" gave her peace of mind; all she needed to do was for Ji Qingyuan to call out.

  With the title "Big Brother," there's nothing Ji Linyu can't solve.

  Now that Zhu Xinyue has personally experienced Ji Linyu's "sense of responsibility," she can't help but think that it would be better if Ji Linyu wasn't Ji Qingyuan's nemesis, because there's no good ending to going against the protagonist of a novel.

  The bodyguard pushed Zhu Xinyue, who was in a wheelchair, out of the doctor's office.

  It was late at night, and the corridor outside the hospital was empty. Zhu Xinyue glanced around and saw two people standing at the end of the corridor.

  She can now identify Ji Linyu by his body shape and posture.

  The man on the left was slightly taller, wearing a dark gray suit, and stood upright. He was Ji Linyu, whom she had been following all night. The man on the right was dressed in all black, half a head shorter than Ji Linyu, of medium build, and was shaking his head while holding his head. Judging from his voice, he should be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old.

  "Yes, she's the younger sister I mentioned to you before, who's always lived in Nancheng. My mom remarried last year, and my dad brought her back to the Zhu family home. He originally planned to let her meet Cheng Er from Zhenheng Group..."

  The man used a lot of body language when he spoke, and compared to him, Ji Linyu was like a wooden stake, quietly listening to the other person with one hand in his pocket.

  When the bodyguard and Zhu Xinyue arrived, the two people in the corridor noticed the commotion and turned to look at them.

  Zhu Xinyue only knew Ji Linyu, so she stared at him, intending to thank him properly.

  The wheelchair moved to the end of the corridor and stopped between Ji Linyu and the stranger.

  Zhu Xinyue noticed a burning gaze on her and looked at the stranger dressed in all black.

  I can't see clearly without my glasses.

  She subconsciously squinted, trying to clear her vision, but it was in vain. She simply looked away and focused on Ji Linyu.

  In Zhu Shilang's eyes, Zhu Xinyue narrowed her eyes, glared at him, then coldly looked away, turning to Ji Linyu with a bright smile, as if deliberately ignoring him, her older brother.

  "Mr. Ji, thank you for staying up so late with me tonight. I'm sorry to have made you change your flight." Zhu Xinyue tilted her head back and politely thanked Ji Linyu.

  As she spoke, she stared directly at Ji Linyu without flinching, her tone sincere.

  Ji Linyu glanced at Zhu Shilang, whose expression was displeased, coughed lightly, squatted down, and looked Zhu Xinyue in the eye.

  The distance between the two closed. A handsome face suddenly appeared in Zhu Xinyue's blurry vision, and her hands, which were on her lap, unconsciously curled up.

  Ji Linyu said, "I'll pretend nothing happened at the party today. I've already paid the medical bills. You and your brother can go home now."

  After saying that, he glanced at Zhu Shilang across from him. It was clear that the "your brother" he mentioned was referring to the person across from him.

  Zhu Xinyue's eyes widened as she turned to look in Zhu Shilang's direction.

  So Ji Linyu has been waiting with her until now, is he actually waiting for the Zhu family to come and take her over?

  Actually, it's understandable to do this; most people's first reaction when something happens is to look for their family.

  However, Zhu Xinyue has not yet fulfilled the original owner's wish—to protect Ji Qingyuan's path to stardom! If she goes back to the Zhu family with Zhu Shilang, it will inevitably be a one-stop shop , and at that time, she will be further and further away from Ji Qingyuan!

  "No!" Seeing that Ji Linyu was about to get up and give up his seat, Zhu Xinyue immediately grabbed his arm and forcibly pulled him back.

  Ji Linyu was not on guard against her. After all, she had twisted her ankle to avoid him. When she grabbed his arm, he didn't expect her to be so strong. He almost fell on her during the struggle!

  Fortunately, Ji Linyu managed to grab the armrest of the wheelchair in time and regain his balance.

  Zhu Xinyue turned to Zhu Shilang and said decisively, "I can't go back with you right now."

  "Zhu Xinyue, stop fooling around! I'm just asking you to go on a blind date, I'm not going to kill you." Zhu Shilang adopted the air of an older brother, grabbed Zhu Xinyue's wrist, and made her let go of Ji Linyu.

  Zhu Xinyue knew that if she let go, she would have no choice but to leave with Zhu Shilang, so she refused to let go even at the cost of her life.

  "I'm not being silly! I don't want to marry someone I don't like!"

  As soon as he said it, Ji Linyu, who had been trying to pull his arm away from her, suddenly froze, and the image of her confessing her love to him by the pool flashed through his mind.

  "You haven't even met him yet, how do you know you don't like him? Cheng Er is my junior, the future second-in-command of Zhenheng Group. The Cheng family and the Zhu family are a good match, and he himself is quite handsome. In short, you won't think that way once you meet him." Zhu Shilang, a grown man, was naturally much stronger than Zhu Xinyue, a thin little girl, and quickly pried her left hand off Ji Linyu's arm.

  The bodyguard, standing behind the wheelchair as a bystander, gritted his teeth, watching like someone in a soap opera about breaking up a couple, silently cheering for Miss Zhu in his heart.

  Zhu Xinyue's right hand gripped Ji Linyu's arm, but his arm was strong and she couldn't hold on. Just like before, Zhu Shilang easily pried her hand off. So, just as Zhu Shilang was about to grab her right hand, she slid down Ji Linyu's suit jacket.

  She grabbed Ji Linyu's hand.

  Her cool, slender fingers gripped Ji Linyu's hand tightly, a stark contrast to his burning body temperature.

  Ji Linyu's eyelashes trembled slightly as he stared at their clasped hands.

  The hand-holding she did by the pool earlier wasn't this forceful; she simply wanted to hold him back, so he could easily pull his hand away with a slight struggle. But this time was different.

  She clung to him like a lifeline, her fingers turning white.

  "No matter how good Cheng Er is, he's not as good as the person I love." Zhu Xinyue stared at Ji Linyu's profile, her voice choked with emotion.

  If you're going to help someone, help them all the way! Brother Ji, please help me!

  Ji Linyu bent his fingers, his fingertips touching the back of her hand, and looked up to meet her eyes.

  She had only him in her heart and eyes, and completely believed that he could help her, so she asked him for help.

  Faced with such a gaze, anyone with even a modicum of compassion would be moved to pity.

  Ji Linyu looked away, straightened up, and took the opportunity to pull his hand away from hers.

  Zhu Xinyue's palm fell empty, and she stared blankly at Ji Linyu.

  The once clear, handsome face became blurred as the distance increased, leaving only an outline.

  Her heart suddenly ached for no reason.

  Yes, she's nobody to him, so why should she expect Ji Linyu to help her unconditionally?

  Zhu Shilang thought that Zhu Xinyue was grasping at straws in her desperation, which was why she wouldn't let go of anyone she had her eye on. He apologized to Ji Linyu, saying, "Xinyue has been spoiled by her family since she was little. She's prone to throwing tantrums and even ran away from home to bravely pursue love. This girl is a real handful."

  He bent his fingers and tapped Zhu Xinyue on the head.

  Zhu Xinyue stepped back, avoiding his movements, her face full of displeasure.

  Ji Linyu's palm still seemed to bear the marks of her excessive force. He clenched his fist and put his hand in his pocket.

  "Run away from home?" he asked casually.

  Zhu Shilang: "Yes, she's as naive as a child. She doesn't know how dangerous it is outside. This time she even got herself into the hospital. How can we feel at ease letting her live independently out there?"

  His intention was for Zhu Xinyue to get married so she would have a companion and someone to take care of her in the future. Even if the other person couldn't provide those things, a comfortable lifestyle would ensure she wouldn't have to worry about the rest of her life.

  "Why can't I live independently? Haven't I been living perfectly well in Tianze City?" Zhu Xinyue retorted on behalf of the original owner.

  Zhu Shilang looked her up and down and said, "You're sitting in a wheelchair and you're telling me you're perfectly fine? If you hadn't met Lin Yu, you wouldn't even be able to afford your medical bills."

  Zhu Xinyue clenched her fists.

  She disagreed, but he was right.

  In this environment, she has the easiest path to choose. As long as she chooses this path, even if she doesn't fulfill the original owner's wishes, she can still live a life of comfort and wealth, just like she once dreamed of.

  But……

  But.

  Ji Linyu had no intention of interfering in their family affairs. He and she were complete strangers, and he couldn't be responsible for her life. He had rejected her before, but he had also felt a pang of pity for her once.

  Once is enough. That was his original thought.

  The evening breeze blew, causing the hem of her red dress to flutter and almost touch the suit trousers of the person in front of her, but she quickly gathered the red veil around it.

  She said, "Mr. Ji is a good person, and it's my luck to have met him. I can't guarantee that I'll always be so lucky in the future. But at least I won't regret the path I've chosen; and I won't doubt the people I've trusted."

  Ji Linyu's eyes flickered. He had heard plenty of flattery, but rarely such simple words.

  A good person? Ha, a good person...

  Zhu Xinyue then looked at Zhu Shilang: "If someone else had chosen the path I didn't choose, I would live in regret for the rest of my life, and every night I would ask myself why I didn't fight for my choice and just gave up."

  "Brother, do you want me to regret this for the rest of my life?"

  Her family's intentions were for her own good, but if their "good intentions" became a source of her suffering, could they still be considered to be doing it for her own good?

  Zhu Shilang's weakness was exploited by Zhu Xinyue. It was unclear when she had learned to use softness to overcome hardness. For a moment, Zhu Shilang didn't know whether to feel gratified or regretful.

  Looking into her "confused" eyes, Zhu Shilang's heart softened.

  After all, she is still very young, and naivety and recklessness are the rights of young people.

  He took a step back and said, "Your dad and I are worried about you being alone in Tianze City..."

  Zhu Shilang looked at the mature and composed Ji Linyu as he finished speaking.

  In their circle, Ji Linyu is known for being reliable and consistent in his work. He always takes responsibility for what he promises and treats his friends exceptionally well. Once someone is considered "one of his own," he can solve any problem that comes to him.

　　Some people jokingly say, "Even if the sky falls, Ji Linyu will be there to hold it up."

　　Ji Linyu and Zhu Xinyue are two complete opposites.

　　One is a "nice guy," the other is a "drama queen." They are people who have absolutely nothing in common.

　　Zhu Shilang put his arm around Ji Linyu's shoulder and led him outside. They stopped when Zhu Xinyue could no longer hear them talking.

　　"Lin Yu, when my sister is in Tianze City, could she stay at your house? She seems to have a good impression of you, and she might listen to what you say. Could you please persuade her to go back to Qingyang?"

　　Ji Linyu doesn't live with his parents, but lives alone in Lishan Villa. It has plenty of rooms, and he usually doesn't refuse when friends come to stay. Even Zhu Shilang stayed at his house when he came to Tianze City before.

　　But this time, Ji Linyu refused his friend's request.

　　“Anyone will do, but not her,” he said.