Qin Qing flicked the switch of the black-gold lighter on and off, the fierce leopard head occasionally spouting a pale blue flame.
“Yes, my target is Cang Ming.” He silently repeated 996’s words in his mind.
996 scratched Qin Qing’s heel with its paw. “Then why are you flirting with Xu Yizhi?”
After asking, 996 suddenly realized: “Meow, I get it! Cang Ming is hard to get close to, so you want to use Xu Yizhi as a stepping stone, right? This guy looks very flirtatious—clearly easy to hook!”
996 praised, “Qin Qing, you’re so smart!”
Qin Qing continued to toy with the lighter, his downcast eyes staring blankly at the flame flickering on and off. The light in his pupils shattered and reassembled, reassembled and shattered again, much like his heart at this moment. Xu Yizhi’s eyes, reflecting the warm sunlight, had now turned deep and cold. He frowned and took a deep drag of his cigarette, then exhaled the smoke toward the blue sky outside the window. The aura surrounding him was no longer that of a romantic, dashing figure, but a strong, cold, oppressive force.
Qin Qing, lost in his own thoughts, was completely unaware of this pressure. 996, who had been wagging its tail happily, suddenly froze in place, its fur slightly bristling. Meow, why did it suddenly feel so cold? Was it because it was too close to Cang Ming? 996 quickly reached out its chubby paws and hugged one of Qin Qing’s legs.
Qin Qing finally snapped back to reality and denied, “No, I’m not using Xu Yizhi as a stepping stone. I’m approaching him simply because I want to.”
He looked down, letting 996 see the mischievous smile on his face more clearly.
996 was stunned. “What are you talking about, meow?”
“I’m saying, I want to approach him, I want to chat with him, and I want to tease him so that he looks at me intently. Why must a supporting character be infatuated with the protagonist, then willingly sacrifice and devote themselves without complaint? Why can the protagonist easily get everything, while the supporting character can only silently exit the stage?”
Qin Qing’s smile grew brighter, but a hint of madness flickered in his eyes.
996 slowly released its chubby paws from Qin Qing’s pant leg and asked cautiously, “Qin Qing, what are you talking about? I don’t understand?”
“Last time you asked me if I would die if fate demanded it. At that time, I said I would follow fate.” Qin Qing pressed the black-gold lighter on and off, his voice somber. “But now, I’ve changed my mind. Divine Envoy, listen carefully.”
Xu Yizhi and Cang Ming were both now listening intently. For the first time, the same emotion appeared in both their eyes- the interest of being drawn in. The intense oppressive aura Xu Yizhi had been emitting had vanished without a trace, and he had returned to being that dashing, refined gentleman.
Qin Qing looked directly at 996 and smiled. “If fate wants me dead, I’ll choose to live. If fate wants me to suffer hardships, I’ll choose to live gloriously. Let me see whether this heavenly fate can be defied, and whether human will can change it.”
996 finally understood, and its expression turned incredulous. “You, you want to rebel?”
“Yes. From now on, I’ll be working against you, Divine Envoy, so please be mentally prepared.” Qin Qing said gently.
But 996 didn’t find this person gentle at all. Dammit! Why had it thought Qin Qing was fragile when they first met? This person wasn’t fragile at all! No, no, no! Qin Qing also had weaknesses!
996 quickly said, “Aren’t you going back to see the person in your heart? Aren’t you going to ask if he loves you?” This was Qin Qing’s inner demon!
Xu Yizhi’s eyes flickered, and the smile at the corners of his mouth unconsciously faded. Cang Ming took another cigarette from his pack and lit it with a platinum lighter.
Qin Qing shook his head. “I’m not going back.”
996’s eyes widened. “Didn’t you say you’d pay any price to go back?”
Qin Qing said calmly, “There’s no need anymore. I already know he doesn’t love me. And the question I wanted to ask wasn’t the one you think.”
“Then what do you really want, meow?” 996’s head was about to explode.
“I want an answer.”
An answer to why he was never chosen and never loved.
Qin Qing looked up at the boundless sky and smiled bitterly. “I’ve already gotten that answer from you.”
“What? When did I give you an answer?” 996 kept scratching its head with its chubby paws.
Dammit, what exactly had it said that provoked Qin Qing into rebelling?
“I’m not rebelling. I’ve just seen through my inner demon.” Qin Qing pressed the lighter on and off, his bitter smile gradually fading, but a trace of tears still lingered at the corners of his eyes.
He turned his head to look at Xu Yizhi and silently thought to himself, “Why can’t a supporting character be loved? He’s so handsome, his smile is beautiful, and his voice is so pleasant. Chatting with him is relaxing and natural. Watching him smoke feels free and unrestrained. Isn’t it only natural to notice him at first sight and then find yourself drawn to him?”
Qin Qing’s deep eyes held only Xu Yizhi’s figure. Cang Ming, standing nearby, so tall, his aura so imposing, seemed not to exist in Qin Qing’s world. Xu Yizhi turned sideways, standing face to face with Qin Qing, the corners of his lips curling into a pleased smile. For the first time in his life, he felt genuinely pleased, even though the other person had no idea he had pleased him. Cang Ming frowned as he smoked, his serious, stern face carrying a hint of inscrutability.
996 stared at Qin Qing, dumbfounded, as if seeing a ghost. “Qin Qing, you really are rebelling! The script says to seduce Cang Ming, so you deliberately seduce Xu Yizhi instead, right? If you don’t follow the plot, this world will keep looping. When the world resets next time, your soul will scatter!”
Qin Qing said dismissively, “Being able to mock fate before I die is my honor.”
996 grabbed its two ears with its chubby paws and collapsed in despair. “Meow meow meow, Qin Qing, you’re crazy! You actually dare to defy the Heavenly Dao!”
“Heavens! Earth! Send down some lightning to strike this rebellious flower spirit dead!”
996 raised its two chubby paws to the sky, wailing dramatically. But just then, a cigarette butt with a faint red ember traced a parabola and landed on its head. A sizzling sound; the ember singed the fur on 996’s head, and the smell of burnt hair spread. 996 yelped in pain, arched its back like a spring, leaped high into the air, and then scurried to the farthest corner, hiding behind a potted plant. It peeked fearfully at Qin Qing’s position through the gaps in the leaves. The unextinguished cigarette butt rolled to the side. A large foot stepped on it and gently ground it out, the leather shoe was shiny and expensive.
Xu Yizhi had stamped out the cigarette butt, then slowly exhaled his last mouthful of smoke onto Qin Qing’s face.
He opened his palm, his voice carrying a light, cheerful tone: “Shouldn’t you return my lighter?”
Qin Qing looked at this man in surprise. Had he thrown that cigarette butt deliberately or by accident? This was an ordinary world, no gods, no demons, no monsters, only mortals. Even the divine envoy 996 could only use minor tricks; it had no power to shake anyone or anything. It was just a coincidence, right? Qin Qing returned the lighter. The black-gold metal had absorbed his body heat and been steeped in rich fragrance.
Xu Yizhi grasped the warm, fragrant lighter, a teasing smile curling his thin lips. “You like playing with fire?”
Qin Qing was stunned by the question. What did that mean…
Xu Yizhi laughed deeply and said, “You’ve almost drained it of gas.” He lit the lighter; the pale blue flame was indeed weaker than before.
Only then did Qin Qing realize and apologize sincerely, “I’m sorry. I’ll take it back and refill it for you.”
“No need.” Xu Yizhi slipped the lighter into his pocket, leaned slightly closer to Qin Qing, and asked in his magnetic voice, “Are you here for an interview?”
“Yes.” Qin Qing glanced at the number badge pinned to his clothes.
“Lanyu’s standards are very high—”
Xu Yizhi was interrupted by the sudden opening of the door.
Qin Zishi, who had burst into the smoking room, was startled to see both President Cang and President Xu there. Noticing that Qin Qing was practically pressed against President Xu, he quickly said, “Brother, I’ve been looking for you everywhere. Come with me. I need to talk to you.”
“What about?” Qin Qing stood still.
Xu Yizhi straightened his bent waist, his relaxed brows suddenly knitting together in displeasure.
Qin Zishi sensed this displeasure. But seeing President Cang there as well, his unease faded somewhat.
“Come with me. It’s not convenient to talk here.” He gestured to Qin Qing.
“There’s nothing inconvenient. Just say it here.” Qin Qing still didn’t move.
Qin Zishi glanced at President Cang, then reluctantly stepped into the smoking room and said, pretending to be helpless, “Brother, your interview qualification has been canceled. You can go home now.”
“Why?” Qin Qing raised an eyebrow.
“Because you don’t meet our hiring criteria. Your credentials, experience, and achievements aren’t enough. President Cang reviewed your application and personally eliminated you. Brother, let’s go. I’ll see you out.”
Qin Zishi stepped forward to take Qin Qing’s arm, his tone resigned, his expression pitying, and he glanced meaningfully at Cang Ming. Cang Ming, who had been smoking while gazing at the blue sky outside the window, finally turned his head and looked directly into Qin Qing’s eyes. His gaze was sharp, his overly handsome face exuding a beastly wildness and danger, along with the coldness of winter. Xu Yizhi’s edge was hidden within; Cang Ming’s was completely exposed.
No one dared to question his decisions, not even Qin Qing, a creature from another world, who was momentarily speechless under his blazing gaze. Qin Zishi took hold of Qin Qing’s wrist, trying to lead him away. But Xu Yizhi reached out and grasped Qin Qing’s other wrist. Qin Qing, frozen by Cang Ming’s icy stare, slowly came back to his senses in the warmth radiating from Xu Yizhi’s hand.
But before he could react, 996 rushed out from the corner, gloating, “Qin Qing, see? This is your fate! The script was already arranged. At this interview, you’ll be personally rejected by Cang Ming. Not only that, but because you deliberately tried to flirt with him, he’ll despise you. In the end, you’ll have to swallow your pride and beg Qin Zishi to give you a chance. Unless the protagonist deigns to show you mercy, you’ll always have nothing! What you said just now was utterly ridiculous! Wake up! Just follow the plot honestly and live peacefully. Wouldn’t that be better?”
996 pounced and bit Qin Qing’s pant leg, fuming. “What rebellion? You can’t defy fate!”
Qin Qing gripped Xu Yizhi’s hand firmly. Xu Yizhi chuckled deeply, then closed his fingers, tightening his hold.
Qin Zishi’s expression turned ugly. Before he could figure out the relationship between these two, a blond, blue-eyed foreign man with handsome features and an arrogant demeanor pushed the door open and demanded loudly, “Qin, what does this notice mean?”
His Chinese was a bit awkward but still fluent.
“Thomson, the notice is very clear. The BUG in the new software must be fixed within three days, or it will delay our marketing plan.” Qin Zishi turned to face the foreign man, his tone aggressive.
“I don’t accept your notice! When I joined, President Cang promised me half a month of paid leave. I’m going on vacation tomorrow. My phone will be off, so don’t bother trying to find me.”
Thomson was a high-tech talent Lanyu had spent a fortune to recruit from the US. His R&D capabilities ranked among the world’s best. Only he and his team could fix the BUG in the new product. Qin Zishi had already posted an announcement on the official website stating that Lanyu’s new product would go on sale in three days. At this critical moment, the BUG appeared, and Thomson was about to go on strike. Qin Zishi’s temples throbbed; his head ached. He released Qin Qing and stepped forward to negotiate with Thomson. The two went from serious discussion to intense argument.
The interviewees outside heard the commotion and rushed over to watch. Finding Cang Ming in the smoking room, they dared not enter and only craned their necks from the corridor. Foreigners especially value work-life balance. Asking them to devote all their time and energy to work like the Chinese would be like asking them to die. Thomson refused to compromise- he insisted on going on vacation.
Qin Zishi turned to Cang Ming, pleading, “President Cang, say something! The vacation can be postponed, but the new product launch absolutely cannot be a no-show!”
Cang Ming never went back on his promises, but the launch was indeed important…
In the silence, Cang Ming looked at Xu Yizhi. Xu Yizhi smiled and waved his hand. “Stop arguing. Everyone, go back. We’ll discuss this later.”
Thinking he had won, Thomson snorted at Qin Zishi and left with his head held high.
Qin Zishi walked over to Cang Ming, about to say something, when Xu Yizhi suddenly asked, “How many people have interviewed so far?”
“Almost done,” Qin Zishi answered.
“Who’s in first place?”
“It’s Gong Cheng. Graduated from Yale, worked in New York for three years, specializing in—”
Xu Yizhi interrupted Qin Zishi: “Was he among the ones watching just now?”
Qin Zishi thought for a moment and nodded. “Yes.”
Xu Yizhi nodded. “I’ll set a test question.”
“What test question?” Qin Zishi had to listen attentively.
“Go do an onboarding interview with Thomson. Qin Qing and Gong Cheng will do it separately. Everyone else can leave. Whoever’s interview is more effective will be today’s hire.”
Xu Yizhi turned to look at Qin Qing, smiling gently. “This opportunity, I’m giving to you.”
Qin Qing gazed at the man, then smiled gently in return. “Thank you. I’ll seize it.”
He walked out. After only two steps, he was pulled back, only then realizing that his hand had been held by Xu Yizhi the entire time, forgotten to be released.
They slowly released each other’s hands, sharing a natural and understanding smile. 996, who had fully expected Qin Qing to be humiliated and thrown out, was dumbfounded. Dammit, that’s not how the script was written! Why was Xu Yizhi, another supporting character, also changing the plot? Were all supporting characters rebelling now?
“Cang Ming, you’re the protagonist! Aren’t you going to control these supporting characters?” 996 meowed and howled at Cang Ming, but dared not get close.
Qin Zishi also looked at Cang Ming, hope in his eyes. He knew Cang Ming was absolutely impartial and had almost no personal emotions. Since he had already rejected Qin Qing, he wouldn’t give him another chance. President Cang, you’ll veto this proposal, won’t you? Qin Zishi silently asked in his heart. For some reason, he was extremely unwilling to let Qin Qing appear before Cang Ming. Qin Qing should only live in humiliation, in hardship, in agony. And he would stop at nothing to achieve that goal.
Cang Ming stubbed out his cigarette and spoke gravely, “Go do the interview.”
He, too, had given this opportunity. Qin Zishi’s suspended heart crashed to the ground, shattering into pieces. 996 was stunned.
Meow meow meow? What did Cang Ming say? Had it misheard? Why would Cang Ming, who in the script had dismissed Qin Qing with contempt and disgust, ruthlessly throwing him out at their first meeting, also change the plot?
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DeiStarr On AFDPIRAB Chapter54