Chapter 28

Seeing Qin Guchuan’s relieved expression, Chen Lu couldn’t help but stifle a laugh. He only behaved a bit more properly after Qin Guchuan shot him a glare. He waited for Qin Guchuan to finish delivering the final lines of anger and accusation towards ‘Chen Lu,’ threatening that if he dared think of leaving again, not only his mother but also his brother and even Zhu Yi, who had risked everything to take him away, would all be killed by him.

“You’d better understand, making certain people disappear from this world without a trace is a very simple matter for me.” 

After Qin Guchuan finished this sinister line, it meant this section of the plot was completely over. Only then did the two of them relax. Chen Lu actually really wanted to mock Qin Guchuan’s final line, but after a glance at the door that Qin Guchuan had indeed kicked into a broken state, he ultimately chose to keep his mouth shut and stick to normal topics.

“The next part of the plot is just me alone,” Chen Lu sighed.

Saying it was just Chen Lu wasn’t entirely accurate. More precisely, Chen Lu needed to deal with a new plot character, and Qin Guchuan was temporarily not involved for now.

The subsequent plot hadn’t actually appeared in Chen Lu’s mind yet, but with Qin Guchuan’s summaries, he knew the necessary content in advance. It just wasn’t as convenient as having it in his own mind for reference. 

Both Chen Lu and Qin Guchuan had considered recording the plot from their minds. Unfortunately, this world had restrictions. Aside from Chen Lu being able to hear Qin Guchuan’s summaries, no form of recording could be preserved. Even if Chen Lu used a recorder, the resulting file would be blank.

“Mn,” Qin Guchuan confirmed this and added, “So, I’ll be on a business trip for a while.”

Chen Lu wasn’t surprised. After all, the work neglected during this period of following the plot would inevitably launch a counterattack against Qin Guchuan once the plot eased up.

“Have you had any contact with Fang Qizhi?” Chen Lu asked Qin Guchuan. 

This Fang Qizhi was the important supporting character about to appear. His character setting could be described as the vicious female supporting character… male version, who admires Qin Guchuan.

After all, in early BL melodramas, since the male lead gong, Qin Guchuan, had a female white moonlight, it was normal to also have a male admirer.

Previously, because Qin Guchuan liked women, Fang Qizhi endured silently, keeping all his grievances buried deep in his heart, not daring to say anything. Then, one day, he learned that Qin Guchuan had suddenly publicly announced having a lover, and this lover was not only male but also seemed utterly ordinary. His anger and resentment were ignited.

——He’s nothing but a low-class person. 

From the psychological activities of a certain Fang Qizhi who wished to remain anonymous, it was clear this character’s vicious traits were maxed out.

“Only the information shoved into my mind,” Qin Guchuan shook his head, answering bluntly.

Here, Qin Guchuan wasn’t just referring to the plot information, but also some scenes related to the story that he, as Qin Guchuan, should have. Those earlier, relevant documents, he had shown Chen Lu last time. As for other, newer information…

“From the start of the plot until now, Fang Qizhi hasn’t come to see me, not even sent a single message. According to the information from Zhou Ji, he’s been busy investing in film and television projects recently. It seems like every project he invests in fails. His company is on the verge of bankruptcy.” Just as Qin Guchuan was speaking, his phone notification sounded. 

It was the special tone he’d set for Zhou Ji. A message from the all-powerful assistant definitely meant something important.

Besides Zhou Ji, only Uncle Sun and Chen Lu had this privilege.

The reason for Uncle Sun was similar to Zhou Ji’s; if he contacted him suddenly, it must be for a reason.

Chen Lu was different. 

Qin Guchuan worried that if he didn’t see and respond to Chen Lu’s messages promptly, it might trigger a series of uncontrollable consequences…

So, hearing the notification, Qin Guchuan opened his phone and glanced at it. Sure enough, it was an important message.

Qin Guchuan looked up at Chen Lu and said, “Fang Qizhi’s company has gone bankrupt. He’ll return to North City in the next couple of days to heal his emotional wounds.”

And then he’ll hear from his so-called friends in North City about Qin Guchuan having a lover, immediately blow up, and come pick a fight with me, right? 

Chen Lu indicated he understood this trope perfectly. “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely follow the plot. I absolutely won’t make mistakes like with Dr. Zhu last time.”

Chen Lu felt that the initial problem with Zhu Yi’s plotline was because he didn’t have the later script at the start, leading to overacting and a misstep that caused further errors. So, as long as he strictly followed the script from the beginning, he could trust the plot’s self-correcting ability to handle minor deviations later.

This was the lesson Chen Lu had learned from the Zhu Yi incident. 

Qin Guchuan looked at Chen Lu with some unease, but then he thought about the last time Zhu Yi’s plot went awry; it was Chen Lu who managed to pull it back, and the entire subsequent performance had been flawless.

He should give Chen Lu a little trust.

“Then be careful on your own,” Qin Guchuan finally warned Chen Lu.

After all, it just involved being sad all day, sighing at the moon, weeping, and saying ‘no, no.’ Chen Lu felt he was already a proficient worker. His control over the degree of his acting was certainly not what it used to be. 

Next, he just needed to let the vicious male supporting character bully him a few times, shed some tears, show grievance, let the readers’ anger towards the villain rise, and then wait for Qin Guchuan to return from his business trip, descend upon the bullying scene, and rescue him, the bullied little white flower.

Chen Lu was full of confidence.

No one was better at playing the little white flower than him.

The viewers in his live stream, upon seeing his tearful, delicate and pitiable face, could find eighty thousand reasons why the other person deserved to be tormented, even if he was the one causing trouble in the game. 

The streamers he teamed up with, even if he set them up, would mostly reflect on whether they had done something wrong the moment they saw his expression who looked like he’s about to cry.

It hadn’t been many days since Chen Lu started streaming, but some people had already stopped calling him ‘Just Passing By, Skinning You Alive’ and started calling him ‘Just Passing Green Tea.’

However, Chen Lu hadn’t been streaming much recently.

The plot had to take priority. Just as Qin Guchuan had accumulated a lot of official business for the plot’s sake, Chen Lu also had to make some trade-offs to ensure the plot proceeded smoothly. 

Worried that the plot might appear at the last minute like it did with Zhu Yi, and knowing Fang Qizhi would arrive within the next few days, Chen Lu spent more time rehearsing the scenes with Fang Qizhi.

Hard work pays off and opportunity favors the prepared mind! Chen Lu had no intention of cramming at the last minute.

This approach proved correct. On the third day after Qin Guchuan left, before noon, Chen Lu received a message from the old butler: Young Master Fang Qizhi of the Fang family had come to visit.

It was only at this moment that the plot began to trickle intermittently into Chen Lu’s mind. 

Chen Lu skimmed through it briefly. It was still consistent with what Qin Guchuan had provided. But having the plot in his mind was better than not having it. Even though he had already memorized the lines, if he forgot something, he could immediately look them up and catch up.

Having the plot in his mind gave Chen Lu more confidence.

Watching Fang Qizhi approach slowly in the distance, dressed in what was clearly a carefully styled, wearing layered, very fashionable clothes, Chen Lu took a slight breath, gently bit his lower lip, let his eyes go empty and fall downward, and instantly, the weak and helpless, deeply affected, fragile little white flower reappeared.

——Fang Qizhi entered, glanced at Chen Lu, and let out a laugh: “Heh, so you’re Chen Lu? You don’t look like much. You have just a tiny bit of a resemblance to Weiyu-jiejie in terms of aura. How dare you stay by Guchuan-gege’s side?” 

—”What’s the use of trying hard to imitate her? Once Weiyu-jiejie returns, Guchuan-gege will discard you immediately. Let’s see if you can still put on this pitiful act then!”

Chen Lu looked up weakly at Fang Qizhi, projecting an aura of ‘I’m easy to bully, you can push me around’ that he had practiced in the mirror for a long time.

Sure enough, the moment Fang Qizhi entered and saw Chen Lu, he immediately let out a cold laugh. “Heh, Just Passing By! Stop putting on that act for me! The only reason Guchuan-gege said you’re his lover is because your vibe is a bit like Weiyu-jiejie!

“Do you even know Weiyu-jiejie? She’s the one Guchuan-gege loves! Someone like you? How dare you stay by Guchuan-gege’s side? 

“What’s the use of trying hard to imitate her? Once Weiyu-jiejie returns, Guchuan-gege will discard you immediately. Let’s see if you can still put on this pitiful act then!”

“Your live streaming is your only real foundation! Got it?!!”

After listening to the entire vicious scolding from the vicious male supporting character Fang Qizhi, Chen Lu: “………………”

What the fuck did he call me?! 

What ‘Passing By’? What ‘Just’?

Fuck! Qin Guchuan, get your ass back here!

Back when Chen Lu started gaming in Qin Guchuan’s study, he hadn’t dared to be bolder with his streaming because he was worried other plot characters might see it, making it hard to explain.

But after Qin Guchuan found out Chen Lu used to be a streamer, he directly and assuredly told Chen Lu that, according to the results of his investigation, none of the people around him, or around ‘Chen Lu,’ were interested in gaming or watching streams. Chen Lu could stream with complete peace of mind. 

Gaming was definitely outside the plot and would absolutely not cause problems.

Chen Lu thought it made sense.

It was an early-2000s style novel, after all. The characters were all about maintaining a certain prestige so it was unlikely any of them would share Chen Lu’s shut in hobbies.

Moreover, the information files Chen Lu had access to indeed confirmed Qin Guchuan wasn’t lying. 

Tyrant Qin had always been reliable.

So, Chen Lu relaxed and let himself go.

But…

What the hell is this now?!!! 

Chen Lu stared blankly at Fang Qizhi.

He suddenly began to miss Dr. Zhu Yi.

Even though Dr. Zhu never followed the plot normally, the character was still normal. In his eyes, Chen Lu was still that little white flower, albeit a plus version, but still salvageable.

But now… 

Looking at Fang Qizhi’s furious expression, full of frustration that iron cannot become steel, and thinking about his true nature revealed during his ‘Just Passing By’ streams, only one thought crossed Chen Lu’s mind.

Ah, it’s hopeless.