Chapter 8
2143 Words
If Fu Shuyang was the top male antagonist in the book, then Feng Xiao zhi was the top female villain.
Feng Xiao zhi had been the original host’s college roommate—one of the few people who had ever stood up for her.
But they hadn’t been exactly close. Feng Xiao zhi disapproved of how the original host kept entangling herself with Xu Lang. In her eyes, the original host had decent qualities, and if she could just escape the pit that was the Xu family, she would have a much better future.
Unfortunately, the original host was too caught up in her obsession with Xu Lang to listen to anyone’s advice.
Later, Feng Xiao zhi became a famous celebrity, with a glamorous public image that looked nothing like how she used to be—so much so that Xu Mei didn’t recognize her at first.
Now that she knew, her feelings were complicated.
Xu Lang eventually entered the entertainment industry as well. He ran into Feng Xiao zhi several times and even snatched roles from her.
According to the book, Feng Xiao zhi held a grudge against Xu Lang for this, and they became bitter rivals.
But without the heroine aura that protected Xu Lang, Feng Xiao zhi was destined to lose.
She ended up with one of the worst fates in the story.
She trusted the wrong man, a scumbag boyfriend who later leaked their s*x video online.
At the time, Feng Xiao zhi was already a big star. The scandal devastated her—she developed depression and eventually jumped off a 44-story building… with the whole thing broadcasted live.
In the book, every time Feng Xiao zhi showed up, she was either picking a fight with Xu Lang or doing something brainless.
Even Xu Mei didn’t like her when she read the novel.
But now, seeing her in person—living and breathing—Xu Mei couldn't help but feel different.
Today’s Feng Xiao zhi was open-minded and generous. She didn’t seem like a jealous or petty person at all.
How could someone like that end up the way the book described?
“Is my name really that scary?” Feng Xiao zhi ran over to help Xu Mei pick up the microphone, smiling as she teased.
Xu Mei took a deep breath and returned the smile. “Scary? More like thunderously famous… Sorry, my hand slipped. If it’s broken, I’ll pay.”
That last part was said to the host, deftly changing the subject.
“No worries, it’s not broken. This just proves our mics are high quality—just like our hardworking, full-of-potential students Xu Mei and Feng Xiao zhi! If anyone’s interested, feel free to check us out...”
The host had a silver tongue, smoothly avoiding any awkwardness.
Xu Mei watched Feng Xiao zhi return to her boyfriend. The couple quickly held hands, fingers intertwined, clearly affectionate.
A pang of discomfort hit Xu Mei.
According to the book, this boyfriend was the one who leaked the video.
He’d been with her from the bottom but ultimately couldn’t resist temptation and betrayed her.
After the event, Xu Mei saw that Feng Xiao zhi hadn’t left yet and approached her.
“Still want to compete in the limbo challenge?”
Feng Xiao zhi remembered their earlier bet and immediately waved her hands. “I must’ve been high on adrenaline back then. I’m exhausted now—no energy left. You were the smart one.”
Xu Mei smiled and shook her head. She was tired too, so not playing was just as well. “I really like you. Can I get your contact info? Maybe we can hang out sometime.”
Despite knowing Feng Xiao zhi was a villain, Xu Mei felt none of the fear or loathing she had for Fu Shuyang.
Maybe it was because she hadn’t recognized her at first and didn’t build up those prejudices.
Now, Xu Mei just felt a little pity—maybe, just maybe, she could do something to change this girl’s fate.
Feng Xiao zhi pulled out her phone and showed her WeChat QR code while joking, “Don’t be so forward, my boyfriend might get jealous.”
Her boyfriend had his arm around her shoulder and laughed. “No worries, she’s a beauty—I don’t get jealous easily.”
They were clearly in love. Xu Mei didn’t want to stare too long. “Alright, alright, stop showing off. When he’s not around, call me to hang out.”
After parting ways, Xu Mei went to confirm her training schedule at the dance center. She was told training would start tomorrow and last for twenty days.
The instructor wasn’t in yet, so her schedule would be finalized after the teacher evaluated her tomorrow.
The front desk had changed—it was now a pretty girl instead of the guy from before.
Xu Mei asked if Fu Shuyang was in, but the receptionist said she didn’t know who that was.
Well, Xu Mei figured she could always go next door and thank him later.
As she left the training center, Xu Mei got the strange feeling someone was following her.
She turned, but the street was crowded, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Not wanting to linger, she hurried home.
That afternoon, Xu Mei made a cake herself and went to knock on Fu Shuyang’s door.
No one answered. The door was locked. He probably hadn’t returned.
Even by 10 PM, Fu Shuyang still hadn’t come back. Xu Mei had no choice but to give up.
The next morning, she tried again—still no one home.
Left with no other choice, Xu Mei ate the cake herself… and then regretted it.
Would eating like this ruin the original host’s perfect figure?
She decided to jog to the dance center to burn it off.
Today, the receptionist was the same guy from her first visit.
Xu Mei greeted him, “Hi, handsome—”
“We’re already so familiar, just call me by name. I’m Chu Yeyan.”
He was the overly friendly type—Xu Mei didn’t even know his name yet, and he already claimed they were close.
Still, she liked his warm personality. At least it never got awkward around him.
“Hi, Brother Chu.” Xu Mei smiled. “Yesterday I—”
“You’re looking for Xiao Yang, right?” Chu Yeyan cut in knowingly.
Xiao Yang?
Xu Mei: “…Cough, cough…”
The guy had guts.
Wait—Chu Yeyan?
That name sounded familiar.
Xu Mei suddenly remembered—it had appeared in the novel.
“Don’t mess with Fu Shuyang until Chu Yeyan takes a stance.”
“Go after Chu Yeyan first—cut off Fu Shuyang’s backup.”
“Even Chu Yeyan turned against him—Fu Shuyang is completely isolated now.”
Though he never appeared directly, his name was mentioned a lot.
Clearly, Chu Yeyan was a kind of bottom line for Fu Shuyang.
So… they must be close friends?
“Chu Yeyan, are you tricking girls again?”
A playful female voice rang out behind them.
Xu Mei turned to see a woman in her mid-twenties with a high ponytail and a crop top. She had a great figure and presence.
Xu Mei felt a flicker of familiarity, but couldn’t match her to anyone in the novel.
She guessed this must be someone the original host had known. Instantly on alert.
“Miss Yao, stop slandering me,” Chu Yeyan protested. “I’m honest and harmless—how could I possibly trick girls?”
Xu Mei chimed in, “Hello, Miss Yao.”
“Xu Mei? What are you doing here?”
So the woman did know the original host.
“You two know each other? That’s perfect.” Chu Yeyan beamed. “Xu Mei here was the winner of yesterday’s event, and Yao Jing is our center’s top instructor. Since you’re already acquainted, you can sort out the schedule yourselves. Makes my job easier.”
Xu Mei: “…”
He assigned her a one-on-one coach who knew the original host?
Crap.
Would she blow her cover?
She had to be careful.
Using amnesia as an excuse would be way too lame.
Yao Jing looked her up and down, clearly suspicious. “You need intensive training?”
Xu Mei: “…”
“I think you’d be better off focusing more on your academic studies,” Yao Jing added earnestly.
Xu Mei: “…”
She pulled Yao Jing aside and lowered her voice. “Miss Yao, truth is… I had a bit of an accident over the summer.”
“What happened?” Yao Jing looked concerned.
“I got injured,” Xu Mei sighed. “And when I woke up… I couldn’t remember much—including the dance techniques I used to know.”
Yao Jing was skeptical. “Amnesia? Where were you hurt?”
Xu Mei pushed her hair aside, showing the bruise that hadn’t fully healed.
“That’s serious. Did you see a doctor?” Yao Jing asked.
Xu Mei lowered her gaze, eyes tinged red. “I’m okay now… But school’s starting, and I can’t remember anything I learned. I’m afraid I won’t be allowed to enroll.”
Yao Jing paused, then tested her: “Isn’t this good timing? You never wanted to go to school anyway, right?”
Xu Mei was shocked—was she exposed?
But she quickly realized: Yao Jing was testing her.
The original host wasn’t good at academics, but she genuinely loved dancing. She wouldn’t have worked so hard otherwise.
So this amnesia story must’ve sounded too fake.
“I want to go to school,” Xu Mei said firmly, meeting Yao Jing’s eyes. “Even if I’m not good at it, I haven’t given up.”
Yao Jing stared at her for a few seconds, then draped an arm around her shoulders and led her to the mirror room. “Then I must’ve remembered wrong. Sorry. Don’t worry—academics might not be my area, but I’ll handle the dance part.”
Xu Mei let out a silent breath of relief. “Thank you, teacher.”
That was close.
Yao Jing noticed bruises on her arms and legs and frowned. “Did you try practicing on your own at home?”
“No,” Xu Mei quickly covered the worst one. “I wouldn’t dare. These are from yesterday’s event.”
Yao Jing could tell fresh bruises from old ones but didn’t press. “Why were you even at that event? Isn’t your house on the east side of the city? Were you looking for me?”
“Not really. I forgot you worked here. I’m living near Baihe Tower now.”
“You moved?”
“Kind of.”
“You live alone?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Go change. I need to evaluate your condition,” Yao Jing instructed and left the room.
At the front desk, Chu Yeyan was joking around again, but when he saw her approach, he straightened up. “I wasn’t hitting on her—she hit on me.”
Yao Jing rolled her eyes. “Tell me, how did Xu Mei win yesterday’s event?”
“Huh?” Chu Yeyan looked puzzled. “In public and fair conditions—she won by skill, of course. There’s no backdoor in this kind of thing.”
The girl at the desk chimed in, “Yeah, she went all out. If she didn’t win, who would?”
“All out?” Yao Jing asked. “How exactly?”
“Well, during the fifth round, she dove to catch the ball and fell. Scraped her knee—blood everywhere. But she didn’t even flinch.”
The receptionist gave her a thumbs up. “Typical dancer. Tough as nails.”
Chu Yeyan laughed, “No wonder my dear Shuyang likes her.”
Yao Jing shot him a deadly glare.
“She’s just a neighbor, just a neighbor!” Chu Yeyan raised his hands in surrender.
“She’s my student. Anyone who tries anything—” Yao Jing drew a finger across her neck.
Chu Yeyan: “…Nope, not me.”
Back in the mirror room, Yao Jing found Xu Mei already changed, correcting her posture in the mirror.
Her knee was only just starting to scab over. Blood oozed whenever she moved.
After watching for a while, Yao Jing stepped forward. “What the hell are you doing? In your current condition, if you don’t want to get expelled, you’ll need to train at least ten hours a day. Can you handle that?”
Xu Mei hadn’t been scolded by a teacher in a long time—but strangely, she missed it.
She snapped to attention and answered loudly, “Yes, I can!”
- Writer
