Chapter 2: Shang Que, You’re Terrible!!!

Shang Que ships Xu Xu Ru Sheng too!#

When Ji Jingchuan saw this trending topic, he had already been waiting under Shang Que’s Weibo post for nearly half an hour, anticipating her reply to his comment. In these agonizing thirty minutes, he had rehearsed his comeback at least 800 times in his head to ensure he wouldn’t lose ground. And yet, instead of responding to him, Shang Que had gone off to read someone else’s fanfiction?

Unbelievable! What was Lu Zhixu and Ning Sheng doing stirring up a CP out of nowhere?

No, the real problem was Shang Que. She was absolutely infuriating.

Fuming, Ji Jingchuan tossed his phone aside, yanked open a drawer, and pulled out a photo frame. The old, yellowed photograph showed two young children, grinning as they posed with identical peace signs. He stared at it for two seconds, then flicked the girl’s forehead in the picture, grumbling like a machine gun, “Damn Shang Que, damn Shang Que, damn Shang Que!”

[Ding—Hello, Host!]

The quiet room was suddenly filled with an unfamiliar voice. Ji Jingchuan swiftly shoved the frame back into the drawer, slammed it shut, and turned around impatiently. “I told you to knock before coming in—”

The door was closed. The studio was empty except for him. Ji Jingchuan froze for a second before narrowing his eyes warily. “Who just spoke?”

[Hello, Host! I am the Villain Counterattack System.]

This time, Ji Jingchuan heard it clearly—the voice was coming from inside his head.

He nearly jumped in shock. But since it wasn’t a real person, he relaxed. His initial guilt vanished completely, and he lazily sank back into his recliner.

The system seized the opportunity to continue. [Host, this world is actually a novel, and you are the villain in it—]

“T.D.”

[Huh?] The system was stunned.

“Unsubscribe. Do you not understand human speech?” Ji Jingchuan’s tone was completely insincere, devoid of curiosity, laced with sarcasm. “Even ancient systems have to work these days?”

[…I-I understood. But why?] The system hesitated before reiterating, [Host, I’m here to help you change your tragic ending. I’m the Villain Counterattack System.]

“Who’s the villain?” Ji Jingchuan scoffed. “I’m a genius—how could I possibly be a villain?”

[Host, a villain is defined in relation to the protagonists. But in my eyes, you are the true protagonist—the absolute main character!]

Ji Jingchuan was reluctantly appeased by its flattering tone.

Noticing this, the system hurriedly continued, [As the villain, you will be portrayed as a troublemaker who stirs up drama on a variety show, making the protagonists look even better in comparison. Eventually, you will be set up, become the target of public hatred, and end up dying under the wheels of an anti-fan’s car.]

“Who are the protagonists?”

[Host, you definitely know them—Lu Zhixu and Ning Sheng.]

Know them? He had just been cursing them in his mind. Ji Jingchuan’s brow furrowed, irritation immediately rising to the surface.

This nonsense again?

[Not only that—after your death, your sister, Shang Que, will try to seek justice for you. But in the process of uncovering the truth, she will threaten certain powerful figures and ultimately be killed as well.]

Ji Jingchuan’s face darkened instantly.

The system quickly pushed further, [Host, aren’t you angry? You should be! Let’s—]

Before it could finish, the delicate-looking young man suddenly slammed the table, standing up in fury. His voice was filled with rage. “If you have a problem, come at me! What kind of coward targets Shang Que? I’ll kill, kill, kill!!!”

[…]

If words alone could kill, Ji Jingchuan’s surroundings would already be littered with corpses. After shouting “kill” countless times, he finally calmed down, though his fair neck was still flushed red with anger, veins bulging.

[Host, don’t be upset. With me here, the ending can be changed.]

“You’re mistaken. I’m not upset.” Ji Jingchuan flatly denied it. His handsome face once again donned its usual arrogant, aloof expression. “A genius doesn’t let emotions control them.”

He picked up his phone, hesitated for a moment, then suddenly smirked smugly. “Shang Que obviously cares about me.”

[Host, you care about her too.]

“I don’t.” Ji Jingchuan’s expression flipped in an instant. He stubbornly emphasized, “I—do—not—care—about—her—at—all!”

But even as he spoke, he opened Shang Que’s Weibo page, and her latest post came into view.

[Shang Que V: The best little brother in the world @Jiang Yizhe V]

Ji Jingchuan froze.

The person Shang Que had tagged was Jiang Yizhe, the actor who played her younger brother in Qie Zuo Fei Hua. His character in the drama was the ultimate “sister’s protector”—the type to threaten anyone who dared to speak ill of his sister. Their on-screen sibling bond had gained immense popularity among fans.

Looking at the comments, Ji Jingchuan saw countless people gushing, “I need a little brother like this!” and “Shang Que, I’m your long-lost younger sibling!”

Ji Jingchuan’s face grew darker.

“The best little brother… The best little brother…”

Since Shang Que had returned to the country, she hadn’t once called him “little brother.”

Let alone “best.” The only time she had ever used that word with him was to scold him: You’d best hope I never see you in person.

Ji Jingchuan’s lips pressed into a tight line, his eyes reddening with frustration. His walls finally crumbled as he hurled his phone aside, collapsing face-down into his recliner like a deflated balloon.

After a long pause, he muttered bitterly, “Damn Shang Que, damn Shang Que, damn Shang Que.”

Then, after a beat, he changed targets, his voice seething with resentment. “Damn Jiang Yizhe, don’t you have your own sister?!”

[Eh?]

Wasn’t he just saying he didn’t care at all?

—

Thanks to a slip of the finger, Shang Que had accidentally liked a piece of Xu Xu Ru Sheng fanfiction, keeping her on the trending list for three days. Just as it was about to die down, the official guest list for a variety show dragged her right back.

[Official Account of Friendship’s Little Boat: This summer, let’s embark on a journey with @Ji Jingchuan V @Lu Zhixu V @Shang Que V @Ning Sheng V @Lin Jinyi V @Jiang Yizhe V, sailing the waters of friendship together!]

The internet went wild.

[Wait, did you just put Shang Que between Xu Xu Ru Sheng on purpose?]
[Official account: Heard my sister ships them, so here’s a front-row seat for her.]

[Did we just ship a CP straight to the real-life actors?]

The news set the internet ablaze. Would Ji Jingchuan and Shang Que finally face off on-screen?

The anticipation was palpable.

Regarding her accidental like, Shang Que had already figured out how to handle it. After all, it was a fanfiction that required mirroring and flipping upside down just to be posted. There was no way Lu Zhixu and Ning Sheng would bring it up to her on their own. If they didn’t ask, she wouldn’t say anything. If they did ask, she’d just act surprised.

In short, when the time came, there would always be a way forward. And if there wasn’t, she could just bluff her way through, just like she had tricked the driver.

Shang Que wasn’t worried at all.

Walking along the moss-covered stone path lined with greenery, she soon arrived at the recording villa. At the same time, another girl emerged from a different path—a young woman in a striking red spaghetti-strap dress with flawless makeup.

Their eyes met, and Lin Jinyi immediately put on a sour expression. Hidden behind her sunglasses, she rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath, “Such a clout chaser.”

Shang Que quickly recalled that in the fanfiction, this spoiled rich girl secretly harbored feelings for the male lead. But what did that have to do with her? All she did was accidentally like a post, not kill Lu Zhixu. So she got straight to the point.

“Why are you mad at me? Want me to write a fanfic about you and Lu Zhixu too?”

Lin Jinyi was stunned, her face instantly flushing red. As if flustered, she shot back, “What do you mean by that?”

“Hee-hee.” Shang Que dodged the question and continued to tease her. “Lu Zhixu should already be inside. Maybe I should ask him how to write about you two properly.”

With that, she grabbed her suitcase and dashed off. Lin Jinyi stomped her foot in frustration and shouted after her, “Shang Que! Stop right there!”

Shang Que didn’t stop. Instead, she sprinted through the courtyard with its cascading stone waterfalls, bursting into the villa like a gust of wind.

The two people sitting on the sofa, along with the live-stream audience, were startled.

[WTF, why is there a monkey in the villa?]

[See? I knew these houses weren’t safe. I’m not buying it.]

[If you’re not buying it, then neither am I.]

[Wait, hold up… That actually looks like a person.]

“Shang Que-jie!” Jiang Yizhe was the first to recognize her. He jumped off the sofa excitedly and ran over. His fluffy brown hair and goofy grin made him look exactly like the golden retriever fans often compared him to.

He played Shang Que’s younger brother in a drama, and the two got along well both on and off set. Jiang Yizhe was still new to the entertainment industry, young and naive—so naive that he thought the people who excluded him on set were just helping him “grow.”

Shang Que couldn’t stand that kind of near-bullying behavior, so she had stood up for him. Ever since then, she had gained herself a little sidekick.

She was about to greet him when another loud voice rang out behind her.

“Shang Que!”

Everyone turned to look.

Lin Jinyi stormed in, her high heels clacking loudly against the floor as she abandoned all pretense of elegance.

Jiang Yizhe glanced between the two of them and asked curiously, “Shang Que-jie, did you two come together?”

“Nope, we just ran into each other at the entrance.” Shang Que lied with a straight face. “Lin Jinyi is my fan. She was chasing after me outside, begging for an autograph. So enthusiastic.”

She turned to Lin Jinyi and added with a mischievous grin, “I didn’t say anything wrong, did I?”

A blatant threat.

Lin Jinyi could practically see the little devil horns growing out of Shang Que’s head. She was so furious that her chest heaved, and the eyes beneath her sunglasses turned red with rage.

But Lu Zhixu, who was sitting on the sofa, was also watching. And with the cameras rolling, she had no choice but to force a smile, grit her teeth, and admit, “Yes, I’m Shang Que’s fan.”

[Huh? Lin Jinyi is actually a fan of Shang Que?]

[They’re from the same company. Shang Que is Lin Jinyi’s senior, and with how successful she’s been over the years, it makes sense for Lin Jinyi to admire her.]

[Besides, Lin Jinyi has that classic tsundere rich girl personality. Admitting she’s a fan in public? If that’s not true love, what is?]

[Arrogant brat x glamorous actress… I’m shipping it.]

[Wait, is it just me, or does Golden Retriever Jiang look excited?]

[Of course he is! Jiang Yizhe is also a die-hard Shang Que fan! LOL.]

“This is amazing! I’m a fan of Shang Que-jie too!” Sure enough, Jiang Yizhe lit up like a Christmas tree. “I knew it! Shang Que-jie is such an amazing person—who wouldn’t love her? Oh, by the way, what level are you in her super-topic? Are you in the fan group?”

Lin Jinyi’s barely maintained smile instantly collapsed. She shot him a glare, let out a cold huff, and stomped off to sit alone in the farthest corner.

Shang Que offered an explanation: “Oh, she doesn’t like to share biases.”

Hearing that, Lin Jinyi nearly passed out from rage.

Now she finally understood why her manager had repeatedly warned her before she came here—don’t provoke Ji Jingchuan or Shang Que, no matter what.

Now she got it.

The former was openly bad-tempered.

The latter? Subtly wicked.

Shang Que… was evil!!!