Chapter 17: No Women Allowed

When driving through the city, everything was quite smooth, and Duan Qingyu even briefly considered asking her to get out.

But once they left the city and headed toward the suburbs, the car speed suddenly increased, soaring into the air like an arrow. The tires screeched as the vehicle smoothly slid around a bend.

The speed only increased, and she couldn’t even be bothered to step on the brakes.

Duan Qingyu looked at the rapidly passing night scene, casually leaning against the window, a faint smile on his face, seemingly enjoying it.

The person beside him appeared to feel the same way.

Duan Qingyu watched as she gradually slowed the car down, a flicker of hostility flashing in his eyes.

“Miss Ji, have you done this before?” he asked.

“I’ve tried it a few times abroad,” Ji Xueli answered without changing her expression.

The original owner would never have participated in such things. Her social media was filled with drama and acting posts.

“Duan Qingyu.” She called out to him.

He looked over. She calling him by his full name didn’t seem to stir any emotions in him.

“I’ve agreed to your terms,” Ji Xueli said, looking at him.

If you don’t enter the tiger’s den, how can you catch the tiger cub? And she was betting—betting whether he was serious or not, according to the old-school novels she’d read.

Usually, when the female lead agrees to such terms, the male lead gets angry.

Wait a minute…

She wasn’t the female lead.

Ji Xueli’s lips twitched, and she quickly wanted to clarify that she had misspoken.

But the next second, Duan Qingyu laughed, his eyes dark and pure.

For some reason, Ji Xueli felt a sense of danger closing in.

“Ji Xueli, I really underestimated you,” Duan Qingyu said, narrowing his eyes, his voice cold.

He had hoped this would make her back off, giving her an opportunity to declare the game over, but…

She had just handed this opportunity right over.

Ji Xueli furrowed her brow slightly. Was this her anger at being humiliated? She felt like it was just pure frustration…

She leaned back a little, but then her wrist was grabbed by him, pulling her toward him with considerable force. As she lifted her head, his indifferent and handsome face dominated her field of vision.

Ji Xueli’s heart skipped a beat, like prey being locked onto by a wild beast. She suddenly wanted to escape… that was the fleeting thought in her mind.

“You’ve provoked me. Don’t regret it later, but the game has already started, and you can’t back out now,” Duan Qingyu said, locking eyes with her.

He made it sound like she was about to step into an abyss. Ji Xueli forced a smile. “I won’t regret it, don’t worry.”

As long as she could successfully win his favor, who cared about regret?

Duan Qingyu released her hand.

Ji Xueli quickly massaged her red wrist. No wonder in old-school novels, the female leads were all so strong-willed and unyielding. If it were her, she would’ve long since shouted at him to get lost.

Being a female supporting character in a book was definitely a high-risk occupation…

“I’ll drive,” Duan Qingyu said, his cold voice breaking the silence.

“Oh,” Ji Xueli nodded. If he wanted to drive, then let him. His driving skills should be about the same as hers, right?

—

“Yue!”

Ji Xueli leaned against a tree, vomiting up all the alcohol she had drunk, feeling like her stomach was about to come out as well.

Duan Qingyu drove like a race car. Though she had driven before, compared to him, it felt like nothing. The speed left her dizzy.

“I can’t move. Help me out…” Ji Xueli weakly leaned against the car.

Duan Qingyu gave her a glance, seeing through her act, and without mercy, continued walking into the residential area.

He really was heartless…

Ji Xueli pouted, quickly changing her mood, and hurried to follow him.

This should be one of Duan Qingyu’s main residences, located in a wealthy area, with property values that were worth a fortune.

Ji Xueli followed behind him, hesitating for a moment. Was she really about to go home with him?!

That seemed a bit too bold…

“Aren’t you coming in?” Duan Qingyu looked at her.

She stepped forward. “Sure.”

To know the enemy and know yourself is the key to victory. Maybe entering would allow her to understand him better.

But as soon as she stepped inside, the lights hadn’t even turned on, and a shadow approached, tall and imposing, pushing her against the door with no way to retreat.

The man’s scent enveloped her, and in the dim light, his figure blurred. Ji Xueli instinctively tried to dodge, but his hand, with defined joints, pressed firmly on her shoulder.

His hot breath brushed against her neck, sending a jolt through every nerve in her body.

Ji Xueli tightened her grip on her hand.

As the man made his next move, she swiftly struck out with her hand, hitting his neck with a precise strike.

At the same moment, the lights turned on, revealing Duan Qingyu’s unexpected expression, his gaze intense as he looked at her.

Wow, didn’t faint.

That was close.

Ji Xueli, not changing her expression, replied, “There was a mosquito on you earlier. Don’t mention it.”

She calmly walked into the living room, though her palms were already sweaty. My god, who turns on the lights like that? It scared her so much she nearly used a TV drama trick to knock him out…

Duan Qingyu rubbed the spot on his neck where she had hit him. It didn’t hurt, but he could feel it. His gaze deepened, and despite his disbelief at her poor excuse, he still believed it.

Because he had only meant to scare her.

“Wow, Duan Qingyu, your house is huge,” Ji Xueli said, trying to cover up the awkwardness with small talk.

Duan Qingyu didn’t bother responding.

“You forgot what you just said?” He looked at her, pouring himself a glass of water.

She knew she couldn’t escape…

“I didn’t forget, but you have to tell me first about my resources and roles after I join START Entertainment,” Ji Xueli replied.

She still needed to secure some benefits for herself.

“What do you want?” Duan Qingyu handed her the cup of water.

Ji Xueli took it, purposely brushing against his fingertips and raising an eyebrow. “Naturally, I want to be the leading lady. Good resources and scripts should be prioritized for me. If there’s anyone I don’t like, you’ll have to take care of them for me.”

She had to start with unreasonable demands. Maybe Duan Qingyu wouldn’t agree, and then she could use that to tell him about how hard her life had been abroad, making up whatever story she needed to.

She didn’t believe that the emotions between the male lead and the original owner were gone just like that. After all, they had been together before. Maybe she could avoid this catastrophe without having to sell herself.

“Fine.”

“You don’t agree, but I understand…?! You agreed!” Ji Xueli said, before realizing what he had just agreed to.

She looked at Duan Qingyu in disbelief.

Duan Qingyu smiled deeper, as if seeing through her thoughts. “Anything else?”

“Kicked Ren Tang…” Ji Xueli hesitated for a moment before continuing to make her demands.

“That’s easy. Anything else?” Duan Qingyu took a step closer to her.

Ji Xueli’s pupils widened. How could he agree to all this? How frustrated must he be? She looked up at him. “There can’t be any women around you.”

She didn’t believe it.