CHAPTER 13: Persona Collapse: 13%

◎ Shhh—She’s Reflecting ◎

By the time Qin Yangyang woke up, it was already noon.

The sun was blazing overhead.

She got out of bed and headed downstairs—just in time for lunch.

But as soon as she sat down, she noticed there were no crystal shrimp dumplings on the table.

Qin Yangyang loved crystal shrimp dumplings. Ever since she had brought the housekeeper some fresh vegetables, the auntie who cooked was successfully bribed. Just yesterday, she even said she’d make them for her.

“Where are my shrimp dumplings?”

Qin Yangyang looked around but didn’t see them. When she turned her head, she met the butler’s resentful gaze.

“President Ji ate them all.”

He spoke with deep grievance:
“Madam didn’t eat with President Ji today. He was so heartbroken, he stuffed himself out of sadness.”

Qin Yangyang: …

“You’re sure it was sadness-eating?”

Ji Jingxiu didn’t even like this stuff before.

Qin Yangyang had a very reasonable suspicion—he did it on purpose.

So childish.

After eating, Qin Yangyang picked up her phone and saw a glaring red notification at the top of Weibo: 99+!

Remembering the new product she posted before going to bed, she quickly tapped in and, sure enough, there were tons of new comments under the video.

[Mass produce it!]

[We demand mass production!]

The number of likes was surprisingly high!

Qin Yangyang hadn’t expected that.

This invention was just her venting her frustration. She never thought it would get so much love from the public.

Turns out so many people struggle with tongue slips too!

She scrolled through the comments, delighted and itching to respond.

So many people wanted one.

Previously, many netizens had also wanted to buy her Lotus Leaf Frog design. In the end, it was purchased by Dreamland Amusement Park and made into their mascot. It would be officially launched soon.

The supermarket project was interior design and couldn’t be sold.

But this “communication artifact” wasn’t difficult to make and had a low cost. If enough people were interested, maybe it could really work.

As soon as the thought occurred to her, Qin Yangyang started to get excited.

She quickly posted a survey to gauge netizens’ willingness to buy. If more than 3,000 people were interested, she’d seriously consider making it.

By the time she finished everything, the sky was already getting dark.

She had stayed home all day and was feeling restless. Quickly changing clothes, she decided to go out for a walk.

Just as she stepped out, she ran into three madams who lived nearby.

Ever since the last wealthy ladies’ gathering, they hadn’t seen each other. Spotting them not far away, Qin Yangyang immediately waved.

“What a coincidence! You ladies out for a walk too?”

The three of them gave her a once-over, their faces lacking any trace of warmth, looking like they had something to say but hesitated.

“We came to find you.”

“Me?”

They all nodded, their gazes filled with pity.

Madam Chen took her hand and whispered, “We heard… these past few days have been hard on you.”

Qin Yangyang was completely confused.

“You heard what?”

“That day at the Birch Tree Restaurant, you met with Yu Yuezhi, right? Your conversation has already spread all over Linhai City! Who would’ve thought, President Ji looks perfectly healthy and strong on the outside, but turns out… turns out he’s not capable.”

Qin Yangyang: ???

Where the heck did that rumor come from?

Before she could figure it out, the three madams had already huddled together and started whispering excitedly.

“Is it really true?”

“Wouldn’t that be what they call ‘all bark and no bite’? What a pity. No wonder he’s always so cold and moody. If your private life’s not going well, who could be cheerful?”

“This is the first time I’ve met a real-life… you-know-what case. Madam Ji, what’s it like?”

All three of them looked at her in unison.

Qin Yangyang felt a massive headache coming on.

“I… don’t know either.”

As soon as she said that, their eyes were brimming with even more sympathy.

Madam Zhang clutched her hand and said earnestly, “A husband can be ugly, or poor, but he can’t be incapable. That’s a matter of principle.”

“Exactly, exactly.”

Madam Li deftly pulled out a business card and stuffed it into her hand. “This lawyer specializes in divorce cases. I originally got it for myself, but I’m giving it to you now. Be sure to get as much emotional compensation as you can. Don’t shortchange yourself.”

They really sounded like they’d been through this before.

Unable to refuse their kind intentions, Qin Yangyang ended up collecting several lawyer cards. She felt like her relationship with the rich wives had deepened once again.

Just then, the butler walked out, and the ladies quickly scattered like birds.

Before Qin Yangyang moved in, the Ji residence had always kept a distant relationship with the neighbors. But after that one gathering with the wealthy wives, their relationship had subtly shifted.

Not too close, not too distant—just subtly complicated.

The butler stood there for a while, trying to figure it out, but got nothing.

“Madam, someone from Dreamland Amusement Park called for you just now.”

Qin Yangyang immediately turned around and headed back.

Ever since her last part-time job there, she hadn’t gone back to the park. By now, her Lotus Leaf Frog design should be about to debut.

The call was from the park manager.

“Tomorrow, the mascot you designed will officially debut at the park. We’re planning a series of events and would love to invite you to the event. Will you be free?”

Qin Yangyang was curious to see the final product herself. She was just about to say yes when a sudden thought struck her—this was too good an opportunity to pass up.

“Manager, don’t amusement park events usually require a lot of temporary staff?”

“Yeah, of course.”

Qin Yangyang had guessed as much and immediately said, “Then why didn’t you hire me?”

“……”

The manager was stunned, momentarily speechless.

What do you even say to that?

“When I left last time, didn’t I tell you to call me if you had any jobs? Don’t worry, I’ve got plenty of time now. I can check on the mascot and work at the same time—two birds, one stone.”

After the failed deal with Yu Yuezhi, Qin Yangyang felt like she’d lost a billion. She had to make some quick cash to comfort herself.

When the manager on the other end of the call heard that Qin Yangyang wanted to come back as a temp worker, he nearly broke into a cold sweat.

“This… isn’t very appropriate, is it?”

Last time, no one knew she was President Ji’s wife. Now that everyone knows, how could they possibly let her work as a temp again?

“It’s appropriate.”

Qin Yangyang said, “You’re hiring temp workers anyway. Me going is the same thing. Just pay me the same hourly wage as last time. Plus, I’m the designer of the mascot and have experience—I’ll do even better this time.”

The manager hesitated.

“What about President Ji?”

“I’ll talk to him.”

The manager finally breathed a sigh of relief and agreed.

“All right, then we’ll see you at the amusement park. Thanks for your help.”

Qin Yangyang had absolutely no intention of telling Ji Jingxiu about any of this.

Last time they met at Fantasy Amusement Park, Ji Jingxiu had such a strong reaction—there was no way he’d agree this time.

So this time, she decided to keep the whole thing a secret.

Men only slow down her money-making.

That evening, Ji Jingxiu returned home, the anger in his heart already mostly digested.

At the moment, he looked over at his newlywed wife who came from a poor family and didn’t even have assets in the nine-figure range. His expression softened slightly, from -10°C to -9°C, and he asked in what could almost be considered a gentle tone:

“Are you free tomorrow? One of the group’s restaurants invited a chef from France. His cooking is quite good.”

This particular chef was fairly well-known and had even won a number of awards, so reservations were already fully booked. Only someone like Ji Jingxiu could still get a table.

But Qin Yangyang wasn’t moved in the slightest.

A celebrity chef?

Is that more important than making money?

Qin Yangyang put on a grief-stricken expression and said solemnly, “Sorry. I thought it over carefully today. Yesterday was my fault—I shouldn’t have acted like that.”

She lowered her head, as if weighed down by endless regret and pain.

Ever since marrying Ji Jingxiu, Qin Yangyang had always been carefree and shameless, constantly making his life difficult. It was the first time she’d shown this kind of expression.

It caught him completely off guard.

Ji Jingxiu’s internal temperature dropped to -8°C.

Stiffly, he said, “I’ve already forgiven you.”

“I can’t forgive myself.”

“……”

“So I’ve decided to stay home tomorrow and reflect on my mistakes.”

Seeing how firm she was, Ji Jingxiu didn’t press further.

If Qin Yangyang could genuinely reflect, that would be good for everyone.

“I’m glad you feel that way.”

Qin Yangyang smiled faintly.

I’m glad you’re this gullible, too.

After dinner, she quickly returned to her room to prepare for work the next day.

Ji Jingxiu watched her retreating figure, heavy with sorrow, and felt a deep sense of comfort.

“Has she been like this all day?” he asked.

The butler recalled her activities for the day.

She got up at noon, found out the shrimp dumplings were all gone because Ji Jingxiu ate them, cursed for five minutes, then pestered the cooking auntie to make her shrimp fried rice—and devoured three whole bowls.

Overstuffed, she went out to chat with the ladies next door and only came back in the evening.

Right before Ji Jingxiu arrived, she’d been chasing Zhaocai Full House the cat around, saying she was going to be its boss.

Zhaocai was not having it.

So the two had another fight, woman versus cat.

With so much happening, the butler didn’t even know where to begin. He simply said, “Madam seemed to be in a pretty good mood today.”

Ji Jingxiu turned to look at him coldly and said, “You’re trying to comfort me again.”

Butler: “?”

Just then, his phone rang.

Ji Jingxiu checked the screen—it was a message from the manager of Fantasy Amusement Park.

“President Ji, I sent you an email earlier. Tomorrow is the mascot’s official debut, and we’d like to invite you to attend. What do you think?”

When the mascot went viral previously, aside from the video of Qin Yangyang fighting a stray cat, the most talked-about topic had been the photo of her and Ji Jingxiu. Countless netizens raved about their ‘CP vibes.’

The manager wanted to invite both of them—partly to satisfy the fans, partly to curry favor with the president and his wife.

But he’d sent the email days ago and still hadn’t received a reply from Ji Jingxiu.

Ji Jingxiu hadn’t planned to go.

He’d been following the mascot’s development and marketing anyway; there was no need to go in person. Plus, he’d originally planned to take Qin Yangyang to that restaurant tomorrow.

But now…

“All right. I’ll attend.”

Since Qin Yangyang was going to stay home and reflect, he had nothing better to do.

“Great! Wonderful!” the manager said excitedly. “We’ll be at our absolute best tomorrow to welcome your visit!”

He was thrilled, thinking:

It must be Madam Qin who convinced him!

Otherwise, President Ji hadn’t replied for days—why suddenly agree now?

The manager shared some details about the park’s event, then hung up and began preparing in earnest for tomorrow.

….

The next morning.

Ji Jingxiu woke up early.

He tiptoed downstairs, had breakfast alone, and when the butler brought up Qin Yangyang, he waved it off.

“She’s reflecting. Don’t disturb her.”

After speaking, he glanced upstairs, then quietly left the house.

The butler stood behind him, words on the tip of his tongue.

How was he supposed to tell President Ji that Madam had already left half an hour ago—cheerfully and full of energy?