On the way back, I felt listless the whole time.
Although Sylvia Shui hadn't landed the female lead role, she had secured a supporting role with potentially more room to shine, so naturally, she was ecstatic.
She laughed with innocent vivacity for a while, then her gaze landed on my face, turning cautious again: "Ivy, aren't you happy that I got this role?"
?
Good grief, I haven't even been quiet for that long, and you're already trying to pin blame on me?
Seeing Jay Zhao, who was driving, shoot me a hostile look from the front seat, I quickly plastered on an exaggerated, fake smile:
"How could that be? Sylvia, we're good friends! I'm genuinely happy you got this role!"
Sylvia bit her lip, still watching me carefully: "But... you look unhappy..."
"Sylvia, please don't overthink it. Always remember, we're best friends. Your happiness is my happiness."
I grasped her hand, looking at her with feigned enthusiasm. "I'm mainly just worried about an interview I have in three days. It was originally scheduled for today, but I postponed it to accompany you to the audition."
Yes, I was hinting—no, stating outright—what I had sacrificed for her. I was trying to make the female lead develop a conscience, hoping she wouldn't feel so justified and entitled the next time she used me as a human shield or a backup plan.
We working stiffs never make pointless sacrifices.
Sure enough, Sylvia's expression turned peculiar.
This peculiarity stemmed from her previously taking it for granted that Ivy Liu should sacrifice for her without complaint. But now that I'd laid it bare, she couldn't pretend to be oblivious anymore.
I took a moment to savor the look on the female lead's face, then heard her ask me:
"Ivy, why are you interviewing?"
?
I froze on the spot: "Aren't we graduating this year? Shouldn't graduates look for jobs?"
Sylvia said: "Ivy, but you don't need to work so hard or put yourself through interviews. Uncle Qi told me before to just join his company after graduation. When I get home, I'll talk to Uncle Qi and have him arrange a position for you in the company too."
Oh, right. Good grief, I almost forgot Sylvia's a rich second-generation heiress.
Of course, the money wasn't from Sylvia's parents, but from her stepfather, Ethan Qi's father.
The original story mentioned that Ethan Qi's father, Qi Yang, was in the jade business, worth hundreds of millions. Later, when Sylvia attended a charity gala, the priceless emerald necklace she wore was a gift from Qi Yang to boost her image.
Honestly, Qi Yang treated her with more devotion than his own biological daughter.
This was also the most baffling part for me when I read the original.
Because Ivy Liu's parents were just ordinary working-class folks, toiling their whole lives without earning a fraction of the cost of one of Sylvia's necklaces. Later, after Ivy was disfigured, her fiancé broke off the engagement and demanded the betrothal gifts back.
But that money had already been spent on Ivy's medical bills. Her parents couldn't even scrape together the repayment. In the end, it was Arthur Murong who stepped in and paid it off for Ivy.
The condition? That Ivy distance herself from Sylvia Shui, so Sylvia wouldn't feel guilty or lose sleep over her injury.
Thinking of this, a wave of nausea hit me. I immediately pulled out my phone and gave one-star reviews to all of Arthur Murong's movies: Male lead acting terrible, character worse. Please replace him.
Putting my phone away, I shook my head at Sylvia: "Forget it. Your Uncle Qi's company deals with businesses outside my knowledge. Besides, I already scheduled this interview."
Sylvia bit her lip: "Okay, Ivy. What kind of job are you interviewing for?"
"Product Manager."
Sylvia's expression told me in no uncertain terms that she had no idea what that job entailed.
I had no intention of explaining either. I leaned against the car window and started playing on my phone.
But when I ignored her, Sylvia started wallowing in self-pity beside me again: "Ivy, I don't know why, but I feel like we've grown distant. Do you... have issues with me? We used to be such close friends who told each other everything..."
Here she goes again.
I sighed. Then sighed again. I put my phone down and looked at Sylvia: "There's something I want to discuss with you."
Sylvia brightened instantly: "Ivy, what is it? Tell me! As long as I can help, I'll do my absolute best!"
"Could you take me with you to your drama's opening ceremony?" I said. "No hidden agenda, I just want to meet that Su Yunyi."
Beautiful sister, fellow unlucky soul who transmigrated but didn't get the female lead role... If the plot forces us to follow the original story, maybe we should team up.