"Do you think you'll die if you don't say that last part?"
"No, but I just can't help it."
Jiang Lai lay down with a frown, thinking about her mission here.
To win Shen Liao's love and achieve her own career.
The original character was truly pitiful.
It's quite fantastical when you think about it; she actually entered a book called "President's Heart Pet."
What a pity, the words in the book had nothing to do with her. As for Shen Liao, the male protagonist, his heart's pet was his longtime unrequited love, Bai Yueguang, and Jiang Lai was just a stand-in he found from the university to ease his longing.
The original Jiang Lai, an almost graduate of A University Media, was the belle of the acting department, pretty with a decent personality, but her family's financial situation was average. Her parents were just small-town grocers who exhausted their resources to provide for her education.
When the original character participated in the graduation ceremony, Shen Liao noticed her because she resembled his Bai Yueguang, and thus he began to pursue her.
Specifically, having his assistant deliver jewels, a house, a bank card, and a luxury car.
Of course, a girl from a small place couldn't resist such sugar-coated bombs. Even knowing that Shen Liao didn't truly like her, she still resolutely became his secret lover.
Of course, Jiang Lai, in the early stages, didn't know that Shen Liao's initial intention was merely to keep her, and the pitiable, silly girl thought she had really become the Cinderella in a fairy tale, waiting for her prince charming.
Soon, the news of Jiang Lai being kept reached Bai Yueguang's ears.
Being the central figure in high society circles, Bai Yueguang's friends naturally knew about Shen Liao keeping a mistress.
Shen Liao's brother, Shen An, looked down on this lowly woman. Under the pretense of bonding through outings, he repeatedly took Jiang Lai to high-end luxury venues, encouraging her to use Shen Liao's secondary card to buy one extravagant, useless item after another.
Over time, Shen Liao grew increasingly annoyed with Jiang Lai, whom he already viewed as just a substitute. Though he wasn't short of money, facing a woman so materialistic and brainless left him only feeling irritated.
Soon, Bai Yueguang returned to the country, making a high-profile appearance at the Shen family's old mansion for Mrs. Shen's birthday celebration.
Jiang Lai, who was not on the guest list, was sneaked in by Shen An. Jiang Lai thought Shen Liao had acknowledged their relationship and, ecstatic, bought many expensive herbs and jewelry to celebrate the birthday.
Upon arrival, Shen Liao, bound by the occasion, said nothing much. When asked, he merely said she was a regular friend. Just as Jiang Lai placed all her hopes on Mrs. Shen, the always frugal and simple old lady exploded at seeing the jewelry and herbs Jiang Lai brought.
At this moment, Bai Yueguang presented the Hundred Birds Phoenix Cheongsam she had sewn herself, causing an instant sensation. Mrs. Shen was absolutely taken with it, holding Bai Yueguang's hands with loving eyes.
Thus, Shen Liao danced with Bai Yueguang. Having waited years, Shen Liao proposed to Bai Yueguang at this moment.
Standing in the crowd, Jiang Lai felt she was plunged into an abyss. In her despair and pain, mocking voices surged from all directions. Shen An sneered at her for overestimating herself; those socialites who usually took her to high-consumption venues laughed at her shamelessness. In front of everyone, Bai Yueguang leaned lightly against Shen Liao and glanced casually at Jiang Lai.
That glance told Jiang Lai she had always been just a substitute. Shen Liao had loved her from beginning to end.
The lofty swan had never seen her.
Now, just a look, a smile from her, could take back everything Jiang Lai had painstakingly built.
At this moment, Jiang Lai completely broke down.
In front of everyone, she rushed out of the banquet hall.
After that, Shen Liao never saw her again. Jiang Lai, who had grown accustomed to a life of luxury, couldn't accept the disparity and began selling her luxury items to maintain her current lifestyle.
Finally, she met another gentle and handsome man. When she was in dire straits, he comforted her, stayed with her, and gradually pulled her from the abyss before suddenly disappearing.
Jiang Lai even sold her only house, just to get a ticket to a high-end auction to find that man.
In the end, when she arrived at the auction with nothing left, she finally saw that man, only he was sitting in the high VIP seat, beside him... was Shen Liao's fiancée, his Bai Yueguang.
Jiang Lai was incredulous. The man looked at Bai Yueguang with such deep affection, even gifting her a pair of intertwined jade mandarin ducks bought at a high price as a wedding present.
Squeezed into a corner, Jiang Lai saw the man give her a mocking, mischievous smile.
It turned out his kindness was all an illusion.
It turned out he was just like those mischievous young masters, only meant to kick her further into an abyss of hell.
Jiang Lai was thoroughly broken. She couldn't find a job, couldn't go home, and was rejected everywhere she went.
Later, she quietly died at home.
It was suicide.
Was it suicide?
Jiang Lai, recalling the past, curled her lips into a smile.
She clearly saw that the original character had been cut open inch by inch with a knife by those people, not fatally, but salt was sprinkled on her wounds, making her wish for death, pushing her towards extremes.
Thinking of this, Little Buding's voice came to her ears.
"The original character's obsession was Shen Liao. She loved Shen Liao but never received his love, so your task is to make Shen Liao love you wholeheartedly and to carve out your own career. Time is unlimited, for the first world, I've applied plenty of benefits for you. Come, draw a prize."
Looking at the three cards in front of her, Jiang Lai casually picked the one in the middle.
"Congratulations, you've acquired the skill: I am the Strongman, please check for receipt."
Strongman, as the name implies, great strength.
Jiang Lai was a bit displeased.
"What's the deal, I'm a delicate girl, and this skill is useless to me."
If Little Buding hadn't read her file, it might have believed her lies.
"This is only half of the strength you used to have, and this body belongs to the original character, what's it got to do with you?"
"Still can't take much dragging, it'll kill me."
"After all, as a male protagonist, he has to have something extraordinary, oh right, you must adhere to the cannon fodder rules: one, don't kill the male and female protagonists, two, don't let anyone discover your anomaly, understood?"
Jiang Lai didn't want to deal with this chatterbox and soon fell asleep, waking up bright and early at half-past eight the next morning.
The man's room was very large but lifeless; the expansive wardrobe housed rows of glass cabinets filled with expensive watches and cuffs.