Chapter 47: The Online Love Rival Becomes a Charmer (47)

**Chapter 47 The Supporting Female Lead in an Online Romance Becomes a Heartthrob (47)**

After the live stream, Si Yuechen’s affection points rose to 89, while Yang Mingyue’s reached 87.

Tang Qing’s reputation as a “love guru” blew up in niche circles. Netizens were convinced she had some kind of spell, bewitching the two heartthrobs completely.

Jiang Yiyi naturally caught wind of all this. Watching Tang Qing’s charming smile on the livestream, she nearly ground her teeth to dust!

Si Yuechen actually liked Tang Qing! Jiang Yiyi couldn’t wrap her head around it—the iceberg that she could never melt had thawed for Tang Qing.

And that robot… Even though Jiang Yiyi didn’t understand the details, she could see how much effort Si Yuechen had poured into it. Yet, all that thoughtfulness had been handed to Tang Qing on a silver platter.

“It’s fine, I still have Zhong Yu.” Repeating this to herself, Jiang Yiyi forced down her resentment and started placing orders on a food delivery app.

Today was the day she’d arranged to have dinner with Zhong Yu. She had ordered from a private kitchen—pre-cooked meals that just needed a quick heat-up when Zhong Yu arrived.

He’d never know the difference. She could just claim she cooked them herself.

Putting on an apron like she meant it, Jiang Yiyi set the table, carefully arranging candles and flowers to create a romantic atmosphere.

“A Yu, you’re here?” The doorbell rang, and Jiang Yiyi immediately tossed all the packaging from the private kitchen aside before putting on her usual sweet smile. “Perfect timing—the food is almost ready.”

“I’m hopeless at this—it’s my first time cooking, so it took me forever.”

Back then, Zhong Yu would’ve fallen for it instantly. But this time… He first scrutinized Jiang Yiyi closely and quickly noticed something off. Not a hair out of place, makeup camera-ready, hands completely dry, and the kitchen knives and cutting board neatly arranged.

The food wasn’t made by Jiang Yiyi.

Zhong Yu quickly reached this conclusion but said nothing, just sat down.

Jiang Yiyi seemed oblivious to his unusual demeanor, passing him the chopsticks. “A Yu, try these dishes—it’s my first time making them.”

“Don’t blame me if they’re not good.”

Home-cooked food from someone you love should’ve felt special, but Zhong Yu showed no joy. Instead, he went straight for the jugular. “Did you call me here for something?”

Jiang Yiyi froze. “What’s wrong? A Yu, is the food not good?”

“I’m not hungry yet.” Zhong Yu repeated, “Just tell me. Why did you ask me here?”

Scrutinizing his face carefully, she couldn’t read anything.

It’s probably nothing…

Reassuring herself, Jiang Yiyi steadied her nerves and said, “A Yu, I’ve been miserable lately.”

“I know it’s wrong to think this way, but A Yu, I can’t help it…”

“I… I can’t stop thinking about Tang Qing. She was the one who stole my photos first—she’s the one who ruined my life. So why is everyone taking her side now?”

“A Yu, everyone’s cursing me, saying I cheated, saying I can’t compare to Tang Qing.” Reciting her well-prepared lines, Jiang Yiyi’s eyes reddened at the right moment, her voice trembling slightly. “I hear their laughs in my head—I’ve never felt like this before. I can’t sleep at night.”

“Sometimes I think… if only Tang Qing… just… disappeared…” As she spoke, she gauged Zhong Yu’s reaction. To her disappointment, his face remained expressionless.

“So,” Zhong Yu let her words hang in the air, his gaze unfathomable, “what, like you want Tang Qing gone forever? Or do you want to drag her back into the dirt?”

“I… I don’t know.” Jiang Yiyi bit her lip, putting on a show of guilt. “Zhong Yu, am I terrible for thinking this?”

“But I’m losing it—these past few days, I haven’t slept a wink… night after night.”

The sight of a beauty shedding tears is most moving. Jiang Yiyi deliberately added a sob to her voice; her performance was strikingly realistic.

Unfortunately, Zhong Yu kept silent, unmoved.

The silence stretched on too long, and Jiang Yiyi’s tears gradually dried up.

Suddenly, her heart lurched—a dreadful feeling washed over her—as she heard Zhong Yu speak: "I came today because there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you."

"Was it you who called the police that rainy day?"

The room went dead silent.

Jiang Yiyi’s eyes widened in shock! She stammered, "Wh-what... why are you bringing this up now?"

"Zhong Yu, that was ages ago... it's all fuzzy now."

Zhong Yu wasn’t letting her dodge. His gaze bore into her, his voice hard. "Answer my question. Was it you who called the police?"

Why’s he asking this now...

Jiang Yiyi knew all too well that the reason Zhong Yu had treated her so well all these years was because of that rainy day. He had always believed she was the one who saved him.

That day, she had been terrified, bolting in panic until she hit the street, finally catching her breath.

Back then, all she’d felt was relief to have escaped unscathed—she had never even considered calling the police...

It had always been Zhong Yu’s mistaken belief, but Jiang Yiyi had never thought to correct it.

She bit her lip, refusing to speak.

"If it wasn’t you who called, why did you lie to me?"

He knows?

Jiang Yiyi stared at him in disbelief, panic seizing her. In a panic, she rushed out, "It was me, Zhong Yu! That day, I was the one who called the police."

"Oh? Then tell me, what phone did you use?"

"I used my cell phone. I was the one who called." Terrified of losing him, Jiang Yiyi spoke recklessly. "A Yu, what’s gotten into you? Why doubt me now?"

"After all these years, haven’t you always known? That day, I was the one who saved you." She took a step forward, trying to grasp Zhong Yu’s arm, but he dodged her.

Gaping at him, Jiang Yiyi watched as Zhong Yu’s expression grew colder. His voice icy, he said, "You’re lying, Jiang Yiyi. I checked—the call that day came from a landline."

"Jiang Yiyi, all these years, you’ve been deceiving me."

Jiang Yiyi was completely floored. She had never imagined Zhong Yu would reinvestigate the call from that day—nor had she expected a decade-long lie to unravel so easily.

"What does it matter if it wasn’t me?!"

"Hasn’t everything been good between us? A Yu, don’t you like me the most?"

"You jumped to that conclusion. I just never corrected you. Isn’t that fine? We both got what we wanted. A Yu, why are you obsessing over this now...?"

Her eyes brimmed with tears, but they no longer held even a shred of Zhong Yu’s affection.

"Jiang Yiyi, let’s end this here." Standing up, Zhong Yu scanned the elaborate spread with contempt. "You don’t need to put on an act for me. You didn’t cook any of this, did you?"

"Trying to pawn off takeout as homemade—just like how you’ve faked sincerity and deceived me for ten years." Picking up his coat, Zhong Yu turned to leave. "As for why I asked about the police call... it’s because Tang Qing was the one who told me..."

"She was the one who called the police back then."

How could this be!

Jiang Yiyi was utterly floored—so it was Tang Qing who’d saved Zhong Yu back then!

Her again! Why did it have to be her of all people!

Why does Tang Qing get everything handed to her? Now even Zhong Yu is taking her side...

"Drop the act, Jiang Yiyi." Without the filter of being his savior, Zhong Yu suddenly saw many things he hadn’t noticed before—Jiang Yiyi’s cooking was fake, her tenderness was fake, even the tears she performed in front of him today were fake.

She put on this whole act, nailing every role, just to manipulate him into going after Tang Qing...

"Don’t you dare mess with Tang Qing again, or else..." He paused, a cold, unfriendly smile creeping across his face, "you’ll be the one ground into the dirt."

"Jiang Yiyi, after all these years, you know exactly what I’m capable of. From now on, don’t contact me ever again."

Zhong Yu shut the door. Jiang Yiyi wavered, but in the end, she didn’t dare go after him.