Unexpected Entanglement with the Female Lead

Jiang Zhe’s initial reaction upon seeing Su Lianlian was to frown, a hint of impatience flickering in his eyes. He couldn’t fathom when he had provoked the game’s female lead enough for her to seek him out.

As one of the game’s male leads, Jiang Zhe simply wished to remain a silent observer, watching the female lead’s endless chase and escape dynamic with the other male leads, a fate from which she could never truly escape.

Now, however, he found himself unexpectedly entangled, a predicament that struck him as utterly troublesome, no matter how he considered it.

“I just came from Ning Ran’s private lounge. Is there something you need from me?”

Having decided against provoking her, Jiang Zhe adopted a distant demeanor towards Su Lianlian. His dark eyes met hers calmly, and the slight smile that had graced his lips subtly faded, leaving him with a serious, unsmiling expression.

Though Jiang Zhe had once been reserved, even somber, in the past, he had always found himself awkwardly making conversation whenever he encountered Su Lianlian.

Su Lianlian, on the other hand, adored Jiang Zhe’s shy demeanor when he spoke with her. His handsome face was as captivating as a fairy who had wandered into the mortal realm.

She particularly cherished his feigned nonchalance, punctuated by frequent, stolen glances.

Each time, it filled Su Lianlian’s heart with sweetness. She reveled in the feeling of being admired by such a stunning young man, and the envy, jealousy, and hatred from other girls provided an unparalleled sense of superiority, as refreshing as air conditioning on a summer’s day.

Yet, for the past two days, Jiang Zhe seemed like a completely different person.

He had even spoken up for Ning Ran earlier.

“Could Jiang Zhe have also been transmigrated?” she wondered.

Initially, Su Lianlian hadn’t considered this possibility, but upon hearing that Ning Ran had expelled Lin Moshu’s cousin from Fenghua High School at the fencing hall, with Jiang Zhe observing nearby, she suddenly felt a profound sense of unease.

The game’s plot had deviated.

As a seasoned gamer, she had poured more than half of her monthly salary into “Heartbeat Love Simulator” to conquer all five male leads, ensuring they would all fall under her sway.

A reverse harem game demanded nothing less than collecting them all!

Among the five male leads, Su Lianlian’s favorite was the melancholic, beautiful youth Jiang Zhe. After all, he started as a ‘puppy love’ type and later evolved into a yandere ‘wolf-cub’—just thinking about it was thrilling!

Although Jiang Zhe was the poorest male lead in the dating game, lacking extraordinary martial arts or academic talent, his looks were unmatched! He possessed a certain quick wit, and after taking the fall for the female lead and going to prison, he learned numerous unconventional skills from other inmates.

Upon his release, he transformed completely. The thought of late-game Jiang Zhe kidnapping the female lead due to unrequited love, and the thrill of unlocking restricted hidden scenes through microtransactions, was incredibly exciting.

Despite national restrictions, the explicit scenes weren’t overly detailed, but the exquisite illustrations alone were satisfying.

After all, this was the most ‘fleshy’ plotline in the entire dating game; the other male leads’ routes were bland and emotionally torturous, all thunder and no rain.

As a big spender, Su Lianlian had invested heavily. Now that she had transmigrated into the game, she was 100% confident in conquering all the male leads and living a joyful life surrounded by men.

As for returning to reality, she knew deep down that she had died from staying up too late, so her original name was irrelevant. From now on, she was Su Lianlian.

Now, with her beloved young man Jiang Zhe presenting an issue, Su Lianlian immediately grew restless.

Hearing Jiang Zhe mention his close proximity to Ning Ran, Su Lianlian felt a surge of unease. She had spent the last two days focused on spreading rumors of Ning Ran’s campus bullying, neglecting to nurture her relationship with Jiang Zhe.

Seeing Jiang Zhe grow increasingly distant from her simply wouldn’t do!

Fortunately, the upcoming Rose Festival special event was about to begin, allowing her to temporarily put school matters aside. Once she earned the title of Rose Queen and gained the qualifications to openly contend with Ning Ran, the path forward would be much smoother.

The female lead of this dating game was her, and the game’s plot was crafted specifically for her.

Ning Ran, a mere villainess and supporting character, was nothing more than a stepping stone for her to level up and claim her handsome men. No matter how formidable Ning Ran’s family background, it was useless. The one who laughed last was the winner.

The thought of the powerful Ning family being divided among several male leads, with all their assets eventually delivered into her hands, brought a triumphant smile to Su Lianlian’s lips, a smile she couldn’t suppress.

Her almond-shaped eyes, glistening with determination, fixed on Jiang Zhe, marring her otherwise delicate features.

Jiang Zhe, however, was left speechless by her gaze, thinking, “Is Su Lianlian sick? A serious illness, perhaps!”

“Why is she suddenly smiling so strangely?”

“Actually, it’s nothing major. Jiang Zhe, I brought the book you borrowed from me a few days ago.”

Thankfully, Su Lianlian’s odd behavior lasted only a few seconds before she quickly returned to normal. As she spoke with a smile, she extended the book, placing it into Jiang Zhe’s hand.

Jiang Zhe looked down to find an English stock market guide, an introductory edition, as he casually flipped through it.

“Thank you, I really like this book.”

It was like receiving a pillow when one was sleepy—genuinely useful.

However, Jiang Zhe didn’t believe Su Lianlian had gone to such lengths just to deliver a book. This elaborate detour piqued his interest, so he didn’t rush to leave after taking it.

Nevertheless, this didn’t mean Jiang Zhe would compromise himself to mislead her. His expression remained neutral, quietly awaiting her next move.

Upon seeing Jiang Zhe accept the book without refusal, Su Lianlian’s heart swelled with delight. Knowing the game’s plot, she was certain of Jiang Zhe’s ‘academic scum’ attribute. His request to borrow a book had merely been a pretext.

He simply wanted more opportunities to interact with her.

Jiang Zhe struggled even with the simplest textbooks, so how could he possibly read an English book?

“He’s putting on a stern face now, but in reality, he’s still interested in me, isn’t he?”

“In that case, if I invite Jiang Zhe to the Rose Festival, he’ll agree immediately. His handsome face could help me win many golden roses then. Although the Rose Queen title is already within my grasp, being able to outshine Ning Ran on Rose Island, cultivate my relationship with Jiang Zhe, and let Ning Ran know who Jiang Zhe truly belongs to would be perfect!”

“Don’t covet what already has an owner, and don’t try to bewitch Jiang Zhe.”

“Sigh! I really overthought things before. To think I actually suspected Jiang Zhe was like me…”

“I must be the only lucky one to transmigrate into the game; there couldn’t possibly be a second person to have such good fortune. After all, I poured a significant amount of money into this game – it’s all a miracle born of ‘cash power’!”

With this thought, Su Lianlian’s smile grew even more radiant. She shed her initial caution, her cheeks flushing as she gazed at Jiang Zhe, her hands gently twisting and kneading the hem of her skirt, a picture of boundless maidenly shyness.

Jiang Zhe’s temples throbbed as he watched Su Lianlian’s affected behavior.

However, Su Lianlian was the game’s female lead, and he needed to understand why she had actively sought him out before he could leave with peace of mind.

The game began from the female lead’s perspective. Therefore, it was primarily the female lead who made choices and interacted with the male leads, forming connections.

“Could this be the plot unfolding right now?”

Jiang Zhe wasn’t a true gamer; he had only overheard bits and pieces. Consequently, he only knew the general game plot, and perhaps some parts had been skipped by his niece.

Thus, Jiang Zhe could only continue to suppress his emotions, maintaining a calm facade. In reality, his mind drifted, recalling Ning Ran’s shyness after being kissed, the faint blush on her pale skin, and her averted gaze, which he found endearing.

“Beneath that tsundere exterior lies a treasure!”

“Jiang Zhe, two days from now, would you accompany me to the Rose Festival? I’m a bit scared to go alone. I hope to have someone I know with me; it would make me feel safe.”

“Oh, the Rose Festival? I’ve already promised Ning Ran I’d go with her.”

Perhaps not expecting a refusal, Su Lianlian’s face briefly twisted into a grimace upon hearing Ning Ran’s name, which amused Jiang Zhe. He then added, “You’d better find someone else to make you feel safe!”