Watching Bo Yanchi walk onto the stage to accept his award, Fu Sichen felt like a clown halfway through the walk. He could almost feel the mocking gazes of his peers fixated on him.
Clenching his hands into fists, he felt a surge of rage roiling in his chest. He turned his glare toward Yu Lizhi, who was standing not far away, and marched toward her, seething with frustration.
Yu Lizhi was lifting her gown, just about to step forward to congratulate Bo Yanchi, when she felt a sharp pain in her wrist. Someone had grabbed her. She turned back, impatient. "Who is it?"
Coming face-to-face with Fu Sichen’s grim expression, she struggled in disgust. "What do you think you’re doing?"
"Yu Lizhi," Fu Sichen said through gritted teeth, "what on earth is going on here?"
"What do you mean 'what's going on'?" Yu Lizhi played dumb.
"Didn't you go and beg your father?" Fu Sichen’s face darkened, and he asked coldly, "Wasn't I supposed to be the Best Actor tonight?"
"Huh?" Yu Lizhi blinked innocently. "Was that a thing? I forgot. I don't remember that at all."
"You..." Fu Sichen was stifled by anger.
"Besides, what does you winning Best Actor have to do with my father?" Yu Lizhi asked, sounding genuinely puzzled. Her voice grew louder, and she covered her mouth in feigned shock. "You don't mean you wanted me to ask my father to rig the outcome and give the award to you, do you?"
"Shut up!" Fu Sichen hissed, lowering his voice for fear that the audience watching the live stream might hear her.
"Oh, my. It’s just an award, isn't it?" Yu Lizhi said with a touch of malice, mocking him. "If you like it that much, you can buy one online. There are plenty of replicas. For 9.90, free shipping, it’s all yours. If you want a gold one, you can get it custom-made. You’ve got the money; it’s not like you can’t afford it."
"..." Fu Sichen choked, barely able to swallow his rage.
That damn Yu Lizhi. When did she become so sharp-tongued?
"Thank you for this award. It is my honor. Thank you to the audience for your recognition. Thank you all."
On stage, Bo Yanchi noticed the tug-of-war between Yu Lizhi and Fu Sichen. He wrapped up his acceptance speech as concisely as possible, gripped the trophy, and hurried toward them.
"Good for you, Yu Lizhi. Is this what you meant when you said you loved me?" Fu Sichen finally managed to choke out, his voice cold and biting. "You’ve humiliated me tonight. I will never forgive you."
"Fine, don't forgive me. I don't need you to," Yu Lizhi scoffed.
"Yu Lizhi, I’m serious. Don't come crawling back on your knees begging for my forgiveness later. I will never pay attention to you again," Fu Sichen threatened.
"Are you a broken record?" Yu Lizhi rolled her eyes. "You’d better never pay attention to me. Seriously, don't. Whoever does is a dog."
Who wanted his forgiveness anyway? All he knew how to do was gaslight her. She wasn't falling for it anymore.
Bo Yanchi had already closed the distance. Seeing the situation, he reached out, grabbed Yu Lizhi’s other wrist, and pulled her to his side.
When Yu Lizhi turned and saw him, her expression shifted to delight. She called out softly, "A-Yan. You’re here."
"Yes."
"Congratulations. Congratulations on winning, and on completing your Grand Slam of Best Actor awards." Yu Lizhi stared at him, beaming. Now, he wouldn't have any regrets left.
"Thank you." Bo Yanchi shielded Yu Lizhi with his body, his icy gaze shifting to Fu Sichen. "Didn't you hear what she said?"
"Bo Yanchi." Fu Sichen gritted his teeth, his eyes locked onto the trophy in Bo Yanchi’s hand as he clenched his fists. This award was supposed to be his. It had been snatched away by that wretched Bo Yanchi again. Why? Why had he lost to Bo Yanchi twice in a row?
"Bo Yanchi, don't you know that Yu Lizhi loves me?" Fu Sichen regained his bravado. "She’s just throwing a tantrum like a spoiled heiress and pouting at me. Once she cools off, she’ll come back to me."
At least Bo Yanchi’s fiancée liked him—that was one win for him.
Bo Yanchi froze, his grip tightening on the trophy until his knuckles turned white. It was true: Yu Lizhi loved Fu Sichen. They had quarreled countless times, and every time, she would crawl back to appease him and make up. If he meddled now, once Yu Lizhi calmed down and went back to soothe Fu Sichen, she would only blame him for interfering.
His expression dimmed, and his grip on Yu Lizhi’s wrist gradually loosened.
Sensing his shift in mood, Yu Lizhi urgently grabbed his hand, clutching it tightly, and glared at Fu Sichen. "Stop spouting nonsense. I don't love you anymore. A-Yan is the one I love most now."
"Ha," Fu Sichen sneered. "You love him? My dear, what kind of joke is that? Are you playing these boring little games again to get my attention?"
"Fu Sichen, just shut up. I’m not in the mood to joke with you," Yu Lizhi spat. "Are you crazy because you didn't win tonight? You look exactly like a clown."
She poked right at his sore spot, gripping Bo Yanchi’s hand to swing the trophy in front of Fu Sichen, and even made a playful face at him. "Want it? Not for you. Blegh."
"You..." Fu Sichen was so angry his face turned green.
Seeing this, Bo Yanchi felt his tense heart relax, and the corners of his mouth curled up. She really knew exactly how to twist the knife in Fu Sichen’s heart.
"A-Yan, let's stop paying attention to this bad luck charm. Let's go home," Yu Lizhi said, beaming as she took Bo Yanchi's arm. She wasn't in the mood to keep bickering with Fu Sichen.
"Alright," Bo Yanchi heard his own voice, thick and raspy. Could he believe her one more time? Had she truly woken up and stopped loving Fu Sichen?
Fu Sichen glared at their retreating figures, his fists clenched. Wretched Yu Lizhi. Since she had humiliated him so thoroughly tonight, she had better not come crying and begging for his forgiveness later.
After leaving the ceremony, Yu Lizhi sat in Bo Yanchi’s company car, clinging to his arm and refusing to let go. She stared at him, smiling. "A-Yan, are you really willing to let me stay at your place?"
Yu Lizhi was acting so strangely and clingily today that Bo Yanchi felt completely unsettled. He tried to pull his arm away, his tone cold. "Sit up straight. How long has it been since you showered? Do you have maggots on you? Or is your skin itching for a fight?"
"Oh, I’ve just caught a case of 'lovesickness.' My head is so itchy," Yu Lizhi teased, leaning into his chest again.
His heart trembled. Bo Yanchi awkwardly pushed her away. "Stop grinning like that. Stay away from me."
"A-Yan, are you repulsed by me?" Her movements paused, and she pouted, feeling slighted.
"I don't have time for you." Bo Yanchi abruptly turned his face to look out the window to hide his racing heart. However, he saw his own uncontrollable smile reflected in the glass. His handsome face burned, and he simply closed his eyes. "I'm tired, I'm going to nap for a bit. Don't bother me."
Yu Lizhi: "..."
Why was he being so cold? It was nothing like the passionate way he acted in her past life. Who was the one who had forced his love on her back then? He hadn't just forced her to get a marriage license; he had forced her to stay by his side, kissed her against her will, and even forced her into all those embarrassing things.
Hmph. What was he playing at, acting so aloof and reserved in this life?
Despicable! Was she going to have to force her love on him in this life instead?!
...That didn't seem like such a bad idea.