One thing was certain: Qin Ran had an impressive collection of games. Even before she transmigrated, she had been a homebody who loved playing games, even going as far as investing in a game company despite her parents' disapproval. She had hoped the company would develop games she liked, but her father had demanded that the company must be profitable or he would cut off further investments. As a result, that small company ended up producing pay-to-win games.
After transmigrating to this world, Qin Ran couldn't afford games before high school, and even after entering high school, she had no time to play them. However, when a major title was released, she would buy it during sales, adding it to her account for future enjoyment.
Poverty had turned someone who would buy any game at release into a person who only purchased them during deep discounts, and even then, only when the price was cut to the bone. Buying games was one of her few hobbies, and while she had some on her phone, most were casual games, not big-budget productions.
Now that she had the means, she naturally wanted to indulge. Especially since the games in this world were different from those in her previous life, which meant more treasures waiting for her to discover. She eagerly launched last year's Game of the Year on the large screen, holding the controller as she started to play.
Maybe it had been too long since she last played with a controller, or perhaps it was because last year's Game of the Year was a Souls-like game. Whatever the reason, she died five times before she even defeated the first enemy. After a moment of silence, she debated whether to check a guide or just continue the fight, eventually deciding to charge ahead.
After dying fifteen times, she asked the system, "As a system, do you have an in-built store where I can use points to buy some gaming talent?"
"Dear Host, I am a legitimate system with simple functions. You spend money on the target, I give you cashback. That's all I do."
"You're such a useless system."
The system had lost count of how many times it had been insulted by the host. At this point, it was used to it.
Qin Ran nearly played all night, repeatedly dying and reviving at the first boss. She even began to wonder if she was crazy to endure such torture in a game. The next morning, when she went to class, her classmates were shocked, especially her roommates, who immediately crowded around her, telling her not to push herself too hard.
Qin Ran couldn't bring herself to admit she had stayed up all night gaming.
After two classes in the afternoon, Qin Ran had no more lessons, so she hitched a ride with Sister Li to the filming base. After more than three weeks of practice, Yu Shuman and the other artists were almost ready for their first performance, and today, Qin Ran's job was to help set up the stage. Although this was her main task for the day, as an amateur, Qin Ran could only do odd jobs under the staff's direction.
Sister Li watched as her boss was ordered around, running back and forth doing all sorts of menial tasks. Her expression became somewhat numb at this sight. She couldn't tell if the boss would later hold this against them or what was going on in the mind of this second-generation rich girl. When they finally finished, the contestants went on stage for rehearsal, and Qin Ran finally had a moment to rest. Unable to hold back any longer, Sister Li quietly approached her.
In a lowered voice, so others wouldn't hear, she asked, "Boss, my dear boss, what's the point of you doing all this? You're a young woman, yet you're doing these dirty and tiring jobs. Wouldn't it be more comfortable in an office?"
Qin Ran wiped the sweat from her forehead and took a bottle of mineral water from Sister Li, replying, "But if I'm always in the office, I won't be able to interact with Shijie."
Every time Sister Li heard them refer to each other as "Shijie" and "Shimei," it didn't sound proper to her—more like how people call each other "darling" or "sweetie," with an unmistakably ambiguous tone. Sister Li's expression grew bitter. "But you're the boss. Isn't it easy for you to interact with her?"
Qin Ran shook her head. "I don't want her to know. I want to keep our relationship as it is now." She always felt that if money got involved in their pure and humble relationship, it would spoil it. Moreover, she feared the change in their relationship. Even if Yu Shuman never knew her feelings and they remained ordinary friends forever, it was better than the uncertainty of what might happen if things changed.
Besides, with Yu Shuman's personality, she wouldn't accept anyone's help without offering something in return.
Qin Ran didn't want her relationship with Yu Shuman to become distant, nor did she want to be seen as Yu Shuman's benefactor. So, she cautiously maintained their bond, pretending she was still the poor, pitiful Shimei, rather than letting Yu Shuman know the truth.
Sister Li couldn't understand what game Qin Ran was playing, probably because she wasn't pure-hearted enough. She could see that Qin Ran was afraid Yu Shuman would hate her if she found out. But with her adult, cynical mindset, Sister Li thought that if she discovered her good friend was a billionaire, she'd cling to her for dear life rather than resent her.
The conversation ended as more people gathered around. The rehearsal continued with one group after another until it was Yu Shuman's turn.
Before stepping on stage, Yu Shuman deliberately looked for Qin Ran. When she spotted her, her eyes curved into a smile. Since this was just a rehearsal, they weren't wearing their performance outfits but rather their usual practice clothes. Thanks to Qin Ran's care, Yu Shuman had been resting well in recent days, and her foot had recovered enough that she no longer needed the medicated patches, nor was it as swollen as before.
Qin Ran watched several performances but found Yu Shuman's group the most captivating. Perhaps it was true that love is blind. As Yu Shuman danced and sang, pouring her energy into her performance, Qin Ran thought she was born to be on stage.
Yu Shuman didn't deserve the fate that awaited her in the novel. She was beautiful, passionate about the stage, and diligent, yet she was doomed to be a stepping stone for others simply because she lacked a strong background. When Qin Ran read the novel, she didn't think much of it because the story revolved around the protagonist, and it wasn't until later that she felt some sympathy for Yu Shuman's plight. But now that this tragic ending was tied to the real Yu Shuman, Qin Ran couldn't accept it. Yu Shuman wasn't just a character in a book; she was vibrant and full of life. How could such a fate be hers?
In the presence of the male and female leads, Yu Shuman seemed insignificant, but to Qin Ran, she was the brightest star in the world.
After the rehearsal, the five girls bowed to the staff to express their thanks, then playfully pushed each other as they walked off the stage. Before leaving, Yu Shuman gave Qin Ran a playful wink. After this little gesture, she followed her teammates.
It seemed Yu Shuman got along well with her group. With her personality, it was easy for her to bond with others and be well-liked.
Qin Ran watched her leave, intending to rest for a while, but then she heard a commotion. The next group was already on stage, but the noise coming from the audience made them unsure what to do. Even when the music started, they didn't move, and it wasn't until the staff loudly reminded them that they scrambled to follow the beat.
Sister Li had no idea what was happening. She quickly signaled to an employee of their company, who went to investigate and returned a short while later to whisper something to her. They didn't try to keep it from Qin Ran, so she overheard everything—it was the boss of another company visiting the set.
They didn't give many details, but Qin Ran could guess who it was.
A moment later, the boss walked in. He was young and handsome, appearing to be in his twenties, but with a commanding presence that made the staff around him break out in a cold sweat. He was impeccably dressed in a three-piece suit. Even though the air conditioning was on inside, just looking at him made Qin Ran feel hot.
Qin Ran never really understood why so many male entrepreneurs were so fond of wearing suits. It made sense in formal settings, but why wear them in such obviously non-business situations? Suits were heavy and stifling—clothes Qin Ran wouldn't touch if she could help it. When she had visited her father's company in her previous life, he had insisted she wear a suit, with long pants and sleeves, saying it was the only way to project authority.
Qin Ran had immediately retorted, "Then I won't go."
Her father had been furious. He was the kind of person who wore a suit 24 hours a day when he wasn't asleep, seeing it as a symbol of his power. To Qin Ran, the suit had become his skin, one that could never be shed.
The young president in front of her seemed to think the same way. He even wore a three-piece suit, with the shirt and waistcoat clearly visible underneath, and a tie knotted at his throat, the shirt buttoned up to his Adam's apple. The look gave him an imposing air, but it also looked incredibly uncomfortable.
Then again, maybe what he was after was that commanding presence.
Judging by his demeanor, Qin Ran knew who this must be—the male lead of this world, Pei Qi, the childhood friend and CEO from the novel. In her previous life, she had probably mocked his name—Pei Qi sounded like "Peppa Pig" in her mind. Even if she hadn't done it before, she could certainly mock it now.
The male lead was tall, around 1.8 meters, with an imposing presence. His suit trousers emphasized his long legs, and as he walked in from the door, everyone's attention turned to him. People weren't necessarily staring because he was handsome, but because he was holding up their progress.
After spending so long as a poor worker, Qin Ran understood the mindset of the people here: it didn't matter if you were a handsome guy or a beautiful girl—if you delayed our time to get off work, we'd mentally attack you.