A Long-Cherished Wish (10)-Acting

For both emotional and rational reasons, Yu Xing did not want Mama Liang to become the next victim in this conspiracy, nor did she want Liu Xue to send herself into the abyss because of her love for Xiao Jin.

He leaned against the car, clutching the bag, lost in thought.

Actually, Xiao Jin probably didn't succeed, because in the first stage, it was Liu Bing who sold Liu Xue to the Fang Mansion Liu Bingxian.

If Xiao Jin succeeds today, then the whole thing will have nothing to do with Liu Bingxian; he won't be able to interfere with this already finalized deal.

There are several prerequisites that led to that established situation.

First, with Mama Liang dead, Liu Xue lost her support, Liu Bingxian dared to sell her.

Secondly, Xiao Jin failed, which meant that Liu Xue did not fulfill her promise to marry, or something went wrong, which prevented the two people carefully selected by the Master from meeting his requirements when they got married.

Only if Xiao Jin fails will the Master change his strategy, no longer trying to seduce Liu Xue with emotions, but instead directly trying to find a way to force Liu Xue to go to the Liu Bingxian Fang Mansion.

Why did Xiao Jin fail...?

Yu Xing narrowed his eyes. This question seemed insignificant, but it actually concerned the life and death of this character, or rather, his character during the live broadcast.

It is known that Liu Xue did not retaliate against Xiao Jin.

Therefore, there are only two possibilities: either Xiao Jin died before Liu Xue became a ghost, which means Yu Xing will encounter a dead end later, and in the live simulation, such a dead end is very difficult to deal with.

The second possibility is that Xiao Jin didn't do what was written on the note. He really fell in love with Liu Xue and took the initiative to confess or give up. However, in the later plot, Xiao Jin did not appear to help Liu Xue again, and he is probably still dead. It is possible that he was killed by the Master or the lady because of "betrayal".

"So that's why my character is stuck at so many plot points. Turns out there was a huge pitfall waiting for me..." Yu Xing muttered to herself, mentally preparing herself for the changes she was about to face.

For him, even if he can't use sacrifices now, as long as he thinks ahead, there are very few situations he can't break.

The surrounding streets were bustling with noise and people. The roads were narrow, and this was the time when the people were most diverse. There were people wearing traditional Chinese jackets and Western suits. Women were also starting to appear on the streets more often. Some were dressed conservatively and simply, some were dressed luxuriously, and some were dressed in Western-style dresses. People from all walks of life were mixed together.

The Fang Mansion is a rather conservative place, with everyone from top to bottom acting in the old ways. It's hard to understand what Master Fang, who travels all over the country, is thinking. He could have taken the opportunity to develop the business properly, but instead he chose to close himself off.

Looking at this environment, Yu Xing couldn't help but think of his own home.

Master Yu, his biological father, was extremely adaptable. Later, he preferred to be called "Sir" rather than "Master".

He has first-rate business acumen, an open mind, and great ambitions; he wants to expand and strengthen the family business.

However—things start to go strange when it comes to Lingren.

Yu Xing could tell that because his mother was frail and died young, his father had always been somewhat indiscreet in matters of the heart.

In the past, no woman who coveted Master Yu's money or looks ever stepped foot in the Yu family's gates. Master Yu was clear-headed; he only played around. It was impossible for him to be blinded by women.

However, the Lingren, whose beauty transcended gender, was an exception. Yu Xing realized more than once that her father had feelings for Lingren, but the Lingren never reciprocated and simply stayed at the Fang Mansion. As time went on, Master Yu actually became more and more respectful towards the Lingren.

At first, they would invite actors to their homes to listen to their performances, but later, they would even ask Lingren for advice on business matters.

Yu Xing treated the Lingren like a brother because, after spending time with Lingren, he felt that the Lingren would never agree to his father's demands.

What happened next... well, that's how it was.

As it turned out, the Lingren wasn't after Master Yu from the start, but after him, and ultimately succeeded in getting most of what he wanted.

The Fang Mansion is in a similar situation now. The Master initially targeted Young Master Fang and Liu Xue. As someone who has been through similar experiences, Yu Xing is very unhappy with the Master.

He has made his decision.

"We've arrived." The rickshaw stopped on the funeral street, Yu Xing got off and walked towards Liu Bingxian's shop.

The best-selling item in the shop was paper figures. He arrived late today, and there were some customers choosing paper figures. Liu Bingxian of the corner of his eye and immediately beamed with joy.

"Isn't this Xiao Jin!" Liu Bingxian forward to greet him, seemingly very familiar with him. He glanced behind him and asked in surprise, "Huh, are you alone?"

"I'm alone. I came to see Xue'er." Yu Xing took a step back subtly, dodging Liu Bingxian's attempt to grab his hand.

"Hey, you young people, it's like we've been apart for years after just a few days! You two have such a great bond!" Liu Bingxian said with a smile, then paused, "Well... you're here just to see Xue'er? Nothing else?"

Such a blatant hint, practically saying "You brought the money, didn't you?" Yu Xing smiled and said, "I'm sorry, Mama Liang said she'll bring her money to Xue'er when she comes back in a couple of days."

Liu Bingxian turned pale, then his face darkened.

"She really said that?"

Yu Xing said, "Absolutely true."

He walked into the inner room. "Is Xue'er inside? I'm going to find her."

"Wait!" Liu Bingxian grabbed his arm, then stammered for a moment before finally asking, "Um, do you have any money?"

"What?" Yu Xing knew perfectly well what he wanted to say, but pretended not to understand.

Liu Bingxian sighed, shook his head dejectedly, and pulled him away from the customers in the shop. "Lend me some money. Business is bad this month, and I still have to support Xue'er. We're really strapped for cash. You'll marry Xue'er anyway, and you get a lot of money from the Fang Mansion. Please help my daughter and me out."

"Huh?" Yu Xing's eyes widened in surprise. "Mama Liang gives Xue'er her money every month, does she still need you to support her?"

"Her money is her money, it's for her dowry. I'm her father, I'm the one who covers her daily expenses, aren't I?" Liu Bingxian waved his hand. "I'd be too embarrassed to touch the dowry money, that's why I'd rather borrow from you than let Xue'er worry! And don't tell her about my business this month..."

"Is it because Mama Liang was late with the money this month, and you can't continue your gambling debts?" Yu Xing pried Liu Bingxian's fingers off his arm and sneered.

He looked at Liu Bingxian, whose face had darkened, and brushed off the fabric Liu Bingxian touched as if dusting something off. He said indifferently, "Or is it that you owe so much money that you'll endure the creditor's threats for every day that Mama Liang is late in paying?"

"Every month, Mama Liang tells Xue'er not to give you any money. In reality, as soon as she leaves, you go to Xue'er and snatch the money. Xue'er never says anything to avoid worrying Mama Liang, but you don't really think... I'm that easy to fool, do you?" Yu Xing glanced coldly at Liu Bingxian.

Liu Bingxian shuddered, realizing he'd been seen through. Keeping in mind there were other people in the shop, he could only lower his voice and say, "Don't forget, if you want to be with Liu Xue, I'm your father-in-law! What's wrong with lending your father-in-law a little money? Be careful, or I won't let you see Liu Xue, and you two will never be together!"

His intention was to threaten Yu Xing, because Yu Xing was right; he was indeed being threatened by his creditors because of his debts. But Yu Xing simply nodded, her tone surprisingly revealing a hint of agreement. "Yes, I believe you can do it."

After all, they're even willing to sell their daughters.

Ignoring Liu Bingxian's tantrums, he turned and went into the inner room. As soon as he opened the door, he saw Liu Xue eavesdropping by pressing her face against the door.

Liu Xue: "..."

The girl was somewhat panicked. Although she had a face that resembled Zhou Xue by seven or eight points, she lacked the confidence that Zhou Xue possessed as a modern woman. Just as she dared not say that Liu Bingxian had taken the money that Mama Liang had given her first, her "lack of resistance" to her father was deeply ingrained in her DNA.

Hearing her father and future husband arguing, she secretly thought Xiao Jin was doing the right thing, but she didn't dare to openly defy Liu Bingxian.

The reason she wasn't angered by Liu Bingxian every time Liu Bingxian was because she was very good at making paper figures, which were the source of income for the family shop. Liu Bingxian relied on her to earn money, which is why he supported her.

For example, even though Liu Bingxian was angry, he didn't follow them into the inner room. He was already heavily in debt, and his only hope was them. Although he spoke harshly, he would never actually hinder Xiao Jin and Liu Xue's relationship.

If he offends one or two people, he might really lose all his money.

Yu Xing looked at Liu Xue and gently led her to sit down. "Every time I see you, your room is piled high with unfinished paper figures. It looks exhausting."

Liu Xue sat up shyly. "It's alright, paper figures are something I like, so making them isn't too boring."

Yu Xing nodded slightly and took out a paper package from her pocket.

"What's this?" The familiar paper package made Liu Xue's eyes widen. "Money?"

"Shh..." Yu Xing raised her index finger to make a shushing gesture, "Mama Liang... asked me to give this to you. This time, you really can't let your father find out."

"Ah... it's my fault." Liu Xue was a little downcast as she took the paper package. "Every time Dad cried and said that if he didn't pay back the money, his hands would be chopped off, his legs would be broken, and he might even be beaten to death by those people, I would soften."

"But if he didn't have money, he wouldn't gamble, and if he didn't gamble, he wouldn't owe money, and he wouldn't have been beaten to death," Yu Xing. "He only took your money because he thought you were easy to bully. He could easily pay it back himself. Do you really think he runs such a shop and wouldn't be able to pay back the money? He has to pay something to make him realize the value of money."

Liu Xue lowered her head, and after a long while, she softly hummed in agreement, clutching the paper packet containing the money tightly.

"However, Xue'er, there's something I must tell you." Yu Xing's tone lowered, as if something bad was about to be said.

Liu Xue subconsciously became more serious, straightening her back and waiting, but after more than ten seconds she still didn't hear Yu Xing speak.

She looked up at Yu Xing in surprise, only to find Yu Xing staring at her with her lips tightly pursed.

"Xiao Jin?"

"I, Xiao Jin, love you very much." Yu Xing, embodying the character's original emotions, revealed Xiao Jin's complex feelings for Liu Xue, and also broke Liu Xue's heart in the character's place. "But, perhaps we can't be together anymore."

"What?" Liu Xue froze, seemingly not having reacted. She looked into Yu Xing's gentle gaze, and after a long while, she realized she hadn't misheard. "What did you say? You... you don't want me anymore? What did I do wrong—is it because I gave Mother's money to Father?"

"I won't give it to you anymore, I'll never be soft-hearted again, Xiao Jin..." Tears welled up in her eyes, almost deforming the paper package in her hand. Liu Xue suddenly hugged Yu Xing's waist, panicked, "Didn't you say you liked me... You can't leave me..."

"It's not that I don't want you, Xue'er, I'm not worthy." Yu Xing looked down and could see the top of the girl's head. Her long black hair was hastily tied back, the top of her hair very soft. His gaze was indifferent yet tinged with pity, and his tone was perfectly controlled, full of deep sorrow.

"There's something I've kept from you for a long time, but I have to tell you today." He helped Liu Xue sit up straight, bending slightly to look Liu Xue in the eye. "The Fang Mansion is darker than you imagine. There's a man in there who claims to be Master; he's seen you, and... he's taken a liking to you."

Liu Xue knew that her appearance was outstanding in this city, so she wasn't too surprised, since she didn't know what kind of person the Master was.

She couldn't understand. "Just because that Master has taken a liking to me, you're going to... give me... to him?"

"On the contrary, I will never back down." Yu Xing's eyes were filled with sorrow. "That Master is a bad person, ruthless and vicious. He will get whatever he wants. Your mother doesn't agree to him harming you, and she's already... being held captive at the Fang Mansion."

Viewers watching the live stream. "...?"

For a moment, they wondered if they had misheard or were hallucinating.

[Master: What the hell did you say??]

[I thought he was going to start scamming Liu Xue, but it turns out he was scamming Master!?]

[What a brilliant story! Impressive!]

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[I knew what he was up to. Fortunately, he used a story that would be easiest for Liu Xue, an ordinary person who had never encountered tricks or ghosts, to believe and adapt to, thus making Liu Xue extremely wary of the Master.]

[Yes, Liu Xue ultimately couldn't escape death, but she resisted fiercely before her death and didn't harbor any resentment towards Xiao Jin. Fortunately, by deducing Xiao Jin's actions based on the outcome, even if Liu Xue later learned that the Master wasn't after her but wanted to use her, she would still believe that Xiao Jin was deceived by the Master.]

Liu Xue cried out, "Kou!? What is he going to do to my mother?"

"Perhaps... your mother's life is in danger." He grasped Liu Xue's hand and, under Liu Xue incredulous gaze, gestured to the paper package. "I sneaked out, and going back this time will likely be fraught with peril. You should go, take this bag of money, escape to another city, and never come back."

"Are you kidding me?" Liu Xue was taken aback by such sudden news. She instinctively denied it, "You'll be alright, and neither will my mother, Xiao Jin, please don't scare me..."

"Or, you can go first, and I'll go back and rescue Mama Liang, then come find you." Yu Xing ignored her disbelief and added a condition, "If... I succeed."

That should work.

Yu Xing secretly planned in his heart that when he returned later, he would have to act according to the situation, first use an excuse to keep the Master at bay, and then find an opportunity to persuade Mama Liang to escape.

Mama Liang dies today, it means he failed to save her; if she doesn't die, it means he successfully saved her.

As for Liu Xue, whether she obediently ran away and was caught by the Master, or she didn't dare to run away, it doesn't affect the known plot. Although her words may be completely contrary to the truth, as long as the actual result is the same, the plot can continue to advance according to the rhythm.