Zhao Jiayuan stared, dumbstruck, at Jiang Mingxi's exposed wrist.
Unable to help himself, he reached out with a slightly trembling hand and touched the hideous scar. "You tried to kill yourself?"
Manman sucked in a breath and instinctively grabbed Qianqian's arm.
Qianqian stared at the scar on Jiang Mingxi's wrist and reached for her own left hand almost instinctively.
Jiang Mingxi caught that tiny movement.
Rotating his wrist, Jiang Mingxi said, "The more I wanted them to like me, the more I wanted their approval, the more I wanted to openly belong as a child of the Jiang family, the more I suffered.
"Because no matter what I did, they thought I was putting on an act, that I had something to gain, or that I was bullying the other child in the family.
"That pain tormented me.
"I didn't understand. We were blood relatives, so why did they have nothing but malice toward me?
"On Jiang Mingle's birthday, the family prepared a five-tier cake for him, but before they could cut it, the cake collapsed.
"Everyone in the family thought I'd tampered with it to deliberately ruin Jiang Mingle's birthday.
"Mom slapped me, and Dad kicked me. I said it wasn't me, and my eldest brother gave me a knife and told me to prove myself.
"He said, 'If you dare cut yourself, we'll believe you.'"
That idiot, the original owner.
He really had slashed his own wrist!
"I cut myself, right here. Blood came pouring out, and Mom and Dad called me bad luck and told me to get lost. They said I was deliberately causing trouble to ruin Jiang Mingle's birthday party.
"My eldest brother slapped me and said I had wicked intentions.
"My manager called an ambulance for me and got me to the hospital."
[Oh my God, that's so awful. If they disliked him that much, why even take him back into the family?]
[He made that up, right? That's way too ridiculous. Even sci-fi wouldn't dare make up something like that.]
[If he dared make that up on a livestream, given how Jiang Ke treated him before, Tianli Group would definitely sue him for slander immediately. If they don't sue, it must be true.]
[God, how is that family? Even enemies wouldn't do worse. I can't imagine it!]
Jiang Mingxi took a deep breath.
He smiled. "I'm not telling you all this to show you how miserable I was. I'm saying that no matter how deep the mire is, you can pull yourself out.
"If I still can't get something after trying hard, it doesn't deserve to be mine!
"I've already slit my wrist. What else is there I wouldn't dare do?
"That's life. Take it one step at a time. If all else fails, die along the way.
"Rather than reflect on yourself, make trouble for others.
"Ask yourself 'why' less, and ask others 'what gives you the right' more!
"Rather than get depressed, go crazy.
"If I'm unhappy anyway, why should anyone else be happy? As the old saying goes, I was born to enjoy life, not to suffer."
As soon as Jiang Mingxi finished, Manman jumped up and said, "Exactly! A melon you force off the vine really isn't sweet. As for getting out in time, honestly, it's always in time. As long as you're alive, it's not too late.
"Oh, illegal and criminal stuff doesn't count!"
Zhao Jiayuan jumped up too. "Exactly, Qianqian!"
Qianqian had just looked deeply moved, but when Zhao Jiayuan suddenly singled her out, she instantly withdrew into herself again.
She merely gave a faint smile and said, "Let's go catch fish. They'll deduct money if we don't finish the task."
[Zhao Jiayuan, you dumbass, can you shut up?!]
[Jiang Mingxi had already built up the mood, and one sentence from you sent everything back to square one!]
Frustrated that she wouldn't stand up for herself, Zhao Jiayuan wanted to keep persuading her, but Jiang Mingxi tugged at him.
Giving Zhao Jiayuan a shove, Jiang Mingxi said, "One last thing to add. I only managed to clear my name thanks to a voice recorder! Use recordings right, and you can take down every dumbass!"
[Hahahahaha, he really did use that recorder well!]
[I wonder if Jiang Ke and Jiang Mingle are watching the livestream. Hehehe, let me ask you from here: are you happy?]
[I don't care whether Jiang Ke and Jiang Mingle hear this. I hope all the sweeties being manipulated hear it. Whatever else, if you've suffered, you need to keep some evidence. Otherwise, when you come to your senses later, you won't even be able to sue them! They might even turn around and blame you!]
[Qianqian, Qianqian, did you hear that, Qianqian?!]
When Jiang Mingxi finished, Qianqian turned to look at him.
Jiang Mingxi had been watching her reactions the whole time. Seeing her look over, he immediately leaned closer to her. "Can you catch fish? I can teach you! I'm really good at it!"
Qianqian had thought Jiang Mingxi was going to ask her something and instinctively started to move away.
But when Jiang Mingxi only mentioned catching fish, her guard relaxed again. "I used to catch fish all the time as a kid. I'm pretty good at it too."
His peach-blossom eyes smiling, Jiang Mingxi said to Qianqian, "Then I'm counting on you! Please, we have to finish the task. I still want to buy Teacher Song flowers with the money we earn."
Manman immediately let out a teasing chuckle. "Ooh~"
With a grave expression, Zhao Jiayuan patted Jiang Mingxi's arm, leaned in to his ear, and whispered, "Don't forget our mission! We have to save someone!"
Jiang Mingxi: ...
He suspected Zhao Jiayuan had been possessed by Tiga.
His conviction was way too strong!
Ignoring Zhao Jiayuan, Jiang Mingxi simply smiled at Qianqian. "You know I'm pursuing Teacher Song too, right? You even cheered me on when we first met!"
Qianqian pressed her lips together and smiled.
Manman immediately said, "Qianqian, you look so pretty when you smile!"
Embarrassed by the compliment, Qianqian tucked a stray strand of hair by her ear, then said to Jiang Mingxi, "I'm your fan."
Before Jiang Mingxi could react, Zhao Jiayuan looked at her in disbelief. "Are you sure? He's Jiang Mingxi. I'm Zhao Jiayuan!"
[This idiot does nothing but embarrass himself all day!]
[Wait! Didn't Qianqian's boyfriend say earlier that they both liked Song Lan?]
[Yes, that's what I was about to say! So when Qianqian was hiking, she wasn't trying to catch up with Song Lan at all? She was forced to climb that fast?]
[Shit! It all fits!]
Jiang Mingxi was a little surprised. "Really?"
Qianqian smiled and nodded. "I really liked you back when you acted in Young Minghe."
That had been Jiang Mingxi's first drama after his debut.
His acting had actually been unpolished, but his good looks and strong youthful appeal made up for it, and he had indeed gained some fans back then.
But later, he had been forced into too many outrageous antics, and his already small fanbase had deserted him again.
Jiang Mingxi immediately said to Qianqian, "Then hurry and wish me luck. Wish me success in winning Teacher Song over."
Zhao Jiayuan rolled his eyes, speechless, and was just about to remind Jiang Mingxi again not to forget their mission.
Qianqian had already spoken. "I hope your wish comes true."
Jiang Mingxi immediately raised his hand and pressed his thumb against Qianqian's arm like a stamp. "I hope Qianqian can bravely be herself from now on too!"
Qianqian's brows drew together slightly. She trembled faintly, tears welling in her eyes.
[Jiang Mingxi seems to know a thing or two!]
[He didn't say anything outright, but it felt like a shot of courage.]
[Holy shit, have you watched the other group's livestream? Fuck, Qianqian's boyfriend just hugged Song Lan and almost kissed him!]
[??? Holy shit! Going to watch right now!]