An Xin was in so much pain that tears were about to flow out, but in order to maintain the dignity of being the CEO, she barely stopped herself.
She endured the severe pain and asked, "Where is all this anger coming from?"
Qin Zhao glared at her and said, "Go to Barren Ancient Star and be a savage for a few years! By then, you would only be more ruthless than I am now."
An Xin had no rebuttal, she only said, "The one billion bonus that was supposed to be rewarded to you, I will double pay it."
Qin Zhao disdained, "Just 20 billion to send me off as a call girl?"
An Xin squinted her eyes and asked, "How much do you want?"
Qin Zhao said an amount, "10 billion."
An Xin shouted, "Are you robbing me?!"
Qin Zhao walked up close to An Xin, poked her slightly swollen face, "If you can't even bear a meager 100 billion, then be prepared to pay an even greater price."
An Xin frowned, "I want to see what gives you such presumptuous confidence!"
Qin Zhao blinked at her and said, "Why don't you take a guess?"
After that, she turned and left the office.
As soon as she walked out the door, her phone dinged.
She picked up her phone to check, it was a text message that said her bank account had received an income of 2 billion.
Qin Zhao thought: An Xin is a practical person, unfortunately she stood on the opposite side of me.
When she returned home, Qin Zhao immediately started planning to deal with An Xin.
An Xin almost took her own life, so Qin Zhao should at least make her lose her money and status, that would be considered fair.
Yet who knew, the next day, someone else had already done that to An Xin!
On September 5, 3028, Yabelen Company announced to the public about how Xing Qiong Entertainment CEO An Xin plotted against An Hongyu.
And how she attempted to trample on the lives of the contestants and production crew of Survival in Desolate Ancient.
That day, Xing Qiong Entertainment's stock price plummeted.
An Xin was put under criminal detention, awaiting her day in court to accept legal punishment.
Qin Zhao stared at Yabelen Company CEO Sheng Xi's face on the news.
After a while, she closed the Stellar Network.
In her mind, she said to 502, "502, you can disconnect me from this world now."
502 said, "Host, are you sure? You worked so hard to win the prize money, wasn't it so you can live well in this world? If you give up now, wouldn't it be a waste?"
"I originally wanted to live here until I grew old, after all the interstellar era is quite interesting. But after what happened in today's news, I changed my mind."
502 asked again, "Why?"
Qin Zhao said, "I just went to see An Xin yesterday, and today she got into trouble. I have to suspect that my every move is being monitored.
Yabelen Company has massive influence, Sheng Xi has eyes and ears everywhere.
I don't want to provoke her but I can hide from her.
Besides, I don't want to entangle with a woman who doesn't like me."
502 mumbled, "I feel like the female lead really likes you. On Barren Ancient Star she pressed on you day after day tirelessly, I wonder what kind of infatuation is that?"
Qin Zhao: "..."
"Lust and fondness are not the same. Sheng Xi was fond of the original host.
Stop wasting words, let's go..."
Knock knock knock!
There was a sudden knocking sound at the door. Qin Zhao went to open it.
The person standing outside turned out to be Tang Jiamao!
"Qin Zhao, I heard you came back so I wanted to come see you," Tang Jiamao said, "Aren't you going to invite me in to sit?"
Qin Zhao moved aside, "Please come in."
The two of them went inside and sat down on the sofa together.
Tang Jiamao glanced around at the interior decoration and said, "So you like minimalist style decoration."
Qin Zhao nodded, "It's less troublesome this way."
The biggest thing she and the original host had in common was probably their dislike for trouble.
Tang Jiamao hesitated as if he wanted to say something. His face revealed obvious joy, seemingly waiting for Qin Zhao to ask him questions.
Being perceptive, Qin Zhao asked, "Did something happy happen to you recently?"
Tang Jiamao's smile widened even more as he loudly said, "I and my girlfriend are getting married!"
Qin Zhao was slightly surprised. "I thought you and Zhang Youyuan would be together. So you also like women!"
Tang Jiamao waved his hand, "We were just friends. To put it accurately, we were also love rivals.
My girlfriend Wu Yizhi, Zhang Youyuan and I grew up together since we were young.
Both Zhang Youyuan and I liked Wu Yizhi, and in the end she chose me."
Qin Zhao laughed. "Congratulations on capturing this beauty."
Tang Jiamao was a little shy. He continued, "I came today not just to see you, but also to invite you to attend our wedding."
It was Qin Zhao's first time being invited to a same-sex wedding. Out of curiosity over what that would look like, she did not decline.
"Alright, I will be there."
Tang Jiamao was overjoyed. He took out a wedding invitation and a box of chocolate candy from his bag and handed them to Qin Zhao.
After Qin Zhao accepted them, Tang Jiamao got up and left.
When the door closed, Qin Zhao went back to being alone as she blankly sat on the sofa.
502 wiped away some non-existent tears and sobbed, "Everyone else has paired up, only the host remains alone and destitute, too pitiful! Host, why don't you accept the female lead? At least she can make you not feel lonely anymore."
Qin Zhao scolded, "Shut up."
502 shrank into a thumb-sized ball of light in fear...
On January 1, 3029, Qin Zhao attended Tang Jiamao and Wu Yizhi's wedding ceremony.
The ceremony hadn't started yet. Qin Zhao sat boredly among the guests.
She didn't know anyone around her, so she opened up Stellar Network and randomly browsed some webpages.
Suddenly a male voice called out, "Miss, you look so beautiful!"
Qin Zhao did not respond.
The man continued, "Are you friends with Tang Jiamao? I'm her classmate, so we can be considered friends. Can we exchange contact info?"
Qin Zhao didn't even lift her eyelids and directly rejected him, "Cannot."
The man's mouth twitched, just as he was about to get angry, he saw a woman dressed in Bohemian style suit walking over!
She had two formidable-looking bodyguards following behind her.
The woman coldly glanced at the man, he shuddered in fear and didn't dare to move!
Only after she said "Step aside" did he hastily leave as if a heavy burden had been released.
Having caught a whiff of the familiar scent, Qin Zhao knew who it was.
Sheng Xi sat down next to Qin Zhao. She put away her fierce aura and seemed rather awkward instead.
Both of them were silent.
As the clock hand struck twelve, the wedding ceremony began.
The host smoothly recited all his oft-repeated lines and then announced, "Next, will the newlyweds please kiss each other!"
The guests below cheered loudly.
Qin Zhao suddenly felt a warmth covering the back of her hand.
She turned to look at Sheng Xi and asked, "Were you monitoring me?"
Otherwise how would she know to come to Tang Jiamao's wedding.
Sheng Xi shook her head. "No, Tang Jiamao invited me. I didn't know beforehand that you would be here too."
"Then what about An Xin's incident?"
"That was the outcome she deserved.
I was willing to stay on Barren Ancient Star, but definitely not because someone else schemed against me."
Only then did Qin Zhao slightly let down her guard against Sheng Xi. She asked again, "Why didn't you come see me these past few months?"
Sheng Xi's eyes glistened with what seemed like tears. "I was afraid you didn't want to see me."
"How could that be? We're friends. You're welcome to come visit anytime."
The tears that Sheng Xi barely held back instantly spilled out. In anguish she sobbed, "But I don't want us to just be friends!"
Qin Zhao calmly said, "You and I are not meant to be. The one you love is not me."
Sheng Xi grabbed Qin Zhao by the neck and repeatedly said, "It is you, it's you, only you!"
Qin Zhao pushed her away. "I'm no longer the Qin Zhao you knew when you were young."
But Sheng Xi replied, "I know."
Qin Zhao was surprised in her heart. She asked, "What do you know?"
"Originally I wanted us to become friends again, which was why I chose to join Survival in Desolate Ancient.
When I discovered you had become someone who was obedient, did not know how to resist, and was bossed around by An Hongyu, I gave up my original intention. I only wanted to help you claim the prize money to settle your debts, then we could continue being strangers.
It wasn't until when you threw An Hongyu's backpack onto the ground, that I regained interest in you.
Later I schemed step by step to get closer to you until we became partners. During that process, I gradually fell for you.
This fondness is different than how I felt about you as a child. It was more of wanting to be with you for life!"
She took a deep breath and said, "Qin Zhao, I love you."
After saying those words, Sheng Xi closed her eyes and awaited the final verdict.
An Xin was in so much pain that tears were about to flow out, but in order to maintain the dignity of being the CEO, she barely stopped herself.
She endured the severe pain and asked, "Where is all this anger coming from?"
Qin Zhao glared at her and said, "Go to Barren Ancient Star and be a savage for a few years! By then, you would only be more ruthless than I am now."
An Xin had no rebuttal, she only said, "The one billion bonus that was supposed to be rewarded to you, I will double pay it."
Qin Zhao disdained, "Just 20 billion to send me off as a call girl?"
An Xin squinted her eyes and asked, "How much do you want?"
Qin Zhao said an amount, "10 billion."
An Xin shouted, "Are you robbing me?!"
Qin Zhao walked up close to An Xin, poked her slightly swollen face, "If you can't even bear a meager 100 billion, then be prepared to pay an even greater price."
An Xin frowned, "I want to see what gives you such presumptuous confidence!"
Qin Zhao blinked at her and said, "Why don't you take a guess?"
After that, she turned and left the office.
As soon as she walked out the door, her phone dinged.
She picked up her phone to check, it was a text message that said her bank account had received an income of 2 billion.
Qin Zhao thought: An Xin is a practical person, unfortunately she stood on the opposite side of me.
When she returned home, Qin Zhao immediately started planning to deal with An Xin.
An Xin almost took her own life, so Qin Zhao should at least make her lose her money and status, that would be considered fair.
Yet who knew, the next day, someone else had already done that to An Xin!
On September 5, 3028, Yabelen Company announced to the public about how Xing Qiong Entertainment CEO An Xin plotted against An Hongyu.
And how she attempted to trample on the lives of the contestants and production crew of Survival in Desolate Ancient.
That day, Xing Qiong Entertainment's stock price plummeted.
An Xin was put under criminal detention, awaiting her day in court to accept legal punishment.
Qin Zhao stared at Yabelen Company CEO Sheng Xi's face on the news.
After a while, she closed the Stellar Network.
In her mind, she said to 502, "502, you can disconnect me from this world now."
502 said, "Host, are you sure? You worked so hard to win the prize money, wasn't it so you can live well in this world? If you give up now, wouldn't it be a waste?"
"I originally wanted to live here until I grew old, after all the interstellar era is quite interesting. But after what happened in today's news, I changed my mind."
502 asked again, "Why?"
Qin Zhao said, "I just went to see An Xin yesterday, and today she got into trouble. I have to suspect that my every move is being monitored.
Yabelen Company has massive influence, Sheng Xi has eyes and ears everywhere.
I don't want to provoke her but I can hide from her.
Besides, I don't want to entangle with a woman who doesn't like me."
502 mumbled, "I feel like the female lead really likes you. On Barren Ancient Star she pressed on you day after day tirelessly, I wonder what kind of infatuation is that?"
Qin Zhao: "..."
"Lust and fondness are not the same. Sheng Xi was fond of the original host.
Stop wasting words, let's go..."
Knock knock knock!
There was a sudden knocking sound at the door. Qin Zhao went to open it.
The person standing outside turned out to be Tang Jiamao!
"Qin Zhao, I heard you came back so I wanted to come see you," Tang Jiamao said, "Aren't you going to invite me in to sit?"
Qin Zhao moved aside, "Please come in."
The two of them went inside and sat down on the sofa together.
Tang Jiamao glanced around at the interior decoration and said, "So you like minimalist style decoration."
Qin Zhao nodded, "It's less troublesome this way."
The biggest thing she and the original host had in common was probably their dislike for trouble.
Tang Jiamao hesitated as if he wanted to say something. His face revealed obvious joy, seemingly waiting for Qin Zhao to ask him questions.
Being perceptive, Qin Zhao asked, "Did something happy happen to you recently?"
Tang Jiamao's smile widened even more as he loudly said, "I and my girlfriend are getting married!"
Qin Zhao was slightly surprised. "I thought you and Zhang Youyuan would be together. So you also like women!"
Tang Jiamao waved his hand, "We were just friends. To put it accurately, we were also love rivals.
My girlfriend Wu Yizhi, Zhang Youyuan and I grew up together since we were young.
Both Zhang Youyuan and I liked Wu Yizhi, and in the end she chose me."
Qin Zhao laughed. "Congratulations on capturing this beauty."
Tang Jiamao was a little shy. He continued, "I came today not just to see you, but also to invite you to attend our wedding."
It was Qin Zhao's first time being invited to a same-sex wedding. Out of curiosity over what that would look like, she did not decline.
"Alright, I will be there."
Tang Jiamao was overjoyed. He took out a wedding invitation and a box of chocolate candy from his bag and handed them to Qin Zhao.
After Qin Zhao accepted them, Tang Jiamao got up and left.
When the door closed, Qin Zhao went back to being alone as she blankly sat on the sofa.
502 wiped away some non-existent tears and sobbed, "Everyone else has paired up, only the host remains alone and destitute, too pitiful! Host, why don't you accept the female lead? At least she can make you not feel lonely anymore."
Qin Zhao scolded, "Shut up."
502 shrank into a thumb-sized ball of light in fear...
On January 1, 3029, Qin Zhao attended Tang Jiamao and Wu Yizhi's wedding ceremony.
The ceremony hadn't started yet. Qin Zhao sat boredly among the guests.
She didn't know anyone around her, so she opened up Stellar Network and randomly browsed some webpages.
Suddenly a male voice called out, "Miss, you look so beautiful!"
Qin Zhao did not respond.
The man continued, "Are you friends with Tang Jiamao? I'm her classmate, so we can be considered friends. Can we exchange contact info?"
Qin Zhao didn't even lift her eyelids and directly rejected him, "Cannot."
The man's mouth twitched, just as he was about to get angry, he saw a woman dressed in Bohemian style suit walking over!
She had two formidable-looking bodyguards following behind her.
The woman coldly glanced at the man, he shuddered in fear and didn't dare to move!
Only after she said "Step aside" did he hastily leave as if a heavy burden had been released.
Having caught a whiff of the familiar scent, Qin Zhao knew who it was.
Sheng Xi sat down next to Qin Zhao. She put away her fierce aura and seemed rather awkward instead.
Both of them were silent.
As the clock hand struck twelve, the wedding ceremony began.
The host smoothly recited all his oft-repeated lines and then announced, "Next, will the newlyweds please kiss each other!"
The guests below cheered loudly.
Qin Zhao suddenly felt a warmth covering the back of her hand.
She turned to look at Sheng Xi and asked, "Were you monitoring me?"
Otherwise how would she know to come to Tang Jiamao's wedding.
Sheng Xi shook her head. "No, Tang Jiamao invited me. I didn't know beforehand that you would be here too."
"Then what about An Xin's incident?"
"That was the outcome she deserved.
I was willing to stay on Barren Ancient Star, but definitely not because someone else schemed against me."
Only then did Qin Zhao slightly let down her guard against Sheng Xi. She asked again, "Why didn't you come see me these past few months?"
Sheng Xi's eyes glistened with what seemed like tears. "I was afraid you didn't want to see me."
"How could that be? We're friends. You're welcome to come visit anytime."
The tears that Sheng Xi barely held back instantly spilled out. In anguish she sobbed, "But I don't want us to just be friends!"
Qin Zhao calmly said, "You and I are not meant to be. The one you love is not me."
Sheng Xi grabbed Qin Zhao by the neck and repeatedly said, "It is you, it's you, only you!"
Qin Zhao pushed her away. "I'm no longer the Qin Zhao you knew when you were young."
But Sheng Xi replied, "I know."
Qin Zhao was surprised in her heart. She asked, "What do you know?"
"Originally I wanted us to become friends again, which was why I chose to join Survival in Desolate Ancient.
When I discovered you had become someone who was obedient, did not know how to resist, and was bossed around by An Hongyu, I gave up my original intention. I only wanted to help you claim the prize money to settle your debts, then we could continue being strangers.
It wasn't until when you threw An Hongyu's backpack onto the ground, that I regained interest in you.
Later I schemed step by step to get closer to you until we became partners. During that process, I gradually fell for you.
This fondness is different than how I felt about you as a child. It was more of wanting to be with you for life!"
She took a deep breath and said, "Qin Zhao, I love you."
After saying those words, Sheng Xi closed her eyes and awaited the final verdict.
