Experiencing the Female Lead’s Story as a Background Character

Chapter 64

As soon as Xiao Wang left, Zhou Zhuofei felt as if all the strength had been drained from her body, collapsing into exhaustion.

Unwilling to stay on her feet, she hurried back to her room and lay down.

Though physically drained, her mind was unusually restless—sleep was unlikely now.

She lay on her back, first pressing a hand to her chest, feeling the wild, relentless pounding beneath her palm, her heart racing uncontrollably. Then she touched the back of her hand to her forehead, as if the warmth of Xiao Wang’s touch still lingered there.

Compared to last night’s events, today felt more like a dream—yet without the haze of alcohol, she was acutely aware of its reality.

And that was what made it all the more astonishing. That someone like her could meet someone so good, could be treated with such care…

Zhou Zhuofei lay there for a long while before Du Yu crossed her mind.

It was strange. No matter what happened before, her first instinct had always been to share it with Du Yu.

But this time, she hadn’t thought of her immediately, lost instead in her own tangled thoughts.

Only when she picked up her phone did she notice Du Yu had sent a message earlier.

[You’ve been quiet all day. What’s up?]

Zhou Zhuofei considered her reply, but in the end, she settled for sending a sticker instead of a long explanation.

Du Yu’s response came instantly—she’d clearly been waiting.

[You’re awake? How was last night? Spill it!!!!]

[Well…]

[Don’t just say “well”!!!]

The next second, Du Yu’s voice call came through. Zhou Zhuofei wasn’t surprised—if their roles were reversed, she’d have done the same.

“Hey, hey, hey? Where are you right now?” Du Yu’s voice burst through the moment the call connected. “Can you even talk?”

“Of course I can…”

“Huh, what’s wrong with your voice?” Du Yu caught the hoarseness immediately, her tone teasing.

“Just a cold. And a slight fever.”

The answer nearly short-circuited Du Yu’s brain. She’d imagined countless possibilities—Zhou Zhuofei chickening out at the last moment and just talking with Xiao Wang, or the two actually getting somewhere—but a cold and fever?

This plot twist was downright absurd.

“So, did you two do it or not?”

The bluntness made Zhou Zhuofei want to hang up immediately. “Could you be any less subtle?”

A snort came through the line. “Then I know—definitely didn’t happen.”

“…” Zhou Zhuofei paused, gritting her teeth. “Is this really how you react when your friend tells you she’s sick?”

“If you were really that miserable, you wouldn’t have picked up.” Du Yu laughed but softened her tone. “Seriously though, have you taken anything? Feeling awful?”

“Your concern is so superficial.”

“What, you want me to come over with medicine?”

“No need. I’ve already taken some.”

“So what actually happened yesterday? It’s not exactly cold enough to catch a fever out of nowhere.”

“Last night…”

The moment she tried to recall, fragmented memories surged forward uncontrollably.

She remembered being held in Xiao Wang’s arms, his lips brushing her ear as he asked if he could kiss her—even as they were already crossing far more intimate lines.

And though Zhou Zhuofei was teetering on the edge of losing all reason, the memory of his earlier rejection flashed in her mind, and she firmly said no.

After that, whether intentional or not, Xiao Wang’s hands grew bolder. Overwhelmed, she instinctively tried to push him away, but his grip around her waist was unyielding. She could only submit as his breath ghosted over her skin, his fingers tracing a path from her forearm to her chest, slipping beneath her collar—

“Ahem.” Zhou Zhuofei coughed awkwardly, cutting off the memory. There was no way she’d admit the failed kiss attempt, so she settled for a vague hint. “Let’s just say… there was progress.”

“Well, that’s something. Can’t expect too much from you.” Du Yu didn’t press further, assuming Zhou Zhuofei meant some minor step forward in their relationship. Still, it was better than nothing.

Definitely better than her drinking alone at night, brooding over her miserable ex.

“Honestly, I thought about it again last night, and my suggestion is solid.”

“What suggestion?”

“You forgot already? About you and Xiao Wang getting together. Sure, the whole ‘no marriage’ thing is a headache, but you’re basically in recovery mode right now—you need someone to focus on just dating!”

“Think about it. With anyone else, they’d start talking marriage after a year or two. How would you handle that? Xiao Wang’s situation is perfect for you. Have you ever even enjoyed being in love properly?”

“But what if I want to get married someday?”

“Then find someone else to marry! But I’m saying, don’t overthink it. Fix your whole ‘emotional baggage’ issue first, then worry about normal-people problems.”

“…Was that just a roundabout way of calling me abnormal?”

"Don't be so sensitive. I genuinely suggest that when you're feeling lost, you can check out my pinned post."

"I know." Without even looking, Zhou Zhuofei recited it from memory: "Never worry about things that are two days away or five kilometers from you. And don’t you see how many times I refresh your feed every day?"

"So, isn’t that the point? Take a good day off, get yourself together, and by Monday, dress up beautifully to meet Xiao Wang. Ask him out to eat—he’ll definitely say yes."

Anyone could tell these two had feelings for each other, but they were too hesitant to speak up.

Then again, the more cautious they were, the more it showed how much they valued each other, right?

Du Yu suddenly felt a pang of melancholy. When would she ever meet someone who could make her feel this restless and uncertain?

Dropping her teasing tone, she said earnestly to Zhou Zhuofei, "It’s not easy to find someone who makes your heart race. Don’t let this slip away."

Zhou Zhuofei immediately noticed the shift in her friend’s voice and replied just as seriously, "I’ll give it proper thought."

"Then get some proper rest, drink more water, and stop staying up late gaming!"

"Got it!"

As Zhou Zhuofei hung up, she noticed Xiao Wang had sent another message while she was on the call.

[Forgot to remind you to take your medicine. It’s on your nightstand—two pills after meals.]

She glanced over and saw the two unopened pills placed under the lamp on her nightstand.

After a pause, she replied with a simple [Okay].

But the moment she sent it, the word felt too stiff, so she quickly followed up with a sticker.

Xiao Wang responded with one too—the same little dog design he often used. It showed an adorable pup patting another pup’s head, the patted one’s ears flapping happily up and down.

The silly, heartwarming image made Zhou Zhuofei smile. If only she could wake up tomorrow already—then she’d get to see him again.

The night passed in a whirl of emotions, though thankfully, none of them were negative.

The events of the past two days gave her enough to mull over all evening. Zhou Zhuofei couldn’t help feeling like an idiot, alternating between burying her face in her hands in embarrassment and tossing restlessly under the covers.

Her antics even caught the attention of Director, her cat, who perched at the foot of the bed, golden eyes blinking as it watched her erratic "performance."

The next morning, Zhou Zhuofei woke up unusually early, her discomfort mostly gone. She felt refreshed, got up to wash up, and even decided to head out for breakfast at a street stall since it was still so early.

This was a rare occurrence for her.

Most days, hungry or not, she’d laze in bed until nine or ten.

But today, even after eating and returning home, it was barely past eight.

Settling on the couch, Zhou Zhuofei scrolled through her phone, wondering what to do next.

Du Yu was definitely still asleep, and texting Xiao Wang now seemed too early.

After some deliberation, she snapped a photo of herself giving a peace sign next to the wall clock in the living room and posted it with the caption: [Mission: Early Bird—Success!]

That should do it, right?

She switched her phone off silent and turned on the TV, flipping through channels aimlessly. In her distracted state, playing games would only add to her losing streak.

She really needed to figure out what to say when they met.

After everything that had happened between her and Xiao Wang, they’d long surpassed just being colleagues or friends. Now, there were only two paths: move forward or step back.

And since she was sure of her own feelings, there was really only one choice.

Just as her thoughts were spiraling, her phone suddenly rang. Seeing Xiao Wang’s name, she immediately turned off the TV and answered.

"Had breakfast yet? I’m downstairs at your place. Want me to bring anything up?"

"No need, I’ve already eaten. How about you?"

"Yeah. Should I come up, then?"

"Sure."

The moment she hung up, Zhou Zhuofei was already on her feet, darting to the door and peering through the peephole.

Time stretched unbearably, each second echoing with anticipation.

The instant Xiao Wang appeared at the stairwell, she flung the door open—without any plan for what came next, acting purely on impulse.

Xiao Wang, however, reacted faster. "Morning. How are you feeling today?"

"All better," she replied automatically.

The moment he stepped inside, Director sprang into action, bolting into the bedroom so fast it left only a blur.

Xiao Wang glanced toward the bedroom door and remarked, "Your cat’s really skittish. Yesterday, when I tried feeding him, it took forever for him to finally come over."

"The director is a bit shy around strangers, but he warms up once he gets to know you. Cen Huan from next door often comes over to play with him, and eventually, he learned to recognize her footsteps. Now, whenever he hears her coming, he waits by the door for her."

"Really? That’s so clever."

"Yeah." Zhou Zhuofei smiled brightly, even happier than if the compliment had been for herself. "Cats are actually pretty smart."

She noticed Xiao Wang grinning at her, and though she was used to his smiles, she suddenly felt inexplicably shy. "Let me get you some slippers."

"I’ll do it." Xiao Wang beat her to it, pulling a pair from the shoe cabinet. Zhou Zhuofei didn’t argue, simply watching as he changed his shoes.

Today, Xiao Wang had forgone his usual suit in favor of a light-colored work shirt paired with casual pants, trading his usual polished professionalism for a more relaxed vibe.

Especially since he typically wore dark suits at the office, the switch to lighter tones was striking. The thin fabric of the work shirt, less stiff than a dress shirt, also did a better job of accentuating his figure.

When Xiao Wang straightened up and caught Zhou Zhuofei staring, he asked, "What are you looking at?"

"It’s just… I’ve never seen you dressed like this before." She gestured vaguely. "No tie feels a little strange."

Xiao Wang glanced down. He’d put some thought into his outfit that morning, remembering how Zhou Zhuofei had only ever seen him in suits—and how she’d once complimented his physique. That’s why he’d chosen this look.

"I bought this recently," he said. "What do you think?"

"It looks great." She took the opportunity to give him another once-over before adding, "This color really suits you."

Xiao Wang’s complexion wasn’t pale, but it wasn’t dark either. His skin had a healthy glow from regular exercise, and to Zhou Zhuofei, he seemed practically flawless—though that might just be her bias talking.

Pleased with her assessment, his expression softened into a smile. "Then I’ll wear it more often."

Zhou Zhuofei fetched a bottle of water from the fridge for Xiao Wang before settling into the armchair across from him.

Once seated, they both fell into an uneasy silence.

They knew why they were having this conversation and how significant the topic was. Maybe that was why neither wanted to rush into it.

To fill the awkwardness, Zhou Zhuofei picked up a small mango from the fruit bowl, tossing it between her hands like a beanbag.

She’d already made up her mind, but she had no experience with confessions.

When Wang Zicheng had pursued her, there hadn’t been any formal declaration—just him showing her a pair of anime-themed couple avatars and asking what she thought.

She’d responded by showing him a set she liked, and before she knew it, he’d already changed his profile picture to match. "How’s this?" he’d asked.

And just like that, they were together. Strictly speaking, she’d never actually been confessed to.

Back then, a period of vague flirtation had felt like enough, and she’d simply accepted his unspoken cues.

So what was she waiting for now?

"I—"

"I—"

They spoke at the same time, their voices overlapping.

Xiao Wang paused, his carefully prepared words derailed. Regaining his composure, he motioned for her to go first.

He’d waited all evening—a few more minutes wouldn’t hurt.

The next moment, he heard Zhou Zhuofei’s sweet, earnest voice ask, "I really like you. Do you like me too?"