Bai Qingting's words caused the messages flooding the group chat to stall for a moment.
Lin Xi was the first to react: 【Earth Girl Lin Xi: Holy crap, there really is such a thing as luck transference? That's way too mystical.】
As soon as she sent this message, Lin Xi felt silly. If something like transmigration could exist, then having this kind of luck transference metaphysics appear wasn't exactly impossible.
【The Switched-at-Birth True Heiress Qin Suyuan: If it's luck transference, then where did her cultivation techniques come from? They can't be superpowers awakened during the apocalypse, right?】
Qin Suyuan reasonably raised her doubts. Before transmigrating, she had read countless novels. During the period when apocalyptic novels were all the rage, her academic workload wasn't as heavy yet. After finishing her studies, she spent her time reading novels. She had read all the well-known apocalyptic novels from back then.
Post-apocalyptic wasteland worlds are somewhat different from traditional apocalyptic settings; it's like a variant of the apocalypse genre. Traditional apocalyptic novels feature mutated flora and fauna, humans turning into zombies after death, and survivors awakening various superpowers.
After a period, apocalyptic novels began to diversify, incorporating series about catastrophic disasters, like volcanic eruptions, floods, and ice ages. Survivors in these worlds might have superpowers, while others, like in Lin Duxi's post-apocalyptic wasteland world, rely purely on human resilience.
Based on Hang Xingyue's description, Qin Suyuan guessed that the female protagonist Xia Xuerong had transmigrated from a traditional apocalyptic novel. This guess wasn't based on anything concrete, just a gut feeling.
【Entertainment Industry Slacker Foil Hang Xingyue: According to the plot, Xia Xuerong was a psychic-type superpower user in the apocalypse, and she had always been very lucky since childhood. The reason she died was betrayal by her team members, who threw her into a zombie horde where she was devoured.】
Hang Xingyue's message confirmed Qin Suyuan's suspicion.
【After her death, she transmigrated into the entertainment industry world, and her psychic-type superpower came with her.】 Hang Xingyue knew how much damage mystical things like luck transference could inflict on ordinary people if they truly existed. She thought carefully.
Then, she continued typing: 【However, in the book, she once mentioned during a variety show that she understood fate and fortune-telling. In that chapter, it was mentioned that her grandfather had been a Taoist priest, and she had picked up a little knowledge in this area through exposure. But it took up so little space in the text that I didn't pay attention to it.】
It was just a few sentences in the entire book. If she hadn't deliberately thought about this topic, Hang Xingyue wouldn't have remembered at all. She realized that some plot points in this book simply wouldn't come to mind unless triggered.
Seeing Hang Xingyue's message, Bai Qingting and Chu Qianmo, both top-tier figures from worlds of metaphysics, grew serious. Chu Qianmo also became uncharacteristically earnest.
【[Dog Bro] Wife-Slaying Daoist Chu Qianmo: Try to recall carefully. Before the plot began, had you ever met Xia Xuerong in person? Did you have any physical contact with her?】
It is widely known that sinister arts require a medium—birth date and time, hair, blood, or bodily tissues like fingernails. This principle holds true whether in a xianxia world or a cultivation world.
Understanding the gravity of the situation, Hang Xingyue thought hard and finally remembered.
【Entertainment Industry Slacker Foil Hang Xingyue: In the later stages of the plot, after I committed suicide, the female protagonist Xia Xuerong once sighed with emotion. She said she had seen me at a premiere. However, at that time, she had just transmigrated and was an audience member, while I was the film's female lead, shining under the spotlight. Later, we met in the restroom. I completely ignored her; she felt like a dull, ugly duckling, while I was like a lofty white swan.】
Just describing this passage made Hang Xingyue's blood pressure rise.
【1960s Boxer Xiang Qianlan: I genuinely can't stand this. What, just because she's the female protagonist, everyone has to revolve around her? That's ridiculous. Are you supposed to go up and make small talk with every stranger you see outside?】 Xiang Qianlan, with her fiery temper, really couldn't tolerate such nonsense one bit.
【Ancient World Xu Huanhuan: She must be a bit sick, right? What is she trying to express? That she, a transmigrator, took down the original female lead and successfully took her place? And then she's marveling at how awesome she is?】
【Domineering CEO Villainess Ye Bingbing: That's beyond absurd.】
The friends in the group were each voicing their opinions, and Lin Xi gave each of their comments a 'like'.
Bai Qingting could now be sure: 【Xianxia World Bai Qingting: Generally, when someone transmigrates into a book, even if the original female lead is terrible, the most they do is complain, avoid her, or look down on her. A minority might directly confront the original female lead. The actions of this latter group can somewhat change how people around the original female lead view her. But a situation like yours with Xia Xuerong, where everyone completely turns against you, is relatively rare.】
【Think carefully. Without exception, all your relatives and friends think she's better than you after meeting her. That in itself is very problematic. Setting aside those who were already dissatisfied with you, like Jiang Haocheng. The rest of your relatives and friends—it's impossible that every single one was dissatisfied with you, let alone that every single one despised you, right? Doesn't this one-sided situation seem like forcibly transferring the goodwill towards you onto her, and transferring the ill will towards her onto you?】
Regarding Bai Qingting's theory, Ye Bingbing, who had been a transmigrated villainess, came forward to share her experience: 【Domineering CEO Villainess Ye Bingbing: What Qingting says is correct. After I discovered I had transmigrated into a book, my first reaction was to escape. Of course, I can't speak for everyone. In the plot, was she constantly by your side?】
【Entertainment Industry Slacker Foil Hang Xingyue: Not really. In the plot, she rarely entered film/TV crews. The only notable work she had from before her transmigration was the role of the assassin 'April' played by the original Xia Xuerong. I was basically shuttling between various film/TV sets.】
【She was different. Her activities were centered around all sorts of variety shows. She gained a massive fanbase and became a top star through various lazy-yet-lucky and other outrageous antics. Under her lazy, slacker persona, everyone who worked hard seemed to be in the wrong.】 Speaking up to this point, Hang Xingyue couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.
The entertainment industry is actually an extremely competitive place. There are too many people and too few opportunities. Whether for fame or fortune, everyone in the industry strives desperately to climb higher.
Opportunities are not bestowed equally upon everyone, so many minor celebrities in the entertainment industry, after gaining exposure, strive to showcase themselves to the utmost. Whether it's their good side or their bad side, it's all a way for them to attract people's attention.
There are also a few stars with exceptionally good luck, but the energy they project publicly is always positive. To be fair, is the energy projected by Xia Xuerong positive?
No matter which show she goes on, she always acts like she doesn't want to be there, just wanting to laze around at home. The tasks assigned by the production team, she either does them very perfunctorily or leaves them until the very last moment.
Looking through the book written about her, how many stars strive hard to complete tasks, only to be labeled online as overly competitive and ambitious?
And how many more foils does Xia Xuerong have besides myself? It's just that compared to those others, I got the short end of the stick. Not only did I become her online contrast, but my parents, siblings, and friends all ended up as her supporting cast.
[Entertainment Industry Slacker Foil Hang Xingyue: However, every single show she participates in has my close friends or relatives joining as guests. Without exception, all those close friends and relatives of mine seem to have become her staunch supporters. She also regularly hangs out with my friends and has chance encounters with my family members.]
Thinking this, Hang Xingyue felt it was completely normal for her character to have a breakdown later in the plot. Watching all the people who were once around you turn towards someone else, who wouldn't crack under that?
[[Dog Brother] Cultivation World Chu Qianmo: I transmigrated halfway through, so I don't know much about things like face reading and feng shui. @Xianxia World Bai Qingting, can you handle this?]
[Xianxia World Bai Qingting: I know a little. I need to see the place where you live regularly. I suspect this isn't just a simple case of borrowing luck.]
Hang Xingyue's heart instantly leapt into her throat. Switching her phone to airplane mode, she urged the driver to go faster. She had known since joining the group that this Transmigrator Chat Group could be opened even without an internet connection.
She lived in Splendor City, a location in her city equivalent to Beijing in China. It was currently late spring/early summer, and the community was filled with apple trees. The apple blossoms were blooming beautifully, enveloping the entire area in a faint, sweet fragrance.
The car stopped at the entrance of Hang Xingyue's villa. She got out, and the driver drove away.
As the original female lead of the novel, Hang Xingyue's family background in this life was excellent. Her parents had a marriage of alliance, but their feelings for each other were genuinely good.
They had four children together. Hang Xingyue was the second child, with an older brother above her and a younger brother and sister below.
The eldest was Hang Xingwen, now twenty-four. He started learning the ropes at the Hang Group from age twenty, and just two years after graduating university, he had already taken over a subsidiary company, becoming a veritable young CEO.
When Hang Xingyue was five, an elder in her family, who was a film director, couldn't find a suitable child actor, so she was drafted into service. She unexpectedly became popular, and since she had a bit of a liking for acting, she stayed in the entertainment industry. Backed by the two major groups, the Hang and Xu conglomerates, her path in the industry was smooth. Her reputation and resources were excellent, and she never had to experience any of the unsavory stuff.
Furthermore, the entertainment industry in Dragon Country was even more lucrative than in her previous life. Not counting the dividends from her Hang Group shares or the annual red packets from the Xu side for their grandchildren, the appearance fees and acting salaries she received each month alone were astronomical.
This villa was bought by Hang Xingyue when she was sixteen. After two years of renovation, she moved in upon turning eighteen.
Over the years, she had grown accustomed to living here. Usually, apart from Aunt Zhang who came to clean, only her siblings would visit.
Especially her younger sister, Hang Xinghui, now eighteen and just started university. Her school was near Splendor City, and she would come stay here whenever she had no classes.
Hang Xingyue took a deep breath, opened the dimensional live stream, and walked into the villa.
Her villa was in a European style, exuding luxury everywhere. The yard was planted with many flowers, which, in this late spring/early summer season of Dragon City, were blooming profusely in the flower beds by the walls and entrance.
Opening the main door, the shoe-changing area was on the right, holding Hang Xingyue's shoes. On the left was a side hall with an expensive brown leather sofa. The side hall had doors on both sides, one leading to the servant's quarters, the other to the laundry room. This was where Aunt Zhang sometimes stayed when she came to tidy up.
Walking further ahead led into the living room. In the six-meter-high ceiling space, a huge circular crystal chandelier spiraled down from above. European-style sofas and coffee tables.
World-famous paintings hung on the walls, and exquisite, beautiful ornaments were placed throughout the house.
What particularly caught the eye was the floor-to-ceiling window wall behind the sofa. It not only brought perfect lighting into the room but also offered an unobstructed view of the backyard.
The green lawn, the blue swimming pool, and the white parasol set up by the poolside.
Hang Xingyue walked around the living room holding up her phone. There weren't many extra ornaments in the living room, so she then took the phone upstairs. The second floor didn't have a living room, but a large portion of its floor area was taken up by her master suite.
The walk-in closet, home theater, sitting area, bedroom, and study were all connected.
As she walked, the camera followed her.
In the chat group, the little friends from various dimensions who weren't exactly poor themselves were staring at Hang Xingyue's home, utterly dumbfounded.
Domineering CEO Villainess Ye Bingbing: This place is so huge it's outrageously luxurious. I didn't even have accommodations like this when I was in the CEO world. With Hang Xingyue as a comparison, Ye Bingbing suddenly felt that among the many flaws of the CEO world, one had to add 'low-class'.
The residences of the male lead, female lead, male supporting, and female supporting characters didn't have this kind of setup!
[1960s Boxer Xiang Qianlan: You can say that again! I've never seen such a beautiful house in my life. Now I have material for my dreams tonight.]
[Mis-swapped Real Heiress Qin Suyuan: Future rich young heiresses please use these living conditions as the standard, otherwise they don't even count as rich young heiresses!]
[Interstellar Wanderer Yao Xiran: Perfect timing, I just applied for a plot of land. I've decided my residence will be modeled after this. @Entertainment Industry Slacker Foil Hang Xingyue, please send me the architectural blueprints later.] Yao Xiran had already upgraded significantly. In just a few months, she had managed to buy land on a second-tier star near the capital.
With her collection of numerous natural plants and meteorites, she was no longer short of money.
She had just bought a piece of land, planning to build a residence and also a workspace for her little partner. She hadn't decided on the design yet, so she might as well copy Hang Xingyue's homework and base it on her place.
Four identical buildings constructed right next to each other, with a studio in the middle—simply perfect.
[Earth Girl Lin Xi: I need to work hard and earn money to buy a house. I'd love to have a building like this too.] Lin Xi was already daydreaming. After all, who doesn't like a beautiful house?
The friends in the group chat were watching and chatting. Over there, Hang Xingyue had finished looking at her own room and moved on to the guest room next door.
The guest room was also quite spacious. The one-bedroom suite was about a hundred square meters, with both the living room and the bedroom, or the dressing room, being incredibly large.
Since Hang Xinghui often stayed here, her belongings were scattered everywhere in the room. From the pink plush toys on the sofa to the various toiletries on the bathroom counter, and the clothes and shoes in the walk-in closet.
From the moment Hang Xingyue entered the room, Bai Qingting and Chu Qianmo had been frowning. This continued after they saw both the master bedroom and the guest room.
Bai Qingting typed in the group chat: [Immortal Realm Bai Qingting: Xingyue, go back to your bedroom. There's a white ornament on your bedside table. Smash it and see.]
Upon hearing this, Hang Xingyue returned to her room. On the bedside table next to her white European-style canopy bed, there was indeed a small white deer ornament.
A look of great surprise appeared on Hang Xingyue's face. "There really is a white ornament here. How did I not notice it before?"
Not just Hang Xingyue, but even the friends in the group chat hadn't noticed this little deer ornament.
[Reborn Time-Traveler Gu Nuanyang: I've got goosebumps all over my arms.]
[Whole Family Transmigrated to ABO World Wen Wan: Xingyue was already walking very slowly earlier. I even studied that bed just now. How do I have zero impression of that deer ornament?]
This was the first time the group members had come into contact with this kind of mystical world, and everyone felt a bit creeped out. Both the Immortal Realm and the Cultivation World had fantastical elements, but when watching Chu Qianmo and Bai Qingting's worlds, they had never felt this kind of sensation before!
[Wealthy Family Eldest Sister-in-law Ji Xinyu: This group is getting more and more interesting.]
This was Ji Xinyu's first message since joining the group, but clearly, everyone's focus wasn't on her.
Ji Xinyu didn't mind either. From lurking after joining until now, she had already lost interest in the troublesome matters and people of the real world.
Just reading the messages from the group members made her feel like her time was fully occupied.
[Immortal Realm Bai Qingting: Xingyue, don't smash it yet. Send it directly to me through Lin Xi. Let me see what this thing actually is.]
After hearing this, Hang Xingyue didn't even touch the ornament and directly sent it to Lin Xi. Lin Xi didn't delay for a second and immediately forwarded it to Bai Qingting.
Soon, Bai Qingting started a live stream. Her stream squeezed the original full-screen view of Hang Xingyue to a smaller size, creating a split-screen view.
This instantly drew everyone's attention back.
[Primitive World Ahuahua: Wow, so this live stream can have multiple people broadcasting at once? We just never knew because we never had the need before?]
The group live stream feature first appeared uniquely during Ye Bingbing's world event. Since then, group members would occasionally start a stream for everyone to watch.
But a dual-person live stream had truly never happened before. Therefore, they really didn't know this function existed.
[Ancient World Xu Huanhuan: Does this mean we could have a video drinking party?] Xu Huanhuan, who was now busy brewing wine all the time, had a skyrocketing interest in drinking.
[Period Novel Stepmother Xu Huixin: I think we could. I'd like to join.] Since jumping out of the Shen family's pit of fire, Xu Huixin had now thrown herself into intense studying.
After some time of investigation, her father-in-law, Shen Minqiang, had already been imprisoned. The verdict for Shen Shuyu had come down. Convicted of speculation, bigamy, and hooliganism, he had been sentenced to death.
In a few days, he would be executed by firing squad. Her sister-in-law and brother-in-law were implicated by their father and brother, lost their jobs, and were sent down to a farm. Her stepchildren went with them.
Regarding this, Xu Huixin didn't feel a shred of pity.
Xu Huixin rarely spoke in the group, but during breaks from studying, she would still read the group messages. Her gaze lingered on Lin Xi's avatar for a long time. After a while, she sighed and turned her attention to Bai Qingting's live stream.
In Bai Qingting's live stream, she had already obtained the little deer ornament.
After examining it, she said, "This ornament is very crudely made. It's just plaster, with an uneven surface."
As Bai Qingting spoke, she gave it a gentle squeeze. The little deer instantly shattered into pieces, revealing a small, square white object inside, wrapped with red cloth and black hair.
Bai Qingting didn't unwrap it. Instead, she performed a hand seal. The black hair snapped, and the contents inside were revealed.
Inside the yellow talisman paper was a clump of cotton that had already turned black.
Bai Qingting gave a light wave of her hand. The black cotton turned to dust, while the yellow talisman paper stood upright and unfolded before her.
[Immortal Realm Bai Qingting: My guess was indeed correct. Although this talisman is very low-level compared to those in the Immortal Realm, it is indeed a Luck-Borrowing Talisman. Compared to a Luck-Transferring Talisman, this Luck-Borrowing Talisman is even more malicious.]
[A Luck-Transferring Talisman transfers good luck from another person to oneself. It doesn't pose a life-threatening danger to the person being transferred from; they just go from having good luck to being ordinary or unlucky.]
[A Luck-Borrowing Talisman is different. It borrows good luck from another person for oneself. The malice of the Luck-Borrowing Talisman lies in the fact that it doesn't just borrow luck; it also borrows life. Between borrowing luck and borrowing life, there needs to be a key trigger.]
[And that is the human heart.]
Bai Qingting's final sentence left everyone confused. Before anyone could ask, Bai Qingting continued: [In this world, people with good fortune either have merit accumulated from past lives or have done good deeds in this life. But regardless of the type, people with good, positive fortune are generally kind-hearted and rarely have thoughts of harming others.]
[However, after having their luck borrowed, the dark side within a fortunate person's heart is extremely easily triggered. Once a malicious thought arises in the heart, the Luck-Borrowing Talisman begins to transform into a Life-Borrowing Talisman. Afterwards, every time a negative emotion surfaces, the operation of the Life-Borrowing Talisman accelerates by thirty percent.]
[Once the borrowed person's good luck and life force are completely exhausted, they will die. And at the moment of their death, everything about them—their luck, property, close friends, and family—will be taken over by the borrower. The borrower will replace you, living the life you were originally meant to live.]
After Bai Qingting finished speaking, the group chat fell into silence. It was the first time the group members had encountered such dark magic. Neither the demons from Bai Qingting's world nor the demons from the cultivation world had ever made them feel this chilled to the bone.
But now, they felt as if their hearts were soaking in ice water. It was cold and terrifying.
However, after hearing Bai Qingting's explanation and recalling what Hang Xingyue had said, they immediately understood what kind of creature that apocalypse female protagonist was.
The hair on Hang Xingyue's arms stood on end.
[Entertainment Industry Slacker Contrast Group - Hang Xingyue: I remember now. The plot said that Xia Xuerong transmigrated into a book. That book was something she collected while following her team on a sweep. Because there was no entertainment in the apocalypse, she read that novel with me as the female protagonist countless times.]
[In the plot I know, although Xia Xuerong didn't become a movie queen, she became a household name, a national female star. She even became a tourism ambassador and an anti-drug ambassador for the national TV station. She had fans all over the world.]
[But isn't it ridiculous? Someone like that, aside from various variety shows, actually had no representative work besides "Assassin April." That in itself is extremely abnormal.]
[So, were all the honors bestowed upon her originally supposed to be mine?] Hang Xingyue felt incredibly upset as she said this.
The group members each had their own tragedies, but none were quite like Hang Xingyue's situation.
Hang Xingyue's gaze turned cold. She originally thought keeping her distance from Xia Xuerong would be enough, but now, it was a life-or-death struggle between them.
Bai Qingting looked at Hang Xingyue on the screen: [Don't doubt it. That should belong to you. If I'm not mistaken, the bloodstain in the cotton was likely your menstrual blood. If you didn't have your period the last time you met Xia Xuerong, then you need to investigate the people around you.]
Menstruation is a very private matter. The only way to obtain someone else's menstrual blood, aside from going through their trash, is through intimate access.
Hang Xingyue closed her eyes: [The only ones who could access such private items are Aunt Zhang and my personal assistant, Little Le.]
[Aunt Zhang watched me grow up. She's not superstitious and doesn't lack money. She wouldn't give such private things to others. So, the only one who could do this is Little Le.]
[But the only ones who could place something in my room are Aunt Zhang and Hang Xinghui. Others, including Little Le, cannot enter.] Hang Xingyue had a strong sense of territory; only Aunt Zhang and Hang Xinghui entered her room.
Hang Xingyue didn't suspect Aunt Zhang. After all, in the plot, only Aunt Zhang was truly heartbroken by her death. Her other relatives and friends only felt relieved. Because with her gone, they wouldn't have to feel guilty when facing her.
Bai Qingting ended the livestream. Hang Xingyue took out another backup phone and called Hang Xinghui.
Hang Xinghui had no classes today and was shopping in a mall using the personal card Hang Xingyue got for her. When she received Hang Xingyue's call, Hang Xinghui pouted boredly and walked to the seating area of the luxury store to sit down.
A sales associate brought her a drink she often ordered. Hang Xinghui held up her hand, freshly manicured, to look at it. "Sis, why are you calling me?"
Before Hang Xingyue could speak, Hang Xinghui continued, "I just got a call from Haocheng-ge and saw the trending topics. Sis, do you have any idea how much negative impact your words during the livestream will have on Haocheng-ge?"
"The trending list is exploding right now!" Hang Xinghui was the same age as Jiang Haocheng. Having celebrity older siblings boosted Hang Xinghui's vanity immensely. Especially since most of her friends were girls. Jiang Haocheng had a good personality, good looks, good acting skills, and countless fans.
Ever since people found out Hang Xinghui was Jiang Haocheng's cousin, she became the center of attention wherever she went at school. Those girls, hoping to get some exclusive news about Jiang Haocheng, always flattered Hang Xinghui. So Hang Xinghui, who originally had some reservations about Jiang Haocheng, now thought extremely highly of him.
In just the short time since Hang Xingyue left the livestream until now, Hang Xinghui's phone and messaging apps were flooded with inquiries from classmates.
Hang Xinghui didn't answer any calls, and her dissatisfaction with Hang Xingyue grew along with the increasing messages. Just as Jiang Haocheng had said on the phone, Hang Xingyue had gone too far. No matter what the issue was, shouldn't it be discussed privately? What was the point of talking about it on a livestream?
They were family. Did they even act like family anymore? Showing no regard for familial bonds at all, she was simply cold-blooded!
Listening to Hang Xinghui, Hang Xingyue felt how foolish her pre-awakened self had been. She treated Hang Xinghui as a real sister, but what did Hang Xinghui think of her?
Did Hang Xinghui have even a shred of respect for her as an older sister? If she truly respected and liked her even a little, how could she blame her without even understanding the situation?
Hang Xingyue hadn't checked the trending topics, but she believed there must be some discourse favorable to her. Jiang Haocheng's attitude towards her was clear for anyone with eyes who watched the livestream.
Did Hang Xinghui bother to understand the truth of the matter? Or had she already understood but simply didn't care about her grievances, choosing only to believe what she wanted to hear?
Thinking about the high-limit supplementary cards she got for Hang Xinghui and the spa memberships she let her use freely, Hang Xingyue felt like a complete fool.
She increasingly felt her pre-awakened self was configured like an old-school novel female protagonist, with an absolute people-pleaser personality.
At this thought, Hang Xingyue couldn't even be bothered to listen to Hang Xinghui's blabbering. She directly opened her banking app and deactivated the supplementary cards she had given to Hang Xinghui and her youngest brother, Hang Xingyu.
Over there, Hang Xinghui, not hearing Hang Xingyue's response, was starting to get angry.
Just as she was about to lose her temper, Hang Xingyue spoke coldly, "I'm asking you, was that little deer ornament on my bedside table placed there by you?"
Hang Xinghui didn't grasp the seriousness at all. "Yes, I thought that ornament was pretty cute, so I put it in your room."
Hearing Hang Xinghui admit it with her own ears, Hang Xingyue's heart grew colder and harder. "Where did that ornament come from?"
Hearing this question, Hang Xinghui's tone became excited. "A while ago, I went to a painting exhibition held by my senior. At the exhibition, I met a young lady with exceptional grace. She gave it to me. Oh, come to think of it, you know her too. It's Xia Xuerong, the one who was on the program with you..."
Hang Xingyue hung up the phone with a snap. She typed in the group chat: [Entertainment Industry Slacker Contrast Hang Xingyue: Damn, that's too terrifying. Did Xia Xuerong infiltrate my social circle and friend circle the moment she transmigrated over? With someone like her, what's the point of putting on a slacker persona? She must have been busy as a spinning top in all the parts the plot didn't write about, right?]
[I finally understand why I jumped off a building in my past life. With her level of scheming, plus the existence of the Luck-Draining Talisman, a prepared mind attacking an unprepared one—if I didn't jump, who would? @Xianxia World Bai Qingting @Wife-Slaying Daoist Chu Qianmo, Sister Ting, Brother Dog, how should I break this situation?]
After learning about the Luck-Draining Talisman and having Hang Xinghui confirm Xia Xuerong's behind-the-scenes actions, Hang Xingyue knew she couldn't avoid Xia Xuerong. Since she couldn't avoid it, she would face the challenge head-on.
She refused to believe that with a group of friends from other dimensions, including one from a xianxia world and one from a cultivation world, she still couldn't defeat Xia Xuerong. If she couldn't, she might as well slit her own throat now.
Bai Qingting had been waiting for Hang Xingyue to say this: [Xianxia World Bai Qingting: It's still early now. The Luck-Draining Talisman in the ornament hasn't transformed into a Life-Draining Talisman yet. I just broke the Luck-Draining Talisman, so Xia Xuerong must be severely weakened at this moment.]
[In any world, techniques like the Luck-Draining Talisman, which defy heavenly decree, are evil arts and are not tolerated by the Heavenly Dao. In a world at the end of the law, the Heavenly Dao's control over the world is incomplete. If it goes undetected, fine. But once discovered, she will be expelled by the Heavenly Dao. You are the female lead of your little world. In principle, you should be the child favored by your little world. Since you've been attacked by such an evil art, Xia Xuerong will definitely not have it easy.]
[Wait until tonight, go to her room, and then stick the talisman I drew for you on her forehead. After that, she won't be able to use any magic power ever again.]
[Furthermore, regarding the Luck-Draining Talisman, she will also suffer its backlash. Her future fate will not be good.]
After Bai Qingting finished speaking, a talisman glowing with golden light was transmitted to Lin Xi's side, who then passed it to Hang Xingyue.
[Xianxia World Bai Qingting: I don't have any invisibility talismans on hand. @Wife-Slaying Daoist Chu Qianmo, do you have any over there? Send some to Xingyue.] In Bai Qingting's world, if you want to conceal your form, you just need to perform a hand seal. Things like talismans are rarely drawn by anyone anymore.
[[Dog Bro] Wife-Slaying Daoist Chu Qianmo: I've got tons of that stuff. I have a bunch right now, perfect to send to everyone. Take them and have fun.]
After Chu Qianmo said this, he divided the talismans he had drawn recently in his spare time into over a dozen portions and sent them all to Lin Xi. Lin Xi then distributed them to the group members according to the list.
For Hang Xingyue's portion, Chu Qianmo also sent over an extra mustard seed space. No one understood the impact of luck-draining on a person better than Chu Qianmo.
Xia Xuerong was truly despicable.
There was still some time until late night in Hang Xingyue's world. After agreeing with everyone to meet in the evening, Hang Xingyue first ended the livestream. She logged into Weibo. Her phone vibrated incessantly, and the message interface showed a terrifying "99999+". Hang Xingyue didn't click into it, instead going directly to the trending search list.
The top twenty spots on the entertainment chart were all about her. The very top one, marked with a "hot" identifier, was her announcement of leaving the entertainment industry.
Following that were trending searches about her quitting "The Life I Want to Live."
There were also trending searches about Jiang Haocheng lecturing her, but even more were about Jiang Haocheng himself.
The saying "give an inch, take a mile" was putting it lightly. The last trending search, rising in real-time, was a compilation titled "Jiang Haocheng the Ingrate."
Clicking in, it was filled with all the remarks and micro-expressions Jiang Haocheng had made about her, his sister and benefactor, in private or public settings over the years.
The compilation was made by Hang Xingyue's fans. They were convinced that her departure from the industry was because of Jiang Haocheng's nonsensical words. They were furious, scrutinizing every word and even every punctuation mark Jiang Haocheng had ever said under a microscope, finding that his resentment towards her had been brewing for a long time.
Hang Xingyue let out a cold laugh. She felt that her past self was truly blind and foolish. Jiang Haocheng had been so obvious, yet she hadn't noticed at all! Hang Xingyue swore that if this wasn't due to the so-called "plot influence," she wouldn't believe it.
Opening WeChat, her work account also had hundreds of unread messages. Among the pinned messages at the top, her agent Sister Xia had sent over a hundred messages. Clicking in and jumping to the earliest ones.
They were messages from Agent Sister Xia praising Xia Xuerong, hoping Hang Xingyue would take good care of Xia Xuerong on the show, and seizing the chance to poach Xia Xuerong from Strawberry TV.
Sister Xia confidently guaranteed that Xia Xuerong had star potential, that signing her would definitely be profitable, and could even elevate the studio to new heights. The person hadn't even joined the studio yet, and Sister Xia was already pulling resources for her, even deciding to give Xia Xuerong a spot on a detective variety show that was in preparation and would become hugely popular soon.
Hang Xingyue couldn't control the cold sneer on her face. If she remembered correctly, that detective show had approached her. Before joining the current rural life variety show, she had already been in contact with the director and was very interested in that program.
Scrolling further down, Sister Xia's tone grew worse and worse. First, she said Hang Xingyue was too willful, then blamed her for not informing her in advance about leaving the industry. Later, her tone softened, urging Hang Xingyue to clarify the matters about Jiang Haocheng and her departure on Weibo.
Her tone shifted from initially taking things for granted, to forceful, to angry, and finally softened into pleading.
Hang Xingyue really laughed until tears came out. Sister Xia's salary was paid by her! How could she so arrogantly demand that she be nice to Xia Xuerong, and how could she so take it for granted think she was acting willfully!
If memory served, she was the boss of the studio, not Sister Xia, right? So, in the book, all those variety show resources for Xia Xuerong were given or introduced by Sister Xia? Using her own hen to lay eggs for someone else?
How utterly ridiculous. After laughing, Hang Xingyue replied with a single word: "Get lost."
In her personal WeChat, most messages were from family members, also blaming her, saying she was disregarding family ties. Jiang Haocheng had also sent many messages.
First blaming her, then begging her, with the last few dozen messages all being apologies.
Looking at the messages from her parents, brother, and younger brother, they were all telling her to be forgiving and even expressed their admiration for Xia Xuerong.
A message from Hang Xinghui popped up at that moment, demanding to know why Hang Xingyue had frozen her credit cards.
Hang Xingyue paid no attention. She withdrew the remaining balances from several WeChat accounts and applied to deactivate them.
All those assholes could be tossed away.
Time passed in a blink. After watching Yao Yuran put the changed bedding from the Peony Room into the infrared sterilization dry-cleaning machine sponsored by Yao Xiran, playing with the little robot Xiao Meng for a while, and then eating a bowl of rice noodles at Granny Liu San's stall by the entrance, Lin Xi returned to the guesthouse.
She took a glance inside, learned that Xu Fei and Zhang Xuemin had already moved from the Peony Room to the Narcissus Room, and then went straight home.
In the entertainment industry world, at midnight, Hang Xingyue drove the cheapest car from her garage towards the place where Xia Xuerong lived.
Due to the Fortune-Borrowing Talisman, Hang Xingyue and Xia Xuerong were, to some extent, connected by their fate lines. Hang Xingyue placed the talisman given by Bai Qingting on the dashboard. A beam of white light, invisible to others, appeared before her eyes.
Following this line would lead to Xia Xuerong's current location.
Because of Hang Xingyue's withdrawal from the show and exit from the industry, the variety program "Go Live the Life You Want" had been suspended. Xia Xuerong had already returned to her residence in Longcheng.
She lived in the dormitory rented by Strawberry TV for its employees in Longcheng. Hang Xingyue parked her car outside, took out the signal jammer given by Yao Xiran to block the surrounding surveillance cameras, stuck on an invisibility talisman, and swaggered her way to Xia Xuerong's place.
She climbed the stairs floor by floor. Xia Xuerong lived on the fourth floor. Taking out a universal lock-picking talisman given by Chu Qianmo, she stuck it on the lock, and Xia Xuerong's room door opened.
Hang Xingyue slipped inside. In the few seconds between the door opening and her entry, the camera opposite Xia Xuerong's door briefly malfunctioned before quickly returning to normal.
In the roughly twenty-square-meter living room, there was no sign of Xia Xuerong. Pushing open the bedroom door, she found Xia Xuerong still awake. Dressed in loungewear, she was coughing under the covers.
Compared to the Xia Xuerong seen during the day, the one now had sunken cheeks, dull and sagging eyes, and her once smooth hair was as dry as straw.
Her loungewear was even stained with specks of red plum blossoms—clearly blood to any discerning eye.
After her coughing fit, as if having used up all her strength, Xia Xuerong lay on the bed, muttering to herself, "Impossible. I've investigated. There can't be any practitioners of the mystic arts in this world. This is a world in the Dharma-Ending Age, with sparse spiritual energy. No one should be able to break my Fortune-Borrowing Talisman..."
As she finished speaking, blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. Not bothering to wipe it, she grabbed a notebook beside her and frantically flipped through it. "Where exactly did it go wrong! Where exactly did it go wrong! The female lead from the post-apocalyptic world had her life successfully borrowed, so why not the one from the entertainment industry world!"
"I had everything calculated long ago, I had it all planned. If I fail to borrow her life force this time, I won't get another chance at rebirth."
"Where did it go wrong, where did it go wrong!" Xia Xuerong's voice was hoarse and grating, like nails scraping across glass, extremely unpleasant.
She rapidly flipped through the notebook, her eyes filled with an indescribable madness.
Hang Xingyue stood by the bedside, looking at Xia Xuerong in this state, finding her utterly unfamiliar. When they met on the variety show in the morning, Xia Xuerong had been like an icy beauty, but by night, she was like a madwoman.
Hang Xingyue even took out her phone to share with her group chat friends: [Entertainment Industry Slacker Control Group Hang Xingyue: This Xia Xuerong really has the makings of a great entertainer. Look at how smoothly she switches between these two personalities. So damn seamless.]
After sending the message, Hang Xingyue took a step to the side. Xia Xuerong had already gotten out of bed. She took out talisman paper from a drawer and cut off a lock of her own hair.
"Could it be that I drew the talisman wrong, or used the wrong medium?"
"Impossible, impossible. I've drawn the Fortune-Borrowing Talisman countless times, it can't be wrong. Then it must be that Little Le didn't follow my instructions! Ah, that bitch, just wait. Once I recover, I'll make you die!" Xia Xuerong's tone was venomous.
Hearing her words, Hang Xingyue shivered.
At the same time, a notification popped up simultaneously on Hang Xingyue's phone and Lin Xi's phone: [System Notification: Group member 'Entertainment Industry Slacker Control Group Hang Xingyue' has discovered a lost Golden Finger. Will group member 'Earth Girl Lin Xi' assist group member Hang Xingyue in collecting it for this group chat system?]
