Everyone Spends Money to Make Me Debut as Center (GL) - Chapter 2

“What did you say, Rui Rui?!” Tang Haimei was the first to lose her composure. “You were cyberbullied by her fans for so long, and you’re still speaking up for her! Now you want to join some variety show for her sake? If… if what happened before happens again, what am I supposed to do!”

No matter how much power the Chi family held, they were helpless against the overwhelming abuse from millions of “keyboard warriors” hidden behind internet cables. The period when Chi Rui was hated by the entire internet was the most powerless moment for the couple. Aside from finding the best psychologists to counsel her, they had no other options. Tang Haimei never wanted to see her daughter in that gloomy, helpless state ever again.

“Mom, like you said, I’ve grown up.” Chi Rui gently placed her hand on Tang Haimei’s shoulder, her manner so natural it was as if she were the elder advising a temperamental child. “I know what I want, and more importantly, I know what I need to do. This decision isn’t a whim, nor am I sacrificing myself for anyone. Can you have a little faith in your daughter?”

Chi Rui certainly wasn’t acting on a whim. For eight whole years, she had poured the best of her youth into this dream. People had mocked and ridiculed her, but she had endured it all because she knew that while anyone else could look down on her, she couldn’t look down on herself.

Countless times she had stood before a mirror, repeating movements until they were perfect, letting her body form muscle memory. She knew that opportunity only favors the prepared.

And now, this was it! National Girls was the opportunity she had to seize.

“Rui Rui…” Tang Haimei held her daughter’s warm, soft hand. The thousand words of worry suppressed in her heart dissolved when she saw the girl’s firm, bright gaze. “Are you serious? You’re not just throwing a tantrum?”

Bai Chang set down her chopsticks and observed Chi Rui with an unreadable expression.

Was it her imagination, or had it just been too long? She felt her wife had changed. That steady, spirited look in her eyes hadn’t appeared on Chi Rui in a very long time.

“I won’t allow it!” A metal spoon was slammed into a bowl, sending soup splashing. Chi Chengxiong’s eyes were bloodshot with rage as he pointed a finger at Chi Rui. “I raised you. Do you think I don’t know your personality? You have a three-minute attention span for everything. I spoiled you and loved you, but not so you could go out and humiliate yourself like this!”

A servant who had just brought a fresh spoon froze in place, terrified by the master’s fury, not daring to approach.

Chi Rui raised the back of her hand and gently wiped a drop of soup from her cheek. Facing Chi Chengxiong’s anger, she kept her back ramrod straight. “Dad, thank you for always supporting and encouraging me. But just once—believe in me just this once. I absolutely will not quit halfway this time.”

“I’m not listening to another word of this nonsense. I’m laying it down right now: if you’re still thinking about returning to the entertainment industry or chasing that idol dream, then get out. And don’t bother coming back!”

Chi Rui closed her eyes. She knew this was her father’s “last resort” tactic. But the current “Chi Rui” would no longer use a soft voice to act spoiled and beg for his forgiveness.

“Dad, if I bow my head to you now, that would be having a three-minute attention span. That would mean I don’t even have the courage to take the first step.”

“Rui Rui?” Sensing something, Tang Haimei stood up abruptly and moved toward her.

Chi Rui moved faster. After giving Chi Chengxiong a deep bow, she picked up her pre-packed bag and prepared to leave.

“Stand right there,” Chi Chengxiong’s voice was raspy. “Since you’re so full of integrity, don’t take a single thing from this house.”

Chi Rui stopped at the door. She turned and saw all three people at the table staring at her—Bai Chang included.

“Rui Rui, be good. Let’s not be stubborn, okay? Mommy will buy you whatever you like. Clothes? Bags? Or do you want something delicious? I’ll buy it all for you.”

Chi Rui tilted her chin toward the woman sitting quietly. Amidst the chaos of the dining table, only the poised Bai Chang remained exceptionally calm, as if the surrounding melodrama had nothing to do with her.

However, even the composed Bai Chang knit her elegant brows, looking at her with disapproval. “Chi Rui, stop doing things that make your parents sad.”

“Right, right! Rui Rui, look, even Bai Chang says so. You always listen to her the most, don’t you…”

“Mom,” Chi Rui interrupted. “Eat well at home. Don’t eat too many sweets—your teeth aren’t great. And try to keep Dad from getting so angry. I won’t be able to call you often once the show starts. I’ll take good care of myself, so don’t worry about me.”

With that, Chi Rui pulled the National Girls invitation out of her bag and gestured toward Chi Chengxiong. “This is mine. I’m leaving everything else behind.”

The front door was flung open with force and then clicked shut gently. Only Chi Rui’s clean, simple duffel bag remained by the door.

Chi Rui was gone. Bai Chang was left sitting between two dark-faced elders, the air in the room growing thin with tension.

Bai Chang sighed and looked back at Tang Haimei’s hopeful gaze. “I’ll give her a call.”

Ring… ring…

The three of them simultaneously looked down at the bag abandoned by the door. The ringtone was coming from the outer pocket of the backpack.

…

Chi Rui admitted she had been a bit impulsive. Fortunately, it wasn’t the dead of winter; otherwise, rushing out in a thin short-sleeved shirt would have seen her collapse in the north wind within ten minutes.

“I should have at least brought my phone,” Chi Rui muttered, kicking a stone by the road and squatting dejectedly under a street sign.

The Chi family villa was located in a famous wealthy district of City A. The environment was beautiful and secure, but the only problem was… the lack of public transport.

Everyone living here owned three or four luxury cars and traveled via private drivers. There was zero need for a “convenient” bus route in this neighborhood’s planning.

Currently, Chi Rui’s problem wasn’t even finding a place to stay—it was whether she could even get out of the district.

“Okay, it’s about 12:30 PM,” Chi Rui forced herself to stay calm. “The nearest bus stop is seven kilometers away. It’ll take about an hour and a half on foot.”

An hour and a half was fine, but what happened after she reached the bus stop?

Chi Rui patted her pockets. She didn’t have a single cent. Of course—in an age where everyone used Alipay, who carried spare change?

She fiddled with the bracelet on her wrist and thought despondently, If I tell the driver to take this as fare, he probably won’t hit me, right?

“Don’t worry, he’ll just ‘politely’ ask you to get out.” A cold voice drifted down from above her.

After realizing Chi Rui hadn’t even taken her phone, Bai Chang had come out to find her. She thought she’d catch her right at the gate, but she had to drive past several signs before spotting the pitiful figure huddled under a utility pole.

It wasn’t that she wasn’t worried. Before Chi Rui’s personality shift, they’d had some decent memories. Even now, in Bai Chang’s mind, Chi Rui was a younger sister who needed tolerance and care—provided she didn’t test her patience too much.

Chi Rui twisted her head awkwardly. “What are you doing here? Finished your lunch?”

Bai Chang tapped her finger toward the top of Chi Rui’s head. “Stand up. Squatting on the ground looks unseemly.”

“How I look is none of your business.”

Bai Chang was momentarily silenced by the retort, becoming more convinced that Chi Rui was just throwing a tantrum.

“What is the goal of this little performance?”

Chi Rui immediately understood Bai Chang’s implication. She thought Chi Rui was using this “runaway” act to threaten her into dropping the divorce.

“It seems your hearing is failing you.” Chi Rui stood up and pointed to her temple. “Or perhaps your memory?”

“I’m not throwing a tantrum, and I’m not trying to get your attention this way. If that’s why you stopped, you can drive away now.” Chi Rui made a “please” gesture toward Bai Chang’s car.

“Chi Rui, I know you’re joining this competition because of Xike. You’ve done so many terrible things to her already; are you still not willing to stop? I’ve explained to you countless times that she and I are innocent.”

The original owner’s possessiveness over Bai Chang was indeed extreme; Chi Rui knew this. But the person in this body had changed. As someone who knew the novel’s ending—knowing that Bai Chang and Wei Xike were the fated protagonists—she had no desire to interfere.

Even if they were “innocent” now, they wouldn’t be for long. According to the timeline, they would start dating in a year—which meant she only had a year left before her scheduled “death.”

“Stop?”

“Believe in my innocence. Stop spreading rumors to blacken Xike’s name. I’ve said it before: as long as our marriage exists, I will not do anything to betray you. I can guarantee that on anything.”

Was this truly the goddess worshipped by tens of millions? Even when angry, she didn’t lose her poise or turn red-faced. Bai Chang just looked down at you with a gentle, condemning gaze, silently rebuking you for being an unruly child.

The old Chi Rui would have folded instantly under that gaze, bowing her head to beg for forgiveness.

“Then you can rest easy. I’m not entering the competition because of her.” Chi Rui spread her arms. “And you don’t need to guarantee anything to me. I have absolutely no objection to the divorce. You might not believe me now, but I no longer have feelings for you. Even if you and Wei Xike started dating this second, I wouldn’t have any opinion on it.”

“As for the rumors…” The rumors were indeed spread by the original owner using “water armies” (paid posters). Chi Rui pondered for a moment; since she was benefiting from this body, she might as well clean up the mess. She looked up. “Don’t worry, I won’t do anything like that again. I can guarantee that on anything, too.”

Bai Chang’s brows lowered. She clearly thought Chi Rui was being sarcastic to provoke her.

“You don’t need to try and anger me. I’m not like you—I have a sense of ‘contractual spirit.'”

Bai Chang was referring to Chi Rui’s sudden retirement a year ago. At the time, she was at the peak of her career. Her “Sweet Song Queen” brand and wealthy heiress persona made her a favorite among young fans. Even though she later appeared in numerous dramas and movies starring Bai Chang with terrible acting and was plagued by scandals, her fans still viewed her through a protective filter.

But Chi Rui had shattered that filter herself. Without warning, she held a press conference to announce her retirement.

The decision was impulsive and brainless. Many ongoing variety shows and advertisements had to negotiate compensation. Most importantly, the fans had received no warning. One second they were happily voting for their idol; the next, a live broadcast hit them like a hammer.

At the conference, a reporter asked: “Do you have anything to say to the fans who have supported you until now?”

Chi Rui’s answer: “I’m grateful for my fans’ companionship, but I have someone more important now. I want to spend all my time and energy on her.”

This statement effectively confirmed all previous scandals. Someone soon compiled all the news about Chi Rui’s obsessive pursuit of Bai Chang and published it under a glaring headline: Chi Rui: Fans are just tools for my pursuit of happiness.

It wasn’t wrong. Chi Rui’s only purpose in entering the industry was Bai Chang. Once she achieved her goal, she had no reason to stay and “play singer” with her fans.

But the fans’ love had been genuine. Being treated so dismissively turned them into “anti-fans” overnight.

However, what truly made Chi Rui a pariah wasn’t just that. Shortly after her marriage to Bai Chang, a video leaked online.

In the video, a furious Chi Rui slapped Wei Xike hard. Even from a distance, the sound was crisp. Chi Rui had called Wei Xike a “mistress,” but at the time, Wei Xike was simply collaborating on a song with Bai Chang.

Wei Xike was releasing a new album and had finally managed to get Bai Chang to help with the lyrics.

It was Bai Chang’s first musical production in five years, and both fanbases were thrilled—until Chi Rui threw a bucket of cold water on everyone.

Since Chi Rui’s marriage to Bai Chang was public, she could have at least claimed the status of “Bai Chang’s wife” to confront Wei Xike. But in the eyes of the public and anti-fans, Chi Rui was just a violent woman obsessed with a one-sided love, venting her baseless rage on an innocent person.

The media dubbed it the “Slap-gate Incident.” After that, the “Little Princess” entered her era of being hated by the entire internet.

Chi Rui ran through the book’s description of the retirement incident in her mind. Having sorted out the logic, she replied to Bai Chang with the same upright attitude: “That’s why I’m going back now—to fulfill the ‘contractual spirit’ I failed before.”

Chi Rui didn’t want to talk to her anymore. With those deep-seated prejudices in place, Bai Chang wouldn’t believe a word she said. Out of sight, out of mind.

Bai Chang got back into the driver’s seat and trailed slowly behind the girl’s stubborn back. She knew Chi Rui was headstrong but couldn’t handle hardship. Walking on a scorching afternoon in high heels on those pampered feet? She’d collapse from exhaustion in ten minutes. Then, Bai Chang could just pick her up and take her back to the villa—fulfilling her duty to the Chi parents.

But this time, Chi Rui’s endurance exceeded her expectations. For a full thirty minutes, she didn’t stop or complain. In fact, she walked faster and faster, as if she were desperate to get away.

Bai Chang’s lips thinned into a line. She suddenly stepped on the gas, accelerated past Chi Rui, and lowered the window.

“Get in.”