“Foetus God” is a local slang term for insulting someone, roughly equivalent to “idiot” or “moron.”
Its exact meaning depends on context—sometimes it’s used playfully among friends as a teasing nickname with a hint of insult-turned-compliment, but right now, when Wang Shuang said it to Zhao Xi, it was pure insult.
Zhao Xi only returned to the country last year, so she hasn’t yet grasped the nuances of Rongcheng dialect, but she could hear the malice in Wang Shuang’s tone. Luckily, Wang Shuang’s dad is a notable figure in Rongcheng; if it were anyone else cursing her, Zhao Xi would never let it slide!
Even so, her tone was icy:
“I want to befriend Wen Ying, what’s it to you? Can’t Wen Ying speak for herself, does she need you to talk for her?”
Seeing how protective Wang Shuang was, Zhao Xi finally confirmed her brother Zhao Dong was right—these people really did revolve around Wen Ying!
What about Xie Qian, was he the same?
The thought of Xie Qian defending Wen Ying like Wang Shuang did made Zhao Xi restless and irritated.
Why?!
Was Xie Qian blind or something?
Even if he was tired of gourmet feasts and wanted a taste of plain porridge, he shouldn’t pick Wen Ying.
From afar, Wen Ying looked crude and clumsy, up close, still clumsy and crude.
Wang Shuang was about to spew more venom, but Wen Ying grabbed him, “She wants to hear me speak, what’s your name again, Zhao-something? You want to be my friend? Listen up, I’m not obliged to fulfil your hopes, you don’t meet my standards for friendship, so I refuse, you can leave now.”
Zhao-what?
Didn’t meet her standards?
Refused?!
Zhao Xi forgot to curse back, blurting out instinctively, “Why?”
Because you’re an idiot, duh!
Wang Shuang had initially wondered who this lofty figure was, but now he saw it—whatever her background, her IQ seemed lacking.
He even started doubting Xie Qian: where did he meet such a dimwit?
Wen Ying dragged Wang Shuang away.
Someone actually came up to her face to stake a claim on Xie Qian.
That would’ve been unthinkable in her past life!
This girl calling herself Zhao Xi—Wen Ying didn’t know her in either lifetime… no matter, any fangirl trying to monopolise the male god would get flamed to death on Tieba forums, Wen Ying wouldn’t befriend such a fool.
As Wen Ying pulled Wang Shuang off, their conversation drifted to Zhao Xi’s ears.
“You should’ve cursed her out more.”
“Nah, not worth the spit.”
“Where did Xie Qian meet someone with such bad taste?”
“Might not even be Xie Qian’s acquaintance, some people see Xie Qian once and unilaterally declare themselves his friend, not that surprising, right?”
“Then she’s even more obsessed than Li Mengjiao!”
“…I think Li Mengjiao would kill you for that.”
True, Li Mengjiao wasn’t a fair comparison, Wang Shuang conceded defeat in the debate and finally shut up.
Zhao Xi felt humiliated by Wen Ying and Wang Shuang.
She couldn’t help pulling a small mirror from her bag.
No dirt on her face.
Hair silky and neat.
Skirt flawless.
Lips coated with balm, moist and pretty.
Abroad, people favoured mature sexiness; in China, they liked youthful cuteness. Zhao Xi had adjusted her foreign style to fit domestic tastes since returning.
But Wen Ying, whether abroad or in China, was the type of girl who screamed so tacky it hurts, so what exactly drew a local Rongcheng rich kid like Wang Shuang, or even Xie Qian, to her?
Zhao Xi’s first move had flopped. Seeing Wen Ying and Wang Shuang head toward Xie Qian, she hesitated, then followed.
She worried Wen Ying might badmouth her to Xie Qian.
In reality, Wen Ying didn’t mention Zhao Xi at all.
Thanks to Deputy Director Lü’s intervention, Director Yan finally dropped the idea of filming Xie Qian, though he was visibly regretful.
“Little Xie, you should go to art school, with looks like yours, it’s a gift from the heavens!”
Nonsense.
Xie Qian was destined for Yale.
Sure, he could rely on his face, but his brain matched his looks—going to art school would be the real waste. Director Yan’s suggestion was just professional bias.
As Yan went back to directing the crew, Wang Shuang seized his chance to speak.
“Xie Qian, your girlfriend’s here.”
Xie Qian turned to him, “Did you get heatstroke or something?”
Wang Shuang pointed at Zhao Xi standing behind, “Look, she’s been waiting for you a while, says she knew you first and wants to befriend Wen Ying.”
Huh, weird.
Even if dimwits didn’t follow normal logic, Zhao Xi’s words to Wen Ying were clearly a territorial claim. Wang Shuang recalled an ex-girlfriend pulling a similar stunt on Li Mengjiao; of course, Li Mengjiao’s fighting spirit was top-tier, she’d ripped that girl apart on the spot, leaving Wang Shuang embarrassed in front of friends, and he’d dumped her soon after… but that’s beside the point, why target Wen Ying?
For a territorial claim, wasn’t Qin Jiao a bigger threat?
Wang Shuang glanced at Wen Ying, then Xie Qian—were these two secretly together behind everyone’s backs?
Xie Qian followed Wang Shuang’s gesture and saw Zhao Xi.
Zhao Xi softened her haughty air, flashing a sweet smile, “Brother Xie Qian, long time no see.”
They’d just met last night.
For thick-skinned people, Xie Qian had his ways. He turned his head back, telling Wang Shuang, “I don’t know her.”
Those three words—“I don’t know her”—hit like a sledgehammer.
Zhao Xi, pampered since childhood, had humbled herself to cosy up to Xie Qian, only to get a flat “I don’t know her.” She stomped her foot, “Xie Qian, you’re too much!”
She stormed into a Mercedes parked nearby.
Wang Shuang gave a thumbs-up, “Young Master Xie, impressive!”
After Wang Shuang had his laugh, Wen Ying asked Xie Qian, “I didn’t give this Zhao Xi any face, with her temper, she’s not from an ordinary family, will brushing her off like this cause trouble?”
“To avoid trouble, you’d befriend someone like that?”
Xie Qian sounded sceptical.
Wen Ying shook her head, “Of course not, but I could’ve rejected her more tactfully.”
“No point, a rejection’s a rejection, no matter how you phrase it, if you don’t follow their script, some people will still think you’re wrong.”
The Zhao siblings showed up at the night market last night, Xie Qian had already made his stance clear, yet Zhao Xi came again today.
Either cousin-in-law Jiang Youjia was two-faced, brushing him off without relaying the message to the Zhao siblings.
Or the Zhao siblings ignored Jiang Youjia’s warning and pressed on anyway… Xie Qian already disliked their obvious agenda, and he couldn’t guarantee Zhao Xi wouldn’t pop up again.
Like Wang Shuang, Xie Qian wondered: why was Zhao Xi harassing Wen Ying?
This kind of tactic was beyond Xie Qian’s understanding; he couldn’t predict the Zhao siblings’ next move.
The Zhao family’s domestic business was in cultural tourism.
Xie Qian had wanted to steer clear of the overly enthusiastic Director Yan, but now he had to plan ahead, “We need to stay sharp these next few days, make a few extra trips to the station with Deputy Director Lü, ensure the promo airs smoothly.”
No way, really?
What kind of people were these!
Just because she wouldn’t befriend Zhao Xi, would her family sabotage the food festival promo?
Xie Qian had it wrong.
The Zhao family still had manners; their approach to Wen Ying was courtesy first, force later.
The day after Wen Ying rejected Zhao Xi’s friendship, Zhao Xi’s family came knocking.
