Chapter 66

TLC: Lilies

editor: Whiteflare

It was after 10AM when Jade Butterfly finally appeared.

There were only two types of people who could go online at that kind of hour—those who would sneakily slack off on their shift, and those who happily idled away in their homes.

Jade Butterfly obviously belonged to the latter type. She agreed when he asked whether they could use the voice chat, and when the call connected, Qi Jing could still hear the clattering of her beauty products—it seemed like she was in the middle of her morning skincare routine at the comfort of her home.

“Good morning, Miss Butterfly.” Qi Jing remembered that she had called him a gentleman before, so he couldn’t neglect his greetings for a lady.

“Did you see that picture, Return Date? That guy, Crossing the bridge noodles, he really is so conniving—luckily we found out early.” Jade Butterfly on the other hand cut straight to the chase, her tone full of righteous indignation—still, there was not a single moment when she stopped to clap her face, promoting the absorption of her skincare product.

Qi Jing hesitated, then decided to first try to sort out the sequence of events.

“Miss Butterfly, when did you receive that picture? I won’t be asking you who leaked it to you, but can you shed some light on the timing?”

“I got it two days ago.”

Two days ago… So about the same time when Crossing the bridge noodles invited him to cheer for him during the first round of semi-finals.

The voice acting circle has always been a place where the cat will be let out of the bag sooner or later, if there was some scandal, it was bound to spread like a virus in a mere moment.

Considering the suggestion of that anonymous person from the picture, Crossing the bridge noodles‘ action of inviting him could indeed be linked to that advice to “show him some goodwill”… Going along this line of thought, this part of the chat would seem to make sense.

But for Crossing the bridge noodles to actually dare to spill his guts so brazenly, the one he talked to had to be someone he held a great deal of trust in and not your usual fan. Under this premise, this “close friend” of his who first fanned the flame, then immediately leaked the chat record to the third party… it was quite obvious that their character wasn’t the best.

What’s more, they were currently in the midst of the ⟪Order to End the Heavens⟫ voice acting competition, so choosing such a sensitive time for a VA to expose them… It had to be said that this “close friend” was quite evil, “executing righteousness at the expense of their kin”.

Aside from that, he was quite curious how the communication was like between Jade Butterfly and Crossing the bridge noodles.

“Miss Butterfly, if memory serves me right, when we first talked, you told me that you would contact Crossing the bridge noodles within the next two days and asked me to start recording first.” Qi Jing opened the chat record of their previous conversation as he spoke. The date of the replies indicated it occurred a few weeks ago—it’s been quite a while already. “Later, I finished working on dry recordings and sent it to you, but didn’t get any response ever since then… I thought you already passed it to the post-production team.”

“Let’s not even talk about that. After I contacted Crossing the bridge noodles at that time, he readily agreed to act in the drama. In the end, he disappeared completely after agreeing, and no matter how much I pestered him, I couldn’t get him to hand in the recordings.” Jade Butterfly’s voice seemed to be full of grievances.

Qi Jing expressed his understanding towards her struggles as the producer.

As the once renowned “god of playing dead” himself, he was very well aware how much resentment these delays in recording submission could cause.

“At first, I thought he was just playing a big shot and decided to try and bear with that, but only after I saw that picture did I realise that he just felt displeased by the fact that you were playing the other lead and was bent on making this audio drama fall through.” She said faintly, unscrewing a bottle of her beauty product as she scoffed, “Return Date, you really are pitiful… to have stumbled upon a guy like that.”

Qi Jing gave a polite chuckle, but it wasn’t those words that he had on his mind now.

Jade Butterfly said that she contacted Crossing the bridge noodles.

And judging by Crossing the bridge noodles’ reaction from just now, it was as if he had no idea about the existence of this audio drama—was this what it meant to play dumb?

To think about it with a motive in mind, analysing Crossing the bridge noodles’ remarks from the picture—how he kept saying he was “shameless” and didn’t want to act alongside him indicated that he knew about Jade Butterfly’s audio drama on one hand. And on the other hand, it explained that the reason behind such actions were caused by his opinion of Qi Jing having a poor moral standing.

This “poor moral standing” was probably tied to his later mentioned “two-faced” behaviour.

It was the phrasing often used at the time when the haters smeared him on the forum. This argument was completely ungrounded, but it seemed as if Crossing the bridge noodles believed it.

Reading towards the end of the conversation revealed a bit of jealousy in his motive—jealousy caused by his relationship with Bronze Sparrow Terrace, otherwise he wouldn’t say that he “won’t let anyone have him”.

In this case, this Crossing the bridge noodles could be summarised by two characteristics—gullible and jealous.

Qi Jing slowly furrowed his brows.

Can a gullible person keep refuting rumours on weibo, each of his “nonsense” crushing all those false news to smithereens?

One should know that determining whether the news is true or false not only takes plenty of experience, one also needs to be especially insightful and have a sound judgement.

Someone who’s so prone to jealousy would also be quite petty, always envying everyone just like that Mr S.O.B. from the company; if there was no problem they’d create one, making trouble for others on purpose.

Qi Jing didn’t have an understanding of Crossing the bridge noodles’ usual behaviour, but… as a guy who has an official CP that’s been validated by numerous “Moss” stans, yet he wouldn’t let him off, a subject of love scandal with the Great God whom he’s only worked with once, that jealousy was on a whole other level. Such a grudging person would have at least some gossip flying around the circle, especially all the leaks from the staff members he cooperated with before, yet after those three years of reading the forum gossip, Qi Jing couldn’t seem to recall seeing anything of that sort.

Either he was really, really good at acting.

Or it wasn’t him who was acting this whole time, but someone else…

“Ms Butterfly,” Qi Jing asked suddenly, “you said that he did agree to take on this audio drama?”

“Yeah.”

“If that’s the case then can I take a look at the screenshot of your conversation at the time?” His voice was calm, his attitude sincere, so as not to make this request sound in any way abrupt, “Please do that with the message manager open and take a screenshot of the date as well, I want to know for how long he had been deceiving me.”

It seemed like Jade Butterfly became dumbstruck, even the sounds of applying the skincare products disappeared.

“That day, we used voice chat, so I don’t have any chat records.” After a split second, the sound of her clapping her face could be heard once again, “What’s more, the software we used doesn’t have the record option.”

Voice chat…Fine.

“Then according to your memory, did he say anything else besides accepting the audio drama?” Unless their relationship was especially close, there was no need to open a voice chat to simply say “yes” or “no”. It’s not like Crossing the bridge noodles had a hand injury like him, making typing inconvenient.

“He didn’t, he just said he’s taking it.”

“But you did say my ID, right? Otherwise he wouldn’t know I’m playing the other character.”

“That’s right, I told him that I asked you to play the gong.” Jade Butterfly didn’t refute.

Qi Jing once again thought of the conversation in the picture—the way Crossing the bridge noodles’ talked there was quite extreme, and it was easy to see that he was full of disgust towards him. In theory, there was no way he would accept that role in the first place, because dragging out the recording stage would end up with him offending the production crew staff—it was tantamount to making an unnecessary sacrifice of his good name as a VA. If it was really that whole “casting a bait to lure him”, then he could only say: “That fellow Crossing the bridge noodles… his way of doing things is really too extreme, it’s too scary.”

Hearing his comment, Jade Butterfly suddenly gave a light chuckle.

“You’re right. Return Date, he bullied you like this already, you can’t let him get away with that.” She closed the container in her hand, putting it aside as she started guiding him patiently, her tone sincere and earnest. “I think that since it’s you who’s the direct victim in this case, then you should post this screenshot. Post it on forum, on weibo, make everyone see just what kind of person he is—”

Hearing this, Qi Jing looked up slightly and stared fixedly at the chat window.

“Did you just say… that I should post this on forum and weibo myself?”

“That’s right,” Jade Butterfly continued to advise him patiently, “with something like this happening, what kind of man can tolerate it? Return Date, how can you just bear with that? What’s more, if you let such a person run about unbridledly like this, he would keep bullying other people like this as well.”

The forum was where all the information gathered.

Weibo was where all the information spread.

Whichever platform he chose—once he spoke up, the damage would be irreversible. And with how they were in the middle of ⟪Order to End the Heavens⟫ competition, it would sure attract a lot of attention.

“Miss Butterfly,” Qi Jing’s voice dropped a bit, his tone unusually serious, “putting aside the forum where you can post under another ID, the weibo handle is fixed. Do you know… what kind of consequences I would get for exposing him?

“Haha,” Jade Butterfly laughed elegantly, as if she was poking fun at him overthinking things, “Are you afraid he will take revenge on you? You don’t need to worry about that, he may have more fans than you, but as long as you have the courage to expose his evildoings, then you will win over people’s sympathy for sure. After all, everyone is used to taking the more vulnerable one’s side.”

Qi Jing shook his head in silence before the screen.

No… It wouldn’t be that easy.

The very first, direct result would be a fierce hubbub in the circle, and everyone would unite to attack Crossing the bridge noodles. Based on to his years-long experience in following the gossip, the content of that screenshot waw more than enough to make Crossing the bridge noodles retire from the circle and commit ID suicide, never to return.

Then, quite obviously, Crossing the bridge noodles wouldn’t be able to continue with the competition, as there would for sure be people who would create problems.

And at last, he, as an original poster, would get a temporary sympathy from everyone, but once everyone calmed down and looked back, he would become the vindictive overlord no one would dare to provoke. People would start to think, “The one Don’t ask for me return date screwed over today is Crossing the bridge noodles, but who knows who he will screw over tomorrow—if you are careless and offend him in any way, you’re done”, and they would slowly start to keep him at a safe distance.

All three of the points above were completely based on the premise that Crossing the bridge noodles really did say those words.

But… what if that’s not really the case?

What if after he exposed Crossing the bridge noodles and completely destroyed his reputation, forcing him to leave the circle, there was someone who would suddenly appear and say that the source of that picture is unclear, that he framed Noodles to get rid of him?

—Probably the next one to leave the circle would be him.

No matter how he looked at it, there was no way to predict the direction it would head in. But no matter how this matter would develop, one was sure—it would only cause harm and no gain.

“Forget it,” Qi Jing tossed out a single phrase, sounding very much as if he was going to just bury the hatchet with just those simple words, “if he doesn’t want to work with me then so be it, no need to expose him. And if he intends to slander me on the forum… My conscience is clear, he can say whatever he wants.”

“Return Date, how can you just suck it up like that?” Jade Butterfly raised the pitch of her voice a bit, seemingly flabbergasted, “You’re the victim, you need to be strong and fight for justice for yourself!”

After a brief pause, she continued to list him her reasons.

“What’s more, aren’t you competing with him for the “Fang Yisheng” role in the ⟪Order to End the Heavens⟫ competition? That’s the main character we’re talking about, I’m sure you would want to take the first place for that role.” Saying this, she laughed sweetly, then said slowly, “Crossing the bridge noodles is quite well established within the circle, so it’s clear that he has some skill when it comes to voice acting. If he were gone, then you would have one strong competitor less to worry about. Who knows, maybe you’ll even be able to win that one—wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

Qi Jing was instantly taken aback.

He had never thought of winning without any fight, nor would he ever do that. Whatever grudges they may have between them—during competition, he wished to prove himself with his skill.

Thus, he tried to convey that way of thinking as tactfully as he could, “There’s no need to do that, it’s not like I’m guaranteed to win with him out of the picture, there’s no point in creating such a big drama.”

Yet Jade Butterfly continued in a soft and gentle voice, “As for that, you don’t need to worry about it too much, Return Date. Northwest Road is one of the judges for the men’s group of the competition, and he’s my old friend. As long as I ask him, he would give me some face for sure, so when the time comes, I can ask him to help you get that ‘Fang Yisheng’ role.”

One after another, her words entered Qi Jing’s ears—as he listened to them, it was as if something clicked in place and the gears finally started to rotate slowly in his mind.

It was as if he was sitting in a car with heavy rain pouring outside and the long still wipers finally started to move, suddenly letting him see past the water stains obscuring his view.

Even though he still couldn’t see that far, but… at least he had that moment of clarity.

Qi Jing slowly sat up straight.

“Miss Butterfly,” His voice was low, making it sound as if although still cautious, he was starting to waver, “you can’t joke about this kind of thing.”

“I’m not joking at all.” From her words to her tone, everything seemed to point at the authenticity of her statement.

“Why are you so eager to help me?” He asked.

“You got bullied by Crossing the bridge noodles because you voiced in my audio drama. I’m angry at his behaviour, but also want to compensate you a bit for that—Return Date, you’re such an amazing person, you deserve to be supported.” He had already heard about Jade Butterfly’s wish to support him, Ning Xiaoxiao mentioned it to him before; apparently she listened to the ⟪Trap⟫ audio drama as he cooperated with Bronze Sparrow Terrace, and it piqued her interest towards him.

“But there are also the two other judges, so it’s still hard to say what the final score would turn out to be.” He expressed that he was willing to consent.

“The score and whatsoever is not a problem, unless you mess up your performance a big time—in that case, even we wouldn’t be able to help you. But since you managed to pull off the leading role from ⟪Trap⟫, then you shouldn’t make this kind of mistake.” She dispersed his misgivings with a giggle, then made a promise, “No need to worry about the organisers’ side of things, I know some people, there won’t be any controversy.”

That’s it.If he went on and exposed Crossing the bridge noodles at that time, affecting his advancement in ranks, then finally took the first place…

Then that would make for his “motive”—

“Haha…” Out of sudden, Qi Jing laughed shortly before he changed the subject, “At the moment, everyone knows that I’m competing with Crossing the bridge noodles for the ‘Fang Yisheng’ role. If I need to expose him, then it would be better to use some other methods to keep suspicions from arising. Let’s do it like this—if Miss Butterfly wants to support me, then can you help me get the ‘Qin Tuo’ role? When it comes to the leads of the game, naturally, I’m most interested in the main role.”

It seemed like Jade Butterfly didn’t expect him to say something like that, she went silent for a brief moment.

After a while, she laughed along with him, but she wasn’t as polite anymore, “Return Date, you shouldn’t bite more than you can chew.”

Those words really are on point—Qi Jing raised his brow.

“Both of them are main characters, be it ‘Qin Ta’ or ‘Fang Yisheng’—Miss Butterfly, does it really make such a difference to you?” He continued his asking, his tone innocent.

“Hehe,” Jade Butterfly laughed lightly, “There’s already a decision behind the closed doors for the ‘Qin Tuo’ role already, don’t even think about it.”

Already set?

It wasn’t that strange to have backstage arrangements in professional competitions, what was strange was that she knew of those arrangements. Judging from their previous conversations, if she knew of them, then the one chosen for the role was most probably someone she knew, moreover he should also know that person as well.

Suddenly, Qi Jing gasped slightly, as if in sudden understanding, then said with a gallant chuckle, “I get it now… Well, it’s not like I should, or even have the skill to compete with him.

He didn’t mention any name pointing towards the identity of that “him”, but his tone made it sound as if he was very clear at heart who he was talking about.

Jade Butterfly resumed that clear and cheerful tone and he could hear the smile in her voice again, “I knew that you’re a modest fellow, Return Date. To be honest, an audition for this kind of normal character… I think there’s no meaning in you trying to go for it. Isn’t it too difficult for you to express feelings for a woman?”

Hearing her last words, Qi Jing’s hand gripping the mouse suddenly moved—he opened the home page of ⟪Order to End the Heavens⟫ and went straight to the female roles page, one he didn’t pay any mind to up till that moment. Under the competitors list for the first female lead “Su Miaoyu” audition semi-finals, Jade Butterfly’s ID was listed right there.

The moment he saw those two words, Qi Jing laughed out loud.

Of course, Jade Butterfly didn’t know why he was laughing suddenly, so their conversation took a pause, only resuming once he spoke once again, “Miss Butterfly, I understand now—if you were to express towards a gay, then I guess it would be troubling you as well, so I can get what you were trying to say.”

“Return Date,” She tried to figure out his attitude and it felt like he really seemed to get it, so she once again gave a soft chuckle, “I’m only trying to be considerate of you by saying this. You’d rather act with a man on the other side, don’t you?”

Qi Jing didn’t answer this question directly, it’s just the corners of his lips were curled up all that time, “That being said, Miss Butterfly, there are so many people taking part in the competition, so there should also be more people like me among them. Everyone is doing voice acting like this—it’s not about what we like more or what we don’t like; it’s quite tiresome to differentiate one by one.”

Jade Butterfly unscrewed a bottle of another beauty product and proceeded to apply it slowly.

She laughed meaningfully, “Aiya, to be honest, you can still hear it if you listen attentively. You you can always catch hints of that promiscuity when it comes to… gays. Haha, Return Date, don’t get angry at me for putting it like that, there are people who are very appealing like this—for example, you.”

Promiscuous—

What a fancy way to put it. It sounded a lot better than to call him a femboy, although the meaning behind it was pretty close.

“Right, I am often told that I’m well-suited for a role of a nightclub owner or something like that. It should be because of that promiscuous vibe you just spoke about.” There was a hint of smile in his voice, but not a trace of it on his face, “I’m really curious what kind of voice you think sounds like it wouldn’t possibly belong to a gay, Miss.”

“Let me think…” Jade Butterfly stopped what she was doing, humming unhurriedly before giving an example, “That’s right, there’s a certain guy I really took liking to, I want to try and find an opportunity to cooperate with him after the competition concludes. His voice is clearly of a very righteous type—have you ever heard about Kitty no Papa, that ID?”

A/N:

*silently lighting a candle for Kittty’s Papa*