Playing the Villainess, He Fell for Me

This was the first time she had ever sung in public. The young female host had no idea what her singing was like; she was deliberately setting her up.

If Joanna said she’d practiced many times, she’d be admitting she was off-key, which would surely invite a wave of mockery. ’She can’t even sing, yet she chose a duet? She must have done it on purpose!’

If she denied it, that would be even better. It would mean she wasn’t taking the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala seriously and had no sense of responsibility—a small-time celebrity with a big-shot attitude.

Joanna’s smile didn’t waver. Under the host’s expectant gaze, she slowly opened her mouth and said, "Hahaha."

A polite... yet not-so-polite smile.

’The nerve.’

The female host: "..."

Owen Jennings: "..."

The host’s face stiffened. She was young, after all, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to respond.

Owen Jennings stifled a laugh and stepped in to smooth things over. "Jojo and I had a wonderful time collaborating. Our rehearsals all went very smoothly, which is how we were able to present this song to the audience. I’d say we lived up to everyone’s expectations."

Everyone knew that Owen Jennings was a professionally trained musician. For him to say that was to affirm Joanna’s singing ability, dispelling any notion that she was off-key.

The host finally snapped out of it and took the out she was given, quickly adding a few words of praise to wrap up the post-performance interview.

As soon as they were off set, Owen Jennings finally couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing. He quickly caught up to the fast-walking girl and asked, "Are you mad?"

Joanna rolled her eyes, exasperated. "I’m just in a hurry to get home."

It was such a trivial matter, nothing to get angry about. At most, she was just speechless.

"Just stay away from me, and everything will be fine," Joanna said bluntly.

Owen Jennings’s eyes narrowed as he played dumb. "Jojo, what do you mean by that?"

’Still playing dumb.’

Joanna was getting impatient. "She’s one of your fans. You couldn’t tell?"

Owen Jennings always stood so close to her on camera, his attitude ambiguous. The more fans "shipped" them as a couple, the more his dedicated solo fans would despise her—like that host just now.

The host had her job to consider, so she didn’t go too far, just making one unpleasant remark. But the fans hiding behind their keyboards online wouldn’t be so polite. They’d hurl all sorts of insults.

Joanna felt like she was caught in the crossfire for no reason. This was not the kind of attention she wanted.

Owen Jennings continued to play dumb, shaking his head innocently. "I honestly didn’t notice. She never said anything."

Joanna: "..." ’Unbelievable.’

Owen Jennings was about to say more when his manager hurried over and whispered something in his ear. Owen Jennings frowned, the smile fading from his face.

Joanna took the opportunity to make a quick escape. She was still a few meters from the exit when she heard the shouts of her fans.

"Jojo! You’re finally out! Aren’t you staying to watch the rest of the show?"

"You were so beautiful! And your singing was amazing!"

"Where’s Owen? Didn’t you come out together?"

They were shouting all sorts of things. A circle of fans had gathered, nearly all of them girls.

’It’s so late at night...’

Joanna felt a complicated mix of emotions, but also a warmth in her heart. Just as she was about to ask Julie to order some milk tea for them, a fan shouted, "Jojo, the mooncakes were delicious, and the milk tea was sweet, but not as sweet as you!"

As she spoke, she waved a bag in her hand. Only then did Joanna realize that nearly every one of her fans was holding one.

"Mr. Lockwood had them bought," Julie explained in a low voice.

Joanna’s expression froze for a moment, then her lips curved into a smile, her eyes softening. She subconsciously touched the wrapped mooncake in her pocket.

Once in the car, she could still hear her fans shouting. Joanna rolled down the window and called out, "Everyone, please head home! It’s late and not safe."

The fans all agreed, but none of them left. They waited until the car was far away, their excitement still buzzing.

’This is amazing! Of all the fan groups here, only Joanna’s Fans got gifts! We’re stanning the right person!’

The white sedan turned a corner and stopped. With practiced ease, Joanna got out and slipped into a black Maybach parked by the side of the road.

"Did you have din—"

Inside the car, the man hadn’t even finished his sentence when he was stunned by the girl’s sudden bear hug.

When he came to his senses, Simon Lockwood’s stiff body relaxed slightly. He stroked the girl’s hair intermittently. "What’s wrong?"

"Simon~" The girl in his arms snuggled against him and said in a muffled voice, "How can you be so good to me...?"

Simon Lockwood always did this, sending her emotions on a roller coaster. ’I’m going to have a heart attack because of him,’ Joanna thought proudly.

It was a random, out-of-the-blue compliment, but Simon Lockwood understood. He didn’t say much in response.

’I’m not that great,’ he thought. ’What happens to others has nothing to do with me.’

He was just doing what he could so that those strangers would be a little kinder to his Joanie.

"Did you have dinner?" he slowly repeated.

Joanna nodded, then shook her head.

"Did you or didn’t you?"

"I did, but it wasn’t good, so I didn’t eat much," Joanna said honestly, blinking her big, watery eyes.

’Such a picky Joanie.’

Simon Lockwood felt a sense of helplessness, but there was nothing he could do. He patted the girl’s back and said heartlessly, "Get up. Sit straight."

Joanna reluctantly sat up, her eyes still fixed on him with a pitiful look. The man leaned over to fasten her seatbelt, his profile handsome and refined.

Joanna could smell the warm, clean scent of soap on him. On a whim, a reckless impulse suddenly took hold. She lunged forward and planted a hard kiss on his cheek, which landed with a loud SMOOCH.

She’d kissed him so forcefully that she’d bumped her teeth. With a yelp, she covered her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes from the pain.

Simon Lockwood felt a sharp sting on his cheek. He looked up to see the girl clutching her mouth, looking utterly pathetic.

Simon Lockwood: "..."

’Sometimes I really... have no idea what Joanna is thinking.’

Simon Lockwood took a deep breath, his tone stiff. "Does it hurt?"

Joanna whimpered dishonestly, "It doesn’t hurt."

Simon Lockwood: "..."

"Open your mouth," he said with a frown.

Joanna glanced at the small patch of broken skin on his cheek and, feeling incredibly guilty, shook her head frantically.

Seeing the girl’s resistance, Simon Lockwood’s frown deepened. "Joanna."

His voice was a bit cold, and Joanna naturally caught it. Defeated, she lowered her hand, dropping her head in a vain attempt to hide.

Simon Lockwood pinched her chin and lifted her face. The streetlight filtering through the window clearly illuminated her lower lip, which was bleeding slightly and had a small, swollen patch.

Simon Lockwood: "..."

Simon Lockwood’s cool, aloof expression completely crumbled, his temples throbbing.

He closed his eyes, the vein in his temple pulsing even more furiously. In a serious tone, he said, "Joanna, in the future... you can let me take the initiative."

Joanna: "..."

Joanna: "!!!!"

Joanna’s face instantly flushed beet red. She was angry, embarrassed, and annoyed all at once. "I didn’t do it on purpose!"

’And I’m the one in pain here!’

She pulled out a tissue, but before she could touch it to her lips, the man grabbed her wrist. "Don’t move."

Frowning deeply, Simon Lockwood carefully wiped away the traces of blood from the girl’s lip. He was so close that Joanna could see the small scrape on his cheek, which had already turned red and swollen.

Joanna: "..."

’I kind of want to die right now.’