My Virtual Girlfriend-Chapter 86: 100 Ways to Reject Backroom Deals (Seeking Monthly Passes!)

Chapter 86: Chapter 86: 100 Ways to Reject Backroom Deals (Seeking Monthly Passes!)

....

Meanwhile, on Qin Island, in a hotel next to the Jinmao Building.

Lu Man "finished her chicken soup," and nonchalantly lied down on the sofa. Chewing bubblegum, she asked, "Don’t just talk about me, Qiao Qiao, how have you been recently?"

"Me?" Yu Qiao Qiao was a bit distracted, "I’ve been okay..."

Possibly because of Lu Man’s "test" in the car, which was too realistic, Yu Qiao Qiao had a great misunderstanding about Lu Man’s psychological state.

She thought that Lu Man’s "happiness" was feigned—that she was pretending to be happy now just to keep herself from feeling guilty.

After all, Yu Qiao Qiao put herself in Lu Man’s shoes for a moment. If she had encountered such a thing, she would definitely have been devastated.

So she thought for a bit and whispered to Lu Man, "Sister Man Man. It’s too quiet with just the two of us chatting."

"You’ve just arrived at Qin Island; it should be more lively."

"Otherwise... how about I call a few friends over, and we can play cards while chatting?"

Lu Man was always the carefree type. When she heard Yu Qiao Qiao’s suggestion, she didn’t mind it at all. Waving her hand, she said, "Alright. Up to you."

Yu Qiao Qiao breathed a sigh of relief and then stood up to call the three kiddos.

When it came to the mischief-makers in the dorm, it had to be the three kiddos.

These three sisters were all lively and cute girls. When they got together, their combined effect was tripled—wherever they went, they brought joy with them.

And... last time when they went to the cafeteria together, the three kiddos kept saying they wanted to meet Lu Man, claiming they were fans of hers.

During the following month of filming, Yu Qiao Qiao had always wanted to find a chance to bring the three kiddos to meet Lu Man.

But... because of the tight filming schedule, and because she was commuting between the school and Eastern Film City with Chen Yan, she had no chance to bring her three friends along.

Now that Lu Man was "feeling down" and was nearby the school, it was ideal to call them in to liven things up.

Believing... they could bring some joy to Lu Man...

Half an hour later, the doorbell rang, and Yu Qiao Qiao went to open the door.

One by one, the three kiddos poked their heads through the doorway,

"Hello. Qiao Qiao."

"We’re here."

"Sister Man Man is really here?!"

Seeing the cute looks of the three kiddos, Yu Qiao Qiao finally relaxed, "She is, she is."

With that, she stepped aside to let them in.

Inside, Lu Man was still dressed in her leather outfit, her exquisite figure looking particularly striking in the tight clothing.

She leaned back on the sofa, legs long and slender, casually reading a magazine while blowing bubbles with her gum.

The three kiddos exchanged surprised glances,

"It really is Sister Man Man!"

"Oh my god!"

"We thought you tricked us into the hotel for something shady!"

Yu Qiao Qiao put her finger to her lips and made a "shh" gesture, then whispered, "Sister Man Man is feeling down. Let’s play cards with her to lift her spirits."

The three kiddos bobbed their heads like a bobblehead, "Okay, okay, okay."

Then, with Yu Qiao Qiao’s introduction, the three kiddos got acquainted with Lu Man.

Seeing the approachable Lu Man, who was like the girl-next-door, the three were quite surprised.

After all, she was nothing like the aloof persona they saw on TV.

Of course, Lu Man still used her "public persona" as a shield...

After the introductions, the five girls began to play cards.

Although it was agreed that the three kiddos were there to cheer up Lu Man, once they started playing, they didn’t recognize anybody...

Lu Man, "Three kings".

Nana, "Three twos!"

Lu Man: ...

Yu Qiao Qiao, "A pair of kings".

Pingping, "A pair of aces!"

Everyone looked at Pingping’s chest, "Pass."

The three kiddos played fiercely, not giving Lu Man and Yu Qiao Qiao any chance to respond.

Yu Qiao Qiao initially worried that Lu Man, being beaten so badly, might feel even worse.

But eventually, she realized that Lu Man was the type to grow stronger in adversity. Lu Man, who started off disinterested in the game, was slowly getting fired up!

However, it didn’t take long for the three kiddos to prove why they were a "group"—it wasn’t without reason.

Lu Lu, "A pair of fours."

Nana, "A pair of fives."

Pingping, "A pair of sixes."

Yu Qiao Qiao and Lu Man exchanged glances. Lu Man stealthily gave Yu Qiao Qiao a look.

With trepidation, Yu Qiao Qiao played a pair of queens and threw them out.

Lu Lu, "A pair of twos."

Yu Qiao Qiao and Lu Man: ...

Lu Lu, "Three sixes."

Nana, "Three eights."

Pingping, "Three nines."

Yu Qiao Qiao and Lu Man: ...

What kind of game is this?

These three must have telepathy! It’s like they’re showing their hands to each other!

So with laughter and noise, while playing cards, everyone gradually became chatty and friendly.

Lu Man tossed a "nine" and said, "I envy you guys, so young and carefree."

The three kiddos looked at each other and said, "Qiao Qiao." "It’s not true." "No worries."

No woman can resist gossip. Hearing about Qiao Qiao’s troubles, Lu Man immediately sat up straight with curiosity, "Qiao Qiao has troubles too?"

The three kiddos glanced at Yu Qiao Qiao and said with covert smiles,

"Yeah. She’s been fretting over the gifts Chen Yan has been giving her."

"Looking all worried every day."

Pingping, "A Jack."

Lu Man’s mouth dropped open in shock, "Someone is worried over receiving gifts?"

Yu Qiao Qiao quickly interrupted the three kiddos’ exposé.

She explained herself, "Actually, it’s not about getting gifts..."

"Mainly... the gifts from Chen Yan are too valuable."

Lu Man was even more surprised, "There are people who don’t like valuable gifts?"

She looked Yu Qiao Qiao up and down, clicking her tongue in wonder, "Truly a gem of a girl. No wonder guys like you. If I were a guy, I’d like you too. A king."

Yu Qiao Qiao’s face turned red involuntarily. Waving her hands, she said, "But. We’ve only known each other for a month. And he has already given me so many gifts."

The three kiddos chimed in,

"A pen."

"Snacks."

They looked at each other and then said together, "Now he’s even thinking of giving her a Porsche."

Hearing the three kiddos’ revelations, Lu Man was completely flabbergasted, "Chen Yan is that rich!"

The three kiddos nodded synchronously, like those nodding cat emojis.

Then, through the bits and pieces from the three, Lu Man gradually learned about the story between Yu Qiao Qiao and Chen Yan.

She also knew... Chen Yan planned to use a lottery draw next week for a dark horse operation to give Yu Qiao Qiao a luxury car.

Of course... she also learned that Yu Qiao Qiao saw through Chen Yan’s "scheme" and was thinking of ways to refuse it.

Maybe the story was too explosive or maybe... the defeat was too terrible, Lu Man lost the spirit to play cards.

She threw the cards down in a fit, eyes wide open, questioning Yu Qiao Qiao, "Qiao Qiao, have you thought about how to refuse?"

Yu Qiao Qiao sounded a bit shy, twisting and saying, "Actually, I haven’t quite decided."

"I just feel, maybe I can avoid participating in the lottery draw..."

Lu Man shook her head, "That’s not good. The whole company is in the draw; you’d stand out too much if you’re the only one who doesn’t. That would be too unsociable."

Yu Qiao Qiao said softly, "Then what should I do..."

Lu Man propped her chin, pondering.

After a while...

She suddenly looked up.

The three kiddos and Yu Qiao Qiao looked at her expectantly.

She said, "By the way, if you win that car, can I drive it?"

Yu Qiao Qiao: ...

The three kiddos: ...

Yu Qiao Qiao said exasperatedly, "Sister Man!"

"Cough cough," Lu Man coughed twice and straightened up, "Actually... it’s not like there’s no way."

Yu Qiao Qiao looked at her doubtfully.

Lu Man pretended not to notice and said seriously, "Chen Yan wants to give you the luxury car, and he must control the lottery result, no matter how he does it."

"So... to break his secret manipulation, you just need to not follow the lottery method he arranged, that’s all."

Yu Qiao Qiao’s eyes brightened with curiosity, "Like how?"

Lu Man said, "Like... you claim his lottery method is too complicated and ask to switch to the simplest method: drawing lots on the spot."

"Everyone writes down their name and throws it in a box."

"Choose someone respectable to draw blindly."

"By changing the lottery method on the spot, he won’t be able to cheat."

Yu Qiao Qiao’s eyes showed understanding; she nodded, "That makes sense."

Lu Man continued, "Alternatively, you could claim his method is too old-fashioned. Just create a WeChat group, send a red envelope meant for six people, and let luck determine the first, second, and third prizes. He can’t suddenly take over Tencent, right?"

Yu Qiao Qiao nodded again, as if her mind had completely opened up to new possibilities.

Lu Man spread her hands, "See. These are all simple methods."

"But..."

She paused, then added, "Are you sure Chen Yan really wants to give Qiao Qiao a luxury car?"

"I always feel like it’s wishful thinking."

"Why would he give you a car for no reason?"

"To pursue you?"

"But if he’s pursuing you, shouldn’t he tell you upfront about the car? What’s the use of secretly giving it to you?"

Hearing Lu Man say this, Yu Qiao Qiao also hesitated.

It was the three kiddos who defended in unison, "But." "That’s what Chen Yan." "Said himself."

Yu Qiao Qiao looked at the three kiddos, uncertain again.

Lu Man shrugged, "I reserve my opinion..."

...

And so with the ideas provided by Lu Man, Yu Qiao Qiao finally felt mentally prepared for the lottery draw in a few days.

Although Lu Man’s last question made her have some doubts, wondering if she was being overly sensitive.

But... being prepared in advance and ready for anything isn’t wrong, right?

Anyway... she wouldn’t want the car unless she really won it fair and square through luck!

Reject secret manipulation! Let’s give the world its due fairness! — Qiao Qiao. Justice. Stay.

————

The card-playing part in the middle of this Chapter isn’t that relevant to the plot; I originally planned to delete it to avoid disrupting the pace of the story. But after revising it four times, I still found it pretty amusing, so I didn’t have the heart to cut it and just left it in.

This Chapter is 3,000 words, with an additional 1,000. So, don’t think it’s filler. Consider it a little extra side story.