Achieving A Happy Ending With The Tragic Female Lead [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 63

“Sister, wait for me, Sister!” The little assistant panted, jogging to catch up.

Ahead of her, Guan Yue’s high heels clicked sharply against the floor, each step sounding like an outlet for the frustration she had just endured.

“Hiss!” The sharp sting in her foot finally forced Guan Yue to a halt.

Guan Yue pushed her sunglasses up to the bridge of her nose and frowned down at her feet. These new shoes were still in the breaking-in period, and they were rubbing her heels raw.

She had come here today to audition for a role, but it had ended in less than ten minutes, ended by her own choice. The reason was simple, the role had already been internally decided. Once Guan Yue found out, she didn’t want to waste time being a “filler” and made an excuse about an emergency to leave.

What a rotten day. And to top it off, she had run into that person.

The little assistant finally caught up. “Sister Guan, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Guan Yue retracted her gaze, glancing back the way she came. Seeing that the person hadn’t followed her, she felt, for some reason, even more annoyed.

The assistant looked at her feet and unzipped her backpack. “I brought some transparent waterproof bandages. You should probably put one on.”

Coincidentally, there was a rest area in the public zone. Guan Yue endured the pain and sat down.

As the assistant peeled open a bandage, she whispered, “Sister, we’re on their home turf after all. Try not to let anyone see you like this, or Sister Fangfang will definitely give you trouble again.”

Guan Yue wasn’t pleased to hear that. “What did I do? I didn’t curse, I didn’t hit anyone, I didn’t even roll my eyes, even though I wanted to.”

Besides, she thought, look at how Su Mi acted just now. Holding her for a few extra seconds looked like it was going to kill her. That high and mighty attitude was exactly the same as it used to be.

Fake! Totally fake!

Guan Yue snatched the bandage from her assistant and pressed it onto her reddened heel with unnecessary force, as if the bandage itself were Su Mi.

The assistant watched her boss’s childish display. To her, Guan Yue’s dislike or rather, hatred for the Film Queen Su Mi was a mystery. When the assistant first started working for Guan Yue, she didn’t know about this feud and, being a fan of Su Mi herself, often praised her in front of Guan Yue. Every time, Guan Yue would respond with a disdainful snort and refuse to touch any product Su Mi endorsed.

Over time, the assistant realized the situation and stopped mentioning Su Mi. However, Guan Yue noticed the change and told her she could keep liking whoever she wanted; she wouldn’t interfere. Even so, the assistant tried to avoid the topic. Today was an accident, she couldn’t help but greet her idol when she saw her. Luckily, her boss was a good person and wouldn’t take it out on her.

While Guan Yue was focused on her heel, the assistant took a quick phone call. After hanging up, she was visibly beaming.

“Sister Guan! The other female lead for the movie Yu Yao Nu has been finalized. We move into the set next month!”

Guan Yue didn’t look particularly excited. “Did Lyu Ningning take it?”

She had heard rumors that the director wanted Lyu Ningning, a third-tier actress whose image fit the role, but the contract hadn’t been signed.

The assistant shook her head. “Doesn’t look like it’s her.”

“Not her? Then who?” Guan Yue asked, puzzled.

“Sister Fangfang didn’t say who, but she said the director is very satisfied, actually, a bit ecstatic. Sister Guan, do you think it’s a big shot?”

Guan Yue smoothed the last corner of the bandage and looked up. “A big shot? Forget it.”

After years of struggling in the entertainment industry, she understood its predatory nature. Everyone fought for the scrap of resources at the top of the pyramid. This movie didn’t have a top-tier production crew, it was mid-tier at best. A “big shot” wouldn’t give it a second look.

The assistant remained hopeful. “What if? Didn’t that idol drama you did last time have a plot like this?”

Guan Yue stood up and tested her foot. It felt better. She said casually, “What kind of big shot would be willing to act alongside an eighteenth-tier nobody like me?”

She paused, then added mockingly, “Oh, what, like the Film Queen Su Mi we just saw?”

By the elevators, Su Mi gripped the bracelet tightly while listening to an unexpected phone call. She tried to find the person while multitasking the conversation.

The building had a complex layout, two towers joined together. After passing through a junction of multiple corridors, the figure from the elevator was nowhere to be found.

Helpless, she turned back and happened to run into Sister Yu, who was heading for the elevator.

“You’re still here?” Sister Yu asked, surprised.

Su Mi made up a random excuse.

Sister Yu was carrying a stack of documents. One wasn’t secured properly and slipped out, drifting right in front of Su Mi.

Su Mi felt like she had spent the whole day picking things up for people. She leaned down to grab it. When she flipped it over, she saw it was an actor’s information sheet.

“This is the casting info for the third female lead in a drama,” Sister Yu explained as she gathered the rest. “Sister Chen was busy, so I’m helping her deliver these.”

Su Mi’s gaze fell first on the color photo, then shifted to the name column.

Guan Yue.

In the original host’s memory, they had rarely met after reaching adulthood. Over the years, the image of Guan Yue had become blurred. Su Mi had been groggy for the first few days after arriving in this world and hadn’t searched for much info on the female lead. This was her first time seeing Guan Yue’s photo.

The lower half of this face overlapped perfectly with the woman she had just met in the elevator.

It really was her.

And…

Su Mi lightly brushed her finger over the photo. The familiar feeling in those eyes made her heart race.

This time… could it be her again?

One month later, the movie Yu Yao Nu officially began filming.

Su Mi arrived a day late due to a prior event. Having just finished her schedule, she didn’t even have time to change out of her event clothes or makeup before rushing to the filming location.

The car wound along the mountain roads. Su Mi sat in the back, legs crossed elegantly, holding the script of Yu Yao Nu which she had already read countless times.

The title Yu Yao Nu was an ancient alias for a butterfly. The script was set in an era of transition between the old and the new, following two women of different social statuses who meet, support each other through the waves of the era, and eventually break out of their cocoons to become butterflies.

It was a trendy “double female lead” script, featuring a rare same-sex theme. There was a fair amount of buzz online, with rumors that it was based on a true story. The official social media accounts had been building hype, announcing they would only reveal the leads on the day filming started, keeping the audience in suspense.

The assistant, Xiao Xin, sat to Su Mi’s left, looking worriedly at her phone. “Teacher Su, why is this location so remote again? Looks like we won’t even be able to order takeout.”

Because of the historical setting, the director had gone to great lengths to find an authentic old mansion, finally settling on this spot.

Su Mi closed the script and looked out the window at the lush greenery passing by. Occasionally, an unknown bird would fly across the darkening sky. At the thought of the person she was about to meet, her fingers unconsciously stroked the spine of the script.

Guan Yue, who had arrived a day early, had just finished a scene and was back in the dressing room to change and rest. She took her water bottle from her assistant, biting the soft straw as she scrolled through her phone.

Two makeup artists were surrounding her, removing her hairpieces. Her next scene was the first meeting with the other “late-arriving” female lead.

The production team’s lips were sealed. They wouldn’t say a word about who the other lead was, waiting for the official announcement once she arrived. The movie’s official Weibo was being flooded with questions, and even Guan Yue’s modest account with five digits followers had people asking her if she knew.

Guan Yue couldn’t imagine who would require the production team to be so secretive.

Bored, she scrolled through the trending topics. The makeup artists began chatting about today’s red carpet gala, and when they mentioned the most eye-catching stars, Su Mi’s name inevitably came up.

Guan Yue listened and accidentally clicked into the gala’s hashtag. The top post was of a person in a silver mermaid dress. The dress perfectly accentuated her tall figure, her legs long and slender, her porcelain skin glowing like snow under the lights.

Su Mi’s face, frequently called “the beauty of the century” by fans, looked indifferent and detached, as if nothing could disturb her. In another photo, her eyes were slightly lowered, showing a high bridge of the nose and pale lips, her features were gentle yet held a trace of coldness.

Guan Yue bit the straw harder and scrolled to the comments. They were a sea of praise from fans and bystanders alike.

Hmph, she’s only… moderately good-looking.

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the dressing room. It sounded like people were heading their way.

Guan Yue was focused on the photo on her phone until the two makeup artists let out a gasp. She looked up.

Standing at the door was a tall woman with a face as cold as the first snow on a mountain peak. Over her silver evening gown, she wore a black suit jacket. These two contradictory pieces of clothing achieved a strange harmony on her body.

Su Mi looked at Guan Yue, who was sitting at the vanity. When Guan Yue looked over while still biting her straw, Su Mi’s heart skipped a beat.

That bad habit of pursing her lips and biting the straw with her right teeth was exactly the same. And those dark, watery eyes, like ink blooming in water.

Previously, Su Mi didn’t think she would encounter the same person in different worlds. During the second world, she hadn’t looked closely. But this time was different, she wanted to prove a theory. She had come here with a purpose.

Through thousands of days and nights, she had carved that person’s face into her heart, especially those eyes that were so similar across worlds.

Now, she just needed to check for that… mark on the back.

The director, arriving late, saw Su Mi standing outside and quickly invited her in.

“Teacher Guan, I don’t think I need to introduce this person. Su Mi, Teacher Su.” The director was a woman in her fifties, her usually stern face now lit with a smile. “Teacher Su is our other female lead for Yu Yao Nu. You’ll be working together for the next few months.”

Guan Yue was already shocked to see the person from her phone screen standing there, but hearing she was the other lead made her freeze so hard she forgot to keep biting the straw.

Su Mi clenched her trembling hand into a fist beneath her suit jacket, suppressing the wild, growing thoughts in her mind.

I can’t scare her.

Su Mi lowered her eyes for a moment, masking her emotions. She stepped forward and extended her hand to Guan Yue.

“Hello, Miss Guan.”

Guan Yue stared blankly at the slender, white hand. Her first reaction was to flip her phone screen down.

Having survived in the industry for a while, Guan Yue knew how to play her part. she flashed the first smile she had ever given Su Mi. “Nice to meet you, Miss Su.”

She reluctantly reached out to touch Su Mi’s hand, intending to pull away quickly, but the moment their palms met, she was held in a firm, powerful grip.

Guan Yue looked up at Su Mi with confusion and suspicion.

Su Mi looked down at her. “Yes, I am very happy too.”

The onlookers couldn’t see the undercurrents, they were still immersed in the shock and joy of the production landing a Film Queen.

Finally, the director clapped her hands to end the brief meeting. Su Mi let go.

“Teacher Su, we’re about to film your first meeting scene with Teacher Guan. Is that okay?”

The director thought it was best to film the scene while they were still “unfamiliar,” not knowing these two were anything but strangers.

Su Mi nodded, indicating she was ready. The wardrobe stylist rushed over with clothes, inviting Su Mi to change. Since the budget was limited, the two leads shared a dressing room, and the changing area was inside.

Guan Yue watched Su Mi walk in, then looked at her own hand. she turned to her assistant, who was practically dazed with joy.

She whispered, “Was she just… provoking me?”

Assistant: “?”

The makeup artists snapped back to reality and quickly finished Guan Yue’s look. Her makeup didn’t change much, but her hair needed adjustment. The director headed to the set, signaling Guan Yue to follow as soon as she was ready.

By the time Su Mi finished changing, Guan Yue was gone.

“Teacher Su, please sit here,” the makeup artist said.

Su Mi thought for a moment, then asked, “Where is she?”

The makeup artist blinked. “You mean Teacher Guan? She finished her styling and went to the set first.”

“I see.” Su Mi didn’t speak again.

On set, everyone was busy with final checks. Guan Yue looked at her lines, but she couldn’t concentrate. She couldn’t understand why this person would take this role. Did she not know the other lead was her?

As her mind wandered, the people around her suddenly started whispering. Guan Yue looked toward the narrow wooden gate and saw someone approaching gracefully.

Having shed her evening gown, Su Mi now wore a floor length white silk dress. Around her jade-like neck hung a lustrous pearl necklace, matching her pearl earrings. The fabric seemed to flow like liquid light as she moved. Her features were cold and elegant, the makeup artist had kept her look clean, preserving her natural aura of aloofness.

Su Mi swept her gaze across the set, her eyes finding the person standing in the distance.

Under the night sky, Guan Yue wore a deep red aoqun (traditional jacket and skirt). On her wrist was a high-quality white jade bracelet. After a long pause, Su Mi lightly rubbed her own palm.

Xiao Xin ran over. “Teacher Su, the director says she needs to adjust some equipment, so we have to wait a bit. The rest area is over there.”

Su Mi gave a soft “mm” but turned her steps toward Guan Yue. The latter’s eyes immediately filled with wariness.

Guan Yue looked back, thinking the person was just passing by. But as she tried to refocus on her script, a shadow fell over the white pages.

“Miss Guan, let’s go over the script together.”

Su Mi watched Guan Yue purse her lips before she lifted her beautiful face. She said, word by word, “Fine, Miss Su.”

The emphasis on the last two words was particularly heavy.

Because they were in costume, they both remained standing to avoid wrinkling the fabric.

In the script, Su Mi played Duan Yuebai, a young lady of a wealthy family returning from studying abroad. Guan Yue played Qi Youwei, the ninth concubine married by Duan Yuebai’s aging father to “bring good luck” to his failing health.

They were of similar age, but one was a progressive intellectual while the other was a “dodder flower” trapped in old traditions. Two women with vastly different statuses and worldviews were set to collide.

This scene was their first encounter: Duan Yuebai arrives home just as the ninth concubine is being brought through the door.

The dialogue was sparse, and they went through it without issue. Meanwhile, the lighting and prop crews were ready. The director sent someone to ask if they were prepared.

Su Mi and Guan Yue put down their scripts and walked to the camera, finding their respective marks.

“Are the teachers ready?” the director asked from behind the monitor.

Su Mi nodded slightly.

The director spoke through the megaphone: “OK, actors in position. All non-essential personnel clear the area.”

“Yu Yao Nu, Scene 3, Take 1, Action!”

Clack!

With the sound of the slate, the set fell into a heavy silence.

[The summer night felt like oil soaked paper, semi-transparent and dotted with starlight.

Su Mi walked alone on the bluestone path of the backyard, the moonlight stretching her shadow long. Passing the east gate of the garden, she found it open. According to the script, Duan Yuebai had just returned today and heard her sickly father had married a ninth concubine to ward off ill fortune, the sedan chair was expected at night. She hesitated, then turned and walked inside.

As Su Mi entered, she saw a sedan chair being carried in through the small back gate. The porters took their tip and left immediately. A matchmaker called over a few maidservants to invite the new concubine out.

A pale, bare wrist emerged from the sedan, partially pulling back the swaying curtain.

Su Mi watched the sedan. At this moment, she merged with Duan Yuebai, feeling a mix of curiosity and expectation for the person inside. She wanted to see what kind of person they were.

The servants nearby saw Su Mi and respectfully called out, “Eldest Miss.”

At the sound of “Eldest Miss,” the wrist paused for a moment, as if struck by a sudden timidness. Finally, the curtain was pulled aside, and a graceful woman stepped out.

Guan Yue’s features looked even darker and sharper under the night air. Her thin eyebrows looked as though they were lightly sketched by a master artist. She looked timidly at Su Mi and followed the others’ lead, whispering:

“Eldest Miss…”

Upon hearing this, Su Mi unconsciously took a step forward. Guan Yue flinched back a step, accidentally bumping into the sedan chair with a thud.]

“Cut!”

The director held the megaphone, her expression a mix of hesitation and frustration. She took a deep breath and said:

“Teacher Su, you’re seeing her for the first time. You’re not there to kidnap the bride. Please pull back that gaze of yours, okay?”

“And Teacher Guan, the person across from you isn’t a bandit. Don’t look so terrified!”