Acting as the Vicious Second Lead [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 36

During the recent interview, the popular starlet revealed that she had someone she liked.

Immediately, a tidal wave swept through the entertainment industry. Even industry insiders, usually as indifferent as monks, gathered in private groups to gossip fervently. Everyone was dying to know: which master of seduction had won the heart of the national goddess—a woman who had remained scandal-free for ten thousand years and seemed destined never to fall in love?

Qu Li’s Weibo was swamped, and her fans were in a collective state of mourning.

[Little Li Flower]: You’ll only say who it is in the next interview? When is the next one?! Tell me secretly, I promise I won’t cause trouble for your beloved (#Grinning).

[You Mu]: My Li-li is finally going to date. Waaah, you have to be happy!

[Li-zi’s Small Eyes]: Wishing you happiness +1. I hope someone pampers you. (I definitely won’t tell you that I’m secretly wiping away tears on the rooftop because of my “breakup”).

[Li-zi Li]: Who is it?! Who hooked away my little cutie while I wasn’t looking? Mama doesn’t care—Li-li is forever three years old! Mama doesn’t allow you to date early!

The boyfriend and girlfriend fans fussed for two days straight. The trending topic regarding Qu Li’s love life stayed at the top for forty-eight hours.

Then, on the third day, two new topics crashed onto the scene:

#Qu Li Duan Longze Leak#

#Qu Li’s Lover is Duan Longze#

Clicking in revealed a post from early that morning. With over twenty thousand shares and comments, the heat was astronomical. Beneath it, countless copycat accounts were desperately chasing the traffic.

Entertainment Insider V: For the past two days, the city has been in an uproar over actress Qu Li’s romance. Finally, our editor has received a leak confirming the identity of @Qu Li’s lover: it is none other than Duan Longze. Attached is the “hard evidence”—a candid shot of the two kissing.

[Image]

The photo was set in a parking lot. A man and a woman were embracing and kissing. Due to the poor lighting and the distance, the shot was blurry and their faces were obscured. However, their iconic style made their identities instantly recognizable.

The woman had short curls and wore warm-toned clothes; her posture was elegant and her figure graceful. The man was in an all-black suit, his build robust, with a glimpse of a cold, sharp profile. The woman leaned against his chest, looking petite and delicate.

At a glance, they looked like a celestial couple, the envy of all. Double the “dog food,” double the pain. The comment section turned into a chorus of wails:

[Dragon Proud Husband]: Brother Long?? Waaaa, you betrayed our Bachelor Group!

[Little Li Flower]: So it was the Movie Star… Okay, I’m balanced now. I accept this defeat.

[Dragon Rule the World]: A top actress is just that; eventually, she must submit at the feet of our Boss.

Seeing this, Qin Xiaoxiao felt a surge of inexplicable anger. In a fit of impulse, she clattered away at her keyboard and hit reply.

[Yin Ni V]: @PeacefulCity Police, you guys keep a close eye on this guy.

The moment it sent, she snapped back to her senses. She rubbed her temples, immediately regretting using her main account to start a fight.

Privately, she and Qu Li were friends. But her own reputation was a mess of “black material.” Acting like they were close in public would inevitably affect Qu Li’s reputation and bring her unnecessary hate. But it was too late to delete it. Qin Xiaoxiao stared at the screen in a daze.

Five minutes later, just as she was about to close the app, her eyes caught the #6 trending topic:

#Yin Ni Licks Qu Li’s Boots#

Qin Xiaoxiao was speechless. Why wasn’t the male lead’s sociopathic fan base trending instead? What did she, an enthusiastic citizen reporting a potential criminal, do wrong?

Fine. Boot-licking it is. She could ruin her image while leaching off the trending heat—two birds with one stone. The woman gave a cold snort, refused to argue with the “sand-sculpture” netizens, and put her phone away.

She ran downstairs, left her apartment, and knocked on her neighbor’s door. That’s right—she was going to take her frustration out on the source. She also wanted to interrogate her: Are you really with the male lead?

If the answer was “Yes,” she would have to play the role of the meddling outsider and break them up.

She knocked for a long time, but there was no response. It seemed no one was home. Her head drooped as she stood there, waiting and reflecting on why she was so agitated.

Possessiveness over a friend? The righteous fury of a single dog? Those seemed like the only logical explanations. But Qin Xiaoxiao felt they weren’t quite right. Right now, her mood was… gloomy, sour, and tinged with a bit of jealousy toward the male lead.

What was this feeling? How did it start? What word should she use to describe it? Just as she was a hair’s breadth away from the truth, a soft, surprised, and gentle voice came from behind her.

“Yin Ni?”

Her thoughts interrupted, Qin Xiaoxiao spun around suddenly. However, because they were so close, her lips and the tip of her nose brushed against the other woman’s cheek. The sensation was soft and warm.

In that instant, her mind went blank. She could only sense the faint, elegant fragrance lingering around her nose. Qin Xiaoxiao’s hair practically stood on end. She recoiled exaggeratedly, flattening herself against the wall with a look of utter panic.

But with a door behind her, how much further could she retreat?

“Why are you standing so close?!” Qin Xiaoxiao frowned and complained.

Qu Li didn’t retreat; instead, she stepped closer. She leaned in to insert her key into the lock. “Since you’ve finally come over, why don’t you come inside for a bit?” she said softly.

They were pressed together. Qu Li’s head was just above Qin Xiaoxiao’s shoulder, her chestnut curls brushing against the delicate skin of Xiaoxiao’s neck. From a distance, it looked like she was “wall-slamming” (Kabedon) Qin Xiaoxiao.

Trapped in that small space, the atmosphere began to heat up. Qin Xiaoxiao abruptly reached up and grabbed the small curls that were tickling her neck.

“Not open yet, hmm?”

“…It’s open.” Her “vital spot” caught, Qu Li gave a sheepish laugh. She twisted the key, and the door opened with a creak.

Qin Xiaoxiao snorted and let go of her hair, marching into Qu Li’s home.

The apartment was decorated warmly, with a unified style of light-colored furniture that looked perfectly coordinated. There was only one sofa, adorned with two fish-shaped pillows—round, blue-and-white things with embroidered mouths and tails. On the table sat a bowl of fresh, plump oranges.

Comparing this to her own “den”… there was no contest. Qin Xiaoxiao suddenly didn’t want to leave.

“Would you like a drink or some tea?” Qu Li asked.

“No need.” Qin Xiaoxiao sat straight down on the sofa. “I came to ask you something.”

“What is it?” Qu Li sat down beside her.

“Is the person you like Duan Longze?”

“Pfft.” Qu Li laughed softly.

Qin Xiaoxiao frowned. “What are you laughing at? Answer me.”

“No,” Qu Li explained. “It’s a rumor.”

“Then how do you explain the photo of you and Duan Longze kissing?” Qin Xiaoxiao pressed.

“The person in the photo isn’t me.” Qu Li thought for a moment. “I suspect the rumor was leaked by Duan Longze’s team. They probably plan to ‘ship’ us as a CP (Couple).”

“My manager called me early this morning to ask if I knew about it.” Qu Li sounded quite annoyed. Because of recent events, she had been too busy to see Qin Xiaoxiao. If the relationship she had worked so hard to build grew cold because of this, she’d have a massive headache.

Fortunately, it hadn’t. In fact, had they actually become closer?

Qu Li lowered her eyes and tested the waters: “The rumor will be clarified by tonight at the latest. So… stop being jealous.”

“Why would I be jealous? I don’t even like Duan Longze,” Qin Xiaoxiao said strangely, letting out a breath of relief. Good, the female supporting character hasn’t lost her mind and tried to steal the male lead. No need to convince her to break up.

“Mhm.” Qu Li’s response was a bit flat. She picked up an orange and slowly began to peel it. Then, she tried again: “I saw the hot search. You defended me.”

“…” Qin Xiaoxiao fell silent. Why bring up that embarrassing topic? Was she supposed to admit she was being protective? Ugh, how shameful.

After a moment, Qin Xiaoxiao cleared her throat and replied awkwardly, “Well, we’re friends. You’re under my protection. If someone blind comes to stir up trouble, of course I’m going to give them a piece of my mind.”

“Thank you~” Qu Li curled her lips and thanked her sincerely.

The orange was peeled. She broke it in half and handed one part to the woman beside her, her smile radiant. “For you, as my thanks.”

“Hmph,” Qin Xiaoxiao laughed disdainfully. “What a stingy gift. This doesn’t count.” Despite her words, she accepted it happily.

“Mhm. I’ll make it up to you with other gifts later.”

“I’ve noted that. No taking it back.”

“I won’t.”

“By the way,” Qin Xiaoxiao asked, a sudden curiosity striking her, “Who is the person you like?”

It’s you, Qu Li said in her heart. Her lips trembled, but she ultimately held back. “Sorry, it’s not the time to say yet.”

Qin Xiaoxiao was unhappy. We’re supposed to be besties, but you’re keeping secrets from me. Looking at the “infuriating” woman before her, she felt a sudden pang of envy for whoever Qu Li liked. Once the starlet had a boyfriend, all her attention would go to him. Her tenderness would belong to someone else.

“Fine. Given your lack of cooperation, I’ve made a decision.”

“If I ever find out who you like… Hehe, he better pray I never run into him. Otherwise, I’ll beat him until he’s looking for his teeth on the ground,” Qin Xiaoxiao said, waving a fist menacingly.

Of course, she was just talking big. She wouldn’t actually hit someone and embarrass Qu Li.

Beside her, Qu Li suppressed a smile. “Don’t do that. Otherwise… my heart will ache for him.”

“I’m going to do it anyway.” Qin Xiaoxiao took the response as a sign of submission. Amidst her triumph, she felt a strange gloom, as if she were being force-fed “dog food.”

Heartache? They aren’t even public yet and she’s already this sappy? What will happen once they’re together? Qin Xiaoxiao felt a wave of sourness.

She popped a segment of the orange into her mouth. It was cool to the touch, and the peel was incredibly thin. With a light bite, the tender flesh burst, releasing sweet juice that danced on her tongue. It was fragrant and delicious.

Perhaps because it had come from Qu Li’s hands, the fruit seemed to carry a hint of the woman’s own elegant scent.

“So sweet.”