Acting as the Vicious Second Lead [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 40

Single since birth and devoid of romantic experience, Qin Xiaoxiao had been stumped by a simple kiss scene, causing the production schedule to stall. However, after some indescribable “private tutoring” from the popular starlet, the problem was thoroughly resolved.

From then on, the acting went off without a hitch. Time flew by, and over four months passed in a blur.

On the eve of the final wrap for the entire cast.

Night fell. Inside the estate, extras dressed as maids and guards stood to one side, acting out the final scene. Qin Xiaoxiao, in her flowing green robes, gazed affectionately at Qu Li and took her small hand.

Moonlight poured down, silvering her long hair. Her fair face was dead serious as she slowly caressed the back of Qu Li’s hand. “By my father’s order and the matchmaker’s word, my father has finally agreed to our marriage,” she said solemnly.

“I wonder what your intentions are?” She smoothed her brow, her voice softening significantly. “I am but a humble man, and it has taken a long time to win your favor. But if we can stay together for a lifetime, I promise I will never mistreat you. I shall marry you with a grand palanquin and eight bearers, loving only you for the rest of my life.”

Under the willow tree, where new buds were sprouting.

Through the magic of makeup, the woman’s features looked handsome, her expression sincere, and her voice magnetic. Every word seemed to come from the heart, sketching a beautiful picture of the future.

Seeing this, a rosy blush appeared on Qu Li’s face, a picture of shy grace. Under Xiaoxiao’s gaze, Qu Li smiled faintly and spoke…

“I shall follow your will.”

Receiving Qu Li’s consent, the smile in Qin Xiaoxiao’s eyes deepened. She leaned in closer and pressed a gentle kiss on Qu Li’s forehead.

“For life or for death, however separated, to you I give my word. I take your hand and will grow old with you.”

Taking every word of the beautiful vow into her heart, Qu Li lowered her eyes, savoring the confession and the warmth against her forehead. She thought to herself: Life in a play is truly happy.

But the happiness in reality was something she intended to grasp tightly as well.

Then, Director Wang’s voice rang out: “Passed!”

Qin Xiaoxiao let go of Qu Li and let out a long sigh of relief. Having earned nearly ten million yuan in salary, she had no appetite to stay for the wrap party and hurried away. Qu Li followed suit, declining the banquet to accompany her home.

The two got into the private car and sat in the back row. The night was thick, and the car moved smoothly. A few gusts of cold wind snuck through the gaps in the window. Feeling a bit chilly, Qin Xiaoxiao leaned closer to Qu Li, resting her head in the crook of the other woman’s neck and mumbling, “Let me lean on your shoulder.”

“Mhm,” Qu Li replied happily. She picked up her phone and held it in front of the other woman’s eyes.

“Do you think this ring looks good?” she asked, her eyes full of expectation and a hint of nervousness.

Glancing at the magnificent diamond ring on the screen—perfectly polished and exquisite—Qin Xiaoxiao’s attention was instantly captured.

It’s beautiful. Very beautiful.

But who is it for?

Lately, Qu Li had been spending all her time with her. The way she looked at her was so gentle, as if her whole world revolved around Xiaoxiao. But now that the ring had appeared, Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but feel jealous. Her mind raced—Qu Li had someone else in her heart, someone she was already picking out wedding rings for.

The starlet was so outstanding; the person she liked must be exceptional too. As a friend, she should offer her blessings for a long and happy marriage.

But Qin Xiaoxiao’s heart felt bitter.

After a long silence, suppressing the wave of sourness, Xiaoxiao sat up straight and asked casually, “Are you going to give it to… that person you said you liked last time?”

“Yes,” Qu Li replied briefly.

“Who is it for?” Xiaoxiao pressed.

“…It’s a secret.” Qu Li’s face heated up slightly. She didn’t admit the ring was for Xiaoxiao, but she didn’t deny it either. She simply repeated the question: “Is it pretty? Do you like it?”

“I don’t like it,” Qin Xiaoxiao said, her gaze turning cold and dead. She teased, “Maybe the person you like will enjoy it.”

“In the future, it’s better to ask someone else for advice on these things. I can’t give you any suggestions.”

Otherwise, she would be dying of jealousy. The more she looked at the sparkling ring, the more it felt like it was stabbing her in the heart. Xiaoxiao lowered her eyelids and looked away, feigning disdain.

Qu Li didn’t mind. She withdrew her phone and fell into thought. Good thing I asked; it turns out she doesn’t like this style. The woman thought to herself: In that case, I’ll have a new one custom-made.

But the wait would be long again.

In the blink of an eye, two months passed.

The Phoenix Seeks the Phoenix premiered to rave reviews, with ratings climbing steadily. The promotional shots of Qin Xiaoxiao (in male drag) kissing Qu Li went viral, attracting a massive wave of “CP fans” who waited daily for updates.

Privately, fans noted their interactions and dug up their past work. Even though they had been the lead and a “cannon-fodder” villain with minimal interaction, this generation of fans was skilled at finding “sugar” in a pile of glass shards. To them, being in the same frame was a gift; making eye contact was practically a marriage proposal!

Meanwhile, both of their fanbases were stunned. Qin Xiaoxiao’s fans and Qu Li’s fans looked at each other: Our idols are so sweet together that they might as well get married. Are we still supposed to be fighting?

The answer, of course, was no.

In a restaurant on Gardenia Road, the crowd was massive. The owner was busy and “suffering” through his success. Months ago, Qu Li had mentioned the restaurant’s “Magic Egg Rolls” in an interview. Even without naming the place, the power of fans was infinite, and they soon found the exact location.

With a superstar providing free advertising, tourists flocked to the area, boosting the local economy.

Three years ago, this place had been just as bustling. But all the noise had gone quiet one day after a murder occurred in a local hotel. A pregnant woman had been killed in a horrific manner. Her unborn child had been thrown out the window, landing on a statue’s head, where the blood trickled down into the statue’s eyes, making it look like it was weeping.

The killer, a local man with a mental illness, had hallucinated he was a stork. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Half a month later, the victim’s husband took revenge by drowning the killer in the lake before being arrested himself.

The hotel had locked the room, but rumors of hauntings persisted. People said the woman’s face would appear in the walls, her raspy voice asking, “Where is my child?”

Over time, the tourists stopped coming. The town had been dying… until this unexpected miracle changed everything.

As for the characters, Xiang Liwei (the original female lead) was working herself to the bone, her roles becoming more prestigious as she appeared in variety shows and interviews.

Time flowed like fine sand. It was now early November—the transition between autumn and winter. The average temperature was around 13°C, cool but not freezing.

Compared to the hardworking female lead, Qu Li and Qin Xiaoxiao were like “salted fish.” Since filming ended and Xiaoxiao received her ten-million-yuan payout, she hadn’t worried about money. Her first thought was to spend it all to compensate for the days she spent eating plain porridge and soy sauce.

When the starlet found out, she volunteered her services as a “reliable tour guide.” She took Xiaoxiao around the world, tasting delicacies and watching sunsets, living a god-like life while throwing her actual job to the back of her mind.

Currently, in a villa by the sea, Qin Xiaoxiao was eating breakfast, looking distracted. In three days, it would be the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Awards—the day the mission would end.

If everything went as planned, the male lead would propose to Xiang Liwei, and she would agree. She would finally be free, but… why was she feeling so uneasy?

“What’s wrong?” Beside her, Qu Li spread strawberry jam on toast and placed it in Xiaoxiao’s bowl. Seeing her pale face, she asked with concern, “Are you feeling unwell?”

“I’m fine.” Xiaoxiao took a bite. The toast was soft, and the jam was homemade by Qu Li. Because Qu Li was worried about Xiaoxiao’s health, she had used less sugar. Still, it felt sweet to Xiaoxiao—the kind of sweetness that went straight to the heart.

“In a few days, I have to attend the Best Actress award ceremony,” Xiaoxiao said.

Qu Li’s elegant movements paused. She looked up. “Are you sure? Do you want me to go with you?”

That morning, a jeweler had called to say the wedding ring was finished. Qu Li planned to pick it up personally to ensure it was perfect. Her trip was scheduled for tomorrow, which meant she would miss the ceremony. But if Xiaoxiao needed her, she wouldn’t mind postponing.

Qin Xiaoxiao frowned, put the sandwich back on the plate, and said seriously, “Don’t treat me like a child. I’ll be fine on my own.”

“You… just stay here and wait for me to come back.”

There was a faint, almost imperceptible trace of ambiguity in her tone. Qu Li smiled, her eyes crinkling. The smile was like a spring flower blooming, so gentle it made Xiaoxiao’s heart race and her face flush.

“Okay. I’ll wait for you.”