After a Metaphysics Master Transmigrates into a Scummy Alpha, She Ends Up with the Best Actress - Chapter 6

“Don’t cry, baby. There, there, good boy!” A woman gently coaxed the infant in her arms before looking up at her mother-in-law. “Mom, pass me the thermometer. I need to see if his fever is back.”

The elderly woman’s face was grim. “The hospital couldn’t find anything. Maybe, we should find someone ‘special’ to take a look?” Despite her words, she got up to fetch the thermometer.

“Mom, what century is this? Besides, our village has produced great scientists. How can you still believe in that old-fashioned superstition?” The woman took the thermometer and checked the baby; the temperature was indeed a degree high. As a first-time mother, she felt anxious and helpless. The hospital wouldn’t prescribe medicine without a diagnosis, and she didn’t dare give him anything over-the-counter, the boy was only ten months old.

“Auntie, may I come in for a glass of water?” Ye Lin stood at the gate, asking politely.

Lost in worry, the mother didn’t even look up. It was the mother-in-law who stood and motioned for Ye Lin to enter, heading inside to find a cup.

The gates of these farmhouses were made of wood and usually left wide open during the day to welcome neighbors. Ye Lin stepped into the courtyard, noting the meticulously kept garden and the spotless surroundings—clearly the home of a hardworking family.

The younger woman stood by the window, holding the child in the sunlight, hoping the warmth might make him more comfortable. Ye Lin walked over and lightly squeezed the child’s chubby hand. “Big Sister, is this your son? He’s so cute!”

Pleased by the compliment, a flicker of a smile appeared on the woman’s face. She looked up and was momentarily stunned by Ye Lin’s appearance. “Oh! You’re so beautiful. Are you one of the stars here to film the show?”

“I am.” Ye Lin reached out to stroke the baby’s cheek. As she withdrew her hand, she made a subtle “plucking” motion in the air above the child’s brow. A wisp of black energy was yanked out; Ye Lin tightened her fist, and the darkness vanished instantly.

At that exact moment, the baby, who had been wailing just seconds ago, suddenly burst into giggles. Children don’t hide their health; once the pain vanishes, they return to their lively selves immediately.

The mother was shocked. The child had been ill for three or four days, and even the town hospital had found nothing. She had been worried sick, yet this stranger had simply touched his face and he was fine? Unbelieving, she grabbed the thermometer. Normal!

The old woman had caught Ye Lin’s subtle movement. Her eyes brightened. She hurried back with a cup of water, adding a few lumps of rock candy for sweetness. She asked cautiously, “Great Master, was my grandson troubled by something ‘unclean’?”

“It wasn’t exactly ‘unclean.’ Children have weak spirits and are easily startled, that’s all.” Ye Lin took the cup and glanced at the towering mountain behind the house. “Auntie, don’t take the child up the mountain for the next few days. The mountain winds are quite cold.” She left it at that, some things were better left unsaid.

“I understand! I completely understand!” The old woman nodded vigorously, her face full of knowing gratitude.

“What a coincidence.” Gu Li happened to be passing by the gate and spotted Ye Lin. Her eyes lit up. “What a precious baby!”

The infant was soft and adorable, and even offered Gu Li a toothless grin.

“Give him a hug,” Ye Lin said, gesturing toward the baby.

“Huh?”

“He likes you.” Ye Lin’s voice was soft and very earnest.

Gu Li blinked, her eyes curving into crescents as she smiled. The baby actually reached out his tiny hands toward her. The mother placed him on the ground; he toddled forward on his little shoes to reach Gu Li. Carefully, Gu Li tucked her hands under his armpits and lifted him. Her hold was steady and protective.

The mother finally relaxed. Seeing her child so happy made her happy too. She found it miraculous—her son was usually terrified of strangers, yet he was naturally drawn to these two stars. Could it be my son is a visual snob? she wondered.

The old woman brought out a plate of washed fruit. “These are from our own orchard. Very fresh. Please, have some.” Ye Lin didn’t stand on ceremony. She took a bite, it was bursting with fragrance. She squinted in enjoyment before picking up another and holding it to Gu Li’s lips. “Try one. It’s really sweet.”

The gesture was so natural that, between two strangers, it would have seemed bold or even flirtatious. In the live stream, the fans were exploding. Gu Li’s fans were already cursing Ye Lin for “clout-chasing” and for her “Scum Alpha” nature of throwing charms around.

Ye Lin wasn’t thinking about that. Having Gu Li hold the baby was beneficial for the child’s health; the fruit was simply the “payment” for the karma. In the Taoist sect, every cause has an effect; eating the fruit closed the loop of karma. That was all.

Speaking of karma, there was still an unresolved debt between her and Gu Li. Just as she was lost in thought, Ye Lin felt a weight in her palm. She looked down to see the Movie Queen leaning in to take a bite of the fruit held in her hand.

Gu Li’s long eyelashes fluttered like waves, and a sudden sense of suffocation hit Ye Lin. She nearly dropped the fruit.

Fortunately, Gu Li pulled back after one bite. Her ruby lips were flecked with juice, shimmering in the sunlight. After savoring the taste, she praised, “It really is sweet! So fresh!” Those damn dimples appeared again, threatening to steal Ye Lin’s soul.

Ye Lin looked away, her hand trembling slightly as she held the fruit.

【Holy sh*t! Ye ‘Big-Face’ is force-feeding my Little Carp!】

【Are you blind? The Movie Queen leaned in to eat it herself.】

【Stop fighting. Am I the only one seeing the CP chemistry here?】

【Was that a look of doting in Ye Lin’s eyes? And did she turn away because she’s shy? My world-view is shattered! I refuse to ship them!】

【The way Movie Queen Gu eats is so cute! As expected of my wife! Ahhh!】

【Is Ye Lin going to clutch her heart in the next second? She just got electrocuted by the Movie Queen’s gaze! Their visuals are a match made in heaven. I’m shipping this CP!】

The sight of the two top-tier beauties of the entertainment world “intimately feeding” each other on camera instantly spawned a wave of “CP Fans,” pushing the show’s ratings to a new peak.

Standing in the distance, Luo Quan saw everything clearly. He nearly ground his teeth to dust. As an arrogant TV King, the only reason he had agreed to this variety show was for a chance with Gu Li, yet he hadn’t even been able to get close. Not only that, but he—the man dubbed the “National Son-in-Law”—was currently being swarmed by a group of elderly villagers. The scent of aging and a chaotic mix of pheromones filled his nose, making him want to gag. They were pulling at him to visit their homes, stuffing him with snacks to help him “complete his task,” and incessantly asking about his ideal type for a wife.

Faced with the cameras, Luo Quan suppressed his temper and maintained a stiff, professional smile. Answering the villagers’ questions with gritted teeth and forced patience, he was practically suffering internal injuries from the sheer frustration of it all.

Compared to the “TV King’s” inner turmoil, the atmosphere between Ye Lin and Gu Li was much more relaxed. After playing with the baby for a while, they learned through conversation that the old woman’s son had gone to the city for work, leaving only her, her daughter-in-law, and the infant. The family owned several acres of orchard, and the work of tending the trees and picking the fruit was split between the two women. Seizing the opportunity, Ye Lin suggested they help with the farm work in exchange for some fruit.

The old woman, who viewed Ye Lin as a “Great Master,” wouldn’t dream of letting her do manual labor. However, Ye Lin dismissed the concern, stating that the fruit she had already eaten was payment enough for her “services.”

Gu Li added that she was already worried about finding a way to complete her task, so the idea of bartering labor for ingredients was perfect. She wanted in. Consequently, the old lady brought out two fresh towels and two wide-brimmed straw hats for them.

Ye Lin was no pampered Celestial Master; having lacked “Luck” her entire previous life, she had done every kind of odd job imaginable. She skillfully draped the towel around her neck, donned the hat, and even tucked her pant legs into her socks. She looked every bit the seasoned farmhand.

While Gu Li had never managed an orchard, she had once starred in a rural-themed film where she played a fruit farmer. For that role, she had spent three months living on an actual orchard to experience the lifestyle. Once she was dressed and holding the tools, she looked no less capable than a professional.

Ye Lin worked quickly. After asking about a few precautions, she turned to see Gu Li walking over and couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. She actually looks the part.

The family’s orchard was located halfway up the mountain behind the house. Ye Lin set up the ladder, but just as she was about to climb, her sleeve was caught.

Gu Li blinked her large eyes at her, looking at the tools in Ye Lin’s hand. “Let me try.”

Picking fruit is a technical skill and quite exhausting. Ye Lin glanced at the tools, then back at Gu Li with a skeptical frown, as if asking: Are you sure you can handle this?

“We’ll take turns,” Gu Li suggested.

That worked. Ye Lin handed over the tools and stood below to steady the ladder. She watched as Gu Li climbed smoothly to the top and sat sideways on the ladder bench. Gu Li pinched a fruit with her left hand and used the picker in her right to skillfully snap it off before handing it down to Ye Lin.

The fruit wasn’t fully ripe, but it still couldn’t be bruised, or it wouldn’t fetch a good price. Ye Lin carefully placed the fruit into the back basket. “Movie Queen, I didn’t expect you to be good at this,” she noted, impressed. In her mind, someone with “Human Koi” luck was usually pampered; she hadn’t expected Gu Li to be capable of such “coarse” work.

“Are you looking at me through colored lenses? Did you think I was some kind of spoiled young lady?” Gu Li asked from her high vantage point. Well, she was, but that was besides the point.

Ye Lin gave a dry laugh, caught red-handed. “Well, not exactly. I was just surprised.”

“There are plenty of things about me you haven’t thought of,” Gu Li said with a playful wink.

Ye Lin didn’t argue. When Gu Li’s picking speed began to flag, she swapped places with her. After all, an Omega was delicate and shouldn’t endure excessive labor. As they brushed past each other on the ladder, Ye Lin flicked her fingers, producing a crisp, melodic snap.

Gu Li wasn’t sure if it was an illusion, but the moment she heard that snap, the ache in her arms vanished. She felt like she could have gone back up and picked another half-basket.

However, Ye Lin was already up there with the basket. She finished the remaining workload and even filled the other fruit crates scattered throughout the orchard.

“Oh my, you two must be exhausted!” the old woman cried, looking at the full crates. She hadn’t expected these two girls to be more hardworking than young men. She waved at Ye Lin on the ladder. “Big, Big Girl, come down quickly!

They’re all full. The rest won’t be ready for picking for a few days. I’ll go get you some water. Come down and rest!” With that, she scurried off to the temporary rest hut in the orchard.

Up on the ladder, Ye Lin wiped away her sweat. As she looked down, she locked eyes with Gu Li’s searching gaze. Did she realize I’m not the original Ye Lin? she wondered. Unlikely. They had no history together before this.

“Big Girl.” Gu Li repeated the old lady’s address, tilting her chin up. Her lips curled into a smile, revealing those two dimples. “Ye Lin, your ‘persona’ has completely collapsed!”