After Marrying the Villain with Seven Personalities [Transmigration into a Book]) - Chapter 31

While whisking eggs for the second time, Yi Chenqing felt much more proficient. Once finished, she used her chopsticks to carefully pick out bits of eggshell. She glanced sideways at Yi Yanbai, who had remained silent since coming downstairs.

Yi Yanbai stood before the toaster, waiting for the bread to pop. Dressed in a black-and-white checkered shirt buttoned all the way to the top, she looked deeply focused.

Yi Chenqing spoke up with feigned nonchalance, “How can one alleviate somnambulism? Most importantly, how do you prevent it from flaring up at a critical moment?”

Yi Yanbai slowly looked up, a hint of surprise in her eyes, though she quickly regained her composure. “As long as your will is strong enough,” she replied.

It was a non-answer, yet Yi Chenqing thought that perhaps if her feelings grew deep enough, she wouldn’t succumb to the condition so easily in front of her. Lost in thought, her hand slipped, and a large clump of salt tumbled into the egg mixture.

When Xu Linqiu stepped out of her room, she ran straight into Shi Ji. Shi Ji was acting suspicious, looking as though she had a guilty conscience. She greeted Xu Linqiu with an incredibly awkward, “Good morning~”

Xu Linqiu looked her up and down. She noticed that Shi Ji, who usually wore low-cut tops or short skirts, was wearing a high collar today. Upon closer inspection, a faint bite mark was visible.

“Bitten by a mosquito again?” Xu Linqiu teased.

“And you aren’t?” Shi Ji countered, glancing at Xu Linqiu’s outfit. Xu Linqiu was wearing a hooded sports jacket zipped all the way to her chin—the very definition of hiding something.

“I’m certainly not,” Xu Linqiu said, walking toward the stairs in a cheerful mood. “It’s the second day of the honeymoon; this is perfectly normal.”

Shi Ji followed her, muttering under her breath, “I think you’re just using ‘medical treatment’ as an excuse because you’re greedy for her body. Anyway, last night’s ‘new personality’ must have been quite a thrill, right?”

Xu Linqiu was speechless. Shi Ji was firing shots like she’d swallowed gunpowder, and Xu Linqiu found she couldn’t even argue.

However, she refused to back down. “I’m guessing that after last night, you’ve finally realized you belong to the ‘Socialite’ type.”

Having been friends for so many years, Xu Linqiu knew her personality type instantly. But it surprised her that Shi Ji was getting serious with Yi Yanbai. With Shi Ji’s lighthearted nature, the two of them were bound to have a rocky road ahead.

Shi Ji gritted her teeth, wanting to snap back. Then she realized that getting angry would mean she had lost the argument. It was true that she had enjoyed the first half of the night, but in the second half, a bespectacled Yi Yanbai had turned into such a crybaby that it only highlighted Shi Ji’s own “CEO-type” dominance.

She tilted her head arrogantly. “I bet you cried a lot last night, too. And I bet it hurt.”

Xu Linqiu: “…”

The two women glared at each other, neither willing to yield. Finally, Xu Linqiu laughed and habitually took Shi Ji’s arm as they walked downstairs. “Alright, there’s no point in competing over this. If you’re really struggling, we can exchange ‘tips’ in private later.”

Shi Ji nodded, satisfied. But as they reached the bottom of the stairs, they saw Yi Chenqing and Yi Yanbai holding breakfast trays. It was unclear how long they had been standing there or how much they had overheard.

Possessing the signature “stone face” of the Yi family, both stood staring at them without a trace of emotion. The situation had taken an unpredictable turn.

Xu Linqiu laughed nervously, adjusting her collar. “I was just telling Ji-zi that I wanted to learn about the ‘high-collar’ fashion aesthetic from her…”

Yi Chenqing was the first to break the silence. “Are you hungry? I fried some eggs.”

“You know how to fry eggs now?” Xu Linqiu asked in disbelief, signaling to Shi Ji.

Shi Ji played along. “That’s amazing!”

“Yes, it was quite simple,” Yi Chenqing said calmly, turning toward the dining room to end the awkward atmosphere.

As the three of them walked ahead, Yi Yanbai lagged behind, looking a bit dejected. She felt she had indulged herself too much last night. She couldn’t stop herself from cooperating, nor could she bear to ruin the mood—but she hadn’t expected Shi Ji’s “technique” to be so poor that it caused her a total meltdown.

She told herself she shouldn’t use that incident to tie Shi Ji down, but she still harbored a sliver of hope. Sure enough, once Shi Ji woke up, her previous words seemed like an impulsive fluke; the moment she saw Xu Linqiu, she had eyes for no one else.

At the table, the fried eggs were served—perfectly golden and without a single burnt edge. Toast and milk sat on the side.

Xu Linqiu was heartened. “Did it feel familiar when you were cooking? Like you were a natural?”

Yi Chenqing nodded calmly. She took a slow, methodical bite and froze.

Next to her, Shi Ji took a large, eager bite and nearly gagged. She forced herself to swallow and chased it with a massive gulp of milk. It was incredibly salty.

“It’s… so delicious~” Shi Ji lied through her teeth.

Yi Yanbai silently moved the rest of Shi Ji’s egg onto her own plate. Shi Ji was moved to tears and went back to chewing on her toast.

The golden eggs smelled wonderful. Xu Linqiu was about to dig in when Yi Chenqing snatched her plate away.

“It’s a bit salty,” Yi Chenqing explained seriously.

“It’s fine,” Xu Linqiu smiled and took the plate back.

“It’s quite salty,” Yi Chenqing insisted.

“It really doesn’t matter.”

“It is very salty.”

Xu Linqiu stuffed a large piece into her mouth, her cheeks bulging as she chewed with a beaming smile. “It’s okay. It’ll be even better next time.”

Yi Yanbai: “…” Shi Ji: “…” (Choking on her toast).

After breakfast, as Yi Chenqing and Yi Yanbai habitually picked up the newspapers, Xu Linqiu mentioned her plans.

“Ji-zi and I are going out to register for a reality show.”

Yi Chenqing looked up, suppressing the urge to ask why she was leaving on the second day of their marriage. “Is it to pay back the debt?”

Yi Yanbai’s glasses slid down slightly. She adjusted them and looked at Shi Ji. Shi Ji took a defensive sip of milk.

“I want to pay it back myself,” Xu Linqiu replied.

“But I’m going to be very busy soon,” Yi Chenqing said, her tone suggesting a negotiation. “Besides, we are legally married. Is there something wrong with using my money?”

That morning, Xu Linqiu had found her marriage certificate on the nightstand, stuffed with several bank cards and a note with the PINs. It felt a bit like “hush money,” but she had accepted them with a smile.

Accepting the cards was one thing; the debt was another. Although Yi Chenqing had provided the initial investment, the company was legally in Xu Linqiu and Shi Ji’s names. She wanted to pay back the cost of the company that fulfilled her dreams through her own hard work, rather than selling her paintings.

“This is a rare opportunity. I want to clear the debt in one go so I don’t feel burdened.”

Xu Linqiu met Yi Chenqing’s gaze with unwavering determination. After a few seconds, Yi Chenqing looked back at her paper. “Come home early.”

“I will. I’ll be back soon.”

Yi Yanbai drove them to the registration site at Shi Entertainment. Upon arrival, they were stunned by a line that looked like a long, winding dragon.

“I don’t have much power right now; I’m just entry-level. Otherwise, I would have used my connections,” Shi Ji complained. “Shi Entertainment’s shows always have a great reputation, and the hype for this new one is huge. The salary is very tempting…”

“In that case, we probably won’t be back until this afternoon,” Xu Linqiu noted, immediately texting Yi Chenqing.

【Looks like I won’t be back until this afternoon.】

Shi Ji felt a bit slighted by Xu Linqiu’s focus on her wife. She pulled out her own phone to text Yi Yanbai. She calculated that after registration, interviews, dinner, and maybe a few drinks, it might be midnight.

【Won’t be back until midnight.】

Yi Chenqing: 【Okay】 Yi Yanbai: 【Okay】

The replies were identical. They really were twins.

The interview process was unexpectedly slow. By the time it was their turn, it was 4:00 PM. They had only managed to grab a quick snack and were starving.

The project was led by Mu Yi, a man known for being incredibly blunt and strictly professional. No matter how close you were to him, he wouldn’t give out insider information or allow anyone to skip the line. The selection process was based purely on merit and “impact,” not personal connections.

“Next.”

Xu Linqiu walked into the interview room, with Shi Ji tagging along with a grin. The interviewers and the director knew Shi Ji and assumed she was there on a “supervisory” visit.

Only Mu Yi spoke up the moment he saw them. “Using your marriage leave to earn extra cash? Or is this a honeymoon on the company’s dime?”

The two were stunned for a moment before reacting. Shi Ji handed over their printed resumes, acting tough while hiding a smile. “Stop talking nonsense. Let’s talk business. We’re here to give you high ratings, so cut the chatter.”

Mu Yi had clearly misunderstood, thinking Shi Ji and Xu Linqiu had married each other.

Xu Linqiu stepped forward with a smile. “You’ve misunderstood.”

Misunderstood? They are married, just not to each other!

Mu Yi was shocked, but he quickly reined in his gossiping heart. Ratings? True. The heir to Shi Entertainment carried her own traffic, not to mention the “Great Miss Xu” returning to the entertainment circle.

He looked at the resumes and froze when he reached Xu Linqiu’s achievements. Primary Profession: Painter. Stage Name: Xu Yun??

Mu Yi looked at Xu Linqiu in shock. She gave him a calm smile. He flipped through the supporting documents. There was no question—she was in. He’d be an idiot to pass up such a massive “bombshell” for the show.

“Finished? Hurry up, we’re in a rush to eat,” Shi Ji urged.

He smiled. “Do you know why the process is so slow? Because once the interview is over, we decide immediately and sign the contract on the spot. We only want the best talent with the most impact. Even if we only find one person, we start filming. No compromises.”

Xu Linqiu and Shi Ji were impressed. He certainly had principles.

After the other interviewers approved, an assistant led them to sign the contracts. Xu Linqiu hadn’t expected things to move so fast—signing today and filming tomorrow. There was no opening ceremony or poster shoot. The show would be a 24-hour livestream, a project clearly planned for a long time.

“Is this even a variety show?” Xu Linqiu asked.

Shi Ji replied, “They’re in such a rush, and with a full livestream and no promotion? This thing is going to flop so hard even its mother won’t recognize it.”

“Are you really the heir to Shi Entertainment? Who talks about their own show like that?”

“I’m serious. There isn’t even a script! Real variety shows don’t get popular these days; you need a script to create conflict. Besides, who is bored enough to watch a 24-hour livestream?”

Shi Ji then added, “If I can’t pay back my debt with this, do you think Yi Yanbai will support me?”

Xu Linqiu laughed. “I don’t know. I just know my Qingqing gave me all her bank cards.”

“Bank cards! I’m so jealous. I want to be a trophy wife too!”

It was dark by the time they left the office. Xu Linqiu sent a voice note to Yi Chenqing.

“We just finished and are heading to dinner. Have you eaten? Do you want us to bring anything back?”

A reply came quickly. Yi Chenqing’s cool voice played: “Yanbai and I already ate. There was some trouble at the company that my father couldn’t handle, so I went in for a bit. I just got back. Send your location when you’re done, and I’ll pick you up.”

“Okay~”

Shi Ji overheard and nudged her. “So much for marriage leave. I guess with great power comes great responsibility.”

This is good, Xu Linqiu thought. The busier the ‘villain’ is, the less danger there is. She smiled. “I was feeling bad about leaving Qingqing alone tomorrow since filming starts immediately.”

Shi Ji: “…” (Was Yi Yanbai not a person?)

They chose a small restaurant. As they were finishing up, a voice note came from Yi Chenqing. This time, her tone was filled with an obvious, playful smile.

“Hello there. Since Yi Chenqing isn’t around, would you like to meet up?”

Xu Linqiu listened to it three times in confusion. She put down her chopsticks. “Are you done? I think something happened at home.”

“I’m done,” Shi Ji said. “But if something happened, wouldn’t Yi Yanbai have called?”

They rushed home. As they opened the door and rounded the foyer, a voice from the living room drifted over.

“Thanks to ‘Yunli’s Crow’ for the Rocket gift!” “I’ll teach the second move later. I’m waiting for someone right now.”

What is going on?

Xu Linqiu entered the living room to find Yi Chenqing sitting on the sofa in front of a full professional livestreaming setup. Her long hair was slightly curled, she wore a black mask, and she was—inexplicably—wearing Xu Linqiu’s nightgown.

Hearing them, the woman glanced over. Her eyes, adorned with light green eyeshadow, tilted upward with a hint of seduction. She turned back to the camera, her voice trailing off with a playful lilt. “The person I’ve been waiting for is here. Everyone, please wait a moment~”

She cut the camera and the audio. The livestream chat exploded: 【Is she waiting for her wife? Hahaha!】 【Look at the hickey on Sister Green’s neck (smirk)】 【I thought Sister Green was single! I want to see what her partner looks like!】

Xu Linqiu and Shi Ji stood frozen. Shi Ji noticed Yi Yanbai sitting diagonally across from Yi Chenqing. She was wearing a tight, black, round-neck dance dress with an awkward silk scarf tied around her neck—completely different from her usual style. She was leaning against the sofa, looking as if she had fallen asleep from exhaustion.

No wonder they hadn’t called.

After a few seconds of silence, Xu Linqiu couldn’t help but ask, “Who are you?”

The woman at the computer turned her body. She provocatively crossed her long legs, her nightgown sliding up with the movement. Every gesture exuded a fatal attraction.

She slowly pulled down her mask and smiled at Xu Linqiu. Her aura was entirely different from the other personalities—charming and flirtatious. “Let me introduce myself. My name is Xiao Lu (Little Green). I’ve been Yi Chenqing’s kept mistress for many years.”

At the word “mistress,” the sleeping Yi Yanbai bolted upright, her expression sour. The living room became deathly quiet.

Yi Chenlu’s crisp voice broke the silence, tinged with a mock sadness. “Forgive my uninvited presence. It’s just that I’ve given her so much—I love her too much. But then she went and married you. I just can’t accept it. I don’t understand what’s so good about you. Or is it simply because you can give her the happiness that I can’t?”

She smiled kindly, looking like a heartbroken woman lost in love. “Wearing your nightgown wasn’t my original intention. I just wanted to have a ‘friendly’ chat with you.”

Xu Linqiu: “…”

You… you are the same person!