After Marrying the Villain with Seven Personalities [Transmigration into a Book]) - Chapter 35

Yi Chenqing expressionlessly tapped on the notification. Upon entering, she was met with a livestream room overflowing with real-time comments.

The synopsis for this new variety show, Elites of All Walks, read: Gathering celebrities and elites from various industries for spontaneous trips to discuss their lives and ideals.

On the screen, four women stood in pairs before a private jet. According to the director, they were about to embark on a three-day, two-night trip to a tropical island. Two of the women, dressed in glamourous outfits, looked genuinely shocked, their expressions shifting from surprise to bewildered helplessness.

“Ah~ I’ve never traveled far on my own before,” one lamented.

“Wanwan, me neither! Let’s look out for each other over the next few days~”

“Of course~”

The two embraced intimately, appearing as if they had instantly become inseparable best friends.

In stark contrast to this lively display were Xu Linqiu and her companion, whose reactions were muted. The camera panned to them, capturing a close-up of their expressions.

Xu Linqiu merely furrowed her brows slightly, yet her faint, lingering smile was a delight to behold. Even without filters, it was obvious she was completely makeup-free. Her skin was fair and healthy, her reddish-brown curls peeking out from a low ponytail. She had a gentle curve to her lips and a tiny, charming mole on the tip of her nose.

The only flaw was a slight shadow under her eyes—clearly, she hadn’t slept well last night.

The camera lingered on her for several seconds. Just as it was about to move on, she raised her hand. “Director, if we’re leaving for three days, can we call our families?”

The lens then shifted to Shi Ji, who was standing beside her.

Since the hickeys from the previous night hadn’t faded, Shi Ji was forced to wear a red checkered shirt buttoned to the top, paired with casual teal suit trousers. These clashing colors somehow looked high-fashion on her. She wore light makeup, her blue-black wavy hair draped loosely, her flashy studs catching the light. However, her “peach blossom” eyes held clear annoyance, and her hands were tucked lazily into her pockets.

The camera pulled back. Standing near the director, Mu Yi—knowing they were in the wrong for this surprise setup—was a bit afraid that the hot-tempered Shi Ji would charge over and start cursing. He exchanged a glance with the director and signaled: “You can make a call. You can also have your families send luggage to the program team; we’ll deliver it to you later. However, the luggage can only contain clothes.”

Hearing this, Xu Linqiu turned her back and walked a short distance away to dial a number. Shi Ji followed suit. The camera tactfully pulled even further away until their voices were out of range.

Back at the villa, a phone rang. Yi Chenqing’s hand shook imperceptibly. A flash of joy crossed her eyes before she answered.

Before the other side could speak, she said, “I know. I’m watching the stream.”

“Do you need clothes?”

“Yes.” After that one word, Xu Linqiu didn’t know what else to say. She unconsciously rubbed the callus on her index finger and finally smiled. “Fry a few more eggs at home. When I get back, I’d like to eat something a bit lighter.”

“Okay.” With just that one word, warmth flooded Yi Chenqing’s eyes, and the icy aura around her vanished completely.

There was a pause on the other end before a soft voice said, “I’m hanging up now.”

“Okay.”

Yi Yanbai, who had been watching the scene with bated breath, quietly pulled out her own phone just as it began to ring. She cleared her throat and answered. Shi Ji’s voice on the other end was pressed low, thick with fury.

“Damn it! Do you know? Those two women standing over there are the ones who drugged me that night. I want to tear their mouths off right now…”

Realizing Yi Yanbai had gone silent—likely because she had mentioned that night—Shi Ji quickly shut up. During the awkward silence, Yi Yanbai finally spoke.

“Do you need clothes?”

“Um… find me two sets that are a bit more conservative.” Shi Ji paused, still feeling a bit avoidant. “I slept in the room at the very end of the hallway last night. My suitcase is in there. Hanging up now.”

“Okay.”

Yi Yanbai put down her phone, her long lashes casting a shadow over the strange look in her eyes, and went back to eating her toast. Meanwhile, Yi Chenqing was engrossed in the livestream’s comment section.

As the phone calls were being made, the comments scrolled by at lightning speed:

[User1]: I clicked in because of the push notification. “Elites of All Walks”? Maybe for Little President Shi Ji, given her status. But who are these two 18th-tier starlets? And there’s one who retired years ago whose name I can’t even remember.

[FanA]: Watch your mouth! My Wanwan and Yiyi were the top two in Sunshine Bright! They are the elites of the trainee world. The show is called “All Walks” for a reason!

[User2]: Pfft, didn’t they almost get into a fistfight over first place recently? Now they’re acting like soul sisters?

[Shi-Xu Shipper]: Don’t ruin the comment section. We’re here for the CP (couple) vibes. If you don’t like it, get out!

[NostalgicFan]: Seeing Linqiu and Little President Shi together… my youth is back! It feels like back when College Entrance Exam finished filming, and she was always caught smiling with Shi Ji in their school uniforms. I’ll never forget that era.

[User3]: They look so good together! I love this “broken mirror joined together” (old flames reuniting) trope!

[User4]: It’s not too late for Linqiu to return to the industry! Look at that bare face—I’m dead!

[User5]: SHIP THEM! They MUST be together by the end of this show!

Ship them? Together?

Yi Chenqing’s grip on her phone tightened. She looked up at Yi Yanbai, her face cold. “Why do netizens think they are a good match? And what does ‘reuniting’ mean?”

Yi Yanbai choked slightly under the icy gaze. She took a sip of milk before replying, “They were very close in high school. In fact…”

“Someone reported them for being in a relationship, and the school called their parents. Since the school never issued a clarification, everyone just assumed it was true. Plus, Sister Linqiu was very popular then and was often photographed with Sister Shi Ji. Neither of them ever denied it, so…”

Yi Yanbai met her sister’s eyes and, as if possessed, added: “Sister, they really do look like a good match.”

Bang!

The sound of Yi Chenqing slamming the table startled her.

“That is my wife,” Yi Chenqing said, looking at her sister as if she were a fool. “And your wife.” She lowered her eyes and spoke slowly. “They are sisters-in-law.”

She took a sip of milk and deliberately dialed a number. As soon as the call connected, she spoke: “Contact the person in charge of Elites of All Walks. Tell them I want to join the show. I don’t care how much it costs.”

Thinking that going alone might be… awkward, she glanced at Yi Yanbai and added, “I need two spots.”

There was a two-second silence on the other end before her assistant’s distressed voice came through: “President, how can you go on a variety show? Your image represents the entire Yi Corporation!”

She countered: “Oh? Do you think my private image isn’t good enough? That I’ll crumble on TV and negatively impact the company?”

Assistant: “…”

“That’s not what I meant… Understood. I’m on it.”

Hanging up, Yi Chenqing carried her plate to the kitchen. As she passed Yi Yanbai, she remarked, “I’m going. That ‘reunion’ is about to stay broken.”

Yi Yanbai: “…”

Even though they had already shared intimate moments, Yi Chenqing still hesitated for a long time when picking out Xu Linqiu’s underwear. The silky fabric reminded her of last night, and her ears turned a deep crimson. She hid them behind her black hair.

Once they were both packed and sitting on the sofa, the assistant called back with bad news. “President, they said the show has already started. They won’t take any amount of money.”

It was the first time Yi Chenqing had met someone who turned down money. She frowned in silence. Yi Yanbai spoke up: “Sister, maybe we can start with the other two guests.”

Yi Chenqing caught her drift immediately. She told the assistant: “Investigate those two trainee guests. If they have any dirt, leak it—as long as it’s true.”

“Understood, President.”

The call ended. She tapped back into the livestream. The camera was currently on Xu Linqiu, who was leaning against her seat, fast asleep from exhaustion. The light from the plane window filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow over her. Even in sleep, she looked elegant and refined.

Yi Chenqing’s finger tapped the screen as she sent a flurry of expensive virtual gifts. She even found herself typing into the comments: [My wife is so beautiful.]

Someone in the comments immediately felt “pity” for her: [Sister, stay rational. This is a CP-shipping zone. You’re going to end up crying later.]

Yi Chenqing’s face was cold. The next second, the camera pulled back to show the sleeping Shi Ji naturally resting her head on Xu Linqiu’s shoulder. They looked incredibly close.

She immediately called her assistant back. “Are we done yet?”

The assistant was on the verge of tears. “President, don’t rush me. Almost there, almost…”

“Where is the efficiency you used to have? Faster.”

“…” It had only been a few minutes since the last call. The assistant sighed. “On it!”

By the time the guests woke up, the plane was nearing its destination. Seeing the traffic dip because of the lack of drama, the director began to cue the talent.

“You can all take this time to get to know each other.”

“Our destination is the famous Hot Spring Island. It’s known for its natural springs and its local fishing community. A large portion of the island is a natural wilderness, attracting explorers to its rare flora and fauna.”

Following the director’s lead, Xu Linqiu smiled at the other two guests. “Hello, I’m Xu Linqiu.”

“Hi, I’m Zhu Qinwan, the leader and main dancer of the newly formed group WTRST.”

“Hello, I’m Qian Yiyi, the vocal for WTRST. You can call me Yiyi.”

The two trainees gave sweet smiles. Shi Ji, however, gave them no face. “I don’t think I need an introduction. We were drinking together just the night before last, weren’t we?”

“Except, someone gave me a drink that was ‘spiked,’ so I had to rush home,” Shi Ji said. She never cared about her reputation and said whatever was on her mind, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

The two trainees reacted instantly, smiling back. “We’ve heard so much about you, Sister Shi, but we’ve never met in person. You’re even prettier than your photos~”

“That’s right. Sister, you might have been too drunk and mistaken us for someone else. Since our debut, Wanwan and I have been at the training base practicing our new single.”

Sensing something was wrong, Xu Linqiu immediately chose to stand by Shi Ji. She smiled and said, “There’s no need to hide that you went for a drink because of the pressure of practicing. After all, given our Ji-zi’s looks, many people would try ‘unconventional’ methods to get close to her. Don’t worry, she’s used to it. You girls just focus on releasing your single.”

Not knowing how to respond, Zhu Qinwan nudged Qian Yiyi. Yiyi bit her lip, her eyes welled with tears, and her face flushed with “grievance.” “Sister, you really have the wrong people. We don’t even drink. We’ve only heard of Little President Shi from afar—how would we ever dare~”

A similarly “wronged” Zhu Qinwan buried her face behind Yiyi, her body trembling as if she were crying. It was as if they had never encountered someone so brazenly “telling lies” about them.

The curve of Xu Linqiu’s eyes relaxed as she slowly withdrew her smile, her gaze turning cold. Seeing that things were about to spiral out of control, the director quickly intervened: “The plane has arrived. Guests, please disembark!”