After My Cross-dressing Cover Was Blown, the Movie Star Became My Accomplice - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

◎ This village… is very ominous! ◎

A trace of an invisible cold wind seemed to scrape past, and the atmosphere between the four of them instantly froze. Kong Yanfei looked left and right, finally fixing her gaze on the identity card in Mu Yao’s hand.

“How is Brother Mu Yao going to play the Shrine Maiden? Don’t tell me he has to cross-dress?“

Speaking of cross-dressing, Kong Yanfei’s tone went up, her eyes looking at Mu Yao with anticipation and excitement.

‘Champion sister, what on earth are you excited about?’

Mu Yao worked hard to manage his expression, trying his best to keep his eyebrows and the corners of his mouth from twitching.

“Hmm… With your looks, cross-dressing should actually look pretty good. I just don’t know if the production team has women’s clothing that fits you.“

Qu Fu sized Mu Yao up from head to toe, speaking with great interest.

“Aha, now this is interesting. I trust the production team and the prop department will surely be able to prepare the corresponding attire!“

Bi Tu lightly tapped the tabletop and looked toward the camera with a face of total trust in the crew. He appeared calm, but in reality, he let out a sigh of relief in his heart.

‘A fifty-fifty choice. Good heavens, that was dangerous. Thank goodness for my luck, otherwise, I’d be the one cross-dressing! Although… a middle-aged man in a dress would probably be quite a hoot, wouldn’t it?’

“Of course! Our production team’s preparations are ex-treme-ly com-pre-hen-sive!“

Outside the filming range, a staff member nodded firmly and patted his chest in a guarantee. That confident look made Mu Yao want to cry but have no tears.

‘Brother, I actually hope you can’t prepare it!’

“Yes, I also believe the team can prepare it. I just wonder what kind of tasks these identities will have?“

Mu Yao spoke against his heart about “trusting” them, while subconsciously beginning to ponder the tasks his identity might bring.

Qu Fu’s Bamboo Weaver and Bi Tu’s Cloth Dyer were both craftsman identities; their most likely tasks would involve creation. As for Kong Yanfei’s Mine Hunter, it was probably a “find-the-item” task. But what kind of task would a Shrine Maiden receive?

Speaking of “Shrine Maiden,” the first things to notice were the words “Shrine” and “Maiden.” Whether it was guarding a shrine or being stationed there, it was inseparable from the ancestral hall.

At the mention of a shrine or ancestral hall, Mu Yao immediately thought of an old building with high gates and a large courtyard, filled with the spirit tablets of the village elders. It was the place the villagers had to go for ancestral worship.

Such places, which had a strong connection to the deceased, would undoubtedly be frequented by wandering ghosts. Mu Yao felt a faint, bad premonition.

“Tasks will be assigned according to the travel itinerary. You guests will only find out after arriving at Xiantao Village.“

To maintain the mystery, the production team certainly wouldn’t disclose the tasks now. Mu Yao nodded in understanding and obediently returned to his seat to continue being a “little transparent.” Anyway, the main shots were focused on the other three.

“Alright, the identity cards have been drawn. Everyone, please keep your cards safe, take your tickets, materials, and handheld VLOG devices, and go home to record a packing video. Our flight is tomorrow afternoon. You have one day to prepare your luggage. I wish us a pleasant journey!”

After the staff member finished speaking, Mu Yao saw the director make the gesture to stop filming. He rose from his seat, grabbed his backpack, and skillfully packed the items the staff mentioned.

“Brother Mu Yao, if the crew says you have to wear a dress, you really will wear one, right?”

Ever since learning Mu Yao had to cross-dress, Kong Yanfei had been looking at him with sparkling eyes. As soon as filming ended, she leaned in.

‘Champion sister, can you please stop constantly thinking about making me wear a little skirt?’

“I’ll wear it. Although I’m resistant, I’ll follow the requirements. I just don’t know what kind of skirt it will be.”

To be honest, the unknown was the most terrifying thing. Mu Yao now felt a faint sense of dread, hoping the crew would act like decent humans and prepare a relatively normal dress.

He could cross-dress for a show, but he definitely didn’t want a “social death” that would leave behind a dark history.

“Then I can look forward to it!”

Kong Yanfei clapped her hands and hopped out of the office.

“Mu Yao, cross-dressing is somewhat difficult. You’re so tall… remember to have the crew take your measurements. If they prepare an ill-fitting costume, you’ll still have to force it on.”

Qu Fu approached in her high heels. Looking at Mu Yao, who was about 185cm tall, she kindly offered a tip.

“Alright, thank you, Sister Qu.”

Mu Yao thanked her instinctively. He truly hadn’t thought of that detail.

“Heh, I’m only a year older. Calling me ‘Sister’ sounds a bit too aged. You can just call me Qu Fu, I don’t mind.”

Qu Fu flicked the ends of her hair and waved her hand with the poise of a cool older sister.

“I’m off. See you tomorrow.”

Looking at Qu Fu’s back, Mu Yao felt that this popular “little flower” truly suffered from a bad reputation; the internet always said she was arrogant and bullied people, but in reality, it wasn’t like that at all.

“Sigh, Little Brother Mu Yao, I look forward to your female look!”

The veteran senior Bi Tu, who had a very good reputation online, winked at Mu Yao. The playfulness and malice in his eyes were undisguised.

‘On the contrary, this one is clearly a “Buddha’s mouth but a snake’s heart.”‘

Mu Yao nodded, pretending not to notice the malice, packed his things, and turned to leave.

When he reached downstairs, Qu Fu and Kong Yanfei had already been picked up. A car was parked outside, but it wasn’t for him—it was for Bi Tu.

“Little Brother Mu Yao, did the company not arrange a car for you? Do you want to take my car?”

Just as Mu Yao was about to walk away, Bi Tu’s voice came from behind him again.

“No thanks, I’ll take the bus myself.”

“Sigh, it’s not easy for young people. Fine then, be careful on the road!”

This time, what showed in Bi Tu’s eyes was genuine concern, devoid of any malice.

Mu Yao was wondering why this man’s attitude had flipped, but then his ears caught a slight click sound.

He instinctively turned his head. In the dim bushes, he saw the reflection of a lens wobbling slightly.

‘Oh, no wonder his state changed so drastically. It’s for marketing!’

Mu Yao immediately understood the underlying meaning and strode away.

There were fewer people traveling at noon, so the bus wasn’t very crowded. Mu Yao, wearing a mask, transferred through several buses to return to his neighborhood. He bought a bowl of Malatang from a restaurant at the base of the building to take home.

“If I weren’t leaving tomorrow, I might as well have bought some vegetables to cook myself. So expensive!”

Mu Yao grumbled while turning on the space heater. He waited for the room to warm up before taking off his coat. He rubbed his hands and looked at the food in the container with a pained expression.

To make sure he was full, he had picked plenty of meat and vegetables. But after being cooked at high temperatures, that big handful of greens and meat had shrunk significantly, though the meatballs had puffed up quite a bit.

In his heart, he calculated how many vegetables he could have bought with the money for this one meal. After finishing the math, he gritted his teeth and quickly ate the food!

Having finished lunch quickly, he opened his black suitcase on the living room floor, placed the items to be packed on the sofa, and then turned on the VLOG equipment to start recording.

“Alright, next I’m going to record the packing.”

Mu Yao first said a few words to the camera. The shot was very close, trying to avoid filming the simple and crude environment of the room.

“The suitcase is ready, and the things are ready. Next, I’ll pack them in.”

He turned the lens to point at the suitcase and the clothes beside him, then wore the device around his neck.

“These are clothes—some light-colored, some dark-colored. I’ll put them all in a large bag. Even though the crew will provide outfits, I still need to prepare some since it’s a trip.”

After putting the clothes in, he picked up a plastic bag already filled with items.

“These are masks, also essential.”

He placed the masks in a side compartment, then picked up a small dark brown wooden box and shook it, but said nothing before placing it in the compartment as well.

“These are shoes, just in case.”

He put the shoes in a bag and placed them next to the clothes; with the bag, they wouldn’t dirty the suitcase.

“These are face towels, toiletries are all in travel sizes, and… cosmetics.”

Mu Yao put the items in one by one. When he put the cosmetics in, his face showed a trace of rejection. Fortunately, the camera was pointing at the suitcase.

“Okay, that’s everything. Next, prepare for departure tomorrow!”

He packed very quickly and didn’t bring much—just conventional travel essentials.

After officially sealing the luggage, Mu Yao took off the recording device, said a simple word to the camera, and turned it off.

“Good, today’s work is done. Time to rest. Things will get busy starting tomorrow.”

He picked up his phone and sent a message to He Ji saying everything went smoothly today. He stood up and went into the kitchen to boil water, preparing to hunker down in bed to rest.

In her living room, Qu Fu was using her equipment to record her packing video. Her suitcase was a glamorous red and already filled with many things: beautiful and trendy clothes, essential high-end skincare products, makeup, face masks, as well as some nice candies and black coffee.

In his bedroom, Bi Tu was packing clothes into a gray suitcase. His clothing styles were very casual—mostly colorful, loose, and comfortable. After the clothes came daily necessities. He also put a few books inside, specifically waving them in front of the camera twice.

In her dormitory, Kong Yanfei was skillfully packing a light pink suitcase. Besides simple clothes, there was a cute brown bear pajama set, some small figurines and toys that teenage girls like, and a cute rabbit plushie. She enthusiastically introduced her little doll to the camera—her good partner who slept with her.

The next day, Mu Yao took his things to the airport and successfully met up with the production team. Everyone handed over their packing videos; the subsequent filming tasks would be handled entirely by the crew.

The plane took off. Mu Yao prepared to enjoy the comfortable business class seat. He hadn’t expected the crew to have such ample funds to provide business class seats even for a “little transparent” like him.

Just as he wanted to close his eyes and rest, Kong Yanfei, sitting behind him, patted his shoulder.

“Brother Mu Yao, can you watch the scenery with me?”

“Hmm? Sure.”

The business class they were in didn’t have side-by-side seats. Mu Yao turned his head to look at Kong Yanfei sitting behind him.

The young girl was full of energy and needed someone to talk to, and Mu Yao, sitting in front of her, was the most suitable candidate.

While Mu Yao patiently accompanied Kong Yanfei in looking at the scenery outside, his peripheral vision frequently shifted toward Bi Tu. In his eyes, the ghostly aura on Bi Tu was still as heavy as ever.

Bi Tu was very satisfied with the crew’s arrangements. He leaned back in his comfortable chair, facing the window to feel the warmth of the sun. A small table was set up beside him with a glass of plain water.

The surface of the water vibrated slightly with the flight of the plane. Suddenly, a pair of large, round eyes flickered within it.

Qu Fu asked the flight attendant for a magazine and flipped through it half-heartedly to kill time. After a while, still feeling bored, she leaned forward and patted Kong Yanfei, proactively teasing the young girl.

The flight was very time-consuming. When the plane landed, it was already three or four in the afternoon. The long flight left everyone’s faces showing traces of fatigue.

They retrieved their luggage and walked out of the airport, where a business van was waiting for them.

“Guests, thank you for your hard work, but we can’t rest yet. Next, we’ll take the van to Xiantao Village to stay at a temporary inn. Tomorrow, we will officially begin activities in Xiantao Village.”

Under the camera, no one could show a look of dissatisfaction. They had no choice but to get in the car and rest briefly during the drive.

Mu Yao was glad the production team wasn’t recording 24/7, this way, he could slack off properly.

When the van reached Xiantao Village, it was already evening. The setting sun spilled over the ancient village nestled by the river deep in the mountains. The peach blossoms in the village were dyed the color of the sunset. The quiet village had an unspeakable sense of antiquity.

As the vehicle slowly approached the village entrance, a strangely-posed old tree could be seen standing quietly. In Mu Yao’s eyes, the entire village was shrouded in heavy Yin energy.

“This village… is very ominous!”

Mu Yao frowned, his bad premonition growing stronger.

In front of a floor-to-ceiling window stood a tall figure. He held a phone, looking at the bright city lights outside.

The window reflected the man’s handsome face. His eyes were deep, with a sense of detachment in his dark pupils. His brows were sharp and majestic like blades, his nose bridge was high, and his profile was very three-dimensional.

“Brother Cheng, everything has been arranged. They will be on standby outside the village waiting for your news.”

“Good. Tell them to stay alert and not to drag me down.”

“Alright, I’ll make sure of it. You can take a direct flight there tonight. I’ve already arranged for people to pick you up there.”

“Mhm.”

Cheng Zeyì gave a response. He hung up the phone and turned toward his suitcase, his deep eyes devoid of any emotion.