After The Forced Marriage, I Ended Up With The Top Celebrity - Chapter 17

Qiao Jinyan clicked on Luo Nianshu’s WeChat. The chat box first popped up with a sticker of a cat rubbing against a person, followed by Luo Nianshu’s urging.

Lou Nianshu : How much longer until you’re back?

A barely noticeable smile lifted the corner of Qiao Jinyan’s mouth.

Qiao Jinyan: Right away.

Luo Nianshu: Okay, waiting for you.

“Senior?” Tang Fu tentatively called out to Qiao Jinyan, who was absorbed in her phone messages.

Qiao Jinyan finally looked up, concealing the smile at the corner of her lips, and put on a business-like expression, asking, “Where were we just now?”

Tang Fu pursed her lips. That kind of smile… Qiao Jinyan would never use a smile like that when talking to her.

“We were talking about how I didn’t deliberately arrive at the publicity hall early, but rather, someone intentionally reminded and required me to arrive early.”

As she spoke, Tang Fu turned her head to look around, making sure there were no acquaintances outside the glass door.

Qiao Jinyan’s chin lowered, and she frowned.

According to Tang Fu’s account, Zhang Weiyin contacted Tang Fu’s management company and informed Tang Fu that she must arrive early, as if she had prior knowledge that the two of them would be wearing the same outfit.

In other words, this clash-of-outfits incident was meticulously planned, aimed at promoting Tang Fu and stepping on her. And behind it, Zhang Weiyin and Tang Fu’s management company, Le Hong Film and Television, must have a secret collusion.

“I understand what you mean now.” Qiao Jinyan crossed her legs and rested one hand on the back of the chair. “But why should I believe you?”

Tang Fu’s hand clenched, her tone hurt. “Whether you believe it or not is your own business, Senior. I just want to inform you of the truth.”

“The whole development benefits you, so why choose to stand on the same front as me?”

At this, Tang Fu’s pupils contracted, her cheeks flushed, and she mumbled through trembling lips, “Be-because I… like…”

Ding dong!

Qiao Jinyan’s phone rang again. She hadn’t heard what Tang Fu said, so she gestured to stop, and opened WeChat.

Luo Nianshu: Ready yet? Ready yet?

Qiao Jinyan: You’re so annoying.

Qiao Jinyan: Stop rushing. I’ll be back right away.

Luo Nianshu: Hurry, hurry. Miss you, miss you.

Putting down her phone, Qiao Jinyan looked at Tang Fu. “Is there anything else you want to say?”

Tang Fu hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. “No.”

Tang Fu recalled the gentle expression on Qiao Jinyan’s face during the chat. She had never seen that side of Qiao Jinyan, not even in any of the romance dramas Qiao Jinyan had filmed.

That kind of expression… couldn’t be faked.

A pang struck Tang Fu’s heart. She asked again, “Senior, may I ask who you were chatting with just now?”

Qiao Jinyan’s eyes turned cold. She always disliked people prying into her private life, especially someone who was her competitor.

Tang Fu didn’t notice the change in Qiao Jinyan and continued to ask, “Was it… the assistant from earlier?”

“Just a netizen who likes to spam my comments,” Qiao Jinyan uttered plainly, unwilling to say more.

Is that so… Tang Fu was half-convinced, half-doubtful.

Qiao Jinyan got up, paid for the tea, and didn’t linger. She pulled open the door of the private room and left.

Tang Fu sat alone at the tea table, staring blankly at the untouched cup of tea, her eyes melancholic and serene, as deep as a bottomless lake.

After a long while, she sighed softly.

As soon as Qiao Jinyan turned the corner of the corridor, she saw Luo Nianshu waiting there, leaning against the wall and gazing up at the ceiling.

Qiao Jinyan felt a wave of amusement, but her expression remained calm. “Been waiting long?”

The sudden sound startled Luo Nianshu.

Caught red-handed, Luo Nianshu quickly stood straight, tucked a few stray hairs, and smiled at Qiao Jinyan. “No, I just came out for a stroll and ran into you. What a coincidence.”

Qiao Jinyan suppressed a laugh, choosing not to expose Luo Nianshu’s lie.

Luo Nianshu hugged Qiao Jinyan’s waist from behind, rested her head on Qiao Jinyan’s shoulder, and shuffled back towards their room step by step, matching Qiao Jinyan’s pace.

“My Goddess, can you interact less with Tang Fu from now on?”

“Why?”

“No reason. If there’s really something, you can let Molly discuss it with her, or I can go too.”

“It’s a matter of work.”

“Please, please, please…” Luo Nianshu rubbed her nose against the hollow of Qiao Jinyan’s neck, making her giggle with tickles.

Luo Nianshu let go, turned Qiao Jinyan to face her, and deliberately used her doe-like eyes, which seemed about to spill water, to beg.

“This is the first request I’ve ever made to you. Just say yes.”

Thinking back seriously, this really seemed to be the first request Luo Nianshu had made of her. They were in a secret relationship, and she couldn’t give Luo Nianshu any public recognition, having to hide and sneak around with her.

With that thought, Qiao Jinyan’s heart twinged.

She stroked Luo Nianshu’s hair and said gently, “Okay.”

After the room door closed, Qiao Jinyan’s upright posture suddenly collapsed, relaxing uncharacteristically into Luo Nianshu’s embrace.

She rested her head on Luo Nianshu’s shoulder, her long hair sliding down from her shoulder and covering her face. The light was blocked, and the view before her darkened.

“Thirty million, I’m so tired.”

An uncharacteristic voice of exhaustion.

Luo Nianshu gently patted Qiao Jinyan’s back, stroking her and feeling the curve of her spine.

She dropped a kiss into her hair. “Do you want to check your Weibo?”

Qiao Jinyan shook her head, her hair and the fabric brushing against each other, making a rustling sound.

She didn’t want to see it; it was all filled with criticism of her. Just a few months ago, she was the biggest traffic star in the entire entertainment industry, but now, not long after, she was facing a boycott from half the internet.

“Just take a look,” Luo Nianshu chuckled, opened Weibo, reached down, and placed the phone in front of Qiao Jinyan.

The bright light from the screen made Qiao Jinyan squint. She looked up, brushed her long hair aside, took the phone, and slowly scrolled through the comments under her Weibo post.

Netizen A: I didn’t expect Qiao Jinyan to be this kind of person. Today, I threw away all her posters and DVDs.

Netizen B: I’ve turned from a fan to an anti-fan of Qiao Jinyan. Five years wasted. Interfering with other people’s love life is too petty.

Netizen C: Wang Xu’s side cleaned up their reputation too quickly, didn’t they? How do they explain the audio file exposed by an insider a few days ago? I stand with Qiao Jinyan this time.

Netizen D: Qiao Jinyan, get out of the entertainment industry.

Netizen E: No matter what my Goddess does, I support her!

Netizen E: Scumbag, scumbag, may he never rise again! (referring to Wang Xu)

Netizen E: My Goddess has such good character; this incident definitely has a hidden agenda. Otherwise, how do you explain the audio file? Plus, Wang Xu married a strange woman just a few months later. Don’t you think that’s odd?

Netizen E: Keep hating, you haters. You deserve to be single.

Netizen D: [Replying to Netizen E] As if you’re not single.

Netizen E: [Replying to Netizen D] I’m sorry, I’m not single anymore.

Netizen E: [Replying to Netizen D] And I even slept with my Goddess.

Netizen F: Holy cow, Netizen E, you big spammer! I scrolled through all the comments and you’re the only one talking.

Pfft, Qiao Jinyan burst out laughing. She tilted her head back and hugged Luo Nianshu tightly. “You big spammer.”

Luo Nianshu blinked mischievously. “I was just spamming comments by your decree.”

Qiao Jinyan smiled again, gently released Luo Nianshu, and walked alone to the floor-to-ceiling window, hugging herself as she watched the flowing stream of cars below. She said calmly, “I really love acting. Acting is my dream. I will sweep all the awards one day. Luo Nianshu, tell me, why is the path of pursuing a dream so hard?”

Luo Nianshu had seen Qiao Jinyan angry, seductive, and proud, but never this wistful.

She softly walked up and took Qiao Jinyan’s hand. “It will be okay. Everything will be okay one day.”

Molly crept stealthily through the hallway, her shoes making no sound on the soft carpet.

She was conducting a nighttime surveillance, ensuring Qiao Jinyan and Luo Nianshu were behaving themselves in the room and not doing anything outrageous.

Molly quietly pressed her ear against the door, carefully listening to the sounds inside, not letting any tiny movement slip past her.

“I’m going to ride you, I’m going to ride you!” Luo Nianshu’s anxious shouts came from inside the room.

“Ah, you’re so annoying! Don’t always sit on my head.” Qiao Jinyan whined sweetly.

Molly outside the door: “…” What kind of wolf like words are those?

Molly’s blood rushed to her face, and she banged on the door panel with a flushed face. “Open up! Both of you, open the door for me!”

“Someone’s here?” Luo Nianshu’s puzzled voice came from inside. The sound of slippers rubbing against the floor came closer.

Click, the door opened. Before Luo Nianshu could greet her, Molly squeezed into the room first, questioning loudly, “What are you two doing?”

The bedding in the room was neatly made, and Qiao Jinyan and Luo Nianshu were fully and properly dressed, with no suspicious signs whatsoever.

Qiao Jinyan innocently tilted her head towards Molly. “We’re playing a game.”

Molly froze, then gritted her teeth. “What kind of game is so vulgar?”

“Honor of Kings, of course.” Qiao Jinyan leaned back onto the bed. “I’m playing Diao Chan.”

Luo Nianshu: “I’m playing Yao.”

Molly: “…”

(Little side note: Yao’s main skill is to attach to other heroes, giving them healing and shields.)

“So you were eavesdropping on us,” Luo Nianshu exposed her.

Molly’s face flushed, and she cleared her throat unnaturally, taking out a rolled-up script from behind her back. “Don’t talk nonsense. I’m here to deliver a script to Yanyan.”

At the mention of new work, Qiao Jinyan’s eyes lit up. She immediately got off the bed and took the script.

“It’s a variety show,” she commented while flipping through it. “Rural Experience Diary”? “What kind of third-rate variety show is this? I haven’t heard of the director, editor, or photographer.”

“I’m not taking it.” Qiao Jinyan handed the script back.

Molly didn’t take it and said awkwardly, “No, you have to. The company has given a mandatory requirement. You must take it. All the production companies and advertisers have withdrawn their investments recently. This is the only script left. If you don’t take it, we won’t have any money to earn.”

Qiao Jinyan raised her hand to look at her fair and delicate fingers, then looked down at her slender and fragile figure, and immediately burst into teary-eyed protests to Molly. “I really can’t adapt to such a harsh life.”

“Just try it,” Luo Nianshu persuaded. If an actor has no script, it means they are unemployed.

“I can help you,” she said, tugging Qiao Jinyan’s hand.

Molly immediately swung a blow at Luo Nianshu’s hand. “Who allowed you to hold Yanyan’s hand?”

Luo Nianshu cried out in pain and quickly let go, blowing on her red hand.

“Molly!” Qiao Jinyan was furious. Her tears vanished instantly, and she sat up straight and shouted, “How could you hit her?”

“I’m fine, I’m fine.”

Luo Nianshu pulled Qiao Jinyan, signaling her not to get agitated. She winked at Molly and continued to persuade Qiao Jinyan, “Take the script. It won’t be too hard. You have me… er, you have Molly with you.”

Molly nodded, promising to take good care of Qiao Jinyan and not let the schedule be too tough. Then she added, “Oh, and Tang Fu will also be participating in this show.”

Luo Nianshu: “Hmm?”

Luo Nianshu quickly turned and helped Qiao Jinyan up, stating righteously, “Forget it, my Goddess. I don’t think you can handle the hardship. How about we just don’t take this script? I’ll support you from now on.”

Molly: “…”

Qiao Jinyan: “…”

Author’s Note:

Finished today’s portion early~

I’ve been working on my thesis these past few days and am worried it might affect my writing progress, but I’ll try my best to keep up the daily updates. (heart)

I hope everyone enjoyed today’s chapter (bow).