After Transmigrating, I Fell in Love with a Top-Tier Movie Queen - Chapter 1

A flash of lightning split the sky in two, followed by a deafening clap of thunder.

The rain fell like a curtain, obscuring the world.

Ye Linghua held a bright crimson umbrella, her white form-fitting knit sweater paired with black skinny pants accentuating her graceful figure. She walked slowly into the residential community, as if stepping out of a black-and-white ink painting.

Her steps were light, her black leather shoes stepping into shallow puddles, splashing up a cool spray. Through the rain, she finally saw a row of luxurious villas in the distance. They were nestled in front of a lush green forest, where birds returning to their nests chirped, adding a sense of desolation to the already gloomy weather. The raindrops pattered on her umbrella.

Ye Linghua looked up at the sky. Because of the overcast weather, there was no sunset. As she got closer to the villas, she noticed they were all spaced far apart. It made sense; as a high-end community in Youcheng, the residents were either wealthy or famous. Many well-known movie stars bought homes here for the privacy.

And the person Ye Linghua was looking for was one of them.

After walking past two villas, Ye Linghua found the person she was looking for at the third one.

A woman was sitting on the steps by the door, her head bowed to the ground, allowing the rain to pour down on her. She was motionless, like a statue.

Ye Linghua watched quietly, not rushing forward. She knew this woman was Lin Xin, a rare celebrity who had been consistently popular since her days as a child star. In recent years, due to her marriage, Lin Xin had gradually faded from the public eye.

Ye Linghua knew that the real reason Lin Xin stepped away from the entertainment industry was her ex-wife, Zheng Ranwen.

When Lin Xin first met Zheng Ranwen, Zheng Ranwen had just debuted from a talent show, while Lin Xin was already a top star in the industry. As a three-time Best Actress winner, Lin Xin was not only revered by her fans but also had a vast network of connections in the industry. After marrying Zheng Ranwen, Lin Xin voluntarily stepped back from the limelight to focus on their relationship. She not only kept their home in perfect order but also paved a successful career path for Zheng Ranwen.

Today, Zheng Ranwen was a hugely popular rising star, and Lin Xin deserved all the credit.

But all that effort hadn’t earned her a single glance from Zheng Ranwen.

Instead, it led to this… their divorce day.

Ye Linghua raised her umbrella, giving her a wider view. Through the rain, she could see the woman hugging her knees, showing no reaction to her presence.

Ye Linghua sighed. She didn’t want to get involved in the drama between the protagonists, but she truly felt sorry for this main character.

Yes, this world was a book, titled Late Love.

Ye Linghua had read it in her spare time and hadn’t thought much of it. The entire book could be summarized in one sentence: a “chasing his wife in the crematorium” plot.

From the moment Zheng Ranwen abandoned Lin Xin, every plot point was filled with melodrama and cheap sentiment. It wasn’t that Zheng Ranwen didn’t love Lin Xin; she was just slow to realize when she fell in love with her and was unwilling to express that love. In the end, it was all late apologies and a late reunion.

“Late” was the theme of the entire book, perfectly reflecting its title, Late Love.

“Such a melodramatic story!”

At the time, Ye Linghua felt quite frustrated after finishing it. What did Lin Xin even love about Zheng Ranwen? Ye Linghua couldn’t figure it out, so she gave up trying.

When she first arrived in this world, Ye Linghua considered getting involved. After all, Lin Xin was a living person, and how could she just stand by knowing her fate? But back then, Lin Xin and Zheng Ranwen were in the early stages of their marriage, and Lin Xin was madly in love. The novel described Lin Xin’s love as so passionate that Ye Linghua didn’t have the arrogance to think she could change anything with just a few words.

So she chose to stay out of it. Three years passed, and Ye Linghua had almost forgotten that this was a book, almost forgotten the love and hate between the characters. But then one day, she opened social media and saw a new trending topic: Lin Wan returns to the country.

In that moment, Ye Linghua realized that three years had passed and the main storyline was officially beginning.

Sure enough, just two days after the news of Lin Wan’s return, the news of Lin Xin and Zheng Ranwen’s divorce was trending. Social media even crashed for a while. Lin Xin’s fans were ecstatic to finally be rid of Zheng Ranwen, the “vampire,” while Zheng Ranwen’s fans were just as happy to be free from the arrogant Lin Xin.

Ye Linghua lay in bed with her phone all night. She knew this divorce was the beginning of all of Lin Xin’s tragedies. Waiting for Zheng Ranwen to come back took a toll on Lin Xin’s health, and even after they reconciled, Lin Xin passed away early.

What should she do? Should she intervene? What could she even do?

After struggling with the decision, she finally stood here.

The woman sat vividly before her, wearing a white sheer nightgown, which was now soaked and clung to her skin. She looked so pitiful and pathetic.

Ye Linghua sighed again. I’m already here, so I might as well.

She slowly walked into Lin Xin’s yard, finally getting a clearer look at her. Even in profile, Lin Xin’s beauty was beyond Ye Linghua’s imagination. She was much prettier than she appeared in photos. Is she one of those people who just aren’t photogenic?

Lin Xin hadn’t noticed Ye Linghua’s presence. She continued to stare blankly at the ground, where the rain formed several puddles in the uneven path. Each puddle reflected the dark, heavy clouds in the sky, with falling raindrops creating rippling circles.

Lin Xin couldn’t understand why things had come to this point. Five years of her time and affection were worth less than a piece of news about Lin Wan’s return? Heh, did Zheng Ranwen really think I was so worthless?

The rain poured down mercilessly, soaking her hair and washing away her devotion. Lin Xin wiped her tears, her expression slowly hardening…

Ye Linghua stood not far away, watching her feign strength and finally deciding to intervene. I’ve transmigrated so dramatically, so I might as well do as I please!

I know all the plot points, so avoiding the pitfalls shouldn’t be too hard. Then I’ll just stay with her until Zheng Ranwen comes back. I’ll return a healthy and happy Lin Xin, and my mission will be a complete success. I don’t know if it will work, but doing nothing guarantees failure.

Ye Linghua’s resolve hardened, and she began to walk toward Lin Xin…

The drizzle hadn’t stopped since Zheng Ranwen left.

In the span of an afternoon, Lin Xin had finally come to terms with things and decided to let go of this relationship. If that’s what she wants, then I’ll let them be. I can live a wonderful life on my own. What’s the point of sitting here feeling sorry for myself? It only makes me look pathetic.

The more Lin Xin thought about it, the angrier she got. She was about to stand up and leave when a shadow suddenly covered her, and the rain on her head stopped. A person stood mysteriously in front of her.

The gentle patter of the rain seemed to grow louder, filling the entire world, echoing in her ears. It was a soft, pulling sound, as if tugging on her heart.

Later, in countless moments when Lin Xin thought back on their first meeting, her heart couldn’t help but flutter.

At that moment, she looked up in a daze and saw a red umbrella above her. The person in front of her was wearing a white outfit, creating a stark visual contrast with the umbrella. They had handsome, refined features, but their peach blossom eyes were full of a multi-faceted charm. When they looked at you, it felt like a deep gaze, and even Lin Xin couldn’t help but be lost for a moment.

The woman in front of her seemed unaware of how abrupt her appearance was. She gave Lin Xin a gentle smile.

As Lin Xin stared in shock, she heard a soft voice say, “I love rainy days.”

Lin Xin blinked her wide, almond-shaped eyes and quietly said, “Huh?”

Seeing her bewildered reaction, Ye Linghua crouched down to get closer. Up close, she noticed Lin Xin’s skin was so fair and flawless it was hard to believe. No wonder there were posts saying Lin Xin could go on screen without makeup. It wasn’t just a rumor.

After a brief moment of distraction, Ye Linghua quickly regained her focus. This is the main character, this is the main character, this is Zheng Ranwen’s main character!

Ye Linghua convinced herself, then gave Lin Xin a brilliant smile. Her charming peach blossom eyes were like new moons, sparkling with starlight. She asked Lin Xin, “Have you ever seen a princess cry in the rain?”

Lin Xin shook her head.

Ye Linghua smiled and said, “I have.” Then she took out a pack of tissues and handed them to Lin Xin, whispering with a laugh, “You’re even more beautiful than I imagined.”

Lin Xin blinked, finally understanding Ye Linghua’s words. After a moment of愣, she suddenly let out a laugh. The gloom in her heart actually lessened because of this stranger’s compliment.

Was she sad? Of course, she was! Not to mention the emotional investment, even if they were just colleagues, she had helped Zheng Ranwen so much, and being cast aside so easily would feel unfair. What’s more, she had truly loved her.

“A princess shouldn’t cry.”

“And one day, you will live more happily than anyone else.”

She didn’t know who this woman was, but her words, spoken one by one, miraculously soothed the turmoil in Lin Xin’s heart. They weren’t profound truths, but at this moment, they were the most beautiful words she had ever heard.

Perhaps it was her soft voice, or the genuine tenderness she exuded. Lin Xin happily accepted this kindness.

After she finished laughing, Lin Xin asked, “Who are you?”

Ye Linghua paused, realizing she was too close to Lin Xin. She quickly stood up, a little flustered, and scratched her head. Then she said, “My surname is Ye, and my name is Ye Linghua.”

Lin Xin repeated, “Ye Linghua?”

Through the rain, one sat and one stood, looking at each other. The drizzle seemed to provide a soundtrack for their first meeting. The sky grew darker, and as time passed, the streetlights came on, creating a shimmering halo between them.

Ye Linghua?

For a moment, Lin Xin’s gaze became unfocused.

“Click!”

A sudden sound came from outside the yard. As a top star in the entertainment industry, Lin Xin knew exactly what that sound was.

She frowned and looked toward the bushes outside. Her good mood instantly soured. “Even in the rain, they’re so dedicated,” she muttered. She was about to give them a good lesson. These paparazzi wanted to see her as a joke and send her trending? Then she’d give them what they wanted and go trending with them. Lin Xin was tired of dealing with these paparazzi lurking in the shadows.

She stood up aggressively and started walking toward the bushes. As she passed Ye Linghua, she was suddenly pulled back by the arm. Due to the force of the pull, Lin Xin stumbled backward and bumped into Ye Linghua’s chest. Ye Linghua’s body was warm, and the heat radiated through Lin Xin’s thin nightgown.

Lin Xin frowned, looking at Ye Linghua.

Ye Linghua wasn’t intimidated by her angry expression. She just smiled warmly and said, “I forgot to mention what I do. I’m a housekeeper hired by your parents.”

A housekeeper?

“Huh?” At this moment, Lin Xin completely forgot about confronting the paparazzi. She was just confused. Why would her parents suddenly hire a housekeeper? And one who looked so handsome and refined? She didn’t look like a housekeeper at all!

Lin Xin looked at her suspiciously, but Ye Linghua had no intention of explaining. She used a little more force and pulled Lin Xin into the villa.

Lin Xin protested, “Hey? Wait, wait…”

Ye Linghua moved so quickly that Lin Xin finally panicked, trying to pull her arm back, but she couldn’t.

“Did you forget what you’re wearing?” Ye Linghua’s simple reminder brought Lin Xin back to her senses.

She was wearing her pajamas, and they were a bit see-through.

In that brief moment, Ye Linghua successfully pulled Lin Xin into the villa and quickly shut the door, cutting off the paparazzi outside and the cold night air.

Lin Xin finally pulled her hand away, flexing her wrist, then turned and walked toward the living room. Ye Linghua smiled and shook her head, placing the umbrella in the stand by the entrance before following Lin Xin.

She was surprised by the state of the living room; it looked like there had been a fight in the afternoon. That can’t be right, the book didn’t mention this!

Lin Xin looked at the messy room, remembering the scattered documents on the coffee table and the shattered glass on the bar from her argument with Zheng Ranwen that afternoon. A bit of bitterness welled up in her heart, but before she could fully feel it, she saw Ye Linghua bypass her and start tidying up the living room.

Ye Linghua’s head was bowed, revealing her fair neck. Her expression was focused, and a gentle aura radiated from her.

Lin Xin walked to the bar, grabbed a new wine glass, poured herself some red wine, and sat on the rotating bar stool. She let out a small laugh and asked, “Are you really a housekeeper hired by my parents?”

Ye Linghua answered with a simple “Mhm,” “I am.”

According to the novel, this incident of Lin Xin confronting the paparazzi was the beginning of her career decline. She had already caused a fan war by marrying the unknown Zheng Ranwen. Now, fighting with reporters would leave a terrible impression. Her disheveled appearance was put online multiple times, becoming the butt of vulgar jokes.

In the book, Lin Xin was depressed for a long time because of this.

That’s why when Ye Linghua saw Lin Xin’s aggressive demeanor just now, she pulled her into the villa. Ye Linghua hoped to change her fate, so she tried to stop her, and it seemed she had succeeded.

Ye Linghua carefully put all the trash into a garbage bag, tidying up from the living room all the way to the bar. When she looked up, she saw Lin Xin sitting on a stool beside her, her legs crossed and her bright eyes observing her from head to toe.

Under the sheer white nightgown, two fair legs were faintly visible.

Ye Linghua averted her gaze, her expression innocent.

Lin Xin asked, “Are you really… a housekeeper?”

Ye Linghua answered without hesitation, “I am.”

Lin Xin’s eyes became more suspicious. “Don’t you think the room is even more of a mess after you’ve tidied it?”

Ye Linghua froze, then turned to look at the living room she had just organized.

Ye Linghua replied dryly, “Could you… give a newbie a chance?”

Her plan of companionship couldn’t end before it even began.

Lin Xin: “…Fine.”