After Transmigrating, I Fell in Love with a Top-Tier Movie Queen - Chapter 115

A few bird calls sound outside the window. The morning sun shoots thousands of rays from behind the mountains. One side of the sky grows brighter, slowly spreading…

A busy day begins. Cars on the roads and busy people inject vitality into the city.

In a dimly lit room, clothes are strewn across the floor. Two exceptionally beautiful women are fast asleep on the bed.

A fair arm rests across the blanket, lightly embracing the woman in her arms. The intimate pose, with their skin touching and affection overflowing, is disturbed by a phone ringing.

Lin Xin murmurs softly, feeling a pleasant warmth against her back. A blush involuntarily spreads across her face. Although she had a previous marriage and maintained the image of a wife for five years, she had never experienced this kind of soul-stirring feeling. Perhaps, she thought, it was because the person was Ye Linghua.

Thinking this, she almost ignored the phone ring. Afraid of waking the woman behind her, Lin Xin had turned the volume down early. She quickly fumbled and found the phone she had dropped on the floor last night.

She glanced at the screen: it was Meng Kelin.

Lin Xin got up and casually picked up a shirt from the floor. Only then did she answer the phone, tiptoeing out and closing the door softly. Before she could speak, Meng Kelin on the other end sneered: “The spring night was too short, the sun is high, and from now on, the monarch won’t hold morning court!”

Her face reddened. Lin Xin secretly looked back at the closed bedroom door and said in a slightly hoarse voice, “That’s not true.”

Meng Kelin paused, then felt a mix of emotions: “Were you shouting all night?”

…Wha—what nonsense is she talking about?

Lin Xin’s face grew even redder. Meng Kelin knew her temperament but couldn’t resist teasing her: “Say, has Ye Linghua’s technique improved?”

Lin Xin finally couldn’t take it anymore: “Why do you talk about nothing but these things?”

Meng Kelin gave a cold laugh: “Besides doing these things, what else have you been doing lately? Did you give me a chance to talk about anything else?”

Lin Xin refused to concede, protesting with a voice that lacked any conviction: “Nonsense! I’ve been working hard too!”

Hearing “work,” Meng Kelin brightened: “It seems you still remember the word ‘work’! That’s good! Then let’s talk seriously about work. After all, it’s our own company, and the profits depend on us! We can’t let our employees starve, right?”

Lin Xin: “…I suddenly don’t want to talk about this.” It seems I’ve really been slacking off lately.

Meng Kelin: “There’s a script lately. Should we take it?”

Lin Xin: “…” How can she be so unobservant? Ye Linghua and I are in the midst of sweet affection right now. Is this the kind of relationship where we can separate for several months at a time?

No, I’m definitely too caught up in love! (:з」∠)

Seeing Lin Xin remain silent, Meng Kelin spoke kindly: “Just come out and meet the director.”

Lin Xin slowly replied: “Oh.” I must work proactively! She clenched her fist.

Meng Kelin was surprised she agreed, exclaiming: “Why are you so easy to talk to all of a sudden?!”

Lin Xin said: “Although Linghua has her own company, what if it fails? So, I still need to work hard and become her strong backup.” The more she spoke, the more Lin Xin felt she should work hard.

Meng Kelin: “…Ye Linghua really thanks you!”

Lin Xin: “So, I need to make money! I want to support her!”

Meng Kelin laughed angrily: “Ye Linghua is a shareholder in our studio now. If she goes bankrupt, won’t we go down with her?”

Lin Xin: “…”

Sighing, Meng Kelin got back to the main point: “With such a powerful shareholder, we can spread our wings and do great things. I’m optimistic about a few people in the industry. How about signing them? We can expand our studio.”

Lin Xin hesitated: “Training newcomers must cost a lot of money, right?”

Meng Kelin: “…Why are you getting more stingy after landing a sugar mommy?”

Lin Xin felt guilty. Before she could respond, she suddenly caught a familiar scent wafting from behind her. Then, a pair of pale arms wrapped around her waist from behind.

Lin Xin was stunned, then felt her waist tighten. Ye Linghua pulled her to lean against her chest. Through the thin fabric, she could almost hear her heartbeat.

“You want to support me?” Ye Linghua’s voice carried the lazy drawl of someone just woken up. She rested her chin on Lin Xin’s shoulder, sniffed her neck, and chuckled: “That’s wonderful! Then Xin Xin’s company must become even stronger.”

Lin Xin’s face flushed. She was too guilty to speak.

Meng Kelin on the other end of the phone, however, was delighted: “Oh, is this an invitation for additional investment?”

Ye Linghua laughed, leaning her head toward the phone: “I’m in investments. I’m certainly not going to lose money on a project I’m optimistic about.”

Meng Kelin: “Hehe, I agree. When can you come for a meeting?”

Ye Linghua leaned lazily against Lin Xin’s shoulder again, saying, “She’s the boss’s wife; listen to her.”

It was obvious who “she” was referring to.

Meng Kelin was even happier. Lin Xin felt like Meng Kelin had sold her out and was happily counting the money. She also felt Ye Linghua was teasing her. Who’s your boss’s wife? We’re not even married!

That company was originally mine!!!

Oh, it’s a studio!!! It’s still mine!!!

With Ye Linghua’s support, Meng Kelin happily hung up the phone, no longer giving Lin Xin a hard time.

Meng Kelin even said she could postpone the meeting with the director.

After the call ended, Lin Xin helplessly looked at Ye Linghua. The two were already extremely close. When Lin Xin turned around, the familiar soft feeling instantly pulled their memories back to the previous night.

What was she trying to say again?

The question still echoed in her mind, but it was quickly scattered by chaotic images.

Ye Linghua was already kissing the corner of her lips. Lin Xin responded instinctively…

When they finally sat down at the dining table again, it was already 10 a.m.

Both were ravenously hungry. They ate what was neither breakfast nor lunch, occasionally meeting each other’s eyes and sharing an uncontrollable smile.

Halfway through the meal, Ye Linghua suddenly remembered something and said, “Xin Xin, my parents want to meet you.”

Lin Xin paused across the table, momentarily unable to react. Strictly speaking, it had only been about a week since they announced their relationship publicly. Even the winners of the lucky draw wouldn’t be announced for another three days.

Although Ye Linghua had proposed and she had agreed, the two could loosely be considered fiancées.

According to common sense, upon reaching this level of commitment, even if the parents hadn’t met yet, the couple should meet each other’s parents.

But now that the moment was here, Lin Xin was extremely nervous.

She hadn’t been this nervous when she married Zheng Lanwen. She had almost no contact with Zheng Lanwen’s parents. Even when they divorced, Zheng Lanwen’s parents didn’t even call her once.

But Ye Linghua was different.

Meng Kelin had said that Beicheng had many powerful elites, including many established scholarly families, even if they weren’t wealthy.

Families that considered themselves morally upright often looked down upon those who struggled in the muddy waters of the entertainment industry.

Lin Xin didn’t look down on herself, but she couldn’t stop others from looking at her with disdain.

As Ye Linghua’s family, how could she not care? Not to mention that Ye Linghua was so incredibly successful: a thriving career, a pure emotional life, and a polite, gentlemanly demeanor…

Lin Xin couldn’t help but feel a little inferior because of Ye Linghua.

Her response was somewhat hesitant: “Huh? Then, th-th-then… what… what should I buy?”

Ye Linghua paused, looking up at her. Her eyes held starlight, always drawing people into their depths. At this moment, the starlit night sky was slightly curved, filled with smiles.

“Nervous?”

Lin Xin pursed her lips and said resolutely, “A little, but I’m not afraid.”

“Hahaha” Ye Linghua laughed, her laughter like a melodious flute from a bamboo forest, relaxing Lin Xin’s tense state of mind.

Lin Xin looked at Ye Linghua, blinking her large eyes, wearing an innocent expression.

“You don’t need to be nervous, Xin Xin. You are my wife. This matter doesn’t require anyone else’s approval, nor will it change because of anyone’s denial. Moreover, my relationship with my parents is not as close as you might think.”

“I’ve heard a little.” Ye Linghua and her friends had hinted at some information before.

From the information, Ye Linghua’s relationship with her parents seemed to be somewhat strained.

Ye Linghua reached out and gently tapped Lin Xin’s nose, smiling as she said, “Such a literary way of speaking.”

Then, with a reminiscent expression, she explained: “My birth parents actually divorced very early. I followed my mother, and she remarried into a wealthy family. So, the parents I speak of are my birth mother and my stepfather. My mother’s surname is Ye, Ye Youling. Coincidentally, my stepfather’s surname is also Ye, named Ye Zexiong. They were actually childhood sweethearts who grew up together in Ye Village.”

Lin Xin wanted to express sympathy, but Ye Linghua’s tone was so detached, as if discussing someone else’s affairs, that Lin Xin didn’t know how to express her feelings.

Fortunately, Ye Linghua genuinely just wanted to clarify the situation before taking Lin Xin to meet them, lest Lin Xin not know how to handle these people later.

Therefore, she didn’t need Lin Xin’s pity.

“You probably heard from my friends that before I made my fortune, I was just a useless rich second-generation.”

Lin Xin nodded: “They said you had a difficult time.”

Ye Linghua curved her lips into a smile, thought seriously about the past few years, and then said: “Since I’m not their biological child, my stepfather, Ye Zexiong, has actually been quite good to me. Perhaps out of sentiment for his first love, I’ve never lacked food or clothes all these years.”

Lin Xin sighed in relief. She had lived a difficult life herself, so she knew how deeply such bitterness could penetrate the bone marrow.

Therefore, she didn’t want Ye Linghua to have suffered such hardship.

Hearing about Ye Linghua’s material comfort, she couldn’t help but feel relieved.

“However, he is still the father of three children, so naturally, he needs to focus more on his own children. And I am ultimately an outsider; being given food is already a favor. My mother, perhaps to stabilize her position, or perhaps out of genuine love, is closer to my stepfather’s three children than she is to me. Although I knew that having enough money was already very good, people always chase what they lack. Material satisfaction couldn’t fill the emptiness in my heart. The Ye Linghua of that time wanted her mother’s care.”

Ye Linghua sat up straight, smiled, and took a sip of milk. Her tone was light and natural, her explanations straightforward. But Lin Xin always felt that the actual process was not as simple or easy as she described.

She felt an inexpressible sadness in her heart but had nowhere to vent it.

Seeing Lin Xin’s expression, Ye Linghua asked: “Pitiable, right?”

Lin Xin: “…” A lump suddenly caught in her throat. She wanted to say “very pitiable” but couldn’t force the words out. Who asks a question like that? Lin Xin sulked and turned her head away.

Ye Linghua chuckled and continued: “Actually, it wasn’t too bad. Without my stepfather, my life might have been even harder. So, material comfort was already great.”

How could it be great? Lin Xin deeply understood the loneliness of having money but no close relatives by her side.

But she, at least, had her grandmother, her mother, and even Meng Kelin.

Ye Linghua, the young Ye Linghua, had to grow up strong all alone in a strange environment.

The hardships she endured were perhaps beyond Lin Xin’s comprehension.

Yet, Ye Linghua told her she was already lucky because she had food and clothing.

Lin Xin’s heart ached as if pricked by countless needles. She deeply regretted not meeting the young Ye Linghua earlier. At least, as a child, she was able to earn money and could have supported the young Ye Linghua.

“Don’t be sad.” Ye Linghua reached out and touched Lin Xin’s face, speaking warmly with a smile: “It’s all in the past, and I truly never lacked money.”

Lin Xin: “If I had met you earlier, I could have supported you too.”

Ye Linghua laughed: “I think the same. I also wish I had met you earlier so you wouldn’t have gone through those hardships. But perhaps the reason we met is because we both went through those things? After all…”

Ye Linghua mused for a moment, then asked, “You wouldn’t like a useless rich second-generation who only knows how to eat, drink, and be merry, would you?”

Lin Xin paused, finding it hard to believe that description was used for Ye Linghua.

Ye Linghua looked at her with a smirk: “So, thankfully, I succeeded in my business. Otherwise, I wouldn’t dare stand in front of you.”

Lin Xin gasped in surprise: “Why? I would like you no matter what.”

“No.” Ye Linghua stood up, leaned over the table, and kissed Lin Xin’s lips: “You wouldn’t like her. You only like the me I am now.”

Lin Xin: “???” Lin Xin’s sincere declaration was stopped by Ye Linghua, leaving her speechless, unable to express her determination further. Her mind was foggy. Why would Ye Linghua care about her liking her past self?

Lin Xin was truly confident: she would definitely like the past Ye Linghua. After all, she didn’t despise Zheng Lanwen when she had nothing. Would she despise someone as good as Ye Linghua?

Even if the Ye Linghua of that time was just a useless rich second-generation!

Would she despise her?

Never!!!

Three days later, the list of winners was announced online.

Ye Linghua had promised 30,000 winners. After the draw, the accounts of the winners were compiled and published.

At the same time, the winning netizens received text messages from Ye Linghua’s company regarding reimbursement for their trip to Beicheng. Although the promotion was massive, there was a time limit.

Taking into account the cold weather during the New Year, Beicheng welcomed the first batch of young tourists who won the draw during the summer vacation.

Of course, not only the winners came, but also those who hadn’t won. After all, it was the sacred place where Starlight CP announced their love! As fans, it would be a missed opportunity not to visit.

Suddenly, Beicheng, which already had various historical sites, became a popular tourist destination. The number of visitors skyrocketed past previous years’ numbers.

Even the Beicheng government hadn’t anticipated the tourism boom.

The government, which had long wanted to develop tourism, hastily jumped in, extending a warm invitation to tourists. They optimized roads, beautified scenic spots, and even the city’s residents joined the effort.

Soon, the hot search term [Beicheng Hospitality] appeared. Then, various tourists who visited shared their travel experiences online.

[Ahhhhh, who said Beicheng was a gathering place for aristocrats left over from the Republican era? They are so warm and welcoming! Very down-to-earth.]

[Hahahaha, I ordered a huge table of food there, and the vendor refused to serve me that much after hearing I was eating alone.]

[You were lucky! They have so many specialty foods there. I ordered a lot, thinking I’d take the leftovers back to the hotel. The owner looked at me with a complicated expression and asked if I had never eaten meat before? Me: ???

Thus, the word spread. Beicheng became one of the most popular tourist destinations of the summer vacation.

The earliest group of people to visit were the fans of Lin Xin and Ye Linghua’s CP. The fans drove Beicheng’s tourism industry, which quickly became a famous story. It also showcased the power of the Starlight CP’s massive fan base.

[So, how much did the government reimburse Ye Linghua for this draw?]

[Hahahaha, as an insider, I’d say I don’t know the exact reimbursement amount, but Beicheng definitely made a profit.]

[My hometown invested hundreds of billions to boost tourism, and the effect wasn’t this good.]

[So, does that mean Ye Linghua was sent by the government?]

No one expected that a lucky draw in the entertainment industry and a couple’s public relationship announcement could boost a city’s tourism industry so significantly.

Sometimes, the development of an event is simply beyond all expectation.

Naturally, the Starlight CP, Ye Linghua, and Lin Xin transcended their fandom and became household names.

Not long after, a few days before Lin Xin was scheduled to start filming.

Ye Linghua drove Lin Xin back home. Despite living in Beicheng for so long, this was Lin Xin’s first time meeting Ye Linghua’s relatives.

Ye Linghua’s family home was also in Beicheng, just a 15-minute drive away.

Lin Xin thought, Perhaps all wealthy people live in this area.

The Ye family’s old villa was situated in a cluster of identical villas. Although they looked like model homes, buying a villa in a place where every inch of land was precious like Beicheng was an extraordinary feat.

Lin Xin peered out the window and soon saw Ye Linghua park the car in front of one of the villa’s yards.

The yard outside the villa had expensive flowers and plants, professionally maintained by a gardener. The gardener only looked confused when he saw the car park in front of the house.

Before Ye Linghua could even fully park the car, an elderly woman with completely white hair walked out from inside the gate.

“That’s Aunt Wang,” Ye Linghua said, parking the car and turning off the engine. “She’s actually only in her 50s, despite her white hair. She’s managed the Ye family’s affairs all these years. It was likely the constant worry and effort that turned her hair white.”

Lin Xin nodded curiously. Meng Kelin had said they were all influential figures, so it was inevitable to have housekeepers like this, who had been with the family for life.

Aunt Wang looked kindly. When she saw Ye Linghua get out of the car, bringing Lin Xin with her, she happily greeted them: “Third Miss, you’re back.”

Ye Linghua smiled and said, “Hello, Aunt Wang.”

Aunt Wang chuckled: “Good, good! Madam and Master are waiting inside. Are you staying longer this time?”

Ye Linghua smiled faintly: “I can’t stay for too long with them. I just brought Xin Xin to meet them, and then I’ll have to leave.”

Only then did Aunt Wang look at Lin Xin, assessing her up and down. Her eyes seemed to hold satisfaction, but she knew her place and wouldn’t interfere with Ye Linghua’s decisions.

She smiled warmly at Lin Xin: “Miss Lin looks like a good girl.”

Lin Xin couldn’t help but blush. Ye Linghua took her hand and smiled: “Aunt Wang really likes you.”

Aunt Wang immediately said: “What are you saying? The most important thing is that the Third Miss likes her.”

Ye Linghua laughed naturally: “Of course, I like her very much too.”

Lin Xin could only continue to blush…

Aunt Wang: “I know. This is the first time you’ve brought anyone back in years. This way, this way. Miss Lin is visiting for the first time; Aunt Wang will lead the way.”

They passed a circular fountain in front of the door. There was the gurgling sound of water, a few bird calls, and the rustling of leaves in the breeze.

Lin Xin followed behind Ye Linghua. Although the enthusiastic Aunt Wang was by her side, Lin Xin felt a slight sense of discord.

Ye Linghua seemed… unable to blend in here. But since Ye Linghua was a stepdaughter, it was probably normal for her to not fit in, right?

Just like this opulent environment, it didn’t match the low-key Ye Linghua at all.

The massive wooden door in front of them was pushed open by Aunt Wang. The sight that met their eyes was a golden and magnificent interior decoration, just like the shimmering appearance of the yard.

A cute girl was standing in the entryway, placing two pairs of indoor slippers by the door. Seeing the door open, she quickly stood up and greeted them: “Third Miss, welcome back.”

Ye Linghua acknowledged her and asked, “Where are Madam and Master?”

Aunt Wang, who had already changed into slippers, said, “In the living room.”

With that, she walked ahead to lead the way. Ye Linghua leaned in and whispered to Lin Xin: “Don’t worry. If they give you a hard time, I’ll protect you.”

Lin Xin: “…Huh?” Give me a hard time? Will they? Why would they?

Lin Xin’s face showed shock, and she was slow to recover.

Exiting the entryway, they entered the living room, which was still gilded and magnificent. Even the furniture was European style, all sparkling gold.

A group of people was sitting in the living room. Besides the middle-aged couple in the main seats, whom Lin Xin presumed were Ye Linghua’s mother, Ye Youling, and stepfather, Ye Zexiong.

Also seated beside them were several young couples. Ye Linghua had mentioned that Ye Zexiong had several children: the eldest son, Ye Cheng’en, the second son, Ye Bo’en, and the youngest daughter, Ye Youlian.

Hearing their entry, everyone turned to look. Upon seeing Lin Xin, everyone’s expression was somewhat indescribable.

But aside from the Ye couple, the others still stood up to greet them: “Third sibling is back.”

Ye Linghua forced a polite smile and greeted them. Lin Xin then noticed that the others’ expressions became even more complicated.

After everyone sat down again, Ye Zexiong spoke to Ye Linghua with a kind smile: “It’s good that you’re back. Sit, sit. And this is…”

Ye Linghua: “Lin Xin, my fiancée.”

Ye Zexiong then smiled kindly at Lin Xin and said: “Come, come, sit! This is your own home, so don’t be shy.”

However, the woman next to Ye Zexiong, Ye Youling, had an indifferent expression.

Ye Linghua didn’t care about Ye Youling’s thoughts and led Lin Xin to a seat. Aunt Wang happily said: “Lunch will be ready soon. You all chat first; I’ll go check the kitchen.”

Aunt Wang was old and no longer heavily involved in the household affairs. The family had hired many younger housekeepers. Because Aunt Wang had been with the family for decades, her role was now almost supervisory, helping out and managing the younger staff, which was less strenuous.

After Aunt Wang left, Ye Youling finally fixed her cold gaze on Lin Xin and said without much warmth: “Hello, Miss Lin. I am Ye Linghua’s mother.”

Ye Linghua: “I can tell.”

Ye Youling choked and angrily snapped: “You shut up.”

Ye Linghua: “That might be difficult.”

Ye Youling choked again.

Lin Xin looked at Ye Linghua in surprise, seeing her look completely unconcerned. Then, Lin Xin noticed that everyone else seemed accustomed to it, making her even more bewildered.

It was as if a door to a new world had opened.

With Ye Linghua taking the lead, Ye Youling’s aggression was directed at Ye Linghua. This allowed Lin Xin to observe Mother Ye more clearly. Ye Youling looked very young, perhaps only in her 30s, with fair skin and thick, dark hair. But even with the best upkeep, the traces of time had left tiny lines around the corners of her eyes, adding a different kind of charm.

Although constantly frustrated by Ye Linghua, she wasn’t truly angry. Eventually, Ye Linghua got the better of her, and Ye Youling had to suppress her temper and ask, “Why haven’t you come back recently?”

Ye Linghua replied matter-of-factly: “Busy getting married.”

Lin Xin: “…”

Ye Youling: “…Are you two planning to get married?”

Ye Linghua chuckled: “A romance not leading to marriage is just fooling around. Do I look like the kind of person who fools around?”

Lin Xin couldn’t help but think: Ye Linghua is gentle and refined, talented and beautiful. No matter how you look at it, Ye Linghua is the most proper person. How could she possibly fool around…

Ye Youling: “You’ve only stopped fooling around for the past two years; what’s there to be so proud of?”

Lin Xin’s eyes widened in shock…

“Mhm, mhm!” The other Ye family members couldn’t help but agree.

Lin Xin was utterly astonished…

Fooling around?

How are those two words associated with Ye Linghua?

Ye Linghua scoffed: “Fooling around? I was just young and naive; it doesn’t mean I was fooling around.”

Ye Youling: “…With that temper of yours, can Miss Lin endure it? What if you relapse one day?”

Ye Linghua was finally choked by her own mother: “…A reformed person can relapse?”

Ye Youling: “…”

Ye Youling seemed to think the situation wasn’t tense enough. She turned to Lin Xin and said: “Don’t let her fool you. When she was young, she was quite the wild one. At 20, she was idle, fighting every day. No matter how much money the family gave her, she would squander it all.”

Lin Xin, however, replied with a baffled expression: “But the current Ye Linghua is very good, isn’t she?”

Ye Youling: “…She’s been completely brainwashed too!”