After Transmigrating, I Fell in Love with a Top-Tier Movie Queen - Chapter 52.2

Although heavily covered, Lin Xin immediately recognized the person she hadn’t seen for a long time—Zheng Lanwen.

Seeing the intercom connect, the woman outside hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke in the cool, clear voice Lin Xin hadn’t heard in a long time: “Xinxin, hello.”

Xinxin?

Their final argument was over her refusal of this intimate address. She wondered if that had been the spark that led to Ye Linghua’s disappearance.

Now, her ex-wife was calling her by her pet name. Was this appropriate?

Lin Xin felt a pang of pain, and her voice coldly reminded her: “Miss Zheng, please call me Miss Lin.”

Zheng Lanwen outside froze, a look of embarrassment fleeting across her face, but she lowered her head and softly said: “Miss Lin.”

Saying it felt so awkward and unpleasant.

“What do you want?”

Zheng Lanwen quickly pushed down her unsettled feelings and focused on the purpose of her visit.

“I came to apologize.”

Lin Xin was surprised. She blinked her large eyes and asked curiously: “Apologize? For what?”

Zheng Lanwen: “Regarding Wan… Lin Wan’s matter.”

“Ah?” Lin Xin laughed: “Her business requires you to speak for her?” Then she thought about it again—it wasn’t the first time. Zheng Lanwen had shamelessly sought her out after the divorce to pave the way for Lin Wan.

Lin Wan was her lover, and they were a unit. Furthermore, Lin Wan’s current situation wasn’t great, so it was perfectly normal for Zheng Lanwen to show up!

Lin Xin understood this, yet she didn’t feel any sadness. Before, she felt hurt, not only because of Zheng Lanwen but also because of Lin Wan.

But not anymore. Her life couldn’t be forever confined to those two people. It wasn’t worth it!

Zheng Lanwen quickly explained: “It’s not for her, and it’s not an apology on her behalf… Ah, I came to apologize to you—an apology from me to you.”

Lin Xin looked at her blankly again, blinking her dark, round eyes as if asking: What do you mean?

Zheng Lanwen: “I didn’t know Lin Wan was your sister.”

Lin Xin burst out laughing: “So what if you knew? You liked her not because she wasn’t my sister or because she was my sister. You said it was love at first sight between you two. What does that have to do with her identity?”

Zheng Lanwen lowered her head in shame…

The three of them—she, Lin Wan, and Lin Xin—met on Shining Youth. Lin Xin was an invited mentor. Since she wasn’t an expert in singing or dancing, she couldn’t judge like the professional mentors.

But Lin Xin was famous enough, having just won two Best Actress awards consecutively.

When Zheng Lanwen participated in the competition, she heard from backstage staff that Lin Xin had debts from gambling and had used all the money she earned over the years to pay them off. That’s why she came for the high fee of Shining Youth.

At that time, Zheng Lanwen already had a bias against Lin Xin in her heart.

During the competition, she and Lin Wan developed feelings for each other. They even started dating secretly.

Zheng Lanwen didn’t know then that Lin Xin liked her. She just focused on the competition, though she did notice Lin Xin paid special attention to her.

But the arrogant and self-centered Zheng Lanwen thought it was because she was performing so well.

At that time, she didn’t know the relationship between Lin Wan and Lin Xin.

Thinking about it now, did Lin Wan really like me back then? Or did she specifically approach me because she noticed Lin Xin liked me?

Zheng Lanwen couldn’t bear to dwell on the events of that year.

But she and Lin Wan genuinely had a period of pure and wonderful time together. This ambiguous and intoxicating atmosphere carried over into the competition. It naturally attracted a large number of CP fans. The strength of the ‘Net-Pattern’ CP fans even rivaled that of the individuals’ solo fans back then.

Their company used this to promote the CP, with the romantic promise of “meeting at the peak.” The CP fans became a major force supporting them, an indispensable factor in their debut.

Recalling those fond memories, Zheng Lanwen still felt an undeniable emotional pull. After all, Lin Wan was her only first love!

“Did you come here to show off? To brag that your love with Lin Wan is as solid as gold? Zheng Lanwen, there’s no need.” Seeing Zheng Lanwen lost in some wonderful memory, Lin Xin couldn’t help but frown.

Why come to my place to reminisce about good times? Everyone has good memories; what’s there to brag about?

Zheng Lanwen quickly snapped back, shaking her head: “No, no, I sincerely came to apologize. I didn’t know she was your sister then, and I didn’t know she was your sister this year either.” Because she’s her sister, the divorce seems to have become an egregious offense.

Lin Xin frowned: “That’s between her and me. What does it have to do with you?”

Seeing that Zheng Lanwen still wanted to apologize, Lin Xin scoffed: “The internet is currently full of rumors that Lin Wan was forced out of the country by me. If you want to apologize, why don’t you go online and explain that matter clearly?”

Zheng Lanwen was instantly silenced, unable to speak.

Lin Xin sneered: “See, your apology isn’t sincere!”

Zheng Lanwen could only grit her teeth and say: “Anything else besides that, I can do.”

Lin Xin sighed. She knew that in Zheng Lanwen’s heart, she could never compare to Lin Wan; there was nothing strange about that.

But she still couldn’t help but mock Zheng Lanwen: “Between you and me, the only thing we have to talk about is the Lin Wan issue. Let’s forget everything else.”

Having failed to help, Zheng Lanwen lowered her head helplessly. She had sincerely come to apologize and wanted to compensate Lin Xin, but not in a way that would harm Lin Wan.

Lin Xin opposite her crossed her legs and looked leisurely at the bushes outside the yard.

As if remembering something, she suddenly recalled the past in a flat voice: “Back then, although I confessed to you, you rejected me, and I didn’t pester you, right?”

Zheng Lanwen nodded.

Lin Xin continued: “The problem was between you and Lin Wan. You naively thought that finishing a talent show meant you had secured a footing in the entertainment industry? Your ridiculous naivety was taught a lesson by reality, wasn’t it?”

Zheng Lanwen nodded again, looking helpless.

After the show ended that year, they both signed with companies.

Zheng Lanwen’s conditions were better. She went for a cool, older-sister image and was moderately successful.

After leaving the talent show, her career wasn’t spectacular, but it definitely wasn’t bad in the entertainment industry.

However, becoming a hit was anyone’s guess when and where that would happen.

Lin Wan was in a much worse situation. She had a baby face. She came to the entertainment industry purely to follow Lin Xin’s footsteps, knowing nothing about the industry and having no skills. She only debuted because CP fans boosted her data, barely squeezing her past the finish line.

But when facing the reality of the entertainment industry, Lin Wan was immediately doomed.

It’s not that there are no baby-faced celebrities in the industry, or that top stars don’t have baby faces.

But how many are there?

Moreover, those who don’t reach the top can only ever be supporting actors.

And Lin Wan didn’t even qualify for supporting roles because her acting was terrible.

Her company felt she couldn’t be promoted, so they had her release a few albums, but they were all bought by CP fans.

Once the CP fans’ enthusiasm waned, Lin Wan’s path in the entertainment industry became completely bleak.

Unable to cope with a career with no prospects, and seeing the glamorous Lin Xin and Zheng Lanwen growing further and further away from her,

Lin Wan was utterly crushed. She immediately announced her retirement from the industry and went abroad for “further studies.”

Both Lin Xin and Zheng Lanwen felt helpless about this memory.

Lin Xin was helpless about Lin Wan’s entanglement, and Zheng Lanwen was helpless about Lin Wan’s mindset.

Lin Wan left resolutely, not even giving Zheng Lanwen the courtesy of a breakup. A simple text message severed their relationship.

Consequently, Zheng Lanwen drank herself into a stupor, wallowing like a mess. She was even photographed, being accused of being an alcoholic. Furthermore, the CP fan base dissolved after Lin Wan retired and left the country.

It was at this time, when Zheng Lanwen was facing great difficulties and struggling to get out of the mess, that she thought of Lin Xin, who had expressed her affection for her.

In that moment, Zheng Lanwen abandoned all her pride and picked up the phone to call Lin Xin…

Recalling these past events, both felt a sense of bad luck.

After venting this dirty history back onto Zheng Lanwen, Lin Xin said angrily: “You don’t need to apologize for her. Not only is it insincere, but it makes it seem like I need it. Go back and tell Lin Wan to just stop bothering me.”

She then stood up to leave. Zheng Lanwen grabbed her: “Xin… Miss Lin.”

At that moment, Lin Xin’s whole body broke out in goosebumps. She strongly rejected the physical contact. She pulled her hand back sharply and looked at Zheng Lanwen alertly.

This look of defensiveness deeply wounded Zheng Lanwen, causing her eyelids to tremble and drop, concealing her hurt emotions.

Lin Xin: “What else do you want?”

Zheng Lanwen: “I will try to clarify the situation!”

Lin Xin frowned at her: “Clarify or not, I don’t need it.”

Zheng Lanwen watched her turn and hastily walk away, but still couldn’t help but shout: “You and that assistant…”

“Shut up!” Lin Xin spun around. Her gaze, which had been marginally gentle, was now chillingly sharp, as if it could pierce her.

Lin Xin looked at Zheng Lanwen, releasing a powerful aura that Zheng Lanwen felt for the first time: “That is my business, and it has nothing to do with you. Zheng Lanwen, we are divorced. From now on, for the rest of our lives, we are separate individuals with no further relation.”

Lin Xin left Zheng Lanwen alone in the cold wind of early winter. Hearing the sound of Lin Xin closing the door, Zheng Lanwen couldn’t even move her legs.

After Lin Wan was scolded online for three days, Tianlei finally decided to respond.

Since they were going to be scolded no matter what they did, they might as well take a gamble. Perhaps the big-shot didn’t have any evidence?

Even if evidence was released, it couldn’t be worse than the current disaster!

Netizens were already scolding her without seeing any evidence! If evidence were released, they would still be scolded; there was no real difference!

Thinking this way, the company contacted Lin Wan: “Let’s take a gamble!”

Lin Wan was already holding in her anger because Zheng Lanwen had gone to see Lin Xin.

Hearing the company wanted to gamble, she became even more convinced that the user named ‘Zero’ definitely didn’t have any evidence. Otherwise, if they were so protective of Lin Xin, why wouldn’t they have released the evidence to avenge her?

So, she followed the company’s advice and tagged Lin Xin on Weibo, saying: [Tell your big-shot friend to come out. I’ve been enduring in silence, viewing you as my older sister. But your constant fan-led cyberbullying makes it impossible for me to remain quiet. You claim that my company and I framed you. Where is the evidence?]

Lin Xin was speechless when Lin Wan tagged her. Since she couldn’t be bothered with her, she didn’t reply.

This gave Lin Wan more room to maneuver, and she began claiming that she was the one being framed by Lin Xin.

[VIP, it’s time to come out.]

[VIP, time to work.]

[Do you remember your promise to reply if Lin Wan responded? We’re all waiting by the Daming Lake!]

After much anticipation, a Weibo account named ‘Small Account’ (小號) finally popped up.

Small Account: [I’m here.]

[0?]

Small Account: [It’s ‘Ling’ (Zero), not the number ‘0’.]

[Definitely the VIP, still so direct! (^▽^) ]

[VIP, release the evidence!!!]

So, the Small Account indeed posted a Weibo update.

Everyone clicked in to see several photos. Upon closer inspection, they showed Lin Haiqi meeting with Lin Wan and the senior management of Tianlei. That was it; nothing more.

Tianlei Company saw a loophole!

So, Tianlei Entertainment quickly responded: [Since @LinWan is an excellent employee of our company, what’s the problem with us meeting and chatting with her father?]

Small Account: [Did I say I don’t have audio? Why the rush?]

Lin Wan: […]

Tianlei Company: […]

[Hahahahaha, I can’t even!]

[The VIP is definitely clever. Were you waiting for them to walk into that trap?]

[The VIP really knows how to fish!]

Small Account: [No, when I posted, I clicked on pictures, but I didn’t see the audio option.]

[Hahahahaha, the VIP is still so direct.]

[Lin Wan and Tianlei Company were too quick to jump into that unintentional trap! _(:з」∠)_ ]

[VIP, are you sure that wasn’t intentional? I think it was intentional.]

Lin Xin watched the netizens commenting and teasing ‘Zero’ under the Small Account’s evidence post and couldn’t help but smile.

Then, she also commented a single line: [Thank you.]

The big-shot who had been unwilling to reply to Lin Xin responded very quickly: [It’s what I should do. I’m here, don’t be afraid.]

This familiar phrase made Lin Xin’s heart jump.

Ye Linghua?

In that moment, she looked at the words with a thrill, her hands trembling.

She had been searching for so long, searching for Ye Linghua!

That despicable Ye Linghua hadn’t left anything, only an umbrella and a packet of tissues.

Where was she supposed to find her?

Seeing that sentence, tears streamed down Lin Xin’s face.

Although she hadn’t yet confirmed who was behind ‘Small Account’ and ‘Zero’, her longing could no longer be suppressed.

Perhaps Small Account was just Small Account, and ‘Zero’ was just ‘Zero’—neither of them was Ye Linghua.

But in this moment, Lin Xin only needed a medium to vent her surging longing.

She trembled and replied to her, word by word…

Small Account: [It’s what I should do. I’m here, don’t be afraid.]

Lin Xin: [Okay, I’m not afraid anymore.]

In the dimly lit room, the light from the phone shone on Ye Linghua’s face, revealing her startled expression.

A moment ago, Lin Xin thanked her in the comments, and Ye Linghua reflexively replied. She replied too quickly to hide her identity, and the message was already sent before she could react.

A stream of comments immediately followed, and deleting the message seemed inappropriate.

But she didn’t expect Lin Xin to respond by continuing the conversation.

This conversation, filled with suggestive undertones, felt strangely inappropriate, not just to the CP fans, but to herself.

[Ah, ah, ah, I’m dying of sweetness, I’m dying of sweetness!]

[If this isn’t love!!!]

[Get together, get together, get together…]

[I’ve brought the marriage registration office; hurry up!]

Lin Xin looked at these messages, smiling and thinking: Right now, Ye Linghua must be incredibly flustered!

Climbing the rankings, it’s been the top seller for three days straight. _(:з」∠)_

I’m seriously too awesome…