After Transmigrating, I Fell in Love with a Top-Tier Movie Queen - Chapter 66

Ye Linghua turned around, casually grabbing a jacket from her wardrobe. She didn’t even have time to put on shoes when she left, taking the elevator downstairs in her slippers.

Normally, she would go straight to the basement to get her car, but today, worried about which path Lin Xin might be on, she reached the ground floor, quickly tidied her jacket, and walked out.

Stepping out of the main building door, with the heating gone, the cold air naturally attacked from all directions.

Ye Linghua, having just gotten out of bed, instantly shivered as the cold wind hit her. Huge snowflakes drifted down; as they landed on her cheek and slowly melted, they carried away the heat from her skin.

Ye Linghua looked up at the gloomy sky and the heavy snow.

Was this fool, Lin Xin, really here from Yangzhou? Did she really wait downstairs all night?

There shouldn’t be such a foolish person in this world.

But thinking of Lin Xin’s attitude toward Zheng Lanwen and the foolish things she had done for her, could Lin Xin really have done something so silly?

Ye Linghua looked at the glass door; there were no footprints. The snow on the small paths had been cleared completely, unlike the snow on the ground and branches inside the community.

Ye Linghua didn’t dare to wait any longer and began walking towards the community’s main gate. In the novel, Lin Xin originally had poor health and gradually exhausted her body’s energy, even though Zheng Lanwen did everything possible to help her recuperate later on.

She still didn’t make it to the end. Lin Xin’s body had never been very strong. Her foundation wasn’t built well in childhood, so she always tended to get sick more easily than others when she grew up.

In the south, even when the weather was cold, dressing warmly could still keep the chill at bay.

In North City (or simply “Beijing”), does she know how to take care of herself?

If that fool really waited downstairs all night, she would be frozen to death.

Ye Linghua shuffled her slippers along the ground. Because the sole of her slippers was thin, the icy snowmelt that seeped in from the edges was bone-chilling. As she walked, aside from a few parents taking their children downstairs to play in the snow, most people were hiding inside enjoying the warmth of their heaters.

Ye Linghua looked everywhere but never saw Lin Xin’s figure.

Running all the way to the community gate, Ye Linghua glanced outside the gate, which was empty with no one in sight. She breathed a sigh of relief and muttered: “Well, at least she wasn’t that foolish.” Then she thought, wait a minute!

“Did that girl just trick me?” Ye Linghua couldn’t help but chuckle. She wasn’t angry; she had rushed downstairs immediately after only reading the message. She hadn’t actually confirmed with Lin Xin, who might have found somewhere to rest.

“Ye Linghua.”

Before she could recover from her self-mockery, she suddenly heard Lin Xin’s puzzled voice coming from behind her.

Ye Linghua froze. She turned to look and saw Lin Xin inside the security booth beside the community guard, with a disposable cup placed in front of her.

At this moment, Lin Xin had opened the glass window of the security booth and leaned her upper body out, looking in Ye Linghua’s direction with her round eyes.

Ye Linghua looked back, seeing Lin Xin’s hair being blown by the cold wind, the snowflakes landing on her eyelashes, and her mouth curved into a joyous smile. Almost instantly, Ye Linghua was captivated by this radiant sight.

Seeing that Ye Linghua didn’t respond, Lin Xin stretched out one hand and waved it back and forth.

This finally snapped Ye Linghua back to reality. She let out a heavy sigh and strode forward. Standing in front of Lin Xin, separated by the security booth, Ye Linghua felt relieved to see Lin Xin in this spot.

At the very least, the security booth of this community was a cement room. At least, the security booth had heating supplied. At least, staying here for one night wouldn’t be enough to completely wreck her body.

Seeing Ye Linghua’s expression relax, Lin Xin smiled again, her eyes twinkling with starlight.

Ye Linghua saw this, and how could her heart remain unmoved? The tingling sensation felt like a lover’s tender fingers massaging her heart, rubbing against it. Her whole body was immersed in this deeply warm love, melting away, making her want to throw caution to the wind.

“Ye Linghua.”

Like a golden oriole’s (a beautiful, singing bird’s) voice, she called her name again and again. Lin Xin probably didn’t know the hidden excitement Ye Linghua felt every time she uttered the three words “Ye Linghua.”

How much she wished! How much she wished Lin Xin would call her that for a lifetime!

Jealousy!

She was jealous of Lin Xin’s past, when she cast aside everything and charged forward for Zheng Lanwen. Ignoring her ruined career, ignoring the hearts of her thousands of fans—at that time, her world only contained Zheng Lanwen. For Zheng Lanwen, she could stop being herself.

The jealousy was so intense that even someone as brave as Ye Linghua didn’t dare to step forward again.

Because she didn’t know, when that day came, and she was on one side of the scale and Zheng Lanwen was on the other, how horribly she might lose!

“Ye Linghua!”

Responding to Lin Xin’s repeated calls, Ye Linghua took a step forward. Across the elegant and refined security booth window, she reached out and tightly embraced Lin Xin.

Lin Xin’s upper body, which was leaning out of the window, rested against Ye Linghua’s neck. She looked bewildered, calling her name with confusion and surprise: “Ye Linghua?”

Ye Linghua: “Yes.”

Lin Xin smiled and asked: “Are you busy?”

Ye Linghua: “No, I’m not busy.”

Lin Xin: “Then I can come to your house to play!”

Ye Linghua: “Yes.”

Lin Xin: “Ye Linghua.”

Ye Linghua: “Yes?”

Lin Xin: “Were you sick yesterday?”

Ye Linghua: “I was.”

Lin Xin: “Ye Fang told me.”

Ye Linghua: “I know.”

Lin Xin: “Ye Linghua.”

Ye Linghua: “I’m listening.” This last word was as gentle as a spring stream, carrying a faint warmth, yet possessing the clarity and freshness found only in the mountains—like the smooth glide of water over skin when she dipped her hand into it.

Lin Xin couldn’t help but feel a sudden tenderness in her heart and softly said: “I took leave to come and take care of you.”

Ye Linghua closed her eyes, reaching up to gently rub the hair on top of Lin Xin’s head and said: “Thank you.”

Lin Xin: “It’s really cold, but I didn’t wait outside for you. The security uncle wouldn’t let me into the community, but seeing me wait outside, he was afraid I’d get cold, so he let me come into this small room to enjoy the heat. So, I’m not cold at all…”

Ye Linghua heard that Lin Xin had indeed been waiting for her since last night, and that wait lasted an entire night. Ye Linghua felt a pang of heartache.

“I took very good care of myself. Did you take good care of yourself?”

She actually had that line waiting for her? Ye Linghua laughed slightly and said: “My fever has broken.”

Lin Xin hugged her even tighter, then asked: “Will you invite me upstairs for coffee?”

Ye Linghua chuckled again. She let go of Lin Xin and looked at her face, which was cold and pale from leaning out of the warm security booth. She asked: “I don’t have coffee ready, but I can make you tea. Do you want some?”

Lin Xin happily exclaimed: “Yes!”

Then, she picked up the bag placed on the table, turned, and said to the security uncle: “Thank you, Uncle. I have to go now; she came to pick me up.”

The uncle, who looked to be in his late 50s and was wearing a white uniform, smiled kindly and said: “Go on!”

He stood up and opened the door for Lin Xin. Lin Xin took the coat hanging by the door, put it on, bid farewell to the uncle, and cheerfully walked out.

The security uncle returned to the glass window, nodded at Ye Linghua, and was about to close the window. Ye Linghua reached out to stop him, smiled, and said to the uncle: “Thank you.”

The security uncle was stunned, his kindly face marked with the traces left by time and life’s hardships. The security guards in this community were mostly young men; the uncle was the only middle-aged person employed there. He worked 25 night shifts a month and was the only one with so many night shifts.

The uncle scratched his head: “I should be the one thanking you; you helped me get this job in the first place!” He looked at the clock on the wall and said: “I’m about to change shifts.”

Ye Linghua nodded, and before leaving, added: “Consider this my debt to you. If you ever need anything, you can come to me.”

The uncle nodded blankly. Ye Linghua then turned and walked over to Lin Xin, who was waiting at the door.

Lin Xin’s down jacket was not thick enough to withstand the severe cold of North City (or simply “Beijing”). She even held the bag she was carrying on her back tightly in her arms.

Walking to her side, Ye Linghua lightly touched her hand and discovered that it was terribly cold.

Ye Linghua paused, but she didn’t let go, instead pulling Lin Xin and walking toward the house.

In the bitter winter, their joined hands warmed each other.

Lin Xin followed her steps, a smile appearing on her face as she looked at the unfamiliar community. This is Ye Linghua’s home! She lives here!

She observed the neighborhood. The trees had long lost their leaves, leaving only bare branches. The buildings were scattered in various corners, with enough space between them to ensure every building received sufficient daylight.

The balconies of the community were very large, and the balconies on each floor were staggered to ensure everyone could get enough sun exposure.

Following Ye Linghua for about seven minutes, they arrived in front of one of the buildings. To enter the lobby door, one needed to input another password.

The glass door automatically slid open from both sides, and the warmth from inside instantly rushed out.

Lin Xin followed Ye Linghua into the building, and the glass door closed automatically behind them. Ye Linghua led her to the elevator and pressed a button. The elevator door opened automatically.

Then, the two entered the elevator, neither of them speaking much throughout the process.

Watching the elevator numbers change and finally stop, the elevator door opened to reveal the foyer.

Ye Linghua took off her jacket and hung it on the rack. Then, she looked back at Lin Xin, who was placing her bag on the low stool in the foyer. Lin Xin then straightened up, took off her coat, and hung it right next to Ye Linghua’s.

This scene resembled a family coming home after going out.

Lin Xin couldn’t help but stand there looking at the two coats, a satisfied smile on her face.

“What time did you arrive yesterday?”

Hearing Ye Linghua’s question, Lin Xin quickly came back to herself and followed Ye Linghua toward the living room. There was another door between the foyer and the suite, which used a fingerprint lock. Ye Linghua opened the door, and they entered the main hall.

Unlike Lin Xin’s simple, modern style, Ye Linghua’s apartment followed a cold, minimalist style. Gray art walls, a gray sofa, and an off-white rug.

And the pure white kitchen island, with the kitchen floor covered in gray tiles.

Lin Xin observed as she spoke: “I arrived at the airport at 1 AM and reached the community gate by 2 AM.”

It was so late that the car was definitely not as fast as during the day. It took an hour to reach the community gate, only to find she couldn’t get in and couldn’t contact anyone.

Ye Linghua led her to the area on the left side of the living room, where there was a floor-to-ceiling window and a tea table in front of it. Ye Linghua told her to sit, and Lin Xin took the seat opposite her.

Ye Linghua sat in the main seat and fluently began preparing tea for Lin Xin.

“Why didn’t you ask Ye Fang or the others to pick you up yesterday?”

Lin Xin: “Huh? Then why would I have taken a plane to come here?”

Ye Linghua choked slightly, looked up at her, and her expression was one of helplessness: “Well, why else? I was asleep. You didn’t need to wait downstairs alone.”

Lin Xin: “I guessed you were asleep. You’re sick, so more sleep is a good thing.”

Ye Linghua: “Yes.”

Lin Xin: “But, I sent a message saying I was here. What if you woke up halfway through, came down to look for me, and I wasn’t here?”

Ye Linghua poured the brewed tea into a teacup and pushed it toward her, gently and softly telling her: “What could I do? I would have gone back inside and slept some more.”

Lin Xin frowned: “In that case, wouldn’t I have broken my promise? I’m pursuing you, so I can’t leave that kind of impression.”

Ye Linghua was amused by her words and asked with a smile: “So, you wanted to move me?”

Lin Xin looked at her without denying it. She rested her chin on her hands and asked happily: “So, are you moved?”

Ye Linghua’s hand paused while pouring the tea. She sighed and continued: “There is some moving sentiment, yes.”

Lin Xin giggled. She put her hands on the table, rested her head on her hands, and whispered: “That’s good.”

On New Year’s Eve, her original family members all had their own families. Lin Xin had long been accustomed to having no holidays. When it was time to film, she filmed, without thinking about resting.

Aside from the text messages constantly coming in on her phone, there was actually nothing important happening. Because of the New Year, the director finished early and treated everyone to a meal.

When Lin Xin first got back to the hotel, she received a call from Ye Fang.

Ye Fang told Lin Xin that Ye Linghua was sick, but they were all celebrating the holiday with their own families and couldn’t go over.

Lin Xin’s heart leaped at that moment, because Ye Fang’s words conveyed two meanings. One was that Ye Linghua was sick, and quite seriously, so she needed care. The other was that since they couldn’t go, it meant there was no one else at home to take care of her. Was Ye Linghua living alone, not going home for the New Year, and had a poor relationship with her family?

The more she thought, the more her mind raced. Lin Xin asked the director for a few days off, immediately bought a ticket for the soonest flight, and then frantically rushed to the airport.

She barely made it in the nick of time. After getting off the plane, she rushed to the address Ye Fang had left. The security uncle was a good person, but he said the community was very strict and steadfastly refused to let her in. However, the security uncle allowed her to rest in the security booth.

That night, Lin Xin didn’t even dare to sleep. She stayed up all night with the security uncle, sitting in the security booth and providing service to every property owner.

The security uncle knew about her job, and the two of them chatted idly, making the time pass much faster.

It wasn’t until dawn broke, and she saw the sun rise in the east, that she saw Ye Linghua running over in her indoor slippers. She stood at the main gate, looking around and pausing to catch her breath.

How could Lin Xin not know Ye Linghua was looking for her? Therefore, the first sound of “Ye Linghua” carried Lin Xin’s joy and the satisfaction that everything was worth it.

Ye Linghua was different; every effort Lin Xin made was reciprocated by Ye Linghua.

Even when Ye Linghua was avoiding her, she never denied her affection. So, Lin Xin thought: She must try hard to pursue such a wonderful person. Even if the result is failure, it will only be a beautiful memory.

But sometimes, when she thought about it, she didn’t regret pursuing Zheng Lanwen, yet the more she got to know Ye Linghua, the more regretful she became.

If only Ye Linghua had been the first person she fell in love with.

If only, if only, if only…

If only she could have met her a little earlier, that would have been wonderful.

Lin Xin’s eyelids felt heavy. Almost immediately after saying, “That’s good,” she fell soundly asleep.

Ye Linghua watched her lie there motionless for a while. She paused, got up, and checked on her. Seeing that she was asleep, Ye Linghua finally allowed a gentle smile to appear.

Her side-sleeping face was so gentle it made one want to reach out and touch her.

Ye Linghua did indeed reach out and gently stroked her head, saying: “You didn’t sleep all night. That was tough.”

Getting up, she carried Lin Xin and was surprised to discover… she could actually lift her.

Being a celebrity isn’t easy. Ye Linghua was a woman after all, and carrying Lin Xin was still a bit strenuous.

Fortunately, her master bedroom was on the first floor. After putting her on the master bed, Ye Linghua saw her eyes still tightly closed and wondered suspiciously, is this girl pretending to be asleep?

Of course, that was just a passing thought.

Ye Linghua took off her slippers and covered her with the blanket. Only then did she notice that the window was still open, and the room’s heating was constantly escaping through the open glass.

She walked to the bedside and closed the window.

Returning to Lin Xin’s side, and seeing her still asleep, Ye Linghua sighed and left for the kitchen.

As Ye Linghua quietly closed the door, Lin Xin rolled onto her side, rubbed her head against the pillow, and showed a satisfied smile. Then, she continued to sink into her sleep.

Ye Fang: “What did you say?”

Ye Linghua: “You heard right. I need you to help me buy some groceries.”

Ye Fang was shocked: “Why!!!”

Ye Linghua smiled: “Didn’t you bring Lin Xin here?”

Ye Fang: “That’s exactly why I’m asking why?”

Ye Linghua replied coldly: “Why else? Since she’s the guest you brought, of course, you have to entertain her properly.”

Ye Fang: “Don’t you have any groceries at your house?”

Ye Linghua: “No.”

Because Ye Linghua’s answer was too blunt and straightforward, Ye Fang didn’t know what to say. Finally, she compromised: “Fine, I’ll deliver them. I was going to visit you for the New Year anyway, so it’s just a matter of buying groceries along the way.”

Ye Linghua: “Happy New Year. Leave the groceries outside the door, and have the security guard bring them up. As for the New Year visit, you can visit every year. I’m sick this year, so I won’t be entertaining.”

With that, she hung up the phone. Ye Fang stared at the hand holding the disconnected phone, her eyes wide with shock: “Is this a human thing to do??? Calling someone to buy groceries on New Year’s Day, and then not letting them into the house!”