After Transmigrating, I Fell in Love with a Top-Tier Movie Queen - Chapter 77

However, before Ye Linghua could fully process the moment, someone approached and said, “Hello, Miss Ye, please get ready. Miss Qu will be entering soon. You’ll be up right after her.”

The person’s attitude was rather perfunctory. This wasn’t the first time Ye Linghua had been treated this way since coming to this world.

However, two years had passed since then, and it felt like she was back at the beginning. How interesting!

Ye Linghua stood up, dusted off her clothes, and turned to Ji Er, saying, “Let’s go!”

Ji Er nodded and quickly got up to follow Ye Linghua’s pace.

It wasn’t until both of them had gotten into the car that Lin Xin finally withdrew her gaze, looking down at her hands resting on her dress.

Unlike previous seasons, the new guests this time were all dressed in evening wear for their entrance. To welcome them, the veteran guests had started recording early, arranging a red carpet walkway and a floral archway at the entrance of the small courtyard.

The program crew had rented an extremely magnificent silver gown for Lin Xin, tailored to suit her complexion and appearance. Shards of glittering diamonds covered the skirt and spread down to the hem, sparkling under the sun. Coupled with Lin Xin’s already delicate features, she looked like a princess from a castle, or a sprite from the forest.

When she first appeared, the veteran guests exclaimed, laughing, “It seems the world’s amazement was all reserved for Lin Xin!”

“She beats us when she’s not dressed up. Now that she is, we are completely shamed.”

These were remarks meant to warm up the atmosphere, and Lin Xin certainly didn’t take them literally, politely greeting the seniors.

She was modest, courteous, and carried herself with grace. All of this was observed by Zheng Lanwen, who stood beside Tan Wenchang.

Lin Xin, of course, did not notice Zheng Lanwen’s presence, nor did she notice that Zheng Lanwen’s gaze held both awe and a barely concealed hint of desire.

When Lin Xin was in position, the veteran guests naturally took on the role of hosts, chatting and laughing with Lin Xin, and even actively promoting her new drama.

The entire process was so harmonious it felt scripted. When the veteran guests changed the topic to chat with other guests so as not to neglect them, Lin Xin’s gaze began to wander. She spotted Ye Linghua and Ji Er standing under a tree not far outside the courtyard, laughing and chatting. Ye Linghua even handed the girl a bottle of water, looking at her with a gentle expression.

The girl reached out and took the water Ye Linghua offered, beaming a smile. The dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves made her smile look so radiant.

It was the characteristic vitality of a young girl.

Lin Xin froze, a sudden, slightly uncomfortable sourness welling up in her heart. Ye Linghua was actually a very aloof person. Although polite, she always kept her distance.

Why did a girl who had just started working as her assistant make her show that kind of smile?

Seeing a staff member approach them, likely to tell them to prepare for their entrance, Lin Xin watched the two walk toward the car with a tacit understanding. For some reason, she could clearly see Ye Linghua was still smiling as she got into the vehicle.

The heartache grew more intense, and she involuntarily lowered her head, gazing at her hands resting on the skirt, her mind drifting away from the scene.

If I had been braver then, instead of pulling away from her, maybe now I could more openly pull her behind me. I could also declare the position beside me to the world on Weibo.

Her breath hitched. Lin Xin remembered she had done this once before when she was with Zheng Lanwen.

But the result was Zheng Lanwen’s impatient look and humiliating words.

This unpleasant memory made Lin Xin wonder: Does Ye Linghua also dislike that? Does she also hate this side of my personality?

“What are you thinking about?” Zheng Lanwen walked over to Lin Xin and asked.

The sudden intrusion of a voice pulled Lin Xin back from the brink of self-doubt.

Zheng Lanwen had been watching Lin Xin since she entered and naturally saw Lin Xin’s eyes land on Ye Linghua not far away.

In that moment, her heart felt as if a dull knife were constantly scraping across it. It wasn’t the kind of sharp pain that steals your breath, but a distress so profound that her heart felt too weak to beat, leaving her mind undersupplied with blood and her face pale.

Zheng Lanwen had seen Lin Xin act jealous before, so she recognized Lin Xin’s possessiveness toward Ye Linghua’s actions.

It was just like the way she used to be with Zheng Lanwen—whenever she got jealous, she would stand alone, head lowered, grieving privately…

These were things she had witnessed. A Lin Xin that once belonged only to her!

Precisely because she had witnessed it and regretted it, she longed for Lin Xin to never be sad again, wishing her to live happily for the rest of her life.

Would Ye Linghua be unaware? Would she unintentionally hurt Lin Xin the way I did?

What Zheng Lanwen didn’t know was that the helpless self-doubt mixed with Lin Xin’s possessiveness toward Ye Linghua at this moment was precisely caused by Zheng Lanwen’s past hurt.

Therefore, even upon hearing Zheng Lanwen’s words of concern, Lin Xin took a step back, widening the distance between them.

Then she whispered, “It’s none of your business.”

Zheng Lanwen frowned. “I’m concerned about you.”

Lin Xin responded, “I don’t need it.”

Lin Xin’s coldness and words deeply pierced Zheng Lanwen’s heart. She didn’t know what to do to make it up to her, yet she couldn’t help but complain: after the divorce, Lin Xin hadn’t even given her time to reflect.

Soon after they divorced, Lin Xin had easily given the deep affection meant for her to someone else.

How could Lin Xin do that? How could she so easily discard her when she was slowly realizing the true object of her love?

Zheng Lanwen’s voice was slightly hoarse. She whispered, “Lin Xin, I’ve changed.” In her sincere tone, there was a hint of pleading that Lin Xin couldn’t detect.

Lin Xin was momentarily startled. She reached up and turned off the microphone on her collar. For the first time, she looked at Zheng Lanwen very seriously and said, “But I fell in love with someone else. Very, very deeply.”

In the sunlight, she shone like the only light in the darkness, and she was so confident in giving that answer.

Although it was the answer she expected, hearing it was still heartbreaking for Zheng Lanwen.

Not wanting to hear any more unwelcome words from the person she loved, Zheng Lanwen withdrew her gaze and said nothing further.

At the same time, resident guest Mao Heng loudly announced, “Now let’s welcome our final special guest. I believe everyone knows who she is. She’s not a celebrity! But to say she has absolutely no connection to the entertainment industry is also untrue.”

Tan Wenchang laughed heartily. “Hahahaha, I’m old; I don’t understand.”

Mao Heng replied, “It’s alright, I’m the same as you. Welcoming the person invited due to the highest public demand—Ye Linghua!”

As his voice faded, a black Audi stopped in front of the floral archway. Ji Er quickly got out of the car, circled around the back, and opened the car door.

Then, a foot clad in a black high heel emerged. Following that, Ye Linghua herself stepped out of the car. She was wearing an off-the-shoulder, black, form-fitting evening gown that perfectly accentuated her curvaceous figure.

After stepping out, she glanced up at the sky. The sky was azure, with white clouds stacked one upon the other. The sea breeze blowing from across the courtyard carried a pleasant coolness.

Ye Linghua immediately spotted Lin Xin standing in the small courtyard, with Zheng Lanwen now beside her.

They were once partners, and photos from their wedding were still online.

Therefore, seeing them suddenly stand together was momentarily unsettling.

But Ye Linghua simply squinted her eyes, put on a smile, and walked toward the courtyard, facing the camera.

She walked the red carpet with light steps and an elegant posture, radiating confidence and nobility from head to toe.

Upon reaching the courtyard, Ye Linghua could see the layout more clearly.

This was the first time The Leisurely Courtyard was filming by the sea. The courtyard was two stories high, built with stone. Every room had been exquisitely decorated before filming began. The area outside the courtyard, originally just mud and sand, had been repurposed with small stone paths.

On one side of the path, they kept chickens and ducks, and on the other, cats and dogs.

Rumor had it there was also a vegetable patch behind the courtyard, and a large tree in front. A walk of about seven or eight minutes from the courtyard would lead to the beach and the ocean.

It truly embodied the phrase: Facing the sea, with spring blossoms.

Veteran guest Mao Heng watched her approach and praised her with a smile, “Hearing about you doesn’t compare to seeing you! You truly are a beauty who commands attention.”

Ye Linghua smiled faintly. “You flatter me.”

Mao Heng then asked, “I heard you used to be Lin Xin’s life assistant?”

Ye Linghua showed no sign of shame. She glanced sideways at Lin Xin, who was only one person away from her, and nodded, “That’s right.”

Tan Wenchang on the other side chuckled. “So, did you come this time because Lin Xin came?”

The other guests offered friendly smiles. This was clearly prepared for later editing.

Hearing this question, Lin Xin looked at Ye Linghua. Although Ye Linghua had suddenly announced her arrival that day, and Meng Kelin had later speculated it was for her, Lin Xin still lacked a true sense of conviction, feeling Ye Linghua must have had her own reasons.

She didn’t know what Ye Linghua would say, and the wait for Ye Linghua’s answer felt incredibly long.

“Ah? Yes, I did!”

Ye Linghua’s answer, spoken with a touch of smile and reliance, surprised Lin Xin.

She hadn’t expected Ye Linghua to answer so candidly, which made her feel shy about her own cautious thoughts.

Lin Xin’s mind drifted again. When she snapped back to attention, she heard Ye Linghua say, “Well, what can I do? I only know her!”

Boom! Lin Xin felt all the blood rush to her face. Using a phrase like “she’s the only one I know in the entertainment industry” made Lin Xin extremely embarrassed.

Tan Wenchang teased, “Look how shy our little Film Queen is.”

Lin Xin noticed the camera on her. Suppressing her shyness, she said, “I’ll take good care of her.”

Ye Linghua looked at her and smiled. “Thank you.”

Mao Heng then looked at the camera and said happily, “Lin Xin has said she will take good care of her, so she must be willing. Well, what can we do? We’ll just have to make you two roommates.”

Lin Xin: “???”

It turned out that while Lin Xin was zoning out, Mao Heng had moved on to the topic of room assignments. When they got to room assignments, Zheng Lanwen, who was no longer willing to wait, had decided to make a proactive move.

When Ye Linghua noticed Zheng Lanwen’s strange intention, she spoke first, stating her desire to share a room with Lin Xin.

The program crew, who wanted to hype up their CP, didn’t object much. But Mao Heng, being diligent, still asked her why she chose that.

Ye Linghua, being an outsider, naturally told him: In this entertainment industry, she only knows Lin Xin.

Thus, bypassing Zheng Lanwen, Lin Xin and Ye Linghua became the first pair to secure their room.

Zheng Lanwen, seeing Ye Linghua directly bypass her to become Lin Xin’s roommate, felt her displeasure grow even stronger.

Even in front of the camera, her face was troubled.

Fortunately, this wasn’t her first time recording a variety show, and she quickly adjusted her mindset, ending up sharing a room with Zhuo Yaxin. With that, everyone’s rooms were arranged.

Among the veteran guests, Mao Heng and Tan Wenchang shared a room, and Gong Chen and Bai Xueyu shared a room. Although Gong Chen and Bai Xueyu were male and female, they had developed a deep friendship over five seasons of recording, eventually becoming close confidantes and even sworn siblings.

Therefore, the program crew did not separate them.

Qu Hejing had a room alone. As the most senior and respected artist there, nobody was displeased with this special treatment.

After the initial meeting concluded, everyone took their luggage back to their rooms to settle in.

Mao Heng announced in advance, “We’re having a big dinner tonight. Everyone, once your luggage is sorted, take a good rest. We’ll have a feast this evening!”

The guests all offered their thanks. Ye Linghua pulled her luggage and followed Lin Xin.

Zheng Lanwen looked back at the pair’s retreating figures, but since her room with Zhuo Yaxin was in the opposite direction, she could only leave with Zhuo Yaxin, reluctantly.

Although the small courtyard was only two stories high, it covered a large area. Because it was an older house, the staircase was built on the exterior, climbing up the side of the house to the second floor.

The bedrooms were mostly upstairs, and Lin Xin and Ye Linghua’s room was on the second floor.

Thus, Lin Xin hauled her suitcase up the narrow staircase, with Ye Linghua following close behind her.

They walked in silence for a short while before Lin Xin, walking ahead, suddenly spoke: “That girl the program crew assigned to you—I saw her. She’s really cute.”

Ye Linghua smiled. “She is nice. Her name is Ji Er. She was very helpful to me on the way here, and she’s ambitious.”

Ye Linghua praised her twice, then saw Lin Xin suddenly stop walking ahead. She had to stop too. The house was old, and the staircase was old, too. It was already narrow, and the steps were steep, making it difficult to climb.

“Oh.”

Lin Xin only replied with an “Oh” after a moment, then lifted her feet to haul the luggage and continued up the stairs.

Ye Linghua paused, looking at her slightly petulant back. Her eyes curved into a smile, and she hurried to catch up. “Slow down, or I won’t be able to keep up.”

Lin Xin couldn’t help but turn back, a hint of annoyance in her voice. “The upstairs area is only so big. How could you not keep up?”

Is she actually angry?

Ye Linghua reached out and pulled on the hand resting on the suitcase. She said, “I only know you! If you leave me behind, I won’t know how to interact with the cameraman behind us.”

The cameraman behind them: “???” Wait, you two are flirting. What does that have to do with me?

Lin Xin looked down at the hand gripping hers, her pupils constricting. This girl… this girl… is playing the pity card!

Ye Linghua was standing on the step below Lin Xin, so she had to look up and smile at Lin Xin. “Right? I’m completely new to the entertainment industry.” Her smile grew even brighter as she spoke.

Lin Xin even had the illusion that her eyes were dazzled. This girl is not just… playing the pity card.