After Transmigrating into a Novel, I Am in a Relationship with My Scummy Ex-Girlfriend’s Mother - Chapter 19

It wasn’t until the very end that Huo Qingzhuo realized she had been optimistic far too early.

[Wei Qingqing: Qingzhuo, you and Junfu are on the trending searches. The discussion level about you two is incredibly high.]

[Huo Qingzhuo: I’ll go take a look.]

After a brief reply to Wei Qingqing, Huo Qingzhuo checked the trending list. The tag “Girls in Black and White Dresses” was indeed slowly climbing up from the bottom of the rankings.

Checking the time, Huo Qingzhuo didn’t think becoming famous early was necessarily a good thing, though it wasn’t strictly a bad one either.

After tidying up, Huo Qingzhuo put on the clothes she bought at the store last night, gathered her things, went downstairs to check out, and then took a taxi straight to the agreed-upon location.

Huo Qingzhuo arrived nearly an hour early, but when she got there, she found that the author had already arrived.

“Hello, teacher. I am Huo Qingzhuo,” she greeted as she entered.

The author looked up and pushed up his glasses. “Have a seat. Others call me Lao Jiu; you can call me Lao Jiu too.”

“Hello, Teacher Lao Jiu.” Huo Qingzhuo sat down across from him and tactfully poured tea for both of them.

“You have the potential to go viral naturally; trending even before we start,” Lao Jiu remarked nonchalantly, twirling his teacup with one hand and scrolling through his phone with the other.

Huo Qingzhuo hadn’t expected things to be so coincidental. However, since it had happened, it was an opportunity; how to seize it depended on one’s ability.

“I didn’t expect this either, so I wanted to ask what the production team’s intentions are.”

For now, she preferred to keep a low profile. Huo Qingzhuo didn’t place much weight on this trending topic; how to handle it would mostly depend on the production team’s decision.

“Don’t worry about it. Our production team doesn’t need this bit of minor hype,” Lao Jiu continued scrolling through his phone dismissively. “Before I came, I was thinking that if you were the type to get a big head just because of a little fame, then I might have to change my female lead again. Looking at you now, you’re fine—steady. Remember, being famous early isn’t necessarily a good thing. Even though this was a complete accident, once it’s leaked that you’re joining the cast, people might say it’s your marketing. Rumors are just a matter of someone opening their mouth.”

“I understand,” Huo Qingzhuo nodded, showing the proper respect of a junior.

“Someone is suppressing the trending search; looks like I’ve saved some money. Let me see who’s being so kind,” Lao Jiu muttered to himself, pulling his phone closer.

Huo Qingzhuo could roughly guess that the one suppressing the search was likely Shu Yueqing. After all, the trending topic involved two people. As an heir to a wealthy family and still a minor, it was indeed unsafe for Shen Junfu to be exposed like that. But there was no need to mention this to Lao Jiu.

“You all arrived so early? Then I’m the late one.”

The director, wearing a black mask and hat, was just as he was last time—gentle and refined. He walked in with a screenwriter and another person who was wrapped up tightly.

Lao Jiu was focused on his phone and didn’t answer. Huo Qingzhuo stood up to greet them. The director didn’t seem embarrassed at all, clearly used to Lao Jiu’s style.

“Come, everyone, have a seat. Let’s get to know each other. I am the director of the Jiu Xuan crew, Song Jue. These are our two screenwriters, Lao Jiu and Lao Yao. Our female lead, Huo Qingzhuo, and our male lead, Jing Bai.”

After taking off their masks and hats and sitting down, Song Jue introduced them one by one.

This was Huo Qingzhuo’s first time seeing the actor for the male lead, and she was somewhat surprised. He looked very young, likely around twenty, with an air of nobility and youthfulness. He had the kind of stunning looks that left an immediate impression, yet he was currently a “no-name” in the entertainment industry.

“Auntie, won’t there be a problem with you dragging me here to act? If my mom finds out, the two of us will be beaten to death, right?” The male lead, Jing Bai, gave Huo Qingzhuo a strained greeting and looked at Lao Jiu with a troubled expression.

Huo Qingzhuo was dumbfounded. So the male lead had been dragged in at the last minute?

“Stop talking nonsense. Isn’t it fine as long as your mom doesn’t find out?” Lao Jiu settled the matter with no room for argument, then waved at Song Jue. “Old Song, Old Yao, I’ll leave the rest to you.”

Song Jue gave Jing Bai a comforting pat on the shoulder and began to get down to business: reviewing the script, discussing character settings, exchanging insights, and signing the contract. The professional atmosphere put Huo Qingzhuo at ease.

Furthermore, the contract terms were indeed reasonable. For a newcomer like her to receive such high treatment was like a “pie falling from the sky.”

Although Jing Bai seemed like a last-minute replacement, he didn’t falter at all when it came to business. His basic acting skills weren’t an issue; he seemed to be professionally trained.

Working with efficient people was refreshing. Even in her past life, Huo Qingzhuo rarely encountered such an atmosphere, and she couldn’t help but look forward to this project.

“Today is just an initial introduction. From next Friday to Sunday, for three days, we will conduct a script reading. During this time, I hope you can gain a certain understanding and mastery of the script. Is that okay?”

Song Jue checked the time and felt that today could come to an end.

Huo Qingzhuo then realized that the entire crew was ready; they were only missing the two leads—how bizarre.

Since she had decided to join the cast, Huo Qingzhuo didn’t want her personal issues to delay the crew’s progress, so she agreed. Jing Bai had no objections either; since he had been “captured” anyway, he had nothing else to do.

“Let’s all have a meal together to get better acquainted. It’ll be easier to look after each other once we’re on set.”

Lao Jiu, who had been on his phone the whole time, saw that things were wrapping up and made the suggestion. Naturally, no one refused.

After dinner, Jing Bai and Lao Yao were taken away by Song Jue, while Huo Qingzhuo got into Lao Jiu’s car.

“Xiao Huo, I have something I want to talk to you about.”

With the driver in front and the back partitioned off, Lao Jiu got straight to the point.

“Please speak, Teacher Jiu.” Huo Qingzhuo looked at Lao Jiu beside her.

“Do you have someone you like? Do you have a boyfriend or girlfriend?” Finally putting down the phone, Lao Jiu took off his glasses and rubbed his tired eyes.

The question caught her off guard. Huo Qingzhuo thought for a moment and told the truth. “I do have someone I like, but I don’t have a partner.”

“Is there a chance you’ll start a relationship with the person you like anytime soon?” Lao Jiu was always blunt.

“No,” Huo Qingzhuo said decisively.

“The other person doesn’t like you?”

“Um…” Huo Qingzhuo didn’t quite understand the necessity of these questions.

“Then give up. If you can’t make them like you at first sight, the possibility of it happening in this lifetime isn’t high,” Lao Jiu said, shocking her once again.

Huo Qingzhuo felt a weight in her mind and stared at Lao Jiu without speaking.

“You’re a good prospect. Don’t waste your time on these meaningless things. Go back and sign a supplementary agreement to remain single. I’ll make you my exclusive female lead. Within three years, I can make you a top-tier star. What do you think?”

Lao Jiu took off his old-fashioned round glasses, revealing a pair of extremely beautiful phoenix eyes. The lines were smooth, the corners narrow and upturned, and his eyelids were half-lowered, yet they couldn’t hide the ambition within.

“Just staying single?” It had to be said that this was an extremely tempting offer. From the script of Jiu Xuan, Huo Qingzhuo could see Lao Jiu’s strength, not to mention the financial power behind his own investment.

Lao Jiu put his glasses back on, returning to his lazy, harmless appearance. “I’m not interested in forcing people. Besides, I am essentially a businessman. In my eyes, you are worth the investment.”

“I’ll sign.”

Without further hesitation, Huo Qingzhuo knew that opportunity knocks but once. Career and strength were always the foundation for everything else.

For the entire weekend, Huo Qingzhuo basically stayed by Lao Jiu’s side. Since she signed that agreement, Lao Jiu’s attitude toward her had changed significantly, even providing personal guidance on the script.

By Sunday afternoon, it was time for Huo Qingzhuo to prepare to return to school. After some thought, she bought some vegetables and fruits that elderly people liked and went home. No matter what, she was now “this” Huo Qingzhuo; she couldn’t avoid the family of this body forever.

Huo Qingzhuo’s home was in the old city district, in an old faculty housing complex. It was mostly inhabited by elderly people, and the whole neighborhood had a slow pace—a good place for retirement.

Before going inside, Huo Qingzhuo rehearsed several times. But to her surprise, the moment she pushed open the door, she felt a long-lost sense of “coming home.”

This feeling was something she hadn’t even experienced when returning to the orphanage in her past life.

Facing the four familiar yet strange elderly people, Huo Qingzhuo found herself adapting well, enjoying their greetings and warmth. For a moment, she had the illusion that this was how it was meant to be.

Even after leaving home, Huo Qingzhuo still felt a sense of lightheadedness, a feeling of unreality about it all.

“What is actually going on?” As she walked out of the complex, Huo Qingzhuo looked back at the four elders standing below the building and whispered, “How much more about this world do I not know?”

Regardless of the changes in her thoughts about this world, she had to live her current life well first.

Huo Qingzhuo took some fruit, got on the bus, and headed for school.

Since students only went home once every two weeks, they were enthusiastic upon returning, and the air was filled with the sound of chattering discussions.

As Huo Qingzhuo walked along the path, she clearly felt more eyes on her. It didn’t take a genius to figure out it was because of the opening ceremony.

This wasn’t a big problem for her, but having been busy with the film crew all weekend, her studies had been somewhat neglected. For now, she still needed to focus on school.

Just as she returned to the classroom, she saw an extra person. Next to her seat, Shen Junfu was moving things.

“Are you changing seats?” Huo Qingzhuo knew that Shen Junfu probably wouldn’t be able to accept her in the short term, so she didn’t want to push too hard to avoid backfiring. She wasn’t pursuing Shen Junfu anyway; as long as the relationship wasn’t too hostile, keeping some distance wasn’t a bad thing.

Shen Junfu only gave her a glance and then acted as if she weren’t there, moving her things away.

Wei Qingqing arrived early as well and happened to witness this scene.

“Junfu, what are you doing?” Looking at Shen Junfu’s things on the desk next to her, Wei Qingqing was bewildered. After seeing Shen Junfu and Huo Qingzhuo leave together this weekend, she thought they had reconciled.

“I can be your deskmate. What, aren’t you happy?” Although Shen Junfu spoke in a joking tone, her clearly unhappy face made Wei Qingqing feel threatened.

“I’m happy…” Wei Qingqing cast a pleading look toward Huo Qingzhuo, but the latter only gave her a look that said she couldn’t help.

The public opinion on campus had shifted significantly since the opening ceremony. While it still centered around Shen Junfu, there were now many discussions about Huo Qingzhuo, and they were mostly trending in a positive direction.

After all, during their school years, most people were relatively simple. Many admired the strength Huo Qingzhuo displayed during the opening ceremony.

However, this was not a scene certain people wanted to see—specifically Liu Yangyang.

As the recognized school beauty of Shengguan High School for the past few years, Liu Yangyang always felt that Shen Junfu was just playing around with others, and only she was truly worthy of standing by Shen Junfu’s side.

Although she had also participated in the opening ceremony, Huo Qingzhuo was the one who performed the finale with Shen Junfu. This invisibly suppressed her. Furthermore, some people who loved drama started suggesting that the title of the new generation school beauty could be given to Huo Qingzhuo. This was completely intolerable to her.

“What right does this person have to step on my head? For three years, it’s always been me. Why does a Huo Qingzhuo have to pop up in this final year?!”

Sitting in the Class 8 classroom, Liu Yangyang grew angrier listening to the discussions around her. She swept everything off her desk in a fit of rage.

“Don’t worry, someone like her definitely won’t make any big waves. This time was an accident. She’s just a student from a poor background; what right does she have to compete with you? Wait and see, we’re going to let her know who the boss of Shengguan High School really is.”

With Liu Yangyang angry, a group of people with a common enemy immediately emerged around her.