Daily Life of a Villain at Work [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 31

Chapter 31: The Eighth Day the Protagonist’s Heart Fluttered Wildly~

To Wen Qingyun, a routine date was simply an excuse to go out for some fresh air and a drive. During these outings, she could not only tease the serious-minded Chu Ke—who was particularly prone to blushing—but also enjoy her attentive, specialized service.

Wen Qingyun discovered that Chu Ke’s indulgence toward her was nearly bottomless. Requests that seemed excessive to Wen Qingyun were treated as ordinary by Chu Ke, who even seemed to find a certain joy in fulfilling them.

It was hard for Wen Qingyun not to like such an obedient and sensible person, but she always felt an urge to test exactly where Chu Ke’s limits lay.

“Chu Ke, I suddenly really want to eat the grilled sausages from the school gate. Can you go buy some for me?” Wen Qingyun made this request suddenly after they returned from the cinema.

Chu Ke was taken aback. It was Saturday night; there wouldn’t be any street vendors set up at the school entrance. However, most of the brick-and-mortar shops in the vicinity would be open, and perhaps some snack shops would have a sausage grill running.

“Okay, I’ll go check. Why don’t you find a place to sit here and wait for me to come back?” Chu Ke agreed immediately.

“I want the freshly grilled starch sausages,” Wen Qingyun added, increasing the difficulty with a request that was nearly impossible to fulfill. “The kind made on a small pushcart. And it’s best if I can eat them within half an hour; I hate the feeling of waiting.”

Chu Ke’s nod was a beat slower than usual, but she still accepted. After accompanying Wen Qingyun to a seat in a coffee shop, Chu Ke hurried to the parking lot with the car keys.

At this hour, there wouldn’t be any mobile stalls selling starch sausages at the school gate, but they were everywhere in the food street and the bustling night market. Chu Ke knew the county well. She drove straight to the night market nearest to the shopping mall and, relying on her memory, found the sausage vendor she used to see at the school gate.

After purchasing two sausages of different flavors, Chu Ke specifically asked the barbecue stall owner for two foil insulation bags to prevent the sausages from getting cold on the way back.

The round trip took exactly twenty-five minutes. When she ran back into the coffee shop carrying the bags, fine beads of sweat had formed on her forehead from the exertion.

“The owner wasn’t at the school gate today; he moved his stall elsewhere. I bought two flavors: one mildly spicy and one not spicy,” Chu Ke said, taking deep breaths to calm her rapid heartbeat.

Wen Qingyun took the bag and pulled out a tissue to hand to Chu Ke, gesturing for her to wipe her sweat. She took out a sausage and took a bite. Tasting the familiar flavor, a smile touched her lips.

“Delicious. Thank you for the hard work.” Wen Qingyun held the sausage directly up to Chu Ke’s face. “Want a bite?”

“Okay.” Chu Ke’s throat moved. She leaned in and took a small, careful bite.

Wen Qingyun’s smile deepened. Without a word, she pulled the sausage back and finished the non-spicy one. As for the remaining mildly spicy sausage, Wen Qingyun only took one bite before losing interest, deciding to feed the rest to Chu Ke. In the end, they each finished exactly one sausage—a perfect distribution.

…

Two days of dating felt far too short for Chu Ke; it was as if time slipped through her fingers in a single blurred moment. After seeing Wen Qingyun off, Chu Ke stood still for a long time before finally moving to climb the stairs back to her home.

Opening the door and seeing two pairs of nearly identical slippers in the entryway, Chu Ke lowered her head and smiled. She bent over to take off her shoes, put on her own slippers, and then neatly arranged Wen Qingyun’s pair on the shoe rack.

Looking toward the sofa, her gaze fell upon a brown coat draped over the back.

“I bought this online a few days ago. I ordered two sizes; the larger one fits me, and I’m giving this smaller one to you.”

That’s what Wen Qingyun had said when she visited Chu Ke’s dormitory yesterday. Afterward, Wen Qingyun accompanied her to the supermarket, bought ingredients for yesterday’s lunch and dinner, and even helped her slice two tomatoes in the kitchen.

Oh, and they had eaten breakfast together today—classic soy milk and deep-fried dough sticks wrapped in flatbread. It was a meal Wen Qingyun had specifically taken a detour to share with her before her departure.

Recalling every detail of the past two days, the smile on Chu Ke’s face grew brighter, and the melancholy of the parting gradually vanished.

I am really together with Wen Qingyun. An ‘intern girlfriend’ is still a girlfriend!

…

Upon returning home, Wen Qingyun dropped the large box of documents onto her mother’s desk and immediately dived into the gym to start working out. She had lived too comfortably over the past half-month; her average daily exercise had been pitifully low. If she didn’t remedy it now, the abs she had worked so hard for would disappear!

After a week of sweating it out, Sister Xiao called. The crew of Green Bamboo needed Wen Qingyun to return for some pick-up shots. Once finished, the entire production would wrap, officially entering the post-production editing and promotion phase.

“The lead creators of Green Bamboo don’t plan to delay this show. They’ll rush the editing once we wrap. It’s expected to air next summer,” Sister Xiao said, then paused. “According to my intel, there seems to be some friction between the male and female leads. Keep an eye out when you’re filming to see if it’s true.”

Wen Qingyun raised an eyebrow. “Friction? Did Lai Xuan hire trolls to blacken Chao Yuxin again?”

“Not quite that far. With Director Liu Zhi keeping a lid on things, it’s mostly just unpleasant little sparks. But during promotion, Lai Xuan used some small tricks. He wants to suppress Chao Yuxin and be the sole ‘Top Billing’ instead of sharing equal billing.”

“As you know, Chao Yuxin hasn’t signed with a major agency yet, so she’s at a disadvantage there.”

Hearing this, Wen Qingyun understood. “Sister Xiao, do you want the studio to sign Chao Yuxin?”

“You know me best, Qingyun. Although Chao Yuxin isn’t from a prestigious acting academy, she is highly versatile and has real talent. She can easily get good roles in martial arts dramas, and for modern shows, hard-boiled police and crime films are becoming more common. Her market prospects are excellent.”

Sister Xiao hadn’t thought of signing Chao Yuxin on a whim; she had conducted a comprehensive evaluation and determined that signing her would be beneficial for the studio’s growth.

“Fine. I’ll talk to her when I go for the pick-up shots. If she’s willing, I’ll give her your number.” Wen Qingyun trusted Sister Xiao’s judgment and agreed immediately.

Sister Xiao: “Great. I’ll leave it to you, Boss.”

“By the way, Sister Xiao, I have something I need to report to you.” Thinking of a certain dorky intern girlfriend, Wen Qingyun’s lips curled up slightly.

“Hmm? What is it? Did you offend someone again?” Sister Xiao asked lightheartedly.

Ever since she found out that Wen Qingyun’s mother was Wen Feishi, Sister Xiao felt her artist was invincible. Given Ms. Wen Feishi’s power, even if Wen Qingyun poked a hole in the sky of the entertainment industry, her mother could probably patch it up.

“I’ve been very low-profile lately, focusing on charity work,” Wen Qingyun laughed. “It’s just that… I’ve started dating an intern girlfriend. Judging by the current progress, her chances of being promoted to ‘permanent’ are quite high.”

Chu Ke gave Wen Qingyun a very good feeling. Some of her perspectives and persistence seemed a bit “silly,” but it was undeniable that the world became better because of people like her.

“Oh, so you just started dating a— Wait, what? You have a girlfriend?” Sister Xiao took a moment to process. After the brief shock, her professional brain kicked back in. Her artist’s opinion of men had always been poor; if she were to fall in love, a girlfriend was indeed more likely.

“Is she in the industry?” Sister Xiao asked calmly, already mentally pre-setting crisis PR strategies in case they were exposed.

“No, but you know her. You’ve even met her.” Wen Qingyun gave a sufficient hint.

Sister Xiao thought seriously. Combining her artist’s recent itinerary and social media updates, the answer appeared instantly.

“You’re dating Chu Ke?” Sister Xiao said, enunciating every word.

She could deduce the answer, but she couldn’t imagine why her artist would be with Chu Ke. Chu Ke was, at most, a good-looking, high-character, hardworking, kind, and gentle government cadre with a “stable iron rice bowl” job.

Hiss… Listing it like that, Chu Ke’s conditions were actually quite good—an excellent and rare find among ordinary people.

“Yes, I’m dating Chu Ke,” Wen Qingyun replied crisply.

Sister Xiao fell silent briefly before speaking. “If you plan to go public, you must notify me in advance. Preferably three days. If you can’t do it for three days, at least three hours.”

“That shouldn’t be a problem. I have no plans to go public in the short term,” Wen Qingyun paused. “Chu Ke has a job; we’ll likely only see each other during holidays.”

Chu Ke was obedient, but she wouldn’t give up the work she loved just because she liked Wen Qingyun. This was something Wen Qingyun was happy to see. Emotional life is important, but it isn’t everything. If Chu Ke abandoned her career for her, Wen Qingyun might even look down on her and consider demoting the “intern girlfriend” to a mere kept lover.

…

Returning to the film crew after a month, Wen Qingyun predictably received a lot of welcomes. She responded politely to some before letting the makeup artist start her transformation, using the time to review the scenes that needed reshooting.

After staying on set for two days, Wen Qingyun caught the scent of something fishy. The conflict between Chao Yuxin and Lai Xuan was exactly as Sister Xiao described. One was a newcomer who hadn’t even been out for two years, the other was a long-established “Best Actor” of television. There was no need to think twice about who had more power and connections.

If Director Liu Zhi hadn’t been protecting Chao Yuxin on set, she would have faced much more than just having her billing stolen; her scenes would have likely been cut or sabotaged.

Toward Wen Qingyun, Lai Xuan was all smiles. He dared to bully Chao Yuxin openly and secretly, but he didn’t dare pull any tricks in front of Wen Qingyun. During the scenes that required his cooperation, he was flawless, performing creditably and giving Wen Qingyun no opening to find fault.

However, a villain’s reason for making life difficult for someone could simply be that they didn’t like them—sometimes no reason was needed at all.

“Chao Yuxin, have you formally signed with an agency yet?” At the wrap party, Wen Qingyun, sitting at the table with the main creators, suddenly spoke up.

“Ah?” Chao Yuxin was confused for a second. She hadn’t expected Wen Qingyun to ask this. She weighed her words before answering, “Not yet. But I’m in contact with a few good companies; I’ll probably decide after the New Year.”

Recently, Chao Yuxin had realized the importance of having a major company behind her. She didn’t intend to sit and wait for Lai Xuan to keep stepping on her.

Wen Qingyun swirled the wine glass in her hand, resting her chin on one hand as she looked at Chao Yuxin.

“Would you consider joining my studio? I have over thirty employees, and currently, I’m the only artist. If you join, my current team will be your future team.”

“My manager will also be your manager.” Wen Qingyun smiled. “Sister Xiao has a lot of overflow resources; she needs the right person to put those resources to use.”

Hearing this, it would be a lie to say Chao Yuxin wasn’t tempted. Everyone in the industry now knew that Wen Qingyun likely had a massive backer. Her studio, Good Wind, cooperated with a powerful legal team and had sent many marketing accounts—the kind even big stars and companies couldn’t handle—straight to prison. Everyone in the circle was wary.

“You don’t need to tell me right away. I’ll give you three days to think,” Wen Qingyun said considerately. “I’ll send you Sister Xiao’s number in a bit. You can talk to her about any questions you have.”

“Okay. Thank you.” The gratitude in Chao Yuxin’s eyes was palpable.

“Teacher Wen, are you planning to grow your studio into something big?” Lai Xuan’s expression was ugly, his smile forced. Everyone at the table knew he had been targeting Chao Yuxin. By extending an olive branch at this time and place, wasn’t Wen Qingyun clearly opposing him? This was publicly throwing his face on the ground and stepping on it.

“That’s right. My goal is to grow the studio and eventually become a well-known media company.” Wen Qingyun raised her red wine glass, squinting through the glass at Lai Xuan.

“Why? Do you want to join my studio too?” Wen Qingyun asked, tilting her head.

Lai Xuan gave a dry laugh. “If Teacher Wen is willing to pay my contract termination fee, I wouldn’t mind considering a job change.”

“Oh, then don’t bother. I wasn’t considering you anyway,” Wen Qingyun said, giving him no face at all. “I only consider those with excellent ability and good character. I don’t consider people like you.”

The blunt ridicule made Lai Xuan’s face turn sour, but he could do nothing. He didn’t even dare to utter a single threat, fearing he would end up like Qian Tuo. He knew his own hands weren’t clean; he dabbled in all the vices common in the circle—his past definitely wouldn’t survive a deep dive.

Seeing Lai Xuan clearly furious but struggling to hold it in, Chao Yuxin couldn’t suppress the smile at the corners of her mouth.

“Teacher Wen, I will think about it seriously and give you an answer within three days,” Chao Yuxin responded again, a decision already forming in her mind.

“Great. My manager thinks very highly of you.” Wen Qingyun smiled and raised her glass toward Chao Yuxin.

The smile on Chao Yuxin’s face grew even more brilliant. She stood up to clink glasses with Wen Qingyun and drained her wine in one gulp.

Wen Qingyun’s alcohol tolerance was actually quite good, but she didn’t like drinking in crowded places. She only drank with her mother during holidays. Usually, the two of them could split a bottle of Baijiu and remain clear-headed. Her motor skills wouldn’t be affected; she just flushed easily.

In response to Chao Yuxin, Wen Qingyun took a polite sip and then simply held the glass without drinking more, dealing with the waves of people coming to brown-nose.

When the party ended, it was already 10:00 PM. Wen Qingyun, who had developed a healthy routine, yawned and got into her car under the escort of her bodyguards to head home. To make her rest more comfortable during filming, Mother Wen had gifted her a small detached villa near the film city last year as a birthday present. During the filming of Green Bamboo, except for location shoots that required hotels, Wen Qingyun spent every night at the villa.

By the time she finished a comfortable bath, it was close to midnight. Pulling back the floor-to-ceiling curtains, Wen Qingyun looked up to see a bright moon hanging high in the sky.

The moon is so big and round today, it rivals the Mid-Autumn festival.

Turning to the electronic calendar, a realization flashed in her eyes. It was the 15th day of the 10th lunar month—no wonder the moon was so large.

Wen Qingyun walked barefoot on the carpet, picked up her phone, zoomed in several times, and took a photo where the craters on the moon’s surface were faintly visible.

【Wen Qingyun: [Image]】 【Wen Qingyun: Such a round moon.】 【Chu Ke: It really is big and bright.】 【Chu Ke: Did you just get home? Did the party end that late?】 【Wen Qingyun: I got home after ten. I just took a bath to wash off the smell of alcohol.】 【Chu Ke: It’s best to drink in moderation, otherwise it’s bad for your stomach and health.】 【Chu Ke: Rest early after your bath. It’s past midnight; it’s already the next day.】 【Chu Ke: If you feel uncomfortable, drink more water to metabolize the alcohol.】 【Chu Ke: Do you have honey? If so, dissolve it in warm water and drink it as a sweet treat.】

Seeing Chu Ke’s nagging concern, Wen Qingyun was too lazy to type back and simply initiated a video call. The call was answered quickly. Seeing Chu Ke still sitting at her desk in her shirt, Wen Qingyun hummed in dissatisfaction.

“You know it’s past midnight, yet look what you’re doing?” Wen Qingyun raised an eyebrow, her tone accusatory. “I’ve at least finished my bath and can lie down whenever I want. What about you?”

Chu Ke, who was working overtime on materials, was speechless. She stammered, “I didn’t notice the time. It just became this late before I knew it.”

“Hmm?” Wen Qingyun’s tone rose.

“There’s only a little bit of the material left. It’ll be done in five minutes max.” Chu Ke’s tone was submissive, but her heart felt like it had swallowed a giant jar of honey—it was too sweet.

“It seems the one not taking care of their body isn’t me, but you, Comrade Chu Ke.” Wen Qingyun sighed theatrically, pulled the curtains shut, and sat on the sofa.

“Sorry, it won’t happen again.” Chu Ke admitted her fault obediently, her lips curling up uncontrollably.

“Good that you know your mistake. My girlfriend must be healthy.” Wen Qingyun crossed her legs, adding a hint of a warning. “If you end up with a body full of ailments at such a young age, I’ll abandon you heartlessly.”

“I won’t. I will stay healthy.” This time, Chu Ke’s reply was much faster and her voice a bit firmer. “From now on, I’ll finish work before eleven and spend my rest time jogging to exercise.”

Chu Ke spoke with great seriousness: “My unit arranges a physical exam every year. All my indicators are normal. If needed, I can sync the reports to you.”

Wen Qingyun nodded. “Fine. Sync them to me after the next exam.”

“Okay,” Chu Ke replied, the fatigue in her eyes completely replaced by joy.

Next time. There is a “next time” between me and Wen Qingyun. That means we have a future. That means we have infinite possibilities!

…

After looking deeply into signing with Good Wind, Chao Yuxin predictably chose to join, becoming the first artist under Wen Qingyun. Once she signed the contracts, Sister Xiao unleashed the studio team. In no time, the hashtag #ChaoYuxinJoinsGoodWindStudio reached the trending searches.

【Wow, double joy! I like both Wen Qingyun and Chao Yuxin!】 【Congrats to Chao Yuxin! We are family now!】 【Can I join this family? A triangle is the most stable relationship!】 【Did the Big Sister go and act while simultaneously being a boss and poaching people? Want to check out the new idol I found? Great singing and dancing!】 【It must be Chao Yuxin’s acting that moved Wen Qingyun! Looking forward to Green Bamboo! I’m tired of idol dramas pretending to be serious dramas!】

Thanks to the record of sending a marketing account to prison in less than a month, even when the topic climbed to fifth place, no marketing accounts dared to use fake “leaks” to drive traffic. They all behaved and chose to repost with blessings.

The official account of Green Bamboo also hopped on the trend, mentioning in a repost that Chao Yuxin was a “leading star,” responding to the recent billing controversy.

Seeing the official account join in, Lai Xuan, who was secretly lurking, was gritting his teeth in fury.

“Does nobody know where Wen Qingyun actually came from?” Lai Xuan glared at his assistant.

The assistant hesitated, then nodded and shook his head. “Brother Wang contacted some connections outside the circle. Some have heard the name Wen Qingyun, but they won’t give us specific info. They only warned us not to provoke her.”

“‘That one is not someone you can afford to mess with.’ That’s a direct quote from a big shot outside the circle. Brother Wang’s opinion is to avoid opposing Wen Qingyun as much as possible.”

“What about Chao Yuxin?” Lai Xuan asked.

The assistant lowered his head. “Since she joined Good Wind, all troll attacks and blackening must stop. Brother Wang says it’s best to turn swords into plowshares—don’t let a small conflict turn into a major one.”

It was the expected answer, but it left Lai Xuan so furious he could barely breathe.