Falling in Love with a Stand-in [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 7

Chapter 7: The Movie Queen’s Little Butterfly (07)

“Pianqian, we meet again.”

Song Zhe said with a smile. His voice was clear and pleasant, and his light brown eyes carried joy as he gazed at his younger sister with extreme focus.

Originally, there were a few girls beside Jian Yixin, but seeing Song Zhe approach, they sensibly moved away, though their eyes kept drifting back to catch the scene.

Jian Yixin: “…”

Should I say he’s a true sister-complex type?

“Why are you here?” Jian Yixin’s tone carried a bit of a pout, like a complaint. “You didn’t even tell me.”

“To give you a surprise,” Song Zhe raised an eyebrow. Looking at the sister he hadn’t seen in a while, he reached out to rub her head. Halfway through, he remembered her “disguise,” and under Jian Yixin’s watchful gaze, he retracted his hand.

From an outsider’s perspective, it looked as if Song Zhe had reached out wanting to touch Song Pianqian’s cheek, only to restrain his emotions at the last second.

Song Pianqian was slender and pure, looking up slightly at the tall, handsome man. They stood very close; the lighting was dim, and ambiguity blossomed.

“I thought of a quote,” Liu Lele whispered, peeking over. “Love is wanting to touch but pulling back the hand.”

“What kind of nonsense is that?” Lin Qinglu threw her fan onto the table with a sharp “clack.” She frowned. “Have you read too many romance novels?”

Two people standing together is a love story now?

A crew girl beside her whispered back, “When he called out ‘Pianqian’ just now, his tone was super intimate and doting.”

“It’s just making shadows out of wind,” Lin Qinglu leaned back, crossing her legs. “People can turn any trifle into something real.”

Her tone was certain, as if she were long accustomed to such things. Liu Lele thought about it and realized she was right—isn’t that how all rumors in the entertainment industry start? Sister Qinglu really sees through everything; a wise person truly stops rumors in their tracks. Liu Lele followed her artist’s lead and began to seriously reflect on herself. Even the crew girl showed a look of shame, as if thinking, I actually exposed my gossiping nature in front of Movie Queen Lin.

Lin Qinglu ignored them and tilted her head to look at the corner where Song Pianqian was.

They were still talking.

They were actually still talking.

They seemed to be taking selfies—how childish.

Song Pianqian smiled at him. Song Pianqian reached out to pull his arm—

“Old Man Yu!” Lin Qinglu suddenly shouted. “Are we filming today’s scene or not?”

“Filming, filming. Such a ‘Great Auntie’ temper,” Yu Bo sighed, briskly coordinating the crew. “Move this camera position a bit more, the light on the left is too bright… Right, good, actors in position!”

Like gears slowly beginning to turn, the crew officially went to work. Everyone became busy, and the scene instantly centered on the actors.

Lin Qinglu caught a glimpse out of the corner of her eye—those two had indeed separated. Song Pianqian was walking this way.

Lin Qinglu’s mood eased slightly, but she didn’t even give Song Pianqian a direct look.

Hmph.

At least she knows when it’s time to work.

Song Zhe sent the photo to the family group: “A few days ago, Mom was asking me why you haven’t shown your face on my Moments lately.”

“Sigh, how would I dare let them know their precious daughter has been suffering such great grievances lately,” Song Zhe sighed dramatically.

Jian Yixin was amused by him; this smile was much more genuine: “It’s not that exaggerated, it’s quite nice here.”

Song Zhe just felt for his sister. He had often done volunteer work during his school years, but as an older brother, he only hoped his sister could live a life as free as a little princess—there was no need to suffer like this.

Song Zhe said, “I asked you before who you joined the crew for, and you wouldn’t tell me.” He leaned in, sounding certain, “Is it Shen Yu?”

As he spoke, Song Zhe recalled Shen Yu’s profile and the man he had just seen; a flash of dissatisfaction crossed his eyes. That kind of person was not worthy of his sister at all, but if she was just playing around and it made her happy…

“It’s not him. It’s Lin Qinglu.”

“Huh??”

Lin Qinglu?

Song Zhe didn’t follow the entertainment industry, but no one was a stranger to that name. The image of Lin Qinglu’s exquisite face and her star-studded achievements immediately surfaced in his mind. She was indeed much, much better than Shen Yu.

Song Pianqian had a great relationship with her brother and told him everything. However, being a young girl, she had been too embarrassed to say Shen Yu’s name directly—but since there was only one presentable male actor in the crew, it was easy to guess. This situation now made things convenient for Jian Yixin.

“Teacher Lin is very excellent. I really like her work.”

“She is decent.” Song Zhe was very satisfied with this result. His greatest satisfaction was that his sister hadn’t been led astray by some unreliable man outside; it was just simple fan-girling, at most becoming friends with Lin Qinglu.

Just making a friend.

Jian Yixin reached out and tugged a bit of Song Zhe’s sleeve—this was a habitual small gesture between the siblings. Usually, when Song Pianqian wanted something from her brother, she did this.

With the help of the original host’s emotions, Jian Yixin lightly pulled on Song Zhe.

“What do you want this time?” Song Zhe’s eyes were full of smiles, his heart softening.

“Brother, is HY looking for a new spokesperson?” After a pause, Jian Yixin blinked. “A global spokesperson.”

Ho.

“You think she’s good, so you even dare to mention a global endorsement to me,” Song Zhe laughed and sighed.

Before he could say more, Lin Qinglu’s call came from over there. The whole set moved into action; filming was about to begin. Song Zhe, well-versed in the ways of professional survival, tilted his chin and said:

“Go to work first. We’ll talk in detail tonight.”

“Then, Brother, you?”

Song Zhe glanced at his watch: “I have a scheduled itinerary in N City. Assistant Dong will pick you up toward evening to go have dinner together.”

Jian Yixin nodded understandingly. Since Song Zhe was visiting her, it was only natural for him to inspect the N City branch.

After separating, Jian Yixin found Liu Lele. Just as she was about to join her in watching today’s mission target film, she heard a voice:

“Ahem, Song—Song Pianqian, right? Come over here for a moment.”

It was Yu Bo.

Taking advantage of the last bit of time before filming, Yu Bo asked Jian Yixin: “That gentleman… has he left?”

“Yes,” Jian Yixin replied, not mentioning the evening outing. The Song family was an old-money family and usually kept a low profile; Song Zhe likely hadn’t come here with great fanfare and must have used some title or connection.

Yu Bo gave an “oh” and looked Song Pianqian over a few more times. After he finished fishing, he had mysteriously been told by the company CEO to host a guest visiting the set, with specific instructions to treat him well. He thought it was a fan of Qinglu’s, but it turned out he was here to see the crew’s dance double? What was all this about?

“Old Man Yu—”

“Alright, alright, Great Auntie.”

Yu Bo’s wandering thoughts were interrupted by Lin Qinglu. If he couldn’t figure it out, he wouldn’t think about it. He casually pushed a chair over for Jian Yixin, letting her sit and watch the acting.

Yu Bo shouted at Lin Qinglu: “You’re pushing so hard today. If you dare to NG, see if I don’t scold you for half an hour!”

“Psh.” Lin Qinglu wasn’t afraid of him at all. Her eyes swept toward Song Pianqian. See? If it weren’t for me, you’d be under the director’s suspicion.

Jian Yixin met Lin Qinglu’s gaze, tilted her head with a questioning expression, and flashed her a smile.

Lin Qinglu’s heart skipped a beat, and she immediately looked away. What is she smiling for? So annoying.

The Movie Queen had a rigorous work attitude and industry-standard professional skills. After trying her best to ignore Jian Yixin’s “charm offensive,” she finally found the feeling of being in character.

Yesterday’s scene involved the female supporting character Xiao Xiaoxia inviting Zhao Niang to her home to make her feel ashamed of her lowly status. Unexpectedly, Zhao Niang not only had peerless beauty but also an attitude that was neither humble nor arrogant—a proud soul that held its own even before a noble lady.

Today, they were to film the second half of that scene. Xiao Xiaoxia hadn’t just invited Zhao Niang; she also invited Xu Bi to the house for tea. She wanted to demonstrate the tacit understanding of childhood sweethearts in front of Zhao Niang, to make her see clearly that there was no comparison between them. Her words were full of barbs aimed at Zhao Niang. Though Zhao Niang was a dancer, she was proud; she spoke plainly to Xiao Xiaoxia, tearing away the pretense.

The male lead was on the side, like the cream filling in the middle of an Oreo. It was bad enough he looked like a “white-faced” pretty boy, but his actions were also soft and weak; he couldn’t stop anyone, watching helplessly as the women spoke softly but carried “spears and clubs” in their words.

They filmed shot by shot. Finally, after two-thirds was done, the two women were about to push the atmosphere to a climax. Lin Qinglu’s individual shots never resulted in an NG, but it was still 3:00 or 4:00 PM by the time they reached this point.

Director Yu was the best at filming women, so naturally, he was also the best at picking out their flaws. Ye Zixuan suffered continuous NGs under him. Shen Yu also made mistakes; when Ye Zixuan was being scolded, he didn’t even have the confidence to speak up.

It was Lin Qinglu who said lazily, “Can scolding really make someone enlightened?” This stopped Yu Bo, allowing him to cool his temper and patiently explain the scene to Ye Zixuan for a good while.

Originally, they could have rested before the big scene, but they skipped it now. Taking advantage of Ye Zixuan’s current state, they hurried to finish.

The clapperboard snapped.

In the living room, the two women sat facing each other. Xu Bi sat on a rattan chair to the side, staring blankly. Xiao Xiaoxia sat upright on the sofa, her eyes sharp, a hint of contempt for the dancing girl on her lips, yet forced to wear a smile. She tried her best to display the poise and demeanor of a noble lady, but in front of Zhao Niang, her beauty was desolate and lacked substance—like a tiger skin being forcefully torn apart.

“I’ve heard that women who practice dance from childhood have soft bones, as if their backbones have been removed. They can only survive by clinging to others.”

Zhao Niang’s back was straight. Her white qipao was plain yet seductive. Hearing this, she leaned forward, exuding endless charm. Her voice wasn’t clear; it carried a rasp that made one’s ears itch. She blinked lightly:

“I, on the other hand, have heard that the precious cats and dogs raised in noble homes wouldn’t even know how to beg for food if they went outside.” She arched an eyebrow. “It’s fine if someone picks them up to raise them, but if they become unkempt and people don’t want them, they’ll starve to death.”

Xiao Xiaoxia’s gaze turned cold: “If a pet is lost, the noble family has servants to find it; why worry? As for people, they shouldn’t become someone else’s pet, playing cute and clever—they’re quite practiced in flattery.”

Zhao Niang burst out laughing.

“What is it?”

“What if… even the home is gone? What then?”

“Xue Yingzhao!” Xiao Xiaoxia shouted sharply in anger.

Zhao Niang smiled faintly, as if joking, but her eyes were tinged with pain: “If home could remain unchanged, there would be no Zhao Niang today.” Without waiting for a reaction, she raised her voice, “The young lady need not be so angry. With smoke and fire everywhere, who’s to say when it will be this city’s turn?”

“Brother Xu, she’s actually cursing the Xiao family! How malicious!”

“Xiaoxia, Zhao Niang surely didn’t—”

“Since you use me for your amusement, why do you care if I use you for mine? Truly petty.”

Zhao Niang interrupted their scene and stood up like a white camellia stretching its form, petals dripping with dew, threatening to fall.

“You are just a lowly thing from the dance house—”

“Xiao Xiaoxia!” Xu Bi barked in a low voice.

Zhao Niang’s eyes were dark and heavy. Then, she smiled again. Her oval-shaped nails shimmered as they brushed across her beautifully lined jaw, landing below her ear, bringing out a sweet smile.

“Look, you’re even jealous of a ‘lowly thing’ from the dance house.”

“How pitiful,” she sighed with infinite pity.

Xue Yingzhao was smiling on her face, but crying in her eyes.

In the studio, everyone was looking at Xue Yingzhao—only at Xue Yingzhao.

No, it was Lin Qinglu.

Jian Yixin’s breathing slowed. At this moment, Xue Yingzhao was as beautiful as a white camellia in full bloom, yet as fragile as a dandelion; a single forceful breath could blow her away. Scattered with the wind, never to be found again.

Ye Zixuan sat on the sofa, looking up at Lin Qinglu. The images of Lin Qinglu and Xue Yingzhao gradually merged—always high above, beautiful with reckless abandon.

When she first entered the entertainment industry, she played a maid for Lin Qinglu. When she got a bit more famous, she was the fourth female lead to Lin Qinglu. She successfully caught the attention of Xingyao’s CEO, Ji Jing. Ji Jing gave her good resources, and she was so happy. Then she saw—it turned out the so-called “good resource” was being the second female lead to Lin Qinglu.

As long as she was in this circle, Lin Qinglu was everywhere. Directors praised her, veteran actors praised her, even passersby who knew nothing praised her. She went to the drama academy for further studies and her acting got better. She thought she could finally compete, but when they collaborated again, she was effortlessly crushed by Lin Qinglu, who didn’t even give her a second glance.

Why?

She was jealous of Lin Qinglu, just as Xiao Xiaoxia was jealous of Xue Yingzhao.

How wonderful it would be if they didn’t exist.

At this moment, Ye Zixuan could no longer tell if she was acting or if she had broken character. She stared fixedly at Lin Qinglu, her eyes full of jealousy and hatred, yet she said:

“Jealous of you?” She raised her chin slightly, her eyes full of mockery. “What use is your talent? You’ll always be an actress, the lowest of the low. You can never have what I possess.”

What use is a Movie Queen? An actress.

Ye Zixuan pulled a noble and arrogant smile.

“CUT!”

Ye Zixuan breathed a sigh of relief, feeling incredibly refreshed. She asked Yu Bo: “Director, how was my final part?”

In the script, this scene was supposed to freeze on Xue Yingzhao’s figure; Xiao Xiaoxia’s line wasn’t there. But Ye Zixuan clearly felt that her final state was exceptionally good, completely exceeding her usual level.

It wasn’t unheard of for actors to ad-lib. Ye Zixuan said: “I suddenly felt the vibe just now. I wonder if that part can be used?” She feigned an apology, “I accidentally changed the scene, Teacher Lin won’t blame me, will she?”

“Oh, it’s fine,” Lin Qinglu said indifferently, taking a few sips of water. “You acted that last part well.”

Ye Zixuan was stunned.

“It would be great if the whole thing was at that level,” Lin Qinglu added the second half, her tone carrying a hint of pity. She meant it sincerely; acting against someone of equal skill was a pleasure, but unfortunately, the younger generation wasn’t quite there yet—she could only really spar with the veteran actors.

But in the eyes of Ye Zixuan and Shen Yu, this was simply the arrogance of someone who felt they had no worthy rivals. Too dismissive!

Ye Zixuan took several deep breaths to stop herself from arguing with Lin Qinglu, focusing on waiting for Director Yu’s decision. Even Lin Qinglu said it was good—though she was very unwilling, getting a casual compliment from Lin Qinglu for the first time made Ye Zixuan instinctively believe it. Director Yu would surely let it pass, right?

Director Yu pondered for a moment. Under Ye Zixuan’s expectant gaze, he said slowly: “We won’t add that part.”

“Why?” Ye Zixuan was unwilling, her eyes full of hurt.

“Because this is Xue Yingzhao’s movie,” Yu Bo said. “Xiao Xiaoxia is only there to contrast her.”

That part was decent, but it depended on who you compared it to. The brilliant shot Ye Zixuan occasionally exploded with was merely the level Lin Qinglu could produce casually. Thinking about it that way, there was no need to gild the lily.

Yu Bo encouraged her: “Zixuan performed well today. Find your state earlier next time.”

But Ye Zixuan’s mind was filled with that sentence: This is Xue Yingzhao’s movie, you are just a contrast.

She really hated Xue Yingzhao.

She really hated Lin Qinglu.

They were all the same—always effortlessly overshadowing everyone else’s light.

Shen Yu stayed by her side, asking worriedly: “Little Grass, are you okay?”

Ye Zixuan responded half-heartedly. Shen Yu was good, very gentle. But Ji Jing was the one who could make her move up. The one who could make her… look down on Lin Qinglu.

By her calculations, Ji Jing was almost back from his business trip abroad.

Ye Zixuan pulled out her phone. While Shen Yu went to buy yogurt for her, she sent a message to Ji Jing:

“I saw a Samoyed today, it looks just like your Lulu! #CuteSmile”

Ye Zixuan pursed her lips and sent the message. Her eyes were filled with ambition growing like wild weeds; there wasn’t a hint of a smile on her face.

After finishing her scenes, Lin Qinglu discussed some details with Yu Bo. As they were talking, a staff member arrived with someone.

A man in a black suit, sturdy and upright, spoke with force: “I am the gentleman’s driver. I’ve come to pick up Miss Song to go to N City for dinner.”

He didn’t explicitly say who the boss was, but today, there was only one person who could be called “the gentleman.”

Lin Qinglu’s eyes narrowed.

That staff member leaned toward Director Yu and whispered: “Director, it’s a limited edition Maybach! So cool!”

Lin Qinglu cut in nonchalantly: “The latest model? I have one too.”

“Teacher Lin is the GOAT!”

Jian Yixin found her bag and told Assistant Dong to wait for her outside. She gave a greeting to Yu Bo:

“Director Yu, I’m heading out for a bit.” Jian Yixin calculated the time; it would probably be very late after dinner. “I’ll be back tomorrow morning.”

Lin Qinglu crossed her arms and looked at her. What, going out for a meal that lasts all night?

Director Yu didn’t care about personal matters at all: “Go, go.”

“Is Pianqian going to N City?” Liu Lele asked enviously. “There’s an old-brand restaurant in N City that’s especially delicious. When I’m free, I want to go into the city too—”

“Is it that delicious?” Lin Qinglu suddenly asked.

“Mhm, mhm.” Liu Lele nodded like a chick pecking grain.

“I want to try it.” Lin Qinglu smiled, her tone brooks no refusal. “Is it convenient to hitch a ride?”

Yu Bo, Liu Lele, & Jian Yixin: “?”

Yu Bo was the first to object: “We’re filming tomorrow.”

“I’ll be back after eating.” Of course, however many people went, that many would return. Since they were all in the same crew, they should be together.

Yu Bo stopped talking; he was even a bit tempted. “How about I come along? Is there still room?”

Liu Lele was the second to raise her hand: “Have you forgotten Sister Luo! You can only eat salad! Gnaw on cucumbers!”

Lin Qinglu smiled slightly: “Who pays your salary, hmm?”

Liu Lele went quiet.

Finally, it was Jian Yixin. She thought about it carefully; there didn’t seem to be any reason to refuse.

“Then let’s go together,” Jian Yixin said warmly.

Lin Qinglu finally wagged her “cat tail” in satisfaction. Following behind Jian Yixin, she strode over to the limited edition Maybach and got into the car with more pride than Song Pianqian.

Assistant Dong looked at the Movie Queen who appeared in the back seat and the little assistant Liu Lele who appeared in the passenger seat, slowly forming a question mark in his heart.

“Let’s go,” Lin Qinglu commanded naturally, as if this were her own driver.

Assistant Dong glanced at his young mistress, who didn’t object, and dazedly followed the Movie Queen’s orders.

As the car hit the road, Jian Yixin told Song Zhe about the two extra guests. She then looked up and sincerely praised Lin Qinglu:

“Today’s acting was truly good. You brought Zhao Niang to life.”

But after speaking, she saw that Lin Qinglu had already closed her eyes and fallen asleep.

After a day of acting as the lead… Movie Queen Lin must be truly tired too.

Jian Yixin watched her for a while, then told Assistant Dong in a low voice to turn up the air conditioning. She took out a blanket and gently covered Lin Qinglu.

As she lowered her head to arrange the blanket, she didn’t notice Lin Qinglu’s long eyelashes trembling slightly.