Going from "Fanservice" to Reality with My Goddess - Chapter 10

While everyone stood frozen in shock, Zhuo Ningxiao, thrashing in the water, shrieked, “Someone get me out of here!”

Only then did the crew snap back to reality. However, no one moved immediately; instead, there was a palpable sense of watching a well-deserved spectacle. Zhuo Ningxiao was notorious for causing trouble on set, making her quite unpopular. Having witnessed her blatant attempt to sabotage Yu Nianzhi just moments ago, the staff felt nothing but disdain for her. Her falling into the lake left them utterly indifferent.

Ultimately, it was Zhuo Ningxiao’s own assistant who rushed over and frantically hauled her back onto the shore.

Director Duan Yi pretended not to see the drama, turning instead to Yu Nianzhi. “You, as the Crown Princess, have such high combat stats that you don’t even need the Prince’s protection!”

He then added, “Let’s use a body double. We must pass the next take.”

However, Shen Yan suddenly spoke up. “No need for a double. We can film it exactly like this. Let’s do it one more time.”

Duan Yi looked at Shen Yan with confusion, unsure of what she was planning. “Aren’t you worried about your ‘wife’ getting cold anymore?”

Shen Yan’s expression flickered with a momentary awkwardness at the word “wife,” but she leaned in and whispered her idea to Duan Yi.

“That could work,” Duan Yi said, though he sounded hesitant. “Can you handle the stunts?”

Shen Yan replied confidently, “I am the Crown Prince of South Liao; naturally, it’s well within my capabilities.”

Duan Yi glanced at her, thinking she was getting a bit too immersed in her role. He nodded. “Alright, we’ll do it your way.”

Duan Yi gave a brief explanation of Shen Yan’s idea to Yu Nianzhi and Zhuo Ningxiao, and they prepared for a reshoot. Having just suffered a setback, Zhuo Ningxiao was fuming, but she didn’t dare make any more intentional mistakes, fearing that Duan Yi would lose his temper and humiliate her further.

And so, Zhuo Ningxiao lunged at Yu Nianzhi once more. This time, the moment she brushed against Yu Nianzhi’s hem, a figure flashed from the side. Shen Yan swept Yu Nianzhi into her arms, pulling her safely away from the water’s edge, and—without missing a beat—delivered a swift kick that sent Zhuo Ningxiao flying back into the lake. (Note: Dangerous stunt. Please do not imitate.)

Caught completely off guard, Zhuo Ningxiao plunged headfirst into the water.

She splashed around for a few moments before surfacing, coughing violently. “You didn’t say that was part of it!” she screamed in a rage.

Shen Yan didn’t even blink. “My apologies. I lost control for a moment.”

Though the words were apologetic, her expression held not a shred of remorse. She stood idly by the shore, still cradling her “beauty” in her arms.

Zhuo Ningxiao might have had the courage to provoke Yu Nianzhi, but in the face of Shen Yan, she cowered like a quail. She didn’t dare utter another peep and allowed herself to be pulled out, shivering as she slunk away.

Shen Yan smiled. “The original script was unreliable anyway. As someone who appreciates beauty as much as I do, how could I, the Prince, allow my beloved wife to fall into the water?”

Duan Yi, feeling targeted once again: “…”

As she spoke, Yu Nianzhi sneezed in her arms.

Shen Yan immediately showed concern. “Your constitution is weak. Go and rest quickly, don’t catch a cold.”

Zhuo Ningxiao, the “robust” person who had just been kicked into the lake: “…”

Watching from the sidelines, Song Xin and Lin Xin felt overwhelmed. “The light of their flirting is so bright, I think my eyes are going blind.”

After reviewing the footage, Duan Yi decided to keep the sequence, thinking the effect was actually quite good. They filmed a few extra shots of Zhuo Ningxiao struggling and calling for help before she was finally “rescued.”

In the story, the “Crown Prince” (Feng Ji) happened to witness the incident and flew into a rage. How could he allow anyone to bully his Crown Princess? He ordered a heavy punishment for everyone who had been disrespectful and replaced all of her attendants. This event served as a major turning point between Feng Ji and Wen Yan. Following this, the filming shifted primarily to the developing romance between the two leads.

A few months prior, Feng Ji and Wen Yan had been a married couple in name only. However, living under the same roof and sharing a sense of mutual displacement, they had transitioned into a harmonious and tranquil “married” life.

Feng Ji was often busy with official duties, working late in the study. Wen Yan, fulfilling her role as the Crown Princess, frequently prepared nourishing soups for the Prince.

It was now early spring, but a lingering chill remained in the air. While it was freezing outside, the room was warm, heated by a cozy brazier.

Shen Yan was hunched over her desk, focused on official documents. As the Emperor’s health declined, the burden on the Crown Prince’s shoulders grew heavier. Between national affairs and the need to balance the power struggles within the court, she had no rest.

Before long, Yu Nianzhi entered, carrying a small tureen. She moved with extreme care, afraid of disturbing the person inside.

Yet, Shen Yan looked up the moment she entered.

“I’ve disturbed you,” Yu Nianzhi said.

Shen Yan smiled. “Not at all. I can’t help but keep an ear out for the sounds at the door, just waiting for my lady to arrive.”

Yu Nianzhi’s face reddened as she teased, “All you have are sweet words.” She set the tureen aside and urged, “Drink it while it’s hot. Don’t let it go cold like last time.”

Shen Yan nodded in agreement, but Yu Nianzhi didn’t leave immediately. When Shen Yan looked back, she saw Yu Nianzhi peering at the documents on the desk with a look of curious inquiry.

Shen Yan smiled. “What, do you want to see?”

Yu Nianzhi snapped out of it, shaking her head with a smile. “No need. These are state secrets, I shouldn’t…”

Shen Yan replied casually, “What’s the harm?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Yu Nianzhi explained softly, “Actually… I don’t know many characters.”

Shen Yan blinked, not expecting that answer. Recalling how she had praised her before, she felt a pang of guilt. “You…” Shen Yan started to ask, but stopped herself.

A moment later, she smiled again. “I will teach you.”

Yu Nianzhi was stunned. “No need. Your official business is more important.”

But Shen Yan had already stood up. She pulled Yu Nianzhi into the chair and circled around behind her, effectively trapping Yu Nianzhi in her embrace. “I said I’m teaching you first. Everything else can wait.”

Yu Nianzhi felt herself suddenly surrounded by a fresh, crisp scent, with a hint of dark fragrance lingering in the air. Feeling a bit shy, she whispered, “Then tell me first… how do you write your name?”

Shen Yan laughed softly. She took a sheet of white paper and dipped her brush, writing the characters “Feng Ji” (風霽) in a bold, elegant script.

“Ji means ‘clearing after a storm.’ When the rain stops and the snow melts, it is called Ji,” Shen Yan explained.

She said it casually, but Yu Nianzhi took it to heart.

Thinking of something, Yu Nianzhi asked, “When the wind comes and the smoke disperses, and the sky turns clear—can that also be called Ji?”

When the wind comes and the smoke disperses… That wasn’t exactly a good omen.

Shen Yan paused. The other woman was so sensitive to have thought of that. After a moment of contemplation, she smiled and explained, “The relationship between the ‘Wind’ and the ‘Smoke’ is different from rain and snow. When the breeze carries the clouds and smoke as they wander, they become one. When the wind carries the smoke away, rising higher and higher that is what I call Ji.” (Note 1)

Yu Nianzhi hadn’t expected such an interpretation. She smiled back. “I see.”

Moving past the topic, Shen Yan wrote more characters for Yu Nianzhi, explaining them as she went. Time slipped away in their quiet lesson.

In what felt like the blink of an eye, the night had grown deep. Luo Qin spoke softly from outside: “Your Highnesses, it is already the hour of the Pig (9 PM–11 PM). Please rest early.”

Luo Qin was Wen Yan’s new personal maid. The young girl was well-spoken and kind-hearted, making her very likeable.

Shen Yan replied, “Don’t wait for us. You go and rest first.”

Luo Qin answered with a hint of joy in her voice. After some rustling outside, she seemed to be leaving, but she couldn’t help but add with a giggle, “The Prince and Princess are truly a devoted couple.”

Then, without waiting for a reply, she vanished like a gust of wind.

The two inside the room froze, a sense of awkwardness filling the air. They looked at each other and shared a smile.

Yu Nianzhi sighed helplessly. “I’ve been too indulgent with her. She’s becoming quite cheeky.”

With no one else around, Shen Yan switched back to her natural female voice. It was crisp and clear, like silver bells. “She was just telling the truth. What’s cheeky about that?”

Yu Nianzhi let out a laugh. “The Crown Prince is absolutely right.”

With that, they returned to the bedroom together, their silhouettes disappearing into the night.

During the break, Yu Nianzhi sat to the side, clutching a cup of hot water and scrolling through her phone. She browsed the Weibo trending topics, but nothing caught her eye.

Suddenly, a notification popped up: @ShenYanYan has followed you.

Yu Nianzhi didn’t pay it much mind at first; she received so many notifications a day that she couldn’t check them all. She swiped it away and continued scrolling.

Three seconds later, the realization hit her.

Wait… who just followed me?

She quickly opened her followers list and immediately saw the familiar profile picture. Yu Nianzhi suspected she was hallucinating. She visited Shen Yan’s Weibo on her main and alt accounts hundreds of times a day; she would recognize that profile picture even if it were burnt to ashes.

The “Mutual Following” tag next to the name was exceptionally striking.

Yu Nianzhi looked up to find Shen Yan. She saw her standing with Duan Yi, who was currently lecturing her about something. Shen Yan was looking down at her phone, nodding occasionally in a very half-hearted manner.

As if sensing Yu Nianzhi’s gaze, Shen Yan looked up and winked at her.

Yu Nianzhi felt as though an arrow had pierced her heart and quickly looked back down. She immediately took a screenshot to record this historic moment of their mutual following.

On the other side, Duan Yi was still talking, but Shen Yan was clearly distracted.

Duan Yi: “After this, we need to…” Shen Yan: “Mm-hmm.” Duan Yi: “You also need to pay attention to…” Shen Yan: “Mm-hmm.” Duan Yi: “…Shen Yan, are you stupid?” Shen Yan, still not looking up: “You’re talking about yourself, right?” Duan Yi: “…Why didn’t you say ‘mm-hmm’ to that one?” Shen Yan arched an eyebrow. “I’m listening.” Duan Yi: “What are you looking at that’s so fascinating?” Shen Yan said casually, “Looking at my wife.”

Before Duan Yi could respond, she looked over at Yu Nianzhi and began flirting with her right in front of the director, who had been a “single dog” for over thirty years.

Duan Yi: “…”

Fine then.