Going from "Fanservice" to Reality with My Goddess - Chapter 5

The makeup artist nearby laughed, “If Princess Wen Yan truly looked as beautiful as Teacher Yu, I wouldn’t be able to resist marrying her and taking her home myself.”

It wasn’t just the onlookers who were stunned; Yu Nianzhe herself was quite taken aback. She had appeared in historical dramas before, but her roles had always been extras or cannon fodder. This was her first time truly starring in one with a high-budget production value.

Duan Yi was extremely satisfied with her look and twelve-percent satisfied with his own eye for talent. He didn’t say much else, simply stating, “Let’s reshoot this take one more time.”

Yu Nianzhe walked to the center of the hall again, knelt in a deep bow, and looked up at Yang Zhiwen, who played the Emperor.

The Emperor dazed out for a moment. His eyes, no longer as clear as they once were, remained fixed on Yu Nianzhe’s face as if a person from his past had returned to his side. He unconsciously whispered a name: “Ningxin…”

The eunuch by his side cleared his throat softly. The Emperor snapped back to reality, swallowing the words he hadn’t yet spoken. For a fleeting second, he felt a twinge of regret—he shouldn’t have sent her to Nanliao. The person before him was too similar to the one in his memories; her beauty was perhaps even more radiant.

But that regret lasted only a moment. The Emperor soon regained his composure, casually offering a few instructions to his daughter to fulfill the etiquette of a father. Amidst the eunuch’s loud announcements of departure, Yu Nianzhe bowed to her father and turned away to meet her unknown fate.

As the old Emperor watched the woman’s departing back, he hallucinated for a moment, seeing the Lantern Festival from over a decade ago. A woman had stood quietly by a window, her smile so enchanting it had stolen his soul with a single glance. In the blink of an eye, it felt like a lifetime had passed.

This was the first scene; it wasn’t overly difficult, and with the actors’ skills being up to par, they passed smoothly. Following that, they filmed Wen Yan’s journey to Nanliao. It was a bit more tedious to shoot, but not particularly challenging, and they finished successfully. Considering it was everyone’s first day on set and they still needed time to build chemistry, they wrapped up early in the afternoon to let everyone rest.

After following Shen Yan back to her room, Song Xin, who had been holding it in all day, could no longer contain herself. She began dancing around with excitement. “Yuyu is too beautiful! Her historical look made me cry, ahhh! A true femme fatale! I’m dying right here—how can someone be this pretty, ughhh…”

Shen Yan gave her an amused look. “Stop, stop. Don’t scream.”

Song Xin couldn’t stop. She lamented, “It’s a pity they don’t allow photos on set. I really wanted to take a 360-degree panoramic shot of my Fishy’s peerless beauty.”

Seeing that Shen Yan was about to argue, Song Xin beat her to it. “Don’t tell me Yuyu isn’t beautiful?”

Shen Yan went quiet. To be fair, she truly couldn’t refute that.

Song Xin asked again, “And her acting isn’t good?”

Shen Yan replied, “From today’s scene, you can’t really tell how her acting actually is.”

Song Xin pouted and whispered, “You’ll see soon enough.” She sighed. “It’s a shame I was too embarrassed to ask for an autograph.” She suddenly thought of something and smiled at Shen Yan. “Sister Shen—beautiful Sister Shen, whose heart is even more beautiful than her face—you have to get close to Yuyu quickly so it’s easier for me to get an autograph.”

Seeing Shen Yan’s indifferent expression, Song Xin immediately clung to her, massaging her shoulders and kneading her legs while pouring out a mountain of flattery until she got a promise.

Overwhelmed, Shen Yan finally conceded. “Fine, fine. I’ll try my best.”

Although it wasn’t a direct “yes,” Song Xin knew that when her boss said she’d try, she meant she would do it. She ran around the room in excitement until Shen Yan finally kicked her out.

Meanwhile, in the room next door, Yu Nianzhe was sitting on the sofa, scrolling through a WeChat group, unable to make up her mind.

To facilitate work arrangements, Duan Yi had created a group chat with all the crew members. At the moment, Duan Yi was chatting happily with a few close friends. Yu Nianzhe didn’t join the conversation; instead, she searched through the mess of avatars and quickly found the person she was looking for.

When she clicked on Shen Yan’s profile, she saw the avatar was a Samoyed, its face full of adorable innocence—a style that didn’t quite match Shen Yan’s cool persona. Yu Nianzhe figured it must be a pet Shen Yan kept at home.

She stared at the words “Add to Contacts” on the screen, took a deep breath, and tapped the button.

Shen Yan must have happened to be looking at her phone, because almost the second Yu Nianzhe sent the request, the other woman accepted it. Yu Nianzhe didn’t even have time to react to the speed of the reply. She felt a bit dazed. Just like that, I’ve added the Goddess on WeChat?

Yu Nianzhe spent a long time deliberating. She wrote and deleted, deleted and wrote, agonized for five minutes, and finally sent her first WeChat message to Shen Yan.

Nemo: Hello, Teacher Shen!!

Using two exclamation marks made it seem neither too cold nor offensive. Yu Nianzhe felt she was nothing short of a genius.

Shen Yan’s reply came immediately: Hello.

If she could, Yu Nianzhe wanted to have a deep, heart-to-heart talk with the Goddess all night long. But the reality was that after the greeting, she had no idea what else to say. She typed and deleted several topics but couldn’t bring herself to hit “send.”

When one is indecisive, time flies. Before she could think of the next sentence, another message from Shen Yan arrived.

SY: Are you writing an essay?

Yu Nianzhe’s face instantly turned beet red. Luckily, the other woman couldn’t see her through the screen. She replied quickly: No, no! I’m just a bit nervous chatting with such an excellent actor like you for the first time.

SY: I suspect you’re flattering me, and I have evidence.

Yu Nianzhe almost laughed out loud. How is Teacher Shen so playful? It doesn’t fit her public persona at all. But I love it.

After this little interlude, Yu Nianzhe relaxed. They chatted for a few more minutes, and seeing that it was getting late, Yu Nianzhe prepared to end the conversation.

Nemo: I look forward to your guidance during filming in the future, Teacher Shen. SY: Easy to say. Nemo: Get some rest, Teacher Shen. Goodnight. SY: Goodnight.

After hitting send, Shen Yan put her phone aside, ready for bed. Just as she lay down, she heard a loud “thud” from next door, as if something heavy had hit the wall. She was startled, wondering who was making such a fuss in the middle of the night, but she didn’t dwell on it and eventually drifted off to sleep.

Next door, Yu Nianzhe, who had hit her head out of sheer excitement, was lying on the bed rubbing her forehead.

The next morning, Yu Nianzhe arrived at the set early to prepare. Today was finally the day for her first scene opposite Shen Yan: Wen Yan’s marriage to Feng Ji after her long journey to Nanliao.

Yu Nianzhe changed into her costume and the makeup artist began her work.

The bridal procession was grand and imposing. After a long trek, they finally arrived at the capital of Nanliao. The princess, far from home and with no kin nearby, would likely spend the rest of her life here. She hadn’t even seen the face of the Nanliao Prince she was about to marry.

After resting for a few days, Yu Nianzhe boarded the bridal sedan for the wedding. Dressed in fiery red robes and wearing the phoenix crown and silk tassels, the bride’s red veil dropped down, obscuring Yu Nianzhe’s vision.

The music was loud and festive. After an unknown amount of time, the sedan finally stopped. Someone came forward to help Yu Nianzhe out. She quietly lifted a corner of the veil to look outside. Her eyes were met with a vibrant, brilliant red. Within the courtyard where she stood, a red bean tree (Lovesick tree) was laden with beans, looking like a cluster of burning flames.

An elder from the palace softly scolded her. Yu Nianzhe snapped back to her senses and quickly lowered the veil.

Just then, someone stepped in front of her. They bowed slightly and extended a hand. Through the gap in the veil, Yu Nianzhe saw that the hand was fair and slender—longer than a typical woman’s but thinner than a man’s. It was beautiful, with a thin layer of calluses on the palm, likely from years of martial arts practice.

This must be my future husband.

Yu Nianzhe raised her hand, hesitated for a moment, and then gently placed it in the other person’s hand. The palm was warm, seemingly carrying a calming power. The owner of the hand led her toward the wedding hall.

The hall was bustling with the sounds of people laughter, congratulations, and cheers that reached a crescendo as the couple entered. Led by Shen Yan, Yu Nianzhe walked to the center of the hall.

The traditional three bows followed, and then the cry: “To the bridal chamber!” The crowd laughed and ushered the newlyweds along, blessing their union. After today, they would be a real couple.

Yu Nianzhe sat quietly on the edge of the bed. Her “husband” was still in the front hall entertaining guests, leaving only the serving maids standing silently nearby. Though it was her wedding night, instead of joy or shyness, Yu Nianzhe felt mostly confusion and fear.

Memories of the palace servants’ mockery and abuse from her childhood flashed through her mind the countless nights of hunger and cold, and the Emperor’s old, cold face. She felt utterly lost regarding her future.

While these chaotic thoughts swirled, someone suddenly pushed the door open. A gust of cold wind entered, carrying the scent of wine. Despite the smell of alcohol, the newcomer’s steps were composed.

Shen Yan had arrived.

Shen Yan walked to the bed and stood unhurriedly by Yu Nianzhe’s side. She made a gesture behind her, and a maid immediately stepped forward with a tray. Shen Yan took the jade ruyi wand and gently lifted the bride’s veil.

Yu Nianzhe looked up with the movement, seeing her husband’s face for the first time. The other woman had long brows sweeping toward her temples, and her phoenix eyes were tinged with a hint of drunkenness as she stared at Yu Nianzhe, her gaze shifting indecipherably. She had a high nose and deep-set eyes; because of the wine, her cheeks and lips were stained a deep crimson, making her look exceptionally handsome.

Yu Nianzhe stared at her, dazed.

Shen Yan also dazed out looking at Yu Nianzhe. She had only watched Yu Nianzhe’s scenes from a distance yesterday, unable to see clearly. At this close range, she truly felt a heart-stopping beauty. The lush features, accentuated by exquisite makeup, were captivating. The fiery red wedding dress complemented her snow-like skin—the red appearing redder, the white whiter. Even her pale face was flushed with a charming crimson. She was stunningly radiant, possessing a soul-hooking magic like a blooming poppy, inviting one to pluck it.

Shen Yan instantly understood why Feng Ji would be so moved by Wen Yan. If I had such a beauty by my side, I too would probably fall for her. For a moment, Shen Yan almost instinctively moved to kiss her.

The set was silent. The two stared at each other for a long time, but neither made the next move.

“Cut!” Duan Yi laughed. “What are you two doing? It’s not like you’ve never seen each other before. Did you just fall in love at first sight? Why don’t you two just get married for real then!”

The crew burst into laughter. Yu Nianzhe apologized hurriedly, “Sorry, sorry! I accidentally spaced out.”

Shen Yan cleared her throat. “My apologies.” She gave Yu Nianzhe a meaningful look and lowered her voice: “I accidentally got blinded by beauty.”

Yu Nianzhe: !!!

With Shen Yan suddenly leaning so close, Yu Nianzhe had every reason to suspect she said that specifically for her to hear. Yu Nianzhe felt her face must be burning. She replied stiffly, “Teacher Shen must be joking.” She didn’t forget to praise her Goddess back: “You also look very handsome tonight.”

Shen Yan smiled. “Is this what they call mutual flattery between professionals?” She stood up. “Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. Let’s get ready and do it again.”

During the reshoot, Shen Yan walked into the room again, lifted the veil, and locked eyes with Yu Nianzhe. She arched an eyebrow and said a line that wasn’t in the script: “What a handsome young lady.”

Yu Nianzhe: “…”

She suspected Shen Yan had actually drunk real wine tonight. However, Duan Yi didn’t call “cut,” presumably allowing the ad-lib. Yu Nianzhe continued the scene.

Shen Yan held a wine cup in each hand, handing one to Yu Nianzhe. Their arms intertwined, and they each drank their fill. After drinking the nuptial wine, the husband and wife became one, sharing joys and sorrows from that day forward.

Just as Yu Nianzhe was about to speak, she heard Duan Yi yell, “Cut!”

Duan Yi began to coach her. “Xiao Yu, you are a princess sent for a political marriage. You’re in a strange land, and because of your upbringing, you are very repulsed by excessive contact with men. At this moment, you should be shy, but more importantly, you should be timid and avoidant. You’re acting like a little wife playing hard-to-get.”

Yu Nianzhe: “…”

“Pfft.” Shen Yan couldn’t help but burst out laughing, then quickly straightened her face when Duan Yi looked at her coldly.

Duan Yi said, “You pay attention too. This is Xiao Yu’s first time acting opposite you; remember to hold back a bit.”

Shen Yan nodded. “Understood.”

They went again. Yu Nianzhe adjusted her emotions, frantically brainwashing herself: I’m afraid of her, I resist her, I don’t want to see her…

Meeting Shen Yan’s gaze again, her expression grew colder, her eyes filled with wariness and hidden terror.

Duan Yi nodded. Yu Nianzhe’s ability to control her emotions was better than he had imagined.

Yu Nianzhe stared at the other woman guardedly, biting her lower lip without speaking.

Shen Yan let out a light laugh. “Why so defensive? From now on, you and I are husband and wife. We ought to treat each other with total sincerity.”