I Was Taken by the Female Lead After Transmigrating into a Book - Chapter 21

When Fu Xiaoxiao carried Bai Feifei back to the car, Bai Xue was startled.

Feifei had left the audition fine, but now she was suddenly covered in injuries. Bai Xue looked over Bai Feifei’s body. Her clean trousers were practically ruined, covered in dirt. There were even several smudges of mud on her shoulders, and her knees were scraped and bleeding, with the oxidized, brown-colored blood soaking through the bandages and even her trousers. It was clear the injuries were severe.

Bai Xue’s eyelids twitched. Though she knew she got squeamish around blood, she couldn’t help staring, and in a moment, she felt dizzy and nauseous. She quickly averted her gaze and helped Fu Xiaoxiao get Feifei into the car. Seeing Feifei wince in pain, she asked, “Weren’t you doing a dramatic scene? How did you get so badly hurt? What’s wrong with that dog, Li Ke? Didn’t he have any safety measures? Did he just let you do it for real?”

Li Ke. That dog. Li Ke, that dog?

How did those two completely unrelated words end up together? Bai Feifei recalled how arrogant and merciless Li Ke had been on stage, and it was hard to imagine him being called a name like that.

Feifei’s eyes widened. Ignoring the pain, she looked at Bai Xue. “Auntie Xue, are you really close with Director Li?”

“Close?” Bai Xue sneered, a tight, humorless smile on her lips. She glanced toward the venue, a chilling glint in her eyes, grinding her teeth as if she were chewing on a bone rather than gum. “I’ve been hitting him since he was a kid. You bet we’re close.”

Bai Feifei fell silent for a moment.

She had already guessed that those girls had engaged in some form of bullying, even getting physical. On a campus, that’s called school violence; outside, it’s a minor brawl. Li Ke had probably experienced something similar, which was why he was so quick to dismiss them. But Li Ke’s little ponytail was kind of cute. Feifei thought that if she got the chance, she might want to tug on it.

Bai Xue would never have bullied anyone. Her “hitting him” was probably just playful roughhousing.

Fu Xiaoxiao, ever the curious one, asked, “So, Auntie Xue, why didn’t you go in just now?” If she had, she could have put in a good word for Bai Feifei and maybe even done them a favor.

Bai Xue didn’t bother hiding anything from the two younger women. “Most of the talented people I’ve managed have gone on to become A-list stars. If he knew I was your agent, he’d be even harder on you. Normally, he’d only expect a six out of ten performance, and you’d give him a nine. But if I showed up, he’d expect a nine, and if you didn’t give him a perfect ten, he’d be disappointed. It’s not good for your growth early on; you’re still young, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself.”

Bai Feifei immediately understood the reasoning and appreciated Bai Xue’s concern. She felt grateful. “Thank you, Auntie Xue.”

“Don’t be so formal with me,” Bai Xue said, smiling. She looked at Bai Feifei’s young, innocent face and couldn’t help but touch it. “I was bored waiting outside, so I got you a magazine cover shoot. They’ll take some time to cast the roles, and it’ll probably be next month before filming starts. Use this time to get your face out there and gain some experience. It’ll be good for your future.”

Feifei currently had no status and no well-known work; even the original owner’s past projects were… well, unwatchable. She knew it must have been tough for Bai Xue to land a cover, especially for an unknown like herself.

“Okay,” Bai Feifei agreed without hesitation.

After she said yes, she realized that Bai Xue didn’t seem to have any doubts that she would get the part. Feifei blinked, lost in thought. In the eyes of these industry veterans, what truly made a person a good candidate? And how far had Huo Wu already gone? Could she ever catch up to her?

Fu Xiaoxiao had already taken some fruit out of the mini-fridge and checked its temperature. “Feifei, have some. It’s the perfect temperature.”

Bai Feifei came back to reality. She nodded, first feeding Fu Xiaoxiao a cherry. After Xiaoxiao ate it, Feifei quickly handed her a piece of watermelon. “Is it good?”

“Delicious!” Fu Xiaoxiao’s eyes lit up. After Feifei fed Bai Xue, she started eating herself.

It was the peak of summer, and the watermelon was perfectly sweet. Bai Feifei ate four or five pieces, shaking her head in blissful contentment.

Bai Xue looked at Feifei, who seemed so naive and carefree, and couldn’t help but smile.

“Hey, I think there’s someone over there,” Fu Xiaoxiao said with a mouthful of food, fumbling for a fork. “I think that’s your first love… right, Feifei?”

Bai Feifei’s munching stopped. She followed Fu Xiaoxiao’s gaze.

It was midday, and the scorching sun was making the air shimmer with a mirage. You didn’t have to be outside to know how hot it was. Bai Feifei carefully balanced the fruit platter in her hands, supporting herself on her less-injured leg, and limped her way over.

“A-Wu!” she called out as she walked. Her movements were slow but careful, her leg still hurting, as if she was afraid of dropping the fruit.

Huo Wu turned her head.

Bai Feifei’s hair was still slightly damp, and a few strands clung to her face, making her look natural, beautiful, and authentic. Her skin glowed in the sunlight.

Bai Feifei walked right up to her.

Huo Wu glanced behind Feifei, saw the familiar black car parked nearby, and looked away. She returned her gaze to the fruit platter, then to Bai Feifei’s roughly bandaged leg, and her eyebrows finally furrowed in concern.

“Where is she?” Li Ke checked the time and asked Ji Meng. “The break is almost over.”

“You go on without her,” Ji Meng said, trying to hold back a laugh. “She’s busy with a very important matter.”

Li Ke looked at the glaring sun outside, then at the building’s air conditioning, which was set to a cool sixteen degrees but still made everyone sweat. He muttered, “I’m getting old. I don’t understand young people anymore.”

Ji Meng shrugged. She didn’t really understand them either, even though she wasn’t much older than Huo Wu.

Huo Wu had left the venue before Bai Feifei even got out. Ji Meng, curious, had secretly followed her, thinking she would see something interesting. But Huo Wu just stood motionless under a solitary, sparse tree, like a pole. It was as if she didn’t even feel the heat. She didn’t go to Feifei; she just waited for Feifei to find her. What if she hadn’t been found? Would she have just waited there the whole time? Ji Meng had been standing by the window inside and still couldn’t take the heat, so she went back in.

“Such a difficult person,” Ji Meng thought, shaking her head. “Given Huo Wu’s personality, only Bai Feifei would have the courage to approach her so relentlessly.” If they actually got together, how exhausting would that be?

Bai Feifei stood there for a moment. Her leg was throbbing and felt hot, so she grabbed on to a small tree for support. The tree looked like it had been recently transplanted and was only as thick as her calf. It had new leaves but still looked bare compared to the other trees. She didn’t dare lean on it too hard, worried she might snap it in half.

“Want some to eat?” Bai Feifei presented the fruit platter like a treasure. She held it high and said, “I heard from Sister Mengmeng that you only had some fruit this morning. Lunch is late, and it’s not good to be hungry.”

Huo Wu glanced at the platter. The delivery slip was still attached, with the name obscured except for the character ‘Fu.’ Fu Xiaoxiao hadn’t been stingy. The fruit for Bai Feifei was all top-quality, freshly cut, including rare imports like cherries, blueberries, and even pre-peeled, seedless mangosteen. The shop name was familiar to Huo Wu. It was high-quality, but also expensive.

The piece of watermelon on Feifei’s fork had a small bite taken out of it, with tiny teeth marks left behind. It was a bit adorable.

Huo Wu reached for the platter, looked at the piece of watermelon again, and said, “There’s no fork.”

Bai Feifei was stunned and looked embarrassed. She instinctively glanced at the watermelon she had already bitten. In the car, there were plenty of forks, but she and Fu Xiaoxiao, along with Bai Xue, had each used their own, so there were none left.

“I…”

“I’m not eating,” Huo Wu said, pushing the platter back into Bai Feifei’s hands. “Bai Xue is waiting for you. Go back. Aren’t you supposed to go to the hospital for your leg?”

“Yes, I am. The wound is deep, that’s why I need to go to the hospital. I’m not being a baby,” Bai Feifei explained, feeling a little flustered as sweat began to trickle down her body. “Weren’t you here to find me?”

“No,” Huo Wu said expressionlessly. “I came out to get some air.”

As if on cue, a sudden gust of wind swept through, temporarily dispelling the oppressive heat. Leaves swirled around them, and a grain of sand got into Feifei’s eye. In her confusion, her hand slipped from the tree. She couldn’t see, and with her injured leg, she was about to fall. But then, a pair of warm hands grabbed her arm, and she fell into a soft, fragrant embrace.

In the summer heat, their clothes were warm, and holding each other wasn’t exactly comfortable, but Bai Feifei clung to the hug, not wanting to let go.

She vaguely rubbed her face against Huo Wu and heard Huo Wu say, “What are you doing?”

“A grain of sand got in my eye,” Bai Feifei said, her eyes closed. She couldn’t open them, and she instinctively looked up.

Huo Wu frowned, looking around for a place to sit, but there was nowhere. She held Bai Feifei’s face and looked at it. Feifei’s eyelids were trembling, her eyelashes wet with tears and drooping submissively. The gentle curve of her eyelashes reminded Huo Wu of the soft but resilient feel of them when she had touched them before. It was a sensation that made her want to touch them again.

Huo Wu said, “Close your eyes.”

“They are closed,” Bai Feifei said pitifully.

Huo Wu realized she had said something pointless but remained firm. “Squeeze them shut. Hold on to me. I’ll blow it out for you.”

“Okay.” Bai Feifei cautiously reached out a hand and held on to Huo Wu’s sleeve. She felt a hand come over her eye.

Huo Wu blew on it. After a moment, she asked, “How is it? Better?”

Bai Feifei tried to blink, but it only brought more tears. The grain of sand was still there, grinding painfully. “Can you take me to the car?” Bai Feifei asked. “I have eye drops in there that can wash it out.”

Huo Wu was silent for a moment before agreeing.

Feifei limped along, supported by Huo Wu, to the car. Fu Xiaoxiao rushed out, saw Feifei tearing up and hobbling, and immediately grabbed her face. “What happened? What happened?”

“Sand got in my eye,” Bai Feifei said, unable to see. She grabbed Fu Xiaoxiao’s arm, and thinking of something, she shifted her weight off Huo Wu, not wanting to upset her.

Huo Wu’s hand lost its grip on Feifei. She looked at Feifei and Xiaoxiao’s clasped hands, her lips tightening, but she said nothing.

Bai Xue said, “Get her in the car. There are eye drops in the bag. Wash it out, and then we’ll go to the hospital. The closest one isn’t far.”

Fu Xiaoxiao helped Bai Feifei up. In the midst of everything, Bai Feifei turned back and called out, “Bye, A-Wu!”

Huo Wu’s lips moved, but she still didn’t say a word.

Feifei’s wave was off-target, aimed at a passing security guard instead. The guard, with a serious and strict expression, walked by clutching a baton, not paying any attention to their situation.

Huo Wu was speechless.

Bai Xue held back a laugh and told Huo Wu, “Everything’s fine here. You should go back. Xiaoxiao and I will take care of her.”

Huo Wu looked at her, then looked away. “I wasn’t worried about her.”

After saying that, Huo Wu glanced at the car door, making sure she couldn’t see what was happening inside, and then turned and walked away.

“Okay, okay,” Bai Xue sighed. As she was about to get in the car, her phone vibrated. She got in, closed the door, and checked her phone.

[Old Ji: What’s the situation? Is my girl still not back? She’s been gone for almost half an hour.] [Bai Xue: She’s back.] [Old Ji: Director Li is scolding everyone over there.] [Bai Xue: Let him try scolding Huo Wu to her face.] [Old Ji: He wouldn’t dare.]

Bai Xue smiled. She told the girls to get comfortable and prepared to drive to the hospital.

[Old Ji: Alright, she’s back. That’s good. Your girl’s injuries are pretty bad. Get her to the hospital quickly so it doesn’t affect her next job. From what I hear, she’ll probably start filming next month.] [Bai Xue: Got it.]

After a pause, Bai Xue thought Ji Meng wouldn’t reply, but then she received another message.

[Old Ji: Congrats, old friend.]

Bai Xue smiled. She looked at Bai Feifei, and after a moment, she began to type.

[Bai Xue: Same to you. I have you to thank for helping me sign her. I’ll treat you to dinner soon.] [Old Ji: OK.]

Bai Xue put away her phone and started to back up. She suddenly saw Wu Qingying. She paused her movement. Wu Qingying walked past their car toward a white car. Someone was waiting for her inside but didn’t show their face. Bai Xue only saw an arm reach out to help her. It was fair and clean, wearing a woman’s watch with diamonds on the face that glinted in the light, catching Bai Xue’s eye.

Bai Feifei noticed and asked, “Auntie Xue, do you know her?”

“No,” Bai Xue smiled. “Her look just seems familiar.”

Wu Qingying had a very innocent and harmless look, with eyes like a deer. She was gentle, and in theory, her career should be fine. But her pure look, while an asset, could also be a disadvantage. It made her memorable but also limited her acting range.

Bai Feifei didn’t press the matter and simply hummed in agreement.

The car slowly drove off. At a red light, Fu Xiaoxiao, who had been holding back, twisted in her seat, looking restless. Bai Feifei’s eyes were still red from the sand. She looked at Xiaoxiao, pinched her face, and said, “Just say what’s on your mind.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Fu Xiaoxiao mumbled, looking around the car with a guilty expression. She leaned in and whispered to Bai Feifei, “Were you two just kissing? A French kiss? The kind where you go back and forth and leave a trail of saliva?”

Bai Feifei was bewildered. The hand pinching Xiaoxiao’s face tightened, and she winced. “Fu Xiaoxiao—what nonsense are you talking about?!”

Fu Xiaoxiao pulled out her phone and zoomed in on a video. “Look! I even recorded it! You were so lost in the moment! All that twisting and turning! It looked more intimate than a rated-R movie!”

Bai Feifei glared at her and looked at the video. “Look again.”

Fu Xiaoxiao looked closer, her face filled with doubt. After a moment, she put her phone away, disappointed. “It was just you blowing sand out of her eye.”

“That’s right,” Bai Feifei sniffled. She wanted a French kiss. She wanted that kind of passion, but reality wouldn’t allow it. Huo Wu didn’t even want her fruit.

Bai Feifei looked at her reflection in the car window and saw how red her eyes still were. She looked so pitiful. But then, an idea struck her. Her eyes lit up, and she took out her phone to snap a selfie.

Fu Xiaoxiao, seeing the camera, immediately moved closer, puckering her lips and throwing up a peace sign. Bai Feifei pushed her face away while holding her own smile, then pressed the button. She quickly sent the photo to Huo Wu.

Fu Xiaoxiao wasn’t upset. She excitedly leaned in to read the message over Feifei’s shoulder. “My eyes are all better…”

Bai Feifei turned her body away. “This is a private chat. Don’t read it out loud.”

“Fine, fine, I won’t,” Fu Xiaoxiao pouted.

These two girls were just too adorable.

In the driver’s seat, Bai Xue couldn’t stop smiling as she listened to them, feeling a dozen years younger herself.

After a moment of quiet, Bai Xue thought to herself, then said, “I have to get a lot of things ready for Feifei over the next few days. I need to get an RV and a driver. I have a makeup artist team I’m familiar with, so we can use them, but there are a lot of other small things to take care of.”

“Don’t worry about the driver,” Bai Feifei said. “My mom has one. That driver, Uncle He, is a great guy. He watched me and Xiaoxiao grow up. After my dad’s accident, he didn’t have a job and was working odd jobs. He often asks if I need a ride. We can call him and have him come back to work.”

“You mean Uncle He?” Fu Xiaoxiao asked. “Uncle He is great! Feifei, you don’t have any money right now, so I’ll pay him! I still have hundreds of thousands in my savings! If that’s not enough, I can sell a few of my apartments!”

“Yes, that’s him,” Bai Feifei nodded.

Bai Xue considered this. “Okay, that’s good. At least we know him. I’ll handle the RV…”

“I have an RV, too, Auntie Xue!” Fu Xiaoxiao’s eyes lit up. “My dad gave me a top-of-the-line one for my eighteenth birthday! My girl can use it! It’s more than enough for a little star’s car! When my baby gets famous, we can get an even bigger one!”

Bai Xue was stunned. She looked at Fu Xiaoxiao for a long time, then couldn’t help but smile. “You…”

“I know what you’re going to ask,” Fu Xiaoxiao said joyfully. “Feifei is so good to me! You have no idea how great she is. My car is just sitting there rusting away anyway, and the maintenance fee is expensive every year. It’s better to take it out and let it get some sun!”

Bai Feifei held her face and gave her a loud, resounding kiss on the cheek.

Fu Xiaoxiao, kissed on the cheek, grinned foolishly and tried to kiss Feifei back. The two girls laughed and played in the back seat, their bright, youthful voices filled with an effortless vitality and hope for the future.

Bai Xue’s hand on the steering wheel trembled slightly. She looked in the rearview mirror and saw that her eyes were wet. She wasn’t an emotional person; she was practically hardened by ten years in the industry, seeing too many people and things change. She had seen betrayal, people reaching the top only to fall, those who cried after their fame faded, and those who were once humble but became arrogant after a taste of success. There were just too many.

But she had never expected to see such vibrant energy and pure friendship, along with a genuine love for the future, in two girls so young. It was as if nothing could defeat them, as if nothing could make them unhappy.

“So let’s set a small goal,” Bai Feifei murmured, her fingers tapping away on her phone.

Bai Xue’s heart soared. With a thick voice, she nodded and made a promise she hadn’t made to anyone in a long, long time. “Okay! I’ll make sure…”

Bai Feifei was absorbed in her phone. “First, I’ll win over Huo Wu, and then I’ll follow her around and call her ‘Jiejie’ a thousand times.” Bai Feifei’s tone shifted as she muttered to herself, “I haven’t even called her ‘Huo Wu Jiejie’ yet.”

Fu Xiaoxiao repeated her previous statement. “Then win her over, follow her around, and call her ‘Jiejie’ a thousand times to her face! It’ll be so impressive!”

Bai Xue was speechless. Bai Xue was confused.

“Aren’t we ambitious?!” Bai Feifei asked confidently.

Fu Xiaoxiao gave her a thumbs-up. “So ambitious, my baby is so awesome!”

Bai Feifei posted on Weibo. She looked at her WeChat and saw that Huo Wu hadn’t replied. She sighed wistfully but quickly perked up. She held her phone, patted her own face, and got her spirits up, ready to fulfill Fu Xiaoxiao’s earlier unfulfilled wish. “Come on, let’s take a selfie.”

Fu Xiaoxiao, having received her command, moved her butt closer and struck the pose she hadn’t gotten to use before, a dramatic peace sign with her lips puckered high.

‘Click.’ The sound was like the shattering of Bai Xue’s newfound passion.

Bai Xue’s face, once full of emotion and excitement, was now blank. She began to worry if these two fools could really achieve a dream that they themselves didn’t seem to take very seriously.

Bai Xue’s phone, tucked away in her pocket, made a special notification sound. She only had notifications turned on for Bai Feifei’s Weibo. She had been busy with the hospital and parking and hadn’t had a chance to check. She turned back and asked, “What did my baby post?”

She froze after asking the question, startled by her own use of the term. When had she started calling Bai Feifei “baby” like Fu Xiaoxiao? And so naturally, without even realizing it?

Bai Feifei didn’t notice anything odd. She was used to being called “baby.” She tilted her head, looked at her phone with a pleased expression, and showed Bai Xue the Weibo post. “It says that out of the whole world, I like Huo Wu the most.”

Bai Xue instantly wanted to strangle the version of herself who had just called her “baby.”