I Was Taken by the Female Lead After Transmigrating into a Book - Chapter 42

The crowd gradually began to leave. Seeing Li Ran about to get up and leave with everyone, Bai Feifei grabbed Fu Xiaoxiao’s arm. Fu Xiaoxiao was surprised. With her other hand still holding a bag, she looked at Bai Feifei in confusion and said, “What’s wrong, baby? Weren’t you going to find him?”

“No need,” Bai Feifei smiled, giving a thoughtful look at Li Ran’s retreating back. “It’s fine now.”

Since Li Ran dared to confront her so directly, he was probably not the type to gossip behind people’s backs. As long as he wouldn’t spread any information, this matter could be put on hold for now. After all, she and Li Ran weren’t familiar with each other, and they didn’t have much to talk about. Even if she explained, Li Ran might not believe her, and it could leave behind unnecessary evidence.

Fu Xiaoxiao didn’t ask why. She just said, “Oh,” and continued, “Filming starts tomorrow, and I’m a little nervous.”

As they walked out, Bai Feifei helped her with a bag, smiling and pinching Fu Xiaoxiao’s cheek. “What are you nervous about? Shouldn’t I be the one who’s nervous? I haven’t really acted before. What if the director scolds me in front of everyone tomorrow? How embarrassing would that be? Besides, the whole crew will be there. How can I even face A-Wu if she sees that?”

“Well, then…” Fu Xiaoxiao seriously pondered for a moment. When she looked up, Bai Feifei could see a hint of determination in her eyes. “If the director scolds you, you can just ask Aunt Xue to scold him back?”

Bai Feifei: “…”

She patted Fu Xiaoxiao’s head. “I was just kidding.”

They finished work a little late today, so it was almost 8 p.m. by the time they got back to the hotel. In the later stages of filming, they would have to spend the night in the camper vans. Bai Feifei had been trying to get used to the cramped space of the vans these past two days.

It was late. The lights in the small district, which was far from the city center, were dim, carrying a unique old-town vibe. It seemed like it was really going to rain; the air was full of moisture, and the smell of soil and grass filled the air. Downstairs, old people were sitting around, chatting and enjoying the cool evening. Some were even playing cards with a lamp nearby. A group of people was sitting around them, and the sound of them slapping mosquitoes was constant.

In this peaceful scene, Bai Feifei walked through the district and saw Huo Wu standing under the hotel lights not far away. She was wearing a black silk dress with layers of fabric that draped over her feet, perfectly outlining her graceful figure. She had a unique, lazy elegance. The V-neck of her top was just low enough to reveal a small area above her collarbones, which looked very alluring.

Bai Feifei walked over and smiled at Huo Wu. “A-Wu, are you out walking the cat again?”

“Mhm,” Huo Wu said, still holding the cat in her arms.

The cat was a little different from the last time they met. It wasn’t as timid as before. It was still shyly looking around, occasionally tilting its head and being very sensitive to subtle sounds. Bai Feifei thought for a moment. “How long will you be out? Should I go up and bring Jumbo and Little Cutie down?”

“I just came down,” Huo Wu said.

When Bai Feifei and Fu Xiaoxiao came down with the two dogs, Huo Wu was still waiting there. This time, there was a leash on Little White’s back. Little Cutie was clearly very interested in Little White, but it also seemed to know how big it was. Its movements were careful and a little clumsy but cute. It only used its mouth to nudge the cat.

Bai Feifei couldn’t help but smile at the sight. “Little Cutie really likes Little White.”

Huo Wu looked at the big and small animals below her, nodded silently, and then suddenly said, “I like Little White too.”

Bai Feifei didn’t know if she was overthinking it, but she always felt like there was a hidden meaning in Huo Wu’s words. Bai Feifei squeezed the leash and asked her, “You said you thought of the ending. What kind of ending is it? A tragedy or a comedy?”

Huo Wu thought for a moment and said, “It’s hard to say. But I personally prefer an open ending… but the final direction still depends on Li Ke. He’s the main director, and I’m not the main screenwriter.”

Bai Feifei nodded thoughtfully. “According to the typical plot, a comedy would be that Fusang didn’t really get sick, and it was just a false alarm. But by the time she finds out, many years have passed… If it’s a tragedy, then Fusang really dies from the terminal illness, and Wu Ling…” Bai Feifei paused. “Without Fusang, her light is gone.”

Huo Wu thought for a moment, walking as she spoke. “That sounds a little dramatic and cliché.”

“But if we film it realistically, it’s a bit too heartbreaking,” Bai Feifei sighed.

If it were just a simple cliché drama, how could they have hired Li Ke? The show itself revolved around many real-life issues: orphans, bankruptcy, the lives of the poor, and the despair in the face of terminal illness, etc. With so many elements combined, if it could still be made into a happy ending, Bai Feifei would kneel down and thank Li Ke.

Huo Wu tugged at the cat’s leash. Little White shivered and looked around cautiously. As if it had suddenly discovered something, it tilted its head up and stood on its hind legs. It stood still, and Huo Wu also looked up curiously.

Bai Feifei didn’t know why. She also stood still. The two adults and one cat all maintained the same pose. Only Little Cutie, who was clueless, was busy washing its face with its paws.

Bai Feifei noticed that there seemed to be a light above them. It was on a high floor, but because of the distance, she couldn’t see it clearly. She asked, “What is that?”

“A lamp,” Huo Wu said. “The supplemental light you sent over. I’ve fixed it on the balcony so it can get some sun, and the ventilation is good too.”

Bai Feifei heard this and took out her phone. She zoomed in all the way and found a place to steady her hand. She was about to see if it was the light, but then the light suddenly went out.

“Oh, the light went out,” Bai Feifei said with regret, putting her phone down. She looked up, and the small light on the floor above was already out. The area was once again plunged into darkness.

“I set the timer for 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.,” Huo Wu said. “The timer you gave me is very useful.”

“Really?” Bai Feifei smiled brightly, looking up at her. “Then can I come over to check on the succulents sometimes? I can tell you in time if something is wrong—and I was in a bit of a hurry last time. I forgot to give you the slow-release fertilizer and the two bottles of medicine for pests and diseases.”

When Bai Feifei said this, her heart started beating wildly. She didn’t know if she had said it on purpose or by accident, but the message was clear—she wanted to find a reason to see Huo Wu. She just didn’t know if Huo Wu would agree.

“Okay,” Huo Wu said. “How often will you come?”

Bai Feifei was stunned for a moment before she quickly came back to her senses. “Seven… no, three days! Once every three days is enough. The main thing is to check the leaves and roots! It’s hot now, and the water evaporates quickly. I can also try to help you control the water again!”

“Mhm,” Huo Wu knew what controlling the water meant, so she didn’t ask anything more. She just nodded and said, “Okay.”

As it got later, the two of them started heading back. When they got to the elevator, they had to go up to different floors. Huo Wu paused at the elevator for the top floor. She turned around as if she wanted to say something, but nothing came out. Bai Feifei’s elevator arrived first. She got in and said goodbye to Huo Wu.

Huo Wu pursed her lips and waved back at Bai Feifei.

Bai Feifei’s elevator slowly rose, and the number finally stopped on the eighth floor. At the same time, Huo Wu’s elevator also arrived. What surprised her a little was that her elevator first stopped on the eighth floor before continuing to descend. She didn’t think much of it and watched the elevator doors slowly close.

Huo Wu looked at her reflection in the elevator doors and suddenly thought that she should have asked. She should have asked Bai Feifei what time she walked her dogs… so they could do it together.

She returned to the top floor, covered in sweat from walking a cat. Little White was also hot and was panting with its tongue hanging out like a dog. When Ji Meng came in, she was startled to see Little White like this. She said, “What’s wrong with Little White? It can’t be this hot in an air-conditioned room, can it?”

At that time, Huo Wu had already showered and changed into new pajamas. She was curled up on the sofa like a cat, her black hair spread out on the back of the chair, and she was holding a script. Hearing this, she said faintly, “It went for a walk. It’s been over an hour since we got back, and it still hasn’t stopped sticking its tongue out.”

Speaking of Little White sticking its tongue out, it all started two hours ago. Although Little White was a stray cat, it was adopted by Huo Wu right after it was weaned. It hadn’t seen the world before its eyes were even open, let alone seen any strange fellow animals. Seeing Jumbo and Little Cutie these past two days were the only two friends it had ever made in its short three-year cat life—and these two friends had one thing in common: they would stick their tongues out when they were hot.

On the first day, Little White would only occasionally stick out the tip of its tongue and wouldn’t pant. By today, after learning to pant, it couldn’t stop. It even fell in love with this way of cooling down. At this moment, it was sitting on the scratching board on the balcony, sunbathing in the moonlight, and cooling itself down. Its chubby body was moving up and down with its movements, at a very fast pace.

Ji Meng listened to the whole story and rubbed her temples, which were aching with a headache. “Can this habit be changed?”

“Change what?” Huo Wu said. “It’ll stop on its own when it’s not hot anymore.”

As soon as she said that, Little White seemed to have understood, or maybe it was tired of panting and got bored, so it stopped. The whole cat stretched in a big yawn, turned around a few times on the scratching board, and then curled up into a ball, not moving.

Huo Wu curled her lips into a smile.

Ji Meng was also at a loss. She threw her bag down and sat in front of Huo Wu. She looked at her skin, which was so white it reflected the light, and said, “Don’t forget to use a face mask. The sun has been very harsh these past two days. When you have nothing to do, put some essence on your body to moisturize it.”

“Mhm,” Huo Wu looked up. Her gaze moved away from the script for a moment, and she looked at the full makeup on Ji Meng’s face. “Do you have something to tell me?”

“Yes,” Ji Meng paused. “That spoiled brat of a brother of yours, for some reason, begged your sister to find Li Ke and get a role for him in the show. He’ll be joining the crew tomorrow and start filming with everyone.”