I Was Taken by the Female Lead After Transmigrating into a Book - Chapter 52

On the car ride, Bai Feifei saw her reflection on her phone screen and happily took a picture, which she sent to Huo Wu. Huo Wu quickly replied: [What did you do?] This was better than she expected. Bai Feifei thought, given Huo Wu’s cold personality, she would just get a single question mark back.

Even though it was the middle of summer, getting soaked in cold water and then stepping into an air-conditioned car wasn’t a pleasant feeling. Bai Feifei shivered as she entered the small bathroom of the RV. While she was taking off her clothes, she sent a voice message to Huo Wu: “Today, we were filming the scene where Li Mingming plays a prank on me. I did so well, Director Li praised me.” The girl’s voice always sounded cheerful and bright. Just by listening, Huo Wu’s mood couldn’t help but lift. In the midst of all the hustle and bustle, she lowered her eyes and typed: [Don’t catch a cold.] Bai Feifei replied with a ‘Hooray’ emoji.

On the way to Yanshi, they passed many plains and mountains. The endless green trees and fiery red plants had Bai Feifei and Fu Xiaoxiao, two country bumpkins, exclaiming “Wow!” all the way. They pressed their faces against the windows and gasped at the scenery, their amazement never stopping.

The crew had a small filming team with them. Seeing this, they aimed the camera at the two girls. One of the photographers switched to an external camera view and was amused by the sight of their whole faces pressed against the window, only their eyes moving. He patted Li Ke’s arm: “Director, should we keep this take?” Li Ke was caught off guard, seeing two faces with only their eyes darting around. He had been annoyed about the people he had to meet later but now couldn’t help but laugh. “Keep it, keep it. Post it on Weibo for them to be embarrassed.” With that, he sent a private copy to Bai Xue.

Seeing the two kids so amazed, Bai Xue couldn’t help but smile. After thinking for a moment, she said, “After this show, you can rest for a while. There are a few good travel reality shows. Do you want to go, sweetheart?” Bai Feifei had never been abroad. She was surprised and excited. “Really? Which one?”

“Whichever one you like, we’ll go to that one,” Bai Xue laughed nonchalantly. Bai Xue spoke with a confident flourish. Bai Feifei and Fu Xiaoxiao exchanged a glance. Then Bai Feifei looked away and said, “Aunt Xue, you’re amazing. I haven’t even officially debuted yet, and I’m already a hidden ‘resource’ actor?!”

“It’s not that easy,” Bai Xue said with a laugh. “You’re the one fighting on the front lines. You changed into over a dozen outfits just for that one scene today, and you were the one getting soaked.” Bai Feifei thought about it and decided that made a lot of sense. She smiled sweetly and said, “Then let’s work hard together.” Fu Xiaoxiao wouldn’t be left out. She popped her head in and said, “Me too. In the future, I’ll be Aunt Xue’s successor and Feifei’s chief protector.” Bai Feifei rubbed Fu Xiaoxiao’s head like she was a dog.

The charity gala was held at a five-star hotel. The parking lot was full, and their large RVs couldn’t fit. The crew got off at a temporary lot and let the drivers take a break, telling them to come back and pick them up later.

Bai Feifei’s ‘Endless Summer’ dress had a low-cut neckline, with just a small piece of fabric covering her chest. Her waist was exposed, with two thin strips of gauze connecting the top to the bottom. The skirt was long but had a high slit. She walked beside Li Ke, frowning. “There were four dresses, why did you have to choose the most revealing one?” Li Ke gave a blunt, straightforward answer. “You get a better shot wearing this one. Your figure is so good, it would be a shame not to show it. I’m counting on you to be our advertisement. You’re half the star of this gala.”

Bai Feifei hadn’t quite understood what Li Ke meant by “half the star.” As soon as she got out of the elevator and took a few steps, she saw a very well-maintained woman walking toward them, clearly heading for their group. Huo Wu was walking beside her, dressed in a modest, black satin evening gown. Her hair was swept up, showing off her tall, elegant figure. Bai Feifei’s eyes lit up. Before she could say anything, she gave the woman a bright smile.

“Ms. Cheng, long time no see,” Li Ke said, stepping forward to hug her. Reporters in the nearby interview area saw their group and started taking photos as if film was free. Bai Feifei’s eyes were dazed by the flashes. She blinked a few times, and Huo Wu was already standing next to her, blocking the glaring light. Bai Feifei closed her eyes, gently rubbing her eyelids with her index finger. When she opened her eyes, she smiled at Huo Wu. Huo Wu’s stare was caught red-handed, but she didn’t try to hide it. Bai Feifei’s eyes shifted. She pouted at Huo Wu and blew a kiss. Huo Wu’s lips couldn’t help but curve upwards. She let out a small, deliberate ‘tsk’ sound, then turned her face away and moved a little closer to Bai Feifei.

The flashing lights became less intense, and Bai Feifei was finally exposed to the reporters, but she had already composed herself. Huo Wu didn’t make any other unnecessary movements; it just seemed as if she had casually stood there. After Li Ke was done with the pleasantries, Huo Wu began the introductions. “This is Ms. Cheng Qiushan, the main initiator of this charity gala and the head of the Shanwen Foundation.” Bai Feifei’s eyes widened in realization, and she was a little surprised. “So you’re Auntie Cheng.”

The Shanwen Foundation’s charity projects were all publicly listed, making it one of the few organizations that dared to operate in such a transparent way. A significant portion of Bai Feifei’s donations were sent to recipients through the foundation. This was also why she had so much evidence to prove her innocence during the last online war. Not only that, but the Shanwen Foundation also helped a great deal with the small gifts for her recent magazine shoot. The foundation contacted the children who could go back to school thanks to Bai Feifei’s donations and gathered handwritten thank-you notes from all over the country. A portion of the proceeds from the magazine and related merchandise was also donated to the foundation, creating a win-win situation for the magazine, Bai Feifei, and the Shanwen Foundation.

“Feifei,” Ms. Cheng said, hugging Bai Feifei. After a few seconds, she let go, looking at Bai Feifei with an expression of deep satisfaction and fondness—the kind of undisguised admiration an elder has for an outstanding and kind junior. “I’m so glad to finally meet you. I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time. I was so disappointed when young Huo said you might not be coming.”

“I clearly said that Li Ke might not be able to bring her. You didn’t say you had to see her specifically,” Huo Wu said, raising an eyebrow. Ms. Cheng scolded her with a look. “How could I demand to see Feifei? It’s not like she’s a kindergarten kid. That would be disrespectful.” Bai Feifei couldn’t help but laugh. “I have also been very much looking forward to meeting you one day.”

On the way here, a thought had crossed her mind: whether it was appropriate for her to appear at an event like this. She didn’t mind so much for herself, and even Fu Xiaoxiao was used to facing everything with her—honor and insults alike. But Bai Feifei and Huo Wu had been apart for a long time, and Bai Feifei’s reputation was still being salvaged. When she occasionally opened her social media, she still saw many people cursing her. Some spoke of the incident, but others, like people who had personally experienced something, directly attacked her. Bai Feifei had always lacked confidence in this regard. She was afraid that appearing in public with Huo Wu would have a bad effect on her. This was especially true in front of these respected industry veterans who had always had good public images.

After her sentence, Bai Feifei didn’t say much more. She slowly became quiet, keeping a smile on her face. When someone asked her a question, she would occasionally talk, but she spoke with a great sense of propriety, as if she was afraid of saying even one wrong word.

A moment later, Ms. Cheng and Huo Wu stood in a smaller lounge. Ms. Cheng sighed. “This girl is not quite like what you told me, nor is she like what the old dean described.” Huo Wu was quiet for a moment. She looked at Bai Feifei in the distance, who seemed much more relaxed next to Xi Rong, and asked, “In your eyes, what should she be like?”

What should she be like? People who were close to Bai Feifei found it hard to put it into words. Outsiders, on the other hand, could usually summarize a few characteristics. Ms. Cheng thought for a moment and said, “I heard from Sister Rong that Feifei should be a very spontaneous and carefree girl. The old dean’s description of her was also of someone lively and cheerful. But meeting her today, she seems to have completely wrapped herself up as if she’s being held back by something.” Seeing Huo Wu listening intently, Ms. Cheng uncharacteristically shared her very subjective observation. “She looks polite, optimistic, and meticulous, but she’s like a doll. We’ve been talking for a while, and every single word she says is just right, with nothing anyone can find fault with. She doesn’t seem to be here to have fun; she seems to be here on a mission, just to make a temporary appearance.”

Xi Rong had once said that a child like Bai Feifei would have countless close friends in her life. This was rare. In today’s society, it was hard to even make a normal friend, let alone a close confidant. Ms. Cheng had very high expectations for Bai Feifei, so she was a little surprised to see her in this state. It was as if she had experienced some kind of trauma or setback that made her wrap herself up. A flower should bloom, but Bai Feifei had hidden her true self.

Kindness was a difficult word to describe appearances with, but the four words “spontaneous and carefree” and the things Ms. Cheng said after made even Huo Wu fall silent for a moment. Her mind immediately flashed back to Bai Feifei’s happy and vibrant appearance from before. The Bai Feifei of the past and the one now were two completely different people. Even though many issues between her and Bai Feifei seemed to have been resolved, Bai Feifei still hadn’t returned to her old self. It wasn’t that the current Bai Feifei was bad, but that she wasn’t happy. Something was on her mind, and other than herself, no one knew what it was.

Ms. Cheng finally sighed. “But if you think about it, after going through something like that, her current state is normal.”

“That’s only a normal state in abnormal circumstances.” Huo Wu finished the wine in her glass. In the distance, Xi Rong was stuck talking to someone and couldn’t get away for a moment. Fu Xiaoxiao had disappeared somewhere. Bai Feifei, at this moment, was like an outcast. She slowly faded from the social circle, discreetly moving towards the edge, and finally, she went to the empty and somewhat cold balcony by herself.

Huo Wu’s wine glass was empty. She casually placed it on a passing server’s tray, then went to get two cups of hot milk from a nearby table and walked towards where Bai Feifei was. Along the way, someone saw that Huo Wu was alone and tried to go up and talk to her, but before they could get to her, Fu Xiaoxiao appeared from out of nowhere and intercepted them. “Hey, aren’t you old Zhao… no? Then are you young Zheng? Oh, you’re not? My apologies, I must have mistaken you… Oh, who cares who you are, it’s fate that we meet. Come on, come on, let’s have a drink…” Huo Wu’s steps paused for a moment, but she didn’t stop. She just walked faster toward the small balcony.

As soon as she opened the heavy curtain, a very familiar spicy aroma hit her. The thick curtain slowly fell back to its original position behind her. Huo Wu stared at the fragrant takeout boxes in front of Bai Feifei and stood still for a moment, almost wanting to pour the milk over her head to calm down. Ms. Cheng’s words seemed to still be echoing in her ears. Huo Wu placed the milk cups on a nearby table and said, with a hint of fatigue, “What are you doing here?”

On the table were several boxes of spicy hot pot. She had no idea how the takeout was delivered here since there were bodyguards and media everywhere outside, but it was here, regardless. The moment Bai Feifei saw Huo Wu, her eyes lit up. “A-Wu, you’re here! Xiaoxiao was so fast this time… Are you hungry? Have some. It was just delivered and it’s still hot.” It was a windy night, and the weather was in the teens. There had been a light rain earlier, so the temperature was just right, and the air was refreshing. It was the perfect time for a hot, soupy meal. Bai Feifei cleaned the table. She had a bib—she didn’t know where she got it—to protect her from the oil stains. After that, she handed Huo Wu a SpongeBob SquarePants bib, then replied to Huo Wu’s question about what she was doing. “I don’t want to go out there. I don’t know anyone. It’s too boring. I can’t eat happily, I can’t drink happily. It feels awkward not being with people, and when I am, I can’t join the conversation… A lot of people hide out here. I looked for a long time to find an empty balcony.”

In reality, many people disliked these kinds of events but were forced to attend. Therefore, many people also came outside to hide. But Bai Feifei had less experience. The others dared to hide out here because most of the other balconies were enclosed. When you pulled the curtains, it became a small room where no one could see in or out. But Huo Wu didn’t say anything; it was too late anyway. And besides, she was already here. She didn’t even need to look to know that a group of reporters with long-lens cameras were filming them from the building across the street.

Huo Wu sat down. “Are you hungry?”

“Yeah.” Bai Feifei nodded, looking dejected. “I haven’t eaten two meals today. I’m so hungry.” This meant she had only eaten this one meal the entire day. Huo Wu’s brows furrowed slightly. She subconsciously looked at Bai Feifei’s stomach. She hadn’t forgotten about Bai Feifei’s previous hospitalization. She picked up her chopsticks and said, “I’ll eat with you.” With just a glance, she saw that there were many things she liked to eat in the box. Thinking back, the time they used a stool as a table seemed like a lifetime ago. Her hand holding the chopsticks paused over one of the portions, and her eyes softened slightly. “These are all my favorite things. Not even Ji Meng could be this precise.”

Bai Feifei’s eyes curved into a little smile when she heard this. “It’s because you always just tell Sister Meng to buy ‘whatever.’” Huo Wu smiled slightly. She hadn’t told Bai Feifei she was hungry, but Bai Feifei still prepared food for her because she knew that at these kinds of events, she would only drink. She also didn’t tell Bai Feifei what she wanted to eat, but Bai Feifei still knew. Even though she had told Bai Feifei “whatever,” Bai Feifei would never be “whatever.”

But before Huo Wu’s smile could become more obvious, she saw Bai Feifei start cleaning up a clearly finished takeout box next to her. Bai Feifei mumbled, “Xiaoxiao just finished eating. I wonder if she wiped her mouth. I hope she didn’t go out with a mouth full of oil…” Huo Wu’s expression returned to her usual blank face, her appetite starting to wane. A cold scoff was on the tip of her tongue.

Bai Feifei looked up and caught sight of Huo Wu’s expression. She suddenly said, “I went to so much trouble to get Xiaoxiao to go outside and block people for you and lead you here. She only agreed after eating seventy-seven yuan worth of spicy hot pot!” The scoff vanished. Huo Wu couldn’t help but want to laugh again. Bai Feifei looked at her for a few more seconds, her eyes curving into a line. She slowly chewed her food, her gaze directed at the city lights in the distance. After a while, and after she finished her bite, Bai Feifei couldn’t help but say, “That’s weird. Why are there so many lights flashing like traffic cameras at night? Did they put surveillance cameras on office buildings? It was so quiet just now.”

“Those aren’t traffic cameras,” Huo Wu said, picking up a piece of lotus root from her plain-looking bowl and offering it to Bai Feifei’s mouth. Bai Feifei hesitated for a moment but didn’t use her own chopsticks. She chose to take a bite directly from Huo Wu’s. She couldn’t finish it in one bite and took three small bites before eating half of it. Just as she was about to ask Huo Wu to put the rest in her bowl, Huo Wu pulled her chopsticks back and ate the rest herself. Bai Feifei’s chewing stopped.

Huo Wu then said the second half of her sentence, “Those white flashes from the building across from us are reporters with cameras.” Bai Feifei listened to Huo Wu’s words dazedly and slowly uttered a single word: “Huh?” Huo Wu retracted her hand and, with a sudden mischievous streak, took a napkin from the side and wiped Bai Feifei’s mouth. “It was quiet just now because I wasn’t out here. Now that I am, so…” So, the flashes from the building across the street began to go wild.

Bai Feifei was silent for a long time. Finally, she said, “Aunt Xue is going to kill me.”

“Then let’s not eat anymore,” Huo Wu said, smiling. “I’ll take you to run away.”