I Was Taken by the Female Lead After Transmigrating into a Book - Chapter 53

Bai Feifei’s attention was not on Huo Wu wiping her lips but on her fear that Bai Xue would scold her for eating spicy hot pot at a formal event. Huo Wu couldn’t help but laugh, thinking that from over a hundred meters away, a paparazzo’s camera could easily capture the gesture, even if it couldn’t get a clearer image. So she had immediately come up with a plan and put it into action. It wouldn’t look good if Bai Feifei, on her own, ran out to eat takeout at a charity gala. But if she was with Huo Wu, they could pin the blame on Huo Wu, who, as a big star, could easily say she was the one who made the request.

But Huo Wu was feeling mischievous and didn’t want to explain. She deliberately rushed her. “Are you coming or not?” The phrase for running away from home after doing something wrong was said by Huo Wu in a way that sounded like “I’ll take you to elope.”

A suspicious blush crept onto Bai Feifei’s face. She looked left and right, like a thief with a guilty conscience, then nodded with certainty. “I’m coming!”

Before the two of them could even hold hands, another group of people came out to the balcony right next to theirs, only a few feet away. Bai Feifei found them familiar, but before she could figure out who they were, one of them had already greeted them. “Hey, Ms. Huo, you came out too.”

Huo Wu gave them a faint glance. In front of outsiders, she was always cold and aloof. She nodded as a greeting and was about to take Bai Feifei’s hand and leave. But the person across from them was a natural conversationalist. She also noticed that Huo Wu wasn’t alone and that a small-figured person was standing with her back to her. Before Huo Wu could properly stand up, she quickly said, “What are you eating? The smell is wafting all the way over here. Can you share some? We’ve only been eating cucumbers and tomatoes all day.”

Since she had already brought Bai Feifei into this, Huo Wu paused. The flashing lights in the distance seemed to remind her of something, so she instructed Bai Feifei, “Take the food over to them.” Bai Feifei obediently put the lid on the box and carefully handed over a new, unopened pair of chopsticks.

The person who took them heard Bai Feifei’s voice and couldn’t help but look at her face. In this industry, people with unique voices were very recognizable. While there were many people with soft voices, Bai Feifei’s was one of the few that made a person want to search for the source. She looked closer and found that Bai Feifei’s face was simply stunning. Her big eyes gave her an innocent look, but when she looked down, she had an effortless, broken quality. It wasn’t something her appearance gave her; it was a character trait etched into her very being. It was a contradictory feeling that was nevertheless perfectly embodied in a single person. This brief moment made her stop in her tracks.

Bai Feifei didn’t notice the other person’s reaction. Seeing that she couldn’t reach, she moved the food closer. “Can you reach it?” The person then came back to her senses and quickly reached out to grab it. As she got closer, she realized who Bai Feifei was. A few years ago, Huo Wu appeared on an acting reality show to help a friend. The person in front of her was one of the contestants. Because Huo Wu had said she looked like a friend she knew, the contestant was highly associated with Huo Wu after the show aired, which boosted her popularity. But after that, her name wasn’t heard much. Bai Feifei looked at the person’s features and felt she was familiar, but she couldn’t remember who she was.

After the food was handed over, the person quickly took it. Her conversation was very well-managed. She and her friends were not bothered by the situation. They went out and got some forks and other small snacks and began eating the spicy hot pot together. Bai Feifei could still see the flashing lights of the building across the street in her peripheral vision. She couldn’t help but sincerely warn them, “There are a lot of paparazzi across the street.”

Someone from the other group said, “Well, that’s a good thing, isn’t it? It’s better to be scolded than to be ignored.” Even though Bai Feifei had just started her career, she had already deeply experienced what it felt like to be cursed at. If she had a choice, she would never want to go through that again. Although she didn’t agree with the sentiment, she knew that everyone felt differently. Besides, what the person said was true for some. So she didn’t delve further into the conversation.

The plan to escape the gala was more difficult than they had imagined. Both Bai Feifei and Huo Wu were in formal wear, and their makeup and faces would be instantly recognizable. They couldn’t leave quietly from any of the exits. In the end, Ji Meng appeared out of nowhere. She had secured a suite for them upstairs and brought two changes of clothes. The hotel was owned by a friend of Xi Rong, and Ji Meng said it was a standing arrangement. This place was chosen for the gala precisely because its security was so high. The windows in every suite were one-way, so you couldn’t see anything inside even if you were pressed against the glass. Fu Xiaoxiao, who had some connections, appeared to show her face and quickly gave a few instructions before rushing off. She had a flush on her face as if her career was flourishing. Bai Feifei had just found out that Bai Xue had taken Fu Xiaoxiao to a copy shop to make some business cards, and she had actually succeeded in meeting some people. If she could maintain these connections, she would have countless opportunities in the future.

The two of them quickly changed into comfortable clothes. They didn’t remove their makeup and wore loose hats and masks to hide themselves. They slipped out through a back door, blending in with the staff. Bai Feifei had never done anything like this before. She was a little nervous and couldn’t help but stick close to Huo Wu. She wanted to say something to ease her anxiety but was afraid that speaking might make the staff notice them. After a long moment of hesitation, she ended up just quietly staring at Huo Wu’s palm.

“What are you looking at?” Huo Wu asked suddenly. “Is there a flower on my hand?” With that, she naturally took Bai Feifei’s hand. Her thumb passed over Bai Feifei’s thumb joint, and her other four fingers clasped tightly around hers. Bai Feifei instinctively wiggled her fingers, shamelessly feeling the front and back of Huo Wu’s hand. She couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ll give you a flower later.” She couldn’t see Huo Wu’s eyes under her hat, but she could tell she was smiling.

The air outside was excellent. On a deserted small street, Bai Feifei took off her mask and took a deep breath. She sighed. “It’s so much more comfortable outside. The weather here is different from Luo City. It’s so refreshing.”

“It’s only cool because it’s been raining heavily the last few days. We just got lucky. It’s usually much more humid here than in Luo City.” Huo Wu genuinely felt they were lucky. It was a rare period of heavy summer rain. The day of the gala, the rain had just stopped. The streets were filled with residents enjoying the cool air, which allowed her and Bai Feifei to briefly escape the social scene at the hotel.

Bai Feifei raised her hand to check the time. The gala was still a long way from ending. Bai Xue was completely engrossed in mentoring Fu Xiaoxiao and hadn’t even noticed she had run away. They had almost two hours to kill. While walking quietly with Huo Wu was romantic, she wanted to make more memories of this rare opportunity.

As if they were telepathic, the moment the thought crossed Bai Feifei’s mind, Huo Wu said, “Follow me. I’ll take you somewhere.” Bai Feifei didn’t even ask where. She just nodded enthusiastically. The place was a bit far, and Huo Wu didn’t want to bother anyone, so she unskillfully rented a shared car. Bai Feifei sat in the passenger seat. “I wonder if I ever got my driver’s license…” Bai Feifei mumbled. Then she thought that even if the original character created by the system had one, she wouldn’t dare drive, since she couldn’t even tell the gas from the brake.

Huo Wu didn’t hear what Bai Feifei was whispering, but she glanced at her in her peripheral vision. After a moment, as if she understood something, she leaned over and fastened Bai Feifei’s seatbelt after they were both settled in. Outside, the air was cool and breezy, and their scents weren’t very noticeable. But in the enclosed space of the car, Huo Wu’s perfume enveloped Bai Feifei. She couldn’t help but swallow. Her nostrils twitched slightly as she whispered, “A-Wu, you smell so good.” A suspicious curve appeared on Huo Wu’s lips. She let out a reserved “Mmm,” made sure Bai Feifei was securely buckled in, and drove away from the city center.

At a traffic light, Huo Wu sniffed her wrist. Suddenly, she said, “That’s the perfume you gave me. It’s almost used up.” Bai Feifei understood her meaning perfectly. “I have plenty more perfume to give you. They’re all ready.”

The difference between the city and the suburbs of Yanshi was very obvious. The neon lights and high-rise buildings slowly disappeared. At the boundary, on one side, there was the prosperity of skyscrapers; on the other, there were typical rural buildings with various small houses and countless crisscrossing wires. The atmosphere was much more lively and noisy than the city. In the distance, among the low-lying buildings, a Ferris wheel stood alone, its lights flashing. Many children passing by looked at it with bright eyes. Bai Feifei was momentarily lost in thought. She and Huo Wu had been here before. They had ridden a shabby, paint-chipped merry-go-round and a creaking drop tower, and their date had ended on a Ferris wheel. There was a rumor that couples who rode a Ferris wheel together would eventually break up. At that time, they weren’t a couple. They were young and shy. Even holding hands was more embarrassing than with a normal friend. They were squeezed into a small, crowded Ferris wheel, watching the lights gradually rise from the ground, testing each other’s feelings. But at that time, neither of them had heard the rumor, and they didn’t expect it to come true.

“We’re here.” Huo Wu’s voice broke Bai Feifei’s reverie. Bai Feifei came back to her senses, pushed the car door open, and got out. The cool air made her shiver, but she quickly adjusted. This was an abandoned amusement park, but it looked like it was being redeveloped. Machinery was piled up everywhere, and the Ferris wheel looked like it had just been finished. It was bright and brand new, spinning in circles.

The Ferris wheel gradually came to a stop. Huo Wu led Bai Feifei to the entrance. A staff member appeared out of nowhere, secured them safely, and then left after closing the cabin door. Bai Feifei had no idea when she had last ridden it. She watched the lights of the city gradually get further and further away. Roads merged into rivers of light. The scenery made her lose herself, and she couldn’t help but let out a gasp of amazement.

“The name of this Ferris wheel is the Eye of Yanshi. At its highest point, it’s 120 meters tall. When it reaches the top, you can overlook the entire Yantail River and the surrounding scenery.” Huo Wu’s voice made a person want to lean in and listen carefully. Bai Feifei’s attention returned to Huo Wu, listening to her say casually, “The whole ride takes twenty minutes. It reaches the top at the nine-minute mark. The top faces the landmark of Yanshi, the Oriental Bell Tower, so everyone who rides it can time themselves on the Ferris wheel.”

Bai Feifei immediately thought of the rumor. She cut Huo Wu off, eagerly grasping her hand, and said very seriously, “A-Wu, they say that any couple who kisses at the top of the Ferris wheel will be together forever. Do you believe that rumor?” Huo Wu didn’t say whether she believed it. She just looked at Bai Feifei.

But Huo Wu’s indulgence gave Bai Feifei infinite courage. She looked at the bright bell tower in the distance, watching the seconds tick by. Then she looked back at Huo Wu and said, “I believe it. I want to try.”

Huo Wu said, “Then let’s try.” The long minutes of anticipation and introduction seemed as if even fate was trying to help Huo Wu and Bai Feifei. As she spoke, the Ferris wheel reached the top at the nine-minute mark. In this small space where they could embrace with open arms, their lips met as the lights brightened, intimate and happy.

The Ferris wheel had stopped, but the two people inside hadn’t come out for a long time. When they finally did, Huo Wu had to help Bai Feifei out, and her whole body was flushed red. “I’m a little dizzy…” Bai Feifei held on to the railing, panting. She still had the presence of mind to worry about Huo Wu being photographed. She looked left and right and asked, “Are we alone?”

Huo Wu was calm. She said flatly, “There’s no one here. It’s just Ji Meng.” Bai Feifei looked up, belatedly, and saw Ji Meng standing right in front of her, her face filled with a look of pure benevolence. Bai Feifei was silent for a moment, then lowered her head and greeted her. “Sister Meng.” Ji Meng had been waiting there for a while. She had been a co-conspirator in Huo Wu’s whole plan today. She looked around and couldn’t help but ask, “It’s such a huge investment. It’ll take forever to develop this place. Can you even break even?”

“Yes,” Huo Wu said. “The tickets are already sold out.”

The tickets for a bare-bones Ferris wheel that had only been lit up for a month were sold out?! Bai Feifei finally understood what Ji Meng was talking about. She asked in surprise, “A-Wu, did you buy this amusement park?”

“Mmm.” Huo Wu didn’t want to say more. She calmly looked at the time and said, “It’s time to go back to the venue.” Bai Feifei didn’t have time to process her complex emotions. Ji Meng shoved her into the car. “Change your clothes and touch up your makeup. Feifei, put on a darker red lipstick.”

Bai Feifei’s hand trembled, and her lipstick bled over the corner of her mouth, giving her a clown-like smile. Huo Wu hadn’t even blinked when Ji Meng had lectured her for a long time, but Bai Feifei’s pitiful expression made her smile. She ignored Ji Meng and used her thumb to rub the lipstick off Bai Feifei’s lip. She didn’t get it all off and just smeared it. She then calmly withdrew her hand, gave Bai Feifei a light peck on the lips, and said, “Just reapply it when we get back.” Bai Feifei pouted at her in a very wronged way. But since there wasn’t enough stuff in the car, she had no choice but to agree.