The Abused Heroine Stops Pretending [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 43

Taking advantage of Qiao Xiaorou’s stunned state, Meng Xue quickly helped Tang Jing out of the hotel, half-supporting and half-carrying her, before hailing a cab back to their own hotel.

By the time she managed to get Tang Jing into the room, Meng Xue was utterly exhausted. As she laid the other woman down on the bed, her own strength gave out, causing her to collapse onto the bed as well. Afraid of crushing the person beneath her, she hastily braced herself with her hands.

The result was an undeniably intimate position, one on top, the other below.

Just then, Tang Jing regained consciousness. The moment she opened her eyes, she saw Meng Xue in such a compromising position.

Their eyes met, and time seemed to freeze.

Meng Xue hurriedly scrambled off her, coughing awkwardly to mask her embarrassment. “I’ll head back to my room first.”

Tang Jing lay on the bed, dazed for a long while, before slowly sitting up.

She now regretted getting drunk but if she hadn’t, she wouldn’t have had such close contact with Meng Xue.

The mere thought that the other woman was her senior made her heart race, leaving her too exhilarated to put into words.

The next morning, when Tang Jing opened her door, Meng Xue happened to be passing by.

“Good morning, Teacher Tang.”

“Morning.” Tang Jing studied her carefully but found nothing unusual in her expression. She wasn’t sure whether to feel more disappointed or relieved.

Meng Xue had definitely noticed Tang Jing’s furtive glance. While her face remained composed, she found the situation amusing.

Who would’ve thought the newbie from the Fast Travel Bureau would be so entertaining?

She considered teasing her a little. With a hint of bashfulness, she said, “Teacher Tang, about last night.” She trailed off, feigning both embarrassment and unease.

Tang Jing immediately looked at her, then quickly realized how obvious her reaction was. Forcing herself to stay calm, she replied, “It’s fine. You were just taking care of me.”

Meng Xue was laughing inwardly but outwardly nodded with a shy smile.

That single sentence from Meng Xue instantly lifted Tang Jing’s spirits.

While the two of them were in high spirits, Qiao Xiaorou was anything but. Seeing them step out of the elevator together, smiling, made her wish she could shove Meng Xue aside right then and there.

Tang Jing and Meng Xue both noticed Qiao Xiaorou and the murderous glare she was shooting their way.

Without a word or even a glance, the two walked past her in perfect sync.

Watching their retreating figures side by side, Qiao Xiaorou clenched her fists, grinding her teeth in frustration.

Upon arriving on set, Tang Jing and Meng Xue headed straight to the makeup room.

Director Zhao had informed them the day before that they had two scenes scheduled for the morning, so they needed to prepare as soon as they arrived.

Just as their makeup was nearly done, a crew member came in to notify Meng Xue that she was to start filming first once she was ready. They handed her a single page, a last-minute script revision hastily written by the screenwriter.

Anyone with experience in the industry knew exactly what this “wild page” implied.

Tang Jing’s expression darkened instantly. She snatched the paper from Meng Xue’s hands and saw that the scene paired Meng Xue with Qiao Xiaorou and involved a slap. She immediately stood up to leave.

But Meng Xue grabbed her arm and shook her head gently. “Teacher Tang, I can handle it.”

After all, she was still a newcomer. If she made too many demands, people would start gossiping.

Tang Jing had already read the revised script. The key part was the slap.

This wasn’t in the script at all, it was clearly something Qiao Xiaorou had the writers add last minute.

But Meng Xue wasn’t fazed. As a top-tier quick transmigrator, such petty tricks were child’s play to her.

Seeing the determination in her eyes, Tang Jing hesitated only briefly before handing her the revised script, adding, “I can call a stop anytime.”

“Got it.” Meng Xue smiled at her. “Thank you, Teacher Tang.”

Under that gaze, Tang Jing found herself giving in.

Qiao Xiaorou was already on set, waiting. When she spotted Meng Xue, she flashed a provocative smirk, tilting her chin up and eyeing her with disdain.

Meng Xue remained composed, unshaken by the sudden script changes. She even greeted Director Zhao when she saw him.

Zhao Kuang, however, looked uneasy especially when Tang Jing arrived shortly after. Clearing his throat, he averted his gaze and said, “Alright, everyone, take your positions.”

Then, as if remembering something, he added, “Xiao Xue, you’ve memorized your lines, right?”

Given her performance yesterday, he already knew she had. But his question wasn’t really for Meng Xue, it was directed at Qiao Xiaorou.

After all, the last-minute script changes were her idea, and the content was her demand.

He’d read it. It was jarringly out of place in the overall story.

But what could he do? She was the investor’s daughter.

Meng Xue nodded and went to prepare.

Qiao Xiaorou had wanted to greet Tang Jing, but filming was about to start. She’d have to wait until after the scene wrapped, then she’d make sure Tang Jing knew: the more she cared about Meng Xue, the harder she’d crush her.

In the drama, Qiao Xiaorou played the male lead’s younger sister. The male lead and Tang Jing’s character, Fu Wen, were close business associates who often gathered with friends for meals.

As the sister, she’d started tagging along to these gatherings, ostensibly for Fu Wen.

Upon learning Fu Wen had feelings for Su Xiaoran (Meng Xue’s character), she sought Su out privately to issue a warning.

This scene was their confrontation.

With only Qiao Xiaorou and Meng Xue on set, the crew braced themselves. Director Zhao checked the camera feed, then called, “Action!”

Qiao Xiaorou glared at her. “Su Xiaoran, Fu Wen is mine. Know your place.” She raised her hand and swung.

The moment her hand went up, the crew tensed.

Director Zhao watched nervously, it was obvious Qiao Xiaorou was putting real force behind that slap.

Tang Jing pressed her lips together, fighting the urge to intervene. But remembering Meng Xue’s confident look earlier, she forced herself to stay put.

As Qiao Xiaorou’s hand came down, a triumphant smirk spread across her face, only to freeze when her palm met empty air.

Meng Xue had smoothly tilted her head away at the perfect moment.

Qiao Xiaorou’s eyes widened in shock.

She’d put her full strength into that swing. How had she missed?

And how had Meng Xue dodged so effortlessly?

It seemed, she had really hit the other person.

Everyone’s expressions changed.

Yet Tang Jing, who had been tense earlier, now relaxed, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips.

How could she have forgotten? This was her senior, the legendary “golden fast-traveler” of the Fast-Travel Bureau. There was no way someone like Qiao Xiaorou could bully her.

At the thought of this, she leaned back comfortably in her chair.

Over there, Zhao Kuang called for a break, letting the two actresses rest.

When Meng Xue stepped down, he couldn’t help but scrutinize her face. Though he saw no marks, Qiao Xiaorou’s full-force performance had left him in a foul mood.

Five minutes later, filming resumed for the second take.

This time, Qiao Xiaorou put all her strength into it, her eyes locked onto Meng Xue. She refused to believe she could miss again.

But once more, just as her hand was about to land, Meng Xue tilted her head slightly so naturally that it looked like she had truly been struck. Many on set held their breath.

Qiao Xiaorou, having thrown her full weight into the swing, stumbled forward from the momentum. Her gaze at Meng Xue was one of utter disbelief.

If the first miss had been a coincidence, this time she was certain: Meng Xue had dodged her slap flawlessly, making it seem real to everyone watching.

The reactions around her confirmed it, everyone believed she had actually hit Meng Xue.

“You!” Qiao Xiaorou glared at her, furious and aggrieved.

Meng Xue, however, looked at her with concern. “Are you okay?”

“You did that on purpose,” Qiao Xiaorou hissed, her eyes burning.

“What?” Meng Xue blinked in confusion.

“Why did you dodge?”

“Dodge?” Meng Xue appeared genuinely puzzled. “Isn’t this supposed to be a fake slap?”

Zhao Kuang, who had just walked over, paused mid-step, his worry momentarily replaced by amusement.

So, Meng Xue had assumed Qiao Xiaorou’s slap was staged all along. Yet her ability to time her dodge so precisely enough to fool everyone left Zhao Kuang impressed.

Meanwhile, Tang Jing, afraid her smirk might be noticed, took a sip of water to hide it.

Her assistant, however, saw everything clearly glancing between Meng Xue and her boss.

Was it just her imagination, or was there something, suggestive in the way Tang Jing looked at Meng Xue?

Maybe it was from watching Diverse Lives, but now she couldn’t help but ship them in her mind.

And she was firmly on team “Meng Attacks, Tang Surrenders.”

Tang Jing suddenly felt a pair of intense eyes on her. Turning, she saw her assistant, fists clenched, staring fervently at the scene.

Assuming the girl was indignant on Meng Xue’s behalf, Tang Jing nodded approvingly before looking away.

Little did she know, the assistant was just suppressing her fangirl squeals.

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