The Female Lead Insists on Being My Wife [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 23.2

Chapter 23.2: Stealing the Wife in a Romance Reality Show (Part 6)

The two rival CP shippers collectively fell silent, sitting side-by-side on the bench, munching on their ice cream cones in silence.

When Shen Chuli walked back, this was the scene she encountered. She noticed the strange woman sitting next to Chen Suihe; her brows furrowed instinctively, and her steps faltered slightly. Fortunately, Chen Suihe spotted her instantly. She finished the last few bites of her cone in two or three gulps—the cold giving her a quick brain freeze—and then jogged over.

“Chuli!” Chen Suihe tossed the wrapper into a trash can and ran to Shen Chuli’s side, grabbing her sleeve to lead her toward the fan.

“This is a fan of our show!” Chen Suihe introduced her enthusiastically, trying to erase the awkward moment from seconds ago. “She’s amazing; she recognized me at a single glance!”

Initially, the fan was starstruck by Shen Chuli. But sensing the actress’s somewhat distant gaze, the fan’s excitement cooled… and then she discovered a shocking secret! Her eyes darted back and forth between the two. This, this, this! They’re wearing matching outfits! And you’re telling me this isn’t the #ChuSui CP?!

Chen Suihe watched, bewildered, as the fan covered her mouth and jumped in place with excitement. Then, she watched as the fan daringly grabbed Shen Chuli’s hand, shaking it up and down.

“Chuli, be good to Sui-sui. May you be happy together for a hundred years, a hundred years!” Knowing Chen Suihe was a #LiYang shipper, the fan thoughtfully lowered her voice so only Shen Chuli could hear.

Shen Chuli was like a breaking glacier; the softness hidden beneath her cold exterior was revealed by those words. “Thank you for your support,” she said to the fan with a smile.

Chen Suihe didn’t understand why Shen Chuli’s simple thank-you made the fan so agitated. The fan was out with a friend who had just finished a roller coaster ride, so she had to say a reluctant goodbye. Before she left, Shen Chuli proactively called her back.

And just like that, one #ChuSui fan was bubbling over with happiness. Looking at the dual signature of Shen Chuli and Chen Suihe on her phone case, and the photos in her gallery of them leaning close together, the fan felt like she was ascending to heaven!

Aside from shopping, Chen Suihe was actually interested in many of the park’s rides. However, Shen Chuli appeared to be a “fragile” girl. After several rounds of go-karts, Chen Suihe was having the time of her life, but Shen Chuli was shaking like a sieve, clinging tightly to Chen Suihe with a pale face.

Noticing something was wrong, Chen Suihe was about to stop and leave the track when Shen Chuli grabbed her wrist. “No need,” Shen Chuli said with a white face, looking up at her. “This is just a minor ailment. Your happiness is the most important thing; I don’t want to be the one to spoil the mood.”

“!”

Chen Suihe immediately pulled her out. Looking at her pale face, Chen Suihe said disapprovingly, “How can you call this a ‘minor ailment’!” As she spoke, she took Shen Chuli’s hand. “Look, your palms are ice cold!”

Glancing back at the lively go-kart track, Chen Suihe turned her head away: “Actually, I don’t really want to play this anymore either. What do you want to do?”

Shen Chuli smiled and led her to a specific location.

“Are we really going in there?” Looking at the eerie, haunted house, Chen Suihe’s legs trembled, and she instinctively gripped Shen Chuli’s arm. If it weren’t for a shred of logic remaining, she probably would have jumped onto Shen Chuli and hidden in her embrace.

“Are you scared?” Shen Chuli asked, knowing the answer perfectly well.

Thinking about how long Shen Chuli had accompanied her on the go-karts, Chen Suihe let go and forced her shaking legs to take a step toward the haunted house. “How is that possible!” she bluffed. “It’s just a haunted house. It’s all people inside; it’s not scary at all!”

At this moment, she desperately hoped the usually perceptive and caring Shen Chuli would notice her fear and suggest a different activity. But this time, Shen Chuli didn’t. She went straight ahead and bought two of the most expensive tickets.

“Can you walk?” Shen Chuli pretended not to see her fear and asked on purpose.

Now that the moment was here, Chen Suihe had to go in. She closed her eyes with an expression of martyrdom: “Let’s go!” Then, as if comforting herself, she whispered, “Right, Sui-sui don’t be afraid. The ghosts inside are all played by humans; it’s not scary at all.”

Walking beside her, Shen Chuli couldn’t help but smile upon hearing her whispered self-reassurance.

The moment they entered, a loud bang erupted at the entrance, making Chen Suihe jump. She hid behind Shen Chuli, peering warily toward the noise, and only relaxed a bit when she realized it was just the staff locking the entrance door.

“Sui-sui isn’t afraid, it’s all fake, not afraid, not afraid.” She whispered comforts to herself while gripping Shen Chuli’s sleeve so hard she wouldn’t let go.

Shen Chuli had bought tickets for the largest and most terrifying room. It usually took average players over an hour to get out. For someone as timid as Chen Suihe, it would take longer—plus, the staff would find her amusing and scare her even harder. After barely surviving a “jump-scare,” Chen Suihe screamed and dove into Shen Chuli’s arms, shaking like a leaf.

Seeing her terrified and burrowing into her chest, Shen Chuli felt both happy and guilty. “Let’s go out,” Shen Chuli said, starting to regret her choice. She had clearly known better ways to promote their relationship, yet she had chosen the stupidest one.

Chen Suihe shook her head in her arms, blinking back her tears. She emerged from the embrace and stood in front of Shen Chuli with a look of ultimate resolve. “If I don’t make it out, tell my family… I wasn’t a coward!”

With that, Chen Suihe closed her eyes, grabbed Shen Chuli, and charged blindly forward. Many “ghost” employees didn’t even have time to prepare before two figures “whooshed” past them.

“We… we’re out.” Chen Suihe leaned against the exit door frame, gasping for breath.

Shortly after, a staff member brought over warm towels and water. “Congratulations, you’ve broken the record for the fastest escape from this themed room. Here is your reward.”

The staff member smiled and handed over an acrylic engraved medal. “How did you find the game? Do you have any secrets to share with future players?”

Chen Suihe held the medal blankly. The bright, comfortable environment made her forget her previous terror. “Hehe, it was alright, not that scary.” She couldn’t help but let her ego inflate. “Speed! ‘The world’s martial arts are broken only by speed’—that’s the first element!”

The staff member nodded half-comprehendingly and left with the used towels. Looking at Chen Suihe, who wouldn’t let go of the medal, Shen Chuli was caught between laughter and tears. She was about to say something when Chen Suihe shoved a phone into her hand.

“Take a photo of me quickly!” She hopped over to the haunted house exit and posed with the medal, flashing a big peace sign. Snap! The camera captured her joy.

After the photo, Chen Suihe leaned in to check the picture. She looked at the photo, then at Shen Chuli; back at the photo, then at Shen Chuli again… Chen Suihe fell silent.

Just as Shen Chuli was preparing to confess, Chen Suihe patted her arm: “If you wanted to wear ‘bestie outfits,’ you should have said so earlier! We could have asked the producer to get some sponsorships; we’d earn money and look good, it’d be great!”

“…Right.” Shen Chuli laughed helplessly. Sometimes, she couldn’t track Chen Suihe’s train of thought at all.

Though they had escaped, staying in the haunted house’s lounge still made Chen Suihe a bit nervous. She finished her sentence and ran out first. She leaned against a large tree trunk outside, one hand on her pounding heart, her cheeks flushed bright red.

Close! So close she almost broke her professional integrity! Chen Suihe patted her heart with lingering fear and let out a deep breath. If she hadn’t remembered the money in her bank account at the last second, she almost would have started shipping herself with Shen Chuli!

It’s all that rival’s fault from last night! Chen Suihe thought indignantly. She pulled out her phone and checked the distance of the rival. Good, thousands of kilometers away. Chen Suihe soothed her heart: Last night, the Grain Bin’s potato server must have crashed again. She almost misunderstood Shen Chuli!

When Shen Chuli caught up, Chen Suihe was squatting on the ground “eating” happily. The fandom bin had been 404’d last night, but thanks to her and the other shippers’ efforts, it was back! After “feasting” on a high-quality fanfic, Chen Suihe felt satisfied. Since she had nothing else to give the author, she decided to report the rival account “suisui number one in the world” as a celebratory gift!

Shen Chuli stood behind her, watching as she liked and tipped the #LiYang author, then happily clicked into a familiar profile and hit the report button.

“!” Chen Suihe was startled by Shen Chuli’s sudden appearance. Having just “eaten” CP content behind the lead’s back, she guiltily locked her screen and stuffed it in her pocket. “Hehe, you’re here.” She chirped, dusting herself off. “Let’s go to the next item!”

The two played for a whole day. As night fell, Chen Suihe remembered seeing a notice at the entrance about a firework display. She pulled Shen Chuli toward the display area and accidentally reunited with the others.

Jiang Wan, standing on a high platform, saw them and waved frantically. He was excited to see them, but as they got closer and he saw their fingers tightly interlaced, the smile on his face froze. “Hiss…” Jiang Wan couldn’t help but draw in a breath.

Shen Chuli helped Chen Suihe up onto the platform. Suihe sat down steadily and, before the fireworks started, swung her legs and chatted with Jiang Wan. Regarding the CP fan incident, she leaned in and whispered in his ear, fearing Shen Chuli would hear.

After hearing the story, Jiang Wan’s face turned into a color palette. “Um…” He racked his brain, not knowing how to respond. Finally, he said diplomatically: “You… you and the Movie Queen really do have a great relationship, haha.”

“She actually really wants to be friends with you guys too.” Chen Suihe nodded, then sighed helplessly. “Chuli is a great person—very gentle, good personality, and takes care of people.”

Listening to her praise Shen Chuli, Jiang Wan didn’t know if he should shatter this “Sweet-and-Naive” girl’s delusions about the Movie Queen’s true nature. As he hesitated, the first firework exploded in the sky.

“Xiao Wan! Sui-sui!” Wu Yang and Li Chengxi rushed over as well. The six looked up at the dazzling fireworks—three on the high platform, three standing below. The cameraman was quick, capturing this moment.

Returning to the cottage, everyone was exhausted. The moment Chen Suihe saw the sofa, she threw herself onto it without a second thought. Today’s activity level was way over the limit. She was drifting off on the soft sofa when she was gently patted awake.

She opened her eyes blearily, and before seeing who it was, she rolled over and mumbled cooingly, “Let me sleep a bit, just a bit… I’ll go to my room in a bit…” Her voice grew smaller and smaller.

Seeing she wouldn’t wake up anytime soon, Shen Chuli didn’t force her. She brought a small blanket from her room and draped it over her. Wu Yang’s pupils dilated. If she remembered correctly, Shen Chuli was supposed to be the most germaphobic person!

Jiang Wan, who already had the “God’s Eye” view of the situation, shook his head at Wu Yang’s shock. The two whispered for a long time until Wu Yang finally accepted reality. While Shen Chuli was away, the two used Chen Suihe as a background and took countless photos.

After a short nap, Chen Suihe woke up fully charged! Considering their fatigue, the producer had ordered takeout. Suihe woke up just as it arrived. To cater to everyone, the producer had wisely ordered hotpot—spicy and non-spicy, with various dishes.

During hotpot, it’s inevitable to have a little drink. Considering the three ladies present, Jiang Wan pulled a bottle of red wine from Jiang Suizhou’s luggage. The rich grape aroma made Chen Suihe’s mouth water, but once she tasted it, she winced and swallowed with difficulty. She quickly stuffed a large mouthful of tribute greens into her mouth to suppress the strange taste.

Seeing Wu Yang and Shen Chuli drink the bitter wine without flinching, she remembered her own sip and made a face. Jiang Wan was getting tipsy; seeing her expression, he pointed and laughed at her for being like a child, eventually collapsing into Jiang Suizhou’s arms.

Chen Suihe wasn’t one to lose; she pulled out her “Brave Soul Medal” to show off, but because she wasn’t steady, she accidentally fell into Shen Chuli’s arms. Of the six people present, only three remained sober. Wu Yang adjusted the Li Chengxi on her back and said goodbye first, followed by Jiang Suizhou.

The living room fell silent, except for the humming induction cooker and the softly snoring Chen Suihe in her arms. Shen Chuli gently pressed her cheek against Suihe’s, then picked up the girl’s unfinished wine glass, pressed her lips to where Suihe had touched, and drank it all. If she could, she wanted to show her true self to Chen Suihe, but she was afraid of scaring her. Fortunately, a hunter is the most patient of beings. After cleaning Suihe’s hands, feet, and face, Shen Chuli tucked her in and quietly left.

The next morning, Chen Suihe woke up with a splitting headache. She struggled out of bed only to realize she was still in yesterday’s clothes. She couldn’t remember what happened last night, nor who sent her back to her room. She guessed it was either Wu Yang or Shen Chuli.

A knock sounded at the door. Chen Suihe called out an answer. She rubbed her aching head and walked unsteadily, feeling like she was walking on clouds. She opened the door to find Wu Yang.

Wu Yang handed her a bowl of warm hangover soup. “First time drinking? Does your head hurt? Drink this quickly.”

To be honest, the soup didn’t taste good. Aside from a weird flavor, it had a distinct burnt smell. But since it was a kind gesture, Chen Suihe grit her teeth and downed it in one go. After watching her finish, Wu Yang gave a few instructions and, seeing her stumble back onto the bed, thoughtfully closed the door.

The door across from Chen Suihe’s opened. Shen Chuli’s expression was cold, but her fingers were covered in bandages. Wu Yang said nothing, smiled as she returned the bowl, and went back to her own room.

Because the guests were hungover, the “Flying Guest” (guest star) planned for today was postponed by a day. The producer kindly left them time to rest. Chen Suihe lay on the bed half-dead until nearly evening when her strength returned. Smelling of hotpot and alcohol, the first thing she did was change the sheets and take a long, satisfying shower.

She came out in a bathrobe, drying her hair. Shen Chuli knocked and said dinner was ready. She answered, changed into pajamas, and went out in her bathrobe, water still dripping from her hair. Shen Chuli saw the dripping hair and silently went to get a hairdryer.

Tonight was also takeout. Looking at the lavish dinner, Chen Suihe felt something was off. It felt like the producer had done something wrong and was apologizing in advance. Suihe looked suspiciously at the nearest camera, startling the producer behind the screen. The director mocked her: “I told you to be careful when vetting people. Now the one who stood you up is back; watch out, there’s going to be a bloodbath.”

Hearing her friend’s mockery, the producer was also regretful. But at this point, since the guest was pushed in by an investor and was only staying for one episode, she couldn’t refuse. Weighing the pros and cons, the producer guiltily transferred another sum of money to Chen Suihe.

Chen Suihe scrolled through her phone while eating. She happened to see the program’s Weibo and read it aloud.

“There’s a flying guest tomorrow!” She clicked into the tag and saw the lead actress from a sweet drama she recently liked. She shared the news happily: “It’s the actress I’ve been obsessed with lately!”

Hearing this, Jiang Wan and Wu Yang stopped their chopsticks and quickly looked at Shen Chuli’s face. But she didn’t bat an eye as she ladled some soup for Chen Suihe. “Is that so?”

Chen Suihe nodded happily, completely oblivious to any tension, and started recommending the guest’s drama to everyone. After dinner, they cleaned up and returned to their rooms.

Chen Suihe checked the Grain Bin app and found that the rival “suisui number one in the world” was once again only ten meters away!

Must be another bug, Chen Suihe thought dismissively. After all, the green app’s server was notorious; a minor bug every three days and a major one every five was normal.

She headed toward the bathroom while scrolling. “Eh? Did someone change my toothbrush?”

Support The Female Lead Insists on Being My Wife [Quick Transmigration]