The Villainess’s Darling [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 44

By the second semester of their freshman year, nearly everyone at Hua University who knew Ning Xiao was aware that she had a girlfriend at the Beijing Film Academy whose beauty rivalled her own. Meanwhile, Yun Can’er’s classmates all knew her girlfriend was a top-tier genius at Hua University.

One tall and elegant, the other petite and exquisite—the two were a perfect match.

On a Friday afternoon, Ning Xiao went to the Film Academy to pick up Yun Can’er. Coincidentally, Jiang Yunyi mentioned he had something to discuss, so Ning Xiao arranged for them to meet at a private restaurant near the campus.

After a short wait, Yun Can’er arrived and slid into the seat next to Ning Xiao. “Why the sudden fancy dinner today?” she asked curiously.

Usually, they either cooked back at the apartment or grabbed a bite at the school canteen. This was their first time at a place like this.

Ning Xiao placed her phone on the table, pointing to her WeChat history with Jiang Yunyi. “Jiang Yunyi has something he wants to talk to me about. He said it was quite urgent.”

Since Yun Can’er had met Jiang Yunyi’s boyfriend, she hadn’t felt a shred of jealousy regarding their friendship. Her eyes lit up. “Do you think he has another role for you?”

Over the past year, Jiang Yunyi’s career had been smooth sailing. He’d even secured a Magnolia Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. No longer relying on his parents’ connections, he had built his own network; directors and screenwriters who worked with him almost universally adored him. He had even become close friends with several big-name directors.

“Sigh, Ning-ning, it’s such a waste of your beauty that you aren’t an actor,” Yun Can’er lamented.

Ning Xiao tapped her forehead. “I recall you telling me that you wanted to be a serious actress and that looks didn’t matter. Why the change of heart regarding my face?”

Yun Can’er laughed and hugged Ning Xiao’s hand, nuzzling it against her fair cheek. “Ning-ning is different. You have such top-tier looks that whether you can act or not, the audience would just love to stare at you.”

“I’m not so sure,” Ning Xiao replied. “If the acting is bad enough, no amount of beauty can save it.”

Just then, Jiang Yunyi pushed the door open, catching sight of their intimate interaction. “Sorry, did I walk in at a bad time?” he joked.

A blushing Yun Can’er immediately released Ning Xiao’s hand.

“We thought we’d have to wait for you, but you’re early,” Ning Xiao said as they stood to greet him.

Jiang Yunyi sat across from them. “Don’t mind me. Sit down; let’s talk business before we eat.”

Fanning her warm cheeks, Yun Can’er spoke up for her partner. “I’ll answer for her: she’s not interested in acting.”

Jiang Yunyi poured himself some tea without looking up. “I’m not looking for Ning Xiao to act this time.”

“Then who? Me?” Yun Can’er joked.

Jiang Yunyi looked up and snapped his fingers. “Bingo!”

“Wait. I don’t think I have the time,” Yun Can’er said, surprised.

Since last year, Ning Xiao had begun taking over the Ning family’s entertainment interests. Yun Can’er was the company’s only signed artist, meaning all resources were tilted in her favor. “I actually passed the audition yesterday for Director He Yi’s Tribulation of Three Lives.” The pride in her dark eyes was unmistakable.

He Yi was a famous director known for xianxia dramas.

Yun Can’er tilted her head and smiled at Ning Xiao. “I’ll be able to earn money for Ning-ning very soon~”

Ning Xiao smiled back. “The money doesn’t matter, as long as you’re happy.”

Jiang Yunyi: He hated to admit it, but he was being blinded by their public display of affection (PDA).

“The role I have is just a minor one; we can finish filming in the next two days. The director asked me to find someone beautiful, and I thought of you immediately. Can’er, for the sake of my friendship with Ning Xiao, help me out.”

Since Ning Xiao acted as Yun Can’er’s de facto manager when her official one wasn’t around, she could handle the negotiations. “Can’er joins the Tribulation set next month, so the timing isn’t an issue…”

“I know, I know—it depends on whether Can’er likes the character and wants to do it, right?” Jiang Yunyi sent the script to Ning Xiao’s phone. “Take a look; the character is quite likable.”

The two girls leaned their heads together to read. One was as cold and proud as snow, the other bright and smiling, they looked incredibly well-matched.

Jiang Yunyi looked at the empty seats beside him and suddenly felt the urge to call his boyfriend. He made a mental note: never meet Ning Xiao alone again.

“What do you think? Do you like it?” Ning Xiao asked after they finished reading.

Yun Can’er nodded. “I think it’s good.”

She wasn’t being picky, but she had a realistic view of her current skills. While her teachers saw her as a rare talent, she lacked professional experience. Taking on an overly complex role might lead to a poor performance. She’d rather not act at all than put out bad work.

Except for when she was dealing with Ning Xiao, Yun Can’er was remarkably rational.

With her nod, the role was settled. Jiang Yunyi immediately started a video call with the director to introduce her. The director’s eyes lit up as soon as he saw her. He praised her beauty and Jiang Yunyi’s eye for talent, confirming she was exactly what he needed.

“We head to the set tomorrow morning, or we can go tonight,” Jiang Yunyi said after hanging up. “I’ll send you the hotel details.”

“Are you the male lead again?” Ning Xiao asked.

Jiang Yunyi smirked. “Who else?”

“You know, being that high-profile is a good way to get a sack thrown over your head,” Ning Xiao joked.

Yun Can’er looked at Ning Xiao. “In the future, I’ll only play female leads. Grand female leads!”

Ning Xiao laughed. “Mhm. From now on, I’ll only pick lead roles for you.”

Jiang Yunyi: Just when I felt smug for a second, I got hit with more PDA. Annoying!

**

They needed to be on set by 8:00 AM the next morning, and with a two-hour drive, that meant a 5:00 AM wake-up call.

“Let’s go tonight,” Ning Xiao suggested. “I’ll stay at the hotel with you.”

With Ning Xiao coming along, Yun Can’er had no objections.

“I drove here,” Jiang Yunyi said. “I’ll pick up my boyfriend and we can all go together.” He was determined to show off his own relationship to get even.

Back at the apartment, the girls packed a large suitcase with two days’ worth of clothes and essentials. At 8:00 PM, Jiang Yunyi called.

“Ning Xiao, my boyfriend and I are downstairs.”

“Got it. My girlfriend and I are coming down now.” Ning Xiao knew exactly what Jiang Yunyi was up to by bringing his “man.”

“Can’er,” Ning Xiao said as they headed out, “don’t be shy today. Show as much affection as you want.”

“Eh? Why?”

“Because Jiang Yunyi’s boyfriend is there too.”

Yun Can’er understood instantly. She nodded seriously. “Right. We absolutely won’t lose this time!”

Ever since losing a “PDA battle” to Liu Xiaoke last year, she had been brooding over it. Now that there was a new opponent, she was going all in.

However, as the elevator descended, she started to look worried. “Jiang Yunyi’s boyfriend, Yan Xishi, is a master at acting spoiled. I’ve never seen a man who loves to act pampered so much.” She suddenly lost a bit of confidence.

Ning Xiao thought about it. “Acting spoiled? I don’t think he could be nearly as cute as you are.”

Yun Can’er’s cheeks turned pink. “Really?”

“Of course,” Ning Xiao affirmed. “In fact, you’re the best at it. You’re the cutest when acting spoiled, the sexiest when being cute, the most beautiful when being sexy, the smartest among the beauties, and the best actress among the smart ones. My future Movie Queen.”

Ding!

The elevator doors opened. A beet-red Yun Can’er covered her face and bolted out of the lobby.

Jiang Yunyi flashed his headlights. Yun Can’er scrambled into the back seat, her face burning and her eyes misty with bashfulness. Ning Xiao followed a moment later and sat beside her.

Jiang Yunyi and Yan Xishi both turned around to look at the pair.

“Did you guys have a fight?” Jiang Yunyi asked.

Ning Xiao patted Yun Can’er’s head and smiled. “No.”

Yun Can’er pulled Ning Xiao’s hand away and huddled as far as possible to the other side of the seat. She was radiating heat and needed distance to calm down, or she wasn’t sure what she might do in front of the other couple.

Yan Xishi, who had a cool and elegant voice, noted, “If it wasn’t a fight, why is she suddenly ignoring you?”

Jiang Yunyi looked closer at Yun Can’er’s flushed face. “No way… Ning Xiao, what did you do to make her this embarrassed?”

Ning Xiao blinked innocently and repeated exactly what she had just said to Yun Can’er in the elevator. “I was just telling the truth. Can’er is just too thin-skinned.”

Jiang Yunyi:

Yan Xishi:

At that moment, both men had one thought: We lost the PDA battle before it even started.

The two-hour drive passed in total silence. Even the usually talkative Jiang Yunyi was quiet. He hadn’t expected Ning Xiao to have such a “finishing move” ready. Total defeat.

They arrived at the hotel after 10:00 PM. Once they were alone in their room, Yun Can’er finally began to recover. Ning Xiao’s words today had been dangerously effective.

As Ning Xiao finished unpacking, she saw Yun Can’er staring blankly from the sofa. “Feeling better?”

Yun Can’er snapped out of it and shot Ning Xiao a look. It wasn’t an angry glare, but rather a lingering, hooked gaze that felt more like a provocation.

Ning Xiao was more than happy to take the bait. She sat beside her and kissed her fluttering eyelashes. “Should we get some rest early tonight?”

Breathless, Yun Can’er wrapped her arms around Ning Xiao’s neck and nodded. Her fair ears, peeking out from her dark hair, were as red as blood.

The next morning, Ning Xiao accompanied Yun Can’er to the set. While Yun Can’er went to makeup, Ning Xiao wandered around to familiarize herself with the environment. Filming was set to start at 9:00 AM.

Yun Can’er’s scenes were few but spread out. After her morning scene, she changed out of her costume and sat with Ning Xiao to wait for Jiang Yunyi and Yan Xishi to finish their last scene of the morning.

“Director, didn’t you say I could do it? Why was that role suddenly given to someone else?”

A familiar, artificial female voice rang out from a short distance away.

Ning Xiao looked over. A girl with a cute face and a petite frame was whining to the casting director in a forced, cutesy tone.

It was none other than Zhao Mengting, who had disappeared for two years.

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