Transmigrated as the Top-Tier Alpha's Secretly Married Ex-Wife - Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Su Tuantuan’s scenes were finished, but Qiao Yanran still had quite a few scenes left to shoot. When Su Tuantuan left, the crew gave her flowers, and Qiao Yanran’s eyes were red with reluctance. “Sister, do you still have time to play games with me later?”

Su Tuantuan thought, With your noob skills, even if I try to carry you, I can’t.

But seeing the girl’s pitiful look, she couldn’t show her distaste. She could only smile slightly to show respect. “Sure, I’ll take you when I have time.”

Qiao Yanran’s face broke into a smile through her tears. Su Tuantuan wiped her tears away.

After returning to City A, Su Tuantuan took two days to adjust. Sister Zhou handed her the script for The Road to Acting, which contained the rules and requirements for the variety show.

This program was broadcast live and featured a total of thirty actors. The first round was an audition where they would draw lots to select a theme and perform based on the prompt, with voting from the online audience and on-site judges.

No one would be eliminated in the audition round. Those with the lowest votes would be given a second chance. If the two-person collaboration in the second round went too poorly, then the person with the lowest overall score would be mercilessly eliminated.

There were a total of five rounds of competition, meaning the show would run for over a month. One competition would take place per week, with the time in between dedicated to actors’ rehearsals and integration.

Su Tuantuan sighed softly upon seeing the complicated competition rules.

Sister Zhou instructed, “Don’t think this show is cheap. It has quite high online popularity, with many netizens tuning in every year. As long as you can put your heart into it and fight your way out, you can choose any script you want afterward.”

After all, in this industry, everything comes down to ability.

Su Tuantuan looked dispirited and closed her eyes to rest. “Got it.”

Sister Zhou saw her listless behavior and felt frustrated. “Pay attention! If you don’t show any improvement this time, you’ll be someone’s flunky for the rest of your life!”

Managers have countless eyes. The director’s two-faced behavior on set was likely reported to Sister Zhou by Xiaoyu.

Sister Zhou was fuming, but what could she do?

Without ability, there was no right to speak. When the director scolded her artist, she could only thank him for the opportunity.

Su Tuantuan rubbed her temples. Sister Zhou didn’t bother with more nonsense. “Alright, you can go now. Watch more movies these two days and learn, so you don’t go up there and embarrass me.”

Su Tuantuan took the script and left. Sister Zhou watched her lazy, bone-idle demeanor and gritted her teeth. “Hopeless. Why did I ever take on such a pretty face with no talent!”

“Pretty face” was not a compliment here.

In the real world, being called a “pretty face” is at least a compliment to one’s good looks.

But here, an artist being called a “pretty face” was a genuine insult.

It was equivalent to accusing them of having no substance.

Su Tuantuan’s ears were about to grow calluses from her manager’s nagging. She slammed the door shut, blocking Sister Zhou’s scolding inside the room.

When she came out, she saw Xiaoyu standing there obediently with her head bowed, waiting.

Su Tuantuan tossed the script into her arms. “Go buy me some groceries and fresh vegetables. I’ll be cooking at home for the next two days; I won’t order takeout.”

Xiaoyu thought Su Tuantuan would be angry, but she seemed perfectly fine. Xiaoyu hugged the script and followed with small, hurried steps. “Sister Tuantuan, you were scolded by Sister Zhou. Aren’t you angry?”

“I am angry.”

Su Tuantuan considered it carefully and clicked her tongue. “But she’s stating a fact, and I can’t refute it.”

Xiaoyu continued to follow her with her head bowed. “Sister Tuantuan, aren’t you going to scold me?”

Su Tuantuan glanced at her. “Am I sick?”

Xiaoyu spoke timidly, “If I hadn’t told Sister Zhou about the situation on set, Sister Zhou wouldn’t have been so angry…”

She also felt like a snitch.

After all, Su Tuantuan had indeed performed poorly on set and was often scolded by the director. Sister Zhou had originally hoped the director would introduce more work next time, but after hearing Xiaoyu’s description, she completely gave up.

Xiaoyu was preoccupied with worries and followed Su Tuantuan anxiously. “Sister Tuantuan, if the company abandons you, I can introduce you to a few jobs. Actually, being an assistant is tiring, but the pay isn’t bad. Otherwise, the pressure of acting is too much, and you won’t get good roles in the future…”

Su Tuantuan was amused. She got into the car Mo Xian had gifted her. “Thank you very much.”

She said lightly, “You drive the company car to buy things; I’m going back first.”

Xiaoyu was still pondering whether to switch to a different artist, but Su Tuantuan had already stepped on the gas and left.

Su Tuantuan drove fast, listening to music. When she arrived, she hummed a little tune as she exited the elevator but saw a dark figure squatting by her door.

When she got closer, the figure suddenly lifted its head.

“Mama!”

Su Tuantuan’s scream activated the sound-sensitive light in the hallway.

This large apartment building had excellent privacy, with only two units per floor. She looked left and right, then back at Mo Xian squatting on the ground. “Are you… contemplating life here?”

She carried her handbag and went to open the door, keying in the password. “I won’t bother you. You continue your contemplation; I’m going in now.”

Click.

The sound of the lock opening rang out.

Before Su Tuantuan could step inside, a warm hand gently grasped her ankle.

Su Tuantuan looked down.

She hadn’t seen Mo Xian since the concert a long time ago.

Mo Xian’s hair had grown a bit longer, and she had bangs that were messy and almost covering her eyes.

She was wearing a black hoodie with the hood still up and her mask pulled down to her chin. She didn’t appear to be wearing makeup, had a faint acne mark on her chin, and her eyes were red, as if she hadn’t rested well in a long time.

Su Tuantuan’s voice softened slightly. “What’s wrong?”

She even had acne. This girl was stressed out.

Mo Xian blinked. Her light but dense eyelashes were like tiny fans, casting a shadow on her lower eyelid, which also showed a faint bluish-purple tint.

“I just wanted to go out for some air, but I was recognized. They chased me for two blocks, and I could only come here to hide.”

She sounded a little aggrieved when she spoke, as if Su Tuantuan were a long-time friend.

Su Tuantuan gave a dry laugh. “Oh, then you can wait here. The security here is quite good. You can call your manager and have her pick you up.”

Su Tuantuan vividly remembered Mo Xian’s seasoned manager.

Despite her age, she constantly wore a floral shirt and a small ponytail. If she wasn’t a female Alpha, Su Tuantuan would genuinely find it greasy.

She felt the manager and Mo Xian had a very good relationship.

If Mo Xian was stuck here, the manager would surely rush over to rescue her immediately, right?

Mo Xian slowly released her hand, maintaining her previous posture. “My phone died; it’s already turned off.”

Tsk.

Su Tuantuan took out her phone. “Then I’ll lend you mine—”

She looked at it and saw her own phone was also dead, having turned off sometime earlier.

Mo Xian’s dark pupils stared straight at her. Her look of hopeful anticipation was somehow a little cute.

Su Tuantuan hesitated. “How about you come in and wait?”

Leaving someone waiting outside without contact information like this, if something happened, she would be called in for police questioning, right?

Mo Xian smiled, but the smile immediately froze. “Will I be disturbing you?”

She was genuinely sincere.

Su Tuantuan opened the door completely, offering some space. “No, not at all. You can stay long enough for a cup of tea, and then you should leave.”

She stepped inside to change her shoes. Her round toes slipped into her slippers, and her whole foot relaxed. She looked back at Mo Xian still squatting at the door. “Why aren’t you coming in?”

Her curtains were all drawn tight; no one could secretly take pictures here.

Mo Xian bit her lip, leaning on the wall with her hand. “My legs fell asleep…”

Su Tuantuan: “…”

She helped Mo Xian into the house.

The apartment hadn’t changed much since before, but Su Tuantuan had added quite a few green plants.

There were potted snake plants and Birds of Paradise in the living room, and a Parlor Palm near the yoga mat.

Su Tuantuan helped Mo Xian onto the sofa. “Water, coffee, or tea?”

Mo Xian retracted her gaze from the plants. “Just water is fine, thank you.”

Su Tuantuan went to fetch the water. Mo Xian felt a bit awkward. “You’re quite good at taking care of plants.”

Su Tuantuan brought the water over nonchalantly. “Not really. I just think they make the place look lively. I don’t have time to water them when I’m out filming, and they die when I return, so I’m always replacing them with new ones.”

She used a glass cup for the water. “Can your phone charge wirelessly? That’s a wireless charging pad there. If you need it, go ahead and charge it.”

Just then, the doorbell rang.

“It’s probably my assistant with the groceries. Don’t worry, just stay seated.”

Su Tuantuan’s manner was entirely that of greeting a casual guest.

Mo Xian was fidgety for a moment, then decided there was nothing to be nervous about. Xiaoyu had bought a pile of things, but Su Tuantuan didn’t let her enter the house, taking the bags at the door and sending her away.

When the door closed again, Su Tuantuan turned to see Mo Xian sitting rigidly.

Her hands were even placed on her knees, afraid to move.

Was this really the same vibrant, uninhibited A-Xian from the stage?

Su Tuantuan chuckled softly. Mo Xian immediately looked over. Su Tuantuan hadn’t even turned on the TV, so she had no idea what Mo Xian had been spacing out and thinking about.

“Charge your phone first. I’m going to cook something to eat.”

The kitchen was open-concept. Su Tuantuan organized the vegetables into the fridge and decided to treat herself to some beef stew tonight.

Mo Xian wasn’t surprised that she could cook.

In the past, Su Tuantuan had sent her things like mung bean soup and tremella soup, but Mo Xian had never drunk them. She thought Su Tuantuan was trying to ingratiate herself, feeling guilty about what happened that night.

So, she had no idea about Su Tuantuan’s cooking skills.

Now that Su Tuantuan was about to cook, Mo Xian felt a sudden interest. But given their awkward relationship, if she stayed for dinner, would Su Tuantuan be willing?

Not hearing a reply from Mo Xian, Su Tuantuan, who was closing the fridge door, turned to look at her.

Mo Xian snapped back to attention. “My phone just turned on. I’ll find A-Huai once it’s charged.”

Su Tuantuan nodded and began to busy herself in the kitchen.

Su Tuantuan was quite capable in the kitchen. Even if she hadn’t made a dish before, as long as she had the ingredients and instructions, she could get it almost perfect.

She fried the tomatoes until they turned into a sauce, added tomato paste and other seasonings. She tossed the beef brisket in to stir-fry, and the tangy scent of tomatoes immediately filled the air.

Once the brisket was almost done, she added a bowl of water and covered it.

“Tomato beef stew, stir-fried heart of bok choy, and shrimp stir-fried with asparagus.”

She planned to steam pumpkin brown rice. She nodded in satisfaction at the menu. When she turned around, Mo Xian was standing right in front of the kitchen counter, startling her. “Aiya!”

The inner pot of the rice cooker in her hand almost dropped.

Mo Xian took off her hoodie, revealing her slightly messy head. Su Tuantuan then noticed she was wearing earrings—a slightly sparkly, dangling silver star.

Mo Xian sniffed, staring intently at the pot in Su Tuantuan’s hand. “Um—”

“Can I stay and eat?”