Transmigrated Into the Stand-In of the Tragic Novel’s Heroine - Chapter 25.1

With Miss Chang taking on the role of the driver, Xie Qingtang was naturally happy to relax. She tossed the keys to Chang Yishao and waited for her to drive the car out of the garage, while Xie Qingtang lingered in the house for a moment.

However, since she was leaving early, Xie Qingtang felt she should bid farewell to Elder Qi before departing.

The old man wasn’t busy in the kiln. He was rolling a cigarette, casually sitting on the doorstep. When he saw Xie Qingtang approach, he exhaled a puff of smoke.

“Little Shao’er used to come here often, but she hasn’t touched the clay in a long time, so she’s a bit rusty,” he squinted, looking up at Xie Qingtang with a smile. “I heard you two had a little competition. You two should be about even, right? I’m telling you, don’t underestimate Little Shao’er; that girl knows a lot of things.”

Xie Qingtang looked at Qi Wang in surprise.

Qi Wang waved his hand and continued, “Qi Yu said you’re living with Little Shao’er? She must be waiting for you, right? Hurry on back.”

Xie Qingtang: “…” She was chased out by Elder Qi without saying a single word.

The people filming the show at the base had not yet finished their work. Besides He Yanjin, there were other celebrities among the guests. As a result, there were paparazzi or fans staking out the vicinity.

When Xie Qingtang emerged, it was dusk. The sunset’s glow on her seemed to cast a layer of gold. She heard the sound of a camera shutter and looked back toward the source of the noise. To her surprise, the person holding the SLR camera didn’t run away in fear. Instead, they took advantage of her momentary glance to capture another image.

The feeling of being pursued was not unfamiliar to Xie Qingtang, but she was no longer in that line of work. Her brow furrowed slightly. Faced with the choice between asking the person to delete the photo and not keeping Chang Yishao waiting, she decisively chose the latter.

The car was parked by the roadside, with the window lowered, offering a clear view of Chang Yishao’s clean profile. Xie Qingtang efficiently opened the car door, ignoring the person secretly taking pictures behind her.

Chang Yishao didn’t speak until Xie Qingtang got into the car. Her fingers rested on the steering wheel, tapping rhythmically. After a moment, she turned her head, glanced at Xie Qingtang buckling her seatbelt, and said gently, “The fridge at home is out of groceries. Let’s go to the supermarket.”

“Huh?” Counting it up, Xie Qingtang had been so comfortably served by Chang Yishao, this “boss,” that she was completely unaware of the fridge’s contents. She paused for a moment and replied, “Okay.” Chang Yishao probably didn’t ask what she wanted to eat because she had heard the word “whatever” too many times, so she decided to make the choice herself.

The sky wasn’t completely dark when they drove home. Chang Yishao went to park the car, while Xie Qingtang waited idly outside the residential area. More pedestrians were coming and going at this hour, mostly people returning home from work, washing away their fatigue. Their faces crisscrossed in Xie Qingtang’s sight, outlining a panorama of everyday life.

It seemed like a very long time since she had stopped to observe the simple moments of human life.

“Sorry, did you wait long?” A soft voice drifted into her ears—that familiar, gentle tone. Xie Qingtang turned around, her eyes still holding a trace of confusion and sentiment. After a good while, she curved her lips into a smile and replied, “Didn’t wait long.” Parking the car was done in the blink of an eye.

“You have something on your mind.” Chang Yishao’s tone was mild, yet her words struck directly at Xie Qingtang’s heart.

Xie Qingtang turned to look at her, murmuring to herself that Chang Yishao’s ability to read people was excellent. She did have something on her mind, but it was hardly a worry. Everything of the past had turned into smoke, and here she was, standing firmly on the ground, truly feeling the vitality of the world. She was no longer anyone else, just herself. This thought made her feel relieved yet also a little melancholy. “No,” she shook her head, avoiding Chang Yishao’s probing gaze, and answered softly.

Chang Yishao scrutinized Xie Qingtang for a long time before withdrawing her gaze. She simply “hmm’ed,” not pressing Xie Qingtang further about her inner thoughts.

Although the sky hadn’t fully darkened, the supermarket lights were already on. Xie Qingtang rented a small shopping cart with a one-yuan coin and followed behind Chang Yishao, looking left and right. Compared to Xie Qingtang, who wanted to put everything into the cart, Chang Yishao’s goal was very clear: heading straight for the poultry and meat section. However, after only a few steps, she realized Xie Qingtang hadn’t kept up. She turned to look back at Xie Qingtang, who was paused in front of a shelf, and smiled helplessly. She slowly backed up until she was parallel with Xie Qingtang, resting her hand on the shopping cart.

“What do you want?” Chang Yishao’s eyes held a sparkling hint of a smile.

“I want everything,” Xie Qingtang wrinkled her brow, being completely honest. Would a CEO type ever charter an entire supermarket for her? No, probably not. Her hand fell back onto the shopping cart, not noticing that Chang Yishao’s hand was already resting on top of it. The touch was warm and soft. Xie Qingtang froze for a moment, then withdrew her hand as if shocked by electricity. “Sorry,” Xie Qingtang apologized.

She heard an extremely light sigh next to her ear. Turning to look at Chang Yishao, she saw that her expression was calm and unchanged, like an ancient well untouched by the wind. Perhaps that sigh was an illusion, Xie Qingtang mused.

She wanted to see everything, but she actually didn’t know what she wanted, so she simply cast aside those thoughts, loosely resting her hand on the shopping cart, allowing Chang Yishao to make the choices.

She truly hated these household chores. Did Chang Yishao also take care of everything when she was with He Yanjin? Did she also accompany her to the supermarket to pick out groceries, just like an ordinary couple? Xie Qingtang’s thoughts wandered elsewhere. Until her wrist was lightly encircled.

“Watch where you’re going,” Chang Yishao’s voice was full of helplessness. She hadn’t expected Xie Qingtang to be spacing out even now. Fortunately, she hadn’t completely entrusted the shopping cart to her, or who knows what kind of scene she might have caused in the supermarket? Meeting Xie Qingtang’s bewildered gaze, she reached out to smooth her hair and pointed toward the beef section ahead, “You go pick.”

Xie Qingtang: “…” If she had known she would be the one picking the groceries later, she definitely wouldn’t have zoned out while pushing the cart.

Chang Yishao didn’t actually like going to the supermarket, usually just tapping on a shopping app. But once she was here, she naturally wanted to buy everything they needed. By the time they left the supermarket, she was holding two large, full bags—groceries, and the snacks Xie Qingtang had secretly slipped in.

“I’ll carry them!” At this point, Xie Qingtang volunteered to take the bags. She had to fulfill her role as a “girlfriend” somehow. The evening breeze felt less hot and more crisp and refreshing than during the day. Xie Qingtang looked content, clearly enjoying the accompanied walk home.

Chang Yishao occasionally turned to look at her, and ripples stirred in her heart.

Even during the most intimate phase with He Yanjin, they had never shared such a moment. He Yanjin’s family background wasn’t good, but unlike people with similar backgrounds, she lived like a spoiled rich girl, waiting for others to serve her in everything.

She desperately wanted to succeed and wash away the “humiliation” brought by her background, and now, perhaps, she had done it.

The supermarket was right outside the residential area, and the walk home took less than ten minutes.

Chang Yishao’s cooking was as excellent as ever. Even after a month, Xie Qingtang still wanted to sigh in front of her that staying at the school was probably a waste of her talent.

Dinner left her feeling a bit stuffed, but Xie Qingtang had no intention of moving to digest it. She lay sprawled on the sofa playing a game until she got bored, and then she looked up at Chang Yishao, who had taken off her apron and was walking toward the sofa.

She leaned forward, supporting her chin with both hands, and asked curiously, “Were you like this before?”

Chang Yishao paused for a moment. She shook her head and said, “No.”

Xie Qingtang made a “tsk” sound, not quite believing Chang Yishao’s words. Her relationship with He Yanjin was so close; given her personality, wouldn’t she treat He Yanjin like a deity and serve her comfortably? Her thoughts drifted for a moment, then settled back on the quiet Chang Yishao.

She recalled the undecided “competition” at the Pingyao kiln.

“You said we’d talk at home. Now’s the time,” Xie Qingtang tilted her head, her smile gentle.

Chang Yishao was startled. After recalling her own words, she smiled wryly. She sat down opposite Xie Qingtang and said, “I used to go there often. Elder Qi taught me a lot of things.” There were many ways to relax. Besides the heart-pounding, adrenaline-pumping rush of extreme sports, there was also the peace hidden in long stretches of time. “I’ve been interested in these things since I was a child. Elder Qi saw that Qi Yu was completely dedicated to painting and couldn’t do anything about it. So, he taught me like a disciple, but—”

“But what?” Chang Yishao’s tone abruptly shifted. Her words suddenly stopped, but Xie Qingtang, now intrigued, eagerly pressed for an answer.

“But I only went occasionally. I couldn’t possibly be Elder Qi’s apprentice. I didn’t learn much, and what I made wasn’t very presentable,” Chang Yishao chuckled lightly. But a moment later, perhaps remembering something, the smile on her face gradually faded. Xie Qingtang noticed the change in her mood and thought Chang Yishao was feeling regretful about not inheriting the old man’s craft. She quietly moved to Chang Yishao’s side and gently patted her back as a gesture of comfort.

Chang Yishao glanced at Xie Qingtang. She was actually startled by her sudden movement, but she suppressed that emotion and didn’t show it on her face. After a long period of getting along, she had grown accustomed to Xie Qingtang’s presence and closeness.

“Actually, I haven’t been there for many years. It was lucky that the clay didn’t fly out of my hands today,” Chang Yishao added.

“Huh?” Xie Qingtang looked at Chang Yishao confusedly, “Did your parents not allow you to go?” That made sense; what kind of image was it for a rich young lady to constantly deal with mud?

“How could that be?” Chang Yishao smiled helplessly. She looked at Xie Qingtang’s serious expression and couldn’t help but say, “You seem to have a prejudice against me and my family?”

Xie Qingtang: “…” She had been found out. She had met many strange people in various small worlds. Chang Yishao’s behavior and words temporarily placed her in the “strange” category, so she naturally wouldn’t judge her by other standards. If every mistaken judgment warranted a slap, her face would be swollen like a bun by now.

“I apologize,” Xie Qingtang said sincerely.

She knew she was wrong—she would probably be able to correct it, right?

Chang Yishao continued with her previous topic. She said, “It was He Yanjin.”

This answer was unexpected yet logical. But why was He Yanjin so nosy? Was she treating Chang Yishao like a daughter to supervise? Xie Qingtang was deeply perplexed. “She said no, so you didn’t go?” Rationally, Xie Qingtang knew she shouldn’t pry into the relationship between Chang Yishao and He Yanjin, but she couldn’t suppress the sudden curiosity and a subtle, almost “disappointed in you” kind of irritation.

“Mhm.” Chang Yishao’s gaze softened as she lowered her eyes, confirming Xie Qingtang’s guess. “She didn’t want to, so I didn’t go.”

“You listened to everything she said? Didn’t you have your own opinion?” Xie Qingtang frowned. She had seen people like this, who were heavily gaslighted and ended up with nothing. To stand in the world, one must first value the “self.” If one didn’t even have a “self,” how could one care for “others”?

After she spoke these words, Chang Yishao remained silent for a long time. Xie Qingtang also regretted her impulsiveness. She shouldn’t have asked. Did Chang Yishao seem like someone without her own opinions? Would someone without her own opinions find a “substitute”? Would Qi Yu’s evaluation of her be the same? Or had Chang Yishao suddenly awakened after breaking up with the “scumbag”? Xie Qingtang’s brows furrowed tightly.

Chang Yishao’s voice was very soft, like paper blown by the wind: “I just thought it was pointless.” What did she want to know? What did He Yanjin truly desire? She didn’t understand how to define “loving” a person. He Yanjin in a hysterical state was irrational. She wanted to avoid unnecessary arguments—later, she understood. But she continued to indulge He Yanjin, letting her vent her desires freely, coldly watching her step by step into the abyss, never to return.

“I am not a perfect partner,” Chang Yishao whispered.

Xie Qingtang nodded in agreement and replied, “You certainly are not.” She even thought Chang Yishao wasn’t quite a normal person.

“Then what do you think a perfect partner should be like?” Chang Yishao suddenly asked.

Xie Qingtang: “…” She hadn’t experienced it, so how could she know? Combining the stories of love and hate she had seen, she pondered, “The ordinary moments of life at dusk, a light in the night.” She paused, then added, “And a kiss in the morning.”

Chang Yishao looked thoughtful. After a moment, she said, “Then all we’re missing is a good morning kiss, right?”

Xie Qingtang was stunned by Chang Yishao’s way of thinking, completely unprepared for her thoughts to be even more erratic than her own, suddenly looping back to herself. They were talking about “partners,” and she, the fake partner, was considered a partner, right? Moreover, judging by their way of life, it actually aligned quite well with what she had just said—it formed a strange kind of “logic.”

“Teacher Chang, you can’t do that,” Xie Qingtang said seriously. “That’s flirting. It’s not in our contract. If you want to add a clause, it would need extra—no, extra money won’t do either.”

Chang Yishao’s eyes curved into crescent moons at her words, and she laughed, “I was just making an example, you don’t need to get so flustered.”

Xie Qingtang: “…” Was this reasonable?

The conversation about “dating” abruptly ended. Chang Yishao seemed to have no desire to continue talking and got up to go to her room to shower. Xie Qingtang watched her, only withdrawing her gaze after her figure disappeared behind the off-white door. Work hours were over, and she needed to find something to relax.

The game couldn’t provide her with pleasure for the moment. After thinking it over, Xie Qingtang opened the “Maya Platform,” not as a streamer, but as a “viewer.” She quickly scrolled through the recommended short videos one after another. Suddenly, her finger slipped across the smooth screen, and then she quickly pulled it back, as if rewinding time.

The video wasn’t very clear and looked like a compressed “re-upload.” The person who uploaded it was an uploader with quite a few followers, and they had attached a link to the source in the content description. Xie Qingtang didn’t click on it, but her eyes were fixed on the short video that was playing again—she was certain it had leaked from the Pingyao kiln. Whether it was shot by a student, a teacher, or a staff member was uncertain.

The time frame was during her throwing competition with Chang Yishao, but the only person in it was herself. The short video, which was less than a minute long, already had tens of thousands of views. If it were only that, Xie Qingtang wouldn’t have cared. What made her feel absurd was the comments section, where He Yanjin’s fans—started by an unknown person—began to heap praise on the figure whose face was only three parts blurry.

Did they really not even recognize the person they liked?

Although Xie Qingtang had never been a celebrity fan, she knew the “domineering” and intimate phrases like “I would recognize them even if they turned into ash” that some fans used. Looking at the comments below, she felt ridiculous and laughable. Was this the main reason the Bureau threw her into this world? The whole world seemed slightly off-kilter.

—Is this behind-the-scenes footage? This is great! When is the full episode of Jie Jie‘s reality show coming out?

—Why is she the only one? Where are the others?

—Jie Jie can compose, write lyrics, and sing, and now she can even mold ceramic bowls! So amazing! Heart-eyes.

—Dare I say, doesn’t she look a little different? She wasn’t wearing this outfit in the other behind-the-scenes clip!

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