Waking Up to a Contract Marriage with the Film Queen - Chapter 15

That evening, Le Yiqiu changed into a blue floral dress, letting her hair fall loosely over her shoulders.

It was the only dress in her closet, still tucked away in its paper shopping bag with the tags attached. The date on the receipt was several years old. Having sat there unworn for so long, it was clear her “future self” hadn’t found any reason to wear it while hiding away at home.

While packing, she had decided that if she was going to the Film City, she was going to explore; work and play didn’t have to be mutually exclusive. This dress should look quite nice for a night out, she thought.

She didn’t have strong preferences for fashion—as long as it was pretty and comfortable, it worked for her. But thinking back to the hotel closet filled with plain black and white T-shirts and monotonous black trousers, she made a mental note: once she figured out online shopping, that wardrobe was getting a total overhaul.

The dress looked lovely, but she realized she didn’t have a matching bag. She ended up just carrying her phone in her hand.

Le Yiqiu stood before the full-length mirror, inspecting her reflection. This face still looked barely twenty. It was only slightly more mature than her eighteen-year-old self, not looking twenty-eight at all.

She pouted at the mirror and then laughed at her own silliness. “I’m pretty, but I look so young.”

Lin Xianing’s image floated into her mind—a face that also showed no traces of time, yet possessed a sharp, sophisticated “Alpha” energy. I wish we had met sooner, she thought wistfully.

The thought of their upcoming date sent a fresh wave of excitement through her. She couldn’t wait.

Five minutes later, Le Yiqiu arrived at Lin Xianing’s door. They stayed on different floors; the high-level suites were expansive, with only two units per floor. Lin Xianing’s neighbor was the lead actor from another production.

Actually, there was a famous residential complex nearby where many actors lived—those who worked at the Film City year-round often bought or rented apartments there because it was more comfortable than a hotel. Lin Xianing had originally rented a place there, but the landlord had sold the unit last year. Since she planned to scale back her acting work and didn’t expect to stay in the Film City long, she hadn’t bothered to find another.

Besides, staying at the hotel was actually easier for Le Yiqiu to find her. The residential area was constantly swarmed by fans and paparazzi hoping for a big scoop, making every outing a headache.

*****

Outside the door, Le Yiqiu smoothed out her dress and rang the bell. After a minute, the lock clicked open.

Lin Xianing was dressed entirely in black—black hat, black mask, and a loose black light jacket. The jacket was unzipped and the sleeves were rolled up, giving her a clean, capable look.

Le Yiqiu’s eyes lit up. Usually, whether at events or in her private life, Lin Xianing’s outfits were meticulously curated with a “superstar” flair. This was the first time Le Yiqiu had seen her in something so simple.

She didn’t notice that the moment Lin Xianing saw her dress, the actress’s pupils constricted sharply. Lin Xianing seemed to recall something, gave a self-deprecating smirk, and by the time she looked up again, her expression was calm.

“What is it? Does it look bad?” Le Yiqiu asked, worried. She thought it looked nice.

She tilted her head to see Lin Xianing’s eyes, but they were flat and indifferent, offering only a casual glance.

Lin Xianing actually thought Le Yiqiu looked beautiful in the dress—a bit like the “Pure White Lotus” first-love archetype from an idol drama, but a rare version that looked intelligent. Despite her internal thoughts, she remained silent, which made things a bit awkward for Le Yiqiu.

Le Yiqiu smiled, not letting it bother her. “Can I borrow a bag?”

Lin Xianing: “…”

Under Lin Xianing’s speechless gaze, Le Yiqiu slung a designer chain-strap bag over her shoulder. It actually matched the dress perfectly.

The two slipped quietly out of the hotel. With Lin Xianing’s current disguise, even a casual passerby wouldn’t recognize her.

Le Yiqiu hopped onto her little electric scooter, pulled up in front of Lin Xianing, and handed over the pink helmet. Lin Xianing’s hand paused as she took it; she had to fiddle with the straps for a moment to figure out how it worked. Once the helmet was on, she climbed onto the back seat.

Le Yiqiu stole a glance in the rearview mirror, a grin tugging at her lips. Red and green. A perfect match.

Her soft laughter prompted Lin Xianing to give her a light, warning pat on the waist. Le Yiqiu quickly started the motor.

The scooter accelerated a bit too sharply. She felt Lin Xianing’s head bump into her back, and a split second later, a pair of arms wrapped around her waist.

Le Yiqiu flashed a triumphant, toothy grin and sped up even more. She couldn’t see it, but behind her, Lin Xianing ducked her head awkwardly, her ears turning a soft shade of pink.

Compared to the cars passing by, the scooter was moving quite slowly. Once the speed stabilized, Lin Xianing let go.

Feeling the warmth vanish from her waist, Le Yiqiu raised an eyebrow in disappointment. She searched for a topic. “Is this your first time on an e-bike?”

Le Yiqiu had been riding herself to school since she was young; before that, her grandmother had shuttled her around. Riding was convenient, especially for getting to far-off cram schools.

Lin Xianing shook her head, then remembered Le Yiqiu couldn’t see her. “I learned how for a role once,” she said.

Le Yiqiu nodded. Acting sounds fun. You get to experience so many different lives; it wouldn’t be boring at all.

The lantern festival wasn’t far from the hotel—a mere five-minute ride. She parked the bike outside and immediately took Lin Xianing’s hand to lead her in.

Lin Xianing froze for a second at the contact but didn’t pull away.

The festival was crowded, though mostly with tourists. Actors were a rare sight; even extras, after a long day of work, would usually rather sleep than wander through a festival. They saw the Film City every day, so they could visit whenever they wanted. Of course, most found that after months on set, their actual visits to the local attractions could be counted on one hand.

Despite that, the crowd was thick. It was a major tourist destination, and the daily foot traffic was significant. It wasn’t quite shoulder-to-shoulder, but it was busy enough that you could easily lose your companion if you weren’t careful.

Le Yiqiu tightened her grip on Lin Xianing’s hand, pulling her closer.

The night market was a feast for the senses, with stalls lining both sides of the street selling food and trinkets. She led Lin Xianing to a stall covered in small plushies and masks—classic anime characters and some she didn’t recognize.

She pointed to a “No-Face” spirit mask. “Boss, how much for this?”

“Ten yuan.”

“I’ll take two.”

The festival was full of people in traditional Hanfu or cosplay; eccentric outfits were everywhere. Masks and wigs wouldn’t draw any unwanted attention. In a place like this, wearing something strange alone was embarrassing, but wearing it with a crowd made you feel bold.

After putting on her own, she reached up and slipped the other mask onto Lin Xianing’s face, right over her surgical mask. To make Lin Xianing’s disguise less obvious, Le Yiqiu had also worn a mask leaving the hotel.

With a mask over a mask, it was a bit stifling. But Le Yiqiu’s inner “chuunibyou” soul thought they looked incredibly cool.

Lin Xianing touched the mask on her face with a sense of helplessness, but she left it on. Just as her hand dropped, it was caught again. She felt the slight chill of Le Yiqiu’s fingers.

She looked down at the hand—long, slender fingers with well-defined joints—and her eyes softened. Le Yiqiu held her hand firmly in her palm, as if terrified she might wander off and get lost.

Lin Xianing tilted her head, a smile spreading across her face behind the mask. It was beautiful, but no one could see it.

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