The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration] 193

Chapter 193: There’s a Fox Here (Entertainment Circle) Part 6

After a few sunny days, it started raining again in City C.

The city was drenched, a sea of colorful umbrellas visible from high-rise buildings.

According to reliable sources, Tao Ning had been busy with work at Qingying Entertainment.

This meant she might bring the cat today.

As it neared work time, everyone had their phones ready, cameras pointed at the automatic glass doors.

Having missed the opportunity yesterday, they were determined to capture the precious moment of Tao Ning entering with a cat on her shoulder.

The photos circulating in the company group chat were all from the security cameras, not very clear.

Around 9:00 AM, the sound of hurried footsteps approached, and they instinctively started recording.

A beep, and the glass doors slid open, a male employee with a backpack and a bag of coffee entering, facing a wall of raised phones.

Employee: “Whoa, what are you doing?”

Everyone: “…”

Tsk, we thought it was Tao Laoshi, what a waste of video.

Delete, delete.

Well, the elegant and composed Tao Laoshi never ran, these clumsy footsteps couldn’t be hers.

“Oh, it’s not Tao Laoshi, good morning, go back to your desk.” Don’t block the camera!

The employee, almost late due to the crowded subway: “?”

He had thought there was a new company policy, a bonus for catching latecomers, but it seemed he was mistaken.

Scratching his head, he returned to his desk with his coffee.

Just as they were about to delete the videos, someone shouted, “She’s here, she’s here!”

They quickly switched to camera mode and started recording.

A beep, and the doors opened again, a tall woman in a light-colored trench coat and long, flowing hair entering.

A familiar bag slung over her shoulder, a canvas tote bag in her hand, she walked briskly towards her office.

Her features were elegant, her movements graceful, but unfortunately, there was no cat on her shoulder.

Disappointed, they lowered their phones, and someone posted in the group chat:

[Reporting, Tao Laoshi didn’t bring the cat today (crying)]

The group chat was filled with cries of despair, no cat (crying) +10086.

After a while, Xu Yiman, who had just made coffee for Tao Ning, posted a message.

[She did, it’s Zhi Ma Juan, it was probably sleeping in her bag, it just came out.]

She attached a photo.

The familiar figure, not wearing the bee backpack today, was standing on its hind legs, trying to bite Tao Ning’s bag strap.

The group chat exploded with excitement, So cute!, and questions: [Who’s Zhi Ma Juan?]

Xu Yiman replied: [Tao Laoshi named the kitty Zhi Ma Juan.]

In the office, Tao Ning gently pushed the cat away from her bag strap: “This isn’t tasty, chew on this instead.”

Kittens were naturally curious and liked to chew on things, so Tao Ning had brought homemade beef jerky, offering a piece to the cat.

Yu Shuangjiang the cat, tempted by the aroma, gnawed on the jerky with a resigned expression.

She really didn’t want to chew on Tao Ning’s expensive bag strap, but she couldn’t resist the urge.

Xu Yiman, looking for an opportunity to take a photo, suddenly heard a familiar voice: “Yiman, remember to close the door when you leave, don’t let the cat out.”

She instinctively hid her phone, realizing the cat wasn’t wearing a harness or leash: “Okay.”

Yu Shuangjiang the cat, pretending to enjoy the beef jerky, paused, thinking, Damn it, another opportunity missed.

She hadn’t realized Tao Ning was so cautious, always locking the doors and windows.

Tao Ning, who had been observing her, noticed the subtle pause, but didn’t say anything, continuing to work.

That morning, they had a battle of wills over the harness, Yu Shuangjiang refusing to wear it.

Finally, exasperated, she had jumped into Tao Ning’s bag, and Tao Ning, looking inside, saw a fluffy back turned towards her.

Tao Ning, her hand itching to pet it, poked the cat: “You want to stay in there? Fine.”

With the cat occupying the space usually reserved for her lunchbox, Tao Ning had to use another bag.

It seemed the cat wanted to escape.

Under Tao Ning’s watchful eye, Yu Shuangjiang the cat couldn’t leave the office, even if she memorized the door code.

Just as she was about to give up, Tao Ning, finishing some work, put down her coffee cup and saw Yu Shuangjiang sitting in a corner, staring at the door.

The clinking of the cup startled Yu Shuangjiang, her ears twitching, but she didn’t move.

Hearing Tao Ning stand up and walk towards the door, she finally looked up.

From this angle, if her bone structure wasn’t perfect, it would have been an unflattering view, but Tao Ning was flawless.

Tao Ning patted her head, asking gently, “Are you bored? Want to go for a walk?”

Sometimes, Yu Shuangjiang wondered if Tao Ning, if she weren’t a screenwriter, could be an actress, even a flower vase, she would still be successful in the entertainment industry.

After all, looks mattered, and fans would adore her unconditionally.

Yu Shuangjiang also had many fans, but her acting skills were also recognized.

Yu Shuangjiang, lost in thought, didn’t respond, and Tao Ning, assuming she agreed, put her in another bag.

It was a spare bag she kept in the office, small but useful.

Yu Shuangjiang the cat poked her head out, her chin resting on the edge of the bag, continuing to contemplate life, her green eyes filled with melancholy.

The staff in the office area were having their afternoon tea, sharing fruits and cakes.

They hadn’t expected to see the cat today, as Tao Ning hadn’t even left her office for lunch, but as they were enjoying their tea, she suddenly emerged.

Someone saw her and offered, “Tao Laoshi, want some? We have fruit and milk tea.”

Another held up a cup of milk tea: “This is low-sugar, do you want some?”

Despite her picky nature, Tao Ning occasionally joined them for afternoon tea, just eating less if she didn’t like the food, never criticizing anyone outside of work.

A fox spirit with years of experience in the human world wouldn’t be so rude, she wouldn’t have survived for over a century otherwise.

In their eyes, she was just a perfectionist, keeping her distance.

Tao Ning, unable to refuse their kindness, took the milk tea, thanking them softly.

They turned to look, their gazes falling on the bag slung over her shoulder, a fluffy cat head peeking out.

Perhaps because of its position, the cat looked sleepy and slightly sad, both adorable and pitiful.

Her escape plans had failed repeatedly, Tao Ning always seeming to anticipate her every move.

“Ah, it’s Zhi Ma Juan!” An employee quickly took out her phone. “Tao Laoshi, can I take a picture?”

Tao Ning instinctively looked down at the cat, about to refuse, when Yu Shuangjiang, ever the professional, adjusted her pose for the camera.

Even as a cat, she wouldn’t allow any unflattering photos!

Tao Ning swallowed her words: “…Sure.”

Somehow, Tao Ning ended up sitting there, sipping her milk tea, while Yu Shuangjiang the cat, now out of the bag, was surrounded by people taking photos.

Zhi Ma Juan the cat, three months old.

A pre-debut star with countless fan photos and enthusiastic supporters, her every move eliciting squeals of delight.

But Yu Shuangjiang was used to this, having experienced fame and adoration.

A kind employee offered, “Freeze-dried treats?”

Yu Shuangjiang the cat, without even sniffing, turned her head away, a silent refusal.

They found this even more adorable, taking more photos.

Tao Ning, sitting with her back to the glass doors, suddenly heard a beep and turned around.

A young woman with a staff ID card was entering, carrying a large bouquet of sunflowers and lisianthus, the petals vibrant and dewy, the colors warm and cheerful.

Passing by Tao Ning, she accidentally dropped something, a card landing at Tao Ning’s feet.

Tao Ning glanced at it, then picked it up, calling out to the young woman, “Xiao Li, you dropped your card.”

Xiao Li turned around, realizing the card was indeed missing: “Oh, thank you, Tao Laoshi.”

Tao Ning suddenly asked, “Such a large bouquet, where are you going?”

Assuming they were all colleagues, Xiao Li replied without hesitation, “Yu Laoshi from Yiwen Entertainment is hospitalized, she worked with our company before, so they asked me to deliver these flowers.”

Then she realized she was talking to Tao Ning, whose social media accounts were constantly bombarded with hate from Yu Shuangjiang’s fans.

Xiao Li: “…” I’m screwed.

Deceived by Tao Ning’s gentle demeanor, she had forgotten their rivalry.

Fortunately, Tao Ning didn’t comment, and Xiao Li breathed a sigh of relief, then realized that even she, a lowly employee, knew about this, Tao Ning must have known as well.

Qingying Entertainment had produced many successful films and dramas, known for their high-quality productions, having worked with countless actors and actresses.

Collaborating with Yu Shuangjiang wasn’t unusual, and only Tao Ning seemed to have a problem with her, who would refuse to work with a good production team?

And Tao Ning wasn’t powerful enough to represent the entire company’s opinion.

Xiao Li clutched the bouquet tighter: “It’s almost time, I have to go to the hospital now, Tao Laoshi, I’ll be going then.”

“Wait.” Tao Ning, however, stopped her, placing her hand on the table and standing up. “You’ll need help carrying those, I’ll go with you.”

Xiao Li instinctively wanted to refuse: “No, it’s okay…”

Tao Ning: “It’s rush hour, it’ll be difficult to get a taxi, I can drive.”

“…” Unable to resist the offer, Xiao Li nodded, “Then thank you, Tao Laoshi.”

To Xiao Li’s surprise, entrusted with this important task, carrying fruits and flowers to visit Yu Shuangjiang, she found herself in the back seat of Tao Ning’s car.

She wasn’t in the passenger seat because a cat was perched there.

A fluffy calico with bright, clear eyes, clearly well-cared for.

The cat was standing on its hind legs, looking out the window, its tail twitching slightly, seemingly unafraid and curious about the outside world.

This was a stroke of luck, she had been wondering how to find her own body, and now she was on her way to the hospital.

Waiting at a red light, Tao Ning, her hand on the steering wheel, turned to look at the excited Yu Shuangjiang the cat.

She hadn’t missed the subtle awkwardness in Xiao Li’s expression when asked about Yu Shuangjiang.

Many people knew that Yu Shuangjiang wasn’t classically trained, surprised by her acting skills, finding it hard to believe the young actress discovered by fans was the same person.

Because her acting back then was vastly different from now, her eyes clear but empty, her lines well-delivered, but her acting just adequate.

Yu Shuangjiang had become famous at nineteen, her popularity sudden and unexpected.

In her debut film, she played a pure and determined young girl, her performance fresh and captivating.

The film received several award nominations, including Best Actress for Yu Shuangjiang, and she became a hot topic, her popularity soaring.

Everyone thought she would win, but she lost to a veteran actress, only receiving a nomination.

Despite not winning any awards, it was still a good start for the university student.

But unexpectedly, her subsequent works paled in comparison to her debut.

From highly anticipated to disappointing, the contrast was stark, and many said she had peaked too early, unable to replicate her initial success.

Gradually, she transitioned to television dramas.

Initially, she tried to imitate her previous style, but the results were unsatisfactory, her emotions either exaggerated or inconsistent.

Lacking experience, and not classically trained, she often sought the director’s guidance.

The directors, knowing she was a popular actress, transitioning from film to television, guaranteed high ratings, didn’t bother with details.

They would always tell her, “It’s perfect, one take.”

But television dramas were for the public, and using Yu Shuangjiang’s name for promotion, it did attract a large audience.

But her popularity was accompanied by criticism, her acting skills questioned.

After the drama aired, she went from a promising young actress to a popular star whose fans desperately tried to defend her.

“Popular” wasn’t a derogatory term, but her fans, disappointed by her declining performance, started leaving.

Yu Shuangjiang saw all this, realizing she couldn’t change.

Trapped and disheartened, her manager came to her, telling her she had signed a new script, urging her to prepare for filming.

Her next drama was even worse than the previous one, a flop, in industry terms.

So she requested an acting coach, to improve her skills, but her manager refused, not even bothering to mention it to the company.

Instead, she was given another script, told to sign it and prepare for filming, the company unhappy with her current state.

Yu Shuangjiang, young and proud, refused to sign, and her manager left, angered.

She was then frozen by the company for over six months, almost a year without any work.

Later, she realized she had become too reliant on the director’s guidance, her confidence eroded by the criticism.

Her talent allowed her to deliver powerful moments, but she couldn’t maintain it throughout an entire project, and with her declining popularity, she began to doubt herself.

She was only twenty-three, her debut film at eighteen now an unreachable peak.

After a year without work, in the fast-paced entertainment industry, she was almost forgotten.

Her anti-fans, initially celebrating, now found it a waste of time to even criticize her, she was irrelevant.

Just as she was questioning her career choices, her manager announced they were terminating their contract.

Even her manager abandoned her.

Everything pointed towards her downfall.

Seven days later, her new manager came to her, holding a script and a business card.

She was given two choices: take the role, or take a break.

Yu Shuangjiang, however, chose both.

So she returned to acting, with an acting coach.

Months later, she finished filming, her low profile and dwindling fanbase making it a quiet event.

But the promotional clips looked promising, attracting some attention, after all, she was the star of Homecoming.

But resentment always lasted longer than love, perhaps you wouldn’t remember who you liked, but you would definitely remember who you disliked.

So, her anti-fans returned, mocking her comeback, reminding everyone of the Best Actress award she had lost.

It was during this time that the original host, Tao Ning, was promoting her new film, attending interviews with the cast.

This promotional tour was also a way to advertise Tao Ning’s new script, and the director and actors were all interviewed, Tao Ning, sitting quietly to the side, not spared either.

Someone brought up Yu Shuangjiang: “Tao Laoshi, everyone says the protagonist of your new script is a young girl, which reminds us of Yu Shuangjiang in Homecoming, she’s very good at portraying young girls, and everyone is hoping she’ll be cast in your new project, what are your thoughts?”

And that’s when she said, “Thank you for the question, but Yu Shuangjiang might not be suitable for this role, she’s a bit of a flower vase.”

The car arrived at the hospital, parking in the garage.

Tao Ning unbuckled her seatbelt, got out, and opened the passenger door for Yu Shuangjiang.

Unexpectedly, Yu Shuangjiang, with the help of an acting coach, had improved significantly, her performance much better than in her previous two projects.

Although not yet reaching her initial peak, the progress was undeniable, her reputation recovering.

She then collaborated with Qingying Entertainment, playing a supporting role, not concerned about the ranking, as long as the role was suitable.

Last year, she won the Best Actress award for a television drama, a complete turnaround, finally shedding the “flower vase” label.

She didn’t win a film award, but a television award.

The tables had turned, and now it was Tao Ning who was criticized, accused of being blind to talent.

When Yu Shuangjiang’s fans arrived at the battlefield, they found Tao Ning’s social media already bustling with activity, filled with allies.

Even Yu Shuangjiang’s anti-fans were now criticizing Tao Ning for her earlier comments.

Tao Ning had criticized many actors and actresses over the years, her comments always sharp and to the point, but only Yu Shuangjiang had managed to prove her wrong.

But with Tao Ning’s numerous awards and undeniable talent, such criticisms were ineffective, her sharp tongue backed by real skill.

Tao Ning opened the passenger door.

Finally able to see her own body, Yu Shuangjiang quickly climbed into the bag, carefully hiding her tail, only her bright green eyes visible.

Don’t worry, I won’t reveal my tail!