The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration] 212

Chapter 212: There’s a Fox Here (Entertainment Circle) Part 25

After a short break, work called Yu Shuangjiang back to City C.

Both she and Tao Ning were busy, losing track of time as they immersed themselves in their work, summer’s lush greenery turning to autumn’s golden hues, then winter’s snowy landscape.

On the first day of snowfall, it was also the day of the film’s preview screening, attended by media and fans.

They sat quietly, whispering among themselves, the theater dimly lit, most of the light focused on the empty space before the screen.

After a while, the door opened, a commotion outside.

The fans turned their heads, looking towards the entrance expectantly.

But it was just the host, holding a microphone, smiling politely as she carefully descended the stairs.

Yu Shuangjiang stood at the entrance, the others already inside, she hesitated.

She had experienced this many times, but she was still nervous, especially this time.

Her heart pounding, she took a deep breath, but it didn’t help.

Tao Ning, sensing her anxiety, walked over and gently nudged her: “Go on, see your work on the big screen.”

Her familiar voice gave Yu Shuangjiang courage, and composing herself, she opened the door.

A familiar figure entered, and a voice from inside the dimly lit theater, filled with chatter: “She’s here.”

Like ripples in a pond, the words spread, and everyone turned towards the entrance.

“Xiao Yu is here.”

“Where? I don’t… Oh, I see her.”

“She’s so thin, has she lost weight?”

Many, their view blocked, craned their necks, trying to see, looking towards the stairs, then the entrance.

No one stood up, they remained seated, their excitement barely contained, their gazes fixed on the entrance.

Yu Shuangjiang, dressed casually, entered, quietly greeting those nearby.

“Good afternoon, Xiao Yu.”

“Xiao Yu” was an affectionate nickname given by her fans, used since her debut, she liked it, it felt like a greeting from a friend.

Yu Shuangjiang: “Hey, good afternoon.”

The carpet on the stairs was slightly rumpled, and she stumbled as she descended.

A nearby fan reached out instinctively.

But someone was faster, a hand reaching out from behind, steadying her, and Yu Shuangjiang leaned against Tao Ning for a moment before straightening up, smoothing the rumpled carpet with her foot.

A soft voice: “Are you okay?”

Yu Shuangjiang shook her head, smiling reassuringly at the fan: “I’m fine.”

Then they noticed the person behind her wasn’t her assistant or a colleague, but someone familiar, they just couldn’t remember the name.

More gazes turned towards them, and the figure, initially facing away, turned slightly.

A single glance, captivating.

A slender neck, a gray turtleneck sweater beneath a coat, simple yet elegant.

Her glasses shielded her eyes, her nose straight, her gaze aloof, a stark contrast to her earlier attentiveness.

If it weren’t for the small incident on the stairs, anyone would think she was unapproachable, her appearance gentle, yet distant.

They walked down the stairs and sat in the designated seats.

After a while, someone finally remembered: “Wasn’t that Tao Ning?”

“Huh? Really? It was dark, I didn’t see clearly.”

“Glasses, attending a preview screening, it must be her.”

“She’s so tall and fair, like a model…”

Yu Shuangjiang’s fans had complicated feelings towards Tao Ning, unsure how to categorize her.

Before coming here, they had agreed to remain calm, no matter what Tao Ning said, no drama.

Yu Shuangjiang, having been supported by Tao Ning during her slump, then publicly criticized by her, the unedited interview adding fuel to the fire,

Was now the lead actress in Tao Ning’s new film, Tao Ning even claiming no one was more suitable, paving the way for her return to the big screen.

It had come full circle.

Yu Shuangjiang had repeatedly mentioned the director and screenwriter’s trust in her, having learned a lot from them.

But her fans had never seen them interact in private, let alone at a public event.

Even the behind-the-scenes footage only showed Yu Shuangjiang, the busy staff doing her makeup, and a closed laptop randomly appearing beside her.

They couldn’t tell if it was genuine appreciation or just polite PR, their anxieties known only to themselves.

Now, they were slightly reassured, Tao Ning, although quiet, seemed to care.

A fan’s desires were simple and pure, as long as their idol was happy, they were happy.

Someone found Tao Ning’s Weibo, comparing her photos to the person they had just seen.

A few years ago, Tao Ning had often given interviews, promoting her films and upcoming projects.

Like a peacock, her sharp tongue and undeniable talent attracting both praise and criticism.

But recently, she had become more reclusive, no longer posting her usual philosophical musings, her account almost inactive.

Her posts, now mostly film promotions, filled with images of Lin Xin, the protagonist of her new film.

If you didn’t know better, you would think it was a fan account, but it was indeed Tao Ning’s.

This, however, had lessened their anti-fan efforts.

Yu Shuangjiang’s agency was mid-sized, initially struggling, even weaker than Jiang Li Entertainment, now slightly better.

Their CEO was cautious and supportive of Yu Shuangjiang, but also believed in letting time resolve everything, a passive approach.

And with Yu Shuangjiang’s tendency to attract drama, even a trivial matter like her preference for sweet or savory tofu pudding could become a trending topic.

Yiwen Entertainment was often caught in the crossfire, surviving only because of Yu Shuangjiang’s resilience, her acting skills and popularity her shield.

So, in her fans’ eyes, Tao Ning’s seemingly promotional Weibo posts were more effective than their own company’s slow and passive approach, by the time the company reacted, Yu Shuangjiang’s social media would be flooded with hate.

Those who wanted to criticize her didn’t care about her achievements, even breathing was a mistake, and the closer the film’s release date, the more intense the attacks became.

Many predicted her failure, claiming her talent was wasted, even comparing her current performance to her debut film.

Praising her nineteen-year-old self while criticizing her current self.

They didn’t compare her to her peers, as none were on her level, and comparing her to veteran actors would only elevate her status.

While she had won a Best Actress award for television, it didn’t guarantee success in film, the requirements different, she might not be able to adapt.

Many actors, transitioning to film, had exposed their weaknesses, their careers ruined.

Tao Ning’s Weibo posts, however, were a powerful weapon against the haters, a single screenshot enough to silence them, even those misled by the marketing accounts, they couldn’t doubt Tao Ning’s judgment.

If they had doubts, they were welcome to judge Yu Shuangjiang’s performance after the film’s release, to see if she had surpassed her nineteen-year-old self.

The fans, however, were used to this, every new drama or film brought a wave of criticism, it was nothing new.

Yiwen Entertainment had also become accustomed to it, after all, which entertainment company wasn’t criticized?

It was just words, they didn’t care.

This attitude was jokingly called “confirmed cockroach personality” by their fans.

They scrolled through Tao Ning’s Weibo, finding her photos and comparing them to the person they had just seen.

“She doesn’t look like her interview photos, she’s much prettier in person, is she not photogenic?”

The Tao Ning in the photos didn’t seem as aloof, she rarely looked so casual and relaxed.

But the person they had just seen…

“Perhaps she’s changed, people change as they grow older.”

“How old is Tao Ning? It doesn’t say online, she looks about the same age as Xiao Yu.”

“Probably a few years older, she was already famous when Xiao Yu debuted.”

“Doesn’t she have a strong ‘older sister’ vibe?”

This was unanimously agreed upon, one of the reasons they hadn’t recognized her immediately.

After the introductions and other formalities, the screen finally lit up, and the movie began.

Even the fans felt a bit nervous, not because they doubted Yu Shuangjiang’s abilities, but because of the unknown.

And it had been nine years since her last film, everyone was curious about her performance.

After the opening credits, the story began.

Judging by the dark and somber poster, it seemed to be a suspense thriller.

But the opening scene, bright and cheerful, surprised them.

On a sunny afternoon, an ordinary office worker resigned.

Her boss, unfazed, even tried to dissuade her: “You know the current situation, we had to lay off some employees, and you all agreed to a pay cut, why are you resigning now?”

Lin Xin: “No, it’s not because of that, I have something more important to do.”

With that, ignoring her boss’s protests, she left.

Her boss, surprised: “What could be more important? You’ll be begging me for your job back one day.”

Lin Xin, ignoring him, walked out.

She was the most ordinary, yet also the most hardworking employee, having taken the biggest pay cut, but unlike the others, she hadn’t complained, silently signing the new contract.

Everyone knew Lin Xin was unambitious, willing to do any task, never complaining.

And now, this seemingly complacent person had suddenly resigned.

Lin Xin walked away, not looking back: “I quit.”

The office, silent for a moment, then erupted in chatter.

Meanwhile, the security guard at the entrance was watching the news while eating his lunch.

A news report about a female corpse found in the city’s red-light district, suspected alcohol poisoning, her body discovered in an alley by a sanitation worker.

A photo of her student ID was shown, her surname Liu.

The guard, taking a bite of his chicken leg, shook his head: “What a shame… Xiao Lin, going out today?”

Lin Xin, carrying a tote bag, glanced at the TV screen as she passed by the guardhouse.

Her eyes, behind her glasses, narrowed slightly, seemingly focused on the news report, then she looked away and left on her scooter.

The guard, not receiving a reply, scratched his head and continued watching the news.

He looked at the photo again, the young woman’s face familiar, a bright and cheerful student, but he couldn’t remember where he had seen her before.

The scene changed, and Lin Xin, back at her apartment, immediately contacted her landlord, then moved to a place near the red-light district.

As night fell, she went to a bar, applying for a job, initially rejected by the owner, but after removing her glasses, her beauty revealed in the dim light,

The owner, unable to resist her pleas, hired her.

Lin Xin had told her she was kicked out by her family, penniless and homeless, having heard that working here paid well.

She was a diligent worker, but the owner found it strange that she often went out after work.

Exhausted after a long shift, everyone else wanted to sleep, but she would still go out, and the owner, assuming she had a boyfriend, warned her not to be too generous, men were all the same.

Lin Xin, cleaning her fingernails, paused, discarding a seemingly bloodstained toothpick, and nodded: “I know.”

A while later, two customers arrived, described by the bartenders as wealthy young men, frequent visitors, big spenders.

After a night of revelry, they went to the restroom and never returned, then someone received a message from them, saying they had found something more interesting and left.

Lin Xin also disappeared.

The owner, sensing something was wrong, searched everywhere, then suddenly, as if realizing something, ordered everyone to stop.

A worried colleague, afraid of getting into trouble, secretly called the police.

The truth was revealed when the two young men woke up, splashed with cold water, their hazy vision seeing a familiar face, startling them awake.

But it was just the waitress who had served them earlier.

They claimed they had seen Liu at a party, invited her to their private room, offered her a drink, which she accepted, then they let her go.

One of them even said, “Knowing she was allergic to alcohol, why would she even come to a bar?”

The other, more composed, argued, “We didn’t do anything to her, she drank it willingly, what evidence do you have? The autopsy report clearly states she died from alcohol poisoning, she drank a whole glass herself, we didn’t even touch her!”

Lin Xin’s voice was cold: “She wasn’t here for fun, she was here to pick someone up, and you didn’t let her leave, you watched as she died and had her body dumped in an alley.”

“But it doesn’t matter, you’ll be seeing them soon, and the changgui too.” (changgui – a demon that is a mixed figure of a tiger and a human)

This made them realize why they hadn’t been able to contact their friends, who they had assumed were just avoiding them because they hadn’t paid them, they were probably dead.

However, when the police found Lin Xin, they discovered the situation was the opposite of what they had imagined, she wasn’t the victim, but the kidnapper.

She had drugged the two men and taken them away in a van.

Then they found out she was Liu Shuyun’s younger sister, separated from her after their parents’ divorce, Lin Xin staying with her father.

Liu Shuyun’s mother had remarried, died a few years later, and the young Liu Shuyun, abandoned by her stepfather, had been left at an orphanage, eventually adopted and given a new name.

And judging by Lin Xin’s academic record, she didn’t need to work at a bar, so she must have been there for Liu Shuyun, having contacted her beforehand.

And the two men, wealthy university students, were the culprits.

The seemingly timid Lin Xin was a predator in disguise, her true motive revenge.

Unlike typical movie endings, where the protagonist would be persuaded by the police, releasing the hostages and testifying against the criminals,

Lin Xin’s eyes, a mix of coldness and rage, reddened, and she pulled the trigger.

“Don’t shoot!”

“Bang!”

“Bang!”

“Bang!”

Two shots, two lives, the third hitting Lin Xin’s arm, making her drop the gun.

Several police officers rushed forward, subduing the unresisting Lin Xin, handcuffing her slender wrists.

The two hostages, shot in the head, were dead.

Being escorted to the police car, Lin Xin, not looking at the crowd, looked up at the sky, her eyes bright.

“The snow, it’s so white.”

That night, a trending topic reached the top spot.

#BurningHeartIsAmazing!!!#

This simple and straightforward title attracted attention, and after reading the reviews, people were even more curious.

Another trending topic appeared.

#IsMyFavoriteCPReal?#

Assuming it was a promotional campaign for a new drama, they clicked on it, only to find something unexpected.

Not a romantic montage, but a video.

In a dimly lit movie theater, two figures sat together, their heads close.

What’s so interesting about two heads? Probably a publicity stunt, they thought, then, watching for a few more seconds, they noticed something.

The figure on the left, hearing something, turned to the other, her hand reaching out to tilt their chin, gently wiping something from their lips, her gaze tender and intimate.

Even in the dim light, her slender fingers were clearly visible.

The screen went dark, and for a moment, it looked like they were kissing.

But they quickly separated, the figure on the right turning to speak to someone behind them, and Yu Shuangjiang’s face was clearly visible.

They quickly realized the other person was Tao Ning, the screenwriter.

Assuming this was a publicity stunt for the movie, which must not be very good, they checked for the poster’s username, but there wasn’t one.

And Yu Shuangjiang’s fans were frantically denying it, their efforts as sincere as their usual anti-hate campaigns.

It seemed it wasn’t a publicity stunt after all.

They clicked on the video, watching it again, Strange, but also… kind of cute.

[I told you, rivals can’t be lovers, but rivals are lovers, get it now?]

[Hahaha, those naive fans will be here soon, claiming they’re just good friends.]

Yu Shuangjiang’s fans: “…”

[Help, I don’t want to understand!]

Although they were now devoted to Yu Shuangjiang, Tao Ning was undeniably beautiful…

[Let’s just admit it, rivals are lovers!]

[Can anyone lip-read what they said?]

[I know a little lip reading, let me try: Yu: Did I smudge my lipstick? Tao: Let me see, yes, a little. (wipes her lips) (loving gaze)]

Yu Shuangjiang’s fans: “…” Wait, what’s with the added commentary?

To their dismay, the trending topic was removed, but the netizens were even more excited.

[It’s real!]

[Trying to hide it only confirms it, it’s too late to remove the trending topic, I’ve already saved the video!]

[Here for the tea, please share!]