The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration] 215

Chapter 215: There’s a Fox Here (Entertainment Circle) – End

With a click, the spotless glass display case opened.

A pair of hands carefully placed the Golden Spike Award trophy inside, then, after a moment of hesitation, closed the case.

The figure, her dress flowing, walked away, her elegant reflection in the glass fading as she disappeared down the corridor.

She walked towards the future, calm and fearless, the stars shining brightly above, day and night revolving.

Time, like a river, flowed endlessly, never stopping.

Darkness turned to light, then to dusk, as night fell.

Zhi Ma Juan the cat, having spent the entire day sleeping, emerged from the bedroom, meowing at the security camera, but received no response.

“Meow?” Her voice lowered, her raised tail drooping, and she walked towards the automatic feeder.

The apartment was empty, the food bowl also empty, and Zhi Ma Juan angrily swatted at the feeder, her paws making a clattering sound.

Then, seemingly bored, she gave up, jumping onto the sofa, resuming her mission of turning it into a tasseled masterpiece.

But the sofa was always replaced after she shredded it, forcing her to create new tassels.

After rolling around on the sofa, she curled up with a toy and fell asleep. After a while, her ears twitched, and she turned towards the door.

A familiar sound.

The door opened, bringing in the sounds of the city.

The warm yellow night light switched to the bright overhead light, illuminating the display case on the wall, the glass sparkling.

Zhi Ma Juan the cat jumped down from the sofa, meowing loudly, her tail held high, greeting her returning owner.

Yu Shuangjiang, holding her burgundy gown, carefully stepped around the cat, the familiar Golden Spike Award trophy in her other hand: “Juan Juan, no scratching the tassels, I have to return this.”

“Meow!” Zhi Ma Juan, not understanding, circled around Yu Shuangjiang, her tail held high, the silver tassels on her dress a tempting toy.

The more Yu Shuangjiang dodged, the more excited she became, chasing after the tassels.

Then she was lifted into the air, Tao Ning’s voice beside her ear: “Juan Juan, don’t scratch Mommy’s dress, if you don’t like the scratching post, you can scratch the sofa.”

Zhi Ma Juan the cat, her view suddenly higher, adjusted her position in Tao Ning’s arms, looking curiously at Yu Shuangjiang.

Earlier, due to her height and angle, she hadn’t seen the shiny object in Yu Shuangjiang’s hand, only the tassels on her dress.

Now, noticing the trophy, assuming it was a new toy, she sniffed at it.

“Our quality inspector is here again, let’s see if it passes your inspection,” Yu Shuangjiang said, holding the trophy closer.

Zhi Ma Juan the cat, after a thorough examination, realizing it wasn’t a giant can of food, turned away, disinterested.

Yu Shuangjiang chuckled: “It seems our inspector approves.”

Zhi Ma Juan the cat, not understanding, but still proud, meowed loudly.

Tao Ning, holding the cat like a large doll, hefting its weight, puzzled: “Have you gained weight again, Juan Juan? Which auntie has been spoiling you with snacks?”

She had known this cat wasn’t ordinary since finding it, just a bit fluffy back then, baby fat.

Over the years, however, it had grown into a large and fluffy creature, often mistaken for a Maine Coon.

Tao Ning placed it on the sofa, ignoring its pleading eyes for canned food, uttering words that shocked the little cat: “For your health, Juan Juan, you need to lose weight, no more snacks.”

Zhi Ma Juan the cat: “…Meow?”

She watched as Tao Ning walked towards the display case with Yu Shuangjiang, carefully removing a cat hair from last year’s Golden Spike Award trophy.

Yu Shuangjiang, puzzled: “This case is always closed, how did her fur get in here?”

Even the resourceful Tao Ning couldn’t answer that question, a nine-tailed fox couldn’t possibly keep track of how many cat hairs she had accidentally ingested.

Zhi Ma Juan the cat, left alone on the sofa, sulked for a while, then, realizing she was hungry, jumped down.

But the two figures by the display case were gone, the room empty.

Inside the bedroom, the discarded dress lay on the floor, a scene of passion unfolding.

“Meow! Meow!”

Zhi Ma Juan the cat scratched at the door, her meows pitiful.

Receiving no response, she swished her tail and attacked the automatic feeder.

This thing ate my food and won’t give it back.

One day, I’ll defeat it and have all the food I want.

Today was the premiere of the third season of Spring and Flowers, a travel reality show.

Broadcast live and pre-recorded, it claimed to be unscripted, a true portrayal of the celebrities’ experiences.

The first two seasons had revived several actresses’ careers, bringing them back into the spotlight.

This format, however, was a double-edged sword, some gaining popularity for their genuine personalities, others facing backlash for their flaws.

The show’s popularity had grown despite initial skepticism, its ratings soaring, and they had even managed to invite Yu Shuangjiang for this season.

The first episode’s live stream began at 8:30 AM, seven guests, seven simultaneous live streams.

Yu Shuangjiang’s had the most viewers, many waiting eagerly.

After so many years, almost everyone knew her name, her life having changed drastically since winning the Golden Spike Award at twenty-eight.

Fortunately, Yu Shuangjiang, having experienced both highs and lows, had learned to adapt, her fame not going to her head, remaining grounded and dedicated to her craft.

She had been active in the industry for over a decade, one or two films a year, all successful, a guarantee of box office success.

Her awards filled an entire wall in her home.

After forty-five, she even directed a film, a surprisingly successful debut.

Her participation in Spring and Flowers was a surprise, the announcement trending online.

#IsThereAnotherYuShuangjiang?#

Who would have thought this would be one of her rare variety show appearances?

In her long and successful career, she had only appeared in less than five variety shows, this being her fifth.

Her fans, the “Little Dried Fish,” now “Old Dried Fish,” having waited patiently, declared they would be rewatching this for the rest of their lives.

A bit of an exaggeration, but for Yu Shuangjiang, not surprising.

The day of the premiere was sunny and pleasant, not too hot.

The host, sitting in a car, gave a brief introduction, her youthful face appearing on screen.

Host: “Hello everyone, I’m your host for today, Ji Run, you can call me Xiao Run, we’re currently on our way to Yu Laoshi’s house… I’m not late, you’re just eager to see her.”

A comment: [Xiao Run, is Yu Laoshi nervous about today’s interview?]

Ji Run read the comment and quickly said, “Nervous? Of course I’m nervous! I haven’t slept for days after receiving this assignment, I’m so excited to meet Shuang Jie.”

Amidst the laughter in the chat, she lowered her voice: “Actually, I’m her fan, I grew up watching her movies.”

[This sentence reveals your age!]

[I also grew up watching her movies, the year I became her fan, she suddenly announced she was transitioning to film (crying)]

[New fans, don’t cry, let the old fans cry first (crying) (crying)]

Ji Run, seeing the comment, deeply empathized, shedding a digital tear: “Me too.”

This simple introduction had already created a lively atmosphere, the number of viewers increasing rapidly.

Even after all these years, her popularity hadn’t waned, her name still a legend.

The car soon arrived, and Ji Run, pausing her chat with the viewers, got out and walked towards Yu Shuangjiang’s house, the live stream paused, resuming after they entered.

The fans understood, knowing she had lived in the same place for years, not wanting her address revealed, her privacy respected.

Although they didn’t know about the protective fox spirit in her house, their concern was genuine, a mutual understanding.

Ji Run and the cameraman stood before Yu Shuangjiang’s door, looking around cautiously before pressing the doorbell.

“Ding-dong.”

They held their breath, as if facing a dangerous beast, their cautious demeanor amusing.

The chat was filled with comments.

[New here, why are there two sneaky figures in the live stream?]

[Is this a live burglary?]

[Seriously? So bold?]

[Someone’s being naive, haha!]

The door opened.

A familiar face, seemingly untouched by time, her eyes gentle and kind, a sight that felt both familiar and distant, like a memory from a past life.

Ji Run, stunned for a moment, then greeted her: “Good morning, Yu Laoshi, sorry to disturb you, are you ready? We should be going.”

“I’m already…” Yu Shuangjiang started to say, but a high-pitched meow interrupted her.

“Meow!”

[? Did I hear a cat?]

Ji Run and the cameraman looked down, the camera focusing on a fluffy calico cat.

Zhi Ma Juan the cat, almost twenty years old now, her eyes bright and curious, meowed at Ji Run.

This adorable creature made Ji Run forget that it was almost as old as her.

[Aww, such a photogenic kitty, even winking at the camera!]

[Is this the power of a Best Actress? Even her cat knows how to pose, I’m obsessed with Juan Juan!]

[Juan Juan, give Auntie a kiss!]

[I’m reporting someone for petting the kitty during the interview!]

[Juan Juan, you’re a big fluffy loaf of bread!]

[I think she’s more like a truck, a big, fluffy truck.]

[Who allowed you to say that about Juan Juan?! Banished!]

Yu Shuangjiang, after greeting them, invited them inside, not minding them seeing her apartment.

Tao Ning was away on business in another city and wouldn’t be back for a while, and Yu Shuangjiang, curious about the show, had agreed to participate.

So she was alone.

Someone would come and take care of Zhi Ma Juan the cat while she was away.

As she poured them water, she talked about her daily life, not mentioning Tao Ning, but also not hiding her presence.

While there were many theories about Yu Shuangjiang’s transition to behind-the-scenes work, the other person’s presence was clearly a major factor, a quiet and steady influence.

The viewers, however, were still focused on the cat, almost forgetting about Yu Shuangjiang.

[There’s also a Zhi Ma Juan at Tao Ning’s studio, are they the same cat?]

[Yes, Tao Ning’s studio confirmed it.]

[Unsolved mystery of the entertainment industry: who owns Juan Juan?]

[It’s their shared pet, obviously.]

[There’s an intruder among us.]

[Ahhh, it’s Yu Yu! We used to see her once a year, but now, she’s practically disappeared! (crying)]

The seven-day travel reality show officially began, and Yu Shuangjiang, with her suitcase, boarded the van provided by the crew, heading to the airport, their destination a foreign country.

Seven days later, she returned, finding Zhi Ma Juan the cat basking in the sun on the windowsill.

Yu Shuangjiang crouched down, petting her: “Mommy isn’t back yet, she said no canned food for you.”

Zhi Ma Juan the cat, not understanding, rolled onto her back, her belly exposed, a silent plea for canned food.

“Any more fox spirit energy and you’ll become a demon yourself, that’s not good,” Yu Shuangjiang said, rubbing the cat’s belly, “Such a spoiled twenty-year-old kitty.”

After a while, the show aired, a harmonious journey boosting everyone’s popularity.

Yu Shuangjiang, with her calm and steady demeanor, had created a relaxed atmosphere, this season considered the most harmonious.

It was Yu Shuangjiang’s birthday, and her fans, their numbers increasing after her recent appearance, flooded her social media with birthday wishes, their messages bringing back memories.

She had promised them a surprise, the details kept secret.

On her birthday, Tao Ning called, saying she had an urgent matter and wouldn’t be able to make it back in time.

Having celebrated over twenty birthdays together, missing one or two was a slight disappointment, but not a tragedy.

After reminding Tao Ning to rest, Yu Shuangjiang hung up, petting Zhi Ma Juan the cat, who was sleeping beside her.

Lying in bed, she wondered, “What should I do today?”

Zhi Ma Juan the cat, disturbed, yawned.

Having nothing better to do, she decided to do a live stream, chatting with her fans.

It had been a while, and she almost forgot how, asking her assistant for instructions as she set it up.

A few minutes later, the live stream started, and her fans, receiving the notification, tuned in, seeing Yu Shuangjiang herself!

[It’s Yu! A live Yu!]

[I thought I would be rewatching Spring and Flowers forever!]

[Happy birthday, Yu Yu! Here’s a cake for you!]

[…]

Under the same sky, a plane landed at C City Airport.

Two figures emerged, dragging suitcases, the one on the left in a long trench coat and gold-rimmed glasses, her height making her stand out.

In City C, home to a large film studio, passersby instinctively glanced at her, assuming she was a celebrity.

Zhang Ke, walking beside her, complained, “Seriously, Tao Zong, we were up all night, then a red-eye flight, have some mercy on this old woman!”

Tao Ning patted her shoulder, a faint white light flashing from her hand, her own energy still high after a sleepless night: “Next time, next time, my car’s here, I’ll be going.”

Zhang Ke, exasperated: “It’s just a birthday, no need to rush back like this, I’m going to sleep for a week after this.”

As Tao Ning got into the car and left, Zhang Ke also looked for her ride, not questioning her own lack of fatigue after a sleepless night and a red-eye flight.

Tao Ning, carrying a gift, headed home, if Zhang Ke hadn’t been with her, she would have flown back in her fox form.

Four paws were much faster than a plane.

But not everyone was as brave as Yu Shuangjiang, daring to ride on a giant fox.

The journey, usually uneventful, now seemed longer, anticipation making time slow down, and as familiar scenery passed by, her gaze suddenly fixed on something.

Tao Ning: “Can you stop here for a moment? I need to buy something.”

The car stopped, and she entered a flower shop, thinking a single gift wasn’t enough, perhaps a bouquet of flowers would be better.

A while later, she returned, carrying a bouquet of red roses, and got back into the car.

At home, Yu Shuangjiang was chatting with her fans.

A sharp-eared fan heard a noise and commented: [Yu Yu, did your birthday cake arrive? I hear something outside.]

Yu Shuangjiang, reading the comment, shook her head, puzzled: “I didn’t order anything, who is it?”

She grabbed her phone and walked towards the door, Tao Ning had said she couldn’t make it, and she didn’t have any scheduled appointments, who could it be?

[She’s hugging someone, so gentle, like a mother.]

[As her daughter, I also want a hug.]

[I’ve heard of mom fans, sister fans, but never daughter fans, but Yu Yu is so gentle and caring.]

Just as she was about to check the video doorbell, the door opened, the scent of roses filling the air, followed by the words “Happy birthday, wifey,” and a bouquet of red roses.

“I’m back, surprise!” Tao Ning, seeing the phone, paused. “What’s this?”

Zhi Ma Juan the cat, her tail held high, ran towards them, meowing, demanding her canned food.

Yu Shuangjiang, stunned: “My phone? A live stream?”

A live stream, so she was also on camera?

“…” Tao Ning froze, instinctively hiding the roses behind her back.

Yu Shuangjiang also froze: “…”

Tao Ning, feigning composure: “Wrong address.”

She turned to leave, the bouquet of red roses reappearing, their petals dewy and fragrant, a fleeting glimpse for Yu Shuangjiang and the viewers.

Yu Shuangjiang: “…”

Even she, a seasoned actress, didn’t know what to say.

What could she say?

The chat exploded: [You didn’t go to the wrong address!]

[Don’t hide it, such a large bouquet, and you even called her “wifey”!]

[Tao Laoshi, it’s not worth it, hiding such a well-known secret.]

[Just show us your marriage certificate already!]

[What secret?]

[That Tao Ning and Yu Shuangjiang are just friends, both single, not dating each other.]

[Hahaha, who came up with that joke?]

[We, the “rival ship” fans, have won!]

[Rivals are lovers, after all.]