Chapter 37: Day 37 of Transmigrating into an Object Part 1

Shen Wenyi hadn’t taken off the Bluetooth earbuds the entire way. Jiang Shiyang didn’t want to be smug about it, but she really couldn’t help herself.

Who wouldn’t feel a tingle of savage satisfaction upon discovering their nemesis—the one who made them so furious they coughed blood—had been secretly in love with them for years?

Shen Wenyi talked back to her every day, yet there she was, obediently wearing the earbuds Jiang Shiyang told her to wear.

This morning, she had been at her wit’s end, operating on a “what the hell” philosophy. She never actually thought Shen Wenyi would listen and keep the earbuds in all day. The excuse she’d cobbled together wouldn’t have fooled even herself, let alone Shen Wenyi, with whom she’d crossed paths so many times.

Especially after that shocking scene when she’d thrown back the covers. She wasn’t stupid enough to actually believe Shen Wenyi had grabbed her hand and done… that.

She knew Shen Wenyi. Though suppressed for far too long and a bit… well, perhaps more than a bit, exceptionally pent-up, that was strictly confined to hiding under her own blanket for some self-indulgence. She would absolutely never lay a hand on Jiang Shiyang.

The fact that Shen Wenyi had specifically changed into a different set of pajamas before letting her come over last night was proof enough. Shen Wenyi was all desire and no courage.

If Shen Wenyi had even half her nerve, she would have confessed the moment she realized her feelings. Why would she secretly indulge in this tragic, unrequited love for so long?

The situation that morning was obvious. She must have gotten cold in her sleep, unconsciously sought a warm spot, and, lacking any sense of touch, had no idea she’d gotten her limbs tangled up in the wrong place.

Thankfully, her skill at turning the tables was always top-notch. She’d managed to bluff her way through with Shen Wenyi, feigned calm, and made a blazing-fast escape.

She’d been prepared for failure. Who knew it would be a blessing in disguise?

Heh.

This felt great.

She arrived at the film crew in a splendid mood. Shen Wenyi had already gone to her own makeup room; Jiang Shiyang went to hers.

When she emerged after makeup, the crew was filming the Emperor of Liang’s court scene. It wasn’t her and Shen Wenyi’s turn yet.

She sat on her little folding stool, wrapped in a down jacket, clutching a hand warmer as she waited on set. Director Chen would be coming over from the main hall soon.

Little Xie was chattering incessantly beside her about work matters. She glanced distractedly in Shen Wenyi’s direction.

Shen Wenyi was sitting on her own folding stool, on the other side of a pillar. She couldn’t see Shen Wenyi, only the script in Shen Wenyi’s hands.

She had a good memory. The script was already engraved in her mind, and she’d more or less figured out the emotions. She had no desire to review it again. But seeing Shen Wenyi reading the script so intently, a brow arched.

It’s time to go over there and radiate some charm. Watch me stir her up into a spring fling, then walk away like some green tea scumbag.

Little Xie had gone to get her hot water. She fished her own script out of her bag, stood, picked up her little stool, walked around the pillar, and sat down next to Shen Wenyi.

Little He wasn’t around either, off doing who-knows-what. Only Shen Wenyi sat there, reading the script.

Shen Wenyi lifted her eyes to glance sideways at her, then lowered her lashes, ignoring her.

She glanced at the earbud plugged into Shen Wenyi’s ear. The feeling was truly bizarre. She could see the earbud, and the earbud could see her. Two completely opposite visual images were presenting themselves in her mind.

Shen Wenyi was still wearing her. She’d best not mention a word about it, and minimize the earbuds’ existence as much as possible, lest Shen Wenyi have another brain fart and take her out.

Though Shen Wenyi was secretly in love with her, past incidents showed that Shen Wenyi wouldn’t spare her feelings just because of a crush.

Logically speaking, who treats the person they like this way?

Either Shen Wenyi was incredibly immature, a grown adult still playing the “I bully you because I like you” game.

Or Shen Wenyi was dealing with unrequited love, believing Jiang Shiyang could never like her back, and so had stupidly decided to be her antagonist. If they couldn’t be lovers, they’d be enemies.

Whether she was an immature brat or a simple fool, Jiang Shiyang didn’t believe Shen Wenyi wouldn’t take the bait if she took the initiative to flirt.

Then, not only would she get her revenge, but future missions would also be secured. Two birds, one stone.

Shen Wenyi ignored her. She wasn’t in a hurry. She pulled a pack of gum from her pocket, slid out a stick, unwrapped it, and held it smilingly to Shen Wenyi’s lips.

Shen Wenyi looked down at it and turned away.

“I don’t want any.”

Undeterred, she persistently offered the gum to Shen Wenyi’s lips again, lowering her voice to an ambiguously suggestive tone. “Just have a piece. For fresh breath.”

Shen Wenyi replied, “I brushed my teeth this morning.”

She countered, “Well, didn’t you also eat breakfast?”

The gum pressed a shallow dent into Shen Wenyi’s lip.

“If you don’t take it away, I’ll remove the earbud.”

Shen Wenyi didn’t even lift her eyes from the script. Her voice was so cold, Jiang Shiyang wondered if she had hallucinated what happened in the car this morning.

She: “……………………”

No wonder I never knew you were in love with me for all these years. With that attitude, who could possibly tell?!

Fine, don’t eat it! I’ll eat it myself!

She popped the gum into her own mouth. It was spearmint. Eating it in the dead of winter was actually a bit cold, a chill from the inside out.

She hadn’t prepared this for fresh breath anyway, but to perk herself up during night shoots. One piece was enough to make her feel clear-headed and refreshed.

The gum seduction had failed. She refused to believe this was hopeless. You clearly like me so much you listen to my CP audio dramas in the middle of the night while doing… that. And now you put on this ascetic, untouchable ice-queen face?

She shook the script in her hand. “Today’s scene is a bit difficult. Shall we run lines?”

At the mention of work, Shen Wenyi finally lifted her eyes to look at her again.

“Are you sure?”

What was there to be sure or unsure about?

She said, “I’m sure.”

The camera crew, props, and production assistants were all in the main hall. There weren’t many people over here, so running lines wouldn’t disturb anyone.

Shen Wenyi gazed at her. Her long lashes were like fans, and the eyes beneath them were limpid as water. Suddenly, she curved her lips into a smile. That one smile made the light in her eyes ripple, as if winter snow had melted.

Ba-dump.

Why was she smiling out of the blue? What was funny?

Shen Wenyi said, “You said it.”

Shen Wenyi raised her hand towards the earbud. A jolt of alarm shot through Jiang Shiyang, and she quickly reached out to press her hand down.

“Don’t!”

Shen Wenyi hadn’t really applied any force, easily letting her hand be held down. The gaze she fixed on her was unreadable.

“If I don’t take out the earbud, I can’t hear you clearly. How are we supposed to run lines?”

Who are you trying to fool? The volume is so low, I—as the earbud—can barely hear it!

She pressed down on Shen Wenyi’s hand, glancing at it frequently, afraid that without a sense of touch she might slip and press the wrong spot.

Last night was a lesson learned!

With a completely serious expression, she said, “Even if it’s a tiny, insignificant thing that doesn’t matter either way, we have a deal. We agreed you wouldn’t take it out until the battery died, so you can’t take it out.”

Shen Wenyi said, “If I don’t take it out, we can’t run lines.”

She said, “Who says we can’t? Aren’t you talking to me right now perfectly fine?”

Shen Wenyi said, “I’m guessing based on your lip movements. I can’t hear clearly enough to run lines.”

Heh, reading lips, my ass?!

Shen Wenyi, you’re deliberately trying to piss me off. I will not get angry.

She said, “It’s fine. With your professional skill level, you can manage even hearing it roughly. The main issue is that my emotions aren’t there. I want to borrow your light to find the right feeling.”

Shen Wenyi said, “But I can’t stay connected to your phone the whole time. What if someone calls you?”

She said, “Just hang up.”

Shen Wenyi said, “What if it’s urgent?”

She said, “Then answer it. There’s nothing on my phone you can’t pick up.”

Shen Wenyi nodded slightly. “Fine. Running lines like this isn’t impossible. But first, you have to answer one question.”

She knew it. Every time she asked Shen Wenyi for something, it was always this dawdling. Never a straightforward agreement!

She asked, “What question?”

Shen Wenyi said, “Actually, I already asked last night. Why exactly did you…”

Shen Wenyi deliberately paused.

An ominous feeling crept over Jiang Shiyang.

She said, “If you already asked last night, why bring it up again now? Forget it, let’s just run the script.”

Shen Wenyi pressed down on her script, smiling. “Don’t be in such a rush. We’ll ask first, then run lines. Why exactly did you come to my room to sleep last night?”

I knew it would be this question!

Without batting an eye, she stuck to her story: “I already said, Little Xie’s snoring was too loud. It kept me awake.”

Shen Wenyi asked, “Really?”

She answered, “Of course, really.”

Shen Wenyi smiled again, the curve of her red lips making Jiang Shiyang’s heart inexplicably flutter.

Lowering her voice, Shen Wenyi pressed, “Then why didn’t you go sleep in Little Xie’s room? Why did it have to be me?”

She: ……………………

She’d actually known about this loophole all along. She’d just stubbornly clung to a “try it and see” mentality. She never expected it would actually work.

Now that her goal was achieved, it was too late to say anything else. Still, a lie needed to be maintained, especially since Shen Wenyi was still wearing the earbud.

She said, “Little Xie’s bed wasn’t clean. We would’ve had to change the sheets and mattress. It was too much trouble in the middle of the night.”

Shen Wenyi asked, “How could Little Xie’s bed be dirty?”

She nearly blurted out some nonsense about Little Xie going to bed without showering every night, but after a moment’s thought, it felt too heartless. She fell back on her old reliable strategy: as long as she insisted, Shen Wenyi couldn’t exactly go ask Little Xie directly.

She fabricated, “Water got spilled on it. You know Little Xie is always so clumsy.”

Shen Wenyi nodded. “You two really are birds of a feather. Last time, you got your bed wet. This time, it’s Little Xie.”

She sighed. “Isn’t it the truth? Birds of a feather flock together.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Shen Wenyi pulled her phone from her pocket, glanced at it, and pressed the earbud with her finger.

Shen Wenyi said, “What is it, Little Xie?”

Little Xie? That’s my phone?!

Shen Wenyi leaned past the pillar and waved at Little Xie, who was not far away.

“Over here, Little Xie.”

Little Xie, clutching a thermos, let out a breath of relief and smiled, walking over.