After Flirting with the Wrong Stand-in, I Overturned (GL) - Chapter 43

“Eldest Miss,” Butler Wang said, looking utterly confused when he saw Ren Xuan at the door. “Why are you back so soon?”

“I just went to take a look,” Ren Xuan said with a forced smile. “She was busy, so I didn’t stay long.”

“I see.” Butler Wang thought to himself with gratification that the Eldest Miss had finally “seen the light,” though Miss Lin’s job was indeed far too busy.

Hurrying to the second floor, Ren Xuan avoided Uncle Wang’s gaze. Returning from the film city was, in a way, just another form of escape.

On the other end, Lin Shuyan remained completely unaware. After Ren Xuan left, she would call when she missed her; the rest of her time was dedicated entirely to the script. In the blink of an eye, another half-month passed. Once today’s scenes were finished, the first season would officially wrap. Lin Shuyan held her script, meticulously studying the final scenes.

As a short drama, The Princess of Qin moved its plot along quickly. Within twelve short episodes, years flowed by, seasons changed, and many things occurred. After barely two years of stability, the border erupted in turmoil again. Ning An was ordered to go on a campaign and, within a month, went missing in the vast desert. Qin Yuantang waited anxiously for news in the Princess’s estate.

Until she heard a certain rumor.

“Eldest Princess,” facing Qin Yuantang as she stormed the palace, the Imperial Guards knelt in unison. “His Majesty is resting in Consort Shu’s palace; you cannot enter.”

“Move.” Thunder rumbled, and a flash of lightning looked as if it would explode before their eyes. Qin Yuantang did not yield an inch. She looked at the guards under the eaves with icy eyes. “This Princess has urgent business with His Majesty.”

“Eldest Princess,” the leading General Li said with difficulty, “His Majesty ordered that he see no one today. It is late; please return to your estate.”

Qin Yuantang said nothing. Just as the guards were caught in a dilemma, fearing she might force her way in, she suddenly knelt on the freezing floor. Wind and rain lashed against her, but her voice was loud enough to reach the inner hall: “This subject has urgent business and begs to see His Majesty.”

Vice-General Zhao attempted to help her up, but General Li suddenly stopped him with a warning look. Qin Yuantang continued to kneel, motionless.

In the ink-black night, she spoke no more. After an unknown amount of time, a high eunuch hurried out. He looked at the raindrops falling on her face with heartache. “Eldest Princess, you are of noble birth; how can you kneel here? His Majesty will be heartbroken when he sees this.”

“His Majesty was exhausted from reviewing memorials and took a short nap. Hearing that the Princess has arrived, he is now waiting for you in the hall.”

Qin Yuantang showed no trace of joy. She rose unsteadily, refusing the support of her maid, and walked inside with her back straight. The Emperor was already waiting for her.

Amidst the gloom of wind and rain, a new chapter slowly began.

“Wrap up!” The actors congratulated each other. Having reached this point in the first season, the crew would work overtime to release it early. If it went well, the second season would begin filming. Director Wu said confidently, “Someone is preparing to add more investment; perhaps we can start filming the second season as soon as the first premieres.”

“Director Wu, we’ll be waiting for it!” Amidst laughter and chatter, everyone departed on good terms. Knowing they would meet again soon, smiles were on every face. Lin Shuyan went to the dressing room to remove her makeup. Rong Yu suddenly asked her, “Are you going back to Yecheng?”

“Aren’t you?” Lin Shuyan knew Rong Yu’s home was in Yecheng.

“I’m finally getting a break,” Rong Yu shook her head. “I want to go travel.” She looked at Lin Shuyan with a complex expression. She knew who Lin Shuyan’s partner was now.

Like Ning Yinman, they were from a different world.

“Travel?” Lin Shuyan said, as if a switch had been flipped. She said happily, “I’m planning to go out too, with a… friend.” She emphasized the word “friend” awkwardly, though Rong Yu had likely guessed that “friend” meant her girlfriend.

“When you’re filming, doesn’t she get jealous?” Rong Yu suddenly asked, looking up. The dressing room was quiet, with only the two of them there, yet Rong Yu’s voice was still very low.

“Huh?” Shuyan paused for a second, lowered her head shyly, and shook it.

Perhaps there truly was a difference between the two, even if they were friends. Rong Yu suddenly recalled a scene from that day. “Do you know who you’re working with? She’s Ren Xuan’s girlfriend. Do you still want to film kiss scenes with her? Even if you’re willing, the other party wouldn’t be.”

Yes, Lin Shuyan was unwilling. Furthermore, The Princess of Qin didn’t have many kiss scenes to begin with. Rong Yu thought dazedlly: how much of her decision to take this role was driven by spite toward Ning Yinman?

Ning Yinman wouldn’t allow her to film kiss scenes—ideally, not even an emotional arc. Despite dating for half a year, Ning Yinman had a long list of demands. No one online “shipped” her with real people anymore; once President Ning spoke, ninety percent of marketing accounts shut up. Yet Rong Yu suddenly felt a surge of rebellion. She had taken this role behind Ning Yinman’s back and encountered Lin Shuyan again.

The girl was completely open about her loved one, and the words Rong Yu wanted to say were swallowed back in that atmosphere.

At 12:00 PM that day, The Princess of Qin was officially announced.

Rong Yu’s fans were both happy and angry. Happy that their “Sister” was acting in a period drama as a general again; angry because while society was becoming more inclusive, some people still couldn’t stand it—or didn’t want others to see it.

[Hilarious. The fans say she’s improved, but ‘improvement’ means filming this kind of ‘no-name’ drama? Aside from the director, is there anything worth seeing?]

Rong Yu had debuted early and had many works, having navigated historical dramas, idol shows, and thrillers. In the past two years, she had filmed The Dragon Emperor and two urban dramas. Her co-stars were always famous actors and directors. Now that she had “sunk” to collaborating with Lin Shuyan, it was no wonder many people were skeptical.

In recent months, Lin Shuyan’s reputation online had indeed done a 180-degree turn, but she still lacked notable works and significant traffic. Netizens were naturally dismissive.

Rong Yu specifically called Lin Shuyan about this. Shuyan thanked her for her kindness, but her heart remained untroubled. Her starting point was very low; it was normal for netizens to look down on her. No matter how anxious she felt, she couldn’t overturn public opinion overnight. It was better to wait for the drama to air.

Unaffected by the comments, Lin Shuyan was happily on her way back. She hadn’t told Ren Xuan in advance, but she saw her the moment she arrived home. In front of the second-floor door, Shuyan couldn’t help but step forward and give Ren Xuan a big hug.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back?”

“I wanted to give you a surprise.” More importantly, Shuyan didn’t want Ren Xuan to travel for her sake again. This time, she wanted to be the one to come to her.

“Eldest Miss, Miss Lin,” Butler Wang said, stumbling upon the scene as he emerged from the hallway. He greeted them awkwardly.

This was the second floor, where only Lin Shuyan and Ren Xuan lived. He had been thinking that Shuyan would be back soon and wanted to see if anything needed to be added to the rooms. He never expected to walk right into this.

Familiar with the ways of the world, Butler Wang’s face turned red at the intimate scene. “I… was just passing by.” As a middle-aged man, he practically flew down the stairs, only calming down once he reached the courtyard.

The Eldest Miss is truly skilled. So the two of them had already hit it off under my very nose. He’d been trying to play matchmaker at his age—young people really knew how to play! Butler Wang shook his head and wandered off toward the kitchen.

“Uncle Wang…” Shuyan emerged from Ren Xuan’s arms uneasily, pointing downstairs. “He didn’t, did he?”

“He saw it,” Ren Xuan raised an eyebrow. “Shouldn’t that be the point?”

“I,” Shuyan gripped the hem of Ren Xuan’s clothes tightly. “Actually, I wanted to tell you…” She had made up her mind while on set. she wanted to be with Ren Xuan openly, and the first step was starting at home.

“Just decided?” Ren Xuan touched her earlobe; it was soft and smooth. Unable to help herself, she stroked it again. “Not being forced?”

Not at all. Shuyan shook her head. Even if Uncle Wang hadn’t discovered them today, she had been prepared to confess. Being discovered before the confession made it feel just a tiny bit forced.

“I wasn’t, anyway,” Shuyan muttered. She was doing this willingly.

“I can tell,” Ren Xuan laughed, her arms around Shuyan’s waist. The girl’s eyes were clear, and her expression was easy to read.

“Our Shuyan is willing to give me an official status,” Ren Xuan teased. Shuyan didn’t care what she was laughing at right now, quietly enjoying the long-awaited leisure time.

“What about Keke?” Ren Xuan felt it was time to tell Ren Ke about her relationship.

At the mention of Ren Ke, Shuyan looked up. “Is it too early to tell her?”

“She’s already in the third grade.” Ren Xuan pinched Shuyan’s cheek. “She understands everything she needs to. Plenty of kids in her class are ‘dating.’”

True. Children these days were precocious; in kindergarten, as soon as they could run, they were thinking about finding a boyfriend or girlfriend. Shuyan privately thought most kids couldn’t distinguish what a partner was for, but that didn’t stop them from looking.

“Then,” Shuyan pondered for a moment, “I’ll tell her.”

“Alright,” Ren Xuan nodded with a smile. “Let ‘Sister Yan’ tell her.”

“A-Xuan is always teasing me,” Shuyan said, her tone more like acting spoiled. Wasn’t “Sister Yan” the name Ren Ke loved to use most when following her around?

“I’m happy for Ren Ke,” Ren Xuan laughed. “You don’t know how many times that little one has talked about you these past months.”

“Probably,” Shuyan tilted her head, “because I play with her?”

“You little ingrate,” Ren Xuan poked her forehead. Was she implying that Ren Xuan didn’t spend time with her?

“No, A-Xuan is the best sister,” Shuyan denied with a laugh, shaking Ren Xuan’s arm. She was just joking. But after staying at the Ren house for so long, Shuyan noticed that Ren Ke was indeed a bit afraid of Ren Xuan. She both loved and feared her sister—it was perhaps a natural “big sister” aura.

Ren Xuan smiled and said nothing. She had been in this novel world for over half a year and naturally had feelings for Ren Ke. These feelings began as a deliberate imitation of “Ren Xuan,” but grew into genuine affection over time.

In her original world, Ren Xuan was the youngest and had no sister. Now that she had one, as long as it didn’t change the plot, she would protect Ren Ke for life. And Shuyan? Once the truth was revealed, what would her smiles become?

Stop. Ren Xuan cut off the unrealistic fantasies in her mind and focused on the present.

“You must be tired from the drive. Go sleep for a bit.” Ren Xuan opened the door to Shuyan’s bedroom. “I’ll call you when it’s time for dinner.”

“Okay.” Shuyan, travel-worn, decided to take a shower first before resting.