After Transmigrating Into The Novel, The White Moonlight And The Female Lead Of The Abusive Romance Got Their Happy Ending - Chapter 16

On Saturday morning, Wen Tang arrived at Huadu Television Station early.

From quite a distance away, she could already see that the set they had used for rehearsal yesterday was surrounded by a dense crowd.

“I applied to use this space two days ago! Don’t you understand first come, first served?” An angry demand reached her ears.

She hesitated for a few seconds before realizing—

That voice belonged to Shi Nanqiao!

Wen Tang immediately hurried over and squeezed through the onlookers into the center of the crowd.

“What happened?”

The area that had originally been arranged to look warm and tidy was now packed with tables and chairs that had appeared from nowhere. Cosmetics and daily necessities lay scattered messily across their surfaces.

Shi Nanqiao, who usually wore a cheerful smile, was now furious and arguing with the innocent-looking young woman opposite her.

“Sister Yulan is one of the most popular actresses in the industry. She’s doing you a favor by using your set,” Jian Qingqing said, lifting her chin high. “The only condition Sister Yulan gave for agreeing to record the program was that she be provided with a private space to use as a dressing room.”

Her red lips were vivid, and triumph was written all over her face. Leaning close to Shi Nanqiao’s ear, she said, “This program was personally backed by Station Director Meng. You wouldn’t want to… ruin the director’s mood because of this, would you?”

Shi Nanqiao drew a deep breath and suppressed the anger surging inside her.

Jian Qingqing was right. A Dream Through a Thousand Years, the program featuring top actress Wang Yulan, was a joint production between Station Director Meng Hong and the National Museum.

Because of the previous incident, Meng Hong did regard Shi Nanqiao fairly highly. But if she dared interfere with the filming of A Dream Through a Thousand Years, she would probably be placed on his blacklist immediately.

Besides, a private dressing room was hardly an excessive request for a celebrity of Wang Yulan’s status, no matter where she went.

But what would happen after Shi Nanqiao yielded?

What about her own program?

A tremendous sense of helplessness surged over her. She was like a small boat struggling through a storm, seemingly about to be swallowed by towering waves at any moment.

Her fingers began trembling involuntarily, and her breathing grew rapid, as though an invisible pair of hands had closed around her throat.

Yet no matter how quickly she breathed, she still felt the air in her lungs being squeezed out bit by bit. Her vision began turning black from lack of oxygen…

“Shi Nanqiao! Shi Nanqiao!”

In the darkness, a cold, clear light split the night apart. The cool, distant shade of deep blue became the brightest light of all, driving away the shadows around her.

“Take a deep breath. That’s right, slowly. Breathe out—breathe in—”

Shi Nanqiao instinctively followed the instructions. Her short, rapid breaths gradually became slow and deep.

That cold bolt of lightning finally tore the darkness apart, revealing a clear, sunlit sky.

“Don’t be afraid, Ah-Qiao.” Wen Tang gently embraced Shi Nanqiao, using her own body to shield her from every suspicious, probing, or contemptuous gaze.

Shi Nanqiao instinctively hugged her back.

The collar of Wen Tang’s clothing still carried a faint trace of hospital disinfectant. The scent had once filled her with fear, but now it brought her a measure of peace.

After her rebirth, the physical injuries to her body had been reset, but the terrible memories had carved scar after scar into her previously healthy and stable mind.

Excessive anxiety and fear, insomnia, nightmares…

She did not dare visit a psychologist. She was afraid that if her mother, whose health was already poor, learned that she had another patient to worry about, her condition would deteriorate even further.

“Tangtang—” Shi Nanqiao’s usually sweet and delicate voice carried a faint sob, like a flower swaying violently in the wind yet still struggling to remain upright.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m here. I’ll take care of it.”

Wen Tang suddenly remembered that the husband of one of the associate directors in neurology was the Station Director Meng they had just mentioned. Wen Tang had worked under that doctor during her internship.

There was no other choice.

Shi Nanqiao still had to work here in the future, so she could not afford to make too much trouble. Wen Tang, however, had nothing to lose.

With that thought, Wen Tang turned around and deliberately adopted an aloof, arrogant manner. Pointing imperiously at Jian Qingqing, she said, “Your television station invited me here, and now you won’t let me film. What is this, some kind of game? Do you really think doctors are easy to bully?”

“You’re nothing but an obscure little physician. Do you honestly think you’re some renowned expert?” Jian Qingqing rolled her eyes dismissively.

The young woman beside her tugged at her sleeve and whispered, “Sister Qingqing, she’s the student of one of the vice presidents at Huadu University Affiliated Hospital. I heard that vice president is even one of the candidates for academician.”

“Her teacher is the important one, not her. What’s there to be afraid of?”

Wen Tang had no desire to argue further. She took out her phone, preparing to contact Station Director Meng’s wife and claim that she herself had insisted on using this particular space for filming.

A fair hand appeared in front of the screen.

Wen Tang looked up and saw Shi Nanqiao shake her head slightly while silently mouthing, I’ll handle it.

Seeing this, Wen Tang stepped back and cleared the space in front of her.

At that moment, a shrill voice came from nearby.

“Oh, why are so many people gathered here? Our Yulan will be arriving soon. She needs somewhere quiet to rest!”

“Wang Yulan’s manager,” Shi Nanqiao quietly explained when she noticed Wen Tang’s confused look. “She doesn’t have a very good reputation in the industry, but she really is quite fortunate. Several top-tier celebrities came from her management, including an award-winning actress.”

Wen Tang nodded.

She did not remember such a person appearing in the novel, so she was presumably not an important character.

Shi Nanqiao looked toward her team. Someone was already preparing to contact management and ask them to intervene.

No.

She could not act recklessly when there was so much at stake. She might be able to kill the fish, but she could not allow herself to become covered in the stench.

“All right…” Shi Nanqiao clenched her teeth, yet a smile appeared on her face. “Since Sister Yulan has taken a liking to this space, of course we should give it to her.”

She greeted the manager warmly.

“We’re terribly sorry. We only received the notice at the last minute. But since Sister Yulan needs this place, we’ll naturally make sure everything is arranged perfectly for her.”

No one struck a smiling face. Hearing this, the manager smiled as well.

“It was also a failure of communication on our side. The assistant only recently graduated from university and doesn’t know much yet. She couldn’t even deliver a message properly.”

Although she mentioned the assistant, the manager’s gaze drifted toward Jian Qingqing.

Shi Nanqiao immediately understood but revealed nothing on her face.

“It’s fine. She can learn slowly. With you guiding her, I’m sure Sister Yulan will soon have several considerate and highly capable assistants.”

The manager felt quite pleased by the subtle flattery. All the anger she had displayed upon arriving vanished.

She casually told them to take their time clearing the space, then turned and floated away.

Seeing that the matter had failed to cause Shi Nanqiao any further trouble, Jian Qingqing scoffed.

“Then I’ll wait for Host Shi’s masterpiece to air on Sunday.”

Shi Nanqiao smiled brightly.

“Thank you for the good wishes. I hope my program’s ratings soar.”

“Hmph!” Jian Qingqing stamped her foot angrily and walked away.

The remaining spectators also dispersed, leaving only a few staff members behind.

As though all her strength had suddenly left her, Shi Nanqiao sat down on the steps and gave them an apologetic smile.

“I’m sorry. Please give me a little more time. I’ll think about what other spaces we can use.”

She wore a floral dress today, with large, beautiful pink roses decorating its hem. They spread across the ground with the disordered folds of her skirt.

She resembled a lovely little rose that had now wilted, drooping its head weakly.

Shi Nanqiao was someone who easily exhausted herself with endless self-doubt. Although she had worked hard to change this bad habit after her rebirth, doubts about herself still poured down like a torrential rain, leaving her nowhere to hide.

Perhaps if she had not competed with Jian Qingqing yesterday, the program might have proceeded smoothly?

She had poured an enormous amount of effort into this program. It was the first show she had ever hosted independently, yet now it might die before it even had the chance to be born.

…As expected, she was destined never to accomplish anything.

At that moment, however, someone opened an umbrella over her.

“Ah-Qiao, this isn’t your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong. You were only protecting yourself. Don’t take responsibility for everything.”

Wen Tang had just spoken with the staff and learned about the conflict between Shi Nanqiao and Jian Qingqing.

Shi Nanqiao raised her head.

It was an elegant oil-paper umbrella, its surface painted with green bamboo, a gentle breeze, and flowing water.

“You’re wonderful, talented, and extremely professional. Other people’s jealousy only proves that you’ve done exceptionally well.”

“But the program still might not be able to continue…”

“Ah-Qiao, I have an idea. Would you like to hear it?”

Shi Nanqiao lifted her head, and a glimmer of light appeared in her eyes.

“What is it?”

“Regarding the filming location, I don’t think we necessarily need to restrict ourselves to a particular studio. I’m a doctor, but I’m also a living person. I have my own working and living environment.”

“You mean—” Shi Nanqiao’s eyes lit up as she caught the fleeting spark of inspiration. “We could place the set in an environment that corresponds to the guest?”

“That’s right.”

Wen Tang sighed inwardly at how quickly Shi Nanqiao understood.

She had once come across this idea by chance in her previous life, but it had never appeared in this world.

“Tangtang, hurry! Let’s go to the hospital!” Shi Nanqiao immediately stood, grabbed Wen Tang, and prepared to drag her outside.

No television program had ever attempted anything similar. Such an approach was rather daring for a conventional official television station, but at this point, she could only take the gamble.

If it succeeded, it would prove that resisting the ending of her previous life was possible—that fate was not immutable and could be changed through human effort!

Wen Tang allowed herself to be pulled along, feeling both amused and helpless.

“Could it perhaps be possible that every operating room at the hospital is already scheduled for surgery today and there isn’t any empty space at all?”

“Ah? Then what are we supposed to do?” Shi Nanqiao’s voice was filled with disappointment, but then she noticed the teasing look in Wen Tang’s eyes.

Realization dawned on her.

She clung to Wen Tang’s arm and shook it from side to side.

“Good Tangtang, wonderful Tangtang, just tell me!”

Who could possibly withstand a sweet girl acting spoiled?

Wen Tang surrendered on the spot.

“The university has a simulated operating room used for teaching. I checked, and there are no classes scheduled there today. I’ve already obtained permission to use it.”

“Thank you, Tangtang. You’re the best!” Shi Nanqiao winked at her.

Just as everyone prepared to leave the television station and drive to Huadu University, Wen Tang received a message—

“Tangtang, Yulan was at fault this time. How about this? I’ll have her clear out the space and apologize to you.”

Wen Tang raised an eyebrow.

Sure enough, another message arrived immediately afterward:

“Ah-Xuan has some free time recently. Once he returns, would the two of you like to have dinner together?”