The Whole World Is Waiting for Them to Divorce [Transmigration Into a Book] - Chapter 20

From childhood to adulthood, Lu Xi had never been particularly close to anyone, let alone had this kind of intimate physical contact.

The woman was like a soft snake, clinging to her body and wriggling around. Their exposed skin inevitably brushed together. This made rejection rise from the bottom of Lu Xi’s heart, and by reflex, she wanted to push her away. But when she heard Si Yu say she had been bullied terribly, she paused, and the hand she had raised stopped in midair.

She only hesitated for one second, and that gave the person in her arms the chance to take a mile after getting an inch.

Si Yu’s two legs wrapped tightly around Lu Xi’s waist like ropes. In this position, she was half a head taller than Lu Xi. Holding Lu Xi’s face in both hands, she looked down at her from above and pouted. “I still want kisses.”

“…” Lu Xi’s trigeminal nerve faintly throbbed. Forcing down the urge to throw her out, she tried to be patient and said, “Get down first. You’re heavy!”

“I’m only ninety jin. How am I heavy!”

There were two things women could least tolerate: first, being told they were old, and second, being told they were heavy.

Si Yu squeezed Lu Xi’s face hard with both hands and spoke rapidly. “How can you be the villain who complains first and repay kindness with enmity? That day, when you had a fever, you made me fall and then pressed down on me, almost flattening my 34C chest into a 34B. Did I say anything?!”

She finished almost without taking a breath, her mouth like a machine gun. Lu Xi only clearly heard those two sets of numbers and subconsciously lowered her head for a look.

The camisole nightdress was only a thin layer of fabric, and because it was white, the half-transparent cloth faintly revealed the outline of her chest. Full, round, and as her body moved, they bounced lightly like two little rabbits.

It was clearly a B. What nonsense was she saying with her eyes open?

Si Yu noticed her gaze and deliberately puffed out her chest.

And… it became even more obvious.

Lu Xi finally could not stand it anymore. She gripped Si Yu’s waist with both hands and tried to pull her down.

“Aiya, you two…” Auntie Zhao had finished making breakfast and was waiting for them. Hearing what sounded like arguing upstairs, she worried something had happened and hurried up to check, only to unexpectedly see the two of them hugging and clinging to each other at the bedroom door.

The two looked over at the sound.

Seeing that it was Auntie Zhao, Si Yu froze, then hurriedly jumped down from Lu Xi’s body and gave a dry laugh. “Auntie, morning.”

As someone experienced, Auntie Zhao was not surprised by this kind of thing. Seeing that they did not look like they were arguing, and that their posture was so intimate, she thought their relationship had eased. Reassured, she said, “It’s fine, it’s fine. You two continue. Go back to the room.”

After leaving those words, Auntie Zhao very tactfully left, giving this young wife-and-wife pair space to cultivate their feelings.

Continue what, continue…

Her act had been interrupted halfway through, and Si Yu could not find the feeling anymore. She lifted her eyes to look at Lu Xi and saw that Lu Xi’s neat clothes had been wrinkled by her. That face, which remained unshaken in any situation, now had an unreadable expression, and her phoenix eyes were staring straight at Si Yu’s chest.

Si Yu followed her gaze and lowered her head, only to discover one shoulder strap was crooked, and the spring scenery at her chest was faintly visible…

She had almost exposed herself!

Si Yu hurriedly straightened the shoulder strap in a flurry and covered her chest tightly with both hands. When she met Lu Xi’s obscure eyes again, she suddenly felt embarrassed.

She had been so angered by those groundless “black materials” that her head went hot. Seeing that the one knocking was Lu Xi, Si Yu’s drama queen instincts had possessed her. She had only wanted to pretend to be pitiful and sell misery, but she had not expected that as she acted, the flavor would change.

Would Lu Xi think she was being shamelessly seductive first thing in the morning?

Si Yu’s personality was actually not that bold. Being stared at by Lu Xi made her at a loss. She unnaturally twisted her neck and said, “I…”

The phone that had been tossed in the room began ringing wildly.

As if granted amnesty, Si Yu hurriedly threw out, “I’m taking a call,” then fled back into the room as if escaping.

The call was from Zhu Qi.

Zhu Qi had woken early and seen the slander about Si Yu online, so she immediately called her and instructed, “Don’t respond for now. Come to the company later and we’ll discuss it together.”

“Got it.”

Si Yu turned to look at the wide-open doorway and realized Lu Xi was already gone.

She let out a long breath, put down her phone, and went into the bathroom to wash up.

When she went downstairs, Si Yu had already forgotten the awkwardness from earlier. She naturally pulled out the chair opposite Lu Xi and sat down.

Lu Xi seemed not to have seen her and elegantly ate the three-fresh dumplings Auntie Zhao had wrapped. It was not until she finished eating, wiped her hands and mouth with a wet tissue, and lifted her eyes to look at Si Yu that she said, “What were you trying to say just now?”

Si Yu’s cheeks were puffed up by the dumplings, and her voice was a little muffled. “Do you never use Weibo?”

A long time ago, Chen Yan had helped Lu Xi register a Weibo account, but Lu Xi had never logged in even once. She said lightly, “I’m very busy.”

She had no time to play with things like Weibo.

Si Yu took a sip of soup and said unhurriedly, “Last night, Your Smile’s official Weibo announced the start date. Lots of people praised me for being pretty. Then when I woke up the next day, someone started slandering me, saying I got into Guangying through the back door, saying I only have a face and no acting skills and don’t deserve to play Chen Shuang, and also saying the role of Chen Shuang was originally decided for that gq.q, but I stole gq.q’s role.”

Lu Xi knew that Your Smile was about to start filming. She simply never paid attention to gossip.

The drama had not even started filming yet, and someone was already slandering an actor. Moreover, they were slandering Si Yu, a just-debuted newcomer as blank as a sheet of paper. It was somewhat unreasonable.

Lu Xi’s brows furrowed slightly. “Have you offended anyone?”

“You,” Si Yu said casually.

The corner of Lu Xi’s lips lifted slightly, looking like a smile and yet not quite a smile as she looked at her. “Are you saying I’m the one slandering you?”

Of course not.

Si Yu had offended quite a few people: Lu Wei, Lin Shuang, Liang Yufei, and now there was that gq.q or whatever too?

She did not want to tell Lu Xi about all these messy things.

Si Yu looked pitifully at the person across from her. “Will you protect me?”

The word “protect” was too intimate and should not have been used between them. Lu Xi turned her head away, avoiding those overly clean eyes, and said faintly, “When this kind of situation occurs, your agent will contact you.”

Si Yu did not say that Zhu Qi had been the one who called just now. In truth, she had not planned to ask Lu Xi for help with such a small matter either. It was just that seeing the other woman be so cold made her a little dispirited. “Oh.”

Fine strands of hair hung softly around the woman’s face, making her palm-sized face look even smaller. The light in those lively eyes dimmed. She lowered her head, her voice slightly downcast, carrying a trace of disappointment.

Lu Xi’s heart stirred slightly. Her tone softened as she said, “The company’s PR team is very strong. There’s nothing they can’t solve.”

“Oh.”

“…”

As soon as Lu Xi left, Si Yu followed her to the company.

When she met Zhu Qi, Si Yu cut straight to the point. “Who is gq.q? You were the one who gave me the script. Why is someone online saying I stole her role?”

Fan circles liked using initials. Si Yu did not understand the entertainment industry in this world. In her memory, the novel’s author had not mentioned a character called gq.q, and after thinking for ages, she still did not know who it was. She was also too lazy to find the answer among those filthy comments.

“It’s Guan Qiaoqiao,” Zhu Qi said. “The role of the second female lead hadn’t found a suitable candidate for a long time. Later, Director Qian Lei found Guan Qiaoqiao and felt she was very suitable, so he negotiated terms with her. But before the contract was signed, Special Assistant Chen suddenly told me that you would be playing this role.”

“Before the script was given to me, no contract had been signed with Guan Qiaoqiao?”

“No.”

Si Yu raised her voice. “Since no contract was signed, what freaking role-stealing!”

“…You are now a public figure, so you need to be careful with your words and actions.” Zhu Qi lightly criticized her inappropriate wording, then changed the subject. “It is indeed inaccurate to say you stole Guan Qiaoqiao’s role. I’ve already contacted Guan Qiaoqiao’s agent, and they said they’ll cooperate with us to clarify the rumors.”

“As for whether you entered Guangying through the back door, and whether you’re a vase without acting skills, we won’t deal with those for now. Once the drama airs, the rumors will collapse on their own.”

Si Yu thought the same.

Half an hour later, Zhu Qi and Guan Qiaoqiao’s agent finished preparing the statement. Afterward, Guan Qiaoqiao posted on Weibo.

Guan Qiaoqiao V: “Regarding the role of Chen Shuang in Your Smile, Director Qian did indeed approach me half a month ago. However, the filming schedule conflicted with my own, so I had no choice but to regretfully decline. The Weibo post I made before was only me lamenting that I’d missed out on a good script. I never expected it to cause such a big misunderstanding, and I’m very sorry. What person suits what role is decided by the production crew. There is no such thing as anyone stealing anyone else’s role. I hope everyone won’t be misled by rumors. My new drama Love Fire will air next Monday on Fresh Orange TV. I hope everyone supports it. Love you all (づ￣ 3￣)づ”

Once the clarification post came out, public opinion shifted again.

【So Qiaoqiao declined because of scheduling conflicts, and sy didn’t steal the role?】

【So the director originally wanted Qiaoqiao to play Chen Shuang? I like you so much. I really wanted to see you play Chen Shuang.】

【Hah, thought there’d be some big melon to eat. Didn’t expect it to be a misunderstanding.】

【Even if there was no role-stealing, sy still shouldn’t be playing it. Just thinking that my Sister Shuang is going to be ruined makes my heart hurt. What exactly is the director thinking? If Qiaoqiao didn’t have time, at least find a capable actress!】

【Exactly, exactly. Instead of finding a skilled actress, they just had to find a newcomer who has never acted before. Looks like sy getting into Guangying through the back door is true.】

【Getting into Guangying and playing the second female lead right after debuting—what kind of backing does sy have?】

【I don’t want sy to play Chen Shuang. Kneeling and begging for a replacement.】

【I’m so angry. If they don’t replace her, I’m not watching.】

【Not watching if they don’t replace her +1】

【They haven’t even filmed yet. How do you know sy won’t act well? Anyway, I really like her face. She’s the Chen Shuang in my heart.】

【All right, everyone stop arguing. Pay attention to our Qiaoqiao’s new drama Love Fire instead~】

…

Netizens still clung to “Si Yu got in through the back door” and “Si Yu has no acting skills,” clamoring for Guangying to give an explanation and asking Guangying to replace her.

Guangying gave no response to this.

According to Zhu Qi, the fiercer the argument now, the more spectacular the reversal and face-slapping would be later.

Before the drama had even started filming, Si Yu had already received a great deal of attention because of these baseless “black materials.” Her attention was even higher than that of the male and female leads. But most of it consisted of scolding and questioning her, with only a small portion being face fans.

Since Zhu Qi knew she was a newcomer and feared she would not withstand the pressure of public opinion, she comforted her, “During this period, don’t go on Weibo. No matter what they say online, don’t respond. Just focus on preparing the script.”

Before transmigrating, Si Yu had struggled in the entertainment industry for nearly ten years. Although she had never become popular, she was still someone who had gone through great storms and waves.

She said lightly, “Don’t worry, Sister Qi. I know what to do. But I have a question. There shouldn’t have been many people who knew Director Qian had approached Guan Qiaoqiao, right? This ‘role-stealing’ thing—could Guan Qiaoqiao be the one behind it?”

Zhu Qi had not thought that much. After a slight pause, she said, “It’s hard to say how many people knew about that, but it probably wasn’t Guan Qiaoqiao. Stirring this up doesn’t benefit her much.”

“What if it’s self-hype?” Si Yu said. “Although they didn’t sign a contract, the role was intercepted by me halfway through. There’s no way Guan Qiaoqiao wasn’t angry at all, right? Her previous Weibo about a cooked duck flying away clearly shows she was unwilling. Is it possible that she deliberately released rumors saying I stole her role, then clarified after things blew up? That way, she could gain quite a bit of attention.”

Zhu Qi had not thought as much as she had. After pondering slightly, she said, “I still think it’s unlikely. I’m very familiar with her agent. Based on my understanding of Qiaoqiao, she has a straightforward personality and probably wouldn’t do something like scheming behind someone’s back.”

Si Yu did not know Guan Qiaoqiao, so she reserved judgment.

She wanted to find the person behind the rumor, but she had no way to begin.

The blogger who stirred up this wave of public opinion, “Gu Zeyan Is My Husband,” had written that Weibo post vaguely, and the comment implying Si Yu had stolen Guan Qiaoqiao’s role was also unclear. She could not even report it to that trash site Weibo and obtain the other party’s information.

The person behind this was cautious and clearly came prepared.

Who exactly was it? Si Yu felt like her heart was being scratched.

At the Lu residence.

Lu Wei scrolled through Weibo and saw the news that Si Yu had stolen the second female lead role from Guan Qiaoqiao. She was so disgusted she could not stand it. She tapped into WeChat and sent Liang Yufei a voice message. “I’ve never even stolen someone else’s role, and she actually dares steal a role the moment she debuts! No, I have to switch to my alt account and curse at that shameless woman.”

Liang Yufei was eating a bland, tasteless diet breakfast. After listening to the voice message, a pleased smile appeared at the corners of her lips, and she pressed the voice button. “Exactly. Role-stealing is the most disgusting. Last time, she pushed me into the water, and this time, she stole someone else’s role. Sigh, such a vicious and tasteless woman. How could your sister marry her? President Lu really deserves better.”

Lu Wei replied while logging into her Weibo alt. “Last time, my sister didn’t believe she deliberately harmed you. Now that the role-stealing thing has happened, my sister should be able to see her true colors. I’ll share that Weibo with my sister later.”

Before she could successfully share it, she had just logged into her alt account when she saw the clarification post Guan Qiaoqiao had posted on her homepage feed. Lu Wei immediately took a screenshot and sent it to Liang Yufei. “What the hell? It was Guan Qiaoqiao who declined because of a scheduling conflict.”

Seeing the clarification Weibo, Liang Yufei’s smile stiffened, and she no longer wanted to eat her diet meal.

How could Guan Qiaoqiao have declined???

That day at the makeup photoshoot, what she heard director Qian Lei and his assistant say was not like this!

From Qian Lei’s words, Liang Yufei had clearly heard that Qian Lei preferred Guan Qiaoqiao and was dissatisfied that Guangying had given the second female lead role to Si Yu. She had thought Si Yu had stolen Guan Qiaoqiao’s role, so she found marketing accounts to stir things up online. In the end, in less than half a day, they clarified it as a misunderstanding???

Liang Yufei did not believe this was a misunderstanding. She believed even more that Si Yu had abused her power to pressure Guan Qiaoqiao, forcing Guan Qiaoqiao to come out and clarify.

She was truly hateful!

It had not been easy to find a breakthrough and try to use public opinion to crush Si Yu, but she had not expected the reversal to come so quickly.

But it did not matter. Entering through the back door and having no acting skills were ironclad facts. Once filming began, Si Yu would still drown in spit.

Thinking of this, Liang Yufei’s mood improved again, and she happily ate her diet meal.

…

This wave of public opinion gave Si Yu a reminder.

Before leaving Guangying, Si Yu asked Zhu Qi for the contact information of a private detective.

Zhu Qi asked what she wanted it for. Si Yu deliberately acted mysterious. “You’ll know in the future.”

Zhu Qi did not ask further and only reminded her to be more careful in the future.

“Oh right, Sister Qi, can you help me find a dance teacher?”

The second female lead, Chen Shuang, was a street dance expert. In Your Smile, she had three dance scenes. Si Yu did have some dance foundation, but what she had learned was classical dance. She knew nothing about street dance.

Guangying trained artists comprehensively. The contracted artists included actors as well as singers.

This year, the company had signed a new batch of idol trainees. It just so happened that those dozen or so trainees would guest star as students in Your Smile, and a few of them were dance partners who danced with the second female lead Chen Shuang. Zhu Qi arranged for Si Yu to practice with them.

These trainees had all entered the company earlier than Si Yu, but they were all younger than her and affectionately called her “pretty sister.”

Si Yu had an easygoing personality and soon mingled with them.

When Lu Xi and Chen Yan arrived at the trainee room, they saw a dozen fresh-faced young men surrounding Si Yu in the middle. Some were holding her waist, some were holding her legs, and some were pulling her hands. Si Yu was smiling very happily.

Through the layer of glass, Lu Xi could not hear what they were saying. Looking at Si Yu surrounded by handsome young men, smiling like a flower, her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. “Why is she here?”

Cultivating trainees had been one of Guangying’s key focuses over the past two years. Hearing that this year’s batch of trainees was of very good quality, Lu Xi had specifically come down to take a look, only to discover Si Yu mixed among them.

A single red flower among a field of green, the atmosphere harmonious and loving. Anyone who did not know better would think Si Yu was one of their members.

Chen Yan’s mind turned quickly. “These trainees are going to guest star in Your Smile. Si Yu is probably here to learn dance from them.”

Lu Xi had read the script before and remembered that the second female lead Chen Shuang had dance scenes in it.

But did learning dance require this many people to teach her?

Si Yu publicly performed a backbend. Her dance outfit was a little short, and when she bent down, a small section of her fair, slender waist was revealed.

The dozen or so fresh-faced young men beside her clapped and cheered, their voices so loud they could be heard outside.

Lu Xi stared at that slender waist, her brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

Several boys were worried Si Yu would fall, and each one attentively helped her up.

Lu Xi watched without moving her eyes and said, “Does the company not have female dance teachers?”

Chen Yan thought for a moment and said, “Dance teachers are generally hired from outside. There should be female teachers too. President Lu, why did you suddenly ask this?”

Lu Xi pressed her lips together and stared at the dance room, no one knew what she was thinking.

Chen Yan turned to look and saw Si Yu laughing and joking with the fresh-faced young men. She looked again at Lu Xi’s tense side profile and seemed to realize something. “President Lu, do you want a female teacher to teach Si Yu dancing?”

Lu Xi acted as if she had not heard her. She withdrew her gaze and said, answering something entirely different, “Let’s go.”

Chen Yan did not dare say more.

Inside the dance room, laughter and noise continued.

One trainee pointed at the two backs disappearing outside the glass door and said, “Look, are those President Lu and Special Assistant Chen?”

“What President Lu?”

“Which President Lu?”

“Our beautiful CEO?”

Everyone else looked over at the same time.

Those two backs, one tall and one short, one black and one white. The back wearing the white shirt was tall and slender, and the conservative professional suit had been worn by her with a unique charm. Just the sight of her back alone was so beautiful it made people unable to look away.

The fresh-faced boys were still guessing whether that person was Lu Xi, but Si Yu recognized her at a glance. She felt suspicious. What was Lu Xi doing in the dance room?

Just then, a trainee who had gone to the bathroom rushed in like a storm and said, “I saw President Lu! She seemed to have come to watch us practice dancing. Did she say anything to you guys? Did I miss something?”

“President Lu came to watch us practice? Really?!”

That person said, “I saw her from far away just now, standing outside and looking in. By the time I ran over, she was gone. I originally wanted to greet her, but the moment I saw her face, I just, just, just couldn’t speak. President Lu is so beautiful! It’s such a pity she isn’t a celebrity.”

Everyone loved beauty, especially when that person was also Guangying’s CEO—their boss. The fresh-faced boys were extremely excited. Some screamed, and some wailed.

“Oh no, oh no. President Lu didn’t see me picking my nose just now, right?”

“I was scratching my foot. She definitely saw it.”

“If I’d known President Lu was coming, I would’ve shown off my eight-pack abs.”

“You’re trying to seduce her? Stop dreaming. How could President Lu ever fall for a boiled chicken like you?”

The others burst into laughter.

Si Yu was also thinking about what she had done just now. It seemed like nothing much.

The trainees were very hardworking. Si Yu practiced with them for the whole day and ended up with a sore waist and aching back.

Around five o’clock, she received a call from Old Madam Lu, asking her to return to the Lu residence for dinner.

Hearing that she was at the company, Old Madam Lu said, “Then tell Xi Xi too. Have her not work overtime tonight. Come back together with her.”

“Okay.”

After hanging up, Si Yu only then remembered that Lu Xi had blocked her. Calls could not get through, and WeChat messages could not be sent, so she had no choice but to go to the top floor to find her.

The top floor was the CEO’s office. As soon as Si Yu exited the elevator, she was stopped.

By coincidence, the person stopping her was Liu Meimei, whom she had set up before.

Perhaps because the loss of more than a hundred thousand yuan that night had dealt too great a blow, Liu Meimei looked very dispirited. She forced a smile and said, “This is the CEO’s office. May I ask what business you have?”

Si Yu smiled back. “I’m looking for President Lu.”

“Do you have an appointment?”

“No.”

“Then that won’t do. President Lu is busy with official duties. Without an appointment, no one…”

“Si Yu?” Before Liu Meimei could finish speaking, she was interrupted. Chen Yan walked straight over, looked at Si Yu, and said, “You’re looking for President Lu?”

As expected of the CEO’s special assistant. Look at that insight.

Si Yu nodded.

Chen Yan did not know the relationship between Lu Xi and Si Yu, but her intuition told her their relationship was not ordinary. She said, “Please wait a moment.”

Si Yu smiled. “Okay.”

Chen Yan turned to report.

Liu Meimei looked at her in shock. “Your name is Si Yu?”

“You misheard. My name is Driver.” Si Yu lied with a serious face.

Liu Meimei: “………………”

Chen Yan returned very quickly and said politely to Si Yu, “President Lu asked you to go in.”

Si Yu said, “Thank you.”

Before Si Yu knocked on the door, Chen Yan specifically reminded her, “President Lu seems a little unhappy. Be careful how you speak later.”

Si Yu was confused. “Is it because of work pressure?”

Chen Yan’s expression was a little strange. After hesitating, she said, “Just now, when we went downstairs to look at the trainees, we saw you getting very close with that group of fresh-faced young men… After coming back, President Lu has been acting strange, with a gloomy face the whole time.”