The Whole World Is Waiting for Them to Divorce [Transmigration Into a Book] - Chapter 23

Liang Yufei had indeed gone stupid.

She had originally thought Si Yu could not act. Relying on the original heroine’s acting skills, she had been feeling very pleased with herself. In her mind, she had rehearsed countless times the sorry sight of Si Yu being crushed by her acting until she felt ashamed of herself. She had imagined Si Yu performing badly and getting cursed out by the director, being pointed at by the other actors and staff, then drowned by netizens’ spit.

After learning that Si Yu was going to play the second female lead, Liang Yufei had looked forward every day to joining the crew as soon as possible. She could not wait to act opposite Si Yu. She wanted to slap this woman in the face and watch her make a joke of herself!

But now, the plot development was completely opposite to what she had imagined…

In such a simple scene, she had actually been frightened by Si Yu into forgetting her lines twice in a row…

A bolt from the blue.

Liang Yufei carried her own golden finger. Acting by relying on the original heroine’s acting skills was effortless for her, but she had no acting experience. Faced with this kind of situation, she had no idea what to do. She failed to catch the scene, and only panic remained in her heart.

She had even forgotten they were acting. Looking at Si Yu’s eyes and expression, she had no doubt that Si Yu truly wanted to hit her, and she reflexively shrank her neck.

“Cut!” Qian Lei stood up and pointed at Liang Yufei with restrained anger. “Yufei, why are you trembling? Say your lines! Chen Shuang may be a female bully, but the Yu Su you’re playing is a heroine who looks soft on the outside but is strong on the inside. You’re afraid, but you also refuse to admit defeat. You need to push her away and confront her!”

Liang Yufei snapped awake as if from a dream and murmured, “I’m sorry, Director. I… I’ll pay attention next time.”

Liang Yufei did not dare say she had forgotten her lines again. The director’s voice was loud, and everyone was looking at her. She felt an unprecedented embarrassment. She bowed, and when she turned her head, she met Si Yu’s meaningful gaze. Her heart jolted, and she bit her teeth hatefully.

Qian Lei really was not very happy. It was not that he did not allow actors to make mistakes; he could simply see that Liang Yufei was not acting with focus. Before filming started, he had clearly explained every movement and expression to them in detail, yet Liang Yufei had not acted them out.

On the other hand, Si Yu’s performance surprised Qian Lei greatly.

At first, Qian Lei had favored Guan Qiaoqiao for the role of the second female lead. In the end, Guangying replaced her with Si Yu, and he had been very dissatisfied about it. After seeing the online slander about Si Yu, he had not dared hold any expectations for her and had already prepared himself for endless NGs and retakes. He had never expected Si Yu could act!

Could the rumors be fake? Or had Si Yu specifically learned acting during this period?

Qian Lei had no time to think carefully about this. He looked at Si Yu. “You acted very well. Your gaze and expressions were handled very precisely. Keep acting with this feeling.”

He suddenly looked forward to what kind of surprising performance Si Yu would bring next. After all, Chen Shuang was a rich, fully fleshed-out character. Book fans liked her very much, and Qian Lei himself liked her very much too. If she were ruined, it would truly be a pity.

Unmoved by praise or criticism, Si Yu said, “Thank you, Director. I understand.”

Liang Yufei’s expression stiffened slightly.

The director actually praised Si Yu??? Aside from shock, Liang Yufei felt even more displeased.

She felt the director must have misjudged. Si Yu’s performance just now counted as good? Si Yu’s character setting was that of a vicious female supporting character. Acting fierce and threatening people—wasn’t that just acting in her true colors? What acting skill was there!

That’s right. It was acting in her true colors.

Liang Yufei instantly found her balance again.

Chen Shuang in high school was a notorious female bully. Wasn’t that simply a second Si Yu? Once they filmed the part after entering society, let’s see how she acted then!

Liang Yufei regained her confidence. Before she could feel smug, she heard Qian Lei say, “Yufei, focus. If you still don’t act properly, I really will start cursing.”

Being criticized twice, Liang Yufei’s face instantly flushed red, then white. She took a deep breath and said, “Director Qian, give me one more chance.”

Qian Lei waved his hand, signaling the clapperboard assistant.

When they filmed the third take, Liang Yufei finally stopped getting stuck on her lines. However, Qian Lei felt she had not expressed the heroine’s soft-but-strong personality. Her timid manner looked slightly weak.

They did it again. This time, Liang Yufei was strong, but she was a little too strong, losing the heroine’s touch of innocence.

On the fifth take, Qian Lei was finally satisfied and told Zhang Sikai to come over to prepare for the next scene.

The next scene was about the male lead, Zhang Yang, teasing the female lead, Yu Su, in the hallway, only to be seen by the second female lead, Chen Shuang. Chen Shuang, burning with jealousy, rushed over to question him, then was mocked and rejected by Zhang Yang. Finally, Zhang Yang left with Yu Su, while Chen Shuang stayed in the hallway alone, secretly heartbroken.

The director came over again to explain the scene to them. This time, Liang Yufei did not dare listen carelessly.

This scene had a more intense conflict. The emotional entanglement between three people made it less easy to film than the previous scene. It took seven takes before they passed.

Liang Yufei was not scolded again, but she was not praised either, and she felt somewhat disappointed.

Qian Lei looked at the monitor and said with a smile, “Si Yu handled the detail of holding tears and hatred in her eyes very well. Without any lines, just one gaze thoroughly expressed Chen Shuang’s inner conflict. Very good!”

Liang Yufei had not seen the final shot. She did not believe Si Yu was as good as the director said, so she ran to the monitor to watch the playback. The more she watched, the more unconvinced she felt.

Chen Shuang raising her hand as if to slap her, and that final gaze fixed on her and Zhang Yang, that wildly jealous look—didn’t that perfectly fit Si Yu’s vicious female supporting character setting?

What well handled? What thoroughly expressed? She was acting in her true colors, Director!

Qian Lei could not hear Liang Yufei’s inner shout. The more he looked at Si Yu, the more satisfied he became. With a solemn expression, he said, “Earlier, the internet said you couldn’t act. I mistakenly listened to the rumors and was dissatisfied with you. Now I apologize to you. I’m sorry.”

When they shot the makeup photos, Si Yu had already felt that Qian Lei’s attitude toward her was cold. After joining the crew, Si Yu had always kept a low profile. She had not tried to curry favor with Qian Lei and only wanted to act well to prove herself.

Qian Lei had praised her twice, and his attitude toward her had clearly changed. Si Yu was happy inside, but she had not expected that as the director, Qian Lei would actually apologize to her in front of so many people.

Si Yu felt flattered and hurriedly said, “Director Qian, you’re too polite.”

Qian Lei was a straightforward person. He did not think apologizing to an actor was something that lowered his status. He laughed loudly and said, “Originally, I was worried you wouldn’t know how to act and would ruin the role of Chen Shuang. Now it seems you’re extremely suitable. Act well!”

Si Yu broke into a bright smile. “Thank you, Director. I’ll work hard.”

Liang Yufei, who had been ignored while standing beside them, had a faintly twisted expression. After waiting for a long time and still not seeing Qian Lei come praise her, she left the filming site with anger held inside.

Among the extras playing students, one was Liang Yufei’s fan. Seeing her come off set covered in sweat, she attentively handed over a bottle of mineral water and said, “Yufei, your acting was so good.”

Liang Yufei’s mood finally became a little smoother. She squeezed out the original heroine’s pure, invincible signature smile, took a sip of the mineral water her fan had given her, and went to rest on the side.

As soon as she sat down, she heard the other extras praising her.

“Liang Yufei’s temperament is so clean. She’s twenty-three, but playing a high school student doesn’t feel out of place at all. She’s full of girlish feeling.”

“I really liked her in Favored Consort. She practically brought Ling’er to life.”

“She played Yu Su pretty well too. Pure and obedient, but also fierce in a cute way. So adorable.”

“Did none of you notice Si Yu acted really well? I don’t even know who spread those rumors before, saying she got in through the back door and had no acting skills.”

“Right, right, I was misled by those rumors too. I thought Si Yu was just a vase with only looks, but I didn’t expect her acting to be this good! Liang Yufei couldn’t even catch her scene just now. The look she had when playing Chen Shuang was incredible. I was scared.”

“I think Si Yu acted better than Liang Yufei.”

“I think Si Yu’s acting is better too. Her eyes carry so much drama.”

“Ah—” Xiao Yan was holding a small fan to help Liang Yufei drive away the heat when she was suddenly splashed all over with water. She looked in surprise at the mineral water bottle that had been crushed flat in Liang Yufei’s hand, then looked at Liang Yufei and found that her expression was a little strange. “Yufei, what’s wrong?”

As if someone had pressed a switch, Liang Yufei quickly hid the hatred in her eyes and once again turned into that harmless little white flower. Smiling, she said, “Nothing. I’m a little tired.”

There was still one night scene in the evening. When Si Yu wrapped up, she only saw assistant Xiao Xia and asked, “Did Sister Qi go back?”

“No, she’s over there.”

Si Yu followed the direction of her finger and saw Zhu Qi and Liang Yufei standing face to face. Both of them wore smiles, looking as if they were chatting happily.

About two minutes later, they finished talking. Zhu Qi discovered that filming had already ended and walked toward Si Yu and Xiao Xia.

Si Yu said directly, “What were you talking about with her?”

Zhu Qi looked around at all the people nearby and lowered her voice. “We’ll talk later.”

After getting into the nanny van, Zhu Qi finally told her, “This Liang Yufei is so strange. She suddenly asked me whether I’ll take on other artists in the future.”

“And then?”

“I asked whether she wanted to recommend some artist to me, but she said no, she was just asking casually.” Zhu Qi paused and said, “Her current agency doesn’t have many resources. I suspect she wants to switch companies.”

Si Yu sneered inwardly. Certain people probably could not sit still anymore and wanted to fight her for her agent.

In the novel, Zhu Qi was the original heroine’s agent. If Liang Yufei were still the original Liang Yufei, Si Yu would have no objections if she wanted to transfer over and follow Zhu Qi. But the current Liang Yufei had already changed on the inside. She was a two-faced green tea and might even be holding a stomach full of bad water. How could Si Yu let her succeed?

Si Yu smiled brightly and said, “If Liang Yufei really switches to Guangying, Sister Qi, would you want her?”

Zhu Qi had never thought about this question. After thinking for a while, she said, “Liang Yufei has a lot of potential and is very worth cultivating. If I hadn’t signed you first, I would consider taking her.”

Si Yu liked her directness. She restrained her expression and said seriously, “Sister Qi, I’ll prove to you that signing me is more valuable than signing Liang Yufei.”

Zhu Qi wanted to say something but stopped. Considering Xiao Xia and the driver were present, she swallowed the words already on her tongue.

Of course she knew signing Si Yu was more valuable than signing Liang Yufei. Putting aside acting skills, just in terms of backing, Si Yu was far, far stronger than Liang Yufei.

After returning to the hotel room, Zhu Qi could not help asking, “I remember the company used to have a major shareholder surnamed Si. What’s your relationship with him?”

That time, Special Assistant Chen had specifically instructed her to prioritize good resources for Si Yu in the future. Zhu Qi had suspected Si Yu might have some relationship with Lu Xi. Later, she remembered a certain shareholder surnamed Si and realized she might have thought in the wrong direction.

Si Yu blinked and did not hide it from her. “That’s my dad.”

“I knew it!” Zhu Qi exclaimed. “Luxury brands from head to toe, driving luxury cars, living in a mansion, and Special Assistant Chen even specifically instructed me to take good care of you. So you’re President Si’s daughter!”

Si Yu smiled.

“But I heard your dad seems to have already…”

“Died.” Si Yu finished the sentence for her. The female supporting character’s parents were not her parents, so Si Yu actually did not feel much empathy. It was just that thinking of her own parents having met the same fate made her heart dim. Her voice lowered. “He died in a car accident two years ago.”

“I’m sorry, I…”

“It’s fine. It’s all in the past. Any other questions?”

Zhu Qi’s lips moved. “No.”

Actually, she still had some questions, but Zhu Qi was afraid of touching on Si Yu’s painful past and felt too embarrassed to ask.

Guangying had not yet gone public, so shareholder members were not announced externally. Zhu Qi was not clear on exactly who the company’s shareholders were. She had only heard two years ago that President Si, the company’s third-largest shareholder, had died in a car accident, and later Chairman Lu Zhennan bought that portion of shares?

Actually, no.

After the female supporting character’s father died, that portion of shares fell into the female supporting character’s hands. Outsiders simply did not know.

The other shareholders all wanted the equity in the female supporting character’s hands. Lu Zhennan was afraid his position as chairman would be affected, so he privately negotiated with the female supporting character. The female supporting character was not completely brainless. She did not give up the shares. Instead, she proposed one condition—she wanted to marry Lu Xi.

Two years was enough time for Lu Zhennan to acquire other shares, so Lu Xi agreed to the contractual marriage.

After Zhu Qi left, Si Yu went to wash her hair and shower.

It had been a long time since she had filmed, and she was a little tired. After washing, Si Yu did not want to read the script anymore either. She picked up her phone, wanting to play for a while before sleeping. As soon as she unlocked it, she saw a WeChat message and froze.

Lu Xi: “Are you done filming?”

The message had been sent half an hour ago. At that time, Si Yu had been in the bathroom and did not hear it.

Lu Xi actually took the initiative to care about her filming situation. Could it be that she had fallen for her???

Thinking of this possibility, Si Yu instantly revived at full health. Her fingers quickly typed: “Finished filming and returned to the hotel!”

After she sent it, there was no reply for a long time.

Waiting out of boredom, Si Yu decided to seize the initiative. She had just typed, “Do you miss me?” and was about to send it when a new message appeared before her eyes.

Lu Xi: “Is video convenient?”

Video!!!

That was way too convenient!!!

Si Yu’s heart surged. She deleted the line of text, quickly and accurately found a flirtatious emoji and sent it over: “[Come here, little baby]”

The next second, her phone rang with a lively “ding ding dong dong.”

Si Yu instinctively went to accept, then suddenly paused.

This was the first video call between her and Lu Xi! And Lu Xi had taken the initiative to call her! This opportunity was rare!

She undid her hair and deliberately messed it up, tugged at her camisole dress until that inviting line of cleavage was faintly revealed, propped her phone against the headboard, lay on the bed, and posed in a sexy, seductive position.

She did not know whether Lu Xi would feel her heart sway and lose control when she saw this posture…

The more Si Yu thought about it, the more excited she became, and just before the ringtone was about to end, she accepted the video call.

“Honey~”

“Qiao Qiao!” On the other side of the video was Old Madam Lu, white-haired yet rosy-faced. Her eyesight was not very good, so her face was very close. Seeing Si Yu’s bare shoulders and the pale exposed skin at her chest, she said, “Are you not wearing clothes?”

“Grandma, Grandma, Grandma!” Si Yu was so frightened her soul nearly flew away. She hurriedly adjusted her straps and tugged at her clothes. After confirming she had not exposed anything she should not, she lifted the phone and said with an awkward smile, “I didn’t expect it was you who wanted to video call me… Have you eaten?”

Fortunately, Old Madam Lu did not suspect anything about her flirtatious posing just now. She said, “I ate long ago. I was worried you wouldn’t be used to filming on your first day, so I asked Xi Xi to help me set up a video call. Did filming go smoothly today? Was it tiring?”

All the messy thoughts in Si Yu’s mind had already been scared away. Feeling lucky she had not been naked just now, she steadied herself and said, “It wasn’t tiring, Grandma. Filming went very smoothly. Everyone is taking care of me.”

“How was the food?”

“Pretty good. There were ribs, pig trotters, eggplant, broccoli…”

The grandmother and granddaughter chatted like they were making casual conversation for almost twenty minutes. The more they talked, the more excited Si Yu became, but seeing the fatigue between Old Madam Lu’s brows and eyes, she looked at the time displayed at the top and said softly, “Grandma, it’s time for you to rest.”

“All right.” Old Madam Lu did not force herself to stay awake. She yawned and said, “I’ve occupied the phone for so long that you two haven’t even gotten to talk. Take it away. I’m going back to my room. You two say some private words.”

Old Madam Lu said the last part while looking outside the phone screen.

Si Yu did not understand what was happening, then heard a familiar voice. “Rest early.”

It was Lu Xi.

So Lu Xi had been there the whole time!

Did Lu Xi see what she looked like just now…

“Qiao Qiao, good night.”

“Good night, Grandma.”

Si Yu said good night dizzily, then held her breath and waited.

The screen shook for a while. After a rustling sound, a peerlessly beautiful face appeared in front of the camera.

Si Yu’s brain crashed. She suddenly did not know what to say. Her gaze drifted as she stammered, “I thought you wanted to video call me.”

Sure enough, she had overthought it.

Lu Xi seemed to have showered too. The slightly damp ends of her hair lay against her straight collarbones, casual and lazy. Her freshly washed eyes were not as cold as usual. She said, “Grandma originally wanted to call you, then heard she could video call. She thought it was fun and wanted to try.”

“Oh.”

“…”

“…”

The two silently looked at each other for several seconds before Lu Xi broke the silence. “Grandma is actually very reluctant to see you leave. She just doesn’t want to say it because she’s afraid you’ll worry. When you’re not filming, you can chat with her more.”

“I know.” Holding the phone up the whole time was tiring, so Si Yu lay back down on the bed. Her eyes rolled, and she said, “Don’t you have anything else to say to me?”

“Say what?”

“Private words.”

“…What private words could there be between us?”

Si Yu thought about it. That seemed true.

When other young married couples video called, it was all “I miss you, do you miss me,” “I love you,” “I love you too.” But those words did not seem suitable for her and Lu Xi.

Their current relationship was still very awkward.

She had acted enough during the day and was also tired. At this moment, Si Yu did not want to act like some deeply devoted female supporting character anymore. Her head drooped, and she felt a little like giving up on herself.

She had to get up early tomorrow morning to film. Staring at each other like this was not a solution. Si Yu was just thinking about how to end the video call when she suddenly heard someone knocking on the door.

Perfect timing.

Si Yu secretly let out a breath of relief. With a smile on her face, she said, “Someone’s looking for me. Let’s stop chatting for now. Hang up.”

“Wait.” Lu Xi suddenly stopped her.

“Mm?”

That cold gaze swept over the shoulder strap that slipped down when Si Yu got up, then over the exposed skin at her chest. Lu Xi’s eyes flickered slightly, and she said, “Put on a jacket before opening the door.”