This Best Actress is a Bit Annoying - Chapter 1

“Do you have any idea that you’re playing with fire?! Working with someone like that—one day you’ll be swallowed whole and won’t even know what hit you. If Jiani hadn’t overheard your phone call by chance, were you ever planning to tell me? This work of yours is guaranteed a nomination; why are you in such a rush?”

“How can I not be in a rush, Tianqing? I’ve been in this industry for five years. You know how long I’ve been longing for the title of Best Actress. You, of all people, should understand me.”

…

“Don’t go!”

“Can you please stop trying to control me?”

“Ah—!”

“Tianqing!”

…

Those noisy voices drifted from near to far, so hollow and pale she couldn’t grasp them. Then, a series of rhythmic tap-tap-tap sounds echoed around her, accompanied by muffled whispers of men and women. She strained to listen, catching fragmented words like ‘doctor’ and ‘after she wakes up,’ but before she could hear more, a heavy fatigue pulled her back into a deep slumber.

By the time she woke again, three days had passed.

“Qingye, you scared your brother to death.”

Seeing her wake, the man beside her immediately pressed the red call button. Soon, doctors in white coats filed in, performing a battery of tests. Once finished, the man pulled a doctor aside and asked in a low voice, “Doctor, how is my sister?”

Hearing this, Xia Tianqing fluttered her eyelids to study the man. He was young, roughly thirty, with a solid build—about 183cm tall. He hadn’t shaved in days, and his eyes were bloodshot. Despite his slightly disheveled appearance, he exuded the heavy aura of a high-ranking authority figure—someone clearly used to having everything under his control.

Xia Tianqing felt a flicker of unease and closed her eyes, pretending to sleep. She was certain she didn’t know this man. Not as an investor, an artist, or a fan.

But if they were strangers, why did he look at her with such doting eyes?

She was hospitalized, yet there wasn’t a familiar face in sight. Where was her manager? Her assistant? And… she should have been by her side. The more Tianqing thought, the more things felt wrong. Her head began to throb with a sharp, piercing pain, as if something were about to break through a cage.

Crack. A flood of memories that didn’t belong to her came rushing in.

Tianqing’s head felt like it was splitting. She gritted her teeth to keep from crying out, clutching the bedsheets as memories flashed through her mind like exploding fireworks.

She was no longer herself.

The person in these memories was named Xia Qingye, matching the name the man had called out. The man was Xia Yanbo. The two siblings had depended on each other since childhood, inheriting their parents’ estate. Life hadn’t been bad. Xia Yanbo had a sharp mind for business, using the inheritance to build a financial investment firm and two large entertainment venues. Because he was consumed by work, he lacked the energy to properly raise his younger sister. He mostly used money to satisfy Xia Qingye’s demands, neglecting her psychological development.

Consequently, Xia Qingye grew up to be a spendthrift “trust-fund brat.” Following the trend of wealthy socialites, she took on a “little lover”—spending massive amounts of money to promote a rising young starlet. She gave both her money and her heart, only for that starlet to use her family resources as a stepping stone. To make matters worse, her “coming out” as someone who only loved women was discovered by her domineering brother. Having her most private truth torn open by her own brother, combined with the betrayal of her lover, Xia Qingye had swallowed sleeping pills to end it all.

After a trip to the bathroom, Xia Tianqing looked in the mirror and finally accepted the fact that she was likely “dead.” It made sense—falling down such a long flight of stairs, one would either be dead or crippled.

“A face this beautiful… it’s a waste not to be in the entertainment industry.”

The woman in the mirror was breathtakingly sultry. She had beautiful “peach blossom” eyes; when she wasn’t smiling, they looked misty and dreamlike, exuding an innate charm. When she did smile, they curved into crescents that could steal one’s soul. No matter how you looked at her, she looked like a “fox spirit” meant to lead people astray.

She had a curvaceous, graceful figure, and stood at 168cm—likely thanks to good family genes. She’d be even taller in heels.

Tianqing lightly patted the perfect face. The fair skin was currently pale and haggard, which actually added a touch of “pitiful beauty” to her look.

“Qingye!”

Hearing the call, Tianqing frowned slightly. Since accepting Xia Qingye’s memories three days ago, she had been digesting her current situation. She had been pushed down the stairs by her lover and died. Xia Qingye had committed suicide and died. Now, she occupied this poor girl’s body. The girl only had one brother, but unfortunately, he was a domineering CEO, incredibly sharp, and a “sister-con” with a suffocating level of devotion. This overbearing love had been crushing for the original Xia Qingye. When the issue of her sexual orientation came to light, the conflict between the siblings finally exploded.

Adhering to the principle of “the less said, the fewer mistakes made,” Tianqing had remained silent since returning from the hospital, acting like a traumatized girl who had shut herself off from the world.

Seeing her come out of the bathroom, Xia Yanbo let out a quiet sigh of relief. “Qingye, the doctor said walking around more will help your recovery.”

Tianqing ignored him, treating him like air. She couldn’t help but marvel at the room’s decor—it was purely “dark style.” The curtains were black, and the walls were covered in posters of that starlet, occupying two-thirds of the room. Even the puzzle on the ceiling was the starlet’s face. If you weren’t mentally strong, waking up in the middle of the night here would give you a heart attack.

“Qingye, what do you want to eat? I’ll have Auntie Fang make it for you.”

“Qingye, it’s too windy on the balcony. Why don’t we go sit in the garden downstairs? Didn’t you say you wanted to go to the Arctic? Once you’re better, Brother will take you, okay?”

Tianqing had just started toward the balcony for some air when Xia Yanbo blocked her. Is he afraid I’ll jump?

She had no choice but to huddle on the bed, hugging her knees with her head tucked down. Her eyes were empty and unfocused, looking both at nothing and through everything. That “pitiful little thing” look was enough to make anyone’s heart ache.

Xia Yanbo followed her gaze and saw the pure-looking, 18th-tier actress on the poster. Irritation flared up, but then he remembered the day he opened the door to find his sister lying motionless on the floor. He shuddered, his anger cooling instantly.

He had almost lost his only relative in this world.

He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled his seemingly broken sister into a gentle embrace. “Qingye, are you mad at Brother?”

“Qingye, talk to me. Just one sentence.”

“Last time was Brother’s fault. I shouldn’t have scolded you without listening. I didn’t understand. I was just afraid—”

“If you truly like women… Brother won’t object anymore. As long as you’re happy.”

Listening to him, Tianqing found herself bursting into tears. When the salty droplets rolled into her mouth, she cursed inwardly—Damn, there are still residual emotions left in this body.

Xia Yanbo reacted quickly. Summer clothes were thin; he felt a large wet patch on his shoulder. Panicked and clumsy, he wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Qingye, don’t cry. It’s my fault. I was wrong. I’m sorry.”

Hearing this man repeat his apologies so awkwardly—compared to the arrogant, domineering tycoon in her memories—he now looked haggard, helpless, and disheveled. It was clear he truly loved his sister.

In this war of attrition, whoever cares more, loses. Whether it’s love, friendship, or family.

Tianqing felt both aggrieved and a dull ache in her heart. Aside from the empathy inherited from the body, she felt a sliver of envy. She had been the eldest daughter, entering the entertainment industry just to support her younger siblings. Since childhood, she had wished for an older brother or sister to protect her and carry the burdens that shouldn’t have been hers. But alas.

“Brother.”

“Qingye! You called me!”

Xia Yanbo was ecstatic. In his excitement, his grip on her shoulders tightened. His eyes were even more bloodshot now. Afraid she’d try something again, he had ignored his company for days, staying by her side 24/7 in a state of high nervous tension. He had even softened his stance on her coming out.

Tianqing knew exactly what she was doing. She was using his devotion, faking weakness and a “lost will to live” to force this domineering man to back down. It was exhausting work, and she was starving; any longer and she wouldn’t have been able to keep up the act.

“Brother, I’m hungry.”

“Good, good! I’ll have Auntie Fang bring up the porridge immediately.”

The two moved fast. Within minutes, a bowl of steaming porridge was in front of her. Even though her stomach was screaming for food, she ate the small bowl with slow, methodical grace.

“Qingye, have another bowl.”

“Brother, I want my phone and my laptop.”

Ever since she moved from the hospital back home, Xia Yanbo had confiscated every sharp object and medication. Even the corners of the tables and chairs had been wrapped in soft film.

But the most ridiculous part was that he had even taken her phone and computer. This borderline obsessive level of control gave Tianqing a new perspective on this “sister-con” brother. She would have to be extremely careful dealing with him.

Xia Yanbo hesitated, then stepped out. When he returned, he placed the laptop on the desk and handed the phone to her.

Tianqing tossed the phone aside casually and finished another half-bowl of porridge. Claiming she wanted to nap, she sent Xia Yanbo away. Only then did she grab her phone and type three words into the Baidu search bar: Xia Tianqing.

Author’s Note:

Xia Qingye: Just arrived and already out of the closet.

Woohoo! Started a new story. Regular daily updates. Please “Favorite” the story and give some “Flowers”! [Rolls around on the ground]