After Transmigrating into a Book, I Was Marked by the Female Lead (GL) - Chapter 5

Tang Congnan was completely unaware of the “yellow-tinted waste” filling his artist’s brain. He simply thought that her personality had changed a lot after her differentiation, as there were many such examples of personality shifts post-differentiation. Therefore, he didn’t think too much of it. Instead, he felt a sudden surge of sympathy because of Li Chu’s unexpected maturity.

Tang Congnan said with great spirit, “It’s fine, darling. You can become just as amazing. When the time comes, we’ll be even more popular than her!”

Li Chu thought that being more popular than the female lead was unlikely. What was more probable was that her face would be redder than the female lead’s in bed.

Tang Congnan went on to mention several things to be mindful of, urging Li Chu not to do anything foolish.

Tang Congnan said, “Watch the program thoroughly these few days, and study hard with the teacher. I’ve arranged a new assistant for you to use for now. I’ll pick you up that day.”

Li Chu, like a well-behaved student, nodded and replied, “Okay.”

As soon as Tang Congnan left, she immediately slumped onto the sofa, like a salted fish who had lost its dream.

Li Chu wasn’t a stranger to being on the small screen. Her past hobby was cosplay, and she often took time off in high school to attend exhibitions and had her own account. In college, she and a classmate co-founded a music self-media channel, and she was the one who appeared on camera. She had even been on a knowledge-based quiz show. But those were different in nature from the show she was about to be on, so Li Chu was still a little nervous.

After all, she was a female celebrity now, even if she was an 18th-tier one.

Li Chu climbed off the sofa, turned on the TV, found the show, and binge-watched several episodes in one go.

Perhaps it was the innate talent of an Omega, but Li Chu felt that she was more easily moved and empathetic when watching these things now than before. Even when she practiced a few segments in front of the mirror, they looked plausible, but that was just looked plausible. Compared to the professional teachers, she was still far behind.

After watching, Li Chu began to analyze the lineup and mechanism of $This is the Actor$. There were five mentors: a famous director, a national first-class actor, and a well-known award-winning film emperor. Professionally speaking, the panel was quite excellent.

The show’s elimination system was also very harsh. In the first episode, a total of twenty new and veteran actors participated. They performed five plays according to a drawing of lots, and the mentors would critique and score them. The total scores from two episodes would eliminate five people from the twenty. Before the third episode, the scores would be reset to zero, five new replacement actors would enter, and elimination would continue.

Those who were safe before might not be able to hold their position, and the newcomers might come on strong. This led to increasing tension among everyone. Under immense pressure, some would erupt, and some would collapse. There were highlights and tear-jerking moments, the works would become increasingly outstanding, topics would multiply, and the popularity would continue to rise.

However, the show wasn’t an endless cycle of elimination and replacement. Li Chu saw the program’s future direction in the messages Tang Congnan sent her: after the first six episodes, the show planned to go from fifteen to ten, meaning no new actors would be absorbed into the competition.

That’s why Tang Congnan emphasized the single spot and the unmissable opportunity. The show had already aired three episodes, the fourth was being filmed, and she was going to film the fifth episode next week. The fifth episode was the last chance for the show to take in new members. Both she and Ning Manqing were among the five people entering in the fifth episode.

Li Chu muttered, “It really is cruel.”

She got up from the sofa, walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window in her slippers. It was already midnight, and the city lights twinkled like a small, shimmering silver river.

Li Chu solemnly burned an imaginary stick of incense for her future, then very respectfully held her phone, clicked on Ning Manqing’s WeChat profile, and sincerely bowed three times to her homepage.

Buddha, Guanyin, Jade Emperor, Jesus above, this believer is willing to exchange ten pounds of body fat for the opportunity to be teammates with the female lead. Please look upon me!

The teachers and seniors were all strong, but Li Chu chose to trust Teacher Ning.

Teacher Ning was her eternal beacon! The female lead was the most awesome!

After chanting slogans in her heart for a while, Li Chu slumped back onto the sofa like a salted fish.

She thought about messaging Ning Manqing tomorrow to prepare for the variety show a week later, first to ask if Ning Manqing could guide her more if they were assigned to the same group.

Although the answer was definitely yes, after all, they had their “spring night” relationship. But Li Chu genuinely felt it was nothing; they were both willing and it was a mutual exchange.

However, she knew Ning Manqing must feel a little guilty. The other woman had even brought up marriage today.

But she truly didn’t have the despicable idea of exploiting the other’s guilt, because she was the one who was truly guilty, even though the incident wasn’t her doing, it was the doing of this body.

It was all the fault of that glass of water! It was the source of all evil!

#WeStillDon’tKnowWhyThePersonDrankThatGlassOfWaterThatDay#

Every time Li Chu thought of it, she regretted it.

Having completed her nightly routine of regret, Li Chu peacefully drifted off to sleep, leaving her worries for the next day.

The next day, Li Chu was woken up by her phone ringing. Tang Congnan said the assistant he arranged for her had arrived and was at the door.

Li Chu climbed out of bed, ruffled her hair, rubbed her eyes, and managed to maintain the minimal dignity of a female celebrity who had just woken up, before opening the door.

A woman of about twenty-four or twenty-five, holding breakfast, stood at the door. When she saw Li Chu, she smiled, her dimples adding a touch of cuteness.

“Hello, Teacher Li. I’m your new assistant. My name is Qian Duoduo, I’m a Beta, and I’ll be responsible for looking after your daily life.”

“Hello, I’m Li Chu. Please come in and sit, I’m going to wash up first.”

Li Chu greeted her and slipped into the bathroom.

While Li Chu was eating breakfast, Qian Duoduo went to tidy up her room and familiarize herself with the layout. Li Chu, while biting into a shrimp dumpling, was messaging Ning Manqing.

In a moving car, Ran Yanru, who was discussing career plans with Ning Manqing, saw Ning Manqing’s phone light up on the side. Ning Manqing was distracted, gave Ran Yanru a pausing hand gesture, picked up her phone, and replied to the message.

Ran Yanru asked curiously, “What is it?”

“A bit of personal business.”

Ning Manqing said blandly, but she didn’t let go of the hand holding the phone.

“Is it a message from the little O you… hmm-ed with that day? Who is it exactly, someone in the industry? You’d better not hide it from me. If you’re really dating, tell me who it is. I need to prepare for public relations in advance.”

Ran Yanru started with a teasing tone, but became serious toward the end.

“I’m not dating.”

Ning Manqing’s reply was also sharp. She didn’t reveal a single word about the person Ran Yanru wanted to know about.

Ran Yanru waited for the rest of the story, but Ning Manqing said absolutely nothing more, leaving Ran Yanru to sigh helplessly in her heart.

Her friend had a cool and reserved personality even when she was a Beta, not saying much, with a somewhat gentle and tranquil-as-water feeling. After differentiation, this pool of water became even more undisturbed. What a cold person.

However, Ran Yanru didn’t know that the person she considered “cold” was currently saving a cute cat emoji he had stolen from Li Chu.

[Peach]: Then I’ll leave it in your hands, thank you, thank you! [Peach]: Cat making heart gesture.jpg

[Ning]: You’re welcome. Even if we’re not in the same group, I can still help you. [Ning]: Cat making heart gesture.jpg

Li Chu bit her milk straw and laughed gleefully when she saw the emoji Ning Manqing sent. Teacher Ning is so cute.

Combined with her previous sentence, it was even cuter!

[Li Little Chu]: Teacher Ning, you’re the best! See you then! [Teacher Ning]: Okay.

To prepare for the variety show a week away, Li Chu threw herself into the ocean of learning.

The teacher lectured for six hours every day, covering not only acting but also dialogue and body language. It was impossible to improve much in a short time, but every little bit counted.

After the lesson, Li Chu still had to practice in front of the mirror for an hour, practice lines for an hour, and then watch and learn from the videos of senior actors. Her diligence was no less than when she was in her last year of high school; she was even acting in her dreams.

A week passed quickly. Tang Congnan came to pick up Li Chu early in the morning and took her for hair, makeup, and costume selection.

The clothes certainly couldn’t be gowns; they had to be casual, good-looking, and able to enhance Li Chu’s physique.

As it was summer, Li Chu finally wore a white shirt paired with a pleated skirt, and her makeup was close to a youthful, innocent look. Li Chu knew immediately what kind of persona the company intended to create for her.

On the way to the TV station for the recording, Tang Congnan was still anxiously giving instructions and making sure she had applied the pheromone blocking patch, while cheering her on.

“I know, Brother Nan, I’m not nervous.”

The closer they got, the calmer Li Chu felt, even counter-comforting her manager, who was worried about her performance.

“Are you really not nervous?”

Tang Congnan carefully examined Li Chu’s expression. She had told him she was a bit nervous before getting into the car.

“Really.”

“That’s good. Relax, and don’t be afraid of embarrassing yourself in front of those teachers. You’re still considered a newcomer.”

Tang Congnan comforted Li Chu. They had now arrived at the destination. Tang Congnan pulled open the car door, letting Li Chu step out.

As Li Chu walked out, she saw another car arrive at the same time. The person inside had already stepped out and met her gaze.

It was Ning Manqing.

Ning Manqing saw her too, and nodded in greeting. Li Chu returned a slightly stiff smile.

Because her knees were weak, ooh.

Although they had been chatting on WeChat, they hadn’t seen each other for half a month. Li Chu initially thought nothing of seeing her again, but unexpectedly, the moment she saw the other person’s face, her body seemed to automatically recall the room-filling cloud-mist tea pheromones that had enveloped her that day, causing her knees to go so weak she could hardly walk.

How embarrassing!

Tang Congnan looked at her knowingly and said, “And you said you weren’t nervous.”

Li Chu: …………

She really wasn’t nervous!!!

Dragging her slightly trembling legs, Li Chu resolutely entered the building and ran into Ning Manqing, who had entered a minute before her, at the elevator entrance. The elevator door was about to close.

“Let’s wait for the next one.”

The moment Tang Congnan finished speaking, the almost-closed elevator door slowly opened again in front of Li Chu.

Along with it came Ning Manqing’s face, unfolding slowly like a scroll, from her eyes and nose to her full features.

Li Chu was struck by the onslaught of beauty. She thought with a heavy heart, Sexual orientation, in danger.