How To Deal With Being Transmigrated As The Scumbag Ex-Wife - Chapter 18

18: No Nation-Toppling Beauty, Yet It Has…

“Are you free today? Zhizhi wants to have dinner with you.”

Yu Qingjia, about to grab lunch, received Ming Yin’s WeChat message. Thinking of the little milk bun, she couldn’t help but smile, her slender fingers tapping the screen to reply:

“Sure, should I come to you?”

Noticing Yu Qingjia’s grin, Yu Qingyi raised an eyebrow. “What’s up? Why so happy?”

Yu Qingjia waved her phone smugly. “The little milk bun invited me to dinner. You keep working.”

The little milk bun invited you?

If Ming Yin’s asking you out, just say it’s Ming Yin, using the kid as an excuse?

As if I’d pry.

Yu Qingyi’s expression was hard to read, but she felt happy for her sister.

Ming Yin, knowing Yu Qingjia’s quirks, still wanted to spend time with her. That showed genuine feelings, a desire to be together.

This time, Yu Qingjia entered Mingyue Building smoothly, no obstacles, heading straight to the elevator. Instead of a strawberry cake, she brought a knitted cap matching her own, as Ming Yin had mentioned controlling Zhizhi’s sweets intake. Since the mother said so, Yu Qingjia couldn’t keep feeding the kid sugar and opted for a different gift.

Upon reaching the president’s office, a small, adorable figure barreled toward her. Yu Qingjia crouched, catching the soft little cannonball, enveloped by a sweet, milky scent. Zhizhi’s crisp, joyful laughter followed, and Yu Qingjia’s lips curved in response.

“Xiao Yu!”

Zhizhi wrapped her arms around Yu Qingjia’s neck, her chubby, smooth cheek nuzzling hers.

Yu Qingjia nearly melted at her antics, unbothered by the “Xiao Yu” nickname. She kissed Zhizhi’s forehead. “Hey, Xiao Lizhi, you’ve grown taller!”

Zhizhi touched Yu Qingjia’s hair, then her own, pouting disappointedly. “My hair got longer.” It wasn’t like Xiao Yu’s anymore.

Kids grow fast, and in just a few days, Zhizhi had shot up, her hair included.

Yu Qingjia pulled two caps from her bag, putting one on herself and one on Zhizhi. “No worries, it looks good longer too.”

Seeing the matching caps, Zhizhi’s eyes sparkled. She grabbed hers, turning to Ming Yin. “Mommy, do I look pretty?”

Ming Yin, who’d been watching quietly, finally got attention. A trace of helplessness flickered in her dark eyes. “Very pretty.” She looked at Yu Qingjia, also capped, and said wryly, “Didn’t I say no gifts?”

“Xiao Lizhi’s so cute, she deserves a little something.” Yu Qingjia said, lifting Zhizhi, who cheered and snuggled into her arms, giggling at Ming Yin.

Watching the duo, a strange emotion flickered in Ming Yin’s eyes, quickly fading. She grabbed her coat from the rack. “Let’s go. There’s a nice restaurant nearby.”

Yu Qingjia, holding Zhizhi, followed Ming Yin out.

Zhizhi, new to such outings, excitedly looked around, pinching Ming Yin’s earlobe, then Yu Qingjia’s, then her own, giggling foolishly.

Her silly antics made Ming Yin’s heart ache, knowing what Zhizhi was thinking. She sighed inwardly. “If you’re tired, I can hold her.”

Yu Qingjia playfully jostled Zhizhi, startling her. Realizing it was a game, Zhizhi giggled, leaning into her. Yu Qingjia kissed her cheek. “Let me hold her a bit longer.”

The trio left Mingyue Building conspicuously. Some employees, seeing a woman holding Ming Yin’s daughter, both in matching caps, mistook them for a family of three.

“Is that President Ming’s wife?”

“Are you dumb? That’s Yu Qingjia. A hat makes her unrecognizable?”

“No, I mean, are they… dating?”

“Maybe? She’s divorced, so why not?”

…

To avoid paparazzi, Ming Yin reserved a private room, and the waiter brought a high chair for Zhizhi.

Settling Zhizhi in, Yu Qingjia sat with Ming Yin.

Zhizhi grabbed Yu Qingjia’s hand, playing with it. Yu Qingjia teased her back, making her laugh happily.

Watching them, Ming Yin noticed Zhizhi was livelier with Yu Qingjia. Compared to their quieter time together, Ming Yin felt a pang of loss. Her reserved nature didn’t match Zhizhi’s playful energy.

Noticing Ming Yin’s expression shift, Yu Qingjia asked, “What’s wrong? Work troubles?”

Ming Yin was about to say no, then wondered when they’d gotten close enough to discuss work woes.

Glancing oddly at Yu Qingjia, who was busy teasing Zhizhi, oblivious to her look, Ming Yin decided she was overthinking. Brushing aside the odd thoughts, she said, “Star Making releases tomorrow, right?”

Poking Zhizhi’s soft palm, Yu Qingjia turned to Ming Yin, letting Zhizhi grab her finger without minding. She tickled Zhizhi’s palm, saying, “Yeah, are you gonna head to the theater to support me?”

Ming Yin met her gaze, surprised by her relaxed, smiling demeanor despite Beacon’s box office pressure. “You’re not nervous?”

Yu Qingjia realized this dinner wasn’t just Zhizhi wanting to hang out, it felt like…

She chuckled inwardly. If that was the case, Ming Yin was adorably awkward. They were friends; she could just ask her out directly.

Still, Yu Qingjia played along, feigning ignorance. “What’s to be nervous about? Worst case, I quit the industry.”

Ming Yin’s brows furrowed, wondering if her employee ticket perk to boost Star Making Plan’s box office was wasted if even the director lacked confidence.

About to say she didn’t need to bet her career, Ming Yin looked up and froze.

Yu Qingjia was grinning, pinching Zhizhi’s earlobe, teasing her by grabbing her hand. The warm yellow light softened her features, her smiling eyes lazy, her red lips curved slightly. She lacked a breathtaking beauty but had a warm, relatable charm.

Catching Ming Yin’s gaze, Yu Qingjia tilted her head curiously. Ming Yin lowered her eyes, hiding her flustered look.

Seeing her go quiet, Yu Qingjia thought her casual attitude had upset her. She spoke up, “No need to worry. Beacon Beauty seems strong, but it’s not as good as its box office suggests. In a day or two, its numbers will drop.”

Ming Yin relaxed, unsure if it was because Yu Qingjia hadn’t noticed her odd reaction or because Beacon’s threat wasn’t as big as hyped. Glancing at Zhizhi, who was staring at her curiously, Ming Yin tensed. “What does Zhizhi want to eat today?”

About to comment on Mommy’s red earlobes, Zhizhi got distracted, eagerly scanning the menu.

Ming Yin exhaled quietly, shelving her thoughts to focus on discussing box office with Yu Qingjia.

“Beacon Beauty might end around 600 million yuan,” Yu Qingjia said. “Compared to it, Back to High School is doing better, but it’s unlucky.”

Ming Yin looked puzzled. Yu Qingjia smiled. “If it hadn’t met me, it’d be this year’s Lunar New Year champ.”

“Pfft…” Ming Yin caught the confident swagger in her words, her dark eyes sparkling with amusement. “Then I wish you a box office smash.”

“You already said that,” Yu Qingjia said seriously. “You should say, ‘Wishing Director Yu the Lunar New Year box office crown!’”

Ming Yin gave her an amused glance, but played along, raising her teacup in a mock toast, her smile warm. “Wishing Director Yu the Lunar New Year box office crown.”

Her slender, jade-like hand held the pale green teacup, the light glinting off her wrist like fine porcelain, a faint fragrance lingering.

Yu Qingjia stared at her wrist, suddenly feeling like a creep. She extended her own hand, sighing, “Why is your hand so pretty?”

Ming Yin, expecting a toast, found her outstretched hand both funny and exasperating. She compared their wrists—Yu Qingjia’s, though not as luminous, was well-maintained, smooth, and balanced, equally beautiful.

But under the warm yellow light, an indescribable intimacy bloomed.

The atmosphere made Yu Qingjia uneasy, sensing she’d done something foolish again. Before she could change the topic, Zhizhi eagerly stretched out her chubby little hand, shouting, “Me too! I’m pretty too!”

The plump, soft hand dispelled the awkward vibe, leaving only lighthearted joy.

…

As Yu Qingjia predicted, Beacon Beauty hit 160 million yuan in three days, but negative reviews began surfacing. Meanwhile, Star Making Plan, with its amassed hype, released on schedule.

The team eagerly awaited nationwide box office stats, but the first day’s results stunned everyone—

Star Making Plan grossed just over 10 million, the lowest opening day among Lunar New Year films.

The Star Making Plan was doomed.