How To Deal With Being Transmigrated As The Scumbag Ex-Wife - Chapter 49

49: The Rest of Our Lives Vs …

Yu Family Villa

“Happy birthday, Grandpa!”

Xiao Lizhi held up her gift to Old Yu, her delicate, snowy face beaming with a sweet, adorable smile that warmed Old Yu’s heart. He lifted her high above his head, and Xiao Lizhi, who had never played such an exciting game, let out a surprised squeal before bursting into joyful laughter.

While texting Chen Ruo to ask about the girl she’d encountered in the elevator, Yu Qingjia heard the clear, cheerful laughter from the living room. Glancing over, she saw Xiao Lizhi playing “lift high” with Old Yu. Seeing Old Yu’s enthusiasm, Yu Qingjia genuinely worried he might strain his back.

“Come, have some snacks first, then play.” Madam Yu brought over afternoon tea, her smile growing even kinder as she saw Xiao Lizhi’s flushed, happy face.

Old Yu set Xiao Lizhi down, and she scampered over to Madam Yu, hugging her leg and calling out sweetly, “Grandma!”

Madam Yu beamed, kissing Xiao Lizhi’s cheek. The more she looked at the child, the more she felt a connection. She couldn’t wait to show off Xiao Lizhi to her friends. So what if she wasn’t Qingjia’s biological daughter? Xiao Lizhi adored Qingjia, and once Qingjia and Ming Yin married, their bond would naturally deepen.

This thought shifted Madam Yu’s gaze to Yu Qingjia, who was on the phone by the balcony corridor, her brows slightly furrowed as if dealing with something troublesome. Madam Yu recalled that when Qingjia returned from S City, she mentioned she was dating Ming Yin but was worried it might not last long, asking them not to tell Xiao Lizhi.

Though she didn’t know what changed Qingjia’s mind, Madam Yu was glad she was now willing to date Ming Yin.

“Grandma, eat!”

Lost in thought, Madam Yu felt a soft cookie touch her lips. Looking down, she saw Xiao Lizhi nibbling on a biscuit, holding another up to her mouth with her chubby hand, her big, round eyes sparkling with innocence, making her even more lovable.

Madam Yu ate the cookie from Xiao Lizhi’s hand in one bite, then kissed her plump cheek, making her giggle.

“Shi Ying?”

Yu Qingjia’s brows furrowed slightly. She hadn’t expected the girl from the elevator to be a trainee signed by Xinghui, only 19 years old. Xinghui planned to debut her in a girl group called Star with eight other girls, with training just starting and a debut planned for next year’s reality show.

Recalling how Shi Ying blushed and stole glances at her in the elevator, Yu Qingjia felt a headache coming on. If it were anyone else showing interest, she wouldn’t mind as much, but the problem was that Shi Ying looked eerily similar to Pan Xing, with even more refined features, which put her on guard.

On the other end of the call, Chen Ruo sensed her concern about Shi Ying and couldn’t help but say, “Don’t tell me you’re hung up on her resembling Pan Xing. You’re divorced from Pan Xing, and in this industry, look-alikes are common. Why are you so sensitive about it?”

Hearing the skepticism in her tone, Yu Qingjia said helplessly, “I ran into her in the elevator today, and she seemed eager to talk to me. Shouldn’t I be cautious?”

Chen Ruo, who hadn’t taken it seriously at first, suddenly turned serious. “You mean Shi Ying’s trying to get close to you? You’re divorced from Pan Xing and with Ming Yin now. She doesn’t think she’s prettier than Ming Yin, does she?”

Yu Qingjia: “…”

What kind of logic was that? It made her sound shallow, as if she only cared about appearances—though she couldn’t deny that Ming Yin’s looks initially drew her in. Who doesn’t like attractive people?

Before Yu Qingjia could respond, Chen Ruo continued, “Alright, I’ll talk to Old Cheng and make sure he keeps these trainees in line. Don’t worry too much.”

After hanging up, Yu Qingjia stared at her phone’s “call ended” screen, lost in thought, until a soft body leaned against her leg. Snapping back, she looked down to see Xiao Lizhi bouncing and hugging her leg, her bright, clear eyes full of anticipation. In her sweet, childish voice, she asked, “Play with me, okay?”

Yu Qingjia’s heart softened. She took Xiao Lizhi’s soft hand and led her to the living room. “What do you want to play?”

“Hide and seek!”

…

10 PM

After helping Xiao Lizhi bathe, Yu Qingjia took her to her room to sleep. But Xiao Lizhi clung to her, refusing to let go, nestling softly against her shoulder and whispering, “Can I sleep with you? At home, I sleep alone.”

Holding the soft, sweet-smelling Xiao Lizhi, Yu Qingjia couldn’t refuse. She quietly carried her to her own bedroom.

As soon as she placed Xiao Lizhi on the bed, the girl dove for the pillow at the headboard, her joyful laughter making Yu Qingjia smile unconsciously.

Just as she was about to play with Xiao Lizhi, her phone pinged with a video call from Ming Yin. Yu Qingjia grabbed her tablet and said, “It’s a video call from Mommy!”

“Mommy!”

At the word, Xiao Lizhi’s eyes lit up. Yu Qingjia answered the call and sat cross-legged on the bed, with Xiao Lizhi climbing into her lap, eagerly looking at the screen.

The moment the call connected, Ming Yin’s face appeared. Xiao Lizhi bounced excitedly in Yu Qingjia’s lap, calling out cheerfully, “Mommy!”

Ming Yin, wearing a soft white robe with damp hair cascading over her shoulders, smiled at her daughter’s voice, her tone gentle. “Good evening. Did you have fun today?”

“Super fun!” Xiao Lizhi shouted with gusto, launching into a recap of her day: playing “lift high” with Grandpa, eating yummy cookies at afternoon tea, tripping while playing hide-and-seek with Xiao Yu, and eating cake at Grandpa’s birthday party, her tummy full. She even gestured to show how big her slice of cake was.

The Yu family don’t usually have cake for birthdays, but knowing Xiao Lizhi was coming, Madam Yu had a strawberry cake—her favorite—made by a pastry chef. Xiao Lizhi ate nearly half of it, her face covered in cream.

The Yu couple loved watching her eat and couldn’t resist feeding her more when she enjoyed it. Yu Qingyi and Yu Qingjia saw no issue, but Ming Yin’s expression shifted slightly upon hearing this.

Yu Qingjia’s heart skipped, sensing trouble.

Sure enough, Ming Yin’s brows furrowed, and even Yu Qingjia tensed. Xiao Lizhi instinctively snuggled closer, clutching Yu Qingjia’s clothes for comfort.

Ming Yin’s tone was stern. “Didn’t I say not to eat too much cake? Feel your tummy.”

Xiao Lizhi obediently touched her soft belly, giggling. “My tummy’s so soft!”

Yu Qingjia nearly laughed but saw Ming Yin’s mild anger soften into exasperation. Ming Yin turned to her. “Zhizhi can’t control herself. Why didn’t you stop her?”

Yu Qingjia gently pressed her head against Xiao Lizhi’s, shaking her head, and Xiao Lizhi mimicked her. “You know my parents adore Xiao Lizhi. They can’t stop feeding her when she’s happy. And when have I ever had the heart to say no to her?”

Xiao Lizhi flashed her signature sweet smile, making Ming Yin sigh helplessly.

The Yu couple wanted to spoil her, what could she say against two elders?

Her girlfriend was just as hopeless, melting at the slightest hint of Zhizhi’s pleading.

Seeing Ming Yin’s displeasure, Yu Qingjia spoke up. “Don’t worry, a couple of times won’t hurt. Xiao Lizhi’s still growing. It’s not as serious as you think.” She tickled Xiao Lizhi’s soft belly, making her giggle and squirm away.

Poking her squishy, elastic tummy, Yu Qingjia added, “I was chubby as a kid too, and I turned out fine, didn’t I?”

Ming Yin’s attention shifted to Yu Qingjia’s childhood, her furrowed brows relaxing, a hint of a smile in her eyes. “Got any photos?”

Yu Qingjia shrugged. “Nope, I made it up to trick you.”

Ming Yin: “…”

Seeing Ming Yin’s expression change, Yu Qingjia burst out laughing. “Just kidding, don’t be mad.”

Ming Yin’s eyes flicked, her tone cool. “Director Yu sure loves her jokes.”

Xiao Lizhi, not quite understanding their conversation, looked up curiously at Yu Qingjia. “What are you talking about?”

Yu Qingjia kissed her forehead. “We’re saying Xiao Lizhi is adorable.”

Though she got a kiss, Xiao Lizhi knew they weren’t talking about that. She puffed out her cheeks, hugging Yu Qingjia’s waist and nuzzling her, mumbling, “You guys have a secret.”

Yinyin and Xiao Yu had a secret, and they weren’t telling her!

Yu Qingjia hesitated, as she and Ming Yin were indeed hiding something from Xiao Lizhi—though it wasn’t much of a secret since everyone else knew they were dating.

Before she could figure out how to respond, Ming Yin’s gentle voice came through the tablet, saving her. “It’s late, Zhizhi. Time for bed.”

Bedtime again!

Xiao Lizhi let out a grumpy hum, climbing out of Yu Qingjia’s lap with her hands and feet, turning her back to them and huffing loudly. “You have secrets and won’t tell me, so I won’t tell you my secrets either!” She dove under the blanket, becoming a little lump.

Yu Qingjia nearly laughed but felt a twinge of worry. As she considered comforting Xiao Lizhi, Ming Yin asked, “How was today?”

About to say it was fine, Yu Qingjia recalled Shi Ying, her brows furrowing unconsciously. “I ran into something weird.”

Ming Yin raised an eyebrow. “Tell me.”

Yu Qingjia chose her words carefully. “Xinghui recently signed a trainee who looks a bit like Pan Xing, but prettier.” As soon as she said it, she noticed Ming Yin’s gentle smile vanish, replaced by a blank stare.

This made Yu Qingjia glad she hadn’t interacted much with Shi Ying—otherwise, her new girlfriend might’ve been history.

“Of course, not as pretty as you.” Yu Qingjia added sincerely. Ming Yin’s expression softened slightly, though her tone remained cool. “Go on.”

Suppressing a smile, Yu Qingjia continued obediently. “I ran into her in the elevator today. She almost fell, and I helped her up.”

The more she said, the colder Ming Yin’s expression became, her eyes and brows icy, though she waited for Yu Qingjia to finish.

Seeing Ming Yin’s displeasure, Yu Qingjia quickly wrapped up. “She wanted to talk, but I didn’t give her a chance and bolted.”

Only then did Ming Yin’s expression ease slightly. She responded, “You think someone arranged this?”

Though she disliked the situation, she understood Yu Qingjia’s point.

Yu Qingjia sighed in relief, glad Ming Yin didn’t get jealous and miss her real concern. “Yes. That dream at the film festival gave me a bad feeling. Maybe I’m overthinking.”

“No,” Ming Yin said coldly. “I’ll have someone look into her. Stay away from her for now to avoid trouble.”

They chatted a bit more, but with Xiao Lizhi nearby, they avoided overly intimate topics. Finally, Yu Qingjia blew a kiss to Ming Yin on the screen, softening her expression again, before ending the call.

After turning off the light and lying down, a soft little body snuggled into her arms, a childish voice whispering, “Goodnight, Xiao Yu.”

“Goodnight, Xiao Lizhi.”

Due to some issues with her business collaboration, Ming Yin stayed in Lan Country a few extra days, extending Xiao Lizhi’s stay. Yu Qingjia took on parental duties, handling Xiao Lizhi’s daily pick-ups and drop-offs, even getting familiar with her teachers.

Parked by the roadside, Yu Qingjia was about to get out to pick up Xiao Lizhi from kindergarten when her phone vibrated on the passenger seat.

Unbuckling her seatbelt and reaching for the phone, she saw the caller ID and answered. “What’s up?”

It was Pan Xing.

Pan Xing’s tone was odd. “Have you seen it? Huayue recently launched a short video contest, looking to discover new directors.”

Huayue’s short video contest? Discovering new directors?

Yu Qingjia raised an eyebrow. “When did this happen? I haven’t been online much.”

Pan Xing hadn’t expected her to be unaware, her voice quickening. “It started a couple of days ago. It’s huge. I thought your sister would’ve mentioned it.”

“Why would she tell me? I just make films. She wouldn’t discuss this kind of corporate competition with me,” Yu Qingjia said casually. Thinking about what Pan Xing mentioned, she reassured her, “Don’t worry. It’s normal for companies to hold events to grow.”

Hearing her calm tone, Pan Xing sounded a bit frustrated. “How can I not worry? I hold Xinghui shares. If Huayue outdoes Tianyue, I’ll lose out!”

Yu Qingjia finally understood why Pan Xing called. She was worried about Huayue gaining an edge, especially since Xinghui seemed unresponsive, and wanted to gauge the higher-ups’ stance.

But Yu Qingjia hadn’t known about it until Pan Xing mentioned it, so she couldn’t offer any insight into the executives’ thoughts.

Her gaze drifted toward the kindergarten, where parents were starting to pick up their kids. She got out of the car, saying, “Don’t worry. This contest won’t hurt Tianyue in the short term. Short videos and films are different, and film production takes time. There’s no need to rush to compete with Huayue.”

Pan Xing found her reasoning sound, her tone calming as she said a few more words before hanging up.

After picking up Xiao Lizhi from kindergarten, Yu Qingjia took her straight to the Yu family villa.

That night, after bathing, Yu Qingjia sat with her laptop, looking into the short video contest Pan Xing mentioned. It had been posted on Huayue’s official site two days ago and promoted across film-related forums. With generous prizes, it was generating a lot of buzz.

After reading the post, Yu Qingjia took her laptop to find Old Yu.

Old Yu was in the living room, reading a finance magazine. Hearing footsteps on the stairs, he glanced over and saw Yu Qingjia with her laptop. “What’s up? Got a problem and need your old man to fix it?”

Yu Qingjia laughed, shoving the laptop into his arms. He glanced at her before looking at the screen. His relaxed smile turned serious upon seeing the content. “Don’t worry about this. We’ve known about it for a while. Let them do what they want. If they actually find some talent, it’ll be a contribution to the industry.”

Old Yu didn’t seem like someone with that kind of perspective. If he thought that way, why start Xinghui in the first place?

Yu Qingjia asked, “How are you planning to respond?”

“Xinghui signed some students from the film academy recently, and we’ve got a few film projects in development. This won’t amount to much,” Old Yu said, shaking his head, his entire demeanor—down to his hair—dismissing the contest. “The main focus is your mythology universe project. Everyone’s got high hopes for you. Don’t drop the ball now.”

Yu Qingjia mentally rolled her eyes. She’d told them not to take the project too seriously since the first film was a test run with uncertain results, yet now it was a major project.

Still, if Eternal Life succeeded, the project could officially take off.

Seeing his daughter’s frustration, Old Yu laughed heartily. “Hahaha, just kidding! Would your old man be that unreliable? No pressure. If the film flops, we’ll just sell the house to cover the losses.”

Yu Qingjia: “…”

She knew now where her sense of humor came from. What a great joke.

…

The short video contest sparked heated online discussions, with netizens marveling at Huayue’s big investment.

“I signed up right away. I know nothing, but what if I get lucky?”

“This is a smart move. Huayue’s stock even went up a few points.”

“Whoa, that much money? Count me in!”

“This is great! It’s digging up new directors, adding fresh bl00d to the film industry.”

Skeptics weren’t absent either—

“Didn’t Huayue just poach some directors from Tianyue? Why this contest? Do they have enough resources?”

“My friend in Huayue’s management said if a former influencer like YQJ can direct, why not others? They’re looking for hidden talent.”

“Isn’t this just Huayue picking a fight with Tianyue? Can’t they do something productive instead of stirring up drama?”

Whether positive or negative, the comments boosted the contest’s visibility. As more people paid attention, submitted works started circulating online. Most were rough, with amateur actors or even family members, leading to plenty of comedic moments.

A trending topic, “Cringeworthy Short Video Moments,” emerged on Weibo, featuring clips from contest submissions. Many netizens found them hilarious, further fueling the contest’s popularity.

Half a month into the event, a short video titled The Rest of Our Lives exploded across social media, quickly topping the trending charts.

At first, people assumed it was another silly video, but upon watching, they found it surprisingly touching and well-made, with superior cinematography and acting that outshone previous entries. Only then did people recall the contest’s goal of discovering talented directors.

“I’m obsessed with The Rest of Our Lives! It’s amazing, go vote for it!”

“I fought with my girlfriend yesterday, almost broke up. Watching The Rest of Our Lives reminded me of our ups and downs, so I went back, knelt on a durian, and apologized. We’re good now. Thanks, The Rest of Our Lives. Wishing the creator a bright future!”

“This video reminds me of Yu Qingjia’s Love at First Sight. The creator’s got skills, maybe the next Yu Qingjia?”

…

Many netizens compared The Rest of Our Lives to Yu Qingjia’s early work Love at First Sight. Both were excellent, but while they couldn’t judge artistic elements like composition or lighting, they felt The Rest of Our Lives had more heartfelt dialogue, whereas Love at First Sight told a complete story without dialogue, making Yu Qingjia seem more skilled.

When some claimed The Rest of Our Lives’s director could be the next Yu Qingjia, most netizens scoffed. After all, Yu Qingjia’s debut film raked in 1.7 billion at the box office—a near-mythical feat unlikely to be repeated.

But the debate didn’t last long. Industry insiders noticed the video and posted on Weibo:

“The director’s skill is impressive. Several shots are cleverly handled, especially the zoom lens showing the protagonist’s inner struggle. Brilliant design!”

“A refreshing work with both technique and soul. With proper development, they might not be worse than Yu Qingjia.”

“This video feels natural and striking. Young people these days are something else!”

Seeing these industry comments, netizens were awestruck. They recalled similar praise for Love at First Sight, though some had implied Yu Qingjia used a ghostwriter. Did this mean the director’s skill was on par?

Fueled by some paid trolls, netizens began believing the director’s level was close to Yu Qingjia’s early work. With Huayue’s support, they might even surpass her.

Yu Qingjia, who stayed silent throughout, was dragged into the comparison. She didn’t mind comparisons, but some took the chance to hype The Rest of Our Lives’s director while subtly bashing her, claiming that as Tianyue’s chairman’s daughter, she’d had so much support yet only achieved “this much.”

Such comments were mercilessly mocked. Everyone knew Yu Qingjia, a former influencer with no formal training, went from knowing nothing about film to winning the top prize at an international A-list festival with her second work. If that was “this much,” most directors in the industry had no skill at all.

Still, some tirelessly hyped The Rest of Our Lives’s director, rallying support, leading some unaware passersby to think they were better than Yu Qingjia.

When Yu Qingjia learned of this, online opinions had split into three: one group believed The Rest of Our Lives’s director was far superior; another thought the director was buying marketing and the hype came from those jealous of Yu Qingjia; the third just watched the drama unfold, caring only about the gossip.

Learning about the dark horse in Huayue’s contest, Yu Qingjia looked up the video. Seeing her name tied to The Rest of Our Lives content, she frowned uneasily but clicked to watch.

From the opening shot, she could tell the director had talent. After watching, she understood why she was linked to it. As a short video about love, The Rest of Our Lives easily drew comparisons to Love at First Sight. She was bound to be compared to this director, whether that was lucky or unlucky for them.

The work was indeed high-quality, with clever cinematography, though some details felt off, slightly discordant.

Yu Qingjia was pondering what caused this discord when her phone’s ringtone interrupted her.
Ding ding ding—

Her phone vibrated on the desk. Snapping out of her thoughts, Yu Qingjia saw Ming Yin’s name and answered.

“Hello?”

Yunwu Mountain

Swirling white mist clung to the mountainside, half-hiding the lush greenery. The weather wasn’t too hot, and the mountain was cool and serene.

Yu Qingjia sat in a teahouse, leaning by the window to take in the view below. Turning back, she saw Ming Yin brewing tea, her movements fluid and graceful, captivating Yu Qingjia. She wasn’t sure if the faint fragrance was Ming Yin’s or the tea’s, but for the first time, she understood tea’s allure.

Ming Yin slid the tea set toward her. Catching Yu Qingjia’s unmasked admiration, a smile flickered in her eyes as she sipped her tea to hide it.

“Why did you suddenly ask me here?” Yu Qingjia took a sip, unsure if it was her imagination, but the tea tasted far better than any she’d had before.

Ming Yin smiled softly, her voice gentle. “We’re dating, aren’t we? Going on a date is normal.”

Drinking tea and enjoying the view counted as a date?

Yu Qingjia blinked, deciding to indulge her girlfriend this time. She relaxed, propping her head on one hand and smiling at Ming Yin.

Feeling her heart warm under the gaze, Ming Yin lowered her eyes, trying to ignore the direct stare while keeping her tone calm. “Why are you staring at me like that?”

“You’re beautiful.” Yu Qingjia said, adjusting her pose but keeping her eyes on Ming Yin. The more she looked, the more stunning she found her—not just her face and features but the composed elegance and refined aura cultivated by the Ming family, outshining many beauties she’d worked with.

Ming Yin’s smile deepened, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “You like me that much?”

Yu Qingjia chuckled inwardly but said sincerely, “Yes. So, will President Ming grant her admirer a kiss?”

A pale hand set the teacup down. Ming Yin reached out, pressing Yu Qingjia’s head gently, and kissed her soft, shapely lips, her voice laced with pleasure. “Granted.”

Her cooperation made Yu Qingjia laugh. She was about to speak when she noticed Ming Yin pursed her lips, her expression turning displeased. Yu Qingjia raised an eyebrow. “Looks like President Ming’s hiding something.”

Given Ming Yin’s busy schedule, a sudden outing to drink tea and enjoy the view likely meant she had something to discuss.

Caught out, Ming Yin’s brows furrowed slightly. After a moment’s thought, she said carefully, “Don’t take those online comments to heart.”

“Hm?” Yu Qingjia’s eyes widened in surprise. It took her a moment to realize Ming Yin meant the online chatter about The Rest of Our Lives’s director and her. She’d just watched the video and hadn’t seen the comments yet, but since her girlfriend brought her out to relax over tea, they couldn’t be good.

Her heart warmed with sweetness. She didn’t care about online opinions, but those around her—Yu Qingyi, Ming Yin—worried about their impact on her.

She recalled the Golden Flower Awards, when Ming Yin had hurriedly called to check on her, treating her like family.

Holding Ming Yin’s hand, warm and smooth like fine jade, Yu Qingjia couldn’t resist kneading it gently. Ming Yin let her, her gaze softening further.

Yu Qingjia smiled. “Don’t worry. I don’t read those comments. Let them say what they want, it doesn’t affect me.”

Ming Yin studied her, seeing her genuine smile, and relaxed. “Good. Don’t let it get to you.”

She thought of the comments claiming Yu Qingjia was inferior to The Rest of Our Lives’s director.

Nowadays, anyone dared to step on others to climb up, not knowing who could be used and who shouldn’t be touched. Such blind attacks were suicidal.

A shadow passed through her dark eyes, but the warmth of Yu Qingjia’s hand dispelled her negative thoughts.

When Ming Yin looked up again, her eyes held only pure concern, clear and beautiful.

Seeing her reflection in those eyes, Yu Qingjia felt a moment of daze. Snapping back, she asked, “By the way, have you seen The Rest of Our Lives?”

“Yes.” Ming Yin replied immediately, adding, “But it’s not as good as Love at First Sight.”

Her tone was earnest, heartfelt.

The quick reply made Yu Qingjia raise an eyebrow, then smile. “The lead actress, Gao Tan, was pretty good.”

Ming Yin’s expression flickered, calmly correcting, “The lead in The Rest of Our Lives is Zhuzhu, not Gao Tan.”

Yu Qingjia feigned realization. “Right, right, my mistake. It’s Zhuzhu.”

So Ming Yin had actually watched it, not just saying so to please her.

Seeing Yu Qingjia’s smile, Ming Yin smiled back, saying nothing.

Xiao Yu was right, she hadn’t watched The Rest of Our Lives. She’d learned the leads’ names from the comments.

Unaware she’d been outsmarted, Yu Qingjia thought Ming Yin had seen it and mused, “The video’s pretty good. Minus some minor flaws, I’d give it an 80.”

“Flaws?” Ming Yin looked puzzled.

Yu Qingjia frowned, confused herself. “Some shots felt a bit abrupt, with a few basic mistakes.

They don’t affect much, so I’d call them flaws.”

She couldn’t understand why the director made such obvious errors—unless there was a deeper intent.

Catching the contradiction, Ming Yin had a thought.

Perhaps this wasn’t as simple as it seemed.