Strategy to Conquer the Vicious Female Supporting Character [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 10

“Cut!” Director Song’s voice was filled with excitement as he announced the scene was completed in one perfect take.

It was flawless! An Xiaoxiao was truly an actress who constantly delivered surprises — if the full score was 100, he’d give her 200! Dong Zheng also exceeded expectations — her improvisation with fluttering eyelashes and gripping her skirt, which wasn’t in the script, was brilliant! An Xiaoxiao responded swiftly, and their performance fit together seamlessly! Even Li Kai, who usually played it safe, gave an outstanding performance this time!

This was one of the major climaxes of the entire film! With such an exceptional showing, Director Song could already envision a future where the movie would be both a box office and critical success!

Li Kai said that the reason he did so well was probably because he had no direct scenes with the film queen, Dong Zheng, this time…

With this take finished, Qi Lin’s scenes were all wrapped up. In a cast full of big names, Qi Lin didn’t really count as an important character, so there was no wrap party or anything for her. After handling a few final matters with the crew and expressing her thanks and goodbyes to the seniors, Qi Lin returned to her hotel to pack up and prepare to leave.

Life on set had been quite pleasant for Qi Lin. As expected, the two little vixens, Sister Wang and Liu Meimei, completely occupied the male lead’s attention, leaving him no time to bother her. Not to mention, she got to tease her “wife” every day — it couldn’t have been more delightful.

But her wife still had many scenes left to shoot, so they wouldn’t be seeing each other again anytime soon. Thinking of that, Qi Lin couldn’t help feeling a bit down.

Then, just as she looked up, the person she was missing actually appeared in front of her.

“Film Queen?!” Qi Lin was more shocked than pleased. “Shouldn’t you still be in the studio? Why are you here?”

Though Dong Zheng had enough status to act like a diva, she was known for being low-key and professional. Qi Lin didn’t want to believe she’d do something like leave the set mid-shoot, which could damage her reputation.

She knew that Dong Zheng truly loved acting as a profession.

“There was an issue with the props team, so there’s a short break. I just came to see you,” Dong Zheng said, her tone as cool and indifferent as always.

But Qi Lin knew her too well. No matter how calm and unaffected she tried to appear, Qi Lin could tell she was absolutely lying.

Qi Lin suddenly didn’t know what to say. Looking at Dong Zheng’s emotionless expression, her heart felt both sour and soft.

…Just to say goodbye…

Qi Lin moved closer to Dong Zheng. “So the great film queen can’t bear to part with me, huh?”

Her voice ended in a playful lilt.

Dong Zheng’s body tensed slightly, and she instinctively wanted to step back, but she forced herself to stay still.

She didn’t want… to be too far from Qi Lin either.

“But be good, okay? Don’t do this again next time.” Qi Lin took it a step further, leaning in slightly, and gently scraped a finger along Dong Zhen’s elegant nose.

Then, leaning close to her ear, almost kissing the rim of her ear, she whispered softly, “We’ve got all the time in the world to be together anyway.”

Just a brief touch — and then she pulled away.

Qi Lin was pleased to see her “wife’s” face instantly flushed red.

She had been teasing her for a while, but Qi Lin could tell that Dong Zheng’s low mood wasn’t just because of their temporary separation. She stepped back to a safe distance and looked at Dong Zheng seriously, with gentle concern. “What’s wrong?”

Dong Zheng paused and cleared her throat lightly. “I… got a bit too into character and haven’t snapped out of it yet.”

Qi Lin was momentarily stunned.

All of a sudden, Dong Zheng stepped forward and tightly hugged Qi Lin.

Qi Lin: ?!

The Film Queen is actually this forward?!

Dong Zheng buried her head into the crook of Qi Lin’s neck, her voice tinged with a barely noticeable sob.
“Senior Sister… don’t go…”

Qi Lin: “…”

Dong Zheng had never improvised outside of the script before.

But this time, when her character Nan Zhi was about to leave for a fatal mission, she broke that rule for the first time.

The way Dong Zheng had clutched the hem of her skirt back then—
Even if Qi Lin weren’t playing someone physically exhausted, there would’ve been no way to shake her off.

In fact, the only reason she managed to pull away at all was because she reminded Dong Zheng of the need to loosen her grip.

Qi Lin wrapped an arm around Dong Zheng’s waist, the other hand gently cradling her head, tenderly stroking it with utmost care.

In the real world, Qi Lin and Ji Huaixu had attended the same university. Qi Lin was a year above Ji Huaixu, making them senior and junior schoolmates. They were in different departments and majors, and had only met through a campus club.

For Qi Lin, it had practically been love at first sight. She was always someone who acted swiftly and decisively — if she liked someone, she’d pursue them. But Ji Huaixu and Dong Zheng were similar in temperament: shy and passive, easy to be mistaken as cold and aloof by people who didn’t know them well.

From sophomore year to senior year, Qi Lin pursued Ji Huaixu for three whole years, yet Ji Huaixu never gave her an answer.

Eventually, Qi Lin was about to graduate. No matter how unwilling she was, she was also exhausted. It was time to let go. She handed over some neatly organized notes and study materials to Ji Huaixu.
“Take a look. Keep what’s useful, throw away whatever isn’t.”

Ji Huaixu, being such a sensitive person, immediately sensed something was wrong and was anxious to stop Qi Lin — but didn’t know how to say it.

Qi Lin smiled a little.
“Don’t expect me to say something like, ‘If we can’t be lovers, let’s be friends.’ I’m not that magnanimous.”

Ji Huaixu froze in place.

“If people could go with the flow and live a peaceful, ordinary life, most wouldn’t choose to live one the world frowns upon,” Qi Lin said matter-of-factly.
“You’re bi. Choosing the easier, safer path is completely normal. You don’t have to feel guilty or anything. You’ve always clearly rejected me, and not dragging me into a doomed relationship is already very kind of you. I was the one who stubbornly clung on.”

“And really, being with you these past few years — it’s not like I walked away empty-handed. I mean, I got to spend time with such a cute junior.”

“From now on, let’s not stay in touch. Focus on your studies and career. Don’t be so timid all the time — be a little braver, a little more proactive. It’ll do you good.” Qi Lin waved her hand.
“I’m off.”

Just as Qi Lin turned to leave, Ji Huaixu did the same thing—
Suddenly and tightly hugged her, buried her face in the crook of Qi Lin’s neck, and choked out,
“Senior Sister… don’t go.”

Ji Huaixu said, “Senior Sister, then I’ll be a little braver and take the initiative.”

Ji Huaixu said, “Senior Sister, I want to keep walking this path with you.”

Qi Lin doesn’t really remember how she felt back then, but it seemed she was calmer than she is now while holding Dong Zheng — calm enough to gently push Ji Huaixu away and hand her a tissue to wipe her tears, saying, “Junior Sister, don’t be impulsive.”

Pushing down these long-past memories, Qi Lin patted Dong Zheng’s back and said, “Alright, I’m here.”

“I’m not leaving, definitely not.”

“Let’s not even talk about the press conference — we’re definitely going together. Our Film Queen here, with so many ways to keep in touch these days — text, voice chat, video call — I’m in for all of it.”

Outside the door, Xiao Sun, who had just returned with the rest of the luggage from the film set and wanted to check something with Qi Lin, stood there with a face full of question marks.

Meanwhile, Xiao Zheng racked his brains trying to stop her from going in.

I can’t explain, silence is golden… Girl, just wait until those two are done in there before saying anything!

In the blink of an eye, it was already Chinese New Year. With the release of “The Bl00d-Stained Hairpin”, this commercial blockbuster unsurprisingly exploded in popularity.

Thanks to the halo effect of the female lead, discussions about Qi Lin stood out prominently amidst the flood of reviews and audience reactions.

YuFamilyIsPoor:
– Although I already had a feeling from the promotional stills (costume photos), I didn’t expect the final version to look even better… I’ve never been a fan of any celebrity before, but Goddess An Xiaoxiao might just be my first…

EvenTheNameIWantedWasTakenSoMad:
– I used to say An Xiaoxiao only had strong backing, and now I’ve been completely slapped in the face… Turns out it’s her acting and visuals that are amazing!!! Ahhh, this is the most satisfying slap in the face I’ve ever had! Goddess, do you really have no other works? I’m so frustrated!

IsEatingIceThickOrNot?:
– Me too… I used to say An Xiaoxiao and Best Actress Dong picked up the wrong script, but now I’ve been double slapped in the face… They’re basically just being themselves, right?!

GardeniasGrowInTheSouthernLand:¹

– …As a fan of the original novel, I owe An Xiaoxiao an apology. Senior Sister! This is truly our Senior Sister, wuwuwu! I’m done talking, I’m going back to the theater to watch “The Bl00d-Stained Hairpin” for the 15th time!

LoveZhengForLife:
– Apology +1… Honestly, An Xiaoxiao is the most harmonious actor I’ve ever seen alongside our Zheng. And at the press conference, An Xiaoxiao even got Zheng to interact with everyone! Oh my god, our Zheng used to only be responsible for being beautiful, and in this lifetime I actually get to see Zheng doing interviews! I can die without regrets!

WholeheartedlyZheng:
– Right, even Zheng’s Weibo is fully run by her manager and has been dead forever. At last we can see our Zheng outside of films! And moving, too!

LittleLazyForever:
– A moving Film Queen Dong — what even is that, LOL! But thinking back, she really was basically just a living backdrop at press events… Her god-tier visuals made her stand out, but she was literally motionless like a still frame, hahaha!

Zhimian²FanfictionHomepage:
– Fellow fans, you can head to the theaters for some sugar!³ The kind you can shovel in big mouthfuls, even the glass shards⁴ taste sweet [doge]

EvenTheNameIWantedWasTakenSoMad:
– Wtf Zhimian?! I just realized what’s been bothering me in the theater this whole time! I’ve never shipped yuri before! But Zhimian is just — ahhh I don’t care, I’m diving into this fandom, this couple is too good to resist!

How about some Steamed Dumpling (ZhengJiao) recommendations?:
– “It’s not just Zhimian in the film, look at the name I just changed to! We can secretly ship the Zhengjiao⁵ CP! That press conference honestly couldn’t have been cuter!”

roseyoujump:
– Ah, I love Zhengjiao,⁶ especially the Shaxian kind. [doge] 

Light Boat:
– You’re amazing for that Shaxian reference! But seriously, if we’re talking RPS (real person shipping), shouldn’t it be AnDong?⁷ Whether in the film or the press events, An Xiaoxiao is totally the top! Film Queen Dong next to her is just so soft and adorable, it makes you want to protect her!!

Little Pudding of the Zheng Family:
– What were you thinking? Say that again???

Zheng’s Lifelong Love:
– Oh no, why do I find this RPS so tempting… Ah! I need to wake up! I’m supposed to be a Zheng-only fan ahhh!

AnDong Forever Stan:
– Stop struggling and just follow your heart! The AnDong edits (film + press conference) are already uploaded, fellow shippers are welcome to watch~ Plot-focused fan edits are also coming soon!

Murusai:
– Why are the faneditors (scissorhands goddesses) always so amazing?!

As for Qi Lin, she still didn’t bother with all the online chatter.

After all, she had something far more important to do—

Her daily routine, chatting and video calling with her wife.