The Abused Heroine Stops Pretending [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 7

Without changing the original plot, it was incredibly difficult to create distance between Sun Sijia and Tang Jing.

The first issue was the confession that happened just a few days ago. Tang Jing had been rejected. As someone who had won numerous awards in the entertainment industry, she had her pride. Seeing Sun Sijia again, she definitely would not forgive her so easily. A cold war between them was entirely possible.

The second complication was Sun Sijia’s “white moonlight” senior. Since Meng Xue held that special status in her heart, Sun Sijia naturally wanted to give her the best of everything, including the valuable resources she had once received.

The third issue was that Meng Xue had now signed under Sister Ying’s agency as well. On the show, any special treatment she received from Sun Sijia could be easily explained away as simple kindness toward a fellow company artist.

While the two people nearby were chatting, Tang Jing sat quietly with her eyes closed, resting.

The car came to a stop. They had arrived at their destination.

“Ms. Tang,” Meng Xue turned her head and noticed that she was still fast asleep. She felt a little reluctant to wake her, but they were currently live streaming. Letting her sleep like this could easily attract criticism from online viewers.

She softly called her name, but Tang Jing didn’t respond. In the end, Meng Xue gently tapped her shoulder and called again, “Ms. Tang.”

“Hmm?” Tang Jing opened her eyes slowly. Her gaze was hazy and unfocused, which made Meng Xue’s heart skip a beat. That look was dangerously captivating.

“Have we arrived?” Tang Jing asked. Her voice was low and hoarse, clearly still waking up.

“Yes,” Meng Xue nodded and stood up. “Ms. Tang, let’s get off the car.”

“Alright.” Tang Jing quietly followed behind her.

[Comment]
Is it just me or does Tang Jing look unusually soft and adorable after waking up?

[Comment]
She’s just trailing behind Meng Xue like a sleepy kitten. Everyone else is already out, and she’s still following along. So cute.

Meng Xue hadn’t expected Tang Jing to follow her so closely. Given Tang Jing’s seniority and reputation, she should have been standing at the center. Even the director had been motioning in that direction for quite a while, but Tang Jing still looked half-asleep.

Meng Xue had no choice but to walk over and gently remind her, “Ms. Tang, your position is in the center.”

Tang Jing had done it intentionally. But when she noticed that all eyes were on her and the director was still gesturing, she finally moved and walked toward the center.

Once everyone was in place, the director spoke off-camera into the microphone, “Welcome, everyone, to Diverse Living.”

The cast clapped together.

The director continued, “From today, you’ll all be filming for Diverse Living over the next two months. Are you all ready?”

“We’re ready!” the guests responded enthusiastically.

The director smiled and said, “Since everyone is ready, let’s begin today’s first activity.”

“Choosing rooms!” Sun Sijia quickly raised her hand to answer.

As a regular guest on the show, she was very familiar with the routine.

“Correct,” the director said with a smile. “Just like always. Six participants will be divided into three groups. Room assignments will depend on your team’s points.”

Luo Dong and Jian Anping raised their hands. “Director, we don’t need to draw lots, right?”

This season had six participants: four women and two men. Since male and female guests couldn’t share rooms, the two male participants would naturally form one group.

“You two will be Group A.”

The four women would draw lots to form Group B and Group C.

Sun Sijia kept her eyes on Meng Xue, her face clearly showing her hope to end up in the same group as her senior.

Another regular cast member, Tian Qi, was also watching Meng Xue.

After working with Sun Sijia in the previous two seasons, Tian Qi already knew what kind of person she was. If given the choice, she would rather share a room with a stranger than with Sun Sijia.

Between staying with Tang Jing and Meng Xue, Meng Xue was the more convenient option.

Tang Jing always attracted a lot of attention. Sharing a room with her meant a higher level of exposure, but it also came with the risk of public backlash. Even the slightest action or word could be exaggerated online. There would be no freedom at all.

It might be manageable for a day or two, but since this program would be filmed for two months and broadcasted live, it would be like walking on a knife’s edge.

The four women reached into the box and pulled out letters.

Sun Sijia held her slip of paper and moved closer to Meng Xue. She lowered her voice and asked, “Senior, what letter did you get?”

Meng Xue unfolded her paper and showed it to her.

Seeing that they had drawn different letters, Sun Sijia visibly deflated. She glanced in Tang Jing’s direction, then decisively walked over.

Tang Jing was sitting lazily. After checking her letter, she didn’t pay it much attention.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed someone approaching. She tilted her head slightly. When she saw who it was, she frowned very subtly.

[Comment]
What is Sun Sijia trying to do now?

[Comment]
Is she seriously trying to pair up with Tang Jing?

[Comment]
This girl is such a manipulative flirt.

“Sister Tang,” Sun Sijia said with her usual pitiful expression. She bit her lip and looked hesitant, waiting for Tang Jing to speak first.

Over the past five years, she had grown used to Tang Jing always making the first move. Even now, she didn’t know how to ask to switch letters without waiting for Tang Jing to speak.

Tang Jing finally asked, “What is it?”

Her voice was cold and distant, completely different from the warmth she once showed.

Sun Sijia wasn’t used to that. She figured Tang Jing must still be angry about the rejection. She reached out, trying to grab her sleeve and act sweet, but before she could touch it, Tang Jing stepped back and created distance between them.

Sun Sijia’s face froze.

“What are you two talking about?” Meng Xue walked over and looked down. When she saw the letter in Tang Jing’s hand, her eyes curved into a smile.

“Ms. Tang, I got the same letter as you.”

Both Tang Jing and Meng Xue had drawn the letter B, which meant they were assigned to Group B. The only remaining group was Group C, which left Sun Sijia and Tian Qi paired together.

Tian Qi’s mood instantly dropped the moment she realized she had to be in the same group as Sun Sijia.

Sun Sijia had two faces. One for the camera, and one in private. Tian Qi truly didn’t want to spend time with someone so two-faced and manipulative.

But the lots had already been drawn. No matter how unwilling she was, there was nothing she could do to change it.

The director said, “Now that everyone is in their groups, we’ll move on to the team challenge. The team that scores the most points will get first pick of the rooms.”

Sun Sijia raised her hand. “Director, can we take a look at the houses first?”

“Yes, you can.”

If she couldn’t share a room with her senior, she would at least try to stay close to her.

The first house they visited was a small two-story building. It was the only one of its kind in the village, and the interior was clean and tidy.

Next, they visited the second house. It was a single-story home with a courtyard. There was a large banyan tree in the yard, and a small vegetable garden behind it.

When comparing the two, it was obvious which one was better. For people who had lived in the city for years, the second house felt too simple and rustic.

But when they saw the third house, no one could stay calm.

It was a thatched cottage. Though it had a kitchen and a shower area, the space was extremely limited.

“How can anyone live in this place?” Sun Sijia said as she glanced into the dim interior, not daring to step inside.

The others, including Tian Qi and Luo Dong, frowned as well.

Sun Sijia’s gaze eventually landed on Tang Jing. She assumed that someone as proud and elegant as Tang Jing would also be unable to tolerate such conditions. But she was wrong. Tang Jing didn’t seem bothered at all.

Even though Meng Xue had lived abroad for several years, she had never missed any of Tang Jing’s interviews or behind-the-scenes footage from past shoots.

She leaned in and asked, “Ms. Tang, how does this compare to the place you stayed during the filming of Bl00d Umbrella two years ago?”

Tang Jing looked surprised. “How do you know about that?”

The livestream audience was just as shocked.

[Comment]
What is Meng Xue talking about?

[Comment]
I remember the film Tang Jing starred in. The story was set in some really desolate locations.

[Comment]
I think the crew released a short behind-the-scenes video back then, but it was so long ago I barely remember it.

[Comment]
Did Meng Xue actually remember this from the behind-the-scenes footage?

Meng Xue tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, slightly embarrassed. “I’ve watched all your works, including the interviews and behind-the-scenes clips.”

[Comment]
Wow, she really means it. She must have watched them over and over to remember such details.

[Comment]
I recall that the clip showing Tang Jing’s living conditions back then was barely even a second long.

[Comment]
So Meng Xue really is a dedicated fan?

[Comment]
She’s a total fangirl, no doubt about it.

Tang Jing looked at her for a long moment before finally replying to the earlier question. “Compared to that, this place is already much better.”

The scenery here was pleasant and the environment beautiful.

Back then, while filming Bl00d Umbrella, the entire crew stayed in a village not far from the desert. The area was constantly covered in sand. Just opening your mouth could fill it with grit.

Water was extremely scarce too, almost painfully limited.

Sun Sijia heard everything her senior said to Tang Jing and frowned. Since when did her senior start paying this much attention to Tang Jing? Could this be Ying Tianhe’s doing?

Thinking of Ying Tianhe reminded her of what her manager had warned her about. That woman was cunning and manipulative. It was very possible that Meng Xue’s detailed knowledge of Tang Jing had been part of a plan hatched by Ying Tianhe.

Sun Sijia curled her lips in disdain. She felt nothing but contempt for Ying Tianhe’s cheap tricks.

At the same time, she felt sorry for Meng Xue. Clearly, she didn’t even like Tang Jing, yet she had to act like her fan just to get close to her and ride on her fame.

Originally, Sun Sijia wanted to step in and interrupt them, but when she noticed the cameraman pointing the lens directly at Meng Xue and Tang Jing, she hesitated. Her foot, already half-raised, slowly came back down.

Forget it. Let her senior stay close to Tang Jing. At least it would give her more screen time.

After they finished checking out the houses, it was time to start the game.

The director said, “Next, we’ll be playing the three-legged race.”

In a three-legged race, two people stand side by side. One person’s left leg is tied to the other person’s right leg. The team that reaches the finish line first earns the highest score.

This game required both people to stay very close together.

As the staff approached with the rope, Meng Xue instinctively stepped a little closer to Tang Jing. However, there was still a noticeable gap between them.

One of the staff members spoke up politely. “Ladies, please move a little closer together. If possible, Ms. Meng, you can place your arm around Ms. Tang’s waist.”

Wrap her arm around her waist?

The moment she heard that, Meng Xue automatically turned to look at Tang Jing. Tang Jing was also looking at her.

“Tang… Ms. Tang,” Meng Xue stammered, her voice shaky. Her fair cheeks slowly turned pink. She was clearly embarrassed.

“It’s alright,” Tang Jing said gently. She took the initiative and stepped closer, then placed her arm around Meng Xue’s shoulders. “Follow my lead. Let’s try to win first place.”

The sudden warmth from Tang Jing’s body made Meng Xue shiver slightly.

Tang Jing was not completely unaffected either. Although Meng Xue was her junior, she had not expected her to be this sensitive. Just a slight touch had caused such a visible reaction.