The 'Involution King' Second Female Lead Quits [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 39

Chapter 39: Sweet Daily Life

Li Jianwei and Shu Heng were not artists who relied on a specific persona to attract fans; they won people over with their talent and striking beauty. Being in a relationship didn’t change their looks or cause their acting skills to plummet. Plus, they already had a solid fan base with millions of “couple” fans.

So, after they went public with their relationship, neither Li Jianwei nor Shu Heng lost fans, or had fans turn against them. In fact, they gained hundreds of thousands of new fans who were curious about them.

However, this didn’t mean that no fans were heartbroken. Before their relationship was announced, many male artists had been trying to latch onto them for publicity, hoping to ride their coattails and raise their own status. With their constant stream of misleading posts, some people actually fell for these strange pairings. The fans of these “couples” were psychologically devastated when the truth was revealed.

The male stars who had tried to capitalize on their popularity also got their comeuppance. Not only could they no longer get free exposure, but they were also attacked by the fans of the “couples” they had created.

The overwhelmingly positive response led Li Jianwei and Shu Heng to receive an invitation to a relationship reality show just three days after their announcement. The show’s producers, eyeing their massive popularity, offered a very generous deal: a week of filming for a post-tax income of nine million yuan each.

Unlike other variety shows, this one only required them to set up a few cameras in their home. There was no script; they would simply film their daily lives and use the footage for editing. In other words, all they had to do was agree to sell the rights to seven days of their lives to the production team to get this money.

“Teacher Li, what do you think?” Shu Heng was a little tempted. She didn’t care about the nine million yuan, but she cared about publicly asserting her claim to Teacher Li.

“There are too many fixed cameras. The number should be controlled to ten or less. And no fixed cameras in the bedroom, even if they’re under our control,” Li Jianwei said.

“There are also a few other details that need to be discussed, like we must have access to the backend of all the equipment, and the final footage must go through a double review by our team.”

Li Jianwei read the contract carefully. Nine million for seven days? It was easy money, and she had no reason to object.

“You’re absolutely right, Teacher Li,” Shu Heng said, clapping her hands in agreement. “We’ll add all those conditions. If they agree, we’ll agree.”

The production team, of course, wouldn’t refuse some reasonable requests. The day after confirming the collaboration, they brought in professional staff to set up the cameras.

Originally, Li Jianwei planned to have the filming take place at her villa so they wouldn’t have to worry about revealing unnecessary private information. However, Shu Heng refused. The young miss’s reason was simple and compelling: “That’s a villa only Teacher Li has lived in. I haven’t even moved in yet. How can we let the film crew in to film?”

“Everything about you is mine, Teacher Li! Only I can enter your house!”

This overbearing declaration was very much in character for the young miss, so Li Jianwei had no choice but to agree to set up the cameras in Shu Heng’s villa.

Aside from their private life at night, Li Jianwei and Shu Heng’s daily routine was truly a typical one. They would spend time each day studying Director Zhang’s script, then maybe watch a new blockbuster, analyzing the plot and the actors’ performances. If the mood struck them, they would act out scenes, with Panda and Little Fortune even getting in on the action, meowing a few times to play along.

The cameras were set up relatively discreetly, so the young miss would occasionally forget they were filming and instinctively cling to Li Jianwei, wrapping her arms around her neck and asking for kisses.

Li Jianwei, however, always remembered. So, when the young miss’s hands started to wander, she would immediately grab her wrist and whisper in her ear to remind her to restrain herself. Just a few kisses were enough.

This indirectly led to many viewers thinking that Shu Heng was the more dominant and assertive one after the show aired, crowning her the “top” in the relationship. Shu Heng was delighted by this for a long time and almost got carried away and revealed her side account.

In addition, the clips of them cooking were also a big highlight. Shu Heng was skilled at making desserts and Western food, while Li Jianwei was an expert in Chinese cuisine. When they cooked together, it was a perfect blend of East and West. At the request of the production team, they also filmed their trips to the supermarket and mall, and their strolls down the street.

These activities seemed very ordinary to Li Jianwei and Shu Heng, but to the audience, they were incredibly sweet and made them squeal with delight. Panda was even filmed doing a backflip and the clip was later used in many cute pet compilations.

[This makes me want to fall in love! This is the kind of love I want! So sweet, so sweet, so sweet! I want a sweet love too!]

[Teacher Li, I’m your long-lost sister! When are you going to take me home!]

[Can I just say? The daily life of Li Jianwei and Shu Heng is sweeter than the forced sweetness in those idol dramas. An old married couple should be like this. No need for weird psychological games or misunderstandings. A single look is enough to communicate everything!]

[Have you guys noticed that Teacher Li seems very distant to outsiders? She’s only a little close to her fans.]

[You guys ship Li Jianwei and Shu Heng, and I’m here shipping Panda and Fortune. They’re so cute when they groom each other. My two little darlings, let mommy give you a kiss ( ￣3)(ε￣ )]

[I’ve found something! Shu Heng’s bag has a pure gold pendant! I’ve seen this before! Last year, during that live-streamed travel show, Teacher Li got one at a tourist spot. I think she said she gave it to a fan.]

[So, why does Shu Heng have an identical, but pure gold, pendant? It’s so hard to guess!]

[Hahaha, I never knew Shu Heng was a jealous ‘top’.]

When Shu Heng saw these comments later, she pouted and went to find Li Jianwei, asking her if she was really that much of a jealous queen.

“You’re the ‘top,’ but not jealous,” Li Jianwei replied, giving the young miss the answer she wanted. She then took out her phone and replied to the fan’s comment with her main account.

[Li Jianwei V: This is a small gift for my most beloved fan. It’s the only one that’s pure gold, representing my unchanging heart.]

[Ahhhhhh, she replied to me! Teacher Li, let’s hug!]

[This means Shu Heng has been Teacher Li’s fan for a long time! Mom, I’m shipping them again!]

[So this is a two-way street between an idol and a fan? When will I be so lucky! I don’t need a relationship, I’d be happy just to hug my idol!]

There were many other clips that were widely talked about, such as their toned abs and toned backs captured by the camera while they were working out, as well as the ambiguous marks on their necks, backs, and abdomens, which made netizens exclaim in delight, “Can I even watch this?”

Because these marks were more often found on Li Jianwei, Shu Heng was seen as the more dominant and assertive one in the eyes of the couple’s fans for a long time. The young miss was always happy when she saw these kinds of comments, so Li Jianwei couldn’t be bothered to correct them. After all, she was the one who knew the truth. As long as she had the substance, she didn’t mind giving the young miss the surface-level victory.

As the reality show aired, Li Jianwei and Shu Heng were constantly trending. Their exposure and popularity were so high that artists who paid to trend were green with envy, and some even started to wonder if they should also create a same-s3x relationship for publicity.

Before they knew it, it was New Year’s Eve. Both Li Jianwei and Shu Heng had scheduled performances. They were invited by a shrewd TV station for a substantial fee and were scheduled to sing a love song duet close to 11 p.m.

After their performance, the young miss was in her dressing room, browsing the internet and sharing clips in her family group chat, shamelessly flaunting their love. Shu Heng’s mom was quite accepting of this and praised their singing. Seeing this, the others in the group chat followed suit, blindly praising them.

When the first sun of the new year rose, Li Jianwei and Shu Heng were already on their way to the airport. They planned to meet Li Jianwei’s parents on New Year’s Day. In addition to carefully selected gifts, Shu Heng also brought the autographed textbook from Professor Liu Zhen and the paper with her name on it, ready to win over Teacher Li’s parents in one fell swoop.

“Teacher Li, I’ve just realized something,” Shu Heng said, tugging on Li Jianwei’s sleeve when they were less than ten minutes away from her house.

Li Jianwei blinked. “What’s wrong? Did we forget something?”

Shu Heng looked serious. “Teacher Li, your mom and dad are both teachers. So when I call you ‘Teacher Li,’ will your mom think I’m calling her?”

A moment of confusion flashed in Li Jianwei’s eyes. This was a philosophical question. She had no idea how to answer.

“Well, I think my mom will be able to tell the difference, right? She’s seen some of our shows and should know what we call each other,” Li Jianwei said cautiously. She was so used to Shu Heng calling her that.

“If you think it’s inappropriate, we can change the name?” Li Jianwei added.

“Hmm, but I’m so used to it. If I change it and then forget, it might be even more awkward,” Shu Heng scratched her cheek.

“Then let’s stick to what we’re used to. Mom will get used to it,” Li Jianwei gave up on thinking. They were only five minutes away, so there was no point in worrying about it now.

…

“Hello, Auntie. Hello, Uncle. I’m Shu Heng, and these are some gifts I’ve prepared for you,” Shu Heng said, giving a standard ninety-degree bow as soon as she arrived.

“Oh, you’re too kind. It’s enough that you came. You didn’t need to bring gifts,” Li Jianwei’s mom said with a smile, looking at Shu Heng’s face with more and more satisfaction. The girl was indeed very pretty and had a much livelier look than she did on TV.

After the pleasantries, Shu Heng couldn’t wait to take out the autographed textbook from Professor Liu Zhen. “Teacher Li said that you really like Professor Liu Zhen, Auntie, so I specifically asked her for a signature. I hope you like it.”

Li Jianwei’s mom’s eyes lit up. “Did Professor Liu Zhen write this for me?”

“Yes! I told Professor Liu Zhen that there’s an elder in my family who really admires her,” Shu Heng said, pulling out the paper. “This is Professor Liu Zhen’s latest paper. I also brought a copy for you.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful. You’re so thoughtful,” Li Jianwei’s mom’s lips curved into a gentle smile, and she looked at Shu Heng with the same kind and warm gaze she would a good student who was at the top of their class.

“Hehe, it was no trouble at all. You’re my elder. This is just a small token of my respect,” Shu Heng couldn’t contain her smile. She also shot a glance at Li Jianwei, secretly showing off.

See? Your girlfriend is amazing, isn’t she? I’ve precisely pinpointed Auntie’s preferences and won her over easily!

Li Jianwei couldn’t help but smile. The young miss truly was something else. Her confidence was through the roof. She had a long way to go to catch up to her.

A well-prepared Shu Heng wouldn’t forget about Li Jianwei’s dad. She learned he enjoyed fishing, so she prepared two high-quality carbon fiber fishing rods for him. Li Jianwei’s dad was so happy with the gift that he kept looking back at it during dinner.

What? Are you asking if bringing two identical fishing rods shows a lack of attention to detail?

Please! One wasn’t a main rod and the other a backup. The two identical rods were for Li Jianwei’s dad to invite Li Jianwei’s mom to go fishing with him! Two identical rods were so the couple could go fishing and relax together!

Whether Li Jianwei’s dad understood this or not was hard to say, but Li Jianwei’s mom definitely got it. After dinner, she even put food in Shu Heng’s bowl twice.

…

“Teacher Li, don’t you think I was great?” As soon as the bedroom door closed, Shu Heng couldn’t resist jumping onto Li Jianwei. Li Jianwei expertly caught the young miss, her body not even flinching. It was a skill she had mastered.

“Yes, you were great. Mom seemed to really like you,” Li Jianwei said in agreement. “Dad did too. He loved the fishing rods you gave him.”

“Hmph, you should know who I am. I never go into a battle unprepared,” Shu Heng said proudly, puffing out her chest like a little cat.

She was so adorable that Li Jianwei couldn’t hold back. After a startled cry from Shu Heng, she was pinned to the bed, followed by a kiss that stole all the oxygen from her lungs.

“It’s the end of the school term, so they have to get up early for school tomorrow. They probably won’t be back for lunch either,” Li Jianwei said.

Shu Heng panted. “How’s the soundproofing in this room?”

Li Jianwei unbuttoned her shirt. “The study is next door, but I’ve never heard any sound coming from it.”

“Then…” The young miss was still a little hesitant. The thought of her parents being less than five meters away made her uncomfortable.

“The boarding students have morning classes at 6 a.m., so Mom, as a homeroom teacher, has to get up very early. She usually gets up at 5:30 a.m. at the latest and only gets seven hours of sleep. So on her days off, she goes to bed earlier to make sure she has enough energy to teach her students.”

Li Jianwei explained, then kissed the young miss again, swallowing the words she was about to say. They hadn’t been intimate for about a week! It was normal for young people to be passionate! So, she shouldn’t worry about her parents. Even if things got a little messy, there was plenty of time to clean up.

…

After getting Shu Heng’s mom’s approval, Shu Heng decided to stay at Li Jianwei’s house for the New Year. She even had Panda and Fortune brought over. The two well-behaved cats quickly won over the elders. Li Jianwei’s dad even braved the cold to try to catch some fresh fish for them.

But liking to fish and being able to catch fish were two different things. After a whole morning of hard work, Li Jianwei’s dad’s reward was to go to the market and buy three fresh crucian carp and two large bags of other ingredients. The biggest fish was used for a soup, and the other two were baked and became a delicious snack for Panda and Fortune.

The house was very lively during the New Year. As a teacher to thousands of students, Li Jianwei’s mom had students who had already graduated visiting her almost every day with gifts. Most of the visitors were older than Li Jianwei, but a few were young and had already achieved success in their careers.

Among them were a pair of students who had been accepted into a top university last year. They came together specifically to thank Li Jianwei’s mom for her kindness. As their homeroom teacher, she hadn’t directly forbidden their relationship or told their parents. She had simply called them into an empty classroom for a talk, telling them to focus on their studies and that if they could get into a top school together, the chances of their parents approving of their relationship would greatly increase.

Young people in love could really persevere through anything. In just one semester, they managed to increase their total scores by more than fifty points and ended up standing on the podium together, becoming the pride of each other and their families. Their being together during the New Year showed that their relationship had also been approved by their parents.

It was a coincidence. While the young couple was visiting, Li Jianwei and Shu Heng happened to return from a shopping trip. When their eyes met, a hushed scream was heard in the living room. The young couple were fans of Li Jianwei and Shu Heng, but their preferences were different. The taller girl was more of a Li Jianwei fan, while the shorter girl was a Shu Heng fan.

“Homeroom teacher, so you’re Teacher Li’s mom! No wonder I’ve always felt so close to you and you were so kind to us!” the shorter girl said, her nose getting a little sniffly.

“Okay, you’re adults now. Stop getting teary-eyed so easily,” Li Jianwei’s mom said with a hint of helplessness. When she saw how interested the two students were in her daughter and her daughter’s partner, she decided to invite them to stay for a casual meal.

The taller girl didn’t say much, but during the chat after dinner, she couldn’t help but ask Li Jianwei a little gossipy question. “Sister Li, the fans say Sister Shu Heng was the one who pursued you. Is that true?”

After a moment of thought, Li Jianwei, who was holding Fortune, replied, “It’s not that she pursued me. It’s more accurate to say we’re a two-way street.”

“So Sister Shu Heng was the more proactive one, right?” the shorter girl asked with anticipation.

Li Jianwei smiled but didn’t say anything, just shifted her gaze to Shu Heng, who was eating fruit, throwing the question to her with her eyes.

“Of course. Teacher Li is too reserved, she needs me to be more proactive,” Shu Heng said, taking a bite of an apple and giving a piece to Panda.

“Exactly, that’s right,” Li Jianwei agreed.

The shorter girl was very happy to get her answer, while the taller one was deep in thought, feeling like she had just discovered a small secret.

…

After a happy Chinese New Year, it was time for the hard work of March. Director Zhang’s film crew was ready, just waiting for the main actors to be trained for a month by an active military officer before they could officially start filming.

Military dramas usually received some support from the military, and Director Zhang’s film was no exception. She received support from a certain unit of the PLA, and even real soldiers participated in the filming.

Perhaps it was because Zhou Zhao had been completely kicked out, but the filming process was very smooth. The projected six months of filming was finished in less than five months. If the post-production could be done quickly enough, there was a chance it could be released during the National Day holiday, riding the wave of patriotism. As for whether it would pass censorship, with the support of a local military unit, the chances of it being blocked were very slim, not to mention the film’s main theme was very positive, promoting the special forces.

The film successfully passed censorship in September and a hurried promotional campaign began. Li Jianwei’s short hair for the film also became a talking point. Although Li Jianwei herself didn’t think her short hair affected her beauty, promotions needed hype. Li Jianwei’s buzzcut photos were indeed stunning. Paired with the military uniform and her sharp eyes, her fans were so excited that they started posting all sorts of things.

[Sister, why did you have to shoot me! Your bullet went through my heart! Sister, you have to take responsibility for me!]

[So handsome, so cool, so bad-ass! It makes me want to join the army!]

[Ahhhh, the thought of the heroic Teacher Li being pinned down on the bed at night by a gentle military doctor makes me feel so hot I can’t sleep. The only way to calm my inner turmoil is to watch it live.]

[Is it possible that we’ve been shipping them the wrong way? Don’t you think Teacher Li looks more like the “top”?]

[No! No! No! I love the contrast. Teacher Li seems so “bottomable.”]

[Stop! Stop! No “bottoming”! Teacher Li should “top” all, not be “topped” by all!]

[The friendship between the squad members in the show is great to ship, but in real life, Teacher Li and Shu Heng are a real couple! Don’t forget that!]

[Uh, does anyone else think the military doctor is also very “bottomable”? They can be “topped” by all the different versions of Teacher Li! Like Ancient Li, Lawyer Li, CEO Li, and Special Forces Captain Li!]

[Here’s a pen, you write! I want to see a fanfic of over ten thousand words tonight! Full of passion and lust!]

Shu Heng was a jealous person, but she wasn’t so petty as to not let her fans dream. She just used her side account to express her possessiveness over her girlfriend. At the same time, Shu Heng couldn’t deny that Teacher Li looked especially charming in her combat uniform. She was very tempted to try a little uniform play.

“What are you looking at so intently?” Li Jianwei couldn’t help but pat Shu Heng’s shoulder, almost making her jump.

“N-nothing!” Shu Heng was a little flustered, tapping her phone screen a few times to turn it off. But the un-sent text on the screen had already been seen by Li Jianwei, who repeated it word for word.

“Captain Li is so handsome. I really want the captain to spank me?” Li Jianwei raised an eyebrow, her eyes full of obvious teasing. “Comrade Shu Heng, do you know what you’re saying?”

“W-what are you talking about? Are you sure you’re not seeing things, Teacher Li?” Shu Heng pretended to be dumb, but her face was turning red.

Li Jianwei didn’t say anything, she just quietly opened the closet and pulled out two sets of combat uniforms given to them by the crew. “Am I?” she said, showing off the uniforms.

Shu Heng swallowed hard, and after weighing her options, she made her choice. “You’re right, Captain Li…”