Over the next week, Ling Wei’s days were busy and fulfilling. She spent every day on set, moving between scenes, filming and wrapping, eating and sleeping. The intense pace inevitably reminded her of her life in her previous existence. There were similarities, yet they were completely different. Back then, she had rushed from one engagement to another like a spinning top, constantly in motion, all so that the small family she cherished could become happier and more complete. At that time, she had lived more for others.
Now, although she was just as busy filming every day, she was striving purely for her own dream.
Even though she was occupied, her heart felt incomparably light and free. Perhaps this was the true meaning of being reborn, not to harbor hatred, not to seek revenge, but to become more genuine and happier.
Never before had Ling Wei understood so clearly that life was her own and that her destiny lay in her own hands, unrelated to anyone else.
Except perhaps for Xie Qingyan.
To Ling Wei, Xie Qingyan was a special existence. Every time she thought of him, the corners of her lips would lift uncontrollably. No matter how she tried to suppress it, she could not. She had never seen anyone live so brilliantly and so freely. He did not care about others’ opinions. He lived willfully as the center of his own world. Though he never deliberately demanded it, the people and things around him naturally revolved around him, placing their attention on him without realizing it.
Including herself.
At first, she had thought they were merely partners bound by an agreement. Yet through repeated interactions, she found herself unconsciously drawn to him. The attraction was subtle and imperceptible. By the time she came back to her senses, she could no longer look away.
He was like light, like fire, dazzling, endearing, irresistible.
Ling Wei felt conflicted. She had only just ended a ridiculous relationship in this life and had resolved not to entangle herself in romance again. After winning the award she dreamed of, she had even considered finding a nun to study under, praying and chanting scriptures every day, becoming a detached and desireless Buddhist girl.
But now, her resolve was crumbling. Ever since she realized that Xie Qingyan might secretly have feelings for her, she felt lightheaded and increasingly unable to control herself.
The emotional barrier she had just built in her heart was like a poorly constructed tofu project, fragile and on the verge of collapse at any moment.
It seemed that she might, perhaps, possibly be falling in love with this man.
During these days, Ling Wei was busy filming. By the time she returned to the hotel each night, she would seize every opportunity to rest. Occasionally she would scroll through Daddy Xie’s Moments, but she did not see any updates. Though she found it unusual, she did not take the initiative to flirt with him. He was probably busy as well. Besides, every time she tried to tease him, he would counterattack, leaving her flustered. She was almost developing psychological trauma from it.
If she could not out flirt him, then she simply could not. At least she was self aware about that.
A week later, Ling Wei finally wrapped up her role as Consort Ru in “Palace Wall Willows.” The production team was enthusiastic. On set, they presented her with a large bouquet of flowers and several small gifts. They also said they would book two tables at a restaurant that evening to celebrate.
Ling Wei could not refuse and had to accept. She understood clearly that the reason the crew treated her with such courtesy was entirely because of Xie Qingyan. There was nothing wrong with that. When she signed the agreement with him, this had been one of her goals, to make others think she had backing and support.
But now that she had developed complicated feelings toward him, she found herself reluctant to keep using him.
That afternoon she had no more scenes. Ling Wei returned to the hotel carrying the flowers and small gifts from the crew. Chen Xiaoruo was already there helping her pack. After staying on set for more than a month, quite a few personal belongings had accumulated in the hotel room. Once the luggage was packed and they finished dinner with the crew that evening, they would return to the capital the next morning.
Although she had not been with the crew for very long, she had still formed bonds. Ling Wei was closest to Lan Ruo, so she went to say a private goodbye to her that afternoon.
“I spent several days thinking about what wrap gift to give you,” Lan Ruo said.
Ling Wei found it amusing. “So, did you think of something?”
“I did. I even bought it.” Lan Ruo nodded, took her backpack from the side, and pulled out an exquisitely wrapped gift box, handing it over. “Congratulations on wrapping successfully. I hope everything goes smoothly for you in the future.”
Ling Wei took the gift box and asked curiously, “What is it?”
“See for yourself,” Lan Ruo said mysteriously.
Full of anticipation, Ling Wei opened the box.
However…
“What is this?” Ling Wei pointed at the fluffy pile of items inside.
Thinking she did not understand, Lan Ruo took them out one by one and introduced them. “These are cat ears. This is a little nose. These are cat paw gloves. This is a tail. This is…”
Ling Wei could not help interrupting her. “What does any of this have to do with me wrapping my scenes?”
Lan Ruo looked at her as if she were caring for someone foolish. “It has absolutely nothing to do with it.”
“Then why did you buy these?” Ling Wei truly could not grasp her intention.
“I just wanted to give them to you!” Lan Ruo said righteously. “Ever since you joined the set, I’ve felt that you’re a bit like a fluffy kitten. Usually you’re elegant and proud, but when someone is against you, you can immediately show your claws. And the way you narrow your eyes when you smile makes you look like a pampered ragdoll cat, beautiful and adorable.”
It sounded like praise, yet Ling Wei could not feel happy about it.
Expressionless, Ling Wei closed the box and said, “Thank you for the gift.”
“Aren’t you going to try it on? I’ve been looking forward to this for days. Soft and adorable you would look absolutely stunning!” Lan Ruo’s eyes sparkled as she stared at her.
Ling Wei was speechless.
After a moment’s thought, she said solemnly, “Sister, I’m straight.”
“So am I,” Lan Ruo replied, then hesitated. “I think.”
“I also have a very handsome boyfriend.”
“That really is a pity,” Lan Ruo said cooperatively.
So Ling Wei fled in panic, clutching a pile of furry props, afraid that if she ran any slower she would be forcibly “turned”!
Back in the hotel room, Chen Xiaoruo had already finished packing the luggage, and the room looked much tidier. Ling Wei tossed the items onto the bed, then lay on her stomach scrolling through her phone. She checked Daddy Xie’s Moments again, and he still had not posted anything. Ling Wei wondered whether it was because she had not teased him these past few days, so Daddy Xie had no material to post.
The more she thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. She began to reflect on herself, wondering if she had been a bit unprofessional as a fake lover.
By chance, she caught sight of the cat ears on the bed, and suddenly an idea struck her.
This week, Xie Qingyan had not been stirring things up on Moments because he was on a business trip, and quite a distant one at that, all the way across the ocean to the United States, where he was busy charming foreigners.
When he received Ling Wei’s video call request, he was burning the midnight oil with a group of foreigners, discussing company matters over fried chicken and beer.
At the time, he did not think much of it and casually accepted the video call. He often flirted with young ladies during meetings, so it had long become second nature to him. But the moment the video connected, he nearly fell off his chair.
On the screen, Ling Wei appeared wearing cat ears, a little cat nose stuck to her own, and a pair of cat paw gloves, smiling at him with an innocent expression.
President Xie felt as though his health bar had been instantly wiped out. From thousands of miles away, Ling Wei had caught him off guard and taken him down with a single glance.
The foreigners at the conference table saw his suddenly twisted expression, one hand holding his phone and the other clutching his chest, and thought he was having a heart attack. They jumped to their feet in alarm. “Boss Xie, what’s wrong with you?!”
President Xie steadied himself. Just as he was about to say he was fine, someone suddenly shouted, “Boss, your nose is bleeding!”
Xie Qingyan reacted swiftly and flipped his phone face down onto the table. Only then did he take the tissue handed to him by a subordinate and press it to his nose. As he did so, he reassured the others, “It’s nothing, probably too much fried chicken. Internal heat!”
The foreigners were collectively baffled. They had no idea what “internal heat” meant.
After the chaos subsided and he had tidied up his appearance, Xie Qingyan stepped outside the conference room and eagerly tapped to reconnect the video.
A moment later, he saw a neatly dressed woman sitting upright in front of the camera, looking like someone who had done something wrong. “Were you in a meeting just now?” She could not understand why it was so hard to flirt properly.
“Yes. I’m in the United States right now, in a meeting with a group of foreigners.”
Ling Wei fell silent.
So she had just embarrassed herself all the way to the United States?
“Why did you take everything off? Where are the ears and nose?” Xie Qingyan lit a cigarette and instructed, “Put them back on and let me see.”
Ling Wei had acted on impulse earlier when she put those things on to tease Daddy Xie, but now that she had come to her senses, she felt it was too embarrassing. “Let’s forget it. It’s really cringey.”
“You looked beautiful. Put them on one more time, I’ll just take a screenshot,” Daddy Xie coaxed her.
Ling Wei quickly said, “But you’re not allowed to post it on Moments.”
Xie Qingyan chuckled softly. “I wouldn’t bear to.” Such an adorable look had to be kept hidden.
So under his burning gaze, Ling Wei put all the furry props back on.
“And the collar!” Xie Qingyan reminded her.
“This is way too much of an embarrassment play,” Ling Wei said reluctantly.
Xie Qingyan was speechless.
You only realize now that this is embarrassing? I’m practically overwhelmed by the cuteness here!
“How could it be? It’s a complete set,” Daddy Xie insisted with a straight face.
In the end, Ling Wei still put on the collar. Blushing, she faced the camera, thinking that she had meant to tease him a little, so why had she ended up making herself so awkward?
Daddy Xie stared at the phone in silence for a few seconds, then coaxed gently, “Say something for me to hear.”
He had meant for her to call him Daddy, or maybe gege. However…
Ling Wei: “Meow???”
Ah, it was unbearably adorable!
Author’s note:
Dad is about to be teased out of his mind, hiahiahia~~