Feng Qingqing was too stunned to move. This shouldn't be possible. How did Feng Ruyi know about Wang Yibo, a celebrity from the modern world? Did she transmigrate too? Was it really such a coincidence?
Feng Ruyi waved her hands in front of Feng Qingqing, snapping her out of her daze. "Hello? I said, do you like Wang Yibo?"
Feng Qingqing blinked and gave Yangmi a dumbfounded look, her face shifting from confusion to a more delicate, naive expression, a stark contrast to her previous, more composed demeanor.
"Qing Qing…?"
"I… I heard you the first time," Feng Qingqing replied. Her voice trembled with uncertainty. "You know who Wang Yibo is?"
"Of course. Like the rest of China, I'm in love with him."
"Wait, are you…?" Feng Qingqing stammered, her confusion growing.
Feng Ruyi sighed, already feeling a headache coming on. Why was the female lead acting so clueless all of a sudden? "Yes, just like you, I came from the modern world. I'm not the Feng Ruyi you know but actually someone else." She decided to just drop the bomb right there. She hated beating around the bush.
If Feng Qingqing thought she was crazy, then the joke would be on her.
Feng Qingqing rubbed her temple, feeling a tinge of disappointment she couldn't quite explain. She had hoped to showcase her skills and avenge the original Feng Qingqing, but now, it seemed things weren't going as planned. On the bright side, at least she wasn't the only one who transmigrated.
Feeling a flicker of relief that she wasn't alone in this strange situation, Feng Qingqing plopped down beside Feng Ruyi, grabbing her hands with newfound enthusiasm. "Did you watch his new movie? He looked so handsome! Ahhh, I want to marry him so badly!" She gushed, her eyes sparkling as she spoke, a wide smile spreading across her face like she was talking about the love of her life.
And just like that, all the past grievances seemed to fade away.
Feng Ruyi felt her headache intensifying into a full-blown migraine. Despite her body being that of a seventeen-year-old, her mind was still thirty years old. She wasn't one to obsess over living, breathing men—she preferred fictional ones. Besides, Xiao Zhan was more her type.
Still, she was far more concerned with surviving than romantic distractions. Her focus was on staying alive and keeping a low profile. As long as she didn't disrupt the love between Tian Weilong and Feng Qingqing or cause anyone's death, she was confident she could survive this world.
Feng Ruyi pretended to look dejected. "I was actually about to watch the first episode, but then, suddenly, I'm here!" Honestly, she hadn't even known that Wang Yibo had a new drama.
"Oh my god, you have to watch it! His acting was so good, and he portrayed the male lead perfectly! I don't want to spoil it, but blah, blah, blah—" Feng Qingqing kept going, her enthusiasm unwavering.
Feng Ruyi only caught snippets of the rant before zoning out. Was this really the same Feng Qingqing she'd read about in the novel? The one known for her cunning intelligence? Where was that sharpness now?
"Now let's talk about you," Feng Qingqing suddenly interrupted, jolting Feng Ruyi back from her daze.
"I'm sorry, what?" Feng Ruyi blinked, still not quite processing what was going on.
"I said we should talk about you," Feng Qingqing repeated, her tone expectant.
Feng Ruyi exhaled a silent sigh of relief. She'd been dreading more talk about Wang Yibo, but now, at least, she had a chance to steer the conversation elsewhere. "What do you want to know?"
"Well, let's start with the obvious question. Who are you? I mean, what were you like before you came to this world?" Feng Qingqing asked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she leaned in.
Before Feng Ruyi could respond, Feng Qingqing added, "How about this: I'll go first, and you can go after me." Feng Ruyi nodded and waited patiently for her to finish.
"I'm 23 years old and graduated with a major in Criminal Justice. I currently work for a police agency in Shanghai. I was investigating a recent crime and found myself here a week ago." Feng Qingqing spoke calmly, clearly laying out her background. "What about you?"
A thousand different scenarios flashed through Feng Ruyi's mind. Should she lie or tell the truth? She couldn't just say they were characters in a book, or Feng Qingqing would think she had Munchausen syndrome. No, she needed Feng Qingqing as an ally, and given how bizarre everything was already, it would be best not to push her too far.
"I'm a marketing agent at a travel agency, which I worked for right after graduating college. I don't have any parents or siblings, and I live alone. I once had a pet goldfish, but he died." Feng Ruyi paused dramatically, her expression shifting as if the weight of this loss still affected her. "His cause of death is unknown. Anyways, I was about to watch the new Wang Yibo movie, but here I am!" She shrugged it off with a nonchalant smile, as if time travel was just an everyday occurrence.
Feng Qingqing blinked, then furrowed her brows. "Is that it?"
Feng Ruyi quickly added, her voice slightly forced, "Uh… Go Wang Yibo!"
"I see…" Feng Qingqing responded, but her expression seemed a little less convinced. She tilted her head slightly, a trace of skepticism lingering in her gaze. "How did you know I was from the modern world?"
Damn it, she was starting to put the pieces together!
Feng Ruyi quickly scrambled for an excuse. "To be honest, I thought we were filming a movie. I got too excited with the thought that Wang Yibo might be one of the actors here, so I just asked about him. But I guess this isn't a movie." Feng Ruyi forced an awkward laugh.
"You thought we were filming a movie?" Feng Qingqing asked, a skeptical eyebrow raised. Her eyes glinted with a hint of doubt.
Feng Ruyi immediately launched into an extemporaneous story. "You see, I was at the infamous yearly Gugong Ball held at the Forbidden City to promote my travel agency. The theme this year was ancient Chinese costumes. The new Wang Yibo movie was granted permission from officials to film part of their movie at the ball. While looking for a bathroom, I got lost and the next thing I knew, I was here. So, it led me to the conclusion that I must be in a movie." She delivered the story smoothly, hoping it would clear up the confusion.
Feng Qingqing narrowed her eyes, as though weighing her words carefully. Her lips curved upward ever so slightly, but the smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "I understand now." She said, her voice almost dripping with a hint of amusement. It was a smile full of knowing.
Feng Ruyi gave a silent sigh of relief, though the unease still lingered. At least for now, she hadn't been caught.
"Well, I'll leave you to rest for a bit. Wouldn't want you getting sicker than you already are," Feng Qingqing said lightly, rising to her feet.
"Okay, thank you," Feng Ruyi murmured, grateful for the quiet.
Feng Qingqing walked toward the door, but before leaving, she turned around, offering one last soft smile. "Feel better, okay?"
"I will," Feng Ruyi whispered, closing her eyes and sinking into the bed.
As soon as Feng Qingqing stepped out, the warmth of her smile evaporated, replaced by a cool, unreadable expression.
Her conscience didn't escape Feng Ruyi's sharp gaze. "She wouldn't be the female lead if she was so easily fooled by my words," Feng Ruyi mused inwardly, her eyes fluttering shut as she drifted into sleep.
The game was only beginning.