One Pet Gets Married

Chapter 4

"Don't..." Song Xici hastily raised her hand to gently push against Tang You'an's shoulder.

"We may be married, but it's fake, so we don't need to bother with all that. However, since I'm a celebrity and you're a celebrity - public figures - we must use each other's names when addressing one another in public. Using 'Miss' or such would give the paparazzi and media fodder for gossip." Song Xici explained, lightly biting her lower lip.

"I see. So we're wives in name only, not in practice," Tang You'an said, gently releasing Song Xici's chin and standing up.

Song Xici ran a hand through her hair and said, "Basically, we just need to call each other by name. It'll seem more intimate that way. I'll call you You'an, and you call me Xici, got it?"

"Understood," Tang You'an replied, holding the notebook with an innocent expression.

"Oh no, I'm out of time. I've got to go. See you tonight!" Song Xici hurriedly left the room.

Tang You'an nodded, watching her leave before returning to the computer.

Around 2 PM, a frantic doorbell ringing echoed through the house. Tang You'an rose from the bed, put on her shoes, and went downstairs to investigate.

Through an electronic peephole she'd figured out how to use, Tang You'an saw a face appear. Based on what Song Xici had left behind, it seemed to be a manager named Xu Ying - someone familiar to her original self.

Xu Ying kept pressing the doorbell, frowning anxiously: "Tang You'an, are you there?! Why is your phone off?! Today's the opening ceremony for 'The Subject' - what are you doing?! Do you want to be absent again and have the media call you a diva?!"

Eventually, Tang You'an figured out how to open the door and let Xu Ying in.

"My goodness, please look at the time. How can you still be lounging at home in your pajamas?" As soon as the door opened, a gust of cold air rushed in along with Xu Ying's barrage of accusations.

Tang You'an looked at her, bewildered. Unsure of what to do, she simply bowed slightly: "Miss Xu, please don't panic. If there's something to discuss, let's talk inside."

Hearing this, Xu Ying's words caught in her throat. Why was Tang You'an suddenly speaking so strangely? Didn't she usually call her "Sister Xu"?

"You haven't burned your brain with a high fever, have you?" Xu Ying reached out to feel Tang You'an's forehead, then noticed the shattered crystal lamp in the room, utterly confused.

"This one... I'm fine," Tang You'an shook her head.

There was another possibility - that she'd gotten too deep into her role while reading the script. It wouldn't be unheard of.

"Never mind that. Just put on this dress, and let's go," Xu Ying said, shoving a bag into Tang You'an's hands. "And remember, no matter what the media asks, only answer questions related to the movie, got it?"

"Got it," Tang You'an nodded.

Two hours later, Xu Ying finally brought Tang You'an to the opening press conference for "The Subject."

Fan groups for various actors were waiting outside, though security had pushed them to the sides, revealing a red carpet leading to the venue.

Fans waited with gleaming eyes for their favorite stars to arrive, though some didn't hesitate to mock Tang You'an.

"Thinking about Zi Xi having so many scenes with Tang You'an gives me a headache," a girl holding a "Zhao Zi Xi, I love you" sign said to another "milk tea" nearby.

"I know, right? To be in the same cast as that lunatic, ugh..."

"Tang You'an really should go to hell..."

As Tang You'an, Xu Ying, and their bodyguards were about to enter, they passed a girl holding a large "Zhao Zi Xi, I love you" sign. Tang You'an stopped.

"What's wrong? Keep moving..." Xu Ying urged from the side.

"Miss Xu, do you have any medicine for frostbite?" Tang You'an turned to ask instead.

"Yes... Are you frostbitten somewhere?" Xu Ying looked at her quizzically while opening her bag to retrieve the medicine.

Tang You'an shook her head, took the medicine, and turned to the girl with the sign: "It's terribly cold today. Your hands seem affected by the chill. You shouldn't stay outside too long. Please take this medicine and take care of yourself."

With that, Tang You'an smiled and walked away with Xu Ying.

Zhao Zi Xi's fan stood there stunned for a few seconds, nearly dropping her sign. It was unbelievable! Wasn't Tang You'an known for refusing to sign autographs for her own fans? Her notorious reputation preceded her, yet today... Had the world gone mad?

Afterwards, Tang You'an entered the venue under Xu Ying's guidance.

This film had a massive investment, and most of the cast were current heavyweights in the entertainment industry. Since the costume photos were released, public interest had remained high.

While there were no objections to the other actors, many doubted Tang You'an's ability to portray Gu Moyan.

Mainly because Gu Moyan was talented in singing and dancing, empathetic, intelligent, wise, and well-mannered - qualities people felt Tang You'an sorely lacked.

Even Xiao Meimei, who would play General Zhuang Yu opposite her, looked down on Tang You'an, and the two had some prior conflict.

Half an hour later, as the major media outlets settled in, the host took the stage.

After the host recited a prepared speech, the topic was passed to Zhao Zi Xi, who played the female lead, Princess Wu Yang.

"How do you understand Princess Wu Yang's character?" the host asked.

"In my view, Princess Wu Yang is outwardly gentle but inwardly strong. She lost her mother in childhood, then her brother was schemed against and died, but she didn't..."

After each lead actor shared their understanding of the film and their roles, it was finally Tang You'an's turn. Everyone turned to look at her, their thoughts a mix of mockery and concern.

- She'll probably be clueless again, right?

- Did she even memorize her lines properly?

- She's bound to make a fool of herself again, isn't she?

"'Fallen wood fills poetic drafts, barren mountains reveal ink smoke' - thus we can see that this name itself is sorrowful, perhaps setting Gu Moyan's fate. People say beauties often have tragic destinies; applied to her, it's even more lamentable..." Tang You'an raised a hand, speaking slowly, a faint sadness in her eyes.

Meanwhile, everyone was stunned. Could these words really come from someone who dropped out of university after a few days and had little education? And where did this classical aura emanating from her core come from? Had she reformed? The media was bewildered. Was it genuine reform or just an act?

After more than two hours, the opening ceremony finally concluded.

As Xu Ying led Tang You'an out, she couldn't help but keep studying her. Tang You'an seemed completely different from before. Could it really be as simple as being unable to break character?

It was as if she had become an entirely different person!

"Get in quickly," Xu Ying said, opening the door to their car and waiting for her to enter.

Tang You'an nodded, preparing to duck into the vehicle.

At that moment, a tomato accompanied by a shout of "Tang You'an" came flying towards her head!

The surrounding security guards panicked, but Tang You'an slightly tilted her head and swiftly caught the tomato in her hand.

Such reflexes... Everyone was shocked again, including the anti-fan who had thrown the tomato.

Tang You'an held the tomato in her long, slender white hand, brought it to her nose to smell, then walked step by step to the girl who had thrown it. She offered the tomato back: "Thank you for your kindness, miss. Although I'm quite hungry, I can't accept food from strangers. You should keep this for yourself."

The girl's lips quivered as she took back the tomato, frozen in place.

Incredible. After a moment of stunned silence, the media continued snapping photos furiously. Tang You'an returned to the car with Xu Ying.

After a while, Tang You'an turned to Xu Ying: "Where is Xici now?"

Xu Ying looked her up and down once more: "On set, of course."

Meanwhile, Song Xici had just finished filming a scene and was about to rest when she suddenly turned to Xiao He:

"Oh no, I almost forgot, today is the opening ceremony for 'The Subject.' This is bad... Give me my phone!"

"Oh! Right away!" Xiao He quickly pulled out the phone and handed it to Song Xici.

After unlocking it, the first thing Song Xici did was log into Weibo and search for Tang You'an to see if anything had happened today.

To her surprise, the trending topics were:

- Tang You'an confronts anti-fan

- Tang You'an gives frostbite medicine to stranger

- Tang You'an's transformation

What was going on?

Song Xici was dumbfounded for a good while.

Just as she was about to scroll further, Liao Bixin, who played the female lead in "Merfolk of the Azure Sea," finished filming a scene and came to sit beside Song Xici, wrapped in her coat.

"Sister Song, it's Christmas today. Do you have any plans with Sister You'an?" Liao Bixin winked at her.

"We only celebrate traditional holidays," Song Xici smiled outwardly while cursing inwardly.

"Same here, I used to only celebrate traditional holidays too, but Qi Sheng insists on celebrating every holiday. He even says that not just holidays, but every day should be like Valentine's Day. No matter how busy he is, he always comes. It's so cringeworthy and troublesome, sigh..." Liao Bixin rubbed her temples.

Song Xici glanced at her, not bothering to continue the conversation. She really didn't want to engage in palace intrigue drama with Liao Bixin. She just wished Liao Bixin wouldn't talk to her.

Liao Bixin and Song Xici had debuted at the same time, with Song Xici initially having the upper hand. But after Song Xici married Tang You'an, shattering countless young men and women's dreams, Liao Bixin slowly surpassed her.

Especially in this drama, the female lead role that should have been Song Xici's ended up going to Liao Bixin, making her even more arrogant.

Later, Liao Bixin starred in a dating reality show with the powerhouse actor Qi Sheng, gaining many CP fans while also genuinely falling in love. Their relationship not only avoided negative effects but actually sparked enthusiastic support from single fans, who clamored daily for more updates on their romance.

In comparison, Liao Bixin had recently surpassed Song Xici by miles in both career and love life.

"Sister Bixin, Brother Qi is calling you!" Liao Bixin's assistant suddenly called out with a smile.

Hearing this, Liao Bixin's lips curled into a smirk as she looked at Song Xici: "Sorry, Qi Sheng is calling again. He's probably almost here. He's so clingy, I can't help it. I'll take this call first."

"Go ahead," Song Xici glanced at her, then pulled her coat up higher.

"Hello? Honey~ What else would I be doing? Still filming, of course. Ah... You can't make it today? Haha, it's fine if you can't come... How could I be? How could I be angry with you? Look at Tang You'an next door, she's too busy to visit Sister Song, and Sister Song is so gracious about it. Am I the type to be petty? You tell me, you tell me! Oh, come on, really..." Liao Bixin cupped the mouthpiece of her phone, speaking softly.

Show off all you want, it doesn't matter. Song Xici wasn't some love-starved person. If Liao Bixin was counting on making her jealous and resentful, she was sorely mistaken.

However, Liao Bixin's tactics were indeed... hard to describe.

After overhearing the conversation, Song Xici turned and asked Xiao He for eye drops. She pulled back her eyelid and applied two drops to her eyes, dry from wearing blue contact lenses, then screwed the cap back on and returned it to Xiao He.

After finishing the call, Liao Bixin held her phone and smiled awkwardly: "Qi Sheng suddenly has something to do. He says he can't come have a late-night snack with me. That's just how it is being an actor, sigh."

"Oh," Song Xici raised an eyebrow, her response neither warm nor cold.

"Xici! Xici! Sister You'an is here to see you!" Suddenly, Xiao He grabbed Song Xici's arm and shook it.

"What?" Song Xici turned, shivering in her coat.

Xiao He smiled and pointed. There stood Tang You'an, with a serene smile, holding a box of something.

"Xici."

Before Song Xici could speak, Tang You'an walked over, one hand in her pocket, the other carrying the box.

Liao Bixin was also stunned. What was going on? Hadn't Tang You'an never visited Song Xici on set before? Well, once, but that time was clearly arranged by the company.

"Why did you come without saying anything?!" Song Xici quickly pulled Tang You'an to sit beside her, whispering in her ear.

"Miss Xu said you'd be filming late tonight. Acting seems to be physically demanding, and it's winter. I was worried you'd be hungry and cold in the middle of the night, so I borrowed some money from her to buy you something to eat," Tang You'an said, opening the box of warm dumplings.

"You're so considerate of me?" Song Xici looked up at her.

"You're my wife. If I'm not considerate of you, who else would I be?" Tang You'an replied softly. After all, in this place, Song Xici was the only person she knew and was familiar with.

Overhearing the conversation between Song Xici and Tang You'an, Liao Bixin clenched her fist and frowned. That idiot Qi Sheng, never around when needed. What good was he? He'd completely lost face for her.

"You certainly know how to talk," Song Xici glanced at Tang You'an.

"Come, eat," Tang You'an said, opening the food container.

"Alright then!" Song Xici clapped her hands.

As the aroma of the dipping sauce wafted out, Liao Bixin's already hungry stomach suddenly growled loudly. How embarrassing.

"Are you hungry too? Would you like some?" Tang You'an looked at Liao Bixin.

Was she inviting her to join them? Liao Bixin nodded nonetheless.

"If you'd like some, you can go buy your own. This restaurant is called 'Qin Huang Pavilion,' very close by," Tang You'an said without looking up. She then broke apart the chopsticks, picked up a dumpling, and brought it to Song Xici's lips. "Try it. Careful, it's hot."