This Best Actress is a Bit Annoying - Chapter 24.1

Nie Zhuying was a woman of action. She moved in immediately, leaving the Xia siblings zero time for mental preparation.

Mr. and Mrs. Nie, on the other hand, were overjoyed. They gleefully sent over a mountain of Nie Zhuying’s daily necessities, repeatedly reminding Xia Yanbo and Nie Zhuying to “cultivate their feelings” during this time.

Xia Qingye stood to the side in an awkward daze. Does this count as cohabitation? The speed was faster than some blind dates. They had only met for the first time a few days ago, and she estimated that the total words exchanged between Nie Zhuying and her brother didn’t exceed twenty. Was she the only one who could see the words “I’m not willing” written clearly across both of their faces?

After seeing the elders off, Xia Yanbo asked Xia Qingye to prepare a guest room for Nie Zhuying. “Miss Nie, please treat this place as your own home. If you need anything, just ask Qingye.”

“Qingye, I’ll leave Miss Nie in your care. I have some business at the office. See you tonight.”

“…”

Before Xia Qingye could respond, Xia Yanbo vanished at lightning speed, as if a big bad wolf were snapping at his heels. This left the two women at the door, staring at each other.

Xia Qingye never imagined her brother could be so shameless as to flee.

“Are all you Xia family members part rabbit?”

“What?”

“Your escaping speed is top-tier.”

Nie Zhuying looked at Xia Qingye with a half-smile, clearly referencing the day the girl had slipped away from the hotel while she was busy taking a phone call.

Xia Qingye gave a dry laugh, immediately picked up the luggage nearby, and headed upstairs to prepare the guest room for the Film Queen.

Nie Zhuying inspected the place she’d be staying for the next few nights like an official on tour. After wandering around, she knit her brows slightly. “The decor in this room is too bland. I have a live stream scheduled for the New Year; if my fans see this background, they’ll probably suspect I’m staying in a hotel.”

A “Film Queen stays in a hotel for New Year’s” headline would certainly be trending fodder.

Xia Qingye’s mouth twitched. Her brother had really handed her a difficult task; this Film Queen was clearly here to mess with them. After thinking for a moment, she asked, “How about I give you my room instead?”

“Your room?”

“Yes. Do you want to take a look?”

Xia Qingye regretted the suggestion almost immediately. Her room was just two doors down from the guest room—a mere two-step walk. She opened the door and invited the guest in. After a moment, she heard Nie Zhuying’s critique:

“The style of this room is so messy. A bit of dark gothic, a bit of warm cozy, and a bit of sunny brightness.” As she spoke, she picked up a black skull that the original owner had particularly loved, adding matter-of-factly, “It shows that the dark side of your heart is still quite prominent.”

Xia Qingye: “…”

Xia Qingye directly ushered her out of the room. “Since you don’t like it, I’ll take you to buy some things you like to decorate the guest room.”

Nie Zhuying, looking as if her scheme had succeeded, handed the skull back to Xia Qingye and clapped her hands. “Sure! Though I didn’t expect you to like this kind of thing; your taste is quite unique. I’ll go upstairs to change. As for you… you probably don’t need to, right?”

Xia Qingye was so annoyed by the provocation she almost laughed. She tossed the skull onto the coffee table and immediately called Xia Yanbo. “Brother, she’s here for you. Isn’t it a bit unfair to just dump her on me like this?”

Xia Yanbo coughed twice. He knew it was unfair, but what could he do? He was also in despair over this “meat pie falling from the sky” marriage contract. “You and Miss Nie are acquaintances in the same industry; you should have plenty to talk about. If it’s really boring, take her out shopping, out to eat, or to a movie. I’ll reimburse everything. I’m busy with work here, talk to you later.”

Eating, shopping, movies?

Why did that sound so wrong?

Before she could dwell on her brother’s words, Nie Zhuying came down. She was wrapped up extremely tight in a bright yellow down jacket, looking very much like Spongebob Squarepants. She had a face mask, a hood, and a scarf. Total camouflage.

“What are you staring at? Let’s go.”

“Oh.”

Xia Qingye drove. Realizing she hadn’t had time to buy New Year’s supplies yet, she detoured to a nearby supermarket. The place was a sea of people, a crowded mess of pushing and shoving. Even Xia Qingye felt her scalp go numb at the sight, let alone Nie Zhuying, who likely never stepped foot in a supermarket.

Nie Zhuying grabbed her. “Hey, hey! Don’t tell me you’re going in there.”

Xia Qingye explained patiently, “New Year’s is in two days. We have no food reserves at home and no supplies ready. Auntie Fang won’t be back until the eighth day; we have to fend for ourselves until then.”

Caught on the same sinking ship, Nie Zhuying was speechless. Just as she was looking for an excuse to flee, Xia Qingye grabbed her wrist.

“Since you’re spending New Year’s with us, you’re part of the family. We have a lot to buy today; help me carry some of it.”

Nie Zhuying stared at her with wide, bright eyes, as if she’d heard something impossible. “You’re asking me to help you carry things?”

Xia Qingye, completely unfazed by the Film Queen’s aura, said with a smile, “Didn’t you say a Film Queen is still a person? We can only go buy what you want after we finish at the supermarket. If I carry everything myself, how long will it take? Don’t waste time, let’s go.”

Xia Qingye led the way, still gripping Nie Zhuying’s sleeve like an adult leading a child.

Nie Zhuying felt awkward and tried to shake her hand off, but she couldn’t break free. Like a pouting child, she muttered, “Let go, I can walk by myself.”

Xia Qingye suppressed a smile but still warned, “It’s crowded today. Stay close to me and don’t get distracted.”

Nie Zhuying, naturally indifferent, stuffed her hands into her pockets and followed. She watched Xia Qingye pick out food from the shelves. The supermarket was stuffy from the crowd and the heater; before long, she felt hot. She looked down to adjust her scarf, and when she looked up again, Xia Qingye was nowhere to be found. “Hey!”

That “hey” was like a stone dropped into the ocean, failing to make a ripple in the noisy environment.

Xia Qingye had been pushed by the crowd, drifting forward with the flow. By the time she found a spot to stop and looked back, she realized Nie Zhuying hadn’t kept up. She squeezed back through the crowd and soon saw that bright “Spongebob” standing in place, looking around. For a moment, she looked like an abandoned child, lost and waiting for a relative to come back and lead her home.

“Hey.”

Nie Zhuying felt a warmth in her palm. Looking down, she saw Xia Qingye holding her hand. It was soft and a bit cool—much lower than her own body temperature—and the palm was smaller than hers.

“I saw walnuts up ahead; let’s go over there.”

“Oh.”

Nie Zhuying allowed Xia Qingye to lead her. Her other hand, tucked in her pocket, was still clutching her phone. She had been about to call, only to realize she didn’t have the Xia siblings’ contact information. The only way was to stand still and wait. Fortunately, this person knew to come back for her; she wasn’t too stupid. Nie Zhuying’s lips curled up in a hidden smile.

Xia Qingye pulled her through the crowd. Several times, their joined hands slipped, only to be gripped tightly together again. The intimate feeling of their fingertips touching made her a bit distracted. She regretted the impulse to grab this person’s hand; she knew the other woman was as “straight as a telephone pole” and didn’t understand these things, yet she herself was feeling flustered. She was truly looking for trouble.

After being bumped several times, Nie Zhuying got annoyed. Seeing people constantly trying to squeeze between them, she moved her hand, interlacing her fingers with the other’s—an instinctive, self-taught move.

Xia Qingye spun around abruptly, catching the trace of a smile in the Film Queen’s phoenix eyes. Her heart skipped a beat. “You… what are you doing?”

Nie Zhuying, entirely unaware that the gesture was a “foul,” raised their joined hands triumphantly. “I refuse to believe anyone can squeeze us apart like this.”

Hearing those ambiguous words, Xia Qingye’s ears turned red. She pretended not to care and walked forward, not daring to move her hand, repeatedly telling herself: This is your future sister-in-law. We might become family later.

They finished at the supermarket, having bought three thousand yuan worth of supplies. Afterward, Xia Qingye directly asked a staff member to help carry everything to the car.

Nie Zhuying, watching her stand outside tipping the man, realized she’d been played again.

“Let me see your shopping list.”

“In my pocket. Get it yourself.”

Seeing her with her arms crossed and an “I don’t want to talk to you” expression, Xia Qingye found it hilarious. She confirmed, “I’m reaching in?”

Nie Zhuying lazily raised her elbow slightly to signal her determination not to move.

Xia Qingye gave up and actually reached into the pocket. She didn’t find it in the nearest one, so she drew closer and reached into the other side.

Nie Zhuying had only said it out of spite, but with a small hand rummaging around in her pocket, she shifted her body. She felt the girl’s head moving behind her back; it was a bit ticklish.

“Stop moving.”

“Are you done yet?”

Xia Qingye was also embarrassed. The two of them were squeezed into the passenger seat; she had one hand on the other’s shoulder and used her other to prop herself up while grabbing the paper. Returning to her seat, she scanned the list and her eyes went wide.

“Potted plants, a fish tank, three ‘Feng Shui’ fish, and this, this, this… you plan to raise fish at my house?”

Nie Zhuying didn’t speak. she gave her a high-and-mighty “cold blade” of a look, as if saying: Do you have an objection?

Xia Qingye naturally didn’t. The guest was always right, especially since this guest might become a family member. “Fine. Let’s go to the flower market then. I hope we make it in time.”

At the flower market, the atmosphere was just as hectic as the supermarket. Standing at the entrance, both women felt a sense of dread. Xia Qingye asked, “Do we still want to go in?”

Thinking of her live stream, Nie Zhuying steeled herself. “Of course. We have to buy everything today so we can decorate when we get back. I have to make it for the stream.”

Xia Qingye had only taken a few steps when her hand was grabbed.

Nie Zhuying held her hand firmly, looking straight ahead with a look of feigned impatience. “There are too many people. Don’t get lost.”

Xia Qingye didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Who was the one who got lost earlier? She tried to pull away, but her hand felt like it was on fire and she couldn’t get it free. She was led through the stalls, with Nie Zhuying looking at almost every single pot.

“What kind of plant are you looking for?”

“Anything that looks good.”

“…”

A true member of the ‘Looks Association’!

Watching Nie Zhuying’s focused expression, staring at every brilliantly blooming flower while ignoring everything else—it was like she was at a beauty pageant. A thought flashed through Xia Qingye’s mind and she blurted out: “You aren’t buying these just to show off in front of your fans, are you?”

Nie Zhuying’s half-crouched body froze. She snapped back in defensive anger, “Stop making wild guesses!”

Suddenly, the hand that had been holding hers was gone as the owner stalked away. Xia Qingye looked down at her hand, squeezing her fingers together; it felt like the other woman’s warmth was still there. She pinched herself hard, warning herself not to overthink.

She is just a ‘steel-pipe straight’ woman.

“Boss, I want a pot of blooming orchids.”

Xia Qingye, following behind, couldn’t help but burst into a snort of laughter.

The owner nearby also laughed. “Little girl, orchids usually don’t bloom in this season. And the weather hasn’t been great this year; many orchids have to stay in the greenhouse, and the survival rate isn’t high. Orchids are delicate and hard to raise. Why don’t you look at our other flowers? Are they for decoration, or—”

Nie Zhuying’s face turned bright red. Fortunately, her face was buried in her scarf so no one could see the change, but her eyes shot a fierce glare at Xia Qingye.

Xia Qingye suppressed her smile and stepped in to smooth things over. “I think the narcissus flowers are quite pretty this season. Boss, how much for these?”

Under Xia Qingye’s coaxing and the owner’s constant praise, Nie Zhuying left with a pot of narcissus and a few small plants.

Next, they went to the fish shop, picking three Feng Shui fish and a standard tank. The tank was small, just enough for the three fish. Xia Qingye watched as Nie Zhuying dipped her finger into the shop’s tank, chasing the fish tails. The corners of her eyes curved into crescents, looking entirely different from the Nie Zhuying she usually saw. Xia Qingye dazed out for a second before shaking the thought away.

“There’s a lot to carry. I’ll take these to the car first. Do you want to come with me or wait here?”

Nie Zhuying waved her hand without looking back. “Go on, I’ll wait for you.”

Xia Qingye hesitated but let the staff help carry the tank, fish, food, and plants to the car. The trunk was too full, so she had to move some supermarket bags to the back seat to make space.

Xia Qingye thought Nie Zhuying would stay put, but when she returned, she realized she had overestimated the woman. If she wasn’t causing trouble or being disobedient, she wouldn’t be Nie Zhuying.

She searched frantically and returned to the fish shop. “Boss, where did the girl in the yellow jacket go?”

“She walked that way just now. Check that path; you should find her.”

“Thanks!”

That path led to the bird and poultry market. Xia Qingye hesitated but followed the smell. First, she smelled a mix of foul odors—it was terrible. Then she saw cages of birds and smelled the stench of waste. She couldn’t believe Nie Zhuying would choose this path. She quickened her pace, peeking into every stall. Ten minutes later, she saw that bright color again, crouching in front of a row of cages.

“What are you doing here?”

“Come here! Look at this puppy, isn’t it cute?” Nie Zhuying stood up suddenly, holding a puppy up to Xia Qingye’s face.

Xia Qingye nearly had an intimate kiss with the puppy. By the time she reacted, she had instinctively backed away several steps, staring in horror at Nie Zhuying—or rather, the sleepy-eyed puppy in her hands. “Move… move it away!”

Nie Zhuying toyed with the little guy, who looked barely weaned. Then, she mischievously thrust it toward Xia Qingye again to scare her. “What? You don’t like it?”

Xia Qingye dodged repeatedly. She really didn’t like it; she had always kept her distance from furry animals. She wore a look of disgust, maintaining a safe distance from Nie Zhuying. “It’ll bite! Put it down!”

Nie Zhuying shook her head, affectionately scratching the puppy’s chin. Seeing it squint happily, she stroked its white fur. “I want to take it back.”

Xia Qingye dropped her previous compliance and refused flatly. “No!”

“And what if I insist on taking it back?!”

“…”

Xia Qingye rubbed her head in frustration. What could she do? She felt helpless. “Owning a pet requires responsibility. It needs meticulous care—no less than looking after a person. You’re so busy, you definitely won’t have time to look after it, right?”

Nie Zhuying thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. “You’re right. But I’m still taking it back. If I’m not free, I can find someone with time to look after it.”

Xia Qingye made a final struggle. “How about we leave it here for a few days? When you’re ready to take it home, we’ll come back for it. How about that?”

Nie Zhuying’s eyes narrowed as she took a step closer. “So you haven’t been treating me as part of the family after all? Then why did you use those words to trick me at the supermarket?”

Fine. The Film Queen was settling scores again.

Under the sharp, imperial gaze of the Film Queen, Xia Qingye surrendered three minutes later. “Fine, fine! Bring it if you want. But… it can’t come inside the house.”

To avoid any more strange comments, Xia Qingye stated clearly, “My brother and I don’t like small animals.”

Nie Zhuying looked enlightened. While Xia Qingye went to pay, a triumphant smile curled her lips. She teased the little guy in her arms. “Little thing, help me win this one.”

Afterward, they followed the list to buy decorations. By the time they drove home, the city lights were on. After moving everything inside, Xia Qingye didn’t want to move a muscle. They went their separate ways to their respective rooms to rest.

The next day, New Year’s Eve.

Early in the morning, Xia Qingye hazily heard a crackle-crackle sound near her ear. A very fine, rustling sound. She rolled over, only to be woken up by a furry sensation on her face. Opening her eyes, she saw two dark, shiny little eyes staring at her. Looking closer, she saw a white-and-yellow hamster cutely eating something, its cheeks bulging. The crackle-crackle sound was coming from its mouth.

“Aaaah! Aaaaaah!”

“Qingye, what’s wrong?”

The door opened, and Xia Qingye immediately ducked behind Xia Yanbo, jumping on her bare feet, terrified the hamster would run over. “Brother! A rat! There’s a rat in my room!”

Xia Yanbo was in a suit, his hair perfectly styled as if he were about to head out. He’d only come up after hearing the scream that nearly took the roof off. He patted her hand. “Brother will go check.”

Xia Qingye stood at the door, refusing to step back inside.

Xia Yanbo checked under the bed, every corner, and even the restroom. He didn’t see anything furry. Furthermore, the room was spotless—no food scraps, not even a snack bag. How could there be a rat in such a clean room?

“Qingye, where is the rat? Did you dream it?”

“No, impossible!”

“There really isn’t one. How could our house have rats?”

As Xia Yanbo comforted her, Nie Zhuying emerged from the guest room, rubbing her neck with sleepy eyes. She leaned against the door and let out a lazy yawn. “What are you shouting for so early? Don’t you know disturbing someone’s sleep is a heinous crime?”

Then, a little white puppy trotted out from behind the door. It circled Nie Zhuying’s feet, sniffing around as if marking its territory, and then charged toward Xia Qingye and Xia Yanbo.

“Ah! You said you wouldn’t bring it inside!” Xia Qingye jumped.

“When did we get a dog in the house?” Xia Yanbo asked.

Nie Zhuying watched the siblings frantically dodging the puppy and burst into laughter. Her morning was off to a beautiful start.

In contrast, Xia Qingye was not doing well. Between the “was it a dream or reality” hamster scare and having her foot licked by the puppy, she was in a bad way.

“Hey, it’s just a dog. Do you have to be this scared?”

“I have a name. If you call me ‘Hey’ one more time, you can handle your own meals this week,” Xia Qingye threatened without hesitation. After this, she wasn’t planning to deal with the Film Queen with her previous patience.

She wasn’t stupid. She’d been back for a while and had never seen a rat in her room, let alone her bed.

How coincidental that Nie Zhuying arrives and suddenly there’s a rat and a dog—both furry animals. Yesterday at the market, she’d left Nie alone for a while. There were too many coincidences; Nie Zhuying was likely the culprit.

She propped up her head, watching the Film Queen tapping away on her phone, likely messaging someone. An alluring, provocative smile was on her lips; she was clearly in high spirits, so much so that she ignored the threat.

Whenever Nie Zhuying thought of Xia Yanbo’s panicked escape this morning, her mood couldn’t help but be great. She sent the victory report to her friend and spared a second to reply to Xia Qingye: “I’ll order takeout.”

Xia Qingye lay on the sofa, thinking about how she’d spent past New Year’s Eves. Most were with Zhong Ruanqin. No matter how busy they were, they’d return to their little nest and spend the final day together, welcoming the new year in each other’s arms and planning their goals.

Thinking of that person made her heart ache. Her already sour mood from Nie Zhuying’s antics grew worse. She sat up abruptly. “We’re making dumplings and wontons today.”

“Sure!”

Xia Qingye went back to her room, cautiously opening her wardrobe and peeking around suspiciously, terrified the hamster—wherever it was hiding—would pop out again. Just the thought of it being on her bed made her want to pack up her sheets—no, her whole bed—and throw it away. The hair on her arms was still standing.

Fortunately, she didn’t run into it. Xia Qingye changed her clothes and headed out with her bag.

Nie Zhuying saw her leaving and asked, “Where are you going?”

Xia Qingye’s lips curled into a sweet smile. “I’m going to buy some rat poison.”

Nie Zhuying: “…”