What Should I Do if My Best Friend Is a Green Tea? [Transmigrated Into a Book]

The next day, Zhou Qingyu woke up with dark circles under her eyes. She had been sleeping well the past few days, never skipping her skincare routine with face masks and beauty devices. If it weren't for the Ziyuan Garden project, she wouldn't have ended up like this.

In contrast, Ye Luoyi was full of energy. Although she had been upset the day before when Zhou Qingyu secured the endorsement deal with the M brand, she quickly bounced back, as befitting a female lead. Seeing Zhou Qingyu massaging her dark circles in the living room of the guesthouse, Ye Luoyi asked in surprise, "Qingyu, didn't you sleep well last night?"

[It's true, this is the first time I've seen the young lady with dark circles!] [Maybe she went out partying last night!] [Even with dark circles, she still looks stunning as always~] Zhou Qingyu pouted, ignoring Ye Luoyi, but she shot a glare at Yan Xi. Yan Xi: ?

Yan Xi pointed at herself innocently, "You stayed up late reviewing the Ziyuan Garden project, and now you're blaming me?"

Zhou Qingyu took a large sip of black coffee from Louis to reduce puffiness. "Of course, it's your fault! You should have persuaded me more to stop looking at that project. How could you give up after just a couple of tries?"

Yan Xi: ...

Last night, Yu Xiao had sent the proposal to Zhou Hongsheng for final approval on which plan to submit for the bid. However, in a large corporation like Zhou's, government connections inevitably played a role. Although it was said that Zhou Hongsheng had the final say, the chosen proposal would still lean toward what the government preferred.

Yan Xi suddenly thought of something, "Has the result for Ziyuan Garden been announced? Who won?"

"Ecological Wetland," Zhou Qingyu said with clear dissatisfaction. "I never expected Zhou Yanci to come up with such an idea!"

"However, the Lu Family and the Pei Family also participated in the bidding. At least we won."

Thinking of this, Zhou Qingyu felt slightly better.

Yan Xi seized the opportunity to tease, "So, isn't it better to just relax and enjoy the dividends? At least you wouldn't have dark circles..."

Zhou Qingyu glared at Yan Xi angrily, "You traitor! Shut up!"

Today was the last day of their trip to France. Unlike the previous days where the guests planned their own itineraries, today's schedule was solely dedicated to shooting the promotional video for "Let's Travel Together." The show was not only livestreamed but also recorded. Since it was just a promotional video for a variety show and didn't require much acting, even non-celebrities like Yan Xi could handle it.

Today's activities wouldn't be livestreamed. After breakfast, each group of guests would film their parts with Director Yu, and finally, an integrated version featuring all eight participants would be shot. The schedule was relaxed, and while one group was filming, the others could freely explore or shop for souvenirs. Zhou Qingyu, still exhausted from her lack of sleep, had no intention of going out. When not filming, she curled up on the seat of the stretch Lincoln and fell into a deep sleep.

By around 2 PM, the individual shots for three groups had been completed, leaving only Jiang Tao and Xiao Yu's part.

The production crew anxiously reported to Director Yu, "Director, we've looked everywhere, but we still can't find Director Jiang and Xiao Yu!"

Director Yu scratched his bald head in frustration, "What's wrong with these two? We can go home right after shooting the promotional video! Why are they causing trouble now?" Just as everyone was growing anxious, Qin Li and Kang Boye, who had finished their part first, appeared, followed by a dejected Jiang Tao and Xiao Yu. Director Yu quickly approached them, "Old Jiang! What are you doing running around with Xiao Yu at a time like this?"

Jiang Tao looked utterly defeated. His already thin hair was disheveled, and his face was haggard, with several wrinkles forming at the corners of his eyes. Yan Xi peeked out curiously. She remembered Jiang Tao was only 35, but now he looked like a 50-year-old man.

"The investment for 'The Bottom Line' fell through," Zhou Qingyu, who had been napping, slowly opened her eyes. "I heard the news from Wu Liao last night while reviewing the Ziyuan Garden project. Apparently, the investor who was backing Jiang Tao has mysteriously disappeared." Yan Xi couldn't understand, "How can a living person just vanish like that... Wait, what about Director Jiang's investment?"

"Gone," Zhou Qingyu shrugged.

She rolled down the window of the stretch Lincoln. Through the window, they could see Jiang Tao hugging Director Yu and crying uncontrollably on set.

"Jiang Tao has been with the production team recently, so he probably didn't even sign a contract. But he had already paid the location fees for filming in Li City. Now that the investment is gone, the money he fronted is all lost."

On set, Jiang Tao wept bitterly, and the other guests expressed their sympathy. However, with a 20-million-yuan hole, there was little they could do. Director Yu, feeling sorry for him, instructed the guests to finish the remaining shots and didn't ask Jiang Tao to film anymore.

Jiang Tao and Xiao Yu sat on a small flower bed outside the filming area, frantically contacting domestic investors, hoping to secure funding. But deep down, they knew that if they couldn't secure investment when they had time, it was even less likely now.

At 5 PM, Director Yu announced that all filming was complete, officially concluding the France leg of "Let's Travel Together." Ye Luoyi had booked a flight for 10 PM, so everyone packed up and planned to meet at the airport later. Since the return trip wasn't particularly interesting, it wouldn't be livestreamed.

Jiang Tao and Xiao Yu hurriedly packed, knowing they had to return to China immediately to deal with the financial crisis.

However, since they learned of the investor's disappearance the night before, they had made countless calls but still couldn't reach the person. Even if they returned to China, the chances of contacting the investor were slim.

In their room, Jiang Tao was on the phone with domestic investors while Xiao Yu packed their luggage. Seeing Jiang Tao get rejected yet again, she walked over and held his hand tightly.

Jiang Tao's voice choked with emotion, "If we can't secure the investment this time, Xiao Yu, our apartment in Hengdian..."

"Sell it," Xiao Yu patted Jiang Tao's shoulder. "It's okay, we can always earn more money."

"But our child..."

Jiang Tao's gaze dropped to Xiao Yu's belly. Since she was less than two months pregnant, her bump wasn't visible yet, but beneath her flat stomach, a new life was growing.

Jiang Tao had hoped that "The Bottom Line" would be his chance to turn things around, providing a better life for Xiao Yu and their child. But now, he had lost everything.

Knock, knock, knock...

The sound of knocking interrupted his thoughts. Jiang Tao wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and opened the door to find Qin Li standing there with his suitcase.

"Are you leaving?" Jiang Tao understood. "I'm sorry, I've been too busy contacting investors and wasted a lot of time. We're all packed now and can leave anytime..."

Qin Li cut him off, "Director Jiang, it's only 8 PM, and we still have some time before heading to the airport. I wanted to talk to you about the investment."

Jiang Tao's head snapped up, disbelief written all over his face. "You... you want to invest?"

Xiao Yu's eyes also lit up with hope. "Don't just stand at the door, Qin Li, come in!"

"No need," Qin Li said calmly. "It won't take long, we can talk here." Qin Li stood tall, his imposing figure over six feet towering over Jiang Tao's five-foot-seven frame, making Jiang Tao feel somewhat intimidated.

Jiang Tao swallowed hard, suppressing his excitement as he looked at Qinli with anticipation.

Qin Li: "I've contacted Strawberry Network. They've agreed to invest 20 million in 'The Bottom Line,' but only if I'm the male lead." Jiang Tao's smile vanished instantly. "But... but I've already finalized the male lead."

Qin Li smiled faintly, "It's alright, Director Jiang. This is just a suggestion. If you have other options, forget I mentioned it."

"However..." Qin Li glanced at his phone, "Strawberry Network has given you two days to consider. They hope you'll seize this opportunity."

At 10 PM, the guests gathered at the airport in Li City.

Compared to his earlier despondent state, Jiang Tao looked somewhat better now, though he still appeared listless. Yan Xi was curious but didn't dare to ask Jiang Tao directly. Xiao Yu noticed Yan Xi's curiosity and hesitation and gently told her, "We've secured the investment."

"So quickly!" Yan Xi exclaimed in surprise. "Congratulations!"

"It's Strawberry Network. Qin Li helped connect us. They agreed to invest 20 million. It's less than the 30 million we initially planned for, but we can make do with a smaller budget."

"Strawberry Network," Zhou Qingyu chuckled softly. "It's probably not just about reducing the budget, is it? Strawberry Network isn't known for charity. They're very selective about their projects."

Zhou Qingyu is a shareholder of Xingyao, and she is well-versed in the intricacies of the platform. Xiao Yu smiled bitterly, "They demanded that Qin Li be the male lead. After all, Qin Li has name recognition, unlike the actor we initially chose... who was too much of a nobody." Zhou Qingyu nodded, "That's not a bad deal. With the script of *The Bottom Line* and Qin Li as the male lead, securing 20 million in investment should be manageable." For Strawberry Network, Qin Li, Jiang Tao, and Xiao Yu, this was a win-win situation.

The only one sacrificed in this matter was Shen Xinghe.

But who would care about an unknown actor?

Everything returned to the trajectory of the novel after the trip to Country F concluded today. After checking in, the guests went through security one by one and boarded the flight back home. Meanwhile, Zhou Qingyu and Yan Xi returned on a private jet.

This time, only Yan Xi and Zhou Qingyu were on the private jet. The plane wasn’t heading back to Haicheng but instead to Hengcheng first, where Zhou Qingyu had a cameo in a period drama and needed to film for a day. Yan Xi, having nothing else to do, decided to accompany her.

On the plane, Zhou Qingyu went to sleep early to adjust to the time difference and maintain her energy. Yan Xi, still wide awake, went to the entertainment room to watch a movie and kill some time. The moment the plane left the airspace of Country F, a notification popped up in Yan Xi's mind: *[Ding! You have altered Zhou Qingyu's fate of being a control group in the variety show (Country F). Zhou Qingyu's luck points have increased by 5. Current luck points: 19.1.]* The system had already informed Yan Xi that the situation in the variety show had diverged significantly from the novel's plot, and there would be a luck points settlement after it ended.

Yan Xi just didn’t expect the reward to be so substantial. Zhou Qingyu's fate had been changed.

"System, since Qin Li took the male lead role that originally belonged to Shen Xinghe, does that mean he also stole Shen Xinghe's luck?"

*[Yes!]*

A small glowing orb appeared: *[Life opportunities are limited. Starring as the male lead in *The Bottom Line* would inevitably lead to a breakout. If Shen Xinghe loses this chance, it naturally falls to Qin Li.]*

Just like how Pei Yubai repeatedly obtained money, resources, and fame from Zhou Qingyu, all of which contributed to his luck as the male lead. *[Moreover, Qin Li is one of Ye Luoyi's admirers. The more outstanding he becomes and the more luck he accumulates, the more it benefits Ye Luoyi!]*

*[Host, you should understand this well. Just like how you receive gifts from the young lady, and her luck increases as a result—connections are also a form of luck.]* Connections, too, are a form of luck.

Yan Xi pondered this sentence repeatedly.

The novel's plot was already halfway through, and Yan Xi couldn’t rely solely on altering the storyline to help Zhou Qingyu achieve full luck points. Whether it was gifts from Zhou Qingyu or Yan Xi securing endorsements for her, these were just some of the ways to gain luck, but the progress was too slow. She needed to think of another approach.

Shen Xinghe might be a potential path.

Yan Xi: "Was someone setting a trap for Jiang Tao? If it weren’t for the earlier investment, Jiang Tao wouldn’t have chosen Qin Li as the male lead."

*(Well...)*

The system hesitated, *[Host, I don’t know. The novel didn’t mention this!]* Yan Xi sneered, "Qin Li is the second male lead, so of course the novel wouldn’t vilify him. Most likely, this part was glossed over. But after promising Jiang Tao the investment, they suddenly disappeared after he paid the location fees. Wasn’t that to pressure Jiang Tao into a corner, forcing him to choose Qin Li?"

Yan Xi felt that compared to Pei Yubai's manipulation, Qin Li's scheming was far more profound. Whether it was inciting Da Jiajun to slander her or this setup with Jiang Tao, he always managed to execute his plans flawlessly.

In the novel, Qin Li was portrayed as the devoted second male lead, madly in love with Ye Luoyi, never revealing his darker, scheming side.

But some things, even if not obvious on the surface, can be deduced by considering who ultimately benefits.

In Jiang Tao's case, wasn’t the beneficiary Qin Li?

Yan Xi didn’t believe in coincidences, nor did she believe Qin Li simply got lucky. If Strawberry Network wanted a second-tier celebrity to endorse the project, there were plenty of second-tier actors in the entertainment industry—it shouldn’t have been Qin Li.

The private jet arrived in Hengcheng at six in the morning.

Zhou Qingyu had a full day of filming and headed straight to the set after landing. Yan Xi, with nothing to do, continued to nap on the plane and didn’t wake up until after eight. Zhou Qingyu's scenes would wrap up by tonight, so Yan Xi had the day to explore Hengcheng.

It was her first time in Hengcheng, a place filled with classical architecture. Walking through the city felt like stepping back in time.

However, it was summer, and the daytime temperature in Hengcheng was scorching. Wearing a T-shirt and shorts, Yan Xi could already feel the oppressive heat. Along the way, she encountered many extras dressed in heavy period costumes, which looked unbearably hot.

Outside an ancient mansion, Yan Xi spotted Qiao Yan.

Qiao Yan, around thirty, was dressed simply in a white shirt and jeans, with a crew badge hanging from her chest. When she saw Yan Xi, she waved in greeting. Qiao Yan handed the badge to Yan Xi, "Here, it's for the *Luocheng Oath* crew. Aren’t you going to visit the young lady? Instead, you’re heading to this set. Do you like Fang Sui?"

"Fang Sui?" Yan Xi was puzzled. "Who’s that?"

"Huh? You don’t know him? He’s a pretty popular male star lately!" Yan Xi shook her head. She had spent half the night researching but couldn’t find out which crew Shen Xinghe was part of. It was only after asking the system for help that she discovered Shen Xinghe had recently filmed *Luocheng Oath*. She decided to try her luck here.

"Alright, Xingyao invested in *Luocheng Oath*. It’s not a huge amount, but getting you a crew badge isn’t a problem. You can take photos inside, but don’t leak any spoilers, got it?"

Qiao Yan assumed Yan Xi knew these basic on-set rules, but she couldn’t help reminding her anyway.

When they arrived at the *Luocheng Oath* set, Qiao Yan greeted the producer. As one of the investors, Xingyao was treated with respect. Today, the crew was filming a major battle scene, and all the named characters were present. Huge green screens surrounded the set, blocking out fans and paparazzi. Inside, the heat was intense, and the crowd of extras and supporting actors was overwhelming.

Yan Xi saw the male lead, Fang Sui, filming on set. His lines weren’t particularly clear, but he was wielding a sword, indicating a scene where the male lead leads his troops to storm the imperial city.

Yan Xi stood close enough to see Fang Sui swinging his lightweight sword as he fought his way through the chaos. An insignificant soldier blocked his path, trying to stop Fang Sui but was ultimately struck down by his blade.

Then, Fang Sui charged toward the emperor and plunged his sword into his chest!

"Cut!"

As the director called for a break, six or seven assistants immediately rushed to Fang Sui’s side. Some wiped his sweat, others handed him water, and a few held small fans to cool him down. The supporting actors around him were also surrounded by assistants, all tending to their needs.

Only the soldier who had been struck down by Fang Sui staggered to his feet.

The scene wasn’t over yet, so he didn’t dare wipe off the "blood" on his face. He sat on a nearby stone bench, reaching into his sports bag for a water bottle. Finding it empty, he looked disappointed for a moment but said nothing, placing the bottle back in his bag. The sticky "blood" makeup itched and clung to his face, making Shen Xinghe uncomfortable, but he endured it.

"Want some water?"

Yan Xi handed Shen Xinghe a bottle of water.

Shen Xinghe was startled, looking up in confusion at the girl before him. She had a pure, makeup-free face, with a few strands of hair sticking to her forehead from the heat. "Thank you..."

He was parched and gulped down the water eagerly. Yan Xi pulled up a small stool and sat down, observing Shen Xinghe.

The man drank most of the water, his Adam's apple bobbing as sweat dripped down his neck and into his collar, creating an unexpectedly alluring sight. He wore a helmet, and his face was smeared with blood and dirt, making it hard to see his true features.

—If it weren’t for the system’s reminder, Yan Xi would never have recognized him as Shen Xinghe.

She had seen Shen Xinghe without makeup in Jiang Tao’s footage. Though the camera didn’t focus on his looks, the moment Shen Xinghe smirked, his roguish charm would undoubtedly captivate countless girls.

But now, he seemed too plain, like just another extra.

Someone once said, "Gold will always shine."

Yan Xi felt that this statement wasn't quite right. Gold can shine, but first, it needs the opportunity to be seen. If it's never seen, no matter how valuable it is, it's useless. Shen Xinghe took a sip of water and noticed Yan Xi's gaze fixed on him. His face instantly turned red, and his ears were so flushed they seemed like they could drip blood.

"You..." he was about to speak when he saw Yan Xi pull out a small fan with Fang Sui's photo on it, casually fanning herself.

The words he wanted to say got stuck in his throat, and Shen Xinghe smiled bitterly to himself.

With a big star like Fang Sui around, how could he dare to imagine that this girl might be his fan?

She was probably just a fan trying to get close to Fang Sui, but unfortunately, Fang Sui was always surrounded by too many people, and she couldn't squeeze in.

"You could have come a bit later," Shen Xinghe suggested. "It's cooler after work, and Fang Sui usually signs autographs for fans then."

"Fang Sui?" Yan Xi looked puzzled. "I'm not Fang Sui's fan!"

"Then why..." Shen Xinghe pointed at the fan in Yan Xi's hand.

"Oh, this?" Yan Xi pointed at Fang Sui's image on the fan and laughed. "A fan of Fang Sui gave it to me. It's really hot in Hengcheng. Do you want one? I have more in my bag!"

Yan Xi handed two fans to Shen Xinghe and even fanned him a little. "You know, even though it's just merchandise, it's actually quite useful!" The warm breeze carried a faint scent of perfume from the girl, something floral, like the smell of shower gel.

"By the way," Yan Xi got back to the main topic, "I know about you. Didn't you sign on for Director Jiang's drama? You're the male lead, right? Why are you here as an extra?"

Shen Xinghe looked at Yan Xi in surprise. "How do you know about me joining *The Bottom Line*?"

Although Shen Xinghe and Jiang Tao had plans to collaborate, *The Bottom Line* hadn't secured funding yet, so the audience shouldn't know about it.

Yan Xi's eyes sparkled as she pointed at her work badge. "I'm an insider. I've seen your audition clips. You did really well!"

Receiving recognition, Shen Xinghe's lips curled into a slight smile. His usually roguish face showed a hint of genuine simplicity. "Yeah, I did pass the audition, but Director Jiang hasn't secured the funding yet. Once he does, we should start filming."

[Host, it seems Shen Xinghe doesn't know about the change in the male lead for *The Bottom Line* yet!]

[Well, the decision was only made last night. Director Jiang probably hasn't told him yet.]

As soon as the system finished speaking, Shen Xinghe's phone rang.

Yan Xi glanced at the screen; the caller ID showed "Director Jiang."

Shen Xinghe apologized to Yan Xi and stepped aside to take the call. Yan Xi watched from a distance. At first, Shen Xinghe's face still held a hopeful smile, but as Jiang Tao spoke on the other end, the smile gradually faded, until it disappeared completely.

His handsome face was left with nothing but resignation.

He didn't complain, just returned to Yan Xi's side.

The crew of *The Battle of Luocheng* urged the actors to continue filming. Shen Xinghe lowered his eyelids, and Yan Xi noticed how long his eyelashes were, making it hard to see the look in his eyes.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you. I won't be able to act in *The Bottom Line* anymore."

Yan Xi encouraged him, "Don't lose heart. There might be other opportunities!"

Shen Xinghe shook his head. "It's confirmed. There's no room for reversal." He looked up at Yan Xi, his gaze softening again. "But Director Jiang has a good eye. I'm sure the new male lead he chooses will be great and won't disappoint you!"

The crew urged the extras to return to their positions. Shen Xinghe's face still showed unmistakable disappointment, but as he stepped onto the set, he took a deep breath. The disappointment vanished, and he transformed back into the soldier who had been stabbed to death, his eyes wide open in eternal defiance.