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

Yan Xi was a bit dazed.

She clearly hadn’t realized what "encircling the cities from the countryside" truly meant.

After parting ways with Lu Beiyu, Yan Xi headed to the company. She spent the morning handling documents, and in the afternoon, she went with Fang Yue to the SP training base. The Lu family had sponsored the final episode of SP, and the remaining 15 contestants were set to film a commercial for Lu’s Dairy.

Originally, Chu Tingbai was supposed to oversee this, but Yan Xi felt that since the Lu Group had invested a hundred million, it was better to inspect things personally.

When they arrived at the SP filming set, the trainees had already arrived and were taking turns getting their makeup done.

Upon seeing Yan Xi, they greeted her enthusiastically.

"Yan Xi-jie!"

"Hello, Yan Xi-jie~"

"President Yan!"

The younger trainees preferred calling her "Yan Xi-jie," which felt more affectionate, while the older ones respectfully addressed her as "President Yan."

Perhaps due to SP’s explosive popularity, the trainees deeply respected Yan Xi’s capabilities and treated her with great deference.

Before joining the show, none of them had imagined that the Chinese entertainment industry had a market for idols. Many had fewer than 100,000 followers before the show, but now, most had reached the million mark. Trainees like Si Ye and Shen Yi even boasted over five million fans.

SP’s popularity was sky-high. Even those who didn’t make the final lineup but ranked in the top 15 could expect promising careers in the industry.

Every time the system came to the SP base, it got overly excited, its little glowing orb bouncing around Yan Xi in exhilaration.

[Host! Si Ye has grown taller again! He must be 185 cm now!]

[Ahhh! Shen Yi’s abs! Six-pack! They look so firm! I wanna dance on them~]

[The makeup artists did such an amazing job on the boys’ styling! I’m saving this in my database to admire every night before bed!]

Now that it no longer needed to collect luck points, the system had loosened up.

It had started… stanning idols.

Yan Xi had even discovered that the system disguised itself as an innocent newbie fan, joining both Si Ye’s and Shen Yi’s fan clubs simultaneously. Thanks to its tireless data-crunching abilities, it had already risen to become a top fan, the kind other data-focused fans looked up to in awe.

Not only that, but the system had cleverly hidden its dual fandom status, using two separate accounts with modified IP addresses.

Of course, it had other accounts too—one for Shen Xinghe, another for Han Shu…

Thankfully, it was an AI, or else it would’ve been swamped.

While the system fangirled over the trainees, Yan Xi couldn’t be bothered to rein it in.

Soon, representatives from Lu’s Dairy arrived.

Since this was their yogurt commercial, they naturally came to supervise. But Yan Xi hadn’t expected that the person in charge of such a minor project would be Lu Wanning.

Last time, Lu Wanning had personally come to Xingyao to sign the contract—understandable, since she’d wanted Yan Xi’s DNA. But overseeing a commercial shoot?

Talk about overkill!

Yet Lu Wanning seemed oblivious. After wrapping up the yogurt ad, she pulled Yan Xi aside and whipped out a stack of documents.

"SP is a great project. Our yogurt sales spiked the moment the sponsorship was announced on the official account. Since you’re here, we might as well discuss future collaborations."

Yan Xi: ???

"What other collaborations?"

Lu Wanning pondered for a moment. "I heard you signed Jiang Tao and Xiao Yu. Are their next projects fully funded? And after The Bottom Line, what’s Shen Xinghe’s next role? His new drama will need investors, right?"

"What about Han Shu’s new album? Albums don’t need funding, but he’ll need endorsements! And the SP debut group’s endorsements! Their variety show sponsorships!"

"Honestly, there’s so much we can work on together!"

Lu Wanning rambled on. Though she had no prior experience in the entertainment industry, treating this as part of the Lu Group’s PR strategy made it easy for her to pick up.

Yan Xi blinked. "All of this is already earmarked for Xingyao?"

Lu Wanning snapped her fingers. "Keep the profits in the family! Besides, it’s part of the 'encircling the cities from the countryside' strategy!"

"Huh?"

Yan Xi tilted her head, utterly baffled.

Lu Wanning shrugged. "Bonding with my sister through work—isn’t that brilliant? The eight-hour workday means we spend a third of our lives working. That’s a third of our day together! We’ll definitely grow closer!"

"Ah, my plan is flawless!"

Yan Xi: "…"

The system drifted back to Yan Xi’s side, muttering, [So this is how workaholics think?]

[Work brings joy, and working with my sister brings even more joy?]

.

And so, Lu Wanning became a frequent presence in Yan Xi’s life—mostly due to work.

Lu’s Father and Lu’s Mother were no different. Already retired and with plenty of free time, they even took daily strolls around the neighborhood, ensuring they’d run into Yan Xi after work.

At the year-end Haicheng TV Awards, Yan Xi attended as Xingyao’s CEO, only to discover that the Lu family was the ceremony’s main sponsor.

As the top sponsor, Lu’s Father naturally became one of the presenters.

Meanwhile, The Bottom Line had received multiple nominations—Best Director, Best Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Drama…

Jiang Tao, Shen Xinghe, and Xiao Yu took the stage one after another to accept their awards.

When it came time for Best Drama, the spotlight flickered as clips from the nominated shows played on the big screen.

Everyone held their breath—including Yan Xi.

Even though she knew the likely outcome, she couldn’t help but feel nervous.

Finally, the screen froze on a still of Shen Xinghe—The Bottom Line had won!

Jiang Tao nearly jumped for joy.

Onstage, Lu’s Father, dressed in a tailored suit, stood ready to present the award.

Sponsoring the awards show had all been for this moment—he wanted to personally hand the trophy to his daughter!

But when Fang Yue, The Bottom Line’s actual producer, stepped up to accept the award, Lu’s Father’s smile stiffened.

Fang Yue delivered her prepared acceptance speech, and as the applause died down, she reached for the trophy.

It didn’t budge.

Fang Yue: ?

She and Lu’s Father stared at each other in confusion.

"Chairman Lu? Chairman Lu?"

Lu’s Father tightened his grip on the trophy, lips pressed thin. "Why isn’t your CEO accepting the award?"

A friend in the film investment business had told him that as long as the CEO was listed as a producer, they could accept awards. Given The Bottom Line’s high chances of winning, and with Yan Xi being Xingyao’s CEO, he’d assumed she’d be the one onstage.

So why was it Fang Yue?

Fang Yue’s brow furrowed as she yanked the trophy free.

"Probably because our boss doesn’t take credit for others’ work. The actual producer gets the honor—simple as that!"

Lu’s Father pouted in disappointment.

Alright, so I can't present the award to my daughter, and photos of us at the ceremony can't be posted on social media… What a shame… I’m not happy!

...

Even though Lu's Father was unhappy, Yan Xi was still in high spirits.

The Bottom Line swept so many awards—it was a resounding success both in fame and fortune!

The list of winners at the Red Magnolia Film Festival was soon announced, and netizens flooded the internet with congratulations.

[Wow! Best Drama Series, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Art Direction, and even Best Original Score… The Bottom Line hit the jackpot this time!]

[The Bottom Line totally deserves it! It’s the best drama I’ve watched this year! Screenwriter Xiao Yu delivered as always, Director Jiang Tao returned to his usual brilliance, and the biggest surprise was Shen Xinghe! He absolutely nailed the role of Xiang Fei!]

[How could someone with Shen Xinghe’s acting skills have been stuck as an extra before? That’s just wrong!]

[He was blacklisted before, and it took him so much effort to finally get his big break… sob sob~]

[Fans of Xinghe are so grateful to the young miss! Thank you, Yan Xi, for giving him this opportunity!]

[I hope everyone can keep thriving, and that talented people and great works get the recognition they deserve~]

...

After the Red Magnolia Film Festival, life returned to normal.

Yan Xi would often see her parents taking walks in the neighborhood or Lu Beiyu walking the dog during her commute.

At work, she frequently crossed paths with Lu Wanning, who even gave her business advice. Though Lu Wanning knew nothing about the entertainment industry, she was a pro in the business world, and her guidance was invaluable to Yan Xi.

Little by little, Yan Xi grew accustomed to having the Lu family around.

One morning, when she left for work, she didn’t see Lu Beiyu in the neighborhood—instead, Lu's Mother was walking Yaozu.

Yan Xi patted Yaozu’s head and casually asked, "Where’s Lu Beiyu?"

Lu's Mother smiled warmly. "Beiyu’s club has pre-season training, so he’s staying there for now."

Their small talk became natural over time, and the initial awkwardness between them faded away.

Before she knew it, it was New Year’s Eve.

In previous years, Yan Xi had always spent the holiday with Zhou Qingyu at the Zhou family home.

But this year… things seemed different.

Yan Xi stepped out of Starlight Entertainment’s building at five in the evening, the sky already dark.

She had given the company an early holiday, allowing employees to go home in advance or finish important tasks remotely.

Since she had nothing urgent to do, she’d just dropped by the office to check on things.

As she left, Zhou Qingyu called her on video.

The screen showed the Zhou residence, lively and bustling. The Zhou family was celebrating the New Year in the country this time, and some of the staff who hadn’t returned home had gathered together. The usually quiet mansion was now decorated with red couplets and lanterns, filled with laughter—including Zhou's Father’s hearty chuckles.

Zhou Qingyu, bored out of her mind, was clumsily wrapping dumplings—something she clearly had no skill in.

"So, where are you spending New Year’s Eve?" Zhou Qingyu asked.

Yan Xi hesitated, but before she could answer, Zhou Qingyu waved her off dramatically. "Never mind, don’t say it. I already know—you’re ditching me for the Lu family tonight!"

Yan Xi gave her a guilty look.

Zhou Yanci walked over. "Alright, stop teasing her."

He sat beside Zhou Qingyu, expertly folding dumplings while glancing at Yan Xi on the screen. "She didn’t even let Uncle Chen cook any spicy dishes today, and she didn’t expect you to come over. Just enjoy the holiday with the Lu family."

Zhou Qingyu elbowed him. "Did you have to expose me like that?"

Zhou Yanci smirked. "Behave, and I’ll give you a red envelope later."

Zhou Qingyu’s eyes lit up instantly. "Make it a big one! A huge one!"

Zhou Yanci sighed in resignation before turning back to Yan Xi. "You’ll get one too."

Yan Xi smiled. In past years, she’d never seen these two get along so well during the holidays—Zhou Yanci would never have offered Zhou Qingyu a red envelope, and even if he had, she wouldn’t have accepted it.

Something had definitely changed between them.

"Got it," Yan Xi said to Zhou Qingyu. "Wish Uncle a Happy New Year for me. And—stop overstuffing your dumplings, the wrappers are about to burst!"

Zhou Qingyu huffed. "Nonsense! My dumplings are the prettiest! No arguments allowed!"

.

The Lu family was celebrating the New Year at their estate in the suburbs.

The Lu household was always lively during the holidays. Staff who wanted to go home were free to leave, while those who stayed were paid extra. Lu's Mother even allowed them to bring their families over, making the celebrations even more vibrant.

This year, there were even a few three- or four-year-old kids running around, chasing Yaozu.

Lu Beiyu had been waiting at the villa’s entrance for a while. The kids eventually tired out, giving Yaozu a break, and the dog trotted over to sit beside Lu Beiyu.

Man and dog stared blankly at the driveway.

Lu Beiyu turned to Yaozu. "Do you think Second Sis will come celebrate with us?"

Yaozu: "Woof woof woof!"

Lu Beiyu: "Is that a yes or a no?"

Yaozu: "Woof woof woof!"

Lu Beiyu rolled his eyes. "Useless mutt. Shouldn’t have asked you."

Yaozu: "Woof woof woof!"

Lu Beiyu: "..."

Lu Wanning, who was putting up spring couplets, overheard Lu Beiyu’s nonsense and chucked a crumpled-up decoration at him.

"Why are you arguing with a dog? If Xi Xi doesn’t come, we’ll just visit her at the Zhou residence after dinner!"

"It’s not the same!" Lu Beiyu pouted. "This is our first chance to celebrate New Year’s together as a family!"

Lu Wanning felt the same regret, but she didn’t want to pressure Yan Xi. After all, Zhou Qingyu had been by her side all these years—maybe she was more comfortable staying with the Zhou family.

Just then, headlights flashed in the distance.

An unfamiliar car pulled into the estate.

Yan Xi had given Master Zhao the day off, so without her usual driver, she’d had to take a cab. On New Year’s Eve, taxis were scarce—she’d had to keep raising the fare before someone finally accepted the ride.

During the trip, the driver made small talk.

"Working late on New Year’s Eve, miss? Rushing home for the celebrations?"

Yan Xi froze for a second. The word "home"… it had been a long time since she’d heard it.

She nodded firmly. "Yeah."

"Same here. After dropping you off, I’m heading home too—my family’s waiting for me!"

By the time she stepped out of the car, the sky had darkened further. The cab delay meant she arrived later than planned.

Lu Beiyu, still at the gate, rubbed his eyes in disbelief. Before he could react, Yaozu was already barking excitedly and sprinting toward Yan Xi!

"Woof woof woof woof woof!"

Lu Beiyu finally recognized the girl in front of him—dressed in a white wool coat, she stood out vividly against the winter night.

"Dad! Mom! Sis!" he yelled, overjoyed. "Second Sis is here to celebrate with us! Second Sis is here!"

Lu Wanning was the first to rush to the door, followed closely by Lu's Father and Lu's Mother.

Perhaps because they hadn’t expected Yan Xi to come, Lu's Mother’s eyes were slightly red.

Yan Xi scratched her head sheepishly. "Sorry I’m late… Mom."

"Not at all! We haven’t even started dinner yet…"

Lu's Mother was about to lead Yan Xi into the living room when she suddenly stopped in her tracks, staring at Yan Xi in surprise.

"What did you just call me?"

Yan Xi met her gaze and repeated earnestly, "Mom."

Tears instantly welled up in Lu's Mother's eyes, spilling down her cheeks. She reached out and gently patted Yan Xi's head. "Good child, my good child!"

Lu's Father, equally emotional, stepped forward eagerly and pointed at himself. "What about me? What about me?"

Yan Xi smiled softly and called out, "Dad."

Lu's Father's eyes reddened, and despite being a man in his fifties, tears rolled down his face.

"Alright, alright!" Lu Wanning ushered the two elders inside. "It's cold out here! Let's continue this indoors!"

The villa was warm, heated comfortably, and even had a realistic-looking faux fireplace that added to the lively atmosphere.

The dining table was laden with an array of dishes—some catering to Yan Xi's tastes, others to Lu Beiyu and Lu Wanning's preferences.

They hadn’t known whether Yan Xi would come, but they had prepared her favorite dishes anyway.

Lu Beiyu pulled out the custom-made family portrait mugs he had ordered earlier and handed Yan Xi hers.

"Now our family is complete!"

Yaozu: "Woof!"

On New Year's Eve, every household was filled with laughter and joy, and the Lu residence was no exception.

Yan Xi had always worried that reuniting with her family might feel awkward, that she wouldn’t know how to fit in. But now, she realized she didn’t need to force anything—there had always been a place for her in the Lu family. All she had to do was come home.

After dinner, Yan Xi, Lu Beiyu, and Lu Wanning played cards on the living room sofa.

Outside, the wind howled, and the dark night sky gradually began to sprinkle with light snow. As a southern city, Haicheng rarely saw snowfall. Some flakes melted upon touching the ground, while others settled into a thin, delicate layer.

But this was Haicheng's first snow of the year, lending a special charm to the night.

Lu's Mother looked concerned. "Xi Xi, it's snowing outside. The roads might be dangerous… Would you like to stay the night?"

The Lu family had chauffeurs, but driving in the snow was still risky.

Yan Xi, still engrossed in her card game with Lu Wanning, nodded casually. "Sure!"

.

Yan Xi slept soundly on her first night at the Lu residence.

The mattress was the same brand she had used at the Zhou family home, the room scented with the familiar fragrance Zhou Qingyu often used, and the heating was perfect—warm and cozy with the help of a humidifier.

She didn’t struggle with adjusting to a new bed and slept peacefully until the next morning.

Breakfast was handmade dumplings by Lu's Mother, stuffed with shepherd’s purse and shrimp—delicious.

After breakfast, Yan Xi headed to Hongrui Cinema in downtown Haicheng. Since she couldn’t hail a cab, she took the Lu family’s Bentley, with the chauffeur dropping her off right at the cinema entrance.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, most people had the day off—but not Yan Xi.

Today was the premiere of Crazy Summer and Winter.

While most Spring Festival releases debuted at midnight, Interconnected Entertainment wanted its employees to enjoy the holiday, so they scheduled the premiere for 10 AM on New Year’s Day.

At the premiere, the main cast and crew of Crazy met the audience.

Yan Xi, wearing a baseball cap, blended into the crowd. Zhou Qingyu spotted her and winked.

This was the young miss’s final film.

And the only one that could overturn the public’s perception that "Zhou Qingyu can’t act."

Though the story had concluded and Zhou Qingyu had left the entertainment industry, Yan Xi still hoped this last project would improve her reputation.

The theater darkened, and Yan Xi sat in the back while Zhou Qingyu and the team took their seats in the front row. The screen displayed the usual pre-movie reminders.

Yan Xi opened the Xingyao work group chat and started promoting the film.

["Young Miss’s new movie is out! Treating everyone to a movie on New Year’s Day~ I’ve booked a screening at Hongrui, so feel free to bring friends and family!"]

["If you can’t make it, you can still watch it in your hometown and get reimbursed by the company later!"]

After the message, she sent a big red envelope.

The usually silent employees suddenly surfaced—

["Crazy Summer and Winter is releasing today?"]

["Wow! ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‍The one the group invested 200 million in? That’s Xingyao’s most expensive project yet, right?"]

["So excited!"]

["Wasn’t sure what to watch today, but now I know!"]

["Qiao Yan: Insider tip—it’s amazing! Must-watch! Super, super, super good!"]

["Wu Liao: @Qiao Yan It’s not even our company’s production. When did you watch it?"]

["Qiao Yan: I haven’t. Just bluffing—gotta reel people in somehow!"]

["Wu Liao: ???"]

Yan Xi couldn’t help laughing at their exchange and quickly added, ["It really is good!"]

The novel’s dark horse film couldn’t possibly disappoint.

Xingyao’s employees were all supportive, likely because the company had turned a profit this year, and their year-end bonuses were generous. Everyone was in high spirits and eager to enjoy the holiday.

Yan Xi then messaged the Lu family group chat.

—Yes, the Lu family had a group chat, created by Lu Beiyu. Originally named "Yaozu and His Five Servants," Lu's Father had forcefully renamed it "One Big Happy Family."

["Crazy Summer and Winter is out! Xingyao is one of the investors~ If you’re free this afternoon, come watch!"]

The responses poured in instantly—

["Lu's Father: Got it!"]

["Lu Beiyu: No wonder you left in such a hurry this morning—sneaking off to the movies!"]

["Lu Wanning: Investing in films? Not a bad idea!"]

["Lu's Mother: ❤️"]

["Lu's Mother: 👍"]

["Lu's Mother: Perfect, we’ll drop by this afternoon!"]

The film ran for two hours—relatively short compared to other Spring Festival releases.

In fact, Crazy wasn’t the most anticipated movie of the season. On Maoyan’s box office projections, it was only estimated to earn a billion.

After all, during the New Year holiday, family-friendly comedies dominated the market. Crazy, with its heavier themes, stood out as an anomaly.

But Crazy relied on word-of-mouth. Once the reviews spread, its box office would surge.

The viewing experience matched Yan Xi’s expectations.

While laughter echoed from other theaters screening comedies, the audience in Crazy’s screening occasionally sniffled or wiped away tears.

Yan Xi watched intently from start to finish. The leads’ performances were impeccable, and Zhou Qingyu was practically unrecognizable—she had transformed completely for her role.

The character suited Zhou Qingyu’s personality perfectly, and she embodied "Lihua" so convincingly that Yan Xi couldn’t tell whether the woman on screen was Lihua or Zhou Qingyu herself.

It was perfect. Yan Xi thought. Zhou Qingyu’s final work would mark her exit as an actress—and her new beginning as a cellist.

After the movie, Yan Xi went backstage to find Zhou Qingyu but was intercepted by an excited Producer Xu.

"It’s a hit! We’ve got a hit!"

Yan Xi blinked in confusion. "What’s a hit?"

It couldn't possibly be "Crazy Love" going viral, could it? The premiere just ended—there should still be time before word-of-mouth spreads!

"The movie! Our movie is about to blow up! It's trending everywhere on social media right now! Just check Weibo and you'll see!"