Rebirth: Acting Reversal – I'm the Leading Lady

"Cold! A chilling cold that cuts to the bone! Crystal abruptly opened her eyes, unintentionally creating a splash of water. Everything before her was incredibly unfamiliar; she found herself lying in a spacious bathtub, unaware of how long she had been asleep, allowing the water to turn cold. Without much thought, the cold on her body compelled her to quickly stand up from the bathtub. She wrapped a white towel around herself, shivering as she walked barefoot on the cold floor. "What's happening to me? How did I suddenly end up here? Could it be memory gaps?" A chill ran down Crystal's spine. The bathroom she was in was almost as spacious as her rented apartment, equipped not only with a bathtub but also a sauna and a steam room. Even the dressing table was over a meter long, adorned in opulence! As an eighteen-line actress, Crystal had attended numerous events and the parties organized by film directors and producers. However, she usually kept a low profile, remaining oblivious to the implicit invitations. Unspoken rules were just that, unspoken. No one made blatant moves. Because she wasn't an otherworldly beauty, directors and investors had plenty of attractive girls willing to willingly step forward, with no attention paid to her. Moreover, the idea of relying on implicit rules to make a good film was simply too optimistic. Her memories lingered on the wrap party of another film, where her husband consistently opposed her appearing in public. He forced her to give up acting, but she staunchly fought for an opportunity to play the role of a mother in the play. Now, waking up in a hotel bathtub, she had no idea why. Others might not know, but Crystal knew she had a good tolerance for alcohol, never having been intoxicated. It was impossible for someone else to have drugged her. Could it be some kind of drug? Who was behind this? Lost in her thoughts, she quickly changed into a bathrobe. Just as she was about to silently open the bathroom door, Crystal saw a completely different figure in the mirror! Under the bathrobe was a young woman with dark golden hair and blue eyes! With no time to spare, Crystal stood directly in front of the mirror. The young woman with retro-style "ramen" hair had the same shocked expression, the same gestures, and movements! "Have I been reborn?" She was quite familiar with the concept of reincarnation, as the lead actress in the just-wrapped show had experienced a rebirth from 40 to 20. However, she never anticipated it happening to herself. Crystal stared at the girl's face in the mirror, with a retro, challenging-to-pull-off ramen noodle hairstyle that remained remarkably stunning. Large, expressive eyes, a small yet deeply defined facial structure, exuding a three-dimensional charm from any angle. As the saying goes, beauty lies in the bones, not the skin. The young girl in the mirror was flawless in features and figure. On the vanity, there was a glass of champagne with a red lipstick mark – undoubtedly hers from earlier. Crystal gave her head a little pat, trying to recall what had transpired. Fragments of memories floated through her mind. She vaguely remembered some details. The original owner's name was Crystal Campbell, the same as hers. Born on the last day of 1978, her father was a Silicon Valley engineer, her mother an English teacher for international students, and she had a younger brother in elementary school along with a Golden Retriever named Enzo. There were scenes in her mind of tossing her graduation cap into the air in her academic gown and later, sitting in a Las Vegas bar with friends, indulging in drinks. She also recalled herself, in a tipsy state, engaging in an animated conversation with a bearded man. Unexpectedly, they impulsively got married in a church witnessed by a priest! She was no longer the D-list actress but a recent college graduate on a graduation trip. It was the summer of 1999. Adapting to such a transformation proved challenging. To be honest, she didn't particularly miss her past life, but that didn't mean she could seamlessly enter this new existence. the scattered clothes on the floor. The short denim shorts accentuated her slender legs, and the beige T-shirt, though a bit loose, hinted at the excellent figure the girl had in her youth. Crystal reminded herself not to neglect body management in the future, not to squander this good physique. After changing, Crystal found her handbag, pulling out over thirty dollars and an extremely vintage cellphone. There were eight missed calls, all from Jessica! Jessica, a friend of the original host, graduated from the University of Southern California along with Crystal. One majored in film arts, and the other in journalism. The five of them had come to Las Vegas for a final crazy adventure. The call was quickly answered, and a familiar voice exclaimed, "Girl, where the hell are you? Yesterday, you sneaked away with a stranger, and today I almost called the police, thinking you were thrown into the desert in the trunk!" An explosive outburst, speaking at an extremely fast pace. Upon sensing her friend's concern, Crystal hurriedly said, "Don't worry, I'm coming to find you right away. I have some earth-shattering news to tell you in person, and I need your help!" "s**t, did you commit murder or a crime? If that's the case, we better catch a flight back!" Jessica's imagination ran wild, assuming Crystal was in trouble. "I drank too much last night, and just now, I discovered a silver ring on my finger. Apparently, I married that stranger in the church last night." "Is it for real?" "Of course, it's real." Crystal was now at a loss; she didn't dare face that stranger alone. She planned to entangle a few good girlfriends, discuss the divorce situation only with their company. Apart from tourism and entertainment, Las Vegas is also famous for its impromptu marriages and divorces. The city hosts the perpetually open Marriage License Bureau, where, by presenting identification, even a driver's license, and paying sixty dollars, one can obtain a marriage license in under ten minutes. Combined with the numerous chapels, the marriage procedures are exceptionally simple. The other end of the call became lively. Besides Jessica, several others joined in. "You got married, and you didn't even call us. I want to be the bridesmaid!" "That's too much, hiding such an important thing from us!" "Crystal, my girl, you work fast. What's the name of that guy, and what does he do?" "I bet you'll regret it. Never easily believe a man's words, and don't casually walk into a church!" Upon hearing these comments, Crystal, feeling utterly helpless, whispered, "I already regret it. Right now, he's not in the hotel. I plan to meet you first and then discuss the divorce." Her exciting new life had not even begun. How could she let herself be trapped by a stranger! "We're waiting for you at the hotel. Hurry over!" "Stay safe, dear." "So cool!" The students were staying in a relatively ordinary hotel for their trip. After hanging up the phone, Crystal wanted to leave quickly. Her dark golden hair was still damp, hanging on her shoulders. Carrying a bag in one hand and high heels in the other, she walked swiftly toward the door. Without the slightest vigilance, as she stood on the carpet, bending over to put on her shoes, the door suddenly opened! Crystal looked up, and there he was – the bearded man in the hoodie, her marriage partner from the previous night. Behind him stood a middle-aged man in a well-tailored suit, his expression seeming somewhat off. Caught red-handed trying to sneak away, the embarrassment was beyond words. She wanted to greet them, but she couldn't recall the name of the bearded man from her memory. So, she relied on her acting skills, mustered a smile, and said, "My friends are looking for me. It's probably better if I go meet them; otherwise, they'll go crazy." "Can you wait for a moment? I have something to say," said the makeshift husband, his voice somewhat deep. "Sure," Crystal felt a bit uneasy. The few moves she practiced for filming were all show, and now, if the other party acted out, could she handle these two strong men? Putting on a fearless facade, she stood at the doorway, glancing with her peripheral vision down the corridor, hoping for a waiter or other guests to pass by, making it easier to seek help if needed. Having just returned from rebirth, she really didn't want to add any trouble for the American police! The bearded man looked somewhat disheveled. "I'm sorry about last night; I drank too much. I don't usually drink this heavily. But after getting drunk, I acted recklessly. You're a good girl, and we're just strangers..." "I understand," Crystal quickly grasped the key information, nodding. "I understand. How about we just go ahead and get a divorce!" So straightforward and simple, it left both the bearded man and the suit-wearing man utterly astonished. They thought it would take a lot of effort and persuasion, never expecting it to be this easy. That did save a lot of trouble.