The Stand-In Alpha Goes Viral on a Dating Show - Chapter 45

“It seems she truly cares about you.” The old man chuckled softly.

“You don’t object?”

An Ran was a little surprised. In her past life, she had never actually interacted with her grandfather. Everything she knew came only from others’ fragmented accounts—she could only guess at what sort of man he was.

Her impression of him had always been that of someone tough, decisive, and domineering—someone whose word was law. She thought he would surely harbor misunderstandings about Chi Wan, especially given the latter’s poor reputation online. Yet to her astonishment, her grandfather showed not the slightest hint of disapproval.

At least, not on the surface.

Sensing her probing, Grandfather Ming’s smile did not waver. “You like her, don’t you?”

“And people,” he added with meaning, “are remarkably malleable.”

An Ran instantly caught the implication. In other words, her grandfather wasn’t completely satisfied with Chi Wan, but any ‘shortcomings’ were, in his view, things that could be changed.

“No. I don’t want you interfering in this matter.” An Ran shook her head. What she wanted was for Chi Wan to carry only her imprint, untouched by the influence of others—even if that ‘other’ was her own family.

Being a Ming himself, the old man understood her meaning at once. He said no more, silently acquiescing.

Though they had only exchanged a few words since their reunion, Grandfather Ming knew his granddaughter was astute, not someone who would allow herself to be easily taken advantage of.

“I need to find her now.” An Ran stood. The truth was, seeing her grandfather again filled her with too many unspoken emotions. It left her strangely ill at ease. Reserved as she was, she couldn’t bring herself to collapse into his arms in tears like a child.

The moment she rose, Grandfather Ming instinctively stood as well. “You’re leaving already?”

His tone carried a trace of panic, as though he feared she found his presence unbearable. In his fluster, he hurriedly caught at her sleeve. “An… An Ran, must you leave so soon? Can’t you stay a little longer, just to talk with me?”

It was the first time since their reunion that the old man revealed such unguarded vulnerability.

For this man, well into the latter half of his life, family affection was his deepest weakness.

A pang of guilt tugged at An Ran’s chest. She clasped his hand in return. Grandfather and granddaughter shared a silent moment, wordless yet not awkward—only a current of warmth flowing between them.

But Chi Wan… she couldn’t set her mind at ease.

Su Yao, Lu Xin, and others had always watched Chi Wan like hungry wolves. And she herself had vanished so suddenly—Chi Wan must already be frantic. If someone with ill intent exploited this moment, Chi Wan would almost certainly fall into a trap.

That thought made An Ran all the more restless. “Grandpa, let me go find her first. We’ll talk again later.”

The old man froze. Then, tears welled in his eyes as he choked out several repetitions of “Good, good, good.” It was the very first time his granddaughter had ever called him “Grandpa.” Even if it was for the sake of someone she liked, she had still said it.

That one word closed the distance between them in an instant.

An Ran herself paused, realizing belatedly that this was indeed the first time she had called him “Grandpa” since their reunion.

Blood ties were a strange and wondrous thing. Her expression softened with a tenderness she had never shown before.

“Do whatever you wish,” Grandfather Ming said, lips curving. “Just remember—you’ll always have me behind you.”

An Ran returned his smile and nodded lightly.

“She should be somewhere along the passenger deck hallway,” he reminded her, before hesitating. His gaze flickered with doubt. “That child… what is her surname?”

“Chi,” An Ran answered softly. Then she noticed how odd his question was—why only ask for her surname, and not her full name?

Grandfather Ming hesitated before explaining, “That girl resembles a friend of mine. He once had a child… but the child disappeared.”

An Ran’s heart gave a jolt. Could it be such a coincidence? Could Chi Wan’s past also hold hidden secrets?

Yet, in her previous life—even until her death—she had never once heard of Chi Wan’s mysterious origins.

“There’s another on this ship who resembles that friend’s child as well,” Grandfather Ming continued, his face darkening, his gaze turning complex.

“Mingyu?” Anran guessed instantly.

“Mingyu…” Grandfather Ming forced the name through his throat. He had suspected her identity for years—her looks bore little resemblance to the Ming family, though Ming Zong had brushed it off as a case of ‘skipping a generation.’

Perhaps out of denial, he had chosen to believe it.

Later, when even that excuse became flimsy, there had been a paternity test. In hindsight, he knew he’d been foolish—he’d avoided pushing for results out of fear that the beloved ‘Mingyu’ he’d raised wasn’t his blood at all.

But eventually, his conscience had won out. If Mingyu wasn’t truly his granddaughter, then his real grandchild was still out there, perhaps suffering, perhaps being mistreated. How could he let that be?

So he had arranged for further tests in secret. The results revealed the truth—no blood relation.

That meant only one thing: Ming Zong had deliberately deceived him.

He hadn’t only brought an unrelated girl into the Ming family to usurp the rightful heir’s place—he had hidden the real granddaughter away.

Because of that, Grandfather Ming had played along, feigning ignorance while secretly searching all these years. In the meantime, Ming Zong had steadily encroached upon the Ming family’s power.

But now—now his true granddaughter was found. He no longer had to hold back.

Just then, the phone rang. The call connected, and a voice reported urgently:

“Sir, something seems wrong with Chi Wan.”

“What happened?” Grandfather Ming’s brow furrowed deeply.

An Ran’s gut clenched. She looked at him, lips pressed tight, voice uneasy. “Did something happen to her?”

“She’s been targeted by Mingyu. Mingyu brought several people to deal with her—and in rather despicable ways.” Grandfather Ming’s tone dripped with disgust. “And that one… is involved too.”

His hatred for Ming Zong was now so bitter that he couldn’t even bring himself to say his name.

An Ran immediately understood. The fact that the Ming family’s head would personally side with Mingyu against Chi Wan was shocking. It meant Mingyu’s animosity toward Chi Wan had reached the point of losing all restraint.

Yet in her past life, things hadn’t gone this way. Mingyu had always kept aloof, playing the elegant spectator. She had never gotten her hands dirty.

An Ran had thought her fake façade of grace was exactly that—a façade. Beneath it, MingYu was narrow-minded, envious, and possessive. But at least she had hidden it well.

Why, in this life, had she lost control so easily? Knowing Mingyu’s methods only made An Ran all the more worried for Chi Wan.

Without another word, she spun on her heel and rushed toward the door.

Behind her, Grandfather Ming called out, “I can’t go with you, but I’ll send some new faces to assist. Be careful. If you can’t handle it, call me immediately.”

An Ran nodded. She herself didn’t wish for her true identity to be revealed so abruptly—for her own sake, and for the Ming family’s.

________________________________________

Meanwhile, Chi Wan had followed Qu Huan to a certain room. Along the way, Qu Huan had deliberately raised her voice, as though sending signals to someone.

Chi Wan noticed. Her instincts told her she was right: Qu Huan was setting her up. But whose pawn was she?

It couldn’t be Mo Wei—she had just been through an ordeal herself, and her fear had been genuine.

Which left only one name: Mingyu.

If this was Mingyu’s trap, then… was An Ran really inside that room?

Chi Wan hesitated. Qu Huan, however, turned back at the door with a smile. “Chi Wan, aren’t you looking for An Ran? She should be inside.”

As she spoke, a faint cry—high and panicked—echoed from within.

Chi Wan’s fists clenched. She felt like she was riding a tiger, unable to dismount. But for even the tiniest chance that An Ran might truly be in there, she had no choice but to walk straight into the tiger’s den.

She lifted her foot, fingers brushing the door—

“Chi Wan!”

A familiar voice rang out from the stairwell. Urgent, breathless from running.

“An Ran?” Chi Wan’s head whipped around in disbelief, joy flashing across her face as she rushed forward. “Where did you go? I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”

Seeing An Ran, she was flooded with relief and delight. Qu Huan’s expression, by contrast, turned ashen. She flicked a nervous glance at the door, but in the end said nothing.

Afraid her expression would give her away, she quickly turned her back, panic rising. What should I do? The plan failed! Will the Ming family retaliate against my family’s business?

Just one thought of it made her want to drop to her knees and beg Chi Wan for forgiveness.

Inside the room, Mingyu bit her lip hard enough to draw blood. Just when Chi Wan was about to step into her trap, An Ran—who had disappeared without a trace—had reappeared.

“Miss, do we proceed?” someone inside asked in a whisper.

“Cancel.” Mingyu’s brows furrowed, but she had no choice.

“An Ran, where were you just now?” Chi Wan held her hand tightly, not sparing Qu Huan a single glance.

“When the lights went out earlier, someone shoved me,” An Ran explained, lashes lowered. “I panicked and ran the wrong way. Then when the lights came back, I couldn’t find you.”

She left out her reunion with her grandfather—it wasn’t the time to tell Chi Wan yet.

Still, when she mentioned the refreshment room, she noticed Qu Huan stiffen. An Ran’s gaze flicked toward the door, mind turning over what—or who—might be inside.

If she hadn’t arrived in time, what would they have done to Chi Wan?

Chi Wan was her reverse scale—her untouchable bottom line. She would never allow anyone to scheme against her.

Later, on their way back to the rooms assigned by the production crew, they encountered Mo Wei. Her eyes were rimmed red, her face still pale from fright. She looked at Chi Wan, lips parting as though to speak.

But Chi Wan beat her to it. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone.”

Mo Wei froze, then silently turned and walked away.

That night, few of the guests aboard could sleep.

________________________________________

The next morning, the program issued its new directive: from now on, the guests would have to earn their own keep aboard the ship. Their food expenses would depend on what they could make with their own hands.

“I can do makeup for the passengers on the ship—charge about a dozen yuan each time. How does that sound?” Chi Wan, who was grouped with An Ran, volunteered eagerly.

But just as she finished, a playful voice piped up:

“Excuse me—are you short on cash?”

Chi Wan turned in surprise. A cute, lively-looking girl was peeking at them.

Seeing their gaze, the girl stuck out her tongue mischievously. “No offense! I just mean… if you really need money, would you like to be my rented girlfriend for the day? I can pay you!”