The Stand-in is Exceptionally Clingy [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 10

Chapter 10: The CEO and Her Canary

◎”A Bit of an Eyesore.”◎

Jian Ke met Lou Bianxia’s dark, sparkling eyes, which held a deep, unfathomable lake with an unpredictable temperament. The background audio continued playing. The live broadcast replay, complete with post-production sound effects, looked warm and touching. The emotionless, scripted recitation from Jian Ke was somehow transformed into genuine tenderness. The editors had even mischievously placed her and Lin Qingyi’s footage side-by-side, adding festive firecrackers and red candles.

Jian Ke didn’t find it funny. Instead, she felt she was in big trouble.

“Huh? What crabapple flowers?” Jian Ke’s voice faltered as she feigned confusion, like a blind person unable to find their money.

Lou Bianxia watched Jian Ke’s performance, leaning back on the sofa with her arms crossed. Her soft hair cascaded over her chest, and the steam from her recent shower carried a unique, alluring scent. With her majestic, intimidating work persona gone, her fair, icy-skinned face looked beautiful and cool, with a hint of lazy grace.

Jian Ke said, “You mean the live broadcast? Those were just ‘rainbow farts’ from fans. I just copied them.”

Lou Bianxia still said nothing, watching her quietly.

Jian Ke scratched her cheek. “I got a mission to confess, and I didn’t have a better way. The fans all have more followers than me, and if I said the wrong thing, I might have been accused of clinging to them for fame…” Her voice became softer and softer as she blinked, looking innocent and pitiful.

Lou Bianxia found it amusing. “I only asked if the crabapple flowers were pretty; I didn’t ask about anything else. Why are you so quick to act all wronged?”

Jian Ke turned her face away. “From your expression just now, I thought you were angry…”

Lou Bianxia: “There are all kinds of marketing and promotional tactics in the entertainment industry. Should I get angry about every single one? I won’t care about these things, don’t worry. Our relationship won’t hinder your career development.”

“It’s just that, seeing you two together on screen—” Lou Bianxia turned to look at the TV, the end of her sentence emphasized. “—is a bit of an eyesore.”

Jian Ke’s fingers traced her arm, and her expression froze for a moment. The meaning was clear: Lou Bianxia wouldn’t care if she formed a pairing or how she marketed herself. But there was one thing she’d better not let Lou Bianxia see, or she would be unhappy. Lou Bianxia couldn’t stand to see Jian Ke’s face—the face that was so similar to Shu Yu’s—being used for intimacy with others, even if it was just fake marketing.

Jian Ke’s distraction was momentary. After she understood, she immediately grabbed the remote from the coffee table and changed the channel. “If we change it, you won’t see it. Don’t worry, Ms. Lou, I won’t behave recklessly with this face.”

Lou Bianxia’s gaze lingered on Jian Ke’s smiling face. She found Jian Ke to be very clever and astute, skilled at reading people’s hearts and navigating situations with ease without making others uncomfortable. This was the exact opposite of Shu Yu.

Shu Yu came from a ballet family. From a young age, her mind and heart were filled with ballet. She was naive and had an especially simple heart. She was introverted and quiet, with few friends, so she always liked to follow Lou Bianxia around. At that time, Lou Bianxia was still in the shadow of her parents’ deaths in a car accident. She had a gloomy and fierce aura, and no one dared to approach her. Only Shu Yu, with her innocent lack of awareness, would tug on her wrist, her eyes full of anticipation, and say, “Senior, will you come watch me dance?” Her smile was naive and innocent, free of any darkness, pure and clean. Looking at Shu Yu, the harsh rumors and ridicule seemed to vanish from Lou Bianxia’s mind.

Jian Ke’s personality was complex and changeable. When she was obedient and well-behaved, she acted like a clingy puppy, endearing and lovable. Even knowing she was faking it, Lou Bianxia’s heart would soften, and she wouldn’t be able to think of anything else. But this tame and alluring fox also had her own ambition and cunning. When those bright, starry eyes became sharp and clever, the mole at the corner of her eye seemed to become even more striking and vivid. This flamboyant trait made her deviate from Lou Bianxia’s original intentions. This was especially apparent in bed.

All control was handed over. The small boat floating by the riverbank was battered and soaked by the water, crashing against the shore again and again. But she wasn’t allowed to come ashore; she was held down in a passionate spiral. The world was full of swaying light and shadows. She couldn’t see anything, and she could only rely on this one safe haven in the world. She didn’t know when she had started to crave the rain-soaked tenderness of their intimate moments. Two consciousnesses were pulling back and forth, and Lou Bianxia was uncharacteristically lost in thought.

Jian Ke didn’t notice, because Lou Bianxia’s dazed look was no different from her usual calm and serious demeanor. Lou Bianxia’s gaze drifted across Jian Ke’s soft lips and luminous skin, then settled on Jian Ke’s slightly clenched fingers, which were a pristine white like jade. A few abrupt red marks were visible in her palm. Jian Ke was still trying to guess Lou Bianxia’s unpredictable thoughts when she suddenly saw her walk over, squat down, and take her hands.

When her hands were completely open, the shallow cuts were fully exposed. The tender skin was broken in several places, and the shallow skin was peeled back. The crimson wounds looked like tiny red pinpricks, dense and numerous. Some places even had small blisters. Jian Ke was slightly stunned. These were scrapes she had gotten from hanging the banners that afternoon. They looked a little scary, but they didn’t hurt much. On the way back, she had just rinsed the wounds with water and left them alone, never expecting them to get worse.

Jian Ke watched Lou Bianxia get ointment and gauze and silently begin to apply the medicine. The stinging pain of the iodine made Jian Ke suck in a small breath, and tears welled up in her eyes. “Hiss—it hurts, Sister, please be gentle.” Her voice was soft and sweet, like a brush stroking a heartstring. Lou Bianxia slowed her movements. “You’re so delicate. You can’t even stand a little pain?”

Jian Ke: “But it really does hurt a little.” Was she not allowed to say it hurt?

Lou Bianxia: “If you don’t want it to hurt, you should be more careful in the future. You even managed to hurt your hands on a variety show.”

Jian Ke lowered her head, humbled. Watching Lou Bianxia’s professional bandaging, she couldn’t help but ask, “Sister, your movements are so practiced. Did you learn this specifically?” Shouldn’t a CEO have a few family doctors? How could Lou Bianxia be so skilled at such a minor thing as bandaging?

Lou Bianxia: “Sometimes Shu Yu would get hurt while dancing, so I went and learned some…” Her voice trailed off, and she didn’t continue, instead nonchalantly wrapping the bandage. Shu Yu had a difficult period where she felt stuck. No matter how much she danced, she felt she couldn’t get it right and would often fall on the cold training room floor. Lou Bianxia would then carefully apply medicine for her. Shu Yu was very good at enduring pain and would only complain dejectedly about her poor dancing. She was nothing like Jian Ke, who would whine and act spoiled about the pain.

After finishing the bandage, Lou Bianxia saw Jian Ke looking dazed. She reached up and poked her forehead. It wasn’t hard, but it left a faint red mark.

—She really is delicate.

Suddenly poked, Jian Ke covered her forehead and widened her eyes. She felt so wronged. “I didn’t say anything!”

Lou Bianxia had her back to Jian Ke, and the smile on her lips grew uncontrollably, her shoulders trembling with silent laughter. Jian Ke thought Lou Bianxia was sad because she was reminded of her white moonlight. She took a deep breath and walked over to her barefoot. “Don’t be sad—” only to see Lou Bianxia smiling so wide her eyes disappeared.

!!

Jian Ke: …So angry.

Jian Ke sat back down on the sofa with a pouty face. Just then, her phone chimed with a new message. She opened it and her brows immediately furrowed.

Chen Qiu: “Something’s happened.”

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