The Stand-in is Exceptionally Clingy [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 11

Chapter 11: The CEO and Her Canary

◎Self-Directed and Self-Performed◎

Chen Qiu: “Wang Xuanyu is on the hot search.”

Jian Ke’s first reaction was: ‘Why does his hot search have anything to do with me?’

She clicked on the link Chen Qiu sent her. It led to the comments section for the hashtag #WangXuanyuIsolated. The top comment was from a marketing account that claimed to have inside information. It suggested that Wang Xuanyu’s supposed “collective isolation” on Mission Re-Launch was the result of a certain celebrity’s scheming, who wanted to suppress him and take all the show’s benefits.

The majority of comments were from Wang Xuanyu’s fans, who were filled with righteous indignation.

“I knew something was off with my brother’s performance on the show. He’s usually so lively, but he was silent the whole time.”

“He was isolated, it was so obvious. The other guests ignored him, and I saw him try to chime in several times and fail. I didn’t expect there to be such a shady story.”

“Who is it? If you know the inside story, just say it! Why hide it?”

“A senior artist wouldn’t stoop to this level of scheming. It must be a newcomer.”

“Is it one of the two? But it’s true, since the show aired, both Sun Yan and Jian Ke’s follower counts have increased a lot, while Wang Xuanyu was just a background character.”

“Please, Sun Yan’s attitude towards Wang Xuanyu was actually decent. That only leaves a certain little newbie, doesn’t it?”

“I’m just saying, that Jian Ke only knows how to play the emotion card on the show, and she even uses other artists and their fans. Why is everyone praising her?”

“Her intentions are malicious, aren’t they? As a fan of Yi, I didn’t see anything wrong with Jian Ke’s method. Why are you guys so worked up? This is just your idol not being able to complete a mission and taking it out on someone else. ‘Isolated’? He’s really good at pretending.”

“I’m dying of laughter. You guys are so eager to be used as pawns by Jian Ke. It just goes to show how calculating she is. She must be crazy to get famous.”

At the same time, Jian Ke’s private messages were also flooded with countless insults. Her fan forum, which didn’t have many members to begin with, was completely overrun with posts from Wang Xuanyu’s fans demanding an apology from Jian Ke. Jian Ke frowned slightly, but when she saw her follower count suddenly surge by over a hundred thousand, her heart returned to a state of calm.

520 System: “Host, it seems that all the insults are making you famous??”

It was the first time a guest had been “isolated” on Mission Re-Launch, so everyone was naturally curious and eager for the inside scoop.

Chen Qiu: “This matter is escalating too quickly. It’s clear someone is fanning the flames. Did you and Wang Xuanyu have a past conflict?”

Jian Ke told Chen Qiu about Wang Xuanyu’s threats on the show, and then fell silent, lost in her thoughts. Wang Xuanyu probably thought he hadn’t left any evidence. Even if Jian Ke exposed him, it would just be her word against his, proving nothing. By rushing to the hot search to slander Jian Ke first, he made his fans believe that any subsequent exposé from her would just be slanderous revenge.

From her expression, Lou Bianxia had probably guessed that something was wrong. “Do you need help?”

Jian Ke looked up. She saw a hint of sharpness in Lou Bianxia’s icy eyes, a sense of confidence that could remain calm even in the face of a mountain collapsing. She had no doubt that if she were to “whisper in Lou Bianxia’s ear,” the Wang Xuanyu matter would be resolved quickly. But—this was a small matter, and Wang Xuanyu wasn’t important enough for Lou Bianxia to personally get involved.

“No, I can handle it myself.”

Just as the hot search was a frenzy of activity and Jian Ke was pushed into the spotlight, the situation suddenly reversed. First, the Mission Re-Launch crew posted a public apology, stating that they had failed to properly vet a guest, which had a negative impact on the other guests. They announced that this guest would be blacklisted from the show and they would no longer collaborate with him.

So, this confirmed that Jian Ke had caused Wang Xuanyu to be isolated, right? But then, people noticed that the last person tagged in the post was Wang Xuanyu, and the post announcing his joining Mission Re-Launch had been deleted.

While everyone was in a state of confusion, a young woman with a verified account as a show director suddenly exposed the truth.

—The so-called “isolation” Wang Xuanyu faced was because he had been sexually harassing a female celebrity.

“Heh, what a self-directed and self-performed act. The perpetrator can even play the victim.”

“Didn’t you fans demand an explanation? Now you have it. It’s time to ask your idol to come out and apologize, isn’t it?”

“He was trying to slander Jian Ke because she has few fans. I almost thought Jian Ke was some scheming black lotus. This is truly sitting at home, only for a pot to fall from the sky and land on your head.”

“Jian Ke: I’m just speechless…”

Wang Xuanyu’s face was dark as he watched public opinion unanimously turn against him. He furiously threw his phone away. His company had just notified him that his scheduled activities for this period had been canceled. Now, all he could do was wait for the storm to pass. But what he didn’t expect was that this storm was just the beginning…

During a break from filming, Jian Ke earnestly studied the script for Sea of Fog. It was a short series with only six episodes, totaling a little over two hours, but it was concise, powerful, and had a unique atmosphere. The story followed Li Zhi, who, after a career setback in the bustling city, chose to escape to a seaside town and live a life of desolation. The damp, humid air seemed to seep through the words, clinging to her fingertips and pulling her into the misty, rainy story.

The rocks were battered by waves all day long, and the sea foam spun on the surface. The moisture from the sea was carried in by the wind, and as a thick fog approached, it hid half of the seawall. After the fog passed, the branches would always drip water, as if they had been soaked in seawater. The sky in the town was always overcast, rarely seeing the sun. Dark clouds and drizzle were frequent visitors. Clothes never dried completely, feeling perpetually damp. It was just like Li Zhi’s eternally gloomy mood. Every afternoon, when the sky cleared for a while, she would ride her bike to the beach and do nothing but stare at the ocean. It was there that she met Ning Xuan, the painter.

It was hard to say who entered whose world first. After a simple acquaintance, they became like close friends of many years, sharing everything. The town was like an isolated existence, far from the noise of the big city. Time seemed to have frozen there, and their pure, fluttering feelings were magnified infinitely. One day, a touch of a finger on the lips evolved into a kiss that could no longer be hidden.

The fog and the sea intertwined and merged. Their body heat became the only thing they could rely on in this small, narrow world. The floorboards were damp and musty. The dripping of rain on the stone walls outside was the only sound. Her vision was shrouded in a thick fog. Jian Ke raised her hand and stroked the face right in front of her. The fog cleared, revealing those lonely, icy eyes. Lou Bianxia leaned her forehead against Jian Ke’s and kissed her passionately. A siren whispered, bewitching and ethereal, but the tears welling up in her eyes were heartbreaking.

Awakening from the passionate dream, the jade-like white hand slipped from her grasp. Lou Bianxia looked at the sea. The thick fog quietly dissipated in the dawn, without even a word of farewell. With her back to Jian Ke, she silently cried. The teardrops fell soundlessly, but each one hit Jian Ke’s heart with increasing force. The thin morning light shone on her slender body. Jian Ke wanted to wipe away her tears, wanted to tell her to stop crying, but she was trapped in the heaviness of the dream.

Until a loud bang. Jian Ke woke up from the surreal nightmare. The tide had receded, and there was no longer the continuous sound of water or the bone-chilling fog. The script, which had been resting on her lap, slid onto the floor. Jian Ke sat up from the woven wooden lounge chair and bent down to pick it up. She held her swollen head, wondering if the cold sea wind had blown her into a fever.

She instinctively looked at the clock on the wall. The second hand ticked, like the endless fine rain in her dream. The time was twelve o’clock, but Lou Bianxia still wasn’t back. She got up, picked up her phone, and dialed the number she knew by heart. The short few seconds of ringing seemed to stretch infinitely in her mind.

Jian Ke waited, then heard the familiar voice on the other end, no longer hazy and alluring, but clear and crisp like the sound of porcelain clinking. “What is it?”

Jian Ke: “It’s so late, why aren’t you back yet? I miss you a little.”

Jian Ke’s voice sounded hoarse, as if she hadn’t gotten enough rest. Lou Bianxia imagined the little one on the other end of the phone, waking up and pouting because she wasn’t there. Her porcelain-white fingers tapped lightly on the desk. “I have to work overtime until dawn tonight. I’ll probably just sleep at the company.”

Jian Ke: “Hmm… so busy…” Her tone was low. The hollow feeling from the dream had not yet faded. The knot in her chest felt like it would only go away if she saw Lou Bianxia.

Jian Ke: “Then—can I come find you?”

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