The Stand-in is Exceptionally Clingy [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: The CEO and Her Canary

◎”What Else?”◎

“Ms. Lou’s words were also out of concern for you. In all these years, I’ve never seen her have anyone else close to her.” Cen Ming paused, as if she felt she had overstepped. “I just hope you don’t stay angry with Ms. Lou because of this.”

Jian Ke nodded. “I understand what you mean.”

Cen Ming breathed a sigh of relief before getting in the car and driving away. Watching the car disappear, Jian Ke limped forward, a hint of melancholy on her face. She looked up. Tonight’s moon was pure white and dawning yellow, nestled in the branches. It wasn’t as cold and aloof as usual. A faint orange mist surrounded it, soft and gentle, allowing her to see the light and dark crevices.

The lights in the living room reflected onto the yard through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Jian Ke stopped and craned her neck to look, but through the thin curtains, she couldn’t see anything but the faint outlines of the furniture. Disappointed, Jian Ke sat down on the steps in front of the villa door, wrapped her arms around her knees, and stared blankly at the red and white tiled floor. The yard was very quiet, with only the rustling of leaves.

520 System: “Host, why don’t you go inside?”

Jian Ke’s eyelashes trembled. “Lou Bianxia… must still be angry with me.”

520 was confused. “If the female lead is angry, shouldn’t the host hurry to appease her?”

Instinctively, Jian Ke’s hands clenched. “I… I haven’t figured out how to apologize yet. We had such a big fight just now, she must be furious… Let me think, let me think.”

Lou Bianxia had called everywhere, desperately trying to confirm she was safe, while she was at a bar in a drunken stupor. What must Lou Bianxia have been thinking in the car on the way back? Probably that she regretted signing on such a big trouble.

Jian Ke felt that she had probably always been alone, a lone wolf. That’s why this feeling of being worried about by someone was so unfamiliar. If there were no missions, if they weren’t in this pre-set world, she and Lou Bianxia would probably have become very good friends.

After staring blankly for a long time, a voice suddenly sounded from above her. “What are you doing sitting here instead of coming inside?”

Jian Ke looked up to see Lou Bianxia’s expressionless face. She stood behind Jian Ke, leaning slightly forward. Her long hair fell on Jian Ke’s shoulder and neck, causing a slight tickle. Jian Ke’s eyes fluttered, and her voice was dry and hoarse. “I didn’t know something like that happened to the crew, and I didn’t get your calls… I’m sorry.” She lowered her head, her downcast and remorseful appearance making her look like a golden retriever with its head drooping after doing something wrong. Its usually wagging tail wasn’t wagging anymore.

From Lou Bianxia’s perspective, Jian Ke was curled up into a small ball, hugging her knees. The cold wind swept past her hair, and her eyes, hidden beneath her eyelashes, were a little red and moist. She was completely different from the defiant person who had talked back to her in the car earlier. In many years, Lou Bianxia hadn’t met anyone who dared to get into a heated argument with her like that. She was both angry and amused as she straightened up. “What else?”

Jian Ke felt her eyes burning, and a few tears fell onto the back of her hand, which she quickly wiped away. “Um… I also didn’t tell you in time that I was back in Lichang.”

Lou Bianxia was unperturbed. “What else?”

What else?

Jian Ke’s mind was racing. Meanwhile, a few more tears, like golden beans, rolled down her cheeks. “And… and I shouldn’t have gotten angry at you in the car.”

“I really… didn’t mean it. I was drunk, and my mind was foggy, that’s why…”

Lou Bianxia continued her sentence. “…that’s why you told the truth after drinking?”

“I had no idea that’s what you thought of me.”

“Overbearing, willful, self-righteous. It seems you’re quite unhappy with me.” Lou Bianxia’s tone was very dangerous.

Jian Ke’s heart sank. She cursed herself for letting alcohol get the better of her, which caused her to blurt out her true thoughts in the heat of the moment. She said awkwardly, “I was just drunk… and I love using idioms randomly, so please don’t take it personally, Ms. Lou. I promise I’ll drink less next time.”

“Can you really promise that?” Lou Bianxia replied quickly.

Jian Ke: “Huh? I…”

Lou Bianxia: “No drinking outside, and no drinking with people who have impure intentions. Can you promise that?”

Jian Ke blinked, wondering how the conversation had turned to drinking. “For work dinners and such, I might have to have a few drinks… so…” Jian Ke swallowed hard, looking at Lou Bianxia’s ominous eyes. “So I might… not be able to promise…”

“Your alcohol tolerance is so bad, and you still want to have a few drinks?” Lou Bianxia bent down and tapped Jian Ke’s forehead. “You’re just a kid.”

“Don’t drink if you don’t have to. For all your future work schedules, your assistant will report them to me one by one.”

Jian Ke covered her forehead, which was turning red from the tap, and her eyes widened. “My assistant… why would she report to you?”

Lou Bianxia tucked a strand of hair behind her ear that the wind had blown loose. “No reason. It’s my request.”

Jian Ke got up from the steps in a huff. “That’s too overbearing!”

As she took one step, she forgot about her sprained foot. A sharp pain shot through her ankle, and in the next second, she lost her balance and fell forward. Her waist suddenly felt a tight embrace. Jian Ke closed her eyes and crashed into a soft chest. The familiar cool scent filled her arms and lingered in her nose, intoxicating her. Her arm rested on Lou Bianxia’s fair, soft arm, the cool, silky touch feeling like she was caressing a high-quality glazed jade vase.

Jian Ke was a little dazed. She hadn’t hugged Lou Bianxia in almost half a month. The warmth and fullness of their skin-to-skin contact made her feel the weight of her longing.

Lou Bianxia’s pleasant voice was right next to her. “You’re so clumsy. You can fall even on a step.”

Jian Ke was helped up by Lou Bianxia, but she still held on to her arm, unwilling to let go. She said with a wronged voice, “Sister, I sprained my foot.”

“It was fine just now, wasn’t it?” Lou Bianxia looked down at Jian Ke’s slightly swollen ankle and asked with a frown.

Jian Ke said softly in embarrassment, “It’s… from when I got out of the car…”

Lou Bianxia looked at her as if she were an idiot, making Jian Ke feel humiliated. To sprain her ankle on flat ground showed just how angry she had been at the time.

Lou Bianxia half-helped her inside. Jian Ke lay steadily on the bed and watched as Lou Bianxia wrapped an ice pack in a towel and placed it on her foot. “It’s not very serious. After I put some medicine on it and wrap it up, just try not to move it for the next two days, and it’ll heal quickly.”

Jian Ke pursed her lips and looked at Lou Bianxia, who was sitting on the edge of the bed taking care of her. “I’m sorry, Sister. I feel like I’m always causing you trouble.”

Lou Bianxia: “If you know you’re causing trouble, you should learn your lesson. You’re so prone to anger, you really are a child.” Jian Ke was speechless.

She looked at the time on her phone and said, “It’s so late. Why don’t you stay here tonight, Sister?” As she spoke, she patted the spot next to her. “I’ve missed you. It’s been a while.” Jian Ke’s voice was obedient and sweet, making her feel like Lou Bianxia’s caring little sweet bean.

But Lou Bianxia’s eyes narrowed slightly, and she looked at Jian Ke from head to toe with a questioning gaze. “You sprained your foot, and you’re still not being obedient?”

Jian Ke was momentarily stunned. ‘Huh? What does that mean?’ But then she quickly understood. Looking at Lou Bianxia’s eyes, a sentence involuntarily slipped out of her mouth.

“…Then why don’t you proactively help me, Sister?”

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