The Stand-in is Exceptionally Clingy [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 22

Chapter 22: The CEO and Her Canary

◎Another Time?◎

Jian Ke opened the viral photos of her and Lou Bianxia on the trending topic and zoomed in with her fingers. The setting was the entrance of the hotpot restaurant from last night. The first few photos showed them holding hands and embracing. In the next photos, Jian Ke was shown nestled in Lou Bianxia’s arms. Due to the angle and the camera’s blur, Jian Ke’s head leaning on Lou Bianxia’s shoulder was captured in a way that made it look like they were kissing.

The photos were likely taken from across the street. Although the lighting was dim and the images were blurry, Jian Ke’s face was very clear. Lou Bianxia’s face was shown in half-profile, her arms wrapped around Jian Ke, her head tilted as if responding to the kiss. Beside the black sports car, the intimate and ambiguous atmosphere between the two couldn’t be explained away as simple friendship. From this, it was clear that the target was her, not Lou Bianxia. If that person had known Lou Bianxia’s identity, they would never have dared to expose this so blatantly.

The 520 System was running in circles. “What should we do, Host? If the female lead kicks us out, how will we complete the substitute mission?” As the CEO of the Lou Group, Lou Bianxia’s private life would directly impact all aspects of the company’s development: a drop in stock prices, public controversy, and intensified internal conflicts. At a time like this, the person Lou Bianxia most needed to get rid of, and the easiest to sacrifice, was Jian Ke. The role of substitute lover was no longer tenable, and whether Jian Ke could even continue to stay at Jiaxun Media was now a problem.

“Why are you still so calm?” The 520 System saw Jian Ke silently scrolling on her phone. “Shouldn’t we go find Lou Bianxia right away?”

“Finding her is useless. The Suimu Group has already issued an emergency statement.” Jian Ke’s voice was calm and unhurried.

Suimu’s official Weibo account had issued a statement, pinned to the top of the trending topic #LouBianxiaHomosexual. The post first explicitly denied that the person in the photos was Lou Bianxia, suggesting that someone was deliberately stirring up hype for marketing. Secondly, it stated that the malicious spread of defamatory remarks against Ms. Lou Bianxia had severely violated her right to a good reputation, and Suimu had a responsibility and obligation to defend her rights. With the release of this statement, public opinion immediately shifted.

“Suimu issued a statement denying it? The person who first claimed the photos were of Lou Bianxia needs to stand up. Isn’t this misleading everyone?”

“It’s not her? Then why was everyone talking about it? Damn, did someone really maliciously create this hype?”

“Based on the style and model, that black supercar is Lou Bianxia’s. Someone took a photo of it at a tech conference in the first half of the year. You can go look for it yourself.”

“They’ve already debunked the rumor. Why are you so skeptical? That supercar is expensive, but it’s not a limited edition. Since Lou Bianxia started driving it in the first half of the year, sales have increased a lot. There are several rich people in Lichang driving the same car.”

“Based on a vague half-profile, they’re trying to create hype using Lou Bianxia. Some new actress must be desperate for fame.”

“Everyone’s focus is on Lou Bianxia so she can fly under the radar. What a conniving plan. Isn’t she afraid the wind will be too strong and she’ll get an injured waist?”

“I had a pretty good impression of her from Mission: Relaunch. She seemed like a smart, hardworking kid. How did something like this happen at this point?”

“She was probably panicking when it first broke, but then she realized everyone was focused on Lou Bianxia, so she intentionally guided the conversation in that direction. Now that the Suimu Group has gotten involved, they’ve helped remove a lot of the negative buzz.”

“She’s using a big shot. Doesn’t she know how to spell ‘death’? What a nobody, she has nothing to fear.”

“Maybe it’s the filter of her being a new talent, but I can’t bring myself to hate her. If she intentionally created this hype, what benefit would it be for an artist under the same group to stab their sugar daddy in the back?”

“Who knows? I’m just concerned about the sensitive nature of the artist’s issues. Can Sea of Fog even air? I’ve been looking forward to it for a while.”

“Sea of Fog just wrapped and was about to get a release date. For someone to post these photos at this time is truly cruel.”

The 520 System looked at the comments and tried to comfort Jian Ke. “Being famous for the wrong reasons is still being famous. Your popularity has increased a lot.” —Although we’re still a long way from completing the top-tier mission, and if Lou Bianxia really freezes you out, there might be no chance to complete it in the future.

Jian Ke remained silent. She then switched to her fan page, which was, of course, filled with negative comments. But to her surprise, among all the insults, there were a few hardcore fans with peculiar comments defending her.

“If you’re going to insult people, go to the public forums, okay? Don’t mess up my fan page.”

“What’s wrong? Men are allowed to have girlfriends, but women aren’t? Don’t be so ridiculous, you guys.”

“This sister doesn’t look straight at all. It’s not surprising she has a girlfriend. What a pity, my Jian-Zhi CP broke up.”

“Good news: My celebrity crush is not straight. Bad news: I shipped the wrong CP.”

Jian Ke watched and, in a moment, swept away her previous gloom, unable to stop a chuckle from escaping her lips.

520 System: “Host, are you okay? Even if the mission fails, you can’t go crazy.”

Jian Ke stretched, a confident smile on her lips. “I’m not crazy. And I’ve already figured out a solution.”

520 was confused. “What solution? Have you figured out how to beg Lou Bianxia?”

“I won’t beg her.” Jian Ke pursed her lips and opened her contacts list, scrolling down. “Since Lou Bianxia’s side has already denied it, I should, of course, cooperate and clarify the identity of the person.”

After contacting the paparazzi to leak the “intimate photos,” Qian Jiao’s heart was filled with anxiety as she watched the public opinion ferment online. Jian Ke’s mysterious sugar daddy was Lou Bianxia? How was that possible? How could Jian Ke, a student with no resources or connections, get involved with that big shot who held so much power in Lichang? If she had truly offended Lou Bianxia… then she really would have no way to survive in the industry.

Panic and anxiety constricted her heart. She remembered bumping into Jian Ke at the studio before. Her manager had said that there was an urgent endorsement no one wanted to take, so he called Qian Jiao and a few other unknown, unpopular celebrities to the studio to film a commercial. Qian Jiao thought her luck had changed, but when she arrived, she found that the commercial was for some no-name, low-quality shampoo brand that had been boycotted by netizens last week for failing a quality inspection. But thinking of the endorsement fee, she still agreed.

The filming didn’t take long. After she finished and walked out of the studio, she heard faint words of “Filming wrapped!” and “Congratulations!” from next door. She peeked inside and saw Jian Ke at the center of the crowd, surrounded and showered with praise and encouragement. That was also when she heard Director Chen mention the hotpot wrap party. It was a complete coincidence.

Because of the unexpected encounter with Jian Ke, she had the idea of ingratiating herself with her. She had spent a lot of money on clothes and bags to create a “coincidental” meeting at the hotpot restaurant. She had also been waiting outside the restaurant, and because of Jian Ke’s cold shoulder, she wanted to teach her a lesson. She never expected to see her with Lou Bianxia. That pot-bellied, balding, greasy middle-aged man was not Jian Ke’s sugar daddy at all. Remembering Jian Ke’s mocking expression from before, Qian Jiao was filled with jealousy and opened her phone’s camera, pointing it at the two intimate women. She just wanted to ruin Jian Ke’s reputation.

Qian Jiao nervously paced back and forth in the narrow room, her teeth unconsciously biting at her fingers. Then, as if remembering something, she took out her phone and searched for photos of Lou Bianxia. Her facial features were beautiful and sharp, with a naturally cold edge, a kind of beauty that was bold and vibrant. Her figure was graceful and sexy, and her waist was so slender it looked like it could be held in one hand. In the entire entertainment industry, it was rare to find such a beautiful woman. And she was actually Ms. Lou Bianxia, the one who controlled the entire Suimu Group.

The phone camera was too blurry, and Qian Jiao hadn’t seen the woman’s face clearly that night, but the familiar facial features made her panic. Suimu Group’s denial was a timely relief for her. She looked at the comments attacking Jian Ke and secretly laughed. But public opinion took a turn. In the afternoon, another Jian Ke-related topic topped the hot search list—

#JianKeShenZhi

#JianZhiCPisReal

#JianKeDrunkenMeltdown

Clicking on the hashtag, it led to a short video posted by Shen Zhi. “Hmm… did I act well?” The video showed Jian Ke hugging a pillow, her voice soft and slurred, her tongue a little thick. “Shen Zhi~ Zhi’er, don’t be sad. I’ll definitely come back to you.” Jian Ke shook her head and her eyes met the camera. She tilted her head, a smile on her lips, her beautiful eyes sparkling. “I won’t get in the car. I won’t go back.”

“I’ll always stay with you to paint and watch the sea, okay?” The background was Shen Zhi’s goose-like laughter, which made the camera shake. Director Chen, also drunk, chimed in, “Go! Go! Don’t mess with my ending! Get in the car and go!” When she didn’t get a clear response, Jian Ke pouted and, looking wronged, pulled on Shen Zhi’s arm, her voice muffled. “Ning Xuan! Ning Xuan! Please~”

Shen Zhi held her hand back and, laughing, replied, “Okay, okay, we’ll be together forever, and we’ll never be apart again.” The short two-minute video fully displayed Jian Ke’s clumsy and disheveled drunk behavior. In the comments section, Shen Zhi also posted a photo of Jian Ke clinging to her.

The caption on Weibo read: “She had a severe drunken meltdown, but still insisted on getting a taxi home on her own. She was such a mess on the side of the road that I had to send her home.”

“No kiss, no sleep, no overnight. Why did the photo only show Jian Ke’s face? Do you think I’m so obscure that I have no presence? [smiling and speechless emoji]?” She also tagged Jian Ke at the end. “@JianKe, where did you get the habit of being so clingy when you’re drunk?”

Jian Ke replied promptly to Shen Zhi: “I don’t know, it’s innate.” At the same time, she also posted on her own Weibo: “Waking up from a hangover with a headache, I went online and suddenly found out I have a girlfriend. Haha, I just found out. Hello, girlfriend @ShenZhi.”

The “Jian-Zhi CP” raised their flag and suddenly became the most popular ship. CP fans were going wild in the comments, shipping them enthusiastically.

“Who asked for proof and got it? Ah, she called her her girlfriend. It might be a joke, but it’s so sweet. [crying emoji]”

“Joining the Jian-Zhi CP fandom. This is a jackpot.”

“You only dared to express your feelings when you were drunk, Jian Ke. I advise you not to love so much.”

“Damn, when will Sea of Fog air? I can’t wait to see these beautiful women fall in love.”

Lou Bianxia’s fair fingertips slid across the screen. Her exquisite face showed no emotion. Her deep, dark eyes reflected the screen’s light, quickly jumping between the comments. Her other hand was unconsciously clenched, the pale pink fingernails digging into her skin, leaving crescent-shaped marks. She bit her soft lips between her teeth, grinding them lightly. When she saw a particular comment, she suddenly tore a small gash in her lip. A crimson bead of blood welled up, like a tiny red plum blossom blooming. Like a form of self-abuse, Lou Bianxia’s tongue tip repeatedly licked the wound, allowing the taste of iron to spread through her mouth. Her fingers scraped the screen, turning white from the pressure. Lou Bianxia looked at the photo of Jian Ke snuggled next to Shen Zhi and felt a stinging sense of irritation.

So her affection wasn’t reserved for her alone. So she would also act spoiled and petulant with other people when she was drunk. Then, maybe someday in the future, she would be “serving” someone else in their bed, in all sorts of ways.

An unknown negative emotion filled her chest, making Lou Bianxia’s breathing feel short. Rationally, she knew that this was Jian Ke and Shen Zhi’s way of handling the current public opinion. But the photos and video couldn’t be fake. The drunk Jian Ke’s seductive eyes were like those of a charming succubus, tempting and alluring. Was this her nature, to be so enchanting to everyone?! Lou Bianxia’s eyes grew colder by the second. Possessiveness and reason were warring within her. She absolutely would not admit that this emotion was called jealousy.

“Ms. Lou, are you okay?” Assistant Li Zhi stood by, asking with a pounding heart. The expression on the CEO’s face was terrifyingly fierce. She was clearly enraged. It seemed that this public relations storm had greatly displeased the CEO.

Lou Bianxia reined in her violent emotions, pulled out a napkin, and wiped the corner of her mouth. The blood soaked into the white paper, looking like crushed red agate on fine snow, before it spread and dissolved. Li Zhi glanced at it and then lowered her head. After a moment, she heard Lou Bianxia’s cold voice.

“Is the matter handled?”

Li Zhi handed a phone to Lou Bianxia. “Yes, I’ve also explained the process. There are no backups of the photos; everything has been sent to your email.”

Lou Bianxia nodded, her fingers lightly tapping on the table. Her tone was unhurried. “Who rushed you to issue that emergency statement this morning?”

Li Zhi: “Madam said that if Suimu didn’t issue a statement immediately, it would damage… the company’s image, and no one would be able to handle that responsibility.”

Lou Bianxia’s sharp, eagle-like gaze swept over her, making Li Zhi’s back feel cold. “You need to remember, you are my assistant, not my mother’s assistant.”

“Next time Madam comes, just show her to the reception room. No matter what she says, you listen to my orders.”

Li Zhi: “Yes, Ms. Lou. It won’t happen again.”

Li Zhi left the CEO’s office fearfully, a look of despair on her face. Cen Ming wasn’t here today, and there was no way a junior assistant like her could stop the furious Madam Lou.

Lou Bianxia sat at her desk, waiting quietly. At the expected time, her phone suddenly rang. After she answered, a furious voice came through. “That woman isn’t Shen Zhi at all! You guys took the money, so you should do what I told you to!”

“If it’s not Shen Zhi, then who is it?” Qian Jiao paused. Why is it a different person on the other end?

Lou Bianxia’s deep eyes, like currents in a shallow bay, were frighteningly cold. “Did you see what she looked like?”

Qian Jiao: “I didn’t see clearly, but I’ve definitely never seen her before. I know Shen Zhi.”

“You didn’t see clearly, so how do you know she’s not Shen Zhi? Next time you take photos, make sure they’re clear. You’re so timid.” Qian Jiao heard the other party’s disdainful tone, and panic swept through her mind.

“Who are you?”

“I heard you’ve been with quite a few big shots, but you’ve never been able to get any resources. That’s a shame. I have a good business opportunity here. Do you want me to introduce you?” The crisp, pleasant voice now sounded like a death knell to Qian Jiao. After she finished listening, her face turned ashen, and she collapsed to the floor, begging Lou Bianxia to let her go. If she had known that Jian Ke’s sugar daddy was Lou Bianxia, she never would have provoked her. But it was clearly too late.

After dealing with Qian Jiao, Lou Bianxia thought for a moment, then pursed her lips and called Jian Ke. The phone rang with a busy tone, but it felt like a thread being cast out, extending indefinitely. The process was long, and the pause between each ring was filled with a complex heartbeat. After ringing several times, Jian Ke finally answered.

“Ms. Lou, is something wrong?”

Her tone was casual, as if nothing had happened today, the most common opening for a daily conversation. But this “is something wrong?” was what Lou Bianxia should have been asking Jian Ke. She held the armrest of her chair with a mix of complex emotions. She had so much she wanted to tell Jian Ke, but the moment she heard her voice, her thoughts became a mess. She wanted to tell Jian Ke that the incident was sudden, and the emergency statement from the Suimu Group wasn’t malicious, that she hadn’t known about it beforehand. And that she had already dealt with Qian Jiao, who would never appear in front of her again. But these weren’t the main things she wanted to express.

“Last night, you and Shen Zhi…”

She didn’t finish her sentence when she heard a familiar goose-like laugh on the other end of the phone. Lou Bianxia: … Lou Bianxia’s voice dropped eight octaves. “Where are you right now?”

Jian Ke: “Oh, I’m at Shen Zhi’s place.”

Lou Bianxia’s brows furrowed. Her tone was a little more urgent. “Why are you at her place? Isn’t it enough that everyone is making up stories about you two?”

“Didn’t your manager tell you not to go out and wander around when such a big thing happened?”

Jian Ke grumbled internally: You know it’s a big deal, too. You issued a statement that completely cleared yourself, and I have to take all the blame, right? The evil capitalist and the scapegoat worker. If she hadn’t had the quick wit to use Shen Zhi as a scapegoat, would she have been erased from the entertainment industry by tomorrow? Jian Ke was indignant but didn’t dare show it to the female lead, lest she think she was tactless and impractical.

“I asked Shen Zhi for help. Thanks to her, the online situation is pretty much resolved. I hope I didn’t cause you any trouble, Ms. Lou.”

Lou Bianxia pinched the bridge of her nose, her tone softening slightly. “I was indeed wrong in how I handled this matter. I can make it up to you…”

Jian Ke quickly interrupted, “I understand, I understand. Exposing our relationship is not good for either of us, so at least one side had to be protected.”

“Ms. Lou, you have a high status and reputation, which affects the interests of the entire group. That’s something a small celebrity like me can’t compare to. If I were in your shoes, I would have made the same decision.”

“I don’t need you to make it up to me, Ms. Lou.”

Hearing Jian Ke say this, Lou Bianxia felt even more of a mix of emotions. Deep down, she had hoped that Jian Ke would understand her predicament and her difficult choice. She was the CEO of the Suimu Group, and being constantly caught in a scandal would be a blow to everyone in the company. But when Jian Ke spoke with such a kind and understanding tone, Lou Bianxia couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss. Complex emotions tore at her mind. Lou Bianxia realized that whenever something involved Jian Ke, it always gave her a headache. It seemed she… cared too much about the other person’s feelings, to the point where she thought a thousand thoughts but always had a feeling of emptiness, of not being able to grasp something.

“Then I’ll treat you to dinner tonight. There’s a new restaurant on Dongxi Road that has the crab roe noodles you love.”

Jian Ke was silent for a moment before saying, “Ms. Lou, something like that just happened today. We need to lie low. It’s better if we don’t meet up outside for a while.”

“Besides, I promised Shen Zhi I would treat her to dinner tonight. How about we reschedule for another time?”

Lou Bianxia gritted her teeth. Another time? Why? Why would this girl choose to put Shen Zhi before her when it came to a dinner plan?

Shen Zhi, who was completely unaware of being used, suddenly felt a chill down her back and asked in confusion, “Dinner? When did you say you were treating me to dinner?”

Jian Ke blinked. “Just now.”

After hanging up, Lou Bianxia still hadn’t recovered from being rejected by Jian Ke. A moment later, her phone rang. Lou Bianxia thought it must be the girl changing her mind and answered without looking at the caller ID. “I don’t have many other times I can wait for. You…”

But in the next second, a familiar yet completely unfamiliar voice rang in her ear.

—”Senior?”

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