The Stand-in is Exceptionally Clingy [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 24.1

Chapter 24.1: The CEO and Her Canary

◎The Big Sucker is Right Beside Me◎

After several hours of flying and a transfer, they landed in Diawan just as dusk was approaching. The sky outside the airport was a sea of pink and orange, dreamy and radiant, sparkling with a magnificent glow. It was truly a holy land for couples’ vacations; even the sky seemed exceptionally romantic.

The visa process was quick, and the two of them left the airport and headed toward the hotel on the beach. The floor-to-ceiling windows of the hotel room faced the ocean, offering a view of the golden sand sparkling with tiny diamond-like lights. Black and white seagulls rested on the reddish-brown reefs, which were scarred and weathered by the ocean, showing the historical marks of erosion.

The cruise ship dock was far away; to get to the island, you had to take a ferry, and there were limits on the number of tourists allowed on the island each week. Jian Ke and Lou Bianxia had come at the perfect time. It wasn’t a holiday or peak season, so the number of tourists on the island was low, and there was no “grand spectacle” of people packed in long lines. The climate was also not as hot and dry as in the summer. The sea breeze felt soft and cool on their skin, and the sun was not so dazzlingly hot. In another two months, the island would be closed to tourists.

Jian Ke changed her clothes in the beach changing room. When she came out, she didn’t see Lou Bianxia. A text message on her phone just said, “Something came up, I’ll be there in a bit.” What a busy person. If you can’t get away from work, there’s no need to travel so far for a vacation, Jian Ke thought. As a working-class person, Jian Ke hated the idea of working while on vacation. When she was filming in a small town, the crew went to great lengths to find the best angles to capture the most beautiful scenery, from sunrise to sunset and late into the night. Jian Ke felt she had walked all over the town. The joy of sightseeing faded, replaced by overwhelming fatigue.

She shuffled along the soft sand in her black sandals. The wind lifted her long hair, which brushed past her straight nose and beautiful features. Jian Ke wore a black bikini with purple tassels. Her flawless skin was like a creamy, pink-tinged jade, outlining her voluptuous curves. A bracelet, made of small pink diamonds threaded together, hung on her arm like a tender lotus root. It was exquisite and luxurious, making her skin look even more delicate. Below, her waist was slender and her stomach showed beautiful, toned abs. Black ruffles tied with silk ribbons adorned her waist. Below her perky hips were long, elegant legs and delicate feet with round, pink toes. With her graceful and sexy figure, and her charming and energetic demeanor, she was a stunning sight on the beach.

Since it was getting a little windy, Jian Ke put on a thin sun-protective jacket. The sea breeze ruffled the hem of her jacket, and her lungs filled with the crisp, salty scent of the sea. The sound of her sandals on the sand was a soft crunch. The glittering sand hid shells and tiny stones, and the foam washing ashore curled, decorating the blue silk of the ocean with tiny pearls. This place was like a stone jutting out of the ocean, where the setting sun and the sea breeze passed by. If she hadn’t come with Lou Bianxia, she probably wouldn’t have seen such a beautiful sight.

But soon, she forgot about a certain person, squatting on the beach, digging in the sand and picking up shells, having a great time. Suddenly, she heard a series of loud bangs. She looked up and saw the other tourists on the beach getting restless, walking noisily toward an open-air stage in the distance. Jian Ke didn’t know what was happening, but she heard people saying that some rich big shot had spent a fortune to put on a light show. Diawan’s light shows were famous, only happening twice a year, and each time was a grand spectacle. Aside from the fixed performance dates, they were rarely held, unless some “big sucker” was willing to spend a seven-figure sum to hire a team to make an exception, bearing all the costs.

Jian Ke couldn’t believe her luck. She had managed to get a free vacation and now a free performance. She happily messaged Lou Bianxia: “When will you be done? There’s a light show performance here on the beach. It only happens twice a year. I don’t know which big sucker paid for it, but we get to watch it for free.”

Lou Bianxia replied quickly: “Big sucker?”

Jian Ke: “Hahaha, isn’t someone who spends over ten times the normal price to hire a team a big sucker?”

But as she laughed, she noticed that Lou Bianxia had gone silent, and a bad feeling settled in her heart. Hiss— “This light show… you didn’t pay for it, did you?”

Lou Bianxia: “I did.”

Jian Ke: … Choked into silence. The rich big sucker was right beside me!

Although Lou Bianxia had a “CEO” persona and was worth hundreds of millions, this was the first time Jian Ke had a direct, firsthand experience of Lou Bianxia’s immense wealth. Normally, Jian Ke and Lou Bianxia would go to high-end restaurants, but not often, maybe once or twice a month. Most of the time, Lou Bianxia cooked herself or hired someone to cook. The clothes in their home were either custom-made or sent directly from brands. The money they spent was all on a pre-paid unlimited yearly card, so Jian Ke never had a chance to use her own credit card. Also, Lou Bianxia rarely had time to shop and only ordered clothes for the change of seasons, in small quantities. In contrast, Jian Ke’s closet was packed due to the nature of her work, with a new outfit for every outing. Compared to the two of them, the real CEO Lou Bianxia seemed more “hardworking and frugal” than her pampered little lover. So Jian Ke was certain that Lou Bianxia only cared about work and not about pleasure.

But now… had Lou Bianxia suddenly had a change of heart? Had she gone from a hardworking and diligent CEO to an extravagant and ruthless one? So, was the Suimu Group really not going to go bankrupt?

Lou Bianxia: “I’ve never done something like this before. Is it… a lot?” To Lou Bianxia, money was just an ever-increasing number. A small reduction didn’t affect the overall growth.

The light show began as night fell. Bright beams of light shot into the sky, bursting into a vibrant, colorful rainbow. The visual feast made the night scenery of Diawan even more captivating. In the darkness, a cool hand took Jian Ke’s, their fingers interlacing. Jian Ke turned her head, her eyes sparkling with a brilliant light. The gentle smile on her lips added a touch of beauty to the dazzling lights of the world.

“Sister, the performance is so beautiful!”

Lou Bianxia froze. The noise of the crowd and the music faded away like a receding tide. She looked at Jian Ke’s smiling face, illuminated by the light, and her heart trembled uncontrollably. Thump-thump— It was like a ripe fruit falling from a branch, rolling into a calm pond, sending out ripples that spread in an endless, tumultuous circle. Lou Bianxia pursed her lips, her hand instinctively loosening its grip.

But in the next second, Jian Ke held on even tighter. Jian Ke pulled Lou Bianxia forward. “The stage performance has started. If we go closer, we can see better.”

“They spent so much money, but they didn’t even get us a VIP seat or anything,” Jian Ke grumbled with a frown. “Next time, let’s not waste this money. Thinking about it, my heart hurts a little.”

Lou Bianxia listened to Jian Ke’s soft complaint and silently swallowed the thought, “The bracelet you’re wearing right now is probably about the same price.” She had custom-ordered the pink diamond bracelet for Jian Ke half a month ago. She had hired a top designer, and the cost of design and materials was comparable to the cost of the light show. She had initially bought the bracelet for Jian Ke because she felt Jian Ke’s empty wrist was missing something. Shu Yu had a white diamond bracelet, and every time she danced, the pure white light would sparkle with her. Pink suited Jian Ke better, for her playful and lively personality. Lou Bianxia had spent several times the effort to find the right color and had rejected over a dozen design drafts before finally creating the finished product. Only when she put it on Jian Ke’s wrist and saw her happy expression did Lou Bianxia feel relieved that her efforts had not been in vain. The price was just a number. The true value of that bracelet was Jian Ke’s moving smile.

—But if she told Jian Ke the truth, she probably wouldn’t wear it so casually.

“Ding—Female lead’s favorability rating has increased.”

Jian Ke’s excited expression froze for a moment. She instinctively looked at the expressionless Lou Bianxia beside her.

“Ding—Female lead’s favorability rating has increased.” The notification in her mind sounded again.

Jian Ke was confused. She hadn’t done anything, so why had Lou Bianxia’s favorability suddenly started to increase? Her eyes dropped to their tightly clasped hands. Could it be the hand-holding? Jian Ke tentatively swayed her arm. “Ding—Female lead’s favorability rating has increased.”

She stopped swaying. “…Favorability rating has increased.”

She raised her hand above her head. “…Favorability rating has increased.”

She lowered it. “…Favorability rating has increased.”

Was happiness coming this suddenly? Lou Bianxia still had her cold expression, looking seriously at the stage. No one could guess the tumultuous emotions raging inside her. Jian Ke saw that she had no reaction at all and asked 520: “…Are you sure there’s nothing wrong with the system’s broadcast?”

520 was ecstatic. It had a windfall! “Absolutely nothing wrong. The female lead must just like the look of you today.”

Jian Ke: “Something still feels a little strange…”

As she was deep in thought, she didn’t notice the crowd starting to push to the side as the lights changed. A shove from behind caused her to lose her footing and fall into Lou Bianxia’s arms. The soft, voluptuous bodies of two gorgeous, stunning women collided. The scene was provocative and ambiguous. People nearby saw it and started to cheer.

Lou Bianxia steadied Jian Ke. She saw the girl in her arms look up at her with a wronged expression, her clear, deer-like eyes filled with a bit of moisture. She was clearly in pain from the collision. A born temptress, a thought flashed through Lou Bianxia’s mind. Listening to the jeers and cheers around them, she tightened her hand on Jian Ke’s waist, and a sudden urge surged in her chest. An urge to hide the person in front of her all to herself. She lowered her gaze and bit Jian Ke’s soft lips, urgently exploring further. The sound of their deep kiss made Jian Ke’s ears turn red. And this is in public!

Jian Ke pushed Lou Bianxia away as she ravaged her mouth. A broken silver thread of saliva still hung from her lips. With a flushed face, she said, “Why did you suddenly… kiss me?”

Lou Bianxia reached out to grab her hand again, raising an eyebrow. “Everyone is watching. It would be strange not to kiss when the atmosphere is right, wouldn’t it?”

Jian Ke looked at the others applauding and cheering, her face red. What atmosphere? Didn’t that just draw more attention to us? She covered her burning cheeks, feeling for the nth time that Lou Bianxia had changed. It used to be Lou Bianxia who blushed all the time. How had it become her who was constantly turning red recently?

The light show ended with a flowing river of stars, sparkling as if they were so close to the universe they could be touched. Then, the stars fell rapidly, drawing arcs across the sky, like a rainstorm that illuminated the entire night. The warmth and stickiness in their palms, and the tenderness flowing between them, would be forever etched in this moment.

During these five days on the island, the two of them seemed to have abandoned all their worries.

They swam in the morning, sunbathed in the afternoon, and sometimes just lying together and looking at each other felt like a luxurious pastime. The evenings were filled with endless passion. Perhaps it was because this place was far from the crowds and overly romantic.

Their lovemaking was intense and unrestrained, completely without taboo.

Jian Ke felt a fire of desire burning throughout her body whenever she touched Lou Bianxia’s skin, a fire that burned to its very edge.

Lou Bianxia, in turn, was very indulgent. She would curl up lazily, beckoning Jian Ke with a hook of her finger. Her naked body glowed with a beauty that made her seem like a muse for artists to worship.

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