The Stand-in is Exceptionally Clingy [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 30.1

Chapter 30.1: The CEO and Her Canary

◎An Unlucky Year◎

Lou Bianxia was kicked out, a pair of chopsticks still in her right hand, and a ripped-open packet of instant noodles shoved into her left by Jian Ke.

“Bang—”

The door to 2302 slammed shut, and she was once again rejected.

Lou Bianxia was a little dumbfounded. Thinking back to her confession to Jian Ke, was there any part of it that wasn’t sincere and earnest enough?

Inside the door, Jian Ke had already collapsed onto the long sofa, shouting in distress, “Start a new life? My life has just been reset to zero.”

“Who on earth is this new lover who appeared out of nowhere? I was with Lou Bianxia for so long and didn’t notice a thing,” Jian Ke asked the 520 system. “Was this person in the original plot?”

520 stammered, “The brief plot couldn’t possibly be all-encompassing. Did the female lead fall for someone else in those blank spaces? I… I don’t know.”

Jian Ke grabbed her hair, which was in a tangled mess, and writhed on the sofa. “But you were so certain that the female lead only loved the white moonlight.”

“I… she does! The female lead’s character is one of unwavering devotion. Waiting seven years and then waiting another seven years after that… is a piece of cake for her.” 520 became more confident as it spoke.

But its voice grew softer, clearly lacking conviction. “She just couldn’t possibly fall for someone else… it doesn’t fit her character.”

Jian Ke’s movements stopped. She slowly sat up, her eyes unfocused as she stared into space.

“So, according to the original plot, how long did Lou Bianxia wait for Shu Yu?”

520 system: “Twelve years.”

Although she had an idea of the answer, hearing it from 520 still made Jian Ke’s heart ache.

Just how much heavy emotion and hopeless anticipation was contained in those three simple words, “twelve years”?

Jian Ke lowered her eyes, her voice very soft. “And now?”

520 system: “Now that Shu Yu has returned to the country unexpectedly, the timeline might be extended, and Shu Yu’s confession was even rejected by Lou Bianxia…”

“Based on the world line where the female lead and the white moonlight are destined to be together, their complicated and heart-wrenching romance will likely get even more complex in the future.”

As Jian Ke listened, she suddenly felt that it might be a good thing for Lou Bianxia to fall for someone else. She immediately shook her head, trying to drive that thought away.

The world line wouldn’t change. The current situation was probably just a small bug.

…

After subtly trying to persuade Jian Ke to drop the physical training class to no avail, Lou Bianxia decided to go to the class with her.

Li Zhi looked at the two women in matching training suits, both with beautiful and sexy figures. While feasting her eyes, she couldn’t help but say, “This is a one-on-one private lesson. Do you two have to take it together?”

Lou Bianxia crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. “I’m paying double the price for a one-on-one session, but you’re teaching two people. Aren’t you the one making a profit?”

Li Zhi scratched her face. “Since you both don’t mind, then I certainly don’t either.”

Haha, I strongly suspect I’m just a part of your dating game. Don’t single people have rights?

Two hours of physical training, followed by one hour of shoulder and neck massage.

Jian Ke held onto the glass with one hand and lifted her leg. Her messy bangs swayed with her steady breathing, and a few glistening drops of sweat trickled down her long, swan-like neck, soaking the collar of her pink shirt.

She let out a breath and turned her eyes to Lou Bianxia, who was sitting on a yoga mat next to her, staring unblinkingly.

She gritted her teeth. “Why aren’t you doing it?”

Lou Bianxia spread her hands, her tone completely justified. “I’m tired. I’m resting.”

Jian Ke silently rolled her eyes and held her breath to continue training.

Li Zhi quietly walked over to Lou Bianxia, sat down, and said with a low, teasing voice, “Didn’t manage to win her over?”

Lou Bianxia pretended not to hear.

Li Zhi: “You probably haven’t even confessed yet. Jian Ke doesn’t seem to like you at all.”

Lou Bianxia ignored her.

She felt a buzzing pain in her head. Just how many more people had to tell her that Jian Ke didn’t like her?

“Do you want me to give you some advice?” Li Zhi said. “I’ve seen a lot of love stories and have a lot of experience.”

Lou Bianxia still pretended not to hear, maintaining her aloof and distant demeanor.

Li Zhi thought to herself, “They really don’t get along. Lou Bianxia probably doesn’t give a good face to anyone but Jian Ke.”

But a moment later, she heard a quiet voice next to her. “What’s the method?”

Although Lou Bianxia was still looking at Jian Ke in front of her, her body was slightly turned toward Li Zhi.

That’s more like it.

Li Zhi whispered her advice to her, detailing every single point.

Lou Bianxia’s eyes flickered, and she gave a rare compliment. “You’re very professional.”

Li Zhi: “Of course. So, Ms. Lou, do you want to add me on social media? It’s been a dream of mine to be friends with a rich person.”

Lou Bianxia nodded frankly and gave her Shen Zhi’s contact information.

“I’ll try to use it.”

When Jian Ke took a break, she saw this scene—

Lou Bianxia and Li Zhi were sitting cross-legged on a yoga mat, very close to each other, whispering intimately, with smiles in their eyes and on their faces.

A warning alarm suddenly went off in Jian Ke’s mind. She looked at the two of them seriously.

They seemed to dislike each other before, so why are they getting along so well all of a sudden? And I even saw a gentle, ambiguous look in Lou Bianxia’s subtle expressions.

Damn it, could the “new lover” be Li Zhi?

Jian Ke recalled Lou Bianxia’s flimsy excuse about “market research” when she signed up for the class. She must have had ulterior motives.

No, the timeline doesn’t match up.

Lou Bianxia only met Li Zhi recently when she signed up for the class, so she couldn’t be the “new lover.”

But that strong sense of crisis still put her on high alert.

…

On the way home, Jian Ke was deep in thought.

She didn’t know how to tell Lou Bianxia to stay away from Li Zhi.

She could only probe quietly. “How do you feel about Li Zhi’s class after trying it for a few days?”

Lou Bianxia glanced at her, her voice sounding like a rehearsed reading. “…Her professional knowledge is extensive, and she customizes the workout plans for each student.”

“And Li Zhi has a perfect figure, so she must train a lot.”

It was a familiar passage of words, but Jian Ke couldn’t remember where she’d heard it.

Jian Ke: I asked her to evaluate Li Zhi’s physical training class, and she praised Li Zhi with two full sentences.

This is no good, no good at all.

She had to find a way to get Lou Bianxia to drop Li Zhi’s class.

As she was lost in thought, Jian Ke’s steps unconsciously sped up, and she even hopped a few times.

The sidewalk was uneven, and the streetlights were spaced far apart, making the light dim.

Before Jian Ke could come up with a solution, she stepped into a small pothole in the shadow of a tree.

She tugged at her shoe, but the shoe was stuck deep. She had to pull hard to get it out.

—The sole of her sneaker came off completely.

Jian Ke: “…What an unlucky year.” She really felt like she needed to go to a temple to burn some incense and ward off bad luck.

Fortunately, her home wasn’t far, even though the bottom of her foot ached a little.

Lou Bianxia seemed unable to stand Jian Ke’s limping. She grabbed her wrist, walked in front of her, and crouched down.

“Get on. I’ll carry you.”

Jian Ke’s face turned red, and she said with some embarrassment, “No need. We’re almost there.”

Lou Bianxia: “We’re almost there, so it’s fine for me to carry you this short distance. Besides, it’s not like I haven’t carried you before.”

Jian Ke was flustered. The few times she had been drunk, she would black out when Lou Bianxia came to pick her up, but by the time she was sober, she was already in bed.

It was self-evident how she got there.

Jian Ke no longer pretended to be difficult. She put her arms around Lou Bianxia’s shoulders.

“I’ve been keeping in shape lately,” Jian Ke mumbled softly. “Sister, you’re not allowed to say I’m heavy.”

Hearing this, Lou Bianxia bounced her up and down, which scared Jian Ke into hugging her shoulders even tighter.

Lou Bianxia: “You’ve lost weight. Is it in preparation for joining the crew?”

“Yeah. The filming location is in a vast, open forest. We have to shoot several snow scenes, and if I’m too fat, I won’t look good in a thick cotton jacket.”

Lou Bianxia blinked and said calmly, “Training for the crew is starting soon, right? Are you still going to continue with this physical training class?”

Jian Ke paused. “I really can’t continue… What about you, Ms. Lou? Are you still going to continue?”

A faint smile appeared on Lou Bianxia’s lips, but it disappeared in an instant.

“My research is pretty much done. I don’t need to go anymore.” The class was for you anyway. If you’re not going, then of course I’m not going either.

Jian Ke felt relieved, and her eyes curved into a smile.

“But, do you want to move back to Jingxiu Garden?” Lou Bianxia tried to make her tone sound relaxed and natural.

“Our agreement hasn’t ended yet, has it? I said I’d make you a top star. It’s partly my responsibility that your fame is only so-so.”

Jian Ke was stunned.

In fact, she had only been in the industry for a year, and it was already impressive for her to have this level of fame, not to mention that she was taking a solid, steady route.

“Ms. Lou, you really don’t have to… take it so much to heart.” For the “salted fish” Jian Ke, her current situation was more than satisfactory.

Lou Bianxia’s voice was soft and low, with a hint of seduction. “Don’t you like acting? Jiaxun just recruited a batch of experienced screenwriters. I’ll talk to Zhou Li and have your manager pick out some scripts.”

“Suimu invests so much money in Jiaxun every year. This request is nothing at all.”

Jian Ke was shocked by Lou Bianxia’s rare “CEO-style” speech. The smile was trapped in her chest, making her feel a little uncomfortable.

“So, are you moving back?”

…

The training base that the crew rented was very large, with green screen stages and various real-life props. In addition to the actors’ rehearsal rooms, there were also photography and props teams.

Some of the high-difficulty special effects actions in the film would also be completed during the training period.

The male actor who was acting opposite Jian Ke was a veteran actor in his forties. He had a gentle and elegant appearance with a mature and steady aura, and when he smiled, his eyes felt like a spring breeze.

In the film, the two have a master-apprentice relationship, but with ambiguous and complicated feelings.

Jian Ke plays “A-le,” who grew up with no parents, living by begging until she was picked up by her master, Gu Xing, at the age of seven. He taught her martial arts and turned her into a sharp, killing weapon.

One day, she received a message via carrier pigeon from her master, telling her to go to the extreme northern snowfield to assassinate a man named “Jin Chen.”

But the vast wilderness was covered in snow. After two or three months of heavy snowfall, the entire official road was buried. In the biting cold wind, A-le unexpectedly found a tavern.

Many travelers were forced to stop at the tavern. A-le wanted to find clues about “Jin Chen” but unexpectedly met the merchant’s boss, Miss You Er…

The actress playing Miss You Er, Lin Jing, was also a veteran actress who had been in the industry for many years. She had a beautiful and dignified face with a natural classical and elegant temperament.

At this moment, she was swinging her deep blue water sleeves, being instructed by a physical training teacher on her posture and walking style.

Although Miss You Er was a merchant, she came from a distinguished family. Even though her family had fallen on hard times, the etiquette ingrained in her bones made her walk with a light, graceful, and proper sway.

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