The Stand-in is Exceptionally Clingy [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 37

Chapter 37: The Film Empress and Her Little Assistant

◎Too close.◎

What could be more miraculous than a person, who was a vegetable for seven years and had been pronounced terminal, suddenly waking up?

This: a vegetable waking up to find she has a spouse.

The three women looked at each other, but none of them spoke.

Jian Ke was a little incredulous. “Is it what I think… a marriage for good luck? When did this happen?”

During Jian Ke’s coma, the Jian family had exhausted every possible treatment, both at home and abroad, but all had been unsuccessful. The medical experts’ unanimous answer was that the hope of her waking up was minimal.

When science failed, they could only turn to metaphysics.

Third Aunt, Jian Qiao, found a well-known Taoist priest. After explaining the situation, the priest suggested a “marriage for good luck” and even provided a matching birth chart.

At first, they were skeptical, but they decided to treat a dead horse as if it were a living one. After the marriage was completed, Jian Ke’s health miraculously stabilized.

This left them with no choice but to believe.

Jian Ke’s brows were tightly furrowed. “Then… was the other person a volunteer?”

Jian Ke’s mother patted her hand, speaking vaguely. “Of course she was a volunteer. Your mother wouldn’t force anyone to do something like that. She was willing to help because the Jian family had shown kindness to her.”

Through her mother’s description, Jian Ke’s mind automatically formed an image of a pitiful little person who had lost her father at a young age, whose mother was gravely ill, and who was bullied by terrible relatives and had all her family’s property taken away.

The other person had not had it easy, with such a tragic background. And now, she had to marry a complete stranger with no emotional connection, all to repay a kindness.

Jian Ke felt that the only reason the other person would agree to something as ridiculous as a “marriage for good luck” was for the sake of gratitude.

“Since it’s about repaying a kindness, it’s probably enough now,” Jian Ke said, pursing her lips. “Since I’m awake now, can we…?”

“No!” Before Jian Ke could finish, three loud, synchronized voices rang out in the room.

Third Aunt: “The Taoist priest said that the marriage for good luck had to last for exactly three years. It’s only been two and a half years. There’s still half a year left.”

Jian Ke’s mother started to cry again. “If we mess up the timing, and something bad happens to you, your mother wouldn’t be able to live with herself.”

Jian Ke: …But this is just superstition. How could it be real?

But seeing their exceptionally firm attitude, Jian Ke silently swallowed the words she was about to say.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Her primary goal now was to recover as soon as possible.

A few days after waking up, Jian Ke was transferred to a regular ward. Besides the daily IV drip, the most important thing was physical rehabilitation.

In the hallway, Jian Ke held onto two mobile walkers with her arms, shuffling forward like a tortoise.

Every step forward felt as heavy as a thousand pounds. Walking back and forth just three meters was enough to leave her gasping for breath.

But this was already much better than when she couldn’t move at all.

She used the back of her hand to wipe the sweat from her forehead and complained to the system in her mind, “Can’t the speed of this physical recovery be a little faster? At this rate, it’ll take another two weeks to fully recover.”

System 521: “My dear, this is already the fastest recovery speed. Please work hard for the mission. I’ll cheer you on!”

Jian Ke’s mouth twitched. “Can you change your way of speaking? I’m really not used to it.”

System: “I’m afraid not, my dear.”

Speaking of the mission, the first phase had already been triggered on the day Jian Ke woke up.

—”Become the female lead’s personal assistant.”

But she was a freshly-awakened vegetable who could barely walk. All she could do was work hard on her daily rehabilitation.

Jian Ke rested her arms on the walkers and took a moment to catch her breath.

The female lead of this world was the Film Empress, Lou Bianxia, the National Goddess, a top female star. Her very first film role, she stunned all audiences with a single glance back, gaining considerable fame.

After that, her career became even smoother. She was a top-tier Grand Slam actress, the Queen of the Box Office, a master of acting… various titles were bestowed upon her, and she shone brilliantly.

She was also a famously “unapproachable flower” in the industry, possessing a unique, cold, and elegant aura.

She was dedicated, focused, didn’t date, and didn’t marry. Her almost perfect public image had never been tarnished over the years.

But having read the plot, Jian Ke knew that Lou Bianxia had a “white moonlight” buried deep in her heart.

—Shu Yu, who had co-starred with her in her debut film.

They fell in love while filming and dated for a while, but then suddenly broke up.

Although the time was short, the relationship was profoundly unforgettable for Lou Bianxia.

So much so that for many years, she couldn’t forget her, and she even sought out an assistant who resembled Shu Yu.

She didn’t do anything with the assistant, she just had them around to look at.

Jian Ke’s job was to be this stand-in, this lucky charm, to stay by Lou Bianxia’s side as her assistant.

Coincidentally, Lou Bianxia was looking to hire a personal assistant recently. The job posting was a pinned post on her studio’s official Weibo account.

But the post had been up for a week, and Jian Ke was worried that if she kept delaying, she would miss this golden opportunity.

Her anxiety made her already unstable steps even more wobbly.

Jian Ke tried to lift her leg, but her arm slipped from the walker, and her entire body suddenly lost its balance.

The walker hit the ground with a loud bang, and she stiffened and fell forward onto the floor with a solid thud.

Although her physical reactions were so slow and numb, the pain was very real.

The clean, tiled floor reflected her pathetic figure.

The tears caused by the pain made Jian Ke’s eyes misty.

She tried to support herself with her hands to stand up, her cherry-like lips tightly clenched by her teeth. A corner of her oversized hospital gown was lifted from her waist, revealing a slender, pale, and weak waist.

But just as she straightened her upper body, her waist gave out, and she began to fall again.

Jian Ke closed her eyes, waiting for the pain to come, but she was suddenly caught in a warm, soft embrace—

Someone had caught her in time.

What she saw was a pure black hoodie. Jian Ke’s chin landed on the person’s shoulder. She was almost completely wrapped up in the woman’s arms.

It was too close.

So close that she could clearly smell the woman’s faint perfume, which was cold and slightly sharp.

It was like the fragrance of plum blossoms in the cold twelfth lunar month, mixed with the sharp, howling wind.

Falling into her arms was like being caught in a silent snowy night.

Jian Ke loved this scent.

Following a cascade of long, curly hair, she looked up at the woman and was suddenly stunned.

A baseball cap and a mask covered most of the woman’s face. From Jian Ke’s angle, she could only clearly see the slender chin and a pair of deep, dark eyes.

They were as clear as black crystals, revealing a hint of mystery, like she had wandered into the depths of a dense forest.

Jian Ke straightened her upper body and said thank you. “I’m sorry. Could I trouble you to help me get the walker again?”

The woman was half-crouching in front of Jian Ke. Hearing this, she turned her head to the side, seemed to pause and think for a moment, then silently turned her back.

“Get on. I’ll carry you back.”

The low, cold voice was as clear and pleasant as jade beads falling onto a plate, yet it was tinged with a sense of distance and indifference.

Jian Ke looked at the woman’s slightly stiff back and immediately said, “Thank you, but I can walk back myself.”

It was a gut feeling. Jian Ke felt that after the woman said she would carry her back, she became completely uncomfortable.

“You really don’t have to trouble yourself. I can…”

“Sometimes, pushing yourself too hard is the real trouble.” The woman turned to the side and raised her hand to press on Jian Ke’s upper arm and her slightly trembling calf.

The pressure wasn’t heavy, but it was enough to make Jian Ke gasp in pain, feeling it even more deeply than when she fell to the ground.

She hadn’t noticed while she was focused on walking, but now that she was being pressed, she felt a severe, all-over soreness.

Her delicate eyebrows furrowed, and a watery mist immediately welled up in her eyes.

The woman didn’t seem to expect Jian Ke’s reaction to be so sensitive. She was stunned and let go.

Reflected in her pupils was a girl whose expression was confused and innocent, making her feel a surge of tenderness.

“Get on. You probably don’t even have the strength to stand up right now.”

Jian Ke scratched her face, a little embarrassed, and obediently climbed onto the other’s back. “Thank you.”

That pleasant, cold scent became even clearer. Jian Ke looked down at the woman’s long, pale neck, her ears turning slightly red.

The woman’s back was thin but strong. Carrying Jian Ke, who was about the same height, did not seem to be a struggle.

Even through the loose, long-sleeved hoodie, Jian Ke could make out the elegant and beautiful curves of her body.

On the weekend, there were more people than usual in the hospital ward. As they walked along, the two of them received many stares.

Lou Bianxia subconsciously lowered her head, and her pace quickened.

At this moment, Jian Ke, on her back, asked curiously, “How did you know my muscles were sore? I didn’t even feel it myself.”

“Extreme focus can numb your dull senses. Also, your workout today probably exceeded what you should be doing.”

“Dr. Wang must have told you not to exercise for more than half an hour. You shouldn’t be so impatient if you don’t want Aunt Jian to worry.”

Jian Ke was stunned. “…You know me?”

Suddenly, a guess rose in her heart. “Don’t tell me you’re—”

“The person you were married to for good luck.”

The woman smoothly finished the sentence for her.

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