The Stand-in is Exceptionally Clingy [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 39

Chapter 39: The Film Empress and Her Little Assistant

◎”She’s my ideal type, you know.”◎

Jian Ke felt that the other person’s words were blatant mockery and immediately retorted, “Of course I know you well.”

That’s the female lead, how could I not know her?

Lou Bianxia shook her head helplessly. You can’t even recognize the person right in front of you. What kind of understanding is that?

—It seems this affection isn’t real, just a little game.

Lou Bianxia: “I will seriously consider the divorce, but not right now.”

Jian Ke was secretly delighted that the woman’s tone had suddenly changed, feeling that her method had worked.

“I’m glad you came to your senses. It’s not right to separate a loving couple.”

Lou Bianxia: …

With the conversation over, Lou Bianxia, who was struggling to maintain her expression, stood up and left without hesitation.

She didn’t waste any time, her footsteps so fast it seemed like a ghost was chasing her.

Jian Ke tilted her head. She’s really a decisive person.

…

To better understand the female lead’s schedule, Jian Ke followed Lou Bianxia’s social media accounts on various platforms and joined many fan forums and QQ groups.

However, Lou Bianxia’s whereabouts were always elusive. Besides posting daily work schedules and advertisements, her studio would not reveal a single detail of her personal itinerary.

But Jian Ke saw a mention in a fan group chat that Lou Bianxia was recently filming at a film studio in the neighboring city.

Some fans who lived nearby planned to go and wait outside the studio gates.

“Is anyone going to wait outside on the 6th? I’m free from 1 pm to 8 pm.”

“Me, me, me. Count me in.”

“Add one, add one. I’ll bring you milk tea.”

“Family, let’s create a small group chat for this. Don’t forget to add me!”

…

Jian Ke looked at the chain of people adding their names in the group chat and patted her half-healed legs, full of envy.

She could only comfort herself, telling herself that the filming period was long and Lou Bianxia would probably be there for the next few months, so she wouldn’t be able to run away.

She clicked on a link shared in the fan group, and her phone automatically jumped to a video-sharing site. Elegant, graceful background music started playing.

A fierce wind and snow swept through the screen, lifting three thousand strands of black hair. The woman in the video turned her head, her face cold and proud as frost, like a solitary white plum blossom standing gracefully on a snowy mountain peak.

Lou Bianxia was in ancient costume, wearing a white flowing dress with ethereal sleeves, completely unstained by dust.

Her skin was like porcelain and jade, her eyelashes were wet with tears like the morning dew, but her face showed neither joy nor sorrow.

She stood alone, aloof from the world, looking down at all living things, unmoved by anything.

And Jian Ke’s job was to seduce this immortal-like person, to pull her down into the mundane world of desires, to taint her with burning passion.

—That’s too difficult.

She stretched out her finger and traced the woman’s face on the screen, lost in thought.

Lou Bianxia walked into the room just then.

The girl on the bed was staring blankly at a tablet. Her soft, thick hair was draped over her chest, half her face was tucked under the blanket, and her cheeks held the faint blush of an afternoon nap. She looked soft and lazy.

The background music seemed to be an edited clip of her film scenes, which had probably been on a loop for a while.

Like raindrops tapping on the eaves, Lou Bianxia’s heart fluttered for a moment, then quickly calmed down.

How long could a child’s infatuation last?

It’s a temporary impulse, a novelty. As time goes on, it will slowly fade away.

She walked to the window and opened the curtains.

In an instant, the warm sunlight streamed in, casting slanted rectangles on the floor.

The dazzling light made Jian Ke instinctively close her eyes, and then she heard the woman’s clear, cold voice.

“I promised Aunt Jian I’d help with your rehabilitation today.”

The rehabilitation process was long and tedious. Jian Ke’s physical therapist had designed a comprehensive training plan for her legs, arms, and back.

The movements weren’t too intense, but after a few sets, she was exhausted.

Her pale cheeks were flushed, and Jian Ke raised her hand to wipe the light sweat from her forehead.

“Don’t stop. Keep going.”

“Rest… Can I rest for five minutes?” Jian Ke’s rosy lips exhaled hot air. She felt her legs trembling, and her vision was blurry.

She glanced at Lou Bianxia, who was standing beside her. She was wearing the same fully-covered outfit as that day, which made Jian Ke’s face darken with frustration.

Lou Bianxia looked at her watch and said slowly, “You’re the one who asked me to increase the intensity. If you slack off now, you’ll have to make it up later. Are you sure you want to stop?”

Jian Ke gritted her teeth and obediently continued to lift her arms.

But after only a few minutes, her weak body swayed and began to fall forward—

It was like stepping into a flower garden bathed in warm spring light, and being embraced by the sweet, soft scent of flowers.

Jian Ke’s eyelashes trembled, and when she looked up, she saw a pair of deep eyes close by. She was held loosely at the waist, their two bodies touching.

Not only their body heat, but even the shortness of their breaths could be felt and exchanged.

The woman seemed to have changed her perfume today, but the faint, cold fragrance in the rich floral scent was still there, teasing her heartstrings.

The overwhelming presence of her breath made Lou Bianxia’s spine tingle. She frowned and turned her face away, avoiding eye contact with Jian Ke.

To Jian Ke, this reaction seemed like avoidance and displeasure.

Is it because we’re too close?

Jian Ke, as if by some impulse, looked at the woman’s mask. Something about her suddenly popped into Jian Ke’s mind.

The eldest daughter of the Guan family lives a reclusive life, never attending social gatherings, and has never appeared in public.

There were all kinds of rumors. Some said she was too frail to go out, and others said she had become depressed and insane and was sent to a hospital.

But there was no conclusion.

Guan Xia’s parents had passed away, and the position of family head had been handed over to her uncle long ago. Her uncle and his wife didn’t care about her.

In short, her existence was very transparent, seeming dispensable.

—Before meeting Guan Xia herself, Jian Ke had thought the same.

But now, a sense of discord was tugging at her. A voice sounded in her chest.

Beneath her aloof exterior was an undeniable sharpness and brilliance. Mystery and the unknown swirled in those frosty black eyes.

The woman was definitely not as simple as everyone thought.

The real face behind the mask was probably just the tip of the iceberg.

Curiosity piqued, Jian Ke admitted that she was captivated. Her fingers reached for the edge of the mask.

But in the next second, her body lost its balance and staggered because of Lou Bianxia’s sudden retreat.

A tangible cold glare fell upon her, and Jian Ke looked on in a daze.

The woman’s expression was calm, but the depths of her eyes were filled with the hazy clouds that linger after a rain in the mountains, like gauze or smoke, completely concealing any emotions.

Jian Ke shrugged, aiming to make the first move.

“I just want to see what my spouse looks like. That’s not asking too much, is it?”

“It is.”

“Jiejie, we’re on the same side now. You won’t even show me your face. Isn’t that… a little stingy?”

Lou Bianxia looked at the girl pouting in dissatisfaction, her fluttering eyes filled with disappointment. The frustration in Lou Bianxia’s chest was instantly dispelled.

Feeling the gaze pressing in on her, Lou Bianxia pinched the bridge of her nose. The spot on her neck that had been brushed by a soft touch was still warm.

“Since we are… going to get a divorce, there’s probably no need to get to know each other.”

Jian Ke’s eyes narrowed slightly. As the woman’s expression became more and more impatient and evasive, she spoke. “There really isn’t a need.”

“I was just curious. You don’t have to be so nervous, do you?”

Meeting the girl’s cunning smile, Lou Bianxia felt that dealing with this “child” was becoming more and more difficult.

“Let’s end the training here.”

Lou Bianxia cleared her throat, her tone serious. “Three months. I need three months. We’ll get a divorce then.”

Jian Ke looked at the woman’s retreating back, which seemed to carry a hint of running away.

The woman had a very good figure. Her soft waist was like a piece of silk, and her elegant, graceful walk was captivating.

Her beautiful posture always made people stop and admire.

Her back became more and more distant, and her unique cold scent dissipated in the air, mixed with a mutual and unspoken ambiguity.

A goose flew by without leaving a trace, like a fleeting glimpse of a swan, and the ripples it caused also disappeared silently.

Jian Ke felt a little regretful. “521, she’s my ideal type, you know.”

System 521: No, snap out of it!

…

Jian Ke’s physical rehabilitation continued for another three weeks before she was officially discharged. During this time, Guan Xia never came again, not even on the day the Jian family celebrated Jian Ke’s discharge.

As long as she agrees to the divorce, three months isn’t too long to wait.

This was good news for Jian Ke, but she also had bad news.

—Lou Bianxia had already hired a personal assistant.

This didn’t surprise Jian Ke too much. After all, a month had passed since the job was posted, so someone was bound to have been hired.

The only way she could get in now was to show up in front of Lou Bianxia.

Jian Ke packed her bags and went to the film studio in Luzhu. But once she got there and saw the many fans waiting outside the gates, she realized her idea of just walking in to visit was naive.

Entry to the film studio was very strict. On days when no crews were filming, tourists could buy tickets to enter. But once a crew started filming, it was closed to the public, and people could only wait outside the perimeter.

To see Lou Bianxia, she couldn’t even get past this first hurdle.

Moreover, actors used several other special entrances and exits. If she didn’t know beforehand, even if she waited all day, she might not run into her after work.

Jian Ke sipped her milk tea, walking back and forth around the film studio in frustration.

After walking about halfway around, she suddenly saw more than a dozen girls lined up at the eastern entrance, walking inside.

The security guard at the gate didn’t stop them. After they signed in, he let them through.

Jian Ke was unsure why, but she thought she couldn’t miss the opportunity and hurried to the end of the line.

The person in charge of the line was a woman with a blue tag around her neck. She looked at Jian Ke with a questioning expression. “Are you here to audition to be an extra, too?”

Jian Ke: “An extra?”

As long as she could get in, she wouldn’t mind auditioning to be a prop rock.

“Uh… yes, is that okay?”

The woman didn’t mind Jian Ke’s sudden appearance. Her eyes lit up as she looked her up and down, a smile on her face.

She slipped a note into Jian Ke’s hand. “Go to District 4 and find Director Jiang. Give her the note and say that Chen Lei recommended you.”

District 4? Wasn’t that where Lou Bianxia’s crew was filming?

—This is a stroke of luck.

Jian Ke stepped into District 4. The area was a perfect replica of the Republican era, from the large buildings and street arches to the small street stalls and shop decorations. It was like stepping into an old photograph.

She walked to the soundstage where they were filming, looking left and right, but she didn’t see Lou Bianxia.

Moreover, there were very few people on set. It didn’t look like they were officially working.

The director took the note and then had Jian Ke turn in a circle on the spot. Then, she patted Jian Ke’s shoulder with great satisfaction.

“Your look and temperament are great. Go and change your clothes quickly.”

Jian Ke was stunned. “I’m… filming right away?”

The director thought she was nervous. “Don’t worry. No lines, no action. Just lie there.”

“Your look is a bonus. And since it’s an underwater scene, I’ll give you 300 yuan an hour. That’s almost as much as a lead actor. Hurry up and change. We don’t have much time left to film.”

Jian Ke suddenly realized something was wrong. Before she could ask for details, a production assistant girl next to her grabbed her and pulled her toward the dressing room.

When she put on the clothes, Jian Ke realized that she was…

…a mermaid.

Jian Ke asked in confusion, “A mermaid? Aren’t you… a Republican-era drama?”

The production assistant girl said while putting makeup on Jian Ke, “Yes, can’t there be a mermaid in the Republican era?”

Jian Ke: “…But I didn’t hear that this was a fantasy drama.”

What does a mermaid have to do with the family feud of a porcelain dynasty?

The production assistant girl pondered for a moment. “It’s not that much of a fantasy. The mermaid is just a delusion the male lead has. It’s just a symbol…”

From the other person’s incessant chatter, Jian Ke realized she was really on the wrong set.

The name of this drama was Mermaid’s Tears: A Republican-Era Tragic Romance.

“Little sister, your skin is so good. You don’t even need much makeup to look pretty enough,” the makeup artist said as she closed her bag, in awe.

Jian Ke’s smile was forced. Whatever. I’ll find Lou Bianxia after I finish filming this.

Jian Ke was wearing a half-body smokey purple fishtail skirt. The fabric was light and thin, almost transparent like gauze. It was adorned with sparkling fragments shaped like scales that shimmered under the light.

The skirt outlined her beautiful curves, and it was cinched all the way down to her ankles. The opening was particularly narrow, only revealing Jian Ke’s toned and beautiful feet.

She walked carefully in her sandals, taking small, cautious steps. The skirt was too thin, and she was afraid of tearing it. The fishtail part trailed behind her.

Her thick, black hair fell over her chest, and a matching smokey-purple bandeau top wrapped around her soft chest. Her waist and stomach were as slender as a willow.

The beautiful sight of her stunned all the staff on set.

Where did they find this extra? She’s so much prettier than the lead actor. She could walk the red carpet in this fishtail skirt.

It was mid-June, after the cold had passed, and the temperature was rising. Even in the water, it didn’t feel too cold.

The stone boat on the waterfront stage was shaped like a small boat, with a fusion of Chinese and Western-style stained glass windows, exquisitely carved and elegant.

Jian Ke zipped up the bottom of her skirt, letting her legs, still dragging the skirt, sink into the water. She leaned on the front of the stone boat, her eyes full of emotion as she looked at the camera.

Her body formed a beautiful curve, and the cool water seeped through the light gauze, making it look even more hazy and translucent.

Although she hadn’t made any overly dramatic movements, the enchanting look in her eyes perfectly portrayed the seductive, fantastical creature the male lead was hallucinating.

Then, Jian Ke slowly straightened her upper body and sat on the edge of the stone platform, her eyes looking out at the sky. Her lonely and longing expression was filled with peaceful sorrow.

The camera zoomed in on her profile. In a moment, a sparkling teardrop slowly rolled down the mermaid’s cheek. It was a tear of longing for the distant sea and the pain of being trapped.

The scene was beautiful, but something seemed to be missing. The director held his chin and thought for a while, then called the remaining staff over and told them to quickly go to the other film crews to borrow a dry ice machine.

How could a magical mermaid be without the soft, misty fog?

Everyone ran out, and Jian Ke, too lazy to drag a fishtail onto the shore, stayed on the stone boat, basking in the sun with her eyes half-closed.

The afternoon sun was even more scorching. Her lower legs were submerged in the cool lake water, which felt like the fun of rolling up your pants and wading in a pond on a summer day.

Jian Ke didn’t know how long she had been dozing in the warm breeze when she suddenly heard a sound on the pier.

Jian Ke thought Director Jiang was back. She opened her eyes and looked up, only to see a group of completely unfamiliar staff members.

What’s going on? Is another crew coming to film here?!

What am I supposed to do?!

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