Transmigrated as the CEO's Top-Tier Stand-in - Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Meng Rendong stopped speaking after that, merely continuing to pour alcohol down her throat until she was completely drunk and collapsed, unmoving. Wang Luoshui watched her with a headache.

Because she was wearing high heels today, attempting to carry the unconscious Meng Rendong back by herself would not be simple for her.

Wang Luoshui had no choice but to take out her phone and contact Xue Lian.

But before she could dial, a call came in first.

The name “Axi” pulsed repeatedly on the screen.

Wang Luoshui immediately answered. Before she could speak, a cheerful female voice came through: “Luoshui! I just scheduled a celebration with Nanxing and her friend for her selection into Chasing Dreams 100. You should come too!”

Hearing this, Wang Luoshui immediately recalled the video submission Chu Nanxing had sent. A slight smile curved her lips, and she asked Yan Xi: “Aren’t you working today? How about we move it to the evening?”

Although she knew “Xiaoxi Entertainment” was just a casual, hobbyist company given to Yan Xi by the Yan family, and Yan Xi usually delegated matters to the board of directors (and had older siblings to fall back on anyway, so she would never go hungry), Wang Luoshui was accustomed to worrying about her friends this was true for Meng Rendong, and even more so for Yan Xi.

“Oh, work or not, you know me! Stop the nonsense, are you coming or not, Director Wang? I still remember you ditching me halfway through last time.”

Listening to her friend grumble about old scores and deliberately calling her “Director Wang,” Wang Luoshui knew it would be difficult to reject the invitation without giving an explanation. She glanced at Meng Rendong, still slumped on the bar, and spoke gently into the phone:

“My mistake last time, I shouldn’t have left. But I truly can’t come now.”

“Rendong is drunk. I can’t manage to get her back by myself. I was just about to call her assistant.”

Yan Xi initially paid little attention, but halfway through, she immediately sat up straight.

Chu Nanxing was near the refrigerator fetching drinks. She was passing by with three cans of coke when she saw Yan Xi on what seemed like an important call, so she merely placed the cokes nearby.

Unexpectedly, the next moment, Yan Xi moved the phone away, switched it to speakerphone, gave Chu Nanxing frantic eye signals, and made an exaggerated, astonished face at the phone, asking loudly:

“What did you say?”

“Rendong is drunk? Wow, that’s news. Isn’t that girl always super disciplined, never touching smoke or alcohol? She gets drunk? Tell me what upset her so I can have a laugh?”

“Axi!” An disapproving reminder came from the phone.

Yan Xi softly hmphed. She saw that Chu Nanxing was indeed standing nearby, staring at her phone. Although there was no verbal communication between the two, Yan Xi knew exactly what Chu Nanxing was thinking. She put the phone down on the table where Chu Nanxing had placed the cokes, grabbed a can of coke, pulled the ring tab, and with that “clack” sound, said casually:

“Fine, I’m the bigger person. I forgive you for last time—”

“Where are you now? I’ll come lend a hand.”

It didn’t matter if Luoshui was tight-lipped. What was really going on? She would go and see for herself, wouldn’t she?

Yan Xi thought she was brilliant.

But the voice on the other end of the line was suddenly hesitant.

Yan Xi took a sip of coke, pursed her lips, and asked playfully: “What? You don’t actually think I’d ditch her in a ditch the moment I leave, do you?”

Wang Luoshui’s helpless voice came through: “How could I… I just…”

The female voice paused, then changed tack: “It’s not that big of a hassle. Just come by yourself. But don’t tell everyone about this. Rendong is sensitive about her image, so don’t make things difficult for her right now.”

Yan Xi pouted, replying dismissively: “I know, I know!”

However, the moment she hung up and saw the location Wang Luoshui sent, Yan Xi raised her eyebrows at Chu Nanxing beside her, her face beaming with explicit invitation: “Shall we go?”

Chu Nanxing, having listened to the phone call, already had a plan in mind. She only showed a slight hesitation on her face:

“Didn’t Luoshui ask you not to bring anyone?”

“I… I shouldn’t go.”

Seeing her reluctance, Yan Xi couldn’t help but slap her shoulder, feigning anger: “Chu Nanxing! If you don’t get your act together, I really won’t help you anymore!”

“You’re usually so smart, how do you turn into an idiot whenever it concerns Rendong? Think about it: that messy family business of hers has been going on for years; nothing there could make her this sad. The only thing left is a relationship. I bet this whole thing today is because that little lover of hers caused some drama. You can’t stop someone determined to self-destruct. If you don’t seize this chance to wake her up, when do you plan to wait?”

“I’m telling you, if you don’t go today, don’t look for me for anything between you and Rendong afterward. I can’t stand listening to your passive attitude!”

This combination of coaxing and threats immediately changed Chu Nanxing’s demeanor. She ignored the shoulder Yan Xi had slapped red, adopting a flattering and obedient appearance, and proactively took Yan Xi’s hand and swayed it:

“I got it.”

“I’ll go, alright? Axi is the most considerate person to me. I wouldn’t let anyone down, especially not you, right?”

More than half an hour later.

Wang Luoshui, standing in the bar lobby, saw Yan Xi approaching through the crowd. She was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when her eyes landed on Chu Nanxing, who emerged from behind her.

So, the breath she hadn’t released got stuck, neither fully in nor out.

Yan Xi walked closer with a natural demeanor. When she reached Meng Rendong, she waved her hand in the air: “Wow, how much did she drink? I can smell it from far away.”

She then picked up the empty glasses, sniffed them, and her face immediately showed exaggerated astonishment: “…Long Island Iced Tea. Tsk, tsk, tsk. With her alcohol tolerance, shouldn’t we just send her straight to the hospital?”

Chu Nanxing followed her to Meng Rendong’s side. She saw that Meng Rendong’s usually expressionless ice face was flushed red. Her delicate features, which usually looked too cold due to her temperament, now held a rare, unrestrained indulgence, as if she had given in after a long period of abstinence. It was uniquely tempting.

She couldn’t help but lift her hand.

Mid-motion, Wang Luoshui gave her a seemingly casual smile: “Nanxing, why did you come too?”

Chu Nanxing’s movement paused. She looked up, habitually putting on a smile, but Yan Xi answered for her first: “We happened to be together. She heard the news and was a little worried, so I just brought her along. Anyway, she knows Rendong’s temperament. What, are you afraid she’ll tell anyone?”

Wang Luoshui: “…”

Is that what I meant?

She had tried her best to avoid this situation, but it had still ended up this way. Honestly, Wang Luoshui intensely disliked getting involved in her friends’ emotional affairs, as it often made her look bad to everyone. She had already warned Yan Xi last time, but Yan Xi completely disregarded her words and was determined to side with Chu Nanxing.

Now Meng Rendong was drunk and unaware of what was happening. But when she woke up, what if she thought Wang Luoshui and Yan Xi were deliberately trying to push her and Chu Nanxing together?

Wang Luoshui felt overwhelmed.

Yan Xi seemed completely unaware of the awkward situation she had created. Glancing again at Meng Rendong’s heavily intoxicated state, she urged: “Let’s go, let’s go. I’ll drive. You two support her.”

Fenming Residential Area.

Unit 2, Sixteenth Floor.

“Beep, beep.”

The door automatically opened after the code was entered. Yan Xi pushed the door open. Wang Luoshui and Chu Nanxing barely had time to kick off their heels before rushing to help Meng Rendong into the bedroom. Afterward, Wang Luoshui came out and headed towards the kitchen, intending to see if she could brew some tea to help Meng Rendong sober up.

Yan Xi stood in the living room, glanced towards the bedroom, and then walked to the kitchen, hooking her arm around Wang Luoshui’s neck:

“Shall we go?”

“Nanxing definitely won’t be at ease leaving Rendong like this. One to care for the other is perfect. Don’t interfere here. I just checked; there’s a good Vietnamese restaurant nearby. Hurry up, treat me to dinner. I’m starving.”

Wang Luoshui paused the movement of reaching for the high shelf, feeling the heat of Yan Xi’s breath on the back of her neck. She lowered her eyes and asked in a quiet voice:

“Did you plan all this from the moment you answered my call?”

Yan Xi pretended not to understand her words. She smiled broadly, leaning her weight against Wang Luoshui from behind, and her tone lifted: “What? What could I plan? Look at you, you’re so smart. How could I possibly scheme against you?”

Wang Luoshui put the tea caddy back into the cabinet, pushed the person behind her away, and then walked towards the door without a word.

While Yan Xi was momentarily confused, Wang Luoshui had already returned to her normal self, looking back at her: “Didn’t you say you wanted Vietnamese food?”

Yan Xi relaxed, smiled widely, and followed her, reaching out to grab her hand again, complaining: “You’re so unpredictable… You haven’t been infected by spending too much time with Rendong, have you?”

Long after the sound of the door closing had faded.

Chu Nanxing, sitting by the bed, let out a deep breath. Her usual smiling facade vanished. The bossiness and extravagance were nowhere to be seen. She simply stared expressionlessly at Meng Rendong on the bed, and then, silently, like a cold snake stalking its prey, she slowly leaned closer to the other’s face.

Meng Rendong’s senses were muddled, completely unaware of her current situation. She vaguely felt someone approaching and reached out to grab…

Chu Nanxing’s hand was suddenly pressed against the back of her neck. Her approaching movement stopped, her breath falling less than an inch from Meng Rendong’s thin lips.

Her breathing grew heavier.

Staring at those pale lips, she was mesmerized, not blinking, until she saw the other person’s lips move, uttering a very cold question: “What are you doing here?”

Chu Nanxing froze completely.

She reflexively tried to pull back, but the force covering her neck didn’t relent. Instead, it pressed her back towards her original position. In the heavy scent of alcohol, Chu Nanxing saw Meng Rendong frown, her voice coming out low:

“Didn’t you say you never wanted to see me again?”

Meng Rendong couldn’t help but want to see the person in front of her more clearly.

She half-opened her eyes, her words still carrying a petulant air. She intended to bring up old grievances with Ji Yu, to repeat the hurtful words she had said earlier. But just then, she smelled a very sweet scent.

Like a milk-flavored perfume.

But Ji Yu never wore perfume.

Meng Rendong’s grip loosened. Her dark eyes gradually focused, and she finally recognized the blurry figure in front of her.

Chu Nanxing.

Both were daughters of the Chu parents, yet she didn’t resemble Chu Jianyu much. Chu Jianyu was like a copy of their mother, with a pair of beautiful almond eyes that could easily charm both men and women. Chu Nanxing’s features, however, were more like her father’s, with his gentle eyes and a pair of shallow dimples when she smiled.

Before, when she and Chu Jianyu stood together, people could still see their sisterly resemblance. But now, when Meng Rendong looked at her, she could barely find any trace of Chu Jianyu’s likeness.

Realizing she had drifted off, she instantly withdrew her hand, rubbed her temples, moved away slightly, and said in a low voice: “I’m sorry, Nanxing, I thought…”

Chu Nanxing lowered her head, feigning disappointment, and quietly asked: “Did Ji Yu break up with you?”

Meng Rendong’s face tightened, her jaw clenched. She looked away, neither confirming nor denying, and simply closed her eyes again, “Nanxing, I want to be alone for a bit.”

This was a clear dismissal.

Chu Nanxing’s fingers, hanging at her sides, instantly clenched. The emotions in her eyes shifted repeatedly. Finally, she adopted her usual guise and casually spoke, as if accidentally leveling an accusation:

“Rendong.”

“When Sister was here, she was the one you loved most. But how long has Sister been gone? You’ve already fallen for someone else.”

These words were like a whip, lashing mercilessly across Meng Rendong’s face, shattering the confusion and disappointment in her heart, and clearly telling her: Meng Rendong, your feelings are really cheap.

Her throat moved repeatedly. Her dark eyes were deep, letting no light through, focused only on Chu Nanxing by the bed. Only her erratic breathing revealed her distress.

Facing her gaze, Chu Nanxing wanted to retreat but forced herself to stop. She even deliberately moved closer to Meng Rendong, raising her hand, intending to touch Meng Rendong’s cheek:

“I don’t mean to blame you, Rendong.”

“I just want to say…”

“Since Sister was allowed, and that person named Ji Yu was allowed, why can’t I be?”

Meng Rendong abruptly slapped her hand away, forcefully suppressing the tumultuous thoughts in her mind. She tried to speak to Chu Nanxing as she normally would:

“Nanxing, you are Jianyu’s sister. I also see you as a sister. Don’t ever say things like that again—”

Chu Nanxing suddenly leaned forward, placing her hand on the side of the bed. Her hand moved without anyone noticing. She stared intently into Meng Rendong’s eyes, saying every word distinctly:

“Who wants to be your sister?”

“Meng Rendong, what I want is your love…”

Her voice grew quieter and quieter, as if years of suppressed emotion were bottled up, ready to explode. Meng Rendong stared at her, her brows furrowed, just about to speak, when the bedroom door suddenly slammed shut on its own, without a breeze.

“Dong!”

Ji Yu was startled. She looked back and saw that the weighted tumbler toy she had bought for the Corgi had been forcefully pushed onto the tile floor by the dog, making a crisp clatter.

She lifted her loose T-shirt and casually wiped the sweat about to drip from her chin, revealing the sexy lines of her abs. Then, she glanced at the time, unenthusiastically reached for her phone, stopped the music, and clapped her hands, saying to the Corgi:

“Shall we go for some afternoon tea?”

The Corgi’s eyes lit up. It was about to recite the menu, but suddenly checked the time and thought it was wrong: “What time is it? Yuyu, aren’t you going to keep dancing?”

Ji Yu looked at the large, full-length mirror she had moved in front of her. Even though the mirror was quite spacious compared to ones found in ordinary homes, it still looked shabby compared to a dance studio’s walls of mirrors on all sides.

It was fine to use the mirror just to practice expressions and angles for the camera while dancing, but it was too difficult to see all the different angles of her movements.

She shook her head: “That’s enough for today.”

The Corgi looked at the mirror too, somehow understanding her meaning. It trotted over, circled her feet, and then turned back to fetch the fake rose flower inserted into the tumbler toy, bringing it over and placing it in front of Ji Yu. It said:

“Good. Yuyu needs to keep being happy today too!”

Ji Yu smiled, picked up the flower, placed it on the nearby table, nodded, and took the Corgi out to find food.

Before walking out the door, the Corgi took advantage of the privacy to speak a few more human words: “Yuyu, will you take me with you when you go on the show in a few days?”

It was originally bound to Ji Yu. It could appear in its physical form or stay within Ji Yu’s consciousness.

However, Ji Yu had been suffering from insomnia earlier, and her mental state was poor, so the system had existed in its physical form in this world. But now Ji Yu was much better than at the start, and with hundreds of cards guaranteeing sleep quality, the system still wanted to go with her to prevent any mishaps during the final stretch of the show.

Ji Yu thought for a moment, and a faint smile bloomed in her eyes: “Sure.”

Looking down at her feet, she asked: “Are you reluctant to part with me?”

The Corgi pawed at the mat by the door, muttering softly: “Only a little bit…”

Ji Yu didn’t hear clearly: “Hmm?”

The Corgi bumped her with its rear end and said loudly: “Mainly, I’m afraid you’ll be bullied!”

Ji Yu danced so well yet was so resistant to entering the entertainment industry, indicating she must have some trauma. Although the Corgi didn’t pry into her story, it still hoped that no matter what choices she made in this world, she would ultimately be safe and happy.

Thinking this, it proudly puffed out its chest, making the dog tag on its chest gleam, as if it didn’t read “Corgi” but “Ji Yu’s #1 Fan Club President.”

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