Transmigrated as the CEO's Top-Tier Stand-in - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

When Meng Rendong arrived at the airport, she saw the figure standing near the exit doors from a distance.

She was wearing a black baseball cap, a short shirt with very distinctive tailoring, and tight, ripped, grey-black jeans. A classic Gucci slender round bag was slung across her body. The lightly trendy style made her look extremely vibrant, causing passing travelers to frequently turn their heads, seemingly trying to figure out which big celebrity this bright face belonged to.

Some people even took out their phones.

The person who was the center of attention even smiled leisurely at the surrounding cameras, putting on a full show, until her gaze cut through the crowd and landed on the black sedan across the road, spotting Meng Rendong stepping out.

She immediately waved to the people around her, pulling the long handle of her suitcase and heading across. Before she even reached Meng Rendong, a brilliant smile had already appeared on her face, and she said triumphantly in an utterly certain tone, “I knew you would come.”

Meng Rendong lowered her eyes coolly, “Get in the car.”

The driver, Uncle Zhang, diligently came over to help the other person put the suitcase in the trunk. His demeanor was the same respectful one he showed Meng Rendong. After all, all the long-time employees of Huangting knew that although CEO Meng appeared cold toward this young Miss, she was actually extremely protective and indulged her every whim.

Four years ago, this young Miss Chu insisted on studying abroad. The Chu family disagreed, as Chu Nanxing had done many immature things to chase celebrities during that time, and her destination country was H-Country, a leading star-making nation. Everyone with an eye knew what Chu Nanxing was planning.

Yet, it was Meng Rendong who personally visited the Chu family, and it was she who drove her to the airport. Uncle Zhang still remembered the searing heat of the tarmac that summer.

Chu Nanxing happily slid into the back seat. Once Meng Rendong sat down beside her, she smiled and said, “How about I crash at your place tonight? I even brought presents for Uncle and Auntie.”

Meng Rendong glanced sideways at her and simply called her out: “Nonsense.”

Chu Nanxing wasn’t phased by her attitude at all. She even intentionally scooted closer to her, seemingly about to lean on Meng Rendong: “I’m serious. I haven’t told my parents I’m back yet. You’re the first to know. So, surprise?”

Meng Rendong had intended to close her eyes for a rest, but the scent of the perfume near her made her frown slightly, and her eyes chilled a little:

“Chu Nanxing, if you don’t want to sit here, move to the front.”

Chu Nanxing froze, rubbed her nose awkwardly, retreated a little, and then teased, “Why so fierce? I can’t even touch you? Do you have a girlfriend now? Is she strict?”

As she spoke, she looked at the front seat and chuckled: “Uncle Zhang, does Rendong have someone special these days?”

The atmosphere in the car instantly solidified.

Uncle Zhang quietly looked at Meng Rendong’s expression in the back seat, unsure how to answer the question.

“Chu Nanxing.”

“That’s Chu Nanxing! She’s back in the country!”

In the warm light of the living room, Ji Yu was sitting on the sofa, still clutching her stomach, looking drowsy. However, a noisy fellow insisted on propping up his upper body, paws gripping the edge of the sofa, passionately interrupting her sleepiness.

Her head kept nodding. To eliminate the source of the noise, she had to muster some energy and stated in a flat tone, “Yes, Chu Nanxing. The female protagonist of the GL novel The Stand-in’s Love. The biological younger sister of Meng Rendong’s deceased sweetheart. She later debuted as the most popular girl group member in the entertainment industry through singing and dancing a winner in life. I know. Good boy, stop being noisy. I finally wanted to sleep.”

Hearing her say this, the Corgi immediately shut its dog mouth.

Ji Yu’s sleep quality had always been very poor. Initially, it didn’t notice, but after arriving in this world, it saw her tirelessly staying in the dance studio day after day, even sleeping there, as if day and night didn’t matter.

It finally couldn’t help but ask, but Ji Yu only smiled at it with a distressed look: “I want to sleep in a bed too, but I can’t.”

In the first six months, the Corgi witnessed the dreadful extent of her insomnia. Generally speaking, only a few things could make Ji Yu sleep well: medicine and exhaustion.

Whether it was dancing until physical exhaustion or being drained of energy in bed.

Sometimes seeing Ji Yu like this, the Corgi couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened to her if it hadn’t chosen her to be the supporting female character in this world four years ago.

At that time, the world it was supervising was facing potential collapse due to the loss of a key figure necessary for the female protagonist’s growth. So, it had to desperately look for a suitable person to replace the supporting character in other worlds. Then, amidst countless similar appearances, it saw Ji Yu standing on the rooftop of a tall building.

It should have hesitated, but in the next second, it inexplicably pressed the “Select” button. Without even getting her consent, it directly transported her to this other world.

It didn’t know why, but it always felt that slowing down might lead to something bad happening.

Later, it fearfully apologized to Ji Yu in her mind and explained its purpose. Ji Yu initially showed no reaction to its words, but when she saw Meng Rendong, she was stunned for a long time.

Then she asked the system, “How… how do I become the supporting female character?”

It said, “Just antagonize the female protagonist, Chu Nanxing. Disdain her in her career, or provoke her emotionally. For example, you can get close to her future love interest, Meng Rendong, or—”

Before it could finish, the system watched in stunned silence as Ji Yu obediently followed Meng Rendong into the hotel.

And she has stayed by her side until today.

In the car.

Meng Rendong’s expression was calm, as if the person being questioned wasn’t her. Yet, while outwardly composed, she couldn’t help but think of Ji Yu’s deeply affectionate eyes after Chu Nanxing’s question.

Like peach blossoms in April, brilliantly flourishing.

Then she thought of her impromptu departure tonight and wondered how long that clingy kid had been lonely and disappointed at home alone.

Receiving no response after a long time, Chu Nanxing looked at Uncle Zhang in the front seat, whose every fine line on his face screamed, “I don’t know if I should tell the answer,” and then looked at Meng Rendong, who was looking down and silent beside her. Subconsciously, she asked again:

“What, is there really someone?”

Meng Rendong was pulled back to attention by her voice and answered lightly, “Go home tonight and talk properly with your uncle and auntie. Stop messing around outside.”

Chu Nanxing originally wanted to press the issue she had avoided, but hearing the second half of Meng Rendong’s sentence, her face immediately fell: “What do you mean ‘messing around’?”

“I started learning to dance when I was little. Although I neglected it for a while, I picked it up again. I haven’t wasted my time in H-Country these past few years. I participated in training programs at those major companies. I came back this time because I want to debut domestically. I believe I have the ability and can be famous. What’s wrong with that?”

Meng Rendong looked somewhat resigned.

This was why she had been worried these past two days. Chu Nanxing’s determined attitude to become a star and debut gave her a headache.

Chu Nanxing pouted and continued, “If your Huangting doesn’t want me, there are so many other companies in the entertainment industry. I’ll audition for them one by one. Someone will take me in. Do you think I couldn’t make it overseas? I only came back because I missed you all, I missed you and my parents.”

As she said this, her eyes seemed to well up. Meng Rendong was always uncomfortable with such displays of vulnerability. She turned her head slightly, and her tone softened: “Alright, I understand.”

This indicated her compromise.

Chu Nanxing immediately stopped crying and smiled again, then asked Meng Rendong, “Then can I stay at your place tonight?”

“…Mhm.”

“Then can I audition at Huangting tomorrow?”

“We’ll talk about tomorrow later.”

Chu Nanxing nodded, leaning back comfortably on the seat. Just when Meng Rendong thought she had finally settled down, Chu Nanxing suddenly asked casually:

“Is her name Ji Yu?”

Meng Rendong’s breathing paused.

Then she heard the other person repeat, “The person next to you, is her name Ji Yu?”

Ji Yu had a nightmare.

When she woke up, she saw the Corgi panting as it bit and dragged a thin blanket out of the bedroom. The long blanket trailed along the wooden floor. The section in the dog’s mouth was near the coffee table, but the end was still hanging by the bedroom door.

Ji Yu rubbed her temple with a headache. She got up from the sofa. To the Corgi’s surprised question, “You’re awake?”, she mumbled an assent, bent down, picked up the blanket, rolled it up, and hugged it back into the room.

The Corgi followed her closely: “Not sleeping anymore? Insomnia again? How about… a card draw?”

Ji Yu stopped. Hearing the Corgi’s words, a gentle smile appeared on her face—

To compensate her, the system was always finding ways to give her benefits, like creating a card-drawing system similar to mobile games. She could draw a card once a day. The drops could be scene effects, beautiful outfits, or strangely functional cards, such as ‘A Beautiful Dream’ or ‘Eight Hours of Coma.’

She couldn’t help but say, “I haven’t saved enough for a ten-pull yet, have I?”

The Corgi gently bumped her calf with its round butt and gave her a typical doggy grin: “Today is the ‘Celebrate the Plot Finally Starting’ day, so the player is rewarded with a ten-pull!”

Ji Yu laughed helplessly: “You should never make mobile games in the future, or you’ll definitely go bankrupt.”

The Corgi smiled along when she laughed, but thinking of the reason it had just given, its wagging tail stopped. After a while, it looked up and announced, “Today, let’s give twenty pulls instead!”

Ji Yu: “?”

She bent down and touched the fluffy head, which was suddenly a little dejected: “What’s wrong?”

The Corgi hesitated for two seconds and then said, “Chu Nanxing is back… she will start pursuing Meng Rendong. When they get together later, will you… will you be sad?”

After all, you’ve been by her side for four years.

Ji Yu furrowed her brow in confusion: “Why?”

Her hand stroking the dog’s head became a little gentler. She gave a carefree, light chuckle: “Don’t worry—”

“I don’t like her.”

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