Transmigrated as the CEO's Top-Tier Stand-in - Chapter 5

Chapter 5

At that moment, Wang Luoshui had already reached out and taken the cake from Ji Yu. Suddenly hearing Yan Xi’s words, she instinctively glanced at the box in her hand and indeed saw no brand logo on it.

A diamond shape cut out on the side of the cake box with transparent film allowed a clear view of the elaborate decoration inside.

As Wang Luoshui narrowly withdrew her gaze, she noticed a small, chocolate-colored birthday plaque on top.

This was… a birthday cake?

She instinctively scanned the friends present to see if anyone was celebrating their birthday today.

She quickly concluded, none.

Wang Luoshui then looked at the woman’s attire: comfortable, pure cotton long T-shirt paired with black ultra-short shorts, with no accessories. It was clear she had been called over suddenly, and perhaps she was originally on her way to a friend’s birthday party.

Wang Luoshui easily dismissed the possibility that the birthday person was Ji Yu herself. In her mind, whether Ji Yu was Meng Rendong’s serious partner or a casual fling, Rendong wouldn’t be so indifferent on her birthday, allowing her to look so simple.

With this thought, Wang Luoshui naturally assumed it was a gift Ji Yu had brought for someone else. She smiled and changed the subject, not wanting Ji Yu to have a terrible first experience. After all, it was her gathering, and bringing Ji Yu over to clarify her status was her suggestion. If things went sour today, she would be caught between two sides.

“Axi, why didn’t you say you wanted cake earlier? Look, there are over ten of us here. Miss Ji’s cake isn’t enough to share. Wait, I know a new cake shop nearby. I’ll order a large cake right now!”

At the same time, she handed Ji Yu’s cake to the waiter who had just entered the door and then pulled out her phone to message Meng Rendong nearby:

“This is Ji Yu’s friend’s birthday cake. Don’t let them keep messing around.”

Meng Rendong’s phone was on the table, and she easily glimpsed the message.

She paused, then instinctively looked up at Ji Yu.

Ji Yu didn’t understand the meaning of her gaze, so she simply smiled back. She wasn’t wearing much makeup and was standing under the bar’s unflattering lighting, yet that smile of hers, even among the many celebrities present, gave a stunning impression that all the light in the room had fallen upon her, making it hard to look away.

Wang Luoshui, standing right beside her, was momentarily stunned, and suddenly understood why she was the one who had stayed by Meng Rendong’s side the longest.

Because of the resemblance.

Too similar.

If Chu Jianyu hadn’t died, she would probably look like this at this age.

“No need for all that fuss. Since Miss Ji brought a gift, we’ll all just have a taste to be polite, right, Miss Ji?”

Yan Xi stopped the wooden dice cup in her hand and looked over with a half-smile, successfully freezing the departing waiter, who was now caught between two choices and unsure whose instruction to follow.

Ji Yu lowered her eyes, avoiding eye contact. She couldn’t help but imagine that if the system were here, it would be angrily barking in dog language, “Are you a beggar? Only a beggar reaches out to strangers for food? If you’re begging for food, I’ll scratch two bones out of my bowl for you right now!”

She pursed her lips, suppressing the inexplicable smile.

However, another voice cut in:

“Are you short on food?”

The voice was cool and indifferent, yet carried an unwarranted sense of mockery.

Ji Yu looked up at Meng Rendong, somewhat surprised.

Yan Xi was choked for a couple of seconds, then frowned at her long-time friend: “What did you say?”

Meng Rendong very seriously repeated what she had just said: “I’m asking you, are you really short on food? If you’re hungry, I’ll pay for a few more cakes from that shop Luoshui mentioned.”

Yan Xi: “!”

She moved her lips, wanting to say something more, but meeting Meng Rendong’s gaze, she closed her mouth, feeling stifled. She merely waved her hand, indicating she’d let it go.

Meng Rendong saw that she was trying to deliberately embarrass Ji Yu.

Yan Xi’s blatant attempt to assert dominance over Ji Yu was, to some extent, a disrespect to Meng Rendong. After all, introducing Ji Yu to her friends meant legitimizing Ji Yu’s status. Starting today, Ji Yu was no longer those easily replaceable, small flings who didn’t even deserve a name in Meng Rendong’s social circle, but her official partner.

By challenging Ji Yu, she implied that Ji Yu was unworthy of being brought here. If Ji Yu was unworthy, what did that make Meng Rendong, who made the decision? Blind? Or stupid?

Wang Luoshui, seeing the tension, quickly gave Chu Nanxing a meaningful look and said, “I’m going to get some food and drinks. Hey, whose turn is the next song? Nanxing, you just came back from studying in H-Country and had professional training. Won’t you show us friends your talents?”

Chu Nanxing, who had been surrounded by people flattering her, now gripped the microphone tighter and looked over. She only reacted when the other small celebrities around started cheering her on, taking the offered microphone with a smile.

Ji Yu noticed her gaze, looked back briefly, and then moved her eyes away, losing interest.

Chu Nanxing sang “The Chaser of Light” (Zhuiguangzhe).

“I can follow behind you /”

“Like a shadow chasing light in a dream /”

“I can wait at this intersection /”

“Regardless of whether you pass by…”

The ethereal quality of the female voice couldn’t mask the deep emotion within. Chu Nanxing sang softly, her gaze pursuing Meng Rendong. Meng Rendong, however, seemed oblivious, busy introducing her friends to Ji Yu.

“Yan Xi of Xiaoxi Entertainment.”

“This is Wang Luoshui of Lizhi Net.”

Ji Yu smiled politely at Wang Luoshui. She remembered the latter had spoken up for her earlier.

These people were all important supporting characters the system had mentioned: Yan Xi was the female protagonist Chu Nanxing’s best friend; Wang Luoshui was the daughter of the CEO of the country’s largest video website, Lizhi Net, which exclusively produced the show where Chu Nanxing later became wildly famous.

Yan Xi noticed Ji Yu’s friendly attitude toward Wang Luoshui and scoffed lightly. Just as Chu Nanxing finished her song, Yan Xi applauded along with the others, complimented her briefly, then peered at Ji Yu:

“I heard Miss Ji and Rendong met at the X-brand annual party. You must be in the industry too, right?”

“How about you let us enjoy Miss Ji’s talent as well?”

Chu Nanxing, who was surrounded by compliments, now held the microphone and looked over.

Ji Yu became the center of attention once more.

She curved her lips, looked directly at Yan Xi, and slowly said, “I’m sorry, I’m not in the industry, and I don’t have any talent.”

Although Yan Xi didn’t believe her, the previous events were too fresh in her mind, so she only pouted in boredom.

Chu Nanxing, however, seeing her not continuing, clenched the hand holding the microphone and interjected abruptly, “Miss Ji must be joking. Where does Rendong keep people outside the industry?”

This was a subtle accusation that Ji Yu was certainly after Meng Rendong’s status and resources.

Ji Yu’s expression remained calm, but Meng Rendong was already fed up with the repeated turmoil. She took Ji Yu’s wrist and stood up: “I also don’t have any talent to show everyone. It looks like I’m unworthy to stay here any longer.”

Chu Nanxing was stunned that Meng Rendong would protect Ji Yu so openly. She was simultaneously angry, jealous, and frustrated, and instinctively called out, “Rendong!”

Ji Yu was suddenly pulled by Meng Rendong and hadn’t fully reacted. She had been adding rock sugar to the bizarre chrysanthemum tea in front of Meng Rendong and now couldn’t even put down the spoon in her hand, having to hastily follow her out.

Wang Luoshui hadn’t anticipated this scene either and stared blankly at the two of them.

This time, Yan Xi reacted quickly and apologized for Chu Nanxing: “Nanxing didn’t mean that—”

Meng Rendong opened the door, looked back, and said, “I already understand what you meant, but you might not yet understand my meaning. I brought her here today because I plan to develop a long-term relationship. Since you don’t approve, I see no need to bring my person out to suffer humiliation again.”

Yan Xi stood up and asked, “Are you saying you’re going to break ties with us because of her?”

Meng Rendong didn’t answer. Only the previously opened bar door swung back and forth, silently echoing her response.

Wang Luoshui had been trying to maintain neutrality but now felt utterly exhausted. Some of the young celebrities who had heard too much gossip didn’t dare to stay and quickly made excuses to leave. The large private room was suddenly left with only three people.

Wang Luoshui fiddled with the bracelet on her wrist, glanced at Yan Xi, and then at Chu Nanxing: “It was my idea to have Rendong bring her. She’s been with Rendong for four years, and you know how cold Rendong’s temperament is. What does it mean that someone can stay by her side for four years?”

“Even if she can’t be openly legitimized, it’s clear she has Rendong’s heart. As friends, we should at least save face, even if we don’t fully support it. Yan Xi, you’re a CEO yourself; you know these social dealings—”

Yan Xi raised her hand and slammed the table in front of her, smiling bitterly: “I know!”

She pulled the expressionless Chu Nanxing beside her and spoke seriously to Wang Luoshui: “But you can’t abandon us either, Luoshui? How many years has Nanxing loved Meng Rendong? As friends, can we just watch her suffer without helping at all?”

Wang Luoshui sighed deeply, “Can you and I control the feelings of others?”

Following that, a profound silence filled the room.

Wang Luoshui couldn’t stand it anymore either. Before leaving, she looked at Chu Nanxing again, unconsciously associating her with Chu Jianyu, and then Ji Yu, who had just left, surfaced in her mind.

She shook her head gently and murmured almost inaudibly, “Confused…”

In the sedan.

Ji Yu carefully placed the cake flat on her lap, using her other hand to gently hook Meng Rendong’s palm. Her tone was much softer and more submissive than it had been in front of the others: “I’m sorry for making you argue with your friends because of me.”

Meng Rendong turned her hand, squeezed Ji Yu’s wrist, glanced at Uncle Zhang diligently driving in the front, and squinted at her:

“Outside—”

“Be less wanton.”

Ji Yu, however, acted as if she hadn’t heard, deliberately scooting closer to her, insisting on sitting right next to her and intertwining their fingers. Meng Rendong’s palm felt itchy from her actions.

Finally enduring the drive home, she impulsively pressed Ji Yu against the door right by the entrance.

Ji Yu nearly dropped the cake in her hands, wondering how she had managed to ignite Meng Rendong’s passion again. She struggled to place the cake on the floor near the entrance. At this moment, the Corgi excitedly ran out of the room to greet her, but upon seeing the figure pressed against her, its paws slipped, and it scurried back into the room without a second glance.

Meng Rendong saw how Ji Yu shielded the cake and felt somehow displeased. She casually ripped off the cake’s ribbon, roughly tore open the box, smeared some cream from inside, and rubbed it on Ji Yu’s face.

Ji Yu’s eyes widened, looking stunned by her actions.

Next, the pure white cream was smeared on her neck.

It was then that Ji Yu snapped back, frantically wiping the marks on her neck, and tried to close the cake box, whispering, “Don’t do this…”

Meng Rendong grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head, preventing her from moving. At the same time, she licked a little of the cream from her hand, found it had no sweetness at all, and couldn’t help but mock her:

“This terrible-tasting cake, and you’re still reluctant to part with it?”

Ji Yu’s movements, which were still trying to struggle, suddenly stopped.

But Meng Rendong didn’t let her off the hook. She leaned closer and asked, “Who did you make this for? To treasure it so much, huh?”

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