Transmigrated as the CEO's Top-Tier Stand-in - Chapter 60

Chapter 60

Inside the Teahouse.

Si Tian sat down, glanced at the variety show preparations downstairs that hadn’t started filming yet, and pushed the menu across the table to Ji Yu.

Ji Yu had run towards her earlier, only to be stopped by Kong Rufan. Just as she was about to hastily make an excuse, she saw Kong Rufan look down at a phone message, then regard her with a complex look. A few seconds later, Kong Rufan waved her hand:

“Today’s big guest for the show had a temporary issue. Filming is postponed until the afternoon—”

“But you should still come back a little early.”

Ji Yu nodded, then walked up to Si Tian. Although the distance was short, she felt her breathing grow rapid. She had so many words she wanted to say, but when she actually saw Si Tian, she couldn’t utter a single one.

It was Si Tian who first put down the magazine, subtly clenching the cover page, studying Ji Yu in front of her. She gathered her courage and asked:

“Have you had breakfast?”

“Want to eat together?”

Ji Yu nodded repeatedly, as if missing this invitation meant there would be no next one. Her gaze was reluctant to move away from Si Tian. When she noticed Si Tian constantly trying to avoid her eyes, she thought her enthusiasm was excessive, so she looked around at the environment briefly, only to immediately return her gaze to Si Tian a moment later.

Now, she followed Si Tian from the roadside to a small private room in the teahouse across the street, feeling an atmosphere of relaxation and joy filling the air.

Si Tian could feel the intensity of her gaze. She wanted to tell Ji Yu the truth, but Ji Yu’s scrutiny, laden with so much longing, made it difficult to speak. She could only hug the newly bought magazine tighter and tighter.

Ji Yu smiled gently at her, as if she couldn’t get enough of looking. One moment she felt Si Tian had changed a lot, and the next moment she felt the features were still the same, only the demeanor was slightly different.

But that didn’t matter.

She thought that it was normal for someone who had endured so much public criticism and terrible stories to undergo a change in temperament. Even the most optimistic and strong person, when faced with worldwide malice and constant negation, would become sensitive and self-conscious, afraid to take another step outside. That was acceptable.

She would forever remember Si Tian’s past shining, confident appearance. It was the world that was flawed, hurting the person she loved to this extent. It was her fault for not being by her side when she was needed most.

Thinking this, Ji Yu mimicked Si Tian’s demeanor when she first came to visit her in the hospital. She proactively and kindly took the menu, then smiled and asked her:

“What do you want to eat?”

“I remember we went to this kind of morning tea shop before. You preferred sweet items like custard buns and char siu buns. Have your preferences changed now?”

While thinking this, Ji Yu actually knew the other person’s taste wouldn’t change much. After all, she had never met anyone with a sweeter tooth than Si Tian… Oh, Meng Rendong probably had some common topics with her.

Hearing “custard bun,” Si Tian immediately recalled the sugar-laden coffee she had with Meng Rendong during their first meeting in this world. She could faintly hear her stomach protesting and a look of hesitation crossed her face.

Ji Yu, constantly observing her, noticed the change in her expression. She immediately stopped the hand that was about to mark the menu, smiled at her again, and with unprecedented patience, softly asked:

“Is there a flavor you’d rather try?”

Si Tian tightened her grip on the magazine without showing it. The more thoughtful Ji Yu was, the more flustered she became, because she knew Ji Yu’s kindness wasn’t directed at her personally—she was merely benefiting from Meng Rendong’s association.

Thinking this, Si Tian wished she could contact Meng Rendong right away and have her come to explain the situation, instead of leaving her to face Ji Yu alone.

Ji Yu continued to look at her, radiating patience, as if she could maintain the same mood and wait there all day if Si Tian needed a day to consider the breakfast menu.

But Si Tian finally whispered: “…Can I have Preserved Vegetable and Lean Meat Buns?”

She really couldn’t bring herself to eat custard buns.

Since she was here today to explain things, there was no need to fully act like the former Meng Rendong. If she showed a difference first, a smart girl like Ji Yu would definitely suspect something, which would lessen the shock when Si Tian later revealed the truth.

To her surprise, after asking, Ji Yu paused slightly, then said: “Okay, anything else?”

Si Tian then ordered a serving of Steamed Spareribs with Black Bean Sauce.

After confirming that she had no interest in sweet things, Ji Yu marked her own items, called the waiter, and handed over the menu. After the person left, she got up to pour tea for Si Tian.

Si Tian had been even more nervous than her earlier, her mind blank, so she wasn’t as thoughtful. Seeing Ji Yu reach for the teapot, she instinctively stood up, wanting to reach out, but Ji Yu timely avoided her with the bronze pot and said gently:

“Be careful, it’s hot. Just stay seated.”

Si Tian awkwardly sat back down, blinking: “I…”

Ji Yu also spoke simultaneously: “You…”

Their voices overlapped. Both were startled. Ji Yu laughed, filled Si Tian’s cup with tea, and then sat down, gesturing for her to speak first.

Si Tian parted her lips, meeting Ji Yu’s expecting, smiling, captivating peach blossom eyes. She was almost mesmerized by this beautiful sight. The words reached her mouth, but she couldn’t bear to spoil Ji Yu’s good mood. Spotting the magazine she had just put down, she quickly said:

“I, I’ve been watching your public performances recently! Your magazine came out today and sold very well. I got this copy because CEO Meng helped me snag it! She pre-ordered five hundred copies!”

She spoke disjointedly, but Ji Yu didn’t mind at all. After listening quietly, she said to her: “As long as you like it, then I haven’t been in this program for nothing.”

Si Tian: “…!”

No! Don’t confess your affection to me!

She could clearly feel the atmosphere in the room becoming tense and strange. Feeling overly suffocated, Si Tian started intentionally bringing up Meng Rendong:

“I… Actually, CEO Meng is also very concerned about you. She buys tickets to watch you perform every time you have a public show.”

Ji Yu was confused by her sudden mention of Meng Rendong, but quickly thought that this meeting was arranged by Meng Rendong for her, so it was normal that the other person had met Si Tian beforehand… Perhaps Meng Rendong had said something.

She didn’t want Si Tian to keep bringing up Meng Rendong, so she softly ‘hmm-ed,’ skipping the topic, and proactively asked: “How have you been lately?”

Si Tian parted her lips, recalling her initial confusion when she first arrived in this world. She stopped awkwardly using Meng Rendong as a shield and just answered obediently: “At first… I wasn’t used to it. I didn’t know how I got here, but now that I don’t have to face those media and cameras, and I don’t have to see people I don’t want to see, it’s a little better.”

Ji Yu didn’t know how Si Tian was reborn in this world, but that didn’t stop her from being happy for her: “That’s good. I was also very surprised when I first came here… But being able to meet you again here, I think this arrangement from the heavens isn’t bad.”

The System softly murmured in her mind: “Not the heavens, it was me.”

Ji Yu calmed it down distractedly: “Right! It was the great you!”

The System was satisfied and shrunk back, no longer disturbing Ji Yu and Si Tian’s emotional bonding. It just quietly watched, feeling that Si Tian was slightly different from Ji Yu’s description. However, given Ji Yu’s feelings for Si Tian, it was normal for her to have a bit of a filter, so it didn’t think much of it.

In the room.

Si Tian was caught off guard by Ji Yu’s direct expression, and her ears turned a little red. The color spread downwards, completely flushing her neck, making her look like a tomato jumping out of boiling water, fully ripe.

Ji Yu wondered if her way of expressing herself had been too subtle before, as she never knew this narcissistic little friend was so easily embarrassed… However, the thought of the reason behind her change made her feel a sense of melancholy.

If she had confessed earlier, would things have been different?

Thinking this, Ji Yu looked up at Si Tian and gently asked: “Where are you living recently? If you don’t mind, after this program finishes recording, I will have my own studio. Can I come and live with you?”

Si Tian: “!!!”

Ji Yu’s direct hit almost knocked her out. She nearly sprang up from her chair.

Seeing her look utterly mortified, Ji Yu suddenly felt like a scoundrel flirting with a proper lady. She thought about Si Tian’s previous experiences. After coming to this world, she likely became introverted due to not seeing any familiar faces. It was normal for her to feel awkward hearing such passionate concern from her former friend.

So she added an explanation: “I’m just… worried about you. It’s okay if you don’t want to.”

Si Tian: …Help, Meng Rendong, why aren’t you here yet!

She hurriedly waved her hands, wanting to explain that she didn’t mean to reject Ji Yu, but didn’t know how to express it. So she blurted out another irrelevant point: “I… I’ve been eating Hunan cuisine lately. Your stomach isn’t good. I’m afraid you won’t adapt well if you live with me.”

Si Tian was mentally prepared for Ji Yu to notice something was off and follow up with questions. This way, she wouldn’t have to endure Ji Yu constantly getting close to her. As someone who had been single for over twenty years, she genuinely couldn’t handle such intimacy.

To her surprise, Ji Yu looked at her with a subtly pained expression for a moment, then continued:

“It’s okay.”

Ji Yu thought for a moment and said seriously: “I will try my best to change my schedule and take care of my body. If I proceed step by step, gradually starting with a little spice, I should be able to handle it.”

Many times in the past, Si Tian offered her sweets, and she refused. Later, no one would smile and put candy in her mouth when she was feeling down. Ji Yu regretted this countless times.

If she could start over.

Even if Si Tian fed her poison, she would willingly eat it with a smile.

Hearing her speak as if she had already prepared for their future life together, Si Tian was startled by her courage. She suddenly stood up from her chair and waved her hands in rejection: “No, you, you shouldn’t say that…”

Ji Yu saw she was so scared she wanted to hide, and the bitterness in her heart intensified. She vaguely felt she heard a refusal, yet she couldn’t control her feelings. The words in her heart had been suppressed for too long; she truly couldn’t endure it anymore.

She also stood up, slowing her voice again: “Okay, okay, I won’t say that. Don’t be nervous. I won’t hurt you. You don’t need to be afraid of me, Si Tian.”

Hearing her say this, Si Tian’s eyes inexplicably became a little red. Perhaps because Ji Yu had witnessed the cyberbullying directed at her, these words of comfort coming from Ji Yu felt more genuine than anyone else’s. In a flash, she felt she was back in that moment of being isolated and helpless, having to face the world’s malice alone. She lowered her gaze and said very softly:

“I’m sorry.”

Ji Yu thought she was apologizing for rejecting her and quickly smiled: “It’s okay.”

Si Tian shook her head, staring at her tightly clasped fingers, and said to Ji Yu: “I… I thought about finding you then, but I didn’t dare. I was afraid you’d find out I was an insecure person. I didn’t want to disappoint you—”

Ji Yu gently answered her: “You wouldn’t.”

She said: “I will never be disappointed in you. No matter what you become, I will stay by your side.”

Si Tian interrupted: “No, that’s not it. I’m a liar.”

Ji Yu noticed she was becoming agitated, and she wasn’t sure what Si Tian meant. If the System hadn’t repeatedly confirmed the moment they met and if she didn’t know this was the appearance of the friend she once knew, she would be full of doubts right now.

“You…” Ji Yu slowly spoke, trying to gently calm her down.

Si Tian finally looked up at her, having seemingly mustered courage for a very long time. Her chest was slightly heaving from her rapid breathing: “At that time, I didn’t dare tell you the truth. But now, I can’t lie to you anymore, Ji Yu.”

Ji Yu couldn’t help but stand up straight, looking at her from a distance: “What?”

She saw Si Tian standing there rigidly, like an atoner, and gently advised: “Whatever you need to say, sit down and take your time. I will listen to you until you finish, okay?”

Si Tian looked down at the stool, feeling she would have to stand up again soon, so she stayed firmly on her feet. She bit her lip, closed her eyes, and said to Ji Yu:

“I! Actually, I am not the Si Tian you know!”

The smile on Ji Yu’s face froze.

She even forgot she was about to hand the tea to the other person. Her fingers, gripping the teacup, were suddenly scalded. The cup tipped over, and a small patch of the tablecloth was immediately soaked brown.

However, she ignored it. All her attention was on the sentence Si Tian had just dropped. Even the System was flustered: “Impossible! Can a person be mistaken? Is the soul fake too!”

Ji Yu was suddenly jolted by the System’s thunderous reaction. She blinked, barely maintaining her composure, poured another cup of tea, then smiled and rubbed her earlobe, and smiled at Si Tian again:

“…Hmm? Did you just say something? What was it?”

Si Tian: “…”

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