Transmigrated as the CEO's Top-Tier Stand-in - Chapter 96

Fans quickly rushed into the second episode, desperate to know what situation would make Ji Yu express the idea of quitting the industry—

Why quit the industry?!

Is it because she wants to date?

However, the opening clips of the episode immediately shocked and frightened the audience, making them think the story was heading in a romantic direction. The scene was clearly at the doorway of a dimly lit bedroom at night, with Meng Rendong standing there asking Ji Yu:

“Can’t sleep again?”

“I’ll keep you company.”

Fans: ??????

Damn!

They angrily decided to storm Meng Rendong’s Weibo and simultaneously un-follow Ji Yu. Ji Yu debuted with their money and support, so why wasn’t she cherishing her career and developing properly in D9? Why was she getting involved in this lesbian scandal with the CEO of Imperial Court?

Some impatient fans immediately started cursing, filling the comments with pollution.

“I never thought you’d be this kind of person.”

“So disappointed.”

“Homosexuality is disgusting.”

“Ugh, isn’t this openly being sugar-babied?”

However, some who managed to remain rational decided to watch at double speed to understand the full story.

The scene then continued right after the dinner portion. After the conversation about dating, the senior guests avoided bringing up any further misleading topics. The subsequent conversation was harmonious, and Ji Yu and Meng Rendong’s demeanor was natural, as if their previous lack of confidence or deep affection had nothing to do with the person opposite them.

After dinner, they walked back to their guesthouse, and during the walk, they didn’t discuss anything inappropriate.

Meng Rendong opened her laptop in the living room to handle business. This part was entirely cut due to involving Imperial Court’s commercial privacy. Meanwhile, Ji Yu was washing up in the room and playing on her phone for a while. Up to this point, there was nothing unusual in the atmosphere between the two.

Some rational fans started to get restless, guessing that the production team was using manipulative editing, forcing a controversy into otherwise mundane life clips to attract viewers. Clearly, Ji Yu and Meng Rendong were the focus prepared by the production team for this season.

At ten o’clock.

Ji Yu came out wearing a fleece little dinosaur pajama set, yawning and intending to get herself a cup of hot water. The small green tail was swaying slightly behind her, momentarily diverting Meng Rendong’s attention from her computer. Meng Rendong subconsciously looked over, the ice in her eyes from work melting, leaving a cool, gentle warmth like a lunar halo:

“Your pajamas…”

Ji Yu turned around, clutching her cup, her face slightly flushed. It was unclear if it was from the steam of her shower or from the embarrassment of appearing before the person she loved in such extremely childish pajamas. Her voice carried a strange sense of despair:

“Well—”

“Sister Kong asked me to choose before, and I thought this one was gray, thinking it looked quite cool… but now…”

Her vision had recovered slightly. She could discern some traces of dark green, guessing her pajamas might be… somewhat rainbow-colored, like a child’s costume. She hadn’t expected Kong Rufan to bring this set for her. Because of her current inability to distinguish colors, she hadn’t managed her own clothing choices for a long time. Every time she went out, dressing was like opening a mystery box; she never knew what clothes were in her suitcase.

Meng Rendong noticed her shyness and, hearing her explanation, felt a sudden pang in her heart. All the teasing and joking words she was about to say were swallowed back. Instead, she said:

“It still looks very pretty.”

Ji Yu mumbled: “Stop kidding me. I looked in the mirror in the bathroom just now. It’s ridiculously childish.”

As Meng Rendong chuckled helplessly, some rational fans in the comments tried to refocus the content back to the show, not wanting to jump to conclusions about Ji Yu:

“Is this a follow-up to her color blindness? ahhhh?”

“Something’s wrong… why would she see green as gray? That’s not the presentation of yellow-green color blindness, is it?”

“I feel like Ji Yu’s condition is more like color weakness.”

“I thought something was off last episode. For example, when the sky wasn’t great, Ji Yu insisted the weather was good. I thought she was joking then. Now that I think about it, is she unable to distinguish the color of the sky?”

“Terrifying realization.”

“If she couldn’t distinguish colors, it should have been obvious when she first joined the show, but her performance in Chasing Dreams was normal, wasn’t it? I remember an extra video where the girls talked about their off-stage outfits, and she didn’t show any abnormality.”

“Can people develop color weakness later in life? Does she have some kind of eye disease?”

While the comments section was intensely debating, Meng Rendong’s attention had shifted to the cup in Ji Yu’s hand. After habitually checking the time on the bottom right of her computer, she looked up and asked Ji Yu:

“Time’s up. Have you taken your medicine?”

Ji Yu hugged the warm cup and replied obediently: “Just about to.”

Meng Rendong still had some unfinished business. She quickly typed a message on the keyboard, asking the person on the other end to wait for her, then stood up and walked towards the room with Ji Yu: “Let me see. Did you bring enough? Did they… say when you’ll enter the next phase?”

She turned off her lapel mic, but was unaware that the camera in the room also had a nearby recording device. So, the audience in front of their computers could vaguely hear the conversation.

“What medicine?”

“I thought it was the kind of health supplement all female celebrities take. Why does it sound like our Yuyu is sick when President Meng talks about it? I’ve never heard of a ‘next phase’ for ordinary cold medicine.”

“What’s going on? I’m getting worried.”

“Can someone in the know reveal what illness Ji Yu has? Is it curable?”

The camera naturally moved into the room. To protect the celebrity’s privacy, the medicine Ji Yu showed Meng Rendong was heavily blurred. Despite this, some people in the comments guessed what it was.

“Oh my god!”

“I have a bold guess.”

“You in the front, just say it!”

“Ji Yu’s pill bottle… why does it look like the one I used to take? I heard rumors about Ji Yu having depression, which I thought was just gossip, but now… she seems quite serious.”

“Can a medical student give us an educated guess!”

The audience in the comments guessed part of the truth, but the two people in the show were still unaware. After showing Meng Rendong her medication, Ji Yu followed the instructions on the label and took her daily dosage with a listless expression.

Meng Rendong noticed she wasn’t in a good mood but didn’t know why. After a moment of hesitation, she said: “Then get some rest early?”

Ji Yu nodded. Meng Rendong then went back out to deal with her work. Time passed quickly, and it was soon half past twelve. She let out a long sigh of relief. She habitually glanced at the time, only to realize the living room light was still on, which might affect Ji Yu’s sleep in her room—even though she knew the tiny sliver of light from under the door wouldn’t amount to anything.

But Meng Rendong still got up to turn off the light, then reached for her phone to turn on the flashlight, only to find light emanating from Ji Yu’s bedroom. Ji Yu didn’t have the habit of sleeping with the light on. She must be staying up late. But Ji Yu had clearly told her on the phone that she always slept until morning after taking her medicine. What was happening now? Did something happen today to upset her? Or was she feeling unwell and couldn’t sleep? Or was she simply choosing to stay up late?

Meng Rendong stood in the living room for a long time before finally deciding to knock on Ji Yu’s door. The light inside was quickly turned off, and a muffled question came through:

“What is it?”

Meng Rendong didn’t know what she was doing. She frowned slightly but couldn’t just barge in on camera, only saying: “Nothing. Saw you were still awake. Thought something was wrong. If you’re fine, get some rest early. Don’t mess up your routine.”

She involuntarily used a familiar, supervisory tone. Ji Yu answered loudly. Only then did Meng Rendong leave.

However, the scene quickly shifted to Meng Rendong’s bedroom. After covering the camera and washing up, Meng Rendong lay in bed. She didn’t bother with the coat half-covering the camera; instead, she was drawn by the sounds outside. She thought she heard some rustling noises.

She tossed and turned in her room—simultaneously, the screen split, showing Ji Yu creeping out of her room late at night, softly opening the refrigerator in the kitchen, and moving stealthily.

Comments: “????????”

“Something’s wrong, I still feel like something is off with them.”

“Is Ji Yu sleepwalking?”

“Staying up late at night. Why do I find this a little creepy?”

“Where’s the coming-out channel we were promised? Why do I feel like I’ve walked into some late-night supernatural story? High-energy audience, shield yourselves!!!”

Ji Yu was like a little mouse. Every time she took something out of the refrigerator and placed it on the kitchen counter, she would quietly peek at Meng Rendong’s room. Only when she noticed no movement from that direction did she speed up, bringing out butter, flour, and other things they had bought during the afternoon shopping trip.

“Got it. Ji Yu is hungry.”

“Secret midnight snack? That’s hilarious.”

“Ji Yu looks like she doesn’t want to share with President Meng. I’d like to interview: are all lovers like this?”

“Where’s the coming out? I’ve been waiting for the opening clip for a long time. I hope the production team shows us some real stuff, don’t be a tease.”

“Disgusting. Ji Yu is disgusting.”

Half an hour later.

Meng Rendong, hearing the sound of bowls occasionally knocking against the table from the kitchen, pretended to be asleep no longer. She genuinely wanted to know what Ji Yu was tinkering with so late at night. She got up, put on her shoes, and headed towards the bedroom door.

Ji Yu, who was trying to figure out how to make the mixer work silently, heard the movement and quickly scurried towards her room before wiping her hands clean.

Meng Rendong, who heard the door close: “…”

She took a deep breath. Some viewers in front of the TV laughed.

“I don’t know why, but I feel like I’m watching a teacher catching a truant student.”

“Why are these two so funny??”

“Ji Yu: I feel guilty, I run first.”

“A roommate who makes noise late at night is annoying. I completely understand President Meng.”

Meng Rendong, having received a pile of sympathy, saw the mess in the kitchen with eyes accustomed to the dark. She didn’t turn on the light but walked straight towards Ji Yu’s room, forgetting to even knock, and getting straight to the point—no longer giving her a chance to pretend to sleep:

Pushing open the door, she crossed her arms and asked helplessly: “Can’t sleep again?”

Ji Yu’s hands were covered in flour, so she couldn’t hide in the quilt. She reluctantly opened the bathroom door in the room and smiled awkwardly at Meng Rendong, feigning innocence:

“Huh? No, I just got up in the middle of the night. Is something wrong, President Meng?”

Meng Rendong: “…”

She maintained a straight face and said: “Nothing. I just noticed a big mouse in the kitchen trying to steal flour late at night. Since it’s not you, that flour must be dirty. I’m just about to throw the whole bag away.”

Ji Yu: “!!!”

She quickly said: “Don’t!”

Meng Rendong pressed her fingers to her forehead in exasperation and took another breath, then asked her: “What are you doing? If you can’t sleep, just tell me. Fussing around in the kitchen alone, if that gets edited and aired, people will think you’re sleepwalking. That’s scary.”

Ji Yu’s smile became more strained. She subconsciously touched her nose, forgetting her hands were covered in flour. With that touch, a patch of white immediately transferred to her nose.

Meng Rendong now felt like a parent discovering their child playing in the mud outside the school gates when they should be in class, getting themselves covered in dirt—both a little angry and amused.

She simply reminded Ji Yu: “Don’t rub your face. You’ll get flour everywhere.”

“What were you doing in the kitchen? Hungry? Should I order takeout for you, or do you need a hand?”

Ji Yu obediently put down her hand, feeling the itchiness on her nose but not daring to wipe it. She answered honestly: “Well… I bought some things this afternoon, enough to make a cake. The oven and mixer here are quite complete. I couldn’t sleep after thinking about it for a long time, so I wanted to try.”

Meng Rendong’s dark eyes were deep, almost blending into the night shadows: “I don’t believe you.”

Ji Yu: “…” She could only be completely honest: “I read a script before bed, and I really couldn’t fall asleep, so I was looking for something to pass the time, planning to go to sleep once I felt tired.”

Meng Rendong asked what script it was. Ji Yu replied, and her voice was protected and censored. Meng Rendong nodded to show she understood, then turned to leave. Noticing Ji Yu was still standing in the bathroom light and hadn’t come out, she turned back:

“Didn’t you want to make a cake?”

“I’ll keep you company.”

The comments section watching this: “…”

“I waited all this time just for this?”

“Damn editing, I’m throwing up.”

“They’re just trying to force a coming out, aren’t they?”

“Considering Ji Yu’s current symptoms, she has depression. Meng Rendong is only caring for her from a friend’s perspective. They haven’t kissed, hugged, or been ambiguous, and there’s no confession. Why is your production team so unethical, exploiting a depression patient like this? Your intentions are malicious.”

“I now find this ‘leisure and wellness’ show disgusting. Did Ji Yu’s manager not even review the content before accepting the notice?”

“I can’t imagine how Ji Yu will react when she sees tonight’s hot search.”

“Those who said they were going to un-follow, get lost! Do you really think Ji Yu’s fans need you few nuts?”

“Damn, I’m suddenly kind of a fan of Meng Rendong. She… she’s not worried about her reputation being tarnished. She consistently shows concern for Ji Yu. Knowing the other person has insomnia, she messes around with Ji Yu late at night… Hello, can I have a best friend like this?”

“Converting to a fan of President Meng.”

“Converting to a fan +1.”

“Can I secretly like President Meng a little?”

“President Meng, do I look like your first love?”

In the kitchen.

Meng Rendong was figuring out how to use the mixer. Ji Yu pointed out a technique to her, then demonstrated her skill of cracking eggs with both hands simultaneously, which made Meng Rendong smile. She said to Ji Yu:

“Do you really enjoy cooking?”

Ji Yu nodded: “Yes, I originally planned to… seriously learn culinary skills, then apply to be a little chef and cook for people.”

Meng Rendong looked at the flour dust still on Ji Yu’s nose. With the kitchen light on, the white dust was even more noticeable. She stared at Ji Yu’s nose tip and asked:

“Now that you’re a celebrity, do you still want to be a chef?”

The smile in Ji Yu’s eyes faded somewhat. After a long moment, she said: “Not anymore.”

She didn’t want anything anymore.

Meng Rendong vaguely sensed something, but encouraged her with a gentle, hopeful voice: “Then what else do you want to do in the future?”

Ji Yu mysteriously became weary, seemingly losing spirit, though she didn’t know why herself. Since her lapel mic was off, she assumed her conversation with Meng Rendong wouldn’t be overheard—even so, she was cautious, carefully considering her words for a long time before saying softly:

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“But I don’t want to work in a profession that causes the people around me to be scolded because of me anymore.”

She didn’t want Meng Rendong to be scolded anymore. The person she loved so much, the person she worked so hard to get back. She herself regretted the harm she had inflicted on Meng Rendong. How could she tolerate those voices, claiming to like her, but recklessly hurting Meng Rendong?

She couldn’t do it.

The comments section fell silent along with her.

“…”

“Suddenly feeling a bit sad.”

“This must be the source of the idea of quitting, right? How much longer can Sister Ji Yu hold out here?”

“I don’t know if it’s the night, but I’m feeling a bit down too.”

“I don’t want Ji Yu to quit, because you are truly good. If only Meng Zong accompanying you can make you happier, I can accept you two being on screen together, really.”

“Well… it’s not like we can’t let you two be together.”

“Damn, Ji Yu’s fans are so humble, sniffle. Compared to the star sadly quitting because of illness, I suddenly think it’s not so bad if she just keeps jumping around in the industry and forces a coming out and gets scolded by everyone, but is still doing well.”

“If you think about it carefully, is there anything wrong with Meng Rendong not being worthy of Ji Yu? From the start of Ji Yu’s rumors until now, she’s the one being scolded by fans and bearing all the negativity. She hasn’t tried to hype their relationship. Her appearance on the show this time is because Ji Yu is ill. And she herself is the CEO of Imperial Court, with resources in film and fashion. If they were different genders, by all accounts, Ji Yu would be seen as punching above her weight, right?”

“Hilarious. Does the CEO of Imperial Court have fans too? Not accepting homosexuality means not accepting it. Don’t spout nonsense here. If they were different genders, our Ji Yu would be the one being called a sugar baby, wouldn’t she?”

“I’ve been watching since Chasing Dreams. Yu Zong is truly pitiful. She has no family background, relying on her own strength to get here, only to get depression and now be exploited by the show… Honestly, if quitting the industry can make her happy, and let me see that original spark I saw when I first met her, I can accept it.”

“Ji Yu became our light. If Meng Rendong can pull her out of this darkness now, why shouldn’t I be more tolerant of Meng Rendong? It’s 2020, homosexuality shouldn’t be subject to prejudice anymore. Is your opinion more important than Ji Yu’s life?”

Innumerable voices converged online, sparking heated discussion in the #Ji Yu Retirement from the Industry# topic square, even though Ji Yu herself had not made any statement. But the show ultimately had an effect.

At this moment.

Meng Rendong was sitting at home, having just finished watching the edited episode. Initially, she was furious that the editing was so unscrupulous, but seeing the supportive voices later, she was suddenly stunned.

She seemed to see a completely intact egg quietly crack a little, letting the daylight shine through.