After Becoming the Mother of the Scumbag Stand-In Female Lead - Chapter 111

Xu Ziqiu’s first television drama as the lead actress, which also happened to be the first project Lin Xiaoyu produced after taking over Qingguo Entertainment, premiered last year. As such, Lin placed great importance on it.

Since the main cast consisted mostly of newcomers, the early promotional efforts heavily emphasized Sheng Yunjin’s involvement.

Though her cameo appearances, after editing, amounted to less than twenty minutes in total, Lin Xiaoyu didn’t mind the promotional strategy—as long as it attracted viewers and generated buzz for the drama. After all, they were all artists under her company.

Since signing with the agency, Xu Ziqiu had been kept busy with back-to-back projects, all of them as the female lead.

Honestly, she was quite satisfied with her current situation. Fresh out of school, she was already being prioritized by the company with one project after another. As for whether she would become famous, she wasn’t in a hurry—she was still young, and steady hard work would pay off eventually.

If she had felt a twinge of envy toward Sheng Yunjin when she first joined the company last year, that sentiment had long since faded amid her packed daily schedule.

Just wrapping up a variety show recording, Xu Ziqiu parted ways with the other actors and got into her car with her assistant.

This indoor variety show was part of the drama’s promotional campaign, and all the main cast members had participated—except for Sheng Yunjin, who had the highest popularity.

Xu Ziqiu had privately asked her agent about it and was told that variety shows weren’t part of Sheng Yunjin’s career plans.

Hearing this, Xu Ziqiu couldn’t quite describe the emotions swirling inside her.

It was complicated—a mix of conflicting feelings.

She realized that they truly were different.

Like herself and the other actors she had just filmed the show with, none of them had influential backgrounds, so they couldn’t afford to pass up any opportunity to appear on screen.

But Sheng Yunjin was different. She had the freedom to choose—and even if she made the wrong choice, it wouldn’t matter. Her privileged family background gave her the chance to start over anytime.

Lowering her eyes with a resigned smile, Xu Ziqiu pulled out her phone from her bag.

No matter what, she was grateful to Sheng Yunjin for helping her at the equestrian center that day.

The footage of Sheng Yunjin subduing the horse for her had been captured by the surveillance cameras, and Xu Ziqiu had requested the clip from the director.

She had held onto it all this time, waiting for the drama’s premiere to release it.

Not only would it boost Sheng Yunjin’s popularity, but it would also generate more buzz for the show.

A win-win situation.

…

Things unfolded exactly as Xu Ziqiu had anticipated.

On the night of the drama’s premiere, she posted a lighthearted and appreciative Weibo update, attaching the video from that day.

The drama’s debut garnered decent attention, and Xu Ziqiu’s post further heightened viewers’ anticipation for future episodes.

Not only did it feature Sheng Yunjin, but more importantly, many netizens began shipping the two as a couple.

The breathtaking mid-air horse switch, the thrilling “beauty saves beauty” moment—this new pairing quickly gained traction.

Some even argued that Sheng Yunjin and Xu Ziqiu had more chemistry together than Sheng Yunjin did with the male lead.

The rising popularity of this new ship sent the drama’s ratings soaring.

At the company, Lin Xiaoyu monitored the online discussions with a mix of excitement and unease.

Actually, the period drama starring Sheng Yunjin last time was even more shippable, but Lin Xiaoyu had arranged to nip that budding interest in the bud.

But now…

Popularity equals profit, and she wasn’t quite willing to let it go.

After all, netizens were just having fun with the ship—she believed both Si Mu and Sheng Yunjin would understand.

…

Sheng Yunjin, who was quietly filming on set, could indeed understand. Even Si Mu didn’t show any signs of anger when she saw the trending hashtags.

Silently scrolling through the lively discussions on Weibo, Si Mu set her phone aside without so much as a frown and continued working.

Knock, knock, knock.

Her secretary was at the door.

“Come in.”

Without looking up, Si Mu responded indifferently.

“President Si, Manager Lin from the Lin Group is here to see you.”

Secretary Sun spoke softly.

Signing a document, Si Mu handed the processed file to her.

“Let him in.”

The news about the halted new project under Lin Group’s real estate subsidiary had already spread like wildfire.

The ten-billion loss directly led to the company’s bankruptcy liquidation. The executive in charge, Lin Jiang, was immediately stripped of his CEO position by the Lin Group’s board, while another responsible party, Lin Ge, was temporarily suspended.

The office door was shoved open forcefully as Lin Ge stormed in with a dark expression.

“President Si, what a brilliant move!”

Her office chair swiveled slightly as Si Mu glanced indifferently out the window.

“I don’t understand what you mean, Manager Lin.”

“Don’t understand? Hah!”

Clenching his teeth, Lin Ge pulled out his phone and played a recording.

It was the voice of the Taoist priest, who explicitly stated that he had provided Lin Ge with false information under Si Mu’s instructions.

“Have I ever offended you, President Si? Was it really worth going to such lengths to ruin me?”

Raising a brow, Si Mu scoffed inwardly.

Just a few words—hardly any effort at all.

“A mere charlatan’s words were enough to fool Manager Lin so easily…”

She didn’t say anything harsh, but her dismissive tone and the way she barely regarded him only infuriated Lin Ge further.

“Was it for Lin Xiaoyu? She put you up to this, didn’t she?!”

With his standing in the Lin Group plummeting, the only beneficiary Lin Ge could think of was Lin Xiaoyu.

“I’m not familiar with President Lin.”

Taking a sip of her coffee, Si Mu’s unruffled demeanor made Lin Ge doubt his own suspicions.

“I still have work to do. Please see yourself out, Mr. Lin.”

With that, she signaled to her secretary.

The presence of security outside forced Lin Ge to leave, but before he did, he turned back and glared at Si Mu through gritted teeth.

“I won’t let this go!”

At that, Si Mu finally looked up, the disdain in her eyes making Lin Ge nearly burst with rage.

“Then I’ll be waiting for the day Manager Lin makes his comeback.”

Her words provoked Lin Ge so much that he clenched his fists and lunged forward, only to be immediately restrained by security.

A comeback…

What comeback could he possibly have now?

Losing ten billion—sure, that amount was nothing to Lin Hai, but it all depended on who lost it.

If it had been his daughter, Lin Xiaoyu, Lin Hai would’ve just lectured her and let it go.

But Lin Ge? He was just an outsider!

He had worked hard for six years to reach his current position, but a trap set by Si Mu instantly rendered all his previous efforts futile.

Forget about inheriting the Lin family’s legacy…

Now, whether he and his father could even return to the Lin Corporation was uncertain.

…

“Hey, Young Master Lin.”

In the break room on set, Yang Shihao answered the call from Lin Ge.

He didn’t follow financial news, so he was unaware that Lin Ge had been suspended.

However, since his contract was signed under Lin Jiang’s company, Yang Shihao knew the company had changed hands just two days ago.

Before he could figure out what was going on, Lin Ge called him.

“Same place. You have half an hour.”

Lin Ge’s voice, dark and slurred with drunkenness, came through the phone.

“But I’m still filming…”

Yang Shihao hesitated.

“Half an hour.”

Lin Ge repeated impatiently.

“I can send someone else to help you…”

With the next scene about to start, Yang Shihao considered sending a friend in his place.

After all, it was just about helping Lin Ge pick up girls—something they were all familiar with.

“Are you fucking deaf?! I told you to come here!”

The phone was slammed violently onto the table as Lin Ge roared in drunken fury.

In the past, if he were in a good mood, he might have agreed to Yang Shihao’s suggestion. But now, feeling humiliated and defeated, Yang Shihao’s repeated refusals made Lin Ge believe he was mocking him, looking down on him.

The loud crash from the phone and Lin Ge’s enraged shouting made Yang Shihao flinch involuntarily.

He had never seen Lin Ge lose his temper like this. After some thought, he decided to go.

His future still depended on Lin Ge—he couldn’t afford to truly anger him.

Ignoring the director’s cold glare, Yang Shihao changed clothes and drove off alone.

Meanwhile, Sheng Yunjin, who had just finished her scene, glanced at his hurried departure before quietly whispering a few words to her assistant.

…

That evening, the assistant brought Sheng Yunjin the news.

“Jie, Yang Shihao was caught red-handed. There’ll probably be leaks online soon about him being taken to the police station.”

“But the other guy got away.”

Sheng Yunjin had arranged for Yang Shihao to join the crew specifically to keep an eye on him. She knew he worked for Lin Ge, but the evidence of their previous drugging and assault had been destroyed, so she had to wait for him to slip up again.

For two months on set, she had people tailing him privately, but nothing came up.

Lin Ge had been busy with a new project, and Yang Shihao had been careful with his words and actions, so both had stayed out of trouble.

But today, seeing Yang Shihao rush off alone, Sheng Yunjin told her assistant to have someone follow him closely.

Sure enough, old habits die hard.

In a foul mood, Lin Ge had Yang Shihao use their usual method to find girls for him at the bar.

From the bar to the hotel upstairs, Sheng Yunjin’s bodyguards kept a close watch.

The moment they entered the room, the bodyguards called the police.

Worried the drugged girl might be harmed, they stormed in first, subduing Yang Shihao—but Lin Ge managed to escape.

…

Yang Shichao, who had been arrested, still dreamed that Lin Ge would come to bail him out. So under police interrogation, he took all the blame upon himself, hoping Lin Ge would appreciate his loyalty enough to pay his way out of trouble.

But little did he know that Lin Ge was already struggling to protect himself.

At home, Lin Ge hastily packed some belongings and, ignoring his father’s questions, drove straight to the airport without looking back.

Staying in the country any longer would only lead to his eventual arrest.

After all, he still had some spare cash on hand—enough to lay low abroad for a while.

…

Yang Shichao had been quite a trending topic recently, so when the scandal broke, it immediately sparked widespread discussion online.

Sheng Yunjin, completely unaffected, continued filming on set. The script reverted to its original, unaltered version, with Yang Shichao’s role entirely cut—seamlessly maintaining the plot’s continuity.

The rest of the production team had always known Yang Shichao’s role was only secured through connections. Now that he was exposed, they were just relieved the screenwriter had the foresight to avoid reshoots—otherwise, they’d be the ones stuck with grueling overtime to fix the mess.