After Becoming the Mother of the Scumbag Stand-In Female Lead - Chapter 12

Staring fixedly at the ceiling above, Sheng Yunjin blinked in confusion. Was she hearing things? Why did she hear someone calling her name again?

A dream?

What dream?

Dreaming of whom?

Me?

After glancing around the bedroom and confirming she was indeed alone, Sheng Yunjin turned her gaze back to the ceiling.

Does she live above me?

This apartment was the first property Sheng Yunjin purchased after returning to China as an adult. She had originally wanted the penthouse suite, but the sales staff informed her she was too late—the top floor had already been sold.

Since the location and environment of this residential complex were excellent, Sheng Yunjin hesitated only briefly before purchasing two adjacent units on the floor below. During renovations, she had some non-load-bearing walls between them demolished, effectively creating her own sprawling penthouse.

The renovation was completed two years ago, but Sheng Yunjin had been abroad until her return half a month ago—her first actual stay in the apartment.

Tonight marked the second time someone’s voice had pierced through the silencing barrier she’d cast around herself. The first instance was that afternoon at the mall.

Both times, the same person had broken her spell.

…

Any lingering drowsiness had now completely faded. Leaning against the headboard, Sheng Yunjin frowned slightly in thought.

She couldn’t mistake that voice—it was unmistakably the same “President Si” she’d met earlier that day. What surprised her was how close they actually lived to each other.

Holding her breath instinctively, she strained to listen for more.

But to her disappointment, after that single utterance, no further sounds came from above.

Should she lift the silencing barrier and try?

The idea flickered through her mind, and her fingertips twitched with temptation.

No, no…

Setting aside how many ambient noises she’d be subjected to without the barrier, actively eavesdropping on a neighbor’s private space was downright creepy!

She dismissed the thought with a shake of her head. Crossing her arms, she sat upright and muttered sternly to herself.

Her curiosity about Si Mu had reached a fever pitch. Tossing restlessly in bed, her mind raced.

She desperately wanted to know what kind of connection bound her to President Si…

Why did her spells fail specifically against this woman?

Why could a stranger call her name with such certainty?

Questions piled up endlessly until Sheng Yunjin buried her face in the blankets with a muffled groan.

Never before had she felt this agonizing urge to know someone, to understand them…

…

In contrast to Sheng Yunjin’s restlessness, Si Mu upstairs remained composed.

Her evening routine proceeded as usual: a long soak in the bath, followed by her meticulous skincare regimen.

But just as she was about to turn off the lights and sleep, a realization struck her.

It hadn’t registered in her dreams, but now, after meeting in person, it dawned on Si Mu belatedly—Sheng Yunjin seemed younger than her…

Pausing mid-motion, she reconsidered and returned to the vanity. Studying her reflection closely, she examined every detail of her face.

Though her skin remained smooth and fair without a single wrinkle at the corners of her eyes, Si Mu still felt somewhat displeased.

Recalling Sheng Yunjin’s figure from earlier in the day, Si Mu guessed she couldn’t be older than twenty-five—still radiating youthful charm.

A subtle heaviness settled in her heart. While she didn’t consider thirty-two old, it certainly wasn’t as young as being in one’s twenties.

With a resigned sigh to steady her emotions, Si Mu decided it was time to step up her skincare routine.

Carrying that faint weight in her chest, she climbed into bed and closed her eyes, only for Sheng Yunjin’s bright, dazzling smile to flash unbidden in her mind.

In an instant, all those complicated thoughts vanished, replaced by a quiet anticipation—would she dream of her again tonight?

…

Like a restless fish flopping all night, Sheng Yunjin strained her ears but never heard the voice calling her name from upstairs again.

Disappointed, she got out of bed, sporting faint dark circles under her eyes. After freshening up, she changed into workout clothes in the walk-in closet.

After a night of contemplation, she had finally devised the perfect plan for a “chance” encounter.

Morning jog.

CEO Si would surely leave for work—she’d just stretch by the building entrance, ensuring a flawless “coincidental” meeting!

Mentally applauding her own brilliance, Sheng Yunjin finished getting ready and headed downstairs.

Though summer lingered, the early morning air at six was still pleasantly cool. She planned to exercise for an hour before timing her appearance at the entrance.

…

After four or five laps around the neighborhood, slightly breathless, she checked her watch—nearly eight o’clock.

Strolling leisurely while stretching, she positioned herself near the flower bed by the building entrance, pretending to casually observe those coming and going.

By eight, the sun already carried summer’s heat. Strangely, the hour-long run hadn’t made her sweat much, but standing under the sun now had beads forming on her forehead and neck.

From eight to nine, she cycled through multiple stretching routines, yet Si Mu never appeared.

Though inwardly stomping in frustration, Sheng Yunjin maintained a composed face under the scorching sun before finally retreating home.

…

Even after a refreshing cold shower, sprawled on the sofa, she couldn’t pinpoint where her plan had gone wrong.

Then came Lin Xiaoyu’s call.

Glancing at her phone’s date in dismay, she nearly kicked herself.

How could she have forgotten—today was Sunday!

No work on Sundays…

As Lin Xiaoyu rambled on about her grievances, Sheng Yunjin’s thoughts drifted.

Should she just go upstairs and ring the doorbell?

No, too forward.

If only she’d been bolder yesterday and struck up more conversation…

Ugh… Since when had she become so hesitant?

…

The very person Sheng Yunjin had been obsessing over all morning wasn’t even home. Though Sunday, Si Mu had gone to the office—as the boss, her schedule was hers to decide.

The reason Sheng Yunjin didn’t run into Si Mu at the building entrance was simply because Si Mu had taken the elevator directly down to the underground parking garage.

…

Having waited eagerly all morning, Sheng Yunjin remained completely unaware of her own foolishness, still racking her brains for a plausible excuse to “accidentally” meet Si Mu.

After pouring out all her grievances in one breath, Lin Xiaoyu ended with a few sniffles. “My dad is just too much. He clearly looks down on me, wuwuwu…”

Snapping out of her thoughts, Sheng Yunjin got up to pour herself a glass of milk from the kitchen while soothing her friend. “There there, don’t cry. Your dad does care about you—he just has some outdated views.”

The incident that had upset Lin Xiaoyu so much began when store staff delivered their shopping spree purchases early that morning. Lin Xiaoyu had been happily directing the household staff to organize her new items when she happened to encounter her cousin Lin Ge, who had come to discuss business with her father Lin Hai in the study.

Lin Ge, the same age as Lin Xiaoyu, was the son of her uncle Lin Jiang. Unlike Lin Xiaoyu who had studied abroad since high school, Lin Ge had received his education entirely in China, attending university right in Beijing.

This allowed Lin Ge to start interning at the family company as a freshman, giving him significantly more work experience compared to Lin Xiaoyu’s mere two weeks on the job.

Lin Hai had repeatedly warned his daughter to take the company more seriously—otherwise, even if he wanted to pass the business to her, her lack of capability might force him to hand it over to someone else eventually.

After all, Lin Ge and his father’s ambitions for the company were practically an open secret.

…

When Lin Ge saw Lin Xiaoyu preoccupied with unpacking her shopping bags, he didn’t hesitate to make sarcastic remarks, essentially suggesting she should just enjoy being a pampered young lady and live comfortably off company dividends.

The Lin family company’s controlling shares were held by Lin Hai, with Lin Ge’s father Lin Jiang owning only a minority stake—this was Lin Hai’s assurance that he could eventually install his daughter as successor.

But watching Lin Ge thrive in the company while his own daughter complained of exhaustion after just two weeks of work filled Lin Hai with frustration. When Lin Ge made his cutting remarks, Lin Hai didn’t immediately defend his daughter.

Lin Xiaoyu had always been gentle-natured, unable to speak harshly to anyone except when bickering with her father or best friend Sheng Yunjin.

So, when suddenly faced with Lin Ge’s mockery, though furious inside, she could only respond with an angry huff before retreating to her room.

After Lin Ge left, Lin Hai came to talk, wanting to check on his daughter’s progress at work.

Still stinging from Lin Ge’s provocation, Lin Xiaoyu impulsively blurted out what she’d planned to discuss the next day at work—that she didn’t want to start from an entry-level position.

Lin Hai immediately frowned at this, bluntly stating that with her current lack of skills, learning from the ground up was essential if she ever wanted to take over the company.

In the end, the two of them ended up arguing over their differences in opinion. Lin Hai was so frustrated with his daughter that he issued an ultimatum: either Lin Xiaoyu obediently followed his arrangements to study diligently at the company, or she would have to accept the arranged marriage he set up for her to find a reliable son-in-law.

The confrontation concluded with Lin Xiaoyu kicking her father out of her room.

…

On the other end of the phone, Lin Xiaoyu was still sobbing, “Xiao Jin, what should I do…?”

After downing half a glass of milk in one gulp, Sheng Yunjin pondered before speaking, “Do you want to take over the company yourself or rely on someone else?”

Lin Xiaoyu responded passionately, “I refuse to depend on anyone else! Of course I should inherit the company my father founded!”