After Becoming the Mother of the Scumbag Stand-In Female Lead - Chapter 26

The two arrived at the CEO’s office, where Sheng Yunjin looked around and teased, “Not bad at all. Quite impressive.”

Lin Xiaoyu shot back with a playful jab, “I wouldn’t dare invite the esteemed Miss Sheng to anything too shabby.”

Meeting Sheng Yunjin’s raised eyebrow, Lin Xiaoyu quickly changed the subject.

Glancing at Sheng Yunjin’s slightly slow-moving right foot, she hesitated before asking, “Is the injury serious? Maybe we should wait until you’re fully recovered before starting the lessons. There’s no need to rush.”

Sheng Yunjin flexed her ankle confidently. “It’s nothing, just a minor injury.”

Seeing her insistence, Lin Xiaoyu didn’t press further.

After all, the new drama she was currently negotiating was already in preparation, and Lin Xiaoyu very much hoped Sheng Yunjin could take the lead role. Naturally, the sooner she began training, the better.

Capitalist Lin Xiaoyu truly had no conscience.

“The instructor I’ve arranged for you, Professor Chen, is an associate professor at the Film Academy with years of theater performance experience. You’ll train under her for a while first, and we’ll see how it goes.”

Sheng Yunjin nodded seriously. “Got it. Where are the classes held?”

Lin Xiaoyu pointed upward. “Upstairs.”

She had leased three entire floors of the building, with the upper two floors dedicated to training studios for actors.

Lin Xiaoyu accompanied Sheng Yunjin upstairs, introduced her to Professor Chen, and then left—she had other work to attend to.

Sheng Yunjin surveyed the floor’s layout. Most of it had been renovated into transparent classrooms with glass walls, several of which already had ongoing sessions.

Professor Chen was a stern-looking middle-aged woman, and Sheng Yunjin adjusted her attitude accordingly, following the instructor’s directions without question.

…

When Si Mu arrived at the company, she was immediately intercepted by Zhao Yuanqi.

Following Si Mu into her office, Zhao Yuanqi wore a mischievous grin.

“You weren’t here this morning—I thought you were taking the day off.”

Si Mu was known for her perfect attendance, so Zhao Yuanqi had been surprised when she didn’t show up earlier. But then she remembered Si Mu had shared a dinner with Sheng Yunjin the night before, complete with wine, and assumed they had spent a pleasant night together.

So, very considerately, she hadn’t called.

Who knew Si Mu would show up in the afternoon anyway?

Si Mu ignored the remark, simply handing over the documents Sheng Yunjin had compiled the night before before instructing her secretary, “Notify the marketing department—meeting at 3:30.”

Secretary Sun left promptly, leaving Zhao Yuanqi staring at the thick stack of materials in astonishment.

“Such thorough research—where did you get this?”

After a pause, realization dawned. “Courtesy of Miss Sheng?”

Si Mu nodded and took her seat at the desk.

Skimming through files on her computer, she noticed Zhao Yuanqi still standing there and raised a questioning brow. “Anything else?”

The unspoken implication: You have the documents—why aren’t you working?

Zhao Yuanqi leaned in closer and whispered, “So last night, you two really just worked? Nothing else happened?”

Si Mu’s eyes remained fixed on the screen. Without even glancing up, she replied, “No.”

Pouting, Zhao Yuanqi straightened up, gathered the files, and turned to leave.

As she walked away, she muttered under her breath, “That doesn’t make sense. Could it be Miss Sheng isn’t up to it?”

Si Mu listened to her blatant murmuring, feeling a vein throb at her temple.

She really wanted to say Sheng Yunjin was quite capable, just not fully awakened yet yet.

Sighing inwardly, Si Mu shook her head and redirected her focus to her work.

…

When the meeting ended, Si Mu was the last to leave the conference room.

Thanks to Sheng Yunjin’s efficient assistance, JM had indeed saved a considerable amount of time.

Si Mu was no slouch either. After finalizing the clothing brand collaboration during the meeting, she methodically arranged the follow-up negotiations with the overseas company, waiting only for their representatives to arrive in a week to finalize the details.

Sitting back in her office, Si Mu exhaled in relief.

Watching Secretary Sun pour her coffee, she suddenly asked, “Do you know what company is on the 47th floor?”

Secretary Sun paused, then shook her head hesitantly. “President Si, should I go check now?”

Internally, she was puzzled. Hadn’t they just confirmed the overseas collaboration? Why was the president suddenly interested in the company upstairs? Was it a newly established fashion brand?

Si Mu shook her head, then faintly smiled as if recalling something. “No need. Go back to your work.”

…

At 5:30 p.m., Si Mu shut down her computer on time and picked up her phone to message Sheng Yunjin.

—Are you off work yet?

After two minutes with no reply, she frowned and sent another before grabbing her bag and heading out.

—I’ll come get you.

Secretary Sun, still tidying up at her desk, watched Si Mu’s retreating figure in heels and instinctively checked the time.

How strange.

The president, known for her overtime habits, had left on time two days in a row.

Zhao Yuanqi, leisurely preparing to leave, passed by the secretary’s office and waved a hand in front of the dazed Secretary Sun.

Snapping back to reality, Secretary Sun blushed slightly and greeted her softly, “President Zhao.”

Leaning against the desk, Zhao Yuanqi grinned. “What’s up, Secretary Sun? Why aren’t you heading home?”

Fiddling with her bag, Secretary Sun murmured, “Nothing, I’m leaving now…”

Zhao Yuanqi yawned lazily, no longer teasing. “Leaving on time feels great. I don’t know where your president gets the energy to work late every day.”

Secretary Sun slung her bag over her shoulder and, as she hurried off, instinctively replied,

“President Si didn’t work late today. She already left.”

With that, she scurried away.

Left standing alone, Zhao Yuanqi turned to stare at Si Mu’s closed office door, her grin widening.

“I knew something was going on between her and Sheng Yunjin!”

“Probably sneaking off for another date!”

…

Meanwhile, the supposedly “dating” Si Mu had just arrived on the 47th floor via the elevator.

Reading the company name displayed in the lobby, she felt a flicker of surprise.

“Qingguo Entertainment,” she murmured, the name vaguely familiar.

Perhaps because it was past working hours, the reception desk was unmanned. Hesitantly, Si Mu ventured further inside while dialing Sheng Yunjin’s number.

The call went unanswered, stirring unease in her chest.

“…President Si?”

Lin Xiaoyu, who had left work slightly later than usual, was surprised to see a familiar figure in the distance.

Si Mu turned toward the voice and gave a slight nod in greeting. “Miss Lin.”

Noticing that Si Mu also appeared to have just gotten off work, Lin Xiaoyu fell silent for a few seconds before tentatively asking, “President Si, are you here to see Xiao Jin?”

Si Mu nodded hesitantly. “Is she here?”

Her suspicions confirmed, Lin Xiaoyu felt an inexplicable complexity in her heart.

“…She is.”

Her gaze flickered to Si Mu’s phone screen, where she was still dialing a number. Thanks to her sharp eyesight, Lin Xiaoyu could clearly see the contact name displayed: Sheng Yunjin.

Mourning the demise of her superstar ambitions internally for a few seconds, Lin Xiaoyu resignedly said, “She’s upstairs—probably has her phone on silent.”

“I’ll take you up, President Si.”

The worry between Si Mu’s brows eased slightly as she nodded gratefully. “Thank you, Miss Lin.”

Lin Xiaoyu smiled and entered the elevator with her.

Si Mu recalled how Lin Xiaoyu had been dressed professionally when she visited Sheng Yunjin’s home last night—and today, Yun Jin had suddenly announced she was coming to work at the company…

“Is Qingguo Entertainment jointly founded by you and Miss Sheng?”

Lin Xiaoyu proudly nodded—then shook her head. “No, the company is mine. Xiao Jin is a signed artist under us.”

“An artist?”

Si Mu blinked in surprise.

When they reached the upper floor, most of the practice rooms were already closed for the day, leaving only the innermost one still lit.

As they approached, the full-glass walls allowed a clear view of the activities inside.

Si Mu and Lin Xiaoyu stopped in front of the glass partition, watching in stunned silence as Sheng Yunjin inside the room…

Crawled swiftly across the floor on all fours, moving with eerie speed…

The visual impact was so overwhelming that Lin Xiaoyu’s lips twitched uncontrollably.

Performance art is all about letting go…

She could accept that, but…

Stealing a glance at Si Mu’s expression, Lin Xiaoyu felt uneasy.

After all, Si Mu was currently… well… someone Yun Jin had feelings for.

Lin Xiaoyu internally defined their relationship.

If Yun Jin finds out her crush saw her like this, she might lose it.

Clearing her throat, Lin Xiaoyu attempted to salvage her best friend’s dignity.

“Uh… art… haha… tends to be exaggerated…”

Si Mu, however, remained focused on Sheng Yunjin’s exaggerated expressions and poses inside the room. At Lin Xiaoyu’s words, she merely blinked without responding.

Unable to decipher Si Mu’s thoughts, Lin Xiaoyu steeled herself and asked, “…What do you think, President Si?”

Si Mu glanced at her briefly before returning her gaze to Sheng Yunjin inside.

Her eyes sparkled faintly, and a soft, tender smile touched her lips.

“Adorable.”

Lin Xiaoyu’s pupils dilated in shock—she hadn’t expected that response.

She looked back inside, where Sheng Yunjin was now striking a ridiculous “golden rooster stands alone” pose in the center of the room, the thick white bandages wrapped around her toes only adding to the absurdity.

Although she also had a soft spot for Sheng Yunjin, she only found this version of him amusing. She even wanted to record this moment and post it on social media to thoroughly mock him.

Not like Si Mu, though.

How could anyone call this “adorable”?

Tsk-tsking in amazement as her gaze shifted between Si Mu and Sheng Yunjin, Lin Xiaoyu suddenly realized—

So, this is what they mean by “love is blind”…

Her instincts had been right all along. It probably wouldn’t be long before Sheng Yunjin and Si Mu flew off together into the sunset.

These two were clearly running toward each other with open arms.