After Becoming the Mother of the Scumbag Stand-In Female Lead - Chapter 41

The blackout curtains in the lounge were drawn, leaving the room dim and shadowy.

Sheng Yunjin lay on her side, embracing Si Mu. Her left hand rested obediently between them, while her right hand mischievously traced circles along Si Mu’s waist.

Suppressing the ticklish sensation, Si Mu buried her face deeper into the crook of Sheng Yunjin’s neck, her ears flushed red. Eyes tightly shut, she pretended not to notice her girlfriend’s playful antics.

Feeling the uneven warmth of Si Mu’s breath against her skin, Sheng Yunjin bit back a smile.

Her chest trembled faintly with suppressed laughter, and even with her eyes closed, Si Mu could sense it clearly.

With a helpless yet indulgent smile, Si Mu finally opened her eyes. Yielding to the restless desire in her heart, she pressed a restrained kiss against Sheng Yunjin’s collarbone.

As their lips parted, Si Mu’s lashes fluttered, and she gently nipped the same spot.

The fleeting sting sent a shiver down Sheng Yunjin’s spine.

Her breath hitched as she glanced down, only then realizing that the top button of her blouse had somehow come undone.

The culprit, however, suddenly turned away, as if feigning innocence.

Her heartbeat erratic, Sheng Yunjin clung to Si Mu from behind, her voice a mix of playful whining and sweet coaxing near her ear.

“I don’t want to go on our date anymore~ Xiao Mu~ Let’s just stay here, okay~?”

Sheng Yunjin had thought she could resist, but now it was Si Mu tempting her. Under her girlfriend’s deliberate teasing, her defenses crumbled instantly.

The soft, mature curves pressed against her back sent Si Mu’s ears burning. Unfazed, she clasped Sheng Yunjin’s right hand resting on her abdomen and murmured tenderly, “Be good. Let’s sleep.”

Beneath the thin blanket, Sheng Yunjin’s legs kicked lightly in protest.

Si Mu chuckled but kept her eyes firmly shut, only the curve of her lips betraying her amusement.

“Stop fussing.”

Sulking, Sheng Yunjin tightened her embrace, then draped her right leg over Si Mu’s slightly bent calf as if in retaliation.

Though she held her close, her touch remained featherlight.

Cradled in her arms, Si Mu drifted off to sleep, her smile lingering until slumber took her.

…

When Sheng Yunjin awoke from her nap, she instinctively reached out, only to find the space beside her empty.

Her lashes fluttered in disappointment as she sat up, running a hand through her tousled hair.

Si Mu emerged from the bathroom and, seeing her, settled on the edge of the bed, gently smoothing the stray locks.

Taking advantage of Sheng Yunjin’s drowsy state, Si Mu pressed a tender kiss to her cheek.

“Awake now?”

Sheng Yunjin’s bright eyes sparkled as she grinned and shook her head. “Nope.”

Then, tilting her face slightly, she pointed to her other cheek, her expression playful and sweet.

“This side too.”

A few strands of hair slipped behind Si Mu’s ear as she laughed softly. Leaning in, she kissed the other cheek as requested.

As her lips parted from Sheng Yunjin’s skin, Si Mu’s gaze drifted to the slightly undone collar of her blouse.

Her fingertips brushed against the exposed fair skin, lingering in a soft caress.

The bite she gave at noon was very light, leaving almost no mark.

Unlike Sheng Yunjin.

It wasn’t until Si Mu looked in the bathroom mirror that she noticed several faint red marks on her neck.

Fortunately, her high-collared shirt covered them perfectly.

Fingers twitching slightly, Si Mu reached up and rebuttoned it for her.

There was no need to rush—they had a long future ahead.

…

Si Mu had booked a private couples’ cinema with high privacy.

The spacious screening room held only the two of them.

Sitting side by side on the sofa, they watched the movie in silence.

Midway through, there was a tender scene between the male and female leads—not overly explicit, just a fairly common kissing scene.

Yet when it played, Si Mu unconsciously pursed her lips.

She glanced sideways at Sheng Yunjin, who was watching intently, seemingly immersed in the plot while also studying the actors’ techniques.

Suppressing the faint discomfort in her chest, Si Mu turned back, trying to refocus on the film.

But emotions weren’t always so easy to control.

She reminded herself that Sheng Yunjin was pursuing acting—intimate scenes were just part of the job.

It was unavoidable.

Si Mu consoled herself this way, unwilling to be the kind of person who hindered her partner’s career.

That would be irrational.

Repeating it silently, she willed herself not to dwell on something so trivial.

Yet the more she tried, the colder her expression grew.

The ease in her eyes faded, replaced by detachment and distance without her realizing it.

Then, a gentle squeeze on her palm startled her.

Turning instinctively, she met Sheng Yunjin’s soft gaze as the latter smiled and asked, “What’s on your mind?”

Si Mu averted her eyes. “Nothing.”

Their fingers intertwined, warmth radiating between them. Lips pressed together, Si Mu finally looked up.

Sheng Yunjin glanced at the screen before murmuring, “My company’s owner is Lin Xiaoyu.”

“I only took up acting because I wanted something to do.”

“I have full freedom to choose—or refuse—any role.”

Leaning closer with a playful tilt of her head, she blinked deliberately, grinning with exaggerated boldness.

“Being a privileged insider means I can pick and choose as I please.”

Si Mu almost laughed at her smug expression but still muttered stubbornly, “You’re meticulous about your work. What if those scenes are genuinely necessary for the story?”

Sheng Yunjin chuckled softly—clearly, this mattered a lot to Si Mu.

Meeting her gaze earnestly, she replied, “There might be plot-essential moments, but they’ll never involve intimacy.”

Running through award-winning performances she’d studied, Sheng Yunjin added, “No actor has ever won acclaim just for an intimate scene.”

Though she’d seen few domestic dramas, she’d followed recent major award ceremonies closely.

So, she knew very clearly what types of films and what kinds of roles had higher chances of winning awards.

Admittedly, this might sound quite utilitarian.

But that was the reality. Sheng Yunjin wasn’t here to play around, nor was she in it for the paycheck.

The wealth under her name was beyond counting.

Her principle had always been: if she was going to do something, she would do it to the best of her ability.

Since she had decided to become an actress, she was determined to win the highest honor in this profession.

The scripts she would choose in the future—whether for supporting roles or lead roles—had to serve a purpose.

She didn’t like trial and error, and Lin Xiaoyu wouldn’t let her experiment recklessly either.

Sheng Mingzhao certainly wouldn’t give her the time for mistakes.

…

Sheng Yunjin carefully laid out her thoughts to Si Mu.

These were all considerations from a utilitarian, strategic perspective—remarks that might upset some people if they heard them.

But Sheng Yunjin didn’t care. There were very few things she cared about.

And right now, the only thing that truly mattered to her was Si Mu’s feelings.

…

After explaining all this, Sheng Yunjin paused, her gaze softening, brimming with affection.

“Even without considering all that, I wouldn’t film intimate scenes anyway.”

“I don’t have the self-awareness to sacrifice for art. If something makes me uncomfortable—and especially if it makes my girlfriend uncomfortable—of course I’d refuse outright.”

Such was the declaration of a wealthy heiress with enough backing to be utterly unapologetic.

The discomfort in Si Mu’s heart completely melted away. She looked into Sheng Yunjin’s eyes, then deliberately turned her head away, refocusing on the still-playing film.

“I understand.”

Seeing the sudden softness in Si Mu’s expression, Sheng Yunjin couldn’t help but smile.

Her jealous girlfriend was just as adorable.

…

By the time the movie ended, Sheng Yunjin and Si Mu were strolling hand in hand through the mall at a leisurely pace.

One carried an elegant, mature demeanor, dressed in refined sophistication; the other was radiant and bold, her style youthful and carefree.

Si Mu had paired her outfit with heels today, while Sheng Yunjin wore comfortable flats.

So, when they walked side by side, Si Mu was slightly taller than Sheng Yunjin.

Sheng Yunjin tilted her head to look at her, a mischievous idea suddenly forming in her mind.

She let go of Si Mu’s hand and instead wrapped her arm around Si Mu’s.

Her expression instantly shifted—from bright and dazzling to shy and hesitant, her eyes darting around nervously.

Her striking features, now paired with this soft, innocent demeanor, gave her a pitiful, delicate air.

Si Mu was still contemplating which boutique to visit for matching couple’s accessories, completely oblivious to her girlfriend’s sudden transformation.

“…President Si, where are we going?”

A soft, timid voice suddenly sounded beside her ear. Si Mu froze, then turned to look at Sheng Yunjin.

When she met those clear, watery eyes, her ears flushed pink involuntarily, and an inexplicable shyness washed over her—her girlfriend looked so delicate and sweet.

She pressed her lips together and murmured, “Why… why are you calling me that all of a sudden?”

Sheng Yunjin naturally noticed Si Mu’s momentary bashfulness and secretly smiled to herself.

She decided she could play this game a few more times in the future.

Maintaining her flawless act, she tightened her grip on Si Mu’s arm.

“…Didn’t you tell me to call you that?”

Her voice was shy and timid, her expression perfectly conveying the emotion.

Si Mu’s arm was held tightly by her, even able to clearly feel the soft friction against it.

Her arm stiffened instinctively, not daring to move, yet her gaze uncontrollably drifted toward Sheng Yunjin’s front.

Pursing her lips, Si Mu forced herself to avert her eyes unnaturally.

At this point, how could she not tell Sheng Yunjin was deliberately teasing her?

Suppressing the shame in her heart, Si Mu led her toward a jewelry shop ahead.

“…Mm, I brought you here today to buy a ring.”

Playing along with the act, Sheng Yunjin was laughing hysterically inside, yet she still had to maintain her current persona.

“Huh? A ring…”

Trying her best to ignore the shop assistant’s curious glances, Si Mu replied with slightly flushed cheeks, her tone calm, “…You can pick whichever one you like.”

Hearing this, Sheng Yunjin wore an expression of hesitation, as if wanting to say something but holding back.

“…But this wasn’t in the contract…”