After Becoming the Mother of the Scumbag Stand-In Female Lead - Chapter 46

The living room was now empty except for herself. Si Ying ate her lunch in solitude, her gaze drifting toward the study several times, but she ultimately couldn’t muster the courage to speak up.

She actually… wanted Si Mu to eat with her…

And then there was her homework… There were still so many problems she didn’t know how to solve…

But she didn’t dare, nor did she want to ask Si Mu for help.

She was afraid Si Mu would think she was stupid, afraid Si Mu would look down on her.

…

When Sheng Yunjin arrived at the company on Monday morning, Chen Yan hadn’t arrived yet, so she quietly sat in the classroom reading the script.

The script wasn’t particularly thick, but it was already filled with Sheng Yunjin’s notes—her personal interpretations of the character and the emotions each line was meant to convey.

About half an hour later, Chen Yan finally appeared.

Standing at the classroom door, she stared fixedly at Sheng Yunjin, who was quietly reading the script with her head lowered, and for a moment, she felt somewhat dazed.

Even now, she still found it a little unbelievable.

Just because she had offered Sheng Yunjin the role of the female lead in a play, Lin Xiaoyu had, as a gesture of gratitude, proactively proposed investing in Chen Yan’s theater troupe.

The amount written in the contract was so large—far exceeding what Chen Yan had originally anticipated.

Lin Xiaoyu’s gesture wasn’t something Chen Yan could remain unmoved by.

Her unreserved support, though likely mostly because of Sheng Yunjin, still carried an element of trust and affirmation toward Chen Yan herself.

A brand-new play had no existing audience base, which meant it carried high risks.

So high that, even after pouring their hearts into rehearsals for a long time, the performance might still be rejected or unappreciated by the audience…

And if that happened, the play would likely never see the stage again.

…

The freshly signed contract in her bag was still slightly damp with ink. Chen Yan tightened her grip on the bag’s strap and, after a long pause, finally stepped into the classroom.

Her expression had already returned to calm—at least, it showed no trace of the excitement she felt inside.

Chen Yan loved taking bold risks. That was why, after winning the highest honors in the entertainment industry, she had chosen to return to the theater.

Even without Lin Xiaoyu’s financial backing, Chen Yan would have persisted with this play—not for anyone else, but for herself.

And now, with sufficient financial support, she had even less reason to back down.

…

Xianzhu Mansion

Footsteps approached, and Sheng Yunjin looked up before standing to inform Chen Yan of her decision to accept the role.

But before she could speak, Chen Yan interrupted her.

“Starting tomorrow, you’ll be training with the troupe. Remember to pack your things tonight.”

Sheng Yunjin froze, caught off guard by Chen Yan’s abrupt statement.

She studied Chen Yan’s typically stern face and asked, “Where’s the training?”

Picking up the script Sheng Yunjin had set aside earlier, Chen Yan flipped through it without looking up. “Nan City.”

Nan City—a three-hour flight from the capital where they were now…

“Not bad, but some parts still need more refinement…”

Chen Yan had already begun analyzing Sheng Yunjin’s notes, as if, having issued her instructions, she had nothing more to say.

Sheng Yunjin rubbed the tip of her nose, feeling awkward for the first time.

“Teacher Chen, how long will the training last?”

Chen Yan glanced up at her. “Three months. I’ve scheduled the first official performance for the last day of December.”

Noticing Sheng Yunjin’s hesitant expression, Chen Yan paused. “Do you have concerns?”

Shaking her head slowly, Sheng Yunjin didn’t exactly have concerns.

It just felt… all too sudden.

Chen Yan was indeed even more decisive than she’d imagined…

……

For the rest of the morning, Chen Yan meticulously explained the role of the female lead that Sheng Yunjin would be playing—from her background to every decision and line of dialogue in the performance.

Sheng Yunjin listened attentively, occasionally sharing her own interpretations and thoughts. When their views aligned, Chen Yan would give an almost imperceptible smile.

This was the female lead she had chosen. Chen Yan wouldn’t—and couldn’t—allow Sheng Yunjin to ruin this performance.

Just before the morning session ended, as if only now noticing the bandage on Sheng Yunjin’s left hand, Chen Yan asked casually, “Is it serious?”

Sheng Yunjin raised her hand and glanced at it, unfazed. “It doesn’t affect daily activities. Should heal in a few days.”

Chen Yan gave a brief nod, asked no further, and dismissed the class before leaving.

……

At lunch, Sheng Yunjin didn’t get the chance to tell Si Mu about her upcoming trip to Nan City.

Si Mu had messaged her earlier, saying she and Zhao Yuanqi were meeting with a business partner to discuss a contract and would be having lunch out.

Carrying her lunch to Lin Xiaoyu’s office, Sheng Yunjin slumped onto the desk listlessly.

Lin Xiaoyu, who had just returned from a meeting, took one look at her dejected state and immediately guessed the reason.

She sat across from Sheng Yunjin and poured her a cup of tea.

“You didn’t know about the out-of-town training either, did you?”

This had come up during the contract discussion with Chen Yan that morning. Lin Xiaoyu couldn’t help but feel a little amused—someone had just started dating, and now, mere days later, was about to be forced into a long-distance relationship. Tsk.

Staring blankly at her cup, Sheng Yunjin sighed.

“I didn’t pay attention to the fact that the troupe was based in Nan City when I was researching.”

Nan City, also known as the City of Drama, hosted an annual theater festival that drew massive crowds—a paradise for theater enthusiasts.

Still, having agreed to it, Sheng Yunjin had no choice but to go.

This was a new script, and every step—from preparation to final performance—required significant time and effort.

For a three-hour continuous performance, three months of intensive training and rehearsals were absolutely necessary.

…

On the drive home that evening, Si Mu glanced at Sheng Yunjin in the passenger seat.

Sensing her gaze, Sheng Yunjin turned to meet her eyes, then hesitated and looked out the window instead.

Si Mu found it amusing—this was the first time she’d seen Sheng Yunjin like this.

Her delicate face was tense, her expression a mix of conflict and hesitation.

In short, utterly adorable.

From the moment she picked her up after class, Simu had sensed something was off with Sheng Yunjin. It seemed like she had something to say, yet couldn’t quite find the words.

Simu carefully steered the car to the side of the road, gradually slowing down.

“Do you have something to tell me?”

Her voice was soft and gentle. Sheng Yunjin rubbed her slightly tingling ear and turned to look at her.

When their eyes met, Sheng Yunjin opened her mouth but ultimately lowered her head in defeat.

“Starting tomorrow, I have to go to Nancheng for training to prepare for the new play.”

Simu knew about the play Sheng Yunjin mentioned—she had talked about it over the weekend.

Seeing Sheng Yunjin so dejected, Simu gently stroked her head and asked thoughtfully, “Will it take long?”

If it were just a few days, Sheng Yunjin probably wouldn’t look so downcast…

“…Three months.”

Her voice was low, as if reflecting her current mood.

Who could possibly be happy about being separated from their girlfriend for three months just days after getting together?

Certainly not Sheng Yunjin.

Frowning slightly, Simu wasn’t thrilled about the news either, but this was Sheng Yunjin’s work, and she understood.

Softly comforting her, Simu said gently, “It’s okay. I’ll visit you on weekends.”

“Every weekend.”

After a pause, she added.

Nancheng wasn’t too far away.

Sheng Yunjin was even more touched by her words. She looked up, her eyes glistening.

“…Teacher Chen doesn’t allow family to visit…”

The grievance in her voice was almost palpable.

Sheng Yunjin recalled how Teacher Chen had casually mentioned this during class, as if it were just a reminder. At the time, she couldn’t even muster a smile.

But Teacher Chen, seemingly oblivious to her expression, had merely explained impassively.

This was Sheng Yunjin’s first role—and such an important lead at that.

Teacher Chen wanted her to fully immerse herself in the character she was portraying.

Three months wasn’t long, and she believed there was no need for contact with family or friends outside.

Sheng Yunjin had felt both wronged and heartbroken, convinced she’d been tricked.

She’d never heard of any actor preparing for a role like this before.

But the contract was already signed, and Sheng Yunjin wasn’t one to go back on her word. She could only nod helplessly in agreement.

…

The car fell silent. Simu pressed her lips together, her expression unreadable.

But Sheng Yunjin knew—she wasn’t happy either.

The car started moving again, though this time, Sheng Yunjin held onto Simu’s right hand, forcing her to drive with just one hand.

Simu glanced at their intertwined hands resting on Sheng Yunjin’s thigh but said nothing.

…

During dinner that evening, Simu’s younger sister, Si Ying, sitting across from them, discreetly studied their expressions.

She was puzzled—this was the first time the dining table had been so quiet.

Usually, Sheng Yunjin would chatter nonstop, and Si Ying had no idea where she got all those words from.

The key was, she always managed to make Simu laugh.

Though unsure of the reason, Si Ying guessed they might have had a fight—maybe Sheng Yunjin had upset Simu.

That would be for the best. If so, Sheng Yunjin wouldn’t have to stay at Simu’s place anymore.

…

However, to Si Ying’s disappointment, Sheng Yunjin still followed them back to Si Mu’s house that evening.

She stole a glance at Si Mu, only to find that she showed no intention of stopping it.

…

Just last night, the two of them had been discussing Sheng Yunjin moving in. But now, Si Mu was leaving for another city tomorrow—and for three whole months.

If Sheng Yunjin were to move in, there wasn’t much she actually needed to bring. Si Mu had already prepared clothes and accessories for her and would continue to add more in the future.

As for other daily necessities, there was no need to mention those—Si Mu already had everything here.

So last night, Sheng Yunjin had decided that all she needed to bring up were a few small potted plants from downstairs.

…

Following Si Mu into the bedroom, Sheng Yunjin closed the door behind them, wrapped her arms around Si Mu’s waist from behind, and rested her head on her shoulder, nuzzling affectionately into the crook of her neck.

“Xiao Mu, are you angry?”