Mistakenly Married a Substitute Wife, Falling in Love with the Movie Queen - Chapter 1

The Villainous Shadow Queen was stunning, but the money-grubbing little whale…

Early autumn in Jing City, every breath carried a chill.

Shen Shuangjing’s gaze drifted from the skyscrapers visible through the clear glass window to the antique-style decor of the private room.

Refined elegance filled the air, the candlelight casting a soft glow.

“Have you made up your mind?”

Chen Jinluoyu’s voice, as melodious as jade chiming against gold, suddenly cut through the silence, startling Shen Shuangjing.

Through the wisps of tea steam, Shen Shuangjing finally dared to look directly at the alluring woman she had avoided meeting eyes with.

The woman wore a smoky gray mermaid dress, the thin, form-fitting velvet fabric clinging to her willow-like figure. The V-neck and ruffled sleeves framed her slender fingers as she lifted her teacup, revealing a glimpse of a pale purple bellflower tattoo on her wrist—a delicate vine winding across snow-white skin, its intricate details and vibrant spring hues creating a striking contrast between elegance and sensuality.

The hand holding the teacup was long and slender, like a bamboo shoot, its distinct bones and prominent knuckles resembling the masterpiece of a master artist who had poured their heart and soul into their work.

As Shen Shuangjing’s gaze traveled upward, she met the woman’s jade-like face. A deep, enigmatic blue shimmered in her fox-like eyes, like an invisible vortex threatening to pull her into its dizzying depths.

Shen Shuangjing heard her own heartbeat, her lips twitching as she struggled to understand the woman’s words.

Wasn’t she already dead?

Where was this unfamiliar place?

Shen Shuangjing remembered the icy, rushing current before she closed her eyes, each breath bringing river water into her lungs, each moment a searing agony. But when she thought of the little girl she had saved, she didn’t regret her split-second decision to jump into the river to rescue her.

“I’m hiring you as my partner for one year, with a compensation of one million,” the woman repeated lazily, her voice tinged with amusement.

Yet the smile didn’t reach her eyes, the misty haze obscuring the cold indifference at their depths.

“During the term of our marriage, I expect you to abide by the agreement and fulfill every clause. After one year, the contract expires, and we’ll have no further connection.”

Wait… a contractual marriage for one year?

A flood of unfamiliar memories surged into her mind like a thunderclap, tearing through the paper-thin veil before her eyes, revealing everything with stark clarity.

She had transmigrated into a book.

She had become the cannon fodder supporting character in a Phoenix Pride Heaven-style entertainment novel she had just finished reading—the one who enters a contractual marriage with the villainous Best Actress.

The Villainous Shadow Queen sitting across from her was a woman of graceful charm. She had debuted at eighteen and immediately reached her peak, winning Best Actress at the 29th Huaguo Golden Elephant Film Awards. Her fame soared, and film offers flooded in. Everyone expected her to ride this momentum, relentlessly pursuing two more Best Actress trophies. Instead, shortly after her win, she announced a temporary retirement from the industry, turning to inherit her family’s business. Within a few years, she became a legendary figure in the business world, someone no one dared cross.

Though she appeared casual and flirtatious, the woman was actually deeply devoted to her career, dismissive of all else. She moved through a sea of admirers, never reciprocating the affections of either men or women. Yet, she harbored a secret longing, a White Moonlight who haunted her midnight dreams, a distant figure overseas.

When her White Moonlight returned to China after years abroad and announced her entry into the entertainment industry, Sang Baili’s heart stirred anew. She poured all her resources and connections into supporting her, showering her with affection. Because the original novel’s Phoenix Pride Heaven protagonist shared a similar archetype with the White Moonlight, Sang Baili repeatedly clashed with the protagonist over resources. However, she was no match for the protagonist’s plot armor. Through the protagonist’s machinations, Sang Baili’s company was sold off, her family ruined, and she ultimately leaped from the 99th floor of a skyscraper, her body shattered beyond recognition.

Shen Shuangjing had transmigrated into the body of the cannon fodder female supporting character who had entered into a contractual marriage with Sang Baili—a woman whose smile bore a striking resemblance to the White Moonlight.

The Villain had no feelings for the female supporting character. Due to unavoidable circumstances, she sought out the original owner of the body and hired her handsomely to play her partner for a period of time.

The original owner, who had suddenly risen from rags to riches, was blinded by the overwhelming wealth and saw no reason to refuse. Urged on by her mercenary adoptive parents, she repeatedly borrowed and took money from the Sang Family, eventually treating Sang Baili’s funds as her own, taking without asking. During this time, she became infatuated with the Villainous Shadow Queen and, after the agreement expired, refused to divorce, relentlessly pursuing the Villain.

Upon realizing she had failed to win over the Villain and was merely a substitute with a resemblance to the White Moonlight, the original owner completely turned dark. She relentlessly antagonized the White Moonlight, resorting to various schemes of framing and sabotage.

Her actions enraged the Villain. After the original owner hired a group of thugs to ruin the White Moonlight’s reputation, the Villain turned the tables, bound her hand and foot, and, in front of the White Moonlight, threw her into the Arctic Ocean to be devoured by sharks.

What a chilling end. Fortunately, the million-dollar payment was enough to warm one’s heart.

Shen Shuangjing pursed her lips, lowered her head slightly, and tried to suppress the upward curve of her lips, but the corners stubbornly refused to flatten.

“I will do my best to play the role of your partner well,” she said.

To be honest, Shen Shuangjing loved money, but she wasn’t insatiable or unable to prioritize.

Perhaps fate had cast her as a character so easily tempted by wealth to test whether she could resist the allure of money in the face of human nature.

It was a daunting challenge, but Shen Shuangjing was up to it.

She was content; a million was enough.

Whether it was more money than that or the Villainous Shadow Queen’s soul-stirring beauty, she could remain calm, clear-headed, and free from desire. She wouldn’t let herself become the greedy, lustful cannon fodder from the original novel, who ultimately met a well-deserved end.

In a year, she would sign the divorce papers cleanly, take the money, and fly far away, fulfilling the Villain’s wishes. She would start a new life in a place where the Villain couldn’t see her, free from worries except for having too much money.

Sang Baili lifted the lid of the floral-patterned teapot, skimmed the froth from the surface, and her eyes flashed with a fleeting moment of scrutiny before vanishing, replaced by a satisfied smile. “Pleasure doing business with you.”

Shen Shuangjing clasped her hands neatly in her lap, as if watching a million yuan beckon her, her eyes sparkling with diamond-like brilliance. “Pleasure doing business with you.”

Sang Baili took a sip of tea, leaving a glistening drop on her full, rosy lips, like a spring cherry inviting a taste. “Oh, by the way, you asked earlier if I could transfer the money to your family’s account. That’s your personal matter, and I won’t interfere. Just give their account details to Special Assistant Sheng.”

Shen Shuangjing’s lips twitched as if she’d heard something outrageous, her features blurring with panic. “Family? No, no need. Just transfer it to my own account.”

She spoke quickly, terrified that even a half-second’s delay would send the money to her original body’s gambling-addicted stepfather, her dropout brother who spent all his time gaming, or her mother, a master of manipulation.

Sang Baili: “As you wish. I told you, I won’t interfere.”

Her voice was soft, radiating an innate patience and courtesy, the refined manners of someone accustomed to high status. Only a perceptive observer could detect the underlying indifference and detachment in her demeanor.

Shen Shuangjing’s eyes lit up. “Thank you.”

Sang Baili: “No need for formalities. Let’s go.”

As Shen Shuangjing followed the woman to the car, her mind wandered back to the original novel’s plot. The Cullinan purred to life and sped onto the elevated highway. Suddenly, she realized she had no idea where they were going.

But Sang Baili was the universally recognized heir of Jing City’s wealthiest family, the Sang Family. Anyone would bend over backward to please her. It was unlikely she’d kidnap Shen Shuangjing to harvest her organs.

She wasn’t even worth the gas money.

No, that wasn’t right.

Thanks to Tuo Sang Baili, her value was about to skyrocket, fulfilling her childhood dream of becoming a millionaire.

The car was filled with the cool, crisp scent of lavender, and the music player looped an old song, the female vocalist’s voice ethereal, husky, and deeply moving.

Her phone buzzed twice. Sang Baili pulled it from her black crossbody bag, her lashes lowered as she swiped to unlock the screen.

A message from a friend popped up:

Mountain Valley Letter King: Congratulations, lady! You’ve officially joined the ranks of the married today. Clang, clang! Celebrating for you! celebrating.jpg

Sang: ……

Mountain Valley Letter King: Oh? You seem off.

Sang: What do you want to say?

Mountain Valley Letter King: How’s the new bride? Satisfied?

Sang Baili shifted her posture, leaning lazily against the car seat. Her gaze flicked to the young woman beside her, who sat stiffly, grinning foolishly as if oblivious to the world. She typed out a cold, detached reply:

Sang: It’s a contractual marriage. No feelings involved. What’s there to be satisfied or dissatisfied about?

Mountain Valley Letter King: Stop being so stubborn. Even if it’s a contract, you still chose her yourself, didn’t you? Besides, if you really wanted to, you could have found someone with any appearance or personality you desired. You wouldn’t be so twisted as to pick someone you dislike, would you?

Sang Baili’s long, delicate lashes lowered slightly in the dappled light as her slender fingers tightened around her phone.

Whether she liked Shen Shuangjing or not was something she hadn’t truly considered.

The reason she chose Shen Shuangjing was simple: she had inadvertently witnessed a tricycle laden with tomatoes overturn. While others rushed to loot the spilled produce, Shen Shuangjing was the only one who carefully gathered the tomatoes and returned them to the elderly owner.

Sang Baili had no particular requirements for her contractual wife, but she believed that a kind-hearted person would be more likely to agree to a clean break after the agreement ended, without complications.

Yet sitting across from Shen Shuangjing in the teahouse today, Sang Baili realized her rashness.

That day, she had only seen the girl’s kindness. Now, facing her directly, she saw beneath the bangs that framed Shen Shuangjing’s slender brows: a deep-rooted timidity and helplessness in those murky eyes, a fear of eye contact and speaking, and an ambition and greed masked by feigned innocence and timidity.

This was not a good sign.

She was certain she hadn’t misread the situation. So when she noticed that the moment Shen Shuangjing glanced out the window, that entire aura vanished, replaced by a genuine, disarmingly innocent brightness that radiated from her very bones, Sang Baili was genuinely surprised.

Sang Baili had no interest in delving further, but the gloomy girl, like an elusive shadow, seemed to have vanished completely, leaving her momentarily disoriented. It was as if everything had been an illusion, and the world itself was a fabrication.

For the first twenty-odd years of her life, she had been trapped in a dull, lifeless dream beyond her control.

The details of that dream had long since faded from memory.

“Achoo!”

Shen Shuangjing sneezed, rubbing her nose sheepishly.

Sang Baili’s thoughts snapped back to reality. Dismissing her earlier musings as absurd, she touched the purple bellflower on her wrist and instructed the driver, “Turn up the air conditioning.”

How could any of this be fake?

Everything felt so vivid: the perfect sunlight, the crisp air, the girl’s lively, dewy eyes meeting hers with bold sincerity, brimming with gratitude and a hint of sweetness.

A sweetness that seemed to seep into her skin and bl00d.

Even if the past was hazy and indistinct, the present—what she saw, heard, and felt—must be real.

“We’re here.”

Sang Baili opened the car door, her jade-white legs stepping out first.

Shen Shuangjing glanced uncertainly outside. “What are we doing here?”

Only asking now?

Sang Baili turned back, her red lips parting slightly as she uttered two words, each syllable precious, that made Shen Shuangjing’s heart race and her cheeks flush:

“Getting married.”