Mistakenly Married a Substitute Wife, Falling in Love with the Movie Queen - Chapter 19

Sang Baili didn’t get an answer.

A hurried reminder, sped up fivefold, shot into her eardrum like a dart:

“It’s time. I’ll hang up now. Remember to eat on time, sis.”

The call disconnected. When she tried calling back, no one answered, not even after the automated message played.

Ruyu’s jade-like fingertips tapped lightly on the table. Under the warm glow of the lamp, Sang Baili’s chestnut hair seemed to lighten a shade, and a ripple of emotion stirred in her watery eyes.

Shen Shuangjing had sent a message out of the blue, then hung up just as abruptly, seemingly only to remind her to eat on time.

The warmth felt superficial, as if Sang Baili were Shen Shuangjing’s virtual pet on a screen, and Shen Shuangjing’s call had been a side quest—completing the daily “care for pet” achievement.

Having finished the task, she left without a second thought.

And the virtual pet, lacking human rights, could only poke at her phone, receiving in return the cold, unyielding voice prompt: “Unable to connect.”

“……”

Sang Baili’s gaze shifted to the center of the room.

The atmosphere was quiet as everyone drank water and rested, their sidelong glances brimming with gossip.

Though the radiant and charismatic President Sang’s powerful aura usually deterred direct eye contact, the irresistible allure of gossip—even about the President—proved too strong. Curiosity triumphed over fear.

They eavesdropped furtively.

They couldn’t understand.

But they still wanted to listen.

The smile playing on President Sang’s lips was different—like a gentle spring breeze, utterly unlike the forced smiles she wore at work. Love, it seemed, couldn’t be concealed; anyone who fell in love would inevitably revert to their true self.

The crowd strained their ears, exchanging knowing glances, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Sang Baili instantly grasped their intentions, her forehead creasing with annoyance. She took a sip of water, pausing to compose herself.

Clearly, everyone needs more work.

“Everyone rested enough?”

She flipped her phone face down on the table, twirled her pen, and in an instant, her languid, affectionate gaze transformed into an inscrutable, scrutinizing stare. She nodded. “Let’s resume the meeting.”

Meanwhile, Shen Shuangjing’s plate-carrying duties were in full swing.

After negotiating with the restaurant, the production team opted for hidden cameras to avoid disrupting normal operations. The cameras were discreetly concealed in hidden corners.

Juying County, far from the city center and densely populated, lacked a developed online entertainment culture. The diners didn’t notice the cameras or recognize the currently popular stars. They only noticed that the cashier and servers were new—fresh-faced, fair-skinned, and strikingly beautiful, their refined features and demeanor clearly not cultivated by the local mountain and river landscapes.

Youth and beauty don’t always elicit positive reactions. Many local diners eyed the young staff suspiciously, some fearing they’d be overcharged, others doubting their ability to carry plates steadily without spilling food. They harbored deep distrust in the newcomers’ service skills.

Yet by the end of their meals, none of their fears materialized.

The young servers, their hair neatly tied in low ponytails with stray strands pinned back, moved with practiced efficiency. They took orders, delivered dishes, cleared tables, wiped them clean, and ushered in the next waiting guests—a seamless, diligent routine.

The cameraman, with a keen eye for trending topics and a deep understanding of audience preferences, focused intently on Shen Shuangjing lifting plates. He captured the subtle tension in her palm and the delicate grace of her long, slender fingers.

Shen Shuangjing had a pair of flawless hands.

When her fingers lay flat, the creases at the knuckles didn’t darken or roughen like on most people’s hands. Instead, the lines were faint, her fingers smooth and luminous as frosted jade from tip to base, utterly impeccable.

They were like works of art, captivating enough to gaze at all day without tiring.

The live comments erupted into a frenzy, transforming into screaming chickens during the close-up shots of her hands.

Stop clearing plates and come clear me instead!

First, I am. So, can I?

A friend asked what variety show I was watching. I said I wasn’t watching any. She called me a liar, but I said this is heaven—hand fetish heaven!

Suddenly, her slender fingers clamped down on a furtive hand, and a piercing scream echoed through the restaurant.

The gaunt man threw his head back and wailed, glaring at the petite but surprisingly strong woman. “What are you doing?!” he snarled.

Shen Shuangjing raised a delicate eyebrow, her almond-shaped eyes turning icy as glass. “I’d like to ask you the same question. Sir, why aren’t you returning to your seat after leaving the restroom? Why are you wandering around?”

The man choked, then shouted, “I’m just digesting my food! What’s it to you?”

Shen Shuangjing remained calm. “I wouldn’t interfere with your digestion, but I noticed your hand seems to be in places it shouldn’t be.”

The middle school student sitting nearby tensed up, hiding behind Shen Shuangjing and glaring at the man. “I knew it! I felt someone touching my back. Were you harassing me just now?”

Shen Shuangjing stood tall, her milky-white uniform—the standard attire for restaurant staff—paired with tailored trousers. The tucked-in blouse accentuated her slender waist, and the way she stood against the light radiated an aura of righteous authority.

She stepped forward, shielding the student behind her.

“Pah! Look in a mirror,” the man sneered. “How could I possibly lower myself to…”

Before he could finish, Shen Shuangjing twisted his arm further, eliciting a pained groan. “You shrew! Let go!”

“If you weren’t being a pervert,” Shen Shuangjing retorted coldly, “were you stealing something? If I’m not mistaken, you swiped a phone from another table earlier.”

The man’s face paled. “I didn’t take anything! Don’t make false accusations! Slandering an innocent person—I’ll call the police on you!”

A gasp rippled through the crowd. “My phone’s gone!”

After a flurry of commotion, the phone’s owner discovered his missing device—along with several hundred yuan belonging to other patrons—in the man’s pocket.

A concerned bystander had already alerted the authorities. Moments later, a police car arrived, sirens wailing.

“Meeting adjourned.”

The employees filed out of the conference room in small groups. The more gossipy ones, unable to contain their curiosity, sent a representative to Special Assistant Sheng to inquire about the situation.

“Special Assistant Sheng, have you noticed our meetings ending earlier and earlier lately?”

Special Assistant Sheng’s brow furrowed slightly as he gave her a calm, assessing glance.

The employee looked puzzled. “What does that mean?”

Having never studied “Shengology,” she couldn’t decipher his expression.

Special Assistant Sheng adjusted his glasses and replied, “Your observation is correct. According to statistical analysis, the average meeting duration has decreased by forty minutes over the past month. The company’s average departure time is now 5:30 PM.”

Hearing his robotic, rational analysis, the employee began to doubt whether approaching Special Assistant Sheng about President Sang’s personal life had been a mistake. After all, besides Special Assistant Sheng, the only other person who likely knew the truth was President Sang herself.

Undaunted, the employee persisted, “What do you think this indicates?”

Special Assistant Sheng smiled. “It demonstrates that under President Sang’s leadership, our work efficiency has achieved a qualitative leap.”

The employee blinked in disbelief.

Really? she thought. I don’t believe it.

She coaxed, “Isn’t President Sang eager to get home? We all heard her on the phone today. She must have a lover she wants to spend time with, right?”

Special Assistant Sheng was speechless, admiring his colleagues’ imagination.

First, everyone knew how much President Sang loved her work. Second, her marriage to her wife was a loveless arrangement. Therefore, her going home had nothing to do with her wife; it could only be work-related.

He stated firmly, “That scenario is impossible. President Sang must be going home to work.”

The employee asked, “Do you mean it’s impossible for her to have a lover, or impossible for her to go home to spend time with one?”

Special Assistant Sheng stared at her without answering.

“Alright, I won’t ask anymore,” the employee said, raising her hands in surrender. “But I still have one question for you, Special Assistant Sheng. Why do you think President Sang is going home to work overtime? Wouldn’t it be more convenient to work at the office?”

After a moment’s thought, Special Assistant Sheng replied confidently, “President Sang must be saving electricity for the company.”

He then explained to her how Sang Baili, when she first joined the company, had faced skepticism. With swift and decisive action, she had reorganized and improved every aspect of the company. Within six months, all employees realized that behind the smiling beauty lay an uncompromisingly serious and meticulous work ethic.

Sang Baili was absolutely not the type to neglect work for romantic pursuits.

Her employee, feeling ashamed, reflected, “My perspective was too narrow.”

While the employee slacked off during work hours, the President worked overtime after hours. The employee worked for a paycheck, while the President worked to earn the money to pay those salaries. Suddenly, the employee felt guilty for being such a slacker and had an overwhelming urge to work a bit longer.

Unintentionally, Sang Baili had cultivated an image among her subordinates as a ruthless, passionless workaholic. Returning to her office, she found that today’s meeting had ended early, and her tasks were completed, allowing her to leave on time. However, with only her cat at home, there seemed little point in rushing back.

Why not work a bit longer at the office?

Sang Group’s comprehensive entertainment company, AA Entertainment, was planning to enter the live-streaming market soon, and Sang Baili wanted to assess the market’s potential.

She opened the live stream of “Work Within Work” and clicked to join.

The stream’s video quality was lower than expected, but even through the blurry lens, it was immediately clear who the main character was.

On screen, Shen Shuangjing stood out with her slender waist, long legs, youthful vitality, and ethereal beauty—a face born for the screen. When the camera focused on her, it was like parting the clouds to reveal a breathtakingly beautiful sight.

Even the camera couldn’t diminish her beauty.

The first time Sang Baili saw Shen Shuangjing on screen, she felt a unique sense of freshness, like a pebble suddenly dropped into the lake of her heart, sending ripples spreading outward.

Sang Baili felt a twinge of regret. How could so many managers at her company have failed to recognize Shen Shuangjing’s talent, allowing AA Entertainment to snatch her up?

As the ripples faded, Sang Baili’s gaze widened, taking in the surroundings.

Her eyes froze when she spotted the police officer standing beside Shen Shuangjing.

Thinking she must be mistaken, she repeatedly zoomed in on the screen until the police badge was crystal clear.

She exhaled heavily.

She remembered Shen Shuangjing’s excitement before leaving, mentioning that the variety show was being filmed in a remote rural area.

And now, knowing Shen Shuangjing’s phone was unreachable, likely not in her possession, a sense of foreboding settled in.

Suddenly, the camera shook, and the live stream went dark.

A system notification popped up:

This live stream has been reported and banned for suspected illegal activity and fraud. Please check out other streamers.

Sang Baili’s expression grew even more serious.

A suspicion began to form in her mind.

Was this variety show Shen Shuangjing was participating in even legal?