Mistakenly Married a Substitute Wife, Falling in Love with the Movie Queen - Chapter 21

Among ten beauties, nine possessed slender, straight necks.

Sang Baili had gathered her long, flowing hair over her chest, her back turned to Shen Shuangjing. Her swan-like neck dipped slightly, revealing the flawless jade-like skin of her neck and back.

Her symmetrical shoulder blades protruded slightly, resembling butterflies poised to take flight—a sight both delicate and alluring.

The narrow straps of her dress draped over her elbows, the fabric pooling loosely over her full hips like layered petals of a flower, parted on either side.

Shen Shuangjing’s eyelid twitched involuntarily, all her senses converging on this dazzling sight.

The perfume’s fragrance filled her nostrils, impossible to ignore. She wondered if Sang Baili had sprayed extra after returning to her room to maintain the scent.

Sang Baili seemed to adore this perfume. No matter the occasion, she always carried the graceful charm of tuberose, tinged with a crisp citrus note—both alluring and innocent, with a hint of sweetness.

Like a slice of orange-flavored cream cake.

Stimulating both the eyes and the taste buds.

It made one want to take a bite, to see if the core beneath the snow-white cream was as imagined—bursting with juice, staining lips and teeth with sweetness.

Youth is both a virtue and a flaw.

Sang Baili possessed so much that Shen Shuangjing lacked: maturity, composure, poise, a practiced grace, and a radiant, striking beauty.

Even though Shen Shuangjing had one foot in the adult world, her age and limited experience left her inner self as pure and untainted as an unripe green fruit, her budding emotions arriving quietly and unbidden.

Sang Baili was the ripe red fruit from the same tree, alluring and delectable, Shen Shuangjing’s first awakening to beauty.

Under the constant influence of pheromones, Shen Shuangjing was inevitably drawn to the ceaseless aura of maturity emanating from Sang Baili. This realization sparked a profound understanding of the gap between herself and true adulthood—a gap far greater than the mere five centimeters of red-soled stilettos.

From physiology to psychology, she instinctively became obsessed with this captivating vitality, unable to resist indulging in it, becoming a captive to its beauty.

A restless yearning stirred within her.

Sang Baili casually tilted her head, her body curving sinuously. “Could you help me with the back of my dress?” she asked. “The design is a bit complicated. You need to cross the straps and buckle them first, then zip it up.”

Shen Shuangjing heard her own heartbeat pounding in her ears. She turned on the faucet to wash the sticky, semi-opaque liquid from her hands, then dried them with two paper towels.

The icy water soothed the indescribable tingling at the tip of her heart. She took one strap in each hand, studied them for half a minute, and tied them in one go.

She’d tied them wrong.

Not intentionally, of course. The black straps were designed to twist around each other, making it difficult to distinguish top from bottom.

She untied them and retied them correctly.

Her fingertip accidentally brushed against Sang Baili’s skin—soft and smooth. As she withdrew her hand, she glanced up.

There was no cream on her finger, but it seemed to carry a faint citrus scent.

Shen Shuangjing paused, lowered her hand, and, fearing Sang Baili might be growing impatient, gave a progress report: “The straps are done. I’ll zip you up now.”

Sang Baili idly admired her nude-toned manicure, which she had done the previous night. Her nails were slightly long, trimmed into elegant, rounded almond shapes.

“Thank you, Xiao Jing,” she said.

Shen Shuangjing pressed one hand firmly against Sang Baili’s waist to steady her, while her other hand pinched the thin zipper between her thumb and forefinger, slowly and gently pulling it upward.

Sang Baili’s body sank slightly downward as she leaned to the side. With her waist immobilized, she could only twist her upper body into a futile angle, her gaze falling on the light reflecting off the floor.

“You don’t need to be so careful,” she said. “The dress isn’t precious. Don’t worry about damaging it.”

Shen Shuangjing remained silent. The dress’s zipper was only so long; even at this deliberate pace, it was soon fully closed.

However, the dress’s semi-backless design still left a small patch of delicate shoulder blade exposed.

“Done,” Shen Shuangjing announced.

Sang Baili casually flicked her wrist, and her long, chestnut-brown curls cascaded down, veiling the exquisite view of her back.

Turning around, she couldn’t be bothered to check her reflection in the mirror. Her fox-like eyes, with their slightly upturned corners, gleamed with a dark, luminous light as she gazed at Shen Shuangjing.

“Do I look beautiful? Is there anything that needs adjusting?”

Her beauty was unparalleled, her aura regal and commanding. Even the scent she wore was soul-stirring. No one, no matter how critical, could find fault with her.

Shen Shuangjing’s voice drifted lightly, “No, it’s perfect.”

Sang Baili took a few steps forward, the click of her stilettos on the floor like a bewitching chime. She closed the distance between them, until a slight lean would bring her lips to Shen Shuangjing’s jawline.

Shen Shuangjing’s eyelids twitched as if stung, tingling and fluttering.

Clumsy, nervous, confused… Faced with such overwhelming beauty, even clear thinking became a struggle. A primal urge to flee surged through her.

Yet her feet remained rooted to the ground, refusing to lift for that first step away.

Her lips parted slightly, her youthful face momentarily blank before a flurry of anxious emotions flashed across it.

Sang Baili tilted her chin, her face radiant and captivating in the light.

Her fingers brushed Shen Shuangjing’s slender shoulder as she leaned close to her ear, like a fox spirit poised to devour her heart.

Shen Shuangjing’s lashes trembled. Humans stood no chance against fox spirits; their fate was to be consumed entirely. Yet she couldn’t even recite the Heart-Clearing Mantra, making the wait all the more unbearable.

Sang Baili whispered softly, “Lend me your eyes for a moment.”

With a slight push, she rose onto her toes, meeting Shen Shuangjing’s gaze levelly.

In an instant, Shen Shuangjing breathed a sigh of relief, understanding Sang Baili’s purpose: to use her eyes as a mirror.

But unconscious teasing is the most lethal.

In the silent gaze, the powerful rhythm of her heartbeat, washed away by the sound of the water, surged back into Shen Shuangjing’s ears, almost piercing her eardrums.

Trapped in a swamp of desire, her heart pounded as the image of that flawless, bare back flashed through her mind.

The zipper, pulled up over the snow-white fabric, couldn’t contain the surging torrent of lust.

A thick, metallic taste of bl00d filled her mouth. Snapping out of her daze, Shen Shuangjing’s mind cleared, but a sharp pain stabbed her tongue.

She had bitten through it.

Her delicate, arched brows furrowed slightly. The situation was far more complicated than she had anticipated.

She felt no such thoughts toward anyone else, only toward Sang Baili. This was wrong.

Sang Baili was different—her beautiful boss. Shen Shuangjing should treat her differently, but that difference should manifest as unwavering loyalty, a willingness to go to hell and back for her, not lusting after her body, brazenly wanting to undo the zipper she had just fastened herself, to explore the delicate, exquisite pistil hidden beneath layers of petals.

This was a breach of contract. It would cost her money.

The greatest truths are the simplest. The thought of the breach of contract penalty suddenly calmed Shen Shuangjing, her mind becoming as still as a tranquil lake.

Had making money lost its appeal? Or had she earned so much she wanted to waste it on penalties for fun?

Stop kidding yourself, she thought. Even if I sold myself to Sang Baili, I couldn’t afford the penalty.

If she lost, she’d suffer the consequences of her romantic obsession, enduring hardship in a cold, desolate cave, digging up wild vegetables to survive.

Shen Shuangjing yearned for a rural life of farming and raising chickens, but she didn’t want to suffer for no reason, spending her days digging up other people’s wild vegetables out of boredom.

It’s time to seal my heart, lock away love, and focus on money.

Desiring someone’s body was just desire. There would be countless opportunities for romance later. But the chance to make money was a one-time beginner’s bonus that came with her transmigration. Miss it, and it’s gone forever.

Reflecting on her actions, Shen Shuangjing traced the problem back to its roots. She realized she’d been having too much physical contact with Sang Baili. When something beautiful is right in front of you, yet just out of reach, it’s only natural for desire and greed to grow uncontrollably.

Painful as it is, I can’t continue this boundaryless physical contact with Sang Baili.

Such contact was a breeding ground for sin, a wellspring of desire, and the beginning of her downfall. It would allow fantasies to fester and spread in her mind. If she ever mistook those fantasies for reality and actually tried to take advantage of Sang Baili… well, the money in her pocket simply wouldn’t allow her to even entertain such thoughts.

She loved being close to her beautiful boss, but the thought of paying the breach of contract fee pained her.

Therefore, she resolved to avoid unnecessary physical contact with Sang Baili, except in emergencies.

For instance, Sang Baili’s hand on her shoulder while speaking earlier—when she was merely afraid of losing her balance—was entirely unnecessary. Shen Shuangjing was young and could hear perfectly well from two meters away; Sang Baili could simply speak louder.

Now that her mind was tainted, everything seemed impure. Sang Baili’s breath brushing against her ear as she spoke was like a heart-arsonist’s touch. Shen Shuangjing needed to impose sanctions on her beautiful boss.

Charge her.

She had to charge her.

A touch: 10,000 yuan.

A caress: 30,000 yuan.

Any other unspecified contact: 50,000 yuan.

If Shen Shuangjing initiated contact, she would pay the same penalty.

The higher the price, the more effectively she could crush these sinful thoughts.

Sang Baili gazed at her reflection in Shen Shuangjing’s obsidian eyes for a moment, ensuring nothing was amiss. As she withdrew her gaze, she noticed something distinct about Shen Shuangjing’s eyes compared to others.

Most Huaguo citizens had dark pupils with subtle brown undertones, but Shen Shuangjing’s eyes were pure black, like impenetrable onyx, with a faint sheen that floated on the surface, never penetrating the depths.

Sang Baili casually withdrew her hand, brushed a few strands of hair across her forehead, and smiled with a touch of allure. “Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it,” Shen Shuangjing said. “Next time, I can help you get the mirror out.”

“We only have a full-length mirror at home, right?” Sang Baili asked.

Shen Shuangjing frowned slightly. “That’s fine. I have plenty of strength.”

Sang Baili stared at her, speechless.

“My eyes aren’t as good as a mirror,” Shen Shuangjing continued. “Besides, I think we need to reduce physical contact.”

Sang Baili slowly raised her gaze. “Why bring that up now?”

Shen Shuangjing struggled to find the right words. “It’s just… I’m shy. I get embarrassed.” Embarrassed by how much I crave my sister’s body.

Sang Baili stared pointedly at the tips of Shen Shuangjing’s cherry-pink ears. “If you’re shy, you should get more contact. It’s like exposure therapy. Otherwise, you’ll end up avoiding everyone forever.”

Shen Shuangjing’s heart churned with conflicting emotions. “That’s just because you’re too beautiful to realize it. I don’t act like this with other people.”

Sang Baili chuckled. “So, what do you suggest we do?”

“First session’s free,” Shen Shuangjing replied. “Next time, I’ll charge you. VIP treatment for my dear sister—12% off. And if I accidentally touch you, you can deduct from my pay.”

“I won’t deduct from your pay,” Sang Baili said. “You can deduct from mine.”

“What do you mean?” Shen Shuangjing asked.

“It means I want to deposit 500,000 yuan upfront.”