Mistakenly Married a Substitute Wife, Falling in Love with the Movie Queen - Chapter 9

The woman’s voice, like a gentle breeze brushing past her ear, mingled with the faint fragrance in the car, imbuing the emotionally charged words with a tender, alluring warmth, giving rise to an indescribable, lingering ambiguity.

The glossy lip glaze had been rubbed off her lips by the bottle’s rim, leaving behind a wet sheen on her pale lips. Her full, defined lip peaks resembled ripe, glistening cherries hanging from a branch, or perhaps one of those stress-relieving squishies that had recently become popular among her company’s employees.

They look so soft and pliable, Sang Baili thought absently. But her thoughts quickly snapped back to reality, and she dismissed the notion as absurd. Even if I don’t have them, there’s no need to covet someone else’s lip peaks.

Then again, maybe I’m just curious about those squishies.

“Do you have a preferred nickname?” Shen Shuangjing asked.

Sang Baili, stroking the bellflower tattoo on her wrist, blurted out, “Wife.”

Shen Shuangjing caught the word and repeated it with a smile, “Wife.”

Her voice carried a seductive sweetness that Sang Baili couldn’t detect in her own tone.

Her breath grew shallow. Sang Baili pinched her palm with her fingertips and said, “You can call me Baili or Elder Sister normally. ‘Wife’ is too intimate.”

It’s too easy to give people the wrong idea.

Baili and Elder Sister are just right—not as distant as President Sang, but not overly familiar either.

Shen Shuangjing didn’t mind Sang Baili’s change of heart. She smiled and said, “Got it.”

The phantom stopped at Building A of the Jingmao Building, a venue specializing in high-end luxury brands and fine jewelry.

After getting out of the car, Sang Baili said, “Since I didn’t know what kind of wedding ring you’d like, I brought you here. Once we’re inside, take a look around and see if anything catches your eye.”

Shen Shuangjing, carrying her unfinished bottle of mineral water, followed her out of the car. “I thought you were going to say, ‘Buy everything you like.'”

As they grew more familiar, Shen Shuangjing became comfortable joking with Sang Baili. This was partly because she was increasingly defining Sang Baili by her own observations rather than relying on the original novel’s descriptions.

The Sang Baili she knew was a supportive mentor who offered fitness advice, cared for her with medicine in the middle of the night, and proactively helped her with acting scenes—a sister worth befriending and easy to admire.

Sang Baili stopped walking and glanced back at her.

Shen Shuangjing, coolly mimicking a domineering CEO with her hands in her pockets, grinned. “That’s how the CEOs in dramas always act.”

Sang Baili replied, “You can only choose one wedding ring, but if you like any other jewelry, you can buy it.”

“Now you’re speaking my language,” Shen Shuangjing said.

Sang Baili smiled faintly. “I’m not joking. If you see anything you like, I’ll get it for you.”

Shen Shuangjing paused, surprised. “Why would you give me something?”

Sang Baili couldn’t quite explain it. She wasn’t one to give gifts casually, but the idea of giving Shen Shuangjing jewelry didn’t displease her. “Because I can afford it.”

A few pieces of jewelry were well within her means.

“President Sang, you’ve truly impressed me,” Shen Shuangjing said.

How generous! This definitely isn’t the stingy, love-struck fool from the original novel who only spent money on her White Moonlight.

Sang Baili’s delicate eyebrows lifted slightly.

Shen Shuangjing belatedly licked her lips, realizing she’d called her by the wrong title.

“Sister,” she corrected herself.

During the tense silence that followed, her mood darkened like a sky obscured by storm clouds.

Sang Baili offered no further explanation. “Let’s go.”

Shen Shuangjing gripped the plastic bottle so tightly it creaked. After a moment’s hesitation, she asked, “Are you angry?”

Shen Shuangjing was usually adept at reading people, but Sang Baili remained an enigma. The older woman’s experience and maturity placed her on a different level entirely.

She couldn’t tell if Sang Baili’s current reaction counted as anger.

Sang Baili shook her head. “I’m not angry.”

Trusting that Sang Baili wouldn’t lie to her, Shen Shuangjing felt a pang of guilt. She followed silently behind until the glittering jewelry in the display cases caught her eye, lifting her spirits somewhat.

Even if she couldn’t afford them, simply looking at beautiful things lifted her spirits.

“We’re here to choose wedding rings,” Sang Baili said.

The saleswoman greeted them with a smile and immediately led them to the diamond ring section.

While waiting for the saleswoman to retrieve new arrivals, Shen Shuangjing’s gaze drifted across the dazzling array of jewelry, drawn to a limited-edition platinum necklace with a gradient design.

Featuring wings as its central motif, the necklace was adorned with diamonds and blue gemstones that faded seamlessly from one shade to another. Its icy, dreamlike luster resembled the depths of the ocean, utterly captivating.

It danced wildly on Shen Shuangjing’s aesthetic sensibilities.

Her heart stirred, as if she could hear the tiny wings crying, “Mommy, take me home!”

She nearly asked about it, but a flicker of rationality made her glance at the price tag.

It started with a 6, followed by an endless string of zeros as vast as the Milky Way.

So close, yet so far.

My apologies for disturbing you.

Sang Baili glanced at her sideways. “Do you like it?”

Shen Shuangjing shook her head, leaned closer to Sang Baili, and whispered in her ear, “I only like the design, not the price.”

The orchid-like fragrance of her breath brushed Sang Baili’s ear, barely perceptible. Sang Baili’s eyes flickered, and she murmured, “Mm.”

Shen Shuangjing clenched her fist in self-encouragement. “If I work hard, I might become a brand ambassador for them. Then I could borrow it for various events.”

Sang Baili smiled faintly, not wanting to dampen her enthusiasm. “That day will come sooner than you think.”

Shen Shuangjing had a clear-eyed view of reality. “It should be easier than earning six million yuan.”

“……”

Is this overconfidence or a lack of self-belief?

A sales assistant approached, white-gloved hands carrying a jewelry box to display the latest ring designs.

The two women found themselves in perfect agreement when it came to choosing. Shen Shuangjing thought every ring was beautiful, and for each one Sang Baili asked about, she could articulate its merits and unique design features.

Listening to her descriptions, the sales assistant quietly asked if she was in the same industry and whether she’d considered a career change. “You’d have no trouble becoming our top salesperson,” she said.

Sang Baili clearly shared this sentiment. Listening to Shen Shuangjing’s eloquent descriptions, she found herself torn between two rings.

Ultimately, following the sales assistant’s recommendation, they chose a minimalist diamond ring with multiple facets. When separated, the two halves were distinct pieces; when joined, they formed a complete pattern, symbolizing love and unity.

Afterward, they each went to the VIP room to measure their ring sizes. Sang Baili paid and scheduled a pickup appointment for a month later.

They left the store amidst the enthusiastic farewells of the sales staff.

A gentle evening breeze carried the sweet, cloying fragrance of osmanthus blossoms, which had intensified after a day of fermentation, saturating every particle of air.

“Sister,” Shen Shuangjing called out.

“What is it?” Sang Baili replied.

“I’m bored and we have time. Want to play a quick-fire Q&A?”

Sang Baili glanced at her sideways. “Sure.”

“Is the driver coming to pick us up?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Did the ring cost more than seven figures?”

“No.”

Exactly seven figures.

“Your favorite coffee?”

“Iced Americano.”

“Were you really not mad at me earlier?”

Sang Baili’s delicate eyebrows arched slightly. “The truth finally comes out.”

Shen Shuangjing didn’t panic at being caught. “You’re always so quick to catch on.”

Sang Baili’s lips curved into a smile. “You thought I was mad the whole time?”

Shen Shuangjing, who had taught herself tea ceremony, replied, “No, just worried. I’m probably the dumbest employee you have, right?”

“Possibly,” Sang Baili said.

“?”

How could such cold words come from those beautiful lips? Shen Shuangjing was about to throw a tantrum.

Sang Baili chuckled, her eyes shimmering like autumn waters, deliberately teasing her. “Have you forgotten what I look like when I’m angry? Didn’t I freeze you into a cold once?”

Shen Shuangjing remembered—the time she had tried to scam her.

Suddenly, she realized she had been taking Sang Baili’s affection for granted.

Subconsciously, she had assumed Sang Baili would never be angry with her, but lacking true trust, she had repeatedly asked questions to elicit the answer she wanted.

“My turn to ask,” Sang Baili said.

Shen Shuangjing froze. “Huh?”

Why is this a back-and-forth?

Sang Baili didn’t give her time to think. “What did you have for lunch?”

“Pork ribs with rice,” Shen Shuangjing replied.

Delicious, needless to say.

“How many times have you had it this month?” Sang Baili asked.

“Over ten times,” Shen Shuangjing admitted.

She makes it whenever Sang Baili isn’t home.

Who doesn’t love pork ribs with rice?

“What’s your favorite season?” Sang Baili asked.

“Summer,” Shen Shuangjing answered.

Summer means going outside. Winter’s too cold—no way.

“What should you call me?” Sang Baili asked.

“Sister,” Shen Shuangjing replied.

The pale golden light of the setting sun washed over her face, reflecting starlike glimmers in her eyes.

She repeated softly, “Sister.”

Sang Baili’s hand paused as she rubbed her earlobe.

A touch that struck straight to her heart.

She tilted her head slightly and handed Shen Shuangjing a box with the English logo of the jewelry store they’d just visited.

Sang Baili’s crimson lips parted slightly. “Open it and see.”

Heart pounding like a drum, a premonition surfaced as Shen Shuangjing took the jewelry box. “A reward?” she guessed.

“Not a reward,” Sang Baili said, her gaze fixed on Shen Shuangjing. “It has nothing to do with the questions. It’s a gift regardless of whether you answered correctly.”

Shen Shuangjing untied the silk ribbon. The box opened automatically, revealing a radiant white gold necklace with delicate wings resting on black velvet.

Sang Baili said softly, “Happy wedding.”