Mistakenly Transmigrated as the Stand-in Wife, and Fell in Hot Love with the Best Actress - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Getting the License — The Villainess is Beautiful, But the Money-Grubbing Little Whale…

Early autumn in Jing City, every wisp of air was wrapped in coolness.

Shen Shuangjing withdrew her gaze from the skyscrapers outside the clear, square-paned window and focused on the extremely antique and distinctive decor inside the private room.

Elegant and refined, with softly glowing candlelight.

“Have you considered it?”

A rich, golden voice suddenly rang out, drifting lightly in the silent space, startling her.

Separated by the faint tea mist, Shen Shuangjing shifted her gaze for the first time to the alluring woman she had been afraid to look at directly.

The woman wore a smoky-colored mermaid dress. The velvet material was thin and tight, outlining a slender, willow-like figure. The V-neckline featured a ruffle design, and as her slender fingers lifted the teacup, Shen Shuangjing glimpsed a flash of the pale purple bellflower tattoo on her fair wrist. It was like a delicate, bone-entwined floral branch fallen onto the snow, exquisitely carved, oscillating with spring colors, an attractive contrast of elegance and sexiness.

The hand holding the teacup was long and slender like bamboo shoots, clearly defined and bony, as if it were the proudest masterpiece created by a master painter who poured all their heart into it.

Her gaze gradually moved up to the woman’s jade-carved face. Her mature, foxy eyes held a hint of dark blue, like an invisible whirlpool, drawing one into dizziness.

Shen Shuangjing heard her own heartbeat. Her lips fluttered twice, confused and puzzled by the woman’s words.

Wasn’t she dead?

And where was this strange place?

Shen Shuangjing remembered the icy, rapid current just before she closed her eyes. Each breath was accompanied by river water pouring into her mouth, enduring heartbreaking pain. But thinking of the little girl she saved, she didn’t regret jumping into the river to save someone in a life-or-death moment.

“I’m hiring you to be my partner for a period of one year, with a reward of one million,” the woman repeated, her tone lazy, seemingly amused.

However, the amusement didn’t reach her eyes; the swirling mist obscured the distance and indifference in her beautiful gaze.

“During the marriage, I hope you adhere to the agreement and fulfill every clause in the contract. After one year, the agreement expires, and we will no longer be related.”

Wait a minute… Contract marriage, for one year?

A strange memory flooded her mind, like a bolt from the blue, tearing open the paper window covering her eyes. Everything became clear and distinct.

It turned out she had transmigrated into a book.

She had transmigrated into the cannon fodder female supporting character who enters a contract marriage with the villainous Best Actress in an entertainment industry Phoenix Ascends novel she had just finished reading.

The villainous Best Actress was the graceful woman sitting opposite her, who debuted at 18 and peaked, winning the Best Actress award at the 29th Huaguo Film Golden Elephant Awards. She was immensely popular, with film offers pouring in. Everyone thought she would push forward and swiftly capture the other two Best Actress awards, but soon after winning, she announced a temporary retirement, turned to inherit her family business, and within a few years, became a legendary figure in the business world whom no one dared to offend.

The woman seemed casual and passionate, but she was actually devoted to her career and looked down on everyone. She dated many, but never fell for the men and women who pursued her. However, she had a “White Moonlight” in her heart, far away in a foreign country, whom she thought of in the middle of the night.

When the “White Moonlight” returned home after developing her career abroad and announced her entry into the entertainment industry, the villainous Best Actress, Sang Baili, felt her heart beat again. She poured all her resources and connections into the “White Moonlight,” showing the deepest affection. Because the original novel’s Phoenix Ascends Female Lead and the “White Moonlight” had similar roles, Sang Baili frequently fought the Female Lead for resources, but could not overcome the Female Lead’s halo. Under the Female Lead’s schemes, Sang Baili’s company was sold, her family ruined, and she ultimately leaped from a 99-story building, dying without a whole body.

Shen Shuangjing had transmigrated into the cannon fodder female supporting character who contractually married Sang Baili, whose smile resembled the “White Moonlight.”

The villainess had no feelings for the supporting character and sought out the original body for unavoidable reasons, paying a hefty sum to hire her to be her temporary partner.

The original body instantly went from a sparrow to a phoenix, blinded by overwhelming wealth, and had no reason to refuse. Incited by her profiteering adoptive parents, she constantly borrowed and took money from the Sang family. Later, she treated Sang Baili’s money as her own, taking it without asking. During this time, she became infatuated with the villainous Best Actress, refused to divorce when the contract expired, and relentlessly harassed the villainess.

Upon realizing she hadn’t captivated the villainess and was merely a stand-in who somewhat resembled the “White Moonlight,” the original body completely blackened, persistently opposing the “White Moonlight” and using all sorts of slander and framing tactics.

The original body’s actions angered the villainess. After the original body hired a group of thugs to try and ruin the “White Moonlight’s” innocence, the villainess turned the tables, tied the original body up, and, in front of the “White Moonlight,” threw her into the Arctic Ocean to feed the sharks.

What a cold, chilling end. Fortunately, one million yuan was enough to warm a person’s heart.

Shen Shuangjing pursed her lips, lowering her head slightly. The tight line of her lips couldn’t resist curving upwards, unable to be suppressed.

“I will strive to play the role of your partner well.”

To be honest.

Shen Shuangjing loved money, but she wasn’t greedy or someone who couldn’t tell right from wrong.

Perhaps fate intended for her to transmigrate into a role where temptation was present, where avarice could easily take root, precisely to test whether she could resist the temptation of money when facing human nature.

It was a huge challenge, but Shen Shuangjing could do it.

She was content; one million was enough.

Whether it was more money than one million or the heart-stopping beauty of the villainess, she could remain calm, pure-hearted, and avoid the original cannon fodder’s deserved end of dying miserably due to greed for both money and beauty.

She guaranteed that a year later, she would cleanly sign the divorce agreement, take the money, and fly away, fulfilling the villainess’s wish to go somewhere out of sight and mind, starting a new life free of worries—except for being rich.

Sang Baili lifted the lid patterned with flowers and birds, skimmed off the foam, and her gaze held a moment of scrutiny, which quickly disappeared, replaced by a satisfied smile, “Pleasure working with you.”

Shen Shuangjing clasped her hands neatly in her lap, as if she were seeing one million yuan beckoning to her, her eyes sparkling like brilliant diamonds, “Pleasure working with you, too.”

Sang Baili took a sip of tea. A little tea clung to her rosy, soft lips, glistening like water, like a spring cherry inviting a taste, “Oh yes, you asked me before if the money could be transferred to your family’s account. That’s your private matter, I won’t interfere. You can just give their account numbers to Assistant Sheng.”

The corner of Shen Shuangjing’s mouth twitched. She looked as though she had just heard something heinous, the lines of her face blurred with fright, “Family? No, no need. Just transfer it to my own account.”

Her speaking speed was fast, afraid that if she was half a second late, the money would go to the original body’s gambling adoptive father, her younger brother who dropped out to play video games, and her level 10 PUA adoptive mother.

Sang Baili: “That’s fine. As I said, I won’t interfere.”

Her voice was gentle, as if she possessed the perfect amount of patience and courtesy in any situation, exuding the politeness and etiquette expected of someone in a high position. Only a highly perceptive person could detect the underlying indifference and detachment toward others.

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

Sang Baili: “You’re welcome. Let’s go.”

Recalling the original plot, Shen Shuangjing absentmindedly followed the woman and got into the car. The Cullinan started and sped onto the elevated highway. She suddenly realized she didn’t know where they were going.

However, Sang Baili was the publicly known heir to the Sang family, the foremost wealthy family in Jing City. People would happily deliver anything she wanted to her doorstep, so it was unlikely she was being kidnapped to have her kidneys harvested.

Her worth wasn’t even enough to cover the fuel.

Wait, no.

Thanks to Sang Baili, her net worth was about to skyrocket, fulfilling her childhood dream—becoming a millionaire.

The car cabin was laced with a cool, faint lavender scent. The music player repeatedly played an old song with an ethereal, hoarse, and moving female voice.

Her phone vibrated twice. Sang Baili took the phone out of her black shoulder bag, her eyelashes lowered as she swiped the screen open.

A message from a friend popped up.

Shanhaiguan Big King: “Madam, congratulations on joining the ranks of married people today. Beating drums and gongs, celebrating for you.jpg”

Sang: …

Shanhaiguan Big King: “Oh? You’re acting strange.”

Sang: “What are you trying to say?”

Shanhaiguan Big King: “How’s the little new wife? Satisfied?”

Sang Baili changed her posture, leaning lazily against the car seat. Her eyes glanced sideways at the girl sitting beside her, who was reserved in her posture and smiling stupidly, oblivious to everything. She typed out a cold line of text.

Sang: “Contract marriage, no feelings. What is there to be satisfied with?”

Shanhaiguan Big King: “Stop denying it. Even if it’s a contract marriage, didn’t you pick her yourself? Besides, if you genuinely wanted to search, is there any look or personality you couldn’t find? You couldn’t possibly be a sadist at heart and choose someone you dislike.”

Sang Baili’s long, slender fingers, holding the phone, tightened slightly as her thick eyelashes lowered in the light and shadow.

Whether she liked her or not, she genuinely hadn’t considered it.

The reason for choosing Shen Shuangjing was simple: she accidentally saw a scene where a tricycle loaded with tomatoes had overturned. People rushed up to grab them, and Shen Shuangjing was the only one who picked up the tomatoes one by one and returned them to the elderly vendor.

Sang Baili had no particular demands for a contract wife, but a kind person seemed more likely to agree to the shared goal of an amicable separation without complications once the contract marriage ended.

However, sitting in the teahouse today, Sang Baili realized her impulsiveness.

That day, she only saw the girl’s kindness. Sitting face-to-face, beneath the bangs that were too long over her fine brows, she saw the deep-seated cowardice and helplessness in the girl’s obscure eyes, the fear of making eye contact and speaking, and the ambition and greed disguised by innocence and timidity.

This was not a good sign.

She was certain she hadn’t misread it, so she was greatly surprised when she found that after the girl looked out the window for a while, that whole demeanor vanished, replaced by an innate, utterly unannoying innocence and brightness.

Sang Baili had no interest in further exploration, but the sullen girl seemed to disappear like an intangible light and shadow, as if she had never existed. This left her momentarily dazed, as if everything was an illusion, and the world was false.

The first two decades of her life were a dull, uncontrollable dream she had lived.

The tiny details of the dream, she couldn’t quite recall.

“A-choo.”

Shen Shuangjing sneezed and rubbed her nose apologetically.

Sang Baili’s train of thought abruptly ended. She found her own ideas preposterous. Touching the purple bellflower on her wrist, she instructed the driver, “Turn up the air conditioning.”

How could it be fake?

Everything was so vibrant: the sun was just right, the temperature was slightly cool, and the girl’s eyes were lively and moist, boldly looking straight at her. The gratitude in them was obvious, seeping with a thread of sweetness.

A sweetness that could permeate the skin and bl00d.

Even if the past was blurred and unclear, everything now—what she saw, what she heard, what she felt—must be real.

“We’ve arrived.”

Sang Baili opened the car door, her fair, jade-like leg stepping out first.

Shen Shuangjing looked outside with uncertainty and asked, “What are we going to do?”

Did you only just think to ask?

Sang Baili turned and looked back. Her red lips parted slightly, using minimal words to utter two heart-pounding ones.

“Get the license.”