The Movie Queen’s Secret Stand-In Lover [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 24

Zhou Ning noticed Yuan Zhi wasn’t responding. With a stroke-like twitch at the corner of her mouth, she flashed a cold, aloof, and utterly dismissive smile: “Not speaking? Trying to mask the panic in your heart with silence, huh? Ha!” Truly aloof people never laugh beyond a single syllable.

“Keep performing. I’m going to get some sun.” Yuan Zhi stood up helplessly. If this continued, she might genuinely lose her temper with Zhou Ning.

“Hmph! Indeed.” Zhou Ning’s mouth twitched again in that stroke-like manner as she arrogantly tilted her chin up, her expression a mix of three parts frostiness, three parts mockery, and four parts nonchalance as she declared to Yuan Zhi: “Running away might be your only option right now!”

Yuan Zhi frowned down at Zhou Ning, her sarcasm dripping with sincerity: “You’re really amazing—” How could such a bizarre person exist in this world? Was Zhou Ning trying to act cold and detached? This wasn’t aloofness—it was pure insufferably!

“Ahahahaha…” Zhou Ning’s acting skills had limits, and holding out this long was already a miracle. She couldn’t keep it up anymore, covering her face as she burst into laughter, eagerly pressing: “Was it really that good? Did I nail it?”

“Mhm. Spot on. Couldn’t be more accurate.” Yuan Zhi finished her sardonic praise before turning serious again: “Hurry up and cook. I’m hungry.” With that, she got up to look for the lounge chair. She had worked again tomorrow and needed to catch a flight tonight. After soaking up some sun, eating, and checking on Kiki, she’d have to leave immediately.

Zhou Ning took Yuan Zhi’s teasing as genuine praise! Wuwu… Her Sugar Daddy approved of her, saying she was just like Xiao Bai. All her hard work hadn’t been in vain—those throat lozenges weren’t for nothing! She had to keep pushing forward, aiming for even greater heights!

“Where’s that single chair?” Yuan Zhi searched the entire living room but couldn’t find the lounge chair.

“Ah! It’s by the entrance.” Zhou Ning quickly rushed to the foyer area, carrying back the chair she’d moved there earlier for the sake of live streaming her practice sessions to the stalker outside. She looked at Yuan Zhi inquiringly: “Sister Zhi. Were you planning to nap in the sun? Wouldn’t the bedroom be more comfortable? I can change the sheets for you right away.”

“I’m not sleeping.” Yuan Zhi pointed toward the floor-to-ceiling window: “Just put the chair there—that spot gets the most sun.”

“Got it.” Zhou Ning obediently moved the chair over before heading into the kitchen to cook.

Yuan Zhi settled into the lounge chair, closing her eyes as she basked contentedly in the sunlight. These brief respites between hectic work schedules were her most cherished moments. It would’ve been even better if Kiki could curl up in her arms right now, soaking up the warmth together.

Surrounded by the comforting aroma of home-cooked food, bathed in the golden glow of sunlight, imagining the soft, plump weight of her old cat nestled against her… Yuan Zhi, who had sworn she wouldn’t sleep, soon drifted off.

While cooking, Zhou Ning hummed quietly to herself in high spirits, already planning tomorrow’s study session. She’d made some progress in mastering the “cold and aloof” persona, but it still wasn’t enough.

Third Principle of Aloofness—Be Unpredictable.

Someone who’s an open book—no matter how silent, expressionless, or restrained they are, even if they occasionally deliver sharp remarks—will never come across as aloof. At best, they’ll seem like a fool putting on airs. Being enigmatic has another advantage too: it keeps people perpetually intrigued.

Decided! This will be tomorrow’s practice content! Today she’ll first thoroughly consolidate what she learned yesterday.

Sugar Daddy said she “couldn’t be more alike.” That’s not quite right! She feels there’s still plenty of room for improvement.

Hehe, just wait to be dazzled! Zhou Ning confidently glanced toward the floor-to-ceiling window.

After finishing cooking, Zhou Ning came out to call Yuan Zhi for lunch, only to find her curled up asleep on the sofa chair.

“Zhi…” She barely uttered the first syllable before remembering Sugar Daddy’s ridiculously busy schedule these days, ultimately unable to bring herself to say the rest.

Even with the bright sunshine, it was still early spring with a slight chill in the air.

Zhou Ning found a thick blanket from another room’s cabinet and carefully draped it over Yuan Zhi. She then moved over an ottoman and gently lifted Yuan Zhi’s feet onto it. As she stood up, her gaze involuntarily lingered on Yuan Zhi’s face, slightly flushed from the sun.

Honestly, Sugar Daddy bathed in sunlight reaches new heights of beauty! How can someone look perfect from every angle?

Zhou Ning shifted positions to admire Yuan Zhi’s flawless beauty from all sides. Looking down from above—gorgeous. Viewing from left or right—stunning. Looking up from below…

Hmm. Now she understands why this is called the death angle. From this view, even Sugar Daddy has a slight double chin, and the nostrils appear somewhat large.

Crouching on the floor with her hands tucked in, Zhou Ning watched Yuan Zhi’s nostrils slightly contracting and expanding with each breath, finding it utterly fascinating.

As the sun set westward, the air grew cooler.

Yuan Zhi woke groggily, noticing the blanket covering her and Zhou Ning sitting on the balcony ahead, sipping tea while enjoying the sunset.

“Are you awake?” Zhou Ning turned upon hearing movement.

Yuan Zhi tugged at the thick blanket: “This… was you?”

Zhou Ning nodded with an air of quiet accomplishment. Yes! It was her, the considerate little sweetheart!

“This is clearly carpeting material. Don’t use it as a blanket in the future.” Yuan Zhi tossed the blanket aside and stretched. “What time is it?” The sun hadn’t completely set yet—she could make her flight, but whether there’d be time for dinner was uncertain.

Zhou Ning checked her phone: “A little past five.”

Yuan Zhi calculated the time silently before standing up regretfully. “I’m in a hurry—just need to wash my face before leaving.” She’d come for a meal but only managed a nap, missing lunch entirely.

“Won’t you eat before going? You skipped lunch too.” Zhou Ning worried about Sugar Daddy’s stomach. With already irregular sleep patterns, adding irregular meals would surely lead to health problems eventually. As someone fortunate enough to have a healthy body, she really wanted to warn all those who abused their youth: Health is the foundation of everything! Start taking care early, kids!

“No time.” Yuan Zhi headed straight for the bathroom. She still wanted to squeeze in time to visit Xiao Li’s place to see Kiki. As for dinner, airplane food would suffice.

Zhou Ning thought for a moment, then hurried into the kitchen. She packed the untouched dishes from lunch and the remaining rice from the rice cooker into a glass food container (she had eaten lunch earlier, but only with pickled vegetables, saving the dishes in case Sugar Daddy woke up and wanted to eat). Then, she wrapped the container with a newly purchased, sterilized napkin, tying it into a neat knot.

The napkin was specially prepared for Sugar Daddy—she could tell he was a bit disdainful of aprons, probably finding them unattractive.

When Yuan Zhi came out after washing her face and applying her base makeup, she was greeted by Zhou Ning holding the cloth-wrapped bundle with a smile.

“Zhi-jie, could you take this with you? Just heat it up in the microwave—it’s very convenient,” Zhou Ning said sweetly.

Yuan Zhi was taken aback. Whether she ate in the car on the way to the airport or waited until she was on the plane, she wouldn’t go hungry either way. But it seemed Zhou Ning had gone to great lengths to prepare this for her, and the bento clearly carried her heartfelt effort.

Maybe I should visit Kiki after this business trip instead?

“Just heat it up now. I’ll eat before leaving,” Yuan Zhi said, sitting down at the dining table.

“Okay!” Zhou Ning cheerfully placed the bento in the microwave and heated up a portion for herself as well, rice and all.

Watching Zhou Ning, who was as lively as a little rabbit, Yuan Zhi smiled wryly. “You’re fine just the way you are. No need to deliberately learn all those strange things.”

“Strange things?” Zhou Ning sat down at the table, looking both hurt and dejected. “But didn’t you just say I was doing a good job imitating?”

Seeing Zhou Ning’s pitiful expression, Yuan Zhi softened and said against her better judgment, “You are.” Zhou Ning must have been trying hard to mimic that person. While the result was rather cringeworthy, at least she’d put in the effort. She couldn’t bring herself to dampen Zhou Ning’s enthusiasm—if she wanted to act, let her. It was a bit silly, but also kind of amusing.

Zhou Ning brightened up again, though soon a puzzled look crossed her face. “Zhi-jie, can I ask you something? If you think that person is so strange, what exactly do you like about her?” Learning more about Xiao Bai would help her Substitute career.

But if she really was imitating Xiao Bai accurately, then Xiao Bai must be a very odd person indeed. Not speaking properly, not walking properly, glaring and huffing at people, constantly going “Hmph! Hah! Hee!”—was she practicing nunchucks or something?

Yuan Zhi laughed helplessly. It wasn’t that person who was strange—it was Zhou Ning’s imitation that was off! As for what she liked about that person… Zhou Ning had really stumped her. The initial reasons for her infatuation had faded, leaving only the memory of that bone-deep fondness. “I don’t really remember. Why do you ask?”

“To become the perfect Substitute, of course!” Zhou Ning grinned. “Maybe real love is just inexplicable and doesn’t need a reason. But Zhi-jie, there’s one thing I still don’t quite understand—why were you so angry the night before last?” Could it be that Sugar Daddy had gotten too into the act, started seeing her as Xiao Bai, and was genuinely jealous? She’d heard of such cases—actors sometimes fell for their co-stars because they got too immersed in their roles.

She put away her smile and nervously played with her fingers as she asked, “Is it because you think I’m disobedient, or because you’re projecting her onto me?”

Yuan Zhi looked at Zhou Ning and suddenly fell silent. Indeed. Why had she gotten so angry? Why had she even resorted to threats just to make Zhou Ning behave? Although she hadn’t gone through with it in the end—that was only because Zhou Ning was straightforward and honest, making it unnecessary. Not because she hadn’t wanted to.

Her unusually strong possessiveness and need for control over Zhou Ning… What was the real reason behind it?

Oh. She remembered now. Because similar scenes had played out too many times during her student days. She couldn’t bear it if even Zhou Ning, a mere Substitute, treated her that way. She couldn’t stand being the bystander forever, whether in the past or now.

Ding—

“The food’s warmed up. Aren’t you going to bring it over?” Yuan Zhi changed the subject.

Zhou Ning carried the dishes over, blowing on her slightly scalded fingers before sitting down to eat. Between bites, she said, “I was just afraid you might get too immersed in the act and confuse me with Xiao Bai, taking out your jealousy for her on me. After all, I look so much like her, and I’ve copied her personality and demeanor so well…”

Looking alike was true, but copying her demeanor? Absolutely not! Yuan Zhi shot Zhou Ning a glare as she enjoyed the delicious meal. “You’re overthinking it. I can tell you apart from her.” Very clearly, in fact. Even if they turned to ashes, she’d still know which was which. Zhou Ning’s ashes would probably be some bizarre, multicolored mess, wouldn’t they?

Unaware of the devilish imagery in Yuan Zhi’s mind, Zhou Ning simply nodded in relief. “As long as you can tell us apart.” Their pure financial relationship must never be tainted by emotional complications. That applied not just to her, but to her Sugar Daddy as well!

But she was probably overthinking it. Someone as useless as her—her Sugar Daddy would have to be cursed to fall for her. On the other hand, someone as weak-willed as her, constantly facing a Sugar Daddy who was beautiful, wealthy, and kind, should really recite more Buddhist scriptures to calm her mind.

Speaking of Buddhist scriptures… To ease the slightly awkward atmosphere, Zhou Ning started a new topic. “Zhi-jie, do you think ordinary people might leave behind Sarira after cremation?” She hadn’t even seen her own body before transmigrating, which was a bit of a shame.

“Pfft—” Yuan Zhi nearly choked on her food from laughter. How beastly of her—hearing about Sarira had made her imagine the pile of bizarre, multicolored ashes Zhou Ning would leave behind a century later.