The Movie Queen’s Secret Stand-In Lover [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 8

On the vast, boundless wilderness, a rugged off-road vehicle kicked up a trail of dust as it approached from the distance.

“Perfect, perfect! Drift to a stop, get ready for the close-up!” The director hunched over the monitor, hugging his arms in nervous tension. The blazing sun was just right at this moment, but unfortunately, it wouldn’t last much longer. A few dark clouds had already drifted across the sky earlier, and the weather forecast predicted rain in the afternoon. Before flying abroad for the shoot, they had checked—three straight days of clear skies were promised, yet the weather had turned on a dime.

Fortunately, Yuan Zhi’s professionalism and dedication were beyond reproach. She had arrived on set before dawn and had been working tirelessly until now, with only one final shot left—the drifting stop.

Executing a drift stop was no easy feat. The director had initially suggested bringing in a professional stunt driver first, then having Yuan Zhi step in for the close-up once the car was parked. But Yuan Zhi insisted that no matter how well they edited it in post-production, the sequence would lack fluidity and dynamic beauty if she didn’t perform the entire maneuver herself.

He was the director in name, but his authority paled in comparison to Yuan Zhi’s. The brand behind this shoot was a close friend of Yuan Zhi’s, and she was participating as a favor. As someone merely hired to get the job done, what authority did he really have in front of her? Take the location, for example—originally, it was supposed to be shot domestically. With the vast landscapes of China, what scenery couldn’t they find? But because Yuan Zhi had to attend a fashion show abroad and an audition for an international film, her schedule couldn’t be cleared last-minute, so they had to relocate the shoot overseas to accommodate her.

But could Yuan Zhi really pull off the drifting stop? Great acting skills didn’t necessarily translate to great driving skills.

Just as the director was watching the monitor with skepticism and tension, the off-roader executed a stylish drift amid the swirling dust, coming to a perfect stop right on the mark. The harsh sunlight streamed through the wide-open window, illuminating Yuan Zhi’s face, her makeup rough and wild. The untamed beauty of the moment nearly overflowed from the close-up shot.

“…” The director was momentarily stunned in disbelief before jumping to his feet, clapping excitedly. “That was brilliant! Cut! Wrap!”

As soon as the director called cut, Yuan Xiaoyuan and another assistant rushed toward the off-roader—one holding an umbrella and an iced drink, the other carrying a damp towel and sunscreen spray.

“Zhi-jie, you were so cool just now!” Yuan Xiaoyuan gushed, her eyes sparkling.

Yuan Zhi took a sip of the iced drink from Xiao Yuan’s hands, then accepted the damp towel from the assistant to wipe her face. With a smile, she thanked the crew members packing up the equipment.

“Zhi-jie, could we take a photo together?” A crew member cautiously approached, phone in hand.

“Of course,” Yuan Zhi replied amiably, gesturing to her sunburned face. “But let me touch up my makeup in the car first, alright?”

The crew member nodded eagerly.

Inside the temporarily rented van, Yuan Zhi continued sipping her iced drink while the stylist touched up her makeup. She picked up her phone to check for any important unread messages.

Most were mundane—like health articles forwarded by her mom or an avalanche of “adorable” baby photos from a high school friend (though privately, Yuan Zhi thought newborns were anything but cute—wrinkled, red, and squishy. Whenever she complimented babies, she stuck to “so cute” and never “so beautiful.” Lying would invite divine retribution, after all.).

Zhou Ning had sent another barrage of messages. Yuan Zhi was quite curious about those.

She scrolled all the way to the top in one go.

The first message read, Sister Zhi, the money has been received. I’ll do my absolute best to play my role well and won’t let you down!

Just as she grew curious about how Zhou Ning intended to play her role, the second message provided the answer—These are hairstyle references I found online. Could you take a look and see which one best matches the person you have in mind? I’m planning to change my hairstyle tomorrow.

What followed was a flood of hairstyle images—long, short, straight, curly, dyed, undyed, fully colored, highlights. There was even a bald look? Bald…? Zhou Ning had seen photos of that person! Was this some kind of deliberate mockery? Now that the money was in hand, she sure had the nerve!

Explain yourself. What’s with the bald look? Yuan Zhi quickly replied. It should be around 11 or 12 p.m. back home, right?

Zhou Ning responded instantly—What bald look?

A moment later, another message from Zhou Ning arrived—Ahhhhhh! Sister Zhi, I’m so sorry! There were too many images, and I must have clicked the wrong one. That cartoon bald image was saved for memes. I’m sorry, Sister Zhi—please, whatever you do, don’t pick that one!

Don’t pick it, huh? Yuan Zhi curled her lips into a smirk and typed back swiftly—Actually, if we’re talking about accuracy, the bald look might be the most fitting. She entered monastic life early on, so that’s probably her hairstyle now. Really can’t choose it?

She was just teasing Zhou Ning, of course, not actually expecting her to agree. What girl wouldn’t cherish her beautiful hair?

What about her clothing style? Zhou Ning’s reply completely sidestepped the hairstyle topic.

Yuan Zhi’s smile deepened. Zhou Ning was clearly trying to change the subject, but she wouldn’t let her off the hook.—Probably something like a lay practitioner’s robe now. She’s a monastic, after all.

Outside the car, staff members gradually lined up, waiting to take group photos.

Not wanting to keep everyone standing under the scorching sun, Yuan Zhi put away her phone and said to the stylist, “Just a quick touch-up will do.”

After the group photos, Yuan Zhi returned to the city for a quick lunch with the director and others, tested her makeup and outfits at the hotel, then rushed to another city for an evening fashion show. She was so busy she barely had time to catch her breath, even napping in the car, and completely forgot about her conversation with Zhou Ning.

She didn’t see Zhou Ning’s final reply either.

Got it. Goodnight, Sister Zhi~

Zhou Ning lay in bed, browsing Taobao, searching for “lay practitioner robes.”

They looked so comfortable!

She instantly felt happier. If Sugar Daddy’s preference had been something like a mascot suit, that would’ve been a nightmare.

As for the hairstyle… Zhou Ning ran her fingers through the original owner’s shoulder-length hair, feeling no attachment. Hair grows back—it’s no different from trimming nails. She’d taken so much money from Sugar Daddy; what was this small sacrifice in comparison?

Looking on the bright side, no hair meant no hassle styling it, no strands littering the house, and better hair quality once it grew back. Plus, washing would be a breeze. She wouldn’t even need shampoo—just rub some facial cleanser over her head while washing her face. Easy.

“Oh no, that’s not right. I still need shampoo. What if using facial cleanser on my hair makes my scalp think it’s a face and refuses to grow hair anymore? Then I’d be completely bald!”

To sum it up, shaving your head is all gain and no loss! Why hadn’t she thought of this earlier? No wonder the ancients said, “Three thousand strands of worry, one cut solves a thousand sorrows”—it’s all based on experience.

After placing an order for monastic robes, Zhou Ning opened a group-buying app. “Wash and cut: 48 yuan. Wash, cut, and blow-dry: 68 yuan…”

Of course, she’d go for the wash and cut. What’s the point of a blow-dry when she had no hair? Zhou Ning’s mood brightened even more as she discovered yet another benefit of the bald look. Hehe.

The barbershop was unusually quiet on Friday morning.

“Just a haircut, miss? We have discounts on perms and dyes—100 yuan off for every 499 spent,” the shop assistant greeted Zhou Ning enthusiastically.

Zhou Ning sat calmly in front of the mirror, turning her head to beam at the assistant. “No, thanks. I just want my head shaved. You do bald cuts, right?”

“Bald?” The assistant paused, double-checking. “You mean completely bald, not just a buzz cut?”

“Yep,” Zhou Ning confirmed with a nod. “You know the actor Yu Shanzheng? Like his style.”

“Sure.” The assistant then asked, “Do you have a preferred stylist?”

Zhou Ning shook her head.

The assistant called out a number, and a young man who had been playing on his phone stood up and walked over.

The shop owner, who had just woken up and stepped out from the back room, glanced at Zhou Ning—already sporting a buzz cut—and whispered to the assistant, “From the hospital?” Their shop was near a cancer hospital, and occasionally, patients preparing for chemotherapy would come in to shave their heads in advance.

“Not sure,” the assistant replied with a shake of her head.

“What a shame. So young.” The owner sighed regretfully and instructed the assistant, “Do we still have hats? Bring one out.” Whenever cancer patients came in for a shave, they usually gave them a complimentary hat—a simple black cap bought wholesale. It wasn’t worth much, but at least it could shield those already facing hardship from the curious stares of passersby.

The shave was done quickly. Zhou Ning ran her hand over the slightly prickly bald head and thanked the stylist with a smile. She had to admit; the original owner of this body had a nicely shaped head—round and full.

The owner approached, holding out the hat with a sympathetic smile. “Here you go, sweetheart. It’s a little gift from us.”

“Huh?” Zhou Ning looked at the hat, then touched her smooth scalp before grinning and accepting it. “This’ll come in handy! You’re so thoughtful. I’ll definitely come back next time.” Though probably not for at least six months?

Such an optimistic kid. The owner’s heart ached even more. She stepped forward, hugged Zhou Ning, and patted her back reassuringly. “Everything will be okay. I believe you’ll get better. Stay strong.”

Huh? Zhou Ning left the shop puzzled, only realizing what had happened when she spotted the cancer hospital’s sign down the road.

Even though it was a misunderstanding, she felt warm inside. Life truly is full of beauty—if you just pay attention!

Zhou Ning took out her phone, opened the group-buying app, and wrote a lengthy positive review for the hair salon she had just visited.

Yuan Zhi finally finished her work abroad. On the car ride home from the airport, Yuan Xiaoyuan, who was hitching a ride, suddenly pulled out a palm-sized gift bag from her small backpack and handed it over.

“What’s this?” Yuan Zhi, who had been flipping through a script, glanced at it indifferently.

Yuan Xiaoyuan smiled sweetly and said, “Didn’t you always remind me to bring back some local souvenirs for colleagues who didn’t go abroad? This one’s for x.”

Ningning? Zhou Ning? Yuan Zhi’s hand paused mid-page.

Yuan Xiaoyuan, thinking her boss was upset about her mentioning Zhou Ning, quickly explained, “Don’t worry, Sister Zhi. I paid for it myself—it wasn’t charged to the studio’s account. As for Ningning’s situation, only the driver, Sister Feifei, me, and the manager Sister Wang know about it.”

“Hmm.” Yuan Zhi’s expression remained unreadable. She hadn’t thought to bring a gift for Zhou Ning. Even if she had, she wouldn’t have planned to.

Her relationship with Zhou Ning was somewhat unique, requiring her to be particularly mindful of boundaries when interacting with her. To put it bluntly, if she treated Zhou Ning too well, it might give Zhou Ning the wrong idea.

That wouldn’t be good for either of them.

“Sister Zhi, will you take this to Ningning?” Yuan Xiaoyuan’s cheerful tone dimmed, replaced with caution. She had picked this little gift especially for Zhou Ning. If Sister Zhi didn’t want to deliver it, she’d have to find another time to give it to her.

Yuan Zhi silently took the bag and, after a moment, said, “From now on, don’t bring her gifts under the studio’s name. She isn’t part of the studio. As for any personal relationship you have with her, that’s between you two—I won’t interfere.”

“Understood.” Yuan Xiaoyuan lowered her head dejectedly. It seemed Sister Zhi didn’t like Zhou Ning much. What a shame—she quite liked Zhou Ning herself.

Yuan Zhi had originally planned to go straight home to sleep. But after dropping off Yuan Xiaoyuan, she glanced at the gift bag beside her and changed her mind. “Take me to the Eighth Ring Road instead,” she told the driver.

She suddenly wanted to see Zhou Ning’s face. Especially after visiting the country where that person lived, breathing the same air, gazing at the same sky.

With her long hair cascading down, Zhou Ning’s quiet demeanor bore an uncanny resemblance to that person.

Yuan Zhi pressed the doorbell. Even though she knew the passcode was “0115,” this was Zhou Ning’s home, and she needed to respect her privacy.

Click—

The door opened. Yuan Zhi froze in shock.

What on earth was she seeing? She’d pay a fortune to unsee this. Zhou Ning stood before her—completely bald, dressed in monastic robes, eyes blazing with solemn intensity.

“May this humble one inquire as to the purpose of the benefactress’s visit?” Zhou Ning clasped her hands together, radiating an aura of Buddhist serenity.