Whoever Falls in Love First is the Dog - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: “A Taoist Priest… Also Plays the Sugar Baby Game?”

The fact that Chen Yanxing had become a monk was something Shen Mengke only found out by accident.

Chen Yanxing has a twin sister, Chen Xingxing, who is a singer in the entertainment industry. By chance, after meeting Chen Xingxing backstage at an event, Shen Mengke overheard someone calling her “Third Miss.”

She had seen the eldest daughter of the Chen family, Chen Yanxing, who was elegant and graceful—completely different from the flashy Chen Xingxing. But she had no impression of the second daughter at all. Out of curiosity, Shen Mengke researched the Chen family and found no information about the second Miss anywhere.

Only after asking their manager, Fan Shi, did she learn that the second Miss had left home at a young age to become a monk and rarely returned to Jiangcheng.

The Chen family was rumored to be very strict and placed extreme importance on their reputation—no family member was allowed to act recklessly in public…

But looking at the person before her, Shen Mengke was so shocked her voice rose noticeably. She looked at Chen Yanxing’s simple and elegant outfit and the string of beads in her hand…

“So… does this count as breaking your vows? Am I in trouble?”

Chen Yanxing: “…”

“No, you haven’t broken your vows…” She paused, then added, “You didn’t become a monk, you just stayed at a Taoist temple for two years. But you… might be in trouble.”

“Huh?”

“The thing you showed me earlier—that doesn’t count as nothing?”

Shen Mengke was stunned, then suddenly laughed. She was worried the Chen family would come after her because of those things on Weibo…

“Little Taoist, just so you know, that kind of thing is old news to me. I’m used to trending on hot searches every few days.”

Chen Yanxing looked at Shen Mengke and nodded once without any expression, as if she wasn’t surprised at all.

Shen Mengke got no satisfaction teasing this cold Taoist and gave up. She sat on the bed, looking down at her phone while messaging, and said, “Usually, there will be paparazzi lurking outside the hotel. If you go out now, you’ll get photographed too. I know your family cares a lot about their reputation, so I’ll go out first to lure the paparazzi away. When you go out, make sure to wear a mask and hat to avoid getting caught.”

“I’ll have people handle it so your photos won’t appear online. The paparazzi mostly shoot me anyway. I won’t reveal your identity, so you can rest assured.”

As she spoke, Shen Mengke sent the situation to their manager, Sister Fan, to come pick her up and take care of everything. Then she looked at the silent Chen Yanxing and asked, “Is there anything else you want to say?”

Chen Yanxing stared at her for a moment before speaking: “You know a lot.”

Though she was from the Chen family, Chen Yanxing’s identity was low-profile in the industry. Many didn’t even know the second Miss was Chen Yanxing, let alone her “monk” status. But Shen Mengke could recognize her instantly just by name…

Shen Mengke was impressive.

She just smiled proudly and said, “Come on, I’ve been through the entertainment industry long enough to have my sources. Otherwise, how could I survive?”

“By the way, Chen second Miss, if you need anything in the future, cover for me, will you? I’m good friends with your sister Chen Xingxing!”

Chen Yanxing stayed silent, but her gaze suddenly grew cold. “Chen Xingxing?”

“Yeah.” Shen Mengke glanced at her and added, “You two are twins, right? You don’t look very alike though?”

Chen Yanxing didn’t answer, just stared silently.

With years of experience in the entertainment circle, Shen Mengke immediately sensed something was off.

“What’s wrong?” she asked. “I was just joking. No need to get mad.”

“Joke?”

“Chen Xingxing’s a big star, and I’m just a nobody. How would I know her? I was just trying to get close to you.”

Chen Yanxing didn’t continue that line of talk. After watching her for a moment, she said, “I think you’re not bad.”

Shen Mengke was stunned for a second, then nodded: “I think so too.”

“Come with me. I can give you resources.”

That statement silenced Shen Mengke. She looked Chen Yanxing up and down, then suddenly laughed: “A Taoist priest… also plays sugar baby?”

“I’m not a Taoist priest,” Chen Yanxing corrected after a pause. “It’s a collaboration.”

Shen Mengke sized her up, then suddenly knelt on the bed, completely naked, moving close to Chen Yanxing. Chen Yanxing didn’t know where to look, so she just stared into her eyes.

Shen Mengke lifted her chin with one hand and said, “Although there are many rumors about me, I really don’t need a sugar daddy.”

“When I sleep with someone, it’s a matter of mutual consent with no responsibilities. So you don’t have to do anything. Once we leave this hotel, we pretend not to know each other.”

Shen Mengke’s tone was matter-of-fact. Chen Yanxing was stunned for a moment before asking, “You’ve slept with many people?”

Shen Mengke: “…”

Is that the point?

“It depends on how you define ‘many,’” Shen Mengke said. “It’s not important. What matters is, once we leave this hotel, we’re strangers.”

Chen Yanxing kept staring seriously at Shen Mengke, speaking as if it were a simple business deal.

“Am I good-looking and skilled?” Chen Yanxing suddenly asked.

Shen Mengke was stunned but nodded.

Chen Yanxing finally smiled, though faintly. They were so close that Shen Mengke could clearly see.

“I’m quite satisfied with you too,” Chen Yanxing said. “Be my girlfriend.”

Shen Mengke: “???”

This took a wrong turn. Like she’d been burned, Shen Mengke immediately tried to pull away, but Chen Yanxing suddenly wrapped her arms around her waist.

Bare skin touched soft fabric; the orchid brooch on her chest seemed to press painfully into her skin.

“No, wait,” Shen Mengke said, trying to push her away, but Chen Yanxing was too strong. Using this position, she said, “You might misunderstand. I, Shen Mengke, only play people, never do feelings.”

“Second Miss Chen, the title of girlfriend is too serious. You should find someone better.”

“No misunderstanding. I want to invite you to be my girlfriend.” Chen Yanxing spoke very calmly. Shen Mengke felt no emotion in her words—only cold, calculated logic.

“I can draw up a contract. You can ask for whatever you want.”

Shen Mengke understood: this was still sugar baby stuff. Just as she was about to refuse, Chen Yanxing said, “I only need you to do one thing: in any occasion I bring you to, block any romantic advances aimed at me.”

Shen Mengke frowned, looking up immediately. “What do you mean?”

“Think of it as employment,” Chen Yanxing said. “I’m hiring you to be my girlfriend and maintain my reputation.”

“You know the Chen family cares about their reputation. But situations like last night will happen again and again. You can dodge once, but not forever. Having a legitimate girlfriend can often serve as a shield.”

Shen Mengke laughed, “Finding someone from the entertainment industry… especially someone like me, who’s known for scandals, is that really protecting your reputation?”

“What does the Chen family’s reputation have to do with me? Don’t you want to clear your name?” Chen Yanxing asked indifferently.

Shen Mengke frowned. “First, I don’t need to clear my name—I haven’t done anything wrong!”

“Second…” Shen Mengke smiled and slid a finger down from Chen Yanxing’s chin along her neck, teasing the first button of her clothes. “You can hire me, but I don’t want money or resources.”

“What do you want?”

“You.”

“Okay.”

Pretty, skilled, and no worries about being threatened for money—Chen Yanxing was undoubtedly qualified as a casual partner. For Shen Mengke, this was a guaranteed win-win deal!

Chen Yanxing agreed without hesitation. Shen Mengke glanced at her, worried she might back out, and quickly started discussing where and how they’d behave in public. Chen Yanxing remained silent, took a blanket from the sofa, and draped it over Shen Mengke.

Shen Mengke was stunned, then wrapped herself in the blanket, sitting cross-legged on the bed, thinking through conditions as she said, “Remember to prepare a contract.”

Chen Yanxing looked at her tapping on the memo app and softly replied, “Mm.”

They quickly struck a deal—a transaction not maintained by money.

Shen Mengke’s payment to Chen Yanxing was to block all romantic advances wherever Shen Mengke took her. Chen Yanxing’s payment to Shen Mengke was herself.

Just like that, they exchanged contact information. Shen Mengke looked at Chen Yanxing’s default WeChat avatar and the simple username: Chen Yanxing, without any notes.

She couldn’t help but ask, “How many people have you added on WeChat?”

“Only you.”

Wrapped in the blanket, sitting cross-legged on the bed, Shen Mengke tapped into Chen Yanxing’s Moments. It was completely empty—no personal signature either.

Chen Yanxing glanced at her with a cold laugh. “Then I really am honored, Second Miss Chen.”

Saying that, Shen Mengke got off the bed, wrapped in the blanket, and went into the bathroom.

She was a little annoyed. Rationally, their relationship didn’t require true feelings, but did she have to use a private account to brush her off?

Thinking this, she hung the blanket aside, put down her phone, and stood under the shower. She opened the cold water valve, heart heavy, mind a mess. Her hands moved clumsily, and the next second, a sudden burst of cold water drenched her, stabbing her soul from head to toe.

“Ah! —”

She screamed and immediately shut off the cold water. She noticed the valve was indeed turned toward cold water.

Shen Mengke was even angrier now—why would someone purposely set the shower to cold water after bathing?

She grit her teeth, enduring the chill as the water evaporated, and quietly turned the knob to adjust the temperature while standing aside.