After Flirting with the Wrong Stand-in, I Overturned (GL) - Chapter 4

The person outside was running out of patience. The violent pounding on the door hammered incessantly against the girl’s ears. Her grip tightened, and her entire body shook uncontrollably; no matter how Ren Xuan tried to soothe her, it was no use.

They couldn’t let him keep knocking forever. Ren Xuan knit her brows. Her initial instinct was to open the door—she actually wanted to see just what kind of trouble this “Director Zhang” thought he could stir up.

No.

Ren Xuan quickly dismissed that thought. She looked down and patted the girl’s shoulder. She knew that, no matter what, she could not let Lin Shuyan face the person outside right now.

“Let’s go inside the room,” Ren Xuan knelt down. She didn’t pry Lin Shuyan’s hand away; she simply looked up steadily, her gaze softening as she met the girl’s eyes. At the same time, she placed her hand over Lin Shuyan’s. “Okay?”

“Okay.” Lin Shuyan turned her hand over to grip Ren Xuan’s back.

This suggestion clearly suited her current “ostrich” state of mind, even though she knew exactly what the man’s knocking represented. Hearing his voice or seeing his face for even one minute—or one second—less was a blessing.

“Let’s go in first.” Ren Xuan helped Lin Shuyan up from the sofa. There was a smaller sofa inside the bedroom, but this time, Ren Xuan helped her directly onto the bed.

Lin Shuyan peered timidly at her surroundings. There were one or two stray pieces of clothing on the corner of the bed—clearly Ren Xuan’s. The duvet was partially turned back, and the pillows bore the traces of being moved. This bed was filled entirely with Ren Xuan’s scent.

“Just keep lying down.” Ren Xuan tucked her into the covers with a tone that brooked no argument.

“I—” Lin Shuyan started to speak but stopped. Touching the soft bed, her body screamed for rest, yet the noise outside the door refused to let her go for even a moment.

“Do you trust me?” Ren Xuan asked, pressing a hand on Lin Shuyan’s shoulder.

Lin Shuyan bit her lip and nodded.

“I’ll handle it,” Ren Xuan promised her. “Sleep peacefully. It’ll be fine when you wake up.”

Despite saying that, Ren Xuan knew Lin Shuyan couldn’t possibly fall asleep without a care in the world. She could only cover her with the blanket and close the bedroom door.

The knocking stopped. Ren Xuan heard another male voice—it was that thin, tall manager from before. She recognized his voice.

“Director Zhang, how about you go back to your room and rest first?” Manager Li maintained a professional facade, but his heart was already wailing. Zhang Ming, a third-rate director, only managed to stay in the industry because of his family’s assets. He was staying at the hotel, but the room was registered under a woman’s name.

Having seen all sorts of people, how could Manager Li not understand what was happening? He didn’t care what they did in their rooms; he just wanted his shift to be quiet without any “moths” causing trouble.

But Zhang Ming was making a scene—first disturbing the floor below, then claiming he was looking for someone. He had even rushed to the front desk saying someone from his room had disappeared and demanding the hotel take responsibility.

It seemed the party involved hadn’t been willing. Since all hotel entries and exits were recorded, Manager Li knew the person had likely hidden in another room. Everyone staying here was either rich or powerful, and Manager Li couldn’t afford to offend any of them. Naturally, he couldn’t say that out loud.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Ming was relentless. He eventually pulled the manager aside and changed his story, whispering that the person had jumped from the fourth floor. Manager Li was scared witless; a human life was no small matter. He didn’t dare delay any further and checked the surveillance footage immediately. As soon as the footage appeared, Zhang Ming rushed upstairs. Manager Li chased after him but was a step too slow—he didn’t even wait for the elevator and ran up the stairs.

In the end, he didn’t catch him in time. Zhang Ming had already started knocking.

“I’m not tired!” Zhang Ming bellowed, intentionally shouting at the door.

He hadn’t expected that this shout would actually make the door open.

“Can I help you?” Ren Xuan looked up, feigning ignorance.

Not only Zhang Ming, but even Manager Li froze for a moment. The girl before them was only in her twenties, yet she possessed an aura she shouldn’t have at that age. And those eyes!

Those beautiful eyes were filled with nothing but coldness, as if she were looking at a pile of trash. Her entire demeanor broadcasted one message: “I am in a very bad mood.”

Manager Li was experienced, after all. After a brief pause, he began his usual rounds of smoothing things over.

Ren Xuan didn’t give him the time. She cut him off and said nonchalantly, “If I remember correctly, it is 8:00 PM. Li Qi’an, what reason could possibly justify you bringing a grown man to block my door and disturb my sleep? Perhaps I should just call and ask your General Manager directly.”

Li Qi’an’s heart skipped a beat. Many people knew his name—it was on the hotel brochure—but very few ever addressed him by name to his face. He was an expert in the art of “not hitting a smiling face,” but before his smile could fully form, Zhang Ming snatched the conversation.

“Where is the woman in your room? Hurry up and hand her over.” Zhang Ming’s lecherous eyes scanned Ren Xuan. This one wasn’t bad either—a bit of a temper, but she’d do. He liked a challenge.

Ren Xuan ignored him, turning back to Li Qi’an. “I want to rest. This man came with you. Surely your hotel,” she raised an eyebrow, “won’t refuse to take responsibility for a guest’s safety?”

One second she was the accuser, and the next she was playing the victim. Li Qi’an looked troubled; both were clients, and he couldn’t afford to offend either side.

“What do you mean?” Zhang Ming shouted. “The woman in your room is mine!”

“Yours?” Ren Xuan narrowed her eyes. “Are you sure?”

“Does Sun Lan know about this?”

Zhang Ming’s arrogant fire was doused instantly. Sun Lan was his wife.

His own family had a bit of money, but it had been declining over the years. In contrast, his wife’s family business was flourishing. These days, the investor for the films he directed was his wife. If Sun Lan ever found out about this…

How did this person know? Zhang Ming felt as though his vital point had been seized. He glared at her, still unwilling to let things go so easily.

“I’ll say it one more time: I want to rest,” Ren Xuan repeated with a yawn. Finding out about him was too easy; while checking Lin Shuyan’s Weibo, she had conveniently dialed a paparazzi contact. In the entertainment industry, this kind of situation wasn’t even worth a side dish.

Zhang Ming was clearly married and misbehaving. Ren Xuan naturally felt like being a “Good Samaritan” and telling his wife. She hadn’t expected to find a bonus surprise—that this man was actually a “soft rice eater” (living off his wife).

She simply had to be this Good Samaritan now.

“Great Director Zhang Ming,” Ren Xuan said with a beaming smile, though the respectful title sounded ominous to his ears now. “Guess how long it will take for your wife to get here? How long does it take to get from Yecheng to Tongcheng?”

“Maybe only an hour?” Ren Xuan maintained her casual tone, flipping through her phone and flashing it in front of him.

Most of Zhang Ming’s bravado vanished. While Li Qi’an was still wondering why she was waving her phone, Zhang Ming’s angle allowed him to see exactly what was on the screen.

A phone number.

Sun Lan’s—his wife’s—number.

He realized this unknown woman wasn’t bluffing. She really knew his business—perhaps everything.

Who is she?

Zhang Ming roared internally. More than the impending storm, he wanted to know where this woman got her confidence.

“Do you know that a starved camel is still bigger than a horse?” Yes, he didn’t have as much say at home as that dead woman, but his family wasn’t something to be trifled with either. As long as he moved a finger, he thought confidently…

“Miss Ren.”

The half-closed door was pulled open, and Lin Shuyan walked out.