After Flirting with the Wrong Stand-in, I Overturned (GL) - Chapter 9

A month can be long or short depending on how you look at it. Lin Shuyan counted the days, enduring one after another. During this period, just as she had predicted, Zhao Meili never contacted her except to assign a few charity performances or temporary gigs.

Tomorrow was the date on the contract. Lin Shuyan looked at the calendar and let out a long sigh. A few days ago, she had indirectly probed Zhao Meili. These past two years, Bai Zhanyan’s popularity had soared, making her the “it girl” of the next generation. As a manager, Zhao Meili put all her energy there; Lin Shuyan just wanted to finish what she started and leave.

The phone rang. Lin Shuyan paused for ten seconds before picking up, only to hear a sharp, irritable female voice: “What are you dawdling for? Why are you so slow to answer the phone!”

“What is it?” Lin Shuyan asked.

“Get to the company. ‘What is it?’—does the company pay you every month just so you can play around outside?”

Lin Shuyan hung up immediately. She left the dressing room at the amusement park where she was working and rushed toward the Xingyu office.

“I’ve landed a role for you,” Zhao Meili said as soon as Lin Shuyan entered the office, tossing a script onto the desk.

Lin Shuyan didn’t look at it.

Zhao Meili looked displeased, suppressing her anger with effort. “This isn’t some little maid role. I went through a lot of trouble to find this for you—the male lead’s ex-girlfriend. It has quite a bit of screen time.”

“Give it to someone who needs it,” Lin Shuyan replied indifferently, still ignoring the script.

“Who was the one who used to ask for scripts?” Zhao Meili looked up from the materials she was organizing on her desk.

“Maybe you didn’t hear me clearly the other day,” Lin Shuyan said slowly and clearly. “My contract expires tomorrow. I don’t intend to renew it.”

“Found a new home already?” Zhao Meili finally put down her work and sized Lin Shuyan up from head to toe. Someone had whispered that this girl had managed to snag a big shot. Zhao Meili had her doubts, but seeing her now…

It was highly likely.

No wonder she refused the men Zhao Meili had picked out; she had early arrangements. Unfortunately, that person wouldn’t reveal who they were. She wanted to hear from Lin Shuyan’s own mouth which “Big Character” it was.

“No.” Lin Shuyan didn’t want to elaborate. “The contract ends tomorrow. The company and I owe each other nothing. Today is my last day here.”

“Shuyan, I haven’t treated you poorly over the years. If you have good resources, there’s no need to hide them. Your Sister Zhao wouldn’t stop you.” Zhao Meili ignored Lin Shuyan’s statement.

Treated her well? Lin Shuyan felt a surge of contempt. Was drugging her and stuffing her into a married man’s bed a month ago “treating her well”?

Lin Shuyan was still young, and she didn’t hide the look in her eyes very well. Zhao Meili quickly read the meaning. “If it weren’t for that incident, how would you have met your benefactor?”

“Benefactor?”

“What is there to hide from Sister Zhao?” Zhao Meili laughed brightly, her eyes squinting into slits. “I understand. That person probably told you not to speak openly about it.”

Connecting Zhao Meili’s words with the strange looks she’d received from others today, Lin Shuyan understood instantly. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Seeing that Lin Shuyan refused to admit it, Zhao Meili’s face flipped instantly. “If you didn’t have someone backing you, do you think I’d tolerate you mentioning the contract time and time again?”

“I’m giving you face and you’re throwing it back! Look at yourself—it’s a miracle the company even signed you in the first place!”

“I don’t want this miracle anymore!” Lin Shuyan didn’t know where her courage came from, but she laid it all out.

“That’s not up to you!” Zhao Meili angrily pulled out a document. “Take a good look at exactly how many years you signed for with this company!”

Lin Shuyan flipped through the contract rapidly. When she saw the signature on the page, her face turned deathly pale.

Ren Family Study.

Ren Xuan didn’t expect Ning Yinman’s warning to come true so quickly. Double contracts—she had heard of them but never seen them in action.

They secretly have newcomers sign two contracts: one short-term, one long-term. If the newcomer becomes famous, they use the second contract to trap them. If not, they leave them to rot. Her last call with Ning Yinman was just a theoretical discussion; a month later, it was a cold reality.

“Xuan, are you still there?”

“I am,” Ren Xuan snapped back to reality.

“Lin Shuyan’s manager has a history of this. Zhao Meili has been in this industry for many years. Curiously, her history before Xingyu was wiped clean.”

“Lin Shuyan doesn’t understand her manager. Zhao Meili used this same tactic at her previous company to trap an artist who has since left the industry.”

“Yinman, thank you. I’ll treat you to dinner soon,” Ren Xuan said sincerely. Almost everything she knew about Lin Shuyan’s situation came through Ning Yinman.

“I’ll hold you to that. Xuan, you haven’t been out for nearly two months.”

“I promise.”

“Xuan,” Ning Yinman saw that Ren Xuan was serious and suggested an out. “Lin Shuyan isn’t famous; she’s a ghost at her company. The news of you saving her was blocked early on. If you don’t let people know you’re trying to promote her, Zhao Meili and Xingyu will likely let her go.”

“Zhang Ming has seen me,” Ren Xuan pointed out.

“If you really want to solve this, it’s easy,” Ning Yinman joked. “Xingyu is a tiny company. If you want to take her openly, sue them. If you want to do it quietly, just pay them off.”

With the Ren family’s wealth, acquiring the company was just a matter of time.

Ren Xuan was silent for a moment. “I’ll see.”

“Alright,” Ning Yinman knew her friend had her own ideas. “I’ll wait for your good news.”

Lin Shuyan… Ning Yinman really wanted to see what was so special about this girl that she had captured her friend’s favor and warranted such effort.

Having confirmed that Lin Shuyan had unknowingly signed a trap contract, Ren Xuan waited patiently. The driver had left Lin Shuyan a card with the Ren family’s landline number, but Lin Shuyan had shown no intention of calling.

It seemed that if she didn’t take the initiative, the probability of Lin Shuyan seeking her out was too low. The mission progress would stall. This won’t do, Ren Xuan thought, tapping the desk rhythmically.

“Sister, Sister!” Ren Ke’s shouting echoed from downstairs. “Your phone! I think it’s Sister Lin!”

Lin Shuyan.

Ren Xuan ran down without a moment’s delay. But the moment she took the phone, her brow knit. “Who is this?”

“Miss Ren,” Zhao Meili’s voice came through, testing the waters cautiously. “I’m Shuyan’s manager. She’s drunk, and I have some business to attend to. Could I trouble you to come pick her up?”

“Where are you?” Ren Xuan knew the woman was lying, but she had to play along. Lin Shuyan couldn’t be allowed to come to harm, and the person on the other end was someone with no moral bottom line.

There was no time to wonder how the number had gotten to Zhao Meili. After getting the address, Ren Xuan headed straight for the garage.

Hearing it was Sister Yan, Ren Ke wanted to go too. She wanted to see her and play with Sister Xiao Ke. If only she had asked which class Xiao Ke was in. But seeing her sister’s hurried pace and anxious eyes, Ren Ke sensibly kept her mouth shut and watched her leave.

West Street Bar.

Dim lights, blasting music, and the smell of cigarettes and alcohol permeated the air. Men and women danced frantically in the center of the floor.

As soon as she stepped inside, Ren Xuan began searching for her. It wasn’t easy; several men tried to approach her, whom she rejected decisively, followed by a few beautiful women offering themselves.

This world was very open—at least compared to Ren Xuan’s original world. Here, same-sex relationships were acknowledged and visible. The two leads of this story were women, and same-sex couples were common.

“I’m looking for someone,” Ren Xuan said with a stern face. She looked like someone not to be trifled with. After several confident beauties were rebuffed, no one else dared approach. She tried to call, but the environment was too loud.

Recalling the last time she saw Lin Shuyan and looking at this crazed crowd, Ren Xuan’s worry intensified. Just as her patience was about to snap, she received a text.

It was from Zhao Meili.

Room 205.

The fifth room on the left of the second floor. Ren Xuan pushed the door open.

The smell of wine and dim, hazy lights greeted her. A middle-aged woman stood at the door, her face plastered with a smile that felt far from friendly—her shrewd eyes were enough to put anyone on guard.

Ren Xuan recognized her.

“Manager Zhao,” Ren Xuan said, cutting to the chase. “Where is Lin Shuyan?”

“Miss Ren, please, have a seat.” Zhao Meili gestured toward the head of the table in the empty VIP room. She acted annoyed at the empty space. “Look at the people I brought—they work in the industry, yet none of them can hold their liquor.”

“If they can’t drink, they shouldn’t,” Ren Xuan said, having no interest in small talk.

“Miss Ren is right,” Zhao Meili said submissively. “But in our line of work, there are always necessities. Of course, my Shuyan is quite lucky to have met Miss Ren.”

When someone first told her Lin Shuyan had hooked up with Ren Xuan, Zhao Meili hadn’t believed it. Not until someone sent her photos. It was a lucky break; a normal paparazzi wouldn’t dare publish them, but this one was from her hometown and was planning to retire after this “big score.”

With just a small test, Zhao Meili hadn’t expected Miss Ren to be so concerned—she had arrived twenty minutes earlier than calculated. She didn’t know what kind of luck Lin Shuyan had stumbled into; Zhao Meili had never heard of a single scandal involving the Ren family’s heiress. With her background, she could have anyone in the industry. This “fish” was something Zhao Meili hadn’t even dared to dream of.

“Where is Lin Shuyan?” Ren Xuan’s patience was thin. Seeing her urgency, Zhao Meili stopped playing games. “Shuyan has been tired from work lately. Even if it’s a staff dinner, I wouldn’t dare let them force her to drink! She’s resting upstairs.”

Work? As far as Ren Xuan knew, Lin Shuyan’s “work” consisted of running around amusement parks or acting as a prop in escape rooms.

“Miss Ren,” Zhao Meili flatteringly poured a glass of wine.

“I wouldn’t dare drink Manager Zhao’s wine.” Ren Xuan pushed it away. Zhao Meili’s expression didn’t flicker. “Miss Ren must be joking. I wouldn’t have the heart nor the courage. I was ignorant before, but I understand now—you’re Miss Ren’s person.”

“I’ll drink a penalty cup first.”

Knowing the woman intended to drag this out, Ren Xuan settled in. She had come personally to ensure Shuyan’s safety; now that everything was out in the open, Zhao Meili wouldn’t dare do anything.

After several drinks, Zhao Meili got to the point. “Miss Ren, Shuyan’s talent is top-tier, but in this circle, without a backer or funding, it’s impossible to move an inch. She’s been in the industry for years and hasn’t played a single lead.”

“What she lacks is opportunity!”

Ren Xuan found it hilarious. Zhao Meili was so certain they were in “that kind of relationship,” yet she dared to say such things. Was she not afraid Shuyan would tell her everything? Was she that confident Ren Xuan wouldn’t turn around and cause her trouble?

“Manager Zhao,” Ren Xuan cut her off, curling her lips. “Since you know I’ve taken a liking to Lin Shuyan, why wouldn’t I promote her to a higher place myself?”

The implication was clear: With your credentials, you’re not worthy of her.

Zhao Meili’s face turned ugly.

Ren Xuan didn’t look at her again and pushed the door open to leave. Zhao Meili might not have the courage to do anything now, but Ren Xuan couldn’t take the risk. She headed straight for the third floor.

Some doors on the third floor were open, and the sight of men and women clinging to each other made Ren Xuan’s expression darken.

She pushed open a door just as it was being opened from the inside.

Lin Shuyan stood there, stunned for a moment.

Before she could call out “Miss Ren,” Ren Xuan spoke:

“Lin Shuyan, are you a ‘clumsy beauty’ or something? How do you fall into the same trap twice!”