After Transmigrating Back, I Became My Own Stand-in - Chapter 15

Sun Sitiao was a pretty woman, but she wasn’t exactly a world-class beauty. She had released several decent works since her debut, but her most famous role was the female lead in last year’s major IP adaptation.

However, that role was far less memorable than her “villainess” highlight reels trending on video sites. That specific character—the one that defined her for many—was handpicked for her by Shen Tianqing. Even if people couldn’t recall her real name, they knew that character.

When their hands met, Shi Xu smiled. “I look forward to your guidance.”

Sun Sitiao felt the words sounded sarcastic, sensing a hidden agenda. But Shi Xu truly didn’t have one. Although the System had embedded Meng Heng’s memories into her, the “bugs” hadn’t been fixed yet. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have needed Yao Fangfang to remind her that Shen Tianqing’s “White Moonlight” was her own past self, nor would she have just discovered that Sun Sitiao was Shen Tianqing’s previous “canary.”

Years of experience as a System worker had taught her to make the safe choice: she could never openly tell anyone she was Shi Xu. She had to be Meng Heng, a reborn Meng Heng. Even if she ran into her old friend Xin Xiaoxuan one day, she wouldn’t—and didn’t dare—claim to know her. Revealing the truth of her soul was a catastrophic risk; she had long since lost the fiery piety and recklessness of youth. She only sought self-preservation.

On the mentor bench, Chen Caiwei asked Shen Tianqing: “Do you have any thoughts regarding your group members?”

Shen Tianqing: “It’s all fate. What can I do?”

Chen Caiwei: “Guiding them is a challenge, too.”

Shen Tianqing: “I have genres I’m not good at, either.”

Zhao Manchun asked with a smile: “Is there really a type of actor Little Shen can’t guide?”

Shen Tianqing: “Yes. Youth campus dramas. They’re too difficult.”

Even if she could film them, she didn’t want to. Her own youth had been absurd and desolate—the beginning of a lifetime of bone-chilling cold. As she shook her head, people’s gazes instinctively followed the movement of her earrings. The studio lights were so bright they created a dizzying, hallucinatory sense of glamour.

The livestream was currently showing the members settling into their respective directors’ instruction rooms, while the halftime break featured pre-recorded director interviews.

Shen Tianqing took a sip of water. Tao Yi leaned in and whispered: “Sun Sitiao tried to send you a gift through me. I turned it down.”

Shen Tianqing hummed. Her makeup artist was touching her up. Shen Tianqing put on a new ring, satisfied with its texture. “I recall she wasn’t on the first draft of the list.”

Tao Yi: “After you finalized the list, she swapped with another actor. It was a resource exchange.”

Shen Tianqing: “Oh.” After a moment of silence, she asked: “Doesn’t she have someone new?”

Tao Yi: “She broke up with her fake boyfriend.”

Sun Sitiao had previously had a famous celebrity boyfriend. Many said it was a “1+1 > 2” PR success, but after they appeared on a family variety show together, everyone expected a wedding. Instead, they split. The male star’s fans blamed her; her fans claimed he failed her. They’re still fighting today.

Shen Tianqing: “Should I be a bit narcissistic?” She lowered her eyes, her long lashes fluttering. The mole she had drawn on with eyeliner looked startlingly beautiful.

Tao Yi thought: Just looking at your face, it’s worth it. But as for the rest…

She lowered her head respectfully. “It’s only natural.”

Shen Tianqing sighed and opened the livestream on her phone. The interviews were over, and members were entering the instruction rooms. There were seven people per group. After the camera cut away from Shi Xu, it landed on Sun Sitiao.

Shen Tianqing stared at the screen. Sun Sitiao didn’t actually look like Shi Xu, but Shen Tianqing hadn’t chosen her for her face. Years ago, at an academy gala, she had attended on behalf of her mother. She saw Sun Sitiao’s performance and took the initiative to approach her.

Unfortunately… unfortunately, there was only one Shi Xu. Even if a person had a great foundation, performing the same play didn’t make them that person. Shen Tianqing had given Sun Sitiao a career boost, but Sun Sitiao had refused to let go. The end result was very unpleasant, and they hadn’t seen each other in a long time.

“Each director has five films in their library. Your list includes Legacy of Xichuan.”

Shen Tianqing’s finger paused on the screen. As an assistant who had mapped out her boss’s past on a clear timeline, Tao Yi felt her heart skip a beat at those words. Did the boss add that herself?

Shen Tianqing: “Did I hear you correctly?”

Simultaneously, the film lists appeared on the big screen in the waiting area. Some films were repeated across groups. Members had to choose, collaborate with other groups, and finally face the director’s ranking and elimination.

The list included many classics like Heart of Hearts and No. 3 Erga Road.

“Legacy of Xichuan tells the story of the Gongsun family being slaughtered overnight. The youngest daughter, Gongsun Wu, survives because she was away at a temple, but in the martial world…”

The synopsis felt nostalgic. Shi Xu watched the screen in the instruction room with a complicated heart. When Shen Tianqing entered the room, the 20-second teaser for Legacy of Xichuan was playing. It was a thirteen-year-old film; even after restoration, it carried a certain film grain—a non-replicable signature of time.

This movie was Shen Tianqing’s debut. Many people were looking at her; the actors’ faces on the monitor were full of surprise.

“That’s the movie Director Shen starred in, right? A martial arts film. I remember watching it as a kid.”

“That role is hard to play,” said a male actor sitting next to Shi Xu. “This director’s style is quite literary—literary wuxia. Especially Shi Xu’s character. Few lines, but very layered. It’s truly…”

The live comments were flooded with people who hadn’t seen the film or had only heard of it. The desert sands and the Gobi of the South—the cinematography was excellent, filmed on location with a heroic musical score.

When Shen Tianqing’s sixteen-year-old face appeared on screen, a collective gasp went up.

【Holy crap, Shen Tianqing was so young back then! So cute, she still had baby fat. She looks like a different person now.】

【This was the peak of wuxia. I remember the Master so clearly. That gaze… other wuxia masters are usually men, but this movie had a female protagonist and a female Master. It was so unique.】

【Longtime Shi Xu fan here. This was our Xu’s swan song. Her final moments… wuu wuu.】

【Shi Xu was so good here. I know the old gossip said she took any role for money, but her acting was real. Shen Tianqing had zero presence in front of her.】

The room filled with the film’s theme, “Farewell to an Old Friend.” As the Qiang flute wailed, the camera caught a close-up of Shen Tianqing. Everyone could see the nostalgia and the shimmer of tears in her eyes. It was a shocking moment; no one expected this reaction from her. This sudden vulnerability was unsettling.

The show moved to the dormitory segment. Many viewers already noticed the formation of cliques. Or rather, the obvious friction within groups—specifically Sun Sitiao’s hostility toward Meng Heng.

【Did you see? Sun Sitiao really can’t stand Meng Heng. Did they have beef before?】

【They’re both ‘resource stars.’ One is a traffic flower with acting skills; the other is a plastic doll. I’m siding with Sitiao.】

【I just read that thread about Shen Tianqing and Sun Sitiao. I’m not okay. Who knew the end of all the gossip would be a dead actress?】

【Wait, look at the old comparison photos from Meng Heng’s rookie days… they said she looked like Shi Xu. This is getting spicy!!】

Shi Xu and Sun Sitiao followed the guides to their team’s dormitory. They were expected to stay together for at least half a month. Shi Xu used her “Supreme S” card to swipe into her room—a beachfront suite with massive windows and a terrace.

Chen Xiaoyin was dying of envy. As Sun Sitiao walked past, Shi Xu asked her: “What do you think?”

【Meng Heng is so mean!! She did that on purpose!!】

【Is Sun Sitiao okay? She looks like she’s in a bad mood.】

Sun Sitiao ignored her. Chen Xiaoyin, however, loved the view. “I don’t want to leave.”

Shi Xu: “Want to swap with me?”

Chen Xiaoyin: “I’m just saying! I’ll wait until I earn my own S-rank to move in.”

After work, Shen Tianqing saw the trending gossip thread. Mentors had gone to visit the dormitories. Shen Tianqing was walking Chen Caiwei toward the residential area while the other directors chatted.

“Little Shen, was Legacy of Xichuan your choice for the list?”

“Hmm?” Shen Tianqing looked up. Away from the studio lights, she looked thinner and tired. “If Director Chen likes it, we can swap.”

She actually hadn’t known it was in her library. She suspected Yan Muyu had snuck it in.

When she reached the third floor, someone called out: “Shen Tianqing!”

Sun Sitiao stood on the stairs, hand on the wooden railing, staring at her. Shen Tianqing looked up lazily. “What is it?”

As the girl hurried down the stairs, her hand reaching for Shen Tianqing’s, Shi Xu happened to walk up the stairs helping Yuan Qi carry a small bag. She was busy complaining about how annoying the production team was when she bumped right into Shen Tianqing.

Shi Xu glanced sideways and saw Sun Sitiao staring unblinkingly at Shen Tianqing.

She let out an “Ah”: “Sorry. Am I interrupting?”

Shi Xu tried to make a quick getaway, but someone grabbed her scarf, pulling her backward.

Shen Tianqing said maliciously: “Oh, sorry about that.”

Shi Xu, nearly choked, turned around wordlessly. Finding no cameras nearby, she gave Sun Sitiao a polite smile: “Miss Sun, the main gate isn’t locked at night.”

Tao Yi: “…” Is this jealousy? Is this a fight for favor?

Shen Tianqing: “Oh? Are you asking me to come over?”

She was tugging at Shi Xu’s scarf, but she was looking at Sun Sitiao. Sun Sitiao’s eyes were glued to her, and she nodded shyly.

Shi Xu yanked her scarf free, pulled away the stunned Yuan Qi, and dropped three words:

“Wish you happiness.”

Seeing her leave so heartlessly, Shen Tianqing’s mood actually improved. She shook off Sun Sitiao’s hand.

“What did I tell you before? You are not allowed to like me.”