Professional Substitute

Chapter 3: The Self-Cultivation of a Stand-In

Yu Xiao had already experienced numerous shocks that day, but none compared to the impact of the beautiful woman with fox-like eyes standing before him. He furrowed his brows slightly, scrutinizing her intently.

With over six months of professional experience, Mo Qinglan could roughly guess his thoughts. Was he questioning her dedication to fandom, willing to invest so much? Yet, the inherent superiority of celebrities made them feel this was only natural. For many fans, the chance to get close to their idols, even at the cost of time and emotion, was a coveted opportunity.

Though she was beautiful, Yu Xiao had countless attractive fans. Surely not every pretty woman could approach him. What if her intentions were malicious, trying to ride his fame, stir up rumors, and become impossible to shake off? If the media exposed any scandal involving fans, it could end his career instantly.

After a few seconds of contemplation, Yu Xiao spoke, "Thank you... for your suggestion. The basic qualities of an actor are my lifelong pursuit. But there's no reason to waste so much of your time and effort."

His rejection was quite clear.

Mo Qinglan hadn't expected to succeed with just a few words. She took out a meticulously designed flyer from her bag, listing her services, prices, and contact information, and handed it to him. "No worries, I'm a professional. You pay, I deliver. You might not need my services today, but who knows about tomorrow? I'm just planting a small seed for the future."

As she said this, she lightly tapped his chest with her delicate, fair fingertips. "I should go now. Looking forward to your call, Emperor Yu."

Yu Xiao was stunned. His heart first shattered, then felt like it was being jolted by electricity. He had thought the fan wanted to offer herself, but unexpectedly, she was trying to take his money. Shockingly, the most basic package started at ten thousand! Did she think he earned 2.08 million a day? This was truly unprecedented.

Two days later, Mo Qinglan surprisingly received an invitation from Yu Xiao to act opposite him. It wasn't about acting skills or emotions; it just had to be her. The price he paid was ten thousand per session, each lasting about an hour.

Due to Yu Xiao's frequent travels for filming, scheduling was difficult. They could only rehearse when he returned to Cloud City. He promised to try and schedule in advance. However, in reality, he always showed up unannounced, catching her off guard. Once they started acting, he would lose track of time, often going overtime, much like their strict high school homeroom teacher.

And now, Yu Xiao showed up again without prior notice. Mo Qinglan bit her lip for just a second before switching to a polite smile at a thirty-degree angle, stepping forward to greet him. "Emperor Yu, you're here. This glasses chain complements your stunning looks perfectly. I was just browsing your official blog, thinking how long it's been since we last met, and here you are. It's like we're telepathic."

"Emperor Yu" was Mo Qinglan's exclusive nickname for him.

Yu Xiao responded with a simple "Hmm," and said, "Thanks, I came back suddenly, thought I'd surprise you."

This wasn't a surprise; it was a shock! She hadn't even finished her dessert. "Have some dessert too."

Before he could refuse, Mo Qinglan lowered her voice so only they could hear, "Men who love desserts are the warmest and most charming. I bought an extra coconut milk s**o pudding; I'll pack it for you later."

Yu Xiao followed her gaze, noticing a bowl of white s**o pudding on a nearby table. Having worked with her for so long, he knew she was meticulous in her work. "Alright. We'll rehearse later."

This wasn't a command, but a statement. Everything seemed so natural. Mo Qinglan turned her head, rolling her eyes before comforting herself that having work meant earning money. Time would have to be squeezed out like a sponge.

Turning back around, she had a bright smile on her face. "Sure, I'm available. My whole body has been itching to act with Emperor Yu again. Let's go quickly; if we stay any longer, people will start asking for your autograph."

The autograph wasn't the issue; the problem was that they were too close to the school. She still had business on campus, and if the university students or her sponsors discovered her, and she ended up on the BBS hot search, she'd have a hard time explaining herself.

As she packed the s**o pudding and walked towards Yu Xiao's Maserati, Mo Qinglan's peripheral vision caught sight of a pair of Scottish tartan pants. Her heart leapt into her throat, and her right eye twitched uncontrollably. Among the people she knew, only one person owned what appeared to be pants but were actually a skirt.

What a small world.

As they passed by, the owner of the tartan pants suddenly turned to look in Mo Qinglan's direction. Driven by a strong survival instinct, Mo Qinglan quickly reacted. She deftly grabbed Yu Xiao's collar, and although her face didn't touch his chest, from a skewed angle, it looked like a very intimate gesture. Her voice seemed to carry a seductive tone, filled with allure. "Mr. Yu, what role are we playing today? I'll prepare in advance."

Yu Xiao's back stiffened instantly. The scent of the girl lingered at the tip of his nose, and through the thin fabric, the elasticity and smoothness of her skin became more apparent. Suddenly, he thought of something. When she agreed to act opposite him, was it with this intention? To turn fiction into reality and use this as a stepping stone? Otherwise, how could she tolerate his chaotic scripts, his lack of punctuality, and sudden visits, and even write reviews and analyze roles for him without drinking a sip of water during rehearsals? She must like him.

"Don't rush; there are so many people here!" The owner of the tartan pants walked away, and Mo Qinglan quickly stepped back, putting distance between herself and Yu Xiao. It was as if the woman with the seductive tone wasn't her at all.

"This time it's a short drama." The sense of intimacy vanished abruptly, and Yu Xiao frowned, speaking in a deep voice.

Mo Qinglan widened her eyes. With his status and resources, Yu Xiao was actually going to act in a short drama. Mo Qinglan usually browsed video apps to broaden her horizons and accumulate various memes to better serve her clients. During this process, she'd been recommended several short dramas by big data algorithms. To put it bluntly, nowadays, short dramas mostly start with drugging scenes, passionate scenes, and even infidelity scenes in period dramas, all skirting the edges of decency, filled with "yellow waste," yet claiming to have s****l tension. Or they deliberately portray hatred and mindless tragic love stories. Recently, many inappropriate short dramas had been taken down by the authorities.

Though she thought this, what she said was quite the opposite. "Short dramas? That's great! It's a new track, and you might carve out a new path. Plus, the ones that stand out are those chosen by the audience. If it weren't good, who would pay to watch?"

After getting into the car and sitting in the passenger seat, Mo Qinglan placed the dessert in front and fastened her seatbelt. Yu Xiao lowered his eyes, realizing that she had just stirred up his emotions, which hadn't yet subsided. This loss of control had happened more than once.

"Hmm, I've set up a short drama studio. I'm both the boss and the lead actor."

Mo Qinglan: "..."

Alright, poverty indeed limits imagination. She thought he was being forced by investors to take on this role.

Yu Xiao's display of wealth filled Mo Qinglan with a surge of resentment towards the rich.