The next day.

【What to do if the stand-in I’m keeping falls in love with me?】

The thick curtains blocked out the sunlight, leaving the entire master bedroom silent and dark.

At this moment.

Only a single phone screen, placed on the pillow, flickered with a cool, faint light!

Song Junzhu was curled up in her quilt, staring at the line of text in the search bar with a conflicted expression.

She could face countless academic conferences without a change in expression; she could remain as steady as Mount Tai when facing tricky experiments.

But…

At this moment, Song Junzhu had no idea what to do.

She had never thought that she would one day be in such a predicament that she would need to ask Baidu for help. 

(TL: Baidu is China’s largest search engine, the equivalent of Google.)

After a moment of thought.

Song Junzhu gave up on Baidu, that cesspool of advertisements, and instead dialed the number of her best friend, Zhang Yue.

The phone on Zhang Yue’s end rang twice before it was answered.

“Hello? Junzhu? What’s wrong?”

Song Junzhu bit her red lip, her expression conflicted.

“Can’t I call you if nothing’s wrong?”

Zhang Yue looked out the window and saw that the sun had not risen from the west today.

This best friend of hers cherished time the most. Since childhood, her motto had been “wasting life is equivalent to slow suicide.”

How had she changed her ways today? She was willing to waste time on idle chatter?

Something’s not right!

Something is twelve-tenths not right! There’s definitely a problem! 

(TL: A humorous exaggeration of “ten-tenths” or 100%.)

Since she had made the call first, she couldn’t just stay silent. So, Song Junzhu stammered.

“Um… if someone has a secret crush on you…”

At this moment, Zhang Yue’s IQ was comparable to Einstein’s, and she quickly found the truth through her woman’s sixth sense.

“That duck you’re keeping has fallen for you?” 

(TL: “Duck” or 鸭子 (yāzi) is slang for a male prostitute or gigolo.)

Song Junzhu froze for a moment and subconsciously retorted.

“He’s not, not that. He’s just having financial difficulties.”

Zhang Yue’s voice was tinged with laughter. “So quick to clarify for him, huh? Looks like it’s not a one-sided crush.”

It’s over.

So she was setting a trap for me here?

Zhang Yue said smugly.

“The line of people who’ve had a crush on you since you were little could stretch all the way to France, and I’ve never seen you ask about it specifically. If it’s not because of that kid, who else could it be?”

“Sure enough, I just casually said something bad about him, and you got all defensive.”

Not many of the people who could be best friends with Song Junzhu were fools. 

Since she had already figured it out, she didn’t bother to hide it anymore.

“Last night, I was drunk, and he confessed to me by the bed. He talked for a long time.”

“He thought I didn’t hear him, but I actually did. I was just too dizzy and weak.”

Mentioning this, Song Junzhu leaned against the headboard, a soul-snatching smile gracing her lips.

“He said he likes me, but he doesn’t dare to say it. He also said he loves me, that it has nothing to do with me, and that he doesn’t ask for a response.”

Zhang Yue was shocked.

“Holy shit! It really is you! Even whores like them can’t resist you!” 

(TL: “卖的” (mài de) literally means “one who sells,” a blunt term for a prostitute.)

If he were trying to deliberately seduce Song Junzhu, there would be no need to say it when she was drunk and passed out.

Since he said it secretly, it must have been a genuine outpouring of emotion!

However, Song Junzhu still corrected her. “He’s not. We’ve never had that kind of relationship.”

“Alright, alright.” Zhang Yue was a little amused.

They haven’t even taken the first step, and she’s already defending him? 

But Zhang Yue still reminded her.

“Their line of work is too dirty. You can play around, but don’t get too invested.”

“But I’m quite curious, why did you start keeping him in the first place? I was shocked when I heard the news.”

For someone like Song Junzhu, who was sought after by countless people to no avail, to suddenly start keeping a man—anyone would be shocked to hear it.

Song Junzhu didn’t know how to explain.

Was she supposed to say that because Lu Xing looked very similar to her fiancé, she hired him for revenge?

She didn’t have the face to say that.

Zhang Yue tactfully didn’t ask, but just said, “You can observe him for a bit when you’re free, see if he’s being genuine or just acting.”

Before hanging up, Zhang Yue’s calm tone was filled with surging gossip.

“If you have any developments later, you can discuss them with me. I’d be more than happy to listen!”

Song Junzhu let out a laugh.

Happy to listen? More like you want to hear the gossip!

However, the suggestion Zhang Yue made was indeed feasible.

Previously, Song Junzhu had never paid attention to Lu Xing’s daily actions.

Thinking back now, she discovered many subtle things.

For example:

“Why is it that when I’m thirsty, he can immediately hand water to me? Is it because he’s always watching me?”

He loves me so much.

“Why is it that when I curse at you, there’s sadness in your eyes? At your age, it’s impossible for your acting skills to be that good!”

He loves me so much.

“Why have you never made any inappropriate moves? Is it because liking is reckless, but love is restraint?”

He loves me so much.

As Song Junzhu muttered, a smile she hadn’t even noticed appeared on her lips.

In the end, she let out a light humph.

“You have good taste.”

A hundred times better than that fiancé who went looking for some bullshit true love!

Knock, knock, knock.

A knock on the door.

Song Junzhu paused, quickly tidied her hair, and cleared her throat.

“Come in.”

Click.

The door opened.

Lu Xing stood at the entrance holding a tray, the light from outside casting a halo around him.

“Professor Song, would you like breakfast?”

Song Junzhu glanced at the breakfast on the tray. It was all her favorite food.

He really does love me.

Lu Xing stared at Song Junzhu’s face in confusion, wondering what new act this damn psycho was putting on.

Why isn’t she talking?

If she didn’t speak, Lu Xing couldn’t speak either. They could only remain in this stalemate!

Damn it!

Psycho!

Wait.

A flash of inspiration struck Lu Xing.

Could it be that her throat hurts from drinking so much last night?

Thinking of this, Lu Xing instantly felt he had found the truth, so he immediately turned to pour some water.

Song Junzhu had just composed herself and was about to speak when she suddenly realized Lu Xing had slipped away?

“Hey…”

The word got stuck in her throat. Song Junzhu’s face instantly darkened.

What’s the meaning of this?

Could it be that he plans to act spoiled, relying on the fact that he likes me?

The next second.

Lu Xing reappeared at the doorway with a glass of warm water and said softly.

“Professor Song, you drank last night. Is your throat a little sore now? I poured you a glass of warm water to drink.”

Song Junzhu’s brow instantly smoothed out.

He loves me so much.

Lu Xing tentatively walked to the bedside and carefully handed the glass of water to Song Junzhu.

Song Junzhu sized Lu Xing up, a smile flowing in her eyes.

Her throat didn’t hurt.

But if she didn’t drink it, Lu Xing would probably be smiling on the surface but feeling very sad inside, right?

Thinking of this, Song Junzhu took the glass and began to drink.

Yes!

Lu Xing applauded himself in his mind.

Damn.

I guessed right!

I’m so smart. I totally deserve to earn this money!

“Hiss…”

Song Junzhu let out a hiss. She suddenly felt a pain on one side of her face.

Did I fall and hit my face last night? (TL: No, you got bitch-slapped!)

Seeing her touch her face, Lu Xing’s temple throbbed. He silently placed the tray on the table and said softly.

“Professor Song, does today’s breakfast suit your taste? It’s all light and easy to digest.”

“You drank quite a bit last night. Eating this is better for your stomach.”

Song Junzhu instantly forgot about the pain in her face and scanned the breakfast on the table.

He loves me so much.

He knew I was drinking, so he specially made this breakfast!

“I’m not good at making breakfast. I bought these from a shop. They should be delicious.”

Seeing that Song Junzhu wasn’t speaking, Lu Xing could only say this.

Song Junzhu paused for a moment, then nodded.

He loves me so much.

He specially ran to a breakfast shop to buy me breakfast, and he’s even worried about whether I’ll like it.

Seeing Lu Xing’s anxious look, Song Junzhu hid the smile in her eyes and nodded.

“Okay, I’ll eat it.”

Phew—

Lu Xing let out a sigh of relief.

Damn.

This damn psycho is really getting harder and harder to serve. Even eating breakfast is such a hassle!

Thankfully, he had almost saved up enough money.

Once he had enough, he would run away immediately, far away from these psychos!

Seeing Song Junzhu start to drink her congee, Lu Xing walked to the bedside and slowly pulled open the curtains.

The morning sun shone into the bedroom, bringing with it the aura of youth!

Song Junzhu took a sip of her congee, stared at the rising sun outside, and smiled unconsciously.

The weather is great today!

Lu Xing saw Song Junzhu’s inexplicable smile, and the hairs on his back stood on end.

Damn it!

I must get out of here quickly!

Song Junzhu’s brain isn’t normal!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep