Chapter 17: The Chaebol Heir’s Canary — A Stand-In Should Act Like a Stand-In

Shi Yu heard what sounded like a mosquito buzzing in her ear. Still half-asleep, she waved her hand to swat it, frowning and mumbling: “Go away!”

Jiang Qiuyan looked down at her. The cold severity in her features vanished in an instant, replaced by tenderness and indulgence.

“Sleep, sleep.”

She patted Shi Yu’s shoulder gently, coaxing her in a soft voice. Shi Yu murmured and rolled over, nuzzling into her arms before falling back asleep.

Jiang Qiuyan’s breath caught. Her gaze darkened.

Shi Yu had been resting her head on Jiang Qiuyan’s lap. With this shift, her face pressed directly against her lower abdomen. Every scorching breath spilled across bare skin; the thin layer of clothing offered no barrier.

A ticklish sensation spread across her belly. Heat bloomed from somewhere deep…

Jiang Qiuyan averted her eyes and silently rolled down the car window.

Shi Yu had no idea what Jiang Qiuyan was enduring. She slept soundly, occasionally nuzzling her nose against her stomach.

When they finally got home, Jiang Qiuyan carried her straight inside.

Warm water enveloped her body. Shi Yu drifted awake slowly, and the moment her eyes opened, they fell into Jiang Qiuyan’s deep gaze.

Those eyes were truly mesmerizing, pulling her in without her even realizing. And so Shi Yu was bewitched by beauty once more, cupping Jiang Qiuyan’s face and kissing her.

“You’re so beautiful.”

In her short eighteen years of life, Jiang Qiuyan was the most beautiful person she had ever seen.

It wasn’t just that flawless, exquisite face. Every inch of her seemed carefully carved, a testament to Nüwa’s favor.

If everyone else was just a splatter of mud Nüwa had casually flung together, then Jiang Qiuyan was Nüwa’s masterwork.

Shi Yu knew she shouldn’t get too deeply entangled with Jiang Qiuyan, yet she kept being bewitched by that face, tangling herself up again and again.

Their lips touched and parted. She hooked her arms around Jiang Qiuyan’s neck, pressing her face to her chest, feeling the steady, strong rhythm of her heartbeat.

She was still tiny, almost weightless in her arms. Jiang Qiuyan swallowed hard, forcefully quelling the restlessness inside, and nuzzled the top of Shi Yu’s head with her chin.

The little cat really seemed to love her face. Should she go in for some skincare tomorrow?

Meanwhile, after her bout of starstruck admiration, Shi Yu drifted into drowsiness again, completely indifferent to the agony of the person she’d been teasing.

The bathwater gradually cooled. Jiang Qiuyan carried Shi Yu out, wrapped her in a thick towel like a cocoon, and gently blow-dried her hair and applied body lotion.

Still so thin, but her skin looked softer.

Of course. At her age, her skin would be supple and smooth even without any products. Before, it had only looked dull because she’d been doing too much heavy labor at the Pei household.

Now, away from all that, she shone like a pearl blown clean of dust.

Jiang Qiuyan thought for a moment and booked a premium treatment at a salon she hadn’t visited in ages. Better to maintain her looks; she didn’t want people thinking she and the little cat didn’t match.

The moment Shi Yu touched the covers, she burrowed into Jiang Qiuyan’s arms. Only when she was wrapped in her embrace did she settle. Holding the soft, sweet little omega, Jiang Qiuyan keenly felt the ten-year gap between them.

I’ll have to dote on you even more from now on. What if you find me too old?

Jiang Qiuyan whispered silently to the sleeping Shi Yu and held her tight once more.

When Shi Yu woke, the space beside her was empty. She rolled over and buried her face where Jiang Qiuyan had lain, breathing in the lingering pheromones.

The housekeeper brought good news. After eating, Shi Yu went to the supermarket with her. After an interview, they decided she’d start work the next day.

Eight-hour shifts, getting off work exactly half an hour before Jiang Qiuyan.

Intuition told her Jiang Qiuyan would never let her work outside, so she didn’t plan to tell her.

The thought of dealing with all sorts of people still made her nervous, but even so, she had to overcome it as best she could.

No one would help her from now on. She had to rely on herself.

Just before five, Jiang Qiuyan called and told her to get ready to go out. They’d be having dinner outside.

Shi Yu opened the wardrobe. Inside, rows of all kinds of clothes hung neatly, all prepared by Jiang Qiuyan.

Mostly pink and blue, with white here and there. All very girly. Shi Yu suddenly remembered something and picked up a blue dress to change into.

A stand-in should act like a stand-in. As long as Jiang Qiuyan liked it, playing Pei Shuyu in front of her was fine.

The fit was perfect, as if tailored just for her. Shi Yu looked at her reflection in the mirror and felt like a stranger.

Even though she didn’t care for the dress, she had to admit that expensive clothes really did flatter a person. The high-saturation blue made her glow with fairness. The square neckline showcased the elegant lines of her shoulders and neck, making her look like a noble little princess.

Shi Yu gave a self-deprecating smile, sighing inwardly at her own foolish daydreams.

The real princess was Pei Shuyu. She was nothing but a counterfeit.

She turned and let down her tied-up hair, then grabbed her phone and headed out.

The driver was already waiting downstairs. After greeting her, she drove her straight to the restaurant Jiang Qiuyan had booked.

Jiang Qiuyan was already there waiting. When she saw Shi Yu walking toward her step by step, undisguised awe flickered in her eyes.

Shi Yu felt quite self-conscious under that openly intense gaze. She stopped in front of her and asked in a small voice: “Is it too plain?”

Bare-faced might make it seem like she wasn’t taking the date seriously, but she wasn’t skipping makeup on purpose; she simply didn’t know how to apply it.

Jiang Qiuyan stood and pulled out her chair. “No. You look beautiful. Blue suits you well.”

Shi Yu was delighted by the praise, but the next words knocked her back to reality. So that’s it, she thought.

Because she looked like Pei Shuyu, that’s why she was called beautiful.

She took a deep breath, pushed the jumbled thoughts from her mind, and slowly sat down.

Jiang Qiuyan leaned down and kissed her cheek. The smile in her eyes was dazzling.

Looking at her like this, it seemed like genuine happiness. But Shi Yu knew it wasn’t. A pang struck her heart, and she lowered her head.

Jiang Qiuyan, of course, caught that fleeting dip in her mood. She crouched before her and took her hand. “What’s wrong? Too many people making you uncomfortable?”

Shi Yu shook her head. “Go sit down. Everyone’s watching.”

The two of them were far too eye-catching. Even seated by the window, countless gazes drifted toward them. Shi Yu felt like needles were pricking her back and didn’t dare lift her head.

Jiang Qiuyan somewhat regretted not booking out the entire restaurant, but not wanting to upset the little cat, she sat down across from her as told.

Shi Yu sat very properly, with part of her long hair draped over her chest, making her face look even smaller. Her big, bright eyes were lively and pure, like a sprite that had tumbled into the mortal world by accident.

Jiang Qiuyan made no effort to be subtle, watching Shi Yu with blazing eyes until the tips of her ears burned. Shi Yu sipped water to hide her embarrassment.

“Little Yu.”

Shi Yu looked up, asking with her eyes.

Jiang Qiuyan’s lips curved. “I…”

“You shameless homewrecker! How dare you show your face in public!”

A cup of coffee splashed across Shi Yu’s face. Jiang Qiuyan’s voice was drowned out by the commotion.