The Substitute? Sorry, I'm a Limited Collector's Edition

The atmosphere on set turned a little strange with Bai Xue's arrival.

The girl in a plain white dress, her black hair cascading like a waterfall, was approaching in small, graceful steps. Her face did bear a fifty-percent resemblance to Jian Ning's, especially those slightly drooping, innocent-looking eyes. They looked as though they had been carved from the same mold.

But unlike Jian Ning, whose innocence carried a hint of cleverness, Bai Xue radiated a fragile air that seemed to say, "I'm so weak. I could shatter at any moment."

"Brother Huo Si."

Bai Xue stopped beside the Rolls-Royce, three steps away from Huo Si. She did not look at Jian Ning, who was still sitting in Huo Si's arms. Instead, her tearful eyes gazed at Huo Si as her voice drifted as softly as a feather:

"It's been a long time. I heard you were with the production crew, so I came to see you... Have you been well lately? My sister has been gone for so many years. I thought... you'd long forgotten our Household."

That single "Brother Huo Si" was drawn out with countless twists and turns.

The bystanders' ears practically went numb from sweetness.

Jian Ning, still sitting on Huo Si's lap, got goosebumps all over.

[Brother Huo Si? Ugh—]

[That's such an ancient romance-novel term, isn't it? Why don't I call him "Brother Huo Siiiii" too?]

[And the tea stench is overwhelming. She's playing the emotional card and dragging out her dead sister? Is she trying to morally blackmail Huo Si?]

Jian Ning raised his head to study Huo Si's reaction.

Huo Si's expression, which had only just softened, had indeed darkened. He stared at Bai Xue, unreadable emotions churning in his deep eyes.

[Oh no, oh no. Is this old man seriously falling for this?]

[Is the legendary "white moonlight" really that lethal? Even a knockoff can make him unable to let go?]

[Hmph. Huo Si, if you dare answer her, I'll max out your cards tonight and run away from home with the golden trash can!]

Just as jealousy began bubbling up inside Jian Ning, the system prompt rang out at the perfect moment:

[ Ding! A "high-end imitation" green tea has appeared! ]

[ Target: Bai Xue. ]

[ S-rank gossip: In order to imitate her deceased older sister, Bai Shuang, Bai Xue not only got minor cosmetic work done on her eyes, but also deliberately learned the Kunqu movements her sister had loved most in life. ]

[ Key gossip: The perfume she is wearing is "Midnight Flight," the one her sister used most often while alive. But to save money, she bought a low-quality imitation for 9.9 with free shipping on Pinduoduo. ]

Jian Ning's nose twitched.

[No wonder! I was wondering why I smelled cheap alcohol mixed with air freshener!]

[This is way too unprofessional! If she wants to rise to the top as a substitute, she can't even bear to buy authentic perfume? One-star review!]

Seeing that Huo Si remained silent, Bai Xue assumed he had been moved by the memory of the past. Delighted, she boldly stepped forward and reached for his sleeve.

"Brother Huo Si, I know you're hurting. My sister is gone, so from now on... let me take care of you in her place, okay? I've grown up. I'm becoming more and more like her..."

Her hand was just about to touch Huo Si.

Suddenly, a hand shot out from the side and slapped Bai Xue's hand away without the slightest politeness.

Jian Ning poked his head out from Huo Si's arms and fanned at his nose with a look of disgust. "Achoo—!"

The earth-shaking sneeze instantly shattered the tragic atmosphere Bai Xue had painstakingly created.

"Oh, sorry." Jian Ning rubbed his nose and looked innocently at Bai Xue. "Miss... Bai? I don't know who you are, but isn't your perfume a little too strong? It's making my rhinitis flare up."

Bai Xue's face stiffened. Tears instantly welled in her eyes as she looked wronged toward Huo Si. "Brother Huo Si, who is this...? How can he say that about me? This is the scent my sister loved most when she was alive..."

[Still acting? Let's see how long you can keep this up!]

Jian Ning gave her no chance to perform. He turned and shouted at Gu Yan, who had been pretending to be invisible at the side.

"Young Master Gu! Quick! Bring over your portable oxygen tank! Someone's releasing poisonous gas here!"

Gu Yan was currently trying to redeem himself. The moment Jian Ning called for him, he hurried over like a devoted lackey. "Poisonous gas? Who? Who dares poison my Brother Jian?"

Jian Ning pointed at Bai Xue. "There, Miss Bai. She sprayed herself with low-quality perfume that cost 9.9 with free shipping, then insisted it smells like President Huo's deceased ex-girlfriend. Young Master Gu, you're an expert. Take a sniff. Is this scent authentic?"

Gu Yan might have been scum, but he truly was an expert in luxury goods. He leaned closer for a sniff, then immediately pinched his nose and retreated three steps in disgust.

"Holy shit! What kind of smell is that? This is supposed to be 'Midnight Flight'? It's obviously 'Midnight Insecticide'! Top notes of alcohol, middle notes of floral water, and there's even foot odor in the base notes... Was President Huo's taste really that intense before?"

Huo Si: "..."

Bai Xue: "..."

Bai Xue's face instantly turned the color of pig liver. She forcibly held back the tears that had been about to fall. "Y-you're talking nonsense! This is authentic!"

At last, the silent Huo Si spoke.

He did not push away Jian Ning, who was still making trouble in his arms. Instead, he reached out to smooth Jian Ning's windblown hair before slowly lifting his eyes to look coldly at Bai Xue.

There was not a trace of tenderness in that gaze, only bone-deep chill and disgust.

"Stay away from me." Huo Si's voice was not loud, but it sounded frozen solid. "Your sister never used cheap things like this. And..."

Huo Si paused, his gaze cutting over Bai Xue's carefully altered face like a blade.

"Don't imitate her in front of me. Trying to mimic someone else will only make me sick."

Boom—

That was a devastating blow.

Bai Xue stared at him in disbelief, her body swaying. This time, she truly looked ready to faint.

[Wow! President Huo is awesome!]

[Trying to mimic someone else? Sick? That mouth is way too vicious! But I love it! Hahahaha!]

[Looks like this old man isn't blind after all. He can tell the authentic from the knockoff.]

The sourness in Jian Ning's heart vanished instantly, replaced by irrepressible smugness.

Like a victorious rooster, he deliberately wrapped his arms more tightly around Huo Si's neck and rubbed against his cheek, flashing Bai Xue the smile of a winner.

"Did you hear that, Miss Bai? Mr. Huo said he's allergic to inferior products. Also, the substitute storyline went out of fashion ages ago. What's popular now is—"

Jian Ning pointed at himself, his smile bright and dazzling.

"A one-of-a-kind limited collector's edition."

Bai Xue trembled with rage. In the end, she covered her face and ran away crying under the entire crew's pointing fingers.

Her retreating figure was as miserable as it could possibly be.

After driving away the white lotus, Huo Si did not plan to stay any longer.

He set Jian Ning down from his arms, though he was somewhat reluctant to lose that feeling, adjusted his collar, and resumed the air of an aloof CEO.

"Film properly." Huo Si glanced at Jian Ning. "I'll pick you up after work tonight."

Jian Ning nodded obediently. "Goodbye, Mr. Huo! You work hard earning money!"

[Go on, go on! Once you leave, I still have Gu Yan to exploit!]

Huo Si took two steps, suddenly remembered something, stopped, and looked back at Jian Ning.

"By the way."

"Jian Ning, you said just now... that you're a limited collector's edition?"

Jian Ning froze, his old face flushing slightly. "That... was for the scene. For the scene."

The corner of Huo Si's lips lifted faintly, his gaze meaningful.

"Mm. You really are limited."

"Only I can collect you."

"Oh, and that so-called Miss Bai is only my friend. The 'white moonlight' thing was all fabricated by gossip accounts."

With that, Huo Si turned and got into the car, leaving Jian Ning standing there alone with his heart pounding wildly.

[...Foul! This is absolutely a foul! Why is this old man explaining himself to me? Is he afraid I'll misunderstand?]

[Has this old man been taking some kind of crash course in sweet talk lately? Why does he have one line after another?]

[Oh no, my girlish heart... No, my boyish heart is acting up again.]

After Huo Si left, the crew finally resumed normal filming.

But after those two dramatic scenes, Jian Ning's status on set had undergone an earth-shaking change.

Director Li treated him with exceptional courtesy, and the staff fulfilled his every request.

The most outrageous one was Gu Yan.

To keep Jian Ning from exposing his scandals, Young Master Gu had practically turned himself into Jian Ning's personal assistant.

"Brother Jian, want some water? This is Evian freshly flown in."

"Brother Jian, tired? Want me to massage your legs?"

"Brother Jian, that look in the last scene was incredible! Oscar owes you a golden statue!"

Jian Ning sat in a lounge chair, watching Gu Yan act like an eager lackey, and suddenly thought that having a little follower like this did not seem so bad.

Meanwhile, Shen Huai, who had just been humiliated by Huo Si, was hiding in a corner. Watching Jian Ning being treated like the center of the universe, jealousy nearly spilled from his eyes.

He was unwilling to accept it.

Why did trash like Jian Ning deserve Huo Si's favor?

It had to be because of that face! If that face were ruined...

Shen Huai glanced at the wire rigging equipment being adjusted in the distance, a venomous glint flashing through his eyes.

The next scene was a fight between him and Jian Ning and required wire work.

All he needed to do was... tamper with it a little.

The system prompt echoed eerily in Jian Ning's mind:

[ Ding! Malicious intent detected rising sharply! ]

[ Target: Shen Huai. ]

[ Warning: While the wire technician was in the restroom just now, he secretly tampered with your wire harness buckle. If you go up now and fall from three meters, the lightest outcome will be broken bones, while the worst will be disfigurement. ]

Jian Ning paused mid-sip of milk tea.

[Trying to hurt me?]

[Shen Huai, Shen Huai. There's a road to heaven, yet you refuse to take it. Hell has no gate, yet you insist on walking in.]

[Since you want to play dirty, Daddy will play something big with you.]

Jian Ning set down his milk tea but did not expose him immediately.

He stood and walked over to Director Li, speaking with a sincere expression.

"Director Li, Young Master Gu just told me that he especially admires Movie Emperor Shen's acting, particularly the graceful feeling of wire work. Young Master Gu said he wants to dedicate himself to art and personally experience what it feels like to be a stunt double. Could you give him a chance and let Young Master Gu take my blocking position?"

Gu Yan, who was peeling grapes for Jian Ning nearby: "???"

When did I ever say that?

I don't—

Jian Ning turned to Gu Yan and gave him a kind smile, silently mouthing three words:

"Three hundred million."

Gu Yan shuddered all over, immediately straightened up, and shouted at the top of his lungs:

"Right! I want to fly! I want to go to the sky! Director Li, let me do it! Whoever tries to stop me will have a problem with me!"

Watching from the corner, Shen Huai's face instantly turned deathly pale.

Wait...

The person going up was being switched to Gu Yan?

That was the young master of the Gu family! If Gu Yan got hurt, the Gu family would skin Shen Huai alive!

"N-no!" Shen Huai rushed out in panic. "Young Master Gu can't go up!"

Jian Ning looked at Shen Huai, who had rushed out, and curled his lips into a cold smile.

"Oh? Why are you so worked up, Movie Emperor Shen? Could there... be something unspeakable on that wire rig?"

Everyone's gaze instantly focused on Shen Huai and the wire rope.