The Male Stand-in Just Wants to Make Money – Chapter 04

The timing was perfect, and Chen Bai successfully landed a trial as the restaurant’s pianist.

He swapped out his sweater for a tie that the manager had kindly lent him, sat down at the piano bench, and looked the part of a professional musician.

But Chen Bai wasn’t just about appearances—his skills were genuinely top-notch. His repertoire was vast, ranging from challenging classical pieces to the pop songs customers loved.

It’s only natural to be good at this.

Before coming to this world, Chen Bai had done similar gigs countless times. His experience shone through.

When a couple sat down, and the man presented his partner with a bouquet of sunflowers, Chen Bai smoothly transitioned into a rendition of the song Sunflower. His timing was perfect, and the melody flowed naturally.

The recipient of the flowers was delighted, holding the bouquet and looking at Chen Bai with a surprised smile.

Chen Bai met the gaze and returned a polite, gentle smile.

It was a stark contrast to his usual quiet demeanor.

With his musical talent, adaptability, and ability to engage with guests, Chen Bai exceeded all expectations. The manager, who had been observing from a distance, was stunned.

Initially, the manager had no high hopes for Chen Bai. He assumed Chen Bai’s connection to Huo Chuan meant he came from a wealthy background and wasn’t particularly serious about the job. In fact, the manager had been prepared to let Chen Bai “play” at being a pianist for a day. Instead, Chen Bai’s performance turned out to be a pleasant surprise.

The standard working hours for a pianist were two hours, but since Chen Bai started a little late, he played for an hour and a half. The entire time, he remained seated on the piano bench, fully focused and dedicated.

When the trial period ended, Chen Bai officially secured the job with a four-figure hourly salary. Both he and the manager were pleased with the arrangement.

The restaurant only required a pianist on weekends, either during lunch or dinner hours, with advance notice. Payment would be made monthly.

Not only did Chen Bai secure a well-paying gig, but it also came with a free meal. He silently thanked Huo Chuan—the boss who left halfway through lunch but inadvertently gave him this opportunity.

However, while Chen Bai was grateful for the chance, he began seriously planning how to end his work as Huo Chuan’s stand-in.

After leaving the restaurant, Chen Bai put on his wool cardigan, got into the elevator, and searched for Huo Chuan’s number in his contacts.

Before leaving, Huo Chuan had told him to call directly if he needed anything.

It had only been a few hours since that conversation, and Chen Bai was already putting the number to use. Without overthinking, he dialed the number.

“Beep—beep—”

The phone rang in the quiet elevator. Just as Chen Bai was about to hang up, the call connected.

However, the voice on the other end wasn’t Huo Chuan’s.

It was Huo Chuan’s personal assistant, who answered politely, “Hello, who is this?”

“Chen Bai,” he replied.

“Oh, Mr. Chen,” the assistant said, immediately recognizing the name. After greeting him, the assistant added, “Mr. Huo is currently busy. If you have anything to discuss, you can let me know, and I’ll pass it along.”

Chen Bai thought that was fine. It didn’t matter who he talked to about ending the contract—he just needed to get the ball rolling.

“I…”

Before Chen Bai could finish, the assistant interrupted, as if remembering something.

“By the way, your payment for today is 120,000 yuan. It will be transferred to your account within the next two days. Please check it when it arrives.”

120,000 for a single meal.

“…”

Chen Bai was momentarily stunned. Even his casual posture against the elevator wall straightened.

The assistant asked again, “Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?”

Chen Bai hesitated for a moment before saying, “Yes. I’d like to know more about Mr. Huo—his habits, preferences, or interests. The more specific, the better.”

As he spoke, his back straightened further, and his tone became increasingly serious.

Maybe I’m not suited for this job, but I can adapt.

It wasn’t about the 120,000 yuan. No, Chen Bai simply wanted to provide better service to his esteemed client.

The assistant, caught off guard by his dedication, paused briefly before agreeing. “Understood. I’ll prepare the details for you.”

Before ending the call, Chen Bai asked one last question, his tone bold but cautious:

“Excuse me, is the 120,000 before or after tax?”

The assistant: “…”

After a brief silence, the assistant replied, “After tax.”

The call ended there.

After hanging up, Chen Bai immediately renamed Huo Chuan’s contact in his phone to [God of Wealth] with great reverence.

Just as he finished, the elevator doors opened, and he stepped out.

On his way home, Chen Bai stopped by the library.

From the city center to his old neighborhood, he carried a copy of An Actor’s Self-Cultivation under his arm.

In today’s competitive society, even a stand-in needed a high level of professionalism. Chen Bai was well aware of this and planned to study diligently to improve his skills.

As he passed the locksmith shop, he noticed the lights were on but the shop was empty. Glancing to the side, he spotted the landlord chatting with several other shop owners nearby, his eldest grandson in tow.

The landlord waved him over, and the other shop owners greeted him warmly.

Since his hospital visit, Chen Bai’s reputation in the neighborhood had shifted. He was no longer “the guy who doesn’t go to work and no one knows what he does.” Now, he was “the guy who went to the hospital.”

Chen Bai joined the group, patting the landlord’s grandson on the head as he listened to the conversation.

The shop owners were discussing the commotion happening on the next street.

Apparently, part of the old street and an unused factory had been cordoned off. People had been moving equipment in and out daily. Word was that not one, but two film crews were planning to shoot movies there.

The shop owners, who had lived in the area for years, were intrigued. They joked about possibly seeing celebrities.

Chen Bai laughed along with them.

Before he left, the landlord mentioned something.

“The apartment next to yours finally has a new tenant,” the landlord said. “The owner had me change the locks today. Looks like they’ll be staying for a while.”

The landlord’s expression seemed a little strange, but Chen Bai didn’t think much of it and nodded.

The landlord handed Chen Bai two spare keys.

“If the tenant comes back tonight and I’m not around, can you pass these to them?”

Chen Bai agreed and headed home.

When he reached his apartment, he glanced at the door next to his and noticed the lock had indeed been replaced. It looked almost identical to the previous one, but Chen Bai’s trained eye could spot the difference.

Poor neighbor.

With a fleeting moment of sympathy, he entered his own apartment and shut the door.

That evening, Chen Bai prepared for his livestream. He hadn’t gotten much rest that day and felt a bit off. Before starting, he poured himself a cup of black coffee to perk up.

The game interface was still loading, but the live broadcast room was already open.

To his surprise, the number of viewers entering the stream had skyrocketed over the past two days. He didn’t know why, but he assumed his stream must have been featured on a list somewhere.

Despite the sudden influx of viewers, Chen Bai remained his usual self. He even extended the broadcast by half an hour to accommodate the growing audience.

“Okay, okay, hello everyone… What am I drinking? Black coffee.”

Chen Bai’s light gray pupils scanned the barrage of bullet comments flooding the lower left corner of the screen. After greeting his viewers, he lifted his cup, took a sip of the black coffee, and immediately frowned. “It tastes terrible,” he said sincerely.

[The most relatable moment ever.]
[Who even drinks black coffee willingly? I always want to try it, but then regret it every time.]
[How can anyone dislike black coffee?! [Unbelievable.jpg]]
[Erbai drinking coffee at this hour—are you even planning to sleep tonight?]

Chen Bai set the cup down, glanced at the comments, and replied casually, “I’ll sleep just fine. I’m the type who falls asleep as soon as I lie down.”

The game finally finished loading, and he moved his mouse to his friend list. “Let’s see if any friends are online today,” he said.

[By ‘friends,’ you mean bait.]
[Let’s see which unlucky soul gets dragged into being bait today xD.]
[Erbai and his army of happy bait players. (Lighting a cigarette for them)]

Selecting a random online friend, Chen Bai started the game.

After drinking the coffee, Chen Bai felt more awake than ever. His gameplay was sharp that night, and his rank rose steadily. By the time he finished, he was close to the highest rank the original supporting character had paid someone to grind for him.

True to his habit, Chen Bai didn’t overdo it. He extended the stream by only half an hour before ending it.

It was nearly two in the morning when he finally logged off. Outside his window, the world was pitch black, save for the faint glow of a streetlamp.

After reviewing his earnings for the night, Chen Bai took off his headphones, turned off the computer, and went to wash up. He then collapsed into bed, ready for sleep.

The room plunged into darkness, with only the sound of his shallow breathing breaking the silence.

“…”

A few minutes later, Chen Bai turned over.

There was a rustle of fabric, and then he sat up in bed, his hair sticking up in all directions. After sitting still for a moment, he lay back down again.

I fall asleep as soon as I lie down. I fall asleep as soon as I lie down.

…He couldn’t fall asleep.

After lying in bed with his brain running at full speed, Chen Bai came to a calm conclusion:

I drank too much black coffee.

Unable to sleep and feeling a little hungry, Chen Bai stared at the ceiling. He had eaten dinner far too early that evening.

“…”

After debating whether to stay in bed or get up to find food, he ultimately chose the latter.

Meanwhile, at the film crew’s set…

It was two o’clock in the morning, but the set was still bustling with activity.

After finishing the last scene of the day, the crew collectively sighed in relief. They had skipped dinner to stay on schedule, and now the director, photographer, and props team were encouraging everyone to grab a midnight snack at a nearby food stall.

Most people agreed eagerly, their hunger overpowering their exhaustion.

Someone turned to Xu Sinian, who had just walked out of the lounge and was putting on his hat. Summoning their courage, they asked, “Teacher Xu, are you joining us for a midnight snack?”

Xu Sinian casually adjusted his mask, his dark pupils glancing sideways. “No, I have something else to do,” he replied in a low, muffled voice. “Enjoy your meal.”

The group watched as the tall figure walked away, his assistants trailing behind him.

“Rejected, huh?” the director said, patting the actor on the shoulder. “Don’t take it personally. He never joins these kinds of things. Just remember that for next time.”

Xu Sinian, born into a prestigious family, was a gifted actor who had won multiple awards. Despite his polite demeanor and professionalism, he kept an unbridgeable distance from others.

He never joined social gatherings, like midnight snacks, nor did he accept invitations from colleagues. The only exception was wrap-up parties, and even then, he stayed just long enough to be polite.

It was hard to imagine someone like him sitting on a plastic stool at a food stall.

After leaving the set, Xu Sinian’s assistants headed to a nearby hotel, bidding him goodnight as they parted ways.

The streets were quiet as Xu Sinian walked alone to his apartment. The dim corridor light illuminated the stairs just enough to see the way. He stopped in front of his door and reached for his key.

“Click.”

Before he could insert the key, a voice came from the side. He turned his head and met a pair of raised light gray eyes.

Chen Bai hadn’t expected to run into his neighbor so late at night.

Unable to sleep and feeling hungry, Chen Bai had steamed some buns for himself. Just as the buns were ready, he heard footsteps in the corridor that stopped by his door.

Peeking through the peephole, he saw his neighbor standing there. If he hadn’t already known about his neighbor’s habit of dressing like this, he might have thought he was looking at a burglar.

Without wasting time, Chen Bai called out, “Your key is ready. The landlord asked me to hold onto it for you since it’s not safe to leave it at the shop. It’s on the table in the living room. I’m busy in the kitchen, so you’ll have to grab it yourself.”

The kitchen was filled with steam as Chen Bai opened the pot to retrieve his freshly steamed buns. From the living room, Xu Sinian could see the keys on the table.

He glanced at the kitchen, where Chen Bai was bustling around, completely ignoring him after giving instructions. With a soft “sorry,” Xu Sinian stepped inside to retrieve the keys.

The heat from the kitchen was palpable, and the steam began to dissipate as Chen Bai opened a window.

“Friend, did you just get off work?” Chen Bai asked, placing the buns on a plate.

“Yes,” Xu Sinian replied.

“Have you eaten yet?”

“No.”

Chen Bai cast a sympathetic look at his overworked neighbor. “Would you like two buns? They’re freshly made.”

Habitually, Xu Sinian refused. “I have something to do when I get home.”

Hearing that his neighbor still had work to do after 2 a.m., Chen Bai patted him on the shoulder in solidarity.

The height difference made it a bit awkward, but Chen Bai managed two pats before withdrawing his hand.

A moment later, Xu Sinian found himself holding a plate with two buns on it.

“Take this home and eat while you work,” Chen Bai said. “Just remember to return the plate later.”

After handing over the buns, Chen Bai sent his neighbor off with a casual “Go to bed early” before closing the door.

It wasn’t advice, just a sincere wish. Chen Bai hoped all workers in the world could go to bed early.

Back in the corridor, Xu Sinian stood still for a moment, the plate of buns in his hand. The steam, the noise from the kitchen, and Chen Bai’s chatter had all disappeared.

It was silent now, with only the faint hum of the corridor light and the darkness of the night outside.

At two in the morning, his neighbor was still awake and steaming buns.

“…”

He inserted his key into the lock, opened the door, and stepped inside. The sound of the door closing echoed faintly, and the corridor fell silent once more.

Author’s Note:
If you add some extra ingredients, you can skip letting the dough rest for two hours and make dumplings faster! x