The Stand-in Side Character Only Wants to Make Money – CH106

Chapter 106 – Extra

Xu Sinian handed over the picture frame, adding with a hint of humor, “Don’t let Yiwan see this.”

Chen Bai took it, puzzled as to why the dog couldn’t see the photo. He expected it to be a family photo similar to the ones they had at home, but when he flipped it over, he saw it was a picture of just him—specifically, his pink-haired self surrounded by a mountain of samoyed dogs.

He quickly angled the frame away to block Yiwan’s view, realizing the photo might indeed be incriminating from the dog’s perspective, a sort of “caught in the act” moment.

After a quick look, he set the frame down on his lap and turned to Xu Sinian, “You’ve kept this picture all this time?”

Xu Sinian gave a faint smile. This was actually the first photo he’d ever taken of him.

Glancing at the photo again, Chen Bau then looked down at his own outfit—a white sweatshirt he suddenly realized was the same one he’d worn in the photo. Of all the clothes in his overflowing wardrobe, he’d chosen that one, as if fate were playing a joke on him.

But in those few seconds the photo was visible, Yiwan caught a glimpse of it too. The cheerful Samoyed’s expression quickly shifted, his once-wagging tail drooping in disappointment. He stepped back in disbelief, then lunged forward, trying to nudge the frame off Chen Bai’s lap with his nose.

Usually easygoing, Yiwan never guarded his food, and if his father snatched a toy from him, he’d simply trot off to bring back even more toys. But this time was different. He seemed genuinely upset—a rare sight for such a happy dog, almost on the verge of tears. Seeing his dog so heartbroken, Chen Bai set about soothing him.

The only way to mend the situation was to give Yiwan a handful of treats, a jerky strip, and—most importantly—a new photo together, one in which he only held Yiwan.

Satisfied with his exclusive status, Yiwan’s mood lifted immediately, proving just how easy it was to win him back.

They still had a couple of hours before the test results were ready, which matched the two-hour lunch break at the company. While Xu Sinian had a few tasks to take care of, Chen Bai settled on the couch with his script, following along with where he’d left off.

The office was quiet, save for the soft hum of the air conditioning and the sound of pages turning—until even that noise faded as Chen Bai reached the end of his reading session. When his lunch break was over, he placed the script on the side, pulled his hoodie over his head, and drew the strings tight, plunging himself into darkness for a quick nap.

Right on cue, Yiwan filled his role as a fluffy pillow, curling up next to him and providing a warm, comfortable support. He drifted off for over an hour, only waking when the alarm he’d set to retrieve the test results began to beep. Momentarily disoriented in the self-imposed darkness, he remembered to lift his hoodie and found the room bathed in daylight.

Yiwan was still there, playfully nibbling on his favorite shark plush. Half-awake, Chen Bai gave the dog a gentle pat on the head, checked his phone, and slowly rose to his feet.

As he moved to leave, Xu Sinian set aside the document he’d been reading, as if preparing to walk him out. But Chen Bai held up a hand, stopping him. “I’ll take Yiwan down myself. Don’t you have a meeting with someone soon?”

Then, as if remembering something, he asked, “By the way, who are you meeting?”

After all, he’d only planned to be here for the dog’s check-up and to drop off some food. His current casual attire wasn’t exactly suited for business meetings, but if the person was someone he knew, he could always pop in to say hello.

Xu Sinian replied, “It’s Huo Chuan from the Huo family.”

Huo Chuan was the son—and elder brother—of a close friend, the only member of the Huo family who hadn’t attended their recent wedding. Xu Sinian had been working on a collaborative project with the Huo family for years, which occasionally required face-to-face discussions.

“Oh, well, then I’ll be heading off,” Chen Bai replied. It really was a small world. With a wave and a quick tug on Yiwan’s leash, he pulled on his hat and mask, pushed open the office door, and strode out with purpose.

The person standing in the office watched him leave, not moving until the door finally closed.

Having served as a makeshift pillow for more than an hour, Chen Yiwan, the fluffy white dog, immediately perked up as the office door clicked shut.

Familiar with the office layout from previous visits with his grandparents, he eagerly pawed at the ground, determined to explore the places where he knew people would be waiting to play with him.

*

Huo Chuan arrived at the building slightly ahead of schedule. As two cars pulled up to the entrance, a reception team was already waiting to greet them and usher them into the elevator.

Huo Chuan was remarkably taciturn, his words chosen with great care. The head of the reception team, who had worked with the previous chairman and remembered Huo Chuan’s amiable demeanor, was struck by the noticeable change in his reserved attitude. Only Huo Chuan’s long-time assistant, who nervously wiped his brow and interjected occasional remarks, knew the reason behind his uncharacteristic silence.

In the past, Huo Chuan had come as a partner in business. This time, he was entering the company of his former love’s husband. Had the venture not already involved substantial investment and years of development, his assistant was certain that Huo Chuan would have found an excuse to stay away.

The elevator ride was brief but felt like an eternity until the doors finally opened, and they exited onto a bright, spacious floor, with natural light pouring in through glass panels above and ambient lighting illuminating the halls.

Although it was still the lunch hour, people were already returning from break. The hallway was active with employees, some chatting with water cups in hand, others moving purposefully between desks. As Huo Chuan’s group walked through, those nearby instinctively made way for them, maintaining a respectful distance.

As they proceeded down the corridor, they were unexpectedly halted by something racing across the hallway in the distance—then skidding to a stop mid-sprint. It was a man, holding onto something in one hand, his other hand pressed to the brim of his cap. His ruffled hair peeked out from under the cap as he glanced up, his light eyes and faint brows momentarily visible. His white hoodie’s hood and drawstrings bounced with his stride, and a large white dog trotted ahead of him, enthusiastically greeting employees in the lounge area as they walked by.

Huo Chuan’s attention fixed on the figure, and he stopped. Even with the passage of time, there were some people one could recognize at a glance.

The figure continued on into the break area, where the large dog eagerly introduced itself to anyone nearby. This was the dog he’d seen with that person before. It had the same white coat but seemed far livelier than the snowy, turtle-like figure he remembered from that rare snowy day. This dog was more animated, social, and seemingly adored by the people around it—much like its owner.

“… Huo.”

Lost in thought, Huo Chuan’s pause had extended longer than usual, long enough to make his team and the staff around them a bit uneasy. His assistant spoke up hesitantly, bringing him back to the present.

The voices and laughter from the lounge grew distant as they resumed their way to the office where Huo Chuan would meet Xu Siyuan, the man formerly known as a film star but now recognized as the CEO—and husband of Chen Bai.

Huo Chuan’s first impression of Xu Sinian had been during his youth when he was told that the Xu family’s eldest son was exceptionally capable and ambitious, though he had chosen a different path in life. Later, he’d heard of Xu Sinian again from Zhang Wenxuan and realized this so-called “friend” of Chen Bai’s had harbored feelings beyond friendship all along. Still, Huo Chuan hadn’t considered Xu Sinian a threat, thinking he was merely an unrequited friend.

But in just a few short months, the unassuming friend had gone from being just that to becoming Chen Bai’s boyfriend, and now his husband.

The scene in Xu Sinian’s office was simple but telling: a small photo frame on the table beside the sofa, pet treats nearby, and a thermos on a side cabinet. Huo Chuan’s gaze dropped slightly to the wedding band glinting on Xu Sinian’s left hand. Xu Sinian, noticing his gaze, showed no reaction, his dark eyes steady as he extended a hand, his voice calm and measured.

“Hello,” Xu Sinian greeted.

Huo Chuan’s attention shifted back as he replied, “Hello.” Their handshake was brief, each man’s touch fleeting as Xu Sinian gestured for them to sit.

The assistant standing off to the side watched the exchange, his nerves on edge, and heart pounding.

There are always people in this world who are astute enough to pick up on things just by observing someone’s gaze or expression. Without reason or evidence, Huo Chuan felt that Chen Bai’s husband was one of these people.

Reality proved him right.

As the two sides sat down, the assistant served tea. In the rising steam, Huo Chuan noticed that Xu Sinian, seated across from him, glanced briefly at the photo frame left on his desk, the one with Chen Bai’s picture. Xu Sinian’s fingers brushed over his wedding band, and with a faint smile, he introduced, “This is my spouse.”

With an actor’s enunciation, each word was clear, crisp, and delivered perfectly—so much so that it was impossible to tell whether he was simply introducing or subtly underscoring those last four words. He smiled, as any ordinary husband might when introducing his partner.

The assistant couldn’t bring himself to look at his own boss’s face.

The meeting dragged on into the afternoon, the atmosphere pure professionalism, though tea was refreshed more than once, and both parties wiped their brows more times than usual.

The meeting’s length meant that it concluded just as the workday was ending. The visitors left the building, and after receiving a phone call, Xu Sinian followed suit.

He was going to pick up his spouse and their dog.

Although Chen Bai had technically left after lunch, he hadn’t gone far. He’d collected the dog’s medical report and taken his furry friend to a nearby newly opened dog park. After a wild afternoon, it was nearly time for the end of the workday, and they could all head home together.

Managing to coax the dog back to the vicinity of the office, Chen Bai found himself at an impasse—the young master was now firmly planted at the curb, determined to wait for his father to carry him home.

And then his father arrived.

The evening’s rosy twilight spread across the sky, tinting the city’s tall buildings in a mix of pink and orange. A familiar black car waited quietly at a red light nearby, just as the dog’s dad stepped onto the curb in the last light of day.

The tall man bent down and, with practiced ease, scooped up the large, happily panting dog. With nothing else to do, the man in the cap gave a small, silent applause, lifting his hat brim slightly and showing the shopping bag in his hand. “I figured I’d make some dumplings tonight…”

Their voices faded into the distance as their two figures stretched out in the twilight.

The light turned green, and the car moved on.

Their figures, walking together and casting a single shadow in the sunset, stretched long until they merged into a single line with the departing car, parallel but never to meet again.

[THE END]