The Stand-in Side Character Only Wants to Make Money – CH62

Chapter 62: The First Four Days Before the Holiday

People couldn’t divide themselves, but time could be divided.

The holiday was nine days long. In the end, the multitasking master decided to spend the first four days at Huo’s house and the last four days with Mrs. Jiang, leaving one day in between for a live stream to celebrate with his online followers.

What had originally been an empty holiday had suddenly filled up.

On the day his work ended, which was the day before Lunar New Year’s Eve, Chen Bai finished all his tasks by the morning. His manager was heading to the airport in the afternoon but still insisted on driving him home.

“If you get bored, just let me know.”

As the car drove along a familiar route, the manager took advantage of the last bit of time to say, “I probably won’t be able to stay with my family for too long during the New Year. The relatives will start pestering me about getting married again. If you call, I’ll come back, and we can hang out and work on your drinking skills.”

Chen Bai raised his hand in a silent gesture, “I’m going to be pretty busy this New Year.”

His manager glanced at him, unsure if he was joking or serious. She waved dismissively and said, “Anyway, if you need anything, just let me know.”

Chen Bai nodded.

Outside, they could already see the buildings of his neighborhood. The driver, Uncle Zhao, was familiar with the route and parked the car at the entrance of the complex.

He had wanted to drive further ahead to their usual drop-off spot, but there was already another car in the way, so he had to stop at a distance.

From her angle, the manager couldn’t see the car in front, only the view out her side window. She asked, “Why did we stop so far?”

Uncle Zhao replied, “There’s a car in front, and if I scratch it, I’d be working for free for the rest of the year.”

The manager leaned over to take a look.

It was a black car with sleek, simple lines, looking rather low-key, but the brand logo commanded respect.

The manager agreed that keeping a distance was the right choice and said, “Looks like another CEO is waiting for someone.”

Chen Bai glanced down at his phone’s messages, then looked up and said, “I think they’re waiting for me.”

The manager chuckled and lightly tapped his head, saying, “Sure, they’re all waiting for you.”

She added, “Hurry up, get out of the car, and go rest. See you next year.”

So, Chen Bai got out of the car, remembering to grab the jacket he had set aside. He waved as the car pulled away, the breeze blowing his jacket closer to him. Instead of heading into the complex, he walked over to the expensive car that Uncle Zhao had been so wary of scratching and knocked on the window.

The car was, indeed, waiting for him.

The God of Wealth had finished his work for the day and had conveniently come to pick him up. He had sent a message earlier, saying he was waiting at the entrance of the neighborhood. Chen Bai hadn’t spotted the car, but Uncle Zhao, who was highly sensitive about the value of cars, had noticed it first.

Before he could knock on the window, the door opened automatically. A man dressed simply in a shirt sat in the back seat and looked up at him.

Huo Chuan’s usual outfit—shirt, trousers, and tie—was unchanged. Chen Bai greeted him first, then said, “Give me a moment, I’ll just grab something.”

Moving quickly after receiving a nod, he went into the complex.

When he returned, he had a bag and a bouquet of flowers with him.

The flowers had been ordered the day before and delivered to the security office that morning. The security guard, who had gotten to know him well, had kept them safe, and Chen Bai just had to pick them up on his way out.

Once he got into the car, the cold wind outside was completely shut out, and he immediately felt much warmer.

Chen Bai placed the bouquet securely beside him and then looked over at the CEO sitting next to him. He smiled genuinely and greeted him, then exchanged pleasantries with the driver, whom he hadn’t seen in a while.

If he didn’t have to be more reserved in front of Huo Chuan, his smile would have been even brighter.

Huo Chuan responded briefly, his gaze drifting down to the bouquet sitting securely on the seat.

Noticing this, Chen Bai said, “It’s for Auntie.”

The bouquet was a vibrant mix of pink and white gladiolus, paired with lisianthus and snow-powdered mountains.

With both of them settled in the car, along with the bouquet, the driver started the car and headed straight for the villa in the hills.

As they approached the New Year, the trees along the roadside were covered in decorative lights. Although they hadn’t been lit yet since it was still daytime, you could imagine how dazzling they would be at night.

After passing the lit-up section of the road, Huo Chuan glanced at the quiet figure sitting beside him and said, “Don’t worry about me. For the next few days, just focus on spending time with her.”

The “her” was clearly referring to Mrs. Zhang.

He meant that the goal was to make Aunt Zhang happy, with her being the focus rather than Chen Bai’s usual role of standing in for someone else. Chen Bai cautiously remarked, “If I’m not holding back, you might witness a major transformation.”

Although their appearances might be similar, Chen Bai was aware that his personality was quite different from the person he was often compared to. While it would be nice not to have to act and to enjoy a relaxed New Year, as a considerate worker, he worried that too much of a change might shock his employer.

But Huo Chuan reassured him, saying there was no need for concern.

With the God of Wealth’s assurance, Chen Bai relaxed and smiled.

Huo Chuan hadn’t thought a person’s personality could change that much.

But today, he learned otherwise.

From the city to the hillside, Huo Chuan discovered that his driver, who had always been quiet, could actually carry on a lively conversation. The driver and Chen Bai chatted the entire way, and it even seemed like they had an unspoken connection, as if they regretted not meeting sooner.

The car pulled into the villa and stopped in front of the main entrance. As soon as it came to a stop, the usually composed Chen Bai jumped out of the car, clutching the bouquet like a cannonball, before the driver or the butler could even react.

He moved so quickly that the butler, who had come to open the door, could only watch as Chen Bai calmly landed on the ground. Chen Bai adjusted his hat slightly and greeted them with a smile.

His hair had been neatly trimmed, the previous white locks now replaced with black hair. The sunlight reflected off his dark, messy hair, and his smiling eyes curved brightly.

Some people naturally have a contagious energy, and even the slightly withered courtyard, dulled by the previous night’s frost, seemed to brighten up with his presence. Just seeing him could lift your spirits.

Aunt Zhang had already received word of his arrival. Draped in a blanket, she was waiting at the door.

Huo Qing, standing beside her, jumped up and waved, calling out, “Brother Bai!”

She seemed to have been doing well lately, her voice full of energy.

Chen Bai nodded and waved back. The butler, who had just stepped aside, didn’t get the chance to open the door for him, so instead, he helped Chen Bai by taking his bag. Chen Bai thanked him and took two steps forward, bending slightly to hand the bouquet to the woman in the wheelchair.

Every time he came, he brought flowers, and it had quietly become a tradition.

No matter how many flowers she had received in the past, Aunt Zhang always lit up when presented with a new bouquet. As she took the flowers, her face relaxed into a smile, and she said, “The first time you brought me flowers, they were gladiolus too.”

A full year had come to an end, with a perfect sense of closure.

Chen Bai paused for a moment, then smiled and said, “Aunt Zhang, you actually remember.”

Zhang Ling gently touched the pink and white petals, her lips curving upward as she replied, “Of course, Auntie remembers everything.”

It was cold outside, and she couldn’t stay out for too long. Now that everyone was there, they all went inside together.

The house’s temperature control system was running 24/7, and the moment the door closed, they all felt warm. Since it was inconvenient for Aunt Zhang to move around in her wheelchair, Huo Qing eagerly volunteered to show Chen Bai to his room upstairs.

The room was on the second floor, near the piano room, and it faced the sun. At that moment, the sunlight streamed through the leaves outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting green shadows on the wooden floor.

Everything was prepared, from toiletries to other daily essentials, even pajamas and loungewear.

With food, lodging, and clothes all provided, and being paid a million a day, Chen Bai felt this job had to be the pinnacle of work conditions.

Huo Qing glanced toward the bedroom and said, “Mom picked out all the bedding. She had a great time choosing them.”

Chen Bai chuckled and asked, “How’s Auntie’s health lately?”

Huo Qing waved her hand dismissively, “She’s doing great. Her girlfriends just came over recently, and they were downstairs playing Mahjong, having a blast.”

Chen Bai “…”

Chen Bai thought for a moment, recalling how on the phone he had heard it was quiet at home, with only Huo Qing and her brother there.

—Turns out Aunt Zhang was also a bit of a hidden actress.

The “hidden actress” Aunt Zhang was downstairs, waiting for them to finish their tour of the room. When she saw them finally coming down the stairs, she waved for them to sit in the living room and rest.

With work temporarily on hold, Huo Chuan didn’t retreat to his study as usual. Instead, he sat on the sofa, watching the two of them descend the stairs.

Unlike her usual appearance in a well-tailored dress, Huo Qing was now wearing loose clothes, with her hair casually tied up. Next to her, Chen Bai had taken off his hat, his messy hair slightly swaying as he walked down the stairs.

At a glance, they really did look like siblings.

Aunt Zhang noticed this too, and she leaned back against her wheelchair, smiling as she playfully patted her chest, as if trying to catch her breath. When they reached her, she raised her hand, and Chen Bai, understanding her intention, sat down on the nearby sofa and obediently lowered his head.

The kind-hearted aunt patiently smoothed out his messy hair, her movements gentle, without disturbing a single strand.

Huo Chuan slowly sipped water from his cup, glancing to the side.

The same person who had leaped out of the car like a cannonball now sat obediently, half-closing his eyes and allowing the aunt to tend to him. As if sensing Huo Chuan’s gaze, those half-closed eyes flickered and turned slightly, their pale gray pupils locking onto his.

He smiled, turned his head away, and shifted his gaze back to Huo Qing, continuing their conversation across the room.

Huo Chuan”…”

“Click.”

Huo Chuan averted his gaze and leaned forward, placing his water cup on the table with a soft clink.

It had been quite a while since they’d all gathered like this, and there was a lot to catch up on. Unlike usual, the living room wasn’t quiet but lively with conversation.

The group seemed to have endless topics to talk about. Later that evening, in the middle of a post-dinner chat, Huo Chuan’s phone rang. He, having been drawn into the conversation as well, stood up and stepped away to take the call.

Leaving the living room and walking into the empty hallway, the noise quickly faded, and all that remained was the distant murmur of voices.

The call was from Zhang Wenxuan. As soon as Huo Chuan answered, Zhang’s intention was clear. “A few of us friends have some free time tonight. We’re gathering at Xiao Wang’s place. Why don’t you join us?”

Huo Chuan declined simply, “I’m busy.”

“Bullshit,” came a blunt reply from the other end.

Zhang Wenxuan continued, “I just saw your assistant shopping earlier today. You haven’t had work since this morning.”

There were other voices in the background of the call, people trying to talk and music playing, making it all a bit chaotic.

Huo Chuan held the phone a little farther away and said, “I can’t leave tonight.”

There was a pause on the other end before Zhang’s voice came through again, “It’s not New Year’s Eve, Huo. You don’t have to stay home tonight. What’s keeping you?”

It seemed Zhang had taken a moment to check the calendar.

Huo Chuan glanced out the window at the dim streetlights in the courtyard and said, “You all go ahead without me.”

Silence followed again. After a brief pause, Zhang asked, “Don’t tell me you’ve got someone at your place?”

The hallway was quiet, and Huo Chuan didn’t respond right away.

Zhang Wenxuan “?”

His silence confused Zhang Wenxuan, who quickly pieced things together. After some thought, he tentatively asked, “Is Chen Bai there?”

Huo Chuan replied with a soft “Mm.”

Zhang Wenxuan exclaimed, “You’ve been keeping that under wraps! Doing big things in silence, huh?”

Now that he knew the reason, Zhang’s tone immediately softened, and his attitude shifted. He didn’t even wait for a response before continuing, “Well, okay then. We can always get together another time. We won’t disturb you now.”

With that, he hung up the phone without hesitation, leaving no time for further conversation.

Huo Chuan “…”

The screen dimmed, and Huo Chuan stood there for a moment before pocketing his phone and heading back toward the living room.

Meanwhile, at the bar where Zhang Wenxuan had taken the call, he tossed his phone onto the table and sat back on the sofa, meeting the curious gazes of his friends. “He’s not coming.”

A friend nearby asked what Huo Chuan had said.

“What else could he say?” Zhang Wenxuan took a sip of his drink with a grin. “There’s someone new at his place this year, so he’s staying a bit longer. We shouldn’t push him.”

His explanation was a mix of subtlety and directness, and the others got the message. Someone asked, “Hasn’t he changed it up yet? It’s been a year, right?”

Zhang Wenxuan, emboldened by Huo Chuan’s absence, spoke freely. “If he switches now, there’s definitely something wrong with his eyes.”

Another friend added calmly, “This time, it seems like he’s serious. No way he’d bring someone home during the holidays if it wasn’t.”

“So,” one of their more playful companions, who had just returned with a fruit platter, asked, “is that person still not coming back this year?”

Someone responded, “There’s been no word from the Yang family, so it looks like they’re not coming back again.”

At this point, Zhang Wenxuan’s forehead twitched, and he suddenly remembered something he had forgotten. Every year around this time, that same friend of his would always call someone across the ocean—no matter the time or place. It was an annoying habit he could never seem to break.

Recalling this made Zhang’s eyes twitch with irritation. He filled his empty glass and immediately changed the subject, raising his glass. “Let’s drink.”

—

The post-dinner chat didn’t last long. Aunt Zhang had a set bedtime of 8 PM every night. Even though she was excited today, her body was more fatigued than usual, so the caretaker took her upstairs to bed on schedule. The rest of the group dispersed.

For someone used to staying up late, 8 PM was far too early and difficult to manage.

The weather forecast predicted snow for the evening. With nothing to do after returning to his room, Chen Bai stepped out onto the balcony to look around. He couldn’t see any signs of snow, and when the cold wind bit at his neck and face, he went back inside, took a shower, and changed into his pajamas.

The white pajamas fit him well, and there was a small pink-and-white flower embroidered on the chest. For some reason, he felt that Aunt Zhang had chosen these pajamas because of that little flower.

Out of habit, he reached for his phone to snap a picture and share it with his good neighbor, only to find his pockets empty.

His phone wasn’t in the clothes he had changed out of, nor was it anywhere in the room.

It must’ve been left downstairs.

Without thinking for more than a second, he slipped on his slippers, opened the door, and made his way downstairs through the hallway.

The living room was empty, and the main lights were off, making the room quite dim. The smaller lights along the sides were still on, illuminating the area just enough to make things out. Sure enough, his phone was lying on the sofa, right where he’d left it.

He hadn’t touched his phone in a while, and there were now several new messages. However, none were from his neighbor, who was likely working late tonight.

After pocketing his phone, Chen Bai made his way back upstairs.

As he passed through the hallway near the piano room, he noticed someone standing by the hexagonal balcony.

From a distance, he couldn’t make out who it was. Only when he got closer did he realize it was Huo Chuan, who should’ve already been in his room. Huo was leaning against the edge of the balcony. He had changed into loungewear earlier in the afternoon and was holding his phone, staring at it with the screen off. Chen Bai couldn’t see his expression, but there was a faint sense of irritation coming from him.

Not wanting to intrude, he initially planned to turn and leave, but his phone in his pocket buzzed at that very moment, the light piercing through the fabric of his pajamas and lighting up the dim hallway.

The light was faint but noticeable. The person leaning against the balcony turned to look. Realizing he couldn’t just quietly walk away now, Chen Bai nodded and politely asked, “Mr. Huo, you’re not sleeping yet?”

Mr. Huo put his phone away, his expression unchanged, and replied with a simple acknowledgment.

Thinking the conversation was over, Chen Bai intended to continue walking, but then he heard Huo Chuan speak again, “Are you going to bed?”

Chen Bai gave a modest smile and replied, “It’s still early. I’m used to sleeping around 2 AM.”

Having just taken a bath, it was close to 9 PM now, and there were still five hours until his usual bedtime. The night had only just begun.

Huo Chuan “…”

Even Mr. Huo paused for a moment after hearing the time, raising his gaze to look at the person standing in the hallway, still full of energy and smiling. After a brief pause, Huo Chuan glanced toward the piano room and asked, “Do you have some time?”

Though it was phrased as a question, Huo Chuan already knew the answer.

The person in front of him rarely, if ever, refused him.

“Mr. Huo, here’s the thing,” Chen Bai started, rubbing his hands together like a fly as he organized his words, “I’m here to accompany Aunt Zhang, and technically, I’m off duty now.”

Huo Chuan’s gaze shifted to him.

Chen Bai continued rubbing his hands together, “I don’t mind a bit of flexible overtime, but, well, the overtime pay…”

He gave a light chuckle, making a gesture to indicate money.

Although he could sense that Huo Chuan was feeling a bit irritated, Chen Bai still didn’t miss the chance to negotiate his pay. Cautious yet daring.

Huo Chuan: “…”

At that moment, Huo Chuan fully understood the disappearing act from earlier in the day.

After agreeing to pay him extra, Chen Bai, who was already dressed in his pajamas, swiftly entered the piano room. As he walked, he asked, “Playing the piano at this time won’t disturb anyone, right?”

Although the estate had only three residents, there were plenty of staff—housekeepers, chefs, drivers, gardeners, and caretakers. It was actually quite a full household.

Huo Chuan followed him into the piano room and reassured him that it wouldn’t.

Huo Qing and the others were in a completely different part of the house, out of earshot, and the rest of the staff were even farther away. Essentially, they had the entire floor to themselves.

Chen Bai gained a deeper understanding of just how grand the estate really was.

The piano room lights came on, and the curtains automatically slid open, revealing the shadows of trees and the soft glow of streetlights in the courtyard.

With paid overtime, earning ten times his previous restaurant wages, Chen Bai sat at the piano with a professional demeanor. He turned to Huo Chuan and asked, “What would you like to hear, Mr. Huo?”

Huo Chuan sat nearby and said it didn’t matter, encouraging him to play whatever he liked.

And so, Chen Bai began to play freely.

It had been a long time since he last touched this piano, but after trying a few notes, he found that it sounded the same as before—likely due to a professional tuner maintaining it in his absence.

He hadn’t intended to play anything grand or stirring late at night. After testing a few notes, he began with some light and soothing pieces, ones he knew by heart without needing sheet music.

With his pajamas and slippers on, sitting at the piano with messy hair, he didn’t look all that professional, but each note was perfectly on point, as if he were naturally familiar with the instrument.

Huo Chuan, still holding his phone with the screen off, watched the black-and-white keys being pressed. His eyes were fixed.

Huo Chuan “…”

By the time he snapped out of his thoughts, the piano keys had returned to their original state, and a pale hand passed in front of his eyes. The hand’s owner, seated at the piano, tilted his head and asked, “Were you lost in thought, Mr. Huo?”

Huo Chuan acknowledged it but didn’t say what he had been thinking about.

Chen Bai, who wasn’t particularly interested in what was on Huo Chuan’s mind, finished two pieces before noticing the sheet music in the room. As he flipped through it, he casually asked, “What made you want to listen to the piano tonight?”

This time, Huo Chuan answered, explaining that his father used to play the piano when deep in thought. He didn’t have that habit, but the idea just came to him tonight, so he decided to come and check it out.

“Do you want to give it a try, Mr. Huo?” Chen Bai paused his flipping and asked.

He stood up, offering the seat and even bent down to adjust the sheet music. He recommended, “This nocturne is pretty simple and soothing. Once you learn it, you can play it to help yourself fall asleep when you can’t.”

Huo Chuan lifted his gaze slightly and saw the pair of eyes beneath the disheveled hair. Chen Bai wasn’t looking at him, still focused on adjusting the music. Then he turned his head and asked again, “Wanna give it a shot?”

Under his gaze, Huo Chuan eventually set his phone aside and took a seat at the piano.

He had learned to play briefly many years ago, and he could still read sheet music, though his skill level wasn’t certain.

Chen Bai, assuming Huo Chuan, the powerful CEO, was just being modest, believed he was probably much more proficient than he let on.

Chen Bai “…”

Midway through the piece, Chen Bai casually raised his hand to cover his mouth, suppressing a silent cough.

The music paused momentarily, and the seated Huo Chuan looked at the corners of his mouth, which were clearly turned up beneath his hand. He asked objectively, “Are you smiling?”

Chen Bai quickly waved his hands and pressed down the corners of his mouth, “No.”

With a serious expression, he added, “You know, I have naturally smiling lips.”

As soon as he said it, his “naturally smiling lips” curved upward again.

Huo Chuan “…”

Even Huo Chuan, who had maintained a steady expression throughout, couldn’t help but chuckle this time. He remarked, “Go ahead and laugh. Even if it sounds bad, you still have to finish listening.”