The Stand-in Side Character Only Wants to Make Money – CH72

Chapter 72 – Heavy Rain

In response, a nearby classmate, puzzled, turned and asked, “Shouldn’t you say, ‘What a coincidence’?”

Chen Bai, going with the flow, corrected himself, “Yeah, quite the coincidence.”

The conversation ended with him exchanging contact information with a few high schoolers, promising to play together next time they had a chance.

Though they made plans to play, the reality was that after this summer, they would be entering their senior year of high school. These soon-to-be seniors probably wouldn’t have much time for gaming. Even the little break they were enjoying now was a rare luxury.

Still, having the promise of a gaming session hanging in front of them made the high schoolers happy.

Chen Bai hadn’t attended a summer camp in years, so he was curious if there were any differences from when he was a student. He asked a few more questions.

It was clear from their responses that a lot had happened during the camp. He asked one question, and they answered ten, in great detail.

In summary, it sounded like not much had changed; it was still the same dull routine. Back when Chen Bai attended, he had skipped the activities and gone out with friends instead. But these high schoolers had stuck it out until the end, which he found quite admirable.

“We almost didn’t make it, but luckily, they moved the end date up.”

Xu Lang explained, “It was originally set to end two days later, but a lot of students had already gone back to school early, so they ended it today with a closing ceremony.”

The deskmate speared a piece of fruit and added, “The timing was pretty perfect. There was even an outstanding alumni who donated a building, and they came to the auditorium to give a short speech.”

A real short speech—practical and to the point. Not a single word wasted.

After stabbing a piece of watermelon and eating it, Chen Bai put down his fork and raised his eyes slightly, “Donated a building? Quite impressive.”

Old Lin, the surfing expert, said, “I think his name was Huo Chuan. He used to be on TV a lot.”

Chen Bai “?”

It was confirmed—this world was indeed a small village.

If it was the God of Wealth, then that would explain the building. Chen Bai nodded, “That makes sense.”

Xu Lang turned and asked, “Brother Bai, you know him too?”

He’d first heard the name in passing when Mrs. Jiang and Xu Mr. had been chatting, and he had only vague impressions left—he just remembered that Huo Chuan was capable but had poor judgment.

Holding up his fingers to indicate a small distance, Chen Bai said, “Kind of.”

After a long chat, with the conversation jumping from one topic to another, Xu Lang finally remembered his older brother and asked Chen Bai, “When will my brother be back?”

The other classmates all looked over as well.

They’d known Xu Lang for quite a while, and they knew he had an older brother, but they had never met him. Truthfully, they were all pretty curious about the person who had such a good relationship with Chen Bai.

Chen Bai glanced at the time and said, “About half a month.”

In half a month, all the high school students would already be back in school.

Realizing they wouldn’t get to see him, the other high schoolers sighed regretfully.

Chen Bai smiled slightly.

The high schoolers had come over in the morning, planning to leave in the afternoon, but since Xu’s family had a large house with plenty of rooms, they ended up staying the night. After a friendly chat with Ms. Jiang and Mr. Xu upon their return, they crammed into Xu Lang’s room and played wildly.

While the high schoolers went upstairs to play, the three mature adults downstairs followed their usual routine of watching an animated movie, using the sound as background noise while they chatted.

Mrs. Jiang and Mr. Xu kept a clear separation between their work and personal lives. Except for urgent news, they rarely touched their phones after work. Their usual form of relaxation was walking and chatting, but with the recent heat, they switched to watching TV while talking.

Having heard the name of “the god of wealth” that morning, Chen Bai overheard it again during this chat.

Mrs. Jiang had been thinking about upcoming plans when she remembered this and turned to Mr. Xu, saying, “Isn’t the eldest of the Huo family going to have a birthday party soon? I think someone mentioned it in a conversation today, but I can’t quite recall.”

Mr. Xu thought for a moment but couldn’t remember. There hadn’t been much interaction between them before, and it was only recently, due to expanding into new areas, that they had crossed paths a few times. He wasn’t very familiar with the details.

The only thing he knew for sure was that if there was a birthday party and there was a business connection, they would probably receive an invitation, meaning they’d likely have to attend.

Chen Bai, listening from the side, slowly drank a sip of water and began to roughly plan out his schedule for the coming days.

If the “god of wealth” was hosting a birthday party, it meant that things would be busy, so there likely wouldn’t be any work opportunities for him in the near future. Since he was still adjusting his rest schedule, Chen Bai didn’t have much work lined up, only a commercial shoot and a business dinner. After calculating everything, he realized he finally had plenty of time to rest.

Mr. Xu said, “I haven’t heard much recently. I wonder how Zhang Ling’s health is now.”

When the previous head of the Huo family passed away, it had caused a stir both inside and outside their circle. Many people had mentioned the former head’s wife, whom Mr. Xu remembered as someone with poor health.

Ms. Jiang, who was always in the loop with the latest gossip, waved her hand and said, “I heard from Mrs. Yang that she’s doing quite well. Apparently, she’s been posting on social media a lot recently.”

If she had the energy to post on social media, she must indeed be doing well.

“Mrs. Yang?” Mr. Xu took a moment to recall who that was and finally remembered. “I wonder if her son will return to the country this year.”

“Mrs. Yang’s son has been abroad for years and hasn’t come back.”

Seeing Chen Bai’s curious gaze, Ms. Jiang briefly explained, then responded to Mr. Xu, “He didn’t return for the New Year, and it was the couple who went abroad instead. He probably won’t come back this year either.”

It had been a long time since Chen Bai had thought about certain plotlines—or rather, the current reality seemed completely disconnected from the storyline in the book. After thinking for a moment, he vaguely remembered that the “white moonlight” character was surnamed Yang. Due to how shocking the early plotlines were, he hadn’t paid much attention, remembering only a surname, like with Zhang-someone.

If nothing went wrong, the son they were talking about was likely the “white moonlight” character.

According to the fragments of the plot he still remembered, the “white moonlight” wouldn’t return to the country so soon. He was supposed to make a grand entrance later in the story, becoming one of the characters who tormented the secondary male lead after Zhang-someone, starting a love triangle full of angst.

But now that the plot had derailed so badly that even the author wouldn’t recognize it, the love triangle was definitely gone. Who knew, maybe the “white moonlight” would return just in time to form a duo with the god of wealth instead.

After playing all night, the high schoolers finally got up the next morning and said their goodbyes. After spending two days with Xu family, successfully making the most of the last bit of their summer vacation, Chen Yi Bai also left a few days later.

The next day, he had a commercial shoot, followed by a business dinner. His apartment in the city was more convenient for work, saving a lot of commute time.

He left with a small suitcase, but returned with a pile of extra things.

Mrs. Jiang and Mr. Xu weren’t ones for grand gestures. Instead, they packed him off with fruits and freshly baked cupcakes from the kitchen, repeatedly reminding him to remember to eat well.

Chen Bai jumped into the car, nodded repeatedly, and waved with a smile.

The drive from the estate to the city took a little over an hour, and he returned to the place he hadn’t lived in for a long time.

The commercial shoot would take a full day, with a break in between before the business dinner.

On the day of the shoot, his manager, as usual, came to pick him up from his apartment.

The small team came up the elevator and knocked on the door. When the door opened, before anyone could speak, the manager’s eyes widened, and she gave him a once-over, saying, “Your uncle and aunt really know how to take care of you.”

Half-asleep and with messy hair, Chen Bai didn’t understand, so he turned and asked, “Huh?”

The assistant and stylist following behind also gave him a quick look and nodded in agreement.

Naturally slim, Chen Bai was still thin, but his complexion looked much better, and his lips were rosier. When he smiled, his aura became even more striking, his eyes sharp and piercing, as if they could see straight into someone’s heart.

Feeling like they had missed something, the assistant asked, “Uncle and aunt?”

Chen Bai chuckled and replied, “Friends’ parents.”

By now, “friends” had become a specific term, and even without thinking, the assistant instantly realized who he meant. Startled, they asked, “You’ve gotten that close with them?”

It seemed like something had been missed. After just a short vacation, the world felt like it had changed.

Chen Bai glanced over: “Hmm?”

The assistant quickly corrected, “I mean… uh, you’re really on good terms with your friends’ parents.”

Chen Bai smiled and nodded.

Before the stylist could tackle his messy hair, Chen Bai opened the fridge, took out some of the fruit that filled half the fridge, and casually sliced it up to make a simple fruit platter, placing it on the coffee table. “Auntie asked me to bring it. It’s really good.”

Aunt Jiang was very worried that he wouldn’t have enough to eat, so she packed a lot for him. If he ate it all by himself, it would take him several days to finish.

As a result, the small team had the pleasure of enjoying a fruit assortment prepared by the parents of a renowned movie star.

The fruits were indeed delicious—cool and refreshing. As the stylist battled with his messy hair, they casually picked up a piece or two, cooling their tempers as well.

Without having to deal with his messy hair, the manager felt completely relaxed. Sitting off to the side eating the fruit platter, she asked, “So, are you going to your uncle and aunt’s place tomorrow?”

“No, not tomorrow,” Chen Bai replied. “I’ve got work the day after tomorrow, so it’s more convenient to stay here.”

While talking, he suddenly remembered he had forgotten to post tomorrow’s live broadcast notice, so he pulled out his phone.

Behind him, the stylist, Sister Jing, was still fully focused on her historic battle with his hair and wouldn’t be looking at his phone screen. He smoothly opened an app and switched accounts.

Although he had downloaded the app long ago, he hadn’t learned to use any of its proper functions. However, he had mastered the art of switching accounts.

“Buzz—”

Just as he typed the final word of the live broadcast notice and was about to hit send, his phone buzzed, and a notification popped up at the top of the screen.

It was a message from the “god of wealth.” He tapped into the message to take a quick look.

[Are you free tomorrow afternoon?]

After their previous interactions, the “god of wealth” had learned to quote his price before Chen Bai could politely ask. Two seconds later, he added that he would personally drive to pick him up.

Being picked up meant no travel allowance, which was a bit disappointing. However, the consistent offer of one million made it hard not to smile.

Seeing another major payday come in, worth one-fourth of his yearly earnings goal, Chen Bai quickly typed out a reply and switched back to the previous app. He changed the live broadcast time from afternoon to morning, just before sending the notification.

After sending it, he put away his phone. His assistant, who was sitting on the other side of the sofa, still keeping an eye on the weather, said, “Seems like there might be rain the next couple of days, and pretty heavy too.”

Chen Bai glanced slightly up and looked out the window.

No joke, the sky was completely clear, not a cloud in sight, with the sun shining brightly enough to hurt.

The manager added, “The weather has been changing quickly these days.”

The weather did change quickly, but it didn’t rain as the forecast suggested. The next day was overcast, with cooler temperatures and a slight breeze, but no sign of rain.

Chen Bai got up in the morning, live-streamed for a few hours, and ended just in time for his appointment with the “god of wealth” that afternoon. After taking off his headphones, he realized the room had become significantly darker compared to when he started.

Overcast skies, no rain—a perfect day for a trip out.

Standing up and stretching a bit, he felt more awake. He went over to his wardrobe, swapped his 39.9-yuan outfit for the new, free clothes sent by a sponsor, grabbed his keys, and headed downstairs.

As he stepped out the building door, his phone rang—it was the “god of wealth” calling.

Taking the steps two at a time, Chen Bai answered the phone, tilting the brim of his hat slightly and saying, “Two minutes, I’m on my way.”

By “on his way,” he meant moving slightly faster than a casual stroll.

The “god of wealth” hadn’t called to rush him, only to confirm the pick-up location.

In truth, he didn’t need to say anything. As soon as Chen Bai exited the gate, he spotted two parked cars by the roadside. One of them, a taxi, was just leaving. Walking towards the only remaining car, Chen Bai was about to open the back door when he heard a soft click—the passenger door opened instead. The voice on the phone said, “Over here.”

So, Chen Bai headed for the passenger seat.

This time, it wasn’t the usual driver behind the wheel—it was the “god of wealth” himself. After Chen Bai got in and ended the call, the “god of wealth” turned off his phone and placed it aside.

Following traffic rules to a T, Chen Bai automatically fastened his seatbelt. As he did, he glanced over and asked, “I just noticed—it’s you driving today, Mr. Huo?”

The “god of wealth” replied, “Occasionally, I like to drive myself.”

Catching a glimpse of him slipping back into his usual quiet demeanor, Chen Bai, ever the professional actor, wondered briefly if he might have had another spat with his “white moonlight” but quickly dismissed the thought. Whatever the reason, as long as the paycheck was good, everything else was fine by him. 

As the car started moving and the scenery began to blur past, Chen Bai asked, “Where are we headed?”

“South of the city. There’s a park that was built there recently.”

Noticing the mask still on the “god of wealth’s” face, Huo Chuan added, “It’s closed to the public today. No one else will be there.”

In other words, there was no need to worry about being seen—no need for masks or hats. Mrs. Zhang used to live in the south of the city when her health was better, and at the time, a friend had left their dog in her care. To give the dog more space to run free, they built a private garden, which was often referred to as a park.

Without much thought, Chen Bai realized that a private garden was really just a larger version of a backyard. After hearing this, his first reaction was that entering a park closed to the public felt a bit like trespassing. Fortunately, his rational side kicked in before he voiced that thought—realizing that the park was likely funded by Huo Chuan himself.

It wasn’t far from where they were to the south of the city, just under an hour’s drive.

The park was indeed closed to the public, and their car was the only one in the parking lot. As soon as the door opened, before anyone could react, Chen Bai had already unbuckled his seatbelt and jumped out of the car in one smooth motion, landing firmly on the ground.

They had left in the afternoon and arrived by dusk. Clouds drifted overhead, blocking most of the sunlight, and the streetlights along the road began to glow. Casually stuffing his mask into his pocket, Chen Bai took off his hat, letting the cool evening breeze ruffle his hair.

Loose strands of hair flew backward as the trees swayed on both sides, and the wind seemed to carry the mixed scent of leaves and grass.

Huo Chuan glanced over, his pupils fixed in the shadow for a moment before he looked away, focusing on something else.

He hadn’t guessed wrong—being outdoors, the person beside him was far more relaxed than when they strolled through the mall. His eyes squinted in a smile, head lowered, reaching out to feel the shape of the wind, and he spoke more frequently than usual.

[18:45]

Not wearing a watch today, Huo Chuan pulled out his phone to check the time and then put it back in his pocket. “There’s a fountain further in. It looks different at night. Want to go see?”

The person, who now had a head full of messy hair after taking off his hat, nodded.

It wasn’t called a park for nothing—it was large. It took a while to walk from their current spot to where the fountain was supposed to be. The clouds had thickened, and the sky had completely darkened. Only the distant city lights and the nearby street lamps lit the way.

The fountain was there, situated in a circular slope that dipped inward, smooth enough that it looked like children could use it as a slide. In the center was a small pond-like area. Everything seemed fine—except the fountain wasn’t working.

The fountain seemed to be broken, and as always, the ever-optimistic Chen Bai patted Huo Chuan’s shoulder in consolation, saying, “That little pond in the middle looks nice too.”

Huo Chuan didn’t respond to his comfort immediately. He glanced down at his phone again.

[18:59]

Clang—

As the phone screen lit up, a faint metallic sound echoed from the marble surface. It was a key, smaller than a typical house key, with a short, thin string attached. Under the light, its age was visible.

Seeing the key, Huo Chuan’s eyes, reflecting the phone’s glow, moved swiftly. He bent down quickly.

But someone else was faster. The key, after hitting the slope, didn’t stop—it slid down immediately. As it slid, Chen Bai lowered his center of gravity and rushed after it, his loose hair and the hem of his clothes sweeping through the wind.

At the bottom of the slope was a drain, large enough to swallow the key completely. Beyond that was the small pond, a mere two meters away from the drain.

The slope’s incline accelerated his movements, and with the momentum, Chen Bai was heading straight for the pond without stopping.

“…”

The pond’s water was shallow, clear enough to see the bottom, swaying slightly under the light, calm with no significant ripples.

Yet it resembled a bottomless abyss, with raging waves and dark, hidden currents, deep and impenetrable.

An inescapable black void, suffocating in its endlessness.

All sounds faded as Huo Chuan, in an instant, leaped from the edge of the slope, his gaze fixed on the figure in front of him.

But he was a step too slow. By the time he landed, Chen Bai was already charging, unstoppable, toward the dark water.

One hand bracing the ground, Chen Bai slid down the slope at full speed, not slowing down as he headed straight for the small pond.

Just as he was about to collide with the water’s surface, he placed a hand on the stone edge of the pond, using it to pivot his body and leap away from the pond entirely, landing smoothly on the pedestrian path.

The moves he had learned from acting had unexpectedly come in handy.

Wiping away non-existent sweat with a casual flick of his hand, he looked up, intending to glance at where he had been standing before. Instead, he locked eyes with the “god of wealth,” who had somehow gotten closer to the pond and was staring at him.

The look in Huo Chuan’s eyes was hard to decipher, filled with emotions Chen Bai couldn’t quite figure out.

Since he couldn’t understand, he didn’t try to. Squatting on the sidewalk, Chen Bai slightly raised his hand, palm open. A small key hung steadily from his finger, glinting faintly under the light.

Smiling, he said, “Got it just in time.”

Catching the key half a second before it would have fallen into the drain—quite the thrilling experience.

Then he asked, “Why did you come down here, Mr. Huo?”

Huo Chuan’s gaze shifted from the key to him, his pupils wide, as he began walking toward Chen Bai.

[7:00 PM sharp.]

Whoosh—

Suddenly, a grand spray of water erupted from the pond’s edge, mist filling the air and scattering in all directions like stars, splashing down from the highest point.

So, the fountain wasn’t broken after all.

Chen Bai, who had been squatting safely out of range, watched as Huo Chuan, standing by the pond’s edge, was drenched from head to toe. His shirt was soaked through, and water clung to his eyelashes.

The “god of wealth” had taken a rather embarrassing fall.

Huo Chuan “…”

Although he didn’t quite understand, Chen Bai couldn’t help but smile with that natural, slightly mischievous expression of his.

Huo Chuan was still walking toward him.

“Quite the mood, boss,” Chen Bai remarked, casually standing up and using his hand to cover the corner of his mouth, adding, “Taking a shower, are we?”

He took a small step back to avoid the spray, saying, “I just showered yesterday, boss. You can enjoy this one alone—I’ll pass on joining your fun.”

He absolutely intended to stay dry.

As two drops of water landed on his sleeve, he took another step back, thinking he was still within range of the fountain’s mist. But it was no use—the situation escalated beyond a mere sprinkle.

Realizing things were getting out of hand, he looked up to figure out the cause.

Then, all of a sudden, torrential rain poured down, drenching everything around them in a thick mist, as powerful as the fountain itself.

Whoosh—

The heavy rain that had been forecasted for days finally arrived—right at that moment.

It was indeed heavy, and completely unexpected.

Drenched from head to toe, Chen Bai muttered, “…”

He was sure of it—he had just seen Huo Chuan smile.