The Stand-in Side Character Only Wants to Make Money – CH99

Chapter 99: The Proposal

As autumn passed spring came, the awards ceremony was held in A City and broadcast live from the red carpet onward.

Chen Bai walked the red carpet with his colleagues, unusually wearing a tie. He objectively found formal wear less comfortable than his usual 39.9-yuan outfits and kept reaching up to loosen the tie, only stopping when he noticed his agent and stylist watching him from nearby.

This year, the venue had changed to a new, grander location, no longer featuring the inhumanly long rows of seats. It was set up more like a banquet, with tables and chairs, surrounded by lush floral arrangements lining the aisles and hallways. Even the agents didn’t have to sit separately, as their seats were right next to the stars.

This time, the venue was unusually luxurious, more like a wedding scene than an awards ceremony.

Once inside, the social butterfly quickly found his friends who were also attending the event and engaged in some socializing.

Quite a few familiar faces were present at this awards ceremony, except for Qian Jin, who had returned to school a few years ago to study directing and aspired to be a screenwriter. Through the crowd, he even spotted Zhang Wenxuan, a friend from the client’s side, though Zhang Wenxuan had changed a lot over the years—if it weren’t for that flashy tie, he might not have recognized him.

Just as he was about to look more closely, his agent came over.

Stopping a step away, the agent handed him a water bottle and said, “Can you calm down for a bit?”

In just the time it took to greet some old acquaintances, the person who had been standing nearby had already wandered far off. The agent had almost lost sight of him.

Chen Bai took the water bottle with a smile and thanked her.

Looking around at the other attendees, the agent remarked, “It feels like everyone here is one of your old friends.”

The social butterfly humbly smiled.

Grabbing a drink for herself, the agent leaned against a nearby pillar and asked, “Is your boyfriend picking you up after the event today?”

“Probably not,” Chen Bai replied. “He left early this morning for work.”

The agent nodded, “Good. Today, Uncle Zhao can finally give you a lift.”

If the boyfriend kept picking him up, Uncle Zhao might start to worry that someone was trying to steal his job.

“So, what’s the plan for you and your boyfriend going forward, are you just…”

Mid-sentence, the agent glanced sideways, peering past the people in front of her and behind him, momentarily pausing before continuing, “…just going to keep dating like this?”

Chen Bai didn’t quite get what she meant, blinking in confusion: “What…we’re not going to break up, are we?”

After saying that, he followed her earlier gaze and turned around, but saw nothing. So, he asked, “What were you looking at, sister Qian?”

The agent waved her hand, “Nothing. I just saw Zhang Wenxuan heading this way. I thought he was coming to talk to you.”

She was about to make way for him, but Zhang Wenxuan walked past and then turned back, seemingly just taking a few extra steps for exercise.

With a half-raised hand, she playfully tapped his head and said, “I wasn’t talking about breaking up. I was asking when you two plan to take things to the next level.”

After a moment of thought, she added, “And make sure you never say the word ‘breakup’ in front of your boyfriend.”

Having known him for years—from pre-debut to his current success, for three years now—anyone would feel a bit sorry for his long-suffering boyfriend. After all this time, he had finally made it, and surely his boyfriend wouldn’t want to hear that word.

Now understanding her meaning, Chen Bai recalled something he had said before and, avoiding her gaze, replied, “It’s still early.”

The agent looked at him. He explained, “A long time ago, when we were out shopping, I told him I’d get him a ring if I won Best Actor.”

At the time, he hadn’t thought there was anything wrong with saying that. It was only later that he realized that rings could be bought anytime. But since he had made that promise, it now felt like he couldn’t buy the ring until he actually won Best Actor.

The other nominees this year had already won the award before, so he didn’t have much hope. The ring would have to wait until next year.

But since he didn’t have any leading roles next year, even that was unlikely. His dear boyfriend would probably have to wait a bit longer.

Chen Bai reasoned, “If I never win Best Actor in my life, does that mean I’ll never get married?”

His agent quickly shut him up, telling him to stop saying such things.

With that, they were approaching the start of the ceremony, and Chen Bai returned to his seat.

The award sequence changed every year, but this year was well-organized, with Best Actor scheduled as the final award.

As the lights dimmed in the audience, Chen Bai spent two hours as a tireless applause machine. About halfway through, he was clapping while stifling yawns, and tears of fatigue welled up at the corners of his eyes, which he forced back.

The temperature and lighting were just right, and with tables to lean on, it was objectively the perfect place to take a nap.

Along with Best Actor and Best Actress, the Best Supporting Actor and Actress awards were also saved for last. The only small consolation was that the supporting actors came second-to-last, leaving the lead actors to wrap things up.

By the time they announced the Best Supporting Actor award, Chen Bai was already drowsy. One hand propped up his head, and to a casual observer, it might have seemed like he was still attentively watching the stage. But in reality, he had already dozed off for a while.

The Best Supporting Actor award went to Lin Wanyu.

Hearing the name of his former colleague startled him awake. Groggily, he opened his eyes, surrounded by the sound of applause. Though still a bit confused, he clapped along.

Next came the Best Actress award. Still feeling sleepy as the host spoke, Chen Bai picked up his water bottle for a sip, then pulled out his phone to send a random message to his friendly neighbor.

His neighbor, apparently not at work, quickly replied and, knowing him well, asked: [Feeling sleepy?]

Chen Bai sent back an energetic dog emoji, trying to engage in a conversation about the feasibility of building a pool on the surface of the sun.

Before he could finish typing, the guest presenter for Best Actress stepped on stage with the trophy. So, the “busy” Chen Bai put down his phone and joined in the applause.

The presentation of the Best Actor and Best Actress awards carried a certain gravitas, with the honors being announced by actors who had previously received lifetime achievement awards, signifying a recognition of strength and talent.

The guest presenter for Best Actress was a teacher Chen Bai had once seen in an online course at a film academy. When the Best Actress winner stepped on stage, her face was full of surprise. After receiving the trophy, she hugged the presenter.

Watching this, Chen Bai turned to his agent and whispered, “Is it a tradition to hug the presenter when receiving an award?”

That one sentence completely exposed the fact that he had been slacking off at previous awards ceremonies.

The agent’s brow twitched fiercely and said, “No.”

After the Best Actress award, it was time for the final award—Best Actor.

Everyone at the table had already won the awards they were nominated for, so they stopped chatting and focused. There was a chance the cameras could catch them at any moment, so everyone who had been lounging on the table now sat up straight, looking as if they were really engaged.

The host began their speech.

Completely unaware that he was also one of the nominees, Chen Bai quickly sent another emoji to his friendly neighbor during a brief pause. Then, pretending nothing had happened, he looked up and listened to the host, occasionally sneaking a glance at his dimmed phone screen.

As the guest presenter for Best Actor came on stage, he clapped along with the crowd while glancing at his phone. His face was directed at the stage, but his eyes were fixed on the screen.

No response from his neighbor—must be back at work.

The host introduced the guest presenter, who then stepped aside to let them announce the winner.

The guest presenter, looking sharp in a suit, opened the envelope.

Chen Bai, having selectively tuned out the host’s speech, followed the crowd’s lead. After clapping, he sent two more newly saved emojis.

Just as he hit send, a familiar voice called out his name: “Chen Bai.”

He didn’t need to identify the voice—it was his neighbor, the one he’d just been bothering.

Chen Bai “?”

He thought the voice was from a voice message he had accidentally opened in public because his phone wasn’t on silent. Startled, his first reaction was to quickly turn down the volume.

But his phone wasn’t playing any sound.

Suddenly, the applause around him erupted like a bomb. Still trying to figure out the volume issue, he joined in the applause, completely confused, until his agent nudged him, telling him to stand up.

So, clapping, he stood. It was only then that he realized everyone’s attention was on him. When he looked up, he met the gaze of the man on stage.

It was the person he had just sent an emoji to, dressed in a suit, with a neatly tied black tie. Clearly, he was today’s presenter.

Chen Bai “…”

It took him half a second to process the situation. Chen Bai smiled, his eye twitched slightly, and before he could stop himself, he muttered, “Uh oh.”

Setting aside the current scene, he had assumed he was just here to show up. So, the promise he made about getting a ring if he won—he hadn’t even started thinking about it.

But there was no time to dwell on the ring now; he headed to the stage, still feeling like he had just woken up.

[Haha, got caught slacking, didn’t you! I knew something was up when brother Xu was on stage, and you, Chen Bai, had no reaction at all! Hahaha!]

[Since it’s your first nomination, I was worried you’d be nervous, but it turns out, Chen Bai… you really had zero nerves! Did you forget you were even nominated?!]

[It was so obvious you were out of it. Brother Xu was staring at you for ages while you were sneaking glances at your phone and clapping along with everyone else! Hahaha!]

[I was about to congratulate you! And I thought it was so fitting that Xu Sinian was presenting the award to you, but then I saw your face, and now I’m speechless. You’re really out here slacking even during the award presentation!]

[Well, Xu Sinian is definitely a high-profile presenter. Hahaha!]

Amid the continuous applause, the slacker, Chen Bai, made his way to the stage.

The stage lights were dazzling as he approached the man. His steps were quick, his hair slightly fluttering from his pace. As he got closer, he looked up and met those dark eyes, unable to suppress a smile.

In the bright lights, under everyone’s gaze, he accepted the slightly weighty golden trophy.

The trophy was cold to the touch, its edges reflecting the overhead lights. The man in front of him stood tall in his suit, looking down at him, and in a low, somewhat tense voice, said, “Congratulations.”

There was an inexplicable tightness in his tone, an unusual seriousness, as if this wasn’t just an award ceremony.

Thinking it must be his imagination, Chen Bai tried hard to control his smile, politely responding, “Thank you, Teacher Xu.”

The atmosphere was solemn, and he did his best to act formal and polite, as though they weren’t close.

His efforts were painfully obvious to everyone, including the live-stream viewers who wasted no time capturing his awkward expressions for memes.

Following protocol, the newly crowned Best Actor had to give an acceptance speech. Leaning into the microphone, he began to speak.

His speech was smooth, logical, and well-organized, without any signs of improvisation. His brain was still working quickly, so he didn’t notice when the person who had been standing next to him left his line of sight.

As his speech neared its end, he thought he heard gasps from the audience.

He wasn’t mistaken—it wasn’t his imagination. By the time he finished his last word, the gasps had turned into a collective murmur.

Everyone, including one of the key players in the scene, had assumed this was just another typical awards ceremony. But when the man who had left the stage briefly returned, carrying a bouquet of flowers, the audience realized something was up—everyone except for Chen Bai.

From the stage, he could just make out the people in the dimly lit hall. Following their gazes, he turned and saw the man walking towards him, holding a bouquet in one hand.

Deep red roses, with petals like velvet. The man was tall, with long legs, wearing perfectly tailored trousers that had the sharpness of hiking gear, striding with confidence.

Surprised by the unexpected gift, Chen Bai accepted the flowers, his arms full.

The roses were in full bloom, their color rich and deep. Over the years, he had received many flowers from this boyfriend of his, but this was the first time he’d gotten red roses.

The scent of the flowers spread irresistibly, and he tried to poke his head out from behind them. He initially wanted to give a thumbs-up with a smile, but when he saw the man take a half-step back and kneel down, his posture sank.

Chen Bai “…”

The moment the dazzling diamond ring appeared, Chen Bai, still holding the flowers, froze. His lowered eyes widened in surprise.

The crowd, which had quieted down after the award ceremony, erupted in gasps. People sitting in the back row stood up, leaning on their tables to get a better view, while photographers who were about to leave rushed forward.

Zhang Wenxuan, seated among the crowd, was surrounded by exclamations. Sitting near the front, he watched as those around him also stood, capturing the scene with their phones, now recording video after video.

In the camera’s view, the man was kneeling on one knee, speaking slowly and calmly, his gaze unwavering. Chen Bai, still standing, widened his eyes, his mind seeming to lag as he held the flowers tightly.

Their relationship had always been simple and straightforward, without any complicated ties or third parties. It felt like the air was filled with genuine, passionate sincerity.

The atmosphere around them was charged, with everyone exclaiming, but there were no jeers or teasing.

That’s because the two people on stage didn’t need any. Everyone knew what was going to happen next.

It was a grand proposal with a foregone conclusion. Amidst the overwhelming noise, Zhang Wenxuan looked down and sent a message:

[You might not want to wait for him to break up anymore.]

As the deafening cheers surrounded them, Chen Bai’s mind, which had been in a daze, finally caught up. His pupils slowly dilated, and after what seemed like an eternity, he blurted out, “Wasn’t I supposed to handle this?”

Xu Sinian smiled slightly, “This time, I couldn’t wait any longer.”

Chen Bai looked down at the small, yet incredibly brilliant, ring. After glancing left and right, still a bit hesitant, he crouched down, holding the flowers tightly and whispered, “…So, should I give you my left hand or my right?”

With zero experience in proposals, he had no idea which hand to offer. For a moment, he even considered holding out both hands, but that felt more like surrendering to handcuffs than receiving a ring.

That was why he hesitated over which hand to extend.

As the distance between them closed, Xu Sinian glanced down with a soft smile. He took Chen Bai’s hand, gently slipping the ring onto his slender, cool white finger.

It fit perfectly—not too loose, not too tight.

The diamond ring was securely placed. Holding Chen Bai’s hand in his palm, Xu Sinian raised it, lowering his head to plant a quiet kiss on the cold fingers.

Chen Bai “…”

The surge of online traffic caused the awards ceremony live stream to crash and go dark, with viewers losing their connection.

What had begun as an awards ceremony had turned into a proposal, and now everyone knew the luxurious venue and elaborate stage setup hadn’t cost the organizers a dime.

In the final group photo, the person standing in the middle held a golden trophy in one hand, while a small, glittering ring adorned the middle finger of his other hand, which hung by his side. He smiled brightly.

Meanwhile, frustrated viewers, who had missed the most important part of the broadcast, kept trying to re-enter the live stream, only to fail again and again, relying instead on images from kindhearted attendees.

[So heartbreaking! The stream crashes during the most important moment? Organizers, are you even trying?!]

[Some people seem to have won in their careers, but really, they’ve won in life. Meanwhile, I’ve lost… lost to bad internet that kicked me out early (crying face)]

[I just knew Chen Bai hesitated because he couldn’t decide whether to give his left hand or right hand. And yep, I was right! Classic Chen Bai (thumbs up)]

[It’s getting laggy here too; treasure the moment, I feel like this might go down soon too.]

On an otherwise ordinary, uneventful night, several major platforms crashed, leaving even photos from the scene hard to find.

Later that night, Chen Bai was picked up by his now fiancé—who had previously just been his boyfriend. Watching him get whisked away, Uncle Zhao let out a deep sigh, sensing that his job as the designated driver might be at risk.

Since it was late and the estate was far away, they returned to a closer neighborhood.

The new fiancé, also serving as the driver, drove down the road as Chen Bai sat in the passenger seat, holding a deep red bouquet. The other flowers he received from various sources that night were safely secured in the back seat, held in place by seat belts.

With the car window open, the night breeze blew in, lifting his tousled hair. Under the streetlights, Chen Bai raised his hand, looking at the small, glittering ring still resting on his finger. He asked, “What would you have done if I didn’t win tonight?”

Xu Sinian, already having taken off his suit jacket and rolled up his shirt sleeves, gripped the steering wheel with both hands. His expression unchanged, he replied, “Then I’d wait for the next time.”

The next time would be at least two years away. Chen Bai chuckled, “Good thing I pulled through.”

Xu Sinian didn’t argue, nodding in agreement with a faint smile on his lips.

He had already taken a nap during the awards ceremony, and now, though it was late, Chen Bai’s mind was still buzzing with energy. It was his first time planning a wedding, and though it was still far off, curiosity got the better of him. As they stopped at a red light, he began searching for “wedding planning tips for beginners” on his phone, saying, “We’re going to need a pretty big venue.”

They had a lot of friends, and after a rough count, the guest list was approaching triple digits.

The first result was an ad, boldly claiming: We guarantee that after your first wedding, you’ll want a second. It seemed very confident, and Chen Bai liked the sound of it. He was about to tap on it when Xu Sinian gently stopped his hand just in time.

Xu Sinian’s gaze lingered on the phrase ‘second wedding’, and this time, his brow twitched involuntarily. Softly, he said, “Let’s look at other options.”

One wedding is enough. Hopefully, there would never be a second.