Yan Jue was the male lead in the original storyline. Although he was a scumbag in romance, he wasn't a total scoundrel. Setting his romantic aspects aside, his character was passable. He wouldn't try to obtain things by force.
After receiving a call from Yan Jue, Jun Zishu headed downstairs. Then, she put on her sunglasses and mask before leaving the hospital through a side exit.
The car Yan Jue sent to fetch her was a low-key luxury car. However, Yan Jue himself wasn't inside the car.
After Jun Zishu got into the car, she was driven to a luxurious villa.
The house had an imposing look. In the past, it had succeeded in shocking the many budding celebrities that had visited it. However, it failed to achieve the same effect with Jun Zishu. After all, Jun Zishu had lived in much better houses before. So, after thanking the housekeeper, who had opened the door for her, she calmly stepped into the villa.
…
Yan Jue sat on a chair inside the study. He wore a suit that enhanced his handsome appearance, and his body exuded a domineering aura befitting of his status.
"I believe I have already mentioned my conditions to you, Miss Jun. If you agree to them, your mother will receive the best medical treatment available," Yan Jue said. When he saw Jun Zishu removing her sunglasses and mask, a trace of burning passion and nostalgia immediately appeared on his face.
Similar. They look very similar.
It's a pity that she only holds a resemblance to her. At the end of the day, she isn't her.
Even so, she will suffice as a substitute. She is even all-natural. This point alone is more than enough to put her above others. So long as I educate her well, she will become the perfect substitute.
Jun Zishu only needed to glance at Yan Jue to know what the other party was thinking. The man was most likely thinking something along the lines of turning her into a perfect replica of Yu Fanshu after acquiring her.
In the original storyline, Yan Jue had educated the original owner to a point where she had lost herself to love and knew nothing but rely on him. Meanwhile, a woman deeply in love had no sense of rationality, and she would only think of matching herself with her beloved's ideals.
"I'm sorry, but I cannot accept your terms."
Jun Zishu's answer surprised Yan Jue, and he couldn't help but wonder if he had misheard.
According to his investigation, Jun Zishu should be a woman he could manipulate easily. Moreover, Jun Zishu came from a single-parent family, and her mother was of great importance to her. Jun Zishu was also a filial daughter, so there was no way she would give up on such an opportunity. She shouldn't have any other options to save her mother based on her current circumstances.
"Why don't you take another look at the contract before deciding? Your mother's treatment cannot be delayed any longer, can it?" Yan Jue said as he pushed the mistress contract to Jun Zishu.
However, Jun Zishu only glanced briefly at the contract's cover before setting it aside.
"Do you find the terms I offered insufficient? So long as you agree, I can not only cure your mother's illness, but I can also send you to the top of the entertainment industry," Yan Jue said, adding a condition not stated in the contract.
Yan Jue had not spoken so much in the original storyline. After all, when Yan Jue presented the original owner with the opportunity to save her mother, the original owner was like a drowning woman grabbing onto the last straw. She panicked and sold herself to Yan Jue without even considering the consequences.
At that time, Yan Jue held the initiative in the negotiations, and he had told the original owner to prove whether she had the qualifications to become his mistress. In response, the original owner had stripped and served herself onto Yan Jue's bed, offering her first night to the scumbag.
It was a truly cheesy development.
However, now that Jun Zishu had appeared, she would have the story move in a different path.
"Of course, if I can send you to the top, I can naturally have you disappear as well," Yan Jue said with a smile.
Jun Zishu had an urge to punch Yan Jue when she saw the smile on the other party's face. Yan Jue might not have taken a forceful approach to acquire her, but he wasn't beneath using veiled threats.
Jun Zishu naturally knew that Yan Jue could easily end her career in the entertainment industry if he wanted. Since he had set his sights on her appearance, it was unlikely he would let her back off.
"Are you threatening me, Mr. Yan?"
"I just want you to recognize the reality of the situation."
After saying so, Yan Jue quietly sized up Jun Zishu. He noticed that the person before him was different from the person mentioned in the report he received. It didn't seem like he could control Jun Zishu as easily as he thought.
Jun Zishu did not look flustered at all. On the contrary, she behaved very calmly in front of him.
But where did this calmness originate from?
Yan Jue inwardly frowned.
Does she know the truth and intend to use it as a bargaining chip?
Yan Jue grew a little displeased. He disliked dealing with presumptuous and conceited people the most.
"But you're not the only avenue I can source money from, right?" Jun Zishu stated. Loans and crowdfunding were other options she could resort to for money.
After all was said and done, the original owner was still a celebrity. Even if she had terrible acting skills, she had never done anything particularly excessive throughout her career. If she mentioned her plight to others, it was still possible for her to borrow and raise the money needed to treat her mother.
"But I am obviously your best option," Yan Jue stated. Not only could he provide the money Jun Zishu needed immediately, but he even had the connections to let Jun Zishu's mother receive the best treatment available.
"I don't think so. There is no way selling one's body can be regarded as a quality solution."
"I thought you were a filial child."
"Growing up, my mother used to tell me that I need to be a righteous and dignified person. She told me it is better to stand and cry than to kneel and laugh," Jun Zishu responded blandly. These words didn't come from the original owner's mother but her real mother instead.
Her mother had told her that regardless of the predicaments she encountered, she needed to maintain her bottom line and pride no matter what. Her mother had told her to never submit, even when she was forced into a dead end. Otherwise, her losses would definitely exceed her gains.
"You'd rather keep your dignity than save your mother's life?"
"This isn't a matter of my dignity. I believe this is the basic bottom line of being a human being. If your mother fell seriously ill and a man or a woman offered to save your mother in exchange for your body, would you joyfully accept the offer, Mr. Yan?"
"But we are standing in different circumstances. I thought you came here intending to accept my offer."
"I only came here to refuse your kind intentions and then sincerely ask if you are willing to lend me some money, Mr. Yan. I promise to pay you back everything plus interest within three years. But if you're not willing to lend me the money, then I am sorry for disturbing you."
If she was only trying to borrow money, she could borrow it from anyone. The money didn't have to come from Yan Jue.
Unlike the original owner, Jun Zishu didn't need to undergo several years of training to make it big in the entertainment circle. After all, acting was already second nature to her.
Meanwhile, after hearing Jun Zishu's words, Yan Jue leaned forward and suddenly smiled. Then, he asked, "Where did you get the confidence to negotiate terms with me?"
"Naturally, I got it from you, Mr. Yan."
"Oh?"
"I trust in your character, Mr. Yan. As the saying goes, friendly relations between buyer and seller should exist even if they fail to clinch a deal. Even if I refuse your offer and fail to borrow money from you, it is unlikely that you will take any secretive actions to suppress me. After all, I am already at the bottom of the barrel in the entertainment industry," Jun Zishu said with a smile. Even if she found the person before her irksome, she had no choice but to smile and flatter him.
"You are unexpectedly skilled with words, Miss Jun."
"You overpraise me."
Before Jun Zishu arrived, Yan Jue had mentally defined her as an inferior version of Yu Fanshu. However, he changed his mind after seeing Jun Zishu's unyielding behavior.
Also, Yan Jue wasn't as kind as Jun Zishu described. He had fully intended on using coercion if Jun Zishu refused to accept his terms. Of course, he would do it indirectly instead of directly.
However, it would seem that this woman wasn't as dumb as he thought. If he tried to use such methods against her, she would probably see through them easily. At that time, rather than gratitude, she would only harbor feelings of resentment for him.
Although Yan Jue wanted to keep a canary by his side, he didn't want one that was coated in poison.
A person's temperament was something very important. It determined one appeared in the eyes of others.
Meanwhile, thanks to the temperament she displayed, Jun Zishu had successfully dragged herself out of the disadvantageous position she had originally been in. Yan Jue should've been the one with the initiative here originally. Yet, now, the initiative had fallen into her hands.
"I can naturally borrow you money, Miss Jun. But why should I lend you any? Give me a reason."
"It is because you are a kind man, Mr. Yan. Of course, it doesn't matter even if you don't lend me the money. There will naturally be other people willing to lend it to me. If worse comes to worst, I can also make a request to my company," Jun Zishu stated, clearly expressing her stance. She absolutely refused to become anyone's mistress.
Fortunately, the setting in this world was relatively normal. It wasn't so ludicrous as to make it so that the male lead held control over 99% of this world's businesses. While Yan Jue indeed possessed wealth and authority, he didn't hold an absolute monopoly over the various industries. In fact, he was more or less an outsider when it came to the entertainment industry. There were plenty more people with greater influence than him in the entertainment industry.
After thinking it over, if worse came to worst, Jun Zishu felt that she could even ask Little Fairy to help her cheat and buy the winning lottery ticket.
Oh, that's not a bad idea.
Immediately, Jun Zishu called out to Little Fairy in her mind and asked her about this option.
[It is redeemable using Fate Value.]
Fate Value?
[Think of it as a means of exchanging your future for present benefits. If you use your future to exchange for five million yuan right now, you might get into a car accident and break your legs in the future.]
Is it that serious?
[Fate works mysteriously. Depending on a person's luck, the same transaction might end with a person getting killed by a dog that fell from the sky.]
Do I get any privileges, then?
[I can lower the penalty from two broken legs to one broken leg and death to amnesia.]
Little Fairy stated proudly, giving Jun Zishu the urge to get rid of this system.
"I can agree to help you and ensure that your mother recovers from her illness. However, I will have you owe me a favor," Yan Jue said as he scrutinized Jun Zishu's face. He couldn't help it. Just looking at Jun Zishu's face compelled him to help her.
"Naturally. I will bear your kindness in mind, Mr. Yan."
"You seem different from how the internet describes you."
"There are bound to be differences between a person online and in reality. Also, growth is a natural part of life."
"But your growth seems a little too fast."
"When a person falls into a desperate situation, it is only natural that they grow quickly."
Yan Jue grew a little amused when he heard Jun Zishu's answer.
"Do you need me to write an IOU, Mr. Yan?"
"I trust you," Yan Jue said, shaking his head. Not to mention, there was nobody who'd dare to default on a loan from him.
"I will return the money to you, thank you."
After borrowing the money, Jun Zishu left the villa with a smile. At the same time, she had to admit that she had a wonderful face. Unlike Yu Fanshu's face, hers was a little sweeter, less charming, and more childish.
…
When Chenzi saw Jun Zishu returning to the hospital with her clothing in order, she secretly breathed out a sigh of relief. Then, she asked, "Have you borrowed the money, Big Sis Jun?"
"Mhm."
"Then…how are you going to pay it back?"
"By acting, of course."
"But we don't even have a single advertisement job right now…"
Chenzi wanted to cry but had no tears for it. With her Big Sis Jun's acting skills, it was best if her Big Sis Jun kept her mouth shut and played the role of eye candy. However, the problem now was that her Big Sis Jun didn't even have the opportunity to become eye candy.
Meanwhile, Jun Zishu knew that her popularity in the entertainment industry had been continuously dropping recently. So, she needed to do something to recover it.
"Everything will be fine."
So long as she could secure an advertisement offer, Jun Zishu was confident she could turn things around.
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