---

Chapter 24: A Stand-in Is Just a Stand-in

The night was dark, with only a faint sliver of moonlight filtering through the sheer curtains.

Tan Qishen hadn’t closed his eyes, and neither had Yan Man.

The words exchanged earlier between Jiang Linjin and He Cheng kept echoing in Tan Qishen’s mind.

Yan Man, on the other hand, was pondering over Tan Qishen’s strange behavior—how had one short outing changed him so much?

A faint sense of guilt stirred in her heart.

She would’ve preferred Tan Qishen to remain indifferent to her—at least that way she could continue lying to herself.

Yan Man slightly tilted her head, and suddenly their eyes met—his deep, dark gaze locked onto hers.

Tan Qishen’s eyes were straightforward yet penetrating, as though he could see right through her. Yan Man instinctively looked away, but in the next second, he lifted her chin back up.

His warm fingertips brushed over her lips, and the moment their eyes met again, he lowered his head and kissed her.

Yan Man responded instinctively, her palms resting on his shoulders, but he skillfully stole her breath away.

She melted like water in his arms, completely undone.

Just as things were about to go too far, she suddenly opened her eyes, pulled back an inch, rested her head on his shoulder, and said breathlessly, “We can’t.”

The doctor had advised that it wasn’t safe for a few days.

Tan Qishen let out a low laugh, gently caressing the smooth skin of her back. His voice hoarse, “I didn’t plan to do anything.”

Yan Man chuckled softly against his shoulder, when she suddenly heard him whisper in a low, deep voice by her ear, “Yan Man, haven’t I treated you well?”

That’s what Jiang Linjin and He Cheng had said, too.

Tan Qishen was starting to doubt himself.

In the darkness, Yan Man’s mind gradually cleared. She cleared her throat and replied, “…No, why would you ask that?”

That’s what she said aloud, but in her heart, she recalled all the drama over the past year: Tan Qishen’s double standards—one face in bed, another out of it. Ignoring her messages for days, even blocking her completely at times.

Anyone would say Tan Qishen wasn’t treating her well.

But as long as he had that face, and as long as she hadn’t gotten bored yet, all of that was still within her tolerance.

Hearing her denial, Tan Qishen suddenly felt a sense of ease.

This was how he and Yan Man interacted—outsiders couldn’t possibly understand.

No matter what he did, she wouldn’t leave him.

Tan Qishen reached out, brushing her hair back behind her ear, his thumb gently rubbing her earlobe. “It’s fine. Sleep.”

Yan Man gave a soft “mm,” and soon, her slow, steady breathing filled the room.

Tan Qishen gently patted her back.

He thought, if life could go on like this forever, it wouldn’t be so bad.

---

The Next Morning

At dawn, the sky just beginning to lighten, Tan Qishen was awakened early by a call from Uncle Nan.

Uncle Nan came upstairs to tell him that Madam Wan had come from the old house.

Since he had started living alone, Wan Heng had rarely visited—her appearances could be counted on one hand.

Though surprised, Tan Qishen still got up to greet her.

Yan Man was still sleeping soundly, so he carefully moved her arms and legs off of him, not waking her.

Downstairs, the maid had already let Wan Heng in. Her sharp eyes immediately spotted the women’s boots and coat by the entrance—not her son’s.

They were already living together?!

Suppressing her shock and confusion, Wan Heng walked into the living room in a daze and saw Tan Qishen walking down the stairs in a gray robe.

“Mom, why are you here so early?” he greeted her calmly.

Wan Heng instinctively glanced up at the second floor, but saw no one.

The maid brought her a hot cup of tea to ward off the chill, but she had no appetite for it. Sitting on the sofa, her expression turned serious.

“Tell me the truth—why did you go to the gynecology department the other day?”

Her voice trembled a little as she asked. She had held it in all day yesterday and hadn’t slept a wink last night. This morning, she could no longer bear it—she had to know.

She stared at Tan Qishen’s face, terrified he might say something like pregnancy or abortion.

“How did you know about that?”

Tan Qishen frowned. The hospital was filled with his people—who had told her?

Seeing him dodge the question, Wan Heng felt even more certain of her suspicions. Her head spun as she gripped the sofa arm tightly, forcing herself not to faint. “Did you really… get someone pregnant before marriage?”

Tan Qishen’s eyes shot open, narrowing in disbelief. “What are you talking about?”

Seeing that she still looked doubtful, he explained, “She was sick. That’s why we went to the hospital—not what you’re thinking.”

Wan Heng’s breathing eased slightly, though her expression was still unsure. “You’re not lying to me?”

Tan Qishen’s voice grew faintly impatient. “If you don’t believe me, check the hospital records yourself.”

Seeing his serious face, Wan Heng finally relaxed and clutched her chest. “You scared me half to death.”

If he had really gotten someone pregnant out of wedlock, the Tan family would’ve been shamed—and more importantly, it would’ve been deeply unfair to the girl.

Tan Qishen handed her the tea. “You scared yourself.”

Wan Heng cast a subtle glance upstairs. “Where’s your girlfriend?”

Her gaze turned sharp—clear and piercing, like the trained look she’d had from her days in Yue opera. When she was serious, she looked genuinely intimidating.

Tan Qishen lowered his eyes, sipping his tea slowly. “You’ll meet her someday.”

Wan Heng understood the unspoken meaning.

Someday—but not today.

---

The heavy velvet curtains kept out all light, and the bedroom was still cloaked in darkness. Yan Man slowly opened her eyes and belatedly remembered that she was at Tan Qishen’s house.

She instinctively reached for the other side of the bed—unsurprisingly, it was empty again.

Yan Man got up and walked out of the bedroom. After a few steps, she heard Tan Qishen talking with his mother downstairs.

She immediately recognized Wan Heng’s voice—they had spoken briefly a few nights ago at the private room.

—”Where’s your girlfriend?”
—”You’ll meet her someday.”

Yan Man froze mid-step, disbelief flickering across her face.

Tan Qishen wanted to introduce her to his family?

But hadn’t he said they’d break up after the agreement ended? Just a few more months—what was the point of meeting the family?

The voices floated up again.

Wan Heng sighed. “Do whatever you want.”

Then her tone suddenly turned strict. “But not just anyone can be the Tan family’s young madam. I can tolerate you dating some model or actress for now, but that doesn’t mean I’ll accept her as part of the Tan family.”

Wan Heng had once been half-in the entertainment industry herself. She knew how deep and dirty it could be, how easily people lost themselves in power and fame. She didn’t know her son’s girlfriend’s character or values and wasn’t willing to take the risk just to indulge him.

The Tan family had always been a distinguished, clean-cut family. Their background was political, and character assessments were especially strict. Family background aside, morality came first.

Yan Man stood silently on the second floor, hand gripping the railing, her figure hidden from view—but she heard every word Wan Heng had said.

And yet, she didn’t care.

Whatever the standards were to become the Tan family’s daughter-in-law, she wouldn’t be the one meeting them anyway.

Only one thought filled her mind now:

Break up with Tan Qishen before he introduces her to his family.

A stand-in is just a stand-in.

No matter how much she tried to lie to herself, it would never change.

---