The Perils of Impersonation

“This, this, this… You want me to lip-sync!?”

Xiu Lan rose abruptly, unable to conceal the astonishment and bewilderment on her face.

The plan Mu Yan had proposed was simply too outrageous.

Though she considered her own moral compass to be somewhat lenient, a deep-seated aversion still rose within her against such ignoble and base methods.

“Not only that, but all your dialogue on stage will be handled by someone else.”

“Little Xiu Lan merely needs to show her face, wave her hand, and act as a pretty ornament on stage.”

“Rest assured, I will prepare sufficiently discreet equipment beforehand, guaranteeing that even a complete novice like you can masquerade as a seasoned, battle-hardened singer.”

Mu Yan replied calmly, addressing her team member’s concerns.

It was evident from her tone that this spiel was one she had long since mastered.

“I’m not worried about that,” Xiu Lan countered.

“My concern is whether this is truly acceptable.”

Human nature often seeks compromise, and Xiu Lan was no exception.

When Mu Yan suggested she lip-sync, Xiu Lan found herself thinking that perhaps exploring an alternative approach wouldn’t be so bad after all.

“About that… I actually wanted to learn how to sing, so perhaps you could spare some time to teach—”

Mu Yan cut her off.

“There’s no need. Our time is extremely tight; we need to get you on stage as quickly as possible, and this is the most feasible method.”

“What if I get discovered?” Xiu Lan asked, her dissatisfaction clear.

“Wouldn’t you be even happier then?”

“Huh?”

Mu Yan took Xiu Lan’s hand, looking directly into the girl’s bewildered eyes.

“If you’re exposed, wouldn’t your idol career simply graduate early?”

“Our contract would also terminate at that point.”

“So, relax. Whether it’s a success or a failure, it makes no difference to you.”

Feeling a pang of guilt under that intense gaze, Xiu Lan slapped Mu Yan’s hand away.

“What kind of person do you take me for?” she said, displeased.

“I would never resort to underhanded tricks.”

She then deliberately raised her voice.

“I am utterly professional and true to my word. Since I’ve agreed, I will absolutely take this seriously.”

‘Damn it, there’s actually a method like this? Why didn’t I think of it?’

“Alright, alright… Of course I believe you.”

“After all, little Xiu Lan is beautiful and kind-hearted, practically an angel sent down by the Sage (TL Note: A mythical figure or deity known for wisdom and benevolence, often associated with a guiding or divine presence).”

Mu Yan’s torrent of nonsense brought a faint blush to Xiu Lan’s face.

Mu Yan walked over to a cabinet and pulled out a purple makeup box, its surface intricately carved with the flowing logo of a famous brand.

“So then… to celebrate the lovely and beautiful Miss Xiu Lan officially joining us, how about I, as your manager, give you a professional beauty makeover?”

“Huh? Who’s cute?”

Xiu Lan puffed out her cheeks.

As a ‘fierce man,’ she detested such adjectives typically used to describe little girls.

Ignoring Xiu Lan’s resistance, Mu Yan approached her, holding an eyebrow pencil.

With her left hand, she gently pinched Xiu Lan’s chin, while her right hand began to draw on her face.

“Wait, I haven’t agreed yet! Don’t touch me indiscriminately! Get your hands off my face, you pervert!”

“Quiet down, don’t move. This line is getting crooked again.”

“Gurgle gurgle…”

“Ta-da!”

Mimicking the sound effect of an actor’s grand entrance, Mu Yan pushed a mirror forward.

Xiu Lan gazed blankly at the reflection of the grey-haired girl.

With poised demeanor and graceful elegance, she resembled a tranquil lily.

It was the same person, yet it evoked a strange sense of unreality within Xiu Lan.

‘Is this really… me?’

Touching the mirror, Xiu Lan lightly pinched her own cheek.

‘I can feel it.’

‘Yes, it’s definitely me.’

Mu Yan surveyed her handiwork with satisfaction.

“Truly, you’re a perfect match for Vanguard,” she mused.

“It would be difficult to make you look ugly even if I tried.”

“However, with my disguise, no one on the street should mistake you for that hero anymore.”

“But there’s still one major problem…”

“What problem?” Xiu Lan asked curiously.

She was currently comparing her own appearance to Vanguard’s.

If they had initially been a 10 out of 10 in similarity, now it was perhaps a 7 or 8.

Coupled with their completely distinct temperaments, passersby would, at most, take her for a Vanguard imitator… right?

Noticing that her topic had captured the grey-haired girl’s attention, Mu Yan’s lips curved into a delighted smile.

She spoke with an exaggerated tone.

“I’m genuinely worried, you know.”

“Such a beautiful and adorable little girl walking on the street—what if someone throws a sack over her and carries her away?”

“After all, she’s so fragile and helpless, utterly without any ability to resist.”

The room instantly fell silent.

One could even hear someone’s heavy breathing.

“Aaaah! Go die, die, die!”

Xiu Lan launched an exasperated attack, pounding the woman’s chest repeatedly.

Her face was flushed with the embarrassment of being teased.

“Ow, that hurts! Wow, such strength!”

Mu Yan feigned pain, but Xiu Lan’s feeble punches felt more like a massage to her.

Delivering another heavy punch to Mu Yan, Xiu Lan rose to her feet.

“Hmph, I’m going home,” she declared.

“You old woman can stay here by yourself.”

“Alright, alright.”

Mu Yan responded lazily from the sofa.

“Go on, go on. Today counts as a day’s pay for you.”

“However, starting tomorrow, you’ll need to come here daily for training, to familiarize yourself with the environment and procedures.”

“Considering you’re a student, you can arrange your own time. Just request leave in advance if something comes up.”

“You don’t actually think I’ll come back, do you?”

Pushing open the door, Xiu Lan’s courage seemed to swell.

She spoke with a sarcastic, mocking tone.

“I would never work with a fraudster like you.”

“Unless you dress up as… a maid to beg me, like those maids on TV, who call me ‘Master’ the moment they see me.”

As she spoke, a faint blush again crept onto the grey-haired girl’s face.

She placed two fingers to her mouth, made a playful grimace at the woman in the room, and then darted away.

Only Mu Yan remained, her chest rising and falling, not from anger, but from…

“Pfft, hahahaha! How does this child manage to be so adorable? I’m done for, I can’t take it anymore, hahahaha… heheheh.”

After laughing for a long while, the woman’s expression gradually sobered.

She pulled out her phone, opened her contacts, and dialed a number with a trembling hand.

‘As long as… as long as I make good use of this child…’

‘Regardless of her connection to Vanguard, since she’s so fortunately arrived here…’

–Hello, this is…

–It’s me, Mu Yan.

The voice on the other end quieted.

–I’m in Dongchuan (TL Note: A fictional city or district name, likely a major urban area).

–Can we meet? Don’t be in a hurry to refuse; I believe you’ll come.

She had made the call on her own accord, and then hung up just as unilaterally; she was always so willful.

Setting down her phone, Mu Yan walked to the window and quietly watched the grey-haired girl emerge from the office building.

Despite her disguise, Xiu Lan was still wrapped in that strangely colorful, mismatched outfit.

Without realizing it, Mu Yan placed her right hand over her heart.

‘Will you be my hope?’

****

“Snap, snap, snap.”

After taking several consecutive photos, the man retreated once more into the corner of the stairwell.

The deep shadow enveloped him, obscuring his face from view.

[This is the target. Please ensure she no longer appears here.]

He sent out the photos.

[Understood, but this is a one-time exception.]

The other party’s reply was brief.

After a moment’s thought, the man added another message.

[This matter is critical. Please handle it as quickly as possible.]

[…Understood.]

‘My apologies,’ he thought.

‘Though you are innocent, since you’ve been entangled in this, I’ll have to ask you to exit the stage as quickly as possible.’

A momentary flash of killing intent emanated from the man.

He then donned a gentle smile once more and stepped out of the shadows.

****

“Hello? Is anyone home?”

Villy pressed the doorbell, calling out to the residents, but only silence answered her.

Rosa’s face was etched with worry.

“Nothing serious has happened, has it?”

After confining Tina at home under the guise of punishment, Rosa had brought Villy to Liu Yu’s registered address.

To their surprise, however, they were met with a locked door.

“It shouldn’t be…”

Villy anxiously rubbed her brow.

According to Yao Jing, Xiu Lan’s strength was formidable enough for her to roam freely throughout the city.

With the protection of the ‘Shadows,’ even if she were to sleep in the middle of the road, other vehicles would have to drive around her.

Could she have encountered an insurmountable foe?

At this thought, Villy logged onto the Disaster Management Department’s announcement website.

Aside from yesterday’s rat plague being classified as residual mutant activity, there were no new announcements; it was, by all accounts, calm.

‘Surely, she couldn’t have been abducted by human traffickers… could she?’

Villy’s expression shifted; there was indeed a strong possibility.

Xiu Lan’s mental state fluctuated wildly, making it entirely plausible she could be lured away by a simple lollipop.

Seeing Villy’s anxious demeanor, Rosa spoke up.

“How about this: I’ll go to the police station and inquire if any incidents have occurred nearby.”

“Do you want to come with me?”

Remaining here served no purpose.

Just as Villy was about to agree, she suddenly spotted a furtive figure at the stairwell.

She quickly changed her mind.

“You’ll be fine by yourself over there.”

“I’ll search around the vicinity to see if I can find any clues.”

“Alright, I’ll go check then. Contact me directly if anything comes up.”

After Rosa departed, Villy did not leave immediately.

She lingered for a moment, her voice echoing in the quiet stairwell as she murmured to herself.

“In that case, I’ll go to Senior Yao Jing’s place first. Perhaps he might have some news.”

With that, she exited the stairwell.

Not long after, a sneaky, furtive figure emerged from the shadows.

They quickly ascended the stairs, fumbling for keys to open the door while grumbling.

“Honestly, I was just out playing for a bit, and a whole group of people are already blocking my doorstep…”

“Hey, hey.”

The voice from behind made her body stiffen.

She slowly turned her head, and a familiar face appeared in her line of sight.

“…Y-y-your good self, no wonder I couldn’t open the door. It turns out I made a mistake. Is this your house? I’ll leave immediately.”

Feigning a glance at the house number, she reached out to pull the key free, but a strong hand clasped around hers.

“Is there… anything else, Miss?”

“Click.”

The hand, still holding hers, twisted the doorknob open.

Xiu Lan looked at Villy, wide-eyed and flustered, her gaze filled with a mixture of amusement and barely suppressed fury.

“Miss Thief, could you tell me where you got that key?”