Chapter 15: Replacing Your Life (15)

Lu Yue stood at the entrance to the general manager’s office and knocked on the door.

After receiving the “come in” acknowledgment, he unconsciously adjusted his appearance before pushing open the door and entering.

Upon stepping into the office, Lu Yue’s attention was immediately drawn to Tong Ling sitting in the executive chair.

Contrasting sharply with her previous image, she wore professional attire, her long black hair meticulously styled up, leaving only a few loose strands framing her fair cheeks. Her seated posture was incredibly graceful, revealing a swan-like neck as she slightly lifted her head.

In that moment, she appeared as a serene and elegant beauty. Even without saying a word, there was an irresistible urge to please her.

Lu Yue began to understand why his secretary and others in the company were so easily deceived by her presence.

Such a woman indeed did not seem like any ordinary employee; the role of an engaged fiancée suited her far better.

With this thought, Lu Yue couldn’t help but smile, “It seems my fiancée is quite comfortable here.”

“What fiancée?” Tong Ling feigned confusion, her expression stern as she replied, “There’s no fiancée here. Don’t make things up.”

“You’ve taken advantage of me and don’t want to take responsibility?” Lu Yue scanned the office space. “You replaced the sofa, created a break room with a refrigerator and TV, and even brought gaming equipment here. Who else but my fiancée would dare transform a workplace like this?”

“Additionally, the coffee on your desk was brewed by my secretary for you, and the cake was purchased by my secretary for you,” Lu Yue continued, recalling how each day Xu Zhao meticulously prepared Tong Ling’s menu. Even he, as the CEO, wasn’t as particular about his meals. “Whenever you desire, there’s always fresh fruit and snacks available… All these comforts—who provided them?”

Tong Ling tilted her head. “It’s all thanks to Secretary Xu. He truly is such a great guy!”

Lu Yue nearly burst out laughing from anger. “These were clearly given by me. Why are you crediting someone else?”

This comment didn’t sit well with Tong Ling. “Mr. Lu, stop patting yourself on the back. It was Secretary Xu who welcomed me, and the current treatment I receive is due to my own efforts. As for you…”

Tong Ling rested her chin on one hand and pursed her lips, saying, “Apart from being just a background figure, what else have you done? Upon returning, you didn’t even offer an apology; instead, your first thought was to claim someone else’s accomplishments. Isn’t that shameful?”

Lu Yue had never been treated with such disdain before, leading to a mix of emotions within him.

“I regret not personally welcoming you myself,” Lu Yue sighed deeply, then walked over to Tong Ling’s desk and sincerely apologized, “I’m sorry. I apologize for my failure to keep our appointment. Can you forgive me?”

His expression was earnest, and his admission of fault was impeccable. Indeed, Lu Yue possessed high emotional intelligence, knowing exactly how to soften a woman’s heart.

“If I had welcomed you, I would have certainly done better than Secretary Xu,” Lu Yue said gravely. “I wish it were me taking care of you, rather than any other man. In front of you, I too can feel jealous of others.”

With those gentle, affectionate peach blossom eyes, Lu Yue gazed at the woman before him. “So, please focus more on me and don’t think about other men, alright?”

Tong Ling, momentarily swayed by Lu Yue’s charm offensive, lifted her hand to gently touch his cheek. “Is this an apology or a confession?”

“If you accept it as an apology, then it’s an apology; if you see it as a confession, then it’s a confession.” Lu Yue leaned forward, took Tong Ling’s hand, and gently placed it against his cheek once more. “Regardless of your choice, I will respect it.”

Tong Ling raised her eyebrow slightly. “And what if I don’t accept either?”

“That would only mean I haven’t done enough yet. I’ll strive to prove to you that I’m no less worthy than any other man.” As Lu Yue spoke these words, his eyes sparkled with intense confidence.

Coming from such a charismatic, handsome, and self-assured man, this declaration was truly captivating.

Tong Ling’s hand on Lu Yue’s face slowly slid downward, softly caressing his neck and throat before gripping his tie. She pulled him closer, bringing Lu Yue’s lowered head towards her.

“Lu Yue, you know I am Ye Huan’s girlfriend,” Tong Ling said, winding her fingers around his tie while her gaze scanned his face. “Are you trying to steal me away from Ye Huan?”

“Do you think being a girlfriend unacknowledged by the Ye Family is preferable to becoming the future matriarch of the Lu Family?” Lu Yue rested both hands on the desk, allowing Tong Ling to tug at his tie. Her teasing touch moments ago had ignited a fiery passion in his eyes.

Only a table separated them, their warm breaths intermingling.

“The Lu Family is impressive, but you… aren’t obedient enough.” Tong Ling’s lips curved as she began enumerating Ye Huan’s virtues. “Although Ye Huan may seem quite useless now, his eyes only hold me. He doesn’t keep anything from me, showing both trust and affection. I don’t need the Ye Family’s formal recognition; once Ye Huan inherits their assets, I’ll naturally be acknowledged as their future daughter-in-law.”

“Tell me, should I choose someone elusive or someone who obediently plays along?” Tong Ling leaned close to Lu Yue’s ear, chuckling softly. “Mr. Lu, being such a clever man, surely you know which choice to make?”

Tong Ling openly revealed Yu Yurou’s ambitions to Lu Yue without any hint of concealment. Her gaze towards him was akin to looking at a beautifully packaged yet tainted piece of pork, ultimately pushing him away with regret.

Lu Yue had long known what kind of woman Yu Yurou was. When she acted coy and pretended sophistication around several men, he merely saw her as a source of amusement. The only thing that set her apart from other women was her adeptness at manipulation and understanding how to cater to men’s desires.

Her ambition was concealed beneath her innocent smile. While sensing its falsity, Lu Yue couldn’t help but wonder just how far she would go. Thus, he observed and approached her, believing at the time that this woman wouldn’t have any significant impact on him, as he had already seen through her.

What Lu Yue didn’t anticipate was that everything changed once Tong Ling decided to stay within China.

She had surprised him enough times that he even considered establishing a committed relationship with her, wanting her to become his fiancée. However, in the end, he received a merciless rejection.

Lu Yue should have felt angry and frustrated, but gazing upon the ambitious woman before him, all he experienced was a stirring of desire.

He finally realized that she was someone entirely beyond his control.

The tie loosened by Tong Ling hung loosely around Lu Yue’s neck. Feeling slightly suffocated, he undid the top button of his collar and looked at Tong Ling, whose expression remained unchanged. With a mix of resignation and melancholy, he smiled bitterly, “You’ve got me caught.”

“Really?” Tong Ling leaned lazily against the table, her demeanor dismissive as she said, “I don’t believe it.”

Just as Lu Yue was about to open up about his feelings, Tong Ling swiftly interrupted, “When I say I don’t believe it, it’s not about doubting your emotions; rather, I can’t trust someone like you to settle for stability.”

Tong Ling gave him a fleeting glance and dismissively said, “Don’t tell me you’re deeply devoted and unchanging; we both know how false those words sound. How long will your interest in me last? A month, a year, ten years?”

“Rather than letting our relationship become strained, it’s better to maintain the current status quo. Isn’t being my close friend preferable?” Tong Ling spoke sincerely. “As a friend, I genuinely like you very much.”

Lu Yue seemed almost convinced but still tried to resist, “Everyone at the company believes you’re my fiancée.”

“That’s their perception; what does it matter to us?” Tong Ling shrugged. “If it ever reaches Ye Huan’s ears in the future, just help explain the situation.”

“Are you serious, expecting all benefits without any commitment!” Lu Yue shook off his disappointment, his face once again adopting that captivating smile. “What’s in it for me if I assist you?”

Tong Ling beckoned Lu Yue closer.

With curiosity, Lu Yue walked up to her. “What is it? You want…”

Before he could finish his question, a gentle kiss landed on his lips.

Tong Ling wrapped her arms around Lu Yue’s neck and tilted her head back with a sweet smile, “Is this enough?”

Lu Yue’s breathing instantly became heavier as he stared intensely at this seductive woman. With a dark gaze, he reached out, firmly embraced her slender waist, and lifted her from the chair onto the office desk. “Is this appropriate between friends?”

Dressed in professional attire, Tong Ling’s skirt barely reached mid-thigh. As soon as she felt the cold surface of the desk, she couldn’t help but shiver. “Put me down quickly, it’s a bit chilly.”

“You can hold onto me,” Lu Yue said while sweeping aside the documents on the desk. He cradled the back of Tong Ling’s head, leaned forward to kiss her, and added, “And you can wrap your legs around me too.”

“Bra-” Before she could finish saying ‘brazen’, Lu Yue’s kiss deepened.

His kisses were gentle and meticulous, infused with complete devotion and adoration. The scent of juniper berries mixed with his warm breath enveloped Tong Ling, causing her to tremble slightly as she touched his fervent chest. She closed her eyes, lashes fluttering softly.

The kiss felt incredibly good; Lu Yue’s technique was virtually flawless. Tong Ling wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, fully enjoying this intimate embrace.

Similarly engrossed in the perfectly synchronized kiss, Lu Yue’s heart raced so intensely that he completely tuned out all surrounding sounds.

It wasn’t until a loud banging on the door echoed that they both snapped back to reality from their amorous haze.

“Bang—!”

The door burst open forcefully. Before Tong Ling could even sit up from the redwood table, she saw a stunning woman with a curvaceous figure and striking features rush inside.

As soon as the glamorous woman with flowing wavy hair took in the scene before her, she erupted in fury, screaming, “Lu Yue! You’ve been hiding from me just for this woman? Unmarried wife? Didn’t you say you’d never get married in your lifetime? How can you have an fiancée?! Why?”