Chapter 16: Replacing Your Life (16)

Unable to prevent this stunning woman from banging on the door, Xu Zhao awkwardly stepped in front of her. “Miss Gu, please don’t go too far. If you continue like this, I’ll have no choice but to call security…”

“Security?” The woman, referred to as Miss Gu, flicked her long hair aside, her alluring face filled with anger. She shouted imperiously, “If you dare call security, I’ll tear down this entire company!”

“Wei Wei!” Lu Yue’s expression darkened instantly. Standing before his desk, he carefully shielded Tong Ling behind him. “What madness has gotten into you?!”

In the past, even when deeply annoyed, Lu Yue always maintained his composure and courtesy. He had never displayed such a cold demeanor in front of others.

The once formidable Wei Wei was taken aback by Lu Yue’s icy stance, freezing in place. “How…how could you treat me with such attitude…”

“This is?” Curious, Tong Ling peeked out from behind Lu Yue.

“Miss Wei Wei, the daughter of the Gu family. We were involved briefly a long time ago, but there’s been no connection between us for years.” Lu Yue didn’t want to lie to Tong Ling, nor did he feel the need to hide his past. Typically, he wouldn’t distance himself so bluntly, but he wished to avoid any misunderstandings with Tong Ling.

“Currently, there are no other women in my life.” After a moment’s thought, Lu Yue added, “And in the future, I won’t seek any mistresses again.”

“Whether you have mistresses or not is none of my concern,” Tong Ling dismissed with a wave of her hand. “There’s no need to explain yourself to me.”

Lu Yue fell silent, feeling somewhat suffocated despite knowing this woman didn’t care for him.

“Speaking of Wei Wei…” Tong Ling pushed aside Lu Yue, smiling broadly as she approached Wei Wei. “With Miss Gu being such a beautiful woman, it’s truly unfortunate that you don’t appreciate her allure.”

Before Lu Yue could fully comprehend the meaning behind Tong Ling’s words, everyone present saw her take Wei Wei’s hands, lean down, and gently kiss the back of them.

“Miss Gu, I am Yu Ling.” A faint blush appeared on Tong Ling’s fair cheeks. “May I inquire if I have the honor of inviting you for afternoon tea?”

Feeling the soft touch against her hand and meeting the intense gaze of the woman before her, Wei Wei was overwhelmed by an inexplicable sense of absurdity.

Isn’t this woman…Lu Yue’s fiancée? Why would his fiancée kiss her hand and invite her out on a date? Is it that she isn’t thinking clearly, or is there something wrong with this other woman?!

Not just Wei Wei, but Xu Zhao and Lu Yue were also stunned, rendered speechless by Tong Ling’s actions.

Xu Zhao sneakily glanced at Lu Yue, feeling for some reason that Mr. Lu’s head seemed slightly…green.

As likely the most informed system present, m577 quickly flipped through the plot, reviewing the description of Wei Wei’s character. After analyzing, it distilled several key terms: wealthy heiress, cannon fodder minor female character, brutally humiliated by the protagonist.

Unlike the host, who served as a substitute love interest, Wei Wei’s role only became significant after the protagonist Yu Yurou returned later in the story. As a spoiled heiress relentlessly pursuing Lu Yue, Wei Wei initially appeared as an overly arrogant and thoughtless minor character. Upon seeing Lu Yue’s noticeable interest in Yu Yurou, jealousy consumed her, leading her to repeatedly harass the protagonist at social events. She often mocked Yu Yurou’s perceived inadequacies, only to be consistently embarrassed and humiliated in return.

By that time, multiple suitors surrounded the protagonist, and Ye Huan had already become a highly influential figure in the business world. Fearful of his daughter causing trouble, Father Gu preemptively confined her at home without needing the male lead’s intervention. Consequently, she never reappeared in social circles again. Thus, this minor character’s ending wasn’t overly tragic.

Before encountering the protagonist, Wei Wei’s status and wealth allowed her to assert dominance almost anywhere. m577 believed the host would try to charm Wei Wei purely out of mutual understanding between cannon fodder female characters. However, the methods used for this seduction… were truly embarrassing!

“Miss Gu?” Seeing no reaction from Wei Wei, Tong Ling decided to dangle bait before her: “As long as you accompany me, I can lend you Lu Yue for a day. For each occasion you accompany me, you get him for one day - whether it’s for a date or anything else, your choice.”

Lu Yue stared, utterly bewildered. The shock on his face remained unchanged. “Lingling, what are you saying?”

He wondered if his ears malfunctioned, causing such auditory hallucinations!

Upon hearing Tong Ling’s proposition, Wei Wei’s hostility instantly vanished. Which fiancée would treat her fiancé as if he were merely a rental item? It seemed their relationship was not as loving and harmonious as portrayed outside.

With her animosity dissolved, Wei Wei found Tong Ling much more agreeable. She glanced at the dumbfounded Lu Yue standing nearby, recalling how just moments ago, he had spoken to her coldly. Now, the tables had turned; seeing Lu Yue taken aback, she couldn’t help but feel… incredibly pleased!

“Is what you’re saying true?” Wei Wei feigned disbelief. “Can Lu Yue really follow your instructions?”

“I never lie.” Tong Ling smiled warmly, linking arms with Wei Wei. “Weiwei, shall we go for afternoon tea?”

“Let’s do it!” Wei Wei promptly agreed, deciding that regardless of this woman Yu Ling’s intentions, any opportunity to separate the couple made the visit worthwhile.

“Mr. Lu, Weiwei and I will be heading out now. Remember to keep time free when Weiwei needs it,” Tong Ling said, then led Wei Wei firmly from the office without looking back.

Once the two women were far enough away, Xu Zhao cautiously asked, “Mr. Lu… Miss Yu, does she—does she prefer women…?”

“Impossible!” How could Lu Yue believe that a woman who had passionately kissed him moments ago would be interested in other women? Physical reactions don’t lie; if she truly preferred women, she wouldn’t touch men at all! But Tong Ling’s overly enthusiastic response towards Wei Wei…

After pondering, Lu Yue found only one plausible explanation.

“She likely doesn’t want Wei Wei to cause trouble within my company. This must be her way of helping me…”

Xu Zhao forced a smile, his lips twitching slightly. “Ha, ha, you’re right, Mr. Lu. It must be for that reason.”

“We need to enhance the company’s security measures. Take care of it.” Dismissing Xu Zhao, Lu Yue glanced at the messy desk and recalled the woman who claimed she could sell him out just like that. Unable to suppress his frustration, he slammed his fist on the table, exclaiming, “Yu Yurou, do you even have a heart?!”

After settling down at a tea restaurant with Tong Ling like any ordinary friends, Wei Wei’s interest in her reached its peak.

Wei Wei had several girlfriends around her, but none spoke as eloquently and genuinely as Tong Ling. If not for their unconventional initial meeting, she likely would have become fond of Tong Ling much earlier.

“You and Lu Yue are…” Wei Wei wasn’t truly naive; she recalled the scene she witnessed upon entering the office—Lu Yue’s protective stance towards Tong Ling and Tong Ling lying casually on his desk. It was clear that they had engaged in some intimate act prior. What puzzled her was how, despite being involved with Lu Yue, this woman could still push him away as if he were merely an object.

“The whole ‘fiancée’ thing is fake,” Tong Ling straightforwardly clarified her true status. “I’m actually a stand-in for Ye Huan’s girlfriend.”

“W-wait… Wait a moment.” Wei Wei was overwhelmed by the magnitude of information conveyed in those words. “What does this have to do with the eldest son from the Ye Family?”

When women indulge in gossip, their bond often strengthens rapidly.

As Wei Wei listened to Tong Ling’s story, her expression shifted from surprise to disgust and then to indignation. When she looked at Tong Ling again, there was a hint of sympathy in her gaze.

“How did you end up with such scum, asking you to impersonate your sister? And you actually agreed?” Wei Wei couldn’t comprehend why Tong Ling, who had let go of Lu Yue so resolutely, would consent to such unreasonable demands.

“I had no choice; I needed money,” Tong Ling said sorrowfully. “Ye Huan is indeed a scumbag, but the amount he paid me each month was real.”

“My situation differs from my sister’s. She grew up receiving immense affection, while I…I couldn’t even afford the dress I always wanted…”

“What do you need? I’ll buy it for you!” Wei Wei, unfamiliar with such poverty that someone would willingly become a stand-in just for money, couldn’t bear this injustice as a privileged young lady. “How much does he pay you? Don’t be his substitute anymore. From now on, stay by my side, and I’ll cover those expenses!”

Touched tears welled up in Tong Ling’s eyes as she clutched Wei Wei’s hand and sobbed softly, “Weiwei, I’ve never met a girl as kind and wonderful as you. I truly adore you!”

Wei Wei’s face flushed slightly, “From now on, you’ll be my little sister, no need for such formality.”

Tong Ling nodded repeatedly, understanding why she had wanted to befriend Wei Wei in the first place. As expected of the wealthy and influential young lady from the plot, she sounded like a rich benefactor craving food—signaling her willingness to indulge Tong Ling!

To fully gain Wei Wei’s trust, Tong Ling explained her situation with Lu Yue as well: “Ever since I became my sister’s stand-in, Lu Yue started clinging to me. Just like Ye Huan, he too is infatuated with my older sister.

“The more aloof and dismissive I act towards him, the happier he becomes. It’s because my sister is Ye Huan’s girlfriend, someone he can never have, that he treats me so specially.” Tong Ling sighed wistfully, adding, “Men, they’re all the same—once you show disinterest, they become even more obsessed with you.”

Wei Wei found Tong Ling’s words quite insightful. Her initial breakup with Lu Yue occurred precisely because he felt she was crossing boundaries; the more clingy she became, the colder he grew.

“Lu Yue is such a considerate man, yet you didn’t develop feelings for him?” Wei Wei asked, puzzled.

Before Tong Ling could respond, Wei Wei answered herself, “You’re just a substitute… Ahh… how can a substitute ever truly appreciate those heartless men?”

It was unclear what Wei Wei imagined, but her gaze towards Tong Ling now held more sympathy and affection.

“Come, let’s go shopping.” Wei Wei took Tong Ling’s hand, clearly disapproving of her plain work attire. “Why do you dress so drab? Is Lu Yue unwilling to even buy you decent clothes? No wonder he doesn’t treat his substitute with respect!”

[m577: […]]

Even m577 struggled to comprehend the thought processes of these cannon fodder characters…

After their shopping spree, Tong Ling, laden with luxury shopping bags, reluctantly bid farewell to Wei Wei.

m577 murmured, [I shouldn’t have expected any moral integrity from you, host. Deceiving the male leads and secondary characters is one thing, but not sparing even the minor female characters? It’s utterly disgraceful!]

Tong Ling snorted lightly, “Do you think I’m doing this for myself? No, it’s to fulfill the plot!”

“Now, to protect me from being mistreated, Ye Huan and others have kept my true identity tightly concealed. If no one knows I’m a substitute, how can I progress through the upcoming scenes of humiliation and ridicule?”

“Wei Wei can’t keep secrets; soon, her group of girlfriends will learn about Ye Huan having a stand-in. Once word spreads, the subsequent plot developments will fall into place. Don’t forget, after the hospital scene comes the banquet sequence.”

Instantly recalling the storyline, m577 asked, [The Song family’s banquet?]

“Yes, since Song Xingyi got accepted into Jing University, the Song family plans a grand celebration. At that time, lacking a proper companion, Ye Huan will bring me, his substitute, along…” Tong Ling placed a hand over her heart, “I diligently follow the plot, yet here you are, casting doubts on my actions. It truly disheartens me.”

[…] m577 muttered, [How come I find it so hard to believe you’ll stick to the normal progression…]