Chapter 2: Replacing Your Life (2)

Ye Huan’s injuries were severe; three broken ribs, internal organ damage, a fractured leg, and a brain hemorrhage that had left him unconscious—surgery was needed immediately.

The hapless driver wept uncontrollably, his pleas directed at the doctors over and over again, “I beg you, doctor! Please save him!”

Tong Ling stood off to the side, silently wiping away her tears. Her slender frame seemed on the verge of collapsing at any moment…

m577 remained silent in the face of Tong Ling’s apparent devastation. It hadn’t forgotten how nimbly she had dodged the approaching vehicle during its initial charge. If not for the fact that the driver appeared genuinely innocent, m577 might have suspected they’d orchestrated this entire accident together!

“Please, try to remain calm,” said the white-coated doctor, accustomed to witnessing such scenes of anguish. “Who here is the patient’s family? The patient is unconscious, so we require a signature from a family member before proceeding with surgery.”

“I’m the patient’s girlfriend,” Tong Ling hastily responded. “May I sign?”

The doctor shook his head firmly. “I’m sorry, but no. This type of surgery requires signatures only from immediate family members. You must contact them right away.”

Tong Ling found herself caught in a dilemma. Ye Huan’s father was deceased, and contacting his mother was out of the question. Moreover, if Shen Man discovered that Tong Ling had been present when her son was injured in the crash… well, it would spell certain doom for her.

After much deliberation, Ye Xu emerged as the sole remaining candidate.

Tong Ling had swiped Ye Huan’s cell phone when she was first rushed to the ambulance, and he’d just finished combing through all its messages, calls, and chat logs.

The technological landscape of this small world paled in comparison to the U-A78 galaxy. Here, information security was about as robust as wet tissue paper. From Ye Huan’s phone, Tong Ling gleaned a wealth of valuable intelligence.

Ye Huan and Ye Xu maintained a frosty relationship; beyond exchanging contact details out of obligation, the two rarely interacted. Despite this lack of familiarity between them, Yu Yurou—the female protagonist—shared a deep connection with Ye Xu. Throughout the story, Ye Xu played the role of Yu Yurou’s guardian angel, materializing whenever she needed assistance—a devoted male supporting character par excellence.

Ye Xu’s love for Yu Yurou stemmed from a childhood redemption arc.

In his early years, Ye Xu held no claim to a wealthy heir’s legacy. As Ye Huan’s father’s illegitimate child, he found himself consigned to a local orphanage after his mother’s passing. His loner personality made him a pariah there. The orphanage director frequently berated him, while the other children went out of their way to torment him at every turn.

Just when Ye Xu was at his loneliest and most pitiful, Yu Yurou appeared. Perhaps it was the inevitability of such narratives—the female lead always seemed to encounter crucial characters at just the right moment. The young protagonist met Ye Xu, a runaway from an orphanage, during this chance encounter. She comforted the little boy and shared her candy with him.

It’s easy to add flowers to brocade; far more challenging is offering coal amidst snowfall. This act of kindness in his time of need left an indelible mark on Ye Xu’s heart. Years later, after being recognized by his wealthy family, he crossed paths with Yu Yurou again at a banquet. By then, she had become Ye Huan’s companion—the girl he loved now belonged to his brother.

Yu Yurou also recognized Ye Xu as the little boy she’d encountered in childhood. From that point forward, the two became confidants, sharing their deepest thoughts and secrets.

As Tong Ling finished recalling the storyline, a glint of intrigue sparkled in her eyes. Without hesitation, she used Ye Huan’s phone to dial Ye Xu’s number directly.

Ye Xu answered rather slowly; the call rang for over twenty seconds before anyone picked up.

“What can I help you with?” Ye Xu’s voice carried a distinctly businesslike tone upon answering. “Mr. Shen has already informed me that you’re unwilling to oversee the acquisition plan. I can take it over if needed.”

”…It’s me.”

Tong Ling’s imitation of Yu Yurou’s voice was spot-on; Ye Xu’s demeanor shifted almost instantly upon hearing it.

“Yurou?” The deep timbre of Ye Xu’s voice softened unconsciously at her name. But as soon as he realized that Yu Yurou must be calling from Ye Huan’s phone, his mood soured immediately. “Why are you using Ye Huan’s phone? Are you two together?”

Ye Xu had learned about Yu Yurou’s departure overseas even before Ye Huan did. He was well aware of why Shen Man had sent her away—his own amicable relationship with the precious daughter of his friend threatened their family dynamic. Regardless of whether Yu Yurou harbored ulterior motives, Shen Man would never allow her to remain by Ye Huan’s side.

Though not directly involved in orchestrating this separation, Ye Xu hadn’t objected due to his own self-interests. Given Shen Man’s decisive nature, she certainly wouldn’t permit any contact between Yu Yurou and Ye Huan. Though their parting was involuntary, time naturally eroded relationships over distance—and once enough time passed…he’d have his chance.

But now, for Yu Yurou to call him using Ye Huan’s phone—what could this mean? Had Yu Yurou secretly returned home against all odds?

Before Ye Xu could fully process these thoughts, a heart-wrenching sob echoed through the receiver—a sound that tore at one’s very soul.

“Ye Xu, I… I really don’t know what to do anymore…”

Ye Xu instinctively soothed her, his response well-practiced from past encounters. “Take it easy. What happened? Tell me slowly.”

In the past, Ye Xu had always played the role of problem-solver for Yu Yurou, and this time was no exception. To him, each instance where she sought his help only reinforced how deeply she relied on him—a dependence he didn’t mind in the slightest.

The woman’s voice, though tinged with tears, still carried its characteristic charm and sweetness. “What should we do, Ye Xu? Ye Huan—he’s been in a car accident. It’s all my fault! I shouldn’t have stayed behind; I should have gone abroad instead of secretly remaining here. This is entirely because of me!”

She never left the country after all? The news about her departure was false? And Shen Man’s people lost track of her somehow? A flurry of questions raced through Ye Xu’s mind before he managed to extract the crucial information from Yu Yurou’s jumbled words. “Is the injury severe?” he asked steadily. “Do you need me to come handle things?”

“I…” The woman sounded guilty and flustered. “They require a family member’s signature for the surgery, and I can’t find anyone else…”

Despite himself, Ye Xu’s lips curved slightly upward as he replied, his voice unwaveringly calm: “It’s alright. Send me the hospital address, and I’ll be there right away.”

”…Ye Xu,” she murmured softly, “thank you.”

He remained silent, offering no further words.

“Doctor, the family members will arrive shortly!” Tong Ling hastily relayed the message to the waiting physician and driver after hanging up the phone. Then, as if overwhelmed by stress, she said, “I need to use the restroom for a moment.”

Seeing her distraught state, the doctor sighed with concern, offering some words of comfort.

Tong Ling initially feigned slow steps, but once she was out of sight from the doctor’s view, she immediately bolted away from the hospital.

m577 had been quiet for a long time, but now it could no longer hold back its questions.

“Who said I want to escape?” At this moment, there wasn’t even a trace of distress on Tong Ling’s face. “I just need more time to prepare before Ye Xu arrives. As for Yu Yurou… there is an eight-hour difference between domestic and international time zones; right now, she should be deep in her beauty sleep.”

“By the time she wakes from this sleep, I’ll have everything arranged perfectly.”

Tong Ling sent Ye Xu the hospital address before hailing a taxi towards the nearest shopping mall.

Her purpose for visiting was simple: she needed to transform herself.

Earlier, pressed for time, her disguise had been rudimentary at best—despite possessing a face strikingly similar to Yu Yurou’s. Tong Ling’s professional pride wouldn’t allow her to venture out with such glaring imperfections. She must present an impeccable likeness.

With practiced efficiency, Tong Ling navigated through the mall. Guided by Yu Ling’s memories, she purchased several waterproof cosmetics from a high-end counter, selected a long dress that matched both the color of her current attire and Yu Yurou’s demeanor at a women’s clothing store, and finally acquired a pair of ordinary scissors from an accessories shop. In a public restroom, she stood before the mirror ready to reinvent herself.

The small scissors seemed to blur in motion as they danced through Tong Ling’s deft fingers. Within minutes, her hairstyle underwent a stunning transformation. Applying makeup proved slightly more challenging; it was her first encounter with cosmetics from this parallel world. After a momentary struggle to adapt, she quickly mastered their use. With skillful hands, she recreated Yu Yurou’s signature look—a deceptively innocent appearance that concealed depths of sorrow beneath its surface.

“Finally starting to look the part,” Tong Ling mused as she finished her transformation and examined herself closely in the mirror. “The tools here are truly rudimentary. Without bio-simulation chips or synthetic skin, I’ve had to make do with basic cosmetics just to approximate the features.”

Enough… thought m577, astonished by Tong Ling’s skill. I doubt even Yu Yurou’s own parents could spot the difference now. Had it not witnessed Tong Ling’s meticulous work firsthand, m577 might have believed that Yu Yurou herself had appeared before them. Yu Ling already bore a striking resemblance to Yu Yurou, but this time they were indistinguishable—surpassing even the likeness of identical twins.

Tong Ling, however, remained unsatisfied. “There’s nothing I can do about the body type for now; Yu Ling is simply too thin.”

Fortunately, she had an arsenal of excuses at her disposal to explain away this discrepancy. Claiming that depression led to weight loss would serve as a convincing alibi.

“Why go through all this trouble?” m577 ventured cautiously. “Why impersonate Yu Yurou? Is it to exact revenge on behalf of that ill-fated supporting character?”

“You ask too many questions,” Tong Ling said, putting away her tools with a dismissive snort at m577’s speculation. “There is only one reason I do this: because I feel like it. If something amuses me, I act on it. Don’t mistake me for some idiot overflowing with righteousness.”

Once again, m577 found itself bewildered, unable to comprehend Tong Ling’s actions. If she truly sought to replace Yu Yurou merely for amusement, then she was far too unpredictable. The robot would have preferred if she were seeking revenge for the ill-fated side character—at least that way, she’d still be somewhat rational…

No one paid heed to m577’s conflicted emotions. While its mind wandered in confusion, Tong Ling had already returned to the hospital.

Before arriving, she deliberately drenched herself in another downpour, then approached the surgery room like a specter drifting through the halls.

At the threshold of the operating theater stood Ye Xu—a man whose presence commanded attention from all who passed by.

He possessed an exceptionally handsome face, his brows arched with a hint of sharpness, and his obsidian eyes held unfathomable depths. Combined with the aura of cool detachment that surrounded him, he seemed both isolated from others and irresistibly captivating—an enigma unto himself.

Tong Ling’s appearance-obsessed nature instantly flared to life. Her gaze surreptitiously traced Ye Xu’s slender figure and lithe waistline, his appeal soaring from five points to a solid seven in an instant.

What a handsome tool he’d make! Tong Ling mused inwardly as tears glistened in her eyes and she gently bit her lip before rushing into Ye Xu’s arms.

“Ye Xu…” She wrapped her arms tightly around his slim waist, nestling against his firm chest as she whispered between soft sobs, “Thank goodness you’re here. I… I don’t know what I would’ve done without you…”

Ye Xu’s features immediately softened at this display of vulnerability. He tenderly enveloped the woman in his embrace and reassured her gently, “It’s alright now. Don’t be afraid; I’m here for you no matter what.”

Meanwhile, m577 glanced from the protagonist undergoing surgery inside the operating room to the embracing couple outside. It couldn’t help but imagine a green aura of jealousy emanating from the Male lead’s head…