Chapter 24: Replacing Your Life (24)

Lu Yue’s body was indeed strikingly attractive, devoid of any excess fat and displaying well-defined, toned muscles. Clearly, he had maintained his physique excellently through exercise, providing ample capital for his playboy image.

Tong Ling never hesitated to express her admiration openly, and naturally, she didn’t hold back on praising Lu Yue. Her compliments always hit the mark; even someone like Lu Yue, accustomed to endless flattery from countless women, couldn’t help but feel inexplicably excited when praised by the woman he liked.

It demonstrated how words of appreciation can sound entirely different depending on who utters them, reflecting Lu Yue’s own double standards in this regard.

In matters of taste and appreciation, the two seemed remarkably compatible, sharing similar interests.

Unlike inexperienced individuals, Lu Yue required no guidance from Tong Ling. He prioritized her feelings above all else, coupled with their harmonious understanding, which led them to spend quite some indulgent time together.

After their conversation, Tong Ling lazily sat on the soft couch within the room, retrieving a cherished bottle of red wine from Ye Huan’s wine cabinet. As she savored the wine, she watched Lu Yue tidy up the space.

“Must you make me do this?” Given Lu Yue’s experience, he shouldn’t have blushed so easily. However, under Tong Ling’s intense gaze and her request to tidy up the room in front of her, his sense of embarrassment surged uncontrollably.

Tong Ling rested her legs comfortably, holding the wine glass before her eyes. Through the red liquid, she admired Lu Yue’s physique with a faint smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “Isn’t it wonderful? Beautiful things ought to be showcased.”

Under Tong Ling’s scrutiny, Lu Yue’s heart skipped another beat. He quickly approached her, his tone half-sweet and half-exasperated, “We’ve been talking for quite some time now. Isn’t that enough?”

As he spoke, Lu Yue attempted to lift Tong Ling into his arms, but she gently resisted, curling her finger to indicate he should lower his head.

Lu Yue complied, bending down as Tong Ling suggested.

“Your face is quite lovely too,” Tong Ling said mischievously. “Close your eyes.”

She dipped her fingers into the wine and lightly traced them across Lu Yue’s face.

Lu Yue unconsciously closed his eyes, feeling a moist sensation on his cheek. His eyelashes fluttered involuntarily, softened by the gentle touch. Eventually, he placed both hands beside Tong Ling, kneeling almost dreamily in front of her, even his breathing slowing down.

As Tong Ling moved away, Lu Yue was momentarily dazed.

He only felt a gentle tap on his cheek and heard her voice, sweet with amusement, “There you go, your reward. Now tidy up the room properly.”

Lu Yue opened his eyes to see Tong Ling gracefully walking past him, slender fingers covering her mouth as she yawned slightly, looking somewhat weary.

Staring blankly at her departing figure, deep infatuation shone in Lu Yue’s eyes. Realizing his disheveled state facing Tong Ling, he couldn’t help but feel frustrated for not maintaining his composure better.

Swiftly, he cleaned up every trace of his presence in the room. When he noticed the unfinished glass of red wine Tong Ling had left on the table, he picked it up and tenderly pressed his lips against the spot where hers had been, filled with affection.

Meanwhile, back in her room, Tong Ling felt something was amiss as she prepared to rest.

After pondering, she suddenly realized what was off. Mentally tapping the system, she asked, “Little M, is everything okay? Haven’t you been unusually quiet today?”

During her previous game with Song Xingyi, the system had been quite noisy, so why was it completely silent now with Lu Yue?

“Could it be malfunctioning?” Tong Ling murmured.

“Could it be malfunctioning?” Tong Ling muttered.

Suddenly, m-577 responded: [I’m perfectly fine!]

“Oh, that’s good. You being so quiet is quite unusual for me.”

m-577 chuckled sarcastically: [Thank you for remembering me. I’d be even happier if you could abandon these entertainments!]

[My heart has already been tainted], m-577 radiated a Zen-like aura, [Perhaps there will be no more joy or sorrow in this lifetime.]

Accompanied by the system’s cryptic voice, Tong Ling drifted comfortably into sleep.

The next morning, as soon as Tong Ling stepped out of her room, she was greeted with Lu Yue’s beaming smile just outside.

“Lingling, I made breakfast for you. Would you like to try it?” Lu Yue hadn’t slept all night and had been bustling around since early morning. Dressed casually, without his usual flashy attire, he exuded an oddly domesticated air.

Lu Yue knew that his past unpredictable nature made him seem unreliable to women. Ever since he became certain about Tong Ling, he started gradually changing himself. However, it seemed his efforts went unnoticed by her. He thought perhaps his transformation wasn’t evident enough, so this time, he decided to adopt a new approach, hoping to finally catch Tong Ling’s attention.

At that moment, Tong Ling’s gaze upon Lu Yue was akin to an elderly person on the subway scrutinizing someone else’s phone.

“What are you up to?” Tong Ling’s expression held clear disapproval. “Who told you to stay here, dressed like this freak show?”

Taken aback, Lu Yue asked, “Do I not look good enough?”

He had deliberately checked himself in the mirror; with his looks, anything he wore should have been flattering!

“This style doesn’t suit you.” Tong Ling seemed uninterested in engaging further with Lu Yue and began shooing him away. “After cleaning the room last night, you should’ve left then. I never agreed for you to spend the night.”

Under Tong Ling’s icy stare, Lu Yue’s sweet mood evaporated completely.

“I didn’t make a fuss about your unexpected visit yesterday, but it can’t happen again.” Tong Ling glanced at the time, frowning discontentedly at Lu Yue, who remained frozen in place. “Don’t just stand there, hurry up and leave! What kind of impression do we give being seen together while you’re dressed like this?”

A chilling wind seemed to pierce Lu Yue’s heart, leaving him cold to the bone.

He finally realized what he had overlooked last night. Tong Ling’s attitude towards him was indeed gentle, but such gentleness felt akin to how one treats a readily disposable toy. Her appreciation for him extended only as far as his physical appearance.

This woman had never considered him as a potential lifelong partner.

Lu Yue’s momentary lapse lasted only briefly, as he had long been aware of Tong Ling’s nature. Despite this failed attempt, he quickly regained his composure. His tense body relaxed instantly, and he casually complained, “Aren’t you being too heartless? I cooked for you; can’t you at least indulge me by eating once?”

Seeing Lu Yue return to normal, Tong Ling’s expression softened. “Fine, I’ll indulge you. Don’t waste time, change your clothes, and come downstairs.”

“Oh, and remember to dry Ye Huan’s pajamas,” she added. “He quite likes that set; we wouldn’t want them ruined during playtime.”

Lu Yue responded quietly, “I understand.”

“Tsk tsk, you should’ve seen the look on Lu Yue’s face—pure disappointment.” m-577 strongly condemned Tong Ling’s callous behavior, saying, “[Do you know what this is called? It’s called having your way without taking responsibility!]”

Tong Ling retorted, disgruntled, “Should I be blamed for this? Who knows what got into him? This was supposed to be consensual, each getting what they wanted. If I hadn’t been firm, that would have been irresponsible.”

“Besides, hasn’t he had many lovers before? We’re all just playing around; it’s not like he takes any of these seriously,” Tong Ling pursed her lips and continued, “It’s so tedious. If he keeps acting this way, there won’t be any future encounters with him.”

M-577 was left speechless by its host’s attitude.

Lu Yue, being a mature man, quickly adjusted his mindset and soon acted as if nothing had happened.

The two sat at the table like ordinary friends, quietly enjoying their meal together.

At that moment, coincidentally, the mansion door opened, and Ye Huan unexpectedly returned after working overnight at the company.

Tong Ling couldn’t help but shoot a resentful glare at Lu Yue; if it weren’t for him dawdling and not wanting to leave, they wouldn’t have run into Ye Huan so precisely.

Ye Huan was clearly taken aback by Lu Yue’s presence. “What brings you here?”

“Can’t I visit?” Lu Yue showed no hint of guilt and instead complained to Ye Huan, “Are we still brothers or not? When have you had time to meet up lately? If not for me finding Lingling, I doubt I would even catch a glimpse of you.”

Lu Yue portrayed himself as a friend who, unable to reach his buddy, turned to the buddy’s family member. With his attire neat and sitting at the dining table with Tong Ling, there was nothing suspicious about his appearance. Ye Huan didn’t dwell on it and readily accepted Lu Yue’s explanation.

Before responding to Lu Yue, Ye Huan first looked at Tong Ling and gently asked, “Has he been bothering you? If you find him too noisy, I’ll ask him to leave right away.”

After all this time, Ye Huan had grown accustomed to treating Tong Ling with utmost care. Feeling indebted to her, ever since the incident at the banquet, he found it difficult to face her without guilt.

His girlfriend had been harmed due to his inadequacy, yet he also prevented her from reporting it to the authorities. Initially promising to help Tong Ling seek retribution against the Song family, he had achieved no significant progress thus far. Overwhelmed by this sense of remorse, Ye Huan struggled to breathe and became increasingly deferential towards Tong Ling.

“It’s alright, he called me asking how to find you, so I told him to come over.” Tong Ling seamlessly played along with Lu Yue, their demeanor devoid of any hint of intimacy; no one could suspect they had shared intimate moments just last night.

Hearing his girlfriend’s explanation, Ye Huan felt slightly reassured. Since the banquet, she had become fearful of interacting with men, and he worried that Lu Yue’s unpredictable nature might distress her further.

After speaking with his girlfriend, Ye Huan turned to Lu Yue, “Did you need something from me?”

Before Lu Yue could put down his utensils, Tong Ling excused herself from the table, leaving space for the two men to converse privately.

“You two can chat freely. I’m heading back to my room now,” Tong Ling said, departing promptly as if showing little interest in engaging further.

Ye Huan gazed worriedly at his girlfriend’s retreating figure and sighed.

Initially, Lu Yue had felt somewhat dejected after Tong Ling dismissed him as just a toy. However, seeing Ye Huan’s concern now, much of that discontent instantly dissipated.

Unlike Ye Huan, who was blissfully deceived, not only could Lu Yue maintain a relationship with Tong Ling, but he was also the sole person aware of her true identity. This sense of superiority truly lifted his spirits.

Indeed, comparisons between people often reveal their strengths and weaknesses. In an instant, Lu Yue forgave Tong Ling’s coldness; compared to Ye Huan, who dared not even touch her, he realized how far ahead he stood.

“It seems like you’re having a tough time,” Lu Yue said solemnly, yet a hint of schadenfreude crept into his voice.

Seated at the table, Ye Huan appeared drained of energy, his words sounding utterly weary. “What do you want from me? Just get to the point.”

“Must there always be a reason for me to talk to you? We haven’t seen each other in a while. How about getting together tonight?” Deciding there’s no better time than the present, Lu Yue thought it best to arrange a meeting soon between Yu Yurou and Ye Huan. Ideally, if they hit it off, it would pave the way for his ‘Lingling’ to smoothly break up with Ye Huan.

“Get together? As if I have the time to socialize with you.” Ye Huan’s head spun just thinking about his company issues. “That mad dog Song Xingyi still won’t let go of me; he meddles in every project I touch. And that bastard Ye Xu too! I’m starting to suspect there might be an informant within our company—he always manages to exploit our weaknesses!”

“You can’t even handle Song Xingyi?” If Ye Huan was Lu Yue’s primary rival, then Song Xingyi was undoubtedly his secondary nemesis. Though outwardly mocking Song Xingyi as nothing more than a dog at Yu Ling’s feet, it couldn’t be denied that this “dog” had ample opportunities to interact with her.

The thought of such a shameless and persistent mad dog constantly clinging to Yu Ling was utterly revolting.

“It’s not just Song Xingyi, mainly the entire Song family,” Ye Huan said irritably. “They’re all in cahoots, just like Ye Xu—both equally troublesome.”

Lu Yue’s eyes shifted, forming a plan in his mind. In a coaxing tone, he suggested, “Their actions against you and the Ye Family, aren’t they all for the sake of one woman? It’s merely one woman, actually quite easy to resolve…”

Ye Huan was well aware of their intentions; his younger brother liked Yuruo, as did the Song family’s young master. However, Yuruo had chosen him, so how could he possibly give up his girlfriend for such a reason? His pride wouldn’t allow it, let alone considering how much he owed to her—such an act was unthinkable!

“Enough! This will never happen!” Ye Huan firmly rejected Lu Yue, his expression turning grim. “Yuruo considers you a friend, yet you dare to entertain these thoughts. Get out, and don’t come back here again!”

“Hold on, don’t get angry just yet,” Lu Yue hastily responded. “Both you and Yuruo are my friends. I genuinely want things to work out between you two. Why would I suggest anything that truly involves giving up Yuruo?”

“Then why bring it up?” Ye Huan remained unsettled.

“Because I met a woman yesterday,” Lu Yue hinted. “She even contacted you before…”

“Contacted me…” Ye Huan pondered, recalling the peculiar phone call from his memories.

“Yuruo’s sister, she bears an uncanny resemblance to Yuruo,” Lu Yue continued. “Once you see her, you’ll understand—they look almost identical, like cast from the same mold. The most crucial part is, this woman is exceptionally skilled at mimicking Yuruo. Most people couldn’t tell them apart.”

Ye Huan instantly grasped Lu Yue’s implication, his resolve beginning to waver.

“Anyway, both the Song family’s young master and Ye Xu want women. If you can make them believe Yuruo’s sister is actually Yuruo, then simply hand her over to one of them. Wouldn’t that solve your problem?” Lu Yue’s words were highly persuasive. “Yuruo’s sister is extremely greedy; she called you impersonating Yuruo’s voice just to climb into high society. Her approach with me was similar—she assumed our relationship was special, so she pretended to be Yuruo and showed up at my company. You can ask anyone there; they all mistook her for Yuruo.”

“Don’t you think it’s perfect to send such a woman, who even tries to usurp her own sister’s identity, either to Song Xingyi or Ye Xu? This way, we prevent her from harming Yuruo in the future. She’s definitely not someone content to stay in her place.”

Lu Yue’s words resonated deeply with Ye Huan. He couldn’t forget how Miss Yu had tried to seduce him over the phone. Yuruo surely had no idea what her sister had done behind her back. Rather than risk hurting Yuruo…

Seeing Ye Huan’s expression, Lu Yue knew he had successfully ensnared him.

Lu Yue suppressed a laugh and continued, “No matter who you hand her to, just sit back and watch them fight like dogs afterward.”

Ye Huan was immensely impressed by Lu Yue’s intellect. “How clever of you to come up with such a plan!”

“But… how can I make them believe it’s Yuruo? By keeping her constantly around?”

Lu Yue tapped his fingers on the table, contemplating. “To convince them it’s truly Yuruo, we’ll have to inconvenience her somewhat.”

“I can arrange for Miss Yu to be brought here. You put on a show, mistaking that woman for Yuruo, and subsequently break up with Yuruo as if in confusion. From then on, take that woman to all social events. Song Xingyi and Ye Xu will naturally catch wind of it,” Lu Yue cautioned. “However, this scheme must not reach Yuruo. If she learns you sold out her sister, she definitely won’t agree.”

Ye Huan concurred, “True, Yuruo is too kind-hearted. Even knowing her sister’s true nature, she wouldn’t want me to exploit that girl.”

“Once you’ve passed off Miss Yu, find ways to reconcile with Yuruo later,” Lu Yue said confidently. “Yuruo loves you deeply; eventually, she’ll return to your side.”

As Lu Yue finished speaking, Ye Huan made up his mind.

The worry on Ye Huan’s face vanished, and he vigorously patted Lu Yue on the shoulder. “Ever since we were kids, you’ve always been the sharpest among our group! You’ve truly given me great help this time!”

Lu Yue’s lips curved into a smile. “I’m glad I could assist.”

“Who else but good brothers would do such things for each other?”

M-577, eavesdropping on their conversation downstairs, simultaneously translated it to Tong Ling.

Tong Ling listened with amazement, impressed by how Lu Yue lived up to his reputation as the most astute man in the original plot. Despite agreeing to help her, he genuinely managed to devise a plan causing this situation.

She had subtly hinted to Lu Yue that if Ye Huan strayed, she’d break up with him, yet Ye Huan remained oblivious. Compared to Lu Yue, Ye Huan simply couldn’t match wits with him.

However, m-577 found its host even more formidable.

Every move Lu Yue made was under Tong Ling’s deliberate guidance. First, she had enlisted Lu Yue’s help to maintain her identity as “Yu Yurou,” which he accomplished successfully. Then, she set out to manipulate Lu Yue into creating a rift between herself and Ye Huan, aiming for a breakup—an objective soon to be achieved as well.

In the original storyline, this part unfolded as follows:

The storyline unfolded as follows: After returning from her studies abroad, the female protagonist Yu Yurou learns from Lu Yue that Ye Huan has been keeping her sister as a substitute for his lost love, leaving her deeply saddened. Eager to stir up more drama, Lu Yue proactively takes Yu Yurou to the mansion where Ye Huan houses the substitute. Upon seeing her sister, Yu Yurou persuades her not to sacrifice her self-respect by acting as someone else’s surrogate, leading to a heated argument with the male lead, Ye Huan.

Following Yu Yurou’s return, Ye Huan had already decided to sever ties with the substitute. However, he didn’t anticipate Lu Yue bringing Yu Yurou that very night. As Ye Huan chased after Yu Yurou, he left Yu Ling behind without looking back, never visiting the mansion again.

This marked the end of the mansion subplot involving the cannon fodder substitute. The subsequent narrative revolved around the substitute’s jealousy towards the protagonist, resulting in various malicious schemes against her. Eventually, after being repeatedly exposed and humiliated by both the male lead and secondary characters, the substitute was sent to a psychiatric hospital by the devoted second male lead, Ye Xu. Her role concluded entirely.

“Lu Yue is truly useful; with him around, the plot hasn’t derailed at all,” Tong Ling marveled. “We should give Lu Yue some extra credit.”

Exhausted and frustrated, m-577 responded: [Isn’t this plot twisted enough already? The male lead is essentially a cuckold, and the female lead is about to embark on the path of becoming a substitute… Sickening, it’s just sickening!]

Tong Ling offered some half-hearted reassurances to the system before settling down to patiently await the protagonist’s arrival.

Lu Yue’s efficiency was remarkable; that very night, Yu Yurou was brought to the mansion.

At the time, Tong Ling was chatting with Ye Huan, noticing his occasional glances towards the door. When the knocking sounded, she knew it was time for her performance.

Ye Huan also slipped into acting mode, casting a nervous look at Tong Ling. He understood that his upcoming actions would hurt his girlfriend, but for their peaceful future together, he had no choice but to temporarily let her endure this slight.

The door opened, and before Lu Yue could enter, Yu Yurou rushed inside. At first glance, she spotted Yu Ling conversing with Ye Huan, and the transformation was so drastic she almost doubted her eyes.

Yu Ling indeed bore a striking resemblance to her, which explained why Ye Huan mistook her as a substitute… However, what bothered Yu Yurou more than being replaced was realizing that Yu Ling now seemed even more attractive than herself.

Throughout their lives, Yu Ling had always been inconspicuous and unremarkable. If not for Yurou’s occasional attention and familial care, Yu Ling wouldn’t have grown up well.

How dare this mere accessory, using her resemblance to Yu Yurou’s face, steal away Yuran’s boyfriend? Even Jiang Chenrui, Hong Jun, and others showered Yu Ling with excessive praise. To make matters worse, Lu Yue treated Yu Ling as his fiancée.

Yu Yurou was well aware of Lu Yue’s true intentions for bringing her along—to use her to separate Ye Huan from Yu Ling, allowing him to take Yu Ling away. These men were connections she had painstakingly cultivated, yet Yu Ling effortlessly gained their favor simply by resembling her.

She truly is a parasitic leech!

Fuming internally, Yu Yurou felt utterly disappointed with Yu Ling. “Little Ling, what are you doing?!”

Tong Ling feigned surprise, blinking rapidly as she took two shaky steps backward.

Ye Huan swiftly moved to shield Tong Ling, ready to rebuke the woman. However, upon catching Lu Yue’s meaningful glance, he remembered that he still needed to follow the script and interact with her accordingly. Suppressing his annoyance, he spoke his lines with feigned astonishment, “Yuruo? Is it really you, Yuruo? You’re back?”

Standing behind Ye Huan, Tong Ling’s tears suddenly welled up. “Ye Huan, who did you just call her?”

Daring not to meet Tong Ling’s gaze, Ye Huan struggled to say with difficulty, “I’ve always loved your sister; there’s no need to deceive me anymore. In my eyes, you were merely a substitute…”

“But I am the real…” Before Tong Ling could finish, Yu Yurou interrupted sharply, “Little Ling, how could you shamelessly be a substitute for someone? Don’t you realize that Ye Huan is my boyfriend!”

Tong Ling’s tears flowed even more fiercely as she sobbed, “Ye Huan, are you truly choosing her?”

Yu Yurou’s gaze immediately fixed on Ye Huan.

With a cold expression, Ye Huan nodded, “It’s Yuruo whom I love.”

Relieved by his response, Yu Yurou’s tone turned less courteous towards Ye Huan. “How could you find a substitute, and of all people, my own sister?! That’s utterly unacceptable!”

Ye Huan’s voice remained dry. “I’m sorry. My longing for you led me to do this. There was never any connection between us, and my feelings for you have never changed.”

Yu Yurou glanced at Yu Ling, then turned to Ye Huan, stomped her foot, and rushed out, exclaiming, “I don’t want to see either of you again!”

“Ye Huan, since you’ve chosen her, then…” Tong Ling said expressionlessly, “let’s break up.”

“I…”

At the mention of breaking up, Ye Huan froze on the spot. It was only thanks to Lu Yue gently nudging him from the side that he managed to step away.

Before leaving, Ye Huan cast a deep look at Tong Ling. “One day… one day you’ll understand!”

Once Yu Yurou and Ye Huan disappeared, Lu Yue swiftly approached Tong Ling and enveloped her in his arms.

“You see, Ye Huan can’t forget his true girlfriend; as soon as she appears, there’s no room for you in his eyes,” Lu Yue whispered softly into Tong Ling’s ear. “It’s different with me. No matter who you are, my choice will always be you.”

Tong Ling waved dismissively, annoyed. “I understand, such men aren’t worth keeping anyway.”

“Shall I arrange another meeting between Ye Xu and her?”

“Alright, let’s find some time to meet together.”

As m-577 observed the plot completion message on the monitoring device, it exclaimed, “Wow, impressive!”

In this scene, both the male lead and female protagonist cooperated, while the supporting character and his substitute played their roles inside and out. Each person contributed with their own motives to complete this act flawlessly - truly remarkable!

Yu Yurou wasn’t running fast; she was waiting for Ye Huan to catch up.

When Ye Huan arrived, Yu Yurou awkwardly turned away, determined not to easily forgive him unless he properly apologized for the incident involving her doppelgänger.

Just as Yu Yurou anticipated Ye Huan’s apology, the man who had professed his love moments ago suddenly changed expression. With a look of unfamiliar disgust, he bluntly said, “Enough, stop acting now.”

“You’re far too unconvincing. At your current level, you need much more practice if you want to deceive anyone.”

A string of curses bubbled up in Yu Yurou’s mind; she felt convinced that her boyfriend had genuinely lost his marbles!