Chapter 27: Replacing Your Life (27)

“You? Just you?” Song Xingyi’s gaze turned menacing, as if he had heard some absurd joke. “Do you think I’m a fool? How could I not recognize my own sister?”

His expression filled with scorn, Song Xingyi scrutinized the woman before him from head to toe. The anger at being deceived led his words to spill out mercilessly and insultingly: “As if you can compare yourself to my sister! Do you really believe dressing up like her makes you her? Your waist is thicker than hers, your hands aren’t as delicate, and your figure falls far short of hers. Oh, and let’s not forget your face…”

The corners of Song Xingyi’s mouth curved downward, yet beneath that angelic facade, pure malice flowed through his words: “That fake smile on your face makes me want to vomit.”

“Fraud.”

The venomous tone of the young man echoed in Yu Yurou’s ears, causing her breath to hitch. She couldn’t fathom how the sweet boy who once affectionately called her “Yurou-jiejie” could transform into this terrifying figure.

“Xingyi…” Yu Yurou’s face paled, her voice strained as she spoke, “I’m not lying to you. I know someone deceived you. I truly am Yu Yurou; I can tell you all about our past experiences and specific details! Don’t you remember how I used to help you with your studies? You even said that for me, you’d strive to get accepted into Jing University so we could attend the same college…”

“Enough!” Song Xingyi had no interest in listening to this woman’s nonsense. He glanced around, and when his gaze met Ye Huan’s, who was secretly observing from afar, he curled his lips into a cold sneer. “Did that bastard Ye Huan send you here to find me? Setting up this fake engagement party just to push out a phony like you, thinking I would fall for it?”

“Unless he dies, I won’t let him off. As for you…” Song Xingyi grabbed the woman’s wrist tightly and strode towards Ye Huan, snarling, “Go back where you came from!”

The force of Song Xingyi’s grip caused Yu Yurou pain, and she cried out, “Ow, Song Xingyi, what are you doing?!”

Guests who were already watching the unfolding situation couldn’t help but furrow their brows at Song Xingyi’s actions.

What was going on with the young master of the Song family? Even if there were tensions between the Song and Ye families, it was utterly inappropriate to disregard her protests and forcefully drag Ye Huan’s girlfriend by the arm at such an event! This behavior crossed a line!

A hint of satisfaction flickered in Ye Huan’s eyes. Although he wasn’t sure what Song Xingyi had said to “Yu Yurou,” seeing Song Xingyi so disregarding his own status suggested that the engagement news had indeed upset him. It seemed Ye Huan’s plan was working…

However, before Ye Huan could fully revel in his triumph, he watched as Song Xingyi dragged the woman up to him, then abruptly released her, sending her straight into his arms.

“Ye Huan, attempting to deceive me with such a lowly ploy? You clearly underestimate me.” Song Xingyi looked at Ye Huan with disdain. “Given my knowledge of my sister, did you really think using this counterfeit would fool me?”

Ye Huan’s expression froze, internally cursing the woman for being useless. He had provided her with such a perfect opportunity, even ensuring she resembled Yu Yurou closely, yet somehow she proved completely ineffective and blew her cover too quickly!

Song Xingyi’s voice carried loudly enough for nearby guests to overhear, igniting their curiosity uncontrollably.

What did Song Xingyi mean by claiming Ye Huan’s girlfriend was a fake? It felt like this gathering was about to unveil some earth-shattering revelation!

Jiang Chenrui and his friends were thoroughly puzzled; what fakes or imitations were they talking about? They couldn’t make sense of it.

Song Xingyi had endured Ye Huan for far too long. His sister willingly accepted being treated as a mere substitute just to stay with Ye Huan. But what did Ye Huan do in return? To deceive everyone, he even allowed a fake to use his sister’s name and publicly present herself as his girlfriend. Would Yu Yurou know about this? Was she aware that Ye Huan bestowed such legitimacy on an impostor?

The thought alone made Song Xingyi seethe with anger. How could his cherished sister be subjected to such indignity at Ye Huan’s hands?

“I’ve never seen a man who makes his own girlfriend act as a stand-in, then brings in a fake to impersonate her. Today, I truly witnessed something extraordinary.” Song Xingyi turned to face the crowd, pointing at the woman in Ye Huan’s arms. “Don’t be deceived, everyone! This woman is not Yu Yurou; she merely resembles her!”

“Ye Huan, when hosting guests at your banquet, you introduced them all to a fraud. Have you ever shown any respect towards your guests?”

“And you—” Song Xingyi turned to the imposter with a menacing smile. “Shouldn’t you personally clarify your identity now? You must be Yurou-jiejie’s younger sister, Miss Yu Ling!”

As soon as Song Xingyi finished speaking, murmurs erupted throughout the room.

Everyone who had greeted Ye Huan and heard him introduce his companion was utterly stunned. Who could have imagined that the host of this banquet would bring in someone to impersonate his girlfriend? What could possibly be his motive?

Moreover, how did the young master of the Song family discern that this woman was a fake…?

People couldn’t help but recall the rumors suggesting that Song Xingyi and Ye Huan were at odds over a woman—the very same Yu Yurou.

Those privy to more details began whispering among themselves:

“The substitute mentioned by the young Song heir is likely the Miss Yu who appeared at the Song family banquet…”

“Based on what Song Xingyi implied, that Miss Yu is Ye Huan’s true girlfriend?”

“So, Song Xingyi falls for Ye Huan’s actual girlfriend, the tutor Mrs. Song accused of seducing students?”

“No wonder Ye Huan went all out searching for her after she disappeared at the banquet. If she was just a substitute, why would he be so anxious?”

The individuals present were quick-witted, and it didn’t take long for them to piece together the situation involving the real and fake substitutes.

In simple terms, Ye Huan brought his girlfriend to the Song family’s banquet where the young Song heir recognized her as the woman he fancied and promptly confessed his feelings on the spot. Displeased, Madame Song accused her of seducing students and lacking professional ethics. In response, the woman denied her identity, claiming she wasn’t that teacher but rather the teacher’s younger sister.

Seeing his girlfriend acknowledge the role of a substitute, Ye Huan did not clarify the situation. It wasn’t until today, when he introduced his supposed “fake” girlfriend, that Song Xingyi exposed the truth…

This is too complicated; they couldn’t fully grasp how things escalated to this point. Most people gave up trying to understand and simply focused on watching the unfolding drama.

Regardless of who Ye Huan’s girlfriend truly was, one thing was certain: the relationship between Song Xingyi and Ye Huan had irreparably fractured. Attending this banquet proved to be quite eventful!

Among those present, the most astonished group was Jiang Chenrui and his friends.

They were acquainted with both Yu Yurou and Yu Ling, yet within the blink of an eye, their roles seemed to have drastically changed.

Judging by Song Xingyi’s expression, he spoke with unwavering conviction, leaving no room for doubt. The young master of the Song family wouldn’t joke about such matters, and Ye Huan…

Ye Huan’s grim demeanor suggested his inability to refute the accusation…

Indeed, Ye Huan had no means to counter it. From the moment Song Xingyi chose to publicly expose “Yu Yurou’s” true identity, he knew this banquet was ruined.

With so many people present, he couldn’t possibly silence them all. Once word spread, everyone would learn about his utterly foolish act.

Ye Huan deeply regretted taking Lu Yue’s advice to find a substitute for his girlfriend. No matter how similar they looked, she wasn’t the same person—and that ultimately mattered.

If even he could tell something was off, how could he expect her to fool others? Without being absolutely certain, he should never have proceeded with this plan.

He had already hurt his girlfriend once to carry out this scheme. Now, when news broke that he brought her sister as his date to the banquet, how would Yurou perceive it?

He couldn’t disappoint his girlfriend again.

Having made his decision, Ye Huan gently pushed away the woman in his arms and bowed apologetically to the guests, clarifying, “My sincere apologies for not introducing her properly earlier. This…is indeed not my girlfriend. She is Miss Yu Ling, my girlfriend’s younger sister. Seeking new experiences, she temporarily assumed my girlfriend’s identity.”

“However, I wish to address the misunderstanding, Song-shao. I did not intentionally deceive you with Miss Yu Ling. On the contrary, haven’t you been overly attentive to my girlfriend, Song-shao? Any man would find it unacceptable for someone to covet their partner. I hope you exercise restraint and avoid further entanglements!”

Ye Huan could never admit that he created a substitute just to deceive others. Even if people suspected an illicit relationship between him and the sisters, he wouldn’t confess this truth. To divert attention, he focused on accusing Song Xingyi of harassing his girlfriend, which might also salvage some of his dignity.

“At the previous banquet, Song-shao, you disregarded the setting and openly confessed your feelings towards my girlfriend, leading to her being insulted by your mother. Wanting to escape the stigma of being labeled as seducing students, she decided to change her identity. From start to finish, I have never treated my girlfriend as a mere substitute; rather, the idea of substitution was merely a playful quirk between us.”

With Ye Huan’s explanation, he neatly absolved himself of any blame. Even if some guests found it peculiar for such a game to go so far, they wouldn’t openly challenge him at the event.

After all, the host had already apologized and provided an explanation, effectively closing the matter. Everyone present understood the importance of appearances; there was no need to dig deeper as long as face was maintained.

“Introducing her clearly is enough. From now on, Ye Huan, don’t play these games anymore. Settle down sooner, lest Madam Shen continues to worry about you.”

“Yes, once explained, there won’t be any misunderstandings…”

Several elders close to Shen Man stepped forward to support these sentiments.

“A game…” Jiang Chenrui’s lips twitched. “Quite the elaborate game, fooling everyone… Are Ye Huan, Yu Ling, and Yurou that skilled at acting?”

“If he says this is his explanation, what else could it be? Perhaps because Madam Shen disapproved of him being with Yurou, he resorted to using a substitute,” Hong Jun speculated casually. “My main concern is I can’t tell Lingling and Yurou apart now. Who is who exactly? It’s too confusing!”

Song Xingyi, of course, didn’t believe Ye Huan’s defense. The claim that bringing this woman along was merely to expose her to society rang hollow—would someone seeking exposure approach him claiming to be Yu Yurou?

However, Song Xingyi didn’t want to dwell on it further. He had already embarrassed Ye Huan significantly and helped his sister prove her identity, which was enough for him. Continuing this confrontation wouldn’t yield any admissions from Ye Huan; instead, it would only make Xingyi appear relentless and petty.

Everyone at the scene seemed eager to gloss over the incident, except for one person who couldn’t accept such an outcome.

Yu Yurou stood frozen, clutching her swollen wrist, feeling deeply scornful as she watched others laugh and converse around her. Her name, her identity—could they be so easily replaced with “Yu Ling”? How could she possibly accept such a ludicrous situation?

“I am Yu Yurou!” Yu Yurou glared furiously at the two men before her, enunciating each word with anger, “Ye Huan, Song Xingyi, you blind fools! Listen carefully, I am Yu Yurou!”

“My sister Yu Ling followed Shen Man’s instructions and pretended to be me, becoming Ye Huan’s girlfriend. Meanwhile, Shen Man sent me abroad, and by the time I returned, everything had changed! You’ve mistaken the person and misjudged my identity—I am not some imposter!”

One wave had barely subsided when another surged forth.

Yu Yurou’s revelation caused a storm of shock among the guests, as no one anticipated there might be an alternative explanation behind the events.

“I’m unaware of ever asking your sister to impersonate you.” Shen Man, who had just entered the banquet hall, overheard Yu Yurou’s delirious claims and immediately dismissed them with a cold expression. “Accusing me so boldly suggests there’s hardly any truth in your words.”

“Shen Man! It was you! You severed my connections back home and made Yu Ling take my place with Ye Huan because I wasn’t obedient enough. How could you be so cruel? How could you do this!” Yu Yurou’s eyes reddened, her fury boiling as if she wanted to tear Shen Man apart on the spot.

If not for her, how would Ye Huan have treated her like this? If not for her, Song Xingyi and others wouldn’t have fallen for Yu Ling’s deception so easily.

Shen Man couldn’t comprehend what Yu Yurou was saying. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

“You won’t admit it, none of you will, right?! Someone can vouch for me, someone knows I’m telling the truth!” Frantically searching through the crowd, Yu Yurou’s emotions reached their breaking point; even her meticulous makeup couldn’t mask the panic in her eyes. “Lu Yue! Lu Yue, help me quickly! Only you, only you know who I truly am!”

Upon returning to China, Yu Yurou found solace only in Lu Yue. He knew the entire truth, and he surely could assist her!

Lu Yue, who had been observing from the back of the crowd all along, stepped forward unhurriedly upon hearing Yu Yurou’s cries.

How could he miss Ye Huan’s banquet? It provided him with such an entertaining spectacle. Unfortunately, neither Ye Xu nor his own ‘Lingling’ were present; otherwise, having all the main characters together would have made it even more intriguing.

“Lu Yue!” As soon as she spotted him, Yu Yurou felt like she’d found her lifeline. She rushed over and clung to Lu Yue’s arm, pleading urgently, “Please explain to them, they won’t believe me!”

“Don’t panic,” Lu Yue reassured her with a gentle pat on her hand.

Yu Yurou’s heart calmed slightly, knowing that with Lu Yue around, Shen Man couldn’t control everything. As Ye Huan’s close friend, Ye Huan would surely trust Lu Yue’s words. Being the eldest son of the prestigious Lu Group, everyone should believe him without question!

Like a courteous gentleman, Lu Yue waited until he had soothed the woman’s emotions before slowly speaking, “Miss…Yueling, your mental state seems quite unstable. I suggest you visit the hospital for a check-up. You’re still young; don’t neglect seeking help.”

Lu Yue’s gaze was remarkably warm, and his tone filled with genuine concern. Anyone witnessing his expression would perceive him as considerate and kind-hearted.

However, Yu Yurou felt a chill run down her spine, an icy sensation piercing her heart. Breaking out in cold sweat, she abruptly released Lu Yue’s arm as if encountering something monstrous and stumbled backward several steps.

“What are you saying?” Yu Yurou’s eyes widened with terror, and she shouted fearfully, “Lu Yue, what are you talking about?”

“Why would you do this? Why? You clearly know I am Yu Yurou!”

“Miss Yu,” Lu Yue frowned slightly, seemingly at a loss on how to handle her, “If you claim to be Yu Yurou, can you provide any evidence to prove your identity?”

“Evidence… Isn’t my presence itself proof enough?” It was utterly absurd, too absurd—why should she have to prove who she is?

“For instance, identification documents or account information? At the very least, your parents and friends should recognize your identity.” Lu Yue sighed, “Without presenting evidence, how can others believe you?”

“Identification, parents, friends…” Yu Yurou covered her head, wanting to burst out laughing hysterically. “My identification and accounts were stolen! Parents… Ha, friends…”

Yu Yurou abruptly lifted her head and shouted towards Jiang Chenrui’s group, “Young Master Jiang, Hong Jun, you know me—it’s Yu Yurou! I sought you out as soon as I returned to China; you remember!”

Lu Yue turned to Jiang Chenrui and his friends, asking, “Can you confirm that this Miss Yu is indeed Yu Yurou?”

Jiang Chenrui and his companions exchanged glances. Even Ye Huan had stated she wasn’t Yu Yurou, so how could they be certain of her identity? Ultimately, they only knew her due to Ye Huan’s acquaintance with them; they weren’t personally familiar with her…

Lu Yue helplessly spread his hands, “Miss Yu, look, it’s time for you to face reality.”

“Yurou and I were good friends; she mentioned you,” Lu Yue said sympathetically. “Your parents never cared for you since childhood, only Yurou treated you well. You desperately wanted to become like Yurou, which led you to imitate and learn from her. Over time, even you started believing you were truly Yu Yurou yourself. This unhealthy fixation will truly harm you.”

As Yu Yurou looked at this man, once the fear subsided, her heart felt numb.

How could he say such things? Apart from her knowing who she really was, anyone else hearing these words would likely find them convincing…

With Lu Yue’s explanation, Ye Huan suddenly realized, “No wonder she always said such peculiar things to me…”

Seizing this opportunity, Ye Huan quickly defended himself further, “I just felt too sorry for Yurou’s sister, so I brought her to the banquet to lift her spirits. To avoid upsetting her, I had no choice but to introduce her as Yu Yurou.”

The previously skeptical guests now nodded understandingly, murmuring, “Ah, I see… So it wasn’t entirely your fault.”

Lu Yue let out a soft scoff, directly rebuking Ye Huan’s excuses, “Ye Huan, that’s shameless of you. How can you shift all the blame onto others? Didn’t you propose giving Yu Ling to either Song Xingyi or Ye Xu? After all, the sisters look quite alike, and with Yu Ling delusionally believing herself to be Yu Yurou, it wouldn’t be easy to expose her deception. If Song Xingyi or Ye Xu took her, they’d have less incentive to oppose the Ye Family… I remember your words distinctly.”

Shaking his head, Lu Yue countered, “I already told you not to do this. Yu Ling has suffered enough; why would you exploit her like that?”

This time, Song Xingyi burst out laughing from the side. “True, I wanted my sister back, but I wouldn’t settle for a counterfeit. Ye Huan, drain that water from your head; it’s not so easy to deceive me.”

Ye Huan felt a chill at his friend’s betrayal. “Lu Yue, what nonsense are you spouting?!”

“Whoa—!”

The explosive revelation sent shockwaves through everyone present.

The Lu and Ye families had long-standing ties, with Lu Yue and Ye Huan growing up as close childhood friends. If even he spoke against Ye Huan, could there be any doubt about the truth of these claims?

Attempting to seek peace by offering a woman was truly…

The guests were overwhelmed, unable to process this juicy gossip. Each event unfolding at today’s banquet would make headline news if released!

Initially, Shen Man had no intention of intervening, but now she couldn’t remain seated. She knew how much exaggeration lay in Lu Yue’s words; at least, the identities of Yu Yurou and Yu Ling were pure fabrication.

She didn’t stop him initially because she deeply despised Yu Yurou; without her, her son wouldn’t have turned out the way he did. Teaching Yu Yurou a lesson wasn’t unwarranted, but as Lu Yue continued, he implicated Ye Huan publicly. Given the setting and implications, Shen Man had to take action.

Ye Huan was still publicly recognized as the Ye Family’s heir, and such scandals severely tarnished their reputation. To salvage it, Shen Man had no choice but to act…

“Ye Huan,” Shen Man spoke with evident disappointment, “I believe you are not suited for the position of CEO. From now on, leave the company and make your own way…”

After her statement, she apologized to the guests, “It seems today’s banquet cannot continue as planned. I deeply regret that everyone has witnessed this spectacle. Please do not take these matters to heart.”

With the hostess issuing a subtle dismissal, the guests, despite not having fully enjoyed the drama, were compelled to depart. Excitement lingered in their eyes as they exchanged glances and gradually drifted away in small groups.

Once everyone else left, Ye Huan finally erupted, “Mom, what are you saying?”

The relentless blows had left his mind blank. “You believed Lu Yue’s nonsense? Are you really going to strip me of my position in the company just because of his words?”

“Hahahaha!” At that moment, Yu Yurou, who had been silent for quite some time, burst out laughing while covering her eyes. “Oh, this is too funny! Ye Huan, look at yourself now - you finally realize Lu Yue’s words were all nonsense!”

“You didn’t know, did you? Lu Yue has feelings for my younger sister!” Tears streamed down Yu Yurou’s face from laughter. “How foolish of me to believe he would help me! It was all about my sister all along!”

“Ah, I understand now!” Yu Yurou’s expression turned grim, her eyes filled with hatred. “It’s her, Yu Ling planned all of this! She’s jealous of me and wants to take my place! While I was away, she aimed to steal my identity - that thief, she’s the real fraud!”

Song Xingyi, growing furious, exclaimed, “What nonsense are you spouting again, you crazy woman?”

“Crazy? No, it’s you fools who are stupid!” Yu Yurou glanced at them, a mocking smile playing on her lips. “Even I fell for my sister’s deception; she’s so cunning. How could I not have suspected her earlier!”

“You truly need to see a doctor,” Lu Yue said, concern etched across his face.

“Lu Yue… hahaha…” Yu Yurou sneered venomously, “What did she give you to make you support her so fervently? Aren’t you afraid she might turn against you?”

“You don’t understand how exceptional her grades were,” Yu Yurou continued bitterly. “Throughout our lives, I never once outperformed her in any exam. Just a shadow… why should she be better than me? She doesn’t deserve it, she doesn’t!”

Even Shen Man found Yu Yurou’s state distressing and discreetly signaled to a nearby attendant, instructing them to escort Yu Yurou away. “Take Miss Yu to the hospital, ensuring not to further agitate her.”

The banquet had left everyone emotionally drained.

With tensions high and no words left unspoken, those involved prepared to disperse without even bidding farewell.

Just before Lu Yue could leave, Ye Huan asked him, “Do you really like Yurou?”

Without hesitation, Lu Yue replied, “Yes, I do.”

Ye Huan scoffed, “I thought we were good friends, but this is how you treat your ‘good friend’…”

Lu Yue remained silent; there was nothing more he needed to say.

As he stepped out of the banquet hall, he let out a pent-up sigh, his expression lifting with a smile. He took out his phone and sent a message to Tong Ling:

“I told you, I would help you become Yu Yurou. Now, you truly are her.”