Chapter 3: Replacing Your Life (3)

“How did you get completely drenched?” Ye Xu asked with concern.

He had never seen Yu Yurou so disheveled before. Rainwater soaked her long hair, droplets sliding down her messy strands and gradually seeping through to her thin dress from where they clung at her neck. Her body carried a damp chill, its icy-cold sensation transmitted to him through this overly intimate embrace.

She leaned against him like a delicate vine seeking support. As Ye Xu gazed upon her pale yet lovely face, a surge of tender affection welled up within him. He felt an overwhelming desire to protect her, shielding her from any further exposure to wind or rain.

“I accidentally got caught in the rain on my way here,” Tong Ling said as she lifted her head. The corners of her eyes were slightly red, filled with a misty layer that threatened tears—tears that hung suspended, making for an utterly pitiful sight.

It seemed the car accident truly frightened her deeply. With this thought, Ye Xu instinctively tightened his arms around her.

The embrace didn’t last too long; Tong Ling, sensing it was enough, proactively stepped away from Ye Xu’s hold. There was no choice—it made sense given Yu Yurou’s character background. Although emotional moments allowed for brief embraces, she was still technically Ye Huan’s “girlfriend.” She needed to maintain some reserve appropriate to their relationship.

Tong Ling promptly adopted an expression of bashfulness and discomfort, saying, “I-I’ve soaked your clothes… I’m sorry!” This timely display of embarrassment served as a gentle reminder of her supposed modesty—a trait essential to her role as Yu Yurou.

As his arms emptied of their embrace, Ye Xu felt a sudden hollowness in his heart. This was the closest he had ever been to Yu Yurou—holding her delicate body and feeling her complete reliance on him, it inexplicably left him somewhat addicted.

“There’s no need to say sorry,” Ye Xu said softly. “Between you and me, such formality isn’t necessary.” He slipped off his suit jacket and draped it over Tong Ling’s shoulders.

“Mm-hmm,” Tong Ling replied, wiping away her tears. Naturally, she added, “We’re friends after all!”

The sweetness of their embrace instantly turned bittersweet. Though Ye Xu’s expression remained unchanged, his tone grew colder, “Friends, huh…”

“The best of friends!” Tong Ling buried half of her face into Ye Xu’s jacket, then gently tugged at his arm as she declared with a soft voice, “You’ll always be my little gege!”

Tong Ling’s voice was tender and sweet, her misty eyes fixed intently on Ye Xu. They overflowed with trust and attachment towards him.

“Little gege…” Ye Xu’s thoughts drifted back to his childhood, recalling those unforgettable memories from long ago. The girl who shared candies with him used to call him just as affectionately. Since reuniting with Yu Yurou, this was the first time he heard that term again. A warm emotion enveloped him; the coldness vanished from his gaze, and the distant aura around him dissipated entirely.

“Ah,” Tong Ling covered her mouth with a hint of exasperation. “How did I say what was on my mind? It must sound really strange to call you that!”

Ye Xu gazed at Tong Ling with gentle eyes and smiled warmly. “It doesn’t sound strange at all. You can always call me like that.”

Tong Ling reached out, her slender fingers gently touching the corner of Ye Xu’s lips. As he froze momentarily from this unexpected gesture, she beamed brightly and said, “Little gege, your smile is truly lovely!”

“As long as little gege smiles, no one will dislike you!” The adorable girl, her hair tied in twin ponytails, cupped his face with both hands, giggling as she spoke. “Just seeing you makes me incredibly happy! See how much joy you bring just by being here?”

“So…you don’t hate me?” Little Ye Xu nervously clutched the hem of his shirt. “Everyone else says I have a gloomy, unlikable face—like a walking corpse.”

“Of course not!” The girl retrieved a candy wrapped in colorful foil from her pocket and offered it to little Ye Xu. “See? I’m sharing my favorite treat with you. From now on, we’ll be friends!”

The pure and beautiful woman before him overlapped with the image of the little girl from his memories; it seemed as if that person had never changed.

After many years, Ye Xu once again experienced the fluttering sensation of love at first sight.

Involuntarily, he grasped her wrist, longing to pour out his feelings to her. However, just moments after their intimate moment, she turned with concern towards the operating room.

“Ye Huan…” Tong Ling murmured softly, her face etched with worry as she sought reassurance from Ye Xu, “He’ll be okay, won’t he?”

Ye Xu felt like a bucket of cold water had been dumped on him, causing a dull ache in his heart.

Indeed, the woman he loved still cherished another man—none other than his own brother, Ye Huan!

Jealousy gnawed at Ye Xu’s insides.

Unlike himself, who grew up without parents since childhood, Ye Huan was born into privilege. He had a loving mother and a supportive father, living life freely and obtaining anything he desired effortlessly. Even though Ye Huan showed no interest in inheriting the company, Shen Man—the matriarch—maintained an iron grip on her shares, determined to pass everything she owned to her son. In contrast, Ye Xu had to fight tooth and nail for the position and rights rightfully due to him, unable even to openly express affection towards the woman he loved.

Why does Ye Huan even exist?! He excels at nothing compared to me! As Ye Xu’s gaze grew increasingly cold, Tong Ling suddenly sneezed, snapping him back to reality.

“Have you caught a chill?” Ye Xu asked with concern, swiftly reaching out to touch Tong Ling’s forehead. It was burning hot, and even her small face, partially hidden by her clothes, had taken on an unhealthy, feverish flush.

“I’m alright,” Tong Ling said with a forced smile, but her body betrayed her as she swayed unsteadily twice.

Her prolonged exposure to the rain had finally taken its toll.

Without hesitation, Ye Xu bent down, scooping one arm under Tong Ling’s knees and supporting her back with his other hand. He lifted her effortlessly into his arms. “You’re running a high fever. You need medicine and rest now.”

Tong Ling let out a soft gasp, clutching tightly to Ye Xu’s collar with both hands. “But… I have to wait for the surgery results. I want to be here when Ye Huan comes out…”

“I’ll keep watch here,” Ye Xu stated firmly, leaving no room for argument. “If there’s any news, I’ll notify you immediately.” With that, he summoned a doctor who escorted Tong Ling away to a private VIP ward.

Left behind outside the operating room, the hapless driver watched their retreating figures. His heart sank in a pool of desolation as he realized just how utterly alone he stood amidst this storm of events.

“Focus on your recovery,” Ye Xu urged gently. “If you don’t take care of yourself, Ye Huan will worry when he wakes up.” He knew that invoking Ye Huan’s concern would be most effective in getting Yu Yurou to comply, but as he spoke these words, his heart couldn’t help but ache slightly.

”…I understand,” Tong Ling nodded obediently, quite satisfied with Ye Xu’s considerate suggestion. She had no intention of foolishly waiting for hours outside the surgery room. The next plot point involving her character could only continue once the male lead awakened; until then, she was free to act as she pleased.

Tong Ling decided it was time to significantly improve her quality of life. After Ye Xu helped settle her onto the bed, she asked, “Can I bathe here? I’d like to feel clean and refreshed.”

“Of course,” Ye Xu responded warmly, arranging everything promptly for Tong Ling. “Once your clothes arrive, you can bathe. Feel free to let me know if there’s anything else you need.”

“While we’re at it… could you help me get a new phone SIM card?” Tong Ling didn’t hesitate to make use of Ye Xu, adhering to the principle of utilizing available resources efficiently. “Actually…” she continued hesitantly, “to stay behind in this country, I gave my identification documents and phone number to my younger sister. It was she who left abroad pretending to be me. Now without my ID and unable to use my original number to contact anyone, things have been incredibly inconvenient…”

“Your sister?” Ye Xu knew that Yu Yurou had a younger sister, but since she rarely mentioned her, he understood nothing about this sibling. “Won’t anyone notice if she took your place to go abroad?”

“My sister and I look remarkably alike!” Tong Ling appeared utterly confident on her face. “Ever since we were young, she could mimic me perfectly—no one can tell us apart! Madam Shen believed my sister was me, which allowed me to secretly remain in the country.”

Now Ye Xu grasped why Yu Yurou stayed behind—a clever ruse involving her nearly identical twin sister.

“What a devious scheme,” Ye Xu mused aloud as he gently patted Tong Ling’s head. “Everything you requested will be delivered to you promptly.”

Touched deeply by his gesture, Tong Ling gazed at Ye Xu with gratitude-filled eyes. In a sweet voice, she said, “Little gege, you’re truly so kind to me.”

Ye Xu felt warmth flood through his heart; even just for that endearing term of affection—“little gege”—he would willingly do anything for her.

In the hospital room, Ye Xu chatted further with Tong Ling, noticing how she strained herself to maintain cheerfulness while conversing with him. His resolve softened even more. When his subordinates brought clothes and daily necessities, he repeatedly urged Tong Ling to call him anytime if she needed anything before reluctantly taking his leave.

As soon as Ye Xu left, Tong Ling eagerly picked up the garment he had gifted her and examined it with delight.

True to his wealthy status, the clothing was visibly of higher quality than the dress she currently wore. It seemed even m577 couldn’t deny that the small world’s fashion sense wasn’t entirely lacking in sophistication.

m577 deflated like a punctured balloon, its voice weak and strained. “How… how did you manage to do that?”

“Hmm?” replied Tong Ling.

“How did you manipulate Ye Xu so effortlessly?” m577 struggled to comprehend this plot twist. “He never showed such attentiveness even towards Yu Yurou herself! Why does he believe everything you say without any basic judgment or discernment?”

“What’s so difficult about it,” Tong Ling pursed her lips, “as long as you pinpoint his weakness, getting him to comply is child’s play.”

“His ‘weakness’?” echoed m577.

“Isn’t his cherished childhood memory always held dear?” Tong Ling drawled slowly. “Through his own embellishments over time, who knows how many filters he has added to those memories? In his mind, there could be no one more perfect than that little girl from his past. But reality tells us… the little girl grew up, and the grown-up version may not live up to the flawless image etched in his memories.”

“Do you think his feelings towards the female lead are genuine love?” m577 asked skeptically. “He merely seeks solace from their past through her presence. At heart, he’s just a man starved for affection—and such men are easiest to handle.”

Tong Ling seemed unconcerned with m577’s reservations as she replied dismissively:

“Heh, don’t assume I’ll be discovered so easily. And even if I were found out, what then?” Tong Ling carried her clothes towards the private bathroom in the VIP hospital room. “No one can match his dream realm expectations better than me. If someone were to shatter this illusion, tell me—would he hate me or the person who ruins his beautiful fantasy?”

m577 trembled at these words: [Host, you’re truly terrifying!]

“Oh, stop blurting out such truths!” Tong Ling chuckled mischievously. “But I must genuinely thank the original female lead. There’s an old saying, something like—“those before us plant trees, allowing those after to enjoy the shade”. How true it is!”

m577 remained silent, having never encountered anyone more shameless than Tong Ling!