Chapter 6: Replacing Your Life (6)

“Hah!” m577 let out a sardonic laugh. “Didn’t you criticize Ye Xu for not being forward enough before? Now that he has finally opened up, you’re about to meet your demise—betraying the male lead by seducing Male Two!”

“The male lead isn’t one to tolerate such infidelity,” m577 continued with evident displeasure. “Yu Yurou could be his white moonlight only because of her innocent purity. Even when nurturing backup options, Yu Yurou knew her limits; she would never go as far as you have, risking complete ruin to someone’s character!”

“If we can’t get through this hospital scene,” m577 declared unhappily, “I’ll submit an application to end our mission in this world and pack up both of us to leave empty-handed!”

Tong Ling ignored the system’s resentful and disheartened ramblings. At that moment, her gaze was fixed unwaveringly on Ye Huan. A tear fell from her eye with a soft plop. She bit down hard on her lip so forcefully that a bead of blood seeped forth, yet she paid it no mind. Her sole focus was rushing to Ye Huan’s bedside where she whispered between sobs, “Ye Huan, you’ve finally woken up!”

Her expression conveyed an urgency and concern so genuine that Ye Huan didn’t want to doubt it—but for a fleeting instant, he found himself unable to look away from her wounded lip.

Noticing Ye Huan’s gaze fixed on her lips, Tong Ling seemed to realize something amiss. She touched her lip with a wince of pain, letting out a hiss. “Ah, how did I manage to bite my mouth open…”

Tong Ling licked her injured lip and offered Ye Huan a gentle smile. “I’m alright,” she said softly. “I was just thinking about you constantly; it must have happened without me noticing.”

Had she bitten her lip from anxiety over his injury? Ye Huan fell silent for a moment before pressing further, “Then when I emerged from surgery earlier, where were you?”

“I…” Tong Ling lowered her head, her words evasive as she replied, “I went to use the restroom.”

Ye Huan’s expression darkened instantly. Yu Yurou had lied! Why would she do that? If Ye Xu had wronged her against her will, as her boyfriend, he would unquestioningly trust her and stand by her side to help her through it all.

But she had lied… It fundamentally altered everything!

Now armed with this suspicion, Ye Huan found more inconsistencies in Yu Yurou’s behavior. The unnatural flush on her face alone was cause for concern, not to mention she’d even changed her dress during those few hours he lay unconscious. Just what had this woman been up to behind his back while he remained unaware?

“It seems you truly want to leave me,” Ye Huan said, unable to bear this mockery any longer. The thought that the woman he had loved with all his heart—a love he’d nurtured wholeheartedly—had betrayed him felt like a raging fire burning through his chest. “Is it because Ye Xu is better than I am?”

Ye Huan’s expression, strained with barely contained anger, caused Tong Ling’s brows to furrow immediately.

“What are you saying?” Tong Ling stared at Ye Huan incredulously, her voice rising sharply. “Are you accusing me of infidelity?!”

Ye Huan remained silent; some truths didn’t need explicit articulation.

“Exactly what do you think I’ve done?” The once gentle smile on her face had frozen into icy indifference. “Ye Huan, have you mistaken me for such a person?”

Tong Ling’s eyes were red as she turned away from Ye Huan, seemingly unwilling to look at him even for another moment. She took only a few steps before swaying unsteadily. Quickly steadying herself against the wall, she rested her forehead against her hand, taking long moments to compose herself before straightening up again.

Only now did Ye Huan sense something was amiss.

If Yu Yurou had indeed been unfaithful to him, then upon being confronted, she wouldn’t display such indignation and hurt. How could someone who’d committed wrongdoing not feel the slightest bit guilty? Instead, she appeared more furious and aggrieved than he was—and then there was her physical condition…

“Wait!” Ye Huan called out just as Tong Ling was about to leave. Fearful that his momentary anger might lead him to make a lifelong regret, he mustered all his strength to prop himself up. His face pale with pain, he pleaded, “Yurou, don’t go yet!”

The sudden movement proved too much for his recently mended ribs; they strained against each other in his chest, nearly causing Ye Huan to gasp for air from the agony.

His pained cry finally halted Tong Ling’s departure.

She rushed back to his bedside, restraining his thrashing body gently but firmly. Her voice betrayed both urgency and annoyance, yet beneath it lay an unmistakable concern. “Who told you to move like that?! You’ve just undergone surgery—how can you be so careless?”

This time, Ye Huan grasped Tong Ling’s hand tightly, staring at her without blinking. “I misspoke earlier,” he said softly. “But I need to understand why you lied to me. Is there something you couldn’t tell me before?”

“There’s nothing left to say.” A hint of lingering anger still showed on Tong Ling’s face as she scoffed coldly. “Now more than ever, I realize how much better Ye Xu is compared to you. He treats me with such tenderness and thoughtfulness. Oh right, did you suspect that my lips were kissed into this state by him? Let me assure you, yes—he did kiss me passionately. It was absolutely divine—I adore him!”

As Tong Ling spoke, Ye Huan’s doubts gradually dissipated. He realized now that her words were merely expressions of frustration; he had truly wronged her this time.

“I’m sorry—it was my unfounded suspicion,” Ye Huan said softly, suppressing his own pain. A wry smile played on his handsome face as he continued, “Perhaps weakness does cloud one’s judgment. You have every right to be angry with me, but please don’t cast me aside.” His voice carried a hint of desperation. “Truthfully, I was jealous. I know men all too well, and your brother… his actions towards you…”

Tong Ling choked back tears, her voice trembling with hurt. “I never expected you would see me like that. What others think has no bearing on me—I only cared about you. Yet you dismissed my feelings for you as worthless, assuming I’d so easily involve myself with other men…”

“Forgive me, I was wrong,” Ye Huan admitted gently, knowing there could be no excuse at such a moment.

Only then did Tong Ling allow herself to breathe more easily, though a trace of lingering discontent still shadowed her features. “After you were taken into surgery, I fainted,” she revealed softly.

“For half an hour, I lay unconscious in the restroom.” Tong Ling cast Ye Huan a cold glance. “By the time I came to and dragged myself to the surgery room, Ye Xu saw me and said, ‘If you don’t take care of yourself, it will worry Ye Huan.’ Then he insisted that even with my high fever, I should rest in the hospital ward.”

“He told them to notify me as soon as you awakened,” she continued. “I had just gotten out of bed, washed up, and composed myself— all so you wouldn’t have to worry about me. How could I have known you didn’t care at all? Your concern was only for yourself.”

A trace of weariness flickered across Tong Ling’s features. “Never mind then; what good is there in saying these things? Those who won’t believe me never will.”

Ye Huan felt his heart jolt with a surge of regret and self-reproach. He hadn’t realized the true state of affairs! Of course—the unusual flush on her cheeks must have been from a high fever! Her nasal yet slightly hoarse voice, eyes hazy with tears… It all added up now—she’d been ill! How could he have suspected this woman, whose every thought and gaze seemed fixed upon him alone, of harboring such indecent intentions?

His suspicion had been no different from the parable of the neighborly thief—a baseless accusation stemming from his own insecurities. What a fool he’d been!

Embarrassed, Ye Huan managed to say, “It was my fault for entertaining such vulgar thoughts. From here on out, I’ll never doubt you again. Please forgive this one mistake, alright?”

For the first time in front of a woman, Young Master Ye lowered his head, seeking nothing more than forgiveness.

Tong Ling gently extricated herself from Ye Huan’s grasp and said coldly, “I’ll leave you to rest now.”

Ye Huan feared that if Tong Ling left this time, she might never return. He mustered all his humility once again, racking his brain for every possible apology he could offer.

Finally, Tong Ling placed her hand softly on his head, gently stroking it twice with tender care.

In that moment, Ye Huan felt both overwhelmed by surprise and deeply cherished.

The woman before him bestowed upon him another sweet, gentle smile—a sight reserved exclusively for him alone.

“You’re doing this because you know I wouldn’t hold a grudge against you, aren’t you?” she chided, though there was no real anger in her voice as she gazed at him reproachfully.

Despite himself, Ye Huan’s lips curved into a smile, his eyes brimming with love. “No, I won’t make you angry anymore,” he murmured.

m577 couldn’t bear witness any longer; Tong Ling had truly perfected the art of turning tables and biting back! Just moments ago, the male lead had been so fiercely indignant, yet now he found himself cowed like a dog under her rebuke!

Even if Tong Ling were to accuse him of cheating right here, m577 thought wryly, he probably wouldn’t believe her…

A misunderstanding left unresolved is a calamity; one set straight brings only sweetness.

Never before had Ye Huan felt so deeply connected to Yu Yurou. Even just silently gazing at her never bored him.

But he could never have imagined that for their sake, she would be willing to sacrifice so much…

“What did you say?” Ye Huan scarcely dared believe his ears. “Did you… Did you say you’re going to become my substitute?”

Tong Ling once again invoked the ever-useful excuse of “the younger sister taking her place abroad” as she explained to Ye Huan, “Now that Madam Shen believes I’m overseas, then within China, ‘I’ cannot truly be myself anymore—otherwise, Madam Shen wouldn’t allow me to stay behind.”

“So…” Tong Ling paused briefly before continuing, “I’ve devised a plan that allows me to remain by your side without arousing suspicion from Madam Shen.”

Her eyes brimming with affection, she said softly, “All I need to do is transform into Yu Ling.”

“Because I care for you deeply,” she elaborated, “when I saw you hospitalized, I came to take care of you. And since you love my elder sister, you treated me as if I were her stand-in. You asked me to mimic every gesture and action of your beloved ‘Yu Yurou,’ which is why we now appear so alike.”

“We could sign a proxy contract to establish that this relationship is purely transactional,” Tong Ling suggested. “That way, when Madam Shen sees me, she’ll only view me as your temporary plaything.”

Tong Ling blinked at Ye Huan with a hint of smugness in her eyes. “How about it? Clever, isn’t it?”

“Isn’t that rather unfair to you?” Ye Huan initially thought this plan was wildly imaginative—yet upon closer consideration… he found no flaws in her scheme.

If Yu Yurou assumed another identity, she could remain by his side without issue! During this time, he would devise ways to consolidate power and completely break free from Shen Man’s control.

Once he had sufficient strength to protect Yu Yurou, he’d reveal her true identity and propose marriage to her!

Gently stroking m577’s dog-like head, Tong Ling smiled warmly. “For you, I wouldn’t feel the slightest bit wronged.”

m577, still reeling from Tong Ling’s audacious maneuver, muttered incessantly:

Holy shit, are you trying to pull off some kind of Russian nesting doll trick here?!

Tong Ling pretending to be Yu Ling while impersonating fake Yu Yurou—who herself was masquerading as genuine Yu Ling—it was an elaborate charade beyond anyone’s wildest imagination!