After Transmigrating into a Book, I Had a Flash Marriage with the Beautiful Crazy Villain - Chapter 22

Chu Ling tried to follow the woman’s train of thought, but she found herself utterly lost on where to even begin.

Or perhaps, she was so stunned by the woman’s words that she hadn’t reacted immediately.

Seeing that she didn’t refute, the woman flashed a strange smile, one that seemed both knowing and regretful.

“I knew it. Seems like she’s found the most satisfactory replacement.”

The woman’s words made Chu Ling’s expression shift slightly. She studied the other’s face but couldn’t discern whether it was genuine or not.

Driven by some inexplicable impulse, Chu Ling slowly said, “You seem to know Song Qingyi quite well. But there’s one thing you got wrong, I’m not a replacement she sought out. So, who are you?”

As she spoke, Chu Ling thought to herself that her relationship with Song Qingyi was purely contractual. There was indeed no mention of being a replacement, though she couldn’t be sure she hadn’t exactly scrutinized the contract.

Seemed like she’d have to find time to review what the contract actually stipulated.

Instead of answering immediately, the woman smiled, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a slow drag.

The curling smoke obscured her face, but Chu Ling still caught the sudden mocking twist of her lips.

“Who am I? Isn’t it obvious? I’m her mother’s lover. What a shame, if I’d known Song Qingyi liked someone like you, I would’ve tried harder.”

Her words were deeply unsettling, as though her original target had been Song Qingyi, but after being ignored, she’d turned her attention to Aunt Song instead.

Chu Ling frowned. “Song Qingyi’s mother has a partner, doesn’t she? I never heard they divorced.”

The woman laughed. “Are you implying I’m a homewrecker? Don’t be ridiculous. Those two don’t have an ounce of love between them. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be tacitly okay with each other playing around.”

Chu Ling was momentarily stunned. She’d known Song Qingyi’s family situation was complicated, but she hadn’t expected it to be like this.

Clearly, Song Qingyi was aware, Aunt Song hadn’t bothered hiding it, or else this woman wouldn’t be here.

“So what? That doesn’t change the fact that you meddled in someone else’s marriage. And from the sound of it, your original target was Song Qingyi.”

The woman smirked coquettishly. “What an innocent little sister. Do you have any idea how many people throw themselves at someone like Song Qingyi, hoping for a chance with her? I’m just an ordinary person is it so strange to have such thoughts?”

A trace of regret flickered in her eyes.

“Too bad, Song Qingyi is well, let’s just say she’s utterly clueless about romance. There’s a white moonlight lodged in her heart, who knew she’d turn out to be such a sentimental fool?”

For someone raised in a family like hers to be so devoted, it was absurd, completely unlike what those two families would’ve cultivated.

No matter how amiable Song Yulin appeared on the surface, at her core, she was still every bit the scion of an aristocratic family. Those traits were ingrained in her blood, how could they be easily changed?

But her daughter, Song Qingyi, was full of surprises.

In every way.

The cigarette in the woman’s hand had burned down to the filter, the ember still glowing dangerously close to her fingers. If she didn’t stub it out soon, it would burn her.

Chu Ling hesitated, then stayed silent. She didn’t like this woman maybe because she’d treated Song Qingyi like prey, or maybe because of the things she said,

Song Qingyi had a white moonlight in her heart hadn’t Chu Ling always known that? Who else could it be but Ye Zhiyin?

The woman even called her a stand-in. A stand-in for whom? Ye Zhiyin?

Chu Ling found it somewhat amusing. She and Ye Zhiyin looked nothing alike. If she really were a stand-in, how could a stand-in bear no resemblance at all?

Though she was fully aware of this, Chu Ling still felt a pang of discomfort.

The woman seemed to have lost interest as well. Shaking her head, she casually stubbed out her cigarette. “A word of advice, the mother and daughter of the Song family aren’t easy to deal with. No matter who it is, it’s best not to give them your true heart. Big families like that well, they’re not something people like us should covet.”

As she spoke, she swayed her slender waist and sauntered away with an alluring grace.

There was no denying it, she was a captivating woman.

Chu Ling wore a pensive expression. The woman’s words felt less like advice to her and more like a warning to herself.

Still, Chu Ling took the counsel to heart regardless.

Lowering her gaze, she sank into thought, exhaling softly after a long moment.

In the end, it was just a contract. There was no need for so much emotional entanglement.

The sound of a door opening came from behind her. When Chu Ling turned, she saw Song Qingyi stepping out with a displeased expression.

It seemed their conversation hadn’t gone well, but Chu Ling didn’t ask. Instead, she said, “Finished? Shall we head to the banquet hall? I’m getting a little hungry.”

It was already quite late. They’d spent the entire afternoon on hair and makeup, leaving no time to grab a bite.

Chu Ling rubbed her stomach, her appetite stirring.

Hadn’t they agreed to indulge at the banquet? Hiding away here made no sense.

Song Qingyi seemed momentarily taken aback before nodding. “Alright, let’s go.”

Though the walk to the banquet hall was silent, the atmosphere between them remained pleasant.

Yet Song Qingyi couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. After some thought, there was only one possible explanation.

The woman who had just left perhaps she’d said something unnecessary.

A shadow flickered across Song Qingyi’s expression, but with Chu Ling beside her, she quickly composed herself, discreetly studying Chu Ling’s demeanor.

Unable to hold back, she finally ventured, “Chu Ling, did you talk to that woman earlier?”

Chu Ling was surprised by the sudden question but didn’t react much, nodding. “Yes, we exchanged a few words. Why?”

Song Qingyi hesitated, unsure how to explain. In the end, her expression darkened. “That woman loves to spout nonsense and is quite scheming. Whatever she said, don’t believe a word of it, understand?”

Chu Ling found this intriguing. Song Qingyi seemed nervous. Because of that woman? So she really did know a lot about Song Qingyi, didn’t she?

Probably more than that. From the way she spoke, Chu Ling sensed she had a deep understanding of Song Qingyi’s family background hardly as ordinary as she claimed.

With that in mind, Chu Ling nodded. “I understand. I won’t take it seriously. But we didn’t talk about much, so don’t worry.”

Yet Song Qingyi’s expression didn’t truly relax. She was certain that woman had said something to Chu Ling.

Earlier, the atmosphere between them had been improving. But the moment she stepped out of the room, she could tell Chu Ling had withdrawn again, the distance between them widening slightly.

If not for that woman’s words, Chu Ling wouldn’t have suddenly acted this way.

She really wasn’t good at hiding things.

Song Qingyi wanted to ask for clarification, but Chu Ling seemed to have already put the matter out of her mind. Coincidentally, a servant approached Song Qingyi and informed her that she was needed in the banquet hall to attend to guests.

She didn’t even need to think to know whose orders these were. A flash of fury crossed Song Qingyi’s eyes, and the messenger servant was so frightened they didn’t dare breathe.

It wasn’t until Chu Ling had walked ahead for a while and turned back to find Song Qingyi hadn’t followed that she realized something was wrong. She called out to Song Qingyi.

The oppressive atmosphere shattered. The servant bowed hastily and scurried away after all, they had delivered the message, and it was best not to linger where they weren’t wanted.

Though Chu Ling’s words had eased the tension, Song Qingyi was still seething.

And that anger reached its peak when, while attending to guests, she caught sight of Chu Ling despite being placed in a secluded spot being disturbed by someone.

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