Transmigrating Into the Beautiful CEO’s Doomed Substitute - Chapter 2

Qi Zheng followed Shen Zhibing into the villa, which looked like an ordinary mansion in the neighborhood from the outside, though it occupied the very best location in the community. Only after stepping inside did Qi Zheng realize that maybe web novels weren’t entirely exaggerations.

It wasn’t gaudy gold-and-crystal opulence, nor the crude, gold-plated kind of brainless flaunting of wealth—but everywhere in this villa radiated the unshakable aura of “the owner is very, very rich.” The faint fragrance of golden nanmu wood lingered in the air—typical finale items in auction houses, yet here they appeared as though they were commonplace.

Qi Zheng knew Shen Zhibing was wealthy, but now she understood just how extreme that wealth was. She had inherited the original body’s memories, but that didn’t mean her thoughts and emotions were affected—more like there was simply an extra memory reel in her head.

When the original host had been with Lin Muyun, he hadn’t been stingy with material things either, but clearly the Lin family was several levels below the Shen family. Lin’s side counted as rich. Shen’s side? Super-rich.

“You’ll be living here from now on.” Shen Zhibing’s voice came, just as before—flat, unemotional, devoid of warmth.

Qi Zheng rolled her eyes inwardly. You’re supposed to be a CEO, can’t you at least speak with some kindness?

Servants had already brought tea and pastries, but most kept silent, quietly retreating after setting things down.

Qi Zheng looked around speechlessly, suddenly wondering if she’d somehow transmigrated again—this time with Shen Zhibing into an imperial palace. Otherwise, why did it feel so much like being inside a royal harem?

“I don’t come here often. You can do whatever you like. But according to our agreement, I expect you to be here whenever I come.”

The contract had been signed by the original host. Helpless, Qi Zheng could only nod reluctantly.

Shen Zhibing didn’t seem very satisfied with such a perfunctory response. Her gaze grew colder. She didn’t seem willing to rest her eyes on Qi Zheng for long, but still had to lay down the rules.

After all, this was Qi Zheng’s first time here—rules had to be made clear. Shen Zhibing disliked people who were disobedient, and disliked even more those who were ignorant of the rules. Strictly speaking, Qi Zheng wasn’t her type anyway—too soft, too dependent on Lin Muyun, utterly without her own opinion.

If not for the slight resemblance in her features to that person, coupled with her past connection to Lin Muyun, Shen Zhibing wouldn’t have been remotely interested in paying so much to keep a human “pet” in her villa.

After finishing her tea and pastries, Shen Zhibing was in a somewhat better mood, though she still treated Qi Zheng with no special regard. Fortunately, Qi Zheng hadn’t tried to fawn or ingratiate herself either. The two of them sat there like strangers forced to share a table.

Qi Zheng, for her part, didn’t enjoy being alone with Shen Zhibing either. No denying—the CEO was breathtakingly beautiful. Beautiful to the point that even the most ornate words from novels seemed inadequate. But that icy arrogance—who in their right mind would like it?

“This is my supplementary card. You’ll use it from now on.” Shen Zhibing placed a bank card on the table.

A sleek black card, finely crafted, its understated design exuding absolute luxury.

Qi Zheng lowered her eyes, staring at it for a while, but didn’t reach for it.

Shen Zhibing’s lips curved faintly, unconcerned with what Qi Zheng thought.

“It’s a supplementary card under my account. No spending limit. You can buy anything you like.”

How generous. If Qi Zheng hadn’t read the novel and already known the plot, she might actually have been moved by such extravagance.

After all, aside from one’s parents, who else would ever give you money to spend so freely?

But sure enough, Shen Zhibing added lazily: “Of course, in return, for every expensive thing you buy, I’ll take the equivalent in return.”

What she wanted wasn’t money—money was the last thing she lacked.

What she lacked was love. But the one she loved most was unattainable, no matter what she did.

So she settled for second-best, finding a substitute. Someone with similar features, to help her sink into the role; a different gender, so she wouldn’t go too far; as for personality, whether similar or not didn’t matter—they wouldn’t fall in love anyway.

Qi Zheng clenched her teeth inwardly. The original host had been far too stupid and soft, easily deceived by a business fox like Shen Zhibing.

“That… I’d like to talk about the contract…”

Before she could finish, Shen Zhibing cut her off coldly: “Haven’t even figured out how to address me yet?”

Her displeasure was obvious, clearly annoyed by Qi Zheng’s lack of etiquette.

Qi Zheng frowned. What’s wrong with this woman? No wonder the author nailed the “crazy, unhinged beauty” persona.

“President Shen, regarding our contract, I’d like to revise some details.”

Shen Zhibing sneered. “A contract can just be changed whenever you want? If it can be altered at will, what’s the point of calling it a contract?”

All sharpness, like in the boardroom—unyielding, not conceding even a penny.

But Qi Zheng wasn’t the original host. She wouldn’t bow to that. Did Shen really think a stern face and cold tone would scare her?

“I only have objections to certain details. I’m not overturning the whole contract. And if you don’t like my suggestions, we can continue negotiating.”

Her tone was equally businesslike, undaunted. Shen Zhibing, who had been half-amused and half-indifferent, now had to turn her eyes on the woman sitting across from her.

Last time they’d negotiated, Qi Zheng had been timid and deferential, head down most of the time, only giving simple “yes” or “no” answers.

Lin Muyun had always described her as soft, compliant, malleable—like a lump of clay you could mold a thousand times without protest.

But after leaving Lin Muyun, her backbone had suddenly hardened?

Shen Zhibing decided to give her a chance—to hear her out.

“So, how do you want to revise it?”

Seeing her persistence work, Qi Zheng felt Shen wasn’t entirely unreasonable.

She took a breath, steadied herself, and said seriously: “I can’t accept material conditions being used to exchange for…” The words stuck—awkward to voice. She adjusted. “To exchange for physical intimacy.”

Shen Zhibing’s expression remained blank, gesturing for her to be clearer.

“I don’t accept you calculating our intimacy in terms of money spent.”

Might as well be blunt. After all, she wasn’t the one who signed the contract. She hadn’t agreed to sell herself to Shen Zhibing. No wonder the original host had been the ultimate tragic cannon fodder—it wasn’t just author bias, but sheer lack of sense, no backbone.

So she’d been dumped by Lin Muyun with cold indifference—was that really worth spiraling into self-destruction and selling herself again? Utterly irrational. Qi Zheng had inherited the role, but she refused to follow the same doomed path.

“So what you mean is—you regret it?”

Shen Zhibing’s eyes grew icy. This wasn’t a “minor revision,” this was trying to back out. Did Qi Zheng think her money came easy? Did she think Shen Zhibing’s contracts could be treated so lightly?

“I know you won’t agree to termination right now. And I really can’t pay any breach penalty. I just want to use another method to offset the money—not backing out.”

“There’s nothing else about you that’s worth my money. Honestly, I don’t care much for you in other ways either. If you won’t go by the original terms, unless you can propose a new arrangement that convinces me, don’t waste my time.”

That was Shen Zhibing for you—decisive, ruthless. No wonder she’d outshone all her peers in the family and been named heir right after graduating university.

Qi Zheng had wanted to push step by step, slowly bargaining her way forward. But now she had to fast-forward straight to the bottom line.

“Anything else is fine. But not that. Whatever else you want to play, I’ll cooperate. But that one thing, I refuse.”

She knew she couldn’t just cut ties right away. But she could at least protect herself. She wasn’t a naïve blank sheet, but that didn’t mean she’d let anyone touch her casually.

Shen Zhibing paused, unusually taken aback.

When she recovered, her usual overpowering aura was absent.

“I’m not in a hurry. If you’re unwilling now, we can delay it.”

That counted as the CEO yielding.

Shen Zhibing was a businesswoman—her word carried weight. Qi Zheng wasn’t about to force her to rewrite the contract on the spot; this was only their second meeting. Push too hard now and the future would be unlivable.

Shen Zhibing was busy anyway—today she’d carved out time just to see her. After barely an hour at the villa, her secretary called, reminding her of an important afternoon meeting.

Before leaving, Shen Zhibing added: “This Bentley and Lao Yu will stay with you. Call the driver whenever you want to go anywhere.”

True to her word—every clause in the contract had been fulfilled: housing, expenses, transportation. And all at the highest standard.

Qi Zheng’s mouth twitched. She was just a soon-to-graduate student with no job prospects yet. And now she’d be riding around in a Bentley with a chauffeur every day?

But Shen Zhibing wasn’t asking if she agreed. She was simply informing her. By the time Qi Zheng reached the door, a Rolls-Royce was already waiting.

“I want to go back to school today.”

Hearing that Qi Zheng wouldn’t even stay the first night, Shen Zhibing’s face froze over.

“As you like.”

By the time the Rolls-Royce disappeared, Qi Zheng returned to the living room, packed her backpack, and prepared to leave.

The servants hovered anxiously, hesitant to speak.

She hated this atmosphere. What age are we in, and they’re still enforcing class divisions like this?

“Is there something you’d like to say?” Qi Zheng smiled gently, trying to ease the tension.

Among the servants, hierarchy showed too. The butler stepped forward, bowing slightly: “Miss Qi, are you truly leaving?”