Transmigrating Into the Beautiful CEO’s Doomed Substitute - Chapter 33

Jiang Youyou had seen Lin Muyun a few times outside of school before, but she hadn’t seen her clearly. Since Lin Muyun hadn’t appeared for so long and had a new look, she wasn’t sure if she was the person she thought it was.

It seemed that Qi Zheng probably couldn’t go to the dinner party today.

“Qi Zheng, I’ll go tell the classmates, you… talk to Ms. Lin slowly.”

Qi Zheng barely looked at Lin Muyun seriously; her eyes were more focused on Jiang Youyou, who was standing a little further away.

“Youyou, wait.” Qi Zheng called out to the person who was about to leave.

“What is it?”

“Tell them I’ll be there shortly.”

This time, not only was Jiang Youyou surprised, but Lin Muyun’s expression was also terrible. Not only did Qi Zheng ignore her, but she also didn’t even want to speak to her properly. Judging by the tone, it seemed she didn’t plan to talk to her for very long.

She had originally planned to take Qi Zheng to their usual spot tonight to celebrate properly, but it seemed the plan was not going well.

Jiang Youyou glanced at Lin Muyun, turned, and left: “No rush, we’ll wait for you.”

Only then did Qi Zheng formally turn to Lin Muyun, her gaze calm, as if looking at a stranger, not even an old friend reunited after a long time.

“Does Ms. Lin have anything else? If not, I need to go to dinner with my classmates.”

Lin Muyun was very upset. Qi Zheng had never treated her like this. Even when they first got together, Qi Zheng was very compliant with her. Not to mention later, she practically prioritized Lin Muyun in everything.

“I encountered a special situation abroad, so I couldn’t contact you in time. I originally wanted to celebrate with you today. Didn’t you always say today was a special day?”

Oh, Qi Zheng searched the original host’s memory bank and knew why today was special.

The original host wanted to completely give herself to Lin Muyun today. How naive.

“Since when is Ms. Lin’s memory so good? I thought a person who doesn’t even remember to reply to messages wouldn’t remember any so-called special days at all.”

Lin Muyun curled her lips. Qi Zheng was indeed still resenting her for disappearing without a word for so long. Those heartfelt words, that obvious concern and worry, were undeniable.

Lin Muyun had hidden from Qi Zheng because she was afraid of falling too deeply. But upon seeing her today, even though she felt a little different, her heart was still moved.

She thought that Qi Zheng’s attraction to her was still there.

“So, why don’t you give me a chance to explain?”

Lin Muyun smiled seductively, arousing the senses in the hot summer air. But Qi Zheng remained cold and indifferent, completely unmoved.

“I don’t need your explanation, because I no longer care about this. Your explanation is meaningless.”

Qi Zheng didn’t want to waste any more words and prepared to leave. Lin Muyun was completely unprepared for Qi Zheng’s attitude and, in haste, reached out and grabbed her arm.

“Qi Zheng, don’t be willful!”

Qi Zheng looked down at her arm in disgust: “Please respect yourself.”

Lin Muyun couldn’t bear such treatment. The slightly lowered posture she had adopted earlier because she was in the wrong could no longer be maintained. Her temper flared: “What? You found a new backer and completely forgot the favors from the past?”

Favors? Qi Zheng knew that in the minds of these so-called benefactors, everything good done for the original host was nothing more than a handout.

She also realized that the plot had not completely changed because of her presence. At least the part where Lin Muyun returned to China and harassed Qi Zheng again had begun as scheduled.

“Since you chose to disappear and actively cut off the relationship, don’t come back and make a fool of yourself.” Qi Zheng maintained her detached demeanor, even offering a piece of kind advice, “Insisting on repeatedly pestering is not good for anyone.”

The more Qi Zheng acted like this, the more Lin Muyun couldn’t accept it, even feeling distressed. She now believed Lian Ao’s words that Qi Zheng was not a simple person. How could she have always thought of her as a compliant little rabbit?

Lin Muyun sneered: “It’s my freedom when I want to throw away my things, and it’s my freedom when I want to take them back. Qi Zheng, this is my business, do you understand?”

“Then it depends on whether you have the ability to do so.” Qi Zheng shook off her hand and said coldly, “My freedom does not belong to you.”

The moment Lin Muyun chose to disappear, her relationship with the original host was already over. Qi Zheng wouldn’t be as love-struck as the original host, softening up just because of a few deceptive words from Lin Muyun after her return. She also knew that a person who doesn’t cherish what they have will repeat the past harm no matter how many times they come back.

Being hurt once is ignorance; being hurt a second time is foolishness.

Qi Zheng’s back grew farther and farther. Lin Muyun watched her walk with a group of people wearing graduation gowns, light-footed, laughing and talking, seemingly completely unaffected.

She bit her lip resentfully, unable to swallow her anger. The gift was still in her bag, but her good mood from earlier had vanished completely.

**

While getting her car, Lin Muyun noticed a person nearby smoking with his head down, constantly glancing furtively at her car. Looking closer, it turned out to be Qi’s father. He had taken off the suit he was wearing earlier and was wearing a sleeveless undershirt, an image that was more in line with his usual style.

Lin Muyun had never directly interacted with Qi’s father, but the money that saved his arm back then was indeed given by her.

“Ms. Lin?” Qi’s father actively stepped forward, his back hunched, his tone carrying flattery and a hint of probing.

Lin Muyun frowned. Years of gambling and debt had made Qi’s father excessively old and haggard, making it difficult to connect him with the pure, lovely, and delicate-featured Qi Zheng.

“What do you want?”

“I am Qi Zheng’s father. I heard you are her good friend and that I received your help before. I haven’t had a chance to thank you.”

Qi’s father didn’t care how his daughter got involved with this rich girl, but Lin Muyun’s sports car was expensive, so Qi’s father naturally wouldn’t miss the chance to cozy up to her.

Lin Muyun originally wanted to wave her hand and have the nearby bodyguards drive Qi’s father away, but on second thought, she changed her mind.

“Get in the car. Let’s talk somewhere else.”

**

The class dinner party had a great atmosphere. Regardless of their usual relationships or past conflicts, all grudges were settled with a smile tonight, after all, no one knew if they would ever meet again in the future.

In this highly developed communication society, maintaining contact, on the contrary, requires immense sincerity and effort, becoming a luxury.

Qi Zheng usually didn’t have great popularity; besides having a slightly closer relationship with a few roommates, other classmates were mere acquaintances. Somehow, many people heard that she was interning at a company under the Shen Group and had even entered the core business unit, so they all took the opportunity tonight to network with her.

Some classmates, who were in the same college and had attended lectures for four years but barely exchanged ten words, even came to ask for her WeChat, saying that since they would be in the same industry, they could help each other out in the future.

Qi Zheng knew their intentions and didn’t refuse them openly, but she had already mentally categorized them: “Classmates met only before graduation.”

Qi Zheng was toasted by classmates one after another and was forced to drink a lot. By the time the party was almost over, her head was a bit dizzy. Jiang Youyou supported her, ready to send her home.

It was then that everyone realized that no one knew where Qi Zheng lived.

“Are you still sober? Can you remember your home address?” Jiang Youyou was ready to take Qi Zheng back to her own place if necessary.

Qi Zheng opened her eyes and slowly recovered her senses once most of the classmates had dispersed. She was indeed a bit drunk, but not to the point of being unconscious.

“I’m fine, you go home.”

Jiang Youyou wasn’t comfortable leaving Qi Zheng alone. The successive appearances of Qi’s father and Lin Muyun today must have been quite a shock for her.

“Let me take you home.”

“Seriously, no need. I have a car.”

Jiang Youyou watched Old Yu help Qi Zheng into the car, and as the Bentley disappeared into the night, she still didn’t know where Qi Zheng lived.

She felt a little forlorn. Four years as classmates, four years as roommates, and she still felt like a stranger to this roommate.

Returning to the villa and entering the living room, she saw Aunt Xin as usual. Qi Zheng smiled at her, but saw that Aunt Xin kept giving her meaningful glances.

“What’s wrong?”

Aunt Xin whispered, “Third Miss is back. She’s waiting for you inside.”

Ms. Shen is back? Qi Zheng remembered she was supposed to be back tomorrow noon, did she remember incorrectly?

Walking over, she indeed saw Shen Zhibing sitting elegantly on the sofa, uncharacteristically not working, but flipping through a magazine.

“Ms. Shen, why are you back early?”

Qi Zheng was a bit dizzy and quickly walked over to sit opposite Shen Zhibing. The smell of alcohol on her was stronger than during the last social engagement.

Shen Zhibing put down the magazine and looked at her: “Drinking again?”

“It was a class dinner. Everyone was drinking, so I couldn’t be too special,” Qi Zheng smiled.

Shen Zhibing knew that if Qi Zheng truly didn’t want to drink, she wouldn’t necessarily follow suit even if everyone else was.

“Drink the hangover soup first.”

Aunt Xin had already thoughtfully prepared the soup. Qi Zheng drank it quickly in a few large gulps. She looked to be in a good mood, with no graduation melancholy and no distress from seeing the unwelcome guest today.

Shen Zhibing stared at her for a while longer and then said, “Come upstairs with me.”

Not knowing what Ms. Shen wanted to talk about, Qi Zheng still followed her into the room. According to her usual habit, she looked toward the desk as soon as she entered. Although she had been drinking, if Ms. Shen wanted to discuss business, she could probably manage for a while.

However, today, besides the computer, there was nothing on Ms. Shen’s desk.

Qi Zheng didn’t know if she should walk over and waited for Ms. Shen to speak.

Shen Zhibing closed the door and pointed to the other side.

Qi Zheng followed her over. Just as she settled onto the sofa, Shen Zhibing suddenly leaned in, startling Qi Zheng.

“Who did you meet today?”

Qi Zheng leaned back, trying hard to avoid Shen Zhibing’s oppressive aura.

“Just went to attend the graduation ceremony.”

Shen Zhibing’s gaze was profound: “Do I need to prompt you?”

As she spoke, she actually lifted Qi Zheng’s hand, pulled back her sleeve, and revealed the bracelet.

“You need to remember whose person you are now.”

Qi Zheng frowned. Did Shen Zhibing know about her meeting with Lin Muyun? She was clearly on a business trip in Miancheng. Did she send someone to monitor her?

Qi Zheng didn’t think she was important enough for that, but Shen Zhibing’s current attitude showed she was very unhappy, as if they had returned to the very beginning of their relationship.

“Ms. Shen, I still have basic personal freedom, don’t I?”

Shen Zhibing tightened her grip on Qi Zheng’s wrist and leaned in closer: “I can give you basic freedom. But if you want to return to Lin Muyun’s embrace, it won’t be that simple.”

Before Qi Zheng could speak, Shen Zhibing added: “Don’t forget what you said when you signed the contract with me. If you want to take revenge on Lin Muyun, don’t be soft-hearted and a coward.”