Chapter 39 A Shoddy Fake

Chapter 39: A Clumsy Forgery

After Qin Shuyi left, Tao Wangxi straightened up and looked at herself in the mirror.

She had said that Qin Shuyi would regret it.

Tao Wangxi was a villain born and bred. Since death eluded her and a good life was out of reach, then everyone would suffer with her.

If her love went unanswered, why should Ling Jue get to be with the person he liked so easily?

Meanwhile, in the capital, the atmosphere inside the club was icy.

In the long-silent room, someone stretched out a leg and kicked the one wearing a worried frown. "This was all your terrible idea. We're really done for now."

That person's mouth drooped. "You all didn't object when I suggested it. Besides, that Qin Shuyi was with Master Jue for almost a year, doesn't that prove that Master Jue likes this type? Who knew he could get so angry?"

The others didn't know what to say either.

They had gone to great lengths to find someone who looked thirty percent like Qin Shuyi, hoping to foist her on him today and curry favor with Master Jue in the process.

Who would have thought Ling Jue would look at that woman a few more times.

But the moment she tried to get close, he barked at her to get away.

Not only that, he asked them whose idea it was to bring this woman.

At that point, it was clear to everyone. Not only had they failed to suck up to him, they had seriously offended him.

Ling Jue's attitude made it obvious he felt their act of finding a substitute was an insult to Qin Shuyi, and he was going to settle the score later.

They really couldn't understand. Why? It wasn't like this before.

He wasn't this averse to women in the past.

Why did he accept 'gifts' from others before, but not now?

Besides, he and Qin Shuyi have already broken up. He couldn't possibly still be hung up on her, could he? Saying that out loud, who wouldn't find it absurd?

The group was filled with anxious dread. However, soon each of them simultaneously received calls from their family elders.

"Are you all pig-brained? We told you to find a way to secure the project, and you just had to poke the bear?"

They had no ability to take the proper, legitimate path, but were full of crooked schemes.

The key point was, if they had succeeded, it would be one thing, but they had to step on a landmine.

Because of this incident, these 'geniuses' received a huge black mark against their positions as family heirs.

Meanwhile, Ling Jue, who had left the club, wasn't in a hurry to get in the car. Instead, he stood in the quiet night, and lit a cigarette.

He let it burn but didn't smoke it.

He suddenly remembered Qin Shuyi hated it when he smoked. Every time he finished, she wouldn't kiss him. Unable to do otherwise, he could only comply with her and reduce his smoking frequency.

The habit of lighting a cigarette but not touching it was formed during that time.

Now, no one was around to nag him about it anymore, yet he seemed to have lost the interest in picking up a cigarette.

Watching the wisp of white smoke, he wondered, what was Qin Shuyi doing right now?

Without him cooking for her, and without a housekeeper coming over, was she just eating whatever again?

He didn't mention the breakup settlement, and she really didn't ask for it either. Fool.

Were the nights in City S more beautiful than in the capital?

The weather was gradually turning cooler. Would her hands and feet still be cold?

Ling Jue thought, what a loser he was. That woman had left so decisively, yet when he looked around, she was everywhere.

Just as he was about to crush that cigarette with self-mockery, he heard a soft female voice.

"Smoking is bad for your health."

He looked up at the woman standing in the wind, smiling gently at him.

It was the one who had been chased out of the private room earlier.

Miao Yan wore a look of genuine concern on her face, her eyes pure, standing in stark contrast to the decadent, extravagant club behind her and her earlier seductive, alluring image when she entered the private room.

Seeing Ling Jue look at her, she smiled somewhat sheepishly.

"Sorry, I spoke out of turn." She bit her lower lip, hesitating as if wanting to say more. "Sir, I didn't mean to offend you in the private room earlier. But my mother is sick. They said... they said as long as I went with you tonight, whether it worked out or not, they would help her get the surgery."

Ling Jue still didn't speak.

She lowered her head in shame. "I'm really sorry, but I desperately need that money."

If one could maintain self-respect and self-love, who would want to degrade themselves?

She was beautiful. Even with only a thirty percent resemblance to Qin Shuyi, she was a stunning beauty who would turn heads on the street. Now, with flushed cheeks and teary eyes, her frail figure in the strong wind evoked pity.

She stubbornly held her neck up, as if awaiting his judgment.

After a long while, just as she thought he wouldn't acknowledge her, she finally heard the extraordinary man speak.

"Do you know a saying?"

Miao Yan looked at him curiously.

"Trying to draw a tiger but ending up with a dog." A cold, mocking smile hung on Ling Jue's lips.

Ignoring her suddenly pale face, he continued, "No matter how well you imitate, it's still just a clumsy forgery. And also, this outfit looks terrible on you."

He brushed past her, paused, and left one more sentence. "If you deliberately imitate her and parade around like this again, I won't mind changing your face for you."

At that moment, the handsome, dashing, and unrestrained Young Master Ling, seen countless times in the news, materialized into a life-claiming Yama King from hell.

Miao Yan stared in terror, unconsciously taking a few steps back.

As the heartless man was about to pull open the car door, she broke down and shouted, "Is it wrong that I just want a good life? Can I decide that my mother needs money for surgery? You could help me with just a lift of your hand, why do you have to humiliate people like this? Do you know what will happen to me after you 'returned' me?"

Ling Jue didn't look back.

"If you need money, you should look for a relief organization, not me. Besides, I'm not in the habit of saving fallen women."

The only extra sympathy in his life was reserved for Qin Shuyi's hungry stomach.

Someone who deliberately wore clothes similar to hers, dressed in her style to approach him, only disgusted him.

Moreover, they were all mistaken; this unknown woman bore not the slightest resemblance to Qin Shuyi.

Not just in appearance, but in personality as well—Qin Shuyi was never some aloof, stubborn shrinking violet. She loved money, had an eye for good looks, chased after fun, and never hid her worldly desires; she simply wasn’t greedy.

Many people thought their long-lasting relationship relied on Qin Shuyi’s good temper, gentleness, and domestic virtue, assuming she must have been the one who did most of the compromising in their daily interactions. But that wasn’t the case—Qin Shuyi never sold herself short in a romantic relationship.

She would never say, "Smoking is bad for your health." Instead, she’d say, "Keep smoking and get out."

Sitting in the car, Ling Jue belatedly noticed the upward curve of his lips.

Soon, it flattened back into a straight line.

So, thinking of her could still make him happy.

He must have fallen under her spell.

How could he ever consider surrendering to a woman? Just a game, a little diversion to break up the monotony.

But being repeatedly reminded of his ex-girlfriend by these people, he suddenly realized—tonight, he really, really wanted to see her.

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