The voices of the people went farther into the distance.
Lin Xiaojuan’s limbs went numb. This was not the first time she had heard someone calling her a substitute lover.
He Xiaoai had said it before as well. In her heart, there was a prick.
Now, there was another group of people calling her a substitute.
Could it be that the entire world knows that I’m the substitute except for myself? Am I the only one who sees this as true love?
In that instance, her heart burned with fury and anger.
Her previous relationship that was unhealthy had made her feel pressured and paranoid. Now that she had finally fallen for Gu Xie, she felt even less comfortable. She wished that one day, the secret could not be kept any longer and that Gu Xie would tell her the ‘truth’ so that they could part earlier.
After all, he was Qianshu’s brother.
They did not want things to go ugly.
But for some reason, she felt like crying!
Lin Xiaojuan took a deep breath and searched for Jing Yun and Gu Xie on her phone. She did not find any relevant news. Back then when she was managing Jing Yun, she did not come into any contact with Gu Xie. Afterward, she hated Jing Yun very badly and seldom read news about her. Yet, she was very sure that she had never heard anything going on between her and Gu Xie.
She thought for a while before she went to a website that mainly shared about celebrity gossip. She searched for Gu Xie and Jing Yun. Indeed, she found something. The picture was very blurry, and she could roughly make out Gu Xie and Jing Yun eating at a restaurant meant for couples.
Jing Yun was smiling brightly and beautifully. She looked shy and pretty.
Gu Xie looked emotionless and aloof as usual.
The photo was taken by a passerby, and it did not go on the news.
Lin Xiaojuan felt her limbs go numb.
She remembered how the female celebrities were gloating about it when they mentioned Gu Xie. It was as if they wanted her to fall. She felt a prickly pain in her heart, and Lin Xiaojuan phoned Gu Xie impulsively. “Gu Xie, I have a question.”
Gu Xie smiled and asked, “What’s up?”
“I… want to ask you… what noodles do you want? Instant noodles, yellow noodles, or vermicelli…”
She had no idea what she was saying at all.
“Yellow noodles. I remember that you have that at home.”
“Okay!”
She hung up hurriedly and felt frustrated. Jing Yun approached suddenly and smiled at her. Lin Xiaojuan had regained her composure, and she watched calmly as Jing Yun came over. “Xiaojuan, do you still hate me?”
“Don’t you feel ashamed for asking?” Lin Xiaojuan sneered and looked at her. “Jing Yun, if I were you, I would be too embarrassed to stand before me.”
“It’s just a small matter. Why must you bear a grudge? You took things that belonged to me, isn’t it?”
“Oh? What did I take from you?”
“Gu Xie!” Jing Yun said. “Did you know how shocking it was for me when Gu Xie announced that his fiancée was you? How could it be? I mean, of course it would be you too. After all, you and I look so much alike. It’s not surprising. But do you know that every time you mention Gu Xie, do you know how the other celebrities speak of you? You are just a substitute for Jing Yun… What are you so proud of… Gu Xie is just looking for something fresh and fake… You are a substitute…”
Blood was dripping from Lin Xiaojuan’s heart, yet her smile never subsided. “You have dated Gu Xie before? If it were true, the media would have made big news about it long before.”
“Lin Xiaojuan, didn’t you know how loving Gu Xie and I were back then? He looked at me with such gentle and soft eyes. If it weren’t for my immaturity back then and thirst for success that made me follow the others, Gu Xie wouldn’t even give you another look. He is such a powerful man.”
