A Self-Cultivation of a Stand-in [Transmigration GL] - Chapter 2

Walking out with the brand-new marriage certificate in hand, Hua Luoyue still felt a bit dazed.

Having been single for twenty-eight years in her previous life, she never expected that the first thing she’d do after transmigrating was “marry” herself off.

I suppose it’s a milestone worth remembering, she thought with a touch of self-deprecating humor as she carefully tucked the certificate into a hidden compartment in her backpack.

Yu Zhezhi had no intention of waiting for her. She walked briskly toward the parking lot, pulled open her car door, tossed her things inside, and climbed in.

The assistant, trailing a step behind, stopped next to Hua Luoyue and spoke first: “I’ll call a car for you.”

Hua Luoyue readjusted her backpack and paused, instinctively looking toward where Yu Zhezhi had gone. The latter was already in the car with the door shut tight.

It was a clear signal: she wanted no further interaction with Hua Luoyue.

Presumably, the blunt question from earlier had offended her, leading to this display of dissatisfaction.

Hua Luoyue curled her lips slightly and said to the assistant, “Alright, thank you for the trouble.”

She actually found Yu Zhezhi quite interesting. Clearly, the woman adored this face, yet she went out of her way to keep her distance, terrified that Hua Luoyue might develop some “unnecessary feelings” for her.

In the original plot, the only time Yu Zhezhi ever showed such overt disgust and boredom was toward the original host. Especially when compared to the “White Moonlight,” the original host was treated like a rat in a gutter—greedy, narrow-minded, and petty.

Even at the start of the marriage, the original host hadn’t left a good impression. The assistant remembered her as timid and subservient, a far cry from the White Moonlight’s elegance.

But from another perspective, Yu Zhezhi was a person of immense focus and unshakable will. Her marriage was for her own interests, and her search for a substitute was to soothe her longing, yet she remained steadfast in her heart, growing more deeply devoted to her White Moonlight every day.

She was a tough character.

Hua Luoyue didn’t dislike that. Although she appreciated Yu Zhezhi’s looks, she had no intention of interfering with the “official couple’s” true love. Even in a play, acting out unrequited affection was better than both parties falling too deep into a lie.

Yu Zhezhi will never fall in love with Hua Luoyue.

Realizing this, Hua Luoyue actually felt a sense of relief.

While waiting for the car, the assistant naturally had more messages to deliver.

“President Yu won’t interfere excessively with your personal freedom, but she also dislikes irrelevant people pestering her with questions. We’ve already handled things on your mother’s end; she’ll be moved to a VIP ward tomorrow after her check-up. However, the extent of her recovery will depend on her own luck…”

As she spoke, she pulled a business card from her pocket. “If anything else comes up, call me directly. President Yu is often in meetings or traveling; she might not be able to attend to your matters.”

Hua Luoyue took the card. The name Li Yunting was printed in the center. She committed the name to memory and nodded.

Assistant Li was satisfied with Hua Luoyue’s cooperation, but certain reminders had to be made crystal clear.

“You should know why President Yu chose you, right?” she asked.

“I know,” Hua Luoyue replied. “To look at my face and think of someone else.”

Assistant Li: “…”

While that was the truth, it was a bit too blunt. Assistant Li felt a bit choked up but decided it wasn’t a bad thing that Hua Luoyue possessed such self-awareness.

“It’s good that you know.” The assistant regained her composure. “Even if it’s a marriage of convenience, there are no downsides for you. In five years, you’ll only be two years out of university. It’s fair to say your life will have just begun.”

“I know,” Hua Luoyue interrupted gently. “To me, President Yu is a benefactor.”

Assistant Li blinked, instinctively turning to study Hua Luoyue.

To be chosen by Yu Zhezhi, Hua Luoyue was naturally very beautiful. Unlike Yu Zhezhi’s mature allure, Hua Luoyue’s beauty had a clean, student-like quality. Every feature was gentle, refined, and entirely non-threatening.

In the past, because of her family’s hardships and the bullying she faced at school, the original host always kept her head down and shoulders hunched, looking timid and cowering. She had been nothing like the person she resembled.

Assistant Li was one of the few who had actually seen the person in Yu Zhezhi’s heart—even if only in an old photograph.

The woman in the photo was roughly the same age as the current Hua Luoyue and indeed looked similar. But even through a photo, one could feel that woman’s confidence and grace; her eyes were bright like stars, looking directly into the camera without a hint of shyness, capturing a vivid image of a bright spring day.

When Assistant Li first met Hua Luoyue, her first thought was that they didn’t actually look that much alike. It was only after seeing her more often that she noticed the similarities in their features.

How can two people look so much alike?

At this moment, the thought crossed Assistant Li’s mind again. Even though it was the same person, after signing the contract, the heavy aura of gloom and pressure that usually hung over Hua Luoyue seemed to have vanished into thin air.

“It’s good that you’ve come to terms with it.” Assistant Li’s tone softened unconsciously. “President Yu is something of a public figure; she wouldn’t do anything as low as deceiving or kidnapping you.”

Hua Luoyue smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. She touched her cheek. “I’m just lucky to have this face.”

Assistant Li couldn’t tell if she was being self-deprecating or just joking. But Hua Luoyue meant it.

When debt collectors had harassed the original host at the school gates, Yu Zhezhi settled it. When the mother’s medical fees were impossible to pay and the host almost sold herself, Yu Zhezhi stepped in.

Yu Zhezhi wasn’t a philanthropist. She wouldn’t pay such a high price for nothing. What she wanted was that face. And the fact that she could clean up Hua Luoyue’s mess without blinking meant she felt the face was worth it.

Yu Zhezhi’s preference for that face had nothing to do with Hua Luoyue herself. But regardless of her motive, the fact remained that Hua Luoyue received help. Moreover, Yu Zhezhi wasn’t using the debt to force her into anything; it was all laid out in a written agreement.

Emotions aside, this was simply a high-paying job that was sufficient to get her through her current crisis.

It’s hard to say what the original host would have thought, but the current Hua Luoyue was truly grateful.

“I am beyond grateful just to have the chance to finish my education properly.”

Before Assistant Li could say more, the car she had called pulled up to the curb. The driver greeted them, and Hua Luoyue walked over, opened the back door, waved to Assistant Li, and got in.

Watching the black sedan disappear around the corner, Assistant Li finally turned back toward the parking lot.

Yu Zhezhi was still sitting in her car. At some point, the rear window had been rolled down halfway. She was staring at the direction Hua Luoyue’s car had gone, lost in thought.

Assistant Li got in and began reporting the follow-up: “The piano and etiquette teachers have been contacted. One lesson each per week. The results will depend on her talent and willingness. Luckily, Young Master Zhou has been sent abroad recently, so he shouldn’t be bothering you for a while…”

Yu Zhezhi filtered the assistant’s words, taking a moment before offering a distracted “Mhm.” Her eyes hadn’t moved from the empty street corner.

Assistant Li was used to this and understood Yu Zhezhi’s contradictory mindset. She adored that face to the extreme, yet through their recent interactions, the girl’s posture and personality had left her deeply disappointed. Whenever they spoke, harsh words would slip out of Yu Zhezhi’s mouth.

Assistant Li didn’t particularly like Hua Luoyue and had initially voted against choosing her as a marriage partner. Eventually, she was persuaded by the fact that Hua Luoyue was young, naive, had no background, and was easy to control due to her family’s plight.

Most importantly, Yu Zhezhi had been adamant.

Now that the deed was done, Assistant Li didn’t want this contract marriage to face any more turbulence.

“She’s just a young girl, only twenty. Maybe speak to her a bit more gently in the future? We don’t want someone to photograph you and start a rumor that you’re threatening a young woman.”

“Besides…” Assistant Li paused, showing a trace of sympathy. “She really is quite pitiful.”

A deadbeat father who couldn’t be relied on and caused all their relatives to shun them. A mother who was gravely ill and had been in a coma for a long time; even with the most expensive equipment, she was just lingering. She likely wouldn’t last until the New Year. Once the mother died, that girl would truly be alone in the world.

Perhaps realizing this was why Hua Luoyue was so desperate to continue the treatment.

“If you’re just a little bit nicer to her, even if she ends up falling for you, it doesn’t really matter. At least it won’t hurt you.” Assistant Li continued, “A five-year contract—it’s normal for some emotions to fluctuate. It won’t affect you…”

Yu Zhezhi shot her an icy look. Assistant Li shivered, realizing she had overstepped, and quickly shut her mouth.

“A transaction is a transaction. There is no right to speak of feelings.” Yu Zhezhi finally withdrew her gaze, leaned back, closed her eyes, and said coldly, “Drive.”

A fake is a fake. It was a temporary placeholder to deceive others. But in the eyes of those who knew the truth, a fake could never reach even one-ten-thousandth of the real thing.

Not likable enough, and not worthy.

Assistant Li understood what Yu Zhezhi meant and didn’t dare say more. As they passed the same corner, she instinctively looked ahead. They were taking the same route as Hua Luoyue, but the girl was already long gone.

She heard Yu Zhezhi’s low voice from the back seat.

“It’s best if she doesn’t get any ideas she shouldn’t have.”