Pretending To Be Affectionate [Transmigration] - Chapter 2

Ling Yu’s transformation into a “player” began with the original owner’s backstory.

The Ling family were nouveau riche in Jiangcheng. It was only through the marriage between Ling Taiguo and Xu Qian, leveraging the Xu family’s network and power, that the company grew into a publicly listed one.

In the company’s most prosperous year, Xu Qian died from an illness. Ling Taiguo had his wife buried one day, and the next, he brought his mistress home and made her his legal wife.

With an absent father and a cruel stepmother, the original owner’s life revolved around partying, gambling, and causing trouble.

Then, retribution came. Three years ago, the original owner was street racing on a mountain road when she crashed into a truck and died instantly.

Her death was a mystery, but coincidentally, her stepmother, Yu Xin, became pregnant. Ling Taiguo no longer needed Ling Yu to inherit the family business. However, before Xu Qian died, she had forced Ling Taiguo to sign a contract.

As long as Ling Yu didn’t get married or die, she would inherit half of the Ling corporation’s assets.

To secure these shares, Ling Taiguo and Yu Xin planned to arrange a marriage for Ling Yu to maximize their profits.

By the time Ling Yu transmigrated, her second half of life was already meticulously planned out.

In her previous life, she would have had countless ways to sever ties with Ling Taiguo, but the original owner’s car accident wasn’t an accident. She had died a wrongful death.

The police had evidence pointing to premeditated murder, with Yu Xin as the prime suspect. However, Ling Taiguo protected his wife, paid to have the physical evidence destroyed, and let the crime be pinned on the original owner, quickly settling the matter with money.

What was even worse was that Ling Taiguo’s rise to power was built on stepping on her mother’s family. The original owner’s mother had died from depression, a condition deliberately caused by Ling Taiguo and Yu Xin. While the two of them thrived in high society, the original owner and her mother had died filled with hatred.

Ling Yu believed in karma. Since she was now in the original owner’s body, there was no way she would let the perpetrators live in peace.

In her previous life, she was a writer. After achieving fame as a novelist, she became a screenwriter, her skill lying in her writing.

To ask her to fight for an inheritance or manage a company would be asking for trouble. Besides, Ling Yu had no problem earning money. As a renowned author and top-tier screenwriter, the Ling family’s wealth might not even feel as good to her as her own earnings.

Ling Yu didn’t have a high regard for money, but that didn’t stop Ling Taiguo and his wife from loving it.

The best way to get revenge was to find their weak spot and poke it daily.

So, Ling Yu changed her mind. She didn’t rush to break up with Ling Taiguo. Instead, she stayed in the family mansion, spent every day with Yu Xin, followed Ling Taiguo’s arrangements, and even obediently went on blind dates… all while openly spending his money and ruining his family’s reputation.

She made Ling Taiguo and Yu Xin’s lives miserable, all while secretly rebuilding ties with the original owner’s maternal grandparents to find evidence.

Ling Yu might be a “player,” but she wasn’t without morals. She had no interest in men, so she wouldn’t follow Ling Taiguo’s plan to harm a decent person through a marriage alliance.

To avoid future trouble, she went all in and joined Jiangcheng’s famous social circle: the “Player” group.

Soon, tales of Ling Yu’s escapades spread throughout Jiangcheng’s high society. Ling Taiguo discovered that no respectable family was willing to marry into his, and the marriage plans had to be grudgingly put on hold.

Jiang Song was one of the “fish” she reeled in from the group.

His current persistent behavior was simply because she hadn’t paid him enough yet.

Ling Yu narrowed her eyes, watching Jiang Song as he wiped the stains from his suit. Perhaps her gaze was too direct, as he seemed to sense it and turned to meet her eyes.

This time, his tone was more sincere as he played the victim. “Ling Yu, ever since you left Jiangcheng, I haven’t been able to eat or sleep.”

Ling Yu put her hands in her pockets, fighting the urge to yawn. She looked past his shoulder to the window. Several private cars were parked outside Kaihe Law Firm.

Gu Qing was about to get off work.

For the past two months, to complete her mission and get close to Gu Qing, she had played the role of a poor, pathetic, and hopelessly devoted woman.

She was spending more and more money and, to be honest, it was the first time Ling Yu had ever been troubled by spending money.

While Jiang Song was a bit annoying, he was good at asking for money. She might as well take this legitimate opportunity to spend a little more.

Thinking this, Ling Yu pulled a check from her purse, placed it on the table, and slid it toward Jiang Song.

She gave him a meaningful look. “Coffee won’t come out of a suit with just a napkin. There’s a Blu-Duo Bespoke Suits shop on the ground floor. Go get a new one…”

Ling Yu’s finger tapped the check, her dark eyes fixed on Jiang Song’s.

She was born with a pair of enchanting, “peach-blossom” eyes that were inherently flirtatious, whether she smiled or not. But her nose was straight and elegant, and the superior curve of her lips gave her face a calm quality.

Right now, the smile didn’t reach her eyes, creating an imposing presence that didn’t allow for any rebuttal.

Jiang Song lowered his eyes, his pupils shrinking.

The check on the table was for a full five million.

He knew Ling Yu’s rules. He understood at a glance that this five million was her breakup fee.

In the “player” circle, they got together and broke up casually. The unwritten rule was that no one would be at a financial disadvantage when they broke up.

Only Ling Yu was different. She was generous, and she gave every ex-boyfriend a breakup fee. It was always a million, no more, no less.

But this time, the amount was five times larger.

Jiang Song’s fingers curled. He greedily looked at it one more time before reluctantly pulling his gaze away.

He was secretly pleased. He had gambled right—Ling Yu was in a hurry to break up.

Regardless of her reason, he was confident he could push the price up even more.

Jiang Song lowered his head, gathering his emotions, and adopted a look of extreme humiliation. He didn’t even glance at the check.

“Ling Yu, is all you care about money?”

His indignant shout, filled with genuine desperation, drew everyone’s attention.

The coffee shop fell silent. As the conflict escalated, all eyes were on Ling Yu, the “villain.”

Jiang Song lowered his eyelashes, a sly glint in his eyes.

“And you…” Ling Yu looked up, her lips curving into an orange-hued smile. Her dimples appeared, reflecting the soft light from above.

Jiang Song’s heart fluttered at her whispered, gentle call. He instinctively said, “Hmm?”

“What exactly do you want?”

Seeing Ling Yu give in, he finally had a chance to name his price. Jiang Song anxiously wiped the sweat from his palms.

He kept up his dejected facade, rambling on about the past. “Three months ago, when we first met, weren’t you the one who first suggested we go for a drink at a bar?”

Ling Yu nodded, signaling him to continue.

“You’ve always been in control. You even set a time limit for our relationship…” Jiang Song’s eyes flickered. “You love the ocean, but I love you…”

Ling Yu was amused. She certainly had more money than she knew what to do with, but she didn’t need him.

Ling Yu’s peach-blossom eyes half-closed as she prepared to pull the check back.

Out of the corner of her eye, she casually glanced at the entrance. After she saw the woman who just walked in, her fair, slender fingers accidentally pressed a little too hard, leaving a nail mark on the five-million-dollar check.

A cold gust of wind blew in, making the wind chime at the cafe’s entrance jingle.

The woman who entered, with snow flurries on her coat, wore an earth-toned plaid wool coat. Her long, curly, light-brown hair fell over her back like silk.

She was on the phone, her slender phoenix-like eyes narrowed as she occasionally answered.

Her thin lips were coated in a cold-toned lipstick, which gave her striking, almost mixed-race features a powerful aura.

This was a woman who would stand out in any crowd.

She stood calmly by the counter, her expression aloof and her demeanor intimidating.

She was like a snow lotus blooming on a mountaintop, elegant and cold, not to be looked at.

If Ling Yu hadn’t captured everyone’s attention, this beautiful woman’s appearance would have caused a stir.

After being ignored for three seconds, the woman politely tapped on the counter.

The cashier girl, who was busy gossiping, turned her head. Seeing the woman’s face, her almond-shaped eyes widened. After a three-second daze, she instinctively wiped a bit of drool from the corner of her mouth.

Then she blushed and apologized. “Sorry… Miss… we’re full. We can only do takeout.”

Gu Qing hung up her phone, glanced at the cafe, and said in an indifferent tone, “I have a reservation, seat 38.”

As she spoke, Gu Qing’s gaze followed the crowd’s eyes and finally landed on Ling Yu in the corner.

Their eyes met in mid-air. Ling Yu’s fingers curled, and she instinctively pulled her hand back. The check on the table was partially pulled along, dangling on the edge of the booth.

Her motion looked suspicious, and she regretted it instantly.

Sure enough, Gu Qing’s scrutinizing gaze landed on her fingers, then slowly moved away.

She folded her arms across her chest, her expression cold. She turned to the cashier girl, gave a polite nod, and walked away as if she hadn’t seen Ling Yu at all.

Ling Yu was so annoyed by her indifferent attitude that she laughed. She picked up the check again.

Across the table, Jiang Song was still listing her “crimes.”

“Ling Yu, I know you don’t like me. I’ll admit I was fooled. But for the sake of common decency, you should at least give me an explanation…”

Jiang Song was still aggressive, listing her transgressions.

He was excellent at the art of building up a story before a demand.

Ling Yu secretly sneered, looking at the arrogant and overconfident man as if he were an idiot.

The easy smile on her lips faded. Her expression changed instantly. A look of sad, watery anguish appeared in her clear eyes. Her voice was full of grievance. “Your liking me is your business. My not liking you is my freedom. Young Master Jiang, this isn’t an excuse to twist the truth and humiliate me.”

Jiang Song opened his mouth, stunned.

Ling Yu lowered her eyes, not giving him a chance to speak. Her voice was choked, as if she were deeply humiliated. “I never said yes to your confession.”

Ling Yu, of course, hadn’t said yes that night. She had simply raised her glass to clink with his.

Jiang Song felt like he had just swallowed a fly. He retorted in a panicked voice, “So what? You…”

Ling Yu let out a loud sniffle, and a single, crystal tear rolled from her eye.

As if she couldn’t take it anymore, her emotions erupted. She opened her watery eyes and cut him off. “So… to force me into submission, you’re using a check to turn the tables on me and repeatedly slander me in public?”

Ling Yu theatrically crumpled the check into a ball and threw it at Jiang Song. Tears streamed down her fresh, clean face like a string of pearls.

“Is this fun, Young Master Jiang? Are you just counting on the fact that you’ve caught my weak spot and that I wouldn’t dare tell the truth in public?” Ling Yu cried calmly, her eyes red as if she had been pushed to her limit. “Fine, I’ll give you a reason. I just don’t like you because I like women. She…”

Ling Yu paused, lifting her tear-filled eyes to look at Gu Qing. The light from above cut the woman’s face in two: one half bathed in light, the other in shadow. She showed no expression. She was unapproachable and stood above it all.

She was as cold and indifferent as ever, as if it had nothing to do with her.

As if she were born without empathy, she was simply standing by and watching.

Ling Yu sighed. She had spent two months trying every method to bring her food. This pathetic show of affection was being taken for granted by the other woman.

Ling Yu scoffed inwardly but showed no emotion. Her long eyelashes fluttered, and she tilted her face up like a delicate white flower. “I can live and die for her… and you, you mean nothing to me.”

Jiang Song’s eyes almost fell out of his head. He was so shocked he couldn’t speak. Ling Yu, the infamous “player” of Jiangcheng, liked women?

Give me a break!

She had so many ex-boyfriends—more than he could count on his fingers.

And she could live and die for a woman?

Jiang Song wondered if his excessive demand had scared Ling Yu and made her say something so ridiculous just to slander him.

In his stunned moment, Jiang Song missed his best chance to confront her.

Ten seconds later, the public opinion in the coffee shop had completely shifted.

“Damn, he’s a manipulative jerk…”

“Not just manipulative, he’s a scumbag.”

“She obviously doesn’t like him, but he has no shame and won’t leave her alone. What trash!”

“Just another day of being afraid of men… The young woman looks so helpless. Oh no, she’s so pretty, and she’s probably just a student. It’s a tragedy! I hope being harassed by this disgusting scumbag doesn’t leave her with psychological trauma!”

…

Almost everyone was staring at Jiang Song as if he were a pig.

He had tried to be clever and ended up in a worse situation. By the time he realized it, his handsome face had turned the color of a pig’s liver. He rolled up his sleeve to reveal a bulging vein on his arm.

Ling Yu, just an arm’s length away, stood gracefully, bathed in the light, her peach-blossom eyes dismissively on him.

From Jiang Song’s angle, he could clearly see the blatant contempt on her face. Provoked by her look, his head heated up. He took a long step and angrily raised his hand, trying to grab Ling Yu’s arm.

Just then, a shadow fell over him. Gu Qing, holding her briefcase, blocked his arm.

“Mr. Jiang?”

Her face was cold and beautiful. Her long, slender legs were encased in tailored wide-leg trousers, giving her an elegant presence.

Jiang Song was stunned. When he saw the assistant behind Gu Qing frantically gesturing to him, the anger on his face slowly crumbled.

“L-Lawyer Gu! Hello, hello, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” Jiang Song suppressed his rage, bending at the waist, his tone cautious.

Gu Qing was known for being uncompromising, with a cold and ruthless personality and a firm hand. Even with clients, if they rubbed her the wrong way, she wouldn’t take the case, no matter how much they offered.

Gu Qing simply hummed in response, not even looking at Jiang Song. Her phoenix-like eyes were only on Ling Yu’s elbow, briefly glancing at her fair, delicate wrist.

After confirming that nothing was wrong, she subtly pulled her gaze away.

She was perfectly polite, and her expression was cold as she passed judgment on Jiang Song. “It seems today is not a convenient time to discuss your case, Mr. Jiang. Perhaps we can reschedule.”

“Reschedule” meant an indefinite appointment.

Jiang Song had worked hard for this opportunity, and it was far more important than extorting money from Ling Yu. The Jiang family company was small but facing serious problems. Without Gu Qing, it would collapse.

He was so anxious that sweat beaded on his forehead. He glared at Ling Yu, the cause of all this trouble.

He desperately tried to explain. “You’ve misunderstood. The matter with this young lady has been resolved. I like her, but she’s a lesbian…”

“Lesbian?” Ling Yu squinted, her fists audibly clenching.

She looked at Jiang Song as if he were a dead man.

008: [Host, control yourself! The protagonist is still here. You can’t ruin your pathetic, devoted character.]

Ling Yu: …

Her curled eyelashes fluttered. She glanced at the indifferent and elegant woman an arm’s length away.

The hostility in her eyes disappeared in a flash. Amidst 008’s constant warnings not to act rashly, Ling Yu took two steps forward, hugged Gu Qing’s arm, and pitifully called out, “Gu Qing, I’m sorry. I’ve caused you trouble. Are you hungry? I made honey-glazed chicken in three-cup sauce today. Of course, my cooking can’t compare to your client’s…”

Ling Yu’s eyes drooped softly as she spoke, pulling out a light pink lunchbox from her insulated bag. It was food she had packed from a five-star hotel half an hour ago.

She placed the lunchbox on the table, pointed at Jiang Song, and looked up at Gu Qing with a feigned innocent smile. “He’s really good at passing the blame, don’t you think?”

Gu Qing didn’t say anything, frowning as she glanced at Ling Yu, who was practically pressed against her chest. She was about to push her away but then met Ling Yu’s tear-reddened eyes.

Gu Qing pursed her lips and allowed Ling Yu to hold her arm, expressionlessly shifting her gaze away.

On the other side, the anxiously explaining Jiang Song felt a lump in his throat. He remembered what Ling Yu had said about liking a woman, and looking at the two of them with their arms linked, his face instantly turned ashen.

008: [You can do this, Host. You’re touching the protagonist’s arm. You’re a dead person in my eyes now.]