Pretending To Be Affectionate [Transmigration] - Chapter 36

The old lady’s funeral took place three days later.

She was buried at Dongshan Cemetery.

A light rain fell on the day of the burial.

Ling Yu followed the younger members of the Xu family through every part of the ceremony.

As everyone prepared to descend the mountain, Old Master Xu stood beneath his head of graying hair, leaning on his cane. He turned and beckoned to Ling Yu.

“Yuyu, walk with Grandfather.”

Yuncheng’s winter was colder than Jiangcheng’s. Most of the trees on the mountain had already shed their leaves, leaving only bare branches behind.

Ling Yu had not walked far with the old man before stopping.

He had received a pacemaker three months ago. His heart was weak, and Great-Grandmother’s recent death had left him physically and emotionally exhausted.

Ling Yu did not dare let him overexert himself. She gave two fake coughs and joked, “It’s so cold, Grandfather. If you keep walking, you won’t have a granddaughter anymore.”

Old Master Xu had been stern his entire life.

Even now that he was elderly, the second and third generations of the Xu family remained cautious and restrained around him.

Only Ling Yu behaved like a clever little imp who had known him forever.

After awakening from a car accident several years ago, something about her seemed to have clicked into place.

Her personality gradually improved. Not only had she abandoned her bad habits, but she had also developed a particular fondness for acting spoiled around Old Master Xu.

Under his granddaughter’s adoring yet fearless gaze, Old Master Xu kept his face stern, though a rare softness entered his eyes.

“You never behave properly.”

Despite the reprimand, he did not continue walking.

Ling Yu’s smile remained. She wrapped her arms around his arm.

“That’s only in front of you. I don’t behave this way with anyone else.”

His granddaughter was frank, sweetly naive, and unafraid of him.

Old Master Xu had never had such a fragrant, soft little granddaughter cling to him and act spoiled.

His brows relaxed. Giving up his dignified facade, he revealed his first smile in several days.

Xu Miao watched them from the mountaintop.

Despite the distance, Ling Yu saw her raise a thumb.

Reading her lips, Ling Yu realized she was saying, “Fucking impressive.”

Ling Yu placed her hands behind her back and made an “OK” gesture.

Great-Grandmother’s death had affected Old Master Xu more deeply than anyone.

But no one dared approach and comfort him. Xu Miao had already signaled Ling Yu while they were still at the summit.

Carrying the expectations of two generations of the Xu family, Ling Yu kept smiling and familiarly linked arms with the old man.

“Grandfather, did you call me aside because you have something to tell me?”

Old Master Xu gave a quiet hum.

Ling Yu had become increasingly dependable over the past few years. Although she still acted unserious in public, Old Master Xu understood that it was all a performance intended to deal with Ling Taiguo and his wife.

“Yuyu.”

Old Master Xu concealed the melancholy in his eyes and glanced at her.

“When are you planning to leave the country?”

His words were a statement, not a question.

Ling Yu raised an eyebrow and pretended not to understand.

“The flight you booked for me is on January twenty-fifth. I was thinking…”

Old Master Xu abruptly raised his drooping eyelids.

“After your great-grandmother’s first seven-day mourning period, I see no reason for you to remain in Yuncheng.”

Ling Yu opened her mouth.

Old Master Xu gave her no chance to speak.

“There’s no need to say anything else. Grandfather will give you ten days at most.”

“But why is this so sudden?” Ling Yu’s eyes darkened as she smiled bitterly. “You have to give me a reason.”

Grandfather and granddaughter stared at each other for several seconds.

Old Master Xu finally sighed helplessly.

“Jiang Bochuan called me a few days ago.”

Ling Yu’s expression sank, and she fell silent.

The old man did not tell her what they had discussed, but Ling Yu could roughly guess.

The Jiang and Xu families had never maintained any dealings.

The Jiang family’s base was in Gangcheng, and the two families were not engaged in an investment partnership.

Moreover, Old Master Xu had withdrawn from active business affairs years ago. Very few people could obtain his private number.

Forget calling him—if Jiang Bochuan wanted to invite the old man somewhere personally, he would still need an influential intermediary.

The Xu family might currently be dividing, but Old Master Xu’s status remained unshakable.

For Jiang Bochuan to obtain his number and negotiate with him meant either that he possessed something he could rely upon or that an even greater network stood behind him.

Ling Yu was a literary person. Naturally, she could not completely untangle the intricate relationships within the business world.

Fortunately, she was capable of thinking.

Unless it was absolutely necessary, given how much Old Master Xu ordinarily indulged her, he would never force her to leave in such a hurry.

Ling Yu’s eyes turned as she tested him.

“Grandfather, my father has been behaving strangely this time. He never called to stop me from interfering in Jiang Wei’s case.”

Old Master Xu laughed at her clever probing.

“Of course he knows. Why do you think Yu Xin asked you to look after her cousin’s daughter a month ago?”

Ling Yu froze.

Li Juan?

Fuck.

She had thought Yu Xin introduced Li Juan because she heard Ling Yu liked women…

But from what the old man was implying…

Ling Yu abruptly lifted her eyelids.

“Grandfather, what do you mean?”

Old Master Xu gave her a meaningful look.

“Ever since that little beast from the Jiang family’s case began spreading online several months ago, Jiang Bochuan has been working as quickly as possible with a public-relations team.”

“They’re experienced in handling matters like this and rapidly devised a response.”

“That Miss Li was one part of their plan to reverse the case.”

“Your recent meetings with Miss Li and the little actions you took behind the scenes were all visible to Jiang Bochuan.”

“What does that have to do with Yu Xin?” Ling Yu truly could not understand why Yu Xin believed she would help Li Juan.

Old Master Xu patted her hand. Thinking of Yu Xin’s despicable methods, a sharp light appeared in his cloudy eyes.

“The moment you delivered money to Li Juan, you entered the Jiang family’s surveillance.”

“Yu Xin only needed to make Jiang Bochuan resent you, and half her objective would already be accomplished.”

“Yuyu, Grandfather has told you countless times. Your mother failed to defeat that mistress because Yu Xin’s stomach is full of schemes and malice.”

As they spoke, the two unknowingly made their way back.

Ling Yu obediently listened to the old man’s instruction.

Before entering his car, he turned and repeated:

“Grandfather is giving you ten days. Leave the country first.”

“We’ll settle every other account with them in two years, once the Xu family rises again.”

“Yuyu, can you promise Grandfather?”

The old man gazed intently at Ling Yu.

Under that earnest, concerned gaze filled entirely with consideration for her, Ling Yu could not voice the refusal already on her lips.

As if possessed, she nodded.

[Host!]

008 anxiously reminded her:

[Your mission still isn’t complete!]

Ling Yu lifted her eyelids.

[I know.]

[I must remind you that if you fail to complete the mission, you won’t even have one year left to live.]

Ling Yu understood her situation perfectly.

After dying in her previous life, she had become a wandering ghost and entered this world.

The original owner had already died in a car accident before Ling Yu arrived.

By some inexplicable coincidence, Ling Yu’s soul had forcibly possessed this body.

But that did not mean she could continue living.

Because her soul and body were incompatible, her organs would gradually fail.

In short, if she failed the system’s mission, there was only one possible ending.

Death.

008 was so anxious that it practically wanted to curl its toes into the ground.

Ling Yu did not interrupt. She allowed it to chatter for some time, listing every possible drawback.

Only then did she say:

[It isn’t such a serious problem. As long as I complete the remaining one percent within ten days, the mission will be finished.]

[That’s technically correct.]

008 paused before pouring cold water over her optimism.

[But the last time your mission jumped from zero to ninety-nine percent, it was entirely accidental. Even you didn’t understand why. How can you guarantee that you’ll complete the final one percent within ten days?]

Ling Yu remained silent for a moment.

[Sleep with her again? It is the devoted supporting female character mission. If we interpret “devoted” in the most literal, physical sense…]

[But…]

[Daddy, I don’t have a choice right now. The child in Yu Xin’s stomach isn’t Ling Taiguo’s. To prevent future complications, she’ll certainly accelerate her efforts to eliminate me.]

Ling Yu murmured:

[Leaving the country is currently my best option.]

[But I still need to complete the mission. If I have to sleep with Gu Qing to survive, then once or twice makes little difference.]

Ling Yu took several days off.

When she returned to work the following day, she discovered that her employee card had been deactivated.

Standing outside the employee entrance, she called Sister Wang.

“Yuyu, didn’t you resign?”

Ling Yu fell silent.

Apparently, she had resigned without knowing it.

Suppressing her emotions, she went to Human Resources for an explanation.

The HR director did not conceal anything.

“This is the situation, Miss Ling.”

“A new witness previously emerged in Jiang Wei’s case, and the second hearing will begin shortly.”

“However, before the hearing, we discovered that you and the new witness, Miss Li, exchanged a large sum of money within the past month.”

The HR director spread her hands helplessly.

“Our records department is responsible for organizing every major case file. Considering the need to protect confidential information, I’m sorry, but you’ve been temporarily dismissed.”

A polite smile remained on Ling Yu’s face.

“May I know who decided to dismiss me?”

The HR director hesitated.

“Attorney Gu.”

Ling Yu narrowed her eyes.

If it was Gu Qing, the reason was not difficult to guess.

That night, Gu Qing had said she wanted Ling Yu completely removed from Jiang Wei’s case.

Driving her out of the law firm was merely the first step.

That woman had always known how to seize another person’s weak points.

The law was impartial. Anyone personally involved in a matter could not participate in reviewing the case.

Ling Yu had nothing to say.

Maintaining her smile, she nodded to the HR director.

After leaving the HR office, she turned and headed toward the top floor with practiced familiarity.

Since her employee card had been deactivated, she could only take the emergency stairs.

Unexpectedly, when she reached the twentieth floor, she heard indistinct sobbing from the stairwell.

As she approached the top floor, the crying became clearer.

“I never imagined you were this kind of person.”

Ling Yu stopped and looked suspiciously upward.

Gu Qing stood beside the stair railing with her back turned. From Ling Yu’s position, she could see only the chestnut curls falling to Gu Qing’s waist.

Gu Qing wore a three-piece business suit today. The sharply tailored pencil skirt hugged her skin, clearly outlining her slender waist and elegant curves.

Ling Yu climbed another flight of stairs before seeing the person standing opposite her.

Li Juan wore exquisite makeup, but her tears had smeared the powder slightly.

Her expression was distorted as she blocked Gu Qing’s path.

“Why would you rather help a rapist than help me? You’re a lawyer—a lawyer who’s supposed to speak for justice!”

Gu Qing scoffed.

“What era are you living in, talking to me about justice? Do you think you’re watching some hot-blooded anime?”

Li Juan looked at Gu Qing as though she no longer recognized her.

She wiped away her tears and opened her mouth, but could not utter a word.

Gu Qing rejected Ling Yu with icy coldness.

With everyone else, she simply ignored them while spewing poison.

Just listen to the things she said.

She was practically a perpetual poison-manufacturing machine.

If those words had been directed at Ling Yu, she would already have answered with a slap.

But Li Juan clearly still harbored fantasies about Gu Qing.

“I know Jiang Wei threatened you just as he threatened me. I know you’re afraid of the Jiang family’s power.”

“But you aren’t alone. I’m willing to stand beside you and bring those villains to justice…”

Li Juan suddenly dropped to her knees.

She gazed pleadingly at Gu Qing.

“Please. I’m begging you.”

Gu Qing seemed innately incapable of understanding another person’s emotions. In her customary aloof voice, she said:

“Get up.”

“If you don’t agree, I’ll remain kneeling.”

Gu Qing scoffed, completely unmoved.

Ling Yu was unsurprised by her reaction.

Their enemy was Jiang Bochuan, while the proposed partner was Li Juan.

No matter how she considered that combination, it was completely unreliable.

Ling Yu believed Gu Qing’s refusal was perfectly rational.

There were too many uncertainties surrounding Li Juan.

On one hand, she feared Jiang Wei. On the other, she felt guilty toward her deceased best friend.

Every decision she made seemed suspended upon a scale, constantly swaying back and forth.

Someone with such weak resolve, capable of betraying either side at any moment, was clearly not an ideal partner.

Just as Ling Yu expected, Gu Qing brushed Li Juan’s arm aside.

“Then remain kneeling.”

Li Juan’s lips trembled, and she began sobbing again.

Gu Qing ignored her.

Instead, she suddenly turned and looked down the staircase.

Ling Yu’s gaze unfortunately collided directly with Gu Qing’s lowered eyes.

Feeling awkward, Ling Yu’s expression stiffened.

She forced herself to smile at Gu Qing.

Gu Qing looked down at her from above.

Perhaps it was merely Ling Yu’s imagination, but she thought she saw an indescribable mixture of helplessness and irritation in Gu Qing’s eyes.

When Ling Yu looked more carefully, it had already disappeared as though it had never existed.

Gu Qing frowned and stared at her with oceanic eyes.

After three seconds, she gave a cold scoff and slowly looked away.

Ling Yu’s instincts told her that Gu Qing wanted to devour her.

She found the entire situation ridiculous.

What had she done to deserve such special attention?

Li Juan waited in the corridor for a long time but received no answer.

Finally recognizing reality, she rose in disappointment and stepped backward.

“Gu Qing, I hope you don’t regret this!”

Gu Qing stood against the light some distance away.

“Why would I regret it?”

Speaking very slowly, she informed Li Juan in a matter-of-fact tone:

“Being a lawyer is my profession. Jiang Wei’s case was accepted by the firm. As an employee, it’s my job to fulfill my responsibilities and obtain the greatest leniency the law permits for him.”

“You don’t need to impose your morality upon me.”

Li Juan clenched her fists.

“You clearly know…”

“Yes. So what?”

Gu Qing nodded.

“Miss Li is an important witness in this case. By deliberately obstructing my path before the hearing, your conduct may be considered an attempt to threaten or improperly influence the defense attorney.”

Li Juan froze, her eyes rapidly turning red.

Gu Qing withdrew her gaze, placed both hands in her pockets, and walked away.

As she reached the turn in the stairs, she glanced from the corner of her eye at the surveillance camera in the right-hand corner.

This was Jiang Bochuan’s final test.

Gu Qing lowered her long eyelashes and called the security guards downstairs without expression.

“An unauthorized person has entered the top floor.”

…

“Send two people upstairs to escort her out.”

Li Juan glared fiercely at Gu Qing’s retreating back and shouted repeatedly:

“You’ll regret this! Gu Qing, you’ll definitely regret it!”

[Host, why aren’t you comforting her?]

008 cautiously reminded her:

[You usually take such good care of Li Juan. Seeing the female lead treat her so cruelly must make you angry.]

[But you have to control yourself. You’re about to ask the female lead to sleep with you again. You can’t let Li Juan cause another argument the moment you meet.]

Ling Yu lifted her eyelids.

[Do you think I’m…]

008 made a questioning sound.

Ling Yu enunciated:

[A Mary Sue?]

[No, but the way you behave regarding Li Juan is rather difficult to describe…]

008 gave her a hesitant look.

[When you told Li Juan that you had to pursue justice, didn’t you think you sounded like the envoy of justice in some melodramatic girls’ comic?]

Ling Yu gave a quiet “oh,” wondering whether she had misheard.

[Melodramatic?]

She had grown up beneath the red flag and lived in a society governed by law.

There was nothing wrong with pursuing legal fairness.

In her original world, someone like Jiang Wei would have been crushed by the justice system long ago.

How could she have known that after entering a fictional world, destroying a rapist would become so ridiculously difficult?

She had failed to bring Jiang Wei down several years ago. Now she had to watch him continue committing evil.

Ling Yu could never reconcile herself to that.

That was why she had intervened when she witnessed injustice.

But it did not mean she was a saint.

Not everyone deserved her protection at any cost.

Bringing Jiang Wei down was one matter. Defending Li Juan was entirely unnecessary.

Li Juan’s betrayal last time had nearly delivered Ling Yu into Jiang Wei’s bed.

Ling Yu could understand Li Juan’s personality.

But once she began wielding cowardice as a weapon, continually switching sides and harming others, how could Ling Yu continue protecting her?

If Ling Yu truly reconciled with Li Juan now, she would merely be betraying herself.

Besides, Gu Qing might be cold-blooded, hateful, sharp-tongued, perverted, and otherwise seemingly devoid of redeeming qualities.

But she would never break her word.

Gu Qing was exceptionally calculating and wanted to free herself from Ling Yu as soon as possible.

Since she had promised to pay her “fee,” she would certainly ensure Jiang Wei’s destruction.

Moreover, the stairwell contained surveillance cameras.

If Ling Yu could notice them, Gu Qing certainly was not foolish enough to miss them.

Jiang Bochuan had always been suspicious. Since he already had people monitoring Ling Yu, he would naturally test Gu Qing as well.

Ling Yu leaned against the wall and waited several minutes.

Only after Li Juan was escorted away did she leisurely stride into Gu Qing’s office.