Captured Hearts! The Substitute Bride’s Gambit

Chapter 1 Lin Chuyi, You Are Under Arrest! Qi’s Private Hospital, the office of the director.

“Lin Chuyi, you’re not worthy of my son.”

Madam Hen Peizhu looked down with disdain, “Even the job you have is solved by my son. A person like you won’t be able to offer any support to my son in the future. You and your family will only leech off my son’s blood!”

Lin Chuyi responded calmly, “It was Qi Yunfan who begged me to work at your hospital. I’ve never spent a penny of his money, so your accusation of leeching is baseless.”

Hen Peizhu’s tone was full of mockery, “Pah, my son would beg you? He’s just kind-hearted and took pity on you, that’s why he took you in!”

“Do you think just because you have a beautiful face, you can be a doctor? The daughter of a murderer, do you think you’re fit to be a doctor? Who knows if you won’t end up like your father, killing someone when the opportunity arises!”

Lin Chuyi clenched her fist, “My dad didn’t kill anyone.”

“He’s been locked up for so many years, and you’re still making excuses? You really have a thick face!”

“I won’t let my son be ruined by someone of your lowly status. Leave him now, immediately, this instant!”

“Let me tell you the truth, I’ve already introduced my son to a well-matched, wealthy young lady. He didn’t come to the hospital today because he’s on a date with that lady!”

Lin Chuyi furrowed her brows, “What did you say?”

“Everything I’m saying is true.”

Hen Peizhu’s expression exuded superiority, “From now on, keep your distance from my son. Someone of your class also thinks they can date him!”

Lin Chuyi’s brows relaxed, “Then you can tell your son that he and I are officially breaking up. I will also resign from my job, there will be no further association between him and me.”

Hen Peizhu was unexpectedly uncomfortable with how resolute she was, “Do you really bear to break up with my son, such an outstanding young man? Why aren’t you crying? Why not kneel down and beg me to let you be with him?”

“You watch too many TV dramas!”

After Lin Chuyi said that, she turned and walked towards the door.

The door opened, but outside stood two uniformed police officers. Upon seeing Lin Chuyi coming out, they asked, “Lin Chuyi?”

Lin Chuyi was slightly puzzled, “Yes, that’s me. What’s the matter?”

The two officers moved forward instantly, seized her, and with a “click”, handcuffed her hands, “Lin Chuyi, you’re suspected of hit-and-run resulting in death. You’re under arrest!”

“What?!”

Lin Chuyi was astonished, “When did I ever commit a hit-and-run? You’ve got the wrong person!”

Having witnessed the scene, Hen Peizhu said in shock, “Lin Chuyi, you’re actually a murderer too! Officer, her family has a gene for murder, her dad is also a murderer! Hurry and take her away!”noveldrama

Lin Chuyi struggled, “I haven’t killed anyone, nor have I been involved in a hit-and-run. You’ve got the wrong person!”

The police officer was stern, “Enough talk. There are witnesses and evidence, and the person was killed by you! Come back to the station with us now. If you try to run, your crime will be even more severe!”

 

 

Chapter 2 Fiancé In the police station.

Lin Chuyi had already said hundreds of times that she hadn’t committed a hit and run, but the police simply didn’t believe her.

She said, dry-mouthed and tongue-tied, “Fine, you say I hit someone, then you must have evidence, right? Where is the surveillance footage? Where are the eyewitnesses?”

“Of course we have surveillance footage, and we have an eyewitness as well. Otherwise, would we have arrested you? Old Du, call the eyewitness over, and let’s see how she’ll deny it now!”

A figure walked over.

But the moment Lin Chuyi saw the eyewitness, she was stunned, “Mom, why is it you?”

“Ah, Xiaoyi, just stop pretending you’re innocent. It was you who killed that person, and I was in the car with you at the time. Just come clean now, I’ve already told the truth to the officer. No matter how much you quibble, it’s useless.”

Lin Chuyi felt a chill run through her, “Lin Yueqin, what nonsense are you spouting! When were you ever in my car?”

Lin Yueqin sighed, “Xiaoyi, I know you don’t want to admit it, but someone has died because of you. If you have any conscience at all, you shouldn’t keep denying it. Just confess, maybe they’ll give you a lighter sentence then.”

“What should I confess? I didn’t hit anyone at all!”

“You did hit someone!”

Lin Yueqin said decisively, “It was you who hit them! Last night, after you hit the person, you were too scared, so you drove away! I’ve been in your car the whole time, I know everything!”

“I was on duty at the hospital last night, I didn’t go anywhere! Where did you get in my car?”

Lin Yueqin shook her head and said to the police, “Officer, although she’s my daughter, if she won’t admit to her own crime, there’s nothing I can do. Don’t hold back, interrogate her thoroughly, she’ll break and confess.”

“I’m really sorry to trouble you, it’s all because my daughter wasn’t careful when driving. Don’t worry, I won’t cover for her!”

Lin Chuyi had been stabbed in the back by Lin Yueqin not once or twice – arguing with Lin Yueqin was pointless.

She quickly calmed down, “I want to see the surveillance footage!”

The police showed her the surveillance, “Is this your car? Isn’t that your mom in the passenger seat? Aren’t you driving? Even at this point, you still want to deny it? Your mom has admitted it, yet you’re still stubbornly arguing!”

Lin Chuyi looked at the surveillance footage. A car zoomed by and knocked down a pedestrian at the intersection. After hitting the person, the car didn’t stop; it drove over the victim’s body.

It was her car, a second-hand Volkswagen; she could not possibly mistake it.

And sitting next to her was indeed her mother, Lin Yueqin.

However, the person in the driver’s seat was wearing a mask, with a similar hairstyle and build to hers, but it wasn’t her.

“That’s not me.”

As she spoke, Lin Chuyi felt in her pocket and, sure enough, her car keys were gone.

She turned her head to Lin Yueqin, “Did you steal my car keys? When did you take them?”

“I didn’t steal your car keys. What are you babbling about!”

“It was Wen Nianyou, wasn’t it?”

Lin Yueqin looked confused, “What are you talking about? What does this have to do with Nianyou?”

Lin Chuyi stood up, her voice cold, “It was Wen Nianyou who was driving and hit the person. You’re trying to make me take the fall for her again! How many times have I taken the fall for her since we were kids? Do you think I can’t recognize her just because she was wearing a mask? It was clearly her driving the car!”

“Are you my mother or hers? Why is it that every time she does something wrong, you make me bear all the consequences? Now, you even want to frame me for her committing murder. Have you gone mad?”

“The past is the past, but this time the car accident killed someone, the crime is serious, and I absolutely cannot take the fall for her. Tell her to come and turn herself in!”

Lin Yueqin’s expression changed instantly, “What are you yelling for? How dare you yell at me? I’m your mother, of course I’m on your side! But you’re the one who killed the person, the evidence is conclusive. No matter how much I want to help you, it’s pointless. Blaming Nianyou is even more useless! You deserve to go to jail!”

Seeing her behave even more self-righteous than herself, Lin Chuyi’s eyes revealed disbelief, “Are you insisting that I killed someone because you want me to go to jail for Wen Nianyou?”

Lin Yueqin didn’t bother with her anymore. She turned to the police with an apologetic look, “I’m sorry, officer. I haven’t raised my daughter well. I leave her in your hands; deal with her as you must.”

“Uh, can I leave now? The victim’s family is very upset, I need to go and comfort them, what do you think…”

The officer nodded, “There’s nothing more for you here; you can go. If you can calm down the victim’s family, your daughter’s sentence will be much lighter.”

“Yes, yes, I’ll make sure to comfort the family well, hoping to reduce my daughter’s guilt. Truth is, I really care for her, it’s just that she’s young and does not know better.”

After Lin Yueqin left, Lin Chuyi was locked up.

She didn’t believe that Lin Yueqin would really go to comfort the victim’s family. She wanted to get her phone back to call for help but was denied.

She was thus locked up from the morning through to the afternoon, and from the afternoon to the night.noveldrama

Of the others who were locked up with her, some had their parents bail them out, and some had friends come to testify on their behalf; they were all released quickly. But she was left alone, forsaken till it got dark.

At ten o’clock in the evening.

The duty officer finally opened the iron door she was behind, “Lin Chuyi, come out. Your family has come to bail you out.”

Lin Chuyi was surprised, “My family?”

Her father was in jail, and her mother had personally put her there. What family could she possibly have to bail her out?

She followed the officer out suspiciously and saw a completely unfamiliar man in the duty room.

The officer looked down, checking the man’s ID, “Sheng Tingyuan, right?”

“Mmm.”

“What did you say your relationship to her was?”

“I am her fiancé.”

 

 

Chapter 3 Mr. Sheng, you’ve mistaken the wrong person Lin Chuyi’s eyes widened in an instant. Fiancé? Where did this fiancé come from?

The man seemed to sense her gaze and turned to look at her. Then he said, “She didn’t hit anyone. She was with me all of last night. We had planned to register our marriage today, but instead, she ended up detained here. I’ve been searching for her all day until I found her.”

Lin Chuyi furrowed her brow. Why could people lie so easily these days? Lin Yueqin could spout lies without batting an eyelid, and now this suddenly appeared “fiancé” was talking nonsense too, but he spoke as if it were true. Even she, the person concerned, was almost convinced.

In fact, she really wanted to ask who he was, but the desire to get out from the “iron cage” overshadowed all her doubts. She kept her mouth shut very rationally, not saying a word, lest she give herself away and arouse the suspicion of the police officers.

Who cares who he is, she thought. The priority was to get out first.

Soon, the bail procedures were completed, and she was led out of the police station by the man.

The moment she stepped out of the station’s door, Lin Chuyi took a deep breath of air. The taste of freedom! She was finally out!

Lin Yueqin, we’re not done yet! Wen Nianyou, you wait for me!

The man opened the car door, his voice cold and harsh, “Get in the car, we’re going to see my mother first.”

Lin Chuyi: “…”

Hadn’t she already been released? Why was he still keeping up the act?

Considering he had just helped her, Lin Chuyi politely said, “Mr. Sheng, isn’t it? I’m very grateful that you bailed me out, but I don’t know you, so I can’t go meet your mother with you, sorry.”

“It’s normal that you don’t remember me, we’ve only met twice before.”

“Met before? When was that?”

“Three years ago, once at a charity dinner, and another time at my mother’s birthday party.”

“I’ve never attended any charity dinner, and I don’t know your mother, nor have I been to her birthday party.”

“It’s useless for you to deny it, and it’s also futile for you to run away. The marriage was arranged by our parents. You can’t marry anyone else but me.”

Lin Chuyi realized she was not on the same wavelength as him, “Mr. Sheng, have you mistaken me for someone else? I don’t know anything about what you’re saying. My name is Lin Chuyi. I’m not the fiancée you’re looking for.”

A trace of impatience showed on the handsome man’s face, “I don’t have time to play games with you right now. Get in the car! The wedding can’t be delayed any further!”

Lin Chuyi also ran out of patience and turned to walk away. She wasn’t going to get in his car just because he was handsome!

She was still seething with anger and wanted to rush home to settle accounts with Lin Yueqin! If he hadn’t bailed her out, would she be wasting her breath arguing with him here?

The man, however, stepped forward and pulled her back, “Are you going to meet my mother with me, or would you like to continue being detained at the police station? If you don’t acknowledge our relationship, then I can go tell the police that you aren’t the person I was looking for, which would invalidate the bail.”

Lin Chuyi stopped in her tracks. She had been locked up for a day, physically and emotionally exhausted. The “iron cage” was simply no place for a person, and right now, she would rather meet the king of hell than the police again.

She decided to appease her “good fiancé” for now!

It was just a matter of meeting the fiancé’s mother, not really the king of hell. It shouldn’t take up too much time.

Once his mother saw her, she would naturally realize that her son had mistaken someone else for his fiancée. Since they were the ones who had made the mistake, they would be the ones at a disadvantage. Surely they wouldn’t send her back to the police station and say the bail was invalid afterward, right?

Lin Chuyi got into the car and followed the man back to a villa.noveldrama

The villa wasn’t large, but the environment was exquisite. In the night, the purple tulips in the garden swayed gently, a testament to the owner’s refined taste.

Passing through the living room, Lin Chuyi followed the man upstairs and entered a bedroom.

On the bed lay a woman with swollen cheeks and a pale complexion. The fragrant aroma of fresh flowers in the room couldn’t mask the scent of decay within.

Lin Chuyi was a doctor; she had seen too many patients and knew what that smell meant—the woman’s time was running out.

Sheng Tingyuan stepped forward, his voice low, “Mom, she’s here.”

The woman opened her eyes and looked towards Lin Chuyi by his side.

After looking for a while, a smile emerged on her pale face, “Xiaoyi, you’re here.”

She struggled to sit up and with the help of her son managed to lean against the headboard. Then she weakly motioned to Lin Chuyi, “Come here. It’s been a long time, have you forgotten Aunt Tang?”

Lin Chuyi hesitated and stepped forward, “What did you just call me?” Why did this woman know her name?

 

Chapter 4 My Mom Wants to Hold a Grandson “I called you Xiaoyi.”

Tang Jin looked at her gently, a look of astonishment in his eyes, “Good child, you’ve grown to be even prettier and more spirited than before. So beautiful, if I ran into you on the street, I’m afraid I wouldn’t dare to recognize you! But, you are indeed starting to resemble your father more and more, even more so than when you were a little girl!”noveldrama

Lin Chuyi didn’t really resemble her father, but she knew that her “fiancé’s” mother must have mistaken her for someone else.

Could it be that she really looked so much like Sheng Tingyuan’s fiancée?

The woman in the bed was frail yet tender, looking at her with a face full of loving care and eyes displaying joyful spirits, as if having her future daughter-in-law visit made her particularly happy, seemingly dissipating a third of her sickly appearance.

Seeing her so happy, Lin Chuyi somewhat couldn’t bear to tell her the truth.

Moreover, if she did tell her, and it happened to upset her enough to faint, Sheng Tingyuan probably wouldn’t let her off.

The woman’s health was extremely poor, and after only a few sentences, she was gasping for breath and had to lie back down, not having the strength to talk anymore.

Sheng Tingyuan said, “Mom, you rest well,” and then he took Lin Chuyi out of the bedroom.

After closing the door, he said, “As you saw, my mother is seriously ill, and she hopes we can get married as soon as possible. So, let’s not delay any longer. Pick up the certificate tomorrow, and then we should try for a child as soon as possible.”

Although that woman was pitiable, and although this man was very filial, Lin Chuyi had no intention of sacrificing herself. She sincerely said, “Mr. Sheng, you really have the wrong person, I am not your fiancée.”

Sheng Tingyuan frowned, “If you are not my fiancée, why did you come home with me?”

“I…”

Lin Chuyi was at a loss for words, staring at him in astonishment.

How could he turn the tables like this? Just a while ago at the police station entrance, wasn’t it him who threatened to send her back to the police station’s iron cage, forcing her to get into the car?

Her indignation surged, “I am not the person you are looking for. Please Mr. Sheng, go and verify it again! Thank you for bailing me out today, I don’t owe anybody favors. If there’s anything I can help you with in the future, you can come to me.”

“I need to get married now.”

“That’s not possible, pick another one.”

“My mother wants to hold a grandchild.”

“This is even less possible. Don’t you have simpler requests? Your demands aren’t equivalent to the favor you did for me!”

Lin Chuyi hesitated for a moment, then said, “How about I take a look at your mother’s illness?”

Sheng Tingyuan’s expression was indifferent, “You studied medicine?”

“Yes!”

“A spoiled brat who is good for nothing but eating, drinking, and playing can study medicine? The medical field’s entry threshold is really low. If you want to practice, find someone else to experiment on, my mother is not going to be your test subject.”

“With a poisonous tongue like yours, no wonder your fiancée ran away and refuses to marry you!”

Sheng Tingyuan was indifferent to her sarcasm, “You can go now. Tomorrow morning at nine, I will pick you up and we will get the certificate. Or, you can stay here, that works too.”

Lin Chuyi shook her head, and didn’t continue to explain to this man any longer.

It was out of the question to stay here, and getting the certificate even more so. She didn’t know him at all, she had a pile of troubles to sort out, and she had no time to dawdle here with him.

She went downstairs and headed out.

Behind her, the man’s cold voice followed, “Where do you live? Tell me the address.”

Without turning her head, Lin Chuyi retorted, “You don’t even know where I live, are you really my fiancé?”

 

 

 

Chapter 5 You Are Born to Be a Maid She hailed a cab and returned home.

The suddenly appearing fiancé was already forgotten in the back of her mind, as Lin Chuyi now only wanted to find Lin Yueqin and clear her name of the charges against her.

But there was no trace of Lin Yueqin at home.

Lin Chuyi left the house and went straight to the Wen Family mansion.

The second and third floors of the mansion were dimmed, with only the lights on the first floor still on, indicating that the mansion’s owner had likely gone to rest, and only the servants were still busy.

Lin Chuyi headed to the kitchen, and just as she reached the doorway, she overheard someone inside saying, “Yueqin, you really have the best luck, Miss Nianyou likes you the most. She always gives you the lightest work, the most bonuses. Did she secretly give you another bonus today?”noveldrama

“There’s no secret bonus for me, you’re overthinking it. But it’s true that Youyou treats me especially well, after all, right after she was born, Madam had a serious lack of breast milk and Youyou grew up drinking mine, naturally our bond is different.”

“That’s why I say you’re lucky. You happened to have a child around the same time as Madam, and were able to help her out greatly. Miss Nianyou refused formula back then and only accepted your breast milk, you fed her until she was plump and healthy, Madam has been very grateful to you all these years!”

“Oh, Madam has always been very kind to me, and I’m someone who really knows how to be grateful. Helping her out is the least I can do! Back then, I only had enough breast milk for one child, and because I gave it all to Youyou, I never even breastfed my own child for a single day. Now tell me, isn’t that a great sacrifice?”

“Yes, it’s a huge sacrifice. Even though Madam rewarded you handsomely, only you would starve your own daughter. I couldn’t do it. I’d rather not have the money than withhold milk from my own child.”

Lin Chuyi had heard this kind of conversation before, after all, Lin Yueqin had always taken pride in being Wen Nianyou’s wet nurse, portraying herself as someone who would sacrifice anything for Wen Nianyou. Her “sacrifice” story had long been spread throughout the Wen family.

She stepped into the kitchen and looked coldly at Lin Yueqin, “You did indeed make a big sacrifice, so big that you’re willing to sacrifice me to take the blame for Wen Nianyou’s murder charge.”

Lin Yueqin’s face changed drastically, and she quickly pulled Lin Chuyi outside, “Nonsense, Lin Chuyi, mind your words! This isn’t the place for you to cause a scene!”

Outside, Lin Chuyi shook off her hand, “Where is Wen Nianyou? Call her out here.”

“Youyou went out with friends, she’s not back yet.”

Lin Chuyi laughed out of anger, “She just killed someone with her car and she still has the mood to hang out? Of course, with a wonderful mother like you, who lets her own daughter take the fall for her, she doesn’t have a worry in the world.”

Lin Yueqin’s expression shifted uncertainly for a while before finally settling on a piteous one, “Xiaoyi, Mom doesn’t love you any less, it’s just that I had no choice but to ask you to take the blame for Youyou.”

Lin Chuyi said sarcastically, “Cut the act, you don’t love me at all. If you truly cared about me, it would be impossible for you to let me take the murder blame for Wen Nianyou.”

“Don’t be hasty, hear me out. Madam doesn’t know about Youyou hitting someone yet. She nearly lost her life giving birth to Youyou and hasn’t fully recovered since. She treasures Youyou like the apple of her eye. If Youyou goes to prison, how could she possibly live?”

Lin Yueqin pleaded earnestly, “It’s better for you to go to prison than for Youyou. Youyou, having been pampered from birth, can’t endure such hardship. Besides, if she goes to prison, wouldn’t that ruin her whole life?”

“So, my life wouldn’t be ruined if I go to prison? Am I supposed to be willing to suffer in jail?”

“It’s not the same, Youyou has the life of a young Miss, with a bright and beautiful future ahead of her, while you are servant-born, destined to serve others. Going to jail spares you from serving, it’s actually a blessing for you.”

 

Chapter 6 I Report My Daughter Lin Chuyi Lin Chuyi scoffed, “Do you want this blessing? If you like this kind of blessing so much, go to prison for Wen Nianyou!”

Seeing her unmoved, Lin Yueqin became somewhat annoyed, “I’m your mother, and you actually want me to go to prison? I really raised you for nothing!”

“Lin Yueqin, you really have the nerve to say you raised me. Have you ever taken care of me? Before my dad went to prison, it was him who took care of me. After he was locked up, it was Lady Wen who looked after me and kept me alive!”

“Since it was Lady Wen who looked after you and allowed you to survive, you should repay her by taking the blame for Youyou! If you refuse, you will be dooming Lady Wen, and you’ll be an ungrateful wolf with eyes blind to kindness!”

Lin Chuyi remained unmoved, “You don’t need to use Lady Wen to morally entrap me. I’ve already repaid her what I owed. Now to expect me to carry the burden of a murder charge for Wen Nianyou is absolutely impossible. I’ve already carried enough burdens for her!”

“When did you ever repay her? I don’t know about that!”

“There’s a lot you don’t know.”

“Hmph, you’re surely lying. You’ve never repaid Lady Wen, you’re just an ungrateful wolf, unappreciative of how good Lady Wen has been to you, and you won’t even do her this small favor for her daughter!”

Lin Chuyi took a deep breath, “This is no small favor, this is a living person’s life! It’s easy for you to say when it costs you nothing. If it’s such a small favor, why don’t you help out?”

“I don’t look anything like Youyou, and the police aren’t blind, anyone would know I’m not the killer! You and Youyou look so much alike, it makes the most sense for you to take her place!”

“Where do I look like her? Our hair? I remember her hair wasn’t this length before, she just got it cut to shoulder-length? Intentionally cut to match the length of my hair?”

Lin Yueqin rebuked her furiously, “Stop projecting your malice here, Youyou would never copy you! She just got a boyfriend recently, and her boyfriend likes that length, so she cut it. What does it have to do with you?”

“It’s best if it has nothing to do with me.”

Lin Chuyi spoke coldly, “You think you can fool the police with your false testimony? I will find evidence that proves the driver was Wen Nianyou. Then, you, the one giving false testimony, will also end up in prison!”

“I’m more than just an ungrateful wolf, I’ll even be willing to destroy my kin for justice, Lin Yueqin, consider this your blessing!”

Lin Yueqin’s face changed, “You little beast, how dare you!”

Lin Chuyi ignored her and turned to leave.

“She’s turned the world upside down, this little beast! This ungrateful wolf, she’s trying to kill me!”

Lin Yueqin ranted furiously, and only after cursing did she realize something, “Wait, that little beast should be locked up at the police station, how did she escape?”

She hurriedly took out her phone and dialed the police station, “Officer, I’m reporting my daughter Lin Chuyi, she fled the scene of an accident and was arrested by you, but now she’s escaped. Hurry up and catch her again! She’s at the Wen family villa now, the address is…”

“Lin Chuyi? She didn’t escape, someone bailed her out.”noveldrama

“Bailed out? Who bailed her out?”

“Her fiancé.”

“What? Fiancé? Since when does she have a fiancé?”

“Ah? She doesn’t have a fiancé? Then who was the man that bailed her out tonight?”

“Officer, you’ve been deceived! She doesn’t have a fiancé, I’m her birth mother, would I not know if she had a fiancé? It must be someone she hired to play the part, pretending to be her fiancé to bail her out!”

“Alright, the tip you’ve provided is very important. We will verify it. If true, we will arrest her immediately!”

 

Chapter 7 Ex-Boyfriend Lin Chuyi didn’t know that as soon as she left, Lin Yueqin reported her. At this moment, she stood at the villa’s entrance, looking at the embracing couple, completely entwined and seemingly inseparable, a hint of mockery curled at the corner of her lips.

The woman in the couple was none other than Wen Nianyou, who had caused a huge mess and let her take the blame, and the man was her boyfriend, Qi Yunfan.

No, he was now her ex-boyfriend.

So the rich heiress his mother introduced him to was Wen Nianyou, indeed, both families were well-matched in social status.

When Qi Yunfan saw Lin Chuyi, he looked a bit unnatural, “Chuyi, I…”

But Lin Chuyi didn’t look at him, instead, she addressed Wen Nianyou, “Are you going to turn yourself in to the police, or should I expose you and have the police come to arrest you?”

Wen Nianyou stepped back, hiding half her body behind Qi Yunfan, “Chuyi, what are you talking about, why would the police come to arrest me? Is it a crime to love Brother Yunfan?”

Qi Yunfan frowned, “Xiaoyi, the issues between you and me have nothing to do with Nianyou, don’t scare her with the police. She’s easily frightened, you’ll scare her.”

“She’ll be scared? Qi Yunfan, you really don’t understand Wen Nianyou at all. Last night she hit and killed someone with her car, then fled the scene, and today she’s framing me, making me take the fall for her!”

“That’s impossible!”

“You’re talking nonsense!”

Qi Yunfan and Wen Nianyou spoke at the same time, Qi with disbelief on his face, Wen with an expression of grievance.

It seemed as if she gathered all her courage, Wen Nianyou stepped out from behind Qi Yunfan and grabbed Lin Chuyi’s hand, “Chuyi, I know you’ve always liked Brother Yunfan, but he doesn’t like you, he likes me. Slandering me is pointless.”

“Brother Yunfan isn’t someone who can’t distinguish right from wrong, he’s very kind, and he trusts me a lot. How could he possibly believe what you just said?”

“Give up. Stop saying ridiculous things. You should know, you and Brother Yunfan are not from the same world. If you really love him, you should let go and wish us happiness.”

Lin Chuyi felt disgusted by her pretentiousness; the hand that clutched hers was like a venomous snake sticking out its tongue, impossible to shake off, and clammy against her skin, making her extremely uncomfortable.

As she tried to pull her hand away, Wen Nianyou suddenly “Ah!” cried out and fell to the ground.

“Nianyou!”

Qi Yunfan hurried over to help her, “Are you alright?”

Wen Nianyou lifted her palm to reveal that the skin was scraped, and blood beads were visible. She quickly hid her hand behind her back, “I’m fine, Brother Yunfan, it’s not Chuyi’s fault. I just fell over by accident.”noveldrama

“Your hand is bleeding, and you say you’re fine? You don’t have to cover for her. I saw it—it was she who pushed you down.”

Qi Yunfan helped Wen Nianyou up, treating Lin Chuyi as if he didn’t know her, “Chuyi, since when did you become so vicious? If you’re angry, take it out on me, why push Nianyou? She’s innocent.”

“I didn’t push her; she fell on purpose.”

“Do you think I would believe that? Who would intentionally hurt their own hand like this?”

“If you’re too blind to see, that’s not my problem. I’m not an ophthalmologist.”

Qi Yunfan placed Wen Nianyou behind him, tenderly and affectionately ensuring once more that she really was unharmed before turning back to Lin Chuyi, “Nianyou doesn’t know anything, she’s a very simple girl. If you want to blame someone, blame me. Hit me if you want to hit someone, don’t bully her.”

 

Chapter 8 Not Biological Lin Chuyi felt suffocated inside. In the morning, Mrs. Qi had mentioned that Qi Yunfan had gone on a date with someone else, and Chuyi didn’t feel much at the time. But now, the real pain was hitting her, catching up in delayed waves.

She had known Qi Yunfan for a full three years. In those years, Qi Yunfan had looked at her countless times with the same tender, caring gaze. She had rejected him, distanced herself from him, and he never got angry. He remained as gentle as ever, always showing concern for her well-being.

When she was too busy to reply to his messages, he silently guarded and waited for her. As soon as she sent a single text no matter what time it was, he appeared by her side.

When others heard that her father was a murderer, they all avoided and isolated her, but Qi Yunfan, upon learning the truth, said he felt sorry for her and promised to always be there for her.

For such a boy, Lin Chuyi had also wavered several times. Only after three years, when she had finally achieved something, did she dare to accept his love, ready to bridge the huge gap between their families and try to spend the rest of her life with him.

But now, she realized that his gentleness was not reserved for her alone. Even worse, he treated Wen Nianyou, even more gently and considerately than he did her.

Lin Chuyi’s heart felt as if it had been soaked in cold water, “Qi Yunfan, let’s pretend I never knew you. You can leave now.”

Qi Yunfan didn’t move, “Are you really in such a hurry for me to leave? Is it because, once I’m gone, you can continue to bully Youyou?”

Lin Chuyi ignored him and looked at Wen Nianyou, “The things I’m about to say may ruin the image you so carefully cultivated. Are you sure you want him to keep listening?”noveldrama

Wen Nianyou clung to Qi Yunfan’s waist, “Brother Yunfan, I’m a little scared.”

Qi Yunfan frowned at Lin Chuyi, “Why are you always threatening Youyou? Chuyi, if you’re mad, take it out on me, okay? Don’t involve Youyou. It’s really not good to drag the innocent into this.”

“Why don’t we talk alone? There’s been some misunderstanding here, and I don’t want your relationship with Youyou to become strained because of me.”

For the first time, Lin Chuyi found Qi Yunfan annoying.

Bored with the conversation, she turned and walked away, disappearing into the dense night.

She had intended to persuade Wen Nianyou to turn herself in, out of respect for Lady Wen. But since Nianyou wouldn’t listen, she might as well take matters into her own hands and personally send her to jail!

Seeing her leave, Qi Yunfan patted Wen Nianyou on the back, “Youyou, don’t be scared. Let’s go home. I’ll go find Lin Chuyi and have a good talk with her on your behalf.”

After comforting her for a few more moments, he drove off to chase after Lin Chuyi.

Wen Nianyou’s expression darkened. No wonder Hen Peizhu cursed Lin Chuyi as a fox spirit; she really knew how to seduce men!

She had taken so much effort to charm Qi Yunfan, and just when he finally seemed to like her, the moment Lin Chuyi appeared, he immediately dumped her.

After entering the villa, Wen Nianyou pulled Lin Yueqin into a guest room and began accusing her, “Didn’t you say Lin Chuyi had been arrested by the police? Why is she still hopping around outside!”

“Just now, in front of Qi Yunfan, she said I killed someone, do you know that! She’s trying to send me to my death!”

“And she’s deliberately leading Qi Yunfan on, she just doesn’t want to see me happy! That bitch, that vixen, clearly doesn’t like Qi Yunfan, yet she’s always flirting with him!”

Lin Yueqin replied anxiously, “Youyou, don’t be angry now. It was that little beast Lin Chuyi who found a trustee to bail her out. Tomorrow the police will arrest her again, and she’ll never have the chance to flirt with Qi Yunfan again.”

Wen Nianyou irritably said, “How many times have I told you not to call me Youyou? Don’t you know your own status? You’re just a servant in the Wen family. Like the other servants, you should call me Miss Nianyou, understand?”

Lin Yueqin felt uncomfortable but still placated her, “I understand, I’ll be careful from now on.”

“Enough, I’m so annoyed. You can’t do one thing right. I don’t care, Qi Yunfan must be mine, and Lin Chuyi must never appear before him again!”

“But Miss, isn’t Qi Yunfan already yours? What does Lin Chuyi’s three-year acquaintance with him matter? The moment you showed up, he was immediately captivated by you. With your family background, intelligence, and beauty, you’re superior to Lin Chuyi in every way. What does she have to compete with you?”

Lin Yueqin thought her flattery would please Wen Nianyou, but instead, Nianyou glared at her angrily, “My background and intelligence may indeed be a hundred times better than Lin Chuyi’s, but in terms of beauty, you’ve severely held me back!”

She wasn’t Lady Wen’s child; she was actually the child of Lin Yueqin, a maid in the Wen family. The woman before her, she was her birth mother.

When Lady Wen was close to giving birth, Lin Yueqin had her baby via cesarean section a day earlier. Once Lady Wen had her child, Yueqin swapped the two babies.

As a child, the genetic differences weren’t so obvious, but as she grew up, she began to look more and more like Lin Yueqin. To avoid resembling her mother and arousing Lady Wen’s suspicions, she secretly underwent cosmetic procedures, a little every month, and after several years, she no longer looked so much like Lin Yueqin.

Yet she was still unsatisfied. Whenever she stood next to Lin Chuyi, people’s gazes would always fall upon Chuyi, that stunning beauty never belonged to her. And Qi Yunfan’s obsession with Lin Chuyi was also because of her exceptionally beautiful face!

Men, they’re always so superficial!

“Miss, you’re already very pretty. You need to have more confidence!”

Lin Yueqin whispered in a low voice, “Don’t bother with Lin Chuyi anymore. Your most important task now is to secure Qi Yunfan and make him marry you. In the future, the Qi Family’s wealth will all be yours, and adding the Wen family’s, your life will be infinitely better than Lin Chuyi’s!”

“Are you teaching me how to handle things?”

Wen Nianyou glared at her, “Of course Qi Yunfan will marry me, but Lin Chuyi must go to prison. Have you made sure to infuriate the victim’s family today? Did they say they absolutely refuse to settle?”

“Yes, yes, I deliberately acted arrogant and overbearing in front of the family, saying their daughter deserved to die, and now they hate Lin Chuyi to death. They won’t settle, they don’t want a penny, they just want Lin Chuyi to go to prison!”

“Good, let’s see how she competes with me for Qi Yunfan now!”

 

Chapter 9 Doctor Anxin Lin Chuyi had only walked a short distance from home when Qi Yunfan caught up to her in his car.

He got out, blocking Lin Chuyi’s path, “Chuyi, get in the car, I’ll take you back.”

Lin Chuyi ignored him, walking around him to continue on her way.

Qi Yunfan persisted, “Chuyi, it’s not safe for a girl to walk alone at night, I’m just worried about you, that’s why I came after you. Please, get in the car.”

“Didn’t you say the new shoes the hospital issued were chafing your feet yesterday? Stop walking, or your feet will hurt again.”

“I’ll have them get you a more comfortable pair tomorrow. Don’t wear these anymore.”

Lin Chuyi looked up, unsurprisingly finding the familiar tenderness and concern on his face.

However, this time she wouldn’t take it seriously anymore.

“Qi Yunfan, I’m formally resigning, I won’t be working at your family’s hospital anymore. Besides, since you’ve chosen Wen Nianyou, stop playing the good guy with me. Just go.”

Qi Yunfan sighed, “Chuyi, it wasn’t me who chose Youyou, it was my mother who chose her. I had to compromise for the sake of the entire family. Can you understand my dilemma?”

“I can’t.”

“You—never mind, it’s my fault after all. I apologize, can you forgive me?”

“I can’t.”

“You really are as heartless as before. Chuyi, it’s been three years, haven’t I managed to warm your icy heart even a little? Do you really have no feelings for me at all?”

It had warmed, but only slightly, and it quickly grew cold again.

Lin Chuyi yawned, her voice tinged with fatigue, “Are you finished? If so, get out of the way, I need to go home to sleep.”

“You… after all I’ve said, all you want to do is sleep? You don’t have anything you want to say to me?”

Lin Chuyi yawned and shook her head, walking past Qi Yunfan toward her home.

Qi Yunfan didn’t get angry being treated so coldly; he drove his car slowly behind Lin Chuyi, crawling along at a snail’s pace, just to light her way home.

If it were before, Lin Chuyi would have felt warm and moved, but now, sobered, she just felt that Qi Yunfan was trying to move himself.

The whole street was as bright as daylight with the streetlamps on. Did she need him to light her way?

Lin Chuyi didn’t bother to chase him off because it would have been impossible—she had tried countless times before, never once succeeding in getting rid of him.

Once she got home and the door closed behind her, the outside world no longer had anything to do with her.

She took a shower and then went straight to bed.noveldrama

The next day, she got up feeling refreshed, got ready, and took a cab to the hospital.

However, the hospital she visited today was no longer Qi Yunfan’s family hospital but the largest top-tier private hospital in the city, Dome Hospital.

The hospital had its own dedicated office floor, and as soon as Lin Chuyi entered, department heads surrounded her.

“Doctor Anxin, you’ve finally come. The dean wants you to train the new batch of doctors. When will you have time? This really can’t be delayed any longer, you can’t stand me up again!”

“Doctor Anxin, pharmaceutical companies have sent over new drugs again. They are eager for you to have patients try this medication. If it works well, they will mass-produce it; if not, they’ll improve the formula. So, do you think our hospital should use this drug?”

“Doctor Anxin, after the last visit from the international medical team, they’ve been infatuated with your medical skills, and they’ve been inviting you to go overseas for exchange. This is the top medical team abroad. The dean suggests that you lead the team, allowing our hospital’s core staff to go abroad and learn too. It will benefit our hospital greatly. You can’t refuse this. How about the end of this month?”

“Doctor Anxin…”

The assistant stretched out his arms, stopping everyone, “Alright, alright, Doctor Anxin is about to start surgery, and the patient is waiting. Any other important matters can be reported after she’s done with the surgery. Everyone go back.”

Lin Chuyi shook her head helplessly. “Anxin” was originally just a nickname her teacher gave her, but these people all followed the teacher’s lead, so much so that they didn’t even know her real name anymore.

 

 

 

Chapter 10: Your Fiancé Has Arrived Ye Chuyi ignored the group of people behind her, entered the office, turned on the computer, and confirmed the patient’s case and CT one last time. Then, she changed into a white lab coat and headed to the surgical floor.

In the operating room, her mentor An Huadong, who had taught her for many years, as well as her fellow disciple Chi Cheng, were already waiting for her.

Seeing her, An Huadong breathed a sigh of relief, “My Anxin disciple has finally arrived. Only when you are here can I truly be at ease!”

Lin Chuyi felt helpless. It was precisely because her teacher incessantly called her “Anxin” that everyone thought that was her real name!

The surgery was initially designated to be performed by her senior brother Chi Cheng, but the teacher was not at ease. After much deliberation, he decided to appoint her as the chief surgeon.

“Teacher, you love ordering me around too much. Senior brother is capable of performing the surgery, and he would do it very well. You insist on having me do it; are you afraid I have too much free time?” she said.

“Your senior brother is capable, but he can only achieve ninety percent. This patient is quite elderly, and his tumor has grown together with his lung. To perfectly peel it away without damaging his lung, only you can do it. You can achieve one hundred percent,” he replied.

An Huadong uttered the phrase he had said most often since he met Lin Chuyi, “Your hands are steady; I have never seen steadier.”

Chi Cheng stood to the side, his position as the lead surgeon taken by Lin Chuyi, with no complaints. In the face of overwhelming strength, all jealousy and resentment were delusional.

And Lin Chuyi had become so formidable that he had no inclination to resist. He only wanted to prostrate himself at her feet, to become a stepping stone on her path forward.

After all, even the strong teacher had long become Lin Chuyi’s stepping stone, and the teacher was happy about it, preferring to have Lin Chuyi perform all the surgeries rather than letting other students fail and tarnish his reputation.

Her teacher, An Huadong, was a prominent figure in the medical field, 70 years old this year. He had never married or had children, dedicating his life entirely to the medical profession. He was a legend in the medical world, a textbook-level icon revered by all medical students.

It was such a luminary who, after discovering Lin Chuyi’s talent, broke his own rule of never using privileges. He bypassed numerous obstacles at the school, forcibly transferring her from the Nursing College to the Medical College.

And Lin Chuyi did not let her teacher down. In eight years, including five years of undergraduate and three years of master’s studies, she never wasted a day. With her exceptional talent and one hundred percent effort, she underwent a qualitative leap and became the most outstanding doctor that her teacher could rely on.

However, Chi Cheng seriously suspected that the teacher called his junior sister “Anxin” every day out of some selfish motive—after all, “Anxin” also bore the surname “An”, sounding like his own granddaughter.

The surgery lasted one and a half hours, and An Huadong was very relaxed throughout, chatting with one person for a while and then another, not at all worried that he might affect Lin Chuyi.

In fact, Lin Chuyi was indeed not affected in the slightest. She consistently performed the surgery excellently, stepped down from the operating table, changed her clothes, and left the operating room.

An Huadong followed her with Chi Cheng, “Anxin disciple, where are you heading afterward? You’re not going to abandon us and run off to help at your boyfriend’s hospital, are you?”

Lin Chuyi, recalling what she did days ago at Qi Yunfan’s hospital, laughed, “I was just there to help out with odd jobs. I didn’t perform any surgeries, so you don’t have to worry about our hospital losing the spotlight to theirs.”noveldrama

“Look at you, do you think I am that petty? You really didn’t perform any surgeries for their hospital?” he asked.

“Really not. They don’t know I am your student. I was just filling in forms and cleaning over there,” she replied.

Having broken up yesterday, Lin Chuyi felt quite miserable. However, today she suddenly felt a sense of relief, and she could even say with a laugh, “I’ve broken up with him, so I won’t be going to his family’s hospital anymore.”

“Broken up?” he asked.

An Huadong’s eyes lit up, “That’s great! Anxin disciple, you’ve finally come around. Are you going to follow in your teacher’s footsteps and remain unmarried and childless?”

“Unmarried and childless? That doesn’t sound too bad,” she replied.

No sooner had she finished speaking than her assistant hurried over, “Doctor Anxin, your fiancé is here!”

The smile on Lin Chuyi’s face vanished in an instant, “What?!”

An Huadong turned and walked away, “Little liar!”