Du Jinghuai completely fell into despair at this plot point.
He had become the biggest villain in front of Li Jing, giving her blow after blow of pain, and finally, he too became deeply entangled in this melodramatic game.
Du Jinghuai pleaded with Li Jing for Ye Yan, drew blood, and spent tens of millions to quell the trending searches.
He didn’t know what else he could do for Ye Yan.
All he could do from now on, it seemed, was to make amends to Li Jing, to make amends to this kind girl who had been completely hurt by him.
Tens of millions of yuan were spent on traffic promotion, and the entire online world was turned upside down.
However, Li Jing, who was at the center of the media storm, simply sat on the hospital bed, her head down, looking at the old and worn-out small mobile phone in her hand.
Du Jinghuai realized that she couldn’t even see how the outside world was discussing her.
The so-called putting her in the most dazzling position, keeping her on the trending searches, was just a cover-up for Li Jing’s pain and despair.
Li Jing: “I really don’t know what’s being said outside—I only know that Du Jinghuai really didn’t spend a small amount of money!”
System: “Who’s going to die from being rich, I’m not saying.”
The next hundred million was almost here! Leek Master, terrifying as ever.
In Du Jinghuai’s eyes, she was like a lonely flower, having endured too much wind and rain.
And he knew that he was the one who had added to her troubles.
Du Jinghuai pressed down on his blood draw site, slowly standing up. Because he had lost too much blood at once, his head started to spin, but he endured the dizziness, staring intently at Li Jing.
He spoke softly, “Besides my blood… what else do you want?”
Drawing blood could only make Li Jing feel a little better emotionally, but it had no real meaning for her.
But Du Jinghuai truly wanted to give her something.
As long as she wanted it, as long as he had it.
Li Jing finally looked up.
She just looked at Du Jinghuai quietly, and after a long time, she said softly, “I don’t want anything, what can you give to this world?”
System: “Damn it.“carpreads.pages.dev
This little white flower’s holy halo blinded it!
Du Jinghuai was taken aback.
Li Jing always seemed to be like this, never considering herself. Even though her life had been crushed again and again, she was still thinking about the suffering people in the wider world.
The moonlight outside the ward shone through the window, falling on her side face and neck, as bright as snow.
For a moment, Du Jinghuai felt that he had truly seen the bright moon he had been chasing.
—Du Jinghuai’s favorability +1%
Li Jing: Very good, 90% √
She slowly lay down on the hospital bed, turning her back and ignoring everyone.
Now the favorability of the three male leads, number one 93%, number two 94%, number three 90%, all of them were in love with the substitute female lead, the White Moonlight had turned to ash.
We can truly fight now!
Let’s fight then, fight until the sky is dark and the sun and moon are obscured!
Fu Lingchu also noticed the situation online at this time.
When he saw that the entire internet was talking about Li Jing, the entire internet was going crazy over Li Jing’s photos, Fu Lingchu was furious.
He immediately made a phone call, his anger even overshadowing the composure of the head of the Fu Group: “Du Jinghuai, what the hell are you doing?!”
Using Li Jing to replace Ye Yan, could this possibly be Li Jing’s own wish?!
She was already in so much pain…
But Du Jinghuai didn’t explain a single word.
Faced with Fu Lingchu’s anger, he simply asked indifferently, “Then, can you watch Ye Yan’s life be disrupted?”
Fu Lingchu was stunned.
Although he was now unconsciously putting his mind on Li Jing, but that was still—Ye Yan.
The person he had longed for so many years.
It’s just that Fu Lingchu couldn’t tell whether his concern for Ye Yan was out of love, or because of… the sunk cost of so many years.
Du Jinghuai had already anticipated Fu Lingchu’s silence, and he hung up the phone indifferently, then closed his eyes.
After all.
None of them deserved Li Jing.
When Feng Ce saw the photos online and the clarification that “Du Jinghuai was holding Li Jing,” he instantly understood what was going on.
The big Young Master was so angry that he smashed the monitor, wishing he could tear Du Jinghuai apart right then and there.
— Li Jing was already like that! How could Du Jinghuai still use her as a shield?!
Feng Ce couldn’t even imagine what Li Jing was like now.
Her tears had already dried up, how could she release her sadness anymore?
Feng Ce couldn’t think about it, every thought made his heart ache.
Li Jing no longer had any feelings for him, but he had to… protect her.
Even if this protection came too late.
-—–
Li Jing was already used to being on the hot search, and this time, her presence was even bigger than last time.
However, this time, although there were many online fans of the Acting Emperor going crazy, the overall online public opinion was very friendly towards her —
【Holy crap, the Acting Emperor was holding the girl from the orphanage last time??】
【As a passerby, I have to say, do you guys know about the charity foundation that the big shots recently set up? That foundation is named after this Li Jing, to help women with bone marrow diseases】
【The orphanage auction that time, it was also to build a new dormitory and canteen for the orphanage, this civilian is really selfless】
【This is what it means to understand the need for an umbrella after being drenched in the rain QAQ】
【Such a kind big sister, I love her, I love her】
Li Jing wasn’t surprised at all by this overall friendly public opinion.
Because the male leads would definitely take action. Just like how they built a high wall for Ye Yan on the entire internet back then, now, they would use the same method to protect the substitute.
Li Jing leaned back on the bed leisurely — it could only be said, men, men.
Being affectionate, in a way, was also being heartless.
Ye Yan must be on the verge of collapse now, but who told her that the three big fish she had been nurturing were all old-fashioned male leads?
Men who could find substitutes were all just big garbage in terms of love.
Now let the garbage destroy the garbage ^_^
-—–
Three forces intervened to control the situation.
Although Li Jing was always on the hot search, it actually did some positive publicity for her: she had won a scholarship at school, had worked part-time to take care of her sick grandmother. She had filmed a promotional video for the foundation, and her performance was excellent. She had donated blood in the hospital, truly helping others…
Fu Lingchu, Feng Ce, and Du Jinghuai all recalled — how radiant Li Jing was.
But because of all that happened, the light in their eyes completely dissipated.
So they all had the same question in their minds.
Why was everything so coincidental?
Why did Ye Yan’s short film happen to appear at the launch ceremony?
Why did Ye Yan happen to have emotional problem last night? Du Jinghuai always kept a low profile and used the back door when he went to the hospital, and he had never caused any waves before, why was it that this time, when he was carrying Ye Yan away, he was caught on camera.
Ye Yan was the purest and most immaculate White Moonlight in their hearts… but many things didn’t seem to stand up to scrutiny.
Feng Ce had noticed a long time ago that the people following Li Jing were not sent by Fu Lingchu, but he still didn’t know who they were, and he always subconsciously didn’t want to suspect Ye Yan.
Du Jinghuai also remembered that Ye Yan happened to be there right after Li Jing and her grandmother finished talking, and then she bought the overseas copyright of his movie.
In this regard, Fu Lingchu was undoubtedly the one with the strongest insight.
He was the first one to order people to investigate how Ye Yan’s short film appeared at the launch ceremony.
This investigation did reveal some clues.
Fu Lingchu rested his hands on the desk, his eyes dark and deep, and after a long time, he closed his eyes.
He sighed deeply.
-—–
Ye Yan, looking at everything happening online, felt a chill run through her body.
Her news had never been suppressed so cleanly, there was no news of her on the entire internet, and even all the photos that appeared, she could clearly see that they were not her.
Li Jing, everywhere was Li Jing.
She had been completely, utterly, replaced by “Li Jing.”
It was a feeling like drowning, making Ye Yan gasp for breath.
And the online comments were clearly being guided, someone was maintaining Li Jing’s reputation, guiding the public’s praise and admiration — and these were all supposed to belong to Ye Yan!
It was clear who was behind this, who had the financial resources and the ability to do this.
The three men she had carefully cultivated for years had all sided with Li Jing!
Ye Yan clenched the bed sheet uncontrollably, a flash of ruthlessness in her eyes.
Li Jing couldn’t be allowed to stay..!
When Fu Lingchu arrived at Ye Yan’s room, she had forced herself to calm down and put on her best facade.
Their neglect over the past few days had not driven Ye Yan to hysterics. On the contrary, she still maintained her gentle and soft demeanor.
Only her eyes and brows held a touch of just-right grievance, enough to melt the heart of any man who loved her.
Fu Lingchu looked at her deeply, wanting to see proof of his love in Ye Yan’s expression.
However, everything seemed to be blurred.
All the vivid memories of this face were, surprisingly, of Li Jing.
Fu Lingchu took a deep breath and said, “A’yan, how have you been feeling lately?”
“I’m fine,” Ye Yan lowered her head, her voice soft, “Lingchu, I know you’re very busy… I’ve been a burden to you since I came back, I’m really sorry, it’s all because of my poor health…”
Fu Lingchu looked at her, instinctively wanting to say “It’s okay,” as if it were a conditioned reflex he had cultivated over the years.
But he held back.
After going back and forth in his mind several times, he finally said, “A’yan, they played your short film at the launch ceremony the other day.”
A strange unease rose in Ye Yan’s heart, realizing that this Fu Lingchu wasn’t here to care for or comfort her.
She batted her eyelashes innocently, “Yes, A’huai told me… Thankfully, you guys helped me deal with the online rumors.”
“It’s okay,” Fu Lingchu looked at her deeply, paused for a few seconds, then spoke in a hoarse voice, “But A’yan—the email list for the invitation to record the event didn’t include you.”
Ye Yan’s face suddenly froze.
Was Fu Lingchu starting to suspect her?
What was even scarier was that, knowing Fu Lingchu as she did, this man either wouldn’t say anything, or when he did, it would be a conclusion he had already made up his mind about.
Ye Yan almost couldn’t control her expression, but she still reacted as quickly as she could, “I, I heard it from a friend, I also wanted to do something for the foundation…”
Fu Lingchu’s expression was gentle.
But what he said made Ye Yan completely despair.
“But that friend wouldn’t know the foundation’s official email address.”
Ye Yan’s heart instantly turned to ice.
Her mind immediately began to weigh the pros and cons. Fu Lingchu had discovered it, what about Du Jinghuai? What about Feng Ce? Although Fu Lingchu was the one she admired the most, the other two could also… The current situation still had a chance to be stabilized.
But Fu Lingchu didn’t give Ye Yan much time to think. He closed his eyes and raised his hand.
Then, a medical team filed in and re-examined Ye Yan.
It was only at this moment that Ye Yan truly panicked.
Fu Lingchu had actually gone this far with his suspicions!
Sometimes, men were so fickle and unprincipled. Once the scales in their hearts tilt, the lighter side would naturally be scrutinized.
Before, it was Li Jing.
Now, it was Ye Yan.
When the results of the examination were handed to Fu Lingchu, his fingertips trembled slightly.
“So—your illness was already cured abroad?”
Ye Yan’s expression was completely blank.
She didn’t know how, just yesterday she was laughing at Li Jing’s downfall, and now, in the blink of an eye, the most important corner of everything she had painstakingly built had suddenly collapsed.
Fu Lingchu looked at Ye Yan, feeling utterly unfamiliar with her for the first time.
“So you didn’t actually need a blood transfusion, but you did it anyway.”
The various clues came together, and the conclusion was clear—
“You knew about Li Jing’s existence all along, didn’t you? A’yan.”
Ye Yan’s face turned pale.
As her harmless and gentle persona crumbled, Ye Yan suddenly realized that she could no longer see… pity for herself in Fu Lingchu’s eyes.
Only endless regret for Li Jing remained.
He had fallen in love with her.
—He had fallen in love with the substitute.
Ye Yan’s heart trembled, and she finally burst into tears: “Don’t, don’t do this, Lingchu, you said you would always protect me…”
Her head hung low, the curve of her neck was pitifully fragile, and her eyes were red from crying.
Fu Lingchu looked at her for a long, long time, and didn’t reach out again.
The young CEO turned and left the Ye family.
A corner of his heart felt strangely relieved.
Although Ye Yan needed to be punished, but…
Since Ye Yan was already well, Li Jing wouldn’t need to donate blood anymore.
Li Jing was still young, her body could slowly recover, and he could provide her with the best of everything.
Life seemed to have hope, Fu Lingchu thought.
Life was so long, with his abilities, he could create a life of eternal dreamlike luxury for Li Jing.
As he left the Ye family, a long-lost smile even appeared on Fu Lingchu’s lips.
Go to the hospital.
He wanted to go see her, to tell her that she didn’t need to donate blood anymore.
He was the first to discover this.
He could take Li Jing home.