Chapter 14: Replacing Your Life (14)

“You mean… you want me to arrange for Yuruo’s internship at my company?” When Lu Yue heard this from Ye Huan over the phone, he nearly thought that Ye Huan might have discovered his feelings for Yu Yurou.

The idea of an internship was something Lu Yue had only discussed privately with Yu Yurou. He had envisioned a day when she would secretly come to work alongside him, away from her boyfriend. Yet, he never anticipated that this opportunity would be presented by Ye Huan himself…

“Yuruo has sacrificed so much just to stay near me. She is currently using Yu Ling’s identity, and to prevent it from being exposed, I need your assistance,” Ye Huan’s tone softened noticeably whenever he spoke about Yu Yurou. “Just provide an internship certificate under Yu Ling’s name and assign her any position. Considering our long-standing friendship, surely you won’t deny this small favor?”

Lu Yue responded, “Even without considering our friendship, solely for Yuruo’s sake, I wouldn’t hesitate to help.”

Ye Huan insisted, “In any case, keep an eye out for her, kid. Make sure she doesn’t face any unfair treatment at your company.”

“Aren’t you worried I might steal your girlfriend away?” Lu Yue asked half-jokingly.

Ye Huan let out a soft scoff. “That reminds me; I’ll make sure to tell Yuruo to keep her distance from you.”

“Seems like you trust your girlfriend more than me…” Lu Yue replied with a subtle expression.

Ye Huan smiled. “I trust you too, but for Yuruo’s matter, there’s no one else I’d rather ask besides you.”

With these words, Lu Yue’s expression became even more nuanced.

Unfortunately, over the phone, Ye Huan couldn’t see Lu Yue’s face and naturally missed any hidden meanings behind his response. After exchanging a few casual remarks, their conversation ended.

Lu Yue doubted that Ye Huan would suddenly think of arranging an internship for Yu Yurou on his own accord; it was highly likely this was Yu Yurou’s idea.

Whenever he imagined Ye Huan being manipulated by Yu Yurou, Lu Yue couldn’t help but ponder what role he played in her life. Was he merely a toy for her amusement or perhaps a slightly unique prey?

Regardless, one undeniable fact remained—he was undeniably drawn to her.

On the day Tong Ling decided to visit the company, Lu Yue had planned to warmly welcome his esteemed guest as agreed. However, midway through preparations, he received a call: one of the contract projects he was handling encountered an issue, and the foreign partner insisted on discussing potential solutions face-to-face. To maintain the company’s reputation, Lu Yue urgently needed to fly abroad for the meeting. With no choice, he entrusted the task of hosting Tong Ling entirely to his personal secretary, Xu Zhao.

“Arrange a light-duty position for her, nothing too strenuous. Oh, and tell her that upon my return, I will personally apologize,” Lu Yue instructed before hastily departing, completely unaware of how much his secretary would speculate based on these words.

Many women had visited Lu Yue at the company before, but none had ever been treated with such importance. Even retaining his private secretary solely to take care of her piqued Xu Zhao’s curiosity about the woman’s identity.

From their first encounter, Xu Zhao felt that Tong Ling was different from any other women Lu Yue had associated with. The reason likely stemmed from her reaction when she heard about Lu Yue’s business trip; instead of showing any disappointment, she expressed gratitude towards Xu Zhao immediately.

“Thank you for picking me up, Secretary Xu. If you have any work to attend to, please don’t let me hinder you.” The woman’s graceful face wore a gentle smile, and when she spoke, her attentive gaze conveyed sincerity and kindness almost instantly upon meeting her eyes.

Her words were not mere politeness; she genuinely meant them.

Xu Zhao couldn’t help but develop a favorable impression of this considerate, kind-hearted, and beautiful woman. At the same time, he became convinced that Tong Ling was no ordinary lover to Lu Yue. Such a woman could not be easily neglected; her elegance and dignity made labeling her merely as a lover an insult.

“Miss Yu Ling, my job is to welcome and host you on behalf of Mr. Lu.” Perhaps influenced by her presence, Xu Zhao unconsciously straightened his posture, feeling not a hint of complacency. As if attending his first job interview, he adopted the most professional demeanor to introduce the company to Tong Ling.

The Lu family had their own businesses, but Lu Yue’s company was entirely the result of his personal dedication. From its establishment to growth, every aspect was overseen directly by Lu Yue. Due to his keen interest in electronics, the company primarily focused on software development. While listening to Secretary Xu’s explanations, Tong Ling accompanied him on a tour through each department.

Xu Zhao wasn’t sure why he felt compelled to provide such detailed explanations, speaking until his throat went dry. Only when Tong Ling stopped walking did he snap back to reality and nervously asked, “Miss Yueling, which department do you think suits you best?”

Recalling Lu Yue’s instructions to find her a relaxed position, Xu Zhao hastily added, “Mr. Lu also needs an ass…”

Before Xu Zhao could finish, one glance from Tong Ling made him instantly feel that even being an assistant—despite it being the president’s assistant—wasn’t fitting for her.

“Secretary Xu, please notify all department heads to attend a meeting in the conference room half an hour from now.” Tong Ling checked the time. “The meeting won’t be long; I just need a brief understanding of the situation and will outline plans for the company’s future development.”

“Understood.” As Tong Ling headed towards the conference room, Xu Zhao suddenly realized why something felt off. From the start, she didn’t seem like a new employee but rather like…a supervising leader!

Given how highly Lu Yue regarded her and her immediate assessment of the company’s operations upon arrival, this woman must be…

Xu Zhao smacked his forehead, his eyes filled with the thrill of uncovering the truth. “She must be Mr. Lu’s fiancée, the future Madame President of the Lu Group!”

Organizing this meeting must have been at Mr. Lu’s request, intending to help his fiancée establish herself within the company. No longer hesitating, Xu Zhao promptly relayed the news about the upcoming gathering.

After the meeting, Xu Zhao became firmly convinced that Tong Ling was indeed Mr. Lu’s fiancée. Although she didn’t explicitly mention her connection to Lu Yue, her casual manner of addressing him and their familiarity indicated an extraordinary relationship.

Moreover, Tong Ling’s approach mirrored Lu Yue’s style perfectly, and her performance during the meeting impressed all department heads immensely.

In the upper echelons of the company, everyone was astute and experienced. Sharing glances, they each formed similar conclusions in their minds.

“Miss Yu’s suggestions are highly feasible; her capabilities match those of Mr. Lu.”

“That’s true. Achieving such excellence at such a young age is truly commendable.”

“With both Mr. Lu and Miss Yu on board, the company’s prospects are boundless.”

As the managers acknowledged Tong Ling’s capabilities, news of a talented young female executive joining the company swiftly spread. Xu Zhao deliberately placed Tong Ling in the general manager’s office, indirectly recognizing her as the highest-ranking leader after Lu Yue.

The company employees’ gossip mills started churning, with each one speculating about the new boss’s true identity. When they heard she was received by Secretary Xu at Mr. Lu’s request, everyone unanimously concluded that she must be their legitimate boss’s fiancée, the rumored high-society betrothed!

m577: [???] m577: [Host, why do I feel something isn’t quite right here?]

Tong Ling, seated comfortably in the leather executive chair, smiled contentedly at the spacious office and its redwood desk. “What’s not right? This is much more comfortable than sitting outside.”

Listening to the discussions outside, m577 sounded exasperated, [Nothing is right! How did you become Lu Yue’s fiancée?!]

During his business trip, Lu Yue was swamped with work, barely finding a moment’s rest. After finally concluding negotiations abroad, he returned without even adjusting for jet lag and rushed straight to the company.

In his spare moments overseas, Lu Yue had asked Xu Zhao about Yu Yurou. Xu Zhao spoke of her effusively, his enthusiastic tone leading Lu Yue to suspect that the woman might have charmed his secretary.

Given Yu Yurou’s manipulative skills, this wouldn’t be surprising; even Lu Yue himself had fallen victim to her charms, so it was entirely plausible for other men to be drawn to her as well.

Despite these thoughts, Lu Yue felt somewhat uneasy. He brought the woman to his company intending to create more opportunities for them to interact, not to serve as a stepping stone for others! Although he knew Yu Yurou would never truly consider Xu Zhao, his immediate return to the office upon landing made his stance clear.

He indeed cared deeply for that woman now. If she was testing his feelings by seducing his secretary, he had to admit her little ploy succeeded.

With a hint of sourness lingering in his heart, Lu Yue entered the company only to be greeted by…

“Welcome back, Mr. Lu! Miss Yu is still in the executive office—you’ll see her right away.”

“Miss Yu is truly very capable; your discernment, Mr. Lu, is impeccable.”

“Your fiancée is amazing!”

Confused, Lu Yue asked, “Fiancée?”

A technical department supervisor, who had a good rapport with Lu Yue, winked at him and teased, “Not bad, Mr. Lu. Were you trying to keep it a secret from us?”

Another senior company shareholder smiled, “Lu Yue, it’s about time you settled down. I think highly of that young Miss Yu. Having such a virtuous partner will greatly benefit your career.”

Virtuous partner? What virtuous partner? In just a few days, why did it feel like everyone in the company was talking nonsense?

Bewildered, Lu Yue summoned his secretary Xu Zhao into his office. “What are they saying about a fiancée?”

“Of course they mean Miss Yu.” Xu Zhao started praising her but paused upon seeing Lu Yue’s shocked expression, immediately sensing tension. “Mr. Lu, could it be…that Miss Yu isn’t your fiancée?”

Lu Yue countered, “When have I ever said she was my fiancée?”

“Then who is she—” Xu Zhao’s mind went blank. If Yu Ling wasn’t Lu Yue’s fiancée, whom had he been courting all this time?

“You better tell me everything that happened these past few days, in full detail!”

After hearing Xu Zhao’s account, Lu Yue fell silent for a moment before bursting into laughter.

“Mr. Lu?” Xu Zhao stood nervously to the side. “What… what if everyone has been under this misunderstanding? It’s my fault for not verifying the facts. I-I’ll go clear up this rumor right away!”

“Wait.” Lu Yue managed to suppress his laughter, his expression filled with amusement. “Does Miss Yu know about this rumor?”

“We haven’t discussed it directly in front of her, but people have been talking privately. She might have heard something…” Xu Zhao replied uncertainly.

Lu Yue was well aware that the rumors were intentionally allowed to spread by that woman herself. The fact that she convinced everyone at the company, even organizing several meetings… just thinking about it amused him greatly.

“If she doesn’t care, there’s no need for me to clarify anything.” Despite never having officially confirmed a relationship with any woman before, Lu Yue found himself surprisingly content with this turn of events.

He mentally savored the word “fiancée” a few times, then eagerly headed towards Tong Ling’s office space.

“Fiancée… What a fitting role.”