After Teasing the Heroine and Running Away, I Was Forced into Love - Chapter 20

All substitute romance novels follow the same trope: the white moonlight figure must leave for overseas, otherwise how would the substitute ever get a chance?

He Roushuang had spent considerable effort and connections to contact Xu Wangjin, but their interactions remained limited to exchanging friend requests and discussing professional matters.

Taking the next step felt like an insurmountable challenge.

“Forget it,” He Roushuang thought dejectedly, tossing her phone onto the desk. “Even He Shanjian, with the male lead’s halo, couldn’t win her over. How could I possibly succeed in such a short time? I’ll just have to take things slow.”

Despite her resignation, her mind was already calculating the time until she could leave work.

Fortunately, she hadn’t transmigrated as the sole director of a massive corporation, but merely as a president. Most critical decisions still required He Wenzhi’s personal approval.

He Roushuang felt like a powerless crown prince, but this arrangement gave her breathing room. After all, she knew nothing about business and was still clumsily learning the ropes of her presidential duties.

After tidying up, He Roushuang prepared to leave work. Someone was waiting for her at home, though she had warned herself not to become too deeply entangled in the female lead’s gentle trap.

But with such a stunning beauty waiting for you, who wouldn’t feel their heart flutter?

He Roushuang told herself it was only natural.

A little appreciation of beauty couldn’t hurt.

Just as she settled into her car, her phone rang. Shi Qing’s voice was soft and tender, so delicate it seemed you could squeeze water from it.

In the past, hearing such a voice would have prompted He Roushuang to scoff, “What a manipulative b1tch!” But now she was the one being called “Sister” by this cunning woman.

Her heart melted. How could she possibly scold her?

No wonder men fell for this act.

Sigh, she was so shallow. She was falling for it too.

“Sister He, are you coming home for dinner?”

She had to admit, Shi Qing was playing the role of the perfect lover flawlessly, far surpassing the arrogant heroines in many novels who relied solely on their looks.

“Yes, I’m coming home.”

He Roushuang’s heart raced. She’d never experienced this feeling before. Even her close friends’ relationships hadn’t been this clingy, giving off an entirely different vibe.

“Okay.”

“I’ve made all your favorite dishes.”

After hanging up the phone, Shi Qing mentally calculated the time and began preparing the stir-fry. By the time Sister He arrived home, the dishes would be nearly ready.

Wearing a pink apron, Shi Qing’s outfit was completely different from what she’d worn in recent days. She had been diligently trying to imitate the woman in the photograph.

To be honest, Shi Qing had never understood why He Roushuang was so kind to her.

But now she understood.

Every gift comes with a price. The reason He Roushuang treated her so well was because of the woman in the photograph.

Did it hurt?

Of course it did.

But it wasn’t the kind of pain that would make her break down and cry.

This was her opportunity. Her identical face was also her opportunity. Even if He Roushuang still loved the woman in the photograph, that woman wasn’t by her side now.

If Shi Qing wanted to seize the moment, now was the perfect time!

She had unwavering confidence in herself.

She was a resilient person. Most people in her situation would have already crumbled and burst into tears.

But Shi Qing rarely cried.

Because tears were useless.

He Roushuang rang the doorbell, but no one answered. Assuming Shi Qing was in the kitchen, she opened the door herself.

After changing her shoes, she took only a few steps before spotting a figure in the kitchen.

Through the clear glass door, Shi Qing stood wearing only a white shirt and slightly loose black pants, her entire demeanor exuding a serene elegance.

He Roushuang sensed something was off. The female lead’s style was completely different from her usual appearance.

Where’s my pure, innocent white flower? How did she transform into this gentle, intellectual style?!

Still, the female lead looked quite lovely in this new guise, like a vibrant cream cake adorned with colorful fruits had become a simple chiffon cake.

Each had its own distinct charm.

Shi Qing paused her movements. Her ears were sharp; she had heard the doorbell and rushed to answer it. But when she opened the kitchen’s glass door, the first thing she saw was a beautiful face.

“Sister…” Shi Qing said softly, still wearing her apron but with her long hair loosely tied up, looking undeniably charming.

“You’re back.”

“Mm.”

He Roushuang took a few steps closer.

“Why the sudden change in style today?”

To be honest, when He Roushuang first saw Shi Qing from afar, she had briefly mistaken her for Xu Wangjin. No wonder those “substitute romance” novels were so popular—this whole “Wanwan resembles Qing” thing was apparently more common than she’d thought.

“Don’t you like it?” Shi Qing asked.

She knew that mentioning an ex or a secret crush in front of someone was taboo. But as long as He Roushuang looked at her face, she would inevitably be reminded of that person, wouldn’t she?

Shi Qing untied her apron, fully revealing the white shirt she had chosen. Its slightly fitted design accentuated her curves.

“Sister He, even if you’re thinking of someone else when you look at me, that’s fine. Even if you call out another person’s name in bed, I won’t mind.”

Shi Qing did mind.

Her heart was bleeding, but to win over the woman before her, she needed to seize both her body and her heart first.

Emotional intimacy was too slow…

Too slow, especially with that white moonlight in the sky poised to return to the country at any moment. She needed to act quickly.

He Roushuang: ?!

Wait, what?

What could have happened to make Shi Qing say such strange things?

“Why would you say that? I wasn’t thinking of anyone else through you. I told you the reason—it was all just to provoke He Shanjian.”

“I saw the photo.”

Shi Qing lowered her gaze, her eyelashes fluttering gently like a black butterfly taking flight.

“The one in your office.”

“I didn’t mean to. I was just curious.”

Shi Qing had no intention of hiding the truth. From the moment she decided to feign the “white moonlight” persona, she knew it was only a matter of time before someone noticed.

Rather than have it discovered and end in a messy confrontation, she preferred to admit it herself.

He Roushuang was momentarily speechless.

She always found herself being manipulated by the female lead, whether it was the earlier bedroom teasing or this…

If she continued to let the female lead run rampant, what would become of her own position?

They had agreed to maintain the upper hand in this relationship.

He Roushuang considered this for a moment, then slowly stepped closer, backing Shi Qing against the kitchen’s glass door. The overwhelming fragrance emanating from her body pressed down like a suffocating weight.

“So you went through my things?”

“Mm…”

“If you want to punish me, Sister He, I’ll accept it.”

Shi Qing nodded, neither denying nor evading.

“Very well. You crossed the line first.”

He Roushuang didn’t hold back. She wrapped her arms around Shi Qing’s waist, relishing the silky feel of the shirt and the warmth radiating from her skin.

For the first time, she initiated a kiss—not a fleeting peck, but a deep, dizzying embrace that pried open Shi Qing’s lips.

He Roushuang was actually quite clumsy, but her mischievous intent fueled her recklessness.

When they finally broke apart, He Roushuang breathed softly, her magnetic voice making Shi Qing’s ears flush.

Her lips were slightly swollen and glistening, sending Shi Qing’s heart into complete disarray.

“Fool,” He Roushuang whispered against Shi Qing’s ear, “the person in that photo is He Shanjian’s ‘white moonlight.'”

“Not mine.”

“I was just studying my brother’s weaknesses.”

A low, husky laugh laced with amusement followed, He Roushuang clearly delighted that she had stirred Shi Qing’s emotions.

But halfway through her laughter, she faltered. Wait… wasn’t this accelerating the protagonist’s “bending”?