On The Night I Confirmed My Girlfriend's Infidelity, I Kissed Her Sister (GL) - Chapter 47: The Substitute

“Xiao Ying?”

Fu Chaoying snapped back to reality like someone abruptly awakened from a dream.

She quickly looked up, meeting Ye Jiayuan’s concerned gaze. That look was all too familiar—so familiar it sent an inexplicable wave of panic through her.

Her heart skipped a beat as she instinctively turned off her phone screen, forcing a faint smile. “What’s up?”

Ye Jiayuan spoke in a low voice, “President Nan invited us for tea. Would you like to go?”

Fu Chaoying knew Ye Jiayuan too well. If she was asking, it meant she wanted to go. Otherwise, given her personality, she would have already declined outright.

Fu Chaoying curved her lips into a slight smile. “Sure.”

Ye Jiayuan gave a slight nod, but her gaze lingered on Fu Chaoying’s face for a moment before shifting to President Nan. “Xiao Ying has a flight to Nanyan tonight, so we might not be able to stay long.”

Fu Chaoying’s luggage was still at Ye Jiayuan’s place. Picking it up and then taking a cab to the airport would take some time. But that wasn’t what occupied her thoughts—it was that unfamiliar text message.

She didn’t even need to think hard to guess who had sent it. Just one public appearance, and that woman couldn’t wait any longer.

A trace of mockery flickered in Fu Chaoying’s eyes as she looked at Ye Jiayuan, her gaze deepening with unspoken meaning.

Ye Jiayuan subtly turned her attention back, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

President Nan began offering another toast. Fu Chaoying raised her glass and drank, showing no signs of anything unusual.

Ye Jiayuan quietly withdrew her gaze.

But no one knew just how complicated Fu Chaoying’s emotions were at that moment.

Her mind kept replaying that photo—the face so similar to hers—and the nightmares that haunted her in the dead of night.

She raised her glass again, only for Ye Jiayuan’s slender fingers to gently encircle her wrist. “Don’t get drunk.”

Fu Chaoying smiled, setting the glass down as if joking. “Is Jiayuan-jie this attentive with her girlfriend too?”

A faint amusement flashed in Ye Jiayuan’s eyes. She hummed in acknowledgment before adding, “She doesn’t like drinking.”

Fu Chaoying pressed her lips together and said nothing more.

Qu Jingyuan and President Qu were engrossed in lively conversation, oblivious to the whispered exchange nearby.

Fu Chaoying lifted her gaze to the floor-to-ceiling window behind them, taking in the vast ocean view.

The weather wasn’t great today. A thick mist blanketed the sea, obscuring the view of the opposite shore.

She looked away, dabbing her lips with a napkin before picking up her clutch. “I’m going to touch up my lipstick,” she told Ye Jiayuan.

Ye Jiayuan nodded slightly.

Lost in thought, Fu Chaoying stepped out—only to have her wrist seized the moment she entered the restroom.

Startled, she turned, but Ye Jiayuan pulled her into an empty smoking lounge without explanation. Before she could react, she was pulled into an embrace, her heart skipping a beat. “Why did you follow me?” she asked softly.

Ye Jiayuan’s warm breath brushed against her ear. “Did you get bad news earlier? You seemed upset.”

Fu Chaoying shook her head, unable to voice her thoughts, and remained silent.

Ye Jiayuan cupped her face, searching her eyes. “Hmm?”

Fu Chaoying stared fixedly into her eyes, as if she could see her own reflection in those pupils. For a moment, she became completely entranced, only to be brought back when Ye Jiayuan gently nuzzled her nose.

Every time Ye Jiayuan did this, Fu Chaoying’s heart melted into utter softness. But today, her mind was preoccupied, unable to return the affection in equal measure.

She merely smiled faintly before asking, “Do you really like me, sister? Only me?”

Ye Jiayuan seemed slightly taken aback, then let out a helpless chuckle. “Why ask so suddenly?”

Fu Chaoying took a deep breath, her expression unchanged. “Just answer me, sister.”

Her tone carried a hint of coquetry, though not too much.

Ye Jiayuan gave a small nod. “Only you.”

Fu Chaoying seemed to have gotten her answer, yet the weight in her heart remained suspended in midair.

The truth she had deliberately avoided was now about to come to light.

But she didn’t feel happy—instead, there was a faint sense of fear.

Because the outcome was uncertain, and at this moment, the sincerity of Ye Jiayuan’s words was equally uncertain.

She could never quite read Ye Jiayuan, never decipher her thoughts, never see through her true feelings.

Fu Chaoying tugged lightly at her sleeve. “Then, sister, touch up my lipstick for me.”

The two hadn’t left the private booth. Fu Chaoying retrieved a lipstick from her small bag and handed it to her.

Ye Jiayuan stared at her lips, where the color had faded slightly, revealing their natural rosy hue.

She dabbed a bit of the lipstick onto Fu Chaoying’s lips, then gently smoothed it with her fingers, her throat tightening ever so slightly.

Fu Chaoying watched her eyes, noticing how intently she focused, those deep pupils growing even darker.

Ye Jiayuan’s desire for her was probably real. The moment this realization struck, Fu Chaoying hurriedly averted her gaze.

She pulled out a compact mirror to check, then tugged at Ye Jiayuan’s sleeve again, her voice unconsciously laced with a pleading tone. “It’s too light, sister. Add a little more.”

Ye Jiayuan’s gaze lingered on those soft pink lips, watching them part and close, and before she knew it, she had cupped Fu Chaoying’s chin.

Fu Chaoying’s breath hitched as she felt Ye Jiayuan’s lips draw closer. Instinctively, she raised a hand to press against her shoulder—though without any real force—and murmured softly, “There are people outside…”

Ye Jiayuan chuckled, her voice low. “I was just going to touch up your lipstick.”

Fu Chaoying blinked, only to see her actually reapply the lipstick, dabbing on a little more before smoothing it out again with her fingertip.

Ye Jiayuan’s thumb brushed lightly over her lips, sending an indescribable tingling sensation through her. Unable to resist, Fu Chaoying whispered, “Done yet?”

Ye Jiayuan leaned in closer and planted a kiss on the tip of her nose. “There.”

Fu Chaoying’s heartbeat suddenly quickened. Only as the familiar scent of magnolia at her nose gradually faded did her emotions slowly settle.

The two walked out of the smoking area one after the other, relieved that they hadn’t run into any acquaintances. Fu Chaoying exhaled a nearly imperceptible sigh.

When they returned to the private room together, Fu Chaoying didn’t offer any deliberate explanations, and neither Qu Jingyuan nor President Nan asked any questions.

The group soon set off for the teahouse.

Ye Jiayuan led Fu Chaoying into the car and asked softly, “Do you really want to go for tea?”

Fu Chaoying nodded lightly. “It’s fine—I’ll still be with you.”

Ye Jiayuan reached over and gently stroked the back of her hand, her touch carrying a trace of barely concealed fondness. “If you get bored later, there’s a bookstore nearby.”

Fu Chaoying obediently agreed, then added with a hint of teasing, “You’ve really packed the schedule tight, haven’t you?”

Ye Jiayuan gave her palm a light squeeze, her tone serious. “Being busy now means resting better in the future.”

A flicker of complex emotions passed through Fu Chaoying’s eyes, yet her heartbeat sped up involuntarily. In her mind, there was something far more important she needed to confirm.

Her gaze lingered subtly on Ye Jiayuan’s face for a moment before she let out an almost inaudible sigh.

What exactly was the truth?

Upon arriving at the teahouse, they were ushered into an elegantly decorated private room where several unfamiliar faces were already seated.

Ye Jiayuan’s expression remained indifferent as she briefly introduced Fu Chaoying to the group.

Fu Chaoying offered a faint smile, politely shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries with each person before taking a seat beside Ye Jiayuan. She listened quietly as they discussed project collaborations.

Slipping her phone open discreetly, she checked the map and noted that the café mentioned in the anonymous text wasn’t too far from their current location.

She replied to the sender, feigning confusion: [Who is this?]

The response came almost instantly: [We saw each other from afar this morning. Have you forgotten me so quickly, Miss Fu?]

Such eagerness only made them seem more desperate.

Fu Chaoying’s expression remained calm as she read the message, choosing not to reply.

Another message followed: [Ye Jiayuan probably hasn’t mentioned me to you—because she doesn’t dare.]

Quite the bold claim. A trace of mockery flashed in Fu Chaoying’s eyes, but she still didn’t respond.

No further messages came.

Fu Chaoying lifted her cup and took a few sips of tea, her gaze sweeping over Ye Jiayuan beside her. The woman was speaking with effortless composure, her words drawing frequent nods from the woman across the table, who listened with rapt attention.

Many admired Ye Jiayuan, but very few ever truly earned her regard.

Fu Chaoying lowered her eyes briefly before turning her attention to the window.

Once she estimated the timing was right, she leaned close to Ye Jiayuan’s ear and whispered, “I’m going to step out for a bit.”

Ye Jiayuan gave a slight nod before explaining to the others that Fu Chaoying had some matters to attend to and would be leaving first.

Fu Chaoying bid everyone a polite farewell, picked up her small bag, and left the room.

The moment she stepped out, she released a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She quickened her pace to the restroom, carefully reapplied her lipstick in front of the mirror, and gave her outfit a once-over.

That morning, she had deliberately chosen a sleek, professional ensemble—now, at least, she wouldn’t be at a disadvantage in terms of presence.

Fu Chaoying hailed a taxi and headed to the café mentioned by the other party. However, after scanning the entire café, she couldn’t spot anyone whose face bore even a slight resemblance to hers.

Glancing at her phone, she saw it was already 3:10 PM. Was this person just playing games with her?

Just as she turned to leave, she suddenly felt a light tap on her shoulder. Startled, Fu Chaoying spun around and immediately locked eyes with a woman wearing a mask.

“Miss Fu, come with me,” the woman said curtly before turning and heading upstairs.

In that fleeting moment, Fu Chaoying only caught a glimpse of half the woman’s face, but even that was enough to send her heart pounding violently.

The resemblance was uncanny—especially those eyes, which were practically identical to her own.

After hesitating for two seconds, Fu Chaoying took a deep breath and followed the woman into a private room.

The woman walked to the window, sat down slowly, then lifted her gaze to study Fu Chaoying calmly. “Jiayuan’s taste hasn’t changed, it seems. She still hasn’t forgotten me.”

Fu Chaoying forced herself to remain composed, keeping her emotions in check. She let out a light, mocking laugh. “My sister has so many admirers. I’m afraid I don’t recognize which one you are.”

The woman seemed momentarily taken aback before replying coolly, “I’m her ex-girlfriend. And for the record, she was the one who pursued me first.”

Fu Chaoying widened her eyes in exaggerated surprise. “Oh? I’ve never heard about any ex-girlfriend. Did you date her in your dreams?”

The woman scoffed. “We were together while you were still with Ye Yi’an. After he dumped you, you set your sights on her sister? How shameless.”

Fu Chaoying shook her head with a smile, brushing off the first part of the remark. “Seems your intel is outdated. She was the one who pursued me. I didn’t have to lift a finger.”

After all, when you’re out in the world, you craft your own identity. Fu Chaoying was betting this woman didn’t know the full story between her and Ye Jiayuan.

“Ye Jiayuan would never chase after someone. At least come up with a believable lie,” the woman snapped, her expression darkening as she glared at Fu Chaoying like she wanted to devour her alive.

Clearly, she’d struck a nerve. Fu Chaoying blinked innocently and shrugged. “I don’t know why she likes me either.”

Unable to tolerate the provocation any longer, the woman suddenly yanked off her mask.

Fu Chaoying finally saw her face clearly. Even though she’d braced herself, her heart still lurched violently.

The resemblance was undeniable—they could have been sisters.

The woman kept the mask off for barely two seconds before quickly putting it back on. She shot Fu Chaoying a sidelong glance, her tone dripping with smugness. “See now? You’re just my replacement. Ye Jiayuan couldn’t forget me, so she settled for you.”

Despite the brief exposure, Fu Chaoying’s sharp eyes caught something unnatural about the woman’s face. She smiled and asked, “So, you were the one who called my sister back in Singapore?”

“But she told you to wake up. Have you?”

The other person remained silent, so Fu Chaoying pressed further, “Were you one of the students she sponsored before?”

Fu Chaoying shook her head. “Falling for your sponsor isn’t that uncommon. You don’t need to feel ashamed about it.”

“Still, she must be very disappointed in you, right? Her intention in sponsoring you was to help you through tough times, but instead, you ended up becoming her burden.”

“Wait, no,” Fu Chaoying seemed to recall something and added coolly, “You don’t even qualify as a burden.”

She gave the woman a cold stare. “I wouldn’t stoop to jealousy over someone who doesn’t even dare to take off her mask.”

Fu Chaoying glanced at the familiar brand of clothing the woman was wearing and shook her head again. “You didn’t even capture the essence of imitation. I stopped wearing this brand a long time ago.”

There was another biting remark she held back: She would never wear knockoffs in the first place…

“I’m not imitating you. Get it straight—you’re the replacement,” the woman retorted stubbornly.

Fu Chaoying scoffed. “The one who came later is the replacement. I’ve known her for over twenty years.”

A shadow flickered in the woman’s eyes, which Fu Chaoying caught immediately. She pressed on, “So, why did you get plastic surgery to look like me? To seduce Ye Yi’an?”

“What kind of person is Ye Yi’an that I’d need to seduce her?” the woman replied coldly, her eyes filled with disdain.

A hint of confusion crossed Fu Chaoying’s expression before she regained her composure. “So, from the start, you only wanted to seduce Ye Jiayuan?”

The woman’s face seemed to have healed well, but the time between that drunken kiss with Ye Jiayuan and now wasn’t nearly enough for her to complete plastic surgery and recover.

“I’ll say it again—I didn’t get surgery. You’re the replacement!”

Fu Chaoying smiled faintly. “Fine. So when did you realize Ye Jiayuan likes me? Before the surgery?”

The woman’s gaze was complicated, clearly caught off guard by her unconventional approach.

Silence lingered. Fu Chaoying took a deep breath. “Answer one question, and I’ll transfer you 20,000 on the spot.”

The woman still didn’t speak, but her eyes betrayed hesitation. Her attempt to drive a wedge had failed, and Ye Jiayuan clearly wanted nothing to do with her. Fu Chaoying’s offer might be her last chance to make any money.

Seeing through her thoughts, Fu Chaoying said flatly, “Name your price.”

“50,000 per question.”

The woman’s demand was outrageous, but Fu Chaoying only chuckled without mocking her. She couldn’t predict what else this woman might do.

Calmly, Fu Chaoying asked, “How did you find out Ye Jiayuan likes me?”

“Transfer first.”

Fu Chaoying opened her banking app and entered the details. “Name.”

The woman hesitated. Fu Chaoying showed her the transfer screen. “It’s required for the transaction.”

“Qin Zhaodi.”

Hearing the name, a flicker of emotion passed through Fu Chaoying’s eyes. She transferred the 50,000, then added coolly, “Large transfers can be reversed within a time limit.”

“You’d better answer truthfully.”

Qin Zhaodi pressed her lips together. “When she was selecting candidates for sponsorship, she said my eyes were beautiful.”

Fu Chaoying stared fixedly into her eyes—those eyes that bore an uncanny resemblance to her own. If one only looked at the upper half of their faces, even Shen Guannan might struggle to tell them apart.

“At first, I thought she was just casually complimenting me,” Qin Zhaodi remarked, removing her mask and turning her gaze toward the window, a hint of self-mockery in her tone. “But later, I saw the news about you and Ye Yi’an online, saw your face, and learned your name.”

Qin Zhaodi let out a bitter laugh. “And the name of our batch of sponsorship program was the ‘Rising Sun Initiative,’ which only selected orphaned girls.”

“When I pieced all this together, I realized she probably just loved the crow because of its nest.”

Then, her tone shifted as she looked at Fu Chaoying with something akin to pity. “What about you? Did you know she started liking you while you were still with Ye Yi’an?”

“A woman like her, standing so high above everyone else—how could she ever chase after someone? She must have planned it step by step, luring you to approach her first.”

Qin Zhaodi shook her head. “How does it feel to be played for a fool, Miss Fu?”

Fu Chaoying’s heart clenched violently. The stone that had been hanging in midair finally dropped, but its impact left her aching.

For a long moment, Fu Chaoying said nothing, suppressing the pain in her chest before finally uttering coolly, “Take care.”

With that, she stood to leave.

“You’re the one who should take care!” Qin Zhaodi, dissatisfied with her calm reaction, couldn’t help but retort. “A woman as calculating as Ye Jiayuan—you’re no match for her!”

“Do you really think she genuinely likes you? Maybe she just wants what she can’t have.”

Fu Chaoying paused mid-step, glancing back with a faint smile. “The most you’ll ever get from me is fifty thousand. But from Ye Jiayuan? I doubt you’ll see a single cent. So, take care.”

Without another word, Fu Chaoying walked out of the café, never looking back.

A torrent of complex emotions surged in her heart, leaving her unsettled for a long time.

Unable to return to Ye Jiayuan’s side now, she hailed a taxi by the roadside and went back to her own place. Packing her luggage, heading to the airport, and changing her flight ticket—she did it all in one go.

Fu Chaoying thought of that magnolia painting, of the many times Ye Jiayuan had cast subtle glances her way, and of those ambiguous, hesitant observations.

All the polite courtesy and measured distance she had once perceived turned out to be nothing more than a facade, concealing Ye Jiayuan’s years of unspoken affection.

She had always believed Ye Jiayuan didn’t like her, yet she could never understand why the woman had suddenly grown distant. Because before, whether it was with Ye Yi’an, Fu Chaohua, or any other woman, Ye Jiayuan had always shown her some faint, unspoken preference.

Looking back now, it seemed Ye Jiayuan had only grown colder toward her after she got together with Ye Yi’an.

And even after Fu Chaoying took the initiative to approach her, Ye Jiayuan had still maintained that polite yet distant demeanor, even tactfully declining her proposal of a contractual relationship.

And then, when Fu Chaoying finally asked if they should be together… Ye Jiayuan had come up with so many reasonable excuses.

Fu Chaoying’s emotions were now tangled to the extreme.

Even after they got together, Ye Jiayuan had never openly revealed her true feelings, playing the role of the “prey” far too convincingly.

Meanwhile, Fu Chaoying had been entirely under Ye Jiayuan’s control—she had thought herself the hunter, but in truth, she had only ever been the prey in Ye Jiayuan’s carefully laid game.

An indescribable feeling slowly unfurled in her chest, leaving Fu Chaoying unable to let go.

On the way to the airport, Fu Chaoying received a call from Ye Jiayuan, who merely said softly, “You go ahead with your work, Sister. I’ll head back to Nanyan first.”

Then, after offering a couple of vague excuses, she quickly hung up.

By the time Fu Chaoying arrived at the airport and waited for her flight, she still hadn’t figured out what to do next.

Her mind raced, and just before the plane took off, she sent Ye Jiayuan a message:

[I met with Qin Zhaodi this afternoon. Let’s find time next weekend to talk properly.]

After sending it, she switched her phone to airplane mode, closed her eyes, and tried to force herself to sleep—but rest eluded her for a long time.

When she took a taxi home from the airport, Aunt Wu greeted her at the door. Seeing her pale complexion, the older woman paused. “Did you not rest well in Hong Kong?”

Fu Chaoying shook her head, forcing a weak smile. “I’m just not in a good mood, Aunt Wu. I’ll go upstairs and sleep.”

Aunt Wu hesitated, clearly wanting to say more, but in the end, she only asked with concern, “What would you like for dinner? I’ll make it for you.”

“I don’t have much of an appetite. Please eat without me.”

Carrying her suitcase upstairs, Fu Chaoying changed into loose loungewear before collapsing onto the bed. She turned on her phone but muted all notifications.

Truthfully, she had received a message from Ye Jiayuan the moment she landed, but she hadn’t opened it.

Fu Chaoying didn’t dare to look. The chaotic whirl of thoughts in her mind left her unsure how to face Ye Jiayuan—or what to do next.

Fu Chaoying suddenly recalled the period after her proposal of a contractual relationship was gently declined. Back then, she hadn’t known how to face Ye Jiayuan and could only maintain a polite yet distant attitude. That was what led to Ye Jiayuan later asking if she wanted to officially date.

Even in intimate moments, Ye Jiayuan would skillfully employ tactics of playing hard to get and delayed satisfaction, despite clearly being affected by desire.

It was as if Ye Jiayuan had internalized game theory and The Art of War down to her bones.

But was Fu Chaoying any more straightforward?

If she hadn’t harbored ulterior motives from the beginning, how could she have gradually fallen into Ye Jiayuan’s grasp?

Fu Chaoying sighed softly and closed her eyes, only for countless images to flash through her mind.

After a long while, when her mind grew increasingly clear, she suddenly heard knocking at the door.

Was it Ye Jiayuan?

Fu Chaoying’s eyes flew open, only to hear Aunt Wu’s voice outside, leaving her inexplicably disappointed.

“Xiao Ying, could you eat a little? I made cola chicken wings.”

“Thank you, Aunt Wu, but I really don’t have any appetite,” Fu Chaoying called back.

“Alright, I’ll heat it up whenever you’re ready.”

Fu Chaoying closed her eyes again and drifted into sleep. In that half-awake state, she dreamed of Ye Jiayuan saying, “Haven’t you loved me for a long time? Could you really bear to part with me?”

A sudden pang of heartache woke her to find the night had deepened.

Instinctively checking her phone, she noticed two new messages on the lock screen. With a flutter in her chest, she opened them.

[“I’ve booked a flight back to Nanyan. Get some proper sleep on the plane.”

“Have you landed? Eat well—I’m already waiting at the gate.”

“I’m taking off now. Wait for me.”]

The last one read: [“I’ve landed.”]

How could she be so tender… Fu Chaoying felt her nose sting unexpectedly.

Moving unconsciously to the balcony, she looked down to find Ye Jiayuan’s car absent from the courtyard. Then suddenly, dazzling headlights flared at a distant corner as a vehicle slowly approached her home.

Fu Chaoying whirled around, hiding behind the curtains before hurrying to her bedroom and shutting the door. Leaning against it, she took deep breaths to calm her racing heart.

Within seconds, the doorbell rang below, followed by the sound of a car entering the courtyard.

Her pulse quickened again when, two minutes later, a soft knock sounded at her bedroom door.

“Xiao Ying, it’s me.” Ye Jiayuan’s cool, familiar voice came through the door.