Substitute Girlfriend Contract (GL) - Chapter 10

Tao Anyu had always thought Lu Mengxiao was shameless. But when the little manager from the south side of town showed up at the “Demon’s Castle” that evening, she realized she had still overestimated her. Shameless? This woman wasn’t just missing her sense of shame—she’d lost every last scrap of dignity too.

“Consort, pour a cup of tea for Little Nan,” Lu Mengxiao drawled, sprawled on the couch with her legs crossed.

Tao Anyu nearly gagged. Little Nan? Just because the woman worked in the southern district and she couldn’t remember her name, she went with “Little Nan”? No wonder she kept calling Tao Anyu “Consort”—probably couldn’t remember her name either.

“Here’s your tea, Little Nan!” Tao Anyu set the cup down on the coffee table with a little too much force. Little Nan flinched, startled.

Lu Mengxiao slid over and threw an arm around her shoulder. “Don’t mind her. My Consort has a bit of a temper. She gets jealous whenever there’s a pretty girl in the house. Haha!”

Jealous, my ass! Tao Anyu felt like she’d sworn more in the past two days with Lu Mengxiao than she had in her entire previous life combined.

Her thoughts suddenly jumped to Xiao Tao—such a sweet, adorable boy. How could he possibly have a sister like this?

Unless… Xiao Tao’s cuteness was just an act, and deep down he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing?

Yes, that had to be it. After all, he was the one who sold her off to Lu Mengxiao. Clearly, not a good person.

And if one family member was a scumbag, then the whole family had to be a nest of them. A complete set!

And yet, this scumbag clan was part of the Lu Group’s royal family—how terrifying was that?

Ugh… just thinking about it made her shiver. She quietly slid the matcha cake she’d prepared into the oven.

When the timer dinged, she pulled on her thick gloves, took the tray out, and plated the cakes one by one. But when she carried them to the sitting room, the Little Nan girl was already gone.

“Where’s Little Nan?” Tao Anyu asked.

“She left,” Lu Mengxiao said, lying on the couch and watching her.

“Oh.” Tao Anyu put the cakes on the table, a little disappointed. “They just came out of the oven…”

“What’s with that crap tone? Move over.” Lu Mengxiao pushed her aside, sat down, grabbed two pieces, and stuffed them in her mouth. “Mm, excellent. What’s there to sigh about when something’s this good?”

“I saw you had a guest, so I made them special to bring out. But she left,” Tao Anyu said, chin resting in her hand.

“What?!” Lu Mengxiao spoke with her mouth full. “I’m home every damn day, and you don’t make them for me. Some random woman shows up, and you’re shoving cake at her? You sure you’re not begging for—”

A pillow hit Lu Mengxiao’s  square in the face.

 “Lu Mengxiao, watch your mouth. I can put up with the constant swearing, but now you’re adding that too? Unbelievable. Honestly, only I could stand you. Take a look in the mirror—you’ve got nothing to brag about besides your family’s money.”

Lu Mengxiao let out a cold laugh. “Exactly. My family is rich. If you don’t like it, feel free to leave. Aren’t you here because of that money anyway?”

…

Well.

She actually had a point.

Tao Anyu found herself speechless—Lu Mengxiao’s logic was annoyingly solid.

Seeing her silent, Lu Mengxiao assumed she was hurt or upset. She clicked her tongue, raked a hand through her hair, then walked over and hugged her. “Don’t be mad, Consort. I went too far. My bad.”

Tao Anyu blinked at her. What was with this sudden shift? She wasn’t mad—she was just agreeing that Lu Mengxiao was right and figuring out how best to get some cash out of her…

Lu Mengxiao patted her back. “Tell you what. We’ve got a morning flight tomorrow, and I’m free in the afternoon and evening. Pick somewhere, and I’ll take you.”

What? How did the conversation jump from money to going out?

Rich people’s brains were impossible to follow.

Still, Tao Anyu did have somewhere in mind. She loved the ocean park. Before her “death,” she’d gone nearly every month—diving with trainers, getting to know the dolphins, belugas, and even a sea lion.

But that person hadn’t liked it.

There’s an old saying: If you love someone, you love their house and even the crows on it. So, logically, if you dislike someone, wouldn’t you also hate the things they love?

She didn’t know if the logic held, but she knew that person disliked her—and hated everything she loved. She’d belittle it, stomp it into the ground, and make it worthless.

“Ocean park,” Tao Anyu said. “I like ocean parks. Want to go?”

“Sure!” Lu Mengxiao got up to change. “Been to the one here in D City before—it’s too small. Next time I’ll take you to the Great Barrier Reef.”

Tao Anyu smiled. This illustrates the difference between rich people and others. It doesn’t matter whether they like it or not; because they can afford it, they will give it to you. All you have to do is ask.

You don’t need to worry about their feelings or preferences. It was just a game anyway—a contract, legally binding. Much more solid than those flimsy, worthless emotions.

“Your Majesty,” Tao Anyu called, leaning over the back of the sofa.

“What is it, Consort?” Lu Mengxiao’s laughter floated out from the dressing room. She seemed to thoroughly enjoy being called that—she always answered with a smile.

Back when Pei Yuhai was alive… had they been together?

Lu Mengxiao had said she liked Pei Yuhai. Did Pei Yuhai like her back?

Were they close? Really, really close?

Had Pei Yuhai ever called her “Your Majesty,” and had Lu Mengxiao responded with the same laughing “Consort”?

Tao Anyu shook her head with a smile. It’s hard to imagine someone who could write with such clean, lively beauty as, in real life, a swaggering, sharp-tongued, more overbearing than a CEO lesbian.

“What are you grinning at, idiot? The water bucket demon is gone!” Lu Mengxiao strutted out in a visually chaotic mishmash of styles, slapping Tao Anyu’s shoulder.

Tao Anyu winced. Why couldn’t someone as beautiful as her wear something sleek and elegant? Her appearance in the work uniform at the office was truly remarkable. Why ruin it with studs and scraps of fabric?

“Tsk.” Lu Mengxiao narrowed her eyes, stroking her chin. “Why do I get the feeling my Consort disapproves of the dragon robe?”

“No, Your Majesty, no opinion whatsoever. You look stunning,” Tao Anyu said quickly. She’d figured out over the past couple of days that the trick with Lu Mengxiao was to play along. Go against her and it would only backfire—she’d out-snark you every time, and if you really pushed it, she’d… well, pin you to the bed and have her way with you. (That last part was purely Tao Anyu’s own mental embellishment.)

“Come on, call me handsome.” Lu Mengxiao wrapped an arm around her and steered her toward the door, pulling a little pager from her bag. She yelled into it, “Xiao Rourou, get my beloved steed out for a run!”

…

Idiot.

Tao Anyu turned her head away. So much for that “go along with her” plan—her IQ just couldn’t allow it. Best to stay silent from here on out.

*****

Notes: Glossary of Names & Titles:

English Translation Notes

Lu Mengxiao Female lead, CEO-type character, playful and domineering.

Tao Anyu Female lead’s contracted “stand-in girlfriend.”

Tian Qiurou Assistant/employee to Lu Mengxiao.

Beloved Consort Used by Lu Mengxiao to address Tao Anyu. Flirtatious and mocking.

Consort Tao Variation of “Beloved Consort,” less intimate but still teasing.

Noble Consort Tao A promotion in the mock “imperial harem” hierarchy.

Imperial Noble Consort Tao Higher than Noble Consort; still not Empress.

Empress Tao Anyu’s joking “goal” in the game.

The Emperor / His Majesty How Lu Mengxiao refers to herself, mock-imperial style.

Your Majesty / His Majesty How Tao Anyu mock-respectfully addresses Lu Mengxiao.

Beloved Steed How Lu Mengxiao calls her sports car.

Raphael Nickname for the car; painted like a horse.

Bucket Demon Lu Mengxiao’s insult for Tao Anyu, playful/derogatory.