Stop Spoiling Me! I'm Just a Substitute!

(Main story complete. Proceed with caution: melodrama ahead.)

Slapping Xu Anci when he was crying and saying it hurt was the thing Mu Liang regretted most in his life.

If he hadn't slapped him, Xu Anci wouldn't have gone deaf.

If he hadn't lost his hearing, perhaps, in the pouring rain that day, Xu Anci might have heard his confession of remorse.

After all, the Xu Anci of the past would make a pot of thick rice porridge whenever Mu Liang mentioned that his stomach felt unwell, never missing a day for three years. One word of thanks from Mu Liang would make his dim black eyes suddenly brighten. When he received a gift Mu Liang had picked up on a whim, he would smile shyly and tenderly, murmuring, "Thank you, hubby."

If Xu Anci could have heard Mu Liang's tearful pleas, perhaps he might have paused for even half a moment.

Then, at least, Mu Liang could have caught his hand before Xu Anci fell off the cliff.

Blurb 2:

As a stand-in, the most important thing is to imitate the domineering CEO's cherished first love.

But I'm stupid.

The cherished first love was gentle and could make delicious rice porridge. My porridge was like a non-Newtonian fluid. Mu Liang would frown as he ate it, then clutch his stomach and take ages to recover.

The cherished first love was beautiful. I saw his photo on Mu Liang's desk: a young man in a white trench coat, distinguished and handsome, refined and cultured. Most importantly, the cherished first love had no scars on his face. I touched the long scar on my own face and thought, this sugar daddy must have terrible eyesight.

The cherished first love was clever. I heard he got into Huada University's mathematics department from a small city, and was about to graduate with his doctorate the year he died. I couldn't even remember my own name or age, much less what Mu Liang liked to eat. I even gave Mu Liang food poisoning and sent him to the ICU.

I was terrified. I thought he'd fire me, but he gazed into my eyes and said earnestly, "It's okay. If you made it, I'll love eating it."

I'm hopeless, but I don't plan on improving my skills as a stand-in. Maybe our auras just clash. Whenever I see Mu Liang, I find him annoying. I can't stand him.

But I need money.

A year ago, Brother Ahao found me on the beach at Jinshi Sea. Brother Ahao is an incredible fisherman! He once caught a fish that weighed fifteen jin! But he got sick, and the medicine for his treatment is expensive. I can't afford it.

So when Mu Liang found me and asked me to be his stand-in, I agreed without hesitation. I may hate him, but Mu Liang is a pretty decent guy.

I've spent a lot of money this past year, and he hasn't done a single thing to make me hate him.

Except once.

I said Brother Ahao was the person I loved most in the world, that I wanted to marry him and be with him forever. That day, Mu Liang shouted at me, then buried his head in my lap and cried for a long time.

I was sleepy, and his crying was so loud that even with one deaf ear, I found it noisy! And his tears soaked a big patch of my pants. It made me feel awful.

I'd already planned it all out: I'd use his money to cure Brother Ahao, then run away with him.

After all, I'm just a stand-in.

I think he'll let us go.

P.S. Brother Ahao is cannon fodder. The love interest won't change. The protagonist falls off a cliff and becomes mentally ill. Later, he'll recover and graduate with his doctorate, and have his own career arc!!! (East Asian kids can't stand a dropping-out plot.) The groveling-to-win-back-his-wife portion makes up 70%.

For the protagonist's life, it's a happy ending. For their relationship, it's an open ending, since a shattered mirror can never be restored as it was.

Here's a recommendation for my next novel: After Becoming My Nemesis's Housecat (the first cat cover in my author collection). Come enjoy a light, sweet little story~

Sharp-tongued, soft-hearted, fiery beauty (greedy little foodie cat ^ω^) x taciturn, gentle, devoted domineering CEO gong (eight-pack abs, born model material)

A filming accident leaves Lin Ci gravely injured and in a coma. When he opens his eyes, he discovers he's become a cat. Unfortunately, his owner is the nemesis who once took over his role and blacklisted him after Lin Ci slapped him.

Lin Ci grinds his teeth and sharpens his claws, vowing to become a very naughty little kitty.

Day One: His nemesis takes out a cotton swab and tries to help him poop. The kitty flies into a rage, steals his nemesis's underwear, and races around the house. Clutching his sore butt, Lin Ci vows to make his nemesis wish he were dead!

Day Two: He stages a sneak attack while his nemesis is showering, but slips and falls into the bathtub. His nemesis doesn't scold him. Instead, a pair of large hands envelop his little cat head and gently rub him. Dark, tranquil eyes gaze at him, the corners faintly red, as he murmurs, "Little cat, you remind me of a friend. Can I call you Xiao Ci from now on?"

Lin Ci doesn't care what his nemesis said. His eyes accidentally wander to the faintly visible lines of muscle beneath the soaked white shirt.

Shocking! Delicious! Lin Ci bares his teeth guiltily and meows loudly, "You jerk, so what if you're in great shape and have abs? Does Your Majesty look that shallow?"

Day Three: Look at the abs.

Day Three: Look at the abs.

Day Four: Lin Ci, Lin Ci, how could you sink this low? Have you forgotten the revenge plan you came up with? You can't keep this up.

Day Five: Look at the abs.

Day Six: He discovers that the adoptive parents who had always treated him kindly saw him as a cash cow. The company had been squeezing him dry to promote someone else, and his cousin had taken the chance to steal the opportunities he'd worked so hard to earn. Even his comatose body was in bad shape because no one had looked after it properly... Even as a little cat, hearing all this is upsetting. Lin Ci lets his tail droop and sighs that life is so hard...

Let's look at the abs first.

Day N: His brother, who had usurped his place, is exposed in a scandal. His biased parents lose their shares, and the crooked company goes bankrupt and is bought out for a song. His comatose body is brought home.

Watching his arrogant nemesis bow and scrape every day as he rubs Lin Ci's paws and legs, Lin Ci thinks, hmph, aside from those abs, that face has its charms too. The Cat King is pleased and grants him five minutes of kneading... and takes a look at his abs while he's at it.

Later, Lin Ci discovers that his nemesis replaced him in the role to help him avoid a shady, exploitative production. He'd approached Lin Ci when he was drugged only because he wanted to help. Even after being slapped, he never intended to blacklist him. He'd even invested in a production to create the excellent script Lin Ci had been waiting for, just to clear up the misunderstanding... Lin Ci's comatose body is still unconscious, yet his nemesis publicly announces their relationship and places priceless jewels on his hand.

The kitty panics. The kitty is at a loss. This person is so good to the kitty, and the kitty still wanted revenge.

The person is good, the kitty is bad!

One day, Lin Ci has a nightmare. He's sneaking a look at the abs when his nemesis suddenly wraps his arms around him. In the cramped, steamy bathroom, Lin Ci blushes and cries, "I'm not a big yellow cat! I didn't break into your home! I wasn't spying on an innocent man in the shower! You're the one who broke your marriage vows and seduced an innocent kitty!"

His nemesis unbuttons his shirt, his eyes swirling with deep, dark ink. "Still want to touch?"

"..."

"Touch."

Theme: Some loves begin beautifully but end in sorrow. What's lost can never be recovered.