When Su Man opened her eyes again, she found herself mopping the floor.
She looked at the rubber gloves on her hands and the apron on her body, and initially concluded that she was a full-time housewife.
Then, the hostess's memories came flooding back.
Her original name was Yu Man, a minor singer. Though not a star, she had a loyal following. She loved singing and thought she'd be doing it forever, until she met Ji Li. He fell in love with her at first sight, and while she was initially intimidated by his high-class background, she soon fell for his attention.
The two had been together for five years, and Yu Man's deep-seated inferiority complex forced her to deliberately cater to Ji Li's preferences. She quit the entertainment industry, learned to cook, and because Ji Li didn't like having outsiders in the house, she fired her nanny and cleaned the house alone. Although she often felt tired and her back ached, she loved Ji Li so much that she never complained.
She thought Ji Li loved her in the same way, but it was not until Ji Li wanted to break up with her that she realized that she was just a substitute for another woman.
Bai Yueguang An Yiran came to her after knowing that they had broken up, and assured her that she didn't like Ji Li and they were just friends.
But Ji Li, who was given a buddy card by An Yiran, thought that Yu Man was deliberately destroying their relationship. In order to show that he had no attachment to Yu Man, he kicked Yu Man out of the house and left her gambling brother to his creditors.
Unable to bear the blow, Yu Man quit drinking all day to relieve her sorrow. Her brother tried to stand up for her, but was killed by a strange combination of circumstances. Unable to bear the blow, Yu Man suffered mental problems and committed suicide by jumping into the sea.
Yu Man's wishes: 1. To pursue her dream of becoming a singer again (three stars); 2. To help her brother Yu Shi quit gambling and lead a normal life (four stars); 3. To let Ji Li, the son of destiny, experience the feeling of being abandoned (five stars).
Su Man gathered her thoughts, took off the gloves, washed her hands and sat in front of the dressing table.
There were only a few basic skincare products on the table, indicating that Yu Man hadn't worn makeup in a long time. Furthermore, these few items were bought with her own money. She didn't want Ji Li to think she was a money-hungry girl, so she rarely asked him for money.
Su Man clicked her tongue twice, opened the drawer under the counter, and finally found some cosmetics, but the styles were quite old.
She looked at the person in the mirror. She wasn't particularly stunning, but she had a gentle, graceful air. Yu Man had always tried to do her makeup in this style before, but Su Man went the other way.
Twenty minutes later, the face seemed unchanged, yet everything had changed. Especially the almond-shaped eyes, outlined by the eyeshadow, seemed to be filled with water, graceful and affectionate, and the perfect amount of blush on the face made the whole person look pure and sexy.
Afterwards, she changed out of her comfortable cotton pajamas and chose a silk robe from the bottom of her closet. Yu Man had bought it to spice things up for them, but she had never had the nerve to wear it.
Su Man smiled with satisfaction at the transformed woman in the mirror.
Just then, the sound of the combination lock rang out.
Although Su Man was sitting on the small balcony of her bedroom reading a book, she knew everything that was going to happen next.
Ji Li entered the room, put down his briefcase at the door, and changed into the slippers that Yu Man had prepared for him.
He didn't say "I'm back" or call Yu Man, but walked into the bedroom silently. Looking at Yu Man's back as she read, he said with determination, "Actually, I've always..."
"You're back?"
Su Man stood up, her silk nightgown wrapped around her body, her soft straight hair draped quietly behind her, she looked peaceful and beautiful.
Ji Li was stunned. It had been a long time since he had seen Yu Man look so feminine. He had once said that he liked Yu Man best without makeup, so she had always followed his preference and rarely wore makeup. But the real reason was that she looked more like An Yiran without makeup.
Facing Yu Man like this, Ji Li found it difficult to say what he wanted to say, but after thinking about An Yiran, he said again, "I have..."
"I have something to tell you." Su Man interrupted him again.
Ji Li frowned, his amorous eyes filled with displeasure. He was clearly not used to someone who had always been submissive interrupting him so repeatedly. However, considering that they were about to break up, he was more tolerant. "You go on."
Su Man sighed softly, "This matter has been weighing on my heart for a long time. I have wanted to tell you several times, but you have been so good to me, I have never dared to tell you. But now..."
Ji Li sensed something uneasy from her tone, which made him forget the original intention of his visit. He just wanted to know what the woman who had been with him day and night for five years had hidden from him.
"If you have something to say, just say it directly. Don't beat around the bush."
"good."
Su Man's eyes were filled with guilt. "Actually, I've always treated you as a substitute."
“…”
Ji Li was shocked. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was struck by a bolt from the blue. A stand-in? How could he, Ji Li, be mistaken for a stand-in?
He subconsciously retorted, "Stop joking."
Tears welled up in Su Man's eyes. "I wish I was joking, but, but I really don't want to lie to you like this anymore."
Ji Li saw that she didn't look like she was pretending, and his head was buzzing for a moment. This was tantamount to a disaster for him who had a strong self-esteem. He had been hunting geese all his life and had his eyes pecked by a goose. How could he, Ji Li, be used as a substitute?
His brain hadn't reacted yet, but the undeniable sense of betrayal and the anger rising from the bottom of his heart immediately overwhelmed him. He asked, "Who is that person?"
Tears rolled down Su Man's face. "You don't want to know."
Feeling dizzy, Ji Li opened his mouth with angry accusations, "You actually treated me as a substitute? Who do you think you are? There are a lot of women like you. Do you know how many women want to climb into my bed?"
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