Substitute Marriage: Reborn As The Top Big-Shot

Chapter 1: Truly Marrying up

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

River City.

In a magnificent living room…

The crystal lights and the light reflected from the marble floor were dazzling.

An old woman with white hair was sitting on the sofa. Dressed in simple clothes, she looked out of place. She said in a low voice, “Your mother is gone, and Hua Hua is ill again. No matter what, Hua Hua is still your daughter…”

Sitting in front of the old woman was a well-dressed lady.

She was wearing a limited-edition Chanel jacket. Her black skirt hugged her perfect figure, and she was wearing a pair of limited-edition Chanel heels.

There was not a single part of her body that did not exude nobility and elegance. It was hard to imagine that she has an 18-year-old child.

The old woman carefully thought through her words before continuing, “Zhou Lei before your mother died, she hoped that the two of you could bring Hua Hua back. She is terminally ill, and we can’t just let her die in the countryside…”

Hearing this, Zhou Lei’s expression was still gentle, but her words were like knives, “Bring her back? What about Baoyi? Auntie, don’t forget, only Baoyi is my biological daughter, my mother’s biological granddaughter!”

The elegant lady emphasized the word “biological”.

Want her to raise a bastard?

In her dreams!

The old woman sighed. She already expected this outcome. “Although Hua Hua is not related to you two by blood, the moment you adopted her, you became her biological parents!”

“Hua Hua suffered a lot in her hometown these years! Before your mother passed away, she asked me to tell you to treat Hua Hua well in the future. She should have the same things that Baoyi has.”

“What right does she have to have the same things as Baoyi?” Zhou Lei stood up in disbelief and almost screamed. She had been a noble lady for many years and had not lost her composure like this for a long time. She tried her best to keep her voice down, “I already said that I would send her back to the orphanage. It was my mother who insisted on pretending to be a good person!”

“I won’t stop her if she wants to be a good person!” Zhou Lei said angrily, “but now, she wants to dump this trash at our house? Does she think that my house is a rubbish bin?”

Hearing that, the old woman was so angry she jumped up immediately. “If it wasn’t for Hua Hua, would you have Baoyi? If it wasn’t for Hua Hua donating her liver to save Baoyi, Baoyi would have died a long time ago! You’re being ungrateful!”

Song Hua donated part of her liver 18 years ago.

18 years ago, Zhou Lei and her husband, Song Dalong, could not get pregnant after getting married. However, when they went to the hospital for a check-up, both of their results came back normal.

Despite being in good health, they could not get pregnant. Therefore, the couple sought out a very famous fortune-teller. The fortune-teller suggested that the two of them adopt a child from the orphanage.

According to the fortune-teller, Song Dalong and Zhou Lei were destined to be childless. If they wanted to change their fate, they had to bring back a child with siblings to change their fate.

They were afraid that if they brought back a child that was too old, the child would not get close to them. So the couple chose Song Hua, who was only born about ten days ago.

Coincidentally, half a month after they brought Song Hua back, Zhou Lei found out that she was pregnant.

Nine and a half months later, Zhou Lei and Song Dalong’s biological child was born.

The couple was very happy and named their child Song Baoyi.

They love their child like a treasure.

In their eyes, Song Baoyi was their treasure, a phoenix soaring in the nine heavens.

However, when Song Baoyi was seven years old, she was suddenly diagnosed with liver failure and only had a few months left to live.

This blow came out of the blue!

Song Hua’s turning point in her life also began at this time.

From then on, whenever Zhou Lei saw how healthy and lively Song Hua was, she would be very displeased. Why was her biological daughter suffering at such a young age while this little bastard lived a rich and well-fed life as a rich young lady!

Zhou Lei blamed everything on Song Hua, thinking that it was Song Hua who took away what should belong to Song Baoyi.

Song Hua should be one who was sick!

Although Song Hua was still young, she could feel the change in her parents’ attitude towards her. At such a young age, she put away her innocence and smiles.

But even so, Zhou Lei still did not like her.

When Song Hua did not smile, she would say that Song Hua had a dead face and was jinxing everyone.

When Song Hua smiled to please her, Zhou Lei would say that Song Hua was gloating. Her sister was about to die, how could she still smile. She had no conscience at all!

During those difficult years, Song Hua could not even breathe without getting scolded.

How could a seven-year-old know what she did wrong? She tried her best to improve herself, trying to make her parents like her more. Unfortunately, what she received from her parents was not love, but scoldings, abuse, and beatings…

It was also at this time they discovered that Song Hua was a match for Song Baoyi, and the success rate of the liver transplant reached 90%!

A month later, Song Hua and Song Baoyi were pushed into the operating room at the same time.

Song Hua thought that after she donated her liver, she could live happily with her family.

Who knew that before Song Hua could recover from the operation, Song Dalong and Zhou Lei wanted to send Song Hua back to the orphanage because they believed that she would bring misfortune to their family.

However, they were afraid that people would gossip if they did so, so Song Dalong deliberately let his stepmother, Wei Cuihua, know about it. Wei Cuihua was a devout Buddhist for many years and would stop them.

As expected, after Wei Cuihua heard about this, she came and took Song Hua away with her

Song Hua’s health suffered all these years after she donated part of her liver. She suffered from various ailments and was very weak. Wei Cuihua tried many methods, but Song Hua’s condition did not improve.

When Zhou Lei heard her aunt call her ungrateful, she was furious. “Ungrateful? Master Wu said that it was because of her our Baoyi got sick at such a young age! All these years, Baoyi’s health had not been good! It was all because of her! Did we ever blame her? Whenever my mother brought her over, I always treated her kindly. Now, she’s deluded enough to think that she should receive the same treatment at Baoyi? What right does she have? Besides, if we didn’t adopt her in the first place, she would have died long ago! She is the ungrateful one!”

Wei Cuihua did not like her biological granddaughter and only cared about someone who wasn’t even part of the family when she died. No wonder she died so quickly!

Karma!

Her aunt was so angry that her heart ached. “Hua Hua is not a jinx! She is your family’s lucky star! She brought Baoyi and saved her!”

Song Hua was fated to have siblings so Song Dalong and Zhou Lei were able to have Song Baoyi.

And because Song Hua’s liver happened to be a match for Song Baoyi, Song Baoyi was able to survive.

But now, not only was Zhou Lei ungrateful, she even blamed everything on Song Hua.

In the end, her aunt was already sobbing. “Do you know that Hua Hua is dying! I beg you to save her, this is your mother’s dying wish…”

Zhou Lei was unmoved. “This kind of jinx should die quickly so she can reincarnate and stop ruining the world.”

Her aunt raised her head and looked at Zhou Lei. All these years, Wei Cuihua often brought Song Hua home for short stays. She wanted Song Hua to get closer to Zhou Lei. Although Zhou Lei ignored Song Hua every time, she felt that the two of them were still fated to be mother and daughter, but she did not expect Zhou Lei to be so heartless.

…

After Zhou Lei’s aunt left, Song Baoyi walked downstairs and glanced at the door. “Mom, who was that just now?”

“Who else could it be?” Zhou Lei’s eyes were filled with contempt.

“People from the countryside?” Song Baoyi asked tentatively.

Zhou Lei nodded.

As expected.

Song Baoyi narrowed her eyes. “Why did they come?”

Zhou Lei was still angry. “This old woman is too old and muddle-headed. Before she died, she still wanted us to bring that jinx back! What bad luck!”

Song Baoyi narrowed her eyes. “Mom, did you agree?”

Zhou lei said, “Of course not!”

Song Baoyi held Zhou Lei’s arm and said softly, “Actually, you should have agreed.”

“Baoyi!” Zhou Lei turned to look at Song Baoyi, “I know you’re kind, but you have to know that a kind person is bullied by others! What right does that little bastard have to live under the same roof as you? You two aren’t from the same world. She’s not even fit to serve you tea!”

Song Baoyi held Zhou Lei’s arm and said coquettishly, “Mom, just let her come back! Now that grandma passed away, it’s pitiful for sister to be alone.”

Song Baoyi kept calling her “sister” and was acting extremely affectionate.

“No.” Zhou Lei’s attitude was firm. “Baoyi, I can agree to anything but this! Also, she isn’t your sister!”

A little bastard and a jinx. What right did she have to be Song Baoyi’s sister?

“She is my sister.” At this point, Song Baoyi paused and then said, “Furthermore, sister is engaged to the Yu family! If she doesn’t come back, how are we going to explain it to the Yu family?”

Zhou lei turned around in surprise. “You mean… let that bastard marry into the Yu family in your place?”

Song Baoyi shook her head. “Not in my place, mom. Have you forgotten? The one who had an engagement with Yu Tingzhi was the eldest daughter of the Song family.”

Song Hua was ten months older than her, so, wasn’t she the eldest daughter of the Song family?

Zhou Lei instantly understood what Song Baoyi meant. “Baoyi, you’re right! The one engaged to the Yu family is not you! The one who is engaged to that trash has always been that little bastard!”

Yu Tingzhi was the Yu family’s third son. He displayed incredible talent at a young age.

When he was 10 years old, he could recite poems and paint. When he was 11 years old, any painting that he painted was sold for nearly a million dollars.

If not for his talent, the Song family would not have spent so much effort to become in-laws with the Yu family.

Unfortunately, all of this came to an abrupt end when Yu Tingzhi turned 13.

When he was 13 years old, a car accident not only crippled Yu Tingzhi’s legs but also damaged his brain. He lost his talent and turned from a genius to trash.

During his middle school examination, Yu Tingzhi only scored eight points. He couldn’t even get into an ordinary high school, which was a joke to everyone.

Yu family’s children all graduated from top schools. So, how could the Yu family’s old master watch his little grandson drop out of school?

Thus, Old Master Yu spent a fortune to get him into the best high school in the city. However, even if he got into the best high school, Yu Tingzhi still ranked last in his class and didn’t even know how to solve elementary school math problems. Even his nephew at home laughed at him.

Later on, Old Master Yu didn’t force him to study anymore and arranged for him to work in the family business.

Yu Tingzhi, on the other hand, did not understand the financial records and was framed. Ultimately, the company’s board of directors voted him out of the company.

He was pitiful!

Not only was Yu Tingzhi no longer talented, but he was also a cripple who had to sit in a wheelchair after taking a few steps. Song Baoyi naturally looked down on such a person.

Although Song Baoyi was in her last year of high school, she was already very accomplished. She had all kinds of awards and many possibilities in her life. She would not give everything up for Yu Tingzhi.

Song Baoyi’s talent was known throughout River City, so it was not appropriate for her to break off the engagement. After thinking about it, she finally thought of such a move.

Most importantly, Song Hua was the eldest daughter of the Song family. If people were to gossip, this engagement belonged to Song Hua anyway, so it would not affect Song Baoyi’s reputation.

Moreover, a village girl would not pose any threat to her. Moreover, with such a village girl standing next to her, Song Baoyi would look even more like a princess.

Zhou Lei frowned. “What if that bastard comes back and jixes you again?”

Song Baoyi was Zhou Lei’s lifeline. She could not let anything happen to Song Baoyi.

“I won’t, mom! Didn’t Master Wu say that once I turn18 years old, no one can jinx me anymore?” Song Baoyi said.

Zhou Lei trusted Master Wu very much. If it weren’t for Master Wu back then, there wouldn’t be Song Baoyi now. “Then, when your father comes back tonight, I’ll discuss it with him.”

At night, when Song Dalong returned home, Zhou Lei told him about this plan.

Hearing this, Sng Dalong laughed out loud. “As expected, like father, like daughter!”

He agreed that Song Baoyi’s plan was excellent!

Although Yu Tingzhi was an infamous cripple, everyone knew that the Song and Yu families had an engagement. If they broke off the engagement now, it would affect the Song family’s reputation.

Wealthy families valued reputation the most.

“What if Song Hua and them don’t agree?” Zhou Lei was a little worried.

Although Song Dalong’s stepmother died, they still had some poor relatives in the country. Poor people had many things to complain about.

“Being able to marry into the Yu family is her blessing!” Song Dalong’s voice was sullen. “They have no right to disagree!”

They were just some poor relatives. They did not have the right to criticize the Song family.

“You’re right.” Zhou Lei nodded.

Even if Yu Tingzhi was unbearable, he was still a scion of a prestigious family. For Song Hua, she was definitely marrying up.

…

In a tile-roofed house that had been around for a few years…

Under the dim yellow light, an old woman carried a bowl of medicinal soup to the bed. She looked at the girl lying on the bed and said, “Hua Hua, you’ll feel better after drinking the medicine.”

Song Hua looked at the old woman in front of her and was stunned for a moment. Then, something seemed to explode in her mind.

She was dead.

She was alive again.

This girl was called Song Hua. She was 18 years old and had a hard life. She was an orphan and longed to have a family, but she was abandoned by her family time and time again…

Thinking of this, Song Hua sighed softly.

Silly girl, can’t you rely on yourself?

Why do you have to place your hopes on others?

Seeing her sigh, the old woman asked with concern, “Are you still feeling unwell?”

“Grandmother.” Her voice was a little dry and hoarse, so it was hard to recognize her original voice. She took the bowl that the old woman handed over with both hands and took a sip of the medicine. “I’m much better now. Don’t worry.”

Her grandmother continued, “Your mother called yesterday. She even found a doctor for you and said that she will pick you up when you wake up.”

It was strange. Two days ago, Zhou Lei was still disgusted with Song Hua. Now, all of a sudden, Zhou Lei seemed to become a different person.

Go home?

In the original “Song Hua’s” memory, she always longed for her parents to bring her back home.

At this time, when she heard her grandmother’s words, Song Hua could not suppress the joy in her heart. The joy came from the original “Song Hua’s” lingering emotions.

When the original “Song Hua” was terminally ill, her dream was to reunite with her family.

Her grandmother saw that Song Hua was looking better, so she said, “I’ll call your mother back.”

“Okay.” Song Hua nodded slightly and looked at her grandmother’s back with a dark expression.

She had a feeling that everything was not that simple.

…

The environment surrounding Xiushui village was very beautiful. The scenery was gorgeous and the village was surrounded by the sea. It was a very standard fishing village.

The people here were simple and honest. Because they wanted to protect the environment, the villagers did not opt to cremate their dead, instead, they still followed the traditional method of burying their dead.

The scenery on the mountain was breathtaking. It drizzled last night so the mountain was covered in white mist as if it was a fairyland on Earth.

At this moment, two figures were walking up the mountain.

The slightly shorter man turned his head to look at the tall man beside him. “Third Brother, what are we doing here?”

“To relax.” The man who spoke was wearing overalls, a black t-shirt, and black sunglasses that covered most of his face. One could only his exquisite jawline. His temperament was cold and he had a wild and unruly nature.

This was River City’s infamous cripple.

Yu Tingzhi.

The person standing beside Yu Tingzhi was the eldest son of the Wang Corporation, Wang Dengfeng.

Wang Dengfeng turned to look at Yu Tingzhi and narrowed his eyes. “Third Brother, you’re joking, right? How can you relax in the wilderness?”

Yu Tingzhi pursed his thin lips and did not explain. He pushed aside the thorns under his feet and continued to walk forward.

“By the way, I heard that your fiancée’s hometown is in Xiushui Village.” Wang Dengfeng continued, “Should we go and take a look? I heard that she has an older sister who grew up in the countryside.”

“Who are you talking about?” Yu Tingzhi thought for a moment, “Song Jinfeng?”

“What Jinfeng! Her name is Baoyi!”

“Oh.” Yu Tingzhi replied indifferently.

“Third Brother, can’t you even remember your fiancée’s name?”

Hearing this, Yu Tingzhi’s thin and cold lips curled into a faint smile, causing one to ponder what he’s thinking.

After a moment, he asked, “So what if I don’t?”

His voice was low, carrying a faint tobacco smell.

So what?

How could there be a person like Yu Tingzhi who didn’t know how lucky he was.

Wang Dengfeng was speechless. “Third Brother, who in River City doesn’t envy you for having a fiancée like her? Yet, you’re acting like you don’t care at all!” He couldn’t even remember her name!

If people found out, those who admired Song Baoyi in River City would drown Yu Tingzhi with their saliva.

Song Baoyi was not only known for her talent in River City, but she was also as beautiful as a fairy. Although she was already engaged, she still had countless suitors.

In comparison, Yu Tingzhi was a good-for-nothing.

He’s crippled, has a bad temper, has no education, and most importantly, has no talent in managing businesses.

Yu Tingzhi acted as if he didn’t hear Wang Dengfeng and turned his eyes to the other side.

“Third Brother, what are you looking at?”

Wang Dengfeng curiously followed his line of sight.

When he looked, he was a little stunned.

He saw a slender figure carrying a bamboo basket as she walked through the forest.

The young girl wore a simple wine-red dress that matched her slim waist. The mountain breeze blew across her red dress, causing it to flutter in the wind. It was as if she could ride the wind away at any time. Smoke spiraled down, making her look like an angel that just descended from Heaven.

Although they could not see her face clearly, her movements were so elegant that even Song Bao Yi, who was famous throughout River City, could not compare to this girl.

The girl suddenly bent down and stretched out her hand to pick up a gorgeous wildflower by her side.

Following her movement, the red collar on her dress dropped slightly, revealing a bit of her snow-white skin. It was like white snow peeping between blooming red plums flowers in the middle of the winter. Her figure was also extremely eye-catching.

Yu Tingzhi leaned forward and stretched out his hand to cover Wang Dengfeng’s eyes. “Don’t stare.”