At that moment, Sylvia officially declared that Celia's stand-in mission was over—she would never be her substitute again.
Celia trembled slightly. It should've been a relief. After more than two years, she was finally free from the role of a stand-in.
But strangely, she didn't feel happy.She didn't understand the tightness in her chest.Hadn't she always wanted this?
"Celia, why aren't you saying anything?" Sylvia's voice oozed with mockery. "You used to sneak in at 6 p.m. just to play wife for my husband. And now? You didn't even answer my call this morning. Don't tell me you're tired of playing the substitute and actually want to become Mrs. Fu?"
Celia frowned. "No."
"Good. Keep it that way. Wait for my call tonight. We'll switch identities again—I'll be Mrs. Fu, and you'll go back to being that clownish girl from the countryside."
Celia asked coldly, "Where's my jade pendant?"
"We switch back tonight, and I'll return it tomorrow morning."
"…Alright."
The call ended.
Celia set down the phone, exhaled slowly, and tried to clear her mind.This was supposed to be a moment of liberation—no more pretending, no more secrets.She could finally return to her real life.She and Nathaniel Fu... should never cross paths again.
After washing up, Celia came out of the bathroom and saw Nathaniel still standing by the French windows, tall and commanding in the morning light. He turned and handed her a tie.
"Come here. Help me put it on."
He wanted her to tie his tie?
Celia walked up to him and took the tie, a little flustered. He was too tall, so she had to stand on her tiptoes to loop it around his neck. She fumbled, clearly inexperienced.
Nathaniel chuckled. "You've never done this before, huh?"
"No… How does it go again?"
"Like this," he said, gently taking her soft hands and guiding her through the steps. "Pay attention. Today we practice, so from now on, you'll be the one tying my tie."
From now on?
Would there really be a "from now on" for them?
No—there wouldn't.
Just then, Nathaniel asked casually, "Are you free tonight?"
Celia's heart skipped a beat. "Why?"
"I want to take you out."
"…What?"
Nathaniel raised an eyebrow and smiled. "A date. Don't tell me you don't know what that is?"
Thump-thump.
Celia's heart stuttered. She hadn't expected him to ask her out. A date?
Nathaniel gently took both her hands in his. He lowered himself slightly so they were face to face.
"Come out with me tonight," he said softly. "Will you?"
He was asking if she wanted to.
But Celia didn't know how to answer.
She wasn't Sylvia. Tonight, she had to return to her real self—return the identity. How could she go on a date with him? He thought he was dating Sylvia.
"…Okay," she murmured, her voice barely audible as she nodded.
Later, she would call Sylvia. It was Sylvia who should go on that date.
Nathaniel looked at her quietly. The tips of her lashes trembled like butterfly wings, casting soft shadows beneath her eyes. She looked gentle, obedient.
"And where are you taking me?" she asked in a soft voice.
He smiled. "That's a surprise. You'll find out tonight. I'll pick you up at the school gate."
"…Alright."
Fu Group – President's Office.
Nathaniel sat in his leather chair, but unlike usual, he wasn't buried in paperwork.
He opened his private WeChat group with his close friends and typed:
"Where's a good place to take a girl on a date?"