Nathaniel Fu wasn't as composed as he appeared.It was his first time taking a girl on a real date, and he had no idea where to go.
The group chat with his close friends instantly lit up.
Zane Song:
"Damn, Second Brother! You've been off the grid for ages, and now you drop a bomb like this? You're taking... Celia out on a date?!"
Just a few days ago, Nathaniel had punched Zane hard enough to knock out a front tooth. After a trip to the dentist for a porcelain replacement, Zane had become much more cautious—he didn't even dare call her "Joker Girl" anymore. Now, he respectfully used her name: Celia.
Sean Wen:
"Has to be Celia. Who else?"
Zane Song:
"Wait, are you actually serious this time? I thought you were just messing around."
Sean Wen:
"Nancheng, are you really planning to keep her around?"
The two of them sent dozens of messages back and forth, most of it useless chatter. Nathaniel skimmed through them quickly.
Sean's question hit the mark: Are you planning to keep her?
Yes. He was.
It had all started with Celia ending up in his bed that night. The whole "substitute" charade between her and Sylvia had been a twisted game, and he'd been the pawn. But now that he knew the truth, it was his turn to play.
He hadn't exposed Sylvia. Instead, he'd manipulated the situation, using Sylvia as a cover to draw Celia closer.He'd tricked her, seduced her, coaxed her into calling him husband—again and again.
But along the way, something changed.
What began as revenge had slowly become addiction.Celia was like opium. Once he tasted her, he couldn't quit.Now, he genuinely wanted to keep her by his side.
Just then, a knock came at the door. Secretary Song stepped in, voice low and cautious.
"President, Miss Sylvia has completed the procedure. She had a three-petal peach blossom birthmark tattooed on her shoulder to match Miss Celia's exactly. She'll return tonight."
"Tonight?" Nathaniel's thin lips curved into a half-smile. "Interesting."
He glanced at Secretary Song. "You think she'll swap identities tonight? Let Sylvia go on the date instead?"
Secretary Song hesitated. "I'm... not sure, sir."
Nathaniel said nothing more.
He had decided to give Celia a chance. A silent one.If she came clean about the whole stand-in game, perhaps he could let it go.
But if she chose to continue the lie...
Then things wouldn't end well.
Secretary Song wiped sweat from his brow. He had a gut feeling that tonight wouldn't end quietly.
The stand-in game was nearing its conclusion—But how it ended depended entirely on the president's mood.
Meanwhile, Celia was completely unaware of any of this.After school, as she stepped through the campus gates, Nathaniel was already there, waiting for her.
Today, he'd come in a sleek Rolls-Royce with a custom plate.Celia got into the passenger seat. Their date had officially begun.
She had no idea where he was taking her.Thirty minutes later, the car slowed to a stop.
Outside her window—an amusement park.
She turned to him in surprise. "You brought me to an amusement park?"
Nathaniel, in a fitted black shirt and trousers, walked over to her side of the car and opened the door. "You don't like it?"
He glanced at the carousel, the Ferris wheel, the cotton candy vendors. "Isn't this the kind of stuff girls like? Rides, fireworks, cheesy romance. Haven't you been here before?"
Celia shook her head slightly.No.Maybe most girls had childhoods filled with joy and play—But not her.No one had ever brought her to an amusement park.No one had ever asked what she liked.
But he did.
"Come on, let's go," he said, reaching out his hand.
His palm was warm and strong, wrapping around hers.
She took a step forward—And just then, her phone rang.
It was Sylvia.