Ning Yi lay flat on the bed, nearly laughing herself silly.
She had no idea the female lead had this plotline?? Did she make it up?
Actually, in the original storyline, Gu Cheng's accident leaving him bedridden as a vegetable for three years was just the author's wild fabrication. Theoretically, a vegetable's brain function should be completely impaired—no consciousness, only maintaining breathing and heartbeat. Yet not only was the big shot fully conscious and lucid, his bodily functions hadn't deteriorated at all—as if frozen in time.
With medical technology unable to detect the cause, it was pure world-building. All for the sake of forcing the big shot to suffer, turn dark, then rise to crush everyone.
The female lead's motives were easy to guess. Her superpowered abilities in this indulgent romance needed no explanation—she likely knew Gu Cheng would eventually wake up, which was why she acted this way.
Ning Yi found it quite amusing. Ding Ziyue would probably visit often from now on, providing endless entertainment.
When Ding Ziyue stepped out of the ward, a smile graced her face.
Though the bedridden Gu Cheng couldn't respond, she believed her presence had already warmed his heart like a ray of sunshine!
Walking along, Ding Ziyue encountered "Ning Yi" returning.
Gu Cheng, carrying a bag, glanced at her with a look reserved for the mentally challenged.
Ding Ziyue, however, mistook his expression for wariness and suspicion. She quickly forced a smile: "Little sister, I just came to deliver something to Aunt Song Lan. What a coincidence running into you!"
Gu Cheng didn't hold much impression of Ding Ziyue. The arranged marriage set by their elders over a decade ago held no real meaning for him.
Now he couldn't help but wonder what this woman was up to.
Seeing "Ning Yi" remain silent, Ding Ziyue smiled inwardly, then adopted an even more sincere and friendly expression: "You'll come to my welcome banquet, won't you? My brother has been preparing meticulously these past few days. He booked the finest hotel and invited several bands from abroad. You absolutely must attend!"
Ding Ziyue knew her favored status in her new family would surely sting Ning Yi. Perhaps he'd double down on tormenting Young Master Gu once back in the ward.
That way, Young Master Gu—just warmed by her kindness—would appreciate her even more!
Ding Ziyue smiled.
Gu Cheng recalled—
The Ding family.
Three years ago, a man named Ding Yusen had come to him after a failed investment, nearly kneeling in desperation.
Judging by his age, he must be her brother?
Sure enough, idiocy runs in the family.
Ning Yi had lain in bed all morning, catching up on the sleep she'd missed the night before. She felt her spirit had finally relaxed.
Satisfied, she let out a huge yawn.
"Awake?" A cool voice sounded beside her ear.
"Honey, you're here." Ning Yi sounded obedient.
As soon as she spoke, a chill touched her hand.
Ning Yi's first thought was: Is the boss going to punish me now? The next second, she realized—but why would he hurt her body?
There was no pain or discomfort in her hand, just a cool sensation.
The sensation traced along her palm, up her wrist, and between each finger.
Meticulous and patient.
Ning Yi asked, "Honey, what are you doing?"
Gu Cheng wiped his hands with a disinfectant wipe, his expression dark. "Disinfecting."
Ning Yi froze, then nearly laughed herself silly.
—And just like that, you wiped away your glow!!
Gu Cheng wiped twice, tossed the wipe into the trash, then suddenly murmured, "Where's Yi?"
Ning Yi: ? That sweet tone never bodes well.
Sure enough, Gu Cheng's voice turned icy, tinged with an unsettling malice. "Weren't you supposed to wash me today? You love me so much—aren't you looking forward to it?"
Ning Yi: ?
Don't get too cocky—who would drool over your body anyway?—
Ning Yi politely switched back into his own body, landing in a position where he was looking down from beside the bed—
He stared at Gu Cheng for three seconds.
Thought: Alright. He was indeed quite a feast for the eyes.
Gu Cheng's dominance in the book extended far beyond business. Every metric, hard or soft, put him leagues ahead of everyone else—a billionaire, the head of a conglomerate, ranked among the world's top 100 sexiest faces, a sickly beauty when lying down, a 6-foot-2 hunk when standing.
Even that thing of his was the biggest and strongest in the entire book!
Ning Yi stroked her chin. Unfortunately, she knew he was the dark overlord, and she'd be cannon fodder he'd eventually turn on.
Making Ding Ziyue write a character on her palm required double disinfection—who knew if he'd hold a grudge if she actually wiped him down?
Just as Ning Yi pondered how to dodge the task, the butler knocked lightly on the door.
"Miss, the mistress requests your presence at the main residence for lunch."
Ning Yi: Coming right up, buddy!
"The butler summoned me for dinner, dear," Ning Yi said with feigned reluctance as she swiftly exited the room. "You know I can't be absent."
Gu Cheng's voice was icy: "Hmph."
Ning Yi slipped away without a shred of guilt.
The original host had only recently married into the Gu family, and this would be her first time meeting all the Gu family members at the dinner table.
Ning Yi followed the butler into the main residence. Compared to the stark simplicity of Gu Cheng's building, the main residence boasted a more opulent architectural style, exuding European classical charm. Priceless paintings hung beside the banisters of the spiral staircase.
Entering the dining hall, Song Lan beckoned her over. "Come sit with us, Xiao Yi."
The head of the table was occupied by the Gu patriarch. Though holding a teacup, his gaze remained sharp—clearly a formidable elder. Gu Cheng's father had passed away early, so seating followed the family hierarchy: Song Lan, then Gu Cheng's uncles like Gu Zhisong, followed by the younger generation.
Ning Yi took a seat opposite a young man.
He was also observing her, as if studying her.
"Husband, there's a young boy who bears a slight resemblance to you," Ning Yi communicated telepathically with Gu Cheng. "He's the one with that green thing on his head."
"..." Gu Cheng replied, "That should be Gu Le, my younger brother."
Ning Yi couldn't figure out why the boy seemed so tense, but she understood shortly after lunch began.
Gu Le couldn't go three sentences without mentioning his brother—a pure, devoted fanboy and a staunch member of the Gu family's "Gu Cheng will definitely wake up" faction.
Then there were the skeptics, like Gu Zhisong. Seated at the table as if guiding the Gu family's future, he spoke eloquently about his latest project, even mentioning the Dings twice—clearly impressed by both Ding Yusen and Ding Ziyue.
Ning Yi listened to the undercurrents within the Gu household while keeping an eye on the filet mignon the servants were serving.
Just as she picked up her knife and fork, Gu Cheng's cool voice reached her ear: "Ayi's ignoring me."
Ning Yi held her cutlery, thinking, Fine, then I'll give you a sense of involvement ^3^
She pinched the tongs and cooed, "Husband~ come help me cut the steak~"
When a woman knows how to be coy, her husband floats on air.
Gu Cheng's lips curved slightly, choosing not to remind her of a certain matter.
The role-swapping had become increasingly seamless. "Ning Yi" merely paused slightly before Gu Cheng took over.
Gu Zhisheng was still expounding on his grand ambitions. "Everyone knows Gu Cheng's current situation. Our Gu Corporation has stagnated for three years. We can no longer operate under the rules he established!"
Gu Cheng listened idly for a few moments while slicing steak for Ning Yi.
Gu Zhisong caught "Ning Yi" watching him out of the corner of his eye and sneered, "Do you even understand?"
Gu Cheng smiled, his hand steady as he sliced the premium grain-fed beef.
His knife moved with deliberate slowness. The medium-rare steak was tender and juicy, pale red juices seeping from beneath the dill. An inexplicably familiar, chilling pressure radiated from him.
For some reason, Gu Zhisong shivered.
Gu Cheng finished slicing the steak just as Ning Yi grew impatient. "Honey, done yet? I know you hate greasy meat, so I'll eat it for you—o—"
Before she could finish her "oh," Ning Yi suddenly realized she couldn't switch bodies back.
Gu Cheng merely curved his lips into a faint smile. "This is the fourth time."
After midnight, they'd swapped three times already. Between swaps, there was a cooling-off period.
Ning Yi froze.
What the hell?
This old schemer!!
Ning Yi's voice couldn't rise. "Honey, save the steak for me!"
Gu Cheng's voice was gentle. "It'll get cold and won't taste good."
Ning Yi panicked: "Aaaah—!"
Gu Cheng's eyes sparkled with mischief.
It was the first genuine smile he'd shown in three years.
Across the table, Gu Zhison watched the amusement in his eyes and felt a pang of irritation. He leaned across to grab his plate.
Gu Cheng lifted his head with a faint smile and asked calmly: What, are you eager to eat too?"
Gu Zhison: ?? Why would I be?
By the time Ning Yi returned, lunch was nearly over.
Though the final two dishes—white pepper chicken gizzard soup and honey-glazed Spanish black pork—along with the honey tart dessert were delicious, Ning Yi ate with a heavy heart.
After he finished showing off everything, the green-haired boy across from her picked up the honey tart from his plate and placed it on hers.
"Sis-in-law, I feel like you have my brother's aura," Gu Le's smile turned shy, his fondness for her growing. "I think my brother would like you too when he wakes up!"
Ning Yi remained expressionless.
Your brother is dead!
Gu Cheng had returned to his own body, feeling unusually cheerful.
Since the body swap, he'd swiftly grasped the current state of the outside world and gained a firm grasp on Gu Group's developments over the past three years.
He didn't need sleep—it was the thing he'd loathed most during those three years.
But after two days and nights without rest, he did need a moment to recuperate.
So Ning Yi went straight from the main residence to the study in the annex, grabbed the keyboard, and clattered away at a bunch of code. He dumped it into Gu Cheng's computer like it was nothing.
Shortly after finishing, Song Lan called her out from the study.
To be fair, Song Lan was actually a decent mother-in-law. Her upbringing in privilege had clearly nurtured a compassionate nature. Aside from the tragedy involving her eldest son, she hadn't faced significant hardships in life, making her generally gentle and kind. In the early stages of the original storyline, she had treated Ning Yi quite well.
But the original host was insecure and uptight, convinced no one in the Gu family respected her. Externally, she was constantly being dragged into comparisons by Ding Ziyue, shattering her defenses time and again. Her twisted psyche could only vent its frustration on her mute, vegetative husband. By the time Song Lan discovered Gu Cheng's abuse, it was too late—she nearly suffered a heart attack from the shock.
Ning Yi wouldn't let Song Lan suffer like that.
Song Lan tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her expression serene. "About what we discussed yesterday—could I entrust that task to Xiao Yi starting today?"
Ning Yi knew he meant bathing duties. But who would want to bathe that old bitch? What a piece of trash!
Song Lan discreetly handed over a gleaming black card. "I'd appreciate your help."
"..." Ning Yi immediately accepted it with both hands. "Sure, no problem."
The titanium alloy black card, with a ten-million-yuan credit limit, shimmered with understated luxury.
If needed, she could scrub her dear husband bald today ^3^
"The bathing and massage attendant won't be needed tomorrow." Ning Yi's inner devil horns perked up with glee.
Song Lan's tone remained gentle: "Don't hesitate to buy whatever you want. Even without A-Cheng these past years, our Gu family can still afford it."
Ning Yi: "Mm-hmm!"
Then, as if struck by an idea, she flashed a deeply affectionate smile: "Then I'll start by getting hubby a more comfortable mattress!"
Song Lan froze at her words, his heart overwhelmed with emotion.
In the world of the wealthy, where scheming and intrigue reigned, where was genuine sincerity to be found?
After what happened to Acheng, how many people truly cared about him?
This Ning Yi...
If only Acheng could wake up, he would surely adore her!
"No problem. You pick whatever you like."
Ning Yi meticulously selected an ultra-luxurious, premium mattress to ensure optimal relaxation quality.
Late at night.
A thoughtful wife naturally realized her husband was resting after he remained silent for so long.
So when Gu Cheng suddenly lifted off the ground while asleep: "?"
Ning Yi wore an expression of pure indulgence—
Home electric patient care lift, solving the challenge of repositioning bedridden patients!
Gu Cheng was lifted expressionlessly to change his mattress.
Ning Yi: "Honey, no need to be touched—this is what I should do for you!"
Gu Cheng: "..."
What could he possibly do?