The Ding family's welcome banquet was held at a five-star hotel in the city center.
A crowd of reporters had already staked out the location in advance.
But instead of discussing the banquet, the journalists were now whispering about something else.
"Did you hear? Professor Qian from Haishi's Neurosurgery Department and Director Wang from the Motor Neuron Department both landed in City A today!"
"They were picked up by identical black luxury cars immediately after landing."
"My paparazzi friend checked the flights—three more experts are arriving tomorrow."
"The only person who could stir up this much commotion in City A..."
"Whoa, that's major news."
"We can't even mention that person's name. Today's focus is photographing the Ding family's heiress."
...
Ding Ziyue should have been getting dolled up today, looking her absolute best for her grand ceremony!
Yet since yesterday, she'd been fielding countless inquiries—
"I swear I didn't! I just went to check on Young Master Gu!"
"Ze Yu, you have to believe me!"
"No, Young Master Gu hasn't woken up. Please don't disturb him!"
For the name Gu Cheng represented not just the aspirations of wealthy heiresses, but the very embodiment of absolute power.
It was no exaggeration to say that if Gu Cheng made a comeback, Gu Group's stock would skyrocket overnight. That was the weight of "Gu Cheng"—who wouldn't covet it?
Absolute influence, absolute authority, absolute sovereignty.
—And Ding Ziyue could have quietly become the light in this man's heart, but now Ning Yi had barged in!
Ding Ziyue was seething with rage.
Ning! Yi!
Today, she would crush Ning Yi just as she had in her dreams!
Make her utterly humiliated!
The Gu residence.
Ning Yi slipped into her evening gown and adorned herself with that dazzling set of jewels.
She admired her reflection for a long while: Beautiful. Absolutely stunning.
So beautiful that Ning Yi couldn't recall the gaunt, pallid face she'd had during the apocalypse. Now she radiated the healthy glow of someone well-fed and well-rested, her skin soft and supple.
Even without makeup yesterday, she'd looked stunning in this dress. Today, with her makeup done and chestnut hair softly curled, she was so beautiful Ning Yi fell in love with herself on the spot.
Ning Yi beckoned him to admire her: "Husband~ Look at this beauty."
Gu Cheng was quietly deep in thought.
He had grown increasingly at peace with the dark, silent world, knowing the day of reckoning was near.
He seemed to be growing more accustomed to the constant chatter by his ear.
Gu Cheng asked indifferently, "What is it?"
"Oh, you'll see when you look."
Ning Yi stood before the mirror, delightedly swapping their bodies.
The moment Gu Cheng opened his eyes, he saw a face.
A very beautiful face.
His gaze traced her delicate, refined brows and eyes, gliding down to the graceful tip of her nose, the crimson curve of her lips, then further to her long, fair swan-like neck and the solitary collarbone. His eyes lingered for a few seconds before politely shifting upward.
Then Gu Cheng asked steadily, "What are you looking at?"
Ning Yi: "Huh? I'm looking at the mirror."
Gu Cheng's gaze remained fixed on the reflection, yet his voice was flat and utterly unruffled. "What's the matter?"
Ning Yi: "Didn't you see me?"
Ning Yi: "?? Don't you have anything to say?"
Gu Cheng: "No."
Ning Yi: ?? Are you fucking blind?
Ning Yi didn't speak another word to her deadbeat husband until they arrived at the banquet hotel in the Bentley with Gu Le.
So young, yet not only is his body broken, his eyesight is failing too!
Today Gu Le wore a suit, his youthful frame tall and sharp, having come specifically to accompany his sister-in-law to the festivities.
Upon arrival, he stepped out and walked around to open the door for Ning Yi.
The instant Ning Yi stepped out, the pea-green skirt swirled over the tips of her high heels. As she lifted her face slightly, she distinctly heard the gasps around her.
Excellent. That's a perfectly normal reaction!
Unlike certain vegetative states!
Outside the hotel, crowds were already swarming.
Ding Ziyue, dressed in a dreamy pink princess gown, clung to her father's arm like a pampered princess, beaming as she greeted guests, her heart brimming with excitement.
Today marked a pivotal moment in her beautiful life. Not only would everyone recognize her as the cherished, genuine heiress of the Ding family, but she would also become the most dazzling star among all the wealthy young ladies—whether it was the soon-to-awaken Gu Young Master or the future outstanding men, she would forever be the first one they saw!
Ding Ziyue's plan for the day unfolded thus:
First, when Ning Yi arrived, reporters would swarm them, capturing photos of the two together. According to the dream's script, Ning Yi would wear a cheaply styled and cut white tulle dress. When their images appeared side-by-side in the same frame, it would be Ning Yi's public execution.
Their contrasting backgrounds as the real and fake heiresses would naturally draw comparisons, sparking maximum public attention and discussion—a pivotal moment for Ding Ziyue's rise as a popular socialite!
Then, to handle the venue's lighting, Brother Light had specially invited the third young master of the Zhao family to manage the show! Zhao Weining was a computer genius; programming the lights was child's play for him. He would surely create the most dazzling, dreamlike effects for her!
Next, Ding Ziyue would have her own performance segment to showcase her elegant poise. Not only that, she would thoughtfully arrange an opportunity for Ning Yi as well...
Thinking of everything planned for tonight, Ding Ziyue's eyes sparkled.
Where was Ning Yi?
Ding Ziyue smiled as she adjusted the hem of her lavish gown. Suddenly, every camera and spotlight in front of her whirred and turned—
"Holy crap, who's that?"
"That's the Gu family's young master beside her, right? Gu Dashao's younger brother. So this must be..."
"Wasn't the real heiress brought back from the countryside? How can she be this stunning!?"
Ning Yi's features were languidly beautiful, radiating an effortless poise that commanded any setting.
Young Master Gu Le shielded Ning Yi through the crowd, brimming with pride—his brother was the coolest, and his sister-in-law was the best!
"Enough, enough! Stop taking pictures! Keep your cameras away from me!"
Ding Ziyue's smile froze.
—This isn't how it was in my dream?
The gown Ning Yi wore was instantly recognizable to Ding Ziyue as the latest piece from China's sole haute couture brand, 22SS. A pea-green sheath dress, it was elegantly tied at the shoulders and neckline with impeccable tailoring. The skirt shimmered like rippling water, draping over her form as gracefully as spring breeze caressing willow branches.
Then there was the cat's eye stone necklace Ning Yi wore—if genuine, it would easily fetch over three million yuan!
Ding Ziyue had never seen such expensive jewelry in the Ning household before, and even after returning to the Ding family, she only received such valuable pieces as birthday gifts!
Where on earth did Ning Yi get that? Stolen, right?!
As Ning Yi was escorted up the steps, she stood level with Ding Ziyue at the hotel entrance.
Sure enough, all the reporters' cameras swiveled to capture them in the same frame. But Ding Ziyue suddenly realized—even in her higher heels, she was still a head shorter than Ning Yi?!
"Click! Click!"
" Yes, yes, look this way, the beauty in the green dress!"
"Perfect, don't move, smile! Absolutely stunning!"
Ning Yi cooperated for several photos.
After all, she was here for the banquet; it made sense to put on a show.
Seeing the green-faced hostess made Ning Yi's appetite grow even stronger.
Gu Le glanced at the stares directed at Ning Yi from those around them and felt danger, danger, danger.
Bro! Wake up already!!
Ning Yi and Gu Le settled into their seats in the banquet hall.
Soon after, the Ding family's banquet program commenced alongside the meal.
The main course featured aged Huadiao wine-steamed drunken crab, which Ning Yi adored. She swiftly cracked open the shells with her knife and fork while watching the stage performance with keen interest.
"Yueyue, you are our lost treasure, now found..."
The heartfelt confessions from Ding Ziyue's parents and brother revealed how her mistaken swap and subsequent loss had left them devastated. The family stood on stage, clasping hands and gazing at each other tearfully. The scene made it seem as though Ding Ziyue had endured nothing but hardship during the years she was raised as a biological daughter in this wealthy family.
No wonder the original protagonist in this storyline had become twisted with jealousy. Both were switched at birth, yet she had been sent to the countryside to endure over two decades of hardship, while Ding Ziyue—already relatively fortunate—now possessed even more and better things.
The wealthy crowd graciously joined in the tears.
Finally, Ding Ziyue's eldest brother rushed back from abroad to surprise his sister. Each family member presented her with gifts—luxury goods, antique collections—sparking gasps and envy throughout the room. Superiority finally returned to Ding Ziyue's expression.
—Even if Ning Yi could acquire some material things to save face, she couldn't get love!
Gu Le murmured beside her, "What do you think, sister-in-law?"
Ning Yi offered a sincere review: "It's quite delicious."
Of course, the Gu family's chef was still superior. Ning Yi slurped her shark fin soup with earnest concentration.
Gu Le: "?"
The young man observed Ning Yi for a moment, realizing she was genuinely focused on her meal—even tossing him a peeled crab leg midway through.
So Gu Le inexplicably joined her in eating with serious attention.
This scene of the wealthy siblings dining together instantly went viral online, though the protagonists remained unaware.
After dinner, the lights dimmed as Ding Ziyue headed backstage to prepare for her performance.
The atmosphere relaxed, transforming into a social arena for the elite circle.
Gu Le felt uneasy leaving such a stunning beauty alone, so he pulled Ning Yi along to mingle with friends.
The third son of the Zhao family was typing away on the second floor of the banquet hall.
He was too absorbed in his work to care about the lighting effects Ding Yiyi had requested. He'd just thrown together a few programs for her, planning to run them with the VJ setup later.
Zhao Weining's computer was still building a platform.
When Ning Yi followed Gu Le over, she caught a glimpse of his screen and recognized the setup immediately.
Ning Yi: O.O?
Suddenly it clicked. Gu Cheng's interest in this small internet startup wasn't just about its potential—it was because this young man had the Zhao family backing him!
With such wealthy family resources, he'd never let himself get wiped out. They could even share the risks.
Truly the sharpest business mind in the entire book.
Zhao Weining was completely absorbed in his work and couldn't be bothered with Gu Le. "Hey, don't bother me. I need to finish this part today and send it to my big brother."
Big Brother Ning Yi: OvO
Gu Le sighed, speechless. "You're such a killjoy—Sis, wait here a moment. I'll go get you something to drink."
Ning Yi: "Sure thing."
She watched the young man coding from behind for a while. His speed was decent.
Moments later, Ning Yi's slender white fingertip tapped the screen from a millimeter away, pinpointing the error: "error."
Zhao Weining startled, realizing she was right. Turning around, he was caught off guard by a stunning beauty strike.
"I, um, you..."
Ning Yi smiled sweetly: "Our platform depends on you."
Zhao Weining: "!! Holy crap, you're the one?!!"
At that moment.
The foreign band downstairs began their performance.
Ding Ziyue changed into her stage costume and took center stage in the ballroom.
With so many reporters present today, she'd specifically learned dance for this occasion. Paired with the stunning lighting effects, she was certain to break through and become the most famous socialite heiress!
After her performance, she'd cue Ning Yi to take the stage. Whether Ning Yi refused out of insecurity or forced herself to perform, she'd be utterly outshone!
Ding Ziyue lifted her face, confidently facing the overhead lights—
Meanwhile, Ning Yi's fingertips hovered over Zhao Weining's control panel. "Should I try?"
Zhao Weining: "Absolutely!!"
Ning Yi glanced at the pre-programmed sequence and began "optimizing" it with lightning speed.
When the performance officially began, her masterful technique and flawless rhythm ensured every beat—every light hitting Ding Ziyue's face—was a dazzling explosion of color!
Zhao Weining's face flushed crimson as his straight-guy aesthetic clapped enthusiastically: "So piu bright!"
Ding Ziyue's face turned green: ?? What the hell?!
When Gu Le returned, he immediately spotted Zhao Weining standing beside Ning Yi, his face flushed with embarrassment.
Alarm bells rang in his head. He grabbed Zhao Weining by the collar: "What the hell are you thinking?! That's my brother's wife!"
Zhao Weining: "I didn't... cough! How could I dare?!"
Even if Sister Ning is gorgeous and skilled, she's just too cool, waaah!!
Ding Ziyue was furious.
She watched the footage sent back by the on-site reporters. When her expression was sweet, her face glowed green. When it cut to soft pink light, her eyes were closed. And the ending pose she'd meticulously designed wasn't lit!
Not a single photo was usable! How was she supposed to break out now?!
Ding Ziyue's mental state was on the verge of collapse. Why was today so different from her dream's prophecy?!
Turning her head, she saw Ning Yi chatting and laughing with the third young master of the Zhao family. She was certain Ning Yi was behind this!
Ding Ziyue approached her with a grim expression.
Ning Yi scanned the ballroom filled with wealthy young masters and ladies. With her keen hearing, she could catch snippets of their conversations.
"I just heard two heavyweight doctors arrived in City A..."
"Gu's eldest son really..."
"No way, I need to find a chance to visit him too..."
Ning Yi chuckled—so all this attention was thanks to Gu Cheng!
Truly "adding luster to humble abodes"^^
Having eaten her fill and grown weary of the festivities, she decided to summon her blind husband to bask in the spotlight^3^
"What are you doing, honey?"
Gu Cheng was attempting to regain control of his body.
The changes were minuscule, yet no longer entirely impossible.
The catalyst for these shifts was swapping bodies with Ning Yi...
"Waiting for you." Gu Cheng's voice was icy yet magnetic.
Ning Yi, however, was completely immune.
"How embarrassing," Ning Yi said, though she wasn't embarrassed at all, "The banquet's almost over. Come over for some water."
"..." Gu Cheng paused. "Yi, you're so kind to me."
Ning Yi: "Who can blame me for loving you, honey^3^"
And so Gu Cheng was switched back.
No sooner had he steadied himself than a voice rang out.
"You're feeling pretty smug, aren't you, little sister?"
Ding Ziyue narrowed her eyes at her, no longer bothering to feign sisterly affection.
Yeah, what did Ning Yi have to be smug about? She had no idea she was already close to a miserable end. She was always destined to lose against me!
Gu Cheng's expression remained indifferent, not even bothering to acknowledge her.
Meanwhile, a smug look slowly crept into Ding Ziyue's eyes. With an air of supreme superiority, she revealed a corner of her hidden hand to Ning Yi.
"Do you know why Young Master Gu's health improved?"
Gu Cheng's eyebrow arched.
He hadn't figured it out yet—did she have some insight?
Ding Ziyue watched him, thinking: You're putting on a calm front, but inside you're panicking, aren't you?
But the fact that you abused him can't be changed, just like the warmth I brought to Young Master Gu—no one can erase that!
Ding Ziyue flashed a proud smile. "It's because of me."
Gu Cheng: "?"
Great. Five seconds of my life wasted.
Gu Cheng turned and walked away.
"Do you hate me terribly?" Ding Ziyue's voice echoed behind him.
"You hate that I took everything from you, but there's nothing you can do—this world obeys me."
Ding Ziyue picked up the microphone and addressed the bustling banquet hall with her sweet voice.
"Thank you all for enjoying my dance. On this special day, my sister Ning Yi is also very happy for me and would like to perform for everyone! Please give her a round of applause!"
The Ding family and other guests from high society clapped enthusiastically.
Gu Cheng stared expressionless, as if observing a group of corpses.
After a long silence, Ning Yi asked, "What are you thinking about, honey?"
Gu Cheng's voice was dark and icy.
"The weather's turning cold. It's time to bankrupt the Ding family."