CHAPTER 452: CHAPTER 452 SUBSTITUTE

Ji Yu looked at the person in front of her with a bit of resignation, already knowing this had been arranged by Hu Jianyu.

"How exactly do you want to try? Are you planning to stay by my side for a while just to confirm that I genuinely don’t like you?"

She had never entertained such an idea, and naturally wouldn’t do something so ill-advised.

"That’s not what I meant at all. I simply want to share some of my stories with you. Besides, I’m perfectly capable of staying by your side—I can work as your secretary and help you handle work-related matters."

He seemed capable of everything, yet simply unwilling to start from the ground up.

Ji Yu was hardly interested in anything about him.

"If you believe you’re qualified, then stay for a day. If you fail the probation period, you’d better pack up and leave quickly. You’re not welcomed here."

She handled the matter with absolute fairness and impartiality; there was no way she’d consider him special just because of his face.

Though, his face did bear an uncanny resemblance to Gu Qixiao’s.

If she hadn’t known that Gu Qixiao didn’t have siblings, she would’ve suspected whether the two of them were actually blood-related brothers.

What surprised her was that this man did indeed have some skill, and he was genuinely adept at the role of a secretary.

He took care of matters from all angles, leaving Ji Yu quite pleased.

"You’ve done well, I admit, although sometimes seeing your face feels disorienting." To her, this face was all too familiar, and every time she saw it, unsettling memories from the past would surface involuntarily.

"Miss Ji, I can’t be held responsible for having such a face. Moreover, isn’t it true that people tend to like a face like mine?" He was well aware of how to leverage his assets, and given their similar appearances, he certainly wouldn’t let such an advantage go to waste.

"You’re right—this face, I suppose, could be one I’d grow to like. But what I like will always be the face combined with the person."

To truly love someone stems from the resonance of souls; no matter how alike appearances may be, it would never replace the one she cared for.

"Miss Ji, does this mean that tomorrow I can officially start working here? I believe my abilities are enough to excel as your secretary."

"Report here on your own tomorrow. Someone will show you around the place." Ji Yu didn’t intend to make things difficult for him, guessing that he must have his own hidden motives.

Still, she didn’t mind talented people.

When Hu Jianyu heard about this, he was overjoyed, believing it was a promising sign for the two of them.

"Dad, please don’t send people like this to me anymore. I know you’re doing it for my sake, but I don’t need this kind of help."

Their history was deep and far-reaching, and no one could ever truly take his place.

"I understand you and Gu Qixiao have been through so much together, which makes it hard for you to let him go. But you need to recognize something: there’s a possibility that the two of you may never be able to reunite."

Should Jiang Huai intervene?

Nobody could predict what methods Jiang Huai might resort to when the time came.

Ji Yu had to stay composed, avoiding rash and foolish actions.

"Think about what happened last time—you should understand by now what you need to do most."

What she needed to do most was let go.

"I know this is likely very difficult for you, but everyone eventually goes through this. Since the two of you can’t have a happy ending, perhaps it’s best to let it dissipate now."

"Dad, how could I so simply give up on the feelings we shared? Do you even realize what we went through back then?"

Emotions like this were indeed bewildering.

Yet they were also intoxicating.

"You stubborn girl... Sometimes you’re just too headstrong. I’d much prefer it if you promised me now to forget all about him." Left with no alternatives, he could only agree not to send any more peculiar candidates her way.

"In the future, if you have any similar needs, reach out to me. And honestly, this man’s abilities are quite impressive. I tested him before; he’s more than competent as your secretary."

Ji Yu sighed in resignation. "If anything, I feel it’s a bit of a waste. This person’s ambitions clearly exceed being a secretary."

He was capable of so much more, a sign of his extraordinary talent.

It wasn’t his resemblance to someone that secured opportunities for him—it was his own abilities.

"If you think there’s any suitable position for him, you can assign it. This young man seems quite promising, and besides, having such a face is like a golden ticket."

Even Gu Qixiao himself would likely be perplexed upon seeing him.

Indeed, when Gu Qixiao laid eyes on Lin Zhao, his mind went completely blank.

"Who are you? Why are you here?" He couldn’t fathom why there would be someone so strikingly similar to him beside Ji Yu.

"Sir, you must have wandered into the wrong place. You’re not welcome here." Lin Zhao’s reaction was swift; he immediately recognized Gu Qixiao as the man Ji Yu couldn’t stop thinking about.

"Wrong place? Impossible. This is exactly where I’m supposed to be. The real question is why you’re here—and don’t you think your face resembles mine far too much?"

This was the first time he’d encountered someone with such a remarkable likeness.

Lin Zhao chuckled. "Whether I resemble you or not, I wouldn’t know. But Miss Ji certainly has a preference for faces like mine."

So why did Ji Yu detest him so much?

Gu Qixiao suddenly began to doubt himself. Could he be the substitute all along?

For a moment, he struggled to accept this possibility.

Ji Yu coincidentally returned, and upon seeing the situation in the office, she couldn’t help but massage her temples in frustration.

She couldn’t figure out how the two of them had managed to meet so quickly, and their current state clearly left both of them utterly bewildered.

"Gu Qixiao, haven’t I already told you? I don’t want to see you anymore. Why are you showing up at my workplace?"

"I just wanted to see you and ask something. Why is there someone so strikingly similar to me by your side? Do you enjoy liking substitutes?" Gu Qixiao couldn’t comprehend what kind of fixation this was.

"You’re overthinking. His presence here has nothing to do with you, and he’s fully qualified to serve as my secretary. What gives you the right to stay here?"

Ji Yu didn’t even know how to begin explaining it. Ultimately, she decided there was no need to explain at all.