Ghost Exorciser: Is Loved By All
Chapter 652: Stand In?

Chapter 652: Chapter 652: Stand In?

Sheng Yin was stunned for a while. When she came to her senses, Sheng Yin’s mind was in a mess, yet her protective instincts kicked in and she pushed away Yu Shuchang.

Without a word, she slapped him hard.

Clack.

The sound of the slap terrified the driver, who almost crashed the car into a nearby tree.

The atmosphere turned still. For a moment no one spoke. Sheng Yin stared at Yu Shuchang in shock.

This b*stard! It was okay if he could ignore her feelings, but he dared to kiss her. Why did he even kiss her?

Did he have any feelings for her? Absolutely not! So why did he even kiss her?

Did he think, he could use her body just because of the contract?

Sheng Yin was about to scold him, when Yu Shuchang slowly lifted his head and said in a soft voice,

"I am sorry."

Sheng Yin froze.

What?

"I am sorry. I didn’t behave appropriately just now. I will behave myself."

Sheng Yin ignored him. To be honest, even she was speechless.

If Yu Shuchang had kissed her past life’s Sheng Yin, she would have jumped on him right away.

But now...

Now she didn’t want to do anything with him. Not after how he had behaved in her previous life.

Soon the car reached outside the Yu Holea’s villa.

Just as Sheng Yin was about to leave, she paused, turned toward Yu Shuchang and said with an expressionless face,

"I want to break off the contract."

Yu Shuchang was silent for a long while, before saying softly,

"I am sorry. I will do as you said."

The car door was closed and Sheng Yin left.

Yu Shuchang was silent for a while and took out his phone. He gritted his teeth when he saw the message on his phone.

’She still hasn’t forgotten me. You are just a substitute.’

He didn’t know how he found himself in such a mess.

Though he hardly ever had any interactions with Sheng Yin, he had seen her from the shadows. Slowly watched her grow and admired her courage.

Even till the contract was signed, Yu Shuchang didn’t recognize his feelings. He always thought she was a smart person.

When she tricked Yu Mei, he was amused. But when he saw Mr. Mu that day, his mood turned sour.

From then on he started to doubt his feelings for her.

That day when he returned to his office, he saw that half of his office was filled with things related to Sheng Yin.

Her photos, news about her, her interviews, etc.

Slowly he realized just how much he felt for her...

Yu Shuchang was a bit delighted at realizing his feelings and wanted to confess. He can pursue her, and slowly make her fall in love with him.

But...but then, he met him...

................

5 days before.

At a glamorous party under glittering chandeliers, Yu Shuchang sipped his wine calmly while scanning the room. The crowd was lively, dressed in elegant suits and dazzling dresses. It was just another gathering of the wealthy and influential—nothing new for him. He had just stepped away from a group of music producers when he noticed a man approaching him. Qi Bailu—a name Yu Shuchang had heard in passing but never thought much about. Qi Bailu was tall and confident, with an air of arrogance that was hard to miss. "Mr. Yu," Qi Bailu greeted him with a smirk. "I hear you’ve been spending a lot of time with Sheng Yin lately."

Yu Shuchang raised an eyebrow, surprised by the direct approach. "And what of it?" he asked coolly. "Why does it matter to you?"

Qi Bailu’s smirk widened. "Because I’m her ex-boyfriend. Shouldn’t I be curious?"

For a moment, Yu Shuchang stared at him, then burst into laughter.

"You? Sheng Yin’s ex? That’s funny. You don’t seem like her type."

Qi Bailu shrugged, unfazed by the mockery.

"Believe what you want, but it’s the truth. Not only am I her ex, but I’m also the one she’s never gotten over."

Yu Shuchang’s laughter faded, replaced by a sharp look.

"Overestimating yourself, aren’t you? Sheng Yin has better taste than that."

Qi Bailu pulled out his phone, scrolling through a chat before holding it out to Yu Shuchang. "If you don’t believe me, see for yourself."

On the screen were messages from a number saved as "Sheng Yin."

The texts were desperate, filled with words like "I can’t stop thinking about you," "Please, can’t we talk?" and "I’ll do anything to make things right."

They painted a picture of someone who was deeply hung up on their past.

Yu Shuchang’s expression darkened as he read. He couldn’t believe it. Something didn’t add up. He snatched the phone from Qi Bailu, his eyes narrowing as he checked the number.

It was hers.

For a moment, his heart felt like it was shattering, but he quickly pushed the emotion aside.

"These could’ve been sent by someone else using her phone," he said firmly, handing the phone back.

"Or maybe you’re making more out of this than there is. Do you think I’m an idiot, Qi Bailu?"

Qi Bailu chuckled, clearly enjoying the tension.

"You’re the one underestimating the situation. Haven’t you noticed how your style of dressing matches mine?

Or how Sheng Yin seem to prefer men with a particular look? She’s still hung up on me, and you’re just a substitute."

Yu Shuchang’s jaw tightened.

He glanced down at his suit, then at Qi Bailu’s similar attire. The thought gnawed at him, but he shook it off.

"You’re delusional," he said coldly.

"Even if you were her ex, that doesn’t change the fact that you’re just that—an ex. Sheng Yin’s moved on, and so should you."

Without waiting for a response, Yu Shuchang walked away.

But his mind was far from calm.

As soon as he left the party, he called his subordinates, instructing them to investigate Qi Bailu’s claims.

The report arrived faster than he expected.

As he skimmed through the documents, his heart sank.

Qi Bailu wasn’t lying about being Sheng Yin’s ex-boyfriend.

They had dated for several years, and the photos and records confirmed it.

What shocked Yu Shuchang even more was how long their relationship had lasted—from their teenage years to adulthood.

Worse, the report included details about Qi Bailu’s consistent style.

His fashion sense had remained unchanged for years, which meant it wasn’t a case of him copying Yu Shuchang to create misunderstandings.

Then there were the messages. His team confirmed that the number was indeed Sheng Yin’s, and while her assistant, Susan, occasionally handled her phone, there was no evidence to suggest that anyone else had sent those texts.

Yu Shuchang leaned back in his chair, staring at the report.

His chest felt tight, his emotions a storm of confusion, anger, and pain.

Could it be true? Had Sheng Yin really been holding onto feelings for Qi Bailu all this time?

He clenched his fists.

The thought of being a mere stand-in for someone else infuriated him.

But even more than that, the idea of Sheng Yin still loving Qi Bailu stung in a way he hadn’t anticipated.

"No," he muttered to himself. "There has to be another explanation."

Deep down, Yu Shuchang knew he needed to confront Sheng Yin about this.

But the fear of hearing the truth—the fear of confirming his worst suspicions—held him back.

Instead, he buried himself in his work, trying to ignore the growing ache in his chest.

Finally unable to bear the ache, he decided to meet Sheng Yin using an excuse.

Hence he agreed to be a guest for the show and acted as if he was surprised to see Sheng Yin there.

In reality, he knew everything.

Once the interview was over, he invited Sheng Yin over and deliberately flirted with her.

He wanted to prove to himself that he wasn’t the only one who loved her, she loved him too. Or maybe...at least she didn’t see him as a stand in.

But when he kissed her, she didn’t hesitate to push him away and slap him.

So it means... she truly doesn’t have any feelings for him? Maybe she truly saw him as a stand-in.

Yu Shuchang sat in the car, staring blankly out of the window. His chest felt heavy like someone had put a rock on it.

Sheng Yin’s slap still stung, not just on his cheek but deep inside. He couldn’t shake her cold words or the look of shock and disgust on her face.

"She really doesn’t care about me," he thought bitterly.

He clenched his fists, his mind replaying the slap over and over. "I’m just a stand-in. That’s all I’ll ever be to her."

The driver hesitated, glancing at Yu Shuchang in the rearview mirror. "Mr. Yu, should I take you back to the office?"

"No," Yu Shuchang snapped, his voice sharp. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Take me home."

The car drove on in silence, leaving Yu Shuchang alone with his thoughts.