After Being Possessed by the Transmigrated Heroine - Chapter 17

The metallic texture of the handcuffs was icy, binding her wrists so tightly that she couldn’t find even a shred of room to struggle. This was especially true when her wrists were shackled together and held high above her head.

The corners of Bai Niao’s eyes were damp and red. Her face, as exquisite as a flower, was covered in tears, looking drenched and pitiful.

“We really didn’t do anything,” she sobbed, her voice raspy. “I wasn’t feeling well, so I went to sleep. He was busy talking to people and handling military district affairs the whole time.”

He Youting’s eyes were dark as his knuckles brushed against the red mark on Bai Niao’s collarbone. “You’re lying, Niao Niao.”

The greatest lie in the world is to claim one is magnanimous. When they first made this arrangement, it was a complete accident. At that time, none of them imagined this relationship would last so long.

Bai Niao was a “beautiful fool” materialistic, money-worshipping, vain, and an absolute “love-brain” who had committed countless misdeeds for the sake of a fiancé who didn’t love her. Even after their engagement was torn up in such a public and humiliating way, she still tirelessly tried to win him back.

In all fairness, Bai Niao truly possessed no noble qualities. Furthermore, since they were all elites among elites, possessing the innate arrogance of the aristocracy in their blood, simply being able to tolerate the start of such a relationship was already the limit.

At least at the beginning, when they were still dignified and cold “proud sons of heaven,” none of them had any long-term expectations for each other. They almost all thought, in a strange coincidence, the same thing: The others will one day find Bai Niao’s temper and personality unbearable and end the relationship. Then, I will take her home myself, act as her savior, and compensate her for the harm and grievances she suffered.

They planned to find ways to elevate her status and marry her legally, keeping her by their side forever. Eventually, through long and sweet cohabitation, they would make Bai Niao forget that man entirely.

However, no one expected that as the years passed, not a single person would mention withdrawing. Nor had that man’s status in Bai Niao’s heart shifted even slightly. They certainly never expected that one day, they who were once indifferent, revered, and high above would become as obsessive and pathological as they were now, yet still have gained nothing.

He Youting understood Bai Niao’s personality very well. She had a very strong desire for revenge regarding their relationship. For a long time, Bai Niao believed it was their existence that made any reconciliation with that man impossible—though, to be fair, that was exactly what they were doing.

She had always been a vengeful person. So, when he first learned about Bai Niao and Gao Zhan, He Youting could roughly guess her motives. But knowing was one thing, understanding was another, and seeing it for himself was something else entirely.

He Youting’s eyes were a void of deep darkness. He asked softly, “How did he… do it? Did he pick you up… or did he make you kneel…?”

The man’s knuckles gently brushed the red mark on her waist. There was no intent to punish, and the movement was gentle, yet Bai Niao’s body stiffened even more. She was like a bowstring drawn to its limit; even the slightest breeze would cause her to snap completely.

Both He Youting and Duan Xiran were of noble birth. They were refined gentlemen raised in wealthy, prestigious families pampered, accustomed to luxury, with nobility in every gesture. Their gazes were usually indifferent, carrying a high-born sense of being “untouched by the world.” But at this moment, He Youting’s lips, usually curved in a faint smile, were uttering the filthiest words.

They were so filthy that for a moment, Bai Niao didn’t even dare to listen. Her eyes were red from crying, and her face was flushed bright red. They had lived together for years and were long familiar with each other, especially having had such “intense” times before. But being interrogated like this by He Youting left Bai Niao unable to resist. She could say nothing, even wishing that Zhuang Han would come online at this moment to solve this terrifying situation for her.

“Let me guess,” he pinched her chin. “He dotes on you so much, he wouldn’t have the heart to make you kneel, right?”

Tears pooled in Bai Niao’s eyes as she cried, “Truly, we didn’t! I was so uncomfortable yesterday and went to bed very early. He… he also had matters to handle.”

He Youting said softly, “So he held you…?”

Bai Niao was far too transparent; she couldn’t even tell a cohesive lie. Her thoughts were written all over her face, and she was hopeless at reading others’ emotions.

“No… no…” Seeing her suddenly turn extremely terrified and at a loss, what else could He Youting fail to understand? One should be more tolerant of Bai Niao—even the doctor said so, especially given her recent peculiar state—but in that moment, no logic could remain.

Noble ladies of the classical era would take concubines for their husbands to show their “virtue.” The inner chambers were private places, but when they saw the intimacy in the night with their own eyes, could they still remain so calm?

Bai Niao had completely collapsed. She truly regretted the fleeting pleasure she had sought with Gao Zhan; they had nearly been caught by Duan Xiran last time. Gao Zhan had jumped straight from the second-floor balcony that day to avoid being discovered. Duan Xiran’s personality was much more casual, but that didn’t mean he could tolerate such a thing. Furthermore, she was now doing this under He Youting’s nose.

By now, there was no way to deny it. Bai Niao’s eyes were swollen from crying. She threw caution to the wind and said, “It wasn’t like that! He just kissed me and held me for a bit.”

“You don’t like me anyway, and you even like that imposter,” she wailed. “Why can’t I be like this?”

Bai Niao’s wrists were red and swollen, and so were her eyes. But that sense of “end of the world” impending doom abruptly ended after she said those words. What surged up instead was an overflowing sense of grievance.

Bai Niao was that kind of person: she didn’t have to like others, but if others didn’t like her, she would be very angry let alone if they liked her enemy.

He Youting was momentarily stunned. He instinctively explained, “I don’t like that person, and I can tell the difference between you.”

But if he really didn’t like that imposter, why did the affection level increase?

“You’re lying! We’ve been together so long and you don’t like me,” Bai Niao cried even louder. “You’ve only seen her a few times and you like her. And as soon as she said she wanted a communication device, you gave it to her.”

At this thought, her tears became even more unstoppable. Bai Niao wailed loudly, so heartbroken she was struggling to breathe. “I’ve… I’ve wanted one for so long, and you never gave it to me.”

She was too good at turning the tables; even He Youting was often helpless against her. He said in a low voice, “It wasn’t like that, Niao Niao…”

But before He Youting could finish, Bai Niao interrupted him. She cried out of pure grievance, “I know you don’t like me anymore. Go ahead and like her then. When my body is completely stolen by her, you can be together happily.”

Bai Niao’s accusation was complete nonsense. But she truly didn’t know what to do; she was desperately trying to escape, and her head was groggy from crying. Combined with how late it was, she was exhausted; her waist went soft, and she suddenly fainted.

He Youting’s expression shifted instantly as he pulled Bai Niao into his arms. “Niao Niao!”

Bai Niao didn’t wake up until three o’clock the next afternoon. She sat in a swinging chair on the balcony, slowly sipping a glass of juice. The sunlight was piercing and felt a bit hot, but Bai Niao didn’t care, letting the intense rays spill over her.

Sensing that control of her body was still in her own hands upon waking made her incredibly happy. Bai Niao even began to fantasize that Zhuang Han and that “bad” System had finally kicked rocks and left her world. After learning what happened last night, her mood improved even further.

He Youting was mean to her, but he truly cared about her health. Back when their relationship was at its worst and most tense, as long as Bai Niao started faking an illness, he was helpless against her provided he didn’t find out she was faking. Hearing from the assistant that He Youting’s face changed instantly and he rushed the doctor over made Bai Niao feel triumphant.

Perhaps fearing he might scare her again, He Youting wasn’t home during the day, specifically instructing the servants to look after her carefully. Who else in this world could have a secret affair discovered and then retreat so easily? Bai Niao was truly happy. Last night she felt she was completely finished, yet in the blink of an eye, the matter was resolved. She didn’t even have to worry anymore; next time He Youting bullied her like that, she would just fake a faint to scare him to death.

Bai Niao had many little schemes. After waking up, she felt perfectly fine but continued to act very weak, sunbathing and drinking juice on the balcony without even touching her game console.

However, He Youting’s reaction last night had still scared her. Her involvement with Gao Zhan was okay, and she had been quite happy lately especially when Gao Zhan realized she was possessed the moment he saw her. But this sort of thing was still too dangerous. If they hadn’t been having an affair, Gao Zhan wouldn’t have come looking for her yesterday, and the subsequent series of events wouldn’t have happened.

Bai Niao had never known how to handle interpersonal relationships; aside from her lack of respect for those she deemed inferior, she simply wasn’t good at it. In the past, she couldn’t have imagined that one day she would be juggling four men.

Bai Niao propped her chin on her hand, spacing out as she chewed on a piece of fruit. Gao Zhan shouldn’t mind too much, right? They were all very busy this year, and she usually spent long periods with him or was sent to him temporarily. Simply ending this dangerous relationship wouldn’t change anything else; he had always doted on her so much, he shouldn’t have much to say about it, right?

The more Bai Niao thought about it, the more she felt it was fine. He Youting already knew about them and definitely wouldn’t tolerate it anymore. Although she had fooled her way through yesterday, she would have to give him an explanation sooner or later.

Bai Niao finished her juice and stood up. After sunbathing all afternoon, she felt refreshed. She was just about to go back to her bedroom to lie in her big bed and play games for a while when the servant said Cheng Yu had arrived. Before Bai Niao could clearly hear what the servant said, she was face-to-face with Cheng Yu.

Cheng Yu had returned from somewhere unknown. He was rarely seen in a suit; his tall, upright figure was clearly accentuated. His expression was gentle, but the authority in his eyes was impossible to ignore. He seemed to want to say something, but after his gaze landed on her, he abruptly stopped.

Bai Niao was wearing a very thin dress, standing in the breeze on the balcony. The twilight glow made her look a bit fragile and delicate, softening her striking and impactful beauty. She was someone who was “beautiful and knew it.” But Bai Niao only knew she was pretty after dressing up; she didn’t realize just how good she looked normally. She could only sense that Cheng Yu’s expression froze for a split second.

He said softly, “Why are you wearing so little?” As he spoke, he took off his overcoat and draped it over her.

Cheng Yu pulled her shoulder toward him. She didn’t like wearing too much and couldn’t break free from him, so she could only whisper, “I’m sunbathing; of course I can’t wear too much. Besides, it’s very hot today.”

She was calm on the outside, but her heart was already thumping. Cheng Yu gave a light laugh. “Sunbathing on such a hot day? Aren’t you afraid of getting a tan?”

Why isn’t he saying why he’s here? Could it be that He Youting told him about last night and he’s here to catch her now? Bai Niao was instinctively a bit afraid, her voice low: “Health is most important. I want to build up my constitution from now on.”

Hearing such words from her mouth was truly a rare occurrence. Cheng Yu burst out laughing, but his expression grew increasingly soft. “Alright. Keep it up, Niao Niao.”

Bai Niao followed him out, not even having time to change. Aside from that thin dress, she only had his suit jacket over her shoulders. She asked urgently, “Hey, where are we going?”

“Youting didn’t tell you?” Cheng Yu raised an eyebrow. “Azhan came back yesterday. We’re holding a small welcome dinner for him.”

The time Bai Niao spent with each of them wasn’t strictly fixed, and she wasn’t entirely without contact with the others during those periods. Aside from Gao Zhan, who liked to keep her “hidden,” they weren’t all that strict. When Cheng Yu returned previously, He Youting even let her stay over for a night.

Hearing Cheng Yu say this, Bai Niao breathed a sigh of relief. This was great; He Youting likely hadn’t told them. She said dutifully, “I got up a bit late today. Mr. He might have been worried I’d sleep until evening, so he didn’t say anything.”

But before Bai Niao could truly relax, she heard Cheng Yu say softly, “Azhan has a lot on his plate lately and will be traveling frequently. Don’t tell him about your condition yet. We’ll find a way to solve it.”

But Gao Zhan already knows.

Bai Niao didn’t understand the relationship between them; she just thought it was strange since He Youting had said something similar yesterday. But she didn’t ask further, lowering her head and saying obediently, “Okay.”

Maybe Gao Zhan really was very busy lately. Cheng Yu had been exceptionally busy for a period too, Bai Niao hadn’t seen a glimpse of him for half a year—until things got better after his promotion to Major General. Even now, she still felt Cheng Yu was the busiest of them all.

Bai Niao was just thinking about when she could see Gao Zhan to explain things to him, and here was Cheng Yu essentially delivering him to her. Her little scheme was perfectly laid out, but once they arrived at the location, she felt a bit intimidated.

Cheng Yu hadn’t let Bai Niao make any preparations; she hadn’t even changed her dress. His tone had been so casual that she hadn’t thought much of it, instinctively thinking it was a private dinner. She only realized something was wrong after getting out of the car. Just among those waiting at the door, there were quite a few familiar faces she used to see often in elite circles.

Bai Niao was wearing only a very thin dress with Cheng Yu’s jacket over her shoulders. And the two of them had stepped out of the car together. Even a fool could see how intimate they were. When her eyes met Gao Zhan’s gaze in the center of the crowd, Bai Niao finally realized, too late, that she had fallen into Cheng Yu’s trap again.

That bastard he did this on purpose!