After Marrying the Villain with Seven Personalities [Transmigration into a Book]) - Chapter 32

Xu Linqiu didn’t know how to respond. She stood there, her forehead breaking into a light sweat, realizing that her ability to handle such unexpected situations was still lacking.

Meanwhile, Shi Ji tried to make herself as inconspicuous as possible as she attempted to slip over to Yi Yanbai’s side. However, she only succeeded in catching the woman’s attention.

Yi Chenlu let out a soft laugh and glanced at her. Then, looking back at Xu Linqiu with a puzzled expression, she said, “I really don’t get it. You two were clearly a match made in heaven; couldn’t you just stay together? Why did you have to interfere with us?”

Who interfered with whom? A match made in heaven?

Xu Linqiu frowned, taking a moment to steady her emotions. She walked over and sat on the sofa opposite the woman. The sofas in the Yi household were arranged like three sides of a square, with the television facing them, creating a scene that felt like a three-way standoff.

Shi Ji sat down next to Yi Yanbai and nudged her with her elbow. In response, Yi Yanbai muted her phone and pulled them both into a group chat to send a message.

Yi Yanbai: [Yi Chenlu’s core trait seems to be “self-love.” I’m not sure why a personality with that trait emerged, but since this persona was born six years ago, she started learning to dance and became an internet celebrity.]

Yi Yanbai: [She claims that a “dodder flower”—a woman who has no self and only knows how to depend on others—can never truly be respected. She believes only by being independent and strong can one emit their own light, attract attention, and transform from a “mistress” into a “master.”]

Shi Ji: [How inspirational. Good luck to you, @XuLinqiu.]

Yi Yanbai: [Sister Linqiu, Yi Chenlu is actually quite easy to talk to. Try chatting with her more to see if you can find any clues. @XuLinqiu]

Xu Linqiu did her best to ignore the constant pinging of her phone. She looked at the woman and said, “I don’t get it either. Yi Chenqing has no idea she has a ‘mistress’ like you. Besides, you said it yourself—you’re just the mistress. What is there for you to talk about with me, the legal wife? Are you asking me to step aside and give her to you?”

She smiled faintly, crossing her legs just as Yi Chenlu had done. Placing her hand on her knee, she projected an air of authority. “Moreover, even if I said I’d step aside and give her up, Yi Chenqing might not agree. There would never be a result between you two anyway.”

“Give up while you’re ahead,” Xu Linqiu continued. “You are just one of her personalities. Since she belongs to me now, by extension, you belong to me too.”

Beside them, the other two were shocked. Yi Yanbai desperately wanted to interrupt and remind Xu Linqiu to play along with the personality—what if she provoked her? Shi Ji, on the other hand, couldn’t sit still; she felt like she needed some melon seeds to snack on while watching the drama unfold.

A soft, clear laugh rang through the quiet living room. Yi Chenlu’s eyes crinkled as she tilted her head. “Yes, Qingqing truly doesn’t know I exist. But you’re wrong. From the day I was born, I became an independent persona. That goes for ‘them’ too. Any of our personalities could become the dominant one, and any of us could swallow the others to become the final winner and claim this body.”

Seeing Xu Linqiu’s frown, her smile grew even wider. “What makes me different from them is that while I like you, I love Qingqing more. I have been silently accompanying her. I hope the final winners will be the two of us. When that time comes, she will know me, our hearts will be one, and we can be together forever.”

“Instead of being with someone like you, who has always brought her nothing but pain.”

A flash of wariness and danger flickered in Yi Chenlu’s eyes. Xu Linqiu was stunned—how had she brought Yi Chenqing pain? She also realized that every personality appearing now seemed to have some connection to her. Was it because they were dating and now married? Or was the condition getting worse?

Despite their different backgrounds and temperaments, these personalities were all part of Qingqing. What would happen if Qingqing really lost herself and was consumed by them? Her mind was a whirlwind of confusion; she didn’t know the root cause of the illness or where to begin the healing process.

But…

“I won’t give up.”

Aside from painting, this was the second thing in her life she had ever been so serious about. Xu Linqiu looked at Yi Chenlu with stubborn resolve and repeated, “I won’t give up on her. Your love for her is your business, but I am not going anywhere.”

Her expression softened, but the light in her eyes was incredibly intense. Yi Chenlu frowned slightly and looked away.

It seemed “Plan A” had failed. It was time for “Plan B.”

Her eyes flickered with a hidden light as she smiled again. She put her mask back on and turned on the camera and audio. “Sorry to keep you waiting, everyone. It’s getting late, so I’ll demonstrate two more moves before I end the stream.”

Xu Linqiu took the chance to check the group messages on her phone, but she was suddenly put on the spot again.

Yi Chenlu smiled at her, her eyes shimmering like rippling water. “Would you like to try? Your waist doesn’t seem to be in great shape; this can help relieve the pain.”

Xu Linqiu looked up, hesitated for a few seconds, and then nodded. “Okay.”

Yi Chenlu pulled a plush doll head out of a cardboard box under the table and tossed it to her. “Wearing a mask might not be safe enough; after all, you’re a public figure.”

Xu Linqiu: “…”

She obediently put on the oversized head. Yi Chenlu then stood up and tossed two “Fuwa” (mascot) heads to Yi Yanbai and Shi Ji as well. Shi Ji wanted to protest—she hadn’t even agreed to join in—but then she saw Yi Yanbai give her a helpless look and put the head on anyway.

Useless, Shi Ji thought huffily, but she put her mask on too.

The account “It Is Green” had become famous for dance videos on a viral short-video app. Unlike “pretty girl” streamers, she had never shown her true face, yet her livestreams could reach tens of millions of viewers at their peak. Now that the mic was back on, the popularity of the room soared, and the comment section became a frenzy.

【Hurry, hurry! Turn the camera, I want to see!】 【I want to see Sister Green’s wife!】

“Actually, she’s more of a love rival~” Yi Chenlu said casually, slowly adjusting the computer’s angle.

【What does that even mean?】 【I get it—maybe there’s a kid, so the wife is a rival for attention?】 【Waaaah, why won’t you let us see her face?】 【My focus is on the part where she said “public figure”!】

Xu Linqiu frowned slightly under the mask, feeling a bit cramped and awkward. Through the eye-holes of the doll head, she saw Yi Chenlu stand before the computer, turn on the music, and step back to wait for the beat. It was an upbeat, cheerful dance track.

When the beat dropped, Yi Chenlu began to move, explaining the steps in her soft, clear voice. They were small, graceful movements—nothing too difficult—including a backbend. Even though she was wearing Xu Linqiu’s loose, short-sleeved nightgown, the fluid, pleasing movements couldn’t be hidden. Her waist was incredibly supple, her motions like flowing water.

Xu Linqiu watched, mesmerized. Soon, Yi Chenlu finished the explanation and flicked a glance toward them. “Next, I’ll recommend a method to exercise your glutes and waist. I’ll invite a few of my friends up to demonstrate for you.”

Xu Linqiu’s heart skipped a beat. The woman looked away and walked behind the sofa, pushing out two yoga balls. Yi Yanbai stood up and stepped forward. Yi Chenlu pushed a ball to her, and Yanbai rolled it toward the camera, standing behind it with practiced ease. It was clear she had played the “assistant” for Yi Chenlu many times before.

Xu Linqiu sighed and stood up, following suit behind the other yoga ball. Yi Chenlu stood in front of them, guiding them step-by-step.

“Support yourself with both hands on the floor, rest your hips on the ball, face down, and keep your legs shoulder-width apart with knees bent.”

“Keep the soles of your feet facing up, tops of the feet natural. Keep your thighs parallel to the floor and swing your legs up and down.”

Xu Linqiu followed the instructions. As she supported herself on the floor, Yi Chenlu walked over and knelt beside her. She placed a hand on Xu Linqiu’s waist and gave it a light pat. “Careful not to arch your back. Tighten your glutes and your abdomen.”

Suddenly, Xu Linqiu’s arm wobbled, and she nearly slipped off the ball. The woman caught her waist just in time, steadying her. Her eyes curved into a smile. “How does your waist feel?”

It felt stiff and a bit painful, but she couldn’t say that. Xu Linqiu replied calmly, “It’s fine.”

Next to her, Yi Yanbai was doing perfectly, but her “Fuwa” mask made the whole scene look ridiculous. Shi Ji couldn’t help but sit on the floor in front of her, laughing. Yi Yanbai’s lips twitched into a smile, which she quickly suppressed out of habit, thankful the mask was there to hide it.

The difficult livestream finally ended. Xu Linqiu went upstairs first to shower. When she stepped out of the bathroom, Yi Chenlu was waiting at the door. Drying her hair with a towel, Xu Linqiu smiled at her. “You should change out of that outfit. I only have that one nightgown; I wore it yesterday, so it’s dirty.”

Yi Chenlu brushed past her into the bathroom. “I know. I’m mainly wearing it to remind you that you did something yesterday that betrayed Qingqing.”

Xu Linqiu: “…”

The sound of running water started in the bathroom. Xu Linqiu dried her hair, climbed into bed, and closed her eyes to rest. When the water stopped and the door opened, she looked up to see Yi Chenlu. Her long hair was clipped up, though the ends were still damp. Wrapped only in a bath towel, she slowly walked to the bed and climbed in.

She pulled the towel away as she slid under the covers. Xu Linqiu quickly looked away, but the warmth of the other woman’s body drew close as she lay on her side next to her.

Staring at the ceiling light, Xu Linqiu asked, “Do you… enjoy sleeping naked?”

Yi Chenlu ignored the question. She reached out a hand, her fingers touching Xu Linqiu’s collarbone, tracing downward with casual lightness. “Let’s make a deal, shall we?”

“What kind of deal?” Xu Linqiu took a deep breath.

The woman laughed. Her fingertips reached Xu Linqiu’s abdomen and began to slide back up, stopping at the slight curve over her heart, tracing slow circles. “I’ll give myself to you, but you have to stay away from Qingqing. Distance yourself from her.”

“Honestly, your feelings for her aren’t that deep, right? Think about it—she’s so boring and conservative. Can she really be more interesting than the rest of us?”

As long as we can entangle her, she won’t be so devoted to Qingqing anymore, the personality thought.

She leaned in closer, her long lashes brushing against Xu Linqiu’s cheek. Her warm breath tickled Xu Linqiu’s ear. “Besides, if you stay away from her, she won’t be triggered anymore, and everything can go back to normal. Isn’t that better?”

“No. You can’t compare to her,” Xu Linqiu said firmly, her face devoid of any smile.

“Heh~ Is that so?” Yi Chenlu seemed provoked. A storm flickered across her face before she laughed again, her eyes shimmering with a seductive light. She tilted her head up slightly to meet Xu Linqiu’s gaze.

She lowered her head inch by inch until her breath brushed against Xu Linqiu’s lips. Her voice turned teasing. “Then let’s play something exciting and see if you can hold back~”

“Go ahead and try,” Xu Linqiu said, slowly closing her eyes. “If I show even a hint of a response, I’ll consider it my loss and agree to your deal.”

“I didn’t expect you to actually value Qingqing this much,” Yi Chenlu laughed softly. She lowered her gaze, her tongue lightly licking Xu Linqiu’s lips before she slowly pressed down against them.