After Saving The Disabled Villain, I Was Attacked In Return! - Chapter 58

Gu Meng deliberately walked up to Jiang Yu, pretending to point out the scenery. However, Jiang Yu, who already didn’t like Gu Meng getting too close, slowly edged away. Undeterred, Gu Meng slowly moved closer, irritating Qi An.

Qi An’s gaze towards Gu Meng was filled with disdain, and Gu Meng couldn’t miss the contempt. But now, all she could do was pretend not to notice, focusing solely on getting closer to Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu frowned. Walking back and forth by the lake wasn’t safe, but Gu Meng seemed completely oblivious. Just as Jiang Yu was about to warn her, she felt a faint pressure on her back, like someone was trying to push her.

Now Jiang Yu was curious. Ah, so that’s why Gu Meng keeps rushing to flatter me. She must not have any real ideas. Jiang Yu suddenly sidestepped, catching Gu Meng off guard.

Just then, Liu Xueyun thought Jiang Yu was about to be pushed into the lake. She ran over as fast as she ever had in her life, determined to take Jiang Yu’s place. Gu Meng had already reached out her hand, and if Liu Xueyun hadn’t gotten in the way, Gu Meng would have either fallen into the lake or taken a hard tumble. But just as Liu Xueyun rushed forward, Gu Meng shoved her out instead.

Liu Xueyun was quiet and unassuming, never daring to ask the small kitchen for anything special. As long as the food wasn’t spoiled, she was content, which had left her thin and frail over time. Her emaciated frame now rivaled Qi An’s.

Gu Meng was already teetering on the edge of the lake. Seeing Jiang Yu hadn’t pulled her down, she instinctively reached out to drag someone else in. Just as Liu Xueyun stepped forward, Gu Meng grabbed her sleeve.

Liu Xueyun had barely regained her footing when Gu Meng’s sudden tug destabilized her. She was about to fall into the lake. Realizing the situation was dire, Jiang Yu quickly reached out to steady Liu Xueyun.

Jiang Yu hadn’t realized how frail Liu Xueyun was, so she pulled too hard. She nearly yanked Liu Xueyun into her arms, and Qi An watched this all happen. A faint pang of jealousy stirred in her heart, though she couldn’t understand why.

Qi An channeled all her irritation onto Gu Meng. At that moment, Gu Meng was barely managing to keep her balance. Then she saw Qi An’s enigmatic smile and watched as she lifted her foot clad in a plain embroidered shoe and kicked it toward her.

Gu Meng froze in shock. It was bitterly cold outside, and she hadn’t brought any maids with her. She’d even dismissed all the maids in the Back Garden just before she’d tried to push Jiang Yu into the lake.

With disbelief written across her face, Gu Meng realized she was about to fall into the bone-chilling lake. Even the fish in the Shen Residence wouldn’t swim in this water. Who could have imagined she’d end up here?

A bone-chilling coldness, laced with unbearable pain, instantly seeped into Gu Meng’s body. Hearing no cries for help from the shore, she mustered every ounce of her strength to break the surface and scream for rescue.

This wasn’t a man-made lake created when the Shen Residence was built, but a genuine natural body of water. The Late Emperor had even bestowed a name upon it when he gifted the estate to Grand Secretary Shen, which was why the old official had never filled it in, despite its apparent dangers.

Aware of the lake’s peril, the entire Shen Residence kept a close watch on the Back Garden. Jiang Yu hadn’t intended to cause a fatal accident; she just wanted to teach Gu Meng a painful lesson. Now, she began shouting for help.

The Shen Residence had long feared such an incident, so many of their maids and servants were trained swimmers. Eager to earn praise, one servant quickly dove into the water.

Jiang Yu and Qi An watched coldly from the sidelines, while Liu Xueyun stood frozen, her mind reeling as if she had fallen into the icy waters herself.

If Jiang Yu hadn’t reached out to save her… it might have been Liu Xueyun who plunged into that bone-chilling lake.

Liu Xueyun was struck with fear after the fact. She had actually considered saving Jiang Yu, even though someone like her should never have been able to save anyone, let alone herself.

But today, Jiang Yu had helped her again and again, reigniting a spark in Liu Xueyun’s long-dead heart.

Unable to hide her emotions, Liu Xueyun stared in disbelief. Qi An noticed her expression and asked, “Why are you still clinging to our Miss? Are you trying to freeload off her?”

Qi An’s strikingly beautiful face twisted with displeasure, her delicate eyebrows furrowing. Seeing Liu Xueyun’s bewildered expression, she reached out and yanked her away.

Qi An naturally moved to stand in front of Jiang Yu, so close they could hear each other’s breathing. She had already forgotten why she’d felt uneasy earlier, but now, surrounded by Jiang Yu’s delicate fragrance, her mood lifted. Even Liu Xueyun’s confused face seemed more tolerable.

When Gu Meng was pulled from the lake, she was so frozen she could barely speak. Jiang Yu didn’t feel any real sympathy, but she maintained her composure perfectly. Beside her, Liu Xueyun realized that if she didn’t act convincingly, Gu Meng might try to pin the blame on her.

So, the usually reserved Liu Xueyun unexpectedly began to cry, though it was hard to tell whether she was genuinely mourning her tragic life or putting on an act for the others.

Jiang Yu couldn’t help but glance sideways at Liu Xueyun, surprised by her display. She realized that if Liu Xueyun were willing to fight, she could undoubtedly secure a place in Shen Lian’s favor.

Even now, Jiang Yu felt a pang of regret that such a capable person was trapped by her own timid nature. She shook her head as attendants from the Main Hall approached to investigate the commotion.

When she recognized the attendant as one of Madam Grand Secretary’s, Jiang Yu finally allowed her anxiety to show. She grabbed the attendant’s arm and exclaimed, “Sister Gu Meng fell into the lake! I saw it happen with my own eyes—she slipped on a rock by the shore…”

Jiang Yu looked utterly distraught, her adorable, stuttering words making her seem utterly pitiful. The Mama who had come to investigate, seeing Jiang Yu in such a state, assumed she had suffered some terrible shock. “Miss, are you alright?” the Mama asked urgently. “Did you get frightened? It’s bitterly cold outside. Let’s go back to the Main Hall to warm up.”

The Mama’s face brimmed with concern. Jiang Yu finally stopped crying and took a few steps back, reaching for Qi An’s hand to pull her along. But Qi An’s face was filled with desolation. She subtly withdrew her hand and stepped back half a pace, positioning herself where a maid should stand.

Jiang Yu was puzzled, but she didn’t understand what was wrong with Qi An. The Mama was still waiting for her, and this wasn’t the time to offer comfort. Resigned, Jiang Yu stiffened her resolve and followed the Mama back to the Main Hall.

Though Gu Meng was unconscious, she could still hear and see what was happening. Her resentful gaze naturally caught this subtle shift in their interaction.

Why did Jiang Yu care so much about Qi An’s feelings? Even if Qi An was terrifying, as the daughter of the General’s Residence, why would Jiang Yu fear the daughter of a disgraced official? Was there some scheme at play? But Jiang Yu had been so clumsy earlier; that didn’t seem likely…

Gu Meng, escorted by maids, felt utterly helpless and allowed herself to be led to the Side Hall to rest. Meanwhile, Jiang Yu and Qi An had already entered the Main Hall.

Oh, and Liu Xueyun was trailing behind them, looking timid.

Ever since entering the Main Hall, Liu Xueyun had been acting as if she’d suffered a great injustice. She even looked up at Shen Lian with helpless eyes, making Shen Lian instinctively think her insecure, illegitimate daughter had endured another devastating blow. She hurried over to embrace her daughter.

“What’s wrong? Don’t be afraid, Mama’s here,” Shen Lian asked gently. Liu Xueyun dutifully repeated word-for-word what Jiang Yu had just said to the Mama. Hearing this, Shen Lian grew worried about her daughter. Shen Yun then pulled the tearful Jiang Yu forward.

Shen Yun pulled Jiang Yu back and forth, examining her closely. Only when she confirmed Jiang Yu hadn’t been injured did she relax. Shen Xi, however, exploded upon hearing the news. Already in a foul mood, she sprang to her feet and rushed to the Side Hall, her heart pounding.

Everyone from the Main Hall had gathered in the Side Hall to check on Gu Meng. By then, the doctor summoned from outside the estate had arrived. After performing the proper courtesies, he approached Gu Meng’s bedside to take her pulse.

The diagnosis revealed Gu Meng had caught a cold and suffered a severe fright. After taking her pulse, the doctor retreated to write a prescription. Grand Secretary Shen, usually stern and unyielding, stood by Gu Meng’s bedside, coldly admonishing her to be more careful in the future.

Unexpectedly, Gu Meng, still swaddled in thick blankets, sat up and accused Qi An: “Qi An kicked me off the bridge! I wouldn’t have fallen for no reason otherwise! Maternal Grandfather, please see through this!”

The entire Side Hall fell silent, at a loss for words. Even Madam Grand Secretary’s expression darkened, privately agreeing that Gu Meng was being too melodramatic.

Support After Saving The Disabled Villain, I Was Attacked In Return!