After Transmigrating into a Book, I Was Marked by the Beautiful Mad Villain - Chapter 33.2

But as Old Mrs. Shen spoke of the past, she seemed only to mention memories related to Su Ciyu.

Su Mi dazed for a moment before answering, “They’re alright.”

Shen Han, sitting nearby, added for her, “She just finished the unified exams. She should be going to Capital City University.”

Old Mrs. Shen was surprised. “Why not Holy Cross Academy? Everyone in the Shen family studies there. We don’t have much contact with Capital City University; what if your sister gets bullied there?”

Shen Han replied calmly, “The first donation has already been transferred. The board appointment and subsequent contracts will likely be finalized next month.”

Only then was Old Mrs. Shen satisfied. She smiled at Su Mi. “That’s more like it. Since you are Xiao He’s adopted sister, you are part of our Shen family now. It’s her fault for not telling me about you sooner. My return to the Capital was rushed, so I didn’t prepare a proper meeting gift.”

She released Su Mi’s hand and slid an emerald bracelet off her own wrist. After checking it against Su Mi’s wrist, she slipped it onto her.

“This will have to do for now. Grandmother doesn’t know what you young people like. Next time we meet, I’ll give you something better.”

The emerald bracelet was translucent and clearly of immense value.

Su Mi instinctively wanted to refuse, but she looked up and saw Shen Han give her a small nod. She pursed her lips and obediently thanked the old lady.

Old Mrs. Shen seemed to be lacking energy. After a few more words about her memories of Su Ciyu, she pressed her temples, sighed softly, and had the attendants see them out.

Su Mi held the railing as she followed Shen Han down the stairs.

She didn’t take Shen Han’s connection to Capital City University as something done for her; after all, her attending the university was meant to help Shen Han protect Xu Nanqiao.

In the original plot, the host hadn’t managed to protect her anyway. After starting university, the female lead had gradually broken free from the villain’s control, just as she had hoped.

But this bracelet… Su Mi felt she didn’t quite deserve it.

When they reached the first floor and were about to leave the pavilion, Su Mi stepped forward to catch up with Shen Han.

She lifted her wrist, shaking the bracelet slightly. “Can I really keep this?”

Shen Han glanced at it. “It looks good.”

Su Mi: “…”

Her expression went blank for a moment. Regaining her senses, she tried again. “…I’m asking if I should accept it.”

Shen Han clearly didn’t care about the bracelet and raised an eyebrow. “Or would you like to go back upstairs and return it?”

Su Mi: “…Fine.”

Stepping out of the pavilion, a breeze blew, causing tiny pale yellow petals to fall from the ancient osmanthus tree. Su Mi squinted and took a few quick steps forward.

Her formal short dress was a cute style, yet her wrist now bore an ancient, heavy jade bracelet; it didn’t match at all.

Su Mi held up her wrist, torn between the clashing styles and the worry of flaunting such wealth.

Shen Han, following behind, asked, “Are you going to find Xu Nanqiao?”

Su Mi hummed an affirmation. “Sister, are you coming to chat too?”

Shen Han gave a faint smirk. “Not yet. I still have things to handle here. Just find me if you need anything.”

As Shen Han turned to leave, she stopped and walked back to Su Mi.

Confused, Su Mi looked up. Shen Han reached out, her hand brushing Su Mi’s head before pulling back.

In that brief moment of proximity, the scents of sandalwood, wood, and osmanthus vanished. Her unique cold fragrance wafted over Su Mi’s face and then receded.

Su Mi’s train of thought stalled at the gesture.

Focusing, she saw that Shen Han had plucked two stray osmanthus flowers from her hair.

Shen Han held the cross-shaped pale yellow petals between her fingertips, looked at them briefly, and then let them drift into the wind.

“Go on. I’ll find you later,” Shen Han said.

Su Mi dazed for a moment before nodding.

She assumed “later” meant the time set for Xu Nanqiao’s supplementary birthday party.

She returned to the spot where Li Zhao and the others had been, but they were no longer there. So, Su Mi wandered the garden alone.

She sent a message to Xu Nanqiao, who replied saying there was a buffet with more variety in a side courtyard, and that she and Li Zhao were eating there.

Just as she was about to go find them, she was caught by Su Ciyu.

Seeing her wandering aimlessly, Su Ciyu assumed she was bored and dragged her off to meet some business associates.

Su Mi obediently followed Su Ciyu through a round of introductions, her face becoming stiff from smiling before she was finally released.

She took the opportunity to ask why Su Ciyu hadn’t visited Old Mrs. Shen.

Su Ciyu blinked at the question and said, “Better not.”

She likely viewed this Shen family banquet purely as a business mixer. She patted Su Mi’s cheek. “Go play with your friends. If you want to go home together later, message me in advance.”

Su Mi felt like a tool used on a whim and then discarded.

Watching Su Ciyu walk away with a professional smile, Su Mi sighed helplessly and headed toward the place Xu Nanqiao had mentioned.

By the time she reached various spots, it was already late. It was around eight or nine o’clock. Between the complex shadows of the garden trees, the low streetlights remained bright as Su Mi walked toward a side gate, stepping over bamboo shadows.

Passing through the arched side gate, the view opened up to an artificial lake with a large rockery in the center, which seemed to house a hidden restaurant.

There were many tables and chairs by the lake, but she didn’t see Xu Nanqiao or the others.

Su Mi looked down and messaged: Where are you guys?

Xu Nanqiao didn’t reply immediately. As Su Mi lowered her wrist, a female attendant suddenly approached.

She wore the uniform qipao of the garden, but she was much prettier than the others they had seen. With a soft, sweet expression, she smiled at Su Mi. “Is the guest here for a meal?”

The attendant was slightly shorter than Su Mi. Looking down, Su Mi noticed the woman’s curvaceous figure. Wait, were the other attendants’ qipaos this tight?

Su Mi was always gentle toward girls. “I’m not hungry, just looking for friends.”

The attendant smiled. “There’s more than just food inside. Our drinks are also the best in the Capital. Your friends might be inside tasting wine. Would you like to go in and check?”

Su Mi looked toward the rockery. Knowing Li Zhao’s personality, it was indeed possible she had taken Xu Nanqiao inside.

She nodded and followed the attendant across the wooden bridge into the rockery restaurant.

Once inside, she realized it was a large two-story space. Many people were seated, and attendants were busy serving drinks and cold appetizers.

The attendant led her to the second floor for a look and then back to the first. She turned around gracefully. “Do you see your friends?”

Su Mi shook her head.

The attendant invited her warmly, “You can sit here and have a drink. These are special drinks for today’s Shen family banquet; you won’t find them elsewhere. Shall I find a seat for you?”

Her suggestion was persistent, and Su Mi wasn’t good at saying no.

Considering there were no seats in the adjacent garden and her feet were tired from the social rounds with Su Ciyu, she decided to sit and wait.

She agreed and followed the attendant to a booth near the door.

The attendant brought a menu, flipping it open and leaning in close to introduce the different drinks—which were the signatures, which were non-alcoholic, and which were sweet.

Because the attendant was leaning so close, Su Mi could smell a flower-like fragrance on her.

Su Mi reflexively said, “You smell so good.”

The attendant’s introduction paused. She looked at Su Mi with surprise, her fair, pretty face flushing slightly. She said softly, “Guest, this perfume… it’s the same as my… my scent.”

Su Mi: “…?”

What?

She processed this for a confused moment before realizing: the attendant meant her pheromones.

The attendant’s soft hand tapped the menu, and she said bashfully, “If you like this scent, you can order this drink. It’s also a sweet floral flavor.”

Su Mi: “…”

No. What is wrong with you?

She took a silent breath. She had been having trouble choosing from the descriptions, but this immediately made the decision for her.

Su Mi quickly pointed to a distant orange juice. “I’ll just have this.”

The attendant smiled and bowed. “I’ll bring the tools right away.”

Curious, Su Mi watched as the attendant returned to the bar and pushed over a small cart laden with bottles, flavorings, and bartending tools.

Right in front of her, the attendant began mixing the drink. Although it wasn’t a cocktail, the preparation was similar; her fingers flew, and she even performed a flair routine, tossing and flipping bottles.

However, during the breaks in the action, she would frequently look up and cast bashful, flirtatious glances at Su Mi.

Su Mi felt silent inside, realizing she had been misunderstood. She decided she would finish this drink and leave immediately.

After a long while, the attendant finished the drink and let out a soft sigh. Instead of sliding the goblet to Su Mi, she picked it up, stood up gracefully, and sat down right next to Su Mi.

She reached out and unfastened a single frog button on her qipao, revealing her white collarbone. Her body was supple, leaning almost entirely against Su Mi as she held the goblet as if to feed her.

“Guest, please…” the attendant whispered, her breath like orchids.

Su Mi’s hair stood on end.

What the hell!!

She lunged backward to put distance between herself and the attendant.

Holding her hands up defensively, Su Mi said sternly, “I think there’s a misunderstanding…”

She snatched the goblet. “I… I’m a Beta. I’ll drink it myself, thank you.”

The attendant didn’t get angry; she just smiled and said, “It’s quite alright, guest. Please, help yourself.”

She stood by the seat and didn’t move further.

Su Mi finally sighed in relief. She didn’t rush to drink but immediately looked down to message Xu Nanqiao.

SOS! Where are you guys? I can’t stay here anymore QAQ!

If you don’t reply, I’m calling!

Xu Nanqiao replied quickly this time: What’s wrong, Susu? Dr. Li and I are in the garage getting something.

Xu Nanqiao: We’ll be back in a second. Where are you?

Su Mi let out a breath and calmed down.

Before she could send her location, a shadow suddenly fell over the back of the booth’s sofa.

Su Mi turned around to find Shen Han.

Her arms were crossed as she leaned over the back of the sofa, looking down with a cold gaze in her pale eyes. As she leaned in, the long jade earring on her lobe swayed in front of Su Mi.

Su Mi’s first reaction was to look for the attendant. She was gone.

Shen Han raised a hand, her long fingertips resting on her exquisite qipao button as if she wanted to loosen it.

Su Mi immediately thought of the attendant’s earlier move. However, while the same gesture from the attendant carried a strong suggestive vibe, Shen Han did it with such detached coldness that it only conveyed a sense of exhaustion.

She only loosened the button without unfastening it. With lowered brows, she said, “You’re quite hard to find. Why are you here?”

Raising her eyes, she saw the goblet in Su Mi’s hand and arched an eyebrow. “Children are learning to drink now?”

The fruit-based drink in the goblet could indeed be mistaken for alcohol. Recalling what had happened during the mixing, Su Mi felt a bit guilty and argued, “It’s not alcohol.”

Su Mi’s emotions were written all over her face.

Shen Han gave a light scoff. “Guilty conscience.”

She straightened up, walked around to Su Mi’s side, and deftly took the goblet away.

“Confiscated,” she said flatly.