Double Rebirth: The Scumbag Heroine is Terrified of the Yandere Prince! - Chapter 40

Shen Ruoli stiffened slightly, Good heavens! So, the conversation she just had with Song Xuerou was already known to Xie Xuanjin!

This “dog of a man” was indeed monitoring her every move in meticulous detail.

In Xie Xuanjin’s eyes, her past with Xie Xuansong was a “criminal record” that could not be wiped clean. As long as Xie Xuansong lived, he would not truly trust her.

Thus, Shen Ruoli attempted to play the weakling to gloss it over. “Hiss… Your Highness, you’re hurting me!”

“Hurting you?” Xie Xuanjin sneered. “Short-term pain is better than long-term suffering. It won’t hurt anymore once I chop them off.”

The history between her and Xie Xuansong was like a thorn stuck in his throat, he couldn’t swallow it, and he couldn’t pull it out. Every time he looked at her, he remembered how she had served Xie Xuansong in her past life, even indirectly causing the death of his mother, their child, and himself.

How could Xie Xuanjin ever forgive her?

“If you chop them off, I won’t be able to serve Your Highness anymore.” Shen Ruoli pouted, tears of grievance beginning to fall.

With her hand still in his grip, she took the opportunity to lean into his embrace, shamelessly resting her head on his shoulder and refusing to get up. “Your Highness hasn’t finished teaching me what a ‘Beauty Trap’ is yet!”

She tilted her head slightly and noticed that the tips of Xie Xuanjin’s ears were flushing red. A bold, “wicked” idea suddenly popped into her mind.

Shen Ruoli leaned in close, her warm, soft lips almost touching his ear. “Your Highness… teach me, what exactly is a Beauty Trap? There are Beauty Traps for women, but is there such a thing as a ‘Handsome Man Trap’? You are the most handsome man in the world…”

Before she could finish, she was hurled to the ground!

That’s right! She was thrown—by Xie Xuanjin—directly onto the floor!

Shen Ruoli sat on the ground, staring at him in disbelief. “Your Highness! Is this the Handsome Man Trap?!”

Things were going so well just a second ago! When she leaned in to speak, she clearly felt his body stiffen. Who would have thought that in the next second, he would stand up abruptly and let her fall on her backside?

Had she known this man was so barbaric, she would have clung to him like a monkey, using both hands and feet!

“Shen Ruoli, it seems to me you understand the ‘Beauty Trap’ quite well already.” Xie Xuanjin looked down at her with a cold face. “In fact, you should study the ‘Self-Injury Ruse’ more. Your acting is a bit too theatrical; no one believes it.”

Since their rebirth, this woman had rotated between the “Self-Injury Ruse” and the “Beauty Trap” constantly. Xie Xuanjin was always on his guard, feeling as though he were on the verge of a nervous breakdown because of her. Half the time, he couldn’t even tell if she was faking her injuries or if she was truly in pain.

“Sometimes, if you act for too long, you have to be careful it doesn’t become the truth.”

“I don’t understand what Your Highness means.” Shen Ruoli refused to get up. “Nanny Chun was just here. She said the Queen summoned me to accompany her for dinner! If Your Highness doesn’t speak clearly, I’m not getting up!”

“Are you using the Queen to threaten me?” Xie Xuanjin’s narrow eyes squeezed slightly.

The Queen wanted her to accompany her for dinner? His mother clearly detested her. It seemed Shen Ruoli truly had some tricks up her sleeve.

“I wouldn’t dare.” Shen Ruoli reached out her hand. “Your Highness just hurt me with that fall. I can’t get up. Give me a hand!”

She looked up at him, her eyes filled with a bit of genuine admiration. “From this angle, Your Highness truly is flawless, like a celestial being. And your physique… it’s just too good!”

Her eyes were bright and focused, staring directly at a certain part of his body.

Xie Xuanjin’s face burned hot. “Shen Ruoli! Where are you looking?!”

He realized she was becoming increasingly glib and thick-skinned, a far cry from the person she was in her previous life. Not wanting to waste more words, he reached out and yanked her up.

He used quite a bit of force, and Ruoli took the chance to fall into his arms. Her hands brushed across his chest, a sly smile appearing on her small face.

Yes! Another successful grope!

“I wasn’t wrong earlier. Your Highness’s physique truly is excellent!” She winked at him.

Xie Xuanjin’s jaw tightened as he pushed her away. Seeing her back hit the edge of the table, causing her to hiss in pain, a flash of regret crossed his mind. He worried he might have been too rough.

But it was impossible for Xie Xuanjin to lower his head and apologize.

He snorted coldly. “Your hands are still useful for now. Once I’m finished with this current business, I’ll chop them off then.”

“You still want to chop them off? Then you might as well do it now. It’ll save us the trouble of ‘long nights leading to many dreams.’ Your Highness is unhappy, and I’m constantly afraid of losing my hands every day.” Shen Ruoli held out her hands defiantly. “Anyway, if I lose my hands, Your Highness will have to take responsibility for me.”

“You’ll have to undress me, dress me, feed me, take care of my baths, and even help me in the washroom…”

“Shut up!” Xie Xuanjin was nearly driven to death by her chatter.

“If you lose your hands, I can simply divorce you! A cripple cannot be the future Queen of Dongling!”

His sharp gaze swept over her, and Shen Ruoli finally clamped her mouth shut. For the first time, she was rendered speechless by him.

“If you behave, I will continue our deal. If you don’t, I don’t mind ruining you! And not just your hands!” Xie Xuanjin leaned in, his brooding gaze slowly falling on her fingers.

His serious, obsessive look made Shen Ruoli’s face turn pale with fear. Lately, she seemed to have forgotten Xie Xuanjin’s true nature—he was sensitive, paranoid, morbidly possessive, and cruel!

Seeing her terrified expression, Xie Xuanjin uncharacteristically felt in high spirits. He seemed to enjoy the way she looked when she was scared of him. Only in moments like this did he feel she was truly just a normal young girl.

After all, which noble lady in the capital didn’t hold her breath in fear when they saw him? Yet she was the only one who didn’t fear him, even daring to provoke and flirt with him repeatedly.

“I heard you met the Consort of Chu today.” Xie Xuanjin sat down with satisfaction and picked up a teacup. “What is your plan? Shouldn’t you discuss it properly with your ‘partner’?”

Shen Ruoli hesitated.

“What? Hiding something from me?”

“No! Your Highness, that cup… I just drank from it.” Shen Ruoli pointed at the cup in his hand.

Xie Xuanjin froze, his face stiffening. He had already taken a sip. To hide his embarrassment, he slowly set the cup down. “This tea does not suit my palate.”

“Feng Qing! Go fetch my private stash of Pre-Rain Longjing. I wouldn’t want people to think I mistreat my guests when they see you serving such common tea to the Crown Princess.” He directed the last part of his sentence toward Ruoli.

Feng Qing left to obey the order, and Shen Ruoli fought back a laugh. Since they were moving to serious business, she put away her playful attitude and sat across from him.

“Does Your Highness wish to see Xie Xuansong caught in a situation of ‘fighting a tiger at the front gate while his back garden is on fire’?”

Shen Ruoli’s expression turned serious. “Currently, although Xie Xuansong is surrounded by enemies in court, he is still the Emperor’s eldest son. Our Imperial Father may favor you, but as a father, he likely won’t sit by and watch his son fall into total ruin.”

“However, if the fire starts in his own back garden, even Imperial Father won’t be able to help him!”

The affairs of the court and the inner manor are always intertwined. Shen Ruoli’s decision to start with Song Xuerou was a calculated move with deep implications.