How Did the Female Lead in the Angst Novel Become My Ex-Wife’s Sister? - Chapter 7

Now that she had made up her mind, she had to think carefully about where to start.

The simplest solution was to convince the heroine to seek a divorce. Let Shen Zhao walk her own path to power; if she stumbled, she could bear the consequences alone. Before that, however, Linlang needed to understand exactly what had happened two years ago. How they had ended up together and just how much the reality differed from the novel.

When she arrived at the shop, Qin Yufeng was idling as usual, swatting at flies. It was still early for tea service. She drawled a half-hearted “Welcome,” but the moment she saw it was Linlang, she rolled her eyes toward the heavens.

Ever since their confrontation the day before, Qin Yufeng had been particularly prickly. She seemed wary that Linlang might try to reclaim the “pot” at any moment. Combined with the fact that Linlang was staying at Cen Xianyue’s estate, Qin Yufeng’s disdain was palpable.

Just yesterday, she had threatened: “If you say one more word about this shop being yours, I’ll have Xianyue kick you out on the street!”

Yet, in the same breath, she mentioned she hadn’t seen Xianyue in nearly a year. She claimed Xianyue rarely left the house since her marriage and wondered what she could possibly be doing all day. After saying that, she had glared at Linlang again.

Mentioning Cen Xianyue always robbed Linlang of her confidence. She could only shrink back and let the matter drop. She knew that asking more questions today would likely result in another scolding.

Sigh. I wonder when this life of walking on eggshells will finally end.

Muttering to herself, Linlang entered the shop and went straight to the storage room to grab the wooden puzzle as a shield. She picked a table directly in front of Qin Yufeng and sat down, using a file to smooth the wooden blocks while mentally drafting her approach.

As expected, seeing the “business” in front of her softened Qin Yufeng’s expression. She even signaled the waiter to pour Linlang a cup of tea.

The tea was brewed from aged Pu-erh. Qin Yufeng explained that she had stocked up on a large quantity two years ago, but when business soured and it wouldn’t sell, it had just sat there. Good tea only becomes more mellow and fragrant after a two-year rest.

Linlang took a sip and felt a flash of inspiration. She glanced at Qin Yufeng and remarked, “This tea is excellent. My sister loves Pu-erh, too.”

Qin Yufeng scoffed. “Amnesia sure is convenient…”

There was that cryptic tone again. Linlang froze, then realized: “Don’t tell me I bought this tea, too?”

Qin Yufeng ignored her. The silence spoke volumes.

“That’s all in the past,” Linlang said with a sheepish laugh. “I might have made mistakes back then, but look at how well they’re doing now. My brother-in-law is successful, and everyone says my sister has a good eye. At least their marriage is happy for now.” Like hell it is!

“I’m actually quite curious,” Linlang continued, watching Qin Yufeng closely. “How exactly did they end up together?”

Qin Yufeng hummed, stood up with a swaying gait, and sat down across from Linlang. She signaled for another cup of tea for herself and leaned in with a mysterious air.

“What happened back then was truly a series of coincidences. It was as if a storyteller had scripted the whole thing.”

Because someone literally did, Linlang thought. “And then?”

The tea arrived. Qin Yufeng took a sip and drifted into memory. “I remember Xianyue was racking her brains over your troubles during that time. I don’t know the specifics, but I once overheard you threatening her. You said, ‘If you don’t agree, I’ll tell the whole world about us!'”

She mimicked Linlang’s tone, then shot her a cold smirk.

“You were very strange back then, acting as if you were terrified of something happening, constantly forcing Xianyue to make a choice. She only ever saw you as family, so it was agonizing for her. I couldn’t stand it, so I invited her to the mountains to pray for blessings and clear her head. I never expected we’d run into Shen Zhao there.”

“I say it was a coincidence because it started raining that day. We were supposed to head back, but Xianyue was insistent on going up the mountain.”

“There was hardly anyone at the temple that day except for Shen Zhao. I asked the master there, and he said Shen Zhao had been coming to the temple almost every day. She didn’t do much—just sat under a tree with a book, reading all day long. It was as if she were intentionally waiting for Xianyue to appear.”

“When they finally met, they hit it off immediately.”

“Shen Zhao was destitute at the time, but at least she was dignified and handsome—much better than a scrawny, frail thing like you. Naturally, I supported it with both hands and feet. Although…”

“Although what?”

Qin Yufeng wanted to say that Xianyue didn’t actually seem all that fond of Shen Zhao at the time; the two of them had decided to marry almost inexplicably. But fearing that if Linlang knew this, she might develop improper ideas about Xianyue again, she bit her tongue and kept the thought to herself.

Pei Linlang was gazing at her expectantly, her face so full of guileless innocence that it was honestly a bit irritating to look at.

“It’s nothing,” Qin Yufeng said coldly, standing up to return to the counter. “Go back to sanding your wood and stop prying into things that don’t concern you.”

As the sun rose higher, business finally picked up. Banished to a corner of the main hall, Linlang resumed her diligent work. People who handle precision tasks often struggle with a touch of perfectionism, and Linlang, having spent her past life dealing with intricate components, was no exception. Combined with her unfamiliarity with this body’s hands, her progress was slow and methodical. It was nearly dark by the time she finally finished.

She applied a layer of color to the cube and followed it with a meticulous coat of clear lacquer. By then, Qin Yufeng’s patience had reached its limit; she sat nearby, tapping her foot frantically as she waited.

Feeling awkward under the scrutiny, Linlang shot her a few aggrieved glances but refused to be rushed. When she finally handed the object over, Qin Yufeng let out a huff.

“Two years ago, I couldn’t stand this sluggish pace of yours, and it’s still enough to drive me mad. Next time, go work upstairs. I’ll open a private room for you. Just stay out of my sight.”

She turned the object over in her hands, inspecting it from all angles. “I still don’t understand which sucker would actually buy this. Rich people truly have the most bizarre taste.”

Linlang didn’t argue. She simply said, “It doesn’t matter if they don’t like the look of it. I’ve already got a plan.”

“Oh?” Qin Yufeng arched an eyebrow with a scoff. “You’d better. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck here working off your debt. Let’s see…” She flicked the beads on her abacus. “Wow. At this rate, it’ll take you sixty years to pay me back!”

“It won’t come to that. Heh… hopefully.”

*****

On the way back to the Shen Estate, Linlang replayed Qin Yufeng’s words in her mind.

The first meeting between Shen Zhao and Cen Xianyue was largely the same as in the book, though the novel hadn’t mentioned Shen Zhao waiting at the temple every single day. That had been the first year Shen Zhao cross-dressed; her family was in decline, and after being rejected by the Princess Regent, she had taken her brother’s name to sit for the spring imperial examinations. She had gone to the temple to pray for her own success and happened upon Cen Xianyue.

In the book, Xianyue hadn’t gone there because of the original owner, either. She was of marriageable age and under heavy pressure from her family, so she had gone to the mountains to clear her head.

But as Qin Yufeng said, the sequence of events felt scripted, as if they knew the plot and were moving through it by design. The thought sent a chill down Linlang’s spine.

Shen Zhao was one thing, but Xianyue surely couldn’t know. If she knew her own tragic ending, why would she willingly jump into such a fire pit? Or was she so deeply in love with Shen Zhao that she was willing to play out the tragedy just to be by her side? The thought filled Linlang with a profound sense of sorrow. She could only hope she was just scaring herself.

As for Shen Zhao, Linlang didn’t care if she knew the plot or not. She was already successful and had a beauty at her side; she ought to be satisfied. Perhaps she might even be willing to spare the heroine’s life in the future as a mercy.

When Linlang arrived back at the estate, Shen Zhao was still absent. It was unclear if she was truly that busy or if she simply stayed away to avoid the heroine. Two years is a long time, and during those years, the heroine had essentially lived as a “living widow.”

Dinner was again a quiet affair with just Linlang and Xianyue. This time, Yunxiu wasn’t at the table. Xianyue, being the kind soul she was, likely didn’t want the maid’s glares to ruin the meal and had made other arrangements. However, as the servants waited by the door, the looks directed at Linlang were still thick with hostility.

Linlang pretended not to notice. Over dinner, she tentatively brought up Shen Zhao. “Sister, is Brother-in-law always like this?”

Xianyue lowered her eyes calmly. “Like what?”

“Well…” Linlang searched for a polite phrasing. “Returning so late every night.”

“Her official duties are demanding,” Xianyue replied simply.

“The end of the year is busy, I’m sure. But with the New Year coming up, Brother-in-law will surely take a few days off, right?”

“Last year, she returned to the ancestral hall in her hometown of Jinan to pay her respects,” Xianyue said. “I expect she will do the same this year.”

“Will you be going with her?”

Xianyue shook her head silently, her expression remaining as still as a frozen pond.

Linlang felt a lump in her throat. The heroine was exactly like the book—acting indifferent on the surface while likely crying countless tears in private. Even so, she would probably still spend her nights cold-faced, washing that scumbag’s laundry.

Frustrated, Linlang shoveled a few bites of rice into her mouth before looking up again. “Sister, if Brother-in-law asks you to go to Jinan this year, can you refuse?”

In the flickering light, Xianyue chewed her food slowly. Without lifting her lashes, she said coolly, “Linlang, you seem very concerned about your brother-in-law.”

“Why would I care about her! I mean…” Linlang nearly jumped out of her seat in agitation. Realizing her slip, she forced a smile and leaned in. “Sister, I’m scared to stay in such a huge mansion by myself. If she asks you, please don’t agree. Or, if you absolutely can’t refuse, ask her to let me come along too, okay?”

Xianyue placed a piece of fried tofu into Linlang’s bowl. Her eyelids lifted slightly. “I will have your brother-in-law find a proper position for you. You won’t have to go to Yufeng’s shop anymore.”

“That’s not what I meant. Sister, I’m trying to say…”

“Let’s eat.”

Linlang slumped in defeat and bit into the tofu. Delicious! She began to eat with gusto.

The reason Linlang was so fixated on the ancestral visit was that, in the original story, this was the year Shen Zhao took Xianyue to Jinan. It would start in a few days at the Luofuchun Banquet hosted by the Princess Regent. There, a servant would mistakenly accuse Xianyue of stealing the Princess’s property. Shen Zhao would fly into a rage, disgusted that the heroine was “embarrassing” her in front of so many people. Xianyue would be left in tears, desperately trying to explain. Later, when the misunderstanding was cleared, Shen Zhao, who was unable to bring herself to apologize, would ask Xianyue to go to Jinan that night as a peace offering, moving their “romance” forward significantly.

Currently, the heroine clearly wanted to go to Jinan, which was why she kept deflecting the conversation.

Fine. Talking was useless. Linlang decided she would just have to go to the Luofuchun Banquet herself and sabotage the whole mess.

The only problem was, how was a low-level “tag-along” like her supposed to get an invitation?

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