Marrying the Sweet Story’s Melodramatic Villainess [Transmigration] - Chapter 46

“It’s truly unfair.”

Cui Yi was acutely aware that her love for Pei Mingjiao was deepening bit by bit, like an uncontrolled vine spreading wildly.

She was succumbing to it rationally and had no intention of breaking free.

Yet, the one who had been the most proactive at the start—her wife—was naive and ignorant. Driven by the budding infatuation of youth, Mingjiao spoke of “liking” with ease. Perhaps this affection was fervent and sincere, but it came too easily. Liking can shift, while her own love grew increasingly profound. Cui Yi looked at her innocent, oblivious wife and couldn’t help but repeat, “It’s truly unfair.”

At first, Pei Mingjiao thought Cui Yi had been wronged. But Cui Yi repeated the words with a soft voice and a calm, gentle expression. Her gaze was focused and tender. For some reason, Pei Mingjiao’s cheeks heated up, and her voice softened instinctively. “What’s unfair?”

Cui Yi lowered her eyes and lightly pinched Pei Mingjiao’s earlobe. The soft, tender sensation made Cui Yi tighten her grip uncontrollably. Her voice was quiet yet inexplicably commanding: “You must like me a little bit more.”

Weakened by the pressure, Pei Mingjiao stared blankly at Cui Yi, her eyes misty with a spring-like flush. “What?”

Cui Yi let go, choosing not to pursue the topic. She picked up a jar of ointment and said calmly, “Lie down properly. I’m going to apply the medicine.”

Pei Mingjiao bit her lip, her body feeling itchy as if bugs were crawling on her. she called out coquettishly, “Yi-niang.”

Cui Yi dipped her finger into the ointment and looked up, her cool features appearing unusually stern. “Be good.”

Pei Mingjiao huffed and flopped onto the bed, turning her head the other way to sulk at her “unromantic” wife.

Cui Yi didn’t mind Pei Mingjiao’s little temper at all. She said methodically, “Remove your clothes.”

Pei Mingjiao moved quickly to strip. Her shoulder blades looked like a butterfly about to take flight. Cui Yi’s fingertip touched a bruise with a gentle motion, as if she were applying medicine to the wings of a real butterfly. The cool sensation of the ointment caused the muscles beneath her hand to quiver. Cui Yi’s throat moved, her voice sounding a bit husky. “Does it hurt?”

A muffled voice responded, “No.”

Cui Yi gave an “mm,” but her movements became even more tender.

After about half a cup of tea’s time, she finished applying the medicine to Mingjiao’s back. Cui Yi patted Pei Mingjiao’s waist. “Turn over.”

Pei Mingjiao flipped over like a pancake. Her eyes darted around, and in a few quick motions, she kicked off her pants and threw them on the floor, sprawling her legs out shamelessly.

Cui Yi: “…”

Cui Yi’s gaze landed on her bruised purple knees. A gentle smile touched her face. “Do you want to spend all of tomorrow lying in bed?”

Cui Yi had indeed grasped Pei Mingjiao’s weakness; it would be far too embarrassing to be bedridden all day. Mingjiao immediately behaved.

Late into the night, Pei Mingjiao’s eyes were tightly shut, her brows knit together, and her face covered in sweat. She whispered in her sleep, “No… don’t eat me…”

Cui Yi, who was sleeping lightly, opened her eyes and pulled Pei Mingjiao firmly into her arms. She coaxed her softly, “Jiaojiao, don’t be afraid. It’s over. You’re safe now.”

She repeated it over and over until Pei Mingjiao fell back into a deep sleep.

The next day, Pei Mingjiao woke up feeling sore all over. Her face looked miserable. The female physician came to check on her again. “Nothing serious.”

Pei Mingjiao was about to wail in pain when she caught the eye of Pei Liuniang, who had come by out of concern. Mingjiao immediately wiped the expression off her face and said stubbornly, “That’s good. It’s just so-so; it doesn’t hurt that much.”

Pei Liuniang believed her. “You’re really amazing. The wound on Third Sister’s arm will take at least a month to heal.”

Pei Mingjiao gave a reserved “mm.”

Cui Yi remained silent at the side.

After a while, Pei Ershiniang trotted over, wanting to ask the physician to treat Sister Chunhuo’s mother. She wanted Chunhuo’s mother to get well soon.

The physician didn’t refuse. She patted Ershiniang’s hair buns and followed the lead maid to Chunhuo’s house with her medicine chest.

After the physician left, Pei Ershiniang lingered at Pei Mingjiao’s place—a rare occurrence. She stared with wide eyes, puffed out her cheeks, and said, “Even though Fifth Aunt is a big hero now, I still don’t like you very much.”

Pei Mingjiao rolled her eyes. “Who cares about your ‘liking’?”

The grudge between Ershiniang and Pei Mingjiao dated back to when Ershiniang was three. They were playing hide-and-seek and were hiding in the same spot; when the seeker approached, Pei Mingjiao had maliciously pushed her out.

Then, she had smugly told the child that she was teaching her that “the human heart is unpredictable.”

Pei Ershiniang couldn’t say her aunt was “bad”—that was an improper description—so she could only say her aunt was “mean” and bullied children.

Hearing that Pei Mingjiao didn’t care for her affection, Ershiniang grew anxious. She stomped her foot and shouted, “Do you think I’ll be like Aunt Yi and enjoy being bullied by you? Fifth Aunt is the meanest!”

With that, she ran off in a huff.

For a moment, everyone ignored Ershiniang as startled and shocked gazes converged on Cui Yi. Even Pei Mingjiao looked incredulous, her face wearing an expression of “I’m only just learning you have this preference.”

Cui Yi, the center of attention, remained perfectly composed. She asked back, “What is it?”

No one dared to ask further. Pei Mingjiao looked like she wanted to say something, but swallowed her words under Cui Yi’s fleeting glance.

Meanwhile, the physician arrived at Chunhuo’s home.

It was a very simple thatched hut, but it was kept very clean.

When Chunhuo’s mother saw the visitor, she instinctively tried to hide. On the way there, the physician had heard about the condition from the lead maid. Her expression was natural, without a hint of disdain. “If you want to be treated, come to me.”

Whether it was because of the pleading look in Chunhuo’s eyes or because the physician’s expression was so calm, Chunhuo’s mother slowly emerged from the shadows.

After a round of “observing, listening, questioning, and feeling the pulse,” the physician wrote a prescription. “Take this medicine; it will alleviate the symptoms.”

Chunhuo was illiterate and asked anxiously, “Can she recover completely?”

The physician was very blunt. “No. But she can live for another ten years.”

Ten years. Chunhuo calculated—she would be twenty-two by then. She would be able to support herself, and her mother could be at peace without so much pain.

Chunhuo asked hesitantly, “How much will these medicines cost?”

The physician looked at the skinny Chunhuo. “Come be my medicine apprentice.”

With that, she handed her medicine chest to Chunhuo. “Let’s go. I have other patients to see.”

Chunhuo hugged the chest, looking at the physician’s back as she walked away without turning her head, then back at her mother’s hopeful gaze. She hugged the chest tighter and followed briskly.

The maid standing outside whispered, “What a lucky fate.”

Cui Yi was unaware that the fate of a “cannon fodder” had been changed. They had already left the villa and were heading home.

This time, Pei Mingjiao rode in the carriage with Cui Yi. Mingjiao was concerned with her image, and since there was no one else in the carriage besides Cui Yi, she whimpered and groaned without restraint.

Cui Yi calmly massaged Pei Mingjiao’s legs. Mingjiao hissed and gasped, then suddenly remarked, “I’m truly so kind. I’m even magnanimously raising the son of my enemy.”

The “son of the enemy” naturally referred to that tiger cub.

Cui Yi said nothing.

Pei Mingjiao began to praise herself. “You have no idea how dangerous it was. Fortunately, I was clever enough to hide in a mountain crevice, otherwise it might have been the end of me.”

This was the first time Pei Mingjiao had proactively shared the details. Cui Yi’s movements paused for a second before she gave a soft “mm” in response.

Pei Mingjiao leaned her whole body against Cui Yi, her eyes sparkling. “Am I super amazing?”

Cui Yi steadied her and answered seriously, “Yes. Very amazing.”

Pei Mingjiao suddenly felt a bit shy. She rubbed her face against Cui Yi’s neck and said in a low voice, “I was actually very scared then.”

“In that situation, no one wouldn’t be afraid.”

Pei Mingjiao hugged Cui Yi tightly. “Actually, I secretly cried.”

Cui Yi turned and embraced her back. “You were already very brave.”