Stepping in for the Heroine to Crush the Protagonist Group [Transmigration] - Chapter 53

When Hu Li woke up, Gu Sheng was gone.

Beside her, Hu Si sat slumped on the edge of the bed, her head nodding drowsily as she dozed off.

Hu Li stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment, then sat up and gently nudged Hu Si awake, who was muttering in her sleep.

Hu Si blinked groggily, looked at Hu Li, and paused for a moment before breaking into a wide, dimpled smile. She threw her arms around Hu Li in a bear hug, exclaiming, “Young Highness, you’re finally awake! You scared Hu Si half to death!”

Hu Si had watched the entire blessing ceremony from afar the previous day. She knew all along that the person before her was the true Young Highness—after all, who else but the Young Highness would appreciate her cooking so much?

“Young Highness, how are you feeling? Do you have a headache or fever? Is your back or waist aching?” Hu Si rattled off, her words tumbling over each other. “If anything hurts, tell Hu Si right away! I’ll fetch the Clan Physician to give you a proper checkup.”

Hu Li pressed her lips together, her head throbbing from Hu Si’s incessant chatter.

Seeing Hu Si’s endless chatter, Hu Li couldn’t bring herself to interrupt. She waited patiently until Hu Si finally asked her last question: “Young Highness, is there anything you’d like to eat? I’ll prepare it for you right away.”

Only then could Hu Li finally interject. “Hu Si, I need to ask about Chen Yidong. How is she?”

The System had already informed Hu Li about Chen Yidong’s collapse from her Spiritual Pressure. Her immediate priority was to check on Chen Yidong’s condition.

Hu Si’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Young Highness, have you finally come around? Are you planning to accept the Left Protector?”

News of Chen Yidong’s public rescue of the Young Highness had already spread throughout the clan. Now that Hu Li had awakened and her first question was about Chen Yidong, Hu Si couldn’t help but jump to conclusions.

Hu Li caught the subtle meaning in Hu Si’s expression and cut straight to the point. “I regard the Left Protector as a cherished friend, a dear family member, and nothing more.”

Nothing more? Hu Si frowned slightly, feeling a pang of disappointment.

[Hu Si: I’ve been shipping the wrong couple.]

[Hu Si: This is what it’s like shipping a rare pair.]

[I’m shipping Su Weiyun and Hu Li, everyone! Who gets it? It’s so cold!]

[I’m still shipping Hu Li and Feng Xianyue. Now that’s a real deep cut—so niche it’s practically Arctic.]

[Who’s Feng Xianyue?]

[Li Li really leaves a trail of broken hearts everywhere she goes.]

[What about Sheng-sheng? Where’s Sheng-sheng? I just want to know where Sheng-sheng is.]

[So, did Hu Si distract Li Li from the main point? Hu Si still hasn’t told Li Li how Chen Yidong is doing.]

*********

Hu Li quickly scanned the comments, her gaze lingering on the phrase “distracted from the main point.” A corner of her mouth twitched before she cupped Hu Si’s small face in her hands, straightened it to face her, and asked, “So, how’s Chen Yidong’s injury?”

Hu Si’s cheeks puffed out from the pressure, her lips pursing into a pout. “The Left Protector’s injury wasn’t serious. She woke up yesterday.”

Hu Li nodded in understanding, hopped off the bed, grabbed a robe from the screen, and slipped it on. “Come on,” she said to Hu Si, “let’s go check on the Left Protector.”

Hu Si stood behind Hu Li, rubbing her cheeks, and murmured in agreement. She followed Hu Li out of the Bamboo House and toward Chen Yidong’s residence.

Chen Yidong sat in the wheelchair she had borrowed from the Right Protector, massaging her leg.

Her injury wasn’t serious at all; there was nothing wrong with her leg. But when Hu Si sent word that Hu Li was coming to visit, she decided to stage this little act of self-inflicted suffering.

Outside the window, a gentle spring breeze stirred, and the sunlight streamed in warmly.

Chen Yidong arranged the chessboard before her and began brewing tea.

Truth be told, she disliked both tea-making and chess. But when they were children, Hu Li had always chased after Gu Sheng to play these games, so Chen Yidong had secretly learned them, hoping to play with Hu Li after Gu Sheng left the Fox Clan.

But after Gu Sheng’s departure, the Hu Li who remained in the Fox Clan was no longer the same Hu Li.

And the skills Chen Yidong had learned went unused, with no one to play with.

Just as the tea was nearly ready, Hu Li arrived.

The moment Hu Li entered, her gaze fell on the wheelchair Chen Yidong was sitting in.

However, a glance at Chen Yidong’s crossed legs and the rhythmic swaying of her foot betrayed the charade. Hu Li chose not to call her out on it.

Hu Li sat across from Chen Yidong and accepted the cup of tea offered to her. “I didn’t realize you knew how to do this,” she said, surprised.

*******

Chen Yidong glanced at Hu Li, a hint of smugness flickering across her face at Hu Li’s words. Yet her stubbornness remained unchanged. “What, looking down on me?” she retorted. “Think you’re the only one who knows this stuff?”

Hu Li, long accustomed to Chen Yidong’s tough exterior and soft heart, chuckled. “How could I ever look down on Protector Chen?”

She took a sip of her tea, her gaze settling on the chessboard before her.

In the half-month since returning to the Fox Clan, Hu Li and Chen Yidong had played fourteen games of Go. On the eve of the blessing ceremony, they had been halfway through their final match when Hu Si accidentally knocked over the board, leaving their last game unfinished.

“Shall we play?” Hu Li asked, casually picking up the basket of black stones and placing one in the center of the board.

Chen Yidong tilted her head slightly, then took a white stone and placed it diagonally opposite the black.

Recognizing Chen Yidong’s familiar opening move, Hu Li quickly placed her second black stone.

Chen Yidong calmly followed suit, asking, “Will you stay with the Fox Clan?”

Hu Li leaned against the corner of the table, shaking her head. “There’s still unfinished business.”

Hearing this predictable answer, Chen Yidong smiled bitterly. “Is it about her again?”

The “her” in question was unspoken but understood.

When Hu Li had fainted earlier, the Clan Physician had removed the Disguise Talisman from her face, revealing Gu Sheng’s true appearance.

Gu Sheng. Others might not recognize that face, but Chen Yidong did.

At Chen Yidong’s words, Hu Li conjured a bronze mirror, glanced at her reflection, and raised an eyebrow slightly. Without bothering to hide the truth, she said plainly, “Yes, it’s about her.”

Chen Yidong fell silent, placing another black stone on the chessboard.

Hu Li’s unwavering devotion to Gu Sheng had been clear to Chen Yidong since childhood.

But Hu Li would never know the depth of Chen Yidong’s own unwavering devotion to her.

In fact, Hu Li had likely forgotten the promise she made when she rescued Chen Yidong from the snow at age five: that she would always protect her.

The silence stretched on, the chessboard now half-filled with stones.

Chen Yidong placed another stone, her gaze fixed on the board where victory seemed imminent. Suddenly, she asked Hu Li, “So, what brings you here this time?”

“Well…” Hu Li looked up, a hint of embarrassment on her face. “It’s nothing major, really. I just need you to manage the Fox Clan for a few days.”

With Hu Yingying gone, the entire weight of the Fox Clan’s affairs had fallen on Hu Li’s shoulders. After much deliberation, she concluded that Chen Yidong was the most trustworthy, easiest to manipulate, and most devoted to the Fox Clan.

That’s why she had asked Hu Si about Chen Yidong’s current situation earlier.

Chen Yidong saw through Hu Li’s little scheme. She scoffed softly. “Young Highness, you certainly don’t hold back.”

Hu Li scratched her neck awkwardly, pausing her game. “Didn’t you wish to become the Fox Clan’s ruler when you were little?” she countered.

As a child, Chen Yidong had vowed to become the Fox Clan’s ruler.

Hu Li, on the other hand, had always been mischievous and rebellious, refusing to follow rules. Moreover, Hu Zhizhi had always treated Chen Yidong like her own daughter, ensuring she received the same food, clothing, and resources as Hu Li.

********

From a young age, Hu Li had secretly regarded Chen Yidong as the next Fox King. As for herself, Hu Li considered herself nothing more than a useless, ornamental trinket.

Chen Yidong hadn’t expected Hu Li to remember this. Her lips curled slightly. Though she secretly aspired to become the Fox King, she maintained a defiant tone. “Children’s words mean nothing, Young Highness. Don’t take them seriously.”

“Children’s words mean nothing?” Hu Li stared at the chessboard, lost in thought. After a long pause, she said, “You’ve connected five pieces. You win.”

[Five connected pieces? So they’ve been playing Gomoku all along…]

[I knew it! The Fox Spirit didn’t know how to play chess at the Floating Life Pagoda. How could she suddenly be so good?]

[Chen Yidong and Hu Li are truly hidden dragons and phoenixes!]

[No wonder Sheng-sheng doesn’t play with them. Hilarious!]

[Everyone said Sheng-sheng was just humoring children, and you still didn’t believe it!]

Hu Li: ……

She tore her gaze away from the comments mocking her for only knowing Gomoku and looked up at Chen Yidong, her eyes narrowed in a gentle smile. “Sister, please agree.”

Chen Yidong was Hu Li’s nominal elder sister.

********

In the past, Hu Li had always trailed after Chen Yidong like a shadow. Whenever she wanted something from her, all she had to do was call out “Sister,” and Chen Yidong would be completely helpless against her.

And this time was no different.

Chen Yidong sighed heavily, placed the white chess piece she was holding back into the basket, and after a long silence, said, “I’ll wait for you to come back.”

“Mm,” Hu Li replied sweetly, rising to her feet and bowing respectfully to Chen Yidong. “Then, Sister, Li Li will be going now.”

Hearing this, Chen Yidong picked up another white chess piece from the basket and tossed it lightly at Hu Li. “You heartless thing,” she said, “remember to come back.”

Hu Li nodded, soothing Chen Yidong. “Don’t worry, Sister. Li Li will definitely remember to come back and see you.”

With that, she picked up the teacup beside the chessboard, drained it in one gulp, and then hurried away with Hu Si.

Back at the Bamboo House, Gu Sheng was nowhere to be seen.

Hu Li gathered a few changes of clothes, rummaged through a drawer for her “bride price savings,” and tucked them into her Storage Bag. Turning to Hu Si, she said, “Hu Si, I’m going on a long trip. Stay with Chen Yidong and help her manage clan affairs.”

Hu Si had been chosen by Hu Zhizhi to assist the Young Highness Hu Li, who was notoriously unreliable, with clan matters.

Later, with Chen Yidong’s arrival, Hu Si’s responsibilities were divided, and she began idling alongside Hu Li, becoming a lazy, good-for-nothing who spent her days lounging around, teasing cats, and generally shirking her duties.

Now that Hu Yingying was dead, Chen Yidong was struggling to manage clan affairs alone. Adding Hu Si to the mix would ease Hu Li’s conscience, at least a little.

Having entrusted clan matters to Hu Si, Hu Li affixed a Teleportation Talisman to her forehead. With a flash, she materialized outside Bamboo Grove Valley.

Outside Bamboo Grove Valley, in a pavilion.

Hu Li crept toward the black-robed woman sitting with her back to her in the distance. Holding her breath, she seized the moment while the woman was still lost in thought, covering her eyes and asking in a strained voice, “Guess who?”

Gu Sheng caught the faint herbal scent of Hu Li. A barely perceptible smile curved her lips as she leaned back against Hu Li, replying, “It’s Li Li.”

Hu Li removed her hand from Gu Sheng’s eyes and draped it over her shoulder, asking with a grin, “How did you guess?”

Gu Sheng gazed at the sky. “Because I guessed wrong before.”

Hu Li frowned, puzzled. “You guessed wrong before?”

******

Gu Sheng placed her hand on the back of Hu Li’s hand. “Yes, I guessed wrong before, but I won’t make that mistake again.”

Hu Li looked thoughtful but didn’t press further.

After a moment, she leaned down, resting her chin on Gu Sheng’s shoulder, and looked up at her. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll stay with the Fox Clan?”

Gu Sheng glanced sideways, meeting Hu Li’s gaze. “No,” she replied calmly.

Hu Li smiled. “You haven’t changed a bit.”

Just like when they were children, Gu Sheng could always keep everything under control, including Hu Li’s own thoughts.

“Oh, right! Can you finally tell me why you wanted to swap souls?” Hu Li asked, remembering the question that had been nagging at her for so long.

She still couldn’t figure out why Gu Sheng would want to swap souls with her, the villainous second female lead destined for a tragic end.

Gu Sheng knew Hu Li would ask this eventually. She shifted her gaze back to the distance, her expression conflicted. “Well, that’s…”

She struggled to find the right words, wanting to explain how, through countless reincarnations, she had learned that Hu Li had been possessed by “Hu Li.” She had then devised a plan to make “Hu Li” play out her role in the story, ultimately taking Gu Sheng’s final death calamity in her place. She wanted to frame it in a more palatable way.

But before she could organize her thoughts, Hu Li interrupted. “Never mind. I don’t want to hear it anymore.”

With that, Hu Li leaned half her weight against Gu Sheng, deliberately using a different term of endearment. “Sister Ningning, have you decided where we’re going next?”

Gu Sheng allowed Hu Li to embrace her, replying softly, “Baoning Town.”

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