The Beautiful, Strong, and Tragic Female Lead is Mine [Transmigration Into a Novel] - Chapter 25

Xie Han shuang’s suggestion to go to her bedroom had made Xie Zhitian’s heart skip a beat.

She couldn’t explain the source of her panic but couldn’t stop her parents’ excitement either. So, she comforted herself by thinking that it’s normal for best friends to stay over in each other’s rooms and there was nothing to worry about.

But the moment Luo Yang pushed the door open, Xie Zhitian felt the atmosphere turn strange again.

The flickering light from the glass lampshade illuminated the varied expressions on the four people’s faces.

Xie Zhitian was about to say something to break the awkward silence when she heard Luo Yang speak first, saying, “Hello, Auntie.”

Then, she watched in shock as Xie Han shuang, after a moment of surprise, smiled and said, “Good girl, is that Luo Yang?”

At that moment, Luo Yang also realized something was off. Xie Han shuang was the commander of the district, and she was just a member of the guard. They were in a superior-subordinate relationship, so she shouldn’t have called her “Auntie.”

She secretly regretted it, thinking that because she had gotten so close to Xie Zhitian, she had unconsciously put herself on an equal footing with the eldest daughter.

Luo Yang wanted to apologize, “Commander, I’m Luo Yang. I just…”

“Don’t be a stranger, just call me Auntie.”

Xie Han shuang had heard before that Xie Zhitian had been targeting Luo Yang, both openly and secretly. But after returning to the district, Ren Meng told her that the two had gone through some friction and were now good friends.

This came as a huge surprise to Xie Han shuang. Xie Zhitian had a difficult personality and wasn’t very likable. How could she have made a friend? It must be because Luo Yang was tolerant of her daughter. Moreover, seeing such a big change in her daughter after returning, Xie Han shuang became even more convinced of this idea.

“You are known by the company you keep.” By following Luo Yang, Xie Zhitian had truly turned over a new leaf.

Xie Han shuang looked at the young girl in front of her, who looked even more slender in her loose-fitting nightgown. Her heart softened, and she asked gently, “Luo Yang, I’m sure my daughter gave you a lot of trouble, didn’t she? Did she bully you?”

He Yu also said, “Luo Yang, don’t be afraid of anything. Just tell your uncle and auntie.”

With one wave of trouble following another, Xie Zhitian, standing to the side, felt like her heart was about to stop.

If Luo Yang were to bring up old grudges and tell her parents about the things the original host had done, with Xie Han shuang’s decisive and fair nature, she would be in for it.

She could only hope that her efforts during this time hadn’t been in vain and that Luo Yang would be a little more lenient with her, say some good things, and give her a way out.

Xie Zhitian watched nervously as Luo Yang blinked and smiled faintly.

She said seriously, “She didn’t bully me. The eldest daughter has been very good to me.”

The smile was beautiful, like a soft, white flower blooming in the sun.

Xie Zhitian’s breath hitched slightly, and she suddenly felt a pang of sympathy. The original host had treated Luo Yang so poorly, and she had only been good to her for a few days, yet Luo Yang could let go of those unpleasant things and sincerely defend her in front of her parents.

Such a pure and kind girl should be cherished and protected.

Xie Han shuang was clearly unconvinced and reminded her, “Luo Yang, think carefully. Did Zhitian do anything excessive to you before, like locking you in the basement?”

Xie Zhitian took a sharp breath. Sure enough, her parents had informants in the district, and the original host’s little schemes probably couldn’t be hidden at all.

Just as she was hesitating whether to just confess everything, she heard Luo Yang say, “Auntie, that… that was a misunderstanding.”

“It was just that the eldest daughter and I had a falling out, and I ran down there to stay on my own.”

Luo Yang didn’t seem to be a good liar, and her ears were all red, but she still tried to explain, “We made up after a few days, and then I moved back.”

Xie Han shuang narrowed her eyes, confirming again, “Really? Zhitian really didn’t intentionally bully you?”

The information she had received was that Xie Zhitian and Luo Yang were on bad terms, and Luo Yang had been locked in the basement. But Ren Meng’s account was that they had a good relationship, and Luo Yang had become Xie Zhitian’s personal bodyguard and was living at their home.

She had found it contradictory, but with Luo Yang’s explanation, it made sense now.

Luo Yang nodded, “Really not.”

Xie Han shuang sighed in relief, “That’s good.”

Then she turned and glared at Xie Zhitian, who was also sighing in relief, “Do you know what you did wrong?”

Xie Zhitian: ?

Fortunately, she was quick to react and answered promptly, “Mom, I know I was wrong. I should have gone to apologize to Luo Yang immediately and shouldn’t have left her alone in the basement.”

Only then was Xie Han shuang satisfied, and she warned her, “Don’t let it happen again.”

She took a rabbit-shaped doll out of her bag and handed it to Luo Yang, “A gift from Auntie. Do you like it?”

Luo Yang held the little rabbit, feeling a little flustered, “Auntie, I can’t take this…”

“Don’t be a stranger. It’s an aromatherapy diffuser. Put it by your bed to help you relax.”

Xie Han shuang took out another rabbit from her bag, casually handed it to Xie Zhitian, and said to Luo Yang, “I bought one for you and one for Zhitian. Take it.”

He Yu also tried to persuade her, “Zhitian has been a handful since she was little and has never had any friends, so we are really happy to see you two are so close. You are her first good friend and you’ve helped her change so much. We can’t thank you enough. From now on, whatever she has, you will have too.”

Xie Zhitian was very perceptive and immediately echoed, “That’s right. Luo Yang taught me a lot, and I haven’t even had a chance to properly thank her.”

“There’s plenty of time for that. You should continue to learn from Luo Yang and become a responsible girl. Also, your combat skills need to continue to improve. As a district administrator, you must always be aware of potential dangers.”

Although she was lecturing her daughter, Xie Han shuang’s tone was not as strict as when she first entered the room. Her eyes were full of smiles. After giving instructions to Xie Zhitian, she said to Luo Yang, “Luo Yang, I know my daughter very well. I’m sure she’s given you a lot of trouble. If you like anything in the future, just tell Auntie, otherwise, I’ll feel bad.”

She had originally intended to directly remove Xie Zhitian from her position as a district administrator this time, but she didn’t expect things to take a turn. Her good-for-nothing daughter could still be salvaged.

Xie Zhitian: …This is my real mom.

But she didn’t feel the slightest bit unhappy. On the contrary, she was in a good mood and smiled as she leaned closer to Luo Yang, “Then I’ll have to trouble you from now on. Don’t get tired of me.”

Luo Yang was not used to such a situation. Unable to refuse their kindness, she nodded with a blush.

Xie Han shuang and He Yu talked to her for a while longer before reluctantly leaving. Before they left, they told Xie Zhitian to take good care of Luo Yang, not to play too late at night, and to get some rest.

The rain outside the window had stopped, and the moon emerged from the heavy clouds again, casting a layer of silver light on the ground. Moonlight streamed over the windowsill, gently illuminating a corner of the room.

After the lights were turned off, the room was silent. The little rabbit on the nightstand gave off a clear fragrance that lingered in the air.

Xie Zhitian lay in bed, feeling very relieved.

Seeing how Xie Han shuang and He Yu doted on Luo Yang as if she were their own daughter, she was genuinely happy for her. From now on, Luo Yang would also be a girl with parents who loved her and would live a much happier life.

However, this also reflected how terrible a daughter the original host used to be, otherwise her parents wouldn’t be so ecstatic about her changes.

Xie Zhitian turned over and met a pair of bright, sparkling eyes.

Luo Yang was not asleep yet and seemed to be thinking about something. When she saw Xie Zhitian, who had her back to her, suddenly turn around, she was caught off guard, and her eyelashes fluttered slightly.

Fortunately, the darkness provided cover, and her slight panic was not obvious.

Xie Zhitian just reached out and tucked the blanket around her, “Can’t sleep?”

Luo Yang nodded, “A little.”

“What’s wrong?”

Xie Zhitian’s gaze went past Luo Yang’s perfectly curved profile and landed on the little rabbit on the nightstand, “Don’t like the scent of the aromatherapy?”

“No, it smells really good.” Luo Yang pursed her lips and answered in a low voice, “I was just thinking…”

The air suddenly became quiet. After waiting for a while, Xie Zhitian didn’t hear her continue, so she asked, “Thinking about what?”

The corners of her mouth turned up slightly, revealing a faint smile.

Luo Yang, who was decisive on the battlefield and remained calm in the face of invading aliens, was a gentle and innocent girl in private. This made her feel… very cute.

Luo Yang was silent for a moment again, “Thank you, eldest daughter.”

Her voice was light, like a faint floral scent in the dark night. It made people’s hearts itch.

“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I’m really… very happy.”

Xie Zhitian’s heart softened. She thought for a moment, extended her arm from under the blanket, and held Luo Yang’s hand.

“You’ll be even happier in the future, Luo Yang.”

The hand in her palm was slender and soft. After a slight hesitation, it held hers back.

Xie Zhitian intertwined her fingers with hers and said gently, “So you have to love yourself and go see how wonderful the world is.”

Luo Yang’s breath hitched slightly. In the dark and sunless years before, she was like a lone boat, being pushed forward by the flood of fate step by step, not knowing what she would encounter in the future, nor having any dreams about it.

But now, hearing Xie Zhitian say this, a shallow sense of anticipation suddenly sprouted in her heart, like a young, green sprout breaking through the soil, bathing in the sun, full of vitality.

She said, “Eldest daughter, I know.”

“Oh, by the way, can you stop calling me ‘eldest daughter’?”

Xie Zhitian remembered something else and spoke, “Just call me by my name. We are good friends now.”

She had wanted to talk to Luo Yang about this for a long time but was afraid she would find it abrupt. Today, they had a pleasant conversation with her parents, just like a family, which was a good opportunity.

Luo Yang hesitated, “Just by name?”

Xie Zhitian thought for a moment and also felt it was a bit strange. Calling a two-character name sounded quite intimate, but calling a three-character name with the full name sounded distant.

So she suggested, “How about you call me ‘Tiantian,’ like my parents do?”

Luo Yang was stunned for two seconds. Such an intimate name was a bit unfamiliar to her.

But she suddenly wanted to try.

“Tiantian.”

“I’m here.” Xie Zhitian smiled in response, and she patted her arm gently as if coaxing a child, “It’s time to sleep. Have a good dream.”

Luo Yang closed her eyes.

The effect of the alcohol was obvious, and a wave of sleepiness surged in.

Just before she completely lost consciousness, a thought flashed through her mind.

—The way the eldest daughter smiles is even sweeter than her name.

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