The Beautiful, Strong, and Tragic Female Lead is Mine [Transmigration Into a Novel] - Chapter 29

Xie Zhitian was filled with question marks. The original character was someone who would confront Luo Yang over a scumbag, so how could she have chased after another girl just because she was pretty when she was a child? This logic didn’t quite add up.

She said incredulously, “Is that true? You’re not mistaken, are you?”

Xia Fufeng suddenly realized something was wrong. How could she say in front of Luo Yang that Xie Zhitian used to chase other girls? If there was really something between the two of them, wouldn’t she have ruined it?

She was very annoyed, but she really didn’t do it on purpose. She was just never very good at social interactions and sometimes said the wrong thing.

Xia Fufeng chose her words carefully, trying to salvage the situation. “Uh, I don’t remember the exact details, but kids don’t know any better. They just chase after anyone they think is pretty. Now that we’re all grown up, we know that if you like someone, you should treat them well, right? Haha…”

She stole a glance at Luo Yang and saw that she didn’t seem upset. In fact, she even had a faint smile, probably thinking of it as a funny childhood story. Xia Fufeng breathed a small sigh of relief. It’s so rare to find someone you like, and breaking up a couple’s romance would be so awful. She wasn’t going to do that.

Luo Yang noticed Xia Fufeng’s look and suddenly felt a little shy. She looked away as if nothing had happened.

She had previously felt there was nothing about her that would make Xie Zhitian like her, but if Xie Zhitian liked pretty girls, then perhaps that could be a reason to be liked.

Xie Zhitian had never been stingy with her compliments. Every time Luo Yang wore a new outfit, Xie Zhitian would say how good she looked. And sometimes, when they were out together, if she happened to admire a well-dressed girl, Xie Zhitian would casually say, “You would look even better in that.” She also often sent her pretty dresses and various small accessories.

In Xie Zhitian’s heart, she must be very beautiful.

Otherwise, why would she always be so good to her, better than anyone else…

Luo Yang gently pursed her lips, trying to shake off the jumble of thoughts in her head.

She felt like she was becoming strange, always thinking about things that didn’t matter. No matter what Xie Zhitian’s true feelings were, wasn’t it enough for them to be happy together now? Trying to prove something more felt a bit greedy.

Don’t be greedy, Luo Yang told herself.

Xie Zhitian, on the other hand, was even more confused and didn’t understand what grand truths Xia Fufeng was suddenly spouting. But she didn’t want to dwell on such a small matter. So what if she did chase after a girl? It was just a childhood game. She used to play house with other kids and would always play the role of a mom or dad.

More interested in Xia Fufeng’s ability than in great white geese or little girls, she asked, “Little Xia, do animals do whatever you say, no matter what?”

Xia Fufeng tilted her head in thought. “Not exactly. When I was little, I was just very popular with animals, so I could calm them. But after the apocalypse, my ability seemed to get stronger, and most animals will listen to my commands.”

Xie Zhitian understood.

Xia Fufeng was probably born with an innate ability to befriend animals. After the apocalypse, the environment changed, and women’s potential was activated, causing their lifespans and physical strength to gradually surpass men’s. Xia Fufeng’s ability was also magnified, changing from befriending animals to making them obey.

The original novel never mentioned this ability of Xia Fufeng’s, and according to the original plot, there was no need to. After all, women in harem novels didn’t need a self. They just needed to be able to act cute, throw a temper tantrum, and make sacrifices when necessary to help the man achieve his great deeds.

In short, they just had to be a pretty vase orbiting around a man.

Luo Yang marveled, “That’s amazing. I’ve never heard of an ability like that before.”

Xia Fufeng blushed from the praise. “It’s nothing, really. It’s a useless ability. My sister is the one who’s truly amazing.”

Xie Zhitian looked at Xia Fufeng’s slightly reddened cheeks and suddenly found her a little cute. Girls who blush easily are often gentle and sensitive.

Luo Yang was curious. “Who is your sister?”

Xia Fufeng said, “Her name is Xia Zhaoliu, and she works for the queen in District 1.”

“I see,” Xie Zhitian smiled, searching her mind for information about Xia Zhaoliu but coming up empty. “Let’s not talk about that for now. Is your mother home? We wanted to talk to her about something.”

She was still thinking about what Xie Hanxiang had said—that District 14 was “not right”—and she wanted to talk to Xia Wan as soon as possible to see if there was anything she could do to help.

Xia Fufeng shook her head. “Mom is always busy. She left early this morning, saying she had an emergency and wouldn’t be back for a while.”

Xie Zhitian thought for a moment and tentatively asked, “I heard that Auntie Xia’s district seems to be in some trouble. Is that true? Is everything okay?”

Xia Fufeng’s eyes dimmed slightly. “I don’t know. Mom never tells me anything. In fact, she never talks to me about any important district matters. She and my sister handle everything. Maybe they think I’m not capable enough.”

Xie Zhitian felt that Xia Fufeng was good in every way, except for her lack of self-confidence.

She thought for a moment and said, “That’s not it. Auntie Xia just wants to protect you.”

Xia Fufeng looked up at her. “Protect me?”

“Think about it. Your mother and sister hold such important positions, so the risks must be very high,” Xie Zhitian explained. “The more you know, the more you have to shoulder. You’re their most cherished youngest daughter and most cherished sister. If they could, they would never want you to be in danger. They just want you to live a life of peace and happiness without any worries.”

The book had described Xia Fufeng’s family background, which was harmonious with no infighting. Only a little princess who grew up in love could maintain such a gentle and pure state.

“That’s true,” Xia Fufeng said thoughtfully, and a smile quickly returned to her face. “Never mind all that. You two have been through a lot today. I have to treat you to a good dinner.”

Although she said she would set up a feast, the conditions in the district were limited. The final dinner took place at Xia Fufeng’s house.

On the light-colored wooden dining table, there were a few dishes. Although the ingredients were simple, the effort the host put in was evident. The plating was exquisite, and the aroma was enticing.

Outside the window, night had fallen. The autumn wind was bleak, and the trees swayed. Inside the room, it was as warm as spring, with a fire burning in the hearth. The light from the lamp in the center of the table was soft, adding a tempting color to the food.

Xie Zhitian opened the bottle of wine she had retrieved from her storage space and poured a glass for each of the three people at the table.

She had specifically chosen a sweet sparkling wine with a low alcohol content, which was refreshing and perfect for a girls’ night.

Luo Yang had been hungry for a while. She picked up a piece of spareribs and put it in her mouth. “It’s delicious.”

Upon arriving in an unfamiliar environment, Luo Yang was initially a bit reserved, but with Xie Zhitian by her side, chatting and laughing, and Xia Fufeng being so friendly and unpretentious, she slowly relaxed.

Xia Fufeng took a sip of her wine and praised it sincerely. “This is so good. It’s been a long time since I’ve had such delicious wine.”

Xie Zhitian was busy serving food to Luo Yang. Hearing this, she smiled at Xia Fufeng. “Since we have good wine, why not call Tang Zhuoran to join us?”

Xia Fufeng waved her hand. “No, no. She’s been so busy lately, I haven’t even seen her. I shouldn’t disturb her.”

As she spoke, she lifted her glass and drank a little less than half of it in one go.

Xie Zhitian refilled her glass. “Tang Zhuoran is a good friend of yours, right?”

Xia Fufeng said, “Yes, she’s also a Remade person and has been in our district for a year now. She’s really amazing. She was just promoted to the general commander of the Guard.”

Xie Zhitian didn’t hold back her praise. “That’s truly impressive.”

Her mind stirred. She had thought there might be a romantic relationship between Xia Fufeng and Tang Zhuoran, but she didn’t expect Tang Zhuoran to also be a Remade person.

If that were the case, Tang Zhuoran’s busyness must be related to district affairs, and she might have noticed the “wrong” things happening in the district.

If she could talk to Tang Zhuoran, she would surely get some useful information.

As Xie Zhitian thought, she unconsciously finished the wine in her glass.

She asked Xia Fufeng, “When will Captain Tang be free? I have something I want to ask her about the district.”

Xia Fufeng replied, “Probably not in the next couple of days. I’ll let you know when she has some free time.”

“Sounds good,” Xie Zhitian smiled. She raised her hand to pour herself another glass, but a slender, pale hand blocked the mouth of the bottle.

“Zhitian, drink slowly,” Luo Yang said seriously, looking at her. “If you drink too fast, you’ll get drunk without even realizing it.”

“This is nothing,” Xie Zhitian said with a laugh. “Okay, I won’t drink for now.”

She had a clear understanding of her own alcohol tolerance. With a low-alcohol sparkling wine like this, drinking two bottles would be no problem. She had only had two glasses since they sat down, so there was no way she would get drunk. However, she didn’t want to turn down Luo Yang’s kindness, so she didn’t insist on pouring more.

Xia Fufeng watched from the side in shock. Was this still the Xie Zhitian she knew?

In her memory, Xie Zhitian was extremely rebellious, always doing whatever she wanted and never listening to anyone’s opinion. Why was she now so obedient to a Remade person?

Her heart was itching to gossip about how far Xie Zhitian and Luo Yang’s relationship had progressed, but she felt it would be rude to ask directly. As she hesitated, she heard Luo Yang say, “Zhitian, you said you weren’t drunk last time, but you fell out of bed in the middle of the night.”

Xia Fufeng: ???

What was happening? Why were these two sleeping together?

Their relationship is definitely not ordinary.

Xie Zhitian saw Xia Fufeng’s shock. She wanted to explain that she didn’t sleep with Luo Yang every day, but seeing Luo Yang’s calm expression, she felt there was no need to.

She had said that Luo Yang was her good friend. Girls’ friendships are often close. It’s so common to have a drink together and then chat in bed until they fall asleep. What was there to feel guilty about?

Besides, Xia Fufeng hadn’t asked about the specifics of that night. If she took the initiative to explain, it would seem like she was trying to distance herself from Luo Yang.

So, Xie Zhitian just smiled at Luo Yang and made a gesture of surrender. “That was just an accident. It had nothing to do with drinking, really.”

Only then did Luo Yang release her hand, allowing her to pour another glass.

Look at this, Young Miss Xie acting like a wife-fearing husband. Love is truly a magical thing.

Seeing this, Xia Fufeng’s inner belief grew even stronger. If Xie Zhitian really wanted to pursue Luo Yang, it probably wouldn’t be easy. Luo Yang was beautiful and excellent, so the competition was likely fierce.

She abruptly stood up. “Excuse me for a moment.”

Xie Zhitian thought something had happened. “Do you need help?”

Xia Fufeng said, “No, I just need to find Wang Er for something. I’ll be right back.”

Xie Zhitian didn’t quite understand why she would suddenly think of Wang Er while eating dinner, but since Xia Fufeng didn’t give a reason, she didn’t ask further. And Xia Fufeng did indeed come back shortly, staying with them and chatting until past nine o’clock.

The dinner was a pleasant one for everyone involved. When it was over, Xia Fufeng patted her on the shoulder and handed her a key. “Here, you two can stay in the guest room on the second floor, to the west. Your luggage has already been put in there. If you need anything, just let me know.”

Xie Zhitian took the key and said casually, “Okay, thank you for the trouble.”

Xia Fufeng’s home was a spacious two-story detached house. Xie Zhitian had thought she would arrange a separate room for her and Luo Yang. It was probably the only guest room, and the others had different uses.

She and Luo Yang went up to the second floor together. As they reached the guest room door, they saw a figure coming out, and it was none other than Wang Er.

Wang Er was breathless and looked a little tired. He bowed respectfully to the two women. “Young ladies, I wish you a pleasant night. The preparations were a bit rushed, so please excuse the inconvenience.”

With that, he hurried away as if afraid of disturbing them.

Xie Zhitian was puzzled, feeling that something was off. When she pushed the door open, her confusion was finally answered.

Fresh red rose petals extended from the doorway all the way to the bed, forming a beautiful heart shape on the white sheets. The bed was a round one, and a transparent, light veil was draped over both sides, creating a dreamlike and ethereal atmosphere.

Even the ancient bronze lamp shades on the walls had delicate, heart-shaped cutouts, casting a soft, romantic, and slightly ambiguous light.

Xie Zhitian suddenly felt a deep sense of relief. Thank goodness it’s the apocalypse. Otherwise, she had a sneaking suspicion that Xia Fufeng would have created a love hotel for her and Luo Yang.

Because of the limited conditions, the room, once decorated, didn’t look overly flashy. Instead, it was quite beautiful, which was a blessing in disguise.

However, it was clear that Xia Fufeng had misunderstood her and Luo Yang’s relationship. She would have to find a chance to explain tomorrow and ask her to change the room.

At that moment, her arm was gently pulled. “Zhitian, this room is so beautiful. I’ve never stayed in such a pretty room before.”

Luo Yang looked at her, her bright eyes curved in a smile. “Do you like it?”

Xie Zhitian blinked and suddenly felt that maybe changing the room wasn’t necessary after all.

She said, “I like it. Of course, I like it.”

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