The Eldest Princess' Substitute Husband (Transmigration) - Chapter 37

“Song Jinsheng, you won’t leave me.”

********

Although they were a distance apart, Wei Luoyi was an extraordinary sight. Standing in a crowd of simply dressed commoners, she was as dazzling as a celestial being, making it difficult for anyone not to notice her.

Song Jinsheng couldn’t help but steal several glances. Su Ran, of course, understood her intentions. Before she could make a move, Su Ran quietly said to her, “Don’t go to her. Just pretend you don’t see her.”

Song Jinsheng was confused, but she continued to feign nonchalance and looked at the bustling crowd. “Why? That doesn’t seem right.”

Su Ran: “It’s not supposed to be right. How ‘right’ do you want it to be? Weren’t you the one who wanted to put on a show today? You have to see the act through.”

Song Jinsheng: “…”

Song Jinsheng was at a loss for words. While Su Ran was her business partner and it was logical to invite her to the opening, her original goal was indeed to let Wei Luoyi see her with another woman, hoping it would make Wei Luoyi angry enough to agree to a divorce.

She was so determined back then, but now, seeing Wei Luoyi’s special trip and her standing there alone, she couldn’t bring herself to completely ignore her…

Just as Song Jinsheng was hesitating, Chunyue walked up to them, a look of frustration on her face. She first glared at Su Ran, then said to Song Jinsheng in a gentle yet sharp tone, “Consort… My Master, the Princess, made a special trip here to see how your shop is doing, yet you don’t even greet her. Why is that?”

“Oh?” Song Jinsheng raised her eyebrows and put on a surprised expression. She glanced at Wei Luoyi, who was slowly walking toward them behind Chunyue, then smiled apologetically. “Ah… I was too busy just now. I really didn’t see you…”

With that, she turned to Su Ran and gave her a strong wink. “Help me out here. My wife has arrived. I’ll take her upstairs first.”

Su Ran’s expression also changed. She looked at Chunyue and Wei Luoyi with a look of feigned surprise, then gave them a sweet smile. “Oh, so you’re Asheng’s wife. Asheng, you never told me your wife was so beautiful.”

Hearing her sweet tone, Chunyue was even more frustrated and glared at her. Wei Luoyi remained calm, her eyes placid as she stared at her. Song Jinsheng was completely at a loss for words.

Song Jinsheng: Hey, friend, you’re overacting.

Su Ran: But how else will it be effective? Don’t question my acting skills.

After their silent exchange, Su Ran smiled again, saying in a strange tone, “Then Asheng, hurry and take your wife inside to rest. I’ll handle things here. Don’t you worry.”

Song Jinsheng’s mouth twitched. She didn’t want to say anything else and just led the way for the two of them into the shop.

Wei Luoyi was the last one to walk. When she passed by Su Ran, she noticed Su Ran looking at her, so she glanced back.

She was good at reading people. Even in that brief glance, she could feel the hint of hostility in Su Ran’s scrutiny.

Wei Luoyi just wanted to laugh.

What’s the point of pretending to be so graceful and proper? I’ve already seen through your little plan.

Wei Luoyi walked past Su Ran without a change in expression, a mocking smile on her lips, hidden behind her veil.

After she passed, Su Ran looked at her retreating back, silently praising her own acting skills.

Tsk, tsk, tsk. If this were on a film set, that scene would have been perfect. I’ll reward myself with a cup of bubble tea later.

******

The first floor of the shop was bustling. Song Jinsheng led the two of them up to the room on the second floor, which was much quieter.

This room was where Song Jinsheng developed new products. A long table against the wall was filled with jars and bottles of various sizes, along with some plastic cups and straws.

Wei Luoyi found a chair and sat down, curiously looking at all the things she had never seen before. She saw Song Jinsheng approach and pour a cup of water, placing it in front of her. “Your Highness, please have some water.”

“It’s been very busy today, so I’m afraid I can’t properly entertain you. Please forgive me. I have things to attend to, so I’ll just…”

“Who is she?”

At her words, Song Jinsheng, who had been looking down, finally looked up, staring blankly at the person in front of her.

She hadn’t expected Wei Luoyi to be so direct, leaving her completely unprepared.

“Uh… she’s a friend of mine. And… she’s the second shopkeeper besides me.”

Shopkeeper? How ridiculous. Song Jinsheng used a few hundred taels of my money to set up this small shop, and there’s another shopkeeper?

“Is that so?” Wei Luoyi smiled faintly. She took a sip of the water Song Jinsheng had poured for her and slowly looked up, saying in a slow, meaningful tone, “So she’s the Consort’s friend… But why does she look so much like the person who picked up my handkerchief before?”

Song Jinsheng was speechless. She sucked in a cold breath and instinctively looked away, her mind racing.

What the… When did that happen? How could Wei Luoyi still remember what Su Ran looked like?

Song Jinsheng wanted to say she was mistaken, but when she met Wei Luoyi’s cold, scrutinizing gaze, she felt a moment of guilt. The words that were on the tip of her tongue were choked back.

“This… uh… that’s because…”

“Because?” Wei Luoyi narrowed her eyes, losing her faint smile.

Song Jinsheng didn’t answer. Wei Luoyi wasn’t in a hurry either. She wanted to see what kind of lie Song Jinsheng would come up with this time.

But Song Jinsheng’s brain had already shut down. She couldn’t think of any excuse. She was torn between just admitting it and letting Wei Luoyi misunderstand, hoping it would be over with.

In that critical moment, there was a sudden knock on the door.

“Shopkeeper, too many people are here! The staff can’t keep up! Please come down and see!”

“Ah! Okay, I’m coming!” Song Jinsheng immediately answered without hesitation.

The call was a lifesaver. Otherwise, she would have died of embarrassment right there.

Song Jinsheng bowed. “Your Highness, I’m really busy. Please forgive me for not being able to continue to entertain you.”

With that, she didn’t wait for Wei Luoyi’s answer. She immediately turned and left, making her escape.

She hurried down to the first floor and stood at the entrance of the shop with Su Ran to greet the customers.

During a lull, she couldn’t help but ask Su Ran, “Did you have someone go up and call me?”

Su Ran handed a cup of bubble tea to a customer and glanced at her. “No, but I really wanted to call you. I’m so busy down here.”

“What’s wrong? You’re missing your little princess?”

Hearing her teasing, Song Jinsheng was speechless again. She took a breath, but it got stuck in her throat.

“Oh, you.” Su Ran shook her head and patted her on the shoulder. “You talk about setting things right, but you still care, don’t you?”

Chunyue, who was angry enough to see Su Ran and Song Jinsheng standing so close, saw Su Ran’s lack of boundaries as she placed her hand on Song Jinsheng’s shoulder, half of her body nearly touching her Consort.

“Your Highness, you should have just stayed in your room to rest. Coming out here only to see such… dirty things. It’s truly…”

Chunyue couldn’t help but complain, feeling indignant for Wei Luoyi. But when she looked up, she saw that Wei Luoyi’s face was still calm. There was no emotion in her eyes, not even the coldness she had shown when they first entered the shop.

“Your Highness… you…” Chunyue was so frustrated.

“What?” Wei Luoyi’s gaze finally left the two of them downstairs and turned to Chunyue beside her.

“Aren’t you angry? The Consort is acting like this with another person… and you’re right here! It’s clear she doesn’t care about you at all!”

Even after hearing her indignant words, Wei Luoyi remained indifferent. She even suddenly started to laugh and asked in return, “Acting like what? Didn’t she just explain it?”

“But…” Chunyue was truly taken aback by Wei Luoyi’s sudden laugh.

Is the Princess so angry that she’s laughing?

“The Consort said she’s just a friend. How can that be? Does Your Highness believe that?”

“Yes. Why wouldn’t I?”

“What?” Chunyue was so shocked by Wei Luoyi’s casual answer that she felt like her whole world was collapsing. What was wrong with her Princess? How could she suddenly become so foolish?

Seeing her eyes almost popping out of her head, Wei Luoyi no longer felt like teasing her. She gave another half-smile and looked in Su Ran’s direction again. “It’s impossible for them to have any other relationship.”

Chunyue was going crazy. “Why? Why are you so sure, Your Highness?”

“Because…” Wei Luoyi turned to look at her, the corners of her eyes behind the veil curving. Her eyes were bright, but there was no softness in them. “Because of a very simple reason.”

“Because of that reason, it’s impossible for Song Jinsheng to ever cross the line with any woman.”

“I’m tired of standing. I’ll go inside and sit down.”

With that, Wei Luoyi turned and walked gracefully back into the room. Poor Chunyue was left standing there in a daze. She had been indignant, but now she was completely confused and couldn’t figure it out.

Wei Luoyi walked to the table and stopped. She lowered her gaze to the teacup for a moment. She picked it up, turned it around to look at it, and then suddenly tightened her grip, clenching the cup in her palm.

So, you still want to run away.

Do you think you can escape that easily?

Song Jinsheng, you won’t leave me.

******

At night.

After dinner, Song Jinsheng lay on her bed and didn’t want to get up.

The shop was even more popular today than she had expected. People were practically breaking down the doors. She was happy about this, but because she had woken up early and worked all day, she was exhausted. Her limbs were still aching.

She lay there with her eyes half-closed, replaying the events of the day in her mind. Her thoughts eventually drifted to Wei Luoyi.

She thought about how she and Su Ran had acted today, trying to make Wei Luoyi jealous. It was a little ridiculous…

When Wei Luoyi left, she was still laughing and joking with Su Ran, but Wei Luoyi had just ignored it all and even said goodbye to her.

Even Chunyue had been emotional, but what about Wei Luoyi? There was no emotion on her face. She didn’t even seem to be giving her the cold shoulder. It was as if nothing had happened.

Wei Luoyi truly doesn’t care about her at all.

As long as she’s her Consort, she can accept her laughing and talking with anyone, is that it?

Does she really only see me as an insignificant pawn?

Wei Luoyi…

She silently repeated her name. Song Jinsheng’s brows furrowed. Her eyes were filled with complicated emotions, an unknown mix of sadness, confusion, and a hint of anger…

After a long time, she closed her eyes, sighed deeply, and sat up.

“Consort.” Someone called from outside the door.

Song Jinsheng put away her jumbled thoughts and looked up. “Come in.”

“Yes.”

A maid pushed the door open, but didn’t step inside. She just bowed to Song Jinsheng. “Consort, Her Highness has lit the lamp tonight. Please come with me.”

“What?” Song Jinsheng was in disbelief.

She immediately walked to the maid and asked again, “What did you say? She lit the lamp?”

“Yes, Her Highness has lit the lamp to summon you.” The maid slightly emphasized the last two words to make her meaning clear.

Song Jinsheng froze.

She was truly confused now.

She had always known Wei Luoyi had a strange personality, but did she have to be this strange?

She didn’t mind her laughing and joking with others during the day, but at night, she would summon her to sleep with her as if nothing had happened?

Does that make any sense?

After waiting for a long time without a reply, the maid couldn’t help but peek at Song Jinsheng. She cleared her throat softly. “Um… Her Highness also said that if the Consort doesn’t go, then from now on, you won’t be allowed to… to leave this room…”

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