The Female Lead is Quite Unusual - Episode 49

“You can’t remember anything at all?”

Lin Wan hadn’t expected this situation and couldn’t help but voice her question.

Sheng Qian tilted her head slightly, as if carefully trying to recall something. After a moment, she looked at Lin Wan and slowly shook her head.

Oh no! Could it be that Sheng Qian has lost her memory?

Lin Wan froze for a second, unable to stop herself from gazing intently at Sheng Qian.

The young girl was already small and delicate, and now her expression resembled that of a newborn animal. Her dark, bright eyes glistening with moisture, tinged with a hint of timidity, making her look utterly pitiable and endearing.

Sheng Qian was only ten years old. An age where, in modern times, she wouldn’t even have graduated from elementary school. Yet she had already experienced her mother’s tragic death, her father’s cruelty, and a life of displacement and escape.

At a time like this, forgetting the past might not be such a bad thing for her. After all, there probably wasn’t anyone in this world who truly cared about her anymore.

Thinking this, Lin Wan breathed a sigh of relief and decided to keep Sheng Qian’s background a secret. She spoke softly, “I don’t know who you are either.”

“When I found you, you were already unconscious.”

“Just focus on recovering,” Lin Wan reached out and held Sheng Qian’s hand, giving it a gentle pat as she comforted her in a low voice, “Since I saved you, I won’t abandon you.”

“If you remember anything and have plans of your own, I’ll respect your wishes.”

“If you never remember anything, that’s fine too. I’ve always wanted a little sister, and it seems fate has brought us together.”

Meeting Sheng Qian’s dark, luminous eyes, Lin Wan curved her lips into a gentle smile, her gaze warm and tender. “If you don’t mind, how about I take you as my sworn sister? From now on, we can call each other sisters. What do you think?”

This was a world destined for war in the future. Sheng Qian had lived in the palace all her life and likely had no survival skills. To protect her properly, it would be better to keep her close, teach her how to survive, and watch over her as she grew up.

Sheng Qian’s eyes flickered. She tilted her head to look at Lin Wan, biting her lip without saying a word.

Lin Wan didn’t press her. After all, they were strangers, and it was only natural for Sheng Qian to be cautious.

Time would reveal one’s true intentions, and Sheng Qian would eventually understand that she meant well.

So, Lin Wan didn’t pursue the topic further.

She whispered a few words to Qingqing beside her, and Qingqing left the room.

Sheng Qian’s gaze followed Qingqing’s retreating figure before she lowered her eyes.

Lin Wan helped Sheng Qian sit up, carefully blowing on each spoonful of medicine to cool it before bringing it to Sheng Qian’s lips.

During this, Sheng Qian looked up at her several times, as if wanting to say something, but in the end, she remained silent.

By the time Sheng Qian was finishing the last few sips, Qingqing had returned.

Qingqing was carrying a large food box.

She opened it beside Lin Wan, revealing an assortment of snacks inside. Lin Wan handed the bowl to Sheng Qian, letting her drink the last few mouthfuls of medicine directly from it. After taking the bowl away, Lin Wan promptly placed a piece of preserved fruit into Sheng Qian’s mouth.

Sheng Qian’s frail body trembled noticeably.

“The medicine is bitter. Have some preserved fruit to counteract the taste.”

Surprised by Sheng Qian’s strong reaction, Lin Wan quickly explained.

Meeting Sheng Qian’s gaze, Lin Wan set the food box by the head of Sheng Qian’s bed. Feeling inexplicably flustered, she couldn’t help but add in a hushed tone, “Rest a bit more. If you feel nauseous again, have some snacks, but don’t eat any before bed; be careful not to ruin your teeth.”

After giving these instructions, Lin Wan helped Sheng Qian lie down and thoughtfully tucked her in.

Sheng Qian kept her eyes wide open, her gaze fixed on Lin Wan. She still seemed a bit out of it, having slept for too long, with a couple of strands of hair sticking up on her head, giving her a somewhat dorky and utterly adorable look.

Lin Wan couldn’t resist pinching Sheng Qian’s cheek.

Clearly, Sheng Qian hadn’t anticipated this gesture from Lin Wan. Her face immediately flushed red, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She glanced at Lin Wan, then tightly shut her eyes.

Lin Wan then understood Sheng Qian’s personality. She was very introverted and easily embarrassed.

But then again, it made sense. With Huang Fu dominating the emperor’s harem, Sheng Qian and her mother lived under constant threat. In such circumstances, it was indeed difficult to raise a cheerful child.

Seeing that Sheng Qian was already blushing and hadn’t opened her eyes, Lin Wan didn’t want to make her even more uncomfortable, so she stopped teasing and softly said, “I’m leaving now.”

She moved gently, slowly stood up, and left the room.

After closing the door, Lin Wan quickened her pace.

She still had many things to do.

Now that she had saved the female lead, it was a good start.

But to properly care for Sheng Qian and have the ability to be her support, the Lin family needed to become stronger at least capable of protecting themselves in the chaotic times ahead.

Although the Lin family was the wealthiest, they were rich but not powerful, with few guards. That was why, later on, rioters would break in and the entire family would perish.

Lin Wan decided to train the Lin family’s own guard force.

However, if she straightforwardly proposed training a guard force, her parents would definitely object. After all, Lin Wan was their only daughter, and they couldn’t bear to let her engage in such rough work. Moreover, the government had strict regulations on the number of private guards. Ordinary families couldn’t have more than twenty.

So, Lin Wan came up with a compromise. She decided to open a security escort agency.

This way, they could earn money while gathering intelligence from all sides. Additionally, there were no restrictions on the number of people in an escort agency, and even if it incurred losses, it could serve as a reserve force.

By the time chaos arrived, the Lin family would have enough strength to protect themselves.

Over the past few days, Lin Wan had already tested her parents’ attitudes.

Just as she expected, her parents were initially strongly opposed. But when Lin Wan pretended to be sorrowful and said she wanted to open the agency to distract herself from the heartache of being rejected by her cousin from the Li family, her parents, feeling sorry for her, agreed to her plan.

However, her parents assumed she was just playing around. Although they gave her a shop for the agency, it was extremely small and understaffed, with only two or three smooth-talking clerks. Clearly, her father had arranged them to humor her. The clerks were diligent but had no martial arts skills.

Lin Wan wasn’t angry.

The beginning is always the hardest. With the Lin family as her backing, she was already in a much better position than most. Since it was her escort agency, she would naturally handle the rest.

To run an escort agency, the first requirement was to have highly skilled escorts.

Lin Wan had been visiting martial arts schools in the city over the past few days.

Through her persistent efforts, she found a man from a southwestern border tribe who was exceptionally skilled in martial arts.

The man was a notorious troublemaker in the western slums, known for his exceptional martial arts skills and his penchant for punishing evildoers. Local magnates had repeatedly tried to recruit him, but none had succeeded. Lin Wan had also sought him out several times, hoping to invite him to become a security escort, but he had consistently refused.

However, Lin Wan was determined to recruit this man named Hu Yi. After all, while there were many skilled martial artists around, few could match his level of expertise. What Lin Wan valued even more was his character. A man of loyalty and righteousness like Hu Yi would never betray his employer in such turbulent times.

Yet Hu Yi remained unwilling to agree. Perhaps to avoid Lin Wan, he had been leaving early and returning late these past few days, causing Lin Wan to miss him repeatedly.

Undeterred, Lin Wan went on to recruit several other escorts, but she kept the position of chief escort reserved for Hu Yi.

Meanwhile, Sheng Qian’s health had gradually improved over the past few days, and she was now able to get out of bed and walk on her own. However, her memories had not returned. The only thing she could recall was someone calling her “A-Qian,” and any attempt to remember more would leave her with a splitting headache.

Lin Wan believed that Sheng Qian had activated a self-protection mechanism perhaps her mind had deemed those memories too painful to recall. She did not pressure Sheng Qian to remember. During the time when Sheng Qian was still bedridden, Lin Wan bought her a wide variety of books, ranging from miscellaneous essays and travelogues to operas and plays.

Lin Wan noticed that Sheng Qian read exceptionally fast. Sometimes, she would finish over a dozen books in just two or three days. Moreover, as if driven by an ingrained desire for self-improvement, Sheng Qian rarely read light novels, preferring books on geography and military strategy instead.

These types of books had been gathering dust in the original owner’s study, so Lin Wan took the opportunity to gather them all and give them to Sheng Qian.

Once Sheng Qian was well enough, Lin Wan made it a habit to set aside time every day to take her for walks and enjoy the snowy scenery.

Through their interactions, Lin Wan discovered that Sheng Qian was truly introverted and quiet. Most of the time, Lin Wan did the talking, while Sheng Qian occasionally chimed in. More often than not, Sheng Qian would simply gaze at Lin Wan with her beautiful eyes as she spoke.

In the beginning, Sheng Qian’s eyes often flickered with confusion, and sometimes she would fall into deep thought. No one knew what was on her mind.

Understanding Sheng Qian’s unsettled state, Lin Wan would always smile and comfort her.

As Lin Wan had anticipated, Sheng Qian gradually let her guard down. From time to time, a shy smile would appear in her eyes when she looked at Lin Wan.

Whenever this happened, Lin Wan’s heart would swell with an indescribable sense of fulfillment. It was like raising a wary little kitten that initially hid in corners to avoid her but had finally mustered the courage to reach out a paw.

Lin Wan wanted to pour all her efforts into treating Sheng Qian well so that even if Sheng Qian eventually regained her memories, she might choose to stay by her side rather than return to the cold, life-threatening environment of the imperial palace.

Lin Wan’s parents had urged her many times to return home, but to nurture her bond with Sheng Qian, she used the excuse of feeling unwell and stubbornly stayed at the estate for over half a month. When she felt the time was right, she once again brought up the idea of adopting Sheng Qian as her sworn sister.

Lin Wan spoke with utmost sincerity.

“You and I are fated to meet. I simply pity you, a young girl adrift with no one to rely on. If you’re talking about ulterior motives, I do have one. Since childhood, I’ve always liked beautiful people, and you are the most beautiful person I have ever seen.”

“My family is wealthy and influential; even if I had to support a hundred of you, I could afford it. It’s no burden to me, so you needn’t worry about it.”

“If you truly feel uneasy, just smile more often. You’re so beautiful! Seeing you smile lifts my spirits.”

After Lin Wan finished speaking, Sheng Qian’s face visibly flushed.

Realizing this, Lin Wan quickly added:

“Of course, you can also help me in other ways. Recently, I took over a shopfront from my father and plan to open a security escort agency. Once it’s established, you can help me manage the accounts.”

“If we work together, we can surely make the agency flourish.”

Lin Wan said this casually.

She didn’t really believe that Sheng Qian, a young girl who had lost her memory, could be of much help. She only said it to ease Sheng Qian’s worries.

To help Sheng Qian let down her guard, Lin Wan continued speaking at length.

Something in her words seemed to strike a chord with Sheng Qian. Biting her lip, Sheng Qian glanced at Lin Wan several times, the blush on her fair cheeks deepening. After a long moment, as if mustering all her courage, her eyes misty with emotion and filled with obvious shyness, she parted her red lips slightly, lowered her gaze, and softly called out.

“Sister.”

At that, a smile immediately spread across Lin Wan’s face.

“Good sister, I’ll take you home with me right now.”

Lin Wan didn’t hold back her excitement, eagerly taking Sheng Qian’s hand. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t remember the past. From now on, you can take my surname. How about calling you Lin Qian?”

Sheng Qian glanced at Lin Wan again, met her hopeful gaze, and nodded with lowered eyes.

Lin Wan instructed Qingqing, who was nearby, to pack their belongings and decided to set off for the Lin residence immediately.

That heavy snowfall had claimed many lives.

Perhaps assuming Sheng Qian, with no means to protect herself, had frozen to death in the blizzard, the number of people pursuing her had dwindled significantly.

But Lin Wan didn’t dare let her guard down. She still had Sheng Qian wear a veil to cover her face and, to avoid suspicion, wore one herself.

Sheng Qian seemed intensely curious about the outside world, leaning against the carriage window the entire journey to watch the scenery. Lin Wan indulged her, even pointing out the roads and sights along the way.

Fearing Sheng Qian might recall unpleasant memories, Lin Wan deliberately avoided the route passing by the imperial palace on their way back.

Because of the detour, the carriage passed through the western slums after entering the city.

Thinking of Hu Yi, Lin Wan felt a stir of anticipation. They weren’t far from his home. She had already visited twice without finding him. This time, she might just succeed.

After a moment’s thought, Lin Wan directed the coachman to take a detour to Hu Yi’s house.

As luck would have it, this time Lin Wan’s persistence paid off. She ran into Hu Yi just as he was about to leave.

Seeing Lin Wan’s carriage, Hu Yi sighed in exasperation and continued walking out of the courtyard. “I’ve told you, Miss Lin, there are so many skilled martial artists in the world. Why do you keep fixating on me? I truly have no desire to become your security escort.”

Hu Yi’s attitude had always been like this, and Lin Wan didn’t take it to heart. She spoke softly, “Because I’ve never understood. I’m offering you the highest compensation in the industry, and you currently don’t have a suitable livelihood. Why can’t you come to my escort agency as the chief escort?”

“Who says I don’t have a livelihood?” Seemingly annoyed by Lin Wan’s questioning, Hu Yi furrowed his brow. “I already have a master, I—”

Before Hu Yi could finish his impatient words, Sheng Qian’s timid voice suddenly came from inside the carriage, interrupting him.

“Sister, this carriage is a bit high. I don’t know how to get down.”

“The wind is strong outside, don’t come down. Rest in the carriage.” Lin Wan walked to the side of the carriage, soothing her gently. “I need to speak with this gentleman for a moment. I’ll be back soon.”

“This gentleman seems to have an unfriendly expression,” Sheng Qian’s voice carried a hint of obvious concern. “I should come down and help you persuade him. Sister, you’re so kind-hearted, you definitely wouldn’t treat this gentleman unfairly…”

“Your thoughtfulness is already enough.”

Lin Wan chuckled, climbing onto the carriage step. “Mr. Hu’s intentions are already clear. There’s no need for us to insist any further. Let’s set off and return now!”

As she spoke, Lin Wan turned her gaze to Hu Yi beside her. Hu Yi was not one to lie; perhaps he truly had a master, which was why he repeatedly declined Lin Wan’s offer.

In that case, given his character, he probably wouldn’t abandon his master to join Lin Wan. So, she no longer intended to press the matter. She cupped her hands toward Hu Yi, whose expression had inexplicably become somewhat dazed, and said, “I apologize for any offense during this time. I hope you can forgive me.”

The coachman cracked his whip, and the carriage carrying Lin Wan was about to move forward when Hu Yi suddenly blocked its path.

“Wait!”

He frowned slightly, glanced at Lin Wan several times, his face flushing red. Finally, as if unwillingly, he spoke in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz, “I’ve changed my mind. I’m willing to be the chief escort of your agency!”

Lin Wan’s eyes widened.

Though she didn’t understand why Hu Yi had suddenly relented, she knew an opportunity shouldn’t be missed. She immediately fetched paper and pen from the carriage.

Having recruited other escorts recently, she had employment contracts ready in the carriage. Lin Wan modified a few clauses and handed the contract to Hu Yi.

“Please take a look. If there are any issues, we can discuss them.”

Lin Wan showed utmost sincerity.

However, Hu Yi didn’t even glance at the terms of the document and directly signed his name on the contract.

“Tell me, what will I need to do from now on…” Hu Yi’s gaze at Lin Wan seemed to flicker with an unusual light.

Seeing Hu Yi sign the contract, Lin Wan’s anxious heart finally settled. She wasn’t in a hurry now and waved her hand.

“I need to take my newly recognized younger sister back to the estate. I’ve already informed my parents, and I’m a bit pressed for time at the moment. If you’re eager to learn more, you can head to my escort agency first. The staff will fill you in.”

Hu Yi glanced at the carriage, gave a soft “Hmm,” and fell silent.

Lin Wan entered the carriage, and after they had traveled some distance, she lifted the window curtain to look back. Hu Yi seemed to still be standing in the same spot, motionless, watching the carriage.

“Qianqian, you truly are my lucky star.”

Lin Wan lowered the carriage curtain and immediately turned to Sheng Qian with a delighted smile. “I spent over half a month trying to persuade him, but he never agreed. The moment you showed up, he said yes.”

“It’s because you’re such a good person that everyone is willing to work under you. It has nothing to do with me.” Sheng Qian deflected the praise, her gaze still fixed outside the window.

Seeing that Sheng Qian didn’t take credit, Lin Wan didn’t press the topic further.

Having resolved another issue, Lin Wan was in high spirits. She sat beside Sheng Qian, smiling warmly at her, and occasionally popped a piece of dried fruit into her mouth.

She fed her so quickly that Sheng Qian couldn’t swallow fast enough. Before she knew it, Sheng Qian’s cheeks were puffed up, making her look just like an adorable little squirrel.

Lin Wan couldn’t help herself. She hugged Sheng Qian, whose body still felt a bit stiff to the touch, and laughed until tears welled in her eyes.

Sheng Qian seemed a little annoyed, her face flushed red as she glared at Lin Wan.

It took Lin Wan quite some time, coaxing her with “good sister” this and “good sister” that, to finally soothe her temper.

Through this, Lin Wan came to understand Sheng Qian a little better: even though she had lost her memories, she still retained some of the delicate, princess-like temperament, which was utterly endearing.

A short while later, the carriage arrived at the location of Lin Wan’s security agency.

Lin Wan already had a few guards working for her, and the agency was beginning to take shape. Proud of what she had built, Lin Wan wasn’t hesitant to show it off to Sheng Qian. She led her out of the carriage and took her for a stroll around the shop.

Though the shop appeared quite small, Sheng Qian expressed genuine admiration, her eyes wide with anticipation like a little white rabbit’s as she looked at Lin Wan.

“Sister, can I come here often from now on?”

A glimmer of hope shone in her eyes. “This is your shop, and I want to help you as soon as possible.”

The Lin family, being merchants, didn’t impose the same restrictions on women as some aristocratic households did, so it wasn’t difficult for Lin Wan to go out. She would be visiting the shop daily in the coming period, and bringing Sheng Qian along was no trouble.

Lin Wan didn’t really believe Sheng Qian could be of much help to her.

However, the guards at the agency trained daily. Lin Wan’s eyes swept over Sheng Qian’s delicate, willow-like frame. So fragile it seemed a gust of wind could topple her and she secretly resolved to encourage Sheng Qian to join the guards’ training sessions to improve her physical condition.

Thus, Lin Wan readily agreed.

The next stop for the carriage was at the entrance of the Lin residence.

Lin Wan’s parents had already heard about her taking in a homeless girl.

Neither of them considered it a big deal.

After all, the Lin family was wealthy, and supporting one more girl wasn’t a hardship especially if she brought Lin Wan happiness.

What they hadn’t expected, however, was just how stunningly beautiful Sheng Qian would be.

Lin Wan’s father, having traveled far and wide for business over the years, had seen his share of the world, yet he had never encountered a girl as exquisite as Sheng Qian.

In the presence of Lin Wan’s parents, Sheng Qian carried herself with grace and composure, neither subservient nor arrogant. This earned her even more respect from the Lin couple.

Still, such striking beauty could sometimes attract trouble. Lin Wan’s parents advised Sheng Qian to wear a veil in the future to conceal her dazzling appearance.

Sheng Qian naturally agreed to everything they suggested.

Lin Wan arranged for Sheng Qian’s room to be right next to hers.

After a night’s rest, early the next morning, remembering that Hu Yi would be reporting to the security agency, Lin Wan finished breakfast and took Sheng Qian with her to the agency.

Hu Yi not only possessed exceptional martial arts skills but also had both courage and wisdom. With just a little guidance from Lin Wan, he quickly grasped his duties. After just one morning, the other escorts who had arrived earlier held him in high regard.

Lin Wan was immensely proud of her discerning eye and couldn’t help but marvel inwardly. It was all thanks to her ability to recognize talent! If the chaotic times she foresaw were to come, with Hu Yi’s capabilities, he might even become a general…

She resolved to treat Hu Yi with greater respect in the future, ensuring that this hard-won talent wouldn’t slip away.

At the moment, the escort agency had no assignments, so there wasn’t much to do. Recalling her plan to help Sheng Qian build her physical strength, Lin Wan called her in.

“Master, my younger sister has been frail since childhood. Do you have any simple and easy-to-learn exercises to strengthen her body that she could follow?”

Hu Yi’s gaze fell upon Sheng Qian, his jaw tightening into a rigid line.

“Naturally, there is,” he rasped. “Let’s start with a horse stance. We’ll see how long you can hold it before making further plans. ”

Sheng Qian bit her lower lip, glanced at Lin Wan, and obediently stepped forward to assume the horse stance.

Worried that Sheng Qian, the delicate princess might become embarrassed and upset if she couldn’t hold the stance for long in her presence, Lin Wan excused herself to check the accounts and went to the backyard. She thoughtfully ensured no one else would approach the area.

Little did she know, the moment she stepped out, the capable man she respected, Hu Yi, dropped to his knees before Sheng Qian, his eyes reddening.

“Young Master, it’s our fault. You’ve suffered!”