The Female Lead is Quite Unusual - Episode 52

Lin Wan was utterly dumbfounded!

 

Staring at the 5% luck value above Cousin Li’s head, she barely managed to recall him from her memories.

 

In the original host’s memories, Cousin Li was viewed through rose-tinted glasses.

 

Li Si, as he was called, truly lived up to the 5% luck he possessed. He was the quintessential “child from someone else’s family” handsome, exceptionally intelligent from a young age, and the pride of the Li family. He was the most accomplished scholar among the children of Lin Wan’s generation.

 

The original host had adored following Li Si around since childhood, dreaming of marrying him and frequently competing with other girls for his attention.

 

However, Li Si never gave the original host preferential treatment because they were relatives. Instead, he went out of his way to avoid her.

 

In the original storyline, Li Si later fell in love with Sheng Qian at first sight, but their budding romance was disrupted by the original host. After learning of Sheng Qian’s death, Li Si was heartbroken for a long time.

 

Truth be told, if Sheng Qian were to choose a husband, Li Si could be considered a decent match: in the original storyline, he later aligned himself with the male lead, the heir of Prince Yunyang, and shone brilliantly under his command.

 

When the male lead eventually became emperor, Li Si would undoubtedly rise to prominence alongside him.

 

But now, Sheng Qian was still too young. It was unlikely that Li Si would fall in love with her at first sight as he did in the original storyline.

 

At this thought, Lin Wan couldn’t help but glance at Sheng Qian again. Meeting Lin Wan’s gaze, Sheng Qian pursed her lips tightly and averted her eyes.

 

What was wrong with her?

 

“What are you standing there for?”

 

Seeing Lin Wan frozen in place, Mother Lin grew impatient. She nudged Lin Wan’s arm with her elbow and whispered in her ear, “Have you lost your mind from happiness?”

 

“After your failed matchmaking attempts lately, I went to the temple to consult the Bodhisattva. The Bodhisattva said to let things take their natural course. I remembered how you often said as a child that your Cousin Li was your destiny. Since he’s about to take the imperial exams soon, I decided to invite him over.

 

“Perhaps his arrival will bring your destined fate?””

 

“Your Cousin Li didn’t care for your domineering ways before, but you’ve improved a lot recently. I’m sure he’ll see you in a new light this time.”

 

Lin Wan stood there, momentarily stunned.

 

She was truly amazed by her mother’s interpretation skills. How could “letting things take their natural course” be twisted into this? The Bodhisattva up in the heavens would probably faint upon hearing this. But as Cousin Li approached, Lin Wan had no choice but to muster her spirits and murmur softly, “Cousin.”

 

Li Si gave a noncommittal “Hmm,” his gaze fixed on Lin Wan. He lifted his chin slightly, his expression haughty, and said, “Aunt mentioned that you’ve turned over a new leaf lately not only adopting an orphan girl but also repeatedly aiding disaster victims. I must say, I’m quite surprised.”

 

“I hope you’ll persevere and not just act on a whim, only to abandon your efforts later. When distributing porridge and relief, don’t just focus on building your own reputation. Do more good deeds in the name of your family as well.”

 

Li Si was only half a year older than the original host and was still in the midst of his voice-changing phase. His voice was coarse and unpleasant to the ear, especially when paired with his arrogant and old-fashioned demeanor, which made him almost laughable.

 

Lin Wan’s face flushed red as she struggled to hold back her laughter.

 

Neither of Lin Wan’s parents had criticized her porridge distribution, yet he had the nerve to nitpick right from the start, openly and subtly accusing her of seeking fame. Never mind that Lin Wan had always distributed the porridge anonymously. Even if she hadn’t, she saw nothing wrong with openly acknowledging a good deed.

 

Moreover, Lin Wan couldn’t help but wonder whether Li Si’s mention of “family members” included himself.

 

The original host had mistaken Li Si’s demeanor for maturity, but Lin Wan saw him as superficial. Nothing more than a conceited, arrogant child who thought too highly of himself!

 

Once she shattered the original host’s idealized perception, Lin Wan immediately dismissed the idea of considering Li Si as a potential match for Sheng Qian, such a pretentious young boy was simply unworthy of her precious Sheng Qian.

 

Under Lin Wan’s unwavering gaze, Li Si furrowed his brows, while Mother Lin’s expression darkened. The original host had always trailed after Li Si, and Mother Lin hadn’t felt the need to intervene constantly.

 

Although she had heard rumors that Li Si treated her daughter poorly, she assumed that, given their families’ kinship ties, his behavior couldn’t be too extreme. She hadn’t paid it much mind.

 

She had once thought the two made a perfect match. Her daughter’s beauty complemented by Li Si’s talent. But witnessing his attitude today, Mother Lin suddenly found Li Si utterly disagreeable.

 

Her daughter, raised with such care and affection in the Lin household, was not someone Li Si had the right to look down upon.

 

Seeing that Li Si seemed about to speak again, and judging by his expression that his words wouldn’t be pleasant, Mother Lin coldly cut him off: “Let’s not stand here catching the wind. Come inside for the meal.”

 

Li Si failed to detect the chill in Mother Lin’s tone. In his mind, the Lin family were nothing but lowly merchants. Their kindness toward him was merely an attempt to curry favor, hoping to gain future advantages once he passed the imperial examinations. If not for his consideration of his aunt’s feelings, he would never set foot in this merchant household reeking of money.

 

Nevertheless, Li Si prided himself on his filial piety. As Mother Lin was an elder, he had no intention of defying her wishes. He nodded and stepped into the Lin residence.

 

As he passed by Sheng Qian, he couldn’t help but notice her striking beauty, even at such a young age. A flicker of admiration crossed his eyes, and he sighed inwardly: Lin Wan was so jealous, such a beautiful girl staying by her side must be suffering greatly. He needed to find a way to rescue this poor young lady.

 

Mother Lin caught the look Li Si gave Sheng Qian, and her face grew even sterner.

 

Truth be told, Mother Lin had rarely interacted with Li Si. Years ago, she had insisted on marrying Lin Wan’s father, but the Li family, fancying themselves scholars, had vehemently opposed the match, nearly severing ties with her. Over the years, Lin Wan’s father, being kind-hearted, had secretly provided the Li family with substantial financial support, enabling them to fund Li Si’s education.

 

Yet, despite all the money given to the Li family, they took it for granted and never expressed a word of gratitude.

 

Previously, her daughter had always spoken highly of Li Si in front of her, leading Mother Lin to believe he was different from the other men in the Li family. For the sake of her daughter’s marriage prospects, Mother Lin had swallowed her pride and reached out to the Li family, suggesting that Li Si come for a short stay. Now, it was clear that Li Si was cut from the same cloth as the rest of his family.

 

Her daughter might be blinded by infatuation, but she herself would not be so foolish. She would rather support her daughter for life than see her marry Li Si and suffer.

 

With these thoughts, Mother Lin’s attitude toward Li Si grew noticeably colder.

 

Li Si wasn’t surprised. After all, when he was at home, his family often reminded him that his aunt had a peculiar temperament and had willingly degraded herself by marrying a merchant. In his view, Aunt Lin’s attitude was only to be expected.

 

What caught Li Si’s attention more was the Lin family’s extravagance. This was his first time entering the main residence of the Lin family. He had previously thought that Lin Wan’s lavish display of expensive jewelry was deliberate ostentation, but now he realized he had misunderstood her.

 

A single vase casually placed on the Lin family’s antique shelf was a priceless treasure, enough to cover the Li family’s expenses for an entire year.

 

Though Li Si considered himself steady and composed, in the eyes of adults, he still seemed somewhat lacking.

 

His scrutinizing gaze did not escape the notice of Lin Wan and her mother.

 

The more Lin Wan observed him, the more she felt Li Si was unworthy of Sheng Qian.

 

She kept a close watch on him, fearing he might try to charm Sheng Qian, especially since Sheng Qian was at that tender age of budding romance, and Li Si did have a somewhat handsome face.

 

However, for reasons unknown, Li Si didn’t pay much attention to Sheng Qian during the meal. Instead, he served Lin Wan dishes three times.

 

Aunt Lin’s face darkened again, barely managing to maintain her polite smile.

 

After lunch, Aunt Lin changed her original plan of arranging Li Si’s quarters near Lin Wan’s courtyard and instead placed him in the guest courtyard farthest from Lin Wan.

 

Worried that Lin Wan might protest, she couldn’t help but glance at her daughter, only to find Lin Wan’s gaze fixed on Sheng Qian, who stood nearby.

 

A sudden unease gripped Aunt Lin’s heart.

 

Could it be that Lin Wan had noticed the way Li Si looked at Sheng Qian and grown jealous of her?

 

Lin Wan had often thrown tantrums in the past over Sheng Qian’s interactions with other girls.

 

Although Sheng Qian had lost her memory, her demeanor was far from that of someone raised in an ordinary household. Because of this, Aunt Lin always treated her with a bit more respect. Moreover, Sheng Qian was gentle, considerate, and exceptionally beautiful, making her quite likable.

 

Since Sheng Qian’s arrival, Lin Wan’s temper had improved significantly.

 

If Lin Wan were to foolishly fall out with Sheng Qian over Li Si and break their bond, Aunt Lin truly felt she might have to reprimand her disappointing daughter.

 

Fortunately, Lin Wan only stared at Sheng Qian without saying anything hurtful. Soon after, someone from Lin Wan’s escort agency arrived, seemingly with urgent business, and called her away.

 

Relieved, after settling Li Si, Aunt Lin took Sheng Qian aside for a private conversation.

 

“Qianqian, my dear, that child Wanwan has been clinging to her cousin since she was little.”

 

“When she was seven, we forbade her from playing with her cousin, and she sneaked into the stables, mounted a wild horse, and ran off, breaking her leg. At ten…”

 

Aunt Lin recounted all the foolish things her daughter had done for Li Si over the years, sighing inwardly: How did she end up with such a troublesome daughter, who not only fell for Li Si but refused to give up despite repeated setbacks.

 

“Qianqian, if Wanwan ever clashes with you because of Li Si, please don’t hold it against her. It’s my fault for spoiling her all these years, letting her develop such a reckless nature. I apologize to you on her behalf in advance.”

 

After sharing stories of Lin Wan’s childhood antics, Aunt Lin took Sheng Qian’s hand and softly voiced her true concern.

 

“Madam, what are you saying? Of course, I wouldn’t let this come between Sister and me. Besides, Sister is so wonderful. How could she ever treat me poorly?” Sheng Qian looked incredulous. “Madam, you worry too much.”

 

“Your concern for your sister is truly touching. With Madam’s protection, it’s no wonder she has developed such a sincere nature.”

 

Sheng Qian held Mother Lin’s hand, soothing her softly.

 

“Moreover, I can see that Young Master Li also cares for your sister. He spoke with her so much today, which shows he must be deeply concerned about her.”

 

Sheng Qian remained as understanding as ever, sighing with emotion: “I thought your sister treated me exceptionally well, and I’ve always wanted to repay her kindness. But now it seems she isn’t just good to me. She’s probably this kind to everyone she meets.”

 

Sheng Qian lowered her eyes, her tone filled with heartfelt emotion: “I never imagined your sister would do so much for Young Master Li.”

 

“I suppose Young Master Li must feel the same way I do, deeply caring for your sister in his heart.”

 

“You’re a good child!”

 

Mother Lin absentmindedly patted Sheng Qian’s hand, but her expression darkened. The more she thought about it, the more stifled she felt.

 

Sheng Qian was a good child, always seeing the best in people and knowing how to repay kindness.

 

But how could Mother Lin not see through Li Si’s intentions?

 

Li Si was truly ungrateful!

 

Her daughter had been devoted to him all these years, giving him many valuable gifts, yet this heartless man had dared to treat her so dismissively before!

 

Now that he had seen the Lin family’s wealth, Mother Lin suspected Li Si was having other ideas.

 

Remembering the look in Li Si’s eyes during the meal, Mother Lin felt disgusted.

 

She would rather keep her daughter at home as an old maid for life than marry her off to someone so opportunistic…

 

＊

 

Lin Wan was summoned by Hu Yi.

 

Hu Yi seemed particularly anxious this time. When he called her away, he didn’t explain what the matter was.

 

“Mr. Hu, what exactly is going on?”

 

Lin Wan followed him anxiously for quite some distance before she couldn’t help but press for an answer. Hu Yi’s gaze shifted uneasily for a while before he stammered: “Actually, I wanted to ask you to help Aunt Huang obtain her freedom. I’m willing to pay for her release.”

 

“Yes! That’s it. I want to free Aunt Huang from slavery.” The second time he said it, Hu Yi’s words finally flowed more smoothly.

 

“I thought it was something urgent, making you come find me in such a hurry.” Lin Wan breathed a sigh of relief.

 

Aunt Huang was a slave Lin Wan had bought at the market some time ago.

 

As the security company’s operations expanded, the original cook couldn’t handle the workload alone, so Lin Wan decided to find some kitchen helpers.

 

While passing through the main street, Lin Wan saw a man whipping a pitiful slave.

 

In this era, when family heads committed crimes or individuals broke the law, they would be tattooed on the face and sold into slavery.

 

In the dead of winter, the slave wore only thin clothing, yet under the man’s whip, her back remained straight. She didn’t struggle at all.

 

If no one intervened, this slave likely wouldn’t survive the winter.

 

Moved by compassion, Lin Wan couldn’t help but purchase the slave.

 

The slave trader demanded an exorbitant price, claiming this slave had come from the imperial palace, charging Lin Wan one extra tael of silver than usual.

 

Lin Wan didn’t bargain with him. After buying the slave, she brought her home, gave her some clothes, and planned to have her work in the kitchen after she recovered.

 

It was only then that Lin Wan discovered this slave had had her tongue cut out.

 

Moreover, what surprised Lin Wan even more was that Hu Yi seemed to know this slave. The moment he saw her, his eyes widened in shock.

 

Aunt Huang also froze for a moment upon seeing Hu Yi. A flicker of vitality ignited in her ashen eyes, and tears streamed down her face.

 

The two of them went into a room to catch up.

 

When they emerged, Hu Yi told Lin Wan that this slave’s surname was Huang and that she was his fellow villager. She had been abducted and brought here a few years ago. He pleaded with Lin Wan to take her in as well.

 

Lin Wan, who already felt sympathy for Aunt Huang and had planned to let her work in the kitchen, readily agreed.

 

Aunt Huang was an excellent cook and handled interpersonal interactions with great care. Even without a tongue, she never wallowed in self-pity, and during this time, everyone in the escort agency had grown fond of her.

 

Lin Wan felt deeply regretful.

 

If Aunt Huang could speak, she would undoubtedly appoint her as the agency’s manager.

 

Aunt Huang carried a gentle demeanor and handled matters with remarkable grace, no less capable than the chief steward serving Lin Wan’s father.

 

So, when Hu Yi expressed his desire to help Aunt Huang break free from her slave status, Lin Wan wasn’t surprised. After all, in Hu Yi’s hometown in the southwest, there was a tradition of valuing freedom, and few were willing to remain enslaved.

 

With this in mind, Lin Wan agreed without hesitation and accompanied Hu Yi to the government office to complete the necessary procedures.

 

By the time the paperwork was finished, it was already evening.

 

When Lin Wan returned home, her family had already eaten, and Li Si had gone back to his own guest room.

 

Even the simplest guest room in the Lin residence was far more luxurious than his own home, and Li Si had already begun to feel so content that he was reluctant to leave.

 

He had initially intended to wait for Lin Wan’s return, but with the imperial exams approaching, he had no choice but to return to his study. By the time Lin Wan arrived home, he was no longer in the living room.

 

Lin’s mother arranged for a meal to be served.

 

Lin Wan found this somewhat surprising. In the past, no matter how late she returned, her mother would always wait to eat with her, refusing to be persuaded otherwise.

 

Lin Wan didn’t dwell on it.

 

After finishing her dinner, she returned to her room under her mother’s ambiguous gaze.

 

For some reason, she felt that her mother seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as she left.

 

No sooner had she entered her room than there was a knock at the door.

 

Lin Wan opened it to find Sheng Qian standing outside.

 

“Sister,” Sheng Qian called softly upon seeing Lin Wan. She lowered her slender neck, biting her lower lip. “May I come in and sit for a while?”

 

“Of course.”

 

Lin Wan stepped aside, her gaze lingering on Sheng Qian as she frowned slightly. Something seemed off about Sheng Qian.

 

Sheng Qian entered the room and sat listlessly in a chair. Her eyes drifted toward Lin Wan but quickly averted when they met Lin Wan’s gaze. She hung her head and remained silent for a long while.

 

Seeing her like this, Lin Wan grew curious and couldn’t help but break the silence.

 

“Qianqian, is something the matter?”

 

“I…” Sheng Qian hesitated, her misty eyes glancing at Lin Wan several times, yet she still couldn’t bring herself to speak.

 

Lin Wan didn’t press her. Instead, she poured her a cup of water and said gently, “Take your time, no rush. You can tell me anything.”

 

As if drawing courage from Lin Wan’s words, Sheng Qian finally spoke.

 

Her beautiful eyes glistened with unshed tears, as though they might spill at any moment.

 

“Sister, don’t laugh at me. I wanted to ask you, after you marry Young Master Li, will you stop paying attention to me?”

 

“I want to be with you forever, sister. I don’t want us to be apart. Just thinking about being separated from you in the future makes me incredibly sad.”

 

…

 

Lin Wan’s eyes widened, momentarily caught between amusement and exasperation.

 

She never expected that after all that hesitation, Sheng Qian would bring up something like this.

 

“How could that be?”

 

Lin Wan couldn’t help but laugh, patting Sheng Qian’s arm. “Where did you hear that? I’ve never had any intention of marrying Cousin Li.”

 

“Really?”

 

Sheng Qian lifted her face, which appeared even more pitiful under the lamplight, as if she didn’t dare believe it, and asked again.

 

“Of course.”

 

Lin Wan held Sheng Qian’s hand, thought for a moment, then patted her arm again to comfort her. “When I said I wanted to marry Cousin, that was just polite talk from when we were children. Now that I’m older, I wouldn’t be so childish anymore.”

 

“Don’t be afraid.”

 

Lin Wan hadn’t expected Sheng Qian to be so dependent on her, and she felt increasingly pleased with herself. Holding Sheng Qian’s hand, she continued, “I’ll at least wait until I see Qianqian grow up before considering my own matters. I won’t leave you so early.”

 

“I can’t bear to be apart from you, sister.”

 

Yet Sheng Qian didn’t seem comforted by Lin Wan’s words. Her beautiful eyes glistened with tears, still appearing somewhat unconvinced.

 

“Qianqian, what else are you thinking about?”

 

Wanting to ease Sheng Qian’s worries, Lin Wan took the initiative to ask.

 

“I’m really scared. You used to treat Cousin Li so well.”

 

Sheng Qian sniffled, glanced at Lin Wan, then lowered her head and began recounting, one by one, all the foolish things Lin Wan had done in her childhood to get closer to Li Si.

 

Lin Wan desperately wanted to interrupt her but worried Sheng Qian would think she was being harsh, so she forced herself to listen to the end.

 

Watching Lin Wan’s face flush with embarrassment and annoyance, Sheng Qian leaned closer and, for the first time, actively embraced Lin Wan just as Lin Wan often hugged her.

 

“Sister,” Sheng Qian’s voice sounded softly by Lin Wan’s ear, carrying a faint, melancholic tone, “you sacrificed so much for Young Master Li before. Do you really not want to marry him anymore?”

 

“But you promised me.”

 

Sheng Qian spoke gently, her voice tinged with clear grievance. “You said you would stay with me forever.”

 

“Sister, you are mine.”