The Female Lead is Quite Unusual - Episode 53

Lin Wan finally realized that although Sheng Qian usually had a gentle temperament, once she got upset, she was incredibly difficult to coax.

 

“In the past, I was too young and didn’t understand things properly, but now I have no admiration for Cousin Li. Just watch, I will make sure to avoid any contact with him from now on.”

 

As she spoke, Lin Wan remembered her plan to prevent Sheng Qian from interacting with Li Si. An idea suddenly struck her, and she added, “Qianqian, if you don’t believe me, you can come and keep an eye on me every day from now on.”

 

Only after Lin Wan said this did Sheng Qian seem to finally believe her. The corners of her lips curled up slightly.

 

“If I come to watch over you every day, Sister, won’t you get tired of me?”

 

Sheng Qian was clearly very tempted by Lin Wan’s suggestion. Her watery eyes fixed on Lin Wan as she whispered, “I’m afraid you’ll find me a nuisance.”

 

“How could that be?”

 

Looking at Sheng Qian’s adorable expression, Lin Wan’s heart melted. She immediately replied, “Qianqian, don’t underestimate yourself. You’re so beautiful! I almost want to see you every day. With you by my side, I feel more motivated to get things done. How could I ever find you bothersome?”

 

Sheng Qian’s lips curved into a full smile. She lifted her chin slightly and gazed at Lin Wan. “In that case, I’ll do my best to help you, Sister.”

 

With Sheng Qian’s agreement, Lin Wan breathed a sigh of relief: Now, Sheng Qian wouldn’t have much time to interact with Li Si either.

 

“I naturally believe you, Qianqian.”

 

Although Lin Wan felt that Sheng Qian was still young and should enjoy a carefree childhood without being burdened by mundane matters, since Sheng Qian had offered, Lin Wan was more than happy to encourage her. “Qianqian, you’re so clever! You can succeed at anything you set your mind to.”

 

Sheng Qian’s eyes curved into happy crescents.

 

And so, the two of them finalized their plan.

 

Early the next morning, Sheng Qian arrived punctually at Lin Wan’s door.

 

She brought ink, brushes, paper, and an abacus, clearly sincere in her desire to assist Lin Wan.

 

At first, Lin Wan only tentatively assigned Sheng Qian small tasks. But after Sheng Qian completed them quickly and flawlessly, Lin Wan began giving her more responsibilities.

 

Sheng Qian handled all her assignments exceptionally well. Not only was she efficient, but she was also remarkably considerate. Whenever she finished her work, she wouldn’t disturb Lin Wan. Instead, she would quietly find a book to read in Lin Wan’s study.

 

Every time Lin Wan looked up from her busy work and saw Sheng Qian’s serene figure, an involuntary sense of contentment washed over her: Raising a well-behaved girl like Sheng Qian was truly effortless. Even if Sheng Qian weren’t the female lead, Lin Wan felt she would still want to take care of her.

 

To Lin Wan’s surprise, Li Si who had previously avoided her at all costs came to visit her several times. Moreover, during their conversations, he no longer seemed as distant as before.

 

Whenever Li Si visited, Sheng Qian would sit to the side, her beautiful eyes wide open, fixed intently on Lin Wan.

 

Remembering her promise to Sheng Qian, Lin Wan didn’t dare to interact too much with Li Si. Each time, she used the excuse of being busy to send him away.

 

Compared to the current Li Si, Lin Wan almost preferred his previous sarcastic and aloof demeanor. However, since Li Si was destined to become a key general under the male lead with a promising future, Lin Wan couldn’t afford to offend him completely. After much deliberation, during Li Si’s next visit and under Sheng Qian’s narrowed gaze, Lin Wan presented him with a set of high-quality ink and brushes from her study.

 

“Cousin, with the imperial exams approaching, I don’t want to distract you because of me,” Lin Wan lowered her head and handed the brush and ink to Li Si, speaking against her will. “For the time being, please don’t come looking for me. I’m afraid I’ll disturb your studies.”

 

“You’ve truly become sensible!” Li Si took the brush and ink from Lin Wan, and upon recognizing their origin, his smile widened. “Very well! What you say makes sense. For the next while, I should focus wholeheartedly on my studies.”

 

“I will devote myself to diligent study and live up to my cousin’s expectations.”

 

Seeing that Li Si, as expected, would not be visiting for some time, Lin Wan breathed a sigh of relief.

 

But then, Lin Wan’s eyes widened in shock. For some inexplicable reason, Li Si, before leaving, actually reached out and patted her head!

 

Lin Wan was utterly dumbfounded, standing rigidly in place.

 

Li Si looked at her and smiled again before lifting his head, clasping his hands behind his back, and slowly walking away.

 

It took Lin Wan a moment to realize belatedly: Li Si was flirting with her.

 

Did he really think that was charming?

 

At that moment, Lin Wan felt as if she had swallowed a fly, her heart filled with discomfort.

 

But just then, Sheng Qian, for some reason, before Lin Wan could fully process the situation, exerted a force from behind. Lin Wan took a step back and heard Sheng Qian speak softly, “Sister, come with me.”

 

Sheng Qian’s voice was calm and devoid of emotion, yet Lin Wan inexplicably felt a chill run down her spine.

 

Sheng Qian’s grip on her hand was tight as she led her toward the back of the house. Lin Wan felt this was somewhat inappropriate and tried to break free, only to realize with shock; she couldn’t free herself from Sheng Qian’s grasp.

 

Instinctively, Lin Wanwanted to struggle with all her might, but after a moment’s thought, she dismissed the idea.

 

Sheng Qian was likely acting out of anger, which explained her sudden burst of strength. If Lin Wan struggled with all her might, she might end up hurting Sheng Qian.

 

If she was being dragged along, so be it. After all, everyone else was in the courtyard, and no one was around to see.

 

Thinking this, Lin Wan allowed Sheng Qian to have her way.

 

After walking about ten steps, Lin Wan guessed Sheng Qian’s intention and couldn’t help but say, “Is this really necessary?”

 

Sheng Qian stopped and turned to look at Lin Wan. “Sister, do you think this is acceptable?”

 

Sheng Qian’s expression seemed no different from usual, but when Lin Wan met her gaze, she found herself unable to voice any objection.

 

Sheng Qian’s dark, luminous eyes seemed to be ablaze, making them appear even brighter. For a moment, Lin Wan even had the vague feeling that if she didn’t comply with Sheng Qian’s wishes, Sheng Qian might do something uncontrollable.

 

But what could a weak childlike Sheng Qian possibly do? Most likely, she would just hide under the covers and cry sadly for a long time.

 

Lin Wan couldn’t bear to see Sheng Qian cry: she had taken Sheng Qian in to watch her grow up happily, not to let unrelated people cause her distress.

 

Fine! Children often have a sense of possessiveness.

 

Sheng Qian had always been so well-behaved that Lin Wan had almost forgotten she was still just a child.

 

It was actually quite understandable: Sheng Qian had lost her memory, and the first person she saw upon waking was Lin Wan. In her heart, she must have regarded Lin Wan as the most important person and naturally couldn’t tolerate others coveting her attention.

 

With that thought, Lin Wan sighed, took the initiative to hold Sheng Qian’s hand, softened her voice, and was the first to yield: “Alright, I’ll listen to you. Don’t be angry anymore, okay.”

 

However, Sheng Qian’s lips only pressed tighter.

 

She lifted her head and gave Lin Wan an inscrutable look, saying nothing, but the strength with which she held Lin Wan’s hand eased slightly.

 

Sheng Qian led Lin Wan to the bathhouse.

 

The Lin family, with their merchant caravan traveling far and wide, had once discovered a hot water system integrated with a stove in a small foreign country, allowing hot water to be available at any time. The Lin family had since adopted this system in their own residence.

 

Meeting Sheng Qian’s dark, intense gaze, Lin Wan sighed and lay down on the small bed usually used for washing hair.

 

Sheng Qian leaned in, unhurriedly loosened Lin Wan’s long hair, filled a wooden basin with water, then fetched some soapberries and began gently washing Lin Wan’s hair.

 

It seemed to be Sheng Qian’s first time washing someone else’s hair, as her movements were a bit clumsy at first, accidentally pulling out a few strands of Lin Wan’s hair.

 

Lin Wan felt a sting of pain but, afraid of discouraging Sheng Qian, didn’t make a sound. Instead, she looked at Sheng Qian and smiled, asking, “Are you feeling a little less angry now?”

 

Sheng Qian still didn’t speak. She glanced at Lin Wan, lowered her eyes, and her movements became much gentler.

 

As Sheng Qian carefully massaged her scalp, Lin Wan felt an incredible sense of relaxation wash over her.

 

The surroundings were utterly quiet, with only the sound of splashing water filling the air. Lin Wan had intended to say something, but her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and before she knew it, she had drifted off to sleep.

 

In her drowsy state, it felt as if someone was teasingly scratching her chin. Half-asleep, Lin Wan instinctively murmured, “Bai Yin, stop it!” The moment she spoke, she forgot what she had said, and the surroundings suddenly fell into complete silence. Sure enough, no one bothered her anymore.

 

A while later, as Lin Wan sank into a deeper sleep, a voice filled with gritted teeth sounded beside her.

 

“Who is Bai Yin? Just how many people have you been so close with?”

 

Lin Wan, deep in sleep, naturally didn’t respond to Sheng Qian, nor did Sheng Qian expect her to.

 

Fuming with anger, Sheng Qian sat beside Lin Wan, waves of grievance and confusion surging within her. For a moment, she truly wanted to shake Lin Wan awake and demand to know who this “Bai Yin” was, and whether Lin Wan sweet-talked and deceived everyone she met like that.

 

But in the end, reason barely managed to suppress her anger. With a complicated expression, Sheng Qian sat down beside Lin Wan, her gaze unfathomable as she stared at her.

 

Throughout her life, Sheng Qian had always drifted with the current, with many things done only because others demanded it of her. This was the first time she had ever wanted someone so intensely.

 

From the moment she could remember, Sheng Qian knew she was an unwelcome existence.

 

Her mother, Hu Qing, was originally the daughter of the chieftain of the Leyi tribe. Out of spite toward her brother, she had entered the palace as a candidate in the imperial selection. Once a carefree daughter of the tribe who belonged under the open sky, she found herself trapped in the deep palace. After witnessing the sinister schemes and treachery within the palace walls, she only wished to serve cautiously as a minor palace maid, waiting for the day her term ended so she could leave.

 

Yet, no one could have predicted that she would encounter the emperor in his drunken state. Her stunning beauty pushed her into an abyss. She was favored by the emperor, and to her despair, she became pregnant with Sheng Qian.

 

With a royal heir in her womb, she was bound to the endless confines of the deep palace for the rest of her life.

 

Hu Qing hated the emperor, and she also hated Sheng Qian, who carried the emperor’s bloodline and cut off her path to leaving the palace. Since childhood, she had paid little attention to Sheng Qian.

 

When Sheng Qian was five years old, Hu Qing’s older brother sent his guard, Hu Yi, to the capital, intending for him to protect Hu Qing and her daughter. Hu Qing firmly refused Hu Yi’s protection, so Hu Yi turned to Sheng Qian instead.

 

Seeing how frail Sheng Qian was, Hu Yi taught her martial arts with the aim of strengthening her body and ensuring she wouldn’t be bullied in the future. However, Sheng Qian far exceeded his expectations, mastering most of his skills.

 

Sheng Qian always felt a sense of crisis: Huang Fu’s status in the harem was rising higher and higher, while she herself had never become pregnant. In such circumstances, it was inevitable that Huang Fu would target the emperor’s other children.

 

Over the years, two princes had already died in “accidents.”

 

The emperor had few offspring to begin with. Once the princes were gone, it was possible that Huang Fu would turn her attention to the princesses.

 

Speaking of Huang Fu, she was shrouded in mystery. Originally an unfavored consort with an extremely timid nature, she seemed to have become a completely different person overnight. Suddenly bold and seemingly possessing the ability to foresee the future. Because of this talent, she gradually gained the emperor’s favor and eventually dominated the harem.

 

Hu Qing possessed a stunningly beautiful face but harbored no ambition, content to remain secluded in her small courtyard. She showed no deference to the emperor, and the emperor, unable to tolerate repeated slights, grew increasingly cold toward her, rarely visiting her courtyard year after year.

 

Yet trouble did not avoid Hu Qing just because she kept to herself.

 

Most people believed that Huang Fu framed Hu Qing because, at a certain banquet, Hu Qing wore the same color attire as Huang Fu and outshone her in beauty, causing Huang Fu to bear a grudge and falsely accuse her.

 

Only Sheng Qian and a few others knew that Huang Fu had framed Hu Qing because she wanted to adopt Sheng Qian.

 

Before framing Hu Qing, Huang Fu had privately approached Sheng Qian many times, gifting her with luxurious clothes and jewelry, and urging her to acknowledge Huang Fu as her mother.

 

Sheng Qian pretended to comply, but Huang Fu seemed to grow increasingly agitated. Sheng Qian overheard her muttering more than once in private, “Why hasn’t the fortune increased?”

 

Later, Huang Fu framed Hu Qing. It was unclear what she had discovered, but she completely abandoned her previous attempts to win Sheng Qian over and instead sought to eliminate her entirely.

 

Sheng Qian speculated that all of this was related to what Huang Fu referred to as “fortune.”

 

When Hu Qing died, she was smiling. She had long ceased to desire life. But Sheng Qian was different. She still wanted to live, even if she didn’t understand what she was living for.

 

Sheng Qian narrowly escaped the palace with her life.

 

Growing up in such a conspiratorial environment, Sheng Qian had been molded by her surroundings, and pretense had become almost instinctual. When Lin Wan rescued her, she feigned amnesia to secure a place to stay.

 

She initially assumed that Lin Wan had saved her with ulterior motives and observed her coldly. But as days passed and she spent time with Lin Wan, everything turned out to be different from what she had imagined.

 

She had never met anyone like Lin Wan.

 

Who treated her with such meticulous care, as if she were her own flesh and blood.

 

Lin Wan wore her heart on her sleeve, always smiling when she looked at others, and sweet, pleasant words flowed effortlessly from her lips.

 

Sheng Qian originally resisted Lin Wan and was prepared to leave the Lin family at any moment. However, the longer she stayed with the Lins, the more she found herself looking forward to seeing Lin Wan. By Lin Wan’s side, she felt an overwhelming sense of security.

 

She even deliberately sabotaged Lin Wan’s marriage prospects, unable to bear the thought of Lin Wan leaving her. After all, Lin Wan had promised to stay by her side.

 

Sheng Qian didn’t understand what this feeling was, but she knew one thing for certain, she didn’t want to be apart from Lin Wan.

 

After going through great lengths to ruin Lin Wan’s blind dates, she never expected someone like Li Si to appear.

 

Hearing Mrs. Lin recount all the things Lin Wan had done for Li Si, Sheng Qian gritted her teeth in frustration, consumed by jealousy and resentment.

 

What was so great about someone like Li Si, who was money-grubbing and sought fame? Why would Lin Wan be interested in him?

 

The more Sheng Qian thought about it, the angrier she became. She confronted Lin Wan and used every means possible to prevent Lin Wan from being alone with Li Si.

 

Lin Wan, surprisingly, listened to her, as if finally seeing Li Si for who he truly was, and began avoiding him afterward.

 

But Sheng Qian never expected that Lin Wan would let Li Si pat her head!

 

Even more shocking, she discovered that in her dreams, Lin Wan was calling out another person’s name.