The Male Lead Always Thinks My Script is Wrong - Chapter 13

“I’m fine.” Ji Shinian dusted off some non-existent lint from his skirt and stood up. “I’m heading out first.”

Without waiting for Ji Shuangyuan’s nod, he strode out of the hall.

A large crowd of servants and attendants stood outside, their numbers quite imposing. The moment Ji Shinian emerged, they spoke in unison, “Greetings, Eldest Miss.”

It looks like this show of authority was prepared for me in advance, Ji Shinian thought. Is the Ji family actually being this kind?

Upholding his persona as a haughty young miss, Ji Shinian ignored them. He pointed out Steward Zhou, whom he had seen inside earlier, from the front row. “I’m tired. You, take me back to.”

Ji Shinian paused, appearing as though he couldn’t quite remember how to finish the sentence.

“Understood. The wind is picking up outside,” Steward Zhou immediately chimed in, “allow me to escort you back to your courtyard.”

She reacted swiftly and maintained a humble posture, making it impossible to find any fault in her behavior. Ji Shinian gave a light huff, though his head dipped slightly beneath the veiled hat.

The Ji estate didn’t house many people, but the grounds were surprisingly vast. Steward Zhou led Ji Shinian along the covered walkways, passing through moon gates and making several turns before finally entering a detached courtyard.

Located on the east side of the main residence, the courtyard followed a traditional layout where the garden and living quarters blended seamlessly. Inside, ink lotuses and weeping begonias were arranged in small flower beds, while osmanthus trees rustled in the cool breeze. Amidst the interwoven scents of osmanthus and chrysanthemum, a two-story building rose from the greenery. The courtyard even featured a stream of running water channeled into a small pond, surrounded by sacred bamboo.

Wuzhou wasn’t exactly the heart of the southern lands, so it hadn’t yet been influenced by the grand, celestial architecture style. Ji Shinian’s courtyard strictly followed the principle of “a new view with every step.”

Of course, Ji Shinian’s first thought upon seeing his new home was that it was a good thing Slaying the Heavens was a cultivation world. Otherwise, living here, the autumn mosquitoes would have eaten him alive within half a month.

Actually, Ji Shinian thought of his true body, three days would probably be enough.

Steward Zhou led him into the hall of the small building and gave a signal. Suddenly, a group of maidservants filed into the room.

Steward Zhou said, “Eldest Miss, these are the maids who will serve you from now on. For anything regarding your food, clothing, or daily needs, just give them your orders. If any of them are disobedient.”

“That won’t be necessary.” Ji Shinian looked at the group of girls, whose numbers exceeded what he could count on one hand. His lips twitched under the veil. “I don’t like having so many people around. Tell them all to leave.”

Surprise flashed across Steward Zhou’s face. “But this…”

“I said, I don’t want this many people.”

Ji Shinian raised his hand to cut her off again. He glanced around at everyone present, tilting his head back as far as he could to ensure his disdain was visible even through the veil. “I’m going to be married off to that loser soon anyway. Arranging so many people for me, even a death row inmate gets some fresh air before the end, right?”

“The Master and Madam certainly did not mean it that way,” Steward Zhou said earnestly, unable to take the blame for Ji Hengyi and his wife. “The Eldest Miss has just returned to the estate, so it’s only natural to have people looking after her.”

“I don’t care.”

To be honest, Ji Shinian felt a bit bad, but when his master created this living puppet, he had only finished the part from the neck down before Ji Shinian put it on. Therefore, technically, he was still a man in women’s clothing. Aside from lacking an Adam’s apple, he was entirely male.

Having grown up in the modern world, Ji Shinian couldn’t comfortably accept living with a bunch of girls without any reservations.

Unfortunately, he was currently stuck as an “idiot” character who would be taken over by the system the moment he went out of character.

While it felt wrong to describe himself that way, Ji Shinian was currently playing the type of person who couldn’t say a nice thing to save their life. He was the kind of character who was exceptionally annoying and yet couldn’t be written out of the story just yet.

Thinking about this, Ji Shinian couldn’t help but recall the system’s explanation that the male lead “liked” this type of person. He truly worried for Xiao Shu’s taste.

***

He was drifting off again. Ji Shinian pulled his thoughts back and saw Steward Zhou’s troubled expression. He gritted his teeth and was about to speak when a familiar voice echoed from outside.

“Let them leave.”

“Greetings, Young Master!”

Ji Shuangyuan stepped into the room. He nodded to the maidservants as they moved aside, his gaze landing on Steward Zhou. “You leave as well. I will speak to Mother and Father.”

“Yes, sir.”

Hearing this, Steward Zhou’s expression relaxed slightly. She led the maids in a bow to Ji Shinian and left the small hall to the two siblings.

Another hall.

Ji Shuangyuan didn’t rush to sit down, nor did he speak immediately. He stood there staring at Ji Shinian for a long while before sighing. “What, do you have to speak to your brother through a veil too?”

Ji Shinian, who thought the other man was finally going to lose his temper, was a bit dazed. “Huh?”

“I said,” Ji Shuangyuan repeated patiently, “you don’t need to be afraid at home. You don’t have to wear a veil every waking moment.”

Ji Shinian paused, staring at Ji Shuangyuan, wondering if he was losing the ability to understand human speech.

Brother, what on earth have you imagined?

At what point from the beginning to now did Ji Shuangyuan see him as “afraid”?

Ji Shinian, who had somehow been cast as a “frail orphaned girl returning to the capital,” didn’t know how to respond to his brother’s tragic, poetic language.

When he didn’t answer, Ji Shuangyuan seemed to read something into the silence. He explained seriously, “Yesterday, a great secret realm appeared in the heart of the southern lands. The Sword Alliance issued an urgent summons to several great families, ours included. Father and Mother wanted to hold a welcoming banquet for you, but the situation is urgent. If you mind, Sister, we can hold another banquet when they return, how about that?”

“I like the veil,” Ji Shinian said, untying it and sitting on a rosewood chair, cutting the other man off helplessly. “There’s no need for a welcoming banquet.”

Ji Shinian checked the system in his mind and saw no movement, thankful that no points were deducted. He truly felt that if he stayed silent any longer, Ji Shuangyuan might actually start listing the entire family fortune.

Besides, whether this welcoming banquet could even happen was a question.

Triggered by Ji Shuangyuan’s words, Ji Shinian remembered a fairly important plot point from the original book, which was this very secret realm.

As omnipresent as the great families were in cultivation novels, they rarely took much action in Slaying the Heavens. They had their own territories and foundations. Usually, it was only the younger generation or a few unruly clans that roamed around. Normally, a “secret realm” wouldn’t attract these major players.

However, this particular realm had alarmed the Sword Alliance across the eight provinces and all the major families. Ji Shinian vaguely remembered it was related to a prophecy of world-ending destruction that appeared twenty years ago, around the time the male lead was born.

Ji Shinian himself couldn’t remember exactly what the prophecy was, as it never actually came true by the end of the book. Regardless, such a major event naturally drew countless people. However, the realm was surrounded by illusions, and the cultivators had to keep it a secret from the Demon Race. They searched for months before the male lead “stumbled” upon the true entrance.

It was a standard male-protagonist trope.

Ji Shinian had a reason for saying it wasn’t necessary. In the book, the secret realm only opened fifty or a hundred chapters after the male lead’s clan was wiped out. By then, the male lead was technically a demon lord everyone in the Middle Realm wanted to kill. Would this “sister” brought in solely for marriage really get a welcoming banquet?

Not to mention he had to follow the male lead’s plot. Ji Shinian thought to himself, if they actually held a banquet, where would they even find the guest of honor?

Ji Shuangyuan didn’t know what his “sister” was thinking. He looked slightly disappointed but nodded. “If you don’t want it, then that is that.”

Young man, where did you get this ‘whatever my sister says is right’ attribute?

Ji Shinian thought of Ji Shuangyuan’s attitude since he entered the room. He picked up a cup of fragrant tea and took a sip, trying to control his twitching lips. He said impatiently, “So, does Brother have anything else?”

Ji Shuangyuan nodded. “If you don’t want servants, that is fine. However, when you go out, Zhaofeng City is not like Lixiang. It would be better to have Uncle Li accompany you. And for your daily grooming, you should also…”

“Stop.” Ji Shinian interrupted urgently, sensing more maids were coming. “Uncle Li is enough. I have hands for grooming, you don’t need to worry about that, Brother. I don’t like having other people staying in my room!”

At the end, Ji Shinian placed extra emphasis on the words “don’t like.”

As expected, Ji Shuangyuan immediately gave up on the idea. “…Fine. But for things like laundry, I will have Steward Zhou handle it.”

Since it had come to this, Ji Shinian could only nod and watch as his “big brother” left the courtyard.

“Come on, System, tell me, what is going on with this OOC monitor?”

Once he was sure no one was left in the courtyard, Ji Shinian immediately began questioning the electronic screen in his mind. He hadn’t been polite to Ji Shuangyuan just now, yet the alarm never went off.

[Host, please do not be angry,] the pixels on the pink screen shifted. [We monitor the persona in real-time. A reasonable interpretation will not only avoid point deductions but also gain the recognition of the Heavenly Dao, granting you more freedom!]

[And besides, characters don’t have just one attitude. It’s perfectly normal to show a bit of softness toward family members!]

“I suspect you’re mocking me,” Ji Shinian sneered. “And I remember you didn’t mention this at the beginning!”

[You didn’t ask, Host.]

Fine.

Ji Shinian swallowed his pride, forced himself to ignore the system, and headed to the small hot spring behind the hall, intending to take a relaxing bath.

The hot spring wasn’t a natural sulfur spring. In the Middle Realm, unless one lived near a volcano, most household pools were lined with fire spirit stones. Once water was poured in and simple charms were applied, it became a steaming hot spring that activated when someone entered.

In modern terms, it was like an automated water heater.

Ji Shinian shed his clothes and submerged himself in the spring. Looking at the steaming surface, he habitually let his mind go blank.

From the Scarlet Oriole illusion until now, it seemed like he had experienced a lot. It was the most exhausted he had been in years, but in reality, he had gained very little information. Even the Bloodthirsty God-Slaying Curse he had sensed had gone silent after Zhou Hongluan was taken by the Sword Alliance.

Simply put, he had no chance to ask questions in the illusion or on the road. As for the Sword Alliance…

That was a joke. His name was probably being circulated among their higher-ups. If he showed up now just because of a fleeting aura that had already vanished, he’d be handing himself over as a research subject!

Although Ji Shinian was a wanted man, given his unique nature, he essentially didn’t exist to anyone except a specific group of people.

Thinking of this, Ji Shinian recalled the main system’s words and realized he truly had escaped the gaze of the Heavenly Dao through pure luck.

Don’t tell me I should be thanking the Sword Alliance and what happened ten years ago…

Ji Shinian shook his head, throwing those chilling thoughts aside. He picked out a simple outfit from the wide array of dresses, tied his silk ribbon, and ducked into the study.

Even if he couldn’t get information from the Sword Alliance, Li Moyan’s reminder made Ji Shinian realize that the Corpse-Ghoul might actually be the work of that eccentric mountain lord he knew. Based on his understanding of the man, he wouldn’t touch that thing, but learning about the preceding events was better than nothing.

With that in mind, Ji Shinian ground some ink and began writing a letter. When he looked up again, the sun had vanished. Moonlight filtered through the window, merging with the glow of the night pearls in the room.

Knock, knock.

There was a soft knock on the door, and Steward Zhou’s voice came from outside. “Pardon the intrusion, Eldest Miss. The Young Master has gone out for a night patrol. The kitchen has prepared some light refreshments. Would you like to eat?”

Ji Shinian was grateful. He tucked the letter away and opened the door. “Isn’t that obvious? Am I supposed to live on air and dew if I don’t eat?”

Steward Zhou smiled brightly. “My apologies, I misspoke. I’ve brought it here for you to try. If anything isn’t to your taste, I will personally let the kitchen know.”

It had only been one day, and Ji Shinian was inwardly amazed by how quickly she had adapted. On the surface, however, he remained indifferent as he took a bite.

Just one bite.

Ji Shinian seriously doubted the Ji family’s chefs had ever served a master who hadn’t reached the inedia stage. This “light refreshment” was practically at the level of a state banquet. It was so delicious his eyebrows nearly shot off his face.

“It’s fine.”

Since he was playing a cool and collected character, Ji Shinian could only say it was “fine” in a critical tone. However, he showed a hint of satisfaction on his face, hoping the steward could read his tsundere act.

Having adapted to him within a single day, Steward Zhou was indeed a perceptive woman. Her smile didn’t fade as she replied, “As long as the Miss thinks it is fine. Shall we keep it like this for dinner from now on?”

Ji Shinian nodded with reserve and then paused. “Is my brother out on patrol tonight?”

Zhaofeng City had always been governed by the Zhou family. Although the Ji family was one of the three great surnames of Wuzhou, with their current power, Ji Shinian didn’t believe the Zhou family would let any thugs cause trouble at a Ji family shop. Especially since this was a minor matter; logically, it shouldn’t require Ji Shuangyuan’s personal attention.

“Yes,” Steward Zhou said as she laid out the dishes. “Lord Li hasn’t returned from the Sword Alliance yet. There’s a lot of trouble at the shop in the east city. Apparently, it’s some distant relative of the Xiao family, so the Young Master had to go.”

“The Xiao family?” Ji Shinian sipped his tea. “Are those losers worth my brother’s time?”

He didn’t recall the Xiao family having many relatives in the original book. Besides, after the Xiao family fell, no one should have wanted to be associated with them.

Ji Shinian could figure this out with his eyes closed: after the huge spectacle of the “daughter” returning to the estate today, the Xiao family relative was likely a fake, and someone was simply using the name to squeeze some benefits out of the Ji family. After all, the Ji family had no shortage of people trying to cling to them, but there was only one family recognized as their future in-laws.

Steward Zhou didn’t answer his arrogant question. “The Young Master said the same. He wanted to stay with you, but he sent some things from the shop. Would the Miss like to see them?”

“Since my brother sent them, I’ll take a look.”

Once Ji Shinian agreed, Steward Zhou clapped her hands. A line of pages entered, carrying soft veils, bamboo hats, and various other types of veiled headwear.

Ji Shinian nearly spat out his tea.

“These,” he looked at the “river” of items before him in shock, “what are these? I mean, what does this mean?”

Steward Zhou replied, “The Young Master said you like veiled hats, so he went to the shop specifically to pick out some lightweight and beautiful ones. If you don’t like them, he will replace them with a different batch.”

“No need.”

Ji Shinian felt exhausted as he looked at the variety of hats, but he still stubbornly finished his dinner. Because of his resistance earlier that day, Steward Zhou didn’t overstay. She ordered the items to be arranged for him and then hurriedly left with her staff.

Excluding the time he spent eating, they were gone in less than thirty seconds. It was the peak of efficiency.

Left alone in the room with the pile of stuff, Ji Shinian couldn’t help but think of the girl who had left. While the Ji family’s actions are definitely questionable, I feel like if the girl came back and stayed with this sister-con, Ji Shuangyuan, it would be a lot better than being with a psychopath, right?

***

Ji Shinian spent half an hour spacing out. Just as he was about to find a way to summon an Ink Messenger, the red sacred bamboo outside the window suddenly trembled.

It was like a sudden, groundless breeze. Under the moonlight, he turned to look. Amidst the swaying bamboo shadows, a figure flickered over the wall.

The shadow was pitch black and should have vanished silently into the moonlight, but a flash of blue, like a morpho butterfly, flickered within it.

With just that one glance, Ji Shinian recognized the person.

What was Xiao Shu doing at his—no, at the Ji estate?

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