The Real Heiress Just Wants to Be a Lazy Fish - Chapter 42

Chapter 42: The Trap

Although there was a small electric fan in the room, it hadn’t been used for a long time and was covered in a thick layer of dust. If she turned it on without cleaning it, the room would be filled with flying dust. So, it was better to use a hand fan.

Jiang Zitan felt as if she were being treated like a rare protected animal. The feeling was actually quite nice. Although she had always had the best of everything growing up, whenever she fell ill, no one had ever stayed by her side with such constant concern not even Grandfather, and her parents were rarely seen. From a very young age, the words “strong” and “independent” were practically carved into her bones. Thus, this kind of care was rare for her.

“Want some water? Seventh Aunt sent some candy; have one. I wonder if your blood sugar is low.” Tao Yitong peeled a candy and put it in Jiang Zitan’s mouth.

“Don’t busy yourself; I’m really fine.” Jiang Zitan pulled Tao Yitong down to sit beside her. Tao Yitong fanned her while wiping the sweat from her forehead.

The aunt felt that perhaps the last proposal had been too aggressive and had scared Tao Yitong, causing her to retreat. During this meeting, the girl didn’t seem as close to her as before.

She brushed the matter aside lightly and continued her persuasion. “Tongtong, I know you’re sad. But even if you don’t care about anything else, you must care about your mother. Do you want to see her eyes filled only with Jiang Zitan in the future? Do you want her to dote only on her and never pay attention to you again?”

The original owner had been very close to her adoptive mother. A large part of her initial tantrums was driven by a sense of possessiveness; in her mind, Jiang Zitan’s appearance had stolen her mother’s love and everything else she owned.

As Tao Yitong’s memories of the original plot resurfaced, her disgust for the woman in front of her reached its peak. The original owner was indeed malicious and jealous of Jiang Zitan, but even so, she maintained a final line as a woman. She would never have used such a low, vile method against Jiang Zitan.

Yet this woman, as Jiang Zitan’s aunt and blood relative, actually wanted to destroy a girl’s reputation and life just to get back at her own sister.

Tao Yitong’s gaze grew deep. Is she really so cruel to her sister’s child just out of jealousy?

She pretended to be swayed and appeared hesitant. “I am very unwilling to let it go… but can we really convince Sister to let me move back tonight?” She sighed and added, “By the way, Aunt, there’s something I’ve wanted to ask you for a long time.”

“What is it?” the aunt asked.

“In the past, Mom doted on me, and you were very good to me. But your relationship… did Mom do something to wrong you? Is that why you hate her so much, just like I hate Sister?”

The aunt uncomfortably fiddled with the diamond bracelet on her wrist. After a moment of silence, she said, “Your mother and I simply have incompatible personalities. Adult matters have nothing to do with you kids. Don’t worry, no matter what happens, I’ll be on your side.” She patted Tao Yitong’s hand. “Alright, don’t worry about the banquet. Dress up well; don’t let others laugh at you.”

Tao Yitong nodded and looked away. “I’ll go try on some clothes. Aunt, you’ve had a long journey; why don’t you rest in your room for a while?” She didn’t want to continue the charade and needed some time to process.

The aunt didn’t suspect anything and patted her shoulder with a smile. “Tongtong has grown up; she knows how to be considerate now. Fine then.” She smiled beautifully, like a high-and-mighty goddess descending to the mortal world, full of approachability and ease.

Tao Yitong’s heart, however, remained icy. Only when she saw the aunt’s back disappear did her eyes turn cold.

The system couldn’t help but sigh: [She’s truly terrifying, wanting to use such a low-life method against her own niece.] Using such a method against a stranger would be malicious enough, but humans usually value blood ties. To target her own niece was horrific.

The system also noticed the aunt’s evasiveness regarding Tao Yitong’s question. [Host, I think her feelings toward your adoptive mother go beyond simple jealousy. It’s pure hatred. Is there some hidden history we don’t know about?]

“Most likely,” Tao Yitong stood by the window, expressionless. Even the vibrant flower field in the sunlight couldn’t melt the coldness surrounding her. She looked more like a stoic goddess than her aunt, looking down to judge the sins of the world.

The system knew she was angry and was about to offer some comfort, but Tao Yitong had already adjusted her emotions. System, her plan actually succeeded in the original book.

The system was startled, then quickly recalled that part of the plot, though some details didn’t match. It asked hesitantly, In the original book, wasn’t this done by the ‘original owner’?

Tao Yitong gave a cold, emotionless laugh. Do you still think so?

Midway through the original story, rumors spread that Jiang Zitan had been assaulted as a child. This caused immense trauma to Jiang Zitan, but she didn’t collapse. Instead, she tracked down the source and found the original owner. This led the Tao family to lose all faith in the original owner, cutting all ties and even seeking legal punishment. The original owner resisted fiercely, claiming she was framed and that everyone was biased toward Jiang Zitan.

When Tao Yitong first read this, she thought the original owner was simply unrepentant. But now she realized: if the original owner refused the plan now, she would have refused it in the book too. Moreover, while the original owner had many flaws, she was the type to “own up to what she did.” Whenever she was caught red-handed, she would admit it with an arrogance that made people’s teeth itch.

The spread of those rumors was the only thing she ever fought to deny. It’s highly probable the aunt committed the act and framed her. The original owner was unable to defend herself because she had already spent years making everyone suspect her, and she had contacted her former uncle several times to look for Jiang Zitan’s weaknesses. All that evidence pointed straight at her.

Tao Yitong explained this to the system, which agreed. The aunt was truly terrifying, ruthless to both Jiang Zitan and the original owner. The original owner’s eventual lack of a moral bottom line was inseparable from her aunt’s “nudging.”

Even if the ‘Hunter’ business ends, I can’t leave immediately, Tao Yitong thought.

True, she won’t let you go easily, the system replied gravely.

It’s more than that. Even though she’s always making trouble and pushing me to cause chaos, in the eyes of the Tao family, she’s just annoying. They don’t think she would actually harm them, so they have no guard against her. Jiang Zitan is likely the same. I need to find a way to make them wary of Tao Lang (the aunt). Ideally, with direct evidence that she intends to harm them.

That might be hard. We might find evidence, but how do we tell the protagonist?

Indeed, Tao Yitong had no reason to tell “Nightingale” these things. If she were direct, she felt Jiang Zitan would likely not trust her, but rather think she was stirring up more trouble with an ulterior motive. Their relationship, which hadn’t really softened, would shatter completely.

Tao Yitong thought for a while. We’ll find the evidence first. If all else fails, I’ll send it anonymously to Tao Wei’s email.

The system agreed. That’s a good idea. I’ll help you. With my tech, no one will be able to trace it back to you.

Tao Yitong felt a bit lighter. Then I’m counting on you.

Leave it to me!] the system guaranteed, then added with a hint of nostalgia, [Perhaps getting involved is just the fate of a transmigrator. Not long ago, her host wanted to leave, but now she was diving deeper into the investigation to change everyone’s original fate.

Evening arrived quickly. Tao Yitong changed into the lilac-purple dress her aunt had brought, paired it with a pure white knit cardigan, and pinned a small brooch with silk flowers and pearls to it. She tidied her long hair and carried a matching white handbag, prepared to set off with the beautiful glass bottle Jiang Zitan had given her.

The aunt was still in her long morning skirt, but her makeup and hair were now more exquisite. As they walked down the pebble path, she surveyed Tao Yitong. “Tongtong, you look lovely in this, but it’s much more plain than before.”

The original owner preferred flashy, spaghetti-strap dresses and bold accessories. Tao Yitong’s current look was almost the opposite.

Tao Yitong replied lazily, “Dressing more weakly makes it easier to soften Sister’s heart.” Inwardly, she knew this banquet wouldn’t be friendly; many would want to mock her, so she had to dress modestly for ease of movement.

The aunt was pleased with her “sensible” attitude. “When you see your sister later, don’t argue with her.”

Tao Yitong nodded obediently. Arguing was impossible anyway, because her sister was away. The system had informed her earlier that Tao Wei was on a business trip, but the aunt’s information was clearly outdated. Tao Yitong didn’t tell her; she wasn’t going for her sister anyway, and her sister’s absence meant less embarrassment.

In the eerie night, the full moon hung high like a giant jade plate, cold and bright, casting moonlight that looked like frost and snow. The wind whipped a cloak the color of the night as someone stepped lightly onto the roof terrace.

She looked down at the brilliant city lights; it was a scene of peace. Was it a hallucination? Jiang Zitan lowered her eyes. She was clearly chasing something, but had no definite target. After a moment’s thought, she leaped gracefully from the heights, as agile as a bird and as elegant as a butterfly.

Landing firmly, Jiang Zitan looked around. Seeing no anomalies, she prepared to vanish back into the night. However, for some reason, her gaze instinctively turned toward a nearby two-story villa. There, the independent courtyard was filled with blooming roses, intoxicating even in the dark night.

That person is living there now, right?

Jiang Zitan thought with a trace of disgust. The repulsion made her want to leave as soon as she remembered the person’s name. But just before she turned away, the warm yellow glow in the second-floor bedroom suddenly vanished. It was the only light in the villa. In that instant, the building was draped in an ominous darkness, and even the moonlight felt murderous.

Jiang Zitan’s heart skipped a beat. She paused and turned toward the villa. As her clothes brushed against the roses, she saw a nimble, familiar dark shadow flash beneath a window.

It’s him! Her pupils constricted. She suppressed the instinct to chase and looked up at the open second-floor window. The dark opening looked like the maw of a beast, ready to swallow all life.

The moonlight outside was hazy, the scent of flowers intoxicating. Inside, the furniture was exquisite and comfortable—a perfect nest for lounging, but the person within was not in a good mood.

Tao Yitong turned her head away, unwilling to look at the familiar yet strange, gorgeous face in the vanity mirror, even though it was her own. Why did this happen? I just… I just read a novel.

Tao Yitong’s face twisted into a mask of pain. She bent over and covered her face. Why did I transmigrate?

Awakening in a strange room not long ago, she realized something was wrong. Her mind held memories that didn’t belong to her more accurately, she had a new body. Those memories matched the plot of a “dog-blood” novel she had read. It was a story about a “Real vs. Fake Daughter,” where two girls’ lives were swapped by accident.

The protagonist was the real daughter, Jiang Zitan, who grew up suffering after losing her parents. Despite life’s hardships, she grew into a kind and thoughtful girl. On the other hand, the fake daughter, Tao Yitong yes, same name had been spoiled in the Tao family and felt no guilt when the truth came out. Instead, she hated Jiang Zitan and became a malicious villain, persecuting everyone.

Because Jiang Zitan’s adoptive parents had passed away, the Tao family kept the original owner out of compassion and years of shared history, only to find they had raised an ungrateful wolf. According to the original owner’s memories, the plot had reached the point where she was spreading rumors that Jiang Zitan was an illegitimate child, leading her older sister Tao Wei the heir to kick her out of the house. Though they arranged this house for her, she would continue to cause trouble until her eventual death.

To be transmigrated into such a hated character made Tao Yitong want to hang herself from the window immediately. She sighed deeply, then heard a strange noise from the window as the night breeze grew stronger.

She looked up. Beside the fluttering gauze curtains, a person stood silently. Tao Yitong was startled. Surely it won’t be this literal? She was just joking about wanting to die; surely the universe wouldn’t send a burglar to finish her off instantly.

The person took two steps forward. Before the lights went out, she saw a tall man in black, his lower face covered by a black mask. He held a cold, shimmering long blade, and a wreath of black mist swirled around the blade like a venomous snake.

Something is wrong… actually, everything is wrong. Do weapons in this world come with special effects?

The moment she stepped through the window, Jiang Zitan smelled the familiar scent of blood, and an invisible force tightened its grip on her heart. When she picked up the person on the floor, the soft, cold body slumped powerlessly into her arms. The scent of flowers mixed with the cold night wind and the smell of blood made her shudder with a strange sensation.

“Tao Yitong…”

Amidst the chaos of her consciousness, Tao Yitong heard someone calling her name, the voice ethereal and distant. The wind on her cheek was cold, but it awakened her dull senses. Sharp pain and vision converged.

A dark room, an open window, curtains swaying in the wind, and a sliver of cold moonlight acting like a stage spotlight, shining perfectly on the blood-streaked floor. Tao Yitong slowly looked down at her chest. Her dress was soaked through with warm, wet blood.

A perfect murder scene. If there were a ranking for the unluckiest transmigrators, she’d be at the top. Nearly killed by a burglar on day one.

A voice in her head was screaming belatedly. A warm hand was pressed against her wound the only warmth holding her cold, numb body. She rested in the person’s arms, hearing a low whisper in her ear. Both voices were clear, making it hard to distinguish either.

“Stop… let me breathe.” Tao Yitong raised a hand helplessly in a “pause” gesture.

Wait. She wasn’t as weak as she thought. Two types of power that didn’t belong to her were working simultaneously to save her dying body. Both voices went silent.

Tao Yitong pressed her hand to her forehead and closed her eyes, full of worry. She remembered this novel as a “Wealthy Family Grudge” story in an urban setting. So was it scientific that the man who tried to kill her had a sword with special effects?

And this person beside her…

Before the thought finished, she felt the hand on her chest touch her cheek. The smell of blood grew stronger. The owner of the hand patted her lightly, as if afraid she would fall asleep. The mix of blood and the person’s fragrance made her feel dazed, then suddenly very clear.

Tao Yitong opened her eyes. The person beside her was undoubtedly a young girl. In the dim light, her clothing and features weren’t clear. Her eyes were covered by a black gauze mask, hiding all emotion. Does covering your eyes at night really not affect your vision?

Tao Yitong stared at the eyes behind the gauze for a moment, then grabbed the slender white wrist. “Who… are you?”

A Good Samaritan wouldn’t just wander into someone’s house.

The girl didn’t answer. After a moment of silence, she pulled her hand back. Due to the blood loss, Tao Yitong longed for every bit of warmth. When the hand was pulled away, she instinctively wanted to grab it again and press it back to her cheek or chest.

After a brief silence, the girl’s cold voice replied, ignoring the question: “The bleeding has stopped. I’ll call an ambulance immediately.” She paused, looking at the phone on the nightstand. “Need me to contact your family?”

It was a toneless voice, yet Tao Yitong felt a complex sensation a mix of wariness and disgust directed at her. Someone who knows me… or knows the original owner?

“No need.” Tao Yitong pressed her hand to her wound and sat up by force. “No need for anything.”

Likely not expecting her to sit up, the girl lightly supported her shoulders before slowly standing up. Leaving the warmth, Tao Yitong felt the cold night wind tear at her temperature. She frowned but could endure it. Looking up, the girl stood at a distance. Against the moonlight, she still couldn’t see her face, but she could see her clothes.

It was a unique uniform, not for daily wear, in shades of black and blue. Her coat was a cloak the color of the night, with a strange emblem embroidered in blue silk on the chest. The cloak caught the cold moonlight, fluttering in the night wind.

Beautiful and powerful. Quite cool, Tao Yitong thought.

Tao Yitong touched the quilt; it indeed felt damp and cold. “Sister, let’s go back to Mom and Dad’s tonight. The quilts here haven’t been aired; it’ll be uncomfortable.”

Jiang Zitan had no objection. After feeling that her body was mostly fine aside from her heart, she asked when they would go up the mountain. Since it was still early, they should head up.

“Not today. You need to rest. We’ll go up tomorrow once you’re recovered.” Tao Yitong wouldn’t budge on this, so Jiang Zitan rested for the day.

As the sun set, the number of tourists in the village decreased, but the roads grew noisy. The “Exploration” streamers were starting their broadcasts. Village kids followed them curiously, only to be dragged back by their parents. This wasn’t a show to be watched casually.

At night, Tao Yitong was fully prepared, waiting in the house for the trap to be triggered while guarding Jiang Zitan. She knew how much those “things” craved Jiang Zitan. If that thief encountered her, they might come back tonight for a “snack.”

And in the next room, separated only by a door, Jiang Zitan fell into a strange dream ethereal yet real.

Support