The Real Heiress Just Wants to Be a Lazy Fish - Chapter 44

Chapter 44: Realization

We have received your message. We are very sorry for the trouble caused; that Deviant Demon showed good behavior during her sentence, which is why we permitted her release. We did not expect her to cause trouble so soon. We will now send the restriction incantation to you via special transmission; please stand by to receive it.

If you require assistance, we can dispatch personnel at any time.

Tao Yitong dazed for a moment before realizing: “Right, okay… I understand. Thank you for the hard work. I can handle it alone; no need to trouble you.”

A Deviant Demon with strength at A-class at most if it weren’t for the fact that she was as slippery as a loach when fleeing, Yitong wouldn’t even need a restriction incantation.

Understood.

The night deepened, and all was silent.

Tao Yitong rested her head on one hand. Beside her lay that travel journal, which had been flipped open and closed so many times it looked weathered.

I wonder if she’s coming back tonight. Her gaze fell vacantly outside the window. She didn’t seem to expect a returning guest, yet she was unconsciously looking out.

The system was still immersed in their previous conversation. Host, you haven’t told me yet why do you think those people lurking outside the Rose Garden were sent by the aunt? It was puzzled. I feel like she wouldn’t go that far.

Tao Yitong said lazily, Ting-zi, have you ever heard of the term ‘desire for control’?

The system was silent for a moment as if thinking. She continued, I am such a good tool for dealing with the Tao family, but suddenly I’ve become a bit disobedient. If you were her, would you be resigned? Wouldn’t you want to keep an eye on me, find out what I’m doing, and then launch a precise strike to regain control over me?

The system shuddered. Host, you make the aunt sound terrifying.

She is a terrifying person. At the very least, I couldn’t keep a straight face while inciting one niece to spread rumors that her other niece had been assaulted. Tao Yitong smiled noncommittally, her eyes shimmering with cold mockery.

She quickly analyzed further for the system: Furthermore, if you were my fiancé, would you leave professional esper assassins unused and instead send a few ordinary people to tail me? Ordinary people lack the veil of mystery that espers have; if they get caught, it’s far too easy to trace their backgrounds. Why would he take the long way around and put the cart before the horse?

Tao Yitong slowly made her judgment: Just wait. If it’s the aunt, she will call to test me by tomorrow evening at the latest.

The system was somewhat convinced again. It was about to say something when its attention was drawn back to the Rose Garden. After observing for a while, it said in surprise, Host, the protagonist has gone to the Rose Garden too.

Tao Yitong instinctively sat up straight, her gorgeous face full of confusion. What’s going on?

I don’t know. The system provided a live broadcast. She couldn’t have left something behind and gone back for it, could she? It said this casually, not really believing its own guess. Hey, the protagonist seems to have noticed the people lurking outside the Rose Garden.

It fell silent after that sentence. Tao Yitong suppressed the urge to press for more and waited patiently. Sure enough, after a few minutes, the system spoke again: However, she just observed them secretly for a while and didn’t do anything. Host, this is a good thing for us. If these people really were sent by the aunt, and they catch the protagonist’s attention, she might uncover the aunt’s true face if she investigates.

A smile appeared on Tao Yitong’s face. Indeed. Even if she doesn’t find anything in the end, it’s good to make her more suspicious and wary of the aunt. I almost want to find a temple to pray in, hoping these people were sent by her.

The system hummed in agreement, then suddenly noted strangely, Eh, Host, the protagonist went to your original room the one where the assassin climbed through the window.

Before Tao Yitong could react, the system thought to itself: ‘One takes the color of one’s company.’ It felt the “Hunter’s” prestige in its heart could never recover. But that wasn’t important. The important thing was: Why would the protagonist suddenly go to the bedroom you aren’t living in?

A subtle current flowed through Tao Yitong’s enchanting peach-blossom eyes. She said in a nonchalant tone, Perhaps she suspects my identity and went back to find evidence to confirm it.

The system froze. After a long pause: Ah… really? Then what do we do?

Hearing its panicked tone, Tao Yitong laughed. Where is your mind going? I mean, this world involves supernatural powers; it’s possible for an esper to change their appearance and disguise themselves as someone else. So, she might be suspecting that I am an imposter.

The system breathed a massive sigh of relief. True. Ordinary people indeed wouldn’t think of something like “transmigrating into a book.” It continued the broadcast: The protagonist looked around your room as if she was looking for something, but also as if she wasn’t.

Tao Yitong leaned back against the sofa and smiled. What kind of description is that? You’re contradicting yourself.

The system explained, I mean, she didn’t rummage through the things in the room, but she kept checking hidden corners as if confirming something would be hidden there.

Tao Yitong couldn’t help but ponder. That is indeed strange. Does she think my room was bugged or fitted with cameras? She seemed to be talking to herself as much as the system. But why would she suddenly have such a suspicion?

She felt as if she had caught a thin thread in a fog, but the grip wasn’t firm.

The night was very deep. Jiang Zitan walked alone on the empty street, the light from the streetlamps dim and hazy.

“Tao Tao” had already left the Rose Garden, but the dense fragrance seemed to linger, much like the person she thought of when looking at the flowers.

She hadn’t spent a single night with her, yet every clue laid out before her was related to her. Jiang Zitan thought.

She had gone to the Rose Garden just to check if Tao Yitong’s previous room also had bugs. However, before she even reached the small building, she discovered the people lurking nearby. Since they were watching the Rose Garden, they were clearly targeting Tao Yitong. After some thought, she concluded it wasn’t Xie Chu’s doing.

Since he could hire a “Hunter,” he might well be in league with other esper criminals. Even if it weren’t appropriate to have the Hunter investigate, he wouldn’t send ordinary people. She was certain the Hunter had noticed her pursuit that night. Thus, Xie Chu would know that Tao Yitong had at least one esper protecting her.

Unless these people were sent to distract her, it meant another group had their eyes on Tao Yitong. Thinking of this, she slowly pulled out that silver button again. If the person who placed the bug and this group of watchers weren’t from the same camp, then there were three groups watching Tao Yitong.

Did they all want her dead, like Xie Chu?

Was Tao Yitong herself aware of this, or at least sensing it? Is that why she said to her a stranger met by chance that night: “Countless people want to kill me; perhaps you are the only one willing to save me.”

The words that had made her heart stir at the time carried double the impact now that she understood more, making her shudder involuntarily for a moment.

Jiang Zitan looked down at the silver button. Regardless, she had already placed esper marks on the watchers. Since the people behind them weren’t involved in the esper world, no one would notice. Wherever they went, she could find them. She would surely follow the vine to find the person behind them.

She tucked the silver button away and continued forward. The bookstore, its presence deliberately blurred by abnormal energy, still had a single lamp lit. Her hem swayed as she walked, gradually catching the orange warmth of the lamplight. Even her silver-rimmed glasses seemed to lose a layer of coldness.

The person in the bookstore likely heard the approaching footsteps. She pushed open the transparent glass door and poked her head out to look. Her long, straight black hair, tied in a ponytail, swayed gently. Her stunningly beautiful face took on a touch of childish cuteness with the movement.

Jiang Zitan watched her walk toward her with a full smile, her beautiful peach-blossom eyes filled with anticipation and joy at her return bright and pure.

The question her sister had asked not long ago echoed in her ears again: Then… do you still hate her?

Jiang Zitan’s pace faltered for a second, but she ultimately walked toward her. Hate? she thought.

Tao Yitong studied Jiang Zitan’s expression. As usual, she couldn’t read much, only that she was clearly deep in thought.

Tao Yitong asked tentatively, “It’s late. Should we rest?”

Though she said this, considering Zitan had gone to the Rose Garden, she had clearly discovered something. She might try to test her or ask her directly. Regardless, she likely wouldn’t be going to rest.

Sure enough, Jiang Zitan’s gaze swept over her. “Asking that means you have something to say to me.”

Starting a counter-test already?

Tao Yitong thought for a bit and realized she really did have something to say, so she nodded. “Regarding Xie Chu, I’ll find a way to ask my aunt to investigate. You’ve got the ‘Hunter’ side covered, but I don’t think that’s enough. It’s better to have a multi-pronged approach.”

Jiang Zitan vaguely sensed what she was about to say, her dark eyes shimmering. As expected, she heard her say: “I can’t stay in the bookstore forever. The value of bait is only realized when it is cast out.”

Jiang Zitan frowned. “If I cast you out, what’s the difference between that and letting you live alone in the Rose Garden?” Her voice took on a layer of frost. “You should know I brought you here because I can’t balance protecting you and investigating at the same time.”

Tao Yitong said, “I know. Sit down first.”

She pushed Jiang Zitan’s back, which was as straight as bamboo, making her sit on the sofa. She sat opposite her, eating fruit. “I specifically saved these for you. Eat them now, so they aren’t un-fresh tomorrow.”

Jiang Zitan looked at the red, plump strawberries in the fruit platter, her gaze growing complex.

Tao Yitong continued: “This isn’t about me being impatient or wanting to risk my safety. It’s that we don’t have much time.”

Jiang Zitan’s gaze sharpened. “Why?”

Tao Yitong sighed. “Both families and Xie Chu himself want to break our engagement. If my sister hadn’t gone away for work, she might have had us dissolve the engagement by now. I know this, but he doesn’t. That’s why he’s so desperate to get rid of me. Once my sister returns and the engagement is broken, he’ll lose his motive to kill me.”

Tao Yitong analyzed: “He might immediately scrub all traces and terminate his contract with the Hunter. The Hunter might not come after me again out of pride for a failed job then again, they might, but it could be months or years later. By then, we’d be too passive.”

Jiang Zitan had to admit Tao Yitong had a point. She had indeed overlooked the role her sister could play. Moreover, even if her sister didn’t do it, there were still her mother and grandmother, and she had no good reason to stop them.

Seeing her silence, Tao Yitong knew she had understood the logic. Her red lips curled up. “So, listen to my plan.”

“Sister, I’m taking the rest of the flowers to Grandma. Wait for me here for a moment.” Tao Yitong thoughtfully gave Jiang Zitan some personal space.

“Okay.” Watching Tao Yitong carry the flowers to the distant grave, Jiang Zitan turned her gaze back to her parents’ grave. The photos on the two headstones froze them in their youth; they seemed to transcend time, watching the child they never met with gentle eyes.

Although Jiang Zitan had never met her biological parents, standing before this grave, she felt a strange psychological connection. The titles she had previously found hard to say came out smoothly.

“Dad, Mom.” Jiang Zitan’s gaze was incredibly gentle. “Thank you for blessing her to come to my side.”

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