The Real Heiress Just Wants to Be a Lazy Fish - Chapter 9

Chapter 9: The Red Herring

Jiang Zitan remembered that there was no aromatherapy of this particular scent in her home, yet after waking up, she found the smell strangely familiar as if she had encountered it somewhere before.

Perhaps due to the lingering effects of the nightmare, Jiang Zitan felt her spirit flagging. The sensation of being scorched by flames in her dream had been all too real; even now, she felt a lingering tightness in her chest. Fortunately, the faint, sweet fragrance she could still smell after waking gave her a sense of peace.

After a moment, she checked her phone; it was nearly 7:00 AM. Jiang Zitan suddenly remembered she was no longer living alone there was a sister at home who needed to be timely “fed.”

Thinking back, it was still somewhat incredible. She had actually brought someone home. Originally, she only wanted to try her best to get along with her adoptive parents’ biological daughter, not even daring to hope the girl wouldn’t dislike her. Who would have thought that by the second day of meeting, she would bring her into her private residence?

Recalling her sister’s staggering appetite, Jiang Zitan feared that if she were any later, someone would go hungry. She quickly changed her clothes, preparing to go out and buy breakfast.

However, as she pushed open her bedroom door, she heard movement in the kitchen. The air was filled with the aroma of food; her sister had already started preparing breakfast.

Tao Yitong had porridge simmering in the rice cooker and was steaming “a few” soup dumplings. Hearing the door open, she instinctively glanced out of the kitchen. Jiang Zitan had already changed and walked out. Tao Yitong thought that after what happened last night, Jiang Zitan would have rested a bit longer today.

“Sister, you’re awake? Breakfast will be ready in a moment. I wrapped a few soup dumplings; try them later and see if they suit your appetite.” Having sung the Soul Summoning Song for half the night, Tao Yitong’s voice was slightly hoarse.

Looking at the busy figure in the kitchen, Jiang Zitan felt as if she had picked up a “Snail Maiden” from a folk tale.

“Do you need any help?” Jiang Zitan prepared to roll up her sleeves.

“No, no, it’s all done.” Tao Yitong passed by Jiang Zitan to grab two bowls from the cabinet.

As she moved, Jiang Zitan caught that familiar sweet scent in the air. A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes she remembered now! That familiar scent belonged to Tao Yitong!

Yesterday, Tao Yitong had helped with plenty of chores, including airing out the quilts. She had many chances to come into contact with the bedding. Jiang Zitan didn’t suspect anything else, but… she felt that her act of holding and sniffing the quilt earlier was a bit disrespectful—to put it bluntly, it felt a bit like a pervert’s behavior.

“Sister? Why is your face so red? Are you sick?” Tao Yitong leaned in with a worried expression. For an ordinary person, even if Soul Loss is cured, there are significant sequelae ranging from a high fever for days to being bedridden for years.

She reached out to touch Jiang Zitan’s forehead. That sweet scent from the dream almost embraced her again, and Jiang Zitan instinctively took a step back.

Tao Yitong simply took two steps forward and pressed her hand against Jiang Zitan’s forehead. Her expression changed instantly.

“You really have a fever!”

Jiang Zitan raised her hand to check her own temperature; it was indeed hot. No wonder she felt a lack of strength since getting out of bed.

“It’s fine. I probably caught a cold last night. I’ll just take some medicine.” Jiang Zitan didn’t take it to heart.

How could this be a common cold? Ordinary medicine wouldn’t work at all. To recover quickly, she needed to take something to strengthen her foundation and settle her soul. Moreover, at a time like this, a person with a weakened body is most likely to be targeted by “dirty things” especially since Jiang Zitan herself was a piece of “sweet meat” to them!

Jiang Zitan still intended to go to work after eating, but as her condition worsened a while later, she was forced to stay home and rest.

“Is there any medicine at home?” Tao Yitong took out a thermometer and checked Jiang Zitan’s temperature: 38.5°C, just as she suspected. She pinched the communicator on her earlobe and sent out a request.

“The medicine is in the cabinet in the living room, but I don’t know if it’s expired.” Jiang Zitan didn’t get sick often; the medicine box hadn’t been touched in nearly a year.

Tao Yitong went to look; there was only one pill left. She poured a glass of water, then took a small twig-like object from the pocket of her canvas bag. She scraped some powder into the water, stirred it, and brought it to Jiang Zitan.

“The medicine is almost out. I’ll go to the pharmacy to buy some. Sister, you rest well; I’ll be back soon.” Tao Yitong watched Jiang Zitan drink the water and, still worried, touched her forehead again—it seemed a bit hotter.

This spirit wood powder could only alleviate the patient’s discomfort. She still needed to quickly get the medicine to treat the Soul Loss sequelae. Her retirement life of eating her fill as a wealthy woman depended on this clever brain; she absolutely couldn’t let it get fried!

Jiang Zitan heard Tao Yitong’s hurried footsteps coming and going. She was a bit delirious from the fever but could still sense that intermittent honey peach fragrance.

Until she heard the “click” of the door closing, and the room suddenly fell silent. She often lived alone, yet this was the first time she found this silence uncomfortable.

I just have a minor illness, so why am I starting to crave companionship like a child? Jiang Zitan smiled at herself. She watched the sunlight filtered through the curtains, her mind unconsciously wondering how much longer the person buying medicine would take to return.

Though Tao Yitong was anxious, she had another, more important task to do at the moment.

Last night, she had snatched back the portion of Jiang Zitan’s soul from the villains. This action would inevitably alert them. If they were bold enough, they might come today to investigate. She needed to set up some “distraction arrays” nearby to lead the enemy’s gaze elsewhere.

“Ah Fu, when I leave the community, keep an eye on the surroundings for anything suspicious. If there is, tell me immediately,” Tao Yitong said to the little fellow in the shadows who was almost one with the darkness. “Be careful yourself; don’t get caught.”

The round little bat nodded.

Tao Yitong, carrying her canvas bag with the dolphin felt charm, went to a nearby mall. There was a pharmacy right outside. On the way, she brushed past several people, and after a while, her canvas bag became slightly bloated.

Shortly after Tao Yitong left, a zombie-like crow covered in traces of decay landed on a nearby rooftop. Its scarlet eye stared dead at the direction of Jiang Zitan’s apartment. Its beak opened and closed, actually emitting a human voice.

“I smell a newly-born vengeful ghost and the disgusting scent of the Special Affairs Bureau. However, they have all left. Unsurprisingly, the Special Affairs Bureau people were led away by that ghost. There’s no sign the Corpse Insects were touched; the Bureau shouldn’t have found anything unusual,” the crow seemed to be talking to someone.

“Wait, there seems to be a residue of a special aura here…” The crow spread its wings and flew down to the perimeter wall of the community. It found blood and traces of a struggle near a tree.

This is… a Vampire?! A foreign power?

Whoosh!

The crow was suddenly surrounded by bats from nowhere, blocking all its escape routes. The crow glared with its single eye at the woman who suddenly appeared. The blood aura surrounding her proved she was a vampire, and she was wrapped in a black cloak, her features hidden—fitting the “light-fearing” characteristic of vampires.

 The vampire’s voice carried a hint of mockery, but she spoke in English. The person behind the crow hadn’t studied much English and couldn’t understand what she was saying.

The vampire suddenly raised a hand as pale as a corpse. The crow saw a half-tattoo “accidentally” exposed on her arm it was clearly the crest of a certain vampire family!

He immediately transmitted the crest symbol to his companions.

They had always minded their own business regarding those foreign fellows! But if those greedy bastards dared to stretch their hands toward Jiang Zitan, they would let them know that hands stretched too far would be chopped off!

Just as the crow was guarding against the vampire in terror, it didn’t notice a bloody maw opening behind it.

Crunch.

Without knowing what happened, the crow disappeared into the monster’s mouth.

The vampire, wearing sunglasses and a mask, hooked the necklace around her neck. The skin on her hands gradually returned to a normal color. As for the crest tattoo on her arm, it came off with a little rubbing.

“Captain, mission accomplished smoothly,” the woman said with a light laugh. This time, she spoke in Chinese.

“Good job, Xiao Yu.”

Tao Yitong, who had just left the pharmacy, let a curve rise at the corner of her mouth. It just so happened that certain factions were restless in Hai City; they were likely bored, so she had to give them something to do.

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