The Regent Keeps Flirting With Me - Chapter 54

When Shen Lingyan opened her eyes again, it was because a roommate nudged her arm.

She opened her eyes, sat up, and looked around, realizing she had fallen asleep slumped over her dorm desk. The novel she had been reading before falling asleep was still lying in front of her.

Shen Lingyan’s gaze swept over it, catching the final sentence in the book.

“Zhou Jin sat on the dragon throne, one hand propped on his chin, his ruffian attitude unchanged, but his eyes were filled with gloom. This land was now taken by Zhou Jin, and the nation was peaceful and prosperous.”

Shen Lingyan stared at the line, lost in thought, the image of Zhou Jin flashing in her mind. For some reason, her eyes welled up with tears.

“You’re crying too? Sigh, after living here for so long, it’s really hard to leave now that we’re graduating.” The roommate stood at the doorway with large and small pieces of luggage, looking at the still-sad Shen Lingyan.

“I’m leaving first. You should pack up and leave early too.”

After the roommate spoke, she dragged her suitcase and walked away, leaving only Shen Lingyan in the room.

Shen Lingyan stood up, holding her phone, and repeatedly reread the novel. Not a single plot point had changed, as if she truly had just experienced a very long dream.

But the dream was too real, so much so that Shen Lingyan couldn’t recover for a long time after waking up.

Forget it. If I like him, I like him.

Shen Lingyan wiped her tears and started packing her luggage. The moment she locked the dorm room door, tears still uncontrollably fell. In just that brief moment, her mind was full of Zhou Jin’s image. Even if the experiences of those days were just a dream, Shen Lingyan couldn’t move on.

Now she was alone again. That feeling of loneliness instantly swallowed Shen Lingyan. As she slowly walked out of the university and saw the modern buildings on the street, her heart suddenly felt much lighter.

“That’s enough, Shen Lingyan, you should live your own life now.” Shen Lingyan let out a long sigh. At worst, I’ll just see Zhou Jin in my dreams every night.

The words had just fallen when Shen Lingyan heard a familiar voice from behind her.

“Is this the world you are supposed to be in? Then how could it be without me, Elder Sister…”

……………………..

The morning light was faint, and birds chirping on the branches woke up Shen Lingyan, who was leaning against a tree. She slowly opened her eyes and looked around: there was no Zhou Jin, and no soft, large bed.

Where was this?!

Shen Lingyan immediately stood up and looked around, finding the place very familiar—it was the Imperial Garden. The tree she was leaning against was also meticulously pruned. It was the height of summer, making Shen Lingyan momentarily think she had returned to that previous time.

However, a glance at the marks Zhou Jin had left on her arm last night clearly indicated she hadn’t gone back to the past.

After standing for a long time, she saw a few palace maids approaching. Shen Lingyan quickly seized the opportunity to question them, only to find that no matter how loudly she called, the maids never turned their heads. They kept chattering about something, walking very hurriedly.

Shen Lingyan walked closer, openly “eavesdropping,” and heard the palace maids discussing the punishment of Zhou Jin.

Punish Zhou Jin?! Shen Lingyan was dumbfounded. Even after her death, it was impossible for anyone to bully Zhou Jin.

Shen Lingyan continued to follow the maids. After confirming that others truly couldn’t see her, she felt both relieved and frightened. Was she going to live as a spirit again?

After a moment of thought, she saw the maids turn into a run-down small courtyard. Soon after, the sound of a stick hitting flesh was heard. Shen Lingyan’s heart lurched, and she quickly ran inside. She saw a young Zhou Jin lying on the ground, her small body curled up, tightly biting her lower lip until threads of blood oozed out, yet she refused to cry out in pain.

Shen Lingyan felt her heart severely struck. The palace maids kept hitting and cursing: “How dare you provoke Princess Lingyan, you’re tired of living!” With that, they hit harder.

Shen Lingyan finally understood. This was Zhou Jin’s childhood in the original novel. Although the book only briefly mentioned it, it now seemed that Zhou Jin had accidentally offended “Shen Lingyan,” which was magnified and led to her being severely dragged away and punished.

Shen Lingyan slowly crouched down, looking at the tear-restrained Zhou Jin, whose eyes were filled with hatred.