The Tragic Heroine Fell in Love with Me - Chapter 4

“Xiao San, wait for me,” Zheng Qi hurriedly chased after her.

Zheng Qi didn’t even spare him another glance, directly pursuing Xiao San instead.

“What did you do to offend Xiao San? Why is she avoiding you like you’re the plague?” Shen Lin’s friend sidled up, teasing him with a mocking grin.

It was common knowledge that Shen Lin had always treated Xiao San as his possession. He had repeatedly boasted about how Xiao San obeyed his every word, but now it seemed like nothing more than a man’s bravado.

And then there was Zheng Qi, Shen Lin’s little follower, who now didn’t even bother to look at him twice, instead running off after Xiao San.

Shen Lin always had so many lovely girls around him, yet he never cherished any of them, instead acting as if he were perpetually annoyed. Seeing Shen Lin get his comeuppance now brought him immense satisfaction.

“Maybe she’s not feeling well,” Shen Lin said, suppressing his discomfort and maintaining his icy, indifferent prince persona.

“Not feeling well? Come on, man, why kid yourself? The way she’s acting clearly shows she doesn’t like you, no, scratch that she despises you,” Shen Lin’s friend added, stirring the pot without a care. “Her face is more transparent than a screen; you can’t hide what’s in your heart. If you think she’s just unwell, I’d bet a million against it.”

Shen Lin turned to his friend, his gaze cold. He stared for a long time until his friend couldn’t take it and looked away. Then, icily, he asked, “Do you have nothing better to do?”

“Alright, alright, just joking. No need to take it so seriously,” his friend said, rubbing his nose as if realizing the joke had gone too far, and quickly changed the subject. “Enough teasing. Nuan Yan is coming back from abroad. Are you going to pick her up?”

Shen Lin froze. For a moment, his expression shifted, but he quickly regained his composure. “What Nuan Yan? I don’t know her.”

“Hey, you!” Shen Lin’s friend watched as Shen Lin fled as if escaping, muttering under his breath in frustration, “You’re making this really difficult for me.”

With that, he took out his phone, typed a few words quickly, and hit send.

“I’m doing this for your own good. I hope you won’t hold it against me,” his friend shrugged, not feeling particularly guilty.

“It’s fine,” Zheng Qi replied softly and meekly. “He wouldn’t have noticed me anyway.”

“Even if you say it’s fine, I still feel terrible. How could I run off like that and leave you behind?” Xiao San now considered Zheng Qi a close friend she could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with, and she couldn’t forgive herself for her earlier actions.

What difference was there between that and leaving a little white rabbit at the mouth of a big bad wolf?

None. Absolutely none.

Xiao San’s gaze toward Zheng Qi grew even more sympathetic.

This poor, naive girl, she was only drawn in by the male lead’s dazzling exterior, which led to years of entanglement and ultimately left her in such a tragic state because of him.

“Don’t worry, I will protect you,” Xiao San declared boldly, then immediately regretted it. Could she really stand up to the male lead? Thinking about his underworld and legitimate identities in the novel, Xiao San doubted she could.

“Let’s stay away from the plot together. Trust me, I can definitely manage that.”

“The plot?” Zheng Qi asked.

“This isn’t something a child like you should know. Don’t worry, sis will protect you.” Xiao San held her best friend’s hand. “Let’s go, didn’t you say you wanted to watch a movie? We should hurry eat first, then catch the film.” She awkwardly changed the subject, afraid Zheng Qi would press further.

“Sure! I’ve been craving barbecue for ages. Let’s go together.” Zheng Qi’s words were cheerful, but Xiao San sensed something odd, as if she were suppressing anger.

Before Xiao San could ponder it, Zheng Qi’s tight grip began to hurt her hand.

“Hey,” Xiao San struggled slightly and finally freed her hand. “You’re squeezing too hard, it hurts.”

Zheng Qi apologized guiltily, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

“Don’t be upset,” Xiao San quickly reassured her upon seeing her dejected expression. “It’s fine, just don’t use so much force. I’m not blaming you.”

Zheng Qi smiled. “San’er, you’re so good to me.”

Xiao San blushed at the sudden praise.

Ah, Zheng Qi treated her so well, yet she was scheming to break her up with the male lead.

No! This was all for Zheng Qi’s own good. Without the male lead, Zheng Qi could live more freely, no false accusations landing her in prison, no unwed motherhood, no lifelong entanglement with him, and no enduring gossip.

The pain would be brief, but happiness would last forever. Only by leaving the male lead could Zheng Qi have a brighter future!

Wait a minute.

Now it seemed she had taken Lin Nuanyan’s place as the male lead’s white moonlight and ex-girlfriend.

Did she have to sacrifice herself to protect the female lead?

Huh?

This…

Xiao San fell into deep contemplation.

“Sis, are your brains okay? Want me to help drain the water out?” Xiao Gai covered Xiao San’s head with one hand while twisting her ear with the other, as if turning a knob. “Mom, bring a basin quick! There’s too much water in my sister’s head, ugh, I can even see whales swimming in there.”

Xiao San smirked, grabbing Xiao Gai’s hand to stop him from messing with her head. With her other hand, she slid up his arm and pressed against his chin. “Three days without a beating, and you’re already tearing off the roof tiles!”

Xiao Gai chuckled and quickly let go, sticking out his tongue teasingly. “Ha, you can’t catch me, you can’t catch me!”

Xiao San was genuinely annoyed.

Even in this novel world, her brother remained this insufferably punchable.

She sprinted after him as Xiao Gai darted away.

He zigzagged from the bedroom to the kitchen, then hopped around the living room coffee table. Xiao San chased him from the bathroom to the front door, pausing briefly on the balcony to catch her breath.

Finally, she managed to pin him down.

If this were their old house, she would’ve caught him much sooner.

After giving him a solid thrashing,

Xiao Gai squinted his tear-swollen eyes, pressing both hands over his teeth.

His braces could easily slip out if he cried too hard, so he had to maintain this pose to preserve his mournful mood.

Dad Xiao came home early today and passed by the sobbing Xiao Gai. “Xiao Gai, ah!”

“Dad, you’re finally!”

“Get up for a moment, you’re lying on my remote.” Father Xiao pushed aside the excited Xiao Gai and took the air conditioner remote back to his room.

Xiao Gai lowered his head in disappointment, but soon perked up again, pinning his hopes on his mother!

Mother Xiao suppressed a smile, trying hard to hold back her rising lips. “Honey, don’t set the air conditioner too low, you might catch a cold.”

She turned and fled.

Xiao San rolled her eyes at the increasingly dejected Xiao Gai.

She had actually worried about whether Xiao Gai would be bullied in this world. Seeing him still acting so annoyingly, worrying about him? She really had overthought it.

Because of Xiao Gai, the lingering conflict in Xiao San’s heart also dissipated.

Although she felt that Zheng Qi shouldn’t be bullied by someone like the male lead, she had no intention of sacrificing herself either.

Someone as kind-hearted as her could never outmatch a villainous male lead. Going to confront him would be like delivering herself on a platter. So, as long as she could help the female lead avoid the plot points and let the male lead thrive on his own, that would be enough.

Xiao San happily made up her mind.

That night, Xiao San slept very peacefully.

She always had the ability to quickly shake off unhappy events. No matter what happened, as long as she slept through it, everything would resolve itself perfectly. All she needed to do was maintain a cheerful heart.

Until the next day, when she encountered someone who bore a slight resemblance to Zheng Qi but had a much gentler demeanor.

“Huh?” Her smile froze.

“What, has it only been such a short time, and you’ve already forgotten me?” Lin Nuanyan tilted her head, her beautiful big eyes blinking as she looked at Xiao San. In her hands, she held a carefully selected gift.

“You are…”

“Nuanyan, when did you arrive? Why didn’t you tell us?” Zheng Qi happily stepped forward, pushing Xiao San aside as she looked Lin Nuanyan up and down. “It’s only been a little over a year, and you’ve become even prettier. You’ve grown taller too.”

Zheng Qi compared their heights. When Lin Nuanyan left last year, she only reached Zheng Qi’s eyes, but now she was just as tall.

“Ah Qi, you’re here too. I’ve already sent your gift to your home, you’re going to love it.” Lin Nuanyan happily took Zheng Qi’s hand. The two long-separated best friends held each other tightly, as if wanting to merge their very blood together.

Xiao San stared at Lin Nuanyan.

So, she hadn’t replaced Lin Nuanyan but had instead joined their circle of friendship?

The beginning of the novel depicted Lin Nuanyan being killed and Zheng Qi being sent to prison, so Xiao San didn’t know much about the relationship between Lin Nuanyan and Zheng Qi. She only gathered from Zheng Qi’s inner monologues that they had once been very close friends.

No wonder Zheng Qi was deceived by Lin Nuanyan.

Who wouldn’t like such an adorable, sunny, and beautiful girl who even remembered to bring gifts?

But seeing them so close.

[Stay away from her, she actually has ill intentions!]

If she said that directly to Zheng Qi, she would surely be seen as a troublemaker trying to drive a wedge between them.

Although Lin Nuanyan would turn antagonistic later, she was still just a kid now. Maybe she shouldn’t prejudge and dislike Lin Nuanyan. Xiao San forced a smile at Lin Nuanyan. Though it was a bit stiff, she figured the two girls in front of her were still young and probably wouldn’t notice.

After a brief reunion, Xiao San, Lin Nuanyan, and Zheng Qi arrived at a café, chatting while sipping their coffee.

“San’er, has Brother Shen Lin been bullying you again lately? I apologize on his behalf. You know, he just seems a bit fierce, but he’s actually a very gentle person,” Lin Nuanyan said apologetically.

Truly, this is a novel world.

High school seniors don’t have to attend classes and can just lounge around in a café chatting.

Where are the homeroom teacher and the dean? Is no one going to step in and manage this? Morals are declining, and people’s hearts are no longer pure!

While inwardly grumbling, Xiao San was also enjoying herself.

Lin Nuanyan looked at Xiao San with confusion. When she realized that Xiao San seemed not to have been listening at all, she unconsciously raised her voice and called out loudly, “San’er!”

Only then did Xiao San snap back to reality. “Ah, sorry, I was spacing out just now. What did you say?”

The café had grown much quieter, and everyone’s gaze was fixed on Lin Nuanyan.

“Why are they all looking at you?” Xiao San asked, puzzled again.

What had happened while she was lost in thought?

Lin Nuanyan awkwardly smoothed her hair and, suppressing her irritation, said, “It’s nothing. I was just asking if you and Brother Shen Lin have been having any disagreements lately.”

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