The Vicious Female Supporting Character and The Sadistic Heroine Got Together [Through the Book] - Chapter 44

“Then can you tell me how you became the Pavilion Master of Cloudwind Pavilion? And how did you get them to trust you?” Shen Chou asked.

Tang Suan smiled. “You want to hear?”

Isn’t that obvious? Shen Chou thought. If I didn’t want to know, why would I ask?

Shen Chou nodded eagerly.

“Alright,” Tang Suan replied, and began recounting everything she had seen and heard over the past few months.

Her tone remained calm, as if she had seen through everything and was now detached from it all.

But Shen Chou’s reaction was completely different. As Tang Suan described facing so many people alone, even having to compete with Cang Qinglan, Shen Chou grew increasingly anxious, terrified that Tang Suan would reveal she had been harmed.

Tang Suan watched Shen Chou’s worried expression, amused. I’m not even scared. Why is Shen Chou so afraid?

Then she realized: Shen Chou really cares about me.

Seeing Shen Chou’s eyes redden, Tang Suan smiled. “Don’t cry. I’m standing right here, perfectly fine.”

Shen Chou turned away, trying to hide her reaction. “Who’s… who’s crying? It’s just sand in my eyes! I’m definitely not crying for some annoying jerk!”

As she spoke, Shen Chou rubbed her eyes. What do I do? My eyes feel sore and itchy.

Hmph, it’s all A-Suan’s fault for making me worry so much, and then she just stood there gloating, Shen Chou thought.

She turned to see Tang Suan still laughing, and Shen Chou, furious, began playfully hitting her. In reality, Shen Chou wasn’t using any force at all; to Tang Suan, it felt more like a tickle.

Their playful scuffle escalated, eventually tumbling onto the bed.

Shen Chou pushed Tang Suan down, straddling her and continuing their mock fight.

Suddenly, Tang Suan grabbed Shen Chou’s hand and yanked her forward, sending Shen Chou sprawling onto her.

Caught off guard, Shen Chou froze, her pupils widening slightly as she locked eyes with Tang Suan.

Their breaths mingled, the warmth of their exhaled air passing between them. The room seemed to grow hotter, the atmosphere thick with unspoken tension.

Whether it was Shen Chou’s imagination or not, she felt a sudden heat coursing through her veins.

“A-Suan, I want…” Shen Chou said, her face flushed and her breath coming in ragged gasps.

Tang Suan tilted her head and kissed her lightly. “Don’t be afraid.”

Shen Chou shook her head. “A-Suan, do you remember what you said? Next time, you’d let me be on top!”

Tang Suan fell silent, having completely forgotten about that promise.

Seeing Tang Suan’s hesitation, Shen Chou quickly added, “A-Suan, you can’t go back on your word!”

Tang Suan fell silent again, finally giving in and lying flat on the bed. She spread her arms wide, closed her eyes, and said to Shen Chou, “Alright, go ahead.”

“Wait!” Shen Chou suddenly called out.

Tang Suan opened her eyes and saw Shen Chou hop off the bed, then scurry back over, a strip of red silk in her hand.

Curious about the red cloth, Tang Suan asked, “What’s this for?”

Shen Chou’s face flushed crimson, her gaze darting nervously as she replied, “You’ll see soon enough.”

No sooner had she spoken than Tang Suan felt darkness fall over her eyes. Just as she instinctively reached up to touch it, Shen Chou gently pressed her hand down. “A-Suan, don’t move,” she murmured softly.

Tang Suan obediently lowered her hand, her brow furrowing in confusion. “Chou-chou, what are you doing?”

As Shen Chou tied the silk strip over her eyes, she smiled tenderly. “A-Suan, you’ll find out soon enough.”

With Tang Suan’s eyes covered, Shen Chou then bound her hands behind her back with the red silk.

Tang Suan’s raven hair cascaded over her shoulders, her only garment a thin robe that left one shoulder bare. Her hands were tied behind her, her eyes covered by the red silk, and her bare feet pressed against the bed as she knelt there, utterly helpless and bewildered.

Shen Chou reached out, caressing Tang Suan’s cheek with a feather-light touch, as if she were handling the world’s most precious treasure.

The world’s most precious treasures should be hidden away and carefully protected, Shen Chou thought, reaching out to lift Tang Suan’s chin. Seeing Tang Suan’s innocent expression, her lips slightly parted, Shen Chou’s heart stirred, and she leaned in for a kiss.

Soon, the bed was filled with tender intimacy, bathed in the warmth of spring.

Late that night, the sky, which had been covered in dark clouds, suddenly unleashed a torrential downpour.

The rain was so heavy it left people speechless. The earth became sodden, emitting groaning sounds as if begging the heavens to stop. It couldn’t endure any more.

That night, with her beloved by her side, Shen Chou slept soundly, her dreams peaceful and undisturbed.

The rain cleared, and when the blinding sunlight streamed in, Shen Chou stirred, rubbed her eyes, and woke with a soft groan.

The moment she opened her eyes, she saw Tang Suan lying beside her, propped up on one arm, staring at her without blinking.

The sudden sight startled Shen Chou so badly she let out a sharp scream: “Ah—!”

Recovering, she patted her chest, exhaled in relief, and scolded Tang Suan playfully, “A-Suan, you scared me half to death!”

Unexpectedly, Tang Suan glared at her fiercely. “Don’t call me that so familiarly. Who’s your A-Suan?”

Shen Chou stared in bewildered confusion. What was going on?

Her eyes widened suddenly as she pointed at Tang Suan. “You’re not A-Suan! You’re Tang Zhuxin!”

Tang Zhuxin frowned and snorted coldly. “You’re finally catching on.”

Hearing that it was indeed Tang Zhuxin, Shen Chou couldn’t help but cover her face, inwardly groaning, Why is she back again?

As if reading her thoughts, Tang Zhuxin’s frown deepened. “Are you looking down on me?”

“No, no! I swear, that’s absolutely not true! How could I ever look down on you?” Shen Chou froze, waving her hands frantically in denial.

Tang Zhuxin shot her another glance, snorted dismissively, and seemed to lose interest in the conversation.

After a moment, noticing Shen Chou still standing there in a daze, Tang Zhuxin snapped impatiently, “What are you waiting for? Go prepare the food! Are you trying to starve me?”

“Oh, right!” Tang Zhuxin’s reminder made Shen Chou realize she hadn’t eaten breakfast yet. No wonder I’m so hungry.

As she hurried out, Shen Chou glanced back at Tang Zhuxin, who was glaring at her impatiently. She quickened her pace.

After they finished eating, Tang Zhuxin set down her chopsticks, her voice tinged with annoyance. “Why do you keep staring at me?”

“Huh? Was I?” Shen Chou quickly averted her gaze, caught off guard.

Tang Zhuxin was exasperated. That obvious a stare? Only a blind person could miss it!

“Are you an idiot?” she muttered.

“I’m not an idiot!” Shen Chou retorted defensively.

Tang Zhuxin sighed. Fine, I won’t lower myself to her level. She had more important matters to attend to—meeting Li Changsheng.

She needed to update Li Changsheng on the situation, discuss their next steps, and ensure he took the bait step by step.

“I’m going out later,” Tang Zhuxin told Shen Chou. “Don’t follow me.”

Shen Chou immediately tensed up. “Where are you going? What if you’re discovered?” she pressed anxiously.

“Relax,” Tang Zhuxin assured her. “I won’t let anyone find me.”

Shen Chou shook her head stubbornly. “No. Better safe than sorry.”

Tang Zhuxin hadn’t expected such stubbornness. “I know the Disguise Technique,” she explained. “I can change my appearance and voice. They won’t recognize me easily.”

Shen Chou opened her mouth to protest further, but a sharp glare from Tang Zhuxin silenced her instantly. She obediently clamped her mouth shut.

Li Changsheng was practicing calligraphy by the pond when he sensed someone approaching. At first, he thought Shen Chou had come to find him, but as the figure drew closer, he realized it was Xiao Lian, Shen Chou’s personal maid.

He set down his brush, turned to Xiao Lian, and asked, “Did the Imperial Consort send you to find me?”

Xiao Lian curtsied, then shook her head. “No, Your Highness.”

Hearing that Shen Chou hadn’t sent her, Li Changsheng pressed, “Then what brings you here?”

Xiao Lian smiled, but when she spoke, it was with Tang Suan’s voice: “Your Highness, it’s been a while.”

Li Changsheng froze for several seconds, stunned by the familiar voice. When he finally regained his composure, he glanced around frantically, relieved to see no one was watching them.

He let out a sigh of relief and quickly pulled Tang Suan into the room.

As soon as they were inside, Li Changsheng slammed the door shut and turned to confront her. “Have you lost your mind? I told you to stay at Cloudwind Pavilion and report to me regularly! If you’re discovered here, we’re both finished! Are you trying to get me killed?!”

Hearing Li Changsheng’s barrage of questions, Tang Zhuxin’s previously smiling face instantly turned cold. She met his gaze without flinching, each word deliberate: “If Your Highness doesn’t reveal it, who would ever know? Besides, my disguise is so perfect, even you wouldn’t have recognized me if I hadn’t confessed, would you?”

Li Changsheng fell silent. Her words rang true. Tang Zhuxin’s disguise had indeed been flawless; otherwise, he wouldn’t have failed to recognize her at first.

However, he would never admit his mistake, let alone apologize to Tang Zhuxin.

After a few seconds of silence, Li Changsheng finally spoke again: “Whatever you need to say, say it quickly! It would be bad if we were discovered.”

Tang Zhuxin couldn’t help but sneer inwardly at his pretense. Who else could possibly be here besides us?

Perhaps Li Changsheng isn’t just afraid of the Emperor finding out; he’s also terrified of Shen Chou discovering this. And why would he fear Shen Chou’s reaction? Simple: he’s fallen for her and cares deeply about her opinion.

In the end, the white moonlight couldn’t outshine the cinnabar mole. The white moonlight became just another grain of rice, while the mosquito’s blood transformed into a cinnabar mole.

Men—not a single one of them is worth a damn!

She wasn’t afraid of losing to Shen Chou, after all, Shen Chou already belonged to Tang Suan.

But she absolutely couldn’t lose to Li Changsheng. She wanted him to pay for his actions, to suffer the same torment she had endured.

Tang Zhuxin smiled. “Your Highness, don’t be so impatient. I’m here to report intelligence about the Cloudwind Pavilion. Didn’t I risk my life to return, fearing my message wouldn’t reach you? And yet you scold me…”

Remembering he still needed to manipulate Tang Suan, Li Changsheng feigned concern. “I apologize. I was in a foul mood earlier and spoke harshly. Please forgive me.”

Tang Zhuxin replied, “Your Highness jests. How could I ever be angry with you?”

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