The Vicious Female Supporting Character Just Wants to Cuddle with the Heroine - chapter 3

Ning Xin decides to take matters into her own hands after tossing and turning in bed. She resolves to use an apology as an excuse to visit Shen Qingzhi. In this fictional world, the rules aren’t as strict as in real ancient times, so there aren’t many restrictions on girls socializing.

Shen Qingzhi, upon returning home, also found herself sitting on the sidelines in her own courtyard, contemplating her future. Before she could figure anything out, she heard that Ning Xin had come to see her. A flicker of caution crossed her eyes at the thought of Ning Xin, but she quickly composed herself and had Ning Xin brought to her courtyard.

Upon seeing Shen Qingzhi again, Ning Xin was once more captivated by her beauty. After a moment of being lost in her thoughts, she presented a box of pastries to Shen Qingzhi. “I heard Sister Shen likes pear blossom cakes. I bought these from Liu Xiang Fang. I hope you like them.”

“What is this…” Shen Qingzhi asked, looking at Ning Xin with suspicion.

Seeing her reaction, Ning Xin took a piece herself and bit into it first. “See, it’s not poisoned. I don’t have any other intentions; I just came to sincerely apologize.”

Shen Qingzhi still frowned. “We are not the same kind of people. You don’t have to go to all this trouble.”

“Sister, you’ve never socialized with me. How can you know we aren’t the same kind of people?”

After saying this, Ning Xin took another piece of cake and offered it to Shen Qingzhi. Even though Shen Qingzhi was trying to keep her distance, she felt awkward leaving Ning Xin holding the cake and so took it and ate it.

“Sister Shen, the reason I acted that way before was because of my mother. She wants me to marry the Prime Minister’s son to pave the way for my brother. I don’t want to, but I didn’t dare refuse. After this incident, I’ve realized that my mother doesn’t care about me at all. Her heart is only with her son.” Ning Xin’s words stirred a sense of pity in Shen Qingzhi. As a fellow woman, she naturally understood the difficulties they faced. “It’s a good thing you understand this now.”

“Sister, if you don’t mind, can we visit each other more often in the future? I don’t even have anyone to talk to at home…” Ning Xin felt a bit disgusted with herself after saying this. Although she didn’t like feigning weakness, she had to admit that it was the easiest way to gain the female lead’s trust.

Shen Qingzhi really couldn’t refuse. Ning Xin’s attitude was sincere. If she was genuinely regretful, Shen Qingzhi could consider a friendship with her. After all, the Ministry of Revenue was a very important position.

“Sister, you’re willing to agree?”

“We can visit each other, but I’m used to being alone. If you become a nuisance, I won’t allow you to come anymore.”

“Okay!”

The female lead was definitely tough on the outside and soft on the inside. Ning Xin decided to only hear what she wanted to hear and ignore the rest. “Sister, since my mother couldn’t get me to marry the Prime Minister’s son, she’ll probably try to marry me off to someone else. Can you guess who her next target might be?”

“This… besides the Prime Minister, the most powerful person in our court is the Great General. He has no sons, but he has a sister. Her two sons are around your age. If I’m not mistaken, your mother will probably take you to a new banquet in a couple of days, where you’ll be able to connect with the Great General’s family.”

“Thank you for the heads-up, Sister.”

Ning Xin felt that what Shen Qingzhi said was likely spot on. Her mother would never give up on using her as a pawn. She would probably do anything to pave the way for her son. After staying with Shen Qingzhi for a while, Ning Xin returned home. Too much was as bad as too little. Even though she wanted to build a good relationship with Shen Qingzhi, there was no need to rush. As long as she didn’t court death again, her life was safe for now.

Back home, Bai Lian asked to see her. Ning Xin thought this was probably about a new marriage proposal.

“Did you go see that little b***h Shen Qingzhi?”

Bai Lian’s face was dark, and her tone was unfriendly. “She’s just a disgraced legitimate daughter of the Marquis of An Ding’s family. Why are you trying to curry favor with her?”

“I went to apologize. Mother, you can just get to the point.”

“You can’t marry the Prime Minister’s son, so I’ve arranged a new marriage for you. The eldest son of General Huaihua. General Huaihua is the Great General’s brother-in-law, and his future is limitless. When you marry him, you’ll have a life of comfort. As your mother, I’ve done my best for you.”

It was just as Shen Qingzhi had guessed. Ning Xin sneered inwardly. She would never marry someone she didn’t know. Not only was her current body not yet an adult, but even if she were, she couldn’t just inexplicably place her future in the hands of a stranger.

“You’re not satisfied?”

Bai Lian’s tone changed when she saw Ning Xin remain silent. If she had been patient moments before, she was now completely out of it.

“I am. Since you’ve already made the arrangements, there’s nothing I can say.”

Resisting Bai Lian was useless and would only bring trouble. Ning Xin had already decided on a solution: she needed to consult Shen Qingzhi. She didn’t know enough about this world, and following the female lead would surely help her turn danger into good fortune.

Bai Lian was finally satisfied when Ning Xin didn’t object. “Once you’re married, you should come back to visit your family often. Your brother is still young. When he grows up, he will naturally support you.”

“I know.”

Bai Lian moved quickly, arranging a meeting with General Huaihua’s wife, Ye Ningyan, to let Ning Xin and her son get to know each other. In this society, unmarried men and women could meet and see each other in the presence of their parents.

The moment Ning Xin received the news, she went to find Shen Qingzhi.

When Shen Qingzhi saw Ning Xin again, she suddenly felt a headache coming on. It was as if she had brought some trouble upon herself. “What are you doing here?”

“Sister Shen, you’re a genius! My mother really is trying to marry me off to General Huaihua’s son. What should I do now?”

“What do you mean, ‘what should you do’? General Huaihua’s family has a strict family code, so his son can’t be bad. Although your mother’s intentions are not pure, this is definitely a good marriage. Aren’t you satisfied?”

“It doesn’t matter what kind of person he is. Sister Shen, I don’t want to get married yet. Is there any way you can help me?”

Ning Xin’s tone was basically a plea. Shen Qingzhi didn’t know when she and Ning Xin had become so close that this person would talk to her in such a manner.

“Sister Shen, you’re so smart. You must have a solution, right? I don’t want to inexplicably marry a stranger.”

“Don’t be like this. People who don’t know us would think we’re very close. To be honest, we’ve only met a few times. How can I interfere in your family matters? If you don’t want to get married, why don’t you talk to your mother directly? She is your birth mother, after all.”

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