The Villain Recognizes the Female Lead as His Master [Transmigration] - Chapter 22.1

The words “A-Nian bought it” froze Su Tingxi’s smile at the corners of his lips.

But Yuan Shao seemed oblivious as she pointed toward the east and west wing rooms: “These rooms are all empty. You can choose whichever one you like.”

Su Tingxi ingratiatingly asked, “Which room does Master live in? I’d like to stay closer to you.”

Yuan Shao didn’t seem particularly affected by Su Tingxi’s closeness. She raised her hand and gestured toward the main house: “A-Nian and I live there.”

The words darkened Su Tingxi’s expression by three shades, and he shot a fierce glare at Chi Jinnian, who stood on the other side of Yuan Shao.

Chi Jinnian deliberately covered her eyes with her hand, pretending the sunlight was too harsh, even though the sun had already set, casting a dim hue over the sky.

But she had to avoid meeting Su Tingxi’s gaze.

Just as she was thinking of a way to escape the awkward situation, the hand shielding her brow was gently taken by another touch.

Yuan Shao held her hand. “We’ve been through a lot these past two days. Let’s go rest.” Then, completely ignoring Su Tingxi, she pulled Chi Jinnian straight into the house. Before closing the door, she gestured to Su Tingxi: “Take your pick.” With a thud, the door shut.

Leaving Su Tingxi alone in the courtyard, standing there with the kapok trees, both of them left to the mercy of the wind.

“But, Master…” Chi Jinnian was tugged along by Yuan Shao, stumbling as she walked. “Master, wait a moment”

Did you forget something? None of those rooms have beds!

“Are your injuries healed?” Seeing Chi Jinnian still trying to bring up topics about others, Yuan Shao stopped in her tracks and turned to give her a cold look.

Only then did Chi Jinnian remember in Yuan Shao’s eyes, she was someone who had suffered severe injuries to save her. She immediately started coughing with great effort: “Cough, cough.”

Seeing her little disciple’s cheeks flush red from coughing, Yuan Shao’s slightly frosty gaze softened in an instant. She released Chi Jinnian’s wrist and instead raised her hand to gently pat her back.

“Your body is weak, yet you insist on putting yourself in harm’s way.” Though Yuan Shao sounded a little angry, her tone remained gentle. She slowed her steps, supporting Chi Jinnian’s arm as she guided her toward the inner room.

Once inside, she had Chi Jinnian lie down on the bed. Since it was summer, Yuan Shao chose a relatively thin quilt and lightly draped it over her.

But after receiving so much spiritual energy earlier, Chi Jinnian was lucky not to be overheating, how could she possibly tolerate a quilt?

Stuck with the pretense of her “fragile, injured” state, Chi Jinnian had no choice but to sit up and cough lightly. “Master, can I, sit for a while? I don’t want to lie down.”

Yuan Shao looked at her little disciple, whose expression had softened. Her small, delicate face, with big bright eyes blinking, secretly sizing her up, only to immediately avert her gaze the moment their eyes met. The cautious, obedient demeanor made Yuan Shao guess her intentions: “Do you have something to say to me? About your, shixiong?”

Chi Jinnian:

She hadn’t planned on it earlier, but now seemed as good a time as any. So she quickly nodded.

Yuan Shao reached out and tucked a stray lock of hair behind Chi Jinnian’s ear. “Alright, speak. This master is listening.”

Chi Jinni let out a sigh of relief. Although Yuan Shao’s current attitude towards Su Tingxi wasn’t great, they were still the official couple in the story.

Moreover, in the original plot, Chi Jinni had targeted Yuan Shao precisely because of Su Tingxi.

So now, Chi Jinni needed to maintain a clear boundary with Su Tingxi in front of Yuan Shao while still saying as many good things about him as possible. This way, Yuan Shao and Su Tingxi could pair up sooner to conquer the world, and she could sooner live her dream life of idleness. Who knows, she might even save her own life in the grand finale by facilitating their romance.

“Master, you might not remember, but Senior Brother Su is actually your favorite disciple,” Chi Jinni said softly, her voice gentle and cautious. “His cultivation is profound, his powers are formidable, and he is upright and virtuous, a model among disciples.”

Yuan Shao remained silent for a moment before asking, “Then, has he treated you well in daily life?”

The question caught Chi Jinni off guard.

But this very silence confirmed Yuan Shao’s suspicions.

That disciple hadn’t even been willing to call her “junior sister” at first, how could he have treated her well? At this thought, Yuan Shao sighed. If even she, as his master, had treated Chi Jinni so poorly, how could his disciples have given her any respect?

Her expression darkened at the realization.

Noticing the change in Yuan Shao’s demeanor, Chi Jinni quickly added, “Master, the truth is, I’m just too slow-witted. My cultivation has never followed the proper methods, so I mostly stay alone in my quarters and rarely interact with outstanding people like Senior Brother. It’s only natural that he keeps his distance from me.”

She sighed again. “Calling you ‘Master’ and him ‘Senior Brother’ is already more than I deserve. It’s my own lack of ability no one else is to blame.”

Is that so? But then Yuan Shao recalled how, on their way back, the two of them had often whispered behind her back, was Su Tingxi using his status as senior brother to bully A’Nian?

And that piercing look Su Tingxi had given before she brought A’Nian inside, was he still acting on her “previous” dislike for A’Nian?

A’Nian called him upright and virtuous, but what kind of man constantly picks on a young girl?

No, as his master, she had to guide him back to the right path. As a senior brother, he should treat his junior sister properly, that was his duty.

Chi Jinni noticed that Yuan Shao seemed to believe her at first, but then, for some reason, her eyes suddenly brightened with realization.

Before Chi Jinni could figure it out, a commotion erupted in the courtyard.

“Young lady, this is a private residence, you can’t just barge in!” Though the words were stern, Su

“Miss, I finally found you.” Caiyue was overjoyed to see Chi Jinnian, but then noticed Yuan Shao standing beside her. No wonder, the man in the courtyard earlier had been exceptionally handsome, yet the young mistress had left him there alone. So there was another in the room.

Upon closer inspection, wasn’t this the gentleman to whom the young mistress had personally gifted a jade hairpin last time? Rumor had it he was her master? Realizing this, Caiyue tactfully first bowed slightly to Yuan Shao before gently pulling Chi Jinnian aside. “The master has returned suddenly and is waiting for you at home. You must come back with me right away!”

The implication was clear: Chi Lin was currently at her Peach Garden, waiting to confront her.

But why now, of all times? It had to be related to the Water Mirror.

For now, it was just Caiyue searching for her. If Chi Lin sent out a large group to scour the city for the young mistress, her true identity would be exposed in an instant!

Seeing Caiyue’s eager, blinking eyes, Chi Jinnian quickly nodded and turned back to Yuan Shao.

Before she could speak, Yuan Shao was the first to ask, “Is your family looking for you?”

Chi Jinnian nodded.

Yuan Shao reached out and adjusted the ribbon in her hair. “Then you should go back. After being away for so many days, your family must be worried. Go and see them.”

Last time, Yuan Shao had overheard Chi Jinnian’s conversation with the black-clad figure at the gate of Taoyuan. Chi Jinnian’s family didn’t approve of her, and it seemed she had been staying by Yuan Shao’s side against their wishes. If Yuan Shao tried to keep her, it would only put Chi Jinnian in a difficult position.