The Villain Recognizes the Female Lead as His Master [Transmigration] - Chapter 22.2

As for matters concerning her family, Yuan Shao wouldn’t pry. She would wait until Chi Jinnian chose to share them. Asking abruptly would only invite unnecessary trouble and distress.

The setting sun cast a golden glow across the courtyard, painting the kapok flowers in even brighter hues.

Yuan Shao’s slender fingers deftly rearranged the ribbon in Chi Jinnian’s ponytail, forming two loops and leaving two long, trailing ends that swayed gently in the breeze.

Pleased with her handiwork, Yuan Shao reached up and ruffled Chi Jinnian’s soft hair. “It’s getting dark soon. You should go.”

“Mm.” Chi Jinnian took a few steps with Caiyue but paused at the last stair. Suddenly turning back, she replaced her earlier melancholy with a deliberately bright smile. “Shizun, I’ll come see you again tomorrow.”

As Chi Jinnian left, Su Tingxi made a timely appearance. “Shizun, it’s getting dark. You should head back soon.”

Yuan Shao glanced at him coolly. “Are you happy she’s gone?”

Truthfully, Su Tingxi was. Now, this small corner of the world would belong solely to him and his master, free from any interruptions.

But in Yuan Shao’s eyes, he saw an unfamiliar coldness. His master, who had always been gentle and kind toward him, now regarded him as if he were a stranger.

Beneath his sleeves, Su Tingxi clenched his fists nervously and murmured, “H-how could I be? Shizun, I get along very well with Shimei. We even went down the mountain together to hunt demons.”

“Oh?” Yuan Shao gave him another glance before continuing inside.

Su Tingxi noticed that Yuan Shao’s attitude had softened slightly, as if she was interested in the topic, so he quickly followed up and continued, “Exactly! Back then, she and I fought a nest of ants together and got quite a few good things from it. She even got a bracelet out of it, she loved it so much and treasured it dearly.”

Yuan Shao’s steps suddenly froze in place. “A bracelet, she got it with you? And she treasured it dearly?”

“Y-yes.” Su Tingxi saw Yuan Shao’s expression darken in an instant but couldn’t figure out what he had said wrong. Thinking that Yuan Shao and Chi Jinnian were now so close, perhaps she felt he had been stingy by only leaving the girl with a worthless bracelet after they fought demons together. He hurriedly tried to explain, “No, no she chose it herself! I let her pick first.”

Yuan Shao:

This time, Yuan Shao didn’t press further. Instead, she abruptly quickened her pace and strode toward the house without looking back.

Not willing to give up, Su Tingxi chased after her just before she could close the door. “Master, wait!” He wedged a leg into the doorframe to block it. “None of these rooms have beds… so, where am I supposed to sleep tonight?”

Despite her anger, Yuan Shao was still his master and had no reason to bully her disciple. “Choose between the bed or the floor.”

Su Tingxi naturally wouldn’t dream of taking the bed from Yuan Shao. She left him with a curt “Wait here” before turning into the inner room. When she returned, she was carrying a bedding roll, one that looked like it had been used not long ago.

After some deliberation, Yuan Shao only gave Su Tingxi two thin mattresses. Back when A’Nian had slept on the floor, she had used three, but Yuan Shao had tucked away the one they had shared intimately deep inside the wardrobe, out of Su Tingxi’s sight.

At the same time, she handed him the golden silk pillow from her own bed, replacing it with the embroidered one she and Chi Jinnian had once shared.

Seeing his master offer him her own pillow, Su Tingxi’s sinking heart seemed to catch a glimmer of light. As expected, his master still cared for him she was even willing to let him use her pillow.

After handing over the bedding, Yuan Shao added a perfunctory consolation. “Sleeping on the floor might be tough, but it’s good for your back!”

“Yes! Thank you for your concern, Master! Then I won’t disturb you any further please rest early.” Su Tingxi knew Yuan Shao wasn’t yet ready to fully accept him, and pushing too hard now would only drive her further away. Seeing their relationship had warmed slightly, he happily gathered the bedding and left Yuan Shao’s bedroom.

Just as he reached the door, however, Yuan Shao called out to him. “Wait a moment.”

The sudden summons made Su Tingxi’s heart leap with hope. “What is it, Master? Please, go ahead!”

“Did she really love that bracelet that much?”

“?” Su Tingxi stood frozen, utterly baffled by the question.

“Never mind.” Yuan Shao sighed. “From now on, don’t target A’Nian anymore. You’re her senior older in age and rank. You must treat her well, understand?”

Her tone left no room for negotiation; it was a direct order.

The smile on Su Tingxi’s face vanished as if doused by a bucket of cold water, leaving him stunned in the doorway.

When he still didn’t move, Yuan Shao asked, “Is there anything else?”

“N, no.”

“Then, rest early.”

Su Tingxi:

It seemed he really needed to have a good talk with Chi Jinnian!

Meanwhile, as soon as Chi Jinnian returned to her palace, she saw Caiwei and the four attendants Dong, Nan, Xi, Bei standing in a neat row at the entrance of the main hall.

On her way back, she had already gotten a rough idea of the situation from Caiyue. Chi Lin hadn’t mentioned why he had suddenly come, but ever since his arrival, he had been in a terrible mood, his face dark with anger.

The moment he entered, he had demanded to see Chi Jinnian. Upon learning she wasn’t there, he had grown even angrier, roaring at everyone to go find her.

Not daring to delay, Chi Jinnian hurried into the main hall. Sure enough, Chi Lin sat on the throne with a stormy expression, holding a teacup. Beside him stood Wei Yang, his face covered with a black cloth apparently, his pollen allergy hadn’t subsided yet.

At the sight, Chi Jinnian’s heart sank. Wei Yang had never been on good terms with her, and now she had ruined his face and tricked him into delivering himself to the male lead today must be the day he came to tattle to Chi Lin.

But she wasn’t sure which of her misdeeds he had reported. If it was about Yuan Shao…

Before she could finish the thought, Chi Lin slammed his half-drunk teacup onto the table with a loud crash. The sound of shattering porcelain interrupted Chi Jinnian’s attempt to curtsy in greeting.

“You finally decided to come back!” Chi Lin’s voice was thick with fury, especially as he took in Chi Jinnian’s disheveled appearance, her skirt seemed singed, riddled with holes large and small. “Where have you been running wild?”

“N-nowhere special.” Chi Jinnian stammered. “I just, went out for some fun.”

“Fun? How old are you? Still thinking about fun all day! Tell me, how is the matter with Yuan Shao progressing?”

“Uh” Chi Jinnian hesitated. Had Wei Yang not reported her for hiding Yuan Shao?

But then again, it made sense. Wei Yang, though usually arrogant and domineering, disdained childish acts like tattling. His style was more like a lion stalking its prey lying in wait, motionless, until he was certain of victory, then striking decisively to claim his prize, standing triumphant over all.

“I, I’m still looking,” Chi Jinnian replied haltingly.

Hearing this, Chi Lin grew even angrier. “Still looking? So you haven’t finished the task I gave you, yet you still have time to play! Look at other people’s children your age, what are they doing every day? Never mind the distant ones, let’s just talk about Wei Yang!” As he spoke, he pointed at Wei Yang, who deliberately straightened his posture. “Young as he is, he’s already a general, with a glorious record of victories. And then there’s you! Either giggling over storybooks or running wild outside, I can never even find you! How did I end up with a child like you!”

Watching Wei Yang’s smug expression, his ruined face doing nothing to dampen his arrogance Chi Jinnian could only purse her lips and endure Chi Lin’s lecture.

Taking a deep breath to suppress his temper, Chi Lin continued, “Since you’ve been running around outside, you must be well-informed. Have you heard that the Water Mirror has suddenly disappeared?”

Before Chi Jinnian could react, Wei Yang gasped. “What? The Water Mirror is gone?”

“Yes!” Chi Lin fixed his gaze on Chi Jinnian. “Someone said they saw you near the Water Mirror recently with a man in white. Tell me, is this matter related to you?”

Hearing the mention of the “man in white,” Wei Yang’s neck, the spot where he had been pressed earlier, inexplicably throbbed with a faint pain.

Chi Jinnian quickly waved her hands. “No, no, I was just passing by with someone and had no idea what was happening inside. The Water Mirror disappeared what does that mean?”