The Villain Recognizes the Female Lead as His Master [Transmigration] - Chapter 23.1

Chi Jinnian was truly at her wit’s end. Caught red-handed by Yuan Shao in the courtyard, yet unable to speak the truth, she could only divert attention elsewhere.

In this Peach Blossom Haven, there were only two residents. If it wasn’t Su Tingxi, then it could only be.

“Did you have another nightmare?” Yuan Shao held a candleholder as she stepped over the threshold, walking toward Chi Jinnian.

Struggling to find a reason for her return, Chi Jinnian seized Yuan Shao’s prompt and quickly nodded. Seeing Yuan Shao approach, she also took a step forward, her downcast eyes fixed firmly on the ground. “Shizun, I,I dreamed of being pierced through by a sword. It hurt so much that even when I woke up, my chest still ached.”

Chi Jinnian didn’t dare look up at Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao was too sharp, she feared her expression might betray her.

But Yuan Shao said nothing. Instead, she retrieved something from her sleeve and extended her hand toward Chi Jinnian.

Lifting her gaze, Chi Jinnian saw the object resting in Yuan Shao’s open palm, the very same red string that had once bound their wrists together. Neatly coiled, it was small and tidy.

The last time Chi Jinnian had seen this string was in the Water Mirror. Later, when Yuan Shao discovered her sneaking out at night, she had assumed the string had been discarded along with everything else. Yet here it was, carefully preserved.

Taking the string, Chi Jinnian clenched it in her palm. For some reason, a sudden pang of sorrow pricked at her nose.

While she had left Yuan Shao alone in the Water Mirror, scheming to abandon her, Yuan Shao had been meticulously keeping the very thing she had forgotten. The thought made Chi Jinnian crumple the red string in her hand, guilt flooding her heart.

Under the bright, silvery moon, the two stood facing each other in the tranquil courtyard, the fragrance of cotton tree blossoms thick in the air. When Chi Jinnian finally looked up and met Yuan Shao’s intense gaze, she immediately lowered her head again.

Yuan Shao, you and I are destined to be different.

You are the moon in the sky, while I am merely a star that exists only to reflect your light. I do not shine on my own, I am but a celestial fragment, borrowing your radiance.

Our paths may cross, but they are fated to diverge.

This time, I only wish to guide you back to your rightful path. Tomorrow, the moon will rise as always, and among the countless stars in the sky, mine will be no different.

After tomorrow, I doubt your attention will ever linger on me again.

You have your grand destiny, your lofty ambitions. As for me, I do not belong to this world. I, too, must return to my own path.

With this thought, Chi Jinnian’s expression softened slightly.

Seeing Chi Jinnian standing motionless, head bowed in silence, Yuan Shao took a step forward and cupped her cheek with one hand. The flickering candlelight from her other hand danced in Chi Jinnian’s glistening eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Yuan Shao’s thumb brushed gently over Chi Jinnian’s cheek. A’Nian’s skin was smooth, covered with a fine layer of down, soft to the touch like freshly steamed glutinous rice cakes warm and tender, much like her gentle nature.

After a moment of hesitation, Chi Jinnian finally spoke. “Shizun, I’m sorry.”

“Hmm?”

Blinking her bright eyes, Chi Jinnian offered a faint smile. “I gave my bedding to Shixiong, so… tonight, I’ll have to take up half of Shizun’s bed.”

Yuan Shao placed the candleholder on the bedside table, then stood by the edge of the bed, seemingly waiting for Chi Jinnian to lie down first.

Chi Jinnian noticed that Yuan Shao wasn’t using the expensive golden silk pillow she had bought for her, but rather the embroidered pillow Caiwei had sent her earlier. She couldn’t help but hesitate.

Yuan Shao seemed to read her thoughts and coughed lightly into her fist. “That pillow is being used by your shixiong. This one is mine.”

Chi Jinnian drew out a meaningful “Oh ” in response. The male lead truly lived up to his role it seemed Yuan Shao treated him quite well. She couldn’t help but think of tomorrow’s plan. With things looking like this, pushing their romantic development forward shouldn’t be too difficult.

The deliberate elongation of Chi Jinnian’s tone made Yuan Shao’s expression flicker with embarrassment. Oh no, did my little disciple notice I’m using her pillow? Will she think her shizun is strange?

But then again, no matter what, this pillow had touched A’Nian’s cheek and still carried the faint fragrance of her hair. There was no way she would let anyone else casually use it.

Yuan Shao changed the subject. “It’s late. You should rest.”

The implication was clear, she was urging Chi Jinnian to hurry up and get into bed.

Just as Chi Jinnian was about to climb in, she suddenly remembered something and stood back up. “Shizun, I have to go home early tomorrow morning. I’m afraid I might disturb your rest, so maybe you should sleep on the inside.”

Hearing this, Yuan Shao’s heart sank. So tonight, this child sneaked out from home again.

What kind of nightmare could drive someone so timid to slip out under the cover of night?

She knew Chi Jinnian was easily frightened and prone to nightmares, often struggling to sleep well, but she had never imagined it was this severe. Yuan Shao didn’t even dare to think about how A’Nian had spent her nights in the sect before.

All she knew was that she had to help A’Nian overcome this. And until then, she would stay by her side.

Finally, the two settled down together, and the lone lamp by the bedside was extinguished.

In an instant, the room plunged into darkness.

Chi Jinnian, afraid of crowding Yuan Shao, clung to the edge of the bed, forgoing the pillow and resting her head on her arm instead. Her other hand traced idle circles on the bedding.

“Shizun? Are you asleep?” Chi Jinnian turned slightly and whispered.

Yuan Shao’s closed eyes opened immediately, meeting the sight of her little disciple curled up at the edge of the bed, her bright eyes fixed on her. “Not yet,” Yuan Shao replied.

“Do you like fireworks?”

“Fireworks?”

“Mm.” Chi Jinnian shifted closer, meeting Yuan Shao’s bright peach-blossom eyes. “The kind that light up the sky.”

Yuan Shao had no particular feelings about such things. She only knew they were common among mortals in the lower cultivation realm, something people enjoyed watching. To her, fireworks were nothing more than loud crackling noises and the lingering scent of gunpowder.

“They’re alright,” she answered honestly.

“Oh.” Chi Jinnian turned back, facing away again. After a moment of silence, as if mustering great courage, she added, “Shizun, tomorrow is the Qixi Festival. There’ll be a fireworks display by the river. They say these fireworks are infused with spiritual energy, they’ll hang in the night sky like stars for as long as it takes an incense stick to burn, not like ordinary ones that vanish in an instant.”

Chi Jinnian spoke each word with extreme caution, like a newborn kitten eyeing the fish treat in someone’s hand but unsure how to ask for it. She could only let out soft, pleading mews, quiet yet persistent, one after another, refusing to give up.

“Do you want to see it?” Yuan Shao discerned Chi Jinnian’s intention and replied directly, “Tomorrow, I’ll accompany you to watch it.”

“R-really?” Chi Jinnian hadn’t expected Yuan Shao to answer before she even voiced her request. Her clenched fists instantly relaxed in delight. “Thank you, Master.”

This time, Yuan Shao didn’t let silence settle between them as usual. Instead, she suddenly turned, stretched out a long arm, and curled it around Chi Jinnian’s slender waist, pulling the girl back from the edge of the bed where she had been curled up.

Before Chi Jinnian could react, everything in her vision seemed to shift half a foot backward. A soft sensation pressed against her back, and the faint fragrance of mint leaves wafted around her. By the time she realized what had happened, she was already sharing the embroidered pillow the same one she had once used with Yuan Shao.

It still carried a trace of the osmanthus hair oil from last time, lingering from her own hair.

“Master, I ”

“Whatever you want.” Yuan Shao cut her off before she could finish. “If you stay so close to the edge, do you plan to fall off in the middle of the night, hmm?”

The low, rising lilt of her voice, along with the warmth of her breath, brushed against the nape of Chi Jinnian’s neck, sending tingles down her spine. This was the first time Chi Jinnian had been so close to someone in bed, while still fully conscious.

The summer nightgown was thin, and against the softness pressing against her back, she could almost feel the steady rhythm of the other’s heartbeat.

Thump, thump, thump

Each beat seemed to strike her soul, tightening her entire body with tension. She stiffened, unsure where to place her hands or feet, yet too afraid to turn around. She remained frozen in that state.

As if sensing her nervousness, Yuan Shao’s arm, draped around her waist, slowly slid upward, gently patting her in a soothing rhythm. “Go to sleep. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to see the fireworks.”

Like a parent coaxing a child to sleep, one pat, two pats, three pats… Gradually, Chi Jinnian’s tension eased. Perhaps it was the exhaustion from two long days, but she soon drifted off.

Her breathing steadied, and her rigid body slowly relaxed. Then, she turned over, curling into a small ball facing Yuan Shao.