The Villain Recognizes the Female Lead as His Master [Transmigration] - Chapter 24.2

“Enough!” Chi Jinnian smacked Caiyue in frustration.

Meanwhile, Su Tingxi angrily yanked off the bull horns and slammed them onto the table with a loud crash, startling both Chi Jinnian and Caiyue, who were playfully bickering. The two froze and turned to look at him. With that outfit, his already furious expression made him look even more… bizarre.

“Hmm, you’re right, Young Mistress,” Caiyue nodded. “Like this, he really doesn’t look human!”

Su Tingxi:

“Enough!” Su Tingxi slammed the table and roared, “Chi Jinnian, I knew you couldn’t possibly be so kind as to gift me clothes! You teamed up with this girl to make a fool out of me!”

Chi Jinnian looked at Su Tingxi’s originally fair face, now smeared with black streaks, his eyes bulging in anger, he looked just like the demon-quelling Zhong Kui from New Year paintings. Suppressing the urge to laugh, she quickly stepped forward to explain, “Don’t be angry, Young Master Su. Girls dislike men who shout the most. You’ll scare Immortal Master Yuan like this.”

Seeing Chi Jinnian trying to placate him, Su Tingxi didn’t press further. He simply ordered, “Forget the clothes. I’ll wear what I had before. And fetch me a basin of water, I need to wash my face.”

After Su Tingxi washed off the soot, Chi Jinnian said matter-of-factly, “Young Master Su, I recall that outfit of yours got stained black by Immortal Master Yuan’s spiritual energy. For such an important evening event, wearing clothes with a stain would be so imperfect! This is a shared memory between you and Immortal Master Yuan!”

At first, Su Tingxi was displeased at being reminded of how Yuan Shao had attacked him because of Chi Jinnian. But upon reflection, he realized she had a point.

Indeed, that black mark wasn’t a good memory to cling to. There was no need to keep it on his person, he should change out of it sooner rather than later.

Noticing Su Tingxi’s softening expression, Chi Jinnian quickly instructed Caiyue, “This time, you’re only allowed to watch from the side. Whatever Young Master Su likes, that’s what he gets! Understood?”

“Fine,” Caiyue pouted, clearly unhappy.

While Su Tingxi went to change out of the provocative black gauze outfit, Chi Jinnian directed the waiter to bring over women’s clothing samples for her to choose from. Meanwhile, Caiyue poured her a cup of tea and said, “No need to trouble yourself, Young Mistress. I’ve already picked out the women’s set and sent it over.”

Chi Jinnian’s hand, holding the teacup, froze mid-air. “Sent it over?!”

“Yes, the person left just before you came in. It should have arrived by now,” Caiyue replied, picking up the discarded bull horns and admiring them. “They’re actually quite nice, aren’t they?”

Suddenly, there was a loud crash, the teacup toppled onto the table, but the room was already empty. Chi Jinnian had vanished.

Chi Jinnian bolted out like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. She never expected Caiyue, that unreliable girl, to act so swiftly! What if she had turned Yuanshao into some kind of animal too!

Just as she reached the door, she ran into the teary-eyed shopkeeper, whose reddened eyes still glistened with unshed tears: “Y-Young Mistress.”

“Shopkeeper, what’s”

The old shopkeeper knew Chi Jinnian’s thought process was anything but ordinary, he hadn’t even batted an eye when she had men’s clothing altered into women’s wear. But he never imagined she would go so far as to “sacrifice her own kin” by summoning someone from the Upper Cultivation Realm to smash the things at their doorstep! Now, with Yuanshao, a renowned demon slayer, involved, how could he, a denizen of the demon realm, dare accept her money? That would be asking for trouble!

Without further explanation, the shopkeeper wiped his tear-streaked face, praying never to get tangled in such affairs again, and waved his hand dismissively: “Young Mistress, are you here for Yuan… Young Master Yuan? She just left!” With that, he slumped back into his chair.

Yuanshao? She had been here!

There was no time to ponder why Yuanshao had come or how the shopkeeper knew her surname. Chi Jinnian immediately dashed out the door.

All she knew was that since Yuanshao had just left, she likely hadn’t seen the outfit Caiyue had sent over. What if that unreliable girl had picked something like a “Jade Rabbit” costume… What would Yuanshao think!

Would she kill her on the spot?!

The thought spurred Chi Jinnian to quicken her pace, sprinting desperately toward Peach Blossom Haven.

Upon arrival, she found the gates tightly shut, the courtyard eerily silent. Her pounding heart eased slightly perhaps she had just missed Yuanshao, who might still be on her way back.

Just as she let out a relieved sigh, Yuanshao’s voice came from inside the main room: “Who’s there?”

Damn it. She was too late.

“Master, it’s me,” Chi Jinnian called out. “Master, did you, receive a package?”

“I happened to meet the delivery person at the door just now. This, is a set of clothes, right? Did you send them, Anian?”

“Ah… yes…” Though reluctant to admit it, she couldn’t deny it. “Master, if you don’t like them, I can buy another set. Please don’t”

“The design is… quite novel. I’ve never seen anything like it. Thankfully, you were thoughtful enough to include an illustration. I’ve almost finished changing, just wait a moment longer.” Yuanshao’s voice remained as composed as ever, betraying no emotion.

Chi Jinnian clasped her hands together, praying to the heavens: she had no expectations for Caiyue’s taste anymore, just let it be normal human clothing!

The rustling sounds from inside suggested Yuanshao was still changing. Chi Jinnian’s tense heart eased a little. Surely, if it were some bizarre animal costume, Yuanshao wouldn’t have put it on.

Just as she was reassuring herself, the door to the main room creaked open slightly. “I’m done. Come in.”

After a deep breath, Chi Jinnian stepped inside, only to find the room empty, with no sign of Yuanshao.

“Master? I’m coming in!” Chi Jinnian called out loudly. Since the outer room was deserted, Yuanshao must be further inside.

Assuming the clothes didn’t fit well, Chi Jinnian ventured deeper, asking, “Master, does the size”

Her question died on her lips as she froze at the corner.

She saw in the mirror a crescent of snow-white shoulders draped with a multicolored gauze shawl. The upper body was adorned with a dark green embroidered bustier, threaded with gold, barely covering the full curves, while pearl tassels dangled beneath it, leaving the slender waist completely exposed. The lower body was clad in a red skirt, crafted like petals into four sections, revealing glimpses of long, straight thighs with every turn.

As Yuan Shao moved, the pearls on the garment clinked together, producing a delicate, tinkling sound.

“Ah Nian, did you pick this outfit?”