The Villain Recognizes the Female Lead as His Master [Transmigration] - Chapter 39

Chi Jinnian stood by the window, gazing at the bright moonlight outside. In the tranquil night, countless glistening specks drifted down with the wind.

“Master, look it’s snowing.” Chi Jinnian stretched her hand out the window, catching a snowflake in her palm. Yet, the delicate crystal melted into a tiny droplet the moment it touched her skin, seeping into her palm.

Unwilling to give up, she reached out for another snowflake.

Yuan Shao watched the young girl enjoying herself by the window, her eyes brimming with delight. She was like a playful kitten, her fluffy paws unwilling to withdraw, meowing happily each time she caught one.

Indeed, young girls were easy to please.

Yuan Shao approached her from behind, extending her hand beside Chi Jinnian’s. With a subtle spell cast in her palm to prevent the snowflake from melting, she presented it to Chi Jinnian. “Do you like it?”

The enchanted snowflake resisted melting. Chi Jinnian carefully took it, examining its intricate patterns. She couldn’t help but marvel at nature’s craftsmanship, how a mere droplet of water could transform into such an exquisite form as it fell from the sky.

“Yes!” Chi Jinnian nodded. As a child from the south, she had few opportunities to see snow in the real world. The last time was at the Water Mirror, her first experience of it. But the harsh weather and her troubled mind had left her no room for appreciation.

Now, with this chance, she finally saw what a snowflake truly looked like a hexagon, with tiny crystalline branches extending like tree limbs.

“Master, this is the second time I’ve seen snow.” Chi Jinnian turned back with a smile. “The last time was at the Water Mirror, and I was with you then, too.”

“Do you like snow that much?” Yuan Shao asked. Jade Purity Peak enjoyed eternal spring, offering little chance to witness snow.

Chi Jinnian shook her head. “Snowflakes are beautiful, but they’re too cold. I prefer flowers.” Having stood by the window for so long, her hands had grown chilly. Just as she spoke, a cold breeze swept by, making her sneeze.

“You’re cold.” Yuan Shao reached out to close the window. Noticing Chi Jinnian’s reluctant gaze, she gently guided her back inside, comforting her, “The night wind is too chilly. If you like it, I’ll take you to see it again tomorrow.”

“Master, I heard from a northern friend that snowy days call for candied hawthorns.” Chi Jinnian looked at Yuan Shao with dewy eyes, full of anticipation.

Seeing this, Yuan Shao pinched the tip of Chi Jinnian’s nose and chuckled. “Alright, I’ll buy you candied hawthorns tomorrow.”

Just then, Li Tao and Zhang Wei slipped through the door crack, interrupting their conversation.

“Master, we’re back with the news.” The two mice hopped onto the table one after the other.

Chi Jinnian’s attention instantly shifted from Yuan Shao to the table. “So, what did you find out?”

Given the extensive length and numerous arcs of the original work, Chi Jinnian could only recall the general outline, unable to remember the specific details. She only knew that during the Winter Cold Assembly, even after being sabotaged by her former self, Yuan Shao still emerged victorious. However, she had forgotten what the two rounds of the competition entailed.

Zhang Wei brushed the snow off his tail and replied, “We asked around with the local mouse gang. They said the first round tests intellect, and the second round tests endurance.”

“Mental ability.” Chi Jinnian murmured the words again, thinking that as the female lead, Yuan Shao probably wouldn’t have issues with an intelligence test. “Do they say how it will be tested?”

“It seems they’ll assign groups, write answers on paper, and the top twenty will advance to the next round.” Li Tao suddenly remembered something and quickly added, “Oh right, I heard from the Rat Gang brothers that this year’s mental test is on arithmetic.”

Su Tingxi’s days in the firewood room were nothing short of miserable. Though Ling’an City was perpetually covered in snow, with nights piercingly cold, his body was inexplicably feverish, growing hotter by the moment. Compounded by Huang Er’s presence in the room, the smell was simply indescribable.

The bathing tub had been refilled three times, no longer reeking as badly as before, but sharing the same space still left him with an unspeakable discomfort.

Already feeling a headache from the stench, the feverish heat drove him out of the firewood room entirely.

The moonlight was cool as water, and the surrounding cold air cleared his mind somewhat. But before long, another wave of heat washed over him.

Su Tingxi curled up beside a snowdrift, his scorching body melting the snow and soaking his clothes. A hazy figure appeared in his mind.

That person, clad in white, was purer than the snowflakes filling the sky.

“Master.” Su Tingxi murmured softly. Suddenly, a surge of strength from nowhere propelled him to his feet, and he staggered back toward the inn.

It was late at night, and the innkeeper and attendants had already retired. No one noticed a shadowy figure sneaking from the main hall up the stairs.

Su Tingxi, dizzy and disoriented, couldn’t recall which floor he had reached when he suddenly sensed a familiar aura the magic of the Changqing Sect.

“Master!” Driven by this familiar energy, he pushed the door open and, in his daze, caught sight of a woman’s back.

By then, his vision had blurred, everything turning into a chaotic haze. With a thud, he collapsed by the door.

The noise made the woman turn around, and she was startled to find a stranger in her room. Assuming he was some sort of troublemaker and seeing him unconscious and slumped by the door, she decided to check on him.

As she reached out to feel his pulse, the man suddenly grabbed her wrist, pulling her into his embrace. He murmured, “Master, Master, please don’t send me away.”

The woman struggled. “Who are you? Let go!” A ball of spiritual energy gathered in her palm, ready to strike. Su Tingxi, eyes closed, mumbled in response, “Master, I’m Su Tingxi. I’m your disciple…”

Hearing the name “Su Tingxi,” the glowing sphere in her hand instantly faded.

Her expression softened, and she stopped struggling.

Once Su Tingxi had completely lost consciousness, she gently moved his arm aside. Due to the fluctuations in his spiritual energy, the disguise on his face had vanished, revealing his true appearance.

The woman gently stroked Su Tingxi’s cheek and said softly, “Su Tingxi so it’s you.”

Chi Jinnian and Yuan Shao shared a bed, though each had their own blanket, neither disturbing the other.

The nights in Ling’an City were exceptionally cold. Even with the doors and windows tightly shut, the chill seeped in relentlessly. Zhang Wei and Li Tao, being small in stature, had it easier they curled up inside a cabinet and slept relatively warmly.

But Chi Jinnian was different. Having been chilled by the cold wind at the window earlier, her hands and feet remained icy, unable to warm up even under the covers, and the cold was almost unbearable.

“Are you cold?” Yuan Shao asked her. “I noticed you’ve been shivering. Did the wind at the window get to you?”

“Aren’t you cold, Master?” Chi Jinnian’s voice trembled slightly. They were lying on the same bed, with blankets of similar thickness. Besides, Yuan Shao always carried a faint chill even in summer, so she probably wasn’t faring much better now.

Yuan Shao didn’t answer directly. Instead, she pulled Chi Jinnian’s hand under her own blanket.

Chi Jinnian turned back in surprise.

Could this really be the same bed? Her side felt like an ice cellar, while Yuan Shao’s side was warm and cozy. Wasn’t her body supposed to be naturally cool? Could it be that the female protagonist had a constitution that stayed warm in winter and cool in summer?

“Maybe we should stack the blankets together. Would that make it warmer?” Yuan Shao asked, feigning nonchalance.

“But. Master, I’m really cold. If I come over, your side will get cold too.” Chi Jinnian shivered, hesitant to move toward the warmth she longed for.

Yuan Shao paid no mind. She stretched out her long arm, pulling her little disciple firmly under her own quilt, then stacked the other blanket on top.

Now they lay together under a single blanket. The cover was small, forcing them to press close. Sensing the chill from the other’s body, Yuan Shao wrapped her arms around Chi Jinnian, drawing her into an embrace.

“Master, am I too cold?” Chi Jinnian whispered cautiously, enveloped in warmth. “Your side is so warm.”

In the darkness, Chi Jinnian couldn’t see the smile in Yuan Shao’s eyes. Of course it was warm Yuan Shao had been using magic to heat the area for a long time, all for this very moment! Thinking this, she pulled Chi Jinnian even closer. “You’re not cold.”

Yuan Shao held Chi Jinnian from behind, her hands clasping the other’s delicate fingers, trying to warm her palms.

At such close proximity, Chi Jinnian felt a bit uneasy. But the moment she shifted, the person behind her warned, “If you keep moving, all the warmth will escape.”

Hearing this, Chi Jinnian settled down, allowing herself to be held. Her back pressed against Yuan Shao’s chest, and she could almost feel the strong, steady heartbeat.

For a while, sleep eluded her.

“Can’t sleep?” Yuan Shao asked. “Are you still cold?”

“I’m not cold anymore.” Not wanting to transfer all the chill from her back, Chi Jinnian turned over after warming up slightly, now facing Yuan Shao.

Seeing her move closer, Yuan Shao reached out and gently pinched Chi Jinnian’s soft cheek. “They say cold hands mean no one cares for you. Look how cold your hands are it must be because you think I don’t care enough.”

Chi Jinnian let her hold her hands and retorted, “That’s not true!” Then, as if remembering something, she added vaguely, “Yuqing Peak is much better. It’s warm there, like spring all year round.”

Yuan Shao’s grip stiffened for a moment, and she asked casually, “Then would you be willing to stay at Yuqing Peak forever?”

Unaware of the subtle shift, Chi Jinnian replied leisurely, “Staying at Yuqing Peak for a lifetime wouldn’t be bad. After all, Master provides food, drink, and a place to live. I could cling to you forever.”

The stiffness in Yuan Shao’s hand softened, and she began gently channeling warmth to the other.

Being held and embraced like this, Chi Jinnian was ultimately unaccustomed to it. Her pair of apricot-shaped eyes were wide open, refusing to close for a long time.

At the same time, Yuan Shao was also quite alert. With a beauty in her arms, she felt not the slightest hint of drowsiness. Even without using any magic, her body gradually warmed up bit by bit.

“Is Master unable to sleep as well?” Chi Jinnian heard Yuan Shao’s breathing grow heavier and thought her own cold aura had chased away Yuan Shao’s sleepiness, feeling a twinge of guilt for a moment.

“I was thinking about tomorrow’s trial,” Yuan Shao replied.

Who would have thought that even the great female protagonist would be so nervous about an exam that she couldn’t sleep. Chi Jinnian smiled and comforted her: “Master, don’t worry, you will definitely win. I believe in you.”

“Alright.” The other’s affirmation brightened Yuan Shao’s mood a little, so she suggested, “Since we can’t sleep, how about telling a story to listen to?”

Chi Jinnian, feeling the wind outside the window, recalled the sight of snowflakes fluttering everywhere: “Then I’ll tell Master the story of ‘Snow White.’ Once upon a time, there was a princess…”

Chi Jinnian narrated vividly, especially when she reached the part where Snow White ate the poisoned apple. She sat up excitedly, pinching her throat to imitate the queen’s voice from the cartoon: “This isn’t an ordinary apple, you know! This is a wishing apple! Just take one bite, and your dreams will come true!”

Yuan Shao listened with great interest, her peach-blossom eyes fixed intently on the young girl performing before her.

Finally, Chi Jinnian revealed the story’s ending: “And so, the prince and the princess lived happily ever after.”

“That’s it?” Yuan Shao asked. “What about the seven dwarfs?”

“They probably continued living in the forest.” Chi Jinnian lifted her gaze to Yuan Shao. “Master, don’t you like this story?”

Yuan Shao pulled Chi Jinnian back under the covers, warming her body while saying, “I just don’t understand. Clearly, it was the dwarfs who took her in when the princess was in the most danger, saved her when she faced peril, drove away the queen, and even crafted a coffin for her when they thought she was dead. So why did the princess only like the prince? He clearly did nothing.”

Chi Jinnian’s body, which had finally warmed up a bit, grew cold again from her excited performance. Just as she was leaning against Yuan Shao for warmth, she was taken aback by the other’s thoughts.

After a moment of contemplation, Chi Jinnian slowly replied, “Perhaps it’s because the dwarfs were plain in appearance, short in stature, and ordinary in background not as dazzling as the prince. Isn’t it normal for such ordinary people to be overlooked and forgotten?”

For a moment, Chi Jinnian couldn’t tell whether she was talking about the dwarfs or herself.

She had always been the most ordinary one in the crowd no noble origins, no illustrious family background, no top-ranking grades. She was born ordinary and had never garnered anyone’s attention.

If it weren’t for having to clock in for work, perhaps in her original world, no one would have noticed that a woman named Chi Jinnian had disappeared from the world.

Suddenly, she lifted her face and asked Yuan Shao, “Master, if one day I were to disappear, would you come looking for me?”

“Why would you disappear?”

“What if one day Master gets angry with me? Maybe I’ll hide and avoid you.”

“That day will never come.” Yuan Shao gently fiddled with the bell on Chi Jinnian’s jade bracelet. “If you truly intend to hide from me, I will search for you through the highest heavens and the deepest hells.”

“And then?” Chi Jinnian murmured in response.

“And then.” Yuan Shao seemed to think of something and suddenly smiled. “And then, shall your master help you vent your anger? A master who frightens their disciple into running away deserves punishment! Tell me, how should she be punished?”

Chi Jinnian:

She didn’t believe anyone would actually punish themselves. She thought Yuan Shao was just teasing her.

Unaware of her little disciple’s disappointment, Yuan Shao reached out and covered the other’s eyes. “Alright, it’s late now. Go to sleep, be good ”

Enveloped in warm darkness, Chi Jinnian soon drifted into slumber.

Only when she heard the breathing beside her gradually even out did Yuan Shao slowly lift her hand.

Such an adorable girl her little disciple’s slightest frown now pained her heart. How could she bear to scold her when all she wanted was to cherish her?

Su Tingxi woke up in an unfamiliar room. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw a strange woman sitting across from him.

Though he had never met her, she was wearing the robes of the Changqing Sect.

“You’re awake.” The woman seemed to hear the movement and slowly opened her eyes. She approached and checked his pulse. “You were drugged yesterday. I’ve already administered acupuncture for you.”

Su Tingxi couldn’t recall the events of the previous night. He only remembered collapsing by the snowy roadside, remembered his body burning with fever everything after that was a blank. Before he could ponder when he had been drugged, he stared at her in astonishment.

The woman seemed to read his thoughts and smiled. “Don’t worry, Senior Brother Su. You’re still perfectly intact. You were just pricked a few times by my needles.”

Noting Su Tingxi’s guarded demeanor, so different from when he had collapsed unconscious at her doorstep the night before, she chuckled. “Senior Brother Su, there’s no need to be so tense. I’m also from the Changqing Sect.”

She handed him a set of clean clothes and casually ruffled his hair. “Change into these yourself.”

For some reason, though she repeatedly addressed him as “senior brother,” he detected a hint of maternal affection in her eyes?

After changing into the clothes, Su Tingxi cupped his hands and asked, “Thank you, miss. May I ask your name?”

“Zhuang Rong, disciple under Elder Yaohua.”

The trial grounds were located at the city gates. Tables were neatly arranged in rows beneath the gate, while the examiners were positioned atop the gate, overseeing the entire examination area to monitor the candidates.

The rules were simple: the top twenty would advance, while those beyond the twentieth place would be sent home immediately, without setting foot in Ling’an City again.

By the time Su Tingxi arrived, Yuan Shao and the others had already found their assigned spots.

“Brother, over here!” Huang Er called out loudly. Hearing this, Su Tingxi hurried over.

Chi Jinnian held the rules she had just received from the examiner. “Although it’s a team battle, only one person can participate in the exam. If that one person advances, the whole team advances. If they fail, the entire team is eliminated. So, who among us will go?”

“Young master, let me.” Su Tingxi volunteered. Ever since his master lost her memory, he had repeatedly embarrassed himself in front of her. This was a perfect opportunity to redeem his image, and he couldn’t afford to miss it.

“Do you have confidence in this? Maybe we should let the young master.” Before Chi Jinnian could finish her sentence, Su Tingxi interrupted her: “Don’t worry, when I was a child, I grabbed an abacus during the Zhua Zhou ceremony. We’ll definitely come in first.”

Seeing Su Tingxi’s confident demeanor, as his master, Yuan Shao naturally couldn’t dampen his disciple’s enthusiasm: “Alright, then it’s up to you. Let’s wait over there.”

Receiving Yuan Shao’s support instantly made Su Tingxi stand a little taller. Hearing the examiner announce the trial participants to enter the examination hall, he strode proudly and imposingly, with a swagger that seemed to disregard all else, toward their assigned table.

“The first trial is a mathematics competition. The top twenty teams with the highest accuracy will advance. If accuracy is tied, the team with the shorter time will win. Any questions?”

Seeing no objections from the candidates, the examiner produced a scroll containing the test questions.

Su Tingxi rolled up his sleeves, gripped his brush, and assumed a poised stance, ready to start writing the moment the questions were announced.

But as the examiner loudly read out the first question, the brush in Su Tingxi’s hand dropped, leaving only an ink stain on the blank paper.

“‘Chickens and rabbits are in the same cage. From above, there are 35 heads; from below, there are 94 feet. How many chickens and how many rabbits are in the cage?'”