Transmigrated as the Villain and Driven Crazy by the Vengeful Male Lead - Chapter 59

Chapter 59: Uninvited Guests — The death of a character in a story vs. the death of a friend…

“The Second Young Master likes sweets, but don’t add sugar directly. Simmer it into a syrup, let it cool, and then add it to his food. He doesn’t like salt; for a single portion, half a fingernail’s worth of salt is enough.”

As soon as A-Tong returned, he was summoned to the Young Master’s room and instructed to look after the guest for the time being. Though he didn’t know the reason, he could only take out a brush and paper to record everything.

“For breakfast, you can make red bean buns. But whether it’s buns or any other pastry, don’t let him eat them dry; serve them with warm rice porridge, otherwise he might choke. Lunch and dinner should be light. His mood is usually at its lowest just as night falls; if he really doesn’t want to eat dinner, don’t force him. Prepare more soup or congee for a late-night snack instead.”

“Understood, Master.”

Lv Shuyao knit his brows, constantly wracking his brain for any details he might have missed or any potential oversights.

“If he suddenly can’t see or hear, help him find his bamboo tiles—they’re like small stones, he should have them on him. Then come tell me immediately.”

“If he can’t get out of bed himself, be very gentle when you pick him up. Support his waist lightly, otherwise he’ll struggle, and if he struggles, he’s likely to fall.”

“What else…”

He Zixu, having had his needles removed, leaned against the bed and said: “Master Lv, you’re saying too much. It’s hard for one person to remember everything. Why don’t you let A-Tong ask you some questions?”

Lv Shuyao slapped his forehead. “Right. Do you have anything to ask me?”

A-Tong glanced over his notes and asked hesitantly: “What should I do if the Second Young Master asks about you, Master?”

“Just say I have other things to attend to these few days, or simply say I’m feeling unwell.”

“Understood… but what if the Second Young Master is unhappy?”

Lv Shuyao’s heart seemed to wrinkle along with his brow; nothing felt right. He steadied himself before saying: “Then… try to coax him.”

He Zixu chimed in: “A-Tong’s personality is different from yours. I’m afraid he won’t do as well as you, Master Lv.”

Lv Shuyao gave a bitter smile. “Just do your best. He talks tough, but his ears and heart are actually very soft; he won’t make things difficult for you.”

He Zixu nodded: “True. A-Tong, go ahead. The Second Young Master should be waking up by now.”

As A-Tong was about to turn, He Zixu added: “Wait.”

“You’ve worked hard during this time. In three months, I will let you leave the manor. You won’t need to serve me anymore.”

A-Tong froze. “Is the Young Master dismissing me?”

“Isn’t it better to go home and spend time with your mother?” He Zixu said warmly. “We’ll discuss this later. Go on with your work.”

After A-Tong withdrew, He Zixu saw that Lv Shuyao was still restless and couldn’t help saying: “Why put yourself through this? The Second Young Master isn’t fully recovered; he needs the company of someone he knows and trusts most right now. Since you’re so worried, why avoid him?”

Lv Shuyao said: “I am not the person he trusts most.”

At least, that wasn’t the setting in the book.

Before coming over this morning, he had specifically checked with the System to see if the Hatred Value had changed after last night.

His palms had been sweating as he connected to the System; he didn’t even know what kind of answer he wanted. It was like checking exam results—he wanted to know, yet feared knowing, because it felt as though he couldn’t accept either a good or a bad result.

Unexpectedly, the System informed him that the Hatred Value calculation had malfunctioned and it currently couldn’t report the value.

…This was the first time Lv Shuyao felt that “dropping the chain at a critical moment” wasn’t a bad thing.

He Zixu was surprised by his words: “But the two of you…”

Aren’t you married?

“It was just a forced misunderstanding.”

“I see,” He Zixu said thoughtfully, looking somewhat wistful. “Sometimes, misunderstandings can be a good thing. In the story of the Butterfly Lovers, Liang Shanbo never knew Zhu Yingtai’s true identity for years of schooling. Wasn’t it because of that misunderstanding that they formed a lifelong bond?”

Lv Shuyao replied: “Yes. But Zhu Yingtai was, after all, a woman.”

He Zixu didn’t understand his point.

After sitting for a while, he began to feel fatigued again. He wore a faint, weary smile and asked: “Shuyao. May I call you that? You can call me Zixu.”

Lv Shuyao was taken aback.

Except for Su Cheyue, he had always viewed the other characters as mere people in a book. Back at Zhuohua Palace, he would feel emotional over the stories of Chang, Jiang, and those other women, but it was like being moved by touching prose—it might linger for a few days, but he always knew it was a story from another time and place, someone else’s life. He could eventually forget it by sleeping or looking at the scenery. If he truly couldn’t move on, he could even imagine a different ending.

In Pingluan Town, the narrative strokes were very light, especially regarding He Zixu’s death—it was brushed over in a few lines to serve as a grey background for Su Cheyue to heal Tao Xuanxuan’s pain.

He would die sooner or later. Just like people die every day in the news. He couldn’t possibly cry and dwell on every single death every day.

But just now, He Zixu had taken it upon himself to exchange names—just the given names, no surnames.

People who can calmly call each other by their names are those who want to draw close and create long-lasting bonds.

Lv Shuyao lived in an era where language was heavily inflated. “Good” meant received, “Babe” meant hello, and “Love you” meant thank you. Gradually, calling someone by their name had become a cold, formal way of addressing them.

Shuyao, fill out the materials in the group. Shuyao, let me see your homework.

It’s said that after leaving university and entering the workforce, people dislike being called by their names more and more. Lv Shuyao hadn’t experienced that yet, so he didn’t know. But in ancient times, calling someone by their name was an intimate and sincere thing; it meant that person wanted to be your friend.

In any case, Su Cheyue had never called him by his name.

But now He Zixu had. He Zixu wanted to be his friend.

He Zixu was going to be his friend.

The death of a character in a story and the death of a friend… it seemed they weren’t the same thing at all.

“I want to sleep for a bit, Shuyao,” he said.

“…Alright, you sleep.”

In that instant, a small thought sprouted in Lv Shuyao’s heart.

Was the “Heart-Reversing Poison” truly beyond cure?

…

Soon, Lv Shuyao regretted letting him sleep.

Because this sleep lasted another three days and nights. Tao Xuanxuan came to hold him accountable in a rage, her baby-face as red as an overripe apple. Lv Shuyao listened with downcast eyes, not arguing with her.

He knew that both he and Tao Xuanxuan were powerless; they just expressed it differently.

“I’m sorry,” Lv Shuyao said.

Tao Xuanxuan stopped talking. She was very solemn when focused, looking especially regal in her raven-feather-like robes. She had made many efforts, her movements fluid as water, but the results were unsatisfactory.

Medicine, needles, spiritual infusions—she had almost reached the point of carving out her own spiritual dan for him, but He Zixu refused to wake up, as if playing hide-and-seek.

She couldn’t find him.

From dusk till dawn, from dawn till dusk. Lv Shuyao watched her not resting for a moment and wanted to persuade her to take a break.

Tao Xuanxuan sat at the foot of the bed, her black hair messy over her forehead. She looked down at her hands: “I’ve tried. I’ve tried everything. Everything Tao Zhongran taught me, and everything he didn’t. What else is there? What more does he want from me?”

She was lost in exhaustion, calling her father by his name with a disrespectful tone of hatred.

Tao Zhongran was a brilliant head of the family, but the most intelligent people are often the most cold-hearted; he was also a cruel father.

Lv Shuyao could do nothing else but bring her food and stand guard.

Unfortunately, misfortunes never come singly.

On the evening of the third day of the New Year, someone knocked on the gate of the He Manor.

At that time, Tao Xuanxuan was unexpectedly out of the manor. The servants could only report to A-Tong, and A-Tong came to find Lv Shuyao.

Lv Shuyao was guarding He Zixu’s room. Seeing him, he first asked: “Is the Second Young Master okay?”

In truth, he didn’t need to ask A-Tong this question, because every day before going to the kitchen, he would secretly loop around to the East Wing to take a look.

But he wanted to know what Su Cheyue and A-Tong talked about. For example: “Did he ask about me?”

A-Tong said: “The Second Young Master is fine. He hasn’t made things difficult or asked about you, Master.”

Lv Shuyao’s heart sank slightly. “He hasn’t asked even once?”

“No.”

…He didn’t even ask. All his concern for him was in vain.

“I see,” Lv Shuyao said. “Who is knocking at the gate?”

“I don’t know.”

Tao Xuanxuan had disappeared to who knows where; she hadn’t been seen all afternoon. At such a critical moment, could she have seen there was no hope here and gone back to running her business?

“Then why did you come to me? I can’t make decisions for your house.”

A-Tong said sincerely: “Because I believe the Young Master would want you to decide family matters on his behalf.”

Lv Shuyao thought for a moment and decided to take a look, just in case it was something urgent.

He followed A-Tong and watched him open the door.

An elegantly dressed young gentleman holding a feather fan stood outside, smiling pleasantly.

A-Tong lowered his head and stepped aside. The man fanned himself leisurely: “I’ve been searching for a long time, and finally found it. Is the master of the house in?”

His gaze bypassed A-Tong and landed on Lv Shuyao behind him. His fan paused: “Young Master Lv? Long time no see.”

“It’s you?” Lv Shuyao looked up at the newcomer, unable to hide his surprise.

The man said politely: “It is indeed I. Are the wind chimes working well for you, Master Lv?”

As soon as he mentioned the wind chimes, Lv Shuyao first thought of that New Year’s Eve when the wind moved and the bells represented Su Cheyue’s call for help.

That feeling of blood rushing to his head returned, and he inappropriately recalled some intimate scenes.

…Dammit.

“Master?”

Lv Shuyao snapped back. “…They’re quite good.” Except for performing a function they shouldn’t have.

“That’s good,” the man continued fanning himself, the emerald jade pendant at his waist swaying. “Young Master Lv hasn’t visited my Spirit Treasure Shop for a long time. I thought the items weren’t to your liking.”

He was the owner of the Spirit Treasure Shop in Yangshuo City, at the foot of the Baoshan Sect.

“Why have you come all this way?” Lv Shuyao asked.

The man said: “I am He Zixuan, here to visit my fifth brother.”

Fifth brother?

Lv Shuyao suddenly remembered… he was also surnamed He.

He Zixu, He Zixuan?

So… the world-famous Spirit Treasure Shop with branches all over the cultivation world belonged to He Zixu’s family?

No wonder they all called him “Young Master”!

Another massive plot hole! Author, come out, I promise I won’t hit you!

He had two confidants with him, clutching gift boxes and preparing to push their way in. A-Tong wanted to stop them but didn’t dare, looking back for help: “Master…”

“Young Master He is indisposed right now, you should…”

He Zixuan said: “Is Miss Tao not in either?”

! How did he know about Tao Xuanxuan?

Dammit! He thought this sub-plot was in the bag, but now more trouble was cropping up!

Just then, a cold, detached female voice drifted in from outside: “Move.”

Lv Shuyao felt a jolt at the sound—Auntie, you’re finally back!

Tao Xuanxuan’s voice seemed to have a magical power to break seals. The two confidants automatically stepped aside, and even He Zixuan was stunned for a moment before turning around.

The sun was setting, and the evening glow draped over her, gilding her black robes. Standing outside the gate, she looked like an untouchable Statue of Liberty.

“Who are you?”

She walked in, empty-handed, having bought nothing and carrying no abacus. Lv Shuyao noticed that both her sleeves were stained with water.

He Zixuan smiled and closed his fan. “Zhouzhou?”

“Seeing you is truly better than hearing a hundred reports. My fifth brother has excellent taste.”

“What nonsense are you talking?” A flash of surprise crossed Tao Xuanxuan’s eyes, and she knit her brows. “Who are you?”

“I am Zixuan, He Zixuan.” He drew a little closer to her, leaning down slightly. “You can call me Second Brother.”

Tao Xuanxuan took a step back. “Who is He Zixuan?”

“…You haven’t heard of me?” He Zixuan’s face was filled with disbelief. “I manage the Spirit Treasure Shop in Yangshuo. And the one in Huailing—though my fourth brother handles it, it’s actually under my name.”

Tao Xuanxuan said bluntly: “Never heard of it.”

Lv Shuyao wanted to laugh.

“Fine, you’ve been in seclusion here for a long time, it’s normal not to know,” He Zixuan said, giving himself a way out. “Where is Zixu?”

Tao Xuanxuan still said: “I don’t know.”

“…Then may we come in to talk?”

Tao Xuanxuan said heartlessly: “I don’t know you. No.”

He Zixuan had been stifled by her several times in a row. He pursed his lips and pointed his fan in the air a few times. “Very well, as expected of the person Fifth Brother mentions in every three sentences.”

He sighed and adopted a sincere expression: “I really am here to see my fifth brother. Before our father passed away, we brothers attended his bedside day and night, but only Zixu was missing. Father missed his youngest son and left a message for him. Zhouzhou wouldn’t be so heartless as to deny Zixu his father’s final words, would she?”

Tao Xuanxuan was silent for a while: “…When did this happen?”

“A month ago.” Seeing her waver, He Zixuan pushed further. “You’ve kept him locked away here, preventing him from seeing his father one last time.”

Tao Xuanxuan said in a low voice: “You were the ones who didn’t want him first.”

“What?”

“A-Tong, take them to the West Wing.” Tao Xuanxuan turned away coldly. “And, don’t call me Zhouzhou.”

…

He Zixu still hadn’t woken up.

“Are they really here to see He Zixu?” Lv Shuyao sat by the bed with Tao Xuanxuan. “I keep feeling something is wrong. If it’s about his father, why didn’t they come sooner? Why wait until after he passed? And how did they know you were here?”

“I don’t know.”

“What you said just now… about them not wanting him. What did that mean?”

“It means nothing.”

She always had an air of keeping people at a distance—proud and cold. It certainly attracted some people, but it would also drive others to distraction and misery. Lv Shuyao belonged to the latter; he simply couldn’t hide it anymore and said: “Even if you say nothing, I know everything.”

Tao Xuanxuan: “What do you know?”

“Do you really want me to say it?” Lv Shuyao met her gaze. “His poison was from when he was twelve—”

“Quiet!”

Tao Xuanxuan said: “Lv Shuyao, since you are so omniscient, have you ever considered that they might have followed some uninvited guests here? Besides, who opened the gate for him, and who let him in?”

Lv Shuyao: “…” That actually makes some sense.

“Get out. Your presence isn’t needed here.”

“I just want to help—”

“Get out!”

Fine, he’d get out. He had been kicked out enough times; one more wouldn’t hurt.

Lv Shuyao stood up gracefully, steadied his breathing, and walked all the way to the East Wing.

He had walked this path countless times these past few days and could find his way with his eyes closed.

Tao Xuanxuan’s words weren’t without merit; both he and He Zixuan were uninvited guests in Pingluan Town. And uninvited guests often had impure intentions.

He and Su Cheyue came seeking medical help, so what were they seeking?

With the previous examples of Su Xun and Jiang Zhiqing, Lv Shuyao was very worried about Su Cheyue.

Maybe it was the Desire-Probing Pearl again.

That thing was truly a nuisance. So far, it had brought Su Cheyue nothing but a string of life-threatening disasters. Even knowing it would become his greatest weapon once more of its potential was unlocked later, it still made one’s teeth itch with hatred.

In the midst of his messy thoughts, his steps reached the East Wing. Distracted, Lv Shuyao didn’t notice A-Tong pushing Su Cheyue in the courtyard.

“Master?”

A-Tong looked over and called out. Lv Shuyao’s heart gave a sudden leap as he saw Su Cheyue look over at the sound.

It was almost dark, and the sunlight was gone. Deep blue shadows fell from the sky, profound enough to make one feel helpless.

He was unhappy.

Even with just a blurry exchange of glances in the dim light, Lv Shuyao could tell instantly.