“Oh, so you’re here to persuade me to get a divorce?” He Ruchu instantly understood.
A faint smile tugged at her lips as she hesitated for a moment. “But Siyuan was the one who got the marriage certificate. That means he has me in his heart. In that case, no matter how hard life gets, it still feels sweet to me.”
She did plan to divorce Shen Siyuan, but that was a matter between her and Shen Siyuan.
Even Xie Qingwan, the heroine of this story, had no right to interfere.
Besides, the more He Ruchu looked at Xie Qingwan, the less she liked her. The more she looked, the more irritated she felt, and the more she wanted to make her uncomfortable.
As expected, after hearing her words, Xie Qingwan’s expression visibly changed.
However, she quickly composed herself and continued earnestly, “Ruchu, that’s not how it is. Brother Siyuan doesn’t like you…”
“How do you know he doesn’t like me?” He Ruchu narrowed her almond-shaped eyes slightly and stared directly at Xie Qingwan. “Then tell me, who does he like?”
Xie Qingwan was momentarily speechless. If only she knew who Brother Siyuan liked.
Seeing that she remained silent, He Ruchu suddenly leaned closer and softly asked, “Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Xie Qingwan looked at the face so close to hers and momentarily lost focus.
Why did He Ruchu seem even prettier than before?
Her features were like a painting, her lips red and teeth white, charming and alluring. Such a woman, as beautiful as an immortal from a painting was it really a good idea to keep her by Brother Siyuan’s side?
After all, most men were visual creatures. Brother Siyuan always said he didn’t like He Ruchu.
But deep down, did he truly feel the same way?
If not, then as He Ruchu had said, why would he agree to register their marriage?
And if he did…
Xie Qingwan dared not think further.
Then He Ruchu’s voice rang out again.
“Could it be that the person he likes is you?”
It was only a lighthearted sentence, yet Xie Qingwan instantly froze.
No matter what, she was still Brother Siyuan’s sister in name.
So even if the person Brother Siyuan liked was really her, such words could never be spoken casually. If they spread, what would people think?
“Ruchu, what nonsense are you talking about?” Xie Qingwan blurted out anxiously, no longer bothering to maintain her usual act. “How could Brother Siyuan possibly like me? I… I’m his sister.”
“Oh…” He Ruchu replied leisurely. “So you know you’re his sister. Someone who didn’t know better might think you’re the one who likes him.”
Those words shocked Xie Qingwan so badly that cold sweat broke out across her back.
She did like Brother Siyuan, but that was something even less acceptable to admit than claiming Brother Siyuan liked her.
“Ruchu, what are you saying? I’m a young unmarried woman how can you say something like that?
I even treated you like a sister, but I never expected you to think of me this way.”
After speaking, Xie Qingwan turned her face away. She suppressed the panic in her eyes and deliberately looked angry.
Resting her chin on one hand, He Ruchu looked at her leisurely.
Tsk, tsk. The heroine’s skills really weren’t that impressive.
Every time things didn’t go her way with the original host, she would put on an angry face and wait for the original host to comfort her.
And the original host, having few friends after coming to Kyoto, cherished this only “sisterly” friendship.
Every time, she would yield and coax Xie Qingwan, making the latter increasingly bold and confident.
He Ruchu remained expressionless. After a long pause, she blinked her beautiful almond eyes and asked in confusion,
“Qingwan, are you angry?”
Xie Qingwan felt a suffocating tightness in her chest.
Different.
He Ruchu was truly different now.
She turned her head and quietly studied He Ruchu.
“Ruchu, you’ve changed…”
“Have I?” He Ruchu curled her lips. Testing me? Keep dreaming.
Her brows furrowed slightly as if deep in thought.
“Now that I think about it, Qingwan, I feel like you’re the one who’s changed.”
Xie Qingwan’s heart skipped a beat. Meeting He Ruchu’s unwavering gaze, she could barely hide her panic.
Why would He Ruchu say that?
Had she discovered her feelings?
“I… I haven’t…” Xie Qingwan shook her head repeatedly, not daring to meet He Ruchu’s eyes.
Those eyes were too bright, as if they could see through everything.
Watching her reaction, He RuChuchuckled softly.
You dare to harbor feelings, but not dare to admit them. Coward.
She said casually, “Qingwan, look how nervous you are. I was only joking. Why take it so seriously?”
“R-Really?” Xie Qingwan asked suspiciously, unable to stop herself from studying He Ruchu.
He Ruchu nodded indifferently.
“Mm. Really.”
There was no such thing as changing or not changing.
People had simply failed to notice her true nature before.
The tension in Xie Qingwan’s heart finally eased.
But then again, neither Brother Siyuan nor Madam Shen had ever noticed her feelings.
How could someone as naïve as He Ruchu possibly know?
“Ruchu, don’t say things like that again in the future. If word gets out, it’ll damage my reputation.”
He Ruchu raised an eyebrow.
Oh, so she cared about her reputation?
When she had ruined the original host’s reputation, she hadn’t seemed to care at all.
The original host had been spoiled by her family, yes, but she wasn’t nearly as reckless and unreasonable as the rumors claimed.
The reason everyone misunderstood her was entirely because the heroine played her role so well.
Whenever the original host had even the slightest conflict with someone, regardless of whose fault it was, Xie Qingwan would rush forward to apologize and take responsibility for all of the original host’s supposed “offenses.”
“Ruchu is simple-minded and doesn’t understand things.”
“She didn’t mean it.”
And countless other pretty excuses.
On the surface, she seemed to be helping the original host.
In reality…
Heh.
Through this method, Xie Qingwan firmly established herself as a generous, kind-hearted, and forgiving person.
As for the original host, being compared to her again and again, the result was obvious.
A faint smile slowly appeared on He Ruchu’s lips.
It didn’t matter.
Everything the original host had suffered, she would make sure the heroine experienced personally one day.
Suppressing those thoughts, she looked up innocently at Xie Qingwan.
“Qingwan, don’t overthink it. I… I was just speaking casually. I didn’t mean anything by it and never thought that far.”
A slight frown crossed Xie Qingwan’s face.
Why did those words sound so familiar?
Forcing a smile, she replied,
“Ruchu, I didn’t overthink it. You’re not that kind of person. I know that.”
The corners of He Ruchu’s lips lifted.
Too lazy to continue the conversation, she looked past Xie Qingwan and toward the courtyard entrance.
“Aunties, sisters, would you like to come in and sit for a while?”
The sudden remark made Xie Qingwan’s eyes widen in shock.
Following He Ruchu’s gaze, she turned around and saw a crowd of women gathered outside the courtyard gate.
Her eyes widened even further.
When had all these people arrived?
Had they heard her conversation with He Ruchu?
If they had, what would they think? What would they say when they spread the story?
A sense of foreboding suddenly rose in her heart.