“Get up first.
If you have something to say, just say it.”
Su Cha made no move to help her up, and Yang Ying remained on the ground.
“Su Cha, I’m sorry.
I was the one who told Yu Yue’er and the others.
I’m the one who got you in trouble,” Yang Ying trembled, her tears falling DRIP DROP to the floor.
“It’s fine, I don’t blame you,” Su Cha replied, feeling very little affection toward Yang Ying.
However, regardless of the reason, what was done was done.
She simply didn’t care.
She wasn’t the original owner of this body; she wouldn’t forgive Yang Ying on her behalf, nor would she punish her.
She was Su Cha.
From now on, Yang Ying was just another ordinary member of the tribe to her.
“Really?” Hearing this, Yang Ying stood up abruptly.
Her hands clutched together nervously, and her tear-blurred eyes sparkled with hope.
“Yes.
You should head back first, and I should head back too.” Su Cha smiled, her expression remaining indifferent.
Watching Su Cha’s retreating figure as she went inside, Yang Ying reached out a hand, only to retract it in disappointment.
Sniffling, she gazed at the door for a long time before finally leaving.
***
After all the commotion, it was already noon.
She had Yu Yue’er to thank; otherwise, she wouldn’t be eating Dragon Beast meat today.
Su Cha fished out the dark green stone from her spatial dimension.
It was smooth to the touch and emitted a faint warmth.
In the modern world, it would undoubtedly be a million-dollar collectible, but she wasn’t particularly interested in such things.
“You like it?” Su Cha raised an eyebrow, turning to look at Cang Yuan, who was staring at the stone in her hand from a short distance away.
Cang Yuan saw the young woman’s eyes curving slightly, a faint trace of a smile lingering within them.
He was certain that the old Su Cha wouldn’t have smiled like this.
Even when facing Mo Ze, she had never smiled with such casual indifference.
“It’s not as pretty as your eyes.”
Cang Yuan jolted slightly, catching the object she tossed over.
A faint warmth spread from his fingertips.
His gaze sharpened as he stared at the female preparing to cook.
“Who are you?”
Su Cha’s movements paused for a second before she continued.
She had no intention of imitating the original host; that would be too exhausting.
Nor was she surprised that Cang Yuan had noticed something was amiss.
If nothing unexpected happened, the two of them would be living together for a long time.
It was only a matter of time before he found out.
“My name is Su Cha.”
The only sounds in the air were of Su Cha washing and chopping vegetables.
Neither of them spoke again.
Cang Yuan’s expression darkened.
He realized that she wasn’t claiming to be the original Su Cha, but rather, stating that she also happened to be named Su Cha.
Su Cha prepared her usual meal: one meat dish, two vegetable dishes, a soup, and a bowl of medicine.
Cang Yuan ate with great elegance.
In contrast, Su Cha ate quickly, her table manners prioritizing efficiency over grace.
After observing Cang Yuan’s artful dining for a moment, Su Cha set down her bowl and headed out.
The food was as delicious as ever.
Cang Yuan began to wonder what kind of female knew how to cook, let alone with such incredible skill.
***
Just as she stepped out of the Witch Doctor’s cabin, she saw a person waiting at the door.
Su Cha couldn’t even be bothered to spare him a glance and walked straight past.
“Su Cha!” Seeing that she was about to leave, Mo Ze grabbed her hand in a moment of desperation.
The sudden yank nearly made Su Cha lose her balance.
She quickly steadied herself and frowned, attempting to shake off his grip.
Unfortunately, Mo Ze held on too tightly for her to break free.
Su Cha’s expression visibly darkened.
Just as she was about to retaliate, a dull ache radiated from her chest.
She realized that perhaps she ought to bid a proper farewell to the man the original host had loved the most.
Stopping her counterattack, she spoke coldly, “Let go first.
If you have something to say, make it quick.”
Seeing Su Cha’s expression soften slightly, Mo Ze finally released her hand and took two steps back to maintain his distance.
“Su Cha, I plan to mate with Yunxi.”
“And so?” Su Cha’s lips curled into a mocking smile.
Did he really need to inform her about this?
“This is my choice, and it has nothing to do with Yunxi.
I hope you stop targeting her.
If you have a problem, take it out on me.” Mo Ze looked at Su Cha warily, terrified she might do something extreme.
“How exactly am I inferior to her?” The pain in her chest was intense, but Su Cha’s voice was perfectly calm.
For a moment, Mo Ze felt like he was looking at the old Su Cha who had relentlessly pursued him, yet she seemed completely different.
After a long hesitation, he said slowly, “The way I feel about Yunxi is different.
The first time I saw her in the snow, I knew in my heart that she was the one.”
Su Cha scoffed inwardly.
A childhood sweetheart could never compete with a new arrival.
Love didn’t always grow over time; sometimes, years of companionship lost to a single, breathtaking glance.
It was never a matter of who was better than whom; it simply boiled down to whether or not one was the right person.
“Then, I hope you get what you want, and I hope my heart completely gives up.
Su Cha and you owe each other nothing anymore.
As for the two of you, stop disgusting me, or don’t blame me for being ruthless.” The first half was spoken on behalf of the original host; the second half was for herself.
The heavy oppression in her chest gradually ebbed away.
She knew that the original host’s consciousness had completely vanished, taking with it years of accumulated disappointment and a heart full of pain traded for all her devotion.
“You…” Mo Ze could no longer see the eager devotion that used to spill from Su Cha’s eyes; all that remained was endless coldness and disdain.
He was slightly taken aback, opening his mouth but finding himself at a loss for words.
Ever since their last encounter, he had only been able to watch her walk away without a second glance.
Meanwhile, this entire scene fell into a pair of furious eyes not far away.
If it hadn’t been for Su Cha, she and Mo Ze would have already become mates.
Even over the past few days, whenever she took the initiative to suggest it, Mo Ze had gently deflected.
“Beichen, bring Su Cha over to me,” Yunxi said to the man behind her.
It seemed she would have to force their hand.
The man said nothing.
A hint of amusement flashed across his amber, serpentine eyes before he turned and left.
***
When Su Cha saw Yunxi and the tall Beastman dressed in black-and-gold dragon silk standing before her, a flash of understanding crossed her eyes.
Mu Beichen, a Fifth-rank Beastman of the Snake Clan.
Snake beasts were naturally skilled at concealment.
He was Yunxi’s second male lead, having been saved by the female protagonist after sustaining an injury.
The pearwood table and chairs had been handmade by Mo Ze.
Even the white jade cup in Yunxi’s hand was carved from a beautiful stone that Mo Ze had personally found.
A gentle breeze lifted the hem of Yunxi’s purple dress, which Mo Ze had personally dyed using wisteria.
Her long, silvery-white hair was tied back with a pretty wisteria branch.
If the original host had seen this, she would have been driven mad with jealousy, wanting to destroy everything in sight.
Then, the female lead would have struck back in self-defense, ultimately leaving the original host to face Mo Ze’s disappointed gaze.
But Su Cha merely sneered inwardly.
Her expression remained ice-cold, betraying not the slightest fluctuation of emotion.
Yunxi secretly observed Su Cha’s expression, pushing a cup of fruit wine in front of her before picking up her own cup to take a slow sip.
“What did you say to Mo Ze?” Gone was her usual pretense of fragility; Yunxi’s peach-blossom eyes now held nothing but naked dislike and jealousy.
“What does it have to do with you?” Su Cha countered.
“Mo Ze is the male I’ve set my sights on, as you can clearly see.
So what if you won the duel?
He still won’t choose you!” Yunxi’s voice suddenly rose.
“I told you a long time ago: whoever wants him can have him.
Keep me out of it.
He disgusts me,” Su Cha replied, equally unyielding.
“Su Cha, drop the high-and-mighty act.
You shouldn’t play hard to get for too long.
Do you really think Mo Ze will fall for that?”
Su Cha was left speechless, wondering what exactly Yunxi was trying to warn her about now.
She picked up the cup and lazily took a sniff.
The fresh scent of fruit wine, a faint trace of alcohol, and an intoxicating sweetness filled her nose.
Then, with a flick of her wrist, she poured the pale green fruit wine out onto the ground.