After the Paranoid Female Lead Lost Her Memory, She Insisted on Pursuing This Cannon Fodder - Chapter 11

The bathroom door swung open.

Lin Zhaoyue stood in the doorway, dressed in long sleeves and pants, a stark contrast to the steamy, humid environment.

She crossed her arms, tilted her chin slightly upward, and tried to project an air of superiority, but her gaze kept darting around, avoiding direct eye contact with the scene in the bathtub.

System: Host, couldn’t you at least change into something more appropriate? Wearing long sleeves and pants into the bathroom? Anyone would think you’re here to unclog the toilet.

Lin Zhaoyue rolled her eyes inwardly. Shut up! I wasn’t planning on taking a bath anyway! Do you expect me to confront her naked?

Is that even appropriate?

Besides, her next task was to execute the crucial “villainess bullies Innocent White Lotus Protagonist in the bathroom” plot point. Staying dressed would at least maintain some psychological distance… and maintain her aura! Yes, her aura!

Though Lin Zhaoyue wasn’t thrilled about it, the System insisted this was a critical plot juncture, leaving her no choice but to comply.

According to the original novel’s plot, this was the first time the main heroine had faced the villainess Lin Zhaoyue alone since losing her memory.

It was after this “Bathhouse Bullying” scene that the main heroine finally realized she had been consistently bullied by Lin Zhaoyue in the past, and began plotting her revenge against the villainess.

In other words, this was the pivotal starting point of their story, absolutely crucial.

In the bathhouse, Shen Yuan heard a noise and turned her head in confusion.

When she saw Lin Zhaoyue standing at the entrance, she froze for a moment, then her eyes lit up, and her lips curved into a gentle, tender smile. Water droplets slid down her smooth jawline, dripping into the water and rippling outward in small circles.

“Zhaoyue? You’re done with your work?” Shen Yuan’s voice carried the languid, dewy softness of someone who had just bathed, sounding utterly sweet. “I thought you wouldn’t come.”

She seemed genuinely delighted to see Lin Zhaoyue, her eyes shining with pure, unadulterated joy. She even tilted her body slightly, as if silently inviting her in.

Lin Zhaoyue’s heart clenched at the sight of Shen Yuan’s expression.

How could she possibly go through with this?!

Recalling the original novel’s horrifying plot points and then looking at Shen Yuan, who was clearly overjoyed by her arrival, Lin Zhaoyue felt her conscience screaming in fierce condemnation.

System: Host, don’t forget your mission! If you don’t do this properly, the entire plot will unravel! This isn’t just about avoiding punishment for yourself—it’s also the main heroine’s opportunity for growth!

…Fine.

Lin Zhaoyue took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the lingering pity in her heart. She struggled to recall the original owner’s arrogant, overbearing demeanor, her disdainful gaze for everyone.

Her eyes sharpened, forcing herself to ignore Shen Yuan’s warm gaze. With a stiff resolve, she stepped toward the bath.

As she moved, her expression gradually turned cold, a malicious sneer curling at the corners of her lips—an expression she had meticulously practiced in front of the bedroom mirror just moments before.

Steam swirled around Shen Yuan’s face, her usually icy eyes now shimmering with a watery sheen, her gaze as unguarded as a small animal waiting for its owner’s touch.

She tilted her head, her ink-black hair cascading into the water as she watched Lin Zhaoyue approach, her features growing increasingly distorted. A flicker of confusion crossed her face.

“Uh… Zhaoyue? What’s wrong? Your expression is… strange.”

“Strange? Is it really that strange?”

Is my acting really that bad?

Shen Yuan’s interruption nearly made Lin Zhaoyue forget her mission. She quickly snapped back to reality, forcing her face into a scowl once more.

“Ahem… I think it’s your brain that’s completely broken, isn’t it? Have you really forgotten… ahem, what our relationship is?”

Lin Zhaoyue recited the words verbatim from the subtitles displayed by the System.

System: Host, please don’t read so flatly.

Lin Zhaoyue: I’m trying my best!

The smile on Shen Yuan’s face froze slightly, as if she hadn’t expected Lin Zhaoyue to say such a thing. But she quickly regained her gentle demeanor.

“How could I forget?” she murmured softly. “I know, Zhaoyue. It was all my fault before. I’ll make it up to you properly.”

Lin Zhaoyue felt even more conflicted seeing Shen Yuan’s submissive attitude.

System: Dear Host, stop staring at the main heroine and look at the subtitles, please!

“…Enough with the nonsense!” Lin Zhaoyue interrupted Shen Yuan.

“Don’t look at me with that disgusting gaze. I should point a finger at you here… uh, no, wait—and don’t even say my name! You don’t deserve to!”

System: ?

System: Don’t read the text in parentheses!

Lin Zhaoyue: You didn’t say that before!

Shen Yuan visibly startled, scratching her head, which was still dazed from the car accident, as if struggling to decipher Lin Zhaoyue’s nonsensical remark.

Damn it! Lin Zhaoyue cursed inwardly. To cover her tracks, she quickly delivered her next line:

“You actually thought I brought you back out of kindness? Hah, how naive!”

Following the prompt, Lin Zhaoyue leaned closer to Shen Yuan.

The gesture was meant to be threatening, but as she drew near, she noticed Shen Yuan blinking her eyelashes, her small face inexplicably flushing crimson.

Lin Zhaoyue: “……”

Never mind. As long as I overload her brain, she won’t dwell on that slip-up.

“Lost your memory, have you? No matter. Over the coming days, I’ll remind you exactly how you used to grovel at my feet like a dog!”

Lin Zhaoyue strained to mimic a haughty, cruel demeanor, all while inwardly screaming apologies:

I’m such a terrible person! I’m playing the villainess role against this main heroine, and if she were even remotely like her original character, my conscience wouldn’t be tearing me apart like this!

Shen Yuan seemed startled by Lin Zhaoyue’s sudden change in attitude, her body recoiling slightly.

Yes! That’s the look! Now she’ll finally be on guard! Lin Zhaoyue thought, feeling a flicker of relief. After all, what she was about to do carried a certain degree of danger.

“But Zhaoyue…”

“Enough!” Lin Zhaoyue snapped, her eyes fixed on the notification flashing across her retina. Steeling her resolve, she reached out and grabbed Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan instinctively tried to dodge backward, but the bathtub was right behind her. Before she could react, Lin Zhaoyue had already leaned forward and seized her shoulders.

“Wake up!” Lin Zhaoyue gritted her teeth, her eyes nearly shut as she forced Shen Yuan’s head underwater with all her might.

“Mmph—!”

Caught completely off guard, Shen Yuan only managed a brief, muffled cry before being submerged in the warm water.

Splash!

Water surged and droplets scattered, a few warm splashes landing on Lin Zhaoyue’s face. Yet she flinched as if burned, her heart jolting violently.

Underwater, Shen Yuan thrashed wildly, her hands flailing desperately as she clawed at Lin Zhaoyue, trying to push her away.

Suddenly, Lin Zhaoyue felt a sharp tug on her wrist!

Before she could react, an overwhelming force yanked her violently toward the pool as well!

Splash!

“Ah—!!”

Lin Zhaoyue screamed as she lost her balance and tumbled clumsily into the bath.

The warm water instantly engulfed her, choking her until tears and snot streamed down her face.

Lin Zhaoyue: What’s going on?! This wasn’t in the plot, was it?!

System: It’s likely… you were supposed to be wearing bathroom slippers when you came in, but since you weren’t, you slipped.

Lin Zhaoyue: ?

Is that even human language?!

Fortunately, she had learned to swim as a child after being thrown into a pool. After a brief moment of panic, she quickly regained her composure, wiped her face, and opened her eyes.

The underwater light was murky, but she could see Shen Yuan right in front of her, their faces mere inches apart.

Then, she met Shen Yuan’s gaze.

In those eyes, the previous confusion and meekness had vanished, replaced by an icy, bone-chilling hatred. The undisguised venom was tinged with a subtle, almost imperceptible mockery.

It was exactly the same look Shen Yuan had given her in the past, when Lin Zhaoyue had bullied her to the breaking point!