After Transmigrating, I Lived with the Charismatic/Beloved Female Lead - Chapter 22
Chapter 22
“Can’t sleep? That’s right, you must have been scared today…” Wei Ling walked to Wei Yue’s bedside, her expression full of concern.
“A little, yeah…” Wei Yue replied with a smile, then continued, “But I think Lu Yuanqiu must have been even more frightened. She just said something about not wanting to see anyone get hurt saving her again. I feel like she normally wouldn’t say things like that to me, would she?”
Wei Ling’s concerned expression suddenly froze for a moment. Wei Yue saw that her mood had visibly dropped.
Though she felt Wei Ling’s reaction was a bit off, Wei Yue continued, “The incident a year ago must still affect her a lot. The other day at school, Zhou Ling was blaming Lu Yuanqiu, saying she caused her sister’s death.”
“What?” Wei Ling said in surprise. “How can she say that about an accident?”
“…From the Zhou family’s perspective, it’s not surprising they’d think that.”
Seeing Wei Ling’s strong reaction, Wei Yue was almost certain that Wei Ling had some understanding of the drowning incident, or even… knew the details.
“That goes against that child’s wishes.” Wei Ling reached out and held Wei Yue’s hand, speaking in a low voice, “You were running a fever and didn’t go to Yuanqiu’s coming-of-age party, so you wouldn’t know. Zhou Yue specifically took time off school to help her with all the preparations.”
“They were very good friends since childhood. After learning Yuanqiu had fallen into the water, that girl jumped in to save her immediately. She had the best intentions, and after such an accident, how can her family continue to blame anyone?”
So the original owner was absent due to a fever that day! That’s perfect; I can be bold with my probing.
Wei Yue’s eyes lit up, and she quickly processed Wei Ling’s words.
Zhou Yue.
She had seen this name when searching the news about the incident a year ago.
Based on the fragmented information in the news, Zhou Yue was personally raised by Old Mrs. Zhou and was the outstanding talent of the younger Zhou generation. Had it not been for the accident, most of the Zhou family’s assets would have been inherited by her.
However, for some unknown reason, whenever she saw or heard the name “Zhou Yue,” a strange sense of rejection welled up inside her. Thus, after gathering basic information, she hadn’t paid much attention to the deceased.
Now, hearing Wei Ling mention Zhou Yue, Wei Yue felt that negative emotion resurface.
Even though it was a faint, lingering feeling, it still made her uncomfortable.
This is likely due to the original host’s excessively intense emotions regarding this name, which is still slightly affecting you.The System appeared at the right time to explain to Wei Yue. We should have cleared it thoroughly, but this particular emotion of the original host was too deep, so a little bit remains.
So… the person the original owner actually disliked the most was this Zhou Yue?
After all, as the villainess side character, the original owner’s hatred for Lu Yuanqiu hadn’t left any residue.
Wei Ling seemed lost in memory after speaking. It took a while for her to realize her daughter hadn’t responded. She looked up and saw Wei Yue’s expression was a little off, and quickly said, “Ah, Yueyue, Mom didn’t, didn’t mean to bring up Zhou Yue!”
“It’s just that we were talking about the incident a year ago… that’s why I mentioned her…”
Wei Ling’s obvious nervousness surprised Wei Yue. It seemed the original owner genuinely detested Zhou Yue, not even allowing her name to be mentioned in her presence.
But she wasn’t the original owner. She didn’t have much of an opinion on this “passerby” who sacrificed her life to save Lu Yuanqiu.
“Mom, I’m fine. Keep going,” Wei Yue said, smiling to reassure her. “I actually think Lu Yuanqiu is somewhat innocent, too. After all, her coming-of-age party must have been very grand, right? There must have been a lot of security. Who would have thought such an accident could happen?”
“No one really thought it would happen…” Wei Ling’s expression seemed to carry a hint of sadness. “That hotel was set up by a company under the Lu family. It had just opened, and the back of the hotel connected to Dong Lake, which was intended as a selling point.”
“At the time, it was Mengning who ran to the hall to tell us Yuanqiu had fallen into the water, and Zhou Yue was already in the water saving her,” Wei Ling paused, then continued, “Actually, Zhou Yue was an excellent swimmer. Didn’t she participate in the city swimming competition when you were in school together?”
“At the time, we were more worried about Yuanqiu, wondering how long she’d been in the water. But we never expected… it would be Zhou Yue who was lost first.”
“So that’s why Lu Yuanqiu would suspect there’s a problem, right? After all, everyone said Zhou Yue was a good swimmer, and with so many people around, why did Zhou Yue die instead.”
When she woke up this morning, Wei Yue stretched, rubbed her eyes, and continued muttering to the System.
After talking with Wei Ling last night, Wei Yue got some clues. She finally succumbed to physical exhaustion and quickly fell asleep. Waking up, she felt refreshed.
And thanks to yesterday’s two side missions, she still had 26 hours of life value left, enough to survive a little longer.
She couldn’t help but marvel at the excellent bedding; it was so soft and comfortable to sleep in… she should ask Lu Yuanqiu where she bought it when she got a chance. She thought distractedly as she walked downstairs.
“Yuanqiu, I truly apologize for all the trouble last night…”
“Auntie Wei, you’re too kind. Speaking of which, did you rest well last night?”
“Very, very well. Oh, Yuanqiu, your arrangements were simply too thoughtful…”
Before reaching the dining room, Wei Yue smelled food and heard conversation.
She saw Lu Yuanqiu and Wei Ling already seated at the dining table. The two were enjoying breakfast with gentle, elegant movements. Wei Ling looked pleased, clearly getting along very well with Lu Yuanqiu.
“Wei Yue.”
Lu Yuanqiu looked up, saw Wei Yue standing at the top of the stairs, called out to her, and then smiled: “Good morning. How did you rest last night?”
“…Pretty well,” Wei Yue quietly replied. She walked into the dining room and sat next to Wei Ling, facing Lu Yuanqiu.
Auntie Liu saw her arrive and served her breakfast.
“After breakfast, let Dr. Li check your wound again. Then, just to be safe, how about we go to the hospital for a check-up today?” Lu Yuanqiu looked at Wei Yue and continued to ask.
“I’m fine with whatever,” Wei Yue took a bite of her fried egg, avoiding Lu Yuanqiu’s gaze. “But are you coming with me?”
She felt a little awkward after saying that. She swallowed the food in her mouth and added, “Um… I mean, with everything that happened yesterday, and it being your birthday banquet, won’t you be… very busy today?”
If she was very busy, there was no need to go to the hospital with her; it would waste time.
“It is precisely because you were hurt at my birthday banquet that I must take full responsibility,” Lu Yuanqiu said with a gentle smile. “Any other matters can wait until the hospital check-up confirms you are alright.”
“Alright then…” With Lu Yuanqiu saying so, Wei Yue naturally couldn’t object.
She lowered her head to eat breakfast, then looked up casually at Lu Yuanqiu across the table.
The girl was bathed in sunlight. The sun illuminated one of her amber eyes, making them look particularly bright. Then she lowered her gaze, curved her lips slightly, and spoke softly.
After observing, Wei Yue quickly averted her eyes before being noticed.
System: Is there anything strange about the female lead? You were observing her.
Wei Yue took a sip of her porridge, speaking with a seemingly straight face: “No, I just think she’s pretty. Can’t I sneak a look?”
System: …Be careful of your OOC level!
After Dr. Li checked Wei Yue’s wound, changed the dressing and gauze, they took a car to the private hospital invested in and built by the Lu family.
Because it was a private hospital, even on a Sunday, there weren’t many people. Wei Yue quickly finished her check-up.
After confirming there were no bl00d clots or concussions in her head, Wei Ling was completely relieved. She looked kindly at Lu Yuanqiu and said, “Yuanqiu, are you going to school or home later? If you’re going to school, I’ll have the driver take you and Yueyue there.”
“Thank you, Auntie Wei, but I may need to go home first, so I won’t trouble you,” Lu Yuanqiu politely declined.
Wei Yue, who had followed them out, heard this and knew they might have to part ways soon. Thinking about asking Lu Yuanqiu where she bought the bedding, she spoke as she walked: “Wait a minute, Lu Yuanqiu, where did you get that duvet at your house—”
“You better check properly! Why is it taking so long!”
However, as they reached the staircase, they heard an angry roar coming from ahead.
Wei Yue looked in the direction of the voice and saw an unexpected person.
Lu Hong stood outside a doctor’s office, his face flushed, clearly furious. He glared at a somewhat nervous man: “Are we paying you so much money every year for nothing! Why hasn’t his leg healed after all this time!”
The male doctor adjusted his glasses, his hands trembling, but he still said, “Young Master Lu fractured his bone… and hasn’t been resting properly. He was moving around on his own last week…”
“Enough!” Lu Hong impatiently interrupted. “He’s about to take the college entrance exam. I don’t want this injury to delay him for too long. If you keep dragging your feet, you’ll all be fired!”
“Yes, yes…” The doctor dared not say anything more and simply agreed.
Why is Lu Hong at the hospital at this time? And listening to his conversation with the doctor… he’s here for someone else?
Wei Yue secretly glanced at Lu Yuanqiu beside her, seeing the latter had indeed dropped her smile, a layer of coldness clouding her eyes.
Wei Ling, who was accustomed to the unpleasantries of wealthy families, immediately understood the reason for Lu Hong’s presence. She put a hand on Lu Yuanqiu’s shoulder and said, “Yuanqiu, let’s leave soon. It wouldn’t be good to delay you if you have other things to do.”
“Oh, isn’t that Auntie Wei? And… Sister?”
Unfortunately, someone was faster. A young man with a cast on his leg, sitting in a wheelchair, was pushed out of the doctor’s office. He immediately pointed at them, sounding delighted and surprised.
Wei Yue keenly noticed a slight resemblance between this person and Lu Yuanqiu’s facial contours. Judging by the term of address, he was probably Lu Yuanqiu’s “younger brother,” Lu Peng.
The System’s alert followed: Lu Peng, the villainous male side character in the original novel, Lu family’s illegitimate son. He is willful, ill-tempered, and highly hostile towards Lu Yuanqiu.
Hearing Lu Peng’s words, Lu Hong also noticed the three of them, a fleeting look of awkwardness crossing his face.
This was not because he was seen by his daughter, but because he exposed his obvious preference for his illegitimate son and his neglect of Lu Yuanqiu in front of Wei Yue and Wei Ling, two outsiders.
After all, at the banquet last night, Lu Yuanqiu would have been the one injured if Wei Yue hadn’t intervened.
Lu Peng didn’t care about the awkward situation. He gestured for his bodyguard to push him forward. His youthful, immature face seemed utterly innocent as he looked at Lu Yuanqiu and said, “Sister, I heard about what happened last night. You were too careless! How could you let a valued guest get hurt?”
“Speaking of which, where is Brother Shangui? He was injured too. Didn’t you go see him?
“You two are so close… it wouldn’t be right not to visit, especially since it was your joint birthday banquet, right?”
Lu Yuanqiu looked at him with a cold gaze, not replying.
Wei Yue: “…”
She felt her temples throbbing a little. She also felt some sympathy for Lu Yuanqiu. On the surface, she had the script of a beloved heroine, but in reality, she was surrounded by all kinds of trouble!
Lu Peng knew Lu Yuanqiu wouldn’t do anything to him in public to save face and prepared to continue his snarky comments, but Wei Yue decisively chose to take the initiative.
Her body went limp, and she swayed sideways, falling into Lu Yuanqiu’s arms. She weakly held her head and said faintly, “Help, my head is suddenly so dizzy. Is it because there are flies constantly buzzing around…”
While Wei Yue thought her acting was superb, she failed to notice a momentary unnaturalness in Lu Yuanqiu’s expression.