After Transmigrating into a Novel, I Turned on Easy Mode - Chapter 11

The room was thick with the bitter astringency of medicine. Wu You sniffed and found it unbearable, so she pushed open the windows and door to let the smell disperse a little.

A bowl of decoction sat on the table. Staring at the brown liquid, her brows knotted tight. She picked the bowl up and set it down, up then down again—again and again, yet she couldn’t make herself drink it.

Maybe… just pour it out? Her body was already much better anyway. With that thought, Wu You snuck a glance toward the doorway. Confirming Zhao Qingzi hadn’t arrived, she dumped the medicine into the potted pine by the window in one go.

Speaking of which, that black pine was truly pitiful. When she’d first crossed over, she’d watered it with plenty of decoctions just to fool Zhao Qingzi; now, still to fool Zhao Qingzi, it was getting doused all over again.

She set the empty bowl on the table—proof she’d “taken” her dose. The people Zhao Qingzi had planted nearby probably hadn’t been withdrawn yet; she’d barely caught a cold before Zhao Qingzi somehow knew.

The big-bad came daily to supervise her medicine, afraid this cannon-fodder would slack off and “clock out” early; the brew was very bitter, and so was Wu You’s heart.

Maybe she’s just toying with me… Still, this wasn’t all bad for Wu You: whatever Zhao Qingzi thought of her, at least she was interested.

More chances to interact meant easier maneuvering for everything else.

While she was woolgathering, a maid outside announced Zhao Qingzi’s arrival. Wu You jumped up—and sure enough, there she was at the door.

Taking the wheelchair from the maid, Wu You pushed her inside. “You’re a bit late today?”

Zhao Qingzi blinked, then smiled lightly. “Oh? You missed me that quickly?”

“But of course. I think about you every waking moment.”

Wu You parked her by the table, poured a cup of tea, and set it before her. Coming in from outside, she’d felt the temperature drop; the big-bad looked a little lightly dressed.

She glanced at Zhao Qingzi’s hands; they seemed a bit red. She crouched and touched the back of her hand—cool.

In the original setting, Zhao Qingzi’s health wasn’t good besides her disabled legs. A pang pricked Wu You’s heart. In her last life she’d had a little sister about Zhao Qingzi’s age—mischievous as could be, nothing like this person who’d suffered so much.

She wrapped Zhao Qingzi’s hands in her own to warm them. She had to admit, the villain’s hands were lovely—long, slender fingers, skin soft and smooth. Wu You’s own hands, thanks to weapon drills, had fine cocooned calluses.

She’d wanted to rub them to make them warmer but thought better of it. The big-bad’s skin was delicate; her calluses might feel rough.

Focused on warming her, Wu You didn’t notice Zhao Qingzi’s expression.

Zhao Qingzi was a little taken aback. Wu You warmed not only her hands, but the barren places in her heart—and tugged at some sealed-away memories. In them, someone else had warmed her hands like this, smiling very gently.

When the warmth had returned, Wu You couldn’t help nagging. “Look at you—weather this cold and you still don’t dress more. What if you catch a chill? Uh… though I’m not really in a position to lecture you.”

No reply. Puzzled, Wu You looked up and found Zhao Qingzi staring straight at her hands, her gaze complicated and hard to read. But Wu You sensitively felt a thread of sadness in her.

She tensed at once, running back through her actions—had she done something wrong to upset her? She couldn’t think of anything—unless Zhao Qingzi had discovered she’d poured out the medicine.

Her heart began pounding. Maybe… confess and beg forgiveness?

“Um… A-Zi, what’s wrong?”

Still no answer. Wu You waved a hand in front of her eyes. Feeling the girl come back to herself, Wu You ventured, “What is it? You look out of sorts—are you unwell?”

She reached for Zhao Qingzi’s forehead; the temperature felt normal—no fever. So it really was the medicine!

She was still flustered when a hand seized hers. Wu You jumped, nearly springing off the floor. Zhao Qingzi’s grip was very tight—tight enough to hurt a little.

A flutter of panic rose, but when she saw Zhao Qingzi’s face, Wu You froze. Fragility was written there, and tears shone unshed. The expression was familiar—right, from the dream. Similar to then, though lacking the bottomless despair.

For once, Wu You forgot the “danger” warning attached to the person before her. She didn’t overthink; she didn’t pry her hand away.

“What is it? What happened?”

The girl shook her head. Tears gathered but didn’t fall. She released Wu You’s hand, then suddenly leaned in and hugged her.

Wu You hugged back. With her head on Wu You’s shoulder, Zhao Qingzi’s body trembled slightly. Wu You stroked her back, again and again, murmuring: “It’s okay. It’s okay. I’m here.”

Feeling the faint dampness at her shoulder, Wu You was shocked, heartsore—and bewildered. Zhao Qingzi was crying, but without a sound, not even a sniffle.

Too quiet—quiet enough to hurt.

She didn’t know why, or what to do, so she just kept stroking her back and repeating, “It’s okay. I’m here.”

Maybe it was her imagination, but it felt like a long time. Zhao Qingzi straightened at last, tear tracks still on her face.

She put that gentle smile back on, tinged with self-reproach. “Forgive me, A-You. I lost composure. It was… improper.”

Conflicting feelings welled in Wu You. She hadn’t figured out the cause of the breakdown, but the gentle face now was certainly a mask, while the emotion just now had been real—so she was pretending to be strong.

Something in Wu You rose up—anger, for some reason. She thought of the original’s ending—and those dead-grey eyes in her dream.

Why must you shoulder everything alone! There are people in this world worth trusting—why won’t you give even a sliver of it! Do you think bottling everything inside will solve anything!

Driven by that anger, Wu You suddenly grew tough. “Does Miss Zhao… not trust me?”

The words flustered Zhao Qingzi. She blurted, “No. I trust you.”

“If you trust me, then why won’t you tell me? Why pretend it’s nothing when you’re clearly in pain?”

Zhao Qingzi was truly startled. She hadn’t expected Wu You to see through the mask. Panic tightened.

“I—I… it’s not… I just…”

She stammered in circles and said nothing coherent. Head bowed, hands clenched tight on the fabric over her legs.

Is she blaming me? Will she loathe me? I’ve been so smug, thinking myself clever and Wu You foolish—yet she knows.

Does she know my gentleness is an act? Does she see what a monster I am? How should I face her? Could she ever love someone as filthy and unworthy as Zhao Qingzi? Will she leave me? Is losing all I’m allowed? Why must it be like this—why!

Despair spread. Zhao Qingzi felt short of breath. She regretted—regretted not meeting Wu You, but regretted her own moth-to-flame foolishness.

Yet now she couldn’t leave. In so little time, this person had become as important as her gege. Should I lock her away, then—even if she hates me…

Wu You had no idea she was skirting another kind of danger. Seeing Zhao Qingzi keep her head down so long, her heart softened again. With a small sigh, she cupped Zhao Qingzi’s face and gently made her look up.

A flash of something dangerous passed through Zhao Qingzi’s eyes; Wu You didn’t notice.

She met Zhao Qingzi’s gaze, voice firm. “A-Zi, you can trust me. Don’t carry everything by yourself. It… it makes my heart ache.”

The bright girl before her looked utterly serious, and in her eyes lay deep, genuine distress.

The savagery in Zhao Qingzi’s chest eased a notch. It seemed A-You still hadn’t realized what a monster she was—and they hadn’t reached the point of no return.

I can still stay by her side wearing this gentle mask. That’s… wonderful.

I’m sorry I’m deceiving you. But please, let me stay—just for a while.

Seeing her a little dazed and still tear-streaked, Wu You lifted a sleeve to dab her cheeks clean.

Her smile turned very soft. “All right, all right—my bad. I shouldn’t have barked. But I meant what I said: you can trust me—or at least try.”

She stood, hands on hips, and put on a swagger. “Anyone bullies you, I’ll beat them up. I’m the capital’s famous little tyrant—afraid of nothing. You’re under my protection!”

Zhao Qingzi couldn’t help laughing. “And you take pride in what should shame you.”

She paused, lowered her eyes, and said softly but firmly, “I believe you, A-You.”

Whether it was true or not, the words made Wu You a little happy. Then she realized she’d just scolded the big-bad. Ah!! Idiot Wu You—yesterday’s menu was scallion tofu, not bear’s heart and leopard’s gall!

Impulse is a devil. The villainess was all smiles; Wu You felt like crying. She was drooping when Zhao Qingzi’s voice came again.

“A-You—since you say so, let me tell you a story.”

Her voice was low, laced with self-mockery. “A story about a woman who brought it all upon herself—pathetic to the end.”