After Transmigrating into a Novel, I Turned on Easy Mode - Chapter 23

Wu You underestimated the villainess’s speed. Two days later, Zhao Qingzi really did invite Li Yingying out. But the moment Li Yingying saw Wu You there too, her face soured at once.

Maybe to manufacture chances for Zhao Qingshu and Li Yingying, Zhao Qingzi had also called her brother along. Though Zhao Qingshu had agreed to give Wu You a chance for his sister’s sake, he still didn’t approve inside.

Pinned between Li Yingying’s and Zhao Qingshu’s gazes, Wu You just wanted to dig a hole and slide away.

Li Yingying grumbled, “Cousin, you didn’t say she would be here. And why didn’t you invite Brother Boyu?”

Zhao Qingzi smiled. “I’m not familiar with Young Master Zhang.”

Li Yingying tilted her head, thought, and conceded, “True. No matter—if you aren’t, I am! I’ll go get him.”

Zhao Qingzi tamped down her irritation. She really wanted to knock this girl’s head open and see if it was stuffed entirely with Zhang Boyu.

She bit out, “No need. He’s probably busy today.”

Li Yingying disagreed. “Busy with what? He’s not like Cousin—Cousin actually has official duties. If Cousin can come, why can’t he?”

Wu You shook her head. What was Zhao Qingzi still clinging to? The heroine and hero were an ironclad arrow headed straight for each other. She glanced at Zhao Qingshu and thought she saw a flicker of loss in his eyes.

Sigh. Fate toys with people. Why force it?

She didn’t care much for their love tangle anyway. If it were proper, she’d happily sit by and watch the drama. Realizing that was a little wicked, she scolded herself inwardly.

They were still bickering and ignoring her, and a different kind of awkwardness rose—she simply didn’t fit the atmosphere.

She lifted a hand to say something… and realized she had nothing to say.

In the end, Zhao Qingshu made the call, and a four-person outing became five.

Zhang Boyu was hauled over by Li Yingying. He spotted Wu You in one glance, then noticed how close she stood to Qingshu’s sister—and understood.

No matter how much he disliked Wu You, since she was invited by Zhao Qingzi, he wouldn’t show overt disgust.

Wu You felt even more awkward—until someone slipped her hand into hers. She looked down: the villainess. Zhao Qingzi was smiling at her. Right. She’s here. Wu You’s nerves loosened.

They’d planned an activity earlier, so everyone had brought kites; they just hadn’t chosen a location. After a quick discussion, they decided to head outside the city.

They took the Yongding Marquisate’s carriage out of town to a riverside. Wu You knew the place—she’d once seen a woman washing clothes in the dead of winter there.

She checked her kite. With her terrible reputation, she could only talk to Zhao Qingzi on the way.

The kite was lovely—ancient artisans truly had deft hands. She peeked at Zhao Qingzi’s: a red butterfly.

Quite pretty. She looked at her own—an eagle. She’d taken it from the General’s Manor; apparently long ago Wu Zhan had once flown kites with the original Wu You.

Zhao Qingzi wheeled closer and handed her kite over. “A-You, my legs aren’t convenient. Help me?”

Wu You took it with a smile, ran a few laps with the string, then, once it caught the wind, placed the reel in Zhao Qingzi’s hands.

Zhao Qingshu had planned to help his sister, as always—but she’d already asked Wu You. It had always been his job. Mixed feelings surged. He didn’t know how to name them.

He saw how happy she looked and sighed. Let it be.

He set to his own kite. With Li Yingying and Zhang Boyu glued together, he couldn’t insert himself. He suddenly realized he was the only solitary one.

Wu You sent her eagle up too. Seeing the butterfly and eagle sharing the sky, she drifted a bit farther off so their lines wouldn’t tangle.

On the other side, Li Yingying’s kite soared. She was all liveliness—running, jumping, her laughter carrying far.

Infected by it, Wu You found herself smiling.

Zhao Qingzi watched the joy on Wu You’s face, and the distance between them felt too wide. But a wheelchair doesn’t slide sideways easily—and she was still holding the reel.

Poor planning. Next time, a different activity. Her mood dipped.

She remembered the storybook she’d lent out. She should be finished. “Wu You, did you finish the book I lent you?”

Wu You’s gaze came off the sky and onto Zhao Qingzi. That alone pleased Zhao Qingzi.

“Finished,” Wu You said. “I’ll return it in a few days.”

That wasn’t what Zhao Qingzi cared about. A little tense, she asked, “How did it make you feel? What’s your impression of the heroine?”

“The heroine?” Wu You glanced at her. “I don’t think the person she loves would despise her. She could be a bit braver—if it were me, I’d confess directly. Then the path wouldn’t be so tortuous. Still, the ending’s happy, so that’s good.”

Confess directly… Zhao Qingzi stared at the two kites and sank into thought.

In the end, she didn’t dare to gamble. She wasn’t that brave. If she failed, even calm days like this would vanish. They might not even remain friends.

This is fine. This is good enough.

Sensing something off, Wu You wondered if she’d said the wrong thing. “A-Z i, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Zhao Qingzi said, snapping out of it.

They weren’t far from Chaoguang Temple, so Wu You asked if she wanted to stop by. Zhao Qingzi thought a moment—why not.

She told her brother. He’d wanted to go too, but seeing his sister and Wu You side by side, he felt… extra. He chose not to make it awkward, simply told them to be careful and come back early.

The mountain path was winding. This time Wu You didn’t take shortcuts—too steep for the wheelchair.

She pushed Zhao Qingzi up the trail; there were more pilgrims now than right after the snows.

They made their bows, then stood beneath the banyan tree for a while.

Wu You didn’t disturb her—just kept her company. Suddenly Zhao Qingzi spoke. “A-You, what do you think of your parents?”

Wu You flipped through inherited memories. “I don’t remember my mother. As for my father… resentment, perhaps, and also longing.”

Zhao Qingzi turned and smiled. “General Wu is a good man—to Great Xin.”

Wu You gave a helpless smile and almost drifted into memories of her past life’s parents. Catching herself, she pulled back.

“At least General Wu loves you,” Zhao Qingzi said softly. “My father… is what he is.”

Her voice was calm, as if narrating someone else’s story. Wu You suddenly felt she’d erred suggesting a visit here. As she fretted for a new topic, a familiar silhouette flashed at the edge of her vision.

The same auntie as before. When she spotted Wu You, she looked pleased and lifted her hand to greet—then her eyes widened and she turned and fled without a backward glance.

…That was odd, Wu You decided.

“What is it?” Zhao Qingzi asked, looking up at her—any trace of sadness gone so quickly Wu You wondered if she’d imagined it.

“Nothing. Saw someone I knew. Let’s head back.”

Zhao Qingzi nodded, and Wu You pushed her downhill.

Only after they’d vanished did He Chun come out. She’d meant to greet Miss Wu—hadn’t expected Qingzi to be there too.

In truth she hadn’t run far, just hidden, watching the girl in the wheelchair from a distance. The older the child grew, the more she resembled her mother—especially the eyes, a mirror image.

Under the great banyan, He Chun looked up at its flourishing canopy and felt a hollow settle in her chest. Twelve years since that proud woman had gone.

“I’ve come again,” she murmured. “You loved this place in life. You came often.”

It was a secluded corner of Chaoguang Temple. No one was around. The wind rustled the leaves like an answer to her monologue.

“You see it, don’t you? Qingzi’s grown up. That Miss Wu seems good too—not like the rumors in the capital. Maybe she’ll get the life you wanted for your child—a different life than yours.”

“Qingshu’s doing well—serving at the Imperial Academy. Just… he’s not young anymore and still unbetrothed. As for Zhao Cuo… Forget it. You wouldn’t want to hear his name.”

Her legs tired, He Chun sat at the base of the banyan. “Why were you so stubborn? You threw your life away, ruined your own future. If only you’d let go. What was it all for?”

The tree’s only answer was a whisper of leaves.

She drew a half-comb from her br3ast, wiped it carefully, eyes full of tenderness.

Twelve years on, and the memory of that day still wouldn’t settle. Sourness rose; tears slipped free. She wiped them away, sat dazed a long time, and only when the sun leaned west did she stand, brush off her skirt, and bid farewell—to the tree, or to someone else.

Wu You and Zhao Qingzi returned to the riverside. The others were still flying kites. Zhao Qingzi checked the light; it was time to go.

She remembered why she’d invited Li Yingying out and felt a stab of chagrin. She’d meant to create a chance for Wu You to apologize—and had completely forgotten.

As Wu You pushed her along, Zhao Qingzi tugged her sleeve. Wu You looked at her, puzzled.

Zhao Qingzi pointed at Li Yingying. “I invited her today for you. Aren’t you going to apologize?”

I want to… But with so many people around, her throat closed. After a struggle, she murmured, “Maybe not today. I don’t think I’m ready.”

“I’ve wasted your good intentions—getting her out here only to chicken out.”

Guilt tightened in Wu You’s chest. Zhao Qingzi didn’t mind—she’d already had a lovely day.

“Don’t worry about it. If you’re not apologizing, let’s call it and head back. It’s late.”

Seeing no anger, Wu You exhaled.

Zhao Qingshu spotted their return and relaxed as well. It was quite late; a bit more and he’d have gone up the mountain to find them.

They packed up and returned to the capital.

Back at the General’s Manor, Wu You noticed the storybook on the table—its pages flipped by a stray draft. She smoothed it and tucked it carefully in a drawer, planning to return it in a few days.

After washing up, she lay down. Sleep was just about to take her when something felt… off. She didn’t move—just feigned sleep.

A long while passed—long enough she thought she’d imagined it—when the window creaked open. A black figure slipped in.

She tracked the footfalls, heard them reach her bedside. A gust of force! Wu You’s eyes snapped open; she dodged the strike and countered in that instant of surprise.

But this enemy was far stronger than the likes of Jiang Hong. After a few exchanges, Wu You realized she was outmatched. Anxiety spiked.

Is today the day I transmigrate again? Of course she wouldn’t give up easily. The scuffle had already woken the servants; lamps flared across the manor.

She drew breath to shout—when a hand clamped around her throat.

It’s over. It’s all over. She squeezed her eyes shut—and just then:

“Wild girl, you are quicker than before. But you’ve lost your edge.”

The grip loosened. Dizzy with fear, her knees buckled—only for someone to catch her.

Through the veil came a contempt-tinged voice. “Fainting already? Look properly—who am I?”

The intruder tore off the mask. A woman’s face.

But Wu You had no strength left to think. She blacked out.

The masked woman realized she’d gone too far with the joke.

…Now what do I do?