Five Big Bosses are Too Clingy After Transmigrating into a Book - Chapter 6

Chapter 6: The Scumbag Gets His Just Deserts

Chu Xingchen looked up at the roof from time to time. Wan Dong, while serving her by helping her dress and dry her hair, couldn’t help but speak.

“Your Highness, please don’t be angry that Young Master Zhou didn’t come back when you commanded. He is under the Empress’s orders and is strictly required to protect you. He has the best fighting skills and will absolutely risk his life to protect you. Please don’t listen to Attendant Xie, who says he is in the way; he is absolutely loyal to you.”

Chu Xingchen glanced at Wan Dong and nodded. “I know. Besides him, you are loyal too.”

The Crown Princess had two maids: Zaochun (Early Spring) was favored for her pleasing words, and Wandong (Late Winter) was favored for her competence. In the original plot, when the Crown Princess was killed and disfigured, Zhou Buyan fought desperately to save her, and Wandong was also murdered by Xie Ziqing while trying to protect her.

Wan Dong was surprised that Chu Xingchen didn’t tell her to leave but instead agreed with her. She looked at Chu Xingchen with bright, expressive eyes, despite her otherwise plain features.

“Zhou Buyan…” Chu Xingchen murmured, thinking of him. She turned around and nearly bumped into him. Zhou Buyan had silently appeared from nowhere, standing before her.

Seeing her look over, he bowed silently, looking ready to receive orders.

Looking at him, Chu Xingchen’s eyes stung slightly.

In the novel, Zhou Buyan’s later nickname was essentially replaced by ‘Monster,’ because he was engulfed in fire while saving the Crown Princess and suffered burns all over his body, leaving no part unscathed.

She didn’t feel the pain deeply when reading about a fictional character, but seeing Zhou Buyan standing before her now, she felt distressed thinking about him being burned all over. How much pain would that be, especially for someone so young?

“Zhou Buyan, how old are you?”

Chu Xingchen asked the question that popped into her mind. Zhou Buyan glanced at her but remained silent.

“Your Highness, eighteen years old. Young Master Zhou is the same age as you, and you were born on the same day,” Wan Dong, worried that Chu Xingchen would blame Zhou Buyan, quickly interjected.

Chu Xingchen’s eyes lit up. “He’s born on the same year, month, and day? What a wonderful coincidence!” The book hadn’t mentioned this.

Chu Xingchen was delighted. Zhou Buyan remained expressionless. Wan Dong closed her eyes briefly, then leaned closer to Chu Xingchen to help him again. “Your Highness, Young Master Zhou simply doesn’t like to talk; he’s not ignoring you. Please don’t blame him.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t blame him. I will be good to him.”

In the Crown Princess’s memory, aside from the hatred toward Chen Ruoshui and Xie Ziqing, her deepest regrets were directed at the Empress and Zhou Buyan. When she was consumed by the fire, she wished that if given another chance, she would repay Zhou Buyan properly, allowing him to live a normal life and find happiness, rather than remain a mindless, obedient tool of murder.

“A normal person…” Chu Xingchen looked at Zhou Buyan standing before her. He indeed lacked much emotion, being devoid of the seven passions and six desires. His earlier disregard for her beauty and figure was proof.

Ultimately, he had never truly experienced the world or learned how to live as a human being.

Now that she had become Chu Xingchen, she would fulfill the original host’s regret. She would grant him a lifetime of peace, teach him about the world, help him understand human relations, and let him experience the unique happiness of a human being.

Chu Xingchen made her decision. “Zhou Buyan, I take back what I said earlier. You should stay by my side. I will call you if I have something for you to do, and I might call you even if I don’t.”

She had to have him back. She valued her life, and his protection made her feel secure. She could also protect him closely and teach him about the world—three benefits in one move.

Chu Xingchen believed that by talking to him more and exposing him to human relations, he would slowly gain a human touch.

“Zhou Buyan, have you eaten?” Chu Xingchen began the conversation in the most common way.

Zhou Buyan still did not reply. Chu Xingchen wasn’t discouraged. “It’s nothing, I just wanted to ask if you were hungry. If not, that’s fine. Oh, right, I haven’t thanked you yet. Thank you for earlier.”

Zhou Buyan didn’t even look at her this time. Chu Xingchen: “…Do you think I’m suddenly talking too much? I just suddenly had a breakthrough and a change in perspective.”

Still no reply. Chu Xingchen: “…Zhou Buyan, is it because your name, Buyan (不言), means ‘No Words’ that you don’t speak?”

Zhou Buyan finally looked up at Chu Xingchen, then drifted to the roof and vanished again.

Chu Xingchen: “……” I talked to myself. This task seems quite challenging, but she wasn’t afraid.

Wan Dong, who had retreated to the side to pretend to be a wooden figure, closed her eyes briefly. “Your Highness, please don’t be angry. Young Master Zhou is truly very loyal.”

“I know. I’m not angry.” Chu Xingchen smiled. After the Crown Princess died, the only person who remembered her order and avenged her was Zhou Buyan.

As the biggest antagonist in the latter half of the novel, he caused considerable trouble for Xie Ziqing and Chen Ruoshui. If not for the protagonist halo, he would have successfully killed them.

After all that commotion, Chu Xingchen was tired. She had the servants remove the wedding characters and all the red decorations from the room and prepared to sleep, but this night was destined to be turbulent.

Just as Chu Xingchen was about to fall asleep, the maid Zaochun returned. “Your Highness, Consort Yu’s side…”

“He is no longer a Side Consort. Call him Attendant Xie.” Chu Xingchen interrupted her, looking her up and down. “You finally decided to come back. I thought you were going to stay at the Jade Splendor Hall all night to serve Attendant Xie.”

The four words ‘serve all night’ were pointed, causing Zaochun’s face to pale. She quickly knelt to beg for forgiveness. “Your Highness, this servant just had a slight stomach discomfort, that’s all… Did someone spread rumors? Please don’t misunderstand.”

She meaningfully looked at Wan Dong. Wan Dong remained expressionless. “Reporting to Your Highness, this servant personally saw Zaochun enter the Jade Splendor Hall, and many others saw it too.”

Zaochun’s face changed drastically. She quickly knelt and explained, “This servant did go to the Jade Splendor Hall, but it was for a reason. Attendant Xie’s people came to plead, saying Attendant Xie had a high fever. The people at Jade Splendor Hall went to summon the Imperial Physicians, but the physicians claimed they couldn’t come without your command. Fearing a death, this servant was bold enough to go and check.”

Zaochun added in her typical thoughtful manner, “This servant was only worried that Your Highness might feel distressed and regretful later.”

Chu Xingchen chuckled. “Checking in on him for that long? One would think you cured Attendant Xie’s illness while you were there.”

Because girls were precious, even in the palace, the staff was predominantly male attendants. The Crown Princess only had two personal maids, while the men in the harem had only male attendants to prevent them from becoming intimate with maids.

In Xie Ziqing’s situation, Zaochun sneaking off to see him meant she wanted to sleep with him, because the girl had developed feelings and also liked Xie Ziqing.

The original Crown Princess valued Zaochun and treated her well, but this kindness led to betrayal. In the novel, Zaochun helped Xie Ziqing considerably, and she bore a share of responsibility for the Crown Princess’s death.

Zaochun’s eyes flashed with fear mixed with resentment at Chu Xingchen’s pointed words. She had indeed sneaked in, but Xie Ziqing preferred to soak in ice water rather than touch her, still keeping his body pure.

She explained with a pale face, “What kind of illness can this servant cure? Your Highness, please stop joking with this servant.”

Chu Xingchen raised an eyebrow in disinterest. If they had succeeded, I could have dealt with them both at once. But it seemed Zaochun was unhelpful.

“You’re useless,” Chu Xingchen sighed. Just then, she heard cries for help from outside.

“Your Highness, please, save Attendant Xie! Attendant Xie is burning up with fever! If it continues, he will be finished!”