I Don’t Want to Be the Heroine Anymore - Chapter 17

Xun Fangyun and Yue Yin exchanged glances, their probing gazes lingering on each other as if this was a habitual interaction between them.

They looked nothing like estranged lovers—more like sworn enemies.

Yue Yin set down her teacup and spoke slowly, “To be honest, aside from when we were kids, this is my first time visiting your home. It seems quite different now.”

Xun Fangyun lowered her eyes, avoiding direct contact. “You must be mistaken. It’s exactly the same as it was ten years ago.”

“But I remember the house being much bigger back then. Now it feels a bit cramped.”

“Perhaps it’s the people who have changed, so the feeling is naturally different.”

Mang Ke, crouched by the railing upstairs, listened to their conversation with growing confusion. Why did everything they said sound so strange?

Wasn’t Yue Yin here to drive her away?

If she didn’t leave, how could Yue Yin and Xun Fangyun have an emotional confrontation, leading Xun Fangyun to chase after her again?

Just as Mang Ke was drowning in questions, Yue Yin spoke up once more.

“What about Mang Ke?” Yue Yin asked. “Is she home right now?”

Xun Fangyun’s previously lazy gaze instantly turned icy. Her dark eyes fixed on the woman before her as she asked coldly, “Why do you ask?”

Yue Yin chuckled lightly and shifted her posture on the sofa. “No reason. Mang Ke and I are friends, after all. It’s only natural for me to check on her when she’s sick. Why do you look so tense?”

You come to my house asking about my wife, and I’m not allowed to react???

Xun Fangyun’s eyes flicked instinctively toward the staircase, where a pair of fair ankles peeked out from the steps, and strands of chestnut hair spilled over the railing.

The owner of that hair seemed completely unaware she had been spotted.

Xun Fangyun: “…”

She redirected her attention to Yue Yin. “Mang Ke isn’t feeling well and is still resting. If you want to see her, come back when she’s better.”

Yue Yin took the words at face value and frowned in concern. “Is it serious?”

Xun Fangyun: “…”

Why did she sound so worried?

Wasn’t she supposed to be Mang Ke’s romantic rival?!

Just as Xun Fangyun was puzzling over this, Yue Yin seemed to sense movement behind her. She turned and spotted Mang Ke crouched on the stairs, barefoot and curled into a tiny ball. When both women’s gazes landed on her, Mang Ke shivered involuntarily.

Oh no, oh no—she was going to be silenced!

Mang Ke forced an awkward smile and waved. “Uh, hi. I was just going to the bathroom. Didn’t mean to interrupt your chat.”

To make her excuse more convincing, she stood up, clutching her shoes. “I’ll head back now. You two carry on.”

Xun Fangyun immediately called out as she turned to leave, “Where are you going?”

Mang Ke twisted the hem of her clothes and mumbled, “Back to pack my things…”

The thought of being out on the streets soon made her eyes sting slightly.

She was about to bid farewell to soft beds and warm baths—it seemed her life as Mrs. Xun was coming to an end.

Mang Ke looked at the two people downstairs—no matter how she looked at them, they seemed like a perfect match. Her nose stung, and she immediately ran off. She needed to hurry back and pack her things now, or else she’d disturb others and end up getting scolded later.

Watching Mang Ke run away in tears, Xun Fangyun didn’t know what had happened, but it felt like a needle had pricked her heart. She turned to Yue Yin and said, “You should leave today. And don’t come to my house unless there’s something important.”

Yue Yin glanced at her, arms crossed. “Why? I’m not here for you anyway.”

Xun Fangyun: “…This is my house.”

Yue Yin smirked. “It’s not like you like Mang Ke anyway, so why not let me have her? I’ve got money and plenty of free time—I’ll take good care of her, inside and out.”

As for how she’d take care of her, that was her own business.

Xun Fangyun hated hearing this kind of talk. Just thinking about how Yue Yin had taken Mang Ke to that tea party last time made her deeply uncomfortable.

“My wife doesn’t need your care,” Xun Fangyun said, stepping closer. “Miss Yue Yin, if there’s nothing else, please leave.”

Yue Yin wanted to argue, but seeing Xun Fangyun’s expression—clearly not joking—she thought for a moment before relenting. “Fine. Tell Mang Ke to rest well. I’ll come see her another day.”

As Yue Yin picked up her bag and left, Xun Fangyun turned to Aunt Liu with a dark expression. “Quick, get the mugwort from the storeroom and burn it around the house—we need to drive away the bad luck.”

Aunt Liu, holding a freshly brewed cup of tea in the living room, was puzzled but complied, heading to the storeroom for the mugwort.

Meanwhile, Mang Ke had no mood left for washing up. She crouched by the bedside table and began pulling out her belongings.

Charging cable, power bank, band-aids.

A small plush toy, keychain, comic books.

Mang Ke even took the few coins stashed at the bottom of the drawer—she wasn’t leaving a single cent for Xun Fangyun!

She piled everything onto the bed, then opened the wardrobe to pack her clothes—only to hear rapid footsteps before a loud BANG! A hand slammed the wooden wardrobe door shut in front of her.

“Who said you could pack your things?!”

Xun Fangyun glared at the backpack in Mang Ke’s hands, fury rising. “Did I say you could move out? Why are you packing?”

Mang Ke flinched, pressing her back against the wardrobe door as she looked up at Xun Fangyun, her light-colored eyes still red and swollen.

“You—”

Mang Ke couldn’t meet Xun Fangyun’s gaze, lowering her head instead. “I’m packing to make room for you and Miss Yue Yin. What else am I supposed to do in this house? Work alongside Aunt Liu?”

The thought of staying here, watching Xun Fangyun and Yue Yin being affectionate while she worked, made her feel utterly wronged.

What kind of female lead was she, getting bullied everywhere she went?

Mang Ke rubbed the corners of her eyes. Right now, she just felt so unnecessary—like this world didn’t need her at all.

The more she thought about it, the more miserable she became. All she wanted was to go home.

Xun Fangyun could only watch helplessly as Mang Ke burst into tears, momentarily flustered. She grabbed tissues from the side and cupped Mang Ke’s face.

Maybe because she was crying so hard, Mang Ke’s nose, ears, and eyes had all turned red, making her look like a pitiful little bunny.

Xun Fangyun felt both heartbroken and amused. “You look so ugly when you cry.”

Mang Ke wailed even louder.

“Alright, alright.” Xun Fangyun wiped Mang Ke’s face and then pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Why cry so sadly? I never said I’d send you away.” Xun Fangyun lowered her head to kiss Mang Ke’s long hair, comforting her: “Yue Yin won’t be moving in, so stop crying now.”

Mang Ke shook her head, smearing tears and snot all over Xun Fangyun’s clothes: “You’re lying, she came over today…”

“She came to see you,” Xun Fangyun said helplessly. “She visited because you’re sick. Who told you she was moving in?”

Even if Yue Yin wanted to move in, she’d need this homeowner’s permission first.

Mang Ke looked up at her with a sob: “See me? Why would she come see me?”

Xun Fangyun gave a muffled snort: “Shouldn’t you be asking yourself that?”

Mang Ke sniffled: “?”