I'm competing with the male lead for a woman (GL) - Chapter 22

Xiao Jin looked at the snow-white robe Chu Shao held in her hands, her face expressionless, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that the other woman was presenting her with a shroud.

Admittedly, the white peonies were beautiful, but they certainly didn’t suit her.

Not to mention that the original owner’s temperament had nothing to do with this flower, even she herself didn’t want to wear such a gorgeous, snow-white robe.

To put it nicely, it was ethereal; to put it bluntly, it was no different from mourning attire.

“This dress suits Your Highness’s figure very well. If it’s inconvenient for you to change, I can stay and help you.”

Chu Shao didn’t seem to care about Xiao Jin’s cold expression, her face was still wearing a gentle smile, revealing a hint of anticipation.

Xiao Jin’s scalp tingled, and she refused, “Are there any black clothes prepared? I don’t wear white on weekdays.”

“Your Highness, you don’t know, everyone knows you like black. If you sit in a wheelchair wearing black, you’ll inevitably attract attention. But if you wear a white robe, and wrap this around you.”

Chu Shao took out a light and thin white silk scarf from the side, her eyelashes trembled slightly, but her eyes still held a gentle smile: “Then, people will definitely not be suspicious.”

Xiao Jin looked at the white silk, and her eyebrows twitched.

At first, she thought it was a belt Chu Shao had found for her, but then she realized that the other woman was already holding a jade belt, so this thing was probably not a waist belt.

After staring at the narrow and thin white veil for a long time, Xiao Jin vaguely recalled some scenes of female protagonists in Xianxia novels jumping off the Execution Immortal Platform.

If there were no surprises, was this belt…

Used to cover the eyes?

Xiao Jin looked up at Chu Shao without speaking, after all, she wasn’t sure if that was what the other woman meant.

What if she was just overthinking it, wouldn’t it be awkward?

Chu Shao didn’t let Xiao Jin remain uncertain for long, she looked gently into Xiao Jin’s eyes and explained, “If you don’t cover it with a white veil, Your Highness’s eyes will be too conspicuous.”

“Too conspicuous?”

Xiao Jin was silent. What else were eyes on a person’s face for, if not to be conspicuous?

If not conspicuous, would it be the nose, ears, or mouth?

Just as Xiao Jin was confused, Chu Shao actually gave a serious answer: “Yes, because your eyes are very beautiful.”

Her lips held a smile, seemingly not feeling how out of place “beautiful eyes” sounded when used to describe Lord Yan of Qi.

In fact, Xiao Jin’s eyes were indeed very beautiful, like a cold incense burning, clear and indifferent to the bone.

If these eyes were on a woman, they would probably be the cause of a nation’s downfall. On a man, they were too feminine, not masculine enough.

If Xiao Jin’s current status wasn’t high enough, she would probably be gossiped about behind her back, how could the dignified Lord Yan of Qi have a pair of beautiful and indifferent eyes, like a woman’s?

However, Xiao Jin didn’t take Chu Shao’s praise seriously.

Because she believed that Chu Shao’s purpose in presenting her with this white cloth was definitely not to help her disguise.

If it was to satisfy some special hobby, Xiao Jin would believe it. After all, Chu Shao seemed like someone with many interests.

After a long stare at Chu Shao, Xiao Jin finally chose to succumb, considering the limited time.

Taking the white silk, she said indifferently, “Thank you, Princess, for thinking so thoroughly.”

Chu Shao saw Xiao Jin take the white silk, and the smile on her face deepened.

Her heart was beating a little fast.

It seemed that she was indeed looking forward to the blooming of the white peonies.

She believed that if it was Xiao Jin, the blooming color wouldn’t be too vulgar, perhaps it would be another strange sight.

Chu Shao stood there smiling, wanting to witness the moment when the white peonies bloomed, but she found that Xiao Jin was raising her eyes, staring at her indifferently, seemingly not planning to change.

She was a little confused, but because she couldn’t suppress the excitement in her heart, she asked softly, “Your Highness is looking at me, is it because you find something wrong, or is this dress not suitable?”

Xiao Jin looked at Chu Shao, feeling that the female lead really didn’t treat her like an outsider.

After thinking for a long time, she organized her words: “Not at all, but I’m about to change clothes now, Princess should probably avoid it.”

Chu Shao’s lips still held a smile, after all, the words “avoid suspicion” had never appeared in her dictionary.

However, Xiao Jin’s attitude seemed very firm, without a trace of a smile on her face, so Chu Shao was more curious in her confusion.

It was just putting on a robe, not a big deal, but Xiao Jin insisted on her leaving, what was hidden in it?

Exploring other people’s secrets was the most enjoyable thing for Chu Shao.

Although Chu Shao had never had much patience, if a person had many secrets, like a gift wrapped in layers, she would enjoy the feeling of being teased.

This would fill Chu Shao with anticipation during the waiting process.

Unwrapping the gift little by little, the final result would be unforgettable.

Thinking of this, Chu Shao smiled: “Then I’ll wait for you outside.”

But when Chu Shao walked to the threshold, she heard Xiao Jin’s indifferent voice: “Princess has the beauty to topple cities, you should also disguise yourself, otherwise you’ll easily be recognized.”

Chu Shao paused and turned to look at Xiao Jin.

That face was still cold, even sitting in a wheelchair, she was like standing alone on a bridge, looking at the distant mountains, with a layer of snow on her brow.

If someone else praised her for her beauty to topple cities, Chu Shao would probably feel disgusted, but if it was Xiao Jin, it didn’t seem to have that obvious malice.

Although there was a hint of teasing and revenge, Xiao Jin’s tone was calm, more like stating a fact.

Her mood became even more cheerful.

Chu Shao didn’t understand why she felt happy, but she still smiled faintly: “I understand.”

••••

Fengyang City was secluded, and most of the residences inside were simple, rarely as majestic as the mansion Old Zhang had found.

It was winter now, and the colors of all things had withered.

Even the courtyard was devoid of greenery, with only a pool of withered lotus and a few koi carp swimming slowly under the thin ice.

It was freezing cold, and the pool water was also cold.

The koi carp didn’t swim happily, as if they were frozen by the water, swimming extremely slowly.

Su Tan stood by the bridge, watching the fish scurrying underneath, feeling that time was also passing very slowly.

In fact, this was not Su Tan’s illusion, because an hour had passed since Chu Shao pushed Xiao Jin into the main courtyard.

In the original plan, it was just a matter of changing clothes, but the two of them didn’t know why they had dawdled for so long.

It really made Su Tan, a “nameless” doctor who didn’t need to disguise herself, wait very bored in the courtyard.

Su Tan looked at the coarse blue clothes she was wearing, feeling that even if she didn’t disguise herself, others wouldn’t recognize who she was.

After all, she had traveled around for many years and hadn’t been involved in worldly affairs for a long time. If it hadn’t been for the sudden destruction of the Yao Country and meeting Chu Shao, she would have forgotten the old things and the sins she bore.

Before long, the koi carp dived into the bottom of the pool and wagged its tail, not knowing where it had gone.

Su Tan sighed lightly and turned around, only to see the snow-white hem of a dress by the bamboo wheelchair.

In an instant, Su Tan was stunned.

Because the white peonies were blooming so profusely, the desolation of the entire courtyard was swept away.

As far as the eye could see, there was only the scattered white, and that jade-like face.

The woman’s black hair was all tied up with jade hairpins, and with her eyes covered by gauze, she was as fragile as a pearl treasured in a magnificent house.

The flying snow brushed over the peony petals, but it didn’t make people feel vulgar at all. In the cold and indifferent, there was more of an unspeakable nobility.

Su Tan opened her eyes wide, watching the woman frown slightly and take out a handkerchief to cough.

There was only one thought in her heart: who is this?

Just as Su Tan was doubting her life, she moved her gaze up and saw Chu Shao wearing a blue robe and a jade crown on her hair.

Following Xiao Jin’s instructions, Chu Shao took off the flower on her forehead, put on a dark blue robe, and casually took a landscape folding fan.

The fan ribs were made of carved ivory, set against slender fingers, and waving the fan casually, it had the demeanor of a noble family’

At this moment, Su Tan was truly stunned.

If the blue-clad gentleman was the Princess Consort, then the person in the white robe was… Lord Yan?

Su Tan had practiced medicine for many years and had seen countless people disguised as women. However, whether they were wearing human skin masks or wearing skirts and hairpins, they always lacked a certain charm.

Only Xiao Jin, in her snow-white robe, needed no jewelry to be perfectly fitting.

After Xiao Jin finished coughing up bl00d, Chu Shao picked up a fox fur coat and gently draped it over her shoulders.

Su Tan looked over.

She saw Xiao Jin casually spread her hands, her every move showing the demeanor of a high-ranking officer.

Instantly, the peonies under the moon turned into a pot of wine shattered in the snow, spilling all over the ground.

This pot of ice-cold wine poured over Su Tan, instantly sobering her up, realizing that Lord Yan was still Lord Yan.

Even if she dressed up as a fairy, she still had that arrogant demeanor, unchanged until death.

[Congratulations host!, Su Tan’s favorability +10]

Although Xiao Jin couldn’t see Su Tan’s expression through the white veil, she could feel the other person’s silence.

As expected, the female supporting character was also shocked by her beauty.

But only 10 points of favorability was a bit underwhelming.

Chu Shao’s gaze remained fixed on Xiao Jin, her eyes gentle, from her pursed lips to the cinnabar she had specially applied to her lips.

She was very close to Xiao Jin at the time, close enough that when she leaned down, her sleeves almost touched the other person’s waistline.

Reaching out, she fastened the jade belt around Xiao Jin’s waist, even feeling the supple waist hidden under the snow-white robe.

It was common for martial artists to have no excess flesh on their waists.

But when Chu Shao’s fingers accidentally touched Xiao Jin’s waist, besides the other person’s subconscious avoidance, she also felt an extraordinary delicacy and softness.

Chu Shao looked up, seeing Xiao Jin’s furrowed brow, and couldn’t help but curve her lips, apologizing, “I was too rash.”

Saying she was rash, her fingertips trembled slightly.

Then she turned around, picked up a cinnabar pen from the table, and once again rashly grabbed Xiao Jin’s chin.

The movement was light, but extremely offensive.

Such a rash move naturally earned Xiao Jin’s narrowed eyes, her gaze quite unfriendly.

Xiao Jin grabbed Chu Shao’s wrist, although she wasn’t wearing an official robe or silver armor, the sharpness in her bones hadn’t diminished at all.

“Princess, you’re overstepping.”

Chu Shao looked into Xiao Jin’s eyes and smiled gently, “Your Highness praised me for my beauty to topple cities, so I believe you were telling the truth.”

“If the entire city would fall because of me, then it’s probably fine for me to overstep a little in front of you.”

After speaking, Chu Shao, taking advantage of Xiao Jin’s daze, picked up the pen and put a drop of cinnabar on the other person’s lips.

Stretching out her finger, suppressing the trembling of her fingertips, she gently smeared the scarlet on those thin lips, as gorgeous as bl00d.

“Done.”