I'm competing with the male lead for a woman (GL) - Chapter 5.1

After enduring ultimate torment, Xiao Jin finally established an alliance with Chu Shao.

In order to ensure her safety, she suggested that they sleep in separate rooms, and Chu Shao readily agreed.

However, the process of returning to the room is not that simple.

Although the female lead’s thought process is different from that ordinary people, Xiao Jin’s legs are visibly impaired, making it difficult for her to walk. Therefore, Chu Shao, being very considerate, pushed Xiao Jin back to her room.

When there was only herself left in the room, Xiao Jin spread her palm and smoothed out the plain handkerchief that Chu Shao had just handed to her.

The edge of the handkerchief was soaked with blood, like Chu Shao’s pale and slender fingers, yet it was stained with bright red fingerprints.

Xiao Jin instantly felt that this handkerchief had also become frightening.

A chill ran down her spine. Just as Xiao Jin was about to put away the handkerchief, she suddenly noticed that the back of the handkerchief seemed to have another layer of embroidery.

After flipping the handkerchief over, the pattern embroidered on the other side became clearly visible.

It was as if the ice lotus on Chu Shao’s shoes.

System: “Congratulations, host, you have collected the key item [Ice Lotus handkerchief] ×1.”

The sudden mechanical sound startled Xiao Jin.

After regaining composure, Xiao Jin asked expressionlessly, “What is the use of the key item?”

“Key items can be used to unlock hidden side storylines. The host can only return to the original world after completing the main and side quests and meeting the escape conditions.”

Xiao Jin: “The main quest is already this difficult, do I really have to do the side quests too?”

“Whether it’s a main quest or a side quest, the host can receive generous life span rewards upon completion.”

“Moreover, the system will issue rewards of varying degrees based on your completion level.”

If there’s a reward, I can just about accept it.

Xiao Jin: “So how much time reward can I get this time?”

“Detected that the host has completed Task 1: ‘Snatch the bride.’ Given the host’s low completion rate, the system is only granting you a 24 hour lifespan reward. Please keep up the effort!”

Listening to the system’s kind voice, Xiao Jin felt she might need to redefine the meaning of the word “generous.”

After finally getting away from the yandere female lead and returning to the original owner’s room, Xiao Jin should have had a good sleep.

Only in the dead of night, when it was quiet, did she think deeply and feel terrified: How did Chu Shao know she was staying in this room?

So the nightmare haunted her all night.

The next day, upon waking, Xiao Jin recalled the cluster of ice lotus drenched in blood from her dream, and fell into a long silence.

After resigning herself for a while, she asked the system, “Can’t you really fast forward? I feel like my life is already a bit unmanageable.”

“Not possible, host.”

By the time Xiao Jin got out of bed, the system had issued her the second main quest.

“Please prepare, players. The imperial palace has detected that a decree is about to be issued, summoning you and the female lead.”

“Task location: Imperial Study. Task difficulty: Medium.”

“Just a friendly reminder, host, you currently possess the item ‘Ice lotus handkerchief,’ which meets the requirements to undertake Side Quest One. Therefore, you can look for clues for the side quest while progressing through the main quest.”

Xiao Jin’s head was spinning: “What are the clues for the side quest?”

“Having three or more conversations with Princess Zhaoyang, there is a 60% chance of obtaining it.”

The imperial study, it must be the place where the emperor handles state affairs.

As for Princess Zhaoyang, Xiao Shuang, this person seems to be the sister of the Emperor of Qi Kingdom in the original story.

Xiao Jin now has only one question: “What does Chu Shao’s handkerchief have to do with the Grand Princess?”

“Host, there is currently nothing to report. Please keep up the good work.”

Faced with this useless system booster, Xiao Jin now regrets how she carelessly clicked on this cliché story back then.

••••

A decree soon arrived from the palace.

Everyone in the palace knelt down to listen, except for Xiao Jin, who, relying on her leg disability, sat calmly in her wheelchair, not needing to kneel before the emperor.

This is probably the only benefit of becoming the original owner.

Today, Chu Shao took off her wedding dress and wore a wide-sleeved white robe. A silver-blue flower ornament was lightly attached to her forehead, and judging by its shape, it should be an ice lotus flower.

With a faint smile on her lips, if it weren’t for knowing that the female lead was seriously ill, Xiao Jin would probably think the other person was some kind of celestial being descended to earth.

After learning about the female lead’s true nature, even though Chu Shao looked more beautiful than a celestial being, in Xiao Jin’s eyes, she was nothing but terrifying.

The original owner was paralyzed from the waist down, making it inherently difficult to get dressed.

So Xiao Jin only had time to bind her chest with a white cloth, put on an inner garment, drape a cloak over it, and then hurriedly went out to receive the imperial edict.

After receiving the imperial edict, one must return to their quarters to change into formal attire before properly entering the palace to meet the emperor.

Originally, with the maid’s help putting on her shoes and fastening her belt, Xiao Jin already felt uncomfortable all over, but unexpectedly, halfway through, Chu Shao barged in.

Xiao Jin looked at the female lead standing in front of her, then glanced at the maid who immediately put down her wooden comb and stepped aside.

The little girl didn’t even have time to comb Xiao Jin’s hair, but knelt down on one knee and performed a deep bow to Chu Shao, saying, “This servant greets the Princess.”

At that moment, Xiao Jin felt that the entire melodramatic world had become extremely unreal.

In the original story, the female lead is humiliated and oppressed by everyone in the early stages; even a nameless cannon fodder can step on her.

Now, Xiao Jin feels that she has probably entered a story where she is the powerful female lead.

Xiao Jin didn’t know that because of the incident of the bride snatching yesterday, and her classic domineering CEO-style confession, the entire capital was now buzzing with the phrase “The Prince of Yan is furious for his beloved.”

They were even discussing some shocking and outrageous speculations, saying that the Prince of Yan scolded the Fourth Prince for her, and that the expedition against the Yao Kingdom was also for her.

A generation’s killing god ultimately bowed down under the pomegranate skirt, bending for the beauty.

The level of absurdity is only second to Chu Shao’s treason theory.

And such baseless rumors naturally made their way into the Prince of Yan’s Palace.

So, even though Chu Shao was someone Xiao Jin had taken by force and had not been officially conferred a title, the entire palace dared not offend Chu Shao and could only respectfully refer to her as Princess.

Xiao Jin still can’t quite accept the plot’s sudden twist.

But Chu Shao entered the role with remarkable speed, only slightly surprised at first, then gently said to the maid, “No need for formalities.”

The corners of her eyes and brows are filled with tenderness, and her performance is so realistic.

Indeed, Xiao Jin felt Chu Shao’s dedication to the performance, but she didn’t expect the other person to be so invested as to walk right beside her.

Picking up a wooden comb, she said with a smile, “Your Highness, let me help you with your hair.”

“……”

Letting Chu Shao style her hair, Xiao Jin always felt a bit dangerous, but the most dangerous thing was still refusing a request from a yandere.

Chu Shao held a wooden comb and, seeing Xiao Jin remain silent for a long time, softly said, “Your Highness, it seems you are not very willing to let me comb your hair.”

Xiao Jin stared at Chu Shao, thinking to herself, “No way, you can see this too?”

Before she could say anything, she heard Chu Shao say, “Indeed, it was my rashness.”

Actually, she didn’t really want to tie her hair for Xiao Jin; she just wanted to have a bit of fun.

Anyway, after Xiao Jin loses the bet, all parts of her body will still belong to her own. At that time, she can slowly comb Xiao Jin’s hair.

Thinking of this, Chu Shao suddenly found a logical flaw and couldn’t help but frown.

If Xiao Jin became a corpse, the body would no longer have that faint minty scent, and the joints would become stiff, lacking the soft touch of living skin.

Then this bet has lost its meaning.

Chu Shao slightly widened her eyes, realizing that she had been deceived by Xiao Jin.

But she has already shared a wedding wine with Xiao Jin, and they are now accomplices bound by fate.

Chu Shao let out a gentle sigh.

Next time, she will definitely think it through before agreeing to others’ promises.

Xiao Jin watched the changes in Chu Shao’s expression; she had no idea that the other person’s thoughts had already gone through countless twists and turns, even to the point of contemplating breaking the pact.

But her intuition told her that Chu Shao definitely wasn’t thinking of anything good.