Maleficent Deception (High h, 1V1) - Chapter 21
At bedtime, Jiang Yirao showed more composure than Wen Shu, and since the host handed over control, she claimed the bed first. As she settled in, she casually issued a request:
“I’m a light sleeper. Don’t lie down yet. Wait until I’ve fallen asleep.”
She said it like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Wen Shu stood by the doorway, arms crossed, frowning slightly at Jiang Yirao’s attitude. But remembering the takeout she’d just picked up, she smoothed her expression and nodded in agreement.
“Alright, I’ll wait for you to fall asleep.”
Jiang Yirao, finding her unexpectedly compliant, grew a little suspicious, but after glancing around, found nothing unusual. Before long, she drifted off.
Once Jiang Yirao’s breathing became steady, Wen Shu picked up her brush and finished the last stroke of her drawing.
The illustration showed a doll-like girl, dressed for the New Year, being controlled by strings like a puppet. At the edge of the page, a pair of large hands held the threads, manipulating the doll with visible malice. A sinister grin twisted the doll’s features, revealing fangs.
Just as Wen Shu posted the drawing on Weibo, Jiang Yirao, who had been sound asleep behind her, suddenly jolted upright.
“Ah!! What is that!!”
She tumbled out of bed, eyes wide in horror. A squirming, legless bug wriggled in the very spot she had just been lying.
Jiang Yirao’s scalp went numb. She had feared these creepy, slippery bugs since childhood. Her knees buckled.
“Wen Shu! Get it away!” she cried, panicking while still finding time to scold. “What kind of disgusting thing is crawling around in your room?!”
Wen Shu remained at the foot of the bed, unmoved, a slight smile playing on her lips.
“Didn’t you say your brother paid the rent, so technically this whole place is his? Why is it suddenly my room now that there’s a bug?”
“You—!” Jiang Yirao choked on her words, momentarily speechless. Her wide eyes remained locked on the approaching bug.
“Fine, fine! It’s your room, okay? I’ll move out soon. Just get rid of it!”
She scrambled backward, only to be blocked by the wall behind her.
“But I’m scared too,” Wen Shu said, voice trembling theatrically. “I heard these bugs have a keen sense of smell… they love crawling into mouths that smell bad. Better shut your mouth tight.”
Wen Shu feigned terror, clearly enjoying herself.
Immediately, Jiang Yirao clamped her hands over her mouth, face turning red as she held her breath, too afraid to make a sound.
The noise stirred the others. A knock came from the door, and Lu Ji and Jiang Yihuai arrived, woken by the commotion.
Wen Shu opened the door. Lu Ji rushed in, clearly worried.
Jiang Yirao seized the opportunity to scream for help: “Get rid of it! Please!!”
Jiang Yihuai squeezed past and quickly grabbed the bug with a tissue. He tossed it into the toilet and flushed it.
Relieved, Jiang Yirao slumped to the floor.
“Wen Shu! You know Rao Rao is terrified of those bugs. Why didn’t you help her?!” Jiang Yihuai scolded.
Wen Shu lowered her gaze, putting on a pitiful, helpless expression. She mumbled softly, “I was scared too…”
“She’s younger than you, and you’re practically her older sister—” Jiang Yihuai began lecturing.
Before he could finish, a loud slap rang out. His head snapped to the side, cheek stinging and ears buzzing.
“Ah! There’s another one!” Wen Shu gasped dramatically, her eyes wide with alarm.
Jiang Yihuai clutched his face, stunned. Only then did he realize—Wen Shu had slapped him.
Despite her soft, demure exterior, the slap had real force behind it.
Jiang Yirao stared in disbelief, tears frozen on her cheeks.
“You—!” Jiang Yihuai lifted a hand, but Wen Shu grabbed it and leaned close.
“Don’t move! I think the bug landed on you!”
She struck him again, repeatedly, each hit with more enthusiasm. She even dragged Lu Ji over for help.
“Help me! I don’t know where it went!” she said, putting on a frantic show.
Jiang Yihuai was ready to explode, but before he could react, Wen Shu discreetly passed a dead bug to Lu Ji.
“Here! Here it is—it’s dead,” Lu Ji announced, holding it up.
Wen Shu clutched her chest and cried, “That scared me so much…”
Now Jiang Yihuai had no choice but to bite back his anger and comfort her instead.
“It’s fine now. Don’t be scared. It’s gone.”
Wen Shu lowered her head, tears still falling. But what she really wanted to do was burst into laughter.
Her palms ached from the blows, but the satisfaction was priceless.
Sometimes, a good slap was the most effective response to trash.
After that, Jiang Yirao flat-out refused to sleep in Wen Shu’s room again. Jiang Yihuai had to take her to a nearby hotel.
The next day came quickly. It was a bright Saturday morning, and they were heading to the hot springs. Wen Shu did light makeup but had no plans to get in the water.
She usually covered the marks on her skin with concealer, but soaking would reveal everything. She wasn’t ready for Jiang Yihuai to know about her and Lu Ji just yet.
Still, a private bath wouldn’t be too bad. Her waist was still sore from last night’s encounter with Lu Ji.
Qi Yan came to pick them up. As soon as the car stopped, he called out to Lu Ji:
“Hey handsome, come sit in the front.”
Before Lu Ji could answer, Jiang Yihuai shoved Qi Yan’s head back through the window.
“Cut it out. I’ll sit up front and handle directions.”
Qi Yan turned to look at him and paused. Even though the swelling had gone down, the red slap mark on Jiang Yihuai’s face was still faintly visible.
“Whoa, what happened to you? Some… bedroom excitement?” he teased.
Jiang Yihuai’s face darkened. “Knock it off. I… bumped into something.”