The Cannon Fodder NPC Went Too Far [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Xia Yu, having won a small victory, indulged in a rare bout of laziness, asked Shen Zheng for a day off, and slept soundly tucked in her quilt.
The warm sunlight streamed through the window and onto the bed. She stretched, and then went to the dining room to ask the butler to prepare her breakfast.
Leisurely sipping her hot milk, Xia Yu squinted her eyes like a kitten.
The company matters were settled for the moment; it was time to tidy up the house. Shen Zheng had mentioned before that someone from the Shen family seemed to have infiltrated the Xia manor, with unclear intentions, and told her to be more vigilant.
She had asked the butler. The Xia residence hadn’t hired anyone recently. The last time they hired people was just before Xia Qiyuan’s death, when the news of the marriage with Shen Zheng broke. Fearing a lack of staff for the wedding ceremony, he hired a few people. The infiltrator must have slipped in then.
If she guessed correctly, the infiltrator might not be targeting Shen Zheng, but rather the Xia family.
After all, Shen Zheng managed so many businesses, leaving early and returning late, spending very little time at the Xia house. Given the infiltrator’s position, they might not even see her once a week. It would be better to place the person at the company.
Moreover, according to Shen Zheng, there were already more than enough people monitoring her at the company; they wouldn’t need to waste manpower sending someone to the Xia house.
So, what exactly about her, the powerless young lady of a second-rate family, was worth the Shen family’s scheme?
Xia Yu paused. Shen Zheng’s indifferent figure inexplicably surfaced in her mind. Shen Zheng! Their ultimate goal, even when targeting her, was still to deal with Shen Zheng.
Thinking back to the novel she had briefly skimmed, where the original Xia Yu felt various degrees of hostility, even hatred, toward Shen Zheng, she suddenly understood everything.
They wanted Shen Zheng’s nominal stepdaughter to challenge her, causing internal turmoil and keeping her preoccupied. It wasn’t even a challenge; they just wanted Xia Yu to disgust and bother Shen Zheng.
Truly cunning villains!
If it weren’t for those people sowing discord, the Xia Yu in the novel might not have been so hostile toward Shen Zheng.
However, given the situation in the novel, even if Shen Zheng exposed the mole in the Xia house, presented the facts to Xia Yu, and explained everything, Xia Yu still wouldn’t have believed her.
And Shen Zheng wasn’t the type to bother doing that anyway.
Xia Yu smiled at the butler, ordered a fruit tea, and sat alone in the garden gazebo, admiring the vibrant flowers.
Perhaps because she had been spending all her time with Shen Zheng these past few days, the person hadn’t had a chance to approach her. Now was the perfect opportunity to give him one.
Xia Yu pouted, sipping the orange juice in her cup bit by bit. It was empty in no time.
She frowned and shook the glass. Just as she was about to call someone, a attendant in a neat black uniform appeared beside Xia Yu. He respectfully bowed and softly asked:
“Miss, would you like a refill?”
Xia Yu raised her head, looking him up and down confusedly: “When did you enter the manor? I don’t recall seeing you.”
“I only arrived recently, Miss. It’s normal that you haven’t seen me,” the attendant replied.
“Oh,” Xia Yu instantly lost interest and casually tossed the cup to him, asking for a refill.
The attendant respectfully placed the refilled drink on Xia Yu’s table, then bowed and waited quietly for a long time. With a face full of worry, he looked up at Xia Yu and softly asked: “Miss, is something troubling you as you sit here?”
Xia Yu sneered at the question, casting him a disdainful side glance, as if to say, You’re not worthy of minding my business.
The attendant didn’t get angry, still looking at her with a gentle and thoughtful expression. After a long while, Xia Yu slammed the drink onto the ground. Amidst the shattering sound, she frowned and fiercely complained about Shen Zheng’s alleged malice toward her.
The attendant looked at Xia Yu with a heartbroken expression, hesitating to speak for a long time. Finally, a flash of determination crossed his face, and he softly said: “Speaking of which, I suddenly recall. When I was just hired, I was with the Head of the Family for a period. I often saw Miss Shen entering a room alone with the Head of the Family with documents. When she left, the Head of the Family’s face never looked very good.”
“I’m afraid Miss Shen, being highly positioned, had her eyes on the Head of the Family and the Xia family’s assets. The Head of the Family had no choice but to disregard the Miss’s wishes…” He finished, then cautiously looked up at Xia Yu.
As expected, Xia Yu became furious upon hearing this. Her eyes were bloodshot as she swept everything off the table. Not feeling satisfied, she grabbed whatever she could and threw it at his face, roaring at him to get out.
The attendant struggled to dodge the objects, offered Xia Yu a helpless smile, and hurriedly retreated.
Xia Yu narrowed her eyes, watching the attendant’s retreating back, muttering a few curses.
Those old geezers of the Shen family sure can fabricate stories. They could even say such things.
How could someone as pure and noble as Shen Zheng be interested in an old man with a child? She was deserving of… deserving of better. Xia Yu’s mind was blank as to the specifics, she wasn’t quite sure herself.
In short, if Shen Zheng was interested in her, she wouldn’t be interested in Xia Qiyuan.
Xia Yu grumbled a few times in her throat before finally calming down, touching her chin and pondering for a moment.
She changed her mind. She wouldn’t alert the enemy just yet. She would let the attendant stay in the manor for now. Otherwise, if she kicked this one out, the other side would send in a few more, endlessly. Having spies in the house and approaching her would be too much trouble for her to deal with.
“Butler Liu, please keep an eye on that person for me from now on. He’s from the Shen family. I appreciate the trouble,” Xia Yu approached the butler as usual, quietly describing the attendant’s features.
The butler was stunned, then gently nodded in agreement. However, after turning away, a flash of fury crossed his usually amiable face.
It seemed the manor needed a thorough cleanup, lest any stray cats or dogs were thrown into the house, disturbing the young mistress’s peace.
Night fell. Shen Zheng returned to the room, looking travel-worn. She took off her jacket and casually tossed it onto the sofa.
She saw Xia Yu leaning against the doorway, smiling at her, quietly reporting:
“Shen Zheng, I found the person you mentioned. However, I plan to keep him for now. He’s still useful.”
“As you wish.” Shen Zheng nodded without surprise. Beneath her black suit, she wore a fitted white shirt, meticulously buttoned to the top. Her long hair fell smoothly over her shoulders to her waist, the ends gently swaying with her movements.
Shen Zheng walked up to her, her voice drawn out in a teasing half-smile:
“But, you must have said quite a few bad things about me today, didn’t you?”
Xia Yu blinked innocently at the question. Seeing Shen Zheng with her arms crossed, clearly not buying her act.
Xia Yu softened her voice, letting her fingers rest on Shen Zheng’s crossed arms. Her wide almond eyes looked extremely righteous. Like a little black cat with its paws curled up in a begging gesture, she leaned close to Shen Zheng, purring out her defense.
“Circumstances required it. How else could I bait the little fish? You’re not allowed to mind it.”
She’s trying to charm me again.
A sigh escaped Shen Zheng’s throat. She gently shook her head, took a step forward, leaned down, and softly circled Xia Yu in her arms, resting her chin on Xia Yu’s shoulder.
“I don’t mind. But, don’t you mind it?”
Shen Zheng knew perfectly well that the people sent by those old figures would never speak well of her. They probably blamed every bad thing on her, portraying her as an utterly wicked villain.
She had always been indifferent to such things. If she cared, she would have been drowned by the gossip in the Shen family long ago.
But the thought of the listener being Xia Yu made her inexplicably want to know what she thought. Would she look at her the same way those people did?
“Shen Zheng!” Xia Yu seriously called her name. She gently broke free from the embrace, placing both hands on Shen Zheng’s face, forcing her to look down at her.
Xia Yu lifted her face, persistent and earnest. Bright and fervent sparks shimmered and danced in her eyes, drawing Shen Zheng’s gaze.
Xia Yu leaned forward slightly, emphasizing each word: “Shen Zheng, we are the same kind of people. We are kin.” The fire in her heart was lit by Shen Zheng herself; how could she not know her unwillingness, her ambition, and her grievances?
If she could return to the Great Xia Kingdom now, she would only act more ruthlessly, more radically than Shen Zheng, showing those who never valued them whether she could stand on the same starting line as her imperial brother, whether she was qualified to inherit that position.
Perhaps her hands would be covered in bl00d, having slaughtered all those who opposed her. Perhaps she would walk onto that throne, bloody, stepping over countless corpses. But she knew that even if she were betrayed by everyone and scorned by thousands, Shen Zheng would still be there, looking at her with a gentle smile, quietly saying:
“Well done.”
Shen Zheng’s lips curved faintly at the words, her eyes and brows softening. She gently placed her hands over Xia Yu’s, enveloping them.
The warmth in her palms blocked out all the trivialities and noise, as if only the two of them existed in the world. The surrounding environment faded of color, with only their breathing and heartbeats distinctly audible.
Shen Zheng softly said: “I understand.”
Perhaps she could show her other side to her.
Xia Yu seemed startled, pulling her hands out of Shen Zheng’s grasp uncomfortably, secretly clasping them behind her back, her flushed fingertips trembling as she tucked her head low.
Shen Zheng saw this, her eyelashes fluttering slightly. She casually sat back down in her office chair, clearly intending to deal with her work.
Shen Zheng suddenly remembered something. Without stopping her work, she casually asked: “My father’s 70th birthday is in a few days. Do you want to go?”
From her nonchalant tone, it seemed whether Xia Yu went or not was entirely up to her, completely disregarding the Shen family’s forced attitude.
The system, seeing that the two had finished their intimate moment and that its job had arrived, excitedly reminded Xia Yu: “Host, Host, the Shen family head’s 70th birthday is an important plot node in the novel. You must attend.”
“Yes,” Xia Yu softly replied to Shen Zheng.
Shen Zheng nodded indifferently.
Xia Yu seemed to recall something, asking Shen Zheng uncertainly: “Do I need to prepare a birthday gift?”
“It’s nothing important. No need to worry. I’ll ask Qin Ying to prepare your portion along with mine later,” Shen Zheng practically wore a sign on her face that read: Don’t bother with him.