The Female Lead Always Comes Around [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 26

Ning Shu pressed her hand against the veil sliding down Xiao Xiao’s face and said coldly, “Don’t show your face. I’m afraid I’ll have nightmares tonight.”

Xiao Xiao steadied Ning Shu, turned, and secured the veil back in place, a fleeting loneliness flashing in her eyes.

Ning Shu looked around at the wrecked room, rubbing her forehead irritably before stepping out first.

Xiao Xiao followed closely, the wound on her arm oozing bl00d, yet she seemed oblivious to the pain. When facing anyone other than Ning Shu, her gaze turned as cold as ice.

Before leaving, Ning Shu tossed a piece of gold to Xiao Xiao’s mother. She immediately bowed and scraped, practically wanting to kneel and see Ning Shu off.

Ning Shu had long since stopped eating; even foods she once liked now only required a sniff before she felt full.

Walking down the street, she completely forgot about meals. It was only when they were nearly at the end of the long street that she remembered the little tail behind her who still needed to eat.

“What do you want to eat?” she asked, turning back with an impatient expression.

Xiao Xiao skidded to a halt just in time, avoiding bumping into Ning Shu. “Anything is fine,” she replied.

Ning Shu frowned. “Then eat or don’t stop wasting my time!”

She didn’t have the energy to guess anyone’s thoughts. Just looking at that face annoyed her.

As she turned, someone tugged at her sleeve. Ning Shu glanced sideways. Xiao Xiao’s clear eyes looked up at her. “Wontons… is that okay?”

Ning Shu glanced at a street vendor’s stall and, expressionless, walked over to sit down. The elderly vendor hurriedly greeted them, “Please, sit down, young ladies. I’ll get the wontons ready.”

He worked quickly, dropping the dumplings into boiling water, then poured two cups of tea for Ning Shu and Xiao Xiao.

The wontons were ready in no time, steaming hot in front of them. Ning Shu froze for a moment, then picked one up and bit into it, immediately feeling a wave of nausea rise in her stomach.

She forced it down, drinking two large gulps of tea before she felt even slightly better.

“Eat up. Don’t tell me the young mistress is starving you,” Ning Shu said, pushing her bowl toward Xiao Xiao while she sipped her tea.

“Is the young mistress not eating?” Xiao Xiao paused, fork in hand.

“I’ve already eaten last night,” Ning Shu said, then realized her wording sounded off and quickly clarified, “I mean I was full then.”

Her attempt to explain only drew more attention.

Increasingly irritated, Ning Shu raised her voice: “I told you to eat, so eat. Stop talking so much!”

A fleeting smile crossed Xiao Xiao’s face as she obediently resumed eating.

The morning sun was gentle, bathing them in warm light. Their skirts intertwined, red and white complementing each other.

The old vendor was diligent, wiping down tables even when the stall was empty, keeping everything spotless.

But this peaceful moment didn’t last. Soon, unwelcome visitors arrived.

Ning Shu frowned at the approaching footsteps, but Xiao Xiao hadn’t yet regained her full strength and couldn’t sense danger from afar.

“Hurry up, or people will ruin the fun soon,” Ning Shu muttered.

Before Xiao Xiao could react, a familiar voice called out, “Sister!” Her chopsticks fell to the ground, and her whole body stiffened.

Li Qing stood there, eyes alight with joy. “Sister! It’s really you! I’m so glad you’re alive!”

Li Qing stepped forward to get a better look at Xiao Xiao, but Ning Shu blocked her with a half-smile. “Leader Li, you’ve got the wrong person. She’s just my little maid at the Hidden Moon Palace. She’s not used to the world don’t scare her.”

Li Qing smiled brightly at Ning Shu. “Shu Shu, why didn’t you come to see me when you arrived in the capital?”

She glanced at Xiao Xiao, suspicion lingering in her eyes, clearly not fully trusting Ning Shu’s words.

Ning Shu’s expression remained unchanged. “Stop staring. Finish eating; we’re visiting Leader Li afterward.”

Li Qing already knew Ning Shu was in the capital last night, and now she’d brought all these people her intentions were clear.

Xiao Xiao ate her two bowls of wontons without tasting them and followed Ning Shu to the Heavenly Pivot Sect. Li Qing kept trying to probe, steering the conversation toward Xiao Xiao, but Ning Shu was accustomed to ignoring others, so most of the time, Li Qing ended up talking to herself.

“A few days ago, I sent someone to deliver a letter to you. Did you receive it?”

Ning Shu replied lazily, “No, maybe Mo Shang took it. You know, he’s in charge of Hidden Moon Palace now.”

Li Qing’s brow furrowed but quickly softened, joking, “I remember you dislike having someone follow you. Why bring a maid this time?”

Ning Shu looked at her calmly, direct and unflinching, making Li Qing uneasy. She smiled, asking, “Did I say something wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?”

Ning Shu smiled faintly, a humorless smile. “I was just curious. When did I become so close to Leader Li that you care about whether I bring a maid?”

Li Qing hastily explained, “No, don’t misunderstand. I was just curious.”

“Leader Li should focus on managing the sect instead, rather than having someone clean up for you,” Ning Shu said. After that, the rest of the walk was much quieter.

It was Ning Shu’s first time at Heavenly Pivot Sect. She had a rough understanding of their wealth and influence, but it didn’t impress her. Instead, a middle-aged man at the entrance caught her attention.

Dressed in black, he clearly held a higher rank than the other disciples. But what drew Ning Shu’s eye was the raw malice and murderous intent in his gaze. When she passed him, a dark glint crossed her eyes.

Someone who wants to kill her? Interesting.

Ning Shu already guessed his identity, so when Li Qing introduced him, she wasn’t surprised. After all, she had killed this man’s son. If he treated her politely, he’d be far more dangerous.

“Shu Shu, you must stay longer this visit. I’ve prepared the guest room for you. Later, I’ll have someone escort you. And tonight, you must attend the banquet!”

Ning Shu leaned casually on the armrest, scanning the elders present. She raised an eyebrow. “This isn’t a trap, is it?”

The room fell silent. No one responded. Li Qing forced a smile. “Shu Shu, I only ever wanted to be on good terms with Hidden Moon Palace. You never gave me the chance.”

Ning Shu didn’t want to hear more twisted words. She stood, heading out. “Then we’ll talk tonight.”

Li Qing followed quickly, still smiling flawlessly. “I’ve prepared only one room for you, Shu Shu. This young lady…” She glanced at Xiao Xiao, hesitant.

“She’s staying with me,” Ning Shu said flatly. Li Qing’s expression flickered with jealousy.

The three walked through the vast courtyard in silence, Ning Shu and Xiao Xiao saying nothing, making Li Qing’s presence overly flattering.

Near the guest room, Li Qing covertly attacked Xiao Xiao with internal energy. Xiao Xiao stumbled, and Li Qing pretended to help—but also tried to loosen her veil.

“Leader Li, I’ve got this,” Ning Shu said, pulling Xiao Xiao close and carefully fixing her veil. Then she scolded her playfully, “How can you not even walk straight? Did those two bowls of wontons go to waste?”

Xiao Xiao blushed at the faint scent of wine on Ning Shu, thankful for the veil hiding her face. Only Ning Shu saw the warmth in her eyes.

Li Qing, seeing the intimacy, bit her lip, then smiled. “Shu Shu really cares for her servants. I’m a little jealous.”

She deliberately emphasized “servants.” Xiao Xiao lowered her gaze, gently moving back to maintain distance.

Ning Shu noticed, a smirk in her eyes. “She’s shy. Without me protecting her, she’d probably be crying.”

Li Qing’s smile widened, though a sinister undertone lingered. She pointed ahead. “The guest room is just ahead.”

Ning Shu walked in the center, keeping Li Qing and Xiao Xiao apart.

Inside, Ning Shu politely stopped Li Qing from lingering: “I’m tired. If you have nothing important, leave.”

Li Qing left after a long glance at Xiao Xiao, coldly.

Exhausted from last night’s ordeal, Ning Shu couldn’t sleep. She tossed, turned, then fixed her gaze on Xiao Xiao by the window.

“Come here…”

Xiao Xiao obediently walked over, only to be pulled into Ning Shu’s embrace. Ning Shu wrapped her arms around her slender waist, resting her head on her shoulder.

Xiao Xiao stayed still, serving as a human pillow. Soon, the sound of even breathing filled the room.

Being able to soothe Ning Shu used to bring her joy, but now it only made her uneasy. Ning Shu’s temper swings, insomnia, and lack of appetite were all signs of deepening poison. Combined with the black marks on her chest, Xiao Xiao dared not close her.