The Female Lead is Looking at Me Differently (GL) - Chapter 31

Night fell, and the moon shone brightly. The bright moonlight became even brighter in the clear weather, casting a bright white light on the ground.

The wind began to blow at some point, rustling the leaves and branches, which was particularly noticeable in the quiet night.

Then, as the wind grew stronger, a soft branch was blown away and fell outside, the leaves shaking as if they couldn’t withstand it.

Then, the wind paused for a moment, as if giving the branch time to adapt. After a while, another branch covered it, as if holding down its prey, not giving it a moment to escape.

The wind blew again, and the branches swayed slightly. After a long time, the movement calmed down, and the night returned to quiet.

••••

When Wen Zhao woke up the next day, she wanted to cry but had no tears left.

Why, why…

Clearly, she hadn’t done anything, so how did she end up like this.

Of course, saying she had done nothing was just a fantasy in Wen Zhao’s mind. The reality was, not only had she done something, but she had been very proactive about it.

Like a dodder vine wrapped around a tree trunk, she had extended her herbaceous tendrils, coiling around and around, layer by layer, tightly wrapped around something else, drawing nutrients and moisture from it.

Like a puppy, she had rubbed and sniffed around the other person’s neck and ears, behaving in an undignified manner, and had even let out whimpers like a puppy, as if she were being coquettish and pitiful.

She had even, while not fully conscious, called out “Sister” over and over again in a soft voice.

These were memories buried deep in Wen Zhao’s mind that she wanted to escape.

Last night, Wen Zhao’s mind had been blank. Besides knowing that she was very hot, she had no other feelings… oh, wait, there was one, and that was a feeling of comfort.

It was as if, on a cool summer day, she had tasted a cool and delicate ice cream with her tongue, and her whole body involuntarily let out a sigh of comfort from the inside out.

Her mind seemed to be floating on clouds, feeling soft and comfortable in waves.

Thinking back to this, Wen Zhao couldn’t help but hit the bed with her hand to express her dissatisfaction with her own lack of self-control.

Of course, under the influence of the Caihua Powder, she couldn’t control herself even if she wanted to.

But even though she knew there was a reason for it and she couldn’t help herself, the system’s evaluation criteria didn’t think so!

She needed to know that yesterday she had already reached the critical point of 62, and with this deduction today, her life was over QAQ.

Wen Zhao didn’t want to stick her head out anymore. If she just kept sleeping, then the system could keep from making a judgment, right?

However, her thoughts were beautiful, but the reality was cruel. The system finally spoke up coldly and mercilessly.

[Your female supporting character value…]

Wen Zhao retorted first, [I think before we do a cold calculation, shouldn’t we consider a person’s effort factor? And add some points?]

The system paused, and then there was a hint of question, sarcasm, and disbelief in the electronic voice. [Did you try?]

Wen Zhao: “……”

She… had tried… right?

In fact, Wen Zhao had once naively thought that so-called love potions were just kindling. Whether or not this kindling could start a fire, and the most crucial factor, was the person being ignited, her own willpower!

As long as her mind was firm enough, she wouldn’t be afraid of any kind of love potion.

So Wen Zhao decided that before falling asleep, when the drug took effect, she would rely on her own efforts to overcome the effects of the Caihua Powder and absolutely not let herself be burned to a point of unconsciousness and cling to Fu Yu again.

And so, Wen Zhao with such beautiful thoughts was slapped in the face.

The slightly swollen lips and red marks on her body this morning were the best evidence.

She sighed and said solemnly, [I tried, but my efforts were too weak.]

But then Wen Zhao thought of a new question. She stroked her chin and looked thoughtful. Frowning slightly, she hesitated and asked the system.

[Do you think Fu Yu helps me with the antidote again and again because…]

The system replied, [Because she’s a good person.]

Very reasonable, there was nothing to say.

The key was that after a moment’s thought, it seemed to fit Fu Yu’s character perfectly.

Although she seemed cold and ruthless now, Fu Yu was not completely devoid of humanity. Deep down in her heart, there was still kindness and gentleness, which belonged to her former self.

Thinking of this, Wen Zhao’s mood gradually calmed down.

After all, she had learned about Fu Yu’s story and had even gone to the Fu family with Fu Yu. She had also helped the other party clean up the Fu family’s ancestral hall. Facing the mess and decay, and the bloodstains that had turned black, even Wen Zhao felt a pang of pain, let alone Fu Yu.

But even so, she still had a bit of kindness.

So… if she had already acknowledged Wen Zhao as a companion, then Fu Yu would definitely lend a helping hand, right?

Thinking of this, a feeling of pity overwhelmed her doubts.

The system remained silent, deciding to say nothing and let this little fool think what she wanted to think.

But the punishment she deserved still had to be given.

••••

You Zixia wasn’t idle today because he was called by Zhan Fu.

Although using the word “called” sounded a bit casual, it was… pretty much the same, after all, the other party was the young lady of Luoyue City, and he was just a disciple of the Lihuo Sect from outside.

Although he had the title of head disciple and the next sect master, because the Lihuo Sect was only a second-rate sect among the many sects, and it was not as famous as Luoyue City, so this title didn’t have much power. Plus, now that You Zixia was on other people’s territory, he had to be more or less submissive.

Since Zhan Fu called him, he had to go.

You Zixia originally thought that there was nothing important, because after meeting her last time, he had a general understanding of Zhan Fu.

This young lady seemed to have been confined at home for many years and had developed a slight rebellious psychology. She hated staying at home and hated being disciplined, so when she faced You Zixia, who was able to go out and experience the world, her emotions were particularly enthusiastic, as if she really wanted to go out with You Zixia and the others to experience the world.

So You Zixia had some idea of why Zhan Fu called him over.

However, when he arrived, he found that it was not quite what he had imagined…

First, it was about literature.

As soon as You Zixia entered the room, he saw seven old men with white beards standing in front of him. The first one stepped forward and said a long couplet to You Zixia, then looked at him.

“Young Master You, please.”

Please, please what?

Then there was martial arts.

After finally dealing with the seven old men, You Zixia continued to be led inside. After the bizarre incident, he couldn’t help but ask the young boy leading the way.

“Excuse me, I’d like to ask, what is the meaning of all this?” He wasn’t taking an imperial exam or recommending himself. Why was he being tested on his knowledge?

Before the boy could answer, they encountered five more people.

Sword cultivation, body cultivation, talisman cultivation, formation cultivation, and medicinal cultivation – all five sects were represented.

The leader of the sword cultivation sect stepped forward first and said to You Zixia, “From the Lihuo Sect, a talisman cultivator? Hmm, don’t worry, I’ll go easy on you.”

You Zixia thought: Go easy on me? What do you mean?

However, before You Zixia could ask, and before he could react, the man drew his sword and looked ready to attack.

Although You Zixia had martial arts skills, he was a talisman cultivator after all. While talismans weren’t completely useless in combat like medicinal cultivation, they weren’t as invincible as sword cultivation.

Talisman cultivation was more about “gradual persuasion,” “responding to attacks,” and “acting slowly,” let alone the fact that he didn’t have any talismans on him today! He would have to draw them on the spot!

Fortunately, before anything could happen, someone stopped the fight.

“Stop!”

Zhan Fu ran out. She quickly came to You Zixia’s side, pulled him behind her, and then said to the five people in front of her, “Master, go back first. Don’t make things difficult for him. I just called him over to pass the time.”

You Zixia was protected by a woman for the first time, and he felt a bit strange inside.

The man said, “But Your Highness, the City Lord said he wanted to test this kid to see if he was worthy of being your husband! I heard earlier that he failed the written exam miserably. That’s fine, but the martial arts test, he absolutely can’t escape!”

Zhan Fu refused to listen and angrily persuaded the five of them to leave.

And You Zixia was still in a daze.

What written exam, what martial arts test, what test, what husband?!!!

Zhan Fu turned around and saw the shocked expression on You Zixia’s face. She couldn’t help but burst out laughing, then patted You Zixia’s chest and glanced at him, “Alright, stop flattering yourself. This young lady wouldn’t look at you. It’s just that my father saw me following you earlier and had a little plan in mind.”

You Zixia came back to his senses and felt guilty for his previous overthinking. He smiled helplessly, “This is really… it scared me… By the way, I don’t know why Your Highness called me over?”

Zhan Fu rolled her eyes. “I have a bold idea, and I want you to help me.”

You Zixia laughed. “What kind of bold idea?”

Zhan Fu said firmly, “I want to run away from home!”

… That was indeed a very bold idea.

You Zixia was almost choked on his own saliva. He quickly began to persuade Zhan Fu, but she interrupted him impatiently.

“Alright, stop trying to persuade me. Do I look like I’m doing this on a whim?”

She does.

At this moment, Zhan Fu suddenly collected her expression and looked into the distance, sighing softly. “Since that year, I’ve been staying in Luoyue City all the time. Until I came of age, I had never gone out.”

“To be honest, You Zixia, you, your Junior sister, and Miss Fu Yu can go out on adventures and roam around, and I’m really envious. Because I can’t do that. I… I really want to try it once.”

You Zixia put away his previous emotions and listened quietly to Zhan Fu. He didn’t interrupt or ask why she didn’t go out. You Zixia simply acted as a listener, saying nothing.

After Zhan Fu finished speaking, You Zixia pursed his lips and frowned slightly.

“But why, Your Highness, do you have to ask me for help? First of all, with my martial arts skills, I probably can’t help you escape from Luoyue City, and even if I could escape, what would you find by following me?”

Moreover, there must have been other young talents who came before, so why didn’t Zhan Fu want their help?

Zhan Fu curled her lips and looked back at You Zixia. Her black eyes held a fleeting light.

Zhan Fu tilted her head slightly, “Of course it’s because the three of you are very interesting.”

You Zixia was startled, not because of Zhan Fu’s words, but because of the look in her eyes.

••••

You Zixia eventually returned to the inn with Zhan Fu.

Although he knew that even if Zhan Fu sincerely wanted to run away from home and go out and explore, the City Lord of Luoyue City, who loved his daughter so much, wouldn’t let Zhan Fu go; let alone follow You Zixia. So this matter was fundamentally impossible and couldn’t be changed by Zhan Fu’s will.

But… when he saw the look in Zhan Fu’s eyes, You Zixia’s heart moved, and he didn’t know why, but he agreed.

Perhaps because Zhan Fu had always been a proud and aloof person, so when he saw her soft side for the first time, You Zixia was inevitably touched.

It was like a plucked string.

Although it was only once, only a sound, but it echoed continuously.

So, without thinking, he stared at Zhan Fu and nodded.

Although it had been two or three days since Zhan Fu came of age, perhaps to stay and experience the local customs of Luoyue City, or perhaps because she thought that since she was already here, she might as well not leave so soon, so the inn was still quite full, and the rooms had not been vacated.

When You Zixia led Zhan Fu back from the street, they attracted a lot of attention. People looked at the two of them in surprise and whispered to each other.

Because the voices were too low, they could only notice this but couldn’t hear what they were saying. Although You Zixia could use the power of talismans to collect the floating words, it would be too deliberate, wouldn’t it? It would make him seem too concerned. Not to mention that Zhan Fu was walking beside him at the moment.

Therefore, You Zixia just coughed and tried to ignore it.

Upon arriving at the inn, he immediately saw Wen Zhao sitting there, waiting for him.

You Zixia walked over and said to Wen Zhao, “Junior sister, you’re awake. By the way, this is the Young lady Zhan Fu, you should know her.”

“Wen Zhao” raised her eyes, and her bright eyes swept over You Zixia before landing on Zhan Fu.

She had a serene expression and a beautiful face. A small mole under her eye further accentuated her fresh and elegant demeanor.

After being scanned by Wen Zhao’s gaze, for some reason, You Zixia felt a sudden sense of panic, and this feeling was also familiar, as if he had experienced it before.

Before You Zixia could think further, Wen Zhao’s gaze had passed over him and landed on Zhan Fu.

“Wen Zhao” said, “Your Highness.”

Hearing her call, Zhan Fu raised her eyebrows slightly, and a hint of amused contemplation flashed in her eyes. She seemed to have… seen some secret?

Zhan Fu was intrigued. She took a step forward, bypassing You Zixia, and looked at Wen Zhao. “Yes, it’s me. Do you… still remember me?”

Zhan Fu narrowed her eyes.

Of course, Wen Zhao remembered her. After all, at the beginning, their plan was to “use” Zhan Fu and Fu Yu to lure out Lu Bicai, and they had met on the day of her coming-of-age ceremony. And as for “Wen Zhao,” she knew even more.

However, the focus now was not on that.

“Wen Zhao” didn’t look at Zhan Fu but turned to You Zixia, her voice soft and low.

“Senior brother and Young lady Zhan Fu came together, so the passersby must have seen it. By tomorrow, no, just this afternoon, the rumor that Senior brother will soon become the Young lady’s husband will probably spread throughout the city.”

Hearing this, You Zixia opened his eyes wide in shock. He looked at Zhan Fu in panic, then at Wen Zhao, and quickly explained, “No, that’s not what happened. There’s nothing between Zhan Fu and me. It’s just a misunderstanding.”

“Wen Zhao” pinched her fingertips and walked around Zhan Fu, step by step, until she stood in front of You Zixia. She raised her eyes, and her black pupils stared at him, her eyes revealing a seemingly gentle yet resentful emotion.

“Senior brother is so good. You can win a beautiful woman’s heart in such a short time and gain the Young lady’s trust. You will probably become a son-in-law and have a great future even if you don’t become the head of the Lihuo Sect.”

These words were truly hurtful, and You Zixia hurriedly explained, “No, no, no, I really didn’t! Junior sister, you know, Master treats me very well, and he wants to entrust the Lihuo Sect to me. How could I betray him?”

“Wen Zhao” raised her voice, “But you have already betrayed Father!”

The light in her eyes gradually turned sharp.

“Do you think Father only entrusted the Lihuo Sect to you? He clearly also…”

At that moment, with the sound of a sword scabbard hitting a wooden railing, a person leaped down from the second floor, and the wind rustled the hem of their clothes.

While the three of them confronted each other downstairs, they didn’t know that someone had been standing on the second floor all along.

At first, she simply stood there, looking down from the railing, her gaze fixed intently on Wen Zhao who was sitting there. Watching the other party’s lowered eyes, she also blinked her eyelashes and slowly clenched her fingers.

Fu Yu didn’t want to come down. She just stood there, more like… simply looking at Wen Zhao, and nothing more.

After what happened last night, Fu Yu knew that Wen Zhao would eventually recall those details; those memories that made her care, made her happy, and made her want to keep, might be the ones Wen Zhao wanted to escape.

Worried that Wen Zhao might be uncomfortable and unable to accept it for a while, Fu Yu hesitated to go downstairs and appear in front of Wen Zhao. She simply stood a short distance away, gazing quietly.

Later, You Zixia came in with Zhan Fu.

Standing high up, Fu Yu took in everything, including Wen Zhao’s actions, her accusations, and the words she was about to blurt out.

When Wen Zhao was about to reveal certain things, Fu Yu, who had been leaning on the railing and looking indifferently at the scene below, moved, interrupting the words she was about to say.

She raised her eyes and walked over step by step. Her expression was cold, her black eyes were like ink, and one hand rested on the hilt of her sword, her fingers distinct and slender, tapping lightly.

“And entrusted you to You Zixia, is that what you want to say?”

She didn’t look at anyone, but stared straight at the girl in the white and pink dress.

If Wen Zhao had her own consciousness at this moment, she would definitely run away as far as possible, but at this moment, she couldn’t control her body, and could only hide in her own mind, and when she saw Fu Yu arrive, the sky fell apart.

Although she didn’t have to face such a hellish and awkward situation now, the thought of what the consequences would be for her made Wen Zhao want to die.

However, “Wen Zhao” was not afraid.

Her expression quickly adjusted, becoming teary-eyed. At this moment, her “enemy” became Fu Yu.

“Wen Zhao” leaned slightly towards You Zixia, making herself look like a victim, and then she said weakly, “I, I didn’t mean that. Don’t misunderstand me. Between me and my Senior brother, it’s just a brother-sister relationship. Isn’t it natural for an older brother to take care of his younger sister?”

You Zixia also escaped from the previous situation. Hearing Wen Zhao say this, he nodded involuntarily, “That’s true, Junior sister, don’t worry, I won’t abandon you.”

Seeing this, “Wen Zhao” smiled at Fu Yu. Although the smile was fresh, it was full of green tea. She reached out and grabbed You Zixia’s sleeve, saying timidly, “Senior brother, you’re so kind. I want to stay by your side forever and be taken care of by you.”

Wen Zhao: Stop it!

Zhan Fu looked at them and then took a step back, finding a chair to sit on.

Hearing the two of them exchanging “sweet nothings,” the coldness in Fu Yu’s eyes deepened. She snorted softly, and even the curve of her lips and the temperature were as cold as frost.

Fu Yu stepped forward, her eyes fixed intently on Wen Zhao. She narrowed her eyes, and the coldness beneath her brows was like ice.

“You really want to be by his side forever?”

Fu Yu repeated each word slowly.

Before Wen Zhao and You Zixia could react, she raised her eyebrows slightly, her eyes filled with a deep darkness.

“You want him to take care of you forever?”

You Zixia frowned slightly, feeling that something was amiss.

“Fu Yu?” he called out tentatively, then explained, “Don’t misunderstand, my Junior sister means that we…”

Fu Yu raised her eyes, her gaze as cold as a sword blade as she swept over You Zixia. Her eyes were filled with indifference.

“I understand what you mean.”

At this moment, Zhan Fu quietly pulled on You Zixia’s sleeve, signaling him to be quiet. You Zixia frowned in confusion, not understanding. After all, the current situation seemed a bit strange. Fu Yu seemed to have a grudge against Wen Zhao, and as her Senior brother, he should step forward to mediate and defend Wen Zhao.

Zhan Fu was having a headache.

She lowered her voice and said to You Zixia, “Brother, if you really care about your Junior sister, you should stay away from her.”

You Zixia was puzzled.

Zhan Fu didn’t bother to explain further, but forcefully pulled You Zixia out of the inn.

“Just trust me. When we come back, they will be fine.”

“But…”

At this time, Wen Zhao switched back.

Looking at Fu Yu who was walking towards her step by step, and recalling the scene that had just happened, Wen Zhao felt her legs go weak and she sat down on the bench.

She was so scared.

A/N: I’m amazed that this could be locked, and even before Wednesday. Impressive!

*

Don’t worry, Wen Zhao will soon understand and think about what Fu Yu really feels about her.

Right now, she doesn’t understand, and she’s more afraid to think about it, afraid to break it, and unwilling to face this situation, so it’s more like burying her head in the sand.

And Fu Yu can’t really distinguish between the real Wen Zhao and the fake Wen Zhao yet. After all, she’s already brainwashed (not really), and she’s been jealous.

*

You Zixia: Did I accidentally step into some kind of exam?

No, it’s a scene for selecting a son-in-law XD