Transmigrated into a Scummy Alpha Playboy in Ancient Times (GL) - Chapter 11

Shen Xingyue let out a helpless sigh. Just how badly had the original host behaved? Why did everyone look at her as if she were some kind of monster?

Shen Taotao gave her a timid bow and softly greeted,
“Elder Sister.”

“Mm. You all go on playing—I’m not going to bite you. What’s there to be so afraid of?” Shen Xingyue chuckled, shaking her head. As she passed by the snowman, she bent down and picked up two sticks, placing them on either side like arms.

Seeing how her presence had killed the joyful mood, she turned to head back. As she walked, she reviewed more of the original host’s memories.

Although Shen Xingyue and Shen Taotao were full sisters, the original host had always looked down on zhongyong and kunze, believing them to be of lower status. She’d never taken Shen Taotao seriously and often mocked or played mean-spirited pranks on her. She hadn’t gone too far—mostly out of fear of their parents—but her constant sarcasm had left Shen Taotao deeply wary of her.

By the time Shen Xingyue returned to her quarters, night had already fallen. Entering the room, she saw Su Muyu sitting at the desk, reading the same geography book she had been looking at earlier.

Seeing her return, Su Muyu rose to her feet, intending to salute, but Shen Xingyue stopped her.
“No need for formalities. You don’t need to bow to me. Are you hungry? Should I have dinner sent in?”

“I’m fine. I asked Yiliu to bring some pastries earlier,” Su Muyu replied, glancing at Shen Xingyue’s face, trying to detect any hint of annoyance or disdain. But instead, she was met with a bright, open smile.

“That’s more like it,” Shen Xingyue said cheerfully. “If you need anything, just ask. You’re my wife and the lady of this manor now. You can order the servants around as you please.”

As she spoke, she rang the bell to call for dinner.

Su Muyu hadn’t expected such words. If she’d heard this kind of sweet talk when she first arrived, she might’ve been moved. But now she knew exactly what kind of person Shen Xingyue was—she wasn’t about to be fooled by pretty words.

Watching Shen Xingyue’s performance, she echoed her tone,
“Yes, Your Highness. I’ll keep that in mind.”

After dinner, Shen Xingyue had warm water brought in for a bath. She hadn’t bathed since arriving in this world, and her forehead injury had mostly healed, so there was no reason to avoid water anymore. She wanted a good soak before resting.

Su Muyu, still leaning on the bed, was starting to grow uneasy. Even though she had mentally prepared herself, now that the moment was near, she still felt afraid.

Shen Xingyue emerged from the bath feeling refreshed. Her hair was damp and clean, and she hadn’t let the maids pin it up into a formal style, opting instead for comfort. Seeing that Su Muyu was still awake, she casually asked,
“Would you like to bathe too?”

Su Muyu stiffened instantly. Was this a signal? She looked at Shen Xingyue, who was smiling at her—those lips, that graceful face… She really did look like a delicate beauty. Too bad her beautiful face masked a venomous heart.

Back at Tinglan Pavilion, there hadn’t been many servants to help her. Boiling water for a bath had always been difficult. If tonight was inevitable, she might as well face it head-on. She nodded.
“Alright.”

“I’ll have it prepared,” Shen Xingyue replied, giving instructions to the maids while toweling her hair dry by the bronze mirror.

After a moment’s hesitation, Su Muyu said quietly,
“I’m used to having Cui Zhu assist me when I bathe. Could the others be dismissed?”

“Of course. Whatever makes you comfortable. I told you—you’re in charge of yourself now.” Shen Xingyue smiled again.

“Thank you.” With Shen Xingyue’s approval, Su Muyu had Cui Zhu brought in and dismissed the other maids, leaving only those needed to bring in more hot water as necessary.

Cui Zhu was delighted to see her mistress getting a proper hot bath. In Beichuan’s frigid climate, firewood and charcoal were expensive luxuries. A full soak in warm water was something only the wealthy could afford. Back at the Su residence, they had only boiled water to wash with rags—hot baths were extremely rare.

“Miss, this is such a rare treat—take your time and enjoy it.” Her face was full of joy. As long as her mistress was doing well, she was happy.

But the thought of what might happen later dulled the smile on Su Muyu’s face. She quickly composed herself—she didn’t want to worry Cui Zhu, who had already suffered enough following a mistress with no favor or protection.

“Mm.”

By the time Su Muyu finished bathing, nearly an hour had passed. Shen Xingyue’s hair had mostly dried. With no hairdryers in this world, she had been idly flipping through a book while waiting. The geography text from earlier had proven too dry and difficult to understand. Luckily, the original host had filled the shelves with frivolous novels.

She picked up one titled “The Cold-Hearted Wife of a Scholar” and had quickly gotten absorbed. It was ridiculously dramatic, like a historical version of a modern soap opera, but surprisingly addictive. She was already halfway through.

Su Muyu stood before the bronze mirror, patting her hair dry with a cotton towel. Glancing over, she saw Shen Xingyue still sitting on the bed with that book in hand. She figured Shen Xingyue was waiting for her and felt a knot of anxiety form in her chest.

With a sigh, her thoughts drifted back to her family. The weather had grown even colder these past days. Her mother and younger sister were still at the Su residence. They probably couldn’t bear to burn what little charcoal they had. Most likely, her mother was holding her little sister tightly to keep her warm, while her sister’s tiny face turned red from the cold.

And old Nanny Zheng—older even than her mother—how would she survive this bitter, endless winter?

Su Muyu bit her lower lip gently, her soft pink lips flushing with color from the pressure. If being more forward tonight could earn her a few days of Shen Xingyue’s sympathy, then so be it. At the very least, she might get some silver to send back home—enough to buy charcoal and help her mother and younger sister survive the rest of this bitter winter.

Her eyes darkened slightly with resolve, and she began drying her hair with more purpose. After a long moment, she finally took a deep breath and walked slowly toward the bed.

Seeing her approach, Shen Xingyue shifted to make room.
“Come on up. Be careful not to catch cold.”

Su Muyu’s eyes briefly flicked to the cover of the book Shen Xingyue had been reading, and her lips curled inward. Just as she expected. No matter how well Shen Xingyue played the part, her nature hadn’t changed. It had barely been two days, and she was already reading those frivolous romance books.

She slipped off her shoes and slowly moved into the bed. Her ears flushed with heat—this was the first time she had ever initiated something like this. That it was with someone she disliked only made her heart race more wildly. She pretended to stumble, leaning into Shen Xingyue’s arms.

Startled, Shen Xingyue quickly set the book aside and caught her gently.
“Careful,” she said softly. “Your knees are still healing—don’t bump them.”

Su Muyu fought back the wave of shame rising in her chest. That one simple action had taken all the courage she had built over seventeen years. And now she was doing something she once swore she would never do.

There was a bitter ache in her heart—was this what she had been reduced to?

Forcing her voice to remain calm, she said,
“It’s fine. It’s late… let’s rest early.”

She nestled against Shen Xingyue, her tone far softer than it had been during the day—like a feather brushing across Shen Xingyue’s heart, making it itch.

But Shen Xingyue, ever mindful, suddenly frowned.
“We can’t yet—your hair’s still damp. Sleeping like that could make you sick. It might cause a cold or a headache. Why don’t you stay up with me a bit longer? Let’s read this together until it dries.”

Su Muyu nearly ground her teeth. She had spent so long working up the courage to say those few soft, suggestive words. Now Shen Xingyue wanted to wait? She couldn’t believe it. She had practically thrown herself into her arms, and Shen Xingyue didn’t get the message?

Watching Shen Xingyue prepare to pick up the book again, with not the slightest clue about what she had just tried to offer, Su Muyu snapped. She clenched her teeth, grabbed Shen Xingyue’s wrist, and in a flash, leaned in to press a quick kiss to the corner of her lips.

Then, red-faced and breathless, she buried her face in Shen Xingyue’s chest.
“Stop reading… I want to rest.” Her voice was soft—barely audible, trembling with vulnerability.

Shen Xingyue was stunned.

For a full three seconds, her brain blanked out. She’d just been kissed. By Su Muyu.

When she finally snapped out of it, a furious blush crept from her ears all the way down her neck. That’s when she remembered: Oh right… this world… they’re married. A wife-and-wife relationship.

But she was a straight woman! How did she end up being kissed like that—and by Su Muyu, no less? Didn’t Su Muyu hate the original host? Why kiss her all of a sudden, without any warning?

Shen Xingyue’s brain felt like it had short-circuited from that single kiss. Nothing was processing.

Still, she somehow managed to choke out a response.
“If you’re tired, then rest. I’ll ask them to put the lights out.”

Face still flushed, Shen Xingyue reached over and rang the bell. A few maids came in quietly and extinguished most of the candles in the room, leaving only two by the distant desk in case they needed to get up during the night.

The room dimmed, shadows softening across the walls.

But Shen Xingyue’s heart was suddenly racing.

Why was she nervous? Su Muyu wouldn’t… would she?

Trying to suppress the inexplicable panic in her chest, Shen Xingyue decided it was best to lie down and get some sleep. She shifted slightly—one hand bracing against the mattress, the other sliding around Su Muyu’s waist to help guide them both down.

But before she could even get fully settled, she felt it—a hand at her waist, fingers gently tugging at her sash.

Su Muyu… was undoing her belt.