Transmigrating to Woo the Villainous Young Lady - Chapter 28

When Shen Li woke up, the room was bathed in bright daylight. She knew without looking that it was already late morning.

She shifted slightly and immediately felt a sharp pain. Fu Guiyi, that martial arts practitioner, had an unusually strong grip.

After a long while, Shen Li cautiously lifted the covers and slowly got out of bed, dressing with painstaking care, afraid of straining her wounds.

Her awkward gait drew frequent glances from her close friends.

Shen Li, I heard you sprained your ankle. I thought it wasn’t serious? Why are you walking so strangely?

It’s actually quite serious, Shen Li replied, coughing softly. She covered her flushed ears and glanced at a fallen leaf nearby. Xiao Tao, why haven’t you swept up that leaf?

Hearing this, Xiao Tao immediately turned to look. Sure enough, a single withered leaf lay alone on the smooth stone path, having clearly just fallen.

Damn tree! I just swept and it’s already dropping leaves again! Xiao Tao grumbled, her cheeks puffed out, completely forgetting the conversation she’d just been having with Shen Li.

Seeing that no one was paying attention to her anymore, Shen Li slowly moved to a sunny, secluded spot.

She began to ponder the plot. Her first step had been successful: she’d rescued the female lead and made her indebted to her.

However, the novel only focused on the male and female leads’ storylines. Any scenes without them would simply skip ahead in time.

Unfortunately, after transmigrating into the book, these convenient time skips no longer existed. She would have to endure each plotless day one by one.

Shen Li recalled that Fu Guiyi’s twenty-third birthday was approaching. Although the author had only mentioned it in passing, Fu Guiyi was both her target for conquest and the person she admired.

Shen Li remained highly motivated to grind for conquest points.

With this in mind, she opened the System Shop. The virtual shelves were overflowing with goods, including things like cakes. But if she suddenly produced one out of nowhere, it would seem too strange.

Common cake toppings like bananas and mangoes were tropical fruits, and even lychees were a delicacy reserved for the wealthy and noble.

Therefore, Shen Li needed to modify the cake to make it a suitable offering.

She purchased a small cake consisting only of cream and sponge, completely undecorated. The rest of the embellishments would have to be added herself.

Host, are you really giving such a simple gift?

The System stared at the cake, which cost only one point, and fell into deep thought. Wouldn’t it be a bit embarrassing to give this to the target?

Other hosts are pulling out rocket launchers and AK-47s!

Hearing the System’s relentless attempts to tempt her into spending more points, Shen Li’s lips twitched.

This is a historical romance novel! Pulling an assault rifle out of my sleeve would be absurd!

Are those things even useful? Fu Guiyi’s dog-like nose sniffed out the Cupid’s arrow you tried to sell me last time.

If she presented a cake piled high with lychees and mangoes, Fu Guiyi would probably suspect her of being a spy sent by some prince or duke.

In the past, Shen Li could simply swap shifts with another maid to sneak out of the manor.

But now, the Young Mistress might call for her at any moment, making unauthorized departures impossible.

Shen Li had no choice but to ask someone to run errands for her. She was racking her brain, trying to recall which of the maids she knew had the freedom to leave the manor.

Just then, a figure approached her, dressed in a brown robe that marked him as a minor steward.

Even a jade pendant hung at his waist—not particularly valuable jade, but still a symbol of status in ancient times.

It’s you.

Shen Li’s memory wasn’t particularly poor; she recognized Lei Er almost immediately.

Indeed, it is I.

The steward looked up, his eyes filled with undisguised delight. Though he’d heard the rumors circulating through the manor, he never truly believed Shen Li and the Young Mistress were having an affair.

After all, someone like the Young Mistress would surely disdain mingling with servants like them.

Thus, Lei Er’s romantic feelings began to blossom.

He still vividly remembered the softness of Shen Li’s waist that day in the lake—a delicacy no servant who toiled at hard labor could ever possess.

Shen Li’s peach-blossom complexion and natural charm, evident in every smile and frown, were utterly captivating.

Lei Er felt that marrying such a woman would make his entire life worthwhile.

As a long-serving servant at Fu Manor, Shen Li knew that the estate’s managers had free access to the grounds.

Her eyes lit up with delight as she hurried forward.

Brother Lei, I need your help with something.

Of course, Shen Li! Just say the word, and I, Lei Er, will do anything for you!

Hearing her call him Brother Lei made Lei Er’s heart bloom like peach blossoms in spring rain, as warm and nourishing as the gentle showers of February.

After her argument with Xu Wenqing, Fu Guiyi stormed back to another study, this one primarily used to store military secrets.

As such, no maids or servants were allowed inside.

The room was cleaned only by personal guards from the Black Armor Army, trusted confidants of Fu Guiyi.

Young Mistress, the maid you had me watch has made a move.

A figure stood outside the study—Fu Guiyi’s Shadow Guard. He was lean, almost gaunt, as if perpetually hungry, but in truth, he was a master of concealed weapons.

His slender frame was deliberate, designed for better concealment.

A bulky physique would be impossible to hide in the underbrush, instantly revealing his presence.

Fu Guiyi felt a headache coming on.

She had barely finished arguing with Xu Wenqing when trouble was brewing with Shen Li.

What is it?

Fu Guiyi took the sketchbook the Shadow Guard offered. One glance made her gasp.

I knew it! Those servants are all the same!

Daring to covet what belongs to me.

Without sitting down, Fu Guiyi immediately strode out of the room, tossing the sketchbook to the ground. The Shadow Guard knelt to retrieve it.

Inside the delicate fabric-bound book, a drawing depicted two figures. One was a charming, petite woman, tilting her head to gaze up at a tall, imposing man.

Her eyes sparkled with laughter, and the likeness was uncanny.

Shen Li had already arrived in the garden, intending to decorate the plain cake with flowers. She held scissors in her hand, gazing at the blossoms with a radiant smile.

Her eyes swept across the garden until they landed on a particularly vibrant and fully bloomed rose. Its petals were a delicate pink, with more layers than ordinary roses.

Shen Li approached the rose, ready to cut it, when she heard a chorus of greetings from behind: Good morning, Young Mistress!

Damn it!

Why did Fu Guiyi have to arrive now of all times?

Sighing inwardly, Shen Li reluctantly tucked the scissors away. Just as she hid them behind her back, Fu Guiyi’s familiar voice rang out.

Not resting properly? What are you doing wandering around here?

Fu Guiyi’s lips curved into a gentle smile, but it still felt unsettling.

After all, she rarely smiled.

Even her usual stern expression could exert immense pressure.

Shen Li now understood firsthand the discomfort of a forced smile.

Young Mistress? she called out hesitantly, her voice trembling slightly.