Transmigrating to Woo the Villainous Young Lady - Chapter 32

In the past, Fu Guiyi might have seriously considered her mother’s words and started looking for a suitable husband.

To her, finding a man had merely been a way to please her mother. But now…

Fu Guiyi had no such thoughts. Her heart and mind were completely occupied by Shen Li.

Mother, I don’t want to get married.

Guiyi, don’t say such willful things.

Madam Fu coughed softly, her face paling further. Fu Guiyi raised her hand to pat her mother’s back, helping her catch her breath.

This isn’t willful. It’s my decision. It’s better to rely on oneself than on others.

Without Father, didn’t you single-handedly support Fu Manor?

It wasn’t that Fu Guiyi was afraid to tell her mother about Shen Li; she simply feared that revealing the truth would anger her mother into a faint.

Madam Fu was already clinging to life by a thread, sustained only by potent tonics like ginseng and lingzhi. If Fu Guiyi upset her, even the gods might be unable to save her.

Fu Guiyi’s birthday was just around the corner, and that small birthday cake carried Shen Li’s hopes for boosting her strategy points.

The moment she opened her eyes, this was the first thing on her mind.

The women of the household rarely left the estate, so she would have to ask a servant to get the cake. Unfortunately, if she did, she might end up with another Lei Er situation.

As Shen Li was fretting, the System’s voice echoed in her mind.

Host, why don’t you choose someone ugly?

What kind of twisted idea is that?

Shen Li was stunned. She never expected the System, which usually acted like a dead weight, to actually offer advice. She was so moved she almost cried.

Why?

Shen Li’s gait was already much improved from the day before. The medicine had worked wonders, and she now dared to take longer strides.

The System pondered for a moment, leaving Shen Li with only a faint rustling sound in her mind. Just as she braced herself for some lengthy, scholarly explanation, the System simply said:

Because ugly people pose no threat.

Shen Li: How vicious!

But it was also brutally realistic. This world was all about appearances. If she hadn’t been blessed with decent looks, she probably wouldn’t have even made it to the Young Mistress’s bed.

Thank you, Mom and Dad, wherever you are in that other world, for giving me this naturally good-looking face.

Shen Li felt deeply grateful.

She finally decided to follow the System’s advice.

But as soon as she arrived at the servants’ quarters, she saw a manservant running toward her, panting heavily.

I finally found you, Sister Shen!

The servant braced his hands on his knees, sweat dripping from his forehead.

What is it? Shen Li asked, puzzled. As a relatively idle person in the manor, she was rarely needed.

Manager Lei asked me to bring you this.

The servant retrieved a bundle from behind his back. Shen Li took it, feeling its considerable weight. These must be the ingredients for decorating the cake.

I never expected Lei Er to still think of me, even after being banished from Fu Manor because of me, she thought.

Shen Li accepted the bundle.

Please thank Manager Lei for me.

Now that she had the ingredients, she could finally make a beautiful birthday cake.

Shen Li melted white sugar and carefully wrote words on the cake, one stroke at a time. Though the writing wasn’t particularly elegant, it served as decoration.

She then arranged fresh flowers on the cake, fussing over it for quite some time, and added some unfamiliar fruits commonly found in ancient times.

By the time she finished, dusk had fallen.

Fu Guiyi hadn’t appeared in the manor all day, likely having gone to the military camp.

Time flew by, and soon it was Fu Guiyi’s birthday. Red lanterns adorned the entire Fu Manor.

Xu Wenqing bustled about, wishing she had wings to speed up her tasks. Her recent lack of trouble-making for Shen Li was simply due to her overwhelming busyness.

The Fu Manor was filled with festive cheer. Even Fu Guiyi’s elder brother and sister-in-law, who resided in the capital, sent congratulatory gifts.

However, Fu Guiyi showed little interest in the celebrations.

Birthdays meant growing older, and not everyone looked forward to that.

Mu Siyu and Li Huaifeng also arrived with generous gifts: Mu Siyu presented South Sea coral, while Li Huaifeng offered South Sea pearls.

As Manager Lei reported the gift list nearby, Shen Li leaned against a vermilion pillar in the corridor, arms crossed.

System, do you think the male and female leads got their gifts from the same sea?

Normally, the System would respond to her questions, albeit lazily. It had never left her hanging like this before.

Why isn’t it answering today?

Just as Shen Li was about to ask again, she felt an arm wrap around her waist.

What are you looking at?

Fu Guiyi wore a slightly more formal attire today: a vermilion gown paired with a white jade belt, two delicate sachets swaying gently at her waist.

Young Mistress, weren’t you in the reception hall?

Immobilized and unable to move, Shen Li’s voice softened involuntarily.

There’s no help for it. One must speak gently to the Young Mistress.

Back in the real world, Shen Li had never understood why anyone would enjoy being submissive. But now, when addressing Fu Guiyi, she found herself wanting every word to melt into her ear.

I wanted to see you, so I came, Fu Guiyi said, utterly uninhibited.

That was just her nature—passionate and unapologetic in her affections.

You’re reviewing the accounts. Is there anything you want? If so, just take it from the storeroom.

After all, these were her birthday gifts, and Fu Guiyi had every right to dispose of them as she pleased.

These are the Young Mistress’s birthday gifts. How could I possibly take them? Shen Li protested, but her mind was already calculating. That luminous pearl from the wealthy merchant earlier had caught her eye.

Her current demeanor perfectly mirrored a child receiving a red envelope from relatives during Lunar New Year—wanting it desperately but too shy to accept.

It’s fine. Just take it, Fu Guiyi insisted.

As expected of the Young Mistress—so generous!

Shen Li’s heart bloomed with joy, but she maintained her composure. Noticing they were alone, Fu Guiyi lowered her head, her nose brushing against Shen Li’s porcelain-white neck.

Her breath stirred Shen Li’s hair, sending a tingling sensation through her limbs.

Young Mistress… there are still people around.

Shen Li watched the endless stream of guests arriving in the distance, her face flushing as red as an autumn persimmon.

What are you afraid of? Fu Guiyi murmured. Even if someone sees us, it doesn’t matter. I’ll protect you. No one would dare speak ill of you.

Since punishing those who gossiped in Fu Manor last time, the place had become much quieter.

Ah, right, right, you’re the Young Mistress. You don’t care, but I do! Shen Li thought. This is broad daylight!

But she only dared to think it. Only after Fu Guiyi had kissed her neck enough did Shen Li finally turn around.

Young Mistress, could you spare the last bit of your birthday celebration for me?

Seeing the little maid’s cautious request, her eyes shimmering like a white-furred fox gazing up at you with pleading affection, Fu Guiyi’s heart nearly shattered.

Host, cuteness still works! The conquest points have increased by another 3!  the System suddenly announced, startling Shen Li into blinking.

Yes, Fu Guiyi replied. This was no trouble at all for her.