When the Scumbag A Got the Dog-Licking Script - Chapter 16

A flicker of confusion crossed Pei Daowan’s face.

Her words struck Yu Jinzhao like a thunderclap. Though Yu Jinzhao had anticipated Pei Daowan would eventually discover the truth, she hadn’t expected it to happen so soon, leaving her utterly unprepared.

Have I given myself away too easily?

As far as Yu Jinzhao knew, Pei Daowan had no real understanding of her true nature. Pei Daowan had only met her a few times before showering her with extravagant gifts and relentless pursuit.

Logically, Pei Daowan shouldn’t have figured it out so quickly. Could it be that I’ve been acting too kind?

Though her mind churned like a stormy sea, Yu Jinzhao maintained an impassive facade. She slowly set down her chopsticks.

“Why would you say that? If I’m not Yu Jinzhao, then who am I?”

In truth, she didn’t care whether Pei Daowan had seen through her. She hadn’t bothered to mimic the original Yu Jinzhao’s personality or maintain her lifestyle.

She was simply surprised that Pei Daowan had guessed so quickly.

Because they were sitting close, Yu Jinzhao could clearly see that Pei Daowan’s pupils were a dark amber-brown.

She was stunning, especially under the lamplight. Yu Jinzhao could even faintly discern the intricate patterns in her pupils, like an unknown planet.

Yu Jinzhao hadn’t lied to Pei Daowan. She was indeed Yu Jinzhao, identical in both appearance and name.

The only difference was that they came from two different worlds. But where had the original Yu Jinzhao gone?

Pei Daowan chuckled softly, her eyebrows arching playfully as she repeated her earlier words.

“I know you’re not the real Yu Jinzhao!”

Yu Jinzhao retorted without backing down, “I am Yu Jinzhao!”

The System was utterly bewildered!

It couldn’t understand what its Host was doing. Why would she expose Yu Jinzhao’s true identity? What benefit could this possibly bring her?

If Yu Jinzhao’s identity was exposed, how could she still be manipulated? If the System dared to speak, it would be jumping up and down in panic.

Hearing Yu Jinzhao’s defiant claim, Pei Daowan’s expression gradually turned cold.

She had given her a chance to tell the truth!

“I hope you’ll be honest with me. Since I’ve spoken out, I naturally have absolute certainty. You said I could trust you.”

The last sentence clearly struck a nerve with Yu Jinzhao. She had indeed said those words, but she hadn’t expected them to come back to haunt her so soon.

Yu Jinzhao stared at Pei Daowan for a long moment before finally looking away. She slowly exhaled a heavy breath and decided to reveal her greatest secret.

Pei Daowan was not someone easily deceived. If Yu Jinzhao tried to lie, she would undoubtedly see through it. Besides, Yu Jinzhao had come here for Pei Daowan in the first place.

“I’m not lying. I am Yu Jinzhao, but it’s a long story, and I don’t know how to explain it. Even if I did, you might not believe me.”

The moment Yu Jinzhao began to speak, Pei Daowan’s expression softened involuntarily, a subtle relaxation she herself barely noticed.

“You haven’t even told me yet. Why are you so sure I won’t believe you?”

Yu Jinzhao had been holding back for too long. She had been here for a month without anyone to confide in. Since things had already come to this, she figured she might as well throw caution to the wind.

“I am Yu Jinzhao, but I’m not the real Yu Jinzhao.”

Her words were cryptic and confusing. To an outsider, they would make no sense at all. Pei Daowan, however, shifted into a more relaxed posture, signaling Yu Jinzhao to continue.

“I’m not from this world. I come from another realm. I simply fell asleep at home and woke up here, completely disoriented.”

“Then a System appeared and told me that I must obey you and help you achieve your revenge in order to return home. Otherwise, I’ll be trapped here forever.”

Yu Jinzhao kept her explanation concise, without embellishment or any attempt to elicit Pei Daowan’s sympathy.

For some reason, hearing Yu Jinzhao say that she could only return home by helping her stirred a strange unease in Pei Daowan’s heart.

So, she really wants to go back!

Thinking this, Pei Daowan blurted out, “You really want to go back, don’t you?”

Yu Jinzhao took a deep breath and nodded emphatically. “Yes, I desperately want to go back. I don’t belong here. I feel lost and utterly alone.”

This was the first time Yu Jinzhao had shown such vulnerability to Pei Daowan, yet her tone remained calm, almost devoid of emotion.

She’s here because of me!

“I’m sorry,” Pei Daowan said. “I never wanted this, but I don’t know why it had to be you.”

This was also the first time Pei Daowan had apologized to Yu Jinzhao. In truth, Yu Jinzhao was innocent, having been dragged into Pei Daowan’s struggles for no reason.

But Pei Daowan didn’t need anyone’s help. In her previous life, she had accomplished everything alone. Having been reborn, how could she fail now?

Yu Jinzhao didn’t stop, continuing to pour out her heart: “I don’t know what happened to you. I won’t ask, and you don’t have to tell me. But you must believe me—I would never do anything to betray you. I came here for you.”

Yu Jinzhao’s voice was beautiful, possessing the softness of a woman’s voice yet tinged with a husky, magnetic quality.

If she had delivered these confession-like words with dramatic intonation, she might have captivated many.

But Yu Jinzhao’s tone remained remarkably even, more like a declaration than a promise, utterly devoid of hesitation or regret.

It was as if she had rehearsed these words countless times in her heart, and now, finally, she was speaking them aloud for Pei Daowan to hear.

Pei Daowan froze for a moment, deeply moved. It had been years since she had heard such words. Countless people had pledged their loyalty to her, but what had been the result?

What now?!

It was through countless hard-won lessons, paid for in bl00d, that she had grown time and again.

Suppressing the turbulent emotions stirred by Yu Jinzhao’s words, Pei Daowan chuckled.

“I’m a petty and demanding person who loves to nitpick. If you claim you came for me, you’ll have to prove it with actions. Otherwise, I won’t believe you.”

Most people would immediately pledge their loyalty upon hearing this, or at least offer some kind of guarantee.

But Yu Jinzhao seemed to do nothing at all. She simply nodded slightly, the movement barely perceptible.

Pei Daowan was right to be skeptical. After all, who would believe such a claim? To come for her—what a weighty and grandiose reason!

Too bad. She wouldn’t accept it, and Pei Daowan wouldn’t either. Even if she couldn’t leave this place, she would follow her own heart.

She wouldn’t help Pei Daowan just because the System told her to. She would act only because she genuinely wanted to.

“I’m finished eating. Would you like anything else?”

Yu Jinzhao wanted to change the subject, unwilling to remain in a vulnerable position any longer.

“I’m finished too. Let’s go back.”

Pei Daowan responded quickly, her voice devoid of emotion, as if nothing had happened between them. It was as if they had simply come downstairs for a meal.

Yu Jinzhao quickened her pace, stepping ahead of Pei Daowan to pay the bill, naturally forgetting her earlier offer to treat her.

She was actually quite angry. Why did Pei Daowan have the right to question her like that? The power imbalance between them left Yu Jinzhao feeling both furious and wronged.

On one hand, reason told her it was normal for Pei Daowan to distrust a stranger. On the other hand, her emotions felt like she had been treated unfairly.

A sour, bitter, and inexplicable sense of grievance began to fester in Yu Jinzhao’s heart.

She couldn’t even maintain her facade anymore. Her expression darkened as she paid the bill, her lips pressed into a thin line. Without a word, she turned and strode away.

Yu Jinzhao walked briskly, not looking back. Pei Daowan had already reached out to stop her, but Yu Jinzhao moved too quickly, her fingers only brushing the edge of her sleeve.

“Yu…”

Pei Daowan instinctively wanted to call out to her, but after uttering just one syllable, she fell silent. She had no reason or right to ask Yu Jinzhao to stay.

She gently rubbed her fingertips, where she had just touched the hem of Yu Jinzhao’s garment. Nothing remained.

Looking dejected, she sank back into her seat, her expression blank as she stared at the empty space Yu Jinzhao had just occupied. A dark, unreadable emotion flickered in her eyes.

Flick!

A flame ignited the tip of a cigarette. Pei Daowan held another slender cigarette in her hand. During the meal, she had only taken two puffs, mindful of Yu Jinzhao and wanting to spare her from secondhand smoke.

Now, she felt an urgent need to finish the entire cigarette. Nicotine could alleviate her anxiety and stress, helping her regain composure.

Even after the cigarette had burned down to its filter, Pei Daowan remained motionless, frozen in the same posture she had held before Yu Jinzhao left.

Only when the ash was about to burn her fingers did she flinch slightly, extinguish the ember, and slowly rise to her feet.

A hint of confusion crossed her face. Was she truly doing the right thing by treating Yu Jinzhao this way?