He finished shouting “Sister-in-law” and furrowed his brows even deeper.
What was she doing here?
Xin Yi blinked gently, putting on a timid and cautious appearance, and asked in a very soft tone, “May I come in?”
“The wind is strong by the door. There are some things I’d like to say inside.”
She chose to strike decisively.
Because Xin Yi had an unusually strong premonition that if she didn’t take the initiative to speak, she could stand there until nightfall and Shen Ru Jie still wouldn’t let her in.
“…”
The youth fell silent for a moment before stepping aside. “You may.”
However, those cold eyes kept staring at her, as if secretly gauging and suspecting her intentions. His mouth said indifferently, “It’s just that this place is crude. Sister-in-law, please don’t mind it.”
After yesterday’s interaction, Xin Yi had become completely immune to such unfriendly gazes.
Because from what she knew, Shen Ru Jie equally despised everyone in this marquis manor. If anything, her ranking wasn’t even that high!
The Melodramatic Transmigration System: “…”
With that bit of negative favorability, she had no idea what there was to be proud of.
Xin Yi didn’t care about that blabbermouth system at all.
Her brows and eyes curved as she gave the youth an extremely gentle, faint smile. “It’s fine. Of course I don’t mind.”
Even if it was a mountain of knives or a sea of fire ahead, she still had to go! What choice did an office drone have?
Once she entered the courtyard and, supported by the maidservant, stepped into that rundown room, Shen Ru Jie’s mood remained somewhat icy.
Xin Yi looked around.
It was shabby. Everything here was shabby, everything there was shabby.
A desk, a bed, and a few windows with peeling paint. She took in the room’s furnishings with just two glances.
She withdrew her gaze, turned her head, and asked, “How is your injury? You got caught in the rain for so long yesterday. Have you reapplied the medicine?”
As she spoke, her body seemed to unconsciously draw a bit closer.
Allowing anyone to clearly see those dark, bright, and limpid almond eyes, along with the undisguised concern on her face.
The medicinal fragrance from yesterday, lingering in the rain curtain, once again assaulted the nose, impossible to avoid.
Shen Ru Jie pursed his lips and couldn’t help but take a step back. “Thank you for your concern, Sister-in-law. It’s nothing serious.”
He didn’t like others getting so close to him.
He wasn’t used to it.
Though the scent on her wasn’t that vulgar, cloying powder fragrance, and it wasn’t unpleasant to smell.
Xin Yi had been earnestly watching him, so she naturally caught the flash of ferocity in the youth’s eyes.
She knew the principle of taking things step by step, so she didn’t press closer. Instead, she turned and took a small jar of ointment from A Ying’s hands, extending it toward him. “This is the best golden wound medicine available in the Capital City. They say it’s remarkably effective for stopping bleeding. I hope it helps your injury a bit.”
Most importantly, it was really expensive. It had cost her a full several dozen taels of silver!
Though that silver wasn’t hers anyway, and she couldn’t take it out of the small world even if she left, the moment she handed it over, Xin Yi still inevitably felt a sharp pinch.
A Ying originally couldn’t quite understand it either.
Why had Madam suddenly become so good to the Second Young Master? That You Province spirit herb—even if it was thanks, it should have been thanks to the marquis. He wouldn’t have gone without the marquis’s orders!
But then she thought about it carefully. Madam was just like that: good to them servants on a normal day too.
The maidservants in other courtyards might seem impressive on the surface, but A Ying knew they secretly envied her greatly. At least she didn’t have to worry about being scolded or punished.
So in summary: Madam was truly so kind.
As for this ointment.
The one Shen Ru Jie had bought was indeed used up, and he hadn’t needed anything so good before. Though he didn’t lack silver after starting to work for the Seventh Prince, he was accustomed to the kind that cost several dozen coppers.
He looked at the jar in Xin Yi’s hand but didn’t take it right away. Instead, he asked, “Why give this to me?”
This wasn’t the first time he’d been injured, nor was it the worst.
Ever since Wu Xin Yi married into the marquis manor, she’d never taken the initiative to interact with him, afraid of displeasing Shen Gui.
She was just too soft-tempered at most—coldly looking on from the sidelines or simply staying far away. She wouldn’t actively mock or humiliate him like the others.
His gaze fixed on her without blinking, not missing a single micro-expression on her face, trying to see through her true intentions.
Xin Yi thought to herself: Because I need to conquer you.
Of course, she couldn’t say that out loud. So she blinked slightly, as if taking two seconds to react, then said earnestly, “Because injuries hurt. I hope you get better soon.”
Afraid he’d be suspicious, she specially put on a grieved and self-blaming look, bit her lip hesitantly, and added haltingly, “I know the trip to You Province was extremely perilous, and that you went through hardship to fetch medicine for me, so you ended up with such a heavy injury. In short… in short, I remember all the kindness you’ve shown me.”
“Besides, one jar of wound medicine isn’t much. If you have other difficulties in the future, I’ll do my best to help too.”
The Melodramatic Transmigration System: “Wow, Host. You’re born for acting. You almost convinced even me.”
Unfortunately, Shen Ru Jie didn’t believe it.
But he didn’t refuse again. As he took the ointment, the corner of his lips tugged. “Thank you, Sister-in-law. I’ll accept it then.”
“Ding! Shen Ru Jie’s favorability +1%”
“Current favorability toward Host has risen to -74%. Keep up the good work, Host!!”
Xin Yi was stunned. “System, what’s going on here?”
The system didn’t understand her meaning. “Favorability went up! Shouldn’t Host feel encouraged?”
Roll up her sleeves and grind for another 2% from him!
“No, what I mean is… why didn’t it go up when I showed concern yesterday, but it did today?”
The system tried analyzing. “Maybe because yesterday you only said it with words, without any real action.”
Today was different. Not only had she specially bought golden wound medicine, she’d personally delivered it.
Xin Yi nodded: So that’s how it was.
She looked up at the exquisite and handsome youth before her, just about to say something more to deepen their connection, when suddenly a massive “Boom!” echoed from the courtyard.
It was like someone had blasted the firewood gate open… no, kicked it open.
At the same time, a clear prompt sounded in her mind. “Ding~ Important cannon fodder role ‘Shen Xianxian’ has come online.”
The system said, “Next, she’ll come to make trouble for Shen Ru Jie. Please react, Host, and protect the capture target.”
Shen Xianxian, the marquis manor’s Fifth Miss, was truly born of the same mother as Shen Gui. She was also the most willful existence in the entire manor.
Originally, she had two older sisters above her, but they’d both been successively betrothed. Now, she was the only unmarried young lady left in the manor.
She actually quite liked Shen Ru Jie’s face, but due to their statuses and the hostility instilled in her from childhood, she treated him terribly.
Even as a child, she’d used tree branches to feed him ants.
After growing up, she’d gradually realized her feelings for Shen Ru Jie. At first, she couldn’t accept it, then she grew angry and annoyed. Every time, she’d dress up beautifully to provoke him and brush her presence in front of him.
Xin Yi: “…”
What era was this? There was actually this kind of brainless cannon fodder? It instinctively reminded her of certain boys from middle and high school who attracted attention by making trouble and pulling girls’ braids—though this was the upgraded version.
Following that loud bang, footsteps quickly approached their direction.
Xin Yi turned her head and saw the youth’s expression instantly chill by several degrees.
“Shen Ru Jie!”
The peeling vermilion door creaked open. Footsteps halted, and the girl’s crisp, arrogant voice landed heavily.
Shen Xianxian wore a crimson-red dress, with a delicate and lovely face. The pearls on her hair ornaments swayed nonstop with her movements.
She’d just been about to lash out at him when she spotted Xin Yi standing nearby. Her momentum instantly shifted from aggressive to puzzled. “Sister-in-law… why are you here?”
Xin Yi smiled gently and answered easily, “The Second Young Master was injured, so I came to deliver medicine to him.”
Shen Xianxian’s puzzled gaze swept back and forth between them, even more baffled. “What medicine is worth Sister-in-law making a personal trip? And when did Sister-in-law get so familiar with him?”
Had the two of them ever interacted before? How come she didn’t know?
“It was the marquis who instructed the Second Young Master to go to You Province to fetch medicine for me. Now that he’s injured, it only makes sense for me to come check on him, both emotionally and rationally.”
Xin Yi paused slightly before continuing, “Yesterday, the marquis even specially instructed that the Second Young Master should rest quietly in the manor these few days, undisturbed by others. I’m a bit curious too—why has Xianxian come here?”
She said all this with a smile, her tone soft and gentle, as if whatever she said or asked was perfectly natural, without a trace of hostility.
Yet Shen Xianxian was stumped for a long while, unable to reply. “I, I…”
She actually felt a bit embarrassed.
Of course she’d come to make trouble for Shen Ru Jie—it was routine to poke at his sore spots and make him feel bad.
But with Xin Yi here, and seemingly quite concerned for Shen Ru Jie.
She couldn’t just act aggressively. After all, the other was the principal wife of the marquis manor, bearing the title of her sister-in-law.
Moreover, her health was terribly frail. If she accidentally bumped into something and fainted dead away here, what then?
Her brother might not dote on her, but he’d never mistreated her either. If Sister-in-law met with any mishap because of her, he definitely wouldn’t let it pass as lightly as he did with Shen Ru Jie.
She might even get grounded, made to kneel in the ancestral hall, or copy Buddhist scriptures.
No, no, that wouldn’t do. At this thought, Shen Xianxian immediately shook her head wisely.
But since she’d come, if she just left without venting a bit, she’d feel stifled inside.
Today, she had to make Shen Ru Jie feel a little unhappy no matter what.
So she reached out, wanting to viciously pinch the youth’s cheek. “I’m here to check on Second Brother too, to see if his injuries are better. Did his face get hurt? Let me see…”
Unfortunately, before her fingers could touch, her hand was slapped away.
“You!”
Shen Xianxian flew into a rage, glaring wide-eyed at him. “Have you gone mad? You dare go against my wishes! If I tell Brother, you’ll have hell to pay!”
For some reason, Shen Ru Jie was especially intolerant of her approach today. He didn’t even want to pretend.
Suppressing intense killing intent and disgust, he said coldly, “Go ahead and tattle. Now, get out of my room.”
Shen Xianxian laughed in anger, repeating sarcastically, “Your… room? Is there any place in this marquis manor that belongs to you? Remember this: Brother is the master of this marquis manor! What the hell are you to put on airs in front of me?”
She was about to explode with fury, not caring that Xin Yi was present. Just like always, she hurled the most insulting words at him. “You’re just the little bastard your mother stole a man to give birth to—a filthy thing. No wonder Father didn’t dote on you when he was alive. You should be grateful to everyone just for being alive. Got it!”
Xin Yi listened with her heart pounding in shock. She wanted to say—you know what a bento is, miss?
Your bento’s already “dinged” hot to the touch.
So out of humanitarian spirit, and the hard requirements of the capture mission, she hurriedly interrupted Shen Xianxian’s continued courting death. “Enough!”
“Xianxian, how can you say that about your own brother? It’s just… it’s really…” Xin Yi put on a shocked and disappointed expression, as if frightened, and clutched her chest.
Her appearance was too delicate and frail. Though she was rebuking the other, it felt like she’d faint from anger in the next second.
Shen Xianxian fell silent. A fire still smoldered unvented in her heart. She pursed her lips, avoiding everyone’s gaze, looking almost aggrieved.
Very angry but not daring to retort, afraid she’d accidentally topple her over.
A Ying was seeing Xin Yi like this for the first time and anxiously supported her. “Madam, Madam, are you alright? Is it serious?”
Xin Yi leaned her head against her weakly and shook her head. “I’m fine.”
Though her mouth said she was fine, from head to toe it screamed: delicate and frail, pretending to be strong.
Shen Xianxian’s scalp went numb. “Sister-in-law…”
This was the first time she’d felt unhappy herself yet had to lower her head to apologize to someone else. “Sister-in-law, I was wrong. Please don’t be angry.”