CH 41

Favorability increased? What is going on?

Is this still part of the derivative plot?

How did Yao Yue see her?

A series of questions left Youyou dumbfounded, frozen in place.

Unbeknownst to Youyou, both Yao Yue and Lan Deng were staring intently at her.

Under the morning sunlight, the exquisitely handsome young man in red stood below Xuanqi City. Just the profile of his face was enough to make hearts flutter and faces blush.

A playful expression flashed across Lan Deng’s enchanting face. Yao Yue was about to take a step forward when Lan Deng, beside her, anxiously spoke up to stop her.

“A-A Yue, I have a stomachache.”

Lan Deng, with her delicate and charming appearance, was dressed in dark-colored Miaojiang ethnic clothing, accentuating her snow-white skin and gentle features.

“I feel so uncomfortable, A Yue.”

In her clearly defined apricot eyes, there was a distinct plea and hope. Lan Deng couldn’t fathom that despite her efforts to keep Yao Yue by her side for several days, she couldn’t prevent this encounter between her and the protagonist, Bai Youyou. “A Yue.”

Her face as pale as paper, Lan Deng clutched her chest, her delicate body trembling slightly. Her eyes were teary, filled with a misty haze, as if tears were about to fall at any moment.

Yao Yue, facing the gaze of the enchanting Lan Deng:…

Why did she have to put on such a pretentious and dramatic act for everyone to see?

Having been fed up with this useless and troublesome burden all the way, Yao Yue’s expression turned cold as she confronted her directly.

“If you’re sick, go see a doctor. I can’t cure you, so what’s the point of telling me?! …Lan Deng, I brought you to Xuanqi City out of goodwill, so why won’t you stop clinging to me?! …I’ve told you before, I like men, not women, especially not someone like you, do you understand?!”

After finishing her words, Yao Yue disregarded Lan Deng’s reaction and left immediately.

If it weren’t for not wanting others to discover her presence within the Xuanwu Kingdom’s territory, she wouldn’t have endured this woman’s antics for so long.

Really, Lan Deng had all the parts she had, and hers were even better. So, where did she get the confidence to try and entice her?

Couldn’t she feel ashamed of herself?

Adjusting her slightly swollen chest, Yao Yue’s seductive eyes glided with a serpentine sway as she approached the young man in red. With her captivating and enchanting face, she exuded a tantalizing allure that was on a completely different level from Lan Deng’s playful banter.

“A Yue…”

“Liar!”

What nonsense about liking men and not women! Didn’t she fall in love at first sight with the female protagonist, Bai Youyou, in the plot?

Frustrated, Lan Deng stomped her foot. Seeing that Yao Yue was already engaged in conversation with Bai Youyou, who was disguised as a young man, her eyes quickly turned red.

So hateful! Just wait until she falls in love with her. How will she treat her then?

Hmph! At that time, she won’t let her approach, touch, or even get near the bed!

…

“Oh, this young man is quite a sight, isn’t he? May I ask, have you taken a wife? Have you married concubines? Do you have a mistress? How about allowing this lady to warm your bed?”

The open-mindedness of the people on the Boundless Continent allowed for such brazen behavior in public, but it still sent chills down one’s spine and left Youyou speechless. Her face turned crimson as she looked at the stunning woman who was practically nose to nose with her, her heart pounding like a drum.

Calm down, keep your guard up!

Bai Gu and Bai Ling stood on high alert, tension coursing through their bodies.

To approach the Holy Maiden silently and unnoticed in their presence, this person couldn’t be an ordinary person.

“Young sir?”

At such close proximity, the flawless, youthful face of the young man was presented before Yao Yue’s eyes. A few strands of fascination flickered in her deep eyes. Yao Yue reached out her finger and lightly tapped Youyou’s chin, whispering softly,

“Young man, you’re truly beautiful.”

This soft and tender appearance of Bai Youyou made one want to embrace her in their arms.

[Target favorability +5, current favorability 15, host, say something?]

Youyou:…

Turning her head to avoid Yao Yue’s fingertip, Youyou tightened her small face and stared directly into Yao Yue’s deep, bright eyes with her own dark, luminous ones. “Miss, please show some restraint.”

Unlike the characters in her fragmented memories, the real Yao Yue seemed to have a greater impact on Youyou. With her radiant beauty, bold expressions, and the blood-red silk clothing she wore, Yao Yue was passionate and enchanting. No wonder Miaojiang Gu Nu* fell for her.

(* Not a name, but more like “the Miaojiang Hi Woman. I thought it might look a bit awkward like that though, so I left it in pinyin)

Turning around and getting into the carriage, Youyou ignored the scorching gaze behind her and closed the door.

She had originally come to Xuanqi City to follow the derivative plot, but now, Youyou wasn’t sure if she had succeeded or not. It was quite embarrassing.

“Tsk, this young man is so cold.”

Seeing the delicate and tender young man being scared away, Yao Yue casually played with her hair, smiling seductively as she spoke to the pale-faced Bai Ling and Bai Gu.

“Would you two be willing to give this lady a ride?”

“This lady will cook for the young sir, wash his clothes, and warm his bed. I guarantee that I will serve the young sir with utmost comfort and make him feel as blissful as a deity.”

Bai Ling, Bai Gu:…

Having grown up in the Sacred Lin Palace, the two of them had never seen such shamelessness before. Bai Ling, who had a hot temper, couldn’t help but rebuke her directly.

“Shut up, you shameless woman. Our Holy Maiden doesn’t need your ignorant self to warm her bed.”

“Shameless? Ignorant?”

Yao Yue savored each word, chin raised, with a growing and increasingly dangerous smile on her face.

“Young lady, are you talking about me?”

Bai Ling remained silent, her body becoming increasingly tense, hand resting on the hilt of her sword.

She appeared ready to strike at any moment.

“Tsk.”

A flicker of madness seemed to flash between Yao Yue’s brows. Just as she was about to teach this ignorant woman a lesson, the window of the carriage suddenly opened, and the clean and alluring young man inside looked straight at her with a focused expression, as if he wanted to imprint her image in his mind.

Her heart fluttered for a moment, filled with panic.

In a trance, Yao Yue faintly heard the clear and gentle voice of the young man.

“Hey, bedwarmer, come up here.”

Youyou was now very angry, and especially furious.

This was because Xixi had told her that the main storyline of the derivative plot had been disrupted by her, and so she couldn’t follow it anymore. She could only choose to pursue this person.

With an angered expression, Youyou glared at Yao Yue while viciously biting into a grape, as if biting into Yao Yue.

Truly adorable.

Under the scorching gaze of Bai Ling, Yao Yue got onto the carriage. Then, with a crisp sound, she nimbly locked it from within; displaying extreme agility.

“Young sir,”

Her whole person seemed soft and boneless, like a snake. Slithering over to Youyou’s side, Yao Yue exhaled lightly, stretching out her fingertips to touch Youyou’s collarbone.

“Is this how wanton and debauched you are?”

They had both expressed similar sentiments, but when uttered by Youyou, it struck Yao Yue like a thunderbolt.

Her gaze moved from Yao Yue’s face to her pristine, snow-white wrist. Youyou pursed her lips, her tone becoming acutely indifferent.

“You don’t even have the virtue of chastity, yet you speak of warming my bed?”

She lightly tapped the carriage to signal Bai Ling and Bai Gu to continue driving. Youyou tightly grasped Yao Yue’s wrist and spoke to her earnestly, word by word.

“Miss, what I desire is someone who will be devoted to me for a lifetime. So, please restrain yourself and stop playing with me.”

After saying that, Youyou released Yao Yue’s wrist.

[Host, you’re so awsome. Keep up this aloof demeanor.]

“Hmm.”

With lowered brows and eyes, Youyou paid no further attention to Yao Yue. She sat cross-legged on the soft couch, holding the juicy purple grapes and eating them one by one.

Xixi mentioned that when it came to dealing with the task target, there was no need to be overly concerned. And so…

“Sir, are you disgusted by this humble woman?” A pitiful voice came from beside her. Youyou slightly turned her head and saw Yao Yue with a desolate expression, as if she had been deeply affected.

Youyou: …

Seeing Youyou look at her, Yao Yue became even more engrossed in her performance.

She sobbed intermittently, and from her enchanting eyes, she managed to squeeze out a few tears. “If… if I were to say that I never had the virtue/mark of chastity to begin with… and that such things would only be done with Young Master… would Young Master believe me?”

Yao Yue, a captivating and seductive woman to her core, was now disheveled, with her fair neck and collarbone exposed, truly enticing and tempting.

Of course, Youyou was not immune to it either.

With slightly flushed cheeks, Youyou averted her gaze and nodded. “I believe you.”

After all, things like the virtue of chastity had been clearly mentioned in the plot.

However, Yao Yue had a penchant for acting, seemingly capable of countless different personas. For example…

In the original storyline, she was extremely caring towards Bai Youyou and strict and ruthless towards her subordinates. But in the derivative version, her attitude towards the witch Lan Deng went from complete indifference at the beginning, to numerous misunderstandings along the way, and eventually to reconciliation. And during the process of vying for power, her personality and identity were ever-changing.

Youyou had no idea what the true nature of Yao Yue was.

She only understood that this particular demeanor of Yao Yue had never appeared in the plot before.

I… believe (you).

Two extremely simple words lingered in Yao Yue’s mind, refusing to fade away.

She gazed at the young man in red attire for a while before gradually withdrawing her gaze.

[Target’s favorability +5, current favorability 20. Host, you’re amazing.]

…

Since they couldn’t continue with the derivative version of the plot, for a moment, Youyou didn’t know where to go next.

The carriage finally stopped at the largest Maple Leaf Inn in Xuanqi City.

Youyou extravagantly ordered a table full of dishes and then revealed her true self, squinting her eyes and savoring the deliciousness of the food.

“Young sir, eat slowly.”

Seeing the young lad with stuffed cheeks and a childlike demeanor, his eyes sparkling with vitality, Yao Yue disregarded the cold gazes of Bai Gu and Bai Ling. She took out a handkerchief she carried with her and wiped away the oil stains from the corners of Youyou’s mouth.

“Mmm, thank you.”

Without hesitation, Youyou beamed a big smile at Yao Yue.

Youyou continued gnawing on the plump chicken leg, and the freshly wiped mouth quickly became dirty again.

Not long after, another person entered the Maple Leaf Inn.

The person was dressed in peculiar attire unique to the Miao region. They scanned the lobby and their face suddenly lit up upon seeing Yao Yue.

Taking small, brisk steps, they quickly approached Youyou, and the accessories on their head, feet, and wrists made crisp sounds, creating a distinct rhythm.

“A Yue.”

Before the person arrived, their voice reached them first.

The voice of Lan Deng, like a warbler, was filled with a sense of sorrow and grievance.

“A Yue, I’ve been bullied.”

She spoke as though in that moment, only Yao Yue and herself existed in the world. Lan Deng couldn’t see Youyou, couldn’t see anyone else. Her eyes only reflected Yao Yue, alone. She lightly lifted her sleeve, revealing the bruises on her wrist, along with a hint of crimson.

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