[GL] I'm Just A Side Character... So Why Is The Heroine Chasing Me?!-Chapter 81: Chosen?

The visit did not end quickly.

If anything, it stretched.

Time moved in a strange way, slow in some moments, rushing in others, like the room itself was adjusting to a reality that had been delayed for six years.

Zhao Han stayed.

He did not seem in a hurry to leave, and Zhao Lingxi did not ask him to.

Lan Yue remained at the table, caught in the delicate balance between giving them space and refusing to disappear.

She chose, firmly, not to disappear.

"So," Zhao Han said after a while, setting his empty teacup down, "the sect."

Lan Yue leaned back slightly. "Yes. Very sect-like. We have training, cultivation, occasional explosions."

"Frequent explosions," Zhao Lingxi corrected.

"That was one time."

"It was yesterday."

Lan Yue pointed at her. "That was Tang Xiaoli. I refuse to be associated with that level of chaos."

Zhao Han’s lips twitched. "I heard about that incident on my way here."

"Of course you did," Lan Yue muttered. "My reputation is ruined."

"You collided with my sister on a staircase."

Lan Yue choked.

Zhao Lingxi remained perfectly still.

"Who told you that," Lan Yue demanded.

Zhao Han looked mildly surprised. "Three separate disciples."

"Three," Lan Yue repeated faintly. "There were witnesses."

"There are always witnesses," Zhao Lingxi said calmly.

Lan Yue dropped her head onto the table. "I am leaving the sect. I will go live in the mountains."

"You would last two days," Zhao Lingxi said.

"Untrue. I am very adaptable."

"You cannot cook."

"I can learn."

"You tried to boil water and burned it."

"That was one time and I still do not understand how it happened."

Zhao Han let out a quiet laugh, watching them with clear amusement.

Lan Yue lifted her head and pointed at him. "Do not encourage her."

"I am not encouraging," Zhao Han said. "I am observing."

"You are enjoying this."

"A little."

Lan Yue sighed and leaned back again. "At least someone is having a good time."

Zhao Lingxi glanced at her. "You are also having a good time."

"I am not."

"You are."

Lan Yue opened her mouth to argue, then paused.

"...Okay, maybe a little," she admitted.

Zhao Han smiled faintly, then his expression softened as he looked at Zhao Lingxi again.

"I am glad," he said quietly. "That you are not alone here."

The room stilled slightly.

Zhao Lingxi did not respond immediately.

Lan Yue felt the shift.

This was not teasing anymore.

This was something deeper.

"I was," Zhao Lingxi said after a moment. "At first."

Zhao Han’s gaze sharpened. "And now."

Zhao Lingxi glanced at Lan Yue.

It was brief.

But it said everything.

"Now," she said, "I am not."

Lan Yue felt something settle in her chest.

Warm.

Steady.

Real.

Zhao Han followed that glance.

He saw it.

Of course he saw it.

He leaned back slightly, exhaling as if a tension he had been carrying for years had finally eased.

"That is good," he said. "That is... very good."

Silence followed, but it was no longer heavy.

It was full.

Comfortable in a way that had not existed at the start.

After a while, Zhao Han spoke again.

"The main house has changed," he said.

Zhao Lingxi’s expression did not shift much, but Lan Yue noticed the slight stillness in her posture.

"How so," Zhao Lingxi asked.

"The elders who opposed you," Zhao Han said, "have lost most of their influence."

Lan Yue leaned forward slightly.

This mattered.

"The investigation," Zhao Han continued, "did more than expose corruption. It forced a restructuring. People are being... careful now."

"Careful," Zhao Lingxi repeated.

"Yes."

A pause.

"They are also watching you," Zhao Han added.

Lan Yue frowned. "Of course they are."

Zhao Lingxi’s gaze remained steady. "For what purpose."

"To see what you will do next."

Lan Yue crossed her arms. "That sounds like their problem."

Zhao Han’s lips curved slightly. "I agree. But it is still something to be aware of."

Zhao Lingxi nodded once. "Noted."

Lan Yue looked between them. "So what, they expect you to go back."

Zhao Han hesitated.

Then, carefully, he said, "Some of them do."

Lan Yue’s expression hardened immediately. "And what do you think."

Zhao Han met her gaze.

"I think," he said slowly, "that should be her choice."

Lan Yue held his gaze for a moment.

Then she nodded. "Good answer."

Zhao Lingxi watched this exchange quietly.

"There is no decision to be made right now," she said. "I have responsibilities here."

"And people," Zhao Han added, glancing at Lan Yue again.

Zhao Lingxi did not deny it.

Lan Yue felt her face warm, but this time she did not look away.

"Exactly," she said. "Very important people."

Zhao Han smiled.

"I can see that."

A brief pause.

Then he stood.

"I should not take up your entire day," he said.

Lan Yue blinked. "You just got here."

"I will be staying for a few days," Zhao Han replied. "There is time."

Zhao Lingxi stood as well. "I will see you to the guest quarters."

Zhao Han nodded.

He turned to Lan Yue. "It was good to meet you."

"You too," Lan Yue said.

Then, after a second, she added, "And for the record, that staircase incident was greatly exaggerated."

"I am sure it was," Zhao Han said, clearly not believing her.

Lan Yue sighed. "I will never escape this."

"No," Zhao Lingxi said softly.

Lan Yue looked at her.

There was something in Zhao Lingxi’s expression.

Amusement, yes.

But also something gentler.

Something that lingered.

Lan Yue felt her heartbeat pick up again.

"Go," she said quickly, waving a hand. "Before this becomes another situation."

Zhao Lingxi’s lips curved slightly.

"As you wish."

She followed Zhao Han to the door.

They stepped out into the corridor.

Lan Yue remained where she was, staring at the closed door for a moment after they left.

Then she let out a long breath and dropped back into her chair.

"That went well," she muttered.

Better than well.

It felt... right.

She leaned back, staring at the ceiling.

"Chosen," she said quietly.

The word still felt unreal.

But also... solid.

Like something she could hold onto.

After a few minutes, the door opened again.

Zhao Lingxi returned.

Alone.

Lan Yue sat up slightly. "That was fast."

"He knows the way," Zhao Lingxi said.

"Of course he does."

A small pause.

Then Lan Yue tilted her head. "So."

"So," Zhao Lingxi echoed.

Lan Yue studied her.

There was a faint difference.

Subtle.

But there.

Lighter.

"How are you," Lan Yue asked.

Zhao Lingxi considered the question.

Then she said, "Better than I expected."

Lan Yue smiled a little. "Good."

Silence settled again.

Familiar now.

Comfortable.

Lan Yue hesitated, then spoke.

"He seems nice."

"He is."

"And observant."

"Very."

Lan Yue groaned softly. "He saw everything."

"Yes."

"This is a disaster."

Zhao Lingxi stepped closer.

Not too close.

Just enough.

"It is not," she said.

Lan Yue looked up at her.

"Your brother thinks I am a chaos magnet," she said.

"He is not wrong."

"Lingxi."

"He also thinks you are important."

Lan Yue paused.

"...Oh."

Zhao Lingxi held her gaze.

"Yes."

Lan Yue swallowed.

Her usual words did not come easily this time.

"That is... a lot," she admitted.

"It is simply the truth."

Lan Yue exhaled slowly.

Then, after a moment, she smiled.

Small.

Real.

"Okay," she said.

Zhao Lingxi’s expression softened slightly.

Another quiet pause.

Then Lan Yue cleared her throat.

"For the record," she said, "today was significantly less disastrous than yesterday."

"Agreed."

"Progress."

"Indeed."

Lan Yue leaned back in her chair again, looking a little more relaxed than before.

"Still," she added, "we should probably avoid staircases for a while."

Zhao Lingxi’s lips curved.

"A reasonable precaution."

Lan Yue nodded. "Good. I am full of those today."

Zhao Lingxi watched her for a moment longer.

Then she said, very quietly, "Lan Yue."

Lan Yue looked up. "Yes."

Zhao Lingxi paused.

Just briefly.

Then she said, "Soon."

Lan Yue blinked.

Her heart skipped.

Then, slowly, she smiled.

"...Yeah," she said.

This time, she did not ask when.

Lan Yue held that moment a little longer than necessary.

Not outwardly.

Outwardly, she looked completely normal, leaning back in her chair, one hand resting casually on the table. Anyone walking in would think nothing had changed.

Internally, everything had changed.

Soon.

Again.

But this time, it did not send her into a spiral.

It settled somewhere steady, like a quiet promise instead of a threat.

She exhaled slowly. "You really like that word."

Zhao Lingxi tilted her head slightly. "It is effective."

"It is dangerous."

"Only if you let it be."

"I am very easy to destabilize," Lan Yue said. "You have seen this."

"I have."

"And yet you continue."

Zhao Lingxi’s gaze held hers. "And yet I continue."

Lan Yue pressed her lips together, trying and failing to suppress the small smile that kept threatening to appear.

"This is unfair," she muttered.

"How so."

"You have control. I do not."

Zhao Lingxi considered that. "That is not entirely true."

"It is completely true. I dropped a cup because you touched my hand."

"You caught it the second time."

"That is not the same level of composure."

"It is improvement."

Lan Yue huffed softly. "You are grading me now."

"Someone has to."

"I did not agree to be evaluated."

"You are doing very well."

Lan Yue blinked.

"...That sounded like praise."

"It was."

She stared at Zhao Lingxi for a second.

Then she looked away quickly. "Do not do that."

"Do what."

"That. The calm approval. It is... effective."

Zhao Lingxi’s lips curved slightly. "Noted."

Lan Yue tapped her fingers lightly against the table, trying to regain some sense of balance.

"Your brother," she said, shifting the topic again, "he really cares about you."

"He does."

"And he is protective."

"Yes."

Lan Yue nodded. "Good. That means if anyone tries anything, I have backup."

Zhao Lingxi raised an eyebrow. "You require backup."

"I like to have options."

"You are quite capable on your own."

"I know," Lan Yue said. "But it is nice to have reinforcements."

Zhao Lingxi studied her for a moment. "You are planning something."

"I am always planning something."

"That is concerning."

"It should be."

A brief silence passed.

Then Lan Yue leaned forward slightly, her expression turning thoughtful.

"When he said they are watching you," she said, "that matters."

Zhao Lingxi nodded once. "It does."

"They are waiting to see what you will do."

"Yes."

Lan Yue tilted her head. "So what will you do."

Zhao Lingxi did not answer immediately.

Her gaze shifted slightly, thoughtful, distant for just a second.

Then she said, "I will continue as I have been."

Lan Yue frowned faintly. "That sounds simple."

"It is."

"And also not simple at all."

"No."

Lan Yue leaned back again, exhaling. "Right. Of course."

She glanced at Zhao Lingxi.

"You are not going back," she said.

It was not a question.

Zhao Lingxi met her gaze. "Not now."

Lan Yue nodded slowly.

"Good," she said.

Zhao Lingxi’s expression softened slightly. "You sound certain."

"I am."

"Why."

Lan Yue hesitated.

Then she said, a little more quietly than usual, "Because this place is better with you in it."

The words hung in the air.

Simple.

Honest.

Zhao Lingxi did not look away.

For a moment, neither did Lan Yue.

Then Lan Yue cleared her throat and leaned back again, breaking the tension before it could grow too heavy.

"Also," she added quickly, "I refuse to deal with that entire main house situation. It sounds exhausting."

Zhao Lingxi let out a quiet breath that might have been a laugh.

"A compelling argument."

"I am full of those today."

"You are."

Lan Yue stretched her arms slightly, then let them drop back to her sides.

"Anyway," she said, "we survived the brother meeting."

"We did."

"No disasters."

"None."

Lan Yue paused.

Then she added, "Well. No new disasters."

Zhao Lingxi’s lips curved. "An important distinction."

"Very."

Another quiet moment passed.

Not awkward.

Not tense.

Just... steady.

Lan Yue found herself relaxing into it.

Into this.

Whatever this was becoming.

She glanced at Zhao Lingxi again, then quickly looked away, then glanced back.

"...For the record," she said, a little more casually than she felt, "I am still holding you responsible."

"For what."

"For the next one."

Zhao Lingxi’s gaze sharpened slightly. "The next one."

Lan Yue waved a hand vaguely. "The hypothetical not accidental one that you keep implying with your very suspicious use of timing."

"I see."

"Yes. That one."

Zhao Lingxi stepped a little closer.

Not enough to startle.

Just enough to shift the air between them again.

"And why," she asked quietly, "am I responsible."

Lan Yue’s heartbeat immediately sped up.

"This was your idea," she said. "You said it."

"I said soon."

"Exactly."

Zhao Lingxi tilted her head slightly.

Then, very calmly, she said, "Then I will take responsibility."

Lan Yue froze.

Completely.

Her brain, once again, stopped functioning in any meaningful way.

"Good," she managed after a second.

Her voice sounded normal.

That was a miracle.

Zhao Lingxi watched her for a moment longer.

Then she stepped back.

Just enough.

The pressure eased.

Not gone.

But manageable.

Lan Yue exhaled slowly.

"...You are doing that on purpose," she said.

"Yes."

"At least you admit it."

"I see no reason not to."

Lan Yue shook her head, but a faint smile appeared on her face again.

"Unbelievable," she muttered.

Zhao Lingxi did not respond.

But the look in her eyes said enough.

And this time, Lan Yue did not look away immediately.