Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 318: It’s Not Like You’re the Only One

Chapter 318: Chapter 318: It’s Not Like You’re the Only One

Song Lianhe pursed her lips. "Plotting, you say? What could we possibly be plotting? How about a plot to make you marry me! Happy with that answer?"

Zhou Cangyan’s brow furrowed slightly, as if he were actually analyzing the possibility, but his expression remained skeptical.

Seeing his reaction, Song Lianhe gave a self-deprecating smile. "No need to be skeptical. What can I say? I’ve really fallen for you. After going around in such a huge circle, I ended up discovering that I actually..."

’...developed real feelings for a fictional character.’

’How humiliating!’

’But it’s also wonderful...’

To love someone is to follow your heart, no matter where it leads.

Zhou Cangyan watched her in silence for a long moment before taking another step forward.

Song Lianhe looked up at him pitifully, like an abandoned kitten.

He looked as if he was about to say something, but his gaze suddenly sharpened. With a quick glance toward the door, he pushed open the window and leaped out without another word.

At that very moment, a knock came from the door.

Suppressing her disappointment, Song Lianhe walked over to close the window before going to open the door.

Zhou Junlin was outside.

He frowned when he saw her red, swollen forehead.

"It didn’t look that bad earlier."

Song Lianhe answered listlessly, "Oh, I ran into a wall."

Zhou Junlin didn’t press the matter, simply assuming she’d been frightened.

He casually tossed a small porcelain vial to her. "Use this."

Song Lianhe fumbled to catch it. "Medicine?" She waved her hand. "There’s no need, I’m a doctor myself..."

"And that’s why you let your injuries get worse? Do all you physicians treat your own bodies so carelessly?"

"Well, not exactly..."

Song Lianhe suddenly eyed him with suspicion. "Let me venture a guess... you’re this concerned about me? Don’t tell me... you’ve fallen for me?"

Zhou Junlin’s expression didn’t change, though he did arch an eyebrow in mockery.

"...Never mind! You don’t have to say a thing. I know, I was getting ahead of myself!"

’It wasn’t her fault for thinking that. Zhou Junlin was the male lead, not a villain in the strictest sense. He still had a moral compass.’

’It was just that, in the original story, he was written to keep a clear distance from women. He had never been close to anyone besides Song Xilan.’

’So for him to suddenly show up to express concern was bound to arouse suspicion.’

Zhou Junlin’s current expression seemed to say, ’At least you have some self-awareness.’

He then added, "We leave for Ling’an tomorrow. You should prepare to travel with us."

"Is that all?"

Song Lianhe pursed her lips, bored. "You could have just sent Gu Ha to tell me something so trivial. Why bother coming all this way yourself?"

’Now I didn’t even get to spend more time with Zhou Cangyan...’

Speaking of him, Zhou Junlin asked, "What did you do to Gu Ha? Why would he rather accept punishment than come see you?"

"Huh?"

Song Lianhe forced a laugh. "I... I just played a little joke on him. Who knew the kid would take it so seriously?"

Zhou Junlin took a step closer, his posture somewhat intimidating. "What kind of joke?"

"It was just... Ah, my head hurts. I need to put on this medicine. Thank you for the medicine, Prince Ling! See you tomorrow!"

The door slammed shut. BANG.

The resulting gust of wind ruffled the hair at his temples. The hard wood of the door had nearly smashed into his nose.

An inexplicable frustration tightened in his chest. Clasping his hands behind his back, he turned and walked away.

’But on the way back, he found himself unconsciously wondering what kind of joke she had played on Gu Ha. What could make the guard’s face flush bright red at the mere mention of her name, make him so agitated that he would rather die than see her...?’

Inside, Song Lianhe stood by the door and quietly let out a sigh of relief.

Looking at the medicine in her hand, she thought of Gu Ha and snorted with laughter.

"Are you that happy to see him?"

Song Lianhe jumped, spinning around. "You—you’re still here?"

Zhou Cangyan was leaning against the window, his presence graceful and poised, his aura aloof and proud. Just by standing there, he made the plain guest room feel noble and elegant.

Whether it was her imagination or not, his gaze seemed even colder than before.

"You haven’t answered my question."

"Question?"

It took Song Lianhe a moment to understand. Not until she met his somber gaze did she remember. "Oh... about marrying you, right?"

She frowned and bit her lip. ’Zhou Junlin will use this to stir up trouble,’ she thought, ’so I should probably give him a heads-up.’

"Um... this might get a little thorny."

She shot him a pitiful glance, her big eyes fluttering.

Zhou Cangyan stood his ground, one eyebrow raised. "Oh?"

"I was just talking nonsense, but Zhou Junlin took it seriously. And he wants to use it to ruin your reputation..." Her voice trailed off, and she lowered her head to stare at the tips of her shoes. The bright red mark on her forehead was particularly conspicuous.

"I’m sorry. I was thoughtless, and I dragged you into this."

’If you mess up, you have to own it. Who doesn’t want to be a good girl!’

Zhou Cangyan walked slowly toward her and sneered, "If I kill you, there’s no one to implicate me."

But in the next instant, he stopped in his tracks, his brow slowly knitting together.

Song Lianhe’s eyes reddened again, her voice catching with a sob. "I know I’m wrong. What can I do? I just like you! But liking you isn’t an excuse for me to cause you trouble... So, you’re right. It’s my fault, and I should be the one to pay for it. S-s-so just kill me!"

She tilted her head back, squeezed her eyes shut, and exposed her slender, lovely neck to him.

Zhou Cangyan stared at her, grinding his teeth.

’Yes, killing her would solve everything.’

He raised his hand, his fingers touching her neck...

SLAP.

Song Lianhe grabbed his hand. "You can’t bring yourself to do it, can you? I knew it! The great King Qing is never flustered. You’ve naturally got a plan. Why would you stoop to the level of a nobody like me? Besides, if anything happened to me, Zhou Junlin would seize the opportunity to spread it everywhere! And since the dead can’t testify, I wouldn’t be able to help you even if I wanted to! What would be the point?"

Zhou Cangyan suddenly laughed.

Having spent some time with him, Song Lianhe knew she was basically tap-dancing on his last nerve.

She wisely let go of his hand and slowly backed away. "We can just talk. Getting physical would be so uncivilized!"

But Zhou Cangyan advanced on her. "In that case, what should this king do?"

"You should... you should go with the flow, of course!" Song Lianhe lowered her head, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "Why don’t you just... submit to it."

A cold laugh answered her.

Song Lianhe frowned, displeased by the sound of his laughter.

"D-do you think I’m scheming? Fine! You’re handsome, but you’re not the only handsome man in the world. It’s not like you’re my only choice! I adore you, but you don’t adore me back. That’s fine. I can just go adore someone else!"

Zhou Cangyan stared at her coldly. "Heh. I’d forgotten. You won’t even spare a common guard. You’re clearly a master of this game."

’His words... why did they sound so harsh?’

But Song Lianhe wasn’t about to indulge him. She mimicked his icy demeanor and said, "That’s right, I’m quite the expert! I’m solving a problem for you... Of course, this mess is my fault, but at least I have a good attitude about it! But if you don’t want to play along, I won’t force you. I’ll just find the right opportunity to slip away, and Zhou Junlin will never find me..."

Before she could finish, Zhou Cangyan suddenly cut in. "And then what? Find someone else to adore?"