Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 34: Protagonist’s Halo

Seeing her daughter speak up, Mrs. Liu settled in comfortably to watch the show.

She knew what her daughter was capable of. Anyone who provoked her was on their own. Take Song Lianhe, for example—hadn’t she been thwarted by her daughter every single time!

The last two times had just been flukes that let her get the upper hand. But judging by her daughter’s posture now, she probably wouldn’t get another chance to make a comeback.

’Now, that’s more like it. That’s Liu Wanqing’s daughter!’

Mrs. Liu picked up her teacup, blew away the leaves floating on the surface, and took a slow, deliberate sip.

Song Xilan truly was the female lead. The moment she got serious, the protagonist’s halo hit her like a spotlight, much like the Tyndall effect in the real world...

Wait!

A beam of light?!

Song Lianhe froze and immediately rubbed her eyes.

’Holy shit!’

’This wasn’t a metaphor, a figure of speech, or some kind of artistic contrast! She literally had a protagonist halo!’

Song Xilan seemed to be wearing a small angelic halo, bathed in a soft, tranquil beam of light. She looked like an immortal banished to the mortal realm. To even look at her for too long felt like blasphemy, yet you couldn’t help but want to draw closer.

’So, *that* was the legendary protagonist halo. It was a real, physical thing!’

Looking around, she saw that everyone’s eyes were involuntarily drawn to her, but judging by their reactions, it seemed Song Lianhe was the only one who could actually see the halo!

’Is it because I’m a transmigrator, the only one observing this world with a detached eye, that I’m able to see this incredible sight?’

’Then again, the fact that I transmigrated into a book is already as ridiculous as a dream. Compared to that, seeing a protagonist halo above the female lead’s head is nothing special.’

Once Song Lianhe mentally prepared herself, looking at Song Xilan was no longer so shocking. She even felt a little wistful.

’Just look at that. This is what it means to be the chosen one. For the first time, I’m truly feeling the "hardware gap" between a protagonist and a side character.’

’Speaking of which, based on my novel-reading experience, the appearance of a protagonist halo usually means a major event is about to go down.’

"Lianhe, you can’t act out of spite and get Father caned, nor can you tarnish our family’s reputation! This is about a child’s duty to their parents! I don’t know why you hold such a grudge, but if it’s because of me and Prince Ling... In any case, as long as you stop making things difficult for Father and Mother, for the servants in the Song Residence, and for others... you can place all the blame on me. If that’s still not enough to quell your anger, I will apologize to you right here and now."

The expression on Song Xilan’s face grew more sacred and solemn, as if she were a martyr prepared to endure any humiliation.

It wasn’t just the Song Residence servants and guards they had brought with them; even Shuang Ye was starting to feel a pang of pity.

’What has the Eldest Miss done wrong?’

’It’s not her fault she isn’t the legitimate daughter; that wasn’t her choice. She just happened to be liked by her younger sister’s fiancé.’

’Besides, with the Eldest Miss’s character and talent, isn’t it perfectly normal for someone as discerning as Prince Ling to fall for her?’

’To be honest, the Eldest Miss always had a good reputation. She was always kind and pleasant to them, the servants, unlike...’ She stole a glance at the Second Miss.

As it happened, her eyes met Song Lianhe’s cold gaze. Shuang Ye snapped back to her senses as if waking from a dream and immediately lowered her head in shame.

’What was I just thinking?’

’The Second Miss has completely changed for the better, and she’s been incredibly good to me! How could I waver at a time like this?’

Song Lianhe turned her gaze forward again, looking at the halo above Song Xilan’s head, which had yet to dissipate.

’With a thing like that, no matter how hard the original owner of this body tried, she was destined to be just a side character. No one would ever see the changes she tried to make. Her unwillingness to accept her fate would be interpreted as jealousy, and her efforts to fight for what she wanted would be seen as unscrupulous...’

’Surrounded by so much negative energy, she was bound to either be corrupted or go completely insane in the end!’

’Song Lianhe was no bleeding-heart saint. To be precise, she was an egoist. Having had to fend for herself out in the world, self-interest had long become an instinct.’

’So, looking at it from the original owner’s perspective, she was the ultimate victim!’

Just then, Song Xilan made a show of bowing down to her.

Suddenly, a cold, deep voice drifted in from outside the hall. "Is she even worthy of your apology?!"

Hearing the voice, Song Xilan turned her head. When a figure clad in ice-blue appeared in her line of sight, her expression immediately turned to one of pure joy. "Your Highness!"