The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat-Chapter 35: He’s a Natural-Born Scoundrel

Hua Qingqing seemed at a loss for words, frozen on the spot, unsure how to respond.

Hua Manman’s lips curled into a scornful smile.

"Do you know why Song Ding doesn’t like you?

He said you’re always so prim and proper, like a stiff wooden doll. Utterly uninteresting.

The kind of woman he actually likes is someone like me, someone who gives him a thrill..."

The longer Hua Qingqing listened, the more distressed she became. She couldn’t help but cut in.

"Stop talking!"

Hua Manman ignored her, continuing smugly.

"Actually, he’s right.

You pride yourself on being a well-bred lady, thinking all men love your type.

But you have no idea that while they praise your poise and grace to your face, deep down, they can’t stand you.

And you’re completely oblivious to it all. How stupid can you be?"

Hua Qingqing covered her ears. "I told you to stop talking!"

But Hua Manman yanked her hands away from her ears, giving her no chance to escape the words.

"But I’m going to say it anyway!

Ever since we were little, you were Grandmother’s favorite, and Father has always been partial to you. Even outsiders look up to you, the legitimate daughter of the first wife.

And I was always just a backdrop to make you shine.

Why? How am I any worse than you? Why was I the one relegated to being your foil?

I refuse to accept it!

So what if Song Ding was your fiancé? In the end, didn’t I steal him away?

And you? You’re just a pitiful, jilted woman that nobody wants!"

"Shut your mouth!" Hua Qingqing could no longer bear it. With a furious shout, she raised her hand to slap Hua Manman across the face!

But Hua Manman was faster.

Hua Manman caught her wrist. In the next instant, her free hand swung around and struck hard!

A sharp SMACK echoed.

The force of the blow snapped Hua Qingqing’s head to the side.

Her once fair and delicate cheek instantly turned red and swollen.

As if stunned by the slap, she stood frozen for a long moment before coming to her senses.

A system notification sounded in Hua Manman’s ears.

"Host has completed an important story mission!"

She retracted her tingling hand, shoved Hua Qingqing’s wrist away, and sneered.

"What’s the use in hitting me?

Your man is the one who can’t control himself. It’s useless even if you beat me to death.

If I could lead him astray so easily, so could any other woman.

That’s just his nature!

Unless you can shove him back into his mother’s womb to be remade, he’s never going to change!"

Hua Qingqing’s cheek throbbed with a fiery pain.

But what was more humiliating were Hua Manman’s words.

She couldn’t stop her eyes from turning red as large teardrops rolled down her cheeks.

As if she couldn’t stand it, Hua Manman took out a silk handkerchief, threw it at Hua Qingqing, and snapped irritably.

"What are you crying for? If tears were useful, the world wouldn’t be so full of injustice.

Hurry up and wipe your tears, so people don’t see you and think I’m the one bullying you."

Hua Qingqing pressed the silk handkerchief to her face, her sobs growing louder.

"SOB... How could he be like this? I don’t believe it. I just don’t believe it."

He was, after all, the man she had been betrothed to before birth. They had grown up as childhood sweethearts, and she simply could not accept that he was this kind of person.

She had thought they would grow old together, one couple for one lifetime.

Hua Manman huffed, "Anyway, I’ve said what I needed to. Believe it or not!"

With that, she turned and walked out of the Octagonal Pavilion, starting down the steps of the mountain.

But at the foot of the mountain, she saw Prince Zhao.

She had no idea how long he had been there. A dragonfly was perched on his shoulder. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

As Hua Manman approached, the little dragonfly vibrated its wings and leisurely flew away.

Hua Manman was standing, Li Ji was sitting.

Their eyes met.

Silence.

The silence was deafening.