Until Lu Zhao finally convinced Grand Princess Duanhua to let Shen Qingyao come out, Shen Qingyao hadn’t said another word.
Lu Zhao held the girl’s slightly cool hand, noticing her unusual silence. He stopped walking and lowered his eyes to look at her, only to see the girl with her eyes downcast. Her usually lively face showed no expression, looking somewhat unhappy.
Lu Zhao’s heart tightened. After a moment of hesitation, he asked, “Yaoyao, do you… not want to go to the southern border?”
The girl had supported him in front of Grand Princess Duanhua, but after all, this decision had not been discussed with her. The southern border was harsh and cold, so it was natural if she didn’t want to go.
But Shen Qingyao shook her head, cheeks puffed up. She took a breath, pressing down the overwhelming emotions inside her. Feeling it was not enough, she quietly added, “It’s not that.”
Lu Zhao felt a slight relief but was even more puzzled. Then why was she so downcast?
“Elder Brother Lu Zhao.” Shen Qingyao called him softly, still looking down. Lu Zhao quietly watched her, waiting for her to continue.
“It’s the same everywhere, as long as Elder Brother Lu Zhao is there. I don’t fear the hardships of the southern border because I will always be with you, won’t I? As long as Brother Lu Zhao can be with me, I can go anywhere.” She spoke earnestly.
While part of her resolve was due to her mission, binding her to him, her willingness to stay with him was genuine.
“I just didn’t expect that your decision to go to the southern border would be because of me…” Shen Qingyao’s voice was very low, but Lu Zhao felt a warmth in his heart. So this was the crux of the matter…
He chuckled softly and, with a gentle tug, pulled the girl who didn’t dare look at him into his arms. He sighed, “So this is what you’re worried about?”
His voice was gentle and understanding, making Shen Qingyao’s nose tingle with emotion. He continued, “Of course, it’s for your sake. Yaoyao, don’t worry. The southern border has its own unique medical practices that will surely cure you.”
“Mm.” Shen Qingyao nodded, her eyes red. She wanted to say that it wasn’t necessary, that as long as he didn’t blacken, she would be fine once the mission was completed. But she didn’t want to reject his good intentions.
In her past life, she had always been alone in the hospital, even when she was critically ill and in surgery. Her family never visited. This feeling of being constantly cared for was something she deeply cherished.
She was attached to the warmth of Lu Zhao’s embrace but couldn’t help feeling insecure, thinking that all his kindness was for the original Shen Qingyao. She was just an intruder. Shen Qingyao’s nose tingled again, and she felt tears welling up.
“Elder Brother Lu Zhao, can you…” She wanted to ask if he could not fall for the female lead, but given the current situation, his feelings for the female lead were probably no longer an issue. Then she wanted to ask if he could not like the original Shen Qingyao, but she feared she’d be seen as a monster and thrown out. After hesitating for a long time, Shen Qingyao, with a soft cry, asked, “Elder Brother Lu Zhao, do you like me? Can you… only like me?”
Hearing the girl’s tearful voice, Lu Zhao felt his heart melt. He tightly held Shen Qingyao, deeply feeling her longing, dependence, and the insecurity and fear from deep within her. It was as if she was drowning and had grabbed onto him as her only lifeline.
“Silly girl, you are my wife. Naturally, I will only like you,” Lu Zhao said solemnly. “Only you.”
[Host, why are you daydreaming again?]
Several days had passed since that embrace under the corridor. Lu Zhao’s appointment to the southern border was now a certainty, with the imperial decree issued and no room for change.
Shen Qingyao, perhaps feeling embarrassed for being moved to tears or for asking for promises like a Mary Sue protagonist, had been avoiding Lu Zhao since that emotional outburst.
“I didn’t…” Shen Qingyao’s unfocused gaze returned, and she lightly refuted.
It was almost June, and the incessant chirping of summer cicadas had begun. Her fear of cold had now turned into a fear of heat. The room was filled with several basins of ice, emitting a cool mist, yet she still felt restless and could only pretend to remain calm.
[Host, you’ve been quite passive with your task lately.] The system reminded fearlessly, expressing dissatisfaction with Shen Qingyao’s avoidance of Lu Zhao.
As soon as it mentioned this, Shen Qingyao’s recently subsided embarrassment surged again. Thinking about that hug made her feel like her head was steaming. The two had engaged in more intimate actions before, but for some reason, she couldn’t face this hug.
After thinking it over carefully, she realized that perhaps it was because those previous actions were all for the task, and she was acting. But this hug was different; it was genuine and heartfelt. This was what terrified her the most. Instinctively, she wanted to get closer to Lu Zhao, but rationally, she was scared. Lu Zhao was too good to her, so good that she didn’t dare to approach him easily.
Shen Qingyao pressed her lips together, suddenly feeling that this task had become somewhat difficult.
[Host, why not try a different persona?] The system suggested in childish manner.
Only then did Shen Qingyao remember that she hadn’t updated her persona in a long time. She had reservations about whether updating her persona would still be useful now. After all, it felt like she was the one being pursued.
In the end, Shen Qingyao reluctantly nodded, thinking she might as well draw a new one, perform it once when the opportunity arose, and be done with it.
By now, Shen Qingyao had figured out that the personas given by the system only needed to be used once or twice in specific scenarios. So, no matter how bizarre the persona was, as long as she didn’t have to maintain it all the time, she could manage.
The system responded excitedly, and the long-unseen cards were shuffled in front of Shen Qingyao. She reached out and picked one.
The card flipped over—
…
Staring at the big characters [Seductive and Alluring] she fell silent.
What the heck is this? Shen Qingyao closed her eyes. She was wrong to have any expectations of this unreliable system. She really couldn’t handle this. With her innocent and pure face, how could she portray [Seductive and Alluring]? It didn’t fit her at all.
“Can I take it back? I don’t want to draw anymore,” Shen Qingyao tried to struggle.
The system chuckled, [No, you can’t, Host.]
—… D*mn!
As they were arguing, Cui Qiao’s voice came from outside, saying that Lu Zhao had returned.
Shen Qingyao was stunned for a moment. She hadn’t expected him to come back so early today, catching her off guard with no time to hide.
This situation delighted the system, which cheered and gleefully added fuel to the fire, only to be met with a glare from Shen Qingyao before it quietly disappeared.
Lu Zhao pushed open the door and entered. Seeing Shen Qingyao on the soft couch, a premeditated smile flashed in his eyes. He seemed oblivious to her stiffness as he leisurely walked to the table, poured himself a cup of tea, took a sip, and then slowly walked over to sit on the other side of the couch.
“Yaoyao, you didn’t go to the library today?”
…Didn’t have time. Shen Qingyao’s eyes darted away.
“Nor did you go out to visit your Eldest Sister?”
…Her Eldest Sister was almost annoyed to death by her; she didn’t dare to go again. Shen Qingyao awkwardly shifted her position.
Lu Zhao smiled, assuming that the young girl’s shyness hadn’t yet passed. However, he couldn’t resist teasing her. He leaned forward slightly, catching a faint whiff of her sweet fragrance. As he continued to tease her, his expression changed.
“Yaoyao, have you been avoiding me lately? Did I do something to make you angry?” Lu Zhao asked gently, his attitude impeccably kind.
Shen Qingyao shrank back again until her waist was pressed against the edge of the soft couch, with nowhere left to retreat. She thought to herself, it was precisely because he hadn’t done anything that made it extra awkward. Clearly, she was the one who flirted first, yet now she couldn’t handle the embarrassment.
Suddenly enveloped in his cool scent, Shen Qingyao’s face turned red. She keenly sensed that something had changed between them, and she could no longer act as casually as before. She shook her head vigorously, hurriedly explaining, “No… I haven’t been avoiding you.”
Lu Zhao raised an eyebrow, not revealing whether he believed her or not.
Hearing his soft laugh, Shen Qingyao bit her lip and looked up at him. The man in front of her had a faint smile, his eyes sparkling like stars. Caught off guard, Shen Qingyao felt a flutter in her heart, which started beating faster.
Thinking that she had nothing to lose, she decided to test out her new persona.
Summoning her courage, she looked Lu Zhao straight in the eyes and suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck, speaking in a slightly coquettish tone, “It’s just that Elder Brother Lu Zhao has been too busy lately and hasn’t had time to spend with me.”
Lu Zhao was surprised by her rare initiative but remained still, letting her do as she pleased. A hint of a smile appeared in his eyes, and he couldn’t help but wonder what intriguing book she had read this time.
“Yes, it was my oversight,” he responded cooperatively. “How would Yaoyao like me to spend time with you?”
This question caught Shen Qingyao off guard. As expected, playing a new character was challenging.
She tilted her head closer to Lu Zhao, their noses nearly touching. Feeling his warm breath, Lu Zhao’s gaze darkened. He couldn’t resist placing his hand on her waist and pulling her closer.
Shen Qingyao didn’t answer his question nor did she reject his actions. With her heart pounding, she kept reminding herself that everything she did now was legitimate. She looked at him intently and asked again, “Elder Brother Lu Zhao, do you like me? Do you like ‘me’ a bit more today?”
Lu Zhao’s eyes crinkled with amusement. No matter how many times the young girl sought reassurance, his answer remained the same.
“I like you,” he said, his gaze fixed on her plump, moist lips as he leaned in.
Shen Qingyao’s heart skipped a beat. But just before their lips met, she sharply noticed the number above his head : [35].
…Wow, thanks a lot for the increase of five points.
Looking at the man who claimed to like her while secretly scheming, Shen Qingyao felt that the spell named Lu Zhao cast on her wasn’t so hard to break after all.
“Heh, you big jerk, playing me again.”
Shen Qingyao bit her lip and pulled away just as their lips were about to touch.
Her face flushed, she turned away shyly. But in her mind, she thought : When you learn to control the numbers above your head, then we can kiss…
Lu Zhao: “?”