Gold Medal Mediator [Quick Transmigration] 5

Chapter 5: Cousin-in-Law, Don’t Be Like This (5)

Seeing her expression, Luo Sheng’s heart skipped a beat.

This plushie charm had been with Chen Keyin ever since her school days, from high school through university. Later, when she bought a trendy new backpack for work, she had even taken the charm off and attached it to the new bag.

Luo Sheng had assumed she was very fond of it. When she went downstairs to buy breakfast just now, she noticed that the toy store next door had a new display of dolls in the window, and one of them was identical to the one on Chen Keyin’s backpack, so she bought it.

She hadn’t expected to see so little joy on her face.

“You don’t like it?” Even though Hua Baihe’s expression was obvious, she still chose to ask.

Hua Baihe had no idea she was being observed so closely by Luo Sheng—in reality, the reason she never changed the charm was partly out of laziness and partly because it was a gift from Uncle Chen’s family. She wanted to appear obedient and sentimental to curry favor with the elders.

She saw the disappointment in Luo Sheng’s eyes and replied dryly:

“Mm… I like it a lot.”

Luo Sheng was, after all, her type of girl. It wouldn’t be right to make her lose face.

However, Luo Sheng didn’t cheer up at this answer. The other woman’s flat, lukewarm tone said it all.

Perhaps Keyin really does like it…

It’s just that because I’m the one who gave it to her, not only is there no surprise, but she probably feels a bit disgusted.

Luo Sheng pinched the bridge of her nose, trying her best to appear unfazed. She placed the breakfast she was holding on the table and said coolly, “You must have been waiting a while. Come and eat.”

Hua Baihe hugged the forgiveness-colored plushie and moved over, unwrapping a pair of chopsticks to taste the sticky rice in lotus leaf.

…The preserved egg and pork congee from earlier was still better.

Her hands paused. She carefully peeked up at Luo Sheng, who had sat down beside her. To avoid being forced to finish all this breakfast, she decided to distract her.

Hua Baihe spoke with some hesitation:

“Sheng Sheng, I should go back to Uncle and Auntie Chen’s tonight…”

Her underlying meaning was actually asking when she could leave.

Upon hearing her words, a spark of electricity seemed to flash in Luo Sheng’s eyes. As she looked up, it shot towards Hua Baihe like a dart.

She’s this desperate to leave me, is she?

Hua Baihe had no idea which of her sensitive nerves she had just stepped on. She instinctively dodged her sharp gaze and heard her voice the next moment:

“Can I interpret that as you not wanting to spend a second longer with me?”

Hua Baihe’s immediate reflex was to say, ‘Of course not! I love being with you!’

Her ideal type liked her back; heaven knew how much she wanted to date Luo Sheng.

The System’s sinister voice reminded her in her ear: “I see you don’t want to do the mission anymore.”

And so, the words on the tip of Hua Baihe’s tongue were swallowed back down.

—After completing the mission, she would receive a reward of one hundred million in the real world.

That was the world that truly belonged to her, Hua Baihe.

Luo Sheng watched her hold back her words, her expression telling. Clearly, forget spending another second with her, the fact that Chen Keyin wasn’t screaming curses at her right now was a testament to her excellent upbringing.

Luo Sheng’s heart slowly grew cold.

After a few breaths, she casually threw out a question that completely cornered the person before her:

“Tell me, if your aunt and uncle found out that you were in love with Chen Wenxian, how do you think they would react?”

Hearing her romantic tastes so grossly insulted, Hua Baihe looked at her in disbelief. Her face shifted between white and green before finally turning beet red.

“You’re lying!”

You’re the one who likes Chen Wenxian! Your whole family likes Chen Wenxian!

But to Luo Sheng, this reaction was just a bluff that confirmed her long-held suspicions.

The flames of jealousy ignited in her heart, but she forced a cool expression. Noticing that Hua Baihe hadn’t touched her breakfast, she said:

“It seems you’re not very hungry.”

“I, on the other hand, am famished. It’s time for my meal.”

With that, she stood up and walked towards Hua Baihe, scooping her up, plushie and all, and started heading back to the bedroom.

When the person in her arms tried to struggle, Luo Sheng tossed out a nonchalant remark:

“If you want to be unable to get out of bed tomorrow, then go ahead and struggle a bit more. Just don’t come crying and begging me to stop later.”

Hua Baihe heard the celebratory sound of gongs and firecrackers in her head—

She was a little curious to know what being unable to get out of bed all day felt like.

And so, in perfect alignment with her unyielding “little white flower” persona, she put up a determined struggle against Luo Sheng a few more times and, as she wished…

…was mercilessly dealt with.

**

Slender, pale fingers clawed viciously at the red bedsheets, leaving only crumpled marks. Muffled sobs echoed through the room.

Amidst the tangled sheets, a figure sat calmly by the bed, watching. Her voice was as detached as her demeanor—rational, cool, and even a bit ruthless.

“It’s seven-thirty. About time for Uncle and Auntie Chen’s dinner invitation.”

She glanced at the alarm clock on the bedside table and mentioned it casually.

At these words, the person struggling on the bed shot her head up. Gone was the defiant spirit she had shown earlier; her eyes were now filled with nothing but pleading.

Luo Sheng heard her voice, weak from the unbearable torment of desire:

“Sheng, Sheng Sheng… don’t do this… I’m begging you, don’t—”

Hua Baihe truly couldn’t take it anymore. She had lost count of how many ways she had begged, but Luo Sheng, likely furious with her, had ignored her completely from start to finish.

Because her left wrist was restrained to the headboard, Hua Baihe had to exert a great deal of effort just to reach the person sitting on the other side of the bed. As if grasping her last lifeline, she clung tightly to the hem of Luo Sheng’s dress.

It was as if she didn’t want her to leave, afraid she would expose her shameful secret to everyone.

Hua Baihe looked up, her expression a mixture of endurance and pain. But the stimulation had already pushed her beyond her limits, and her eyes were somewhat unfocused.

Her lips were bitten raw and red from holding back her cries, and tears streamed endlessly from her eyes. Hua Baihe looked utterly pitiful at that moment.

Luo Sheng placed her hand over the one clutching her dress. After stroking it a few times, just as a glimmer of hope began to light up the other’s eyes—

She pried her fingers open, one by one.

And the light in that person’s eyes died out.

Gradually turning into despair.

Hua Baihe instinctively shook her head at her, murmuring, “No, no…!”

Luo Sheng stood by the bed, casting a distant glance at her. Compared to Luo Sheng’s perfectly neat clothes, the person on the bed was nearly drowning in her own shame.

Luo Sheng spoke unhurriedly, “The elders invited me, so it wouldn’t be right to be late. I have to go now.”

“Just wait for me here obediently until I get back.”

A moment later, Hua Baihe watched the bedroom door close before her eyes, taking all her hope with it. Every second that passed after Luo Sheng’s departure would stretch her torment into a near-infinity.

**

Half an hour later.

A harmonious and cheerful atmosphere filled the Chen family’s dining table.

Uncle Chen, Chen Zhan, was an elderly man. The stern lines around his mouth from his younger years had softened into deep smile lines with age.

He had been rather ill-tempered in his youth, but in his old age, he had become more like a laughing Buddha, always greeting people with a smile. He watched Chen Wenxian thoughtfully serve Luo Sheng soup, as if seeing a younger version of himself and his wife.

Pleased with the young couple, he was the first to bring up the person who was absent tonight:

“Keyin should have been back this week. I wonder if she’s working overtime at the company again.”

Hearing his words, his wife, Liu Fang, was about to reply when she saw Luo Sheng put down her chopsticks and gently tap her forehead, smiling apologetically at them.

“Oh, look at my memory. Uncle, Auntie, Keyin and I were together this afternoon. But halfway through, she got a call from her boss asking her to go back to the office to pick up a file, so we parted ways.”

“Should I give her a call and ask?”

Luo Sheng made a move as if to get up and grab her phone.

It was Chen Wenxian next to her who tried to stop her, smiling and waving his hand before tugging at her sleeve. “She probably got home too late and decided to eat out and hang out with friends. Don’t worry about her.”

After all, this wasn’t the first time Chen Keyin had done something like this.

She’d be spontaneously dragged out by colleagues and forget all about coming back to the Chen’s, only calling on Monday to apologize to Liu Fang, playfully coaxing the two elders.

The Chen family already had complete trust in a well-behaved daughter-in-law like Luo Sheng.

Hearing her words, Liu Fang was reminded of something and added, “That’s right, Little Luo, just sit and eat. We won’t worry about her. She’ll call tonight eventually.”

Luo Sheng mentally noted the time, planning to have Chen Keyin call home later that evening.

At the same time, she easily sidestepped Chen Wenxian’s attempt to pull her back, casting a meaningful glance at the person who seemed least concerned about his own cousin—

Keyin, this is the man you love.

If you were to disappear from this world one day, he would probably be the last to notice.

Chen Wenxian thought he had been too rude. After all, throughout their entire relationship, Luo Sheng had been rather aloof; it was probably just her nature. So he didn’t mind and casually withdrew his hand.

It was just that Luo Sheng’s brief glance left him completely baffled.

…Could it be, as my cousin said, that I’m like a blockhead and have somehow managed to offend my girlfriend again without realizing it?

He ate his meal while deeply reflecting on what he might have done wrong this time.

**

After last night, Luo Sheng’s objective was clear. She had no interest in maintaining this superficial relationship with him. So, after dinner, while proactively helping to clear the dishes, she intentionally sought to be alone with Mother Chen in the kitchen.

At first, Liu Fang tried to shoo her out, but upon hearing she had something to say, she reluctantly let her stay and help.

“Auntie, you and Uncle have been so good to me. The warmth I haven’t felt since I was fifteen or sixteen, you and your family have given me in abundance during my time with Wenxian.”

This opening immediately told Liu Fang something was wrong. She stopped her brisk dishwashing and looked at Luo Sheng.

“Little Luo, what’s this all about? Did Wenxian bully you?”

Luo Sheng smiled and shook her head, speaking softly, “How could he dare? I actually feel like I’m the one not doing enough. Sometimes… sometimes even Keyin knows him better than I do.”

At her mention of this, the matter that had been bothering Liu Fang was brought to the forefront—

Chen Keyin had always been single, turning down anyone who tried to set her up. A neighbor whom she had recently rejected saw her coming home with Chen Wenxian and had said to Liu Fang:

“Your niece and nephew are really close, aren’t they? I don’t think even real siblings are as close as them.”

There was nothing wrong with the words themselves, but the look and tone made Liu Fang feel uneasy.

Liu Fang, being a woman herself, immediately and keenly caught the underlying meaning.

She opened her mouth, her mind in a whirl, only wanting to suppress the matter and reassure her soon-to-be daughter-in-law. “Little Luo…”

But Luo Sheng shook her head. “Auntie, I understand what you and Uncle want, but Wenxian is still young, and my work keeps me so busy. If it weren’t for Keyin holding us together, we would have almost nothing in common. Keyin can’t live my life for me, can she?”

Liu Fang was so stunned she forgot how she even responded after that.

When she came to her senses, the hot water she had run for the dishes had grown cold, and Luo Sheng was long gone.

She then let out a powerful roar towards the living room:

“Chen Wenxian! Get your butt in here!”

**

Meanwhile.

Upon returning home, Luo Sheng had barely ended Hua Baihe’s torment when the woman passed out in her arms from exhaustion.

She stroked the face of the person in her arms, placed another cherished kiss on her, and then straightened up, speaking in a voice only she could hear:

“Please don’t hate me, okay?”

Luo Sheng had no idea that Hua Baihe was being chased by a Bulbasaur in her dream.

The Pokémon pursued her, chanting “Saur, saur,” while lashing out at her with two vine whips, its fierce expression as if it were calling her a ‘homewrecker.’

Hua Baihe began to be tormented by guilt. Eventually, she couldn’t run anymore and tried to grab its vines in a desperate attempt to defend herself:

She really didn’t mean to make her cousin a cuckold!

However, in reality—

The sleeping person suddenly flung out her arm. In the middle of its arc, it inadvertently landed on Luo Sheng’s face.

“Smack!”

The loud slap was enough to startle Hua Baihe herself awake.