Xiao Jin rode the Cloud Ladder up to the high floor. Through the misty white silk and layers of wooden frames, the world felt excessively dreamlike.
The female lead, Chu Shao, wore a gentle smile as she tenderly pushed her wheelchair. The second female lead, Su Tan, disguised as a maid, followed behind with feigned timidity.
Xiao Jin maintained the air of a formidable boss, sitting in her wheelchair, feeling that this moment might be the peak of her entire transmigration career.
And the person they were about to meet was none other than the third female lead, Bai Zheng.
The protagonist’s halo did not deceive her.
Indeed, if you lived long enough and followed the female lead, anything was possible.
When they reached the ninth floor, the Cloud Ladder stopped. Xiao Jin sat in her wheelchair and allowed Chu Shao to push her into the winding corridor.
After traversing the corridor, one could see a small pond. Floating on the water’s surface were several bowl-shaped flower lanterns, spreading out like rouge with the green ripples, truly delightful.
Looking at the scene before her, Xiao Jin instantly recalled that snippet of a silver-red sleeve from the original novel.
In the original work, Bai Zheng, as one of the supporting female characters, was originally a beauty famed throughout Great Qi for her wealth and looks. However, because this person had drawn the script of the third female lead, her role was limited to paving the way for the Crown Prince and, in the later stages, conveniently stepping aside for the female lead.
Fortunately, Bai Zheng’s final ending was fairly good.
After the female lead unified the realm, Bai Zheng no longer followed the male lead’s plotline. She disbanded the Misty Rain Pavilion and instead acquired a manor on the outskirts of the capital. The girls could still sing and play the pipa there.
Xiao Jin was reminiscing about Bai Zheng’s storyline when the attendant’s voice pulled her back to reality the next moment: “Miss, Miss Bai is right here.”
The attendant led Xiao Jin’s group to the door, then respectfully withdrew.
Chu Shao’s lips still held a gentle smile, her mood quite pleasant.
After all, the Misty Rain Pavilion’s Miss Bai wanted to see them. This matter alone was worth a smile. Moreover, with Xiao Jin and Su Tan here, she believed things would become even more interesting.
Thinking this, Chu Shao placed one hand on the wheelchair’s armrest and politely knocked on the door with the other.
Finding the vermilion door was half-closed, she smiled and slowly pushed it open.
The moment the door swung wide, the scent of “Spring Mountain Void” wafted forth, filling the entire room.
Looking around, one could see delicate incense smoke rising from a porcelain burner, faint and ethereal, like spring mountains after rain.
Through the beaded curtain strung with coral, Xiao Jin saw a woman’s red sleeve and the copper hand warmer she held.
At first, Xiao Jin could only glimpse a corner through the white silk. But when Chu Shao raised her hand and parted the beaded curtain, the full view was revealed.
About to meet the third female lead, Bai Zheng, Xiao Jin felt inexplicably nervous.
Luckily, she quickly adjusted, so she was only nervous for a second.
However, Xiao Jin felt her nervousness was entirely justified. After all, she had no idea what Bai Zheng intended by inviting her up here, hidden behind the curtain.
Moreover, a beauty concealed behind layer upon layer of beaded curtains was always mysterious and inscrutable, inviting wild speculation.
But the moment Chu Shao raised her hand and parted the beads, a mechanical voice rang in Xiao Jin’s ears: “Detected that the activity difficulty coefficient for the host this time is too high. Please proceed with caution and choose carefully.”
Choose carefully?
Hearing the System’s words, Xiao Jin was truly speechless.
Choose your damn ghost. Was there even a choice now? They were already at Bai Zheng’s door, and now the danger alert came? Wasn’t the latency a bit too high?
“To ensure the host’s pleasant experience going forward, the System will temporarily layer some additional buffs for you.”
“What buffs?”
“For example, the host can temporarily use a different voice to achieve the goal of concealing her true identity.”
Xiao Jin: “…”
“If you can add a voice-changing buff, just say it directly. No need to make it so complicated.”
“Very well. Because the host’s current remaining lifespan is only 72 hours, you can exchange 48 hours of time for a voice-changing effect lasting 12 hours, plus an additional 12 hours without triggering the coughing blood function.”
“Buy one, get one free. It’s very cost-effective, oh.”
Xiao Jin fell silent. Cost-effective? Truly cost-effective.
Why don’t you just write “stingy bastard” on a public notice board?
In her ten years of reading novels, she had never seen a System in any book more miserly than this one.
Xiao Jin had no intention of agreeing to this tyrannical clause. Who would have thought that once Chu Shao fully parted the beaded curtain, with no more coral beads shielding her, she would instantly feel an intense, piercing gaze that was impossible to ignore?
Even though her eyes were covered by white silk, that gaze seemed to want to penetrate the obstacle and stare directly at her.
Although the look was somewhat soft, it was aggressively invasive, as if trying to pierce through the gauze and uncover the true face hidden beneath the silk.
“…”
Xiao Jin sensed the situation was becoming thorny. After a moment’s deliberation, she decisively told the System in her mind: “Exchange.”
“Very well. Exchanging for the host now.”
Only after Xiao Jin chose to exchange did she realize a serious problem: The System only said she could change her voice, but it didn’t seem to tell her exactly what kind of voice it would become.
A very bad premonition suddenly arose within Xiao Jin.
“Random voice-changing buff has been layered for the host. We wish you a pleasant experience.”
Before Xiao Jin could ask the System what kind of voice-changing buff it had given her, she saw a figure rise from the daybed and walk toward her with a smile.
The person walked very slowly, her entire demeanor exuding languor. Her red sleeves were bright and light, but inside she wore a plain white garment.
Even through a layer of silk, Xiao Jin could see that this person’s face rivaled a peach blossom’s beauty—she was definitely a peerless beauty, a woman of unmatched elegance.
A pity that with such top-tier attributes, Bai Zheng got the script of a supporting female character instead.
Through the blurred filter, Xiao Jin could dimly see that Bai Zheng was very beautiful.
But the moment she thought of the word “beautiful,” she couldn’t help but recall the blood dripping from Chu Shao’s fingertips after she sheathed her sword.
The elegant curve of Chu Shao’s lips appeared in her mind, along with that single, striking teardrop mole beneath her eye.
Although Chu Shao was a pervert, Xiao Jin had to admit, whether from a mad-woman perspective or a beauty-and-strength perspective, the female lead was indeed a cut above Bai Zheng.
After all, she had never seen anyone crazier than this person.
When other yanderes went on killing sprees, one could still distinguish who was enemy and who was friend.
When Chu Shao went on a killing spree, on a whim, she might even kill herself along with them.
Thinking about the crazy female lead, Xiao Jin couldn’t help but drift off for a moment. By the time she refocused, Bai Zheng had already stopped in front of her.
After scrutinizing her thoroughly, Bai Zheng smiled in admiration: “Young lady, you are truly a peerless beauty of this world.”
“…”
Xiao Jin remained expressionless. She felt there was something wrong with Bai Zheng.
The pinnacle of beauty in this entire book was standing right beside her. Why wasn’t she praising Chu Shao? Why give an awkward compliment to the original owner instead?
Hearing Bai Zheng’s words, Chu Shao’s smile remained gentle, but she furrowed her brows slightly.
She felt Bai Zheng’s praise was entirely superfluous. After all, even if Bai Zheng hadn’t said it, this was an obvious fact plain for all to see.
Moreover, Bai Zheng was standing too close.
Such close proximity diminished the pleasure in Chu Shao’s heart slightly.
She didn’t particularly like being approached, especially by strangers. Even more so, the white peony that Bai Zheng was approaching step by step was something she had carefully adorned.
Whether it was the jade belt at Xiao Jin’s waist or the scarlet on her lips that had been wiped clean—all of it had been carefully considered and meticulously chosen by her.
Bai Zheng could certainly approach Prince Yan, Xiao Jin.
But at this moment, this peony, whether its petals or its bud, was essentially hers, not Bai Zheng’s.
Having clarified this point, Chu Shao wore a soft smile on her face, but in her heart, she was somewhat looking forward to Xiao Jin’s response.
She hoped Xiao Jin could also understand this point. After all, such a simple principle was too easy to comprehend.
However, Xiao Jin was not pondering these things.
At this very moment, all her doubts were focused on the voice-changing buff the System had layered on her.
Even the assassination mystery and Bai Zheng’s strange compliment were not as nerve-wracking as the System’s operation.
Xiao Jin had sensed the System would play tricks, but she didn’t know exactly how it would manifest.
Right now, no one else in the room was speaking. That meant she had to respond to Bai Zheng herself. Moreover, she had already communicated with the attendant earlier—even if she wanted to play mute now, it wouldn’t work.
Xiao Jin figured that, anyway, the chances of meeting the third female lead again weren’t high. Furthermore, Bai Zheng didn’t even know who she was.
With an attitude of complete resignation, Xiao Jin was very steady.
She’d already come this far—might as well just smash the pot to pieces. She chose the most foolproof reply and answered coolly: “Miss Bai flatters me.”
Indeed, Xiao Jin’s tone was very calm, and her face showed no expression. But when she heard her own voice, her heart could no longer remain calm.
Also unable to remain calm were the other four people in the room.
Bai Zheng, who was standing in front of Xiao Jin, was stunned. Su Tan, who was disguised as a maid, was also dumbfounded.
Even Bai Qin, who was hiding behind the screen checking the accounts, almost dropped her ledger upon hearing Xiao Jin’s voice.
The only one whose expression didn’t change was Chu Shao.
She listened to the voice that spilled from Xiao Jin’s lips and teeth and suddenly felt her heart beating somewhat faster again.
The curve of her lips also began to rise in pleasure.
It was difficult for Chu Shao to describe exactly what kind of bizarre voice this was. After all, she had never heard Xiao Jin use such a voice—speaking with a tone completely incongruous with her own temperament.
It was unimaginable what kind of pill Xiao Jin had secretly consumed to transform her originally cold and crisp voice into that kind of…
voice that made her heart race.
Chu Shao’s eyelashes trembled slightly. She almost yearned to hear Xiao Jin use that tone again, speaking words that stirred the soul.
If such a pill truly existed in the world, then she would definitely stop at nothing to find it, then grind the pill into powder, pinch Xiao Jin’s chin, and coax her to roll the powder onto her tongue.
At this moment, Xiao Jin’s mind was blank because her mentality had already exploded.
Even her ruined legs seemed to regain sensation, trembling as they hung on the wheelchair, feeling embarrassed on behalf of her numb nerves.
Before, Xiao Jin could still adhere to the belief that “as long as I’m not embarrassed, it’s the others who are embarrassed.”
Now, that belief had utterly crumbled, shattered into countless pieces.
From the moment she covered her eyes with white silk, wore an expression of cold indifference, and spoke in that coquettish, fawning, “clamping voice,” Xiao Jin understood…
A world where only she was embarrassed had been achieved.
