“Of course.”
Lin Huanhuan’s face was filled with disdain as her beautiful eyes fixed on Ye Jinxiu’s delicate face, as if she were a high-and-mighty queen passing judgment on an incompetent slave.
‘Hmph, I didn’t want to be so heartless, but since you keep pestering me and even want me to do something like that, aren’t you just asking me to die? Since that’s the case, don’t blame me for being ruthless!’
Lin Huanhuan sneered in her heart, her expression of contempt deepening. Ye Jinxiu’s face flushed red and then turned pale; she was nearly dying of anger.
‘Damned Lin Huanhuan, how hateful! I must find a chance to get my revenge later!’
After making that internal decision, Ye Jinxiu took a deep breath to calm herself. She casually rested one hand on the nearby table, her fingertips tapping the surface with a “thud, thud, thud” sound.
“Fine, I’ll believe you for now.”
“But since you’ve pushed me this far, I’ll just say this: if you dare refuse, I will tell your sister all about how you once kidnapped me and worked with the people from the White Tiger Hall to take me away—with a few added details, of course.”
“I don’t think I need to explain what would happen then, do I?”
As her voice fell, the room suddenly went silent, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
A look of composure began to emerge on Ye Jinxiu’s face, her eyes full of playfulness. It was as if a mouse pushed into a corner by a cat had suddenly stopped pretending, tore off its disguise, and revealed itself to be a great tiger.
Lin Huanhuan’s face first showed shock and disbelief. Only when the breeze from outside the window frame brushed against her face did she snap out of it. Her teeth ground together with a creak, and her bright eyes seemed ready to spit fire as she stared intently at the person before her, who suddenly seemed quite loathsome.
In an instant, the tables had turned!
Her words were practically squeezed through the gaps in her teeth: “You… you’re far too despicable! How can you do this? Have you forgotten that I helped you back then? You despicable person, you’ll get what’s coming to you for this!”
“Heh.”
Ye Jinxiu laughed.
Her smile was exceptionally bright, like spring sunlight scattering across the earth—warm and incredibly comfortable.
But seeing such a smile, Lin Huanhuan felt it was utterly hateful, and she wished she could step forward and tear it to shreds!
Ye Jinxiu said with a smile, “Lin Huanhuan, don’t you think you’re quite funny sometimes?”
Ye Jinxiu paused, clenched her fist, and waved it in front of her. “Why don’t you use that goldfish-like brain of yours to think back? Don’t these words sound exceptionally familiar? Aren’t these the same tactics you used on me?”
“Now that I’m using them on you, it’s merely giving you a taste of your own medicine. You can’t just be the official allowed to light a lamp while forbidding the commoners from having a fire. Isn’t your double standard a bit too much?”
“You!”
Lin Huanhuan’s breathing hitched, and her expression froze.
‘It really does seem to be the case. I don’t seem to have the moral high ground here.’
“So… so what?”
Lin Huanhuan tried to argue back forcefully, but she didn’t realize her momentum had unknowingly weakened. “Just because a dog bites you once, are you going to bite it back?”
Ye Jinxiu: “Heh, so you’re a dog now? Are you planning to change your species?”
Lin Huanhuan’s defenses completely crumbled: “You, you, you! You actually insulted me!”
“You said it yourself. Are you planning to frame me again? Fine, fine, whatever you say goes.”
Ye Jinxiu spread her hands, looking indifferent.
‘I’ve only recently noticed, but why does Lin Huanhuan feel like a child? She’s like an overgrown brat who likes to cause trouble, frame others, and lacks the courage to admit what she’s done.’
Lin Huanhuan was now completely out of moves.
“So, do you agree or not?”
Ye Jinxiu didn’t give her any time to rest, pressing her advantage once more. Lin Huanhuan slumped into her chair like a puddle of mud, a look of total despair on her face. The light faded from her eyes, and she said self-destructively:
“Heh, you’ve threatened me like this. Do I even have the right to refuse?”
“That’s good then.”
Ye Jinxiu showed a satisfied smile. “Then I’ll thank you in advance. I’ll call for you when the time comes.”
She took a jade pendant from her robe and placed it on the table. “Oh, right. I requested this at a Taoist temple. I heard it’s been specially consecrated, so I’m giving it to you as payment. Thanks again. I’ll be going now.”
Lin Huanhuan stared blankly at the ceiling, unable to figure it out. “I’m clearly the scoundrel antagonist. Why am I being counter-threatened by the female lead? It makes it feel like I’m the female lead being threatened by a scoundrel antagonist.”
“Is this what they call getting what I deserve? Even if that’s the case, it shouldn’t be happening like this.”
After a short while, Lin Huanhuan finally pulled herself together. She reached out and picked up the jade pendant, rubbing its smooth edges with her thumb and examining it closely.
It was a circular jade pendant that looked quite ordinary, with nothing remarkable about it.
“Hmph, at least she knows to try and suck up to me. But who would care about a piece of trash like this?”
Despite her words, Lin Huanhuan carefully tucked the jade pendant into her Cosmos Bag.
After finishing everything, she began to recall the matters regarding Ye Jinxiu.
According to the original story, Ye Jinxiu was supposed to lose her Deep Spring Spirit Vein after the White Tiger Hall incident. She would be saved by Bai Lingfeng and sink into depression for a long time. Later, due to some special reason, she would be taken as a disciple by a Golden Core Elder. After a period of hardship, her Deep Spring Spirit Vein would grow back, becoming even more powerful than before.
“Why didn’t I notice before? This plot is actually such a classic. Losing it and then growing it back even stronger… what a perfect example of destruction before reconstruction.”
Lin Huanhuan sighed. “But since I saved her, did I help her or harm her?”
“She didn’t get the even more powerful Deep Spring Spirit Vein, but she also didn’t suffer an immense psychological trauma. Overall, it should be a benefit.”
“Whatever. I’ll just consider it doing a good deed to the end and help her open her Deep Spring Spirit Vein. This is my own initiative, not because I was forced!”
“But speaking of which, because of my interference, Bai Lingfeng and Ye Jinxiu didn’t complete the ‘rescue from fire and water’ event. Their favorability didn’t increase significantly, which is why she didn’t go to Bai Lingfeng for help?”
Lin Huanhuan’s face suddenly darkened. “Damn, so in the end, it really was because of my interference. Hmph, if I had known, I wouldn’t have helped. What a hassle.”
Ye Jinxiu walked out of the room in a pleasant mood, even humming a little tune.
Not only had she finished everything she wanted to do today, but she also had extra gains and had vented a lot of frustration. Ye Jinxiu was very happy.
‘I should go back and have something good to eat to celebrate.’
Just as she was about to walk out the main gate, a voice sounded from behind, making her stop in her tracks.
“Miss Ye, please wait a moment. I have something to discuss with you.”