Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 140: Song Lianhe, You Still Have Feelings for Me
Song Xilan had been waiting outside the door the whole time.
The cell door opened, and Zhou Junlin stormed out, furious.
"Your Highness..."
Zhou Junlin stood there with his hands on his hips, then suddenly lifted his foot and viciously kicked a nearby vase!
Song Xilan jumped in fright. "Your Highness, did my sister say something to upset you again...?"
Before she could finish, Zhou Junlin spun around and stormed back inside.
Song Xilan stood frozen in a daze. After a long moment, she turned her head, her gaze filled with resentment as she looked toward the cell.
Inside, Song Lianhe, having thoroughly enjoyed her tirade, was sitting and eating.
Despite being locked up, she was, after all, the young lady of the General Mansion and a County Princess. Who would dare neglect her?
Song Lianhe didn’t treat herself like an outsider, either. She had directly ordered eight dishes, and the table was now completely full.
Zhou Junlin, having returned, glanced at the sumptuous spread of food and wine, one eyebrow raised. "Are you treating my Ling Prince Mansion like a restaurant?"
She certainly knew how to order. Nearly every dish was a specialty of the Ling Prince Mansion’s kitchens.
She hadn’t missed a single one.
Song Lianhe, holding a piece of five-spice smoked rabbit, waved her hand with great sincerity. "A restaurant would cost Silver. This place doesn’t."
"You—"
Zhou Junlin was livid. "Song Lianhe, when did you become like this?"
"Hmm, let me think..." she mused aloud. "It probably started when you began to look down on me, and then came to despise me." She nodded. "Yes, that’s it."
Zhou Junlin froze, the look in his eyes slowly changing.
"So you’re saying... this is all my fault?"
"Who else? Me?" Song Lianhe scoffed. "After pouring your heart and soul into loving someone for so long, only to be despised and hated in the end—who could possibly just get over it? If my mind isn’t warped, it’s only thanks to the blessings of my ancestors."
Silence fell from the other side of the bars.
Song Lianhe couldn’t care less what he was thinking. ’In any case, it was time he learned about the grievances the original owner of this body had suffered.’
Only after Song Lianhe had nearly finished the entire plate of rabbit did the man finally speak. "When I went to the Ministry of Justice today, I didn’t know you were there."
Her chopsticks paused, then were slowly set down.
"So, that gives you the right to ignore the truth and use your power to bully people?"
"Insolent!"
Song Lianhe let out a derisive snort, picked up a handkerchief to wipe her hands, and rose to her feet, approaching him.
One inside the cell, one standing outside.
She looked up at him. ’As the male lead, the halo above his head is growing dimmer and dimmer.’
Song Lianhe shook her head and chuckled. ’That makes sense. Even a book must have its own "Way," its own set of rules for this world. If you break them, even the main character can be demoted to a supporting role.’
"Zhou Junlin, you know everything perfectly well."
She stared at him without blinking, her clear, bright eyes like a flawless mirror, reflecting his true nature for all to see in an instant.
"But you still chose to protect her, and that’s your prerogative. I just hope that somewhere in your heart, you still have a shred of justice. Not as a Prince, or as the even more noble figure you will one day become, but simply as Zhou Junlin."
Zhou Junlin stared at her, his hands, hidden behind his back, clenching into fists.
Song Lianhe yawned, turned, and flicked her sleeves. "Alright, you may leave. I’m tired."
Hearing no movement behind her, she glanced back curiously. The man, dressed in crescent-white brocade, stood motionless. The air of a refined gentleman around him was slowly receding, replaced by a sort of indolent aura.
As if struck by some kind of shock, his gaze was now both vacant and agitated.
Sensing her gaze, Zhou Junlin frowned and gave a cold command. "Open the cell door. Send her away."
"Yes, Your Highness," a guard responded.
The moment she heard he was letting her go, Song Lianhe was having none of it.
"You lock me up when you want, and you let me go when you want? Are all you princes so unprincipled?" She was one step away from jumping up and pointing at his nose as she cursed him. "You listen to me, Zhou Junlin! No way in hell! Today, you have to keep me locked up whether you want to or not! I... I’m not leaving!"
Seeing her act so shamelessly, Zhou Junlin’s temples throbbed with anger.
He gritted his teeth and said, word by word, "Song Lianhe, don’t push your luck!"
"I think I’ll do just that!"
Song Lianhe was resolute. Seeing the door open and the guards about to enter and drag her out, she immediately hugged the thick wooden doorframe. "Don’t you pull me! I’m not leaving! I won’t leave no matter what you say!"
’The costumes and props are all ready, the lighting is in place, and the main event is about to start. And now the male lead wants to bail? Not so fast!’
Zhou Junlin could guess what little scheme she was plotting.
In fact, ever since he brought her back from the Ministry of Justice, he knew she was up to something.
She wanted to cause a scene? Fine, he would play along to the very end!
But just now, when she calmly told him she hoped he would keep a shred of justice in his heart, he found this cell increasingly distasteful. He felt that someone as arrogant and spoiled as her truly didn’t belong in a place like this. The refined, luxurious places she used to frequent suited her far better.
Seeing her act so shamelessly, Zhou Junlin suddenly let out a sneer. "Not leaving? Fine by me."
"What... what do you mean?" Song Lianhe watched him warily.
’After all, he is the male lead. I’m well aware of his capabilities.’
’If he really decided to drop all pretenses of decency, I can’t guarantee I’d get away unscathed.’
He slowly stepped forward, and the guards on either side respectfully retreated. "Didn’t you say you don’t want to leave? Then don’t."
Song Lianhe’s heart skipped a beat. ’What does he mean by that?’
Zhou Junlin’s tall figure suddenly loomed closer. Startled, Song Lianhe let go of the doorframe and fell, tumbling to the ground.
He crouched down with a playful look, his face extremely close to hers. "I knew it. How could such a fervent adoration simply vanish into thin air? So, you’re doing this deliberately to get closer to me?"
"..."
Song Lianhe’s eyes went wide, her mouth slightly agape in astonishment. A smudge of grease from the rabbit she had just eaten was visible at the corner of her lips.
Zhou Junlin’s pupils contracted slightly. By the time he realized what he was doing, the pad of his finger had already gently wiped the smudge away...
Song Lianhe gasped. This was even more shocking!
’What is he doing?’
Before she could think any further, she shoved him away and scrambled past him, as if utterly terrified.
’What in the world has gotten into Zhou Junlin?!’
’My god, that was terrifying!’
Zhou Junlin lowered his gaze, hiding his hand in his sleeve. The sensation of the touch still lingered on his fingertip.
His thin lips pressed together, his gaze shifting slightly. Only then did he rise unhurriedly. "Since you admire me so much, then I shall..."
"I don’t! I absolutely don’t!" Song Lianhe pointed at the oil lamp on the table as if swearing an oath. "I, Song Lianhe, have no such feelings! You can’t just slander people like that!"
’He’s so vicious!’
’Who would still want to like him?!’
"Is that so?" Zhou Junlin’s gaze tightened, his expression frighteningly cold. Staring at her, he said slowly, "In that case... excellent."
Just then, someone hurried over to report, "Your Highness, someone from the palace has arrived."
Zhou Junlin wasn’t surprised. He turned and walked out of the cell, shot a cold glance at Song Lianhe, and said with his hands behind his back, "If she wants to stay, then let her stay."
Before anyone else could move, Song Lianhe quickly slammed the door shut herself and even kindly reminded the guards to lock it.
Zhou Junlin: "..."
