Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 203: Someone Said They Missed Me, So I Came Back
"Ah, Young Ma—"
Da Xi was utterly shocked. The moment the words left their mouth, the quick-reacting Sister Mi pulled them away.
"Come out and help me pick some vegetables from the garden."
After dragging Da Xi out of the kitchen, Sister Mi thoughtfully closed the door.
She had just turned around when she froze again. "Old Master..."
Luo Fubang showed no embarrassment at being caught. He glanced from the kitchen to a nearby pillar and back, walking with his hands clasped behind his back. "Hmm, this place could use some repairs..."
Inside the kitchen, Song Lianhe shot to her feet and whirled around, staring in astonishment at the person behind her. "You... you... How are you..."
’Am I dreaming?’
Song Lianhe subconsciously raised a hand to pinch her own cheek, but a large hand gently caught her wrist. The coarse palm caressed the delicate skin on the back of her hand.
"What are we? You still haven’t said."
The man before her was dressed in dark robes, his devilishly handsome face covered in the dust of a long journey. Though he deliberately restrained it, she could still feel a faint, dangerous aura emanating from him, tinged with killing intent, like a beast’s instinct.
The man’s deep, dark eyes were fixed on her, and the corners of his lips slowly lifted into a faint smile.
The smile bloomed, spreading like ripples across a lake, all the way into his light brown irises, which seemed to sparkle with a brilliant light.
Song Lianhe finally found her voice and grabbed his arm in return. "Zhou Cangyan! Weren’t you in Yu State? Why are you back?!"
Zhou Cangyan lazily raised an eyebrow. "Didn’t you have Chun Hua tell me that you missed me?"
Song Lianhe froze. "It actually found you?!"
’I really didn’t expect this at all. Chun Hua is amazing!’
’Wait, what I wrote in the letter was...’
’AHHH! That’s not what I meant!!’
’I... I was just writing whatever came to mind, there was no hidden meaning! Besides, I honestly didn’t think Chun Hua would be able to find you, which is why I was so shameless with my writing!’
She immediately tried to explain. "What I meant was... you all have been gone for so long, and I didn’t know how things were on the front lines, so I was worried about you! Yes, all of you, I wasn’t referring to anyone in particular!"
A strip of paper suddenly appeared before her eyes.
"’A day apart, and I long for you like mad. Alas, the beauty I desire is not by the eastern wall.’"
"Ah! Stop reading!"
Song Lianhe wished she could find a hole to crawl into. She clapped her hands over her ears, then, remembering she had to destroy the evidence, lunged for the letter in his hand.
Zhou Cangyan easily pulled the letter back and tucked it into his robes. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
"Since you took the initiative to ask, I suppose I had no choice but to begrudgingly make my way back."
"..."
Song Lianhe knew there was no talking her way out of this one.
"So..."
He took a step forward, backing her into a corner.
"What, exactly, is the relationship between you and I?"
’How has he not forgotten about this yet?’
Song Lianhe cleared her throat and replied smoothly, "The Prince and I, of course, have an unbreakable alliance!"
"Oh?"
Zhou Cangyan narrowed his eyes. "Merely an alliance?"
"Of course!"
"Heh."
He gave a soft, emotionless chuckle, then stepped back to glance at the medicinal pills she had arranged on a shelf.
He knew it had been a long time since she had done this kind of work herself. Without a word, he took her hand. Song Lianhe’s heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t allow it.
Seeing her reddened palms, his gaze lowered, and he gently traced a finger over them.
"Don’t do this yourself anymore."
"Oh, this?"
Song Lianhe smiled, saying nonchalantly, "I’m not that delicate. This is all part of a physician’s duty. It’s not hard work."
The man looked up. "Remember this: you are more precious than any rare treasure in this world. Not even you are allowed to speak of yourself that way."
Song Lianhe stared at him blankly. The once-calm surface of the lake in her heart was once again stirred, sending shimmering ripples across it.
’He said I’m more precious than any rare treasure in this world...’
’Words like that could easily go to a person’s head.’
’But...’
’Song Lianhe, get a grip!’
She immediately snapped herself out of it. ’If the ending of this book doesn’t change, then even if there are some twists along the way, the villain is still fated to fall in love with the female lead.’
’When that happens, I, the female supporting character, will be reduced to nothing more than a disposable tool.’
"Er, right, Prince, how is the war in Yu State?"
Song Lianhe’s emotions had shifted several times in an instant, but the face she ultimately showed him wore that same old smile—ingratiating, yet with a hint of shrewdness, like a mask.
Though he knew she was trying her best to hide her true feelings, Zhou Cangyan didn’t call her out on it.
He spoke unhurriedly. "Everything is well within my grasp." He raised his eyes to look at her again and said slowly, "Be it matters or people. Anything I don’t want to let go of cannot escape."
"As expected of Prince Qing!"
That was her cue to lay on the flattery. Without delving into the deeper meaning of his words, Song Lianhe raised her hands and began to applaud.
He scoffed and turned to walk out.
Her taut nerves finally began to relax, but before she could even catch her breath, the man’s voice drifted back to her.
"Are you waiting for me to come over and invite you personally, Princess Qing?"
Song Lianhe’s expression tightened. "Coming, coming!"
Zhou Cangyan’s quiet return to Sui Ning City was a top secret.
If word of this reached the Imperial Capital, he would be accused of, at best, dereliction of military duty, and at worst, desertion! Emperor Cheng Xiao would be thrilled to condemn him without lifting a single finger.
Fortunately, Sui Bei was far from the Emperor’s reach, and its people had long been loyal only to the King of Sui Bei. Within the Prince’s own mansion, at least, they were safe.
Song Lianhe followed Zhou Cangyan to the assembly hall. Seeing Luo Fubang seated high in the main seat, she looked straight past him, her expression screaming, ’I don’t know you, so don’t even try to talk to me.’
Luo Fubang: "..."
The more he looked at this girl, the angrier he got. So stubborn, with such a foul and unyielding temper—at a glance, it was clear she took after that old coot Lin Yuanzhong!
Nanny Gui hadn’t been seen for several days. Upon learning that the Young Master had returned to the city, she had rushed to the assembly hall. Now, she stood to one side, her eyes red as she dabbed at her tears.
’This woman is usually so arrogant and domineering in front of me,’ Song Lianhe thought, speechless. ’Why does she turn into such a tragic victim the moment she sees Zhou Cangyan? It’s as if someone had actually bullied her!’
’Hmph, *I’m* the one who should be crying!’
Standing beside Nanny Gui was a pale-faced Cheng Xidian.
According to Zhong Shimin, after Cheng Xidian was dismissed from her position as Thousand Commander, she seemed to have taken a major blow and had been hiding in her room, claiming to be recuperating.
And now, here she was, coming out with her foster mother to see guests... er, no, to see people.
But one look was all it took for Song Lianhe to know that there was nothing wrong with her health at all.
Zhou Cangyan offered a reasonably proper salute to Luo Fubang before turning and pulling Song Lianhe down to sit with him.
He lifted his icy eyes, his sharp gaze landing on the two women opposite him like the point of a knife.
"Nanny, I’ve heard that you showed great disrespect to my Princess Consort. Not only did you throw her in the dungeon, but you also administered your own punishment. Is this true?"
Nanny Gui started, her first instinct to glare resentfully at Song Lianhe. Then, with a cry of "You’re trying to frame me!", she dropped to her knees. "Biwu, how could you... how could you listen to a villain’s slander and wrong me like this? I’m your wet nurse!"
