Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 258: My Lady Will Be Angry

"You dare insult my father? I’m going to tear you to pieces, you little brat!"

"I... I didn’t mean to..."

Song Lianhe ran through streets and alleys, her small frame casting a long shadow in the last rays of the setting sun, looking as pathetic as a drenched dog.

E Jintang was hot on her heels, his running shaking the very ground. He’d grabbed a random stick, and whenever he got close, he would swing it at her. Terrified, Song Lianhe could only run for her life to avoid the blow.

’She usually spent her days either lying down or sitting and went out only by carriage. How could her stamina possibly compare to the fiercest general in all of Da Cheng!’

"Die!"

Just as E Jintang’s stick came crashing down on her head again, Song Lianhe’s pretty eyes narrowed. She spun around and threw a handful of powder—

Seeing the black-clad figure that had suddenly appeared in front of her, she froze.

Zhou Cangyan turned his head to look at her. She snapped back to reality, dropped what was in her hand, and frantically raised her hand to cover his nose and mouth. "Hold your breath!"

The man’s light brown eyes swept over her nonchalantly.

Feeling his warm breath on her palm, Song Lianhe’s cheeks burned. He grasped her wrist and slowly lowered her hand. "Why are you in such a mess?"

"Ah! E Jintang!"

She tossed out an "I’ll explain later" before wiping the sweat from her forehead and leaning over to look at E Jintang.

The Shadow Guard had already immobilized him by striking his pressure points. He now stood rooted to the spot, flaring his nostrils as he panted heavily, glaring daggers at the little beggar opposite him.

If looks could tear a person to shreds, she would have been in tatters by now.

"Good, he’s okay."

Song Lianhe sighed in relief.

"Why were you causing trouble with him?"

Zhou Cangyan’s question came from beside her.

"Because he’s..."

As Song Lianhe turned her head, her lips brushed against the man’s cheek.

She was utterly shocked. She instinctively clapped a hand over her mouth and took a step back.

The man turned his head to look at her, raising an eyebrow slightly. His gaze was mocking. "Never kissed anyone before?"

Song Lianhe’s face turned even redder.

’But after a moment’s thought, she realized she was being overly dramatic. A kiss is nothing; things far more excessive than this had happened that day!’

’At the peak of the drug’s effect, the two of them had even swept the tea set off the table and, right on the tabletop...’

’Stop!’

’I can’t think about this anymore!’

She forcefully pulled her mind back from the movie playing in her head. She scanned her surroundings—it was a small, empty alley. She said quickly, "Take him away!"

"Take him away?" The Shadow Guard glanced at the man who was a full head taller than him. "How?"

Zhou Cangyan suddenly spoke up. "This man is E Jintang. You knew?"

"Mhm!"

Zhou Cangyan looked at her, then turned. "Take him."

The Shadow Guard was on the verge of tears, but his master’s command had to be obeyed. He stepped forward, settled into a horse stance, and used every ounce of his strength to try and hoist the man up. "Nngh... Oof... Hngh..."

Compared to the little giant before him, the Shadow Guard was truly rather slim and petite.

"I have an idea!"

Song Lianhe moved to stand in front of Zhou Cangyan, her eyes shining brightly.

Zhou Cangyan watched her through half-lidded eyes. The oversized burlap clothes she wore hung on her like a large sack, making her look even more slender. But he knew very well that beneath this seemingly scrawny frame, the places that were supposed to be soft were not lacking in the slightest.

"You guys have a secret lair... er, no, a safe house! Right! You have a safe house, don’t you?"

Zhou Cangyan pursed his lips and nodded slowly.

"First, release his pressure points. Then, you guys lead the way, and I’ll lure him to the safe house!"

Zhou Cangyan frowned.

"No."

’Too dangerous.’

Knowing what he was worried about, she smiled and pulled four or five paper packets from her robes. "These are all for self-defense, don’t worry! Besides... you’re here to protect me. What do I have to be afraid of!"

The last ray of the setting sun swept across her face before disappearing into the gloom.

But in that instant, her stunning smile seemed to be branded into his mind.

"Shadow, release him."

"Yes, sir!"

Song Lianhe turned and got into a runner’s stance.

"Three, two, one... Go!"

The moment the Shadow Guard released his pressure points, E Jintang was like a raging lion. He let out a ferocious roar to the heavens and charged straight for Song Lianhe, completely ignoring Zhou Cangyan and the Shadow Guard.

"Shadow, lead the way!"

"Yes, sir!"

At Zhou Cangyan’s command, the Shadow Guard executed his Qinggong, leaping over their heads. Song Lianhe ran, keeping up with the Shadow Guard.

Meanwhile, Zhou Cangyan had already leaped onto a nearby wall, moving parallel to E Jintang. If E Jintang posed the slightest threat to Song Lianhe, he would intervene without hesitation.

Finally, the Shadow Guard ducked into a silk shop through a back entrance. Song Lianhe followed him in, with E Jintang right behind.

BANG! The door slammed shut behind them and was bolted.

Then, the Shadow Guard leaped behind E Jintang and, with a few quick strikes, hit his pressure points again.

Song Lianhe hadn’t run this fast even during her 800-meter-dash tests. As soon as she entered the silk shop’s backyard, her strength gave out and she pitched forward. Fortunately, a pair of arms caught her, preventing her from collapsing.

Zhou Cangyan frowned, very displeased that she had gotten herself into such a wretched state.

"You had better give this prince an explanation."

Song Lianhe was still panting and trying to catch her breath. Hearing him refer to himself as "this prince" again, she knew he must be in a bad mood.

Once she caught her breath, she immediately explained, "This man is a fierce general! Your Highness must recruit him for your own use!"

"A fierce general?" The Shadow Guard circled E Jintang a few times. "I don’t know if he has the talent of a general, but he’s definitely fierce."

Zhou Cangyan looked at Song Lianhe skeptically. "Just for this?"

’Just to get him to recruit someone, she’d run herself ragged?’

’How little does she value herself!’

Zhou Cangyan was displeased again.

A person who appeared in his mind and heart from time to time;

A person who inexplicably made him nervous, made him want to cherish her;

A person who shouldn’t become a fetter holding him back...

’What right does she have to not cherish herself?!’

’It’s simply... audacious.’

Song Lianhe thought he hadn’t understood her, or perhaps was looking down on E Jintang. She hurried over to him and formally introduced the man to Zhou Cangyan: "E Jintang. He has boundless strength and can lift a thousand jin with his bare hands! On the battlefield, it would be no exaggeration to say he could take on a thousand men alone!" Afraid he wouldn’t believe her, she ran to his side and grabbed both his hands in her urgency. "Zhou Cangyan, you have to believe me! Recruit him, quickly! Or else... or else..."

’Or else, he’ll be recruited by Zhou Junlin!’

He looked down at her hands holding his. "Or else what?"

"Or else! I’ll get angry!"

The Shadow Guard: "..."

’Can that even be considered a threat?’

’The Young Madam probably doesn’t know that His Lordship’s heart is as hard as iron!’

After saying it, even Song Lianhe wanted to spit on the ground.

’Have I been deluding myself recently?’

Unexpectedly, Zhou Cangyan lifted his brown eyes and looked at her with great interest, followed by a low chuckle.

Song Lianhe’s face was red as she lowered her head. She nudged a small blade of grass that was stubbornly growing from a crack between the floor tiles with her foot. Her voice was barely a whisper. "I was just kidding. Don’t take it seriously."

"Oh? What’s to be done then? I’ve already taken it seriously."

He turned and walked toward the inner hall. "Bring him in. Otherwise... my wife will be angry." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Song Lianhe’s heart skipped a beat. Watching his carefree back as he walked away, she couldn’t stop the pink, fragile bubbles from rising in her heart.

"...Yes, sir."

The Shadow Guard’s eyes were full of warm amusement.