Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 88: He, Like You, Admires Song Xilan

Song Lianhe turned around to see Xuan Mei, who had appeared behind her at some point. She quickly clutched her chest. "You and your master, do you both enjoy scaring people from behind?"

’I’d better add ’get some fast-acting Life-saving Pills’ to my to-do list.’

Xuan Mei leaned there, cradling his silver sword, and said expressionlessly, "You should still listen to what the Prince says."

"As if I’d dare not to!"

Song Lianhe shook her head, clasped her hands behind her back, and sighed as she walked inside. "Once your Prince has one of his fits, he’s completely incurable! And I, for one, value my life!"

Xuan Mei didn’t refute her. Following behind, he said, "You know the Prince very well."

"Heh..."

Song Lianhe could only manage a hollow laugh.

Because it had gotten so late, Yan Wen, as the shopkeeper, felt it was his responsibility to look after everyone at the clinic and volunteered to escort Song Lianhe home.

"Brother Yan, we’re partners now. There’s really no need for such formalities."

"Let’s go."

Without another word, Yan Wen took the lead and walked ahead.

Dressed in a long, indigo-blue robe, he cut an ethereal figure, a solitary form walking through the night.

Song Lianhe watched him quietly for a moment before slowly following.

Ah Yu was about to follow when Shuang Ye pulled him back, whispering, "Young Master Yan must have something to say to her."

"Something to say?" Ah Yu looked up, a trace of displeasure on his youthful, fine-featured face. "What could he possibly have to say that he couldn’t say back at the clinic? Does he have to say it alone, this late at night?"

"What?" Shuang Ye hadn’t heard him clearly.

Ah Yu turned his face away, sulking. "Nothing."

Down the long street, Song Lianhe and Yan Wen walked one behind the other.

To avoid attracting attention, Song Lianhe always walked home after closing the clinic. As she was leaving later than usual today, the streets seemed especially cold and deserted.

Yan Wen stopped and turned to her. "You and King Qing... you have a personal connection?"

Song Lianhe had already guessed he had something to say to her. She’d assumed he would ask about Su Huaqing, since the two were best friends. Besides, that afternoon when she had suggested asking for Su Huaqing’s cooperation, Yan Wen’s expression had turned grave.

But who would have thought he would ask about Zhou Cangyan instead?

"Well, how should I put it? About King Qing and I... as you know, he happened to save me at the General Mansion and let me stay at his residence to recover. During that time, King Qing took very good care of me... Oh, right. This clinic was only able to open here in Ling’an City thanks to him."

’Ling’an City is the Capital of the Da Cheng Dynasty, the very heart of the empire. Starting a business here is no simple matter.’

’For the clinic to have opened so smoothly, someone powerful must have pulled strings from behind the scenes. Song Lianhe was well aware of this.’

Yan Wen already knew everything she’d said, but that wasn’t what he wanted to ask.

He said quietly, "He is a noble Prince. He doesn’t need the silver coins you earn for him, so he had no need to wade into these muddy waters."

Song Lianhe pondered this for a moment, then slowly replied, "That’s true."

"Unless... he has an ulterior motive."

She froze and looked up at him, feeling as if he’d all but plastered the three words "he’s after you" across his forehead.

Yan Wen’s expression was grave. He seemed oblivious that if the wrong people overheard him, his words would be considered high treason—a crime punishable by death! Zhou Cangyan himself would never let him get away with it.

"Brother Yan, watch what you say!"

She frantically looked around. She knew that even if Xuan Mei wasn’t visible, he was surely following them. And even if Xuan Mei wouldn’t report every little detail to Zhou Cangyan, there was no guarantee other eyes and ears weren’t lurking about.

Yan Wen, however, looked perfectly righteous as he said frankly, "Second Miss, I truly don’t want to see you climb out of a bitter well only to fall into a pit of fire."

"I understand that, but you can rest assured, he’s not interested in me that way."

Song Lianhe said with absolute certainty.

"Oh?"

Yan Wen was baffled. "Second Miss, what makes you so sure?"

"Because..." She leaned in close, rising on her tiptoes to whisper in his ear. Yan Wen instantly froze, a deep blush spreading from his earlobes. Her faint, enchanting fragrance filled his senses, and his Adam’s apple bobbed uncontrollably.

"Because just like you, the woman he has his heart set on is... Song Xilan."

Yan Wen stared, looking up at her in a daze.

Fearing he wouldn’t believe her, she gave him a firm, knowing nod. "It’s the honest truth."

’Based on her experience since she transmigrated into the book, while minor details might stray from the original plot, the main storyline had yet to change.’

’In other words, even though she had defused the crisis at Empress Chun De’s hairpin flower banquet, she couldn’t prevent some future orchid banquet or osmanthus banquet from taking place. Sooner or later, just like Yan Wen, Zhou Cangyan would find an opportunity to fall for Song Xilan!’