The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat-Chapter 94: Origin Point

Hua Manman’s heart jumped in surprise. ’Hua Qingqing is actually thinking of killing herself!’

She quickly called out, "Sister."

Hearing her younger sister’s voice, Hua Qingqing finally showed some reaction.

She slowly raised her head, revealing a small, pale face streaked with crystalline tears. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, filled with utter despair.

Seeing her in this state, Hua Manman knew it definitely wasn’t consensual.

If that man hadn’t been the Emperor, he’d be a rapist, plain and simple. He would have been dragged out and publicly beheaded in a heartbeat.

Hua Manman really didn’t want to speak up for a rapist, let alone persuade Hua Qingqing to accept her fate.

But the system in her head was still reminding her as if its life depended on it.

"Fifty-five minutes remaining for the mission."

Hua Manman gritted her teeth, a resentful look on her face as she demanded.

"What the hell happened? It’s the middle of the night. Why weren’t you in your own room? What are you doing here?"

Hua Qingqing choked out her words.

"Someone told me you were in trouble and needed help, and that I should meet you here.

But as soon as I came in, I was drugged and knocked unconscious.

After that, my mind was groggy, and I couldn’t muster any strength in my body.

I don’t know when the Saint arrived. I don’t know anything... WAHHH!"

Thinking about the scenes that followed, she finally couldn’t hold it in anymore and burst into loud sobs.

’I can’t believe I had a part to play in this.’

’The plot is just forcing a role on me!’

Hua Qingqing asked through her tears, "What should I do? My innocence is gone. How can I face Father and Grandmother when I go back? How can I go on living?"

Hua Manman took out a handkerchief and, while wiping her sister’s tears, scolded her in a disgusted tone.

"What’s the point of crying? What’s done is done. It’s useless even if you cry your eyes out!

If I were you, the first thing I’d do is find out the truth, drag out the bastard who set you up, and get my revenge!"

Hua Qingqing sobbed.

"So what if I get revenge? My innocence is gone. I don’t have the face to live anymore."

Hua Manman: "You have to live even if you don’t want to!"

Perhaps because she was too harsh, Hua Qingqing was startled.

Hua Qingqing even forgot to cry, staring at her blankly.

Hua Manman bent down, leaned in close, and whispered.

"So you slept with a man. Is that really worth dying over?

Just think of yourself as the john. You didn’t spend a single cent and got to sleep with a rich, powerful, and handsome man for free."

Hua Qingqing had never heard such heretical words. She was completely dumbfounded.

Hua Manman knew she needed time to process this, so she didn’t say more. Instead, she turned, poured a cup of warm water, and held it out to her, saying impatiently.

"Drink up!"

Hua Qingqing took a deep breath, reached out, took the cup, and began to drink in small sips.

After drinking the water, she felt a little better physically, and her emotions stabilized a bit as well.

Hua Manman looked around and saw a set of clothes draped over the screen.

She pulled the clothes down and tossed them in front of Hua Qingqing.

Hua Qingqing didn’t touch the clothes.

Hua Manman said with dissatisfaction, "What? Are you expecting me to help you change? In your dreams!"

Hua Qingqing wiped the tears from the corner of her eye with her handkerchief and said in a hoarse voice.

"I don’t want to wear the clothes from here."

’They feel disgusting.’

Hua Manman tutted. "You’re so much trouble."

She began to untie her sash and remove her own clothes, throwing them onto the bed.

"Mine should be fine, right?"

Hua Qingqing picked up her sister’s clothes and slowly began to put them on.

Halfway through, she must have thought of something, because tears started to fall again.

"I feel so dirty right now... WAHHH!"

But Hua Manman said, "Are you stupid? The ones who are dirty are the people out there!"

Hua Qingqing was once again stunned by her words.

’The Emperor is one of those people out there!’

’Who would dare say the Emperor is dirty?’

Hua Manman huffed, "Why are you looking at me like that? Am I wrong?"

Looking at her younger sister’s matter-of-fact expression, Hua Qingqing couldn’t help but smile through her tears.

She laughed and cried at the same time. "You’re right. They’re the dirty ones, not me."

Hua Manman reached out to help her dress, still complaining.

"Why are you so slow at getting dressed? Do you really need me to serve you just to put on some clothes?

Let me tell you, this is the only time. It won’t happen again!

Why are you looking at me like that? Don’t think I feel sorry for you. I just can’t stand seeing you look so pathetic!"

Hua Qingqing suddenly reached out and hugged Hua Manman tightly.

She buried her face in Hua Manman’s chest and began to cry again.

This time, she cried silently.

But Hua Manman could clearly feel the fabric over her heart growing damp with tears.

She stood frozen on the spot, not knowing what to do, her mouth still spewing contempt.

"What are you doing? Don’t think this will soften me up. I’m telling you, even if you cry a river of tears, I won’t comfort you. I have a heart of stone!"

Hua Qingqing hugged her and cried for a long time.

Only after she had cried out all the negative emotions pent up in her chest did she let go of Hua Manman. She looked up, her eyes even more red and swollen than before.

But her gaze was a little brighter.

"Younger Sister."

Hua Manman glared at her irritably. "What?"

Hua Qingqing: "I won’t try to kill myself."

’Younger Sister was sent by the Emperor to pacify me. If I killed myself, it would mean she failed the task the Emperor gave her.’

’The Emperor would likely blame her for it.’

Hua Qingqing didn’t want her younger sister to get dragged into this.

’This matter started because of her, so she should be the one to bear the consequences.’

A system notification sound rang in Hua Manman’s mind, informing her that the mission was complete.

She deliberately huffed and said in a disdainful tone.

"Why are you telling me this? It’s not like I was worried you’d kill yourself."

Hua Qingqing smiled at her. "Thank you."

Hua Manman pouted, looking completely dismissive.

Dressed, Hua Qingqing stood up.

She neatly folded the handkerchief she had crumpled and tucked it into her sleeve.

"Younger Sister, I’ll wear this handkerchief and these clothes back for now. I’ll return them to you after they’re washed."

Hua Manman huffed. "Wash them for what? Do you think I’m short one set of clothes?"

She picked up the other set of clothes and put them on.

Hua Qingqing clenched her hands into fists. "I will get to the bottom of what happened tonight."

Hua Manman: "You think you can get to the bottom of it by yourself?"

Hua Qingqing bit her lip. With her abilities, it would indeed be very difficult to uncover the truth about tonight.

Hua Manman said smugly, "I knew you couldn’t do it. Just wait. I’ll ask Prince Zhao to help later and see if we can find any clues."

Hua Qingqing looked at her, and a trace of warmth bloomed in her once-despairing heart.

In this helpless environment, Hua Qingqing couldn’t tell friend from foe. Only her younger sister was someone she could trust and rely on.

Once the two sisters were ready, they walked out of the inner chamber, one after the other.

Wu Wang had been guarding the door the entire time.

When he saw the two sisters emerge, his gaze lingered on Hua Qingqing for a moment. Although her eyes were red and swollen, her spirits seemed better than before.

Wu Wang could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Hua Manman’s mood, however, was not so good.

’According to the original plot, after Hua Qingqing found out her own sister was having an affair with her fiancé, she was filled with resentment. In a fit of rage, she entered the palace to participate in the concubine selection, hoping to get revenge on her sister and her fiancé.’

’I originally thought that if Hua Qingqing just dumped that scumbag fiancé early, she wouldn’t be so consumed by resentment that she’d join that stupid concubine selection.’

’The results proved that I underestimated the power of the plot.’

’Even if Hua Qingqing didn’t participate in the selection, the plot had its ways of getting her involved with the Emperor.’

’If my calculations are correct, the next step is for Hua Qingqing to enter the palace.’

As expected—

After seeing that Hua Qingqing had calmed down, the Emperor proposed to make her a Concubine.

Hua Manman remembered that in "Palace Intrigue," Hua Qingqing was granted the rank of Concubine after her first night with the emperor.

’Even though the plot twisted and turned, with many detours along the way, it ultimately returned to the same starting point.’

...

So you don’t all call me "Mr. Shorty," I’ve decided that starting with this Chapter, every one from now on will be two thousand characters long.

From now on, you can call me "Mr. Long and Thick"!

Please vote, please leave comments. Good morning, everyone~