Transmigrated as Cannon Fodder — I Rise to Female Lead Through Hard Work-Chapter 26: Knows Men So Well

"The restroom is on the left side of the hallway, and the shower is on the right. Take the thermos; each room gets one. The place to get hot water is on the first floor, just next to here," the service staff explained in detail.

Chen Bangguo, having brought the people to the guesthouse, couldn’t linger any longer. After bidding farewell to Ding Ancheng and the others, he left. Ding Ancheng asked Yi Roujing and the others to go up first, while he went to help fetch hot water.

The three girls shared a room, and fetching water was such a quality man’s task. The service staff didn’t bother much about it.

The room was on the second floor, in the middle, and wasn’t very big—just enough to fit three beds. The beds weren’t wide, only 1.2 meters. Near the window stood a small desk and a chair, with a desk lamp on the table.

The duvet covers and padded quilts were washed to the point of being faded, but at least they looked clean, considering it was the largest guesthouse in Huaixi County, catering to a wide audience.

"Roujing, do you have any misunderstandings about me?" As soon as they entered the room, Wang Qiushuang looked at Yi Roujing with an aggrieved expression.

"Huh?" Yi Roujing looked puzzled and countered, "What misunderstanding?"

Seeing this, Wang Qiushuang didn’t ask further. After all, Yi Roujing’s temperament had always been like this, doing things as she pleased. It wasn’t the first time. It’s just that Yi Roujing was treating her like when they just met, which wasn’t the case later on.

"I’m going to check on my brother." Ding Anmin wasn’t fond of Wang Qiushuang, finding her too delicate and annoying, so she went downstairs.

Wang Qiushuang sat down on the edge of the bed next to where Yi Roujing was standing. "Roujing, how are things between you and Ancheng now?"

The bed Wang Qiushuang sat on was beside the desk. Yi Roujing leaned against the desk, "You saw it today, it’s just like that."

Inside, Wang Qiushuang scratched like a cat, "Aren’t you taking care of yourself now? I saw you didn’t wear any makeup today. Men like women with makeup."

"Trouble," Yi Roujing responded simply.

"I noticed you haven’t talked much with Ancheng today. You need to take the initiative; men like women who think of them often. Being so cold isn’t okay."

"And today, you shouldn’t have talked back to Ancheng’s colleagues. That’ll make them dislike Ancheng. It’ll harm him. Didn’t I teach you before to go along with his colleagues?"

...

Wang Qiushuang was the same as before, whispering supposedly caring words in Yi Roujing’s ear, making every effort to offer advice and strategies for her. Yi Roujing couldn’t help but want to laugh. How dumb was the original self not to see the intentions behind these words?

"She..." Ding Anmin, who heard from outside, intended to rush in but was stopped by Ding Ancheng.

"Qiushuang, how do you know so much about men without being married?" Yi Roujing asked with a smile.

Wang Qiushuang was momentarily stuck but quickly replied with a chuckle, "Aren’t all men like this? I heard others say so. You’re my best friend, so I share it with you."

"See, previously, thanks to me coming up with ideas, you met Ancheng often enough to successfully marry him." There was a hint of unintended bitterness in Wang Qiushuang’s words.

"Oh, Qiushuang, I forgot to tell you. I relied on my own abilities because I’m beautiful," Yi Roujing smirked, and successfully saw Wang Qiushuang’s face turn livid.

There were plenty of derogatory words for Yi Roujing—vulgar, fool, simpleton—but no one dared to insult her appearance. In Wang Qiushuang’s eyes, Yi Roujing could only surpass her in looks; in everything else, she didn’t even measure up to a single finger of hers.

Wang Qiushuang controlled her facial expression and gradually calmed down, "Roujing, you may be good-looking, but..."

"Qiushuang, you’re acting strange," Yi Roujing interrupted Wang Qiushuang.

"Ah, strange in what way?" Wang Qiushuang looked puzzled.

"Shouldn’t you be more concerned about your good news with that square-faced guy rather than worrying about me and Ding Ancheng? We’ve already tied the knot," Yi Roujing said with amusement.

"I just want your relationship to get better," Wang Qiushuang playfully patted Yi Roujing.

"Qiushuang, let me give you a piece of advice as a married woman," Yi Roujing said with a smile, "When it comes to marital relationships, if outsiders interfere, it easily leads to misunderstandings and conflicts. It’s a matter for two people, and outsiders should not meddle too much."

"I’ll let it go since you’re doing it for my good. But with others, don’t do this, or you might end up causing a well-intentioned deed to backfire."

Yi Roujing’s words sent a chill down Wang Qiushuang’s back. Meeting her generous gaze, Wang Qiushuang instinctively avoided it. She sensed the change in Yi Roujing, who was no longer as easy to manipulate.

"Roujing, did someone tell you something?" Wang Qiushuang asked nervously, "Nothing happened between you and Ancheng, right? I can help explain, I..."

Yi Roujing sighed, "Qiushuang, it seems you didn’t listen to what I just said."

Wang Qiushuang was stunned and looked at Yi Roujing in disbelief. She noticed the biggest difference in Yi Roujing; she had become smarter.

Wang Qiushuang’s thoughts were written all over her face. Yi Roujing found it amusing, "Do you think I’m clever and smart now?"

"Actually, I wasn’t truly dumb before. It’s just that others worried, others took the burden, and I was happy to play the naive fool," Yi Roujing said, "But after getting married and falling into the river, I realized that one must be smart on their own."

The original self was pushed into the river but didn’t see who did it before going under. Yi Roujing didn’t know either. She had observed for a few days but found no one suspicious. To avoid worrying her family, Yi Roujing hadn’t mentioned it.

Wang Qiushuang was a bit overwhelmed by this, because what was unfolding now was a complete reversal of the impression she had of Yi Roujing. Could someone really become so articulate from being so dense? Wang Qiushuang was bewildered.

"Roujing, you’re right," Wang Qiushuang could only agree, "Why hasn’t Anmin come yet? I’ll go check..."

"Brother, I’ll take it in. You’re a man; you’d better not come in," Ding Anmin’s voice came from outside the door. The next moment, she came in with a thermos.

"Sister-in-law, you should see off brother, and maybe let him take you to the Department Store for some shopping to see if there’s anything you want to buy," Ding Anmin said, looking at Yi Roujing.

Yi Roujing hesitated a bit. She wasn’t keen on going out with Ding Ancheng, but after Ding Anmin put down the thermos, she started pushing her toward the door. Ding Anmin had overheard the conversation between Yi Roujing and Wang Qiushuang outside, and it made her understand that the previous foolish behavior of Yi Roujing was influenced by someone else. She mustn’t let her be alone with Wang Qiushuang again.

Calling oneself the best friend, such a friend was scarier than a stranger.

Ding Ancheng stood in the hallway on the second floor. As soon as Yi Roujing came out, she met his exceptionally deep gaze. The two were two meters apart, but during her walk toward him, Ding Ancheng’s gaze never left her, which was intimidating.