Escape the Miaojiang Villain - Chapter 23
Chapter 23: Prophetic Bizzare Dream-Tenderness
When Tu Lingxiang woke up the next morning, she was still lying on the bed in the exact same position as before.
The moment she opened her eyes and saw Lian jing right in front of her face, she let out a sharp cry of shock.
“What’s all the fuss about? Haven’t you ever seen a handsome man before?”
Lian jing snorted in disdain and turned away.
It took Tu Lingxiang a long moment to process the situation and realize that she and Lian jing were lying in the very same bed.
Astonished, she asked, “Young Master, why are you sleeping here?”
“Where else would I sleep if not here? This is my bed,” he said, lying by her side and glancing at her askance.
“Don’t tell me you expect this young master to sleep on the floor?”
“But… isn’t there another room next door?”
“I’m not used to sleeping there.”
“…Alright then.”
Tu Lingxiang was left speechless.
Wasn’t he supposed to be a neat freak? How could he tolerate sharing a bed with someone else?
He wore only a single layer of thin sleepwear—a deep crimson robe embroidered with subtle orchid patterns.
His long hair cascaded over his shoulders, his collar slightly open to reveal pale white skin.
The sunlight filtering through the carved wooden window fell softly upon him, casting his entire person in a lazy, sickly sort of beauty.
She had forgotten that he had been nursing an injury all along.
Flustered, she averted her eyes and looked down at herself.
Her clothes were still on, crumpled and wrinkled from sleep, though her back still throbbed with a dull pain.
Glancing curiously at Lian jing, she asked, “Young Master, the sun is already high in the sky. Are you not getting up yet?”
Didn’t he claim before that he woke up at precisely six fifteen every single morning?
Lian jing, however, suddenly leaned over toward her.
With a coy, spoiled smile on his face, he asked, “Little Slave Bell, are you satisfied with this master’s bed-accompanying service?”
At this moment, he looked like a young child eagerly waiting to receive a glowing review.
Tu Lingxiang was completely unaccustomed to his sudden shift in demeanor.
How could a grand villain suddenly become so soft-spoken and overly sweet?
Then she recalled that the character concept she had designed for him in the first place was precisely that of a yandere.
How could she possibly dare say she wasn’t satisfied? She could only nod and say, “Satisfied.”
Lian jing’s smile bloomed slightly brighter.
“Then how about I continue sleeping with you tonight?”
Tu Lingxiang froze, shaking her head frantically.
Propping his head on one hand with effortless grace, Lian jing lowered his gaze to look into her eyes and said, “Didn’t you say you were satisfied? If you’re satisfied, why won’t you let me keep accompanying you?”
Meeting his pupils, Tu Lingxiang saw two tiny reflections of herself in his shimmering eyes—haggard and unwell.
She said, “Young Master, you should spend more time with Miss Sang yue instead. Be careful her heart doesn’t get stolen away by another man.”
Just wait until the female lead falls for the male lead later on—you’ll be crying your eyes out then.
Lian jing stared at her without blinking and said, “No matter where she runs off to, she has to marry me. But Little Slave Bell… your heart must belong to me.”
Tu Lingxiang was stunned, looking as if she had been scared senseless.
It took a long time before she lowered her dense eyelashes to conceal the panic in her eyes.
Yet Lian jing used one hand to cup half of her face, forcing her to look up at him as he said, “Little Slave Bell, shall I come keep you company again tonight?”
Uncomprehending confusion filled Tu Lingxiang’s eyes; she truly could not fathom his inner thoughts.
“Young Master, what do you mean by this?”
The corners of his peach-blossom eyes curved slightly as he said, “Since you’ve been tattooed with my lotus, you are my person from now on.”
The moment that lotus was mentioned, anger surged within her.
She didn’t even know if it could be removed in the future; she certainly didn’t want to carry his mark for the rest of her life.
She tried to climb up, but her back still hurt terribly.
Lian jing pressed her back down.
“Just lie down properly. These next two days, this young master will take care of you.”
Take care of her?
Was he sure it was “taking care” and not “tormenting”?
She asked tentatively, “Then… I don’t have to do any chores today?”
“Of course not.”
“And I don’t have to go out to buy food for you either?”
“Let Huo xin go.”
“Can I really… just lie here like this all day?” She still couldn’t bring herself to believe it.
When things were this unusual, there was bound to be a trap.
What new trick was Lian jing cooking up to torture her now?
“Not only can you lie here like this, but this master will personally attend to you.”
He got out of bed, draped an outer robe over his shoulders, and fetched water for her to wash up.
Just like the previous night, his actions were meticulous and gentle.
Such a complete 180-degree turnaround filled Tu Lingxiang with utter dread.
Besides helping her wash up, he actually brought over food to feed her himself.
This was the very first time he had willingly given her food since abducting her.
Although she had sneaked a few meals behind his back, this was the first time he had actively provided one.
Watching him feed her with such a gentle expression, she trembled and said, “Young Master, please don’t be like this… I’m scared…”
Lian jing maintained a faint smile on his face throughout—a smile that was neither a sinister sneer nor a genuine grin, but an indescribable, artificial smile.
“What is there to be afraid of? Does this young master eat people?”
If you actually ate people, wouldn’t that be even worse?!
Holding a jade bowl, he scooped up a spoon of plain porridge, brought it to her lips, and coaxed her with extreme patience.
“Ah, open wide.”
Forced to open her mouth, Tu Lingxiang swallowed the vegetable porridge spoonful by spoonful, unable to stop her mind from guessing: What major evil plot is Lian jing holding back this time?
“Little Slave Bell, you sure can eat. But fortunately, this young master has money and can afford to keep you.”
“…”
Tu Lingxiang held back the urge to roll her eyes.
She had only eaten a bowl of porridge, a small side dish, and a steamer basket of buns—how was that “eating a lot”?
What a stingy tyrant.
For the rest of the day, he attended to her hand and foot without even taking off his outer coat, even asking her, “Little Slave Bell, do you need to use the privy? I can carry you there.”
Her face flushed bright red, and she shook her head furiously.
“No! I don’t!”
What on earth was wrong with this damned Lian jing? Was he possessed by someone?
“That won’t do. For the sake of my bed, I’d better take you there anyway.”
As he spoke, he bent down. To avoid touching her wounds, he first pulled her arm over his shoulder, wrapped one hand around her shoulders and the other under her legs, and gently scooped her up into his arms.
“Young Master, I really don’t need to go…” How could she possibly have the face to use the privy in front of him?!
Nestled in his embrace, her eyes naturally landed on his jawline—sharp, defined, smooth, and cold. She found herself unable to avert her gaze for a long time.
He had never held her like this before. In the past, he had always dragged, pulled, hauled, or slung her around without a shred of pity.
Today’s bridal carry was a complete first.
He had never liked physical contact of this sort. The last time he carried Sang yu, the moment he realized she wasn’t Sang yue, he immediately dumped her onto the ground.
Yet why was he holding her like this today?
If he didn’t like it, why do it? It had to be for some hidden motive.
But what objective could he possibly need to achieve by treating her like this?
If he wanted something done, couldn’t he just order her directly?
She couldn’t understand it.
Since he wanted to play weird, she might as well play along and see if he got scared.
Leaning against his chest with a shy, flower-like expression, she spoke in a soft, delicate tone.
“Young Master, if you treat A-Ling like this, A-Ling will fall in love with you.”
Sure enough, Lian jing’s footsteps came to a sudden halt.
Whether he was disgusted by her unnaturally sweet voice or not, he remained frozen for a long moment.
Lowering his raven-feather eyelashes, he looked down at her in his arms and asked, “Fall in love?”
Tu Lingxiang looked back at him earnestly with her almond-shaped eyes and nodded her chin.
“Mm, fall in love.”
Lian jing stood dazed for quite some time, his pupils gradually losing focus as if lost in thought. Only after a long while did he regain his composure, offering a faint smile.
“Then you’d better hurry up and fall in love with me.”
“???”
Tu Lingxiang admitted defeat.
Lian jing truly was completely invulnerable; even after she said something like that, he remained entirely unfazed.
Didn’t he despise her?
When someone you despise falls in love with you, shouldn’t you feel disgusted?
How could he react so casually?
Right now, shouldn’t he be fleeing in disgust while tossing a few harsh words at her, like: “Tu Lingxiang, someone like you thinks they’re worthy?”
Lian jing wasn’t Sun Wukong—how could he have seventy-two transformations like this?
He actually carried her all the way to the latrine. No matter how thick-skinned she was, she couldn’t possibly use the bathroom right in front of him.
What kind of pervert was this guy? How did he have such weird quirks?
She simply closed her eyes tight, her arms stiffly wrapping around his neck, looking completely resigned to whatever fate held for her.
He stood at the doorway for a long time. Seeing that she wasn’t letting go, he said, “Tu Lingxiang, don’t tell me you want me to help you.”
He really takes me for a pervert.
“Huh?” Tu Lingxiang opened her eyes abruptly, her expression practically asking: Wasn’t that your plan all along?!
He set her down on the ground, turned around, pulled the door shut, and commanded with a dark face, “I’m only giving you a count of three. One…”
What?
A count of three?
How could she possibly be that fast?!
Besides, she was still an injured patient right now!
“Two.”
“Young Master, wait! Wait!” she shouted at the top of her lungs.
Lianjing actually held back that third count for a remarkably long time.
Dead guy, evil to the core!
She kept cursing him relentlessly in her heart.
Quickly finishing up, she opened the door and said, “Young Master, I’m done.”
He walked over and carried her all the way back again.
This kind of life continued until the third day. Tu Lingxiang lay on the bed and asked him, “Young Master, tomorrow is the final trial of the marital contest. How do you want me to help you?”
In the book, the third trial was a contest to find a spirit venom-gu insect. In the end, Lian jing emerged victorious, but he had used underhanded schemes to win; the male lead failed to obtain the gu insect precisely because he fell victim to Lian jing’s plot.
Still, was there anything here she needed to help with?
What could she even do to help him?
Lian jing, however, kept her in suspense.
“Tomorrow, you’ll find out.”
—
The following day, the marital contest proceeded as scheduled.
When they arrived at the arena, Tu Lingxiang was surprised to spot Zhang Haiming there.
Puzzled, she went over to ask Sang yue, “Miss Sangyue, didn’t Zhang Haiming lose to my young master that day? Why is he participating in this trial again?”
Sang yue explained with a smile, “Miss Ling, it’s like this: that day, the match between Young Master Lian and Young Master Zhang didn’t produce a clear winner in the true sense, so my father suggested letting him participate in this final trial as well.”
Hearing this, Tu Lingxiang instantly understood the Miao King’s intentions.
He undoubtedly knew that Zhang Haiming and Lian jing held a grudge against each other, so he deliberately added him to the trial to borrow a knife to kill a man.
He wanted to use Zhang Haiming as a weapon to eliminate Lian jing.
Who would have thought that a simple marital contest could be shrouded in so many schemes? She looked at Sang yue with a hint of sympathy; Sang yue couldn’t choose her own love and was forced to become a sacrificial pawn for her family.
“Miss Sang yue, you will definitely marry the person you wish to marry,” she said with absolute certainty.
Marrying the second male lead was only temporary; she would surely spend the rest of her life with her true love in the end.
Sang yue smiled brightly, the silver ornaments on her head glistening under the light as her red lips opened and closed.
“Miss Ling, then I thank you for your blessings. You too will definitely marry the person you wish to marry.”
“Huh? Miss Ling, who is the person you want to marry? Tell me quickly!” Sang qing’s voice suddenly rang out from behind. It was impossible to tell where he had popped up from.
Tu Lingxiang turned around to see his youthful, energetic face. He wore a set of light blue Miao garments, his neck covered with silver ornaments, and a braid draped over his chest, exuding the vibrant vitality of a young boy.
Why had he come to the marital contest?
He had never shown up here before.
Seeing her dazed expression, Sang qing asked again, “Miss Ling, who is it after all? Don’t tell me it’s your young master.”
She immediately shook her head.
“How could that be? How could I possibly want to marry him?”
He pressed on relentlessly.
“Then who do you want to marry?”
“Nobody. I don’t want to marry anyone.”
She glanced toward the distance and saw Lian jing staring in her direction.
She hurriedly turned to head back, but Sang qing followed behind her like a tail, asking, “Miss Ling, why aren’t you wearing the clothes I gave you? Do you not like them?”
Tu Lingxiang paused in her tracks, turned around, and replied, “I like them! I like them very much.”
Unfortunately, they’ve all been destroyed.
“Then why aren’t you wearing them?” Sang qing asked.
“I… I couldn’t bear to wear them out of fear of ruining them.”
She didn’t dare look him in the eyes; lying was hardly her strong suit.
“What’s there to fear? If you like them, I can give you more—I’ll bring you plenty!”
“No, no, no, there’s no need! My wardrobe won’t be able to fit them all!”
If you send more, they’ll just fall under Lian jing’s scissors again.
She added, “Sang qing, don’t keep following me around. The trial is about to start soon, and I have to enter the valley with Young Master shortly.”
Sang qing smiled and made a promise with her: “Then I’ll come look for you inside the Gusheng Valley later.”
Tu Lingxiang wanted to tell him not to come looking for her, but Sang qing had already turned around and run off.
She walked back to Lian jing’s side. He was standing leisurely beneath the arena stage with his arms crossed over his chest.
Huo xin held a green jade folding fan to fan him.
Looking at him, he didn’t seem like someone here to participate in a competition, but rather someone out on a leisurely stroll.
Since the wounds on her back had not yet fully healed, chores like this had fallen upon Huo xin recently.
“Fan harder. There’s a strong smell of a fox.”
Following his stern command, Huo xin immediately applied more force.
Standing nearby, Tu Lingxiang was caught in the draft as well, the powerful wind blowing her hair into a gentle flutter.
Stepping back two paces, she lowered her head and sniffed herself—where was there any fox smell?
Only after a moment did she realize that this damned Lian jing was taking such a roundabout way just to hurl an insult.
Lian jing cast a sideways glance at her.
“Why are you hiding so far away? Are you that afraid of letting others see you standing close to me?”
