Chapter 52

But as Jiang Sishui said, if Shen Lang were truly that outstanding and had been so kind to her, would she really have given him her true heart?

Bai Feifei could not answer.

But this question was no longer important, because she had already given her body to Jiang Sishui—what did it matter if she and Shen Lang were destined lovers in the story?

Thinking of this, she could not help recalling the scenes of last night, and Jiang Sishui's determined vow to find her again.

When she saw Jiang Sishui recite her tragic past word for word, Bai Feifei suddenly felt a sting in her nose; an overwhelming sense of injustice surged into her heart, making her want to cry.

At that moment, she nearly gave in and went straight to find Jiang Sishui.

…

"Oh no, Cousin's bride is gone."

Shen Bijun silently mourned for Shen Lang for one second.

"Two-five-zero"—Bai Feifei had already given herself to Jiang Sishui; no matter whether Shen Lang could still meet her in reality, they were finished.

Then Shen Bijun furrowed her brows: "Uncle's death back then was suspicious; Cousin searched for years but never uncovered the truth. In the story, Uncle was killed by the Happy King—what about in reality?"

"Could it be the same?"

Shen Bijun's expression shifted unpredictably.

When Shen Tianjun was alive, the Shen family was mighty and renowned in Suzhou.

After Shen Tianjun's unfortunate death, the Shen family's standing in the Jianghu plummeted.

For this reason, her mother Shen Feiyun had even considered marrying her off to Lian Chengbi, the lord of Wugou Shanzhuang, to form an alliance through marriage and restore their influence.

But before she could act, the Murong clan came to their door, demanding their submission.

Fortunately, Shen Lang returned in time from his travels and defeated Murong Fu directly, resolving the crisis.

Seeing how powerful Shen Lang was, Shen Feiyun felt the Shen family now had a protector, so she temporarily set aside the marriage plan.

"Regardless of whether this is true or false, I must tell Cousin."

Shen Bijun thought silently.

【Just as their feelings were deepening, Bai Jing intervened】

【Because Bai Jing believed romantic love would dull Bai Feifei's ambition and make her forget her mission】

【To break them apart, Bai Jing struck Shen Lang with a "Yin-Yang Sha"】

【"Yin-Yang Sha," nicknamed "Forbidden Love Palm," was an extremely venomous palm technique—those struck could never feel love or anger】

【If they felt love, their body burned like fire; if they felt anger, their body froze like ice】

【Huh, if you fell in love in winter and got angry in summer, wouldn't that beat central heating and air conditioning?】

【But you probably wouldn't live long anyway, because prolonged exposure to alternating heat and cold would drain the victim to death】

【When Bai Feifei saw Shen Lang suffering terribly, she begged Bai Jing for mercy—failed, and instead enraged Bai Jing, who struck her too with a "Yin-Yang Sha"】

【Unable to grow old together, they decided to die together and cherish their final moments】

【But an accident occurred】

"Yin-Yang Sha? Is there really such a sinister technique in the world?"

The women were both curious and fearful.

To be struck by such a palm and never be allowed to feel love or anger for life—that was terrifying.

Bai Feifei remained silent, gaining another layer of understanding toward Bai Jing's cruelty and ruthlessness.

【Back to the Happy King's plan to trade Bai Feifei for Li Qingluo with Zhu Fugui】

【When the Happy King's wedding party arrived at the Zhu household, they learned Li Qingluo had died many years ago】

【Heartbroken, the Happy King still desecrated Li Qingluo's remains】

【Zhu Fugui naturally refused to die rather than reveal where her bones lay; the two sides remained deadlocked】

【But the Zhu family was weak, and under the relentless pressure of the Wu Lin overlord, the Happy King, they felt immense strain】

【At this moment, Shen Lang devised a plan: let Zhu Fugui fake his death; once dead, no one would know where Li Qingluo's bones were, and the Happy King would naturally lose interest】

【Zhu Fugui followed his plan】

【Though the plan succeeded, because the dagger and poison Zhu Fugui used to fake his suicide were given by Shen Lang, Shen Lang was falsely accused by ignorant people of murdering Zhu Fugui】

【Zhu Fugui's daughter Zhu Qiqi, due to a misunderstanding, became entangled with Shen Lang and eventually clung to him】

【And this Zhu Qiqi was the female lead of Wu Lin Wai Shi】

"So I'm in this too?"

Zhu Qiqi froze again.

But remembering how often the Zhu family appeared in the story—and as enemies of the Happy King—it was clearly an important role.

Her appearance as the Zhu family's Young Lady seemed perfectly reasonable.

As for her being the female lead?

Zhu Qiqi was not at all surprised.

Because she was born a favored child of heaven—so it was in reality, so it must be in the story.

"Even after her mother died, the Happy King wouldn't let her rest—what a twisted, obsessive monster!"

Zhu Qiqi frowned in disgust, yet inside she wasn't worried at all.

Because in the story, the Zhu family relied on some Benevolence Shanzhuang—but in reality, the Zhu family were imperial relatives!

Just look at her surname.

The Happy King might be powerful; she'd heard his name even in Jinzhou—but no matter how strong he was, could he challenge the Great Ming imperial house?

Meanwhile, some had a morbid thought: "Bai Feifei, Zhu Qiqi—those names clearly mark them as rivals!"

【Unlike Bai Feifei, Zhu Qiqi had been raised since childhood with a "golden spoon" in her mouth, doted on by countless people, living like a "Princess"】

【Throughout the story, Zhu Qiqi almost always played the troublemaker—but no matter how much chaos she caused, someone always bailed her out】

【This made Bai Feifei immensely jealous and resentful.】

【The only thing that gave Bai Feifei any comfort was that she still had Shen Lang.】

【But because Shen Lang had promised Zhu Fugui that he would look after his daughter, he spent the whole day running errands for her.】

【And every time Shen Lang and Bai Feifei grew even slightly amorous, Zhu Qiqi would just happen to stir up some trouble.】

【At that moment, Shen Lang would abandon Bai Feifei and go look after Zhu Qiqi instead.】

【This made Bai Feifei seethe with secret hatred.】

【Bai Feifei went to talk to Shen Lang about it, but Shen Lang brushed her off with the excuse that "Zhu Qiqi can't take care of herself."】

【At the time I thought it was utterly laughable — he and his girlfriend were both on the brink of death, yet he still had the mind to meddle in other people's affairs everywhere, even cold-shouldering Bai Feifei, who was about to die with him.】

【What do you call this? The child who cries the loudest gets the candy?】

【Bai Feifei was deeply grieved, yet utterly helpless.】

【Those who have been starved of love, the moment they finally possess it, either cling to it desperately or silently compromise — and Bai Feifei chose the latter, because she didn't want to see Shen Lang put in a difficult spot.】

【Shen Lang was very pleased about this.】

【Watching the days slip by one by one, her injuries growing ever more severe, Bai Feifei had already made her preparations to die together with Shen Lang.】

【But when she woke up one morning, she discovered she hadn't died — instead, she was back in Ghost Palace, and the "Yin-Yang Sha" afflicting her had been dissolved by Bai Jing.】

【Bai Jing claimed that Shen Lang had abandoned their love in order to save himself.】

【Bai Feifei naturally didn't believe it, and worrying about Shen Lang's safety, she hurried off to find him — only to catch Shen Lang, alive and bouncing about, flirting and bantering with Zhu Qiqi.】

【From that moment on, Bai Feifei's heart died.】

"Ah? Am I really that annoying in the story?"

Seeing this, Zhu Qiqi immediately pulled a long face....

After learning Bai Feifei's past, she felt deep sympathy for her.

But she hadn't expected that the one thing this woman she pitied possessed — the only thing she had — was something she herself had snatched away.

And that too at the very moment the two of them were about to die together, she had poached Bai Feifei's man right out from under her.

Now, looking at it from a bystander's perspective, she had even grown to dislike herself.

But on second thought — if she really fell in love with a man, would she choose to give up just because he already had someone he loved?

Zhu Qiqi searched her own heart.

After a long silence, she finally arrived at a truth that even startled herself —

No!

Because in her view, as long as you like someone, you must pursue them boldly — not look ahead and behind, timid and hesitant.

In other words, even if Zhu Qiqi knew the plot, if the things from the story were still happening to her, she would still snatch the man away from Bai Feifei!