Everyone Thought The Fake Heiress Had Her Reasons Ch. 21
The night deepened, and all was silent.
Ming Jiao rested her head on one hand, the well-worn travelogue that had been repeatedly picked up and put down lying beside her.
[I wonder if she’ll come back tonight.] Her gaze drifted vaguely toward the window, not really expecting to see any returning figure, yet unconsciously drawn to look outside.
The System was still immersed in their earlier conversation. [Host, you still haven’t told me why you think those people lurking outside the Rose Garden were sent by Aunt.]
It sounded puzzled. [I don’t think she’d go that far.]
Ming Jiao replied lazily, [Well, System, have you ever heard of the term ‘control freak’?]
The System fell silent briefly, as if thinking, so she continued, [I’m such a useful tool for dealing with the Ming family, but suddenly I’m not behaving. If you were her, would you be willing to let it go? Wouldn’t you want to keep an eye on me, find out what I’m doing, and then target me precisely to regain control?]
The System shivered. [Host, you’re making Aunt sound terrifying.]
[She is a terrifying person. At the very least, I couldn’t calmly encourage one niece to spread rumors about another niece being raped.] Ming Jiao smiled carelessly, a cold mockery flickering in her eyes.
Soon, she analyzed further for the System, [Besides, if you were my fiancé, would you send a few ordinary people to tail me instead of using professional ability user assassins?]
[Ordinary people don’t have the mystique of ability users. If they’re caught, it’s easy to trace their backgrounds. Why would he take such a roundabout, counterproductive approach?]
Ming Jiao concluded leisurely, [Just wait. If it’s Aunt, we’ll get a probing phone call by tomorrow night at the latest.]
The System was somewhat convinced again and was about to say something when its attention was drawn back to the Rose Garden. After observing for a while, it exclaimed in surprise, [Host, the protagonist has gone to the Rose Garden too.]
Ming Jiao instinctively sat up straight, her strikingly beautiful face filled with confusion. [What’s going on?]
[I don’t know.] The System provided a live update as it spoke. [It can’t be that she forgot something and went back to look for it, right?]
It said this offhandedly, not really believing its own speculation.
[Oh, the protagonist seems to have noticed the people lurking outside the Rose Garden.]
After dropping this remark, it fell silent again.
Ming Jiao suppressed the urge to press for details and waited patiently. Sure enough, after a few minutes, the System spoke again. [However, she just observed them covertly for a while and didn’t do anything.]
[Host, this is good news for us.] The System grew increasingly cheerful as it spoke. [If these people really were sent by Aunt, and they’ve caught the protagonist’s attention, she might investigate further and uncover Aunt’s true nature.]
A smile spread across Ming Jiao’s face. [Exactly. Even if she doesn’t find anything in the end, it’s good for her to be more suspicious and cautious of Aunt. Right now, I feel like finding a reliable temple to pray at, hoping these people were indeed sent by Aunt.]
The System murmured in agreement, then suddenly sounded puzzled again. [Huh, Host, the protagonist went to your old room—the one where the assassin climbed through your window.]
Before Ming Jiao could react to its words, the system internally exclaimed, Wow, truly “one takes on the color of their company.” The hunter’s prestige in my mind can never be restored.
But that wasn’t important. What mattered was, 【Why did the protagonist suddenly go to your bedroom?】
A subtle turbulence stirred in Ming Jiao’s captivating peach-blossom eyes as she replied nonchalantly, 【Maybe she suspects my identity and went back to look for clues to confirm it.】
The System froze.
After a long pause, it stammered, 【Uh… really? What do we do then?】
Hearing the panic in its tone, Ming Jiao chuckled. 【What are you imagining? I meant that this world involves supernatural powers. It’s possible for ability users to alter their appearance and impersonate others, so she might suspect I’m an imposter.】
The System breathed a sigh of relief. 【That makes sense.】
Most people wouldn’t think of something like transmigrating into a book. It then resumed its live update for Ming Jiao. 【The protagonist is looking around your room as if searching for something, but not quite.】
Ming Jiao leaned back slowly against the sofa and smiled. 【What kind of contradictory description is that?】
The System explained, 【I mean, she isn’t rummaging through your things, but she’s carefully inspecting hidden corners of the room, as if expecting to find something concealed there.】
Ming Jiao fell into thought. 【That is strange. Does she think my room has been bugged with surveillance or listening devices?】
She seemed to be muttering to herself, yet also addressing the System. 【But why would she suddenly suspect that?】
She felt as though she had grasped a faint thread in the fog, but it was tenuous and elusive.
·
The night had grown deep. Tang Xiaoyu walked alone along the empty, dimly lit street, the hazy glow of streetlamps casting long shadows.
Even though she had left the Rose Garden, the rich fragrance of roses seemed to linger, just like the person she had been reminded of while gazing at the flowers.
Though she hadn’t spent the evening with her, every clue laid out before her was somehow connected to her.
Tang Xiaoyu reflected.
She had gone to the Rose Garden earlier solely to check if Ming Jiao’s former room also contained listening devices. But before she could approach the building, she had spotted people lying in wait nearby.
Whoever was staking out the Rose Garden was undoubtedly targeting Ming Jiao. After some thought, Tang Xiaoyu dismissed the idea that Xie Chu was behind it.
If he could hire a hunter, it wasn’t impossible for him to collude with other criminal ability users.
Even if it wasn’t advisable to send the hunter to investigate, he wouldn’t dispatch ordinary people either. She was certain the hunter had detected her tracking that night.
Xie Chu would surely know that Ming Jiao had at least one ability user protecting her.
Unless these people were sent as a diversion, it could only mean another group had set their sights on Ming Jiao.
As she pondered, she slowly retrieved the silver button from her pocket.
If the person who planted the listening devices and the watchers staking out the area were from different factions, then there were now three parties monitoring Ming Jiao.
Did they, like Xie Chu, want her dead?
Did Ming Jiao herself know this? Or at least sense it? Was that why, on that night, she had said to Tang Xiaoyu, a stranger she had just met, “Countless people want me dead. Perhaps you will be the only one willing to save me”?
The words that had stirred her heartstrings back then now carried double the impact upon reflection with newfound understanding, making her shudder involuntarily for a moment.
Tang Xiaoyu lowered her gaze to stare at the silver button. At any rate, she had already placed ability marks on the watchers. Since the person behind them wasn’t involved in the supernatural world, no one would notice.
Wherever they went, she would be able to track them down. And inevitably, she would follow the trail to uncover the mastermind behind them.
She tucked the silver button away and continued forward.
The bookstore, its presence deliberately blurred by supernatural energy, still glowed with a single lamp.
As she walked, the hem of her clothes swayed gently, gradually tinted with the warm orange hue of the lamplight. Even the silver-rimmed glasses she had put back on seemed to shed a layer of their coldness.
Hearing the approaching footsteps, the person inside the bookstore pushed open the transparent glass door and peeked out, her sleek black hair tied in a ponytail swaying lightly with the movement. Her enchanting, stunning face took on a touch of childish cuteness with that gesture.
Tang Xiaoyu watched her approach, brimming with smiles, her beautiful peach-blossom eyes filled with anticipation and joy at her return—bright and pure.
The question her sister had asked not long ago echoed once more in her ears: “Do you still hate her now?”
Tang Xiaoyu’s steps faltered slightly, but in the end, she still walked toward her.
Did she hate her? she wondered.
·
Ming Jiao studied Tang Xiaoyu’s expression but, as usual, couldn’t discern much emotion. It was clear, though, that she was deep in thought.
Ming Jiao tentatively said, “It’s getting late. Should we rest?”
Even as she said this, recalling her recent visit to the Rose Garden, it was obvious she had discovered something. She might try to probe indirectly or ask directly.
In any case, it was unlikely they would rest.
Sure enough, Tang Xiaoyu’s gaze swept over her. “Asking like that means you have something to say to me.”
So the reverse probing had begun?
Ming Jiao thought for a moment and realized she did have something to say, so she nodded. “I’ll ask my aunt to look into Xie Chu’s matter. The hunter side is your responsibility, but I think that’s still not enough. We should take multiple approaches.”
Tang Xiaoyu faintly anticipated what she was about to say, a ripple of emotion stirring in her dark eyes. Sure enough, she heard, “I can’t stay in the bookstore forever. The value of bait lies in being cast out.”
Tang Xiaoyu frowned. “If we cast you out, how is that any different from letting you live alone in the Rose Garden?”
Her clear, melodious voice carried a hint of chill. “You know I can’t both protect your safety and investigate at the same time, which is why I brought you to the bookstore.”
Ming Jiao said, “I know. Sit down first.”
She nudged Tang Xiaoyu’s straight, bamboo-like back, guiding her to sit on the sofa, then sat across from her and started eating fruit. “I saved these for you. We might as well eat them now so they don’t go stale tomorrow.”
Tang Xiaoyu looked at the plump, bright red strawberries in the fruit bowl, her gaze gradually growing more complex.
Ming Jiao resumed the earlier topic. “This isn’t about me being impatient or risking my safety. It’s just that we don’t have much time left.”
Tang Xiaoyu’s eyes sharpened. “Why?”
Ming Jiao sighed, “Both families and Xie Chu himself want to cancel our engagement. If my sister hadn’t been away on business, we might have already dissolved the engagement by now. I’m fully aware of this situation, but he doesn’t know it—that’s why he’s so eager to eliminate me.”
“Once my sister returns and the engagement is called off, he’ll lose his motive for needing to get rid of me.”
Ming Jiao analyzed, “He’ll probably erase all traces immediately and terminate his contract with the hunter. The hunter might not come after me again out of wounded pride from failing—or maybe they will, but it could be months or even years later. By then, we’d be too passive.”
Tang Xiaoyu had to admit Ming Jiao made a valid point. She had indeed overlooked the role her sister could play in this matter. Besides, even if her sister didn’t handle it, their mother or Grandma would step in, and she had no good reason to stop them.
Seeing Tang Xiaoyu’s silence, Ming Jiao knew she had grasped the crux of the matter. A faint smile touched her red lips as she continued, “So listen to my plan.”
Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu
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