Chapter 36

After all, Ming Jiao was not an insensitive person. She noticed the change in Tang Xiaoyu’s mood—though she couldn’t pinpoint any specific turmoil, she keenly sensed her low spirits.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Her thoughts raced, drawing from past experiences with friends, and she seemed to have an epiphany, fixing Tang Xiaoyu with an intense gaze.

Tang Xiaoyu hadn’t expected Ming Jiao to be so perceptive, especially since she herself hadn’t fully understood why she was feeling down.

But in her line of sight, Ming Jiao had already risen from her seat. Soon, a soft warmth pressed close, accompanied by the scent of roses, as Ming Jiao settled on the armrest of the sofa where she sat.

She instinctively looked up and saw Ming Jiao’s bright, sparkling eyes fixed on her, the corners of her lips curved into a charming smile, brimming with unwavering confidence.

Tang Xiaoyu was dazzled by her smile, feeling a vague sense of panic, but she managed to maintain her usual tone. “Don’t sit there.”

Since when had Ming Jiao ever obediently listened? Not only did she not leave, but she leaned in even closer, her arm exerting just enough force to support Tang Xiaoyu’s back. “I understand, Nightingale.”

Tang Xiaoyu had no idea what she understood, but she instinctively straightened her spine in response to Ming Jiao’s movement, bringing them even closer.

The warmth from Ming Jiao’s palm, seeping through the thin fabric of her shirt, wasn’t scorching. Its owner seemed to have a naturally lower body temperature. Yet, the sensation was like a falling ember—initially unnoticeable, but by the time its heat became apparent, the fire had already grown too intense, as if it would burn through her lightweight clothing and sear straight into her heart.

Tang Xiaoyu raised her hand, intending to push her away slightly, but for the first time, she found her arm not as agile as she had imagined—it felt stiff and clumsy.

Just then, Ming Jiao’s laughter-laced voice reached her. “I know you’re jealous.”

Tang Xiaoyu froze, her eyes widening as she stared at her.

Ming Jiao was in an exceptionally good mood, better than ever before. She had had many friends in the past and knew that possessiveness and jealousy could exist even among friends. Connecting this to Tang Xiaoyu’s earlier mood swings, she understood.

Tang Xiaoyu must already consider her a friend, which was why she felt down upon seeing her meticulously preparing a gift for another friend.

Who wouldn’t want their friend’s undivided attention and to feel that their sentiments were uniquely cherished?

So, no matter what kind of relationship it was, there would always be selfish desires. Familial love, friendship, romantic love—they were all the same. There was no need to overly romanticize any one type of emotion or feel ashamed of having selfish inclinations. As long as one could maintain a balance, it was perfectly fine.

Having reasoned this through, Ming Jiao felt particularly elated. She thought that if Tang Xiaoyu wanted it, she wouldn’t hesitate to design not just one dress for her, but ten, or even a hundred.

She leaned in slightly, trying to catch the rare turbulence in Tang Xiaoyu’s eyes, now that her thoughts had been laid bare.

Her eyes were truly beautiful—deep and dark, like the most flawless black pearls.

And she was the same as her eyes: though her thoughts and feelings were complex, both her heart and character were pure and untainted.

“You’re jealous. You care about where my attention is directed. You no longer see me as just a pitiful victim.”

Her tone was resolute. “You’ve started to see me as a friend.”

Ming Jiao’s words brought Tang Xiaoyu a sudden sense of relief, and she overlooked what her original tension had truly been about.

Relaxation gave way to deeper embarrassment. She didn’t dare push the other person away forcefully, only intending to gently remove the arm wrapped around her back, but she didn’t succeed. “Stop fooling around.”

“I’m not fooling around.”Ming Jiao had finally seen the invisible favorability bar clearly rise, no longer needing to speculate blindly through a fog. How could she easily give up? “Nightingale, just tell me—you don’t dislike me anymore, do you?”

Do you still hate her?

Do you not dislike me anymore?

So, even through the guise of a stranger, she had sensed it.

Tang Xiaoyu’s figure paused. It made sense—she had always been perceptive. Otherwise, how could she have remained wary and suspicious of Aunt and Xie Chu while everyone else was lost in illusions? And the facts had proven her wariness and suspicions were not unfounded.

So, what exactly were her feelings toward Ming Jiao now? Tang Xiaoyu’s eyelashes fluttered lightly. Perhaps ever since she said, “I won’t be disappointed in you,” she had already stopped wanting to dislike her.

“I…” Tang Xiaoyu gazed at Ming Jiao, the mist that had always veiled her emotions in her jet-black eyes dissipating, revealing a trace of her true feelings. “I consider you a friend.”

Because I consider you a friend, that’s why I want to help you, that’s why I want to hold expectations for you.

No longer just for her deceased parents, nor for the Ming family.

Perhaps it had long ceased to be solely for them.

The words “I consider you a friend” echoed in Ming Jiao’s ears like countless fireworks exploding in the dark night sky—stunning and dazzling.

The corners of her lips lifted, and her exquisite face bloomed into a full smile.

This was the first time Tang Xiaoyu had seen Ming Jiao smile like this. Whether in the past or present, her smiles had always been tainted with impure undertones.

There was the arrogance of looking down on others, the casual indifference, the cynical aloofness, and more often than not, her smiles felt chilling.

Although Ming Jiao never directed such expressions at her, they still carried an overwhelming sense of distance, often making Tang Xiaoyu feel as though Ming Jiao were an isolated island in the sea—visible yet surrounded by vast waters and mist, impossible to fully comprehend.

Only now was she purely carefree, genuinely happy.

If she could keep her this happy, it would be a good thing. A soft glow shimmered in Tang Xiaoyu’s dark eyes, complementing her porcelain-white complexion, and for a fleeting moment, a hint of tenderness seemed to ripple through.

Ming Jiao’s smile lingered for a few seconds before she seemed to remember something. She reached up, removed the bow hair clip from her hair, and placed it in Tang Xiaoyu’s palm.

As Tang Xiaoyu blinked in slight confusion, Ming Jiao chuckled softly. “I think you look the prettiest and most fitting wearing this. Unlike me, who had to style my hair in a high ponytail and curl it before going out just to wear it.”

She lifted a strand of her long hair, which had already lost its slight waves. “See, it’s back to normal now. So, it still looks better on you.”

“I want…”

I want to see you wear that white gauze dress with it, she almost said, but the words twisted on her tongue and became, “I want to make many beautiful dresses for you. It’ll look even better on you then.”

Tang Xiaoyu was taken aback, her heartbeat inexplicably quickening. She didn’t know if it was because of Ming Jiao’s praise, the promise to design clothes for her, or simply because Ming Jiao was standing too close, the scent of roses too intoxicating.

Perhaps she had truly felt a twinge of envy earlier toward the friend Ming Jiao mentioned—not because of the dress itself, but because of Ming Jiao’s sincerity, and because she had once harbored hopes of getting along well with Ming Jiao.

Maybe, in the end, things could be considered… different paths leading to the same destination.

“Alright, go back and eat properly.”

Having gotten what she wanted, Ming Jiao now realized how close she and Tang Xiaoyu were standing.

Although Tang Xiaoyu had held her on the night she was rescued, the stench of blood and the looming threat of death had left no room for any romantic thoughts.

Now, recalling that night, aside from the heart-pounding terror, she sensed another strange, thrilling atmosphere.

Tang Xiaoyu’s soft shoulders and back had been held by her all along, the familiar fragrance and warmth overwhelming her senses. Their proximity made their mingled breaths feel like an illusion of intimacy.

Ming Jiao felt dazed for a few moments. When she felt a gentle push on her arm, she immediately stood up. “Let’s eat, let’s eat.”

Returning to her seat, she calmed her racing heartbeat and noticed Tang Xiaoyu’s jade-like face had returned to its usual composure, though her long eyelashes fluttered faintly. She didn’t seem to be in a bad mood, though.

Ming Jiao reflected on herself—she had been rather restless that evening, testing step by step the limits of Tang Xiaoyu’s patience.

So, it was better to quiet down now.

Fortunately, she had gotten everything she wanted, and even more. She felt quite pleased.

·

The next day, Ming Jiao received the investigation materials sent by Shi Yan. Of course, she went out to retrieve them, since the location of the bookstore couldn’t be exposed—even if she wanted to reveal it, ordinary people wouldn’t be able to find it.

With time and interest to spare, Ming Jiao went through the materials from start to finish. She discovered that, aside from spying on her and spreading rumors about Tang Xiaoyu being an illegitimate child, her Aunt had also been involved in various other minor schemes targeting her sister and adoptive mother.

Moreover, although Shi Yan had investigated the Aunt, the original host had been so close to her Aunt that they were practically inseparable. Thus, the materials inevitably included some of the foolish things the original host had done in the past.

Ming Jiao tossed the documents aside in disgust, suddenly reluctant to show them to Tang Xiaoyu.

Even though Tang Xiaoyu already knew about those foolish acts—and had even witnessed most of them firsthand—having her review and recall them in front of her felt utterly humiliating.

One should not, at the very least, have to endure such social death while still alive.

Then again, given Tang Xiaoyu’s personality, she would probably conduct her own investigation when she had the time. Then, at the right moment, she would lay everything out before the Ming family.

Ming Jiao guessed that, for now, Tang Xiaoyu had only told Ming Yue.

As for her sister, she was away on a business trip—such matters were better discussed face-to-face.

As for her adoptive mother, considering her poor health, it was only considerate to wait. The same went for Grandma—she was elderly, and rushing to tell her everything before it was clear would only cause unnecessary worry. Did they want to shorten her lifespan?

Then there was Uncle’s family abroad—they were too far away to help. Telling them about all this would only stir up trouble out of envy for their carefree lives?

Besides, a child who grew up without anyone to rely on, no matter what personality they developed, would always carry a stubborn independence deep inside, unwilling to depend on others.

They would handle everything themselves and only present the results to others when it was all over.

The System watched its host sketching design drafts, alternating between expressions of agony and sighs of frustration, and couldn’t help but ask with concern, 【What’s wrong, Host? Is your inspiration blocked?】

Ming Jiao, 【Not exactly. I’m just feeling pity for a tragic beauty with both strength and suffering.】

·

Several more uneventful days passed, so calm that even Ming Jiao had to admire Xie Chu’s composure.

If she wanted to eliminate someone, she would find a way to speed up the process no matter what, especially with a previous failed attempt as precedent.

Yet Xie Chu, to avoid raising suspicion, not only remained restrained at the banquet—showing no emotion and making no attempts to probe—but also didn’t request to meet her even once during this period.

After all, the original host’s affection for him was undisguised and widely known, something he understood better than anyone.

Under such circumstances, it would normally be effortless for him to call and ask a few probing questions to clarify everything, or even arrange a meeting without difficulty.

But he managed to suppress his pride in having absolute control over the original host, adhering strictly to caution—no simple feat.

Similarly, Tang Xiaoyu hadn’t returned either, though Ming Jiao wasn’t completely in the dark about her activities.

As someone widely disliked with enemies everywhere, scaring off one Xu Tingting and leaving a motionless Xie Chu aside, there were still plenty who wished to see her down and out.

For instance, a few superficial friends from her past occasionally shared photos of social gatherings within their circle.

Since the Ming family had revoked her various membership cards, she probably couldn’t even enter those places anymore.

But that wasn’t important. What mattered were the attendees—like Tang Xiaoyu, Xie Chu, and others who didn’t get along with her.

Whether their intent was to mock or provoke her was irrelevant. After all, she was currently engrossed in urban supernatural genres and had temporarily lost interest in power struggles among wealthy families.

As expected, Xie Chu began subtly laying his trap for Tang Xiaoyu, while Tang Xiaoyu deliberately allowed his approach.

In this battle of masters, the roles of hunter and prey could reverse at any moment. She always hoped Tang Xiaoyu would be the hunter and maintain that advantage.

It would be even better if she could help, but unfortunately, there was no place for her on that stage yet.

At this thought, Ming Jiao curled her lips into a smile, reined in her wandering thoughts, and focused on revising her design draft.

This was the final version, the limit of her current abilities—no further improvements came to mind.

Fortunately, she was quite satisfied with this draft.

When she was deeply engrossed in work or training, the System would enter silent mode, never disturbing her. But now it suddenly spoke up, 【Host, your sister is here.】

---

Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu

Please support us on Ko-Fi.

---