Chapter 118 - What To Do if You’re the Villain and the Heroine Likes You

Meng Qingrou blinked her big eyes as she looked at Xing Er foolishly. "Did my snacks disappear? What are you holding in your hand?" "Xing Er, what did you take out from my room?" Xing Er responded with a poker face, "Oh, it's the clothing you don't wear anymore. I will dispose of it for you." Meng Qingrou thought seriously and said, "But I don't have that many clothes that I don't wear, do I?" Xing Er continued impassively, "You do." Meng Qingrou puzzled, "I don't think I have…" "You do," Xing Er insisted. Meng Qingrou asked, "Do I really have it?" "Think carefully, you do." Feeling uncertain under Xing Er's unwavering confidence, Meng Qingrou finally said, "Okay, then help me get rid of it." Xing Er smiled, "Alright. Has Master He eaten dinner yet? Especially after taking medicine, he needs to eat. Master He, please wait, I will instruct the other maids to prepare a meal for you." He Yunxiao, holding the medicine, didn't know what to say, so he silently commended Xing Er in his heart. Meng Qingrou finally realized that something was amiss. She said, "Xing Er, do you have anything to eat? If so, give Master He some to have with the medicine, then…" Xing Er, in her ruthless machine-like manner, refused, "There's nothing to eat. I'll proceed with cooking." After glancing at Xing Er and then at He Yunxiao, Meng Qingrou noticed that something was off but couldn't pinpoint it. Everything that happened tonight seemed very coincidental, as if some force insisted on keeping He Yunxiao by her side. Meng Qingrou couldn't understand, but it was difficult to change the situation now. She conceded, "Let's proceed with cooking." Xing Er agreed and prepared to leave. However, Meng Qingrou said, "Xing Er, please take care of… him." With stoic rejection, Xing Er continued, "Your Highness, I am very busy." Meng Qingrou asked, "Then what about the others?" "They are also busy preparing meals. Only Your Highness has the time. By the way, Master He, I will warm the medicine for you." Xing Er went to He Yunxiao, took the bowl of medicine he had been holding, and winked at him. He Yunxiao smiled, expressing his profound gratitude. Once Xing Er left, only He Yunxiao and Meng Qingrou remained. Looking at the girl before him, his beloved Nan Zhu, He Yunxiao felt delighted as if his heart had melted just by looking at her. "Nan Zhu…" At He Yunxiao's gaze, Meng Qingrou's heart raced uncontrollably. She knew she couldn't let it show and adopted a confrontational stance, saying, "Did you bribe Xing Er?" He Yunxiao admitted, "I bought many jewelry and cosmetics, hoping to please Xing Er and ask her about your preferences. I really wanted to find a way to win your forgiveness." Though He Yunxiao's words were plain and sincere, they made Meng Qingrou blush. She knew every word he spoke was genuine. Xing Er had confirmed it when she brought back the medicine earlier. He Yunxiao continued, "I didn't expect Xing Er to reject my bribery outright to protect her feelings for you. She even broke the jewelry I offered. After witnessing her sincerity, I abandoned the idea of trying to please her." Meng Qingrou asked, "Did she let you in?" "Yes." She then inquired, "What if she hadn't?" "If she hadn't, I would have waited at the Lingxuan Palace gate until the middle of the night, then left for home. However, I would still come here daily." Convinced by his answer, Meng Qingrou repeatedly shook her head, reminding herself to be cautious of He Yunxiao's deceitful nature. She said, "You don't have to wait outside." He Yunxiao interpreted Meng Qingrou's words as a hint for him to leave but felt reluctant to let go of the chance to stay closer. He pleaded, "Nan Zhu! I must wait! Even if I don't come inside, I will wait outside. I will definitely marry you!" Hearing this, Meng Qingrou's face blushed instantly, nearly breaking her composure again. Rascal! Rogue! Scoundrel! It's too easy for him to talk about marrying someone… How could he say such things so lightly! "I… I didn't tell you to leave. I meant that it's cold at night. You can wait in the courtyard, but you cannot enter the hall, let alone come in suddenly!" He Yunxiao looked at Meng Qingrou, who had softened her stance and found it both moving and amusing. He suddenly felt tempted to mimic their past interactions, teasing Nan Zhu and witnessing her pride, tenderness, fierceness, and anxiety, her moments of calm cuteness and hurried mistakes. However, with his good favor sitting at only 30 points, he forcibly suppressed his urge to tease her. "However," He Yunxiao expressed honestly, "Outside and inside the courtyard are equally cold at night." It was indeed a true statement, and anyone could discern that He Yunxiao was subtly asking to be let inside. Naturally, Meng Qingrou refused, "Since the temperatures are similar, you should wait outside. You are not allowed in." Despite this, He Yunxiao was convinced that good-hearted Nan Zhu wouldn't remain firm. After fishing by the lake, he knew that Nan Zhu was gentle all over. He Yunxiao proposed, "It's bearable during normal times, although it's cold, being a martial artist, I could endure it. However, if it rains, could Your Highness please allow me to take shelter inside the hall?" Meng Qingrou pondered and eventually agreed, "During rainy days, I will let you take shelter inside." He Yunxiao continued, "If it's windy, could I come inside…" "Windy… is also acceptable…" "If there's a sudden drop in temperature, can I come in temporarily…" "Drop in temperature… is also acceptable…" "If I suddenly want to see you, is that okay…" "Want to see me… is okay…" Meng Qingrou repeatedly shook her head and waved her hand. "No, no, that's not allowed!" She inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, realizing she almost fell for his request. He Yunxiao felt regretful. Tricking her outright was quite a challenge. It seemed easier to coax and deceive her. He Yunxiao couldn't help but sigh. While coaxing and deceiving was easier, managing it carelessly could lead to blowing it up and losing her trust. Meng Qingrou, realizing her narrow escape from agreeing to him, felt both embarrassed and irritated. "You're trying to deceive me again!" He Yunxiao, settled and calm, looked into Nan Zhu's crystalline eyes. If possible, he wanted to bare his heart for her to see. "Nan Zhu, Like I have said, from now on, I'll never deceive you." *Translated by Soothsayer.io