After Marrying the Cold and Elegant Beauty, I Fell in Love (GL) - Chapter 22.1

[System: Congratulations, Host! Shen Yuru’s heart healing progress has increased by 5%, currently standing at 45%. A friendly reminder: while her heart healing is progressing steadily, please pay attention to her Blackening Value. If it gets too high, it will affect the progress of the healing, and certain accidents could even cause the healing progress to rebound.]

In the bathroom, Han Shuangshuang sat on a small stool with a fawning smile, serving Shen Yuru.

Her attitude was extremely serious and her expression solemn, for fear that Shen Yuru might misunderstand her as a lecher looking to take advantage.

After all, big villains are temperamental; one second they might be smiling at you, and the next they might explode in rage just because your eyes wandered for a moment.

On the contrary, Han Shuangshuang felt that this was more of a test from Shen Yuru.

In that novel with skewed values, the early stages involved the male lead, Long Aodi, creating various motives to proactively establish a connection with Shen Yuru. Meanwhile, the female lead, Han Ruhua, was more like a brainless “simp” following behind him. Eventually, the male lead got what he wanted, abandoned Shen Yuru, and turned around to be with Han Ruhua. Shen Yuru couldn’t handle the blow, which led to her blackening.

She ended up eliminating everyone who had once bullied or harmed her.

As for herself, Han Shuangshuang felt she had significantly changed the direction of the original plot because, thanks to her, Shen Yuru had now broken off contact with Long Aodi.

Following that spiked drink incident, she was the one who spent the night with Shen Yuru.

But why hadn’t Shen Yuru’s Blackening Value dropped significantly?

Han Shuangshuang couldn’t figure that out.

She also couldn’t understand why Shen Yuru, who was so determined that morning to part ways and never meet again, suddenly brought up the matter of her taking responsibility.

In the original book, the original host was merely a cannon-fodder character used to drive the plot, with very little screen time, likely serving as a catalyst for the villain’s blackening.

In the original story, the engagement between the host and Shen Yuru didn’t occur until the mid-to-late stages of the plot; she had only skimmed through it and remembered that one point.

And only a few chapters after the engagement, the original host was killed off. It seemed that by the stage of the engagement, Shen Yuru had long since completed her blackening, merely enduring and hiding it.

Han Shuangshuang was somewhat lost in thought; she had been grasping Shen Yuru’s wrist and rubbing downward inch by inch. As she mused, her hand slowly drifted lower, and without noticing, she realized her hand had strayed toward a very sensitive area.

Han Shuangshuang’s scalp went numb; she immediately turned back and snapped her hand away, but her arm still felt like it had been electrocuted—terribly numb. Her pinky finger was still trembling slightly as if cramping.

In contrast, Shen Yuru leaned lazily against the edge of the bathtub, seemingly enjoying Han Shuangshuang’s embarrassment.

“You were quite bold last night, so why are you so bashful today? Haven’t you been through many battles and had many girlfriends, Sister Han? Does this little bit of contact make your face turn this red? Could it be that you are intentionally acting pure in front of me?”

What was with this “Sister” talk?

Why did it sound so strange when Shen Yuru called her “Sister”? It sounded like flirting.

The words were sticky and seductive, like a thousand tangled threads that couldn’t be cut or untangled.

“What are you saying, Sister Shen? I’m very upright, okay? I haven’t had that many girlfriends; people just framed me. You’re teasing me with those rumors again.”

Shen Yuru actually nodded quite seriously, thought for a moment as if recalling something, and then looked at Han Shuangshuang.

“You are indeed ‘upright,’ and your technique isn’t great either—yet you put on such a practiced act. Don’t expect to get that check back; I think the amount I wrote was too high. That night, you weren’t worth that price.”

Han Shuangshuang: “!”

Han Shuangshuang felt that since transmigrating, she hadn’t established any connection with the Han family yet, nor had she revealed that she knew about the future engagement with Shen Yuru.

But Shen Yuru’s Blackening Value had been at 100% on the day she arrived, so Han Shuangshuang couldn’t be sure if Shen Yuru was aware of it.

From Shen Yuru’s perspective, she also wasn’t sure if Han Shuangshuang knew.

Combining Shen Yuru’s changes, Han Shuangshuang felt that Shen Yuru was testing her.

The original host was a brainless, shallow drama queen; suddenly changing personality to become smart and pestering Shen Yuru for studies was indeed too strange.

She had to give Shen Yuru a reasonable explanation now to make the motives for her series of actions since transmigrating seem logical.

A lightbulb suddenly went off in Han Shuangshuang’s small head. It was simple: Shen Yuru was so beautiful that every single feature was “dancing” on her aesthetic preferences.

Anyway, the system said to heal Shen Yuru and lower her Blackening Value; it didn’t tell her to pursue her or make her fall in love.

As long as the two maintained a friendly and peaceful distance, they could complete the task without misunderstandings.

Facing Shen Yuru’s subtle testing and seduction, Han Shuangshuang directly discarded her shy expression and put on a different face.

Han Shuangshuang rubbed her pinky and no longer restrained her gaze, staring openly at Shen Yuru’s body. Once those puppy eyes turned serious, they appeared bright and spirited; when her lips curled, she looked a bit silly.

However, Han Shuangshuang was sweet-looking with round, large eyes, and when she smiled, she revealed two canines, so it didn’t diminish her beauty. “It’s only because I like you too much, Sister Shen. Every move I make is full of caution, for fear that some small thing might make you unhappy and cause you to distance yourself from me.”

As she spoke, Han Shuangshuang pulled the small stool beneath her closer to Shen Yuru. She rested her elbows on her knees and propped her face in her hands. Her eyes were full of smiles as she said brightly:

“If my being reserved makes you feel your charm has diminished, then there’s no need for me to act like that anymore. My eyes would love to be glued to you. You are as pure as jade, like a darling of God—not a single flaw from top to bottom. You’re like a fine collectible; anyone who sees you would be jealous and crave you. If I could, I would really want to hide you away so no one else could see you.”

[System: Host, you’re really something. You can say such embarrassing words with a straight face.]

The expression on Han Shuangshuang’s face didn’t change, but inside her slippers, her toes were already curling up.

She couldn’t help it; she was also embarrassed, okay? But in a confrontation like this, whoever showed weakness first lost.

After speaking, Han Shuangshuang even put her finger into the bathtub, unhurriedly swaying the water, a sweet smile on her face but a rather direct look in her eyes.

Shen Yuru felt her breath hitch. The feeling of being in control of the situation vanished instantly. Just moments ago, lying in the bathtub, she hadn’t been afraid of Han Shuangshuang looking at her.

But now she felt as if her armor had been stripped away by Han Shuangshuang. That direct gaze seemed to pierce through her body and hit her heart. Her heart began to beat powerfully once again, blood flowing through her entire body.

The high-temperature water couldn’t warm her skin, but everywhere the blood flowed was burning hot.

Looking at Shen Yuru’s face, which was as red as a peach blossom, Han Shuangshuang saw the redness rising visibly. “Is Sister Shen… blushing?”

Han Shuangshuang’s tone went up slightly at the end, sounding a bit like a fool flirting with a beauty.

Shen Yuru gave Han Shuangshuang a look that was half-scolding and half-angry. “What nonsense are you saying? Do you not want that check anymore?”

The curve of Han Shuangshuang’s smile widened further. “What does that check matter? You gave it to me. If I get you, won’t I have countless checks? I can tell which is more and which is less. So, Sister Shen, it’s better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish. Since you’re so kind, why not go all the way and help me?”

Although the two were talking past each other, Shen Yuru understood the implication in Han Shuangshuang’s words.

Shen Yuru raised her arm and grabbed a handful of rose petals from a small porcelain bowl beside the tub, scattering them into the water. She also took a bath bomb and placed it in the water. As soon as the bath bomb dissolved, it quickly produced pink bubbles.

The once crystal-clear bathtub was instantly dyed with pink bubbles.

Shen Yuru sank deeper into the water until the water line almost reached her chin. She spoke with a gurgling sound: “Forget it, I don’t need your service. Go out and heat up the fried rice; I don’t like eating cold food.”

Han Shuangshuang’s eyebrows jumped.

Being an obedient puppy wouldn’t get her any rewards; if she wanted rewards, she had to fight for them herself.

Thus, Han Shuangshuang stood up quite obediently, but she didn’t leave immediately. Instead, she leaned over the bathtub, hooked her finger under Shen Yuru’s chin—which was half-submerged in the water—lifted it slightly, and pressed her lips against her.

“Sister Shen, this counts as payment.”

Having said that, she cheerfully left the bathroom.

She left Shen Yuru to bathe alone.

At that, Shen Yuru was completely immersed in the bathtub. Large bubbles kept rising from the tub to the surface, gurgling.

The pink bubbles from the bath bomb covered Shen Yuru’s reddened face.

This Han Shuangshuang was indeed shallow—she just liked her beauty. With a simple flirt, she couldn’t hold back.

Shen Yuru endured her heart, which was beating violently and was hard to adjust to.

But this feeling wasn’t unpleasant; instead, it brought an inexplicable, indescribable thrill.

It made her whole body tremble.

This was better. This kind of Han Shuangshuang was easy to control and could be used to achieve her goals.

Han Shuangshuang and Shen Yuru lived together for three days, not returning to school until the following Monday.

Yan Huan was certainly a solid friend, blocking many negative comments for Han Shuangshuang.

She outputted furiously online, deleting posts.

Yan Huan: Damn it, if you dare touch my sister, I will break your wings and ruin your whole paradise.

Yan Huan: [A bunch of gossips. I didn’t see you this focused when studying, but you’re as quick to dig for gossip as you are to grab food in the canteen, pushing forward one by one. Have you no shame? Fake, fake, it’s all fake.]

Meanwhile, to protect Shen Yuru, Yun Yun was naturally surfing the web like crazy as well.

However, as the Vice President of the Student Union, Yun Yun used an alt account. Since she was usually cold and serious, no one would associate her with someone who had such a high capacity for online output.

Yun Yun: [This is slander and infringes on Classmate Shen’s right to reputation. She has the right to take you to court and hold you accountable.]

Yun Yun: [You’re all adults. Classmate Shen has the right to associate with whomever she chooses. It’s none of your business. I have already screenshotted all these insulting words one by one.]

Passerby: [What’s the relationship between the two above? Why are they both speaking up for Han Shuangshuang and Shen Yuru and even taking screenshots? Could they be the people involved coming to see the drama?]

Since Yun Yun and Yan Huan were both using “masks,” they didn’t recognize each other. However, Yun Yun was finally glad to see someone speaking up for Han Shuangshuang and Shen Yuru, so she immediately extended a friendly olive branch. The two hit it off, using their combined strength to face the army of gossip trolls.

Yan Huan: [Are you a sister or a brother? You weren’t hired by Han Shuangshuang, were you? This Han Shuangshuang has money but doesn’t use it where it counts. I’m enough for this kind of thing.]

Yun Yun: [Thank you for your help. You don’t need to care who I am.]

Yan Huan: [Let’s add each other as friends.]

Yun Yun: [Okay.]

Since Han Shuangshuang and Shen Yuru hadn’t appeared on campus, public opinion had reached a certain height. Most of it came from trolls hired by Long Aodi, who were frantically smearing Shen Yuru and Han Shuangshuang.

However, when Han Shuangshuang returned to school on Monday and appeared in the classroom, everyone blinked and cast their eyes toward her, but no one dared to speak or discuss.

After all, this was the brainless eldest daughter of the Han family; if they made her angry, ten lives wouldn’t be enough to handle her.

At that moment, Han Shuangshuang suddenly felt that being a “vicious supporting character” was actually quite satisfying.

Yan Huan put her arm around Han Shuangshuang’s neck and whispered in her ear: “Seriously, sister, you’re not cool at all. You went out for so many days without replying to a single message. I became a blue-light Gatling gun in the forums, tat-tat-tat-tat, one against a hundred.”

Han Shuangshuang gave Yan Huan a thumbs-up.

“Good sister!”

“But I heard your sister has been very close to Long Aodi lately. People have been seeing the two of them together as a couple these past few days.”

Han Shuangshuang rested her chin in her hand, dazing off. Since Han Ruhua hadn’t started acting up in front of her yet, whatever happened between Han Ruhua and Long Aodi had nothing to do with her.

Yan Huan looked at Han Shuangshuang with a gossiping face: “Tell me the truth, sister, how far have you and Shen Yuru gotten? Hmm?”

Han Shuangshuang slapped away Yan Huan’s hand from her shoulder. “If we’re sisters, don’t ask anymore. I’m already worried to death.”

Although those three days in Shen Yuru’s house were quite pleasant, that 100,000 Yuan check was actually taken back by Shen Yuru. Right now, she was just a “pretty face” being used for free—serving as manual labor for one night and a nanny for three days, yet she got no benefits at all.

And at the thought of Long Aodi, Han Shuangshuang’s teeth itched with rage. How could such a person continue to be so arrogant?

Just then, a familiar face suddenly walked into the classroom.

Yun Yun walked to the podium with her textbook. Yan Huan immediately sat up straight, not quite daring to look up; she was the embodiment of “formal and shy.”

Yun Yun was there to substitute for a class.

Han Shuangshuang gave a meaningful “oh,” then draped her arm over Yan Huan’s shoulder and whispered in her ear, “Do you have a crush on the Vice President of the Student Union? How far has it gone? Have you confessed? Did you get her contact info? Does she know you like her?”

Yan Huan made a face, bit her lip, and threatened Han Shuangshuang, “Stop it, or I’m unfriending you.”

Yan Huan suppressed the feeling of her heart racing like a trapped deer.