After Transmigrating as a Disabled Villain - Chapter 11

Madam Qiu had only just breathed a sigh of relief before her heart lifted again. “Eldest Miss Qin? She’s not easy to get along with either. Are you very close to her?”

She had never heard that her daughter had any dealings with the Qin family.

Though it seemed she had gone to the Qin residence last time and even alarmed the master into going to look for her.

“Our relationship is acceptable,” Qiu Jinning answered faintly.

When Madam Qiu heard this, her expression grew tense. “Jinning, that Eldest Miss Qin is someone who keeps a male concubine. Our Qiu family should have fewer dealings with her. In Mother’s opinion, it’s better not to invite her.”

An unmarried young lady who kept a male concubine—how many such people were there in the entire Baiyue Dynasty? She truly did not want her daughter associating with such a reckless girl.

Even her impression of the Qin family worsened because of it.

Her daughter was well-behaved and sensible. How could she have an “acceptable relationship” with Eldest Miss Qin?

Qiu Jinning’s expression paused slightly, and her fingers unconsciously tightened. “Mother, the Qin family is the wealthiest merchant family in Jiuqu County, and Master Qin is also charitable and generous. Even from Father’s perspective, we should send them an invitation.”

At the mention of County Magistrate Qiu, Madam Qiu’s expression softened a little. “That’s true. Then send Eldest Miss Qin an invitation.”

Only after the invitation had been sent did Madam Qiu belatedly realize something. In previous years, the master had never said they should invite the Qin family. Could it be that her daughter was the one who wanted to invite them?

And she had even talked her mother into it. When Madam Qiu realized this, her feelings became complicated.

At the Qin residence.

After receiving the invitation to Qiu Jinning’s birthday banquet, Qin Chu stared at the date on it and worried. “Guanzi, there are only two days left. What kind of gift do you think we should prepare for Miss Qiu?”

Why invite her out of nowhere? Wasn’t this giving her a difficult problem?

She definitely couldn’t go empty-handed. If the gift was too casual, it would seem disrespectful. But if the gift was too expensive, she inexplicably felt uncomfortable about it.

Troublesome.

Guanzi also furrowed her brows. She was a qualified head maid. As her young lady’s most capable maid, helping her prepare birthday gifts for others was naturally part of her duty.

But ever since her young lady had grown up, aside from dealing with some relatives, she had only attended Chen Xia’s birthday banquets. And Chen Xia always picked the gift herself and made Qin Chu pay for it, so Guanzi truly had no experience.

Her young lady and Chen Xia were birds of a feather. Surely her young lady couldn’t also say to Qiu Jinning, “Go pick a gift yourself, and I’ll pay for it,” right?

No matter how she thought about it, it did not seem appropriate.

“Birthday gifts are usually chosen according to the recipient’s preferences. Why not give Miss Qiu something she likes?”

The little maid tried to suggest something, but in the next instant, Qin Chu’s question stumped her. “What does Miss Qiu like?”

Guanzi: “…”

If she knew, she would have gone to prepare it already. Would she still be here worrying with her?

The master and servant stared at each other helplessly, neither having any ideas. Just then, someone ran into the courtyard.

The newcomer was the Qin family’s eldest young master, Qin Mo.

Qin Mo ran in breathlessly. The moment he saw Qin Chu, he asked, “Little Sister, I heard the Qiu residence sent you an invitation. Is that true?”

Qin Chu handed over the invitation. “Here it is. I’m worrying over what gift to give.”

Qin Mo took the invitation and looked it over carefully. Ecstasy flashed across his face. “Wonderful. When the time comes, Elder Brother will go with you. The day before yesterday, when I asked you to go to the pleasure house, it was because I wanted to talk about this. Who would have thought it would come so effortlessly?”

“They only invited me. Why are you going with me?” Qin Chu studied her cheap elder brother’s expression and suddenly remembered that Chen Xia had once said this cheap elder brother admired Qiu Jinning.

Qin Mo waved his hand, telling Guanzi to go outside and keep watch. Then he sat down and said earnestly, “Little Sister, help Elder Brother one more time. If this succeeds, Qiu Jinning will become your sister-in-law. Listen to that—the county magistrate’s daughter will be your sister-in-law. How much face would that give you?”

Qin Chu stared at Qin Mo, and her heart suddenly tightened.

Help him one more time?

That meant she had helped him before?

Without showing anything, she said, “You didn’t succeed before. Do you think it will work this time?”

What had this pair of siblings done to Qiu Jinning before?

She frowned and thought of another possibility.

Eldest Miss Qin was the great villain. Then what about the villain’s elder brother?

Qin Chu seriously recalled what she had heard before transmigrating into the book. Her roommate had said she had read an ancient romance novel, and the great villain inside had the same name and surname as Qin Chu and was also disabled.

What else had she said?

She had also mentioned that the disabled villain’s family ended up ruined.

If the Qin family ended up ruined, then according to the usual routine of novels, if her cheap elder brother were a positive character, his whole family probably would not end up doomed with him. There was only one explanation.

The disabled villain’s elder brother was also a villain. He either aided evil or the two siblings colluded together, birds of a feather. That was why they ended up with their family ruined and everyone doomed together.

Thinking of this, Qin Chu could basically confirm that her cheap elder brother was definitely not the male lead. He was most likely also a villainous character.

And Qin Mo’s next words confirmed her guess.

“Who knows which part went wrong? I didn’t even see her. Are you sure Qiu Jinning drank that cup of wine? If she really did, I don’t know which bastard got the benefit. Just thinking about it makes me angry. But Elder Brother isn’t the kind of person who fusses over every little thing. As long as I can marry Beauty Qiu, I’ll accept wearing a green hat.”

On the Lantern Festival night, he had followed the plan and waited outside the boat Qiu Jinning was on. Logically speaking, if Qiu Jinning found that her body was unwell, she would definitely want to go ashore and return home. But he waited until midnight and never saw her.

He sent someone to ask around, only to learn that Qiu Jinning had supposedly gone to think about a couplet. After that, there was no trace of her.

Could she have jumped off the boat? But then she would have had to come ashore. Otherwise, she would have drowned.

But nearby, there had only been Little Sister’s boat, and he had not seen anyone. So where exactly had Qiu Jinning gone that night?

Qin Mo sighed repeatedly as he thought of this, but Qin Chu’s heart was already surging with stormy waves.

So, after ruling out the possibility that her cheap elder brother was the male lead, the original Eldest Miss Qin’s archenemy was very likely not Third Miss Gu, but Qiu Jinning.

The opposing side of these two villainous siblings was very likely the protagonist. In other words, Qiu Jinning might be the female lead!

Qin Chu was dazed. Struggling inwardly, she confirmed, “Elder Brother, you said before that you withdrew eight thousand taels from the accounts, right?”

“That’s right. All eight thousand taels were poured into that one cup of wine. In the end, it all came to nothing. I didn’t even hear a splash.”

Qin Mo spoke casually, but Qin Chu nearly lost control listening to him.

Damn it.

She could not help cursing inwardly. Qin Chu nearly ground her teeth to pieces. She had thought that as long as she ignored the protagonist, she could keep enjoying life as the great villain. She had not expected the original owner to leave her such a rotten mess. She had already offended the protagonist.

“Elder Brother, do you know what effect that cup of wine had?”

“Didn’t I tell you before? There was a love gu in that wine. As long as Qiu Jinning drank it, she would develop deep feelings for me. Although I didn’t succeed last time, as long as Qiu Jinning drinks alcohol again, it can still work. How could she not drink wine at her own birthday banquet? So Little Sister, you must bring me along this time. Only then will I have a chance.”

The corner of Qin Chu’s mouth twitched as she listened. She wished she could pick up a stool on the spot and beat her cheap elder brother down with it.

She steadied herself. “Elder Brother, those are crooked and evil methods. If people find out, you’ll go to prison.”

Did this cheap elder brother even know what he was doing? Could she righteously turn him in now?

Qin Mo fell silent for a moment, then suddenly raised his hand and touched Qin Chu’s forehead.

Qin Chu instinctively dodged. “What are you doing?”

Seeing Qin Chu’s wary expression, a trace of displeasure flashed through Qin Mo’s heart. “Little Sister, did studying at the county school for a few days ruin your brain? Qiu Jinning won’t even bother with us. If I don’t use crooked methods, how am I supposed to get her? Wait for the rabbit by the tree stump? That would only work if Qiu Jinning were a rabbit. She’s a phoenix in the sky. If she’s flying in the sky, where would there be a tree for her to crash into? Unless she were blind.”

“Mm—pah. What kind of twisted logic is that? Aren’t you afraid Qiu Jinning will find out? She is the county magistrate’s daughter. When the time comes, our entire Qin family will be finished along with you.”

Qin Chu almost got led around by his words. What the hell did he mean by waiting for the rabbit by the tree stump? What the hell did he mean by blind?

Qin Mo began acting pitiful again. “Little Sister, if you don’t help Elder Brother, then our Qin family line will end. Your elder brother has long sworn that in this life, I will marry no one but Qiu Jinning.”

Qin Chu’s brow twitched. She was both angry and furious inside. Although she wanted to be a great villain who lived freely as she pleased, that was under the premise that she would not harm others. She wanted to close the door and live her own happy life, not rush forward to oppose the female lead and use such despicable methods against others.

She took a deep breath and suppressed the urge to slap Qin Mo to death. Word by word, she said, “Then let the Qin family line end.”

With the original siblings’ conduct, not having children meant committing fewer sins.

Qin Mo looked at her, his gaze dark. “Little Sister, you’ve changed.”

Qin Chu’s heart tightened.

Had she been discovered?!