Forced to Become the Female Villain's Doting Wife (GL) - Chapter 22.2

The butler had received kindness from the Xu family and had been protecting Su Xianxian for her grandparents. Ever since Xu Lian passed away, Su Jianxiu had shown his true colors and delivered a heavy blow to the Xu family. He was too much of a petty person in power; the Xu family, for the sake of their reputation, didn’t make a fuss and just endured in silence.

The money Su Jianxiu had squeezed from the Xu family over the years was enough for ten comfortable lives. But he viewed the Xu family as his personal ATM, withdrawing money whenever he wanted. After losing certain biological abilities, he had turned to gambling, squandering his wealth.

“Eldest Miss, I recently noticed Su Jianxiu incurred another large debt. He took out a massive personal accident insurance policy on Bai Qiu.”

Hearing the name “Bai Qiu,” the original host’s distant memories surfaced. In Su Xianxian’s perspective, Bai Qiu was simply the person who ruined her mother’s marriage. Thus, she listened to the butler with the mindset of a spectator. However, the fact that Su Jianxiu was gambling made her alert; a gambler is always extreme.

So why did the system want me to know about this side-plot? Probably to tell me that wealth isn’t so easy to keep, and a massive pie doesn’t fall from the sky without a catch.

[Trash System: Don’t say that, Host. After all, this was an original plot point. Since you’ve become Su Xianxian in this system world, shouldn’t you accept all the difficulties she faces? If Little Trash didn’t point this out and you only focused on pleasure and lost the big picture, wouldn’t that be my fault?]

Su Xianxian raised an eyebrow and leaned back in the leather seat. The system only required her to complete the plot points, meaning she just had to wait out the time in the car. Soon, she saw Su Jianxiu get back into his car and leave.

[Trash System: Congratulations, Host! Triggering fixed plot mission. Within one minute, get out of the car, walk 375m forward, turn left for 120m, and then stand behind the large tree at a 45-degree angle. Then, take the person who appears before you home.]

Su Xianxian: “???” Such detailed instructions? And what’s with the angle? This person has OCD; they need help. And who am I taking home?

She had no choice but to follow. When she reached the designated spot, she saw a familiar figure at the entrance of the building. It was Su Lian.

Su Lian was scanning the surroundings. To her joy, she spotted Su Xianxian lurking in the corner. She didn’t have time to wonder why Su Xianxian was there; the light in her eyes was like seeing a life-saving straw. Knowing the men behind her likely didn’t recognize Su Xianxian, she jogged over, ducked away from them, pulled the object from her clothes, grabbed Su Xianxian’s collar, and stuffed the diary into her arms.

Su Xianxian never expected the person she had to take home was Su Lian. Ah, this…

[Trash System: Friendly reminder: plot missions cannot be left incomplete, or the plot won’t connect, which will affect the Host’s current assets.]

Su Xianxian instinctively hugged the diary to her chest to keep it from falling, while her other hand clenched into a fist. Su Lian had just wanted to shove the diary at her and didn’t expect a warm welcome. However, to her surprise, Su Xianxian grabbed her wrist.

“Tell Su Jianxiu I’m taking this person. If he doesn’t watch his precious daughter and lets her wander around, isn’t he afraid she’ll be taken by someone and mistreated?”

As Su Xianxian spoke, the burly men behind Su Lian showed clear fear and backed away, not daring to stop her. Su Xianxian wondered why she had so much deterrent power, until she turned around… Good lord, seven or eight bodyguards in black suits were staring from behind her. The butler smiled gently and waved at her.

After finishing her homework, Jiang Cuo couldn’t stay in her room. “Little One” was pawing at her door, looking cute and wagging its tail, waiting to go for a walk. Jiang Cuo got up and put the puppy on a leash.

For some reason, she wandered over to Su Xianxian’s villa. She saw Su Xianxian’s car arriving home. Through the dark window, she saw another person inside—it looked like a young, beautiful girl.

The puppy barked excitedly at Su Xianxian. Jiang Cuo’s cold aura surged. She silently pulled back on the leash as if intentionally stopping the puppy from being too proactive, then spoke in a ghostly, threatening tone as if scaring the dog:

“Your mom has a new lover. She doesn’t want you anymore.”

The puppy seemed to understand, tilting its head and letting out a protesting “Awoo.” Smelly Mom, why are you scaring the dog?

When Su Xianxian got out of the car, she felt herself enveloped by a cold aura and a gaze as sharp as an ice pick. Her neck stiffened as if her life-vein had been targeted. She turned around to see Jiang Cuo holding the puppy’s leash, standing not far from the gate, staring at her silently.

Su Lian, knowing she was disliked, tried to minimize her presence and retreated behind Su Xianxian after getting out of the car. Su Xianxian followed Jiang Cuo’s gaze and looked back at Su Lian, and a strange feeling arose. Jiang Cuo holding the puppy… why does she look like a legal wife catching her husband bringing a ‘little white flower’ home? And why is the puppy so listless?

Su Xianxian felt goosebumps and rubbed her arms. What weird things am I thinking? Jiang Cuo is the only person in this romance-brained world who doesn’t understand love. Anyone else would fit this plot, but Jiang Cuo is the most impossible and terrifying candidate. She must be angry because Su Lian harmed her and now I’m siding with Su Lian. I’m really caught in the middle here.

Su Xianxian wanted to talk to Jiang Cuo, but the diary almost fell. She quickly held it steady. By the time she looked up, Jiang Cuo had already walked away with the puppy. Su Xianxian was left in the dust. She instinctively rubbed her nose.

Turning around, she saw Su Lian looking timid and peeking at her. Su Xianxian wanted to get angry but couldn’t find an outlet.

[Trash System: Congratulations on completing the plot mission! Please carefully read the contents of the diary Su Lian gave you.]

The butler, seeing Su Xianxian bring Su Lian home, didn’t approve but wouldn’t interfere with her decision. Su Xianxian was satisfied with this. Su Lian followed Su Xianxian into the villa with small steps, then pulled at her sleeve and whispered, “Sister.”

Su Xianxian immediately turned and pulled her sleeve back. “Stop it with that act. I know you’re a master of masks. I had my reasons for bringing you back, but you’d better behave on my territory and don’t provoke Jiang Cuo. Hear me? Or there will be consequences.”

Su Lian clutched her own sleeve and tried to wipe the sweat from her palms. She nodded obediently and bit her lip. Su Xianxian handed Su Lian over to the butler and went upstairs to read the diary.

‘Trash system, you better not have added more annoying things.’

[Trash System: Of course not, Host~]

When she opened the diary and read the contents, her jaw dropped at the plot of this romance-brained world. “Is this for real?”

[Trash System: Yes, Host. It’s real. However, it’s irrelevant to the main plot, so I couldn’t tell you; you had to discover it yourself.]

Truly a romance-brain—willing to make so many sacrifices for love. Bai Qiu spent her life trying to clear Xu Lian’s name, only to be tortured by Su Jianxiu. And the original host’s mother had been protecting her lover in her heart. Both loved each other with everything they had. Su Xianxian rubbed her chin, feeling that Bai Qiu and Xu Lian had actually elevated this system world. They were just minor characters not mentioned in the original book. If she hadn’t transmigrated, she would never have known such a tragic pair of lovers existed. Actually, this wasn’t being “romance-brained”—it was deep affection. Why should deep affection be mocked and used by a scumbag like Su Jianxiu?

Xu Lian, Su Lian.

Su Xianxian noticed the first half-page was torn out; the torn edge was fresh.

[Trash System: Please settle Su Lian properly. If you want to deal with Su Jianxiu, she is an essential witness. With her help, things will go smoothly.]

Since the first half-page was torn out, Su Xianxian didn’t know Su Lian was adopted and wasn’t Su Jianxiu’s biological daughter. She rubbed her head—she didn’t know what was on that torn page or if Su Lian had torn it intentionally. But currently, the information suggested Su Lian was likely her half-sister. The system probably had her stay for that reason.

She hid the diary and went downstairs for dinner, thinking of seeing Jiang Cuo to explain things. Jiang Cuo’s expression when she saw her return was definitely off.

It was getting late, and Jiang Cuo was still walking the puppy in the back garden. The puppy’s front legs were shaking; the exercise far exceeded its usual lazy-dog limit. It wanted to go back for snacks, but for some reason, its “mom” refused to stop. How could a puppy understand human politics?

When Su Xianxian went downstairs and saw Jiang Cuo still walking the dog, she was puzzled. Is Jiang Cuo really that free today? Before she could smile and strike up a conversation, Jiang Cuo spoke coldly, with a strange kind of “kindness” in her deep voice:

“Classmate Su is truly a busy person. Studying hard, taking care of your sister… but I feel like you only have a mouth for studying, and not a heart for it.”

Su Xianxian: “Huh?”

She felt as if Jiang Cuo were using her entire cold aura to mock her. The exhausted puppy looked to Su Xianxian for help, its front legs sprawled on the ground and its head resting in the dust. Su Xianxian looked at the dog, then at the serious Jiang Cuo. She suddenly felt that Jiang Cuo was the one with the “cheat.” After a full day of classes, she still had enough stamina to walk a dog to exhaustion. If she wasn’t a study genius, who was?

“How can you say that, Classmate Jiang? I really want to study hard. I brought back all your textbooks and decided to study by the lamp tonight. And about Su Lian…”

Su Xianxian wanted to explain why she brought Su Lian back. Although she couldn’t mention the system, she had to soothe Jiang Cuo’s emotions. After all, they had gone through so much together and seemed to have a tacit understanding of being in the same boat. Now that she had brought Su Lian back, Jiang Cuo would surely feel the imbalance. Jiang Cuo was just a high school girl; she would care about the “betrayal” of a good friend. Su Xianxian understood.

However, just as she was about to approach Jiang Cuo to explain, Su Lian’s soft voice came from behind. “Sister, dinner is ready. The butler uncle asked you to come eat.”

Su Xianxian didn’t turn around; her eyes were fixed on Jiang Cuo. She clearly saw Jiang Cuo’s face turn visibly colder the moment Su Lian’s voice rang out. The last trace of patience in her eyes vanished, and she looked at Su Xianxian with a look of transferred anger. She thrust the dog’s leash into Su Xianxian’s hand and turned to leave.

The words Su Xianxian hadn’t finished were stuck in her throat. She turned around to glare at Su Lian in anger, but saw Su Lian looking like a homeless puppy, pitifully waiting for a scolding. This made the rest of her words stick in her throat again. Su Xianxian felt her head grow two sizes larger. One, two… why are they both so difficult?

[Trash System: Congratulations! Fusion degree with this system world has reached 60%. Jiang Cuo’s Disgust Value toward the Host is 45.]

Su Xianxian had just finished wiping her hands with a wet towel and was about to sit down for dinner. Hearing the notification, she stood up straight again. Jiang Cuo’s Disgust Value dropped? She wasn’t angry about me being with Su Lian? Is Jiang Cuo really that much of a ‘mouth-doesn’t-match-heart’ person? Hope flared in her eyes again.

To her surprise, Su Lian had been sensible and didn’t sit down to eat with her. Instead, she stood by Su Xianxian’s side, picked up chopsticks, and watched her with the look of a servant attending a master, appearing ready to serve her food.

Su Xianxian: “…” How is Su Lian this good at this? How is a character less significant than a cannon fodder supporting character designed to be this smooth?

Su Lian kept her eyes lowered. She had now placed all her bets on Su Xianxian. While Su Xianxian was upstairs reading the diary, the butler had already prepared a room for her and spoken to her privately. He had revealed the massive accident insurance Su Jianxiu took out for her foster mother, Bai Qiu—meaning her mother’s “accident” was entirely caused by him for the payout.

Su Lian had lived a difficult life, surviving in the cracks, so she was a master of assessing the situation. Su Xianxian had the confidence of a towering tree, while Su Lian could only ever be a “dodder flower” at best. Thus, she had to have eyes that could spot the “thigh” to cling to. Now that she knew Su Xianxian was the only person she could rely on, she had to immediately shift her mindset and view Su Xianxian as her deity. She wasn’t Su Jianxiu’s biological daughter; if he could do this to Bai Qiu, her fate would be no better when he reached a dead end.

Su Xianxian looked at the “tamed” Su Lian with confusion but sat down to eat anyway. Since the system required her to keep Su Lian, and Su Lian was being so perceptive and smooth, it would make her life easier. Furthermore, Su Lian’s presence caused Jiang Cuo’s Disgust Value to drop—a win-win situation. It seemed the system didn’t always screw her over.

After dinner, Su Xianxian lay on her bed to clear her head. She still couldn’t understand why Su Lian’s presence lowered Jiang Cuo’s Disgust Value. Based on Jiang Cuo’s reaction tonight, she was clearly irritated and angry. Su Xianxian knew that although Jiang Cuo looked cold on the outside, she had a soft heart. For instance, when dealing with the puppy, her cold eyes always held a trace of helplessness and indulgence. Even if it was hidden deep, it couldn’t escape her notice. But the puppy was exhausted tonight, and Jiang Cuo hadn’t let it stop. Could it be that because the puppy had gained weight lately, Jiang Cuo thought the exercise was good for its health? But that didn’t explain the psychological change of the Disgust Value.

Su Xianxian thought about it but couldn’t figure it out. She decided to just have a glass of water and play on her phone. Reaching the first floor for water, she saw Su Lian immediately stand up and respectfully pour it for her. Su Xianxian let out a yawn and ignored her. Turning around, she saw Jiang Cuo behind the servants.

Su Xianxian’s head was filled with question marks. It was almost 8 PM; why was Jiang Cuo here so late? She squinted her eyes and looked closer: Jiang Cuo was carrying a schoolbag and holding two sets of review materials, looking like she was there to tutor her.

Jiang Cuo’s gaze swept over Su Xianxian in her pajamas and Su Lian’s diligent service. A cold sneer rose in her heart. Blood relation is truly magical—antagonistic in the afternoon, but a picture of sisterly love at night. Su Xianxian claimed to be getting justice for me, yet the culprit Su Lian is right before her, being treated well in her home. ‘Good sister’ this, ‘good sister’ that—is this the justice she sought for me?

Jiang Cuo raised her index finger to push her nose bridge. Although she didn’t wear glasses, she used the fake gesture to hide the gloom in her eyes. Her voice was cold and professional when she spoke:

“Classmate Su gave me a reward. I cannot take it for nothing.”

Then she added with a frown, as if providing a redundant explanation:

“The monthly exams are coming up soon. If your grades are too ugly, Grandpa will question me. It would be a hassle.”