I Turned Out To Be The Paranoid Villain’s White Moonlight - Chapter 20

Just like “stay with me,” the words “I don’t want you to leave” sounded very much like she was acting spoiled.

People truly did become vulnerable when they were unwell. Their words and behavior would inevitably differ somewhat from usual. Yu Wanqiao was human, so naturally she was no exception. But honestly, seeing her like this was still rather unexpected for Zhan Yao.

“Will you?” Before she could answer, Yu Wanqiao quickly asked again.

That truly left Zhan Yao stumped.

In the past, Zhan Yao would never have believed that she might someday play such a gentle and considerate role—remaining beside someone’s bed until they fell asleep even though she herself was exhausted.

If that ever happened, then she must have gone insane. Thank you very much.

“…”

Then again, Yu Wanqiao could not exactly be placed in the category of “other people.” She was nominally Zhan Yao’s wife. Although the agreement said their relationship was fake, their marriage certificate was very real.

Besides, if she was honest with herself, Yu Wanqiao usually treated her extremely well.

Fine. She would consider this her turn to fulfill some of her duties as a wife.

With that thought, Zhan Yao finally stopped herself from getting up. She folded her arms and yawned.

“All right.”

“Get some proper rest,” she said. “I’ll wait until you fall asleep before leaving.”

She was accommodating her.

Yu Wanqiao could tell.

Almost instinctively, the corners of Yu Wanqiao’s lips lifted gently, and the crease between her brows gradually relaxed.

Light reflected in her eyes, making her gaze shine brightly.

“All right. Then thank you, Yaoyao.”

Zhan Yao froze again at the sight.

After a long while, she sighed softly. Her expression did not change, but she spoke to the system with heartfelt emotion inside her mind.

“Thankfully, I married her for money.”

“If it were really for love, then with her looking at me like that, I’d probably agree even if she asked me to fish the moon out of the water or dive into the sea to catch the stars.”

Zhan Yao slept soundly through the night.

The previous evening, she had only gotten up and gone to the guest room next door after confirming that Yu Wanqiao had truly fallen asleep.

When she pushed open the door, she found that the decor was noticeably different from Yu Wanqiao’s bedroom.

Perhaps it had been arranged to accommodate someone in particular, but the room’s overall atmosphere was clearly much warmer. Looking around, Zhan Yao even noticed several distinctive decorations, including framed paintings and wind chimes.

Overall, this room suited her tastes much better.

Although Zhan Yao was rather particular about where she slept, a pleasant environment often helped her fall asleep more quickly.

By the time she woke the next morning, the sky was already bright.

The bathroom contained everything she needed. Zhan Yao took a quick shower and washed up. The moment she opened the bedroom door, she caught the delicious aroma of food.

She paused, then instinctively quickened her steps. She soon spotted a familiar figure in the kitchen.

It was Yu Wanqiao.

She had not left.

Before Zhan Yao could speak, Yu Wanqiao seemed to notice her approaching.

“You’re awake, Yaoyao.”

“Mm.” Zhan Yao nodded and stepped closer to look.

Yu Wanqiao was already putting the finishing touches on breakfast. The sandwiches and small side dishes before her were all things Zhan Yao particularly liked.

“Are you feeling better?”

“You shouldn’t cook if you’re still unwell,” she added. “Wouldn’t ordering delivery be much easier?”

“It’s all right.” Yu Wanqiao lowered her eyes, picked up a freshly cut piece of fruit, and held it out to her with such practiced ease that it seemed as though she had done it thousands of times before. “Would you like to try it?”

Was she trying to feed her?

Zhan Yao froze. Her body reacted several seconds faster than her mind, and she instinctively stepped backward.

“I’m sorry.” After several seconds, Yu Wanqiao smiled and withdrew her hand.

The atmosphere seemed somewhat awkward.

“…”

Although it had only been an instinctive reaction and Yu Wanqiao could probably tell that she had not meant anything by it, Zhan Yao paused and still felt she should explain.

“I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m simply not used to this.”

“Don’t take it personally.”

“I won’t.” Yu Wanqiao shook her head. “I was too presumptuous. I’m sorry.”

“Breakfast is ready.” She picked up the sandwich before her and handed it to Zhan Yao. Her tone sounded no different from before. “Shall we eat together?”

Zhan Yao raised her eyes and looked at her. After a moment, she nodded gently.

“Mm.”

Yu Wanqiao’s cooking genuinely tasted excellent.

Without the servants constantly disturbing them as they usually did, the meal was rather peaceful and pleasant.

After breakfast, Yu Wanqiao suggested asking the driver to come and take Zhan Yao home.

“What about you?” Zhan Yao asked.

“I’ll stay a little longer,” Yu Wanqiao said.

She apparently did not intend to go to the company today. She had not even changed out of her loungewear.

“I’ll handle some work here.”

“Then I’ll stay with you a little longer too.” After several seconds, Zhan Yao made her decision. “I don’t have any classes today anyway, so I have nothing else to do.”

“You don’t need to entertain me.” Her gaze passed through the glass window toward the courtyard outside. “I’ll just walk around.”

“Is that all right?” Out of courtesy, she still asked for Yu Wanqiao’s opinion.

Yu Wanqiao quickly nodded. “Of course.”

With that, Zhan Yao finished the black tea in her cup and stood first.

Just like the villa, the courtyard here was completely different.

As Zhan Yao wandered around, the strongest impression it gave her was one of desolation.

The place seemed to have once been beautiful. Although much time had passed, Zhan Yao could still see traces of its former features—a dried-up fountain, a garden overgrown with weeds, a swing with its ropes broken…

The farther she walked, the less she understood. If someone came to clean the house regularly, why did they deliberately neglect the courtyard?

There was only one possibility.

It had been Yu Wanqiao’s order.

As she continued walking, Zhan Yao discovered an even more unusual place.

It was a small flower garden and probably the only relatively normal part of the entire courtyard. Several rosebushes had actually been planted there.

However, perhaps because they had not been cared for properly, the roses were clearly beginning to wither as well.

What a pity. If this variety was properly cultivated, its blossoms would be extremely beautiful.

For some inexplicable reason, Zhan Yao stood alone before that tiny garden for a very long time—so long that she did not even notice when Yu Wanqiao appeared beside her.

Not until Yu Wanqiao called her name.

“Yaoyao.”

Only then did Zhan Yao react. “Mm.”

“Why did you come out here?” she asked.

“You were gone for too long, so I came to look for you,” Yu Wanqiao said.

Zhan Yao paused, then withdrew her gaze and looked back at the rosebushes before her.

“Did you plant these?”

“Yes.” Yu Wanqiao nodded. “Unfortunately, I’ve never been able to grow them properly. The ones I planted this time have withered again.”

“Why didn’t you ask someone to help?” Zhan Yao asked.

Yu Wanqiao thought for a moment before answering.

“Because I could never find the person who could help me.”

“…”

Zhan Yao fell silent.

Wasn’t this the sort of thing anyone with hands could do? She could simply hire a gardener. She did not even need a professional gardener—Young Miss Zhan herself could manage it.

However, considering Yu Wanqiao’s poor condition, she ultimately refrained from saying anything that might upset her.

After pausing for several seconds, she remembered that she happened to be wearing a beautiful rose-shaped brooch. She had discovered it not long ago, and it had cost quite a lot.

Although she had spent Yu Wanqiao’s money on it.

In that case, she might as well borrow the flower to present to Yu Wanqiao.

With that thought, she removed the brooch from her chest and placed it on the nearest leaf, coaxing her as though she were a child.

“It’s all right. The flower is blooming again now, and it’s even reusable. Whenever you want to admire it up close, you can simply take it off again.”

As she continued speaking, she slipped back into acting mode. Raising an eyebrow lightly, she said, “I’ll give it to you, Miss Yu?”

Then she personally presented the so-called rose to Yu Wanqiao.

Yu Wanqiao soon lowered her eyes and accepted it.

Only then did Zhan Yao return to her usual tone and casually continue, “But if you genuinely like roses, I can simply have someone come and plant more for you another day. I looked earlier, and your bedroom window faces this exact spot.”

“Looking at blooming roses when you’re tired from work could be rather enjoyable.”

“What do you think?” she asked, turning her gaze toward Yu Wanqiao.

The pride and amusement hidden in her eyes made one’s heart itch.

After a long while, Yu Wanqiao gently shook her head.

“It’s all right. This one from Yaoyao is already enough.”

She spoke as though she had genuinely received a rose from her lover, every word filled with sincerity.

She even lifted Zhan Yao’s hand and placed a polite, restrained kiss upon the back of it, as though offering her most heartfelt gratitude.

“Thank you, Yaoyao.”