Chapter 110: Chapter 110: The Villainess Is Hard to Play
After delivering the thanksgiving gift, Bai Qiao walked to the front of the bonfire beside the team.
"So, does Yining like it? Why didn’t he come over?"
Just as she sat down on a tree stump, her mother asked, and the uncles and brothers around also looked at her one after another.
Her eldest brother Bai Kui, who doted on her the most, clapped his hands with pride and said with a smile, "Qiaoqiao’s craftsmanship is so good, the Inspector will definitely like it!"
This group of family members who had spoiled her since childhood sat around the bonfire, their superior genes illuminated by the firelight, with a surge of deep concern and anticipation in their eyes.
Being stared at by all of them, Bai Qiao felt a bit heavy-hearted. She remembered Yining’s absent-minded look when she delivered the gift, and couldn’t help but want to cry.
She was about to disappoint her mother; for the first time in her life...
Bai Qiao’s eyes were hot, waiting for her mother’s reprimand, but when she hesitantly raised her eyes, she found they were looking straight past her.
A chilling sensation crawled up her back. She thought there was a wild animal, but then heard a slightly cold female voice slowly rising above her head.
"Hi, family, mind if I join?"
Hearing the familiar voice, Bai Qiao froze on the spot.
By the time she thought to look back, Wen Shu was already sitting beside her, her pretty face curved into a teasing smile, with eyes arched as she looked at her.
"Sister Bai Qiao, long time no see."
Hearing her call her sister, Bai Qiao felt a shiver run down her spine.
Little did she know, Wen Shu felt equally uncomfortable, like bugs were crawling all over her, after calling her that.
This villainess role was not easy to play for just anyone...
"I heard you’re good at cooking," she forced a stiff smile, pulling the Beastman beside her, Mious, "so I brought my Beast Husband to try some. Hope no one minds?"
Mious followed suit, lifting his hide and sitting down naturally and graciously, as if he were more at home under the many gazes than she was.
His calm and outstanding demeanor also surprised the City Lord’s family, who cast examining glances at him.
Facing their gaze, Mious took the female’s hand, his cold and handsome face softening into a gentle smile as he spoke in a deep voice, "Mother, uncles, brothers, I am Ashu’s Beast Husband, Mious."
Suddenly grabbed by the hand, Wen Shu was dumbfounded for two seconds. Wasn’t this self-introduction a bit strange?
Meanwhile, Bai Rong scrutinized him closely, convinced he wasn’t a simple character, and cheerfully invited them, "Ashu, why are you still standing there? You must be starving from the road, right?"
She handed over two steaming bowls of red oil-boiled meat. Wen Shu reached out to take them, but Mious held her wrist, "Let me."
The male’s voice was deep, with a hint of affection. Wen Shu felt her ears tingle as she looked at the flickering flames, a bit awkwardly returning to her seat.
But before Mious could reach the bowl, a hand with pronounced knuckles intercepted it. Bai Yan’s handsome face carried a shy smile as he requested, "It’s been so long since I last saw my sister, let me do it."
Noticing the commotion over there, Wen Shu looked up.
She saw a tall, fair-skinned young man crouching beside her, passing a stone bowl to her with sincerity, "Sister, I’m really glad you’ve come home."
As soon as he finished speaking, those uncles and males who were still examining her seemed to realize something and greeted her warmly.
Wen Shu returned their smiles, locking eyes sincerely with Bai Yan, feeling a wave of warmth, "Thank you..."
She wasn’t surprised at Bai Yan’s approach.
In the original novel, when the original character returned home, others looked at her unkempt appearance with disdain.
Only Bai Yan, her full-blood brother, helped her everywhere until her true colors were revealed, and he distanced himself from her.
Moreover, recalling the last time she tested him, Wen Shu still felt a bit guilty, yet he was still so warm and sincere.
A genuine smile curled up on her lips, "Thank you, Yan."
The sound of crackling flames blurred her voice, but Bai Yan heard it clearly.
She called him Yan...
Looking at the feminine, beautiful face, he silently held his breath, feeling that everything around him fell silent. Amid his chaotic heartbeat, the deeply hidden feeling surged wildly again...
His throat felt a bit dry, afraid his mother would notice something was amiss. He quickly dropped his gaze and stood up, "We are siblings, no need to be polite."
He spoke, his eyes flashing a hint of darkness, silently warning himself.
The bonfire gradually dimmed as the Beastmen added another log.
In the firelight, Bai Rong smiled brightly, inquiring about Mious’s background. Hearing that he was the only son of the one in the west, a look of shock flashed in her eyes.
Wen Shu was also stunned and didn’t expect him to reveal so much, quickly taking his hand to change the subject, "Mother, did you know? Yesterday, my sister and I took on a bounty task together."
With a smile on her face, Bai Rong was interrupted but had to respond, "Yes, Qiaoqiao mentioned it. Your sister wants some training."
"So that’s how it is," Wen Shu glanced back at Bai Qiao, seeing her pale face, and sighed softly, "Sister does need some training. Her rank isn’t high enough. How will she help the family if they get hurt in the future?"
With a hint of suggestion in her words, Bai Rong glanced at Bai Qiao, indeed seeing her looking suppressed, lips biting white.
However, Wen Shu wasn’t wrong. Bai Qiao had become slack, her rank stagnating after the pregnancy value was assessed.
If things went on like this, how could she gain the favor of males in the main city or even the Royal City?
She squinted her eyes, looking at Wen Shu, who was full of smiles. Although not knowing her real purpose, using her to provoke Bai Qiao was quite cost-effective.
"Yes, your sister has been at the Sixth Rank for a long time," her stern gaze fell on Bai Qiao, "Qiaoqiao, you’ve really been slack lately."
Unjustly criticized, Bai Qiao’s body trembled.
She tightly clenched her sleeves, looking at Bai Rong, seeing her eyes full of disappointment, then at Wen Shu with gentle affection, her heart instantly plunged into icy despair.
Meanwhile, Wen Shu continued to pour fuel on the fire.
"It’s okay," she looked at Bai Qiao, seeing her eyes red and staring intently at her and raised her eyebrows, chuckling lightly, "I’m sure Mother knows, my Healing Ability is strong. If anyone feels unwell, they can come to me."
The Beastmen around the bonfire echoed her repeatedly.
Seeing the provocation in her eyes, Bai Qiao trembled with anger, listening to her family’s betrayal, her heart seemed to have a gaping hole, stinging with pain.
"Wen Shu, you vicious female! What do you mean...?"
Her nose tingled with sourness, wanting to expose the bad things Wen Shu had done but was sternly stopped by Bai Rong, "Qiaoqiao, how can you speak to your sister like that? Apologize to her!"
These short words became the final straw that broke the camel’s back.
Bai Qiao’s eyes welled with heat, her gaze sweeping over the family members who had always spoiled her.
Seeing their evasive gazes, with no one speaking for her, an immense grievance filled her heart. With a hot tear wiped away, she rushed into the forest without a word.
"Qiaoqiao!" Bai Rong tried to stop her, but the figure didn’t pause, instead running faster.
Yun Suo beside her became anxious, stood up to chase, but Wen Shu stopped him, "I’ll go check on her!"
She instructed Mious to keep an eye on Nan, picked up Wu Xuan, and dashed into the bushes.
When she found her, Bai Qiao was curled up by a tree root, sobbing.
As she expected, without the original character’s push, the heroine had no sense of crisis from losing her status, and her rank also stagnated.
The provocation was a bit much this time, but she had a plot to push forward.
Apologies to Bai Qiao then...
She glanced at the empty forest, whispering softly in Wu Xuan’s ear, "Wu Xuan, come do something naughty with me."
If the journey to Yasen City advanced, then along the way, after being driven away by her, the heroine should meet the next male lead.