22. Lin Rou Meets Gu Xin

Jiang Shuwan kicked backward, sending Lin Rou sprawling to the ground once more.

After Jiang Shuwan left, Luye hurried forward to pull Lin Rou up. As soon as she touched her, Lin Rou shoved her away violently, glaring at her with malice. "Get lost! Where were you just now? Why didn't you stop that bitch Jiang Shuwan?"

Luye endured the pain in her hand where something had pricked her and whispered, "Miss, I was afraid you would suffer, so I went to ask the Old Madam to come and help you."

Hearing this, Lin Rou looked toward the doorway, but seeing not even a shadow of anyone, she shouted at Luye, "Where is my grand-aunt?"

"The Old Madam said this is a matter between you cousins, and she finds it inconvenient to intervene," Luye replied, her voice growing increasingly faint.

"Ahhh..."

Lin Rou let out a series of screams to vent her fury. Her hair was disheveled, making her look like a madwoman.

"Jiang Shuwan, I will not let you off," Lin Rou hissed.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to her, and her emotions began to settle. Seeing Luye still standing there like a fool, she bellowed, "What are you waiting for? Help me up and get me dressed and groomed!"

Luye looked at Lin Rou, bewildered, feeling a strange regret at how much she had changed.

"Hurry up!" Lin Rou urged impatiently.

"O-okay." Luye dared not delay further and quickly stepped forward to support her.

***

Magnolia Court.

On a low table in front of Jiang Shuwan sat a bronze burner, from which wisps of smoke curled upward. Before her lay the box she had just retrieved.

She sat on a low stool, her slender, fair hands picking up the string of beads, staring at them unblinkingly. She was lost in memory.

In her previous life, when she was about ten years old, she and Lin Rou had gone out for an excursion in the wilderness. They encountered Gu Xin, who had been bitten by a snake. After she sucked the venom out for him, his face remained deathly pale, and he showed no signs of waking. She was anxious and worried, and just then, Lin Rou arrived. She asked Lin Rou to keep watch, but by the time she returned with a physician, both Lin Rou and Gu Xin were gone.

Thinking back to the moment they killed her in her previous life, Gu Xin had called Lin Rou his savior.

Reflecting on Lin Rou’s reaction when she took the beads earlier, could it be that her seven-colored bead string was lost at that time, and Lin Rou had simply picked it up and used it to impersonate his savior?

Contemplating this possibility, Jiang Shuwan called out to Lusu, who was standing to the side, "Lusu, come here."

Lusu walked over to her.

"I need you to do something for me."

"Tell me, Miss."

Jiang Shuwan leaned into Lusu’s ear and whispered instructions. Lusu looked startled but nodded nonetheless.

After Lusu left, Jiang Shuwan’s gaze turned exceptionally dark, as if she were an evil spirit crawling up from hell.

*Lin Rou, isn't it Gu Xin you want? If he finds out that your status as his savior is a lie, what will become of you?*

***

Marquis Pingning’s Mansion.

Gu Xin had just returned to his courtyard and sat down to have a cup of tea when a servant came to report.

"Young Master, the young lady from the Jiang family is here to see you."

"Send her away. Get out."

He was currently feeling extremely agitated whenever he heard anything related to the Jiang family.

The servant was frightened, but remembering the large ingot of silver in his hand, he braced himself and continued, "But, the young lady says she has something important to discuss with you."

Gu Xin smashed his teacup in front of the servant and roared, "Get out! All of you, get out!"

The servant turned and fled in terror.

"Wait."

Suddenly, Gu Xin’s voice sounded from behind.

The servant turned back, trembling. "Yo-young Master?"

"Bring her in."

"Ah?"

"Are you not going yet?" Gu Xin shouted impatiently.

"Yes, yes!"

The servant immediately turned and ran off.

When Lin Rou entered, the room had already been cleaned. She rushed into Gu Xin’s arms the moment she stepped inside, calling out softly, "Brother Xin."

Breathing in the sweet scent from her skin, feeling her softness, and hearing her delicate voice, the irritability in Gu Xin’s heart dissipated significantly. He wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Rou'er, I missed you," he said, resting his forehead against hers.

"Brother Xin, I missed you too," Lin Rou said sweetly, clinging to his waist. However, the eyes hidden against his chest were filled with coldness.

Gu Xin took her hand and headed toward the bedroom.

"Wait a moment, Brother Xin," Lin Rou said, stopping him.

"What is it?" Gu Xin asked, somewhat displeased.

Lin Rou coaxed him, "Brother Xin, it’s not that I don’t want to, it’s just that I wanted to discuss something with you first. Can we talk before we go in?"

Lin Rou looked up at Gu Xin, her eyes filled with tenderness.

Looking at the gentle woman before him and thinking of Jiang Shuwan—who was unmoved by his efforts and had even returned his gifts—Gu Xin immediately stopped.

"Very well, I will listen to everything you say, Rou'er. What is it you want to tell me?"

Hearing this, Lin Rou felt a surge of joy, though her brows remained slightly furrowed. "Brother Xin, do you know why my cousin has changed so drastically?"

Gu Xin was startled. "Why?"

Lin Rou lowered her eyes, putting on a look of hesitation, and remained silent.

Gu Xin grew anxious and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Rou'er, please tell me!"

"Brother Xin, you’re hurting me," Lin Rou said, looking up at him timidly.

Realizing he had lost control, Gu Xin released her.

He didn't want to lose control, but since his rebirth, everything had gone off the path of his previous life. When he first woke up, he had intended to marry Lin Rou; after all, she was the woman he loved and his savior. However, after much thought, he realized that with his father dead and his own power base not yet established, he needed the influence of Jiang Shuwan’s maternal grandfather to secure his footing in the capital. He intended to marry Lin Rou only after achieving his goals.

But now, ever since Jiang Shuwan had fallen into the water, she seemed like a different person—no longer obsessed with him and even wanting to marry his father. This disrupted everything he had planned and piqued his competitive spirit, which was why he had sent her gifts. He hadn't expected her to be so bold as to return them.

Everything was happening too abnormally. He had to figure out why things were different from his past life.

Lin Rou assumed Gu Xin was agitated because he couldn't have Jiang Shuwan. Her hands clenched at her sides, her downcast eyes filled with gloom.

After a deep breath, she looked up, feigning hesitation for a few seconds before speaking.

"I accidentally heard that my cousin is a jinx. Her family is afraid of her, and after she found out, she was so distressed that her temperament changed completely."

"What? A jinx?" Gu Xin exclaimed.

Lin Rou nodded, reaching out to cover Gu Xin’s mouth, and whispered, "Brother Xin, don't speak so loudly. If others find out, it will be bad for my cousin."

Gu Xin pulled her hand away and said indignantly, "If she’s already a jinx, why should we fear others knowing? If she is a jinx, and she’s still trying to marry into our family, isn't that trying to destroy us?"