7 Noble Sister-in-Law × Beautiful Yandere 7

Xinyi’s eyes widened: Is this—is this the villain acting like a spoiled child?

She never dreamed that Shen Rujie, in his most vulnerable moment, would look like this! How was this "sister-in-law" any different from a puppy whimpering for its owner?

The system gave a dry chuckle, reminding her with a tone of piercing insight: "Host, don't be fooled. He is using you; it’s the same logic as a drowning man grasping at a piece of driftwood. What if you were cowardly, abandoned him and ran away, or turned back and led the imperial guards right back to him?"

Xinyi naturally knew the system was right.

Someone like Shen Rujie, with a fair face but a black heart, could be smiling sweetly at you one second and slitting your throat the next without a shred of remorse.

But she also recalled a colleague from the "Femme Fatale" department, who, while touching up her makeup in front of the mirror, had hummed: "Don't look at how he looks down on me now; eventually, he’ll only want to bed me."

"Baby Xinyi, join our Femme Fatale department later. Sister will teach you how to toy with men's hearts; it’s so much fun."

At the time, she had offered a shy, innocent smile, looking somewhat naive and awkward. "Is it really that fun? But I’m afraid of breaking people’s hearts."

The woman had touched her pretty little cheek and sighed, "You’ve already broken the hearts of two or three new male recruits in our department, and you’re still too dim to realize it. You’re truly a natural-born heartbreaker."

Perhaps sensing Xinyi’s distraction, the youth tightened his grip on her wrist, a flicker of imperceptible coldness flashing through his eyes.

Yet, his pale lips parted slightly, appearing somewhat restless. "Sister-in-law..."

His gaze rested on her elegant and beautiful face. Seeing her wince slightly from his grip, her eyes reddening with a look of suppressed grievance, she looked incredibly easy to bully.

There was a hint of tender reproach in her softness, which brought a touch of vivid life to her usually dignified features.

Shen Rujie might not have realized that his heartbeat had skipped a beat. Even the place where his palm touched her smooth, supple skin seemed to spark a strange, uncomfortable, and feverish sensation.

In truth, he wasn't injured to such an extent, but for some reason, he didn't want her to leave. Perhaps it was the lingering distrust and suspicion he held toward her, or perhaps it was simply that no one had ever proactively drawn close to him when he was at his weakest.

Xinyi, meanwhile, felt her scalp tingling. Especially when she realized her palm was slick with sticky blood, yet she remained firmly gripped by the wrist, unable to break free. As someone who didn't even dare to watch a chicken being slaughtered, this situation was truly dire.

Besides, wasn't he injured? How did he still have so much strength? Could he be faking it?

After trying to pull away twice without success, she had no choice but to blink her eyes with a weak, aggrieved expression, her voice trembling with restrained tears. "What should we do? Second Young Master, you’ve lost so much blood..."

Her dark, raven-like lashes fluttered, as if she were on the verge of fainting from fright right in front of him.

This was logical; how could a sickly young lady from a noble house have ever seen such a scene? The fact that she was still standing was already a sign of her resilience.

Shen Rujie was even better at acting than she was. Leaning with effort against the pillar beside the fodder, he let out a muffled groan through pale, pained lips. "It’s no matter. It will pass in a moment, as long as you do not abandon me, sister-in-law."

His expression of complete trust and dependence made it seem as though they had once shared a deeply intimate relationship. If anyone else were to see this, it would be hard not to misunderstand.

The stars were sparse under the night sky, and the streets were deathly quiet. Since the imperial guards had only just left, they had to remain in the narrow, cramped stable for a while longer, just to be safe.

The two were pressed even closer together; they could hear the rhythmic rise and fall of each other’s breathing. Xinyi, dressed in thin layers, had initially felt cold, but now she felt her face heating up.

After a while, whether to align with the original plot or simply to cool down the strange atmosphere in the stable, the already oppressive night sky grew thick with heavy clouds. Rain began to fall, and it quickly intensified—a torrential downpour, to say the least.

Amidst the curtain of pouring rain, the youth’s consciousness seemed to regain a measure of clarity.

He spoke to her as if casually, his tone soft and harmless. "How is it that you came out of the Marquis’s mansion in the middle of the night, sister-in-law? And in such a hurry that you have no maids to accompany you? Is there some urgent matter that simply could not wait? Does my brother know?"

Those phoenix eyes locked onto her, like a cold, cunning viper watching prey caught in a trap, allowing for no deception.

Good grief, if she hadn’t prepared herself mentally, she really would have been stumped by his question.

But then again, if he didn't have even a shred of suspicion, it would have been an insult to the eight hundred schemes hidden in his mind.

Xinyi recalled the description of Zheng Wu in the original plot.

On that rainy night when he was gravely injured, she had not acted with the panic typical of a sheltered lady when Shen Rujie suddenly burst in; instead, she had cleverly helped him hide. That was why the youth had caught a glimpse of her and had been unable to forget her ever since.

Thus, she immediately looked up, as if without a moment’s thought, and blurted out, "Of course it’s because of Zheng Wu, she..."

Only then did she freeze, realizing what she had said. She cut herself off abruptly, her lovely face looking lonely and embarrassed, her teeth gently biting her lower lip. "Can I... not say? It is my own private matter, and it truly concerns no one else. I will keep your secret for this night, Second Young Master, and I ask that you keep mine as well. Can you?"

She released her lip and looked up at him again; a deep crimson mark from her teeth remained on her skin.

Yet, she didn't seem to notice how enchanting that looked. The expression in her eyes was exceptionally clean, clear, and devoid of any ulterior motives.

When Shen Rujie heard the name "Zheng Wu," he had already guessed a portion of the truth. Since Wu Xinyi could name the concubine of Shen Gui, it meant she was already aware of the entanglement between the two.

As for whether she had left the mansion tonight because of excessive heartbreak or something else, he neither cared nor was he interested.

So, after looking at her for a long time, he only frowned and said, "Sister-in-law, you are too reckless. Though this is under the Emperor's feet, it does not mean there are no dangers. Do not do this again."

*Not reckless, not possible,* Xinyi thought. *If I were a step later, you would have fallen in love with Zheng Wu at first sight! Wouldn't my mission be ruined then?*

But aloud, she gently echoed him, a hint of lingering fear in her voice. "I understand. Walking the night path alone is indeed very frightening."

The roof of the stable was poorly sealed and leaked. Shen Rujie’s gaze fell upon the pearl hairpin in her hair, which was dampened by the rain, and a strand of dark hair against her cheek that was also wet. Rainwater slid slowly down the side of her fair, slender neck, finally disappearing into the valley of her bosom, which was visible through her collar embroidered with orchid grass.

She shivered slightly.

When she lifted her wet, raven-black lashes to look at him, she appeared so elegant and dignified, yet in that moment, she possessed a fragile, unintentional allure.

The youth’s heart missed a beat. Feeling scorched, he pursed his lips and looked away.

Then, he frowned deeply, his expression turning gloomy and cold as if in endurance. He did not know why he felt such inexplicable, strange emotions toward her.

Seeing him turn away, Xinyi stopped playing the part of the pitiful victim.

Instead, she asked the system quite confidently, "How is it? Shen Rujie’s favorability toward me should be very high now, right?"

After all, she had made herself look so wretched just to save him.

And in the development of the original plot, this was exactly why he had fallen for Zheng Wu at first sight, unable to help himself.

The system was speechless at her inexplicable confidence and said, with a dry, insincere laugh: "It’s quite high, it’s risen to 25%. Host, you must keep up the good work!"

"How... how much?" Xinyi couldn't believe her ears. Only 25%?

What happened to the "glimpse that lasts a lifetime"? What happened to "unable to forget"? Why was there such differential treatment? Is it that if it isn't Zheng Wu saving him, it doesn't count?

Seeing her devastated state, the system offered a few words of comfort: "I told you before that villains and 'yandere' types are best at faking things, yet you were so quick to trust him. Sigh, take this as a lesson for the future."

Xinyi was not comforted at all.

She, absolutely, could not, accept it.

This was differential treatment, blatant, naked differential treatment!

There must be something wrong somewhere. Was her care not thoughtful enough, or was she not bold and unconventional enough, not willing to go far enough?

*Don't be angry, don't be angry.*

At a time like this, one must not lose their head. Stay calm, she had to stay calm.

After taking two deep breaths, Xinyi adjusted her expression, huddled her body closer to him in the drizzling night rain.

With a shrinking, hesitant look, she tugged at the youth’s sleeve. "Second Young Master, would you like to bandage your wound? The smell of blood is so strong... I’m feeling a bit dizzy."

Shen Rujie turned his head, seeing her biting her lip, wanting to say something but holding back.

Then, she lowered her head and offered the hem of her skirt to him, as if murmuring to reassure herself as much as him, "In an emergency, one must act accordingly. There is simply no other way."

The youth was stunned and frowned. "What?"

The young woman’s face was elegant and beautiful, yet she said something completely out of character for her.

"I don't have much strength..."

"You must tear off a strip of lining yourself; my skirt is cleaner."