Chapter 45: Come on

Liu Qiu reached out and tugged at Fang Lian’s sleeve, her eyes wide and brows faintly knitted.

“Mother, Third Sister and I are already grown. How can we casually embrace like that?”

Her fingers were slender and elegant, no less refined than those of pampered young ladies who had never touched household chores.

It didn’t look like the kind of delicate skin raised in a peasant family—yet that was exactly what she was.

Liu Huang’s gaze carried scrutiny as it slid from Liu Qiu’s glossy black hair down to her pretty feet, then shifted to her own mother’s rough, darkened hands and wrinkled face.

Every month she set aside half of her military pay, and once a season she would have someone send it home.

Combined with the money her elder sister sent back, if not for this sickly wretch, her parents could have lived very well.

Fang Lian let out an “eh,” smiling warmly.

“Qiu girl, you and Third Girl are both daughters, and sisters at that. Of course it’s fine to hug.”

Liu Huang chimed in, “That’s right, Elder Sister Qiu. We’re sisters, family. You don’t need to be so resistant.”

Then she added, “Mother, what did you need me for?”

Fang Lian said, “Your father and I were planning to go to town to buy some food. Third Girl just returned—there must be meat.”

With the heat these days, meat spoiled easily, so they had planned to rise early the next morning to go. Peach Blossom Village wasn’t far from town; it was about half a shichen’s walk.

They hadn’t expected Third Girl to gallop back alone so early.

“I just wanted you to keep an eye on your Elder Sister Qiu.”

At those words, Liu Huang raised a brow, her eyes flickering.

“Mother, let me go instead. I’m fast on horseback.”

Fang Lian waved her hands repeatedly.

“How could we let you go when you just came home?”

“Third Girl, you should rest properly.”

Hearing Liu Huang volunteer, Liu Qiu tugged Fang Lian’s sleeve again, drawing her attention back.

Her voice was light and soft, like honey melting together.

“Mother, let Third Sister go. She’s strong and knows how to ride. She’ll be much faster than you and Father.”

Fang Lian had always doted on the original host; she would likely listen.

And truthfully, Liu Qiu didn’t want to face Liu Huang alone.

Whenever Fang Lian wasn’t looking, Liu Huang’s gaze turned cold and serpentine.

It was frightening.

Liu Huang was a seasoned soldier, fresh from the battlefield after years of being suppressed by the original host.

Liu Qiu might now be ‘Liu Qiu,’ but she was facing the real Liu Huang.

[System… I might turn into a ghost ahead of schedule.]

If she provoked Liu Huang too much, she might get beaten to death.

The system comforted her.

[No. The target character will likely wait until after you’re married to act. Of course, she might not even need to act at all.]

Liu Qiu caught the key phrase.

[Liu Huang is the target character? Why didn’t I hear a notification?]

The system replied, [You did. When she touched you earlier. You were probably too immersed in acting.]

Liu Qiu thought about it. That was true. She had focused entirely on Liu Huang during their confrontation.

But notification or not, the main characters of this world had already appeared in the plot outline.

The bride brought in to ward off misfortune.

And the two younger sisters.

After the wife died, her body barely cold, the newly married bride would already be entangled with the sisters.

[This world shouldn’t go wrong.]

She felt a bit depressed.

Why had Ranran and the others in previous worlds fallen for her against all logic?

At least Liu Huang clearly disliked her, and with their sisterly relationship, things should proceed according to script.

She would become a ghost, floating and watching her sisters and wife together, steadily increasing her “cuckold value.”

The system made crunching noises as if chewing something.

[Host, look on the bright side. As long as the mission is completed, it doesn’t matter who cuckolds whom.]

In reality, their entire exchange was only two seconds of Liu Qiu spacing out.

Fang Lian hesitated.

“Well…”

Liu Huang smiled.

“Elder Sister Qiu is right. I can ride back and forth quickly.”

“Actually, Mother, I have a suggestion. Why not let me take Elder Sister Qiu to town too?”

“I’ll ride slowly.”

Fang Lian’s eyes lit up at once, her smile broadening.

She patted Liu Qiu’s hand.

“Qiu girl, would you like to go to town with Third Girl? With her there, no one would dare bully you.”

Liu Qiu had lived twenty-three years without properly seeing town.

Recently her health had improved.

It would be good for her to go out and play—and perhaps strengthen the sisters’ bond.

The hope and affection in Fang Lian’s eyes made Liu Qiu swallow her refusal.

She couldn’t say no to that look.

It was the same gaze her own mother once had.

She glanced at Liu Huang’s shadowed smile and slowly nodded.

If anything happened, Liu Huang would surely be questioned.

Fang Lian beamed.

“Wear that ruqun. Come, Qiu girl, I’ll help you dress.”

Liu Qiu pressed her lips together.

“No need, Mother. You and Third Sister step out. I can manage.”

Liu Huang inwardly sneered.

Look at her—so pitiful.

Better than an opera actress.

The sky was still early and bright.

Fang Lian sighed outside, “In a blink, twenty-three years have passed. That Daoist said Qiu girl wouldn’t live past twenty-three. Now her health is improving—he must have been a fraud.”

Liu Huang smiled faintly.

“Yes, Elder Sister does look much better than years ago.”

Thanks to their parents’ painstaking care.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

Their parents favored Liu Qiu, the foundling, over their own flesh and blood.

Five years away, and she barely had time at home before being told to watch that sickly burden.

Irritating.

Fang Lian, unaware of her thoughts, added, “You and Second Girl have done well, but you must treat Qiu girl kindly. She’s been frail since childhood…”

The wooden door opened behind them.

Liu Qiu stepped out in the light blue ruqun.

Her long curls were braided loosely and draped to one side.

Her cheeks were flushed—changing clothes and braiding her hair had tired her.

She had dabbed a little lip color from the desk.

There was no mirror in the house.

She only knew her appearance from a reflection in water when she first arrived.

She had no idea how she looked now.

Seeing no one speak, she raised her eyes slightly.

A mole marked the corner of her eye, tears shimmering within.

“Mother… does it not look good?”

Fang Lian burst into laughter.

“Oh my, if you stroll around town like that, the young men will all refuse to marry anyone but you.”

Liu Huang recovered and said calmly, “Elder Sister is truly beautiful.”

Just a touch of lip rouge, yet she looked like a seductive spirit—black hair, pale face, crimson lips. Too striking.

Liu Qiu smiled softly, dimples appearing.

Her faint blush resembled maidenly shyness.

Liu Huang narrowed her eyes.

The fabric she wore was not cheap.

Their parents dressed in coarse cloth—yet this sickly girl…

Without warning, Liu Huang stepped forward and lifted Liu Qiu into her arms.

The sudden weightlessness drained Liu Qiu’s face of color.

“What are you doing?!”

Fang Lian was startled too.

“Third Girl!”

Liu Huang grinned.

“Elder Sister is too weak. I’ll carry her straight onto the horse.”

Why was she so light? Where did all that food go?

Fang Lian relaxed.

“Oh, I see. Then be careful. Don’t fall.”

Liu Huang adjusted her hold.

Liu Qiu’s hands trembled as they gripped her shoulders tightly.

Liu Huang chuckled.

“Elder Sister, you’re too weak. Eat more.”

Fang Lian missed the sarcasm entirely, smiling as Liu Qiu was placed atop the horse.

“Ride slowly! It’s her first time.”

Liu Huang bowed her head humbly.

“Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll ride slowly.”

She emphasized the word slowly.

Liu Qiu, seated sideways, secretly stroked the horse’s mane.

It was coarse and stiff.

[System, it’s my first time riding. I’m kind of happy.]

The system sensed her genuine delight.

She hadn’t smiled much in the first world.

[Host, ride sideways. Otherwise your thighs will chafe.]

[Got it.]

Liu Huang mounted smoothly and encircled her.

The scent of soapberry drifted to Liu Qiu’s nose.

She inwardly marveled—after such a long journey, Liu Huang’s clothes didn’t even smell.

Soon the horse began moving through lush forest paths.

At first, the pace was steady.

Maybe she had misjudged Liu Huang.

Then suddenly Liu Huang laughed, yanked the reins, and the horse reared.

Before Liu Qiu could finish shouting, the horse bolted.

She instinctively clung to Liu Huang.

“Liu Huang! Stop!”

Liu Huang’s voice was wild.

“Do you think I’ll listen to you?”

Wind swallowed her words.

The violent jolting made Liu Qiu dizzy.

“Liu Huang! I’m scared!”

After a while, Liu Huang slowed the horse.

She hadn’t intended real harm.

“Liu Qiu, you’re useless.”

Liu Qiu raised her hand and slapped her.

“As your elder sister, I should discipline you.”

[Kind of guilty, but I didn’t use much force.]

The slap barely hurt, but Liu Huang’s eyes darkened.

“Father and Mother spoiled you too much.”

She urged the horse forward again.

From Liu Huang’s perspective, Liu Qiu looked terrified yet stubbornly defiant.

In reality, Liu Qiu was chatting with the system.

[Once you get used to it, it’s actually fun.]

Eventually they reached town.

Vendors shouted.

The streets bustled.

In a shadowed corner sat a hunter beside cages of animals.

Among them lay a white fox, blood matted in its fur, barely alive.

The fox—Su Li—glared at the crowd with hatred.

She needed human essence to heal her wounded heart.

But five taels was too expensive.

Now the hunter demanded seven.

No one would buy her.

Liu Qiu approached slowly and crouched.

“How much for the fox?”

“Seven taels.”

Su Li nearly went mad.

Then a cloth pouch struck the hunter.

“Take it,” Liu Huang said coldly. “Five taels.”

The hunter hesitated, but one look at Liu Huang’s murderous aura made him concede.

“Fine. Cage included.”

Liu Qiu lifted the cage, dazed.

Liu Huang handed her a meat bun.

“Feed it. Don’t waste my money.”

“I’ll pay you back,” Liu Qiu murmured.

Liu Huang laughed.

“With what?”

“Five taels could buy three of you.”