Chapter 14: Actually, I… Like Xie Yuan

Chapter 14: Actually, I... Like Xie Yuan

Inside the room, Su Youyue turned around to find Jin'er gazing at her with shining eyes, admiration in her voice as she exclaimed, "Miss! When did you become so capable? This is the first time Lady Liu has been defeated in front of you."

Everyone said that Second Miss was a lucky star, beautiful and kind-hearted, while First Miss was a calamity, cold-blooded and cruel. Although Jin'er didn't believe this, her low status and insignificant words mattered little. She usually returned from outings with Su Youyue after enduring much humiliation.

This was the first time she felt such satisfaction! And Miss had even protected her just now!

Softening her gaze, Su Youyue's brows and eyes curved gently, but she quickly suppressed the expression.

Did becoming capable mean anything?

Another person had also mentioned that she had become more capable.

But that person had also said she was too naive, easily trusting others, believing that the world was simply black or white, good or evil, which would eventually harm herself. Back then, she had dismissed those words with a scoff. Later, she realized that those words were, in fact, the harsh truth that one needed to hear.

People grew through experiences. Some lessons, no matter how many times taught by others, might never sink in. But one lesson from life was enough...

"Xie Yuan..." Su Youyue sighed his name softly.

Jin'er didn't catch it clearly. "Miss, what did you say?"

Su Youyue paused and dismissed Qiaoer before lowering her gaze and saying, "Later, you'll instruct the steward that from now on, Xie Yuan's living expenses should be equivalent to those of the estate's guards. But make sure he knows that these arrangements are my doing."

"Then, withdraw five thousand silver taels from my private account. When the snow stops tomorrow, go and purchase a few shops for me."

After finishing, Su Youyue listed the shops she wanted to buy on a slip of paper and handed it over to Jin'er.

These shops were carefully selected by her in her previous life to sell the goods produced from the formulas left behind by her mother.

Those products had never appeared in Yanjing before and were highly practical, so they were naturally very profitable. The shops she picked were all excellent and only added to her success.

In this new life, Su Youyue understood even more the importance of wealth, especially since these formulas were passed down from her mother. It was impossible for her not to expand upon them. Thus, her business could not falter.

"Jin'er, apart from purchasing these shops, there's also Mister Li whose surname is Li. He should currently be idle at home. You must hire him and tell him that he'll receive twenty silver taels a month. If the business does well, there will be additional bonuses."

In her previous life, this shopkeeper had gone through several years of hardship before encountering Su Youyue. Back then, he was already deeply grateful for the mere five silver taels she paid him each month.

However, he was actually a genius in business and could bring far greater value than just five silver taels. That was why later on, she raised his monthly salary to one hundred silver taels and included some profit-sharing.

Now that she was hiring anew, it would be inappropriate to offer the highest wage right away.

"Alright, Miss. I'll head out early tomorrow morning," Jin'er said without any doubt about her young miss's motive for purchasing a shop. She had noticed that she seemed more important to her young miss than Qiaoer was now; even her steps carried a certain air.

Back then, Qiaoer had always bullied her!

However, Jin'er still couldn't quite grasp her young miss's attitude towards Xie Yuan. Wasn't she supposed to treat him as a distinguished guest? Why was she giving him the same treatment as a guard?

Su Youyue had her reasons. If she were seen being overly kind to Xie Yuan by everyone, not only would outsiders gossip, but even the Emperor wouldn't let her off. After all, he was still the descendant of a convicted minister.

She wasn't in the mood to strangle him in the cradle of his future as a grand villain right now.

Firstly, the former crown prince he assisted was a wise and enlightened ruler, whom the common people praised highly, and whose achievements far surpassed those of the current emperor during his reign. Without Xie Yuan, she was uncertain whether the former crown prince could ascend to the throne again.

Secondly, it was certain that Xie Yuan had bodyguards around him now. It was more crucial for her to protect her own life rather than risk killing him.

To establish a good rapport with Xie Yuan, she had really put in a great deal of effort!

Perhaps due to thinking too much about Xie Yuan, Su Youyue even dreamt about him that very night.

In her dream, she was transported back to the time when Xie Yuan had just turned the tide in favor of the crown prince and ascended to the position of a powerful minister in the dynasty.

He had ensnared her gambling brother-in-law, Lu Cheng, landing him in prison. Her mother-in-law and sister-in-law blamed her for her brother-in-law's plight, pressuring her to visit the Xie residence to apologize...

She brought a sum of one hundred thousand taels of silver to the Xie mansion, only to find out that what Xie Yuan desired was not wealth, but... her.

No, more accurately, he sought to humiliate her.

To humiliate her, during intimate moments, he would often grip her throat, forcing her eyes open...

Su Youyue felt increasingly suffocated, as if she were truly being choked by Xie Yuan, unable to breathe.

She struggled, calling out his name with a sticky, soft voice, hoping he would release her.

Unexpectedly, the large hand only tightened its grip, mercilessly. Su Youyue abruptly coughed.

It was then that she realized there was indeed an icy cold hand clasped tightly around her neck!

The person pinning her down seemed to be taken aback by her sudden voice.

In that instant, both on and off the bed, they froze, while only the slightly opened window brought in a cold breeze, gently and ambiguously caressing the curtains.

Could it be Xie Yuan?

Did he want to kill her, thus secretly sneaking into her room in the middle of the night, planning to eliminate her without a trace?

In a fleeting moment, too many thoughts raced through Su Youyue's mind.

Heaven is dooming me! I thought I was blessed with a second chance at life, but barely two days after my rebirth, I'm about to meet my end again!

Xie Yuan, that scoundrel, truly has no conscience. Despite my kindness towards him these past two days, he doesn't treat me as he did in my previous life. Instead, he's attempting to get rid of me – it's unjust!

Wait, what if this person isn't Xie Yuan?

Su Youyue had only coughed earlier without opening her eyes. Even if she were to open them now, the darkness in the room would prevent her from seeing the intruder clearly.

Just as she hesitated whether to call for help, the man suddenly spoke, his voice deep and icy, like a cold undercurrent: "Shh, don't speak."

"It won't hurt," the man murmured, increasing the pressure in his grip as if truly intent on ending her life.

In that fleeting moment, Su Youyue realized that this person was none other than Xie Yuan!

However, the voice he was using now was his second disguise.

In her previous life, she hadn't known at this point, but she did later on!

When he had to kill someone in front of her, he had used precisely this same voice!

Su Youyue felt like laughing out of anger, but survival took precedence. In the brief seconds she had to think, she decided on the quickest and clumsiest solution—pretend to be asleep and mumble in her sleep.

"Xie Yuan, Xie Yuan... don't blame me."

"Cough... I bullied you before only to protect you... If I hadn't done that, they wouldn't have let you go... Wuh..."

"In fact, I've liked you for a long time!"