Gu Baiyi froze for a moment, then stammered nervously, "No, that's not it… um, Senior Sister, I-I definitely didn't mean it like that."
Ji Rong was already quite familiar with this classic line from the original female lead.
But seeing Gu Baiyi now, flustered, aggrieved, looking like a pitiful little white flower and thinking again about the crazy, unhinged original female lead she herself had to deal with, Ji Rong couldn't help but fall silent for a long moment.
So this… was the contrast between worlds?
Could she get a dozen of this kind of sweet and silly female lead, please?
Ji Rong was now certain the original Gu Baiyi was nothing but a soft-hearted, naive sweetheart. But the original host's inner thoughts were something else entirely—absurdly unpredictable.
"She's so gentle."
"She's adorable."
Ji Rong: "…"
What the hell is wrong with you?
Although her thoughts were running wild, Ji Rong's face remained cold and emotionless. She didn't respond, just shot Gu Baiyi a frosty glance, then flicked her sleeve and turned to leave.
Gu Baiyi watched as Ji Rong disappeared into the bamboo forest, countless words stuck in her throat. In the end, she could only sigh and murmur wistfully, "Did I do something wrong? It feels like Senior Sister really dislikes me."
Meanwhile, Ji Rong was watching the original host hiding behind a bamboo stalk, stealthily peeking at Gu Baiyi, with utter disbelief raging in her heart.
The original host's expression was still indifferent, but her thoughts were running wild.
"If I don't say anything, then I won't say anything wrong."
"I'm so smart."
"She's really pretty."
Ji Rong: "…"
Seriously, are you really the original villain?
Ji Rong started to question her entire existence.
That cruel, poisonous Senior Sister who always sneered and taunted the heroine in the game, turns out she was just a socially awkward stalker?
She couldn't accept this.
Gu Baiyi practiced her sword in the bamboo grove for hours. The original host stayed hidden, spying from behind the bamboo for just as long.
It wasn't until the sun set, and twilight began to fall, that the purple-clad figure finally left, carrying two sections of bamboo with her. Only then did the original host slowly step out from the shadows.
She watched the purple figure drift further and further away, until she vanished completely from sight.
Then she bent down and picked up a single bamboo leaf. As she recalled the girl's elegant features, she thought to herself:
"This Junior Sister is as beautiful as a crabapple blossom."
"And maybe a bit like the bamboo, just as graceful and upright."
She lowered her gaze to the green leaf in her palm, her expression softening ever so slightly.
After meeting such a lovely Junior Sister, even these annoying bamboo stalks didn't seem so bothersome anymore.
In fact, the longer she looked at them, the more she found them quite pleasing.
She set the leaf down and let out a soft sigh.
"When will I get to see Junior Sister again?"
Ji Rong's expression was utterly blank at this point.
Just one memory fragment was enough to shatter her entire worldview.
She didn't even have the strength to curse the game developers anymore. Instead, she began to question whether this world was real.
Hah. So I'm not the player after all, I'm the one being played.
Well done. Truly… well done.
Just as Ji Rong was laughing in frustrated disbelief, nearly driven to madness, the system's robotic voice rang out.
["Original Host's Memory" item has expired. Player will now return to the initial plane.]
Enraged beyond reason, Ji Rong growled, "I'm not leaving today. I want to see just how much more ridiculous this original host can get."
[Warning! Only by purchasing an item can the player remain in this plane.]
Oh, whatever. Like she didn't have a few Achievement Points to burn.
You gained 10 points for advancing a minor realm, 30 points for a major breakthrough. She was now at the peak of the Riding the Wind stage, and after collecting the Cangming Sword, she'd received a bonus of 100 points. Altogether, she had 150 Achievement Points.
Ji Rong calculated that unlocking another memory fragment would cost only 60 points. No problem.
Still, just to be safe, she decided to buy one first, then decide whether to unlock a third.
She said to the system, "I'll unlock one more memory of the original host."
[Are you sure, player?]
"I'm sure."
[Exchanging—]
[Congratulations, exchange was successful. Initiating plane transfer—]
As soon as the system finished speaking, Ji Rong felt herself being sucked into another vortex.
Scenes flickered past her eyes, shifting and changing, until everything finally settled into a single image: a plum tree.
Mist swirled in the air. A woman in sheer robes reached up and plucked a plum blossom. The blurry scene suddenly came into sharp focus.
Green bamboo, red plum blossoms, winding paths, this was unmistakably Wantangju.
Ji Rong was speechless. So the system's idea of a new plane is… the exact same place.
She didn't know if the original host was just that much of a homebody, or if the devs had run out of budget.
Do NPCs not get basic rights? Why was it always the same damn backdrop?
Just as she was about to start ranting again, she saw the woman arrange a bunch of double-petaled plum blossoms into a vase.
After that, a strange, unreadable expression briefly crossed her usually calm face.
She carried the vase into the house and placed it on the desk.
Then, propping her chin lazily on her hand, she thought to herself:
"I invited Junior Sister over today to discuss sword techniques. But… maybe I shouldn't have scheduled it for the hour of the dog, because—"
Ji Rong instantly perked up.
Discuss sword techniques!
This must be the night the original host tried to frame the heroine! So right now, she had to be thinking about how to trap her…
"Because it's too late at night. Would she think I have… improper intentions toward her?"
"But no, probably not. I just thought that sword move she came up with today was pretty good, so I wanted to ask about it."
"Yes, that's all it is."
Ji Rong: "..."
Seriously, is this how a proper vicious villainess is supposed to think?
Just as the woman leaned back in her chair, momentarily zoning out, faint footsteps could be heard from outside the door.
The steps were very light, but since she had been keeping an ear out for movement, the sound still pulled her back to reality.
She lowered her hand from her chin and frowned slightly. At first, she intended to get up and open the door herself, but after a brief pause, she thought that would seem too enthusiastic, not her style.
Luckily, she had left the door slightly ajar earlier, so there was no need to get up now.
Composing her expression, she resumed her usual cool and detached demeanor, calmly waiting for Gu Baiyi to come in.
Floating above and watching it all unfold, Ji Rong was now completely impressed with the original host.
Honestly, who else could handle the villainess role this flawlessly?
While Ji Rong was mentally grumbling, a soft knock came from outside the door. The woman responded evenly, "Come in."
With her permission, the door creaked open.
A hand gently closed it behind them. A figure in purple turned around, smiled, and greeted, "Greetings, Senior Sister."
The woman nodded, then casually picked up a wine cup from the table and took a small sip. She said politely, "The sword technique you used this morning, very impressive."
Gu Baiyi looked surprised, as if she hadn't expected any praise from Ji Rong.
She paused, then her eyes crinkled in a smile. "It was just something I was messing around with. You flatter me."
"You created it yourself?"
The woman didn't even glance up as she took another sip from her cup.
"Yes."
The woman frowned slightly, and Gu Baiyi's heart skipped a beat at that tiny change in expression.
Ji Rong watched the heroine practically wear the word nervous on her face, while the original host was thinking:
I think I'm supposed to compliment her now. But I've never complimented anyone before.
How do you even do that?
I don't know how.
So, after a long pause, the woman gave a lazy nod and said stiffly, "Mm. Not bad. Better than me."
Ji Rong: ?
That's it???
Look at your tone, your expression, how does any of this look like a compliment?
In fact, it didn't sound like praise at all. Her half-lidded eyes and the cool aura around her made it feel more like: Heh. Don't get cocky. You're only slightly better than me, that's all.
But to Gu Baiyi, Ji Rong's words were already much softer than usual. At least she wasn't being cold or sarcastic for once.
So she smiled and offered, "If Senior Sister is interested, I could perform the sword dance for you. Would you like that?"
"Mm."
The woman was secretly pleased, but on the surface, she maintained her usual calm demeanor and gave a nonchalant nod.
And so, the two of them walked out into the courtyard together.
It was mid-winter, a season when most things should have withered. But Bixue Peak was rich in spiritual energy; the flowers and grass breathed it in and out, allowing all seasons to coexist.
Even the thousand-petaled cinnabar plum blossoms, which normally bloomed in February, were in full glory.
As cold plum blossoms flourished in the courtyard, the woman leaned beneath the eaves, wine cup in hand, quietly watching Gu Baiyi's sword dance.
She had never thought the plum blossoms in her courtyard were anything special. But now, with that figure in purple dancing beneath the trees, even those sparse flowers seemed more beautiful.
Gu Baiyi's sword intent was fierce and defined, yet her movements were gentle—like drifting petals, like falling snow.
Each stroke of the sword was precise, and not a single plum branch was harmed.
The woman thought, Junior Sister is very gentle.
No… she's especially gentle.
I really like gentle people.
Watching Gu Baiyi sheath her sword, the woman realized she was drunk. Her vision was hazy, and her heartbeat had sped up.
She was puzzled. Why had she felt such warmth and familiarity the very first time she saw Gu Baiyi?
And why was her heart racing like this now?
Ji Rong: "..."
Gee, I wonder why. Obviously, you're attracted to her.
Clearly, the original host couldn't hold her liquor. She had only had a few cups, and already she was tipsy.
With her wine cup in hand, she slowly walked over to Gu Baiyi. The moon was mostly hidden behind thick clouds, and no lanterns had been lit in the courtyard, so the flush on her cheeks was barely visible.
Gu Baiyi turned around, surprised to find Ji Rong standing so close.
She smiled gently and said, "Senior Sister, you're here."
At that moment, the woman frowned slightly, feeling as if a veil had fallen over her eyes. Otherwise, how could she see silver stars sinking into the depths of Gu Baiyi's gaze?
The clouds suddenly parted, moonlight spilling across the courtyard like water.
And then she saw clearly, what reflected in Gu Baiyi's eyes weren't stars at all.
It was her.
Looking into Gu Baiyi's eyes, the woman was certain now, she was drunk. Thoroughly, completely drunk.
She set her wine cup aside, reached out, cupped the other's chin, and kissed her.
So fragrant.
Junior Sister smelled like plum blossoms.
On the other side, Gu Baiyi stared blankly at Ji Rong's face, now mere inches away, completely frozen in place.
The woman didn't seem to care about her reaction. She simply pried open her lips, tasting the softness of her mouth.
The wine on her tongue was passed into Gu Baiyi's mouth. When she noticed there was no resistance, her movements grew bolder, deepening the kiss.
The night wind was tender and lingering, carrying their hearts into intoxication.
Emboldened by the wine, the woman pulled Gu Baiyi into her arms. Her fingers traced along her back, gliding over her shoulder blades and moving down to untie her sash.
But just then, she paused, her fingers freezing mid-motion.
She had sensed a slight stiffness in Gu Baiyi's body.
Her eyes were hazy with intoxication.
She felt unwilling. Hurt, even.
But her face gave nothing away. She simply looked at Gu Baiyi calmly.
Her Junior Sister's expression was conflicted, her body tense, clearly not ready for this.
Though disappointed, the woman stepped back and, with forced nonchalance, asked, "What is it? You don't have any improper thoughts about me?"