Volume One, Chapter 11: Changing One Word Terrified the Male Lead to Death
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Chun’er Fu held a book in her arms, her steps light and brisk. When she was little and felt bored, she would climb trees to catch crickets or collect bird eggs, or lie on a tree trunk for a nap on a sunny afternoon.
There happened to be a towering ancient tree in the academy, and from time to time, she liked to climb up and stay for a while. The height gave her better air, and even memorizing texts flowed more smoothly.
System: [The host is very happy today.]
Chun’er Fu: “Of course, you know why~” Without that scoundrel around, everything she did brought joy.
Her smile lingered until she was almost at her destination, then suddenly froze.
The atmosphere felt off.
A place where rarely anyone came was suddenly crowded with many students blocking the only path to the ancient tree. They looked at her with hostile eyes, creating a suffocating scene.
Chun’er Fu: “What is this…”
A line to climb the tree?
She sighed helplessly; the line was too long. She decided to find another spot.
Just as she was about to turn away, out of the corner of her eye, she caught a familiar figure. She glanced casually, then her whole body stiffened.
There, the person who had “gone to the military camp for training,” exuded a sharp and rebellious aura as he slowly emerged from the crowd.
Chun’er Fu: “?”
… Suddenly, she realized Fang Juexia had tricked her!!!
System: [Wow, the male lead’s rule.]
Chun’er Fu was truly convinced; the so-called "male lead’s rule" was clearly designed to trap her.
Calming her breath, she tried to steady herself. These female students had come specifically to see Yin Lingxiao. Her presence here wasn’t out of place, and with her face veiled and attire low-profile, he might not even notice her.
Holding the book close, she lowered her eyes slightly and calmly walked forward along her original path.
Sure enough, Yin Lingxiao didn’t spare her a glance. His cold expression bore a trace of impatience. Passing shoulder to shoulder, he didn’t even slow his pace.
Chun’er Fu breathed a sigh of relief but couldn’t help cursing inwardly: In a past life, you really were just a shallow lecher who only cared about appearances!
Yin Lingxiao had just shot down two soaring hawks and was tinged with the scent of blood.
That bloodiness stirred a bit of bitterness in him, making his whole demeanor unpleasant. Suddenly, a fragrance pure and cold as frost and snow drifted in, sweeping away the lingering irritation in his heart.
Yin Lingxiao stopped in his tracks.
For some reason, upon smelling that scent, he felt calm, yet his heart stung sharply, as if fate was warning him that he was about to lose something precious.
His eyes puzzled, he turned back and wanted to call out to the person who had just passed: “Wait—”
Before he could finish, the eager gazes of countless students fell upon him.
But the figure he sought was nowhere to be seen.
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…
That night, Chun’er Fu’s mind replayed the day’s events, still feeling a tremor of unease.
Chun’er Fu: “Did Yin Lingxiao really not notice me?”
System: [Probably not. But he did look back after you left.]
Her hand holding the brush froze. He looked back? That scoundrel actually looked back???
The system displayed the day’s script:
[…Yin Lingxiao turned around, gazing quietly for a long time in the direction where the person disappeared…]
Chun’er Fu thought: What are you looking at! If you keep staring, I’ll gouge your eyes out!
She realized she had been too kind before; she should have changed “look” to “lick,” letting that scoundrel lick his way all the way!
The system dared not reply, sensing the host was being driven crazy by the "male lead’s rule" and developing some formidable traits.
After indulging in that fantasy, Chun’er Fu felt much better and continued reading, only to be startled!
[Location: Marquis Yongyi’s residence. Character: Yin Lingxiao.]
[Yin Lingxiao had a dream. He walked along a pebble path holding an umbrella, listening to the gentle patter of rain.
At a small window, someone was dressing.
He lifted the edge of his umbrella and saw a blurred figure of a woman sitting by the window in the pavilion, slowly combing her silky hair, humming a common countryside ballad.
His heart suddenly raced uncontrollably, and he involuntarily called out, “Miss.”
The singing stopped. The young woman lifted the window and showed a bright smile. The air was filled with a faint fragrance like frost and snow.
Separated by misty rain and a long street, she was upstairs by the window; he stood below the steps.
One glance that lasts a lifetime.]
After reading, Chun’er Fu couldn’t help but twitch at the corner of her mouth.
That scoundrel really knew how to imagine!
Confirming she still had the right to change one more character, a righteous light flashed in her eyes.
She moved her brush to erase the “female” character in “young woman” and replaced it with “male.”
Chun’er Fu sneered: “Lecher, let’s see if you still dare to lust after women in the future!”
*
At the hour of the Pig, in the Marquis’s residence.
By the flickering candlelight on the desk, Yin Lingxiao finished handling the military affairs assigned by the old marquis. He instructed his servant to add a piece of incense called “Spring Snow Message” into the burner, then rose to prepare for bed.
Threads of smoke drifted slowly from the cracks, filling the room.
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Like plum blossoms blooming amid a snowstorm.
Yin Lingxiao drew a deep breath, a trace of melancholy on his face.
No, it wasn’t the same.
The faint frost-and-snow fragrance that had brushed past him during the day was clear and delicate, yet it seemed etched deep into his soul. That scent was unique, bringing him an unprecedented peace unmatched by any other fragrance.
Closing his eyes, he sank into sleep, weary.
In his dream, he walked aimlessly along a long street, holding an oil-paper umbrella amid the rain.
Suddenly, he heard a captivating song drifting from a second-floor pavilion window.
A delicate shadow was projected on the paper window—the young woman humming a ballad while combing her hair, radiating a wild, rustic charm.
Like a bond of fate, Yin Lingxiao stopped, uncontrollably calling out, “Miss—”
The window slowly lifted. Pale fingertips rested on the sill, and the figure gradually appeared, the frost-and-snow scent spreading around.
His heartbeat quickened.
Faster.
He was about to see her.
—What exactly did the young woman imprinted on his soul look like?
Suddenly, a head popped out, revealing a rough-looking man’s face, shouting at him:
“What’s up, big brother? You’ve got your eye on me?”
Yin Lingxiao: “…”
“Hey, wait for me! I’m coming down to find you—Hey? Why are you running? Big brother, aren’t you supposed to love me?”
“Wait for me!!!”
The ground shook violently as the burly man apparently jumped out the window and chased after him.
For the first time, the usually unflappable Yin Lingxiao, who could take an enemy general’s head unflinching amidst thousands, was scared awake.
The lingering fragrance of “Spring Snow Message” drifted softly away. After a long moment, a sigh echoed through the dark room.
“Truly mad,” he murmured.