2 Refined Lady Sister-in-Law × Beautiful and Fragile

The rain pattered incessantly, making the mottled, withered leaves flutter down even more relentlessly.

A cold wind slipped in along the damp edge of the oiled paper umbrella, sharp and biting. Coupled with the dim sky nearby, it suddenly made one feel the thinness of their clothes.

On the way to meet Shen Gui, the system kept chattering nonstop, reminding her, “Host, don’t let anything slip. You must resist the urge to curse.”

“Though Shen Gui is a scoundrel, you’re here to complete a mission. Remember your character!”

So noisy.

Xinyi wanted to cover her ears, clicking her tongue in annoyance. “If you’re so worried, didn’t you just say I have the clearest green tea traits? Even the ancestral green tea spirit has personally come out to help—shouldn’t you be more careful?”

Honestly, considering the original owner’s simple background, it was already impressive if that scumbag could remember his wife’s face.

He never loved Wu Xinyi—how much could he possibly understand her?

Maybe now that she’s indifferent to Shen Gui, he might interpret her odd behavior as “playing hard to get,” a small scheme to win her husband’s heart by drawing his attention.

As long as she didn’t drastically change in front of him, turning into a completely different person, it should be fine.

As for Shen Rujie, there was even less to worry about.

They weren’t just unfamiliar with each other; they probably hadn’t exchanged more than five insincere pleasantries.

Still…

Xinyi stepped onto a worn bluestone slab, lifting her rain-soaked skirt hem slightly, and said in a low voice, “System, can we make a deal?”

“What?”

“If there aren’t any important alerts, can you try to speak less?”

The system paused thoughtfully for two seconds. “Sure, Host. Though that’s a rather strange request... may I ask why?”

Xinyi exhaled deeply, sincere and candid. “Because your voice is really unpleasant.”

If she had to describe it, it was a hundred times worse than the default text-to-speech system on Jinjiang. Emotionless, flat, more tedious than an old lady shelling sunflower seeds by the bedside—it made her head throb.

Once or twice might be bearable.

But listening to it so often was mental pollution! And this voice would accompany her into every little world—just the thought was terrifying.

Suddenly, the system apologized with a surprised “Oops,” and added, “Ah, I forgot to tell you, the system’s voice tone can be freely chosen.”

Xinyi: “...”

Why didn’t you say so earlier?

In the end, she picked a voice that sounded cute but a bit obsequious—very much a sycophant.

That way, her missions wouldn’t feel so miserable.

She had to admit, life in the Marquis’s mansion was truly extravagant.

Just walking from one courtyard to another took the time it took to finish several cups of tea, wearing Xinyi’s feet down to aching.

She endured it until she was about to speak, but just then, she looked up and saw the signboard “Shen Garden.”

So she swallowed her words silently.

Beside her, Aying warned softly, “The steps are slippery, Madam, watch your footing.”

She tilted the umbrella slightly and then gasped softly, “That’s the Second Master…”

Xinyi was stunned and involuntarily followed her gaze.

Under the dense, cloud-covered sky, crimson tiles and green eaves lay silent and muted, as if everything were subdued beneath the hazy curtain of rain—only the young figure stood tall and straight.

She thought the first person she’d see in this world would be Shen Gui.

Unexpectedly, it was Shen Rujie.

The youth wore dark robes, thin and pale-skinned, with a cold and refined visage. His phoenix-like eyes were exquisitely beautiful but shadowed by thick, dark lashes that seemed habitually lowered.

It was impossible to discern the emotions in his eyes.

Perhaps from a harsh journey or nonstop travel, his body and face bore clear wounds.

Originally, his dark clothing concealed the severity of his injuries.

But now, with the rain gently pattering outside, and Shen Gui having made him wait outside the corridor for rest, a pool of blood quickly gathered where he stood.

The blood seeped into the cracks of the bluestone slabs, and even a glance from afar sent chills down one’s spine—this was like a scene from a notorious crime!

Xinyi even caught a faint metallic tang in the air.

The original owner was already weak, and now she felt faint and dizzy. She pressed her palm firmly against her chest to steady herself.

The youth, however, showed no expression and stood straight and cold, as if the blood wasn’t even his.

Xinyi thought: What incredible mental fortitude.

If it were her, she’d have been clutching her foot, drenched in sweat, wishing she could leap away from the pain.

“Does he not feel pain?”

The system replied in an annoyingly cute tone, “Don’t know. But that’s not something you should worry about. He hurts, you do your mission. Promise me you’ll be a cold and ruthless woman, okay?”

Xinyi: “...”

She couldn’t entirely blame herself—people naturally view beautiful faces through rose-colored glasses.

Especially someone as striking as Shen Rujie.

That face didn’t look evil no matter how you looked at it.

His deceptive charm was strong enough that, without the system whispering reminders, Xinyi couldn’t connect him to the word “villain.”

Curious about the mission, she asked, “What’s his current favorability rating toward Shen Gui?”

System: “-10000%.”

“Tsk…” Though she knew Shen Gui never treated this younger brother as a person, she hadn’t expected it to be that low.

No wonder, in the original story, Shen Gui never considered sparing Shen Rujie’s life even to win Zheng Wan’s favor.

“How about toward the original owner, Wu Xinyi?”

System: “-75%.”

“What?! She didn’t offend him!”

The system comforted her, “Don’t worry, Host. Tests show that even a passing dog’s favorability is higher than his. Compared to Shen Gui, Shen Rujie is almost on the verge of loving you.”

Almost being loved, Xinyi: ....

Aying noticed her mistress staring blankly at the Second Master for a long while and gently tugged her sleeve. “The Marquis is waiting, Madam. Please go inside.”

Xinyi shifted her feet but didn’t enter immediately.

Instead, she approached the neglected corner carefully, stepping lightly to avoid splashing the accumulated blood onto her skirt.

Her slight movement was naturally caught by Shen Rujie.

The youth’s thin lips pressed together, standing in the rain like a refined bamboo painting, his handsome face expressionless.

Until his gaze met a pair of delicate hands appearing before him, accompanied by a faint medicinal fragrance. The woman’s flowing skirt stopped before him; the hem fluttered in the wind like a freshly bloomed lotus.

He raised his eyes and saw Xinyi’s face.

Her pale, beautiful face was full of pity and concern. “Um… would you like to stand under the eaves to wait?”

Everyone was stunned by those words.

Not only Aying but also other servants who pricked up their ears—why would Madam willingly speak to the Second Master?

She was usually weak and taciturn, always appearing weary, and except for the Marquis, she hadn’t ever cared much for anyone.

Moreover, the Marquis despised the Second Master.

So much so that even while the old Marquis was still alive, it was known the two brothers could never be harmonious. The old Marquis favored the eldest son, never allowing Shen Rujie to sit at the family reunion dinner to avoid dampening the mood.

And since Madam adored the Marquis, she naturally disliked the Second Master. So even when seeing Shen Rujie injured or punished, she often avoided him like a plague.

Only when unavoidable would she utter a few perfunctory words.

Xinyi couldn’t hear their thoughts. She only stared at the youth’s handsome face, suddenly recalling a scene.

She wasn’t sure if it was a leftover memory from the original owner or information implanted by the system.

In a dark alley, the youth propped himself up with his arms, struggling to stand. He wiped the blood off his sword with a weak, cold voice, “Shen Rujie.”

“Like a blade of grass, the ‘Rujie’ in the name.”

The wind blew harder, making the woman before him shiver slightly, then meet his gaze again.

This time, she frowned, pulled out a handkerchief from her bosom, and pressed it against the bleeding back of his hand. “The rain probably won’t stop. You should stand under the eaves to wait—if you get soaked more, the wound could get infected.”

Shen Rujie frowned too. He expressed his resistance but said softly, “No need. Brother dislikes being disturbed.”

With that, the silk handkerchief embroidered with begonia flowers brushed across his hand and fluttered down into the bloodied puddle beneath, instantly soaked and ruined.

Xinyi: “...”

So that’s what a -75% favorability looks like?

Aying, seeing how ungrateful the Second Master was, frowned and whispered, “Madam, don’t bother with him. Isn’t he often injured? The Marquis is more important.”

“Madam…”

Xinyi knew that given her current character, showing too much concern for someone she barely interacted with would seem strange.

So she didn’t push further. Before leaving, she smiled faintly and said, “Thank you for your trouble in finding medicine for me. I will repay your kindness someday.”

Shen Rujie said nothing.

Because he didn’t come to Youzhou for her injuries, nor was he hurt because of her.

So her gratitude was unnecessary.

Not even Shen Gui paid her the slightest mind.

Wu Xinyi probably didn’t yet know that behind her back, the outwardly courteous Shen Gui was secretly keeping a concubine, treating her like a treasure.

Raindrops soaked his eyelashes.

He curled his lips in a slight sneer, almost eager to witness the moment her beautiful dreams shattered—it would surely be... entertaining.

*

Xinyi stepped into the room and immediately saw Shen Gui standing in front of a portrait, caressing a warm jade ornament.

The man was tall and graceful, dressed in a broad crimson-blue robe, his long hair tied up in a jade crown. His appearance was remarkably handsome, with noble authority etched between his brows.

His intense focus on the portrait was, of course, related to Zheng Wan.

A few days prior, Zheng Wan had insisted on learning to paint, and Shen Gui had indulged her, personally taking the time to teach.

In that secluded courtyard, his beloved woman nestled in his arms, he held her hand, carefully drawing each stroke.

Thinking of the original owner’s fate with Zheng Wan, Xinyi couldn’t help but sigh at Shen Gui’s nature: whether the woman was unloved or cherished, none ended well by his side.

He was born with a curse that ruined his wives.

Though good-looking, utterly unworthy.

The worst was that his body was impure—like an early-rotten cucumber. In an otome game, well... not even a 9.9 “free shipping” badge would guarantee players buying him.

Just as she was about to sneer quietly, Shen Gui finally noticed her.

Not feeling the least bit guilty, he turned the tables and accused, “What were you dazing off at just now?”

“...”

Xinyi was left speechless.

She couldn’t very well say she was thinking about how no one wanted him.