The Substitute Bride Who Fled Her Wedding 26

"It seems the host had a pleasant night," System 04's mechanical voice echoed in her mind.

Chen Yao couldn't help but clench her fists, annoyed. "And whose fault is that? I've been following the plotline perfectly."

System 04 immediately played dead.

Chen Yao gave a light snort. "Also, did you get any results on what you reported last night?" That was what she really cared about.

"No results yet," System 04 shook its head. "It said we'll have to wait until this world completely ends, then factor in everything and calculate."

Chen Yao felt speechless. "That's no different from saying nothing at all."

System 04 shrugged. "Nothing I can do; there's no complaint channel anyway."

"Damn it!" Chen Yao was furious.

In the end, the two of them could only sigh at each other, utterly helpless.

"From what I know, a world ends only when the female lead lives out her natural life, right? That would take forever," Chen Yao frowned, then another thought struck her.

"That's right," System 04 replied. "Host, just live well with the male lead. Of course, if you're willing to casually complete some side quests, that'd be even better—you can earn extra plot points."

"We'll see." Chen Yao's brows drooped, and her tone turned instantly listless.

System 04 was disappointed. "...You might as well just laze yourself to death."

Seeming to hear a faint rustling from the room, Chuntao and Xia He, who were waiting outside the door, quickly exchanged a glance.

It was Chuntao who cautiously called out in a soft voice, "Miss, are you awake? Would you like to get up and wash now?"

Chen Yao looked down at the marks on her body, bit her lip, but finally replied, "Come in."

Fine, she'd already given up on herself anyway.

But when she tried to get out of bed, her whole body was so sore and weak that she lost her strength and collapsed back onto the bed. Chen Yao's fair face instantly flushed crimson.

She clenched her fists, feeling both embarrassed and furious.

"Miss, let me help you," Chuntao said with concern.

Meanwhile, Xia He had already brought over the clothes that had been prepared in advance.

Chen Yao pressed her lips together and could only nod, stifling her frustration.

Still, she asked, "Where's Xie Qingyan?"

"This servant doesn't know," Chuntao shook her head.

Then she explained softly, "But the young master gave orders for you to rest in the room, miss. He already informed the main courtyard that you needn't get up early to serve tea this morning."

Chen Yao's face still showed displeasure, but she nodded. "Mm, I see."

It wasn't until she finished breakfast that she saw Xie Qingyan's figure appear in the courtyard.

Unlike last night in bed, he seemed to have reverted to his usual elegant gentleman self.

The man wore a pale crimson brocade robe, his hair bound with a jade crown, his handsome brows and eyes filled with a gentle smile.

But the moment Chen Yao saw him, she couldn't help but press her rosy lips together with a light snort, then turned her back to him.

"Why is my wife angry again?"

Xie Qingyan waved his hand, signaling the servants in the room to leave, then leisurely sat down beside the young woman and took her soft, boneless little hand into his palm.

He asked gently, "Did the servants in the household not attend to you well?"

"It's not the servants' fault; it's you who makes me angry."

Chen Yao quickly pulled her hand free, even giving the back of his hand a not-so-gentle slap.

"Alright, alright, it's my fault," Xie Qingyan conceded obediently.

A smile curled at the corner of his lips. He reached out and pulled his wife sideways into his embrace.

Then he leaned over and lightly kissed her soft, fair little face, his warm breath brushing against her skin.

"I shouldn't have been attending to household matters and not kept watch by my wife's side this morning—that was my fault."

Chen Yao could feel the man's hair brushing against her neck, and even though she deliberately pulled back a little, it still felt overly intimate.

"What do you mean? Xie Qingyan, are you being sarcastic with me?" She furrowed her brows, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly.

Xie Qingyan looked up at her, his dark eyes filled entirely with his wife's reflection, and said gently, "Naturally, I meant no such thing."

As the girl spoke, her lush, rosy lips kept opening and closing. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he couldn't resist pressing his thin lips to hers for a light kiss.

Yet when he spoke, his voice remained calm and composed. "My wife misunderstands me—these are all words from the bottom of my heart."

"Honey-tongued." Chen Yao instinctively leaned back to stop him from kissing her again, then glared at him. "And who said I wanted you to stay by my side? Don't flatter yourself."

She'd come to realize that ever since they got married, Xie Qingyan had grown increasingly shameless, and he especially liked to touch her.

After lingering in the room for a while, she thought about how she still needed to serve tea to the elders. Finally, she tidied her slightly rumpled clothes and headed toward the main courtyard.

*

In the front hall.

Chen Yao kept her eyes lowered, maintaining a perfectly demure expression as she bowed slightly and offered newlywed tea to both Lord Xie and Madam Xie.

Madam Xie had no idea that the daughter-in-law she'd taken a liking to had tried to flee the wedding several times.

At this moment, looking at the girl before her—dressed in a crimson brocade ruqun with a light green silk sash draped over her arm, her dark hair combed into a gentle matron's bun with tassel hairpins resting obediently on her shoulder—she felt more and more satisfied.

A smile spread across her face. She took a symbolic sip of the tea and said kindly, "Good child, your mother only hopes that you and Qingyan can be a harmonious couple and soon bring new branches to the family."

Then she instructed Aunt Xia, who stood behind her, to present a sandalwood box. Opening it revealed a pair of warm-toned gold-inlaid white jade mandarin duck bracelets.

Madam Xie took out the pair of bracelets and pulled the girl's slender wrist over to carefully put them on her. "These are the heirlooms passed down to each daughter-in-law of the Xie family. Keep them well."

Chen Yao looked at the jade bracelets on her wrist and replied obediently, "Thank you, Mother."

According to the Xie household customs, each courtyard usually ate separately. But perhaps bearing in mind that Chen Yao had just married in, Lord Xie and Madam Xie kept them at the main courtyard for lunch.

Nothing much happened during the meal; ancient dishes tasted just so-so anyway, and the four of them maintained the rule of not speaking while eating and not eating while speaking.

But after the meal, Madam Xie once again kindly inquired about her daily needs.

Then, naturally, the topic shifted to continuing the Xie family line.

Chen Yao, "..."

She lowered her face, deliberately feigning shyness, but she nearly suffered indigestion from listening.

*

When they returned to Fufeng Courtyard.

Chen Yao immediately pulled a long face, sitting crossly on the edge of the couch and throwing a tantrum at Xie Qingyan as he followed her inside.

"Hmph, anyway, my health is weak, so I probably won't be able to have a child easily. If you want a child, you can go have one yourself."

In fact, as a tasker, she couldn't possibly get pregnant in a minor world.

But who told the male lead not to follow the plotline properly and insisted on marrying her, the vicious supporting female character? Even if he ended up without an heir, it was his own fault.

"Having children isn't urgent; there's plenty of time ahead, so let's take it slow," Xie Qingyan said.

The room was empty except for the two of them, and he also sat down on the couch.

Then he reached out and drew the sulking girl into his arms, gently rubbing his chin against the hair on the top of her head.

Chen Yao struggled lightly and deliberately said, "Anyway, my health is terrible; who knows if I can even have children?"

She was also laying the psychological groundwork for Xie Qingyan in advance. If he truly couldn't accept it later, they could go their separate ways amicably.

Chen Yao even thought: if they did divorce, maybe the plot could make a comeback? Unless the female lead was a huge doormat, she probably wouldn't spare him a second glance.

Xie Qingyan's face immediately darkened. He grabbed the girl's shoulders and turned her around to face him, then stared straight into her eyes. "Don't talk nonsense. Your health is clearly fine—at least last night..."