The Runaway Bride in a Substitute Marriage 07

"I don't care. I want mine at the very top, so go figure it out."

The monk murmured a prayer and lowered his brows in admonition. "Everything follows its own fate. Why must you insist on making things difficult?"

Chen Yao sniffed. "I insist on making things difficult. Stop your nagging, monk. If you can't do it, find someone who can and have them hang it up for me!"

"If you do well, I'll reward you handsomely," she added, casually slipping the turquoise ring off her finger and holding it in her palm.

But then she changed her tone. "Otherwise, I'll—"

Before she could finish her threat, she felt her hand suddenly empty, and the ribbon she'd been holding was snatched from behind her.

Chen Yao closed her other hand over the turquoise ring, spun around, and glared at the person with her brows arched and a fierce expression.

"Miss Jiang, I have a way." Xie Qingyan spoke up directly.

He had completed his mother's instructions and met his betrothed, and had been about to take his leave.

But Jiang Chenyao's temperament was truly overbearing and unreasonable, and she was, after all, the future Madam Xie.

Xie Qingyan reasoned: It was one thing when she acted like this with him, but if she did the same in front of others, word would get out and invite criticism.

"What can a frail scholar like you do?" Chen Yao retorted instinctively.

She seemed to have completely forgotten that he had caught her when she fell from the corridor that morning.

Ban He helpfully reminded her, "Miss Jiang, our young master saved you just this morning."

Chen Yao's small face stiffened.

But she wouldn't acknowledge a servant's words. She simply looked at the man before her with suspicion. "What method does Young Master Xie have in mind?"

Then she watched as Xie Qingyan lowered his head and unfastened the jade pendant hanging from his belt.

"System, tell me he's not thinking—" Chen Yao's silence was deafening.

System 04: "I think you're right."

Then she watched helplessly as the spendthrift male lead actually tied that clearly valuable jade pendant to the red ribbon.

He took a couple of steps back, looked up at the hibiscus tree, and fixed his gaze on the highest branch that stretched out horizontally.

Once he found the right angle, he flicked his wrist, using a subtle bit of skill, and flung the pendant with the ribbon up into the air.

Relying on the momentum of the heavy object falling, the red ribbon still ended up securely wrapped around the branch.

Chen Yao looked up, her gaze fixed on the jade pendant now caught in the fork, radiating a soft luster, and couldn't help but twitch the corner of her mouth.

No wonder he was the eldest young master of the Xie family—he was as wealthy as he was extravagant.

"Is Miss Jiang satisfied?" Xie Qingyan asked gently.

Chen Yao nodded instinctively. "Mm."

Then she quickly snapped back to herself and lifted her chin. "In that case, I'll keep my word. This ring is still my thanks to you."

She held out her palm, offering the turquoise ring.

It was only a turquoise ring, and Xie Qingyan didn't decline. He accepted it gracefully.

"Then I thank Miss Jiang for her generosity."

But as he reached for the ring, his fingertip accidentally brushed against the softness of her palm, and his heart gave a jolt. Yet his expression remained unchanged as he withdrew his hand.

Chen Yao figured she'd played her part for today well enough. As for the male and female leads' first meeting that night, there was no need for her to intervene.

Great. She'd stay in her room until she left tomorrow morning.

After all, playing the spoiled and willful role required energy, and right now she just wanted to be a lazy fish.

So, Chen Yao simply walked off.

Naturally, she didn't say goodbye to the male lead. Vicious supporting female characters were supposed to be rude like that, she thought.

Xie Qingyan watched the young lady's aloof figure, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the ring in his palm, and said nothing.

After a long moment, he finally spoke. "Ban He, go tell Mother that there are matters at the Crown Prince's residence that need my attention. I'll take my leave first."

"But sir, if the madam asks about your impression of Miss Jiang, how should I reply?" Ban He hesitated.

He couldn't quite gauge his young master's thoughts. Before coming to Yunfu Temple, his master had seemed somewhat resistant to the marriage arranged in their infancy. But judging from his reaction to Miss Jiang today, it seemed he was now willing?

A flicker passed through Xie Qingyan's brow, and he said calmly, "Miss Jiang is innocent and lively."

Ban He couldn't help but mutter inwardly: Miss Jiang's temperament was hardly just innocent and lively—it was outright willful and unreasonable.

But in the end, he bowed and said, "Yes."

*

Unbeknownst to Chen Yao, the male and female leads' first meeting at Yunfu Temple that night had basically fallen through because of Xie Qingyan's early departure.

She maintained her relaxed attitude and happily holed up in her guest room all afternoon.

Of course, since she'd gotten up too early and was low on energy, she spent most of that time lying flat and sleeping.

After all, with the temple's natural white noise, the quality of her sleep was unbeatable.

When she woke up, she found the sky outside the window had darkened, and the room was already lit with lamps.

"Miss, you're awake." Chuntao said in a soft voice.

Chen Yao rubbed her eyes and sat up slowly. "Mm. What time is it now?"

Chuntao replied, "It's almost the hour of xu."

Seeing her illiterate host looking confused, System 04 translated in her mind: "It's almost 7 PM."

Chen Yao finally realized. "It's already this late."

"The madam instructed us not to wake you, and your dinner has been kept warm. Should I go have it brought in?"

Chen Yao patted her slightly flat stomach and agreed. "Alright."

Chuntao brought up the same bland vegetarian fare as lunch, but this time there was a plate of golden, plump apricots beside it.

Before her miss could ask, she explained on her own, "Madam Xie sent these over, saying she thought you might like them."

Chen Yao picked up a plump apricot, brought it to her lips, and took a light bite. Sweet juice immediately filled her mouth.

Madam Xie wouldn't know she wanted apricots—she'd even almost died picking them. It must have been the male lead who had arranged it.

He's actually pretty nice, Chen Yao thought.

*

After returning from Yunfu Temple, Chen Yao's daily routine went back to the decadent life she'd had when she'd first arrived in this world.

Every day she ate and drank well, had a handmaid to take care of everything, and could catch up on the latest serialized novels from the market when she was bored.

"What cadre could withstand such a test?" Faced with System 04's reproach, Chen Yao even argued with conviction.