A sweet, girlish voice drifted closer. "Senior Brother Xiao, I heard Master Yu Qing took on a disciple?"
The newcomer wore pink, her charming smile radiant and her beauty captivating.
It was none other than the long-awaited Female Lead, Ouyang Susu!
As the Female Lead of the melodramatic Mary Sue novel Every Handsome Man Spoils Me, Ouyang Susu was the cherished daughter of the sect master of the First Sect within the Demon-Slaying Sect. She entered every scene with a built-in halo and countless simps surrounding her.
According to the original story, Xiao Qinghe was one of her devoted simps.
"It's only been a few days, Junior Sister, but you've grown even more beautiful." Xiao Qinghe put on his professional fake smile, playing the devoted simp to perfection.
Xie Jun was drawing water. When she saw Xiao Qinghe circling Ouyang Susu and fawning over her in every conceivable way, her expression chilled.
Ouyang Susu ignored Xiao Qinghe.
Lifting her skirts, she fluttered over to Xie Jun like a butterfly and watched her with interest. "Are you Master Yu Qing's new disciple? I'm Ouyang Susu, the youngest in the sect. You can call me Junior Sister."
Born into privilege, Ouyang Susu had always been a cut above the rest. Usually, others flocked to her and worshipped her mindlessly.
Until now, the only person she had ever approached of her own accord was their otherworldly master.
Xie Jun was her second exception.
As expected of the original novel's greatest beauty, even the Female Lead with her countless simps treated him differently.
Yet the beautiful Xie Jun remained unmoved, lowering her head and dropping the bucket into the well.
You blockhead!
How could drawing water matter more than winning over the Female Lead?
She's your future wife!
Xiao Qinghe fretted inwardly, but Ouyang Susu seemed to love this approach.
Just as with their aloof, unattainable master, the colder and more distant someone was, the more interested she became. In short-
Young one, you've successfully caught my attention.
"Senior Brother Xie, let me help." Smiling brightly, Ouyang Susu reached over to take the bucket.
Xiao Qinghe inwardly marveled at the special treatment the lead received, but he hadn't forgotten his own role as a simp. Naturally, he couldn't let a pampered young lady do manual labor. "Junior Sister, let me."
By accident, he caught Ouyang Susu's delicate hand.
And Ouyang Susu's hand rested on Xie Jun's hand as she held the bucket.
Three hands overlapped.
Xie Jun lowered her gaze to Xiao Qinghe and Ouyang Susu's touching hands.
What an eyesore!
"Let go!" Xie Jun's expression turned chilly.
Xiao Qinghe immediately released his hand.
I almost forgot. She's afraid of men and doesn't like being touched by them!
Ouyang Susu pouted her red lips. "You're so mean, Senior Brother Xie."
As expected of the Female Lead, even anger came with a full beauty filter. She wasn't the least bit irritating; instead, she looked charming and adorable, making people want to cherish her.
Who knew what sort of steel Xie Jun's heart was made of? She didn't spare Ouyang Susu another glance and instead subtly blocked Xiao Qinghe off.
She won't let me near Ouyang Susu?
So she's secretly jealous, but too proud to let Ouyang Susu notice?
Understanding dawned on Xiao Qinghe, and he silently stepped back twice.
Like a beautiful butterfly, Ouyang Susu fluttered around Xie Jun, smiling sweetly, her voice as melodious as an oriole's. "Senior Brother Xie, come play with me, please?"
Xie Jun continued drawing water, expressionless. "I haven't finished today's water-drawing task. I have no time to play."
Ouyang Susu promptly shot Xiao Qinghe a murderous look, as though he were some utterly evil capitalist exploiting child labor.
Xiao Qinghe secretly envied Xie Jun's protagonist halo.
No wonder the Female Lead kept showing her favor despite her secret crush on their master. Ouyang Susu had treated him differently from the very beginning, leaving countless simps green with envy.
Among them was Zhao Guangyi, who was determined to win her.
An affectionate cry of "Junior Sister!" rang out as a man in blue flew over on his sword and landed beside Ouyang Susu. "Junior Sister, what are you doing here?"
As he spoke, he took Ouyang Susu's hand and tried to lead her away. "Haven't you been clamoring for a Spirit-Beast? I caught one for you. Come have a look?"
The newcomer was Zhao Guangyi.
He was the sect master's foremost disciple, the senior brother who adored Ouyang Susu most.
Ouyang Susu's eyes lit up. She immediately turned and asked, "Senior Brother Xie, come with me!"
Zhao Guangyi looked at the young disciple, his expression hardening.
Her features were strikingly beautiful, and her white robes couldn't conceal her bewitching air, poised somewhere between righteousness and wickedness.
Compared with their master's serene, otherworldly beauty, hers was a dazzling beauty that eclipsed all others.
She seized the eye and was impossible to forget.
Such exquisite beauty was sure to provoke men's jealousy.
Especially since she had stolen all of Ouyang Susu's attention.
"Junior Sister, Junior Sister Xie still has work to do. She has no time to accompany you." Zhao Guangyi shot Xie Jun a cold, warning look. "Isn't that right, Junior Sister Xie?"
Xie Jun ignored him, maintaining her icy aloofness to the bitter end.
Ouyang Susu pouted and insisted on clinging to Xie Jun's arm. "Senior Brother Xie is almost done drawing water. Even if he can't finish, isn't Senior Brother Xiao here?"
Caught in the crossfire through no fault of his own, Xiao Qinghe quietly played dead and asked the system inwardly, In this part of the original story, Xie Jun gets persecuted, Ouyang Susu saves his life, and he falls in love with the Female Lead from then on, right?
[Yes.]
Excellent.
Junior Sister, please begin your performance!
Xiao Qinghe stepped back, willingly relegating himself to the background.
As expected, Zhao Guangyi couldn't stand seeing the woman he loved cling to a bewitching young disciple. He lashed out with a kick.
The force sent the water vat crashing to the ground.
All the work Xie Jun had done went to waste.
Ouyang Susu grew angry, though even her foot-stamping remained charming. "Senior Brother Zhao, what are you doing? Don't bully Senior Brother Xie!"
The more she defended Xie Jun, the hotter Zhao Guangyi's jealousy burned. Staring at that peerlessly beautiful face, he gave a sinister smile. "Junior Sister, why are you protecting a catamite?"
Xiao Qinghe's expression shifted slightly.
Xie Jun had endured hardship from birth. When she was younger, villains had sold her into the Brothel, where she had nearly been violated by a vile man.
That past was her deepest pain and a lifelong source of shame.
The word "catamite" was an especially forbidden subject.
Xie Jun abruptly raised her head, her gaze dark and menacing as a vicious aura spread around her.
Oh no!
These are signs of demonization!
Here in Demon-Slaying Sect territory, exposing her identity as a member of the Demon Clan would be suicide!
"Junior Sister, calm down!" Xiao Qinghe warned in a low voice.
Ouyang Susu noticed nothing amiss. Tilting her head, she asked innocently, "What's a catamite?"
She's practically dancing all over Xie Jun's minefield!
Xie Jun clenched her fists, a hint of bloodlust surfacing in her eyes. "Shut up!"
"A catamite is a man who lies beneath other men and services them." Zhao Guangyi sneered, circling Xie Jun and letting his gaze roam over her. "I heard you even won the title of top courtesan at the Brothel? That face and figure are more seductive than a woman's. No wonder those men were utterly bewitched."
"I said, shut up!" With her eyes blood-red, Xie Jun threw a punch.
Caught off guard, Zhao Guangyi took the punch squarely in the face.
Rage surged through him, and he hurled punches and kicks at Xie Jun without restraint.
As the sect's senior disciple, he had inherited the sect master's teachings. His powerful magic and vicious moves drove Xie Jun back again and again.
Terrified, Ouyang Susu spun about helplessly. "Stop fighting! Senior Brother Zhao, stop, or I'll never speak to you again!"
Xiao Qinghe nearly coughed up blood. System, what's going on? Wasn't the Female Lead supposed to save Xie Jun?!
This isn't saving her. It's pouring oil on the fire!
Already consumed by anger, Zhao Guangyi lost all reason to jealousy. In his fury, he drew his longsword and thrust straight at Xie Jun's chest.
By then, Xie Jun's demon blood was boiling. Her eyes had turned crimson, and demon marks flickered into view.
She was on the verge of unleashing a slaughter!
In that split second, a figure rushed forward and shielded her.
"Pfft!"
A dull sound rang out as the sword sank into flesh.
Blood sprayed across Xie Jun's face, warm against her skin.
Xie Jun shuddered violently, Xiao Qinghe's figure reflected in her blood-red eyes.
In an instant, her blood froze, as though time itself had stopped. She could no longer sense anything around her. All she could see clearly was Xiao Qinghe standing before her, his arms spread wide and his body drenched in blood.
Then he swayed slightly and toppled toward her.
Limp and powerless, he fell into her arms.
Yet the impact tore a bloody hole in her heart.
The pain was so fierce that her heart stopped.
Before you continue