The scalding hot milk spilled all over Ling Que’s chest, and the milky white liquid stained the blue fabric, creating a somewhat disheveled appearance.
The temperature of the hot milk had reached over 90 degrees. If she had been an ordinary person today, her chest would undoubtedly have been scarred.
This Chu Jin.
Clearly, she harbored ill intentions.
Or perhaps, she wanted to test me.
If Xuanyuan Shangchen wasn’t treating this Chu Jin like a precious treasure, protecting her so dearly right now, Ling Que wouldn’t have the leisure to play along with her act.
Chu Jin hadn’t expected Ling Que to react in such a way. From her observations, Ling Que should have been a very proud person. Faced with such an incident, Ling Que should have questioned her angrily. How could she resign herself to silence and even be concerned about whether she had been scalded? This was far too irrational.
Things did not develop in the direction Chu Jin had anticipated.
This Ling Que, her schemes ran too deep.
Compared with her, I’m still far behind.
"I’m fine," said Chu Jin nonchalantly with a faint smile curling her lips, "Your clothes are dirty, let me get one of mine for you to change into."
Ling Que directly declined, "No need to trouble yourself, I should be heading back anyway."
"You should still change," insisted Chu Jin softly, "It would be uncomfortable to go back in wet clothes. We’re about the same size, so my clothes should fit you. Or, do you mind that the clothes have been worn by me?"
Ling Que smiled lightly, "Since that’s the case, then I shall not decline your generosity."
Chu Jin opened the wardrobe door upon receiving a response and took out a red dress, "This dress was just bought for me by Brother Xuanyuan. I haven’t worn it even once. You’ll just have to make do with it for your trip back."
The wardrobe was filled with red garments, hardly a single other color in sight.
She is trying to replicate the entire life of Jun Huang!
It’s madness.
Ling Que couldn’t help but think of the number one beauty of the Superpower World. Back then, the beauty was astonished by the portrait of the Empress, and from that moment became obsessed with red. Ever since, she showed herself only in red, ignoring all other colors. Red had nearly become her signature.
Now, a thousand years have passed; people have long forgotten about the Empress in her glorious red attire and only see the striking beauty in red as the number one beauty.
Red seems to have been made for the number one beauty, yet it isn’t known that she is nothing but a pale imitation.
Red is indeed a challenging color to wear, and those of ordinary appearance cannot control its dazzling nature—any carelessness, and they become merely a foil to it.
And Chu Jin.
Isn’t this the very idea she’s playing with?
Ling Que accepted the dress, and Chu Jin affectionately took her arm and led her to the fitting room, "You change inside, I’ll wait outside for you." Her words almost left no room for rejection.
"Alright." Ling Que entered, closing the door behind her.
Chu Jin stood outside the door, her lips curling into a mocking smile.
So Ling Que was nothing more than malleable clay to be shaped by others. I had overestimated her before.
A few minutes passed.
Ling Que came out of the fitting room, having changed into the clothes. Her features were not extraordinary, but her fair skin complimented the red dress, making her look not entirely unattractive, even lending her a unique charm.
Unfortunately, standing beside her was Chu Jin, bewitching in red, a beauty like jade. Compared with her, Ling Que could hardly find a trace of presence.
As the saying goes, without comparison, there is no harm.
Chu Jin, looking at her, said indifferently, "No wonder you were reluctant to wear my clothes. Indeed, one must choose what suits oneself. The color and style don’t matter as much as the fit, just like some things in life—you cannot fight for what’s not yours. The most important thing is to understand oneself," her words laden with implication.
Ling Que’s smile remained unchanged as she casually flipped her hair and looked at her reflection in the floor-length mirror, her voice even, "You’re absolutely right. A sparrow will always be a sparrow, no amount of hopping can transform it into a phoenix. Understanding oneself is indeed vital. So, have you come to understand yourself?" As she spoke the last words, Ling Que’s gaze shifted onto Chu Jin, the glow in the depths of her eyes nearly searing Chu Jin’s.
A puppet dares to speak such audacious words before me.
How utterly presumptuous.
Chu Jin stared at her blankly, momentarily at a loss for words.
Indeed...
Even this facade I wear is false; what right do I have to mock Ling Que?
A sparrow will always be a sparrow.
Ling Que’s words were a ruthless blow to the heart.
I’m nothing but a benefactor of Chu Jin’s rising popularity.
Even my name matches hers.
I’m merely a replacement for Chu Jin.
No!
I must break free from this plight. There can never be two identical people in this world.
Before Chu Jin could compose herself, Xuanyuan Shangchen walked in from outside, holding a blue and white porcelain bowl from which steam was rising.
Both women before him wore floor-length red dresses. Xuanyuan Shangchen withdrew his gaze and approached Chu Jin, his voice deep, "Drink the medicine first."
"Okay," Chu Jin nodded, took the bowl, and downed the medicine, grimacing at its bitterness. Xuanyuan Shangchen promptly handed her a piece of candied fruit.
Ever since waking up, Chu Jin had drunk a bowl of such medicine every day. She never asked about the effects of the medicine.
And no one ever told her.
Her instinct told her that Xuanyuan Shangchen would not harm her, that he had a place for her in his heart.
He treated her well.