“Miss, do you still need to tutor the Young Master today?” the maid, Xiao Chun, asked as she combed Shen Ruoyu’s hair.
Shen Ruoyu sat silently before the bronze mirror. Her appearance was the same, but her state of mind had drastically changed. How could she possibly have the heart to tutor her younger brother? He couldn't escape death anyway.
Since her awakening, she had diligently played the role of a good older sister. In her past lives, her care for Shen Xinghuai had been meticulous. She had taught him to read, hired the best swordsman in the capital to train him in martial arts, and had practically hovered over him day and night.
Yet, even with all that, just before Shen Xinghuai's twentieth birthday, he had been abducted and murdered by Lu Zhixing. Just a few days prior, Shen Xinghuai had smiled and asked her, “Sister, my birthday is coming soon. Will you come see me?”
At the time, Shen Ruoyu had been overjoyed, believing that after so many rebirths, Shen Xinghuai would finally live past twenty. The outcome, however, had once again left her in despair.
She had been reborn yet again, back to the age of seventeen, shortly after her awakening. This time, however, she was weary. Gazing at the blurred reflection in the bronze mirror, Shen Ruoyu calmly stated, “No, I don’t want to tutor him anymore. From now on, give him whatever he needs. You don’t need to report everything to me.”
Xiao Chun understood and nodded. “Yes, Miss. I understand.”
As a servant, Xiao Chun naturally wouldn't dare to speculate on her mistress's thoughts, but the Miss’s recent behavior had been truly unusual. Not only had she started to care for the Young Master, but she had also deliberately distanced herself from Lord Rong. This was quite unlike her usual self.
In the past, Shen Ruoyu had always spoken to Shen Xinghuai with an air of superiority. Taunts, insults, whippings, and kneeling punishments had been common occurrences for the Young Master. Now, she seemed to have undergone a change of heart, suddenly showing concern for him.
The Young Master was truly pitiful. Born from the same parents, he had been branded a cursed child by a soothsayer from a young age. He received no affection from anyone in the household and was constantly mistreated. Fortunately, the Miss’s fiancé, Lord Rong, was kind-hearted and often looked after Shen Xinghuai.
Thinking of Lord Rong, Xiao Chun realized she had forgotten something important. “By the way, Miss, I heard rumors that Lord Rong is busy preparing betrothal gifts. It seems he will propose to you soon.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Ruoyu’s face showed no joy. Her brow furrowed. “What did you say? He has the audacity to propose to me?!” Her expression changed. No matter how many times she was reborn, she couldn't escape this wretched man.
She had loved Rong Yan since childhood, naively believing that his gentle and considerate demeanor meant he reciprocated her feelings. But in a dream, she had discovered that the man he loved was actually her younger brother!
In her memories, Rong Yan always maintained a cold and aloof demeanor. However, in her dream, it was a different scene altogether. The Rong Yan in her dream loved Shen Xinghuai. He would gaze at him longingly when he was drunk, restrain himself from impulsively kissing him, and even wish that Shen Xinghuai knew his true feelings. Unfortunately, due to family and social status, Rong Yan knew he could only be Shen Xinghuai’s brother-in-law.
“Tell Father I don’t want to marry. If he comes, just throw him out.”
The childhood sweetheart she had loved for so many years had unconventional preferences, frequently visiting the Shen residence only for her younger brother. Who could accept such a thing?
In her previous rebirths, fearing she had misjudged him, Shen Ruoyu had once gone through with the marriage to Rong Yan. Married life had revealed the truth. Rong Yan treated her well, and they were respectful to each other, but he never touched her and never spent a night in her room. Shen Ruoyu had found a sword tassel hidden in his room, one that belonged to her brother, Shen Xinghuai.
When he returned from social gatherings, drunk, he would murmur her brother's name.
The thought disgusted Shen Ruoyu, making her stomach churn. However, she was also grateful to have discovered his true nature through her rebirths. He disliked women yet still deceived her into marriage for the sake of his family. He deserved to be torn apart.
“Xiao Chun, bring me the clothes I bought from Jinxiu Pavilion last time. I’ll pick a nice outfit to wear for a stroll.”
Since death was inevitable, Shen Ruoyu decided to live for herself. She was, after all, just a female supporting character in a BL novel, whose purpose was to create obstacles for the male leads. Her mistreatment of Shen Xinghuai merely provided opportunities for other men to show him care and attention. In the end, they would find love, while she became a pariah.