The Counterattack Plan of A Villain With Ten Thousand Fans - Chapter 198 (Patreon)

Chapter 198

Snow Bamboo was carrying a tray to the door of Ling Chunann's room, hesitated for a moment, but still knocked on the door, "Young Master, I've brought you some tea."

After a while, the lazy voice of Ling Chunann came from inside, "Come in."

Snow Bamboo pushed the door open, did not dare to look around, set down the tea, and was about to leave.

"Wait." Ling Chunann called out to the maid, "Come here."

"Young, Young Master." Snow Bamboo shivered.

"You tell the housekeeper to make me some clean clothes, and also, take all these," Ling Chunann pointed at several open clothing boxes in the room, "and throw them away."

Ling Chunann wanted to maintain his persona as much as possible, but after seeing the original owner's bizarre taste in clothes, he decided to let it go. The clothes were not only garishly colored but also uncomfortable to wear. It was beyond him how anyone could endure them. Ling Chunann was not one to compromise his comfort.

Although the maid found the young master's sudden change strange, she dared not question it and hurriedly went to summon someone, closing the door behind her. Only then did she catch a glimpse of the young master, clad only in undergarments, reclining by the window on a couch, his delicate collarbone, well-defined chest, and clean profile visible from her angle. She stared for a while before realizing she was spacing out and carefully closed the door behind her.

Snow Plum was carrying osmanthus cakes and saw Snow Bamboo hurriedly walking towards the courtyard, calling out, "Snow Bamboo, what are you rushing about for? Did you deliver the tea to the young master? Why is your face so red? Are you sick?"

"I, I'm not… The young master asked me to make clothes for him. Also, the young master he…" Snow Bamboo's face grew even redder.

"What happened to the young master?" Snow Plum grew anxious.

"The young master is so handsome," Snow Bamboo said with a flushed face.

"…" Snow Plum looked at Snow Bamboo, then burst into laughter, freeing one hand to tap Snow Bamboo's forehead, "You silly girl, did you not wake up properly last night? Alright, go make clothes for the young master."

When Snow Plum knocked and entered, Ling Chunann had already gotten up and was wearing the only somewhat plain clothes he could find, "You came just in time, accompany me to see that girl in the Purple Bamboo Garden." He noticed the osmanthus cakes in her hand, "Bring this along."

"Yes, Young Master," Snow Plum bowed in response.

"Did Snow Bamboo say she hasn't eaten in two days?" Ling Chunann asked as he walked ahead.

"Yes, the girl hasn't had a drop of water in two days," Snow Plum replied. "She's a bit stubborn, but she should be fine in a couple of days. You don't have to worry, Young Master. But… the Prince will be back in a couple of days."

Previously, even though An Zhiqi liked to go out, he never brought anyone home. This time, he brought a courtesan home. It was uncertain what reaction the Prince Anjing would have upon his return.

Ling Chunann nodded, showing he understood. Snow Plum hesitated, then swallowed the advice she wanted to give.

The two walked through a bamboo-lined path to a small courtyard.

The guards at the door saluted, "Young Master."

Ling Chunann nodded, "Open the door." Then, looking at Snow Plum, he took the plate from her hands, "Wait here."

Snow Plum was a bit worried, "But…"

Ling Chunann glanced at her, and Snow Plum immediately fell silent, stepping aside.

"Host, won't you get beaten up going in like this?" In the original story, although the girl was very fragile, she fought back when it mattered, using a candlestick to beat the antagonist until he was bloody. Given Ling Chunann's solo entry, it's no wonder 098 was worried.

Ling Chunann: "She can't beat me."

"…" You really want to fight a girl?

Inside the courtyard, Ling Chunann placed the plate under an osmanthus tree on a stone table, then slowly walked to the east side room, raising his voice, "Miss Lan Qing, it's been two days. Have you thought it over?"

Silence from inside.

Ling Chunann continued, "If you follow me, I guarantee you'll eat well and never have to suffer again. How about it?"

After a while, a gritted voice came from the room, "Go away."

A playful smile appeared on Ling Chunann's face, "098, this girl is much more interesting than the female lead."

"…Host, you're not really interested in her, are you?"

"Is there a problem?" Ling Chunann asked.

"No, no problem," 098 replied.

In this world, unlike the ones before, men could have multiple wives and concubines, and the society was patriarchal. Given Ling Chunann's status, marrying several wives wouldn't be an issue, especially with the backing of Prince Anjing.

However, 098 was puzzled as to why the host suddenly took an interest in this girl. Then it remembered the letter of guardianship Shu Siyan wrote in the previous world and had an epiphany. If men later found out the host had a wife, they would be furious. The host must be seeking revenge.

"098, you're overthinking," Ling Chunann interrupted 098's increasingly wild speculation. "Am I such a petty person?"

"Not at all!" 098 replied sarcastically.

Ignoring 098, Ling Chunann spoke again to the inside, "If you don't want to follow me, that's fine. Come out and eat something. I'll have someone send you back to Bai Xiang Lou (the courtesan house) afterward."

The person inside seemed taken aback by the offer, silent for a long while before finally speaking in a low voice, "Are you serious?"

"Of course. I may not be the best person, but I never force women," Ling Chunann emphasized, "Have I troubled you these past days? Instead, you've broken quite a few precious ceramics in my house. But I won't hold it against you. Come out now. If you starve in my house, the world will mock the lack of provisions in the Wang Mansion."

Although every word was deceitful, Ling Chunann made it sound convincing. Lan Qing, still a young girl not yet of age and starving for two days, finally couldn't bear it anymore. Minutes later, the tightly shut door cracked open.

Peeking from behind the door was a girl about thirteen or fourteen years old. She cautiously looked out through the door crack with her bright eyes.

Ling Chunann had stepped aside before she opened the door, so Lan Qing didn't see him immediately but spotted the osmanthus cakes under the tree not far away. She swallowed hard, hesitated, and then retreated back a bit.

"If I wanted to do something to you, I would have done it the day you arrived. Why wait until now?" Ling Chunann analyzed calmly from the side.

At the sound of Ling Chunann's voice, Lan Qing, who had reflexively closed the door, cracked it open again, still skeptical, "You're serious?"

"Of course." Ling Chunann stepped back further, "I promise not to come within three steps of you."

After hearing this promise, Lan Qing seemed much more reassured. She slowly opened the door wider and walked out from the other side of Ling Chunann.

"This girl is so gullible," Ling Chunann said to 098. Given his current position, it would be easy to catch her if he wanted.

Watching the host trick the young girl, 098 was speechless.

Lan Qing stepped into the courtyard, eyeing the exquisitely made, fragrant osmanthus cakes, but she dared not reach for them.

"Rest assured, there's no poison in it," Ling Chunann stated.

Lan Qing glanced at him, then couldn't resist stretching out her hand towards the plate.

"Wait," Ling Chunann called out.

She instinctively retracted her hand, looking at Ling Chunann with a mix of surprise and fear.

"Wipe your hands before you eat." Ling Chunann offered her a handkerchief.

Lan Qing looked at her hands, then at the handkerchief, hesitated for a few seconds, took a small step forward, and took it.

Ling Chunann spoke, "You'll stay here for a few days. Gain some weight before going back, or I'll be blamed for bullying a young girl. Go ahead and eat, I'll leave now."

Turning, Ling Chunann walked towards the door. Lan Qing watched his back, then looked at the handkerchief he didn't take back, and stuffed a piece of osmanthus cake into her mouth. Her eyes lit up, and she quickly ate a second, then a third piece.

After eating five or six pieces, she finally felt something in her stomach but her throat was dry. Swallowing the last bite, she choked.

Just when she thought she was going to suffocate, a cup of tea was handed to her.

"Miss, take it slow," Snow Plum patted Lan Qing's back while pouring her tea.

After a while, Lan Qing felt revived, her face flushed with embarrassment, "Thank you, sister."

"Don't mention it, miss. It was the young master who instructed me to bring you tea. He also said he'll send dinner later. Have some snacks to fill your stomach for now," Snow Plum explained.

Despite her doubts about the bully who captured her, Lan Qing thought back to how Ling Chunann hadn't harmed her and started to believe him a bit, "Thank you."

"Host, are you really going to let the female lead's sister go?" 098 asked.

"Not letting go," Ling Chunann replied.

098 was confused, "But you just said you'd send her back in a few days."

"She will go back in a few days, but not because I let her go," Ling Chunann picked a bamboo leaf and put it in his mouth, "I'll play a tune for you."

In the life Ling Chunann had lived, to fit various roles, he learned many skills, including how to play melodies using leaves.

098 had never heard Ling Chunann showcase this talent before. Even though it had been so long, 098 doubted he remembered how to play.

But Ling Chunann proved 098 wrong. He found a corner to sit down and soon, a melodious tune filled the air, surprisingly beautiful.

After the song ended, 098 was taken aback, "Host, I've never heard this tune before." It had data on various tunes from countless worlds, yet this melody was unfamiliar.

Ling Chunann boasted, "Had I not become an actor, I might have been a musician."

098 was left speechless by the arrogance.

Ling Chunann dusted off the leaves from his clothes, ready to leave, when suddenly a figure descended from above, landing firmly in front of Ling Chunann, "Was that tune played by you?"

The narrative takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of a new character, demonstrating Ling Chunann's multifaceted talents and hinting at further developments and intrigues within the story.

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