The tea fragrance was light, with a slight bitterness, like the rainy season.

Liang Li’s dry, sore throat finally felt a little better.

She acted like a boss, stretching her legs, no longer wanting to pretend to be a beautiful woman.

“Let’s be frank,” Liang Li gave up, “I want you to support me. Do you think it’s possible?”

“I’m pretty, quite pretty.”

“My temper isn’t great, but I’m pretty.”

“Yes, it’s mainly about being pretty.”

Liang Li looked at He Xi sincerely, “Take another look at my face, consider it?”

Perhaps only Liang Li could be so frank, open, and disrespectful to her potential benefactor, as if discussing a business deal.

Playing outside the rules.

He Xi actually obediently walked over, half-squatting in front of her, making eye contact, her fingers like they were tracing a lifeless sculpture, gently touching every line of her face.

From the moment Liang Li entered, He Xi knew she was a beauty.

She had seen many beauties, and there was no shortage of beauties vying for attention around her elders. Her parents were collectors of beauty. But Liang Li, upon first sight, still took her breath away.

He Xi liked beautiful things. As a child, she liked the prettiest Barbies; as an adult, she liked the most concise code.

So initially, she gave Liang Li a great deal of leeway.

Now, however, she had time to observe her carefully.

He Xi’s fingertips first touched Liang Li’s eyes. Light, cool.

Liang Li’s most striking feature was her alluring eyes, but what was remarkable was that they weren’t entirely fox-like. She had a balance between purity and allure; any more would be cloying, any less would be bland.  She was charming, naturally alluring. When angry, these eyes were most beautiful, full of life, with a primal fire. With a few tears, they were also exquisite.

He Xi’s fingertips continued downward, tracing her delicate nose, and landed on Liang Li’s lips.

Her lips were full, even in their natural state, they were slightly upturned. They felt comfortable, soft, and warm.

It was a perfect, perhaps too perfect, face.  Lacking distinctive features.

That’s why He Xi called her common.

But when Liang Li expressed her emotions, her face immediately came alive. No longer a template, it seemed to possess an irresistible, exuberant life force, ready to explode.

Observing carefully, He Xi was indeed somewhat tempted by the woman’s proposal.

She hadn’t kept a canary before, but the elders around her, those so-called powerful people, always had such hobbies to a greater or lesser extent.

He Xi knew she didn’t have many desires. She wasn’t interested in controlling other people’s lives.

Building a castle with money and power, keeping a girl, and then what?

Making her completely obedient, at her beck and call, like a pet.

For He Xi, this was an unchallenging task.

But now, looking at Liang Li, He Xi suddenly felt that keeping such a porcelain doll in a display case, doing nothing but admiring it, would be a kind of pleasure. Not to mention her personality, which would surely bring some rare amusement to her life.

He Xi’s fingertips hesitated.

“Why me?” He Xi asked.

With Liang Li’s face and conditions, being supported would be effortless.

Liang Li smiled, frankly saying, “I just want it to be you.”

The system forced her, there was no other way.

If there had been other female options at the time, Liang Li wouldn’t have chosen He Xi.

He Xi seemed puzzled by this statement, coughed lightly, and the drawbacks of her sickly body after the water became apparent. Her fingertips were even colder, like the temperature of a dead person.

“You like me?” He Xi asked, confused.

Liang Li felt that He Xi at this moment had a childlike innocence. She seemed to genuinely ask this question, her dark eyes filled with pure curiosity and naiveté.

However, Liang Li was always cruel.

“No,” she said, “I just need you.”

This answer seemed to relieve He Xi.

She wasn’t disappointed, she lifted Liang Li’s damp, loose hair, twirled it around her finger, smelling the tea fragrance in her hair.

The girls who came to see her would use tea-scented perfumes.

But only Liang Li seemed to suit this scent best.

“Stay with me from now on,” He Xi gently stroked her hair, making her decision.

Hearing this, Liang Li blinked and became happy.

Just when He Xi thought she would say something nice to make her happy, to share her joy, Liang Li let out a rather boisterous laugh.

“He Xi, oh He Xi,” she leaned in, whispering in her ear, in the sweetest, most viscous tone, the coldest words, “You’re just a mortal.”

“Helpless in the face of beauty.”

Liang Li patted He Xi’s cheek, laughing freely.

“An hour ago, I did need you.”

“But now, I think I don’t need to stay by your side.”

The woman affectedly struck a courtly pose, “Thank you for your approval, but I don’t need it anymore.”

Liang Li enjoyed this feeling of toying with others.  She hummed a little tune, swaying her waist, and walked out barefoot.  With each step, wet marks were left on the floor. Those marks were so glaring in He Xi’s eyes.

He Xi watched the woman’s back, knowing she had become her toy.

Her thoughts, her hesitation, her decisions, all became the other party’s triumphant weapons.

Interesting.

He Xi felt a dull ache in her chest; the originally calm desire now burned fiercely.

Someday, she would make this woman obediently submit to her—no matter what methods she used.