[Clear-headed woman who transmigrates into a book × madman reborn, love and hate, extreme push and pull] (Updates according to the rankings)
Song Xiaohe transmigrated into a book and became a cannon-fodder supporting female character in an old-school romance novel, one who dies not long after her first appearance.
The System gave her two choices: win over the great antagonist Jiang Yingzhi, or be killed by his own hand.
So, between options 1 and 2, Song Xiaohe chose "or":
Kill him!
The problem was, she really didn't have much experience with murder.
After her plan failed, she waited contentedly for death to arrive.
But the man before her picked up the dagger, wiped off the blood, and considerately placed it back in her hand.
Jiang Yingzhi's eyes curved as he coaxed her softly:
"Again."
Song Xiaohe: ?
At the time, she didn't know that this dangerous antagonist, whose threat level was off the charts, was no longer the Jiang Yingzhi of his first life.
*
In his previous life, Jiang Yingzhi had schemed and plotted only to meet a gruesome end, pierced by ten thousand arrows. Even the person beside him in bed had been an infiltrator.
This time, he turned his attention to a woman who seemed strange in every way, yet was audacious to the point of recklessness.
An abandoned daughter with no family standing needed to rely on someone else's influence to rise. She would make a suitable wife.
He used threats and promises until Song Xiaohe finally climbed his branch, and the two entered into a transaction called marriage.
Even though she already had a fiance.
Later, Song Xiaohe slapped a divorce agreement against his face. "I know Your Highness married me to use me. I did the same. Once your power is secure, give me my freedom and let's leave each other alone."
In that moment, he felt a pain no less than being pierced by ten thousand arrows.
Song Xiaohe's hair slipped through his fingers. On his wife's body, he caught a faint, unfamiliar scent that did not belong to him.
Jiang Yingzhi was nearly driven mad, but held back his surging emotions. After all, his own methods had hardly been honorable.
"You went to see him, didn't you?"
*
The lit torches became eyes in the darkness. The air was solemn, like the calm before a storm.
Hidden among her companions, Song Xiaohe revealed half her dagger and faced Jiang Yingzhi's men in a silent standoff.
They were never meant to be the same kind of person. The twists of the plot had brought them to this moment, blades pointed at each other.
The sound of hooves drew closer. In the shifting light and shadow, Jiang Yingzhi's ghostly face slowly emerged.
His voice was hoarse, but betrayed no emotion.
"Song Xiaohe, come here."
In the deathly silence, she raised her head.
"Who's Song Xiaohe? My name is Wen Qiu, Qiu as in autumn."
There is no ultimate winner in this game of pursuit.
They both knew it was all an act, yet they sank into it together, clear-eyed.
#A couple whose minds are full of schemes, fighting on opposite sides
[Reading Guide]
1. A novella-length story.
2. The female lead is determined to go home from beginning to end.
3. Neither lead is perfect. Both are sexually inexperienced.
4. The male lead's wife in his previous life was a political match in name only. The fiance belongs to the original host; the female lead, after transmigrating, doesn't know this at first. The love triangle comes later.
5. An alternate-world setting with plenty of original worldbuilding. No nitpicking, please, mwah.
Theme: Love your free and passionate soul
I haven't seen Jiang for a long time, long time no see~