A timid, honest heroine vs. a deranged Miao youth who is no good person
Chi Yue doesn't know that she has transmigrated into a book.
During the month she suffers from amnesia, she spends her days hiding and fleeing. Her unusual constitution means the Gu masters want to capture her and use her to cultivate Gu. Luckily, a young man saves her at a critical moment.
At first, Chi Yue thinks he is different from the other Gu masters.
That is, until she sees with her own eyes how he kills someone. The confession catches in her throat. "Gui Yu, I like, "
Bells ring beneath a bone umbrella as blood mist fills the air. The young man's features are exquisite, yet he still smiles gently.
He asks her, "What does it mean to like someone?"
Only then does Chi Yue realize she should be afraid, so she runs away.
*
After her memories return, the System tells her to win over the book's great villain, the Miao youth who has saved her countless times: Gui Yu.
But the System has somehow mixed up the affection and hostility values.
This leaves Chi Yue repeatedly teetering on the edge of danger without realizing it.
Though Gui Yu can be a little mercurial, he treats her exceptionally well. He makes clothes for her himself, braids her hair, helps her dress up, and keeps her safe.
For instance, when they ride the same horse, Chi Yue grabs and snaps one of his hairs in a moment of panic, and he doesn't hold it against her.
Gui Yu smiles with a hint of mockery. "Not bad. You've got quite a grip."
Chi Yue gives him a silly grin. "You've figured me out. I've always been strong."
Gui Yu: "..."
The System kindly reminds her: [Even if he keeps saving you, gives you everything you ask for, and his affection value is skyrocketing, he's still not a good person!]
Just as the System predicted, one day Gui Yu loses interest. His five fingers clamp tightly around the girl's wrist as red threads wind around it and beads of blood well up. "Chi Yue, will you be my Gu vessel?"
So he, too, was after Gu.
*
After faking her death, she changes her appearance, and the System lets her switch targets at its discretion. But before she can even begin, one target after another dies in suspicious circumstances.
Chi Yue senses trouble brewing. Then one day, she is poisoned and loses consciousness.
In a daze, she thinks she hears silver bells ringing. When she opens her eyes, someone has her locked in an embrace and imprisoned in a room. The silver bells in her hair dazzle her as the person leans close, their breath mingling.
The young man speaks softly, Gu worms stirring beneath his skin. "Chi Yue, tell me, how should someone who is fickle be punished?"
Note:
1. A timid, honest heroine vs. a deranged male lead who is no good person
2. Happy ending, both are chaste, mutual love
3. Many creative liberties; please don't overanalyze (bows)
Theme: Love heals everything
