Nonsense! She’s Not a Bad Woman! - Chapter 78

Liu Yanran struggled with all her might, but her hair was held fast. No matter how terrified she felt, she couldn’t break free.

She gritted her teeth, desperate to dash for the door, but it was nothing more than a vain hope.

The voice beside her was soft, almost playful—but chilling. It was like a female warrior stepping out of hell itself. The words were gentle, even teasing, yet no warmth reached her at all.

It felt like being a defenseless prey in the claws of a predator, toyed with for amusement.

And once the game was over… the prey would be devoured.

Terrifying. Absolutely terrifying.

If Joe Wanyan wasn’t a transmigrator, then how could she know the future? How could she say so casually that the heroine was Joe Yihuan?

How did she know…?

Liu Yanran’s mind and body sank to the bottom of a pit, every muscle tense as a cold dread spread through her.

“Why are you trembling?” Joe Wanyan asked softly. “Aren’t we supposed to help each other? If I want you to tell me about the future, why do you want to leave? How can we help each other if you run away?”

Her tone was slow, calm, as if asking about something ordinary.

But Liu Yanran was terrified. Absolutely terrified.

Even a single word from Joe Wanyan made her shiver so much she could barely stand, her head held back, unable to see the playful mockery on her face.

“Let go of me! Let go of me!”

The cry gave her courage. Summoning every ounce of strength, she struggled desperately toward the door.

In an instant, Joe Wanyan drew the only hairpin from Liu Yanran’s hair and pressed it against her neck, clicking her tongue in mock disapproval.

“Joe Yihuan is the heroine. Naturally, as the heroine, she gets everything she wants. And you… as her lackey, how pitiful that you only have a cheap little silver hairpin?”

Seeing Liu Yanran freeze in fear, Joe Wanyan chuckled lightly.

“You want the good things, even if you can’t get the bones, at least you can taste the meat.”

Her laugh, cruel and teasing, spilled freely. “Yanran, your skill at imagining rewards for yourself is impressive. If you like suffering so much… why not become my little dog? At least when I’m pleased, I’ll give you a bone to gnaw on.”

Liu Yanran could clearly feel the sharp silver hairpin pressing against her skin. One wrong move and it would draw blood.

She had also experienced firsthand just how terrifying Joe Wanyan could be. One displeased glance, one moment of irritation—and she would be dead.

To someone as malicious as Joe Wanyan, a human life was as insignificant as a blade of grass.

She didn’t dare provoke her, but she also couldn’t say anything unpleasant.

Before this, Liu Yanran had felt a subtle superiority over everyone and everything in this ancient world. She was a modern girl—her intellect, her knowledge of the future, the advantage of information—they all made her superior to these backward people.

Everything in this world was part of a book—a book she had already read. She knew what would happen. She could cling to the heroine’s coattails, wait for her to become empress, and claim a noble title for herself, living a carefree life.

But then, one day, the book’s most malicious second female lead seemed to awaken with self-awareness.

And she—by sheer coincidence—ran straight into her.

It was like watching a midnight horror movie alone… and actually seeing a ghost.

Liu Yanran finally faced reality. She had never been the smartest student, nor the mischievous bottom-dweller adored by teachers. She was always mediocre, invisible, somewhere in the middle, overlooked by everyone.

As she grew up and entered the workforce, Liu Yanran realized she had no special skills. She could only settle for a mediocre company, a place where an employee could be replaced at any moment without causing the slightest ripple.

She had once believed that as a modern woman, someone who had seen the world and lived in a highly civilized society, she could arrive in the ancient era and either thrive or at least live safely.

But now she understood: a mediocre person is mediocre wherever they go.

Here in the ancient world, she could not make any waves. A society so strictly hierarchical was impossible for a modern girl, raised with ideals of equality, to adapt to or accept.

Even now… if Joe Wanyan decided to kill her, her father could not appeal for justice.

Perhaps… even on the path to seek justice, she would die endlessly before reaching it.

“You’re willing to stand on my side, I will give you everything I can offer,” Joe Wanyan extended an olive branch.

“If you refuse… then I cannot keep a threat like you around. You must understand that.”

Liu Yanran knew the advantage she currently held was her knowledge of the future, giving her the ability to change her immediate predicament.

But if Joe Yihuan also knew the future, she might not lose, but countless complications would arise.

She did not like complications. She preferred to nip trouble in the cradle.

“Do you even need to think about it?” Ziyuan’s impatience flared as she watched Liu Yanran hesitate. “Following my lady is your reward for past merits. You’ve been given an opportunity, and now you’re wasting it!”

Joe Wanyan didn’t speak, and she didn’t stop Ziyuan’s boldness.

In her eyes, her people could be arrogant.

The silver hairpin in her hand traced lightly over Liu Yanran’s skin, sliding slowly from the side to the very front of her throat.

Just a push inward and a living person would die before her eyes.

Liu Yanran didn’t dare draw a breath. Morality, ethics, and all rules vanished in the face of life and death. She only wanted to survive.

“I… I will! I will help you!” she said cautiously, afraid that a careless movement might pierce her with the hairpin.

Joe Wanyan asked calmly, “Then tell me… after my death, did Joe Yihuan secure the position of Empress? When He Yanli raised his troops in rebellion, did he march on the Imperial City, eliminate He Zhiyan, and seize the throne?”

Liu Yanran’s mind raced. Right now, only one thought filled her head: this was her trump card.

If she spoke, she would almost certainly be silenced by Joe Wanyan. This was a woman with no limits, no morals.

But if she stayed silent… at least she could live, even if only temporarily. After today, she could use this secret as leverage to negotiate her survival.

Yet now, with the silver hairpin pressed to her neck, how could she escape her predicament?

Her mind spun into chaos. No matter how hard she tried, it remained blank.

“Are you even listening? Have you gone mute? I can see you mouth the words that you’ll help my lady, but really you’re just trying to stall, aren’t you? Watching you struggle like that makes me want to slap you both!” Ziyuan snapped, exasperated.

Joe Wanyan lowered her gaze, pressing the hairpin further against Liu Yanran’s skin.

A sharp pain shot through her, and her pupils contracted violently. Just as she opened her mouth to beg, a voice sounded from outside.