Transmigrating Into A Sadistic Novel And Becoming A Master Of Painting Rosy Pictures - Chapter 63

Duanmu Zhengjie stepped outside, the sunlight dazzling. She raised a hand to shield her eyes.

After her eyes adjusted, she looked towards the hot spring pool in the far corner.

The outdoor hot spring pools had been cleared. A few people stood around the edge of the corner pool, and she could vaguely see the faces of two foreigners and an elder who exuded an air of authority, engaged in conversation.

She adjusted her bathrobe, offered an impeccable smile, and walked over.

Leny is located deep in the ocean, with a land area less than one-tenth of its counterpart, but due to its abundant reserves of seabed rare earth deposits, its economic strength ranks among the top ten globally.

Because of their universal conscription, their military strength is also formidable. Although other countries covet their treasures, they dare not act rashly.

However, some of their infrastructure is relatively backward compared to China, which is the reason for this high-level leader’s secret visit.

…

Bian Yingning only learned about the high-ranking official’s secret stay at the hotel through her phone, which was also why Bian Jiageng had asked her to come.

However, she had been busy with the hotel staff since landing and hadn’t had time to check her phone. Her father probably feared she wouldn’t come if she knew, so he only informed her after she arrived in S City.

No wonder she saw Duanmu Zhengjie here.

After Bian Yingning finished inspecting the outdoor restaurant and other departments, she thought she could go to the meeting room, but then received a call from her father.

He tried calling Bian Yingning, but her phone was off, so he called the hotel manager, who then informed Bian Yingning.

After hanging up with Bian Jiageng, Bian Yingning rubbed her temples: “Check, where is the person who checked in under the name ‘Mitte’? I’ll go visit them.”

Damn it, what was the point of running so fast earlier? Now she has to go see them anyway.

Bian Yingning downed two glasses of iced water before walking towards the outdoor restaurant with a serious expression.

The outdoor restaurant is built on a mountaintop, next to a cliff face. On the other side, one can see the cityscape of S City in the distance, offering a commanding view.

The hotel was already sparsely populated, and now a “Private Event, No Entry” sign was hung outside.

Several tall and strong waiters stood guard at the entrance. Their eyes immediately narrowed when they saw Bian Yingning and the manager approaching.

The manager spoke to them, and one of them went inside to ask, telling them to wait.

Bian Yingning remained expressionless, looking inside through the glass door. There were four tables inside, but except for the table in the best viewing position, the others were occupied by disguised bodyguards and guards.

The waiter who had gone inside returned and gestured for Bian Yingning to enter.

Bian Yingning and the manager went inside.

There were four people: two foreigners, Duanmu Zhengjie, and a somewhat familiar-looking elder.

They had all changed clothes. Duanmu Zhengjie was wearing a low-key yet elegant black suit.

Her hair was pulled back, revealing her ears adorned with small butterfly-shaped earrings.

When she saw Bian Yingning, a flicker of surprise crossed Duanmu Zhengjie’s eyes.

In just a couple of hours, the person who had fled in a panic had transformed.

“Mr. Mu, Mr. Mitte, Mr. Siefer, Miss Duanmu, hello. My name is Bian Yingning, I’m the owner of this hotel. Welcome to my establishment. Please forgive any shortcomings in our service.”

Duanmu Zhengjie looked directly at Bian Yingning, translating her words into Leny. Her tone was calm and fluent, drawing attention.

But Bian Yingning didn’t look at her, ignoring her intense gaze.

Mr. Mu, the elder, invited Bian Yingning to sit down: “I’ve long heard that the Bian family has an outstanding daughter, a woman who is not inferior to men. Seeing you today, it’s truly remarkable.

So young, yet so composed in the presence of important figures—this is not something ordinary people possess.”

“Mr. Mu, you flatter me. I have always respected you, Mr. Mu…”

After a brief conversation between the two, Duanmu Zhengjie introduced Bian Yingning to the other two foreigners. One of them spoke amiably for a while… but Bian Yingning didn’t understand a word.

Duanmu Zhengjie then spoke: “Mr. Mitte says your hotel is excellent, with complete and high-quality facilities. He found his stay very comfortable and asked if you plan to open a multinational hotel chain. Leny welcomes you.”

Bian Yingning was taken aback.

Mr. Mu noticed Bian Yingning’s surprise and said: “The Bian family’s catering and hotel businesses are doing very well. Since our country has foreign companies investing here, we can also invest in their territory.

And don’t worry, we have our embassy in Leny. The two gentlemen also want to invite Duanmu to be a special envoy there. The Bian family can consider this carefully.”

Special envoy… ambassador.

For the first time since arriving, Bian Yingning looked at Duanmu Zhengjie.

Duanmu Zhengjie smiled slightly at her.

“It’s my honor. If possible, I would be delighted,” Bian Yingning heard herself reply.

…

After the conversation ended, the group said they were going to rest. As they left, Bian Yingning lagged behind, and Duanmu Zhengjie didn’t hurry.

“Not running away this time?” Duanmu Zhengjie walked alongside Bian Yingning, speaking slowly.

Bian Yingning looked away: “Sister… don’t do this.”

She hadn’t even brought up what happened that night, so why did Duanmu Zhengjie keep bringing it up?

Duanmu Zhengjie almost laughed at her attempt to distance herself: “Bian Yingning, don’t forget, you were the one who provoked me first.”

“I…” Bian Yingning found it hard to explain.

“I… I didn’t mean to… do that with you…”

“Hua Jiangrong is okay, but I’m not?” Not getting a clear answer, Duanmu Zhengjie repeated the question. She stared intently at Bian Yingning, not missing a single expression.

Bian Yingning took a deep breath. Seeing that the others had been escorted to their rooms, she stopped and said seriously to Duanmu Zhengjie:

“Is it because you thought I had something with Hua Jiangrong that… that you did that?” “Were you jealous?”

Duanmu Zhengjie’s usually composed demeanor showed a crack. She remained silent.

Jealousy, spoken so bluntly, was somewhat embarrassing.

Bian Yingning continued: “Hua Jiangrong and I have nothing. I don’t know where you got that information. That night at the Suowei Hotel wasn’t what you think…”

Duanmu Zhengjie’s expression softened slightly, then Bian Yingning continued:

“Please, don’t drag me into your love-hate entanglement. I’m innocent. I have nothing with Hua Jiangrong, and you don’t need to take it out on me.”

Duanmu Zhengjie’s face darkened: “?”

What nonsense was she talking about?

She thought Duanmu Zhengjie kept mentioning Hua Jiangrong because she was upset about what happened between them that night?

“Don’t involve me in your adult games. I’m just a child.”

Duanmu Zhengjie’s face darkened further.

“Are you saying I’m old?” she asked with a forced smile.

Bian Yingning looked at her strangely: “Aren’t I a little sister to you?”

“Heh,” Duanmu Zhengjie adjusted her hair: “Don’t you know? The younger, the more attractive.”

“Also, Hua Jiangrong and I aren’t close. Everything I did wasn’t because of her.” Duanmu Zhengjie said and walked away.

Bian Yingning froze in place.

She hadn’t ruled out this possibility, but she didn’t want to think about it.

Without knowing what she was thinking about, Bian Yingning quickly caught up with Duanmu Zhengjie and squeezed into an elevator with her.

The elevator doors slowly closed, and only the two of them were in the small space.

Their breaths were close.

Bian Yingning fiddled with the hem of her clothes: “So… are you going to Leny, sister?”

Silence spread between them.

“Does it concern you?” Duanmu Zhengjie said softly.

The elevator dinged, and Duanmu Zhengjie reached her floor. The moment the elevator doors opened, Bian Yingning opened her mouth: “Sister, you deserve better.”

Duanmu Zhengjie paused but ultimately didn’t turn around.

“Don’t think you’re that important.”

This was the dignity she preserved for herself.

The elevator doors closed again. Because Bian Yingning hadn’t pressed a floor, the elevator didn’t move.

She stood quietly in the space.

After a long time, she sighed.

She understood everything, but she didn’t want to understand.

…

Night fell. In the luxurious and spacious performance hall, Shang Qinghui peeked out from the corner. The seat for her family member was still empty.

Wang Yu held her coat: “What are you looking at? Aren’t you cold?”

She was only wearing a fitted crop top and thin dance shoes.

She had lied to Bian Yingning; she wasn’t alone.

But she only had one family member ticket. Wang Yu came as her makeup artist.

“Nothing.” Shang Qinghui retracted and put on the coat.

The host was already giving the opening remarks, and the guests were taking their seats.

Her seat had a great view, in the middle of the third row, but it was empty.

She’s not coming, is she?

Shang Qinghui asked herself.

It’s normal, isn’t it?

What’s their relationship? Why would she waste time watching my performance?

Besides, maybe she had unfinished business and couldn’t come.

She thought of every excuse, but Shang Qinghui still felt restless.

The frustration of inviting someone who didn’t come, the embarrassment of having her goodwill silently rejected.

She held her phone, the screen displaying her chat with Bian Yingning.

Bian Yingning hadn’t messaged her either.

What is she busy with? Still busy at night? Wasn’t a whole day enough?

Or does she really hate me that much…

At the school talent show, did she seriously watch her performance? She seemed to be hiding in the makeup room looking for evidence.

She thought, since Bian Yingning didn’t watch her dance last time, she probably didn’t know how good she was. She wanted Bian Yingning to know that she…

Wasn’t completely useless.

But why didn’t she come?

Shang Qinghui was visibly anxious.

Wang Yu handed her a thermos: “Don’t be nervous. Haven’t you participated in many events like this? Drink some water to calm down.”

Shang Qinghui took the cup and listlessly took a sip, suddenly asking: “Wang Yu, am I annoying?”

Wang Yu paused: “Why are you suddenly asking this?”

Shang Qinghui closed the cup: “I just suddenly thought of it and wanted to ask.” Her voice was slightly nasal, perhaps she had a cold.

Wang Yu thought carefully: “I don’t think you’re annoying. If you were, I wouldn’t be here with you now.

Others might think you’re spoiled and willful, but I know you’re good to your friends.”

She always shares good things with them.

Born into a privileged family, she couldn’t be the amiable type.

“I think you’re very simple, without many complicated thoughts. You wouldn’t intentionally do something to harm others. You only act against people you dislike or find problematic.

You laugh when you’re happy and get angry when you’re unhappy. You’re very straightforward.

When I’m with you, I don’t have to worry about saying something that will upset you, making you secretly plot revenge, because if you’re unhappy, you’ll just get angry directly.”

Wang Yu laughed.

For example, the tutor for her cousin, she could tell Shang Qinghui intentionally had her find Ji Xiaoxue to give her an opportunity.

Infected by her, Shang Qinghui unconsciously pursed her lips into a smile, her delicately made-up face even more charming.

She looked towards the audience seats.

So, she’s so good, yet someone ignores her kindness. Hmph, that person’s loss.

…

As the contestants took the stage one by one, the judges scored and commented, time passed quickly.

Finally, it was Shang Qinghui’s turn.

Wang Yu clenched her fist and shouted encouragement.

Shang Qinghui nodded.

She had seen many scenes since childhood, and this occasion wasn’t enough to make her nervous.

Stepping onto the stage, she posed and slightly nodded to the audience as a polite gesture.

When her eyes swept across the audience, she seemed to see someone sitting in the previously empty seat.

Before she could see clearly, the lights came on.

On stage, she couldn’t see the audience because a large spotlight shone on her from below. She couldn’t see their faces, only layers of light and the stage environment.

I must have been mistaken.

I’m imagining things.

The music started.

That was Shang Qinghui’s last thought.

Then, following the rhythm, she displayed the dance moves she had practiced countless times, moves ingrained in her bones.

Before her were layers of light, gold, green, blue, and red.

During the final spin, she lost focus.

If the seat wasn’t empty, what would the person sitting there see?

She lost focus, she forgot to hold her head, she got dizzy, she didn’t know how many times she spun, she tilted her head back and stopped.

In the eyes of the audience, she was like a leaf losing its support in the wind, gently falling.

Someone gasped.

Bian Yingning involuntarily stood up.

What happened?

When everyone thought there was a stage accident, the person on stage moved.

Rising from a lying position, her waist as soft as boneless, she bloomed and then gracefully ended with a flourish, slowly stopping her movements to the music.

“Wow—”

Thunderous applause.

No one knew if it was a deliberate arrangement or an accident. Everyone was captivated by her dance.

The lights on the audience dimmed, focusing on the judges. Shang Qinghui finally saw the seat. A person in a green outfit was sitting there, clapping enthusiastically.

She didn’t really listen to the judges’ comments, her eyes occasionally falling on Bian Yingning.

She came.

After the performance, Shang Qinghui rushed backstage and asked Wang Yu to go back to the hotel first.

Wang Yu: “What? What’s wrong? Am I not presentable?.”

“More or less,” Shang Qinghui said without concealing it: “Go ahead, I can’t let people see me with a friend.”

Wang Yu didn’t understand: “Why! I’m not a secret!”

“No, you are a secret.”

Wang Yu: “???”

When Bian Yingning reached the backstage, Shang Qinghui had already packed her things.

Bian Yingning frowned: “Are you leaving?”

Shang Qinghui pulled her bag, her eyes evasive: “I didn’t want to keep you, a busy person, here.”

“What? You should wait for the results. If you win an award, you have to go up to receive it.” Bian Yingning recalled the school competition. Although she won first place, she didn’t go on stage to receive the award.

“What if I don’t?”

“What if you do?”

The two glared at each other, neither giving way.

Finally, Shang Qinghui put her bag down.

Bian Yingning was satisfied: “You should have some confidence in yourself.”

Shang Qinghui rolled her eyes: “When did you come?”

This question was somewhat awkward: “Anyway… before your performance.”

“Hmph, you really don’t waste a single minute.”

“Of course, I wouldn’t come to this kind of competition otherwise. I came at the perfect time, just in time to see your performance and not waste time watching others.”

Actually, she had been agonizing over whether to come.

Thinking that Shang Qinghui was alone and pitiful, she had kindly decided to come.

Silence fell between them.

Bian Yingning thought for a moment and praised: “You… danced well.”

Shang Qinghui blushed and looked away: “You don’t need to tell me that.”

Because of the stage lighting, her makeup was heavy, adding a touch of allure to her cute face.

Coupled with her shy demeanor, it was quite different from her usual boisterous self.

“When are you going back?”

Before coming, Bian Yingning had thought it through. After coming, she couldn’t leave after watching the performance. Shang Qinghui was alone in a strange city. It would be inappropriate to leave after meeting.

“Tomorrow.”

Bian Yingning nodded.

Many contestants were still around, some crying, comforted by family, friends, or boyfriends. It was a heartwarming scene.

“I’m going back to my seat.” This atmosphere wasn’t suitable for her.

As she turned, Shang Qinghui couldn’t help but ask: “When are you going back?”

“Me? I’ll stay a few more days.”

She had planned to stay for two days, but with Mr. Mitte and the others, she wasn’t sure when they would leave. She had to wait for them to leave before she could go.

“Are you familiar with S City?” Shang Qinghui tugged at her skirt, seemingly asking casually.

“No, it’s my first time here.” This was true.

“Oh.” Shang Qinghui didn’t speak again, and Bian Yingning returned to the audience seats.

…

Confirming she wasn’t needed for translation tonight, Duanmu Zhengjie drove out of the city. She didn’t have anywhere specific to go, just driving aimlessly in the cool night air.

Anything was better than being alone.

Had she been wrong?

Were the gentle feelings she had shown her fake?

“Shit,” Duanmu Zhengjie chuckled to herself while driving. This was the first time she had cursed, and she was cursing herself.

What had Bian Yingning given her that made her think Bian Yingning liked her?

It was just changing the rose on my table while I was eating, drawing a heart under my steak, making me some food, saying a few nice words…

Looking at me with adoring and affectionate eyes, getting close to me…

“You deserve better…”

To think that one day, I would hear such words. They’re utterly cliché.

Hilarious. Would I, Duanmu Zhengjie, really run away to another country because I can’t get someone’s love?

Leny?

Shameful.

It’s undeniable that I’m just a small translator. If I went to Leny… after two or three years, I could immediately become a powerful voice in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs…

Becoming a minister is just a matter of time.

But even if I don’t go, I, Duanmu Zhengjie, will still succeed.

Time, time.

How much time do I have?

Thinking this, she felt even more frustrated. She stepped on the gas again, the car speeding away.

…

The dance competition venue was large, meaning it wasn’t in the city center where land is expensive.

It was quite far out.

Shang Qinghui won first prize.

The trophy was made of crystal, with a small dancer on it. It was pretty.

As they left the venue, Bian Yingning couldn’t help but stare at it for a moment.

Honestly, whether it was my past self or the original owner, trophies seemed irrelevant to me.

“Here.” Shang Qinghui noticed Bian Yingning’s gaze and handed the trophy to her.

Bian Yingning took it without hesitation and examined it: “This little thing is quite heavy.”

“This kind of trophy is just a symbol…” a symbol of strength.

Shang Qinghui thought for a moment: “It’s also a reward.” A reward for all the hard work and sleepless nights of practice.

Bian Yingning returned the trophy, but Shang Qinghui didn’t take it: “It’s yours.”

“Mine?” Bian Yingning raised an eyebrow.

“Mhm,” Shang Qinghui didn’t look at Bian Yingning, her eyes fixed on the road under the streetlights, seemingly unconcerned:

“My family has too many of these things. Keeping it would just take up space. Giving it to you is like… getting rid of it for me.”

They stood at a roadside intersection, waiting for Bian Yingning’s driver.

Many people were leaving, causing traffic congestion. The driver was stuck and couldn’t get there quickly.

“Is that so…” Bian Yingning hesitated, unsure whether to accept it.

Accepting it, it didn’t really mean anything to her, and it would be useless at home. It’s just an ornament. Not accepting it, it would seem impolite.