55: A Smile as Beautiful as Flowers

A Smile as Beautiful as Flowers

"Is this true? Have you really? What is it?" asked Qin Xiruo pressingly. She clocked Ling Chunxi's stunned reaction and realized she had let her mask slip too far. She recovered in a flash. With a gentle smile and soft voice, she repeated her question, "Chunxi, this is indeed your blessing. What treasure is it?"1

"Sister Xiruo, would it greatly please you to know of it?" Ling Chunxi stroked Little White's ears as she spoke and smiled with as much sincere kindness she could muster.

"If you are kind enough to tell me, Chunxi, I am indeed curious to know what kind of blessing has been bestowed upon you." Qin Xiruo kept her smile gentle and her trembling hands hidden within her sleeves.

"I can easily tell you all about my blessing Sister Xiruo, but only if you fulfil one small condition. I believe you'll be able to do it without any problems at all." Ling Chunxi tilted her head to one side and beamed innocently. Excitement and exhilaration coursed through Qin Xiruo. Why, she had practically already pocketed whatever life-changing treasure this was. 

"Won't you let me know what it is, Chunxi? If I'm able to do it, I most definitely will." There was a quiver in Qin Xiruo's voice, she was barely able to suppress the thrill she felt.

"It's not a big deal, really. I just want you to tell the truth about how you injured your arm before both the Ling and Qin family elders. Tell them you injured your arm not from saving me, but because you were naturally useless and could no longer progress with cultivation. Tell them that you were too ashamed to face the world as the failure you are so you made me a scapegoat in your vile lie to cover up your own shortcomings. Tell them all these things. That's all~" Ling Chunxi mimicked her own display of innocence earlier and cocked her head to the side with a bright smile. "What do you think? Real simple right?"

"Chunxi. You. You… What are you saying? What do you mean?" Qin Xiruo's face had gone from fair to pale. She forced out one of her patented gentle smiles, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"How is that possible? Do you need me to repeat it one more time, loudly?" Ling Chunxi flashed a smile so lovely, it was akin to a flower blooming. "My beloved Sister Xiruo, there's no one around right now. You can drop the kind and gentle act. I saw your face clearly when you pushed me off that cliff, it was evil and scary. Totally different from the mask you have on right now."

"Stop spewing nonsense! I was facing your back. How could you have possibly seen my face?!" shrieked Qin Xiruo in a shocking burst of unhinged anger. "How dare you—" Qin Xiruo cut herself off when she saw the shocked expression on Ling Chunxi's face. She realized she had trapped herself with her own words. What's more, Ling Chunxi had used the simple method of provoking her to get her to validate the truth of what had happened that day. 

"Tsk. Qin Xiruo, I really don't understand what your problem is. I've never done anything to you. You have no reason to bear grudges or misunderstandings against me, yet you constantly provoke Qin Yumei into bullying me. That foolish girl always allows herself to be used by you as a pawn in whatever game you decide to play without even realizing it. So, how do you suggest I settle this great debt with the both of you?" Ling Chunxi let the warmth fall away from her eyes and turned her smile into a heart-chilling snarl.

"Ling Chunxi, you despicable brat! Even if you kick up a fuss about me pushing you and injuring my own arm, would anyone believe you? Ha! Just get lost. Get out of my face. And when you do, don't assume your words would be believed so easily now just because you're enjoying a moment in the limelight." Qin Xiruo snickered as she surveyed the alley to ensure no one else was around. Once she saw that no one was, she let out a fearless and manic laugh. In case someone standing beyond the alley could overhear, Qin Xiruo tamped down her twisted and piercing laughter.

　　"Who do you think you are, Ling Chunxi? You passed an innate talent assessment and now you think the world revolves around you?" Qin Xiruo's pretty face contorted into an evil expression that was scary to behold. She grit her teeth and growled, "Go tell everyone then, I want to see who would actually believe you."

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