From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

In the geisha house under the cover of night, lanterns sway, illuminating faces adorned with makeup.

The air was filled with a sweet, powdery scent, but it couldn't mask a hint of unusual restlessness.

The girls laughed and shoved each other, seemingly peaceful, but in reality, each of them had a subtle tension in their eyes and brows.

It's like the calm before the storm, with turbulent undercurrents beneath the surface.

Yan Ruyu leaned against the window, her fingertips gently caressing the jade pendant, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes.

She could sense that beneath this seemingly calm atmosphere, something was stirring, like a venomous snake lurking in the abyss, flicking its tongue, ready to deliver a fatal blow at any moment.

A cold smile curled at the corner of her lips. Ha, these days, there are always treacherous subjects trying to harm me!

Outside the geisha house, the male protagonist looked up at the direction of the geisha house, his brows furrowed, as if shrouded in dark clouds.

He always felt uneasy, as if something bad was about to happen.

This feeling is just like forgetting to memorize something before an exam, making you anxious and restless.

"Oh my, Mama Hua, look at her, she's been stealing our thunder lately!" Hongmei swayed her hips and took small steps as she walked up to Mama Hua. Her thickly painted face was full of jealousy, practically screaming "I'm so jealous!"

"She's definitely doing something shady behind the scenes. She probably's been taking on countless clients in private!"

The other geishas chimed in, each one chiming in as if they were holding a denunciation rally. They looked like a bunch of cats that had eaten lemons, so sour they were practically rotting away.

Mama Hua squinted, holding a teacup in one hand and Buddhist prayer beads in the other, listening to Hongmei and the others' accusations. Her face was expressionless, but a shrewd glint flashed in her eyes.

She knew perfectly well that these women were all cunning and scheming, always looking for trouble.

"Really? You mustn't be wronging someone; you need to provide evidence."

Xiao Lü stamped her feet anxiously, wanting to defend Yan Ruyu: "Aunt Hua, Sister Ruyu isn't that kind of person! She..." Before she could finish speaking, Hongmei grabbed her and covered her mouth.

Hongmei glared fiercely at Xiaolü, warning her, "You'd better shut up, or you'll be next!" Xiaolü could only shake her head helplessly.

Just then, Yan Ruyu pushed open the door, a playful smile on her lips, and slowly walked out.

She glanced at Hongmei, then at Mama Hua, and slowly pulled a stack of papers from her sleeve. "Mama Hua, I have something here that you might need to see."

Yan Ruyu took out the stack of papers and gently tapped them with her slender fingers, producing a crisp sound that seemed to strike the hearts of Hongmei and the others, causing their hearts to tremble.

A confident smile played on her lips, her eyes sharp as knives, as if they could see through any pretense.

“Aunt Hua, these are the reservation records of our guests. They clearly record each guest’s name, time, and… the girls they selected.” She paused deliberately, her gaze sweeping over Hongmei and the others. Their faces instantly turned deathly pale, as if they had been painted with white paint, and even the makeup on their faces could not conceal their panic.

"These records are enough to prove my innocence, aren't they?" Yan Ruyu handed the paper in her hand to Mother Hua, her tone relaxed, as if she were just talking about today's weather.

Mother Hua took the record, carefully read through it, and her expression became serious.

She never expected that Hongmei and the others would dare to play such petty tricks right under her nose.

She raised her head and looked at Hongmei and the others, her eyes filled with disappointment and anger: "Do you have anything else to say?"

Hongmei and the others looked at each other, stammering, unable to utter a single word for a long time.

Their conspiracy was exposed, and they were ashamed to be stripped naked in front of everyone.

They originally thought they could use this opportunity to bring down Yan Ruyu, but unexpectedly, they shot themselves in the foot instead.

"Hmph, such a trivial skill, yet you dare to show off your limited abilities before an expert?" Yan Ruyu sneered, her tone full of disdain.

She had anticipated that Hongmei and the others would use trickery, so she made preparations in advance.

Looking at Yan Ruyu, Mama Hua thought, "This girl is not only clever and quick-witted, but also meticulous. She is truly a rare talent."

Xu, the male protagonist, witnessed everything from outside the museum.

Looking at Yan Ruyu's confident smile, he felt a surge of admiration and affection.

This woman always manages to surprise him and make him fall for her.

He smiled with satisfaction, his eyes gentle as water.

Yan Ruyu seemed to sense Xu's gaze. She looked up, and their eyes met in the air, as if an electric current was passing through them, making the surrounding air sweet.

A sweet smile appeared on her lips.

"Tonight's guests specifically requested that I perform my newly learned skills..." Yan Ruyu withdrew her gaze, turned and walked towards the stage, leaving behind a mysterious silhouette.

Under the cover of night, the lights of the geisha house flickered. Yan Ruyu stood in the center of the theater, where the only sound was the breathing of the guests.

Her gaze was firm, as if piercing through countless expectant eyes, staring straight ahead.

Instead of choosing her familiar and signature skills, she decided to challenge herself with a newly learned, less common geisha dance.

"Tonight, I will be performing a new dance for you all—'Spring Water Flows Gently'." Yan Ruyu's voice was clear and firm, like a gentle breeze in spring, touching everyone's hearts.

The guests and geishas present all looked surprised.

They had never seen or even heard of this dance before.

On stage, Yan Ruyu's dance moves were as fluid as flowing water, and every movement seemed to contain profound meaning.

Her fingers moved lightly through the air, as if painting a beautiful picture.

The guests below the stage were captivated by her novel dance moves, their eyes glued to her every movement, even their breathing slowed down.

Xiao Lü stood backstage, her eyes full of anticipation.

She knew that Yan Ruyu's performance this time would not disappoint.

Sure enough, as the dance reached its climax, applause and cheers erupted from the audience, with some even clapping and shouting in admiration.

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!" A mysterious guest wearing a cloak stood up, his eyes full of admiration.

Although his voice was deep, it was particularly striking in the quiet night.

Other guests echoed this sentiment, praising Yan Ruyu's performance as refreshing and innovative.

Mother Flower stood to the side, a satisfied smile on her lips.

"Ruyu, you've brought another new guest, that's wonderful!" she thought to herself. "This girl is not only clever, but also kind-hearted."

After Yan Ruyu took her bow and returned backstage, she felt a bit more wary.

She noticed a complex tattoo faintly visible beneath the mysterious guest's cloak, which was undoubtedly related to the mysterious organization she had been investigating.

This is an opportunity, but also a huge challenge.

She looked at the mysterious guest, **"No matter what lies ahead, I will find out."** At that moment, her heart was filled with determination.

The male protagonist, Xu, watched her from afar, his eyes filled with worry.

"Ruyu, are you really going?" He approached quietly, his voice low and powerful.

The moment their eyes met, the mysterious guest turned his head, his gaze sinister, as if he were observing everything from the shadows.

Yan Ruyu nodded slightly, a confident smile curving her lips. "For the truth, I must take the risk." Her tone was firm, as unwavering as steel.

Just as she was about to walk towards the mysterious guest, the male protagonist Xu held her hand tightly, saying, "Be careful." His voice was full of reluctance and worry.

Yan Ruyu chuckled softly, "Don't worry, I'll be fine." With that, she turned and walked towards the mysterious guest, each step firm and powerful.

The male protagonist's gaze followed her closely, a complex emotion welling up in his heart. At this moment, he became even more determined to protect her.