From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

The pastry shop is filled with a dazzling array of delicious aromas, including the sweetness of red bean paste, the richness of jujube paste cake, and the delicate fragrance of osmanthus sugar.

Yan Rugo's gaze swept over the plates of exquisite pastries, seemingly casual, but in reality, she was secretly observing the surrounding situation.

She gently picked up a peach blossom pastry with her slender fingers, held it to her nose and sniffed it lightly, a barely perceptible sneer curling at the corner of her mouth. Li Si, you really are a persistent ghost.

Xu, the male lead, noticed Yan Rugo's slightly stiff smile and asked with concern, "Rugo, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

“It’s nothing,” Yan Rugo quickly concealed the wariness in her eyes and put the peach blossom pastry back on the plate. “I was just thinking about what kind of snacks to buy.” She picked up a piece of mung bean cake and handed it to Xu Nanzhu. “Try this, it tastes good.”

The male protagonist took the mung bean cake, but did not eat it. Instead, he looked intently at the area behind Yan Rugo.

He sensed something was amiss, a feeling of being watched.

Yan Rugo subtly pulled Xu, the male protagonist, to the other side, pretending to choose other snacks.

The two seemed to be casually moving through the crowd, but in reality they were deliberately going in circles, choosing to walk in crowded places.

Li Si followed closely behind, like a cunning fox, his eyes always fixed on Yan Rugo, not missing a single move she made.

The market was bustling with people, and the sounds of vendors calling out their wares filled the air, creating a lively and vibrant atmosphere.

Yan Rugo and Xu Nanzhu's figures moved through the bustling crowd, sometimes separated by the throng, and sometimes reunited.

Li Si followed closely, his eyes cold and sinister, like a venomous snake, waiting for his chance to strike.

“There’s an alley ahead…” Yan Rugo suddenly stopped and said in a low voice.

"Let's go!" A glint flashed in Yan Rugo's eyes. She decisively grabbed Xu Nanzhu's hand and rushed into the dark alley like a gust of wind.

Her movements were so fast that the male protagonist, Xu, couldn't react in time and could only stagger to keep up with her pace.

"Where is she?!" Li Si, who had been staring at Yan Rugo like an eagle, now looked around frantically like a stray dog ​​that had lost its bone, his sinister expression turning somewhat comical.

He stood at the entrance of the alley, looking at the dimly lit alley, feeling lost and helpless like a headless fly.

The alley was dark and damp, with a faint musty smell in the air.

The mottled walls, covered in moss, appeared exceptionally quiet and mysterious.

Deep within the alley, the crisscrossing paths resemble a maze.

Yan Rugo held onto Xu Nanzhu tightly, like a nimble cat, skillfully navigating the complex alleyways with the help of the system prompts in her mind.

Her steps were firm and swift, without the slightest hesitation.

"Ouch!" Xu, the male protagonist, suddenly tripped over a protruding stone and fell forward uncontrollably.

Yan Rugo reacted quickly and grabbed his arm, preventing him from making intimate contact with the ground.

The two were so close that they could clearly hear each other's breathing.

The male protagonist looked rather disheveled, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead and some dust on his face.

Yan Rugo leaned forward slightly, watching him nervously. Her soft hair fell onto Xu's cheek, tickling him like a feather gently brushing against him.

Their eyes met, and the air seemed to freeze.

The male protagonist's deep eyes gleamed with an unusual light, gentle yet with a hint of inquiry.

Yan Rugo's heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly looked away, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Are you alright?" Yan Rugo's voice trembled slightly, but she still maintained her proud tone.

"It's nothing." The male protagonist Xu's lips curled up slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.

His gaze lingered on Yan Rugo's face, as if he wanted to see everything about her.

Yan Rugo didn't notice Xu's gaze. After helping him to his feet, she quickly looked towards another exit of the alley and said in a serious tone, "Hurry up, we need to hurry..."

At the other end of the alley, sunlight poured down, as if it were another world.

Yan Rugo pulled Xu Nanzhu out of the alley and quickly looked around. Where was Li Si's lewd figure?

She raised her eyebrows smugly, a "I am the queen" smile curving her lips, secretly pleased with herself: Little brat, you're still too green to fight me!

Looking at Yan Rugo's lively and cunning appearance, Xu thought, "This little girl is really something!"

He chuckled and teased, "Miss Ruge, your 'Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell' move is really skillful!"

Yan Rugo rolled her eyes at him, feigning arrogance: "Of course, don't you know who I am!"

The market was still bustling with noise, the shouts of vendors and the sounds of bargaining blending together into a noisy symphony of everyday life.

The tense atmosphere from just now seemed to have never existed, and everything returned to its lively and peaceful state.

The two quickly completed the remaining shopping tasks, carrying large and small bags in their hands, and returned home fully loaded.

On the way back home, the setting sun cast long shadows of the two of them.

Yan Rugo was in a good mood, humming an unknown tune all the way, and occasionally teasing Xu, creating a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere.

Passersby cast envious glances at the two, thinking they were a perfect match, a match made in heaven!

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on Yan Rugo's face, giving her a golden glow that made her appear even more charming and beautiful.

The male protagonist looked at her with gentle eyes, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart.

This experience deepened their bond and made them cherish each other even more.

However, just as they were about to reach the gate of the mansion, Yan Rugo suddenly felt a jolt in her wrist, and a familiar system notification sounded in her mind.

The smile on her face froze instantly, and her eyes became wary.

A sense of unease welled up inside her, and she subconsciously tightened her grip on Xu's hand, her fingertips feeling slightly cold.

"What's wrong?" Xu, the male protagonist, noticed her unusual behavior and asked with concern.

Yan Rugo did not answer, but stared intently ahead.