From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

The sun is shining brightly, and the breeze is gentle; it's the perfect time for gossip.

But Yan Rugo's mood at this moment was like the calm before a storm, with undercurrents surging beneath the surface.

She recalled Xu's recent hesitant demeanor, and her inner radar kept beeping.

He's definitely hiding something from her!

Her gaze instantly shifted from the joy of victory to a sharp mode, like an X-ray scanner, as if she wanted to see through Xu the male protagonist inside and out.

Is this man pretending to be an innocent little rabbit?

We have to skin him alive today!

When Yan Rugo returned to her room, it was a scene of utter chaos.

She turned the room upside down like a detective, making a racket with the things in the cabinets rattling and banging, creating a scene more chaotic than an earthquake.

Her mood became increasingly anxious and restless as the room grew more and more cluttered.

She refused to believe that Yan Rugo couldn't find any clues.

"My God, this room is practically a crime scene," Yan Rugo muttered as she continued searching.

She was determined to uncover Xu's secret and teach him the true meaning of "curiosity killed the cat".

Finally, Yan Rugo discovered a small sachet that the male protagonist had left behind, which emitted a familiar scent.

This taste...

He squinted, already having a pretty good idea of ​​what was going on.

“Young Master Xu, it seems you have something you want to say to me lately?” Yan Rugo stood in front of Xu, her tone calm as still water, but her eyes were like poisoned knives, staring straight at him.

The male protagonist felt a little guilty under her gaze, and his eyes began to dart around frantically, like a little mouse that had been caught stealing food.

"Miss Yan, what are you saying? I... what could I possibly be hiding from you?" His tone was slightly flustered, and his fingers unconsciously rubbed the hem of his clothes, completely lacking his usual calm and composed demeanor.

"Is that so?" Yan Rugo raised an eyebrow, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Then why have you been so absent-minded lately, with such a wandering gaze? Could it be... that you're secretly hiding some cutie out there?" Her tone gradually sharpened, each word like a bullet, striking Xu's heart directly.

The male protagonist's face stiffened, and his smile became somewhat unnatural.

“Miss Yan is joking. I… how could I… I swear, I…” He tried to explain, but the words caught in his throat, making him seem even more like he was trying to cover something up.

The surrounding air seemed to freeze, tense as if a string might snap at any moment.

"What are you hiding from me?" Yan Rugo took another step closer, her aura overwhelming.

She wanted him to understand that in front of her, no pretense could be hidden.

Xu opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately chose to remain silent.

He glanced at Yan Rugo with a complicated expression, then lowered his head and said softly, "There are some things that are not the right time to tell you now..." Yan Rugo's eyes darted around, like Columbus discovering a new continent, her eyes sparkling with wisdom.

"Oh? Not the right time?" She drawled, her voice rising slightly at the end, like a cunning little fox that had already caught a whiff of its prey.

She noticed Xu's evasive gaze, and her fingertips unconsciously rubbed the sachet in her hand, the familiar scent becoming clearer and clearer.

"This taste... is quite interesting," Yan Rugo said softly, a playful smile playing on her lips.

She picked up the sachet, brought it to her nose, and took a gentle sniff. The doubt in her eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a look of understanding.

This was clearly the incense she had given to the male lead Xu to calm his nerves, but the scent seemed to have been deliberately diluted.

Is this man afraid she'll worry?

Upon seeing this, Xu's pupils suddenly contracted. He hadn't expected Yan Rugo to be so perceptive, discovering the clues simply through a sachet.

His composure crumbled instantly, replaced by surprise and panic, as if a carefully crafted mask had been ruthlessly torn away, revealing his true emotions.

The surrounding air seemed to lighten up due to this sudden reversal, and the sunlight appeared even brighter.

Yan Rugo's heart softened when she saw Xu's flustered appearance.

She stepped forward, cupped Xu's face in her hands, and gently stroked his slightly cold cheeks with her fingertips. "Silly boy, you kept it from me because you were afraid I would worry?" Her tone was gentle, like a ray of warm sunshine in winter, dispelling the gloom in Xu's heart.

The male protagonist, Xu, was somewhat taken aback by Yan Rugo's sudden tenderness.

Seeing the concern in Yan Rugo's eyes, the words he had wanted to hide crumbled at that moment.

"I...I..." He stammered for a long time, unable to come up with a coherent explanation.

Looking at Yan Rugo, he couldn't help but raise his hand and gently hold Yan Rugo's hand.

Yan Rugo felt the warmth of Xu's palm, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

She didn't pull away, but let him hold her hand, her heart filled with sweetness.

She lowered her head gently, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, like a startled fawn. The surrounding flowers seemed to sense the sweet atmosphere between them, blooming in a rush, filling the air with fragrance and an ambiguous atmosphere.

At this moment, the atmosphere between them was warm and beautiful.

The male protagonist seemed to want to say something; his Adam's apple bobbed, and he was about to speak.

“You…” Yan Rugo suddenly said, but then stopped, as if she had remembered something, and her expression became subtle.

She raised her eyebrows slightly, a sly glint in her eyes.

Xu, the male protagonist, was a little flustered by Yan Rugo's sudden change. He looked at her nervously and asked, "What's wrong?"

Yan Rugo stood in front of Xu, her eyes firm and her lips slightly upturned, as if she had already made a decision.

She turned to face the system panel beside her. "System, I need a skill now," she said softly, her voice filled with unwavering determination.

The system panel immediately appeared in her palm, listing rows of skill options.

Yan Rugo quickly discovered a skill called "Mind Peeping"—which allows her to view another person's recent memories without harming them.

Without hesitation, she clicked the redemption button, and golden light instantly enveloped her body, as if infusing her with new power.

“Young Master Xu,” Yan Rugo turned around, her sharp gaze fixed on the male lead, a confident smile playing on her lips, “There are some things I should confirm myself.”

The male protagonist was startled by her sudden action, and a sense of unease instantly welled up in his heart.

He instinctively wanted to back away, but Yan Rugo had already reached out her finger and gently touched his forehead.

A warm light spread from her fingertips, instantly enveloping Xu's mind.

He felt a slight ripple, as if countless tiny threads were gently touching his memory.

Xu's heart raced, but when he saw Yan Rugo's firm yet gentle gaze, his unease gradually subsided.

She trusts him so much, what else could he possibly hide from her?

He took a deep breath and met Yan Rugo's gaze calmly, his eyes filled with understanding and trust.

The surrounding light seemed to be aiding Yan Rugo's actions, converging from all directions to form soft halos that enveloped the two of them.

A warm atmosphere filled the air, as if even the surrounding flowers were swaying gracefully in celebration of their affection, releasing an even richer fragrance.

Yan Rugo's fingertips trembled slightly as her gaze traveled through Xu's memories, unfolding scene after scene before her eyes.

She saw that he was bearing immense pressure alone in order to protect her and prevent her from getting involved in the conflicts between nobles.

She witnessed his countless hesitations and struggles, and how he concealed everything for her safety.

Tears welled up in Yan Rugo's eyes; her heart was deeply moved.

She held Xu's hand tightly, her voice choked with sobs: "You... have endured so much for me."

Looking into Yan Rugo's moist eyes, Xu felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

He gently raised his hand and tenderly wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes, a warm smile appearing on his lips: "As long as you are safe, it's all worth it."

Just then, the lady's noisy voice suddenly came from outside the door, seemingly questioning Yan Rugo's behavior again.

Yan Rugo's eyes immediately turned worried, and her heart was filled with unease.

She held Xu's hand tightly, as if drawing strength from him.

Sensing Yan Rugo's worry, Xu firmly grasped her hand, his eyes filled with determination: "Believe me, we will definitely get through this."

Yan Rugo took a deep breath, and her heart gradually calmed down.

She smiled slightly, her eyes flashing with determination: "This time, I'm determined to prove to her that I'm not so easy to bully."

As soon as she finished speaking, she turned to face the door, while the male protagonist followed closely behind her. The two worked together to prepare for the upcoming challenge.