When the Villain is Bound to the Female Lead System

Recently, a new pastry shop opened in Rounan County, gathering the most fashionable pastries from all corners of the country under one roof. No matter where a new style emerged, this shop would always be the first to follow suit.

Yu Yi sat in the elegant room on the second floor of the pastry shop. The table was adorned with dozens of exquisitely crafted pastries, each shaped like a flower, collectively known as the "Twelve Flower Deities." A small stove beside the table boiled green tea, whose fragrance mingled with the sweet aroma of the pastries, creating a serene and pleasant atmosphere.

"Did you threaten your adopted brother to open this shop in Rounan County?" Yu Yi asked skeptically after tasting a piece of each pastry and feeling somewhat full. She set down her teacup, her doubts clear.

It wasn't unreasonable for her to be suspicious. The elegant decor and fashionable, delicate pastries seemed out of place in the remote Rounan County. If the pastries were too expensive, few would buy them; if they were cheap, the shop might not even cover its costs. Either way, it seemed like a losing business, with little hope of substantial profits.

Xue Chenjing tossed a peach blossom pastry to Crane Senior Brother, his tone casual. "I just happened to write him a letter, catching up on family matters, and casually mentioned what I liked to eat. I didn't expect him to open a shop here."

"Do you expect me to believe you were just casually catching up?" Yu Yi shot him a sidelong glance.

Xue Chenjing grinned, his eyes lighting up. He gently wiped a bit of sugar powder from the corner of her mouth and asked, "Was it good?"

Yu Yi nodded, and Xue Chenjing's smile widened. "That's good."

After leaving the pastry shop, they strolled to aid digestion and came across a clay figurine stall on the street. Xue Chenjing pulled her in, claiming a spot and refusing to leave, much to the frustration of a child who had been hoping to join in, resulting in loud wails.

The stall was filled with children playing with clay, and the two adults stood out awkwardly.

Yu Yi tugged at Xue Chenjing, exasperated. "Let's come back another day if you want to play..."

But Xue Chenjing pulled her down firmly, his tone unyielding. "No, today." He then turned to the crying child, baring sharp fangs and growling menacingly, "Shut up, or I'll eat you!"

The child, terrified, hiccupped and scurried off to find his parents.

Yu Yi covered her face, feeling embarrassed under the stall owner's curious gaze, but she stayed put.

The two of them tried their hand at clay modeling, attempting to sculpt each other's likeness. After countless failed attempts, they finally created two decent figurines. They waited for the stall owner to fire the clay, and as the sky darkened, tiny snowflakes began to fall, though the lively street market remained unaffected.

The Xue Family Trading Company had recently opened a new shop, and to celebrate, they had invited numerous acrobats and performers, turning Rounan County into a festive scene. The crowd gathered along the long street, and the air was filled with cheers and applause.

Xue Chenjing led Yu Yi to an open intersection, where a two-tiered flower pavilion stood, adorned with sparse, bare willow branches. A blazing boiler nearby sent hot air rolling through the air, evaporating the snowflakes before they could land.

The onlookers stayed at a distance, their faces filled with anticipation. Yu Yi, pulled by Xue Chenjing to the front, was about to ask what was happening when someone beneath the pavilion shouted, "Watch out!"

A loud bang followed, and dazzling sparks shot into the sky, scattering and igniting in a burst of brilliant light. The crowd erupted in cheers, and one person after another passed beneath the pavilion, each unleashing more dazzling fireworks, the crackling sounds filling the air as tree-like flames bloomed enthusiastically.

In the midst of the fiery sparks, Xue Chenjing leaned slightly and whispered something in Yu Yi's ear.

The dazzling sparks reflected in Yu Yi's eyes, making them shine like stars. Even after the sparks faded, the light in her eyes remained, a brilliance Xue Chenjing had never seen before.

Yu Yi turned to look at him, and Xue Chenjing smiled, his gaze fixed on her eyes. He repeated, "Ah Yi, let's go home. I should have sent you home long ago."

The sparks continued to burst and fade, the flickering light and shadows rapidly changing, while the surrounding crowd was in a frenzy. Yu Yi looked at him, her heart filled with sorrow.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Ah Jing, I'm sorry," she said, knowing she would have to let him down for the sake of her family.

Xue Chenjing lowered his head and kissed her, gently rubbing his lips against hers. "You don't owe me an apology. Not before, not now, and not in the future. Ah Yi, I've told you before, whatever you want to do, I'll support you."

In the flickering light of the sparks, they embraced and kissed quietly, Xue Chenjing's hand sliding down her arm, fingers intertwining with hers.

Xue Chenjing led Yu Yi out of the city, leaving the hustle and bustle behind. The surroundings gradually grew quiet, with only the two of them walking hand in hand.

They reached a marsh outside the city, where reeds swayed in the night wind, their tips dusted with thin snow.

Xue Chenjing guided her through the reeds, stepping onto a wooden walkway that led to the depths of the marsh, where a small boat was moored.

"Ah Yi, get on that boat. It will take you home."

Yu Yi's grip on his fingers tightened. Knowing about the system's final reward, she had always known this day would come. She never doubted Xue Chenjing; she knew he would let her go.

Yet, when the moment arrived, she still felt a pang of reluctance.

"I want to take you home with me," Yu Yi said, biting her lip to hold back her tears. She wanted to bring him back, to show her parents and sister the person she loved. She had tried, but the differences between their worlds were beyond the system's ability to bridge.

Xue Chenjing's eyes reddened, but he held back his tears. From his sleeve, he produced a palm-sized clay figurine and placed it in her hand. "Alright, take me with you."

Yu Yi removed her storage bag, summoned the Green Bamboo Sword, and placed her own figurine in Xue Chenjing's hands.

Crane Senior Brother, sensing the moment, flew down and circled around Yu Yi.

Yu Yi reached out to stroke the crane's head, bidding it farewell.

Xue Chenjing helped her onto the boat, wiping away her tears. "I've heard that people in your world don't live long, and reaching a hundred years is considered longevity. Ah Yi, I wish you a long life, a peaceful rest of your life, and if, after living your life, you still remember me, I'll be waiting here for you."

The current carried the boat away from the walkway, Yu Yi's fingers gradually slipping from his, her sobs silent. "I'll come back, no matter how long it takes."

"Alright, I'll wait for you," Xue Chenjing said, his chest heaving as he took deep breaths. This time, he managed to hold back his tears.

He was too weak-willed, always breaking down in tears, always needing Ah Yi to comfort him. This final time, he wanted to smile as he sent her off.

Crane Senior Brother, wanting to jump onto the boat, was blocked by an invisible force. The crane, desperate, waded into the water, following the boat and crying out incessantly.

Yu Yi held the clay figurine in her arms, watching them, as the system's voice sounded in her ear.

【System: Ding—Please confirm again whether to exchange for the final reward.】

Xue Chenjing took a deep breath, doing his best to keep his eyes dry, his vision clear as he watched her drift away from the shore, farther and farther from him.

"Confirm," he said softly, finally making his decision.

A blinding bolt of lightning suddenly tore through the sky, a column of thunder descending silently, connecting the snowflakes above into a dense electric network that enveloped the marsh in a blinding light.

The Green Bamboo Sword shot into the sky from Xue Chenjing's side, and two sword spirits emerged from the sword body, attempting to charge into the blinding lightning.

Like Crane Senior Brother, they were all blocked outside.

Due to the differences between the two worlds, not only could Xue Chenjing not go, but nothing from this world could be taken with her.

After returning, Yu Yi's cultivation would be frozen, turning her into an ordinary person who would age and die. Only when she returned to this world would the frozen state be restored.

The white light engulfed her completely, outlining the silhouette of a doorframe around her. Beyond the door, familiar scenes from her memories faintly appeared. The sound of water disappeared from her ears, and the small boat beneath her gradually vanished.

Yu Yi's hands suddenly felt empty, and she immediately lowered her head. The clay figurine she had been clutching tightly in her arms had shattered into dust. She couldn't even take this with her. In the end, she couldn't take anything with her.

The Heavenly Path had imposed an inexplicable mission upon them, dragging her into this world without any reason. After two lifetimes, she had to fulfill that so-called heavenly mandate, witnessing Xue Chenjing being hurt, abandoned, and killed repeatedly.

Yu Yi shouted angrily towards the source of the lightning, "How could you treat him like this, treat us like this!"

[System: Ding—Please click to confirm...]

Before leaving that world, Yu Yi faintly heard the system's voice again. It sounded distant, growing weaker, as if it were her imagination. She couldn't make out what it had said.

In the dazzling white light, her body began to plummet rapidly. After an unknown amount of time, she finally felt solid ground beneath her feet. The white light suddenly disappeared, and Yu Yi's body jolted as she abruptly opened her eyes and sat up in bed.

She widened her eyes and glanced around.

Pale morning light filtered through the gaps in the curtains, barely illuminating the room. The desk by the window was cluttered, piled with all sorts of books, notebooks, figurines, and a computer. A chair was stacked with a pile of laundry.

This was her bedroom, her very familiar environment.

"I'm back..." Yu Yi looked down at her hands. She was wearing soft cotton pajamas, sitting in her warm bed, hugging her usual pillow. Everything she touched felt so real.

Tears slid down her cheeks and fell into her palm. Yu Yi buried her face in the bedding and cried silently. Only now did she finally believe that she had returned home, that she was really back.

A faint click sounded from outside the door—the sound of the opposite room's door opening. Yu Yi heard the familiar footsteps approaching. She immediately threw off the covers and jumped out of bed, rushing to the door in two steps and yanking it open.

Her sister, Yu Yan, was just stepping out of her bedroom, carrying a bag. Yu Yi's sudden action startled her so much that she nearly jumped out of her skin. She pressed a hand to her chest and scolded, "What are you doing so early in the morning? You scared me to death!"

Yu Yi let out a loud wail and threw herself into her sister's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

Yu Yan was at a loss, patting her back. "What's wrong? Why are you crying? I'm just going on a business trip. I'll be back in two days and bring you a gift."

Yu Yi shook her head, but her throat was so choked with emotion that she couldn't speak. Every time she tried to open her mouth, all that came out was her crying. Their parents were drawn by the commotion. Her father, still wearing an apron and holding a spatula, and her mother, both came over.

"What's going on? You were still sleeping, weren't you? Why are you crying like this?" her mother asked worriedly.

Yu Yi was surrounded by her family, feeling as if she were in a dream. While she was enveloped in happiness, a part of her heart ached faintly.

She had her family now, but she had left another person behind, leaving him alone to endure centuries or even millennia of waiting.

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