"Brother Su..."
"Lian'er has always secretly liked you."
"I know you're the princess's childhood sweetheart, but... I can't help it. I really can't!"
In the quiet, refined pavilion, the girl's eyes brimmed with affection. Her delicate features were tinged with sorrow, making her seem all the more pitiful and fragile.
Who wouldn't be moved by such a sight?
But—
Faced with this tender confession, the young man didn't appear touched in the slightest. On the contrary, his gaze was full of deep confusion and alertness.
This moment felt eerily familiar—like the prologue to the nightmare he had lived three years ago.
Is this... rebirth?
He still remembered the sensation of the cold blade grazing his neck.
The pain had been fleeting, but the torment, the regret, and the endless self-recrimination had lingered far longer.
Back when he was still a good person—
He had been falsely accused of attempting to violate a girl.
Betrayed by the very people he called friends.
Mocked and trampled on by the childhood sweetheart he trusted most.
His family's centuries-old honor was shattered because of him, and his beloved younger sister died in battle trying to protect him.
At the end, as he lay bloodied beneath his enemies' feet, all he could hear were their contemptuous sneers and arrogant laughter.
Unforgettable.
All he ever wanted was to be a decent person. So why did these wicked women always use him like a pawn?
Just then—
"Brother Su? What are you thinking about? You look like you're in pain..."
The girl's soft voice pulled Su Hao out of his thoughts.
He looked at the sweet, demure girl before him. Though her face still had the innocence of youth, she was already growing into her beauty—within three years, she'd become breathtakingly elegant.
Her snow-white skin gave her a fragile, sickly charm that made her seem especially pitiable.
But who would have imagined that this "girl next door" was, in reality... a full-fledged green tea bitch?
Ye Lian.
The treasured daughter of the Ye family—one of the wealthiest and most powerful clans in the imperial capital.
She was also the beginning of Su Hao's complete and utter downfall.
This seemingly gentle noble lady was, in truth, a master manipulator. She had masked her true self so well that even Su Hao, who had always treated her like a sister, thought she must've had her reasons that night... reasons he just couldn't understand.
How laughable.
So I was the idiot?
Now that he had lived a second life, Su Hao would never make the same mistake again.
He realized now—the moment he accepted the banquet invitation, the game had already begun.
A game rigged against him from the start.A game with no way out.
Would a girl really use her innocence to frame you?
The answer—
Not only would she, but she'd do it beautifully. Seamlessly. Without a single flaw.
Because in this world, the one who makes the accusation never has to prove anything. A few tears and the right timing are all it takes.
After all, girls are seen as the vulnerable ones.How could she possibly seduce you?
You're wondering how I know?
Well...
Su Hao was about to relive that very "classic" moment.
He would be accused of defiling the noble daughter of the Ye family, thrown into the Sky Prison, and publicly condemned by thousands.
Just imagining it made his blood boil.
"Trying to escape a trap while already inside it..."
"I really was too naive back then!"
As the direct heir of the Zhenguo Mansion—a house influential enough to decide the next emperor—he was naturally a prime target for elimination.
But one thing Su Hao could never understand:
Why not recruit us, instead of destroying us?
They knew each other well. Why choose betrayal?
Could it be that wicked women really think differently from normal people?
How stupid.
So stupid, in fact, that even if Su Hao collared her like a dog and dragged her around the capital a few times, it still wouldn't ease the resentment in his heart.
And the worst part?
She wasn't the only one.
Tch.
What a rotten world.
Now, all he wanted was to crush the fake kindness of those treacherous women—
Shatter their self-righteous pride—
If they couldn't act like people, then let them act like obedient dogs.
"System detection complete: Host has achieved Enlightenment through Suffering. Boss Training System now initializing..."
"Activating pre-bound mission: 'Jedi Counterattack.' Please reverse the tragic events that led to your demise and retaliate against the true culprit!"
"Your performance will determine the level of special rewards you receive."
Before Su Hao could fully process the words, the system had already arrived.
At the same time—
Ye Lian made her move.
"Brother Su, don't ignore me..."
"Lian'er really didn't mean to trouble you, it's just... today is my birthday, and I got a little emotional."
"Am I... am I a bad girl now?"
"I really don't want to compete with the princess for you…"
Ye Lian bit her rosy lip, eyes watery and pitiful, looking like she was about to cry at any second—as if she were the one being wronged.
Tell me—if a beautiful young girl showed you such a look, what man wouldn't be moved?
In such a moment, even just a comforting hug would seem appropriate.
So, naturally, Ye Lian "slipped" into Su Hao's arms. Her robe loosened, her breath soft, her voice trembling with whispered resistance.
And right on cue—
Someone would burst in.
And that would seal the outcome.
The perfect setup.
A flicker of pride flashed in Ye Lian's eyes—well hidden, but real.
She was proud of the flawless performance she had choreographed.
She could already picture Su Hao's despair and confusion.
Because she knew exactly what he would feel. After all, he was innocent—but so was she... wasn't she?
Unfair? Perhaps. But what else could he do?
At most, she'd visit him in his prison cell. Shed a few tears. Say a few heartfelt words. Pretend to be forced by circumstances... and make him willing to carry the guilt on his own.
No choice.
She had her own ambitions.
To escape her mother's control.
To seize power—power second only to the emperor himself.
And for that, she'd even sacrifice her dear Brother Su.
But just then—
"It's alright."
Su Hao smiled softly and wrapped his arm around the waist of the green tea manipulator.
With a light pull, her delicate frame was pulled tightly into his embrace.
The already developed curves pressing against him for the first time—soft, full, and—
Stifling.
Ye Lian's eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't expected Su Hao to be so... forward.
Could it be… he actually likes me too?
Hmph. You keep calling me "sister," but in the end, you're just another vulgar man.
But unfortunately...
—
Notes:
Green Tea (绿茶): A slang term for a woman who appears innocent and pure but is manipulative and scheming behind the scenes.
Sky Prison (天牢): A common term in historical Chinese fiction referring to the highest security prison where nobles or political prisoners are kept.
Zhenguo Mansion (镇国府): A powerful aristocratic family, often with military or political influence, roughly translated as "Duke of the Realm's Household."
"Dragged around like a dog": A harsh Chinese metaphor for total humiliation.