I Rely on the Collapse of the Character Setting to Survive in the Hands of the Male Lead Chapter 74

Chapter 74

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At noon, someone visited Xu Wenze and Chu Lishu’s courtyard, informing them that the Ministry of Rites had arranged a Winter Solstice sacrificial activity. They needed scholars who could help with writing at the imperial tomb. Participating in such an event would naturally be considered a bonus. After checking with the head master, he recommended the two of them, considering their high proficiency in calligraphy and consistently good performance.

Coincidentally, the Winter Solstice fell on the three-day break for the Imperial Academy. Duke Wei Guo’s residence had already sent a letter instructing Xu Wenze to return home to discuss the marriage arrangements for Xu Rui’er during those days. Since Xu Wenze couldn’t make it, he thought of giving this opportunity to someone else. At that moment, he naturally thought of Lin Qingyang.

So, the two of them came together to find Lin Qingyang.

As a result, when they went to Lin Qingyang’s courtyard, they found that he wasn’t there but discovered a letter left by Qi Yan.

They immediately thought that Lin Qingyang might have gone to find Lin Qingxu, so they turned to Lin Qingxu’s courtyard, only to learn that Lin Qingxu had gone somewhere else.

When they finally found their way here, they heard cries for help and rushed over.

“I never expected that it was Lin Qingxu trying to harm you,” Xu Wenze expressed some sympathy for Lin Qingyang.

However, Lin Qingyang was completely absorbed in another matter.

His mission, his mission!

Originally, he thought that without Ying Wenlong’s help, this matter would be very troublesome. However, he didn’t expect that he could go to the imperial tomb without seeking help from Mr. Cao or deceiving the male lead. Is this the halo effect of the male lead?

Huh? Lin Qingyang suddenly thought of a possibility. He remembered what Ying Xiaodie had done just now. According to Ying Wenlong’s sly personality, could it be that he deliberately took credit for himself by falsely claiming that he helped Chu Lishu secure this good opportunity to show off? This seemed quite reasonable. If he were really so capable, he might as well recommend Lin Qingyang and Lin Qingxu directly, rather than recommending Chu Lishu.

Lin Qingyang’s mouth twitched. It seemed that not all descriptions in novels were necessarily truthful. He looked at Xu Wenze sympathetically, thinking about Xu Wenze having to become in-laws with such a person, and being entangled by this person’s sister. Pitiful, really pitiful.

On the other side, the students from the academy managed to carry Lin Qingxu to the physician’s courtyard. Ironically, while Pei Jin appeared delicate and weak, he had already regained consciousness, while Lin Qingxu, who looked half-dead, remained in such a state. It was unclear whether it was due to physical weakness or lack of willpower.

Carrying a large man like Lin Qingxu for such a distance was quite a challenge for the four of them.

Chu Lishu, appearing thin and weak, naturally didn’t participate in carrying the person but stood by to watch over him.

But just as they were about to enter the courtyard, someone’s foot tripped, causing a chain reaction. Everyone suddenly fell, and Lin Qingxu, in particular, ended up tumbling down in a sorry state.

A piercing scream echoed through the air.

In shock, everyone looked and saw that Lin Qingxu’s luck was exceptionally bad. When he fell, his leg bent, and the weight of his body pressed down on it.

Hearing the agonizing scream and seeing the twisted angle of his ankle, everyone felt a sense of impending doom.

This seems to be the injured foot.

“Oh no, physician, it’s bad!” The crowd panicked and immediately shouted for help. Lin Qingxu, however, had fainted from the pain.

Chu Lishu also expressed concern, appearing as if he cared for his elder brother. However, no one could see the coldness in his eyes.

Blaming himself for not being ruthless enough last time, Chu Lishu thought that if he hadn’t been afraid of arousing suspicion from Marquis An Nan and affecting the overall situation, he would have already taken this wretched person’s life. If he had been more decisive, Lin Qingxu would have permanently lost the use of his leg.

At this moment, Lin Qingyang was soaking in hot water, racking his brain to find reasonable explanations for everything that just happened.

With so many lies, Lin Qingyang felt that his ability to fabricate stories was getting stronger. He quickly put together the reasons he had thought of in his mind.

Then he heard someone calling him at the door, it seemed like the person who had gone to escort Lin Qingxu back had returned.

Lin Qingyang immediately got up in a panic, put on his inner robe, and wondered if Chu Lishu was coming back.

However, he heard someone outside relaying a message, “Your third brother’s leg was accidentally injured again. Your cousin is still there with him for treatment. It would be best for you to go take a look when you have time.”

Hurt again? This is too coincidental. He hasn’t taken action yet. Is it karma in action?

Just as he was about to ask more questions, the person outside, feeling guilty, had already left. Lin Qingyang could only turn back, intending to find an outer robe and personally go see what happened.

But as he walked towards the bed, he suddenly felt a chill. Lin Qingyang swiftly turned around and saw a person emerging from behind the Treasure Pavilion, separated by Qi Yan and his own bed, wielding a sharp blade and charging towards him.

Lin Qingyang immediately took several steps back, colliding with the edge of the bed and falling backward. In an instant, he was suppressed on the bed. The blade was placed horizontally at his neck. Lin Qingyang, in that moment, reacted by using his arm to block the opponent’s wrist, barely protecting his neck, preventing an easy fatal strike.

However, the attacker chose an excellent angle and being caught off guard, Lin Qingyang’s entire body was twisted, making it impossible for him to exert force. He could only feel the opponent’s knife getting closer to his neck.

A wise man doesn’t fight when the odds are against him. “Help…”

“You dare to shout, and I’ll take your life immediately.”

Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but chuckle, “Hah! You talk as if I don’t shout, you won’t take my life! We can die together if it comes to that!”

Wait a minute… Something’s not right. If I were really in mortal danger, the system would have definitely alerted me. But just now, in such a dangerous situation, there was no alert. Could it be…

“Aren’t you afraid of death?”

“I say, Pei Jin, at least I saved your life. Is this how you treat your savior?” Lin Qingyang locked eyes with Pei Jin, his arm slightly loosening, only to find that the other party had no intention of continuing to harm him.

Lin Qingyang steadied himself mentally.

Pei Jin hovered above Lin Qingyang, glaring at him. She should kill him to silence him, but she wasn’t sure if he had disclosed the secret to anyone. If there was a chain of connections, killing Lin Qingyang might inadvertently spread the secret. Moreover, a hesitation arose within her. The memories from that time were vivid—helplessness in the dark waters, a faint glimmer of hope, and the person swimming towards her like a beam of light in the abyss.

Those who had never experienced the brink of death wouldn’t understand how terrifying it was.

The first aid on the shore and the efforts to conceal the truth when others were on the verge of discovering it…

Pei Jin had to admit that this man did save her. Not only did he rescue her, but he also helped her keep the secret.

She wasn’t foolish, but she didn’t understand either.

“Do you know why I came? Tell me why you did this! What is your purpose?” Pei Jin pressed like a black panther interrogating its prey. It seemed as if she was ready to bite someone’s throat at any moment if the answer didn’t satisfy her.

Lin Qingyang recalled Xu Wenze’s words and replied directly, “Saving a life is more significant than building a seven-story temple. I happened to see it at that moment. Could I just stand by and do nothing when someone’s life was at stake? I couldn’t.”

“You’re such a good person?” Pei Jin scoffed.

“Am I supposed to be a bad person?” Lin Qingyang countered.

Pei Jin wasn’t sure if Lin Qingyang knew that the addiction incident was orchestrated by her family, but she always considered herself and Lin Qingxu as adversaries. At least, Pei Jin was certain she wouldn’t rescue someone from the opposing side. Was this Lin Qingyang a fool?

“Fine! I can understand saving me, but why help me conceal it?” Pei Jin gritted her teeth. “Are you trying to threaten me, or is there some kind of deal? You can speak up; if the conditions are acceptable, maybe we don’t have to be at each other’s throats. After all, you’ve saved me too.”

Pei Jin was merely testing the waters. In case the other party truly intended to coerce her, she would have to eliminate the threat.

However, Pei Jin also felt that her thoughts were naive. How could anyone hold such a significant secret without attempting to leverage it? She should find an opportunity to find out whether he had disclosed the secret.

Lin Qingyang sighed deeply and began to play the role of a gentleman. “You’re a lady… In that situation, if it had been discovered by someone, not only would your reputation be tarnished, but you might also face even greater troubles. It could be a situation worse than dying in the lake. I saved your life. Can I just let such a situation happen?”

Pei Jin could hardly believe her ears; it was almost unbelievable to the point of laughter. Her almond-shaped eyes widened, lacking the usual sharpness, replaced by a touch of bewilderment.

Seizing the opportunity, Lin Qingyang instantly grabbed Pei Jin’s wrist, and twisted it, causing her to lose grip of the knife, which fell onto the bed. Lin Qingyang, accustomed to this awkward posture, had already gathered enough strength. With a swift movement, he overturned Pei Jin and firmly suppressed her.

Joking aside, he was a man, and during this time, he had been diligent in his training, getting his body in good shape. Could he let a woman, even if she was a bit shorter, dominate him?

Pei Jin, shocked and angered, attempted to struggle, but Lin Qingyang skillfully used both hands and feet to restrain Pei Jin’s delicate limbs, and the blade moved to Pei Jin’s neck.

“Lin Qingyang, you’re deceiving people!” The exclamation, fueled by impatience, lacked intentional restraint in tone. There was also a mix of embarrassment and anger in her expression, as her beautiful face flushed with a rosy hue, giving her a somewhat girlish appearance.

Lin Qingyang had always been friendly towards women, so being called out like this made him feel a bit awkward.

“You were the one who wasn’t polite to me first. How was I supposed to know which of my words would make you suddenly decide to kill me?” Even without a system prompt of imminent danger, Lin Qingyang didn’t want to endure having a blade against his vulnerable major artery for long. Being held hostage was not a pleasant experience. Considering his strong desire for self-preservation, he aimed to reduce the risk to zero.

Pei Jin quickly regained her composure, her eyes now filled with a deadly intent.

Lin Qingyang didn’t dare to let his guard down. He continued to press down on Pei Jin, weaving his words, “In fact, I could have exposed you, shattered your reputation, and ensured you never appeared in front of me again. It would have been better than the current situation. Do you think I haven’t considered the possibility of you coming to silence me? Why wouldn’t I eliminate this dangerous possibility directly? I’m not really that foolish!”

With this counter-question, Lin Qingyang managed to momentarily stun Pei Jin. “Then why didn’t you?” she asked.

“Saving lives is genuinely something I can’t bear to watch happen right in front of me. But after discovering your secret, I knew I had to help you conceal it. It’s not just out of respect for women, but also because at that moment, it was only me and Lin Qingxu present. If your secret were exposed, wouldn’t your Pei family, such a powerful family, seek revenge on Marquis An Nan’s residence?”

The intensity of the killing intent in Pei Jin’s eyes diminished, replaced by a perplexed look as she gazed at Lin Qingyang.

“Since you’re undertaking something as dangerous as disguising yourself as a man, it must be crucial for your family. Your family is a force we can’t afford to offend. I have no intention of being enemies with you. I just want to study diligently, secure a position as a study companion in the palace, establish a stable status, inherit the position of the heir, and live peacefully with my family. That’s why I can’t expose your secret. If you hadn’t come, I was even planning to bury this secret in my stomach.”

It wasn’t for any ulterior motive; it was solely for self-preservation—unable and unwilling to expose the truth.

If Pei Jin might have doubted the earlier reasons, the last one, the desire for self-preservation, seemed reasonable to her. If she were truly exposed, the losses to her family would be devastating, and retaliation would be inevitable.

Pei Jin hadn’t expected the situation to be analyzed so quickly, especially by someone she initially thought was not as clever as he turned out to be.

“So… you want to submit to us?” Pei Jin probed.

“No… the recent bloody conflicts among the three families are too intense. I don’t have the capability for that, and besides, I’m not favored at home, you must be aware of that. Now, my mother is seriously ill, my eldest sister just got divorced, and my younger sister is still immature. I just want to live a peaceful life, not get involved in any conflicts. I don’t care about what schemes Lin Qingxu is up to with you, but we’re not on the same path.” Lin Qingyang sincerely spun his story, watching Pei Jin’s changing expression. He felt like he was making good progress.

While he had considered threatening Pei Jin to make her wary, recalling her previous behavior and reactions in difficult situations, he knew she wasn’t someone who would easily surrender or yield. If pushed too hard, she would find a hundred ways to get rid of him. To save his life, he didn’t dare disrupt the plotline and could only try a different approach.

Being the heir of a marquis, if it were really that easy for him to be killed, she wouldn’t have chosen the method of getting addicted to the substance earlier. If he wasn’t a threat, there was no point in her killing him—it would be a futile and thankless task. Lin Qingyang positioned himself as someone not capable of exposing Pei Jin, hoping she would believe he had no power to unravel her secrets and could be manipulated.

The information Lin Qingyang was thinking of, Pei Jin naturally considered as well. If Lin Qingyang didn’t dare to speak, there was no need for him to die. The Pei family was currently in troubled waters, and if they really acted against him, leaving any evidence would be digging their own grave.

Pei Jin’s eyes kept shifting, seemingly weighing her options.

Lin Qingyang observed Pei Jin’s reaction and continued, “Pei Jin, I don’t care whether you’re a man or a woman. What do you want?! This is indeed leverage in my hands. Consider it as me using it to threaten you. Just don’t use the power of the Pei family to harm my family. As long as you don’t lay a hand on me, I’ll keep your secret and won’t tell anyone.”

After speaking, Lin Qingyang loosened his grip on the dagger. Pei Jin’s expression changed instantly, her body tensing, ready to strike. Then, Lin Qingyang’s voice sounded softly, “Pei Jin, today’s incident never happened. I didn’t discover that you’re a woman, and you never threatened me. Let’s call it even. How about that? Consider it a repayment for saving your life. Don’t make me regret saving you.”

Pei Jin hesitated, her beautiful brown eyes carefully studying Lin Qingyang. She pondered everything in her mind. She didn’t know if her decision carried a hint of gratitude towards Lin Qingyang, but it was indeed the most lenient choice she had ever made.

Pei Jin’s face remained cold as she nodded with a hint of regret, “If I find even the slightest trace leaked from you, not only you but everyone you care about will be killed.”

Lin Qingyang immediately breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a bit drained. “You’ve finally come around.”

Surprised to see Lin Qingyang still able to smile at her, Pei Jin felt surprisingly lenient. He was indeed a peculiar person.

“Also… thank you.”

Lin Qingyang was momentarily stunned, feeling a bit uneasy. After all, everything he did was for the male lead and his own future. In the future, he would help the male lead deal with Pei Jin’s family.

Lin Qingyang hoped that when this girl became his sister-in-law in the future, she wouldn’t blame him too much for deceiving her now.

“I have one more question,” Pei Jin suddenly said.

“What is it?”

“At that time… did you really rescue me?” Pei Jin asked, suddenly feeling a bit awkward.

Lin Qingyang immediately responded, “Didn’t you say you remember it?”

“That part is a bit fuzzy; I’m not sure… just tell me the truth, did you really…” Pei Jin trailed off.

Lin Qingyang was speechless. He was about to deny it when Pei Jin interrupted him.

“Never mind, anyway, you’re a homosexual man,” Pei Jin said as if convincing herself.

Lin Qingyang’s mouth twitched; he really wanted to prove himself, but saying more might make things even more dangerous. Feeling indignant, he had to resort to some teasing to ease his frustration. “Then let me ask you, when did you enter my room just now? Did you peep at me while I was bathing?”

As he posed the question, Pei Jin’s face surprisingly reddened, “I didn’t.”

Lin Qingyang looked at her skeptically. “Really? I don’t believe you!”

Pei Jin’s eyes widened, and suddenly a glint flashed in her eyes. Her cheeks, already embarrassed, reddened even more, extending to her neck. She turned her head abruptly, her voice both shy and reproachful, “What’s there to see! You… how long are you going to keep pressing me down? Get up already.”

Lin Qingyang was momentarily confused; he hadn’t been pressing her down. After releasing the dagger earlier, he had shifted himself onto the bed. It was just a momentary lapse in getting up.

When he looked down, he noticed that at some point during the struggle, his flimsy undershirt had come undone, revealing his chest with faint muscle lines. Even the waistband of his inner pants had loosened and hung dangerously on his hips, explaining why the girl’s face had turned crimson.

Lin Qingyang was utterly embarrassed; this was too much like a ruffian. Thankfully, no one else had seen this. Suppressing his blush, he was about to get up.

“Bang!” A loud noise echoed as the door was kicked open.

Standing outside were two individuals.

One wore a mournful expression, his face seeming to scream ‘caught in the act’—Shuncai.

The other had a gloomy and sinister expression, Chu Lishu, his eyes gradually turning red.

Lin Qingyang’s gaze naturally focused entirely on Chu Lishu, and in his mind, only one thought flashed.

… Can he still be saved?

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