After Marrying the Villain with Seven Personalities [Transmigration into a Book]) - Chapter 21

“No.”

Xu Linqiu declined without a second thought. Although she did have feelings for her—liked her even—and had considered that they might one day marry, the “Xiao Cheng” personality possessed too much selfish desire. It wouldn’t be fair to the original Yi Chenqing, who remained unaware of these split personalities. Besides, their relationship was nowhere near that stage yet.

“I may not have much money right now, but I have talent and I have my own two hands. I’m not content with just ‘marrying’ you, let alone becoming your doll,” Linqiu added calmly.

Xiao Cheng glanced at her, then looked away, a tiny smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. “You’re a bit different from before. I like it.”

Xu Linqiu breathed a silent sigh of relief. The carousel gradually ground to a halt. She stood at the entrance, waiting for the gate to open before walking in. Xiao Cheng followed closely behind.

Linqiu lifted Yi Hehe down, smoothed her hair ribbon, and led her toward the exit. “Did you have fun, Hehe?”

Hehe’s eyes crinkled into crescents as she nodded. “So much fun!” She had seen Mommy and Mami hugging!~

“Are you hungry?” Xiao Cheng asked, taking the girl’s other hand.

“Starving!” Hehe looked left and right, feeling a bit dizzy from the ride.

“Then Mommy will take you to get a hamburger.”

“Yay!~”

Xu Linqiu studied the park map. The area around the carousel was mostly high-intensity thrill rides; they’d have to walk a bit further to find a burger joint. She led the way.

The sun was pleasant today, and the breeze was mild. Shi Ji, hiding in the shade of a tree, spotted Yi Yanbai appearing at the intersection in a shirt and denim wide-leg pants. She rushed over, grabbed Yanbai’s arm, and dashed in the direction the trio had gone.

“Is your sister… not at home?” Shi Ji asked, panting slightly.

“Mhm.” Yi Yanbai’s legs were longer than Shi Ji’s; she followed at an unhurried pace, nodding slightly.

Shi Ji only stopped once she saw the three of them enter the burger shop. She released Yanbai, clutching her waist as she caught her breath. “If I help you find your sister, does that count as you owing me two favors?”

After all, the protagonist had a powerful “halo.” Shi Ji figured she should harvest as many favors as possible.

Yi Yanbai: “…”

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t necessary. She already knew her sister was with Linqiu, but… she nodded slowly in confirmation. “Sister Shi Ji,” she added flatly, “you really should exercise more.”

Shi Ji glared at her, then turned and headed for the shop. “I’ll buy you a burger. Consider it a treat while I help you find your sister and ask you a few questions.”

“Okay.”

The two entered the burger shop. Shi Ji’s eyes immediately locked onto Xu Linqiu and the child sitting by the window. Yi Chenqing was nowhere to be seen.

Not overthinking it, she pulled Yi Yanbai toward a table in the corner shadows. But because Yi Yanbai was so tall and conspicuous, Shi Ji took off her own baseball cap and shoved it onto Yanbai’s head.

“We’re here on a stealth mission. You’re being too flashy,” Shi Ji whispered, leaning down and looking at her. “By the way, who’s that kid?”

“A child adopted in Grandpa’s name by one of my sister’s personalities.”

Before Shi Ji could process why on earth someone would just adopt a random child, a tray clattered onto the table, startling her. She looked up to see Yi Chenqing—or rather, a version of her—looking down at her.

“…”

I knew Yi Yanbai was too obvious! What a drag.

Xiao Cheng set the tray down, gave Shi Ji a look, and walked back to Linqiu.

Just as Shi Ji reached for a fry, thinking the food was for them, she felt Xu Linqiu’s gaze land on her—filled with a fair bit of surprise.

Shi Ji awkwardly retracted her hand. Linqiu and Xiao Cheng, leading the child, walked over to their corner. The two sat across from them, pulling up an extra chair for the girl.

The tray was pushed in front of Yi Hehe. She picked up a burger and took a huge bite, her cheeks bulging like a squirrel’s. Her bright eyes darted back and forth between the four adults.

Shi Ji pulled back her gaze, swallowed hard, and met Xiao Cheng’s icy stare. Thinking she was being rude, she pulled down her mask and offered a greeting: “Hello.”

“What? Still haven’t given up?” Xiao Cheng narrowed her eyes, then flashed a provocative smile. “Back when I was being betrayed, you were so gloating and smug. I bet you never thought you’d be the one abandoned one day. You never expected a ‘scumbag’s’ nature to be like this, did you?”

“Now that you’ve heard Linqiu and I are dating, you couldn’t stay away?”

Xu Linqiu: “…”

She knew Shi Ji hated being spoken to like that. When in a bad mood, Shi Ji didn’t care about logic—she just bit back.

Sure enough, Shi Ji crossed her arms and let out a cold snort, her aura flaring up. “That’s right! I haven’t given up! As long as I’m around, the two of you will never have a peaceful day. If she could dump me once, she can dump you too.”

“Besides, you have a kid to worry about. Why don’t you ask Lin-zi if she still has me in her heart? Can you even compete with me?”

Everyone’s gaze snapped toward them.

Xu Linqiu: “…”

The ups and downs of the day had finally pushed her to the edge. She bit her lip and decided to go all in, saying affectionately: “Since I chose to break up with her, it means I’ve forgotten her completely. Now, my heart only has room for you and the child.”

Under the table, she kicked Shi Ji, signaling her to shut up.

Shi Ji kicked her back. How can you say something so sappy? I’m gonna barf.

The two exchanged several kicks under the table, but suddenly, they both hit a third leg. They retracted their feet instantly.

Xu Linqiu looked at Xiao Cheng, who had a slight smirk on her face. Linqiu gave a dry laugh. “I was just… kicking her twice.”

“I know.” Rejecting her in public while playing footsie under the table. Heh~

Xiao Cheng smiled, then looked at Shi Ji. “It’s been years, and you haven’t changed a bit. You always know exactly how to leverage Hehe’s importance to me~”

“However, I’m not the same as I was before. My girlfriend is Xu Linqiu. Feel free to try and seduce her; see if she follows you. After all, what attraction does a bankrupt, penniless lady have left?~”

Realizing she was using inappropriate language in front of Hehe, she quickly turned to the child.

Yi Hehe stuffed several fries into her mouth, balled her tiny fist, and mouthed to her: “Go Mommy, go!”

Xiao Cheng was instantly filled with confidence.

Shi Ji—the “bankrupt lady” who had just come to her senses—looked at Yi Yanbai for help. Help me! How does this person know I’m broke, and why does she treat me like a rival every time she opens her mouth?

Yi Yanbai hadn’t expected her sister to mistake Shi Ji for “the other woman” either. She gave Shi Ji a nod, then calmly explained to Xiao Cheng:

“Sister, Sister Shi Ji isn’t intentionally trying to compete with you. And as you said, she doesn’t have much competitive power right now. You can rest easy; there’s no need to target her.”

Hey! Shi Ji thought. Could you say something nice for once? What do you mean ‘no competitive power’?

Xiao Cheng glanced at Yanbai, then fixed her with a serious expression. “And what is your relationship with her?”

Yi Yanbai was momentarily at a loss for words.

However, Shi Ji had a sudden stroke of inspiration. She raised her hand like a student answering a question: “Girlfriend.”

What could be more annoying to a ‘rival’ than finding out the rival is now dating your sister?

Hehe, choke on that!

The moment the words left her mouth, every pair of eyes in the booth locked onto her. The air seemed to freeze. Xu Linqiu did her best to shrink into the background.

She realized that as long as the target wasn’t her, this was actually getting quite fun.