Daily Life of a Villain at Work [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 32

Chapter 32: The Ninth Day the Protagonist’s Heart Fluttered Wildly~

The first snow in the capital arrived earlier than in most cities, quietly descending at the end of November.

As the snowflakes drifted from the sky, Wen Qingyun was curled up at home reading a script for a new drama. This was a script meticulously selected by Sister Xiao. Wen Qingyun was set to play the second female lead—a ruthless character whose schemes nearly wiped out the main protagonists.

While she was the second lead, she was also the primary antagonist. Her final ending wasn’t a defeat at the hands of the hero, but rather being taken away by a terminal illness that had plagued her since birth.

Noticing the snow outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, Wen Qingyun set aside the script she had finished reading and stood by the glass. The heating inside allowed her to move freely in just a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, looking as relaxed as if it were mid-summer.

After admiring the snow for a moment, she habitually picked up her phone, snapped a photo of the scenery, and sent it to Chu Ke.

Since leaving Anshan County after collecting the student data, Wen Qingyun hadn’t been back. Between finishing reshoots, signing new contracts, filming a brand advertisement, and shooting a magazine cover, she had only recently found some free time.

Chu Ke was willing to visit, but her next break was the New Year’s holiday on January 1st. A regular two-day weekend only allowed enough time for a round trip; she would spend 90% of her time on the road, making the trip impractical.

Right after the photo was sent, Chu Ke’s reply popped up. Scrolling through their chat history, no matter when Wen Qingyun sent a message, Chu Ke would reply within five minutes at the latest.

After a brief chat on her phone, Wen Qingyun stretched out on the sofa.

“System, what is the current task progress?” Wen Qingyun asked.

Ever since she made Chu Ke her “intern girlfriend,” the progress would occasionally increase by a fraction of a percent. After being woken up several times by late-night notifications, Wen Qingyun had chosen to temporarily mute the progress alerts.

[Host, the current task progress is 88.88%. Only 11.12% remains to complete the task!] the system said, its volume increasing with a touch of human-like excitement. [Would the host like the system to provide guidance? This system can analyze existing data to formulate a suitable plan to push the task forward.]

“What are your suggestions?” Wen Qingyun asked half-heartedly.

The system was, in essence, just an AI. After using it for so long, it was easy to figure out its computational logic.

[The host only needs to tell the protagonist at her happiest moment that you loathe her and that everything was just a game. This would heavily traumatize her psyche.]

“Mhm, an efficient suggestion. Don’t suggest it again,” Wen Qingyun said, turning over.

[Why does the host not adopt this system’s suggestion?]

Wen Qingyun: “No reason. A villain doesn’t need a reason for what they do, understand?”

The system was quiet for a while, seemingly performing logical calculations. [Yes. A villain does not need any reason. Host, you are correct.]

Shortly after her chat with the system, Wen Qingyun received a call from Sister Xiao.

“Fruit TV’s New Year’s Eve Concert? I’m not a singer. I’m not going,” Wen Qingyun declined without a second thought.

Even if she were a professional singer, she wouldn’t go. Why work during such an important time like New Year’s? She wasn’t short on money, and most “social animals” weren’t working then either.

“If you’re not going, I assume you don’t mind if I give this opportunity to Chao Yuxin?” Sister Xiao asked over the phone.

That was a different story. If an employee was willing to work on New Year’s Eve to make money for her as the boss, Wen Qingyun was all for it.

“Sure. If Fruit TV accepts Chao Yuxin, let her prepare well and shine on stage,” Wen Qingyun agreed instantly. “Remember to give her a red envelope then. Let’s make it 88,000—for good luck.”

“No problem. Since you’re not participating, stay home and memorize your script.” Sister Xiao paused. “During the New Year holiday, will that little girlfriend of yours come to see you? Are you two spending New Year’s together in the capital?”

“Barring any accidents, yes.” Wen Qingyun sat up cross-legged on the sofa.

“Then report to me when you go out. Be careful not to get caught by paparazzi,” Sister Xiao reminded her habitually. Since taking on a second artist, Sister Xiao had become busier and couldn’t devote all her time to Wen Qingyun.

“If they take photos, let them. Having a girlfriend isn’t a crime,” Wen Qingyun said dismissively. “First, I’m not an idol; second, I haven’t set up a ‘single’ persona. Besides, I’m in my twenties. It’s normal to have a partner.”

Sister Xiao choked. “My little ancestor, you might be fine, but shouldn’t you consider your girlfriend? She’s a public servant. If she’s exposed being with you, aren’t you afraid netizens will dig up everything about her?”

Wen Qingyun toyed with a strand of hair, her tone nonchalant. “You said it yourself, Chu Ke is a public servant. If someone tries to dox her or invade her privacy, do you think the platforms would tolerate it? Chu Ke isn’t in the industry; she’s clean and has no scandals. Even if people dig deep, they’ll probably just find a long list of her outstanding academic achievements.”

“As long as you know what you’re doing. I’m just giving you a heads-up. Be careful when you go out and make sure Chu Ke is mentally prepared for exposure,” Sister Xiao said no more. Dating a star had its pros and cons for a civilian; whether the good outweighed the bad depended on the individual.

Wen Qingyun: “Alright, thanks for the hard work, Sister Xiao~”

Sister Xiao sighed helplessly. “Then are you going to give me a big red envelope too?”

“Of course. Your red envelope will definitely be bigger than Chao Yuxin’s,” Wen Qingyun replied with a smile.

…

After the first snow, the capital remained gripped by a cold wave. Captured by the indoor heating, Wen Qingyun significantly reduced her outings, barely leaving the house except for pre-contracted appearances.

With her exposure dropping, Wen Qingyun followed Sister Xiao’s request and started a live stream on the Winter Solstice to chat with fans.

“When will Green Bamboo air? If all goes well, next year. Follow the official Weibo for details.”

“Why haven’t I been on any shows lately? It’s cold; I’m hibernating.”

“Plans for next year? I’ll join a film crew after the New Year for three or four months. I’ll also help promote Green Bamboo and appear on some shows as a guest.”

“Why only sponsor female students? Because I want to.”

“Why sign Chao Yuxin? Because the studio needs artists who make money. With her around, I can slack off more.”

Wen Qingyun answered questions while reading the comments. As long as it wasn’t an obvious “hater” comment, she would repeat the question and give an answer. As the stream hit the ten-minute mark, the number of viewers and comments skyrocketed, and the traces of “trolls” became more apparent.

【Rumor has it Chao Yuxin stole someone’s resources to get that endorsement. Do you know about this?】

【The artists of Good Wind Studio really are all the same. Wen Qingyun bullies others with her power, and Chao Yuxin follows suit.】

【She probably offended someone and ran out of resources, that’s why she says she’s ‘hibernating.’ Only fans would believe that.】

【Why can people like Wen Qingyun still make money in the entertainment industry? Where is the justice?】

Wen Qingyun glanced over the malicious comments, her brow furrowed slightly in thought.

“The criminal law states that if a defamatory post is clicked or viewed more than five thousand times, it reaches the threshold for filing a case. There are over 300,000 people in this stream right now. Theoretically, every comment is viewed tens of thousands of times. If I record these rumor-mongering comments, can I send them to prison? Speaking of which, it seems the marketing accounts I entrusted the law firm to handle last time have all been dealt with. Should I talk to them about a new entrustment?”

The moment she finished speaking, the number of comments dropped instantly.

【Hahaha, talk now, haters! Talk!】

【This is killing me. The comment section looks so much better now. So those were real people, I thought they were just bots.】

【Even bots are controlled by people. The people behind them must be watching, or they wouldn’t have backed down so fast.】

【Summary: They’re scared. Can’t mess with her.】

The same words carry different weight depending on who says them. Wen Qingyun’s ability to scare off a crowd with two sentences was largely thanks to the legal team introduced by her mother.

After the comments calmed down, Wen Qingyun followed the list of sponsors sent by Sister Xiao and began interacting while hosting “lucky bag” giveaways.

“Do I still hate men? I’ve been home lately, so it’s a bit better than before, but I still do.”

“Why? Because in a situation where domestic violence isn’t always treated as a crime or doesn’t lead to jail time, over 90% of criminals who break the law are still men. If I don’t hate men, who should I hate? Walmart plastic bags?”

“How do I date if I hate men? I date someone I don’t hate. Isn’t dating based on mutual liking and attraction?”

“Do I have someone I like?” When she read this question, Wen Qingyun fell into deep thought.

Sister Xiao had emphasized to her repeatedly: if a relationship is to be exposed, she must tell her at least three hours in advance so she can prepare.

Facing other questions, Wen Qingyun’s answers were decisive and fast. Thus, when her first long silence occurred, the comment count exploded, and various theories began to sprout in the minds of the viewers.

【Why isn’t she answering? Does this question require that much thought?】

【If she didn’t have someone, she’d just say no. You only fall into thought when there’s someone in your heart. Summary: It’s very likely Wen Qingyun has someone she likes!】

【Waaaah, no! Big Sister, don’t date! I haven’t been with you yet! Don’t date some smelly man!】

【Stop crying, even if she likes someone, it doesn’t have to be a man, right? She just said she hates men minutes ago.】

【Wait, for real? Who is so lucky!】

【What? She likes women? Is it my turn now (wild joy)】

“I need to think about the answer to this question carefully. I’ll answer you in three hours,” Wen Qingyun said.

It was a holiday, so she should give Sister Xiao some time to prepare before admitting it.

[Host, the protagonist just provided a 3% task progress increase. Current progress is 92%.]

The system prompt startled Wen Qingyun. Chu Ke was actually watching the stream? Did she take the delay as a sign of wanting to deny her?

Wen Qingyun thought for three seconds and decided her guess was likely correct. Chu Ke cared deeply about their relationship; her insecurity wasn’t a new thing.

“Skipping questions about my personal life, is there anything else you want to ask?” Wen Qingyun said.

Feeling her phone vibrate continuously, Wen Qingyun picked it up with interest, a hint of anticipation in her eyes. Oh, it wasn’t a message from Chu Ke, but a bombardment of messages from Sister Xiao.

【Sister Xiao: My little ancestor, what did I tell you before the stream? Did you remember it?】

【Sister Xiao: Did you only remember the part about telling me three hours in advance?】

【Sister Xiao: I see you looking at your phone! Don’t play dead! Talk to me!】

【Sister Xiao: Say something! Say something!】

“Ahem, my dear manager Sister Xiao, I see your messages. I will answer the fans’ questions in three hours. Please rest assured,” Wen Qingyun said to the camera with unearned confidence. It wasn’t her fault; she just happened to read the question and announced she’d answer in three hours.

Sister Xiao, currently monitoring Chao Yuxin’s rehearsal: “…”

She was speechless and had the urge to fly to the capital just to scream at her troublesome artist.

Wen Qingyun put her phone down, hosted another lucky bag draw, and let the flood of winning notifications cover most of the comments. She was quite skilled at appeasing fans. After a few red envelopes and giveaways, she successfully shifted the topic to the New Year’s Weibo draw.

“In the middle of winter, it must be hard for girls to commute alone. I’ll give away twenty new energy vehicles!” Wen Qingyun tapped her chin. “I want to give them to female fans who have been with me for a long time, so the draw will be in the Super Topic. Requirements: Super Topic level 10 or above.”

“It’s decided! Fans who aren’t level 10 yet, don’t be discouraged. I’ll arrange another round around the Lunar New Year.”

The live chat lasted for an hour. After Wen Qingyun went offline, topics related to her climbed the trending list. #WenQingyunLiveStream reached 22nd. #WenQingyunGiveawayTwentyCars reached 5th place. #WenQingyunSuspectedToHaveSomeoneInHeart was the top spot, marked with the “Explosive” tag.

By the time Wen Qingyun clicked on the topic, it had tens of millions of views. However, she didn’t mind. She was sitting cross-legged, waiting for a message from a certain “intern girlfriend.”

An intern girlfriend was still a girlfriend with a title, and having a title meant having the right to ask questions. Wen Qingyun liked Chu Ke’s obedience, but she didn’t want her to be eternally submissive and hidden, as if they were having a scandalous affair that couldn’t see the light of day.

Considering the other person’s persistent insecurity, Wen Qingyun began timing from the moment she went offline. She would wait three hours—not a minute more, not a second less.

While netizens swarmed like a school of fish to gossip, Chu Ke opened her bedroom window, letting the cold wind pour in to keep her head clear.

Is the question ‘do you have someone you like’ that hard to answer? Why does Wen Qingyun need three hours to respond? Is it because of me? Is she unsure if she likes me? But didn’t she say that dating is something two people do when they have mutual feelings? By that logic, since she’s willing to date me, she should like me.

Chu Ke desperately wanted to calm down, but complex thoughts and groundless guesses wrapped around her head like spider silk. She couldn’t step out of her subjective consciousness to think objectively. After half an hour in the cold wind, she sniffed, hurriedly closed the window, and started boiling ginger tea.

Wen Qingyun said she didn’t like unhealthy girlfriends; it was best not to get sick now. Seeing the water in the small pot start to bubble, Chu Ke had a flash of realization. This morning they had said good morning like a normal couple, and Wen Qingyun had even told her in advance about the stream. She hadn’t done anything wrong; she was still Wen Qingyun’s girlfriend.

Finally realizing this, Chu Ke took out her phone and clicked on her pinned contact.

【Chu Ke: I saw the trending search. How are you going to respond later?】

【Chu Ke: I haven’t told anyone around me that my girlfriend is you. They only know I often chat with someone I like.】

Seeing the slightly slow but not late message, Wen Qingyun curled her lips. She didn’t reply but initiated a video call before a third message could come. Five seconds later, the call connected, and Chu Ke appeared on the screen with a red-tipped nose.

“What are you doing?” Wen Qingyun leaned in to look, her brow furrowing slightly. Her nose was red, and her eyes looked a bit red too—had she been hiding and crying?

“Boiling ginger tea. I was in the cold wind just now and was worried I’d catch a cold,” Chu Ke said truthfully. To prove she wasn’t lying, she switched the camera to show the bubbling pot.

Wen Qingyun didn’t hear anything off in her voice and dismissed her suspicions. “Keep warm. It’s the Winter Solstice today.”

“Mhm, it won’t happen again,” Chu Ke promised.

After the simple exchange, Wen Qingyun stopped talking and just focused on the person on the screen. Chu Ke became nervous under the gaze. After swallowing a few times, she spoke her mental draft.

“I watched the stream and saw the trending topics.” Chu Ke bit her lip. “Do I need to do anything?”

“What do you think you need to do?” Wen Qingyun asked back.

“I… I’m not sure.” Chu Ke tried to summon the courage to speak, but she couldn’t bring herself to press further.

I don’t need a public relationship, and I don’t need you to do anything, as long as you allow me to like you.

Chu Ke remembered clearly that she had said this when she first confessed. She swore that at the time, those words were from the heart. She didn’t ask for much, just the right to like her openly. But people are greedy, and Chu Ke was no exception. From unexpectedly gaining the status of “intern” to adapting to it, her desires had grown.

Seeing the person on the screen looking like she was about to explode from internal conflict, Wen Qingyun stopped teasing her.

“You need to be mentally prepared,” Wen Qingyun said, a smile appearing in her eyes. “Once the three hours are up, I will tell the netizens that I have someone I like. As for who it is and who I’m with, I will confirm the answer after the New Year.”

Chu Ke blinked, trying to understand the meaning of the last sentence.

“Do you have to work during the New Year?” Wen Qingyun shifted the topic.

Chu Ke shook her head. “No, I’ve already taken leave. I’ll be off from next Friday afternoon until the following Thursday. I have five days of rest.”

Wen Qingyun: “Do you need me to book a flight for you?”

Chu Ke continued to shake her head. “No, I… I booked it in advance. A flight on Friday night. I’ll arrive in the capital on the 28th.”

Wen Qingyun calculated the time. Today was the 21st; the 28th was exactly a week away. “Do you need me to pick you up?”

“It’s too late. You rest. We can meet during the day.” Chu Ke’s tone became natural, and a relaxed, happy expression appeared on her face.

Wen Qingyun explained nothing, but through these few lines, Chu Ke knew she had gained a more official status and their relationship would continue.

“No, I’ll pick you up at the airport and we’ll stay at a hotel together.” Wen Qingyun made the decision unilaterally. “Cancel the hotel you booked and stay at the one I book.”

“Huh?” Chu Ke blinked, wondering if she had misunderstood.

“You need to bring at least one change of clothes and… some other things you might need.” Wen Qingyun tapped the screen with her finger, her gaze tinged with desire.

She lowered her voice: “Before an intern girlfriend is promoted, she needs to pass an evaluation. Comrade Chu Ke, do you understand what I mean?”

Gulp.

Chu Ke, who seemed to understand yet not, swallowed hard. She asked with a slight stammer, “W-what kind of th-things do I need to prepare?”

“If you don’t understand, look it up online. The information should be quite comprehensive,” Wen Qingyun teased, intentionally being vague.

“Don’t disappoint me then~”

Leaving that meaningful sentence, Wen Qingyun hung up, leaving Chu Ke in a state of frantic agitation, too excited to sleep the whole night.

After the call, Wen Qingyun watched the countdown. Once the three hours hit zero, she unlocked her phone and logged into her main account.

【Wen Qingyun V: I have someone I like. It’s a woman.】

Once the Weibo post went out, the netizens almost dropped their snacks. They knew Wen Qingyun was direct and brave, but this was a bit too brave! Some people asked, and she actually just said it? Was she not afraid of being restricted from official platforms because of her orientation?

Her fans, however, felt a wave of relief upon getting the long-awaited response.

It’s okay, it’s okay. Our Big Sister likes women, not smelly men.