Damn It! I Fell for the Hated Villainess Again! - Chapter 1

The Yunque Lingdi Complex, located on the outskirts of the Fourth Ring, was notoriously inconvenient to reach yet it carried the same price tag as prime real estate inside the First Ring.
And somehow, people still lined up to buy or rent there. The developers were practically printing money, leaving everyone else green with envy.

The reason was simple: it was near Beijing University.

Specifically, near Beijing University’s Fine Arts College.

Among art students, rich kids, especially those with loud personalities were a regional specialty.
For them, living in Yunque Lingdi meant no roommates to compromise with, no mad dashes to 8: 00 A.M. lectures, parties by day, and peaceful sleep by night.
It was heaven on earth.

Jiang Yao had been living that heaven for a year and a half. Unfortunately, her little paradise was about to end.

It was two in the morning.
A few apartment windows still glowed and some were hosting wild afterparties, others were cramming for graduation projects.
Only Jiang Yao was up grinding to make next month’s rent.

“Gifts are non-refundable! Can’t you see the giant ‘No Refunds for Mic Spam’ sign? If you can’t use your eyes, donate them.”

“Anyone else want a live consultation? If not, I’m ending the stream.”

Her voice was sharp and smoky, a little hoarse at the end.

You couldn’t really blame her for being angry. In two hours of livestreaming, only one girl had actually asked about outfit coordination.
Everyone else who joined her mic had been there to flirt, argue, or troll.

Other streamers would’ve ignored the nonsense, but Jiang Yao was famous for her short fuse and sharper tongue.
Every idiot who picked a fight with her ended up roasted so thoroughly their ancestors sneezed in sympathy.
At least the insults were worth the price of admission.

She had just finished another vicious back-and-forth when the chat split in two half calling her a crazy gold digger, the other daring people to go up just to get cursed out.

Propping her chin in one hand, Jiang Yao scanned the chaotic scrolling text. Seeing no sane humans in sight, she decided to log off.

Just as her cursor hovered over the exit button, golden fireworks exploded across her screen.
The chat erupted:

[“Holy crap, take it! TAKE IT!”]
[“Why’s my goddess CatYao so lucky?!”]
[“It’s the Leopard-Cat Couple! Are you kidding me?!”]

Jiang Yao’s head throbbed. The username requesting to connect was “Little Top Scholar & Young Master.”

She recognized it immediately. It was a popular influencer couple with millions of followers.
Their whole brand was the classic web-novel fantasy: the arrogant rich boy redeemed by the diligent, pure-hearted study goddess.
Corny as hell but corny sells.

Still half-blinded by the fireworks, Jiang Yao accepted the request.
After a brief lag, the “Little Top Scholar” appeared on screen.

A pair of round, clear almond eyes blinked back at her.
The girl had soft features, smooth pale skin with a healthy pink hue — like a piece of agate fished fresh from Namtso Lake. She looked calm, fresh, and entirely too lovely.
Jiang Yao’s tone unconsciously softened.

“Hi. What do you need help with?”

*********

[Hahahahaha our CatYao’s voice went all gentle! What’s this noise?!]
[Where’s the fierce dominatrix from before? Is this even the same woman?!]
[She can purr all she wants, the girl’s taken!]
[Ugh, pretending to be all feminist but really just thirsty for male attention. Seen it a thousand times.]

The chat exploded in noise but Jiang Yao ignored it and explained her services calmly.

“Little Top Scholar” pressed her lips together shyly, her voice soft and sugary.

[“Teacher Yao, I bought a few outfits and accessories, but I’m not sure how to match them. Could you take a look for me?”]

Jiang Yao nodded. The girl smiled sweetly, turned to grab her clothes and that’s when Jiang Yao got a full view of her current outfit.

A white cotton blouse with a baby collar, a light denim knee-length skirt, hair tied up in a neat bun, tiny pearl earrings glinting at her ears.
Utterly innocent.
The clothes she held in her hands, however, screamed seductive party girl.

As “Little Top Scholar” laid out the accessories and began showing each outfit, the chat instantly reignited.

*******

【Wow, *Meibao’s finally going for a hot girl look!】

【I bet ten yuan Young Master Shen will be red-eyed again after Meibao’s makeover, hahaha!】

【This collaboration is making me cry! Teacher Yao may be sharp-tongued, but her fashion sense is truly amazing! Can’t wait to see Meibao’s transformation!】

【Time for her to become a hot girl! I’m so tired of this cutesy, childish aesthetic!】

【Exactly! This childish aesthetic is just another form of foot-binding imposed by men to control women. I’ve never understood why a knowledgeable woman like Little Tanhua would dress to please men. Today, she’s finally awakened! Thank heavens!】

【Show some skin! Be sexy! We won’t let these damn patriarchal standards hold us back!】

Jiang Yao focused on the clothes, ignoring the cacophony of chat bubbles. After thinking a moment, she said,

[“Try on the V-neck halter French dress.”]

The girl hesitated, smiling nervously.

[“Wouldn’t that take too long? Maybe I can just hold it up and compare?”]

Jiang Yao’s tone cooled instantly, her soft lilt fading into command.

[“Try it on. You can’t tell how it fits unless you wear it.”]

[“Oh, um… it’s not that I don’t like it, I just—”]
[“So you don’t like it?”]

[“No, no, I’ll change!”]

She forced a smile and retreated to the dressing area like a soldier heading to execution.

When she returned with her hair let down and with new dress clinging to her figure, the once-confident influencer now looked awkward and unsure, hands crossed over her chest, bare-faced and uneasy, like a child caught playing dress-up.

Jiang Yao gave her a brief glance, all thoughts of accessories forgotten. Her tone dropped.

[“You don’t like this dress. Why lie?”]

The girl froze, clutching her chest tighter.

[“I’m not lying… it’s a nice dress. I like it.”]

“You’re terrible at lying,” Jiang Yao said flatly.
“You didn’t look happy showing those outfits, and now you look like you just came back from your own funeral. What’s the point?”

*******

[Why is the streamer being so aggressive… She’s acting like she’s got a screw loose.]

[Did you notice she’s wearing sunglasses and a mask? She must be ugly. Seeing our Meibao so beautiful, she’s just jealous.]

[Young Master Shen just forwarded the livestream! Streamer, you’re bullying his woman—prepare for a full-network ban!]

[Meibao, ignore this shrew! She’s just jealous you have such a handsome and wealthy boyfriend. I think you look stunning in that dress! Don’t be shy—if you’re beautiful, flaunt it!]

[Actually, the streamer isn’t wrong. Little Tanhua really doesn’t seem to like this kind of thing.]

[LOL, still people rushing to defend her?]

[I used to think the streamer was just blunt and straightforward, but now… ugh, she reeks of bitchiness.]

[Meibao, block her! I’ve seen her type before—she’ll tell you to cover up like an old Qing Dynasty zombie so she can seduce your boyfriend on the side!]

[Meibao, don’t be fooled! Young Master Shen definitely prefers you the way you are now!]

*********

Bunch of idiots.

Jiang Yao slammed her hand on the desk.

“Competing with other women? My ass! Maybe stop reading those brain-rotting harem novels for once. If you love female rivalry so much, go apply to Guinness! You’d win the ‘Best Self-Inflicted Misogyny’ award and get your name on a goddamn trophy — the world can marvel at your great contribution to turning women into each other’s enemies!”

After Jiang Yao retorted to those few comments, her tone turned impatient when she addressed “Little Tanhua”: (The Influencer’s screen name.)

“Tell me honestly, did your boyfriend pressure you to change your style?”

“Little Tanhua” turned red while shaking her head vigorously.

“Teacher, you’ve misunderstood. It was my own decision to change. At my age, I really shouldn’t be dressing so childishly anymore…”

“It’s not that I dislike the dress. I’m just not used to it yet. If my boyfriend hadn’t encouraged me… I can’t wear such childish clothes forever, can I? Teacher, I’ll overcome this…”

“I really want to change this time…”

********

Jiang Yao listened to her nonsensical explanation and saw the brainwashing comments in the chat about “dumb beauties” offering comfort. Behind her sunglasses, she rolled her eyes so hard they nearly popped out of her head.

“You dress for yourself, not for others. What matters most is what you like. Who cares what anyone else says? If someone calls you childish, just ignore them like they’re an idiot.”

“Your previous outfits were perfectly appropriate and there was nothing wrong with them! Society is more open now, but dressing modestly isn’t backward. You were third in the entire province on the college entrance exam, for goodness’ sake! Wake up!”

“I’ve refunded the gift through your account. If you insist on stubbornly wearing clothes you don’t like, I can only advise you to either change boyfriends or quit streaming and get away from these idiots.”

********

[Holy crap, I’ve never seen anyone try to break up the sweetest couple on the internet before! Does she have a death wish?]

[Ugly, jealous hag! If you’re so righteous, why don’t you cover yourself up like a zombie? You dress so provocatively just to seduce men!]

[Such a hypocrite! Disgusting!]

[Babies, let’s report her! This kind of person is still making money online? It’s outrageous!]

[She already refunded everyone. There’s no need to be so harsh. I think the streamer made some good points.]

[The refund was just her guilt. She didn’t dare offend her boyfriend. At the end of the day, she’s still just a man-pleaser.]

[The apologists have already been flushed down the toilet.]

[Holy shit! Someone dug up who this jealous bitch is! Search for “Beijing University Department of Art’s Flower.”]

[“Department Flower”? Seriously? Is the entire Department of Art full of villains? How did they even pick her for that title?]

[Found her! Pics and receipts! Her classmates exposed her. This woman is truly insufferable—always looking down on people. Back in the School of Pharmacy, she used to make her classmates do her experiments for her. The only way she could transfer majors was by sleeping with a professor.]

[This gold-digging wannabe princess has no royal blood but all the princess syndrome. She claims the cafeteria food makes her nauseous and only eats Qiehe Private Kitchen takeout, which costs 1,200 yuan per meal. She disdains the school dorms and lives in the Yunque Lingdi Complex, where apartments cost 120,000 yuan per square meter. She acts like she’s loaded, but no one in Beijing’s wealthy circles has ever heard of her. She’s definitely some sugar daddy’s mistress!]

[Isn’t calling her a mistress a bit much? There’s no proof. Some people are just too quick to judge women.]

********

[But she really loves meddling in other people’s relationships. She even tried to seduce her junior’s boyfriend before… Disgusting! Good thing that girl wasn’t any better either—they’re a perfect match.]

[Unbelievable! She’s already living the high life with a sugar daddy, yet she’s still trying to squeeze money out of us commoners online! Why doesn’t heaven strike her down with lightning?!]

[Maybe the real wife kicked her out, hahaha!]

[LOL, that’s definitely what happened!]

********

The chat exploded with insults, and for the first time, Jiang Yao’s livestream soared to the top of the overall rankings.

“Little Tanhua” panicked and repeatedly apologized, but the more she defended Jiang Yao, the more the bandwagoning netizens doubled down on their accusations of bullying.

Before long, Young Master Shen himself arrived, vowing to “teach Jiang Yao a lesson” at Beijing University.

Jiang Yao watched the stream of insults scrolling by at lightning speed and suddenly chuckled.

Knowing her reputation wasn’t great, she had been streaming with a mask and sunglasses. Now that her identity was exposed, she simply removed the suffocating accessories, revealing a pair of peach-blossom eyes that gleamed with icy resolve.

Amidst the barrage of insults, a few scattered comments read: [Wife…]

Jiang Yao scoffed, her attack as fierce as when she first started streaming.

 “Ugly? Even without makeup, my face could grace the cover of a fashion magazine. What about you lot? Even with maxed-out beauty filters, you look like Photoshop disasters. What right do you have to criticize my appearance? And those accusing me of being a gold digger—with your narrow-mindedness, how dare you presume to understand someone else’s life? I spend my own money, live in my own house—what business is it of you maggots? Accusing me of meddling in others’ relationships? Take a good look in the mirror at your own ugly, envious faces! Your hearts are rotten, your eyes are filthy, and your mouths are vile! Lies spread with a single word, but truth takes a marathon to refute! Well, lucky for me, my legs are long, and I can outrun you lying rats any day! Just wait until the court summons lands in your hands—then we’ll see how fucking…”

Just as she was getting into her rant, the livestream froze, and a red-flashing pop-up appeared:

[Dear [BiteWashYou], your livestream has been temporarily suspended due to violations of platform regulations.]

******

Time to clock out!

Jiang Yao pursed her lips, rose from her chair, and retrieved her slightly warm phone from its stand. She noticed several blocked calls from her grandmother in the call history.

In the past, Jiang Yao wouldn’t have bothered answering, but after today’s debacle, she figured she should at least put on a show for her family.

Switching off the studio lights, Jiang Yao took her phone to the walk-in closet to change. For the first time this year, she returned her grandmother’s call.

The moment the call connected, Feng Lin’s anxious voice flooded Jiang Yao’s ear:

 “Yao Yao! Come home immediately! You must be terrified after all that humiliation. I’ve had the trending topics removed. You shouldn’t be living alone out there anymore. Your grandmother is worried sick!”

Jiang Yao scoffed coldly. 

“Grandma, do you think I want to live in this rundown apartment? You were the one who said if I dared switch majors, I’d be cut off from the family and wouldn’t see another penny from you.”

“Your grandmother only wants what’s best for you! You were doing so well in pharmacy. Why switch to fashion design? How will you ever take over the family business like this? Aiya! You’ve always been such a worry. You run and hide whenever family business comes up. The title of ‘Miss Jiang Family’ is practically wasted on your stepmother’s daughter! All the wealth your grandfather and I worked so hard to build… how can we let it fall into the wrong hands?”

“I’m not letting anyone else benefit,” Jiang Yao interrupted.

 “We can just pivot our business to fashion later.” She paused, her voice hardening.

 “And my anger isn’t just about you changing my college application or blocking my major transfer. Today’s online harassment is partly your fault for trying to match me up with that Xiao Family second-generation scion. With your connections, how could you not know she was already dating my classmate?! Now the internet is calling me a homewrecker. Are you satisfied?”

Feng Lin choked on her words, muttering;

“Dating and marriage are two different things. Wealthy people always keep their options open. I still think that Xiao girl is perfect for you. She doesn’t have any male-derived genes from either generation—you’re the most compatible. You should at least get to know her better…”

Jiang Yao nearly choked on her own breath.

“Grandma, are you serious? We’re already lesbians! Stop with this ‘legitimate lesbian’ versus ‘illegitimate lesbian’ nonsense! Maybe our pharmaceutical company should stop researching cosmetic drugs and start developing male-killing drugs instead. Then the whole world will have double-X genes and be perfectly compatible with me. I can wait.”

Outmaneuvered by her granddaughter, Feng Lin awkwardly changed the subject. “Let’s not dwell on unpleasant things, Yao Yao. Tomorrow, all the major pharmaceutical companies are holding a joint charity fundraiser. You…”

Jiang Yao was speechless.

 “How could I possibly attend a charity gala? Your Special Assistant’s idiot son wants to settle scores with me. I’m scared to death.”

With that, Jiang Yao hung up abruptly, a triumphant smirk playing on her lips.

********

Note:

The term 妹宝 (mèi bǎo) is an affectionate nickname used by fans for a female influencer. It literally breaks down into 妹 (mèi), meaning “younger sister,” and 宝 (bǎo), meaning “treasure,” “precious,” or “baby.”

In the context of modern Chinese internet and fan culture, this term is used to refer to a female celebrity or influencer who embodies a cute, innocent, and cherished “little sister” archetype.

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