Damn It! I Fell for the Hated Villainess Again! - Chapter 23

[Jiang Yao: How did Shen Nan manipulate you into changing your style back then?]

Li An’an glanced at Jiang Yao’s message, then looked up at the bright sunlight streaming through the window, confirming she was awake and hadn’t been possessed.

[Li An’an: Did you hack Teacher Jiang’s account?]

[Jiang Yao: ?]

Ah, that bold, skeptical attitude… it must be the real Jiang Yao.

[Li An’an: It’s been so long, I’ve almost forgotten. [Sweat] Teacher Jiang, are you going to yell at him? Honestly, I don’t care about what happened anymore. You don’t need to stick up for me.]

[Jiang Yao: Forgotten? Then remember!] [Glare]

【Li An’an: (omega)】

Li An’an didn’t understand, but under Jiang Yao’s persistent urging, she reluctantly dug up some useful information from their past exchanges.

【Li An’an: Sometimes Shen Nan would say I didn’t dress like his girlfriend. Other times, he’d buy clothes I didn’t like, but he insisted they were matching outfits and made me wear them.】

With this nugget of gossip in hand, Jiang Yao immediately switched to WeChat and ordered a matching set of pajamas.

Perfect! Matching best friend pajamas acquired. That vixen better wear them or she’s dead!

Time flew by as she waited for her order to arrive.

After two months of relentless negotiations, Yu Tanning finally secured substantial external investment for her project.

With the agreement finalized and funds transferred, the antibacterial skincare fabric officially entered the research and development phase. Most of the researchers were on loan from Linrui, which reassured Yu Tanning.

Her nerves, stretched taut for weeks, finally began to relax. If her grandfather hadn’t insisted on a family dinner at this moment, Yu Tanning might have felt even more at ease.

“Don’t bother picking me up, Mom. I’ll head over myself after I finish up here.”

As she ended the call with her mother, a heavy, icy chill settled over Yu Tanning’s heart, like a thick blanket of snow smothering her joy.

She suddenly understood why Beijing City had opened so many cat cafés in recent years.

Utilitarian social interactions were making life increasingly artificial.

Beneath their tailored suits and polished shoes, people wore armor riddled with holes, their smiles masking clenched teeth. But cats’ genuine relaxation needed no pretense; it was the most precious tranquility in this chaotic world.

Yu Tanning smiled wryly at her reflection in the dark screen.

At least I have my own cat.

That made everything bearable.

By the time she arrived at the Yu family’s ancestral home, dusk had deepened, and the evening glow painted the portico a dark red, like aged amber.

Whenever Yu Tanning entered this stagnant courtyard, she could feel the air of decay, as if the place were draining her vitality. She loathed the Yu family’s ancestral home, and at every family banquet, she risked her grandfather’s scolding by timing her arrival perfectly, never staying a moment longer than necessary.

The evening breeze tugged at her hem, and the wind chimes beneath the eaves mingled with the clinking of celadon teaware. Yu Tanning heard her aunt, Liu Hanyi, laughing from the flower hall, her voice as crisp as a silver bell but with a hint of forced affectation.

“Shaoyue, try this steamed pomfret. A-Ting caught it this afternoon. Oh, Wanwan, clear away the teaware. The dishes are coming.”

Hearing her aunt’s familiar, affected tone, Yu Tanning’s eyes turned cold. She strode up the steps and forcefully pushed open the wooden doors of the flower hall.

Under the warm yellow lamplight, the round table was already filled with people.

Yu Tanning approached calmly, pressed down on her mother’s arm as she was about to clear the tea set, and smiled insincerely at her aunt.

“Clearing the table when there’s still so much space? Aunt must have prepared quite a feast tonight.”

Liu Hanyi’s face darkened at the sight of Yu Tanning. “Always arriving last. No manners at all.”

Xu Wan awkwardly tugged at Yu Tanning’s sleeve, but Yu Tanning merely smiled, showing no sign of apology, and turned to her cousin Yu Ting. “Cousin, stop fidgeting with your car keys. Aunt will scold you for having no manners too.”

Yu Tanning’s aunt, Liu Hanyi, had been born with a silver spoon in her mouth. She had always looked down on the second branch of the family, who had come begging for help halfway through life. After her younger son was forcibly sent to a conversion camp, her disdain for this so-called niece only deepened.

Now, seeing Yu Tanning dare to mock her eldest son, Liu Hanyi was about to explode.

But before she could speak, Yu Shaowen emerged from behind the screen, supporting the elderly patriarch. The rhythmic tapping of the old man’s cane against the floor cut through Liu Hanyi’s rising fury.

“Ah, Tanning’s here. Let’s begin the meal then.”

Yu Zhang lifted his eyelids, his gaze sweeping over the two families locked in silent conflict. He cleared his throat and, supported by his younger son, settled into the head seat.

Xu Wan exchanged a glance with her husband before signaling Aunt Lin to serve the dishes.

The remaining guests took their seats with practiced decorum.

Yu Shaowen had overheard his elder sister-in-law instructing his wife to clear the tea set before entering the flower hall. Now that Yu Tanning had already defended her mother, he couldn’t let his daughter lose face. He poured tea for the patriarch before taking his own seat.

“Father, please wet your throat.”

“Hmm,” Yu Zhang replied. “Your wife’s tea-making skills have improved again.”

“Father, you flatter me,” Yu Shaowen demurred. “It’s actually the tea set. This set was a birthday gift from Director Wang of Dongcheng, a rare Song Dynasty official kiln piece. Tea brewed in it tastes far superior to that brewed in ordinary sets.”

Yu Tanning turned to Liu Hanyi. “Good thing it wasn’t cleared away, Aunt. Don’t you agree?”

The celadon teacup glowed softly under the lamplight, but in Liu Hanyi’s eyes, it seemed icily sharp.

These lowlifes! Just because that little brat landed a new project, they’re getting cocky and daring to flaunt their arrogance in front of me!

“Alright, Ning, girl, don’t bicker with your aunt,” Yu Zhang interjected. “Try the fish your cousin caught today.”

Yu Shaowen, more composed than his wife, picked the largest piece of fish belly and placed it in Yu Tanning’s bowl with a condescending air. “Your cousin’s project just took shape, and now he’s back to idling around. Look, he spent the whole day at Yunmi Reservoir and only caught this one fish.”

Yu Tanning thanked him politely, but inwardly scoffed at her uncle’s hypocrisy. As expected, the next line was a real zinger: “I heard you’ve started a fabric project recently, Tanning. Since your cousin’s free, don’t hesitate to ask him for help if you need it.”

Yu Ting retorted, “Come on, Dad, stop meddling. We’re not even on the same path.”

The young man leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping over Yu Tanning with a mocking amusement. “Tanning doesn’t need my help. She’s got her family’s tricks up her sleeve—she even managed to snatch Linrui’s cosmetic patent. Oh, and I heard she recently secured investment from Dongsheng? Quite the operator.”

The banquet table fell silent. Yu Shaowen’s fingers, gripping his chopsticks, turned white with tension.

Ever since Yu Zhang acknowledged him as his son and brought him back into the Yu family, the eldest branch never missed an opportunity to remind him of his illegitimate status at every family gathering.

Last year, after the patriarch’s first wife passed away, Yu Shaoyue unleashed all his resentment and contempt. He publicly played the role of a magnanimous elder brother, but secretly encouraged Liu Han and Yu Ting to systematically undermine their family. First, he demoted Muse, the company Yu Shaowen had painstakingly built, from a subsidiary to a mere branch office. Then, he repeatedly slashed its funding and technological investments.

The patriarch, favoring his legitimate eldest son, turned a blind eye to these machinations.

Yu Shaowen felt a bitter ache in his heart, yet he lacked the backbone to break free from this dysfunctional family.

Yu Tanning couldn’t comprehend her father’s weakness, but Xu Wan understood. Yu Shaowen couldn’t forget the hardships they had endured before being recognized by the Yu family.

Back then, fresh out of college in Beijing City, where land was worth its weight in gold, they had been forced to rent a cramped, dark basement apartment. Even the hospital bills for their daughter’s birth had required them to borrow from every corner.

The Yu family’s wealth and resources had arrived just in time, allowing them to fulfill their entrepreneurial ambitions—but at the cost of their pride.

Over the years, the couple had grown numb to the hypocrisy and extravagance of high society, long accustomed to enduring insults with meekness. Their only regret was the injustice they had inflicted on their daughter.

Their Yu Tanning was bright and talented, yet she had suffered endless injustice and scorn because of her father’s humble origins and her gender. Her skills were buried, and she was forced to live as the very person she despised most.

Fortunately, Yu Tanning had broken through the suppression of the main branch through her own efforts and secured a place on the grand ship of Linrui. Once her wings were fully grown, she would finally escape this bloodsucking family.

Yu Shaowen gripped his chopsticks, about to defend his daughter, but Yu Zhang’s words cut through the undercurrent of tension.

“Ating, what kind of talk is that? Apologize to your second uncle and sister immediately.”

The old man’s voice carried an invisible weight of authority, silencing even the usually arrogant Liu Han, who dared not move her chopsticks.

Unable to fathom the old man’s sudden support for the second branch, Yu Ting ground his teeth and reluctantly muttered an apology.

When things are too good to be true, there’s always a catch. This momentary show of support brought no comfort to the second branch. Yu Tanning sensed the old man was up to no good. The jade shrimp in her mouth tasted like wax, bursting with a greasy bitterness between her teeth.

Yu Zhang coughed a few times before turning his gaze to Yu Tanning. “Yu Tanning, how’s the project progressing?”

“We’ll begin the first phase of clinical trials this week,” Yu Tanning replied. “Ideally, the antibacterial efficacy should reach 99.2%, and the skin-nourishing ingredient penetration rate should be 87%.”

Yu Zhang interrupted, “Spare me the details. I want to hear about the big picture. Has the draft for the product’s market promotion been finalized?”

“After passing quality control, I was thinking of expanding into the mother-and-baby market.”

“Unremarkable,” Yu Zhang said, setting down his soup bowl.

Yu Shaowen countered, “Dad, Tanning secured the patent authorization from Linrui Pharmaceuticals. She can definitely establish a leading brand in the skin-nourishing, antibacterial fabric sector. Muse has always focused on women’s apparel, making it a perfect fit for the mother-and-baby market…”

Yu Zhang raised a hand to cut him off. “The project itself is sound. We can elevate it to a strategic initiative for the entire group.”

Yu Shaowen and Xu Wan brightened, but their hopes dimmed as Yu Zhang’s voice deepened.

“However, Tanning’s vision is too narrow. The mother-and-baby market won’t work. We need to pursue the medical route. I plan to have Ating consolidate the group’s resources to prepare for entering the medical market. Tanning’s project should be handed over to him. Wendu’s production lines are more mature in this area. Muse is just playing around.”

The clatter of chopsticks falling onto a porcelain plate shattered the silence. Yu Shaowen jerked his head up, nearly knocking over his wine glass.

What a classic bait-and-switch!

Yu Tanning could hear her own heartbeat, each beat growing more frantic than the last.

The wind swept through the courtyard, whistling through the carved window lattices and lifting a corner of the tablecloth. Yu Tanning watched the clouded gaze behind her grandfather’s glasses and the silent, knowing glances exchanged between the three members of the main branch. She finally understood the true purpose of this family banquet: to seize control and oppress her.

Shameless!

Yu Tanning heard her own voice, remarkably cold. “Grandfather, I refuse! If Grandfather insists on handing over my project, then let my cousin start from scratch too. Let’s see if Linrui is willing to license their patents to him!”

Yu Shaowen: “Dad, let Tanning continue managing the project. The patent authorization from Linrui is in Tanning’s name, not the Yu Corporation’s. We can’t afford to offend Linrui.”

Yu Zhang scoffed coldly. “Don’t try to threaten me with Linrui. They’re just two scandalous lesbians. Does the Yu Corporation need to fear them?”

Xu Wan: “Dad, Tanning built this project from scratch, independently secured external investment, and the Muse subsidiary has already invested significant resources in R&D.”

Yu Zhang: “Enough! The matter is settled as I’ve said. Your arguments are useless.”

Xu Wan & Yu Shaowen: “Dad!”

Yu Tanning slammed her chopsticks down. “I refuse! If Grandfather insists on handing over my project, then let my cousin start from scratch too. Let’s see if Linrui is willing to license their patents to him!”

“Tanning,” Yu Shaoyue suddenly interjected, his voice dripping with condescension, “Grandfather is still unwell. Don’t upset him. We’re all family here. After Ating takes over, you can still participate in the research. Besides, wouldn’t it be more advantageous to have the group’s full support?”

Liu Han gloated, “Exactly! Ating’s project in Wendu even won the industry’s Innovation Award! You should learn from him.”

Yu Tanning’s smile turned icy. “Aunt, do you remember what happened the last time my cousin tried to steal something from me?”

Liu Han’s face twisted in fury, her jade bracelet clattering heavily against the table edge.

“You! You ungrateful wretch! How dare you mention Ating’s name!”

“Enough!” Yu Zhang roared.

After a fit of coughing, his cane slammed against the bluestone floor, startling the sparrows perched under the eaves.

“Tanning, hand over the project materials to Ating tomorrow. Meeting adjourned.”

“And if I refuse?”

In the tense standoff, Yu Ting casually stood up. “Never mind, Grandfather. I’m too busy to bother with this.”

His own son’s lack of ambition sent Liu Han into a frenzy. “Busy with what?! You’re not busy with anything!”

“I’m just really busy, you know? Fishing, racing cars, raising my bunnies—that’s all busy work too.”

“Huh?! Which poor girl are you messing with now?”

“Su Ventures.”

“What?! Su Ventures went bankrupt eight hundred years ago! Su Qiang is still rotting in prison! How could you associate with such a fallen family?!”

Yu Ting smirked. “Mom, why are you panicking? I’m just keeping her around for fun, not marrying her.”

Yu Zhang: “You’re still causing trouble even at your age! You must take on Ning Yatou’s project!”

“Sigh, I really don’t have time.” Yu Ting spread his hands. “How about I let my bunnies handle it instead?”

“Absolutely not! What real skills could a daughter from a fallen family possibly have?” Liu Han scoffed.

If she were truly capable, she wouldn’t need Yu Ting to support her! She’d have paid off her family’s debts and gotten her father out of prison by now!

Liu Han had always looked down on Yu Ting’s kept woman.

Yu Shaoyue pondered for a moment before stepping in to mediate. “Wife, Dad, I trust Yu Ting’s judgment. Let him handle it his way.”

“Exactly, Grandfather. Don’t you trust my judgment?”

Yu Zhang’s chest tightened again. He waved his hand dismissively. “Fine, let Yu Ting decide. I’m tired.”

Liu Han: “So Ning Yatou still gets to manage the project?!”

“Mom, stop worrying so much.”

As Yu Ting spoke, his gaze swept over Yu Tanning, as if scrutinizing an interesting object. “Cousin, I helped you keep this project. Can you do me a favor and take care of my assistant? No problem, right?”

Yu Tanning replied coldly, “What are you implying?”

“Don’t look so grim,” Yu Ting said. “I’m just sending you an assistant. You can continue managing the project as you see fit, just train her well for me.”

Yu Tanning didn’t believe Yu Ting’s sudden generosity for a moment. But with her grandfather determined to seize her project and no powerful backers to rely on, a direct confrontation would only result in mutual destruction. She had no better option.

She would have to remain vigilant against Yu Ting’s assistant while accelerating the project’s progress.

Once the finished product hit the market, she would finally have the leverage to challenge her uncle’s ambitions.

“Alright, then thank you, Cousin.”

Yu Tanning clenched her fist under the table. When she looked up again, she had resumed her “sensible and considerate” good cousin persona.

“I’ve sent you the assistant’s WeChat contact. Take good care of her.”

“Rest assured, Cousin.”

“If she suffers even the slightest mistreatment, your project is finished.”

As they brushed past each other, Yu Ting’s voice, cold as a demon’s, hissed in her ear.

Yu Tanning met his gaze calmly, her perfect fake smile masking a seething murderous intent.

The more placid the concessions and compromises, the more ruthless the battle for survival.

Leaving the old mansion, Yu Tanning declined Xu Wan’s offer to accompany her and took a ride-hailing car back to her dormitory alone.

Having grown tired of playing the ghost in the old mansion, she now desperately wanted to bury herself in the arms of her “kitten,” to find solace in her soft embrace and rediscover the warmth of human connection. But Jiang Yao was unexpectedly absent from the dormitory, busy with some unknown task.

The once cozy and lively little world was now pitch-black and eerily silent.

Yu Tanning slipped off her coat and collapsed onto the bed, sending Jiang Yao a message in the darkness.

Tonight’s messages were unusually overwhelming.

Before she could even type a few words in Jiang Yao’s chat window, a barrage of inexplicable cheers kept popping up, disrupting her thoughts and fraying her nerves.

After messaging Jiang Yao, Yu Tanning added the so-called assistant and began tackling the dense cluster of red notification dots.

The welcome video she had filmed for the Student Union had gone viral. Someone had started calling her the “School Belle,” and the hype was spreading like wildfire—utterly ridiculous.

Still waiting for Jiang Yao’s reply, Yu Tanning responded to a few messages from important figures, just to kill time.

As her fingers mechanically tapped across the screen, she suddenly remembered Jiang Yao’s nonsensical remark from long ago: “If you become the School Belle, stay far away from me.”

Oh, well.

In an instant, time seemed to rewind in her mind. She was back in the cafeteria that day, the abrupt and bewildering probing ringing in her ears like a deafening roar.

The cold light from her phone screen cast a pallor on her face as the incessant congratulatory messages vibrated, each one like a tiny needle piercing her heart.

Yu Tanning sat up abruptly, her suspicions and conjectures solidifying into tangible panic.

Jiang Yao must be avoiding me because of this!

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