Damn It! I Fell for the Hated Villainess Again! - Chapter 26

After eating two pieces of meat, Jiang Yao set down her chopsticks. While waiting for Yu Tanning to finish, she clicked into the clothing factory’s livestream to check the sales figures.

The livestream had over ten thousand viewers, yet the chat logs showed only twenty or thirty orders. The black fans were truly overwhelming.

These people seemed to have no jobs or school. They spent their days searching for opportunities to sabotage Jiang Yao. As soon as they heard about the collaborative design launch, they swarmed in like vultures.

The clothing factory had prepared extensively. The host and models performed exceptionally well, but every time someone asked about sizing or fabric, the black fans would instantly bury the question.

The moderators couldn’t keep up with the bans. The more they banned, the more vile the insults became—it was practically workplace harassment.

Jiang Yao sighed deeply.

Though the factory manager had repeatedly assured her she wouldn’t blame her even if not a single item sold, Jiang Yao felt deeply guilty seeing the black fans disrupt the factory’s business.

Yu Tanning wiped her mouth and met Jiang Yao’s furrowed brow. “What’s wrong? You look so unhappy.”

Jiang Yao explained how the black fans had overrun the factory’s livestream. “These people are so annoying! Targeting me is one thing, but if they ruin the factory’s business, I’ll be the one taking the blame!”

Yu Tanning’s brow twitched slightly. She picked up her phone. “That’s outrageous! I’ll go check it out.”

Jiang Yao chuckled. “No need. I’ve already screenshotted the worst offenders. I’ll contact a lawyer tonight and make sure they learn their lesson.”

Seeing that Jiang Yao wasn’t letting herself be bullied, Yu Tanning relaxed, switching to a teasing tone. “My sister is so cool.”

Jiang Yao clenched her fist. “Call me that again, and I’ll teach you a lesson too!”

“Hmm? This livestream seems to be doing pretty well. Not many haters here.” As the interface loaded, Yu Tanning glanced at it before suddenly turning serious.

“Did they withdraw so quickly?” Hearing this, Jiang Yao snatched the phone back and scanned the screen. The livestream still looked like a disaster zone, flooded with insults. She assumed Yu Tanning was trying to change the subject.

“They’re still cursing up a storm! Seriously, are you bored or something?”

“I’m not changing the subject. This livestream’s sales have already surpassed ten thousand.”

Yu Tanning accurately named the livestream. Jiang Yao, refusing to believe it, grabbed Yu Tanning’s phone.

What she saw next shocked her.

This was a high-quality counterfeit livestream!

The name was identical, just with extra spaces and emojis between the words. The host of the pirated livestream was really getting into it, claiming their new clothing line hadn’t copied Jiang Yao’s designs at all—it was just a coincidence.

The haters ate it up, placing orders left and right and praising the shoddy, low-quality knockoffs to the heavens.

Jiang Yao: “……”

She tried searching for the pirated livestream using her own account, but it was clear she’d been blocked in advance.

Claiming it’s original, buying my pirated designs, and then blocking me?

Ha! What a joke! Daring to copy my designs? You’re dead!

Jiang Yao stared at the crookedly stitched “Bunny Ear Gauze Dress” in the pirated stream, her chest burning with rage. Her nails nearly dug into the phone screen.

Fortunately, she wasn’t one to fly off the handle. She quickly calmed down and handed the phone back to Yu Tanning. “First, help me screenshot this as evidence. I need to call the factory manager.”

Yu Tanning nodded. Jiang Yao immediately dialed the factory manager, explained the situation with the pirated livestream, and urged their legal team to take action as soon as possible.

A weary sigh came over the phone. “Teacher Jiang, we’ve also discovered the pirated livestream and are already gathering evidence… Ah, these people are so cunning, using mirror domains to slow down our reporting process.”

“Mirror domains?” Jiang Yao didn’t quite understand.

Yu Tanning looked up. “Trouble?”

“The factory manager said they’re using mirror domains, which is making the reporting process really slow.”

Yu Tanning remained unconcerned. “Don’t worry. Muse has dealt with this before. I’ve already sent the link to their tech department. They’re experienced and should be able to track down the server address quickly.”

Jiang Yao calmed down a bit, then remembered something. “Aren’t you just an intern? How are you getting full-time employees to work on a weekend like this?”

Yu Tanning smiled. “I’m just too popular. What can I say?”

“If a colleague bothered me on a weekend, I’d probably curse them for a year.”

“Relax, it’s not really bothering them. Muse always has staff working weekends, and they get paid five times their usual rate,” Yu Tanning explained. “I’ll even buy them coffee later to keep things friendly.”

Jiang Yao opened the food delivery app. “I’ll order. Can you ask the Muse tech team how many cups they want?”

Yu Tanning didn’t object and gave her the number.

Jiang Yao ordered coffee for everyone, then said, “Let’s stop by Muse later. It’s only polite to thank them in person for the trouble.”

“Funny you should say that,” Yu Tanning replied. “The place I wanted to take you to was Muse too.”

“What for? You want to show me your grueling work life?”

“You’ll see when we get there.”

“There’s a surprise.”

Jiang Yao looked up at Yu Tanning’s gentle, cheerful voice and met the warm amber light in her eyes. The blood in her ears seemed to silently boil.

She’d heard the word “surprise” in countless voices and tones, but none stirred her anticipation like the slightly teasing lilt in Yu Tanning’s.

Perhaps the “surprise” she truly wanted wasn’t some grand gift, but the hidden affection woven into their everyday moments.

She relished Yu Tanning’s special attention.

And she wanted to possess it entirely…

The coffee delivery arrived almost simultaneously with Jiang Yao.

Twenty cups in total, divided into five bags, were a bit heavy. The security guard, quick to notice, offered to help carry them up to the office area.

Jiang Yao had ordered an extra cup to meet the minimum for a discount, so she didn’t hesitate to accept his help. She planned to give him the extra cup as a thank-you once they reached the office.

As they followed Yu Tanning past the reception desk and took the elevator to the seventh floor, Jiang Yao observed the faces of the employees they passed. She couldn’t help but ask Yu Tanning, “The employees at Muse are so polite and friendly! They even greeted you, an intern, so warmly.”

At Linrui, only her grandmother and mother received such treatment.

The security guard suppressed a laugh, trying hard not to reveal the young heiress’s true identity.

Yu Tanning’s expression remained unchanged as she glanced at the security guard with a smile. “Muse’s corporate culture is indeed very welcoming.”

Jiang Yao: “Then you’d better work hard. My senior year internship certificate depends on you.”

“No slacking off!” Yu Tanning shot her a sideways glance. “If you want that certificate, you’ll have to be my colleague for two months.”

“Tch. You’re acting like some domineering CEO, but this company isn’t even yours,” Jiang Yao scoffed.

If only she knew, this company really is mine!

The security guard mentally wiped a bead of sweat for Jiang Yao. Everyone at Muse knew the young miss had the face of an angel, but her methods of torment were as ruthless as the King of Hell’s. Crossing her could leave a lifelong psychological scar.

Yu Tanning merely sighed. “The Boss is so clueless about romance. I just wanted a little office fling, and you accuse me of putting on an act.”

“Romance, my ass! If you can’t speak properly, donate that mouth of yours!”

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop teasing you. How about an office friendship instead?”

“No way!”

The security guard’s hand trembled, causing the kraft paper bag to rustle.

Is this really the young miss? Is she this doting with her friends? Her voice is so sweet, she could star in a cheesy rom-com!

He felt like he’d stumbled into a parallel universe. The elevator doors opened on the sixteenth floor, and it took Jiang Yao calling him twice before he snapped out of his daze and hurriedly handed over the five coffee bags.

“Thank you for bringing these up for us,” Jiang Yao said, handing the security guard an iced latte with a polite smile.

The young lady’s friend seemed naturally reserved. Her thanks were delivered with a quiet sincerity that conveyed genuine respect. She showed no disdain for those in lower positions, nor did she fawn over those in power. Her respect for others was rooted in absolute equality, which was deeply reassuring.

The security guard accepted the drink, overwhelmed with gratitude. “You—you must come again soon!” he stammered, his voice thick with emotion.

Jiang Yao nodded absently, turning to walk with Yu Tanning toward the office area.

“Does Muse usually mistreat the security guards?” she whispered to Yu Tanning. “It’s just a cup of coffee, but I felt like he was about to kowtow to me if I didn’t leave.”

Yu Tanning smiled faintly, her expression ambiguous. “Considering the salary and benefits stipulated by the Yu family, it’s indeed a bit harsh on the security guards.”

“No wonder everyone with the Yu surname is so loathsome,” Jiang Yao blurted out before she could stop herself.

She quickly backtracked. “I only meant the ones who make the rules. You… you’re not loathsome.”

Yu Tanning chuckled, slowing her pace. “Just ‘not loathsome’?”

Jiang Yao nervously stared at the exit sign at the end of the corridor, pretending to study the “Emergency Exit” symbol. “What do you want to be?”

“What do you think?” Yu Tanning pressed closer.

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the glass walls, casting long, intimate silhouettes of the two women against the pristine white walls. Their shared shower gel scent mingled in the air.

Jiang Yao instinctively took two steps back, but Yu Tanning caught her wrist. The warm touch sent Jiang Yao’s heart pounding like thunder.

Jiang Yao thought Yu Tanning’s “surprise” was about to shatter the fragile pretense between them, severing the escape route of “friendship,” leaving them with no choice but to burn their bridges…

The next moment, a sudden female voice called out, “Sister Ning?”

Jiang Yao’s mind flashed to the scene of being caught in an affair. Her heart swelled with shame and indignation as she quickly pulled her hand away from Yu Tanning’s, forcing an awkward smile into the air.

Yu Tanning, the “veteran actress,” switched gears effortlessly, turning to greet the newcomer. “Director Li.”

Huh? What kind of company culture was this? A director calling an intern “Sister”?

Director Li, as if reading Jiang Yao’s thoughts, offered an explanation. “You must be the friend Ning-jie mentioned, right? Ahaha, I call her ‘Ning-jie’ out of admiration for her skills, not to take advantage of her age. What should I call you, Sister?”

Jiang Yao snapped out of her daze and handed over the coffee bags. “Director Li, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Jiang Yao. Thank you for helping me trace that server address earlier. This is just a small token of my appreciation. I hope you like it.”

“Ha ha! Oh, Yaoyao-jie, you’re too kind! It was just a small favor, no need to go to such expense.”

Jiang Yao’s heart skipped a beat. “No, no, don’t call me ‘Sister.’ Just call me Xiao Jiang.”

“But that won’t do! You’re Ning-jie’s friend. Calling you ‘Sister’ shows proper respect.”

Aaaaaah! Not? Is everyone at your company a lesbian too?! Why are you all so eager to call me “Sister”?

Jiang Yao was about to lose it when Yu Tanning interjected smoothly, “Director Li, my friend is a bit shy. Let’s just drop it.”

Director Li, sensing the situation, quickly changed her tune. “My apologies for not considering that. Then we’ll call her Xiao Jiang. Thanks for the coffee, Xiao Jiang!”

“Ah, you’re welcome.”

Jiang Yao stared at the two of them, her face a mask of astonishment. While all professions are equal in dignity, this director was being way too obsequious to an intern!

And that wasn’t even the end of it. As Director Li picked up the coffee and invited them to sit in the tech department, Jiang Yao heard a barrage of “Sister Ning” exploding like firecrackers around her.

She watched as programmers dropped their keyboards to greet Yu Tanning, and she began to seriously doubt whether her years of seclusion had completely disconnected her from society.

Did Yu Tanning save the Muse’s life in her past life? Surely not…

Being led to an unoccupied workstation, Yu Tanning simply explained that she needed to discuss some work with Director Li privately, leaving Jiang Yao, still dazed, to sit among the programmers, questioning her very existence.

The director’s office door slowly closed, and the blackout curtains slid down with it.

A dozen programmers simultaneously looked up, their gossipy gazes settling on Jiang Yao.

A girl with black-framed glasses spoke first: “Hey, when did you and Ning- zo—I mean, Ning-jie get to know each other?”

Oh my god, that was close! I almost called her Ning-zong!

Jiang Yao, still a bit dazed, didn’t notice the slip-up and replied, “We’re both from Beijing University. We were assigned to the same dorm this semester, and we got close pretty quickly.”

The group’s eyes widened with even more gossip: “Wow! Ning-jie actually lives in a dorm? She used to prefer commuting early and late just to avoid staying on campus!”

Jiang Yao: ???

Should I be more surprised that Yu Tanning used to live off-campus, or that these people know so much about an intern’s personal life?

Regaining her composure, Jiang Yao focused on the “renting an apartment” detail. “She never mentioned anything about her past. I assumed she’d always lived in the dorms.”

“Wow! Ning-jie is hiding so much!”

The girl with black-framed glasses grew bolder. “Hehe, sis, do you think Ning-jie likes you? I have a feeling she moved into the dorm just for you!”

Jiang Yao’s heart pounded wildly, but she waved her hands frantically. “No, no, no! She’s straight! How could she like girls? We’re just friends.”

“I don’t think Sister Ning is that straight. We’ve never seen her be polite to any guys, and… well, we’ve never seen her look at any girl with such doting eyes.”

“Plus, she’s wearing your designs today! Sister Ning doesn’t usually wear short skirts, you know? Hehe, she’s making her favoritism way too obvious.”

“Hey, I’ve traced the server address. Miss, come take a look.”

Jiang Yao, her face flushed crimson, rushed over to the programmer’s workstation like a drowning woman grabbing a lifeline.

“The server’s located overseas, but the domain registrant is domestic. You can have them contact the internet surveillance department. The filing number is…”

Jiang Yao quickly jotted down the string of numbers and sent it to the factory director.

The director acted swiftly, not only reporting and shutting down the pirated livestream but also issuing a lawyer’s letter demanding the plagiarism ring and their online trolls cough up the money.

Jiang Yao was thrilled with the outcome, her heart brimming with joy. She immediately planned another celebration, promising the tech department a crawfish feast.

But the tech department wasn’t interested in crayfish; they were far more eager to gossip about Jiang Yao and Yu Tanning.

The cacophony of gossip erupted again, and Jiang Yao’s attempts to change the subject proved futile. Fortunately, Yu Tanning finally finished her meeting with Director Li, and the creak of the office door interrupted the gossip session.

Whatever they had discussed, Jiang Yao sensed a dramatic shift in Director Li’s demeanor after she emerged from the office. It was as if a downtrodden serf had suddenly found her voice and burst into song.

“Ahem. Stop badgering her with questions and get back to your work,” Director Li said sternly. Turning to Yu Tanning, she added, “Now that your friend’s matter is resolved, you should head home early. Just make sure to submit the experimental data to me first thing Monday morning.”

Yu Tanning replied respectfully, “Yes, Director Li.”

Clutching a stack of documents, she turned and gave Jiang Yao’s hand a gentle squeeze. “Let’s go.”

Jiang Yao stared at the scene, her mouth opening and closing, words stuck in her throat. She managed a dry goodbye to the tech department before hurrying out of the office area. “Did you upset Director Li?” she demanded. “Why did her attitude suddenly do a complete 180?”

“Oh, no, Director Li is always a serious person. She just happened to receive some good news from home when we first met, which made her seem more enthusiastic,” Yu Tanning said, lying through her teeth. In reality, she had unilaterally “criticized” Director Li’s clumsy acting.

Over the years, Yu Tanning had told every kind of lie imaginable, honing her Oscar-worthy acting skills. Now, she wore an air of nonchalant ease, completely fooling Jiang Yao, who believed her without a shred of doubt.

“So, your company culture isn’t as weird as I thought.”

“Hey, what kind of experiment are you working on? I thought you were studying finance. I assumed your internship here would involve financial strategy planning or something like that.”

Yu Tanning handed Jiang Yao the stack of documents, a warm smile playing on her lips. “Take a look. This is the surprise I wanted to show you.”

Jiang Yao unfolded the documents skeptically. Her eyes fell upon page after page filled with detailed data on the improvement of antibacterial and skin-nourishing fabrics. At the top was a cherry blossom-pink sticky note, Yu Tanning’s handwriting elegant and flowing.

We sincerely invite Jiang Yao, the talented designer from Jiang University, to join our fabric research and development project.

Jiang Yao murmured the words aloud, her fingertips tracing the faintly cedar-scented note. Just as she was about to ask a question, a figure suddenly stumbled toward them.

“Ms. Yu! I brought you coffee!”

Before the startled cry could fade, the scalding brown liquid, along with the clumsy woman, splashed toward Yu Tanning.

Yu Tanning instinctively twisted to avoid the spill, but the hot coffee still managed to splash precisely onto her shoulder.

The chiffon fabric instantly darkened in a large, spreading stain, resembling a withered flower.

The air froze.

Jiang Yao stared at the ruined fabric, her ears ringing. That was a dress she had designed herself! A special gift for Yu Tanning! And it was stained on its very first day!

A torrent of venomous words surged through Jiang Yao’s mind, threatening to overwhelm her reason. The demon lurking within human nature slowly opened its eyes, whispering seductive words in her ear, urging her to abandon the moral principles she had cultivated for twenty years.

Her hand, clutching the documents, trembled slightly, her fingernails digging into her palm. She glared at the clumsy woman with murderous fury.

“I-I’m so sorry!” Su Xiao, terrified by Jiang Yao’s murderous glare, turned pale and frantically pulled out tissues to wipe Yu Tanning’s shoulder. “Ms. Yu, I-I didn’t mean to…”

“What did she call you?” Jiang Yao’s murderous gaze shifted to Yu Tanning.

Yu Tanning lowered her gaze. “She’s a new assistant, just messing around. Don’t take it seriously.”

Her eyes swept over Su Xiao’s flustered face. With a sigh, she waved her hand. “It’s fine. Go back to work. Just watch where you’re going next time.”

Yu Tanning’s calm tone felt like a sharp blade to Jiang Yao’s ears.

The large coffee stain still loomed before her, and Jiang Yao’s thoughts teetered on the edge of reason.

In just one minute, Yu Tanning has defended another woman twice?!

How can she say it’s “fine”?

That was a gift from me! The culmination of my hard work and design!

Why is Yu Tanning covering for her?! Why?!

“I’ll go get you a spare set of clothes right away!” Su Xiao, feeling like she’d been granted a reprieve, turned to flee.

The sharp click of her heels on the tile echoed mockingly through the room.

Jiang Yao felt something snap inside her. Her rationality crumbled, and a tide of malice surged through her.

“What do you mean ‘it’s nothing’?! Stop right there!”

Jiang Yao snapped at the woman instinctively, her eyes blazing with fury.

In that moment, she felt the “vicious female antagonist” archetype materialize within her.

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