Did I Succeed in Redeeming the Villain Today? - Chapter 12

Chapter 12: “Good Morning, Host! Do You Want to Pet Me?”

The wind rose, blowing petals into a drifting dance.

Mu Qiuyu’s hand was still resting atop Lu Ning’s. Her slightly cool fingertips brushed against Lu Ning’s pale knuckles, moving in the exact same manner the “outside” Mu Qiuyu had played with Lu Ning in her small sphere form during the day.

However, human nerve endings are far richer than those of a mechanical ball. Every movement Mu Qiuyu made seemed to be etched directly onto Lu Ning’s heart.

She tilted her head, watching Lu Ning. Only now, at such close proximity, did Lu Ning realize that those dark pupils held an excessively rich smile—one that seemed gentle, yet mischievous.

An atmosphere that could only be described as “ambiguous” swirled lightly around her eyelashes. It flowed between her and Lu Ning with every slow exhale, adding a layer of hazy, intoxicating color to her so-called “repayment.”

Thump-thump, thump-thump.

Lu Ning’s heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably. She didn’t understand why a simple hand-hold would cause such a sensation; she only felt that this was wrong—even stranger than when Mu Qiuyu used to knead her.

Lu Ning curled her palm, attempting to withdraw her hand. “Mu… Mu Qiuyu…”

Sensing Lu Ning’s resistance, Mu Qiuyu obediently released her. She continued to smile, though the playfulness in her eyes diminished significantly. “Just a joke. How could I actually ask you for a reward?”

Regardless of whether that was the truth, Lu Ning breathed a sigh of relief.

Mu Qiuyu then stated her terms: “However, I can only tell you one thing about her at a time.”

“Why?” Lu Ning asked, puzzled.

“Because I want to see you often,” Mu Qiuyu replied crisply, propping her chin on her hand. Her voice carried a sense of frankness and tenderness, as if she were discussing a trivial matter that wasn’t ambiguous at all.

But how could it not be ambiguous? Especially when her verbal hints and physical contact had only just occurred. Lu Ning felt that while this Mu Qiuyu seemed gentler and better-tempered than the one outside, they were essentially the same kind of person.

Well, they were the same person. She had overlooked that.

But why? Why would this Mu Qiuyu show her such expressions and say such things?

“It’s so lonely here by myself. I want someone to talk to.”

As if hearing Lu Ning’s inner thoughts, Mu Qiuyu spoke again. She remained leaning on her hand, a strand of long hair falling along her cheek, making her look less composed than before. Her dark eyes were downcast, and the white light filtering through her eyelashes cast a shadow of gentleness and loneliness that was almost painful to behold.

It made sense. Mu Qiuyu was locked in by chains, her range of motion limited to this small circular space. It was only natural she would be lonely; a little selfishness was justifiable.

Lu Ning felt a pang of pity, and her logic began to whisper in her mind. This Mu Qiuyu was the embodiment of Mu Qiuyu’s positive emotions. Given the current situation, if she disappeared, “reforming” the outside Mu Qiuyu would become even more difficult. Visiting her occasionally could be considered part of the mission. Besides, the system had already memorized the path; coming here wasn’t hard.

“Fine then. One thing per visit,” Lu Ning nodded, agreeing to the condition.

“Wonderful.” A smile instantly broke across Mu Qiuyu’s face, and the white tree behind her burst into bloom with a series of soft pops.

A cool breeze brushed Lu Ning’s cheek, releasing a faint, elegant floral fragrance. She found the scent familiar and gazed blankly at Mu Qiuyu. “Is this…”

Just as Lu Ning was about to ask what species the tree was, the system’s internal light flickered. The health monitoring system showed that a new day had arrived. The “outside” Mu Qiuyu was waking up, which meant Lu Ning’s time here was running out.

Daytime was the most dangerous period for Mu Qiuyu; Lu Ning had to be by her side.

Racing against time, she asked, “I have to go. Can you tell me the first thing about Mu Qiuyu?”

The space fell silent. The petals fluttering in the air suddenly dropped. Mu Qiuyu watched Lu Ning, who was in such a hurry to leave her, and unhurriedly raised her teacup. The clear tea brushed the girl’s crimson lips, leaving a lingering bitterness.

Mu Qiuyu took a sip and finally spoke under Lu Ning’s eager gaze: “She… likes fluffy animals.”

Morning sunlight spilled across the sky, and the campus, awakened by spring, stirred with greenery. A sharp bell rang through the rustling leaves, and the Dean began his rounds with a briefcase. The entire eleventh-grade building quickly fell silent.

High heels clicked rhythmically on the floor, followed closely by a pair of small, brownish leather shoes—every step poised and calm. Passing a chorus of reading voices, the two stopped in front of the sign for Class 11-13.

Mu Qiuyu followed her new homeroom teacher, Cheng Juan, into the class that would become unforgettable to her over the next year and a half.

News of Mu Qiuyu’s transfer had already spread. Everyone had been looking forward to the arrival of the girl who had shone so brightly at yesterday’s Arts Festival. When they saw Cheng Juan enter followed by Mu Qiuyu, the students all looked up.

“Let me introduce Mu Qiuyu, a transfer student joining our class. She will be studying with us for the next year and a half,” Cheng Juan said concisely.

Hearty applause erupted. Curious gazes wandered over Mu Qiuyu, though it was hard to tell who was being genuinely welcoming and who was just watching the spectacle.

“Alright, alright,” Cheng Juan signaled for silence. She scanned the room and turned to Mu Qiuyu with a softer tone: “You can sit in the back row for now. Seats in our class are chosen freely based on exam results. The monthly exams are coming up; once the results are out, you can choose a new seat, alright?”

“Yes, Teacher,” Mu Qiuyu nodded. She didn’t care where she sat.

Cheng Juan was impressed by the “Young Lady” from the international class who seemed so cooperative. She nodded in approval and then spoke sternly toward the back: “Li Xiang! Clear off the empty desk next to you. What do you think you’re doing, occupying two seats by yourself?”

The girl named Li Xiang immediately looked up. “That’s only because I didn’t have a desk-mate!” She was bright-eyed and spoke to the teacher with a cheeky, righteous air.

“Well, you have one now! Hurry up and clear it for your new classmate,” Cheng Juan commanded.

Li Xiang’s eyes instantly landed on Mu Qiuyu. Looking at her “celestial” new classmate, she realized the goddess was descending to live right next to her. She looked excited: “Understood! Your servant obeys!”

Li Xiang moved quickly. By the time Mu Qiuyu walked over, the desk was clear. As soon as Mu Qiuyu sat down, a hand reached into her field of vision.

“Hi! I’m Li Xiang. We’ll be desk-mates from now on. Please look after me!”

Mu Qiuyu looked at the hand, her expression calm as her memories overlapped with the present. In her previous life, she had also been desk-mates with Li Xiang, who had said the exact same words. This was the plot that was supposed to happen. Not that personified “System” that had suddenly flown out of her body.

Mu Qiuyu lightly touched Li Xiang’s hand and spoke the same words from her past life: “Mu Qiuyu.”

The touch was so brief that Li Xiang’s hand didn’t even realize a “fairy” had held it before it was empty again. Li Xiang didn’t want to disturb her further and sheepishly withdrew her hand, squeezing it tight as if trying to force her brain to memorize the sensation.

D*mn hand, remember it!

The sound of flipping pages continued, with only Li Xiang engaged in an internal struggle with her own hand. In her peripheral vision, Mu Qiuyu watched her desk-mate—with whom she’d had little contact in her previous life—behave strangely again. She unhurriedly put her books into the desk drawer…

But just as she reached her hand inside, she brushed against something fluffy.

The object felt alive. Soft fur wrapped around the back of her hand, radiating warmth where her blood flowed. Mu Qiuyu froze, then looked down into the drawer.

Hazy sunlight fell into the dark opening, reflecting a pair of crystal-blue eyes.

Lu Ning slowly met Mu Qiuyu’s gaze. Her soft ears pressed against the edge of the drawer before popping up. Her pure black fur almost merged with the darkness. She blinked, her tiny paw brushing Mu Qiuyu’s hand.

Lu Ning had turned into a kitten.

The whole way back from the inner world, she had been pondering the words of the “Inner” Mu Qiuyu, then used the System Store to exchange for a kitten mimicry. What fluffiness could possibly beat a kitten? Moreover, given Mu Qiuyu’s current vibe, she had specifically chosen to become a long-haired black cat that matched her aesthetic perfectly.

Lu Ning felt this would surely capture Mu Qiuyu’s heart. She pressed against her palm and confidently wriggled her body. The “rookie” kitten, knowing no shame, rolled over to reveal her belly to Mu Qiuyu.

She waved her tiny, fluffy paws as if to say: “Good morning, Host! Do you want to pet me?”

Sunlight slanted through the window, falling on the back row of the classroom. No one saw that the tips of Mu Qiuyu’s ears, hidden beneath her long hair, had quietly turned red.

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