Did I Succeed in Redeeming the Villain Today? - Chapter 47

Chapter 47: “If I Encounter Danger in the Future, Mu Qiuyu…”

Mu Qiuyu’s voice was low, and the humid air seemed to bind her somber emotions together, indistinctly muffling Lu Ning’s ears.

The kitten froze, feeling a sour ache in her heart. She had never seen Mu Qiuyu like this before. While reading the original story, she had uncontrollably imagined many versions of Mu Qiuyu’s paranoid and lonely self, but none of them compared to this single second.

Perhaps because the light was so dim, the redness at the corners of the girl’s eyes was exceptionally clear. Mu Qiuyu’s eyes were full of emotion, yet she stubbornly refused to let it spiral out of control. She stared straight at Lu Ning with those pitch-black pupils, as if doing so could make her current physiological reaction non-existent.

Lu Ning still remembered the cold sense of detachment and rejection she felt from Mu Qiuyu when they first met. At that time, she never would have imagined that Mu Qiuyu would say she didn’t want her to die.

Does this mean I’ve become an irreplaceable character in Mu Qiuyu’s heart? Does it mean I never have to worry about making her unhappy and being ignored again?

In her daze, Lu Ning’s eyes brightened bit by bit. She realized that for the cold and detached Mu Qiuyu to say such things meant she finally had some normal human emotions. Even if those emotions were directed at a little kitten like herself, at least she finally had a tether to this world. She was no longer alone and helpless.

But relationships are often most fragile when they are first established, and she had almost let Mu Qiuyu lose that support. Lu Ning thought in silence, guilt rapidly spreading. She finally realized how selfish it was to hide things from Mu Qiuyu and act alone.

Perhaps she could be like Mu Qiuyu and learn to rely on her Host. They were the two people in this world who understood each other best.

Lu Ning’s paw moved against Mu Qiuyu’s cheek, gently stroking her face. “I understand. I promise I’ll never do that again. If I encounter danger in the future, Mu Qiuyu will be the first person I contact.”

Not “Host.” But “Mu Qiuyu.”

The kitten’s clear eyes shone brightly in Mu Qiuyu’s line of sight, almost piercingly so in the dark environment. Mu Qiuyu looked at Lu Ning, watching her place her paw unceremoniously on her face, yet she couldn’t find a trace of anger in her heart.

The narrow, unventilated corridor was like an old, spoiled tin can, filled with damp and unpleasant smells. But when Lu Ning seriously uttered her name, Mu Qiuyu felt a sudden sense of clarity, as if the world had been washed clean.

Since noon, a knot of emotion had been stuck in her chest. She didn’t know what that feeling was called or where it came from. She had abandoned her exam and run here recklessly. The scenery along the way hadn’t blown away her suffocation, and her violent outburst against Gao Yuan hadn’t dissipated her resentment.

Yet, simply picking up Lu Ning and hearing her call her name brought a sense of relief to her suppressed, ambiguous emotions.

Why?

Mu Qiuyu frowned slightly, feeling for the first time a loss of control over something. Seeing Mu Qiuyu’s frown, Lu Ning thought her promise hadn’t managed to coax her Host into a better mood. So, the kitten rolled over in her master’s arms and acted spoiled. “Host, how did you find this place? You got here so fast.”

Hearing this, Mu Qiuyu discreetly withdrew her emotions. Her knitted brows vanished into the darkness. She looked down and asked indifferently, “You think you’re the only one who knows about this place?”

Lu Ning suddenly understood why Shi Jin had followed. Most likely, she knew something and had been dragged along by Mu Qiuyu to lead the way. It was rare for her to be so obedient to Mu Qiuyu.

Mu Qiuyu looked at the kitten, who was lost in thought again, and added another sentence: “I don’t necessarily need you.”

Lu Ning, who was still praising Shi Jin in her head, looked up instantly. Given the earlier interlude, she knew Mu Qiuyu wasn’t speaking from the heart, but she wouldn’t let that stop her from being affectionate.

“But Host still came to save me~” Lu Ning said, proactively rubbing her head against Mu Qiuyu’s face.

The kitten was now fully restored; her dry fur was fluffy and soft, smelling of the sun. Mu Qiuyu’s cheek was surrounded by this fur, feeling as if she had fallen into a soft, warm net that she couldn’t—and didn’t want to—escape from.

This person had been furious at noon, vowing to give Lu Ning “a piece of her mind.” But now, there was no punishment; she was simply enveloped by this bundle of black fur.

This isn’t a kitten. This is clearly a little sprite.

Just as the pair was enjoying a rare moment of harmony, Lu Ning was suddenly jolted by Mu Qiuyu’s movement. The kitten didn’t know what was happening and instinctively gripped her master’s shoulder. As she pressed against Mu Qiuyu in alarm, her fur standing on end, she felt a hand firmly stroking her body.

In Lu Ning’s ear was the sound of Mu Qiuyu’s rhythmic breathing; the girl’s warm breath fell into her ear canal. Before she could react, a familiar muffled groan came from the end of the corridor: “Fuck.”

In the dim light, even without seeing Mu Qiuyu’s expression, Lu Ning could feel her aura change. Carrying the cat, Mu Qiuyu walked unhurriedly toward the person she had kicked to the ground and stomped her soft leather shoe hard onto his stomach. “What are you trying to do?”

As Mu Qiuyu spoke, Lu Ning adjusted to the environment. She turned her head and saw Wang Qiang kicked to the floor. It seemed the trio’s infighting was over, and cat abuse was back on the agenda.

“Holy shit, are you even human?!” Wang Qiang struggled to push against Mu Qiuyu’s shoe. This person’s strength was much greater than Cen Qin’s; that kick just now felt like it had broken his bones.

“What’s going on?”

Wang Qiang seemed to have companions. Hearing the noise, another shadow stepped out. It was Wang Xiaodi. Wang Qiang didn’t recognize Mu Qiuyu, but she did. Cen Qin had mentioned her many times. She looked at Mu Qiuyu stepping on Wang Qiang with a mix of shock and disgust. “Mu Qiuyu? How did you find this place?”

Mu Qiuyu had no obligation to answer Wang Xiaodi. She didn’t immediately resort to violence against someone who didn’t pose a threat. “You have two choices.”

“Either stay here quietly and wait for the police so you can surrender for a lighter sentence.”

“Or I give you a kick too. Your bones probably aren’t as sturdy as his. When you can’t get out of the hospital bed, don’t blame me.”

Hearing this, Wang Xiaodi looked at Wang Qiang in disbelief. “Shit, are your ribs broken, you idiot?”

She couldn’t believe such a delicate-looking “vase” of a girl had this kind of strength. But Wang Qiang’s unbearable wails of pain gave her the answer: Yes, she does.

“Fuck off! Who the hell are you talking to, you bitch!”

“Say that again!”

“Bitch! Bitch! Stop pretending to be a pure student. Look at Mu Qiuyu, can you even compare?”

“I fucking want to! Is she someone I can imitate? Dumbass.”

Within a few sentences, the “one-versus-two” dominant atmosphere Mu Qiuyu had established was broken. She watched Wang Xiaodi and Wang Qiang turn on each other again, feeling like she was watching fools.

Are they trying to flatter me? Why do they look so disgusted?

Seeing the confusion on Mu Qiuyu’s face, Lu Ning whispered into her ear: “It’s because I used Truth Serum. They said the truth to each other and started fighting because of it.”

Mu Qiuyu raised an eyebrow, a hint of admiration in her eyes. “So you’re saying you almost won by wit alone?”

“You could put it that way.” Lu Ning raised her head proudly.

Just as Lu Ning wanted to share more of her bloodless plan, a slow voice interrupted her: “Mu Qiuyu, long time no see.”

A sinister shadow approached from the end of the hallway as Cen Qin walked over with his hands behind his back. He maintained the facade of a gentle, refined gentleman, smiling as he shattered Lu Ning’s highlight moment.

Cen Qin knew Mu Qiuyu, and Mu Qiuyu certainly knew him. She had last seen him at the Arts Festival competition. He had played “Für Elise” on the piano before her turn and won a lot of applause. A pity such a fine pair of hands were covered in blood.

“Is this your cat? Interested in sharing it with me?” Cen Qin tossed the topic to Mu Qiuyu gently, his gaze toward Lu Ning not as vicious as before. He maintained a non-threatening attitude, stepping closer one pace at a time.

Then, the moment he was about to get close, the hand he had been hiding behind his back finally moved. This person was a master of underhanded tricks.

A silver glint flashed in the dim corridor. In Cen Qin’s hand was a knife.

“Host, watch out!”

Lu Ning’s reaction was lightning fast. Just as she was about to protect her Host, Mu Qiuyu was a step ahead. She shielded the cat’s head and raised her hand to block Cen Qin’s blade.

Truly a stupid cat. She doesn’t even know who Cen Qin was aiming for.

Mu Qiuyu’s brows furrowed. With a flick of her wrist, she parried the lunging knife. None of them were professional fighters, and Cen Qin’s physical stamina wasn’t great. Mu Qiuyu’s parry was clearly not part of his plan, and the mechanical exoskeleton protected her perfectly. Mu Qiuyu was unharmed, and the initiative had fallen into her hands.

Without mercy, Mu Qiuyu kicked Cen Qin. He was much weaker than Gao Yuan; the kick sent him slamming into the wall, completely dazed. There was a clear look of confusion in Cen Qin’s eyes. His whole body was in pain, and he couldn’t tell which part hurt more. Being humiliated by Mu Qiuyu made him even more miserable.

While Cen Qin was still trapped in the impotent rage of being kicked down by a girl, a cold sensation touched his head. Mu Qiuyu wouldn’t give him a chance to react; she drew Gao Yuan’s gun and pressed it against Cen Qin’s forehead. “You already lost to me before. Did you think you’d win this time?”

In the face of a firearm, a blade is worthless. Cen Qin clenched his fists, his mouth still stubborn. “Mu Qiuyu, think carefully! My family isn’t someone you can offend! You bitch, just wait until I kill you!”

In response to the threat, Mu Qiuyu only gave him a cold look. She then picked up the small knife from the floor and thrust it down with a sharp flick of her wrist…

“AH!” Cen Qin’s howl echoed through the entire corridor.

“Mu Qiuyu! You’re a lunatic!” Cen Qin glared at her, his expression distorted with a mix of ferocity and fear. He looked at the blood gushing from the wound in his leg, never expecting someone would actually dare to use a weapon on him.

“But I’m slightly better than you.” Mu Qiuyu accepted his words calmly. Lu Ning even thought she saw a faint smile on her face.

Mu Qiuyu knelt in front of Cen Qin. Her fingers were fair and slender as she gently toyed with the knife stuck in his leg. “At least I know who my emotions are directed toward.”

Hearing this, the hair on Lu Ning’s body stood on end, let alone Cen Qin’s. Nestled in Mu Qiuyu’s arms, Lu Ning’s internal data processed at high speeds just to rule out whether Mu Qiuyu really intended to kill someone.

“Meow~ (Host, stay calm! Killing is illegal! You don’t want your little kitty to go to jail with you, do you?)” Seeing Mu Qiuyu’s pitch-black emotional chart, Lu Ning hurriedly pawed at her, meowing to soothe her.

This comfort came at both the right and wrong time. Hearing the voice from her arms, Mu Qiuyu gave Lu Ning a dissatisfied stroke. She had always been able to control her emotions; she withdrew her murderous gaze, and the emotional chart in the system began to drop.

These people no longer posed a threat to Mu Qiuyu. She stood up and looked around, noticing some “tools” Cen Qin had piled in the hallway. There were hammers, nails, and a stun gun. There were also several sets of finely categorized scalpels, seemingly kept as spares.

Seeing this, Mu Qiuyu’s eyes flickered. She accurately picked up a small scalpel and asked Cen Qin, “Where did you learn this from?”

Cen Qin’s temper flared, and he turned his head away, refusing to answer. Mu Qiuyu had no time to waste; she yanked the knife “accidentally dropped” into his leg. “Speak.”

“AAHHH—I said I’d talk! Are you sick in the head?! Bitch! Bitch—” Cen Qin wailed, his mouth full of filth.

Lu Ning couldn’t stand it anymore. She jumped over and gave him a slap with her paw. “Meow! (Watch your mouth!)”

Thanks to the kitten’s slap, Mu Qiuyu was spared the trouble of acting herself. Cen Qin stopped wailing and looked into Mu Qiuyu’s eyes, reluctantly telling her: “When I was little… an uncle passing by my house taught me. He taught me and then he left.”

Lu Ning turned to Mu Qiuyu with a righteous expression, wanting to ask if they needed to continue. Mu Qiuyu didn’t speak again. Her dark pupils sank, and the deep sea of her eyes hid a murky, unwanted memory.

After dealing with the three of them, Lu Ning told Mu Qiuyu that she had already called the police. While waiting for them, Mu Qiuyu used whatever was at hand to tie Cen Qin up like a festive ham, followed by Wang Qiang and Wang Xiaodi.

Those two were just fair-weather followers. Cen Qin had a family to clean up his mess, but they didn’t. Seeing that the situation had turned sour, they began showering Mu Qiuyu with fake concern. Mu Qiuyu could tell they wanted a lighter sentence, but she neither liked nor trusted them. She bound them with wire, then sat on the steps holding Lu Ning to enjoy some peace and quiet.

It seemed all the bad things had passed. The afternoon sky was a beautiful blue. The wind blew, scattering a few petals; the scent of cherry blossoms lingered in the air.

Mu Qiuyu stroked Lu Ning and called her name: “Lu Ling.”

Lu Ning imitated an AI: “I’m here.”

“Why did you choose to turn into a kitten in the beginning?” Mu Qiuyu asked softly.

“Because the system data showed the Host likes fluffy things, and I don’t like rodents,” Lu Ning told her honestly, adding a bit of personal bias. “I should say, I hate rodents.”

Mu Qiuyu curled her lips into a small smile. She ran her fingers through Lu Ning’s soft fur and asked thoughtfully, “Then do you know why I like fluffy things?”

A small animal always tilts its head when thinking. Lu Ning looked at Mu Qiuyu and guessed, “Because they’re cute?”

A dust-laden breeze blew through the window at the top of the stairs, sounding like a memory from an old era. Mu Qiuyu hesitated, unsure if she should open her heart to this kitten. “It’s a story so old I’ve almost forgotten it. Do you want to hear it?”

“Yes!” Facing Mu Qiuyu’s hesitation, Lu Ning responded without a moment’s doubt.

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