Did I Succeed in Redeeming the Villain Today? - Chapter 78

Chapter 78: Li Xiang Scratches Her Head, Frantically…

Lu Ning once heard someone say that a tear is the smallest lake in the world. But right now, this tiny lake was threatening to drown her.

Mu Qiuyu’s weeping was quieter than anyone else’s; only her damp breath sank slowly into the curve of Lu Ning’s neck like a fine mist, winding strand by strand around her ear.

“You found out?”

The girl’s voice was even lower than her breath, asking as she leaned against Lu Ning’s side.

If Lu Ning said she didn’t know, it would be a lie—Wutong had already told her. But if she said she knew, she only knew the headline; she was still in the dark about the specific details.

The system has the right to monitor some of the host’s operations. Lu Ning didn’t want to invade Mu Qiuyu’s privacy, but she put herself in the other’s shoes—she knew that when a father betrays a family like this, no one wants to speak the words aloud. Every sentence of such a story is a serrated blade tearing open one’s own wounds. Lu Ning didn’t want to see Mu Qiuyu suffer through that, even if doing so would prove how important she was in Mu Qiuyu’s heart.

“I can look at your logs,” Lu Ning whispered, stroking Mu Qiuyu’s hand, making sure to inform her before acting.

In the quiet room, Lu Ning felt Mu Qiuyu’s breath hitch and then settle. Her silence was consent.

Time rewound to a short while ago. Mu Qiuyu had returned to the dorm alone, using her recurring stomach pain as an excuse to have Li Xiang take her place at the awards ceremony. Without Mu Jingqin’s help and with Lu Ning away, Mu Qiuyu had spent a massive amount of points in the system mall for an expensive “Retrospection Card” to see Su Qinghang’s past.

This was a Su Qinghang she had never heard about from her mother: a refined, elegant actor.

The way he had deceived Grandpa Mu was the exact same way he had deceived Mu Jingyi. A “Phoenix Man” (a man from a poor background who marries a wealthy woman) acting as a live-in son-in-law, climbing the corporate ladder step by step until his wife’s health was “accidentally” destroyed by childbirth, allowing him to naturally take his seat on the board and become the de facto shareholder.

He had started an affair ten years ago. The woman was Gao Wenwen, the daughter of a high-ranking official in the capital. Gao Wenwen didn’t mind that he had a family; the two of them eventually had an “accidental” pregnancy and a daughter. At first, the father-in-law was furious, but seeing that his daughter truly loved the man and the granddaughter was adorable, he began “whitewashing” Su Qinghang.

First, he quietly transferred most of the Mu Group’s assets, then arranged a fake death and gave him a new identity. So, the current Su Qinghang wasn’t named Su Qinghang. His father-in-law had personally bestowed upon him the name Feng Nian.

Mu Qiuyu found the name laughable. Nian (Remembrance)? What was he remembering? The small animals he had tortured to death as a youth? Or the first wife and daughter he had used as a ladder to climb toward power?

Yes, Su Qinghang’s favorite pastime was torturing small animals. When Lu Ning had copied Cen Qin’s memories, Mu Qiuyu hadn’t dared to believe it. Now it seemed ridiculous. Why had she ever tried to defend a murderer?

She wasn’t even one-thousandth as strong as Mu Jingqin. What kind of emotion must have fueled her aunt to go out alone, fight the capital’s elite, and ensure Su Qinghang truly “died”?

Mu Qiuyu finally understood why Mu Jingqin’s gaze was always filled with hatred when looking at her. Who could love someone who looked like the murderer of their sister and carried his blood?

Mu Qiuyu looked down at her hand, at the veins pulsing beneath the skin. Half came from her mother, and the other half…

“…Ugh.”

An extreme sense of loathing made her stomach churn. Having not eaten all day, she began to retch. Her thin frame felt empty, convulsing and shivering uncontrollably from the violent spasms.

Lu Ning rushed to check on her. The retching brought physiological tears to Mu Qiuyu’s eyes, turning them a painful red. Lu Ning never imagined that behind the “death of both parents” lay such a revolting truth. Watching Mu Qiuyu struggle to suppress her reflexes, Lu Ning felt a sharp pain in her own chest.

Large tears traced paths down the girl’s pale face, leaving her looking wretched. Lu Ning wanted to wipe them away or brush the hair from her face, but Mu Qiuyu wouldn’t let go. She gripped Lu Ning’s hand tightly, refusing to let her pull away.

Mu Qiuyu didn’t know why, but from the moment Lu Ning appeared, she had stopped feeling like herself. Just a hug from behind felt like the greatest comfort in the world. When the massive influx of information hit her, her logic made a decision instantly, but emotionally, she was lost.

The “other her” from the system punishment was right. She had arrogantly thought the world was hers, but in her previous life, she had gained nothing until the very end. She hadn’t even known the truth of her mother’s death. Every year, she had prayed for the soul of the very culprit who killed her.

“Lu Ling,” Mu Qiuyu whispered, her hand clutching Lu Ning’s like a piece of driftwood in the ocean. “Do you think… I’m like a clown?”

The question felt like a sharpened wooden stake driven into Lu Ning’s heart. She understood why Mu Qiuyu asked it, which made her want to refute it all the more.

“Where would one find such a beautiful clown?” Lu Ning half-knelt beside Mu Qiuyu, her eyes meeting the other’s with a playful yet sincere gaze.

Mu Qiuyu’s dark eyes finally showed a different emotion—a hint of grievance, as if scolding Lu Ning for joking at a time like this. But Lu Ning wasn’t just joking. She turned her hand within Mu Qiuyu’s grip, her warm palm enveloping the other’s. “Mu Qiuyu, listen. You are a life nurtured by your mother. Your body was given by her; her blood flows in you. He… he is nothing.”

Lu Ning’s voice was softer than ever before. The sunset spilled over her, casting a gentle glow on her face. Mu Qiuyu had thought she didn’t need anyone to console her. She hadn’t shared much, only asking that vague question about the “clown.” Yet, Lu Ning saw everything beneath the surface.

In Mu Qiuyu’s memory, her childhood was filled with Mu Jingyi. As a child, she had wondered why Su Qinghang acted differently when her mother was present versus when they were alone. Now she realized that playing the role of a perfect husband must have taken all his energy. How could a father who never participated in his child’s life expect deep love?

The more she loved her mother, the more she hated this man. He was her biological father, but more importantly, he was her mother’s murderer. Yet, such truths are often smothered by platitudes like “He’s still your father” or “Parents can do no wrong.” People urge forgiveness to maintain a shallow peace, or seeing the power behind someone like Su Qinghang, they urge one to swallow their dignity and suck up to them.

When she asked that question, she was terrified Lu Ning would say something like that. Half of the uncertainty in her eyes was because of this person.

But Lu Ning didn’t. She didn’t offer a single word of defense for that man.

Hearing Lu Ning’s words, the turmoil in Mu Qiuyu’s stomach settled. She stared into the girl’s bright eyes with only one thought: She truly understands me.

Lu Ning waited for a response, her confidence wavering into a bit of anxiety. Did I say something wrong? She couldn’t pinpoint why, but it felt right. It was intuition, mixed with everything she knew about Mu Qiuyu.

“Mu Qiu…”

Before Lu Ning could finish, Mu Qiuyu slowly leaned toward her. The movement was much like Wutong’s earlier—her breath was warm and damp against Lu Ning’s neck. Lu Ning adjusted her stance so Mu Qiuyu could hug her more comfortably.

The sunset burned the clouds away, leaving only an orange rim on the edge of the dark world. It looked like an exile, yet also a flight from the rule of darkness.

After a long silence, Lu Ning realized Mu Qiuyu just needed the hug. She remembered being at her lowest and wishing someone would hold her. She never found that person, but she wanted Mu Qiuyu to have one.

Suddenly, a muffled call came from Lu Ning’s left ear.

“Lu Ling.”

Mu Qiuyu buried her face in Lu Ning’s neck. Every word she spoke vibrated through her chin against Lu Ning’s collarbone. The bone conduction was slower than sound, yet it struck Lu Ning’s heart with clarity.

“What is it?” Lu Ning asked softly.

“Get the system repaired. From now on, you are not allowed to be unreachable.”

Mu Qiuyu’s voice had regained its usual coldness, but Lu Ning could hear the hidden vulnerability. Such a command made her heart melt. The fact that she had lost contact while in the Inner World today meant she wasn’t there when Mu Qiuyu needed her most. At the thought of this, Lu Ning wanted to file a report with the system immediately.

“Don’t worry, I’ll definitely handle it,” Lu Ning promised.

“Good girl.” (Hǎo guāi)

For some reason, where a simple “Okay” would have sufficed, Mu Qiuyu added “Guai.” If Lu Ning were still a kitten or a hedgehog, the term would be fine. But she was a human now. Humans distinguish themselves from animals with specific language, yet the more they try to separate the two, the more such words provoke the imagination.

Lu Ning’s heart skipped a beat. Mu Qiuyu’s face shifted slightly against her neck. Her lips, still wet with tears, brushed past Lu Ning’s skin like a blurry, hazy kiss. Her breathing had leveled out, falling rhythmically on Lu Ning’s skin—lingering, brushing.

Lu Ning felt something was off. Her chest was trembling. A desire was breaking through the permafrost of years, seizing this rare bit of warmth and growing wildly.

“Knock, knock, knock.”

“Qiuyu, how are you? I brought you…”

The knocking and a girl’s excited voice sounded simultaneously. Before Pei Yinyue could even ask if it was convenient, Li Xiang pushed the door open.

In the unobstructed room, they saw two figures: one sitting, one kneeling. Mu Qiuyu was still leaning on Lu Ning’s shoulder, greedily enjoying their moment.

Before Mu Qiuyu could throw a “death glare,” Li Xiang realized what she had done. She froze for a second, then immediately covered Pei Yinyue’s eyes and slammed the door shut.

“What happened?” Pei Yinyue asked, completely lost.

“Uh, well…” Li Xiang scratched her head, frantically thinking of how to help Mu Qiuyu cover up the fact that she was doing something… clandestine with her “sister” in front of Pei Yinyue.

“Creak—”

Just as Li Xiang was about to claim they were playing chess, the door opened.

“I was a bit tired and fell asleep on Sister’s shoulder,” Mu Qiuyu said calmly, her face having returned to its usual indifferent expression.

Lu Ning stood behind her, playing along. “The pressure was a bit much.”

Li Xiang looked at the two of them—who honestly looked perfect together—and clearly didn’t believe the story, but she put on a convincing “I believe you” face. “Oh, I see.”

“Yes,” Lu Ning nodded, her eyes full of sincerity.

Both were terrible actors. Mu Qiuyu, seeing the awkwardness, looked at Pei Yinyue. She didn’t know if Pei had noticed anything; they usually had a tacit understanding and skipped over Li Xiang’s blunders.

“You got gold, and I got silver today. Many events got medals this year. The coach booked a victory banquet at Dingxiang Pavilion.” Pei Yinyue’s eyes twinkled with mischief. She lowered her voice and whispered to Mu Qiuyu, “I saw seafood porridge and abalone ginseng soup on the menu. If you don’t come, I won’t have an excuse to fleece the teachers.”

It was a hard invitation to refuse. Mu Qiuyu smiled and agreed. “Okay, but I’m bringing someone.”

“Perfect, I’m bringing someone too,” Pei Yinyue said, taking Li Xiang’s arm.

As Pei Yinyue said, with Mu Qiuyu there, it was easier to “fleece” the coaches. Since the hero of the day was sitting there with a stomachache, they had to let her eat the best food.

As soon as Lu Ning sat down, she saw the rotating glass tray filled with fragrant delicacies. Having spent all her points last time, she hadn’t eaten well in a while. Her chopsticks didn’t stop. Though she was an “outsider,” she enjoyed the feast without reserve. Every time she wanted something, Mu Qiuyu would stop the tray for her.

Mu Qiuyu watched her with a calm gaze, and when Lu Ning looked surprised, she simply said, “My finger was getting tired.”

Lu Ning quickly took the piece of crispy duck she had been eyeing. She even put a piece on Mu Qiuyu’s plate. “It’s delicious,” Lu Ning said, putting a wrap on Mu Qiuyu’s plate. Unlike herself, Lu Ning felt that this person always maintained a joyful passion for food. She knew Lu Ning wasn’t just a “system,” so she couldn’t help piecing together information about her “humanity.”

“Where does your appetite come from?” Mu Qiuyu asked.

The question sounded like Don’t systems lack an appetite? Lu Ning slowed down her wrapping, blending her experience into her system identity: “When I was a little system, I was fed a lot of data by a ‘Gourmet System.’ Human food is just incredible!”

Lu Ning’s mental voice was full of passion. Then she pouted. “But later, the Gourmet System was sent to the repair station, and I couldn’t get more data from it.”

“I see,” Mu Qiuyu nodded thoughtfully and took a bite of the duck wrap Lu Ning recommended.

“Can Qiuyu eat such greasy food?” Across the table, Teacher Li noticed and asked with concern.

“It’s fine,” Mu Qiuyu shook her head. “My stomach doesn’t hurt anymore. It was probably just the stress of the competition.”

“I see. Everyone is under a lot of pressure during matches,” Teacher Li said, looking at the students. “They usually have diarrhea or stomachaches. This year is much better.”

“Because we have Sister Mu this year!”

“Watching a master shoot is a pleasure.”

“A certain someone isn’t here to ‘PUA’ us, so of course the pressure is lower.”

“And seeing Qiuyu slap No. 1 Middle School’s face makes us feel refreshed. All illnesses cured!”

The group laughed, turning Teacher Li’s worry into the past tense. Mu Qiuyu had been to many banquets and heard many flatteries, but this time, she didn’t feel the usual disgust. Watching them chat with the coaches, she felt a sense of relaxation. This was the difference between youth and adults: always sincere, always clean.

Lu Ning watched a smile flash in Mu Qiuyu’s eyes and saw her finish the wrap. Lu Ning prepared a tissue, wickedly wanting to see if Mu Qiuyu would get sauce on her fingers like she did.

Suddenly, an unexpected ding sounded in her head—[Congratulations, “Integrate into a Club” task complete!]

Small fireworks exploded before them. Lu Ning froze with a piece of duck in her mouth, her eyes filling with excitement.

“Host!! Host!!” Lu Ning galloped through Mu Qiuyu’s mind like a wild horse.

Mu Qiuyu didn’t mind. She just looked at those round eyes and smiled. “Impressive, right?”

“Super impressive! Our Qiuyu is the best host in the world! No one can compare! My host is number one under heaven!” Lu Ning went into “Rainbow Fart” mode, repeatedly saying “Our Qiuyu.”

Mu Qiuyu listened to the phrase “Our Qiuyu” echoing in her mind. When did I become Lu Ning’s? This bratty kitten should be mine. Despite this, she didn’t correct Lu Ning. She patted Lu Ning’s leg, which was shaking with excitement. “Calm down. Don’t give us away.”

“Don’t worry,” Lu Ning replied, giving her an “OK” sign.

Over there, Li Xiang looked at Lu Ning and said thoughtfully, “Sister, I feel like you remind me of someone.”

“Who?” Lu Ning looked up, mouth still full of duck.

The light hit her face, giving her eyes a crystal blue shimmer. Li Xiang’s eyes widened, then she said excitedly, “The cat our class keeps! And the cat is very clingy with Qiuyu too!”

Li Xiang’s use of “too” was poignant, inviting certain associations. At the mention of being a cat, Lu Ning choked.

“Cough, cough, cough…!”

The duck meat suddenly felt heavy. Even Mu Qiuyu patting her back didn’t help. She had eaten too fast out of guilt; the embarrassment she wanted to see on Mu Qiuyu was now happening to her.

“Oh dear,” Li Xiang said, handing her a wet wipe.

Lu Ning wanted to escape Li Xiang’s sharp gaze. “Thanks, I’ll go wash up.” She left her seat.

Mu Qiuyu excused herself to the teachers and followed. The corridor was filled with the noise of different parties, perfectly masking Lu Ning’s guilty heartbeat. She had only walked a few steps when a figure leaned in behind her.

It was Mu Qiuyu. Lu Ning knew the silhouette well. “Why did you come out?”

“To see if a certain cat was escaping out of guilt,” Mu Qiuyu joked, clearly in a good mood.

“I didn’t notice Li Xiang being so observant before. Why today of all days?” Lu Ning pouted, looking aggrieved.

“You were too busy eating,” Mu Qiuyu said, taking Li Xiang’s side over her “relative.”

Lu Ning snorted in protest and kept walking. Although she could refresh her clothes with a click, she had to play the part.

“Oh, our Xiao Ai has really grown up. She’s the spitting image of her mother.” “But those eyes look like Xiao Feng’s.” “Doesn’t she? Xiao Feng has beautiful eyes, and Xiao Ai’s aren’t bad either. Look at those lashes; I thought her mother took her to get extensions.”

On the way to the restroom, Mu Qiuyu heard familiar flattery from another private room. She sometimes hated her sharp perception; with just a few nicknames, she realized the people inside were Su Qinghang and his current family.

Lu Ning realized it too; her operating system detected the identities faster than Mu Qiuyu. Because Su Qinghang’s current wife was the daughter of a high official, everyone was flattering his “only” daughter. Yet he clearly had another one.

Fury burned in Lu Ning’s heart. She turned to pull Mu Qiuyu away, but a card was floating in front of Mu Qiuyu. Upon completing the task, the system mall had unlocked the second “Plot Card.”

Mu Qiuyu stared hatefully at the man in the room. She redeemed the card and began to write: Su Qinghang dies in a freak chandelier accident…

“…”

Before she could finish, a sharp pain shot through her heart. The system had explained the rules: characters within the worldline cannot be written to death directly. The pain was a warning. If she continued, there would be worse.

“Mu Qiuyu, don’t,” Lu Ning received the warning too and tried to stop her.

But Mu Qiuyu was unwilling. Her dark eyes were full of hate. As long as it didn’t kill her, she would keep writing…

The moment she tried to move the pen again, her body went limp. Fortunately, Lu Ning caught her.

[Warning: Two. A third warning will trigger the Disposal Program. A fifth will revoke the Host’s redemption rights. Please use cards with caution.]

Mu Qiuyu wouldn’t die, but if she persisted, she would lose the card forever. Hate filled her body. She stared at the line of text, forcing herself to calm down.

“I will find a way.”

[New Task!]

The notification appeared alongside Mu Qiuyu’s voice. Lu Ning had a bad feeling. Sure enough, the text read:

[Main Task: Find your family. Time limit: Three months. Reward: 5200 points.] [Note: This is a massive point reward. Please observe patiently and complete it with care!]

Lu Ning looked at the floating text and thought of the man in the next room. She cursed: “Is the system insane? Why look for that piece of trash! What for? To personally execute him?”

Mu Qiuyu looked much calmer than Lu Ning. She stared at the text, pensive. Lu Ning was still ranting, even wanting to write a letter to the Main System.

At that moment, two men walked out of the room full of flattery.

“Xiao Feng, your daughter has a bright future.”

“I only have this one daughter. I don’t ask her to be brilliant; staying by her mother’s and my side is enough.”

“Spoken like a true ‘daughter-slave’!”

Their conversation drew closer, moving toward the restroom. Lu Ning snapped out of her anger and tried to pull Mu Qiuyu away. But Mu Qiuyu didn’t hide. She grabbed Lu Ning’s hand and pulled her close.

As Su Qinghang approached, Mu Qiuyu’s voice whispered in her ear: “Hold me.”

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