Did I Succeed in Redeeming the Villain Today? - Chapter 81

Chapter 81: It’s An Adult’s Kiss

“How do you discover that you actually like her?”

“Probably when the wind blows, and you suddenly want to reach out and hold her hair as it dances in the breeze.”

Li Xiang was reading a poem she had copied from somewhere, sounding quite solemn about it.

Mu Qiuyu, who was currently solving a final physics problem, paid it no mind. As she wrote down the formulas resulting from her thoughts, she tossed those two lines of “sour poetry” to the back of her mind. At the time, Mu Qiuyu couldn’t understand what liking someone had to do with their hair.

But in reality, it was just a metaphor. The thing that makes one suddenly realize the existence of love isn’t necessarily hair; it could be a shadow, a turn of phrase, or even just a pair of irreplaceable eyes looking back at you.

That sentence, “Can you give me one last kiss?”, was something she said subconsciously. However, this “plan” was something she had been premeditating since the moment Lu Ling sternly reminded her that she was still a minor.

As the sea breeze brushed past Mu Qiuyu’s profile, she couldn’t help but let out a slow sigh in her mind.

So, it was a kiss. It turned out she, too, could harbor a desire to kiss someone. Again and again, over and over. Whether that person was a kitten, a disguise of herself, or in her own true form.

Mu Qiuyu strangely remembered her first mission. Regarding her “friend,” she had known the truth earlier than Lu Ning, but not by much. In hindsight, she realized she had come to regard Lu Ning as more important than she had imagined long before she even noticed.

The system missions had actually been reminding her of this all along. The emotions Mu Qiuyu had suppressed countless times were finally being seen by their owner. The threshold collapsed in an instant; once it received the command of acceptance from Mu Qiuyu, it surged forth.

—“Of course you like her.”

—“She’s quite cute, isn’t she?”

—“You liked her a long time ago, hurry up and remember.”

Her own voice echoed in her mind once more. But this time, the urging voice no longer felt unpleasant or threatening. Mu Qiuyu realized she had indeed forgotten something. And the voice in her head knew exactly what it was.

[Congratulations Host, mission complete!]

Just as Mu Qiuyu realized this, the system’s voice rang out in both her and Lu Ning’s minds.

One second, Lu Ning was still caught in the shock of Mu Qiuyu asking for a kiss; the next, the mission settlement page appeared abruptly. The girl stared blankly at the significant influx of points, feeling that many things today were moving a bit too fast—faster than her expectations.

In reality, the mission completion judgment made sense. The shared struggle over the past few months had significantly softened the relationship between Mu Qiuyu and Mu Jingqin. Moreover, the atmosphere between them just now was good, and Mu Jingqin had even given Mu Qiuyu the seaside villa as a birthday gift.

But what about that kiss? Mu Qiuyu had said the exact same words as Wutong. Was her current state of mind the same as Wutong’s back then? Since Wutong was a part of Mu Qiuyu, did it mean that as Mu Qiuyu changed, her feelings for Lu Ning had become the same?

But Wutong’s feelings for her were…

Lu Ning’s slow deduction suddenly flashed upon an incredible answer.

“Don’t delay.”

At that moment, a warmth brushed against Lu Ning’s ear. A cool, thin hand turned her chin, and Mu Qiuyu’s calm yet deep eyes broke into her line of sight. Her words carried a hidden meaning, reminding Lu Ning to answer the previous question.

But Lu Ning didn’t know how to answer. She thought she wanted to refuse Mu Qiuyu’s request, but the refusal was stuck in her throat. The emotion named desire entangled her expectant heart; her blood surged, making it impossible to speak a rejection.

The winter night wind easily calmed people down, and Mu Qiuyu saw Lu Ning’s hesitation. So, without waiting for an answer, she leaned in, pinning the hand Lu Ning used to prop herself up on the sand, and approached without hesitation: “Then I’ve come to redeem my birthday gift.”

Because the sea breeze was bone-chillingly cold, the people leaning toward each other felt exceptionally warm. Lu Ning was still blinking in surprise at Mu Qiuyu’s uncharacteristically proactive behavior, and then the girl acted on her words, parting Lu Ning’s lips and pushing her breath inside.

It was completely different from the last time.

Lu Ning’s relaxed defenses were easily conquered; she could clearly feel Mu Qiuyu’s tongue grazing the inside of her mouth. This sensation felt like an electric current running through her spine, making Lu Ning’s nerves jump uncontrollably. It also made her realize more clearly: this was an adult’s kiss.

But why was it Mu Qiuyu? A person doesn’t magically become an adult the second they turn eighteen; where did she learn such practiced technique?

The sea breeze swept across Lu Ning’s back, causing her to frown slightly. Her head was filled with this question, but then Mu Qiuyu’s free hand moved to her neck. Compared to the unannounced intrusion of the kiss, Mu Qiuyu’s movements now were much gentler. Her cool fingers ran through Lu Ning’s hair, slowly stroking the side of her neck. The kiss followed this rhythm, becoming dense and detailed.

The slow provocation was captivating. At first, Lu Ning’s thoughts were distracted by how skilled Mu Qiuyu was, wondering why she was so practiced. But gradually, as Mu Qiuyu continued her ministrations, Lu Ning’s mind was entirely occupied by the kiss. Her arm propped beside Mu Qiuyu bent slightly as she actively leaned down so Mu Qiuyu wouldn’t have to strain her neck.

This is deadly. Why is she so good at kissing?

In front of Mu Qiuyu, Lu Ning was a complete novice. She didn’t even know how to breathe properly; pressed down by Mu Qiuyu’s kiss, she was soon gasping for air. For a moment, listening to the waves sounding far and then near, Lu Ning felt as if she might be swept into the sea the next second, dying right here.

But how could Mu Qiuyu bear to let Lu Ning die? Just as she felt Lu Ning couldn’t breathe, she took the initiative to let go.

Under the moonlight, one was a gasping adult woman. The other, an eighteen-year-old girl who hadn’t yet lost her youthful innocence, had steady breathing and watched her with curved eyes: “It’s a good thing I did some crash-course tutoring.”

Hearing this, Lu Ning instinctively wanted to argue. But opening her mouth, she didn’t know what to say. With that one sentence, Mu Qiuyu had easily cleared up Lu Ning’s confusion from a moment ago.

The kiss became pure. The sea breeze slowly blew along the movement of the waves, trailing over the sweat on Lu Ning’s skin. It was just a kiss, yet she felt like she had run a long-distance race; her whole body was damp with sweat. Fortunately, the light was dim; otherwise, Lu Ning felt her whole body would be steaming white.

How embarrassing.

Mu Qiuyu looked at the changing expressions on Lu Ning’s face and spoke up: “Is there anything you want to ask?”

Her voice was as calm as ever, but beneath it lay a layer of restraint tinged with ambiguity. Lu Ning naturally knew where that vibe came from. Her eyes were cast down; the thoughts in her head were like a ball of yarn that rolled toward her with Mu Qiuyu’s question.

Lu Ning wanted to ask Mu Qiuyu why she kissed her. This time, she wasn’t in the form of “Mu Qiuyu,” nor was she the kitten sleeping in her arms. Besides that, Lu Ning wanted to ask herself: why did her heart race? And why, in a daze, did she uncontrollably kiss Mu Qiuyu back?

Bright moonlight spilled over the night sky, tracing their overlapping hands on the sand. It was the restraint Mu Qiuyu had used when she first kissed her, fearing Lu Ning would hide. But looking at those interlaced fingers, Lu Ning thought: I wouldn’t have hidden.

That was Mu Qiuyu, after all.

The sea breeze blew past Mu Qiuyu’s profile, exposing the girl’s fair neck to the night air. The low temperature stilled the scents around them, yet Lu Ning could still smell Mu Qiuyu’s scent through the tip of her tongue, which had been kissed by the other.

Thump, thump, thump. The sound of a heartbeat was exposed without cover near her ear. Lu Ning looked at Mu Qiuyu and thought with some realization: Her “like” for Mu Qiuyu seemed to have changed nature.

“Haven’t decided yet?” Seeing Lu Ning pause for so long, Mu Qiuyu squeezed Lu Ning’s hand.

Lu Ning’s train of thought was interrupted, and she habitually avoided the subject. She didn’t quite dare to ask directly why Mu Qiuyu kissed her, so she asked circuitously: “What is your third wish?”

Perhaps her third wish was also related to her. Whether she saw through Lu Ning’s trick or not, Mu Qiuyu stated: “Actually, I’m not very satisfied with the first wish.”

The topic circled back. Lu Ning looked down at herself in human form and immediately expressed confusion: “What are you unsatisfied with?”

Mu Qiuyu’s gaze traveled over Lu Ning as she said: “I’ve looked at this appearance for too long. I want to change your appearance.”

Hearing this, Lu Ning’s eyes dimmed for a moment. She sensitively thought: Did Mu Qiuyu, because of the kiss just now, get a taste of this shell and want to change it for something with more freshness? Yes, who wouldn’t like a shell they could taste fresh versions of anytime? Humans have their desires, so they invented various tools. Lu Ning had forgotten that in Mu Qiuyu’s eyes, she was just a system. How could Mu Qiuyu consider the feelings of a prop?

“Do you want to go back to the inner world, or wait here for the data update?”

Mu Qiuyu’s voice rang in Lu Ning’s ear again. But Lu Ning’s stubbornness flared up. Her jealousy came from a place of insecurity and was fierce; she insisted on seeing for herself what new appearance Mu Qiuyu would tune: “I’ll wait right here.”

“Alright.” Mu Qiuyu nodded, appearing as if she really hadn’t considered Lu Ning’s feelings.

White waves surged onto the shore one after another, then retreated with the tide. Lu Ning sat quietly beside Mu Qiuyu, watching her seriously adjust the system panel, her eyes full of dissatisfaction.

Unlike a child growing taller in their sleep, Lu Ning could clearly feel the bodily changes in a short time. Because of this, she felt a sense of familiarity with this body. Lu Ning looked down at her legs, which felt a bit awkward folded, and then heard Mu Qiuyu say to her: “It’s done.”

There was a hint of a smile in her voice, as if she had done something very satisfying. The silently burning candle illuminated her eyes; the gaze in those eyes—usually known for being cold—was now full of admiration. Lu Ning felt that Mu Qiuyu wasn’t looking at an object, but at a living, breathing person.

Lu Ning was incredibly confused. But she soon understood. In Mu Qiuyu’s eyes, she saw the reflection of her original self. Lu Ning looked at her face from her original world; her shocked expression was vividly reflected in Mu Qiuyu’s eyes.

Mu Qiuyu, of course, saw that expression. She looked at the person who was just disappointed and angry with her and teased: “What, don’t like it?”

“Of course not,” Lu Ning denied immediately. But then she realized she was a system, not the true owner of this body. Should she have this kind of joy over regaining what was lost?

As that question popped up, another one followed. Lu Ning looked at Mu Qiuyu in bewilderment, wondering how she managed to replicate her body so precisely.

“Looks familiar, doesn’t it?” Mu Qiuyu’s voice appeared at the right moment, as if she had long seen through everything.

Lu Ning slowly looked at Mu Qiuyu: “Is this the person from the compensation card the Main System gave you last time?” As she spoke, she had a faint feeling.

—The Schrödinger’s cat between her and Mu Qiuyu was finally about to be revealed.

“Yes,” Mu Qiuyu said with a profound look and a meaningful tone. “I was thinking, it’s been so long and I haven’t met her yet. Could it be that this person is actually someone I needed to mold myself?”

“Is… is that so…” Hearing Mu Qiuyu say this, Lu Ning began to waver along with her.

Humans are so contradictory. A moment ago, Lu Ning was thinking that this body wasn’t hers; now, she desperately hoped this body belonged to her. Seeing Lu Ning being so easily led astray by her, Mu Qiuyu mischievously propped up her chin.

There was a smile in her eyes, a leisurely manner like someone unwrapping a beautifully packaged gift in front of Lu Ning. And this gift was from the Main System.

“Lu Ling, aren’t you curious whose name I wrote on the card back then?” Mu Qiuyu asked softly.

Lu Ning was puzzled: “Wasn’t it your own?” She had been certain of that answer since the beginning.

But Mu Qiuyu smiled and shook her head: “No.”

Lu Ning was stunned. Then she realized something, as she heard Mu Qiuyu say to her: “Lu Ning, you are human, right?”

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