Did I Succeed in Redeeming the Villain Today? - Chapter 93

Chapter 93: Who Is Lu Ling?

The rain pattered against the umbrella, creating a rhythmic pitter-patter—much like Lu Ning’s heartbeat at this moment. She looked up in astonishment at the person standing beside her, never imagining that Mu Qiuyu would appear here.

An event without premeditation cannot be called calculated; Mu Qiuyu’s appearance was truly a coincidence. The sudden evening downpour had caught everyone off guard. On her way back from the orchestra, Mu Qiuyu saw pedestrians scurrying in the rain. She wasn’t worried about getting wet herself, as she always kept an umbrella in her car.

However, as she drove past an intersection, she noticed a figure emerging from the subway entrance. Mu Qiuyu didn’t know when her eyesight had become so sharp; she usually struggled to find people in the orchestra, yet she had accurately spotted Lu Ning through the curtain of rain.

The wind blew against Lu Ning’s skirt, making it flutter like a wisp of smoke. This person had no umbrella and was looking at the rain with a sense of helplessness. Mu Qiuyu thought that as an adult, Lu Ning could solve this herself, and she prepared to change lanes and drive away.

But in the next second, the figure crouched down on the ground. To the city, Lu Ning was just another unlucky soul about to get soaked. No one cared about her mood, even though she looked utterly dejected.

Then, Mu Qiuyu noticed a white bandage wrapped around Lu Ning’s left arm. In a rain-drenched city, that clean white stood out painfully. Mu Qiuyu’s heart was pricked; an inexplicable tightness and ache washed over her. Chang Yuan was right—even if Mu Qiuyu didn’t remember Lu Ning, she couldn’t control her own heart.

The turn signal she had just flicked off with a click. Her subconscious concern for Lu Ning took over. She stepped on the accelerator, drove through the intersection, and headed straight for the subway exit.

Raindrops drew thin lines across the windshield. Mu Qiuyu wondered if she was being too impulsive. Her kindness had arrived suddenly and without boundaries, and her logic was in disarray, leaving her unable to explain the emotions she was projecting onto Lu Ning.

The falling rain was shut out by the umbrella; in this dry world, there was only Mu Qiuyu and Lu Ning. Seeing that Lu Ning hadn’t answered her for a long time, Mu Qiuyu tried to find a reason for her impulse to leave: “Is it not needed?”

But once the umbrella had been offered, there was no taking it back. And Lu Ning certainly wouldn’t let her.

“It is needed!” Lu Ning answered quickly after Mu Qiuyu’s reminder. Realizing she might have sounded a bit crude, she added politely, “Then I shall trouble Miss Mu.”

Watching the person’s quick-then-quiet response, Mu Qiuyu’s expression softened slightly. Holding the umbrella with one hand, she walked Lu Ning to her car. The engine was still running, and the heater was on. As soon as Lu Ning sat inside, she was enveloped by a wave of warm air.

The passenger door closed. Lu Ning sat obediently in her seat, watching through the windshield as Mu Qiuyu walked around to the driver’s side. The warm air moved with the atmosphere, and the cabin was filled with Mu Qiuyu’s scent. The low, lost feeling she had felt at the subway exit vanished instantly; Lu Ning felt warm all over.

“Where is your home?”

While Lu Ning was greedily taking in the scent, Mu Qiuyu got into the car. Lu Ning quickly pulled her thoughts back. “It’s on Changhong Road, Fourth Avenue, Yuecheng Mansion Community.”

Mu Qiuyu entered the address and looked at the navigation. “That’s very close to the school.”

“Yes,” Lu Ning nodded, taking the chance to close the distance. “But that’s a place I moved to later. Your current home, Miss Mu, is actually where I used to live.”

Mu Qiuyu was surprised. “Is that so?”

“Yes,” Lu Ning nodded, trying to make her behavior from the other day seem more reasonable. “So that’s why when I went back that day, I mistook Xiao Nian for my friend.”

Regarding Lu Ning’s explanation, Mu Qiuyu still held some reservations. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust her, but she felt it wasn’t just a “mistake.” Mu Qiuyu’s mother had mentioned before that while Chen Nian was a distant relative, she looked very much like Mu Qiuyu did as a child. It was a strange thought—how could Lu Ning know what she looked like in high school?

Suppressing her bizarre suspicions, Mu Qiuyu said, “Actually, I only bought that house recently. I had been looking for a while and happened to find that one suitable.”

In reality, that house had exceeded Mu Qiuyu’s budget, and the interior decoration wasn’t to her taste. But she wanted it—inexplicably wanted it—and she had even kept most of the original layout. But she wouldn’t tell Lu Ning that.

Lu Ning, of course, had no way of knowing, but she still caught the evidence from Mu Qiuyu’s words that this Mu Qiuyu was her Mu Qiuyu. How could there be so many coincidences?

Feeling that this topic shouldn’t continue, Mu Qiuyu shifted her gaze to Lu Ning’s arm. “What happened to the injury on your arm?”

Lu Ning instinctively covered her arm. “I accidentally cut it.”

It was a defensive gesture. Mu Qiuyu’s intuition told her that Lu Ning was hiding something. But what right did she have to demand the truth?

“It’s okay. If you don’t want to talk about it, we can skip the topic,” Mu Qiuyu smiled gently, instinctively wanting to comfort her.

Hearing this, Lu Ning slowly released her hand. She felt there shouldn’t be so much distance between them, so she tried to be honest. “My mother cut it.”

“Her mental health isn’t great. I told her too many things just now, which exhausted her, and then… it happened.”

Though Lu Ning wasn’t specific, Mu Qiuyu could piece together enough information. Realizing she had touched a wound, she felt a mix of guilt and heartache. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

Lu Ning didn’t mind. “There’s nothing to be sorry for. I’m happy that Miss Mu cares about me.”

She always looked on the bright side. It was a habit she had developed over the years. No matter how bad things were, she could find a silver lining. Otherwise, how could she go on?

“Would you like to hear some music?” Mu Qiuyu asked.

“I’d like to hear a collection of your violin pieces,” Lu Ning said immediately.

Mu Qiuyu thought this person was quite good at taking an inch when given a mile. Yet, she felt inclined to indulge her. “Which piece does Miss Lu like?”

“Zigeunerweisen (Gypsy Airs),” Lu Ning answered brightly.

That was the first piece she had heard Mu Qiuyu play when she first arrived in that other world. Lu Ning reminisced, merging the past world with the present. “That was the first time I saw you play. You were on a stage that wasn’t very large, and the audience wasn’t even there for the violin—they were just visitors organized to be there. But even then, I felt you were the best performer there.”

The evening rain distorted the streetlights into blurry glows, casting a warm light on Lu Ning’s face. Mu Qiuyu watched her, her own memories hazy. Over the years, she had played so many pieces that she had almost forgotten which one was special in which performance. Yet, hearing Lu Ning’s description, she felt as if she remembered something.

“That performance was a competition… I won first place, didn’t I?” Mu Qiuyu searched her unclear memories and inexplicably saw a small sphere in her mind’s eye. Was there a trophy shaped like a small ball?

She looked at the memory in confusion, then heard Lu Ning say, “Yes! So many people stood up to applaud you, and I did too.”

Perhaps because that performance was so vivid to Lu Ning, her eyes were sparkling. Looking into those eyes, Mu Qiuyu finally said what she hadn’t been able to say at school: “Would Miss Lu be interested in attending my concert this weekend? It’s at the city center concert hall.”

“I’d love to!” Lu Ning agreed joyfully. The rain was still falling, but Lu Ning’s mood had completely transformed.

As soon as Mu Qiuyu dropped her off, Lu Ning began rummaging through her closet. Meanwhile, Ji Xiao, who had just returned from work and was trying to sneak up on Wei Qingyu for a hug, was exposed by the barrage of messages from Lu Ning.

“Ugh.” Ji Xiao felt a sense of defeat, resting her chin on Wei Qingyu’s shoulder.

Wei Qingyu looked at the reflection in the glass lid, patted Ji Xiao’s pouting face, and teased softly, “Teacher Ji, your cover was blown long ago. You should see who’s messaging you.”

Given the sheer volume of notifications, Wei Qingyu could feel the sender’s urgency. Ji Xiao pulled out her phone and saw Lu Ning’s name jumping across the screen. “Xiao Ning?” Ji Xiao frowned, thinking something was wrong.

Then she saw that Lu Ning was being even more dramatic than when Ji Xiao had prepared for her first formal date with Wei Qingyu. “This girl has emptied her entire wardrobe!”

Hearing Ji Xiao’s shocked voice, Wei Qingyu remained calm. “Is there progress with Mu Qiuyu?”

Ji Xiao nodded her head like a woodpecker. “Mu Qiuyu invited Xiao Ning to her concert this weekend!” She sat on a barstool and said seriously, “I have to help her strategize.”

“You could help her find an outfit or accessory that triggers a memory. That way, Mu Qiuyu might remember sooner,” Wei Qingyu suggested.

“Good point,” Ji Xiao messaged the suggestion to Lu Ning. Just as she hit send, a realization struck her. She looked up at Wei Qingyu. “So… back then, did you drink the peach brandy on purpose?”

“No,” Wei Qingyu denied it. She stirred the soup unhurriedly, the rising steam carrying a gentle warmth. “I’ve always liked peach brandy.”

Inexplicably, Ji Xiao’s face flushed. She continued typing, but amidst the sound of the boiling soup, she said to Wei Qingyu, “I like mint, too.”

Soon, Lu Ning replied: “Corn Poppy.”

“Help me see which outfit goes with this brooch.”

“[Image]”

The bright moonlight fell on the flower-shaped brooch Lu Ning was holding. After sending the photo, her restless mind settled on it. This brooch was something Lu Ning had found by chance after finishing the novel Mu Qiuyu was in. She didn’t know why, but she had bought it on a whim. Later, when she entered the book and saw Mu Qiuyu’s field of poppies, she had forgotten about it.

Perhaps, from their very first meeting, Mu Qiuyu had already told her: she loved poppies. But this brooch was so small; it didn’t seem enough to pry open the memories between them. Lu Ning decided to buy a new outfit specifically to match it.

Ji Xiao saw the message and couldn’t help but tease her: Spendthrift.

But the new clothes were indeed a better match than her professional workwear. The smooth suit fabric was like still water supporting a flower, and the smoke-gray color made the red petals stand out. On the day of the concert, Lu Ning even curled her hair—something she hadn’t done in ages.

The sunlight hit her face, making her look both bright and casual. She was naturally tall and acted as a perfect clothes hanger; walking down the street, she was a total head-turner.

“I just saw a really beautiful girl go into the concert hall.”

“Really? Is she coming to our hall?”

“Yeah! I saw an access pass on her chest. Help, I hope I run into her later; I really want her contact info.”

Mu Qiuyu was preparing when she heard the staff’s discussion outside her dressing room. For some reason, hearing that description, “Lu Ning” immediately popped into her head. Is she here?

At that moment, Mu Qiuyu’s phone lit up. It was a message from Lu Ning: “I’m here.” As Mu Qiuyu was about to reply “perfect timing,” another photo arrived. It was a picture after Lu Ning had taken her seat.

Under her smoke-gray suit, she wore a satin shirt that gave off a lazy, elegant vibe. The person didn’t seem to know how to button up properly; a pair of collarbones and a glimpse of skin were subtly visible at the edge of the frame…

“Qiuyu, why are your ears red?” the stylist asked in surprise. “Is it that hot in here?”

Mu Qiuyu quickly put her phone face down, her voice muffled. “Mhm.” Then she cleared her throat and suggested, “Help me leave two strands of hair by my temples to cover my ears.”

“Sure,” the stylist agreed readily.

As the start time approached, the hall gradually filled up. Lu Ning was impressed by Mu Qiuyu’s current success, but she kept looking down at her phone for a message. After waiting a long while, there was no reply. This made her anxious and distracted. Ji Xiao had told her this method worked every time. Or was it useless on Mu Qiuyu? Would Mu Qiuyu think she was frivolous and distance herself again?

Lu Ning’s heart raced, and her hands began to sweat. She tried to comfort herself; maybe Mu Qiuyu hadn’t seen it. The show was starting; she must be waiting backstage. It was normal not to see it, right?

Just as she was thinking this, the curtain opened. After the host’s introduction, Mu Qiuyu walked onto the stage with her violin. Her tilted neck was as elegant as a swan’s, and her expression was cool and confident. She bowed gracefully to the audience.

The hall erupted in applause. Lu Ning clapped along, her eyes fixed solely on Mu Qiuyu. After an absolute silence, the sound of the violin strings rang out.

A live performance was ten thousand times more powerful than a video. The melodious sound filled the entire hall. The current Mu Qiuyu was more composed and skillful than her high school self. Lu Ning was immersed in the music, completely unaware that Mu Qiuyu was looking at her.

Mu Qiuyu’s gaze had once again drifted uncontrollably and easily to Lu Ning. She was wearing the clothes from the photo, but she looked even more vivid in person. The soft fabric rose and fell with her breathing, embodying a flowing light. This was a feeling Mu Qiuyu had never had in previous performances. As she plucked the strings, a familiar sensation in her fingers pushed her to pour even more emotion into the piece.

When the piece ended, the applause was more intense than ever. The audience could feel her emotion. She bowed gracefully, specifically noting Lu Ning’s applause.

“Amazing!!” Lu Ning looked at Mu Qiuyu and mouthed the words excitedly. Seeing this, a hint of pride rose in Mu Qiuyu’s eyes. Standing under the brilliant lights, she curled her lips into a smile at Lu Ning.

Mu Qiuyu felt she should say something at this moment. And it was then that a sentence echoed in her head:

—“Lu Ling, who belongs to your family?”

Mu Qiuyu’s gaze turned blank for a moment. She couldn’t help but wonder: Who is Lu Ling?

“Mu Qiuyu’s performance was exceptionally good today.”

“I’ve been to so many of her concerts, but this one was truly stunning.”

“So beautiful, it’s heavenly music!”

“It was worth fighting for tickets for a month.”

Mu Qiuyu’s concert was a massive success. Even after the last piece, the audience was reluctant to leave. But Lu Ning had already stood up. She ignored the praise around her, moved against the crowd, and used her pass to enter the backstage area.

Backstage was busy but orderly. Lu Ning was worried about finding the dressing room, but Mu Qiuyu’s was in the most prominent spot.

Knock, knock. “Miss Mu, am I disturbing you?”

Lu Ning peeked through the cracked door. Mu Qiuyu was maintaining her violin. Seeing her, Mu Qiuyu couldn’t help but smile and gestured, “Come in.”

“Okay,” Lu Ning nodded and walked in shyly. It was her first time in such a place. The room was larger than expected, with a makeup area, a sofa for guests, and a door on the east wall leading to another room.

“What a huge dressing room,” Lu Ning said, sounding like someone who hadn’t seen much of the world.

“It’s alright,” Mu Qiuyu said dismissively. “Teacher Lu, sit anywhere. Don’t be formal.”

“Then I won’t be polite,” Lu Ning smiled and sat on the chair closest to Mu Qiuyu. As Lu Ning leaned in, Mu Qiuyu found she didn’t mind the proximity at all. She accepted it naturally. Her gaze drifted to the poppy brooch on Lu Ning’s chest. “Is that… a corn poppy?”

“Yes,” Lu Ning said, seeing she had noticed. “Does Miss Mu like poppies?”

Mu Qiuyu nodded. “They are quite pretty, and they bloom brilliantly.”

“I’ve seen fields of them in all sorts of colors. When the sunset hits them, that’s true brilliance,” Lu Ning said, fervently wanting to bring back their past memories.

As she listened, a layer of white haze seemed to cover Mu Qiuyu’s mind. And behind that haze was a sea of crimson, brilliant flowers. “I feel… as if I’ve seen that before,” Mu Qiuyu frowned, speaking thoughtfully.

The heat in Lu Ning’s eyes intensified. “Then if there’s a chance, I’ll take you to see them.”

“Alright,” Mu Qiuyu agreed naturally. Lu Ning felt this was a great start; the distance between them was finally closing.

At that moment, the sound of a violin piece played over the speakers outside. The melody was familiar—it was the music played at the shooting range when Lu Ning had pretended to be Mu Qiuyu in the competition. Hearing it here stunned her. Memories flooded Lu Ning’s mind as she looked at Mu Qiuyu.

Mu Qiuyu simply thought Lu Ning didn’t know the custom and explained, “It’s a tradition of the orchestra. After a concert, they play some of my previous recordings.”

“I see,” Lu Ning nodded. The coincidences were becoming too frequent for Lu Ning to ignore. She remembered her conversation with the Main System—if the system was real, then these coincidences weren’t accidental.

She said to Mu Qiuyu, “Miss Mu, did you know you can dance to this piece?”

“You can dance to many violin pieces,” Mu Qiuyu replied, puzzled.

“Then… is Miss Mu interested?” Lu Ning reached out her hand.

The invitation was somewhat sudden and even a bit rude. Mu Qiuyu looked at the hand and initially intended to refuse. But somehow, she seemed bewitched by the poppy on the person’s chest. “Okay,” she said, setting down her violin.

The lights were soft, tracing two silhouettes on the floor. Lu Ning and Mu Qiuyu stood face to face. Lu Ning naturally took Mu Qiuyu’s hand, her other arm reaching around her waist.

Thump, thump, thump.

The contact awakened a deep sense of familiarity in Lu Ning, making her heart skip a beat. Accompanied by the violin music, Lu Ning recalled the dance Mu Qiuyu had once led her through. She carefully took a step.

Slide, step, turn.

At first, Lu Ning could lead, but she wasn’t a great leader. Gradually, her steps became uncoordinated. “Um, I…” Lu Ning felt she was about to ruin this hard-won opportunity.

But just as she was about to trip, she felt a strength supporting her. Mu Qiuyu’s hand had moved to Lu Ning’s waist, steadily guiding her. The transition of leadership was silent and seamless. Mu Qiuyu held Lu Ning’s hand, instinctively and patiently guiding this amateur.

As the music deepened, their steps became stable. Mu Qiuyu’s skirt brushed against Lu Ning’s legs and ankles. Mu Qiuyu’s gaze stopped on Lu Ning’s face. The person’s expression had shifted from stiff to relaxed, and a gentle look in her sharp features felt both contradictory and familiar.

The room changed as they moved, but Mu Qiuyu’s eyes remained locked with Lu Ning’s. Familiarity spread from every point of contact. Did we… know each other in the past?

The moment that thought formed, fragmented scenes flashed in Mu Qiuyu’s mind. And in every hazy image was the face of the person before her.

“Tong… Miss Mu, did you think of something?” Lu Ning’s heart raced.

“Many images,” Mu Qiuyu said blankly, voicing her thoughts without her usual guard. “Before… was your name Lu Ling?”

In Mu Qiuyu’s deep, pool-like eyes, she saw Lu Ning’s pupils suddenly dilate. This was her Mu Qiuyu! How could she have ever doubted it?

“Yes, it’s me. It is,” Lu Ning nodded repeatedly, gripping Mu Qiuyu’s hand with controlled strength.

“And I am?” Mu Qiuyu asked.

“Tongtong,” Lu Ning whispered into her ear as she leaned in, unable to hold back any longer.

The light music merged with Lu Ning’s voice, touching the memories surfacing in Mu Qiuyu’s mind. She felt as if, in another space, a version of herself had finally broken free from her shackles, walking toward her step by step through the endless snow.

Mu Qiuyu! Remember! How could you ever forget her!

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