The Abused Heroine Stops Pretending [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 91.1

Tang Jing arrived once again at the rest stop station, staying there for some time to recuperate before continuing on to the next world.

During her previous missions in these worlds, she would linger at the rest stop for extended periods, all to heal her weary soul.

But this time, with Senior Shi by her side, the worlds she needed to conquer had instead become the places she most looked forward to. She couldn’t help but wonder, what role would Senior Shi take on in this world?

The mere thought of it made Tang Jing practically giddy with anticipation.

When she opened her eyes again, she found herself lying on a bed in a dimly lit bedroom, the curtains drawn. The room was quiet, making it impossible to tell whether it was day or night.

Soon, the system transmitted the background of this world.

Xi Ran, a low-level employee at Yueqing Co., Ltd., worked long hours every day for meager pay. She had a wealthy heiress girlfriend, Xia Yunwei, four years her junior, who spent her days eating, drinking, and having fun. Occasionally, when Xia Yunwei drank too much, she would summon Xi Ran to pick her up from the bar.

In front of her so-called friends, Xia Yunwei never gave Xi Ran any respect, even going so far as to claim that everything Xi Ran ate, drank, or wore was bought by her, humiliating Xi Ran in front of everyone.

Xi Ran and Xia Yunwei had met through a blind date and had been together for four years. In the first two years, Xia Yunwei had been affectionate and clingy, even joking about supporting Xi Ran financially so she could stay home and not worry about work.

Xi Ran was someone with deep-seated insecurities, and Xia Yunwei’s clinginess had given her a sense of security. But over the last two years, Xia Yunwei had started staying out late, always hanging out with her dubious friends. Whenever Xi Ran went to find her, she would be met with harsh words.

Gradually, Xi Ran stopped seeking her out, and Xia Yunwei only stayed out later and later. They fought over it, with Xia Yunwei accusing Xi Ran of being controlling, like a nagging mother. She even mocked Xi Ran’s meager salary, asking how someone who relied on her for food and clothes dared to tell her what to do.

Their cold war lasted two months, during which they didn’t see each other at all. When they finally reunited, Xia Yunwei would act sweet and clingy again, just like in the early days, showering Xi Ran with affection. But after a brief period of reconciliation, she would revert to her old ways, disappearing for days on end.

Xi Ran had considered breaking up, but Xia Yunwei would just laugh at her, asking if her pitiful salary could even support her. She even publicly belittled Xi Ran, and over time, the constant humiliation took its toll. Xi Ran fell into depression, too afraid to see people, leave the house, or even go to work, shutting herself away in her dark room.

Xia Yunwei visited a few times during this period, but her words were always cruel. In the end, Xi Ran, who had been struggling to hold on, took her own life.

Tang Jing couldn’t help but laugh darkly. “What kind of trash is this? Deep-frying would be too good for her.”

[System: Warning! Warning! Host’s thoughts are dangerously violent.]

“I know, I know. Just venting,” Tang Jing cut it off, then asked, “Xiao-6, where’s Senior Shi?”

This was the part she was most eager for.

[System: Yueqing Co., Ltd. Yin Qingyue.]

“Yueqing?” Tang Jing thought for a moment before realizing why the company name sounded so familiar, it was the same place Xi Ran had worked before quitting.

Yes, Xi Ran had resigned. She was now preliminarily diagnosed with early-stage depression, with signs of progressing toward the mid-stage.

Staring at the jagged scar on her wrist, Tang Jing pressed her lips together and fell silent.

A gnawing hunger twisted in her stomach, leaving her whole body weak and her steps unsteady.

To avoid starving to death so soon after transmigrating into this world, Tang Jing dragged herself out of the room. The glaring light outside assaulted her eyes, still adjusting from the darkness. She shielded them with her hand, waiting until they acclimated before slowly opening them again.

It was already noon, the sun blazing hot. The room must have had air conditioning running earlier, so she hadn’t noticed the heat until she stepped outside.

Picking up the remote from the coffee table, she turned on the AC, then rummaged through the cupboard for a pack of instant noodles. She cracked two eggs into the pot, and soon, a bowl of steaming noodles was ready.

By the time the noodles were done, the room had cooled down. Tang Jing, who had broken into a sweat, finally let out a small sigh of relief.

Though she was hungry enough to eat a whole cow, she still ate the noodles slowly and deliberately. Eating too fast would only further upset her already fragile stomach.

She had considered making something healthier, like porridge, but she couldn’t wait that long instant noodles were the quickest solution.

As she ate, she checked her phone. No calls or messages had come in for a long time. The last call had been from her parents, asking how she was doing and whether things were going well with Xia Yunwei.

Xi Ran had always kept her struggles to herself, never mentioning the problems between her and Xia Yunwei to her parents.

Her parents had always been optimistic about their relationship. In the early years, she and Xia Yunwei would visit them for meals, but in the last two years, they had used work as an excuse to avoid going back. Even when they did visit, they pretended to be the picture of a loving couple only to go their separate ways the moment they left.

Tang Jing asked, “What’s Xia Yunwei’s current regret value?”

[System: -30%]

Seeing this number, Tang Jing let out a bitter laugh. “After driving Xi Ran to this state, she feels no remorse at all? In fact, she’s actually enjoying it?”

She then asked, “How many points do I have left?”

[System: 740 points.]

With so many points at her disposal, Tang Jing tapped her finger against the table, deep in thought.

After a moment, she pulled up the system interface to check if there were any available side quests she could take on. To her surprise, several options popped up immediately.

Side Quest 1: Drenching at the Bar
Content: Tonight at 21:00, Xia Yunwei will summon Xi Ran to pick her up. In front of her friends, she will force Xi Ran to drink and even demand that she entertain her so-called “good sisters.” When Xi Ran refuses, Xia Yunwei will dump an entire bottle of alcohol over her head, humiliating her in public.

“Tch,” Tang Jing sneered. “What kind of trash does this? Cuckolding herself?”

She clicked on the second quest.

Side Quest 2: Job Hunting
Content: Xi Ran doesn’t want to remain in this depressive state. She wants to find a job, hoping a new environment will help her heal. But Xia Yunwei intervenes again, crushing Xi Ran’s hopes and pushing her back into the abyss just as she tries to climb out.

For a moment, Tang Jing was at a loss for words.

Side Quest 3: Visiting Parents

Content: Xia Yunwei went crying to Xi Ran’s parents, claiming that Xi Ran had bullied her and wanted to break up. However, Xi Ran’s parents, who had always sided with their daughter, didn’t take Xia Yunwei’s words at face value. They wanted to hear Xi Ran’s side of the story, but Xi Ran, afraid her current state would frighten them, kept refusing to meet them.

Xia Yunwei was like a malignant tumor, if not removed, she would spread to every aspect of Xi Ran’s life, including Xi Ran herself.

Among the three paths ahead, the nearest one was tonight.

Tang Jing looked at the gaunt, haggard woman in the mirror, tugged at the corners of her lips, then pinched her thin arm and sighed. “Too skinny.” It was an unhealthy kind of thin.

This was the result of Xi Ran’s loss of appetite and low spirits since falling into depression. Before the illness, she had been a popular woman, even pursued by younger colleagues at work. But she had remained fiercely loyal to Xia Yunwei, rejecting all advances.

“No matter how loyal you are, you should at least choose someone decent,” Tang Jing muttered as she smoothed out the wrinkles on her face mask, staring at her reflection. “Picking such trash, it’s an insult to the word ‘loyalty.'”

Xi Ran’s usual style was minimalist her wardrobe mostly filled with white shirts and T-shirts, with only a few dark-colored pieces.

Tang Jing put on a black T-shirt and matching cargo pants, then rummaged through the jewelry box for a bold chain necklace to accentuate her collarbone. She slipped a black leather watch over her wrist, covering the scars beneath.

Even after applying a face mask and skincare, her complexion remained pale. She applied light makeup, just enough to hide the dark circles under her eyes.

Her entire outfit was in cool tones. Her already fair skin looked even paler against the black clothing.

The original owner’s hair wasn’t very long, so Tang Jing styled it with gel. The final result left her thoroughly satisfied.

Just as she finished getting ready, Xia Yunwei’s call came through. She answered on speakerphone.

“Xi Ran, where are you?” Xia Yunwei’s background noise was chaotic clearly from a bar with laughter and teasing voices around her.

“At home,” Tang Jing replied absentmindedly, still adjusting her hair.

Xia Yunwei didn’t seem to notice the change in her tone. Pressured by her friends, she giggled along with them before issuing a command into the phone, “Come pick me up from the bar right now.”

A lazy smile curled on Tang Jing’s lips. “Sure.”

Before she could even finish her reply, the call was abruptly ended.

Unbothered, Tang Jing grabbed her phone, gave herself one last glance in the mirror, and headed out.

Xi Ran didn’t own a car, she usually took the subway or hailed a cab, or occasionally drove Xia Yunwei’s car.

But two years ago, Xia Yunwei had left the car at home, telling her to take a taxi instead or better yet, earn more money and buy her own.

Not that Xi Ran cared much. Her workplace was nearby, and the subway was often faster than driving, especially during rush hour.

She stepped out of the apartment building and flagged down a taxi. “To Nanyang Road,” she told the driver.

The driver kept glancing at her in the rearview mirror, his eyes filled with curiosity.

After all, Nanyang Road was a place where many young people gathered at night, with several bars that stayed open late. Sometimes, people would still be heading there even in the early hours of the morning.

The car arrived at the destination. Tang Jing paid with her phone and stepped out.

Xi Ran stood at 175 cm tall, with long legs. Before leaving, Tang Jing had taken extra care with her appearance, so when she emerged from the car, she immediately drew some glances.

The woman was tall and slender, with a slightly melancholic air about her that made people unable to resist stealing a few more looks.

Tang Jing walked straight toward the busiest bar in the area. At the entrance, she bumped into someone and muttered a low, “Sorry.”

The woman she had bumped into had been in a foul mood, but upon seeing Tang Jing’s face, her irritation inexplicably dissipated. She even wanted to strike up a conversation, but the other woman walked inside without so much as a glance, leaving her to watch regretfully as she disappeared into the crowd.

The deafening music, blinding strobe lights, and swaying crowd made Tang Jing frown. She scanned the room and finally spotted the person she was looking for in a corner.

“Xia Xia, your girlfriend’s here,” Zhang Mei nudged Xia Yunwei, who had been chatting and laughing with He Manman.

Xia Yunwei followed her gaze and saw Xi Ran making her way through the crowd toward them. When she caught sight of Xi Ran’s outfit, she froze for a moment, as if suddenly transported back four years to the first time she had laid eyes on her.

Tang Jing stopped in front of her, looking down at her without a word.

Xia Yunwei was dressed in a black sequined minidress that shimmered under the lights. Leaning back against the couch with one leg crossed over the other, she held a glass of alcohol in her hand and looked up at the woman before her, patting the empty spot beside her.

Zhang Mei, who had been sitting next to Xia Yunwei, quickly scooted over to make room.

Tang Jing walked over and sat down.

Her arrival brought a hush over the previously lively group of friends.

“Here, drink up,” Xia Yunwei said in a condescending tone, sliding a glass toward Tang Jing.

Watching the liquid swirl and settle in the glass, Tang Jing hesitated for a moment.

Xia Yunwei frowned, displeased. “You won’t even drink when I offer it to you now? You really don’t love me enough. Otherwise, why would you—”

PUA tactics, huh? A hint of mockery flashed in Tang Jing’s eyes as she picked up the glass and downed it in one go.

Her slender wrist, delicate fingers even Zhang Mei couldn’t help but stare, especially when the woman tilted her head back to drink, her throat bobbing and the sharp line of her jaw adding an air of mystery and allure to her face.

Xia Yunwei didn’t miss the look in her friend’s eyes. Smirking with a sense of superiority, she poured Tang Jing another glass.

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